Healthy and Green Living

People ask me for this old folk recipe all the time. Everybody claims that there is no commercial wallpaper paste that works as well and is free of pesticides!

• 1 cup flour (wheat, corn, or rice)
• 3 teaspoons alum
• water
• 10 drops oil of cloves (natural preservative)

Combine the flour and alum in a double boiler. (If you don’t have a double boiler, set a smaller pan inside a bigger one that contains enough water that can be brought to a boil without overflowing). Add enough water to make a consistency of heavy cream; stir until blended. Heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened to a gravy texture. Let cool. Stir in the clove oil. Pour into a glass jar with a screw top. Apply with a glue brush.

Makes 1 cup. Shelf life: 2 weeks refrigerated.