Our furniture was family cast offs. Our horse drawn farm equipment came from the dump and other folks lawn ornaments. My husband cut down harnesses from big work horses and remade them to fit our smaller work pony. All his hand tools were discards from family or friends.

Those first years our fire wood came from wood washed up on the sea shore and later from cutting on shares with someone who had a wood lot.
The land was brought back into production using seaweed , fish meal , manure and compost which was all free.

Even our clothes were others cast offs. The only thing we bought new was under garments , shoes and boots. Other wise our meager income went for taxes, house payments, gas and power and a few staples we couldn’t grow at first such as oats, flour, oil, washing powder, soap ,shampoo , animal feed and fencing.

Food came from the garden and chickens and goats. We were 19th century pioneers in the 20th, century ! For us this was how we wanted to live but also a necessity. I had four children when Bill and I married. We had a ready made family of six and no home or money when we married. Recycling everything was very necessary to our survival.
Looking back after thirty years of recyling and reinventing things we need , neither of us would have had it any other way. We still can’t stand throwing anything away that can be used for something.

Almost everything is good for something to someone. Recycle, save money and save the earth!

I would like to encourage everyone, as a part of the process/lifestyle you’ve described, to visit freecyle.org and seriously consider participating. The only investment involved is . . . well, actually doing it. My wife and I have “freecycled” everything from golf clubs, crutches (not much difference the way I play) and children’s toys to major appliances. It works!