Comments on: Here comes the rain: Barrels, clotheslines, firing up the furnace, and chocolate zucchini bread http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/ Suburban homesteading, fossil fuel reduction and ultimately indepedence Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:58:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dan http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/#comment-93 Dan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:48:51 +0000 http://10yearchallenge.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-93 It was fun doing all the pickling this year. Unfortunately I don't have enough room to grown enough cucumbers to pickle so I had to purchase them. That combined with the fact that once my 6 or so vines produced a few cucumbers they were on the dinner plate, they are so good to eat fresh! Found your blog through Sinfonian's blog when he commented about your greenhouse. Very nice greenhouse by the way, I would love to have one some day. It was fun doing all the pickling this year. Unfortunately I don’t have enough room to grown enough cucumbers to pickle so I had to purchase them. That combined with the fact that once my 6 or so vines produced a few cucumbers they were on the dinner plate, they are so good to eat fresh!

Found your blog through Sinfonian’s blog when he commented about your greenhouse. Very nice greenhouse by the way, I would love to have one some day.

]]> By: 10yearchallenge http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/#comment-92 10yearchallenge Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:31:49 +0000 http://10yearchallenge.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-92 Thanks for the link Dan! I took a look at your site and was intrigued by all the pickling you've been doing. I am hoping to grow enough cukes next year to give pickling a try and bread and butter pickles are my favorite. Thanks for the link Dan! I took a look at your site and was intrigued by all the pickling you’ve been doing. I am hoping to grow enough cukes next year to give pickling a try and bread and butter pickles are my favorite.

]]> By: Dan http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/#comment-91 Dan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:17:35 +0000 http://10yearchallenge.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-91 That zucchini bread looks amazing, I will have to try it. I planted zucchini this year with some of my compost, thinned them and ended up with pumpkins. It appears I had some pumpkin seeds in the composter. I guess next year I will have to pay better attention :-) I have added your link to my blog list over at <a href="http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/</a>. That zucchini bread looks amazing, I will have to try it. I planted zucchini this year with some of my compost, thinned them and ended up with pumpkins. It appears I had some pumpkin seeds in the composter. I guess next year I will have to pay better attention :-)

I have added your link to my blog list over at http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/.

]]> By: 10yearchallenge http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/#comment-89 10yearchallenge Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:21:56 +0000 http://10yearchallenge.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-89 Hi Susy, I wanted to do the elevated rain barrel system as well, but my husband preferred to keep them on the ground. I was talking with someone about the challenge of getting the water out, and they suggested putting a small pump in the last barrel. Maybe we'll give that a try. I hear you on the speakers and chargers. I think one of our big problems is how many things we have constantly hooked up that, while not officially on, continue to draw electricity. For example, we have a Media Center PC that is programmed to record various TV shows. Even when off, it remains a little bit on. We also have a home server set up that is always on, as well as various things like an electric stove with a digital interface and clock that always use a bit of electricity as well. I was hoping that making big changes in habits would have a bigger effect and that these smaller constant draws woudn't be a big issue. I'm thinking that's not going to be the case and we'll have to take another look at everything that is plugged in. Sandy Hi Susy,

I wanted to do the elevated rain barrel system as well, but my husband preferred to keep them on the ground. I was talking with someone about the challenge of getting the water out, and they suggested putting a small pump in the last barrel. Maybe we’ll give that a try.

I hear you on the speakers and chargers. I think one of our big problems is how many things we have constantly hooked up that, while not officially on, continue to draw electricity. For example, we have a Media Center PC that is programmed to record various TV shows. Even when off, it remains a little bit on. We also have a home server set up that is always on, as well as various things like an electric stove with a digital interface and clock that always use a bit of electricity as well. I was hoping that making big changes in habits would have a bigger effect and that these smaller constant draws woudn’t be a big issue. I’m thinking that’s not going to be the case and we’ll have to take another look at everything that is plugged in.

Sandy

]]> By: Susy http://10yearchallenge.com/2008/09/20/here-comes-the-rain-barrels-clotheslines-firing-up-the-furnace-and-chocolate-zucchini-bread/#comment-88 Susy Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:15:12 +0000 http://10yearchallenge.wordpress.com/?p=390#comment-88 Love the rain barrels. Mr Chiots and I installed 7-55gal barrels this year, we made our own system with old corn syrup barrel (we got them for $10 each), then we hooked them all together with PVC and added a spigot. Mr Chiots even built them up on a 4 ft platform for water pressure, and we now have storage underneath. I know how you feel about the electric. We've been on the same pursuit. Ours has gone down a bit, and with increased rates we're not paying any more that we used to. But we still have work to do on this front. If only I can get Mr Chiots to unplug all those speakers & chargers. We don't do that bad since we both work from home full-time. Keep up the good work! Looks like you're doing your part to live more sustainably. Did I mention I LOVE your greenhouse. I would love one someday. Love the rain barrels. Mr Chiots and I installed 7-55gal barrels this year, we made our own system with old corn syrup barrel (we got them for $10 each), then we hooked them all together with PVC and added a spigot. Mr Chiots even built them up on a 4 ft platform for water pressure, and we now have storage underneath.

I know how you feel about the electric. We’ve been on the same pursuit. Ours has gone down a bit, and with increased rates we’re not paying any more that we used to. But we still have work to do on this front. If only I can get Mr Chiots to unplug all those speakers & chargers. We don’t do that bad since we both work from home full-time.

Keep up the good work! Looks like you’re doing your part to live more sustainably. Did I mention I LOVE your greenhouse. I would love one someday.

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