Witch Hazel and Mosquito Bites

This tip came from Erin:

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Have the mosquitoes arrived at your house?

You may already know this little tip, but it has been extremely helpful to us. We've been putting witch hazel on our mosquito bites within 30 minutes of getting the bite (the sooner, the better). It literally causes the bite to disappear, though not instantly. I got 3 big bites on my ankles last night. After applying the witch hazel, I completely forgot about them. When I remembered to check them several hours later, I couldn't even find where the bites had been!

Our bottle isn't anything special. I think it cost around $3 for 16 fl. oz. It looks like a bottle of rubbing alcohol and says, "distilled extract of witch hazel." I bought mine at Whole Foods, but I know I've seen it at Kroger in the first aid section. It's also supposed to be good to put on minor cuts and scrapes, although we haven't tried it for those purposes yet.

I hope this will help you and your kids have a more pleasant outdoor experience this spring and summer!

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I spray witch hazel on my face as an astringent (well, my whole body after showering - and it feels good!) I get mine at Drug Emporium for $1.75.

Countertop Fruit Fly Trap

Two weeks ago our home was invaded...by fruit flies. I think they came home on a bunch of bananas. They really like my kitchen. It's comfy here with kombucha, a compost bin, and wheat flour soaking.

Though these bugs are small, they pose a HUGE annoyance factor. We've found them in every room of the house. Argh!

Some would advise getting rid of the fruit, kombucha, compost bin and other countertop fermenting experiments. I'm not yet ready for that drastic step.

Enter the fruit fly trap.

Pour 1/2 inch apple cider vinegar in the bottom of a jar. Add a slice of banana. Roll up a piece of paper into a funnel then tap it to the jar, making a nice seal.

The flies go in - and can't figure out how to leave!

You can wait for them to drown or stash the jar in the freezer for a bit. Either way flies die.

Works for me with Real Food in my kitchen.

HT: Passionate Homemaking

Weston A. Price Foundation - Little Rock Chapter

“Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn't have recognized as food.”

I confess I don’t know who is originally credited with saying this, but it must have been a wise person. Just think about it, what would our great-great-grandparents think if they walked through a modern grocery store?

Our family decided several years ago to make some serious changes in our diet for the sake of health. We had no idea at the time how hooked we would get on “real food” and how unappetizing many things that we had been eating would become. My teenagers blanch at the words “fast food,” because they know how it makes them feel if they eat it and how much better they feel when they make better choices. Since we gave up a significant amount of modern foods and replaced them with traditional whole foods, we have seen much improvement in our health. Most notable have been the deliverance from seasonal allergy medications and from stomach remedies.

Recently, I made friends with several other women whose families have also switched to a traditional nutrient-dense diet. We decided we would love to connect with others in our area that are making or are ready to make the same kind of changes, so we activated a Little Rock chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) is a nonprofit tax-exempt charity founded in 1999 which is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the American diet. The organization promotes traditional whole foods based on the findings of Dr. Weston Price who extensively studied the diets of healthy nonindustrialized peoples during the 1930’s.

In addition to nutrition and food preparation education, WAPF supports organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock and community-supported farms. The Weston A. Price Foundational also encourages natural alternative health practices.

Our local chapter is developing plans for support meetings, workshops, nutrition education, and mentors. We want to connect you with local food providers, share ways to purchase good food economically, teach you to prepare nutrient-dense whole foods, and help you find local conventional and alternative practitioners who are supportive of your nutritional and healthcare choices. This is an opportunity for all of us to connect and learn with like-minded people. You are welcome at whatever stage along the path to healthy eating that you currently find yourself, even if it is just a glimmer of hope in the back of your mind. We’ll help you take the first step toward truly nourishing yourself and your family.

If you would like to receive e-mail notices regarding local WAPF events, be connected with a mentor, or you have questions about healthy eating and finding food locally, please contact me. I would be glad to help you.

Lisa Lipe lisa8@sbcglobal.net
Weston A. Price Foundation Little Rock Chapter Leader

Granola

Per the strong suggestion of my friend, Holly, I tried this soaked granola recipe. I just finished eating my second cup. It is really yummy. The only thing that would make it better is if I had some Brown Cow Maple Yogurt. As my hubby says, "Brown Cow makes everything better."

Before Holly encouraged me to make the above recipe, I was wary of soaking oats for granola - fearful it would be a flop. I will make this again...maybe before the week's end!

Where I Buy Food

Capitalism is one of the many things I love about America. Competition drives pricing and often gives the consumer so many choices. Sometimes too many choices.

Below is a short list of the things I frequently purchase, at the best price, or for convenience:

Kroger - almost everything

org.carrots, org.celery and org.peanut butter

all natural sour cream - Daisy brand

Whole Foods

10% discount if you buy a case (12) of something. Sometimes with coupons, this can make a good deal.

Reverse Osmosis water for kombucha (machine is near cash registers)

San J Tamari soy sauce

coconut milk

Brown Cow Yogurt, Cream Top - Maple is our favorite flavor

bulk spices, beans, grains

organic tortilla chips

nitrate-free pork: bacon, sausage, hot dogs

Organic Valley butter

org. frozen veggies

Asian Market (in same strip mall as TJ Maxx - Rodney Parham & Reservoir)

tahini, for huge batches of hummus

feta cheese

Drug Emporium (Rodney Parham & Reservoir)

Sprouted bread and tortillas, Food for Life brand

raw cheese

feta cheese

organic green tea

Brown Cow yogurt

Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar

rice pasta

coconut water for rehydration

Azure Standard - bulk ordering

produce - organic apples, pears

frozen spinach

bulk grains - quinoa, beans, oats, lentils, popcorn

glass jars, plastic lids

org. raisins, org. bulk nuts

Country Life - bulk ordering

I used to order from CL, but since finding Azure, I think for simplicity, I will only order from Azure.

sucanat

maple syrup

oats

quinoa

yeast

Meats, Eggs, Produce - Locally Grown

Arkansas Sustainability Network

Argenta Market in North Little Rock

River Market in Little Rock

Here's the same list in a pdf format.

What would you add to the list?