Welcome!!

I'm so glad you could stop by! This is where I journal the latest happenings in my home and gardens. My life really isn't that exciting...I just thot it would be fun to journal it!
I'll be posting pics as I journal, so you'll have a visual of the things I write about.


If you'd like, you can subscribe to this journal so you'll recieve an email letting you know whenever I write something new in it. That way you won't have to worry about checking this site every now and then to see if there's something new in it! Ü Just click here:

Subscribe to Aunty B's Place Journal by Email


AuntyB's Place also has a website with lots of information you might find useful. To chek it out, click here:
http://lakesarea.brainerddispatch.com/Groups/AuntyBsPlace

Then there's the yahoo group of the same name...it's an email based group where we share lots of information (via email) on anything to do with our homes and gardens....like recipes, crafts, diy projects, garden info, you name it! Everyone is encouraged to participate in the yahoo group, even if it's just to chit-chat! Ü
If you'd like to join us, just enter your email address & click here:

Farm Bill

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Recycling in Cass & Crow Wing Counties...

I've been trying to recycle 'some' things for quite awhile now....like donating my no longer needed clothes and misc. household items to local shops who sell them really cheap, or taking some of my household things to the Transfer Station in Pine River. For years now we've recycled our pop cans, taking them to Pine River and getting money for them. The rest of the stuff has gone in the trash....until recently when I set up my recycling bins in the hall closet. (see my previous post for a pic of that).
Little by little I'm trying to become a little greener with the products I buy, make, etc, and going organic with some things. The whole 'organic' thing can be a little confusing when shopping for items in the store tho, and knowing that I can't just trust what the label says has prevented me from going full-boar with it for fear of spending more for an item that's not actually any better (and sometimes worse!) than a lower-priced non-organic labeled item. But that's another subject for a future writing, after I do a whole lot more research on it.
What I want to write about today is where I take my recycling, so those of you who live in this area will have a better idea of the where's and how's of going about it yourself. My hope is that you'll join me in my quest to turn a little greener! Ü

For real good info on what, how, and where to recycle, go here: http://www.co.cass.mn.us/esd/solid_waste/pdfs/solidwasterecycling.pdf

Here's another place you can chek out on the internet to list what you don't want anymore, or chek out what someone else has listed to see if you want it:
http://www.co.cass.mn.us/esd/matex/cass_available.html
It's called the North Central Materials Exchange - MATEX, and here's what it says about it:
Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard counties have teamed up with the Minnesota Materials Exchange program to offer exciting new opportunities to reduce waste and to reuse materials in northern Minnesota.
See local MATEX listings for Cass, Crow Wing, and Hubbard counties.
The materials exchange (MATEX) program is based on the concept that one company's waste product could be another company's raw material. Through a Materials Exchange, companies and organizations can reduce their waste disposal costs by finding other companies, organizations, schools or individuals which could use these waste or surplus materials in their processes or programs. The main purpose of the exchange is to connect businesses and organizations that have reusable goods with those who need them.
Advantages of Materials Exchange:
*Less material enters landfills
*Participants can locate valuable materials and feedstock free or at reduced cost, locally and statewide
*Participants can profit from reduced waste disposal costs and from sale of items which would otherwise have been considered "waste"
*Service is free
*Materials Exchange programs conserve resources
*Participants become more environmentally responsible
Businesses and organizations may list usable materials they no longer need on the exchange. Participants may also check the listings for items that they could use in their processes, programs, or services. For example, maybe your business did some remodeling and you have leftover supplies. Those items could be offered on the exchange and a school could use your leftovers in their drama department.
The MATEX will help to match up items wanted with materials available. The participants make final exchange and transportation arrangements with each other. The materials are not physically collected by MATEX for storage or transfer. The service provided by MATEX is free, although a fee may be charged by the listing party for some of the materials.
Contact Info: The MATEX office is located in the Cass County Environmental Service Department at the Cass County Courthouse, Box 3000, Walker, MN 56484. You may call (218) 547-7428 or FAX (218) 547-2440 or contact the office by e-mail to request a form or to list over the phone.
Listing on MATEX: Your information will be listed on the regional exchange. The listing of materials wanted and materials available will be available at the Environmental Service or Solid Waste Departments of Cass, Crow Wing and Hubbard Counties or sent out by e-mail for those requesting that service.
In addition to the regional service, participants are encouraged to check the listings on the statewide Minnesota Materials Exchange Alliance. Call the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MN TAP) at 1-800-247-0015.
Any business, organization, school, non-profit group governmental unit or individual may list with this service at no cost. Some businesses prefer to distribute on a large scale only and may not be willing or able to work with individual residents. However, if the opportunity exists, individual residents may also make use of the service.
Participation is not limited to those in Cass, Crow Wing or Hubbard counties. Anyone may contact this or any other MN TAP affiliated Materials Exchange Program. It is the intent of the exchange programs to encourage the reuse of materials and to reduce the amount of waste or surplus materials entering landfills and other municipal solid waste facilities.
Another place I like to use is the Cass County Transfer Station, located just north of Pine River on Hwy 371. It's on the west side of the highway, across from Pine River Tire. If you'd like to call them for more info, their number is 218-587-3500.
If you have furniture or other household items (not clothing!) that you no longer want but is still in working condition and you think someone else might be able to use it, just take it there and drop it off! You can also stop by just to look to see if there's anything you might want there. Ü They keep the garage door open most of the time (just to the right of the number 1 on the building), but if you happen to go there and the door is closed, just call them and they'll open it for you. Everything is free for the taking in there!
Here's a picture of the place so you'll know what to look for:

Go here for information on the Household Hazardous Product Exchange:
http://www.co.cass.mn.us/esd/solid_waste/hazardous_product_exchange.html
They're always happy to give products away to people who will use them rather than waste tax dollars to dispose of good materials, so if you have leftover paint or stain, etc from a project you've been working on, you can donate it there. They do ask that you call them first to make an appointment tho, because they want to make sure it's still a good product. Worth the extra effort if you ask me! Ü

Here's what their website says...
If there is still product left over that you could not use up:
Do not throw it in the garbage. Please call us for an appointment and bring the remaining material back to us.
Do not simply bring the stuff back and leave it in the product room. We have to check out any product that comes into our building. Call 587-3455 or toll free at 1-888-910-2425 ext. #2 for an appointment.
If the containers are empty, leave the lids off!
Allow empty metal paint cans to dry. Leave the lids off and either place in recycling bin with other cans or throw in your garbage.
Empty aerosol cans may be placed in recycling bins or thrown away in garbage.
Allow plastic paint pails to dry, and then throw in garbage, not in recycling bins.
Metal cans for paint thinner, charcoal lighter fluid, etc, may be recycled when can is dry and empty. Be sure to leave the cover off.
Plastic containers for paint thinner and other products can be thrown in garbage. Leave lids off.
And last but not least....check out your local freecycle group! If you're not in this area, just go to http://www.freecycle.org/ and either click to browse the groups for different areas, or type the area you're interested in into the search box. It'll tell you about YOUR local freecycle group and how to join it. More and more folks are signing up for this group every day, and it's a great way to advertise something to give away or ask for something you're looking for. Everything is FREE!! No money is exchanged at all.
Here's where you can find the group for Cass & Crow Wing County Freecycle: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cass-CrowWingMNFreecycle/

Well, that's about it for today! Please take a few minutes to check out these websites and learn more about how YOU can recycle!
Until next time!
AuntyB

Saturday, May 3, 2008

My Winter Quest...

Is it spring yet??!
The winter here at AuntyB's Place has been a long, hard one, to say the least. I haven't posted much on this blog (as you can see!), my time has been spent taking care of different health problems, putting in more hours at work, spending what time I can with my Yahoo! group family, trying to get my financial life in order, searching the net for information & how-to's, trying (and sometimes failing miserably!) to keep up with the daily chores, and in my spare time playing catch-up with all of the above!
Times have been getting a little tighter here in my neck of the woods, and since it looks like it just might have to get a little worse before it gets any better, I decided it was time I do my part to improve myself and the way I live. So...
I've been on a winter-long learning quest! They say you're never too old to change your ways, so I've decided to give it a shot. Ü
First thing was my health...As you know, I'm a type 2 diabetic. Have been for 18 years now. Had some low blood pressures (which is normally low to begin with) along with some low blood sugars (was always either too high or too low...go figure!!), and the combination sent me into a seizure a couple times, so a few months ago they put me on the insulin pump...which I dreaded for a long time but now find myself wishing I'd have given in to the idea a long time ago! I have to wear it 24/7, and can only take it off for 1 hour a day to shower, but it's done wonders for my blood sugar levels! It's not quite the pain I thought it would be to sleep with either, and it's a whole lot easier to keep track of my blood sugars and keep them from going too high (or too low). I've been doing a lot of research on living healthier and I've learned a lot over this past winter. Things aren't completely 'normal' yet health-wise, I'm not exactly the 'picture of health', and I'm not eating quite as healthy as I should be, BUT....I'm working on it! Still haven't given up my almost nightly ice-cream habit, but I've been working on just about everything else and starting to change a few bad habits at a time...so
GIVE ME A BREAK, ALREADY! hehehe
Had another battle with the kidney stones. Last time I had them was 11 months ago. Not sure what's causing them, but this round was a long one! The pain lasted 8 whole days, passing stones several times a day. In the beginning, I swear I was peeing sand! I know, I know...too much information! *lol* All seems to be well with that little pain in the kidney now. (knock on wood!) Education on this subject is still in process tho.
Another problem was my financial situation. Sheesh. What a mess that was! Between all the medical bills, prescriptions, lack of discipline when going shopping (credit card in hand, of course!), you name it....I ended up WAY too stressed over the bills I had created and felt like there was no way out. (which also shot my blood sugars down, creating more health problems, and continuing the vicious circle I was spinning uncontrollably inside of.) Did a lot of research on how to get a handle on my debt, made a few phone calls to see what I could do and who, if anyone could help me, then I finally went to my local credit union (turned out to be the best option for me), told them my situation, and asked them for a loan to consolidate everything and just have one small monthly payment. Aaaaahhhh...what a relief when they said "Of course! We'll draw up the papers." So, at an interest rate of 5.49% instead of 12% and 20% (which I was paying on my different bills) and a monthly payment of less than I was making on just the credit card alone, I'm finally well on my way to financial freedom. I'm telling you, there is no better feeling! No amount of shopping has ever felt THIS good! And I plan to keep it that way! Ü No more credit cards for AuntyB. If I can't pay cash or save up for it, I don't need it. Period. The lack of stress over money problems is one thing I plan to continue for sure!
Which brings me to the rest of my quest for a healthier, happier life...
I've also been doing a lot of research on Living Greener, Recycling, being more Self-sufficient and Stress-free, and avoiding chemicals as much as possible. I'd like to get back to the basics...back to nature, so to speak. Of course, I won't go so far as to give up my running water or electricity! hehehe And my cell phone and internet are definate keepers, too! Ü
I've learned quite a bit on a lot of different subjects (with still quite a bit more to learn!) and I've been doing a little experimenting here and there with a few things, and now that I've got a little more time I decided I'd pass on what I'm learning as I learn it, and let you know how it's turning out for me, if it's turning out at all! hehe
If you have any pointers to share, please do so! I can use all the help I can get!
I'm trying to recycle more now, so I can get rid of the trash man. He seems like a nice guy and all, and I know he needs to make a living too, but I'm getting a little tired of having to pay him 75 bucks every couple of months just so he'll stop by and take out the trash. Ü
I bought some recycling bins that are stackable for 7 bucks each at Mills Fleet Farm in Baxter. They were the cheapest I found and seem to be of good quality. I didn't stack them as I had planned, but they're working out well where I ended up putting them. Now it's just a matter of getting use to putting what where! *lol* We have recycling bins within 5 miles from me, so that'll be easy to deliver myself. The non-recyclables will go to our local dump or in the trash bins at our local Oasis center in Pequot for $3.50 per large bag. Not too bad for the amount of actual trash I should have to dump there! Ü I'm not sure what it costs to take bags directly to the landfill yet.
With gas prices the way they are and no relief from that in sight, I'm trying to cut down on my trips to town and doing more errands when I do have to go. The local coffee shop is saving their coffee and tea grounds for me for free, so I can add them to my compost pile for my gardens. I'll pick those up on my errand day. Right now I've just got a compost pile out back, but I'm thinking about vermicomposting. That's composting with worms. I've read that you can store them in your kitchen and they don't stink at all! We'll see tho. Hubby isn't too fond of the idea of having worms under the kitchen sink. hehehe
I'm raising chickens for their eggs and meat, plus stocking up on things from the store when they're on sale and buying bulk whenever I can. Ü I got some free 5 gallon and 2 gallon buckets with lids from the bakery at Jerry's Super Valu grocery store in Pine River, and the Pine River Dairy Queen told me I could stop by there and get all I want for free, too! So I'll use those for storing some bulk things. If I have to, I can pay 2 bucks for each 5 gallon bucket with a lid at Scaefer's grocery store in Nisswa, or 1 dollar each at the bakery in town on Main street in Pine River. But only if I HAVE to. Ü
I've always liked to buy my spices in bulk. I get those at the Country-side Co-op in Hackensack. I keep them in different sized jars in the basement, then just refill my spice containers in the kitchen.
I'm even thinking about getting a goat for milk! Not sure if I even LIKE goat milk tho, so I plan to try some from someone else first....just in case! *lol* I'm a skim milk drinker, but at just about 4 bucks a gallon it's getting a little sickening!
I'm also experimenting with making my own cleaning products. I've done this a little bit for awhile now with regular cleaners, but now I'm into making laundry products. I'll let you know about those in my next writing. It'll probably be a long one!
Until next time...
AuntyB


Here's a pic of the Recycling Bins I set up in the hall closet. Each one is labeled so we know what goes in which bin...

My Loves.....