Cloth diapering

I have decided to try out cloth diapers. I bought an Oh Katy diaper over a year ago to try out. It was hard and not really worth it with one diaper. Several months ago I entered into a contest with Oh Katy and just happen to win 9 cloth diapers, so that made it so I had 10 diapers!

 Once I received them I started at once. The first thing that you do when you get your cloth diapers, is the run them through a couple washes. The new fabric is not as absorbent at first, so washing them helps them to hold moisture better. Now I really got into using them and have been experimenting with the cleaning process. I have done a lot of research and have talked to several other moms that use cloth diapers. I have gotten advice like, using downy, hanging them in the sun to dry, using country save detergent, doing just a hot wash, using tide detergent, etc. Some of a few things that I have found out since I started using them:
- I love using oxyclean detergent
- do not use fabric softeners or dryer sheets
- I still don't know how I feel about the country save laundry detergent but I paid $20 for the box so I am still going to use it
 
- I do one cold wash and then a hot wash with detergent both times (country save and oxyclean)
 - wet bags are a MUST HAVE

- you have to wash them every 2 days
- it really only is worth it if you have an high efficiency washer and dryer so you don't use too much water
- dry them on low heat (in the process of putting up a dryer line outside) - don't use rash creams. You don't really need them with these diapers  (** UPDATE the buttons of the diapers would get stuck in the drum of my dryer and break the buttons, so I only air dry now)
- diaper sprayers make it so much easier to clean

 I'm not going to lie, it can be gross, but it is so worth it, to me. I am saving money, saving the garbage dump, and essentially saving the planet, one diaper at a time. Ha!

Just a note, Oh Katy diapers are on sale for the month July, buy 4 get 1 FREE!!!

My jab at local government

A few months ago, I decided I wanted chickens. I had been searching on KSL (a local online classifieds) for cheap chicken supplies. I found a galvanized waterer and feeder as well as a heat lamp for $15. It was a total score considering they are about $30 each. I had my supplies, now I just needed the chickens. So with a few extra bucks from my birthday, I went to IFA and bought the chickens I had been researching. With a blue silkie, a light brahama bantam and two buff orpingtons in boxes in the front seat of my car, I brought home my new additions. My husband was very sceptic. He is not an animal person and has never really had them growing up. So through our 5 year journey, I have conned him into letting me have 2 dogs, a few rabbits, and now some chickens. I have always wanted to have a little farm of my own, and I am on my way to that goal. My husband made an ultimatum, in my town, it is not legal for us to have chickens. So the deal was that I could keep them, only if I got the city council to change the regulation and to allow chickens. I began by going to a city council meeting and presenting what I was wanting in the city. I had spent weeks doing research and I had a speech all planned to deliver, and all the mayor basically said was to come up with an amendment to the regulation and have it pass the planning commission and then they will see what will happen with the city council. During the meeting one of the city council men was interested and willing to help me get it passed. So I filled out the amendment paper and I wrote a narrative to try to convince them that having chickens should be allowed. I now have a meeting planned with the planning commission on July 25th at 6pm. I hope and pray they pass this so I can legally have my chickens and not have to hide them in my basement! Until then, here are my cute little ladies!



 

Let's get this Party started!

I am not a creative writer by any means, but my reasoning in starting this blog is to share my finds and experiences. I have to come to be a bit granola through my years. But I still shave, I usually do all my shopping at Walmart, thanks to price matching and coupons, I love my meat and cheese and I love to garden. That makes me just a dash granola. I am a family of 3, plus a couple dogs, rabbits and chickens. We have a beautiful daughter for whom I try to be better for. I will share with you my adventures of living life, raising a family, and a small farm, and my creations and ideas on how to try to be more self sufficient and more self reliant. Jump on this band wagon, and please share your thoughts and ideas too! - M