5 Ways to use First Saturday Lime: A Must-Have Farm Product
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Finding a product that not only works, but is also safe for you and your animals can be a difficult task. About 8 months ago, I discovered First Saturday Lime and it checks all of the boxes. Whether you are having trouble with insect control in your home or garden, keeping your animal’s water trough clean, or are looking for a safe product to create a beautiful lime wash finish on your walls or planters, FSL does it all!
We all have our breaking point, and mine was cleaning out our horses’ 100-gallon water trough every other day. One day while scrolling through Instagram, I came across this product and it immediately peaked my interest when I saw that it not only helps repel insects and controls algae growth, but it is also 100% safe for you and your animals.
First Saturday Lime is an all-natural, non-silica formula derived from 2 types of lime: hydrated lime and citric acid from limes. All elements of their formula are eco-friendly and have been approved for use on food contact and food preparation, which means it’s also perfect for your organic garden! Application is easy, and most uses only requires you to apply First Saturday Lime once a month – hints the name. This product will kill larvae, repel insects, aid in moisture control, and reduce odors.
Here are all the ways I use FSL around AF:
Horse Stalls
After thoroughly cleaning out our horse stalls, I sprinkle FSL around the perimeter of the stall and then on top of the bedding (can also be spread directly on the mats). FSL controls moisture repels insects and reduces odor.
Water Trough
Before FSL, I was cleaning out my horses’ water trough every other day, sometimes daily. Since using First Saturday Lime, I only need to clean their trough out once every 10 days to 2 weeks! After draining and scrubbing the trough, I sprinkle a thin layer of FSL on the bottom of the trough and then refill. The water will look milky for about an hour, but the lime will eventually settle to the bottom leaving your animals with crystal clear water. It is safe for your animals to drink immediately.
An added tip to keeping your trough clean is adding goldfish. We have 3 goldfish in our 100-gallon tank, and they are self-sustaining. A few things to remember if you decide to add fish to your tank:
1. Do not overstock your fish. 3 fish in a 100-gallon tank is plenty. If you add too many, you will get an ammonia build-up, creating undesirable drinking water for your animals.
2. Do not feed your goldfish. They will get plenty of food by eating any algae, larvae, and bugs that get in the trough. I promise!
3. Some people bring their fish in for the winter. We typically have a mild winter, so I plan to keep mine in the trough throughout the winter season.
4. You can put a rock or brick at the bottom of the trough for them to hide out and find shade.
5. Do not let your water trough get too low. We refill ours daily.
6. Before putting your fish into the trough, let them get acclimated to the water temperature by keeping them in the bag they came in and let them float in the trough for at least an hour. Note, they have about 2 hours’ worth of oxygen in the bag they come in from the pet store, so be sure to let them free before then!
7. When it comes time to clean your trough, just scoop them up (buy a fish net) and place them in a bucket of water while you clean and refill your trough.
Garden Beds
FSL is great for pest control if you have an organic garden. You can apply directly on the plants (avoid petals and buds for the pollinators), wait at least 2 hours and then lightly rinse them off. I also sprinkle FSL around the perimeter of my raised beds. It is great for keeping ants away!
Feed Room/Barn
Once a month, I sprinkle FSL around the perimeter of the barn and in the feed room, creating a nice pest barrier.
Crafts
Last but certainly not least, you can use FSL to create a lovely whitewash on a variety of surfaces. I love finding old vintage terra cotta pots, but sometimes they can be hard to find, so I typically defer to Hobby Lobby’s endless selection of inexpensive terra cotta pots; however, they are very bright orange and a little too “new” for my liking so FSL comes in quite handy if you are wanting to give your pots some age.
Mix 1-part lime to 2-parts water and stir until fully combined. I have found that letting it sit until the mixture has turned into a paste works best for application. Using a foam brush or sponge, apply the mixture until you have a thick layer around the pot. Once dry, use sandpaper to smooth out excess solution – sand some spots more than others to create an uneven, natural look. Lastly, spray the pot with a matte sealer (3-4 coats, letting it dry in between coats). The sealer will remove some of the lime, so don’t sand off too much!
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