Wednesday, May 30, 2012

How to make hummingbird nectar

Making your own hummingbird nectar is both easy and cost effective. Plus, you don't have to worry about any additives or chemicals being passed on to your little animal friends. 


Hummingbird enjoying some of my homemade hummingbird nectar.

The ratio of sugar to water is 1:4. So, if you are making 1 cup of nectar (enough to fill one of the feeders I have in the photo above), you will need 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. 

You will want to use plain table sugar for this. Honey is supposedly dangerous and can make hummingbirds sick. Alternative sweeteners should be avoided, as well. Stick with white sugar! 

In a pan, bring your water to a boil. Pour in the sugar and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Cool the nectar before filling your hummingbird feeders. Each time you refill your feeders, you will want to wash them with hot water and a little soap. That's all there is to it!  

Sit back and enjoy the show! 


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Make your own natural deodorant / antiperspirant

If you want to avoid chemicals, but don't want to give up deodorant - read on! This is the easiest, cheapest, and most effective deodorant you will ever use. Those are big claims, I know. 

As someone that sweats, a lot, I have tried everything from deodorants claiming to be all natural  all the way up to products marketed as clinical strength. Heck, I even got so desperate that I tried using deodorant and antiperspirant designed for men at one point. I wasn't completely satisfied with anything I purchased.

I like that the natural deodorants don't include some of the scarier things such as aluminum, but they still have more ingredients than I want to put on my skin AND they don't work very well for me. I was constantly having to reapply which is both inconvenient and expensive. The clinical strength deodorants and antiperspirants work pretty well, but I worry about putting that chemical cocktail on my skin every day and they're not cheap. 

What's a sweaty girl (or guy) to do? Make your own!

The number one reason I use this homemade deodorant concoction is because it works. It controls odor and keeps me dry. I wouldn't be using it if it didn't, no matter how cheap or natural or easy to make it is. The fact that it doesn't contain a lot of the icky ingredients in store-bought deodorants and that it costs way less are just extra bonus points as far as I'm concerned. 

You only need two ingredients to make your own deodorant/antiperspirant.


Yep, that's it. 

In a covered container mix:
  • baking soda - 1 part
  • cornstarch   - 3 parts** 
**Play around with this ratio until you find what works for you. Some people use a ratio of 1:1 and some use 1:6 (1 part baking soda to 6  parts cornstarch). Baking soda on it's own is too harsh and will eventually cause skin irritation if not used with the cornstarch. If you experience skin irritation, add more cornstarch. 

my homemade deodorant


Cover the container and shake well. Apply to dry underarms with a powder puff, cotton balls, a fluffy makeup brush, a piece of cloth, toilet paper, or anything else you have laying around that might work. I was originally worried about a white residue showing up on my clothes, but it hasn't been a problem so far. In fact, I've had less issues than with traditional deodorants. 

Some people also combine these two ingredients with coconut oil and beeswax and essential oils to form a sort of stick deodorant that is similar to traditional deodorants. I haven't found it necessary, but there are plenty of recipes for this if you search online.

Stay dry and healthy!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Be the ant, not the grasshopper


It's really just been the last few days that things have begun blooming around the homestead. The apple trees are overflowing with white flowers, kissed with hints of pink. The daffodils my mother planted years ago are opening into fragrant blossoms. Although the calendar tells us spring arrived months ago, it is only now starting to feel like it.

We all cherish these sun filled days. Work that needs to be done outside becomes less of a chore and more of a treat when birds are chirping and the sky is brilliant blue. In an effort to be more like the ant and less like the grasshopper (a favorite Aesop's fable), our winter preparations are already beginning. 

Today we cut dead trees to use for firewood. Our little house is outfitted with electric base-board heaters that rarely see any action, if I can help it. The main source of heat is the wood stove that stands in the corner of our living room. 

I am convinced that firewood procurement is some of the best physical exercise a person can get. There is plenty of squatting, lifting, throwing, and ax swinging involved. Many people pay good money to personal trainers for this kind of total body workout. In addition to free exercise, we finish with something tangible to show for our labor. Come wintertime and freezing temperatures, our efforts now will be greatly appreciated.

It is wise to worry about tomorrow, today
-Aesop's Fable