My new years resolution...

So I have been thinking... I want to try and buy nothing new this year. So much goes to waste every year. Think about how many things you have laying around your house that never get used. I have slowly been thinning my "junk" out and donating to the Humane Society Thrift Store (which I shop at weekly!) and at the same time have been picking up things I actually need. So my resolution is this. I want to buy everything used this year. Clothes, toys, furniture etc... The exceptions to this will be food, gifts and home/car repairs. I buy mostly used as it is but I want to really challenge myself. We'll see how it goes. I'll let you know.

In the meantime, the chickens are doing great. They lay about every other day so I am not sure if that is going to be their schedule or if they are still adjusting.

My compost bin is doing great too. I am saving coffee grounds and my banana peels from work and of course putting my chicken poop in there too. Oh yah, and I am so excited, I found a rototiller for $10 on craigs list. It is a 4 hp and is self propelled. I am really getting close to planting this garden!! Thanks for reading.

Composting

I have been planning on building my own compost bin for some time now but with the recent addition of chickens to our "Williams Family Farm" I figured it was time I got off my rearend. I actually found this one at Sam's by accident for just $40.00. It is great. It is made of 100% recycled material, has a locking lid, is very easy to put together and has 2 sliding door panels on the bottom (2 sides). It lets small amounts of rain in and vents. I was able to set it up just outside the coop so when I clean it up that is where it will the chicken droppings will be going. Then eventually it will find its way to my vegetable plants. I am very excited! 2 exciting additions to my "green venture" in 1 weekend... I can barely contain myself. LOL

We've got chickens!!! We picked them up late Saturday. We have 2 hens and a rooster but are getting another hen. We actually had not planned on getting a rooster but this guy would not leave the girls side. Not to mention you all know how much I love roosters so I fell in love with him and couldnt let him go. They are transitioning quite well considering I had 2 eggs already this morning. It was pretty exciting. I heard the rooster crowing this morning while I was getting ready for work so I went outside, 5:30 in the morning in the pitch dark with a flashlight just to check. Did I mention that the coop is on the far side of the property?? LOL it was a great feeling to see my first egg laying there. I have been feeding them tons of scraps. I was bringing the scraps to the pigs before so they were not going to waste but it feels even better to feed them to MY chickens now.

share your leftover paint

How many times have you painted a room in your home and had paint leftover that was destined to sit in your garage for years until one day your husband finally cleans the garage and it ends up in the trash, wasted? My brother painted his living room this past month and had a can left over. I loved the color so he generously passed it along to me. I expected to have to buy a small can if needed but didnt even have to. Not only did I save money by not having to spend it on paint but I saved a can of paint from being destined to a life in a landfill. I also noticed that our local Habitat for Humanity store accepts used paint. So think about it. If you have paint left over maybe a friend can use it. Even if it doesnt do an entire room it may be used for an accent wall. If they really like the color they can always purchase additional cans of the same color. Either way it saves money. 1 can did my entire dining room. I still have a little touch up I need to do but I have a little bit left plus my brother has another half of a can at his house that we can share for touch ups. I am really pleased with how it came out. I still have to finish the trim around the windows and doors but still it will be very little cost now to buy a small can of white paint versus what I would have spent.