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Hints & Tips contains tidbits of information submitted by readers or that I have collected through the years and found useful. Hints and tips have been published in previous newsletters. Add your hints/tips and Win A Book!!! To search for a specific topic, type the key word eg. rust
into the Google Search box. Click on
Search and Google will search this website and bring up relevant articles. Win A Book!!! Do you have a question,
hint/tip, recipe, or story to share about gardening for the soil or gardening
for the soul? For every question,
hint/tip, recipe, or story submitted and published in Gwen’s
Healing Garden Newsletter, you will receive the book: The
Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace.
Contact www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Contact_Form.htm or fax (306) 586-6898 to enter. Please include your name, address, country,
postal/zip code, phone number, and e-mail address. Winners will be contacted by e-mail. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ March 2010 (submitted by
Carol Turner) Ø
Wasp
Spray It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. "That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life. Please share this with all the people in your life. Ø Six helpful hints for your car in the winter 1.
Keep
your headlights clear with car wax. Just wipe ordinary car wax on
your headlights. It contains special water
repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on
your lights - lasts 6 weeks. 2. Squeak-proof your wipers with
rubbing alcohol. Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol
or ammonia. This one trick can make
badly streaking & squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence &
clarity. 3. Ice-proof your windows with vinegar. Frost on its way?
Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water &
spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they'll be clear of
icy mess. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of
water---preventing water from freezing. 4. Prevent car doors from
freezing shut with cooking spray. Spritz
cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors & rub it in with a paper
towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber. 5. Fog-proof your windshield with
shaving cream. Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your
windshield & wipe it off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the
same ingredients found in commercial defoggers. 6. De-ice your lock in
seconds with hand sanitizer. Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key & the lock & the
problem is solved! February
2010 Ø To remove permanent marker ink on appliances
or counter tops, wipe with a paper towel dampened with rubbing alcohol. Ø You can make your candles last
longer by freezing them for several hours before burning them. Ø
To
get rid of pet odor or the musty smell in your home, simmer 1/2 cup (125 mL)
white vinegar and 4 cups (1 L) water on your stove until gone. Ø To add a soothing smell to the
air in your home, simmer 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vanilla extract in 4 cups (1 L)
water. Ø
To remove bubble gum or any type of gum from hair (child's
head, on arm, leg, etc.), simply spread peanut butter on the area and
wash. It comes out like magic because
of the oil. Ø
To remove candle wax from
wood, soften the wax with a hair dryer.
Remove wax with a paper towel and wash with a solution of vinegar and
water. Ø
When watering your plants, use room temperature
water. January 2010 Ø
If
your recipe calls for herbs, marinate them in a tablespoon or two of olive oil for 30 minutes before
adding to the stew or sauce to bring out the full aroma of the herbs. Ø When you harvest parsley from your herb garden, wash and place in a baggie that is sealed tight. When parsley is cool and sealed tight you
can keep it for a few weeks until you get a chance to use it in your kitchen. Ø If you like to use fresh ginger, take the ginger root
when you bring it home from the store, cut off what you need for the
moment, and then wrap the rest in
wax paper and put in a sealed baggie in the freezer. Every time you want a bit of fresh ginger just take
it out and clip a little off and put the rest back. You will find that the frozen
ginger can be easily grated. Freezing stops all of those stringy and lumpy bits
in whatever you are cooking, without compromising the flavour. Ø
To
clean copper in your home, rub toothpaste
on the copper areas, and buff clean with a soft cloth. Ø
If
you like to put cookies in the cookie jar but hate how they get stale so fast,
add a few pieces of crumpled up tissue paper to the bottom of the cookie jar
and your cookies will stay fresher longer. Ø
If
you use brown sugar only on special occasions you can put it in a container
and put it in the freezer or in the fridge to keep it fresher for many more
months than in the cupboard. Ø
Place
a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar
to soften it back up so you can measure it easily and use it often. December
2009 Ø Save breadcrumbs in
a bag in the freezer. When you have
enough, toss with oil and seasoning.
Toast until golden brown. Use
in place of Parmesan cheese or use in stuffing, casseroles or bread pudding
(without the oil and seasonings). Ø
Recycle leftover roast
beef in Beef Stroganoff, Fajitas, Pepper Steak, Pita Sandwiches,
Stir Fry, Shepard’s Pie, Swiss Steak, or Roast Beef Sandwiches - with lettuce
and mayonnaise. Ø
When you have purchased
too many oranges and you want
to use them before they spoil, make juice out of the oranges and then use
the peels for Candied Orange Peels. Ø Potato Pancakes can be
made with leftover mashed potatoes.
Here is one recipe you can use. Mix first 3 ingredients. Make into patties and fry in olive oil
until golden brown on each side.
Serve warm with sour cream and applesauce. Ø
Substitute
shredded zucchini for half of the ground beef in Mexican
recipes, spaghetti sauces, meat loaves or meatballs. Ø
Leftover
mashed potatoes can be used to thicken
soups and stews. Ø
Use
cereal crumbs for topping on muffins,
yoghurt, pudding, oatmeal, and fresh
fruit or use 2 cups (500 mL) with 1/2 cup (125 mL) melted butter and your
favorite herb. Broil on a flat pan
until browned. Use on top of hot
vegetables, macaroni and cheese or casseroles. Store unused portion in an airtight jar. November
2009 Ø
Coffee filters make convenient
wrappers for messy foods such as tacos. Ø Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. Ø Pam no-stick cooking spray will lubricate a sticking bicycle chain. Ø Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls. Ø Listerine mouthwash will clean dirty grout. Ø Line a
plant pot with a coffee
filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes. Ø To
tie dye a T-shirt, mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak. October 2009
Ø
Cake Mixes and Toxins (submitted
by Martha Pass) WARNING-----Cake
Mixes and Toxins **PLEASE READ** Pass this on to ALL
in your address book. You never know whose life you may save by doing so. For
those of you at work, PLEASE remember to check your cupboards when you get home
tonight!!! A student at HBHS (high
school) had pancakes this week and it almost became fatal. His Mom (registered
nurse) made him pancakes, dropped him off at school and headed to play
tennis. She never takes her cell phone on the court but did this time and her
son called to say he was having trouble breathing. She told him to go to the
nurse immediately and proceeded to call the school and alert the nurse. The
nurse called the paramedics and they were there in 3 minutes and worked on
the boy all the way to the hospital. He came so close to dying. Evidently
this is more common then I ever knew. Check the expiration dates on packages
like pancakes and cake mixes that have yeast which over time develop spores.
Apparently, the mold that forms in old mixes can be toxic! Throw away ALL
OUTDATED pancake mix, brownie mixes, Bisquick, cake & cookie mixes, etc.
you have in your home. P.S.
Tell this to your children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and anyone else
who keeps these types of mixes in the cupboard. Ø
To remove labels off glassware etc. rub with peanut
butter. Ø
Colgate toothpaste will remove crayon on the
wall. Apply toothpaste over crayon marks, brush,
and wipe clean. Ø
To clean dirty grout, apply Listerine, and wipe
clean. Ø
Colgate toothpaste will remove stains on
clothes. Apply toothpaste to stain, rub in, and wash as usual. Ø Coffee filters make excellent covers. Cover bowls
or dishes when cooking in
the microwave. Ø
PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. September
2009 Ø For a sore throat, gargle
with a glass of warm water to which one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar has been added.
Repeat as needed. You can also
use this as a mouthwash. Ø If you break the cork when opening a bottle
of wine, pour the wine through a coffee filter to filter the broken cork from the wine. Ø To recycle oil after frying, strain oil
through a sieve lined with a coffee filter. Ø Beer
conditions the hair. Ø Pam
cooking spray will dry finger nail polish. Ø
For shiny hair, rinse your hair with vinegar. Ø
Peanut butter will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper. August 2009 (submitted by Carol Turner) Ø Kool
aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just
put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff.) Ø Peanut
butter - will get scratches out of CD's!
Wipe off with a coffee filter paper. Ø Sticking
bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray. Ø Pam
cooking spray will dry finger nail polish. Ø Pam
will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby. Ø
Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls. Ø
To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over
the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel. July 2009 Ø Relieve itching from
Athlete’s Foot by rinsing the feet several times a day with plain or herbal
apple cider vinegar. Ø Keep cats out of the garden
by soaking pieces of paper in vinegar and placing them around the garden. Ø Dissolve chewing gum and
remove decals by saturating them with vinegar. Vinegar removes gum from fabric, carpet, and upholstery. If the vinegar is heated, it will work
faster. Ø Add vinegar to laundry rinse
cycle for whiter clothes. Ø Erase crayon stains from
fabric and other surfaces by moistening a soft toothbrush with vinegar then rub the stain out. Ø Mix a small amount of
peppermint with one tablespoon (15 mL) of vinegar in a glass of water to help ease an upset stomach. Ø
Adding
1 teaspoon (5 mL) vinegar to each quart (1 L) of your pet’s drinking water
acts systemically to deter fleas and ticks. June 2009 Ø If you
find it difficult to fill freezer bags, put them inside a measuring cup, fold
a small flap over the edges of
the cup, and fill with foodstuffs.
This prevents the bag from collapsing and avoids spills. The same is
true for larger bags. Find a suitable
sized bowl or can to place the bags in and fill. Ø Use baby
oil to remove fingerprints and marks off the doors of stainless steel
appliances. Use a small
amount on a paper towel or cloth and wipe off. Ø Baby oil
also removes the glue from packing tape used in shipping. Ø Protect your good china by separating with
a coffee filter between each dish. (submitted by Martha Pass) Ø If you break the cork when opening a wine
bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter. (submitted by
Martha Pass) Ø
Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail
polish. (submitted by Carol
Turner) Ø Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair. (submitted by Carol Turner) May 2009 Ø
To get rid of ants in a green
way: wipe area with a solution of half white vinegar and half water – ants don't like vinegar and then put a little pile of cornmeal at the entry point - the ants take the cornmeal back to the nest, but they can't digest it. I know that it is sad for the ants, but sometimes it is necessary to clear them for sanitary reasons. When they emerge into non-physical, they will just come back anyway, but hopefully somewhere else! Anyway, this really works - it takes about a day or two, then they are gone. Ø
To remove pesticides,
heavy metal residues, and insects from fruits and vegetables, wash them in a solution of 2 1/2 tablespoons (37.5 mL) vinegar to 1
gallon (4 quarts) water. Ø
Use garlic wine vinegar
as a substitute for fresh garlic in any recipe. One teaspoon (5 mL) is the equivalent of one small clove of garlic. Ø
To revive wilted
vegetables, place in a cold water-vinegar solution. Ø
To retain bright colour
and vitamin content of vegetables while steaming, add Ø
2 teaspoons (10 mL)
vinegar to the water. This also
prevents unwelcome odours. When a recipe calls
for wine, you can substitute vinegar by diluting one-part vinegar with three
parts water. Ø
Food that has been
over-salted can be salvaged by adding 1 teaspoon (5 mL) each of vinegar and sugar,
then re-heating. April 2009 Ø To clean silverware and make it sparkle, use a paste of equal parts baking soda and water. Ø Citrus
rinds added to simmering cinnamon and cloves will make your home smell
lovely. Ø To clean and deodorise cutting boards, rub them
with lemon rind. Ø To keep cheese from sticking to the grater, spray the grater with non-stick cooking spray and grate as usual. Ø To prevent egg shells from cracking during boiling, add a pinch of salt to the water. Ø To prevent stains on plastic containers, spray with
non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato based sauces. Ø
Clean windows and
countertops with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. March 2009 GPS This gives us
something to think about with all our new electronic technology. (submitted by Carol Turner) A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football match. Their car was parked on the green that was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS that had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.
When the victims got home,
they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything
worth anything had been stolen. MOBILE PHONE Moral of the lesson: * PLEASE PASS
THIS ON Coffee Filters ...who knew there are so many uses for them!!
(submitted by Martha Pass) Ø Weigh
chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen
scale. Ø Stop the
soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter
to prevent the soil from going
through the drainage holes. Ø Recycle
frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee
filter. Ø Filter
broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle,
filter the wine through a
coffee filter. Ø Protect
China . . . Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each
dish. Ø Cover
bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent
covers.
Ø To soften brown sugar, heat
in the microwave for a minute or two on low so it can be easily used. Ø If you use brown sugar only
on special occasions, put it in a container and refrigerate or freeze to
keep it fresher for many more months than in the cupboard. Ø Rust on a cookie sheet or any
other rusty pan can be removed by rubbing a cut up potato over the
rusted area. Ø Keep your box of cling wrap
in the refrigerator as it makes it easier to unwrap without wrapping around your hands and not around the container. Ø To soften dried up cheese,
soak in a bowl of buttermilk for about 30 minutes. Ø Don’t throw out dried up cheese: grate over dishes where
the cheese can be melted such as soup, meatloaf, etc. or mix
with onions and serve as a topping on steak sandwiches. Ø To have lemon slices on hand for tea, water, etc., freeze lemon slices individually on freezer wrap. When frozen, store in freezer bags. January 2009 Ø For safer footing on ice, sprinkle cat litter as an
environmentally friendly alternative to salt. Wood ashes can also be used. Ø Rub a lemon rind over your cutting board
to clean and deodorize. Ø Put used coffee grounds down your sink
to flush out small particles that can build up. Ø Wrap Christmas lights around used toilet
paper or paper towel rolls to keep them tidy. Ø Slip a section of old garden hose around
young tree trunk to protect it from support ropes. Ø To keep cats out of your garden, lay
down old pieces of black garden hose.
The cats apparently think they are snakes. Ø Crush your old egg shells to provide
calcium for your plants. You can soak
the shells in the water or spread them around the base of the plant (dig them
into the soil if you prefer not to see them) and water as usual. December 2008
Ø To clean soap scum from bathtubs, use
Avon Skin-So-Soft. Just pour some
over the area to be cleaned, and wipe with a damp cloth.
Remember this leaves a slick area, so wipe off before stepping into
the tub. Ø To save
chicken or meat broth without the fat, pour into a container, cover and place in the refrigerator
until the fat floats to the top and hardens.
Skim off the fat and your broth is ready to be used or frozen for
future use. Ø Before baking, brush the top of home-made bread with
salty water to give it a lovely crunchy topping. Ø To soften brown sugar, cover the open container with a
damp cloth. Ø Freeze your excess gravy to use in future stocks and
sauces. Ø
When stuffing a turkey, put a piece of cheesecloth inside the
cavity, then put in the stuffing.
When the
turkey is cooked, pull out the cheesecloth and the stuffing comes right
out. Ø To ripen avocados, store in a warm place in a brown
paper bag. November 2008 Ø
Interplant
onions, garlic and chives between vegetables to keep aphids away. Ø
To store
cucumbers, keep in a cool, dry place.
Keeping cucmbers dry is the key to storing them. Ø
To perk up
house plants or plants in the garden, save egg shells and crush in a
container. Add water (1 gallon (4
litres) to 12 egg shells), let stand overnight, and pour over plants to
fertilize. Ø
Add citrus
peel to tea leaves while they are brewing or put several small strips and a
tea bag into a cup with some boiled water. Ø
Citrus rinds
added to simmering cinnamon and cloves will make your home smell lovely. Ø
Wash
houseplants with a gentle spray of water to keep aphids away. For a heavy infestation, mix dish washing
detergent - 2 tablespoons (30 mL) to 4 cups (900 mL) water and spray
plants. Keep the spray approximately
12 inches (30 cm) back from plants, as the leaves can burn. Ø
Orange peel
scattered on flowerbeds deters cats. October 2008 Ø
Leftover tomato paste or
sauce? Freeze in ice cubes trays and use in soups and sauces. Ø
The following is information from a farmer who grows
and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS, etc. The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags
are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a
machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots. Most people
probably know this already. What you may not
know and should know is the following: once the carrots are cut and shaped
into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in
order to preserve them (this is the same chlorine used in your pool) since
they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a
higher dose of chlorine. You will notice
that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white
covering will form on the carrots, this is the chlorine which
resurfaces. At what cost do we put
our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables that are practically
plastic? We do hope that this information can be passed on to as
many people as possible in the hopes of informing them where these carrots
come from and how they are processed. Chlorine is a very well known
carcinogen. Ø
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from
depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because
bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into
serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you
feel happier. Ø
PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood
glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Ø
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood
and so helps in cases of anemia. Ø
Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 'eating
bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as
much as 40%! Blood
Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low
in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food
and Drug Administration have just allowed the banana industry to make
official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure
and stroke. (Banana H&T’s submitted
by Martha Pass) September 2008 Ø
To remove a musty
smell from the basement, place saucers with white vinegar around the space. Ø
Small onions are peeled
much easier when you pour boiling water on them. Ø
To peel tomatoes, briefly blanch them in boiling
water and the skin comes off easily. Ø
To preserve tomatoes at the end of the season, freeze
them. I put them in leftover plastic
bread bags. When you are ready to
use, pour hot water over them and the skins will come off easily. Use the same as you would canned. Ø
When frying onions, if the oil starts to dry up, add
a drop of water instead of more oil. The same goes when stir-frying anything. Ø
Keep fresh herbs and
fresh spices, such as root ginger, in the freezer to stop them from spoiling.
The ginger or garlic can be grated into the food while still frozen. Ø
To brown onions more quickly, add a little sugar to
caramelize them. August 2008 Ø Remove red wine stains with
club soda. Pour on the stain,
squeeze, and wash as usual. Ø Bananas are high in B
vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Ø To rid your house of smells
such as cooking, dog, etc., add a cotton ball soaked with a few drops of aromatherapy oil, like geranium or lavender, to your
vacuum cleaner bag. Next time you
vacuum, the smell will be gone and a beautiful scent has been added to your
home. Ø Slice washed lemons thinly,
cut into quarters, and put in ice trays with a little water. The next time
you have a cold drink, the ice and lemon will be supplied in one cube. Ø To cover scratches on dark
wood furniture, make a paste from instant coffee and water. Rub into the scratches, and then wipe off
excess with a clean cloth. Ø For shiny hair, add 1
– 2 tablespoons (15 – 30 mL) vinegar to final rinse. Dry in normal way. Ø Baking soda, club soda, and
white vinegar are excellent non-toxic spot removers. Just pour or sprinkle a generous amount of
baking soda on carpet area and vacuum up.
When using vinegar and Club Soda, just pour on, let it soak, wipe off,
and rinse with warm water. July 2008 Ø
To get rid of the
pesky ants, take cinnamon and place it wherever you have noticed them and
they will leave. Ø
You can eliminate any bug problem in dry products by
freezing flour, cornmeal, or dry cereal.
I store the products in the freezer and use when needed. Ø
If you are troubled with silverfish, try placing
whole cloves in the closets and drawers. Ø
To remove rust stains in cotton, rub with lemon juice
and salt. Leave it several hours. It's even more effective when placed in the
sun. Wash as normal. Ø
Ink Stains.
If the ink is still wet put salt on the stain, and then brush it off after a
few minutes when it has soaked up some of the ink. You may need to repeat
this a few times. Ø Clean wet ink off carpet with soda water, blot it off with paper towels, and then clean with a detergent. Ø To remove melted wax from clothing, lay a brown paper bag over the garment before you iron it. Keep moving the bag around to absorb all the wax. June 2008 Ø BEE
STINGS (I received this by e-mail and though I haven’t used it myself, thought
I would share it.) Ø Save some seeds from small red peppers and plant two or three seeds at a time in yoghurt pots. When they are a couple of inches high, re-pot in a medium sized plant pot. You will soon have an attractive indoor plant - and a supply of chillies. Ø
Lawn Patches. These can
be removed by using spare bits of turf cut to size and fit into the gap. Add plenty of compost into the
cracks, and water well. Ø
Applying 1 teaspoonful
salt (5 mL) can individually kill a weed such as dandelion in your lawn. Ø
Coffee
Grounds or Tea Bags can be used
to make compost,
however excessive use inhibits growth. Caffeine is a
naturally occurring herbicide. Ø To remove blood
stains from clothes, put some hydrogen peroxide on cotton ball and dab at the
stain
till gone. Ø To get rid of grease
(e.g. chicken fat) stains from clothes, dab on eucalyptus oil just before washing. The eucalyptus binds with the other fat
and is volatile so disappears with hot water. Heavy staining might take a few
applications. May 2008 Ø Pinch off the tendrils of
sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) to improve their flowering capacity. Ø If your plastic garden
furniture gets stained, make a paste by mixing baking soda and water and
apply it for a few minutes before wiping it off. Ø Apply either cooking or motor
oil to metal tools and aluminium garden furniture to preserve them over the
winter. Wipe them off before using
again. Ø Never clean or adjust
electrical gardening equipment while it is still plugged in. Never wash electrical gardening equipment
with water. Ø
Lining a bamboo steamer with Napa Cabbage
helps prevent food from sticking to the bottom. Ø Don’t mix cut daffodils in with other cut flowers as the daffodils produce a toxin that kills off the other flowers. Ø Unwanted cats can be kept out the garden by sprinkling pepper in the garden. Citrus fruit peel is supposed to work as well. April 2008 Ø Save wooden ice cream spatulas, lollypop sticks or plastic knives to use as garden labels. Write on them with a ballpoint pen or waterproof marker. Ø To avoid tender plants getting damaged by frost, listen to the weather forecast and protect delicate plants with newspaper, old clothes, or sheets. Ø If you find handles of tools, mowers, and shears uncomfortable to hold, try buying a foam bicycle handlebar grip. Slip the grips over the tool handles, using dishwashing liquid or Vaseline if it proves difficult. If the handle in question is continuous, slit the grip horizontally to allow it to be slipped over the handle. Ø Before filling a strawberry barrel with compost, stand a piece of drainpipe or cardboard tube upright in the centre, and fill with pebbles. As you fill with compost, gradually remove the tube releasing the pebbles. This will act as a central drainage system preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged. Ø
When planting bare rooted trees and shrubs, spread
the roots out like an
umbrella (twisted roots stunt growth). As you cover the roots with soil shake the plant from time to time to allow the soil to drop down well between them. Water well after
planting.
When planting container grown plants, disturb the roots as little as
possible so that they continue to benefit from the compost they are grown
in. Water as usual after planting. Ø
To prevent slugs getting
to plants in containers, smear outside of container with petroleum jelly. March
2008 Ø Briskly rolling an
orange around on a flat surface will loosen the skin
and make for easier peeling. Ø The general rule of thumb is 1 tbsp. (15 mL) fresh
herbs is equivalent to 1 tsp. (5 mL) dried ones. Ø To
peel hard-boiled eggs, drain eggs and fill pot with cold water. While eggs are sitting in
the water, crack them on the side of the pot, let sit for a minute or two, and then peel. Ø To
hard-boil eggs and keep them from cracking, add a few drops of white vinegar
to the water. Ø Boiling
water hardens the protein in egg whites.
To avoid this, cover eggs with salted water, heat to boiling, turn off stove and let sit for 20 minutes in the hot water. Run under cold water for easier peeling. Ø Never
run out of shrimp sauce again. Add 1
tbsp. (15 mL) minced onions and 1 tsp. (5 mL) horseradish to 1 cup (250
mL) ketchup. Ø
A
quick way of making a substitute Tartar Sauce is by adding
2 tbsp. (30 mL) chopped mixed pickles to 7 tbsp. (105 mL) mayonnaise. February 2008 Ø Drinking two
glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately without the unpleasant
side effects caused by traditional pain relievers. Ø Colgate toothpaste
makes an excellent salve for burns. Ø
Hunt's tomato paste boil cure ...cover the boil with Hunt's
tomato paste as a compress. The acids from
the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head. (Above H&T’s submitted by Martha Pass and Marcie Wiltse.) Ø To kill spider
mites and their eggs on your plants, mix together 1/2 cup (125 mL) buttermilk, 4 cups (1 L) wheat flour, and
5 gallons (20 L) water. Mix. Then strain this mixture through
cheesecloth. Spray it onto the diseased plants. Ø
Keep dogs and cats out of
your yard with this mixture: chopped
garlic bulbs, 1 tbsp. (15 mL) cayenne pepper steeped in 1
qt. (1 L) water. Mix the two
ingredients. Add 1 tsp. (5 mL) liquid
dishwashing soap. Strain the portion
that you are going to use and spray onto the plant leaves. The remainder can be stored in the
refrigerator for several weeks. Ø Grits sprinkled in the garden
are also supposed to be an effective way to kill ants. Ø Add milk to leftover mashed
potatoes to make potato soup. Heat
and serve. January 2008 Ø Do you know what side of your vehicle your gas gauge is on? If you look at the gas gauge, you will see a small icon of a gas pump. The handle of the gas pump will extend out on either the left or right side of the pump. If your tank is on the left, the handle will be on the left. If your tank is on the right, the handle will be on the right. It is that simple! (I drive a Ford van and the icon is not shown, however if you look at the bottom of the gauge you will see an arrow pointing in the direction of the tank.) submitted by Rachelle Hanson The following hints & tips are submitted by Martha Pass. Ø Achy muscles from a bout of the
flu? Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of
horseradish in 1 cup (250 mL)
of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for
30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching
muscles. Ø Cure urinary tract
infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water
and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins
eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly - even though the
product has never been advertised for this use. Ø
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by
soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash.
The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy
again. Ø
Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white
vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The
vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process. Ø
Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab
on a few drops of Listerine. Ø
Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in
eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop
of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before
tightening them. December 2007 Ø
Many people use wicker containers that quickly become
moldy when moist. The damp soil can
be a substrate for the growth of mold and bacteria which, when the soil is
disturbed, become airborne.
Re-potting should be done outside.
Over-watering should obviously be avoided both for plant health and
human health. (Submitted by Hal Levin. See Hal’s article Can House Plants Solve IAQ
Problems? in the Gardening For The Soil section of this newsletter.) Ø
PIN
NUMBER REVERSAL (GOOD TO KNOW) Ø If you should ever be forced
by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police
by entering your Pin # in reverse. Ø Did you know that???? 3% Peroxide 5. I had
fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and
water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. (This
was written by Becky Ransey of November 2007 Ø
If you have rust marks on
your baking dishes, pour some cola into the dish and soak overnight. Ø
Wash your sponges in the
dishwasher along with your dishes to make them last longer. Ø
Use
equal parts white vinegar and salt to clean out coffee and tea stains from
your china. Ø
Scrub
copper pots with a bit of salt and vinegar to clean. Ø
Save
your old toothbrushes to scrub small areas.
They are also ideal for cleaning tile grout. Ø
A
window decal can be removed by painting with vinegar. When it has thoroughly soaked for a few
minutes, it can be wiped off easily. Ø
To
clean hard-water build-up on fixtures, sprinkle on some baking soda, wrap
with a rag soaked in white vinegar, and let soak for an hour. Build-up should scrub away with a nylon
pad. October 2007
This information was submitted by Carol Turner and came from a
neighborhood watch coordinator. Ø Put your car keys
beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or
someone trying to get in your house, just
press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn
will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around.... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember
to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can
work the same way there... This is something that should really be shared
with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime. P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. Pass this on.......................it might help someone!!! Ø To ward off black spot on your roses, mix together 1 tbsp. (15 mL) baking soda, 1 tsp. (5 mL) dishwashing detergent, and 1 gallon (3.8 L) water. Mix together and spray on roses early in the morning once a week until disease has disappeared. Ø Rubbing alcohol can be used to treat plants infested with mites, aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Use rubbing alcohol on cotton balls and rub gently over affected areas. This treatment will successfully eliminate these pests. Ø To get fingerprints and marks off stainless steel appliances, use ‘baby oil.’ Place a small amount on a napkin or paper towel and wipe. It also takes the glue off from the tape that is used in shipping. Ø To polish chrome, use baking soda or vinegar or lemon juice and a soft cloth. Try removing scum with baby oil. Ø To make furniture polish, use 1 part lemon juice to 2 parts olive or vegetable oil. Ø Shoe polish. Polish leather with the inside of a banana peel, then buff. Ø Scrubbers for scouring dishes can be made by cutting pieces of mesh potato/onion bags and tied into a small ball. September 2007
Ø
To tell if your houseplants need watering, hold a toothpick by the top, and stab it into
the soil as far as it will go. Pull it out, and if particles of soil adhere to
the toothpick, the soil underneath the top inch is moist, and no watering is needed. If it comes out clean, the
soil under the top inch is dry, and the plant needs watering. To
save trees, and to have it ready at hand, leave the testing toothpick stuck
halfway in one of the flowerpots, for re-using the next time. Ø Save lawn clippings and place
them between the rows of your garden as mulch. Clippings conserve moisture and provide a good organic (if your
lawn is free of pesticides and herbicides) fertilizing agent.
At the end of the gardening season, dig the clippings into the soil
where they will break down and improve soil texture. (See Article.Organic
Lawn Care for detailed information about getting your lawn off drugs.) Ø Get rid of aphids on your
plants by using a home-made insecticidal soap. Mix 1 cup (250 mL) vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) dishwashing
liquid. Take 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of
this oil and dish liquid concoction; mix with 1 cup (250 mL) water and spray
on the leaves of plants. Hold the
spray approximately 12 inches (30 cm) away from plants to prevent the leaves
from burning. (For more
information and recipes, see my book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace,
chapter 14, Earth Stewardship, pages 151-170; booklet Non-toxic
Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Chores and on this web
site, Environmentally_Friendly_Gardening_Products.htm. To purchase the book or booklet, go to http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca/Books.htm.) Ø Reheat leftover pizza in a non-stick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. Ø
Easy Deviled Eggs.
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all
broken up. Add remainder of ingredients,
reseal, keep mashing it up, mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, and
squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up. Ø
Honey remedy for skin blemishes. Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it.
Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds
healing. Works overnight. Ø Sore throat? Mix 1/4 cup (50 mL) vinegar with 1/4 cup
(50 mL) honey. Take 1 tablespoon (15
mL) six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria. August 2007 Mosquito Repellents Ø Use Bounce fabric softener sheets - just wipe on & go or place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. Ø Best thing for babies is diaper rash ointment with lots of zinc. Ø Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October. He said it works. He hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine Hydrochloride 100 mg.) Ø If you eat bananas, the mosquitoes like you - something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested. Ø One of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day) is Vick's Vaporub or Tiger Balm. Ø Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in the garden to also help ward off bugs without using insecticides. Ø "Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellent you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol. Ø One of the best natural insect repellents discovered by one person is the clear real vanilla. This is the pure Vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks. July 2007 Ø
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and
leaves your legs really smooth. It's
also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when
you tried it in your hair. Ø
Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach
bag. When you are ready to leave the
beach, sprinkle yourself and the kids with the powder and the sand will slide
right off your skin. Ø
To get something out of a heat register or under the
fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift-wrap roll to your
vacuum. It can be bent or flattened
to get in narrow openings. Ø
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and
you will not have a clingy skirt or dress.
Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and - voila -
static is gone. Ø
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the
store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size.
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar/calories per
serving. Ø To
warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a
microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food
moist and help it reheat faster. Ø Use
a dry cotton ball to pick up little broken glass pieces of glass - the fibres
catch ones you can't see! May/June 2007
Ø
Eliminate
ear mites...All it takes is a few drops of corn oil in your cat's ear...
Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days.
The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates
healing. Ø Kill fleas
instantly...Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and
shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse
well to avoid skin irritations. Ø
Vinegar
to heal bruises...Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the
bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar
reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process. Ø
Balm
for broken blisters...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of
Listerine…a powerful antiseptic. Ø
Hunt's
tomato paste boil cure...Cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a
compress. The acids from the tomatoes
soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head. Ø
Smart splinter remover...Just pour a drop
of Elmer's Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the
skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue. Ø
Remove
ticks…Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick
with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20),
the tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift
it away. March/April 2007
Ø
Potatoes
eaten with the skin on are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, and a
source of iron and fibre. Ø
Stuff
a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream
drips. Ø
Use
a meat baster to ‘squeeze’ your pancake batter onto the hot griddle. You will have perfectly shaped pancakes
every time. Ø
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the
production of hemoglobin in the blood so helps in cases of anemia. Ø
Run
your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats into the
pan. The marshmallows won’t stick to
your fingers. Ø
Wrap celery in aluminium
foil before storing in the refrigerator.
It will keep for weeks. Ø
Don’t throw out leftover
wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future
use in casseroles and sauces. January/February 2007 Ø
To get rid of ants, put small piles
of cornmeal where you see them. They eat it, take it ‘home,’ and can't digest
it so it kills them. It may take a
week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry
about pets or small children being harmed. Ø
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass,
fill it 1/2 full with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid,
mix well. You will find those flies
drawn to the cup and gone forever. Ø If
you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside,
just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. It unseals easily. Ø
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your
car. When the windows fog, rub with
the eraser. Works better than a cloth. Ø
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring
cup, fill it with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry the
cup. Next, add your ingredient, such
as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. Ø
To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle
the plants with cayenne pepper. The
cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it. Ø
To keep weeds from growing in your plants, start
putting in the plants, and work the nutrients into the soil. Wet newspapers, put layers around the
plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening
plastic; they will not get through wet newspapers. November/December 2006 Ø
To know where streaks are
on windows, wash one side vertically and the other side horizontally. Ø
To remove tomato and
grease stains, use Avon Bubble Bath.
Dab, rub, and wash as usual. The
bubble bath will not ruin the colour of the garment. Ø
To
freeze beets for winter storage, cook them until you can remove the
skins. Chop up and put them straight
into freezer bags. They turn out very delicious – just like they are
out of the garden. Ø
To
clean and disinfect surfaces, use full strength vinegar applied with a sponge
or soft cloth, and
wipe clean for a sparkly shine.
Vinegar has been proven to be even more effective than expensive
commercial cleaners. When Yale-New
Haven Hospital was having problems with after-surgery infections, they
cleaned their scrubbing rooms with vinegar and found that it worked better
than the expensive commercial cleaners they had previously used. (See Non-toxic
Cleaning Products for more recipes.
You can purchase a hardcopy of the booklet Non-toxic
Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning and Gardening Chores at Books or the E-book at:
Non-toxic_Alternatives.PPP.htm.) Ø
To repair scratches in
wood furniture, mix equal parts vegetable oil and lemon juice. Put mixture onto a soft cloth and rub
against the scratches until they disappear. Ø
To avoid tears
when peeling onions, slice first, and then slip the bands of skin off. Ø
To remove
onion odours from your hands or cutting boards, use dry mustard. Shake on the mustard, rub in, and then
rinse off. September/October 2006 Ø
You
can get rid of fungus gnats by poking holes in a jar lid (any kind will do) and making holes in the top large enough for the gnats to fly through. Fill the bottom of the jar with vinegar
(about 1/4 full). Put the lid on the
jar and sit the jar in the area of the kitchen or anywhere you want to
capture the gnats. Ø
Freeze
excess gravy and use later on for flavouring soups, stocks, and sauces. Ø
To
stop avocados from oxidizing and turning brown, put lemon juice on the
avocado after slicing or mashing. Ø
To
peel garlic cloves, smash the clove on a cutting board with a heavy knife. The garlic peel will slide off easily.
Ø
Store
ginger root in the freezer to stop it from drying up or spoiling. The ginger can be grated into the food while still frozen. Ø
To
stuff devilled eggs: after boiling your eggs and making your filling, put the filling mixture in a ziplock bag, make sure the bag is sealed, and snip off
one corner of the bag. Squeeze the
filling into the halved egg whites.
After filling the egg halves, discard the baggie. Ø
To
make shrimp sauce, add 1 tbsp. (15 mL) minced onion and 1 tsp. (5 mL) horseradish to 1 cup (250 mL) ketchup. July/August 2006 Ø
To remove gum from hair, rub in peanut
butter and comb out hair. Ø
To remove burnt taste from gravy, add 1
tbsp. (15 mL) peanut butter to and stir. Ø
To remove a stuck burned-out light bulb,
turn on power source for a few seconds.
Turn off the power source and the light bulb will remove easily. Ø
If
your plastic garden furniture gets stained, make a paste by mixing baking soda and water and apply. Leave on for a few minutes before wiping
it off. Ø You can get rid of weeds and
grass growing in the cracks in your sidewalk, driveway, flowerbed, or lawn by pouring boiling
water on them. Ø If you have an aquarium, save
the water each time you change it and water your houseplants with it. The water will provide nutrients for your
plants. Ø Save your pan drippings when cooking meat. Add a little water to the pan, let sit while you eat, scrap out the pan, and freeze the drippings for later use in flavouring soups, sauces, and gravies. May/June 2006
Ø
Mary Young from
California, writes that once a month she feeds her African Violets with chamomile
tea cooled to room temperature.
Chamomile tea stimulates blooming due to the nutrients in the
tea. Potash, one of the nutrients, is
necessary for big blooms and the tannic acid in the tea helps plants retain
moisture. Ø
To marinade meat, place
the marinade and meat in a Ziploc baggie or plastic bag. If you are concerned about the bag leaking you can place it in a
bowl. Rub marinade into the meat and
turn occasionally to marinade other side. Leave meat in marinade for the required time indicated by the
recipe and then cook as usual. Ø When making potato salad,
use warm potatoes. The flavour will
be enhanced
as the potatoes absorb the dressing more
effectively. Ø Brown rice is high in nutrients. Sautéing it in olive oil or butter before
cooking intensifies its nutty flavour. Ø
Don’t throw out leftover
tea; water your plants with it. Ø
To remove lipstick
stains, spray well with hairspray.
With a bar of soap, rub out stain, and rinse in cold water. Ø
To remove white ring on
wood, smear mayonnaise thickly over the stain. Leave on for 4 hours and wipe off.
Clean and polish as usual. March/April 2006
Ø
To remove groves from
carpet after moving furniture, place ice cubes in the groves over night. The
carpet will be dry and the groves will be gone in the morning. Ø
To keep ants out of the
house, draw a line of chalk (with the chalksticks used on chalkboards) where they are entering the
house. Ants won’t cross a chalk line. Ø
Sage is an ant repellent. Place sage branches or sage leaves on the
entry point. Ø
Chew mint gum or mint
leaves to keep away mosquitoes or bugs. Ø
To keep cut flowers fresh
longer, add half water and half sprite or 7-up. Ø
To remove spaghetti from
the cellophane bag, firmly whack the spaghetti on the bottom of the counter. This
will open the bag and you will be able to remove the spaghetti easily. Ø Mosquito bites: try rubbing the affected area with the
inside of a banana skin. Many people
find It amazingly successful at reducing the swelling and
irritation. January/February 2006 Ø Store your flour in the
freezer. This will keep your flour
fresh if you don’t use it frequently. Ø Nuts become rancid easily. Store in the freezer. Buy your nuts from a health food store, where they
are stored in the refrigerator. Ø To find out if your oil is hot
enough for deep-frying, place the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. If the oil bubbles around the spoon, the oil is ready. Ø Use unbleached coffee filters rather
than the permanent filters you can buy.
The paper will remove more
of the impurities in the ground coffee. Compost the coffee grinds and
filters. Ø When cutting an eggplant, use a stainless steel knife as carbon steel will react with the phytochemicals and cause it to turn black. Ø To increase the amount of juice in your lemons, place lemon on your cutting board, roll with your hand to break down the fibre or heat in the microwave for 10 seconds. Ø
Keep a stale bottle of
club soda under the sink for an environmentally friendly way to clean carpet spots, soap scum,
windows and mirrors, chrome, and stains from red wine, coffee, tea, and
pop. (For more information about club
soda and cleaning, see Non-toxic Alternatives For
Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Chores.) |
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