Chemical-free Yards

I get harassed a lot about the fact that I don't use herbicides and pesticides or any other chemicals on or around my yard.  These chemicals affect every aspect of your life - the plants you put into your body, the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the meat you eat.  They affect your skin, your environment, and your overall health.  Those that believe that the chemicals in your life are just as natural and good for you as natural living haven't been paying attention to the change in disease over the past 50 years.  Ok.. off my soapbox...

Here is my philosophy - I love the earth and want it to be enjoyed by my great- great- great-grandchildren.  I want them to be able to see the vibrant greens of a forest, hear the sounds of a multitude of birds from their window, sea the incredible aquas of the ocean, and enjoy the vast array of foods we have today.  In order to do my part, I try to live as minimal a footprint as possible.  I try and nurture the earth as much as I can - even though I know there is yet more I could be doing. 

I live at the edge of a great forest - I have huge evergreen and oak trees on my property and off to one side a pond that is fed by the brook on my property.  This gives me a great amount of birds - and a great amount of mosquitoes.  My challenge was to maintain the birds (that eat the mosquitoes) and yet be able to be outside without being dessert for the silly mosquitoes.  So, I have a three pronged approach. 

Mosquito Repellent

One, I sprinkle onion & garlic granules on my yard about every three weeks.  I had never seen the mosquitoes' reaction to the granules until this last weekend - they immediately left the area.  I hadn't even seen them but as soon as I sprinkled the granules on the area the fled.  YEAH!!!  The granules have a very strong odor for the first 12 hours or so, and then you don't smell anything.  A couple things to note - make sure you have a dry yard when you use the granules and make sure you don't water your yard for 48 hours (or that Mother Nature doesn't help) so that they have time to work.  Planting onions and garlic also help - but not as much as the granules which are 100% natural.  You have to reapply about every three weeks depending on how moist your area is - once you see (or feel) the first mosquito - reapply.  Another benefit from the granules (primarily for those of you in my neck of the woods) is that Armadillos, moles, and shrews do not like the scent either.  I order mine straight from the company, but I know it is available on Amazon.com

Two, I spray my eucalyptus oil / lemongrass oil mixture around all my doors and windows outside.  This creates a barrier and any bugs that cross it will die as both ingredients are natural pesticides.  If you have problems with aphids or other creepy crawlies in your garden, it works for the plants as well.  This needs to be reapplied about once a month through fall.

And finally, when I go outside to work, I always apply the eucalyptus oil / lemongrass oil mixture to my skin.  If I am outside all day long, I will reapply when I come in for a water / tea break.  I also refrain from eating bananas during the spring as the chemical reaction in your body is an invitation to mosquitoes to dip in for a taste. 

Happy Gardening... Blessings.  E

Natural Relief II

Here are some more words of wisdom from my grandmother!  Love you Grams!!  :)

Bug bites - so.... my mother always used ammonia for bug bites.  I have always used vinegar.  Either way... they both relieve the sting and draw out the poison.  Dab either on a cotton ball and wipe over the bite within the first 10 minutes of being bitten.  For the next 10 minutes, each time you get the urge to itch it, wipe again with cotton ball.  You won't even see the bite after about 20 minutes.

Bugs / Mosquitoes - so, two things here.  If you love bananas in the spring and summer, but find you are dessert for mosquitoes every time you go outside, your bananas may be the problem.  Eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil are natural pesticides - I have a 32 oz spray bottle that is filled with water and 40 drops of eucalyptus oil and 15 drops of lemongrass oil.  I spray around all my openings about once a month.  If you spray it on yourself before going outside, you will not have issues with getting bitten.

Mosquito repellent - mosquitoes don't like onion and garlic.  There is a natural mix you can buy online that if spread on your yard will repell mosquitoes.  You need to respread about once every three weeks.

Bronchitis - Mustard is a warming spice that aids in breaking up and healing bronchitis.  Take 1 tsp mustard powder and mix with 1 C flour.  Add enough hot water to make a paste of the mixture.  Put on an old Tshirt that you don't mind never using again.  Paint the paste on the Tshirt (never apply to skin directly as it will burn your skin) over the middle of your chest.  Do not put any of the paste near your sensitive areas.  Cover the area with plastic wrap and put a hot moist towel over it.  Let sit for a max of 15 minutes. 

Sty - Immediately rub with a gold ring (must contain at least 14k gold).  This will reduce the length of time associated with the sty - especially if you catch it immediately. 

Sore Throat - Green tea, lemon, honey - best mix for a sore throat.  The green tea has powerful antioxidants, the honey is a natural antibiotic, and the lemon helps improve the ability to absorb the antioxidants.  Its acidity also helps pull off the junk on the back of your throat so the honey can coat and heal. 

Gargle with colloidal silver.  Colloidal silver is an AMAZING natural antibiotic.  It can be used for ear aches, and is beneficial in healing almost any ailment there is. 

Gargle with a mixture of 2 tsp apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water.  Gargle a mouthful and then spit out - repeat until the glass is empty.  Repeat as often as necessary - up to once per hour.

Drink pineapple juice.  There are enzymes in the juice that helps sooth and heal the throat. 

Hayfever - This should be started 1 - 2 months before your allergy season begins to be 100% effective.  In addition you need to use honey / honeycomb from your region - the closer to home the better.  Daily, chew on a one inch square of honeycomb.  Swallow the honey and continue to chew the honeycomb for about 10 - 15 minutes.  Discard the honeycomb. 

Fever - Please remember that fevers usually have a purpose!  Not all fevers should be brought down.  However, if you need a natural fever breaker a nice cool glass of FRESH made lemonade. 

Did you know....

Good Morning!
I woke up thinking about quick and easy things that everyone can do to improve their overall health. So let's play "Did you know?"

Honey not only is the only food substance that will not spoil, but it is also a natural antibiotic. It can be used to heal cuts / scrapes / burns. It can be added to your hot tea when you have a cold. It helps fight allergies - especially if you purchase honey that has been cultivated locally.

Oatmeal helps lower cholesterol, and also helps your skin. It fights acne (soap), dries up weeping rashes (bath), and there are many health benefits of eating whole rolled oats for breakfast - cancer fighting phytochemicals, and diabetes fighting soluble fiber. Avocado is also amazing for your skin.

Asparagus is one of your "super" vegetables. It has been shown to destroy cancer and tumors in the body if eaten regularly. Asparagus helps the body remain alkaline and cancer can't live in an alkaline environment.

The pectin in apples and grapes helps strengthen your nails.

A combination of Eucalyptus oil (40 drops) and Lemongrass oil (20 drops) mixed in water in a 32oz spray bottle has a multitude of uses. If sprayed around your windows (inside and out) and along your doors, will naturally deter bugs, and kill any that pass across it. I spray my house about once every three months, or as soon as I start to see creepy crawlies. If used in the laundry (I put it in the final rinse), it will keep bugs away from your clothes, towels, sheets.

Onion and garlic are natural mosquito repellents. On the flip side - if you eat bananas in the summertime, the chemical reaction in your body attracts the nasty little buggers. I buy pellets and sprinkle the yard every three weeks. I don't want to kill the mosquitoes because the birds eat them and I love listening to the birds. I have found that they also keep away moles and armadillos. :) A side benefit for sure! Plant either or both around your roses and they will keep the aphids and bugs away.

Colloidal Silver is probably the most important natural product to have in your home. It is a natural antibiotic and a powerful healer. It works on ear aches, to MRSA one of the most aggressive and deadly staph infections there is.

Well, how did you do? Got any for me? How about ideas for posts or questions you would like answers to? TTFN! E