I simply loved Elder Ballard's parable of the heirloom tomato plant this conference and it got me thinking about self reliance. Elder Ballard's talk
"I am reminded of a sweet seven-year-old showing her grandfather a small tomato plant she had started from seed as part of a second-grade school project.
She explained that from one tiny seed would come a plant. And if the plant were cared for, it would grow many tomatoes that would each have many seeds.She said, “And if all of those seeds were planted and grew more tomatoes, and you planted all of those seeds, in a few seasons you would have millions of tomatoes.”
“All,” she said in amazement, “from one little seed.”"
Self reliance is not just a temporal principle, but a spiritual one as well. The difference that just one tomato plant can make, if we are willing to do the work, is amazing. From small things, great things come to pass. So here I am encouraging you all again to give gardening a try. Not only will it feed you this summer but can feed you throughout the next winter. Just last night we had puree soup I bottled, yummy bread and grape juice, all thanks to our garden and food storage.
There are countless lessons naturally taught by gardening, countless possibilites to teach and to testify to our children while they plant, water, weed this spring and summer. Alma 30:44 ...all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
So plant a garden, plant tomatoes and reap all of the amazing blessings that will surely follow by becoming a little more self reliant.
Penny Pinching Tips to Help Fund Your 3 Month Supply
Here is my magic list of 10 essential green & thrifty cleaning products:
white vinegar
baking soda
lemons and/or lemon juice
salt
olive oil
Ivory bar soap
liquid dishwashing soap
washing soda
borax
essential oils (I like lemon, lemongrass, & eucalyptus)
3/4 c. baking soda
juice from 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 c)
3 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons liquid dishwashing soap
1/2 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients together in a medium bowl to make a paste; use scrub brush or sponge to apply to tub, shower walls, & sinks. (Be sure to test a small area to make sure paste does not scuff tub surface; if so, eliminate the salt from the mixture! Rinse well with water and a wet rag, then dry with a clean rag or old towel.
2. Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil (optional)
Turn off flow valve to toilet & flush 1 or 2 times until water is drained. Pour in baking soda, then slowly pour in vinegar, being sure to get vinegar to cover as much of the bowl surface as possible, then add essential oil. The baking soda will react with the vinegar–this is normal! Use your toilet brush to scrub surface & remove any rings or stains. Turn water back on and flush.
3/4 cup olive oil
juice from 1/4 lemon
1 tablespoon vinegar
3-4 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Dampen rag & squeeze out excess water. Dip damp rag into furniture polish, the wipe on surface of furniture. Buff off with an old dry towel. Can also be used to polish stainless steel!
4. Glass Cleaner
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
5-10 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar, water, & essential oil together in spray bottle. Spray on glass & use squeegee, crumpled newspaper (Tip: use newspapers that are at least 2 weeks old to avoid black fingers!), or a lint-free rag to get a streak-free shine. Also works well to shine chrome and countertops after you’ve disinfected them.
5. All Purpose Cleaning Spray
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
1 teaspoon dishwashing soap
1 cup vinegar
4 cups hot water
25-30 drops essential oil (optional)
Whisk all ingredients together well in large bowl, then pour into spray bottle. Spray on, then wipe surface clean with a damp cloth. Can be used to clean and disinfect almost any surface!
6. Stainless Steel Cleaner
2 tablespoons baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups warm water
Mix ingredients in spray bottle. Mixture will foam up; when it stops bubbling, put on cap and spray stainless steel surface, then wipe clean & dry with lint-free rag. To add extra shine, use furniture polish above.
7. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup baking soda
1 cups borax
1/2 cup salt
vinegar (add to rinse compartment!)
Mix first three ingredients well & store in airtight container. To use, add 1 tablespoon to each of the 2 compartments in your dishwasher and 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your rinse compartment.
8. Floor Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
8-10 cups hot water
1 tablespoon borax
1 tablespoon washing soda
30 drops essential oil (optional)
Mix vinegar & baking soda together in bucket; add hot water, Borax, washing soda, & essential oil and mix until all powder is dissolved. Use mop or sponge to wipe down floor; wipe dry with clean dry towel.
9. Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar Ivory soap
1 cup borax
1 cup washing powder
This homemade laundry detergent is so cheap and easy to make that you will kick yourself for not trying it until now. Place Ivory soap in a large microwave safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 2 minutes, until soap turns to foam. Quickly stir foam until it becomes small soap chips, then mix well with borax and washing powder. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight container. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. (Tip: This detergent works best in warm or hot water; for cold water washing you may want to first dissolve in 1/4 c. of hot water.)
10. Fabric Softener
vinegar
essential oil (optional)
Add 1/4-1/2 cup vinegar with several drops of your favorite essential oil to the rinse cycle (or simply place in fabric softener compartment of your front load washer.)
So that’s it….10 ingredients mixed up 10 different ways to create 10 different cleaners.
Now to give credit where credit is due. I got this list from www.livingwellspendingless.com
God bless you in all your efforts.
