Organic Lawn Care / Issue #125 - April 16, 2008

Home Spa Lady's
Tips of the Week
Issue # 125 - April 16, 2008
Publisher: Marilee Tolen RN
mailto:marilee777@aol.com
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com/blog (Blog)
Home Spa Lady (TM)

Circulation: 2825


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Home Spa Lady ~ Simple Solutions for Self-Care At Home
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In This Issue
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1. Organic Lawn Care

2. Essential Oil Tip For Your Car

3. Success Tip: Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. Recipe of the Week: Cream of Dandelion Soup

5. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week


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1. Organic Lawn Care
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I love to see dandelions.

Not just because they are a beautiful yellow, but
because it is a sign of a chemical-free lawn.

When I walk my dog Prin this time of year and during the
warmer months, I always have to be cautious of where we are
walking and he is sniffing. I'm never concerned for him in an
area where dandelions are growing.

Lawns everywhere are treated with chemical weed killers,
fertilizers and toxic pesticides.

As much as I'm against using toxins on lawns, I do appreciate when
people take the courtesy to warn us with lawn flags that show
that area has been treated, but I can't trust that all people do
that.

If you want to keep weeds under control in your lawn without the
use of chemicals. . . surprise, surprise. . . essential oils can
help.

"Essential Oils for Organic Weed Control"

I'm not encouraging you to use your essential oils on your
lawns like we do on our bodies - because that could be
ridiculously expensive.

But I do want you to know that essential oils are being studied
for organic weed control, and there is a way to use them where
you won't break the bank.

A study has been done by the Appalachian Fruit Research Station
in West Virginia on the herbicidal effects of plant-derived oils
(aka essential oils).

Twenty five oils were tested for their herbicidal effects on
dandelion leaves.

The most effective oils found were:

--Red thyme
--Summer savory
--Cinnamon
--Clove

These were found to be the most phytotoxic - that means
inhibiting the growth of plants. (Learn more about the
study: http://tinyurl.com/pamx9)

Cinnamon had the highest herbicidal activity. This is
primarily because of eugenol, the main component in cinnamon.

Essential oils can be used directly on the weeds. Or they can
be added to other natural products such as herbicidal soaps,
to enhance their effects.

These soaps work by penetrating the waxy coating on plant leaves
and cause them to dry out.

If you are energetic and willing to spend a bit, you could create
a small mixture of dish soap and water and add a few of these
oils and spray on your lawn.

Doing this would give you a good chance of cutting down weed
growth and you would also be naturally treating the area for
fleas and ticks.

Here's a quick video (33 sec) on my recommendation of organic
dandelion control:

http://snipurl.com/pull_dandelions

A great website for organic gardening and lawn care:
http://www.natureswayorganics.com


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2. Essential Oil Tip: For Your Car
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I like to have essential oils diffusing in my car.

It is easy to do with a tissue in your vents or the
open baggie under the seat trick.

Watch this one minute, 45 second video on how you can do
this easily.

I highlight Purification and Lemon - it's a great combo.

http://snipurl.com/ess_oils_4_car

For more info or to order essential oils, contact your Young
Living distributor or go to: http://tinyurl.com/aenfp


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3. Success Tip: Ralph Waldo Emerson
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The prayer of the farmer kneeling in his field to weed it,
the prayer of the rower kneeling with the stroke of his oar,
are true prayers heard throughout nature.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson


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4. Recipe of the Week: Cream of Dandelion Soup
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Ingredients for Dandelion Prep

1/2 pound dandelion greens, washed well and drained well, roots
trimmed, stems chopped small, leaves chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chicken broth

--Prepare the greens
--Melt the butter
--Add the greens and stir to coat
--Let cook, stirring occasionally until greens soften
--Add stock and continue cooking


Other Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 carrots, diced small
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard (don't skip this)
1/2 cup whole milk or cream
Salt and white pepper

--Melt the butter in a saucepan
--Add the carrot and onion (put carrot in first since it takes
longer)
--Cook til softening but not browning
--Stir in the flour, creating a heavy paste
--Stir in milk a tablespoon at a time incorporating completely
into the paste before adding more
--Let cook for 2 - 3 minutes (this cooks out the floury
taste) and until completely hot

--Pour the greens and the white sauce into a blender and process
til smooth
--Return to the saucepan
--Stir in mustard and cream and season to taste
--Heat through (don't let boil) and serve


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5. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week
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Garden Humor: Really Bad Puns

--My wife works over-thyme in her herb garden before she decides
it is time to cummin.

--Don't expect a bonsai tree to grow the miniature planting it.

--I will cut the grass only when I get Mowtivated.

--The research assistant couldn't experiment with plants because
he hadn't botany.

--Old gardeners never die they just vegetate.

--Gardeners like to plant their feet firmly.

--If you're a gardener you might call yourself a 'plant manager'.


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Where to Meet, Hear, or Learn with Home Spa Lady:

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June 11 - 14, 2008

Rise to Excellence
Young Living Essential Oils Convention
Salt Lake City UT


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Want to know about my new ebook?

Great for holistically oriented health care
professionals with a practice!

Look at the 99 testimonials on this page -
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http://snipurl.com/8_steps_ebook


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Reprinted from "Home Spa Lady's Tips of the Week," a free
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Marilee Tolen RN
a.k.a. Home Spa Lady
marilee777@aol.com
Phone: 856-857-1799 (East Coast)