Archive for the ‘Home & Ranch’ Category

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Garment Creation: The Basics of Fitting

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

by Catherine Haug, March 19, 2012

In this article, I discuss the basics of fitting a sloper to a particular body as well as fitting in general. See also previous articles in this series:

This discussion will include:

  • Fabric grain
  • Effective use of darts
  • Preparing the sloper muslin for fitting
  • Fitting order (general)
  • Fitting adjustments (general) (more…)

Posted in Home & Ranch, Sewing & Fiber Arts | Comments Closed

Stuff about Gardening

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

D. Bates Squash Garden in August

by Catherine Haug, March 20, 2012

(photo, right, by Don Bates)

It’s time to get busy preparing your garden for the season. Some of us already have gardens; some are thinking about creating a garden; and others are utilizing their local community garden (such as Bigfork-Ferndale Community Garden at St. Patrick’s).  The seed companies have sent out their seed catalogues for us to drool over. Have you caught the gardening bug?

Mother Earth News has some great articles on garden design, soil health and other gardening topics:

About the articles, and more

(more…)

Posted in Compost, Ecology, Gardening | Comments Closed

Locally made cleaning supplies

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

by Catherine Haug, March 11, 2012

Are you concerned about the chemical dangers lurking in your cleaning supplies? Check out WomensVoices.org for their new report: Dirty Secrets (scroll down on that page to download the complete report); see also their article How Top Cleaning Supply Companies Rate. I’m totally disgusted by the deceits practiced by commercial cleaning product companies to hide/disguise their cancer-causing ingredients, and am committed to using locally made, full-disclosure products; how about you?

Last year we had a gathering on homemade soap (see Gathering Summary: Making Soap at Home), and this year we hope to have an event on making your own cleaning supplies. The latest issue of Back Porch View magazine has an article on making your own laundry soap.

And now, there’s a Montana-local laundry detergent (and another version for baby’s laundry) available at Bigfork Harvest Foods and Swan Valley Herbs. It’s called Keligreen (see their Facebook page), and comes in a returnable plastic jug (50¢ credit toward your next jug). I’ve added this product to my earlier post: Soap vs Detergents.

More about Keligreen:

(more…)

Posted in Ecology, Home & Ranch, Recycle | Comments Closed

Gathering Summary: The Craft of Knitting with Carol Marie, etc., Feb 15, 2012

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012

by Catherine Haug, March 1, 2012

Cat's felted hat; knit scarf & mittens

This is just a short synopsis; you can find more detail in the complete, printable pdf file: Gathering Summary: The Craft of Knitting, etc.. There were no handouts.

Carol brought lots of samples of knitted as well as crocheted, felted & needle-punched items to view. Her friend Roxy demonstrated how to use a drop spindle to make yarn from roving. Several audience members brought in-progress and finished knit items.

Read on for presentation topics, references & resources. (more…)

Posted in Gathering Summaries, Home & Ranch, Sewing & Fiber Arts | Comments Closed

Back Porch View Magazine, Spring 2012 Issue

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

by Catherine Haug, March 2, 2012

The new quarterly issue of the local Back Porch View Magazine just came out, and is worth a look. And not just because I have a story published in it (The Great Cribbage Tournament of 1958, pages 6-7). There are several articles on sustainability topics, and it has a great local community feel. You can find free copies at various businesses in Bigfork, Somers, Lakeside Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Libby. Or you can subscribe (see their website).

Here are some articles in the Spring 2012 issue, pertinent to ESP’s mission: (more…)

Posted in Community, Energy, Home & Ranch, Recycle, Repurpose, Shop Local, Simplify, Survival; Primitive Living | Comments Closed

Building Materials Reuse-Repurposing Stores in the Flathead

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

by Catherine Haug, March 2, 2012

For a few years now, we’ve been able to buy reuse building materials at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 215 W Idaho in Kalispell. Now we have a second option as well. The Flathead Recon Repeat Store will feature used doors, windows, sinks, cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures, wood products, collectable antiques and more, for sale.

They are having an after-hours grand opening celebration soon:  (more…)

Posted in Home & Ranch, Recycle, Repurpose | Comments Closed

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