photo by matt gibson
I’d never thought to make a large kitchen compost bucket. I reuse a plastic coffee canister. But if you’d like to make fewer trips to the backyard compost bin, this would work well. It’s a great way to reuse a kitty-litter pail, too.
HOMEMADE COMPOSTER: On a few of the “green” sites, I saw cute little green kitchen compost pails and thought, “I can make that!”
1 empty …

photo by Ruth L
Changing tables aren’t needed for a long period of time. It’s not a necessary baby item, but if your heart is set on having one, rather than spend a lot of money, you can make your own from a dresser. If you’re able to find a vintage piece, it can become the focal point in the nursery. You can partition drawers or add a fabric-lined wicker basket …

photo by Siona Watson
The first tip is a wonderful idea for fall family fun. You could do bark and leaf rubbings with crayons or charcoals and paper, or make casts of animal tracks. Visit www.bizarrelabs.com/track.htm to learn how.
OUTDOOR FAMILY ACTIVITY: Make a plant field guide. Collect plants, and press them in either a plant press or a heavy book. Look them up in the evening. This does take a …

photo by AlishaV
The first tip serves as a reminder that you don’t have to buy a jet-spray mop. It’s a simple way to maintain a clean floor without a mop and bucket. Be sure to have good ventilation when using ammonia. A 50/50 mix of vinegar and water works well, too.
SPRAY AND MOP: To make mopping easier, I fill a spray bottle with hot water and ammonia, and spray …