Downtown Homestead

Not all the insects, worms, spiders and flies that frequent our gardens should be considered pests . Many of them are actually beneficial for the plants we’re trying to grow, because they pollinate flowers, aerate the soil and/or prey on plant-eating insects. The use of pesticides will kill off these helpful critters; on the other hand, the services they provide for us might allow us to dispense with chemicals in our gardens entirely. Predatory insects are nature’s way of controlling other insect populations. For this reason, killing off all the bugs in our gardens indiscriminately can upset the natural balance and cause other types of pests to proliferate. We would do well, then, to identify those that are doing us a service.   What follows is a list of 8 of the most common beneficial bugs:   1. Dragonflies These insects are most commonly found near water, but they can fly long distances to other areas. They are proficient hunters of flies and mosquitoes. Dragonflies co...

Soy yogurt is a wonderful food, providing a nice balance of protein and carbohydrates, as well as a dose of calcium. Soy yogurt, when not heat-treated, is also a good source of probiotics, or the beneficial bacteria that encourage digestive health. This easy, healthful food can be made at home with little trouble and thus enjoyed without the sugar and other additives found in most store bought yogurt. Try preparing the recipe below and serve homemade soy yogurt with fruit, jam, honey or maple syrup for a delicious and healthy snack.   Recipe for Homemade Soy Yogurt Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons unflavored live, active culture yogurt (or yogurt starter, as directed on the package) 1 Quart of soy milk Instructions: Bring the milk to the boiling point and cool to 110 degrees Fahrenheit Mix the yogurt or yogurt starter into the warm milk Keep the mixture between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 hours, until the yogurt sets Finding Live Yogurt Cultures or Yogurt Star...

Are you eco-better conscious? Most families have been shopping more Earth-friendly for themselves, their children and for their pets. This is not a trend; rather it’s a way of life, an eco-better life . You can change your habits by changing your way of thinking and doing. First ask yourself why do I want a better, cleaner, less cluttered life for myself and my family? Once you have determined your reasons, next is to change your habits and transform your lives, for the eco-better. Start out small by replacing your traditional incandescent lights bulbs with the more energy-efficient light bulbs. These energy-efficient light bulbs save more than $40 in electricity costs over their lifetime, use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and produce about 75 percent less heat-saving money with cooling your home. These energy-efficient light bulbs are not required by law, yet, but they are the best for the environment and for your family. The next step is purchas...

Mulching is the practice of placing a loose surface onto the surface of soil in your flower or vegetable garden in order to protect, insulate and beautify the area. This loose covering is called a mulch and it can be either of an organic or inorganic variety. Examples of mulches include compost , stone and grass clippings. Every gardener should understand the many benefits of mulching the soil in their garden. This article will discuss the benefits of mulching, how to choose the correct mulch and have a quick look at some of the different types of organic and inorganic mulches available. Benefits of Mulch Let us explore some benefits of mulching: Prevents soil erosion – Soil erosion happens when winds or water slowly wear away the surface of soil and remove it. Mulching your soil will prevent this as there is now a protective, replaceable layer.that comes between the surface of the soil and the forces of nature above it.   Insulates the soil in winter – The harsh tempera...

Gherkins, or pickles, appear in the cuisine of many countries. They are delicious as a relish, a salad vegetable, give extra bite to sandwich fillings and salads, and they are also used as an accompaniment to hot dishes – a pleasant contrast to the warm food. They are also an excellent, healthy snack food. Additive Free Gherkins You can easily make your own additive free pickles, free from artificial colorings, flavors, or preservatives. This is a simple Hungarian recipe that doesn’t require much effort. The gherkins will taste, of course, slightly different to the store brought variety, but that’s because they are completely natural. Summer Treat This particular recipe is not good for long term storage – that is, keeping them over winter This recipe is one of what is called “summer treats”, along with the elder flower drink. It is made at the beginning of summer when the dill and the tiny cucumbers just begin to ripen. It can be made – and eaten – continuously over the summer as l...

It’s happened to us all at least once: The sunscreen may have failed, or been sweated off without re-application, or a small spot may have been missed. The result is an angry red patch of skin, and in extreme cases, blistering and peeling. For those who are reluctant to get an over-the-counter solution, there are more eco-friendly solutions that are neither expensive nor complicated. In fact, you may already have some in your home right now. Aloe: A Green Alternative to Burn Ointment A handy houseplant to keep in the kitchen is the aloe plant (featured in the photo.) This member of the succulent family of cacti contains juices that are extremely soothing when applied directly to burn. Many commercial burn ointments contain aloe for its moisturizing properties, and cutting one of the green leaves and squeezing the sap directly onto the affected area work just as well, with fewer chemicals or preservatives. If you don’t have a green thumb, and fear killing off your aloe plant before ...

Although laundry is a necessary evil, there are a lot of ways you can make it less “evil” for the environment. By taking some simple steps not only can you make doing laundry more eco-friendly, but you can actually save quite a bit of money as well. It’s a win-win situation. Here are some easy ways to green up your laundry routine: 1. Wash in Cold Water Whenever possible, wash your clothes in cold water rather than hot. As much as 90% of the energy that your washing machine uses goes to heating water. If you can avoid using hot water as much as possible you can significantly cut down on the energy usage of your machine. Not only does it help the environment by saving power, but you also can save money on your power bill each month.     2. Line Dry Clothing Skip the dryer all together and hang clothes to dry instead. You can hang them outside if you have the space and the weather is good, or choose a fold-away drying rack if you need to dry them indoors. Line dried clot...

Ninety-five percent of the structure of the plant is composed of water. Almost all of the processes of the plant involves water, and this is why watering is one of the more important aspects of effective gardening for your vegetables’ organic garden. Together with light and carbon dioxide, water helps accelerate the necessary processes needed in effective care of your plants.   With vegetables, you cannot afford to go wrong since this will provide nourishment to both animals and humans alike. Water also acts a supplementary source aside from rainfall. An irrigation system is necessary to provide the required amount of water in your garden. The natural sources of water, namely, precipitation and underground water systems, are not often sufficient for the plants. Most of the time, human intervention is required to ensure that the plants will reach their maximum potential. The frequency of your watering is proportional to the average amount of rainfall that falls on the area under ...

 This is a guest post submitted from a fellow Urban Homesteader:     I have never had the inclination to become a farmer, but if food costs keep going up at the current rate, I may have no other option but to start a garden on my balcony. Every week the prices for basic foods are higher than the week before. No one is saying anything, but I am sure everyone has noticed. At this current pace, our weekly groceries will equal our monthly rent payment before the end of the year. I have no clue what is driving these prices, but something is going to have to give. The economy and jobless statistics are still too unstable.   Prolonged unemployment has thrown crushing blows within our family for the last two years. We have had to downsize from renting a house to an apartment. I’m not used to apartment living, but at least I have a roof over my head and am not camping in a tent, yet. Several of our family members have had to double up under one roof just to make ends ...