Sourdough: The Final Frontier

My first sourdough loaf, crispy crust and simply beautiful...to me! My first sourdough loaf, sliced and waiting for butter! The starter is nothing more than 1/2 cup flour and 1/3 cup water mixed in this jar and the same amounts added every 12 hours until it starts to get that lovely bubble! Simple as that. Sourdough pretzels It's been a long time coming, bringing the fine art of sourdough leavening to our home. Now it's finally here, we are all excited at the new taste and nutrient adventures open to us! Traditional leavening means no reliance on store bought yeast and changes a loaf of bread into a giant vitamin B supplement with a plethora of other available nutrients.  It also neutralises whatever is aggravating about the grains, as they are soaked and treated in the age old way...and we LOVE age old ways maashaa Allah! As for my resource for the starter and dough recipe,  I used Nourished Kitchen, :

Summer 2014 Plans

We will be at Healing Earth from 28 June to 20 August 2014 inshaa Allah. During that time, we hope with Allah's Permission, Blessing, and through His Rizq and Mercy to complete the following:

• purchase a used stock trailer
• plant 100 tree seedlings (50 hazelnut, 50 Honeylocust)
• plant some quick growing vegetables for summer consumption like lettuce, spinach, etc.
• plant 2000 sunflower seeds around the perimeter of the 28 acre piece of land
• build 3 x 144 sq.ft. bathroom structures
• build a 200 sq.ft. kitchen structure
• build a 200 sq.ft. farm store
• build two of the four 200 sq.ft. barns we will need
• add playhouse, slides, hammocks, sand box, picnic area and more to the children's playground
• construct a combination football/soccer/rugby field

That is what we are focused on doing this summer. If you are wondering why everything is 200 sq.ft. or less, it is because no permits are needed for such structures.

If time and money permit, we would also purchase a 3000 gallon water tank, build 2 cob ovens, and put up a 2 1/4  acre fence around the barns. We pray that Allah enables us to complete these things and more.

Want to visit, learn a little, join our Ramadhaan studies, or help out? Drop us an e-mail on healingearth@ymail.com inshaa Allah!

Sustainability: looking at what's around you...

So much about sustainability is meeting your needs with what is available naturally around you. The state plant for New Mexico is the Yucca plant. We are in the northeast, where it is too cool to grow it without  greenhouse, but it is easily available from other areas of the state and can be bought in farmers markets.

I have just read these amazing instructions on how to make soap and shampoo from the Yucca root. Just HAD to share these links!

How to make soap from Yucca roots

Yucca root powder shampoo

Natural Gnashers, Choppers, or in plain talk, TEETH!

One of the major issues in personal care is dental health. While we have striven to avoid commercial toothpastes containing SLS, chemical, and artificial ingredients, it is only this past year that we switched to making our own toothpaste and tooth oil. As we are living in Madinah, Saudi Arabia for 10 months out of the year, we are limited in what we can obtain. I have come up with these recipes, based on what is available.

Tooth oil:

I used a tooth oil years ago that was excellent, but very expensive. It was simply a sweet almond oil base with spearmint and peppermint essential oils, in a specific proportion. Well, I decided to make my own tooth oil, obviously at a fraction of the cost, and after experimentation, changed the recipe to this. Please note that I make this in a small essential oil bottle - 10 ml I believe.

Base:

Coconut oil (this has proven benefits for oral health and we found it preferable over the almond oil)

Additions:

20 drops each of spearmint and peppermint essential oil
40 drops of sweet orange essential oil
5 drops of thyme essential oil
5 drops of 4 thieves oil (or the equivalent blend - we use Germ Killer)

These amounts can be adjusted to taste, and the oils can be changed to others that are also beneficial to oral and dental health. Simply put two drops of the oil on a wet toothbrush and brush teeth, gums, tongue, and roof of mouth thoroughly. Although this is perfectly safe to swallow, you will have brushed the toxins off your teeth and mouth and you will be swallowing those as well, so it is best to rinse your mouth out thoroughly afterwards. You will have wonderfully smooth teeth and fresh breath, inshaa Allah.

Our homemade toothpaste:

This is a real mix and match of recipes I saw online and what worked for us.

Baking soda (fill 1/2 of a 4 fluid ounce container)
Essential oils: 50 drops sweet orange oil, 20 drops peppermint, 20 drops spearmint, 5 drops 4 thieves/germ killer oil, 5 drops thyme...or oils to your needs/taste.
Raw honey - add honey up fill the 4 fluid ounce container to 3/4 full (in other words, 1/4 measure of the container/`1 fluid ounce)

Stir up and add a few drops of water (or coconut oil) to the desired consistency.


Other recipes:

I plan to make this once we can obtain the ingredients inshaa Allah.

http://thepaleomama.com/2013/12/diy-remineralizing-toothpaste/

Also:

http://healthylivinghowto.com/1/post/2014/02/ditch-your-toxic-toothpaste-10-diy-toothpaste-recipes.html

Toothbrushes:

As for toothbrushes, we still haven't given them up (old habits die hard) so since last summer we made a conscious decision to buy sustainable, good toothbrushes. We all use Radius Source toothbrushes -

even the baby, maashaa Allah.

That said, our goal is to become totally comfortable with the full time use of miswak, thereby having a totally natural toothbrush from the twigs of the neem or arak tree. This is, by far, the best toothcare option as we know the Prophet Muhammad - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said he would order us to use them before every prayer if it wouldn't be a hardship.

Oil pulling:

I have practiced oil pulling before and am looking into resuming it. While it is controversial as to how much it really does, aside from cleansing the mouth well, it certainly does cleanse the mouth well! You can find many resources on oil pulling, but one is here:

 http://pulling-oil.com/

Tooth healing:

We have looked at these reports and others like them:

http://thepaleomama.com/2013/11/how-im-healing-cavities-without-dentistry/

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2013/01/the-diet-that-heals-cavities.html

and plan to get these books this summer, inshaa Allah.

What we're reading in May 2014

This month is rather busy for us, as we finalized our Permaculture design project, are looking at the money available for the summer and prioritizing what needs to be done, and are trying to pack and prepare for our summer at Healing Earth. Reading has been very focused on what we need to know for the farm and preparing a new curriculum for our homeschooling. The girls are knitting gifts for their grandparents, who we will visit in England for 10 days before heading on to Healing Earth inshaa Allah.

 

 

 

The Healing Scents of Nature

Without repeating the same information that anyone can find on the Internet regarding the dangers of  artificial fragrances, we have eliminated such things from our home and lives maashaa Allah. This paragraph provides a brief summary of why.

"Synthetic musks, for instance -- widely used in perfumes, deodorants, and detergents -- have been linked to cancer. They can bioaccumulate, or store themselves in the body, and have been found in breast milk, which means that nursing infants ingest them. Research indicates that these musks don't biodegrade; they've been found polluting watersheds and the plants and animals that live there. Another worrisome class of chemicals, phthalates, are often used in fragrance because they allow the smell to last longer. They have been linked to changes in the reproductive and endocrine systems as well as in the liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands."

( http://www.wholeliving.com/133573/replacing-your-artificial-fragrances)

So for laundry we use ground soap nuts, which smell rather like pineapple, and grated Castille soap, which has only natural essential oil and plant extract fragrances. We wash with Castille soap, unscented or scented with essential oils. We make our own shampoo, boiling herbs suitable for our specific hair type, color, and condition, and using complimentary essential oils. We make all our own dishwashing liquid and household cleansers, using essentials oils of lemon, orange, or lime for grease-cutting properties and fresh scent. We also make our own toothpaste using essential oils.

Have you noticed a common ingredient in most of those things listed above? Yes, essential oils! So, when it came to finding a healthy and beneficial replacement for personal fragrances, we automatically started looking at natural essential oil blends. To start off, I ordered this set for hubby.

We have since seen this lovely set as well:

  

These blends were the perfect way to transition to natural scents without going through a lot of trial and error coming up with our own concoctions. The blends can be chosen on any given day or occasion for their therapeutic properties. For example, when hubby wants to feel energized, he puts on Energy and when he has a potentially stressful day ahead, he puts on Tranquility or Relax. Once these blends proved themselves to be a wonderful replacement for the synthetic fragrances, it gave me confidence to start making my own blends with similar base notes. I ordered a wider range of organic essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs and the Amber and Aphrodite oil blends for hubby for Eid.

Of course, in the long run, once we grow our own herbs, plants, and trees, we plan to distill our own essential oils, inshaa Allah. It is actually an easy process with fairly simple equipment maashaa Allah. In the meantime, we will make flower waters and infusions, inshaa Allah.

All Around the Mulberry Bush about Deodorant

Years ago we eliminated anti-antiperspirant from our lives; it is both unnatural and unhealthy. However, deodorant still has an important role in our lives, especially as we are still currently living in Madinah, Saudi Arabia and it is boiling hot here. Over our summer at Healing Earth, while the temperatures were pretty moderate we worked hard, so still sought an effective deodorant. We bought natural, eco friendly, safe, and healthy deodorants - all with variable and limited efficacy.

To address the issue, I went online and made one of the paste deodorant recipes with baking soda, cornstarch, coconut oil and essential oils. I later added some ground crystal rock and it worked well. However, it never lasted for a whole day.  So back I went searching for ideas for an improved deodorant.  And what did I find? That I wasted my time and should have just remembered my old friend who was allergic to all deodorant. She used baking soda. I rubbed a little under my arms and never looked back.

Next, we put it to a real test. My husband and the rest of the family used it during Umrah. 100+ degrees fahrenheit, crammed in the tawwaf with a few hundred other people, dripping with sweat, we went around the Ka'abah at 11:00 a.m. under the blazing sun. Seven rounds and then seven trips between Safa and Marwa holding a baby, before a long walk back to the car. We went back to our apartment and I immediately stuck my nose into my husbands sweaty armpit (yep, that's love) and it didn't smell like anything. I mean NOTHING. Amazed, my husband set out to test it in all manner of situations and even after a long day in the heat and sun, he was odor free at night. Baking soda, cheap, natural, renewable, and extremely multifunctional...the best deodorant we have EVER used, maashaa Allah...and we can brush our teeth with it (another post is due on our natural dental care),  wash our hair with it, clean with it, use it for laundry, deodorize the fridge and shoes, and make soda bread, too!

The Beauty of Cloth

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaikum wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatuh.

Ever read a single hadith about anyone having a paper napkin, paper towel, tissue, toilet paper, disposable diaper, flushable tampon, or disposable sanitary pad in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Well, I'm waiting. What? You cannot believe it? There isn't anything about Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) wiping up the mess with Bounty Extra-Strong? Nothing about Sumayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) digging a hole for her Stayfree with Wings? I guess you get where I'm heading with this then.

During the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), they used cloth for all these daily household and personal care things. The modern day "green" movement has already gone back to using cloth because, after killing off and wasting so many natural resources, it has become an environmental issue. Most of us know by now that the diapers and sanitary pads stay in landfills and don't decompose. We are simply filling up the earth Allah (subhaana wa taala) has entrusted to us with najiss (filthy) waste. How do we turn this thing around?

Napkins: Cloth napkins made from natural fibers such as cotton or linen. If you can, please buy them from a thrift or second hand shop like Goodwill. You will often find better quality and will put them to good use instead of them going to waste. You will also gain the reward of not spending more money than necessary, mashaa Allah. Better yet, use those extra sheets or cotton shirts and make your own; after all it's just sewing around a square of cloth. Recycling is an important Sunnah... yet another discussion to get to! I have seen some beautiful napkins at yard sales, etc. and have collected them from here and there, mashaa Allah. Some were given as gifts as well, so think of this when you need a gift idea for a family, newlyweds, or someone moving to a new home, inshaa Allah. Imagine how beautiful a gift they would make if you embroidered their initials, names, or small Islamic reminders of the etiquettes of eating on them! In our home, we have a nice little basket with napkins folded up in it and whenever they are needed, they are on hand. After use, they get thrown in with the laundry and are good to go again. We even take them with us on picnics with all our reusable plates, cups, and cutlery mashaa Allah.

Paper towels: Never let old cotton clothes, sheets, and towels go to waste; use them as cloths to clean. When it comes to cleaning, polishing, and wiping up spills, I have a big bag of cotton clothes that aren't fit for charity that I cut up and use. I never buy paper towels and the cloth is all natural cotton. Nothing beats a nice tube sock on the hand for wiping down cupboards and countertops...and since the odd socks keep turning up, our house is quite famous for our cleaning socks! When the cloth is dirty simply wash it, or if it is in a horrible state, throw it away or better yet, cut it up/shred the material and compost it. No more paper towel bills!

Tissues: Buy or make cotton or linen handkerchiefs. I'm stressing cotton because we really need to get back to natural materials and they are best for blowing noses on and being absorbent. I strongly recommend you look in thrift stores and yard sales for these simply because the old ones are exquisite, masha'Allah, The embroidery work, the designs, the workmanship... all are outstanding. My mother had a big collection of handkerchiefs she was happy to share with us. I also bought a big lot from e-bay and distributed them to my children. The girls all know which ones are theirs because they each have different designs. The "men" of the house have their own as well. They are washed, returned and we never have a problem about running out of tissues. Personalized hankies are a lasting, environmentally friendly gift that will last for years.

Toilet tissue/paper: Small washcloths or hand size towels for drying oneself. Have separate, color coded, marked, or named ones for each family member. As Muslims, we should use water to wash ourselves after using the toilet, so they are really for drying purposes only. There is also the practice of simply having a box of cut up cloths for single use in the toilet and another box or basket for them to be put in for laundering. This causes more laundry and, but is a great solution for those with small children and/or large families.

Diapers: Get cloth diapers. Get cotton, nice and absorbent, no allergy problems for your baby's behind, simply throw into a dry bucket and when you have a few, wash them with soap nut powder, a little homemade natural washing soap, or eco wash balls. You will never have to buy a disposable diaper again. I've done it and am currently cloth diapering, so I can advise about all the ins and outs of making it easy, inshaa Allah.

Baby Wipes: Use small baby washcloths or cut up soft cotton and a spray bottle of water. You may want to make up a concoction of water with a little aloe vera juice, a few drops of tea tree and lavender essential oils, and a 1/4 teaspoon of Castille soap. Spray and wipe your baby's private parts, then simply wash the cloths to be used again and again. Your baby will get used to being washed with water from day one, making istinjah a natural thing.

Sanitary pads: Hemp or cotton washable sanitary pads are comfortable, natural, and the Sunnah. Go read ahadith about it and you'll clearly see that the women simply used pieces of cloth to catch their menstrual blood. I bought mine 8 years ago, before I had my second daughter and I've never looked back since. They don't move around, they are comfortable and breathe, and mashaa Allah I haven't had to buy a single sanitary pad since that day. If you hate to see stains, then go for dark colors. For a discount on LunaPads, just send your order or questions to herbalummi@yahoo.com. For the sewing sisters, there are patterns online for ones with wings that you can sew up simply. You can even buy thick hemp knit material and just cut it to size. Looking for an even easier solution. Fold thick terry washcloths into three and use them. Believe me, it is simplicity itself. Just have a little bag to collect them in, wash them, and you are all set again. I have found that having my girls reuse outgrown t-shirts, pajamas, favorite nightdresses, etc. to make their own sanitary pads is a very nice project. It not only prepares them mentally and physically for the onset of menstruation, but it is fun and they get to choose different colors, patterns, and sizes to make.

Shopping Bags: Get strong canvas bags from thrift stores, freecycle, or unearth the ones hanging around your closet or basement and use them for your shopping instead of the plastic bags. They are stronger, can safely hold more, and not only save money but also the environment mashaa Allah.

Children's toys, doll clothes, and stuffing: My daughters have made many little dolls, doll clothes, quilts, and pillows from scraps of leftover material and the little bits or smaller scraps can be used to stuff them

Mashaa'Allah, going back to some of the simple living of the sahabah not only brings about a healthier lifestyle, but also saves the earth, puts a stop to the huge waste we perpetrate every day, and eliminates many expenses. You will find that you eliminate a notable amount in expenses by going back to cloth and making use of every scrap of cloth you have in your house before throwing it away. Remember that we must answer for everything we did in this life: our wastefulness, extravagance, the part we play in polluting and destroying the earth, and the distance we have put between our lives and the life of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him).

Homeschooling Health Lesson: Part 1

Thursday mornings are health lessons in our homeschooling schedule. Since all the children had some form of cold, cough, and/or sore throat my 7 year old got out the Natural Remedies book and I had her look up remedies for their ailments. Maashaa Allah, we had great fun making cough syrup with honey and onions, another syrup with honey and garlic, barley water mixed with lemon and honey, and then she and her sister took turns having a mint steam inhalation followed by a mustard foot bath! A real hands-on lesson that empowers the children to make their own medicines and a teaching opportunity that they much seek shifaa (healing) from Allah when they take the natural cures, as only He can bring about a cure. Al hamdul'Illah, it was great fun!

Kitchen Appliances for Living off the Grid

Living off the grid and reducing our everything footprint has led us to going manual in the kitchen. We had to look at the appliances that we have and use almost daily and find replacements that would do as good a job, or better. What I have in my kitchen is these:

These four appliances have served me for the past 6 to 11 years. They all carry rather a hefty price tag (which you can see if you click on the photos) and, in total, cost about $1,000.

When I looked for manual appliances, I found that they actually did more than my electric machines and produced a higher quality of food. The ones used the most are the stand mixer and the blender.

My stand mixer will be replaced by my hand, a whisk, and stainless steel hand beaters. I have already made it virtually obsolete. I spent last summer manually mixing and kneading in these stainless steel bowls. The sizes range from about 8 inches in diameter to about 18 inches.
  I realized that the stand mixer was not only unnecessary, but also had capacity limitations. I now have 4 bowls of varying sizes to prepare various things at the same time, rather than one fixed size bowl. I have also learned that spending the 5 minutes or so to knead the bread by hand produces better results.

As for the blender, this hand-crank blender is on the shopping list for this summer. At less than 1/3 the price of my existing blender we can do everything, including crushing ice and making smoothies.

However, because I grind flour, other grains, and make nut butters in my existing blender, I also got this mill for all our grinding needs. It stone grinds flour and grains and has steel burrs to make far superior nut butters without losing the nutrients from heat that the blender generates.

Both of these appliances together cost less than my existing blender and do more, with superior nutrient retention.

The centrifugal juicer was never the best of options because masticating juicers provide a higher quality juice with more nutrients in tact. This is my manual replacement for our juicer...a better juicer at around the same price, or less.

  
My food processor will be replaced with the stainless steel food mill...no more plastic and my food doesn't just get pureed, mashed, riced, but also skinned, cored, and seeded...a BIG plus.

Al hamdu l'Illah, the replacement manual appliances cost just half of the existing appliances and are built to last a lifetime.I may even be able to sell the existing appliances and totally cover the cost of the manual ones inshaa Allah. The deal closer on all this is the free workout and fit, firm upper arms we will have, inshaa Allah. No flabby upper arms at Healing Earth Ranch, inshaa Allah!