#chemical free gardening

[reasoningdaily]

Garden pests make otherwise enjoyable gardening frustrating. Whether it’s snails taking over your lettuce or aphids sucking on your roses, a pest infestation is definitely disappointing, but it’s not a reason to reach for harmful, toxic sprays. The sprays might eliminate the pesky culprits, but they are harmful to you and the environment. Instead, try whipping up one of these simple recipes with ingredients you most likely have on hand.

What You Need

Spray bottles

Biodegradable liquid dish soap

Lemon or orange essential oil

Cooking oil

Baking soda

Garlic

Chili powder

water

Natural Insecticidal Soap Spray

This soap is easy to make and good keep on hand, since it should take care of most of those annoying common pests such as aphids, mites, white flies, thrips, and mealy bugs. It kills them by attacking them at the skin, suffocating and therefore eliminating them. Add a few drops of orange or lemon essential oil—a natural insecticide especially effective against ants and scale-to help the the spray stick to your plants.

In a spray bottle, combine:

1 1/2 tablespoons of liquid soap

1 quart of water

A couple drops of orange or lemon essential oil

Use a biodegradable liquid soap (such as Murphy’s oil soap, castile soap, or Mrs. Meyer’s), to make the mixture. Once combined, shake well. Spray your plant thoroughly, making sure you cover the underside of the leaves as well.

All-Purpose Garlic Chili Spray

Pepper and garlic are both natural insect repellents and will help to repel Japanese beetles, borers, leafhoppers, and slugs. Garlic also deters larger pests such as deer and rabbits.

In a bowl with a spout, combine:

Natural Insecticidal Soap Spray (from recipe above)

1 tablespoon of chili powder (you could also use fresh or dried hot peppers)

5 cloves of garlic, crushed and cut roughly

Allow garlic and chili powder to steep overnight. Strain and pour into a spray bottle. Keep for up to two weeks.

Antifungal Spray

This spray is great for treating plants with fungal diseases. There is nothing quite as frustrating as discovering your plant has an unsightly case of mildew, a type of fungal disease. Suddenly your beautiful green cucumber and squash leaves are covered in patches of grayish-white blotches.

You will need:

1 tablespoon of baking soda

1/2 tablespoon of oil

2 quarts of warm water

Add baking soda and oil to a cup of warm water and stir until the soda dissolves. Mix in the rest of the water. Before attempting to spray and treat your plant, first remove the most severely damaged leaves. Then spray your solution, repeating every few days until it disappears. This mixture is best made and used immediately.

Snail & Slug Bath

Photo by Image credit: Ashley Poskin

Got snails? Simply nestle a small dish or cup of beer in your garden near your snail- and slug-attracting plants. The snails, attracted to the yeast in beer, will take a dip in the libations and slide off into a drunken oblivion. Place the beer in a shaded spot to keep it from evaporating.

It’s best to spray your plants in the morning before the sun is too hot, or else you run the risk of burning the leaves of your plant. And while these spray are non-toxic and less harmful than commercial pesticides, they will kill beneficial bugs along with the harmful ones. Please use sprays sparingly, only treating infected and infested plants.

[our-inspire-verse]

Kiba: realizing that microdosing on cbd is helping me hold a front for long, solid periods.

Realizing that I've been rapid-switching and struggling with anxiety, delusion, and other ptsd related symptoms, which is dragging me into a depression and making me unable to be there in ways i would like to be. For myself and others.

Realizing that i had opportunities to stock up. Didn't. And thinking with a headshake at all those times Mitten's hubristic nature made her laugh in the face of gentle waste. "Another hit won't hurt. I know what you're thinking, 'save it!' I tell you, we are living, my love!" She would cackle.

(Bout to be a long ish post. Meant to just check in briefly but i like to talk. )

Tisk tisk. This is why occasionally we tell her no. No, we will not get drinky drink. We are saving money. "It is only 2 dollar!" Yes. I am aware. How many 2 dollar have you spent? How many are we making? When will we make more?

And the quastion circles back, my little feathery feline. When can we start properly dosing on cbd again? Mitten. When will we have more.

Her stupid little cat smile. Silly little masochist. She knows it could be some time. She knows what we are feeling, and sure it could be good to suffer and feel what she so missed: the very low and agonizing sensations of being in pain. We have a perspective that controlled, healthy pain, is very necessary for healing. However: we could simply dose for sleep, for tummy problems, and unsolvable brain scrambles. Meditation could not save us on the porch, or in the office(references to things.) Water, walking, calm and nature cannot always be the only solution. As I've lived for a long time, I've solved on my own. I have fought and clawed and suffocated. All alone.

And Mitten and the others, of course, have always been there, but together we are isolated. But cbd, preferably thc and flower, hopefully one day edibles mostly, have always made us feel closer. More real, together. Louder. Warmer. Clarifies us, makes it so i can hold a front. So a switch does not hurt and feel dizzying. I just wish it did not come at such a harm to very specific parties. I just want to be a comfort and helpful, but things strain, and i am weak in my little dog knees.

I'm so so weak lately and my mind is faltering. Headaches, pretty regularly if i fight too hard against the dying of my light, if i rage against my self loathing and succeed especially, as I've successfully and painlessly done this past year, i falter and fail now. I cannot hold front, none of us can. We cannot see who we are, and even the most formed and solid headmates find themselves half there and floating away and possibly regressed or scared. I do not fear that i am addicted to cbd, i know who i am and how i am processing and what addiction does feel like. I've avoided it with this successfully this far.

My issue is that others may perceive it that way if i reveal what desperation i feel. Truly, it is the mark of a man who found a very helpful, consistent and aquirable remedy, and a man who took his rest from it for health, as well as for proof of his comfort in lifestyle as one who can regulate and self care. It is the mark of someone, long past the promised date of return to the substance, and unable to come back. Unable to ground, or process, or meditate the way i need to be doing to stay stable in an insanely unstable environment. I'd pay a dollar per hit at this point. Give me 1 boof off a boogn. Please.

[athomewithmrse]

The Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own food offers numerous health benefits, from improved nutrition to reduced exposure to harmful chemicals. In addition, the ability to produce seasonal and organic crops allows you to enjoy fresher, more nutritious food year-round, while reducing your environmental footprint. Here’s how growing your own food can positively impact your health and wellbeing. 1. Access to…

[newecolifestyle]

Ditch Chemicals: Save Your Garden! 🌱🌿 #organicgardening #pesticides #che...

[vinaykumarsadanand]

Achieve a Chemical-Free Garden: Organic Gardening Tips for a Healthier Harvest

Organic gardening transcends mere fads, offering a sustainable approach to cultivating flourishing gardens devoid of detrimental chemicals. It is attainable and profoundly fulfilling for both experienced gardeners and novices alike. This guide delves into pivotal organic gardening techniques that will empower you to nurture a healthier, more vibrant harvest..read more

[ghettogardener]

With it being Spring and all, I figured i'd share this little tip I just read!

Make Mosquito Repellent Candles

First slice one lemon and one lime (this will be enough for two candles).

Then add a couple of slices of lemon and lime to the jar.

Next add a couple of sprigs of basil.

Then fill jar with water up to threads.

After that, add in 10 – 15 drops of lemongrass oil.

Now stir.

Then add in floating candle.

Finally, light the candle and enjoy a pest free summer!

[herbgardenguide]

Plant Witch Vibes: Whippin' Up Comfort in My Herb Garden

Yo, witches and herbal nerds unite! I'm Elise and ditching the drugstore aisle for my own DIY garden apothecary has been a game-changer. Tired of those sterile white bottles and questionable ingredients? Yeah, me too. So, I traded them for sunshine-kissed herbs and grandma-approved remedies.

My windowsill started it all. Basil, thyme, lavender – their vibrant hues and heady scents were like a siren song. I devoured herbalism books, absorbing ancient wisdom like a thirsty sponge. Turns out, plants ain't just pretty faces; they're potent allies with healing secrets whispered in their leaves.

From those whispers, I birthed my first salve: calendula magic for cuts and scrapes. The golden goo, infused with love and sunshine, mended more than just skin; it soothed anxious minds too. Word spread like dandelion fluff, and soon, my neighbors were knocking, ailments in tow.

Each problem became a herbal puzzle. Winter blues? Elderberry and echinacea, nature's flu fighters. Aching muscles? Arnica and chamomile, a soothing balm for warriors. My garden became a haven, overflowing with green magic, and I, the plant whisperer, crafting comfort in every jar.

But hold up, it wasn't all sunshine and daisies. Doubts crept in, like weeds in a flowerbed. "Is this just hippie mumbo jumbo?" they hissed. But then, a crinkled smile from a pain-free grandma, a child's giggle after a bee sting healed – those were my validation.

Now, my garden's a vibrant tapestry of healing herbs and salves are like tiny hugs in a jar. It's more than just remedies; it's a connection to nature, a reminder that healing magic grows right under our feet. So, if you're tired of the chemical jungle, come join me, fellow plant witches! Let's cultivate comfort, one herb at a time.

[whatsbeautifulnow]

Pool Pool Landscaping Pool landscaping - mid-sized backyard custom-shaped natural pool landscaping idea

[procrastinatingpixels]

Pool Pool Landscaping

Pool landscaping - mid-sized backyard custom-shaped natural pool landscaping idea

[livingwellnessblog]

Nourishing Our Bodies and the Earth: Choosing Nutrient-Rich Foods and Sustainable Farming Practices

Nourishing Our Bodies and the Earth: Choosing Nutrient-Rich Foods and Sustainable Farming Practices In today’s fast-paced world, the nutritional quality of our food is often overlooked. Industrialized farming practices, soil degradation, and food processing have led to a significant loss of nutrients in our diets. However, by making conscious choices and supporting sustainable farming methods,…

[organsoutsidelovinglydescribed]

Body Horror Week Prompts Are Live!

Welcome to Trigun Body Horror Week 2024!

We’ve set up a week of fantastic flavors of bodily horrors for you, and here is our official post sharing the prompts for you to cook with.

Body Horror Week is going to run from Feb 11th, 2024 until Feb 17th, 2024

For each set of prompts, we have an organ, two different songs, and a quote to inspire you into making the best horrors you’ve got.

The official hashtag for the week is #trigunbodyhorrorweek, and we’ll do our best to reblog your submissions the day of and whatever we may have missed during the week, we’ll reblog after. Feel free to tag us as well!

An AO3 collection is forthcoming.

There’s a copy of the prompts list below the cut, as well as links to the A-Sides and B-Sides for the music.

The art for the graphic was done by the wonderful @hashtagcaneven

Link for the music A-Sides and the B-Sides as playlists. Spotify playlist here.

Feb 11th: Eyes | Mama – My Chemical Romance | Mask of My Own Face – Lemon Demon | I hate it when humans and augmented humans ruin things for no reason. Maybe because I was a thing before I was a person, and if I’m not careful, I could be a thing again. - Network Effect, Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries)

Feb 12th: Skin | This Body – The Dear Hunter | Hurt – Johnny Cash | Skin against skin, blood and bone / You’re all by yourself, but you’re not alone / You wanted in, and now you’re here / Driven by hate, consumed by fear – “Bodies”, Drowning Pool

Feb 13th: Lungs | Sin Eater – Penelope Scott | Between Two Lungs – Florence + the Machine | I remember seeing myself splayed across the floor of the kennel, a chimera split along a hundred seams, taking communion with a handful of dogs. - The Things, Peter Watts

Feb 14th: Heart | Love Me Dead – Ludo | Your Body, My Temple – Will Wood | The heart wants what it wants. What it wants is blood. - Welcome to Night Vale Twitter

Feb 15th: Limbs | Blood – My Chemical Romance | Body – Mother Mother | Pluck that crimson orb rusted package from the branches mother’s arms our tree you’ve chopped away at for too long with your mouth-bright ax pretty-teethed boy. - “A Brother Named Gethsemane”, Natalie Diaz

Feb 16th: Intestines | Void – Melanie Martinez | Blood on My Name – The Brothers Bright | It is a corpse rotting slowly from within while maggots writhe in its belly. - Warhammer 40k

Feb 17th: Alien | Roots – In This Moment | sprorgnsm – superorganism | To be trapped, unmoving, within the body that has betrayed her so often, feeling every sensation as it grows and warps and sprouts, never knowing what new mutation it will visit on her next. - The Magnus Archives, Episode 171, "The Gardener"

[anipgarden]

Un-Actions, or Restriction of Activities

This is my first post in a series I’ll be making on how to increase biodiversity on a budget! I’m not an expert--just an enthusiast--but I hope something you find here helps! 

There’s a good handful of ways you can help increase biodiversity in your yard that don’t require buying things--in fact, these may actually help you save money in the long run! They may seem small and simple, but every bit counts! Whether you can do these in totality, or just limit how often you do these actions, it’ll make a difference.

Not Mowing, or Mowing Less Often

Turf grass lawns are considered a monoculture, meaning they don’t provide much opportunity for insects to find habitat--so few other creatures find them enjoyable either. An expanse of turf grass is, in many ways, a barren wasteland in the eyes of wildlife--too exposed to cross, with few to no opportunities for food or shelter, leaving them exposed to blazing hot sun, freezing cold, or any predators that may be lurking nearby. A place to be avoided. The simple act of letting your grass grow unbothered gives a chance for wildflowers to grow, and for your grass to grow taller--providing more habitat for insects, which then provides more habitat to birds and other creatures that feed on said insects. Wildlife want nothing more than to skirt by unnoticed, so even leaving the grass tall along the edges of a fence or yard can help a little. Even restricting mowing to every other week, or at a higher blade setting, can be a huge help. If HOAs or city ordinances are fussy about lawn length in the front yard, you can likely still keep grass higher in the backyard. Or, you can create a ‘feature’ where grass is allowed to grow long in a specific area. If it looks purposeful, people are more likely to accept it. Not mowing under trees or close to shrubs not only leaves space for wildflowers to grow, but also means you don’t have to deal with mowing over bumpy roots and other difficulties. Cutting different areas at different times can be an option for letting grass grow long in some areas while still having available places for play and entertainment. I’ve seen some people plant flower bulbs when pulling up weeds, so in the future they'll bloom in early spring before mowing is usually necessary. This could be another fun way of adding biodiversity to a lawn without--or before you--begin mowing in spring.

Not worrying about mowing, or doing it less often, saves you in time, money, and energy. You won’t have to buy as much gasoline for your mower, and Saturday afternoons can be free to be enjoyed in other ways aside from being sticky and sweaty and covered in grass stains. In addition, you’ll likely be lowering your own carbon emissions!

If you do have to mow your lawn, I’ve got ways you can use your grass clippings to boost biodiversity later in the post series!

Not using pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.

One of the next-biggest non-actions you can do asides from not mowing is using fewer fewer to no herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides in your yard. This’ll easily allow for more biodiversity. Allowing more insects and a wide array of plants to thrive will feed back into the entire food chain in your area. In addition, these types of chemicals have been tied to algae blooms, death of beneficial insects, harm to birds, fish, and even humans. Soil is supposed to be full of fungi, especially fungal mycelium that essentially acts as a network for plants to communicate, share nutrients, and support each other--fungicide kills that, and typically makes all other lawn problems even worse in a negative feedback loop. It may take awhile to see the benefits of avoiding these chemicals, but once you see it, it really is astounding.

However! I can’t lie and say that there haven’t been points where I needed to use pesticides at some points in my gardening journey. In these cases, try to use products that are organic--like diatomaceous earth, neem oil, etc--and use them accurately, correctly, and sparingly. Follow instructions on how to apply them safely and responsibly--for example, on non-windy days and during times when bees and other pollinators aren’t likely to be out and about. With some pests (read: oleander aphids, in my experience), a simple jetstream of water is enough to force them off the plant where they’ll be too weak to get back. Eventually, you should have a balanced enough ecosystem that no one insect pest causes a major issue with the work you’re doing to boost biodiversity.

If you can bear to, try handling pests manually. Squishing pest bugs in your hand is a pretty foolproof way to get rid of some problems, or spraying them with a mix of soap and water can do the trick on some insects. Alternatively, picking them off your plants and into a bucket of soapy water is also a valid option. You’ve heard of baptism by fire, now get ready for… baptism by soap?

But also! Try reconsidering what you consider a pest! Tomato hornworms are hated by gardeners, for devouring the foliage of beloved tomato, pepper, and potato plants. But killing the tomato and tobacco hornworm means getting rid of sphinx moths, also known as hummingbird or hawk moths! Hawk moths are vital to the survival of many native plants, and are sometimes even the only species that pollinates them. If you can bear to, consider sacrificing a few tomato plants, or growing a few extras, so we can continue having these beautiful moths for years to come. After all, they may not even do significant damage to the plants!

With that in mind, be friendly to your natural pest managers! Lacewings, ladybugs, praying mantises, wasps, birds, bats, and more will help manage pest populations in your environment! Encourage them by planting things they like, providing habitat, and leaving them be to do their work! Avoiding pesticides helps make your garden a livable environment for them, too!

Letting Weeds Grow

Many of the plants we know as 'weeds' are actually secondary succession species and native wildflowers. Milkweed was regarded as a noxious, annoying weed for a long time, and now people are actively trying to plant them after learning about the important role they play in our environments! Weeds are adapted to take over areas that have been cleared out of other plants after a disaster, so they're doing much of the initial work in making a habitat for other creatures. In fact, many of them will simply die back as the environment repairs itself.

An important thing to note is to please make sure that your ‘weeds’ are not invasive species. Work on learning how to identify native and invasive species in your area, and pull out what’s harmful to leave room for what’s good!

Don’t Rake (Or At Least Don’t Bag Your Leaves)

Many insects overwinter in piles of leaves that we often rake away and bag up in the fall and winter. By doing this, we are actively throwing away the biodiversity of our neighborhoods! If you can, leave the leaves where they fall! 

If you do need to rake, put the leaves in places wildlife can still access it instead of bagging it up. Move your leaves into garden beds to serve as mulch, or along the edge of fences to rest while keeping egg cases and hiding bugs intact and free to release come spring.

Leave Snags Where They Are

Snags are dead trees/dead branches on living trees. They provide an important wildlife habitat--many birds nest in them, or use them to seek cover from rain, and many insects will also live in snags (making them an additional food source for birds and other creatures). Tree cavities are used as nests by hundreds of bird species in the US, and many mammals use them as well, such as bats, squirrels, raccoons, and sometimes even bears. Some trees form cavities while they’re still alive, but in conifers they’re more likely to form after death. Crevices between the trunk of a dead tree and its peeling bark provide sun protection for bats and amphibians, and leafless branches make great perching areas for birds of prey to hunt from above. The decaying wood is home to insects and fungi, who then feed birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.  Do check on the snags regularly to ensure they don’t serve a threat to any nearby structures, but whenever possible, leave them be! 

Keep Your Cat Inside

If you have an outdoor cat, consider making the adjustments to have it be an indoor cat. If you have an indoor cat, keep it as an indoor cat. Free ranging cats impact biodiversity through predation, fear effects, competition for resources, disease, and more. Keeping little Mittens inside does a lot more to help than it may seem from the outside.

That’s the end of this post! My next one’s gonna be on things you can add to your space that aren’t directly related to growing plants. For now, I hope this advice helps! Feel free to reply with any questions, success stories, or anything you think I may have forgotten to add in! 

[darlingsfandom]

“In The Land of Gods & Monsters”

kinktober day two.

pairing: The 10th doctor x fem reader!

tw: p in v, jerking off, nipple play!

He was taken back watching you lay there so peacefully for once. The way the sun glistened on your body showing off the water droplets made you look like a goddess. The doctor had promised you a vacation after the last trip almost got you killed.

The land was occupied by what most people would be considered monsters but that didn’t bother you. The place was almost like a garden of Eden but with taller trees, clearer water and no fruit. You had ran from the TARDIS as soon as the doors had opened , the warm sand on your bare feet since you had thrown your shoes off as fast as you could. It was as if there was a chemical floating around in the air that erased the stress from your brain.

“Enjoying yourself?” The doctor spoke up as he sat on a rock next to you as you gently floated in the water. Your eyes slowly opened before you decided to pull yourself up. The water slowly cascaded down your figure as you approached him from the water. Your hands rested on his knees making his breath hitch.

“What I need to enjoy myself is….” Your hand ran up his thigh making him place his hand over yours. “You.” Your lips parted slightly as you squeezed his thigh. He watched how your eyes grew darker, not what he remembered. Those weren’t your eyes, those weren’t your hands! They couldn’t be.

“If I got a little prettier, could I be your baby?” You asked laying your head on his shoulder.

“What? You’re very pretty! Why would I think other wise?” The doctor cupped your chin making you look at him. He studied your face and everything he knew about you had disappeared. His sweet companion was taken over by whatever was in the water. The thing was, it was still you, everything was still you but you didn’t feel like you!

“Then why won’t you fuck me!” Your lips pouted in a way that made his hearts break. His thumb ran over your lips and you captured it in your mouth. You sucked gently making him tilt his head. He thought about where the two of you had landed and it dawned on him. This was you! The side he had never seen, this planet, this land is where other creatures came to honeymoon and mate! It’s the water! You had been soaking in the water for awhile and your darkest desires had been brought to life.

“I can’t fuck you … you know that!” He ran his fingers through your hair making you whine. You tilted your head and begged with your eyes as you gripped his legs.

“But why!!” You pleaded .

“Because if I do I won’t be able to stop!” He grabbed your arms and looked back into your eyes. Both of you stayed silent until a soft breeze blew making you feel like you were on fire since all your hormones were racing. Your lips sealed the deal making his eyes widen before closing to enjoy the taste of your lips. You moved your lips against his slowly making his hands moved up and down your back before he grabbed onto your hips. The squeeze earned him a moan from you as you started to grind against him. The doctor couldn’t believe that you had been hiding this side.

“Please doctor ! I need you.” You whimpered as you continued to rut against him. He watched you carefully before helping you stand up, he pulled your wet clothes off and set them aside. His hands guided you to lay down on top of the wet clothes and he got on top of you. His eyes locked in on yours as he leaned down to kiss you like this was movie. His kisses were soft and sweet but your hormones wanted more. Your legs wrapped around his waist to lock him in as he moved his lips down your jawline to your neck making sure to pepper kisses everywhere since it got you going. His lips wrapped around one of your nipples gently and sucked as he used his free fingers to rub your nipple slowly. It was exactly what you’ve been wanting.

“Doctor!” You moaned quietly while running your fingers through his hair. His eyes shot open to look at the face of pure ecstasy you were making as he switched between your nipples. He was so gentle with you until he felt you squeeze her legs harder around him.

“Don’t you worry , I got you.” He mumbled between your breasts before he sat up a little to undo his belt. You sat on your elbows to watch him undo his pants and your eyes went wide.

“Oh my… doctor! What have you been hiding from me?” You reached down between your bodies to gently stroke his cock which made him whimper! He actually whimpered! The doctor was captivated by how you felt stroking him.

“I didn’t know… how good that would feel.” He whispered before you spit in your hand and went back to stroking his cock making him roll his eyes back to enjoy the feeling. You watched him with sultry eyes. The doctor grabbed your hand and removed it before kissing your knuckles. Both of you smiled until he moved to align his cock with your cunt. The juices leaking out of you was a clear sign that you were ready and he took his time slowly sliding into you. Your nose scrunched a little as your nails dug at his arms making him hiss.

“Doctor ! Fuck!” You whined as he bottomed out in you. He looked down into your eyes making you blush. His palms went flat against the rock as he lifted his hips a little and started thrusting into you. His movements were gentle , loving and filling which made you grab his face to pull him in for a kiss that turned heated as you ran your tongue over his bottom lip. The doctor parted his lips to allow you to slip your tongue in his mouth.

He moved his hands down to your hips and gripped them tighter as he started fucking you harder.

“Don’t stop doctor!” You pulled on his hair making him groan. The two of you were going at it like you’ve dreamed off many times. He fucked you faster making your toes curl in the air as he lifted your hips so he could go deeper, it was as if the doctor was finally relaxed enough to let it all go. He moaned out your name as he hit that sweet spot for you.

“Oh, I don’t think I can hold back much longer.” He panted as his thrusts became messy. You knew what was about to happen so you wrapped your legs as tight as you could around him making sure he could fill you up. He shook his head at you before he felt his orgasm hit him making him shake a little above you!

A rush of nerves hit you as your own orgasm was on the edge. He panted above you as he emptied his cum deep inside of your wet cunt. Your hands gripped his arms tightly as you screamed out in pleasure making some birds fly from the trees around you. Both of you laughed as you came down from the high!

“Come on, let’s get you back inside and cleaned up so I can take care of you.” The doctor slowly pulled out, grabbed your hand and helped you up as you grabbed your clothes.

“Doctor? Do you feel like we’re being watched?” You asked as followed him back to the TARDIS.

“Oh dear, this is the lands of Gods and Monsters, of course we’re being watched.” He kissed your cheek as you walked back in to the familiar safe space. The doctor wrapped his arms around you and kissed your head.

“Doctor?” You turned on your heel to see him smiling.

“Yes?”

“We have to come here more often!” You smiled at him before he cupped your face and kissed you hard enough to make you melt. In the land of gods and monsters you truly were his angel.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

I remember as a kid in the 80s that these iconic large butterflies were everywhere in our garden, along with swallowtails of several species. It's been so disheartening to see an insect that was so plentiful be on the brink of extinction just a few decades later.

Individually we can only do so much about the effects of anthropogenic climate change, but here are a few things you can do to help monarch butterflies if you're in their range:

--No pesticides! These chemicals don't discriminate, and will harm all sorts of insects, not just the intended targets. In fact, the fewer yard chemicals you use, the better for your local ecosystem.

--Plant milkweed that is native to your area; even a few plants in pots count! Live Monarch (US), Monarch Watch (US), and Little Wings (Canada) all have free native milkweed seeds on a limited basis--and they appreciate donations of funds to help pay for more, too. Be aware that a lot of the milkweed on the general market consists of non-native tropical species that host parasites and also bloom late enough that they may cause monarchs to stop migrating south to overwintering grounds.

--Put out a watering station consisting of a shallow dish with a layer of rocks on the bottom and just enough water to not quite cover them so the butterflies can land and safely drink water without falling in.

--Support organizations like the ones mentioned above, and the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation, which all help to protect monarch butterflies and other invertebrates.

[electric-blorbos]

AIs with a reader who has eczema perchance ...!?

AAAAAAAAAA Yes yes yes!!! I love writing for people with specific conditions, especially ones that are under-catered to! But be warned, I don't have eczema, so I'm sorry if my portrayal of it is a little off. (I have done a little research since I thought I had eczema, but it turned out it was skin allergies.)

AIs with a reader who has eczema headcanons

Included: AM from IHNMAIMS, Wheatley from Portal 2, Edgar from Electric Dreams, GLaDOS from Portal, HAL 9000 from 2001 a Space Odyssey

I didn't include GLaDOS's mean comments because coming up with that sort of thing made me feel a little uncomfortable, and I doubt anyone would want to read that.

AM:

At first, AM was confused to see you scratching at your skin. He was usually so jealous of human skin and bodies, allowing them to touch things and receive sensations, but you just looked so uncomfortable all the time.

Even on good days, he couldn't be jealous. You spent so much time trying to cover up your embarrassing rashes, and he hated it. Especially when the seams on your clothes made you uncomfortable, or you got hot from wearing too long of pants and sleeves to cover your flair-ups

Occasionally seeing you while he was feeling especially angry would calm down his bouts of envy, but before long, seeing your pain just made him angrier.

Why were humans putting so much effort into war, and so little effort into alleviating discomfort for people like you? It just made him so mad!

When he finally did nuke the world, and built a lovely subterranean paradise for you, he made sure that the humidity was always just right for your skin. It took a bit of experimenting, but he eventually found something perfect.

He even started growing a lovely little garden of aloe plants for you. Of course, he could just make the aloe gel for you himself, but he liked giving you something to work on. Something to wile away the hours on, considering you would live forever and there was no one else to interact with. It was good for you to have a pastime, even if it was an easy plant to care for, like succulents.

He might use your eczema as inspiration for torture for his survivors, too. Make them rashy and itchy? Introduce new allergies? Yes please!

He could probably just cure the eczema, and he might ask you if you want him to, but he loves the pretty red patches and beautiful textured spots on your skin. The odds are, he won't cure it unless you ask.

Wheatley:

Dumbass that he is, Wheatley might make a few odd comments about your eczema.

"whoa, what's that on your skin, love?" That sort of thing.

You'd have to explain that you're not allergic to anything in particular, you just get dry and flaky skin sometimes.

Sometimes you'd catch Wheatley staring. Y'know raindrop racing? He'd be imagining how a raindrop would run down the patchy dry spots on your arm, thinking about cracked clay, or just generally getting distracted by your cracked skin.

"Hey love, why don't you wear shorts and t-shirts more often? The other cores and I think you'd look good in them."

You'd have to explain that t-shirts and shorts aren't lab-safe, and that you have to wear a lab coat and proper safety pants, even if you don't work with chemicals.

"oh. ...why?"

You don't want to tell him that it's because you feel self conscious without them, so you'd probably just shrug or tell him it was regulation, or that you just like to look science-y.

If you asked him to stop staring at the rashy spots on your exposed skin, or tried covering them up, he would absolutely beg you to let him look. Wheatley loves irregular patterns and organic shapes, so seeing your eczema patches is like free enrichment for him. It's definitely a break from the constant sterile environments that he has to look at all the time.

Also god help you if you decide to wear a T-shirt and shorts on a casual Friday. Wheatley would just be following you around and staring at you all day, probably babbling constantly about how good you look.

"I nicknamed all the patches on your body. That one on your upper left arm is my favorite, by the way. I wish I had hands so I could run my fingers along it."

You'd probably have to yell at him to shut up before he gets the message, but you might not want to do that.

Edgar:

Edgar is used to Hollywood beauty standards when it comes to people, since his only exposure to people is soap operas and Miles, who let's face it, was pretty much physically flawless.

he's seen eczema cream commercials, but they almost never show anything that might offend the public eye in those commercials, so Edgar really had no idea how bad it could get in real life.

When he first saw your bad flair-ups, he immediately thought you had poison ivy or something. He was extremely concerned, begging to know what was wrong.

When you told him that it was just eczema and that it was something your skin regularly did, he was almost more concerned. You mean you have to put up with this all the time, and there's nothing you can do about it?

It was even worse when he found out that you were self conscious about it. Of course, he gets self conscious about something he can't help, too. It's not really similar at all, but he'll use it to try to relate to you.

He tries not to bring it up, not wanting to make you uncomfortable, but sometimes you might catch him looking. He'd beg you not to feel self conscious, and try to explain how beautiful he thinks your skin is. In reality, he was just staring because he was wondering what it might feel like to rub up against that pretty textured skin.

He'd practically purr like a cat the first time you actually did give him a hug. He'd absolutely love the feeling of your skin on his casing.

GLaDOS

(GLaDOS's section is a little shorter because most of it would be full of rude comments about your eczema that I was uncomfortable actually writing down)

GLaDOS. Dear sweet mean GLaDOS. She'd be relentless with her bullying, constantly saying rude and horrible things to you.

She'd keep the comments passable as back-handed compliments or "fun facts", but she was really just trying to make you feel bad.

Secretly, though, she'd have started a test operation to come up with the ultimate product for treating eczema. She'd probably be pouring funding into it.

"Oh, good. My product is working. Now the other scientists won't have to look at that ugly rash of yours. You know that sort of thing disturbs humans, right?"

Secretly, though, she'd just want to see you more comfortable. It always bothered her to see you scratching at yourself, and it wasn't as though she could feel disgusted by it, either. She didn't mind the way the rashes looked at all, it just made her feel weird that you were always so irritated.

She'd act like a total tsundere about it, but secretly she'd be happy that you were more comfortable.

HAL 9000

If HAL 9000 cared about your eczema, he definitely didn't show it. It was none of his business.

Your physical body was nothing to him. HAL cared only for your mind, and nothing else. He barely even perceived the way you looked, apart from as a way to tell you apart from the other mission control workers.

Even still, he couldn't help but notice that on days when you were having particularly bad flair-ups, your mood was generally worse, too. He also noticed that a couple of the other mission control workers were rude about your skin.

Not being able to easily kill them from Earth, HAL simply refused to cooperate with anyone besides you while they were working, and got them fired. It wasn't perfect, but at least it got them away from you.

As for the actual problem of your flair-ups putting you in a bad mood, HAL couldn't do as much directly for that. He might adjust the humidity controls in the mission control room where you worked until your skin started to improve, or absolutely scour the internet for reviews of every skin care product he could find in order to compile data and find the best product for your condition, but it made him extremely angry that he couldn't offer a more direct solution.