Helpful Hints

Ideas for Making Rural Life a Little Easier

Air in House Too Dry in Winter?
Put an open kettle of water on your wood stove. Most artificial heat is very dry, and that creates the horrible cough you hear off and on when people don't even have colds. We also have a regular kettle (closed) on the stove, and it is perfect for heating water for washing the dishes. Saves energy and money. In the summer, we have a low box, lined with black tar paper on our deck. This hold two two-litre bottles of water, and it is more than enough to heat water to wash dishes for two people, one meal. (Marian Hoyle)

Ideas for Saving Money

Printer Ink Cartridges
Save those empty ink cartridges from your computer printer and drop them off at Staples. Label the bag Mattole Unified School District. The school district will receive a discount for ink cartridges that they buy there. If you want to be really thrifty, you can buy the ink and refill the cartridges for your own use. (Marian Hoyle)