LILLY PILLY + making a watercrystal neck scarf

Word for the Day  The song of the wind

When the wind sings its song

In tall branches of an evergreen tree,

We need to be peaceful and still

To hear the purity of its melody.  

Home March's challenge is to pack one item each day in a Survival Bag, in order to be prepared for an emergency.  

In my Survival Bag, I have already packed 

1. my emergency foil blanket, plus silk sheet-bag and a sleeping bag. 

2. a mosquito head net and a tube aloe vera
3. my clothing
4. my food and my drink bottles
5. my first aid kit
6. eating and cooking utensils
7. my Tommy Cooker Hexi Stove and fuel tablets
8. Windproof and Waterproof Matches (or a fire flint or cigarette lighter)

9. my torches
10. my washbag 
11. soap for washing dishes and clothes
12. whistle & glowstick 
13. camera, MP3player and mobile phone
14. printed Important Information

15. money and bankcard
16. comfrey cream, sunscreen and essential oils

Today I will sew a watercrystal neck scarf 

The first time I saw a watercrystal neck scarf was when we were hiking across England. On a few occasions, we spoke with fellow hikers who wore such scarves which they had made themselves, using a square cotton scarf folded in a triangle and sewn at the top of the triangle, inserting crystals in the sewn section.  

Nontoxic polyacrylamide granules, often called crystals, are concealed in the casing of a cotton neck scarf. When the scarf is soaked in water, the granules absorb the water, expand, and turn into a crystalline gel. The cotton fabric absorbs water from the gel, then the water evaporates for a cooling effect. Scarves stay cool and moist for hours due to the polyacrylamide's water-retaining properties.


     Choose tightly woven 100% cotton fabric for its water-absorbing and cooling properties. Avoid loosely woven fabrics--the gel could seep through a loose weave. Scarves are worn wet, so select colorfast fabrics so the dyes won't bleed onto clothing or skin. Look for prints in popular motifs, such as red, white and blue for summer holidays, or sport themes for wearing to outdoor events.
     Choose medium-size crystals for best results. Granule size and water quality can impact how well the crystals absorb water. Water with a high mineral content can impede water absorption. Experiment to determine the optimal amount of crystals per scarf by making a sample casing.

MATERIALS 

Use a teaspoon of medium-size polyacrylamide crystals for an average scarf, or a heaped teaspoons for a large scarf. Polyacrylamide crystals are nontoxic, but they can create a fine dust. If you are sensitive to dust particles, you could wear a dust mask, gloves, safety glasses, remove contact lenses and wash hands after use. Water Crystals at WaterCrystals.com do not require that special precaution, having removed the polyacrylamide dust. 

Soak the casing or the entire scarf in cold or ice water for 15 to 30 minutes, or until the crystals turn to gel; avoid over-soaking. Distribute the gel along the casing with your fingers. Lay the scarf on a hand towel to absorb any dripping water, then tie the scarf loosely around your neck. To keep the casing cool while wearing, roll it to redistribute the gel or dip it in cold water for a few minutes.

Refrigerate extra cooling scarves for breezeless humid days. When one scarf reaches body temperature, swap it for a cool one.

Store wet scarves in an open plastic bag, hang them to dry, or store them in the refrigerator. After several days of drying, the crystals will return to solid form.

Hand-wash crystal-filled scarves using a few drops of liquid detergent. Rinse well and hang to dry. Don't machine-wash or dry. Press the casing only after the gel is completely crystalized. Shake the crystals to one end of the casing to press the opposite end. Then flip and repeat. Don't iron the crystals or expose them to iron temperatures.

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Polyacrylamide is a super-absorbent, nontoxic polymer that was developed in the 1960s to retain water in arid soil. It holds up to 400 times its weight in water! Different forms of polymer are widely used in products such as disposable diapers, hot and cold compresses, toothpaste, cosmetics and flower arrangements. Polyacrylamide crystals are available under many brand names. They can be fount in garden section of home-improvement centers, discount department stores, nurseries, or in the candle, fragrance or flower areas in craft stores. Check packaging for granule size and to verify there are no additives.  http://www.watercrystals.com/nscarf0704.ht

Garden Lilly Pilly Australian Bush Tucker

Lilly Pilly is an evergreen rainforest plant. It is one of the most popular plants in Australia today. Our Sunshine Coast council has planted many of these trees in public areas. Also we have many tall lilly pillies in our garden. When we move to our new home next month, I will look out for the lilly pilly - Syzygium 'Tiny Trev' - which will only grow to 75 cm! 

The fruit matures from December to February, being a pear shaped red berry, known as a Riberry, growing to 13 mm long, covering a single seed, 4 mm in diameter. I often eat them raw and made some jam earlier this year.  

The berry has a tart, cranberry-like flavor, with a hint of cloves. It has been popular as a gourmet bushfood since the early 1980’s. The berries are used to make a distinctively flavoured jam, and are also used in sauces, syrups and confectionery.

CANDIED LILLY PILLIES

500gm ripe red lillypillies (riberries)    4 ½  cups white sugar    ½  cup of corn syrup

Wash and dry the lillypillies.

Place the fruit in a heavy based saucepan and just cover with water. Simmer very gently till they start to look transparent.

Drain, keeping back 1 cup of liquid.  Put the lillypillies into a baking dish in a single layer.

Add the liquid to the saucepan again with ½ cup of the sugar and all the corn syrup.

Turn up heat and bring to the boil. Boil gently for 1 minute.

Pour over the lillypillies on the baking dish and leave in the fridge overnight.

The next day, pour the syrup back into a saucepan and add a further half-cup of the sugar. Heat it once again to dissolve the sugar heat to dissolve, bring to the boil, then pour over the fruit and leave overnight.

Repeat daily using ½ cup of the sugar each day until there is no sugar left and the syrup is really thick and syrupy.

On the last day, put the lillypillies into sterilised jars and pour the syrup over. Seal and store for at least 3 weeks before using.http://tasteaustralia.biz/bushfood/lilly-pilly/

Taste a riberry!

Try it fresh, 

Try it as a jam, 

Or try it in a pie.

May we not walk past all of those lilly pilly trees growing in surburbia, 

without pausing to pick and eat a few of the riberries.  

from Robyn

painting of robin by Brenda, my mum.