WEIRD SCIENCE: Products & Services off the Beaten Track.

Alanna's Organic Pain Free Bandage Remover

Alanna's Organic Pain Free Bandage Remover is used to make bandages come off without pain and pulling hair.

It was created by Alanna Meyers, a third grade student at Safety Harbor Montessori Academy in Clearwater, Florida. Throughout her childhood, she never liked the pain associated with removing bandages used for minor scrapes and scratches. So experimented with numerous combinations of ingredients until she came with the perfect formula.

It takes only a few minutes and sticky bandages come off.

With the help of her parents, an organic laboratory was located to make formula completely organic.

For more information about Alanna's Organic Pain Free Bandage Remover:

info@organic-sports.com 

800-635-0705

(Thanks to http://www.strangenewproducts.com/2010/10/spray-on-bandage-remover.html for this post)

AWESOME FIND: Le Doyen (Continental artisanal pastries, chocolates and preserves)

AWESOME FIND: Le Doyen (Continental artisanal pastries, chocolates and preserves)

 I LOVE Preserves  I think I have a preserve issue to be honest. I go through about a jar (OK two) a week. This includes relish, chutney, jams, and jelly's  I put that stuff on everything. I have a few favorites that I LOVE and today I want to highlight one of those AMAZING producers.

  (My stash that was delivered today!!)

If you have ever been to the St.John's Farmers Market you know Le Doyen, even if you have not purchased  anything from them you will recognize the Le Doyen groupies that line up from first thing in the morning to the moment they close to acquire not just jams and chutneys but all their amazing pastry's. I'm not joking.. groupies. I like to refer to Dean, the man behind Le Doyen, as the pastry king because of all his followers :)

And there is no question why. Le Doyen produces " Continental artisanal pastries, chocolates, and preserves mainly from France, Austria, Hungary, and Denmark" all made in small batches in copper basins for the highest quality and flavor. Basically they take the time to do it right and it shows. 

(White Fig, so amazing, would be perfect on pork, bagels with cream cheese, or ice cream)

But it gets even better!! Le Doyen has a pastry club. So you can enjoy their amazing products all year long not just during the Farmers Market season. 

For a minimum of $20, you can receive a selection of weekly pastry offerings delivered for free to your door on Saturday afternoon of each week. In addition, you can add optional items such as preserves, chocolates, citronnade, and breads. If you would like to order additional pastries for a particular week, you can do that too! At the start of each week, an email will be sent indicating which pastries are on offer for that week. You can specify which pastries you would like, or receive a Club selection. ( Le Doyen Facebook Page)

What can be better than amazing handmade food delivered to your door, FREE!! And the selection is so good. This week you have the choices of:

1. dacquoise with praline butter cream ($3 each)
2. Chocolat et framboise: a new offering of a flourless dark chocolate/almond cake with a layer of raspberry compote and dark chocolate mousse covered in dark chocolate ganache ($5.50/slice)
4. Byggbrød: Norwegian barley bread ($5/loaf)
In addition, you can also order chocolates (muscadines, mendiants, rochers croustillants) at $2.50 each.
Preserves are still on offer:
Jams - $5: clementine, rhubarb and orange, white fig (125ml size at $3.50)
Jellies - $5: apple
Chutneys - $5.50: curried cranberry, gooseberry, peach, 4 seasons relish

Personally I can think of few things nicer than homemade preserves and pastries, breads and chocolates delivered to your door. Have them delivered Saturday and enjoy them on Sunday for brunch. 

(Havrebrød (Denmark): oatmeal bread)

You can find out more about Le Doyen by visiting their facebook group. To register for the pastry club, please email your name, address and telephone number to c.dean.barnes@gmail.com If you have any special requirements, e.g. no gluten, no alcohol, no nuts, etc., please indicate so in your email.

You can thank me for referring you to this AMAZING FIND with bottles of chutney :)  If you have enjoyed any of Le Doyen's items we would love to read your comments in the section below. And I was in no way paid to write this piece, I just wanted to share this amazing local business. 

You Want To Stick What Where?

You Want To Stick What Where?

In our quest to become "Greener" we tend to resort to earlier times in human history, going back to the days when we grew our own veges, recycled the milk bottles and used cloth diapers. But do we really want to go back to all those old reusable tendency's? I guess what I'm asking is do we have limits to our "Reusable" items?  Specifically I want to talk about reusable personal hygiene items. 

  I own an Etsy store and I make reusable and all natural laundry, cleaners  and kitchen items. They include Non-paper towels, scrubbing mitts, reusable sandwich bags but I have yet to venture into the reusable hygiene area. Not that I couldn't make them it's just that I personally have not yet walked that reusable hygiene path and I am not sure about how I feel about it. 

 But despite my resistance there is a booming market for those items. Just go into etsy and type reusable hygiene and you are blanketed with pictures of reusable panty liners, pads and yes even tampons. 

(This reusable Tampon can be purchased here)

The thought of washing my period items each month does not appeal to me, I'm not disturbed by it or anything (I have kids :) I disturb rarely) I just do enough laundry as it is.

(These reusable pads can be purchased here)

I would think you would have to purchase a bunch for starters unless you plan on doing a lot of washing. They also bring to mind a lot of questions. Do they leak? What are they made of on the inside? With Tampons what about toxic shock is the rate higher or lower?

(These Panty Liners can be found here)

I know that reusable diapers have made a real come back do you think reusable tampons and pads will go the same route? Will we all be wearing designer reusable pads in the future? 

There is another reusable option that has been around for a while with less laundry involved. 

The menstrual cup. It's reusable. Pretty simple. A menstrual cup is a flexible cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual fluid. Unlike tampons and pads, the cup collects menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it. They are usually made from medical grade silicone which is a safe and hypoallergenic material. Menstrual cups are more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly than tampons, as they are reusable, and can be used for up to 5-10 years. They have greater capacity than tampons, and can be emptied every 12 hours, unlike pads and tampons which require more frequent changing. A woman need only wear the one cup and clean and empty it at the end of the day rather than carrying several pads or tampons. By keeping menstrual fluid away from the vaginal walls and vulva and unexposed to air, menstrual cups have less odor associated with their use than with the use of tampons or pads. When using a menstrual cup, the menstrual fluid is collected away from the cervix and held in liquid form as opposed to it been absorbed and held in semi-coagulated form against the cervix as is the case with tampons. (Thanks to wikipedia for that informative review :) They generally come in two sizes one for women who have had kids or are over 30 and kidless chicks and under 30. 

I have yet to use one, they can be quite expensive around 30-60$ But they do last 5-10 years so you save a ton of money in the long run since the average woman spends about 20$ a month on her period.

My girlfriend has one a loves it so I asked her some questions. Do they leak? Nope she has not had one leak at all. Are they hard to put in? Nope pretty easy just fold and insert, the package show you how. Can you feel them? No more than a tampon would. When you take them out do they spill? Never has that issue at all they are more clean than using pads or tampons she swears. 

I'm still unsure about the whole reusable period items, but I would try them especially the cup since I trust my friends opinion and she swears they are awesome. 

How about you? Have you tried any of these items? Would you? What is your opinion? Would love to see your comments below. .....Maybe I'll make some Star Wars reusable pads and see how they sell :) 

Awesome Finds: Two awesome finds & Coupons to try!!!

Awesome Finds:  Two awesome finds & Coupons to try!!!

 Today I have two awesome finds I'm super excited to share! 

The first is Vitasoy organic mint chocolate. LOVE it. You can have it hot like hot mint chocolate or cold. You would not believe how much it tastes like thin mints the chocolate disks you can buy. SO amazingly good but also vegan, lactose Free, and organic! I bought mine at Dominion but you should be able to find it at most grocery stores for about $2. It was on the shelf with the soy milk and I printed a coupon for it! You can get the coupon here for both Canada & the US

The second Awesome Find is gardein brand barbeque riblets. If you have ever tried McDonalds McRibs you know how good they are. We'll these taste just like the McRib. I put mine on a bun and it's McRib all over again. The only complaint I have about these is that there is sooooo much sauce. I drain the pack before placing them on my buns. You get two in a pack individually wrapped for about 5$ These are McRib without the meat. You can sign up for their page and get coupons here.

Please post a comment below if you have ever used these products and let us know what you think, we would love to know if you think these are an Awesome Find too!!

GIVE AWAY!! Squeaky Clean

We are having a Give Away!!

To celebrate our new All Purpose Cleaning Product we are having a Give Away!! Just like our Facebook page to enter for a chance to win a bottle of our new All Purpose Peppermint Cleaning Solution. If you already like our page you can share this post to have your name added. Winner will be drawn random tomorrow evening. I am so excited to add this to our list of all natural cleaning supplies. It not only works awesome, it's all natural and it smells like peppermint!! 

(Squeaky Clean Line of Cleaning Products can be found here)

Awesome Finds: ART: Terry Smith

Awesome Finds: ART: Terry Smith

 I am a HUGE fan of art. All art. Outsider art, folk art, classic, you name it I love it. So when I first came across Terry Smith's pieces I knew I had to have one. Terry's pieces are not only beautiful but so affordable. Which is fantastic for an art lover with a tight budget like myself. 

 (Yellow Birch 11" x 8" Water colour Print Limited Edition 250 $30)

Terry has been making art in one form or another for 30 years or more. Starting out with sketching and eventually becoming a graphic artist. She also is an avid photographer and more recently an amazing painter.

 (Jellybean Dreams 9" x 7" Water colour Print, Limited Edition 250, $25)

When asked to tell a little about her art she says,

"I paint images that touch me in some way, inspire me to want to paint it. I'm probably more attracted to nature than anything. Each one takes quite a few hours and days, so it has to be interesting enough to me to hold my attention. With the graphics, I do commissions and free-lance, but not with the fine art, it would take the joy out of it for me. I do them for me. They're good for my soul. I also find I learn something about each subject as I paint or sketch, because I'm really looking at it, find new details I missed at first glance."

(Ship's In, 8" x 11" Water colour Print, Limited Edition 250, $30)

What does the future look like for Terry? 

  She is hoping to pursue a fine arts degree with a major in painting. "I'd really like to immerse myself in it for a time, learn, learn... and try different mediums." She says. 

I can see big things happening for Terry in the future and look forward to seeing all her new pieces.I love Terry's pieces and have one hanging in my home, every time I pass it I stop and enjoy the smile it brings to my day. If you are an art lover I highly recommend visiting her facebook page to see her other amazing paintings and her photography. Now is the perfect time to pick up one of her pieces as well before she becomes super famous and expensive :) 

To visit Terry's Facebook page you can go here and enjoy this Awesome Find.

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I was in no way paid in any form to write this review. It's a sharing of an Awesome Find that deserves mentioning.

REUSE: If Life Gives You Lemons Clean Your Coffee Maker!

REUSE: If Life Gives You Lemons Clean Your Coffee Maker!

  A big part of being "Greener" and self reliant is using what you have and reusing what you would throw out. You know you can reuse bottles and containers for other purposes but you can also reuse food. Here are some uses for lemon peel you may not have discovered yet that will help you get as much as you can out of that traditional throw away. (You can apply these to pretty much any citrus peel)

Lemons are fantastic cleaners, and you can reuse those peels in so many ways:

** Clean a dirty coffee pot by adding ice, salt, and lemon rinds and swirling around for a few minutes. Rinse and you are ready to go.

** Clean your tea pot just fill with water throw in your lemon peels and boil. Once boiled let it sit for a few hours and rinse out.

** Clean your microwave, just fill a bowl 1/2 full throw in a few lemon peels and heat for a few minutes then remove bowl and wipe.

** Clean your sink. Take that used lemon half and rub your sink with it, rinse and wipe dry. You can also add a few drops of vegetable oil on a cloth once dry to give your sink a shine. 

** Natural Insect repelant. Most insects and cats hate lemon, place your peel on window sills and and anywhere insects may break into your home to keep them at bay. 

** Keep brown sugar soft. Just add a piece of peel (No pulp) to keep it soft.

** Fade age spots. Apply a small piece to the spot and leave it on for an hour.

** Add a little baking soda into a used 1/2 lemon and place your elbow inside to soften dry elbows, just leave for about 10 minutes turning the lemon every minute or so. Rinse and dry.

** Make a sugar scrub by chopping up the peel into fine pieces and adding sugar and vegetable oil to make a super body scrub for the shower. (Plus you'll smell all lemony :) 

I didn't go into the zest or candied peel options but they are awesome too :) Do you have any other uses for citrus peel not posted here. We would love to read them in our comment section.

Make It: Homemade Natural Beauty Products

Make It: Homemade Natural Beauty Products

  No time or option to get beauty products from a local artisan but still want all natural products? You could buy store brand organic products and spend a fortune or buy regular brands and embrace the chemicals Or you could Make It Yourself!! :)

Natural Beauty Recipes

Herbal Shampoo for Oily Hair

• 2 tbsp. dry peppermint
• 2 tbsp. dry spearmint
• 1 tbsp. dried sage
• 1 cup water
• 2/3 cup baby shampoo

Combine herbs and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs and mix the baby shampoo with the herbal water. Pour into an empty, used shampoo bottle.

Dandruff Treatment

• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2/3 cup boiling water
• 2/3-cup cider vinegar

Place the herbs in the bowl. Pour in the boiling water. Cover and allow to steep for 20 minutes.Strain into the bottle, add the vinegar, and shake. Store in a cool dry place. Shampoo and rinse the hair thoroughly; massage a small amount into the scalp. Between shampoos, massage in a small amount before going to bed. This can help eliminate dandruff.

Chamomile Shampoo

• 1 handful fresh or dried chamomile flowers
• 1 3/4 cup boiling water
• 3 tablespoons pure soap flake, OR save leftover pieces of soap.
• 1-tablespoon glycerin

Place the flowers in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Let stand for 15 minutes, then strain into the other bowl.Clean the first bowl. Combine the soap and hot infusion in it. Let stand until the soap softens - a few minutes. Beat in the glycerin until well blended. Pour the mixture into the bottle. Keep in a cool dark place.

Fruit Conditioner

• 1 avocado (peeled and mashed)
• 1 cup coconut milk

Combine mashed avocado with some coconut milk. Mash together until it's smooth and about as thick as shampoo. Comb it through the hair and let sit for 10 -15 minutes, wash out.

Banana Conditioner

• 1 ripe banana
• Few drops of almond oil

Massage into your hair and then allow to work its wonders for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and then shampoo and condition as usual.

Rosemary Conditioner

• Rosemary essential oil

Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the palms of your hands, work through out your entire hair.

Homemade Hair Spray

• 1 lemon or orange
• 2 cups water

Chop one lemon (or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with 2 cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce rubbing alcohol as a preservative and then the spray can be stored for up to two weeks unrefridgerated.

Homemade Hair Gel

• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon unflavored vegetable based gelatin
• 1 cup warm water

Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would a purchased gel.

Whip up these natural beauty recipes and give yourself the "spa" treatment without ever leaving home.

From: www.allsands.com/Fashion/naturalbeauty_wwy_gn.htm

Homemade Rinse: For shiny hair, rinse with cider vinegar; one half cup to every quart of water. If natural highlights are what you're looking for, use chamomile tea, or make your own rinse by steeping chamomile flowers in hot water, then strain. Remove build up caused by hair sprays and other products with a rinse of Witch Hazel. Whichever one you use, make sure you catch the liquid in a bowl if you want to rinse your hair more than once.

Facial: A refreshing facial is as simple as pouring boiling water over chamomile flowers in a bowl. Just hold your face a few inches above the water and let the steam work its magic. (You can do this, and then later use the liquid for your hair.)  

Astringent: If you need an astringent after your facial, Witch Hazel is an all-natural one that can still be bought for about one half of what the name brands cost.

Baths: For an all over beauty treatment, relax in a tub full of water with one half cup of powdered milk, which acts as a skin softener. To make your beauty bath do double duty, add a cheesecloth or muslin bag filled with your favorite herbs. Soothing herbs are chamomile flowers and rose flowers. For a stimulating bath, you can use basil, bay, rosemary, or thyme. Sage and strawberry leaves relieve aching muscles and joints. Or, you can make a cleansing body scrub with a handful of oatmeal and two teaspoons of sea salt.

--from http://styles101.homestead.com/hrecipes.html

Herbal Ingredient List:

• Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff
• Catmint: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
• Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair
• Flannel Mullein: lightens hair
• Goosegrass: tonic and cleansing, helps prevent dandruff
• Henna: red hair dye and conditioner
• Horsetail: non-fertile stems and branches strengthens the hair
• Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases
• Lime: flowers clean and softens
• Marigold: lightens hair color
• Nasturtium: for hair growth
• Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
• Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair
• Rhubarb: the root makes a yellow hair dye
• Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair
• Southernwood: encourages hair growth and helps prevent dandruff
• Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
• Witch Hazel: leaves and bark are astringent and cleanses oily hair

 WooHoo Stay at home spa day and since you don't have to drive bring on those drinks and pamper yourself :)

Would Love your comments :)

MAKE IT: Duck Tape Wallet

MAKE IT: Duck Tape Wallet

So Ive been seeing these duck tape wallets around and thought they were neat and looked pretty easy to make. I gave it a shot and they are really easy to make. What you need: Roll duck tape & sharp scissors.

1. Cut a strip of duct tape 8.5 inches (22cm) in length or more and place it sticky-side up.

2. Cut a second piece of equal length and place it sticky-side down, covering half of the first piece lengthwise. The other half of this new piece will now be sticking to the flat surface.

3. Fold the sticky part of the first strip down over the second.

 4.Flip the two strips over and place a third strip sticky-side down to cover the remaining sticky part of the second strip. Once again, the other half of this new piece will now be sticking to the flat surface.

5.Continue flipping and extending the width of your duct-tape sheet until it measures at least 7 inches (18cm) from top to bottom not including the sticky edge.

 6. Fold the last sticky edge over and trim the edges so that the sheet is a rectangle of 7 by 8 inches (18 x 20cm). This will make your wallet approximately 3.5 inches (9cm) from top to bottom.

7. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and tape the two sides closed to create a large pocket. Your crease should run in the same direction as the lines of the tape. This pocket is where you will place your bills.

8. Fold the pocket in half and press to make a folding crease.

9. Personalize as you like at this point. I added card pockets by cutting two pieces of tape and sticking them together and taping the sides to the wallet repeating three times overlapping. For my picture pocket I made a square like the initial wallet but smaller then folded and cut a center square and taped three sides to the wallet leaving an opening to slide the pic inside.

That's it your done. I'm thinking about picking up some of the fun duck tape they now make, skulls, pink, camo and making a few of these for my Etsy store

I gave this one to my son who keeps loosing his wallets, he loved it :)

FOOD: What-Ever-You-Got Cake

FOOD: What-Ever-You-Got Cake

   So in an attempt to reduce waste especially food waste I came up with this super simple recipe to use all your soon going bad or left over fruits and veges or anything you may want to throw in it :) You can then eat it immediately or freeze it for later. No more throwing out fruit and Veges, always good. 

Ingredients: First you will need the basic cake supplies, these stay the same no matter what you put into it.

 2 cups flour      3/4cup sugar (White or brown)  1 tsp baking powder  1 tsp B.Soda  1/2 tsp salt  2 eggs or substitute  2/3 cup oil. 

Mix the above items in a big bowl. Then it's the fun part go look in the fridge and counter and see what you need to eat now or throw out. I had carrots, pineapple, and 1/2 can fruit cup. You will add in total 1 1/2 cups of your "Need to eat" food. 

I purred my fruit but you do not have to at all it's up to you. I then grated my peeled carrots and added them too.

Greece and Flour (Just rub some butter or oil all over the inside of the pan, remove excess, pour a little flour in the pan moving the pan to cover all sides in flour then hold upside down over your sink and give a few good taps to get excess flour off. No more cakes sticking to pans) then pour in your mix.

Put a pan with water in it on your bottom rack, then add your cake to the rack above. You should have your oven at 350 degrees and it should bake for about 25 minutes.

 

Top with jam or whip cream or icing or butter or plain, whatever you want. Sit back get a cup of tea/coffee and enjoy a slice feeling good about not throwing out food. :)

If you make this cake would love to know what you used in yours and how it turned out in the comments section below.

Awesome Find: Earth Origin Shoes

Awesome Find: Earth Origin Shoes

  I want to talk about shoes (I can feel my sisters ears perk up :) Specifically Earth Origin brand shoes.

I'm not a big brand name person or a big shoe person. I go through so many shoes I could never afford to be. I am awful on shoes, I wear them to death and they die young. I wear them from the moment I wake up until I go to bed at night and I have a bad habit of not wearing socks. They die. I hate not having something on my feet and since I have a massive (insert frustrating, loud, "thank God she's pretty") dog I have to go outside a lot so slippers do not cut it. I have had many brands over the years and of all the brands I have tried  Earth Origin has been the absolute best, Dr. Sholls comes in as a close second. 

  They are the most comfortable thing I have ever put on my feet. They even help my hips and lower back when I wear them. Little did I know when I bought them they do that on purpose. It seems they have a science behind them. They have Negative Heel Technology. 

  What is Negative Heel Technology? They have inclined soles which ensure your toes will be placed higher than your heels when you walk. Your center of gravity does not change and you carry your weight on your heels, this is said how you should carry your weight.

  What does that do? Well it removes back, feet and calve pain. There is also numerous reports that these shoes help you loose weight! (I swear I had no idea about the weight thing when I bought them but WOOHOO!!) They say these shoes will tighten your feet muscles, firm thighs, and burn calories. The same way as you would walking uphill or on an incline. I don't know about all that but they feel like you are bare foot so that's awesome.

   Not only do these shoes feel awesome they hold up. They are made with strong leather so despite my constant wearing they have lasted more than any other shoe. They also have a biodegradable synthetic sole which is pretty awesome. 

  If you are looking for a new pair of shoes why not try them, they are really affordable and an awesome find.  You can find them here

If you have Earth Origin shoes or any experience with them please comment. 

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I was not paid in anyway for this review these are just my personal opinions on an awesome product.

In The Garden: Organic Natural Insecticides

So I am going to try and grow a vegetable garden this year (Yes it's winter I'm thinking ahead :) at least a herb garden for sure and I want to use all natural insecticides. So I've been looking around and this is the best list I have found. If you have any more not listed please add them to the comment section. You have got to admit thinking about gardening is making you feel and warm and sunshiny despite the draft coming through your back door :)

Each also lists the insects it kills and what plants to use them on.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR AN HOMEMADE ALL PURPOSE INSECTICIDE SPRAY

Information provided by http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/natural-pesticides.html a pretty awesome site.

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

1 quart liquid soap

Mix directly into a spray container. Do not spray in direct sunlight as leaf damage may occur. Spray, then let sit for 20 minutes. Spray plant down with clear water to reduce foliage damage. Spray every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Alcohol sprays is effective on aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, thrips and whiteflies.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE CHAMOMILE SPRAY

This spray is used to prevent the damping off of seedlings and powdery mildew. Take 1 cup chamomile leaves and place in a non-metal bowl. Add 3 cups of boiling water and allow to steep until cool. Strain. Dilute with equal parts of mixture to water.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE GARLIC SPRAY

This organic pest control is useful against sucking insects and some caterpillars.

90 g chopped garlic cloves

2 T mineral oil or liquid paraffin

15 g of pure soap or soap flakes

500 ml warm water.

Mix garlic and oil together and let is steep for 48 hours. Dissolve grated soap or flakes in warm water and then mix the 2 solutions together and then strain. Use 1 part mixture to 50 parts water. Spray as usual.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE LANTANA SPRAY

In some countries lantana has been banned as it is seen as a noxious weed. However, this organic spray is effective against aphids.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A  HOMEMADE MILK SPRAY

This homemade insecticide is effective against the tiny red spider mite.

1/2 cup buttermilk

4 cups flour

20 L water

Mix the buttermilk with the flour and then add the water. Spray over a 2 day period to make sure that the infestation has been successfully been eradicated.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE MUSTARD SPRAY

If you find that your plants have scale this is the organic insecticide for you. Take one 1 tablespoon ground mustard seeds and add 20 parts of water to the seeds. Place in a sprayer and spray the affected plant.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE NASTURTIUM SPRAY

This natural pest control is effective against woolly aphids Mix 1 cup nasturtium leaves with 1 cup of water. Simmer together on top of stove in an old pot for about 15 minutes. Cool and strain. Dilute with equal parts mixture to water. Spray where needed.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE NICOTINE SPRAY

1 cup liquid dish soap

1 cup antiseptic mouthwash

1 cup chewing tobacco juice (Place 3 fingers of chewing tobacco in an old nylon stocking and soak in a gallon of hot water until mixture turns dark brown.)

Put mixture into a 20 gallon sprayer and fill the rest of the container with warm water. Spray on vegetables every alternate week.

Here's another recipe:

Take a handful of pipe or rolling tobacco into a gallon of water. Give it a stir and leave it for 24 hours. Then dilute it until it is a pale brown color. Spray the solution on to the affected plants, and you will find that any aphids on your plants will die off very quickly.

Important: Do not spary on potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, egg plants or any other members of the Solanaceae family, as the tobacco spray will kill them too.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE OIL SPRAY

Oil is great for suffocating the eggs and insects, especially in winter when the eggs are more porous at this time, and the oil more effective as a method of getting rid of a variety of pests. However, use only in winter, or when the temperatures are below 25°C. Any higher and the oil will burn the leaves.

1 kg soap

8 L oil

Combine oil and soap and boil until it dissolves. Dilute with 20 times the volume of water. It doesn't store well, so should be used immediately. Oil spray is effective against ants, aphids, leafhoppers, squash bugs and whiteflies.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE ONION AND CHILI SPRAY

This homemade insecticide and pesticide is very effective against any leaf-eating insects and has a limited effect against most scale and hard-surfaced pests such as shield bugs.

4 bird's eye chilies, chopped (or as hot as you can find)

4 large onions, chopped

2 bulbs garlic, chopped

2 L soapy water

Combine all the ingredients, including the seeds from the chilies. Cover with the soapy water and allow to steep for 24 hours. Strain. Add water to dilute if required and spray. Can be stored in a sealed container in a dark place for up to 2 weeks.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE PYRETHRUM SPRAY

Pyrethrum and neem are by far the most effective natural insecticides around and miticide there is and kills most aphids, cabbage loopers, celery leaf tiers, codling moth, Colarado potato beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, stink bugs, several species of thrips, tomato pinworms, and whiteflies, flies, gnats, mosquitoes and midgies.

As soon as insects come into contact with the spray, they will die, attacking the nervous system. Pyrethrum is an African flowering plant from the chrysanthemum family and is deadly to most insects. However, because it is not systemic and is destroyed by UV light, it is not deadly to mammals and can be safely sprayed on vegetables and fruit when picked 12-48 hours after application. Unfortunately, it is also deadly to good bugs as well, so use with care and only spray on heavily infested plants as a last resort.

Spray both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, because spray must directly contact the insects such as thrips that hide in leaf sheaths and crevices. Spray in cooler temperatures as it is more effective then, evening or late afternoon being ideal. Never use pyrethrin products around waterways and ponds. And for those of you who have dermatitis, asthma and sinus you may have an allergic reaction when using pyrethrum.

Grow your own pyrethrum from seed, which can be bought from your local seedman and use the flowers that are in full bloom. The active ingredient is found in the immature seed. Cut them off early in the morning and hang upside down to dry and leave in a well-ventilated dark place to dry. Light will cause the plant to lose its potency. When dried, grind with a pestle and mortar until you have a fine powder.

Mix 10 gm of pyrethrum powder to 3 litres of water. Let stand for 3 hours in a dark place. Add 1 teaspoon of dish washing liquid as a fixative just before use.

You can also steep your flowers in a jar filled with boiling water, and apply after it has cooled down.

However, the best way is to cover the flowers in a container with brandy, although kerosene and mineral oil will also work but not as well. Leave this mixture overnight keeping it away from any light. Strain the liquid and use 1 part liquid to 6 parts water.

To store your flowers place them in a freezer up to 6 months and use accordingly.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE RHUBARB SPRAY

This is a very effective general spray that is extremely poisonous, however unfortunately it is also poisonous to bees so use with care, and keep out of reach of children.

Boil 1.5 kg rhubarb leaves in 3.5 L of water, straining and bottling. Dissolve 100 g soft soap in 2 L of hot water and add to the leaf mixture when cold.

Use only on ornamental shrubs, and flowers, but NEVER use on herbs or vegetables.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE SOAP SPRAY

This is useful against aphids and some caterpillars.

56 g of soap flakes or pure grated soap mixed with 5 L of hot water, which must be cooled before use.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE SUGAR SPRAY

This organic spray control is effective against nematodes. Dissolve 2 kg sugar in a bucket of water. Drench the soil to kill nematodes. Molasses can also be used, but don't use honey as this may transmit disease back to the bees.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE TOMATO LEAF SPRAY

2 cups of chopped tomato leaves

2 pints of water

1/4 tsp of liquid soap

Soak tomato leaves in water overnight. Strain this mixture then add another pint of water and liquid soap. Spray foliage and soil as needed. This spray is effective against asparagus beetles and flea beetles, ear-worms and maggots.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR A HOMEMADE WHITE OIL SPRAY

White Oil can be purchased at your local gardening store at great expense. Or, you can make your own homemade white oil at a fraction of the cost using the same simple ingredients!

This is effective against scale. Pour a cup of cooking oil and a few drops of washing-up detergent into a 1 L plastic bottle.

Add 1/2 cup of water and shake well. Pour 250 ml into a 9 L bucket of water and mix.

Spray the mixture over and under infested leaves. Use on a cloudy day. The oil can burn the leaves if you live in a country with high temperatures.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR HOMEMADE WORMWOOD SPRAY

Wormwood is effective against fleas, flies, moths, mosquitoes, aphids and snails.

Collect large amount of wormwood leaves and cover with a bucket of boiling water. Steep for 3 hours. Dilute, using 1 part mixture to 4 parts water. Allow to cool before using.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GETTING RID OF FLEAS

Add a little sulfur to the dog's drinking water. Another method is to put 1/2 cup vinegar into the final rinsing water of your dog's bath water. Another is to boil a large quantity of mint leaves in 2 L of water. Strain and cool. After washing and rinsing the dog, pour the cooled mint solution over the dog and allow him to dry off naturally. Any fleas that remain will leave immediately.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GETTING RID OF FRUIT FLIES

The best way to do this is to set up fruit fly traps in the orchard. These can be made out of jam jars, or old ice cream containers and then strung up in the tree boughs.

A Homemade Fly Trap Recipe:

Prepare 300g pulped oranges, 15 g ammonium carbonate (purchase from the chemist), and add 600 ml water. Mix and fill jars or buckets with the bait.

Natural pest control is always better than toxic insecticides and pesticides as they usually only target the pest at hand, and are not harmful to bees and other useful insects.

ORGANIC PESTICIDES AND NATURAL INSECTICIDES FOR GREENHOUSE PESTS

Kill off those unwanted greenhouse pests using laurel leaves. Bash up some laurel leaves so that you bruise them well. Leave them like that in bowls in either your greenhouse or your coldframes overnight. 

The bruised laurel leaves give off prussic acid gases which is deadly to most small insects.

Hope this helps looking forward to sharing all my backyard farm experiences with you this summer :)