TP Roll Pots - Tutorial

With so many 're-uses' for things, I save A LOT of stuff. One thing I cringed at throwing out was toilet paper rolls... For some reason I just knew they had an ingenious purpose in a second life as a __________. [fill in the blank] I just could never think up something smart enough to justify to my mother that we really should save them.

:Meanwhile - On Pintrest:

[light-bulb]

Someone, somewhere, is a genius....

This is so easy it's not even funny. Once it has fulfilled its sacred duty, take your newly retired TP roll and cut four equally spaced slits about 1" deep on one end.

Then fold one quart of the edge over...

Then the next quarter... [sorry its blurry... New camera is on the 'wish list'; until that become a reality you'll have to suffer through the grain... again, truly sorry]

Then.. you guessed it, fold that next quarter...

And the last one...

I took empty half gal. milk cartons and cut them in 2"-3" sections and they tightly hold five little TP roll pots. Then I moisten my seed starting mix and fill the pots to the top. Place a seed or two in each pot and watch as God makes them grow!

I like to water the pots about every other day with warm water to help encourage germination, mainly because our house tends to be cooler [in some places because we heat with wood]. Once they sprout I don't water them for a few days. The cardboard retains quite a bit of moisture and if I keep them too wet the seedlings mold or rot. I like to put a fan on them to imitate wind and make the roots stronger and also to let the soil dry out a bit. They don't like to be too soggy!

Yumm, can't wait for Tomatoes this summer!!

___________________________________________

What ideas have you discovered to re-use TP rolls??

Any clever gardening tips you'd like to share?

Have a great weekend,

Kerry

Give this way...

WINNERS CHOSIN

A friend and fellow blogger is hosting a give-away on her blog. I have submitted an item from each of my shops to be listed among the prizes!

Check it out here:

http://savoriesoflife.blogspot.com/2012/02/win-lots-of-prizes.html



^^ Congratulations, Lyudmila! Hope your package arrives safely in Russia!! Enjoy  ^^

Mullien - Verbascum Thapsus

As the crazy weather of January fluxes [we've had 60*F days then to 17*F here in SE MO] I find comfort in the promise of spring and all that God offers in nature to please, ease and comfort our ails.

I found these photos from a day of wildcrafting I did last summer. I was so busy that I didn't make time for a veggie garden like I always do; I felt quite like something was missing, for sure. The most I really did with plants was wildcrafted, so I'll tell you a bit about that.

Here we have a wild Mullien plant. The leaves are large and very fuzzy. The lower leaves get very broad and I've been told that Pioneers used them as diapers long ago! It certainly would be a great choice for a possibly sore, damp, baby bum when we take a look at it's medical properties.

Medical Properties: Demulcent, Emollient, Vulnerary, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Astringent, Anti-catarrhal, Expectorant, Diuretic.

These photos are pretty early in the growing season for this plant, by the end of summer the center has grown 4'-6' tall in one slender spike and will have clusters of yellow blooms along the top 1-2 feet of the spike.

This shows the leaves after washing, cutting and laying them out to dry before I use them. I will post again soon to tell you about some suggested uses for Mullien herb.

*This is intended for infromational use only, these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Herba Smoothie

Herba Smoothie, anyone?

I just got this herbal blend in the mail yesterday from the Bulk Herb Store. I put a rounded teaspoon in the blender with frozen berries we picked from our garden and wild off our property here in SE Missouri. Then I added some yogurt and apple juice and a fresh apple. Blended on high for a min. and presto! A beautiful smoothie full of natural vitamins and minerals found in their whole, untampered, form. Simple nutrition in a form our bodies can readily utilize.

Here's to a happy and healthy new year! Cheers!

-Kerry-

Just Peachy

INTRODUCING:

Just Peachy Lip Balm - by Simply Natural Skin


I made this lip balm with organic almond oil, and organic coconut oil; so there is just a hint of coconut to the natural flavor oil of sweet fresh peaches. Each tube is packaged with a tamper evident seal for your protection.

I have listings right now for one (1) tube or three (3) tubes; please send me a note if you are interested in another quantity and I can easily adjust the listing for you.

Have a great week - Kerry

Feed-back

Since my last post, I've handed out a couple of the small tins of salve and rubbed it on mine and my families cuts, bumps, scraps and burns, even rashes. The results have been pretty good. Quick healing has been noted for most all of the abrasions, yet not much difference was noticed for the rashes.

A few draw backs have been taken into account by the various users. Key descriptors have been; "greasy" and "smelly", one said it smelled like roasted chicken. So now I'm wondering if I should market it as a Healing Salve or a Turkey Rub. Needless to say, I will be trying again, though I plan on continuing to use what is left (and returned) of the first attempt for personal use. (For I, for one, don't mind smelling like Thanksgiving). This time hoping to achieve a more appealing aroma and texture on the skin.

Healing Comfrey Salve

I experimented with making a batch of healing salve the other day. I had bought some cute little tins at the health food store when we were there recently and used some of them to store my new salve in.

Filling the little 1/4 ounce, 1/2 ounce and 1 ounce tins.

I melted olive oil, beeswax and coconut oil together with herbs to heal cuts, bruises, bug bites and rashes. There is Comfrey; which heals and rebuilds damaged tissue. Plantain; which relieves itching and swelling from poisonous bug bites. And Lavender; to sooth and replenish the skin.

The salve 'setting up'. It thickens as it cools.