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Do you know how many watts the solar panels are? That's a great idea about the fridge. Makes a lot of sense, I'm definitely going to look into it. Thanks.

Wow, Pat, I think that's the simplest explanation I've heard/read yet. LOL. That makes a lot of sense. I am considering a new fridge purchase but I had no idea what I need to look for. All of the websites that have the stats on refrigerators express energy consumption in kwh per year. I have no...

I must have missed class the day they went over energy conversions and what it all means because electricity just baffles me. The extent of my knowledge in that department is that a 100 watt light bulb uses more power than a 25 watt bulb. I have no idea what this means in terms of cost or energy...

I use old things that have outlived their usefulness to make new things. My boys are growing like weeds and I can barely keep them clothed! But I found a storage box of jeans in the attic at our last house that a previous resident had left there. They didn't fit anyone in our family so I kept...

I'm part of a Yahoo Group for sustainable living and someone there pointed me to a website that I find to be absolutely inspiring: www.omick.net These people are amazing the way they live and their relationship with the world around them. If I didn't have little kids I could definitely see...

In just a few short months we will be moving to Arizona from Pennsylvania. Since we'll be living in a very arid climate, water conservation will be very important. I'm looking for any and all ways both to reduce our water consumption and to reclaim some of our waste water. I'm researching...

It's a system combining aquaculture and hydroponics. You keep fish in a tub where they emit nutrients into the water. This is composed of algae, uneaten food and feces. Sounds yummy, huh? Well, in another container, more shallow but a wider surface area, you place gravel, sand or clay. Then you...

I've found many sites which give instruction on how to build an aquaponics system and how it works. That's fine and I'm confident that with all of my newfound knowledge I could build a superior system with very minimal cost. However, I have questions about what to do once the whole thing is up...

I went to an open house at a commune where their goal was water conservation. There was a man there who introduced me to the world of aquaponics. This was last year and for some reason I just started researching it more today. It's absolutely fascinating and I can't wait to do a trial run on a...

Ooh, good idea! I've thought about bats before but that was about as far as it went. I know they're helpful for pollination too.

Hmmm, that's a good point. I wonder if there would be a way to reap the benefits of the ducks without them contaminating the water. Or maybe I should think about other beneficial animals like frogs and other fish.

LOL, it's still in the "dream" stages. I still have to acquire the land so it could be quite some time before my dreams materialize.

After looking around on the topic I've decided that it would be in my best interest to construct a sand filter tank and then run that into a reed pond. However, if I have standing water it will attract some very undesirable pests: mosquitoes. So I started thinking about my dream farm with it's...

I have to say that the first few times that I watched it I was very critical of my body and a little embarrassed. After a while I got over it and now I'm very proud of myself when I see what my body went through and what I'm capable of. I'm very happy that I have that moment on video because in...

I had the same concerns about standardized testing because here in PA they require it as well in 3rd, 5th and 8th grade. Then I joined the PA homeschooler's Yahoo group and asked a bunch of questions and they all assured me that even unschooled kids generally far surpass the standardized tests...

I feel your pain. Although our roots here don't go as deep as yours we found out that our landlord filed bankruptcy so our home will be auctioned off in April. Our lease wasn't up until August and we were planning to go month to month until the fall. Now we will miss the early planting season...

Part of the draw for home birth for me was that DH could be an integral part of the birth - moreso than holding my hand and saying, "ok, breathe..." We actually planned for him to catch the baby but as it turned out I needed him elsewhere. We're shooting for the same goal this time. Another...

Wifezilla: That's very informative. Thank you. Like I said before, I do not have any problems keeping weight off. I actually have to work to keep it on. But DH does have a little trouble with weight. Personally, I think he needs to get outside to play more but since I've never had to battle...

Typically the only reason pitocin would be introduced in a home birth setting would be AFTER the baby is born and the mother is hemorrhaging. It causes intense contractions that, under those circumstances, will stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, hospitals often feel that a woman needs "help"...

Honestly, I'm a bit naive about the topic of fat. As with most of us, before I began to pay attention to my diet I ate anything I wanted with wild abandon. But now, with all of the controversial information about fats, I haven't a clue what I can or cannot eat when it comes to that. I am one of...