DIY Milk Jug Seed Starters

This is a great way to make a low cost, actually free,  cold frame for your  outdoor seeds that winter outside or to do seed starting inside for starting seeds indoors for the spring. We are doing this one. Getting our seeds started very soon indoors so they will be ready for planting outdoors. Or planting indoors in 5 gallon buckets. I have a few items that I want to do indoors. Will be easier for when we get our land to be able to take the plants with us.

But this simple and free milk jug seed starter is a great way to start...

Survival Seeds

• Cut a gallon milk jug in half horizontally. Leave one edge intact so that it will act like a hinge. 
• You can throw away the cap. But, my creative son is wanting to save them to somehow make an outdoor "rug" with. Have them bottom up so that you can use it to scrape mud off shoes.
• Punch several drainage holes into the bottom of the jug.
  
  
  
• Fill the bottom with a few inches of potting soil.
• Moisten it well and plant the seeds.
• Close the top cover and secure with some duct tape.
• Place the jug inside a clear plastic bag and twist tie closed. Since it is in a clear plastic bag it is like its own greenhouse.
• Place in a sunny spot outside out of the way , so it will not be bothered or have to be moved.
• Before transplanting , harden off the seedlings by taking the jug out of the bag and propping it open.

This is a frugal way to start your own garden or to garden indoors. Easy and fun to watch them grow.

Take Advantage Of The Sun & Nature

It isn't difficult to utilize the sun to help with easing the cost of your power usage. It will help by using the natural heat and light. You will use less power and be more sufficient. This will save your family money in the long run.

• Orient you buildings to take advantage of the sun and to protect your home from the cold winter winds. You can plant a living "fence" to help with this if you have to. Plant a row of evergreen trees to keep the cold wind away.
• Be sure to have as much insulation in your home as possible. This will also help in the summer by keeping the heat out and in the winter will hold the heat in.
• Think about adding a sunroom to your home. You can vent the heat into the home during the winter and in the summer vent the heat outside.
• Use the natural light during the day. In the winter open the curtains and let that natural light and heat into the house.
• Think about adding brick to the outside of your home. This really helps with controlling the temperature. 
• Use hanging plants and overhangs to cool the home in the summer. 
• Plant your own food garden in your yard to save money on food costs. 

• Have a rain barrel to catch water to use to water your garden and yard. My son also used our rain barrel to wash the cars. Great way to save money on water.

There are many ways to use nature to help you keep your utility bills low.

Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: Your Complete Guide to Living beyond the Grid with Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Living

COMMENT BELOW WAYS THAT YOU HAVE USED NATURE TO REDUCE ENERGY COST........

Water Dowsing

My grandfather was a huge believer in dowsing. We lived out in the boondocks and he used it to find water for their well.

He always told me that he only dowsed for need. If he felt like he was tired or not relaxed enough to dowse then he would stop. Either let someone else do it or wait until he felt that the answers were coming naturally. I can still see him walking slowly around the 3 acres they had looking for water. He went over it a few times to make sure and each time he got the same answer and they had water the whole time they were out there! 

You can get a ton of information online about dowsing for water and go from there. 

Going Off-Grid

We are very close to going totally off-grid. Have a piece of land lined up , a camper, and a truck. We will be all set. We have been looking for Solar Power items online and are going to have to get a Composting Toilet. We will be ok with that. The place we are looking at has awesome cell phone service and we will have the solar power for lights etc. I can't wait! In my mind we are already moved. It will be so great to live off the land and be free of utilities. Have a home where we can have freedom!