Something to Think About....

Gardening Tip: Ditch The Digging With This Brilliant Newspaper Garden

Want to make a new flower bed but hate the idea of having to dig up all that grass and dirt? Then you are going to love this sneaky trick using newspapers and water!

We found this gem in Canadian Gardening thanks to author Stephen Westcott-Gratton. Stephen suggests starting your garden in early spring so that your new flower bed will be ready to plant in just 60 days. Check out his step by step instructions below!

Step 1: Begin by determining the perimeter and shape of your new bed, then mow the grass within the area to a uniform height of roughly 2 inches. Next, spread newspapers over the mown grass (be sure to use newsprint-glossy paper doesn’t break down nearly as quickly). It’s essential to wet the newspapers thoroughly to speed up decomposition, so hose down each layer as it’s applied until it becomes a soggy mat, 1 inch thick.

Step 2: To further speed up decomposition, cover the soggy paper with materials high in nitrogen, such as blood meal and com­posted manure. Dust the wet newspapaer with blood meal, just enough to make it adhere, then add a layer of composted manure about 1 ½ inches deep. The manure helps retain moisture, weighs down the newspapers and supplies the beneficial micro-organisms vital for healthy, productive soil.

Step 3: To “seal” the concoction, finish off the area with five to seven centimetres of chunky hardwood mulch. This will hold the bottom layers in place and discourage weed seeds from germinating while the newspapers decompose. Once sealed, thoroughly re-water the entire area.

Step 4: For the next 45 to 60 days, keep the area moist by spraying the mulch with water; if it’s allowed to dry out completely, decomposition comes to a crashing halt. After about a month and a half, test the soil: Use a trowel to dig several small holes in different places in the bed. If the newspaper has disappeared and the grass below has been suffocated, then it’s time to plant.

Step 5: When planting the bed, try not to disturb the soil; it’s best to scoop out a plug of earth just large enough to slip in a plant, then gently replace the mulch around it. Within two to three years, the reclaimed newspaper bed will look as if it’s been there for decades—and without having removed a single blade of grass.

credit: Canadian Gardening

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I Can't Believe We Made It

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Soldier goes to great lengths to bring home cat

DIY Brown Sugar Honey Facial Scrub

Its all natural and toxin free.

Honey(RAW honey, mind you, not what is sold on most grocery store shelves) is amazing. Most honey that you buy in the grocery store has been heated and pastureized, losing its many benefits.

Did you know Raw honey has anti-bacterial properties, as well as anti-viral and anti-fungal?

It is great for healing acne and is also a humectant and draws moisture to the skin, leaving it soft and supple.

1 T. Raw Honey, 1 T. Brown Sugar Place the brown sugar and honey in a small bowl and mix together well. Store in a jar with an air tight lid. Keep at room temperature. TO USE: Wash face well. Apply a small amount of scrub(about ½ t.) to wet skin and massage gently in a circular motion. Avoid eye area. Rinse face well and pat dry.

Honey cleansing method

The benefits of using honey to wash your face

• Honey gently removes dirt and impurities without stripping the skin of natural oils. Foaming cleansers and soaps frequently strip the skin of these protective oils and cause the skin to overproduce oil.
• The natural antibacterial and probiotic properties of raw honey effectively reduce breakouts and prevent new acne.
• Since it is so gentle and nurturing to the skin, it is ideal for very sensitive skin, rosacea, and eczema.
• It works well on all skin types. It balances oily skin and moisturizes dry skin.
• As far as excellent facial cleansers go, it is much cheaper than store bought options!
• Although any raw honey works excellently, manuka honey boasts superior antibacterial and healing properties. It is recommended for acne-prone skin.

How to wash your face with honey

Get your hands on RAW honey. It must say “raw” or “unpasteurized” or “unfiltered” on the label, “all natural” doesn’t mean diddly-squat. That supermarket honey in the clear bear is literally processed to death and all of the glorious enzymes and probiotics (yes, probiotics in honey!) and antibacterial properties are destroyed. Look for raw honey at your farmer’s market. If you can’t find it, here’s the raw honey I recommend available online. If you want to splurge, try the potent manuka honey, which contains vastly higher levels of antibacterial properties to heal acne.

This will not remove makeup. Use it in the morning (and evening, if you don’t wear makeup). For removing makeup, I recommend The Oil Cleansing Method or my 2 Ingredient DIY Makeup Remover.

Take about 1/2 teaspoon of the honey on your fingers. Warm it between your fingers. Add just a few drops of water if necessary to make a spreadable consistency. Smooth it gently on your face.

Rinse off with warm water and pat your face dry. If you have time, you’ll get the best results by leaving the thin layer of honey on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing.

Finish with patting a toner on your face for best results. You can make your own by mixing 2 Tbs. raw apple cider vinegar with 1/2 cup of water or aloe vera and putting this in a jar or spray bottle.

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