I know many of you have good reasons way you are wanting to start gardening/farming. I also know lots of you have been gardening for many years and I wanted to connect all you "pros" with all the "rookies". Here we can share all our experience with members that really need help getting started:)
I myself started out gardening in some bad clay soil! This clay was the worst ever and that lead me to research how to break down clay soil organically. Over time I added raised beds and that is what I have today. There are lots of ways to garden but you want to start out with the steps needed for each way and this is where you can look! So "pros", post all you know to help others get started!
This area Covers: Planning, soil testing, determining your soil type, in ground gardening, raised bed gardening, location, companion gardening, "NO DIG" gardening, square foot garden, Back to Eden garden.
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First Year's Mistakes
Written by: pyro883 on: Jul-10-14This is my first year gardening, and I have tried to research as much as possible. However, I have...
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Building organic soil & breaking up clay!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you guys a little bit about building an organic soil...
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If you are going to be an organic gardener/farmer learning to compost will be a big key in your success. Compost can help you in all kinds of way! It can help you to recycle all plant matter that your yard can produce, make your soil rich with nutrients and living organisms, breaks down clay soils, makes it easy for your plants to take up nutrients, and so much more!
There are lots of different ways to compost but I will touch on what I have done. I always have a big compost pile going year round that I will turn once a year then add that compost about 12" deep under my planter beds. I don't like adding food scraps to my compost piles because rats come around so I was composting with a barrel composter to keep the food scraps off the ground. Now I compost in the place I am going to plant in spring. Share with other members how you compost and what has worked best for you!
This area Covers: Why compost, benefits of composting, what to compost, what not to compost, HOT composting, heating up compost, Cold composting, barrel composter, lasagna composting, composting in place, when it's ready.
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Barrel Composter
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Build a barrel composter or buy a barrel.I built my own barrel composter to keep rats, mice, and...
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Another area that the organic gardener/farmer really needs to focus in on is poop! Ha ha ha! You read that right, poop:) Another word for it is fertilizer or manure. Most manures need to be composted before you can use it because the nitrogin levels are so high in "raw" manure will "burn" your plants. It needs time to break down so your plants can take it up without it burning your plants!
Some of the manures I use in my garden are chicken manure, rabbit manure, and fish. Chicken manure is a "HOT" manure and it needs to be composted to have time to cook. This is a good way to get those compost piles that have gone cold cooking and hot again! Rabbit manure is great. It is a "COLD" manure and that just means it does not need to be composted to use. It can be used fresh from the factory so to speak;) The only thing that I don't like about rabbit manure is, if your rabbit eats seeds from weeds the seeds will not die. Just make sure they do not eat seeds from weeds. Then fish poop! I have a barrel that I made into a fish tank with a hose connection that connects to my drip line that goes into my garden. When I do water changes on my fish barrel, that water goes right into my garden. Please share how you get your fertilizers!
This area Covers: Types of manures, cow, hourse, goat, sheep, chicken, rabbit, fish, ways of gathering, getting it ready to use, using it, best, worse.
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Fertilizer and recycling stuff on a Tight Budget
Written by: CDfromKY on: Jan-02-14A tight budget forces one to be very creative with materials at hand. For instance I live on SS...
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I am all about saving money when it comes to my garden projects. I think we should always be of the mind to recycle as much as we can, when we can:) There has been so many things I have built from recycled/reclaimed woods, barrels, blocks, bricks, and anything else that I could get my hands on! Pallets have really come in handy for all kinds of projects.
I know there are lots of you out there that have some awesome ideas on building raised garden beds! I have seen so many great looking designs of all our members garden beds! Cold frames is another great idea for members to ether extened there growing season, or grow right through winter:) How about greenhouses? Post an article to help our members build your great projects!
This area Covers: DIY raised beds, DIY cold frames, DIY greenhouses, DIY trellis, Hoop houses, Worm bin, Garden art.
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Mini Greenhouse!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Hey! Don't throw that empty strawberry container away! Why not reuse them as a mini greenhouse to...
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So many times I have told people how to prune there tomato plants. So many times I have talked about how to plant this or that in the garden! We have talked about the right growing temps, when to plant, how to plant, and what to plant with this or that! Well, we can go into detail here on all those subjects and share what we know with others.
There is so many things to know about growing just tomatoes that I am sure this area will be a home run! Not only for members who share there wisdom, but also for all you new organic gardeners! Lets get this going:)
This area Covers: Pruning, Watering, Propagating, Grafting, Training Plants.
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Making Biochar
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13One of my goals for this year is to make a biogas to run my propane grill, and while doing...
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Perfectly Pruned Peppers
Written by: CDfromKY on: Dec-23-13This gardening season I decided to try something I had seen on a YouTube video. I planted a baby...
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STOP!! Don't kill that bug! One of the biggest benefits to the organic gardener/farmer are bugs:) Do you think composting is done only by rot? Bugs eat over half of that compost. Do you think your soil get the nutrients it need from itself? Bugs again are a big reason for healthy soil:)
Paper wasp can kill nearly caterpillars such as hornworms and inchworms:) Beneficial Nematodes will take care of that Ant problem and they will kill fleas as well! Ladybugs and Hover Fly larva kill Aphids like crazy. Green Lacewings will kill Mealy Bugs. Are Slugs and Snails running your garden? Get Decollate Snails to eat all your slugs and snails:) Praying Mantis can and will destroy just about any bad bugs! Black Soldier Flies live in compost piles and eat LOTS of food waste! They can also be harvested and fed to your chickens! Please share your ideas on beneficial bugs and how you can use them to serve us in the garden/farm.
This area Covers: How to attract beneficial bugs, Red Wigglers, Nightcrawlers, Butterflies, Bees, Beneficial Nematodes, Decollate Snails, Green Lacewings, Ladybugs, Hover flies, Black Soldier Flies (BSF), Praying Mantis.
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Earthworms
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-20-13Earthworms When I first moved to this house that I live in now, I really wanted to get started...
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Black Soldier Fly
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-18-13I just love these little flies! There are around 120,000 different species of flies around the world but...
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Black Soldier Fly Composter
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-16-13 -
DIY lizard trap for your garden!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-16-13As some of you know I try and keep my garden as organic as I can. I quickly learned that when you...
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Yellow Jacket Wasp
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Oct-14-13In going along with the theme of my last blog on lizards being beneficial for the garden (and...
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Are you noticing powdery mildew on your zucchini plants? How about a brown or black spot on the bottom of those yummy tomatoes you have been caring for? I know how it feels to have one nice and red tomato left on the vine that you plan on using soon only to fine that when you go out to pick it and you notice something ate it!!! There are lots of little creatures out there wanting to eat your so loved garden, after all those tomatoes are very tasty;) Hornworms and Inchworms also love eating your tomato plant!
There are lots of answers to all those problems and other problems! When you get powdery mildew on that zucchini plant you can make it go away by dissolving two uncoated aspirin in a quart of water and spray on the leaves. That brown or black spot on those tomatoes is blosumm end rot. To fix that, you can add crushed up egg shell when you first plant all your tomato plants. As for the rats, a BB gun with a night vision scope will take care of those little stinkers! Wasp can really damage the hornworm and inchworm population:)
This area Covers: BUGS: Aphids, Cucumber Beetles, Cabbage Worms, Cutworm, Fruit Worms, Grubs, Grasshoppers, Mealy Bugs, Mosquitoes, Slugs, Snails, Termites, Army Worms, Hornworms, Inchworms. PLANTS: Blight, Wilt, Rust, Root Rot, Mold. ANIMALES: Rats, Mice, Skunks, Possums, Raccoons, Cats, Birds.
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Down with Mosquitoes!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: May-04-14I'm writing this article because I'm sick and tired of mosquitoes!! What purpose do they actually...
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Fix Tomato Blossom End Rot
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-22-13Well you guys, since we have so many questions on our facebook page from all of you, I think it is...
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Harvest time always comes around, and if planting time was done right you will have lots and lots of new veggies and fruits that are mostly going to come upon you it will seem all at once:) Well, grab a basket and take it out to the garden everyday around harvest time to see what can be picked. I am sure you will find something everyday depending on the size of your garden/farm!
As many of you know there are ways to harvest all your plants. Some ways can hurt your harvesting amounts and if you harvest the right way you can increase yields on just about all plants! Picking tomatoes and peppers when there ripe will encourage growth, green beans will go crazy! You may want to slow zucchini down but good luck with that;) Ha ha ha!! Onions and garlic need to be harvested and dried a certain way. Potato's need to be harvested and kept in the dark in a dry cool area like a root cellar.
This area Covers: DIY Root Cellar, Encouraging Growth, Harvesting Tomatoes, Green Beans, Peas, Carrots, Corn, Garlic, Onions, Herbs, Melons, Squash, and so on...
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Broccoli Harvesting
Written by: Hosspak on: Jun-21-14So today I'm looking at my broccoli plants.... and boy do they look big. I had to do some...
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With planting you need to know about saving seeds. You also need to know how to save each type of vegetables seeds. Most plants seeds are saved in different ways and that is what this area will cover:) I know most of you have a tomato that you tried one year and ended up eating all those yummy tomatoes and did not save the seeds only to go to the store the following year and find out they do not have that tomato any more! What to do? If you had saved the seeds from one tomato that will give you just about enough seeds to plant your whole garden (and that's if you have a large garden!).
Tomatoes can be saved by just scraping the seeds out, but did you know you can also ferment the seeds? Why ferment the seeds is something I asked and looked into and found the reason for fermenting is in case you had a crop of tomatoes that had some diseases that can carry over into the next crop as seed-born diseases! Peppers Melons and Squash can simply be scooped out, rinsed off, and set in a dry shaded place to dry. Also, make sure to pick the very best and biggest veggies and fruits to save there seeds. Let all of them fully ripen and you can't go wrong:)
This area Covers: Saving Seeds of: Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Beans, Peas, Herbs, Garlic, Onions, Melons, Strawberries, Lettuces, Spinach, Sunflowers, and so on...
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Saving corn seeds!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-16-13 -
Saving red onion seeds!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-16-13 -
Saving tomato seeds!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-16-13 -
Safe nonGMO seed companies!
Written by: johnathanamber on: Dec-16-13Okay you guys, I found all these online and I wanted to put them up on our blog for us all to buy our...
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I know a lot of you are going to have questions on how you should start out with raising chickens. I also know that a lot of you out there are professionals at raising chickens and can answer questions for all the newcomers:)
Well, that is what this article area is for! Here we can hit on key things members need to know before they buy there first chickens. Things like, pros and cons of raising chickens, different needs for different breeds, chicken behaviors, why raise chickens, cost associated with new chickens, etc etc.
This area Covers: Need to knows, Before buying, Pros & Cons, Breed info, Reasons to our chickens, City vs Country, Layer's vs Broilers, Cost's, Care, Help.
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Home made Incubator
Written by: terribabe69 on: Jan-24-14Here is a video of the Home Made Incubator that I made. This is my first time to ever own...
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Your First Egg - Signs your hen will lay!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Hey everyone! So, today was the day my Rhode Island Red laid her first egg:) I am really excited that...
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Chicken Addiction
Written by: AdminEric on: Oct-24-13My name is Eric and I have a chicken addiction. Here's my story: I started with 4 hens. Things...
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This should be a fun area for all members!! Who doent like DIY's? Ha ha ha! I've seen so many great ideas on homemade incubators, candlers, brooders, and hatcheries, I know some of you have some great ideas so build, take some photo's, write an article and share your idea with us!
We can also cover in detail how to incubate eggs, keeping them warm, picking the right chickens for your needs, building feeders and waterers, things to watch for in sick chicks, and even training them.
This area Covers: DIY Incubators, DIY egg Candlers, DIY Brooders, DIY Hatcheries, Mail order, Incubating eggs, Picking your chicks, Sexing, Training, Caging, Heating, Feeding, Watering, Care, What to watch for, and Getting ready to join the flock.
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Cheap chick brooder
Written by: Tychel on: Apr-30-14Not actual brooder. Contrary to popular belief a brooder box for your chicks/turkeys/ducks does...
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Collecting and Storing Eggs for Incubation
Written by: Channahs on: Jan-22-14The importance of proper collection and storage of the egg before incubation is often overlooked...
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Brooder Needs!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Check out my DIY's for my chickens: DIY waterer: ...read here. DIY feeder pipe: ...read here....
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Baby Chickens - Learning Experience
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-24-13Thank you Heather C. for this great article post!! You Live and You Learn! It is through an...
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This should be a very informative area on chicken breeds and there care info. Like some of you know already, there are pros and cons to all breeds of chickens, and some people's cons can be other people's pros. Here at Home Farm Ideas we get asked questions on a constant basis in regard to what are the best layers, the best for butchering, and the best breeds for climate. If it gets cold in your area you wouldn't want to buy a chicken in spring that will end up dead in your cold winter climates. Of course you would need to know specifics on the breed you choose so that you can supply all of its needs for year round care.
You can also buy your chickens based on which ones are best for a specific color of egg shell you want, and which ones lay the biggest eggs:)
Obviously we don't know the answer to all of these and that is why we rely completely on you guys for information on all breeds of chickens! So let's fill up this database so that others will benefit from your wisdom!
This area Covers: Layers, Broilers, Banty's, Decorator, Breed by Egg Colors, Breeds by Size of eggs, Breeds by Climate, Breed Pros & Cons.
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As many of you know a coop is a must no matter how many chickens you have to keep them safe from predators and the weather. It also gives them a comfortable place to lay eggs:) Coops can be small to house two or more chickens or big to house many chickens. In this area will be covering how to build your own coops, chicken tractors, nest boxes, roost, and anything else you would like to share to improve your coops!
We will also be covering subjects such as coop and run cleaning, deep litter method, how to keep past and predators out of the coop, ventilation, heating, lighting, weather proofing, and decorating:)
This area Covers: DIY Coops, DIY Chicken Tractors, DIY Nest boxes, How big or small, What everyone wished they did, Enclosed or Free Range, Litter methods, Heating, Ventilation, Bugs, Keeping Pests Out, Coop & Run cleaning.
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Building with Pallets
Written by: AdminEric on: Dec-16-13If you choose, like I have, to build with pallets; there are a few things you should know. First...
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It's a fact that a healthy chicken gives you more eggs! Well, not everyone knows how to keep there chickens healthy, and sadly I have seen one chicken get sick and that sickness ends up killing all your chickens in a very short amount of time so it is so important to know how to keep them stress free, parasite free, and disease free.
There are other things that can make your chickens feel stressed and that is predators! I had skunks coming around and I had to make sure they could not even come around my coop because just them being around stressed my chickens so bad they stopped laying eggs. Be sure to post all your ideas on how to keep your chickens stress free and healthy:)
This area Covers: First Aid kit, Wing clipping, Dust bath, Using Diatomaceous Earth "DE", Organic Pest Control, Medications, Antibiotics, Bumble foot, Enlarged crop, Bloody toes, Beak repair, Egg Production Issues, Lice & Mites, and Overall Hygiene.
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4 Reasons Hens Stop Laying!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Sep-02-14As of late lots of members have been asking why (Oh Why!!) has there beloved chickens stopped...
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Keep your chickens safe from predators.
Written by: MKK-FARMS on: May-09-14Predators are one of the greatest fears a chicken farmer has. They can be cunning, fast, and very...
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Chicken Dust Bath Benefits
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-21-13Now I am no professional but I know a healthy chicken makes for a happy chicken, and a happy...
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There are lots of cool feeders and waterers out there for your chickens but I also know that they can be costly. I use these chicken water nipples to water my chickens and they work great! In this area we will be able to post our DIY feeders and waterers. We will also be able to share what types of chicken feeds we use and make ourselves for our chickens:) I feed my girls an organic feed and bugs that I raise and catch for them.
I also breed mealworms to feed my chickens as a snacks and I always find beetle grubs in my garden beds. When I turn my soil once a year I pick out all the beetles and put them in a container with soil in it and feed them all my veggie scraps to get them nice and fat. When spring comes they are ready to be fed to my chickens!
This area Covers: DIY Feeders, DIY Waterers, Types of feed, Grits, Calcium Types, Bugs as feed (Mealworms/Black soldier flies/Beetle grubs etc.), Kitchen scraps, Treats, Water types, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), Electrolytes.
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Building a Mealworm Farm
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Apr-30-14As many of you know I am starting to breed mealworms to give my chickens a nice and healthy...
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Growing Fodder!
Written by: Panda on: Apr-10-14We feed fodder to our rabbits and chickens. As a rule of thumb chickens should get about 5% of...
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Fermenting Chicken Feed
Written by: CDfromKY on: Mar-04-14Wanting to give my first flock the very best care I could brought me to do some research on...
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DIY Chicken Waterer
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-26-13Hi everyone! When I first got my girls I wanted to make sure to keep them safe from anything that...
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PVC Chicken Feeder
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Hi everyone:) In this video I show how to put together a PVC pipe chicken feeder for your girls. This...
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Cricket trap!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Hello everyone:) I built this cricket trap for two main reasons. • A member (Gabe) on my Home...
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Live chicken feed!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Like a lot of you out there I'm always looking to feed my chickens as much as I possibly can on...
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Chicken Treat - Chicken Cobbler
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Have chickens? Here is a fun chicken treat to make at home! Get the kids, get the materials, and...
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Chicken Treat - Pine Cone Treat
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Just another great chicken treat to make for your chickens. This is a project I did when I was a...
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I personally have never processed a chicken but I am definitely not against it. Especially when the chickens are given good homes and raised kindly. I do however know that many of you have processed your own chickens and so I would like to fill this area with lots of information on the best practices for processing chickens that is not cruel. Also, lots of you know not to clean your eggs right away when your chickens lay them because it washes away all the natural protective coating around the egg to keep out things like salmonella:) I started raising my own chickens for eggs to avoid my children getting sick enough to die from diseases that were coming out of factories. When I finally got the chickens I realized they do much more than just laid eggs!
I only raise enough chickens to feed my family of four but some people have chosen to raise chickens to actually sell the eggs and I'm all for that as well! So this area will cover also cover things like sizing the eggs, pricing your eggs, how to ship fertile eggs, storing for the long-term etc etc.
This area Covers: DIY Pluckers, Egg Cleaning, Sizing for sale, Pricing eggs, Shipping fertile eggs, Storing, Long term egg storage options, Killing your first chicken, Hand plucking, How to Process for food, Eat or Pet, Storage of birds.
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In this area we will be covering lots of different things on starting your first aquaponics system. You need to think about a system that will best suit your needs both for the space you have, and how much food you can produce with that system. Some of you may or may not know that starting an aquaponics system is a lot like cycling a fish tank for the first time. You cannot just throw fish into the system when you filled it up with hose water. If you do that, every single fish you put in there will be dead before the end of the day! You need to cycle your fish tank, and so it is the same with an aquaponics system.
Obviously there are several methods on how you can cycle a system in order to culture beneficial bacteria that will break down the fish waste into usable nutrient rich fertilizer for the plants you will be growing. In any aquaponic system the bacteria is the key to it all!!
This area Covers: Counting the Cost, Growing Media, Picking Location, Cycling Methods, Aeration, Water Testing, Water is Ready!, Acclimating Fish.
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Growing Vertically
Written by: healingdryad on: Jan-16-14It was about March of 2013 that I was introduced to Aquaponics. I became obsessed... a self...
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Here is where we will get the ideas flowing for some do-it-yourself systems! I have seen so many great aquaponic systems over the years but I would like to start building a library of different kinds of systems for people to build right from home. Of course there's always options to buy but this area will cover DIY systems and parts needed for them. Right now I have a little system that I've been doing testing on to figure out the fish to plant ratio. I know there are lots of you out there that are doing this much more professionally than I could do so please share all the wisdom you have with all our members:)
Some of the systems I've seen can be pretty interesting. One of those is a system that uses floating styrofoam rafts with holes punched in them to place plants. That is more like a deep water method. Another system is called a nutrient film technique. This method to me is more like a hydroponic system because it pumps the fish water into pipe systems with a constant flow of water over roots of plants. That takes all the fish waste right into the root systems:) Another method is filling waterproof beds with media and pumping the nutrient rich water from your fish tank into the grow beds. From there a bell syphon will allow the water to drain out of the grow beds and back into the fish tank. Let's get this area going!!
This area Covers: DIY systems, System Types, System Pros & Cons, Indoor Systems, Arduino Aquaponics (Microcontrollers), Solar Aquaponics, DIY Bell Siphon, DIY Lighting.
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Deep Water Culture
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Jan-05-14Written by member Cristy This is my deep water culture (dwc) aquaponics system. This system is...
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In order for fish to grow you have to feed them. Shocker, right? Ha ha ha! Now what you feed them does matter because you are what your fish eat;) If you feed them bad then you will be reap bad, but if you feed them good food then you will reap good:) In this area we will be looking into commercial foods, growing fresh foods, and raising live foods for our fish. So, start posting all the articles you can on what your doing to feed your fish both the cheap and healthy way:)
I have seen lots of great feed ideas over the years and I know some of you have tested lots of them. Ideas like growing duckweed in everything that can hold water in your backyard. You can also make your own dry flake and pellet feed! Another cool way is to raise bugs of all kinds like Black Soldier Flies (BSF). You can feed them veggie scraps from your aquaponic systems to raise BSF. Another good way to feed your fish fresh live foods is to raise mealworms! They are easy to raise and you will be harvesting them almost all the time once you have the mealworm farm well established.
This area Covers: Duckweed, DIY Flake, Pellet, Black Soldier Flies (BSF), Mealworms.
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In an aquaponic system fish are so important. You get all the nutrients from the fish waste that is broken down by bacteria that allows the plants to take it up and grow like crazy:) You need to get the right fish for there climate. If you live in a cooler climate year round you may want to keep Rainbow Trout because they like cooler waters but they also like moving waters. In warmer climates Tilapia do great, grow fast, and taste awesome:)
Whatever fish you choose you need to look up there natural climate. Otherwise you will have dead fish very fast! As I already said Trout are great for year round colder climates and they grow fast so they are ready to eat faster. Tilapia on the other hand grow fast as well but they need warm waters. The one benefit that is great about these fish that I like is that they are easy to breed. When you can breed the fish you grow you will always have a food supply! You can also grow fish just for there waste like Goldfish or smaller fish like guppies to feed your garden plants.
This area Covers: Tilapia, Trout, Catfish, Barramundi, Silver perch, Blue Gill, Sunfish, Crappie, Pacu, Large mouth Bass, (Ornamental Fish) Guppies, Angelfish, Tetras, Mollies, Swordfish.
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Fish are obviously going to be a huge part of an aquaponic system so it is imperative that you keep them healthy. Part of that is being able to identify diseases and sicknesses and be able to cure them quickly. I remember when I was a young boy I was really excited to get a fish tank, and before I got my fish tank I had read up on all the different diseases and how to cure them. But as I learned there are things that I could've done to prevent diseases and sicknesses through having the proper bacteria growing in the water, rocks, and the filtration system. Well, time was a good teacher and unfortunately some fish at the lose their lives in the process of me learning.
In fish tanks if you do not have the proper water quality, temperature, and the right salinity for certain types of fish you will always have sickness in your fish tanks. For instance, if you raise tilapia in colder waters they will very likely developed Ick due to stress because they are more of a tropical water fish. Once one fish gets it, it spreads very quickly! It can kill all of your fish due to the disease and an ammonia spike due to the dead bodies. So what's the best way to prevent diseases in your fish? Make sure you are matching the water quality that your fish would have in nature and they will be less likely to develop diseases. If your fish do develop diseases you can always get fish medicines and other things that help to relieve stress your fish:)
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I love this area because it is really important to know how to breed your fish, not to mention the breeding process is really fun to observe:) If you want an aquaponic system that is truly sustainable, you have to know how to not only save seeds from your plants, but you also have to know how to breed your fish so that your system is truly renewable! Tilapia are one of the easiest fish to breed in captivity but people have developed ways to get all sorts of fish to breed in captivity and that is what this area is for.
As a kid I raised two Oscar fish till they were about a foot and a half long each, and fortunately for me they happened to be a male and female. I noticed over time that they were doing different stuff in the tank then they normally do so I read up on them and learned that they were exhibiting signs of breeding. If you signs that I was noticing were they would twitch when they got close to one another, they also started locking there jaws together as if they were kissing one another, and they started cleaning areas of the tank and begin to chase off other fish. After a week or so of that happening they selected a site to lay their eggs and begin to make passes over a rock one after the other with the female depositing her eggs and the male fertilize the eggs. Now if I would've left the eggs in the tank with the fish they may have eaten them. There are ways to incubate fish eggs and build hatcheries. This area will also cover all aspects of breeding fish so post all you know:)
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Now that your fish are nice and grown you are obviously going to want to start thinking about processing them. Depending on the number of fish you have raised you're going to also want to look into how to pack them up. As some of you know there's going to be nothing like fresh fish so you can either process them all at once, or you can pull them out as needed, it really just depends on your climate and the type of fish you are raising in that season. A lot of people raise tilapia during the spring and summer and then process all of them! Tilapia also grow at a really good rate so you will need to be ready to process all of them by the end of summer. Once you're done processing your tilapia you can replant some fish that do well over fall and winter and process them at the end of those seasons as well.
In this area we are going to cover all the details involved in processing the fish. I know some of you more experienced aquaponic farmers are used to not only processing the fish, but ways to preserve the fish. Not everyone freezes the fish, they also smoke it to give it a nice flavor but also to help them keep the fish fresh longer. We can also talk about the tools needed, ways to catch the fish easily for processing, and replanting new fish. So if you have experience in these areas please don't be shy, post what you know so that other members can benefit from your knowledge:)
This area Covers: Gathering Fish, Handling Live Fish, Safety, Cleaning Fish, Scaling Fish, DeBoning Fish, Filleting Fish, Preserving Fish, Managing Waste, Guts into Gold!,
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I know many of you have good reasons way you are wanting to start gardening/farming. I also know lots of you have been gardening for many years and I wanted to connect all you "pros" with all the "rookies". Here we can share all our experience with members that really need help getting started:)
I myself started out gardening in some bad clay soil! This clay was the worst ever and that lead me to research how to break down clay soil organically. Over time I added raised beds and that is what I have today. There are lots of ways to garden but you want to start out with the steps needed for each way and this is where you can look! So "pros", post all you know to help others get started!
This area Covers: Planning, soil testing, determining your soil type, in ground gardening, raised bed gardening, location, companion gardening, "NO DIG" gardening, square foot garden, Back to Eden garden.
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In this area, we will share each others' baking adventures, advice, recipes and techniques. Home baking provides wholesome, homemade food to your family and friends and is a gratifying art, on a personal level. Have you ever made the perfect sour dough bread, a pie, straight out of your garden, a gluten-free birthday cake or the flakiest pie crust ever? How about the cookies everyone rants about year-after-year? Do you grind your own grains? If so, what grains do you use and what are their health benefits? In addition to traditional baking, please share your recipes and tips on gluten-free, non-GMO and organic baking. It would be delightful to add some recipes from our members from around the globe.
As a novice bread baker, I thought it was perfectly fine to dump all of the ingredients in a bowl and start mixing. After many years and many failed bread making adventures, I've learned that bread baking, and all baking for that matter, is both an art and science. Successful baking is one third skill, one third love and one third; an understanding of the chemical reaction of your ingredients during each stage of the baking process. For example, understanding the habits of your yeast beasties or other leavening, the choice of flour(s), the purpose of kneading, proofing and resting your dough and the proper handling of the finished loaf are all key to successful bread making.
This area Covers: Bread Making, Pie and Pie Crusts, Pastries, Cookies, Cakes and Frostings, Cupcakes, Crackers, Grinding Grains, Gluten-free Baking, non-GMO Baking, International Baked Goods, Organic Baking, Your Garden Veggies, Animal Treats.
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Bread Making Made Simple
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Jan-05-14Written by member Sara O. "Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of...
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All About Millet
Written by: moirakris on: Dec-26-13Millet is one of the oldest foods known to humans and possibly the first cereal grain to be used for...
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In this area we will discuss canning techniques and recipes. Please share your processing tips for delectable jams and jellies. Are they better as freezer jams or canned preserves? How do you enjoy your Summer bounty in the cold of Winter by "putting it up". Do you have tips for comparing water bath canning to pressure canning? Members would love read about your experiences with canning soups, stews, meats, mustards and anything else that can fit in a jar. Product reviews are welcome; for example, pros and cons of various canning jars/lids and the best canning pressure cooker around. Also, It would be delightful to see how you decorate your canned goods for gift-giving.
I've always handmade a "little something' for my colleagues at Christmas. My first project was to make wine jelly, displayed in a wine glass and sealed with frothy wax to simulate whipped cream. I had no idea what I was doing. It was a warm day, so I opened all of the doors and windows to my tiny apartment while creating my insane concoction. To my horror, simmering honey in the recipe summoned a swarm of bees which quickly consumed my apartment. I've come a long way since then. After trial and error, I now produce my own recipes, understanding the art of high, low and no sugar jellies and jams. Next stop: high pressure canning. Hello, canned meats and veggies!
This area Covers: Canning Methods, Techniques, Cook Times, Jams, Jellies, Syrups, Preserves, Canning Meat, Vegetables, Soups & Stews, Canning Tools, Supplies, Canning up Gifts.
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Making maple syrup-nature's natural sweetner
Written by: sillowaymaple on: Feb-28-14Makeing your own maple syrup, a pure, natural sweetener loaded with minerals and antioxidents, is...
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Canning Journal
Written by: moirakris on: Dec-24-13A Canning Journal is a good thing to start once you begin canning. It helps you keep track of not...
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Fresh milk from well-tended and well fed dairy animals like cows and goats is naturally healthy and rich in vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Cultured milk is milk made better! When milk is cultured, beneficial organisms are allowed to multiply exponentially, taking the nutrition to a whole new level. Your immune system and digestive system can reap all the benefits of the enzymes and live cultures that are rarely found in conventionally produced, pasteurized, sterilized (dead) foods from the local grocery store. Through history and across all societies culturing milk was not only keeping people healthy, it was also a practical way to keep dairy fresher longer.
Yogurt and sour cream are more commonly consumed cultured dairy products. This is our chance to share with each other a huge list of cultured milk products that include creme fraiche, buttermilk, cultured butter, clabbered milk, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, feta cheese, fresh cheese, queso fresco cheese, cheddar cheese, and even less common (but should be well known) Filmjölk, Viili, Piimä, Matsoni, Blaandso. Let’s share methods, traditions, recipes, successes and even failures, because we can learn from all of them! Lets not forget all the tools we will need like a cheese press for hard cheeses, curd strainers, cheesecloth, cheese wax, thermometers, and so on. There are even cheese making kits that you can try out!
This area Covers: DIY Cheese Press, Tools, Buttermilk, yogurts (both dairy and non), sour creams, cheeses, kefir and other cultured dairy,
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In this area, we will discuss various types of cured foods. Please share recipes, techniques and tips for home production of all forms of charcuterie, including smoked and brined meats, poultry and fish, salt and sugar cured delights and sausage making. Please also share your tips on making these foods as healthy as possible by reducing fats and avoiding the nasty nitrates and nitrites normally found in commercially cured foods. Have you ever made the perfect dry-cured garlic salami, smoked gouda, salt cured trout, maple infused bacon cured with apple smoke (Oh, yum!) or the venison jerky everyone begs for? Yes? Then this is the place to share your experience with others who will truly appreciate your advice.
Imagine a time when you've tasted a delicacy and wondered how it was produced. That's my love affair with anchovies. Recently, we found fresh anchovies, straight out of Monterey Bay. Yes!, I thought to myself, I'm going to cure my own. It's much easier than you think. It only requires that you remove the tiny fillets with a spoon, pack them between layers of salt and stick them in the fridge. Voila', thirty days later you have delicious gifts from the sea, ready to be packed in virgin olive oil and stored in your refrigerator. They are so much better than the little tin cans you find in the supermarket. You'll never regret the minor effort when you enjoy this deliciousness in your Caesar Salad dressing or pasta puttanesca.
This area Covers: Salted Cured Meat, Poultry and Seafood, Sugar Cured Meat, Smoked Meat and Cheese, Dry Cured Meat, Jerky, Charcuterie, including Salami, Sausages, Pate's, Vegetarian Alternatives.
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If you are like me, you will plant, grow and harvest way more fresh food than you can eat before it goes bad. Or you could get carried away at the local farmers market and come home with bushels full of farm fresh goods. Like canning and freezing, dehydrating food is a great method for preserving the abundance. Basically, dehydrating is a method of removing moisture from food to prevent spoilage. Dehydrated foods take less space to store and should easily stay fresh for a year, just in time for the next fresh food harvest! Most foods are pretty straight forward when dehydrating but some foods like pork or wild game however, will require special preparation. Blanching or steaming some produce like apples can help prevent browning. The proper heat setting (with adequate air circulation), typically between 130F and 140F will remove moisture quickly, preventing food spoilage. There are lots of dehydrators on the market but the Excalibur is a great one:)
Just about any fresh food can be dehydrated. I choose fruits and vegetables with naturally low water content like onions, carrots, peas, apples, pears, bananas and mushrooms that are picked at their peak and free of bruises, blemishes and bad spots. I harvest herbs early in the morning and pick off stems or woody portions. When it comes to dehydrating meat, I like using lean slightly frozen cuts of turkey, chicken and beef that are easy to slice thin. There are so many methods and techniques out there, let this be a place to share and exchange all things related to food dehydration!
This area Covers: DIY Dehydrators, Store Bought, Homemade Electric, Solar, Wood Fired Heat, Closed Car Method, Low Temperature Oven Method, Low-humidity Air Drying, Proper Storage.
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Dehydrated Soup Mix
Written by: fairieskiss on: Jan-04-14Photo credit to "myfoodstoragecookbook.com" One of my favorite things to do is to begin early in the growing season when...
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Organic Garlic Powder
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Another great post by our member Jennifer V.!! " How to make your own garlic powder My husband bought...
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Dehydrating Spinach
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-19-13Jennifer is posting lots of great and helpful blogs for us! Thanks:) " Dehydrating Spinach! Ok,...
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Dehydrating Eggs
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-19-13If you ever wanted to know how to keep those extra eggs your chickens give you this is the blog...
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Dehydrating Peppers
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Sep-05-13 -
Drying tomatoes with the sun!
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Sep-05-13
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Pickling is a process of preserving food by creating an acidic environment to promote anaerobic fermentation. Pickling can preserve food for many months without the need for refrigeration. Unlike canning, pickling does not require sterilization of the food before it is sealed. Living lactic acid bacteria are naturally present on foods like fruits and vegetables and when given the right environment, these bacteria will flourish. The resulting salty or sour food is called a pickle. There are three basic requirements for a successful pickling, acid or saline solution, proper fermentation temperature and eliminating oxygen (anaerobic). Herbs such as mustard, garlic and cloves are naturally anti-microbial and are often used in the pickling process.
Just about any food can be pickled. Olives and sauerkraut are commonly pickled foods. Eggs, beets, peppers, onions, okra, cabbage, green beans, mushrooms, watermelon rinds, carrots, cauliflower, condiments like relish and hot sauce and even pigs feet, herring and sausage and more depending on your region and/or culture. Most common here in the U.S. is the cucumber pickle. Most commercial “cucumber pickles” are made with vinegar and are not pickled through the process of fermentation therefore does not producing beneficial probiotic microbes. The traditional method of pickling with a salt brine does promote a healthy source of probiotic microbes that benefit our digestion and overall health.
This area Covers: Pickled Vegetables, Pickled Fruits, Pickled Meats, Traditional Brine Pickling, Vinegar Pickling, the “American” Pickled Cucumber, Refrigerator Pickles.
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Pickled Dill Green Beans
Written by: HFI_Matt on: May-13-14Have any of you guys made your own dill veggies? I found this recipe and I wanted to share it...
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Old fashioned Dill Pickles
Written by: fairieskiss on: Mar-20-14Start with a clean wide mouth jar. In the bottom of each jar place as much garlic as you like. I...
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Spicy Christmas - Thai Pepper Sauce
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-22-13What's more special than giving a gift from your very own garden. Homemade gifts are always...
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Lemon Cucumber Refrigerator Pickles
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-22-13So you planted 2,4,8 rows of cucumbers and now the pantry is overflowing. Everyone you know has...
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You may have come to believe that the healthiest foods around are those that are freshest. While there is no question to the value of fresh food, the latest beneficial food group isn’t fresh at all. In fact, it’s fermented! This means the ingredients (for example, vegetables like cabbage, cucumbers, and carrots) have been purposely left to sit and steep until their sugars and carbs become bacterial-boosting agents.
Fermented and cultured foods are rich in probiotics, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. And, they’re exceptionally easy to prepare at home. This also means that you get to be more involved in the process. Whether you are ‘feeding’ your sour dough starter or watching your veggies bubble and culture in a jar on your countertop, you will become the hero of your digestive tract with these probiotic powerhouses.
This area Covers: Fermenting vegetables, fermenting fruits, fermented drinks like kefir and kombucha, yogurt, cheese, sourdough bread (natural yeast), and others.
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In this section we will share ideas, tips, techniques and recipes for homemade body care products. Natural and holistic body care products are so easy to produce. Homemade personal products are good for the body, soul and the Earth, avoiding harmful additives, processing and animal testing common in store-bought solutions. Honey, green tea, Epsom salt, peroxide, almond oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil and essential oils is a very short list of thousands of natural, readily available, ingredients you can use for personal hygiene and cosmetic purposes. Please join us in discussing these practices that span millennia.
My favorite way to prepare for a sound night's sleep is a deep, warm soak in my bath with my "sleepy time bath blend". The blend is a really simple concoction; Epsom salt, baking soda, essential oil and peroxide. Epsom salt is not a salt at all. It's just magnesium sulfate (which, by the way, is an excellent additive for your garden). Magnesium soothes the nerves, promotes sleep and relaxes tired muscles. I've read that many of us are deficient in this mineral. Can you think of a more pleasant way get a dose, but in a warm, steamy bath? Baking soda soothes your skin, leaving it silky soft. Essential oils are good for the soul. Choose your essential oil depending upon your mood and use it sparingly. My favorites are; rose geranium, lavender, bergamot and pink grapefruit. I add peroxide "just because". My theory is that it takes care of all of the little nicks and cuts you endure on a daily basis. Plus, it helps to soften calloused feet. Turn down the lights, light up the candles and enjoy your home spa treatment!
This area Covers: Essential Oils, Aromatherapy, Mouthwashes, Toothpaste Alternatives, Deodorants, Body Creams, Face Creams, Hair and Scalp Care Products, Skin Care, Nail Care Products, Bath Salts and Soaks, Cosmetics, Lip Balm, Body Salves, Shampoos & Alternatives.
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As a teenager in the 70's, my friends and I decided to make some groovy paraffin candles molded in sand. We had a blast making our earth tone illuminators. After we were done, our Motley Crew of dudes and chicks dumped the excess wax down the kitchen sink drain. No, Mom, we have no idea why your sink is clogged?! Decades later, I now understand why my friend's parents were so upset. I've also graduated to sane and safe candle making. I now enjoy making rolled beeswax candles. For a $1.50, a sheet of beeswax foundation, a blow dryer and some wick, I can roll a beeswax candle in five minutes that would sell for $10 at the store. These candles are gorgeous, burn cleanly and are always a huge hit at gift giving time. Aging isn't always pleasant, but there are advantages in what you learn on the journey, especially when it comes to wax and kitchen drains.
This area Covers: DIY Molds, Candle Making Techniques: Rolled, Dipped, Molded. Candle Making Product Reviews, Wax Selection, Wicks, Fragrances, Decorating Candles, Wax Types, Dyes.
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We all would love a fresh smelling house free of dirt, grime, grease, dust and germs. We want clean hair, skin and teeth and clean clothes. We even want Fido and Fluffy to be squeaky clean, fluffed and smelling good. Now more than ever, we must also be aware of the growing list of toxic chemicals that have been pushed, promoted and advertised to consumers as safe and the only effective way to really clean and disinfect the world we live in. We should want a good collection of cleaning products that are free of toxic fumes and residues that are far unhealthier than dust bunnies and dirt! Making our own cleaning products at home is far safer for us, help protect the fragile environment, and they cost a lot less to make.
Before stores filled their shelves with toxic cleaning products, average folks cleaned and disinfected with basic simple ingredients and they somehow lived to tell about it. Let’s look at ways to clean and disinfect that are safe because they use common all natural ingredients that have no need for scary consumer safety cautions and warnings. Spend a few minutes researching how toxic commercial cleaning products are; it is the stuff nightmares are made of! Keep your pantry stocked with these easy-to-find items so you can clean anything. Baking Soda: for scrubbing and whitening, Beeswax: polishing wood, Cornstarch and Club Soda: on tough stains, Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfecting, Lemon: to remove stains and fight odors, Liquid Castile Soap: for making suds, Olive Oil: polishing wood, Pine Oil: cleaning soft wood floors, Plant Essential Oils: all natural fragrance and disinfectant, Salt: for scrubbing, Washing Soda (sodium carbonate): multi-purpose; scrub, remove stains and cut through grease, White Vinegar: disinfecting, removing stains.
This area Covers: Cleaning Ingredients and Uses, Recipes, Multi-purpose Cleaners, Laundry Detergents, Dish Soap, Personal Care Products, Cleaning Techniques, Disinfectants, Odor Eliminators, Air Fresheners.
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DIY Wool Dryer Balls
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13This article is from one of our very own members, Jennifer V. Jennifer writes: " Last week I read...
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Liquid Laundry Detergent
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13This one was made by a mix of members and smoothed out by Jennifer V.!! Thanks:) " Trying to find a...
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Powdered Laundry Detergent
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-25-13Thanks Jennifer for another great article for all our members!! " After the “Making Laundry...
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Citrus Cleaner Concentrate
Written by: moirakris on: Dec-24-13Citrus Cleaner Concentrate Save citrus peels (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, etc) in a bag in...
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In this section, we will share homemade cures for everything from toothaches to dandruff. Increasingly, people reject pharmaceutical cures, and turn to homeopathic and homemade remedies. Do you have a special salve for chest congestion? How about your favorite herbal tea for cough? What is your favorite use for common household supplies, such as baking soda, peroxide, honey, lemon, epsom salt and apple cider vinegar? Have you used coconut, emu or grape seed oil to treat skin conditions? Aromatherapy and other uses for essential oils, are also welcome. Please note; unless otherwise noted, the posters in this section are not homeopathic practitioners. Please consult your doctor before treating any potentially serious conditions.
For many years, my family has used a wild oregano oil product for everything from bronchitis to toothache. This oil is extremely spicy hot, but, works well on a variety of maladies. Before experimenting on my family, I researched this product extensively. I found many valid clinical studies to confirm my suspicions this was not just a fad. Years ago, my youngest son decided this oil would be an ideal remedy for his high school acne. Moments after smearing it on, my son exploded from the bathroom, clutching his crimson face. Guess what? His acne was gone the next day. Moral: understand your home remedies and use them with the same caution as pharmaceuticals . Good news, home remedies are less expensive and often more effective, than the chemically engineered concoctions available at the pharmacy.
This area Covers: Herbal Remedies, Total Plant based Remedies, other home product remedies, e.g. Oils, Peroxide, Vinegars, Baking Soda, Honey, etc., Meditation, Aromatherapy, reviews of Commercial Homeopathic & Natural Cures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, Tinctures.
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All About Dandelions
Written by: moirakris on: May-22-14If a weed helps detoxify the liver, cleanses the blood, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood...
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Turmeric "Tea" Herbal Pain Reliever
Written by: jengalbraith818 on: Jan-21-14As a small farmer, my old friend Ibuprofen and I seem to spend alot of time together. Like many, I am...
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In this area we will discuss the techniques for producing your own homemade pottery. Many of us are trying to get back to basics. How better to do so than to create your own, homemade pottery? Have you ever wanted to create you own, unique bowls, mugs and plates? How about creating your own ceramic garden art with your child's hand-print? It's not as hard as you might think with a little know-how and ingenuity. Those of you who are already knowledgeable with the ancient art of pottery making and sculpting can share your knowledge regarding clay, kilns, pottery throwing techniques and Glazes101.
I'm not a potter, but my son is. Unlike a sculptor, his art is to "throw" the clay on a wheel. His amusing online handle is "IThrowThings." One of his earliest passions was a firing technique known as "Raku". As a somewhat dangerous technique, Raku requires lots of combustibles and open fire. Nice hobby for a 17 year-old boy, don't you think? As a supportive mother, I routinely assisted with this process and am relieved most of my eyebrows have now grown back. My son is now into more sophisticated high-fire and wood fire techniques, using a variety of glaze recipes and clay mixtures. As a professional potter and clay maker, my son is delighted to join other ceramic artists in sharing his expertise on this forum.
This area Covers: DIY Kiln, Maintaining Kiln, Using Kiln, Using Potting Wheel, Proper Technique, The Right Clay, Glazes, Baking Times, Thrown Ceramics, Sculpting.
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Zeer pot-in-pot Refrigerator
Written by: HFI_Matt on: Dec-21-13Have any of you ever made a Zeer pot-in-pot refrigerator. It can really keep things cool and...
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Some years back I read a book on soap making and decided I was going to make some goats milk soap. I did! First time was a success! Odd shaped bars, unscented, missing a few because my black lab kept wondering into the studio "because the next one would taste better!" Well that first batch expanded into a full blown business for me and now I'm back to making it just for family again. I can help you make it for yours! Weather it's for washing clothes or the baby I can write you a recipe. I had two accounts in New York City. Several accounts in California and all across the country. But, there is nothing like working for family. You will feel the same I am sure! There's nothing that is so satisfying as making your own soap! I'll help you personally to make your own.
Their are some basic supplies that you will need to have for making soap. First being safety equipment, eye protection, gloves and ventilation. Other supplies you will need are a scale that will weigh in ozs up to at least three pounds. You will also need proper non reactive tools, a large pot, spoons, and glass measuring cups. You will also need lye and the liquid your recipe calls for, and a mold. Molds can be nice like custom made out of wood or the Rubbermaid drawer sectioners. Everything has to be lined with plastic or it will never come out so it doesn't matter if it's a shoe box! The choices of oils, fats, butters, scent, herbs is all as limitless as your imagination! So let's make some soap!
This area Covers: DIY Soap Box, Hot Method, Cold Method, Tools, Making Lye, Oils, Fats, Butters, Scents, Using Herbs.
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Cold Process Soap
Written by: fairieskiss on: Jan-02-14Please buy your lye from Amazon. So, You want to make soap? This may seem a bit complicated but...
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In this area, we will discuss experiences, techniques and ideas for all textile arts. Do you have a favorite pattern for a homemade quilt? Do you harvest your angora's silky fur to spin yarn and weave it into a comfy throw? How about your cross-stitched pillow that is destined to become a family heirloom? Do you sew your own clothes or lovingly hand-craft sewn items for holiday gift-giving? If you survived the 70's, you've probably made a macrame' belt. Maybe we should help revive the art of knotting. This forum is open to textile crafters of all levels. We encourage those of you who are new to this art to tap into the wealth of knowledge available here.
In ancient times, people actually made their own clothes. I fondly refer to this era as BI., or "Before Internet". As a young adult, I spent endless hours choosing the perfect pattern, fabric, thread, buttons and accessories, all of which were readily available at most department stores and, possibly 7-Eleven. I wore those clothes with pride to many business meetings and felt very stylish. Those days are gone, at least in my area. One must now travel vast distances to find suitable supplies to satisfy the sewing passion. Home farming goes well beyond raising chickens and canning produce. Let's all revive the genteel textile arts that add beauty and texture to our lives.
This area Covers: Quilting, yarn making, weaving, sewing, needlework (including embroidery, cross-stitch, petit point, tatting and needlepoint) paper making, macrame', knitting, crochet, lace making, rug making and textile art.
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