A Garden is Natural Art

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 31, 2010 at 12:18 pm {no comments}

A Garden is Natural Art

A gardener’s inspiration and motivation for gardening can vary, but most of the time, gardening is a hobby done either as a recreational form of natural art, or as an experiment in self-sufficiency. And with so many plant varieties available ranging from flowers to vegetables, it would be quite rare to find two identical gardens.


Most gardening takes place in regions with temperate weather, and each season bears the potential for new beauty. Planting can take place anywhere from early spring through mid-autumn depending on the location, climate, and plant.


Getting your gardening materials ready


Before you get started on your gardening project, there are a few tools and materials necessary to begin. Of course, you’ll need a plot of land or area within a yard to plant your garden. The size and design of the garden largely depends on what kind of garden you will grow.


Once you have determined how your garden will be physically laid out, you’ll need some basic tools to get started. A hoe or small plow will be needed to turn the soil in which you will plant. For small flower gardens, a hoe or even a small trowel may be sufficient. For larger gardens and for many vegetable and fruit gardens, a plow, or rototiller, would probably be more desirable.


After you have planted your seeds or plants, they will require water. A garden hose or watering bucket can be used to help irrigate the garden, particularly in months when rain may be at a minimum. Automatic sprinkler and irrigation systems may also be installed to maintain your garden.


Finally, some gardeners insist on the use of fertilizers and plant foods. While these may not be necessary, they may have a significant impact on your garden. If pests and other insects may be a problem, you might also consider investing in a safe insecticide for treating your plants.


Common challenges faced in gardening


We aren’t all “green thumbs,” but everybody faces the same basic problems in the planting and maintenance of a garden. First of all, insects and other pests can cause serious issues for an otherwise healthy garden. Many nurseries can offer you guidance in common pests and plant diseases that might be prone to your region or type of plant, and should be able to help you pick out a pesticide.


The weather can also seriously hamper your efforts at maintaining a successful garden. Brutally hot temperatures, lack of rain, and other weather conditions during the growing season can stunt growth, prevent blooms, or even kill entire gardens. And, of course, unexpected changes in the weather can catch even the most experienced gardener off-guard. Be prepared for anything in terms of weather, and this will help prevent surprises later on.


Gardening for beauty


Flower gardens greatly add to the overall landscaping of a home or business, and can add color at any time of year. Understanding the difference between annuals — which bloom only once and typically die at the end of the season — and perennials — which, if cared for properly, will return again season after season — can be of great benefit to establishing a garden.


Many flower gardens feature a set of perennials as part of the landscape, requiring the gardener to simply fill in the open space with annuals each year. Popular annuals for flower gardening include impatiens, begonias, daisies, tulips, and pansies. Some gardens may be designed around a color scheme or theme, and are often designed to be incorporated into the larger landscaping theme of the home or business.


Gardening for food


Many gardens are created for the sole purpose of growing and harvesting edible fruits and vegetables. In some regions of the world, fruit and vegetable gardening is so popular that nearly every home on every street or road has at least some size garden filled with fruits and vegetables.


While planting and growing flowers from seed is fairly simple, knowing when to plant seeds for a vegetable garden can be a more of a challenge. Many novice gardeners choose to purchases small plants to grow, leaving most of the work in maintenance of the garden.


Most vegetable and fruit gardens are planted in rows, which makes working in the garden, the weeding and watering for example, easier. Planting in rows also eases in harvesting the yields of the garden, as a person can walk through the rows next to plants to harvest and pick the food. Common plants in fruits and vegetable gardens include beans, tomatoes, all varieties of peppers, corn, and radishes. Most fruit and vegetables are summer gardens, although the yields may not be harvested until fall for some vegetables and fruits such as gourds and pumpkins.


For those who like plants for beauty, or those who want to grow fresh food in their backyard, the rewarding hobby of gardening is well worth a try.

Steve Dolan loves to garden and is blessed with green fingers. Take a look at Organic Garden | Organic Vegetables to make the most of your garden. Also visit Home Improvement | Home DIY for home improvement ideas.

Organic is it Worth It?

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 31, 2010 at 12:18 pm {no comments}

Organic is it Worth It?

When you head to the grocery store or supermarket, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce can be very confusing. Everywhere you look food is labeled as natural, organic, or a number of other things—but what is the difference? Learning what certain names mean, can help you decide if you should pay that extra money on a product if it is simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a term associated with a number of fruit and vegetable products. Typically, this is a simple marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. What you really want is organic. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. There are two main benefits to organic foods. First, you are helping the environment because the chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are avoiding eating foods with chemicals and are therefore eating more healthy food. However, organic products are usually more expensive. So if you are on a budget, skip over organic fruit and vegetables that you can peel, like oranges and bananas. After all, once you’ve discarded the peel, you have also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel. No matter what you buy, make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home,

Just in case.

Another label you will see is “no hormones.” This is usually regarding milk and meat products and this is false, since all animals naturally produce hormones. Hormones are what helps an animal (even a human) regulate body organs, having young, and otherwise function. All meat products have hormones. What the labels really mean is that no hormones were unnaturally given to the animal, which is sometimes done to increase milk production. Regardless of hormones, however, the milk and meat is safe for human consumption and not a violation of an animal’s rights.

Lastly, the label on eggs and meat can indicate if the animal was caged or penned. This does not make a difference in the quality or nutritional value of the meat, but is simply a matter of animal rights. These products may be a bit more expensive, but if you want to make human decisions, that are the way to go. Reading the label and making healthy choices can sometimes be difficult, but learning what they mean can help you make the best choice for your diet.

Dave Parry

Author of Be Healthy Live Longer

25 years experience Natural Health products

Research, trials & tests to benefit you


For REAL Beginners

What you need to succeed

All on one site at Newbie Place Resource Centre

Sourcing organic ingredients for the private label industry

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 31, 2010 at 9:18 am {no comments}

Sourcing organic ingredients for the private label industry

Going out for food ingredients like health snacks and beverages is fast growing up to becoming a common American habit. Being fun filled is a popular habit of the American and world youth and at the same time having a healthy food habit is fast being adapted by a large population of health conscious individuals. While in past, most food bars served food stuff rich in oil, fat and spices (and were thus, termed as ‘junk food’). In modern times, most of the food and beverages served in food bars are made up of organic ingredients. http://www.agcommoditiesinc.com/index.htm points out to you some of the major benefits of consuming health snacks rich in organic ingredients.


Foods containing Organic ingredients are not only tasty but also your one stop solution to good health. Grown without the harmful effects of pesticides and other toxic substances, organic farming is a very popular alternative to regular farming in today’s world. Almost 10% of America’s farmland is involved in organic farming and we can hope that this trend will soon grow up to greater figures in the near future. The growth of organic farming in America is also a colossal 477% within a gap of 6 years from 1977-2003. With this increase in demand it is hardly surprising that the products will become more and more popular as time goes on. Thus, as http://www.agcommoditiesinc.com/index.htm points out, sourcing organic ingredients for health bars and other such eateries is gradually becoming an extremely profitable and important business venture in contemporary America.


Today, leading active lifestyles in the modern metros, people often tend to overlook matters of health and consume food products most satisfying to their taste buds. While this not only increases the quantity of artificial materials in the body, but if continued over long durations of time, can also lead to different types of serious illnesses. With time, as an increasing number of people are gradually becoming more and more conscious of their health, they are modifying their basic diets in order to keep their mind and bodies in perfect healthy conditions. While on one hand, a large number of individuals, realizing the benefits of consuming various fruits and vegetables, are gradually either becoming vegetarians or including large proportions of fruits and vegetables in their diet, on the other, not only at home, but also in the outer world in order to get readymade health snacks rich in organic ingredients various food bars exclusively dealing with heath snacks are being set up.


The best part about the entire issue is that the younger generations are becoming more and more concerned about the health and environmental benefits of organic farming. The situation is changing when compared to the state 10 years back when obesity was a major problem with a staggering percentage of American children. However, today, a high percentage of our children, especially girls, would opt for healthy food ingredients like a bowl of salad in place of a sticky candy bar. Food bars have played a great role in bringing about this change, by transforming dull vegetables and fruits into a menu that’s sure to be a feast for connoisseurs. Besides its obvious health benefits organic ingredients help in the conservation of our environment as well…an issue that thankfully finds a lot of supporters among Americans today, thanks to websites like http://www.agcommoditiesinc.com/index.htm. Following America’s lead, food bars specializing in the sell of heath snacks are today being set up in different countries all around the world.


http://www.agcommoditiesinc.com/index.htm also enlightens you about some of the major benefits of cultivating and eating health snacks. While invention and use of pesticides and insecticides were primarily meant for preventing insects and pests from attacking crops and food grains, later research revealed that such pesticides used during the cultivation of food crops also accumulate in the crops themselves over long time periods and such food products rich in chemical pesticides are consumed by human beings the chemicals enter the human system and may cause different types of diseases. The use of pesticides and harsh treatment meted out on to the soil during ordinary farming has far reaching impacts on our planet. Besides containing dangerous percentages of toxic chemicals thanks to the 1000s of gallons of pesticides that are sprayed on the vegetation, during farming, non-organic food is unsafe because they lack the strict maintenance of quality control that organic ingredients have to pass through. Thus, by encouraging the intake of food ingredients and beverages, which are organic in nature, health bars have really made a difference to the food habits of Americans. Consequently, the consciousness for healthy food, nutrition that is available from agricultural commodities has changed American food styles to a great extent, thereby bringing in health. Now, a close look at the statistics show lower mortality rate on accounts of diseases resulting from bad food habits and obesity. Keep up the good job, guys!


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Earth Friendly Tips For A Rosy Garden

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 31, 2010 at 3:18 am {no comments}

Earth Friendly Tips For A Rosy Garden

Tip 1: Grow your own fruit and vegetables

There are so many reasons to grow your fruit and veg. Having your own vegetable garden means you will have vegetables which taste amazing, are fresher and have higher vitamin content. Organic gardening also means no packaging, no carbon footprint from transportation, and it will save you money every day! On top of all that, it’s really easy to do. Phew. That’s quite a long list of benefits. Many crops can be sown in March – so start preparing your beds today.

Find out more about growing your own vegetables
No garden? Don’t despair. Many crops can be grown in pots on balconies and window ledges.  Or, if you want more space, get an allotment.

Tip 2: Teach your children where food comes from

The more we can teach children about healthy eating and caring for the environment, the better. And there’s no better way to learn about food than getting your hands dirty and growing some yourself. It’s mucky, fun and rewarding, which makes it perfect for kids. Why not give your child their own patch in your organic vegetable garden and help them sow seeds and care for the plants as they grow? The more children understand where our food comes from, the more respect they will have for sustainable living.

Get more information on setting up a kid’s vegetable garden

Tip 3: Keep your head above water

Water is a precious commodity, even in a country renowned for rain. There is likely to be another hosepipe ban this year so the thoughtful gardener needs to plan ahead. Use water butts to collect rain water throughout the year and then use this to water the garden during dry spells. Old bath water and washing up water can also be collected and used on the garden – but make sure you are using organic, biodegradable detergents and soaps that won’t harm the local ecosystem.

Find about more about saving water in the garden

Tip 4: Keep out the chemicals

Many fertilizers and garden products are laden with chemicals that could cause damage to the local ecosystems. Opt for natural organic fertilizers that have no negative effect on the environment. Or make your own compost and use that. Ehow.co.uk has a video to show you how to get started.

Find out more about choosing the right natural fertilizer.

Tip 5: Recycle and compost organic waste

All garden waste and most food waste can be composted and used again to feed your soil. Collect all this waste in a compost bin and it will provide a free, year round, nutrient- rich organic fertilizer. Recyclenow.com has a great step-by-step guide to getting started and lists what you can put in your bin.

Tip 6: Share your garden

If you have a large garden that is too big for you to manage on your own or have spare garden space, you might benefit from Landshare. Landshare aims to link people with spare garden space with people who want some. Owners, growers or helpers can post listings describing what they are offering or looking for so people in their area can respond. It’s a great way to share resources.

Tip 7: Encourage wildlife

Birds, hedgehogs, frogs, toads, slowworms, ladybirds and bumblebees are your friends as they like to dine on the worst garden pests – snails, slugs and aphids. Encourage them to visit your garden by leaving a slightly wild area with longer grass, piles of logs and fallen leaves. This will provide a perfect habitat for them to thrive. Also, consider installing a pond or leave your water butt open for them to drink from. Bird boxes and lady boxes can also help.

For more advice on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet by growing your own fruit and vegetable garden, visit the Energy Saving Trust.

Organic Skin Care – Reasons To Seriously Consider It

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 31, 2010 at 12:16 am {no comments}

Organic Skin Care – Reasons To Seriously Consider It

“When natural way is easily available why do anything unnaturally” – is the principle on which organic skin care is based. Taking care of your skin the organic way is the best way. From the moment the man first realized the need and importance of taking care of his skin, he has been using organic products which were freely available. And also gentle on the skin. If used properly, organic skin care products can avoid skin infections and also give you a healthy, glowing and a younger looking skin for a longer time.

Skin care routines with organic material mostly use fruits and vegetables. For example, fruits and vegetables like cucumber, turmeric, apple, papaya, and ginger are a few commonly used ingredients in a wide range of skin care regimen. These organic ingredients apart from being natural have a very rejuvenating effect on your skin. Almost all skin care books/guides give a special segment on organic skin care giving details of effect of various vegetables and fruits on your skin. Choosing the right ones most suitable according to the skin type you have is the key. You can come to a final conclusion after experimenting with a few as to which one suits your skin type the best and then make it a part of your daily skin care routine. This is the best way as normally there is no side effects hence experimenting with different ingredients is quite safe. Use only the fresh fruits and vegetables and not rotten or over ripe ones whose place is in garbage bin.

Milk has proved to be a good cleanser and many skin care products contains “milk” as an ingredient. A blend of milk and ground oatmeal has a superb cleansing quality. Ground oatmeal is a commonly used ingredient in skin care routine and is especially good for oily skin. It works well in preparing facial packs with egg, honey, milk and fruits in different blends

Another ingredient rich in Vitamin E is wheat germ is commonly used in organic skin care products also for its exfoliating and moisturizing qualities. Wheat germ is blended with different organic material for preparing face packs for dry and normal skin types. Wheat germ oil is another extract used in these skin care products.

Sour cream and yogurt are some other ingredients used for their moisturizing and exfoliation qualities.

Another well known organic skin care ingredient is honey known for its moisture retention and glowing skin qualities.

Lavender water as well as rose water is good toners used in these skin care regimen. Different blends of organic ingredients complementing each other and enhancing effectiveness of each other are used in these skin care products. Not only that these blends also help in preventing damaging effects if any of different organic ingredients that form them.

Organic skin care is an art, if mastered well, will not only give superb results but will be very cost effective too.

Abhishek is a Skincare expert and he has got some great Skincare Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 68 Pages Ebook, “Anti-ageing And Skin-care Made Easy!” from his website http://www.Health-Whiz.com/602/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

Main Street Home and Gardens Owner Will Speak

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 30, 2010 at 9:16 pm {no comments}

Main Street Home and Gardens Owner Will Speak

A quiet revolution is pulsing through the huge residential areas spread out on the edges of Cape Town. Chuck Hall is a writer that writes for environmental learning. Do you know the difference between compost and mulch? Each one of these is a theme the retailer uses in its stores.

Association will hold its monthly meeting March 12, where Main Street Home and Gardens owner Beth Hardin will speak on basic organic gardening. Its all about the benefits and responsibility of us to try and use organic gardening techniques and less garden chemicals. Here’s a great article on controlling moles in the garden and yard. Organic Vegetable gardening is very different from conventional gardening. If you’re just starting out in organic gardening or growing your crops in a rotation, this plan will help you get it sorted.

Check out these informative videos on Organic gardening. It’s important to provide the proper hydroponics nutrients to your plants to produce the largest, healthiest yield possible. Looking for tips on specific types of vegetables or herbs? A great deal of care and preparation must be undertaken before you get started. What will your garden be like four years from now? ‘s blog tackles vegetable growing, eco-issues and vegan vegetarian cooking amongst other things. Which are the easiest crops to start off with.

Many couples are having their nuptials on untouched terrain, nature reserves, the beach, parks, art gallery,organic farm, non-profit space, organic restaurant, green-roofed building or their own backyards. What do Japanese Zen gardens, Raider’s of the Lost Ark-like temples and the Canadian Rocky Mountains have in common with a natural foods supermarket?

Find out what to use for organic fertilizer and pest control. videos, organic gardening, container gardening, home gardening, indoor gardening, herb gardening, flower gardening, vegetable gardening, gardening tips.

Plans and ideas for an organic garden; a blog-post. A page giving 2 tables for crop rotation over 3 or 4 years. Rodale, which has been promoting organic gardening for more than 60 years, sponsors the annual Organic School Garden Awards as part of its 9. Very useful for the organic gardener or anyone practising rotation of crops. Weblog from tree-changers (homesteaders) about there journey to creating an organic bio-dynamic farming enterprise on the east coast of Australia. I remember the enormous pleasure I had from growing my own vegetables in the garden at Buckingham Palace and from being in the countryside. At Florida-based Ada’s Natural and Organic Foods’ Supermarket they have everything in common. the site is well laid out and easy to navigage. Below is a biography and a link to his website were environmental issues are covered and his articles can be read. A quiet revolution is growing in the townships of Capetown, a revolution based on organic gardening, cooperation and the work of women as organic community gardens flourish in the townships.

A story about one family who made maple syrup in the spring. WWOOF is an acronym for a number of different phrases, the most apt of which in my mind is “World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms”.

For more information please visit http://gardeningfresh.info/sitemap or http://gardeninggate.info/sitemap or even http://gardeningget.info/sitemap

How to Take Care of your Skin Organically

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 30, 2010 at 6:18 pm {no comments}

How to Take Care of your Skin Organically

The best way to naturally care for your skin is organically. The first methods used by humans to improve their skin were organic skin care. Compared to commercial skin care products, organic skin care is not only cheaper but also less harmful to your skin. Organic skin care when done properly will also help prevent skin problems from developing. It is also a great way to help your skin look healthier and younger.


Cucumber is the most common remedy for organic skin care. Other fruits and vegetables used in organic skin care treatments include apple, papaya and ginger. Organic skin products that come from fruits and vegetables are a great way to revitalize and freshen the skin. There is a specific section for organic skin regimens in all the skin care guides. You can read through the skin care guides and find the best regimen for your skin type. Rotten fruits and vegetables will have no effect so it is important to use fresh fruits and vegetables for your skin care.


There are six primary materials used for organic skin care:


1. A good cleanser option is milk. The main ingredient of many products is milk. Oatmeal can be added to milk to give you skin better cleansing effects.


2. For oily skin ground oatmeal is a great option. Oatmeal will help take away the excess oils from your face. Oatmeal can be added to fruits, honey and eggs.


3. Exfoliating and moisturizing the skin require Vitamin E and the best source for this is wheat germ. Many organic materials can be combined with wheat germ to create and organic facial mask. Facial masks can be used for both dry and normal skin. Another option is to use wheat germ oil.


4. To exfoliate the skin and get rid of dead skin cells you can use sour cream and yogurt since their ingredients work well for this.


5. To help your skin look nice and radiant you can use honey since it helps your skin maintain its moisture content. Honey will also give you the added benefit of smooth skin.


6. For toning your skin you can consider rose water and lavender. Lavender is also excellent for skin problems and is a great antiseptic. Rose water is best for moisturizing and refreshing your skin.


To find a good organic skin care regimen you can combine various organic materials. Finding organic materials that increase the effectiveness of each other is the first step to finding the right organic skin care. You can also consider combining organic products that will help reduce the harmful effects of harsh organic products. While you experiment with the best combination for your needs you can have fun at the same time.


You can get great results with organic skin care while paying less for your products. In addition, you don’t have to worry about chemicals when you are using all natural products. So with all these benefits why not start finding the right combination for your organic skin care now.

Organic Palnt Food: Natures Magic Ingredient

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 30, 2010 at 3:18 pm {no comments}

Organic Palnt Food: Natures Magic Ingredient

Organic Plant Food: Natures Magic Ingredient.

With the ever increasing demand for organic food production it is quite natural that we look for organic plant food to replace the chemical fertilizers that are commonly used in commercial production of fruit and vegetables.

What is organic plant food?

The first thing that springs to mind is animal manure, and still today this is the number one most common source of organic plant food. Animal manure provides active nutrients, fungi and the bacteria necessary for the development of fertile soils. Today, manures are available in several forms and grades. Although horse and cow dung is well known for its use as organic plant food, other animals such as hogs and sheep manure is also available. Chicken manure requires processing before it is applied to the garden..

Another form of organic plant food is derived from green manures that are basically special crops cultivated for the express purpose of plowing them back into the ground to provide nutrients such as nitrogen and a host for bacteria. Composting of grass and plant cuttings and vegetable scraps are also a form of organic plant food and may also be mixed with animal manures. Composts are not defined as manure but they are a very practical source of organic plant food and are easily accessible.

Benefits

Under modern intensive agriculture it is normal for producers to use chemically based fertilizers to enrich the soil before planting, then as the crop grows chemical pesticides are added to protect the crop.. Obviously the harvested crop must contain some residue of the chemicals used in its production which is later ingested into the bodies of those consuming the product.

Therefore one of the main benefits of using organic plant food is simply that they do not contain artificial chemicals and provide most of the elements and organisms required for the soil food cycle. Thus, the application of organic plant food helps to sustaining viable arable farming lands, pastures for grazing and fertile soils for the growing of fresh fruits and vegetables.

It has been noted that an additional benefit is that plants appear to do better long term with natural organic plant food than they do with chemical based nitrogen nutrients. It is apparent that the existence of certain organisms, bacteria and some fungi is essential for the health of the soil biosphere.

Down-Sides

Unfortunately, there are two obvious problems with organic plant food.

1. Being an animal bi-product it may contain organisms, germs, bacteria and even viruses that can prove harmful. Overuse of these organic plant foods without some form of sterilization or processing can result in contamination. However, it is not easy to process out the harmful elements thus safe manures are expensive.

2. Some raw manures can generate considerable amounts of heat as they decompose which can actually cause more damage than good not to mention the bad smell it causes..

Until you have experienced the amazing taste of fresh fruit and vegetables grown using organic plant food you don’t know what you are missing. The difference in quality, taste and nutrition value can only be experienced and the benefits to your overall health will astound you..

Author’s Biography: Paul Courtney contributes articles to various publications pertaining to Alternative and Herbal Medicine, for more information please visit http://www.organicsandyou.com

Aquaponics is a relatively new approach to food production that cultivates fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship. The OrganicNation.tv crew traveled to Flanagan, Illinois where Myles Harston of AquaRanch Industries has been working with aquaponics 1992. At his innovative facility, Myles grows tilapia and a wide variety of organic vegetables including lettuce, kale, chard, herbs, tomatoes, and hot peppers. For more information about Aquaranch Industries visit: www.aquaranch.com Special thanks to Green Grocer Chicago: www.greengrocerchicago.com For more videos visit: www.OrganicNation.tv
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Choose a Healthier Life With Organic Foods

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 30, 2010 at 9:17 am {no comments}

Choose a Healthier Life With Organic Foods

You have probably heard a lot of people talking about the health benefits that come with eating raw organic foods. You may have wondered what implications come with a diet of organic foods. A table full of raw beef and oysters does not appeal to most people, but there is more to it than that. An organic foods diet means that you are required to eat the food in its natural unprocessed state. Organic foods may already be included in your diet, if you eat fresh fruits and vegetables.

The processing and cooking of the foods strip them of a lot of vital nutrients. A lot of people say that cooking vegetables leaches out the vitamins and it can also destroy the important enzymes that they contain. Packaged foods available in every grocery store, that have been processed in some way to help you benefit from an easy package meal, have a very low nutritional value and they are not very good for your body because they are hard to metabolize.

Earth gives us natural foods. If you consume them as such, in their raw state, it becomes a lot easier for the body to process them. Raw foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Everything you do costs energy. The energy levels of your body are given by enzymes. These things are not the most popular topics of discussion, but they are very important for your body. Think about how tired you feel after serving a big meal of cooked foods. This happens because you use your body enzymes to process these foods instead of using them for other activities of your daily life. By consuming raw organic foods that contain their own enzymes helpful for digestion, you preserve your energy for doing the things you like, instead of wasting that energy for digesting food you just ate.

People that follow a raw food diet consume up to 75% of raw foods. This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts and other foods in their natural form. Preparing raw foods involves several processes. One of these is juicing. Many people turn the fruits and vegetables into juices. Just by drinking fresh juice in the morning you can benefit from a health boost. Another way of preparing raw foods is by using a dehydrator. The moisture is taken out of the fruits and vegetables so they are good for long time storage. The dehydrator uses hot air to remove the moisture from the foods, but the temperatures it operates under has to be below 1160 F, so that all the enzymes in the food are stored and not destroyed.

Organic cheese can also be a part of a raw food diet. The process used for obtaining organic cheese does not involve temperatures higher than 1160 F, so it fits in the category of raw foods. The government keeps the organic farms under strict supervision, so you don’t have to worry about quality or scams if you purchase products from them. The cows from which the milk is harvested for the organic cheese cannot be treated with any antibiotics or other medicine in case of illnesses. In case they must be treated, they are removed from that farm. This guarantees that the organic cheese or other foods you purchase from that farm are 100% organic.

The amount of raw foods included in your diet should be around 75% (ar at least 50%), but you should not start eating immediately this amount of raw foods. Instead you should increase the quantities gradually. As a precautionary note, if you plan to have any major changes in your diet, you should consult your doctor. Even though raw foods are the base for a healthier life, some of them may conflict with certain medication, so this is the best thing you should do in order to avoid unpleasant situations. Due to the detoxifying effect raw foods have, some people may experience mild headaches and nausea, but only temporary.

If you choose to switch to a diet of raw organic foods, then the choice you have made is for a better life. Raw fruits, raw vegetables, organic cheese and other organic foods help you preserve your energy in order to live an active, healthier life.

Choose Organic for Your Green Lifestyle

Filed under Vegetables by admin on August 30, 2010 at 6:17 am {no comments}

Choose Organic for Your Green Lifestyle

More and more people are electing to avoid the risk of chemical contamination of their bodies, families and homes. Fortunately, solutions for addressing change exist and are within easy access. Choosing eco-friendly alternatives allows us to live a natural, green lifestyle.

The benefits of organic bedding, eating organic foods and wearing organic clothing are numerous. Organic Foods The Organic Food Association tells us: “It’s common sense; organic food is good food. Good to eat, good for the environment, good for the small-scale farmers and farm workers who produce it.”

Organic farming is all about health and wellness. In order to assure optimum health and resistance against diseases, the natural balance in our own bodies and in the environment must be maintained. The use of artificial chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, genetic engineering and drugs interfere with this delicate balance; with unknown and often harmful consequences! This is why organic farming impacts on much more than what can be tasted or seen.

Over the last fifty years, commercial farmers have, of necessity, continued to increase the amount of these hazardous applications. Cereal crops are sprayed as many as 8 times during the growing season. Many fruit and vegetable harvests have been sprayed 10 – 15 times. After harvesting the spraying process is repeated to inhibit grow of bacteria during storage and transport. Excessive spraying of fruit and vegetable crops destroys natural bacteria, leaving the plants increasingly vulnerable to attack from unwelcome pests or disease. More over insecticides and fungicides are then required to fight off infestation and decay. However, these pests rather quickly become immune to the chemicals applied and their population increases rapidly. More powerful and increasingly toxic chemicals are then required.

Organic certification is the consumer’s assurance that products have met stringent standards and have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without contamination from carcinogenic pesticides, fertilizers, human waste or sewage sludge and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or artificial food additives. Organic or non-organic, which would you rather put in your body? We are what we eat. When our diet is built upon natural organic choices we are providing our bodies optimum food, produced in optimum conditions. Organically raised vegetables and fruit provide more minerals and nutrients than commercially grown produce and are more intensely endowed with color, scent and flavor; they just taste better!

Organic meats are produced from animals that have been treated humanely and raised on certified organic pastures and feeds. Organic meat is the only meat product that guarantees that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have not been used at any stage of growth production.

Organics And The Environment

The USDA estimates that within the next ten years half of all America’s farm products will come from only 1% of the farms. The EPA also states that commercial agriculture is accountable for 70% of the pollution in our country’s rivers and streams. Small-scale organic farmers finance innovative and far reaching research designed to minimize agriculture’s impact on the environment. They preserve bio-diversity by planting heirloom varieties of plants and harvesting seeds for future crops. The loss of a large variety of species is one of the worlds most pressing environmental concerns. The good news is that many organic farmers and gardeners have been gathering, preserving seeds and growing unusual and unique varieties for decades.

Organic farming methods naturally enrich the soil with manure and compost. Well balanced soils product healthy, strong plants, nourishing for both people and animals. Organic agriculture can be a lifeline for small farms as it offers an alternative market where sellers can command fair and equatable prices for crops. Organic farming may be one of the last ways to assure the survival of both our ecosystems and our rural farming communities .

Conventional farming endangers farm workers and their families. Scientific research confirms pesticide-related health problems which include cancer, birth defects, memory loss, paralysis and death. Unsecured storage, improper application methods and unsafe handling and transportation procedures are not at all uncommon and often lead to tragic mishaps. As pests develop resistance, farmers desperate to maintain or increase crop yields often resort to more and more applications of expensive and stronger chemical products. Facing rising costs, depleted fields and contaminated ground water, many small farmers have been forced to abandon their livelihood.

Organic farming, on the other hand, is not only safer and healthier for farmers, but also promotes just compensation in the supply chain. Organic farming provides an economically viable and socially acceptable alternative to large-scale farming and the accompanying dependence on government crop subsidies. Support of the small farmer supports America’s economy.

Organic production dramatically reduces health risks. Many EPA-approved pesticides were registered and approved prior to extensive research linking these noxious chemicals to cancer and other significant health problems. Crop dusting has often resulted in drifts of toxic pesticides from fields to residential areas.

Organic agriculture is one way to prevent more of these chemicals from contaminating the earth that sustains us. An increasing body of research indicates that pesticides and other contaminants are considerably more prevalent in the foods we eat, in our bodies and in the environment than we previously believed.

By choosing organic products we lessen this toxic burden. Organic farmers regularly rotate crops and plant cover crops to control weeds, nutrient leaching and erosion. Soil is the foundation of the food chain. The focus of organic farming is to use methods that build and maintain healthy and sustainable soils.

Organic Skin Care And Personal Products

Skin care and cosmetics are the least regulated products under the US Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Whether it is soap, moisturizers or deodorants, skin care products are an essential part of daily life. But do we really understand what these products actually contain and what we are forcing our skin to absorb?

Have you ever suffered from stinging, burning or itchy skin? Chances are that your skin absorbed irritants and toxins from your skin care products. The skin absorbs ingredients in all the personal care products that come in contact with our skin. Consider nicotine or HRT patches. They rely solely on skin absorption.

As mothers we are always concerned for the well being of our children. We tenderly comfort and bathe them with a wide range of products. These include soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions, many of which are used on baby’s tender skin several times a day. The skin is the largest organ of the body and the delicate skin of an infant can be up to 100 times more sensitive and receptive to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients that the skin of an adult.

Without even realizing, parents put their babies at risk daily. Did you know that applying baby powder to your baby’s skin may pose a cancer risk later in life? The principle ingredient in many baby powders is talc, which several medical studies have confirmed as a known carcinogenic.

Lanolin is a main ingredient in many personal care products and when processed from organically raised sheep, is a wonderful healing balm. The danger lies in non-organic lanolin that has been processed from sheep that were dipped or sprayed for lice with chemical pesticides that are contaminated with carcinogenic ingredients such as DDT, dieldrin or lindane. The residue of these toxin remains in the processed lanolin and can cause severe reactions and long term healt
h hazards.

Chemical free and natural, organic products offer earth friendly options that eliminate these dangers. You can avoid these and similar safely concerns by using only certified organic products formulated from natural sources such as plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers. These products to do not contain synthetic chemicals such as lauryl sulphate, phthales, parabens, artificial fragrances or dyes.

Organic Textiles

By the end of 2008, the sale of organic textiles worldwide is expected to exceed billion indicating that global demand for organic textiles is increasing in response to consumer demand. Organic production takes more time, requires more skills and knowledge, and at least for now, costs somewhat more. But it is worth it as organic materials do not contain any hidden costs to the environment.

Choose Earth Friendly Products! Choose Organic!

The consumption and use of green technologies is all about the challenges and choices we face if we are to enjoy a high quality of life within the limited resources of our world. If we become passionate about sustainability, together we can make the planet a cleaner and healthier place for all of us to live.

Do you wish to embrace a lifestyle that protects our children’s future? Do you want to to live in the greenest environment possible with a conscience and respect and appreciation for the earth? The quality of life for future generations is dependent on the choices we make today!

Surveys reflect that about a fourth of the US adult population has a profound sense of environmental enlightenment and social responsibility. Almost half of us will buy organic and make earth friendly choices in many aspects of our daily living. Consumer education and awareness is a powerful force for change.

The consumption of organically grown products has increase by 20 per cent in the last year alone. Organic alternatives are readily available and the trend is escalating. Sustainability should be within everyone’s reach. Our choices matter and have a long term global impact. Let’s Choose wisely!

Marlene Affeld writes for the Nandu Green Team. Plant a Tree! Celebrate Life! Nandu Green is your portal to Eco-Friendly Living!

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