My natural cleaning products arsenal. Baking soda, castile soap, borax, washing soda, and essential oil are used in this recipe.

I was never a big fan of store-bought laundry soap, but I used it grudgingly. I was finally motivated to make my own when we learned that “regular” laundry soap couldn’t be used on our soon-to-arrive baby’s cloth diapers. The prospect of constantly buying the “special” cloth diaper soap didn’t appeal to me, especially since what made it special was (apparently) the lack of chemicals and other artificial stuff that would junk up the diapers.

Regardless of what you’re washing, this soap works wonderfully well. It’s a relief to know that you’re not adding phosphates and other nastiness into the water supply, and I enjoy the fact that you’re not left with a cloying smell on your clothes.

This makes enough for about 100 loads (a little less if your clothes are extra-dirty). Recipe adapted from “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Urban Homesteading.”

You’ll need:
5 gallon bucket
3 gallons water
1 cup baking soda
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
2 cups liquid castile soap
20 drops essential oil for fragrance (optional)
*Note: Wearing gloves is recommended whenever you’re mixing something that contains washing soda or borax. Be sure to keep this out of reach of children and away from pets.

Place the baking soda, washing soda, and borax in the bucket. Add 1 gallon of hot tap water, and stir until the powder dissolves. Put the remaining 2 gallons of water into the bucket. Add the soap and the essential oils. Stir. After 2-3 days the mixture will become gel-like (although you can use it immediately). Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry (a little extra for especially dirty loads).

[How to make cloth diaper soap.]

This month’s theme for MaryJanes Farm Magazine was ‘Smitten’ so what a wonderful time to talk about certain plant’s love for one another in the form of companion planting.

Tomatoes seem to be the biggest romantics of the garden … pairing well with many.  I plant marigolds near all of my tomato plants since they help keep pests at bay.  They are also a great  reminder that those teeny-tiny little tomato seedling with grow into very large tomato giants – so be sure to give them room to grow.  

“Plant companions can also help by depositing need nutrients into the garden.  For example, while most vegetables take nitrogen out of the soil, legumes (like peas and beans) are nitrogen-fixing — meaning they deposit nitrogen as they grow.”

Check out the April / May edition MaryJanes Farm Magazine for more from Sundari about companion planting in your urban garden.

Pick it up from your local newstand or subscribe here.

North West Denver Timebank Meeting
Wednesday, May 2nd 6:00 pm
DPL, Smiley Branch, downstairs

The Denver Foundation’s Strengthening Neighborhoods committee has given a grant to start a North West Denver Timebank.  A ‘timebank’ is where hours of time and skills are traded — know how to change the oil in a car but not sure how to clean your gutters?  Head to the time bank and trade some skills.

This timebank is open to all members of the North West Denver community (between Sheridan, I-70, I-25 and Colfax ave) and is a real chance for us to create a viable secondary economic system, to further strengthen our local economy.

They will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, May 2nd from 6-7:30pm in the Smiley Branch library’s community room (downstairs). 

This meeting is to discuss timebanking, barter, barter exchange, and plans for what we have in store for the North West Denver Timebank.

If you would like more information about timebanking, barter or barter exchange before the meeting;  here are a few links to some helpful articles and links.

Time.com Business article

BBC News article

Yes Magazine article

Definition of barter on Wikipedia

We get all sorts of questions surrounding sustainability … What does it mean?  What are the best ways to go about it?  Does your whole life have to change?  Well, now you can hear the answers to those (and many more) questions.

Sundari was interview last fall on the “Green is Good” radio show.  It’s a very easy going yet informative way to learn more about Denver’s favorite urban farmer and pick up some sustainablility tips and tricks. 

“Green is Good,” hosted by Electronic Recyclers International’s John Shegerian and Mike Brady, is America’s No. 1 green radio show that features people and organizations that are making a green difference. Join John and Mike as they discuss go-green initiatives, green-collar jobs, sustainability practices, environmental issues, recycling, reuse and more with some of the green world’s most influential people.

Click here to listen and to learn more about how Sundari got involved in the sustainability movement and urban homesteading.

The 2012 Season is here!  And Heirloom Gardens is looking for urban farmers!

Heirloom Gardens is an urban, multi-plot garden. We grow everything organically, with no chemicals or synthetic fertilizers. We specialize in heirloom vegetables and herbs.

Volunteers can participate in all aspects of the garden, including seed starting and greenhouse care, digging and soil amending, transplanting, weeding and watering, harvesting, packing food for delivery and for market, selling at the Farmer’s Market, website maintenance, and marketing.

We are always accepting volunteers.   Click here to become a volunteer.  

Heirloom Gardens is currently planting on six lots in Northwest Denver (around I-70 and Sheridan), with the potential to expand into more space this coming season.

Our work season runs from mid-March through mid-October. We’ve had a tremendous response from the community, and we’ve currently reached our capacity for Working Members (Apprentice’s).

Please email me  if you have any questions.  We would love to have you join our growing local food movement and help produce wonderful organic food for the community.

It was looking a little sad when our activity began (note the fallen sidebeam).

Brigitte got to work — cementing the joints together so that our little greenhouse will (hopefully) hold together and shelter the seedlings.

In the meantime, another group of urban farmers was working to clean and sterilize the seed trays and pots. Any plant disease lingering from last year’s seedlings could affect this year’s plants, so we needed to get everything cleaned up and ready to go.

Lexi and Brigitte working to cover the frame with plastic sheeting and secure it with snap clamps.

Now that the pots are clean and the greenhouse is covered, it’s time to move the tables in…

Jordan and Brooke getting everything set up inside. Ela was supervising the work from above.

It’s much warmer (and less windy) inside the greenhouse.

Our awesome crew of urban farmers — Beth, Brooke, Ela (in arms), Ingrid, Brigitte, Jordan, and Lexi. What a wonderful way to start the season!

That’s right!  Denver’s own Sundari Kraft!  Sundari writes the magazine’s Urban Homesteading column that each issue will discuss sustainable living.  Each MaryJane’s Farm issue has a specific theme and this issue’s theme is ‘Folklore.’

Here’s a taste of Sundari’s article about planting a windowsill herb garden … “No matter how stormy it is outside, urban homesteaders can enjoy flavorful harvests by planting a windowsill herb garden. Herbs have a variety of uses in the kitchen, in teas, and even as part of a relaxing bath. Plus, herbs have acquired some interesting folklore during their centuries of cultivation by humans…”

Who knew that Chamomile is “thought of as bringing luck with money.”  Check out this month’s article for many other herby folklore.

New to Mary Jane’s Farm Magazine?  Here’s what Deborah Needleman, former Editor of House & Garden magazine and current Editor-in-Chief of Domino magazine, had to say:

“MaryJanesFarm is charming and well done—hugely appealing. It is homey, and smart and interesting … part Martha Stewart Living, part Oprah magazine, part Organic Style, part Nation, part Ladies Home Journal … full of tips, ideas, and information.”

Click here to find out more about how to subscribe to Mary Janes Farm Magazine.   Or you can check them out on their Facebook Page or blog.

Intro to Getting the Most Out of Your Home Garden
Tuesday, February 21, 6-7 pm
College Hill Library, L 211
Free Event

If your yard is anything like mine it still has patches of snow but it’s not too early to start thinking about planting!

Whether your home garden is 50 or 500 square feet, you can make the most of it. Learn
easy-to-use techniques for maximizing your vegetable production. Many of the gardeners
who started utilizing these techniques found they could grow twice as much food as they
had in previous years, just by making a few simple changes.

Some topics to be covered include:

Creating a master plan for the season
Soil preparation
Succession planting
Optimal plant spacing

Call the library at 303-658-2603 to register.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

Seen in the window of Mouthfuls, our local ultra-popular pet supply store.

“My car is being taken over by squash!!” exclaimed a Farm Apprentice (and that was just one garden worth)  “I am addicted to your arugula” admitted one NSA Member.  “Your kale is the best!” declared a Farmers Market customer.  “These cherry tomatoes never even make it home … I eat them as I walk” divulged a NSA Member.

These are just a few things I have heard and now it’s your chance to make these statements too.  That’s right — the Heirloom Gardens 2012 NSA shares are here!

To secure your share, please complete this Registration Agreement.   Once we receive your completed registration agreement and your payment you are locked into a wonderful season of eating!  Our shares are first-come first serve — so don’t delay!

Here are a few things to expect with your NSA share ~ ultra-local, ultra-fresh produce weekly, unique heirloom vegetable varieties and bold ways to prepare your veggies.  Take a look at our NSA page on our website for a few examples of some of  our 2011 harvests.

Our NSA members are always our priority when we harvest, receiving the best the farm produces in each week.  Take a look at what you have to look forward to this season. The 2012 Heirloom Gardens harvest season runs for 20 weeks, from May 31st – October 11th.  Eating locally is, by definition, eating seasonally, so we will only produce food in time with nature’s calendar.

Heirloom Gardens offers Regular NSA Shares, which are meant to feed 2-3 people. The cost for a 20-week regular share is $450. The NSA pickup will be held on Thursday afternoons between 4:00-7:00pm, May 31st through October 11th. The pickup location is in NW Denver, near I-70 and Sheridan (exact address will be sent to NSA shareholders).

NSA members are welcome to make an appointment to come by and visit the garden sites anytime. They are also welcome to join our volunteers in the different farming activities – including seed starting, transplanting, fertilizing, weeding, and harvesting. Click here if you would like to volunteer.