How to Harvest Aloe Vera Gel

As you may have noticed in my last post, I have an out of control Aloe Vera plant.

This grand old Aloe has healed our burns, amazed us by blooming and given us many pups over the years. However, it has grown into a gnarly, top-heavy plant that isn’t doing as well as it should.

I did a little research and decided it was worth the risk to cut the top off, replant it and hope that it re-roots. I asked my husband to move my aloe for me, and as he did, it toppled itself out of the pot and broke off a few leaves. Definitely time to take action.

The first step was to cut off the bottom most leaves and peel off any excess to leave a smooth stem. I placed it in a different pot and gave it a little TLC. Here it is, severely pruned and hopefully ready for its regrowth!

The next step was to harvest all that wonderful gel!!

Get a nice, sharp knife and make cuts along the edges to remove all those sharp ridges. After that, cut the leaves off the rounded side, then lay the leaf on the flat edge and fillet the gel.

I put all of this wonderful gel into a pint jar and placed it in the fridge. I believe it can also be frozen.

Aloe Vera gel is relatively inexpensive, so I’m not counting the cost here. However, I am grateful to have so much healing gel from an old family friend. 😉

🙂

Garden Mailboxes

Old metal mailboxes hold up well under all kinds of conditions and have many outdoor uses, where you need storage that stays dry.

I use an old one on the corner of my garden, for holding my gardening hand tools, twine, gloves, and other little miscellany that I want to keep handy while I’m in the garden. It’s not a new idea, but it’s a good one that bears repeating!

I also found an old wooden stand that was in really tough shape, but flipped upside down, holds my rakes and shovels as well!

The mailbox cost $4.00 at a thrift store and the stand I picked up for free during Clean-Up Week in our town.

Having tools handy during gardening saves a lot of steps, time and aggravation.

Hope you find this little time-saving tip helpful!

🙂

Investing in Seeds

If you are like me, you impatiently wait for seed catalogs to arrive in the winter, and then eagerly immerse yourself in the colored photos of beautiful flowers and mouth-watering fruits and veggies. (I also look at seeds online and I do my ordering online, but there’s just something so special about getting those catalogs!)

I browse all the seeds that interest me, including sales and clearance, loading up my virtual cart until it’s brimming. Then I look at the total. O_O

Sometimes, seeds can seem a little expensive. However, I like to think of it in the long term. If the seeds are not hybrid, I know I can save seeds from each planting and keep that initial “investment” going for years. If we have some extra money, I’ll go ahead and order a few extra seeds. I’ve used seeds that are 4 or 5 years old and gotten excellent crops, so I’m comfortable in getting ahead of myself and having a nice sized “stash”.

I also consider that starting my seeds and selling some plants can bring in extra money that can be “seed” money for the next year. (Pun intended!)

Thinking of all the possibilities, seeds are really a bargain!

When I look at all my seeds, I see life; beautiful flowers, delicious veggies, nutrition for us and our animals, and the promise of food, in good times or bad. 🙂

BENEFITS:

Inexpensive, nutritious food
Stockpile of potential food
Flower seeds that can be grown and sold
Veggie seedlings that can be sold or bartered
Saving lots of money on groceries

MONEY SAVED: I’m not sure how to quantify the savings on this. The cost of the initial pack of seeds goes down each year you save seeds and replant. If you sell enough plants to cover the cost of buying more seeds, your cost can go down to zero. It is a self-sustaining venture!

🙂

How to Freeze Horseradish

I LOVE horseradish. 🙂

I love the look of the plant, the smell of the root and especially the taste! Every autumn I can hardly wait to dig up a big chunk of the root and prepare it for freezing.

When we bought our home, I noticed some huge, strange looking plants in the corner of the lot, but I wasn’t sure what they were. As always, I asked my daughter, who identified them as horseradish. It took me a while to get brave enough to dig some up and use it, but once I did, I was hooked!

I harvest the root in the fall, after frosts have damaged the leaves. (Always leave enough of the root so it can continue to grow.)

All I do to prepare horseradish for freezing, is: scrub it, peel it, and grate it. It sounds deceivingly easy.

If you have ever grated horseradish, you know that you would be wise to employ as gas mask. I took the reckless route, grating the root by hand, in several short intervals, coming back to it when my eyes weren’t watering profusely and I could see clearly again. My final prize being a nice pile of horseradish for the winter and extremely clear sinuses!

Then I just spread it out on a cookie sheet and pop it in the freezer. When it’s frozen, I transfer it to a freezer bag and put it back in the freezer. It’s ready to use by the spoon-full, whenever I need it!

BENEFITS:

Having horseradish without preservatives
Raising your own
The “secret ingredient” in my potato salad

Jars of prepared horseradish are about $3.50 each and I have enough for about 3 jars worth.

MONEY SAVED: $10.50

🙂

Keeping a Garden Journal

The longer I garden, the more I believe in the importance of keeping a garden journal.

By keeping a garden journal, you not only keep financial track of what you’re growing, but you also keep track of your favorite seed companies, favorite plant varieties, yields, planting times, etc. It makes gardening just a little bit easier.

I started out by using a composition notebook that I bought at a thrift store for 10 cents. However, in anticipation of expanding, I am going to be moving my data to an Excel spreadsheet for easy access and the ability to make graphs. (I’m a bit of a graph nerd)

I’ll be able to track every variety of plant each year, the days to maturity, the yield, and the costs. Then, I should be able to extract each plant variety into a graph to see differences between years and if they are consistent performers, etc.

I like having a “Comments” section, because gardening has so many variables, it’s good to keep track of them. I’ll make note of things like diseases, pests, weather, any difficulties with seedlings, and so on.

Gardening is a lot of trial and error, but by keeping tabs on what happens, as it happens, it takes away some of the guess work.

I hope this helps you and please feel free to comment about any additions you would make to a journal!

BENEFITS:

Tracking what works and what doesn’t
Remembering the varieties you like the best
Keeping track of costs
Having a lot of knowledge and experience at your fingertips
Being able to pass your knowledge along to others

🙂

Free Flower Garden Border

As I was finishing work on a new flower garden, I decided I needed a border. It couldn’t be just any border…it had to be an awesome border! Most items I use in my back yard are natural, like wood and rocks, so I wanted to stay within that theme.

I looked through some decorative plates, that will soon be donated to a thrift store, (thinking that they are made of clay and clay is natural), but they just didn’t quite seem to fit.

Then, I went to the garage. Voila!

In a previous post, Be On the Lookout for Free Stuff, I showed a photo of these Terra Cotta pot liners. I had just enough to make a border, plus they fit with my natural (clay) theme!

I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I think this looks adorable! I have my vintage Irises up front, bordered by the Terra Cotta liners. Both of them fit together well in my mind, because I remember both out on the farm when I was growing up. Plus, it’s fitting to have flower pot liners bordering a flower garden!

Now, I have a personalized border that means something to me. It makes me smile and reminds me of my mom and my childhood! So much better than anything I could have gotten in a store!

BENEFITS:

Using something I found for free
Re-purposing items
Smiles and warm memories

MONEY SAVED: $10.00!

🙂

Seed Saving and Frugal Gardening

Seed saving is a frugal and empowering way to garden.

You plant a seed, care for it, watch it grow, enjoy your bounty and in the end, you are presented with more seeds, to start all over again.

You hold in your hands the circle of life!

For the price of one packet of seeds, you can continue growing that variety for years to come, just by collecting and saving the seeds. After the first year, I consider the seeds for each following year to be free because of the money I saved growing that veggie and not having to buy it in the store. Between saved seeds, free seeds and seeds I find on sale, my veggie garden costs me next to nothing every year. Plus, I can grow way more plants than I could afford to buy.

I have been saving peas and beans for years. The peas and beans are eaten by us and put into my homemade dog food recipe Doggy Stew, so those free seeds are paying big dividends.

You may also have friends, family or neighbors who grow outstanding varieties you might like to try. Trading seeds is an even cheaper way to garden!

Seed saving can also be done with flowers, of course. I grow a TON of Zinnias every year from saved seeds. I enjoy the bright, cheerful Zinnias and they attract lots of bees, that in turn, pollinate my veggies! I also grow Geraniums and Petunias from seed.

Some seeds need to be started indoors, prior to planting outside. Starting seedlings is a bit of trial and error, as anyone who has ever tried it, will know. In spite of a few failures and disappointments, it is the most amazing feeling to collect tomatoes from a tomato plant that reaches up to your chin, and know that you started it from a tiny seed! That feeling is worth a million bucks!

Speaking of tomato plants; they can be really expensive too. I saved big money this year by starting mine from seed , plus I had extra plants to give away and sell. So, I’m not just saving money, I’m also making money!

There are many good websites explaining how to collect various seeds, so I won’t go into that, but if you are excited to try, start with something easy like Zinnias, beans or peas. Beans and peas are easy to collect seeds from; just let them dry on the plant. When they are dry, crack open the pods and keep the seeds. Zinnias are easy too. Just cut the heads off the plant after they have lost their brightness and start to turn brown. If they feel a little moist, lay them on a screen (like in the photo below) until they feel dry. I keep mine in paper bags over the winter and come Spring, I break the heads apart and collect the seeds!

Take note: Hybrid plants are a cross of two different varieties. The seeds will not grow true to the parent. Save Heirloom or standard seeds to get the same variety you started with.

I hope I’ve convinced you to try some seed saving. I go a bit overboard with it, myself. I find it hard to throw dead plants when I know there are seeds there, free for the taking. I think to myself, “I can’t throw these, they will grow!”

BENEFITS:

Saving lots of money
Learning a valuable skill
Creating varieties that grow the best in your area
Sharing seeds with others
Sharing plants you grow from your seeds

MONEY SAVED ANNUALLY:

$235.00!!!

🙂

Saving Oxeye Daisy Seeds

I spent part of my morning harvesting spent heads from my Oxeye Daisies.

It was a beautiful morning.

Heidi was laying in the shaded grass, listening to the birds singing, reveling in the light, sweet smelling breeze as it blew across her and standing at attention whenever the sudden movements of a rabbit were within her line of vision.

I was doing much the same, as I was sitting on the front steps, picking through daisies, plucking the petals off the flowers and stripping the leaves from the stems. The thought of the thousands of seeds I was gathering was mind boggling and I couldn’t help but be excited by the possibility of all those future plants! It’s very empowering to know you can take seeds to produce more plants and when you’re frugally-minded, it’s also empowering to know how much money you can be saving!

To the best of my knowledge, these daisies are Leucanthemum vulgare, which are field daisies and naturalizing perennials. In fact, they are invasive. I started out with one small plant and this is what I have now.

They are even growing in the grass!

After stripping the leaves and petals from the flowers, this is what I end up with.

I then hang these bundles upside down in a paper bag and wait for them to dry out. When they are completely dry, all I’ll have to do is give the bag a pretty good shake and I’ll have the seeds gathered in the bottom of the bag!

BENEFITS:

Gathering free seeds from Mother Nature’s bounty
Keeping a variety of flower in existance
Enjoying nature as you harvest
Having seeds to share, sell, and grow

I’m not sure how to quantify the savings (or possible earnings) created by all these seeds, but seed packets are at least $2.50 per packet of 500 seeds and quarts of daisies can cost as much as $10.00 per quart. I am going to go with a moderate estimate and say I would save/earn $300.00 from all these seeds!

MONEY SAVED/EARNED $300.00!!!

🙂

Sharing Plants and Saving Money

If you’ve had perennials for any length of time, you know that dividing them helps them stay healthy and grow vigorously. Plus, you get extras to transplant, sell or share!

I always love getting mature plants from people. Mature plants from divisions are more fun than what you can get in the greenhouses, because there is always a story that goes with them! I love hearing how old plants are, where they came from and how they got to where they are today.

I have also found that people who sell or give away their extra plants are also willing to give a little growing advice along with them!

Last fall, I divided some irises that I originally dug from the homestead where I grew up. I’ve been growing them for over 20 years and they have followed us where ever we’ve have gone. Those Irises have grown in Minnesota, North Dakota, and soon some of them will be growing in Iowa!

Mom, me and the Irises!

As you can see, the irises have been growing for many years!

I have the opportunity now, to share some of my Iris plants with my daughter! She’ll be getting some of the Irises that her grandmother grew, plus some Day Lilies that I got from a friend about 15 years ago.

BENEFITS:

Established plants that have a history of growing well
Enjoying the company of other gardeners
Passing along plants from the family
Growing tips come with the plants
In this case, the plants are free!

Large buckets of plants are usually $15.00 + and I’m giving my daughter 6 buckets of a variety of large, healthy plants that are homegrown and mother approved. 😉 She’s saving lots of money!

MONEY SAVED $90.00!!

🙂

How to Make Fish Fertilizer

Fish fertilizer is fairly easy to make.

There are 6 steps, ranging from easy to queasy, but in the end, you will have a super food that your plants will LOVE!

Here are the steps:

Dig some worms, then grab your fishing rod and a bucket with a tight fitting lid. If you don’t fish, find someone who does and ask for their left-over fish guts. Yes, they will look at you like you’re crazy, but carry on and skip to step 4.
When you get to your favorite lake, put some lake water in your bucket, catch 3 or 4 fish (Sunfish work well in our area) and add them to the water in your bucket. If you catch some weeds, like I usually do, put those in too.
Enjoy the rest of the day fishing, listening to the birds and feeling the sun and breeze on your face.
Go home with your fish bucket.
Here comes the queasy part…grab a hatchet and chop up your fish. I take the fish out of the bucket place them on the ground, near my compost heap and chop away. Once you get past the first fish, the rest won’t seem so bad…..until you get splashed with fish guts. Might want to wear goggles. I’m just saying.
Shovel your chopped fish back into your bucket.

Now we’re ready for the Fish Fertilizer Recipe

Lake water (about a gallon)
3 or 4 fresh chopped fish
Browns…leaves, dead grass, sawdust (enough to soak up the water)
Molasses…about 1 cup (helps the mix ferment and keeps the stink down)
Epsom Salt…2 tablespoons to add some magnesium
Let it ferment for about 1 month, stirring or shaking the mix every 3 days.
After a month, it will be ready to use as a tea.
To make a tea, put 1 part fertilizer to 5-6 parts water in a bucket or watering can. Let this set for about a week, stirring every day. When you are ready to apply the fish fertilizer tea, water your plants a bit first, (just in case the tea is a little too strong) and then apply the fertilizer to the base of your plants.

After that, just set back and watch your plants grow!

BENEFITS:

Day spent fishing
Saving money
Making your own instead of buying
Self-sufficiency achievement points

You’ll be glad you went fishing in order to Make Your Own Fish Fertilizer and you’ll have saved a lot of money! 32 ounces of fish fertilizer sells for about $15.00. You’ll have a gallon (128 ounces) for the cost of a cup of molasses and some Epsom salt!

Money Saved $59.50!

🙂

Modest Marie's Frugal Living

Loving Simple Living!

Gardening

How to Harvest Aloe Vera Gel

Garden Mailboxes

Investing in Seeds

How to Freeze Horseradish

Keeping a Garden Journal

Free Flower Garden Border

Seed Saving and Frugal Gardening

Saving Oxeye Daisy Seeds

How to Make Fish Fertilizer

Now we’re ready for the Fish Fertilizer Recipe

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Now we’re ready for the Fish Fertilizer Recipe

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