Our garden plan is done - more or less. Now, I need to map out my seed starting/planting calendar. I am still getting use to the warmer springs in Green Bay than I was use to in Two Rivers. My peppers are started (a little too early, unfortunately) and I am getting organized to start everything else.
April 1st - (Indoors) - Peppers*
April 15th - (Direct) - Asparagus
April 15th - (Direct) - Spinach
April 15th - (Direct) - Arugula
April 15th - (Direct) - Raddichio
April 15th - (Direct) - Salad Bed
April 15th - (Direct) - Cilantro
April 15th - (Direct) - Carrots
April 15th - (Direct) - Radishes
April 20th - (Indoors in peat pots) - Green Bean*
May 1st - (Indoors in peat pots) - Squash*
May 1st - (Indoors in peat pots) - Cucumbers*
May 1st - (Direct) - Dill
May 1st - (Direct) - Fennel
May 15th - (Jung Arrival) - Tomatoes*
May 15th - (Jung Arrival) - Leeks*
*Transplant after Memorial Day
My grow light is installed and I am chomping at the bit to get started! What a fun time of year!
Next step - get the herb garden planned (since we will be doing an expansion) and get the mint moved into the herb garden.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Garden Plan for 2010
My garden plan for 2010 is done for now. Once we actually get into the dirt, however, I am certain it will change a bit. As much as I want to grow all kinds of great things, we really only want to garden things we either love to eat or things that will save us substantially at the market.... hence 24 pepper plants and 12 tomato plants. My herb garden and cutting garden have not gotten any attention from me yet, so that is still pending. I have started my pepper seeds on March 14th as well as some basil seeds. I need to make my seed starting calendar this week so that I do not miss important dates, but with the arrival of Rex, I am just behind on everything.
On this eve of St. Patrick's Day, I am certainly feeling my Irish roots. We just keep picking rocks out of our garden and yard!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Clothes Line Going Back Up
Ok... my husband doesn't know this yet, but I have plans for this weekend - and they involve getting my clothes line up. Today I opened all of my first floor windows to give my stagnat little house a much needed breath of fresh air. I tucked the kiddos into blankets for their naps, threw on a fleece and opened up the first floor pores. As I was putting Michael down for his nap, he kept saying "I smell the windows up here mommy!". I laughed and asked him if the window smell made him happy - to which he assured me that it did. (The monsters who hide outside the windows at night aren't there during the day, so it is ok to open the windows.)
As I came back down to put take my diapers out of the dryer and put the sheets in, I realized that the glorious sun was shining and I wasn't sunning my winter-weary dipes. Yep. It is time. Clothesline time again. And in answer to the obvious question, "Yes dear, I will be more than happy to don snow boots and trudge through the remaining pile of snow to hang the dipes... give me my sunsoaked clothesline and I will do almost anything.
As I came back down to put take my diapers out of the dryer and put the sheets in, I realized that the glorious sun was shining and I wasn't sunning my winter-weary dipes. Yep. It is time. Clothesline time again. And in answer to the obvious question, "Yes dear, I will be more than happy to don snow boots and trudge through the remaining pile of snow to hang the dipes... give me my sunsoaked clothesline and I will do almost anything.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Masarik Family Cleaners (Go-To list)
Here are the recipes that I use regularly:
Pet Safe Dry Carpet Cleaner
2 c baking soda
¼ c cornstarch
¼ cornmeal
10-12 drops of my favorite antimicrobial essential oils (my faves: lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, palmarosa)
Linoleum Cleaner
1 T of natural liquid soap
¼ c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)
¼ c vinegar
2 gallons of water
8-10 drops of my favorite antimicrobial essential oils (my faves: lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, palmarosa)
Citrus Loving Wood Floor Cleaner
¼ c. vinegar
2 gallons of hot water
10 drops of citrus essential oils
Wash floor. No need to rinse. To boost, add vinegar and 1 or 2 T of liquid soap as needed.
Borax Booster All Purpose Cleaner
4 T vinegar
4 c water
2 tsp borax
10 drops of tea tree essential oil
10 drops of any favorite smelling essential oil (peppermint is my favorite)
Fresh Smelling Furniture Polish
¼ c olive oil
4T white distilled vinegar
20 drops of lemon or orange (or combination) essential oil
The oils will moisturize your wood while the vinegar cleans it and prevents streaks and smears.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Make a thin paste of lemon juice and borax and rub the toilet.
Diaper Station Antibacterial Freshening Spray
2c Water
14 drops of lemongrass, peppermint, lavender or tea tree oil (or combination)
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
Use paper toweling cut in half or take old receiving blankets and sew them into 4"x4" (or any size you want) squares
Place in a used diaper wipes container
Mix 3 cups of water, 15-20 drops of antibacterial essential oils
Pour mixture over the "wipes" use within 2 weeks or so to prevent mold
If using cloth, throw them in your laundry and wash as you would rags or towels
Pet Safe Dry Carpet Cleaner
2 c baking soda
¼ c cornstarch
¼ cornmeal
10-12 drops of my favorite antimicrobial essential oils (my faves: lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, palmarosa)
Linoleum Cleaner
1 T of natural liquid soap
¼ c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)
¼ c vinegar
2 gallons of water
8-10 drops of my favorite antimicrobial essential oils (my faves: lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, palmarosa)
Citrus Loving Wood Floor Cleaner
¼ c. vinegar
2 gallons of hot water
10 drops of citrus essential oils
Wash floor. No need to rinse. To boost, add vinegar and 1 or 2 T of liquid soap as needed.
Borax Booster All Purpose Cleaner
4 T vinegar
4 c water
2 tsp borax
10 drops of tea tree essential oil
10 drops of any favorite smelling essential oil (peppermint is my favorite)
Fresh Smelling Furniture Polish
¼ c olive oil
4T white distilled vinegar
20 drops of lemon or orange (or combination) essential oil
The oils will moisturize your wood while the vinegar cleans it and prevents streaks and smears.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Make a thin paste of lemon juice and borax and rub the toilet.
Diaper Station Antibacterial Freshening Spray
2c Water
14 drops of lemongrass, peppermint, lavender or tea tree oil (or combination)
Homemade Cleaning Wipes
Use paper toweling cut in half or take old receiving blankets and sew them into 4"x4" (or any size you want) squares
Place in a used diaper wipes container
Mix 3 cups of water, 15-20 drops of antibacterial essential oils
Pour mixture over the "wipes" use within 2 weeks or so to prevent mold
If using cloth, throw them in your laundry and wash as you would rags or towels
Dishwasher Detergent Woes - SOLVED (for us anyway)
So, I realize that it has been two weeks since my inital posting on this recipe. We have learned alot in those two weeks.
1. Our dishwasher is old, poor and just plain old not working well and will probably need to be replaced this year. We've looked into repairing it, but the reality is that this machine was abused before we got it and hasn't fared well. Repair would be only slightly less costly than replacing and if we replace, we can go with a more efficient model.
2. The recipe works... pretty well. It works beautifully for stoneware and plastic. Does a much better than ok job on glass. Is hit or miss with silverware.
We have varied our silverware washing routine several times: insert full of food, insert used but without chunks, insert lightly pre-washed and just give up and handwash. Insert lightly pre-washed works pretty well. We just rinse our silverware with clean water and insert into the machine for sterilization.
Knowing that this recipe is so accessible, green and miserly, it is a winner for us. It isn't a fail safe, but then again... nothing in our dishwasher ever has been.
The recipe again is:
4 parts Borax (1 cup)
4 parts Baking Soda (1 cup)
1 part CANNING/PICKLING salt (1/4 cup)
1 part Citric Acid (1/4 cup)
A few drops of favorite antibacterial essential oil per batch (a batch for us is a popcorn tub)
Where to buy citric acid and oils: my new favorite organic, fair trade supply source: www.mountainroseherbs.com. They are great to work with, their prices are really fair and it is USDA organic and Fair Trade. How can I argue? I just wish I had a local vendor selling their stuff!
What if you have a batch of another kind of homemade dishwasher detergent that doesn't work? I am mixing mine with water and using it as porcelain bathroom scrubber. Be sure to rinse with vinegar water afterwards or else you will have that dreaded white film that vetoed the recipe from your dishwasher to begin with.
Happy home cleaning!
1. Our dishwasher is old, poor and just plain old not working well and will probably need to be replaced this year. We've looked into repairing it, but the reality is that this machine was abused before we got it and hasn't fared well. Repair would be only slightly less costly than replacing and if we replace, we can go with a more efficient model.
2. The recipe works... pretty well. It works beautifully for stoneware and plastic. Does a much better than ok job on glass. Is hit or miss with silverware.
We have varied our silverware washing routine several times: insert full of food, insert used but without chunks, insert lightly pre-washed and just give up and handwash. Insert lightly pre-washed works pretty well. We just rinse our silverware with clean water and insert into the machine for sterilization.
Knowing that this recipe is so accessible, green and miserly, it is a winner for us. It isn't a fail safe, but then again... nothing in our dishwasher ever has been.
The recipe again is:
4 parts Borax (1 cup)
4 parts Baking Soda (1 cup)
1 part CANNING/PICKLING salt (1/4 cup)
1 part Citric Acid (1/4 cup)
A few drops of favorite antibacterial essential oil per batch (a batch for us is a popcorn tub)
Where to buy citric acid and oils: my new favorite organic, fair trade supply source: www.mountainroseherbs.com. They are great to work with, their prices are really fair and it is USDA organic and Fair Trade. How can I argue? I just wish I had a local vendor selling their stuff!
What if you have a batch of another kind of homemade dishwasher detergent that doesn't work? I am mixing mine with water and using it as porcelain bathroom scrubber. Be sure to rinse with vinegar water afterwards or else you will have that dreaded white film that vetoed the recipe from your dishwasher to begin with.
Happy home cleaning!
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