Jotham Bessey

I think it's high time people started sewing modern styles. All sewing crafts I see are dresses and night gowns. What about pants and T-shirts?

Aloe Vera - keep it out of direct sun and water it occasionally. Not need for set watering schedule.
Micro Dwarf tomatoes - needs watering often but the fruit is sooooo tasty! even better that the home grown regular cherry tomatoes.

B Callender wrote:Or just don't wear any panties. I haven't worn them in over 20 years but I don't have discharge like I hear other ladies do. Great idea though!

Yes, panties are for women who use hygiene pads.
Men's underwear is supposed to keep the dangly bits in a comfortable position.
But since we don't talk about the "down there", most people don't realize that.

T.  Joy wrote:Hey, glad you like them! They take a ridiculous amount of time actually, that elastic is very fussy to stitch on. I'm hoping that making them assembly line style will be a bit faster. I have a few pairs sewn and waiting for trim and a whole lot more pairs waiting to be sewn then trimmed. I'm away for the month of June but will hopefully get them all done in July in time for a craft show. I'll even try to get an action shot or two  .

These days we can use fabric glue for the initial attachment. Make a ring for the waist of the fabric, run a bead of glue around, then stretch the elastic around.
I'd still recommend sewing after the glue has dried.
I assume this could be done for men's underwear as well. pick apart a store bought pair to make a template.

I'm morphing a native forest into a forest garden. The ability to coppice was one of the characteristics I used to decide which trees to grow.
So far, I have Mulberry, osage orange, honey locust, and black locust growing.
The only one, from the op list, that I don't have on my "to grow" list, is jujube. I don't think it will grow in my location.

When you are planning a building, consider the possible weather extremes much more important than cost.
A trail home in tornado alley is down right stupid!!
I would think that, by now, we would have figured out a building design that would withstand a tornado. Yet people keep building flimsy structures.
I've seen news where buildings were blown apart in 80km/hr winds. I think "Seriously, WTF!" Where I live, building are made to withstand 120- 140 km/hr wind.

A new resident to the province once asked if she should buy a greenhouse kit rated for 100km/hr wind. We all said "DON'T BUY IT!"
Someone said "if you do, make sure it's bolted to a solid foundation". Then another person said "I tried that, the only thing that stayed put were the pieces bolted directly to the concrete!"

I'm a little late on replying to the original post. I might have replied before. But here goes....

"I seem to fall into a poverty mindset". And there is the problem.

I have a piece of land to grow food,
I have a warm place to sleep and cook said food,
I have clothes to protect me from the elements
I tell everybody that I'm not poor, I just don't have much money!

The poverty mindset drives one to "keep up with the jones'"
Analyze your NEEDS not your WANTS. (Another one of my quotes "My needs are few but my wants are many")
Don't compare your possessions with what everyone around you has. The only question is, does your possessions/income meet your NEEDS? For people reading this, most likely, the answer is YES!

wheel barrows are one of those bulky things more likely to be left in the rain. I usually tip mine on its side, when not in use, so it doesn't fill with water an rust more.

Lisa Brunette wrote:Great topic! Glad to see this thorough discussion. Some thoughts, observations, and a few ideas that haven't been mentioned:

1. I'll echo the sentiment that Etsy is fab. I've compared prices on a few items, such as magazine boxes, shea butter, and beeswax, and the prices on Etsy for all of those were either better or the same, and on Etsy I'm ordering from an independent retailer. If I have a question or issue, a real human being messages me, usually right away. Full disclosure: I'm an Etsy affiliate over at Brunette Gardens.

2. I was also surprised to see the short shrift given to farmer's markets. I've relied on them all of my adult life, and in several different locales. We purchase meat in bulk quantities at a discount directly from farmers we met at farmer's markets. I also learn what produce grows well in my area by checking out what the pros have on their tables.

3. Glad someone mentioned local Chambers of Commerce. As small business owners, we're members of ours, and that grants us a discount at local retailers. We always buy our raw cat food from a small, local business. They give us a great deal with a discount for bulk quantity and another discount for being members of the Chamber.

4. Growing your own food should always be preferable to purchasing it from others, whether organic or conventional.

5. Surprised no one's mentioned bulk trash pickup day. Our entire outdoor furniture collection came from curbside discards, which we've upcycled with paint, natural tung oil, etc. People toss stuff that's still perfectly good, and sometimes that means vintage items that are far better made than anything you can purchase new today.

6. We were invited to join the co-op Frontier, and it's been a great source for many items, especially bulk organic stuff like cocoa that is hard to produce yourself, or hygiene items like dental floss.

7. Artist and craft fairs - also surprised no one's mentioned this. Great way to meet the artist or craftsperson one on one, and you can often haggle on the prices, too.

8. In a thread on alt Halloween candy here on Permies, someone posted about the Vermont Country Store. Buying from there has been part of my shift toward fewer items of higher quality, and I've been thrilled with the clothing and bedding I've found there (flannel sheets...).

Thanks again for the thread. I've made a note of Freecycle, Lehman's, and Misfits (though I'm skeptical of that one). Cheers!

Just wanted to make comments on this post:
1. Guess I'll have to do some surfing around the etsy site
2. Wish we had a farmers market! It would even be nice if said farmers would advertise at the craft fair
3.
4. before someone objects WRT price. I've been tracking cost and benefits of growing your own food. If growing your own food is costing more than store purchasing it, you are doing it wrong!!!
5. One persons trash is another persons treasure. I see so much useful stuff put out for bulk trash pickup. Even in the most rural areas. Many times it's just that the person with the discarded material can't use it.
6. Yes, bulk buying to split among group members. Doesn't need to be a co-op. Could be just among 2+ friends.
7. Not only for direct buy but to find local sole proprietor business.
8. After growing your own food, you need to learn to cook from scratch. Might as well learn to make candy while you are at it!

Coydon Wallham wrote:
I am seeing a rough hierarchy of choices:

1 Make it from your property/work with neighbors
2 small, local, independent stores
3.4 smallish, trustworthy (co-op?) chain brick and mortar
3.6 independent online services
4 Amazon
5 Big Box/chain stores

Lots of crossover with the 3s and some with 4/5. Just my opinion, going with the numberphilia at permies.com...

There's crossover with 3/5 as well. If your local chain store doesn't have it in stock, you can often order it on the chain store website for in store pickup. That way you don't get charged delivery!