About the Author
Marissa Ames
Articles by Marissa Ames
Growing Onions from Seeds or Sets
Beginners and master gardeners are successfully growing onions. Among the hardiest crops, they are almost foolproof.
Read More
How to Make Shea Butter Soap Three Ways
If you’ve already made soap from scratch, you know how to make shea butter soap. Just add shea butter, then alter the other oils for proper saponification, and you have a moisturizing and luxurious bar.
Read More
Why the Ball Canning Book is My #1 Guide to Safe Food Preservation
Add to Favorites What’s the best food preservation guide to buy? The Ball canning book is my most trusted source. And here’s why: The Ball Brothers started making jars in …
Read More
How to Make Green Soap: An Excursion Through Time
Ancient Syrians knew how to make green soap used by Queens Cleopatra of Egypt and Zenobia of Syria. It’s a timeless method that abounds today.
Read More
Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Soap’s Dirty Secrets
Sodium laurel sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. What do those terms mean? And will they harm you or the environment?
Read More
Old-Fashioned Lard Soap Recipes, Then and Now
Homesteaders cooked a lard soap recipe in kettles over fires. You can make it in your own kitchen.
Read More
How to Make Bath Bombs: An Easy DIY Gift
Often ball-shaped, bath bombs are dry, chalky, conglomerations that fizz and release fragrance when dropped in water. They’re sold as novelties, though additions like witch hazel and skin-friendly oils can add benefits.
Read More
Kids and Soap: Homemade Arts and Crafts for The Holidays
Winter holidays often involve cold weather, hot drinks, and homemade arts and crafts. It also means the kids are out of school for one to three weeks. What homemade arts and crafts can kids do, without risk of injury, that can also serve as holiday gifts?
Read More
Eliminating Weevils in Flour and Rice
Their little legs wriggled on my spoon. How harmful could they be? Casting my eyes to each side, I watched for approaching family members as I dropped the little bugs in the sink and stirred the flour.
Read More
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Mice
For the safest, most natural ways to get rid of mice, start with the most minimum impact and work up from there. I have a friend who insists on using only the level of protection necessary in a situation.
Read More
How to Make Castile Soap
Vegan, sustainable, and often organic, castile soap is highly sought after. Properties are comparable to soaps made with tallow, lard, or coconut oil but the bar made from olive oil ranks higher.
Read More
How to Make Oatmeal Soap: 4 Techniques to Try
You can learn how to make oatmeal soap within a few minutes of research. It’s one of the easiest and safest recipe additions.
Read More
Rat-Hunting Dogs: A Historically Organic Option
Got a rat problem? You can try traps, poisons … or rat-hunting dogs. This organic concept is the reason rat terriers exist today.
Read More
20 Easy Zucchini Recipes For Your Surplus
If you’re new to gardening, you’ve probably researched when to plant squash, how to grow zucchini and which zucchini varieties to choose, only to hear jokes about locking your car doors while at church or you’ll find your vehicle stuffed with produce.
Read More
Growing Potatoes in a Bag or a Bucket
Potatoes are almost foolproof. They’ll grow and produce as long as the soil is fertile, water is available, the sun shines, and the plant doesn’t freeze.
Read More