If you wanted to know what was going on around town, I was the one to ask. In my on the go days I knew of the latest happenings, not because I was in the in crowd but I would keep up with newspaper articles, look at every flier that came my way, remember conversations and just ask questions. I think this curiosity may be the journalist in me or it may just be that I truly am “Little Verlenia,” a young version of my very resourceful grandmother.

My Grandma Thomas, like many grandmothers, was the go to person in our family. She always had food, a comfortable place to stay and money, even for us, her educated children with the good jobs but mismanaged funds. I learned a lot for this woman, whose highest level of education was a high school diploma that she obtained by attending night school as an adult. Most of her jobs were as a domestic or a cook, but her work always provided what they needed and even more to share. It still amazes me that her household never lacked any needs, and she and my grandfather (a local truck driver) sent two of their three children (the third didn’t want to go) to college on their salaries. But like many in their era, they knew what to do so their household didn’t lack, and everyone felt the love behind their efforts. So the following are some tips I learned from my grandmother, who was the ultimate Proverbs 31 woman:

Recycle:

Use a deep freezer to save large quantities of food that would be otherwise thrown out after a few days. On days when you don’t feel like cooking or lack the time, pull out different items to create a new meal.

Reuse aluminum foil and plastic bags. Even though my grandmother would wash aluminum foil and storage bags that had greasy items in them, I don’t recommend that. But you can reuse these if you previously stored dried items, like bread or fruit. Just shake and wipe them out, and they should be good for at least two more uses.

Use household products in more than one way. For instance, you can use baking soda for cooking and cleaning. Clean your teeth, your food (fruit and veggies, including greens), your kitchen and bathroom. Vinegar works to clean food surfaces, like wooden chopping boards, floors and sinks, and disinfects garbage disposals. Another good product to try is food grade hydrogen peroxide. Stronger than regular peroxide, this kills E. Coli and other bacteria, fungi and pesticides. It can be used to decontaminate food and used for personal hygiene.

Next Friday I plan to have more tips for you. As I look at the need for women to be prudent with their time, there are more resourceful tips I have that will help in that way. As always, I look forward to hearing from you. And by all means, share some ways that you have been able to be resourceful to provide for your family’s needs.

Copyright 2009 by Rhonda J. Smith