Quite a bit of time has passed since I last updated this blog. Rest assured, I have not forgotten about this project! Here is a quick update of what has happened in the past few months:
In the process of starting to prepare our ranch for greenhouses and living, the Aloe Vera plants were decimated by a rather large raccoon. The surviving Aloe Vera are doing well as they recover from half eaten roots and leaves. This bump in the road has proven to be quite a learning experience, however. I have seen first hand how resilient Aloe Vera can be, as most plants would never have survived such damage. I will soon be exploring preventative measures to protect the plants we move out to our ranch from varmints of all kinds.
We were able to save much of the seed from last years crop of banana peppers and a variety of heirloom tomatoes. We look forward to starting a new crop from seed just as soon as we secure a safe growing area-deer and caterpillars proved to be an obstacle with last years crop that negatively effected yield.
We have a dozen non-GMO lemon trees that we started from seed! They are a year old and doing very well, considering their restrictive growing environment. The lemon trees are currently growing indoors in a sun lit area at our residence in town due to the obstacles that local varmints presented and because we have been spending much of our time in town trying to sell our town house so that we can fully invest in our ranch home and greenhouses. As of today, we are days away from having the house ready to put on the market, which means I will soon need to construct a secure cold frame out at the ranch to protect the lemons and aloe vera from the cold winter months ahead. A friend of ours came to visit us the other day and commented on how well the lemons were doing despite their growing conditions-the oldest leaves were still green and while they are small for their age, new growth is evident. He was surprised and noted that it just goes to show that lemons can make good indoor plants, something he had never expected. Check out the page What else is Growing in the Greenhouse to view photos of stock plants.
Academically, I have been accepted into the Alpha Zeta honor's society.
I received an invitation to join
the national honor's society of Alpha Zeta due to my academic achievements and
career goals. Alpha Zeta is an honorary, professional society for students and
industry professionals in the agriculture and natural resources fields. Members
are dedicated to the highest levels of scholarship, leadership, integrity and
service. Members are a global network of diverse agricultural and natural
resources professionals recognizing, developing and promoting leaders with
common values and integrity.
The Green Project 2013
~Gabriella
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Travel: Proper Preparation and Covering
Proper Preparation & Covering
Travel
Over the summer I traveled to Hawaii for roughly three weeks. In preparation for my leave, I took several measures to ensure my plants (especially the vulnerable, young ones) would be taken care of while I was away. Succulents do not need much water to thrive, so I was not too worried about applying water often. Texas weather, however, is notoriously hot, windy, and cold at night. By covering the potters with plastic bags I was able to trap moisture within the soil-making up for water and humidity lost due to excessive heat and wind. I also moved plants to a sheltered location, reducing wind and temperature stress.
To cover the plants I took a standard trash bag and cut it in half. I then cut a line half way to the center of the plastic rectangle, then cutting a circle out of the center large enough to fit around the base of the plant. The ends of the plastic were tucked under the edges of the rims of the potters, and secured with duct tape. Plants were then placed in a sheltered location, out of direct wind and sun.
Upon returning three weeks later I discovered that many of my plants had become sexually mature while I was gone. After I uncovered the potters I noticed that the emerging pups were very pale in color-almost white.
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| Covered Aloe |
Other Cultivation and Maintenance tips:
Transplanting
Compost Tea
Organic compost tea for Aloe Vera (coming soon)
The Green Project 2013
~ Gabriella
Friday, July 3, 2015
Aloe Oil experiment II completing maceration
Aloe Vera Oil
experiment II
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| Aloe Vera Oil after completed process |
Completing the maceration process
After 6 weeks of cold maceration at 40°F the aloe Vera oil is ready to filter. The same method of filtration that was used in experiment I will be used in experiment II. A coffee filter was used to separate the oil from plant material.During the maceration process I found that I needed to refill the top few centimetres of the bottle with alcohol because it would evaporate over the course of a week. A tighter cork may prevent this evaporation.
Care Instructions for macerated Aloe Vera oil
The macerated oil should not be allowed to reach above room temperature. It does not have to remain chilled, however, because the potent medicinal properties within the gel aloe fillets have been preserved within the sunflower base oil (vitamin E). Avoid heat, as this will break down the potent medicinal compounds and degrade the quality of the oil.
The oil will remain chilled for now. Frequent temperature change will be avoided, likely extending quality and longevity of the oil since compounds will not experience temperature stress. In a building with typical A/C and heat, macerated Aloe oil can be stored at room temperature in a cool place out of direct sunlight, such as a kitchen cabinet.
Trials for hair, body, and face will be coming soon!
Aloe Oil Project so far:
Experiment I Experiment II
Stage III Stage III
Trial Stage IV (this page)
~Gabriella
The Green Project 2013
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Aloe Vera Oil: experiment II
Aloe Vera Oil
experiment II
Experiment II has been restarted as of today. Three to four weeks from now the maceration process should be complete and the oil should be ready to undergo personal trials.
The same procedure will take place as before for experiment II. Below is a duplicate copy of the procedure to occur, this can also be found under the link Aloe Vera Oil: understanding preservation and maceration techniques; experiment II, stage I.
Understanding preservation of extracted Aloe
After more research I discovered that once aloe is extracted from the plant it begins to lose its potency within as little as two hours. Prevention of oxidation and light exposure is key, aloe will begin to turn a pinkish color and proceed to brown when it begins to oxidize. This happens when aloe is left out in the open at room temperature or warmer. Refrigeration is the best way to preserve the aloe: fillets are best kept in an airtight container, preferably dark glass; if the gel is to be eaten or applied directly to the skin it is best kept refrigerated in an airtight container in its whole leaf form. Refrigeration will preserve maximum potency for two to three weeks.
Understanding maceration (cold infusion of oil)
As mentioned above, heat destroys the medicinal potency of aloe vera. This is something I was not aware of during my first Aloe oil experiment (experiment I). This second experiment will explore the method of maceration-a type of "cold" infusion of oils. Since aloe can not be heated, the liquid from the gel must be extracted by other means. Maceration requires soaking the desired plant material in a base oil, thus extracting the oil soluble components of the aloe into the base oil while still preserving its quality-no heat required. A stable base oil should be a virgin cold pressed oil. I found sunflower oil to be one of the more stable oils available on the market for a reasonable price; I might also mention it is non-GMO. Sunflower oil is also naturally high in Vitamin E, the vitamin acts as a natural preservative and is also very important for restoring skin. I filleted half a dozen aloe leaves into a glass container with "shoulders" and poured in enough sunflower oil to submerge the fillets; using a sunflower to aloe ratio of parts 3:1. Note that using a minimum amount of base oil will provide for a more dominant ratio of aloe to sunflower components. The differences in ratios of components and their subsequent differing effects on the body will be explored in later experiments. For now I am starting on the lower end of the potency spectrum if you will; this gives me a good basic foundation to work up from when exploring potency. All components and their medicinal properties need to be considered when making a combination of any kind. These experiments are not only about discovering which components to use, but also discovering how these components best work together and at what ratio. I filled the top of the container with two cap-fulls of rubbing alcohol and sealed the container with its airtight cork and put it in the refrigerator. I will let it sit for about three weeks, checking and stirring it occasionally.
The use of a differently shaped glass container with "shoulders" and a small neck will not only help keep plant materials submerged, but will also allow for the easy application of a small amount of alcohol on top of the solution to prevent molding.
After the Aloe oil is made, it will be added to three other oil mixtures: one for hair, one for the body, and one for the face. These three mixtures will be compared to using just the aloe oil alone (known as the control in experimental terms). Trials will follow afterward and will be compared to the prior trial in experiment I.
Aloe Oil Project so far:
Experiment I Experiment II
The Green Project 2013
~Gabriella
Friday, February 13, 2015
Cancer Killing Non-GMO Super Herbs used by Native Americans for Centuries
Skin cancer can be killed using the following non- GMO homeopathic
herbs. These herbs are native throughout North America and have been used by
Native Americans for centuries. Sanguinaria
canadensis, or bloodroot, is of the family Papaveraceae. Topically, it is used to remedy skin afflictions and is
known for its cancer killing properties. Calendula officinalis (marigold) and
Echinacea angustifolia (coneflower) are both of the daisy family Asteraceae/Compositae. Marigold is a detoxifying
agent as well as a remedy for genotoxicity (genetic mutations and cancer).
Echinacea is known to be an immune system booster and a cancer killing
antioxidant. These non-GMO herbs can be found in the form of topical salves at www.puremedy.com. After a nasty spot
appeared on my boyfriend's shoulder I applied the salve once a day. Just after
the first day it started healing. A dermatologist later confirmed that the spot
was melanoma, and that he had never seen anything kill melanoma the way the
salve had. The information above can be used to further research the
following herbs and their medicinal properties.
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| merigold- Calendula officinalis |
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| coneflower- Echinacea angustifolia |
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| Bloodroot-Sanguinaria canadensis |
The Green Project 2013
~ Gabriella
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
The Nursery is Growing!
A Growing Nursery
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| Mother plant in bloom Note: the mother plant is the only plant recorded to produce blooms so far. October 2014 |
Over the past few months, the Aloe Nursery has grown impressively. Eleven sexually mature plants have joined the mother plant in the nursery, expanding class three from a quantity of 1 to a quantity of 12. More than ten new pups are emerging vigorously from the class one plants, comprising class one. Only three Aloe plants, those that have already been separated from their mother, have yet to reach sexual maturity-these in between plants will make up class two.
After nearly a year, the nursery has almost doubled in size (compare photos below). Only three of the smallest transplantees from the beginning of the year did not make it-they were separated from their mother plant too soon and proved to be too premature.
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| Brand new additions to class one: sexually mature plants October 2014 |
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| December 2013 |
.jpg) |
| This transplantee will soon rival the original mother plant. October 2014 |
The Green Project 2013
~ Gabby
Update On Experiment II: Aloe Oil
Aloe Oil
experiment II
 |
| New maceration bottle to be used in making Aloe Oil. Note the small neck and "shoulders" of the bottle. |
The latest experiment, experiment II, will have to be restarted due to molding. The same procedure will take place as before, with two major adjustments: 1) usage of a different maceration container,and 2) the addition of a small amount of alcohol poured on top of the maceration solution, prior to capping. The use of a differently shaped glass container with "shoulders" and a small neck will not only help keep plant materials submerged, but will also allow for the easy application of a small amount of alcohol on top of the solution to prevent molding.
After the Aloe oil is made, it will be added to three other oil mixtures: one for hair, one for the body, and one for the face. Trials will follow afterward and will be compared to the prior trial in experiment I
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| Custom oil mixtures for hair, body, and face. The Aloe Oil will be added to these custom mixtures after production and trials will proceed. |
Aloe Oil Project so far:
Experiment I Experiment II
Stage II Stage II (this page)
Greenhouse Archive (2014: April)
The Green Project 2013
~ Gabby
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Aloe Vera Oil: understanding preservation and maceration techniques
Aloe Oil
experiment II
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| Aloe macerating in sunflower oil |
Understanding preservation of extracted Aloe
After more research I discovered that once aloe is extracted from the plant it begins to lose its potency within as little as two hours. Prevention of oxidation and light exposure is key, aloe will begin to turn a pinkish color and proceed to brown when it begins to oxidize. This happens when aloe is left out in the open at room temperature or warmer. Refrigeration is the best way to preserve the aloe: fillets are best kept in an airtight container, preferably dark glass; if the gel is to be eaten or applied directly to the skin it is best kept refrigerated in an airtight container in its whole leaf form. Refrigeration will preserve maximum potency for two to three weeks.
Understanding maceration (cold infusion of oil)
As mentioned above, heat destroys the medicinal potency of aloe vera. This is something I was not aware of during my first Aloe oil experiment (experiment I). This second experiment will explore the method of maceration-a type of "cold" infusion of oils. Since aloe can not be heated, the liquid from the gel must be extracted by other means. Maceration requires soaking the desired plant material in a base oil, thus extracting the oil soluble components of the aloe into the base oil while still preserving its quality-no heat required. A stable base oil should be a virgin cold pressed oil. I found sunflower oil to be one of the more stable oils available on the market for a reasonable price. Sunflower oil is also naturally high in Vitamin E, the vitamin acts as a natural preservative and is also very important for restoring skin. I filleted a dozen aloe leaves into a glass container and poured in just enough sunflower oil to cover the top of the fillets. Using a minimum amount of base oil will provide for a more dominant ratio of aloe to sunflower components. I covered the container with its airtight lid and put it in the refrigerator. I will let it sit for about three weeks, checking and stirring it occasionally.
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
~Gabby
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Aloe Oil Trials: Face and Hair
After several weeks of using the Aloe and coconut oil blend I have seen an impressive amount of improvement in both my hair and complexion.
Hair:
My hair is long, thick, and wavy. Damage includes coloring (my hair has never been bleached), the repeated use of a flat iron and curler, sun exposure, split ends, rough cuticle, breakage, and the dreaded frizz. The outermost layer of my hair suffers the most from frizz and brittleness while the underside remains healthy and smooth.
I used the Aloe oil mostly on the ends and outermost layer of my hair. The oil helped seal in the cuticle, making hair smooth and shiny; but maybe a little too shiny. The oil proved to be heavy, so it was used sparingly. As the weeks went by the frizz became much more manageable and I noticed less breakage. The oil could be lighter, so as to not weigh down hair and leave a more mattee sheen.
Face:
In the evenings I wipe my face down with the same Aloe oil blend, massaging it into the skin and wisking it away with a damp cottonball. This lifts away most of the dirt, so the soap can penetrate deep into the pores instead of battling grime stuck on the surface.
I have very acne prone, oily skin. Damage includes distressed and blemished skin and the need to correct skin tone. After weeks of using this oil every night and sometimes in the morning I noticed an amazing improvement. The oil did not clog pores as one might expect, but did the exact opposite. It soothed redness and evened out pigment discoloration. Scars left behind are beginning to fade and my complexion is looking smoother overall. Breakouts have become more manageable due to the deep pore clensing the oil is able to accomplish and skin is even starting to appear firmer.
To battle my oily complexion I have begun to use a jojaba oil and lemon extract blend in the mornings (after the Aloe blend if I decide to use the Aloe oil in the morning). The jojaba helps control excessive oil production by glands and the lemon extract evens out skintone.
I was so impressed by how the oils worked that I have decided to tweak my original recipie and blend three specially customized Aloe oils to meet the needs of my face, body, and hair.
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Aloe Vera Oil: Home Made (and All Natural) fin.
Aloe Oil: Second Straining Process
experiment I
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| Aloe Oil: second filtration process using coffee filter |
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| Drip |
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| Aloe Oil: Final product 4 oz |
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Aloe Vera Oil: Home Made (and All Natural) cont.
Aloe Oil: Heating Process
experiment I
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| Start |
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| Finish |
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| Leftover Aloe pieces after being cooked and strained. The pieces resemble a texture similar to that of onion rings. |
After the Aloe pulp and coconut oil set for 3 days, I removed the mixture from it's container and simmered it for 50 min on low heat (electric burner notches 2-3)until the it stopped bubbling. The gel pieces shrank in size by the end of the heating process, turning crispy like onion rings. I let the mixture stand for one hour to allow it to return to room temperature. A small, tightly woven mesh strainer was used to filter the oil. Tomorrow I will filter it one more time with a coffee filter to remove any small remaining particles. The 4 aloe leaves plus 200 mL of coconut oil yielded approx. 4 fluid oz of Aloe Oil.
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| Aloe Oil: still requiring one more filtering (NOTE: not all specks are aloe-the counter top happens to be speckled. The larger specks are remaining aloe product.) |
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Aloe Vera Oil: Home Made (and All Natural)
Aloe Oil
experiment I
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| Aloe Oil process step (1) |
FORMULA:
50 mL of coconut oil for every Aloe Vera leaf.
RECIPE:
(1)Remove center gel from aloe leaves. Mix combination until gel is fully covered and let sit for 3 days. (2)After 3 days, heat mixture over low flame for 10-15 minutes; stir mixture continuously, when popping sound of hot oil stops remove mixture from heat. (3)Let mixture stand until at room temperature and then strain.
NOTES OF PROGRESS:
For this experiment I used the gel of 4 mature aloe leaves combined with 200mL of coconut oil. This mixture was made last night, it will be ready to heat on Thursday, the 10th. I shall update progress of the experiment after the heating process is complete- followed by a documented, full length test drive of the Aloe Oil on my own hair.
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Light Deprivation
The image on the right is the "4th" and eldest of the four pups that are still attached to the mother plant. It was accidentally separated from the mother plant when I was removing mature leaves to collect the center gel. The picture below was taken one day after the transplant. As you can see, the centers of both pups in both pictures are a very pale green. The two pups were originally growing side by side at the base of the mother plant, as shown by the still attached pup in the picture to the left. The mature leaves at the bottom tier of the mother plant's rosette pattern were covering the pups, thus rendering the plant's chlorophyll (which gives vegetation its pigment) unable to absorb adequate light. The pup still attached to the mother remains partially covered, but the separated pup now has the chance to be fully doused in light. I will keep track of the length of time it will take for the separated pup to regain its pigment.
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| 3rd eldest pup still attached to mother plant |
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| eldest/separated pup |
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Update: Aloe beginning to bloom
It is now spring and the mother plant is once again beginning her reproductive cycle. 3 pups are still attatched to her; the 4th and oldest of the pups was accidentally knocked off and seperated from the mother. It was immediately transplanted and is currently doing well.
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| beginning flower |
The Green Project 2013
~Gabby
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Cold Temperatures & Aloe
Lately the weather in Texas has been pretty cold, with temperatures dropping below freezing some nights. Even though the Aloe Vera nursery is located inside, the room is not very well insulated. The premature Aloe shown in the picture were effected the most. Their lack of a well developed root system makes them suceptible to the cold, causing their leaves to turn a dull and yellowish hue. The pup on the outer right side appeared to be least effected. It retained the healthiest center out of the three plants with light green fleshy leaves and minimally reduced vigor. The larger plants were slightly effected, class one overall showed the most suceptibility, compared to class two and the mother plant. Slight darkening of the outer ridges of the leaves indicated damage along with slowed growth and vigor. By keeping the potted Aloe closer to the lamps I am hoping the slight temperature increase will be enough to help the plants get back on track
Monday, January 27, 2014
6 Weeks After Transplant
It has been roughly six weeks as of 12/21/13 since the class one aloe clusters were first transplanted. Normal vigor and color has returned. Some discolored purple/red patches are still visible on older leaves, but bright green centers indicate healthy new growth. Growth has resumed normal pace even in the weakest of the pups. When I first separated all the existing pups from the mother plant I made the mistake of cutting a few too soon-I should have left them attached to the adult for several weeks longer. New growth is now growing from the centers of these struggling "runts". The recovery process did not require much, I let the plants and time do most of the work. The six larger plants were watered once a week; the smaller three were watered twice a week. The water I used consisted of purified tap water; un-purified tap water contains chlorine, among other harsh elements, that can raise pH to an acidic level and burn plants. The difference in size between the plant in the bottom left corner and the rest of the group is actually an un-categorized plant used in comparison to the Class 1 plants to demonstrate rate of growth. This plant was in between classes 1 and 2 so I left it un-categorized for now until it reaches a more consistent size with one of the groups (for dosage amounts when fertilizing begins). The ninth plant from class one is still alive, it is just not shown in the 6 week picture. Four pups still remain attached to the mother plant. Two are still very premature, the other two are larger but should remain attached for several more weeks (one is more mature than the other).
~Gabby
The Green Project 2013
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| 6 weeks later w/uncategorized plant |
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| day of transplant |
~Gabby
The Green Project 2013
Friday, January 3, 2014
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