Posts belonging to Category 'simple living'
July 23, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
In each of my recent posts on homestead hygiene, explaining the various methods we use to keep clean without municipal water supplies or standard in-home plumbing, water conservation is a key aspect. Each method’s success relies on every bather using water carefully, sparingly, and wisely. This means that while showering, either with wood- or solar-heated [...]
Categories: simple living | 
Tags: conserving water while bathing, homestead hygiene, self reliance | 
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July 20, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
Of all the various ways of keeping clean on the homestead without municipal water supplies, the most pleasant from a social aspect is the sauna. Saunas have a long history in Bush Alaska, where they are usually referred to as “banyas,” from the Russian term. Scandinavians have long known the value of a proper sauna [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: banya, homestead hygiene, sauna, self reliance | No Comments »
July 16, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
We keep clean in a variety of ways on our homestead. Mostly, we use our wood-fired water heater for showers, or sponge bathe with an ewer and basin, but we also have a pair of sun or Summer Shower,” a tough plastic bag fitted with an excellent shower head. It has handy extras, such as [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: homestead hygiene, self reliance, solar shower, sun shower | 2 Comments »
July 11, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
The ewer and basin Aly and I made for Michelle in 2000 (Photo: Michelle Zeiger). Back before running water became a common feature of the home, people kept clean with an ewer and basin. The phrase may not be familiar, but you’ve seen this toiletry set in museums, antique stores, many homes (where they’re mostly [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: ewer and basin, homestead hygiene, self reliance | 1 Comment »
July 9, 2010 | Posted by Mark Z
If you were to joke that cleanliness on the homestead is next to impossible, I admit that some days we’d have a hard time proving you wrong. Living semi-remotely allows a certain casualness that is seldom allowed in regular society. We can skip showers more days than we would if we lived in town; We [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: aguaheater, frugal homestead, homestead hygiene, self reliance | 2 Comments »
October 27, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
I’ve discussed the pleasure of loving what we own. Another key to our happiness is being able to let these possessions go when necessary. I have always felt that transience enhances beauty and value. Flowers are more beautiful for their brief life; the joy of a bunch of balloons is enhanced by the shortness of [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: healthy attitudes toward possessions, self reliance, simple living | No Comments »
October 27, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
I adhere to the principal that happiness comes not from owning what you love, but from loving what you own. Compared to most Americans we have very little; what we do own we take pride and pleasure in. We try hard not to take any of it for granted. At the risk of overusing a [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: appreciating what you own, self reliance, simple family living | No Comments »
October 24, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
Oil lamps provide low level, alternative light to a home, while lending an elegant and pleasant ambiance. Properly fueled and maintained, they may help save on electrical bills, and stand ready to provide illumination during power outages. Our family has collected and used oil lamps for many years, and has learned a bit about how [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: choosing quality oil lamps, self reliance | No Comments »
October 24, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
If you’re considering using oil lamps to provide low level, alternative light in your home, here’s some advice on using them properly: Operation: Lamp wicks, like candle wicks, don’t actually burn after lighting. Liquid fuel rises (wicks) up to the flame, and is consumed rather than the wick itself. Lamp wicks can be trimmed in [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: self reliance, using oil lamps safely | No Comments »
October 24, 2009 | Posted by Mark Z
If you’re considering using oil lamps to provide low level, alternative light in your home, let’s look at how to use and care for them properly: Fuel: Oil lamps will theoretically burn any combustible fuel, but for safety reasons it’s unwise to use anything that’s more volatile than kerosene. Kerosene smells bad because it contains [...]
Categories: simple living | Tags: fueling and maintaining oil lamps, self reliance | No Comments »
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