Use it up, wear it out.

There's an old saying that goes "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" that can be applied to living a natural life. It goes hand in hand with the concept of reduce, reuse and recycle. In order to live a life closer to nature, we must learn to use more of what nature has given us and less of the artificial objects we have created.

In our family, we believe in the concept of fixing what is broken and using what we have until it falls apart, then recycling what is left. Old clothing can be made into blankets or batting for draft dodgers. Old shoes can be resoled, and things that break can be mended. All this contributes to reducing our interference with nature by reducing our consumption of new items. If we need a new item that we do not have already, we can either find a way to make it or buy it used from a thrift shop or yard sale. An excellent activity in the summer is to go yard saling on the weekends, looking for used goods so that we can avoid buying new ones. If we must buy a new item, we should research thoroughly to find one that will last a long time, even if it means a larger initial investment.

I take inspiration from junkyard artists who create unique works of art out of what most people would consider trash. One creation that now, more than ever, is worth taking a look at is the oil drum art of Haiti. Using recycled oil drums, these artists create beautiful and durable works of art without adding more waste to the world.

Tip of the day: A wood stove can be more than just a heat source. By purchasing some cast iron cookware, you can use the heat of your stove to cook your food as well, saving energy and resources. Cast iron cookware also adds beneficial iron to your food which can be used by your body, and is especially helpful for people who are anemic like myself! Lodge Logic produces a line of cast iron, preseasoned cookware that is available at local stores such as Target. If your cast iron cookware rusts, just scrape off the rust and reseason it without any problem!