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ENLARGE
Zwirn
A brand-new year traditionally includes a pact with ourselves to improve in some area, resolve to accomplish specific tasks or goals in the year ahead. Indeed, in some years we may be overly ambitious in our list of resolutions. At least that has been the case in our home.
Having fallen woefully short of the mark in recent years, my husband and I recently discussed realistic resolutions over a cup of coffee. We agreed that as we’ve grown older, we just don’t seem to accomplish as much, especially when lots of physical activity is involved. We decided to prioritize and work together on our number one common goal to improve, contain and control clutter.
Admittedly this is a serious undertaking, having been born and indoctrinated with pack rat syndrome. As children of the ‘30s and ‘40s, our generation understood frugality. We used things up, wore them out or passed them down. We raised it, we processed it, created it, built it, sewed it, seldom bought it, many times did without it, but NEVER threw it away.
All things considered, our biggest challenge is dealing with life’s paper clutter. Our rural mail carrier hauls a daily load of paper to our door faster than we can deal with it. I ruthlessly toss obvious junk mail, but the magazines, catalogs and periodicals pile up. Invariably there will be an article, recipe, new birdhouse design, instructions for concrete/tufa planters or new varietal descriptions/pictures for seeds or plants, all of which must be saved.
Our solution is a tall, four-drawer filing cabinet, hanging file folders, labeled dividers and 300 clear sheet protectors. For now we’ve labeled the drawers LEGAL, GENEALOGY, FOOD/BIRDS, GARDENING/LIVESTOCK. The goal is to clip desired material in a timely manner, file it and discard magazines! This arrangement allows us to keep related items together and easily found.
For example, now all livestock and pet paperwork such as pedigrees, veterinarian and breeding records, butcher weights, even our haying records are all immediately accessible. “Gardening” holds all that material necessary to being self-sufficient producers, with garden, orchard, vineyard, plus a folder for tool and tractor parts, receipts, warranties.
Practical projects to tackle during cold weather include cleaning just one drawer or closet each day, discarding and diminishing clutter as you go. Remember to bag excess clothing and deliver it to church or resale donation sites. Useable food items are welcomed at local food pantries or Umpqua Community Action Network; eyeglasses go to the Lions Club.
Remember, this is also a good time to empty and clean your freezer. Stack frozen items in laundry baskets, cover them with blankets, keep in unheated garage or secure place. Don’t use anything inside your appliance except baking soda and warm water. Clean the door gasket with a toothbrush if necessary and vacuum thoroughly outside the top, back and bottom.
Put something nourishing in your crockpot and get your food dehydrator going. Ours are loaded with the last of Brosi Orchards’ luscious winter pears, and the house smells wonderful.
Happy “uncluttered” 2009!
Paulette Zwirn, a longtime resident, is a volunteer Oregon State University family food educator and master food preserver for OSU Extension Service in Douglas County.
Having fallen woefully short of the mark in recent years, my husband and I recently discussed realistic resolutions over a cup of coffee. We agreed that as we’ve grown older, we just don’t seem to accomplish as much, especially when lots of physical activity is involved. We decided to prioritize and work together on our number one common goal to improve, contain and control clutter.
Admittedly this is a serious undertaking, having been born and indoctrinated with pack rat syndrome. As children of the ‘30s and ‘40s, our generation understood frugality. We used things up, wore them out or passed them down. We raised it, we processed it, created it, built it, sewed it, seldom bought it, many times did without it, but NEVER threw it away.
All things considered, our biggest challenge is dealing with life’s paper clutter. Our rural mail carrier hauls a daily load of paper to our door faster than we can deal with it. I ruthlessly toss obvious junk mail, but the magazines, catalogs and periodicals pile up. Invariably there will be an article, recipe, new birdhouse design, instructions for concrete/tufa planters or new varietal descriptions/pictures for seeds or plants, all of which must be saved.
Our solution is a tall, four-drawer filing cabinet, hanging file folders, labeled dividers and 300 clear sheet protectors. For now we’ve labeled the drawers LEGAL, GENEALOGY, FOOD/BIRDS, GARDENING/LIVESTOCK. The goal is to clip desired material in a timely manner, file it and discard magazines! This arrangement allows us to keep related items together and easily found.
For example, now all livestock and pet paperwork such as pedigrees, veterinarian and breeding records, butcher weights, even our haying records are all immediately accessible. “Gardening” holds all that material necessary to being self-sufficient producers, with garden, orchard, vineyard, plus a folder for tool and tractor parts, receipts, warranties.
Practical projects to tackle during cold weather include cleaning just one drawer or closet each day, discarding and diminishing clutter as you go. Remember to bag excess clothing and deliver it to church or resale donation sites. Useable food items are welcomed at local food pantries or Umpqua Community Action Network; eyeglasses go to the Lions Club.
Remember, this is also a good time to empty and clean your freezer. Stack frozen items in laundry baskets, cover them with blankets, keep in unheated garage or secure place. Don’t use anything inside your appliance except baking soda and warm water. Clean the door gasket with a toothbrush if necessary and vacuum thoroughly outside the top, back and bottom.
Put something nourishing in your crockpot and get your food dehydrator going. Ours are loaded with the last of Brosi Orchards’ luscious winter pears, and the house smells wonderful.
Happy “uncluttered” 2009!
Paulette Zwirn, a longtime resident, is a volunteer Oregon State University family food educator and master food preserver for OSU Extension Service in Douglas County.
