The Many Uses For Your Basil Bounty

By: Susan Anderson

If you are a gardener growing basil, this time of year is when the plant begins to really fill out and provide you with a lot of aromatic abundance. So what are some of the ways to use this garden delight?. Let's see... how can I count the ways?

1) Make Basil Infused Oil. Here is a link to an easy recipe.

2) After you make the infused oil, why not a companion basil vinegar? Go here to see how to make it.

3) Still have more basil coming in- give it away to family and friend,no one says no! Then they will come back asking for more.

4) Want to save some basil for the winter? Freeze the leaves- Here is a trick I learned a few years ago. Clean and dry the basil leaves, then place in a small jar with good quality olive oil, just enough to keep the leaves wet. Place in the freezer. When you pull out your basil in the dead of the winter, it will be fresh and green. If you just freeze your leaves they will not retain their color.

5) Now who can resist basil pesto? Easy to make! Use right away or freeze. Rather than share my recipe which uses no measurements and is completely done by eyeballing it, here is one that is easy to follow.

6) Crush a few fresh basil leaves to use as a herbal rub and topical treatment for insect bites to reduce the itching and inflammation.

7) Make a herbal tincture with basil leaves to help with relieve nervous conditions and induce relaxation. Click here to learn how to make a herbal tincture.

8) Make a herbal tea with fresh basil leaves and a few of the seeds. Basil is known as a herbal aid in digestive issues. Studies show that basil contain anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

9)For a relaxing bath, add some fresh basil leaves to the warm bath water.

10) Use a cooled basil tea made with the leaves as a hair conditioner.

There are many more ways to use this wonderful herb, but instead of overloading you with ideas, let's just say this is a springboard into the infinite possibilities. Have fun! And by the way, why not share your experiences and ...Tell us about your favorite use.

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Slow Burning Compost

STEPS TO BUILDING SLOW BURNING COMPOST PILE
One very easy thing you can do to reduce your impact on the planet, and bolster your gardening efforts, is to compost. Compost makes rich fertilizer and mulch out of yard waste, food scraps, tree trimmings, old lumber and even certain types of paper.

Pick a Good Location:

In hot, dry climates, it should be a shady, cooler location. In cold or wet climates, it should be a well-ventilated location.

Break Up the Ground a Bit:
You don't have to dig the location, but aerate the top layer of soil and completely remove weeds. If this is your first pile in the area, you may wish to add some worms: Red worms are best, but nightcrawlers will do.

Start with a Layer of Small Sticks or Brush:
The idea is to trap some air pockets at the bottom.

Build Your Pile in Layers:
When possible, alternate layers of brown materials and green materials. The mixing of carbon (brown) and nitrogen (green) wastes fosters breakdown. A layer of green grass, covered with a layer of wood chips or dead leaves, works well. Paper and cardboard is carbon. Coffee is nitrogen.

Chop Up Big Things:
Fruit rinds, over-the-hill garden plants, etc. all break down faster when chopped up. Try a machete: sharper blade equals much less work.

Keep the Pile Damp:

Not wet, damp. In areas with dry seasons, sprinkle the entire pile for no more than five minutes a couple of times a week in the evening.

No Meat or Fat:

Fatty table scraps or meat leftovers tend to attract pests. Bread, some chips and crackers and most tortillas seem ok.

Make Your Pile as Big as Possible:
Bigger piles burn hotter. Anything much smaller than roughly three feet in diameter will break down very slowly, and may not break down completely in any amount of time. Lawn cuttings break down relatively fast.

Crack the Thing Open Once in a While:

This doesn't mean turn the pile upside down. Just break it open with a spading fork, a rake or a shovel. Let some air in.

Keep Building:

Depending on the size of your yard and the amount of waste you generate, the pile will take 4-12 months to produce a meaningful amount of compost. Get materials where you can. Perhaps a neighbor with a big yard can help.

Keep a Tub in Your Kitchen:

A one-gallon plastic ice-cream bucket seems about the right size. Keep the lid on when not in use; empty regularly. People with more class should purchase a special "compost crock' for their kitchen. Put all your vegetable trimmings in there.

Be Picky About Your Materials:

Never put Bermuda Grass or other really tough, noxious weeds in your pile. Beware of vines, burrs, any seed heads or root-runner plants and other potential fringe survivors. Watch out for heavily fertilized or pesticide laden lawn clippings.

HARVESTING YOUR COMPOST:
Without building specific apparatus, the easiest way is with a screen or a series of screens, and a big wheelbarrow. Place the screen over the wheelbarrow. Shovel the compost on. Shake or scrape with shovel to force the compost through. Keep going until the barrow is full or until you have all you need. Use while fresh to take advantage of teeming microbial life. Keep the screening discards for re-composting.
Source
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More Coffee Grounds...More Ideas

DON'T THROW THE GROUNDS AWAY PART II
Every day across America, Asia and Europe, millions of pots of coffee and tea are brewed, and the millions of pounds of wet grounds, filters and bags thrown in the trash. This is both wasteful and foolish.

Coffee by-products can be used in the garden and farm as follows:

1. Sprinkle used grounds around plants before rain or watering, for a slow-release nitrogen.

2. Add to compost piles to increase nitrogen balance. Coffee filters and tea bags break down rapidly during composting.

3. Dilute with water for a gentle, fast-acting liquid fertilizer. Use about a half-pound can of wet grounds in a five-gallon bucket of water; let sit outdoors to achieve ambient temperature.

4. Mix into soil for houseplants or new vegetable beds.

5. Encircle the base of the plant with a coffee and eggshell barrier to repel pests.

6. If you are into vermi-posting, feed a little bit to your worms

7. Toss coffee grounds in with vegetable peelings, add water, grind them in theblender, then feed it to plants that are "slow". It's like a giant vitamin. They start shooting up very soon.

Source

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Coffee Grounds: 10 Different Ways

DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR COFFEE GROUNDS
Here is an interesting post I came across....some are good and some should be taken with a grain of ...ugr..coffee!

Coffee Grounds have many uses from gardening to beauty to getting rid of cellulite. Here are a few tips and recipes I have made and used over the years. If you know of any other uses for coffee grounds, I would love to hear them.

1. Cellulite Buster
While in the shower, vigorously rub coffee grounds on troubled cellulite spots for a few minutes everyday or a few times a week. Coffee is a stimulant and breaks down fat deposits when rubbed on those areas.

2. Exfoilant
Give yourself a wonderful Homemade Body Scrub/Facial with Coffee Grounds, resulting in the smoothest softest skin you could imagine! For even smoother skin, add a few Tablespoons of Mineral Oil, Jojoba Oil or Olive Oil right from your kitchen cabinet accompanied by a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

3. Plant Booster
For healthier plants, add Coffee Grounds to the potting soil of your house or garden plants. Coffee Grounds will eventually mold so its best to use this for outdoor plants. Keep in freezer until ready for use. Coffee Grounds are very effective when put in Rose Bushes. Just make sure your outdoor pets dont have access to those areas as they might try to eat the coffee grinds.

4. Natural Stain
Coffee Grounds make a great natural stain for wood, clothing, baskets, and covering up nicks in wood furniture. Brewed coffee can also be used in light brown/brunette hair to darken it.

5. Coffee Tan
Replenish your summer tan by rubbing coffee grounds all over your body then leave on for 30 minutes. Brewed coffee at room temperature can also be sponged and left on your skin for 20-30 minutes. Darker skin can be achieved by repeating this process more often.

6. Fridge Deodorizer
Keep a small container of fresh coffee grinds in the back of your refrigerator or freezer for a natural deodorizer.

7. Ant Repellent
Place Coffee Grinds in or near the tracks of sliding glass doors to keep ants away.

8. Kitchen Scrubber
Coffee Grounds act as an abraser removing grease from pots and pans. Keep a little container of fresh grinds near your kitchen sink.

9. Cat Litter Deodorizer
I sprinkle a tiny bit of fresh coffee grinds in the cat litter box for a natural deodorizer or you can place some next to it.

10. Sweat Lodge
Lose 5 to 10 inches all over your body in an hour. This really does work!!!! Rub fresh un-brewed coffee grounds all over your body then wrap yourself in saran wrap. Leave your face exposed please. Find a warm place to sit for 30 minutes to an hour and try to stay as warm as possible. Put on sweat suit, sit in a sauna, or stay in the bathroom with the door closed to keep the heat in. Run the shower as hot as possible to steam up the bathroom. Measure yourself before and after to see the results. I lost 2 inches in my legs, 1 inch in my arms and 2 inches in my hips. This is a short cut version to my typical herbal body wrap, but this does work and you feel great afterwards.

Here is a Homemade Body Scrub recipe I invented. It smells so good you almost want to eat it. Your skin will feel softer than you could ever imagine!

Brown Sugar Vanilla Body Scrub
1 Cup Fresh Coffee Grinds
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Essential Oil
1/4 Cup of either Olive Oil, Mineral oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil or Sweet Almond Oil.

Mix together then put into a little container. If mixture looks a little crumbly and dry, add a little more oil. With a Loofah Scrub or your hand, rub all over body while in shower then rinse. This mixture will keep for a few weeks or even longer. Because oil is a natural preservative, this will prevent the coffee from molding. Mine has lasted over a month and still going strong!

Source

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5 Hot Recycling Tips for E-waste

E-WASTE: GREAT SOLUTIONS!

It makes me furious that electronics become obsolete so quickly. Besides the obvious downside of having to shell out more money for a new item because the old one is a dinosaur, it creates the bigger challenge of disposal. What to do with all this stuff? Well here are some great solutions I have found that will really help to keep these items out of the landfill.

This just may be a List you want to keep handy for future reference!

1. Costco's Trade-In & Recycle Program
Costco has paired with GreenSight to give it's members this option for recycling electronics. You provide the site with the details about your equipment. It gives you a trade in-value. If you accept the value, you proceed. Then they give you a free, prepaid shipping label to send the equipment to them. You get a Costco Cash card for the trade in-value. GreenSight salvages any parts that can be used and then works with others to dispose of the remains without using a landfill.

2. Green Phone
GreenPhone helps you transform your drawer full of unused cell phones into something you'd rather have like money! GreenPhone will pay you by check or via PayPal or Obopay - your choice. Check out greenphone.com for more details

3. My Green Electronics
Find Out Where to Recycle. Just want to get rid of your stuff in a responsible way? At this site, My Green Electronics, you plug in your zipcode and you will be directed to recycling sites for your items.

4. Corporate Recycling
Here is a great listing of the various companies and their recycling programs.

5. Earth Share
Now you can recycle your mobile phones, pagers or PDAs through Earth Share's partnership with the CollectiveGood Mobile Phone Recyling Program! It's easy to use, and you will be helping to support a healthier environment. Depending upon the phone model, a fixed amount per phone will be donated to Earth Share.

So next time you are done with your old electronic gadget, check out one of the options on this recycling list. I'm sure there are alot more wonderful programs out there, if you are familiar with one, post your suggestions.

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Living Green

Here is my list of 5 Living Green sites I have come across recently that I really enjoyed...each providing alot of resources.

Take a look, get some ideas, add some of your own. As we each make a conscious effort to live more responsibly, the world changes...

1. Big Green Purse At Big Green Purse, we believe that the fastest, easiest, most direct route to a clean and healthy environment is to shift our spending to environmentally-safe, socially responsible products and services.



2. Green Talk This website is all about connection… Me connecting with you about my green experiences, you connection with me about yours, and others connecting with all of us to become more green.



3. How Can I Recycle This? Tons of ideas for recycling all sorts of things...



4. The Green Guide Comprehensive, full of tips, articles and lots of resources



5. You Grow Girl For likeminded gardeners and even self-confessed “black thumbs.” The project's aim has always been to promote exploration, excitement and a d.i.y approach to growing plants without the restrictions of traditional ideas about gardening

Well just stumbled upon another site I would like to add..

• LivePaths LivePaths blogs about the innovative people and companies that make money selling recycled or reused items, provide green services or help us reduce our dependency on non renewable resources.
  
  Have a favorite you would like to add?
  And here is the rest of it.

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Earth Day Every Day

Every year since 1970, we have celebrated Earth Day on April 22. In the wake of the groundbreaking documentary An Inconvenient Truth (released May 2006), we have reached a heightened awareness of the health of our earth. Now, more than ever, we are adopting earth-friendly habits into our lives. Let’s celebrate our commitment to this place we call home. Below are some of our favorite everyday tips for celebrating Earth Day.

Shop Organic!
Support farmers and grocers who work to keep pesticides out of the ground and our bodies—organic food is not just good to eat, but good for our planet.

Use Cloth Shopping Bags
Cut down on the amount of paper and plastic you bring home. Grocers often provide small discounts for bringing your own bag or for recycling bags from prior visits.

Cook at Home
Cook at home and box your own food in reusable containers. You will save lunch money at work or school as well as minimize the use of takeout containers. Cooking at home has more benefits, as well.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Group
Support local farmers and get a bounty of produce grown right in your own community!

Plant a Garden
There is nothing like the satisfaction of growing your own food! Even if you don’t have space for a garden, you can easily plant herbs, tomatoes, and peppers in their own containers and have a mini salsa garden! Organic Salsa Recipe >>

Compost
Composting provides excellent nutrients for your garden and will cut down on landfill-space issues. Creating a compost pile is as easy as combining kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peelings with leaves and dried grasses. Turn often and keep as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Check out Organic Gardening for more information.

Recycle
Recycle glass, plastic, and paper. Contact your local landfill or recycling program for guidelines in your area.

Bike, Walk, or Carpool
Try cutting down on your car trips. Biking and walking are great exercise… and with gas prices higher than we’d like, you will save money, as well.

Hang Your Clothes Out to Dry
This might sound old-fashioned, but you will find it doesn’t take much more time. You will appreciate being outdoors now that the weather is warming—and enjoy your fresh smelling laundry to boot!

Be Conservative in Your Chores
Make sure the dishwasher and clothes washer are full before running them. And, only wash what is truly dirty!

Turn Off the Water
We often stand while brushing our teeth with the faucet running or let the hose run while we are gardening. Take notice of the time you use water and conserve when possible. Bonus tip: If you find you are always dumping half-full glasses of water down the drain, water your plants with it instead!

Xeriscaping
Look into creating a water-conscious landscape, which will allow you to reduce water use. Many native plants also require very little maintenance, do not use a lot of water, and are well adapted to your area. Again, reducing use of and eliminating unnecessary resources saves us time and money.

Plant a Tree!
Okay, we couldn’t resist this classic Earth Day suggestion. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air, often while shading hotter areas of the house, allowing you to turn your air conditioner down this summer (more earth-friendly points for you)!

Source: Organic.org
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Recycling Them Darn Plastic Bags

CREATIVE USES FOR PLASTIC BAGS

Anyone else out there have tons and tons and tons of plastic bags around the house that need to be put to good use?

The best way to deal with them is not to acquire them in the first place. But alas! I have purchased the canvas bags for the grocery store to stop collecting them, but forget more times than I remember, gotta work on that one!

1. Line the kitty litter box with them to make disposal easier.
2. Use them to line trash cans, household garbage/compost bins, rather than going out and buying...Yes! MORE PLASTIC BAGS.
3. Donate your bags to the local thrift store. They will happily take them off your hands.
4. It is good to have a few of these in the car in case you have kids who play sports...after getting off a muddy field, they can put their cleats into a plastic bag to contain the mess.
5. Along the same line...if you go to a sporting event unprepared and the bleacher are wet from a recent rain, park you behind on a plastic bag to keep from getting damp.
6. My goodwill bag...have a bag in the closet for depositing things you want to get rid of becuase your are decluttering but which would be a welcome addition to someone's home. Once the bag is full, drop off your donation.
7. Also use this same idea to fill a bag with non-perishable food items that you can donate to a local charity once it fills up.
8. If you do alot of mailing out of items, instead of buying packing to protect the items, recycle your plastic bags.
9. I wish I had thought of this one a few weeks ago, my daughter was doing an art project for school. She was doing mosiac work and grabbed 2 of my best cleaning buckets...filled them with water and used them...needless to say my buckets need to be donated to my husband for oil changing of the cars...but if she had lined them with plastic bags I could still be using them.
10. I have seen some really creative weaved baskets made with plastic bags.

Now I'm sure these are not any really new ideas, but just a gentle reminder of what we can do to recycle our plastic bags. So if you have any great ideas, recycle them along to be posted.

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