Saturday, May 05, 2012

Homemade Pesticide Recipe

How would you like to know a few homemade pesticide recipes that are not only safe, but will cost you next to nothing?

It's still possible to keep your garden free from pests without toxins and harmful chemicals.
Most chemical pesticides are toxic to humans as well as pets and small animals that may enter your yard or garden. That's why homemade pesticides make a lot more sense.

"Gardener Seat and Tools in Green"

Here are a few of the most common homemade pesticide recipes for your houseplants, yard and garden.

Homemade Pesticide For Snails and Slugs
Diatomaceous earth is a powder-like dust made of tiny marine organisms called diatoms. It is effective on soft-bodied insects as well as snails and slugs. Just spread it on top of the soil and it works by cutting and irritating these soft organisms yet is harmless to other organisms. You can also put out shallow dishes of beer to trap snails and slugs.

To Keep Bugs Away From Houseplants
This is the safest natural pesticide for any home gardener and is effective on a variety of bugs and insects. Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water. Use in a sprayer bottle for houseplants.

Another Bugs Away From Houseplants Mix
To keep bugs away from houseplants, mix 1 clove garlic, 1 small hot pepper and 1 quart water in a blender. Pour into a spray bottle and apply to plants. Putting hot sauce on a cotton ball in a house plant pot will also repel pests.

Cabbage worms and Spider Mites Mix
For garden pests like cabbage worms and spider mites, mix 2 tablespoons of salt in 1 gallon of water and use in a sprayer bottle.

To Control Garden Pests
Gather together a collection of dead bugs, crush them up and mix with water. Strain the mix until it will come out of a spray bottle. Only use this mix outside.

Spearmint Hot Pepper Horseradish Spray
This is effective on many different kinds of outside bugs and insects and should be an outside spray.
1/4 cup of hot red peppers
1/2 gallon water
1/4 cup of fresh spearmint
1/4 cup horseradish, both root and leaves
1 tablespoons of liquid detergent
1/4 cup green onion tops
Mix the spearmint leaves, horseradish, onion tops and peppers together with enough water to cover everything. Then strain the solution. Add a half-gallon of water and the detergent. You can use this to spray almost any plant safely. Store the mixture for a few days in a cool place.

Natural Pesticide for Aphids and Whiteflies
Mix a few drops of dishwashing detergent with water and spray on plants leaves. This is extremely effective in controlling many soft-bodied insects such as aphids and whiteflies.

Homemade Pesticide For Roses
In your blender make a solution of leaves from a tomato plant 4 pints of water and a tablespoon of cornstarch. Strain the mix and spray on roses as a natural pesticide. Keep any unused spray refrigerated.
Natural pesticides can work well for any home gardener and are much safer for you and your family. After you try a few of these recipes you'll understand that they really work. If you want to control pests naturally instead of chemically, homemade pesticides may be the ideal choice.


By

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Gresham

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Eating the Mediterranean Way


 I believe this is one of the healthiest way to eat! ~

12 quick tips for a healthy diet.

Food is far more than sustenance. The dishes we eat are often imbued with family traditions, cultural history and even personal memories—and that’s as it should be. But as studies around the world have shown, eating patterns as different from ours as those in Sweden and India can be tweaked to take advantage of the health benefits associated with traditional Mediterranean Diets. 

Here's how:
  1. Replace butter with olive or canola oil whenever possible.
  2. Snack on nuts, seeds or fruit instead of processed foods.
  3. Include a generous leafy green salad with most dinners.
  4. Help yourself to whole-grain bread, pasta, rice and other grains.
  5. Fix at least a couple of vegetarian meals every week.
  6. Add a dish or two that contains legumes (beans and lentils) to your weekly menu.
  7. Have fish (not fried) at least twice a week.
  8. If you eat meat, favor chicken and other poultry.
  9. Eat red meat only occasionally, and in small servings.
  10. If you drink, have no more than a glass or two with a meal.
  11. Enjoy fruit for dessert.
  12. Set aside enough time to savor every bite. 
  13. New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook 
   

DIY PROJECT

Saw this on another site! Love the idea... I think I shall have to make this table for my craft room!!

Doors Galore

Although I have been working diligently on DIY projects around the house lately I have been missing my old design job at Woodard Station and the creative environment that I loved so much. With this in mind I decided to take you along for the ride down memory lane...

One of the best parts about working for the company in which I did is that my boss had a huge warehouse full of items ready for "up-cycling". Now, if you have never heard of this term it is the new thing to do and you better jump on the band-wagon people. It's were you take something (anything from what some might consider garbage to furniture that needs a little TLC) and instead of throwing it away in order to get something you new you recycle it but make it better, hence the term "up-cycle". The warehouse had everything from office furniture to old pipes for us to utilize and I absolutely loved it!

Another part of my job was the sheer joy of designing show lofts. The purpose of these lofts were to stage the scene so people interested could visualize themselves living there. Another aspect was to fix the areas which some viewing the loft might be concerned (i.e. counter space). One of my most favorite lofts was lacking in this particular area and was one of the first comments made by potential tenants.

Now, I could have gone out and purchased a brand spankin' new temporary island for this loft however this was not the way we rolled. Instead my gears started turning and after talking to some of the oh so talented builders the decision was made to up-cycle and door to make a one of a kind island:

As you can see, the top of the island is an antique door (minus the hardware) and to prevent the paint from chipping either further (food+paint=ewww) a coat or two of polyurethane was used. There was also a 1/4" tempered glass sheet laid over the top to ensure an even prep space but since it's clear you can still see it's unique beauty.

I designed the base of the island so that the bar stools could be pushed flush underneath in order to maximize the space in this galley kitchen. I also added the shelf in order to add additional storage space for kitchen supplies.

{re-do breakdown}
Door - $0 (re-used from a previous building)
Glass - $75
Wood - $0 (re-used from a previous building)
Polyurethane - $0 (purchased for a previous project)
Total: $75



The Perfect ANYTIME Snack Blend

I enjoy making this yummy snack during Autumn. Makes a pretty table/counter display of Fall colors. The perfect treat blend for my little gr...