Awesome Non-toxic Wasp Deterrent

Recently I heard the screams of my 4 year old as she ran out of the clubhouse of her swingset. Thinking the worst as I ran to her she showed me a nasty wasp sting on her hand.  Once I wiped apple cider vinegar on it and put a paste of baking soda she was better.

I went to her clubhouse to see what we were dealing with and saw that the wasps had taken up shop in both the upper and lower parts with pretty large nests.  Knocking them down is a waste of time, as they showed up the next day building again.  Since I don't use chemicals, and the other non-toxic spray recipes did not help, I needed a solution.

I found something in one of my organic gardening magazines and decided to give it a shot.

I laughed when they arrived. They look like giant paper mâché toys.

I hung one in the top of her clubhouse and one in the bottom. Shockingly within a few days the wasps left! The wasps are very territorial and this giant fake nest makes them abandon their nest and go.


Two fake wasp nests were only $9.95. Completely worth it. The wasps are gone and my daughter isn't afraid to play in her swingset anymore!

www.gardeners.com Gardener's Supply Company

Check it out!

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BTW, We Have A Facebook Page

I'm not sure I have posted this before , but we have a Facebook page also.  Doesn't everyone it seems??


https://www.facebook.com/tampagreenmommy


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Changed Up My Laundry Detergent, A Little!

If you have been following my blog, you know I have been making my own laundry detergent for quite some time.

I have been using the same mixture for a while now and had discovered that I was having trouble with my towels having an odor.  I know some of the problem is the front load washer that I despise, but I thought if I could change up the "formula" of my soap mixture it might do some good.

I still use the Dr. Bronner's Mild Unscented Baby Soap, which I shred with a cheese grater, but I upped the amount of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and Borax to 2 cups each instead of the one each I had been using.  I also switched from white distilled vinegar I had been using in the softener department to apple cider vinegar.  I then decided to add a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to the top of the detergent.

This combination is working incredible!  All the towels now comes out clean smelling and soft again!

My New and Improved Laundry Detergent:

1 bar Dr. Bronner's Mild Unscented Baby Soap, shredded
2 cups Arm and Hammer's Super Washing Soda
2 cups Borax
5 or so drops of Lavender essential oil on top of detergent


1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar for fabric softener


Of course wool dryer balls are a must!

Give the new recipe a shot!

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YUMMY Pumpkin Ice Cream

Today my daughter and I made the yummiest Pumpkin Ice Cream!  So of course I am going to share.

If you make it with fresh pumpkin, cut the pumpkin into four parts and put it on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake it at 350 until it's fork tender.  Once it cools, scoop out the pumpkin away from the skin and put it into a food processor and process until smooth.

If you are going to use canned, make sure it is organic.  Farmer's Market brand is BPA free.

You will need 1 Cup of Pumpkin.

In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together 1 1/2 Cups Organic milk, 1 cup sugar,  and 2 eggs.  Keep stirring constantly for 10 minutes.  The mixture will start to thicken, do not let it brown.  Remove from heat and whisk in the pumpkin, 1 cup of heavy whipping cream, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg.  Chill the mixture in the refrigerator then churn in ice cream maker for 30 minutes until firm.  Chill in freezer overnight for firmer ice-cream.

YUM! Can't wait for Thanksgiving to share this with everyone.

Give it a try.

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One of My Favorite Things In The Garden

We made a decision that we wanted to try to plant as many bee and butterfly attracting plants as possible.  They are beneficial to pollinate our garden beds so why wouldn't we.  We have planted a lot of bee attracting flowers but one of my favorite things we have planted has been the Butterfly (Milkweed) Weed.

The plant itself is great.  It is a green stalk with green leaves that grows straight, and they have beautiful red and yellow small flowers.  I liked them when I saw them sprout up, but then came the caterpillars.

Boy did they come.  They totally crushed the first set of plants on one side of the garden, literally left them looking like sticks, then the made their way to the other side of the garden for the other set of Milkweed we had planted.  By the time they had taken those down to sticks the other ones had started to re-sprout.  So.....they made their way back.

Then they disappear.

The plants start growing back nice and healthy and you aren't sure where the caterpillars are.  Well.....maybe

We made the most amazing discovery yesterday.  We found a crysilis.  It was beautiful.  A gorgeous green with a beautiful gold shimmery line and gold dots.  It looked like there was some amazing gem inside.

Today as we had the picnic my 3 year old daughter planned we discovered that they butterfly had just hatched.  It was holding onto it's crysilis, which I read they do for an hour after the hatch to allow their wings can harden so they can fly.

Then he took off.

I'm sure we will see him in the garden as we have seen many of them hanging out and drinking the nectar from the Milkweed, or chasing my 3 year old around the yard as they have been doing.

Seeing the circle of life for this creature has been fascinating.

One of my favorite things we have planted has been Butterfly (Milkweed).

Give them a shot, you will be happy with the results.

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Great Article On A Company Doing Great Things And Needs Help

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/tampa-bay-harvest-is-hungry-for-donations-to-pay-its-director/2147950

Non-Toxic Halloween Face Paint

If your child has decided to be something for Halloween that needs face paint, I have a healthy option.  Natural Face & Body Paints by Natural Earth Paint. http://www.naturalearthpaint.com/  They are non-toxic, organic, free of heavy metals, parabens, and formaldehyde.  They are made using clay and natural pigments.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

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