Debra MaslowskiDebra is a master gardener, a certified herbalist, a natural living instructor, and more. She taught Matt and Betsy how to make soap so they decided to bring her on as a staff writer! Debra recently started an organic herb farm in the mountains of Western North Carolina. You can even purchase her handmade products on Amazon!
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There are two ways to make homemade soap molds out of silicone and we’ll show you how to do both. Both involve a bit of work and time, but the results are inexpensive and so satisfying! You can use clear or colored silicone for your molds.
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Homemade foot soak and hand scrub recipes for Autumn. Recipes like this DIY foot soak to moisturize, exfoliate, and rejuvenate your skin!
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A clean refrigerator is so much better than a dirty, stinky, messy one! Learn these tips we have discovered to help you clean your refrigerator naturally! From drips of sauces, to broken eggs, to spilt milk–these tips will help you clean it all naturally!
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Prickly Pear is one of few cold tolerant cacti. Both the fruit and leaves are edible. The fruit can be made into jelly, drinks, desserts, and even candy. It is native to the Americas, but has spread to many other parts of the world.
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I saw some of the most interesting, exotic fruits when I lived in Florida. But I was always curious about the health benefits they might have. Here’s a list of 25 of my favorites and reasons you should try them!
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You all know I love making soap, I’d be happy I could do it all day! I’ve been doing it for a long time now, and because experience is a great teacher, I’m ready to share even more of my soap making tips with you!
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Homemade root beer needs no lab-derived extracts like the store-bought stuff. Learn how to make root beer the way everyone use to, with the roots! The good news is, many different types of root can be use, many of which are growing in your yard.
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Activated charcoal is useful in many, diverse ways. Have you heard of activated charcoal? It’s not the charcoal we use on the grill, but a powdered form of charcoal with many tiny pores. These pores absorb materials and are beneficial in the many ways listed here.
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If you don’t want to use palm oil but still want to make soap, there are some good alternatives. If you do use it we recommend sustainably-sourced palm oil that is organic and RSPO certified. Do you use palm oil, or some other alternative? What are your thoughts on the subject?
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Homemade wood stain? Yes! There are many options for naturally derived stains that are long lasting and look great. Some of them are metallic based and some are plant based. Let’s take a look at a few good examples.
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Rose hips–the fruit from the rose bush–are one of my favorite herbs to work with. They’re full of vitamins and minerals and are great DIY beauty projects. In the kitchen, use rose hips to make syrups, jellies, and pies. And for DIY beauty you can use them to make anything from facial toner to body lotion!
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These DIY bath melts are small bars made with moisturizing body butters. Toss them into a hot bath to melt, and enjoy a fragrant and skin-softening bath! To make these even more fun and luxurious, we show you how to add dried botanicals and/or essential oils.
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I make reusable, washable, DIY bags because the store-bought bags aren’t always washable once soiled. There are many ways you can make these DIY bags–with or without a sewing machine–and I love using them in place of the plastic bags at the store!
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Here are some natural ways to ensure you have a bear proof house, which may or may not be effective for the bears in your area, but they are definitely worth a shot! Some of these things may also work to deter opossums and raccoons.
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I came up with this hummingbird food recipe because I love to watch the hummingbirds. Each year, I wait until about mid-April when they finally show up. I have fed them commercial nectars before, but realized it was cheaper and healthier to make my own.
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These soap colorants tips show you 6 different methods for adding swirls of color to your soap. The good news is, swirling the colors in isn’t complicated.
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This natural beef jerky recipe is the perfect way to bring meat along when refrigeration isn’t available. It is simple, delicious, and good for you. You can also substitute your favorite veggie in place of meat, and use this recipe to make vegetarian jerky.
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These natural lawn care tips will help you have a beautiful lawn without all the expensive, harmful chemicals. And don’t forget, long stretches of lawn invite bats and bluebirds, both of which are voracious mosquito and other bug eaters!