Going GREEN

THE BRATS ARE...

My amazing family and living in such an awesome and beautiful place has inspired me! For these things I am forever grateful 

And our home state!

So...What is Sustainable living?? I asked myself that very question and did everything I could to understand it better. I'm dedicating my life to mastering a more sustainable, healthier lifestyle for myself and for my family. 


For me, a more natural lifestyle is also about having less things and doing things that for some people may seem less "convenient". Since making some changes it has proven to be no inconvenience at all. 
I have to say, It was disappointing and kind of Scary , (actually really Scary!) when we took a step back and realized, we were living  a very wasteful lifestyle. After my research I found it was a "typical wasteful american lifestyle", it is sad but What an eye opener!!! Think about this:

America produces an absolutely gargantuan amount of trash!

^^ I Could compost more than half of that ;) ^^

Americans waste on average $2k+ per year throwing away 40% of the food we buy! We trash... 1.3 billion metric tons of food in the world is lost (on the production side of the food supply chain) or wasted (on the consumption side) each year. That’s about one-third of total edibles produced for humans. This disturbed me!

In 2005, Americans produced 60 percent more trash than they did in 1985.

According to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency,

 in 2008, 

each person in the United States created a daily average of 4.5 pounds (2.04 kilograms)

 of solid waste 

[source:EPA ]. 

Since there were roughly 300 million people living in America at the time, 

together, they were generating approximately 1.35 billion pounds (about 612 million kilograms) 

of garbage every day. 

To put that estimate in perspective, 

the average blue whale 

-- the largest mammal on the planet -- 

can weigh more than 100 tons (99,800 kilos) 

[source: American Cetacean Society ]. 

Assuming we are dealing with only modestly sized, 100-ton specimens, 

the United States throws away about 

6,750 blue whales worth of garbage every single day.

http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/america-produce-trash

Our two beautiful girls deserve a cleaner, healthier world, even if we can only do our part here on the Brat Farm, and in our home. If I have ways, options, and CHOICES... to educate them... give them a better life, a cleaner world and the foundation for a healthier life, then why not?! 

Are you getting curious or serious about converting your home into a more natural healthy greener sustainable lifestyle??? WE ARE! 
I am by no means an expert on this, or any subject for that matter, however, I was inspired to share how we are choosing to change our lives and our ways in the world.... 
We are continuing to learn more about , and working on:

* Stopping use of household cleaners and products laced with chemicals like  I have given away some and I am using up the last of the mess under my kitchen sink and in showers and getting away from the chemicals and fumes. I am doing my best trying to continue  learning to make and use more "natural" cleaners with: baking soda, vinegar, lavender, oregano, sage, and more.

* Get up and Get out... One "Green" suggestion is just being more active and getting out in nature. Fire the lawn guy, get out and do it yourself. Take walks with the kids or friends, go to parks, call your local nature center about nature walks, nature education etc. Learn about the plant and wildlife in your area and with your kids. Visit local entertainment and outdoor events, Plant a garden...even a porch or deck garden or fresh herbs in your kitchen window. We even skip dessert and after dinner snacks most evenings and go for a walk... the kids don't even question it , they would much rather feed the chickens dinner scraps or go out for a nature walk before bath and bed!

*Share your knowledge with your family and get you children involved! The Kids love to be outside and make a difference!

* Recycling, Composting and Donating are big ones in our life. As well as, Reusing and re-purposing items. Especially, bottles or other food grade containers (they are perfect for my homemade "better help for hamburger" recipes and homemade rice-a-roni)
  My Side note on COMPOSTING:
    I cannot say enough about composting it has been pretty amazing.. my husband seemed a little skeptical and I've heard  horror story after horror story about how disgusting and smelly it is... SO NOT TRUE! I simply did my research and found every person who had something horrible to say about it was because there were doing it all wrong, basically there's only smell and other problematic issues with composting when your putting in the wrong things or it is off balance. Balance is the key to composting! and even my husband has been seemingly impressed (and doesn't mind turning my piles, there is very little smell) we have decreased our trash from an average of 6 bags a week down to 3, literally cut our waste in half! every Sunday night after dinner My wonderful hunny would take out the trash can to the curb, only about 4 bags fit in the trashcan and we would have 1-2 on average sitting next to the trash can for morning pick up... since the 1st week i started there's never been more than 4... and that was after a big birthday party!  COMPOSTING IS SO EASY!!! You can compost so many things: paper plates, junk mail, yard clippings, dried leaves or green, anything rotten (just no meat is recommended) the list goes on and on! 
We compost almost any food and plant  that we do not give the chickens to eat! 
No chemicals, no plastics and no meat... its pretty easy and extremely rewarding. We will have the best black gold around, perfect for gardens, and mulching fruit bearing plants. I wished I had known more and started sooner. :)  I highly recommend doing your reading and research on the subject and forming your own opinion as to whether its suitable for you and your family! And making sure your following your local laws. UPDATE: For those who read my post about the barn lizard and my compost   :0/  I think the chickens ate him...Sad day lol  :)  as I break into the Lion King chorus " Oh, The circle of life......"

* Saving $$MONEY$$, Saving on resources, not buying 'stuff' asking self "do we NEED this?", Learning to break wasteful consumer habits i.e water bottles, we bought washable bottles and cups with straws, and stop using plastic bags, Buying more in bulk (compare prices and know your products to make sure it really is a better deal), SLOW down or stopping our eating fast food, saving electricity, saving water, just overall saving. 
This is so true: “convenience is expensive.” 
People end up sucking it up and paying the extra ATM fee because it’s easier than wandering around looking for one that does not charge. Similarly, people also end up overpaying on things like car repairs because calling around for quotes or taking your car to several garages for bids is a hassle, we will buy covineance like products for double what we would have paid buying the same product from a larger store and packaging it ourselves to take along with us! IE snack foods, beverages, personal products like lotion or tissue or chapstick or tylenol. we pay $3-5 for theses item when if we took a little time and used a litte prepperation we could have accomplished the same ourppose and fufilled the same need if we had done it our selves, and it probably only would cost us cents versus dollars. 

* Started Budgeting (it helped us acknowledge and stop wasteful spending And $ave!)
Great starting point for budgets  http://mappingyourfuture.org/money/budget.htm


* Buying more whole/raw/natural and organic foods and produce, making our boxed favorites out of homemade fresh and preservative free ingredients. And we cleaned out all the Junk! It is healthier, and it is less packaged food,  also less trash!

 The dirty Dozen is a good way to remember the produce that soaks up the most pesticides and would be a good idea to always buy organic.

 * Try to Buy in season fruits and veggies and buy local for less :

*Not buying chemical ridden Soap, Shampoo, and Body products,  all most all of which contain SLS and other toxic ingredients (like those found in Anti-Bacterial soaps)... We've gone "NO POO" in our Sham(poo) and absolutley LOVE IT! Some of this stuff is very scary to learn about, like SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) and SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES)(MSDS) 
Potentially, SLS is perhaps the most harmful ingredient in personal-care products. SLS is used in testing-labs as the standard skin irritant to compare the healing properties of other ingredients. Industrial uses of SLS include: garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps. Studies show its danger potential to be great, when used in personal-care products. Research has shown that SLS and SLES may cause potentially carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins to form in the bottles of shampoos and cleansers by reacting with commonly used ingredients found in many products. Large amounts of nitrates may enter the blood system from just one shampooing. Uh, Yuck! PLEASE READ YOUR BABY AND CHILDREN SOAPS AND PRODUCTS,  THEN READ ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THEM! 

Ideas for living a more sustainable life (** And a few more thoughts **)

Stop using paper towels for everything. (** Towels, wash cloths, old shirts and  old clothes all work just as well, sometimes better and are reusable... I have not eliminated our household use of paper towels but we do compost what we use! **)
Look for new ways to reuse everything. (** Re-Purpose, Reuse, recycle, sell or donate ... My parents always said "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and I've found this to be so true! **)
Start thinking about planting a garden. (** Flowers, fruit, veggies, trees, anything just go and play in the dirt...  :) Its cheaper than therapy **)
Cook it yourself.  (**the internet or book, a few ingredients  and a little know how... You'd be surprised... Not only will you saving a bundle of money and probably eating better, but you might even realize you really enjoy doing it! **)
Conserve resources. (** Turn out the lights, open the blinds, shut off noisy electronics and clear your mind **) 
Learn how to make things yourself. (** You can also make your own Gifts, Condiments, kids crafts, shampoo, laundry detergent, cleaners some for around .50cents a gallon!…and all of these things are not only A LOT less expensive, but often also healthier and might even just be fun for you to make. **)

Switch to simple cleaning solutions (** No more Toxic fumes see resources below **)

Use and enjoy what you’ve got. (** Love these ideas: Put a buying freeze on yourself and learn to appreciate the things you have. Read the books in your shelf, or use your library,  wear the clothes in your closet, pack up and cycle through the toys in your kids’ rooms so they become new to them every few weeks, and just focus on the things you’ve already acquired in life. If you absolutely must get something new, make yourself get rid of two other similar things to make room for the new thing. So if your kids want a new toy, they have to get rid of two old ones... we do this around Christmas and birthdays every year and the girls are so understanding and giving! If you want a new pair of jeans, get rid of two pieces of clothing you’re not wearing you can donate, sell, or trade. You’ll not only bless others, but you will also be blessing yourself by having less to sort through and clean lol**)
GIVE: Make or Buy quality items/goods and share them with others. (**Baked goods, crafts, handmade greeting cards, garden items, canned/jarred goods, share your own farm fresh chicken eggs and veggies, split cost on bulk items, there are endless ways to give and help others in this life **)
Shop locally. (** Local Farmers/Flea markets, Support local small and family businesses**)
From: http://www.noordinaryhomestead.com/10-simple-ways-to-live-a-more-sustainable-life/

12 Simple Ways To Live A Greener Lifestyle (**and a few  more thoughts**)

1. Use fluorescent light bulbs. Yes, they're more expensive than incandescent light bulbs ($2 vs. $.50), but switch out your incandescent bulb for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in your house, and you could save up to 30 percent on your energy bill. "According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program, CFLs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescentS and last 10 times longer," says Malten. "This, on average, results in $30 savings for the life of the bulb." (** If you live in the south or east and have DUKE ENERGY check their website or call and ask if your eligible for their free CFL's its completely free and they mail them to you just as a way to help you start saving money and electricity... we did it and got a generous box of other wise very expensive light bulbs, it was easy.  http://www.duke-energy.com/freecfls/ **) Thank me later :)

2. Keep your car in excellent condition. Of course, it's best to walk, bicycle, carpool, become a one car family or use mass transit for your daily commuting, but for those who must use their own vehicles, improving even the most inefficient of cars' fuel mileage is as easy as keeping your tires properly inflated and changing your oil and air filters regularly. (Staying below 65mph helps save gas, Keep up on emissions even if they arent required where you live (like here in SC there are none required unfortunately , and always take your oil to an auto parts store for proper disposal of oils and fluids, they reek havoc on our planet)

3. Make sure your dishwasher and clothes washer and dryer are full before using them. The aforementioned major appliances consume large amounts of energy, so reduce their use as much as possible by only running them with full loads. (** Shut off the water in the shower or while brushing teeth, check with power company for their preferred times or off peak hours for running dishwasher or clothes **)If you're in the market for new appliances or other electronics, look for the ENERGY STAR label to purchase the most energy efficient models available.

4. Wash clothes in cold water and line dry. Using cold water rather than hot in the washer saves electricity and works just as well as hot with most clothes. Line drying not only is more environmentally friendly, but it also will keep clothes from shrinking and fading. (** I do wash mostly in cold water, I however have not given up my dryer as of yet! **)

5. Shut down and unplug idle electronics. Your computer might be asleep, but if there's a light on, it's still using energy. Turn off and unplug your computer, printer, television, radio — any electronic device that you're not using. (** This one is a little more difficult for me with major appliances and living room TV, but the things you rarely use, just unplugging can save on your resources and your electric bill**)

6. Skip the bottled water. Sure, water is good for you, but the process of harvesting the raw materials, processing and manufacturing the petroleum-based plastic water bottles and shipping them to market is extremely energy intensive. So filter your own water and fill up your own reusable bottles for water on-the-go. (** We bought a Brita Pitcher and refill BPA Free water bottles and washable plastic cups with straws **)

7. Supply your own bags and leftover containers. If you're headed to a restaurant that you know serves king-sized portions, bring a small piece of Tupperware along to take home the leftovers, and keep one fewer Styrofoam container from the landfill pile. Going to the supermarket? Opt out of the paper/plastic debate and bring your own canvas tote bags. (** I have a few cloth bags I use for shopping (just leave them in the back of the car) and love the restaurant leftovers idea because I despise melted Styrofoam YUK! **)

8. Buy items with less packaging, and with packaging that your community recycles. It's convenient to buy snack crackers already divided into even, individual portions in plastic bags, but that creates much more waste packaging than just buying the full box, and bagging it yourself. "The old adage of reduce, reuse, recycle remains apropos," says Malten. "We must remind ourselves that the first step is always to reduce our demand of natural resources." (** I looked into washable snack bags on Google  love the idea and will be making a purchase soon! We also use washable snack containers for the kids and stopped using paper plates for every meal and snack **) 

9. Support local farmers. Food grown or produced halfway around the world didn't just appear in the supermarket — it was shipped by plane, boat, truck or rail, and no matter which method of transportation it took, greenhouse gases were emitted along the way. Pick the apple grown in your state instead of the banana grown in another country. (** get to know where your food comes from, Buy locally raised meats, meet your local farmers, go to "You Pick" Farms, that is probably one of our kids favorite things to learn is about animals, where our food comes from and how the world works (we raise chickens, garden and buy from small local businesses and the Jockey lot/Farmers market. Get out and learn about the town and world your living in. Its also a great way to meet people. My brother in law just told me about this great "Retired (field-trip) farm" close by, that still sells poultry and livestock, and was very knowledgeable and they welcome visitors... Him and my nephew had a Blast! I cant wait to go, Its going to be a great experience for our kids too!

10. Plant a tree in your backyard. It seems simple, but just one tree can offset tons of carbon over its lifetime. If planted appropriately, it also will provide shade on a sunny day, perhaps reducing the use of energy for air-conditioning in buildings and homes. "While reducing energy will cut our carbon emissions, it also is important to restore more natural 'sinks' that capture carbon," Malten says. "Planting trees and perennials are an easy place to start." (** We are excited about planting more fruit bearing shrubs and trees, its great for the planet, the reward is sweet, and trees are just beautiful! **)

11. Try used products first. Need a couch? Check newspaper classifieds or craigslist.com to see if you can find an acceptable used option before going to a big chain to buy a new one, which will have required both energy and materials to make and ship. (** We have actually used the method of buying used numerous times! With great sucess and quality items, some even better than new to be honest! With the economy in its current state, trading is actually easier than you think if you've got something they want and they've got something you need! **)

12. Ask about green power. Many utility companies offer renewable energy options, which is power generated by wind or solar energy. (** Again just check with your electric and water companies and ask if they can send you any information on savings plans and educational materials for saving resources **) 

Great thought: "Focus on reducing your energy and water consumption and your waste generation, and you'll be on your way to reducing your footprint on the planet"

Some pretty easy concepts eh? 
When you start... Don't beat yourself up, guilt yourself ever or try to do it all at once. Do a little at a time, make it a habit, and then make other small changes, when and how it is convenient for you and the family.

And on Encouraging others to make a change:
Share your knowledge with those interested and talk to others with similar interests, just keep on learning! I NEVER want to stop learning... Remember, You affect change by living it, so on days when you’re incredibly frustrated with the unwillingness of others to change as dramatically or as quickly as you’d like (including your family or significant other), just take time to remember that you can only ultimately be responsible for what you do, and the example you set for your children. “What you do” can include sharing your story, education and encouragement, but at the end of the day you don’t personally ever, have control of others’ actions or thoughts  and you can’t allow that situation to deter or frustrate you. Stay positive and keep doing what YOU can to make a better healthier life for you and a smaller toxic foot print on our planet! People look at me like a nut job when they hear our responses to our life style change or our way of life, but I'm okay with that because I believe what others think say and feel about me doesn't affect my quality of life, and has no bearing on what decisions my husband and I make for our family. All that matters is what you feel is right for you and your family... What works for us may not be suitable for others individually, their family or their lifestyle, and I can accept that with an open heart and mind ;)



So, I too have to ask .... Are you planning to make a pledge in 2013 to live a more self-reliant life? What will you be doing (or do you already do) to be more “green?” I would love to hear from you. Have any questions or do you need and/or have suggestions?  Lets Chat! :) 
 Feel free to contact me! NIKOLBRATOVICH@YAHOO.COM


IF YOU ARE WONDERING CAN I DO THIS ? LET ME TELL YOU, YOU CAN... I HAVE BEEN ON THIS MISSION FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS BUT REALLY ONLY JUMPED INTO IT HARD IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. IT IS MUCH EASIER AND MORE REWARDING THAN I EVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED, AND WITH HELP OF THE MANY TOOLS OUT THERE AND ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES IN THE WORLD, IT IS MUCH EASIER THAN YOU KNOW.  I AM A MUCH HAPPIER PERSON AND LOVE THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN OUR LIVES. I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND GOOGLE. AS LONG AS I CAN AFFORD INTERNET I WILL BE HERE TO HELP OTHERS FIND THE HAPPINESS, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION, FOR A CLEANER LIFE, MORE ECO FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE  AND THE WEIGHT LOSS GOALS THAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.

More Ideas and resources:

To Learn more about chemicals in Personal Care Products Just Google these names:D&C or FD&C (Synthetic colors)

Titanium dioxide (Used in diaper cream, deoderant, concealers, lip gloss
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (has been Banned in Europe why not in The US?)
Triclosan (anti bacterial soaps and tooth pastes)
Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine, more easily recognized as DEA and TEA (Is nothing more than SLS in disguise All are common in almost all shampoos. These ingredients, plus other equally dangerous relatives to SLS, such as Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosucinate are made by separating Lauric acid from coconut oil and treating with sulfuric acid, or by making lauric acid synthetically, or others made from Lauric acid and ammonia names: Lauamide MEA, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA. Even hair care products that label themselves as "natural" may contain these potentially hazardous ingredients)

Homeade shampoo
http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Shampoo/

Baking soda Shampoo
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-shampoo/

Part One
http://www.greenpromise.com/lifestyle/green-basics/going-green-part1.php
Part Two
http://www.greenpromise.com/lifestyle/green-basics/going-green-part2.php

Detoxing your house
http://amyeaustin.blogspot.com/2011/11/detoxing-your-house-simple-starts.html

Less Toxic Guide
http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=babycare



Ideas for Eliminating bad spending: 
http://simplitudes.com/frugality/eliminating-bad-spending-habits

Sources
http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/report-americans-waste-2-275-per-thowing-40-191700328.html
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/dirty-dozen-foods

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20471167,00.html
http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/budgeting/america-s-most-wasteful-buying-habits 
http://www.sciencedaily.com