One Act: November

First off, today's post is going to be brief. Sorry, dudes.

John originally got word that he'd be working in Des Moines, but a whole 24 hours later took a job across the country. So not kidding! It's really exciting, and I look forward to telling you more about it next week.

So, I'm sure you can understand that things are busy right now.

I'm subbing this entire week, and had a bunch of items on my agenda this week: Dinner with friends and serving meals to kiddos last night, our weekly game of Name That Tune with friends tonight, City Council meeting {about backyard chickens!} tomorrow, and an Origami Owl party on Friday night.

This weekend I am going on a tour of a sustainable community space and faith center this weekend, and have a going-away party for John's nephew, who will begin his tour of duty in Afghanistan for the United States Navy.

This vibrant young man inspired this month's One Act.

For November, I took an hour of my time to write out 12 postcards with a holiday message for soldiers serving in the armed forces this holiday season. I have a drawer full to the brim with greeting cards and postcards for various occasions. What better way to weed out some of the fun and funky postcards than to send some holiday cheer to someone who will be overseas this time of year.

It was a simple task and it was sponsored by the American Red Cross, so I'm confident the postcards will find their way to the soldiers. If you are interested in sending a holiday card to a few soldiers, you have until December 6th. Don't delay - here's the address:

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Here are the guidelines and recommendations for your card. You might want to take a peek.
I feel really bad, though, because I didn't remember to take any photos of the cards to share with you here. My apologies!

There's only a few more weeks left in 2013. I can't even believe it. This year has passed so quickly, and my 2013 resolution has been the first New Year's Resolution I have ever kept for an entire year. I've already thought a bit about a resolution for 2014, but want to sit on it for a bit to see if it's a good fit for me.

After this post, I'll only be sharing one more One Act post, and it will be a fun one - stay tuned!

Guest Post: Aspiring Iowa Homesteaders Austin & Lauren Share Experiences Raising Meat Rabbits

The other day I was subbing in a 7th grade language arts classroom, and I was talking with the students about their upcoming Thanksgiving and winter breaks from school. They almost didn't believe that today, when then returned from Thanksgiving break, that it would already be December. For those of you who work in education or have kids in school, this means you're almost half way done with the school year!

The end is in sight! 

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Alas, today really does mark the second day in December. Yesterday was our fourth wedding anniversary, too. So, the beginning of December is a pretty special time of year for John and I. Today is also a special day, because I have another guest post for you!

Back in October, I had the chance to 'meet' Austin ('meet' is such a strange term in Blogger Land, because it's rare that we get to actually, physically meet each other…) and learn a little bit about his homesteading aspirations. I always love hearing from readers and what they are doing to make their lives more sustainable. If you follow us on Facebook, you know that one of our big struggles right now is working with our city council on allowing urban chickens. The livestock aspect of homesteading is one of the biggest struggles in the city, but some are lucky enough to find alternatives to this complication.

With that said, here's Austin, to tell you a little bit about he and his girlfriend's homesteading endeavors and aspirations.

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Good day to you all! My name is Austin, and I'm an aspiring homesteader who also happens to live in Iowa. One day in October I stumbled onto Kelli and John's blog and was excited to see some fellow Iowans pursuing sustainability. Since my girlfriend and I are new to the game, it sometimes seems like we're the only ones out there trying to become more self-sufficient (especially when faced with a failure). But I was very excited to read about our dear Sustainable Couple and continue to be encouraged knowing we're not alone.

 

My girlfriend, Lauren, and I have been developing our homesteading vision for over a year now and while the grand scheme we have cooking is far from coming to fruition, we're very proud of the progress we've made. We are both college students at the University of Northern Iowa, where Lauren is currently a junior studying biotechnology and I am a nontraditional 24-year-old sophomore studying outdoor recreation. I am also in the beginning stage of starting the first curbside composting service in our area. We met at the UNI Archery Club, and have been dating for over a year. Our current urban homestead consists of a vermicompost bin, an under construction aquaponics system, and the subject of my post today: our beloved rabbits.

We wanted to begin an urban homestead while in school but after some research I realized that our city doesn't allow chickens or most agricultural livestock to be raised within the city limits. We were slightly bummed at first until we read carefully and realized that no stipulation existed with regards to rabbits. My father raised rabbits as a kid and said he loved the experience, so I was doubly excited when my landlord said that he would allow rabbits as long as their areas were clean. So we began looking into what to get and how we'd house them and before long (this last June, to be exact), we had our little furballs in a laundry hamper and were on the way home.

There are lots of options with rabbit breeds to choose from, so if you intend to raise any make sure you know to what end (meat, pets, fur, etc.) you will utilize your critters. We are breeding ours primarily as a source of meat, with the notion to sell a few to friends or interested persons. We settled on two does that are pure-blooded Champagne D'Argents and one buck that is an English Spot/New Zealand cross. 

New Zealands and Californians are the most common meat rabbits in the US, but we read great things about Champagnes and have had great experiences so far all around. But there are breeds in a variety of sizes to suit your needs, and even Angora rabbits (they look mildly silly) with fur that you can spin into yarn for home use if anybody crochets or knits as Lauren does. If you're going for a meat breed, one thing to consider is the bone size. Just because you get a large breed doesn't mean you'll get the most efficient amount of meat from them. Some breeds, like our Champagnes, are medium sized but have a smaller skeleton, which creates a more favorable bone:meat ratio for the size of the animal.

Our does, Curious Georgia and Jane Doe, with our buck Fabio (white) in their run made from re-purposed church pews.

Rabbits make a great beginner livestock, especially in an urban setting. Granted, they're the first livestock I've ever owned but my opinion stands. They're a great way to get into the habit of animal-related chores and constantly watching the weather conditions and preparing for the seasons. Rabbits also require relatively little start-up and maintenance costs, they don't make noise or need much space, and they breed quickly (we've all heard the saying, and it's pretty valid). I built their initial setup, pictured below, out of wooden pallets ($4 total), a wooden futon frame we found on the curb (free), and some wire from the local farm & fleet store (about $20 per roll).

We have added a store-bought hutch so that both does have decent nesting areas, as well as building an enclosure of  4-mil construction plastic sheeting on a pvc pipe frame around it all to provide some relief from the cold weather.

Food is relatively cheap, especially if you produce your own veggies to feed them, but we elect to feed them mostly pellets and timothy hay. We insist on pellets because they provide the animals' diet a protein content which straight vegetables would be lacking. Each rabbit has its own food item that they prefer, but neither of these items are terribly expensive. We probably pay $20 or so a month in food costs (not counting special treats) to make sure that there is both hay and pellets available.

Since we just got our rabbits this summer (and we bought them as recently-weaned juveniles), we've only been in the breeding stages for a couple months. One of our does, Curious Georgia, just gave birth to her second litter a few days ago and has had no issue mating since reaching sexual maturity. Her first litter died after about a week but it is pretty standard that most/all of the a doe's first litter doesn't survive; they have to learn how to do their job properly after all. Our other female, Jane Doe, has been significantly more difficult to breed simply because she doesn't let Fabio do his thing very often.
Experts say that virgin does who are difficult at first almost always become easier after their first pregnancy, and we think she's finally got some kits in her tummy so we're looking forward to that phase being done. Overall, we love our rabbits and haven't regretted raising them one bit. When we do get a place of our own and some land on which to build a 'stead, we intend to keep the rabbits around for a long while. They've become part of the family and it's hard to imagine life without them now.

If you're still reading this, thanks for stickin' around ;) I sincerely appreciate the time you've given to learn about us and our lives, and if you're ever curious about what we've got going on you can keep up with us at www.timerewound.blogspot.com.

Our thanks to Kelli and John for letting us share, may God bless you and have a great holiday season!

Austin & Lauren

I'm Not Shopping Today.

It's the morning of Black Friday, and I'll give you a little hint as to where I'm located:

I've been here for the last 6 or 7 hours. John is in the area. And, I'm wearing yoga pants. 

Wait. Those hints might lead you to believe that I'm out and about, doing some Black Friday shopping. Not so, friends. Not so. I'm at home, making a light breakfast for John and I. Christmas music is playing on Pandora on the laptop in the kitchen (I spent a few minutes clearing a little nook in our butler so my laptop would be out of the way of grease and splatters), and I have intentions of doing a little clean up outside today, and working on some crafty projects.

Like finishing up a little Christmas decorating.
I set my tree up on Monday night. 

And making some magnets for our fridge.
DIY tutorial to come next week. 

And gathering up junk around the house to consign.
I take crap to a consignment shop about once every other month, or so. I hate clutter!

And freezing a bunch of turkey stock from yesterday.
Do you have any idea how awesome my house smelled all day yesterday? Heavenly. It smelled heavenly. 

None of the items on my agenda have anything to do with shopping, or spending any money really. I'm actually giving a few gift cards this year. Call it tacky, but unless I know without a doubt that a person will absolutely love the gift I am giving them, I will totally give a gift card. No shame in that, sister!

Plus, many of our family members really dig some of the things John and I have made around our house, and have requested something similar for their own homes. How awesome is that?! Pretty easy holiday 'shopping' if you ask me.

This is the best kind of gift-giving for us, especially because it doesn't require us to venture out into the mass chaos of Black Friday shopping, or we can use our creativity to make a gift for another. But, that's really only one reason why I'm not shopping today. 

The other reason is that I simply do not want to play a role in the senseless spending that is overtaking our minds right now. And, I'm a tight ass. If I go shopping today, even if it's just for one thing, I will end up buying and spending more than I intended.

I, like the rest of Americans, lack self control. Imagine that.

So, today I will make my way around the house cleaning, working on DIY projects that need some attention, and might spend an hour or two at the dog park.

Which is a way better use of my time than shopping, in my opinion.

What are you doing today? Are you shopping? Staying home? Hanging with family and friends? Tell me all about it!

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We're guest posting at Sincerely, Jenni!

Today we're guest posting at Sincerely, Jenni - please head over there and check it out.

HERE'S THE DIRECT LINK TO OUR GUEST POST

We've shared quite a bit about our struggles as foster parents here, but today I laid it all on the table. I'm sharing our whole experience, from start to finish, with her readers.

If you're interested in foster parenting or adopting, our story is worth a read. While we did not adopt from foster care, and actually had a heartbreaking experience, it did change our lives for the better. We're proof that foster parenting does change a person in beautiful ways, even if it doesn't result in a forever home.

Have a great day!

Why I'm Thankful Year-Round (& YOU Should Be, Too!}

Folks, you're probably expressing a lot of thankful-ness this time of the month, aren't you?

I knew it.

You're the one writing down one reason you're thankful each day for the last 27 days. Or, you've probably prepared a fun activity with your children to teach them about being grateful and appreciative. You might even be writing in your journal tonight about all of the things you appreciate in your life.

But once December 1st hits, will you still consciously think of all the amazing things in your life that you are thankful for?

Me neither.

I have a tendency to forget about the gratitude I should be devoting to those people in my life, especially when the full swing of holiday consumerism gifting hits. There are so many reasons to be thankful, and not just around the holidays, but all year long.

For one, we live in a first world country. No matter how hard you think your life is, or how bad you have things, there are millions of people elsewhere on our planet that have it harder in one way or another. When I chew on that statement for a while, my problems really do seem trivial. For this, I am extremely thankful.

I have my parents, grandparents, siblings, and a huge extended family with me on my journey through life. Some of you might not have the same circumstances, but that doesn't mean you are alone on your journey. Who are the people in your life that mean something special to you? A neighbor? Co-worker? The sweetie-pie barista who makes your morning coffee? Be thankful for all of these souls, because they make your life pretty kick ass, don't they?

I am thankful all.the.time that I have a little homestead in the city, which my husband and I are enjoying together. We learn, sweat, cry {ok, maybe just me on this one...}, build, grow, and relax on this little space.

But that's not the point.

The point is, my husband and I have this space of our own to work with, and you have space to work with, too! You might have a windowsill in your apartment, or a small patch of grass in the front yard, or several acres in the country. You have space, you just have to see it and use it!

A few days ago John and I looked at a property for sale about 20 minutes from our current home. The property {and ranch-style home} is in a small, unincorporated town and is on one acre of land. The sellers are avid vegetable gardeners, keep chickens and sheep, planted fruit trees and bushes and have a huge greenhouse that stays with the property. The price is great, too. After looking at it and thinking on the issue a bit, we decided that we just aren't ready to buy. The place was amazing; exactly what we would like to own, but further away from my family and John's. Plus, we have so many plans for our space in the city, and love our home and community. We realized something amazing would have to cross our paths before we'd really, seriously consider moving. We're content with what we have, and are excited for our future here.

If you want a bit more information on homesteading where you are, with what you have, read this post by The Prairie Homestead. It will help you get on your merry way, friends.

Today, more than ever, making mistakes is an acceptable way to learn. Be very, very thankful for this. I am.

Have you ever stopped to think about that? You know, that trial and error is an awesome way to figure things out? I am so thankful that the people I surround myself, and our homesteading society in general, looks at mistakes as a way to go from not knowing to knowing. Granted, I'm always a little scared when I put myself out there on this blog, documenting our lives for the world to see. It's likely that I've been judged many, many times for things we've done, or not done. However, I'm cool with that. Why? Because we're learning, and that's pretty cool.

I am very thankful that my life is slowly becoming my own. This is probably a part of growing up, right? (I'm in my late twenties - can I say that I'm still growing up?) My successes and failures are solely my own (and John's, I suppose). We're cutting out the middle man in our lives, and are doing more for ourselves. That is such an amazing feeling; self-sufficiency is a way of life we are both very thankful for.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to pay attention to the turkey I'm preparing for tomorrow's dinner, which is at our house this year. For which I am also very, very grateful.

Happy {early} Thanksgiving, folks!

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Do These 8 Things NOW to Make Your Winter Eco-Friendly

When John and I started realizing the impact we have on our environment - both global and local - we immediately started making small changes in our daily lives to eradicate the 'problem spots'. It was easy at first, especially because in the spring and summer we are more active, and those little changes like walking to our destination or composting our food waste were convenient for the season.

Now, it's winter. And in Iowa, winters can be brutal and unforgiving. It's hard to keep up with the normal eco-friendly things, given the crazy weather patterns that make things unpredictable. However, all is not lost! There are still several things each and every one of you can do TODAY to make your home a little less stressful on our environment. Here are just eight of the easiest and most convenient:

Iowa Mom & Blogger Discusses Passive House & Living in a Barn

Good day, friends!

I have something special for you - a guest post from Iowa blogger, Michelle, at Simplify, Live, Love. A few weeks ago, I actually met Michelle and several other Iowa bloggers in person at a social event, hosted by Ally (from Ally's Sweet and Savory Eats). The day was really fun, and after talking with Michelle for most of the morning, it was reaffirmed for me that this girl has it goin' on. What is really interesting {to me, anyway} about Michelle and her family, is the passive house they are building. She told us a little bit about the construction of their home at the blogger event, but she goes into more detail here, today! This is good stuff, people. 

Meet Michelle, everyone.

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Greetings! And thank you so much, Kelli, for letting me guest post! I was lucky enough to meet Kelli in person at an Iowa Bloggers Meet Up recently. A good friend of mine, who also follows The Sustainable Couple, knew about the meeting and specifically asked me, "How was Kelli??? What was she like?" And I was thrilled to tell my friend Robin that Kelli was exactly as I pictured. What you see on this blog is really what you get. And I love that. It was such a delight to meet you in person, Kelli. :-)

Our Strict Financial Plan, continued...

If you're reading this, you probably fall into two categories of readers. Either you are, one, a family member or close friend, and are a loyal reader 'by default' (Hey, ma. I love you!). Or, two, you are really interested in frugal, simple living.

Living that is not impactful on our earth or environment.

Living that focuses on your passions, rather than the rat race of American culture.

You and I, friend, have a lot in common.

You also probably enjoy meal planning, and making to-do lists, and budgeting your finances. Those things probably give you butterflies, huh?

Today, sweet readers, I simply want to update you on the loosy-goosy financial plan that John and I have established. Here's the first post we wrote on this topic, which included some random thoughts that propelled us into action a few months ago.

Then, after really tightening our belts when it came to spending, and paying off a TON of debt (i.e., everything but our mortgage and my student loan) we started our spending strike, which ended up being an amazing experience!

(By the way, have you heard of Sarah Baker's book, The Spending Strike? She is the one who inspired this whole idea. LIKE her on Facebook, and learn more!)

Since both of those posts, we've made some big life changes in the way we spend money, save money, and manage our finances in general.