2010-08-06 [Aeolynn]: that link doesnt work for me... but I googled and found it by searching for 99 Step to an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

I think raising chickens would be fun!

2010-08-06 [Akayume]: It doesn't? Ohhh nooo! I copied it from my... Whatchamacallit, web browser... I shall sort this out. (: There are these really pretty super fluffy chickens (and I saw one at a bookstore, how odd), and I wouldn't mind having one of those. :D

2010-08-06 [kay-chan]: Remove the ',' at the end of the link and it works.

2010-08-06 [Akayume]: Duh. >.<'' Thank youuu. I totally didn't even realize that that would break the link.

2010-08-06 [sweet.tx.tea]: This is...interesting. D:

2010-08-06 [Akayume]: I think so. (: I defiantly want to try some of the things, like making my own soap!

2010-08-07 [sweet.tx.tea]: I think I will try this.

2010-08-07 [Kaimee]: I'm not realy interested enough to try this, but I did a quick read through and realised that I already do a lot of these: grow my own produce and herbs, make my own pasta and bread, make most foods from scratch, prepare my own teas, sew well enough to make repairs to clothing and furniture, reupholster furniture, do a lot of my own home repairs, compost and catch tank water, use 'grey' (safe laundry) water on the garden... etc. I think I'm already living pretty eco-friendly :)

2010-08-07 [Akayume]: Good for you. (: I also grow my own stuff and make bread. Rye bread is my favorite.

2010-08-08 [kay-chan]: I think it's interesting. I'd just like to know the reasons behind a lot of the things they have up there without having to do waaay extensive research. Sigh.

Kaimee is apparently a superhero.

2010-08-08 [Akayume]: I'm not sure of all of the reasons (I haven't done much research. DX) But some of them, uh, make sense. XD I was just thinking about the "Making your own soap", and last I checked you need chemicals to do that. O.o I don't know if I want to mess around with that, with my luck I'd come out of it with a bar of soap and a radioactive extra arm. >.>

2010-08-08 [Kaimee]: I AM a superhero, I admit it, but also I live in Australia and water preservation and recycling is, by neccessity, pretty big here :p as for the growing and making of stuff... I just like shit I make better than shit found in stores ;)

2010-08-08 [kay-chan]: Yeah, I get that. Things like 'buy a shower timer' are like a slap in the face. But using a caulk gun? ...as opposed to...? And why? That's more DIY, I think. As opposed to eco-friendly, except maybe it's just saving some dude gas, who would drive out to your house.

And my gma made soap a few times. I think she just used borax, but she used borax for a lot of things so I could just be getting confused. Also she's a badass and could just bite off any cancer that dared form on her.

I'm a little jealous that Australia is big on recycling... we have recycling to a certain extent here. But I went to Scotland, and there was NOTHING. It was pretty sad.

2010-08-08 [Kaimee]: Well here, it's pretty common to get your shower and pipes recaulked pretty often, because it can save so much water from leakage. Being able to do that yourself is just common sense.
I've never made soap but I have made herbal shampoos and conditioners... never for any long amount of time though :/

2010-08-08 [kay-chan]: See? I don't know that. Kaimee, you are now my spirit animal.

2010-08-08 [Kaimee]: And I shall guide you on the path to recycling *nods sagely*

2010-08-09 [Akayume]: It's nice to have an et resident guru on recycling. XP

2010-08-13 [Skydancer]: Well, caulking up the windows and leaks in the air envelope of your house can make a quite huge difference in how much heat and airconditioning you need.

2010-08-16 [Flisky]: I'm reading the list and noticing that I already do some of those...

2011-02-26 [Akayume]: That's awesome. :D

2011-03-04 [Kaimee]: Hehe, just thought I'd mention that I made plum jam, pear jam, apple sauce, pear chutney, plum chutney, bacon jam, preserved caramelised onion, canned tomatoes, canned pears, pickled cucumbers, and pickled onions over the last few weeks. All using produce from our garden or friends gardens! :) Well, the bacon was purchased as pork from a local farm, and home cured, so it still counts ;)

2011-03-04 [Akayume]: BACON JAM!?! What is this madness? XD
It does. (:
That is so awesome! I am super jealous. It's still winter here so I'm waiting for everything to melt so I can garden again!

In the meantime.. I knit!

2011-03-04 [Kaimee]: Oh, bacon jam is my new best friend! It's very similar to caramelised onions (and in fact, contains them!) but it's essentially bacon rendered down very slowly over a very long time, then processed into preserve jars. Check out http://ohjoy.blogs.com/my_weblog/2010/11/bacon-jam-spreadable-heaven.html :D

2011-03-04 [Akayume]: It. Looks. SO. GOOD.

2011-03-07 [Kaimee]: It IS xD I'm seriously eating it on everything. Current fav is avocado, bacon jam, lemon, salt and pepper on crusty home baked bread <3

2011-03-07 [Akayume]: Just like, slices of avocado and lemon? This sounds soooo good!

2011-03-08 [Kaimee]: slices that I kinda mash into the bread a little, like a spread :)

2011-03-08 [Akayume]: Ohhhh, yum. :3

I wish I was as creative of a cook as you. DX I am sooo jealous.

2011-03-09 [Kaimee]: That's not very creative, it's just yummy :)

2011-03-09 [Akayume]: It's very creative! Trust me! XD I am nowhere near so nifty. I take bread, put butter on it, and call it a day. XD

I wish I could cook/create more, but I don't have time and I suck. :( I learn by watching and doing, so a cookbook is hard for me unless I already know the recipe.

2011-03-10 [Kaimee]: I guess I've always just thrown food together, and never really worried about recipes, so cookbooks would probably be hard for me too x)
I would recommend tastespotting.com if you're looking for help/inspiration. I generally browse it, look at the general ingredients and/or method and then just make it up from there. Yeah, if a recipe calls for simmering for a couple hours I'll simmer, but I don't generally follow everything step by step or even look at the recipe again once I've started messing with it. I just add salt and butter 'til it tastes good xD

2011-06-10 [Nioniel]: Cool beans. :)

2011-06-10 [Akayume]: X3 I haven't done any steps. Still. :P

2011-06-10 [Nioniel]: I might. :)

2011-06-10 [Akayume]: I want to make my own soap!

2011-06-10 [Nioniel]: Me too! :D

2011-06-10 [Akayume]: I found a good recipe online... I have to dig it up again though. I have a million and two favorites... >.>

2011-08-15 [Kiddalee]: What I love about this page is the number of links to tutorials. I'm going to try many of these.

I disagree with #30. Most people will use cotton to make their own dishcloths, and they don't make sure it's organic. Cotton is the most pesticide dependent crop in the world. The work that goes into the yarn is almost as bad as buying dishcloths from the dollar store, and more expensive.

I would suggest getting linen, hemp where it's legal, or organic cotton. Anything that uses non-organic cotton is not going to help.

At least learning to make a dishcloth will teach you the basics of knitting or crochet, and you can use that knowledge to make all kinds of things.

2011-08-15 [Akayume]: That's true. I love to knit, and I've found that going to specialty yarn stores and getting yarn that's been hand worked/dyed is great (although yes, a little expensive.)

And sankoo. I really need to try to do these again. >.< I might start at the new year like my 365 project. :P

2011-08-19 [Blaithin]: I love this Akayume, Thanks for the link! I'll definitely start trying it. A lot of the things I helped with when I was younger on the farm but have gotten away from when I've been moving around the last couple of years. I really want to start doing it again though and can't wait to get a place of my own and plan it all out!

2011-08-19 [Akayume]: Awesome. :D