Green Hammy Farming and Gardening Blog

Commercial Intrusion Upon the Green and the Blue Communities - Japan

2012-02-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons I moved here, to Japan's rural and suburban area, is because the place is generally surrounded by family owned farms. If not farms, almost everyone has an edible garden. Or at least this was true for the better part of twelve years.

Suddenly, pop!--another ancestral home is plucked out of the ground, run down and recycled elsewhere. In its place?--A highway, a mall, a sky high apartment building.

There area many things which already do not work well here. Kitchen fans designed to take smoke up a stack instead bring in the elements from outside the home. Walls that should have been designed to keep out the cold and the moisture only welcome illness. In a nutshell, we're ignorantly poor no matter how much technology the Japanese enamel the exterior. And this is the key word: "exterior".

The outerside of things is what matters to Japanese. This of course is a serious problem, as one cannot resolve a problem if one is unwilling to address it in the first place.

Presently, it seems that companies are taking lessons from the west, and building up more commercial real estate in parts of Japan which do NOT need such constructs. They're building it all over land which could be used to feed people, put up wind mills (we get a good amount of wind here), or set some man-made lakes filled with fish (we've a problem w/ fishing, because the availability of fish; requires such regulations, it is not worth paying the price to have a fishing license... every catch is measured, very narrow options here!!!).

While I ordinarily do not do this, I see that sometimes we have to admit when we are concerned--albeit, damn right angry. Anger is a sense of a loss of control, and that is exactly what I think people should be feeling right now in many parts of the world.

Solution? I will add relevent and worthy links here at a future time, as I come across new and noteworthy ideas to solve these problems. Right now, however, it looks like we need to practically be our own plumbers, farmers, cooks, dentists,... and the list goes on! It is the time of incompetence in our society(s).

What we really have in the world right now are populations of people who still don't understand that politicians belong right next to Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy!!!!

Take-Out Without the Garbage?

2012-02-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

We've run three classes and events for a day. Now we're tired--and hungry!

What gets me most is take-outs; you know, like Chinese take-out, grocery store pre-made food, and so on. In Japan, however, we get our containers back to the store after using them. Still, a good deal of energy is burned just to make these containers, clean them, and--well, we might as well just bring a plate with us to the store. But, Daryl Hannah had this better idea... a stainless steel pot, no leak, no bacteria, take w/ you wherever you go kind of pot. (Gee, that was a long sentence!).

So, I'm off to get one for me and mine. It may not be the solution to all our needs, but it is something everyone can do to save a little paper and stop all that plastic from piling up. Right? Are you with me?

Resources:
DHLove's page on Everyday Essentials

Edible Garden

2012-01-29T21:30:00.000-08:00

Edible Garden is a web site and forum for collaborating with other gardeners. Chat, leave posts in the forums, and find anything from gardening basics to mouth watering recipes.

Fellow gardeners and hobby farmers can join this network to talk with experts or fellow start-up farmers/gardeners. Eat what you grow, and love it. Here's a farming adventure you won't regret joining--I will see you there!

Theediblegarden.com

Solar Panel Videos Resource

2011-12-24T05:43:00.001-08:00

Hello readers! Aside from transporting some onions at the last minute the other day, we've been looking into solar panels. Actually, you may have been thinking of making your own solar panels. And why not?

Here's a good video detailing the cleaning and soldering of the individual solar cells. The volume is a bit low on this video, but this gentleman did one of the best jobs I've seen on video.

If you don't know where to purchase the parts for solar panels, you may want to read this book: Earth4Energy.

Best wishes!

There Goes an Idea

2011-10-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

Looks like my idea for a balloon shape shelter (floating shelter) has been used in Japan. It is good, but would be nice to get a link back to my post. The concept was, I admit, something I thought of long before the tsunami struck Fukushima in March of 2011. Originally, I thought the idea could be applied to other disasters than floods and tidal waves, such as hurricanes or sudden emergencies, like an airline ripping apart, and the balloon capsule would be mounted to the underside of the seats, providing some means of protective armor, and a chute. When I realized that a man had once failed to open his chute while sky diving, and yet he bounced off the ground and lived, I thought a giant bouncing ball would be an excellent design for aerial emergencies. I later posted about using the same concept for tsunamis. The area I failed in was specifying the design.

Survival Farming... What to Know in Regard to Disaster

2011-10-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

"[...]this basic information will help you realize just how much effort is entailed in raising sufficient amounts of food with limited or no machinery to assist." This statement takes the words right out of my mouth. Effort required and a minus in machinery is the big question Green Hammy tried to answer on Blogger.

The quote/ statement was taken from a post on survival blog.com. I do have one concern. Raising food for animals tends to be a problem when we are considering large animals. Much of what we feed to large animals could be fed to us instead. Large amounts of land are required to feed bigger animals. Chickens are cool, and they can find much of their own food on their own I have heard. (I've never raised chickens personally, unless my pet rooster counts).

My other concern is that global disasters could be so horrific that there will be no farmlands left standing. So, in effect, what we really needed before disaster hit the economy, and tsunamis strike down coastlines, and earthquakes shatter continents, floods and so on, is a solid leadership in our nations (not from government, but from strong thinkers, independent thinkers, and people with knowledge to come together with a survival plan).

Much time could be saved if whole communities freeze dried food now, together at events, rally's or whatever one wishes to call such meetings and gatherings. Seeds would ideally be cultivated. Maybe you could call the gathering "hope for others", those who may survive. Every bag you stuff and fill with seeds, and every container of freeze dried food, you would know that someone was going to be real thankful you did all that work for them.

Anyway, here's a good start on the farming side...
http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/10/homestead_food_production_by_m.html

Just Add Water and Meal's Served!

2011-10-17T02:55:00.000-07:00

It takes a couple to a few years to really know what seeds will work in your soil. This is widely said, but as I've personally have tested neglected land for farming, I think there is a lot more hope than gloom. Of course there are certain factors which were favorable to the land we rehabilitated. One was the moisture level in Japan (good for the vermin and crawlies like centipedes who make soil good for growing food). Another benefactor was the land had once long ago (thirty or more years prior to it being turned into a dump so people could avoid paying garbage fees--they're not allowed to burn trash, so dumping was their solution) was the fields had been used to grow rice.

In any event, you may not have these same benefactors in your area, particularly places which were once concreted over. If you need to stock up on food for some years, the following site sells dried meals which can be stored for 25 year shelf life, among other goods.

Go here http://beprepared.com/category.asp?c=62&sid=jrsblogn

Or visit http://beprepared.com for other products. Think ahead, this who can afford to do so. Still looking for deals like this in Japan. Not many good ones yet, but will post these as well for those living in Japan.

Survival of the Most Prepared

2011-10-16T23:11:00.000-07:00

We live in uncertain times... economy is crashing, the oceans are reclaiming the coastlines, and just about every thing that could go wrong will. It's only a question of "when", not "if". To prepare for these times you'll need to know your neighbors, get out of urban areas if and when you can, and learn vital skills for medical, first aid, cooking, farming, and myriad other trades.

Please visit SURVIVAL BLOG for preparedness in times of uncertainty. You can be certain of one thing--you won't regret being prepared, but you will regret not reading this blog!

Or paste into your browser:
http://survivalblog.com

Solar Window this Week

2011-10-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

Keep in mind this week and part of next week has our planet in line with possible mass coronal projection from the sun. The same side of the sun which fired a mass of solar flares from its backside a little while ago is now facing the earth. We are hoping the sun will be mellow, for lack of better words, during this week. You may notice that it is hotter than it should be on this lovely fall afternoon, depending on where you live.

Use extra shades or covers for sensitive plants.

Soda Killer

2011-08-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

Hello, folks!

Probably one of the more difficult things to overcome in modern diet is... soda. Canned cola, diet coke, fruity soda-pop, and so on, is something better suited for eating the rust off of your skateboard's rusty barrings. Seriously, my stomach has never felt better since reducing that awfully addictive soda pop.

Diet cola is by far one of the worst drinks, and one of the extremely difficult habits to overcome. I recall the first day I went entirely without any diet soda, and what I experienced was nearly coming to tears--I mean I couldn't sleep without that diet coke nightcap!

Do not despair! For there is a solution--my soda killer! Simply, start your reduction in soda reliance, and you'll reduce your addiction down to near zero.

Consider the following:

Discontinue associating cola, diet soda, and fruity soda pops with meals. Instead, drink a large glass of ice water with chopped lemons (cinnamon is also a great detoxification remedy! So, throw some cinnamon sticks in there if you like or powdered cinnamon in your coffee/tea).
Drink soda as if it were wine. Take only small sips in the morning if you need that wake up routine to get started for work. Or take a small amount (about a third of a can of soda) before bed.
Eat smaller meals. Get used to going about your day on a lighter tummy. One of the addictions of diet cola is that feeling of gratification that comes from having a full stomach.

Some common pains associated with diet cola and soda beverages include:

Leg cramps (no direct medical evidence, but I'm not the only one with this complaint [Coast to Coast AM radio's guest speaker discusses this topic--I'll get her name here when I do revisions to this blog])
Stabbing pains in the stomach
Shakiness in the arms or hands
Dehydration
Rotting gums and teeth (over time)--and terrible breath
Burning stomach

I'm sure the list of pains associated with diet cola can be extended, but any kind of soda is simply bad for your health.

Now, I'm not saying that we should all become health nuts. Besides, what is life without a little risk or a little fun? I'm telling my readers to watch their reliance and addiction to substances, particularly processed foods and beverages. Taking a little soda at a time is probably not so harmful. Many of us have strong immune systems, and yet some of us have weaker immune systems. It depends on your genes, habits, life style, and immune system; how much your body can tolerate processed foods and beverages, like diet coke, pepsi cola, or any other kind of soda pop. Drink in small amounts. Watch your dependency. Disassociate meals with soda and soft drinks.

Relevant reading on soft drinks:

Homes of the Green Frontier

2011-08-09T18:00:00.000-07:00

Picture from http://www.impactlab.net/2008/08/10/japans-styrofoam-dome-homes/

These are the homes of the green frontier... Or at least we are getting closer to what people actually need in today's modern world of turmoil and famine. Dome houses in Japan are homes made from a foam which is made very dense, fire resistant, and possibly earthquake and tsunami resistant. The latter is debatable because the height is still low to the ground, however the round perimeter of the house structure (being a dome) does not put up a resistance against water hitting it in the form of a wave. Instead the wave is more likely to wrap around the circular structure of the dome house.

In the videos I've reviewed on Fukushima's tsunami (actually a tsunami is a debatable word, but such an argument is out of the scope of this article), I noticed most smashed up buildings were flat or angular to the waves hitting. Possibly these Japanese dome houses are a gift of science and engineering to the modern man trying to survive in all of nature's rage (our sun is causing a lot of imbalance in the earth rout now). Anyway, have a look at these Japanese Dome Houses.

These homes are made of a dense polyestrine. No toxic chemicals are purportedly emitted from this material in the event of a fire. They're typhoon resistant. There's a lot already said for these dome houses. One of my green approvals for this home is its efficient use of cooling, which is the result of a circular and open area inside the home, allowing air flow to circulate naturally. It also stays warm during the winter, and many come with a nice sky window--a nice feature in and of itself in the center of this circular chamber.

On a personal note, the summer time here in Japan is terrible... people are terrible, swarms of insects, and humidity is god awful. Some proper use of technology makes all the difference. I welcome dome houses as a means to resolving cramped quarters, energy costs, and disaster preparedness. Give me a governor with a better idea!

Related (Note: probably not going to find a polyesterine design in books yet):

Downtown Gardens in Hiroshima Japan

2011-07-07T23:17:00.000-07:00

Just browsing gardens downtown in Hiroshima, Japan. Amazing that in the midst of all this glorious concrete there exists patches of super gardens--farms squeezed into a relatively small area. Solar power in some corners, but not the most popular power source for irrigation systems here. In fact, solar power tends to be used primarily for bath water in older built homes.

*The best way to stave off hunger, chaos, and poor morale is to be a proactive green-doer! (stop the hunger before the zombies come knocking on YOUR front door!).

Resourceful books and other materials for urban farmers:
Urban Farming: Sustainable City Living in Your Backyard, in Your Community, and in the World
Rain Bird GRDNER-KIT Landscape Dripline System Gardener-Foots Drip Starter Kit
Radiation Alert MONITOR4 Analog-Based Ionizing Radiation Detector
Hitachi 728023-1/4-Inch Diamond Core Bit with Water Cooling System
Orbit 67500 50-Piece Micro Sprinkler Assortment Kit
1" 6 Valve Manifold Setup for Irrigation System - Weathermatic N-100F Valves Included

Again, the best way to stave off hunger, chaos, and poor morale is to be a proactive green-doer! (stop the hunger before the zombies come knocking on YOUR front door!).

The Indoor Secret Garden

2011-05-18T08:21:00.001-07:00

Thought we'd post this picture for our indoor garden, although it really isn't much of a secret, it is pleasantly apart from all the outside noise. Say, in fact it is a retreat in its own rite. All you need to do is rack them up (that's setting up shelves and stacking plants in them), then seal off the area from the rest of your room (unless the room is reconfigured for a garden). Floor-to-ceiling laundry poles are installed to create reinforced racks and curtains (I'll get some photos once the room looks a little nicer). Foil surface/ reflective surface foam boards can be installed to insulate or keep heat/cold on one side of the garden, or to keep the room cool and the garden warm through the winter.

Amidst redecorating my author's den for the warmer season in Japan, it became clear that I'd prefer to do far less outdoors than I used to. So, the garden came inside. And with it, all of nature's little pests (I don't recommend any chemicals for pests, as you will be eating those chemicals when you reap your harvests. Instead, try an electronic repeller, and implement this into your battery system or solar powered apparatus).

While redecorating the room, I had to compromise some of my personal taste for functionality. There's only a certain direction of breeze that comes in through this room, and so I had to put distance between some things and get the room a bit more circular and clear at the center for air to filter throughout the room.

My partner stacked a number of plants that have done mostly well, but many were unable to handle the unexpected temperature changes we've recently experienced. This is where solar powered equipment comes in handy (for running things like heater, LED's, or even a cooling fan in harshest conditions). Particularly useful are these appliances in homes that are not built for withstanding temperatures or rough seasons (climate changes can be a real downer not just for people, but also for your plants).

By and large, LED's use less energy. (This is a good thing for those of us living in Japan, because electric bills have gone up about 10 yen in our area after the Tsunami ruined the nuclear power plants at Fukushima). Use LED bulbs in the garden if your plants are unable to get enough light during the day. I also install mirrors to redirect light into hard to reach areas of the garden. As I stated already--use foil surface/ reflective surfaced foam boards (the ones you take to maybe the beach or a picnic/ BBQ) to keep temperatures. Use a thermometer to check temperatures around more sensitive plants or new crops.

Regarding LED's, my partner hangs them on a coat hanger with clips. This is ideal for getting around areas where some plants need more light. Yet, a rotation panel on the ground can also aid in rotating the direction of plants to face a window (a glass ceiling is ultimately ideal for indoor gardens, but not everyone can have that--I certainly do not.).

See Resources below for some ideas to help create/ maintain your perfect indoor garden conditions.

Resources:
(LED's)

Brightest MR11 12 Volt AC DC 10 5050 SMD LED Bulb Wide Angle 160 Lumen 2.1 Watt, white, 1113WH (wide angle/ 12V might cover more area. The brighter the bulb, the further back from your plants you want it--just to be on the safe side).
GE 62180 9-Watt LED Soft White A19 Light Bulb
MR16 Bi-Pin (GU5.3)LED Spot Light Bulb with High Power 3x1 Watt For Track Light, Landscaping 20 Watt Halogen Replacement, white, 1230WH (Powerful spotlight for areas in the country where you don't get much sunlight coming in the home).
Hanging Solar Garden Light - Cornet Shaped Solar Light, Solar Tree Lighting, Set of 3 Lights
The Light Garden WLWB60 Lighted Willow Branch with 60 Bulbs, 20-Inch Tall (Just for a little decoration if you plan on maybe having tea or a romantic glass of wine in your private indoor garden--why not? Dec it out. It's your palace!).

(Pest relevant)

(Solar relevant)

Solar Controllers

Sunforce 7 Amp Charge Controller

Heat/Cool

Sunpentown SH1508 Ceramic Heater with Digital Thermostat and LCD Display
Orbit 20066 Portable 1/4-Inch Outdoor Mist Cooling System (Note: Orbit intended for outdoor use, but DIY buffs might find it useful for indoor reconfiguration projects, or indoor sealed off secret gardens)
SPT SF-608R Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
Koolatron P95 Travel Saver Cooler 45-Quart, Light Grey (Portable Storage Cooler, might be useful for keeping fresh bell peppers or cucumbers a few hours before serving a picnic in your extravagant, but secret garden room--I might add an Italian coffee table right next to my garden, but I'm still considering this arrangement myself)
Frigidaire Dehumidifier, 70-Pint Capacity, FAD704TDP A must have for those of us living in Japan. I have two units upstairs for my plants, plus one ice powered cooling fan, and two heaters for the winter.
Eva-dry EDV-E-500 Renewable Wireless Mini Dehumidifer A miniature version dehumidifier for select areas if you section off your garden with compartments (be creative, overcome obstacles).

New Books this Month... RPG, Science Fiction, and Fantasy History to Look Forward to!

2011-05-03T23:22:00.001-07:00

Hobbyists, and DIY role-playing game avengers, please see my post on 9portals.blogspot.com for the new books coming to 9portals.com and Amazon.

Video Bio Diesel DHlovelife

2011-05-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

It is really good to see a familiar face still active in the public eye. A celebrity of sweetness and quality, Daryl Hannah takes on real environmental issues. Please watch Daryl Hannah's video on Bio Diesel.#Green #Blue

Indoor Secret Garden Update by Thomas P. Walton

2011-04-27T04:19:00.000-07:00

Our indoor farming is working rather well. We've got all those wonderful herbs growing, including a wonderful aroma of thyme. Lettuce is a bit sensitive, and lots of light is needed. We're going to head out and get some LED's and panels for solar powering the secret garden.

Potatoes are growing surprisingly well in their containers. Everything looks great! The brussel sprouts, as my partner tells me, cannot be harvested the first year.

We've organized the vessels and railing for the plants to get as much sun as possible during sun rise, all the way until just an hour before sunset. Hope we can eventually get the roof working for more gardening. We'll keep you posted!

Other shout outs!!!
BTW: Excited to let you all know that our new role-playing game and fantasy-adventure books were added to the Nine Portals game site... 9portals.com/bookstore. PDF format on all ebooks at this time. That means read 'em on any computer eReader. There's a small number of DIY/How-to's coming along, and a few books on gothic sci-fi and occult fiction. Hope you'll visit us there, too : )

Internal Power of Body Temperature to Overcome Neck Pain, Tiredness, and Weak Stomach

2011-03-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

Description
Can't handle coffee in the morning? Have a weak stomach? Do you feel tired too often? Do you get up in the morning or go to bed with neck pain? Are you a smoker? This article dives into how you can overcome many of the health issues that arise from low body temperature and a weak stomach.

Stomach
The pit of the stomach is your body's oven. A lot of problems with neck, back, and stomach weakness can be rectified with daily practice of a simple breathing technique in the morning, before meals, and before bed.

Morning
Before you get up from bed, slightly bend your knees to shoulder level. Remain in the laying down position. Place your hands on your stomach, and breathe. After a few breaths, exhale all of the air in your lungs. To do this, press on your stomach gently with your hands. Push all the air out. You must take at least 20 seconds to exhale your breath. Practice this technique ten times in the morning.

After you get up from bed, stand up straight with shoulders back. Now, drop your shoulders down and hold the tension. Stretch your hands down. Make your fingers stretch down as well. Open your mouth all the way, but without forcing tension in the jaw. Hold this position for 3 seconds (count slowly to three). Release the tension, then repeat the exercise ten times. At first, you may feel a little out of breath, especially if you've never done deep breathing before (or if you smoke).

When you're done with this exercise, you should feel heat at the back of your neck. Your body temperature will rise a bit, and the circulation in your neck will remove neck pain. Keep in mind, however, that it takes a couple of months before you start to really feel the benefits of these techniques. If you feel pain while performing these exercises, then stop immediately. Consult a physician if pain continues.

Meal Times
Before eating, practice the stomach breathing technique. Sit in a chair, or stand up. Take a normal breath. Now, breathe through only the stomach, and exhale. When you're ready, take a deeper breath, and then place your hands on your stomach. Exhale your breath while counting in your mind (or set a timer) for 20 seconds. Push the air out with your hands.

Often, you'll feel like you've exhaled your entire breath, but if you press on your abdomen with your hands you will discover more air trapped at the base of your lungs. This is toxic air that you need to remove.

Repeat the 20 second count about 10 times before eating.

Bed Time
Before bed, do the same breathing technique laying down. After reaching the tenth cycle of exhalation, relax your body.

Now, inhale deeply, clentch your fists, tighten your legs, abs, chest, and the muscles in your face. Hold your breath for 30 seconds. Upon exhalation release all your muscle tension, and imagine yourself falling through the bed like a brick. You'll wake up in the morning with less tension.

Headaches Defined and Reduced

2011-03-16T05:58:00.000-07:00

Do you suffer from bad headaches? Or perhaps there is someone you know who does.
This article addresses the symptoms, their causes, and cures.
Read on to learn what you can do to identify the cause of your headaches, so that you will be better able to cure yourself.

Headache Symptoms
Typically, your head will feel like someone is squeezing it. Other symptoms include a sensation of cracks all over your skull, intense pounding, a stabbing sensation, and so on.

There are two main types of headaches: Tension and temperature. Tension headaches can be externally caused by activities such as lifting weights above your head or over excerting yourself at work. However, there are some causes for tension headaches which are internal. Temperature headaches, however, are related to differential temperatures between the hands, feet, and head.

Cause 1
Poor circulation and temperature differences in different parts of the body are common contributors.

Solution 1
Before you reach for the Aspirin or Tylenol, try dipping your hands in warm water. This will draw the blood away from your head. Often, the difference between the temperature of your hands and your head are the real causes of headache pain. These types of headaches can also arise from blood pressure changes and poor circulation in the hands. In mystic teachings, the hands are associated with the heart center. In yoga there are some exercises for the hands to open the heart and circulate vitality. Although it is a bit beyond the scope of this article, yoga is an excellent alternative to over the counter drugs (Just be careful with your back when doing yoga, as some postures are not for everyone).

Cause 2
Tension! Yes, some headaches are tension headaches. You get tense at work, and sometimes around friends and family. This emotional stress results in muscle tension, and ultimately can cause additional stress on the body's nervous system.

Solution 2
First, remove unnecessary emotional stress. If you don't need to be doing something extraneous, then stop doing it. Secondly, rest your eyes (particularly if you work at a computer all day). Relax your neck and your hands. Breathe. You may notice that when you are stressed that you will tend to hold your breath. This is not good. Make a conscious effort to revitalize your blood with oxygen by breathing. Another cause of tension headaches is teeth grinding, for which you should see a dentist or purchase the Doctor's Night Guard (a plastic mouth container to prevent teeth grinding). Teeth grinding may also be associated with TMJ, which is a tightening of the jaw. In any event, please see a dentist if you have jaw problems or teeth grinding.

Cause 3
The headaches come from exposure to the elements, such as cold or icy wind.

Solution 3
Wear something to cover your head. A beanie will keep your skull and ears warm. This will reduce most headaches.

Cause 4
Neck and back issues will eventually lead to painful headaches. If you played football in highschool or college, you are likely to feel the after effects later on in life. Any extreme sports or personal injuries, particularly to the head or spine, will result in headaches. Sometimes, the problem with nech and back pain causing headaches is due to genetics. Some people have back pains and headaches that come from no fault of their own, but have been passed down from generation to generation. A doctor may be able to prescribe something for the pain, but the headaches will likely continue for the rest of your life.

Solution 4
Do less physical work. Watch your posture. See a doctor frequently. Have your back or neck X-rayed. Serious conditions in the neck may require an MRI scan at a hospital. Make sure that you take calcium supplements, because these types of injuries may lead to quicker deteriation of the bones.

Cause 5
Diet is often a cause of headaches and all kinds of pain. Too much salty food, such as soda, or coffee can cause mild to severe headaches.

Solution 5
Find alternatives for the foods and beverages which cause you headaches. For example, eat a smaller hamburger.

When eating fast food, ask for less salt on your french fries (or make your own at home). Replace two out of three sodas with a couple of ice-teas (Not the canned or bottled iced tea. You need to make your own if you want to avoid the preservatives which cause headaches).

Measure your foods and beverages if your headaches are a problem right after eating. Too much food at one sitting is going to cause some people to feel dizzy, and headaches in others.

Headache cures and remedies are all about management of our daily activities. I know that it doesn't sound like much fun to micro-manage your health, but headaches aren't much fun either. You do not have to join a gym just because you have headaches, or become a vegetarian. Just use common sense when managing your diet.

Reduce Tiredness and Fatigue

2011-03-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

DESCRIPTION
Get up in the morning, feel tired, and drink coffee. This course of action often leads to fatigue later on. What you can do is get off the coffee, the over-the-counter medications, and start taking control of daily tiredness and fatigue.

Coffee
Coffee helps stimulate the defenses and boosts the immune system. However, it also wrecks your stomach and nervous system. The trick is to put some distance between the days you do drink coffee and the days that you do not. In other words, don't drink coffee too regularly.

Cure for Tiredness and Fatigue
Breathing is the science of ancient India. What an ancient science in Hindu has to do with your morning tiredness is very simple. Your nose brings in air from the outside, as you already know. What you probably do not know is that each nostril passage slightly closes or opens alternately throughout the day. This opening/ closing of the nostril passages serves to stimulate or calm the body.

To wake up fresh, you must first sleep well. Take your hand and press the pinky and the finger next to it to your right nostril. Close that nostril all the way. Breathe only through the left side of your nose. As you lay down, turn on your right side and press your right nostril against the pillow. Breathe only through your left nostril. You will fall asleep and you will dream less loudly.

When you get up in the morning, press your pinky and the finger next to it against your left nostril. Close that nostril all the way. Breathe only through your right nostril. Take slow, deep breaths. Continue to do this until you feel as if you've just had yourself an oxygen breakfast. Your head will feel less heavy. You will have brighter eyes. Your morning temperament will be brighter.

Continue to do this every day, and you will notice that you have more energy throughout the week.

Harvest Potatoes, Save Money, and Eat for Months

2011-03-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Description:
Growing potatoes takes time, but you'll reap the benefits of having your own food sooner than you think. The amount of potatoes you grow can be a significant return on your invested time, and you'll save money in the long run by not hitting the grocery store so often.

Planting
We planted our potato garden around June, and the harvest came in July. The soil was terrible, and we thought that nothing would grow there. We were wrong to dispair, and right to keep at it.

Here's what you do to start your potato garden:

   1. Place a mature potato in the ground.
   2. Cover it with dirt.
   3. Wait for the potato garden to grow.

Before you start digging up your potato harvest, you have to learn how to tell when is the proper time to uplift the soil.

The first sign of harvest is when the potato plant looks like it is decaying. This is the time to start digging. Be careful, and dig gently. Break the surface of the dirt open with your gardening/ hand shovel. Dig the rest of the dirt with you hands.

In the picture above is what we harvested in a small space in the garden. The area these potatoes grew in is no bigger than 5 feet in length, and about a foot or more in width.

Keep Potatoes Fresh for Months
Potato harvesting may not look as pretty as the ones in the store (We didn't use any pesticides on ours), but all you have to do is clean the potatoes, and then cut off the parts that are too black or infected. Boil them, mash them, or chop them up however you like. The reward is enormous! For example, we planted our potatoes in Jun, and the potatoes we harvested about a month ago are still being eaten without having any more harvest.

To keep your potatoes fresh, just stick them in a paper bag (Do not clean them, as this will cause them to decay faster), and then fold the bag closed. That's it. You now have food you can eat for months (even in a bad economy).

Donate or Join a Group to End World Starvation

2011-03-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

One of my twitter followers sent me this link (http://www.heifer.org). If you want to support a good cause, like ending needless starvation, and promote education to those people who ordinarily don't have a chance to get one, then you'll love Heifer. Go on. Check 'em out. Donate, volunteer, work, support the end of world starvation.

Related Resources:

Raising Goats for Milk and Meat (A Heifer Project International Training Course)

Global Education Resource Kit, For Pre-K and K (Contains: Lesson Plans, Action Ideas, Video Documentaries, Field Trip Opportunities)

Heifer Project International Cook Book (California)

Tsunami Hits Japan, and Food Price is Likely to Sky Rocket

2011-03-11T23:27:00.000-08:00

*A tsunami hit Japan the other day. Likely our food prices will skyrocket now. Actually, everything.

Some of you who've followed this author's blog may have been wondering how we've fared since the tsunami hit Japan yesterday. We weren't hit in our area, but those in the north-eastern part of Japan were severely struck by a surge of water. The height of the water surge was reportedly 23', and swept inland, wrecking everything in sight. Many have been injured, and a great number of people are missing or have been reported as dead.

As Japan will now be facing food and power shortages, it's a good time to remind the world's gardening folks to bring food sustainability to the next level. Urban! We can grow just about anything in the city, and we might as well start now. I think that the tradition, long standing, of waiting for big brother or big sister to pull us out of the doldrums is extremely narrow minded. Let's try--shall we?--putting our wits and our might to the task of supporting ourselves w/ food, energy, and a roof over every head. Learn and put it to use...

Books & Resources

Unstable, Unpredictable Weather and Saving Your Plants

2011-03-11T23:13:00.000-08:00

Some people will throw their hands up in the air when the weather destroys their veggie gardens (for big farmers, I sympathize with you, sincerely, as I have lost many plants myself). But, for our average person who wishes to reduce his/ her grocery expenses by growing food around the home, the problem of weather and harmful sun bursts is not an end game scenario. You can and should do something about it. That's what self-sustaining and green thinking is all about anyway--being a 'doer', being 'proactive', and getting done what you need done.

Protect your plants from unstable weather as I do.

We brought our plants (as many as we could fit) from the old farms to our brick house in the suburbs. (It's quite some distance, but our plants have survived. In fact, it's funny, but the next generation of plants seem to always do better at roughing it out a bit more. Well, sometimes, but I digress.).

My partner and I set up a good pair of plant cages in the highest floor of our building (industrial style buildings can make really great home conversions). Here, the plants can receive a good deal of light from the bigger windows up there. We can also shield plants using vinyls, wax papers, curtains, and a variety of other easy to find materials (there's no need to spend tons of money on high tech stuff for these simple veggie gigs).

The next step I'm going to take is to try an experiment of wrapping a stitched blanket of wool + steel wool around the plant cage at night. The point is to reduce the cost of purchasing a heater. I've also read about vital energies associated with the use of such materials, and I'm aching to try it out.

An usually good benefit of growing plants inside the home is being able to play a radio w/ classical music near the plants during rough storms (we get some really big ones here in Hiroshima, and sounds like canons firing from a battleship). I know it sounds silly to us modernists, but I actually go upstairs and thank my plants for their produce and wish them well. It seems to work.

Starter kits:

Indoor Culinary Herb Garden Starter Kit- Start Growing Fresh Cooking Herbs & Spices- Great Gift Idea!- Seeds: Parsley, Thyme, Cilantro, Basil, Dill, Oregano, Sweet Marjoram, Chives, Savory, Garlic Chives, Mustard, Sage
AeroGarden 2101-00B Classic Garden 7-Pod With Gourmet Herb Seed Kit - Black
Trademark Tools 75-1207 7-in-1 Plant Care Garden Tool Set, Indoor and Outdoor
DuneCraft Dome Terrariums - Herbs
Chia Gourmet Herb Garden

Sage

2010-12-17T23:11:00.000-08:00

I didn't know we could do it, but we're growing sage in this cold weather. Sage is something that I had presumed only grew well in warm climates. It's true that it flowers in warmer temperature, but the plants are surviving the cold. Well, not all of the plants are doing too well.

Some of the plants are just falling apart. These dried plant viscera are laid out to further dry (1-3 weeks). I use the dried sage for homemade incense, and as a tea.

Here are some solutions for those who don't want to grow the sage the bare bones way:

Place sage in a miniature green house
Place sage near a window or outdoors in warmer climates/ seasons

To dry full lengths of sage branches, tie the ends of the stems together. Divide the foliage so that each plant is separate from the other. Hang the sage along a horizontally strung string or over a horizontal rod to dry.

For a sage wand, you'll need lots of sage. More on this craft later.

Clearing it Up at Area 4

2010-12-01T03:48:00.000-08:00

We went back to the old farm sites and cleared up areas 3 and 4. Wacked all the weeds down, pulled the fences out, tore down the nets, and swept up the whole mess.

We'll be headed back to take out some crops that have survived. Then we'll look at planting them around our home. We will eventually move them all to another farm--ideally, we'll get a green house set up soon.