What did you do in the garden today?

[igorsMistress]

I’ve never done well with Bougainvillea it always dies on me. Wild blackberry on the other hand is a natural fence between the coop and the garden. Was going to take it out but beginning to like it. Just keeping it under control now.

It was in the plant bed when we moved in. Hubs tore out 4 oleanders by hand that were crowding it, but it's indestructible! The fence is short there and the plants help.

I plan to add berries of some sort once I get another apple tree, can't wait for that! Maybe in spring, got a lot to do first.

 

[lazy gardener]

I've made soap for years...spending time tweaking my recipes over the years. There are great soaping threads here on BYC in the hobbies section.
Several years ago I put together an information packet on soap making . Pm me your email address and I will email you the packet. I made my own wooden molds that break down for storage. The instructions for the mold is in the packet. And there is information for where I purchase supplies including food grade lye.
Made 400 bars last year for the family and to use as gifts. I use essential oils for fragrance in the different batches, some with goat milk, aloe juice, honey, some bars are all vegetable fats and some batches include lard or tallow. I use oils like Shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil, caster oil, avacado, etc. I have a recipe for a citrus honey oatmeal bar that the girls love for their faces. Made son in law a batch of soap using the oil from the rendered deer fat from his 12 point buck.

 

[lazy gardener]

1 cup borax, add water and mix
1 cup arm and hammer laundry booster
1 cup blue dawn dish detergent.
Fill remainder of gallon jug with water and mix. Shake each time before use.

This is your laundry detergent recipe? How much does it suds? is it appropriate for a front loader? How much water? to fill a gallon bucket? How does it compare to the Borax, Washing soda, Fels naptha for 5 gal bucket?

I've made soap for years...spending time tweaking my recipes over the years. There are great soaping threads here on BYC in the hobbies section.
Several years ago I put together an information packet on soap making . Pm me your email address and I will email you the packet. I made my own wooden molds that break down for storage. The instructions for the mold is in the packet. And there is information for where I purchase supplies including food grade lye.
Made 400 bars last year for the family and to use as gifts. I use essential oils for fragrance in the different batches, some with goat milk, aloe juice, honey, some bars are all vegetable fats and some batches include lard or tallow. I use oils like Shea butter, coconut oil, palm oil, caster oil, avacado, etc. I have a recipe for a citrus honey oatmeal bar that the girls love for their faces. Made son in law a batch of soap using the oil from the rendered deer fat from his 12 point buck.

I'd love your soap making information. Home made soap is on my bucket list. PM to follow. Can you send it through BYC PM, or do you need personal E-mail?

this weekend, hubby and I have replaced the plastic on the green house. I have garlic, kale, lettuce planted in GH, and there is a giant cabbage that is almost 4' tall that grew from a random seed this spring. It still hasn't headed up yet! Today, we spent some time splitting and stacking wood, but it's to hot out doors for that! Crazy, crazy fall!!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

We are 56 grey sky cold wet dreary northwest weather

 

[CapricornFarm]

This is your laundry detergent recipe? How much does it suds? is it appropriate for a front loader? How much water? to fill a gallon bucket? How does it compare to the Borax, Washing soda, Fels naptha for 5 gal bucket?



I'd love your soap making information. Home made soap is on my bucket list. PM to follow. Can you send it through BYC PM, or do you need personal E-mail?

this weekend, hubby and I have replaced the plastic on the green house. I have garlic, kale, lettuce planted in GH, and there is a giant cabbage that is almost 4' tall that grew from a random seed this spring. It still hasn't headed up yet! Today, we spent some time splitting and stacking wood, but it's to hot out doors for that! Crazy, crazy fall!!!

Yes, that is what was recommended for our front loader. Idk about suds. Never watched it! Yes we make it in a gallon jug so it is easy to shake.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yes, that is what was recommended for our front loader. Idk about suds. Never watched it! Yes we make it in a gallon jug so it is easy to shake.

So, 1C washing soda, 1 C Borax, 1 C blue Dawn to make 1 gallon? Sounds very simple. I may try that before my next big 5 gal batch (w/fels naptha)

 

[chickmom3941]

1 cup borax, add water and mix
1 cup arm and hammer laundry booster
1 cup blue dawn dish detergent.
Fill remainder of gallon jug with water and mix. Shake each time before use.

Thanks so much! Do you think it's less expensive making your own laundry soap, than it is to buy the commercial stuff?

 

[chickmom3941]

So, we've had an unusually warm fall here in MN, but the party's just about over! Temps will be dropping all week, and by the weekend we are supposed to go below freezing several nights. So before then, I'm going to go harvest our pumpkins & winter squash. None are really full-size, but I'm going to stick them all in the sun (in the greenhouse) and let them finish ripening. Even if they're a little smallish, we may be able to eat some of them, and the rest can at least serve as fall decorations. Also still need to harvest the turnips and rutabagas. Then it's time to hit the seed catalogs for next year's garden!

 

[igorsMistress]

@chickmom3941 it is FAR CHEAPER to make your own laundry soap. I've never been happy with any recipe I've found, but I approached it from an environmental aspect not to save money.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Thanks so much! Do you think it's less expensive making your own laundry soap, than it is to buy the commercial stuff?

No problem. I just like the fact that i am not buying more plastic laundry jugs to pollute the environment. But yeah, it has to be cheaper.