Tiny Biting Bugs in House and Hair?
That sure sounds like fleas, though in my experience those jumpers are bigger than dust specks (1mm+). I havent heard of jumping mites, and dust mites in particular dont attack people; they graze on dead skin cells. Next time you feel them landing or biting...
Removing Makeup And Caring For Your Skin
Thanks, Luana - its good to be reminded that homemade is best. You always know the ingredients. For those not willing to make and refrigerate (taking probably less time and $ than shopping), try Environmental Working Groups listing of cosmetics brands (and...
Incubation Time for Mallard Duck Eggs?
Im told 28-35 days, depending on care. Varieties may differ. Also, you can candle the eggs with a bright flashlight (LED best) to see if anyones home.
Sterilizing Coffee Grounds for Plant Fertilizer?
They have been boiled, are as close to sterile as anything. Mix well with soil, add minerals.
Fall Planting Ideas?
OK, Ill try. First, you should know your USDA zone, or if in the West, also your Sunset Garden Book zone. For good measure, the AHS heat zone is useful too. If in Europe, USDA zones have been used in England at least. Then connect with your friendly (if underfunded...
Make Your Own Pearlite
I think perlite is much safer than polystyrene, and Id avoid putting any plastics in or even near the garden. Maybe wadded newspaper would work.
Reuse Receipts as Note Paper
I hate to discourage reuse of waste paper, but if the receipt is (as many are) thermally printed, the paper is coated with BPA (bisphenol A), the notorious chemical that was in baby bottles not long ago and in some water bottles. Its been said the doses, as...
Keep Change of Clothes at School
Thanks for that; Ill be doing that for my girls. Back in college, I always kept a change of clothes in my locker, something dressy, in case an evening out with classmates came up, or a date.
How Do I Get Rid of Chickweed in the Lawn?
You may not want this reply, but chickweed is edible. Susun Weed raves about its taste, as do those she persuades to eat it. And no planting or tending is required. Youre in the Show-Me state; show yourself, then the neighbors.
Make Your Own Hummingbird Food?
No! Stevia is a sweetener for couch potatoes who cant resist sweets; it has almost no calorie value for hummingbirds, who work and need energy. Even greener stevia is close to calorie-free. And yes, avoid the safe food colors. Color the feeder.
Product Review: Office 2010 Tutorials
You might want to compare the sizes of identical Word files saved on the older and new-improved MS system. Ive consistently found that each successive incarnation expands the size of my files. In the past I had access to 3 computers with Windows 3.1, 95, and...
What is the Average Yield in Kilograms from a Pea Plant?
These data are from John Jeavons work in the US, lb translated to kg, not per plant but per 100 square feet (9.29sqm), which Ive recalculated per 10 sq meters. Jeavons has plants per 100sqft as well, and distances between plants in a bed, but Im not near my...
One Size Doesn't Always Fit All
I read the responses, most (as expected) praise. People dont like to be told. Told anything. For any reason. It makes them mad. Madder if they feel guilty. Lets apply the Beverly principle to Frugal Living. When someone gives suggestions about anything, lets...
Add Storage By Going Up
The Shakers put their chairs up along walls, to have room to assemble. In the Middle Ages, seating was also storage. Only in the past 60 years have Americans been addicted to Stuff; gadgets are miniaturized yet Stuff accumulates. Not thrifty, no fun.
Is It Safe to Use Styrofoam in Planters for Growing Vegetables?
Fortunately is right, its not safe, in spite of Styrofoam being used for coffee/tea cups. #1, though probably not too toxic, is not very lasting, so its for wasteful disposable water bottle use. That leaves #2 and 4 (polyethylene or polythene for short), and...
Fels-Naptha For Many Uses
Fels Naphtha, the name, is over a century old, but the soap has gone through changes, now owned by Dial. Beside the strong petrochemical perfume, it has turpentine ingredients and either does or did have Stoddards solvent. The label warns you not to use it...
Cat Rolls in Dust?
Yes, its for fleas! Cats, dogs, horses and birds evolved to bathe in dust because it dries fleas and other insects visiting. Another triumph for evolution, after it goofed by developing fleas in the first place.
Website for Identifying Tools?
I dont see how the Fein Multimaster power tool can help in identifying or pricing hand tools. Can you elaborate?
Use Antlers as Garden Decor
Thats a darling idea, and you may want to check into how biodynamic growers use antlers in their preps too.
Coffee Grounds for Citrus Trees?
Citrus do like a bit of acid soil, and are heavy feeders, meaning they use high N, as well as some P in the NPK mixes sold. Coffee grounds are probably good every 1-2 months now and 2-3 months when cooler, and are a good mulch near the trunk if dried. People...
Chinese Sheetrock Warning
I too have seen the warning against using ozone generators; they said it wouldnt work. But it seems theres more to the problem than China, ordinary drywall is made from calcium sulfate, and theres maybe a tenth to one-half the strontium in US products as Chinese...
Coffee is Making Me Sick?
The advice so far is good, but if all else fails, try cold-water coffee! I assume the makers are still sold, essentially you steep the grounds (by the way, if you dont grind your own, get a $10 coffee mill and enjoy better coffee) 24 hours, put some essence...
My Frugal Bathroom
Ive been experimenting with simple ingredients and practices too, and saving water. I wash with a lightly soaped wet (not drippy) washcloth under arms and the crotch area, and diluted organic shampoo for my hair, every other day. I tried those pretty nylon...
Use Frozen Bottle to Help Keep Cool
I was going to suggest a fan and water spritzer, but evidently from the Wikipedia article that too would cause hives in some, as sweat alone can. But for others, Ive tested the fan +spritz in relatively humid New York, and it cools beautifully, even a bit much...
Planning a Frugal Trip to Switzerland?
Get Rick Steves books on Europe (from the library) and see what he likes in Suisse/Schweiz. Hes reliable and frugal-- you may have seen his travel shows on public TV. I have yet to find him wrong. His language books are also good, and fun. He has tours too...
Grate Orange Rind Before Eating
Best save the rinds of ORGANIC citrus, since many pesti-/herbicides are absorbed by the rind. The white part is edible too, and if your blender is strong enough, so are the seeds, blended well.
What is Baking Soda?
The reason bicarb or baking soda is confused with the powder, apart from the name, is that its IN baking powder, with either potassium bitartrate (cream of tartar) or [double-acting] sodium acid pyrophosphate to act with it to make the bubbles without yeast...
Serving Liver To Kids
I checked the iron in strawberries, and it wasnt much. But they are high in vitamin C, and that helps with absorbing iron, so that may be why the doctor liked it. Organic free-range liver is much safer than conventional, which concentrates pesticides and other...
Be Wary of Snakes in Mulch
...so I at once googled urban legend, snakes in mulch and found tales of copperheads at the base of potted plants and in computers. The baby copperheads in the potted plant turned out to be brown snakes, apparently often mistaken for copperheads. Moral: if...
Use Vinegar for Cleaning Purposes
Yes, white vinegars acid, pH about 2.4, and optimum skin pH 5.5 relates to adapting to acidity from CO2 in air. (Also, global warming is encouraging more acid with more carbon dioxide.) Neutral pH (water) is 7, infant skin is only a bit more acid, and womens...
Are Homemade Cleaners Environmentally Friendly?
Homemade is better for our environs because the mileage is so small. Once baking soda is in your hands, all those thousands of miles of travel for the exotics in cleaners is saved, along with dollars. Debra Dadds columns online are reliable sources of environmental...
M&M Candy Christian Poem
That is charming! Perhaps someone can contribute similar color-coded sentiments for Hanukkah or Eid al-Fitr [sunset September 19 next year], and use veggies and fruits for all three instead of those unhealthy candies too.
Healthy Pets: 5 Tips For Organic Flea Control
Re #3, baking soda is better than borax. Borax rates 4 and baking soda 2 in possible harm, according to Environmental Working Group on a scale of 0 (best) to 10. The nematode idea sounds worth pursuing!
Pests Eating a Sweet Potato Plant?
If you dont like pesticides, and who does, try diatomaceous earth.
Don't Kill Caterpillars, They Are Pollinators
Its also turned out that insects that riddle or de-leaf conifers serve a useful purpose, fertilizing the ground round the tree and enabling it to grow more leaves with the nutrients processed from the old leaves.
Making Compost With Pet Waste?
The correct way to use pet or human manure in compost is explained in detail in Jenkins book Humanure. It is not difficult, but cannot be done carelessly, American-style. The warning about de-worming medication probably applies, though.
Looking For A Buckeye Tree?
To be sure of getting buckeyes, check the genus name Aesculus. Theyre also called horse-chestnuts, and the Ohio buckeye is hardy down to zone 7, and is found round Nashville.
Getting Rid of Brown Recluse Spiders?
For general guides to spider species and their dangers (or lack thereof), I recommend the University of Washington Burke Museum website on spider myths and facts, run by Rod Crawford, a lefelong arachnidologist. http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth...
Eating The Greens On Broccoli?
Yes, theyre edible and have been eaten by many. Id stick to organic because of all the xxxcides used on non-organic veggies, and be aware their taste is a bit stronger because they are more nutritious than the rest of the plant. Bon appetit! Petra
Finding an Inexpensive Bicycle or Gas Scooter?
In many cities, police auctions are places to get abandoned bicycles in fairly good condition; beware professionals trying to up the price for you, though. I got a bike that way, though its the kind with a bar across the front, so its awkward in a skirt. Does...
Internet Explorer Blocking Access to Sites?
I wouldnt drop a firewall just to get into a site. If all advice fails, download Mozilla Firefox free. Its a better browser than IE, as this site shows: http://www.xulplanet.com/ndeakin/arts/reasons.html and it is much less subject to hackers and spyware. http...
Questions For God: A Joke
Someone we all know finally went to God and recounted his virtues. Yes, I obeyed all the commandments, even the one about killing. Of course I realized that didnt include the death penalty or war, or keeping civil order... So, said God, What was it about THOU...
Water Down Dish Detergent To Save Money
Most dish soaps use sodium lauryl sulfate, a cheap, irritant detergent. I once read that 2% of that cleaned best-- more or less was less effective. Guaranteed, dish soap as sold is way more than that, likely near 50%, so any dilution will improve results, cheap...
Looking For Information About Geothermal Heating?
For those not in the know, geothermal heating in this context isnt an Icelandic use of vulcanism, but use of heat pumps.
What are Graham Crackers?
deebombs answer is quite thorough, but most online recipes using Graham crackers use the US white-flour substitute. Sylvester Grahams original flour was of course all whole wheat and not ground as fine as most whole-wheat flours. No white flour at all. But...
How Do you Calculate Nutritional Information?
I find both sparkpeoples sparkrecipes and nutritiondata.com very useful. Both use USDA data, but allow calculations from input items. I hear good things about fitday.com but havent used it.
Post Tips on ThriftyFun to Avoid Doing Housework : )
I guess your boyfriend will be happy to do the housework to better let you be here, right? Right? Im waiting... waiting...
No Bake Pie Recipes Using Raw Eggs?
Not all organic eggs may be safe, but those straight from a local farm which really allows the hens pasture are most likely safe. Youre more likely to get Salmonella from carving chicken, esp. if not organic.
Let Butter Reach Room Temperature Before Using
And try to get UNsalted butter; its tastier, because the salt hides rancid or off flavors.
Saving Money on Eggs
I know of no case where chickens not kept under factory-farm conditions have spread bird flu, H5N1, to humans. There are many cases where the factory-bred sort, unhealthy to start with and with much poorer eggs, have been transmitters, mostly (so far) in East...
Check the Ingredients in Your Lip Balm
The brands I favor are Solgar, Terressentials, Bubble & Bee Organic, and Cosmic Tree Essentials. I decided on them by looking at lip balms in the Environmental Working Group list rated 0 or 1 (best of 0-10), then omitting those with iffy essential oils or other...
Non-Soy Substitute for Soy Milk?
Its reasonably easy to make almond milk, and used to be healthier when almonds were sold raw. Just soak, maybe sprout a bit, remove brown coat to the nuts (easy after soaking), blend and strain through a nut bag-- use the solids separately! By the way, many...
How Long is a Plastic Cutting Board Safe?
Glass is supposed to be best, but wood turns out to be surprisingly good, unlike plastic. Years ago a professor and his graduate students tested wood and found it killed germs, unlike plastic cutting boards.
