I want to avoid putting as many chemicals as I can onto myself and my family.  This is the recipe that works best for us.

What You'll Need:
4 Tablespoons unrefined coconut oil
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
4 drops tea tree oil (or other essential oil of your choosing)
glass jar with a lid, or empty deodorant stick

In a small bowl mix coconut oil and arrowroot powder by pressing the two together with the back of a fork or spoon until well combined.  Add essential oils.  Store in an airtight container and apply a small amount to each armpit with your fingers, or, refrigerate the mixture and scoop/press into an empty stick deodorant container.  I use tea tree oil because of the natural antibacterial abilities it has, but play around with your favorites to find one you like best.

Please note that this will stop odor but  is not an antiperspirant.  You will still sweat, but you won't stink. ;-)

Coconut oil melts at around 72 degrees so if your bathroom is on the warmer side you may want to keep your deodorant in the refrigerator.  Our medicine cabinet seems to stay pretty cool so we have not had any issues with melting deodorant as of yet.

Coconut oil is easily and readily absorbed by the skin.  You should not have any worries about oily stains or such on your clothing.

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This is our first year having a real garden.  We've grown vegetables in the past but this year's garden makes those attempts seem laughable.  In the past we have simply dug up a small plot, and I do mean small, like, flower bed small.  This year our main garden is 50 ft x 20 ft! We've been tilling, and fertilizing, and starting seeds in anticipation.  We still need a fence to keep the deer away.  Here is some of our progress in photos.

Some time ago I bought a bag of soy flour to add protein to some of my baked goods.  Today, I was inspecting the bag and found a recipe for making your own soy milk.  It is actually quite easy!

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil.  Slowly stir in 1 cup of soy flour.  Simmer on low for 20 minutes.  Line a colander with a tea towel or several layers of cheese cloth over top of a bowl large enough to collect the liquid. Strain the mixture to remove any lumps.  You may add flavors or sweeteners to your soy milk.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy!

Vinegar is an incredibly useful and inexpensive must have in any home.  Don't let the stinky smell steer you away.

1. Window cleaner - mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  
2. Fabric softener - pour 1/2 cup white vinegar into your washing machine's fabric softener dispenser or add to the rinse cycle
3. Sunburn - Soothe sunburn with a spray made of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water.
4. Clean coffee pot - remove stubborn stains from the carafe by swishing 1/4 cup white vinegar around in it then washing.  Also to clean the inside of your coffee pot mix 1/2 cup vinegar with enough water to fill your pot and run through coffee maker.  Run clean water through once more. 
5. Dishwasher rinse - For spot free glasses fill your dishwasher's rinse aid compartment with white vinegar.
6. Hair conditioner - In the shower, rinse your hair with white vinegar for shine and softness.
7. Stop stings and bites - Using a cotton ball dab white vinegar on insect stings and bites for instant relief.
8. Kill unwanted weeds and grass - Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray onto unwanted weeds and grass in your garden.
9. Polish chrome fixtures - Shine up those faucets by dabbing white vinegar on a cleaning cloth and wipe down chrome fixtures.
10. Facial toner - Depending on your skin type use either diluted, or undiluted vinegar on a cotton ball in place of a commercial toner. (keep away from eyes)  I have found that this keeps my 30 yr old acne at bay too by creating an acidic environment where bacteria can not thrive.  

I hate wasting fresh produce.  Well, I never really waste it as it always goes to the worms anyway, but I still hate throwing it out.  Did you know you can regrow your green onions and have them available for quite a long time?  Mine have been going strong for three weeks now.  They also add a bit of greenery to my kitchen, which is always nice.

• 1 bar Fels-Naptha .99
• 1 cup Borax $3.49
• 1 cup Washing Soda  $3.49

My husband and I try our hardest to feed our children and ourselves the healthiest foods available. This often comes with a high price. Choosing organic and natural foods definitely comes with a higher price, but we believe paying the higher prices now will save us money in the long run. By choosing to eat better we are healthier and require less medicines and doctor visits.

The space between the wooden stakes will be our garden.