This homemade tooth powder recipe is the answer to your natural toothpaste desires. Read on for the homemade tooth powder recipe that’s easy, natural, and healthy!

This post contains affiliate links.

The internet is full of friends, Wildflowers, and I had the pleasure of connecting with Nikki at The Little Farmhouse.

She’s a girl after my own heart; I could tell immediately by her Instagram and her thoughtful, well-written blog posts helping newbies adopt a more healthful life. We are both Laura Ingalls in modern day, basically 🙂

This is Nikki.

When I saw that she made her own homemade tooth powder as a replacement for potentially toxic toothpaste, I asked her to share her recipe for homemade tooth powder with you all. She kindly agreed, and I know you all will enjoy the following recipe.

How To Make Homemade Tooth Powder

I’m Nikki from The Little Farm House, guest posting!

I haven’t used toothpaste in over 9 months! Call me crazy but this tooth powder is magic. When I was switching out my icky filled products in my home I got to my toothpaste, I hit a wall. I wanted something that didn’t contain glycerin, which can prevent remineralization. I found a few brands but they were crazy expensive. I’m all about affordable!

I came across several recipes on Pinterest. I was overwhelmed by all the options you can do! But don’t worry, this recipe is here to help!

I wasn’t sure how this was going to go at first. It took me a few days to get used to it because the texture is of course different from conventional toothpaste. The main difference is it doesn’t foam up like the other toothpaste.  

I can say this tooth powder is life changing.

Over the last 9 months I have noticed my teeth are whiter and less sensitive. My mouth just feels cleaner and stays ‘fresher’ longer. It’s hard to put it into words. I always tell people to just try it to get the full experience!

The base or main ingredient is Bentonite Clay. From there you add baking soda, activated charcoal, cinnamon, turmeric, and essential oils.

Let’s look at each ingredient and their importance.

Homemade Tooth Powder Ingredients & Their Uses

Bentonite Clay– when this clay gets wet it expands and changes its electrical charge to a negative charge. It becomes like a sponge that can absorb toxins and heavy metals. At the same time it replaces what it takes away with healthy, strengthening, and replenishing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This is awesome for remineralization (aka rebuilding of the tooth)!

Activated Charcoal– is effective in absorbing plaque. Because it has a negative charge and is super porous it binds to toxins and doesn’t let go, which results in whiter teeth.

Cinnamon– is loaded with antioxidants and works  as a highly effective anti-inflammatory agent, so healthy gums! It also has amazing antibacterial, antifungal, an antiviral properties, so no stinky breathe and no cavities!

Turmeric– is another great anti-inflammatory agent that aids in the fight against periodontal disease.

Baking Soda– helps whiten teeth by removing stains. It also contains minerals and is alkaline.

Essential Oils– I (Nikki) use Plant Therapy, DoTERRA, and Young Living. Please do your own research on oils before using them. I like to use peppermint, tea tree, clove, and a protective blend (germ fighter/  OnGuard/ Thieves just depends on what brand you go with).

If  you’ve been excited to try essential oils, this is a great recipe to try them with. The Domestic Wildflower suggests DoTerra.

Supplies for Homemade Tooth Powder

• 4 Tablespoons of Bentonite Clay
• 1 teaspoon activated charcoal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3-5 drops each of the following essential oils: clove, melaluca, OnGuard (protective blend), and peppermint
• Half pint canning jar

Directions for How to Make Homemade Tooth Powder

1. Add bentonite clay in the jar.
2. Then add your other other powder choices (activated charcoal, baking soda, turmeric, and cinnamon) You can do all or one, whatever you would like!
3. Add the essential oils. I add 3-5 drops a piece. You can pick and choose your oils to suit your tastes and needs.
4. I normally shake the jar from side to side so the oil drops get covered up. Then I place the cap on and roll and shake it till it looks evenly combined.
5. To use I always recommend tapping the water off your tooth brush twice before dipping it in the powder and taking a sip of tap water before brushing. If you don’t have enough moisture in your mouth it will get really dry and no one likes that!
6. Brush as normal.
7. This little jar lasts me 3-4 months if not longer.

Pro Tip: Once you have the powder made up you can keep it in powder form or to turn it into a paste by adding some filtered water or coconut oil to it. I recommend doing this for the kiddos because accidents tend to happen and you don’t want to try to clean up the fine powder!

Here’s the wooden toothbrush that I love (that my sister always makes fun of me for haha!) to accompany your tooth powder.  It’s totally compostable and a great value.

If you would like to learn more about other affordable DIY swaps, raising cattle, farm field work, gardening, preserving, and fantastic food ideas you can head over to https://thelittlefarmhouse95.blogspot.com/. If you choose to subscribe be sure to check your junk folder for the confirmation email.

Happy trails my friends!

Thanks so much to Nikki for this post! I am excited to hear how you all like it! 

Want to know why your succulents keep dying? Need tips for healthy succulents? Read on for how to keep your succulents alive and well with this expert post.

This post contains affiliate links.

Wildflowers, this is a guest post written by an expert gardener because I am a dismal gardener. You know me as a canning enthusiast, probably, and as such, most people assume that I also garden. I don’t. I struggle to keep the pot of mint (which essentially is an invasive weed, if given enough water) by my steps alive. I can, however, grow a fantastic jar of sprouts (read how here) I had so many readers ask questions about gardening I thought I needed to ask for some expert advice. My friend Emma from Fixtures and Flowers shares her best tips for keeping succulents alive and identifying why yours aren’t. Read on for 7 tips for keeping your succulents alive and thriving, Wildflowers!

Growing Succulents

Human beings have an innate desire to nurture and make things grow. This primary drive applies to loved ones, pets and yes especially to the indoor plants and flowers in the backyard garden as well.

For experienced but busy gardeners that still want to make something grow, most peers would recommend growing succulents. They always look beautiful, have a wide variety to choose from and are supposedly easy to take care of. Its common knowledge that succulents don’t need as much water as regular plants.

With everyone saying succulents are very easy to maintain, its a wonder when they end up dying for one reason or another. Killing a succulent can become a severe blow to the ego of a gardener. These are the reasons why the plant died, so all one needs to do is avoid making the same mistake twice, and the next succulents will thrive.

7 Reasons Why Your Succulents Keep Dying

Granted that succulents are supposed to be the easiest plants to care for, almost every gardener has made the mistake of nearly killing or accidentally killing their first succulents.

Overwatering

Too much water can be the death of any succulent which is often the case. When gardeners see any plant, it is pure instinct to water that plant every day. Some catch themselves about to water their succulents a day or two after they watered them and are able to stop themselves.

Most people ignore the reminders of their peers to not water succulents too frequently. Succulents are cacti, but they do look exotic and beautiful, unlike spiky cactuses.

It can be somewhat confusing so watering these eye-catching plants becomes natural and is the most notorious culprit for the death of many succulents.

There are ways on how to save overwatered succulents. The first sign of an overwatered succulent plant is falling leaves. When one notices that a slight bump to the plant results in leaves just dropping to the ground, then that means the plant has been overwatered.

The simplest and most effective way to know the right time to water a succulent is by touching the soil. If the topsoil feels damp then it’s too soon to water the plant again.

One can go a step further to check the moisture in the ground by using a stick or even a finger to push down into about an inch of the soil to review its internal moisture level. There really is no set number of days when one should water succulents.

Pro Tip: Some say every three days should be fine but sometimes even a week later the soil is still moist. It really depends on just how wet the soil is to know the right time to water.

If the succulent has already turned black, don’t worry, one can still save the plant and salvage the situation. Take a pair of shears or scissors and cut out the blackened parts. It is essential to cut the rot from the rest of the healthy plant before it spreads.

In case the succulent is also a cactus, meaning it has thorns, make sure to use gardening gloves before handling the plant.

Removing all the rot from the plant should be enough to save it. The decay is a result of too much watering. Use the tap, stick or finger method to gauge the moisture level of the soil before watering again.

Lack of Water

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some succulents die from being completely ignored. That may work if the plant is located outdoors. If the plant is positioned on an elevated level away from the garden sprinklers, the moisture in the air, morning dew will help water the plant.

If the plant is indoors then ignoring it, could prove to be a death sentence for it. When the leaves of the succulent start to develop wrinkles, then that would mean that the plant is starved for water. Life can be too hectic even to pay attention to a plant but when one notices wrinkles on their succulents make sure to give them a proper watering.

A wrinkly succulent can get back into shape after a couple of watering cycles. Be careful with over watering as that can be more damaging to the plant then under watering it.

The Container Has No Drainage

Some plant containers that come with store-bought succulents don’t have any drainage holes. Drainage holes allow water to flow through the soil and out of the pot. Too much water can cause the succulent plant to rot, so it is also essential to use potting soil that drains well.

For drainage holes, it is a simple matter to create drainage holes under the container. If one is growing the succulent indoors then putting a net or screen on the bottom part of the pot will prevent soil from escaping.

Succulents need good drainage, the right soil and a container that drains well, without these the plant will end up going black, rotting and will eventually die. Using gravel in your garden can help create a soil mix that drains well.   

The Pot is Too Tiny

Some homemakers love the exotic look of succulents, so they buy some and bring them home. The container that the plants come in is usually too small for the plant to grow properly.

After a few months in the same container and when the plant itself seems to have expanded beyond the circumference of the pot then it is time to re-pot the plant.

Succulents that are watered correctly will thrive, but their growth will be limited to the space they are given. Tiny containers will prevent the plant from receiving enough nutrition.

This succulent pot isn’t tiny AND has great drainage.

They Freeze

Most succulents become dormant during the winter months. They do not need to be watered during this time. Some make the mistake of watering them while they are dormant and end up killing their plant.

Watering succulents during winter will cause their roots to rot which will then spread throughout the plant. In case the plants are located outside bring them indoors to protect them from the frost.

The same thing needs to be done in case the area is experiencing a lot of rains, and the succulents are outside, bring them inside the house.

If the succulents are planted into the garden and not in containers, then one can protect them by covering them with a cloth or a plastic bag. It is best to plant them under large trees which can also protect them from the elements.

The Soil Lacks Nutrients

It is ideal to use a good quality potting mix when growing succulents indoors. Since plants derive all the nutrition they need from the surrounding soil, it is essential to provide them with what they need.

High-quality potting mix is a favorite among gardeners since the soil mixture has been optimized to grow plants to their full potential.

Add some compost, natural fertilizers, or slow release fertilizer to the soil, and the plant will be as healthy as can be. Ignore their nutritional needs, and they become prone to disease or even pests.

Try this potting soil for happy succulents! 

It is The Wrong Temperature

Succulents just like any other plant need the right dose of light and darkness. Too much of either and the plant will not grow properly. Too little of both and the succulent’s growth may become stunted.

There are many varieties of succulents, and each kind has their own set of light or shade requirements. Succulents that are green or yellow in color usually prefer the shade. While succulents that are orange or reddish prefer to bask in the sun.

For best results research the light requirements of the succulent or to be safe provide them with equal amounts of sun and shade.

If you’re not sure about the soil’s temperature, try this soil-specific thermometer! 

Succulent Success

Accidentally killing a succulent is not the end of the world. One just needs to evolve and practice the methods above to maintain healthy plants. Always be aware of the correct watering cycle to avoid over or under watering the plant. Protect them from frost and stop watering during the winter. Save dying plants by cutting out the parts that have decayed.

 

About the guest author

Emma is a part-time property developer, part-time home improvements and gardening blogger at Fixtures and Flowers, and full-time Mum. Given her background, Emma has a lot of advice, tips, and tricks that she loves sharing on her blog.

 

Whether you have an appreciation of all things rural, real, and agrarian, because of blood, birth, or by choice, you will love the sentiment behind these words. Read on for 19 Country Girl Quotes!

I’m an English teacher and lover of literature, which is why I decided to compile a list of my favorite lines that put wings on my heart. Here’s to living like a country girl.

Feel free to pin & share any and all of these pretty images. I made them all just for you and I want them to show what you feel in your heart.

You’ll notice a theme in this collection. I think country girls are BOTH lovers AND fighters. I don’t know if it is this crazy election, or that I’m thinking (and subsequently crying) about my little girl going to kindergarten next year, or if it is the fierce love I see in so many shapes and sizes all around me. Here’s to loving, and fighting, and to happiness, Dear Readers. May you be lucky enough to have love worth fighting for, in all its packages.    

Here are the words that move me, and that I think will move you. Love you all, Wildflowers.

19 Country Girl Quotes

“What lies behind us and what lies before us is are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

 

“Always saddle your own horse.”

“She who is brave is free.”

“Speak your mind and ride a fast horse.”

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

“Do you suppose she’s a Wildflower?”

 

Loving these Country Girl Quotes? You’ll LOVE Inspiration for a Wildflower. 

This is an ebook of essays about friendship, motherhood, life well lived, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Country Girl Quotes

“Though she be but little, she is fierce”

 

Shakespeare wrote this often quoted line and it makes me think of a beautiful, petite student I taught. This young lady wrote as an 8th grade student (!) about something difficult she had faced in her life in an essay. She wrote about the fact that she had been kicked by a cow in the face and earned a rather large scar across her pretty cheek. She wrote about being fearful of cattle for a long time afterward, of being worried about how people wouldn’t see HER, but only her scar, and and how she overcame those fears because, like scars, those worries will fade with enough time and patience. It has been years since I graded that essay but I’ll never forget it. While my own four year old daughter is becoming a manifestation of this famous line, this student, who is now in her final year of high school, makes me think of this line every time I see her. It breaks my heart to think of the things that force us to be fierce, like the things others can see like scars, as well as the wounds we have on the inside, but the thing that sets us free from them is feeling that despite size, we can be fierce. 

“The Earth laughs in flowers”

“All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate…I choose love.” 

The most important part of this line is “choice” because sometimes we forget who is in charge of our feelings. We can choose how we react to situations and we can choose love. Choose it, Wildflowers, and that includes loving ourselves.

“Do small things with great love.”

If I could have met any famous person, from any time, Mother Teresa would be my pick. Her story is a fascinating one and I encourage you to read any of the biographies about her. She wasn’t a nun in a church; she begged hotels for discarded soap to give to orphans in the street with which she’d give them a handwashing lesson so they’d be less likely to suffer from internal parasites. She was a badass and learning how to take more action with greater love is something I know I could improve upon.

“Two feet move your body. Four feet move your soul.”

Even More Country Girl Quotes

“Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” 

“She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25

“Some old fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”

I’m reading the Little House series to my kids and it is a true joy. If you haven’t read or need to re-read Laura Ingalls Wilder and her stories of living like a country girl, I suggest you get the series. Young and old alike love them, and they are great read alouds.

I was a little girl on my grandma Glory Ann’s couch when she read the Little House series aloud to us kids and I bet I read the series a dozen times on my own once I could. The pioneer spirit, terrific writing style, and wisdom that we can apply to our modern world makes this one of my all time favorite authors.

“I’d rather be on my farm than be the emperor of the whole world.”

“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

Eager to plant something? You might love this post on growing sprouts. 

You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.

Am I right, Wildflowers? We can’t all stay living in the country. Some of us marry those with great jobs far away, build our empires in the city ourselves, or otherwise travel a road that leads us away from wide open spaces. You’ll spot that country girl by the way she pays attention to the weather, can build a fire in the ski lodge, waves at other drivers on the road, knows what to do when there’s a power outage, is the friendly girl in a crowd, and can solve a problem with brain AND brawn. Country girls are lovers AND fighters. You can quote me on that 😉

If you loved this list of Country Girl Quotes, I hope you’ll check out Inspiration for a Wildflower!

20 Things Country Girls Know: A List You Haven’t Read Before. For those raised where there are no stop lights, where you wave at every passing vehicle (probably referred to as a rig) because that’s the polite thing to do, and where you can name every single kid in your class and probably your whole school, there are many truths that you manifest that are different than that of our more urbanly raised Wildflower sisters. This is not going to be a post about 4-wheel drivin’ or mud on your boots. It will be about matters of the heart and of practicality, which are the prime ingredients to growing any Wildflower, right?

1. Your actions stick with you. When you are from a small town where you attend school with the same kids in elementary, middle, and high school, being awful to someone isn’t a sin that is forgotten, even if it is forgiven. Your choices stick with you, year after year, for better or for worse. Choose wisely, regardless of where you put down roots, Wildflowers.
2. An Appaloosa doesn’t change their spots. Country girls have lived with the same folks for a really, really long time and they know that it is a very rare thing indeed for a person to change. Girls who were mean in high school will probably be mean in the future. Boys who are good to their mommas will likely always be so.
3. Cowgirl boots and a lifted pickup with sassy bumper sticker does not a country girl make. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and that’s how a classy country girl should interpret those who haven’t an ounce of rural living or common sense to their credit and still hope to be part of the club. As Dr. Seuss said, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Be you, Wildflowers, wherever you are, and be the best You you can be.
4. Never say whoa in a horse race. If you are working, striving, and aiming towards a goal, keep after it. You don’t win by slowing down. That’s not to say all of life needs to be a race, but if you’re in one, don’t slow down.
5. Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway. John Wayne said a lot of things, and this is my sister’s favorite. Courage doesn’t mean doing something difficult. It means facing fear and not letting it win. Accepting fear as part of the experience, and owning the fact that often times what is necessary isn’t comfortable (and can be downright terrifying) is part of living life fully, being a grownup, and being a stand up person. Saddle up, and be better and stronger for doing so.

[Read more…] about 20 Things Country Girls Know: A List You Haven’t Read Before

10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for your Fall Garden is a post that will help you decide what to plant for the easiest, best yield for a successful Fall garden. Read on for the list and for some helpful resources perfect for beginners!

 This post contains affiliate links. 

Confession Time: You may remember me saying that despite being a canning blogger I don’t have a garden. I don’t have a garden yet because I have a 12 foot hand-dug well that likely wouldn’t support a big veggie garden. I have no fences and many wild creatures great and small that would love to eat whatever I planted, and truthfully, I haven’t the thumb for it at this phase of my life. My kids are little and I recently killed the pretty pink cactus in my shower. I have been growing sprouts in a mason jar on my countertop BUT, Wildflowers, I have friends in high places indeed.

My friend Teri Page of the blog Homestead Honey is an amazing gardener and I asked her to share her best gardening tips for us in a  guest post. She knows her stuff, has the right thumb for the job, and has written a fantastic post (with a rad resource at the end! Don’t miss it!) for you all. I’m so grateful for her expertise. Read on for her post; thank you Teri!

10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for Your Fall Garden

Fall gardening is a great way to increase your harvest, save money at the grocery store, and enjoy garden-fresh produce year-round, but if you’re new to fall gardening, it can feel a bit overwhelming! What do you grow? When do you plant it? What about frost? Today I’ve put together a list of my top ten easy to grow vegetables for your fall garden, and I invite you to check out my eBook, Homestead Honey’s Guide to Fall Gardening for step-by-step advice on how to select the best varieties, when to plant, and how to protect your crops from cold weather. 

To start, I recommend taking a look at what your family really enjoys eating and select a few favorites from the list below – no sense in growing food that won’t be enjoyed! For instance, I know that turnips will do really well in my zone 5B garden, but my family does not love them. Instead, I’ll focus on growing beets and greens that I know we will all enjoy.  

Next, take time to select varieties that will do well in cold growing conditions. Seed variety names like “Arctic King” or “Winter Blend” are good clues to cold-hardiness.  

Ready for a few easy-to-grow vegetable ideas for your fall garden? Keep in mind that this list is not at all exhaustive. I’ve suggested plants that have done well for me in my garden in Northeast Missouri. In planting a fall garden, I battle extreme heat, drought, and a fairly high pest load, so if I can grow a successful fall garden, I know you will be able to! 

Ten Easy to Grow Vegetables for your Fall Garden 

1) Lettuce 

Lettuce loves cool weather, so it’s a great choice for your fall garden. I have enjoyed picking salads from the garden through the end of December when I protect beds with floating row cover and clear plastic. 

2) Spinach 

If I had to pick one vegetable for my fall garden, it would be spinach. Enjoyed fresh or cooked, spinach thrives in cool weather, becoming even more sweet tasting after frost.  

3) Mustard Greens 

I like to add a few varieties of mustard greens to my salad blends, to add a bit of spicy kick. They endure the cold quite well, and grow quickly in the late summer and early fall. 

4) Cilantro 

Cilantro is a true cold weather plant that, in my zone 5B garden, will last well into the winter months, even without frost protection. I like to let cilantro re-seed itself by leaving plants in the ground to flower and produce seeds. In the spring, cilantro is often among the first plants to germinate.  

5) Garlic 

Homegrown garlic far exceeds the flavor of anything you will find at the grocery store. Its cold-hardiness makes it an excellent choice for your fall garden. Although you can also plant garlic in the spring, for a later summer harvest, my preferred method is to plant garlic in the fall and let it overwinter, harvesting it in late June. Check out my Ultimate Guide to Growing, Harvesting, and Storing Garlic for more detailed cultivation information! (https://homestead-honey.com/2015/06/21/growing-harvesting-and-storing-garlic/) 

6) Beets 

Beets are one of my favorite crops because you can enjoy the green tops and store the roots for months in cool storage. Beet seeds will need lots of consistent moisture to germinate, but they are a relatively easy and quick growing crop.  

7) Mache 

Mache, also known as corn salad, is a cold-loving green that makes a lovely addition to salads. I will sow it in the fall for fresh eating, and again in the later fall to overwinter for early spring greens. 

8) Kale 

Kale is a powerhouse vegetable that grows year round, gets even sweeter after the first frost, and re-seeds itself in the garden. I love to plant Lacinato and Red Russian kale, but I’ve also heard great things about Vates. Sow your kale in succession from early spring through early fall for a variety of sizes for salads, smoothies, and stir-fries. 

9) Chinese Cabbage 

Chinese cabbage is one of my favorite cool weather vegetables. We sauté it in stir-fries and also enjoy it fermented into Kimchi.  

10) Radishes 

For a quick-win fall crop, be sure to add radishes to your list. In fact, sow radish seeds every two weeks, and enjoy continual harvests.  

 

For more inspiration, pick up a few seed catalogs (High Mowing Seeds is a great one for fall gardening because they sell many cold-hardy and short season crops that do well in Northern Vermont) and start browsing!

Use this list as a jumping off point, and dive into Homestead Honey’s Guide to Fall Gardening Ebook for more detailed guidance on how to plant a successful and bountiful fall garden. Happy growing! 

Wildflowers, this ebook has me thinking of all the ways I CAN garden…I’m so inspired that my husband is going to think I’ve lost my mind! Teri makes a daunting process much simpler and I know so many of you would love to dive in with her to eat fresh, home grown veggies all year long. Imagine the money you’ll save! Get the ebook here!

Teri Page is the creator of Homestead Honey (https://homestead-honey.com) where she writes about gardening, homesteading, fermentation, foraging, and off the grid living. She is the author of Family Homesteading, which is now available for pre-order (https://amzn.to/2O1EpFK)! Teri is also a life and business coach who enjoys working with women who are ready to live their homestead dream!