Important Reasons to Go Organic

Here's a good article from Rodale about reasons to eat organic. Number 2 is particularly compelling. It talks about glyphosate, a chemical permeating our water and soil. See if it doesn't convince you to eat organic foods as much as possible. 7 Surprising Reasons to Go Organic.

Small Space Spring Gardening Idea

This great idea for small (or large) space gardening was making the rounds on Facebook courtesy of

The Backyard Diva
Here's her description:
 "Got Pallets?
Hate weeding?
Don't feel like turning up a bunch of grass?
Use a pallet as a garden bed - staple garden cloth on the backside of the pallet fill with dirt and start growing!
You can also place your pallet on the ground in a rocky location rather than a grassy area, this way you will not need the garden cloth to stop the weeds and grass coming through. Please be advised: Use raw wood pallets!
Some that are shipped overseas may contain chemicals. Where I am from most are from raw wood - not saying that everywhere is!
And for those of you that don't know where to get pallets - look in industrial areas, hardware stores etc.
Please if you have any questions - there are many links below and so much information provided by every one and their comments!
This was just an idea - some inspiration for everyone."
If you like gardening ideas you'll enjoy her page, she also has a website brewing, currently under construction at www.backyarddiva.ca

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's how I minimize my weeding!

(you can click on the pic. to see more)

Increase Your Health with Spices

Going back a couple of years I reviewed a book called Secrets from a Healthy Asian Kitchen.
This book  advocated  making foods healthier by substituting ingredients such as green tea for water when cooking. I loved the simplicity of the idea.

In recent months I've started adding another health enhancing trick to my repertoire.  I am adding healing spices to many of the foods I eat. My mainstay is turmeric which helps fight against the development of tumors; when coupled with pepper turmeric is said to be especially potent.When I add these two spices to things like my homemade salad dressing on a regular basis I know I'm adding a little more health insurance to my food.

Here are some other spices that are being shown to help your body:

Rosemary - The carnosic acid found in rosemary has been shown to reduce stroke risk in mice by 40 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry. It can also protect against degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and the general effects of aging.

Cinnamon, turmeric, basil, oregano, thyme, and sage can all protect your brain from inflammation, according to neurologist Eric Braverman, M.D., a clinical assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medical College.  Dr. Braverman recommends  3 to 7 teaspoons of any combination of these spices each day. I always include basil when I'm having tomatoes, such as in a salad or a sandwich.

Cinnamon also helps the body process sugar. It's natural compounds improve insulin function lowering blood sugar with as little as 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon a day. It has also been found to help cut triglycerides and total cholesterol levels.

Oregano and cinnamon both have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Oregano oil is available in a tincture as well and is often used as a bacterial fighter.

Cilantro enhances the bodies ability to detoxify heavy metals. Since I have a history of high levels of lead and mercury in my system I regularly eat cilantro, it's also available in a tincture. After first taking chlorella to protect the stomach from the metals that it may pull from your body cilantro is good to take before getting a massage, using a sauna or participating in other activities that make you sweat or get your lymph working. It will enhance the detoxifying effects of these activities. It is also a digestive aid and is used as a tea to calm diarrhea.

Speaking of detoxing, last spring I did the 21 day Clean protocol recommended by Dr. Alejandro Junger. According to Dr. Junger the body needs 12 hours after it's last meal of the day to fully detox for the next day. He recommends a 12 hour window overnight before you eat the next day. I thought that sounded pretty interesting and matched my tendency to get hungry about 12 hours after my last evenings meal. I've found I feel much better on days when I follow that guideline. I recommend the Clean experience, particularly if you suspect you have food allergies. The Clean "diet" is a great way to identify foods you're sensitive too and it has a great Clean support site on the web. The site includes a lit of healthy recipes too!

The book is available here Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body's Natural Ability to Heal Itself

There are plenty of  books on healing spices available if I've piqued your interest. I love simple tricks to increase my chances of living a long healthy life, and this is certainly one of them!

One Small Step

This is a great representation of what a big difference one simple step toward sustainability can make. I collect statistics (because I'm terrible at remembering them) and I recently came across this one from The Natural Resources Defense Council.

If every US household replaced just one roll of virgin-fiber paper towels with one that's 100% recycled,  it would save 544,000 trees. Amazing isn't it?

Amazing Skin Care

You know that feeling when you wash your face and it feels perfect? I’ve found a wonderful skin care line, my favorite to date, and it all started with ilike’s Nettle Exfoliating Wash. The wash leaves my face feeling great, not dry and tight, not filmy or like it needs another washing.

The ilike (pronounced ehleeky) skin care line, from Szep Elet, is made with certified organic ingredients and it shows. The natural scents in the products I’ve tried so far are mild and pleasant (and I tend to be sensitive to fragrances) and the texture of the products feel, well, smooth and natural. Even the exfoliating wash is so gentle it feels smooth on the skin.

The line originated in Hungary with Ilike Molnar whose grandmother, the village herbalist, taught her to use the natural fruits and herbs around her to create products to support the skin.

They have an extensive line of products for different kinds of skin. They also have tempting treats like a Yogurt Power Peel, Yarrow Oil and a Firming Grapeseed Body Lotion.

Their brochure says “you will instantly notice the difference between ilike and other skin care lines”, and that’s no line. I could tell the difference right away, and as you know I’ve tried quite a few brands of natural cosmetics.

If you’re looking for a line of truly organic products I highly suggest looking into ilike. While the cost is moderately high, the things I’ve tried so far go a long way. For example, when added to water in the palm as recommended, the Nettle Exfoliating Wash only requires a few drops to wash the whole face. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re using completely natural products that are effective on your skin. 

To find ilike products near you call 1-888-290-6238 to find the nearest location offering them, or you can get them from several on-line skin care companies by googling ilike skin products.