Sunday, February 27, 2011

Fun & Prizes!

I hate to keep pointing out all the bad news blaring from recent headlines.  I’m sure you are all aware of the Middle East turmoil (as if it ever stops), frozen crops in the southern US & Mexico, and a myriad of other things that I’m just not up on (admittedly, I had to go to CNN to see what was actually going on…..I try not to read the “news” anymore).
But the two things I think are most important are the fuel hikes and the food shortages.  I yelled at you all in my last few blogs and asked, “What are you going to do about it”, so I figured I could be a little nicer this time and perhaps give a small incentive for you TO do something about it.
We all need to be doing things to make ourselves more self-reliant and self-sufficient.  I don’t care if you are a city gal in a high-rise; you don’t have to covertly raise poultry in the bathroom.  You can walk to the store instead of driving.  You can grow a small pot of herbs on your window sill.  You can buy local produce instead of buying out of country.  I said “more” self-reliant and self-sufficient, not completely.
I’d like to challenge my readers to do one EXTRA thing this week.  Not something that you were already going to do, but something in addition to that.  Say you were going to start your flat of seedlings this week.  Wonderful.  But I want you to not only do that, but start a small pot of herbs or a tomato plant for someone else. 
You’ve been careful with your driving habits and cut your vehicle outings to twice a week.  Great job!  But I want you to see if you can get someone you know to hitch a ride with you on one of your trips in order to reduce their fuel costs. 
We can do something that is good for us and good for the chosen recipient.  And maybe by giving the crotchety lady down the street that little tomato plant, you can inspire her to start her own little container garden.  And it will be one less person buying one less tasteless tomato at the Big Box grocery store.
So, what’s in it for ME, you ask?  A prize of course!
Now I really wish my blog were large and successful enough that I could plaster paid advertisements all over the page (well, not really) to help finance a nifty and expensive prize like a custom painted KitchenAid mixer or something, but alas…….I’m pretty broke.  So you’re just going to get something from our farm.
The winner will receive, not one, not two, but four, yes you heard me right, FOUR bars of homemade Goat Milk Soap.  I know, so very exhilarating.  Try to contain your excitement.

So here are the “Rules” (subject to change or all together scrapped because it’s my blog and I can do what I want, so nah!):
Your Extra Effort Entry (EEE) has to be fuel (vehicle or heating), electricity or food related.
Your EEE has to be something that will also benefit someone else.
I will not be “judging” your EEE’s on how many extra peppers you started or how many GPM you saved, but by the fact that you did something, no matter how seemingly insignificant.
Only one EEE per blogger.  But if you can get one or more of your family members to do something in addition to your EEE (and they don’t have a blog profile), feel free to post it but mention that it is of their own effort.
Your EEE is honor based.  I am a firm believer in Karma; you may pull one over on me, but the Universe is waiting my friend!
Sorry, but I can only ship the prize to an address in the continental US.
Your EEE must be posted to this blog no later than Sunday, March 6th at Midnight (your time or my time, I’m not that picky).
The EEE winner will be chosen by a random number generator (i.e. me putting everyone’s name in a bowl and having Rhiannon chose one).
I am also encouraging my family (hint-hint Christine) to join in on this.  If one of my immediate family members is chosen, I will have Rhiannon pick an additional winner so you don’t think I’m cheating.
Good luck everyone!

9 comments:

  1. I am not entering for the prize....I am so old and have been doing all of the above for so long...that it puts me out of the running.

    What I would love is your recipe for the goat milk soap. Have you posted it on your blog before?

    I make our soap too and give lots to our family. My last milk soap was not the best. I need a new recipe. Yours looks fabulous.

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  2. gld,
    Oh, come on now! No reason to not be included in the game. How 'bout you just give us a good example so that others can become inspired? That's one of my reasonings behind the game anyhow.

    I was going to do a pictoral blog post on soap making one day soon, but I'll just post the recipe here in the comments for those experienced in soap-making.

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  3. Goat Milk & Honey Soap Recipe
    Blender Method

    8 oz. EACH Soy (vegetable) Oil, Palm Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil
    4.5 oz. Lye
    12 oz. Goat Milk
    1 oz. Honey (at trace)

    Some people freeze their milk before adding the lye so the milk doesn't get a caramel color to it because of the heat from the Lye, but I don't as I don't mind the color.

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  4. We'd already offered to till up a garden patch for a few family members. But now, I will start some seedlings for these family members as well. Hopefully that will keep them from driving to buy started plants!

    I might try to do a seed giveaway on our blog as well...hmmm.

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  5. Thanks for the recipe. I have everything but the palm oil.

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  6. I am not sure if these quite qualifies but I am beginning to make newspaper pots to plant my seedlings in this year. This is a new way to save money and become more self-sufficient.

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  7. OK, I'm going to try and post a comment again since I wasn't able to the other day...

    Since we all know that I am NO GOOD at any of this kind of stuff (cooking included) I don't really know what I can do. BUT...I am going to be carpooling to work with Joe tomorrow and possibly Thurs. Does that count?!?!

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  8. Hmm, well I am starting heirloom seeds for several friends this year (to the tune of about 30 additional plants). Planting a tiny garden for my 4 year old neice and raising 3 peeps for a friend who doesn't have the right growing conditions for the little babies. Do those count?

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