I am a long-time a convert to the soapnut craze. I first noticed these little fruits in Burma/Myanmar where they use them in their traditional shampoo. A couple years ago I discovered that their popularity has really grown in Western countries and now you can spend top dollar on powdered soapnut laundry soap and other commercial products. The best way to use these berries from all perspectives is to simply use them as is in your laundry, or to make them into laundry detergent (see below). Powdered soapnut berries are not really a viable product and anything that has things added to it to make the shelf life longer is a step in the wrong direction. Follow this link for more practical information about soapnuts, how to use them and links to various online stores in various countries.

Read more ...

There are as many ways to guerrilla garden as there are stars in the sky, and that is the best thing about it. The best way to do it is your way and to just get started. Many people love to make seed bombs and drop them as a group, other people love sneaking privately about the city — planting plots. Some people like to be highly organized — others random and without a thought. The main thing that holds it all together is that we are people reclaiming the land around us, reaching out and getting involved, hanging around and making sure that it grows, and grows and is a pleasure for all who pass by.

I have recently started reading the book The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka and his natural farming methods have astonished me and made me rethink what little I thought I knew about growing plants. I was already familiar with Rudolf Steiner’s methods of biodynamic farming, yet even so this book has been a real mind-opener.

Although I have been planting things in random places for a few years I haven’t had a chance to really take over a piece of land in an urban setting until this year. I spent much of last year walking the streets around my area checking out pieces of land. I didn’t want it to be too far from where we live in case it didn’t rain much and I had to haul water every day. I didn’t want it next to a main road to avoid the pollution from car exhaust, and I wanted it to get plenty of sun and rain. I finally found a good spot on the Greenway under the skytrain and next to the train tracks not too far from our apartment.

Read more ...

A Variety of Household Tips From Our Grandmother’s Grandmother Food Tips

• The water in which vegetables has been cooked and leftover vegetables should be used for making soups. (Vegetable vitamins and minerals are often water soluble, don’t throw out the water).
• A quick way to cut raisins and other sticky foods is to use wet scissors. Dip the scissors in water to keep the fruit from sticking.
• To remove nut meats whole, pour boiling water over the nuts and let stand overnight before cracking.
• Ice water is conducive to tender pastry. Pastry can be handled more easily if chilled before rolling.
• Grease measuring cup slightly before measuring molasses.
• To stop grease from popping from the frying pan, sift about ¼ t flour into it.
• If soup is too salty, drop into it a slice of raw potato and boil for 5-6 mins. The potato will extract some of the salt. Amount of potato to use will depend on how salty the soup is.
• To sour sweet milk, add one teaspoon vinegar to one c milk, or 2 teaspoons lemon juice to one c milk.
• To sweeten sour milk, add a pinch of baking soda.
• To whip top milk add one-fourth teaspoon lemon juice to one c top milk and whip just before serving.
• When scalding milk to keep it from sticking, first rinse the pan in cold water.
• When beating eggs, add a pinch of salt.
• Add a pinch of salt to cream to help it whip more quickly.
• After peeling bananas, dip in lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
• Put peaches into a bowl of milk to prevent darkening after peeling.
• To peel tomatoes easily insert fork into stem end of tomato-hold over lighted gas burner turning constantly, when skin bursts remove from fire and remove skin.

Read more ...