Household, Gardening and other
fun tips for natural living
Tips without chemicals, health tips, gardening tips and more
From gardening to cleaning to natural remedies and just about everything in between, this is your resource for adapting natural family living practices into your life.
In many walks, of society, many people expect nothing less than perfection. This has led to an over-reliance on insecticides and other chemicals such as sprayer stickers to prevent insect damage, as well as optimizing growth and production of plants with the use of commercial fertilizers.
As an organic grower, one needs to first realize that beauty and quality are different sorts of things than perfection. By using natural methods of pest control, you can produce plenty of beautiful crops or flowers, without relying on non-organic sprays, powders or other insecticides.
The first two lines of defense against pests are water pressure and handpicking harmful insects. A simple stroll through your garden each day will ensure that any problems are noticed and can be addressed immediately.
Pay attention to the color of leaves, stalks and flowers. Look for changes, inspect for bites or other damage. Many pests are visible only from the underside of the leaves. Nighttime is the best time to catch and remove sneaky pests (snails) from your plants. Be sure to take a flashlight!
Hand pick any visible pests from plants and remove yellowed or damaged leaves as soon as they appear. Be sure to dispose of the removed leaves outside your garden to prevent the spread of pests or disease.
A strong stream of water from your garden hose will help kill or remove many pests. Be careful not to damage the plants and direct the stream of water carefully, where pests tend to hide out- inside creases and crevices, the underside of leaves and around the flowers.
For your third line of defense, encourage beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, by planting dill, fennel, carrots and parsley. Allow these plants to bloom in order to attract ladybugs. The ladybugs will rid your garden of a variety of harmful pests. Some plants, such as carrots, don't bloom until the second year, so keep these plants in place and plant others you intend to harvest. One can purchase lady bugs and other helpful insects directly off the internet, as well as liquid garlic spray and French and African Marigold root in liquid form.
The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, check out Going Organic by clicking on link below:
“For whiteflies, which attack many plants, spreading disease, puree two cloves of garlic, mix with one pint water, strain and spray on your plants. Attracting ladybugs is also effective for whitefly problems.”
The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, Click Here.
“If grasshoppers are a problem in your garden, leave an area around your garden uncut and unmowed to give them an option to hide in and munch on other than your beloved plants. Conversely, if ticks are a problem for you, be sure to keep yards mowed and brush trimmed because ticks need these areas to reproduce.”
The above excerpt was taken from the new downloadable book called “Getting Started in Organic Gardening for Fun and Profit” by organic growing expert and best-selling author Jay North. For more information, or to purchase the book, Click Here.
Food Storage Series
As produce ripens and is brought from the garden or farmers market into your house, you’ll want to keep it fresh for as long as possible to preserve the nutritional values and taste of your harvests. Check out Odds n Sods over the next few weeks for tips on keeping assorted fruits and veggies their freshest.
Fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes are another of summer’s gifts. To keep them as nutritionally beneficial and fabulous tasting as possible, be sure to store them correctly. If they aren’t completely ripe when you bring them into the house, let them sit on the counter until they are at the peak of perfection. (If you want to speed this ripening up, place them in a brown paper bag to trap in the ethylene gas they emit to ripen themselves – an apple added to the bag will speed the process up even further, as it, too, will emit the “ripening” gas.)
The cold environment of the fridge will bring the ripening process to a complete halt and the flavour of this fabulous little fruit won’t develop fully, so avoid keeping them there until you are totally satisfied with the ripeness. Once they are totally ripe, they can be stored in the fridge for several days. To speed up the counter ripening process, store them in a paper bag.
Berries generally last only 2-3 days (at most) after they’ve been picked. To keep them fresh as long as possible, pick out any individual berries that are mouldy or overripe as soon as you notice they are off, and then eat the rest as soon as possible (which shouldn’t be too hard, as fresh berries are the delight of early summer for most families).
But with berries at excellent prices now at farmer’s mark ets and “pick your own” farms, consider freezing some for use later in the year. To freeze them, wash thoroughly, sort and discard any that have gone off, then spread the keepers on a cookie sheet in individual layers. Once they have frozen, transfer them to freezer bags or containers for more compact storage. The extra freezing-on-a-cookie-sheet step is well worth it, for you will be able to pull as many or as few as you need out of the freezer later for smoothies, baked goods, or even just “frozen fruit candy”.
Rinse those leafy greens (such as spinach, lettuce, chard, dandelion greens…) under cool water, then drain completely. Wrap them in a cotton cloth (a cotton tea towel works well), then place in a plastic bag (think reduce, reuse, recycle when using plastics) and store in the vegetable bin of your fridge. Both the flavour and the texture will stay fresh a while longer and will preserve the fabulous vitamins and minerals these fab foods provide.
They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and the good news is that the same advice can be applied to removing splinters. If you or a little one you know can’t stand the idea of removing splinters with a needle (which isn’t particularly safe or hygienic anyway), try the sweet approach. Simply spread a good dab of honey over the imbedded splinter, cover with a bandage overnight and by morning it will have worked itself out – easy and pain-free.
For an all-natural, gentle skin cleanser and moisturizer all-in-one, try this quick and easy approach. Cut the foot off an old pair of nylons or threadbare sock (you’ll want 6-12 inches of material), and pour ½ cup of whole oats into the toe of it. Secure with a knot or elastic band, trim any extra material you have and take your new little bag into the shower. Use it to scrub your body and then rinse thoroughly. It will leave you silky and soft. Repeated use increases the results! Too easy to be true? Give it a try – you’ll be amazed.
If your eyes puff up and itch and burn with the allergy season, try using this simple remedy to help soothe them. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of very warm water. Dip cotton balls or a soft cotton cloth into the mixture and apply to closed eyelids. Lay down and rest quietly with the soaked cotton on your eyes for 15-20 mins.
As spring turns to summer and the insects come out to play, there are always a few we wish would play on their own. Wasps are often one of those. To deter wasps from entering your yards and gardens, simply suspend a small, inflated paper bag so that it hangs down, looking similar to a wasps nest. Wasps are very territorial and pretty respectful of each others’ space, so when they see another nest, they stay clear. By fooling them with this simple and super-easy method, you won’t have to worry about them encroaching on your space.
Sun & Fun - Sunscreen Savvy
All bodies do need some sunshine to manufacture Vitamin D, but the sunshine of today is much harder on skin than the sunshine of 50 years ago, so you’ll want to spend much of the summer with a high-quality sunscreen protecting you and your family. But not all sunscreen is created equal. There are some ingredients that you will definitely want in your sunscreen, and other ingredients you should think twice about.
The good stuff: Titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. These ingredients have been proven to block out both UVA & UVB rays. Those sunscreens without these ingredients filter some rays, but not all, and what is allowed to reach your skin could be more harmful in a fractured state than the whole spectrum.
The questionable stuff: Hormone- imitating chemicals such as 4-mbc (4-methyl-benzylidene camphor). This ingredient is causing some scientists concern because it has been shown to have negative effects on lab animals – causing cancer cells to multiply quickly and doubling the uterine growth in pre-pubescent animals (all with dosages allowed in sunscreens). Although researchers are recommending further investigation into the chemical and it’s effects on humans, some are urging caution be applied when using this chemical on children, as kids are more susceptible to the allowed dosages.
Even one really bad sunburn can irretrievably damage skin, so be sure to cover up and, if possible, avoid the hottest period of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest.
Dry brushing is a great way to improve circulation, enhance the immune system, and revitalize the nervous system. It’s a great (and really cheap) treatment for cellulite and fluid-retention, lagging energy levels, and sore muscles. It will get rid of dead skin cells and allow your skin to breathe more efficiently, helping your body function more efficiently.
Start with a dry body brush or mitt made of natural fibres (such as loofah, jute or hemp) – these can be found in just about any natural grocery store or large drugstore. Start at the bottom (the soles of your feet) and work upwards with a gentle, circular massage always in the direction of the heart. Be sure to pay close attention to the rougher parts – the elbows and knees and feet – and always work towards the center of your body. Finish off with a shower or bath and enjoy the multitude of benefits your body will receive from incorporating this small self-care act into your daily routine.
Body brushes should be shaken out after each brushing session and washed with warm water and a gentle soap about once a week or so.
Insect bites can be terribly irritating, especially for young skin. Lavender essential oil can be applied directly to any itchy or sore bites to help ease the discomfort. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that are safe to use undiluted directly on the skin.
Purchase lavender essential oil.
For more information on treating insect bites with a natural approach, read Susun Weed’s article “Ease Those Bug Bites with Easy Herbs”.
When the weather turns to scorching, try carrying a cooler in your car when you go grocery shopping. Popping your need-to-keep-cool items into the cooler will leave you a little more time to get home, so running other errands or popping by the playground for a bit becomes feasible. If you have plans to take a long time getting home after getting groceries, toss a re-usable freezer pack into the cooler before you leave home to keep the items cooler longer.
This is a fabulous little trick to cool your body down quickly. Add 5-6 drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of cool water, then dip a large cotton cloth into the water and wring out. Wrap the wet cloth around your leg, sit back and relax for a few minutes. This is totally safe for use with children, and a great way to cool down on those hot, hot days just before bed.
Keeping cool is challenge for many during the month of August. Try taking a cool bath with 2 drops of peppermint oil added for a refreshing, invigorating soak. When you get out, massage in a peppermint body oil (add 2-4 drops peppermint essential oil in a Pure oil) to prolong that refreshed feeling.
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