What do you think?
Rate this book
Mother Earth News Wiser Living
EcoThrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life
Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without—our grandmothers knew the importance of responsible, thrifty choices. But somewhere along the way we lost our way and succumbed to the belief that we can get everything for next to nothing, have it shipped halfway around the world and then, more often than not, just throw it away.
This consumer binge is taking its toll. Diet and lifestyle-related illnesses are epidemic, our environment is awash in a sea of plastic, our climate is changing, and the cost of everything is skyrocketing with the price of oil. Are we doomed? No. We can make greener, healthier choices, and we can do it while saving money.
Where to start? Ecofrugal is packed with simple, practical ideas and recipes to help you:
Make homemade products for cleaning and skin care
Grow your own food and cook more from scratch
Raise your family without lowering your standards
A must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to live a greener life but thought that it would be too expensive, time-consuming, or difficult, this handy, complete guide will show you how small changes can have a huge environmental impact and save you thousands of dollars, all while improving your quality of life.
Deborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. The author of Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living, she presents extensively on topics including soapmaking, breadbaking, cheesemaking, composting, and homeschooling.
This consumer binge is taking its toll. Diet and lifestyle-related illnesses are epidemic, our environment is awash in a sea of plastic, our climate is changing, and the cost of everything is skyrocketing with the price of oil. Are we doomed? No. We can make greener, healthier choices, and we can do it while saving money.
Where to start? Ecofrugal is packed with simple, practical ideas and recipes to help you:
Make homemade products for cleaning and skin care
Grow your own food and cook more from scratch
Raise your family without lowering your standards
A must-read for anyone who has ever wanted to live a greener life but thought that it would be too expensive, time-consuming, or difficult, this handy, complete guide will show you how small changes can have a huge environmental impact and save you thousands of dollars, all while improving your quality of life.
Deborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. The author of Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living, she presents extensively on topics including soapmaking, breadbaking, cheesemaking, composting, and homeschooling.
193 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2012
52 people are currently reading
488 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Niemann
6 books41 followersDeborah Niemann is a homesteader, writer, and self-sufficiency expert. In 2002, she relocated her family from the suburbs of Chicago to a 32 acre parcel on a creek "in the middle of nowhere". Together, they built their own home and began growing the majority of their own food. Sheep, pigs, cattle, goats, chickens, and turkeys supply meat, eggs and dairy products, while an organic garden and orchard provides fruit and vegetables. A highly sought-after speaker and workshop leader, Deborah presents extensively on topics including soapmaking, cheesemaking, composting and raising goats and other livestock.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 19, 2017
I agree with other reviewers who said that this book struggles to find an audience. Those who are interested in being more eco-friendly are likely already doing most of what the book suggests, since the advice generally consists of somewhat basic money-saving tips. It gives recommendations like use CFLs, make your own beauty/cleaning products, cook at home, use the library for entertainment, that sort of thing. On the other hand, those who could do with some of the tips are probably not that interested in being eco-friendly.
I also feel that some of the arguments presented in the book for using or not using certain products should have presented a bit more valid research and a bit less exaggeration. There are several places where the author argues that you shouldn't use some types of toothpaste or deodorant because they contain ingredients that are used in products known to be toxic. But logically, you can't conclude from the ingredients' inclusion in a toxic product that the ingredients themselves are toxic. If she had presented scientific research or otherwise less dubious sources that showed the individual ingredients mentioned were toxic, the arguments would have held more weight for me.
I also feel that some of the arguments presented in the book for using or not using certain products should have presented a bit more valid research and a bit less exaggeration. There are several places where the author argues that you shouldn't use some types of toothpaste or deodorant because they contain ingredients that are used in products known to be toxic. But logically, you can't conclude from the ingredients' inclusion in a toxic product that the ingredients themselves are toxic. If she had presented scientific research or otherwise less dubious sources that showed the individual ingredients mentioned were toxic, the arguments would have held more weight for me.
December 25, 2013
It's a 2 for me, but it could earn an extra star for people who don't have much experience with being "green" (?). I found the book to be kind of dry, occasionally preachy, and a tad iffy now and then (for example, suggesting people switch to kitchen oils for lube; though the verdict varies of the true health of that, there's also no mention of what it could do to condoms...).
April 5, 2014
In someways a confusing book. I'm not sure the Author ever decided who her target audience was. Sometimes the advice was so obvious that it was insulting to the person who was already experienced in trying to live a more thrifty and Eco friendly life. Open a window on cool nights to save on air conditioning for example. In other places she seemed to assume her reader already knew some complex art. She talked at length about the oils you could add to homemade soap to make them special without ever telling you how to make soap.
The book was also poorly organized. Her advice on cleaning can largely be boiled down to two ingredients Vinegar and Baking soda. Instead of repeating those two in talking about different places to be cleaned it would have been simpler to do a chapter on each or even a long paragraph.
At times the advice was not even practical. She includes some recipes to save money. They included one for a lamb dish. Maybe where she lives lamb is a budget meat, here it is considered a luxury one.She also tells us to not take medication for a cold but to not eat or drink dairy products to cut mucus. This is an old wives tale that has been disproved. In fact mucus isn't even the problem. Inflammation of the sinus area is. The chicken soup does help. So she got that right.
When comparing cost she doesn't always compare apples to apples. She tell us Organics really don't cost more by comparing raw produce to packaged, processed food.
This very sad because a better book on this subject could be very helpful.
The book was also poorly organized. Her advice on cleaning can largely be boiled down to two ingredients Vinegar and Baking soda. Instead of repeating those two in talking about different places to be cleaned it would have been simpler to do a chapter on each or even a long paragraph.
At times the advice was not even practical. She includes some recipes to save money. They included one for a lamb dish. Maybe where she lives lamb is a budget meat, here it is considered a luxury one.She also tells us to not take medication for a cold but to not eat or drink dairy products to cut mucus. This is an old wives tale that has been disproved. In fact mucus isn't even the problem. Inflammation of the sinus area is. The chicken soup does help. So she got that right.
When comparing cost she doesn't always compare apples to apples. She tell us Organics really don't cost more by comparing raw produce to packaged, processed food.
This very sad because a better book on this subject could be very helpful.
March 11, 2013
I've been reading Deborah's blog since before she published her first book, so I can say that if she sounds preachy to some people, it's because she has the experience and the knowledge to preach about living an EcoThrifty life!
I've read a lot of green living books, and I usually put them down and think, "Well, that sounds great, but I could never do it", but this book is great for someone who wants to find a few simple ways to start incorporating a more environmentally concious worldview, but in baby steps that aren't overwhelming. Not all of the ideas will apply to all of the people, of course, but I think most people will be able to find a few ideas to take away with them. And then once those first steps are incorporated into a lifestyle, come back to the book and look for some new ones...
I've read a lot of green living books, and I usually put them down and think, "Well, that sounds great, but I could never do it", but this book is great for someone who wants to find a few simple ways to start incorporating a more environmentally concious worldview, but in baby steps that aren't overwhelming. Not all of the ideas will apply to all of the people, of course, but I think most people will be able to find a few ideas to take away with them. And then once those first steps are incorporated into a lifestyle, come back to the book and look for some new ones...
April 8, 2019
Had some good ideas and recipes but overall wasn't very engaging. The tone was a bit holier than thou, (how dare you want to use fabric softener for your clothes...hmm) and while I can appreciate the time and experience this author has put into learning these things on her own, it just didn't set well with me. Glad I used the library to check this out, would have been unhappy if I had purchased this.
Took me a while to read it in fits and starts, just read the chapters that applied to me since I don't have children etc.
Took me a while to read it in fits and starts, just read the chapters that applied to me since I don't have children etc.
April 18, 2013
Inspiring! The author did a great job of stripping away all of my excuses of why I don't do more myself. Her convictions at the beginning, suggestions through the body, and encouragement at the end of the book were just what I needed to begin a plan for eco-improvement!
November 28, 2016
There are some really good tips here, but nothing groundbreaking. This book would be more useful for someone just beginning to choose more environmentally friendly options, but for someone already fairly aware of their impact, this won't give many new ideas.
May 14, 2024
Stressful and out of touch to read. The author comes across as very preachy and in some cases blatantly wrong - do NOT use cooking oil as lube for condoms. I'm no skin care expert but I would not use hydrogen peroxide on my skin. Toothpaste is deemed as an unnecessary expense.
I believe the author has lived a very privileged life as she comes across as very judgmental with her generalizations. Some people have to take cold medications so they can go into work to make money to keep themselves fed and housed. For many people the decision isn't between whether to buy a hybrid car or an SUV with leather seats, the decision is whether to pay bus fare to get to work or buy groceries to feed their children with the bus fare money.
It felt like the author's opinions were being offered as facts with no scientific evidence/information. The author seemed to say, 'if you, unlike most Americans, cook and eat healthy food from scratch and exercise, you won't get sick or have to take any type of medication!'
All of the eco friendly living tips were extremely obvious and common sense - wash your laundry with cold (not hot water), open windows when your house is too warm.
I believe the author has lived a very privileged life as she comes across as very judgmental with her generalizations. Some people have to take cold medications so they can go into work to make money to keep themselves fed and housed. For many people the decision isn't between whether to buy a hybrid car or an SUV with leather seats, the decision is whether to pay bus fare to get to work or buy groceries to feed their children with the bus fare money.
It felt like the author's opinions were being offered as facts with no scientific evidence/information. The author seemed to say, 'if you, unlike most Americans, cook and eat healthy food from scratch and exercise, you won't get sick or have to take any type of medication!'
All of the eco friendly living tips were extremely obvious and common sense - wash your laundry with cold (not hot water), open windows when your house is too warm.
February 9, 2013
I felt like the author got a holier-than-thou attitude about her writing on the subject at hand. It's perfectly fine to want to be thrifty and to seek out a book --but, she made me glad I didn't pay for this one. Thank god for libraries (...which I don't think she even mentioned as a way to cut costs on books and magazines; instead heading straight for the internet...which may I remind you spendthrifts, is usually available at your local library along with many other wonderful opprotunities to save). Also, I felt like certain sections could have had more pictures, and the black-and-white photography made the book feel cheap, which at nearly $20 I'm sure more than one fellow tightwad said, "No thanks" to.
December 8, 2012
While she has some good ideas and the book covers many areas of modern life, her writing is preachy and her style is laborious. Could have used a brisk edit. Also many of the how-tos were very thin and I doubt anyone will successfully make recipes for food or household supplies from her vague directions
didn-t-finish
September 27, 2017Nothing new here. Gave up reading, as her advice on natural lubricants is the worst I've read. News flash: oil is not compatible with latex condoms. But then, the author probably thinks that getting pregnant is the only natural birth control.
March 22, 2022
Nonsensical ramblings of a preachy woman who has too much money for me to use her advice. So much of it is only feasible or relevant if you have too much money in general. The advice I can afford is just straight up bad.
June 18, 2013
Mostly a lot of impractical advice for me.
July 10, 2013
I didn't really feel like the book had much substance.
February 6, 2016
Although this is a new book, I found the info to be rather dated because most of it was general knowledge to me. Not useful, not informative. Wasted time for me.
April 3, 2017
A very thin, superficial treatment of the subject. Many books have covered this topic in a more detailed, helpful fashion.
May 2, 2019
I part-read, part-skimmed this book. I like the term "EcoThrifty" which basically means using products and doing things that reduce our impact on the environment and saving money at the same time. There are lots of good, practical ideas in this book, although many of them take extra effort (gardening, cooking bread from scratch, organizing swap sessions, etc.). I was very interested to read that using the dishwasher actually uses less water than washing dishes by hand. Didn't see that coming. This book promotes a back-to-simpler-times kind of philosophy: doing a lot of things by hand, cooking all your own meals, making your own beauty products and cleaning products, raising your own organic vegetables, meat, and dairy, buying in bulk. Sounds nice, but some of it is going a bit too far for me. Still, I really like the philosophy of reducing commercial products that may contain a lot of chemicals and using simpler, more natural products.
September 13, 2020
I first discovered Deborah through a Mother Earth News online workshop. I liked her immediately because she dove right into the subject matter instead of theory or her credentials.
This book is exactly the same - practical, useful tips right from page 1 that are well written and interesting but don't delve into theory or extra stuff. Simple, straightforward, and enjoyable. Plus, I learned a lot!
If you're new to thrifty or ecothrifty, this is a great primer. If you're not, then this will feel basic to you. I'm new and wanted a comprehensive, easy to read intro, and that's exactly what I took away from this book.
This book is exactly the same - practical, useful tips right from page 1 that are well written and interesting but don't delve into theory or extra stuff. Simple, straightforward, and enjoyable. Plus, I learned a lot!
If you're new to thrifty or ecothrifty, this is a great primer. If you're not, then this will feel basic to you. I'm new and wanted a comprehensive, easy to read intro, and that's exactly what I took away from this book.
May 10, 2022
I really enjoy Deborah Niemann's weekly newsletter and I've seen her speak at Mother Earth News Fairs, so I thought I would really like this book. Unfortunately, I'm not the right target audience - I was hoping to find additional tips for being both eco-friendly and frugal, but I am already doing the suggestions that apply to my lifestyle. For someone just looking to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, it could be a lot more useful.
January 30, 2019
There were a lot of good tips and tricks in this book on ways to be more eco thrifty. I found it interesting in the food chapters all the references to livestock and meat when obviously the most eco thrifty and ecofriendly choice would be not including slaughter in your diet.
Overall I would recommend this as a book worth browsing through for specific topics outside of the food chapters.
Overall I would recommend this as a book worth browsing through for specific topics outside of the food chapters.
July 9, 2019
This would be a good overview for someone new to making thrifty and "greener" choices, but there was little here I didn't already know, and I didn't find the format particularly helpful, either. But, again, if you're looking for a basic overview of how to be ecothrifty, this is worth reading (I got it from the library).
August 7, 2020
Great for beginners like me!
There’s a few “well duh” ideas in here but there are A LOT of things I haven’t thought about. And almost everything talked about in this book can me done while city living. I read this in only a few hours. Chalk full of information and it wasn’t preachy like I was afraid it would be.
There’s a few “well duh” ideas in here but there are A LOT of things I haven’t thought about. And almost everything talked about in this book can me done while city living. I read this in only a few hours. Chalk full of information and it wasn’t preachy like I was afraid it would be.
June 19, 2024
This book included a lot of common sense type things. This read like a one-woman marching band bashing our current practices based on her personal opinions. There was a bibliography but not much actual data in her work. I skimmed the last half.
April 1, 2025
A beginner book on sustainable actions you can take, unfortunately ruined by chemophobia. Makes dangerous suggestions or uses outdated wives tales including don't go to the doctor you probably don't need it and use random kitchen oils as lube.....
January 13, 2018
I've used several ideas from this book. I like the recipe for body lotion.
August 7, 2020
It had a lot of really good information on how to choose better, cheaper options while being eco-friendly.
September 2, 2020
Nothing groundbreaking here. A surprising amount of recipes. Some good tips and some things I don't like to think about lol (sorry but I will never give up my car)
April 19, 2014
With a financial situation that can only be described as “meh” and a desire to be a green as possible, I’m always looking for tips and ideas on how to save some money while also being earth-friendly. Some of the money saving tips I find are way too stringent, the kind you might find on the TLC show “Extreme Cheapskates.” No thanks. I refuse to dumpster dive for medication. And as for being green, there are times when I think the green movement has become too elitist or “yuppie,” like high-end green fashion brands and home accessories. I just can’t fathom buying a tank top that costs almost a third of my monthly rent.
Well, thanks to Deborah Niemann’s latest book Eco-Thrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life, I can I can pay my rent and maintain my desire to be as green as humanly possible.
I first became aware of Ms. Niemann when I profiled her book Homegrown and Homemade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living and her visit to Milwaukee’s very own Boswell Book Company nearly three years ago. Ms. Niemann lives on a huge homestead and farm in rural Illinois where she and her family a hugely self-sustaining life raising chickens, goats, llamas, and cows. They also have a large garden and orchard. It is from this homestead Ms. Niemann is able to support and take care of her family while being hugely frugal and maintaining an environmentally-sound lifestyle. So needless to say, she is the correct person to write a book on the topics of saving money and caring for the planet.
Eco-Thrifty is divided into 10 easy to follow chapters covering everything from making your own personal care products to how to make products to keep your home spic and span. Niemann also covers cheap ways to be green when it comes to clothing, raising children, feeding your family, maintaining your health, and gardening. Eco-Thrifty also tells us how entertaining and transportation can also be green and cheap. And the final chapter informs us to get things for free or almost free. Bonus!
I have to admit I looked forward to reading Eco-Thrifty’s chapter on personal care products. I’ve been making own soap for six years now. Not only am I saving money and not using products with a bunch of scary chemicals I can’t pronounce, I’m also having a lot of fun. Making my own soap is another creative outlet. So I was thrilled to read up on recipes on how to make other products like body butter and exfoliating scrubs.
In the chapter on home care, Deborah lets us know how much you can clean with simple vinegar and baking soda (and a little extra elbow grease). You don’t have to buy a mess of products from Wal-Mart. She also has a recipe on how to make your own laundry detergent with items you can easily find at you local grocery or drug store.
When it comes to food, Niemann inspires us to trust ourselves in the kitchen. We can save money, be green and get in touch with our inner Julia Child. She extolls the virtues of making things from scratch, including wine. She also encourages us to grow our own food, letting us know that even an urban dweller like myself can grow an herb garden on my window sill (and I’m planning on doing this shortly).
Other green and thrifty ideas include buying things used, holding clothing swap parties, investing in a good pair of gym shoes to go walking around your neighborhood instead of joining a pricey gym and re-purposing and re-using things you might throw out. Many of her ideas you might be using already!
Most of Ms. Niemann’s ideas and tips are easy to do and practical. Niemann’s writing style is down-to-earth and encouraging. And she knows that not all of her ideas will work for everyone and some may have to be amended to one’s particular lifestyle. Sure, she got a bit preachy about not having a television, but perhaps I was feeling some residual Catholic guilt over watching reruns of “Bridezillas” instead of doing something a bit more worthy of my time.
Ultimately, Eco-Thrifty is a must-read primer for anyone who wants to be green and save some green.
Originally published at The Book Self:
http://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com/...
Well, thanks to Deborah Niemann’s latest book Eco-Thrifty: Cheaper, Greener Choices for a Happier, Healthier Life, I can I can pay my rent and maintain my desire to be as green as humanly possible.
I first became aware of Ms. Niemann when I profiled her book Homegrown and Homemade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living and her visit to Milwaukee’s very own Boswell Book Company nearly three years ago. Ms. Niemann lives on a huge homestead and farm in rural Illinois where she and her family a hugely self-sustaining life raising chickens, goats, llamas, and cows. They also have a large garden and orchard. It is from this homestead Ms. Niemann is able to support and take care of her family while being hugely frugal and maintaining an environmentally-sound lifestyle. So needless to say, she is the correct person to write a book on the topics of saving money and caring for the planet.
Eco-Thrifty is divided into 10 easy to follow chapters covering everything from making your own personal care products to how to make products to keep your home spic and span. Niemann also covers cheap ways to be green when it comes to clothing, raising children, feeding your family, maintaining your health, and gardening. Eco-Thrifty also tells us how entertaining and transportation can also be green and cheap. And the final chapter informs us to get things for free or almost free. Bonus!
I have to admit I looked forward to reading Eco-Thrifty’s chapter on personal care products. I’ve been making own soap for six years now. Not only am I saving money and not using products with a bunch of scary chemicals I can’t pronounce, I’m also having a lot of fun. Making my own soap is another creative outlet. So I was thrilled to read up on recipes on how to make other products like body butter and exfoliating scrubs.
In the chapter on home care, Deborah lets us know how much you can clean with simple vinegar and baking soda (and a little extra elbow grease). You don’t have to buy a mess of products from Wal-Mart. She also has a recipe on how to make your own laundry detergent with items you can easily find at you local grocery or drug store.
When it comes to food, Niemann inspires us to trust ourselves in the kitchen. We can save money, be green and get in touch with our inner Julia Child. She extolls the virtues of making things from scratch, including wine. She also encourages us to grow our own food, letting us know that even an urban dweller like myself can grow an herb garden on my window sill (and I’m planning on doing this shortly).
Other green and thrifty ideas include buying things used, holding clothing swap parties, investing in a good pair of gym shoes to go walking around your neighborhood instead of joining a pricey gym and re-purposing and re-using things you might throw out. Many of her ideas you might be using already!
Most of Ms. Niemann’s ideas and tips are easy to do and practical. Niemann’s writing style is down-to-earth and encouraging. And she knows that not all of her ideas will work for everyone and some may have to be amended to one’s particular lifestyle. Sure, she got a bit preachy about not having a television, but perhaps I was feeling some residual Catholic guilt over watching reruns of “Bridezillas” instead of doing something a bit more worthy of my time.
Ultimately, Eco-Thrifty is a must-read primer for anyone who wants to be green and save some green.
Originally published at The Book Self:
http://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com/...
May 4, 2016
Following her eco-friendly debut, "Homegrown and Handmade: A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant Living," Niemann continues to offer tips for sustainable living, focusing now on practical ways to be green while saving money. Niemann’s suggestions provide earth-conscious, frugal ways to avoid buying toxic products or their expensive alternatives, thereby reducing environmental harm and supporting personal health through informed consumer choices. In every chapter, from food to home to transportation, Niemann includes recipes or other straightforward guidance, along with cost comparisons, to make her ideas accessible and seemingly easy to implement. Because she covers so much territory, some ideas are bound to pique readers’ interest, whether wine- or soap-making, gardening, bread baking or clothes swapping parties appeal. A homesteader herself, Niemann does not forgo technology when it provides the cleanest and cheapest option. She acknowledges, for instance, that using a reel mower for lawn care may not be practical for large lawns or busy people, and so she describes the differences between electric- and gas-powered options. Likewise, in her chapter on free stuff, Niemann discusses foraging in parks as well as foraging online. Small testimonials sprinkled throughout the book complement Niemann’s encouraging tone, so that her advice does not come across as righteous or preachy, but more like insider tips from an experienced do-it-yourselfer.
August 10, 2013
A concise guide to living a frugal "green" life. This book covers every aspect including personal hygiene and entertainment. There are some basic recipes, accounts from experience and gentle encouragement to at least give it a go.
I liked this book because it was inspiring and stimulating. My only complaint - it was written for American readers, in particular those in Chicago. The comprehensive bibliography section made up for that.
It's a small book, easily read and printed on 100% recycled paper.
I liked this book because it was inspiring and stimulating. My only complaint - it was written for American readers, in particular those in Chicago. The comprehensive bibliography section made up for that.
It's a small book, easily read and printed on 100% recycled paper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews