Using milk on your compost and in your garden will probably come as a surprise to most. Upon closer inspection, however, it starts to make sense. The amino acids, proteins, enzymes and natural sugars that make milk a food for humans and animals are the same ingredients in nurturing healthy communities of microbes, fungi and beneficial bacteria in your compost and garden soil. Raw milk is the best, as it hasn’t been exposed to heat that alters the components in milk that provide a perfect food for the soil and plants, but any milk will provide nutrition and benefits. Using milk on crops and soils is another ancient technique that has been lost to large scale modern industrial agriculture.

Milk is a research-proven fungicide and soft bodied insecticide – insects have no pancreas to digest the milk sugars.  Consequently milk will help protect your plants from insect attack.

The ratio can range from 100% milk to a 20% mixture with water, with no loss of benefits. Use as a spray on the compost and garden soil prior to planting, and as needed when insects appear. Spray directly on the insects and around the areas they inhabit. When combined with molasses, it becomes a highly beneficial soil drench. A proven solution is 20% milk – 1 cup of milk to 4 cups of water, or 2 cups milk to 8 cups water for larger gardens.

Who knew that something as simple as milk and molasses had such powerfully positive, far-reaching effects?

GARDEN SOIL / COMPOST

Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane or sugar beets into sugar. It is a source

of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron; one tablespoon provides up to 20% of the recommended daily value of each of those nutrients.

Molasses is a very valuable addition to the compost pile, as well as to the garden itself. 

Use 1/4 cup molasses mixed with 1 cup of milk. Add to two litres of water

and spray onto the compost pile or garden……………..add to the drip system for the garden. 

POOR or stressed soils will need a stronger mixture.

SNACKS for plants that need a little boost, add 1/4 cup molasses to a watering can and fill with water. . 

The microbial activity will skyrocket.

Egg shells contain 39% calcium carbonate

Boiled Eggs

Cooking boiled egg?  Don’t forget to save the water.  During the cooking procedure, calcium leaches out of the shell. Making this a first rate calcium fixative for ailing plants. So…… cook the eggs and drain. Being sure to keep the water. Let  it  cool and then apply to calcium deficient plants.

Slugs: broken egg shells scattered close to the stem of a plant can prevent slug damage due to the sharp

edges of the shell.

Ants:  Crush egg shells and place a thick layer close to the stem of a plant.  It will help reduce ant trails up and down the plant.   You can also stir a few drops of vegetable oil into the crushed shells.
The oil adds an additional problems for the ants.

GARDEN

Compost:  Crushed egg shells provide a good source of nutrients to the compost heap.

Seedling Pots:  Wash the egg shells in warm water. Blow dry. Sit the shell in an egg box. Fill shells with potting mix. Add a seed or plant cutting.  Egg shell pots can be planted directly into the garden. The shell will prevent the plant from root eating grubs. As the shell breaks down it will provide nutrients for the plant and condition the soil too.

Blossom End Rot: is often caused by calcium deficient soil. Add dry crushed egg shells to the soil. The shell breaks down quickly.

Blossom End Rot Treatment:  Add one tablespoon of dried powdered egg shell to one tablespoon of white vinegar. Let it sit for  30mins. It will foam up as the vinegar is neutralised by the shell.  Add 5 litres of water and stir.  Use for Tomatoes, Zucchini, Melons, Squash and Peppers.

Potted Plants: Place a layer of  crushed egg shells under the top soil of the pot. Water in.  The shell will help with the growth and  nutrition. 

Tomato Food:  Crush or powder the dry egg shells and sprinkle around tomato plants and cover with a sprinkling of potting mix, compost or mulch.

Super Citrus Food:  Eggs shells and Coffee grounds – Scatter two handful of finely crushed eggs around the stem of the citrus tree. Then scatter two handfuls of coffee grains around the tree.  Using your fingers lightly  rake into the soil. Water in.

HOME AND HEALTH

Irritated, Swollen, Acne or Itchy Skin.

Mix quarter cup of powdered egg shell with half cup vinegar in a jar with a lid.  Seal and let stand for

two days.  Drain off vinegar. Tip the egg paste into a bowl.  Add a little milk.  Apply twice daily to treat skin condition.  Whitening Clothes

Powdered eggs sells can be place into a gauze bag. fastened, and put in the wash to make clothes brighter.

Pet Food:

Mix a tablespoon of egg shell powder with pet food for the health of their bones and coat.

DRYING EGGS SHELLS

Rinse the egg shells. Place in a baking dish. Place in oven heated 180degrees or 160 fan force.  Usually takes fifteen to thirty minutes.  When the shell is dry, the process of crushing and powdering is made easier.

Rich in nutrients that condition soil,  feed hungry plants and  correct plant health

SLOW RELEASE NUTRIENT FOR POTTED PLANTS

For Vitamins and Minerals  over a four to six month period.

One banana skin cut into small pieces.

Add a  little potting mix to the pot.

Scatter banana skin on top of the potting mix.

Cover with a thick layer of potting mix.

Add plant and top up with potting mix.

Water well.

GARDEN FOOD

Use Banana skins in garden beds to feed vegetables, flowers and fruit trees.

Prepare the garden bed for spring by digging in banana skins in winter.

Cut banana skins into quarters.

Dig a narrow hole approx. 25cm deep.  Add Banana skins and cover with soil.

Water  well.

BANANA LIQUID FERTILISER

Place two to three banana skins in a bucket water. Cover.  Stand in a shaded area for two to four days. Drain.  Add rotted skins to a fruit tree and cover lightly with straw.

Dilute one part banana fertiliser with five parts water.  Suitable for flower beds, vegetables, berries and fruits.

DRIED BANANA SKIN FERTILISER and ANIMAL WELLBEING

Dry banana skins in a slow oven for about one hour. Check that they are dry. If not, continue oven drying. In a blender, grind the skins to powder. Store in a sealed container. 

To use: Sprinkle around the plants, then water. Or sprinkle over a garden bed and lightly turn the soil.

Animal Health: Add dried banana peel powder to chicken, duck and pig feed.

FOLIAR SPRAY

Medium to Large Spray Bottle.

Dry one banana skin and four egg shells.   Then grind into powder.  Add one tablespoon of Epsom salts. Top up with water. Shake to dissolve.  Spray plants that are looking unhealthy or drained of energy.

FRUIT

BLUEBERRY AND STRAWBERRY TONIC

Place two large fresh banana peels in a large jar with a lid. Add enough water to cover the skins. Lightly screw on the lid. Stand for one week so that the bacteria can do its work.  

Next Step:  Remove the peel and give it to a fruit tree.  Put the lid back on the jar and stand for an additional  four to five weeks. Water will turn white as it converts to vinegar. 

When using, add tonic plus one cup of water to a small watering can. Stir to mix.  Use 

immediately.

HUMAN HEALTH and WELLBEING

• Teeth: Banana peels are a natural tooth whitener.  It can also help to remove plaque. Rub a small piece of soft yellow banana peel on your teeth. Clean your teeth with toothpaste and rinse. For stubborn stains or plaque, do every day for a week.

• Skin Tags (growths):  Cut a small piece of banana skin to cover the skin tag. With the white of the banana touching  the skin. Secure with a bandaid plaster. Leave on over night. Rinse in the morning. Repeat the process daily until the skin tags fall off.

• Puffy Eyes: Banana skins can help to remove dark circles and bags under the eyes.  Scrape off the white fibre of a banana skin with a teaspoon. Mix with  one to two tablespoons of pure Aloe Vera gel to make a smooth paste.  Gently spread under the eyes. Leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water.  Pat dry. Repeat as needed.

• Facial Conditioner Mask:  Put one banana fruit in a blender. Scrape of white portion of the skin and add to banana fruit. Blend.  Put in large bowl. Add one tablespoon of honey. one tablespoon of lemon juice, one tablespoon milk powder and one tablespoon of natural yoghurt.  Mix until smooth.  Apply  to the face and to the hands. Allow to partially dry – about ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Pat dry.  Your face and hands will appear lighter, bright and healthy.

• Face Peel:  Scrape the white portion off two banana skins.  Mix with one egg yolk.  Blend until smooth. Apply to face.  Leave for 5mins.  Wash off in lukewarm water.  Pat the face dry.

• Psoriasis:  Banana skins help to  reduce redness, itching and discomfort.  Rub the white portion of the banana skin over the area.  Leave for 30mins. Rinse with cool water. Repeat twice daily. This method can also be used to treat chronic acne and warts.

• Muscle Pain Relief:  Apply banana skins to painful area.  Leave 30 mins. 

• Pain Relief Oil:  Blend one banana skin and half a cup oil.  Rub over painful area. Leave 30mins. Wash off in lukewarm water.

HOUSEHOLD

• Leather Conditioner:  Wipe the leather with banana peel. Leave for One minute. Wipe off with a soft clean cloth.  The leather will be reborn. Jackets. wallets, handbags, shoes, boots.

• House Plants:  Fold in half, one strip of banana skin, keeping the white portion inside. Slide the leaf between the folded banana skin  and gently slide along the leaf. It removes dust, conditions the plants and make the leaves shiny.

• Wooden Furniture: wipe the banana skin over the furniture. Wipe clean and buff with a soft cloth.

• Ink Stains: remove ink stains by rubbing the area with the white portion of the banana peel.

*CD Scratches:  rub scratches in a circular motion with the soft white portion of the banana skin. 

Wipe dry, in a circular motion with a clean lint free cloth.