We, homesteaders, tend to be practical people. And as such, the opportunity to kill two birds with a single stone is attractive to us. Especially when it means doing the environment well, as well as saving money. After all, running a homestead can be an expensive business! Happily, there are some savvy hacks that all homesteaders can use on their property to cut costs and ave the environment. Just read on to find out what they are.
Homesteader Hacks That Will Save The Environment
Organic waste
Without putting a too fine point on things, homesteaders that keep animals tend to have an abundance of a particular smelly resource. Now, it may seem like nothing but waste to you, but nothing could be further than the truth. In fact, organic waste produced as a by-product of keeping animals can be put to many uses. The most important of which include fertilizer for any crops you are growing, and as fuel. This is one of the many homesteading hacks you can use to help save the environment.
Yes, that right you can actually use manure as fuel! One way is to dry out the dung of larger mammals like horses and cows. Then you can burn it, which is a much greener option than using fossil fuels.
The alternative is to process the dung in a biogas plant. This then produces methane from a clean and renewable source that can be used for heat and light. You can even use it to power vehicles if they are converted to be able to use it. Of course, another option for using organic waste is to use it as fertilizer. Something that can work equally well with animal dung and any other biodegradable waste like food scraps that you homestead may generate.
Repurposing
Another one of the hacks that allow you to be both green and frugal around you homestead is to repurpose things that would usually be thrown away. Such items may include things you have sourced from your own home or property. This includes tins that can be used as planters. You can even use old litter trays that make fantastic nesting boxes for chickens.
Alternatively, you may source used products from a business that have things like steel tubing for sale which has been used in the wild refining industry. This can then be converted easily into fencing for your land or animal corrals. And it will be cheap too as you are buying a used product. One that would end up in a landfill otherwise making your repurposing a much greener option too.
Permaculture
Lastly, when it comes to saving money and being more environmentally friendly around your homestead permaculture may just be the answer you are looking for. Permaculture is when you grow plants, often vegetables and fruit with the environment in mind. What this means is that you can produce food from your homestead which will save you money. But you can do it in a way that doesn’t negatively affect the environment. This is yet another of the hacks that help save the environment.
A great example of this being using solar greenhouses in the winter. These will allow you to grow plants that need a warmer climate without expending fuel. A resource that is not only expensive but is also running out. Thus making this approach both fugal an eco-friendly way of running your homestead.
