The Paleo Mama

Homegrown and Handmade

Natural Living

Homemade Baby Powder

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Homemade Baby Powder

Sometimes you just need a dry barrier on your little ones bums and making your own homemade baby powder is so easy. Plus, the store-bought baby powders have TALC in them. Let me tell you about talc….

Think asbestos. 

Think cancer.

Don’t believe me? Go to Cancer.org and see for yourself. Breathing in talc is TERRIBLE for your lungs and your putting it on a baby’s genital area, is even worse. 

Now, now– don’t go feeling all guilty on me and start thinking you are a bad mom. You are now an informed mom, so you can make the changes you need! 

This recipe is simple, easy, and nourishing to your baby’s bottom and it’s cloth diaper safe (see my cloth diaper system HERE)! 

If you have a really irritated bum, then you might want to try my Healing Salve or Tallow Butt Balm recipe! 

Homemade Baby Powder 

makes a little over a cup! 

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS: 

  1. Put the calendula flowers and the oatmeal in a food processor and process until it is finely ground. 
  2. Add the clay and the arrowroot to the food process and pulse a few times to combine. 
  3. Put in a shaker bottle and apply as needed! 
  4. Let’s face it — some adults might need this too! 

Homemade Baby Powder The Paleo Mama

How to Homestead on a Rental Property

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Homestead on a Rental Property

Laura Coppelman Photography took all these pictures for us! Aren’t they amazing?! 

It’s been nearly 1.5 years since we ditched the city to start a farm! Many people don’t realize that we don’t actually own our home. We are renting and have been able to successfully tap into our farming dreams while we live here and save up to purchase our dream farm!

So far, we have had meat rabbits, meat chickens, egg layer chickens, and goats. In the next month we are getting Katahdin sheep! Oh, and we have a Great Pyrenees who is our “livestock guardian dog” and keeps on eye on all these animals for us.

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We live on 3 acres in our rental home. It has 2 acres that are fenced, a HUGE chicken coop, and a 3 stall barn! We just fenced a small paddock area that we are planning on keeping a future breeder buck for 5 Alpine does. We found this place on Craiglist and pay $1,250 a month for it!

So, my friends, as you can see, you can pursue your homesteading and farming dreams on a rental property! In fact, I highly, recommend it as I think it’s a great way to get your feet wet and get a better understanding on what actually goes into homesteading….cause, guess what, it ain’t aways that pretty! 

 How to Homestead on a Rental Property

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Search Craigslist, Zillow, and Trulia 

First step is finding a place that is going to let you do this. We spent hours upon hours searching these websites. We had a criteria that we searched and used keywords like “farm, barn, chicken coop, acres, etc“. We, also, made sure that we that we only searched homes that had over 1 acre. We wanted something with 5-10 acres but we settled on 3 acres. It’s enough to really get started! 

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Check Local Animal Laws and Ordinances

Please, oh please, make sure you don’t move somewhere and hope to purchase livestock and then realize that you can’t have it in that area! Check, and then double check, that livestock, chickens, and goats are allowed at that address. Drive around the home and check out homes and neighbors. Do you see chickens? How about a pig? Even better! 

Call the Home Owner and Tell Them Your Ambitions

This is super important. We disclosed immediately that we were wanting to have a small farm on the property. In our case, this was no issue since our rental property was previously used as a small farm. In the Craigslist ad that we found for our rental property, there were pictures of the red barn, the chicken coop, and the fenced pasture. So, I figured, they were okay with us using it the same way. 

However, don’t assume from looking at the pictures, that farming is permitted. Make sure you ask about it! 

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Start with Just a Few New Animals

We have 3 acres so we haven’t been able to do everything that we want to do. However, we are BUSY so this rental home has been perfect and kept us from making some stupid decisions….um, yes I almost purchased a Jersey cow. I can’t believe I nearly cheated on my dairy goats! 

If you have more than 5 acres, then you, pretty much, have the land for any livestock, however, I recommend that you start slow. 

For us, that mean with chickens and goats. We purchased our first chickens from a hatchery. We, quickly, thought that 15 chickens weren’t enough so we added 10 more. Chickens are such good pets! This year, we will be incubating more! Chickens, are so entertaining and addicting! 

Next we got dairy goats (read my 1st experience milking them) and then start our journey into breeding meat rabbits. All of these animals take up smaller amounts of space and don’t tear up the property. As much as I LONG with all my heart for adding pigs — I just don’t know how our landlord would like that idea. They do tear up the grass and land, plus they require better fencing then what we have. Pigs are escape artists! 

 Make Temporary Improvements to the Homestead

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Consider making any fencing you do easily removable. Thankfully, our rental home already had a really good fence, but we put in a small paddock using chain link that we will remove when we move out. 

We use pallets for EVERYTHING! They are free from our local furniture store and you can do so much with them. 

Conclusion

See — you can homestead on a land that you don’t own!  You might enjoy it more than owning your own home and farm…it’s nice to, simply, pick up the phone and call the landlord when we have any issues! We aren’t spending money on home repairs or home improvements…we are saving that money and putting it towards the purchase of our dream farm! We, also, refuse to get into debt again after paying off more than $50,000 of debt in just under a year, so everything we do is with cash! 

We are so happy that made me this decision! I know you will be too! 

 

Wool Dryer Balls with Essential Oils

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Wool Dryer Balls

Since I have made the switch to using wool dryer balls, instead of dryer sheets, my pocket-book is much happier, and so is my energy bill! I love my wool dryer balls with essential oils and I know you will making the switch too!

What Are Dryer Balls?

They are a 100% natural replacement for dryer sheets made from wool. You can purchase them already felted and ready to go, or you can make them yourself.

Why Use Wool Dryer Balls?

  • They can cut your drying time in half
  • They help reduce static
  • They save you money on your energy bill
  • They are chemical-free, unlike dryer sheets
  • They can be re-used over-and-over again
  • They increase the fluffiness of your clothes
  • They are safe to use with cloth diapers

Adding in Essential Oils

I love to lightly scent my clothes, so I add 3-4 drops of my favorite essential oils to each dryer ball. This usually lasts 2-4 loads before I have to add more! Here’s a few essential oil recommendations; it’s fun creating combinations that make your clothes smell so wonderful:

CLICK HERE to see where I get my essential oils at a discount

  • Lemongrass 
  • Lavender + Lemon
  • Wild Orange 
  • Peppermint + Wild Orange
  • Tangerine

Where to Buy Wool Dryer Balls:

I love Woolzies (click here to see them) in XL. I use all 4 in my laundry and right now they are 62% off on Amazon!!

Dryer Balls are Easy to Make:

ITEMS NEEDED: 

  • Recycled wool sweaters
  • Wool Yarn
  • Knee High Nylon

Step 1) Save the money and go buy a few wool sweaters from Goodwill. Then go to your nearby craft store and get a big roll of wool yarn.

Step 2) Cut the wool sweaters up in scrap pieces and ball them up in your hand. Then take the wool yarn and start wrapping it around the scrap wool until you have a large softball-size bundle of yarn. Some people make them the size of tennis balls but I say go BIG! I also think you need 4-8 of them to really notice a difference. So, make a bunch!

Step 3) Then when you’re done rolling them into balls, tie a knot, then throw the ball in a knee-high nylon, or in a sock. Tie off the end with a rubber band (a hair rubber band) and run them through a hot wash cycle and then a hot dry cycle. This makes the wool felt together.

Step 4) Then take them out and you’re done!

How to Use Your Dryer Balls:

  1. Add a few drops your favorite essential oils to each ball.
  2. Toss in the dryer with your wet clothes
  3. Re-use over and over and over again!!!!

Wool Dryer Balls from The Paleo Mama

Coconut Oil Bites for Oil Pulling

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Oil Pulling is an ancient detoxification practice that involves swishing oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. The benefit of doing this is to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria, reduce dental plaque, remineralize your teeth, help with gum issues, and strengthen your gums. You can give your teeth an extra boost by oil pulling with essential oils.

When you swish oil around in your mouth, plaque get stuck to the oil and dissolve in the liquid oil. So you are removing a lot of bacteria, which is found in plague and leads to all kinds of oral health problems, every time you oil pull.

What Oil to Use:

Traditionally, sesame seed or sunflower oil was used among the early oil-pullers, however, my personal favorite is coconut oil because it has so many health benefits. You can use any oil that you like, just stay away from canola or vegetable oil.

Adding Essential Oils to Your Oil Pulling Regime:

Adding in therapeutic-grade, 100% pure, essential oils into your oil pulling regime is a great way to give your health a supercharge! Only use therapeutic-grade essential oils. These oils are safe to use as a dietary supplement (internally) and since you are swishing them around in your mouth, you need to use the safest. I buy my essential oils at wholesale price and I encourage you to do the same! You can CLICK HERE and learn how to get your essential oils from me at wholesale cost!

What Essential Oils to Use:

  1. Peppermint essential oil.
  2. Clove essential oil.
  3. Basil essential oil.
  4. Melaleuca essential oil.
  5. Myrrh essential oil.
  6. “Protective” blend essential oil.

Coconut Oil Bites for Oil Pulling:

INGREDIENTS: 

DIRECTIONS: 

  1. Melt the coconut oil.
  2. Pour into silicone mold (I like this one. It is .3 ounce which is nearly a tablespoon…perfect amount to swish around) .
  3. Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to each individual mold.
  4. Stick in the fridge to harden.
  5. Once hard, pop out of the silicone mold and store on the counter or fridge. If you live in a warmer climate, you will want to keep it in the fridge.
  6. Happy oil pulling!

Coconut Oil Bites for Oil Pulling

Whipped Magnesium Body Butter

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We are always trying to get more magnesium into our bodies. Recently, I’ve started using more magnesium oil to spray on my skin, but I wanted to create a recipe that was a body butter but included magnesium oil.

Unlike many other body butter recipes out there, mixing a “water-based” substance, like magnesium oil, into a body butter recipe can be tricky. However, as an avid-soapmaker, I understand how to accurately emulsify a liquid, fat, and solid together and it’s super easy…just requires one extra step (trust me, it’s worth it!).

Whipped Magnesium Body Butter

Makes one luscious cup

INGREDIENTS: 

SUPPLIES NEEDED: 

DIRECTIONS: 

  1. Melt the coconut oil and shea butter together on LOW heat, then remove. Don’t let it get hotter than 110 degrees. If it does, stick it in the fridge to cool down.
  2. Mix in the almond oil and allow it to cool to a warm temperature.
  3. Here’s the extra step: you want your oil/butter mixture to be room temp. Take your immersion blender and turn it on low while slowly adding in your magnesium oil. You will need to mix until you see it completely emulsify together and there is no separation of water and fat. Takes about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Now, stick the mixture in the fridge for about 10 minutes or leave it on your counter for 20 minutes. You want it to begin to harden and become opaque.
  5. Scoop it into your mixer with the whisk attachment. Add your essential oils and whip it on medium speed until you see it become light and fluffy!
  6. Scoop it into your glass jar!
  7. Use at night before bed to help promote a restful sleep!

Note: One teaspoon of this body butter contains around 250mg of magnesium! Check out my Magnesium Deodorant recipe HERE.

Whipped Magnesium Body Butter The Paleo Mama

Baking Soda Free Deodorant

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Baking Soda Free Deodorant

A few years ago I made the switch to a natural deodorant. The switch was going great until I started to develop red marks and a light rash on my arm pits. I had no idea what was causing it until someone mention that I probably have an underarm sensitivity.

Apparently, many people have the same sensitivity to baking-soda so I tried to find a recipe online that didn’t use a lot of baking soda. And I found a GREAT one and I loved it for months and months.  I still love it…however, the underarm sensitivity returned even though this recipe uses a very small amount.

So, my quest continued and I found this recipe that uses magnesium oil and essential oils. I never knew magnesium oil could help with underarm stink! We had some magnesium oil laying around the house so I tried it and SURE ENOUGH it’s been working great! However, I love a “stick-based” deodorant and decided to formulate a recipe that is baking-soda free, yet uses magnesium oil.

Note: Magnesium oil isn’t technically an oil so it won’t leave your pits oily…yuck! It has a SUPER low PH which is very helpful at keeping stink at bay…plus you get a nice boost of magnesium which we all need!  Some people experience a tingling when they apply magnesium on their skin. No worries — many feel this during the first few applications, especially if you are a little low in magnesium.

A few more things:

  • I use raw shea butter which is yellow. You can use a lighter shea butter or cacao butter.
  • I find that giving my underarms a spray with magnesium oil while getting out of the shower helps a ton with odor! I then apply this Baking Soda Free Deodorant recipe. You can also make a apple cider vinegar spray to use before you apply your homemade deodorant! If you workout and sweat alot, I would highly recommend a pre-squirt of magnesium oil or apple cider vinegar.
  • TEXTURE – this is not like store-bought deodorant. The texture is more “wet” but will absorb quickly into your skin. Also, if you are using this deodorant recipe in a area with hot climate or in the summer, then you will want to put it in a small jar and scoop it out with your fingers.

Baking Soda Free Deodorant:

Makes one full bar if using a recycled deodorant stick! 

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 1 Tablespoons of Magnesium Oil (where to buy)
  • 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil (where to buy)
  • 2 Tablespoons of Raw Shea Butter (where to buy) or Cacao Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons of Arrowroot Powder (where to buy)
  • 2 Tablespoons of Bentonite Clay (where to buy)
  • 5-8 Drops of Melaleuca Essential Oil (where to buy) 
  • 5-8 Drops of Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Ylang Ylang, or Thyme (where to buy) – these essential oils pair well with Melaleuca and offer a nice fragrance

SUPPLIES NEEDED: 

  • Wide Mouth Mason Jar
  • Immersion Blender (where to buy)
  • Small Glass storage container or Recycled Deodorant Tube

DIRECTIONS: 

  1. Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a double boiler. I stick the coconut oil and shea butter in a wide-mouth mason jar and put the mason jar in a pot of simmering water. Remove from heat when melted.
  2. Mix in the arrowroot and clay into the wet mixture with an immersion blender. I find the immersion blender necessary in properly mixing the oils and solids together and creating “emulsification”.
  3. Let cool for about 15 minutes. You may see some liquid rise to the top….that’s ok. We have one more mix!
  4. Ever so slowly pour in the magnesium oil while mixing with the immersion blender and mix until the mixture becomes creamy. This means you have properly emulsified the mixture.
  5. Add in your essential oils and mix and then blend again.
  6. Immediately pour into a small glass jar or a recycled deodorant tube.
  7. Allow to cool for a few hours before capping. If you are eager to use it, toss it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes!
  8. Slap on a pretty label and you got yourself a nourishing bar of deodorant that works great!

Baking Soda Free Deodorant The Paleo Mama