Jun 13, 2013 | Green Living
One of the motivating factors for moving to this new house was the wonderful yard.
The plan is to have a little urban garden where we don’t have to buy produce (at least all summer and spring.)
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| Back Side Yard- Tree Fort is almost complete! |
Planning is not easy. We have 3 lots, which is just a hair shy of an acre!
I keep changing my mind about what I want and where I want it and I believe I’m driving my husband crazy showing him pictures on Pinterest or yet another gardening book.
The kids and I went to the Splash Park last week and afterwards stopped at the Bernice Garden in the Quapaw district. (Of course our main reason was to get some of Arkansas’ best ice cream at Loblolly Creamery…)
The gardens are so cute!
Beautiful sculptures and structures made from reclaimed and re-purposed materials,
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| There was a tiny baby Praying Mantis on her finger! |
Paths made from broken bottles,
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| Phone Pole & Chicken Wire Trellis for Clematis |
More ideas.
So far I’ve planted two apple and two peach trees in the back. I want to get about six more fruit trees for the front yard. And the chickens are loving their new space…
I’m not sure our garden will have much yield this year if we even get the ground tilled, but next year?
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| Side Yard- Spot forVeggie Garden |
May 9, 2013 | Green Living, In-Edibles, Recipes
Yesterday I tried a new recipe for laundry detergent.
when it’s colder weather (especially if you use mainly cold water to wash.)
I love my recipe and it’s so inexpensive to make. The liquid recipe makes
equivalent to about 9 bottles of the HE detergent (medium bottles) or probably
one of the giant ones from Sam’s Club.
Since it’s getting warmer I wanted to try a powdered detergent recipe and
see how it compares.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
1 bar of soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s Citrus)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Washing Soda
*if desired a few drops of essential oils- I use tea tree oil for antibacterial properties and a drop of bergamot because it smells nice
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| What you need |
Put borax, washing soda, and essential oils (if using) in bowl and stir.
Grate bar of soap into bowl.
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| I used my blender to mix it all into a fine powder |
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| Finished Product |
So far it’s working great.
I like that it takes up less space in my cabinet.
I’ll let you know if it lasts as long as the other recipe.
(Especially since it costs a little more to make.)
Laundry,
the never-ending battle.
Spring?
Are you here?
Guess I have to get cleaning then…
Jan 28, 2012 | Green Living, In-Edibles, Recipes
What can you do with a ten minutes and about $1 (or so?)
and
*Today I deviated from my “Rub a Dub 3 Men in the Tub Scrub” recipe and added Citric Acid instead of True Lemon (because that’s what I had) and added Bergamot essential oil drops (about 4) to make a nice citrusy smell. Smells lovely!
So easy I didn’t even have to get out of my PJ’s!
Jan 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
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| Painted Coop (still need to get solar panel and trim on door) |
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| “Dinner” on her table |
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| Pillow-Peeking |
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| Inside the Nesting Box! |
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| Inside “House” door for cleaning |
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| View Taken from the Nesting Box of Perches |
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End Result is Good! They really like the coop and have been going
inside to lay eggs even if I let them roam (Yay!)
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Sep 24, 2010 | Green Living, In-Edibles, Recipes, Uncategorized
I like to post on this, but usually do it from my cooking blog so I thought you could indulge me…
Great Recipes for Keeping it Clean and Green:
Rub-a-Dub Tub Scrub
(or “Because I have 3 men in my tub scrub”?)
- In a mixing bowl pour about equal amounts of baking soda and Borax. (What I do is take 2 jars, fill one almost full of Borax and the other almost full of baking soda. Then I pour them both into a bowl.)
- Pour in some True Lemon powder (you can use True Orange or Lime also, or citric acid if you can get it) just enough to scent the mix, about 2-4 Tablespoons more or less.
- Mix and put back in your jars!
To use: Wet bathtub or sink. Sprinkle tub scrub in tub. Watch the fun! It bubbles when it gets wet!
Scrub and watch the sparkles! This smells yummy too.
Laundry Detergent
1 cup Washing Soda (you can get this at most grocery stores now)
1/2 cup Borax
7-10 drops of tea tree oil (disinfectant and antibacterial)
*You can add other essential oil drops if you want a scent but I don’t
1/4 cup or so of
Dr. Bronner’s Baby Castile liquid soap
4 quarts hot water (first) then added about 8 more quarts
Mix it in a bowl with a whisk because the washing soda (soda ash) gets hot when it gets wet. (Luckily I knew this from my pool or I’d have probably burned my hands trying to get the clumps out.) Let sit for about 20 minutes to cool off, then put in containers. I use old detergent bottles and glass bottles.
Very inexpensive and effective!
Natural Deodorant
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup baking soda
*If you have sensitive skin (like me) use more cornstarch and less soda to still equal 1/2 c total.
10 drops essential oil (I like tea tree or bergamot)
Mix it all together(takes about 2 seconds)
You can use it just like that- dust it on as a powder
OR if you want to put it in a stick form you add
2-3 tbs coconut oil (I use more and a little water because it’s been dry here and seems to crumble if I don’t.) you find it in the baking aisle by the shortening (also good as a skin cream and lip balm)
Once you have it all mixed up you pack it into an old, empty stick deoderant container. You will have to add and pack and keep this up until you get to the top. I like to use a small baby spoon to help pack it down tightly.
Let “cure” about 24 hours for it to hold together properly when you apply it.
This really works well, especially with the tea tree oil/bergamot mixture. Haven’t tried the powder form. Makes about 2 sticks in a normal ladies’ sized container.
