Month: May 2017

Sunday: What did I learn?

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It’s the last day of the flats and handwashing diaper challenge hosted by Cloth Diaper Revival. 

What did I learn?

  • That handwashing is completely viable, but a lot of work. 
  • That we can definitely diaper in an off grid situation like camping for a longer term if we want to. 
  • That I love my washer and hate my HOA. 
  • That flats and handwashing might work for some low income families. I think especially if there is a stay at home parent in the picture, flats and covers would be a good way to save money even if you had to handwash. 
  • Don’t forget a swim diaper in our list of covers next year! This was the only break from protocol we made, since wool in the pool doesn’t really work. 

I’m really looking forward to using my washer again guys, but I’m also looking forward to the challenge next year! 

Saturday: What’s Working?

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It’s the sixth day of the flats and handwashing diaper challenge hosted by Cloth Diaper Revival. 

What’s working and what isn’t?

We pretty much do everything but the handwashing on a regular basis. I love flats and wool covers. They are easy, they are natural and they are so adorable!


I don’t love handwashing flats. I pretty much only do it because I’m not one to turn down a challenge. They do come out super clean, it’s just a lot of work. 

Wednesday: The Kite Fold

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Today is the third day of the flats and handwashing challenge at Cloth Diaper Revival. 

Around here we like to be lazy, and so padfolding is a go to. It’s fast, it’s easy, and with a wiggly toddler that often trumps trimness or elegance. When Kai is in a cooperative mood, however, the Kite fold is my favorite fold.

I couldn’t get Kai to cooperate today, so here’s Bobo Bear in a kite folded hemp jersey flat. 

Tuesday: My Flat Stash and DIY Flats

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Today is the second day of the flats and handwashing challenge at Cloth Diaper Revival.

DIY flat in a kite fold
For this challenge, I’m using all DIY Stretchy Flats. Most of them are a hemp-cotton jersey blend and a few are bamboo stretch french terry. If you haven’t had a chance yet, go check out my DIY Stretchy Flats mini-tutorial on how I made all my flats.


Since the last Flast and Handwashing Challenge, we moved to all natural fibers for new diapering purchases. All the bamboo flats were actually made for last year’s challenge or right after it and have been in rotation since then and are still going strong. The hemp-cotton flats are newer and have been in rotation anywhere from two to eight months.



We also switched to all wool covers. I’ll admit, I use one of the more expensive options out there when it comes to wool covers and then I put wool pants over them. (Kai can unsnappi a flat if it’s just under wool shorts, so flats always get a cover before the shorts go on here.)  Last year we were using Thirsties Duo Wraps  which would’ve brought the total budget down to $158, so you can definitely do this very cheaply.


The Budget:

  • Hemp-cotton jersey @ $14/yard x 3 yards = 6 toddler sized  (29.5″ x 29.5″) flats @ $7/each
  • Bamboo stretch terry @ $16/yard x 1 yard = 2 toddler sized (29.5″ x 29.5″) flats @ $8/each
  • Bamboo stretch terry @ $16/yard x 1 yard = 4 half-flats (29.5″ x 15″) flats @ $4 each
    • $74 total for 12 flats
  • Wool Wraps @ $54/each x 6 = $324
    • Total = $398

 

Additional supplies

  • Wool shorts
    • I prefer wool over wool, and so Kai wears a lot of wool bottoms. You don’t have to wear wool over wool, but in the spirit of this challenge, I’m limiting myself to three pairs of Wild Coconut Wear interlock shorts that I purchased used from the b/s/t. They were $20/each, which brings the budget up to $458.
  • Snappis
    • We usually padfold, but for the challenge we experiment with folds and need a snappi. I don’t think I actually ever paid for a snappi, they all came free with some other purchase or in GCDC giftbags.

How this is different from our usual stash:

  • My husband prefers all-in-ones, and so that’s what he uses when he does diaper changes
  • I almost always do a cover and flats. My flats stash also includes stretchy flats from Sweet Iris (bamboo) and Truly Charis (hemp).
  • Our wool bottoms stash is out-of-control large, and includes machine knit and hand knot wool alongside our interlock.

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Monday: Why are you taking the Flats and Handwashing Challenge?

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Today is the first day of the flats and handwashing diaper challenge hosted by Cloth Diaper Revival. 

I think most of you know by now that I love cloth diapers. Last year we did the flats and handwashing challenge while doing a thousand mile road trip. It was REALLY a challenge. This year I’m hoping to see what a normal daily routine might look like when handwashing.


We use flats and covers on a regular basis, so that bit isn’t much of a challenge. They’re easy, especially since I usually pad fold these days, they’re effective, and they’re a system I can use and only use natural fibers. (Last year we used bamboo flats, this year we’re mostly using hemp). 


I’ve also voluntarily handwashed last year and while camping before, so that part isn’t new either, but this is the first time I’ll be handwashing at home where the lure of the washer is ever present. Let the challenge begin!

Rowan Forge Year 1.5 Fall Term Homeschool Plan

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If you missed the Year 1.5 Summer Term post, check it out for some background on how we homeschool.

Fall will be the beginning of our academic subjects. I decided to keep a slower pace this first year, and wait for a foreign language or any other additional subjects until next year. History, Geography, Math and English will be the only subjects we do every day. Everything else in on a weekly or ad hoc looping basis.

A lot of these resources are available online for free. I linked to hard copies because I dislike digital books, especially when reading Charlotte Mason style.

Fall Term (September, October, November)

Continue reading →

Rowan Forge Nursery School Summer Term

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We’ve got a whole lot of things going on, and some big changes on the way. During this time, it’s especially important to keep on rhythm with Kai. She doesn’t understand exactly what is happening or why and she doesn’t have enough words to express her discontent at all this change. I hate change, too, kiddo, so I know how you feel (even if I don’t hate this change. I’m challenged by it, and maybe even overwhelmed a bit, but I’m also looking forward to having Kit with us for the year).


I’m also trying to expand our outside time. I recently started reading Charlotte Mason’s own works, instead of what others have written about her method and even with all the encouragement Waldorf has given us to go outside, CM has inspired me to do more. Right now we spend 2-3 hours outside a day, and apparently everyone is getting into the outside game, even WHO declared kids should be outside for at least 3 hours a day this week. Continue reading →