Speaking about clothes

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/4/99 11:10:38 AM US Mountai

>

> [Text 2830943 from COM]

>

> My biggest problem in really adopting simple living would be to loose my

> washingmashine.

> I have tried the "bliss" of washing on a fire amidst 20 degrees cero,

while

> having three small children. It is not an experience I would like to

resume,

> and it would definately not be up to standard devotee-cleanliness. Apart

> from that all your time is gone getting water, making fire, washing,

drying.

> I also recall using practically all day washing when visiting India with

my

> kids, since I did not like the thought of letting others wash my clothes,

> actually we used most of the nights too, since the boys got very sick, but

> that was at least in a warmer climate.

> Anybody out there being happy doing it the good old way? Any simple

> alternatives to a washingmaschine in cold climates?

> Maybe living by a river is a different experience.

>

> Your servant Gunamani d.d.

> Do you have a windmill? If so cut a tee into the rod that rides up and

down to pull your water up out of the well. Then weld, tie. Bolt. screw

glue, or in someway affix an arm at right angles to that rod at the end of

the rod place an elbow facing 90o down. Place a rod or pipe on that

at the end of the second place two "plumbers friends " or toilet plungers

on the end of the rod. How you do that is pull the stick out of the end of

the plumbers friend and drill or burn or cut a hole where the stick was then

run it up the pipe or rod stick or what ever you have coming down form your

windmill arm. I cut a chunk of plastic pipe larger than the hole about six

inches long and use it as a spacer then slip the last plunger on and then

screw a cap on the end of the pipe or a cotter pin or what ever you have to

keep the plungers from falling off. now slip a (plastic or metal drum

(depending on the size of the your load) under the plunger fill the container

with warm water add laundry soap and go do something else. It usually took

three to four hours on low wind days to complete a load of wash. On windy

days it would only take two hours of sloshing to get my clothes clean. If

you do the light clothes first, you can use the same soapy water for the

really dirty first wash water on your dark clothes. I used an Amway soap

that was environmentally friendly and was low in phosphate. I drained the

wash water to my flower beds (I didn't care if they died or not.) Then I

wrenched every thing in a tub of cold water and ran them through a wringer I

had found in Mexico. They sell them new down there. I then shook out the

clothes and hung them out.

The actual time I was really involved was about one hour including filling

and draining the tubs. Usually I had so many things going I would forget and

take them out of the drum the next day. I always saved my wrench water and

used that to start the next wash. This method is not very elegant, but it

worked trouble free for fifteen years. I did have to change the drums I used

as they rusted out. I also tried using washing machine agitators that I found

abandoned in the desert, they worked really well but I never seemed to find

the agitators when I needed them. But that wasn't a really big hassel.Carol

[Guest guest]

Haribol

The red Indians in the desert south west made diapers of tree bark for

their infants. The little diapers were very soft and absorbent. The small

children wore no clothes till house trained. The Native Altus used polar bear

head fur, the babes did their dirty deeds, then the fur was placed outside to

freeze and the "dirt" and frozen liquid was just knocked off and the fur was

then clean and ready for reuse!

Carol

[Guest guest]

> Dear Carol.

> You are fantastic!

...

> Your servant Gunamani d.d.

 

She`s right!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/6/99 10:30:21 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

Trayimaya.HKS (AT) bbt (DOT) se writes:

 

>

> 12/6/99 10:30:21 AM US Mountain Standard Time

> Trayimaya.HKS (AT) bbt (DOT) se (COM: Trayimaya (das) HKS (Aarhus - DK))

> Sender: Trayimaya.HKS (AT) bbt (DOT) se

> Reply-to: <A HREF="Trayimaya.HKS (AT) bbt (DOT) se,">Trayimaya.HKS (AT) bbt (DOT) se,</

A> Varnasrama.development (AT) bbt (DOT) se, Practical.

> Varnasrama (AT) bbt (DOT) se

> Varnasrama.development (AT) bbt (DOT) se (COM: Varnasrama development)

> CC: Practical.Varnasrama (AT) bbt (DOT) se (COM: Practical Varnasrama)

>

> [Text 2835762 from COM]

>

> In the old days before the machines they had such a washing-device it is

> like a crate with holes in it. It hangs in a wooden frame and can swing

back

> and forth. This "basket" sits in a container with water. Now you just rock

> it with your dirty laundry and some soap inside.

>

> Otherwise I don´t think it is too difficult to make some device that would

> involve a bicycle. Shape up and wash the clothes.

> Ys. TMD

> Perhaps a child's swing set type toy would work? with a construction

water can as the wash bin. You would have to put some baffles to encourage

the sloshing action.

If you have a stream or river near by a chicken wire wrapped cylinder

with paddles on the out side so the current could turn it. and a rod through

the middle as an axis works. when i go sailing I just put my clothes in a

hot soapy solution and let it set till the water is cold and then place all

my clothes in a net bag tied to a stout rope and throw it over the side. Six

hours later I haul it in and declare it clean. If I have lots of fresh water

I wrince the clothes in fresh water first and dry in the sun as usual. You

can do the same if you live by the ocean just tie your laundry off and let

the tide wash it for you.

Carol

[Guest guest]

> "COM: Gunamani (dd) ARD (Arhus - DK)" wrote:

>

> > [Text 2836074 from COM]

> >

> > Dear Carol.

> > Please accept my respect.

> > You are fantastic!

> > I wish I could spend a week or two together with you some time. If you

> > ever make instructive videos, I will be a customer.

> > Thank you for you nice comment and Haribol!

> > Your servant Gunamani d.d.

>

> I vote that Mother Carol host a weekend of varnasrama self-sufficiency

> workshops this spring. Any backers for financing this?

 

If you find financiers, Mauritius would be a lovely location for such a

workshop!

 

In hope.

 

Samba das

[Guest guest]

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Thank you for daring to share your knowledge on this very practical and

important matter. (No joke)

 

However the method you speak about can only be really aplicable in a

somewhat warm country. Can you imagine being halfway over the field in a

freezing cold winter, when you need to do the toilettraining? Of course if

one have too it is possible, but it is also very likely that the children

would get sick. Please challenge me any eskimoes out there!

 

Anyway maybe the climate is changing. Lately our seasides had visits of

both a big turtle, a whale and a walrus.(Not usually seen here.) We also had

a hurricane,(very uncommon) leaving lots of people without electricity, the

islands flooded and the forest a mess of fallen trees.

A practical side of it were that we realized the utmost importance of

candles, a watercontainer and a working woodstove. Plus the ultimate

helplessness of human beings. Suddenly people started to speak about God in

the news.

 

Your servant Gunamani d.d.