My favorite cleaning tip is to tackle mold in the shower tile. I soak paper towels in chlorox, then squeeze them, roll them up length wise and press them into the mold area of the tile. The paper towel will adhere to the tile whether it is on the floor or the walls of the shower area. Let them sit for several hours, or even till they dry. Remove and you will see amazing results.

Thank you for posting about Liquid Sunshine. I would love to try some. My favorite cleaning hack is tiny but mighty. I save all the lil plastic gizmos off the bread bags (those lil square thingies that hold the bag closed). Believe it or not, they make the best lil pot scrubbers! Happy cleaning!

I use Grapefruit Seed Extract or White Thyme Essential Oil as an awesome kitchen or bathroom disinfectant instead of Bleach or spray disinfectants. I dilute approx. 10-15 drops of either in 16 oz. of Distilled water and use on every surface in the kitchen and bathroom after cleaning with my natural green cleaners. I also use White Vinegar de-scale my home water distiller unit. It is much greener than the commercial grade de-scaler that the manufacturer sells (and about 290% cheaper – $1.00 opposed to $29.00!)

Use vinegar and water in your carpet cleaner. It gets carpets real clean without chemical cleaners.

because of ll my allergies, I use baking soda & vinegar. Favorite tip is to put vinegar in a spray bottle for all cleanup and smelly things. A spray of vinegar on anything and you can go into any room. A good thing when my grown children’s pets visit.

I use a lot of the 7th Generation products, but am always willing to try new things.

When I finish in the shower I toss baking soda all about. Later I spray with vinegar. I never have to scrub and it stays clean

I love my 36″ Premium microfiber dust mop. I have wood floors and it sure beats trying to sweep with a tiny 10″ broom! Then I use a damp microfiber pad and voilà, I’m done- and no chemicals. 😉

When you are leaving one room to go to another, pick up anything that belongs in the room you are going to and take it with you and put it away. That way, you are always picking up, and there is less do put away when you do ‘serious’ cleaning!

My favorite cleaning tip is for getting scum off of your shower walls. Mix vinegar and blue dawn detergent in a spray bottle. Spray on your shower walls, let it sit awhile and then wipe off with a wet rag.

I love to clean with vinegar and lemon !! I even “cook”the mixture in the microwave for a couple minutes….then just wipe clean !! Easy-peazy. Plus, I also run it through my coffe maker for easy and safe cleaning 😀

I really believe it’s easier to keep things clean then it is to get them clean. I try to stick to a manageable schedule to keep my home clean. I sometimes say that I’m cleaning the clean spots.

3 to 1 water and vinegar to clean windows (or anything else), and then wiping dry with old newspaper. Streak free all the time! 🙂

I keep a sponge that has a hollow handle filled with half vinegar half detergent and use to keep my bathroom sink, tub and toilet clean daily.

I place a sheet of wax paper on top of my kitchen cupboards. When it comes time to spring clean – so easy! Just roll it off, wipe clean, and put a new layer on! Saves hours of scrubbing.

I have my bakery business for gluten free bakery that is as organic as possible if not organic then non-gmo and I sell at the Farmer’s Markets and Festivals in my area.
Also, gardening and mowing, I spend a lot of time outside. Hopefully will squeeze in some hiking and fishing.

I have used this product and recommend it. Living in South Florida, you can never have enough sunscreen. I walk, swim and ride a bike . . . I never leave home without it. My grandchildren will be coming in August to snorkel, paddle board and whatever. This would be a welcome addition to protect them from the strong sun.

I spend most of my Summer in my gardens. Living in Montana we live for days when the wind feels GOOD and not freezing our fingers! This has been a late starting Summer ,so I am going to be picking my first of the season peas this week Yea! come on baby potatoes! My favorite dish is the first baby potatoes and peas creamed. Being over 60 I have found skin care is very important , I wish I had started when I was younger. We knew nothing about the uv index when I was a teen , we sunbathed with baby oil and iodine mixed together! Crazy! Now I never even go outside for any length of time without my sun hat.

playing with my grandkids outside and in their swimming pool,going to parks, lakes they are 2 boys 3 years old and 1 years old, 2 girls almost 2 in august and other one will be 2 in jan, phoenix the oldest boy 4 in jan , they keep you jumping, work nights so might sleep while their moms watch them , need good tree with shade

No summer vacation planned but I will be outdoors tending my chickens and gardens.

I walk my 3 dogs each morning in the sunshine…or rain! I love being outdoors, connecting with nature, and breathing in the different fresh and sweet scents that the plants/trees emit.

Staycation by my pool 🌴🌻🍹

This summer is filled with outdoor activities. Tending to my gardens. Cutting wood for winter. Camping, swimming & hiking. Always outside and need skin protection from the sun rays.

Honestly…sit around and wait for Autumn to get here LOL Im a redhead so the sun and I don’t get along. Winning some sunscreen would be a good thing for me! 😉

I will in my backyard taking care of my organic garden and picking lots of blueberries from all my blueberry bushes!

Glamping as often as possible. Love being outside as our season is short in Michigan

Me and my 4 year daughter plan to soak up the sun on our new farm! Tending the garden, chasing chickens, bee stings, and tree house campouts !

My summer in the sun will be spent in the garden and riding my bicycle.

We just got back from our island vacation-Martha’s Vineyard! so beautiful. we try to take day trips to the beach during the summer, or just sit beside our pool.

We plan to take our 1985 Westfalia across country (we’re hoping it makes it!), visiting the great National Parks and enjoying the beautiful USA!

We are working our new steer and the chicks are in the pasture. We will go kayaking and swimming. Sun care is essential for work and play!
Jena

I don’t have any travel plans other than nearby quilt shows. My time in the sun will be spent on the tractor, taking care of our acreage, garden and flowers. Plenty to do outside. I have developed a sun allergy, so I use plenty of sunscreen. Thank you for the opportunity.

We take our 3 dogs to play with friends at the dog park, go to the local baseball games, work on our property and hang out in the hammock.

My summer in the sun plan is spending time in my yard and garden, trying to keep up with the mowing and weeding along with getting ready for fall gardening. Actually, very relaxing !!

Lots of gardening that is if the bunnies don’t eat all my plants before they even have a chance to grow.

We have 5 1/2 acres that I mow every 4 to 5 days. I love being outdoors and really need good sunscreen products.

My summer in the sun. . . I have a Cottage Kitchen business that makes jams, jellies, condiments and baked goods. This is a busy season picking our fruit as it ripens, cooking over a hot stove and canning the flavors of summer. Our local farmer’s market and other venues find me standing in a booth giving samples of our goods. Summer, it’s a good thing!

It makes me feel good to use Organic products whenever I can – both into my mouth and on my skin. I have a dear friend who invites me to sit by her beautiful pool with her, and that is when i like to use products that are good for my skin – to go with girl-time that is good for the soul!

We’re attending my nieces wedding being held in a meadow at the base of Mt. Adams in Washington state. It should be beautiful and a bonus family reunion at the same time, camping and lodge stays included. We’re starting the festivities with a hot dog roast the night before, yoga the morning of the ceremony, and birding in Hood River the day after.
We’re also going on a 6 mile Rail Ride in Tillamook, Oregon! Pedaling our way as a group down the old railroad tracks along the beautiful Oregon coast. Given that these fantastic opportunities take place outside and I had stage one melanoma removed a year ago, the Coola prize would be the perfect protection during these activities.

Summer’s sun is welcome after a hard winter in southern Idaho. In morning hours, I’m outside checking on my garden for dryness, weather is in the 100’s this week. I’m fascinated with growing corn, beans, zucchini, tomatoes, and squash. A couple of flower baskets get water daily. Have introduced clover to the front and back yards to conserve on water and mowing. I recently spent time building a fence from recycled wood for my garden. Frequently I take day trips to see the surrounding small cities and farms. When I’m outside I try to keep my skin protected from the sun, and wear a hat, but haven’t found a good protectant to apply on my skin regularly. Maybe “Coola” will be the answer!

give me reason to try and start a milk farm someday

Not sure if it has made me full fill my drew but I really enjoy all your articles and what ever you publish. I have your first book like this. My dream has always been to be more self sufficient. Your articles are very helpful. Would very much like to have your new book.

I grew up on a dairy farm and I must say your magazine makes it sound like so much more fun than I remember. We had a herd of Holsteins and most of those girls were taller than I am. When I helped put them in their stalls I could barely see over them. They are beautiful, friendly, intelligent ladies and I enjoyed being around them–except when they escaped their pasture and tromped through the vegetable garden. You haven’t lived until you have a knock on the door or a phone call at 2:00 a.m. from a neighbor notifying you your cows are out. Try running through the pasture–look out for that fence!–searching for where they got out and herding them back in, all in the dark, then fixing that hole in the fence so they don’t get out again.

We also had chickens. Feeding them and collecting eggs was a test of patience. I had to sneak very slowly and carefully into the chicken house because the slightest quick movement would cause the whole flock to take flight in a cloud of dust.

I haven’t seen any mention of pigs in your magazine but if you don’t have any–well, I’d rather have cows any day! Chasing escaped pigs is even more of an adventure–they are even more agile than cows and can slip through much smaller spaces at a faster speed.

I have been a town girl since I got married 28 years ago. My husband grew up and worked on farms, too, but we couldn’t afford to buy our own so we had to settle for town life. Your magazine is my fantasy farm–all of the fun and none of the work! Thanks for a great read.

Your magazine has become such an inspiration for me. To be honest i did not think that when the first few issues arrived! My mom had gotten me a subscription as a birthday gift. Initially i almost dreaded reading it because i thought i was such a failure compared to the women i would read about. But soon i realized how much i identified with the ‘farmgirl’ experiences and values of the staff from MaryJane as well as the many featured articles. You have a way of welcoming the reader, giving me a sense of friendship and even family. Eventually i realized that the message in your magazine is not to compare, but to inspire. From cover to cover it seems to say, “Here’s what i did; you can do it too!” Needless to say, i begged my mom to continue my subscription!

We live offgrid in a home (honestly) my husband built. I want to say “we” but the truth is that he has done all the labor. I homeschool our 6, soon to be 7, children. We try to grow all our own food on our ‘homestead’. Each year we produce a little bit more. We just put up a full size greenhouse, my dream come true. We raise ducks so far, but hope to continue to goats soon. I still dream of a dairy cow too.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and wisdom. You have been such an inspiration along the way, just in surviving. But as we continue to get our feet under us, we look forward to thriving to the point of selling lots of products from our own land and hands.

This magazine inspires the need to do things from scratch and what I want to do when I own my dream farm someday. Having looked at this book from a library, it is definitely something I would want to add to my library. I know I will want a cow for all my dairy making needs.

I just got your Aug/Sep magazine yesterday and have read most of it already. I have been looking at the ‘Milk Cow Kitchen’ ad in every magazine since I started receiving them. If I don’t win this book I will purchase it as soon as I can afford to on my limited budget. I have chickens, and a small plot for tomatoes and peppers, not much of a farm but I am a country farm girl at heart. I am so glad I found your magazine. I gave a gift subscription to my sister-in-law and she loves it. Looking forward to more great articles and information on the simpler side of life.

Mary Janes Farm has given us the confidence and knowledge that WE CAN DO THIS

I don’t have a farm but I am working on a vegetable garden & herb garden on my rural property. Your magazine & website offer so much inspiration & so many helpful hints, just when I start to get discouraged. And after a good day in the yard, I can escape into your homespun magazine. Thank you.

I have always lived on a farm , however I have learned more advanced sewing through maryjanes

I grew up on a mini farm . We had chickens pigs ducks a horse but never a cow. They look beautiful. I would love to learn about them. We now live in the city but dream about moving to the country. Maybe someday.

Your magazine is inspirational beautiful and refreshing in a world that lacks much of this. Thank you for this breath of fresh air.

Blissful!! 😉 !!!!

I have a complicated relationship with chocolate. It’s like the bad boy I should give up, but can’t.

Savory, eating a square of dark chocolate is heavenly. Besides the great Health benefits… dark chocolate is full of good antibiotics.

Chocolate is my favorite. I love Dark Chocolate. It just makes me feel good:) Every day I have to have some form of chocolate. It is definitely one of my weaknesses.

Yum! It makes very happy!

A GOOD chocolate is a yummy indulgent slice of heaven that you’re only willing to share with those you love…..sunny blue skies with puffy fairy clouds.

Chocolate is divinity on my tongue! I let a small bite slowly dissolve in my mouth and it brings me to the present moment…every delicious detail of it helps me to release past and future thoughts. I stop for a few moments and savor the present moment!

Bliss!

One word – Euphoric.

Just love dark chocolate. I have a jar at work, and call it my emergency stash!

A piece of chocolate everyday seems to lift my spirits in the hectic world we live in. I have enjoyed everything from a Hershey’s bar to very fine gourmet chocolate, but mostly the simpler the better. One piece of a simple Dove chocolate in the afternoon gets me through each day in a better mood and feeling satisfied.

Decadent, Splurgy, Calm, Wistful, Dreamy….. 🙂

I feel very lucky, satisfied, and calm…i have made that exhausting climb to the top of the highest mountain. Finally my efforts have paid off. My reward. Heaven. Ok.there is some guilt, because im a diabetic but dark chocolate is ok sometimes….

Well I’m sure chocolate induces all those happy endorphins, so eating it can feel so good. But i always feel better when its organic! And when it is fair trade and sustainable, i feel as if i am helping to make the world a better place by eating it!!

I love LOVE chocolate!!! I have had a relationship with chocolate as long as I can remember! It calls my name and I answer at any given moment! It’ soo good, even just thinking about it!!!

Chocolate anything, milk, cookies, candy, cakes, frosting, ice cream, is panacea to my emotional side. I keep a large bar of ‘dark’ chocolate in the fridge for ‘craving’ attacks so that I don’t eat myself out of house and home, when I don’t have anything else that will satisfy it. It is extremely soothing to let a small piece sit on your tongue and melt slowly and stop the craving that torments the body and soul.

Chocolate makes me feel happy. I fit it into a healthy diet so that I don’t feel like I’m giving all of the special treats up.

Chocolate, melting slowly on my tongue, filling me with that wonderful taste… can’t be beat. It’s like Ahhhhhhhh.

Chocolate especially with peanut butter or peanuts are my favorite. Back when Reece’s were 5 cents and I found a quarter, I would go to my local grocery store across the street and buy 5 of them from Mr. Vermilion and eat all of them one after the other. YUM!!!

Dark Chocolate satisfying!

Chocolate makes me feel wonderful.

I try to eat chocolate slowly to savor it as long as I can!

When I eat chocolate I feel very indulgent – it is a true treat!

Decadent and a little naughty. 🙂

I feel like I just gave myself a little treat!

Thank you for the book!! Am excited..and Blessed!!

Ohio Hugs!! 🙂

Thank you!!! I’m so excited for the glamping book!! Thanks again for your generosity!
Debbe J