INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rosemary is easiest to grow from a cutting, rather than planting seeds.  Visit a community garden and ask for a cutting, or ask a friend for a cutting of their plant. After you find a rosemary plant, clip off a few 4 inch pieces to propagate. The best time to do this is in the late spring, but if you live in a warmer climate, this can be done during early autumn as well.  The plants you'll be able to grow from the cuttings will have the same qualities as the original bush.  If you'd prefer to grow a variety you haven't seen in your area, you can order a cutting online or ask your nursery to get one for you. There are many varieties of rosemary, each with slightly different properties. Some grow very bushy and tall, while others tend to trail; some have purple or blue flowers, some white. You can also buy a seedling or small plant from a nursery if you don't want to propagate a cutting. Before planting the rosemary, strip the leaves off of the lower section of the cutting (about an inch from the end of the stem). This part of the plant will go into the soil. It is important to strip these leaves because leaving these leaves on will cause the stem to rot instead of grow. After you have stripped the leaves, put each cutting into a small pot of soil filled with two-thirds coarse sand and one-third peat moss. Set the pot in a sunny place, but not in direct sunlight. Water the cuttings regularly and keep in a warm spot until the roots form, which should take about three weeks.  To help the cuttings grow, you can place the entire pot inside a plastic bag with a few holes punctured in the top. This will help regulate the temperature and keep things warm and moist.  You may also dip the tips of the rosemary cuttings in rooting powder to give them a head start. Once roots have formed, you can plant the rosemary either in pots or outdoors in your garden. Rosemary will adapt to most growing conditions and is quite hardy. It's happy with snow, limestone, high temperatures, by the seaside, and all sorts of soils. It will grow its best however, in a warm to hot, fairly dry climate. Choose a full sun aspect that is fairly dry.  Decide whether you want to keep growing it in pots or as a shrub in the garden. It can also be trained as a delightfully scented hedge. For cooler climates, containers may be best so that you can move them if needed. If planting in the garden, pot the cutting up once so it can establish more roots and gain strength before planting it outside. Then, choose soil that drains well. Rosemary can suffer from root rot in waterlogged soil. The more alkaline the soil, the more fragrant the rosemary will be. Dig in some lime if the soil is too acid.

SUMMARY: Get a rosemary cutting. Strip the leaves off the bottom inch of the stem. Propagate the rosemary. Plant the seedlings.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Making your own remineralizing toothpaste is easy and it only takes a few ingredients. You can use this toothpaste in place of your normal toothpaste, but keep in mind that this recipe does not contain any fluoride and being abrasive should not be used for more than 3 to 4 weeks in a row. Fluoride is an important mineral for reversing tooth decay and protecting your teeth from further damage. To make your own remineralizing toothpaste you will need:  4 tablespoons of calcium (carbonate) powder (crush calcium carbonate tablets or buy calcium powder in bulk). 2 tablespoons of baking soda. ½ to 1 packet of stevia. 1 teaspoon sea salt. 1/4 cup of coconut oil. a few drops of peppermint oil (optional). You can just use a strong fork to mix everything together. Make sure that they are well combined and that you have created a uniform paste. If the paste looks too thick, then you can add another tablespoon or two of coconut oil to thin it out.  Transfer the paste to a mason jar and seal it tightly when you are finished. Use the paste just like your regular toothpaste. The toothpaste will keep longer in the refrigerator, but you will need to set it out about 15 to 20 minutes before you want to use it so that the coconut oil can return to room temperature. Otherwise, the paste may be too solid to use.

SUMMARY: Gather ingredients. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Keep the toothpaste in your refrigerator.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The wetter your toy, the longer it will take to dry. Make sure all the excess water is gone before drying your animal on a clothesline. On a sunny day, use clothespins to hang your toy and set it to dry. The sun is a natural stain remover and sanitizer. Spot cleaning doesn’t require a lot of water, so you probably won’t need to hang out an animal that has been spot cleaned. Let your stuffed animal air dry if the weather isn’t cooperating. Simply let it sit in a protected area, away from pets and children. If your label indicates that you are able to use a dryer, place your animal in a dryer on low heat or permanent press. You may also use a hair dryer on a low setting or on cool. While heat dries the animal quickly, it can also damage the animal or mat the fur. If your dryer has a fluff air setting, use this to help maintain the fur. Add towels into your load to soften the movements of your animal. Also use dryer sheets to eliminate static electricity buildup so your little one doesn’t get shocked when first holding it. The inside takes longer than the outside to dry. Make sure the inside is dry or else mildew may grow, which can be hazardous to a child’s health. Use a dryer or hair dryer for a short period to hasten the process. The stuffing may have jostled during the drying process so reshape your animal and fluff the fur so that it looks like the original version.

SUMMARY:
Use a clothesline. Air dry your animal. Use a dryer. Avoid tumble drying. Ensure both the inside and outside are dry. Reposition and reshape the animal.