http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/story?id=8440108

Watch video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/32460887#32460887

August 2009 Garden Slideshow

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
Essential oil for fragrance: 4 drops Lavender, 1 drop Rosemary
1 Tablespoon Almond Oil (to combine Esst. Oil)

Makes about 1 cup of  natural hair gel.

Instructions:

1. In a 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 bowl. You may need re-pour hot gel immediately into a tighter mesh strainer if any seed remnants got through.

5. Add a few drops of essential oil to the Almond Oil to safety combine. Mix oils then add to gel. Mix well. I like adding a few drops of 4 drops Lavender and 1 drop of Rosemary (as a preservative). Link to more scent ideas: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/personal-scents-for-your-hair.html

6. Cool down gel by putting glass container in the refrigerator for a few minutes. Then pour a small amount enough for the week in a 3 oz plastic squeeze bottle. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.  Shake well before use.

7. Store the rest in glass containers and freeze for up to 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.

How to make flaxseed gel for twists and curls. Try it and do a video response! Music: Original compositions.

2.

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

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.