Leetonia family takes going green to a whole new level - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

LEETONIA, Ohio – To save money, many people are becoming more self reliant. They are also looking for ways to produce less waste and preserve the environment.

Kathryn Hatch and her family have made reusing and recycling resources practically a science on their self-sustained, homestead farm in Leetonia.

It all started with Kathryn's passion for cooking. That led to creating a garden, which she now plans to harvest throughout the winter.

"you can grow some hardy lettuces, kale and find something to cover it. It can even be an inverted bucket or maybe a milk jug that's cut in half," Kathryn said.

To create rich soil, composting is a good companion to gardening and it allows you to dispose food scraps and paper products into the earth instead of a garbage bag.

Hatch does not believe in using pesticides in her garden. Instead, her chickens do the work of getting rid of the bugs.

"They will eat the eggs, the larvae, the bugs that we don't want. And they like that protein source," Kathryn said.

If you don't want to run a lawn mower and consume gas, get some sheep! Hatch's Old English Baby Doll sheep get the job done.

"They'll work on one section of the property at one time and then move around during the summer," Kathryn said.

There is actually an emerging trend where you can have a flock of sheep come to your yard for a couple weeks to mow your lawn.

So how can a busy family of four do so much to create so little waste? Well Kathryn says she started off by taking baby steps. "Start gardening or start composting and then it kind of becomes a game," she said.

Kathryn says don't be afraid to make mistakes. Through trial and error you'll find what works for you.