Ethics Trading

Soap nut juice kills slugs!

It does, it’s true. We’re discovering more and more uses for soap nuts and the liquid all the time.

How does it work?

The detergent properties in the soap nut solution interfere with the slug’s slime and kill the slug as effectively as salt would.

First you’ll need to make some soap nut solution. Put a handful of shells in a big pan with around a litre of water and warm gently - do Not boil! The froth is messy… You can let it simmer gently for about half an hour and then leave it to stand and steep until cool. 

When you have your juice ready, find yourself a spray bottle and fill it a third full with the juice and top up with water. Try to be gentle or it froths up and makes a mess! Only use the liquid, strain out the used shells or they’ll clog your sprayer.

Then spray the plants you want to protect. There will be a bit of foam on the leaves but don’t worry, it keeps greenfly away as well, and blackfly and whitefly. You will need to rinse out the spray part of your sprayer from time to time as the tiny bits of soap nut shell can get trapped in the tubes and filters.

However, Do Not use this on any carnivorous plants or any plant that prefers a water based insecticide. This IS a detergent and could have adverse effects on some plant species. I’d also recommend that you try not to get too much direct on the soil as it can harm earthworms if present in high enough concentrations or if sprayed directly on them.

(first published on Qassia, adapted for this blog) 

The slugs are eating my plants. This happens every year and I refuse to use pellets. I could get copper tape but it’s expensive. I could go out with a bucket of salt water and collect them every evening but it’s very time intensive and I have other things to be doing.

Now, last time slugs got into the kitchen (I know, yuck) I used soap nut juice in a spray to clean up the slime. So I’ve been wondering if a soap nut juice dose for the plantlets will help.

I’m going to take my greenfly wash and spray the coldframe and the plants inside. I’ll post back in a few days and let you know if it works. It certainly works for greenfly.

The report back on the washing challenge on the Aleena Naylor show was today, about 1hr 35 mins in.

I think they liked them! 

Radio Derby, Aleena Naylor’s Morning show - about 1 hour in.

I don’t now if they archive these or if it’s only there for a limited time, but do have a listen. It was loads of fun, and they did ask if I’d be willing to go back and talk some more!

I said yes, of course I did.  

I had an interesting email yesterday! It was from:

a producer at BBC Radio Derby. On today’s mid-morning show, we were discussing eco-friendly cleaning products and the conversation evolved into natural cleaners - which led me the internet - and then your website.

I have a big ask: If you are interested and/or available, it would be great to interview you on the show at 1030 tomorrow (Wednesday) about soap nuts and what led you down this path. I think your story is really interesting. We thought it would be a nice touch if you could bring some bags with you and we could give some to a volunteer listener to test.

Now Wednesday is the very worst day of the week to do anything, so I gave her a ring - she’s very nice - and now we’re doing the interview on Thursday at 11.15ish. If you fancy listening or want to catch it on the listen again thingy - the link to Radio Derby is Here - Listen again to Radio Derby.

I’ve never been on the radio before, wish me luck? 

Janey Lee Grace was on The Wright Stuff this morning. Check out her forum Imperfectly Natural for tips, advice and general green type chat. It’s a lovely, friendly online space to come and play. I’m Soapnutter (the admin) on there if you have any problems please do get in touch and I’ll sort you out if I can.

The Youtube of her Wright Stuff bit can be seen here.  Oh look, soap nuts…. That’d be why the web traffic to here has gone mad this morning.

Thanks Janey! 

Ethics Trading is expanding!

We now have a shop at Climate mall where all our top selling products are listed.  Next phase is to get the essential oils listed on there and then I’d like to find a new product for Ethics Trading, any suggestions?

ClimateMall is an online shopping centre focussed on ethical and green businesses. It’s a one stop shop where you can find a number of retailers, but all sharing the green, ethical and fair trade vision! If you’re a customer then please do wander along for a browse, if you’re a fellow entrepeneur who shares our priorities then please do wander along too, there are plenty of free shops going on there and it looks like being a great place to be.

Also for fellow business owners - I found Quassia recently. If you want to network on Quassia then there’s a sign up button on my page (link above) I look forward to seeing you either on Quassia or in Climate Mall.  

This month Ethics Trading is featured in the Friendly Baby competition.

Friendly Baby customer’s have the chance to win an eco cleaning set containing a trial pack of soap nuts, a 200g refill, a packet of Ecover laundry bleach, and a 10ml bottle of organic tea tree oil.

All you have to do is wander over there and write an original review of a product sold on the Friendly Baby site and you’re in with a chance.

So, if you wanted to try some soap nuts for free then pop over there and enter the comp.

Good Luck!