Simple Safe Household Cleaner

Having children has made me reevaluate many of the things I do around the house. When it comes to cleaning my house I only want to use products that are safe and non-toxic. I don't want my kids or even myself around all the harsh and toxic chemicals that are in conventional cleaning products. I have been pleasantly surprised by how simple and easy it can be to make many cleansers myself. White vinegar is one of my favorite all purpose household products. Recently I discovered the idea of soaking leftover citrus peels in it and using that as an all purpose cleaner. It works great in the kitchen or the bathroom. It cleans up my greasy stove nicely and is great on my cabinets, mirrors, etc. I have made it with orange, lime or lemon peels, and they have all turned out great. They each add a pleasing scent to the vinegar plus they have great antibacterial properties and help cut grease. The last batch I made with lemon peels and added a few sprigs of fresh rosemary. I think you could make several combinations of citrus and herbs depending on what you wanted. Many herbs have their own antibacterial properties and with a little research you could decide which ones you wanted to use. The process to create this cleaner is so simple!

What you will need: glass jar, any size you want distilled white vinegar citrus peels of your choice a few branches of fresh herbs if desired spray bottle strainer and funnel

Method: Simply place leftover citrus peels in the jar. Gently press down and cover with vinegar. Screw on a lid and let sit for about 3 weeks. Strain vinegar into an empty spray bottle. Use full strength on surfaces such as greasy stovetops or dilute with half water for cleaning mirrors.

Here are a few herbs you might like to add:
Thyme - has antibiotic and disinfectant properties
Sage - effective on germs and also has many anti-fungal properties
Rosemary - anti-microbial properties
Lavender – disinfectant, antiseptic, natural antibiotic properties
Peppermint - antibacterial properties
Cinnamon Sticks - anti-fungal and anti-microbial

Lemon peels and fresh rosemary in white vinegar

After sitting for 3 weeks simply strain into a spray bottle

The finished product!

Farm Trucks in Winter

In the wintertime when there are no Farmer's Markets we don't use our farm trucks much. Most of the winter they just sit parked in the snow waiting for the busy season of spring to come again.




A cold winter's morning. Crabapples covered with sparkling ice crystals with
the trusty old farm trucks resting for the winter under a blanket of snow
in the background.

Winter Landscapes

10 Degrees Outside

It is about ten degrees outside. I have absolutely no desire to go out there. My ideas of perfect activities on such a cold day includes reading books on the couch, making crafty things, and drinking hot chocolate. The boys however think otherwise. David keeps begging to go out to play, while Matthew brings his boots over to me every few minutes indicating that he wants me to put them on him. Finally I reluctantly bundle them and myself all up. The snow pants, the coats, the hats, the gloves, the boots. It takes at least ten minutes to get everyone ready for what I know will probably only be about five minutes of outdoor fun. It feels like such a chore. But when we finally make it outside it is worth it. It is worth it to see the sparkle in their eyes, the rosy glow on their cheeks, and the smile on their faces. Even though it does only last five minutes before they are cold and ready to go back inside.

Matthew

David

Paper Lanterns

Paper Lanterns

On these colder, darker days of winter we need to do all we can to brighten and cheer our homes. I love the cozy glow of the fire in the woodstove and the soft radiance of strands of white lights hung around the house. Something I saw several years ago at someone's house was a strand of origami paper lanterns. They were so lovely. And so simple. All it was, was a set of origami boxes/ balloons on a strand of white Christmas lights. I already knew how to make the little origami boxes/ balloons so I decided to make myself a set. The first set I made was actually a bit expensive because I went and bought two packages of fancy origami paper. This time I only spent about five dollars, $2 on a strand of twenty white lights, and $3 on a 100 pack of colorful 6"x6" scrapbook paper. Scrapbook paper is ideal for this project; it comes in just the right size, a variety of beautiful colors and patterns, and you can get a whole book of it for a few dollars. It is a simple project to do. It only requires some time and quite a bit of paper folding. During a movie is the perfect time to do it. If you want to make a set for yourself, here is how.

Start with a strand of 20 white lights and a pack of 6"x6" scrapbook paper

Take out one sheet of 6"x6" scrapbook paper

1. Fold paper in half diagonally
2. Open up and fold diagonally the other direction
3. Bring the corner of the triangle up to the center point
4. Bring the other corner up to form a square

5. Open paper up so inside is facing you
6. Begin to bring the two creases on opposite sides of the paper together
7. As they come together it will form into two triangles
8. Flatten and place on the table

9. Bring the two corners up to point. Flip over and do the same for other
two corners, forming a square.

10. Fold two corners of square in, meeting at the center,
repeat on other side.

11. Next fold free corner and tuck into previously folded corner.
Repeat for all four.

12. Pull open slightly. Find the end with the hole and gently blow
in a puff of air until the balloon inflates.
13. Insert white light into the hole. Jiggle gently until it is on securely.
Now make 19 more and you have a whole strand!

The Finished  Light Strand

Pretty Lanterns Hanging Above My China Cabinet

The Winter Season on the Farm

The Garden Resting Under a Blanket of Snow

Here at Simple Gifts Farm the changing of the seasons brings a corresponding change in our activities. After a busy summer of growing, cultivating, and harvesting our crops and bringing them to our friendly customers at the farmer's markets; the final rush of autumn to get the garden cleaned up, the garlic planted and what feels like a million other projects wrapped up before snow; comes the quieter, slower season of winter. For us this season is a much needed time of rest and refreshment. The days are shorter now, the days are colder now. We spend more time indoors by a cozy fire with a warm cup of tea. As we settle into the rhythm of winter we reflect on the busy season that has just past and plan for the year ahead. Winter is an important time to discuss ideas and goals for the coming year, to layout the garden on paper, study seed catalogs and decide on varieties and quantities, and make our seed order. It is also the time to work on indoor projects like updating our website, designing new brochures, repairing market tablecloths, or organizing supplies. Even though winter is slower there are many things to fill our time. We do more reading in the winter. There are so many great books and resources that can expand our knowledge, there is always more to learn. We also read more to our children, teaching them, and helping them become excited about learning, too. We get our creative side going while making soap, lip balm, and other body care products. This has developed into a small side business that helps supplement our income. More opportunities for gathering and fellowship with family and friends is another highlight of this season. We usually try to make a trip to visit my family in California sometime during the winter. It is fun to explore the Farmers Markets; which run year round down there; and talk to the farmers during our stay.

It is good to take this season to remember and be grateful for the many blessings we enjoy; our families, our friends, customers who support us, a wonderful community, a gorgeous place to live, a warm home, food in the pantry, work that we love, babies in our arms. As winter slowly slips by we will soon begin to feel a restless stirring, a longing to get our hands back in the soil, to see that first bit of green, growing life. In late winter we will start our seeds in trays and the anticipation of spring and the opening of the Farmers Market grows strong again. And the cycle of the seasons continues.

This article was published in the months edition of the North Columbian Monthly.

Grateful Everyday

Thanksgiving... a day to gather with loved ones, a day to eat mountains of delicious food, a day to be thankful for our many blessings. Sometimes it is easier to set aside one day to be thankful on, almost as if we fulfilled a duty and now we can go along our way. But what is one day of thanksgiving worth if we don't fulfill the harder task of being grateful everyday? Everyday when the hours are long and weary, everyday when the children are whining and the dinner is burned, everyday when all the mundane tasks overwhelm us. Sometimes it is hard, so hard to remember to stop and count our blessings in the midst of the mess that is so often everyday life. But they are there; a kiss from little lips, a fleeting ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, a crackling fire in the woodstove. And not just to notice all the good things that are so easily overlooked, but to actually give thanks for the hard things, the painful things, the challenging things. This Thanksgiving may we not only give thanks, but stop to remember why we can give thanks in all things... because we serve a great God who gives us grace for everyday, who gives us growth in the hard things. For this may we be truly grateful everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving!!