Indian Runners

One of the biggest projects I have taken on this year for my homestead is purchasing 4 gorgeous Indian Runner ducklings. I named them after the Golden Girls--Sophia is the gray, Dorothy is black, Blanche is chocolate, and Rose is the fawn. After reading up on backyard chicken projects versus ducks, I felt ducks were more appropriate for what I wanted. These ducks can produce 200-300 eggs per season for at least 3-5 years not to mention being strong foragers. The project is still young. My ducklings turned 1 month old on the 4th of July, so there's not much I can report except that there is quite a bit of work involved. I keep them inside in a small dog kennel lined with newspaper under a heat source for now. Originally, the girls were bathing in the sink in just a small amount of warm water (they don't develop their own waterproofing oils until about 4 weeks and aren't strong swimmers until that develops) once each morning. But, now that they've grown so very much in the last month, they're bathing twice a day in the tub in a limited amount of warm water. They have access to water and food during the day and also occasionally get mealworms and crickets as treats. Despite the work, though, I have to say that so far I do not regret the decision to start this project at all. In fact, the girls have really been my saving grace after a tough year at work. So, without further ado, here they are (I'll post updates as we go):

At 1 week above and 4 weeks below

A Few Unexpected Uses for Coconut Oil

I am absolutely in love with coconut oil. I love the way it smells, the way it tastes, and the benefits it has for my skin. Here are some of the uses I have found for it beyond using it as a substitute in cooking:

1. Facial Moisturizer. Coconut oil has antimicrobial benefits and will not clog pores or cause acne; it will likely alleviate preexisting acne in actuality, and it prevents the use of harsh chemicals and oils on the skin from other products.

2. Makes an excellent makeup remover. Just a dab will do, and it will take your eye makeup off just as easily as any other makeup remover.

3. All over skin moisturizer. Not only do I use this as a facial moisturizer, it also makes an excellent all-over body lotion especially on freshly shaved legs.

4. and 5. I have yet to try these two, but they're on my to-do list. Coconut oil can be used in making your own soaps and deodorant. Recipes for these can be found all over the internet and as soon as I try some out for myself, I will be posting a few on this site.

6. Lip balm with an SPF of 4.

7. Leave-in or intensive hair conditioner. For myself, I have very coarse, thick hair. It's also wavy which I hate, so I am always in need of something to help soothe and smooth it after drying and using a straightening iron. A small amount is all that is needed on damp hair to help with these issues. A tiny amount can also be used between washes to smooth fly-aways. As an intensive leave-in treatment, the oil can be applied to hair which is then kept in a shower cap overnight. Rinse out the next morning.

8. As a scrub. Mix with equal parts sugar for an all-over body scrub in the shower or mix with equal parts sea salt to get rid of dead skin and callouses on feet.

As I try and find more uses, I will make additional posts. The great thing about a product like this is that it can take the place of so many other products you're currently using. What else could you buy for less than $10 that works as a facial moisturizer, cooking oil, hair conditioner, body lotion, lip balm, eye makeup remover, and more?? The list could be so much longer, but I hate to taut uses on a post before I've researched them myself, so expect some additional uses along with recipes in the future. Thanks for reading!

Life Straw

This ingenious device is the perfect short-term answer to water issues for a bug-out bag or emergency survival kit. Each straw can filter 1000L of water removing 99.9% of waterborne protozoa and 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria. As any true prepper can tell you, this is not a lasting solution to water issues. Other, more complicated systems will need to be in place for long term water supplies in the face of any real apocalyptic-type situation. However, this straw can easily aid in recon missions that may need to take place in an apocalypse situation making room in bags for more protective gear or other necessary items. In the bug out bag, it is also the perfect addition for getting one from point A to point B. Buy several--one for the whole family. My family has one per bug-out bag, and one for each member in our 3-day emergency kits.

Cleaning Made Easy: Hydrogen Peroxide

Any frugal mom blog or diy website probably has at least one article about the many, many uses for hydrogren peroxide. In times where so many of us struggle to be positive about our economic futures, it becomes pertinent to figure out more cost effective ways to do things. On top of that, so many people are becoming more environmentally conscious that we are beginning to micromanage our carbon footprint. Instead of 15 cleaning products for 15 rooms and types of surfaces, that number can be seriously reduced with hydrogen peroxide, a nontoxic substance often found in a first aid cabinet. It is simply a combination of 2 hydrogen and 2 oxygen atoms that none of us worry about having in our homes.

Hydrogen peroxide can be used for first aid purposes, to lighten hair, treat clothing stains, treat carpet stains, disinfect countertops, and whiten teeth. It can also be used to lighten whites as a safer alternative to bleach. On top of all this, it can be used to treat foot fungus, and when used with a nasal douche in a diluted form, it will help cure a sinus infection.

Hydrogen peroxide alone can replace multiple products in the home and provide safer alternatives to chemical based ones that aren't during the environment any favors. And the better fact is that this is all much friendlier on the wallet.

I use it myself for carpet stains, to treat acne, as a tooth whitener, countertop cleaner, and stain remover. My plans are to explore and expand its use in my home.

Make Your Own Carpet Powder

This carpet powder is extremely cheap and extremely easy to make. For enough powder to cover a standard-sized living room or bedroom (not small or large), get out a medium mixing bowl. Pour in 1 cup of baking soda. Add 1 cup of borax. It's important to understand that this means borax, the laundry additive, and not boric acid. Do not use boric acid. Then add a few drops of essential oil for a lovely scent. I prefer NOW Foods orange oil. The borax and baking soda are odor absorbents/neutralizers and work to reduce any smells in the carpet just like the store-bought versions. If you have any concerns with using borax, simply use 2 cups of baking soda with the essential oil.

What's even better is that you can use this same powder mixture, a few coffee filters, and a bit of ribbon or lace to make your own air fresheners. These are the last ones I made.

All it takes is a couple tablespoonfuls per coffer filter. Then you pull the edges together and tie it off. Now, you can have some lovely odor neutralizers to place around the house. 

The First Post: Gardening With Kitchen Scraps

One of the best ways to recycle while also working towards self-sufficiency is to garden from food scraps. This can be done with several different items. Five of these items will be included in the following list. More lists will follow.

1. Pineapple

This one is very simple but does take some patience. All you need to do to get started is take your pineapple, cut the green top off, and remove all the yellow fruit. At this point, some experts say it is better to stand the top upside down in a bowl to let the newly exposed end harden for a few days up to a week. Some never bother with this step. In my experience, hardening has worked. The top should then be placed in a glass of water as shown above and placed in a sunny location. Roots will begin to grow, but this will likely not take place immediately as the plant has to get over the shock of what has happened and restabilize before adding new growth, so don't give up! Change the water every few days. When roots begin to form, place the plant in a sunny patch in the yard or in a pot with potting soil. 

2. Garlic

If you've ever had a bulb of garlic sitting in your refrigerator too long, you may have noticed one or more of the cloves starting to sprout already. Regrowing garlic from a leftover clove is simply that easy. It doesn't even have to sprout before you plant it. With a spout, plant it in a sunny location either in the yard or in a pot with potting soil sprout side up. If there's no sprout, plant it pointy side up. The sprouts will eventually grow leaves. When the leaves turn brown and die off, it is time to pull your garlic bulb from it's location and start the process all over again. 

3. Onions

This includes green onions as pictured above as well as any other variety. I, myself, grow both green and white onions with the same method. First, you cut off the rooted end of your onion leaving a good portion of the onion bulb or fleshy part attached to the roots. Put this in a bowl and let it harden a few hours up to a day. With my method, I simply transfer the root to a pot with potting soil root side down and lightly covered with soil. Some methods say to let the onions stay in water as pictured above. Either method works depending on what you prefer. Each onion used can regrow a new one for an endless supply. Green onions are easy to recognize when ready. With red, white, or yellow onions, you can tell the onion is ready when the leaves begin to flop over and turn brown. 

4. Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

When cutting up your store bought potatoes for any dish you're using them for, simply save the eyes with a little bit of flesh attached and plant them in rich soil. And, trust me, the eyes do not have to be as large as the ones in the featured picture above. The last time I made Shepherd's Pie, I cut off about 12 of the tiniest eye spots from my red potatoes. Not every single one has sprouted, but most have which is very encouraging. This takes very little effort and provides you with a staple addition to your food list. Sweet potatoes can be done the same way. Another method that is fun for the kiddos is to poke 4 toothpicks into the sides of a potato and place it onto a glass so that at least 1 eye will be under water when the glass is filled. With this method, you and your child or children can track the progress of the potato's growth easily. 

5. Leafy Greens (like cabbage, romaine lettuce, leeks, and even celery)

The method for most leafy greens is basically the same. First of all, you cut away the parts that you'll be using as usual. The part needed to regrow the vegetable is the base of the stalk. When this part--the base--of the vegetable is all that's left, let it sit in a bowl of water in a sunny location with the cut parts facing up. After 5-7 days a few of the leaves will already be regrowing. At this point, you simply transfer the vegetable into a pot with soil or into your garden.