Sustainable Lifestyle Toolbox

Harvesting Rosemary for Your Kitchen Use

2010-09-24T22:40:00.000+12:00

When you've got a lovely rosemary bush in the garden, or an abundant one growing in your neighbour's garden, it's worth harvesting it and keeping some in your kitchen for cooking.

Select a fresh and abundant rosemary bush. It's best to harvest on a fine day rather than harvesting wet or moist rosemary. Cut as much as you would like to store.

Create bundles from the cut rosemary. Remove any straggling bits or loose pieces. Tie each bundle together, leaving some of the string or ribbon dangling. Hang the bundles up in a dry, dark, and well ventilated space to dry. It'll take a few weeks to dry completely.

Untie the dried rosemary and run your hand down each stem to remove the individual rosemary leaves. Capture the leaves on baking paper or a chopping board and tip into a storage jar using a funnel.

Make Your Own Lavender Potpourri to Protect Clothing

2010-09-24T22:16:00.001+12:00

Lavender sachets

Lavender is always a delightful scent. When storing clothing or linen, lavender can help keep the linen smelling fresh and can deter moths and silverfish. This potpourri is easy to make and will last well.

You'll need the following:

10 cups lavender leaves and flowers
3 cups coarse rock salt
1 cup coriander seeds, crushed
1 cup cinnamon and nutmeg, mixed and crushed (use fresh nutmeg if possible)
1/2 - 1 tbsp (6 - 12.5ml) lavender oil

Press the lavender flowers and leaves together in a mortar and pestle. As you're doing this, enjoy the delightful scent that wafts up! When pressed, layer them alternately with the rock salt in a suitably sized jar. Keep filling until you reach the top. Use something heavy to press down on the layers, such as a decently sized pebble or rock, or something else from around the house.

Set it aside for 10 days. Remove the layers from the jar and place on a chopping board. Break up the ingredients and return them to the jar. This time, also add the spices and the lavender oil. Leave to stand for another 10 days.

It's ready to use now. It can be used in different ways but sachets are really ideal because these contain the mixture well and can be placed in storage areas. Add sachets to your linens, blankets, folded clothing, sheets, etc. for protection. Tuck them into pockets of clothing or hang around coat hangers.

Another way to use them is to pour into small jars with holes poked into the lids; place in drawers, etc.

Let me know if you make these and how you found them!

Revving up again!

2010-09-05T22:31:00.000+12:00

Chocolates anyone? I say, why not?!

I abandoned this blog for a while as I experimented with a wide variety of other blog and online content creation experiences. I've decided to resume this one because it's the blog closest to my heart and the blog I think I can add the most useful things for everyone to enjoy. It's also helpful for my other projects too and I hope it'll be a source of inspiration for many of you! Like me, it's eclectic and my idea of what is sustainable is based on what is obtainable fairly, through resourcefulness and by being considerate of the environment, all species, and all people, so it's wide in its coverage!

So, without further ado, my expanded sustainable lifestyle toolbox will be coming back to life on a semi-regular basis! Thanks for your reads and patience everyone!

Create a Faerie Garden with Your Kids

2009-03-08T00:07:00.006+13:00

The faeries are there but they won't stay unless you make it inviting. Young children between the ages of 3 and 8 can have fun making and caring for a faerie garden. Help make their wishes come true and spend quality time engaging with your children (or the neighbour's or community's) by building a faerie garden together, filled with the stuff of their dreams. In the process, they learn about gardening and the beauty of nature, as well as forming concepts about turning imagination into something artistic and creative.

Steps

Draw a plan on paper with your child's input. Ask him or her what shape he or she would like (or simply provide a pre-decided shape if your garden space is limited). Using this shape, map out the sorts of things your faerie garden will contain. See ideas under "Tips".
In the garden, plan out the plot that will make the faerie garden. It should be somewhere child-friendly and less accessible to dogs, puppies and cats who might mess with it. Fence it off with small garden fences if necessary (little blunt wooden picket fences are cute - available from hardware or dollar stores).
Together with your child, dig over the garden so that the soil is ready for planting and is easy to manipulate when you place the faerie pieces in it. Fertilize if necessary.
Place a square or circle paver upon which the main feature piece will sit. A terracotta coloured cement paver is ideal. Place a statue on this square/circle, such as a mushroom, faerie, animal or other feature item that the child has chosen.
Mark out a larger outer faerie circle which surrounds this feature piece. Plant a circle of flowers chosen by the child around the inner circle. Edge this outer circle with upright border blocks (the wavy ones are nicest).
Next to the large circle, make little faerie circles using river stones, pebbles etc. Place plants inside these circles, or little trinkets chosen by the child. You could also make other shapes such as cat faces, dogs, triangles, diamonds etc from the pebbles; imagination is the only limit.
Add extra faerie pieces. A faerie table and chairs can be made from various sizes of pavers. Purchase a small child's tea-set from a dollar store and place on the table for the faeries to have tea.
Follow your child's imagination to include other items in the garden - listen to their ideas and try to adapt to them with items on hand.
Remind your child to keep the flowers watered regularly. While watering, they can check for faeries. Encourage them to leave little gifts for the faeries (small pieces of fruit, seeds, whatever they like). This will ease the transition from stubborn disinterest in gardening to enjoying it!
Have a special tea party to open the faerie garden. Invite other family members, friends and neighbors over to marvel at the little garden and to provide the child with encouragement for it.

Tips

Fun things for a faerie garden can be found in garden stores. Ideas include: shiny glass pebbles, river pebbles, pavers, miniature statues, solar lights, terracotta worms, wooden insects, wooden flowers, candle light holders, faerie lights (with adult supervision only), and so on.
Dollar stores can be a source of extra features such as: beads, foil, glittery pieces, tiny animal toys, little miniature faeries, wooden pieces etc. Have fun with your imagination.
Flowers should be colorful and easy to grow. Buy some as seeds and some as seedlings, so that children can see the seeds grow but can also see real flowers from the start.
If you are able to string things up over the garden, the children can make art pieces using foil, CDs and other shiny objects. If near a vegetable garden or fruit trees, the glinting objects will help to discourage birds from landing to ravage the produce.
Little statues with in-built solar powered lights are fantastic. These are a delight to children after dark when they can walk out and see a little glow that attracts moths - and faeries!
Use faerie books borrowed from the library to give you more inspiration - children will enjoy looking at the different ideas.
For boys who think faeries are not their idea of fun, change to elves, pixies, gnomes etc.; or explain that there are boy faeries too and they used to look after the dinosaurs...

Advisories

Be careful the items used are age-suitable - no small pieces where children under 3 or puppies can gain access.
If you use potting soil, keep children away from the bag to avoid possible breathing in of legionella germs found in some potting mixes. Also take care of your own respiratory health.
Make sure items left out are weather-resistant.
Place items in garage for over-wintering or they may crack, rust etc.
If you use any electricity, make sure it is outdoor use compatible and that all exposed wires etc cannot be reached or pulled by small children and pets.
Always wash hands well after gardening.

Things You'll Need

Terracotta pavers
Terracotta borders
Faerie stuff

Note: This is my original version with changes made by me. The copyright to this version is mine and I have permitted my original version to be used on wikiHow.

Mint for your chewing gum?

2009-01-14T14:31:00.003+13:00

Wrigley's needs about 53 square miles of mint plants to make its mint flavoured chewing gums. That's about 30,550 football fields full of mint plants!

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Environmental Pledge for 2009

2009-01-02T23:52:00.002+13:00

I pledge to grow more of my own food in 2009. Sustainable and pesticide-free.

See: WeHeartWorld.

Growing Kiwifruit

2008-12-22T21:20:00.002+13:00

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is originally from China and is also known as Chinese gooseberry. It is both edible and ornamental and grows as a vine that is vigorous and strong. If you are keen on growing it at home, be sure to have supporting space. Here are some tips for growing it.

Erect a strong support about 2 metres high. This will also need to have some good width, to support th spread of the vine and its weight with fruit.
Purchase a male and a female plant. You will need both to be able to produce fruit.
Plant in full sun in rich soil that is well-drained. Kiwifruit do not like having dry feet, so be sure to keep well watered during the warmer months.
Protect kiwifruit plants from strong winds and from frost. Provide a sheltered area if this is a problem.
Prune the male plant after it flowers in late spring. Prune the female plant in winter. The fruit arises from new growth, so it is important to prune back any old wood that has already borne fruit.

Prune heavily to control the overall size of each plant.

Male kiwifruit plant and female kiwifruit plant
Good support materials
Fertiliser
Pruning equipment

Photo courtesy of Rengber's Flickr Photostream.

Lavender Breath Freshener

2008-12-21T00:22:00.005+13:00

Lavender breath freshener is a non-toxic way to keep your breath smelling fresh. Before starting this preparation, be sure to have clean hands.

Ingredients

1 tbsp lavender flowers
2 tbsp icing sugar/confectioner's sugar
2-3 drops lavender oil
1 egg white, whisked

Mix the ingredients together until smooth.
Select small portions of the mixture. Roll into small balls about the size of a pea.
Set aside on a sheet of baking paper or a china plate. Allow to dry for 24 hours, or until firm.
Store in an air-tight container or wrap in wax paper for taking with you.
Chew when needed. A delicious taste and aroma of lavender will fill your mouth.

Tips

If egg white causes you concern, substitute with honey or other syrup. Make sure you buy fresh eggs from a reputable seller.
Always use organic lavender flowers when consuming them; provided you have used natural garden sprays in your garden, the flowers will be fine for use.

Supplies Needed

Mixing bowl
Sheet of baking paper or a china plate
Air-tight container or wax paper

Photo courtesy of AudreyJM529's Flickr Photostream.

How to Make a Rose and Oatmeal Bath Mix

2008-12-20T19:26:00.003+13:00

Rose and oatmeal are the perfect bath combination. Oatmeal is soothing to the skin and rose is uplifting. Rose essential oil is used for its anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating qualities.

5 cups of oats
Essential oil of rose
Rose petals (fresh)(optional)

Place the oats in the blender. Blend until the oats become finely ground.
Put the oats into the item of choice for containing the oats. Tie together with a ribbon or string.
Attach the ribbon or string to the tap (faucet) as close under the spigot as possible. Allow warm water to run into the bath, moving through the oat bag.
Add 2 - 3 drops of the rose oil direct to the bathwater and swirl around.
Add the rose petals.
Enjoy a luxurious bath.

Blender
Cheesecloth, coffee paper filter, sachet bag etc. - any suitable item to hold the oats mixture
Ribbon or string; needs to be long enough to hang from tap (faucet)

Photo courtesy of Athena's Pix Flickr Photostream.

Play Dictionary

2008-10-28T17:45:00.002+13:00

When you're bored and there's nothing in the room but a stuffy old dictionary and a friend or two as bored as you, you're in luck. Dictionaries are a great read and you can take it in turns. No wait, that's not what this article is about! Some people might enjoy reading them but this is the ''game'' dictionary and it's a lot more fun. Play on.

Steps

1. Have at least two players. It's not only a little lonely by yourself but the game won't work. There isn't really any upper limit and a larger group can result in more shouting and merriment.
2. Pick the dictionary master/mistress/fiend. The name doesn't really matter provided this person can read and has a good imagination.
3. Have the dictionary fiend quickly flip through the dictionary looking for a difficult word. The dictionary fiend must quickly make up two alternative definitions and provide a real one as well. We'll use the word "irrefragable" as an example. The dictionary fiend would ask the other players:
Does the word "irrefragable" mean:
Something that cannot be unravelled or loosened?
**An argument or fact that cannot be disputed? [this is the right response but you don't tell]
**A fragrance that has gone off in a bad way?
4. Allow the players to answer. They are allowed to ask questions and the dictionary fiend is allowed to embellish the answers. The first person to get it right gets a point.
5. Keep playing until a set number of points is won by a person (or a team if you prefer). Five is a good set number. The dictionary fiend is then the person who won (or a member of the team). Play for as long as the fun keeps going; it can become tiring after a while of guessing and it does tend to degenerate into very silly statements as people tire of it!

Tips

*The arguments can be great fun if you have good sports on the team.

*Be sure to have dictionary fiends who are good with making things up.

Materials

*A quality dictionary that has a lot of long, hard and long-forgotten English words in it. Most dictionaries should suffice.

Photo courtesy of Daquella Manera's Flickr photostream.

Rhubarb Pie

2008-10-27T08:52:00.004+13:00

Rhubarb is delicious any way and especially in a pie. This recipe makes about 6 - 8 servings.

Ingredients

Pastry:

200g plain flour
50g brown sugar
100g butter, cubed
1 egg yolk
A little water

Filling:

550g rhubarb stalks, cleaned and cut into 5cm pieces (discard the tips of the stalks)
200 ml water
1 tsp lemon juice
100g sugar
1 apple, peeled and cut into small pieces

Steps

Mix the pastry ingredients together to form a soft dough.
Boil the water with the lemon juice and sugar.
Add the pieces of rhubarb to cook. Cook for around two minutes.
Remove from the heat. Add the apple pieces and stir in.
Drain the liquid and leave the fruit to cool.
Roll the pie base.
Add the cooled fruit and cover the pie with the top pastry piece and seal the edges.
Prick the pie top a few times for steam vent holes.
Place in the oven at 160ºC and cook for 20 minutes, or until golden.

Materials

Large cooking pot
Wooden spoon
Pie dish
Fork

Photo courtesy of Paul Goyette's Flickr Photostream.

Making Lawn Clipping Tea

2008-10-27T08:36:00.003+13:00

Lawn clipping tea is a simple and fabulous plant tonic. It is easy to make and apply.

Steps

Place the bucket of cut grass into the netting bag.
Hang the bag in a bucket of water. Make sure that the bucket is sitting somewhere steady and cannot be knocked by animals or people.
Leave it there for one to two weeks. The nutrients will leach from the cut grass into the water.
Use. Pour small amounts over your garden and pot plants. It acts as a tonic and revitalizes plants, as well as strengthening them. It will help them to grow stronger and gain disease-resistant qualities.

Precautions

This preparation does get a little smelly. Just block your nose and use it!

Materials

One bucket of freshly cut grass
Netting bag (the ones used for onions, oranges etc.), large
Bucket or other large container

Photo courtesy of R.F.M. LL's Flickr Photostream.

Play Flash Card Seek and Match

2008-10-26T21:40:00.002+13:00

Flash cards can be at the centre of a very active game for children if you have cards that depict things in your home. A great one for a rainy day afternoon.

Steps

Find some flash cards.
Sort through the flash cards to make sure that each card used represents something that can be found in your house. Don't forget to be imaginative - even though a flash card might show a cow, there might be a plastic toy cow, or a stuffed toy cow in the house etc. Remove any flash cards of things that would either be too hard to find or could not be found in the house.
Face the flash cards down on the floor.
Start with the youngest player. Have the player turn over a flash card to reveal the picture on it.
Race! Each player has to run to their own room or another room in the house to retrieve an object that represents the image on the flashcard. The first one to find something gets a point.
Keep playing. You can set a limit on how many points will result in a winner - say 10 points (10 seeks) for the winner. This can be varied depending on the level of enthusiasm of the children playing.

Tips

If children are good at drawing, consider having them make flashcards. Or, take photos with a digital camera, print off the photos and make up your own card. This might give away the location of the objects though!
This game can be very boisterous, so be careful of things getting knocked over.
Encourage children to be very creative in finding some of the objects. It might be that there are 2 plastic cows in the house but do not give any hints; let the kids work it out for themselves and may the first one found be the point awarded!

Photo courtesy of Sam Pullara's Flickr Photostream.

Boys and Gals Around the World

2008-10-26T21:29:00.003+13:00

On average, for every 105 boys born worldwide, 100 girls are born.

Photo Courtesy of Mikey G Ottawa's Flickr Photostream.

Solar Tea

2008-10-26T21:07:00.007+13:00

Want to save energy and still have a cup of tea?! Here are some thoughts.

Steps

Find a good glass container for tea. The best container is a tea glass with a tea leaf filter, or a glass teapot. But any glass container that comes with a snug lid is fine.
Pour water into the container. If you want the tea to be ready sooner, use warm water; otherwise, room temperature water. If you use cold water, the tea will take a lot longer unless it is a very hot day.
Add your tea. About 4-5 teabags or 3 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf tea work well in a container equivalent to a medium-sized teapot. If you are using tea leaves, make sure that there is a tea filter insert to hold them and stop them from floating free in the water. Alternatively, use an empty tea bag (you can purchase these from tea shops - look for unbleached ones).
Place the container in the sun. Sitting it on a sunny window sill is perfect. Or, place it on a table on the porch, or somewhere that it won't get knocked by pets, wandering wildlife and people.
Leave to steep. The longer that the sun works its magic, the stronger the tea becomes. It will also warm up nicely.
Serve. Once it feels warm enough to you, or appears dark enough, it is time to enjoy it. Remove the tea bags or leaves prior to drinking. If you need to sweeten your tea, do so as usual. A slice of lemon is a pleasant addition if you like it.

Tips

If wished, chill any leftover tea for an additional drink later.
This should only take a few hours; any longer and the tea might become unpleasant to taste, depending on the type of tea used.
This method is suitable for any tea type - white, green, red, black and herbal.

Materials

Glass tea cup, teapot of similar lidded container in glass
Tea bag or loose tea
Water

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Using Kids' Sports Time Productively

2008-10-26T20:37:00.004+13:00

If you're waiting for your children during their sports time, it can sometimes feel like wasted time in between the cheering and encouragement, as you think about the 101 things needing to be done back home. There are a lot of things that you can do to make good use of the time.

Steps

Write thank you notes and letters. Use this time to do some snail mail catching up with family and friends. Take a clipboard to lean on.
Exercise. Walk around the sports field or back and forth in an area where you can still keep your children in sight. Walk fast, slow, fast for a varied and more interesting pace. Or, if you can slip away and use a gym in the building, do so.
Catch up with downloaded iPod shows that you have been meaning to catch up on.
Think about problems that need solving. Take a pad and pen and write down all the solutions that come to mind as you mull them over.
Phone a family member or friend you haven't had time to talk to for ages.
Do some reading. If you're studying, read study materials. Or read a novel, a paper, or a favourite magazine.
Use the time for planning events and future children's activities. This can be a great time to sit back and assess the future events coming up and adding them to your diary, writing lists of things you need to do or get, and to put down reminders of people you need to talk with.
Catch up with some unfinished hobby work if it's portable. Embroidery, cross-stitch and knitting are great portable projects that you can keep working on during this spare time.

Materials

Paper and pen
Reading material
Hobby material
iPod
Mobile phone (cell phone)
Diary

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Choosing Toothbrushes for Children

2008-10-26T10:57:00.005+13:00

It is important to get children used to toothbrushing early in life. The sooner that they feel more comfortable with brushing their teeth and accept it as part of the daily routine, the better.

Steps

Choose small toothbrushes made specifically for toddlers when starting out. The packaging will identify the age group. They usually come with good grip handles and entertaining designs that interest young ones.
Upgrade the toothbrush size according to age. Again, the packaging will provide age groups for the size of the toothbrush. Often the designs will also be aimed at older age ranges as they go up in size, to attract the things that interest children in that age range.
Consider using an electric toothbrush as well as a normal toothbrush. Dentists claim that these do a more thorough cleaning job than the manual brushing and it is a lot easier for you to do this when helping your child.
Prefer softer brushes over harder bristles. Children's gums are sensitive as they mature.
Try to introduce floss sticks once children are old enough to use them sensibly. This is another habit that cannot be taught too early!

Tips

It is important to understand that a child is not really able to clean his or her teeth alone until around the age of 10. You can gradually decrease intervention - say only brush with your child in the evenings, but always keep an eye on the process until they are old enough to clean their teeth properly.
Keep the sweets, juices and ice cream consumption low to prevent cavities.

Photo courtesy of Larry Page's Flickr Photostream.

Using Up a Stash of Plane and Hotel Toiletries

2008-10-25T17:33:00.005+13:00

If you, or someone in your family, is a frequent flyer or traveller, it is possible that you have a stash of plane and hotel toiletries goodies. After a while, when the charm of collecting lots of small sized hair, teeth, nail, lip and face products wears off, it is nice to know these items can be really useful. Here are some suggestions.

Steps

Prepare some guest packages. Put together several sets of useful toiletry products that you can pull out the bathroom cupboard when guests stay. They can enjoy their own mini-luxuries and take them home too. If you are concerned that they might not know to use and keep these goodies, make a little note that tells them and add it to the set. Something like "These goodies are for your sole use and enjoyment. Please take them with you if wished."
Provide them to charities directly responsible for housing people in shelters. Shelters for the homeless, women's refuges and disaster relief centres can all make excellent use of the many little toiletries to assist people who have nothing in emergencies and crisis times. Always find out first who needs them before dropping off, to make sure that the best use is made of them. Sometimes schools have a drive to collect these items around Christmas time.
Pamper yourself. Stop hanging on to them for a rainy day but enjoy the more luxurious items; after all, you were meant to enjoy them on vacation most likely! Use the bath oil, salts and lotions. Go on, stop feeling guilty! They'll go stale if you keep them for best forever!

Tips

Don't give away any toiletry items that you have already opened or used. These must be discarded if you no longer want them.
The socks off the plane make great fluff cleaners on wooden floors; wear them and go around picking up fluff! Wash in the normal cycle.
Always keep the earplugs; they are fantastic for many, many other uses and travel. You don't always get them, so they are a good thing to hang on to. Keep them in small jewellery plastic bags with your initials on them for hygiene.

Precautions

Always read the labels of toiletries you have not used before, to avoid possible allergic reactions.
Only take items that you are entitled to take; hotels run a tight margin on these things and it isn't fair or right to swipe more off the cleaner's cart. And think environment in accommodation situations; leave behind what you haven't opened and used unless you really, really want to use it. For planes, this isn't so helpful as they throw away everything unused, so take it with you.

Photo courtesy of Irrational Cat's Flickr Photostream.

Preventing Ponds Turning Green in Warmer Weather

2008-10-25T16:42:00.004+13:00

Green ponds are commonplace during warmer months, as algae takes over a pond and thrives. The algae not only spoils the appearance of the pond (slimy and gunky) but also starves other plants and aquatic life out. Keeping a pond from changing to green can be solved without chemicals by relying on a plant solution.

Steps

Plant a water lily. The water lily's floating leaves are large and keep the water shaded. This discourages algal growth.
Look for other oxygenating plants for your pond. Ask your local nursery for ideas. When you use pond plants that create shade, absorb minerals and carbon dioxide, these plants make the environment unpleasant for algae.
Keep the pond clean. As well as removing pond weed regularly, it is also important to remove dead and decaying foliage and aquatic life.

Tips

Don't leave fish food to build up; it provides too many algae-tasty nutrients.

Materials

Water lily or similar suitable plant

Photo courtesy of Dawnzy 58's Flickr Photostream.

Controlling Vigorous Pond Weed

2008-10-25T16:20:00.003+13:00

Pond weed that takes over a pond can sap the life force from it and prevent the fish from thriving and even suffocate them, as well as starving out other plants. It is a really good idea to keep it under control regularly during growing season, to ensure that the pond remains very healthy. This article provides some suggestions for getting started.

Steps

Put on gumboots and some good waterproof outdoor work gloves.
Drag out a third of the pond weed. You will need to do this every few weeks during growing season.
Check that you haven't caught any fish in the weed that is been removed. Use a garden knife to break weed that will not pull apart.
Leave the pond weed pulled out to one side of the pond on the ground. Let it sit overnight; this gives any small creatures such as water snails and any insects to go back into the pond.
Throw the weed into the compost bin the next day.
Keep an eye on the pond regularly to check for excessive growth.

Materials

Gumboots
Waterproof gardening gloves
Gardening knife

Photo courtesy of Leezie 5's Flickr Photostream.

How to Be a Fairy Collector

2008-10-25T09:44:00.007+13:00

Fairies are special fantasy icons. Many children adore fairies as they grow up; and many adults remain captivated with the fairy throughout their lives. Being a fairy collector is a delightful hobby that will keep you eternally enthralled. There are many ways to be a fairy collector and this article provides a few starter ideas to spark your own imagination and wishes.

Steps

1. Think about the space that you have available for a fairy collection. This will determine whether you can collect large fairy items, or only small ones. A garden can also extend your fairy collecting options considerably, especially when you seek to replicate a fairy lifestyle in your garden with little houses, fairy rings and fairy statues.
2. Start looking for fairy items. There are many, many possibilities that you can collect. Here are a few ideas:

Fairy figurines - china, crystal, plastic, paper etc.
Fairy wings - cloth, paper, plastic, for hanging on the wall or framing
Fairy costumes - for wearing, for displaying on lifesize fairy dolls or hangings
Fairy jewellery - anything featuring fairies
Fairy illustrations - for framing, already framed, calendars, diaries, posters, etc.
Fairy books - this can be a great collecting idea that will have you hunting far and wide and covers both vintage and new
Fairy crockery and utensils

3. Make space for your fairy collection. It is good if you can put it somewhere that others can see it and share the enjoyment of your collection. Consider how you will keep the dust off it too, such as housing it under glass, or weekly dusting etc. All collections come with a little work!
4. Go garden fairy collecting. As mentioned above, fairies in the garden can expand your collecting options. You can add fairy statues, fairy lights, mushroom statues in a fairy circle, fairy houses , fairy gardens etc. to make up a fairy garden collection.
5. Keep an eye out for new additions to your fairy collection wherever you go. It can be surprising where fairies to add to your collection can come from. And if you let friends and relatives know about your collection, they will often help add to your collection.
6. If your collection becomes truly amazing, considering offering it on loan to a museum or other display place so that others can enjoy your hard work, keen eye and glorious fairies!

Photo courtesy of Gilberto Filho's Flickr Photostream.

Spiced Cherries

2008-10-24T07:50:00.003+13:00

These are a great garnish for dish presentation if you leave the stalks attached.

Ingredients

1 kg cherries
6 cups white vinegar
750 g sugar
12 cloves
1 tbsp peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks

Clean the cherries. Discard any that are marked (eat them!).
Put the clean cherries into a large jar that has been warmed slightly.
Combine the vinegar, sugar, cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and allow to boil for 2 minutes.
Pour this hot vinegar mix over the cherries in the jar. Cover the fruit completely with the vinegar mix.
Cover the jar with a cloth and put somewhere out of the way for one week. During this time, the cherries are pickling.
Pour the vinegar off into a saucepan after one week. Bring it to boil and pour over the cherries again. Allow the contents to cool completely before sealing tightly. Store in a cool place or the refrigerator.

Leave the pit in; provided you leave the stalk attached, it is obvious that the pit is still intact.

Photo courtesy of Bensonkua's Flickr Photostream. I am the original author of this article but it is placed elsewhere on the internet in tradition with my wish to spread the knowledge widely.

Repair Hair Damaged with Split Ends with Sunflower Oil

2008-10-23T22:32:00.003+13:00

Sunflower oil is an excellent hair treatment. It can do wonders for healing split ends.

Ingredients

40ml/ 8 tbsp sunflower oil

Steps

Massage the sunflower oil into dry hair. Massage it right from the roots down to the tips of your hair.
Relax. Let the oil sit in your hair for 20 minutes. This is a good excuse to kick back and read a good novel somewhere comfortable. Just be sure to put a towel between your hair and any chair.
After 20 minutes have passed, massage through a quality, unscented shampoo. Again, massage right from the roots to the tips of your hair, aiming to cover every hair.
Hop into the shower and rinse the oil and shampoo out. Your hair will feel soft and lovely after this treatment.

Tips

Repeat weekly until signs of improvement occur.

Photo courtesy of Chris de Curtis' Photostream.

Venetian Glass Beads - A Small Wonder

2008-10-23T20:08:00.003+13:00

Venetian glass beads are wonderful - they have long been the height of elegance and beauty in glass beads. They are produced in Murano, Italy. Back in 1291, the ruling Doges were afraid of the potential for a fire in Venice, so they banned the fire kilns and furnaces used to make glass beads from Venice. The manufacturers moved to Murano but couldn't go anywhere else for centuries because the Doges wanted to keep their monopoly over the glassmaking. This strict monopoly lasted for centuries. However, in the late 1600s, rival glassworks were set up in other countries, in such centres as London, Amsterdam and Bohemia.

You are probably familiar with millefiori glass cane mosaic beads. Their name refers to it seeming as if each bead is decorated with a thousand small flowers. An old technique once used by Phonecians and Romans, the artisans in Murano redeveloped it for their glassworks and we still have it to this day!

Photo courtesy of Iris Dragon's Flickr photostream.

Using Natural Materials for Beading

2008-10-23T19:35:00.004+13:00

A lot of people are enjoying bead craft in one form or another. Beads can be expensive to buy if we need a lot to sustain a hobby; or, they may be made of materials such as plastics which are not so great for the environment. The solution can be to make more use of natural materials for beading projects. Here are some suggestions.

Steps

Make your own clay beads. You can make beads really easily using clay. Shapes are really endless - circles, ovals, tubes, squares, diamonds and more. They can be used naturally once dried, or you can paint and/or glaze them.
Consider animal by-products. This won't be for everyone but it is a time-honoured tradition to use up all of an animal, including horns, hooves, hair, teeth and bone to make ornaments. Plus, you don't have to kill an animal to get some animal derived bead material. Consider horsehair rolled into a bead - if you own a horse, you'll easy find tail and mane hair stuck to fences, posts and stable areas etc. The seaside is crammed with shells, fish cartilages and bones and other washed up debris of animal origin. Antlers, horns and other items are often shed and found on the forest floor. All of these items can be turned into excellent beads.
Think plants. Seed pods can make wonderful beads, as well as other tree and plant seeds, nuts, gnarled wood knots and other hard plant pieces with interesting shapes. Pieces of fossilized plants can make excellent beads too; if you're lucky enough to find them and they aren't classified as protected.
Try minor gems. Those little treasure chests of tiny gems sold in museum and science discovery shops are not just for cluttering up the mantelpiece - these make great bead objects for beading.
Keep an eye out when walking in nature. You can be inspired by anything natural to make wonderful beadwork. Let your imagination help you choose.

Materials

Natural beads
Project patterns or plans

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Designing a Good Kitchen Layout

2008-10-22T22:55:00.004+13:00

Kitchens have to be perfect; they are so vital to the smooth running of the whole house. They can either make or break your desire to cook. So getting it right when you renovate or build from scratch is absolutely essential. Here are some things to think about.

Steps

Look at your current kitchen. Think about what works and what doesn't. Keep this in mind the entire time you are planning. You will want to avoid what has driven you crazy and you will want to replicate those essential things that you couldn't imagine being without.
Think functional. Sure, a pretty design is important but above all, a kitchen must work and work well. Always put quality of functionality first; if you buy well, you'll get both functionality and beauty in one.
Always leave space for preparing food next to the cooking area. And make sure that the sink is also near both the cooking and the preparation areas.
Plan your cupboard and drawer space down to the last detail. Even before you build, you should know the purpose of each cupboard and drawer. That way, you won't be burdened with the wrong choices or miss out on having enough space. Don't skimp on drawer space - drawers in kitchens are like shoe rack space in bedrooms - you can never have too many.
Make space for rubbish disposal, recycling bins and food scraps. These are better out of sight and close to hand for ease of use.
Get good lighting. A well-lit kitchen is a dream to work in. A poorly lit one will be avoided and the fast food mentality might creep in...
Make a space for condiments and herbs and spices that are used regularly in cooking. These are best near the cooking space, to inspire and for ease of access.
Borrow ideas from restaurants, friends' houses, magazines, travel etc. to import into your kitchen design.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Shop Successfully in a Charity Store

2008-10-22T22:27:00.005+13:00

About this article...

This was one of the first ever articles that I ever added as a how-to on wikiHow. I was so proud of it. It was full of "mistakes" as the format police liked to point out but hey, I just loved the freedom to add the knowledge of what I'd found out doing this type of shopping for donkey's years. I watched it grow over the years and it got merged out of existence once and then returned. I don't profess to be the ultimate expert on this topic but I did a lot of this shopping once and I did enjoy writing it, so I decided to add it here as well for nostalgia's sake. I hope you enjoy it.

The article

Opportunity shop, charity shop, or thrift store shopping is great for finding a bargain and adding items to your wardrobe for little cost. This article has some suggestions for making your thrift store hunting more successful!

Steps

Decide if you're the sort of person who likes thrift store shopping. Thrift stores require a lot of rummaging, which can be time-consuming and tiring. Often they smell musty or are dusty, so if you have allergies, be sure to spend only short amounts of time visiting. If you are someone who loves to rummage, would sacrifice a half day in pursuit of a bargain and enjoys the thrill of the hunt as much as the kill, then thrift store shopping is for you! You must have perseverance, determination, patience and grit.
Decide when is best for you to go. You need at least a spare hour, maybe two. Since rummaging requires energy, choose the time of day when you feel strong and energetic. Some stores are open at nights or weekends. Nights are good because less people go then. Weekends are likely to be busier. Sales days are the busiest.
Enter the store of your choice. There are two ways to shop. The first is that you have come with an object in mind, for example, a pair of jeans. So head straight to the area where the jeans are and look with that in mind alone. The second way is that you have no idea what you're looking for, as long as it fits, is gorgeous and is a total bargain. In this case, start at the beginning. It is always wise to choose one type of thing though - for example, focus on clothes rather than also trying to look at the books, china, toys and bikes etc. Unless the store is tiny, you'll wear yourself out and possibly over-buy.
Look for the colors. Many thrift stores color code their clothes. This makes it easier for you to avoid colors that you don't like and not waste extra time. If the clothes are hanging up, it is easier to spot items. Learn to look for a. color; b. texture and c. style. If they're in a heap, well dig in and pull! Color and texture should leap out at you just by running your eyes over the top or sides of the clothing racks. This takes care of the need to pull out every item.
Just pull out the clothes that appeal by color and texture, so that you can check for style. Texture is really important - you should become familiar by eyesight with high quality fabrics and knits such as high quality cotton, cashmere, linen, silk, natural fabrics etc so that you focus on these. Avoid items that are all synthetic - that is probably why they're in the store in the first place. Look for classic styles which don't date easily.
Be honest with yourself even before trying on the item. Do you really like the style overall - the arms shape, the leg flare, the neck plunge etc? Is it really your color? Will it match with clothes you already own?
Check closely for stains, tears, mended parts, stretched stitching (often hard to repair) and marks. Do pants have a shiny seat, are beads or buttons missing? If you see these, ask yourself if are they easily reparable or are they so damaged that the rag bag would be a better place for these clothes? Only get items in good condition or capable of an easy repair. And never buy anything with perspiration stains - they just will not come out. Remember that buttons are not a problem - you can easily replace lost ones with better ones.
If the item is absolutely to die for and is a designer label but it suffers from: stains, being too large or slightly outdated, then still consider it. A label can be worth paying extra at a tailor's to have it altered or cleaned and will still end up being a lot less than purchasing it brand new or from a consignment store.
Time to try on your clothes. Many changing areas only permit 3 items at a time (something that is a bit hard when you have a cartload of goodies!) or they are so open as to be almost immodest. A good trick is wear clothes that enable you to try the items on over the top. A good set is a leotard or swim suit with a little t-shirt and short flared skirt. Slip-on shoes are essential.
Always look in a mirror to see if the clothes really do suit you. If there is no mirror, ask them if you can exchange the item if it looks wrong when you get home. If not, then you take the risk but given the price, it'll probably be a cheap risk!
If you still have energy left, look around some more. Maybe match some items together with the ones you already have.
Otherwise, you have finished! Buy and take home. As with any clothes, be careful when washing them to read the instructions and don't mix reds or colors that look like they'll run with whites, creams and pastels or you'll be making a delivery to the thrift store yourself.
Enjoy your creativity, your assistance to making the world a better place by donating money and items and be happy that you are recycling. Second-hand is no longer second-best; it is about sharing wants & needs with others around the world.

Tips

Shoes should be clean and not over-worn. Feet are precious and if a shoe is so obviously molded to another person's shape, then don't even try them on, as they'll damage your feet. This is especially important for children's feet, although on the plus side, children grow out of shoes so quickly that often almost completely unworn shoes can be found.
Underwear is very personal. Most thrift stores do sell secondhand underwear and always in cleaned condition. It is a very personal choice.
Don't forget jewelry, hair clasps, ribbons, watches, belts, scarves and hats. These make wonderful and very inexpensive additions. You can often pick up a very expensive silk scarf or a designer belt for next-to-nothing if you rummage carefully. Maybe even a pashmina?!
Be patient - the reasons for why people throw out clothes and other items are so varied but in the main it is because the item is underfoot, no longer wanted and often out-dated. So, there will be junk to rummage through but one person's junk is another's person's treasure and your little treasure is hidden there somewhere!
Many thrift stores state 'no ticket, no sale'. This is to avoid fraud. However, if you find something unticketed and you really love it, just see one of the sales staff and explain that that was how you found it and that you'd really like to purchase it. Usually they'll find a price for it!
Keep an eye out for sales and half price days. Then you'll get totally amazing bargains.
Don't argue about the price. The prices are generally very good anyway. They are priced to sell and to raise funds for a good cause. And if you think it's cheaper at the dollar store down the street, go and buy it from there instead of arguing. Haggling might be the norm but it depends on your store and part of the world. Do it kindly and with good heart.
Many of the people running these stores are volunteers and are doing this out of the goodness of their heart. Treat them to a cheery smile and a short chat and let them know they're doing a good job.
If something is not right with the store, make a gentle suggestion about changing it. Or even become a volunteer there yourself and help make the change.
Take along a bag of stuff you don't want anymore when you go to buy things for you at the thrift store. It will lessen the load in your life and help the recycling continue.

Precautions

Take water to drink. Many thrift stores are too poor to have air-conditioned premises or are very dusty/musty and you may feel your senses overwhelmed. Drinking some water will help to dampen down the heat/smells.
Don't steal from thrift stores. Not only shouldn't you be stealing (very bad karma), you're stealing from a place that is raising money to help people who really need it. That'll just leave a bad taste in your mouth. If you really can't afford it, tell them. Many will refer you to their help center which can give you coupons for free clothing etc.
Be aware that thrift stores attract all walks of life. This means that you may be chatted up by lonely souls seeking comfort, you may be confronted by aggressive people who have intellectual disabilities or are down on their luck and you may be accosted by loud-speaking people who are pooh-poohing the clothes. All of them have their reasons for being there; just be polite and move on to the next rack.

Photo courtesy of Indy Charlie's Flickr Photostream.

Drive to Preserve Australian Wildlife

2008-10-22T22:03:00.004+13:00

Driving in Australia can be a hazard for you if you hit a roo. But mostly, it's a hazard for the wildlife that unwittingly venture out onto our roads. If you want to help keep the wildlife encounters right down, here are some ideas.

Steps

Be a defensive driver. This means being alert at all times and being ready for the unexpected. Know in advance if you are driving through an area of high wildlife; usually there will be signs alerting you and other clear indicators include bush, trees, grass on the verges etc. And droppings and other roadkill are also big indicators.
Keep your speed to allow for wildlife stopping distances. 90 kph is a recommended wildlife speed on open stretches of road; lower for curvy and blind corner roads. Much lower for nighttime driving.
Drive during the day in rural, outback, mountainous and wilderness areas. Most Australian native animals are active at night. If you do have to drive in these areas at between dusk and dawn, slow down! This is a time for careful driving rather than fast driving. Use all your headlights at night (front and side) and make sure that they are in good working order.
Take extra care during drought and prolonged dry seasons. Roadside vegetation becomes very attractive when all else has been munched out. More wildlife will be around during drier seasons.
Slow down when you see wildlife. As soon as you spot wildlife, slow right down. The animal doesn't know that you just intend to drive on through; it will be afraid and may react by running at you rather than from you. Give it wide berth and time to pass safely across the road or back to where it came from. Small toots as you slow right down can help discourage it from your car but only do this if no other cars are around or it could simply run in front of someone else's car.
Slow down around fresh roadkill. This is a danger sign that there might be birds hovering around and other wildlife that is either trying to eat the kill or there even could be a baby or family member hanging around.
Understand how Australian animals react when frightened. Unfortunately, they have their own style each:

Kangaroos and wallabies - hop quickly, across a lot of ground and can bolt all of a sudden
Wombats - they usually keep going in a straight line
Possums - will often freeze
Bandicoots - randomly hop about with no certain path
Ferals - cats tend to run straight, horses can bolt and rear, pigs run straight or alongside etc.

Tips

Use your horn to warn. If you think there might be animals, alert them of your presence by tooting as you pass through. This can be specially helpful for mountainous curves where animals can spring out across the road without warning as you turn corners. Also areas with long or thick vegetation can hide animals.
Feed yourself and your rubbish bin, not the wildlife. Never throw food scraps out the window and don't leave food by the roadside. This is asking for wildlife to come too close.
If you do hit wildlife, and it is safe to do so, pull it to the side of the road so that other animals do not become inadvertent victims while feeding of it. If possible, check for joeys etc. in pouches and rescue them if you can. It can be handy to keep a pair of thick gloves in the back of the car for such a task and a blanket to wrap any baby in.
You can have warning devices fitted to your car; enquire about them at your local RSPCA, environmental organisations etc.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Make a Pumpkin Seed Necklace

2008-10-22T20:16:00.002+13:00

Elizabeth Cullum in her delightful book A Cottage Herbal tells us how to make a pumpkin seed necklace. This is a great activity to share with youngsters, who enjoy finding the best pumpkin seeds and helping to make the necklace.

You'll need:

Pumpkin seeds, washed and well dried (put out in the sun or dry in a very cool oven)
Strong thread
Needle

Steps

1. Make sure that the pumpkin seeds have dried completely.
2. Prepare your strong thread in the needle. Pull the thread through each pumpkin seed.
3. Tie a knot in the end. The length of the necklace is completely up to you.

Tips

Elizabeth also suggests dyeing them if wished. She uses cold tea to soak the pumpkin seeds a mahogany colour. Hang the seeds to dry in the wind after dyeing.
Pumpkin seeds can be replaced by melon or marrow seeds.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Quinoa Salad

2008-10-22T20:07:00.002+13:00

Quinoa salad is delicious. Quinoa is very high in protein - a complete protein filled with essential amino acids - and it was a staple grain of the Incas. It tastes nutty and has a very enjoyable chewy texture.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup cilantro/coriander, fresh and chopped
1/2 cup watercress
1/2 cup chopped green onions (spring onions/scallions)
1/2 cup lemon juice, fresh
1/4 cup olive oil (good quality)
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 tomatoes, quartered
1 lemon, cut into 8 quarters

Steps

1. Mix the ingredients together, apart from the tomatoes and lemon.
2. Continue mixing until well blended.
3. Refrigerate for 3 hours in a glass bowl.
4. Remove the salad from the refrigerator. Garnish with the tomato wedges and lemon slices. Serve.

Materials

Bowl (glass)
Mixing spoon
Fridge

Photo courtesy of Fran Ulloa's Flickr Photostream.

Tuscany Beans

2008-10-22T20:02:00.003+13:00

Tuscany beans is a dish that is tasty and easy. It pretty much cooks itself and to complete it, all you need to add is a delicious green salad. It's a very healthy dish and not for the garlic feint-hearted.

Ingredients

500g / 1lb haricot beans, soaked in water overnight (cold water)
salt
3 plump garlic cloves, chopped finely
5 sage leaves, fresh and finely chopped; can substitute 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (canned ones are fine)
Black pepper, freshly ground
1 tbsp olive oil

Steps

1. Drain the haricot beans after soaking. Put into a saucepan and add a teaspoon of salt and enough cold water to cover. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Strain the beans. They will still be very firm. Keep the liquid in a large bowl.
3. Preheat the oven to 150ºC/300ºF.
4. Toss the beans, garlic, sage and tomatoes together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Put the mixture into a casserole dish. Pack down soundly and pour over the olive oil.
6. Cover with a piece of greaseproof paper and then add the lid.
7. Bake in the oven just below the centre until the beans are soft. This will take about 5 - 6 hours.

* Serves 6

Materials

Saucepan
Strainer
Large bowl
Mixing spoon
Casserole dish with lid
Greaseproof paper

Photo courtesy of Eric Perrone's Flickr photostream.

On Selecting Beetroot

2008-10-22T19:54:00.004+13:00

Beetroot is a fabulous winter vegetable that brings a vibrancy to salad and main meal dishes. Selecting quality beetroot is easy if your follow these steps.

Steps

Look for firm beetroot when buying. If it is soft, it is too old to have a good taste and texture.
Look at the leaves. If you are purchasing beetroot that has leaves (which is preferred), make sure that they are green and not wilted. Yellowed and wilted leaves are a sign that the beetroot has been around too long.
Select unblemished beetroot with firm roots. Damaged beetroot can be eaten but it will not store well. (Thoughtful Foods)
Prefer smaller beetroot over larger ones. They are usually sweeter. (Weight Watchers, All About Beetroot)

Tips

Older beetroot tends to have lost its sugars, which turn to starch. This makes the beetroot texture turn "fluffy" and it is less palatable than when it is sweet and new.
Fresh, unblemished beetroot will store for 10 days or so in a refrigerator crisper. (Taste, Beetroot) Remove the stalks and leaves and keep these in a separate bag (these can be eaten too).
Beetroots can be eaten raw or cooked.

Materials

Quality vegetable supplier

Taken from my post on wikiHow and Ethical Living. Photo courtesy of Zed.Cat's Flickr Photostream.

Curried Tempeh Burgers

2008-10-22T19:37:00.003+13:00

Tempeh is a high nutrient food that is really good for you. A traditional food in Indonesia, it is made using whole, hulled, or cooked soy beans that have been exposed to mould and left to ferment for a brief period of time. Tempeh has a chewy texture and a nut-like flavour that makes it perfect for a range of dishes. These burgers are one great example of using tempeh.

Ingredients

1 8oz packet of tempeh
1/2 cup low-fat, plain yoghurt (soy derived if vegan)
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 tsp coriander, ground
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp curry powder

Steps

Cut the tempeh block into two pieces.
Mix all of the ingredients together expect for the tempeh. Keep mixing until it is combined well.
Add the two pieces of tempeh to the mixture.
Cover the mixture and place in the refrigerator. Allow to marinate for a minimum of one hour, longer if desired. It is important to turn the tempeh at least once during the marinating.
Preheat a grill to medium heat.
Remove the tempeh from the fridge and place on the grill. Grill for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Remove and serve. This goes well with a hearty salad and some beetroot slices.

Materials

Mixing bowl
Knife and cutting board
Grill
Cover for bowl when marinating (damp tea towel, lid etc.)

Taken from my post on Ethical Living.

Photo courtesy of Fotoos Van Robin's Flickr Photostream

How to Make Pear Jam

2008-10-22T18:25:00.002+13:00

Fancy making some Pear Jam? Circe couldn't imagine anything more pleasant to make on a rainy, chilly Sunday night when the TV proved dull, the weather was threatening and pears sat there asking her questions about their utility.

This pear jam is a great treat. Goes well on toast and is a marvellous accompaniment to cheese dishes for the cheese-hearted. It is also great smeared over crepes (thin pancakes). Come to think of it, it probably goes well over thick pancakes too. It is probably suitable for market stall goodies too - put it in a lovely jar with a neat bow and add the cheese platter suggestion. Give extra jars to friends. They'll appreciate it. Lots.

Ingredients

1.5kg/3lb firm pears
1/2 cup lemon juice
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons five spice powder

Steps

1. Wash the peels before beginning.
2. Peel and quarter the pears. Remove the cores. Keep the peel and trimmings.
3. In a heavy-based pan, place the pears. Pour over enough cold water to cover the pears.
4. Bring to the boil, then immediately reduce to simmer. Continue to simmer until the pears become very soft. This will take around half an hour, give or take a bit (keep an eye on it).
5. Using a slotted spoon, lift out the fruit. Leave the pears to one side on a plate.
6. Throw the peel and trimmings in the liquid and boil for 10 minutes.
7. Cut the cooling pears into small pieces. The shapes do not matter.
8. Strain the boiled liquid and remove the peelings. Press out as much juice as possible from the peelings before discarding them.
9. Measure the liquid and make up to 1 cup using cold water.
10. Return the liquid to the pan with the lemon juice and add the sugar and spice. Stir together well over moderate heat. Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.
11. Boil the dissolved mixture rapidly. Test a few drops now and then on a cool plate. When these drops form a jelly, add the pears back in.
12. Boil rapidly until the jam thickens and turns into jelly when tested on a plate. The pears should be golden and transparent.
13. Cool the jam a little in the pan removed from the heat.
14. Pour the jam into clean, sterilised jars; seal and cover once cooled. Store in the refrigerator.

Tips

* It helps to label the jars and date them.
* Wash the pears because you will be using the peel.
* Use a slotted spoon as it allows the liquid to pour back into the pan. Wooden slotted spoons are preferable as the wood does not react with fruit.

Materials

* Peeler
* Knife and chopping board
* Heavy-based pan suitable for making jam
* Cup
* Plate
* Jars for storing jam, sterilised properly

Photo courtesy of CW Buecheler's Flickr Photostream

Ecosourcing

2008-10-22T18:07:00.007+13:00

Ecosourcing is about growing native plants using local seeds. When growing locally, the plants produced are much more suited to the narrow local environment and its specific conditions than the same species introduced from elsewhere.

One benefit of ecosourcing is the ability to maintain the widest possible diversity within species, rather than enabling a more generic overlay to take hold within a plant species. Any unique characteristics that belong to local variants of plant life will be maintained when ecosourcing is practised and promoted.

For the garden, there is increased suitability and hardiness of your plants that have been ecosourced. Encourage your local nursery to ecosource by explaining the benefits to your garden and the region you are in. Be aware that even in the same city, areas may vary between hill suburbs, beach suburbs and river flat suburbs, so keep this in mind when ecosourcing your plants.

Projects that concentrate on restoring flora to a region benefit greatly from ecosourcing as a means for bringing a place back to the way it once was.

Taken from my original writing on Ethical Living.

Dealing with Harlequin Bugs

2008-10-14T18:17:00.006+13:00

Are Harlequin bugs having their way with your garden? They are a pretty bug but menacing, with damage in store for plants. However, before you reach for those chemical sprays that take no prisoners, think twice...

Steps

Avoid chemical sprays. Chemical sprays are indiscriminate and will kill all the predators of this bug. And, you will most likely discover that it survived even though its predators did not.
Be proactive. Put on the gardening gloves and start physically removing them. Go out early morning when you can catch them congregating and shake them off the plant onto a sheet of newspaper or plastic below. Pluck of any that hang on and toss them on the pile. Try popping or tipping them into a jar which is partially filled with methylated spirits; this will kill them quickly. Soapy water in a bucket also works well. Beware squashing them - they stink; hence the reason for wearing gloves.
Be patient. Their predators will eventually succeed but it is a cycle that requires patience. Within about 18 months, the balance should be restored to the garden and the harlequin bugs will be back under control.
Keep weeds under control. Healthy plants are more resistant to bug infestations. Give plants a better chance by removing competitors in the form of weeds. And keep all the good plants well watered and fertilised.

Tips

Watch the brassicas. Harlequins like them. They are also partial to radishes and turnips.
Consider using a garden vacuum as another means for mopping them up.
Use a garden shovel or funnel to collect the bugs and tip them into the bucket or jar if you are squeamish.
Soap spray can sometimes work if it contacts the bugs directly on the plant.

Materials

Gardening gloves
Plastic sheet or newspapers for catching the bugs
Jar partly filled with methylated spirits, or a bucket of soapy water

*Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Quick fix for blender, mincer, processor blades

2008-10-11T12:31:00.004+13:00

If you are in a pickle over cleaning sticky dampened blades with pieces of food stuck in hard-to-reach corners of the blades on a kitchen appliance, this old-fashioned remedy might be just the answer you're looking for.

Steps

Make sure that the blades are moist - this method is for removing moist particles.
Run a piece or two of dried bread through the blades. Stale pieces at the end of the loaf are excellent for this purpose.
Dispose of the crumbs into your compost pile. Check the blades - they should be nicely cleaned of any sticking pieces, making washing them a total breeze!

Materials

Stale or dry bread
Blades (blender, grinder, processor etc.)

*Photo courtesy of Redjar.

Simple Eggless Cake

2008-10-11T12:18:00.002+13:00

Looking for a way to make a great cake without eggs? This is a neat old-fashioned recipe and you will likely have most ingredients in the pantry already.

Ingredients

1/4 lb butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fruit and nuts of choice, chopped finely
1 grated lemon or orange rind
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons mixed spice
2 cups flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking soda

Steps

Put all ingredients except for flour and baking soda into a saucepan. Boil for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool right down.
Add the sifted flour when the mixture is nearly cold and the baking soda. Mix in well.
Pour mixture into a loaf tin/pan for baking.
Bake in a moderate oven (350ºF/180ºC) for about one hour.
Remove from oven and cool cake on a wire cooling rack. Ice if wished when cool.

Tips

Substitute the butter for vegan margarine if you would like a non-dairy version of this cake.

Materials

Saucepan
Wooden mixing spoon
Baking pan, loaf shape; line with baking paper/parchment to prevent sticking
Wire rack for cooling

Apple, Banana and Citrus Jam

2008-10-11T11:12:00.004+13:00

This is a delicious jam with an interesting combination of fruits that can often be spotted getting a little too old on the kitchen counter. It has a lot of sugar (beware!) which ensures that this keeps well.

Ingredients

3 large cooking apples
3 bananas
2 lemons
2 large oranges
5 cups water
4 cups sugar

Steps

Peel the apples and core them. Cut into square pieces approximately 2.5cm/1" diameter.
Peel the bananas and slice.
After washing the lemons well, slice them very finely (including the peel).
Cut the flesh of the oranges into small cubes
Place all cut ingredients into a large pan suitable for jam making.
Add the water and leave to simmer for around 2 hours, checking regularly.
Add the sugar and simmer for another hour. The jam is ready on thickening.
Bottle and seal as usual.

Materials

Chopping board and knife
Large cooking pan
Stirring spoon (wooden)
Sterilised bottle with seal

*Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Avoiding Bottled Water

2008-10-11T10:04:00.004+13:00

Bottled water is convenient and comes with the illusion of health, cleanliness and purity. It also comes at a price, namely, one to you that asks for an extraordinary amount of money for a life-giving and natural right to what humans are supposed to be drinking, and one to the environment in terms of energy usage to create plastic and transport the water bottles, as well as the questionable chemicals used to make plastic that go back into our environment and potentially leach into the water inside the bottle as well.

While common sense has been overruled by the cleverness of marketing an element that is our natural-born right to consume, continuing to support the bottled water industry provides an excuse for municipal governments in both developed and developing countries to not improve and maintain municipal water supplies. This is not a trend we should be encouraging. Nor should we be encouraging the usage of tap water to go into bottles, thereby permitting a company that does this huge windfalls! Safe and clean water is a right for all humans and bottled water is not the solution; better municipal systems for treating and ensuring water supply is the real solution.

About one litre of oil is used for every 4 litres of bottled water. . This accounts for the costs of extracting the water, making and transporting each bottle. What is even more crazy is that around 5 to 6 litres of water is used to manufacture and transport one litre of bottled water! Somehow these figures just do not make good common sense. And where do all these bottles end up? In landfill, piling up high!

This doesn't even begin to account for the water connoisseurs who like to pay horrendous prices for bottles with fancy labels and colours. Water isn't wine. Either it is clean and healthy or it is not but it is certainly not a boutique tasting commodity. If your water doesn't taste good, that is because the treatment process needs a good kick in the pants, not because it hasn't been sourced from Lake Muck.

What to do?

Go back to tap water and demand that your municipality improve poor water supplies.
Send funds to communities in developing countries who need better water supplies; what a great Christmas present idea for someone addicted to bottled water!
Buy a reusable water container to carry around and fill it up wherever you go from the tap.
Use your common sense when travelling and know about water safety; yes, by all means resort to bottled water where essential but don't leave it at that.
Write a letter of complaint to the local government, start a community fund for better water protection, do something a lot more proactive than just accepting this is the status quo for people anywhere in the world.

You can do it... in the past week I have been handed two free bottles of water for free. Two different brands. This tells me the water bottling companies are beginning to see the end to this wonderful free ride they've had in recent times. There are plenty other value-added beverages they can legitimately flog off but water isn't one of them...

*Image courtesy of Klynslis

Vegetarian Sausages

2008-10-11T09:07:00.006+13:00

While there are many versions of meatless sausages available on supermarket shelves these days, they can be quite pricey. This recipe is for a basic meatless sausage recipe which you can play around with and adapt to your own tastes over time by adding spices, fresh herbs, veggie pieces etc., once you are used to making the basic version.

Ingredients

1 cup soaked and cooked dried peas, beans, lentils or lima beans
½ cup dried breadcrumbs
¼ cup fat, e.g., olive oil, macadamia nut oil, butter, margarine
1 egg (or use egg replacer if preferred)
½ teaspoon crushed sea salt
1 teaspoon sage, dried
Flour to roll sauasage in

Steps

Mix all the ingredients together.
Take small handfuls and shape into sausages.
Roll each sausage in flour.
Fry in olive oil.

Tips

Serve with sauce or chutney to bring out the flavours and to add moisture.

Materials

Mixing bowl
Mixing implement
Floured board or clean workspace
Bowl for flour
Frying pan/skillet

Reference
Article sourced from public domain materials: C. Houston Goudiss and Alberta M Goudiss, Foods that Will Win the War and How to Cook Them, 1918; public domain resource - this eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at Gutenberg.

*Photo courtesy of Ewan M.

Banana Marmalade

2008-10-10T20:00:00.003+13:00

Banana marmalade is a delightfully different kind of marmalade that your grandmother might have made. This recipe originates from an old New Zealand booklet called "Enquire Within", dating somewhere back in the 40's by the looks of the images and the corsets... Anyway, it's a good recipe, so enjoy the outcome.

Ingredients

2 lb bananas, after peeling
2 lb sugar
2 lemons, juiced and grated (juicing before grating is a much easier experience)

Steps

Cut the bananas into thick rounds about 1/2"/1.5cm thick.
Put the banana slices, sugar, lemon juice and grated lemon rind into a double boiler. Cook until the sugar dissolves.
Put the cooked mixture into a preserving pan. Bring to the boil gradually, stirring constantly. Skim off any scum that froths up.
Continue to boil fast, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick and sets.
Pour into a suitable glass container for storage. Seal. It is best kept refrigerated after opening and used within three months.

Materials

Knife and chopping board
Double boiler
Preserving pan
Wooden spoon
Jar for storage, sterilised

How to Disguise a Septic Tank Opening

2008-06-01T11:38:00.002+12:00

If you have a septic tank opening that is obvious to the world, there is an easy way to fix that while still leaving ample space for pumping and maintenance.

Planter, fiberglass, terracotta or plastic

Circular, flat item to serve as a table top - a variety of materials will suffice such as glass, metal, plastic, mosaic etc., provided it is outside weatherproof and durable

1. Look for a suitable planter pot in a garden center or hardware store.

You will need a large planter pot, made from a sturdy material such as plastic, fiberglass or terracotta. In the case of plastic and terracotta, be sure to select thick versions that have strong wall sides to the pot.

2. Turn the planter pot upside down over the opening space of the septic tank cover.

It should be evenly placed around the opening so that it is not slanting or sitting on the opening in any way. You may need to build up one side with earth to make certain that it is steady.

3. Place the circular piece on top of the planter pot.

Use a circular piece of ceramic, mosaic, glass or metal to lay flat on the upended planter pot. Make sure that it is balanced evenly and does not wobble. It must be strong enough to stay in place during a wind and it must not be liable to tip. This will become a "table" surface.

4. Add a decorative element to the table top.

Now that you have a neat little table sitting over the septic tank cover, add an ornament or a pot plant to the table top. All of this will be very easy to remove and put to one side when you wish to pump or maintain the septic tank.

Tips & Warnings

Another option might be to place a birdbath over the septic tank, provided that the base of the birdbath is wide enough to cover the septic tank opening. Alternatively, add a bird bath bowl to your table top, making sure it is sitting tight and is stable.
Wear gloves to protect your hands from dirt, septic tank residues and cuts from any of the items you are handling.

I have also posted this on eHow.

How to Change Your Life Today

2008-05-10T09:18:00.001+12:00

Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay. ~~ Simone de Beauvoir

If you are stuck in a rut and this is the page that returned for your search engine request, the odds are that you need to change ''right now''.

1. Pull out the Yellow Pages right now and book your psychology test. Know your personality type. Knowing your personality type enables you to choose the right career, pastimes and partners. If you are going against the grain and doing things in life that don't match your personal traits and strengths, chances are that you are unhappy because you're a square peg trying to fit a round hole. There are online tests you can take or better still, see a career counselor or psychologist for the best results.

2. Go outside as soon as you finish this article. Get out there. Right now you are sitting at the computer. After you have read this article, turn it off and... go outside if it's daytime or get a good night's sleep if it's nighttime and put your new plan of action into place first thing upon waking. Do not give in to the temptation to keep surfing for answers. That will turn up at least 50 different opinions on what ails you and most are likely inaccurate but in the process, will sap your time and make you feel more confused. And staying online leads from one thing to another to another; hardly conducive to getting your head around rebooting your life.

3. Pull out your CV right now. It's time to change jobs. If you're in a dead-end job, stop making excuses. It may be the world's best job for Andy or Jill but your enhanced skills and drooping interest-level are making it the least desirable job for you and chances are, your level of disconnect is reflected in work quality drops and lack of enthusiasm for even turning up each day. Start a plan of attack. Tonight, after work, draw up a "get me out of here" action plan. Write down what the job means to you in positives and negatives and write down what you want to be doing. Write down where you can begin looking. Pull out the CV and write on it all the refreshing updates that will reflect the new you who is moving on. Tomorrow, type up those changes and start mailing.

4. Eat an apple as you read this. Toss the junk food and packaged meals. Convenient they may be; full of fat, sugar and sub-optimal nutrition they are also. Your health is the most important asset you have in life; guard it with your life, literally. Visit the local fruit and veg store and start eating fresh food. Get more grains, vegetables and whole foods into your diet as of now. It doesn't take a nutrition degree to listen to your body honestly and feed it well; you already know deep down what those donuts are doing to you. And if that doesn't motivate you, consider this: your brain is the most energy hungry part of your body. If you want to think like a genius, eat like one too.

5. Stop reading for a second and go and say "I love you". Choose someone who is near you and tell them you love them. If it's a colleague, express appreciation for their presence, their good work and their support. Then come back here.

6. Grab the real estate pages right now. Circle some places that are different from the one you're in now and that excite you. If you're in a large house, downsize and declutter. If you're in the middle of the city, move to the beach. If you're in the hills and that commute is driving you crazy, move closer to the city. If the school you send your kids to is really worrying you, look for a suburb with better schools. It's time for a change. Leave cities and the country if you really want to up the ante.

7. Volunteer. Give some of your time to those who don't have the luxury of thinking about the philosophical underpinnings of their lives. Give your time, effort and money to make the world a better place for all, so that everyone has a chance to spend moments reflecting on their life's direction.

Tips

Never stay in a situation just because it seems like a good idea or because you are competing with Rachel, Harry and Bob to see who can last out in a career the longest. Who cares? If Rachel, Harry and Bob want to fry their brains and never question the greater meaning of life, then let them - '''even if you are the type of person whose empathy usually means you can't let go!''' You need to shift gears, even if that means some downward mobility and leaving others behind. You might be surprised - your example could trigger others to follow suit.

Freshen Indoor Air Naturally

2008-04-01T11:14:00.009+13:00

Commercial air freshener sprays are not healthy; they contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Moreover, the versions that require electricity to power them are also a wasteful source of energy usage that is simply unnecessary. Here are some ways to freshen your inside air without resorting to the chemicals.

Open the windows. Whenever it is possible, keep windows open to allow stale air out and fresh new air to circulate through your home.
Use vinegar to soak up unpleasant odours. Place dishes of vinegar in the kitchen to remove cooking odours. Place vinegar in areas where people have been smoking.
Scent the air using boiling fragrances. A mixture of spices or coffee can be used to imbue the air with pleasant scents. Try a mixture of cinnamon and cloves or just plain coffee. Baking bread also sends an excellent odour through a home if you have the time and inclination.
Remove the stink of a garbage can with a sprinkling of 1/2 cup borax at the base. This will prevent bad odours caused by bacterial and mould growth.
Place potpourri around the house. Make your own or purchase good quality potpourri. Place in bowls in cupboards, on mantelpieces, in windowsills and on coffee tables.

Clean Dirty Windows with Methylated Spirits

2008-03-31T14:49:00.000+13:00

Dirty windows need a little extra oomph to remove the ground-on dirt. Before heading off to buy a commercially produced product, check the cupboard for a little methylated spirits. Add some water and elbow grease and your windows will be as good as new in no time! Here's how.

Make up a solution of methylated spirits with a little warm water.
Apply the solution using a chamois. Using the chamois, rub strongly across the dirty areas of the window.
Rinse off with scrunched up newspaper dipped in warm water. The newspaper will remove smears.
Discard any of the solution leftover and the newspaper pieces. Wash your hands well.

Items needed

Methylated spirits
Warm water
Bucket to combine mixture in
Chamois cloth
Newspaper
Soap for cleaning your hands afterwards

Make Your Own Lavender Toilet Water

2008-03-31T14:18:00.000+13:00

Lavender toilet water has a multitude of uses in the home. It is easy to make your own and save a little money at the same time.

Ingredients

1.5 cups lavender flowers
700ml (24 fl oz) boiling water
2 tablespoons gin or vodka

Pour the boiling water over the lavender flowers in a large ceramic bowl. Set aside for 24 hours at room temperature. This will permit the fragrance to infuse through the water.
Place the infusing mixture into the refrigerator to continue infusing for another 2 days.
Remove after 2 days. Strain the water through a sieve to remove the lavender flowers.
Add the alcohol and mix through.
Pour into a glass bottle and add an airtight lid. Homemade toilet water should be kept in the refrigerator.

Items needed

Kettle or saucepan for boiling water
Large ceramic bowl
Refrigerator
Sieve or colander for straining
Sterilised, clean glass bottle

Rose Petal Jam

2008-03-31T13:26:00.000+13:00

Rose petal jam is synonymous with dainty afternoon tea parties and is a delightful for jam for breakfast too. If you are lucky enough to have access to rose petals from the garden, this jam is a very special way to make use of them. Make sure to use petals that haven't been sprayed with anything toxic before using them.

Ingredients

3 cups water
2 cups sugar
250g rose petals, organic (unsprayed) and clean
2 lemons, juiced

Check that the petals are clean. Wash and dry any petals that are not.
Put the petals into a bowl. Add 1.5 cups of the sugar and stir. As you stir, crush the sugar into the rose petals.
Leave the crushed petal mixture to stand overnight. The rose essence will imbue the sugar, leaving a dainty rose flavour. Cover with a clean teatowel or similar cover to prevent dust etc. from settling on the petal mixture.
Combine the remaining sugar, water and lemon juice with the petal mixture the following day. Stir together until the new ingredients are dissolved.
In a heavy-based saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil gradually. This must be a very slow process, in order to release the aroma of the rose and soften the petals.
Simmer until setting point is reached.
Store in a clean, sterilised glass container and keep in the fridge. Use within one month of making.

Items Needed

Bowl
Mixing implement
Teatowel, clean for cover
Heavy-based saucepan

Stop Itching from Insect Bites Naturally

2008-03-30T19:05:00.000+13:00

Have you been bitten by itchy insects - fleas, gnats or no see'ums? A quick and effective method that is totally natural is lavender oil. Rub it on the bites/bite area for instant relief and a relaxing scent as well to calm the nerves and help you to stop feeling irritable.

Improve Squeaking Furniture

2008-03-30T18:44:00.001+13:00

Does your furniture squeak when you sit on it? Here's an easy fix.

Melt some paraffin wax.
Pour a few drops of paraffin wax into the squeaky joints of the furniture.
Smooth out any pieces of wax outside of the joints (remove with vinegar oil if set).
Allow to set.
Test by sitting. Top up if needed.

Items Needed

Saucepan to melt paraffin wax
Paraffin wax
Cloth to wipe

Delightful Apricot Fruit Logs

2008-03-28T23:56:00.001+13:00

Apricots make wonderful additions to sweets; their delicious flavour and enjoyable texture can tempt many a person to take extra nibbles. This recipe is an ideal hiking food, snack food and school lunchbox addition.

Ingredients

3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped (prefer the sulphur-free version if you have allergies)
12 dates, chopped
1/2 cup water
1 cup sultanas
2/3 cup dessicated coconut
1 cup skim milk or soy milk powder
1/4 cup chopped almonds
2 teaspoons sesame seed
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange rind (choose organic)
Additional dessicated (shredded) coconut for covering the logs

Place the water into a heavy-based saucepan and add the apricots and dates. Cook over low heat with a lid on the saucepan until the dried fruit has become soft. Keep an eye on the fruit to ensure it does not burn as the water evaporates. This step will take around 5 - 10 minutes only.
Add the remaining ingredients to the boiled dried fruit.
Mix the ingredients together well.
Shape the logs. Divide the mixture evenly into two lots. Roll each lot into a log shape of around 4cm width.
Roll both logs in the additional coconut.
Wrap the rolls in food wrap or greaseproof paper (more eco-friendly).
Place in the refrigerator for 12 hours.
Remove from the fridge and cut both logs evenly into slices. Serve. If you wish to store these logs (if there are any left!), place them in an airtight glass storage jar, packed one on top of the other.

Tips

This recipe is best made first thing in the morning to allow it stand all day; or make it the night before in readiness for the next morning.

Items Needed

Heavy based saucepan with lid
Clean bench space for rolling logs and coating in coconut
Food wrap or greaseproof paper
Refrigeration or cold storage facilities
Knife
Glass jars for storage

Be a Sustainable Tea Consumer

2008-03-28T13:49:00.000+13:00

Even when consuming your favourite cup of tea you can be sustainable in your choice. Here's how.

Look for fair trade tea and prefer it over other teas where possible. Fair trade teas are teas produced by workers working under good conditions and getting a fair wage for their work. By buying such tea, you are helping to sustain their livelihood.
Only heat the amount of water needed to make your cup of tea. Filling the kettle up when it is only to make one cup is a waste of energy and also takes longer before your tea is ready!
Cover it! If you are obliged to heat your water in a saucepan (perhaps when moving house, camping or just for lack of a kettle), make sure to add a lid to the water. This will help it to heat up more quickly, so that you can turn the stove off sooner.
If you're using teabags, throw the empty teabag in the compost so that it has a second use and doesn't add to landfill. If the teabag has any string or packaging label, remove these and place in the recycling bin.
Avoid consuming tea in disposable cups. Take your own portable and reusable mug or thermos cup with you and ask for it to be filled in cafes or at work.
Use the eco-cycle on the dishwasher. When the tea break is over, remember to press the eco-wash setting before starting the dishwasher. Also make sure that the dishwasher is full before using it to wash dishes; that way you save both water and energy and get the most out of using your dishwasher.

Fixing Overcooked Rhubarb

2008-03-28T10:19:00.000+13:00

Overcooked rhubarb or overly acidic rhubarb is not necessarily destined for the compost heap. Try this easy solution to remedy the rhubarb first.

Ingredients

500ml overcooked or acidic rhubarb
175g crushed meringues (macaroons)
175ml double cream

Mix the rhubarb with the crushed meringues.
Whip the cream until thickened and stiff.
Lay the rhubarb and meringue mix in a baking dish.
Spoon over the whipped cream.
Refrigerate for at least half an hour. Serve chilled.

Items Needed

Mixing bowl and mixing implement
Beater or whisk to whip cream
Deep baking dish
Serving bowls and serving spoon

Using Scented Geraniums in Your Home

2008-03-27T22:54:00.000+13:00

Scented geraniums are a special plant that have several key uses in a home environment. This article discusses some of the possible uses.

Use scented geraniums to scent your gardens. Scented geraniums are pretty hardy and enjoy environments from sea to very dry. They aren't able to survive deep cold and snow but can be brought inside during such a season. Scented geraniums grow well in garden beds, along rocky walls and in pots. Even a small garden can accommodate scented geraniums.
Select a type that suits you. There is a very wide range of scents in the scented geranium group of plants. Common scents include lemon, rose, orange, nutmeg and peppermint. Ask your local nursery expert for advice on choice.
Use scented geraniums in cooking. Scented geraniums can be used to flavour syrups, rice dishes, cakes and more. Avoid using the lemon scented variety (Pelargonium crispum) for this purpose as it can irritate the stomach but the other scents are fine. Try lining the base of a cake tin with freshly picked scented geranium leaves (clean them!) prior to adding the cake batter. Remove the leaves once the cake has been cooked and serve a scented cake. The leaves are also suitable to flavour risotto, baked custard, crème anglaise, ice cream, vinegar, poached fruits and syrups.
Use the leaves in potpourri. Dried scented geranium leaves are an excellent addition to potpourri mixes. They will carry the scent of the relevant leaves through the potpourri.
Use scented geraniums to cover up unsavoury odours. If there is a part of your garden that emits unwanted odours, such as a septic tank or a mouldy external wall, scented geraniums can be used to help cover up the bad odour.
Rub scented geraniums between your hands. This will scent your hands and freshen them quickly. Be sure that you don't have skin sensitivities to plants or you might get a rash.

Make Caribbean Coconut Rice

2008-03-27T22:28:00.000+13:00

Caribbean coconut rice carries the flavour of the Caribbean into your dining room.

Ingredients

1 medium sized red onion, peeled and sliced into rings
1 tsp minced garlic
12 whole allspice berries
1 1/2 cups basmati rice
400ml coconut milk (it must be milk - cream is too thick)
1 cup hot water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
100g snow peas, blanched

Place the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Fry the onion gently over low heat. Add the garlic, allspice berries. Continue frying until the onion becomes transparent and soft but not brown.
Turn up the heat and add the rice to the frying pan. Stir the rice continuously for 1 - 2 minutes until the rice changes to white in colour.
Pour the hot water over the rice and continue cooking while stirring. Add the coconut milk and salt. Stir and bring to the boil.
Once boiled, turn down the heat and allow the dish to simmer. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until the liquid evaporates.
Remove the cooked rice from heat and leave to stand for 2-3 minutes.
Toss through the fresh thyme and snow peas. Serve immediately.

Tips

If desired, other types of rice will suit as well as basmati. Substitute with jasmine or other long-grain rice types.

What to Look for When Downsizing Your Home

2008-03-27T21:28:00.000+13:00

If you are rattling around your home and it suddenly seems larger than ever before with kids fleeing the nest and the extensions becoming nothing more than cleaning burdens, it is possibly time to downsize the house and find a place more suited to your size and needs. This article suggests some things to consider in your quest for downsizing.

Look around you. Realistically assess the maintenance issues. Ask yourself if you still enjoy maintaining the place yourself or if you dread it. Consider whether you are physically capable of doing general maintenance work. If not, do you have adequate funds to have someone else do the work or does this eat into your retirement savings?
Consider the alternatives. Will you be happy in a smaller house or a townhouse/duplex or an apartment/flat? If health or age issues are relevant, you may even be looking at assisted living or a retirement village. Whatever the case, be honest with yourself about your needs and the costs involved.
Take great care in considering offers to become part of extended family by moving in with children or other family members. Unless they own a large home with extra living space, you may just find yourself tripping over them and resentment may build on both sides. Always trust your gut instincts on the motivations behind such offers and the realities of whether you are close enough to family members for this work and whether you believe that you can make the sacrifices needed to succeed in living this way.
Get a good real estate agent. You deserve a good price for your large home. It has most likely served you well for many years and has been a source of love and comfort during tis time. The money you earn from the sale of the house will not only fund the purchase of your new and smaller place but it will also boost your retirement savings and cover maintenance costs for years to come. Also check with a financial planner and a lawyer in relation to meeting legal and financial issues of which you may not be fully aware. It is important to get the most out of your decision to change so that it takes care of your needs into the future.
Look for specific features in your new home that will meet your needs to have a easier lifestyle:

Low maintenance property and garden (or no garden)
Energy efficient, new appliances for reduced costs and better running for longer
Easy access to the property (avoid many stairs, steep driveways etc.)

6. Be realistic about your possessions. Cut down on what you own. Give it away to family, friends or charity. Or sell it through auction companies or the paper. It is really important to move on and let go of the old you. Save the things that you truly treasure but make space for your new life, to free yourself up to do new activities and to relish the things that you really do care about. If you haven't used it or dusted it for ages, it is ready to go...

Add Colour to a Garden

2008-03-27T21:04:00.000+13:00

Creating colour in your garden is more than simply planting a lot of flowers in a clump in one corner. There are some easy steps to follow that will ensure you have a fabulous show of colour throughout your garden. This article discusses how.

Increase the number of plants of one colour. Colour impact will increase if you focus on one colour rather than attempting to have too many colours. Look for varying shades on the same colour theme and increase the amount of plants in these shades.
Research the plants before planting. If you know how large a plant will grow, you can get the planting distances as accurate as possible. Avoiding gaps is a key part of increasing the colour in a garden and reducing darkened or shaded spaces.
Select colour to reflect garden size. Smaller gardens look amazing with a preponderance of a single, monochromatic colour theme. For example, all purples (use lavender, violas, violets etc.) can give a sense of royal elegance, whilst all white can create a sense of freshness, purity and clean calm. For larger gardens, place different colour themes in different parts of the garden, such as corners, pathways, along the porch etc.
Use online garden sites, gardening books borrowed from the library and mail order catalogues to choose your flower and plant colours. A visit to a local Botanic Gardens or a greenhouse in your local region can offer you numerous other ideas as well.

How to Make Fig and Almond Stuffed Apples

2008-03-27T20:34:00.000+13:00

Ingredients

4 cooking apples
1/4 cup blanched almonds, chopped roughly
1/2 cup dried figs, chopped
1 tsp cinnamon, ground
1 tsp orange zest
juice one orange
4 tbsp butter or walnut oil
5 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Preheat oven to 180ºC.
Core each apple. Peel a thin strip from around the centre of each apple.
Place each apple in a baking dish.
Mix the almonds, figs, ground cinnamon and orange zest.
Stuff this mixture into the empty core of each apple.
Add a dab of butter or walnut oil at the top of each apple and drizzle with a little honey or maple syrup over each apple.
Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. The apples should not be mushy but they should be tender and holding together well. It is a good idea to check the apples from time to time and carefully scoop the liquid over the apples to keep moist.
Remove from oven once cooked.
Place each apple in a shallow serving bowl. Spoon over the remaining juices prior to serving.
Add ice cream or thickened cream if desired. Serve.