Search results

Marianne, I do have a question about what you want to find when you dig the trap up. If nothing has happened, the wood is just sitting there, then the termites didn't find it? Or the ants ate the termites? If the wood is a tiny bit eaten, does that mean the termites found it and then ants ate...

Here's a process that is very specific, and if followed results in "mayonnaise" textured soap using those same ingredients (nice pictures here) (I had no idea about the blender blade fitting the mason jar. Might want to test it first!)...

Actually, it turns out pine needles are not acidic, and they take forever to break down, so even if they improve the soil it could take many months to over a year, and you probably want something now. If you need acid apply used coffee grounds, that you can get extra from coffee shops if you...

~gd, no, I didn't imply that browns add oxygen. Maybe I didn't explain why I suggested adding browns. If a pile is too wet, browns will absorb excess moisture. They are stiffer than greens, and make little air pockets that allow for that oxygen/air within a pile. That's what keeps a pile...

Sounds easy! I'll have to cruise the thrift stores for another food processor. So it sounds like one bar of soap should be diluted in 5 gallons of water, and perhaps that's why I'm still getting too thick a gel solution.

Thanks, guys, for all the ideas. I have seen the chips recipe and it seems to require a dehydrator, or I have a solar oven that works similarly to that, and needs a little venting to let out the moisture. But that takes so long, and so I've also tried the grilling, which is delicious. It's...

~gd, <<Your pile and forget it methods are outdated>> Actually, it's not outdated. I do know how the science works, and there is lots of evidence that slow compost has more to offer plant roots and soil. I know there are always big debates about making compost. I was just trying to...

Nifty, you might want to look at this skeptically. there is no way on this planet that a company as powerful as PG&E, that gets breaks from the state that they do, is going to encourage consumers to use less so they make less. Get real about this, please :) Check out how they do it, and how...

Well, it's mid summer and there's a lot of them. What are your favorites? Can they be canned? Trying not to freeze things, so how can I keep these wonderful guys all year? :)

For what it's worth, no one ever said solar was cheaper. And I think that's important to note, because it gets a lot of press, and everyone is trying to do the right thing, but are being taken advantage of. The big companies that are sucking large amounts of money off of their consumers to set...

Kintty, your food processor??? I can't imagine that!! How much water do you dissolve it in?

I love to compost, I really believe in it, and we also have a composting toilet, so I have worked on lots of ways to keep them as efficient as they can be, but there is just no stopping gnats and flies that can get into both piles, especially inside where it's warm all winter. We add herbs to...

Britesea, thanks for posting that recipe. That is the one I use, except I've tried to incorporate Zote. Even if I melt it, it still seems to gel up, or maybe I'm not diluting it enough. Maybe it goes farther than I think :)

Britesea, thanks for the clarification. I'm going to go muddle up some leaves and see what happens :) Farmwife, vinegar, that would great. Maybe I'll have to do some experiments. Thanks, guys.

I'll play the devil's advocate here, a little bit, because I have a farm and work really hard to make my soil healthy and it provides the best nutrition possible to the vegetables and there's not a lot of expense in doing that, not nearly as much maintenance. There are some aquaponics nearby...

The window solar heater on the builtitsolar site is good. The YouTube has the right idea, but using a fan isn't necessary if it goes directly into the bottom of the window (which theirs doesn't). It's also not necessary to create turbulence with the baffles if not using a fan. I live where...

Britesesa, wow, sounds like great stuff. Is this the plant you are talking about? This is not what we have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major On this site, scroll down to the plantain, this is what we have. The leaves are about as wide as a finger. The seed head stalks stick up...

Thanks, guys, I will try some of these. Denim Deb, no birch trees, but it sounds interesting. Baymule, yeah, that's what I'm using now and it's not workin'!! Britesea, interesting. I've got some plantain "weeds" a low -growing plant with "flowers" that stick straight up and turn into seed...

anyone getting good results to stop itching from bug bites? I have had good luck with clove oil in the past, but I can't find mine. Hoping there are a few other things. Thanks.

I remember in the '70s we used to macrame hammocks out of cotton clothesline rope. There are some beautiful designs out there. Takes a lot, though. And you have to be careful not to flip yourself out of it! http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/how-to-make-a-hammock-zmaz72jaztak.aspx...