Homemade Toothpaste

Around Christmas time last year, I followed a really straightforward recipe I found online for homemade toothpaste. My mother liked it, and I liked it, but most of the younger ones didn't. I guess I'd gotten used to brushing with straight baking soda, so the strong presence of that ingredient didn't bother me so much.

That said, this toothpaste may not be as pleasant as a store-bought tube, but it is so much healthier, simpler, and does a good job of freshening your mouth right up... plus whitening! Fluoride free, chemical free, and made with the common ingredients in your kitchen.

You'll Need:

8 tablespoons baking soda
8 tablespoons coconut oil
3 packets Stevia
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

And that's it- mix it up!

Since the texture of coconut oil changes with the temperature of its storage area, your toothpaste may change consistency as well. It won't become liquid like the oil itself, but it will be very soft if kept in the bathroom while someone's bath water is fogging up everything. Likewise it will be hard when cold. Keep it at the temperature that best suits you, and reserve a spoon for application to a toothbrush. (Don't be like a certain woman I know and just stick your toothbrush in... then no one else wants to use it!! XD )

Of course I had to run out in the rain and pick some actual peppermint leaves to make this look all artsy... wouldn't it be nice to someday be able to make my own essential oils? 

Happy brushing. :)

The First Harvests

Dill, lettuce, and catnip. I already blogged about the dill-drying.

Yesterday I picked a whole bunch of lettuce.

Pablo and Mantilia are my varieties this year. The Pablo is the redder type, and Mantilia is the springy green.

In the past, I've always had trouble with lettuce tasting bitter and gritty. So I started growing spinach, and now I really prefer that. But I wanted to at least try lettuce again this year, so I read the descriptions in the seed catalog pretty closely and went for the types that were described as sweet or tender. I haven't been disappointed, either. I drizzled ranch dressing over one helping, and it was delicious. They're both good, pleasant lettuces. 

Pablo Lettuce

Mantilia Lettuce

I pulled up several clumps that were bursting out of their pallet rows, twisted off the roots, and washed them separately. The goats were happy to get all the little loose leaves afterwards. After the lettuce dried, I stuck it in a plastic bread bag and it went in the refrigerator. 

We'll make lots of salads this year... :P

I won't pull up all of the lettuce plants. I'll let some of each kind grow up and bolt, so I can save seeds for next year. I actually just found out how to save carrot seeds, and found out some really cool stuff. I'll share that in due time, too.

Next we have catnip...

 I want to dry a whole bunch of this to give my barn cats in the winter, or stick in a sock toy for the kittens. 

After you cut it, it wilts fast. I got a couple of clumps and used the same paper bag method as with the dill. I didn't cut the slits so big, though. Enough to give it a little air. 

Its supposed to be kept dark, dry, and warm. When it gets crisp, I can rub all the leaves off and keep it in a jar.

After finishing the siding job with my grandpa the other day, we came home and went up on the hill with him. I found a couple of old- yet salvageable- buckets in the dump in the woods. I can use them for planters... and I have a couple pepper plants Owen started that need homes. (Dork moment: I referred to them as "Pepper Pots" and then realized I had named Tony Stark's girlfriend.)

Mama found me this little sign at Joann's, 90% off. :3

Alyssum is growing and thriving, as his her namesake. ;)

Mama's flowers along the chicken coop are gorgeous...

Everything is sprouting, blossoming, and ripening. It truly is amazing to be able to watch it, use it, and learn more. My appreciation grows. 

Drying Dill

The dill was the first thing in my garden to get going this year (all on its own), and so it's way ahead of everything but the catnip. Well, before it gets too tall and stocky, it's time to harvest and dry it. 

I started with three clumps of the tallest dill. Ella kindly loaned me a couple of her bracelet rubber bands to hold the stems together at the ends. 

I'm using brown paper bags because Mama was saying how she didn't like drying dill and ending up with it all brown. I read online that being in the paper bag will keep sunlight from bleaching it, and also keep off dust. 

The dill needs a lot of air flow, though, to prevent mildew. I cut slits in the bottom. 

Slip the dill into the bag, up-side down. At first, I tried to staple the stem end to the bag to keep it closed and all held together, but that doesn't quite do the job, unless your clumps are much smaller. Instead, take a toothpick and start a couple holes through each side on both sides of the dill, then feed a twisty-tie through to secure it and close the bag. 

This is what it should look like...

The dill is supposed to hang for around two weeks or until brittle to the touch, in a dry warm place. My room works. I bound the three bags to a wooden ladder with pipe-cleaner. 

This was all two days ago... and then yesterday, when I went to the Goodwill with my Grandma and Emma, look what I found!

Old fashioned nails and everything; it's too cute. So the next time I dry herbs, I'll try some tiny clumps hanging from this. 

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Update: See the results!