Archive | August, 2011

Herb Spiral

14 Aug

The Herb Spiral is a popular and successful permaculture element, it provides a variety of positions (sun and shade) and levels of moisture (the top is dry and the base moist)for a variety of different herbs for your garden. It is great for those of you who may not have a lot of yard space for an herb garden. I have recently built an herb spiral of my out out of recycled bricks from a chimney we had to knock down. Here are some pictures:


Thefollowing information was taken from www.permaculturevisions.com/Herb-Spiral.htm

An Herb Spiral is usually 1 meter high and contains all the plants which are constantly used — the herbs: mints, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, sage, basil etc. It is a simple design. The center of the spiral is elevated and the ground falls as the spiral unfurls. This allows you to plant, dry soil plants like rosemary at the top and water loving plants at the bottom such as watercress, water chestnuts. You should be able to reach all the parts of the spiral without having to step into it.

Common name Sun/Shade Soil type

Lavender Sun facing, Poor soil, Rocks
Catmint Sunny, Fertile loam
Bee Balm Partial shade
Yarrow Partial shade
Comfrey Sun/part shade, Moist soil
Oregano Full sun, Good well drained soil
Thyme Sun, well drained fair soil
Tansy Shade/morning sun, Good soil
Borage Full sun, Dry soil
Sage Full sun, Dry soil
Sweet bay Full sun, frost tolerant container/Med. soil
Mints Shade/part sun, Moist fertile soil
Cumin Full sun, Poor-good soil
Coriander Full sun, shelter from wind, Poor-good soil
Violet Semi-shade, competes well with grass in moist soil,shallow rooted.
Rosemary Sun, Well drained soil
Garlic Sun, Well rotted compost, moist well drained soil
Parsley Full sun/part shade – likes afternoon sun, Fertile humus rich soil
Lemon Balm Full sun/part shade, Fertile moist soil

Just keep in mind what Zone you are in and how cold the winters are where you live. Rosemary, for example, is a tender perennial and does not do too well in New England winters. I keep my rosemary in a pot so it can be brought indoors during the winter time rather than planted in the herb spiral. Herbs such as oregano, sage and thyme are able to survive the cold weather outdoors. Also, keep in mind that mint spreads EVERYWHERE! I also kep mint in a container, otherwise, the herb spiral would be totally taken oven by mint.

Easy Silkscreening Technique

10 Aug

Came across this video – LOVE it! An easy, wallet-friendly way to do some silkscreen designs at home.

 

Green Cleaning

8 Aug

Here are several “Green Cleaning” recipes I have come across throughout the years…

Main  Ingredients:
Baking Soda
Hydrgen Peroxide
White
Vinegar
Lemon
Salt
Castile Soap
Lavender
Oil

Disinfectant:
To one gallon of water, add two cups of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide. The mixture may foam when it comes in contact with bacteria. This just means it is working.

All-Purpose Cleaner:
In a 16oz spray bottle, mix 1 tbs of liquid Castile Soap (For those of you who have a Trader Joes around you, that is where I buy my Castile Soap), 1/8 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of hot water. To mitigate the vinegar smell, add 5 to 10 drops of an essential
oil like lemon or lavender.

Hardwood Floor
Cleaner:
In a bucket, mix 1/2 cup of white vinegar with one gallon of warm water. Add a couple of drops of castile soap. Mop, then rinse with clear water. Use a towel to mop up excess moisture.

Floor Cleaner:
In a bucket, mix 1/8 cup of Castile Soap, 1/8 cup of white vinegar and one gallon of water. Use on any floor type.

Oven Cleaner:
Sprinkle the oven with Baking Soda and spray with water. Let stand for at least 10 minutes or over night. Scrap, then rinse with
water.

Toilet Cleaner:
Sprinkle the bowl with baking soda, drizzle in about 1/2 cup of vinegar and scour.

Non-Scratching Sink and Tub Scrub:
Mix enough castile soap and baking soda to make a creamy paste. Apply to the sink or tub and scrub, then rinse.

Other Tips:

Clean your windows and mirrors with white vinegar – vinegar also works great for removing
grease.

Pour salt over liquid carpet stains – wait 15 minutes – once it is dry, vacuum it up. Salt is also great for removing smells from your cutting board and rinse your shower curtain in salt water to help keep it free from mildew.

Microwave half a lemon in for about 1 1/2 mintes. The juice permeates and softens food that might be stuck on the walls of your microwave to make it easier to clean off.

*this moment*

7 Aug

Quote of the Month – August

7 Aug

“The land – it is like our mother. She gives us everything.”
Crow indian explaining soil and farming to an early settler.

Natural Remedies for Sunburn

7 Aug

It is that time of year again! Here are some ideas I came across for natural sunburn relief! Let me know if you try any of them and how they work!

Original Information from Divine Caroline
Baking Soda
This kitchen staple can provide quick burn relief and cooling. Try sprinkling a generous dose of soda into cool bathwater. Not feeling the tub? Make a paste by mixing some baking soda with water, then spread it directly on the burn and allow it to dry. As it
does, keep patting water on it to keep the paste stuck there until the burn is sufficiently soothed.
Oatmeal
This is another technique that works well in the bath or applied directly. Sprinkle one cup of pulverized oatmeal into your bathwater and soak in it. Otherwise, create a compress by wrapping dry oatmeal in cheesecloth or gauze. Run cool water through it to moisten, then apply for ten to fifteen minutes every two to four hours.

Milk
Milk’s proteins also have soothing qualities when gently applied to a sunburn. Combine one cup of milk with four cups of water, with a few ice cubes thrown in. Soak a compress in it, and then apply the compress to the burn for fifteen to twenty minutes every few hours.

Witch Hazel
Moisten a cloth with witch hazel, and apply it often for temporary relief from pain and swelling. For smaller sunburned areas, dip
cotton balls into the liquid and gently press them on the burn.

Cornstarch Compress
As with baking soda, making a paste out of cornstarch can calm red skin. Add enough water to the cornstarch to create a paste, then apply it directly to the burn.

Aloe Leaves
Yep, you can use the actual leaves from aloe plants to soothe burns, just as you would aloe gel from the drugstore (another reason to add a little flora to your indoor environment). Simply break open one of the leaves to expose the white aloe within, and rub the
gel on the inflamed area.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular kitchen remedies for burns. Although it can leave sunburn victims smelling a bit
like pickles, soaking some up with a sponge or cotton balls and dabbing it over a burn will help reduce inflammation.

Coconut Oil
This great baking ingredient is also useful for soothing sunburns. Rubbing coconut oil on a burn (after cleaning it gently) will soothe it by relieving itchiness and pain—and make it smell good. In addition, the oil will moisturize your skin the same way
lotion does.

Egg Whites
Not just for protein-infused breakfasts, egg whites can soothe burns, too. After cracking a few whites into a bowl, rub them over
the burn with a sponge or cotton balls. Yep, it’ll feel sort of disgusting, but it will ease the pain and heat.

Potato
An old-fashioned remedy for cooling down feverish foreheads, potatoes can also alleviate burns. Slice one thinly, then place the slices over the sunburn for instant relief.

Black Tea
To squelch a sunburn, turn your bathtub into a giant cup of tea: Keep the water lukewarm (too hot will be painful) and soak five to eight teabags in it. After they steep for a few minutes, remove them and soak in the tub to remove the sting. Another option is to steep a single bag in half a cup of water and apply the liquid directly to the burn with a sponge or cotton ball. Some people recommend opening the bags up after steeping and rubbing the tea leaves over the burn, wrapping it with gauze to hold the leaves in place.

How To Grill Corn on the Cob in the Husk

7 Aug

FIRST: Buy some locol corn from the Farmers Market ;)
then
Rinse the husks off under cold water (do not dry them)

Next, put threm on a hot grill and cook for 5-10 minutes (depending how hot your grill is)
Be sure to flip the corn over once to get the husks event charred and the corn evenly cooked

NEXT remove corn from grill and let cool for a couple of minutes while you admire the grilled charred-ness of the husks

FINALLY remove the corn husks and prepare to eat!
EXTRA BONUS: The silk threads come off a lot easier when you cook the corn this was as opposed to removing the husks BEFORE you cook the corn :)


ENJOY!

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