Monthly Archives: August 2008

Cooped up: Chickens in their new home

Posted on August 27, 2008 by Sandy

We’ve been housing our four new chickens in the greenhouse while we waited for the coop to be built.  Luckily, the weather has been mild and it hasn’t been too hot in there.  Dylan from ChickenRanching.com came over yesterday and built … Continue reading →

Posted in Homesteading | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Photo album: Chickens, goats, greenhouse

Posted on August 24, 2008 by Sandy

We bought four chickens on Saturday.  Two Australorps and two Buff Orpingtons.  I figured out which breeds to get by using a breed selector tool.  Who knew such a thing existed?  In selecting chickens I was looking for a few things:  … Continue reading →

Posted in Homesteading | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Electricity usage: One step forward, two steps back

Posted on August 21, 2008 by Sandy

Between the middle of July and the middle of August, we installed a few dozen new compact fluorescent bulbs in our house. We’ve been more diligent than ever about turning off lights.  As the middle of the month approached, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hung out to dry

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Sandy

While we may be looking a bit countrified, a bit Ma and Pa Kettle in this photo, it actually shows that we’ve made some real progress. If you look past the dormant lawn/weeds that have turned into exposed dirt thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Extreme green living and sustainable sustainability

Posted on August 14, 2008 by Sandy

On the occasions I’ve watched The Biggest Loser, I couldn’t help but think it was a terrible example for showing people how to lose weight. Sure the candidates had amazing, dramatic results, but the methods were extreme and not exactly … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy usage | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More oil drilling, the answer?

Posted on August 12, 2008 by Sandy

I’ve been irritated by Obama’s softening on oil drilling. Here’s a great video that explains my irritation way better than I could. Plus it’s funny. Enjoy. Sandy

Posted in Oil drilling, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Go to the light…

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Sandy

As alluded to previously, one of the things we’re doing is trying to increase efficiency given the existing infrastructure of the house.  To wit:  we’re replacing the majority of incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  Now, personally, I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Laundry day, our worst electricity usage day of the week

Posted on August 11, 2008 by Sandy

I have to say, the Puget Sound Energy site is quite good.  I’m able to get way more information about my electricity and gas usage than I ever knew I could.  If you look at your bill details online, you can break your usage … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity usage | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A bad case of shingles

Posted on August 9, 2008 by Sandy

This will be the second roof I’ve replaced in my lifetime of homeownership (the first was a composition to composition replacement at our old house…even with ruling out cedar shakes, the choices now are a bit more plentiful: slate, fiber-reinforced concrete shake, green/living, composition, and standing seam metal. Continue reading →

Posted in Green Building, Water collection | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

It’s do or die time and a rhododendron’s life hangs in the balance

Posted on August 9, 2008 by Sandy

We’re slogging through the dryest time of the year in the Pacific Northwest.  Of course, I’m sure posting something about our dry spell will lead to an immediate downpour.  But right now it is dry and I’m starting to see which … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Water collection | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments