Clotheslines for the Frugal Soul
by Pat Veretto
Some places, poor in traditional, satisfactory, hands-on living, don't even allow clotheslines. Some people think that a line full of sparkling clean laundry dancing in the breeze is an eyesore. If that's you, you have the right to that opinion, but you probably won't be interested in the following.
For those of you who understand the benefits of drying clothes on an outdoor line, whether for simple frugality or aesthetics, or a combination of both, you may be interested in putting up a traditional clothesline.
Indoor clotheslines or drying racks are usually portable or simply attached to a wall, but outdoor clotheslines are often more permanently installed. There are lines that are attached to the side of the house, much like indoor lines, and umbrella type of "lines," but more traditional clotheslines are attached to the familiar "T" posts, which are sunk into the ground and anchored in cement.
If you want to put in clotheslines like this, there are a few things to take into consideration.
Where to put them is the first concern.
To read the full article: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/09/09mar30h.cfm
Monday, March 30, 2009
DIY Household Cleaners
DIY Household Cleaners
By Paul McRandle
May 3, 2007
The healthiest, least-toxic cleaners you can find are the ones you make yourself. They're effective too: According to a study at Virginia Tech, spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar right after one another is just as effective at killing germs as lung-irritating, stream-polluting chlorine bleach. Here are a few easy cleaner recipes to kick-start your Saturday chores.
EIGHT ESSENTIALS
These eight items make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.
Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes
Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain surfaces
Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use bit more to get the same results
Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well
Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaners
Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores.
Don't forget to pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.
WHOLE HOUSE
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water
Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.
To read the full article: http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/cleaning/diy-cleaners?source=email_gg_20090318&email=gg
By Paul McRandle
May 3, 2007
The healthiest, least-toxic cleaners you can find are the ones you make yourself. They're effective too: According to a study at Virginia Tech, spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar right after one another is just as effective at killing germs as lung-irritating, stream-polluting chlorine bleach. Here are a few easy cleaner recipes to kick-start your Saturday chores.
EIGHT ESSENTIALS
These eight items make up the basic ingredients for nearly every do-it-yourself cleaning recipe.
Baking soda: provides grit for scrubbing and reacts with water, vinegar or lemon by fizzing, which speeds up cleaning times
Borax: disinfects, bleaches and deodorizes; very handy in laundry mixes
Distilled white vinegar: disinfects and breaks up dirt; choose white vinegar over apple cider or red vinegars, as these might stain surfaces
Hydrogen Peroxide: disinfects and bleaches
Lemons: cut grease; bottled lemon juice also works well, although you might need to use bit more to get the same results
Olive oil: picks up dirt and polishes wood; cheaper grades work well
Vegetable based (liquid castile) soap: non-petroleum all-purpose cleaners
Washing soda: stain remover, general cleaner, helps unblock pipes; should be handled with gloves due to its caustic nature. Washing soda is usually found in the laundry aisle of grocery and drug stores.
Don't forget to pick up an empty spray bottle at the hardware store, and keep those old rags and used toothbrushes for wiping up and scrubbing.
WHOLE HOUSE
All-Purpose Cleaner
1/2 cup borax
1 gallon hot water
Mix in pail (or use smaller amounts in a spray bottle: 1/8 cup borax to 1 quart of hot water) dissolving the borax completely; wipe clean with rag.
To read the full article: http://www.thegreenguide.com/home-garden/cleaning/diy-cleaners?source=email_gg_20090318&email=gg
How to Program a Digital Thermostat to Slash Utility Bills
How to Program a Digital Thermostat to Slash Utility Bills
By Actor-Activist Ed Begley Jr.
It requires a huge amount of energy to raise or lower the temperature in your home by even a few degrees. That's energy you pay for on your electric, oil, or gas bills. Controlling these costs, and the amount of energy you use, means controlling the temperature both when you’re at home and when you’re away. This is the magic of an energy-saving thermostat.
Most people simply turn their heating and air-conditioning system on and off when they want to be warmer or colder. Some even leave the system on when they leave the house, so that it will be the right temperature when they return.
Maybe you leave the heat running at your preferred temperature all night long — even though you’re sleeping under a blanket or a comforter — because you want the house to be nice and warm when you get up in the morning.
But why spend all that money, and waste all that energy, keeping your house comfortable when you’re not there, or when you can simply add another blanket to your bed at night?
If you have central heating or central air-conditioning or both, you can install and use a programmable thermostat instead of an old “set the temperature and it’s either on or off” thermostat. This way, you can save energy and money and have your house at the right temperature when you get home, when you wake up in the morning, and when you’re asleep.
To read the full article: http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/How-to-Program-a-Digital-Thermostat-to-Slash-Utility-Bills.html
By Actor-Activist Ed Begley Jr.
It requires a huge amount of energy to raise or lower the temperature in your home by even a few degrees. That's energy you pay for on your electric, oil, or gas bills. Controlling these costs, and the amount of energy you use, means controlling the temperature both when you’re at home and when you’re away. This is the magic of an energy-saving thermostat.
Most people simply turn their heating and air-conditioning system on and off when they want to be warmer or colder. Some even leave the system on when they leave the house, so that it will be the right temperature when they return.
Maybe you leave the heat running at your preferred temperature all night long — even though you’re sleeping under a blanket or a comforter — because you want the house to be nice and warm when you get up in the morning.
But why spend all that money, and waste all that energy, keeping your house comfortable when you’re not there, or when you can simply add another blanket to your bed at night?
If you have central heating or central air-conditioning or both, you can install and use a programmable thermostat instead of an old “set the temperature and it’s either on or off” thermostat. This way, you can save energy and money and have your house at the right temperature when you get home, when you wake up in the morning, and when you’re asleep.
To read the full article: http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/How-to-Program-a-Digital-Thermostat-to-Slash-Utility-Bills.html
Taking in the trash: An adventure in the thrifty, nifty world of die-hard scavenging
Taking in the trash
An adventure in the thrifty, nifty world of die-hard scavenging, where you won't believe what you can find if you just know where to look.
By Katharine Mieszkowski
Mar. 30, 2009
Kristan Lawson's legs are dangling out of the mouth of a Dumpster, as if he's being eaten alive. Inside, the scavenger is grabbing loaf after loaf of freshly baked bread. This isn't just any bread; it's rarefied artisanal bread, the kind of baguettes and ciabattas that are displayed as impulse purchases in their own tempting wooden stand near the checkout at posh grocery stores, because shoppers just can't resist them, despite the eye-popping prices.
The price is free at this Dumpster behind a bakery in an East Bay neighborhood. Lawson, 48, hands the spoils off to Anneli Rufus, 49, his wife of almost 20 years. He opens his backpack to reveal another empty bag, which he takes out and stuffs with about 15 loaves of bread, which they will freeze and eat for weeks to come.
To read the full article: http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/03/30/scavengers_manifesto
An adventure in the thrifty, nifty world of die-hard scavenging, where you won't believe what you can find if you just know where to look.
By Katharine Mieszkowski
Mar. 30, 2009
Kristan Lawson's legs are dangling out of the mouth of a Dumpster, as if he's being eaten alive. Inside, the scavenger is grabbing loaf after loaf of freshly baked bread. This isn't just any bread; it's rarefied artisanal bread, the kind of baguettes and ciabattas that are displayed as impulse purchases in their own tempting wooden stand near the checkout at posh grocery stores, because shoppers just can't resist them, despite the eye-popping prices.
The price is free at this Dumpster behind a bakery in an East Bay neighborhood. Lawson, 48, hands the spoils off to Anneli Rufus, 49, his wife of almost 20 years. He opens his backpack to reveal another empty bag, which he takes out and stuffs with about 15 loaves of bread, which they will freeze and eat for weeks to come.
To read the full article: http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2009/03/30/scavengers_manifesto
Green drink mixology - fundamental principles of green smoothies
Green drink mixology - fundamental principles of green smoothies
from www.chiDiet.com, Lesson 6
27 Mar 2009
Every plant is a miracle with the ability to pull a unique combination of elements from the soil, water, sunlight and air. When we find one possessing the right balance to satisfy our requirements of health and healing, we have found our miracle.
"There are two vital aspects of chlorophyll that should not be overlooked. First is its creation in the plant as a result of a conversion of the sun's energy-which makes it a sort of living battery. Second is its remarkable similarity to a vital component of human blood - hemoglobin. Circulating in the bloodstream, hemoglobin molecules carry oxygen to the cells throughout the body." Dr. Ann Wigmore, The Sprouting Book.
"Chlorophyll deserves a high place in the eliminative diet program because it is a fluid which helps clean the cell structure of the body. It has vital minerals to help build these structures with new cell life." Dr. Bernard Jensen, The Healing Power of Chlorophyll.
Below is a list of a variety of greens and their effects on the body. All of these greens contain an abundance of chlorophyll. Decide which are best for you so you can incorporate them into your juices and energy soup.
- Alfalfa Sprouts: Rich in vitamins (including vitamin U for peptic ulcers) and trace minerals, it also contains eight essential digestive enzymes and eight essential amino acids. It helps cleanse the kidneys and provides energy and endurance.
- Beets and Beet Greens: Very rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine and other trace minerals. This cultivated green is a powerful blood purifier and liver/gall bladder cleanser and is helpful with obesity. It also builds good blood.
- Buckwheat Greens: A wonderful building and cleansing food containing vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, niacin, pantothenic acid, many minerals including rutin (a natural longevity agent due to its antioxidant properties) and calcium. Buckwheat greens are especially helpful in circulatory and heart problems as they also contain lecithin, a natural cholesterol-lowering fatty acid. Buckwheat juice is best mixed with other sprout, green and vegetable juices to make green drinks.
- Lecithin is one of the derivatives of glycerin and is of value for cases of malnutrition, rickets, anemia, diabetes and tuberculosis. Lecithin helps in the structural support of all cells, especially of the brain and nerves. It is important in preventing and correcting atherosclerosis, causing cholesterol and neutral fats to be broken into microscopic particles so they can be easily utilized by the tissues.
- Cabbage and Cabbage Sprouts: Cabbage is a good source of vitamins A, C and U, along with the trace elements iodine and sulfur. Cabbage is good for the digestive tract and helps ulcers.
- Carrots: This king of vegetable juices is extremely high in pro-vitamin A, which the body converts to vitamin A. It also contains vitamins B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and trace minerals. The alkaline minerals contained in carrot juice, especially calcium and magnesium, help to soothe and tone the intestinal walls, plus strengthen bones and teeth. Skin, hair and nails benefit from its high protein and mineral content. Fresh carrot juice stimulates digestion and has a mild diuretic effect. Perhaps its most important contribution to body health is its tonic and cleansing effect on the liver. Through regular use, carrot juice helps the liver release stale bile and excess fats. When fat levels are reduced, cholesterol levels are reduced.
---- There is no such thing as a toxic dose of carrot juice. While it's true that it's possible to "overdose" on vitamin A, it's impossible to overdose on pro-vitamin A - the precursor to vitamin A that is found in abundance in carrot juice. Pro-vitamin A is converted to vitamin A in the body. Drinking more than five glasses of carrot juice per week may cause the skin to yellow slightly; however this is simply a manifestation of the toxins that the liver is excreting. To reduce these effects, simply decrease the dose of carrot juice. Mixed with other juices, especially sprout and green juices, carrot juice acts as a balancing element. It adds a delicious, sweet flavor to juice combinations and increases both their digestibility and nutritional value. As an overall tonic and rejuvenator, carrot juice can't be beat.
- Celery: It has a calming effect on the nervous system. This is probably due to its high concentration of organic alkaline minerals, especially sodium. The minerals contained in celery juice make the body's use of calcium more effective, balancing the blood's pH.
- Organic sodium, which is abundant in celery juice, has received a bad name because of the average American's habitual overuse of inorganic sodium chloride - table salt. Unlike inorganic sodium chloride, organic sodium found in celery juice is naturally blended with many other useful minerals. It is essential to the proper functioning of all major body systems. Organic sodium is the element in the blood that makes it salty. Because of its slightly salty taste, celery juice is an excellent component of any vegetable juice combination. Celery juice is especially effective for nervous conditions because it produces a calming effect. For weight reduction diets it curbs the desire for sweets.
- Comfrey: All parts of this plant can be used - root, leaves and flowers. Comfrey helps eliminate bloody urine. It is high in potassium, vitamin A and calcium. The allantoin in comfrey is the same ingredient that is contained in fractured bones and is often referred to as the "bone-knitter". It is also good in repairing nerve tissue.
- Dandelion Greens: Pick young tender leaves before the flowers have formed. Rich in vitamins A and C, minerals such as calcium, manganese, chlorine, potassium and iron. Acts as a tonic to the system. It destroys acids in the body. As it contains organic sodium, it is very good for anemia caused by a deficiency of nutritive salts and is recognized as a great blood builder and purifier. It is also effective as a liver cleanser. It is a gentle laxative and can therefore be used in a tea for babies and children.
- Lambs quarter: Pick young tender leaves before the flowers have formed. Very rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and C and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. One of the best tasting of the wild edibles and is very common throughout the United States.
- Parsley: Rich in vitamin A, thiamin (B1), niacin (B3), C and the minerals calcium, chlorine, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. One of the best diuretics. Strengthens the kidneys, bladder and spleen, lowers blood pressure, cleanses the liver and strengthens the eyes.
- Purslane: Pick succulent leaves and stems from June until frost. Very rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A. This is a very good tasting wild edible green.
- Radish Sprouts: Rich in vitamins A and C and minerals, including trace minerals. This is a hot, spicy sprout and will heat up a cold body. The flavor is strong, so use sparingly. A good blood stimulator and cleanser. Powerful liver and kidney cleanser.
- Red Clover Sprouts: Has many of the properties in the dried adult plant, plus a host of living enzymes. Acts as a blood purifier in the body and helps relieve nervous disorders, skin problems, acne, etc. It is very cleansing to the body.
- Sunflower Greens: Sunflower sprouts do much to relieve malnutrition and to eliminate toxic poisons from the system. This is done mainly by providing the body with the nutrients needed and nature does the restoration work. The many vitamins and minerals in sprouts are at their highest peak of activity while sprouting.
- Other Healthy Edibles: Chicory, Malva, Shepard's Purse, Nasturtium, Mint, Sourgrass, Chickweed, Watercress, Fiddleheads, Rosehips, Plantain.
from www.chiDiet.com, Lesson 6
27 Mar 2009
Every plant is a miracle with the ability to pull a unique combination of elements from the soil, water, sunlight and air. When we find one possessing the right balance to satisfy our requirements of health and healing, we have found our miracle.
"There are two vital aspects of chlorophyll that should not be overlooked. First is its creation in the plant as a result of a conversion of the sun's energy-which makes it a sort of living battery. Second is its remarkable similarity to a vital component of human blood - hemoglobin. Circulating in the bloodstream, hemoglobin molecules carry oxygen to the cells throughout the body." Dr. Ann Wigmore, The Sprouting Book.
"Chlorophyll deserves a high place in the eliminative diet program because it is a fluid which helps clean the cell structure of the body. It has vital minerals to help build these structures with new cell life." Dr. Bernard Jensen, The Healing Power of Chlorophyll.
Below is a list of a variety of greens and their effects on the body. All of these greens contain an abundance of chlorophyll. Decide which are best for you so you can incorporate them into your juices and energy soup.
- Alfalfa Sprouts: Rich in vitamins (including vitamin U for peptic ulcers) and trace minerals, it also contains eight essential digestive enzymes and eight essential amino acids. It helps cleanse the kidneys and provides energy and endurance.
- Beets and Beet Greens: Very rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine and other trace minerals. This cultivated green is a powerful blood purifier and liver/gall bladder cleanser and is helpful with obesity. It also builds good blood.
- Buckwheat Greens: A wonderful building and cleansing food containing vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, niacin, pantothenic acid, many minerals including rutin (a natural longevity agent due to its antioxidant properties) and calcium. Buckwheat greens are especially helpful in circulatory and heart problems as they also contain lecithin, a natural cholesterol-lowering fatty acid. Buckwheat juice is best mixed with other sprout, green and vegetable juices to make green drinks.
- Lecithin is one of the derivatives of glycerin and is of value for cases of malnutrition, rickets, anemia, diabetes and tuberculosis. Lecithin helps in the structural support of all cells, especially of the brain and nerves. It is important in preventing and correcting atherosclerosis, causing cholesterol and neutral fats to be broken into microscopic particles so they can be easily utilized by the tissues.
- Cabbage and Cabbage Sprouts: Cabbage is a good source of vitamins A, C and U, along with the trace elements iodine and sulfur. Cabbage is good for the digestive tract and helps ulcers.
- Carrots: This king of vegetable juices is extremely high in pro-vitamin A, which the body converts to vitamin A. It also contains vitamins B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium and trace minerals. The alkaline minerals contained in carrot juice, especially calcium and magnesium, help to soothe and tone the intestinal walls, plus strengthen bones and teeth. Skin, hair and nails benefit from its high protein and mineral content. Fresh carrot juice stimulates digestion and has a mild diuretic effect. Perhaps its most important contribution to body health is its tonic and cleansing effect on the liver. Through regular use, carrot juice helps the liver release stale bile and excess fats. When fat levels are reduced, cholesterol levels are reduced.
---- There is no such thing as a toxic dose of carrot juice. While it's true that it's possible to "overdose" on vitamin A, it's impossible to overdose on pro-vitamin A - the precursor to vitamin A that is found in abundance in carrot juice. Pro-vitamin A is converted to vitamin A in the body. Drinking more than five glasses of carrot juice per week may cause the skin to yellow slightly; however this is simply a manifestation of the toxins that the liver is excreting. To reduce these effects, simply decrease the dose of carrot juice. Mixed with other juices, especially sprout and green juices, carrot juice acts as a balancing element. It adds a delicious, sweet flavor to juice combinations and increases both their digestibility and nutritional value. As an overall tonic and rejuvenator, carrot juice can't be beat.
- Celery: It has a calming effect on the nervous system. This is probably due to its high concentration of organic alkaline minerals, especially sodium. The minerals contained in celery juice make the body's use of calcium more effective, balancing the blood's pH.
- Organic sodium, which is abundant in celery juice, has received a bad name because of the average American's habitual overuse of inorganic sodium chloride - table salt. Unlike inorganic sodium chloride, organic sodium found in celery juice is naturally blended with many other useful minerals. It is essential to the proper functioning of all major body systems. Organic sodium is the element in the blood that makes it salty. Because of its slightly salty taste, celery juice is an excellent component of any vegetable juice combination. Celery juice is especially effective for nervous conditions because it produces a calming effect. For weight reduction diets it curbs the desire for sweets.
- Comfrey: All parts of this plant can be used - root, leaves and flowers. Comfrey helps eliminate bloody urine. It is high in potassium, vitamin A and calcium. The allantoin in comfrey is the same ingredient that is contained in fractured bones and is often referred to as the "bone-knitter". It is also good in repairing nerve tissue.
- Dandelion Greens: Pick young tender leaves before the flowers have formed. Rich in vitamins A and C, minerals such as calcium, manganese, chlorine, potassium and iron. Acts as a tonic to the system. It destroys acids in the body. As it contains organic sodium, it is very good for anemia caused by a deficiency of nutritive salts and is recognized as a great blood builder and purifier. It is also effective as a liver cleanser. It is a gentle laxative and can therefore be used in a tea for babies and children.
- Lambs quarter: Pick young tender leaves before the flowers have formed. Very rich in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and C and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. One of the best tasting of the wild edibles and is very common throughout the United States.
- Parsley: Rich in vitamin A, thiamin (B1), niacin (B3), C and the minerals calcium, chlorine, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. One of the best diuretics. Strengthens the kidneys, bladder and spleen, lowers blood pressure, cleanses the liver and strengthens the eyes.
- Purslane: Pick succulent leaves and stems from June until frost. Very rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A. This is a very good tasting wild edible green.
- Radish Sprouts: Rich in vitamins A and C and minerals, including trace minerals. This is a hot, spicy sprout and will heat up a cold body. The flavor is strong, so use sparingly. A good blood stimulator and cleanser. Powerful liver and kidney cleanser.
- Red Clover Sprouts: Has many of the properties in the dried adult plant, plus a host of living enzymes. Acts as a blood purifier in the body and helps relieve nervous disorders, skin problems, acne, etc. It is very cleansing to the body.
- Sunflower Greens: Sunflower sprouts do much to relieve malnutrition and to eliminate toxic poisons from the system. This is done mainly by providing the body with the nutrients needed and nature does the restoration work. The many vitamins and minerals in sprouts are at their highest peak of activity while sprouting.
- Other Healthy Edibles: Chicory, Malva, Shepard's Purse, Nasturtium, Mint, Sourgrass, Chickweed, Watercress, Fiddleheads, Rosehips, Plantain.
Get Your 4 Phytonutrients in These Prevention Power Foods - Carotenoids, Anthocyanins, Flavenoids, Catechins
Get Your 4 Phytonutrients in These Prevention Power Foods
By Michelle Schoffro Cook, D.N.M., DAc, CNC
Most people know that we need adequate amounts of oxygen, water, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and good carbs for great health. But you may not know much about a group of micronutrients, also called phytonutrients, that can help prevent disease and restore health and vitality. Phytonutrient-rich foods are essential to vibrant health and wellbeing, yet they are almost completely ignored by many diet plans.
There are about 2,000 known phytonutrients; many others are being discovered all the time. And, you guessed it, they’re found in fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts, sprouts and seeds. A single fruit or vegetable may contain more than 100 different types of healing phytonutrients that basically make up the immune system of the plant.
Once eaten, phytonutrients impart their incredible healing abilities inside your body. The thousands of phytonutrients are categorized into families, including carotenoids, catechins, flavonoids, lipoic acid, phytoestrogens, polyphenols, sulfurophane, and others. Let’s explore the phytonutrient families and find out how you can include more of them in your diet.
Anthocyanins
These natural, health-boosting substances give certain fruits their purple to reddish color. Not only does research show that anthocy anins have the capacity to boost short-term memory by 100 percent in just eight weeks, they also stimulate the burning of stored fat in the body to be used as fuel.
Up your intake: Anthocyanins are found in dark purple or red grapes, cherries, and berries, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.
To read the full article:
http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Get-Your-4-Phytonutrients-in-These-Prevention-Power-Foods.html
By Michelle Schoffro Cook, D.N.M., DAc, CNC
Most people know that we need adequate amounts of oxygen, water, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and good carbs for great health. But you may not know much about a group of micronutrients, also called phytonutrients, that can help prevent disease and restore health and vitality. Phytonutrient-rich foods are essential to vibrant health and wellbeing, yet they are almost completely ignored by many diet plans.
There are about 2,000 known phytonutrients; many others are being discovered all the time. And, you guessed it, they’re found in fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts, sprouts and seeds. A single fruit or vegetable may contain more than 100 different types of healing phytonutrients that basically make up the immune system of the plant.
Once eaten, phytonutrients impart their incredible healing abilities inside your body. The thousands of phytonutrients are categorized into families, including carotenoids, catechins, flavonoids, lipoic acid, phytoestrogens, polyphenols, sulfurophane, and others. Let’s explore the phytonutrient families and find out how you can include more of them in your diet.
Anthocyanins
These natural, health-boosting substances give certain fruits their purple to reddish color. Not only does research show that anthocy anins have the capacity to boost short-term memory by 100 percent in just eight weeks, they also stimulate the burning of stored fat in the body to be used as fuel.
Up your intake: Anthocyanins are found in dark purple or red grapes, cherries, and berries, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries.
To read the full article:
http://life.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/Get-Your-4-Phytonutrients-in-These-Prevention-Power-Foods.html
Are Food Additives Altering Our Hormones?
Are Food Additives Altering Our Hormones?
With 3,000 food additives in use in the U.S., a study raises questions about the safety of estrogen "cocktails."
Try the Real Food Diet for simple commonsense nutrition.
By Jessica A. Knoblauch
Environmental Health News
3.27.2009
A discovery that two commonly used food additives are estrogenic has led scientists to suspect that many ingredients added to the food supply may be capable of altering hormones.
More than 3,000 preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients are added to food in the United States, and none of them are required to undergo testing for estrogenic activity, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
“We need to be mindful of these food additives because they could be adding to the total effect of other estrogen mimicking compounds we're coming into contact with,” said Clair Hicks, a professor of food science at the University of Kentucky and spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit scientific group.
“The benefits of using these additives in food need to be weighed against the risks they present,” Hicks said.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/harmful-food-additives-47032701?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
With 3,000 food additives in use in the U.S., a study raises questions about the safety of estrogen "cocktails."
Try the Real Food Diet for simple commonsense nutrition.
By Jessica A. Knoblauch
Environmental Health News
3.27.2009
A discovery that two commonly used food additives are estrogenic has led scientists to suspect that many ingredients added to the food supply may be capable of altering hormones.
More than 3,000 preservatives, flavorings, colors and other ingredients are added to food in the United States, and none of them are required to undergo testing for estrogenic activity, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
“We need to be mindful of these food additives because they could be adding to the total effect of other estrogen mimicking compounds we're coming into contact with,” said Clair Hicks, a professor of food science at the University of Kentucky and spokesperson for the Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit scientific group.
“The benefits of using these additives in food need to be weighed against the risks they present,” Hicks said.
To read the full article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/harmful-food-additives-47032701?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Sunday, March 29, 2009
God 'will not give happy ending'
God 'will not give happy ending'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964880.stm
God will not intervene to prevent humanity from wreaking disastrous damage to the environment, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
In a lecture, Dr Rowan Williams urged a "radical change of heart" to prevent runaway climate change.
At York Minster he said humanity should turn away from the selfishness and greed that leads it to ignore its interdependence with the natural world.
To read the full article: God 'will not give happy ending'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964880.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964880.stm
God will not intervene to prevent humanity from wreaking disastrous damage to the environment, the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.
In a lecture, Dr Rowan Williams urged a "radical change of heart" to prevent runaway climate change.
At York Minster he said humanity should turn away from the selfishness and greed that leads it to ignore its interdependence with the natural world.
To read the full article: God 'will not give happy ending'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7964880.stm
Morrissey bans meat
Morrissey bans meat
The ardent vegetarian - whose second album with his former group The Smiths was titled 'Meat Is Murder' - demanded the Webster Hall venue be a meat-free zone before, during and immediately after his performance on Wednesday night (25.03.09).
People News
Mar 27, 2009
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1467162.php/Morrissey_bans_meat
Morrissey banned any food that "used to have a face" from his concert in New York this week.
The ardent vegetarian - whose second album with his former group The Smiths was titled 'Meat Is Murder' - demanded the Webster Hall venue be a meat-free zone before, during and immediately after his performance on Wednesday night (25.03.09).
To read the full article: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1467162.php/Morrissey_bans_meat
The ardent vegetarian - whose second album with his former group The Smiths was titled 'Meat Is Murder' - demanded the Webster Hall venue be a meat-free zone before, during and immediately after his performance on Wednesday night (25.03.09).
People News
Mar 27, 2009
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1467162.php/Morrissey_bans_meat
Morrissey banned any food that "used to have a face" from his concert in New York this week.
The ardent vegetarian - whose second album with his former group The Smiths was titled 'Meat Is Murder' - demanded the Webster Hall venue be a meat-free zone before, during and immediately after his performance on Wednesday night (25.03.09).
To read the full article: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1467162.php/Morrissey_bans_meat
Plastic? Time to Bag It.
Plastic? Time to Bag It.
The D.C. Council has a creative plan to tackle a big source of pollution.
Friday, March 27, 2009; Page A16
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466_pf.html
[Read comments:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466_Comments.html ]
ELEVEN OF the 13 members of the D.C. Council are endorsing legislation that would place the District in the forefront of national efforts to reduce local pollution. The proposal is a creative attempt to discourage the use of plastic and paper bags that end up littering the area's roads and waterways. But it faces some fierce opposition.
The legislation, authored by council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), would impose a five-cent tax on every plastic and paper carryout bag from a variety of food establishments, including grocery, drug and liquor stores. Customers would be encouraged to bring their own reusable bags to the supermarket. Businesses would retain one or two cents of each nickel, depending on whether they offered a credit for reusable bags, and the rest would go toward the cost of cleaning up the Anacostia River. Mr. Wells coordinated his approach with similar legislation introduced this year in Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia legislature, alas, killed the legislation, but Maryland is still considering its bill, which would earmark proceeds for Chesapeake Bay protection efforts.
To read the full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466.html
The D.C. Council has a creative plan to tackle a big source of pollution.
Friday, March 27, 2009; Page A16
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466_pf.html
[Read comments:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466_Comments.html ]
ELEVEN OF the 13 members of the D.C. Council are endorsing legislation that would place the District in the forefront of national efforts to reduce local pollution. The proposal is a creative attempt to discourage the use of plastic and paper bags that end up littering the area's roads and waterways. But it faces some fierce opposition.
The legislation, authored by council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), would impose a five-cent tax on every plastic and paper carryout bag from a variety of food establishments, including grocery, drug and liquor stores. Customers would be encouraged to bring their own reusable bags to the supermarket. Businesses would retain one or two cents of each nickel, depending on whether they offered a credit for reusable bags, and the rest would go toward the cost of cleaning up the Anacostia River. Mr. Wells coordinated his approach with similar legislation introduced this year in Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia legislature, alas, killed the legislation, but Maryland is still considering its bill, which would earmark proceeds for Chesapeake Bay protection efforts.
To read the full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603466.html
Drinking water: Toilet to tap -- get used to it!
Drinking water: Toilet to tap -- get used to it!
by Joseph Romm
26 Mar 2009
http://gristmill.grist.org/print/2009/3/26/13338/6707?show_comments=no
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/26/13338/6707?source=daily
In the future, your drinking water is going to be recycled from your toilet -- believe it.
As the population grows and global warming drives desertification and the loss of the inland glaciers (see here), fresh water will become increasingly in short supply. As the AFP reported recently:
Surging population growth, climate change, reckless irrigation and chronic waste are placing the world's water supplies at threat, a landmark UN report ...
The global population is growing by 80 million people a year, 90 per cent of it in poorer countries. Demand for water is growing by 64 billion cubic metres per year, roughly equivalent to Egypt's annual water demand today.
Read the full article: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/26/13338/6707?source=daily
by Joseph Romm
26 Mar 2009
http://gristmill.grist.org/print/2009/3/26/13338/6707?show_comments=no
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/26/13338/6707?source=daily
In the future, your drinking water is going to be recycled from your toilet -- believe it.
As the population grows and global warming drives desertification and the loss of the inland glaciers (see here), fresh water will become increasingly in short supply. As the AFP reported recently:
Surging population growth, climate change, reckless irrigation and chronic waste are placing the world's water supplies at threat, a landmark UN report ...
The global population is growing by 80 million people a year, 90 per cent of it in poorer countries. Demand for water is growing by 64 billion cubic metres per year, roughly equivalent to Egypt's annual water demand today.
Read the full article: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/26/13338/6707?source=daily
Mother Nature Doesn't Do Bailouts
Mother Nature Doesn't Do Bailouts
March 17, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/mother-nature-doesnt-do-bailouts?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Thomas Friedman began a recent New York Times column by quoting from a brilliantly insightful, fake 2005 story from the Onion. The article cited an employee of "Fenghua Ningbo Plastic Works Ltd.," expressing his disbelief over the "sheer amount of [garbage] Americans will buy" and the "contemptible" fact that when we no longer want an item we "simply throw it away."
Friedman, in top form, then launches into a description of what's missing from almost every analysis of the current economic meltdown: "What if it's telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically and that 2008 was when we hit the wall -- when Mother Nature and the market both said: 'No more.'"
To read the full article: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/mother-nature-doesnt-do-bailouts?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
March 17, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/mother-nature-doesnt-do-bailouts?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Thomas Friedman began a recent New York Times column by quoting from a brilliantly insightful, fake 2005 story from the Onion. The article cited an employee of "Fenghua Ningbo Plastic Works Ltd.," expressing his disbelief over the "sheer amount of [garbage] Americans will buy" and the "contemptible" fact that when we no longer want an item we "simply throw it away."
Friedman, in top form, then launches into a description of what's missing from almost every analysis of the current economic meltdown: "What if it's telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically and that 2008 was when we hit the wall -- when Mother Nature and the market both said: 'No more.'"
To read the full article: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/mother-nature-doesnt-do-bailouts?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Capitalists Hail the End of Corporate Responsibility
Capitalists Hail the End of Corporate Responsibility
March 9, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/capitalists-hail-end-corporate-responsibility?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Given that our financial system is teetering at the edge of a very deep, very scary abyss, it's certainly understandable that alpha capitalists -- the folks who believe that business' only "responsibility" is to maximize profits for shareholders -- are desperately scrambling for something, anything, to grab onto. Something reassuring. Some signal that the world is at least starting to return to their definition of "normal."
The Financial Times' Stefan Stern thinks he's found the beginning of the new normal: the end of values-driven business. In a column last month, he opined that, "now the recession's here we can forget all that nonsense about corporate social responsibility and get back to trying to make some money." In his view, there's a silver lining to the world economy's near-collapse: it has chastened the "politically correct…global elite" and finally put those "burbling do-gooder[s]" to flight.
To read the full article: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/capitalists-hail-end-corporate-responsibility?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
March 9, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/capitalists-hail-end-corporate-responsibility?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Given that our financial system is teetering at the edge of a very deep, very scary abyss, it's certainly understandable that alpha capitalists -- the folks who believe that business' only "responsibility" is to maximize profits for shareholders -- are desperately scrambling for something, anything, to grab onto. Something reassuring. Some signal that the world is at least starting to return to their definition of "normal."
The Financial Times' Stefan Stern thinks he's found the beginning of the new normal: the end of values-driven business. In a column last month, he opined that, "now the recession's here we can forget all that nonsense about corporate social responsibility and get back to trying to make some money." In his view, there's a silver lining to the world economy's near-collapse: it has chastened the "politically correct…global elite" and finally put those "burbling do-gooder[s]" to flight.
To read the full article: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/capitalists-hail-end-corporate-responsibility?source=email&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=READ+MORE+&utm_content=fidyl%40yahoo.com&utm_campaign=7Gen+-+March+25%2C+2009+-+Non-Nation-
Saving the Sea Turtles
Saving the Sea Turtles
by Roddy Scheer
March 23, 2009
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4622&printview&imagesoff
A trio of environmental groups last week filed notices of intent to sue the federal government over violations of the Endangered Species Act related to turtle protection. The groups—the Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana, and the Turtle Island Restoration Network—maintain that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to meet a 12-month deadline for responding to three separate petitions that focused on loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles in U.S. coastal waters.
“The U.S. government has knowingly failed to respond to our petitions,” said Oceana’s senior campaign director David Allison. “Sea turtles in all U.S. waters are at risk of extinction, and the agency responsible for their protection is failing to do its job.”
“The threats to the loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles’ existence, ranging from being captured and killed by indiscriminate commercial fishing gear to nesting beach destruction and climate change, continue to grow even as the species’ numbers dwindle,” said the Center for Biological Diversity’s Andrea Treece. “If these magnificent animals are to survive, the federal agencies entrusted to protect them cannot be allowed to ignore the law.”
To read the full article:
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4622&printview&imagesoff
by Roddy Scheer
March 23, 2009
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4622&printview&imagesoff
A trio of environmental groups last week filed notices of intent to sue the federal government over violations of the Endangered Species Act related to turtle protection. The groups—the Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana, and the Turtle Island Restoration Network—maintain that the National Marine Fisheries Service failed to meet a 12-month deadline for responding to three separate petitions that focused on loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles in U.S. coastal waters.
“The U.S. government has knowingly failed to respond to our petitions,” said Oceana’s senior campaign director David Allison. “Sea turtles in all U.S. waters are at risk of extinction, and the agency responsible for their protection is failing to do its job.”
“The threats to the loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles’ existence, ranging from being captured and killed by indiscriminate commercial fishing gear to nesting beach destruction and climate change, continue to grow even as the species’ numbers dwindle,” said the Center for Biological Diversity’s Andrea Treece. “If these magnificent animals are to survive, the federal agencies entrusted to protect them cannot be allowed to ignore the law.”
To read the full article:
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4622&printview&imagesoff
Thanks A Lot, HBO Says Meat Industry
Thanks A Lot, HBO Says Meat Industry
By Martha Rosenberg
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090328163131rose.nb/topstory.html
The pork industry was still reeling from grisly 2008 images of the MowMar sow farm in Bayard, IA when HBO aired Death on a Factory Farm in March.
The turkey industry was still reeling from 2008 images from Aviagen turkey farms in Lewisburg, WV that ruined many a Thanksgiving dinner this year (resulting in 11 felony counts).
And it's only been a year since Americans watched downed and dying cows waterboarded and forklifted to slaughter for the school lunch program at Hallmark Meat Company in Chino, CA.
Death on a Factory Farm, produced by non-vegetarians Sarah Teale and Tom Simon, shows whimpering pigs bashed against walls and sows hung from forklifts, squealing and kicking all fours for painful minutes as "euthanasia" methods on the Wiles Hog Farm in Creston, OH.
To read the full article: target="_blank">http://newsblaze.com/story/20090328163131rose.nb/topstory.html
By Martha Rosenberg
http://newsblaze.com/story/20090328163131rose.nb/topstory.html
The pork industry was still reeling from grisly 2008 images of the MowMar sow farm in Bayard, IA when HBO aired Death on a Factory Farm in March.
The turkey industry was still reeling from 2008 images from Aviagen turkey farms in Lewisburg, WV that ruined many a Thanksgiving dinner this year (resulting in 11 felony counts).
And it's only been a year since Americans watched downed and dying cows waterboarded and forklifted to slaughter for the school lunch program at Hallmark Meat Company in Chino, CA.
Death on a Factory Farm, produced by non-vegetarians Sarah Teale and Tom Simon, shows whimpering pigs bashed against walls and sows hung from forklifts, squealing and kicking all fours for painful minutes as "euthanasia" methods on the Wiles Hog Farm in Creston, OH.
To read the full article: target="_blank">http://newsblaze.com/story/20090328163131rose.nb/topstory.html
'Low carbon diet' a healthy option for Earth
'Low carbon diet' a healthy option for Earth
By Suzanne Bohan
510-262-2789 or sbohan@bayareanewsgroup.com
Contra Costa Times
03/08/2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11866966?nclick_check=1
SAN FRANCISCO — A hungry student at the University of San Francisco last week couldn't find a few college staples at the campus eatery — a juicy hamburger and a cheesy slice of pizza.
It was "Low Carbon Diet Day" on Tuesday, and beef and cheese were off the menu.
With 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gases emitted by livestock raised for meat and dairy products — more than cars, trucks, ships and planes combined, according to a United Nations report — more food purveyors are launching initiatives to lower their "food carbon footprint."
Bon Appetit, a food service company in Palo Alto that runs the USF cafeteria and 400 other institutional cafes, is leading the charge. It's set a goal of reducing its meat and cheese offerings by 25 percent.
To read the full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11866966?nclick_check=1
By Suzanne Bohan
510-262-2789 or sbohan@bayareanewsgroup.com
Contra Costa Times
03/08/2009
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11866966?nclick_check=1
SAN FRANCISCO — A hungry student at the University of San Francisco last week couldn't find a few college staples at the campus eatery — a juicy hamburger and a cheesy slice of pizza.
It was "Low Carbon Diet Day" on Tuesday, and beef and cheese were off the menu.
With 18 percent of the world's greenhouse gases emitted by livestock raised for meat and dairy products — more than cars, trucks, ships and planes combined, according to a United Nations report — more food purveyors are launching initiatives to lower their "food carbon footprint."
Bon Appetit, a food service company in Palo Alto that runs the USF cafeteria and 400 other institutional cafes, is leading the charge. It's set a goal of reducing its meat and cheese offerings by 25 percent.
To read the full article: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11866966?nclick_check=1
Get a Flat Stomach: Eating Your Way To A Trimmer Waistline
Get a Flat Stomach
Eating Your Way to a Trimmer Waistline
By STEFAN ASCHAN
Oct. 19, 2006
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2586620
We all have spoken about how great it would be to have a flatter stomach. As a personal nutrition, exercise and lifestyle coach, my clients often tell me during their evaluation that getting a flat stomach is their motivation and main goal.
How can you get a flatter stomach with nutrition?
Three main ingredients go into getting a flat stomach.
First, there is digestion. Digestion starts with your brain, by deciding what to eat, followed by the chewing that takes place in your mouth. From there digestion travels to the stomach, the small and large intestines, and finally to the colon.
To read the full article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2586620
Eating Your Way to a Trimmer Waistline
By STEFAN ASCHAN
Oct. 19, 2006
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2586620
We all have spoken about how great it would be to have a flatter stomach. As a personal nutrition, exercise and lifestyle coach, my clients often tell me during their evaluation that getting a flat stomach is their motivation and main goal.
How can you get a flatter stomach with nutrition?
Three main ingredients go into getting a flat stomach.
First, there is digestion. Digestion starts with your brain, by deciding what to eat, followed by the chewing that takes place in your mouth. From there digestion travels to the stomach, the small and large intestines, and finally to the colon.
To read the full article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/print?id=2586620
Economical vegetarian eating
Economical vegetarian eating
Current medical wisdom is that a vegetarian diet is a healthy diet.
by P. Elizabeth Anderson
Animal Advocacy Examiner
March 27, 2009
http://www.examiner.com/x-5936-Animal-Advocacy-Examiner~y2009m3d27-Economical-vegetarian-eating
Good news: Stop eating so much red meat and live longer. Yet, transitioning into a vegetarian diet can seem mysterious and difficult.
I know that I grew up watching my mother prepare meals using chicken, pork, and beef in all their forms. The recipes are in my DNA, I think. I haven’t eaten meat in decades, but I could still easily whip up a meat-based meal.
When you’re raised that way, it is easier to trot to the grocery store, grab a package of hamburger, a slab of bacon, a pack of ribs, whatever, and just throw it in a pot and go.
But chances are we will live longer and better if we find a a new way of eating. We simply have to acquire new skills. It won't happen overnight. When I decided to go veg, I knew what not to eat, but not what TO eat.
To read the full article: http://www.examiner.com/x-5936-Animal-Advocacy-Examiner~y2009m3d27-Economical-vegetarian-eating
Current medical wisdom is that a vegetarian diet is a healthy diet.
by P. Elizabeth Anderson
Animal Advocacy Examiner
March 27, 2009
http://www.examiner.com/x-5936-Animal-Advocacy-Examiner~y2009m3d27-Economical-vegetarian-eating
Good news: Stop eating so much red meat and live longer. Yet, transitioning into a vegetarian diet can seem mysterious and difficult.
I know that I grew up watching my mother prepare meals using chicken, pork, and beef in all their forms. The recipes are in my DNA, I think. I haven’t eaten meat in decades, but I could still easily whip up a meat-based meal.
When you’re raised that way, it is easier to trot to the grocery store, grab a package of hamburger, a slab of bacon, a pack of ribs, whatever, and just throw it in a pot and go.
But chances are we will live longer and better if we find a a new way of eating. We simply have to acquire new skills. It won't happen overnight. When I decided to go veg, I knew what not to eat, but not what TO eat.
To read the full article: http://www.examiner.com/x-5936-Animal-Advocacy-Examiner~y2009m3d27-Economical-vegetarian-eating
Safety in Green: Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
Safety in Green
Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
By Brita Belli
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Volatile economic times have a way of scaring investors into what they perceive as “safe” money moves—investing in large, established companies with long track records and historically healthy returns. Green companies are, in many cases, newer, smaller and considerably riskier. They haven’t been around long enough to inspire confidence, and they are subject to external forces like government policy and fluctuating oil and gas prices.
When these latter prices fall, interest in renewable energy tends to drop considerably. It’s what killed many renewable energy companies in the 1980s. These companies are particularly tied to the changing whims of consumers, too, and rely on homeowners to have the upfront money needed to install technologies like solar panels on their roofs or geothermal heat pumps in their backyards. In fact, says, Jack Uldrich, author of Green Investing: A Guide to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks (Adams Media), the solar industry has been particularly hard hit by the recent economic downturn.
To read this full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Even in Tumultuous Times, Green Investing Holds Promise
By Brita Belli
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Volatile economic times have a way of scaring investors into what they perceive as “safe” money moves—investing in large, established companies with long track records and historically healthy returns. Green companies are, in many cases, newer, smaller and considerably riskier. They haven’t been around long enough to inspire confidence, and they are subject to external forces like government policy and fluctuating oil and gas prices.
When these latter prices fall, interest in renewable energy tends to drop considerably. It’s what killed many renewable energy companies in the 1980s. These companies are particularly tied to the changing whims of consumers, too, and rely on homeowners to have the upfront money needed to install technologies like solar panels on their roofs or geothermal heat pumps in their backyards. In fact, says, Jack Uldrich, author of Green Investing: A Guide to Making Money through Environment-Friendly Stocks (Adams Media), the solar industry has been particularly hard hit by the recent economic downturn.
To read this full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4581&printview&imagesoff
Which are "greener" -- crayons or markers?
Which are "greener" -- crayons or markers?
March 19, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
The answer to your question depends on how you define “green,” and on the composition of the specific crayon or marker being considered. Most crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment and have a paper label affixed with glue made of cornstarch and water.[1] Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and paraffin wax crayons are not biodegradable. A more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crayons are soy oil based crayons which are plant-derived and 100% biodegradable. [3-4] Markers are divided into 3 main categories: water-based, alcohol-based, and aromatic solvent-based. Water-based markers are the least toxic, followed by alcohol-based, although alcohol-based markers do contain toxins. Aromatic solvent-based markers are the most toxic and many contain xylene, a chemical that is a neuro-, kidney-, reproductive-, and respiratory toxin.[1]
To read the full article:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
March 19, 2009
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
The answer to your question depends on how you define “green,” and on the composition of the specific crayon or marker being considered. Most crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment and have a paper label affixed with glue made of cornstarch and water.[1] Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and paraffin wax crayons are not biodegradable. A more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crayons are soy oil based crayons which are plant-derived and 100% biodegradable. [3-4] Markers are divided into 3 main categories: water-based, alcohol-based, and aromatic solvent-based. Water-based markers are the least toxic, followed by alcohol-based, although alcohol-based markers do contain toxins. Aromatic solvent-based markers are the most toxic and many contain xylene, a chemical that is a neuro-, kidney-, reproductive-, and respiratory toxin.[1]
To read the full article:
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/ask-science-man/question-capecodgirl-0
Here Come the Floods: As Water Levels Rise, Designers Find Sometimes Counterintuitive Solutions
Here Come the Floods
As Water Levels Rise, Designers Find Sometimes Counterintuitive Solutions
By David Zax
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568&printview&imagesoff
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568
A warmer world means higher seas. Global warming not only accelerates glacial melt, but also causes ocean water to expand in volume. Projections vary widely, but seas will likely rise by at least seven inches by 2100—and possibly by as much as several meters, according to NASA climate scientist James Hansen. It doesn’t take a climatologist to realize one of the immediate, pressing consequences of these figures: flooding. And since many of the world’s largest cities sit on low-lying coasts, these rising oceans could lead to many more Hurricane Katrina-level disasters.
Flooding, of course, has long been a fact of life for many coastal towns, and some old technologies still have merit. Levees, dikes, seawalls, the guiding hand of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and countless regional agencies will continue to offer flood protection. But the coming rise in sea levels also calls for new measures. “The whole water management system of our country needs an overhaul,” says George Sorvalis of the Corps Reform Network—and that includes the development and implementation of new technologies.
One idea is to build broad dikes rather than tall ones. Particularly in an area where massive developments are below sea level, the use of broad dikes—which might overtop, but never breach—could prove essential. Other small modifications could dramatically improve the utility of levees. Some engineers are proposing “smart levees,” equipped with monitoring systems that would help officials better understand how to improve and maintain levees, and when to evacuate areas usually protected by them.
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568
As Water Levels Rise, Designers Find Sometimes Counterintuitive Solutions
By David Zax
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568&printview&imagesoff
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568
A warmer world means higher seas. Global warming not only accelerates glacial melt, but also causes ocean water to expand in volume. Projections vary widely, but seas will likely rise by at least seven inches by 2100—and possibly by as much as several meters, according to NASA climate scientist James Hansen. It doesn’t take a climatologist to realize one of the immediate, pressing consequences of these figures: flooding. And since many of the world’s largest cities sit on low-lying coasts, these rising oceans could lead to many more Hurricane Katrina-level disasters.
Flooding, of course, has long been a fact of life for many coastal towns, and some old technologies still have merit. Levees, dikes, seawalls, the guiding hand of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and countless regional agencies will continue to offer flood protection. But the coming rise in sea levels also calls for new measures. “The whole water management system of our country needs an overhaul,” says George Sorvalis of the Corps Reform Network—and that includes the development and implementation of new technologies.
One idea is to build broad dikes rather than tall ones. Particularly in an area where massive developments are below sea level, the use of broad dikes—which might overtop, but never breach—could prove essential. Other small modifications could dramatically improve the utility of levees. Some engineers are proposing “smart levees,” equipped with monitoring systems that would help officials better understand how to improve and maintain levees, and when to evacuate areas usually protected by them.
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4568
A Ficus Falls in Florida: Green Inspiration Grows from Hurricane Debris
COMMENTARY: A Ficus Falls in Florida
Green Inspiration Grows from Hurricane Debris
By Gary S. Hines
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620&printview&imagesoff
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620
It was late October, 2005. Hurricane Wilma had just raced across South Florida...
Wilma had been weakening when it reached Broward. It first attacked Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, then marched across the Everglades. It reached the Atlantic Coast as a Category 2. Parks wondered: How could Wilma snatch such a big tree completely out of the ground and fling it across a boulevard?
Michael Garretson, the school system’s facilities chief, had an answer. Trees native to Florida have evolved through many millennia of hurricanes; they have sufficient roots to hold their ground, he told Parks. But the ficus is a non-native invader.
For Parks, this was a pivotal revelation. For Broward County Public Schools, it was the first step in a program of environmental awareness that has made the school system—the nation’s sixth largest—one of the greenest, too.
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620
Green Inspiration Grows from Hurricane Debris
By Gary S. Hines
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620&printview&imagesoff
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620
It was late October, 2005. Hurricane Wilma had just raced across South Florida...
Wilma had been weakening when it reached Broward. It first attacked Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm, then marched across the Everglades. It reached the Atlantic Coast as a Category 2. Parks wondered: How could Wilma snatch such a big tree completely out of the ground and fling it across a boulevard?
Michael Garretson, the school system’s facilities chief, had an answer. Trees native to Florida have evolved through many millennia of hurricanes; they have sufficient roots to hold their ground, he told Parks. But the ficus is a non-native invader.
For Parks, this was a pivotal revelation. For Broward County Public Schools, it was the first step in a program of environmental awareness that has made the school system—the nation’s sixth largest—one of the greenest, too.
To read the full article: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4620
Friday, March 27, 2009
Want to Save $1,400 a Year? Give Up Bottled Water
Want to Save $1,400 a Year? Give Up Bottled Water
Bottled water is expensive for you and the environment, with all those bottles and the transportation adding up
http://www.thedailygreen.com/print-this/living-green/blogs/save-money/bottled-water-460309
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/bottled-water-460309
During the weeks of Lent, the Green Cheapskate will be sharing his suggestions for little daily sacrifices that can save you money and help Mother Earth breathe a little easier.
Being a professional cheapskate, I'm frequently asked if I buy bottled water. "Heck no," I say in all truthfulness. "I don't even buy bottled wine." Yep, I prefer my water out of the tap and my Chablis in a five liter box. In fact, I think "Chablis" is actually French for "cardboard vineyard," isn't it?
water bottles
Prepare for shock and awe (and national embarrassment): 1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture disposable plastic water bottles for the U.S. market. That's enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year according to an article in the New York Times.
And the bottling process itself wastes two gallons of water for every gallon of water that it actually packages. I was never very good at arithmetic, but I think that's mathematical madness. It's like the company president who reports that his firm is losing money on every sale, but that they plan to make it up in volume.
But here's the thing that really gets my Green Cheapskate blood pressure soaring: Bottled water is 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than water from the tap, depending, I suppose, on how stylish the bottle is. At the same time, bottled water is actually subjected to less rigorous testing and purity standards than our tap water here in the U.S.
According to the Times, if you drink only bottled water you'll spend about $1,400 annually to get your recommended daily amount of H2O, as opposed to 49 cents for a year's supply of just-as-healthy tap water. Use the calculator at www.newdream.org to calculate your savings based on actual consumption, whether it's just for a week during Lent or, better yet, for the whole year.
And while you're at it, take a nanosecond to sign the petition to your governor asking them to stop purchasing bottled water with state funds.
http://www.newdream.org/action/user_petition_detail.php?config[com_region_global119][instance_uid]=10
It's not only better for the environment, but it's better for taxpayers. Now that's the kind of thrifty talk that makes me work up a thirst.
Bottled water is expensive for you and the environment, with all those bottles and the transportation adding up
http://www.thedailygreen.com/print-this/living-green/blogs/save-money/bottled-water-460309
http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/bottled-water-460309
During the weeks of Lent, the Green Cheapskate will be sharing his suggestions for little daily sacrifices that can save you money and help Mother Earth breathe a little easier.
Being a professional cheapskate, I'm frequently asked if I buy bottled water. "Heck no," I say in all truthfulness. "I don't even buy bottled wine." Yep, I prefer my water out of the tap and my Chablis in a five liter box. In fact, I think "Chablis" is actually French for "cardboard vineyard," isn't it?
water bottles
Prepare for shock and awe (and national embarrassment): 1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to manufacture disposable plastic water bottles for the U.S. market. That's enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year according to an article in the New York Times.
And the bottling process itself wastes two gallons of water for every gallon of water that it actually packages. I was never very good at arithmetic, but I think that's mathematical madness. It's like the company president who reports that his firm is losing money on every sale, but that they plan to make it up in volume.
But here's the thing that really gets my Green Cheapskate blood pressure soaring: Bottled water is 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than water from the tap, depending, I suppose, on how stylish the bottle is. At the same time, bottled water is actually subjected to less rigorous testing and purity standards than our tap water here in the U.S.
According to the Times, if you drink only bottled water you'll spend about $1,400 annually to get your recommended daily amount of H2O, as opposed to 49 cents for a year's supply of just-as-healthy tap water. Use the calculator at www.newdream.org to calculate your savings based on actual consumption, whether it's just for a week during Lent or, better yet, for the whole year.
And while you're at it, take a nanosecond to sign the petition to your governor asking them to stop purchasing bottled water with state funds.
http://www.newdream.org/action/user_petition_detail.php?config[com_region_global119][instance_uid]=10
It's not only better for the environment, but it's better for taxpayers. Now that's the kind of thrifty talk that makes me work up a thirst.
How to Start an Organic Garden in 9 Easy Steps
How to Start an Organic Garden in 9 Easy Steps
Grow your own delicious, healthful organic food. Tips on planning, composting, watering, weeding, harvesting, natural pest control and more.
By Brian Clark Howard
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/organic-gardening-tips-460309?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
The Benefits of Organic Gardening
You've been trying to eat more organic foods, both to decrease the amount of pesticides you and your family consume, and to help protect the environment from overloading with toxic chemicals. But organics can get a bit expensive, we know. Luckily, there's a way to grow your own delicious, fresh produce, while having fun and learning at the same time: organic gardening!
Don't know where to start? It is possible to hire someone to install and maintain a beautiful organic garden for you. But most of us can roll up our sleeves with a surprisingly small amount of effort. Remember, you can start small, even with just a single plant or two. Don't worry if things aren't perfect right away.
Organic gardening means you won't be using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but that doesn't mean your plants are left to fend for themselves. There are an array of tools you can use to bolster plant health and ward off pests. Organic gardening also isn't just about what you don't do, it's about trying to foster a more holistic, natural ecosystem. Read on for specific tips, taken from The Daily Green's expert garden blogger, Leslie Land, her New York Times book 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers and other sources.
Preparing the Soil
In order to get the best results with your new organic garden, you'll want to make sure the soil is properly conditioned. You have to eat, and so do plants, so make sure your veggies get lots of fresh nutrients. Good healthy soil helps build up strong, productive plants. Chemical soil treatments can not only seep into your food, but they can also harm the beneficial bacteria, worms and other microbes in the soil.
The best way to gauge the quality of your soil is to get it tested. You can get a home testing kit, or better, send a sample to your local agricultural extension office. For a modest fee you'll get a complete breakdown of pH and nutrient levels, as well as treatment recommendations (be sure to tell them you're going organic). That way you can tailor your gardening program. Typically, it's best to test in the fall, and apply any organic nutrients before winter.
Even if you don't have time for testing, you'll want to make sure your soil has plenty of humus -- the organic matter, not the similarly named Mediterranean spread. According to 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers, you'll want to mix in compost, leaf and grass clippings and manure. Manure should be composted, unless you aren't going to harvest or plant anything for two months after application. Preferably, get your manure from local livestock that have been organically and humanely raised -- and never use manure from animals that eat meat.
How to Make Good Compost
All gardens benefit from compost -- and preferably you can make your own on site. Hey, it's free! Compost feeds plants, helps conserve water, cuts down on weeds, and keeps food and yard waste out of landfills (where it produces methane), instead turning garbage into "black gold." Spread compost around plants, mix with potting soil, use to bolster struggling plants…it's hard to use too much!
According to Country Living, the best compost forms from the right ratio of nitrogen- and carbon-rich organic waste, mixed with soil, water and air. It might sound like complicated chemistry, but don't worry too much if you don't have time to make perfect compost. Even a minimally tended pile will still yield decent results.
1. To get started, measure out a space at least three feet square. Your compost heap can be a simple pile or contained within a custom pen or bin (some can be rotated, to improve results).
2. Add alternating layers of carbon (or brown) material -- leaves and garden trimmings -- and nitrogen (or green) material -- such as kitchen scraps and manure, with a thin layer of soil in between.
3. Top off the pile with four to six inches of soil. Turn the pile as new layers are added and water to keep (barely) moist, in order to foster microbe action. You should get good compost in as little as two months (longer if it's cold).
4. A properly maintained compost pile shouldn't smell. But if it does add more dry carbon material (leaves, straw, or sawdust) and turn it more frequently.
5. Even if you live in a city, you can do some composting under your counter with a tidy worm kit, or partner with a community garden.
Choose the Right Plants
It really pays to select plants that will thrive in your specific micro-conditions. As a general guide don't forget to check the USDA's Hardiness Zones (which have recently been updated by the National Arbor Day Foundation due to climate change). Choose plants that will be well adjusted to each spot, in terms of light, moisture, drainage and soil quality. Most gardens have gradations in these variables. The happier your plants are, the more resistant they'll be to attackers.
If you're buying seedlings, look for plants raised without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A great place to look is at your local farmers' market, which may also have native plants and varieties well suited to your area. It's better to buy stocky seedlings with few, if any blooms yet, and with roots that don't look overcrowded.
Many things are best grown from seed, including sunflowers, annual poppies, evening-scented stock (Matthiola bicornis), coriander, dill, annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), larkspur, annual lupine, morning glories, sweet peas, squash and cucumbers.
Plant Crops in Wide Beds
Plants that you will be harvesting, such as vegetables or cutting flowers, should be grouped tightly in beds that you don't walk on (raised beds work great). Grouping reduces weeding and water waste, and helps you target compost and nutrients. Easier path maintenance helps lead to healthy soil. Ample space between rows helps promote air circulation, which repels fungal attacks.
Proper Watering
The best time to water plants is usually in the morning. Why? Mornings tend to be cool and without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is reduced. If you water in the evening plants stay damp over night, making them more likely to be damaged by fungal and bacterial diseases.
Ideally, you want to water the roots, not the greenery, which is easily damaged. A drip or soak system can work great, or just carefully water the bases of plants by hand.
Most experts recommend substantial, infrequent watering for established plants, typically a total of about one inch of water per week (including rain). One or two applications a week encourages deeper rooting, which promotes stronger plants. To avoid shocking tender greenery, try to use water at or near air temperature (collected rainwater is best).
With population growth and climate change putting increasing pressure on our precious freshwater supplies, it is becoming more important than ever to save water.
Weeding
Ah weeding. Even if you live in the Biosphere, you'll still get weeds, since their tiny seeds are pervasive. Pulling weeds by hand may sound like hard work -- and it can be -- but it also can be good exercise, and gets you outside in the fresh air. You don't want to pour toxic chemicals on your food, or where your children and pets play, right?
Reduce the number of weeds you have to contend with by applying mulch (which also helps protect the soil). According to Leslie Land, organic mulch that will rot down into the soil is almost always preferable to landscape fabric, although burlap and other materials can work in a pinch. Straw is cheap but doesn't last long. Wood chips are nice, but can get pricey. Many people opt to use lawn clippings, although it should be noted that because they are high in nitrogen, clippings should only be used on plants that need a lot of the nutrient, such as squash and lettuce.
If you get tired of weeding or aren't able to bend over, consider hiring some neighborhood kids. It's a good way to get to know others in your community. Remember too that raised beds can be made wheelchair accessible, and others can take advantage of wheeled stools, arthritis-friendly gardening tools and other equipment.
Protect Plants Without Toxic Pesticides
If your plants are being assaulted by pests, it may be a sign of other problems, so the first thing you should do is make sure they are getting enough light, nutrients and moisture. Also remember that a diverse garden helps prevent pests, by limiting the amount of one type of plant offered up to enemies, and boosting biodiversity.
It's a good thing to foster natural predators in your garden, such as frogs, toads, lizards, birds, and even bats. Beneficial insects can be your best friends, especially lady bugs (many nurseries even sell cans of them, though it's true there's a high probability they won't stick around). Leave a small source of water out to attract friendly predators. It's also a good idea to grow plants with small blossoms, such as sweet alyssum and dill, which attract predatory insects. Nets and row covers can also work.
It may sound surprising, but homeowners use more pesticides on their lawns and gardens than farmers do, acre for acre, according to EPA data. But there are organic alternatives that are much safer for you and our environment. Find out what problem you have (an agricultural extension service can help), then look for alternatives.
Organic weapons include Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria that disrupts the digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. You can also use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper sprays.
Harvesting
Don't forget to harvest the fruits of your labor! Fresh organic produce also makes great gifts, educating your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Generally, the more you harvest, the more your plants will produce for you.
During peak harvest season, you'll likely find that it's best to check your garden every day. Got herbs? If you use them fresh pick them right before you need them. But if you'll be drying and storing them, it's best to wait until just before they flower, since they'll have the most flavor. Gather all herbs except basil in mid morning, shortly after dew has dried. Harvest basil in the late afternoon, since it will last longer after some time in the sun. It's best not to wash herbs before you dry or use them, since that can leach flaor (extra incentive for growing organic!).
When harvesting leafy greens pick sporadically from the entire crop, a little from each plant. For broccoli, wait until the central head is as large as it will get, before sending off buds for flowering. Cut it off right above the leaf node, and you'll likely get better production from the rest of the plant. In general, it's best to cut produce off with a sharp knife or scissors, versus ripping with your fingers, which can cause more damage to plant tissue.
If you get too much bounty, remember you can also freeze, store some types of produce in a root cellar, or take up canning. Enjoy!
Cleanup
If you have sick plants to remove, either during the season or at the end of the year, make sure you pull up the entire organism. Don't forget to rake up underneath, since diseased leaves can harbor problems for a long time. Put all infected material deep in the woods, in the ground at least a foot deep, or on the bonfire.
Most healthy or expired plants can actually be left in place over winter. You'll provide some food and habitat for birds and other wildlife, and plant cover can help protect your soil from eroding. It's better to chop off annuals then yank them out, because that way you'll leave soil intact, and help prevent weeds from gaining a foothold.
Grow your own delicious, healthful organic food. Tips on planning, composting, watering, weeding, harvesting, natural pest control and more.
By Brian Clark Howard
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/organic-gardening-tips-460309?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
The Benefits of Organic Gardening
You've been trying to eat more organic foods, both to decrease the amount of pesticides you and your family consume, and to help protect the environment from overloading with toxic chemicals. But organics can get a bit expensive, we know. Luckily, there's a way to grow your own delicious, fresh produce, while having fun and learning at the same time: organic gardening!
Don't know where to start? It is possible to hire someone to install and maintain a beautiful organic garden for you. But most of us can roll up our sleeves with a surprisingly small amount of effort. Remember, you can start small, even with just a single plant or two. Don't worry if things aren't perfect right away.
Organic gardening means you won't be using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but that doesn't mean your plants are left to fend for themselves. There are an array of tools you can use to bolster plant health and ward off pests. Organic gardening also isn't just about what you don't do, it's about trying to foster a more holistic, natural ecosystem. Read on for specific tips, taken from The Daily Green's expert garden blogger, Leslie Land, her New York Times book 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers and other sources.
Preparing the Soil
In order to get the best results with your new organic garden, you'll want to make sure the soil is properly conditioned. You have to eat, and so do plants, so make sure your veggies get lots of fresh nutrients. Good healthy soil helps build up strong, productive plants. Chemical soil treatments can not only seep into your food, but they can also harm the beneficial bacteria, worms and other microbes in the soil.
The best way to gauge the quality of your soil is to get it tested. You can get a home testing kit, or better, send a sample to your local agricultural extension office. For a modest fee you'll get a complete breakdown of pH and nutrient levels, as well as treatment recommendations (be sure to tell them you're going organic). That way you can tailor your gardening program. Typically, it's best to test in the fall, and apply any organic nutrients before winter.
Even if you don't have time for testing, you'll want to make sure your soil has plenty of humus -- the organic matter, not the similarly named Mediterranean spread. According to 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers, you'll want to mix in compost, leaf and grass clippings and manure. Manure should be composted, unless you aren't going to harvest or plant anything for two months after application. Preferably, get your manure from local livestock that have been organically and humanely raised -- and never use manure from animals that eat meat.
How to Make Good Compost
All gardens benefit from compost -- and preferably you can make your own on site. Hey, it's free! Compost feeds plants, helps conserve water, cuts down on weeds, and keeps food and yard waste out of landfills (where it produces methane), instead turning garbage into "black gold." Spread compost around plants, mix with potting soil, use to bolster struggling plants…it's hard to use too much!
According to Country Living, the best compost forms from the right ratio of nitrogen- and carbon-rich organic waste, mixed with soil, water and air. It might sound like complicated chemistry, but don't worry too much if you don't have time to make perfect compost. Even a minimally tended pile will still yield decent results.
1. To get started, measure out a space at least three feet square. Your compost heap can be a simple pile or contained within a custom pen or bin (some can be rotated, to improve results).
2. Add alternating layers of carbon (or brown) material -- leaves and garden trimmings -- and nitrogen (or green) material -- such as kitchen scraps and manure, with a thin layer of soil in between.
3. Top off the pile with four to six inches of soil. Turn the pile as new layers are added and water to keep (barely) moist, in order to foster microbe action. You should get good compost in as little as two months (longer if it's cold).
4. A properly maintained compost pile shouldn't smell. But if it does add more dry carbon material (leaves, straw, or sawdust) and turn it more frequently.
5. Even if you live in a city, you can do some composting under your counter with a tidy worm kit, or partner with a community garden.
Choose the Right Plants
It really pays to select plants that will thrive in your specific micro-conditions. As a general guide don't forget to check the USDA's Hardiness Zones (which have recently been updated by the National Arbor Day Foundation due to climate change). Choose plants that will be well adjusted to each spot, in terms of light, moisture, drainage and soil quality. Most gardens have gradations in these variables. The happier your plants are, the more resistant they'll be to attackers.
If you're buying seedlings, look for plants raised without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A great place to look is at your local farmers' market, which may also have native plants and varieties well suited to your area. It's better to buy stocky seedlings with few, if any blooms yet, and with roots that don't look overcrowded.
Many things are best grown from seed, including sunflowers, annual poppies, evening-scented stock (Matthiola bicornis), coriander, dill, annual phlox (Phlox drummondii), larkspur, annual lupine, morning glories, sweet peas, squash and cucumbers.
Plant Crops in Wide Beds
Plants that you will be harvesting, such as vegetables or cutting flowers, should be grouped tightly in beds that you don't walk on (raised beds work great). Grouping reduces weeding and water waste, and helps you target compost and nutrients. Easier path maintenance helps lead to healthy soil. Ample space between rows helps promote air circulation, which repels fungal attacks.
Proper Watering
The best time to water plants is usually in the morning. Why? Mornings tend to be cool and without strong winds, so the amount of water lost to evaporation is reduced. If you water in the evening plants stay damp over night, making them more likely to be damaged by fungal and bacterial diseases.
Ideally, you want to water the roots, not the greenery, which is easily damaged. A drip or soak system can work great, or just carefully water the bases of plants by hand.
Most experts recommend substantial, infrequent watering for established plants, typically a total of about one inch of water per week (including rain). One or two applications a week encourages deeper rooting, which promotes stronger plants. To avoid shocking tender greenery, try to use water at or near air temperature (collected rainwater is best).
With population growth and climate change putting increasing pressure on our precious freshwater supplies, it is becoming more important than ever to save water.
Weeding
Ah weeding. Even if you live in the Biosphere, you'll still get weeds, since their tiny seeds are pervasive. Pulling weeds by hand may sound like hard work -- and it can be -- but it also can be good exercise, and gets you outside in the fresh air. You don't want to pour toxic chemicals on your food, or where your children and pets play, right?
Reduce the number of weeds you have to contend with by applying mulch (which also helps protect the soil). According to Leslie Land, organic mulch that will rot down into the soil is almost always preferable to landscape fabric, although burlap and other materials can work in a pinch. Straw is cheap but doesn't last long. Wood chips are nice, but can get pricey. Many people opt to use lawn clippings, although it should be noted that because they are high in nitrogen, clippings should only be used on plants that need a lot of the nutrient, such as squash and lettuce.
If you get tired of weeding or aren't able to bend over, consider hiring some neighborhood kids. It's a good way to get to know others in your community. Remember too that raised beds can be made wheelchair accessible, and others can take advantage of wheeled stools, arthritis-friendly gardening tools and other equipment.
Protect Plants Without Toxic Pesticides
If your plants are being assaulted by pests, it may be a sign of other problems, so the first thing you should do is make sure they are getting enough light, nutrients and moisture. Also remember that a diverse garden helps prevent pests, by limiting the amount of one type of plant offered up to enemies, and boosting biodiversity.
It's a good thing to foster natural predators in your garden, such as frogs, toads, lizards, birds, and even bats. Beneficial insects can be your best friends, especially lady bugs (many nurseries even sell cans of them, though it's true there's a high probability they won't stick around). Leave a small source of water out to attract friendly predators. It's also a good idea to grow plants with small blossoms, such as sweet alyssum and dill, which attract predatory insects. Nets and row covers can also work.
It may sound surprising, but homeowners use more pesticides on their lawns and gardens than farmers do, acre for acre, according to EPA data. But there are organic alternatives that are much safer for you and our environment. Find out what problem you have (an agricultural extension service can help), then look for alternatives.
Organic weapons include Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria that disrupts the digestion of caterpillars and other leaf-eaters. You can also use horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps and garlic and/or hot pepper sprays.
Harvesting
Don't forget to harvest the fruits of your labor! Fresh organic produce also makes great gifts, educating your friends, neighbors and coworkers. Generally, the more you harvest, the more your plants will produce for you.
During peak harvest season, you'll likely find that it's best to check your garden every day. Got herbs? If you use them fresh pick them right before you need them. But if you'll be drying and storing them, it's best to wait until just before they flower, since they'll have the most flavor. Gather all herbs except basil in mid morning, shortly after dew has dried. Harvest basil in the late afternoon, since it will last longer after some time in the sun. It's best not to wash herbs before you dry or use them, since that can leach flaor (extra incentive for growing organic!).
When harvesting leafy greens pick sporadically from the entire crop, a little from each plant. For broccoli, wait until the central head is as large as it will get, before sending off buds for flowering. Cut it off right above the leaf node, and you'll likely get better production from the rest of the plant. In general, it's best to cut produce off with a sharp knife or scissors, versus ripping with your fingers, which can cause more damage to plant tissue.
If you get too much bounty, remember you can also freeze, store some types of produce in a root cellar, or take up canning. Enjoy!
Cleanup
If you have sick plants to remove, either during the season or at the end of the year, make sure you pull up the entire organism. Don't forget to rake up underneath, since diseased leaves can harbor problems for a long time. Put all infected material deep in the woods, in the ground at least a foot deep, or on the bonfire.
Most healthy or expired plants can actually be left in place over winter. You'll provide some food and habitat for birds and other wildlife, and plant cover can help protect your soil from eroding. It's better to chop off annuals then yank them out, because that way you'll leave soil intact, and help prevent weeds from gaining a foothold.
Organic, Home-Grown Food on the Rise!
Organic, home-grown food on the rise!
The cost effective and wise alternative.
by Marc Cool
http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter/issue_70/organic-rise.asp
In looking at our seed sales and speaking with garden industry friends and colleagues, it is clear there is a renewed interest in gardening, especially in growing food crops. More people are buying garden seeds, and they are buying more vegetables (as compared to ornamentals) and larger volumes of seed (for instance bulk volumes from our garden catalog). There is clearly a trend towards more gardening, which for years has been on the decline. Since the early 1990's, the numbers of Americans who consider themselves gardeners has declined by about 20%. This decline in numbers was due to lack of time or space to garden, and resulted in (or maybe even resulted from?) a lack of gardening knowledge. Also, the need to garden was not as urgent, as the growth of health food stores, farmers’ markets, etc provided the high quality, organic, and often local food that people would otherwise grow themselves. I know for example that my family, from the Midwest, who
for generations had very large gardens that provided much of the food on their tables, in the last number of years has stopped gardening and buys similar quality produce from local farmers.
In recent times however, this dynamic seems to be changing. With an increasing cost of food and with all the issues and concerns surrounding the economy, more and more people are turning to gardening. They are looking for ways to reduce the expense of their food bills as well as regain confidence in the safety of their food. And of course one of the best ways to do this is to plant vegetable seeds and grow organic food in your back (or front!) yard. Consider the low cost of seed (our packs are mostly $3.29/pack, others are higher or lower), compared to the price of vegetables in the store. If you, for instance, plant 50 tomato seeds and harvest 20 pounds of organic tomatoes off of at least 40 plants, this is 800 pounds of tomatoes, which might cost you $2,500 at the store. The cost of seed (the lowest input cost), plus soil amendments, plant protection, tools, your time etc, is much lower than this. Furthermore, by growing your own garden, you know
exactly what went into your food and can have full confidence in safely feeding your family.
With increasing numbers of people living in urban areas with smaller yards, many people are also finding ways to plant gardens in smaller spaces. We are seeing an increased interest in seed varieties that do well in containers, windowsills, roof top gardens, and small kitchen gardens where it is perfectly possible to produce substantial amounts of food. Our website has a special urban gardening section dedicated to such growing conditions. By growing your own food, you can re-connect with nature and take an important step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. In addition, growing your own vegetables is fun, and it allows your kids to understand that not all food comes wrapped in plastic from a store shelf!
Several people have also asked us about the benefit of using organic seeds. Most people seem to be well-versed on the advantages of organic growing and organic food, but less so on the advantages of organic seed. In fact, the same advantages exist in using organic seed, plus one additional important one. Conventional seed production is an inherently chemical-intensive operation. Because the plants must survive for much longer in the field than a food crop, large amounts of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are often used to keep them alive. In organic seed production, alternative techniques reduce the impact of chemicals on the environment as well as on the health of the seed growers and their families. By using organic seed, you can substantially help decrease the overall use of toxic chemicals in the environment. The other significant advantage in using organic seed is that plants have a strong interaction with their growing conditions.
If you select and grow a seed variety in organic conditions, especially for several generations as we do, then the seed from this plant will be better adapted to growing under similar organic conditions, so will perform better for you in your farm or garden. It seems clear that the most conscious way to start an organic garden is by using organic seeds!
We wish you Happy Gardening this season, and invite you to join us in working toward a more healthy and organic farming and gardening!
The cost effective and wise alternative.
by Marc Cool
http://www.seedsofchange.com/enewsletter/issue_70/organic-rise.asp
In looking at our seed sales and speaking with garden industry friends and colleagues, it is clear there is a renewed interest in gardening, especially in growing food crops. More people are buying garden seeds, and they are buying more vegetables (as compared to ornamentals) and larger volumes of seed (for instance bulk volumes from our garden catalog). There is clearly a trend towards more gardening, which for years has been on the decline. Since the early 1990's, the numbers of Americans who consider themselves gardeners has declined by about 20%. This decline in numbers was due to lack of time or space to garden, and resulted in (or maybe even resulted from?) a lack of gardening knowledge. Also, the need to garden was not as urgent, as the growth of health food stores, farmers’ markets, etc provided the high quality, organic, and often local food that people would otherwise grow themselves. I know for example that my family, from the Midwest, who
for generations had very large gardens that provided much of the food on their tables, in the last number of years has stopped gardening and buys similar quality produce from local farmers.
In recent times however, this dynamic seems to be changing. With an increasing cost of food and with all the issues and concerns surrounding the economy, more and more people are turning to gardening. They are looking for ways to reduce the expense of their food bills as well as regain confidence in the safety of their food. And of course one of the best ways to do this is to plant vegetable seeds and grow organic food in your back (or front!) yard. Consider the low cost of seed (our packs are mostly $3.29/pack, others are higher or lower), compared to the price of vegetables in the store. If you, for instance, plant 50 tomato seeds and harvest 20 pounds of organic tomatoes off of at least 40 plants, this is 800 pounds of tomatoes, which might cost you $2,500 at the store. The cost of seed (the lowest input cost), plus soil amendments, plant protection, tools, your time etc, is much lower than this. Furthermore, by growing your own garden, you know
exactly what went into your food and can have full confidence in safely feeding your family.
With increasing numbers of people living in urban areas with smaller yards, many people are also finding ways to plant gardens in smaller spaces. We are seeing an increased interest in seed varieties that do well in containers, windowsills, roof top gardens, and small kitchen gardens where it is perfectly possible to produce substantial amounts of food. Our website has a special urban gardening section dedicated to such growing conditions. By growing your own food, you can re-connect with nature and take an important step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. In addition, growing your own vegetables is fun, and it allows your kids to understand that not all food comes wrapped in plastic from a store shelf!
Several people have also asked us about the benefit of using organic seeds. Most people seem to be well-versed on the advantages of organic growing and organic food, but less so on the advantages of organic seed. In fact, the same advantages exist in using organic seed, plus one additional important one. Conventional seed production is an inherently chemical-intensive operation. Because the plants must survive for much longer in the field than a food crop, large amounts of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are often used to keep them alive. In organic seed production, alternative techniques reduce the impact of chemicals on the environment as well as on the health of the seed growers and their families. By using organic seed, you can substantially help decrease the overall use of toxic chemicals in the environment. The other significant advantage in using organic seed is that plants have a strong interaction with their growing conditions.
If you select and grow a seed variety in organic conditions, especially for several generations as we do, then the seed from this plant will be better adapted to growing under similar organic conditions, so will perform better for you in your farm or garden. It seems clear that the most conscious way to start an organic garden is by using organic seeds!
We wish you Happy Gardening this season, and invite you to join us in working toward a more healthy and organic farming and gardening!
A veritable flood of climate and energy bills in Congress
A veritable flood of climate and energy bills in Congress
by Kate Sheppard
25 Mar 2009
http://gristmill.grist.org/print/2009/3/25/13539/3630?show_comments=no
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/25/13539/3630
There's been a deluge of bills on climate and energy introduced in Congress in the past few weeks.
But the most notable news is that Congress is likely to omit a climate program from the budget resolution.
President Obama's budget proposal included a cap-and-trade plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but the House and Senate budget committees are not following his lead. In both the House [PDF] and Senate [PDF] budget resolutions released on Wednesday, cap-and-trade is nowhere to be seen. The legislators did, however, include placeholder language that will allow them to create a "reserve fund" that can be used for clean energy development, and left their options open for a separate cap-and-trade bill down the line.
Speaking in a press conference with reporters on Wednesday, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag struck an optimistic note about this discrepancy. "The fact that it's not treated in the budget resolution the same way that we proposed in no way means that the House and Senate can't take the legislation up," said Orszag. "In fact, I think some may argue that the political economy of getting climate change done this year may actually be better outside of the budget resolution than inside of it."
In other legislative news:
• This week, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) introduced a climate bill aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Under his plan, polluters would buy emission permits but would not be able to trade them. The Treasury Department would set the price, and that price would rise as the number of available permits declined. Revenues from sale of the permits would go into a trust fund, which could be used to compensate consumers for increased energy costs or support clean energy projects, though the bill doesn't specify how the funds would be spent.
• Last week, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the National Home Energy Savings Revolving Fund Act, which would create a $10 billion fund for local governments to provide homeowners with up to $10,000 in zero-interest loans for making home energy-efficiency improvements. He estimates it could help retrofit one million households.
• Van Hollen also released a bill on Tuesday that would create a national Green Bank to fund a variety of clean-energy and efficiency projects. The bank would be an independent, tax-exempt corporation of the federal government, and would issue $10 billion in "green bonds" through the Department of Treasury each year.
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) introduced the Restoring America's Manufacturing Leadership and Energy Efficiency Act. The bill would provide loans to help manufacturers start using more energy-efficient equipment and processes, and create government partnerships with industry to develop and deploy new efficient technologies.
• Bingaman and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Appliance Standards Improvement Act, which would update the Department of Energy's appliance standards program and the federal Energy Star program. This bill has already created controversy, as it includes measures to address problems at the EPA and DOE that Obama officials say they're already working on.
• Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) introduced the Safe Markets Development Act on Monday, which would guide the auction of carbon credits to polluters. This isn't a complete cap-and-trade bill, but it covers the credit allowance portion of a cap-and-trade program and could be attached to a larger climate bill. Their measure would create an independent board -- made up of climate experts, the EPA administrator, and the secretaries of energy and treasury -- that would set the price of carbon credits in order to meet emission-reduction goals between 2012 and 2020. The Treasury Department would conduct quarterly allowance auctions based on those prices, and the board would hold annual reviews to make sure the emission-reduction goals are being met.
by Kate Sheppard
25 Mar 2009
http://gristmill.grist.org/print/2009/3/25/13539/3630?show_comments=no
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/3/25/13539/3630
There's been a deluge of bills on climate and energy introduced in Congress in the past few weeks.
But the most notable news is that Congress is likely to omit a climate program from the budget resolution.
President Obama's budget proposal included a cap-and-trade plan to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but the House and Senate budget committees are not following his lead. In both the House [PDF] and Senate [PDF] budget resolutions released on Wednesday, cap-and-trade is nowhere to be seen. The legislators did, however, include placeholder language that will allow them to create a "reserve fund" that can be used for clean energy development, and left their options open for a separate cap-and-trade bill down the line.
Speaking in a press conference with reporters on Wednesday, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag struck an optimistic note about this discrepancy. "The fact that it's not treated in the budget resolution the same way that we proposed in no way means that the House and Senate can't take the legislation up," said Orszag. "In fact, I think some may argue that the political economy of getting climate change done this year may actually be better outside of the budget resolution than inside of it."
In other legislative news:
• This week, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) introduced a climate bill aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Under his plan, polluters would buy emission permits but would not be able to trade them. The Treasury Department would set the price, and that price would rise as the number of available permits declined. Revenues from sale of the permits would go into a trust fund, which could be used to compensate consumers for increased energy costs or support clean energy projects, though the bill doesn't specify how the funds would be spent.
• Last week, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the National Home Energy Savings Revolving Fund Act, which would create a $10 billion fund for local governments to provide homeowners with up to $10,000 in zero-interest loans for making home energy-efficiency improvements. He estimates it could help retrofit one million households.
• Van Hollen also released a bill on Tuesday that would create a national Green Bank to fund a variety of clean-energy and efficiency projects. The bank would be an independent, tax-exempt corporation of the federal government, and would issue $10 billion in "green bonds" through the Department of Treasury each year.
• Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) introduced the Restoring America's Manufacturing Leadership and Energy Efficiency Act. The bill would provide loans to help manufacturers start using more energy-efficient equipment and processes, and create government partnerships with industry to develop and deploy new efficient technologies.
• Bingaman and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Appliance Standards Improvement Act, which would update the Department of Energy's appliance standards program and the federal Energy Star program. This bill has already created controversy, as it includes measures to address problems at the EPA and DOE that Obama officials say they're already working on.
• Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) introduced the Safe Markets Development Act on Monday, which would guide the auction of carbon credits to polluters. This isn't a complete cap-and-trade bill, but it covers the credit allowance portion of a cap-and-trade program and could be attached to a larger climate bill. Their measure would create an independent board -- made up of climate experts, the EPA administrator, and the secretaries of energy and treasury -- that would set the price of carbon credits in order to meet emission-reduction goals between 2012 and 2020. The Treasury Department would conduct quarterly allowance auctions based on those prices, and the board would hold annual reviews to make sure the emission-reduction goals are being met.
House passes bill protecting 2 million acres of wilderness
House passes bill protecting 2 million acres of wilderness
By Eoin O'Carroll
03.25.09
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/25/house-passes-bill-protecting-2-million-acres-of-wilderness/
In what’s being called the most sweeping land protection law in a quarter century, the US House of Representatives Wednesday passed a conservation plan to set aside more than 2 million acres of desert and forest in nine states.
The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which cleared the Senate last week, was approved by a margin of 285 to 140 and has been sent to President Obama for his signature.
The bill would officially designate land in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia as wilderness. That means no logging, mining, drilling, or even vehicles.
Read more of this article....http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/25/house-passes-bill-protecting-2-million-acres-of-wilderness/
By Eoin O'Carroll
03.25.09
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/25/house-passes-bill-protecting-2-million-acres-of-wilderness/
In what’s being called the most sweeping land protection law in a quarter century, the US House of Representatives Wednesday passed a conservation plan to set aside more than 2 million acres of desert and forest in nine states.
The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, which cleared the Senate last week, was approved by a margin of 285 to 140 and has been sent to President Obama for his signature.
The bill would officially designate land in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia as wilderness. That means no logging, mining, drilling, or even vehicles.
Read more of this article....http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/25/house-passes-bill-protecting-2-million-acres-of-wilderness/
8 Sexy Ways to Spend Earth Hour
8 Sexy Ways to Spend Earth Hour
During Earth Hour, we all switch out the lights for one hour (8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28).
Can't think of anything to do in the dark? Really?
By Annie Bell Muzaurieta
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/earth-hour-ideas-47032401?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Get physical [WTF?!]
What's a cooped-up couple to do? Copulate, of course.
Pretend electricity is not an option and you're unable to carry on with your usual evening routine. Then abide by all of the urban myths that suggest a baby boom occurs nine months after every blackout and blizzard, and get it on. Since you can plan ahead here, remember to use protection if you're not looking to procreate.
Enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner
Light some candles, pop the cork, and enjoy how good your mate looks illuminated by the soft glow. With no electricity, dinner will either need to be prepped and ready in advance of Earth Hour, or you could take the noncooked route. Think foods that are reputed aphrodisiacs: asparagus, almonds, figs, oysters, and chocolate for dessert. After sharing this spread, you'll want to keep the lights out for longer.
Gaze at the stars
Spread out a blanket in the yard or on your rooftop, and enjoy a view of the stars unobstructed by ambient light. Impress your partner with remarks such as "looks like a waxing crescent" (which is what the moon's phase will be on March 28, 2009). The March full moon is known variously in different traditions as the Fish Moon, the Budding Moon, the Worm Moon -- all of which reference the new season (fish spawn in spring, flowers begin to bloom -- and, as robins know well, worms emerge). Look for that slender crescent to inspire a little romance.
Play strip poker
Layer on your sexiest duds and prepare to slowly disrobe. You could play this classic when the lights are on, but doesn't candlelight make it more fun? If you're not much of a gambler, have a guide on hand to keep things fair.
Listen to the birds (and the bees)
Spring is in the air, and it's a good time to reconnect with the rhythm of the seasons by perking up those ears. Depending on where you live, you might hear the chirping of tiny frogs known as spring peepers, the hooting of owls, the chattering of insects, or just the human noise of the city. No matter -- draw each other close, and embrace in the natural noise of a night free of TVs and cell phones and iPods and Blackberries and...
Play charades (nude)
Wear nothing but your birthday suit and put on your best performance in a round of charades. You know the rules -- act out a phrase without talking. With no teams, it won't be much of a competition, but it will be fun to see what the dark does to your communication skills.
Make music
Write a love song for your sweetie, and belt it out surrounded by candlelight.
Not so good with words? Just use an old standby and strum along.
Can't play? Fine. Call it a poem and recite. (But you might want to have some oysters on hand for an aphrodisiac.)
Call out to the great beyond
What better time to contemplate your fate than when it's dark and spooky? Try your hand at palm reading. Pick up a book for beginners and learn the basics before darkness sets in. Be sure to focus on that love line. Or break out the old ouija board and ask questions about your future. Will you be together forever? Will you have kids? Will you get lucky before the end of Earth Hour?
During Earth Hour, we all switch out the lights for one hour (8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28).
Can't think of anything to do in the dark? Really?
By Annie Bell Muzaurieta
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/earth-hour-ideas-47032401?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Get physical [WTF?!]
What's a cooped-up couple to do? Copulate, of course.
Pretend electricity is not an option and you're unable to carry on with your usual evening routine. Then abide by all of the urban myths that suggest a baby boom occurs nine months after every blackout and blizzard, and get it on. Since you can plan ahead here, remember to use protection if you're not looking to procreate.
Enjoy a romantic, candlelit dinner
Light some candles, pop the cork, and enjoy how good your mate looks illuminated by the soft glow. With no electricity, dinner will either need to be prepped and ready in advance of Earth Hour, or you could take the noncooked route. Think foods that are reputed aphrodisiacs: asparagus, almonds, figs, oysters, and chocolate for dessert. After sharing this spread, you'll want to keep the lights out for longer.
Gaze at the stars
Spread out a blanket in the yard or on your rooftop, and enjoy a view of the stars unobstructed by ambient light. Impress your partner with remarks such as "looks like a waxing crescent" (which is what the moon's phase will be on March 28, 2009). The March full moon is known variously in different traditions as the Fish Moon, the Budding Moon, the Worm Moon -- all of which reference the new season (fish spawn in spring, flowers begin to bloom -- and, as robins know well, worms emerge). Look for that slender crescent to inspire a little romance.
Play strip poker
Layer on your sexiest duds and prepare to slowly disrobe. You could play this classic when the lights are on, but doesn't candlelight make it more fun? If you're not much of a gambler, have a guide on hand to keep things fair.
Listen to the birds (and the bees)
Spring is in the air, and it's a good time to reconnect with the rhythm of the seasons by perking up those ears. Depending on where you live, you might hear the chirping of tiny frogs known as spring peepers, the hooting of owls, the chattering of insects, or just the human noise of the city. No matter -- draw each other close, and embrace in the natural noise of a night free of TVs and cell phones and iPods and Blackberries and...
Play charades (nude)
Wear nothing but your birthday suit and put on your best performance in a round of charades. You know the rules -- act out a phrase without talking. With no teams, it won't be much of a competition, but it will be fun to see what the dark does to your communication skills.
Make music
Write a love song for your sweetie, and belt it out surrounded by candlelight.
Not so good with words? Just use an old standby and strum along.
Can't play? Fine. Call it a poem and recite. (But you might want to have some oysters on hand for an aphrodisiac.)
Call out to the great beyond
What better time to contemplate your fate than when it's dark and spooky? Try your hand at palm reading. Pick up a book for beginners and learn the basics before darkness sets in. Be sure to focus on that love line. Or break out the old ouija board and ask questions about your future. Will you be together forever? Will you have kids? Will you get lucky before the end of Earth Hour?
Natural Toxins in Sprouted Seeds: Separating Myth from Reality
Natural Toxins in Sprouted Seeds: Separating Myth from Reality
By Warren Peary and William Peavy, Ph.D.
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/sproutmyths.html
Natural toxins in food has become a hot and controversial subject
recently. In the last few years, some popular writers have attacked
sprouts (particularly alfalfa and legume sprouts) as containing natural
toxins.
These writers may have heard something about a lathyrogen toxin,
saponins, canavanine, and mabbe some other nasty-sounding toxins, and
concluded that the sprouts of legumes are toxic in the raw state and so
should not be eaten.
These statements are taken out of context.
Lathyrogen
Toxin One of the natural toxins that has been mentioned comes from the
peas of the genus Lathyrus. It is blamed for causing a disease known as
lathyrism. Lathyrism causes paralysis in the legs in susceptible
individuals and is believed to be caused by a toxic amino acid. This
sounds scary, but it’s not, because peas of the genus Lathyrus are not
edible peas.
The toxin is only found in the seeds of certain Lathyrus species (L.
sativus, L. cicera, L. clymenun)!
Edible peas and beans are of the genera Cicer, Glycine, Phaseolus,
Pisum, and Vigna. They do not contain any such toxin.
Non-edible peas of the genus Lathyrus include sweet peas, which are
ornamentals grown for their scented flowers. In India, where food is
often scarce, some people have resorted to eating a non-edible pea known
as Lathyrus sativus. It is often called "chickpea" but is NOT the same
chickpea eaten in this country or any other developed country.
The edible chickpea is of the genus Cicer and in botany is known as
Cicer arietinum. Outbreaks of lathyrism in India have been blamed on
eating large amounts of the non-edible chickpea without proper cooking.
Well-cooked, it is safe to eat. But it shouldn’t matter to us at all
because it is considered an inedible species.
----------------------------------------------------------
There are at least 1.500 species of legumes within one of three
subfamilies of the family Leguminosae (Latin for Legume). Of these 1.500
species, only a few dozen are regularly used as human food.
Of course there are toxins in many of the raw legumes usually used for
human food; that’s why humans have learned not to eat them. This is the
first mistake sometimes made in warning about natural toxins ¾ talking
about a toxin that’s found in some non-edible species people shouldn’t
eat to begin with!
----------------------------------------------------------
Saponins
The second mistake often made in talking about natural toxins is to call
something toxic that, in the body, is not toxic at all but rather, is
beneficial. Such is the case with saponins.
Saponins are a compound found in legumes and legume sprouts. They are
toxic to red blood cells only in vitro (outside the body in a test tube)
but harmless when ingested.
In fact, Saponins appear to be beneficial, being responsible for a major
part of the cholesteral-lowering effect of legumes.
Perhaps it is more than coincidence that the increase in the increase
of heart disease in the 20th century in the Western countries coincides
with the with a decline in the consumption of saponin-rich legumes.
Saponins also seem to be anticarcinogens; in one study they inhibited
colon cancer.
Even some of the most beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C, can be
shown to be toxic under certain laboratory conditions. Vitamin C is
concidered an important antioxident, and substantial evidence shows that
it is involved in cancer prevention. Yet under the right experimental
conditions, in the presence of iron (Fe III) or copper (Cu II) ions,
ascorbic acid can actually cause the formation of harmful free radicals.
Does this mean you should try to avoid vitamin C? Absolutely not! These
experimental conditions do not appear to be "relevant" to what goes on
in our bodies.
Canavanine
The third mistake made in the warning about some natural toxins is
failing to say that the amount encountered in food is so "miniscule"
that it is completely insignificant.
Such is the case with a toxin called canavanine, which is found in
alfalfa seeds.
While some writers may make canavanine sound like a dangerous carcinogen
¾ it isn’t.
Canavanine is a non-protein amino acid that’s toxic in high amounts. In
the dry seed it serves as storage protein, a growth inhibitor, and a
defense against natural predators.
As you might guess, as a sprout grows, canavanine falls rapidly to
insignificant levels.
The text, Seed Physiology, clearly states that "Canavanine…is non-toxic
to mammals at low concentration." Canavanine is so irrelevant that in
the 1980 text, Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs, doesn’t even
mention it.
A 150-pound human would have to consume 14,000 milligrams of canavanine
all at once for it to be toxic at the same level it is toxic in mice.
This is an incredible amount!
It is doubtful that with a generous helping of alfalfa sprouts, you
would get no more than a few milligrams.
There is NO canavanine at all in other legumes that are commonly used
as human food. Even in toxic amounts, canavanine has nothing to do with
cancer.
In very high, toxic amounts it can cause a lupus-like anemia in
susceptible animals due to an alteration in the red blood cells. These
studies are not relevant to the human diet. The minute doses found in
the diet are completely irrelevant and harmless.
Just remember that most substances can show some kind of toxic effect at
a high enough dose. Vitamin A, selenium, copper, zinc, and iron will all
kill you at a high enough dose.
So don’t stop eating alfalfa sprouts any more than you would any other
food because of some minute toxin that might be present.
They are a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, and othe protective
compounds.
ANTI-NUTRIENTS IN SPROUTED LEGUMES
As far as the sprouts of other legumes go, the only other toxins for
which any concern has been raised is for a class know as anti-nutrients.
These are substances that bind enzymes or nutrients and inhibit the
absorption of the nutrients. The commonly alleged anti-nutrients are
protease inhibitors, amylase inhibitors, phytic acid, and polyphenolic
compounds such as tannins.
With proper soaking and germination, none of these are anything to
worry about. Around the world, studies have been and are being conducted
on the use of germinated seeds as a low-cost, highly nutritive source of
human food.
It is well established that when legumes are properly soaked and
germinated, their nutritive value increases greatly, usually to levels
equal to or exceeding those of the cooked bean. (Nutritive value is the
ability of food to provide a usable form of nutrients: protein,
carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals).
This has been shown for mung bean, lentil, chickpea (garbanzo bean),
cowpea (blackeye pea), pigeon pea, fava bean, fenugreek seeds (a member
of the pea family), green & black gram, kidney bean, moth bean, rice
bean, soybean, and legumes in general.
The increase in nutritive value in the raw sprouted seed is due to an
explosion of enzyme activity, which breaks down the storage-protein and
starch in the seed into amino acids, peptides, and simpler carbohydrates
needed for the seed to grow.
The seed is literally digesting its own protein and starch and creating
amino acids in the process. Because of this process, sprouted seeds are
essentially a predigested food.
At the same time, the anti-nutritional factors such as enzyme inhibitors
and other anti-nutrients are greatly decreased to insignificant levels
or to nothing. Soaking alone causes a significant decrease in
anti-nutrients, as the anti-nutrients are leached into the soak water.
Soaking for 18 hours removed 65% of hemagglutinin activity in
peas.Soaking for 24 hours at room temperature removed 66% of the trypsin
(protease) inhibitor activity in mung bean, 93% in lentil, 59% in
chickpea, and 100% in broad bean. Then as germination proceeds,
anti-nutrients are degraded further to lower levels or nothing.
Soaking for 12 hours and 3 – 4 days of germination completely removed
all hamagglutinin activity in mung beans and lentil. Soaking for 10
hours and germination for 3 days completely removed amylase inhibitor in
lentils. Normal cooking removes most or all of the anti-nutrients.
ANTI-NUTRIENTS AS PROTECTORS
Some of the substances commonly referred to as anti-nutrients are
actually powerful cancer-protecting phyto-chemicals. These include
protease inhibitors and tannins.
The problem in most diets is that we don’t get enough of these
substances. Substantial research shows that protease inhibitors are one
of the most powerful anti-carcinogens we have in our arsenal.
They have proven to be particularly protective against cancer of the
colon, breast, and prostate.
Tannins have also been shown to give substantial protection against
cancer (including cancer of the stomach and lungs) when ingested orally.
Tannins and other polyphenols may play a role in fighting tooth decay.
Evidence shows that some tannins inhibit the growth of bacteria that
cause tooth decay.
Phytates, like tannins, may also interact with digestive processes in a
beneficial way.
Small amounts in food slow down the absorption of sugars and regulate
insulin levels.
This is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and
hyperlipidemia (high blood fats). Small amounts of protease inhibitors,
tannins, and phylates are beneficial and can be considered to be a
normal part of "nutritional ecology".
Warren Peary is an investigative health journalist. William S. Peavy
holds a doctoral degree from Kansas State University in horticultural
science. They can be reached at 316 Horton Lane NW, Albuquerque, NM
87114.
By Warren Peary and William Peavy, Ph.D.
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/sproutmyths.html
Natural toxins in food has become a hot and controversial subject
recently. In the last few years, some popular writers have attacked
sprouts (particularly alfalfa and legume sprouts) as containing natural
toxins.
These writers may have heard something about a lathyrogen toxin,
saponins, canavanine, and mabbe some other nasty-sounding toxins, and
concluded that the sprouts of legumes are toxic in the raw state and so
should not be eaten.
These statements are taken out of context.
Lathyrogen
Toxin One of the natural toxins that has been mentioned comes from the
peas of the genus Lathyrus. It is blamed for causing a disease known as
lathyrism. Lathyrism causes paralysis in the legs in susceptible
individuals and is believed to be caused by a toxic amino acid. This
sounds scary, but it’s not, because peas of the genus Lathyrus are not
edible peas.
The toxin is only found in the seeds of certain Lathyrus species (L.
sativus, L. cicera, L. clymenun)!
Edible peas and beans are of the genera Cicer, Glycine, Phaseolus,
Pisum, and Vigna. They do not contain any such toxin.
Non-edible peas of the genus Lathyrus include sweet peas, which are
ornamentals grown for their scented flowers. In India, where food is
often scarce, some people have resorted to eating a non-edible pea known
as Lathyrus sativus. It is often called "chickpea" but is NOT the same
chickpea eaten in this country or any other developed country.
The edible chickpea is of the genus Cicer and in botany is known as
Cicer arietinum. Outbreaks of lathyrism in India have been blamed on
eating large amounts of the non-edible chickpea without proper cooking.
Well-cooked, it is safe to eat. But it shouldn’t matter to us at all
because it is considered an inedible species.
----------------------------------------------------------
There are at least 1.500 species of legumes within one of three
subfamilies of the family Leguminosae (Latin for Legume). Of these 1.500
species, only a few dozen are regularly used as human food.
Of course there are toxins in many of the raw legumes usually used for
human food; that’s why humans have learned not to eat them. This is the
first mistake sometimes made in warning about natural toxins ¾ talking
about a toxin that’s found in some non-edible species people shouldn’t
eat to begin with!
----------------------------------------------------------
Saponins
The second mistake often made in talking about natural toxins is to call
something toxic that, in the body, is not toxic at all but rather, is
beneficial. Such is the case with saponins.
Saponins are a compound found in legumes and legume sprouts. They are
toxic to red blood cells only in vitro (outside the body in a test tube)
but harmless when ingested.
In fact, Saponins appear to be beneficial, being responsible for a major
part of the cholesteral-lowering effect of legumes.
Perhaps it is more than coincidence that the increase in the increase
of heart disease in the 20th century in the Western countries coincides
with the with a decline in the consumption of saponin-rich legumes.
Saponins also seem to be anticarcinogens; in one study they inhibited
colon cancer.
Even some of the most beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin C, can be
shown to be toxic under certain laboratory conditions. Vitamin C is
concidered an important antioxident, and substantial evidence shows that
it is involved in cancer prevention. Yet under the right experimental
conditions, in the presence of iron (Fe III) or copper (Cu II) ions,
ascorbic acid can actually cause the formation of harmful free radicals.
Does this mean you should try to avoid vitamin C? Absolutely not! These
experimental conditions do not appear to be "relevant" to what goes on
in our bodies.
Canavanine
The third mistake made in the warning about some natural toxins is
failing to say that the amount encountered in food is so "miniscule"
that it is completely insignificant.
Such is the case with a toxin called canavanine, which is found in
alfalfa seeds.
While some writers may make canavanine sound like a dangerous carcinogen
¾ it isn’t.
Canavanine is a non-protein amino acid that’s toxic in high amounts. In
the dry seed it serves as storage protein, a growth inhibitor, and a
defense against natural predators.
As you might guess, as a sprout grows, canavanine falls rapidly to
insignificant levels.
The text, Seed Physiology, clearly states that "Canavanine…is non-toxic
to mammals at low concentration." Canavanine is so irrelevant that in
the 1980 text, Toxic Constituents of Plant Foodstuffs, doesn’t even
mention it.
A 150-pound human would have to consume 14,000 milligrams of canavanine
all at once for it to be toxic at the same level it is toxic in mice.
This is an incredible amount!
It is doubtful that with a generous helping of alfalfa sprouts, you
would get no more than a few milligrams.
There is NO canavanine at all in other legumes that are commonly used
as human food. Even in toxic amounts, canavanine has nothing to do with
cancer.
In very high, toxic amounts it can cause a lupus-like anemia in
susceptible animals due to an alteration in the red blood cells. These
studies are not relevant to the human diet. The minute doses found in
the diet are completely irrelevant and harmless.
Just remember that most substances can show some kind of toxic effect at
a high enough dose. Vitamin A, selenium, copper, zinc, and iron will all
kill you at a high enough dose.
So don’t stop eating alfalfa sprouts any more than you would any other
food because of some minute toxin that might be present.
They are a good source of vitamin C, folic acid, and othe protective
compounds.
ANTI-NUTRIENTS IN SPROUTED LEGUMES
As far as the sprouts of other legumes go, the only other toxins for
which any concern has been raised is for a class know as anti-nutrients.
These are substances that bind enzymes or nutrients and inhibit the
absorption of the nutrients. The commonly alleged anti-nutrients are
protease inhibitors, amylase inhibitors, phytic acid, and polyphenolic
compounds such as tannins.
With proper soaking and germination, none of these are anything to
worry about. Around the world, studies have been and are being conducted
on the use of germinated seeds as a low-cost, highly nutritive source of
human food.
It is well established that when legumes are properly soaked and
germinated, their nutritive value increases greatly, usually to levels
equal to or exceeding those of the cooked bean. (Nutritive value is the
ability of food to provide a usable form of nutrients: protein,
carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals).
This has been shown for mung bean, lentil, chickpea (garbanzo bean),
cowpea (blackeye pea), pigeon pea, fava bean, fenugreek seeds (a member
of the pea family), green & black gram, kidney bean, moth bean, rice
bean, soybean, and legumes in general.
The increase in nutritive value in the raw sprouted seed is due to an
explosion of enzyme activity, which breaks down the storage-protein and
starch in the seed into amino acids, peptides, and simpler carbohydrates
needed for the seed to grow.
The seed is literally digesting its own protein and starch and creating
amino acids in the process. Because of this process, sprouted seeds are
essentially a predigested food.
At the same time, the anti-nutritional factors such as enzyme inhibitors
and other anti-nutrients are greatly decreased to insignificant levels
or to nothing. Soaking alone causes a significant decrease in
anti-nutrients, as the anti-nutrients are leached into the soak water.
Soaking for 18 hours removed 65% of hemagglutinin activity in
peas.Soaking for 24 hours at room temperature removed 66% of the trypsin
(protease) inhibitor activity in mung bean, 93% in lentil, 59% in
chickpea, and 100% in broad bean. Then as germination proceeds,
anti-nutrients are degraded further to lower levels or nothing.
Soaking for 12 hours and 3 – 4 days of germination completely removed
all hamagglutinin activity in mung beans and lentil. Soaking for 10
hours and germination for 3 days completely removed amylase inhibitor in
lentils. Normal cooking removes most or all of the anti-nutrients.
ANTI-NUTRIENTS AS PROTECTORS
Some of the substances commonly referred to as anti-nutrients are
actually powerful cancer-protecting phyto-chemicals. These include
protease inhibitors and tannins.
The problem in most diets is that we don’t get enough of these
substances. Substantial research shows that protease inhibitors are one
of the most powerful anti-carcinogens we have in our arsenal.
They have proven to be particularly protective against cancer of the
colon, breast, and prostate.
Tannins have also been shown to give substantial protection against
cancer (including cancer of the stomach and lungs) when ingested orally.
Tannins and other polyphenols may play a role in fighting tooth decay.
Evidence shows that some tannins inhibit the growth of bacteria that
cause tooth decay.
Phytates, like tannins, may also interact with digestive processes in a
beneficial way.
Small amounts in food slow down the absorption of sugars and regulate
insulin levels.
This is beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and
hyperlipidemia (high blood fats). Small amounts of protease inhibitors,
tannins, and phylates are beneficial and can be considered to be a
normal part of "nutritional ecology".
Warren Peary is an investigative health journalist. William S. Peavy
holds a doctoral degree from Kansas State University in horticultural
science. They can be reached at 316 Horton Lane NW, Albuquerque, NM
87114.
Raw Recipes: Nut Mylk Shake, Creme of Tomato Soup, Raw Carrot Cake
Raw Recipes
Nut Mylk Shake
21 Mar 2009
Blend the following ingredients in a blender until smooth:
3 Cups almond mylk
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 medium orange (peeled)
1 Fresh or frozen banana
2 tablespoons honey or 1/4 cup of pitted dates
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup of ice (ice is not necessary if you use frozen fruit).
Serves 4-5 people.
- - -
Crème of Tomato Soup
20 Mar 2009
2 cups of thick sunflower milk
8 medium tomatoes
1 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Add after blending:
A bunch of basil
1 Tbs. Raw Honey
A pinch of cayenne
Half of a whole lemon
2 Tbs. Dulse
A pinch of salt
- - -
Raw Carrot Cake
By Ursula Horiatis
20 Mar 2009
(Makes 12 to 16 servings)
1 pound of carrots
2 cups pineapple
2 apples
2 1/2 cup soaked walnuts
2 cup soaked almond
2 1/2 cup pecans
2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup dates
1 cup raisins
1/3 teaspoon pumpkin spice
3 tablespoons psyllium powder
Frosting:
1-2 cup soaked and blanched Almonds
1 cup dates
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch clove
1 Thai coconut (this is a young coconut, also called a Jelly coconut. It has a soft inside and can be found in Asian markets.)
For decoration:
1/2 cup miniature carrots or coarsely shredded normal sized carrots
12 to 16 mint leaves
Step 1
Put 1 cup raisins and 1 cup dates in the food processor, mix to a paste
Add soaked almonds and mix.
Then add 2 cup walnuts, 1 cup pecans and pumpkin seeds with remaining spices and mix to a paste.
Put all in a bowl.
Add 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup walnuts in food processor and shred to little chunks only (not too fine).
Add to dough in the bowl.
Cut carrots into chunks and shred in food processor until fine.
Add pineapple and apple chunks and mix with psyllium powder.
Add mixture to the dough in the bowl.
Now mix all together by hand and pour into a spring form.
Step 2: For Frosting
Put the remaining dates, blanched almonds and coconut meat from the Thai coconut into a blender, add coconut juice and mix to a cream. Spread the cream over the carrot cake and decorate with little carrot halves and mint leaves.
Alternative: If you can’t get a Thai coconut, use more blanched Almonds and water instead. It works as well. The cake will be ready to serve after at least 2 hours in the refrigerator and keeps fresh for up to 5 days if stored in the fridge.
Nut Mylk Shake
21 Mar 2009
Blend the following ingredients in a blender until smooth:
3 Cups almond mylk
1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 medium orange (peeled)
1 Fresh or frozen banana
2 tablespoons honey or 1/4 cup of pitted dates
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup of ice (ice is not necessary if you use frozen fruit).
Serves 4-5 people.
- - -
Crème of Tomato Soup
20 Mar 2009
2 cups of thick sunflower milk
8 medium tomatoes
1 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup chopped parsley
Add after blending:
A bunch of basil
1 Tbs. Raw Honey
A pinch of cayenne
Half of a whole lemon
2 Tbs. Dulse
A pinch of salt
- - -
Raw Carrot Cake
By Ursula Horiatis
20 Mar 2009
(Makes 12 to 16 servings)
1 pound of carrots
2 cups pineapple
2 apples
2 1/2 cup soaked walnuts
2 cup soaked almond
2 1/2 cup pecans
2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup dates
1 cup raisins
1/3 teaspoon pumpkin spice
3 tablespoons psyllium powder
Frosting:
1-2 cup soaked and blanched Almonds
1 cup dates
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch clove
1 Thai coconut (this is a young coconut, also called a Jelly coconut. It has a soft inside and can be found in Asian markets.)
For decoration:
1/2 cup miniature carrots or coarsely shredded normal sized carrots
12 to 16 mint leaves
Step 1
Put 1 cup raisins and 1 cup dates in the food processor, mix to a paste
Add soaked almonds and mix.
Then add 2 cup walnuts, 1 cup pecans and pumpkin seeds with remaining spices and mix to a paste.
Put all in a bowl.
Add 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup walnuts in food processor and shred to little chunks only (not too fine).
Add to dough in the bowl.
Cut carrots into chunks and shred in food processor until fine.
Add pineapple and apple chunks and mix with psyllium powder.
Add mixture to the dough in the bowl.
Now mix all together by hand and pour into a spring form.
Step 2: For Frosting
Put the remaining dates, blanched almonds and coconut meat from the Thai coconut into a blender, add coconut juice and mix to a cream. Spread the cream over the carrot cake and decorate with little carrot halves and mint leaves.
Alternative: If you can’t get a Thai coconut, use more blanched Almonds and water instead. It works as well. The cake will be ready to serve after at least 2 hours in the refrigerator and keeps fresh for up to 5 days if stored in the fridge.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE LA
E-Alert
Date: 03/25/09
Issue: March 2009
VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE LA
Sunday, April 26 11 am – 4 pm
Vegetarians everywhere UNITE! Join LA’s first
VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE and help make veggie history
The festivities will begin at 11:00 am at Culver Events, where “veg heads” will register, enjoy a pre-march rally with veg entertainment and a special keynote speaker to rally the veg troups for our historic march. At noon we will begin a 5K walk through Venice with participants adorned with eye-catching costumes and thought provoking signs to educate people about the humane, environmental, and health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
After the march we will gather for a post-parade rally to celebrate the vegetarian lifestyle, with special guest presentations, music & veg entertainment, costume contest, and of course, a smorgasbord of vegan food from our area’s top veg restaurants.
Guest Speakers include:
Rory Freedman, Author of Skinny Bitch and other Skinny Bitch books and tapes.
Karen Dawn, Author of Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the way we treat animals.
Kenneth Williams, America’s first champion vegan body builder.
Lorri Houston, Founder of Animal Acres and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.
Musical Entertainment by: Truth on Earth, Monogroove, Crazy Aunt Mary.
Come and get your veg on! The event is FREE and open to ALL. Sign up to PARTICIPATE in the VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE, make a DONATION to become a parade sponsor, VOLUNTEER for the event, or ALL of the above! Call 661-269-5404 or visit www.veggiepridela.com for more information and to register for the VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE LA today.
The Los Angeles VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE was inspired by Vegetarians Against Animal Exploitation in France who will be celebrating their 9th parade in 2009 and by VivaVeggie Society who organized the first Veggie Pride Parade in the U.S. in 2008.
The Los Angeles event is being coordinated by Animal Acres, the Los Angeles farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center. For more information on the organization’s programs and campaigns, please visit: www.animalacres.org.
Animal Acres is a Los Angeles farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center directed by Farm Sanctuary co-founder Lorri Houston. Thank you for your support.
© 2005-2008 Animal Acres. All rights reserved.
ANIMAL ACRES
5200 Escondido Canyon Road Acton, CA 93510
Phone: 661.269.5404 Fax: 661.269.0194
Email: info@animalacres.org
Website: www.animalacres.org
Date: 03/25/09
Issue: March 2009
VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE LA
Sunday, April 26 11 am – 4 pm
Vegetarians everywhere UNITE! Join LA’s first
VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE and help make veggie history
The festivities will begin at 11:00 am at Culver Events, where “veg heads” will register, enjoy a pre-march rally with veg entertainment and a special keynote speaker to rally the veg troups for our historic march. At noon we will begin a 5K walk through Venice with participants adorned with eye-catching costumes and thought provoking signs to educate people about the humane, environmental, and health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
After the march we will gather for a post-parade rally to celebrate the vegetarian lifestyle, with special guest presentations, music & veg entertainment, costume contest, and of course, a smorgasbord of vegan food from our area’s top veg restaurants.
Guest Speakers include:
Rory Freedman, Author of Skinny Bitch and other Skinny Bitch books and tapes.
Karen Dawn, Author of Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the way we treat animals.
Kenneth Williams, America’s first champion vegan body builder.
Lorri Houston, Founder of Animal Acres and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.
Musical Entertainment by: Truth on Earth, Monogroove, Crazy Aunt Mary.
Come and get your veg on! The event is FREE and open to ALL. Sign up to PARTICIPATE in the VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE, make a DONATION to become a parade sponsor, VOLUNTEER for the event, or ALL of the above! Call 661-269-5404 or visit www.veggiepridela.com for more information and to register for the VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE LA today.
The Los Angeles VEGGIE PRIDE PARADE was inspired by Vegetarians Against Animal Exploitation in France who will be celebrating their 9th parade in 2009 and by VivaVeggie Society who organized the first Veggie Pride Parade in the U.S. in 2008.
The Los Angeles event is being coordinated by Animal Acres, the Los Angeles farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center. For more information on the organization’s programs and campaigns, please visit: www.animalacres.org.
Animal Acres is a Los Angeles farmed animal sanctuary and compassionate living center directed by Farm Sanctuary co-founder Lorri Houston. Thank you for your support.
© 2005-2008 Animal Acres. All rights reserved.
ANIMAL ACRES
5200 Escondido Canyon Road Acton, CA 93510
Phone: 661.269.5404 Fax: 661.269.0194
Email: info@animalacres.org
Website: www.animalacres.org
How to Attract Hummingbirds (and other Birds) To Your Yard and Garden
How To Attract Hummingbirds (And Other Birds) To Your Yard and Garden
15 ways to attract beautiful birds and songs to your yard, and 10+ more bird conservation tips from the National Audubon Society.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bird-gardens-47022602?src\=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Give Your Hummingbird a Sugar Fix
Cost: $13 for a basic hummingbird feeder.
Hummingbirds (like the Anna's hummingbird pictured here) have an enormous
appetite -- greater than any other bird, relative to their size. You can help them by putting up and maintaining a hummingbird feeder filled with fresh sugar water. (Recipe: Take one part sugar to four parts water, bring barely to a boil then simmer for about two minutes. Cool and serve.) This solution can spoil rapidly in hot weather, so feeders should be cleaned thoroughly and refilled every two days when the temperature rises. (And don't use soap when you clean your feeder -- it can make birds sick.)
One great source of bird feeders is the Audubon collection by Woodlink.
Invest in Beauty: Attract Hummingbirds With Native Plants
Cost: Pack of five different hummingbird plants: about $40. (The moment the
first hummingbird appears in your yard: priceless.)
Hummingbirds -- like this gorgeous ruby-throated hummingbird -- are tiny, but boast the fastest wingbeat and the largest appetites of all birds. Suffering from habitat loss and pesticide use, hummingbirds can use a hand. You can help make your yard a sanctuary for them by planting native and noninvasive flowering plants that they like, such as hummingbird mint, columbine, hummingbird trumpet, and beardtongue.
To learn more about hummingbirds and how to get them in your yard, check out Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles, by Dr. Stephen W. Kress, Audubon's Vice President for Bird Conservation.
Garden in Layers
Cost: Depends on what plants and trees cost in your area. Find sources of native plants through the North American Native Plant Society.
Create multilayered communities of plants to mimic natural habitats: provide canopy trees, mid and understory shrubs, grasses and annuals. Many birds forage and nest high in the branches of native trees. Thick, shrubs provide cover for birds that stay closer to the ground such as quail, sparrows and thrashers.
Make Your Garden into a Bird Cafe
Cost: You might save some money by decreasing the amount you spend on fertilizer and pest control.
Nothing beats native vegetation to feed the birds of your area. If you plant a variety of native plants, they can provide birds with food at different times of the year in the form of fruit and seeds. Native plants also are home to tasty invertebrates like bugs and spiders.
Learn more at Audubon At Home and use the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center’s Native Plant Database.
Save a Hawk (With Your Hands)
Cost: This will save you money if you choose elbow grease over chemicals.
Choose nontoxic alternatives to pesticides and herbicides to keep your lawn, garden and local ecosystems healthy.
An estimated seven million birds die each year because of exposure to lawn
pesticides. (In 1995, nearly 6,000 Swainsons hawks -- like the one pictured here -- died from pesticide poisoning!) Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers all have harmful effects on people and the environment. Consider planting native species (which are less likely to succumb to pests than exotics) and using natural and less-toxic gardening methods, such as traps, lures, soap and oil sprays, microbes, botanical insecticides and perhaps the best tool of all ... your hands.
Plant a Native Shade Tree
Cost: Depends on the size of tree sapling you buy. Trees can cost anywhere from nothing (look for community sapling giveaways) to $250 or more (for nursery ornamentals).
Ah, shade trees. Their benefits are innumerable. (Shade, for example.) Not only can they help absorb greenhouse gases, keep a home cooler in the summer, and provide climbing fun, but they also are also excellent perching spots for many bird species. Eastern screech owls and great-crested flycatchers use them as hunting perches. Northern flickers will roost in them. And Carolina chickadees will feast on insects on them.
Do your research before buying or planting a tree to find out what species are native to your area, and where and how to plant your sapling. See this USDA tree planting guide for more information.
Clean the Dirty Birds
Cost: $20 or so -- or cheaper if you make your own.
Putting seed in your yard will attract only seed-eating birds, but most birds are attracted to bird baths. Birds drink and bathe in shallow water, sometimes more than once a day. For the thrill of seeing a baby robin taking its first bath in your backyard, provide a bird bath or shallow pond away from cover, so birds can see if they're in danger. Keep water clean and free of mosquito larvae by changing it every few days.
Attack Aliens With Your Hands
Cost: Depends on how you remove the aliens. The best method is also free: your hands!
Chances are you have alien -- non-native -- invasive plant species in your yard.
Maybe it's Japanese honeysuckle, or a patch of garlic mustard. The increase of non-native plants has been linked to the decline of songbirds; robin and thrush nests located in non-native shrubs and trees appear to be preyed upon more than those that nest in native habitat.
Old-fashioned hand-pulling may be the most effective way to remove invasive
plants. You'll have most success in eliminating your invasive infestation if you pull the plants before they set seed. Take care to try and remove the entire root system; several species can sprout simply from pieces of root left behind.
For more tips, see Audubon At Home
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/InvasivePests.html
Make Good Neighbors
Cost: Free!
When you and your neighbors join together to create habitat, the impact of your individual efforts will be multiplied many times over. Work with neighbors to encourage habitat protection across property lines. Screen fence lines with native shrubs to create wildlife corridors. Work with local water protection agencies to maintain streamside vegetation. Your combined efforts can create a healthy refuge for wildlife and people by connecting isolated patches of habitat.
Make Your Yard More Musical: Feed a Sparrow
Cost: One 2.5lb bag of organic millet seed is about $10.
Song sparrows, with their range of songs and pips, are wonderful birds to hear.
To attract them, scatter millet or other small commercial seed on ground near bushes or other cover (to stay safe, they won't forage more than 30 feet from cover). You can also encourage them by planting or maintaining native forbs (like smartweed, ragweed, pigweed, and knotweed) and grasses under and around bushes and shrubs.
Leave a Mess
Cost: Free! And easy!
Birds love snags and brush! Leave snags for nesting places (birds like northern flickers make their nest cavities in dead or diseased tree trunks or large branches) and stack downed tree limbs to create a brush pile, which is a great source of cover for birds during bad weather. Let the flowers of annuals dry so that birds can find the seeds, and drop dead flower heads in the garden where they remain available to birds and provide mulch.
Stop the Decline of Bewick's Wren
Cost: A ready-made nest box will set you back around $30, but you can make your own.
Bewick's wrens were once common across the United States, but have
dramatically declined in the east. You can help keep their populations in the west healthy by providing nest boxes mounted 5-10 feet high on a tree in or near a brushy area. (Note that this will only work in areas where house wrens are not found; house wrens will almost always out-compete Bewick's wrens.) Nest boxes should be at least 4 x 4 inches wide and 10 inches deep with a 1-1/8 inch entrance hole.
For more information, consult this Birds to Help factsheet (pdf)
http://www.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp/pdf/Bewicks_Wren.pdf
Keep Water Clean With Native Grasses
Cost: $7-$16 per pound of native grass seed.
The pollution that flows out of your yard and neighborhood into local streams and rivers can harm birds, such as the endangered whooping crane. Patch bare soil areas in your yard with native grasses to prevent erosion, sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them down, and use a funnel when you fill your lawnmower.
Make Your Windows Visible to Birds
Cost: Free
Windows, of all things, are one of the greatest threats to migratory birds like cedar waxwings. Up to a billion birds, from hummingbirds to hawks, die every year when they mistake glass windows for open space and fly into them.
To prevent that ominous thud! at your house, put up screen windows and close drapes and blinds when you leave the house. Don't rely on decals; they are only useful if they are spaced close to each other to be effective -- at most two inches apart horizontally, and four inches apart vertically. If you have bird feeders, place them either within three feet of the house (so birds can't pick up enough speed to hurt themselves), or more than 30 feet away (so birds can see that the window is part of the house).
More tips
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeWindows.html
Keep Kitty Contained
Cost: Free! In fact, you'll probably save on vet bills.
They're excellent companions to humans, but cats roaming outdoors can be
blamed for over 500 million bird deaths a year. Catbirds may sound like cats, but they don't like cats. Keeping cats indoors not only spares birds but can benefit the cats, too, as they're protected from disease, parasites, poison, and accidents. According to the American Humane Society, cats that are allowed to roam outside live an average of just three years, while indoor cats on average reach 15 years.
Make a Little Gravel Go a Long Way for a Nighthawk
Cost: Will vary depending on gravel or peastone costs in your area.
Nighthawks, those lovely birds that swoop around city skies at night, flashing the white bands under their wings, have declined in numbers by about 50 percent over the last 40 years. Since their decline has coincided with a decline in gravel roofs, on which nighthawks often nest, wildlife biologists have been experimenting with creating gravel nest pads on roofs. You can do it, too!
Create a 9' x 9' gravel pad on your roof (around 14 bucketfuls), or encourage local builders to install them.
Learn how from the Project Nighthawk Gravel Nest Patch Handbook (pdf)
http://www.nhbirdrecords.org/bird-conservation/library/Nighthawk-handbook.pdf
Be a Landlord to Birds of Prey: Build a Nest Box
Cost: Around $10-$20 for the materials
Several birds of prey will nest in boxes given the chance. To attract kestrels, our smallest falcons, place a nest box at least 10 feet high on a tree or pole in the middle of an open space like a field or park (with permission!). Boxes should be about 17 x 8 x 10 inches with a 3-inch diameter entrance hole. The bottom of the nest box should be covered with wood shavings to cushion and insulate eggs. The American kestral chicks shown here are just 24 days old!
To attract barn owls, which will keep small rodent populations down, install nest boxes in rafters of open barns, on or in other open out-buildings, or on poles in open areas. The boxes should be much bigger -- 36 x 24 x 24 inches, with a 10 x 8-inch square opening, and an adjacent ledge for young to roost on as they mature. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has good instructions.
Become Important to an Important Bird Area
Cost: Free!
Important Bird Areas are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird. They include sites for breeding, wintering, and/or migrating birds, and they may be a few acres or thousands of acres. (Audubon Connecticut, for example, helped convert a 10-acre undeveloped area in the city of Stamford into an Important Bird Area for purple martins -- pictured here -- and eastern screech owls.) Every state has Important Bird Areas, and they need your help removing invasive species, restoring native plants, and monitoring bird populations.
Contact your state's Important Bird Area coordinator to see how you can help out in a beautiful spot.
Root for the Orioles (Even if You're a Yankee Fan)
Cost: A standard oriole nectar feeder costs around $16; one made from recycled plastic costs around $30.
The bright orange and black uniforms -- sorry, feathers! -- sported by Baltimore orioles (in the east) and Bullock's orioles (in the west) make them an absolute delight to spot in your yard. Attract orioles with a fruit, jelly and nectar feeder. You might also consider planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs like mulberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries and figs - delicious for you and for orioles. Find more tips for attracting orioles in the Audubon Birdscapes blog.
Sign the Birds and Climate Petition
Cost: Free!
Of course, protecting birds is just one of many reasons to take action on global warming. But birds have given us one of the earliest indications that global warming is happening and that it's serious. Audubon found that over half of the bird species found in winter in North America have shifted significantly northward in the past 40 years. Purple finches have moved their wintering grounds north by an extraordinary 433 miles in the past four decades.
It's time to take a stand! Sign the petition at birdsandclimate.org to ask
your lawmakers to take a stand to reduce global warming by 80 percent by 2050.
Keep Bobwhites Bobbing: Maintain Open Fields
Cost: Free!
Northern bobwhites, once common in the grasslands of the south and southeast, have declined by a shocking 82% in the last 40 years, mostly because of a decline in habitat. You can help by maintaining fields or meadows of native warm summer grasses. Manage grasslands with fire, grazing, or mowing every few years so that they don't become overgrown.
You can also find a U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center in your area and work with them to help protect bobwhites and other grassland birds.
Become a Citizen Scientist
Cost: Free!
Help scientists keep tabs on the status of birds by monitoring the birds in your neighborhood and submitting what you find to eBird. You may not think your observations of the cardinals in your area can add up to much, but just recently, Audubon released the results of a 40-year study conducted by citizen scientists just like you! The study indicated that climate change is already affecting over half of North American bird species.
Submit your bird watching observations at ebird.org any time, or join thousands of others taking part in the annual Christmas Bird Count, February's Great Backyard Bird Count, or other fun citizen science projects.
Recycle (It's Easier Than Performing the Heimlich on an Arctic Tern)
Cost: Free!
Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds become poisoned or have their
digestive tracts obstructed after eating small pieces of plastic. Discarded
pieces of plastic wash down drains, into rivers and out to sea, where terns, puffins and gulls can eat them. Make sure you recycle plastic whenever possible, and otherwise properly dispose of plastic items after you're done with them.
(Better yet: avoid buying things that use unnecessary plastic.)
Make Your Chimney Hospitable to Chimney Swifts
Cost: Will vary with the cost of cleaning your chimney.
Chimney swifts -- excellent birds to have around because they consume one-third of their weight in insects like mosquitoes daily -- are on the decline. You can help by making your chimney as habitable as possible for them.
Clean your chimney in March, and leave masonry or clay flue-tile chimneys
uncapped from March through October to allow entrance by nesting and roosting swifts. Keep the damper closed so nestlings don’t wind up in your fireplace.
(If you have a metal roof, you should cap it permanently -- they're too
slippery for chimney swifts or any other wildlife to use.)
Learn more (including how to create an artificial chimney swift tower for your roof or property) at www.chimneyswifts.org.
Fight Acid Rain With Your Pen (This Wood Thrush Will Thank You)
Cost: Free!
Many birds -- like wood thrushes -- are affected by acid rain, which indirectly weakens the birds' egg shells. Ask your representatives to support tougher air pollution controls, to oppose the development of new coal-fired power plants (which produce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, leading in turn to acid rain), and to support the development of cleaner alternatives to coal. (Of course, in addition to bird conservation there are many other good reasons to demand air pollution controls, including public health.)
Learn more about the plight of the wood thrush in this 2008 issue of Audubon Magazine.
Turn Out the Lights, and Save a Songbird (or Several Million)
Cost: Free! And you'll save money on energy costs.
This tip applies to anyone, but it's especially relevant to those living or
working in tall buildings. Turn out the lights at night! Songbirds like
bobolinks and hermit thrushes use constellations to guide them on their annual migrations, but bright lights in urban areas short-circuit their ability to steer. Every year millions crash into buildings and die. Close your curtains and blinds at night, turn out lights, and get your building manager to turn out lights that aren't being used. Of course, this also helps reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.
Caffeinate With Shade-Grown Coffee
Cost: $8.75 a pound, or so
Drink shade-grown coffee! Each time you purchase shade-grown coffee, you're
putting in a word for healthy growing practices.
Shade-grown coffee plantations of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia provide critical habitat for birds that have lost their tropical forest homes. They also provide winter habitat for some neotropical migrant birds like hummingbirds, orioles, tanagers, and barn swallows, which breed in summer in North America.
Look for shade-grown coffee in markets, ask for it at your local café, and shop for it online. (Audubon sells its own Premium Shade Grown Coffee.)
15 ways to attract beautiful birds and songs to your yard, and 10+ more bird conservation tips from the National Audubon Society.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bird-gardens-47022602?src\=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist
Give Your Hummingbird a Sugar Fix
Cost: $13 for a basic hummingbird feeder.
Hummingbirds (like the Anna's hummingbird pictured here) have an enormous
appetite -- greater than any other bird, relative to their size. You can help them by putting up and maintaining a hummingbird feeder filled with fresh sugar water. (Recipe: Take one part sugar to four parts water, bring barely to a boil then simmer for about two minutes. Cool and serve.) This solution can spoil rapidly in hot weather, so feeders should be cleaned thoroughly and refilled every two days when the temperature rises. (And don't use soap when you clean your feeder -- it can make birds sick.)
One great source of bird feeders is the Audubon collection by Woodlink.
Invest in Beauty: Attract Hummingbirds With Native Plants
Cost: Pack of five different hummingbird plants: about $40. (The moment the
first hummingbird appears in your yard: priceless.)
Hummingbirds -- like this gorgeous ruby-throated hummingbird -- are tiny, but boast the fastest wingbeat and the largest appetites of all birds. Suffering from habitat loss and pesticide use, hummingbirds can use a hand. You can help make your yard a sanctuary for them by planting native and noninvasive flowering plants that they like, such as hummingbird mint, columbine, hummingbird trumpet, and beardtongue.
To learn more about hummingbirds and how to get them in your yard, check out Attracting Hummingbirds and Orioles, by Dr. Stephen W. Kress, Audubon's Vice President for Bird Conservation.
Garden in Layers
Cost: Depends on what plants and trees cost in your area. Find sources of native plants through the North American Native Plant Society.
Create multilayered communities of plants to mimic natural habitats: provide canopy trees, mid and understory shrubs, grasses and annuals. Many birds forage and nest high in the branches of native trees. Thick, shrubs provide cover for birds that stay closer to the ground such as quail, sparrows and thrashers.
Make Your Garden into a Bird Cafe
Cost: You might save some money by decreasing the amount you spend on fertilizer and pest control.
Nothing beats native vegetation to feed the birds of your area. If you plant a variety of native plants, they can provide birds with food at different times of the year in the form of fruit and seeds. Native plants also are home to tasty invertebrates like bugs and spiders.
Learn more at Audubon At Home and use the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center’s Native Plant Database.
Save a Hawk (With Your Hands)
Cost: This will save you money if you choose elbow grease over chemicals.
Choose nontoxic alternatives to pesticides and herbicides to keep your lawn, garden and local ecosystems healthy.
An estimated seven million birds die each year because of exposure to lawn
pesticides. (In 1995, nearly 6,000 Swainsons hawks -- like the one pictured here -- died from pesticide poisoning!) Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers all have harmful effects on people and the environment. Consider planting native species (which are less likely to succumb to pests than exotics) and using natural and less-toxic gardening methods, such as traps, lures, soap and oil sprays, microbes, botanical insecticides and perhaps the best tool of all ... your hands.
Plant a Native Shade Tree
Cost: Depends on the size of tree sapling you buy. Trees can cost anywhere from nothing (look for community sapling giveaways) to $250 or more (for nursery ornamentals).
Ah, shade trees. Their benefits are innumerable. (Shade, for example.) Not only can they help absorb greenhouse gases, keep a home cooler in the summer, and provide climbing fun, but they also are also excellent perching spots for many bird species. Eastern screech owls and great-crested flycatchers use them as hunting perches. Northern flickers will roost in them. And Carolina chickadees will feast on insects on them.
Do your research before buying or planting a tree to find out what species are native to your area, and where and how to plant your sapling. See this USDA tree planting guide for more information.
Clean the Dirty Birds
Cost: $20 or so -- or cheaper if you make your own.
Putting seed in your yard will attract only seed-eating birds, but most birds are attracted to bird baths. Birds drink and bathe in shallow water, sometimes more than once a day. For the thrill of seeing a baby robin taking its first bath in your backyard, provide a bird bath or shallow pond away from cover, so birds can see if they're in danger. Keep water clean and free of mosquito larvae by changing it every few days.
Attack Aliens With Your Hands
Cost: Depends on how you remove the aliens. The best method is also free: your hands!
Chances are you have alien -- non-native -- invasive plant species in your yard.
Maybe it's Japanese honeysuckle, or a patch of garlic mustard. The increase of non-native plants has been linked to the decline of songbirds; robin and thrush nests located in non-native shrubs and trees appear to be preyed upon more than those that nest in native habitat.
Old-fashioned hand-pulling may be the most effective way to remove invasive
plants. You'll have most success in eliminating your invasive infestation if you pull the plants before they set seed. Take care to try and remove the entire root system; several species can sprout simply from pieces of root left behind.
For more tips, see Audubon At Home
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/InvasivePests.html
Make Good Neighbors
Cost: Free!
When you and your neighbors join together to create habitat, the impact of your individual efforts will be multiplied many times over. Work with neighbors to encourage habitat protection across property lines. Screen fence lines with native shrubs to create wildlife corridors. Work with local water protection agencies to maintain streamside vegetation. Your combined efforts can create a healthy refuge for wildlife and people by connecting isolated patches of habitat.
Make Your Yard More Musical: Feed a Sparrow
Cost: One 2.5lb bag of organic millet seed is about $10.
Song sparrows, with their range of songs and pips, are wonderful birds to hear.
To attract them, scatter millet or other small commercial seed on ground near bushes or other cover (to stay safe, they won't forage more than 30 feet from cover). You can also encourage them by planting or maintaining native forbs (like smartweed, ragweed, pigweed, and knotweed) and grasses under and around bushes and shrubs.
Leave a Mess
Cost: Free! And easy!
Birds love snags and brush! Leave snags for nesting places (birds like northern flickers make their nest cavities in dead or diseased tree trunks or large branches) and stack downed tree limbs to create a brush pile, which is a great source of cover for birds during bad weather. Let the flowers of annuals dry so that birds can find the seeds, and drop dead flower heads in the garden where they remain available to birds and provide mulch.
Stop the Decline of Bewick's Wren
Cost: A ready-made nest box will set you back around $30, but you can make your own.
Bewick's wrens were once common across the United States, but have
dramatically declined in the east. You can help keep their populations in the west healthy by providing nest boxes mounted 5-10 feet high on a tree in or near a brushy area. (Note that this will only work in areas where house wrens are not found; house wrens will almost always out-compete Bewick's wrens.) Nest boxes should be at least 4 x 4 inches wide and 10 inches deep with a 1-1/8 inch entrance hole.
For more information, consult this Birds to Help factsheet (pdf)
http://www.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp/pdf/Bewicks_Wren.pdf
Keep Water Clean With Native Grasses
Cost: $7-$16 per pound of native grass seed.
The pollution that flows out of your yard and neighborhood into local streams and rivers can harm birds, such as the endangered whooping crane. Patch bare soil areas in your yard with native grasses to prevent erosion, sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them down, and use a funnel when you fill your lawnmower.
Make Your Windows Visible to Birds
Cost: Free
Windows, of all things, are one of the greatest threats to migratory birds like cedar waxwings. Up to a billion birds, from hummingbirds to hawks, die every year when they mistake glass windows for open space and fly into them.
To prevent that ominous thud! at your house, put up screen windows and close drapes and blinds when you leave the house. Don't rely on decals; they are only useful if they are spaced close to each other to be effective -- at most two inches apart horizontally, and four inches apart vertically. If you have bird feeders, place them either within three feet of the house (so birds can't pick up enough speed to hurt themselves), or more than 30 feet away (so birds can see that the window is part of the house).
More tips
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeWindows.html
Keep Kitty Contained
Cost: Free! In fact, you'll probably save on vet bills.
They're excellent companions to humans, but cats roaming outdoors can be
blamed for over 500 million bird deaths a year. Catbirds may sound like cats, but they don't like cats. Keeping cats indoors not only spares birds but can benefit the cats, too, as they're protected from disease, parasites, poison, and accidents. According to the American Humane Society, cats that are allowed to roam outside live an average of just three years, while indoor cats on average reach 15 years.
Make a Little Gravel Go a Long Way for a Nighthawk
Cost: Will vary depending on gravel or peastone costs in your area.
Nighthawks, those lovely birds that swoop around city skies at night, flashing the white bands under their wings, have declined in numbers by about 50 percent over the last 40 years. Since their decline has coincided with a decline in gravel roofs, on which nighthawks often nest, wildlife biologists have been experimenting with creating gravel nest pads on roofs. You can do it, too!
Create a 9' x 9' gravel pad on your roof (around 14 bucketfuls), or encourage local builders to install them.
Learn how from the Project Nighthawk Gravel Nest Patch Handbook (pdf)
http://www.nhbirdrecords.org/bird-conservation/library/Nighthawk-handbook.pdf
Be a Landlord to Birds of Prey: Build a Nest Box
Cost: Around $10-$20 for the materials
Several birds of prey will nest in boxes given the chance. To attract kestrels, our smallest falcons, place a nest box at least 10 feet high on a tree or pole in the middle of an open space like a field or park (with permission!). Boxes should be about 17 x 8 x 10 inches with a 3-inch diameter entrance hole. The bottom of the nest box should be covered with wood shavings to cushion and insulate eggs. The American kestral chicks shown here are just 24 days old!
To attract barn owls, which will keep small rodent populations down, install nest boxes in rafters of open barns, on or in other open out-buildings, or on poles in open areas. The boxes should be much bigger -- 36 x 24 x 24 inches, with a 10 x 8-inch square opening, and an adjacent ledge for young to roost on as they mature. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has good instructions.
Become Important to an Important Bird Area
Cost: Free!
Important Bird Areas are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird. They include sites for breeding, wintering, and/or migrating birds, and they may be a few acres or thousands of acres. (Audubon Connecticut, for example, helped convert a 10-acre undeveloped area in the city of Stamford into an Important Bird Area for purple martins -- pictured here -- and eastern screech owls.) Every state has Important Bird Areas, and they need your help removing invasive species, restoring native plants, and monitoring bird populations.
Contact your state's Important Bird Area coordinator to see how you can help out in a beautiful spot.
Root for the Orioles (Even if You're a Yankee Fan)
Cost: A standard oriole nectar feeder costs around $16; one made from recycled plastic costs around $30.
The bright orange and black uniforms -- sorry, feathers! -- sported by Baltimore orioles (in the east) and Bullock's orioles (in the west) make them an absolute delight to spot in your yard. Attract orioles with a fruit, jelly and nectar feeder. You might also consider planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs like mulberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries and figs - delicious for you and for orioles. Find more tips for attracting orioles in the Audubon Birdscapes blog.
Sign the Birds and Climate Petition
Cost: Free!
Of course, protecting birds is just one of many reasons to take action on global warming. But birds have given us one of the earliest indications that global warming is happening and that it's serious. Audubon found that over half of the bird species found in winter in North America have shifted significantly northward in the past 40 years. Purple finches have moved their wintering grounds north by an extraordinary 433 miles in the past four decades.
It's time to take a stand! Sign the petition at birdsandclimate.org to ask
your lawmakers to take a stand to reduce global warming by 80 percent by 2050.
Keep Bobwhites Bobbing: Maintain Open Fields
Cost: Free!
Northern bobwhites, once common in the grasslands of the south and southeast, have declined by a shocking 82% in the last 40 years, mostly because of a decline in habitat. You can help by maintaining fields or meadows of native warm summer grasses. Manage grasslands with fire, grazing, or mowing every few years so that they don't become overgrown.
You can also find a U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Center in your area and work with them to help protect bobwhites and other grassland birds.
Become a Citizen Scientist
Cost: Free!
Help scientists keep tabs on the status of birds by monitoring the birds in your neighborhood and submitting what you find to eBird. You may not think your observations of the cardinals in your area can add up to much, but just recently, Audubon released the results of a 40-year study conducted by citizen scientists just like you! The study indicated that climate change is already affecting over half of North American bird species.
Submit your bird watching observations at ebird.org any time, or join thousands of others taking part in the annual Christmas Bird Count, February's Great Backyard Bird Count, or other fun citizen science projects.
Recycle (It's Easier Than Performing the Heimlich on an Arctic Tern)
Cost: Free!
Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds become poisoned or have their
digestive tracts obstructed after eating small pieces of plastic. Discarded
pieces of plastic wash down drains, into rivers and out to sea, where terns, puffins and gulls can eat them. Make sure you recycle plastic whenever possible, and otherwise properly dispose of plastic items after you're done with them.
(Better yet: avoid buying things that use unnecessary plastic.)
Make Your Chimney Hospitable to Chimney Swifts
Cost: Will vary with the cost of cleaning your chimney.
Chimney swifts -- excellent birds to have around because they consume one-third of their weight in insects like mosquitoes daily -- are on the decline. You can help by making your chimney as habitable as possible for them.
Clean your chimney in March, and leave masonry or clay flue-tile chimneys
uncapped from March through October to allow entrance by nesting and roosting swifts. Keep the damper closed so nestlings don’t wind up in your fireplace.
(If you have a metal roof, you should cap it permanently -- they're too
slippery for chimney swifts or any other wildlife to use.)
Learn more (including how to create an artificial chimney swift tower for your roof or property) at www.chimneyswifts.org.
Fight Acid Rain With Your Pen (This Wood Thrush Will Thank You)
Cost: Free!
Many birds -- like wood thrushes -- are affected by acid rain, which indirectly weakens the birds' egg shells. Ask your representatives to support tougher air pollution controls, to oppose the development of new coal-fired power plants (which produce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, leading in turn to acid rain), and to support the development of cleaner alternatives to coal. (Of course, in addition to bird conservation there are many other good reasons to demand air pollution controls, including public health.)
Learn more about the plight of the wood thrush in this 2008 issue of Audubon Magazine.
Turn Out the Lights, and Save a Songbird (or Several Million)
Cost: Free! And you'll save money on energy costs.
This tip applies to anyone, but it's especially relevant to those living or
working in tall buildings. Turn out the lights at night! Songbirds like
bobolinks and hermit thrushes use constellations to guide them on their annual migrations, but bright lights in urban areas short-circuit their ability to steer. Every year millions crash into buildings and die. Close your curtains and blinds at night, turn out lights, and get your building manager to turn out lights that aren't being used. Of course, this also helps reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.
Caffeinate With Shade-Grown Coffee
Cost: $8.75 a pound, or so
Drink shade-grown coffee! Each time you purchase shade-grown coffee, you're
putting in a word for healthy growing practices.
Shade-grown coffee plantations of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia provide critical habitat for birds that have lost their tropical forest homes. They also provide winter habitat for some neotropical migrant birds like hummingbirds, orioles, tanagers, and barn swallows, which breed in summer in North America.
Look for shade-grown coffee in markets, ask for it at your local café, and shop for it online. (Audubon sells its own Premium Shade Grown Coffee.)
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