a place to call my own

Passion.  I have it.  Sometimes it's for many things, and sometimes it's for one thing in particular. Some days, well, it's just plain missing. This summer, it has been about the garden.  And my flowers.  Somehow it is relaxing.  Pruning. Watering. Checking the growth. Waiting for something spectacular to happen.  Like edible vegetables that taste oh so much better than the ones in the store. (Did you know...many grocers ripen tomatoes with ethylene gas-hence the lack of taste.)

Before I started gardening three years ago, I didn't fully understand why gardening was so important.  I thought it was a lot more work than it was worth. I didn't realize how rewarding it could be-for my health, and for the planet's health. Now, I have to say, it is one of my favorite things to look forward to during the long winter months.  Plus, it is so much more fresh. 

I've also been doing a lot of reading and experimenting with all kinds of different 'do it yourself' garden treatments.  One of the toughest things about gardening is protecting yourself against pests.  One of my best preventative sprays comes from household items I keep stocked in my house all year round. Easy to make and inexpensive.  Helps treat early blight, pests, and keeps your plants super healthy! Also, there isn't anything in it that can harm you!  I can't take credit for the recipe, but I definitely want to share it. Enjoy!

What you'll need:
A commercial/heavy duty spray bottle
Milk
Castile Soap
Baking Soda

Add 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda, 1/2 Teaspoon of Castile Soap, 1 cup of Milk into the spray bottle.  Fill the remaining bottle with water. Shake and apply to plants!  Make sure you get the base of the plant all the way up to the top of the plant.  Apply to both sides of the plant leaves.  This spray works because dried milk when exposed to the natural sun's ray's changes into a disinfectant.  Also, the bicarbonate component of baking soda kills new fungal colonies. Takes about 5 minutes to make.  Reapply after each rain.