Green Living

How to Make Your Own Fairtrade Mango Chutney

Mango chutney is a tangy condiment that goes well with Indian curries and other dishes.  Making your own can be very satisfying as well as tasty, and if you use fairtrade ingredients, it can be even more satisfying.  You can give this as a Christmas or housewarming gift, too. For 4 cups of fairtrade mango chutney, you will need the following ingredients, fairtrade certified: -4 pounds fresh, ripe mangoes (about 4) -1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped (use fresh, peeled ginger if you can't find fairtrade candied ginger) -1 small, sweet onion, chopped -1/4 cup raisins (use golden raisins if you want to make the chutney more uniform in color) -1 clove garlic, minced -1/2 cup apple cider vinegar -1 cup pineapple juice -1/2 cup evaporated cane juice or Sucanat (these are usually fairtrade certified sugars; fairtrade white or brown sugar can be used as well) -1/4 teaspoon ground cloves -1/4 teaspoon nutmeg -3 teaspoons curry powder -1/4 teaspoon kosher salt Put the sugar, pineapple juice, and vinegar into a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and add the rest of the ingredients except the mangoes.  Cook at a low simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. While it's cooking, peel the mangoes.  This is best accomplished with a thin paring knife.  Run the knife carefully down the ...

Natural Ways to Stop a Sunburn From Peeling and Itching

A sunburn can be a nasty experience.  A bad one can give you chills and a fever, not to mention terrible pain.  A mild sunburn can still result in blistering, itching and peeling. If you've accidentally stayed out in the sun too long, there are some things you can do that can help reduce itching and peeling.  Most of these treatments are inexpensive and all of them are natural - you may even have some of them in your kitchen cabinets or pantry. First, be careful with that burned skin - don't use soap, washcloths, or do any scrubbing in the shower.  Wash your hair upside-down under the bath faucet to avoid shampoo running over your sunburn.  And when you get out of the shower or bath, pat your skin dry with a soft towel - don't rub. * Tea - Tea, green or black, has skin-soothing properties and has been known to stop relieve sunburn itch and prevent peeling.  Black tea seems to work the best, or you could use a combination of green and black.  Brew a quart or so of strong tea, pour it into a lukewarm bath, and soak. * Baking Soda Bath - Baking soda can be very helpful ...

Some Beneficial Insects You Should Know About

Organic gardeners want to control insect pests in way that is not harmful to the environment.  Spraying poisonous chemicals on infested plants is simply not an option they are happy with.  Instead, they use natural pest control methods such as increasing the number of beneficial insects in the garden.  Beneficial insects will eat the harmful bugs and over a period of time a healthy balance will be achieved.  Here are some of the most common beneficial insects you may find in the garden. The aphid midge resembles a very small, delicate wasp. In the larvae or caterpillar stage it gorges on more than sixty species of aphids.  This beneficial insect is found naturally throughout North America and is also available commercially from nurseries and garden supply companies. Minute pirate bugs prey on thrips, spider mites, small caterpillars, immature leafhoppers, and insect eggs.  Adults have a distinctive black and white pattern on the back. They occur naturally throughout North America and are also sold commercially. Ladybugs are not only pretty to look at, they are very helpful in the garden.  Both larvae and adults consume harmful aphids, scales, mealybugs, and other small insects.  Ladybugs are at home just about anywhere in the world.  They ...

How to Keep Deer Out of Your Garden

You will find many species of deer living throughout the United States and Canada.  Gardeners in rural locations or close to a wooded area often observe these animals near their property, especially early in the morning or late in the evening.  Although deer are lovely creatures, they can munch through a lot of greenery in a short time.  In fact, they can be a disaster to your garden.  Fortunately, there are ways to discourage them from coming around without harming either the animals or the environment.  Here are some useful tips for keeping deer away from the garden. The most effective way to stop deer from visiting your garden is to put up some type of barrier.  A short wall or a fence won't do the trick, though.  You will need a solid wood or stone wall around six feet tall that conceals the garden from passing deer.  If you don't like that idea, a wire fence about 8 to 10 feet tall may discourage deer from trying to get to your plants.  Another option is lay wooden pallets down on the ground, because deer don't like stepping on or jumping over such objects. Some gardeners deal with a deer problem by ...

Tips for Controlling Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Plants

No matter how well you treat your plants, some of them may be attacked by a bacterial or fungal disease.  Left unchecked, such diseases can weaken or kill plants.  Even worse, the infection can spread through the garden and cause further damage.  That's why it is important to be on the alert for signs of disease and to take immediate action when necessary.  Here are some guidelines for preventing and controlling bacterial and fungal infections using organic methods. Keep garden clean Plant debris can harbor all kinds of harmful bacteria.  Get rid of the debris and you will get rid of the source of bacterial infection.  It's vital to keep the garden area cleared of dead leaves, flowers, and other organic matter that naturally builds up over time.  At the end of the growing season, you should do a big garden clean-up and then dispose of all leftover plant debris.  Material from healthy plants can be composted.  Material from sick plants should be disposed of in the garbage or burned to ashes, which can then be composted safely. Keep tools clean Dirty tools can be hazardous in the garden.  Bacteria or fungal spores from a sick plant can passed from one location to the ...