♥Harvest Home Farm♥

Sunday, March 11, 2012

New pics of animals on the farm and at work this Spring!

Our new pup Tanner: a Heeler/Border Collie Mix

A few new chicks: Red Laced Blue Wyandottes and Sicilian Buttercups

Mixed Bantams

Ameraucanas and Black Australorps

Baby Ducklings...

Fresh Summery Scented Bedding Year Round: {Tip Sheet}

http://tipnut.com/scented-bedding/

Winters are pretty cold here in Canada so windows are kept shut and clotheslines hang empty for months, but there are a few tricks us Northerners have that help us enjoy fresh, fragrant bedding year round (with no nasty chemicals or expensive laundry products).

Beat Those Stale Winter Blues With These Tips

One of the things I miss most in winter is flinging open the bedroom window, stripping the bedding back and letting nature freshen up my bed linens naturally with sun and fresh air. But this list offers options that are just as easy and will provide a fragrance filled sleep year-round.
Herbal Lavender Dryer Bags
Try these easy to make dryer bags filled with lavender buds, they provide a natural moth repellent, sleep aid and a natural antibacterial.

You’ll find the instructions posted here on Tipnut: How To Make Lavender Dryer Bags

Perfect for lavender scented bedding, these are very easy to make and Bonus! you can skip the commercial dryer sheets when combined with a vinegar rinse (1/4 to 1/2 cup per load).
Easy Trick Using Essential Oils

Directions: Fill a small spray bottle with water then add several drops of essential oil (lavender, mint, whatever you like). Shake then spray a clean white washcloth with the water/EO solution until lightly damp, toss in the dryer with the wet laundry. Scent will transfer to the bedding, lovely!

Lavender Buds Vinegar Rinse
Use this recipe for making a lavender vinegar suitable to use as a laundry rinse and fabric softener (as listed here on Tipnut: Lavender Vinegar Recipes):

Handful of Lavender Flowers and 1 Pint White Vinegar
Directions: Combine lavender and vinegar, seal and let sit for 6 weeks before using. Strain. Use about 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle, increase up to 1 cup per load if stronger scent is desired.

Scented Vinegar Rinse (Essential Oils)
Use this recipe (as listed here on Tipnut: Frugral Fabric Softener Recipes & Dryer Sheet Tips):

Using 1/4 cup vinegar in your laundry’s rinse cycle keeps clothes soft. You can set aside a vinegar jug just for laundry and add about 2 dozen drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar if you’d like (or as much EO as you feel necessary).

Scented Laundry Booster
Directions:

Fill a plastic container with baking soda then add a few drops of essential oil to preference (start with about 2 drops per cup). Stir well with a wooden stick or spoon (not one used for cooking). Seal the container and set aside for two weeks.
After two weeks use it as a laundry booster (1/2 cup per load in the wash or rinse cycle–your choice). Do not add any commercial fabric softener.

Homemade Scented Fabric Softener
The fragrance is light once bedding has dried and you can increase the amount of essential oils if it isn’t strong enough for you. Choose your favorite scents and add 1/2 to 1 cup of this mixture at the start of the rinse cycle:

1 cup baking soda, 1 1/4 cups warm water, 8 cups white vinegar, Essential Oils of your choice.

Tips & Tricks

Mattress & Linen Freshener

Using your blender, grind until fine 1/2 cup of dried herbs (try mint, lavender, lemon balm, etc.).
Mix ground herbs with 1/2 cup baking soda.
Sprinkle mixture lightly over mattress pad or cover then top with clean fitted sheet.
Spread mixture more heavily on top half of bed where upper body rests to enjoy a consistent fragrance.

Here’s another recipe you can try…
Pixie Dust
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp ground orange zest (dried)
10 drops of your favorite essential oil

Blend all ingredients together in a blender then pour into a large shaker. Sprinkle on bed linens as needed.

Scented Starch For Linens
You can substitute the lavender EO in this recipe for any fragrance you like. Recipe Source: Storybook Woods:

Dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in 1 pint cold water. Add 6 drops of lavender essential oil. Place in a spray bottle. Shake before using.

Fresh pressed linens, nicely starched, and lavender scent wafting in the air. Nice!
Homemade Linen Sprays

Source: Hallmark Magazine

Combine vodka (which is also a disinfectant), distilled water and fragrant oils to make these lovely linen sprays. Here are three easy to mix recipes from Hallmark Magazine (no longer available online):
Pour 2 TBS 100 proof vodka into a 16 or 32-ounce spray bottle then add the following:

Jasmine Bergamot: 1 teaspoon jasmine oil and 1/2 teaspoon bergamot oil
Lavender Sandalwood: 1 teaspoon lavender oil and 1/2 teaspoon sandalwood oil
Vanilla Ginger: 1 teaspoon vanilla oil and 2 drops ginger oil

Directions: Top the vodka and oils with distilled water, cap and shake to mix. Spray linens as needed, shaking bottle lightly before each use.
Herbal Sleep Pouches

Insert the herbal pouch inside your pillowcase at night to help relax and fall asleep easier. To help the herbs last longer, store the pouch in a ziploc bag during the day and place in a drawer out of light, take out and insert in your pillowcase each night. Squeezing the pouch a bit before use will help too.
Details to make these herbal pouches can be found here on Tipnut: Homemade Herbal Sleep Pouches. These are also called “Dream Pillows”.

Linen Closet Sachets

Directions: Mix 50/50 dried lavender and lemon balm and fill cotton fabric or cheesecloth sachets. Tuck sachets into clean folded linens. These will scent the linens while being stored and can be used repeatedly. Lavender and lemon balm together is a very calming and relaxing mix, perfect for bed linens.

Sleep Easy Suggestions

When scenting your bed linens, it’s tempting to overdo it since you’re likely choosing your favorite fragrances. However, a light application is preferable since headaches and stuffiness may occur if fragrances are too strong (you’ll be sleeping on the linens for hours at a time). Strong smells may also keep you awake rather than ease you into a peaceful sleep.
What To Use
Choose scents that are pleasing to you and help you relax rather than those that perk you up. Your sleep will be more peaceful and less restless. This is especially helpful for those suffering from insomnia or who have regular trouble falling asleep. Some suggestions:

Lavender
Lemon Balm
Lilac
Rose Petals
Peppermint

Peaceful Sleep Mixes
Lavender is commonly recommended as a home remedy for sleep since it’s thought to be effective in inducing a calm and peaceful rest. It’s also suggested as an excellent repellent for dust mites, so it’s a great choice for linens. Most of the mixes I have collected include lavender…

Lavender, Lemon Balm
Lavender, Rose Petals
Lavender, Rose Petals, Thyme, Rosemary
Lavender, Rose Petals, Jasmine
Lavender, Peppermint
Lavender, Lilac
Rose Petals, Lemon Balm, Chamomile

When using dried herbs and flowers to fill sachets and sleep pillows or scent bedding, choose those that are pesticide free for best results. Here are several sachet patterns and tutorials to get you started.

Chicken wire + frame = no more lost earrings!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urban-Homesteading-Is-A-Way-Of-Life-Not-A-Copyright/189756707725969

Plastic Milk Bottle Plant Containers!

A great GARDENING project for KIDS! Plastic milk bottle = FUN plant container! Here's How! http://ow.ly/9A4wh

Leaving Your Fresh Eggs Out to Enjoy!!!

Don't hide your pretty eggs in the frig. Leave them right out on the counter in a basket or bowl. As long as you don' wash them (the natural 'bloom' is what keeps out air and bacteria), they will keep for several weeks unrefrigerated. If you're unsure if they're still safe to eat, just pop one into a glass of water. Toss any floaters, the rest are fine.

http://www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily

And folks, don't "wash" your eggs with mineral oil or other cleaners. Eggs are very porous and will absorb easily. If they are dirty, a little warm water and a bit of olive oil will keep them nice. Whatever you put on them will absorb into the egg! They have their own natural protectant with the shell :) (Trish)

Cute Outdoor Chalkboard!

We LOVE the idea of an OUTDOOR chalkboard! This one is DARLING! Here's How! ♥♥♥ http://ow.ly/9A2ay

Dying Easter Eggs...Naturally

http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/03/dying-easter-eggsnaturally.html

Dying Easter Eggs...Naturally

It's almost Easter. And Easter means colored eggs. Of course if you have some colored egg-laying chickens, you don't need to worry about dying eggs for Easter, but since this is our first spring having white duck eggs, I wanted to try some. I decided to experiment with natural ingredients for the dyes instead of using either food coloring or Kool-aid.

Its was so easy and the results were glorious as you can see !

Here's the method that I used and then some suggestions for ingredients to use to achieve an assortment of beautifully dyed eggs. The beauty of this method is that you hard boil and color the eggs in one step.

I started with a bowl of white duck eggs (although you can use white chicken or goose eggs also) and rinsed them in warm water, scrubbing gently to remove the bloom.

Then I placed a few eggs in a small pot in a single layer and covered them with water, adding 1 Tablespoon white vinegar per Cup of water, along with whatever I was using as coloring agent, brought the mixture to a boil and then simmered for 15-20 minutes, checking the color intensity after 10 minutes.

~eggs simmering in onion skins~

~eggs simmering in beets/stalks~

When I had achieved the desired color, I removed the eggs gently and placed them in a plastic egg carton to dry. I poured the remaining water mixture (except the onions,coffee grounds and wine) into a large bowl to give to the chickens when I was done.

When the eggs were dry, I rubbed each with a cotton ball dipped in cooking oil and then buffed gently with a clean paper towel to give them a beautiful shine.

These are the colors I got from various common food items:

CRANBERRY JUICE/CRANBERRIES ~ PINK

I didn't use any water, but instead covered the eggs with the cranberry juice (fresh or frozen cranberries would also work - I just didn't happen to have any) and added 1T white vinegar per Cup of juice to get a nice rosy pink.

BEETS & STALKS ~ BEIGE

I added two sliced fresh beets and stalks to enough water to cover the eggs (canned beets would also work) for a beige color.

ONION SKINS ~ ORANGE

Onion skins produced an orangish color. One egg came out after about 10 minutes, the others I left in for 20 minutes for a contrast in colors. (I discarded the skins when I was done)

TURMERIC~YELLOW

I added a few Tablespoons of turmeric to the water and white vinegar for cheery yellow eggs.

SPINACH~GREEN

A handful of fresh spinach leaves added to the water/vinegar produced pale green eggs.

BLUEBERRIES~BLUE

Fresh blueberries, mashed and added to the water and vinegar produced gorgeous blue eggs.

RED WINE ~PURPLE

Again, no water, just boiled the eggs in wine and added 1T white vinegar per Cup of wine

(the wine I discarded when I was done) and got a pretty purplish color.

COFFEE~TAN/BROWN

I brewed a pot of strong coffee, putting the eggs right into the carafe while the coffee was brewing, and then leaving them to steep for 10 minutes for the lighter tan and 20 minutes for the darker color. I discarded the coffee when I was done.

I ended up with a beautiful assortment of naturally dyed eggs ...

and the chickens got a nice fruit and veggie soup mix to enjoy.

Try these ideas or others - such as pomagranites, carrots, or other types of greens.

Happy Easter ...

from the Ducks !

~stock photo~

You can also use blown eggs so they will last indefinitely.

Purchase Hand Blown White Duck or Multi-Colored Chicken Eggs Here !

Colorful Tire Planters

Keeping the tires out of our landfills.
Love the fun color!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cottage-House/113774165340147

Chicken Salad Seed Mix ~ For Your Chickens!!!

"Our seed kit is for those of you who love to spoil your flock. Sow the seeds and, 4 to 8 weeks later, let your flock loose on them -- these are p...lants chickens especially love to eat! You can also plant them in containers and clip the greens for your flock. Contains: Dwarf Essex Rape, Purple Top Turnip, Bracco White Mustard, Forage Kale, Landino Clover." - My Pet Chicken

Purchase MPC "Chicken Salad" seed mix here: http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/Chicken-Salad-Seed-Mix-p928.aspx

Spring Cleaning: A Complete Checklist

http://housekeeping.about.com/cs/cleaning101/a/springclnngguid.htm

The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house still feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. What do you need help spring cleaning?

Spring Cleaning Checklists By Room
These tutorials help with spring cleaning for any room. Each tutorial gives a list of steps, tools and supplies needed, and tips to help you get the job done.

Clearing Clutter and Organizing During Spring Cleaning
One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don't need. Use these resources to clear out your stuff. Cleaning will be a lot easier if the clutter is gone.

Getting the Family Involved in Spring Cleaning
If you need a little help in your spring cleaning endeavors, try to get your family involved. Even the most unwilling helper can make a big difference in the work load.

Extra Spring Cleaning Chores
There are some spring cleaning chores that need to be done seasonally. Even though these chores only need to be done once or twice a year, they will help your home run look better and run smoothly.

Products to Use During Spring Cleaning
The cleaning aisles of our stores are stocked full of supplies to help you clean. Find out what supplies you need and which ones you don't.

Maintaining the Spring Cleaning
If you want some ideas to help you maintain the spring cleaning around your home our 15 minute cleanups can keep that spring cleaning feeling around for a long time.

Spring Cleaning

If you do alot of crafts here is a cool way to organize and keep the plastic out of our land fills!

Chicken Broth Muffin Cups - Not What You Think!

http://nomadichomestead.com/chicken-broth-muffin-cups/

Chicken Broth Muffin Cups are one of the easiest ways to keep homemade chicken broth on hand and at the ready. (You didn’t think we were actually making a Chicken Broth Muffin, did you?)

Chicken Broth Muffin Cups (unfrozen)

Pour your homemade chicken broth into a regular muffin pan. Flash freeze for several hours. Remove the pan from the freezer and allow to sit on the counter long enough to loosen the Chicken Broth Cups from the pan. Place all the Chicken Broth Muffin Cups inside a large gallon sized freezer bag. Label it with the contents and date.

Frozen Chicken Broth Muffin Cups (Yes, that is a different pan.)

Each regular sized muffin tin cavity measures 1/4 cup. When a recipe calls for chicken broth, remove the amount needed from the freezer and throw it in frozen. Simple!

5 Easy to Grow Mosquito-Repelling Plants

As the outdoor season approaches, many homeowners and outdoor enthusiasts look for ways to control mosquitoes. With all the publicity about the West Nile virus, mosquito repelling products are gaining in popularity. But many commercial insect repellents contain from 5% to 25% DEET. There are concerns about the potential toxic effects of DEET, especially when used by children. Children who absorb high amounts of DEET through insect repellents have developed seizures, slurred speech, hypotension and bradycardia.
There are new DEET-free mosquito repellents on the market today which offer some relief to those venturing outdoors in mosquito season. But there are also certain plants which are easy to grow and will have some effect in repelling mosquitoes from areas of your home and garden.
Here are five of the most effective mosquito repelling plants which are easy to grow in most regions of the US:

1. Citronella

Citronella is the most common natural ingredient used in formulating mosquito repellents. The distinctive citronella aroma is a strong smell which masks other attractants to mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you. Although citronella is used in many forms, such as scented candles, torches and citronella ‘scented’ plants, the living plant is more effective because it has a stronger smell.
Citronella is a perennial ‘clumping’ grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur. If grown in the garden or near the patio, it should be planted in the ‘background’, behind small decorative flowers and shrubs. In northern climate zones citronella can be grown in a large pot or planter, ideally with casters, so it can be rolled indoors during winter.
Gardening centers usually sell citronella as small plants in pots, ready to transplant to a larger pot or into raised garden beds on the ground. Once established, new plants can be propagated in early spring by splitting large clumps into smaller sections and replanting the new ‘starts’ in pots or other areas of the garden. Citronella plants are considered low maintenance, like most grasses, and they do best in full sun and well-drained locations. Periodic applications of nitrogen-rich fertilizers will ensure vigorous growth, but this treatment only needs to be applied once a year, preferably in early spring.
When purchasing citronella, look for the true varieties, Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus. Other plants may be sold as ‘citronella scented’, but these do not have the mosquito repelling qualities of true citronella.

2. Horsemint

Also known as Beebalm, Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts.
Horsemint is a fast growing, shade-tolerant and drought-resistant plant which reaches a height and width of 2 – 3 feet. It does well in dry, sandy soil and can tolerate salty conditions, which is why it is often found in coastal and beach areas. Horsemint seeds can be sown indoors in trays for later transplanting, or sown directly into the ground in late summer in colder climate zones. Midwest and Eastern growing zones are favoured for growing horsemint.
Mature horsemint plants can be divided in spring and fall by dividing into small sections and transplanting into permanent locations. Horsemint can also be planted in pots for moving indoors in cold climate zones.
Horsemint leaves can be dried and used to make herbal tea. Its flowers will also attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

3. Marigolds

Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some gardeners, find particularly offensive. Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, a compound used in many insect repellents.
Marigolds prefer full sunlight and reasonably fertile soil. Although marigolds can be planted from seed, starter plants are inexpensive and readily available at most garden centers. Although an annual, marigold will often reseed itself in favourable conditions, or the gardener can easily collect seeds for future germination. Established plants will need to be thinned, and flowers should be dead-headed to promote additional blooms.
Potted marigolds can be positioned near entrances to your home and any common mosquito entry points, such as open windows. The smell may deter mosquitoes from going past this barrier. While marigolds can be used as border plants around the patio, we do not advise putting marigolds on the patio table since the bright blooms may attract wasps.
Besides repelling mosquitoes, marigolds repel insects which prey on tomato plants, so you may want to plant a few marigolds in your tomato bed for added protection.

4. Ageratum

Also known as Flossflowers, Ageratum emits a smell which mosquitos find particularly offensive. Ageratum secretes coumarin, which is widely used in commercial mosquito repellents.
Ageratum is a low-lying annual ornamental plant which reaches heights of 8 – 18”, and is easily recognized by its blue flowers, although there are varieties with pink, white and violet blooms. This plant will thrive in full or partial sun and does not require rich soil. It is often displayed in rock gardens where low-lying plants are favoured.
Although the leaves of Ageratum can be crushed to increase the emitted odor, it is not advisable to rub the crushed leaves directly on the skin.

5. Catnip

Catnip is a natural mosquito repellent. In August 2010, entomologists at Iowa State University reported to the American Chemical Society that catnip is ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial insect repellents. According to Iowa State researcher Chris Peterson, the reason for its effectiveness is still unknown. “It might simply be acting as an irritant or they don’t like the smell. But nobody really knows why insect repellents work.”
In the laboratory, Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone, a biologically active characteristic constituent of catnip. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent – about four mosquitoes – remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0%) of the oil. In the low dose test (0.1%) an average of 25% – five mosquitoes – stayed on the treated side. When the same tests were conducted using DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide), approximately 40 to 45% – eight to nine mosquitoes – remained on the treated side. A ten-fold higher concentration of DEET was required to obtain results similar to those of the Catnip.
Catnip, Nepeta cateria, is very easy to grow. This perennial herb is related to mint, and grows readily both as a weed and a commercially cultivated plant in most areas of the US.
While catnip will repel mosquitoes in close proximity to the plant, some people apply crushed catnip leaves or catnip oil for more robust protection. Bear in mind, however, that cats will respond to you similarly as they would respond to the plant itself. Cat owners may want to choose an alternative plant for repelling mosquitoes.
While the plants mentioned in this article have been shown to have mosquito-repelling properties, there are environmental variables that can mitigate their effectiveness. A breeze may direct odors in the opposite direction if advancing mosquitoes, reducing the plant’s effectiveness. New formulations of non-toxic mosquito repellents are commercially available, and are advised for people who want to enjoy the outdoors without the annoyance of persistent mosquitoes.
Visit Eartheasy’s online store to buy non-toxic pest control and mosquito repellent products.
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