There were a few things you learn when you move rural and have an “independent” property. Some of them sneak in on you, others make a huge, and abrupt impact!
You learn that your well only delivers >this< much water and the long city showers you used to take are gone forever. As are the summer days of kids running through the sprinkler.
You learn that you must go OUT to see people, since your goal of “privacy” was achieved so very completely. After a while if you don’t get out to connect you stop brushing your hair and wear leggings every day.
You also learn to be more aware of your use and re-use. With no garbage pick up, composting and recycling are necessary activities. When each small bag of garbage costs more than a coffee to dispose of, you make sure that you ONLY throw away garbage!
Now, just think about that for a minute. Stand up, go look at your garbage can, assess the cost of disposing that. Then multiple that by the number of times you fill that can in a week.
OUCH.
We have our garbage use down to one bag every 2 weeks (Seriously) but it means discipline and commitment.
It means the kids use reusable lunch kits. It means we sniff test clothes before we toss them in the wash and we keep our eyes pealed for affordable, and fun ways to keep regular use items out of the landfill. In fact, we are starting to revive a lot of the habits that our Grandparents had in their daily life. Using the laundry line, canning our locally grown food, and using reusable napkins.
We recently added Funkins to our dinner table. Not only do they keep the kids fingers clean, since they come in a variety of unique patterns and colours each person can remember which one is theirs and only wash it when it is DIRTY!
Funkins are eco-friendly napkins made from 100% cotton. They come in a huge variety of awesome colours and fabrics, and because they use low impact dyes are super soft on the face and skin!
At each dinner, the kids (and grownups) grab their Funkin napkin, use as needed, and either replace in the napkin holder, or pop it in the wash!
By educating our kids that ONE use doesn’t necessarily mean dirty, we can hope to create the base realization of re-use and recycling. I mean, this is what our Grandparents did! One napkin, per person, per week! Use it well and wash it on the weekend! What a great way to not just conserve energy, but also keep 7 disposable napkins a week PER PERSON out of the bin.
Check out the Funkins website for seasonal styles, and different designs that will appeal to YOUR family. Then use this discount code (CANADA30) for 30% off of your purchase (valid until Sept 30th)
Now, we just need Funkins to create a chicken design! (I mean, they have BABY chicks… but this hen loving mama wants a fluffy chicken on her design) 
Now Funkins has a special gift for one of you! Enter below to WIN a 6 pack of Funkins napkins for your child! Please note you must have a Canadian shipping address to qualify for entry!