Video from MSNBC of Huntsville, TX man who builds low cost sustainable houses out of recycled materials.
Click link to watch:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34183820#34183820
Our basil bounced back quickly thanks to a recent pruning, cooler temperatures, and Whole Foods’ own quality compost for a cheap price of $4 per bag. The Whole Foods bags of compost were a good solution in the meantime to give our Rotary Composter some time to work. My husband, his father and I custom built it together from a used wine barrel. We just started using our diy rotary wine barrel composter a few months ago and it looks like it’s working just fine with the except of the pine needles that aren’t breaking down, yet.
Hi again,
I just made my own homemade hair gel from boiling flax seeds in water and it’s got mega hold! I watched these YouTube videos below, got the basic recipe and tried it out. It works on straight and curly hair. You’ll find that people online have gotten really creative and customized their own recipes. Hope you can try it out and like it as much as I do.
Homemade Flax Seed Hair Gel Recipe
Ingredients:
3/4 Cup Whole Flax Seeds
3 Cups Water
4 drops Lavender Essential Oil
1 Tablespoon Almond Oil (to combine Esst. Oil)
Makes about 1 cup of natural hair gel.
Instructions:
1. In a 2 quart pot, bring water to a boil on high heat.
2. Stir in the whole flax seeds and reduce heat to medium-high.
3. Simmer for about 6 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Immediately pour through a wire mesh strainer that is fitted over a pot or glass bowl. You may need re-pour hot gel immediately into a tighter mesh strainer if any seed remnants got through. A cotton dinner napkin can serve as a strainer as well.
5. The dilution safety rule is to start with 1 drop essential oil to one teaspoon carrier oil. I like adding 4 drops Lavender essential oil to the a tablespoon of Almond Oil for a mild sweet scent. Mix oils then add to gel. Mix well. Link to more scent ideas: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/personal-scents-for-your-hair.html
6. Cool gel by storing it in a glass container in the refrigerator for a 15 minutes. Then pour enough to fit into a 3 oz plastic squeeze bottle for 1-2 applications. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Shake well before use.
7. Store the rest in glass containers (spice jar sized) and freeze to preserve for several weeks.
You can use this natural gel as often as you need. Use a larger amount to set curly hair. Once you try it a few times, you may never what to use anything other than natural hair gel. It’s even better when it’s homemade.
Enjoy,
Allegra
Videos:
These are the videos that inspired me to make my own:
1. 
03:41 – 1 year ago
How to make flaxseed gel for twists and curls. Try it and do a video response! Music: Original compositions.
2. 
09:31 – 11 months ago
that if all the hair gel factories burned to the ground, you’d still be sittin pretty. Have fun! … DIY hair gel make your own flax seed home spa recipe lavender rose thyme …
Here are some more body care recipes you can try from Care2.org’s Annie Bond:
Flax Seed Hair Gel, Lotion, Aftershave and Egg Substitute
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/flax-seeds-body-scrub-hair-gel.html
Enjoy,
Allegra
Hi,
I want to share 4 super short videos that I found to be very helpful in my quest to be an Urban Farmer. These videos discuss the following topics: Vertical Farming, Worm Composting, Making a Rain Barrel and a Rotary Composter. Enjoy.
1. 
Watch Video – Growing Power.mov – TRT:2:54 min
Will Allen, McArthur Genius 2008 Fellow, talks about his Vertical Farming facility. He’s a year round produce producer and teaches people & his community how to be urban farmers too.
2. 
Watch Video – Worm Factory® on Good Morning America – TRT 4:03 min. Sustainable Dave did an experiment of not throwing his trash away for one year. One major thing that helped him was his worm farm.
You’ll find very easy to understand guides on Worm Composting from http://www.highcountryconservation.org/composting.htm.
3. 
Watch Video – How to Install Rainwater Collection – TRT: 4:05 min. In this how-to video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to collect valuable rainwater for use in the garden
An Example of Wine Barrel Conversion
http://ironhallsy.blogspot.com/2009/03/converting-our-wine-barrels-to-rain.html
Connecting Rain Barrel System:
http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/adams/audrey/water_barrel.htm
4.
Rotary Composter
I plan to make my own Rotary Composter made from a recycled wine barrel.
5. 
Video – Making a Herb and Vegetable Square Foot Garden – TRT: 3:19
Mel Bartholomew, inventor of Square Foot Gardening, will show you how easy it is to grow your own food in your own yard.
I hope you find this information as helpful as I did.
Take care,
Allegra
DIY Silky Moisturizer, originally uploaded by photoboothpictures.
DIY Silky Aloe Vera Moisturizer
This is a gentle and completely natural face and body moisturizer that is super easy to make homemade.
1/2 cup Aloe Vera Gel (food grade supplement)
1 Teaspoon Almond Oil
1-3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Makes about 5 oz. Pour into small bottle and use daily.
I was inspired by Annie Bond’s recipe on Care2.com to make my own variation of the recipe. I hope you like it as much as I do. – Allegra Kolber
Fluid Measurements:
3 tsp = 1 TBSP
1 TBSP = 1/2 oz
2 TBSP = 1 oz
1/2 cup = 4 oz
1 cup = 8 oz
Note: Add 1 drop of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil as a safe starting point for skincare use.
