Comments for Frugal & Simple

Comment on Germination Test by Meg

Meg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:25:16 +0000

Like Amanda and Lindsey from the northern part of the US, we have not had much luck with starting alot of plants from seed over the years (we live in NorthEast Ohio). The stems dont get strong enough to withstand the breeze when I plant them, no matter what I do (take them outside as seedlings and let them acclimate for a week before, etc). I do plant green beans and peas directly in the ground early in the spring and have had great results with that. Otherwise, not so much. However, I am going to try one last time to germinate seeds indoors but later than I usually do. Most likely around April, so that when we get back from our long vacation/5 year wedding anniversary trip in May, they can go right into the ground (no chance of frost). We are currently trying to start cherry trees right now under a grow lamp. Hubby loved the variety and saved the seeds from the cherries we bought and ate last year. We are hoping to get at least a few trees out of it, but we'll see! It's always an adventure!

Comment on Germination Test by Emma

Emma — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:34:33 +0000

Hi Rachel. I am a long time LF&S blog reader and admirer of your beautiful family. I live in Australia and am in a DINK (double income no kids) relationship, but am trying to pick up on some of your frugal habits to pay down debt so that one day we might add at least one child in the mix To Lindsey, we had an oversupply of tomatos last year so I pulverised the extras with my blender stick, measured into cup sized portions and froze in plastic bags. The cup size is great to add to a spaghetti sauce to use over pasta or in lasagne.

Comment on Germination Test by Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:16:41 +0000

You can probably reuse the starter containers year after year! I have one that I've been careful with and have already used 2 years with plans to use it this year too! Right now we're planning on tomatoes, squash, zucchini, peas, cantaloupe, watermelon and potatoes {and probably a few more things…those are just favorites!} If we get a decent tomato harvest, I will can them. It is time consuming but I love home canned tomatoes!!

Comment on Germination Test by Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:13:40 +0000

How frustrating! I think we may just purchase started tomatoes this year since my seeds didn't germinate, it's easier and they'll produce quicker!

Comment on Germination Test by Lindsey

Lindsey — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:04:14 +0000

This is a great idea and I am now wondering if our local hardwhere store will return the seed start containers I just spent $5 on…. haha! Like Amanda I am also in Wisconsin (Hi!!) so I think the seed starter containers I purchased might be good to get a really strong root base before planting in the ground. Are there certain foods you are hoping to grow in your garden? I have been spending the week planning out what would be most efficient for us (like peppers, onions and carrots). Do you grow tomatoes and if so how do you preserve them (or plan to)? I found canning them to be a waste of money after the cost/time put into it and was wondering if freezing is an option.

Comment on Germination Test by Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:59:08 +0000

I have started our plants from seed in the past but have gotten such terrible results from these seeds (like no viable "fruits" or only one tomato from a plant, etc…) that it is worth it to me to spend a couple extra dollars here and there to get some better results. With such a short growing season in Wisconsin and sometimes very different seasons (some years are hot, some are very mild, some really wet) I haven't had much luck with my tomatoes and peppers started from seed. Other things (cabbage) have worked well from seed. I will continue to try planting from seed, but supplementing with nursery grown plants for those items that I know we haven't had luck with in the past.

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Suzette

Suzette — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:03:50 +0000

Thanks ma'am!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:23:31 +0000

I purchased mine at Kroger, the laundry soda is a powder. I'm also grating a bar of soap for my recipe!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Suzette

Suzette — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:41:15 +0000

Good to know. Where do you find laundry soda? I have been grating a bar of soap…but would love a box already done!

Comment on Postpartum Cloth Pads: GladRags by Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:51:42 +0000

it was so easy to make my own nursing pads and I love them! I just cut out 3 circles of flannel and 1 circle of fleece (I used a CD for my pattern). I then sewed them in a circle all together (the 3 flannel on top of the fleece), then I went back over it with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying. I love them! I made 18 pads (using scrap fabric) which is plenty for me.

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:56:31 +0000

I use homemade detergent for all of our other laundry. I know you're *supposed to* use the cloth diaper detergent with all of your loads but we can't afford that either! I think my homemade detergent {which is just washing soda, laundry soap & borax} doesn't really leave residue in the washer.

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Meg

Meg — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:55:49 +0000

A friend of mine brought up the same question just a few weeks ago when I was talking about hanging laundry on the line (which I do quite frequently, even when it was 38 degrees Saturday morning). We have yet to get bird droppings on our clothes and we are surrounded by trees on all sides where the line is located. My friend, who lives in the city, somehow had a bird poop on her clothes on the line once and never hung them out to dry again.

If it were to happen, I'd just re-wash it. No biggie deal (in my opinion).

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:04:28 +0000

I've never had any issues with birds and laundry on the line but I've never had a clothesline close to trees. I'd be a little worried too but I'm sure unless the clothesline is under the tree, it'd be rare that they'd 'spoil' the laundry much!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:02:45 +0000

Your routine sounds pretty simple! I love that your inserts come out in the wash…that's takes away quite a bit of the ick factor too! Thanks for sharing!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:10:56 +0000

This is a weird question, but have you ever had birds "spoil" your drying laundry on the line? I'm a little worried about that as we have a GIANT tree in our back yard that many local birdies love.

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:29:39 +0000

I use all pocket diapers and here is my wash routine: each diaper gets put in a wet bag (the same one in your picture actually!) – I do not take the inserts out in most cases since they fall out in the wash. Usually about every 3 days or 2, when the bag is full, I dump it in the washer with the bag. I use an inexpensive powdered detergent from Sam's (it is very mild with no scent- comes in a huge bucket) and put in about half the amount I would for a normal load. Then I run it on warm wash with an extra rinse cycle. They always come out clean, if there is still a smell on them, I wash them again with a normal load, but that is rare. I hang dry everything on dryer racks, and it usually takes about 12-18hrs for everything to dry.

This works for me since 1) I only am using cloth on a toddler right now and 2) I got all my cloth diapers for super cheap off of ebay so I am not concerned about taking extra special care of them since i can always order more for less than $4 each.

Comment on Homemade Compost Barrel by Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:05:38 +0000

He used 3/4"Dia. Galvanized Floor flanges {http://low.es/yXrLpS} bolted to the two ends of the barrel and then used 3" long 3/4" pipe pieced to go through the 4x4 posts and then put pipe caps on the ends to prevent the pipes from slipping out of the posts. Feel free to send me an e-mail if you have more questions!!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Suzette

Suzette — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:55:49 +0000

I am currently only diapering one, but I generally wash each day so that we always have a full supply. Here in Louisiana we have had one of the most mild Winters in a long time, so my diapers have been line drying throughout the winter, unless we are pressed for time or it is raining. Because we are subtropical, the humidity during a rain prevents line drying in the house…or it takes at least 24 hours!

We also use a similar pail for the prefolds and then a smaller pail without a cover for the covers. At Rita's changing table I have a small wet bag that I toss the prefolds in. Generally I empty the wet bag into the larger covered pail at the end or beginning of the day.

We have hard water too, but since all of our diapers (except one) are cotton I have been using homemade laundry detergent on them. I find it works, but maybe not quite as well as Charlie's or one of the more expensive detergents.

Do you use a clean rinsing detergent for the rest of your laundry or just run an empty cycle with Charlie's before washing your diapers and covers? I had read that if I were to use clean rinsing then I needed to use it for all laundry, but we were spending over $15 per month just on laundry detergent! Would love to know more about how you do this!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:53:31 +0000

Using the clothesline will be a bit more work but I love seeing the diapers on the line!! All those colorful dipaers make me smile!!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:52:29 +0000

I love the diaper pail, it does a great job keeping in odors! I reuse the covers too but most of our diapers are pockets which can't be reused. And when we just had one in diapers I washed them all together, now there are just so many! Thanks for sharing your routine!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by sux0rz1

sux0rz1 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:56:06 +0000

Sounds really similar to my routine! I am nervous about how adding taking them to the clothesline will affect our routine when the weather changes– I still have a good three months before then up here in the Pacific NW!

Comment on Diaper Washing Routine by TOR

TOR — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:59:54 +0000

We have a similar looking diaper trash can thing. Wifey reuses the covers unless they get wet or have poo on them. She tosses the liners and the covers into the same container and washes them together.

Comment on Postpartum Cloth Pads: GladRags by Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:56:48 +0000

I am pretty sure you'll love it! And you'll love that you're not throwing $$ away every month too!

Comment on Postpartum Cloth Pads: GladRags by Meg

Meg — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:42:37 +0000

I had noticed a while back that you had the Diva Cup and always wondered how it worked. Now,after reading what others have written here, I think I may get one from Amazon when I have enough Swagbucks! Personally, I never really liked pads, but tampons are so wasteful (the cardboard applicators hurt me, so I buy the plastic which I know is awful for the environment)! I wish I would have known about the Diva Cup a few weeks ago when I picked up another box of tampons. I really appreciate you bringing these things to light!!

Comment on Postpartum Cloth Pads: GladRags by Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:10:46 +0000

I'm hoping to share a glimpse into our grocery budget, meal plan and what I buy at the grocery store soon. I plan on covering the whole month and sharing everything we buy and how much we spend! I just have to pick a month and do it! And I shared my 2012 goals at the beginning of the year and I may share updates quarterly. And yes, the boys keep me busy with not much time to blog but I'm working on managing time better so I can have more devoted time to blog!