For a few years now I have wanted to build a greenhouse from reclaimed windows and doors. My parents had visited a place just outside of London Ontario where they saw a beautiful and rustic, handmade greenhouse. They knew instantly that I would fall in love with the idea and boy were they right! Without even seeing this greenhouse I could already envision how one would look in my yard. The problem was getting it done. I am not capable of doing it by myself and getting my husband on board is not exactly easy. It’s not that he is opposed to a greenhouse, we both want one, but there are a few other obstacles in our way. One thing that stands in our way is our carpentry skills. We learned a lot about building and framing while building our house, but that was 8 years ago, a lot has been forgotten and our confidence with our skills is not where it was when we finished building. Another thing is our neighbours and location of where it needs to go. The back of our house is too shady and does not have a space that would work without taking out a lot of trees, so we are limited to the front/side of our yard. It may sound a bit strange… Though, it would be more off to the side but it would still be in the front yard as our house is set further back on the property. There are still trees that need to come down, which we can use for heating our house in the winter, but not as many as in the back yard.  The side yard is also a better area for sun exposure. I personally think that recycled greenhouse would look very cool in our yard; in fact I see it as being a beautiful focal point. This past summer we went to that place outside of London and we got to see the greenhouse in all its glory! My husband loved it; he could finally see what I was taking about. Now he hasn’t agreed to build one yet, but I am sure that I could convince him. Growing our own food is so important for us.

Fast forward to today, I open my email and in the Mother Earth newsletter I saw this article http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/DIY-Greenhouse-Build-Your-Own-Greenhouse.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=01.25.12+DIY&utm_campaign=2012+DIY&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email. It looks like I have been re-inspired to seriously look at building a greenhouse this spring.  Keep tuned, I hope to one day be writing about building a beautiful greenhouse and a garden in my yard.

Let me end today’s blog with a quote about gardening by Hanna Rion ‘The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.‘

Scent of Samadhi is a natural herbal deodorant used by the yogis of South India. The price may seem a little steep at $33, but it is well worth because of how great it smells and the euphoric sensation it brings. Not to mention a 5 gram jar should last 3 months minimum with daily use.

If you practice yoga, meditation, or other body works you will be amazed at how much the fragrance will help draw yourself inwards bringing a deeper clarity, and focus. Although, you do not have to be interested in yoga or meditation to be attracted to Scent of Samadhi, the scent is appreciated by both men and women.

The fragrance of Scent of Samadhi is mystical and attractive, it adapts to your own body chemistry. It is amazing how your own scent is mixed with the Scent of Samadhi to create your own enchanting fragrance unique to you! Also, the more you perspire the better you smell!

Once you have a chance to be enchanted by the smell of Scent of Samadhi you will be amazed, though the fragrance of their product is only half of their beauty. Scent of Samadhi donates a portion of their sales to support Amma Sanctuary, the debut project of Ariven Community (www.ariven.org).
This helps to support:
- Global Sanctuaries for retired cows and oxen
- Utilization of vast lands for organic farming
- 50% of the vegetarian farm produce to feed the hungry
- Eco-friendly solutions- fuel alternatives and renewable electricity
- Supporting, sustaining and educating a global vegetarian diet

Now, from my own personal experience I would highly recommend Scent of Samadhi for those who enjoy yoga or meditation. I’ve begun using Scent of Samadhi during my own meditation sessions instead of burning incense and I prefer the Scent of Samadhi much more. First of all, I used to find that incense would help with meditation but would also irritate my nose and lungs sometimes because of the smoke. Now with Scent of Samadhi I find the scent much more enchanting, soothing, and it helps to guide myself inwards. The Scent of Samadhi is incomparable to any perfumes or deodorants found here in Canada because it is not made with synthetic fragrances, but instead made from a wonderful blend of red sandalwood, clove oil, tulsi and rose oil. If you are curious about this product and dislike the overpowering scent of synthetic fragrances, or enjoy yoga or meditation then I recommend this product for you!

-Nick Curwen
Peace, love, happiness, forever. Always.

Today, while catching up on Facebook, I saw a posting that a friend had posted…which is completely disturbing to me. it was a video showing police raiding a raw food co-op in LA. 

I consume a high raw food vegan diet full of fresh organic foods. The fact that one day, these foods might be illegal really scares me. Think it can’t happen??? Watch the video, read Dr.Mercola’s comments on the subject or google “organic food co-op raid” and find over 600,000 possible matches. Page one of the google search turns up finds such as “Unconscionable Police Raid on Family’s Home and Organic Food Co-Op” and “Swat team conducts food raid in rural Ohio“….that is just page one. For a few years now I have subscribe to health newsletters, such as Natural News and Dr. Mercola, and have been “warned” about the potential of losing our freedom to choose fresh organic foods and that one day it may even be illegal to grow and share your harvests. Come on now! For real??? Apparently it is real. How sad this is!?!?

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Does losing the right to choose fresh organic foods concern you?

By now most people have heard about or watched the Story Of Stuff.  Just this past week the creators of the Story of Stuff  have created another wonderful video explaining the Story of Cosmetics. This video, like all of the other Story of Stuff Videos, is wonderful at identifying problems with current systems and identifies solutions that will help lessen our environmental impact and reduce toxins in our lives. This video, in a nut shell, explains the importance of reading labels and choosing natural skin care products that don’t contain harmful ingredients.

So, if you haven’t already watched the Story of Cosmetics and are still using “normal” personal care products, I would highly recommend that you make the time to watch this video….if you love yourself and your family you need to watch this video so that you can make educated decision based on your knowledge and what you feel is right for you and your family.

Blessings!
Enjoy your weekend

Parabens are preservatives that are used in most personal care products and shampoos. They can even be found in some foods and medicines. Parabens are used to inhibit microbial growth, and they are not a new substance - as far back as the 1920s, parabens were used as preservatives.

You can recognize them in ingredient lists on shampoo bottles - known variously as “methylparaben, propylparaben, benzylparaben and butylparaben,” all end in “paraben,” making them fairly easy to recognize. They can even be found in natural and organic hair care products, so be sure to read your labels carefully.

Why are some people concerned about the safety of parabens?  Should YOU be concerned?

Here are some of the common concerns with parabens.

Breast cancer- A 2004 study showed traces of five parabens in cancerous breast tumors. Although the study did not prove the parabens caused the cancer, parabens do have estrogen-like activity in the body, and excess estrogenic activity is highly implicated in breast cancer.

The concern regarding this study is that it clearly shows that parabens are capable of remaining intact in human tissue, and are not necessarily excreted from the body quickly and easily, as was once thought. The 2004 study is inconclusive, but that is the point - the study does not prove that parabens are safe, either. It raises important questions about the safety of parabens.

The water supply- When you use shampoo that contains parabens, those parabens go down the drain and into the public water supply each time you wash your hair. If you have a septic system, the parabens will be excreted into the leach field, and thus into the general environment. Ground water, creeks, streams, springs, and other water supplies are therefore contaminated with each rain.

Municipal water systems are obligated to sanitize water by killing bacteria and other microorganisms before it is considered drinkable tap water. Parabens, however, are not microorganisms. Like other chemicals dumped into the water supply, parabens can easily go “full circle” in the water supply, going from shower drain to rivers and back to the water treatment facility. Parabens on the skin are one thing, but the effects of actually drinking them is something else to consider.

Baby products- There is no limit on the amount of parabens that manufacturers can use in shampoos; the amount is not regulated. Babies, with their smaller bodies and less-developed systems, are more at risk for all toxins and chemicals than adults. So be sure to read ingredient lists on all baby cleansing products, including natural and organic products. Be sure to check out our selection of completely safe and natural baby skin care products.

Parabens are a controversial substance. The studies are not definitive regarding the safety of parabens; parabens have not been proven unsafe, but they have not been proven safe, either. Due to this doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry and avoid parabens.

Having difficulty finding paraben-free natural and organic hair care products? Look no further! We offer natural and organic haircare products that are completely free of all harmful ingredients….we have done the research for you so you don’t have to!

 

Many people today are lead to believe that consuming dairy is BENEFICIAL and NECESSARY for our health, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Take for example, there are many people who consume dairy in sufficient amount, yet they still suffer or are being diagnosed with osteoporosis. On the other hand, Asian and vegan women who rarely or never consume dairy products have lower incidents of osteoporosis. What’s going on? Does dairy really build strong bones?

 

Protein & Calcium

Western women tend to eat a lot of meat in addition to consuming dairy products. Protein inhibits calcium absorption. The urinary output of calcium is much greater in meat-and-dairy-eating women.

Dairy products themselves have a significant amount of protein that may prevent the calcium in them from being absorbed. In other words, the calcium in dairy products may not do much good no matter how much you consume. A study at Harvard University shows that, of the 78,000 women who participated, incidents of bone breakage were much higher among the women who got their calcium from dairy products.

So what should you eat to build strong bones? Bring on the plant foods!

 

Foods that help build stronger bones

* Cabbage - Cabbage contains boron. This mineral, which is also sold in supplement form (I recommend getting it directly from the source whenever possible) helps the body absorb magnesium. It also increases estrogen levels in the body, and more estrogen means greater bone preservation.

* Dandelion greens - Instead of pulling them out by the roots or pouring pesticides on them, harvest young dandelion greens and boil them as you would spinach or serve them raw in a salad. This pretty but pesky little vegetable is packed with boron and calcium - 1/2 cup of the young leaves contains 1 milligram of boron and 200 milligrams of calcium (boron is needed in small amounts; 1 milligram is significant). Dandelion is also a great liver cleanser.

* Avocado - Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. Avocados are a tasty source of this vitamin.

* Beans - Beans contain potassium, which helps decrease calcium loss from bones.

* Kale- This winter vegetable is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin K. Try making dehydrated kale chips in your oven or dehydrator, they are delicious.

* Parsley - Be liberal with this green leafy food that is usually used as a condiment. Not only does it have boron, it also contains fluorine. Fluorine is a bone strengthener.

* Broccoli - Like kale, broccoli is a good source of calcium.

* Citrus Fruits - Vitamin C is important in the building of the connective tissue collagen. Minerals “cling” to collagen when forming bone.

* Bell Peppers - These are another rich source of vitamin C.

Happy belated Canada Day! I hope that everyone had a wonderful day off. Some of you may have today off as well, but for me, no, I need to get something done today, because I took Wednesday off. My husband and I went to what we call our ‘natural healer’ to have a ‘treatment done’. We are so lucky and grateful to be able to have someone like her in our life, our massage and colonic were beyond anything you could ever imagine. Anyhow, that is not what I want to share with you today. Today I would like to talk gardening with a conscious.

If you like to garden chances are you are looking for ways to grow your plants and vegetables using environmentally friendly methods. Not only is it better for your health, it’s gentler on the environment. Here are some steps you can take to become more eco-friendly and eco-healthy in the garden.

1. Use natural pest control. Natural pesticides are available commercially, or you can make your own. Diatomaceous earth is an insecticidal powder that is made from fossil diatoms, and is non-toxic to humans. Other non-toxic options include hot pepper sprays and insecticidal soaps.

2. Natural weed control is also essential. The best way to keep weeds under control is simply to pull them out. But if you can’t do that for whatever reason, try pouring white vinegar directly (undiluted) onto weeds, being careful not to come in contact with other plants or vegetables. I recommend staying away from chemical weed-killer as they are full of harmful carcinogens and neurotoxin.

3. Plant trees to provide shade and, if you are able, plant trees that will bear fruit (plant 2 for cross pollination). The shade will decrease your energy bills in the summer.

4. Compost your kitchen food scraps. Composting your own food scraps will cut down on the amount of garbage being generated from your household. Plus, you can use the composted soil in your gardens or house hold plants.

5. Forget the picture perfect lawn and opt for a more natural look. It takes a lot of chemical intervention to create the artificial green square lawn so prized  by many Canadians. Instead, try planting wildflowers or vegetables where your lawn is. Watch how this family did it.

6. Use a rain barrel to cut down on your use of municipal water. Plants thrive on rain water, and it’s free! Plus it hasn’t been treated with chlorine or fluoride or softened by a water softener.

7. Plant native species of plants as much as possible. Native species are hardy and they will not introduce foreign plant matter into the surrounding ecosystem. Also, natives require less intervention; they are naturally resistant to the bugs and conditions of their native land. Search google to find what plants are native to your area.

8. Going the container route? Choose eco-friendly pots and planters. You can recycle old jugs, teapots, watering cans, and even shoes by making them into planters. You can also buy planting containers that are made from recycled materials.

9. Mulch. Using a natural wood mulch helps making weeding easier, helps retain moisture around plants and decomposes into wonderful natural compost soil.

10. Outdoor lighting and water features are beautiful. Why not incorporate solar options opposed to electrically operated ones. Not only will you save money by not using power to operate them, you are also being kinder to the environment, it’s a win - win situation.

Question of the Day:

What is your favorite plant or vegetable that you grow? Please share your comments below.

 

Today is my sons first day official day of summer holidays.  It’s hard to believe that another school year has passed and that the craziness of summer is now upon me. While I am always excited by change, and welcome it with open arms, I have to say, that I feel a little unprepared for this one…although today has been great so far!!! So, how can one stay busy, while on a budget?

Here are some examples of reasonably priced activities that will keep kids busy while creating wonderful memories this summer.

1.   The community pool –While I don’t like the fact that most public pools are heavily chlorinated, I do realize that summer wouldn’t be the same without swimming. Most communities have public pools that you can join for a small annual fee, usually $15-50 for the whole family. They also usually offer low cost swim lessons too, so if the lack of swim prowess is holding you back you can always make sure the kids get lessons. The latest trend is the small community water splash pads. Most communities offer use of splash pads at no cost. There are also full blown water parks. These are often fairly costly, unless season pass options are available.

 

2.   Have fun with your neighbours – Get together with a couple other families in the neighbourhood and arrange to meet at a local park one night every other weekend. Arrange games and activities for all the kids including games like ring toss, red light green light, Mother May I, Simon Says, three legged racing, freeze tag and the like, adults can have a lot of fun joining in as well. Have each family can bring one large dish and have a outdoor potluck. This is a very low cost way to get neighbourhood kids together for some summer fun they will always remember.

 

3.   Stay-cations– There is no need to go very far if the budget won’t allow it. Do an Internet search to find destinations no more than 2-3 hours away from home and plan a few special outings this summer. Pack some snacks and prepared lunches in a cooler, grab some travel games or dvd’s for the player (if you have one), and hit the road. When looking for places to go think about museums, historical homes, beaches, local festivals and provincial parks.

      You don’t have to spend oodles of dollars. Stay-cations are not only good on the pocket book, they are also lighter on the environment, creating less of a carbon footprint.

It’s never to late to plan your summer, with a little preparation you can ward off boredom and the stress and fighting that can occur when everyone is left to their own devices. A memorable summer of family fun is easier to pull off than you think.

I wish everyone a safe, fun filled summer!

Question of the day:
Have you made plans for your summer or are you the ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ type?

New Beginnings

I haven’t been very faithful with posting articles or information to my blog, but that is going to change from here on!!! I have made a commitment to myself that I am going to stop procrastinating and make the time, stop the negative thinking (people will judge, that’s a given) and just do it (blog regularly)!  I have so much information that I want to share with others (I spend way too many hours a day researching health topics), not just information on UME and the products we sell, but information on healthy living, healthy eating, going “green” and saving money doing it and pretty much everything that has to do with health and nature. If there are topics that interest you or if you have any questions, I may be able to help, just post your comments or questions below. I look forward to sharing (on a regular basis) with you all.

Amazing Video

Today I want to share this video with you  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeaYqU2SSJE&feature=player_embedded. All I can say is WOW! I am so envious!!! This video is a short documentary of this family from Pasadena, CA who lives off their land in a suburban environment. They have the most amazing edible gardens, livestock and harvest their own power. It is really incredible to see a family of 4 live on $30,000 per year. The best part is that all the whole family was so happy. No stress and so much LOVE and RESPECT. It really solidifies the idea that living a simple life and being in touch with nature can bring you ultimate peace and happiness. 

One day day, in the not so distant future, I hope to be living this way. But for now, this small garden is all I can handle!!!

Me in my garden

Question of the day:

Does living off the land (off the grid) interest you? Post your comments below!