Looking forward to the rain

Since I live out in the "country" in upstate NY, my water is supplied via Mother Earth - we have a shallow well (14 feet deep) that tends to go dry every June or July depending on the weather. Since we are getting our pool installed today, I will be making several trips to our local fire department to fill up a 210 gallon tank that my husband keeps in the back of his pick-up truck. The pool holds 13,000 gallons... hmmm that's 200 divided by 13,000... gulp - 65 loads of water!!! I'm not sure which I feel worse about - the huge amount of water I am going to be using for nothing other than shear pleasure OR the gas I'll be guzzling trekking the 8 miles up and back from the fire department.

So in order to "offset" my water consumption and the gas I'll be "wasting" today, I've decided to calculate my water footprint at waterfootprint.org (btw - it's 1455 cubic meters per year) The average individual water footprint is 1243 cubic meters per year. Of course for the US is 2483 cubic meters per year (go figure). I don't think I'm doing too bad as far as my water footprint until now - most of the ways to offset your water footprint deal with reducing your irrigation and use of sprinkler systems- uhhh my what? Rain - that's the water for my lawn and garden(LOL). We already use the "let it mellow" concept for the bathroom, we turn off the water while brushing our teeth, and take shorter showers than the average person... What's your water footprint? and what are the ways that you reduce your water usage? If you have some good ideas - let me know!!!

Natural Swimming Pool Maintenance

This year my husband and I decided to buy a 24 foot above ground pool. Environmentally, I feel horribly guilty - the chemicals, the constant electric usage.. the chemicals :( I weigh it out with not having to drive to keep our family occupied during the long summer days...

I did some research on-line and found a company called Natural Chemistry that carries products to keep near zero phosphates naturally. It also claims to reduce pool maintenance by up to 50%.

Here are the links to their maintenance kit for algae free pools:

PHOSfree »

Pool Magic + PHOSfree »

Pool Perfect + PHOSfree »

I've figured it out and bearing no algae blooms (keep your fingers crossed) this system should only cost about $107.00 for the whole summer - and that's if we keep the pool open for 4 months! Not likely in upstate NY. That is definitely something I can manage... Economical and environmentally friendly - It's a two-fer :)

Organic Deer Deterrents

As I've told you all before, or maybe I haven't (oops) but I live on 17 beautiful acres in upstate NY - most is leased to a local farmer (12 acres) and it's surrounded by a nice plot to trees - hence my deer "problem" - I put "problem" in quotations because I really don't see them as a problem until they start eating my plants - which isn't that often because I located my garden this year at the front of the property... next year however, it will be at the back in order to help me maintain the weeds and have more accessibility to my water source.

I've done some searching for organic deer deterrent recipes and it seems that hot pepper wax is the most widely used deterrent for keeping the deer at bay. Another suggestion was to try to obtain coyote urine and use that in conjunction with the hot pepper wax. It seems that caution must be taken when spraying on veggies because the pepper taste is so powerful that it will penetrate your veggies..
I found a recipe by Charles Shaner (Consulting Rosarian) in Stauton, VA:

Put 6 hot peppers (the hotter the better) and two cups of water into a blender.
Mix at high speed for 1-2 minutes.
Pour into a container and set aside for up to one day.
Strain liquid through a cheese cloth. (I have used a coffee filter)
Add liquid into a one quart container. Fill container to top with water.
Apply liberally to plants. Re-apply every week to two weeks or after a rain.

There is another recipe for insecticidal soap in this PDF so check it out!

Homeopathic Remedies for Allergies

My allergies have been coming on with a vengeance for about the last 2 weeks now and for many years I've been using Claritin or Zyrtec to control them. This year has started no different, I've already made a hefty dent in my Zyrtec bottle. But I don't want to finish it... I don't want to continue to add chemicals to my body if I can find a natural, safe, even possibly organic product that will be equally effective... So I began researching and here's what I've found...

• With homeopathy, one pill will not work for everyone...
• Most homeopaths feel that allergies are an outward expression of something being "off" internally and will treat that vs. the symptoms of the allergies.
• Quercetin seems to be the most widely used natural source for relief of allergies
• From Wikipedia:

Quercetin may have positive effects in combating or helping to prevent cancer, prostatitis, heart disease, cataracts, allergies/inflammations, and respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma[citation needed]. It also has been claimed to have antidepressant properties, however any claim of quercetin action against neurological diseases should be treated with skepticism due to the fact that quercitin is a neurotoxin in vitro.[10] It also may be found in dietary supplements. An 8-year study found that three flavonols — kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin — were associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer of 23 percent.[11]

So where can I get this? I've found that if I Google Quercetin and hit the shopping tab - there are dozens of products out there... if you are interested, give it a go, I know I'm going to. I'll let everyone know what the outcome with me is after a couple of weeks. Keep you fingers crossed :)

Re-usable grocery bags

Re-usable shopping bags seem to be popping up- being available to purchase all over at the grocery stores and even at Wal-mart...so why is it that so many people seem to still be using those dreaded plastic bags??? I truly do not understand why it's so hard for people to spend the whole $0.99 per bag and grab a couple.... let me give you some reasons to switch:

1. They are only $0.99!!!
2. You can fit at least twice the amount of groceries in the re-usable bags as you can in the plastic ones
3. They are easier to carry
4. They don't make those red-pinchy marks on your fingers and wrists!
5. Each year Americans throw away 100 BILLION plastic bags - only 0.6% are recycled
6. Plastic bags are the #1 item found as litter on North American Beaches
7. Plastic bags are made from petroleum - 12 million barrels of petroleum annually for the US consumption of plastic bags!
8. Plastic shopping bags can take 15 - 1000 YEARS to decompose!
9. Some grocery stores will offer discounts to people who bring in re-usable bags!!

So there you have it... it's economical, environmentally friendly, and convenient - NOW DO IT!

Salmonella Outbreak on Tomatoes

Well, if the FDA needed to give us another reason to grow our own food - this is it! 167 intances of Salmonella Saintpaul in 17 states (mostly in Texas and New Mexio).
Fast food restaurants are pulling their roma, round and plum tomatoes off their sandwiches and grocery stores are tossing their shipped in tomatoes that may cause this rare strain involved in the current outbreak... This is a perfect example of why we MUST BUY LOCAL or GROW OUR OWN VEGETABLES!!!

The center of disease control only lists a few exceptions to the rule of "Don't eat tomatoes"and one of them... Unless they are homegrown! C'mon people - if this isn't a sign you were waiting for - I don't know what is!
Salmonella Saintpaul is known to cause diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Serious and potentially fatal cases are more likely in young children, frail or elderly people, and people with weak immune systems (from WebMD) McDonald's, Burger King, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie, and Taco Bell are among the companies pulling suspect tomatoes, the Associated Press reports.

I appeared in the Dirty Fingers Carnival

Thanks so much to Tired Garden for including me in your Carnival on Dirty Fingers! There is some really great information there so be sure to check it out!

New York in Springtime

Well, last week we were dabbling with temperatures in the 40s - this week it's a scorcher - we are already reaching the 90's today and are supposed to continue this throughout the weekend and into the next week - there goes my plan to plant my lettuce.. I didn't want to plant it too early (because I did that with my tomatoes and peppers and they ended up serving a little more than compost for the next crop) but now I fear it's too hot! I'm thinking I might try to get some containers and plant in there... that way I can put them outside to get a good couple hours of full sun but move them inside during the hottest parts of the day.. I'll be able to keep them well watered and won't have to make 100 trips to and from the rain barrel near the house to make sure they are getting enough moisture...

From searching online, I found that I've accidentally chosen great varieties for container lettuce - I've been really into the Butterheads this year - and have some buttercrunch seeds and some bibb lettuce. According to the Ag Extention at Texas A&M University the following do well in containers - for Leaf Lettuce: Buttercrunch, Salad Bowl, Romaine, Dark Green Boston, Ruby, Bibb.

I think I'll start with an organic top soil mixed with coconut fiber from a coir brick I have and haven't needed to use yet... I'll add some gravel stones first for adequate drainage followed by the top soil/coir mix - Since I'm growing from seed (DOH - why haven't' I started my lettuces earlier indoors :( I'll have to think the container carefully so I don't disturb the roots of the keepers.

I'll have to take some pictures of my new tomatoes - they are about 4 inches tall now and if I can keep my cat from eating them - I'll be all set for tomatoes soon! What's so strange is I have a great friend in Florida from Remodeling This Life who has tomatoes almost already for the picking she writes about them In An Effort To Get Back To Basics... ahhh the differences in climate between NY and FL are amazing - of course had I been a bit more diligent, I would have had more hardy transplants in the ground when the dreaded frost hit and I would be getting ready to reap what I had sewn with some delicious tomatoes in a couple of weeks.. ahh we live and learn.

Green Gifts for Father's Day

Father's Day is right around the corner (June 15th to be exact) and what better to give dad than some eco-friendly gifts. I've compiled a bunch of great ideas to give dad without hurting the Environment!

• For the dad who's a music enthusiast, grab a set of re-purposed vinyl record coasters from Ecoist.com. At $20 for a set of 6 assorted vintage records labels - you just can't go wrong!


• Check out Easy Living Organics for a great assortment of men's apparel that is made of hemp or organic cotton. With pricing from $5.00 - $70.00 for shirts, shorts, underwear and more - you're sure to find something for that special guy.


• For the gardener - how about a vermicomposter or compost bin - both made from 100% recycled plastic!


• If the Dad in your life loves coffee in the morning (or if he's like my husband - he loves coffee anytime of the day) - hook him up with some organic, free-trade coffee from Coffee Bean Direct.. they have an awesome sample pack which includes 10 - 1/2 lb sacks of Organic Fair Trade Coffee for $59.95 (plus S/H) and for a limited time they are offering 2 free coffee mugs and an 11th bag FREE!


• What about a Hemp Hammock for Dad to lounge around in on a lazy day? And better yet - this one, from EcoChoices is a hemp hammock built for 2!!!

Whatever you do decide to get for your dad or husband this Father's Day - please try to keep it environmentally friendly - Even though it's Father's Day - let's still keep Mother Earth in our minds ;)

Coffee Grounds for your Garden

I've always used coffee grounds (along with the unbleached filter) in my compost and mulch and you should too. Coffee grounds are high in Nitrogen (a nutrient that will have your veggies plants flourishing!). Coffee is especially great to mulch your tomatoes - the grounds help suppress late blight.

Cold coffee (at a high concentration) is also great for suppressing slugs. Make your coffee (regular or instant) much stronger than you would want it (3x as strong) and let it cool - then spray the plant that is being effected by the slugs. Those little critters can't stand all that caffeine!!

You don't have to become a coffee junkie just to help your garden... many coffee houses and restaurants will keep their coffee scraps for you. Starbucks for one looks forward to customers asking for used coffee grounds... so ask your local coffee to see if you can get in on some of that action!

I've been featured in a Carnival

For all of you avid blog readers - Please check out my post about "Earth Friendly Cleaning" in Raising Peanuts' blog Carnival Crunchy Tuesday... her site features tons of great tips and advice.

Organic Gardening Magazine

While flipping through my subscription to Organic Gardening Magazine, I am amazed (and a bit overwhelmed sometimes) to the wealth of information this magazine contains. What an indispensable resource for anyone wanting to grow organically.

So while I was perusing through the pages - I came across an advertorial called "One Drop at a Time" - it was so perfectly written by Sharon Tregaskis, environmental writer from Ithaca, NY (just a stones throw from myself), that I had to pay homage to the writings. The article was centered on water conservation and ways to help solve a global problem by individuals making changes in their everyday life.

Here are her 5 water saving tips:

1. You can save 3 gallons a day by turning off water or using a glass to hold what you need for water instead of letting the faucet run freely while brushing your teeth or shaving.
2. You can save 150 gallons of water every month by composting - the idea is that garbage disposals "suck up 50 to 150 gallons of water every month".
3. 300 gallons a month can be spared by taking shorter showers. If we try to shorten our showers by just 1 minute we can save 300 gallons a month.
4. Save an outstanding 1,500 gallons by Xeriscaping. By growing native plants and trees which are already adapted to local rainfall amounts, you will decrease their need for water.
5. 5.8 BILLION GALLONS ARE WASTED EACH DAY by flushing the toilets - we can save all this water by switching to composting toilets - Tregaskis notes that "new models are safe, keep unpleasant odors contained, and are simple to maintain."

I've always turned off water while brushing. I'm an avid composter. I probably could do a bit better with my showers. I don't water my lawn - ever... and I do "let it mellow" but I love the idea of a composting toilet - Not sure if I can convince my husband of this one but I'm definitely going to look into it.. 5.8 billion gallons... YIKES - and when you think about how little fresh water is naturally available (only about 1% of all the world's water is fresh water), it seems like a no brainer to start thinking seriously about water conservation.

Saving Small Lots of Dry Seed

For the last 6 years I've been working as an environmental biologist for a large non-profit educating organic farmers in the art of seed saving. I've been challenged with cleaning so many different kinds of seed - from Amaranth to Zucchini - you name it, I've probably made an attempt at cleaning it.

The most challenging seeds I've ever had to clean are calendula and silver dollar plant. Calendula is had just for the shape. Plus the chaff is roughly the same weight as the seed. When cleaning calendula - dry your flowers to the "bone"... use a 2 inch deep photo developing pan (or something similar with a little weight to it) with a piece of corregated floor mat fit into the bottom of the pan. Make a threshing "float" (similar to a grout float in size and shape) out of wood. Attach the same corregated floor mat material to the "face" of the float. You'll put the dried calendula flowers in the tray on top of the mat and rub the float across the flowers - monitor your pressure as not to crush the seeds.

This method works for a variety of crops (onion, lettuce, dill, dried beans, buckwheat, etc) and if you are only doing a small amount of seed - this can save a significant amount of time when it comes to threshing. Once all the seed is separated from the chaff, I recommend running the seed through a screen or two. Ideally, you'd want to run the crop through one screen just barely big enough so that only the seed and particles smaller could pass through. Deposit the larger chaff into your handy-dandy compost. After that, you'd run the remaining seed and chaff through a screen where the openings are just small enough so that only particles smaller than the seed can escape. In a perfect world, you'd be left with beautiful clean seed at this point - although most of the time (here in the real world) we would still require more cleaning - usually winnowing or some other sort of weight separation. In the photograph, you will see native women winnowing wheat.

If anyone ever has a question about seed saving, feel free to drop me a line