Comments on: A Letter To My Grandma http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/ Examining the past in order to learn to live more sustainably and simply in the present. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:25:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dennis Childress http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-41 Dennis Childress Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:12:34 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-41 My grandmother came from a farm background. She was borne in the 1880's when horse and buggy was the only method of transportation. Shopping as a major undertaking that took the whole day. She was forced to plan ahead because she just didn't have the time to pick up a few things for supper. Gardens were a big part of her life because they canned just about everything they didn't eat. Everyone had a garden and one of the family rituals when you came to visit was to see how the garden was doing. It was a thing of family pride and everyone took part in watering, hoeing and harvesting for the canning process. I am told that It was a very comfortable feeling to know that you had plenty of canned food for the winter. Also they heated with wood and coal. The coal was delivered in the summer and stored in the basement coal bin. That was also another comfortable feeling to know that you would be warm all winter because the coal bin was full. The toilet was an outhouse that was fairly well insulated. It also had a window and a vent pipe to releave the odors. THe seat was wooden. It was comfortable and very similar to the modern ones we use today. There was no electricity so you had to bring your own light at night.If you didn't want to make the trip, a thunder jug was kept under the bed. It had a lid and was available for emergencies. Every few years the outhouse had to be moved.it was was a major project to dig a deep hole and move or build another one over it. The outhouse was a great conservation feature because it used no water and the waste eventually became a rich earth with a lot of organic nutritents. Most people spent a lot more time at home because of necessity of doing so much for yourself to live comfortaably. In fact the week was divided up into actavities for each day. For example Monday-washing, Tuesday-ironing, Wednesday-gardening, Thursday-sewing, Friday-baking, Saturday-shopping, Sunday-Church and afterward a big family dinner. And if you were lucky, it was followed by an afternoon nap on a hammock in the shady part of the yard. Dennis My grandmother came from a farm background. She was borne in the 1880’s when horse and buggy was the only method of transportation. Shopping as a major undertaking that took the whole day. She was forced to plan ahead because she just didn’t have the time to pick up a few things for supper.
Gardens were a big part of her life because they canned just about everything they didn’t eat. Everyone had a garden and one of the family rituals when you came to visit was to see how the garden was doing. It was a thing of family pride and everyone took part in watering, hoeing and harvesting for the canning process.
I am told that It was a very comfortable feeling to know that you had plenty of canned food for the winter. Also they heated with wood and coal. The coal was delivered in the summer and stored in the basement coal bin. That was also another comfortable feeling to know that you would be warm all winter because the coal bin was full.
The toilet was an outhouse that was fairly well insulated. It also had a window and a vent pipe to releave the odors. THe seat was wooden. It was comfortable and very similar to the modern ones we use today. There was no electricity so you had to bring your own light at night.If you didn’t want to make the trip, a thunder jug was kept under the bed. It had a lid and was available for emergencies. Every few years the outhouse had to be moved.it was was a major project to dig a deep hole and move or build another one over it. The outhouse was a great conservation feature because it used no water and the waste eventually became a rich earth with a lot of organic nutritents.
Most people spent a lot more time at home because of necessity of doing so much for yourself to live comfortaably. In fact the week was divided up into actavities for each day. For example Monday-washing, Tuesday-ironing, Wednesday-gardening, Thursday-sewing, Friday-baking, Saturday-shopping, Sunday-Church and afterward a big family dinner. And if you were lucky, it was followed by an afternoon nap on a hammock in the shady part of the yard.

Dennis

]]> By: Barbara http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-22 Barbara Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:13:12 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-22 April, As we have established your grandma would have been my mother - and it is Monday and therefore wash day. Downstairs in he basement is a wringer washer - be careful not to get the clothes caught in the wringer. Then carry those clothes upstairs, in the wicker basket, and hang on the line, with the wooden clothespins. If it is raining - they just get a rainwater rinse - softens them. In winter clothes were hung in the basement if it was really cold - if not water evaporates in the winter also, the clothes are just a little stiff when you bring them into the house. It is June - peas need picking - and the garden can always use a weeding - much to do today. Barbara April,
As we have established your grandma would have been my mother - and it is Monday and therefore wash day. Downstairs in he basement is a wringer washer - be careful not to get the clothes caught in the wringer. Then carry those clothes upstairs, in the wicker basket, and hang on the line, with the wooden clothespins. If it is raining - they just get a rainwater rinse - softens them. In winter clothes were hung in the basement if it was really cold - if not water evaporates in the winter also, the clothes are just a little stiff when you bring them into the house.
It is June - peas need picking - and the garden can always use a weeding - much to do today.
Barbara

]]> By: julie frye http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-19 julie frye Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:23:38 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-19 I am also looking forward to your blog and learning and sharing ideas. I also passed your blog on to Leah who sews for her kids including diaper covers, etc. Her blog is onpinsandneedle.wordpress.com. Julie I am also looking forward to your blog and learning and sharing ideas. I also passed your blog on to Leah who sews for her kids including diaper covers, etc. Her blog is onpinsandneedle.wordpress.com.

Julie

]]> By: Anne West http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-18 Anne West Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:23:28 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-18 Wow April! I was a bit surprised to get an e-mail from you about this but what an intriguing concept to learn more about. I know you've always been trying to live the simple life but it's very impressive to see a mother of 3 young children being able to apply this to their own life and not get caught up in this worldly world we live in. Great to hear from you! Wow April! I was a bit surprised to get an e-mail from you about this but what an intriguing concept to learn more about. I know you’ve always been trying to live the simple life but it’s very impressive to see a mother of 3 young children being able to apply this to their own life and not get caught up in this worldly world we live in. Great to hear from you!

]]> By: Jodie Alexiev http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-17 Jodie Alexiev Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:44:43 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-17 Dear April, Congratulations on your web site and your fresh approach to revisiting the wisdom of our elders! Now more than ever, we have a responsibility - indeed obligation - as living, breathing members of the human race to be good stewards here on Earth. The beauty of it is we already ARE empowered to make choices that champion our enviroment - we just need to ACT! Since "getting back to the basics" in our present society is easier said than done, we NEED the wisdom of our elders, and that's where our grandparents are invaluable resources - in fact, perhaps the ultimate "natural resource". Looking foward to gleaning from My Grandma Was Green! Dear April,

Congratulations on your web site and your fresh approach to revisiting the wisdom of our elders!

Now more than ever, we have a responsibility - indeed obligation - as living, breathing members of the human race to be good stewards here on Earth. The beauty of it is we already ARE empowered to make choices that champion our enviroment - we just need to ACT!

Since “getting back to the basics” in our present society is easier said than done, we NEED the wisdom of our elders, and that’s where our grandparents are invaluable resources - in fact, perhaps the ultimate “natural resource”.

Looking foward to gleaning from My Grandma Was Green!

]]> By: Drew Kime http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-14 Drew Kime Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:30:52 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-14 What an awesome concept. I haven't heard this idea from anyone else. What an awesome concept. I haven’t heard this idea from anyone else.

]]> By: Wayne Squires http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-13 Wayne Squires Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:33:14 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-13 April, Very nice! It will be a pleasure to learn from you (via Grandma) in the weeks ahead. I will be particularly interested in how "being green" is connected with a "shared life" (i.e. the experience of family/neighborhood/community). April,

Very nice! It will be a pleasure to learn from you (via Grandma) in the weeks ahead. I will be particularly interested in how “being green” is connected with a “shared life” (i.e. the experience of family/neighborhood/community).

]]> By: Marie Pulver http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-12 Marie Pulver Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:39:49 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-12 You are amazing!!! I can't imagine such an undertaking with my (now) three kids! I look forward to sharing the next year of experiences with you. Ya know, this might get bigger than you imagine as the numbers of people checking your site continues to increase... By the way, the site looks great! You are amazing!!! I can’t imagine such an undertaking with my (now) three kids! I look forward to sharing the next year of experiences with you. Ya know, this might get bigger than you imagine as the numbers of people checking your site continues to increase… By the way, the site looks great!

]]> By: Sara Tow http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-11 Sara Tow Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:37:03 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-11 I'm proud of you, April! I'm looking forward to learning right along with you. The site looks great and easy to read! ;o) Love ya! I’m proud of you, April! I’m looking forward to learning right along with you. The site looks great and easy to read! ;o) Love ya!

]]> By: Mindy Hersey http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/2008/06/23/a-letter-to-my-grandma/#comment-10 Mindy Hersey Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:08:03 +0000 http://www.mygrandmawasgreen.com/?p=7#comment-10 Way to go Woman!!! Honey, you always find new and interesting ways to push yourself and grow as a person. I can't wait to see what you discover in the next year. As always, you share in your experiences, and that helps all of us to grow too! You are an asset to us all. Way to go Woman!!! Honey, you always find new and interesting ways to push yourself and grow as a person. I can’t wait to see what you discover in the next year. As always, you share in your experiences, and that helps all of us to grow too! You are an asset to us all.

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