How To Grow Upside Down Tomatoes

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie

Homemade Sweet Potato Pie is easier than you think! This classic Southern dessert recipe is perfect for the holidays!

This recipe makes two pies but you could also combine it into one deep dish pie instead. You can use premade crusts like I did or make your own, just don’t bake the crust first. I’ll make this again at Christmas with my own crust recipe…I don’t think I’ve shared that here on the blog either!

7 Homemade Organic Pesticide Recipes

Spider mites, aphids and other pests can cause considerable damage to flowers and food plants (that is fruits and vegetables). These creatures attack your garden in swarms, literally draining the life from your crops and often inviting disease in the process.

Many chemical pesticides can prove unsafe for the environment or may make crops unsafe for consumption, however.

Thankfully, there are many homemade, organic options for you to turn to in your “war” on pests.

Method 1: Using neem oil

1. Combine ½ ounce (15 milliliters) of neem oil with half a teaspoon (2 ½ milliliters) of mild soap. Many believe neem oil, which comes from a bitter tree leaf, to be one of the most effective natural pesticides in existence.

2. Mix the neem and soap into 2 quarts (2 liters) of warm water. Stir slowly, but thoroughly.

3. Pour the pesticide into a spray bottle. Use it immediately, dousing the entire plant and focusing on spots where you can clearly see pests or signs of pests.

Method 2: Using cooking oil

1. Select a mild liquid dish-washing soap. Avoid anti-bacterial, scented and other specialized soaps, since these may damage your plants.

2. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of your selected soap with 1 cup (250 milliliters) cooking oil in a small bowl. Use either canola or vegetable oil.

3. Combine 2 and ½ teaspoons (12 milliliters) of this oil mixture into 1 cup (250 milliliters) of water. Mix thoroughly.

4. Pour this new mixture into a large squirt bottle. Give the mixture another shake inside the bottle to combine it more thoroughly.

5. Test the mix by spraying it onto a small portion of your plant. This step allows you to make sure that the mix will not cause more harm than good. If the section of the plant you test the spray on wilts or changes color, try using a different soap for this pesticide (or another type of pesticide for that matter).

6. Spray the mixture anywhere you have encountered problems. If you tested your solution and it did not cause any harm to your plant, spray it around your entire plant, including the undersides of leaves. Focus on areas where pests lay their eggs, since an oil spray is designed to target eggs and immature bugs.

Method 3: Using soap

1. Opt for a mild liquid dish-washing soap. The milder your soap is, the less likely it is to have a harmful effect on your plants. Stay away from anti-bacterial, scented and other specialized soaps.

2. Mix a few teaspoons (10 to 15 milliliters) of your selected soap into 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Combine the soap and water using your hands or a large spoon.

3. Pour the solution into a large squirt bottle. You may not be able to fit all of the solution into a bottle, but you should use the largest bottle you can find to make use of as much of the solution as possible.

4. Spray the entire plant. Cover the top and undersides of leaves, focusing on the areas that seem the most overcome. This spray works by paralyzing insects, that is making them unable to eat.

5. Continue to spray your plants every two to three days for the next 2 weeks. Since this pesticide is fairly diluted, continued application is the only way to ensure that the infestation eventually ends.

Method  4: Using tobacco

1. Mix 1 cup (250 milliliters) of tobacco into 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Tobacco is useful in targeting caterpillars, aphids and worms, but it is not safe to use it on peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any member of the solanaceous plant family.

2. Sit the mixture out in the sun or in another warm location. Allow it to rest for 24 hours.

3. Check the color of the mixture. Ideally, the pesticide will look similar to the hue of a light tea. If it is too dark, dilute it with water. If it is too light to see, allow it to sit an additional few hours.

4. Add 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) of mild liquid dish soap to the solution. Mix thoroughly.

5. Pour the mixture into a large squirt bottle. Shake the solution inside the bottle once more to combine it further.

6. Spray the infested plants. Focus on areas that show the most damage, but also cover spots that still seem in good condition.

Method 5: Using oranges

1. Peel an orange. If you do not have a fresh orange, use 1.5 teaspoons (7.4 milliliters) of dried citrus peels or ½ ounce (15 milliliters) of orange oil. Citrus is especially helpful in targeting soft-bodied bugs, including slugs, aphids, fungus gnats and mealy bugs. When sprayed directly onto the pests, this pesticide also works against ants and roaches.

2. Place the peels into a glass container and pour 2 cups (500 milliliters) of boiling water over the peels. Allow the solution to sit in a warm spot around the clock (24 hours).

3. Add a few drops of castile soap. Peppermint-scented castile soap may prove especially effective. Mix the solution thoroughly to combine.

Method 6: Using chrysanthemums

1. Combine ½ cup (113 grams) of dried chrysanthemums with 4 cups (1 liter) of water. Chrysanthemums contain a chemical component called pyrethrum, which is capable of paralyzing many garden insects.

2. Boil the mixture for 20 minutes. Boiling the mixture releases the pyrethrum into the water.

3. Pour the solution through a strainer. Remove the dried flowers and save the infused water.

4. Pour the pesticide into a spray bottle and treat plants. Focus on the most damaged areas before moving onto less damaged areas. Cover the entire plant, including the undersides of leaves.

5. Store the solution up to 2 months. After that period, it may no longer be effective.

Method 7: Using hot vegetables

1. Combine ½ cup (113 grams) of hot peppers with ½ cup (113 grams) of garlic cloves or onions. You may also use both onions and garlic. All the vegetables should be chopped prior to their use.

2. Blend the vegetables together in an electric blender. A thick, chunky paste should form after the blending.

3. Add the vegetable paste to 2 cups (500 milliliters) of warm water. Thoroughly mix the ingredients together.

4. Pour the solution into a plastic or glass container and allow it to sit for 24 hours. If possible, keep it in a sunny location. If not, at least keep the mixture in a warm spot.

5. Strain the mixture. Pour the solution through a strainer, removing the vegetables and collecting the vegetable-infused water into another container. This water is your pesticide.

6. Pour your pesticide into a squirt bottle. Make sure that the spray bottle has first been thoroughly cleaned with warm water and disinfected with soap to rid it of any potential contaminants.

7. Spray your plants with the pesticide. Treat the infected plants every four to five days. After three or four treatments, the pests should scatter. If the area is thoroughly covered, this pesticide should keep bugs away for the rest of the season.

A tip: You can create a more potent pesticide by combining different organic pesticide solutions. For instance, neem oil can be added to a chrysanthemum spray.

Warning: Many pesticides, especially tobacco and soap-based sprays, can cause damage to certain plants. Test your pesticide on a small portion of a plant before wetting the entire thing. This way, you can see whether or not a certain pesticide is likely to cause more harm than good.

Not only that, but carbon dioxide as well!

10 Best Indoor Plants for Clean Air (No. 5 is My Favorite)

Air pollution isn't just an outdoor issue. You can improve your indoor air quality with the help of plants. Find out the best indoor plants for clean air.

10 Best Indoor Plants for Clean Air (No. 5 is Special)

Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away

Female mosquitoes have a long proboscis that they use to pierce the skin and tap the bloodstream. Mosquitoes are dangerous pests that happen to act as disease vectors, creating a nuisance and a health hazard. Humans and animals alike are easy targets for the over 200 species of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are known to carry dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, west nile virus, encephalitis and more. Mosquitoes lay eggs that float on standing water, hence the need for the immediate removal of still water. The larval mosquitoes tuck underneath the water surface to grow, using a snorkel like apparatus (known as the siphon) to breath. They will eventually hatch and reproduce themselves, drastically increasing the size of their population in a short period of time. They are drawn to signs of life including the presence of heat, motion, CO2, humidity and odor. The females must obtain blood as a means of acquiring the protein necessary for egg production and development. Flowering plants and other nectar sources serve as the mosquito's prime food source, so think twice about flower placement if your region is susceptible to mosquito invasion. Also, there are many mosquito repellent plants that you can grow in your garden to get rid of them. Some of them are Catmint, Rosemary, Basil, Lavender etc There are plenty of products available that will kill mosquitoes without harming people, pets or other wildlife. Some store bought products can be just as toxic to people and pets as they are to mosquitoes Mosquitoes can be hazardous to health, so there is no sense in removing with chemicals that can be as harmful. We recommend using multiple methods of pest control to protect yourself, your family and your environment.

So apparently this is like a superfood and nontoxic bug killer. Reading the Amazon reviews was very compelling! #health #pesticides #diatomaceousearth #healthyliving #healthyhome

Guidelines For Your Indoor Flowers And Plants

Water, Food and Sunlight. Basic Guidelines For Growing Indoor Flowers and Plants.

Just about all plants or flowers can adapt and grow indoor very well. All they really need is more or less to have the same elements as outdoor plants and flowers demand. These conditions are simple. Air flow must be present and adequate, an area where the sun can shine on them, optimum supply of h2o, and good flower or plant food (fertilizer).

Obey these simple rules included below, that would for sure make your indoor plants and flowers develop healthier and add beauty to your indoor living space.

Basic Sun Light Guideline for your Indoor Plants or Flowers:

The fact is that your NORMAL indoor plants or flowers will always be growing towards the sunlight naturally, no matter how many times you repositioned them. This is normal as the sun is the main source of their nutrition. Your plants or flowering plants will require a minimum of 2 hrs of sun rays per day. Try moving them near a window if you know that they are not getting the minimum sunlight required. If you do not have a place where you can have sufficient sunlight, and cannot move the plants, then maybe purchasing a couple of indoor gardening lights. Do NOT implement this with ordinary lights. You can purchase indoor growing lights anywhere today, and they will provide enough of the “ultraviolet light” to nourish the plants and flowers.

Appropriate Watering Guideline for Indoor Plants or Flowers:

You should supply an adequate and regular water intake for your plants. But be certain that you DO NOT OVER WATER the plants or flowers. A big number of plants or flowers die because of, #1: not enough water or, #2: to much water. This will cause them to die most likely more often than they do from any other reasons. If you have to go away for a while, have someone come over and water your plants and flowers instead of watering a lot before and after.

Here’s a easy tip that you can try to find out if your plants and flowers need more or less water. Try poking the ground with a poking device. If the stick penetrates the ground with ease, then the soil is at the right dampness, if not just give them more water.

Appropriate Fertilizing (feeding) Guideline for Indoor Plants or Flowers:

Fertilizers are also really important when it comes time to feed your plants or flowers. The guideline here is to add a scoop or so of indoor plant fertilizer, once every 2 weeks (or as directed on the directions), to your plant or flower containers. A good natural way to feed instead of spending money on fertilizer is to save your “used tea remains” as they are also a very good supply of nutrition for your plants and flowers.

Ant Spray & Ant Traps For Inside And Outside.

There is nothing more annoying than sharing your home with uninvited guests. When you walk into a room and see a few little ants crawling around, it just triggers a feeling of disgust. I don’t mind using ant spray but where did I put it?

You know there can never be just one ant, there are always relatives lurking in the cracks somewhere. I’m always amazed at how they get inside and why they come inside. I keep a very clean and tidy home, so it isn’t like I have crumbs laying all over the floors. However, they decided to move in despite my cleanliness.

I would get rid of a few and more would appear. To me, there was nothing worse than knowing that there were little insects crawling around my home at all hours of the day.

Knowing that there are ants around always makes me feel like they are crawling on my, even if it’s just a breeze that moves a hair over my forehead or neck. I immediately swat at it like it was alive.

I set out to get some ant spray or traps so that I could eliminate the problem before they moved all of the neighborhood ants into my home. With some advice from individuals at the pest control and local hardware store, I bought two kinds of ant spray.

One ant spray was for inside my house and the other one was for outside. They told me that using ant spray inside of the home might not be as effective as what I was hoping it would be. It might just make them seek out other areas of my home to make their nest instead. The ant spray for outside was supposedly very effective. I was supposed to spray it all around my home’s foundation, going out a few extra feet to ensure that the ants would be deterred from even nearing my house to make a dash for it. I also sprayed about a foot up the house, in case they decided to attack from that direction. I was definitely launching a war both inside and outside of my home.

The pest control company told me about several baiting traps to place inside of my house. Once the ants would find them and drink or feed from them, they will be poisoned. I purchased a few of those as well. I was also told to eliminate any anthills that I might find in my flowerbeds or yard that could be a mansion for ants. By destroying those homes, I would be preventing ants from breeding and frolicking around my home.

The pest control professionals told me of not only an ant spray to use on the hills, but a few other powders and such. I was weary of using them because of other wildlife getting into the powders and being harmed. Ever so kindly, they took a few moments to tell me what kinds of prevention I could use outside that would not be harmful to the environment.

One week later, I was once again living alone. No uninvited guests had shown up for days. Right now, I consider myself safe. At least for the time being.

How To Kill Bed Bugs in Home

Bed Bugs are biting little insects that thrive in poor sanitary or dilapidated living conditions. The adults are oval-shaped, about 1/5" in length and have a red hue. The younger members of this species tend to be smaller and have a lighter, more yellow color. These insects can reproduce quickly, the females release eggs in batches of up to fifty for a total of up to 500 eggs! These eggs are deposited on uneven textured surfaces with a sticky glue-like substance that allows them to incubate for ten days. They thrive in temperatures between 72oF and 80oF, they love burrowing deep inside mattresses and all types of furniture. Bed bugs are remarkably disciplined, they can survive without a source of food for almost four months at a time.

Like ticks, these bugs love blood and can consume six times their own weight. This huge appetite seems only fitting for an insect that can diet for that long. Fortunately, these insects are not generally disease carriers. The bite sites tend to become inflamed due to a reaction to their saliva. These unsanitary creatures will leave a scent and some feces behind them. These spots and smells will provide a clue to both the state of infestation and their location.

As with other bug management solution, prevention is again the best measure of defense. Make sure all mattresses, linens and bedding are kept clean and free of dust and debris. It would also be wise to seal up cracks in walls, window frames, door frames and anywhere else. Since these guys can't fly and must crawl, so you can impede their movement by coating furniture legs with petroleum jelly products.

If an infection has occurred, it is vital to stem its spread as soon as possible. Try using Diatomaceous Earth (DE), a natural pest control product that is made entirely of the skeletal remains of ocean plankton.

Top 100 Homemaking Blogs Every Homemaker Must Follow

Homemaking Blogs Top 100 List

Want to make cleaning and organizing your home easier? Or just wish managing your home could be fun? Reading homemaking blogs can be your one-stop-shop for reliable information and quality resources about homemaking. So we bring to you the Best 100 Homemaking blogs which will help you to learn organizing, scheduling, cooking, fixing, budgeting, menu-planning and to manage your home without losing your mind! Here is the list : https://blog.feedspot.com/homemaking_blogs/