You can make a DIY cooking oil solidifier at home using a simple, food-safe method. The main ingredient that helps turn liquid oil into a solid is gelatin, agar-agar, or natural waxes (like beeswax or soy wax), depending on whether you want the result to be biodegradable, edible, or just safe for trash disposal.

Here’s a simple, trash-safe, homemade recipe:

🧪 DIY Cooking Oil Solidifier (Non-Edible, Trash-Safe)

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon beeswax or soy wax pellets

• 1/2 cup used cooking oil (strained)

• Optional: 1 tablespoon baking soda (to help neutralize smell)

📌 Ratio: Use ~1 tablespoon of wax for every 1/2 cup of oil

Instructions:

1. Strain the Used Oil
   Remove any leftover food bits so it doesn’t smell bad while solidifying.

2. Melt the Wax
   In a small pot or a heat-safe container over a double boiler, melt the beeswax or soy wax until it’s fully liquid.

3. Add the Oil
   Pour the used oil into the melted wax, and stir gently until fully mixed.

4. Let It Cool
   Pour the mixture into a container or leave it in the pan if that’s easier. Let it cool at room temperature or refrigerate to speed it up.

5. Dispose of It
   Once it’s solid, just scoop it out and toss it in the trash.

✅ Safe for:

• Home trash disposal

• Avoiding clogged pipes

• Environmentally friendlier than pouring oil down the sink

If you want an eco-friendly, biodegradable version, you can use plant-based waxes or natural gelling agents like agar or cornstarch, but those won’t harden as much as wax-based versions.

Vinegar is an excellent natural way to repel and eliminate ants without using harsh chemicals. Here's how you can use it effectively:

How Vinegar Works Against Ants

• Breaks scent trails – Ants rely on pheromone trails to navigate; vinegar disrupts these paths.

• Repels them – The strong smell deters ants from entering treated areas.

• Kills ants on contact – The acidity in vinegar can kill ants when sprayed directly.

How to Use Vinegar for Ant Control

1. Vinegar Spray for Ant Trails

🔹 Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
🔹 Spray directly on ant trails, entry points, and around windows, doors, and baseboards.
🔹 Repeat daily until ants are gone.

2. Undiluted Vinegar for Tough Infestations

🔹 For severe problems, use 100% undiluted white vinegar.
🔹 Pour or spray it in ant-prone areas, cracks, and crevices.

3. Vinegar Mop for Floors

🔹 Add 1 cup of vinegar to a bucket of water and mop floors where ants are active.
🔹 This removes their scent trails and discourages new ants.

4. Vinegar Barrier for Outdoor Ants

🔹 Spray vinegar around the foundation, patio, or garden beds to deter ants.
🔹 Reapply after rain.

💡 Bonus Tip: Add a few drops of peppermint or lemon essential oil for an extra repelling effect!

Vinegar is a safe, cheap, and eco-friendly way to keep ants away. 🐜🚫

Here are 50 Amish gardening hacks inspired by their time-tested, self-sufficient, and organic methods:

Soil Preparation & Enrichment

1. Use Manure Compost – Fertilize soil with aged manure from cows, horses, or chickens.

2. Rotate Crops – Avoid depleting soil nutrients by planting different crops each season.

3. Mulch Heavily – Use straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

4. Plant Cover Crops – Grow clover or alfalfa in the off-season to replenish nutrients.

5. No-Till Gardening – Reduce soil disturbance to maintain beneficial microbes.

6. Use Wood Ash – Sprinkle in garden beds to add potassium and raise soil pH.

7. Bury Kitchen Scraps – Compost directly in garden rows for slow-release nutrients.

8. Make a Compost Tea – Soak compost in water for a nutrient-rich plant boost.

9. Grow Companion Plants – Improve soil and deter pests naturally.

10. Encourage Earthworms – Add organic matter to attract worms that aerate the soil.

Natural Pest & Weed Control

11. Plant Marigolds – Repel nematodes and insects naturally.

12. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth – Deters slugs, beetles, and other pests.

13. Use Homemade Garlic Spray – Keep bugs away with a garlic-infused water solution.

14. Introduce Beneficial Insects – Attract ladybugs and praying mantises for natural pest control.

15. Use Epsom Salt – A natural deterrent for slugs and provides magnesium to plants.

16. Create a Bird-Friendly Garden – Birds eat harmful insects.

17. Make a Vinegar Spray – Kill weeds naturally without harming soil.

18. Use Baking Soda – Prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

19. Hand-Pick Pests at Dawn – The Amish often remove pests manually.

20. Encourage Frogs & Toads – Build small ponds to attract them as natural pest controllers.

Watering & Irrigation

21. Use Rain Barrels – Collect rainwater for natural irrigation.

22. Deep Watering – Water plants deeply but less frequently to develop strong roots.

23. Bury Clay Pots (Ollas) – Fill with water for slow-release hydration.

24. Water Early Morning or Late Evening – Reduces evaporation loss.

25. Drip Irrigation with Recycled Bottles – Bury a bottle with holes for slow watering.

Seed Saving & Propagation

26. Save Heirloom Seeds – Grow non-GMO, open-pollinated varieties for sustainable gardening.

27. Ferment Tomato Seeds – Helps remove gelatinous coating for better germination.

28. Store Seeds in Glass Jars – Keep them dry and cool for longer viability.

29. Cut & Regrow Veggies – Reuse scraps like green onions and celery.

30. Use Eggshells for Seedlings – Biodegradable and provides calcium to plants.

Maximizing Space & Yield

31. Grow Vertically – Use trellises for beans, peas, and cucumbers.

32. Interplant Crops – Grow fast and slow-growing crops together.

33. Plant in Hills – Improves drainage for squash, melons, and potatoes.

34. Stagger Planting Times – Ensures a continuous harvest.

35. Use Straw Bales for Raised Beds – Cheap and effective alternative to wooden beds.

Season Extension & Preservation

36. Use Cold Frames – Extend the growing season in cooler months.

37. Mulch Over Winter – Protects soil and prevents erosion.

38. Store Root Vegetables in Sand – Keeps carrots, potatoes, and beets fresh longer.

39. Use Row Covers – Protects plants from frost and pests.

40. Canning & Drying – Preserve excess harvest for winter use.

Miscellaneous Hacks

41. Plant by the Moon Phases – Follow lunar cycles for better growth.

42. Use an Old Bathtub as a Garden Bed – Amish repurpose items creatively.

43. Make a DIY Greenhouse – Use old windows for a small, budget-friendly greenhouse.

44. Plant a Three Sisters Garden – Corn, beans, and squash support each other naturally.

45. Use an Old Wagon Wheel as a Plant Divider – Organize herbs or flowers.

46. Let Chickens Weed Your Garden – They eat weeds and fertilize the soil.

47. Grow Medicinal Herbs – Chamomile, echinacea, and peppermint for natural remedies.

48. Make Your Own Liquid Fertilizer – Use fish emulsion or compost tea.

49. Allow Some Weeds to Grow – Some attract pollinators and improve soil.

50. Follow the Farmer’s Almanac – The Amish rely on traditional wisdom for planting times.

These Amish-inspired hacks can help you grow a healthier, more sustainable, and productive garden! 🌱🚜

Here's a slow-release fertilizer tablet recipe specifically designed for Strawberries 🍓 and Watermelons 🍉.

Why These Ingredients Work for 🍓Strawberries & 🍉Watermelons

• Banana peels – High in potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) for fruit development.

• Eggshells – Provides calcium (Ca), preventing blossom-end rot.

• Coffee grounds – Adds nitrogen (N) for leafy growth but in moderation to avoid excess acidity.

• Cooked potatoes – Starch feeds beneficial microbes for healthier soil.

• Sugar – Boosts microbial activity, helping roots absorb nutrients better.

• Lentils – A natural nitrogen source, improving plant vigor.

Homemade Slow-Release Fertilizer Tablets for Strawberries & Watermelons

Ingredients:

• 2 banana peels (dried & powdered)

• 5 eggshells (crushed into fine powder)

• ½ cup coffee grounds (dried)

• 1 small cooked potato (mashed)

• 2 tbsp sugar (dissolved in warm water)

• ¼ cup soaked lentils (blended into a paste)

• Binder (optional) – 1 tbsp cornstarch or gelatin dissolved in warm water

Instructions:

1. Prepare Ingredients

• Dry banana peels & grind into powder.

• Crush eggshells into fine powder.

• Dry coffee grounds completely.

• Mash cooked potatoes.

• Soak lentils overnight & blend into a paste.

• Dissolve sugar in warm water.

2. Mix Ingredients Together

• In a bowl, combine banana peel powder, eggshell powder, coffee grounds, mashed potato, and lentil paste.

• Add sugar water and cornstarch or gelatin binder (if using).

• Mix until a thick, dough-like consistency forms.

3. Shape into Tablets

• Roll into small balls (marble-sized) or press into a mold.

• If too wet, add more dried coffee grounds or eggshell powder to absorb moisture.

4. Drying Process

• Air dry for 2-3 days OR

• Bake at low heat (150°F or 65°C) for 2-3 hours until firm.

5. Store & Use

• Keep in an airtight container to prevent moisture.

• For strawberries: Place one tablet per plant, 2 inches deep in soil.

• For watermelons: Use 2-3 tablets per plant, spread around the base.

Why This Works for 🍓Strawberries & 🍉Watermelons

✅ High Potassium & Phosphorus → Supports big, juicy fruits.
✅ Slow Release → Prevents over-fertilization.
✅ Organic & Chemical-Free → Healthier soil & plants.