My personal grading scale: 0 - not doing this, or it doesn't apply to me, .5 - I know how to do this and have been working on doing better, 1 - this is a regular part of my life.
Essential Food Skills
1. Read and understand product labels 1
2. Bake bread 1
3. Make your own bread starter and keep it going .5 (I don't consume a lot of bread)
4. Make cheese, yogurt, and kefir from local milk .5 (I can do all but kefir)
5. Preserve food by canning 0 (scary!)
6. Preserve food by drying .5
7. Forage for local wild foods safely 0
Essential Food Skills
1. Read and understand product labels 1
2. Bake bread 1
3. Make your own bread starter and keep it going .5 (I don't consume a lot of bread)
4. Make cheese, yogurt, and kefir from local milk .5 (I can do all but kefir)
5. Preserve food by canning 0 (scary!)
6. Preserve food by drying .5
7. Forage for local wild foods safely 0
8. Raise a couple of backyard chickens 0 (I wish I had the room!)
9. Make your own tofu,tempeh, and soy milk .5
10. Eat locally and in season 1
11. Grind your own flour .5 (I've done it)
12. Grow your own produce 0
13.Grow your own herbs 1
16. Have a repertoire of vegetarian recipes you can use for various occasions 1
17. Fish or hunt responsibly if you eat meat 1 (I don't hunt, but I know the basics.)
18. Make homemade pastas and other pantry basics .5
19. Cook a variety of foods well 1
20. Utilize a menu to minimize food waste 1
21. Throw a party without compromising your green values 1
23. Sharpen kitchen knives so they last 1
24. Make homemade granola bars, granola, waffles, and other breakfast items 1
25. Make baked goods from "scratch". 1
26. Understand terms like, "organic", "Fair Trade", "all natural", and "GMO" 1
Essential Household Skills
27. Sew well enough to repair clothing 1
28. Sew well enough to make your own clothing and reusable shopping bags 1 (not all of my clothing is handmade, but several pieces are, as well as my storage.)
29. Sew fitted cloth diapers for your baby 1 (do bunny needs count?)
31. Know how to reupholster a chair .5 (I know how to, and have done it - just not WELL.)
32. Make your ownlaundry soap 1
34. Make your own house cleaning supplies .5
35. Use diatomaceous earth, bay leaves, and other "eco-friendly" natural pest deterrents 1
Home Maintenance and Repair Skills
36. Use non-electric appliances rather than electric 1
37. Know where to find non-electric appliances 1
38. Program a thermostat .5
39. Tile a counter top 0
40. Use 0 VOC paint 1
41. Repair a screen 1
42.Use a caulk gun 1
43. Make simple appliance repairs such as replacing belts 0
44. Find what you need by bartering, or using CraigsList, eBay, and thrift stores 1
45. Repair a leaky toilet 0
46. Repair a leaky faucet 0
47.Replace a faucet 0
48. Check your home for energy leaks using incense, a candle, or a device that is created for that purpose 1
50. Insulate an attic with eco-friendly insulation 1
Gardening Skills
51 .Build a compost system .5
52. Use compost to enrich your soil .5
53. Plan a garden for your climate .5
54. Understand xeriscaping 1 (kinda)
55. Plant a multi-seasonal vegetable garden 0 (no room! wahw!)
56. Build a simple cold frame for salad all year 0
58. Make a rainwater catchment system 0
59. Use a manual reel mower 0
60. Use companion planting methods to control pests 0
61.Build a bat house to encourage bats and decrease mosquitoes .5 (soooo want to do this!)
62. Use predator insects like Praying Mantis to control garden pests 0
63. Know what heirloom seeds are and why you should use them 1
64. How to plant open pollinated vegetables for best yields 1
65. How to save seeds from your own produce 1
66. Plant trees and bushes to cut your energy bills 0
67. Use soaker hoses to conserve water 0
68. Sharpen and maintain tools 1
Health Skills
69. Know how to use herbs and natural remedies to treat common illnesses 1
70. Make your own soap 1
72. Use essential oils for health and cleaning 1
73. Make your own deodorant .5
Transportation Skills
75. Do simple maintenance on your car 0
76. Arrange or locate a carpool 0
77. Learn to use hypermiling techniques 0
78. Plan eco-friendly air travel 1
Energy Skills
80. Install a solar panel 0
81. Know where to find the most eco-friendly, green power source available to you 1
82. Connect home electronics to power strips for easy shut off 1
Conservation Skills
85. Use email rather than conventional mail 1
86. Switch to a paperless office .75 (I am soooooo close!)
87. Locate the local library and use it rather than buying books, DVDs, and tapes 1
88. Adjust your settings on the computer to make it more energy efficient 1
89. Use skype and other technology to limit the need for travel to conferences 1
90. Learn to plan eco-friendly vacations, such as camping (and leave no trace)
91. Replace a hobby with an environmentally friendly hobby 1
92. Locate and use recreational green spaces such as hiking trails, parks, and public gardens .5
93. Understand and be able to explain what cradle to cradle means 1
94. Understand and be able to explain what carbon emissions are 1
95. Understand and be able to calculate a carbon footprint as well as explain what it is 1
96. Know where to recycle technological items like computers, microwaves, televisions etc. 1
98. Know where reusable items can be substituted for disposables 1
99. Understand and be able to explain cap-and-trade 1
My final score = 68.25%
Hmmm, that's a "D." To be fair, a lot of it is stuff I can't help (like keeping chickens or installing solar panels, as I'm not a homeowner). But I should try harder on the stuff that I can change! Still, that was pretty interesting. I'll have to see how I can streamline things a bit.
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