I have been busy for a bit getting the house here in Florida ready to rent out. So as many of you know I work from home and have been with the same company for the last 3 years. I have also been looking for other things to do in my spare time on the computer to earn some change here and there. I will be posting a blog later with someones that I came across and that have worked for me. Hope everyone is having a good day.
an anodyne makes you feel good
Friday, October 7, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
A company rooted in American history refuses to wither away
Passing this along for the wonderful Beekman Boys.....
A company rooted in American history refuses to wither away
A company rooted in American history refuses to wither away
Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell are the owners of Beekman 1802. Take a peek at life on their farm at beekman1802.com
When we first bought Beekman 1802 Farm, the only heirloom vegetables we’d ever heard of were heirloom tomatoes. But a welcome-wagon meeting with one of our neighbors changed all of that. Half-a-mile down the road from us lived the owners of Landreth Seed Company, and we soon learned that every kind of vegetable seed carries with it a little bit of history.
Before long our vegetable garden was sprouting with over 100 different varieties of heirloom seeds – peas, beans, lettuce, carrots, cabbages, and nearly any other kind of vegetable you’ve ever tried. Or haven’t tried.
There’s no set definition of what makes a seed “heirloom.” Some claim it’s the age of origin. Others insist that that the seeds must have been passed down through generations of a family. But nearly all gardeners agree that to even be considered for heirloom status, seeds must be open-pollinated – not commercial hybrids or genetically modified variants.
Heirloom seeds carry the story of America with them. Many were brought to this country by immigrants who could not bring many belongings along on their cramped ocean crossings. Tiny seeds could be tucked in pockets, and carried the most potent memories of their homeland: the cuisine.
When our neighbor’s company, Landreth Seeds, was founded, all seeds were “heirloom.” It is the oldest seed house in America, and the fourth oldest corporation of any kind in the USA. Founded in 1784, Landreth has provided seeds for every U.S. President from George Washington to FDR (yes, Presidents used to grow things themselves). And as our country grew, so did Landreth. By the mid-19th century, Landreth was distributing a seed catalog to every single household in America.
When Barbara and Peter Melera purchased Landreth eight years ago, it was barely recognizable as the powerhouse it had once been. With hard work and dedication, they trekked around the country to garden shows and fairs. They rescued valuable dwindling seed stocks from the dusty corners of the neglected warehouse.
But like many companies, the recession has hit Landreth hard. Recently, we logged into our e-mail to find a disturbing message from our neighbors stating that if Landreth didn’t raise enough operating capital within 30 days, 2011 would be their last growing season. After 227 years of continuous operation, Landreth Seed Company would see its remaining assets harvested by lawyers and bankers.
“For 8 years, Landreth has tried, unsuccessfully, to raise equity capital from financial institutions, wealthy individuals, cashed-out entrepreneurs, foundations and agricultural corporations,” Barbara Melera says. In this age of factory farms and genetically modified produce, they haven’t had any luck.
While chefs and food enthusiasts have made the surprising and diverse flavors of heirloom vegetables popular, there still is not the wide-scale demand necessary for large farms to switch from cultivating cheaper, commercially hybridized varieties. Which is why it’s still virtually impossible to find a tomato that tastes like a tomato in your local supermarket.
However, like the great American company that Landreth is, it isn’t going to fade away without a fight.
“Its become obvious that the only way Landreth will get out of this dilemma is the old fashioned way,” Barbara Melera says. “We have to sell our way out. There are 84 million gardening households in this country. We need 1/84th or less than two percent of all the gardeners in America to purchase a catalog from us to make this goal.”
That’s one million catalogs. If they can sell that amount before September 30th, they’ll raise enough funds to stay in business.
The rush has started. Garden bloggers across the internet have been called to arms. The initial response has been heartening. Seed-lovers can’t bear to watch the oldest piece of American gardening history fade away. The first weekend after the Meleras' personal e-mail plea, Landreth’s website was swamped. They’ve since increased the bandwidth to handle the volume.
But a million catalogs is a lot of sell. “There is no question that meeting this goal will be a great challenge,” Barbara says. “There is also no question that only in America would it be possible to achieve.”
Editor's note: Our Managing Editor is a friend and neighbor of Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell and has appeared several time on their TV show "The Fabulous Beekman Boys."
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The date
Well we have set a date to leave Florida. We will be leaving on the 26th of this month and finally completely heading to Arizona to start out new life out there. I can not wait. I miss our girls so much!
Our trailer will be leaving that weekend and we will be pulling our bass boat and will have our 4 goats with us.
We plan on stopping a few places here and there and in between.
Wish us luck!
Our trailer will be leaving that weekend and we will be pulling our bass boat and will have our 4 goats with us.
We plan on stopping a few places here and there and in between.
Wish us luck!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Updates
I have taken a minute and updated the blogs that I like to follow and also add apart where I can list websites that I find useful. Let me know what you think. Do you have any to add?
Thanks
Thanks
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Lay of the Land
So my wonderful hubby gets me a drawing pad, some pencils, and some color pencils the other day. Now I have been drawing out our property, the house, and the fence that is currently up. I have ideas for where I want to put some flowers (this deciding what flowers), where I want to put some fruit trees, and other trees. But we also want an out door grill (not one you buy at home depot), a clay oven, and a place for my solar oven.
We have decided that we will remove the shed that is currently to the left of our house over to the right side and make it into the girls club house. We will be building my hubby a garage that will run east to west of the north side of the house.
We are also still trying to decided where to put the goats pen up.
So any and all ideas are welcome!
We have decided that we will remove the shed that is currently to the left of our house over to the right side and make it into the girls club house. We will be building my hubby a garage that will run east to west of the north side of the house.
We are also still trying to decided where to put the goats pen up.
So any and all ideas are welcome!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Using Baking Soda
Today I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs and came across some uses for baking soda. I love using baking soda and vinegar when cleaning around the house so I thought it was so cool when I saw this and all of the different ways it can be used.
So just click here to go to the blog....
Or you can look below at the list. I want to say thank you to Lindsey C @ The Housewifes Weekly Journal for posting these.
Health Uses
1. Use it as an antacid. (Hmm... I've got to try this in addition to my Star Anise tea)
2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff
3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste. (This sounds like a great alternative to regular toothpaste that contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
4. Use it as a face and body scrub.
5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water. (Love it!)
8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.
13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
14. Use it to relieve bee stings.
15. Use it to relieve windburn.
16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.
17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.
In the Home
18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase. (I guess Fabian will have to go buy me some flowers, to try this one!)
19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood. (Glad I haven't had to use this one!)
20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.
22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.
25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain. (Great idea for Floridians)
26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.
27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.
34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.
In Cooking
35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it. (This supposedly helps remove pesticides!)
37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.
38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.
40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid. (I don't know about the Kool-Aid)
41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.
43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda. (Got to try this one)
Cleaning Purposes
44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs
46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and counter tops.
47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
48. Remove grease from pots and pans.
49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.
53. Clean your shoes with it.
54. Clean garbage cans with it.
55. Use it to wash diapers.
56. Clean the fridge with it.
57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.
58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.
59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.
60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica counter tops with the sponge.
61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.
64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.
65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing. (I tried this one the other day to remove burnt milk from the bottom of a pan. I boiled it with about 2 tsp baking soda and all the burnt mess floated to the top!)
67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.
68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water. (This works and is so much more environmentally friendly than chemical drain cleaners)
69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.
70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rag to clean the toaster. (Does everyone do that?!)
72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.
73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.
74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.
75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.
So just click here to go to the blog....
Or you can look below at the list. I want to say thank you to Lindsey C @ The Housewifes Weekly Journal for posting these.
Health Uses
1. Use it as an antacid. (Hmm... I've got to try this in addition to my Star Anise tea)
2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff
3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste. (This sounds like a great alternative to regular toothpaste that contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate)
4. Use it as a face and body scrub.
5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water. (Love it!)
8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.
13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
14. Use it to relieve bee stings.
15. Use it to relieve windburn.
16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.
17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.
In the Home
18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase. (I guess Fabian will have to go buy me some flowers, to try this one!)
19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood. (Glad I haven't had to use this one!)
20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.
22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.
25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain. (Great idea for Floridians)
26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.
27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.
34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.
In Cooking
35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it. (This supposedly helps remove pesticides!)
37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.
38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.
40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid. (I don't know about the Kool-Aid)
41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.
43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda. (Got to try this one)
Cleaning Purposes
44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs
46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and counter tops.
47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
48. Remove grease from pots and pans.
49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.
53. Clean your shoes with it.
54. Clean garbage cans with it.
55. Use it to wash diapers.
56. Clean the fridge with it.
57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.
58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.
59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.
60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica counter tops with the sponge.
61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.
64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.
65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing. (I tried this one the other day to remove burnt milk from the bottom of a pan. I boiled it with about 2 tsp baking soda and all the burnt mess floated to the top!)
67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.
68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water. (This works and is so much more environmentally friendly than chemical drain cleaners)
69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.
70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rag to clean the toaster. (Does everyone do that?!)
72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.
73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.
74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.
75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.
Green Sites and Apps
So while the hunny and I have been working around the house here in Fl and packing and moving some more stuff into the trailer I have been looking on the web for more green sites. I love reading other peoples blogs so I have a lot of sites that I read daily on my google reader. I love my google reader and wish that I had app to easily bring it up on my nook, but until one is made I will keep going to the website. Anyways so if you come across any blogs about homesteading, sustainable living, or green living, be sure to drop me a line so I am enjoy them also. I plan on adding the blogs I read to my site here but think I am going to have to move the box that they go in since it is kind of small and I read a lot lol.
Now on to the sites and app's...
I will do the apps first as I have only come across a few that I really like and plus I only get the free ones.
The Treehugger app brings you news of green things, ways to go green and other people and places that are going green and how they are doing it.
The Go Green app gives you tip on how you can go green. Every time you close the app and open back up it gives you a new tip.
The Locavore app helps you eat in season and local to where you are. Based on your phone’s GPS location, Locavore will make searching for in-season, local food a breeze by pinpointing farms and farmers’ markets nearest you.
As for some of the sites that I love to read. Instead of listing them on here. I will be adding them to my page so that others can see as they are updated.
Now on to the sites and app's...
I will do the apps first as I have only come across a few that I really like and plus I only get the free ones.
The Treehugger app brings you news of green things, ways to go green and other people and places that are going green and how they are doing it.
The Go Green app gives you tip on how you can go green. Every time you close the app and open back up it gives you a new tip.
The Locavore app helps you eat in season and local to where you are. Based on your phone’s GPS location, Locavore will make searching for in-season, local food a breeze by pinpointing farms and farmers’ markets nearest you.
As for some of the sites that I love to read. Instead of listing them on here. I will be adding them to my page so that others can see as they are updated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)