Our Cow is our Lawnmower
Sustainability: To meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Recycling, using renewable resources, minimizing our impact on the environment, interacting with and supporting our local community initiatives and sharing the knowledge and benefits of this lifestyle with our guests are all intertwined in the rhythms of Thyme in the Country.
Our attempts to become sustainable started gradually. We know we will never reach complete “Sustainability” but we continue to adopt behaviors that reduce our carbon footprint. We are fortunate that we live in a scenic area with a rich agricultural heritage at a time when people are looking for simpler and more meaningful vacation experiences. Even the economy of the city of Hudson, an antique destination, is largely based on Recycling.
Living this “simple life” is not so simple, and sustainability takes sustained effort and will, but the benefits are great. Living “Eco”-nomically takes on new meaning. Less consumption and more conscious contentment with what you have grow into clarity and self-control. The value of an hour’s work relative to the value of a dollar brings about respect for others – people, animals and the environment – and in turn, builds peace and love.
We invite you to share your insights and experiences about eco-friendly living through our blog. Ask questions, try out new ideas and help us learn more ways to be environmentally aware.
The frog does not drink up its own pond water. -- Chinese Proverb
MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Water: We minimize water use in laundry and dishwashing with very efficient appliances. Rain barrels collect water for the gardens. Our driveway and parking area absorb excess water through a recycled polyethelyne grid that decreases run off and returns water back into the eco system. It also keeps the yard cool and green in the summer.
Electricity: 3 solar panels supply 66% of our electricity. Our appliances are Energy Star-approved and we use a root cellar to store a lot of our harvested and bulk foods. We use CFL light bulbs, and turn them off when not in use. We use a clothes line instead of a clothes dryer.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Restore: We use recycled building products as much as possible. The cabinets in our guest pantry were built of reclaimed lumber from an old silo.
We try to keep the amount of garbage coming into our house to a minimum by growing and processing most of our food from our organic gardens, or buying from local farmers. We compost all food scraps.
To make it easier for our guests to recycle, we have set up easy to use garbage separators in accessible locations.
We line our trash baskets with recycled tissue paper, eliminating plastic and paper garbage bags and cutting consumption of raw energy and raw materials.
chalkboard shower walls
Chalkboard counter top
When we traded a large closet for a new bathroom, we used as many recycled and reclaimed materials as possible. Shower walls and countertops are cut from an old schoolhouse chalkboard. All electrical fixtures, sink, mirror, and window are reclaimed, and the shower pan is lined with recycled zinc. The lumber was milled from our property. The flooring is a linoleum-like material made from jute, wood pulp and linseed oil. Although our toilet is new, it is a dual flush, water saving toilet.
We use rags for cleaning, and cloth napkins and tablecloths at meals. Our toilet paper and tissues are made from 100% recycled paper.
Cleaning: We use vinegar, baking soda and other non-chemical cleaners to clean the house, dishes and laundry. Chemical-free cleaning helps eliminate built up soap residue in our linens, environmental pollutants, and reduces petrochemical consumption.Fresh air is a key part of keeping things clean at Thyme in the Country. We open windows when we clean, to air out the house. We hang out the area rugs every week and vacuum with a hepa-filtered vacuum. Curtains are washed seasonally, and floors are wiped by hand weekly. In this way, we reduce allergens and keep the indoor atmosphere fresh and healthy.
Our pool water is filtered through a washable paper filter and connected to a salt system chlorinator. We do not use liquid chlorine.
Our cow and chickens help cut back on petro fuels in many ways. They supply us with fertilizer, fresh eggs and milk, mow our meadows and keep us from getting lazy!
