I have been using a dishwashing detergent that is a good one and is free of the nasty chemicals that can harm you and the environment called Wave by Earth Friendly Products. I use the free and Clear. But I wanted to see if there was an even safer, and let's face it cheaper, alternative. I decided to try and make my own.
I started with Citric Acid. It's the same thing used for canning and can be found on the canning area of the grocery store. I used 1 1/2 Cup. I mixed in 1 1/2 Cup of Super Washing Soda, which I already have to make my laundry detergent. 1/2 Cup baking Soda, which I use to clean EVERYTHING. And 1/2 Cup Sea Salt, I used coarse for better cleaning. I mixed them all together and gave it a shot. I put in 1 tablespoon. I was shocked. The dishes came out amazing! The glasses were super sparkly.
For ALOT less than I was paying for dishwashing soap I now will be making my own. I love knowing exactly what the ingredients are!
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Sunday, July 7, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Backyard Gardening
A few years ago when we started to grow our own food I never imagined what it would become or how much it would become apart of our family and daily life. I now cannot imagine my life without food growing in my backyard. That wasn't always the case.
I used to always have herbs growing. Even as a single person I always had basil and such growing on my balcony of my apartment. I told my husband that my dream would be to grow everything we could in the backyard. Well, we are trying.
As I sit and write this I am on the patio looking out over the things we grow and I am thinking, the hardest part is the start. We have beds, some above ground some on the ground, and that is the hardest part. Building the beds and building the space for ground beds is really the hardest part.
I buy all my seeds from either High Mowing Seeds or Seeds of Change. I have always had success growing from their seeds and they are certified organic. Once things grow I do save seeds and use them though for my next crop!
In my garden, which is now in summer Florida mode, I have corn, Blueberry bushes (which have been reduced and waiting for next season), an avocado tree, peach tree, tomatoes, onions , lemon tree, carrots, beets, radishes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, kale, sage, lemon balm, dill, basil, thyme, oregano, Kiwi, rosemary, aloe, papaya and fennel. I also have some medicinal herbs like chamomile, feverfew and echineacia. So there is just a couple of things growing in my surburban backyard. : )
So if you are thinking that you can't do it and can't feed your family from your yard, your wrong. You can do it, no matter how much space you have you can grow somthing that will feed your family. The hardest part is the start.
If you have questions about it please ask. Get going, feed your family from the food you grow. You will know where it comes from, and you will know whats been put on it.
Till next blog....
I used to always have herbs growing. Even as a single person I always had basil and such growing on my balcony of my apartment. I told my husband that my dream would be to grow everything we could in the backyard. Well, we are trying.
As I sit and write this I am on the patio looking out over the things we grow and I am thinking, the hardest part is the start. We have beds, some above ground some on the ground, and that is the hardest part. Building the beds and building the space for ground beds is really the hardest part.
I buy all my seeds from either High Mowing Seeds or Seeds of Change. I have always had success growing from their seeds and they are certified organic. Once things grow I do save seeds and use them though for my next crop!
In my garden, which is now in summer Florida mode, I have corn, Blueberry bushes (which have been reduced and waiting for next season), an avocado tree, peach tree, tomatoes, onions , lemon tree, carrots, beets, radishes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, kale, sage, lemon balm, dill, basil, thyme, oregano, Kiwi, rosemary, aloe, papaya and fennel. I also have some medicinal herbs like chamomile, feverfew and echineacia. So there is just a couple of things growing in my surburban backyard. : )
So if you are thinking that you can't do it and can't feed your family from your yard, your wrong. You can do it, no matter how much space you have you can grow somthing that will feed your family. The hardest part is the start.
If you have questions about it please ask. Get going, feed your family from the food you grow. You will know where it comes from, and you will know whats been put on it.
Till next blog....
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Completely Non-Toxic Weed Killer
Why on earth people still buy Round-Up knowing how bad it is for the environment and health of people still amazes me. Whenever I see it in a store I want to scream. When I see someone with it in their cart it takes everything in me not to say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?".
Round-Up is one of the most toxic things you can put on the ground. It gets into our water system and becomes toxic for us. Not only that but by buying Round-Up you are helping to support Monsanto, who is the maker of the product. Isn't that insane? The maker of one of the worst chemicals now is supplying us with our food, GMO food that is.
The most amazing part is that if you have weeds all you need to do is pour some distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar on them and they will die. Another solution is to pour boiling hot water over the grass that grows in between you sidewalk cracks and they will die.
That's it. No chemicals, no toxins.
Try it next time and see.
Till Next Blog......
Round-Up is one of the most toxic things you can put on the ground. It gets into our water system and becomes toxic for us. Not only that but by buying Round-Up you are helping to support Monsanto, who is the maker of the product. Isn't that insane? The maker of one of the worst chemicals now is supplying us with our food, GMO food that is.
The most amazing part is that if you have weeds all you need to do is pour some distilled vinegar or apple cider vinegar on them and they will die. Another solution is to pour boiling hot water over the grass that grows in between you sidewalk cracks and they will die.
That's it. No chemicals, no toxins.
Try it next time and see.
Till Next Blog......
Thursday, April 25, 2013
FAV New Product! Primal Pit Paste
Since going chemical free years ago for our personal care products the one item that hasn't really worked so well is deodorant! I have tried every brand out there that is Aluminum and paraben free and quite honestly they really don't control odor as well as my husband and I would like. So when I heard rave reviews of an organic deodorant I had to give it a shot.
The product is Primal Pit Paste. Great name huh? We tried the Primal Pit Paste Strong Unscented, we don't like anything scented in our home. My husband was the guinea pig. He wore it and it really worked! I tried it next, even gardened with it, and it still controlled odor! This stuff is amazing. Finally a chemical free deodorant that actually works!
It does feel odd applying it since you apply it like you would a lotion, but then again that is the industry telling you how deodorant should be applied. They do have a stick deodorant option as well.
The ingredients are organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot powder, aluminum free baking soda, and essential oils.
I for one am SOLD on this product!
Check them out at www.primalpitpaste.com
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The product is Primal Pit Paste. Great name huh? We tried the Primal Pit Paste Strong Unscented, we don't like anything scented in our home. My husband was the guinea pig. He wore it and it really worked! I tried it next, even gardened with it, and it still controlled odor! This stuff is amazing. Finally a chemical free deodorant that actually works!
It does feel odd applying it since you apply it like you would a lotion, but then again that is the industry telling you how deodorant should be applied. They do have a stick deodorant option as well.
The ingredients are organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot powder, aluminum free baking soda, and essential oils.
I for one am SOLD on this product!
Check them out at www.primalpitpaste.com
Till Next Blog......
Friday, April 12, 2013
Fav New Spa Products! LUMINO
In my quest for great Organic skincare products I have found a product line that I LOVE! The company is called Lumino. I already use their food grade Diatomaceous Earth, I take a teaspoon of it in water everyday, so when they sent me samples of the spa products they have I was excited to try them.
The ingredients of the products are organic and paraben free.
I started out using the Dead Sea Salt Scrub, which was amazing, and followed it with their Masque and then Good Night Organic Skin Emollient. When I woke up in the morning my skin looked incredible! Then I tried the Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Scrub followed by Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Butter. WOW! These feet that spend alot of time gardening really appreciated it.
They also have non-toxic pet and home products.
The are very reasonably priced, especially for being Organic. Check them out at www.luminowellness.com.
I for one have become a huge fan!!
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The ingredients of the products are organic and paraben free.
I started out using the Dead Sea Salt Scrub, which was amazing, and followed it with their Masque and then Good Night Organic Skin Emollient. When I woke up in the morning my skin looked incredible! Then I tried the Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Scrub followed by Intensive Spa Therapy Foot Butter. WOW! These feet that spend alot of time gardening really appreciated it.
They also have non-toxic pet and home products.
The are very reasonably priced, especially for being Organic. Check them out at www.luminowellness.com.
I for one have become a huge fan!!
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Saturday, March 30, 2013
Chemical Free Easter Egg Dye
Trying to keep away from chemical dyes for Easter eggs I found a chemical and artificial dye free solution. A company called Glob has a natural Easter egg coloring kit. The kit is $14. It has enough color for 1-2 dozen eggs. It has 3 colors (yellow, purple and blue) made from Annatto, radish and cabbage, 3 compostable mixing cups and 3 bamboo brushes.
They also have wonderful non-toxic paint sets and paper other things. Check them out at http://store.globiton.com
Till Next Blog......
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FAV New Item! Fenugreen Freshpaper Bags
OK, if you are a reader of my blog you know I am ANTI-PLASTIC! I don't want it in my house or near my family or food. When you are trying to store your garden veggies there is the challenge of what to store them in to keep them fresh and not use plastic. Well I have found something completely awesome!
They are paper bags that will keep your fruits and veggies fresh longer and are organic and compostable! The company is Fenugreen. The product is Freshpaper bags.
FreshPaper™by Fenugreen is a simple piece of paper that keeps fruits & veggies fresh for 2-4 times longer, organically.
Often described as a "dryer sheet for produce," one small (5" x 5") FreshPaper sheet can simply be dropped into a fridge drawer, fruit bowl, or any other container filled with produce.
FreshPaper is infused with organic spices and has a distinctive maple-like scent that signals that the paper is active.
Biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, this award-winning innovation has received international recognition for its potential to change how the world keeps its food fresh.
This is GENIUS!!! Now all my organic fruits and veggies are going in them.
Check them out at www.fenugreen.com. Oh and shipping is free. They are at many Wholefoods locations, not mine yet, but maybe yours.
Till Next blog.....
They are paper bags that will keep your fruits and veggies fresh longer and are organic and compostable! The company is Fenugreen. The product is Freshpaper bags.
FreshPaper™by Fenugreen is a simple piece of paper that keeps fruits & veggies fresh for 2-4 times longer, organically.
Often described as a "dryer sheet for produce," one small (5" x 5") FreshPaper sheet can simply be dropped into a fridge drawer, fruit bowl, or any other container filled with produce.
FreshPaper is infused with organic spices and has a distinctive maple-like scent that signals that the paper is active.
Biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, this award-winning innovation has received international recognition for its potential to change how the world keeps its food fresh.
This is GENIUS!!! Now all my organic fruits and veggies are going in them.
Check them out at www.fenugreen.com. Oh and shipping is free. They are at many Wholefoods locations, not mine yet, but maybe yours.
Till Next blog.....
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