How to Make Soap for Dogs

Do you think your dog is better off bathing with homemade soap than any brand picked off the shelf? Well, making soap for your dog requires a level of expertise that is thankfully not unattainable, as long as you know what you are doing and are determined.

Before making your dog’s soap, there are a few things to consider. What do you seek to achieve with the soap? Do you need to repel insects or attain a shinier coat? This is where the essential oils come in, and while they may not be as effective as chemical pesticides, they are natural and have a nicer smell. Let's break down some of the benefits of these oils before dropping the recipe and instructions on how to make soap for dogs.

Essential Oils for Dog Soaps

 

Lavender: Lavender is famed for its sweet smell, and it also repels fleas. It is one of a few essential oils that are considered safe when diluted for dogs, but not all essential oils are safe for pets.

Cedarwood: Cedarwood is a sweet-smelling base that blends in well with the other oils and is flea and mosquito repellant.

However, be cautious while shopping for essential oils as some are reported to be a bit harmful to pets.

Materials Needed for Dog Soap:

•                3/4 cup of distilled water

•                1/4 cup of lye (also known as 100% sodium hydroxide)

•                2/3 cup of olive oil

•                2/3 cup of oil blend (sunflower or safflower works)

•                1/8 cup of castor oil

•                1/8 cup of white distilled vinegar or lemon juice

•                A few drops each of the essential oils earlier listed

Instructions:

•                Pour the lye into the distilled water, stir it in, and set aside till required.

•                Blend the essential oils together, boil using mild heat where the temperature is below 100°F.

•                While stirring constantly, add the oils to the lye mixture.

•                Stir for at least five minutes, using a stick blender where necessary until it has a yogurt-like consistency.

•                Pour in the cup of castor oil, white distilled vinegar or lemon juice, and the drops each of the essential oils.

•                Properly blend all ingredients.

•                Pour into molds and leave for at least 24 hours to cool and form.

•                Cure for 3 to 4 weeks.

With that, your dog's soap is ready for use. While this may seem time-consuming, it is worth it as dogs are known as man's best friend hence the best is required to keep yours clean and healthy. Besides, dogs unlike humans, bathe only occasionally and a few bars of homemade soap can last for quite a while before new batches are required. Or, if you don’t want to make your own dog soap, try Doggie Shampoo Soap Bar by Good Earth.

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How to Make Old Fashioned Bean Cakes

Finger foods that can be made from leftovers are not only energy saving but practical. Bean cakes are no exception, whether you have leftover cooked beans or you make them fresh they are delicious and can be eaten with any topping of your choice. For this particular recipe, I recommend good old dried pinto beans. They are amazing and packed full of the needed nutrition.

Nutritious Value of Pinto Beans

Fiber: High in fiber, pinto beans are a welcome addition to your daily food intake. Fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate that is good for the body, as it promotes weight loss, proper digestion, gets the heart beating properly, and improves regulation of blood sugar.

Antioxidants: Pinto beans are packed full with antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids, specially kaempferol, which help suppress free radicals that contribute to diseases in the body. Kaempferol, according to recent research, reduces the risk of stroke and inflammation.

Asides these many benefits, pinto beans are chock full of nutrients such as protein, fat, sodium, thiamine, iron, magnesium, and calories. All good stuff, I assure you. Now that we know what is going into our systems, let's get to the nitty-gritty of how to make old fashioned bean cakes like grandma used to make with our own little twist.

Old Fashioned Bean Cakes Recipe

•                Pinto beans

•                Water

•                Onion

•                Black pepper

•                Salt

•                Any seasoning of your choice

•                Red and yellow bell pepper

•                Green onion

•                Cilantro

•                Lime juice

•                Salt

•                Flour

•                Egg

•                Peanut oil

If you are particular with measuring the ingredients that go into your food, I sincerely apologize for the chaos, this is an old fashioned bean cake recipe, and you have to make it from the heart, measuring with your intuition as you go, and trust me you won't be disappointed.

Instructions:

•                Pick out any dirt or broken beans before rinsing.

•                Bring to boil in a big pot, making sure the water tops the beans by an inch or two.

•                After an hour add the onion and black pepper while it is still cooking.

•                Add the seasoning and salt when it is almost tender.

•                Remove from heat and let it cool at room temperature before refrigerating overnight.

•                Mash the beans in a large bowl. This can be done manually or mechanically using a blender or food processor.

•                Add the green onion, salt, lime juice, cilantro, flour, and egg, and stir properly.

•                Pour peanut oil into a skillet over medium heat and allow to heat.

•                Using a tablespoon drop the mixture bit by bit into the oil and let fry until golden brown, and then turn the other side for the same effect.

•                Remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain and serve with any topping of your choice.

This is by far one of the easiest recipes ever made, right? It can be enjoyed while entertaining guests or at the breakfast table with your family.  There is no way you won't score points with this recipe, as it has been around for a very long time, and aside its numerous nutritious values, it is quite delicious and easy to make. I hope with this little effort you now know how to make old fashioned bean cakes.

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Does Flower Pollen Help with Prostate Health?

Pollen extract is also called bee pollen. It is a great way to help naturally manage different health conditions that are linked to prostate and urinary health issues. There have been links to good prostate health and pollen.

Pollen, generally, has numerous nutrients that are great for the body. You can have access to antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids when you take pollen from supplements like Pure Encapsulations’ ProstaFlo, for instance. Keep reading to learn more!

Can pollen extract heal enlarged prostate symptoms?

Studies show that pollen extracts are capable of reducing the size of the prostate. It helps with combating the symptoms that come with an enlarged prostate. It makes sure that your prostate health is top-notch.

Some scientists are of the opinion that there are compounds in pollen that make the urethra relax. This means that urine can pass normally. It also helps the bladder to contract when urine is leaving the body.

Can pollen extract heal prostatitis?

These extracts are known to possess anti-inflammatory features. This is great in reducing the symptoms that come with prostatitis. Studies show that over 36 percent will be totally cured with this. Forty-two percent will notice a great improvement.

If you have this problem, pollen extracts may work, but you should first consider discussing this with your doctor.

Can pollen extract treat urinary tract infections?

It is common to see some men using pollen extracts to treat urinary tract infections, and it seems to be effective. If you have urinary tract infections that lead to increased urinary urgency and urinary frequency, you could try out pollen extracts.

Can pollen extract help on recover from prostate biopsy?

If you just underwent a prostate biopsy, pollen extract may help you to recover. This is because they have intense anti-inflammatory properties. This has made them an awesome option for those that had a prostate biopsy. This will stop complications that may rear their heads.

Sometimes, a prostate biopsy could lead to infection. You can use natural solutions like pollen extract to take care of this.

The fact that pollen extract is a hub of nutrients means that men that underwent prostate biopsy can take it to reduce the chances of complications creeping up later.

One complication that someone that underwent biopsy may face is trouble urinating. It can be so annoying. Why not save yourself the trouble and try out pollen extract?

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How to Keep Dogs Out of Vegetable Garden

We all love our dogs, but they always find a way to ruin our vegetable gardens. We all love our vegetable gardens too. We can't give up either, meaning that a compromise has to be reached. Are you looking for solutions on how to keep dogs out of the vegetable garden? We have created some tips that can help below.

5 Solutions of How to Keep Dogs Out of Vegetable Garden

They are not a fan of spicy things.

If you are looking for a home to keep dogs out of the vegetable garden, you should consider mixing powdered mustard with crushed dried peppers and spraying it in your garden.

Put it in your garden, and voila, dogs won't disturb it. It is great for those places that are dry. For wet places, it may not work well.

They don't like bitter things.  

If you are looking for how to keep dogs out of vegetable gardens, you should consider mixing coffee with oranges. This can work in places with excess rain. Put bitter orange on used coffee grinds. It won't dissolve, because bitter orange tends to be oil heavy when compared to mustard and pepper.

They don't like being poked.

You could set up a barrier to prevent dogs from entering your garden and causing havoc. This can also work for annoying diggers such as rat terriers and beagles. Dogs can't stand poky things. You can put spiky twigs in your gardens and in no time, the dogs will let them be.

They don't like other critters.

You can make use of animal decoys to chase off the dogs. You can go for coyotes, owls, racoons and so on. You can search online for helpful inanimate animal forms that can chase away your dogs. Before you know it, your dogs will be scared to go to your garden. Your garden will be able to breathe and live. We all know that our dogs trample on the bushes and destroy them.

They don't like showers.

Dogs are not fans of taking a shower. If you want to shower them, you will see them running away, as if you are about to harm them. If you have dogs like mine, shower time will not be easy. We have to pursue them before they agree to shower.

Since they hate showers, you can use it as an advantage to keep the dogs out of the garden.

There are other creative ways that can be used in keeping your dogs away from your garden. In some cases, you may win. In other cases, the opposite is common. Good luck either way! And happy gardening!

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How to Clean Artificial Plants

Artificial plants are a core aesthetic element in home décor – both interior and exterior. They add life and freshness to your space, so many homeowners are doing more of artificial plant touches lately. They are so well made that you may not be able to tell them apart from real plants. They are a great decorative accent that can instantly brighten and liven any space.

Artificial plants may not require water, but they certainly require cleaning to keep their best appearance. They need to be regularly cleaned to remove layers of dirt and grime from the surface. This will prevent them from fading.

A good thing about artificial plants is that once you are done cleaning, they look as good as new, and cleaning isn't difficult. You can clean your artificial plant in the following ways.

Dirt Removal

Start cleaning by removing debris, dirt, and dust from your artificial plants.

Run a paintbrush/ feather duster over it. A feather duster is light and effective at dusting off elements of dust and dirt from the surface of your plant. A paintbrush or feather duster is suitable for delicate artificial plants like silk. Get a paintbrush and start cleaning the plant from the top to prevent dirt from falling onto already cleaned foliage. Brush piece by piece. Use the paintbrush to clean the nooks of the plant. Cleaning with a paintbrush is the safest option and it is particularly safe for delicate products.

Use a damp cloth. Cleaning with a damp cloth is effective for removing marks and stubborn dirt from the foliage. Wipe each piece of foliage with a damp cloth, after which you can remove shiny water sheen using a kitchen towel. This method should be avoided for delicate products like silk, as it may cause the color to fade off.

Shower your artificial plant. This is great for silk plants. Rinse off the dirt from your plant and lay them upside down to drain out the water and air them. You don't need a special cleaner for this, just hose the dirt off.

Clean with compressed air. Spray compressed air along each piece of foliage. You are advised to do this outside because compressed air blows dust everywhere, so you should better that your plant outside for this.

Clean flower with salt. This is a much simpler and effective cleaning method for your artificial flowers. Pour salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake the bag vigorously for the salt to wash off the dust and dirt on the flowers, leaving them looking new again.

Drying

After cleaning your plant using any of the dirt removal methods above, you need to dry your plant. Dry the leaves, stems, and pot before keeping it back in position. Drying is especially important if you hosed or submerged your plant in water.

Plant Brightening

You can brighten your artificial plant by wiping the foliage with furniture polish. Dampen a soft cloth with furniture polish to wipe the foliage. You can use olive oil or coconut oil in place of furniture polish. This will keep your artificial plant shiny and beautiful.

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How to Prune Strawberry Plants

Sweet and juicy strawberries are one the simplest and fastest fruits to grow. They do not require rigorous maintenance to bud into succulent, edible fruits. Strawberry plants also do not require heavy pruning, but the light pruning needed is just as important as in any other edible plant.

It is important to prune strawberry plants, as it helps to stimulate strong growth, maintain the size and shape of the plant, and overall quality of your fruit. Strawberry plants put out runners that take a grip once in contact with the soil. You would want to leave your runners to grow if you want a strawberry patch. However, the new plants suck energy from the adult bush, leaving you with smaller or less desirable fruits.

To maintain a well-pruned, neat, and easily harvested strawberry patch, you should follow these pruning techniques.

How to Grow and Prune Strawberry Plants

1. Start Prunning in the First Year

Pruning should start early so that the plants can have quality growth. Pinch off the blossoms/flowers that form on the strawberry plant in the first year. Doing this will ensure that energy is stored for the plant to produce fruit for the next season. Also, remove weeds that may choke the strawberry seedlings before they are firmly rooted.

2. Trim Runners

Runners are shoots and trails sent out from each mother plant. These runners grow to be overbearing as they drain essential nutrients that should go to the main plant. For the strawberry plant to produce fruit (maximize production), you need to trim the runners.

Leave the first set of runners to grow until the space between the main rows is 12 inches wide. Remove all runners, leaving out 6 secondary runners from the first runner growth. Trace this by locating the main stem where the runners branch off, then pull it off carefully.

This is important so you don't lose control of the strawberry patch and to prevent the quality of the fruit from declining.

3. Root the Secondary Runners

Use runners to plant new plants. Realign the secondary runners from the first growth so that they are 10 inches apart. Tertiary (third set) runners soon start to grow. Press the stems and leaves of the secondary runners ½inch into the soil, securing them with bent twigs. This will serve as roots for the tertiary tubers, which will give off strawberries.

4. Pull of New Runners

New runners will soon begin to grow from the tertiary runners. Pull of these new runners that may form around the strawberries. This will help to maximize fruit production.

5. Old Growth Should Be Replaced With New Runners

You should dig up old/fading vines every 2 to 3 years and replace them with secondary or tertiary runners. This will help maintain and keep your strawberry patch productive.

Try Strawberry Oolong Tea

There is no better way to enjoy the goodness of tea than settling down to drink a cup of strawberry oolong tea. TeaSource infuses the goodness of luscious Strawberry and Oolong just for your satisfaction. A cup of Strawberry Oolong Tea by TeaSource is all you need to start your day.

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How and When Should I Prune Strawberry Plants?

In the summer months, juicy sweet strawberries are one of the best delights you could have. Although these plants do not need serious pruning as other berry bushes do, they require simple maintenance in the summer towards the end of the season as they grow.

The strawberry plants give out runners with plantlets at the end, which end up getting a root whenever they touch the soil. If you want your berries to grow in patches, then free the runners and let them grow.

But if you want these new plants to get their power from the adult bush, then you will end up getting smaller fruits that you may not like.

Tips for Pruning Strawberry Plants

First Season Pinching and Trimming Back of Strawberry Plants

Get rid of the flower stalks of the strawberries, which grew out in June. You should get more berries if you let the plants grow in size before the fruiting. Let the flowers get fruit for the period of the season. Get rid of the flower stalks patiently with your forefinger and your thumb, and try as much as possible to prevent spoiling the stalk of the strawberry plant.

If you’re not sure of the type of strawberry you are pruning, you need to ask any berry pruner around for you to be specific.

Trimming the Runners

Cut back the runners from behind. These runners are little shoots and trails from the main berry plant. Cut these back to the original plant. This is necessary, so the important nutrients are not drained. Some berry pruners prefer to allow the runners to remain on strawberries from June. These work also, but a lot of the strawberry patch could be lost in their control and the quality of your berries would decline at a high rate.

Runners could also be used. When the runner begins, it would start rooting. And after it has properly rooted, lose it from its mother plant.

Post Season Trimming

At the end of the season of production, the strawberry plants should be pruned back to the end. Trim them about an inch higher than the soil, then run the streets with a lawnmower. Arrange the mower high so the plants will not be ripped from the roots.

This would keep them productive through the pruning season. Settle down and prune roots that are damaged, and cut very long roots to about 5 inches.

Winter Protection for the Strawberries

After mowing the berry plants, to protect the berries from injury through the winter, a huge layer of mulch is necessary. If the plants are not protected, the low temperatures from winter could easily kill the buds of the fruit and destroy the crowns and roots.

And this is how and when you should prune strawberry plants.

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