Tricky Tuesday: Save Time and Save Money

I'm relatively sure nearly everyone has heard the term I've included in my title as pertains to business.  Well, I believe it is also important in Motherhood.  Perhaps it is especially important to and for those Mothers who find themselves in the midst of business responsibilities through choice or out of necessity.  Even for those Mothers who are able to be full-time Moms and not worry about generating an income, saving time saves money.

The money referenced may not be a one to one conversion of time to paper currency.  It may be more about energy output for end result.  It could be relating to the saving work that Mother love does in their children's lives.  In reality, there is no saving of time or spending of time.  I mentioned that I realized that the last time I broached this topic.  Nonetheless, given our linear experience of this manifestation, I think these terms are relatively appropriate.

Often times the time we save (working efficiently) does convert into paper currency.  It is often a one to one conversion.  Sometimes, it's even exponential.  As I mentioned above, sometimes the currency we save by saving time is a little more difficult to discern.  Herein follow a few examples of some forms of currency that I can save by working more efficiently in my own life.

Consolidating tasks into the same period of time.  A long time ago, when I had only one child, I was a major TV addict.  I would put a load of laundry in the wash and then watch TV while the wash machine worked.  Then, move it into the dryer and watch TV while the dryer worked.  Then fold laundry while I watched TV.  I hardly had time for any of the other housework on days I did laundry because I only did laundry and I felt like I was really working.  Silly?  Yes, I know it was silly of me to think that way NOW.  I was expending a great deal of time on one task that required very little of my energy.  Now, I load the washer in the morning and get to work on the next task for the day.  Because I have a couple of older children who are capable, I often do not touch the laundry after starting it (until I fold my own, of course).  I spend much more of my time in management activities than performing the housework myself.

This point is really the most important.  I believe it is THE work of Motherhood.  Even knowing that, though, does not make it *easy* for me to perform well in my understanding.  I do know, though that as we save time for our children, we are working a work of saving their souls and the souls of their progeny!  How awesome is that!?  Beyond amazingly awesome to me!  Doesn't that just add a whole level and degree of honor and respect to the role of a Mother?  I think so!

What ways can you see that Moms could save time to save money (any form of currency you can define)?

Tricky Tuesday #16

The children and I put together a new "bug out list" a while ago.  It may have been as long as four months ago, now.  The list has each child's name on it and what they should bring/pack to our departure vehicle.  It is very specific about who is responsible for what and how much... so it would seem that there would be little for me to worry about other than the long list of things I need to pack.  Would it were so!

The children knew a drill was coming, but didn't know when it would be.  I was inspired to run one about two weeks ago as a result of writing THIS post.  They did really well this time around, all things considered.

We forgot the first aid kit and extra water.  I forgot extra clothes and underwear for my husband and me.  (I did get some for the baby, though!)  If you think that's lame, you should see my list!

I set the departure time at 15 minutes.  It took us almost 25... so that needs work.

My eldest daughter was yelling like a banshee a few too many times (even once would be too many, as we later talked about).

I had to speak way too frequently about who needed to do what... so we need to have a few more drills so everyone knows their responsibilities.

Still, it went rather well considering we haven't run a drill of this sort in more than two years... maybe three!  gah!

Tricky Tuesday #15

Emergencies.  We never know when they'll happen.  That's why they are emergent, of course.

I've been grateful for our systems on many occassions.  Probably MOST grateful when emergencies strike.  We run drills.  I wrote about this subject a little while ago.  We haven't had all that many lately, but I am gearing up to run some more.

I have done a couple since the incident in THIS post in which I share about why we run drills.  Once, our phone didn't work and I was worried that I had forgotten to pay the bill.  The time of day was rough... if I was too late, I would interrupt my husband at the very busy time of day at his job.  So, it was imperative that I get out fast.  So, I told the children they had less than 10 minutes to get ready to go and get in the van.  They tried to ask me questions and I just told them we had to leave and to get on it.  (If there was an ACTUAL emergency, I wouldn't have time to chat with them about why and how and all that, so it's important to keep the practices very close to the real thing.)

Because we have systems in place, the children were out and buckled in within seven minutes.  Yes, I am a little proud of that.  :)

We've had a few family meetings about what we need to do so that we can get out quick.  The meeting has also included conversation about what we each need to carry out to the van and HOW to accomplish what needs to be done so that we could depart in under 15 minutes and have lots of the important stuff with us.  We even have a list on the back of a door AND on the inside of a high cabinet (for me) that guests and visitors are NOT likely to see that describes for each of us what our responsibilities are.  This is a huge blessing.  When they start asking me what they should do, all I have to do is remind them of the list and they can figure it out for themselves!

If we faced a real emergency departure situation, I would have enough to deal with just trying to make sure I got everyone and everything out that I need to.  Answering questions would be way too stressful!

Do you have systems in place that will help you in case of an emergency departure situation?  I'd love to hear how they've worked for you!

LINKED

Tricky Tueaday #14

Today is a continuation of my series on SYSTEMS and rules that help me as a Mama.

Shopping is a chore, but if we have systems in place, it doesn't have to be as bad as it otherwise might be.  My children love to go shopping.  I'm not entirely sure why, but it usually is a pretty good experience... and they get to leave the house.

Unloading the groceries could be as much or more of a hassle if we try to do it without systems in place.  I totally remember those days!!!

For me, unloading the children is the same process at home as anywhere else (with a little more easy-going mama at home since I'm not worried about them running into the parking lot and getting run over).  They know that they are expected to hang out near whereever I put the groceries into the van.  Before I started selling Lilla Rose at the Farmer's Market, that place was pretty much always the very BACK of the van.  But now that's pretty full of my set-up for the market, so I usually load the groceries into the passenger seat area of the van now.

As a result of this change, the children unload themselves from the van and hang out around the front of the van until I have baby in the sling and am ready to distribute stuff for them to take in the house.  I make sure to give the little guy (2 years old) the lightest groceries.  Sometimes I have to take stuff out of a bag for him to carry.  I can NOT leave him out of this process or there will be greater difficulties in the short and long-terms.

The girls carry the bulk of the groceries and I follow up with whatever is left after they run and make a few trips to unload.  It works very nicely.  Once inside, I coordinate the unpacking of bags.  Usually with the two youngest trying to help and being reminded that they need to get out of the kitchen.  The older two girls are very helpful.  Often my second daughter is assigned to read to the younger two with my oldest daughter helping to load things in to the refrigerator or putting other things away in cabinets.

Now, all of this series (concerning the systems I use for shopping trips) doesn't mean that we have NO problems ever.  We do.  The children don't keep their hands to themselvses perfectly.  They don't do what they are told the first time.  We have lots of problems.  But the problems we face are not, thankfully, temper-tantrum-type problems (unless it's mine when they ask for something I had on my list!!!  haha).  Praise the Lord!

Are you excited to see what comes next week?  I sure hope you are!!

Tricky Tuesday #13

How DO I save money and aggravation while shopping without using any coupons?

Well, I'll tell ya!

It's called the: Ask-for-it-and-I-don't-buy-it rule.  And it works WONDERFULLY!

When I first instituted this rule, I wasn't so sure it would help very much.  Children test.  It's just the way it is.  I figured I was in for a lifetime of having to say no a million times every time we went shopping.

One day, though, I decided to try this rule.  I don't know if I read it somewhere or if it just suddenly popped into my head.  I've had both experiences with various parenting successes... I just don't keep track of which is which very well.  Anyway... I told the children, "If you ask me to buy anything from now on, I will not buy it.  The only way you can tell me what you want and STILL maybe get it is if I ask YOU what you want."  As I mentioned, I didn't know how well it would go.  My children test and test again (even when they REALLY know the rules).

Well, they definitely tested.  I had my list all written up.  And they know, if it's on the list, I'm definitely getting it unless I absolutely cannot find it.  I was standing in front of the frozen pizza place and one of my girls asked if we could please buy pizza.  I was SO upset!!!!  I basically had a temper tantrum right there and said something like, "What!!??  Why in the WORLD would you ask for pizza after I JUST told you, reminded you, and told you again about the new rule!!!??  Do you see this (made sure to show list to each child)?  Do you know that it says PIZZA!??  And now... and now I can't get pizza, which we were going to have for DINNER tonight, because YOU had to go and ASK for it!  GAH!!!!  What am I going to do for dinner now?  I'm so frustrated.  Why in the world would you ask when you know the RULE??!!!"  The girls spent the time I was fussing in frustration looking at and slightly elbowing each other.  When I was finished, they appologized.  I said, "Thank you.  Still doesn't help me with dinner!"

Well, since that experience, my children have only RARELY asked me to buy anything in the grocery store.  I invited a child to tell me what they wanted on their birthday.  Reminding all, the whole while, that this is different because I asked.  They get it.  They really do.

I am so grateful for this rule in place.  I can usually go shopping with all of my children (5) with far less frustration than I felt with 2 or 3 before I put the rule in place.  Praise the Lord for His perfect provision in EVERY way!

If you are interested in more ways I keep order and peace among my children when we are out and about, click on over HERE to read about systems!

Next week I'll continue to share more about shopping.

Tricky Tuesday #12

Do you think you'll  try the system for "loading up" any time soon?  I have to let you know it's not perfect the first time... or three.  As with any training, it does take consistency and time.  Practice.  And the first few times it is important and necessary for you to be present and give directions and correction.  To be honest, you'll have to do this repeatedly forever, just less and less over time... that's life with children, right?

Once we arrive at our destination, we unload in a very specific order.  The girls in the back row exit first, often while I'm unbuckling the baby.  They stand near whichever tire I direct them to stand next to (no leaning on the van!).  My oldest daughter often/usually climbs over and unbuckles the little guy.  She usually exits before him.  He almost always finds something to fiddle with and take a bit longer than he needs to get out.  A guy thing?  I don't know.

When out of the van, they know they are supposed to stand in order... either birth order or reverse birth order.  Either is acceptable.

Once I've taken baby out of her car seat and put her in the sling, I hold the youngest's hand and the girls line up in reverse birth order behind him.  We walk to the store this way.  I do check my girls in line frequently for two reasons.  First, to make sure they are still there!  And, of course, to make sure they are walking in a straight line.  Unfortunately, lines are very much part of our society, so as a homeschool family, I take such opportunities to teach them how to walk in a line.

I put the youngest in the seat of the shopping cart.  If the store has a bench right at the front, he climbs onto it and I lift him from there.  If not, I just lift him up from the ground.  He's a pretty solid guy, so I like when there is a bench at the front of the store!  My third daughter likes to ride on the opposite end of the card (standing on the undercarriage and holding on to the basket), but I don't often let her as it usually causes problems.  So, most often, the girls line up in reverse birth order behind me and that's how we walk.  It works.  We get plenty of comments about "Mama Duck and her ducklings" and most of the time I don't mind at all.  The comments that bug me are usually, "Man you've got YOUR hands full!"  Sometimes it's said very kindly and I don't mind those.  But there is a tone of voice that is problematic and I definitely don't prefer those comments (same words, just different delivery).

Next week: how I save money and aggravation while shopping without using any coupons!

Tricky Tuesday #11

Systems.  Order.  Organization.  Things in their place.  This sort of thing was way beyond my ken not so long ago.  Things being in their place is still a bit out there, but we're working on it!  Thankfully, I have progressed!  Praise the Lord for always providing me the information I needed when I needed it.

So now I'm sharing what I've been given.

Do you feel completely frustrated and near to tears just at the thought of getting out of the house to go shopping?  Well, if you have two or three babies (3 or under), all I can say is: this too shall pass.  Seriously, you can implement some of my suggestions, but when your oldest child is 3 years old, things are bit more hectic than when they are bit older and more able.

My life is more difficult and fuller and better and harder all at once, now that I have 5 children.  My oldest is 9 years old and amazing.  The next is 7 and also amazing (in different ways, sometimes, but still amazing).  I used to hear mothers of many say, "I couldn't have this many children without this many children."  I get it now.

Because we have systems in place for most events, activities, situations, life is a lot easier even though it's still more difficult in some ways.  Yes, I do know that sounds contradictory, but it's absolutely true.

To depart, I give assignments.  They are usually pretty much the same.  Oldst daughter helps with youngest child (finding shoes, getting any final articles of clothing put on... sometimes that doesn't work, so I do it at the last minute before we head out).  The two middle daughters are pretty independent, so they get themselves together and head out as soon as my oldest daughter is ready.

At the van: My oldest daughter knows how to unlock the door they need to enter.  The children enter in a certain order.  First the youngest enters first.  His seat is in the first bench farthest from the one sliding door.  Next my oldest daughter climbs in and helps youngest buckle in his seat.  Next my second daughter gets in her seat and puts on her buckle.  Finally, my third daughter gets in and buckles herself up, unless it's dark in which case my second daughter might need to help her.  It used to be second daughter's job to help third daughter get buckled.  Finally, oldest climbs over the first bench into the row on which she sits.    How does this work?  Everyone has assigned seats.  YEAY!  No arguements over who sits where.  I put the baby in her seat as I compliment or correct based on how they did or did not accomplish the load up procedure.  It actually works.

Having this system in place (loading up), I don't spend nearly as much time as I onc did.  So, even though I'm not technically saving money, I am saving time... and time is really important to making money, right!??

Next week I'll share with you how it works when getting out of the van and going into stores.

Tricky Tuesday used to be all about saving money.  It is now becoming more about dealing with things that might be tricky to deal with.  In many instances, those things that are tricky to deal with may save you money if dealt with in a new way.  We can hope!

Tricky Tuesday #10

Why do we have "money problems"?  Do we believe money is the root of all evil?  That's what the devil would have us believe, but it's a lie.  You see, he's taken, as he does, part of the truth and twisted it.  That scripture actually says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil.  Now, the LOVE of money referenced in that scripture is what Jesus Christ talked about when He said things like, "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".  If we understand this truly and fully, we will come to the realization that money is only a tool... like so many things.  The goodness or badness perceived is in the person who perceives, not the thing itself.  The goodness or badness can also be in the use of it, not the IT.

Tricky Tuesday is supposed to be about saving money and ideas to help finances and whatnot.  So, what AM i going on about?  Well, if we can come to truly understand these principles, we will be able to transform how we use and interact with money.  We will be able to use the tool AS a tool... we will be able to be wise.  How can we truly understand?  Well, I believe that meditation is a wonderful tool to help us move into greater profound understanding more quickly than anything else I've found.  I prefer Kundalini Yoga.

Why?  Well... I tried mindfulness.  It didn't do anything for me.  I tried focusing on the breath... it helped me feel more physically calm, but my brain was WAY too busy for me to feel any swift good from it.  I tried guided imagery.  That was quite powerful for me... but compared to Kundalini Yoga it was like a jerky jumpy ride.  I think I would like to try it again in a few months, but to start with, it was really rough.  Kundalini Yoga has been a smooth seamless transitioning.  It has enabled me to see things in new ways and come to deeper and truly profound understandings more smoothly and quickly than anything else... prayer may be equal, but not as consistent for me.

Want to try?  Just as in prayer there is an open and close.  I do Kirtan Kriya daily.  Currently I also do Prosperity (still) and a conquering anger meditation (I'm in a 40 day challenge for anger).  My main "teacher" has been Felice Austin.  She's great.  If you don't prefer her, you can search each term in YouTube (make sure to include KundaliniYoga).

Tricky Tuesday

Eating well (and by well I mean: HEALTHY) in this day and age is rough.  The mainstream food supply is poisoned and becoming more completely unreliabe.  The only kind of produce one should trust, as supplied through the chain grocery stores, is Organic.  And even that label is becoming increasingly unreliable.  Did you know that apple and pear orchards are allowed to spray their trees with antibiotics as preventative maintenance?  It's true.  Don't believe me.  Check it out for yourself!  Do your own research!

Did you know that lots of produce, without any indication, is being irradiated?  Some suggest that all leafy greens are irradiated.  So what?  Do you KNOW why that's a problem?  No... well, you should!  I'm not going to spoon-feed you this information right now.  It's for another day... if you express a desire that i should share it here.  Let me know.

The point of sharing all of the above here is to share with you a way for you to provide yourself and your family with nutritious (potentially even more so than those organic items that ARE trustworthy).

You do, of course, know about growing it yourself.  That will save you money if you can collect from your efforts.  However, if you don't have time for weeding, watering, fertilizing... well, then, you may not have much to collect from the efforts you ARE able to put forth.  With a Tower Garden, though, you may be able to collect significantly more with a lot less time invested.  How?  Well, since Tower Gardens are aeroponic, there is no watering and no weeding!  There are some maintenance jobs, but even those amount to far less time invested than watering and weeding by hand.

The thing that finally convinced me was learning about the irradiation of leafy greens, as a general thing.  Also, the fact that, even with the add-ons i decided to include, my monthly payment is less than $65 for a constant supply of food for my family.  A basic Tower with no add-ons can be as little as $43 per month for 11 months (the first month includes shipping, so you pay a total of 12 payments).  I pay the monthly payment out of one week of our food budget.  So, short-term sacrifice for long-term gain!  Yes, there is an output and it's not EASY to manage it for us (and probably not most people), but it's totally worth the results.

We harvested our first family salad last week... and then another a few days later.  I won't be able to harvest for another few days, at least, but we sure did enjoy those two FAMILY salads (that's enough lettuce and kale for 6 people twice within seven days).  My son ate ALL of his salad BOTH times without a single complaint.  Prior to this, as a rule, he would lick the salad dressing off the leaves and not eat the greens.  THAT alone makes the Tower pretty wonderful to me!  My Chef husband commented repeatedly the first time, "Are you sure there's kale in here?"  He couldn't believe it because it was so very mild.

These results are well worth the short-term sacrifice!  I'm so thankful to be feeding my family greens i can trust (from my Tower).

Another awesometing about Towers is that the Tower Tonic (nutrients for the plants) may be even better than organic fertilizers since "organic" legally means that Organic Certified growers must use fertilizers that are from previously living things.  The Tower Tonic contains minerals and more that are gathered directly from the earth.  Isn't that how plants are made to get them?

We are very pleased with our Tower and hope to buy some more eventually.  That way we'd be able to eat from it daily!  How exciting and wonderful that will be.  :)

http://gollihugh.towergarden.com/

Tricky Tuesday #9

If you've been learning about the dangers of our mainstream food supply (as i have), you may feel an urgency to change your food consumption practices.  If you do, you'll quickly find that eating organic via the grocery store is really quite expensive.  It is SO tricky to eat well (truly healthfully).  If you need to save some money (as i know i always need to!), you definitely need to look for an organic foods co-op.  If you live near me, i can connect you to a wonderful co-op (or two) that are REALLY reasonable to get into (do NOT cost an arm and a leg to start) and have GREAT prices!

If you have any yard or space in which to place pots, do a little food growing RIGHT NOW.  Even though it's late to start where i am, it's better to start late than not at all.  i'm only just getting stuff in the ground!  Seriously late, i know, but i TRULY believe better late than never!  Just make sure you buy heirloom seeds!

Tricky Tuesday #8

A suggestion for you today.

If you desire to learn something for which you would love to take a class, but cannot afford to do so... seek out a local club that deals with your subject.  You can probably attend as a guest for at least a few meetings to see if you want to commit... and then, it's likely the membership dues are far more manageable than tuition, fees, and books for almost any given class you could attend.

I've been able to attend two out of the last three Garden Club meetings and they are wonderful.  They are a group of older ladies who are each a wealth of knowledge about plants and gardening.  I've learned so much each time and come away with cuttings and/or actual potted plants.  Most recently I was given two potted plants: a night flowering cereus and a pot with some vick's plants (plectranthus tomentosa) and easter lilies in it!  ^_^

Some reading on the Vick's plant (and toothache plant, which i hope to grow from seed soon).

Tricky Tuesday #7

One of the ways just about everyone can use to make ends meet more easily without overtaxing the finances is to grow some food and then use it in pleasing ways.  My single most successful endeavor in gardening for 2012 would have to be sweet potatoes.  And we sure are enjoying the consuming of our efforts with them.  Actually... our efforts were minimal... especially considering how much we've reaped.  God is great!

This is the largest of all the potatoes we grew this year.

The five-gallon bucket full of sweet potatoes.

So far, we've enjoyed sweet potato bread the most.  We've also had some plain sweet potatoes and sweet potato pie with whipped cream.  All: YUM!  :)



Tricky Tuesday #6

It's tricky to gather storage for humans, much less livestock.  I still haven't gathered much, but periodically we gather acorns.  Apparently, my goats love acorns.  We're not feeding them very many currently... and they seem to adore them in the way humans adore candy... so it's not something I could store for a primary food source... but the little bit we have put aside is a tiny bit of comfort.  A bit like buying one extra can of something or another each time we go to the grocery store.  It adds up over time.

Pretty recently (and repeatedly) we have been in such a financial position as to make buying even 1 extra can impossible.  And we still are not able to save any money each week.  But I think I'm going to be able to start buy 1 or 2 extra cans each week.  The thing about this effort, small though it may be... and tricky as it is (even currently) to buy one can and NOT use it... is that I'm going to exercise my Faith that Father God will make it possible for us to have enough (and more) with only that which we can forecase we will need.  That way, the one or two cans I plan for storage will remain there for a while (at least beyond the week in which they were purchased).  Along this train (of thought), I'm going to get some quarters as cash from the next purchase and put them in one of our 72 hour kits.  1 or 2 dollars each week will eventually make a difference... and, no, I will not do quarters EVERY time... but it IS a good idea to have a good stash of them.  One day we might have to evacuate and have only those packs with quarters and dollar bills... anything higher and the machines that give change may not be able to help us (you know the ones at the rest stops).  And if it came down to it, I'd much rather honestly get the goods, than otherwise.  :)

It can be super tricky, but let's encourage each other to make baby steps in Faith to building our food storage, that we may fearlessly abide the day!

Tricky Tuesday #5

Finally... some pictures of the chicken coop portion of the goat shed/chicken coop structure in the part of our yard reserved for our pets (that are livestock)!

This is the front view of the goat shed, which is the back view of the chicken coop.

The chicken coop is, of course, on top.  Take note that there are protrusions

on either side of the chicken coop.  Those are nesting boxes.

 

 



Here we peek into the back of the chicken coop (the piece of plywood being lifted)

and see a waterer and a feeder in the middle and nesting boxes to either side.

Under the floor of the chicken coop, you can see a little bit into the goat shed.

 

 

We are looking in through the back door and UP.

Centered in the photo is the Wyendotte rooster

and a hen on each side of him.

You can kind of see into one level

of the nesting boxes off to the left.

 

 

Looking in through the back door again,

you see the nesting boxes on the right side

(looking at it from the back, of course).

And, of course, two hens on a roost.

 

 

 

This is the left side of the structure.

I hope you can see how the nesting boxes jut out just a little.

Oh, and do you see the home-made hinges on the nesting boxes?

Why yes, they are made of leather!

 

 

Nesting boxes on the left.

There are two levels and a divider in each,

for a total of 8 nesting boxes.

 

 

 

Wyendotte hens, one in each nesting box (lid lifted to look in).

 

 

This is looking directly at the right side of the structure.

 

 

Looking into the coop from a nesting box

on the right (when viewed from the back of the coop).

 

 

This is a view of the front of the chicken coop,

which is also the back of the goat shed.

The ladder for the chickens does NOT reach to the door.

Basically, it's just meant to help them

 get high enough to flap up to the door.

 

 

Almost the same perspective as the previous picture,

except that the opening into the coop is visible

because the board blocking it (in the first picture)

has been moved to the right (it juts above the height of the roof).

 

 

Although it's not perfectly discernable, the foundation of the structure was built by joining three pallets.  The pallets and other wood used in construction of this structure was either from pallets or used fencing material (all free).  And the hinges were made from old leather boots Jessie cut down and turned into hinges.  Although we did buy the boots, they were worn as footwear until the soles came off the leather uppers, so I call them free, too... since most folks would've put them in the landfill when they could no longer function as boots!

 

 

 

 

 



Tricky Tuesday #4

The chicken coop has been completely finished!  It looks amazing!!!

The underneath part, which is a goat shed, is also mostly complete.  It still needs a holder for hay and a couple holes covered up.  But the goats use it regularly, which is lovely to see!!!

The chickens, on the other hand... I hope we'll shut them up in it very soon (the Wyendottes, only) so that they learn to stay there and lay their eggs there for me!!

Jessie did a fabulous job executing my vision for the coop above the "shed"!  We don't have the sheckles (money) to buy hinges currently, but that didn't stop Jess from numerously hinging this beauty!!  Seriously!  It's awesome!!!

You want pictures?  Well, they'll come next week.  I've been rather busy and quite tired.  So, everything takes more time when those two combine!

I'll tell you a little, at least, for now:

So, the entry way for the goat shef faces the yard... so that we can see them enter/exit from the house if we look out.

The entrance for the chicken coop faces the opposite direction.

On both sides of the coop there are four nesting boxes that slightly jut out, thus not taking up valuable floor space.  On each side there are two levels of nesting boxes, each level has two boxes in it.  Thus we have 8 nesting boxes.  Since we have 8 hens currently, it seems to work out perfectly.  Of course, it's unlikely that they will lay in different boxes, but we're giving them plenty of room for it AND setting!  I sure hope the Wyendotte return to the broody behavior they exibited before moving here!

Each of the 4 levels of nesting boxes is hinged.  We had no money for hinges, so Jessie made hinges out of a pair of old leather shoes!!!  It looks amazing and works VERY well!!!

On the back of the coop there is a large hinged access door.  This door is so that we can add food and water and clean the floor.  To keep this door closed, Jessie installed a piece of wood with screws for stops on each side.  They flip up when I want to open the door and flip down to hold it closed.  Very nice.  Very resourceful!  Perfect for Tricky Tuesday!!

Oh, and ALL of the wood for this structure was free!  It can be tricky to save money... but it IS possible to make things happen even when resources are limited.

Tricky Tuesday #3

Here are some pictures of the almost complete pallet fence Jess has been building.  One gate is made from a salvaged gate I bought for $5 at a local fence place that sells salvages fence panels.  SUCH a great deal (with hardware, too!).  The other gate is almost complete.  It's missing its chicken wire top.  They'll probably open seperately, which I rather like.  :)

Do you see Kiara, our goat, resting in the old chicken tractor?

This picture shows the gate we already had that Jessie installed so well.

The new chicken coop/goat shed is WAY in the back left of this picture, too!

 

 

She's visible here, too... to the left of the picture.

This picture shows the use of a couple pallets that are both vertical.  Nice, right!?

 

 

I know this might look like a mish mash to some,

but to me it is beautiful!  I'd love to paint it, but we'll probably leave it be.

 

This is the end of the longest part of the fence,

which is parallel to our house.

 

 

This is looking at the shorter section,

which is perpendicular to our house and

almost meets it at the corner.

 

 

Here's the pallet gate Jessie created.

Dang, I shoulda taken a close picture of the hinge.

He used some hinged hasps without the looped part

to make the hinge for this door.  Great, right!!?

 

 

Here is the pallet gate closed.

This is the only unfinished part of the fence.

Above the pallet fence there will be a

hinged frame of chicken wire.

We would rather keep out goats and chickens,

thank you very much.  ;)

 

 

A view of the gate and into the yard.

 

 

You might've noticed that my gardens are a bit... overgrown.  Well, my friends, that's what happens when a hard worker like me is laid low.  The unwellness of my body after the miscarriage took a long time to heal.  Thankfully it's all healed up now.  Just have to straighten things out a bit more IN the house and then I'll be able to spend more time out of the house again.  Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a fall/winter garden in and it's looking less and less likely.  :(  ahwell

 

Jess did finish the half gate, I just haven't made time to take a picture yet... will do.



Tricky Tuesday #2

Pallet Trick #2

Use pallets as the foundational structure for a dual purpose structure.  Goat shed on the bottom and chicken coop on top.  Doors on opposite sides for less confusion and more seperation.

When it is complete, I will share a picture so you can REALLY see what I'm talking about.  It's AWESOME!  My design, Jessie's execution!  ^_^  We're a good team, me thinks.  :)

Tricky Tuesday #1

I've been thinking about starting a new weekly posting about "tricks" or tips for saving money around the house, garden, garage, farm... as the case may be.  I'm calling it "Tricky Tuesday" because it can be so super tricky to save money when building things up... whether it be the garden, decorating (HA... I don't do much of this), structures necessary for farm animals, or whatever.  I don't know that I have enough tips for every week, but I'm going to share what I think is valuable from my own experience... or what I desire to try out.  Mostly, though, I'm going to stick to what I've tried.  :)

For an introduction into this realm:

Jessie has been building a REALLY solid fence to seperate our chicken and goats (and hopefully, eventually, our rabbits) from the rest of the garden area.  He found a place locally that has lots of discard wood that they are super glad for others to break down and haul off.  They only require that you wear eye protection while you work there.  So, Jessie has scored tons of pallets and other wood.  He's using the pallets to build the lower portion of our fence!  He's hanging chicken wire (we purchased, but already had it on hand) across the top to prevent goats leaping the low wooden portion of the fence.  So far Kiara hasn't tried to get through, even though part of the fence is only chicken wire (and from the ground to four feet high).  We have been blessed that she has remained!  Thankfully Jessie is making is difficult for her to choose otherwise.

So, one way to use pallets as a trick to reduce expense.  :)