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Organic Gardening - Notes on Organic Horticulture Organic Gardening Systems

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:16:00 +0000

by The Urban Gardener

Organic horticulture employs the crucial principles of organic agriculture for the successful herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants growing. These principles concern the management of pests in the garden, soil composition and conservation, etc.

General Notes

Mulches, Double Digging, compost, Vermicompost, cover crops, mineral supplements and manures are the main constituents of the soil mixture in this kind of gardening in contrast to the commercial farming. Organic horticulture expects to minimize the risk of insects, fungi, and diseases development with the help of maintaining the high quality of the soil. Nonetheless, sometimes it is still necessary to use insecticidal soaps and sprays, pheromone traps, or other pest-control means, created especially for organic farmers.

Experts define five fields of horticulture:

- olericulture, which stands for the production and marketing of vegetables;

- pomology that means the production and marketing of fruits;

- floriculture, which is the production and marketing of floral crops;

- landscape horticulture that includes the production, marketing, and maintenance of landscape plants;

- and finally, post harvest physiology that studies and practices the preservation and maintaining of the quality of horticultural crops

All these areas can utilize the key principles of organic gardening.

Organic horticulture employs the methods and uses data, which have been collected for thousands of years. Generally speaking, this type of gardening is based on the natural, long-term processes and eco-friendly, global approaches, in contrast to horticulture, based on the use of chemicals that speed up the processes and aim at the separate results and reductionist strategies.

Organic gardening systems

There exist various formal organic gardening systems that utilize peculiar methods. They are listed among the general organic standards, but are more specific than them. For example, Rudolf Steiner developed the so-called biodynamic farming. Masanobu Fukuoka, the Japanese writer and farmer, practiced Natural Farming, based on the so-called no-till system for the small-scale production of grain. Finally, intensive and biointensive techniques and SPIN Farming (Small Plot INtensive), developed in France, also belong to the small-scale gardening methods.

A garden in a container or growing box provides healthy, organic, and highly nutritional food. Moreover, it is also the means to share one’s experience, to improve local economy, and to offer better and more sustainable way of living. A small raised bed garden of 32 square feet is capable of supplying tasty, healthy, and organic greens to a family, requiring, at the same time, less water and fewer nutrients if it is based on the postulates of bio-intensive planting and square foot gardening.

In addition, the existing garden can be improved with the help of composting or vermicomposting. These methods allow getting the best organic fertilizers by reusing organic matter, which provides necessary nutrients to the organic garden. Besides, compost and vermicompost are always an easy way to improve the results.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-gardening-general-notes-on-organic-horticulture-organic-gardening-systems-1368400.html

About the Author: My name is Guy. I am the founder and owner of the urbangardenershop.com.au . I fell in love with hydroponics gardening. As time went by I gathered a vast knowledge base and 2 years ago I decided to find a way to make hydroponics gardening a hobby that anyone can peruse. I added a hydroponic gardening information center to our hydroponic supplies site that offers a large range of hydroponics articles. Thank you for your interest and feel free to ask questions on hydroponics gardening in our site

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The Untold Truth About the Food We Eat

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:20:00 +0000

by Henk Mutsaers

Most people die slowly because they forgot to live in harmony with nature. Forgotten that food is our best medicine.

In a world where it is ever so easy to supply everybody with the food they need to live a healthy life, they make us believe genetics are the cause of all those diseases and discomforts. With an, I can't help it mentality, we go to the doctor asking for a miracle pill that will make up for things that we are responsible for our self in the first place. A lack of proper nutrition, a balanced diet, physical activity and steering away from addictions like smoking, sugar and too much alcohol.

However, how many people really know how bad our food chain is at the moment? How many people don't know that most of our foods are produced with fertilizers containing only 11 minerals and trace elements where the full spectrum has 92? How many people have knowledge about the base ~ acid balance? (pH value). How many people do you think heard about the omega 3 ~ 6 balance? How many people really believe that food is the best medicine to cure a disease and preventing them from becoming ill in the first place?

How many times we have been told; "If you eat a balanced diet your body gets everything it needs"? And that, ladies and gentlemen is a big, BIG lie! It's almost impossible to get the minimum amount of essential nutrients for the body to perform well. Ask people about aging and the answer you get will be; "You have to be lucky". When you drive your car without the regular service intervals and you say to yourself; you have to be lucky, that it won't let you down. Silly isn't it? Most people think aging comes with sickness and discomforts. The real reason is however; our immune system is lacking the most essential tools to do the task at hand. Instead of going to the doctor you better start using unprocessed whole food. Instead of giving the responsibility of your personal health to a doctor, you might want to take control of it yourself.

What I see in this world today in the supermarket is a food chain with at the most 20% non-organic whole food. The other 80 percent has a range from non-benefitional to a real danger for your overall health. Some foods get way to much credit to be named food!

What I see at the other side is the pharmaceutical industry that supplies us with medications that you don't need if you know how to take care of your body. When you save money on foods you might end up spending it on the doctors bill.

I see people bring their car regularly to the garage for a (preventive) service check. The same people might be visiting the doctor after the facts.

I think our world isn't meant to be this way, where company profits are far more important than the health of millions of people. The only way to reverse this collective thinking is for all of us to vote with our wallets. You and Me! Buying healthier food and cutting down our health bills. At the same time feeling much better and productive with a positive look to the future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-untold-truth-about-the-food-we-eat-450510.html

About the Author: Helping people to preserve and maintain an optimum health status.

Organic Whole Food Vitamins are the Secret to Optimum Nutrition

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:04:00 +0000

by Terry Schierer

Diet out of wack? No time to eat healthy food? Organic whole food vitamins will give you the optimum nutrition you need to keep running smoothly.

If you're like most people, your schedule is packed and your days are hectic. Healthy meals are often forsaken for the ease of fat-laden fast food and the convenience ingredients found on the shelves of the local supermarket lack many of the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs.

People today are at a higher risk than ever for a number of serious health complications, including several types of life-threatening cancer. The average adult often feels they lack the energy needed to complete their day. Why?

First, commercially produced foods are grown with the aid of pesticides and fertilizers that contain harmful chemicals. Chemical residue is responsible for a number of allergies and illnesses and can absorb the natural nutrient value of the farm soil, resulting in reduced levels of vitamins and minerals in the food.

Further processing of commercial food products detracts even more nutrient value. Most foods contain a very small percentage of the vitamins and minerals they would provide in their natural form. This is detrimental to the human body.

Our bodies require these specific vitamins and minerals for efficient operation, daily endurance, mental stability, and more. To keep the body going strong nutrients are a must for a busy lifestyle.

So, how can you be sure you and your family are getting plenty of protein, disease fighting enzymes, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients in your diet with so many processed options?

Whole live foods are foods grown naturally, without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemically enhanced gardening aids. Certified organic whole foods are loaded with the vitamins and minerals today's fresh foods are lacking and are packaged without additives or preservatives so those vital nutrients are retained for your consumption.

A fast paced lifestyle and rat race living make it almost impossible to get the 5 to 9 portions of fruits and veggies that a healthy body needs. The answer is organic whole food vitamins.

These all-natural nutritional supplements use vitamin rich, live whole food ingredients that contain thousands of pure nutrients not found in modern processed foods.

Not only do these whole food ingredients supply a higher level of vitamins and minerals than commercial foods and supplements, organic vitamins can provide the benefits of hundreds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains in one single serving.

No matter how carefully you plan your meals and snacks, a hectic schedule can often result in convenience food substitutes and unhealthy snacking, leaving your body craving the nutrients it needs to keep you going.

It is almost impossible between you teen years and say around fifty for the average person to get your recommended allowance of fruits and veggies. Most will not eat 5 servings a day; many will not even consume 5 cups of fruits and vegetables in a week.

The small number of individuals who do eat their veggies will typically consume commercially processed foods, still leaving their body deficient in many crucial nutrients and ingesting a variety of chemical residues.

What if a healthy, vitamin packed diet was simpler and more convenient? What if there was a pill or a smooth, fruit flavored drink that would:

* Provide you with 70 power foods unleashing you with unprocessed benefits?

* Fortify the immune system by eliminating bacteria and germs that cause disease?

* Leverage 80+ must have minerals and essential enzymes?

* Significantly lower your risks of cancer, diabetes, and other ailments?

* Increase your daily endurance so you get more accomplished without feeling tired before the end of the day?

* Improve your overall health and wellbeing by replenishing the essential nutrients that fuel your body, nutrients not found in most of today's foods and supplements?

Organic whole food vitamins are the answer to modern nutrition deficiencies and the key to achieving a healthy, balanced, nutrient rich diet in today's hectic society.

Better than the typical nutrition supplement, organic whole food vitamins contain pure, unprocessed ingredients with thousands of enzymes, antioxidants, and other vital nutrients that can't be found in most available commercial products.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/organic-whole-food-vitamins-are-the-secret-to-optimum-nutrition-263691.html

About the Author: To get the rest of the story on organic whole food vitamins go to the authors website: http://organicfood-guide.com/organic-whole-food-vitamins.html where the second half of the secret to optimum nutrition is revealed.

Natural Remedies Discover Natural Alternative Remedies that are Safe & Effective

Growing House Plants With Organic Indoor Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:42:00 +0000

by Benjamin Brook

Indoor gardening is a popular hobby, and one that can actually improve your decor and your health. Glossy green living plants are an unbeatable decorating accessory, whether you favor the bold statement a snake plant makes or the ethereal lightness of an asparagus fern. By surrounding yourself with healthy green plants, you oxygenate your living environment and gain more energy.

Grow Houseplants Organically

You can do some organic indoor gardening with houseplants. Growing organically means you don't use chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in your gardening routine. Organic indoor gardening also means not using genetically modified seeds, cuttings, or other elements.

Indoor Gardening The Organic Way

If you're serious about indoor organic gardening, you might want to purchase Indoor Gardening the Organic Way: How to Create a Natural and Sustaining Environment for Your Houseplants, by Julie Bawden Davis.

The beginning of the book explains how houseplants are grown and shipped to your local garden center. Young house plants are fed the equivalent of a fast food diet to pump them up so they'll look good in the garden center. When you bring your new house plants home, they may have a bit of a chemical fertilizer hangover at first. Be patient with them, and soon they will become accustomed to an organic lifestyle.

Organic Fertilizers

The best organic fertilizer is homemade compost. Even if you live in an apartment, you can make organic compost for gardening indoors.

Use a coffee can or another metallic container with a tight fitting lid. Make a few ventilation holes around the side of the coffee can with a nail or a drill. Fill the can with alternating layers of crisp, dry ingredients and wet ingredients.

For the crisp, dry ingredients, use dry leaves if you have access to them. Otherwise, you can use shredded newspaper or crumpled up paper bags.

For the wet ingredients, you can use raw vegetable scraps nothing with oil or butter on it and coffee grounds.

Keeping the compost can indoors will heat the compost up fast and help process it quickly. You can get the compost to make itself more quickly by stirring it periodically.

When one coffee can is full, start another. Turn the first can upside down every day to mix the ingredients and keep the compost cooking. Soon the first can will be full of rich, crumbly compost the key to indoor organic gardening.

Mix a little bit of compost in with your plants' soil to provide long-lasting nutrients. You can grow almost any houseplant with this indoor organic gardening trick.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/growing-house-plants-with-organic-indoor-gardening-391315.html

About the Author: For more information about gardening please visit my website Gardening">http://www.free-gardening-tips.com/">Gardening - Gardening and Moon Phases

Top 7 Tips to Go Organic

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:41:00 +0000

by Raymond Lee

In the light of these studies, it is surprising that few studies have compared the health consequences of eating organic and conventionally grown produce. Any fruits and vegetables are better than none. In a study, those who ate the fewest plant foods had the highest cancer rates, and those who ate the most produce had the least cancer. Most pesticides are fat-soluble. If you eat plants that have been treated with them, you ingest a tiny amount of residue that accumulates in your fatty tissues, such as female breast tissue. But the real problem develops when you eat animal fat. Food animals accumulate pesticides in their fat tissues throughout their lives. By the time people eat them, they have much higher levels than any of the feed plants they ate. When people eat meat, they consume most of the pesticides the animals ate. The higher up the food chain you eat, the more toxic chemicals you ingest. The cleanest produce is organic. Even organically grown fruits, vegetables, grains and beans may pick up some pesticide contamination because of chemicals in groundwater, in the air from neighbouring nonorganic farms or from fumigation of trucks and warehouses. But compared with conventionally grown produce, organic fruits and vegetables are significantly cleaner. If you opt for organic fruits and vegetables, the good news is that they are more available than ever. Health food stores, farmer’s markets and even some supermarkets now carry items called organic. So what are you waiting for?

1. Support Your Local Farmers

Buy foods in season and encourage your supermarket to stock locally grown items, which are less likely to be waxed and treated with postharvest pesticides during transport and storage.

2. Scrub Up

Wash all the fruits and vegetables with a dilute solution of dishwashing liquid and water. Use a vegetable brush. Chop spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and celery before washing.

3. Grow Your Own

No matter where you live, you can grow at least some of your own fruits and vegetables organically. If you do not buy organic, you can still minimize your exposure to pesticides by heeding the above suggestions.

4. Do Some Research

Contact your state agriculture department or local extension service for referrals to organic growers in your area. Contact the farmers and ask how they grow their produce and where they sell it.

5. Meet Your Greengrocer

Talk with your health food store or supermarket produce manager. Ask for organic produce.

6. Buy Your Produce By Mail

It is easier than you think. Pick those nearest to you for the freshest items and lowest shipping costs. Root vegetables – carrots, turnips and rutabagas – are excellent mail-order choices. They ship well, and when conventionally grown, root vegetables tend to accumulate higher levels of pesticides than other vegetables.

7. Exercise A Little Skepticism

Unless you trust the vendor, do not place too much faith in handwritten signs. Look for certification label. Labels include “Farm-Verified Organics.” “Organic Crop Improvement Association,” “Organic Growers and Buyers Association” and “California Certified Organic Farmers.” Only California has a government-regulated organic certification program. The other certification labels are granted to members of voluntary associations who pledge to uphold certain voluntary standards. But any label is more trustworthy than a handwritten sign.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/top-7-tips-to-go-organic-320571.html

About the Author: Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com/ for more information.

What Is Organic Skin Care?

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:09:00 +0000

by Louise Forrest

To understand organic skin care, you have to understand organic farming because all of the ingredients in organic skin care are organically produced. This means that each and every ingredient should be certified as organically grown, not just the majority of them.

It is a good idea to check companies that you are considering for your organic skin care products to make sure that they are selling certified products and that the products you purchase from them are certified.

There are companies out there which make false claims about being organic and those that sell some non organic products along with organic products. Through understanding organic farming, you will see that organic skin care is better for both you and the environment.

Basically, organic farming is a return to the way farming used to be done, utilizing a number of things to replenish soil nourishment including: crop rotation, composting, and cover crops. Climate hardy plants grown in well nourished soil have better insect and disease resistance than their non organic counterparts do.

Because of this resistance, the organic plants do not require fertilizers and pesticides in massive amounts. Even when help is needed, organic farmers protect their plants through a variety of ways that still do not utilize synthetic chemicals. Sadly, this does not mean that there are absolutely no pesticides in organic plants.

Because of the over use of pesticides, even our rain carries them, which means that organic plants are subjected to them through the rain.

Biodiversity is promoted by the organic farmers way of growing different crops and natural resource systems (like air and water) are protected because of the way that organic farmers store and compost the animal waste they use in replenishing soil nutrients.

The overall effect on the environment through organic farming can be seen through reduced greenhouse gases. On a local level, farmers see less water used, less soil erosion, improved fertility, safer groundwater, and more abundant wildlife.

Organic is all about the way that various agricultural products are grown (or raised) and processed. By farming organically, the health of the ecosystem is maintained. Toxins in fertilizers and pesticides are bypassed because these products are not used in organic farming.

The focus is on the environment: soil regeneration and water conservation being the two biggest issues and animal welfare playing a large part as well. During processing quality is retained because organic foods are not subjected to artificial ingredients, irradiation, or preservatives.

Aside from man made additives, pesticides, and fertilizers, organic food is also free of man made herbicides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Animals raised organically are not fed by products of other animals (rather, they eat organically grown foods) and they are free to roam and enjoy their existence (instead of being locked in cages).

In raising animals organically, a diet of certified organic food is used; this means that, in addition to the absence of the above mentioned synthetics, there are no hormones ingested by organically raised animals.

Prevention of disease is a by product of the animals healthy living, so antibiotics are also not passed on to us through ingestion. Through this well nourished, free to roam life, it has been found that animals raised for things like milk and eggs tend to live much longer than their non organic counterparts.

According to the United States National Organic Standards Board, Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

For products to be certified organic, they must meet a set of strict standards within the industry. These standards are verified by a third party agency, sometimes the government. In order to be certified, both farms and processing plants must be checked and found to be in compliance with the standards that have been set. After initial certification, farms and facilities are still inspected regularly to verify that the organic standards are still being met.

Organic does not just refer to the actual plants and animals produced for human consumption. It applies to anything which is manufactured in such a way that it meets the certification standards.
This is why one moisturizer may be organic while another is not, even though both companies use the same ingredients. Organic farming has grown to the extent that you can find a huge variety of food (even processed foods), but it goes even further than food. You can buy organic clothing, organic bedding, linens, and other items.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-organic-skin-care-127722.html

About the Author: Keep yourself looking great with these skin care tips from http://www.naturalelements.co.uk/ You can now get the very latest information on
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A Look Into Raw Foods

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:45:00 +0000

by Jamey Sackville

We are in an age when there is more accent than ever on diet and diet, and a better understanding of the connection between diet and vigor consequences. In the midst of much hearsay and consider about the property of diet on shape, the raw food diets have expected a great treaty of awareness because these tactics convey high food while dipping preservatives and additives, which are increasingly together to health and authority evils.

The organic and raw food diet have become a chief part of many intake strategies for those who concede the profit that can be resultant from ingestion living foods, or sooner foods in their crude form. Many say that this is the way God or kind future for people to eat, and is a fundamental principal to this consider of intake food raw.

One of the best clothes about the raw food diets is that all the nutrition the scenery materials in these foods is retained. However, when light foods are cooked, much of the nutritional rate in provisos of vitamins, minerals and enzymes are completely cracked.

A "go raw" diet encourages people cleanly to eat food as it is, whichever out of the ground, off the creeper, or from the tree, to reap the most repayment. And, genuinely mature, organic foods are also recommended, as well as creative developed fabricate that is harvested in it's zenith and consumed right away.

It is also very important to the winner of a raw food diet to know how the raw food in the meal mean was adult. If these living foods were adult in environments that were steeped with damaging pesticides, then this reason can counteract the benefits of living raw. Because it is a regular practice for farmers to use substance pesticides to shield their crops from bugs and to enhance expansion, it is important to know the raw food sources.

Because a diet of the lettering increases the volume of inventive foods that you will be eating, this aspect is even more important than it is for superstar who is eating only a few daily servings of cool fruits and vegetables. When you foster the capacity for foods that are in their raw and native ceremony to have a raw living foods diet, you will also be increasing the chemicals that you gulp and put into your order, except you diligently seek out organically mature engender.

The good newscast is the organically adult foods are more in plea these being and are more easily offered than even a few days ago. More and more farmers are with innovative new behavior to dodge using pesticides, or are recurring to farming practices from the era before substance fertilizers and insecticides. This makes it easier to have a good equip of high property, organic foods to use as the foundation of a raw food diet for yourself, or for the undivided family.

Many people who chase raw food diets choose to grow much of their own yield, to security a steady deliver of fresh living food to enjoy. They want to know just what mode of preparations will be made to the soil and how rats will be controlled. Those who live in tepid environments can regularly have a year-series give from their own patch.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/a-look-into-raw-foods-564866.html

Learn about egg nutrition and chicken nutrition at the Food Nutrition Facts site.

What is Organic Coffee and How is it Grown?

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:31:00 +0000

by Charles Carter

Organic is a new word used in the context of coffee, tea, cocoa and other food materials in recent times around local shops and super markets. Every year the word is being used by buying public more than the previous year and its use is growing year after year resulting in higher sale proportion of tea or coffee marked as 100% organically grown.

What is organically grown?

To simply put it, organic farming methods leave least or no harmful impact on the surrounding environment. Organic agricultural production systems are mostly traditional methods evolved through learning from nature. In the organic farming methods no synthetic chemical fertilizer or pesticide is used. So that organic production means natural, pure and healthy.

How coffee grows in nature

The coffee plant does not need much direct sun light and so it grows under the shade of large trees. The ground is never sprayed with any chemical insecticide or fertilizer and so the ground water remains pure and uncontaminated. From the canopy of trees leaves fall steadily and the ground is covered by fallen leaves layer on layer. The layers of fallen leaves work as a blanket and protect the moisture of the ground. The moisture in turn help the process of compost to turn the bottom layers of leaves into natural manure to nourish the land.

The thick foliage of shade trees over the coffee bushes house many varieties of birds and also attracts the migratory birds. The birds live on small insects and pests. So they work as natural pest controllers and keep the coffee plants healthy.

The coffee that grows in the shade of other local trees become original and pure in taste and flavor Organic Coffee.

The proposed plantation site is selected carefully. And if the site was being used to grow some other crop using chemical fertilizer or chemical insecticides, then a minimum period of three years are given as conversion years for the proposed site to get over the effects of the harmful chemicals.

After the conversion years coffee bushes are planted along with local shade trees. Care is given equally to the coffee bushes and shade trees and effort is put in to leave bird population to grow undisturbed.

The fallen leaves are left undisturbed to convert into manure to nourish the land and keep it fertile. The bird population effectively controls the pests and harmful insect and protects the coffee bushes. And finally for decaffeinating, approved processes are employed including the Swiss Water process. The coffee thus produced is organic coffee.

Organic vs. commercial production

Organic production methods along with producing coffee intend to protect environment. In this process of growing coffee, more and more trees are grown due to that local biodiversity is achieved. In this method, soil fertility and nutrients are sustained. No chemical pollution is created to harm the human health.

In contrast in commercial profit oriented method of growing coffee, the trees are felled and the cumulative effect is deforestation. Deforestation leads to soil erosion and severe depletion. The commercial grower cuts trees to allow direct sun light which increases production. As there are no birds to control pests and due to the absence of trees and its natural manure, farmers are forced to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides severely harming the environment.

Organic coffee - lifeline of future

Organic production process is eco friendly and helps to repair the environment spoilt by the greedy profit oriented approach of commercial growers of coffee through growing more and more shade trees.

Protecting environment locally helps to enhance the eco system. Rejuvenation and eco system alone can help the planet from disaster and help to sustain life on this planet.

Organic coffee is our responsibility, almost a human duty and life line to healthy future of mankind.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/what-is-organic-coffee-and-how-is-it-grown-599235.html

About the Author: Naturesorganicmarket.com offers low prices on organic coffee, organic baby clothes, and more.

Organic Gardening - The Essentials Of Going Organic!

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:47:00 +0000

by Abhishek Agarwal

Organic gardening today involves more than making a cultural impact. In fact, it is now considered an intelligent way of living in harmony with the natural environment. While fertilizers and chemical pesticides are extremely toxic and can prove fatal to useful plants and bugs, tending to your garden organically, using organic plant food, organic gardening supplies and natural lawn maintenance all prove very beneficial to the fragile ecosystem that makes up your garden.

The essentials of organic garden tending are:

1. Rich and fertile soil
2. Sturdy plants
3. Adequate water and sunlight
4. Organic feeds, pesticides, and fertilizers

If there is fertile soil, a good spread of manure and ample nutrients in your garden, then your work is made even more easy. Enriched soil is the foundation of an organic garden, organic gardening supplies, and natural lawn maintenance.

In the absence of fertile soil, it is not possible to achieve the same level of distribution of nutrients to the roots or the same level of defense against pests. Besides, without rich soil the groundwork for a good lawn cannot be laid down and even using organic garden supplies with self-assurance is not done on account of the beneficial effects being reduced by poor soil.

Moreover, sturdy plants can do much towards improving the organic garden, organic gardening supplies, and natural lawn maintenance. Selecting healthy plants free from disease makes certain that the diseases are not transmitted to your garden. A sturdy and tough plant can withstand better, adverse gardening conditions. Hence, if irrigation is not carried out regularly or there is blistering sunshine, sturdy plants are able to tolerate the vagaries of nature much better.

Organic Pesticides and Fertilizers

The maintenance of the organic garden, organic gardening supplies and natural lawn preservation are stipulated like add-ons in the diet of a sportsperson. Organic feeds are conditional on the kind of plants you wish to grow and the soil quality. Based on whether the levels of nitrogen are low or the level of potassium is grossly down one can choose to opt for a granite meal or blood meal.

An overall decent organic fertilizer will contain phosphorous, potash and nitrogen as its key nutrients. Even though manure has been used for the past so many years, at times levels of nutrients in the manure are far less than those in organic products.

In the case of lawns, a safe and reliable herbicide is corn meal gluten. A few gardeners use hot pepper sprays or soap to discourage insects or to get rid of aphids. Most of the organic gardeners just remove or wash out the bugs from the plants. In whichever way you seek to set up organic garden tending, organic feed, organic gardening supplies, and natural lawn maintenance as a part of your garden routine is left up to you.

There are several established methods, but then there is always room for improvement, to go organic and to be happy and healthy as a result of it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-gardening-the-essentials-of-going-organic-347310.html

About the Author: Abhishek is a self-confessed Gardening addict! Visit his website http://www.gardening-master.com/ and download his FREE Gardening Report "Indoor Gardening Secrets" and learn some amazing Gardening tips for FREE! Create the perfect Garden on a shoe-string budget. And yes, you get to keep all the accolades!

How Organic Products Can Help Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:41:00 +0000

by Alyssa Nair

Organic products are now a $7 billion market that has been growing at a rate of 20% a year and will continue to grow in years to come. While retailers who sell organic products are one of the few businesses exempt from following the requirement for certification of organic products, Whole Foods Market was the first to become a certified grocery store in the nation. There are several other industries that are coming out with new organic products, including clothing, and baby products that are among the top choices for consumers. Natural Organic Products both protect and help the environment, plus it is great for your overall health. Often, organic products are priced higher at health-food and department stores, but drugstores and discount retailers offer brands that are less expensive.

Organic Foods

When you go to your local grocery store be sure to check out the organic labels throughout the store because when you purchase organic products it helps support those farmers, producers, and handlers who have a strong commitment to good health, quality foods, and earth-friendly agricultural practices. About 14 percent of people indicated they bought organic items at their local Wal-Mart or Target super center, reinforcing the fact that organic foods play a role in everyday American households, and they are choosing to support their community and eat healthier for their family. Due to the limited supply of organic foods from both foreign land and domestic sources, they say that organic foods account for only about a third of the stores inventory, which shows there is room for growth in the coming years.

Healthy Lifestyle

Major products include tea, guavas, oranges, pineapples, rice, taro root, sweet potatoes and specialty crops like yams are believed to offer better health and more benefits to a healthy family. Consumers are increasingly choosing to purchase organic foods and products that offer alternatives to potentially harmful chemical and pesticides that genetically modify foods and may be undesirable from both a health and environmental standpoint. At one point these products were forgotten and ignored in the innermost corners of store shelves and health food stores, but now they are in the spotlight and taking center stage because of the newly found benefits of going organic and living a healthy lifestyle.

Skin Products

Organic skincare has long been established as an expensive yet healthy alternative to the ordinary and potentially dangerous skincare products that we have been exposed to. Nowadays, organic skincare products are coming out with more competitive prices and better environmental friendly ways of producing products, which makes them more affordable. If you have had any skin reactions to lotions or face creams in the past then you have to be careful, because everything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body, which can cause an allergic reaction. When you get an allergic reaction your body is telling you that the chemicals you're putting on are harmful to you. Make sure to pay attention and try an organic product to see the difference because your body knows what's best.

With the buying power of chains like Kroger and Wal-Mart, which are increasing their organic-products selection daily, prices for organic products are likely to become more affordable. But even in many conventional supermarkets, organic products are moving out of their isolate aisles and taking their place on many shelves next to non-organics products. From my experience in the industry, it is almost always the case that the people who make organic products are those who value their work and love what they do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-organic-products-can-help-your-life-320792.html

About the Author: Alyssa Nair has written articles on organic products and how they can improve your lifestyle. Read the helpful tips and advice on how you can change to an organic lifestyle with little money.

How To Start An Organic Garden Fast

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:52:00 +0000

One of the latest crazes that has caught on all over the world, especially in light of global warming and its all of the food contaminations that people have experienced is the hobby of organic gardening. Not even considering the cost of vegetables that you have to pay at the local grocery store, the organic growth of food provides an alternative for those not wishing to pay supermarket prices, and also avoid all of the chemical contaminants that may appear in our daily food regiments. Here are a few tips on how you can prepare the way for a successful and fast-growing organic garden.

Before you start your organic garden, there are a few things you should consider before doing so and a lot of it has to do with your frame of mind. For instance, when you buy food at a grocery store that is not organically grown, many synthetic fertilizers are used, as well as pesticides, in order to keep many of the natural predators away from crops including disease, common weeds, and insects that love to devour freshly grown vegetables. By eliminating all of these additives, you can see yourself in the future being a more healthy person because you took the time to create a garden that is organically grown that will provide you and your family with healthier fresher food each and every day.

With this in mind, you should think of where you would like to grow your garden. If you live in the city, more than likely you will not have a large enough area in order to grow a garden in a size that would allow you to feed your family except for perhaps a few snacks on a weekly basis. If you do live in a rural area, and you do have some extra space with some decent soil, then you can probably be self-assured that your efforts to grow organic food will be ascertainable because you have the area to work with. Now you must consider your time and what you will need in order to make this work for you.

One of the first things you will need is a constant supply of compostable material such as grass clippings, leftover vegetables and scraps that you are not going to finish, and any kind of dead matter such as leaves in your yard that you have raked up. These will be composted and then mixed in with your soil in order to add nutrients for the crops that you are about to grow.

When looking at your soil, one of the first signs that you will be successful is the color of the soil. Rich dark soil, hopefully full of earthworms, will be a clear sign that your soil is ripe and ready for planting. You should also consider testing the pH balance of your soil to make sure that it is not too acidic or basic for the plants you are about to grow. Vegetables prefer a slightly acidic soil.

Make sure that you also have an ample supply of water that is readily available for your plants. Make sure that you do not overwater or underwater which means you may have to put in a sprinkler system on a timer or put yourself on a regimen that allows you to keep moisture levels just right. Having excessive wet or dry conditions will lead to possible infestations of insects and other creatures that may move in and destroy your crops before they are even harvestable.

Before the age of pesticides, people used natural solutions such as the common ladybug which can be used to prevent certain insects from moving in. Certain spices are also used such as garlic or any spice that has a pungent odor which will repel many types of invaders that will want to eat your crops.

If you are truly going to be an organic gardener, you will no doubt encounter another type of invader called weeds. These will grow very rapidly and unless you are on top of your game, and under root seeing them as they show up, they will multiply ferociously and began to crowd your crop causing them to possibly fail in the long run. Without pesticides, mulching is probably the best solution to maintaining a healthy crop from the invasion of the common weed.

The last thing you should consider is the amount of time that you have in order to maintain your organic garden. Gardening organically can be a very time-consuming process depending upon how much of a garden you would like to maintain. It would probably be a good idea to start small, make sure that your soil and preparations are ready for possible invaders, and then set out to make the organic garden of your dreams.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-gardens-how-to-start-an-organic-garden-fast-359887.html

About the Author: Chris Dailey is the owner of Super Organic Gardening Secrets, a free online service that provides valuable information on organic gardening and organic gardens. To download his 7 free organic gardening reports, go to http://www.superorganicgardeningsecrets.com/

Organic Gardening - How To Grow A Bountiful Organic Garden

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Although the concept of growing your own garden, let alone an organic garden, may seem difficult or foreign to most of us, learning how to grow an organic garden is not as difficult as it might seem. On a base level, it begins with using 100% organic products which are chemical and pesticide free. Whether or not you have tried to grow a garden in the past, despite your success level, gardening the organic way is not that much different. Here are a few tips on how you can begin your walk down the organic gardening pathway of life.

One of the first things you should consider are the benefits that organic gardening will provide you and your family. In today's society, with the rising prices of fuel and various food products, having the ability to grow your own food at a fraction of the cost of buying it, is a benefit for all who learn how to grow food in their own garden. Organic gardening is an extra benefit because everything that you will be eating is pesticide and chemical free which is healthier for you and your family.

Our bodies are one of the most important things that we have to take care of on this planet. Our families are also important and we need to make sure that the food that we provide for them is not laced with ingredients that can help tear them down over time. This would include things such as herbicides and pesticides that can sit in the body and begin to poison it over time. We can make better choices, and it is a matter of implementing them in order to affect a change.

Right now, take a few minutes and write down the most abundant supply of vegetables an fruits that you eat. Think of a way that you can incorporate your organic gardening to start making this natural alternative ready for you and your family. By growing it yourself, you can save yourself thousands of dollars a year in food expenses. This way, you will be safe in knowing that the food you eat is ready to be consumed without worrying about the consequences.

To start off, you will need to get some fertilizers and bug repellent as you will not be using pesticides or anything chemical as you grow your organic garden. Organic fertilizers are readily available at your local nursery or plant store. You just have to find where they are available and purchase some for your gardening area. Depending upon the type of environment that you live in, and the type of plants that you will be growing, doing early research will allow you to narrow down the supplies you will need as you go along.

You should also consider the type of climate that you are in. If you live in a very warm area that is typically continuously warm, choose your plants accordingly for this type of climate. Likewise, if you lived in an arid area, there are certain kinds of plants that will not grow well and you should do your research as to see what crops for your organic garden would be best for your area. Other things to consider are the type of soil that you currently have and also how much sunlight exposure the plants that you want to grow will need.

There is an extra amount of work necessary when you have an organic garden because of weeds. Unlike a regular garden, weeds will naturally grow and you must do your part and remove them on a regular basis to keep them from spreading. Regular watering and the use of organic fertilization products will also help your plants grow large and strong.

One other thing to consider is that you need to have the space to do this in. Sure, you can create an organic gardening paradise in your home, but you need a lot of space, light, and a desire to make it work indoors that is usually worthwhile once it is set up and going. The are would have to be out of the mainstream of usual traffic, but by keeping it indoors, you can be assured of no temperature variations and shelter from elements that might otherwise kill or harm the crops you are going to grow.

Another tip is to consult local organic gardeners in your area and ask them what type of fertilizers that they use and what plants they are growing that are working out the best. By doing your homework ahead of time, you will save yourself much time and energy, if not money, as you begin to plant your organic crops for personal use and or profit and gain. Organic gardening can be a fun experience especially if you are prepared to do it right.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-gardening-how-to-grow-a-bountiful-organic-garden-375275.html

About the Author: Chris Dailey is the owner of Composting For Profit and Super Organic Gardening Secrets. You can download valuable info on organic gardening as well as the first 5 chapters of his ebook on composting for free. Visit Composting For Profit today!

Eat Green! How to Grow Your Own Organic Fruit and Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Organic gardening differs from "conventional" gardening mainly in the areas of fertilization and pest control. Organic gardening is planting without chemical fertilizers and naturally building the soil to support healthy plant life. People are increasingly aware that organic food is better for the environment. This primer of organic gardening will help you get started in this fun, healthy hobby.

The main thing to remember is that organic gardening is not only about pesticide use and the soil that your garden grows in. The goal is to create an ecosystem in your back yard where every part is respected and in good shape. Robust plants can better defend themselves against pests and diseases.

Soil Is the Source of Life

The soil is the source of life for plants. Indeed, one of the problems with chemical gardening is that it sterilizes the soil and steals the life from it. Organic soil is living, and has lots of living matter in it. It is from this wellspring of life that plants create the nutrients you will eat.

At the beginning and end of every growing season, the organic gardener works the soil by adding natural garden fertilizers to enrich the soil and replace nutrients that the plants have used. You can use animal-based organic fertilizers and plant-based organic fertilizers or any combination of both. You want to add bulk to the soil along with nutrients.

Animal-Based Organic Fertilizer

Animal-based organic garden fertilizer can be reduced to one word: manure. Cow manure, chicken manure, fish emulsion and bat guano are most usually used, but you can additionally use horse and rabbit manure. Use solid animal-based fertilizers to dig into the soil, and make "manure tea" to use when transplanting seedlings.

There are some safety issues to recognize when using animal manure. All manure should be aged or composted before using it as an organic garden fertilizer to remove E. coli and other potentially troublesome pathogens. As well, you cannot use manure from humans or predator animals, such as cats. Their digestive systems contain bacteria that are pathogenic to humans, and the bacteria can get into or on food grown in soil fertilized with their feces.

Plant-Based Organic Fertilizer

Compost, seaweed, worm castings and green manure are the most standard plant-based organic garden fertilizers. Seaweed and kelp are usually purchased as dried and processed organic garden fertilizer.

Green manure is planted as a cover crop, normally in the fall after harvest. Plant a nitrogen-fixing crop, such as soybeans, and the symbiotic bacteria in the roots will add nitrogen to your soil. Then, when the cover crop emerges in the spring, dig it into the ground, and allow the plants to decompose and enrich the soil.

Compost

Far and away the most common plant-based organic fertilizer is compost. Compost is an excellent way to recycle vegetable matter. There are many theories on composting, and you can learn how to do it from community workshops, books, or other experts. Fundamentally, however, compost is not hard to make. You just save all your vegetable scraps, garden wastes, remains of plants, grass clippings, dried leaves and other vegetable matter and let it decompose. A hot compost heap that is turned frequently (so that it gets air into it) will make compost in a matter of weeks. A compost heap decomposes faster if it generates heat, and it needs to be at least three cubic feet to get good and hot. If your compost pile isn't that big or doesn't get very warm, or you don't turn it, don't despair, it will still make good compost. You can just throw your vegetable waste in a pile and leave it. If it sits for a long time, like a year, it will compost by itself.
A worm box is an alternative to a compost-pile. Worm castings are very rich in nutrients. To create worm castings, start with the right kind of worms, which you can get from any organic gardening source. Place them in a covered tub of some kind with your slightly damp vegetable matter. The worms do all the work, and you get rich organic garden fertilizer at almost no cost. Either read about how to set up a worm compost system, or you can buy a kit at your garden center. Remember to add earthworms to the soil too, as they create natural fertilizers in the soil and provide aeration.

Add natural fertilizers such as these to the soil at least twice a year and dig them into the top six inches of soil. You'll have rich, dark, productive soil within a couple of years--even if you started out with sterile, gray, chemically treated dirt.

Water Is a Necessity of Life

All living organisms need water. It is important for the health of your plants to give them enough water to thrive. However, indiscriminate water use wastes water and washes away the soil. Watering where it is not needed encourages weeds. Water when the sun is low, early in the morning or in the evening to cut down on evaporation. It is important that the water gets to the roots of the plants without running off and taking valuable soil with it, so add water slowly and let it soak in. Use a soaker hose to water only your garden plants and nowhere else. If a soaker hose (or irrigation system) is not a choice for you, dig a shallow well around the base of each plant and fill it up and let the water soak in. Use a mulch around plants to conserve water and to prevent rain from eroding your fertile garden soil.

Don't Let Weeds Rob Your Garden Plants

Only your cherished plants should get the advantage of the rich soil and water you provide. Therefore, it is necessary to take out all the other plants which find your garden a great place to live. That is, it is important to weed your organic garden. In the mid-twentieth century, at the height of chemical use in gardening, it became usual to spray herbicides on the soil to control weeds. But now we understand how damaging such chemical use is to the environment. Pulling out weeds by hand is neither hard nor particularly time consuming. Your organic garden is a beautiful place to spend time, why not spend it taking out the weeds that compete with your plants.

Here are the basics of weed-control. Firstly, make sure you get rid of weeds before they go to seed. Weeds routinely produce thousands of seeds in a short period of time. If there are patches of weeds growing at the periphery of your garden, make sure to mow them before they spread seeds. Second, when pulling weeds by hand make sure to pull out the roots so the plant doesn't grow right back. Use a trowel to dig out deep-rooted weeds. Third, use mulch as a barrier to weed growth. Organic mulch will also help maintain moisture and add organic material to the soil. You can cover the entire area with plastic during the winter season to kill off weed seeds.

Control Pests without Harmful Pesticides

Pest-control is probably the biggest issue facing organic gardeners. Chemically-based pesticides are some of the most toxic substances to have on your food or polluting the environment. How, then, do you keep ravenous bugs like Japanese beetles from destroying your produce? In organic gardening you begin with the least toxic intervention and proceed from there.

Pest Prevention

The first step is to plant wisely. Remember that healthy plants will need less help from you with fighting pests, so make sure that your plants are well-fed and have adequate water. Also, use companion planting and crop rotation to discourage pests before they arrive. Some plants keep bugs away and planting them next to your tasty plants is a good idea. Garlic, onions and marigolds are commonly used to repel bugs. Plant them in a border around your garden and between your garden plants. Crop rotation is the method of planting a different crop in a given area of your garden each year. Where you put tomatoes this year put squash or corn in the next year. Crop rotation is especially helpful in preventing plant diseases.

Non-toxic Pest Controls

The next step is to remove pests when you find them. Remember that not all bugs are pests. In fact, a number of bugs are your helpers in pest control, but the wholesale use of toxic pesticides eliminates the predatory bugs as well as the harmful ones. It is important to be able to identify the good bugs and the bad bugs. Go out early in the morning or late in the evening when it's cool, and remove any tomato hookworms, potato bugs, Japanese beetles, slugs or other harmful insects that you find. Squash them, or carry a bucket of soapy water to drown them. Better yet, feed them to your chickens. The most efficient way to remove small bugs such as aphids and mites is to spray the plants with the hose, using a strong stream of water to wash the insects off.

Physical barriers are another non-toxic method of organic pest control. They prevent pests from getting access to your plants. Some examples of barriers are to cut the top and bottom out of coffee cans and push them into the soil around tender young plants to keep cutworms away, or use fine netting to cover your plants to protect them from grasshoppers or birds.

Predatory Insects

One of the biggest defenses against pests are other bugs. Bugs that eat other bugs are a fantastic organic gardening pest control. Ladybugs, praying mantises, and lacewings are all beneficial insects. You can buy them at the garden store and release them into your garden. These predatory insects control aphids, mites and many other pests. Most spiders are bug-eaters, too, so let spiders work for you.

Using Organic Pesticides

If you are using these non-toxic pest controls and you are still faced with an overwhelming pest invasion, the last resort is to use organic pesticides. They are routinely made from plant derivatives or minerals. These natural pesticides are certified for use in natural farming and are far less dangerous than synthetic pesticides, but they are still toxic. It is important that you determine how harmful the insect pests are; you may elect to live with them rather than use something that is organic, but more toxic than you want to expose your food to.

Insecticidal soap is quite safe for food plants and the environment and works well to get rid of garden pests. Buy it at your garden supply store, or make your own by adding a few drops of liquid dish soap to a cup of water. Spray it on the plants, and then rinse off. This works great on aphids and thrips.

You can usually tell how toxic an organic pest control is by checking for a warning label. If there is no warning on the label, the substance is probably non-toxic. If the label says, "caution," it is mildly toxic. "Warning" on the label means it is moderately toxic, and "danger" means the substance is very toxic. Organic gardening pest controls rarely have a "danger" warning on them. It is very important to apply organic pest control products exactly as the label directs. These products can be dangerous, so they must be used correctly to minimize everybody's exposure to toxic pesticides.

For More Information

If you want to get started on your organic garden, you'll find an abundance of help. Look for gardening clubs or workshops in your community; gardeners are always eager to give advice. Additionally, there are countless books, magazines and web sites. You can also look up your local Cooperative Extension Office, which offers advice in cooperation with local universities. Like all living processes, there is a rhythm to organic gardening. You don't do everything at once. Begin slowly and learn as you go.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/eat-green-how-to-grow-your-own-organic-fruit-and-vegetables-329297.html

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

Organic Vs Organic

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:51:00 +0000

Organic food is becoming more and more popular as people begin to realize the health benefits of eating foods that haven’t been exposed to the harsh chemicals and toxins as their non-organic shelf mates. As demand for these nutritionally superior foods goes up so does the potential for profit, which can cause a problem when greed has a negative impact on the integrity of the product. Sales of organic foods have risen to over 20 billion dollars in 2008, which is nearly twenty times what is was in the early 90’s. With profit margins like these, it was inevitable that the large food manufactures would want (and undoubtedly get) a piece of the action. This transition though, from the local organic farm to the hands of large corporations, has been the subject of many debates. On the one hand it enables everyone, not just those living in the country, to have the choice between buying organic or non-organic foods at their local grocery store, since only the large corporations have the money and the manpower to mass-produce and transport these foods across the country…across the world.

From this standpoint it can be looked at as a blessing, but at what cost? Since large corporations have no real tangible relationship with their customers (unlike the local farmers who are part of the community in which they sell) there only real concern is money in their pocket, and this money enables them to influence the ever evolving standards at which the organic food industry is governed. This is evident in the organic section of your local grocery or health food store, where you’re bound to find frozen pre-made ready to eat meals; sure they have organic ingredients but they also contain additives and preservatives (to help maintain a long profitable shelf life) that surly conflict with the core ethics behind which the organic industry was started. Who thought the day would ever come when you could go to the store and buy an organic microwavable meal; it’s an oxymoron if there ever was one. Its just another great example of large corporations using the average persons busy on-the-go life style to their monetary advantage, and why not?

So what is the poor innocent shopper to do when faced with all of these seemingly "healthy choices"? For starters, if it sounds to good to be true than it’s probably not the healthiest choice. The key with any food product (organic or not) is minimally processed. Each process a food must undergo affects the nutritional integrity of the product itself. Another good tip is to choose with products that have the least amount of ingredients; avoid the additives and preservatives that are so often found in packaged foods. Finally and most importantly make sure that at the core of your healthy diet you have plenty of whole foods (fruits, vegetables, and grains); they have the highest content of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/organic-verses-organic-786026.html

About the Author:

http://www.cookingallergyfree.blogspot.com
Living with allergies can be difficult, some harder than others. Being allergic to both soy and dairy, I know this first hand. So with the hopes of educating others, I have created a very informative blog with a focus on living soy and dairy free, while maintaining a healthy diet. My belief in natural healing and natural cures is the driving force behind my desire to be as healthy as I can be...body and mind.

Earth (Gaia) is a Living Organism

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Is planet Earth a conscious living organism, much like us but on a grander scale? What if the Earth was experiencing its own life much like the way we experience ours?

The human body is a single living organism made up of billions of individual living cells with different roles and functions within our body. Are they truly us or are they separate micro-beings living and dying to provide us with the experience of life? What if the people on the planet acted like the cells in our body adding to a collective experience, only larger? That billions and billions of cells contribute their individual experiences for one consciousness, one being, planet Earth. By observing our inner-verse, the micro-world within us, it is possible to see a similarity between our cellular life, our nervous system, and the potential role we play to that of the Earth.

At first glance this comparison could seem farfetched, but let us look at some of the similarities between our body's and the Earth. Our bodies are comprised of roughly seventy five percent water and twenty five percent mass. The planet ironically is also formed of about seventy five percent ocean and twenty five percent lands mass. The human body regulates a precise temperature at all times. The Earth, which is floating in space at subzero temperatures is also regulated at a consistent temperature.

One could almost imagine that all of our communications, from the internet to the satellite, are like neurotransmitters, and thoughts of a much larger brain, a much larger consciousness. Is it possible that the human race with all of its collective experiences play the role of the central nervous system of the planet? Knowing that our cells contribute to our consciousness, is it so hard to imagine we are part of the Earth's consciousness?

If all of the species on the planet make up the micro life of the planet, how would that micro life relay its experiences, its data, to create thought?

In 1940 there was a study in the Philippines regarding monkeys and a food shortage. The scientist began feeding the monkeys sweet potatoes. They would throw these sweet potatoes to the monkeys and they would fall to the ground and land in the dirt. They found that the monkeys would eat some of the potatoes spitting out the dirty part and only eat the inner core. They observed that one of the baby monkeys had accidently dropped the potato in the water therefore learning to wash it. The other monkeys that played with the baby monkey learned to wash theirs also. The mothers learned from the babies how to wash their potatoes and the males that were the mates to the females learned to wash theirs also, so on and so forth until all of the monkeys on the island had learned this new skill. This took about a year and a half for approximately all one hundred monkeys to learn how to wash their potatoes on an isolated island. What is truly amazing is that within a span of about two months, monkeys in captivity from the Americas to Asia, had learned to wash their food instinctually. The question is how was this possible?

Collective Consciousness. Imagine that the monkey's brainwaves had a certain frequency that was unique to their species. Like radio stations, 103.7 or 104.9. When enough monkeys have the same thought on the same frequency their collective thought ripples like a stone in a pond creating a "thought ripple" that encompasses the entire planet. This collective thought unique to the frequency of the particular species is a small example of the planet and the flow process of information, experiences, and thought. We could say that each species on the planet from whales, dolphins, birds and even humans have a collective energy consciousness that is constantly moving throughout the planet. This energy is the collective consciousness of the planet.

Referring back to the human body we see again the similarity between our cells and their collective contribution to the whole. We can see how the cells that make up the nerves that send the signals to our brain is bringing in data to us, collectively acting to provide us with our sentient experience. Likewise, the Earth is using all of the collective experiences and thoughts of the micro life of the planet, its cells and nerves to relay thought and experiences for its singular consciousness. Perhaps it's just another day in the life of Earth.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/new-age-articles/earth-gaia-is-a-living-organism-387836.html

About the Author:

Higher Balance Institute is the world leader in advanced programs for spiritual growth and development of the sixth sense. It is the most comprehensive and unique program of its kind. Designed to produce direct, real personal paranormal experiences to learn from. Our mission is simple - to awaken the world one mind at a time. For more information and free eBooks visit us at www.higherbalance.com.

Organic Living Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:59:00 +0000

I have to confess, the entire reason that I am now an organic freak is because I stumbled across a most interesting article in an organic living magazine one day. Well, that and the fact that I came across an equally interesting article in a magazine on what’s in the foods that we eat.

If you truly believe that you are what you eat, then you will most definitely want to consider switching to organic foods. It was the second article really which was the impetus in my organic food move.

This article stated in no uncertain terms what exactly you would be able to find in various foods that we consume on a regular basis, and it was I have to say truly a disgusting experience to read it.

It put a whole new light on exactly what we’re doing to our bodies, and made it easier for me to switch to organic foods after reading the second article in the organic living magazine. I also have to say that I now subscribe to the organic living magazine which I first picked up on a whim because they had an interesting recipe inside.

That was really why I picked up the organic living magazine and I have to say that two years later, I don’t regret the decision to go organic, and I still enjoy every single page of the organic living magazine.

If you’re undecided about whether or not to go organic, you might want to pickup one or two organic living magazines. They can help you to become better informed about the subject and you will also find out many things about organic foods and organic processed foods.

For instance did you know that although the label on a box might state that it is “Organic”, unless it most definitely says that it is one hundred percent organic, you will get only a certain percentage of organic foods in the product.

This is one of the many reasons why I subscribe to an organic living magazine. The information contained within its pages is invaluable, and sometimes when I find my enthusiasm for staying organic fading (mostly when I’m tired beyond belief and myself to cook up something instead of heading down to the nearest fast food joint!), these give me the pickup I need.

Of course as an added benefit I also found that my organic living magazine makes a great table coaster! But then again that’s just an added benefit. And with many an organic living magazine to choose from, it won’t be difficult for you to get your hands on at least one magazine to jump start your organic tendencies.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wines-and-spirits-articles/organic-living-magazine-306228.html

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Organic Foods for Years. For More Information on Organic Living Magazine, Visit His Site at ORGANIC LIVING MAGAZINE

Ways to Get Off the Grid

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Wouldn't it be great to be able to unplug your house from the electric company? What the big oil and power companies don't want you to know is that the technology is already there for you to get off the grid and power your house by nature... 100 percent!

Renewble energy is the way of the future and you can get started today. Whether you want to slash your energy bill by as much as 80 percent, or just eliminate your bill altogether, you no longer have to wait for some future technology. And with today's global economic situation, that's good to know.

Why is it that we never hear about the advances in renewable energy technlogy such as wind and solar power? Why? Because there's no profit involved. The Fortune 500 companies don't want you to know about these things because if you knew, you would be self-sufficient and would no longer need their services.

You can get started today and have your own solar or wind powered system for $200 or less! With your own home made energy system, you could save thousands of dollars a year for the rest of your life, while at the same time helping to save the environment.

If you're interested in off-the-grid living, here's a great website to help you get started: Click Here.

Organic Living

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:59:00 +0000

What does it mean to "live organic"? I suppose you could say it's like returning to centuries past... before the use of pesticides, chemicals, and artificial fertilizers.

Today's organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning that they are processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. Organic livestock are raised without the routine use of antibiotics and growth hormones.

Today, more and more people are realizing the health benefits and the environmental benefits of living an organic life. While the health benefits may be obvious, let's take a look at the environmental impact:

* Organic farms do not consume or release synthetic pesticides into the environment, some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local terrestrial and aquatic wildlife.

* Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems including populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.

* When calculated either per unit area or per unit of yield, organic farms use less energy and produce less waste, such as packaging materials for chemicals.

Out of necessity (and the future of our planet) humans are becoming more and more conscious of the need to return to a simpler way of life, which includes a return to organic living.

To find oganically produced products, look for the seals pictured below.

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Healthy Living: Is Organic & Natural Food Worth It?

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:53:00 +0000

Author: Doug G White

Is Organic Worth It?

Been in the grocery store recently shopping for meats, eggs, fish milk etc? Noticed all the strange labeling; “Organic” or “Natural” on these items? So we all know these organic food stuffs cost significantly more than regular food, but why, what is the difference really and is it worth the extra cost?

The word natural is used for most fruits and veggies, and is mostly a marketing ploy to get you to buy their product, as all fruits and veggies are natural – unless its some newly developed processed food, it is natural. What you should be looking for is the food labeled “organic”.

So what does organic mean?

Organic food is food which has been grown without the use of pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals. Buying organic food has two major benefits: Firstly you are preventing these potentially harmful chemicals from entering into the environment, so organic food is more environmentally friendly. Secondly, you do not induce these chemicals yourself, which is a lot healthier than “regular” foods. Since organic food tends to be a bit more expensive; if you are shopping on a budget then skip over the organic fruits and veggies which have peels that you remove before you eat them e.g. Bananas, Oranges etc… After all once you have removed the peel you remove the chemicals. Opt to at least buy organic foods such as apples where you actually consume the peel.

Remember to rinse the food thoroughly under water when you get home, regardless of whether it is organic or not.

Another label that you might come across is “No Hormones”, this is generally used on milk and meat products. Technically all such labels are completely wrong, as all animals produce hormones to function properly. What they really mean with this label is that no artificial hormones were given to the animal to grow faster and fatter or to produce more milk. Regardless of hormones or not, this meat and milk is perfectly safe for human consumption.

The last label that you might come across while shopping is found on meat and egg products. These will indicate whether the animal was caged or penned. This makes no difference to the nutritional value of the food but is more a question of animal rights. These products also generally cost more but are more of a humane decision.

So remember to read the labels carefully while grocery shopping, as being informed about what they mean can help you make the best choices for your diet.

Want more information on organic foods and a cleansing diet? Check out Johnny Andrews’ Master Cleanser – His eating plan even helped Beyonce Knowles lose 20 pounds!

www.topics-discovered.co.cc/MasterCleanser

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Healthy Living: is Organic and Natural Food Worth It?

Eating Organic And Raw Food

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Author: Jude Simons
Fortunately for those of us newly interested in eating organic and raw foods, there are lots of products out there. Natural and organic foods used to be found only in natural food stores, and those could be few and far between. While not as ubiquitous as McDonald's, there ARE many more stand-alone stores. And the grocery chains are catching on too, with more organic selections than ever before. If you don't see them in your grocery store, just ask. You're probably not the only person in your neighborhood who'd like to see more of these options.

Many grocery stores now feature sprouts and other living foods in the produce aisle. Of course, if they don't, there's nothing easier to grow for yourself than sprouts!

There are also tons of sites on the Web where you can order raw and living foods. Just do a search on raw foods and you'll come up with a lot of different places to order the foods you'd like to buy. Many of these sites are also full of useful information, to help you learn about eating raw foods, and help educate you on the specific food values.

What else? Experiment with what you like. Take the time to learn a little about what the different nutrients in foods do for you. A few examples:

Cabbage - High in Vitamin C; important for healthy cell function

Shitake mushrooms - contain essential fatty acids and antioxidants to support a healthy immune system

Kale - Rich in fiber and helps reduce calorie intake with less hunger. We like that!

Barley - Loaded with niacin, fiber and iron and is important for healthy blood sugar.

Pumpkin - So rich in fiber and vitamins; helps reduce appetite by filling the stomach with indigestible fibers

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/eating-organic-and-raw-food--781456.html

Live the Organic Way

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:51:00 +0000

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Think You Can't Be An Organic Gardener? Think Again!

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:15:00 +0000

If you're one of those people who think that growing your own organic food is too hard or takes too much time...think again! The world's best gardeners seem to have one trait in common, and that is just how little physical labor they actually put into their gardening efforts.

The book Organic Gardening Magic can show you how to avoid those common mistakes that tend to cause you extra hard work and added frustration. This book can teach you how to start using an all natural gardening method, even if you've never planted anything in your life.

The dangers of pesticides and chemical fertilizers are no joke. These substances are not only dangerous, but they rob your fruits and vegetables of flavor. Chemical fertilizers actually destroy your soil as it kills off the bacteria that your soil needs. And bug sprays are no better. They kill off everything along with the pests, including things that are beneficial to your garden.

It's well worth it for your health as well as the environment to learn more about the methods of Organic Gardening. There are many resources available to help you do just that. If you'd like to find out more about a highly recommended all natural organic gardening method, Click Here.

Here's to a healthy planet!

Living an Organic Life

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:25:00 +0000

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Vegetable Gardening - The Organic Way!

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:12:00 +0000

How to Get Off the Grid

noreply@blogger.com (The One) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:39:00 +0000