What Does Your Line Look Like?

On June 10th, I posted a picture of what my clothes line looks like on my own blog. I asked my readers to do the same. Peppylady heeded my request.

I came to age in the early 90s. Growing up my mother never had a clothesline she always used the dryer. I don't know if my maternal grandmother had one -- I assume she did -- but I do know my paternal grandmother does. Without a washer and dryer, she goes to the laundromat every week to do her laundry. In the winter she uses the dryers but in the summer she hangs her laundry on the line as a way to save on the number of quarters she uses weekly.

For me, I started using the line as a way to cut down on my electric bill with the environmental benefits secondary. I was a adult commuter student, struggling to eat and pay the mortgage while going to school full time. My husband and I made as many cuts and changes we could while I was in school because we were sinking financially. After I graduated we continued to hang the laundry and make other changes as a way to save money and Mother Earth at the same time.

We didn't realize how much using the line cut down on our electric bill until this last February. Even in the winter I hang the laundry, although on racks in the house as opposed to outside on the line, but last February I got lazy about doing so. When the electric bill came in there was a $30 increase which Wolf couldn't figure out. It was at that time my commitment to using my line was cemented.

Often I stand on a soapbox and preach to my friends and family about ways to save Mother Earth and money. It's paid off. A couple of my friends have started line drying their clothes, have eliminated bottled water, and eat as organically as they can afford. I encourage you to do the same!

Take a look at this page on my blog to see the other changes we've made around our homestead-ette.

Please post a picture of your clothesline for us all:

Turtleheart Cove
Allie's Answers
A Homesteading Neophyte
Cauldron Ridge Farm
Children in the Corn
The Extra Ordinary