2007-Apr-12 - Notes from the Homestead for April 07
“Notes from the
Welcome All, to “Notes from the
I hope this finds you all well and enjoying this beautiful season. We’ve got some fun things in this issue of “Notes” such as getting a jump start of growing your veggies (indoors!) and some great natural cleaners for your spring cleaning!
Enjoy this season and 'til next time….God Bless!
Lisa and Family
~ Bringing a little “haven” to your
From the Editor: Springing to Life
Hello, homesteaders!
I don’t know about you, but here in my neighborhood, the daffodils are blooming and the neighbors are slowly making it out of hibernation. (I mean human neighbors, not bears, thankfully!) Here in the
There are plenty of things to take care of inside the house while I wait for more sunny days, and we have a few ideas for you if you’re suffering from the same situation. If you’re in an area that is ready to plant outdoors, well, we envy you! If you’re still waiting for the spring thaw (or for the rain to let up a smidge so your seedlings aren’t washed away), try starting seedlings indoors now so they are ready to transplant. This issue Lisa will give you a great idea for starting lettuce indoors, and the kids will really get a kick out of it.
You can also take this time to answer questions and make plans for emergencies with the final installment of my emergency preparedness article. Don’t worry; this isn’t the last you’ll see of ideas for being prepared. It will probably lead you into even more ideas, frankly! And while you’re double checking the pantry, the grab ‘n go bags, and the other supplies, you may as well get some spring cleaning done. Want to get away from chemicals and such? Be sure to print out Lisa’s recipes for green cleaning supplies. Don’t fret if you’d rather just make purchases that are non-toxic; in a future issue I’ll share a few of my favorites with those of you who, like me, are still learning to be handy around the kitchen.
Speaking of green cleaning, I think you’re going to be excited about the new offerings Homestead Originals has for you just in time for some spring renewal. Lisa informed me that the new soap scents are now available!
Her favorite is the Lemon Verbena, but I’m thinking the Country Baby (with a hint of pear) sounds scrumptious. Don’t forget the other newbie, Milk Thistle. Don’t they all just smack of spring? I can’t wait to give these a try, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy them too!
Until next month, thank you for letting us bring a little haven to your homestead!
Melonie Kennedy
editor@homesteadoriginals.com
Notes from Homesteaders:
“Lisa- I LOVE this linen spray!!! It is such a yummy scent and it lasts! And the vanilla candle is making my whole room smell great, even unlit.” ~Kendra
“I LOVE these candles! They smell wonderfully. (Sic) I bought several at Christmas time to give as gifts as well as one to keep for myself but when I smelled them, I wanted to keep them all for myself! I feel especially good about the candles NOT having any toxins in them! The jar does not get black and my family is breathing clean, healthy air! Thank you so much for your lovely homemade country candles!” ~Becci Cutting (
Green Spring Cleaning
By Lisa Barthuly
It's SPRINGTIME and that means SPRING CLEANING (no grumbling allowed)! Try some of these natural cleaners to make the job more pleasant and non-toxic:
Dumping Vinegar on weeds on a nice summer day instead of the likes of the chemical weed killer will do the same job without poisoning the ground and getting into our water systems!
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I love this one! Rather than using the chlorine laden can of toilet scrubbing powders…take a pint or quart size canning jar, fill ¾ full of baking soda, put a straw down the middle of the jar into the baking soda…dump in around 20 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (or Tea Tree, Lavender, or
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Lavender essential oil - 20 drops
1 cup Water
In sprayer bottle for a natural antibacterial all purpose cleaner
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1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup borax
Mix in plastic SEALED, LABELED container....GREAT stainless steel kitchen sink cleaner (or dishwasher 'detergent')!
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To keep your drains unclogged pour a 1/4 to 1/2 Cup of Baking Soda down the drain and follow up with a thorough rinse of boiling hot water.
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How about cleaning your windows with an equal solution of water and Vinegar in a Spray bottle--it works great!!
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One of the simplest, yet large differences, I have made to our family’s ‘clean routine’ is laundry soap. Everything we wash touches us in some fashion, and the chemical residue is absorbed into us through our largest organ, our skin. This was one of the first big changes we made some time ago—and it’s been healthier, simple to do, and cheap!
This is a very simple recipe, with great results and I can adjust it as needed for my family. (I tend to add a dash or so more Borax and Washing Soda, as my husband comes home with grease on his clothes more often than not, and Borax and Washing Soda are great degreasers!). It is literally foolproof, because no matter how I’ve messed up the recipe, it’s always gotten our clothes clean J If you look on the internet or in the library, you will find a variety of different homemade laundry soap recipes…you just need to find what works for your family and make up a batch.
~Gather Your Supplies~
You'll need a big, old pot. (I have an old one used specifically for making soaps/cleaners—I have written "CLEANERS" on it with a Sharpie -- and put up high on a shelf in the laundry room--no mistaking it , and accidentally cooking food in it!)
I add to the pot:
4Q water
Then put this on the burner, medium heat
½ Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
½ Cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
Stir….then add…
1/2 grated up bar of Fels Naptha
~Grated Fels Naptha~
Heat on medium high at this point and stir (again with a spoon marked just for this) until it’s dissolved.
This will then need to cool down, so I pour it in a big bucket I use for soaps and such. Once it has cooled down a bit (an hour or so), I fill the remainder of my bucket (3 gallon) with HOT water and stir thoroughly. I then pour 1/3rd or so into an old 100 oz. laundry soap container (easy to use & I have 3 old ones I keep around for whipping up a batch of our own homemade laundry soap & an old funnel to make the job even easier), do the same with the other containers, and top off with hot water—leaving an inch or so of headspace.
That’s really about it. This recipe will generally ‘gel up’ and become quite thick, so that is why I like to put it into old laundry jugs, as they have a tight fitting lid…and I can shake it up or add more hot water if needed. Old gallon milk jugs or an old bucket (with lid!) will work here too. You really can’t mess this soap up—it IS that easy.
At this point I occasionally will add a little rose water, or a favorite essential oil for a little light fragrance. (Otherwise there is not a whole lot of ‘smell’ to this which can be nice too J) I usually ‘eyeball’ my measurement into the wash, but approximately a ½ cup works very well, and gives a nice clean to the clothes without the chemical residue that commercial brands leave behind. This amount will last us a month or more, give or take, as I don’t strictly measure for each load, and it ranges in price from ONE TO THREE cents per load!
(REMINDER: Although these ingredients are 'organic' in nature, they still need to be treated with caution as you would any other 'toxic' cleaner-keep them all away from youngins & never mix vinegar and bleach!)
These are just a couple examples of the literal myriad of homemade, non toxic cleaners ‘out there’ for you to try in your homestead. Enjoy that Spring Cleaning!
The Prepared Homesteader: Grab ‘n Go (Part 3): Evacuation Preparation
By Melonie Kennedy
Over the past few months we’ve touched on a basic “grab ‘n go” pack for your vehicle which will get you through a day trip with the kids or a roadside emergency, as well as putting together 72-hour packs for each member of your family in case of short-term emergency needs. This month I’d like you to consider what items are vital to your family in case of an evacuation due to natural disaster or political strife. Here in the
Because the possibilities vary so much by region, even within one country, it’s hard to say what “necessities” apply to each homesteader. Instead, I have questions for you. Sit down with your spouse and discuss the following considerations. Families with older children may want to make this an informative and educational opportunity, since older children can and should be expected to help the family in survival mode.
- Start at the beginning. What mode of transportation will you use to evacuate? Families with livestock need to make the decision whether to secure animals in a barn and hope for the best or to spend time loading them into trailers. Do you have enough adults trained to drive a vehicle towing a trailer along with a second vehicle for the family? Remember, as much as we love our animals, our children must come first. If you have a smaller, faster vehicle, be prepared to leave the larger, more cumbersome one behind if necessary. If you are splitting the family into separate vehicles, have a chosen point of contact out of the area to check in with by phone or radio, along with a previously chosen meeting place. If you are split up on the road, each driver will know to make their way to that spot.
- Other transportation issues to consider: if you are in a rural area, would horseback, a four-wheeler or a motorcycle be a better option? During an earthquake, roads and bridges can be torn to shreds in an instant. Flooding will make many routes impassable. Would you be better off on a small, nimble vehicle or leading a couple of sure-footed horses loaded with your gear and smallest children to higher ground? If you’re driving a truck or SUV, is there a boat you could haul along as well during floods?
- Now: what will you take with you? You’ve already got a basic day pack in each of your vehicles, as well as 72-hour packs, right? So you’ve got the bare minimums covered. Now is the time to plan for extended problems, considering your needs for a week or longer. This is particularly important if you will be attempting to evacuate with pets. Durable plastic storage cases filled with food, clothing and toiletries, large water containers, camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, and a camp stove or portable grill will be essential. Some families in high-risk areas invest in a small horse trailer and keep it stocked year-round with their evacuation goods. (Remember to go through each season and rotate food and clothing, based on family members’ current sizes and seasonal needs!) Others keep such gear stocked in a storage area of the home, ready to be loaded into the car on a moment’s notice. The important thing here is to be prepared: decide in advance who will go, how they’ll go, what they’ll need, and have it ready!
- Don’t forget that during some emergencies, you may choose to remain on your homestead. This is especially true for those in suburban and urban areas. Your present location may very well be safer than being out on the streets. Power failures from winter ice storms don’t mean an evacuation is necessary; they do, however, mean that you’ll be without electricity and possibly water for anywhere from hours to days or weeks. Stay put, stay warm, stay dry, and stay occupied. You’ll still need food, water, and other supplies set aside, even if power outages are the worst emergencies you see your family facing.
- While you’re considering safety, decide how to best protect your family. Police, firefighters, and EMTs will be overworked during large-scale emergencies. Assume that you may be responsible for protecting your family and providing basic First Aid to family members and even neighbors during these times. It’s always good to have older children and adult family members take a Red Cross First Aid class to learn basic medical responses, including CPR. Those of you who hunt should also make sure children of adequate maturity are trained in safe use of firearms. If something should happen to you, an older child may well need to protect himself and his younger siblings, or to provide food and water for the family. Make sure children you deem capable of handling weapons are trained and prepared for the worst, then hope they don’t have to use their knowledge.
- Are you a business owner? Be sure to make arrangements for your business as well as your family. Important documents, expensive equipment, and other such items need to be dealt with. Will you lock down your shop and keep employees with you because you are in a safe zone, with families meeting at your location, or will you shut down and head home to gather privately? Discuss these options with anyone who works for you. Remind them to prepare their families as well!
- Come up with ways to introduce your family’s evacuation concepts to younger kids; you’d be amazed at what they consider important after the basics of food, water, and shelter. Comfort comes in many forms, and little ones who are content are much more likely to follow requests from older siblings than those who are caught unaware and afraid. Scared children are more likely to dash away from an emergency in an instinctual attempt to survive, adding one more problem to the family’s situation.
- Be sure small pets are secured in carriers and large pets are adequately secured if you are taking them with you. Unless they are incredibly well-trained to stay with and defend the family, many pets will attempt their own evacuation plans…which normally includes running away from the fray or hiding in what they think is a safe place. They don’t understand that a burning home is not the place you want to be stuck searching for them or trying to draw them out! As soon as you are given an evacuation order, get your family to your chosen transportation and get the pets secured in their assigned location.
These are just the basic questions to ask yourself when it comes to preparing your family for large-scale emergencies. Check with your local county extension office, or do searches on federal sites for further suggestions and resources. Just like planning your escape routes in case of fire in a home or place of business, more in-depth emergency preparedness can get you through the worst safely. Don’t delay: plan today!
Melonie Kennedy is a freelance writer, homeschooling “Momma”, and suburban homesteader. You can catch her blogging at Stop the World – I Want to Get Off!, This Organic House, Momma (and More), SmallBizMentor, and Workerette.
By Lisa Barthuly
Spring has sprung! I love to get seedlings going, but this is a fun way to get a jump on your garden fresh veggies by growing lettuce indoors (or at least getting it started!). The children will love to help on this one!
You will need:
· heavy-duty lock-type freezer bag (pint or quart size)
· lettuce seeds
· water
· potting soil
Fill your plastic bag 3/4 of the way with good moist organic soil (a pot & regular potting soil may also be used).
Take a little pinch of seeds and sprinkle on the soil surface, and then cover the seed lightly with soil.
Water seeds with a light water spray. Close the top of the bag, but leave one or so inch open. Set in a sunny window, when you see little green shoots, open the bag so that the plants have room to grow and can breathe.
Your plants will need attention and care. A few more tips? Try these and start thinking SALAD!
I also cut off the corners of the bag to allow for drainage, or poke small holes in the bottom of the bag; we set our bag in a large plastic Tupperware type container to avoid a mess.
Sprinkle seed on the surface. Don't use too many seeds as plants will start to crowd.
Lightly cover with soil. Only 1/8 inch is enough.
Water lightly so all of the soil is moist and you get good seed-to-soil contact.
When germination starts, open the bag. Keep it in a sunny location, and water as needed to keep it moist.
Lettuce will grow fast in warm temperatures, but it is a lot better when grown under cooler conditions (65-70 degrees F).
As your plants start to grow and get larger, you can begin cutting off some of the leaves and using them in salads. ENJOY!!!!
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© 2007 Homestead Originals. Creating a Grab ‘n Go Bag (Part 3) © 2006, Melonie Kennedy, used by author’s permission.
Comments
2007-Apr-12 - hey Lis
Posted by HSBFrontPorch
I've signed up for your newsletter twice, but I'm still not getting it. Looks great (but I can't see the pics), thanks for posting it here.
Oh and Milk Thistle is one of my favorites!
~Nancy
