Kill the Weeds Naturally

If you already have weeds you can use one of these three things to kill them:

1. Boiling water – this is more effective than many expensive chemical herbicides. Just boil water and pour it on your weeds, but do NOT pour it on your plants because it will kill them too.
2. Vinegar – this works best on young plants because it will not kill the roots of well-established plants. For tougher weeds spray several days in a row to kill the weed leaves, just be careful not to spray your plants!
3. Salt – much like boiling water and vinegar, be sure not to get too much salt on your plants because it will kill them too. Just drop a pinch of salt on the base of the weeds you want gone.

Suppress the Weeds Naturally

Landscape Fabric

When you start a garden from scratch, getting rid of the grass and weeds in the existing soil is one of the first things you do. The worst thing to use, yet many people still do, is black plastic. Yes, it will kill anything underneath it. But – it will kill everything underneath it, including all the nutrients, good bacteria and beneficial microbes. I never use plastic of any type for this reason. A better choice would be landscape fabric. Most are made from recycled materials, such as soda bottles and milk jugs. It’s still a plastic, but it’s made to breathe and let in light and moisture. You can cut holes in it, making an X in the fabric where you want to plant. Then just pull the corners back and dig your hole. Plant your plant and push the corners back up to the plant. Cover with mulch and you’re set.

Inexpensive Household Fabric

Another idea along the same lines is fabric. I was landscaping a friend’s house who was on a tight budget. We looked around for the cheapest landscape fabric and decided upon a very inexpensive alternative – old cotton sheets. I took the sheets, which are biodegradable, and laid them on top of the soil. I covered them with mulch and watered it well. When I checked on them a few years later, most of the sheet was gone, rotted away like other natural products. Be sure what you use is a natural material like cotton or linen. You can even cut them to size if you need to.

Cardboard

When I moved to my present location, my garden area was overrun with poison ivy and blackberries. I tried sheets, but the weeds were too tough. So I tried cardboard. I took all the tape and staples off and flattened each piece. Then I cut off all the edges so no adhesives remained because I’m not sure what’s in it. I placed the cardboard on the ground and covered it with a thick layer of old horse manure. Then I built my raised beds on top of that. I’ve had no problems with weeds in any of those spots.

Newspaper

You can also use newspaper to suppress weeds. Newspaper is printed with soy based ink now, so it’s all natural. You’ll need a few layers. Don’t use the glossy advertisements from your newspaper – they’re not made from the same natural sources. Both cardboard and newspaper will break down in a short time, so you may only get one season out of it. But both are readily available and usually free.

Mulch

Of course, a thick layer of mulch, like the old horse manure, will help too. In between my garden plots, I use straw. Wheat straw will break down over time and add nitrogen to the soil. Oat and barley will do the same thing. Pine straw is too loose and will not stop most weeds from coming up.

Wood chips, if aged, are good too. Pine bark mulch is one of the best things to use if it is aged. When new it’s too tough and it usually has pieces that are too large. Mixed mulch can be used in walkways and paths. Don’t be tempted to use new pine mulch or pine sawdust. It’ll take every bit of nitrogen out of the soil. Once it’s aged, it’s ok to use.

Prevent Weed Growth Naturally

Corn Gluten

Many people use products like Preen to keep the weeds from germinating. When used on established beds, these products make a great weed barrier. But, they’re not natural. Or are they? There is an organic version of these products that works very well. It’s called corn gluten. Yep, a by-product of corn. We use to use it in Minnesota for crabgrass prevention and dandelion seeds. Here in Western North Carolina, the window for crabgrass is very tight, but it can also be used to prevent all kinds of other weeds from growing.

Farm Animals

One of my favorite things for weeds is my chickens. Left to run between the beds, they scratch up the soil looking for bugs, taking the weeds along. The weeds are either eaten or they die from being out of the soil. And of course, I can’t forget the horses. The yard was so overgrown with weeds last year that I enlisted the horses from next door. They’re rescue horses that had been starved, so my yard was like an all-day buffet to them! They took it down in no time.

Use the Weeds

Let ‘em Grow

And lastly, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Give in and let those weeds grow. Then turn them under with a tiller and make a cover crop out of them. Or, as is the case in my front yard, it’s full of moss. The area is too dark and moist to grow much of anything else. So now I have quite a few different kinds of moss, and it stays green all year. And weeds in the grass? There was a study done at Duke University not too long ago that looked at the effects grass heights had on weed growth. Turns out, the longer the grass blade, the less weeds there are. So let the weeds go and cut your grass longer next time. It’ll take a while for the weeds to die back, but it’ll work.

Eat ‘em

From nettles to dandelion greens, there are all kinds of edible “weeds” out there. Get a book on the subject and you may be able to start harvesting the very weeds you’ve been working so hard to prevent!

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Should you switch to a DIY wood dusting spray?

Commercial dusters contain waxes, chemical fragrances, other ingredients that are harmful to our health and the environment. In addition, it’s usually packaged in an aerosol bottle. A natural DIY dusting spray can help you avoid harmful chemicals in your home and paying for wasteful packaging.

And have you looked at the price of commercial dusting spray lately? It’s usually more than $4 per bottle. I don’t enjoy paying that much for something I can make for less than 25¢.

Ever slip on a waxy spot on the floor from spraying your commercial dusting spray? Back when we still purchased commercial cleaners, I would always end up with a waxy spot on my kitchen floor where some of the dusting spray had settled after spraying my rag. It’s a good thing I’m agile because I would inevitably slip on it every time! DIY dusting spray leaves NO waxy hazard on your floors.

Oh yeah, and it works. It leaves my furniture dust free, shiny, and beautiful.

I use this dusting spray on my wooden coffee table, dining room table, end tables and bookcases. I love it because it’s natural, it smells sweet, and it doesn’t leave a slick spot on the kitchen floor for me to slip on every time I spray it!

Natural Wood Dusting Spray

You will need:

• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 Tablespoon liquid castile soap (buy it here)
• 8 drops sweet orange essential oil (find 100% pure essential oils here)
• 4 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 4 drops lemon essential oil
• 4 oz. spray bottle with fine mister (find amber or cobalt glass bottles here – they will prevent essential oils from degrading when exposed to light and won’t react with the oils like plastic can – find fingertip misters here)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in spray bottle and shake well to mix.

To use: 

Shake well before spraying. Spray onto a soft dry cloth and wipe wood clean.

My little disclaimer: test this dusting spray on an inconspicuous area of your wooden furniture before using it on the entire surface.

Additional Notes

• If you want to polish your wooden surfaces while dusting, you can add ¼ – ½ teaspoon of olive oil to your dusting spray for added shine.
• You can substitute 1-2 tablespoons of Murphy’s Oil Soap for the liquid castile soap in this recipe if you can’t find castile soap or already have Murphy’s on hand. Murphy’s Oil Soap is almost natural, but not quite.
• You can easily double or triple ingredients if you want to fill a larger spray bottle.
• Keep old socks that are beyond repair for dusting. Slip one over your hand, mist with dusting spray, and wipe away!
• Find more natural cleaning recipes like this in our book, DIY Natural Household Cleaners.

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My four kids were born in the span of five years. That’s a lot of extra little hands! I’ve learned I can wait for that small window of time when they’re all asleep or distracted to get my projects done or I can figure out ways to involve them in the process.

I’ve tried both and the latter is easier and usually involves less tears. It’s been a great patience-builder for myself and my kids enjoy being involved in what I’m doing.

Here are their favorite projects:

Lip Balm

In our house, we make a soothing herbal lip balm that feels great on dry, cracked lips. The kids love pouring in the herbs and wax (as well as applying it liberally to their lips). Before we created that recipe, we started with a simple lip balm. If you’d like to try out a quick, easy lip balm with the kids, here’s a great recipe to try:

• 3 Tablespoons beeswax (find beeswax here)
• 1⁄2 cup coconut oil (find high quality coconut oil here)
• 8 drops peppermint essential oil (find 100% pure essential oils here)

Melt the coconut oil in a sauce pan on medium heat. Add the wax and let it melt. Remove from heat and add the peppermint essential oil. Pour into containers and label.

Planting Seeds

My kids love dirt and jump at the chance to play in it. Planting seeds for the garden is the perfect opportunity to let them do something they love and involve them in an important project for the family.

We’ve done this a lot over the past few years and now, the simplest way for us to go about this project is to give the kids as much freedom as possible. They each get their own cup to scoop soil, an egg carton or cartons to plant in and pick of their seeds from the seed bag. It’s fun to see how they choose to plant their crops.

Just don’t forget to label what got planted so when lettuce and sunflowers start sprouting in your toddler’s container, you won’t be surprised.

Laundry Detergent

Scooping, grating and mixing makes for great fun for little kids. When it’s time to make laundry detergent in our home, the food processor and I are surrounded by four little ones asking for a chance to help.

The bigger kids get to measure out the borax and run the food processor, while the littlest ones get to pour in pre-scooped washing soda and grated soap. They get to choose which essential oils will go in and I pour them (because even my oldest has a tendency to want to pour in the whole bottle – they just smell so good!).

I don’t know if it’s because they played a part in making the laundry detergent, but asking them to help start the washing machine gets an immediate yes.

Yogurt

We homeschool our kids and one of my favorite ways to teach science is by heading to the kitchen. I especially like fermenting foods because we can discuss science and health benefits and practice patience.

Making yogurt is a really simple project  - all you need is milk, a yogurt starter and some basic kitchen tools. There are lots of great yogurt recipes here to get you started. (Buy yogurt starters here.)

Gelatin Snacks

The first time we made homemade gelatin snacks, my kids were so excited. They had helped pour in the boxed stuff before we became a diyNatural family, but now we were taking it to a whole new level.

They loved choosing the juice flavor, pouring everything together and blending it all up in our blender, which made a beautiful layered look when we poured into the dish to cool. If you’re new to making gelatin or want to make it extra special, I highly suggest trying these gelatin desserts.

Bread

One of the first projects I tried with the kids was bread. Frankly, I wanted to make it by myself, but my oldest insisted on helping out. I was surprised at how much fun he had with just a little mixing and kneading.

Making dough is pretty exciting for little kids. Not only do you get to measure and pour, but you get to get your hands in it! And they love the finished product, especially if it’s slathered in butter. (Making pizza  is another great project for kids).

Kids love to help and feel like they’re valued members of the family. There are so many projects they can be involved with, even if they are still little. It just takes a little extra planning … and a lot of patience.

Do your kids have any favorite DIY projects? Share them below!

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photo by TedLee

Where I live in Western North Carolina, we’ve had late frosts several times in the last few years. Last year it decimated my peaches, blueberries and apples. Most of the apple crop in a nearby county were wiped out last year as well, causing heartache to many farmers who depend on the apples for income. This year it looked like we’d be spared, but I got the warning today in my email – “Cover the plants!”

So what can you do if cold weather threatens once your plants are growing? There are several precautions you can take to eliminate, or at least minimize the potential damage.

11 Ways to protect plants from frost damage

1. Water the area well. Damp or wet soil holds warmth longer.
2. Mulch around low growing plants. Mulch will protect some roots and stems too.
3. Cover your plants. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but there’s more to it than tossing something haphazardly over plants. Always cover loosely with a cloth fabric. Plastic will keep condensation in and can cause freezing. Don’t allow the cover to touch the plants, which could cause burning.
4. Remove the cover when the frost has thawed. Leaving it on can smother the plants.
5. For smaller plants, you can use glass jars, milk jugs or plastic soda bottles cut in half. Be sure to remove these as well.
6. For tomatoes, there’s a device called Wall-O-Water, which acts as a small radiator. (Find it here online.) There are many similar things on the market. It is a ring of long plastic tubes held together in a cone shape. You pull the cone apart on the top and fill the tubes with water. Open them on sunny days to let the condensation out, or keep them closed when frost is expected. (As a bonus, these devices also protect against excessive sunlight during the daytime.)
7. Wrap pots in burlap or bubble wrap to protect the roots.
8. Group containers together if you can. Safety in numbers! More plants in one area will help hold warmth in.
9. Provide a breeze. Even a slight breeze with a fan will help keep frost from settling.
10. This next tip makes me chuckle every time. A mango farmer I knew in Florida said when frost warnings come he gets out the Christmas lights! String them around the plant you want to protect, under a fabric cover. Be sure not to let them touch the cover since fire could occur, though chances are slim. The heat provided by the lights, however minimal, will help to keep the plants from freezing.
11. You can also use an anti-transpirant. Not an antiperspirant. (People get it mixed up all the time!) An anti-transpirant will seal the moisture in the plant. You can get it online here or at specialty garden centers.

Frost already got your plants?

If it’s too late, what can you do? Firstly – nothing. That’s right, don’t go out and prune everything right away. In case of another frost, the previously frozen parts will help protect the plant. When it starts decaying, cut it off. Or when you see new growth below where frost damage occurred, cut above it.

You can also try to move the plant to another area. If it’s feasible to do so, move the plant to a higher location. Cold air sinks, so higher spots may not have as many problems. However, if it’s a hard freeze, no place may be safe.

A few last tips

You can also buy cold hardy plants to begin with. Know your zone and don’t try things that may not have a chance. I say this and I’m the one who grows pineapples and mangoes in North Carolina. To keep them growing well, I bring them in during the winter and put them back outdoors in the summer. Be sure to do this gradually because you can burn indoor plants really easy. Toughen them up by putting them out for a few hours each day for a while. You can do this with tender plants like basil and tomatoes.

Planting on the south side will provide heat early in the day, and planting against a building helps because the it retains heat and protects against cooler nights. Also, be aware of microclimates in your yard, you may have a protected area where certain plants do better than they would if left out in the open.

In closing

If a late spring frost is coming your way, stay on top of things and take care of your plants. These tips can also be used for an early late-season frost. It’s not unusual to get frost in October, but you may even need to protect your plants in September if it should happen early.

What are some other tips you employ to protect your plants from frost?

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photo credit to John Loo

You’d think the daughter of an herb farmer would naturally use herbal remedies to treat and prevent illness, right? Well, I do now, but that wasn’t always the case.

After becoming a do-it-yourself-er in order to save money, I soon gravitated toward natural ways to keep my family healthy and avoid costly medical bills. Enter herbal remedies – because, oh yeah, my dad grows herbs for a living.

Now, after using them for a few years (and buying way too many herbs), I’ve narrowed down what I use quite a bit. I think it’s easier to start with a few herbs and get comfortable with those before adding more to the mix. You really don’t need very many.

Below are my favorite herbs and a few different ways to use them:

Arnica

Accident-prone? Me too. Before I knew of arnica (Arnica montana), my bruises would last forever and I had to deal with pain from sore muscles, sprains, bumps and bruises. Not anymore. Arnica is well-known for it’s ability to soothe pain and speed healing of tender, bruised areas.

Arnica balm, which you can buy here or easily make yourself, is a great way to use this herb. Apply to bruises, sprains or sore muscles to take advantage of its pain-relieving properties. (Find arnica flowers here.)

Cautions: Do not use on broken skin.

Calendula

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) soothes inflammation and promotes healing. I use it on myself and my kids to soothe skin because it’s a very gentle herb. So gentle, in fact, that I’ve used a calendula infusion as an eye wash. Calendula infusion is great for rinsing minor wounds and irritated areas.

To make a calendula infusion, place a cup of dried calendula petals in a quart-size jar. Fill the jar with boiling water, cover (please use oven mitts to do that – the jar will be HOT) and allow it to steep for 4-10 hours. Strain, label and chill. It will keep for a few days. You can also freeze the infusions in ice cube trays so you can always have them on hand. (Find calendula petals here.)

Calendula is also very handy when infused in oils and made into a balm/ointment/salve. Calendula salve can be applied to rashes, like diaper rash, and other irritated skin that needs soothing.

Comfrey

Comfrey has quite the reputation as a healing herb. When infused in oil, comfrey (Symphytum officinale) speeds the healing of sores, abrasions and bruises. It’s also very soothing to irritated skin, thanks to its mucilaginous properties (do you see how these herbs could work so nicely together?).

To make an herb-infused oil, you’ll need a carrier oil, like coconut oil. It’s already used a lot in our house and adds extra moisturizing and anti-microbial properties to infused oils and ointments.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups carrier oil (find carrier oils here)
• 1 cup comfrey leaf (or the herb you’d like to use – it can be combination of herbs) – (find bulk herbs here)

Warm your oven to 200º, then turn it off. Put the herbs and oil in an oven-safe dish and let them steep for 3-4 hours. Strain the infused oil into a canning jar, cover and label.

Cautions: Do not consume.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has many endearing qualities. It soothes upset stomachs and helps you get nice and sleepy before bed. Plus kids like the taste and will actually take this remedy with no fuss.

I think lemon balm is best used in a tea, since it’s typically used as a sleep or digestive aid. Steep 1 tsp lemon balm (I use my own dried herbs) in 1 cup hot water. You can add a touch of raw honey if you’d like, or just drink it plain. (Find lemon balm here.)

Cautions: Some studies show that it may cause contractions. Seek out advice from a knowledgable healthcare provider before using during pregnancy.

Marshmallow Root

Another mucilaginous herb, marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) is wonderful for soothing irritated areas. In our home, it’s used mainly for soothing skin. I do this by making an ointment infused with marshmallow root, or by making a marshmallow root infusion to soak the affected area in. (I’ll either add it to a bath or to a small basin of water.)

We also make a tea (follow directions above) for sore throats. The marshmallow root makes a slippery tea that goes down easily and provides relief to sore, scratchy throats. Combine with lemon balm for better taste. Prefer throat lozenges to tea? Learn how to make your own throat lozenges with marshmallow root. (Find marshmallow root here.)

Red Raspberry Leaf

This is commonly thought of as an herb for women, but it can be used by anyone. Red raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) is a mineral-rich herb that tones the muscles of the pelvic floor, including the uterus. It also acts as an astringent, which tightens the top layers of skin and mucous membranes to decrease secretions.

Red raspberry leaf takes it a step further and relieves irritation and firms tissues. This is awfully handy when someone has an upset digestive system, particularly diarrhea.

To use red raspberry leaf, make a tea, using the same ratio of water to herb as stated above – though for an adult with diarrhea, I’ll make an infusion and have them sip on it throughout the day. (Find red raspberry leaf here.)

Cautions: Use sparingly during the first trimester of pregnancy. Afterward, try to drink a cup per day.

Yarrow

I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical about yarrow (Achillea millefolium) when I first read about it. I was new to herbal remedies and read a story about a woman cutting her finger pretty badly and sprinkling powdered yarrow flowers on the cut, which made it stop bleeding very quickly. I remained skeptical until I had a similar experience. It works!

Yarrow is a styptic with properties that stop bleeding quickly. For that reason, I like to add it to first aid ointments as well as this aftershave oil. (Find yarrow here.)

Cautions: Do not consume while pregnant – can cause uterine contractions.

Do you use herbs in your home? Which ones are your favorites?

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photo credit to suvajack

Want to know how to save money just by keeping your kitchen tidy? Read on.

Dirty Dishes Cause Debt

Piles of dirty dishes are disgusting. They can get gross and smelly, and most people want to avoid dealing with them. And what are you tempted to do when the dishes have piled up? Eat out, right?

Eating out is a huge expense. In 2009 when Matt and I committed to becoming debt free, we looked closely at how much we were spending. Eating out was costing us around $6,000 per year!!! Ouch. We realized we had to eliminate some of the excuses we were using to go to restaurants.

If dishes are washed and the sink is empty, you’ll feel more like you have time and space to cook.

Get those dirty dishes out of the sink!

The key is to have a system for clearing dishes before they get piled too high. Consider implementing one of the following systems in your kitchen:

• Fill one side of the sink with sudsy water and throw dirty dishes in while cooking. Finish washing after the meal.
• Solicit a prep cook/dishwasher to help you while you cook. Kids love to be kitchen assistants and can wash a few dishes during meal prep so the job isn’t so overwhelming after the meal.
• Utilize your dishwasher if you have one. Make an announcement to family members that the sink is off limits for dirty dishes. (Because as you know, an empty sink always tempts someone to dump a mound of dirty dishes and then vanish.) Always unload the dishwasher before beginning a new cooking project so you have the dishes you need for cooking, and an empty washer ready to be re-filled.
• Assign family members to dish duty on a rotating schedule so nobody is stuck with this task all the time.
• Offer an incentive to the first family member to volunteer for dish duty.

Cluttered countertops discourage kitchen work

I know this sounds obvious, but I’m always amazed at how much stuff people keep out on countertops.

I’ll break it down for you; when your kitchen looks inviting, you’ll naturally want to spend more time in it. And what’s more inviting than clean, cleared countertops? (Well, a pan of fresh-from-the-oven brownies sitting on the countertop might be more inviting, but let’s not get sidetracked.)

Get those countertops cleared!

Remove as many things from countertops as possible. Keep in mind that countertop clutter can affect efficiency in the kitchen.

Of course, start with those pesky dirty dishes. Get them washed or at least loaded into the dishwasher. Once dishes are out of the way, take a look at your kitchen as if you have never seen it before. This will allow you to really SEE what is on your countertops. Do you like what you see? If not, take notice of items that are causing the clutter.

Keep in mind that toasters, coffee makers, and other small appliances can be stashed in other places, especially if you’re not using them everyday. Having well-organized cupboards will allow you to move things off countertops and into a place where they are easily accessible, but aren’t in plain sight. Use that precious countertop space wisely!

Starting DIY projects is easier when countertops are open.

I have to address this point, because most DIY projects are going to save you money. But where will you do all those projects if your kitchen is a nightmare to work in? Most of my DIY projects have to be done in the kitchen where I can easily measure, pour, and have an occasional spill — all on a large flat surface.  So I’ll reiterate…get those countertops cleared! You’re more likely to delve into new DIY projects that can potentially save hundreds of dollars in your budget over the long run.

A dirty refrigerator means money down the drain

The refrigerator is a major source of wasted money in some households. If you can stay on top of eating food before it spoils and keeping the fridge organized, you’ll keep more money in your pocket.

Cure Refrigerator Blindness!

When your refrigerator is cluttered, packed, and unorganized, it leads to a disorder I like to call “Refrigerator Blindness.” I accuse Matt of having this horrible disorder. I tell him it prevents him from seeing all the things that need to be eaten up. He’ll open the fridge, overlook about 75% of its contents, close the fridge, and announce “there’s nothing to eat.”

To help cure loved ones from this unfortunate disorder, move leftovers to the front of the fridge. I keep a roll of painter’s tape and a permanent marker by the fridge so I can label things I think will go unnoticed. This encourages family members to use things up before spoiling occurs.

Cluttered fridge + spoiled food = wasted $

Make sure everything has its place in the refrigerator. This decreases the likelihood of random items being hidden in the back and forgotten about. Forgotten items inevitably spoil. And as the above equation indicates, your hard-earned money is wasted every time something spoils in the fridge.

To avoid having food rotting in all the far-reaching corners of your fridge, do a refrigerator clean out once a week. We do this every week before garbage is collected so questionable items can be discarded. It allows us to keep up on cleaning the fridge, and the rotten food ends up curb-side instead of stinking up the kitchen for several days.

What have we learned here?

If you’re trying to save money, live a more sustainable lifestyle, and be a DIY rockstar…you gotta keep that kitchen clean! Wash those dishes, clean off those countertops, and take charge of the mess in your fridge.

Having a clean, uncluttered kitchen will encourage more home-cooked meals and DIY projects, resulting in lots of saved money!

Are you already doing these things? Share your tips for keeping a clutter-free, clean kitchen with the community!

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If you live in an area like Western North Carolina, you know we’ve had far too much rain lately. Other areas often get hit by spring flooding, snow melt, hurricanes, summer storms and more. On the other end of the spectrum, some areas are very dry, experiencing little, if any, rain.

So what do you do? We’ll look at both issues and what you can do about them.

Controlling excess soil moisture

Too much moisture can lead to a number of problems. It can create leaching of nutrients, root rot, fungal problems and lack of growth.

If you over water you can easily correct the problem by not watering as much. Leave the plants for a few days to let them dry out a bit. Be careful to check them. They can dry out very quickly in the hot sun.

If excess moisture is caused by rain, there are a few things you can do. One is to lift the plants up a bit with a pitch fork. Then add some well-composted mulch underneath. If it’s not possible, dig around the roots and add some mulch there. Perlite can help too. You can also move plants to a container where you can better control the amount of water they receive. If the container has a saucer, be sure to tip the excess water out. Root rot and fungal problems can happen quickly. And don’t forget about mosquitoes. They love standing water. (Read more on how to keep bugs away naturally - and – a recipe for homemade natural insect repellant.)

You can also combat moisture problems by planting on a rise – even a small one – and planting where the sun hits in the morning. Powdery mildew can appear when damp conditions linger. Morning sun can help burn off excess surface moisture that creates problems, and planting on a rise allows water to run off easily. Simply create a slight dip in the top near the trunk or stem so that you can retain some water, but not excessive amounts.

Controlling a lack of soil moisture

So what do you do if you have the opposite problem? One solution is the aforementioned technique – plant on a rise with a slight dip near the stem or trunk. This will help to capture and retain moisture. But then, if there is little rain or water, you’ll want to keep the plants out of the hot morning sun and plant where the late afternoon sun hits. Later in the afternoon, the sun’s rays aren’t as strong, so the plant can better use the dew from the night into the morning. Planting on the north side of a structure will help too. Shade of any kind will help keep moisture in, but you don’t want too much shade. Too much and you’ll get no flowers or fruit on tomatoes and peppers. Be sure you know the proper shade and sun tolerances for your plants before planting.

Mulch will also help. Mulch, well composted and aged, will help maintain moisture levels in the soil both in ground and in containers. I prefer a pine bark mulch. It helps to keep the pH between 5.5 to 6.5, where most of my plants are happiest. It also helps to break up the native clay found around here. Water logging can be a problem with clay, but so can drying out. Pine bark mulch can help in both instances. (Look around for free or cheap sources of mulch from places like tree service companies, freecycle, or Craig’s List.)

Another solution is to use a polymer crystal. These are often sold as Soil Moist or something similar. Made of sodium polyacrylamide or sodium polyacrylate, these solid crystals become gelatin like when exposed to water. They hold water for the plant when it is wet, and when it starts to dry, they give up their moisture for the plants to use. While it is not a totally natural item, it’s derived from a natural source and eventually breaks down to sodium later in its life. They last for many months, being dehydrated and re-hydrated many times. A single teaspoon of crystals will make over a quart when activated. When it comes to being all-natural, use what you’re comfortable with, remember that everyone is in a different phase of their DIY learning curve.

The easiest way to deal with any moisture problem is to plant those plants that are native or naturalized to the area. A rain garden, with plants such as irises, will dry out between rains and fill in when there’s too much water. Many coreopsis and rudbeckia plants will do well here in my area. As will cone flowers, liatris, and even my favorite, Jerusalem Artichokes. These are in the sunflower family and don’t mind being wet or dry. Periskovia, or Russian Sage is another that will tolerate most anything. And of course, my many mint varieties will too.

If you’re unsure of what to plant, research the specifics of each plant. Go online or visit a garden center. Either one will be happy to help you choose plants that will tolerate either too much moisture or not enough. You can also purchase a soil moisture meter to help discover and regulate the amount of moisture your plants need.

What are some of the successful solutions you’ve implemented to control soil moisture for your plants? Share with the community below!

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Today, let’s take a look at some of the common myths I hear about the DIY lifestyle and bust them all with the truth:

1. You have to do everything yourself

One of my favorite aspects of the DIY lifestyle is the community of like-minded people you can surround yourself with. Facebook is one of my favorite tools for finding others who might want to team up on projects with me or give me ideas when I’m stuck.

Even if you can’t find someone locally to help you with projects, you can find online communities that love to support fellow DIYers. Take the DIY Natural community for example. People are always posting their questions and other members are quick to offer wisdom and support. There’s no reason to go it alone.

2. You have to be crunchy

Some people are under the impression that you have to be a hippie (or close to it) to do DIY projects. Not true! When I entered the DIY lifestyle, it was to save money. Then, it became a way to improve my health.

Now, after increasing my knowledge about natural living, I love it and have become quite crunchy. But you don’t have to be crunchy to DIY. You just need to have the desire to find a better/cheaper/less toxic way of doing what you’re already doing.

3. You have to own a lot of equipment

While I’m all for investing in the DIY lifestyle, I’m also a minimalist and I make a point to not buy a bunch of equipment. I have limited space for anything other than multi-purpose tools and I like not having everything. Why? Because it gives me the opportunity to interact with others who do.

One of my favorite ways to get equipment I need for a project when I don’t have it, is to borrow it from a friend. (The bonus – often times that friend will help with my project.) A strange concept to some who think you need to buy everything new, but it’s a great way to strengthen a friendship. (Be sure to return what you borrowed in good condition, of course.)

4. You need to be an expert

My husband is remodeling a school bus into an RV. He’s a paramedic, not a contractor. Which means he’s been learning as he goes. Between the internet, friends and family and his amazing ability to figure this stuff out, he’s getting the work done. Was he hesitant to take on this project? Yes.

But he also knows from past experience that you don’t need to be an expert to DIY. You just need to know where to find the information you need.

5. You need to spend a lot of money

But what about all of the money it takes to do these DIY projects? Supplies, equipment – it all adds up, right? Not necessarily. As I mentioned earlier, you can always borrow equipment, or try to find it used. You can also create a monthly DIY budget that you can use toward buying supplies for your next project or a multi-purpose tool you know you’ll use often.

You can also start small. For the cost of one box of natural laundry detergent, I can make enough to last me three months. That one simple task already frees up money to buy supplies for other projects. Oh, and here are five simple ways to make DIY more affordable.

6. It’s only for people on a limited budget

Conversely, some people think you need to be broke to do things yourself. Why bother if you can afford to buy whatever you need? Many reasons, actually. For one, just because you have a lot of extra money to spend, doesn’t mean you have to. It could be used to pay off debt, or saved up for something fun, or given to a cause of your choice.

Doing things yourself also allows you to avoid using harmful products. There’s also a great deal of satisfaction in completing your own projects. Even mundane tasks, like doing laundry, are more enjoyable now because I know that my detergent smells awesome because I combined the scents myself.

7. Everything has to be DIY

There are actually many things that I still don’t DIY. I might someday, but for now, I’m taking it a few new projects at a time. Sometimes it’s a matter of time – I have four young kids and already do a lot of projects. Other times, I’m just intimidated. Making liquid castile soap, for example, intimidates me. (I’m sure I’ll get over it – I used to be intimidated by both liquid and bar soap.)

But if you think that by making your own laundry detergent you’re now obligated to make everything else by yourself, rest assured that you don’t have to.

Know of any other DIY myths that need busting? Share them below!

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Do you love the sun as much as I do? My teen years were spent rebelling against sunscreen and having tanning contests with my older sister. We would lie in the sun (glistening with baby oil) well into the colder fall months – doing everything in our power to hold onto a golden tan until the snow started flying.

I still adore the feel of sunshine on my skin, and believe moderate amounts are important to our health, but I’m not a fan of endangering my health by overdoing it anymore.

Natural ways to protect your skin

While we normally suggest allowing your skin to get a good amount of sunshine to provide your body with ample Vitamin D, we do not condone soaking up the sun until you are burnt to a crisp. In years past, people knew how to avoid getting too much sun by following some simple sunny day guidelines:

• avoid being outside during the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are the hottest
• seek shade under a tree, umbrella, etc., if being outside during peak sun is necessary
• wear a large-brimmed hat
• wear light, loose clothing to cover exposed skin

However, we understand there are times you will not be able to cover up or get out of the sun and may need to use sunscreen. But commercial sunscreens have been a hot topic lately, guilty of containing harsh chemicals and being counterproductive in maintaining healthy skin.

So let’s learn how to safely protect your skin when covering up or getting out of the sun is out of the question.

Ingredients for natural sun protection

There are several oils, butters, essential oils, and other natural ingredients that provide natural sun protection. While most of these offer very low amounts of sun protection, when added to your homemade sunscreen they nourish the skin and offer some protection against the effects of excessive sun.

Coconut oil - contains natural SPF properties

Shea butter - naturally protects skin, making it perfect for use in a sunscreen

Jojoba oil, sunflower oil, or sesame oil - these oils are easily absorbed into the skin and also provide some natural sun protection

Eucalyptus and lavender essential oils - eucalyptus has very low natural SPF and lavender is great for soothing and repairing skin. DO NOT use citrus essential oils in your sunscreen, as they may increase sensitivity to sunlight. 

Vitamin E oil - nourishes and moisturizes skin, and helps naturally preserve homemade sunscreen

Zinc oxide (non nan0) - a non-toxic, usually non-irritating, effective broad spectrum sunblock. The particles sit on the outermost layer of your skin, scattering and absorbing UVA and UVB rays, protecting the skin below. Be sure to use non nano zinc oxide to produce a natural homemade sunscreen. We purchased ours here. (The smallest amount you can purchase is a container that will last you years!)

Important: Nano or micronized zinc oxide has been treated to reduce the size of its particles, creating an ultrafine powder. When added to sunscreens it does not leave a white film on the skin, thus making it a popular choice in many commercial sunscreens. The problem with this is that the particles are so small they can enter the body through the skin, causing potential health problems. If purchasing from a company other than our source, be sure to purchase a non nano zinc oxide that has particle sizes as large as possible. (Anything with a particle size smaller than 100nm is considered a nano particle – the zinc oxide we found is 330nm.)

Choose your SPF

Different amounts of zinc oxide are needed depending on what SPF you would like your lotion to be. Once you have chosen the SPF a little math is involved. The zinc oxide must be a certain percentage of the weight of your ingredients (before adding the zinc oxide). For this reason, it’s easiest to use a kitchen scale when making your sunscreen. For example, if you have 2 ounces of lotion and you’d like to make SPF 10 sunscreen, according to the values below you will need to add .2 ounces of zinc oxide to the lotion. Use the zinc oxide recommendations below.

For SPF 2-5: Use 5% zinc oxide

For SPF 6-11: Use 10% zinc oxide

For SPF 12-19: Use 15% zinc oxide

For SPF >20: Use 25% zinc oxide

Homemade Natural Sunscreen

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. coconut oil (find high quality coconut oil here)
• 0.8 oz. shea butter (find it here)
• 0.1 oz. jojoba, sesame, or sunflower oil (find oils here)
• 0.1 oz. Vitamin E oil (find it here)
• 30 drops essential oils, optional – I use 15 lavender, 10 eucalyptus, 5 peppermint (find 100% pure essential oils here)
• zinc oxide powder (determine amount for 2 oz. of lotion)

Directions:

Add coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba/sesame/sunflower oil to a makeshift double boiler. (To make your own double boiler, place a Pyrex measuring cup containing ingredients inside a small pot filled with a few inches of water). Heat gently until shea butter is just melted. Remove from double boiler and allow to cool a little. Put on a mask that covers your nose and mouth (to avoid breathing in the fine particles of zinc oxide powder), and measure out your zinc oxide. Add zinc oxide, Vitamin E oil, and optional essential oils to the other ingredients. Stir well to combine. Store in a dark jar in the refrigerator.

To Use:

Apply liberally to exposed skin. Reapply every few hours, or more often if swimming or sweating.

Additional notes

This homemade sunscreen has about a 6 month shelf life, and should be refrigerated when not being used. The oils it contains are photosensitive, so do not leave your homemade sunscreen sitting out in direct sunlight. Keeping it in a cooler will prevent it from melting in high temperatures when taking it to the pool or beach.

If you prefer to add zinc oxide to another homemade lotion you like, simply weigh a desired amount of lotion and add enough zinc oxide to achieve the preferred SPF, mixing thoroughly.

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photo credit to Paul of Castaways.com.au and koadmunkee

What is biochar?

Biochar dates back thousands of years, perhaps even further. The earliest known reference to it comes from people who resided in the Amazon Rainforest from 500 BC up to the mid 1500′s when the European settlers arrived. It tells of pits dug into the earth, filled with wood, leaves, or anything that could be burned. After the fire began burning hot, a layer of soil was placed on top which smothered the flames. The wood continued to “cook,” charring it. When it was completely charred it would be doused with water to keep it from burning up completely. When cooled the charred wood was chipped up and plowed into the earth. The result was healthier, more productive plants such as cassava, maize and fruits.

Amazingly enough, these pits – or the results of them – can still be seen today. They are called “terra preta” or “Dark Earth.” The soils of the Amazon region are naturally rich in nutrients where the silt has been washed in from the annual flooding of the Amazon River. In other areas, this silt has been washed away, leaving less than desirable conditions. The people of the Amazon area in Brazil found a way to combat this. They made biochar from the dead wood and used it to revitalize the soil.

Benefits of biochar

Once added to the soil, by itself, biochar does nothing. However, when used along with organic fertilizers and compost, it has the ability to hold on to nutrients better than anything else. Charcoal has been used for hundreds of years as a filtering medium. This is due to the many holes or pores that the char has. Biochar -essentially the same as compost, but in a rough form – also has these pores. When wood ash breaks down, as smaller pieces of biochar and ash will do, it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium – all very essential to plant life.

Making your own biochar

So how do you make biochar? It’s very easy. Pick a spot in your garden away from anything that could burn. Be sure to choose a day that’s not windy or too low in humidity. Obtain a burning permit if necessary. Dig a trench large enough to accommodate the items you want to burn. Loosening the soil on the bottom of the pit will save time and effort later.

Don’t be too picky about the wood you choose, but remember green wood will take longer to char. Deposit the wood and scraps you want to burn into the pit. Start it on fire and keep a close eye on it.

At first the smoke will be white. This is the water vapor burning off. After a while, it will turn yellowish. The sugars in the wood are being burned off at this point. What you are watching for is when the smoke turns a bluish-gray. When you get to this stage, cover the wood with about an inch of soil. This will put out the flames while still allowing smoldering. Keep in mind wood needs an anaerobic (low oxygen) environment to char. Otherwise, it will just burn – and when burning is complete, char amounts lost are upwards of 80%. However, when making biochar, up to 50% of the char is retained.

(If you don’t want to dig a large pit burning can be done in a metal barrel. Just be sure there are no holes in it or oxygen will seep in and feed the fire. You can still throw soil over it if using a barrel. When it’s cool, simply tip it over and roll the char out.)

Once the biochar is done and the wood is all charred, douse it with water. This will stop the burning action. When it is cool, break it into pieces and turn it into the soil with some compost or organic fertilizer. How about some mushroom compost? Or beneficial bacteria? All of these can be contained by the biochar. Once you create your own biochar you’ll have:

• more available nutrients for the plants,
• reduced nutrient leaching into the soil,
• reduced watering demands,
• reduced soil acidity (but be careful, you may need to make your soil more acidic again for certain plants such as blueberries and rhododendrons),
• reduced fertilizer requirements
• and therefore, increased crop production.

And another bonus, when heavy metals are present in the soil, biochar, used at a 10% rate, has been shown to reduce heavy metals in the soil by up to 80%!

Consider this…

As another huge plus, CO2 gasses are retained when producing biochar so they don’t escape into the atmosphere and become part of the greenhouse effect. Imagine – if farmers across the globe were to start using biochar, a huge percentage of the carbon dioxide gas that escapes every day could be contained in the soil, where it would not harm the ozone layer and plants could make use of it as a nutrient. It’s hard to believe that such a simple thing could potentially mean so much.

I’m planning to burn a biochar pit this week. Now that I know all the benefits, with very little output, I’m going for it. After all, something that’s been around for over 3,000 years can’t be wrong!

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Image source.

However, one obstacle that I had to overcome at the beginning was the initial investment. After being in debt for so long and always strapped for cash, I was stuck in a “short-term” mentality. Living paycheck to paycheck, I was unable to look at the big picture. When I was able to switch from thinking about what it’s costing me now to how much it’s going to save me in the long run, I was able to make peace with the initial investments.

Here are my favorite things about investing in DIY:

Long-term Payoff

We’ve found time and time again that an initial investment that seems pretty expensive ends up saving us a lot of money in the long run. Cloth diapers. High-quality tools. Alternative healthcare. All of these things have cost at least $100+ up-front (that seemed like a stretch for our tight budget), but we’ve seen some amazing long-term payoff.

Health - Since making the commitment to preventative, alternative healthcare, we’ve seen major savings in medical costs. Our family uses essential oils, fermented cod liver oil and real food on a daily basis to prevent and treat illness. We rarely get sick now and mainly use the medical system in case of emergencies.

Time - DIY projects can take a lot of time up front. There’s always a learning process, during which you may not be sure what you’re doing. And then there’s the time it takes to keep up with projects on a regular basis. Thankfully, we’ve managed to fit DIY into our busy life nicely, so that it’s just part of the routine.

Money - I’ve mentioned already that we’re now debt-free. We could not have done it without our DIY lifestyle. We saved thousands alone just by cloth diapering our children, which costs us a few hundred up front (we bought enough one-size pocket diapers to cover two kids at once). Our high monthly medical expenses from prescriptions and doctor visits has greatly decreased. And now, I even make money by selling extra stuff we make.

One Investment, Multiple Projects

The great thing about doing things yourself is that you can use the same tools over and over again. And not just for one project. In my simple kitchen, for example, lots of appliances perform double (sometimes quadruple) duty. Our food processor gets used for making meals, kneading dough and making laundry detergent. Not all at once, of course. Canning jars (which can be quite costly if you buy them new), are used for everything from food storage to everyday drinking glasses.

Commitment

Making an investment implies a certain level of commitment. You’re in it for the long haul. That kind of commitment is important for the DIY lifestyle. If you’re not committed  it’s easy to just say, “well, I can just go to the store and buy it instead.” Doing that just perpetuates the cycle you’re trying to remove yourself from (at least, that’s what we were doing). Instead, using the money that would have gotten you say, a few boxes of disposable diapers, you could buy enough diapers to last a few children for a couple of years. (I’ve got diapers on the brain today – my youngest is potty-training.)

Better Quality, Better Results

I have a confession to make: I’m a bit of a tightwad. With a spending problem. How’s that possible? Well, I can rationalize the smaller purchases, but not the bigger ones. Unfortunately, I’ve paid for that repeatedly thanks to buying low-quality items that needed to be replaced after they broke.

Thankfully, I’m married to someone who sees the value in buying high-quality items. A few years ago, I bought a high-quality blender with a reputation for lasting a long time. Because I took my time and researched my options, I knew that I was getting a great deal. Now, I have a blender that can grind grains, make dough and do all the things a blender can do and I know it will work well for a very long time.

Baby Steps

Just because you’re making an investment in the DIY lifestyle, doesn’t mean you have to spend a bunch of money. We’re frugal people (who are also eco-conscious), so we make a point to buy used whenever possible. That means budgeting for what we need and being patient and checking out yard sales, thrift stores and places like Craigslist when we need to buy something. We’ve also learned that borrowing is a great way to get the tools we need for short-term projects (we typically put the word out on Facebook).

You also don’t need to buy everything at once. If you’re just getting started, or want to tackle something new, I suggest making a list of the projects you want to do in the next few months. Then, list everything you’ll need for the project(s), and note what you don’t have. Decide what can be borrowed, what you can find used, and what you’ll have to buy new and budget accordingly.

Have you had good results investing in the DIY lifestyle? Share your experiences below!

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It’s unbelievable how much food you can collect from the wild! Our society is so accustomed to running to the grocery store for food, and foraging for wild edibles has become a novelty instead of a necessity. Our ancestors not only knew how to identify wild plants that were edible, but they also wisely used this free bounty of nature.

Now that we’re both learning more about edible wild plants, we have had several meals and snacks made up of weeds, plants, berries, and vegetables we harvested while out walking. (And no, we didn’t have to steal them from anyone’s yard!) Recently we had a beautiful salad with chickweed and dock, embellished with some of our favorite salad toppings. But one of our new spring favorites is sautéed stinging nettles with pasta or veggies.

Why stinging nettles?

Stinging nettle definitely lives up to its name – it will sting like crazy if you brush up against it or handle the plants without wearing gloves. But this nuisance of a plant is highly nutritious and readily available in most areas, making it one of the perfect wild plants to consume.

When cooked or dried, nettles completely lose their stinging properties, making them perfectly safe for consumption. You can steam, sauté, or boil them and enjoy with a meal or in soups. You can also make a wonderful tea with the leaves, sweetening with honey and lemon. Use them in any dish you would normally use spinach. They have an earthy, wholesome flavor that you’re sure to enjoy if you enjoy other greens.

Stinging nettles are also packed with nutrients. They are high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and full of calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. Nettles are also a wonderful source of protein. Seriously!

Finding and harvesting stinging nettles

Nettles will begin popping up in early spring, and can be found all across North America. Its proper habitat is in sunny places where there is rich, moist soil. You’ll find them growing along rivers, streams, lakes, ditches, fencerows, and on the edges of cultivated farm fields. When Matt and I walk along one of the nearby rivers, we always notice it growing abundantly as a “weed.”

Stinging nettle will grow in dense clusters, and stalks can reach 5-8 feet at maturity. Leaves are about 2-5 inches long with jagged edges, found in opposing pairs along the upper half of the stalk.  Leaves are pointed at the tips, with a heart-shaped base and indented veins. The plant will have small “hairs” up the stalk and stems. (This is where the sting comes from!) Young plants will have smaller, heart-shaped leaves with a purple-ish hue, while the mature plants have longer, pointed leaves that appear very green. (For more pictures, click here.)

The best time to harvest nettles is the first few weeks after they come up in the spring, before they grow to be a foot tall. Wearing gloves, pick the first two or three pairs of leaves from the tops of plants. Carefully place nettles into a paper or plastic bag for transport. Nettles can still be harvested into summer, but keep in mind the top few pairs of leaves will be most tender, and stalks and stems will be very fibrous.

Once you are ready to use your nettles, use kitchen tongs to remove from the bag and place in a colander to rinse well. To avoid stinging, continue using tongs as you transfer your nettles from the sink to the stove.

Sautéed Nettles With Onions and Pasta

(Makes 2-3 servings)

You will need:

• 8 cups stinging nettles, rinsed well and chopped into smaller pieces if desired (use tongs while rinsing and dealing with nettles)
• ½ cup spring onions or ramps, sliced
• 2 Tbsp butter, preferably pastured
• 2 Tbsp other fat, like bacon grease, coconut oil, lard, etc. (we like bacon grease)
• ½ cup cooked ham, cubed (optional)
• 1 cup noodles, uncooked
• sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
• freshly grated parmesan

Directions: 

Boil water and cook noodles. Strain noodles, add a little olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside. Melt fats in a large skillet on medium heat. Add spring onions and sauté for a few minutes. Using tongs, carefully add nettles to skillet and toss in fat and garlic until cooked down. Add optional cubed ham and toss until warm. Add noodles and gently toss all ingredients together to combine. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and enjoy!

We eat this as a complete meal, but it can also be served as a side dish.

Spring is the perfect time to find tender stinging nettles, so start foraging and take advantage of this natural free food source!

We highly recommend these books if you’re interested in learning more about edible wild plants:

• Nature’s Garden, by Samuel Thayer
• The Forager’s Harvest, by Samuel Thayer

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C’mon y’all, grow some mint!

Did you know that “mint” is a family of herbs that includes lavender and lemon balm? Yep, it is. To grow your own mint plants you must keep a few things in mind:

1. they need at least four hours of sunlight a day, and more is better as long as they don’t dry out completely
2. they tolerate most soil types – except areas where they may be submerged under water for long periods of time
3. and most mints are drought tolerant once established, provided they get some moisture every week.

Most varieties of mint will survive winter quite well. In colder climates they tend to lose their leaves and hibernate underground until the soil warms up in the spring. Then they go crazy, growing almost overnight. Here in North Carolina, mints stay close to the ground, even changing color in some cases. Orange Mint turns a nice burgundy color during the winter, adding color to a dying landscape. And while the plants are not large, you can still harvest some leaves throughout the year.

Mints need space! Grow them in a container or raised bed for best results because they have a tendency to spread and take over. I have Curly Mint in my lawn that smells great when I mow. Can’t beat that!

So many types of mint!

So how many varieties of mint are there? No one really knows for sure, but we do know there are MANY. I grow the following varieties:

• Orange Mint - as mentioned before, with rounded leaves that are scented with a sharp orange peel scent
• Mountain Mint - a variety that is native to my area that gets about 3-4 ft tall and has a mild vanilla mint scent
• Curly Mint – a spearmint scented mint with twisted leaves
• Ginger Mint - smelling faintly of ginger, with rounded leaves that have a lighter colored vein in the center of the leaf
• Chocolate Mint – yes, it smells and tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream!
• Pineapple Mint – has fuzzy leaves that are often variegated with a cream colored edging, and it tastes and smells like pineapple
• Apple Mint – smells like green apples
• and of course Spearmint and Peppermint!

This year I added four new mints to my collection:

• Grapefruit Mint – with a sharp bitter edge of grapefruit
• Zazu’s Mystery – which is just like Chocolate Mint, but creeping
• Reginald’s Mystery – a larger upright variety, similar in appearance to Zazu, but without the chocolate scent
• Pennyroyal Mint – Pennyroyal is a specialty mint most often used for keeping insects off pets. It has a high amount of pugelone, a compound that may cause uterine contractions. For this reason, it should not be used by women that are pregnant or could become pregnant.

Most mints are stimulating, but in small amounts are safe for almost everyone. Pennyroyal is the only mint I know of that carries a warning.

I’ve ordered more mints, and I guess that exceeds 13, but then, who’s counting? One of the new ones I have coming soon is Candy Cane Mint – you guessed it, it smells and tastes like candy canes, that sweet peppermint that we can never forget. Another is Mojito Mint, with an edge of lime. This one is just right for those cool, delicious summer drinks. And I just got seeds for Lemon Mint. Lemon Mint is not a true mint, but does have similar characteristics. It’s actually a Monarda or Wild Bergamot – still in the family, but not an actual mint. I had a Black Peppermint plant a few years ago, but it died out, and finding a replacement has proven difficult.

Some others I’d like to try are Eau de Cologne Mint, Cat Mint, Catnip, Water Mint (the forerunner of Peppermint), Banana Mint and Lavender Mint. I’m sure there are many others that I haven’t mentioned. Maybe someday I’ll have them all!

Using your mint

One of my favorite treats is mint chocolate chip ice cream. But even better is an after dinner drink highlighted with mint. Different mints would add different flavors, but for the following recipe I used Curly Mint, which is one of the Spearmints.

Minty After Dinner Drink

You will need:

• 6-7 mint sprigs, bruised
• ½ cup alcohol (I use bourbon)

Drop the bruised mint into a jar and add the alcohol. Shake vigorously. Allow it to sit for a week in the sun, shaking every day. After a week, strain and bottle the alcohol. If you want a stronger mint flavor, repeat the process with the same alcohol, but use fresh mint.

The drink recipe:

In a tall glass, add about a tablespoon of organic cane sugar. Dampen it with a bit of water and add mint sprigs along the side. Add crushed ice to the top. Pour about a shot (1.5 ounces – more or less depending on your glass) and then a bit of Crème de Cacao. (If using Chocolate Mint, you can omit the Crème de Cacao.) Top off with some half and half. Upend a glass over the top and shake well. Add a straw and enjoy!

This drink doesn’t have a proper name - I made it up one evening when I had a lot of mint left after cutting it for drying.

Drying Mint

Mint dries very well and can be stored for about a year. Use it in tea, in your cooking, and in soap and other beauty products.

Try a few new kinds of mint this season and soon you’ll be in Mint Condition!

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photo by dinner series

Growing up, I watched my dad prepare a fair amount of authentic Mexican food. I was quite picky, though, and only tried certain things. (There was the time I finally tried guacamole – only to find that I’m quite allergic to avocado – that contributed to my picky-ness.) Last year, though, I finally decided to try his spicy salsa. I’ve never been a big fan of spicy things, but after I tried homemade curry with sriracha sauce, I knew that my taste buds were missing out thanks to my spicy aversion. So I tried my dad’s salsa.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Talk about flavor! This wasn’t like my homemade Pico de Gallo (which is still pretty dang good, if I do say so myself) – there was a smoky flavor that kept me dipping my chips, even though my mouth was on fire.

Recently, I was able to get my dad to show me how he makes his delicious salsa. Because he and I are “a little this, a little that” cooks, I watched him like a hawk, took pictures and asked him to measure stuff so I could share this with you.

Roasted Salsa

Here’s what you’ll need for the recipe:

• 4 medium tomatoes, stems removed
• 2 jalapeño peppers
• ½ oz chile de arbol (less if you don’t like spicy – we used dried chiles)
• 3 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 2 – 3 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vinegar
•  a few shakes of pepper

Wrap the tomatoes in foil so they’re all covered – I used two pieces. Turn on a stove burner to medium heat and place the foil packet of tomatoes on the burner. They’re going to roast there for about 30 minutes. I turned mine every 5 minutes or so. If you unwrap them and they’re not quite soft and mushy all the way through, roast them a few more minutes. When they’re done, try to let them cool all the way before you add them to the blender. (Finger burns are not fun).

While the tomatoes are doing their thing, wrap the jalapeños in foil and turn another burner on high heat. Roast them for 5 minutes, turning once. Now, pull all of the stems off the chile de arbol, discard stems, and wrap the chile de arbol in foil and put them on the high heat burner. Only allow them to roast for about 30 seconds.

Finally, wrap the garlic in foil and put it on the high heat burner for 30 seconds.

Now for the fun, and potentially messy part. Grab your blender and put in  1 ½ cups of water. Unwrap the garlic and chiles de arbol and put them in the blender. Open the jalapeno packet, cut off the stems and put the remaining pepper in the blender. Next, open the tomato packet, cut off any blackened pieces and add tomatoes to the blender as well. (Clean and save whatever foil you can for next time.)

Before you turn on the blender, add your salt (taste after it’s all blended and add more if necessary – we like our salt), a few shakes of pepper and 1 tsp vinegar. We use white vinegar. I’m sure you could experiment with other types if you’d like.

Put on the lid of the blender and turn it on. We start on low and then turn up the speed after everything has gotten mixed up. Let it blend for about a minute.

And that’s it!

This salsa comes out a lot in our house – paired with our favorite chips, drizzled over rice and beans and covered with cotija cheese or on top of eggs and potatoes (with some more cotija cheese, of course).

Enjoy! And don’t forget to tell us about your favorite homemade salsa below.

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Have you heard of Big Berkey Water Filters??? No? Well, they just happen to be the best gravity water purification systems out there. And Big Berkey is giving away one of their Royal Berkey Water Purifiers to a lucky DIY Natural community member!

The Royal Berkey countertop purifying system includes two Black Berkey purification elements, chambers, lid, a spigot, rubber gasket base, and 2 blocking plugs. This water purifier has a retail value of $283 (including free shipping). The giveaway will run through April 28th, 2013 at midnight EST.

Why is your water purity so important?

We know there is no life without water. But what if your water source is fluoridated, chlorinated, or contaminated with pesticides, pathogenic bacteria, and harmful chemicals? Is this water still healthy and life promoting?

The short answer is no. The fluoride that’s being added to our municipal water supplies is actually a toxic industrial waste product that has several negative health effects, leading many countries to ban this practice. (Read more about this here or here.) When chlorine is added to our water as a disinfectant, it actually reacts with rotting organic matter and creates a family of chemicals known as trihalomethanes. Trihalomethanes have been shown to cause several types of cancer, and may also present reproductive and developmental risks. (source) And these are two things municipal water facilities intentionally put into our water. *Gasp!*

It’s important to scrutinize your water purity the same way you carefully choose food or other things entering into your body. Ideally, we would all have access to uncontaminated free-flowing spring water. But we don’t. So we look for other options.

Why we love Berkey

Whole house filtration systems are the best option, but they’re extremely expensive. It is also expensive and wasteful to continually buy bottled water. Not to mention, sometimes these companies are just using the same municipal tap water you’re trying to avoid. Brita pitchers have limited filtering capabilities and filters that have to be continually replaced.

Berkey Water Filtration Systems claim to be the most effective, economical water purifiers available. (Matt did the math and the Royal Berkey beat out the cost of the current water purification system we use.) These filtering systems will filter out the bad, while leaving the good. According to the Berkey website:

Berkey water filter systems are far superior to other filtration systems because they remove harmful pathogenic bacteria, cysts, parasites, and unhealthy chemical contaminants such as Chlorine to levels higher than 99.99%, while at the same time leaving in the essential minerals your body needs.

The Royal Berkey Water Filter

The Royal Berkey is a beauty! It’s constructed out of polished stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about plastics or other contaminants leaching into your purified water. It has a capacity of 3.25 gallons of water.

The powerful Black Berkey purification elements are capable of filtering treated (municipal) water and also raw untreated water from lakes, streams, etc. The set of 2 Black Berkey filters inside the Royal Berkey will filter up to 6,000 gallons of water. This means if you drink 10 gallons per week, you won’t have to replace the filters for more than 11 years!

What does this water purifier filter out?

This system filters out those nasty trihalomethanes produced by chlorine. It also completely removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts, and parasites, while extracting herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents, and VOCs. It reduces minerals such as lead and mercury while retaining all the beneficial minerals we need. In addition, it removes odors and unpleasant tastes. Optional fluoride filters can also be purchased separately if your municipal water source contains fluoride.

Enter to win a Royal Berkey Water Filter

Follow these 3 simple steps to enter the giveaway:

1. Click on the link below to visit the Berkey website. This is the mandatory entry. After you visit the link, just return to this article and complete steps 2 and 3.

(NOTE:If you can’t see the link above it’s because you have ad blocking software enabled or javascript disabled. Please disable your ad blocker or enable javascript to see the link.)

2. Click the link in the Rafflecopter widget below to show you performed the mandatory entry of visiting the Berkey website.

3. Sign up for extra entries using the Rafflecopter widget. You can earn extra entries for following Big Berkey on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest – for sharing this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ - and 5 extra entries for re-pinning this post on Pinterest.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. 

A winner will be chosen via random.org. We will announce the lucky winner on Monday, April 29th, 2013 in our newsletter and on Facebook and Google+. The winner will have 48 hours to contact us with his or her full name, address, and phone number. There is no purchase necessary to win.

Bonus Coupon Details

As a bonus, Big Berkey is offering DIY Natural readers a 5% off coupon on all their products through the end of May. Just enter coupon code Giveaway2013 at checkout to receive your discount.

Best of luck to everyone!

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Disclosure: DIYNatural.com has a business and affiliate relationship with Berkey and may receive a commission on referrals or sales generated.

The 2013 VGN Spring Ebook Bundle ($479 Value)

You’ll get 30 Natural Living Ebooks for only $39

1. DIY Natural Household Cleaners by Matt & Betsy Jabs of DIY Natural (yes that’s us!)
   
2. Grain-free Breads, Snacks & Desserts by Jill Tieman of Real Food Forager
3. The Eczema Cure by Emily Bartlett of Holistic Squid
4. Get Your Fats Straight by Sarah Pope of The Healthy Home Economist
5. Nourished Baby (Revised Edition) by Heather Dessinger of Mommypotamus
6. Skintervention by Liz Wolfe of Cave Girl Eats
7. Real Food Nutrition FOR KIDS! by Kristen Michaelis of Food Renegade
8. Grain-free Desserts by Jennifer McGruther of Nourished Kitchen
9. Your Custom Homestead by Jill Winger of The Prairie Homestead
10. Awaken: 30+ Egg-Free and Grain-Free Breakfasts by Karen Sorenson of Living Low Carb One Day At a Time
11. Eat For Heat by Matt Stone of 180 Degree Health
12. Diet Recovery 2 (Revised Edition) by Matt Stone of 180 Degree Health
13. Real Food For Real Life by Emily Benfit of Butter Believer
14. Indulge and Heal: 40 Treats Without Grains, Dairy, Nuts and Refined Sugar by Lauren Geersten of Empowered Sustenance
15. The Homemade Handbook by Lindsey Gremont of Homemade Mommy
16. Fast Paleo Top 100 of 2012 by James Gregory of Fast Paleo
17. From Your Freezer To Your Family: Slow Cooker Freezer Recipes eCookbook by Stephanie Brandt Cornais of Mama & Baby Love
18. The Nourished Metabolism by Elizabeth Walling of The Nourished Life
19. Real Food Ingredient Guide by Kelly the Kitchen Kop
20. Real Food 101 by Kendahl Millecam of Our Nourishing Roots
21. The Almond Flour Sweet Treats Cookbook by Stacey Duncan of Nourished For Free
22. Toxic Free: 70 Recipes for a Toxic-free Home by Robin Konie of Thank Your Body
23. Nourishing Our Children by Sandrine Love of Nourishing Our Children
24. Indulge: 70 Grain-free Desserts by Carol Lovett of Ditch the Wheat
25. Simple Natural Health by Nina Nelson of Shalmom Mama (yes, that’s the Nina that writes for us!)
26. Afternoon Tea: Grain, Nut, Dairy and Refined Sugar-Free by Suzanne Perazzini of Strands of My Life
27. Toadally Primal Smoothies by Todd Dosenberry of Primal Toad
28. Garden and Preservation Planner by Brenda Scott of Well Fed Homestead
29. Restocking the Pantry by Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy
30. The Grain Free Lunch Box by Jolene Sloam of Yummy Inspirations

For more details on the ebooks visit the Bundle Sale Detail Page.

Limited Time Offer

The Spring Bundle Sale ends Tuesday Wednesday night so don’t let the deal expire!

SALE HAS EXPIRED, sorry you missed it, stay tuned for future offers by subscribing.

This is a one-time-sale that will not be offered again.

Download all 30 e-books now for this low price, and read them at your leisure on your Kindle, iPad, iPhone or computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Bundle Sale Detail Page for answers to common questions like:

• How do I download the ebooks?
• Is there a money back guarantee?
• Which devices can I download and view the ebooks on?

You can find answers to these and your other questions on the Bundle Detail Page.

You Save over 90%

This is an incredible deal of like $1.50 per book!

If you were to purchase all these ebooks separately it would cost you $479.

Purchasing them together – in a bundle – saves you over 90%!

30 Healthy Living Ebooks for only $39 ($479 value!)

We’d like to thank all the ebook authors for including their great works at such steep discounts.

We’d also like to thank the Village Green Network for organizing this sale and making it possible.

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Don’t plant this…

First, you can steer clear of planting some of the plants deer like to eat. As far as shrubs; azalea, rhododendron, dogwood, roses, lilac and burning bush are some of the favorites. Trees like yews, pines (especially white pine), and fruit trees are all eaten by deer. Garden plants, like most vegetables including beans, peas, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables. Corn, blackberries, spring bulbs and hosta have all been known to disappear. My Aunt Val in Minnesota loves to watch the deer from her front porch – until they start eating her pansies, as they seem to do every year. In my yard in Western North Carolina, the apple and peach trees fall prey, but they won’t touch the blackberries. (I wish they would!)

Plant this…

So, in avoiding plants they love, you can go for plants they DON’T like. Among these are borage, ice plant, marigolds and zinnias. Some perennials include alliums, aloe, black-eyed susan, bleeding heart, any of the mints, fern, geranium, iris, and herbs like oregano, rosemary and yarrow. Among the trees and shrubs are bamboo, pampas grass, yucca, barberry, butterfly bush, currant and gooseberry, hawthorn (despite its apple-like berry), holly, mountain laurel, palms, oleander, boxwood and viburnum.

Need other options?

If you already have the plants they like and don’t want to change what you have or start from scratch, there are other natural alternatives to discourage Bambi from munching on your garden and landscaping.

One thing you can start with is a smell deterrent. Among the best ones are the sulphur compounds. They smell like rotten eggs and deer hate them. You might too, but the smell will die down in a day or so. You can also get predator urine. Around here we use coyote urine, which can be purchased at a local garden center or online here. Your area may have other urine preparations that are region specific. I have another one I use that’s a clay granule base with thyme, peppermint and piperine, which is black pepper oil. It also works well for other animals such as bunnies and groundhogs.

Soap also works as a natural deer deterrent. Simply hang a bar in the bushes.

My uncle used to wear the same socks for a week, then tie them to a barbed wire fence. He never had a problem with deer when he did that. Neighbors either, come to think of it!

Other smell deterrents include blood meal, human hair, fabric softener sheets, creosote, processed sewage such as Milorganite, and along that same line, human urine. Yep, can you believe I said it?  This one really does work.

You may need to use a taste deterrent as well. Among these are hot pepper wax and piperene-based sprays. Both are very unpleasant on the tongue. Another option is a throat numbing spray such as Cepacol. Remember what it does to your throat? It’ll do that to the deer too. Not harmful, just annoying.

Consider planting a border around your garden with plants they’ll avoid. Mints, sage, marigolds, and big ugly thorny things like locust, buckthorn and hawthorn work well. Fences usually don’t, because deer can jump very high. In order for a fence to be effective, it must be 10-12 feet tall.

Of course, guinea hens, llamas and donkeys will all raise the alarm when a deer is in the yard. My dog lets me know too, but I think he just wants to play with them.

Motion detector lights will sometimes work at night as will motion detector spray devices. There’s a product on the market called the “Scarecrow.” It’s a sprinkler that starts up when it detects something in its path, like a deer.  It startles them with a shot of water. (Find it here.)

And if none of these work, just give in. I planted a seed plot with clover and grass seed not too far from the edge of the woods. I set it well away from the garden and not in sight (or smell) of what I wanted to keep. I planted a row of mint along the edge of the plot and the deer seem to stay within that area. My garden is safe and my yard is free of tracks…for now, until they get me figured out!

How do you deer proof your yard? Share below!

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Thankfully, I’ve been able to find natural ways to help myself fall asleep so that I wouldn’t need to depend on medications that made me feel drowsy.

The most important component in learning how to fall asleep naturally is to create a bedtime routine. Our bodies thrive on routine. Hormone production depends on it. And it is much easier to fall asleep at night when your body knows that it’s time for that transition once you start going through the motions of a sleep routine

What does that look like? It’s different for everyone, but can start with you telling yourself it’s time to wind down and prepare for sleep. It can include the following remedies and practices:

Herbal Tea

Certain herbs have very relaxing properties to help you get to sleep. You can try making a tea out of just one herb, combine a few into your own tea, or buy a special herbal tea for sleeping. Either way, here are a few herbs that can help you get to sleep easier:

• Chamomile – This herb is a well-known, relaxing herb.
• Catnip – Not just for cats, catnip is an anti-spasmodic and sleep aid.
• Lemon Balm – Lemon balm soothes both the digestive and central nervous systems, helping you relax.
• Valerian – This herb acts more like a (mild) tranquilizer. It can be used as a tea if you really have problems getting to sleep. Many natural herbal sleep teas on the market contain small amounts of valerian root.
• Hops – Ever get sleepy when drinking beer? Hops flowers are very relaxing and used to promote sleep.

(Find organic bulk herbs here or herbal teas here.)

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is well-known for its calming effect. We use it often in our house for calming crazy kids and to help everyone relax before bed. Lavender essential oil is an oil that can be used neat (meaning it doesn’t need to be diluted) and is a safe remedy to use on children.

Try applying a drop to your temples, adding a drop to your pillow or applying a drop to the bottom of your feet for fast circulation throughout your whole body. You can also diffuse it in your room/house using an essential oil diffuser.

(Find 100% pure lavender essential oil here.)

Relaxing Bath

Some of us look for any excuse to take a bath. And for good reason. Warm water is very soothing and soaking in water can help you relax if you’re too tense to sleep. It’s also a great way to calm your mind. Sometimes, the reason I can’t sleep is because I can’t “turn off my brain.” Taking a bath and intentionally clearing my mind helps with that. I also add epsom salts and lavender essential oil.

Magnesium

Many of us are deficient in magnesium, which can cause things like muscle cramps and insomnia. While you could take a supplement, applying it topically is a great way to increase your intake. This way helps you absorb it easier and prevent the diarrhea side-effect of ingesting too much magnesium. You can do so simply by adding epsom salts to your bath (follow the directions on the package – typically 2 cups) or by making your own magnesium lotion. (Don’t want to make your own? Find magnesium lotion here.)

Yoga

One of the main reasons I sometimes have trouble falling asleep is because of muscle pain. Thankfully, I’ve found that by doing a short bedtime yoga routine, I can stretch all of my tight/sore muscles, enabling them to relax enough for me to fall asleep easily.

This is also a great time to clear your thoughts, meditate and pray so you can easily transition into sleep.

Turn Off Screens

While not your typical natural remedy, I had to include this method. It is one of the easiest (and hardest) ways to get more sleep. It’s tempting to stay up too late looking at screens. I know – I can get a lot of work done while the kids are asleep. (Sometimes Facebook counts as work …). However, staring at a screen at night is like resetting your brain, waking you up when you should be winding down to go to sleep. A simple solution? Make a “no screen” rule an hour before bed. In our house, I aim to shut off the computer and put away my cell phone by 9 pm.

Have you tried any of these remedies? What works best for you?

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That said, this move involves getting rid of a lot of stuff (we’ve already downsized quite a bit, but you can imagine what’s necessary for this type of move) and it involves making sure the stuff we keep serves many purposes. Especially in the bathroom, where our space will be very limited.

Fortunately, this hasn’t been difficult because we figured out which bathroom items serve us best ages ago.

Castile Soap

We’ve used liquid castile soap for years for a lot of everyday uses. However, a few months ago, we made our first batch of castile bar soap (why didn’t we start sooner?) and have since had an abundance of bar soap to use in our house. (I used the recipe I found here.) It’s been put to work for the following uses:

• Shampoo – Before switching to washing my hair only with water, I was just using the bar soap that we made to wash my hair. It lathered nicely, washed my hair well and left my scalp feeling very nice. We also use castile soap to wash the kids’ hair.
• Face Wash – I have sensitive, dry skin, but I can use castile soap to wash my face without the break outs I always used to have.
• Body Wash – This is a given, but I had to add it.
• Shaving – My husband loves using a brush and soap instead of shave cream. Castile soap bars work very nicely for this.

If you don’t like soap bars, you can also use liquid castile soap. We like unscented and add essential oils to get the scents we want. (Find liquid castile soap here.)

Coconut Oil

This wonderful oil isn’t just for cooking. We’ve found a number of uses for it around our house:

• Moisturizing – I actually like to whip 1/4 cup coconut oil with 2/3 cup shea butter for an awesome after shave moisturizer (for dry skin). But if I don’t have any whipped up, straight coconut oil works great to moisturize my skin.
• Eye Makeup Remover – Rub a little coconut oil on a cloth and rub eye makeup right off.
• Carrier Oil - Some essential oils are too strong to be used neat (applied straight to the skin) so you might want to add some to a carrier oil for a massage. Coconut oil is a great carrier oil to do this with.

We buy large tubs of coconut oil from Costco or our local natural health store buying club and take out what we need to stay in the bathroom. (Find high quality coconut oil online here.)

Essential Oils

I use essential oils every day to simplify our healthcare. I also love that I can keep them all organized in a small box on our bathroom counter. Essential oils have a variety of uses, from healing to boosting the power of homemade household cleaners:

• Lavender – This calming essential oil is great to add to your bath or to put on your temples before bed. We have some in a roll-on bottle so our kids can apply their own after they brush their teeth at night. (Find pure lavender essential oil here.)
• Frankincense – This helps with stress (especially when mixed with lavender), helps with headaches (again, especially when mixed with lavender) and helps to reduce scarring. (Find pure frankincense essential oil here.)
• Wild Orange – This is a good degreaser and I just love the smell. I’ll dab some on my wrists for a natural perfume. (Find pure sweet orange essential oil here.)
• Melaleuca (Tea Tree) – This is a great anti-microbial essential oil and is great to add to cleaners you use in your bathroom. We also use it for treating ear infections. (Used it on myself the other day and my serious ear pain was gone after a few hours.) I’ve also used it for dabbing on acne – it goes away much faster. (Find pure tea tree essential oil here.)

You can check out this article for more essential oil uses.

Healing Ointment

Every house needs some healing ointment. (Learn how to make it here.) Especially one with lots of little kids, a husband who likes to work with his hands and a mama who’s a bit accident-prone. Here’s what we use it for:

• Diaper Rash – Someday we’ll be done with diapers. Until then, we deal with the occasional diaper rash. Healing ointment gets rid of it quickly (thank you coconut oil, herbs and essential oils!).
• First Aid – When someone gets hurt in our house, the protocol is to put mama’s healing balm on it. Have you seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? We use healing balm like her dad uses Windex. Because it works! We use it for healing cuts and scrapes, soothing bruises and even as a moisturizer when someone forgets to refill the coconut oil.
• Shaving Nicks – Stop the bleeding and add a dab of healing ointment to make nicks heal quickly and stop hurting.
• Acne – I’ve found that through the many variations of healing ointment I made, they all do a great job at quickly getting rid of acne. Thank goodness!

These four items play a huge part in our everyday bath & beauty routine. So simple!

Do you have any multi-purpose bathroom essentials that weren’t listed?

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Mosquitoes are only part of the problem. Wasps, hornets, chiggers and many more are in our yards and even homes. Years ago we used everything from Malathion to Dursban and Diazanon. Some of those are illegal to use today – for very good reasons. But you can fight back naturally. Here are a few things you can do.

Keep bugs off naturally

1. Don’t go outside at dusk or dawn. It may seem simple, but these are the two times that bugs are most active.

2. Wear light-colored clothing. Bugs are attracted to darker colors.

3. Limit perfumes, fabric softeners and hairspray. Bugs are attracted to scents. That’s how they find many of the flowers they pollinate. (Make your own wool dryer balls and fabric softener instead.)

4. Take B complex vitamins. The experts aren’t sure how this works, but bugs don’t seem to like the smell of our skin when we take it.

5. Drink apple cider vinegar. Again, not sure why, but bugs don’t like it. How much? A couple of tablespoons a day should do it. I don’t like the taste, so I make a salad dressing out of it.

6. Empty all standing water around your home. Mosquitoes breed and lay eggs in standing water.

If these tips don’t work, or you need more help, here’s a sure-fire recipe to help keep just about any bug away from you.

Simple Natural Bug Spray

You will need:

• small spray bottle
• ½ cup distilled water
• 1 tablespoon alcohol
• 6-10 drops essential oil: use any of these alone or any combination – lemongrass, any mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, neem, geranium, and litsea cubeba. My favorite is a mixture of lavender and litsea cubeba. It smells like lemon and bugs hate it! (Find 100% pure essential oils here.)

Directions:

Pour the alcohol into the spray bottle. Add the essential oils and shake well. Add water, leaving enough room at the top so it will mix when you shake it. If you use a large spray bottle, ingredients can be doubled or tripled.

To use: 

Shake well before each use. Spray lightly on body: hands, arms and legs especially. Avoid getting into the eyes, ears, mouth and nose. You may need to reapply it often if you sweat, if you are in the rain, or if you go swimming.

Here’s another recipe for homemade insect repellant.

Deterring bugs around the home

If bugs are bugging your home, here are a few tips for that too.

1. Use Diatomaceous Earth around your home. DE, as it’s known, is a great bug killer that won’t kill you in the process. It’s made from diatoms, tiny coral-like creatures that are crushed (don’t worry, only the shell is use after they are dead). The resulting powder is like tiny shards of glass. It won’t hurt us or our pets (keep it out of your eyes, mouth and nose), but to a bug, it’s deadly. It acts like tiny razor blades, crisscrossing the shell of any invertebrate, causing them to dehydrate. Use it on your floors, brushing it into corners. Put it on your carpet, work it in for a few days, and vacuum up the excess. One application will last for 6 months or so, even with weekly vacuuming. You can also sprinkle it in your yard and around the base of the house. (Find Diatomaceous Earth here.)

2. For ants, especially mounding ants (which include fire ants), I use and old fashioned trick – grits! Put dry grits around the mound holes and step on it a few times. The ants rush out to see what’s going on and find the grits. They know it’s food, so they carry them into the colony below. What they don’t know is that grits swell up when hydrated, killing the ants. (This is more humane than slowly killing them with poison.)

3. Soapy water. Mix up a bit of dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray any bug, inside or out.

4. Pheromone traps. Indian meal moths are those tiny moths that come from bird seed and other things. The pheromone traps lure them in and trap them in the sticky interior.

5. Pressurized water. To get aphids off of my plants, sometimes I use a high-powered hose. That usually works temporarily.

6. Horticultural or dormant oil. Usually made from canola or soybean oil, this is a light oil that will suffocate bugs. In my area, the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is killing the hemlocks. We use a dormant oil spray when the plants aren’t actively growing, like in the winter. I don’t like to use it in the summer, although you can, at half dose. Summer heat makes the oil sticky and the dust and dirt sticks to it. (Find horticultural/dormant oil here.)

These are just a few tips for you to try, so give them a shot and enjoy being bugged no more!

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