Olden Oasis Homestead

Sprouting lentils for chicken feed Welcome to my guide on sprouting lentils for chicken feed. As backyard chicken keepers, we are constantly seeking ways to provide our feathered friends with a healthy and balanced diet. One such option gaining popularity is sprouted lentils, which offer numerous benefits for the overall health and well-being of chickens. In this article, I will explain the advantages of incorporating sprouted lentils into a chicken's diet, discuss the selection process for suitable lentils, provide a step-by-step guide to sprouting lentils, and offer tips on feeding and monitoring. Whether you are looking to optimize your chicken's nutrition or simply diversify their diet, sprouted lentils may be the solution you've been searching for. 1. Introduction to sprouting lentils for chicken feed Understanding the nutritional needs of chickens Chickens are like the Olympians of the animal kingdom; they need a solid and well-balanced diet to perform at their best. ...

Homemade liquid soap using old soap bar remnants Don't throw away those bars of soap remnants! Making the most out of those piddly soap bar remnants can help you save money. This liquid soap recipe is rather simple to make and the two main ingredients are bars of soap remnants (leftover soap ends) and water. You may add glycerin to the recipe if you'd like. Glycerin will help if you need to add a moisturizer to your liquid soap. However, leave the glycerin out if you're wanting longer shelf stability. I add citrus essential oil as a natural preservative. Ingredients: 1/2 cup of bar soap remnants, chopped into small pieces 3 cups of water ½ teaspoon of citrus essential oil Optional ingredients: 1-½ teaspoons of glycerin You'll need to add the glycerin in after you take the soap off from the burner. (I didn't add glycerin to my liquid soap.) Instructions: Add three cups of water into a pan that's specifically used for making soap in. Transfer the pan to a burner, ...

Homemade turmeric bar soap If you have some boring bars of soap, or want to make new soap by using a bar of soap base, then this is a recipe for you. Why add turmeric to bars of homemade soap? Turmeric soap not only helps with skin inflammation, it also helps clear up blemishes that you may have on your skin, because it has antioxidant and antiseptic properties. Plus, this soap helps with dark spots as well as brightens your skin. Ingredients: 1 bar of soap or soap base (any brand) About 1-½ cups of water, maybe a little more 1-½ teaspoons of turmeric powder 1-½ teaspoon of essential citrus oil Pan (for melting the soap) Soap molds Other optional ingredients: 1-½ teaspoons of glycerin (moisturizer) 1 teaspoon of olive oil Coffee grounds  Other essential oils Wild flowers Dried herbs Oatmeal Instructions for making the soap: First, grate or chop the bar of soap finely. Place the soap pieces in a pan that's specifically used for making soap. Pour in a level amount of water, and not m...

Caffeinated coffee soap Wake up your skin with caffeinated coffee soap, before drinking your cup of Joe. That's right, coffee isn't just for drinking! Today, I will walk you through how I create beautifully molded caffeinated coffee soap. Y'all, this soap makes my skin feel so refreshed and revived after each use and I love it! The soap is invigorating and exfoliating. Plus, it helps tighten and brighten your skin, as it helps to improve blood circulation. Ingredients: ¼ to ½ cup of caffeinated coffee grounds (I use ½ cup in my soap to get a richer coffee color.) 1 bar of soap or soap base bar (any brand will do) About 1-½ cups of water, plus, maybe a little more (depending on the size of bar soap that you use) 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder optional 1-½ teaspoon of essential cinnamon oil optional 1 teaspoon of olive oil Pan (for melting the soap) Soap molds Instructions: First, get your soap molds prepared; set aside. Now, chop the bar of soap into small pieces. Place the p...

All-natural wood ash liquid detergent From natural hardwood to burnt ash to all natural liquid detergent. Wood ash can be used for numerous things, such as fertilizer, creating homemade soap, laundry detergent, cleaner, and even toothpaste. Wood ash liquid detergent works beautifully on lifting stains out of your clothing. The detergent can also be used for multiple purposes, such as a tub and shower cleaner, floor cleaner, etc.. Today, I am pulling out my wood ash to create an all-natural laundry detergent booster. Have to tell you guys that this stuff is amazing! Using wood ash powder Handling wood ash is messy, it can be abrasive, and it's normally powdery (if your woodstove and fireplace are burning properly) so there's a lot of dust particles involved. So, I suggest always wearing gloves and a face mask while you're working with wood ash. Wood ash has been used for centuries as a cleaning agent in the form of different soaps, but wood ash can also be used in its natura...

Making homemade paper by recycling used paper products on the homestead If you're like me, you probably get a ton of junk mail. Don't throw it away! Instead, save it to upcycle into new pieces of craft paper, DIY toilet paper, wall art, and homemade wall tiles. Things you'll need to make paper pulp: Used paper (If you're making the recipe for DIY toilet paper, don't use any type of glossy paper, and DO NOT reuse bathroom toilet paper that's already been used. Sorry, but I had to add that in as a disclaimer.) Leafs, flower petals, grass clippings Water 2 old clean towels Instructions for making DIY paper sheets from pulp: First, gather up as much used paper and as many leaves as you want.  Shred the paper with a paper shredder or rip it into smaller pieces. Soak the paper into a large metal pan of hot water for about one hour.  Now, place the pan on the stovetop, add leaves, flower petals, and grass clippings. Then simmer for an hour. Then remove the pan from the...

DIY deodorizer and cleaners for household cleaning  If you have pets, more than likely you also have pet odors lurking around inside your home. These DIY deodorizers and cleaners can be used to deodorize floors, walls, pet kennels, bathrooms, kitchens, and more. I even use them to clean up spilt baked on grease. They work great and don't cost much to make. So, how do these DIY deodorizers and cleaners work? Hydrogen peroxide is one of the ingredients and it happens to be a natural oxidizer. Another ingredient that is added is baking soda. Baking soda is an all-natural abrasive, and it makes for a great scouring cleaner. It is also often used in households for cleaning, because it is great for deodorizing as well. When these two are mixed with Dawn's original blue dish detergent, the chemical reaction of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will lift off all the toughest stains, neutralizing the musty, smelly odors all in one. An oxidizer is an all-natural, safe form of ...