Shifting Gears

Lately, I have been motivated to try and shop more locally.  My focus has been on organic as being healthier, but I am also concerned about conserving gas, wear and tear on the car PLUS knowing where to get food locally in the case the JIT system breaks down (grin).  Having been a small business owner myself, I really prefer to give my money to a small-town business owner, instead of a big corporation.  I am trying to stay out of Walmart, and can't remember the last time I went (a month ago?) to one.  PD#1 needed new "unmentionables".  We didn't go to Walmart, but to a local San Antonio store for them.  I was very proud of myself.  They were having a great sale too ;-)


Sometimes the prices are higher, but I pay them.  If I drove into town for the item, I'd have to add the cost of fuel into it, and it'd be the same or higher.  Thursday is my errand day and it normally looks like this:

1) Stop by bank and withdraw amount to spend (I don't like to use the card at the stores but pay cash, often I can get a cash discount, especially on fuel purchases at the locally owned oil company (they sell gas about 25 cents cheaper than the gas station, and I get an additional discount when paying cash).  We buy our kerosene here also.  We use kerosene for our oil lamps, and for the heater when the temps are in the 30s and below.  We have the wood stove, but it doesn't heat the back bedroom, and that is the coldest room.


2) Stop by post office

3) Dairy for raw milk, sometimes Farmhouse Cheddar if I haven't made cheese.

4) Meat Market for American Cheese/Mild cheddar.  These are in slices for sandwiches.  My last hold out that isn't organic because I can't get it local. 

5) Poultry farm for a few chickens cut into pieces, instead of whole roasting chickens.  (this is normally a once a month expense)

6) Oil company for gas/kerosene

7) Produce Stand or local farm for produce.  Today I purchased produce at the local grocery store, which I have been trying to stay out of.  I went for one item today, and they have a NEW organic and local produce section.  It's small, but I was very excited.

8) Library

9) Local Mexican/Jalisco Bakery for awesome tortillas (sometimes I make my own, but I like to support this baker).  and sometimes doughnuts.

We did head into S.A. yesterday to pick up my beef order.  I had ordered 25 lbs of organic, grass fed beef from a somewhat local to me (about 50 miles) rancher.  He raises Longhorn cattle and sells the beef through the San Antonio RealFoods group.

Lately, I am also interested in reducing our electrical energy consumption.  After reviewing our energy consumption for the month I was shocked to see that we used 1286 KWH.  I reviewed our history for the year and not surprisngly we use the most during July and August, the two hottest months of the year.  But I was happy to see that last year at this time we used 300 MORE kWH than this year.  Two things I think are a factor is our new pump (it's smaller, so uses less electricity and we aren't irrigating and filling the pond) 2) it isn't as cold, so we haven't used the little space heater in the bathroom very much.  I think we'll keep it off UNLESS someone is bathing.  I have the wood stove going now, and the bathroom door open, so the heat can filter into there.

My goal for this month is to lower the kWH usage by 40 kWH.  This will be the start.  My goal is to cut our useage in half IF possible.  We seriously need a solar or wind source of energy to run the well pump.  I already hang my laundry out, only using the dryer if something is really needed and it's raining (which isn't often here).  I asked everyone to leave the lights off if they are watching t.v., to unplug the laptop when charged, and only plug it in when it needs charging.  I'll be turning off the desktop computer and internet modem tonight when we go to bed, and plan to do so every night.  It will be inconvenient waiting for everything to power up the next morning, but my goal for the month of December is to lower our useage at least a little.  I want to see if we can do it...I thought we would have used less energy, because we only have a 360 sq foot cabin, no central air or heating, no hot water heater on all the time (we have a Tiny Titan) nor a big oven or stovetop or dishwasher, but I'll have to check what the average useage is for most Americans and see if i am up there or not.

We moved the chicks to the chicken tractor tonight. It isn't going to be as cold tonight, and they needed more room.  They are growing fast.  Speaking of chicks, one of the BABY pigs killed one of my older Buff chicks (she was 3 months old).  I could hardly believe that the piglet chomped it and started eating it.  I was very SHOCKED!  I took it away from her and she fought with me over it.  I think she is the one we'll butcher...

I recently purchased six cases of pint jars from an estate sale.  They were $5.00.  I was very glad to get them.  A friend also picked up three cases of quart jars for me at Dollar General.  They were 50% off!  So, $4.25 a case!  I plan to start canning more soups and such so the jars will come in handy ;-)