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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Cheap Non-Plastic Popsicle Molds

I have been looking for a while to find a stainless steel popsicle mold.  I found a couple, but they are very expensive.  And since I do not use or trust plastic this has been my mission.

On a recent trip to Walmart, I go there and to dollar stores since they normally always have cheap non-plastic kitchen items, I discovered these small stainless steel containers that were the perfect size for a small popsicle.  I always make smoothies in the morning and wanted to freeze the leftovers for popsicles. Well for $.97, yes 97 cents for 4, I was able to load up on these little cups that hold the perfect amount for a summer treat.  All I had to add was a popsicle stick!

Everyone in my family loves them, and for really cheap I have found a non- toxic way to have popsicles!

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My FAV New Item and Website

If you follow my blog you know I am very antiplastic!  Even BPA free doesn't work for me.  I don't trust the rest of the chemicals in plastic just in case one day it comes out there was another part of it that they find causes cancer or some other horrible side effect.

I will admit that there have been a few times that we have found ourselves out and stopped at Chipotle and my daughter uses the little plastic straw for her Organic milk and it horrifies me.

While at a recent trip to Whole Foods I made a wonderful discovery, Susty Party paper straws.  They are compostable, non-toxic made from FCS certified paper, oh and made in the USA!   The packaging which feels like plastic is actually made from plants and can be composted.

I am now going to be taking a few of these and keeping them in the car.  For those few times that we find ourselves going out to eat I can use these paper straws instead of having my 3 year old use the plastic straw.

They are so old school it's wonderful!

Check them out at www.sustyparty.com and find many other great items such as cups, bowls, cutlery and party sets.  All compostable and non-toxic.

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Finally, Homemade Liquid Hand Soap!

In my quest for making all my own products for the house the one thing that has been a thorn in my side is liquid hand soap. It has been so hard to get it right.

I have tried a few different ways and methods that have not worked out as well as I would have liked.

I have been like a mad scientist trying to get this right.  I had to make it work! I was now on a mission.

Well, Finally it did!  I made liquid hand soap!  I made it work and I am sooo proud.  Not only did it take 2 simple non-toxic ingredients, but it is amazing!!

I took a bar of Dr. Bronner's Mild Unscented Baby Soap (I use this for EVERYTHING!), grated it with a cheese grater.  Put water, one cup of water for every ounce of grated soap, into a pot to get it hot.  Take it off the burner and pour in the grated soap.  Stir until the soap is dissolved.  Let it sit and cool for at least over night.  Stir occasionally.

Here is the part that is totally up to how your's cools.  If it is too thick and gel like, add more water.   No need to reheat just pour some water in and see if it sets again at the right consistency.  Once it is right for you put it into your soap dispensers and save the leftover,  if there is some, in a jar.

That is really it!

My batch that I perfected is amazing, bubbly and I LOVE knowing that it only took two ingredients that are both non-toxic to make this.  Not even counting how cheap it is to make  ($2.99 a bar at my grocery) compared to buying my normal non-toxic liquid hand soap!

Give this one a shot for sure!

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That Time For Florida Gardening

It's that time in Florida.  The seeds are purchased, thanks High Mowing Seeds, the garden beds are almost empty with new organic soil and compost material added.  Ready to start the Florida "winter" garden. Which really means grow everything!

Now that the ridiculous summer heat is almost over the seeds can be planted!

Have you started planning or getting your beds ready?  Let's grow food!

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