Archive for November, 2009

Product DescriptionTwinings English Breakfast Tea was originally blended to complement the traditional, hearty English breakfast, from which its name derives. Their refreshing and invigorating flavor makes English breakfast one of the most well loved black teas to drink at any time or occasion – not just for breakfast. English breakfast can be loved with or without milk, sweetened or unsweetened – the choice is yours. English breakfast tea is a rich and satisfying robust tea, traditio. . . More >>
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Anxiety is extreme stress, sometimes panic. It can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath along with feelings of doom. You can experience anxiety when your body reacts to signals it thinks are threats. Your heart rate goes up and you start to sweat. Other causes of anxiety can be classified as phobias, such as dread of flying or dread of heights. Herbs can be an simple way to help ease anxiety naturally. If you are taking anti-depressant drugs, but, do not try to substitute herbal remedies. Talk to your doctor before taking herbal remedies. When treating anxiety, start with the mildest remedy in the mildest dosage and go from there. Many of the herbs used to treat anxiety are safely compatible. Oats Oat seeds are calming and soothing and are helpful for those suffering from daily stress or who feels frayed. Tea is the common method of taking oats. Steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of seeds in a cup of hot water for ten minutes. You can drink a cup of tea every two hours as needed. Tincture is also available and you can take up to 3 teaspoons every two hours. Oats are also available as capsules. Chamomile Used often as tea, chamomile has a very soothing and calming effect on you. It helps relax the muscles and also helps ease a tense stomach. Drink one cup of tea every two hours or up to 3 teaspoons of tincture every two hours. Chamomile is readily available as tea at most supermarkets, but it’s a excellent thought to keep some on hand. Linden Linden gently relaxes and eases muscle tension, and is also used as a remedy for high blood pressure. Linden also makes a excellent all-around remedy for helping keep the cardiovascular system functioning well. It is most often used in tea, and you should drink one cup of tea every two hours as needed. Tincture is also available as well as capsules. Vervain Vervain is an herb that soothes and calms the nervous system as well as helps with depression. Often found as a tea, drink one cup of tea every two hours. It is also available as a tincture and in capsules. Motherwort This ancient-time remedy is useful for the cardiovascular system in general. It can help cool nerves and aids in soothing anxiety that can cause a rapid heart rate. Drink one cup of Motherwort tea every two hours. It is also available as a tincture and as capsules. Consult your doctor before taking Motherwort if you are currently taking any cardiac drugs. Lavender Lavender is relaxing and uplifting. It is fragrant and offers relief for anxiety and depression. Lavender essential oil is used diluted in bath water or can be inhaled. To use in a bath, add 10 to 12 drops to a full tub. You can also dilute it with oil to use as massage oil. It should not be taken internally. St. John’s Wort Commonly used to treat depression, St. John’s Wort is an overall health booster that helps the nervous system. As a tonic, take up to 3 teaspoons every two hours. It is also available in capsule form. Skullcap Used for anxiety and hormonal mood swings, skullcap is relaxing to the nervous system. It can be taken as a tea, a tincture or in capsule form. To make tea, steep one or two teaspoons of dried herbs in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Drink one cup of hot tea every two hours as needed. Kava-Kava This is an anti-anxiety herb that originated in the South Pacific islands. It works similarly to Valium, working with the part of the brain that controls the nervous system and emotions. It does not cause addiction nor does the body build up a tolerance to it. It also doesn’t impair thinking the way drugs may. In fact, in studies it was shown to improve brain function and memory. It is a excellent solution to treat anxiety on a small-term basis. The standard form is in capsules. Do not take with alcohol. Valerian Valerian is considered a strong anti-anxiety herb. Similar to Valium, it works with the central nervous system; but it does not cause dependence. It is also used to improve sleep as well as a muscle relaxant. It is taken in capsule form. Note – a small percentage of users indicate an increase in anxiety when taking this herb. If that happens, discontinue use. Passionflower Passionflower is a strong herb used primarily for calming and treating insomnia. It can also be used to help cool daytime anxiety. It is most commonly used as a tea. To make the tea, steep one to two teaspoons of dried herbs in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Drink one cup every two hours. Siberian Ginseng This herb helps restore adrenal glands that are overstressed. It is a excellent choice for those who are chronically overstressed, and is taken as a tonic. It has a cumulative effect, meaning that it may take several weeks or even months to see results from taking the tonic.

My No-Dig Veggie Garden
   Miles Trench 
I have been a passionate organic gardener for over thirty-five years. My first memories are of my father’s fruit orchard in Marden, South Australia, where the deep alluvial loam grew magnificent plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines. In fact, everything we planted grew well. And I fondly recall our early morning trips to the market in the 1970s, the ute loaded up with half-cases full of ripe, juicy fruit ready to sell.
            My grandfather had established an extensive market garden in Uraidla, in the Adelaide Hills. He taught my father about using nature to help grow healthy organic produce. And in turn, I learned from my dad. In fact, most ‘green thumbs’ of the older generation have a wealth of valuable experience and advice to offer – if only we take the time to question. Then I went to the Yorke Peninsula and found to my dismay that our block has only a very thin layer of topsoil and underneath it’s solid limestone. So it was with fantastic interest that I started reading Esther Dean’s book on no-dig gardening. Well, straight away I was hooked. The no-dig system as she clarifies is a fantastic, eco-friendly method of growing nutritious fresh vegetables at home. It’s cheap, simple, no fuss and completely chemical-free (something I have been advocating for a long time. )
There are many benefits and advantages to using a no-dig system; they include:
         Any suitable area can be used to house a no-dig grow bed as long as there is enough sun, access to organic material and clean water is available – you can even build a no-dig edible garden on top of flat concrete if that’s the only space you have available. (Just be sure that excess water can run off and won’t cause problems later on. )
         It saves time and effort (and your back! – no more bending to work hard ground).
         The organic medium in the grow-bed retains its structure and fertility well. (This is because the organisms in the soil mix [soil biota] are not continually disturbed as they are during traditional ‘in-ground’ digging and planting methods.
         It’s simple – kids through to the elderly can give it a go, and with fantastic results too!
         It’s cheap, organic, uses recycled materials and is environmentally friendly.
         It reduces water use, insect attack and hurt; and weed infestation and competition.
         It can be done on a small scale – right through to as large as you can manage.
         As the organic material breaks downs it makes a soil warming effect.
         And finally – it really works!
Worms…
The gardener’s friend, the humble earth worm, is nature’s underground dynamo. When you make a no-dig grow-bed without a solid bottom (for example you recycle an ancient rainwater tank and cut the bottom out), worms in the soil underneath and nearby will then have access. They will work their way up from below, aerating the bed and enriching the soil mix as they go.
Worms:
               Drag small particles of organic matter down into the soil.  
                Deposit ‘worm-castings’ or vermicast back onto the surface
§             Vermicast helps enrich the soil through the addition          of micro-elements and plant-friendly bacteria.
§             Vermicast used au natural or in the form of a weak ‘tea’          makes an incredible, eco-friendly and non-toxic natural          fertilizer.  
                Tunnelling worms aerate the soil
§             this assists drainage, moisture retention and also provides
         access for developing plant roots.
               Tunnelling earthworms also leave behind a trail of polysaccharides               (sugars) and plant-friendly bacteria 
               ‘Worm-farms’, are a fantastic way to recycle organic kitchen scraps and              will produce a free, natural, liquid fertilizer at the same time.
  Earthworms – Class Oligochaeta Phylum Annelida 
How to Build a No-Dig Grow Bed
 Materials
1)             No-dig bed framework – any suitably robust structure strong enough                 to contain the soil mix
2)             Oaten hay, straw or lucerne
3)             Ancient newspapers
4)             Compost and well rotted manure
5)             Clean water (to wet down the material as you go)
6)             Organic fertilizer (to boost plant growth)
7)             A couple of hours to prepare and construct the no-dig bed
8)             Seeds or seedlings to plant.  
Method 
1)      Choose a sheltered, sunny site for your no-dig garden bed, away from any large tree roots (if possible). Any form of solid frame can be used, as long as it’s strong enough to support the soil mix and won’t break down in the rain and weather.
      Do not set up your no-dig bed directly on top of established kikuyu or thick Buffalo grass or similar,  as these grasses thrive on the leached nutrients and                         will send runners all through your mix to eventually swamp the whole bed.  

                 Recycled rainwater tanks make fantastic no-dig grow beds
 Some examples of no-dig frames you might use.
             Hay Bales    Ancient wire bed frames    Boards
    Sleepers     Rainwater tanks    Bathtubs
             Tyres    Wooden pallets (cut to size)
   Stones piled up/Besser bricks, Galvanised iron
     Be inventive – find what you can use – use what you find  
 2) Once you have picked your spot, erect or construct your no-dig bed framework. Secure it well with screws or bolts or strong wire/twine to make it strong. You can use hay bales (see below), to get you started on your first attempts at no-dig.
 Steps to constructing a hay/straw bale no-dig framework
 Set up your bales of hay in a rectangle then loop and tie a supportive ring of strong twine around the shape, to prevent collapse (the coloured plastic cord that binds the hale bales is a excellent, strong twine).               Knock in some heavy garden stakes around the outside of the frame to provide extra support to the structure (see below). Using stakes tied with twine also provides an ideal trellis for climbing beans, tomatoes or cucumbers.
 Next, place a layer of gravel, small rocks, twigs, or similar coarse material as a base to ensure your bed will have excellent drainage. Make sure this layer is thick enough to smother any ground weeds.  I use a layer of broken bricks at the bottom for a no-dig garden bed, with hay bales to form the outside framework.  
3)      Lay down several sheets of newspaper, a layer of thick cardboard or an ancient piece of carpet. Wet this down thoroughly. On top of this spread a few handfuls of blood and bone, Dynamic Lifter® or a similar (slow release) organic fertilizer.
4)      Add the first layer of pea straw or hay (oaten hay is the best), about eight cm (ten inches) thick. Wet this down well also.
5)      Add the next layer – about twenty cm (eight inches) of manure. Make sure it is well rotted and weed-free (if possible). Water-in well also.
6)     Cow manure is excellent, but any natural animal manure is OK – Zoo-Poo® is rated highly by some, but make sure any manure you do use is well aged, as fresh stuff will burn fragile plant roots. On top of the manure add a layer of compost, humus, or vegetative scraps (like ancient corn husks, cabbage or lettuce leaves. )
7) Add another layer of lucerne, straw or oaten hay and water in well. To this, add a crust of powdered dolomite, garden lime, crushed rock or granite dust. These compounds add essential minerals and trace elements to the mix and help stabilize the pH levels (acid vs. alkaline). Soil pH of around 7 (neutral) is generally the best for growing most vegetables. Add another excellent, thick layer of aged manure.
9) Top this up with a thick layer, about twenty cm (eight inches) of humus, compost, potting mix or excellent, clean garden soil. This acts as the base medium to plant your veggies in.   
  CAREFUL:  You can use grass clippings in the layers of your mix, but be careful!  Grass clippings should be mixed in with other material (like compost or dry leaves, bits of bark, or small prunings/twigs) to make a combined layer, so that the grass won’t form into lumpy mats that will go mouldy, spoil the mix and may also introduce mould and fungus.
Warning:  1) Some horse or livestock manures may contain residual chemicals used in worming, performance or pest control treatment, especially stuff from pig farms horse studs.  
2) Poultry manure (especially pigeon poo) is very high in nitrogen and phosphorus. It must be well broken-down and diluted or combined well with other composted material before using: Never use raw poultry manure as fertilizer on your plants.  
Well, that’s about it. Of course, this is just one way to construct and prepare a no-dig garden. You can rig-up just about any sturdy framework and fill it with layers of organic material and grow lovely veggies. So if you don’t have all the material suggested above, use what can obtain cheaply and easily and give it a go. The vital thing is to have a weed-free, nutrient-rich soil base that is deep enough for the plants to grow in.
            You will also that notice that over time the soil mix in the bed will start to subside. This is normal. Just keep topping up with organic material to maintain a sufficient depth. A bed using hay/straw bales for the framework will last a couple of crops. Just recycle the hay or straw and use it as mulch or as part of a new no-dig grow bed. Boxes or large pots can be another simple way to no-dig garden as well. Some people grow potatoes in a ring of ancient tyres, they just keep adding another tyre on top, filling it with more organic material as the spuds develop and grow. When the tops die off, the spuds below are ready to harvest.
      Other materials that can be used in a no-dig bed:


               Coconut fibre / coir / comfrey leaves
                      Sawdust (mix with manure or leaves, compost or similar)
                               Mushroom compost, shredded  seaweed
                                      Rice hulls, Cocoa bean/nut shells, peat            
                  Hint:    Mulch around veggie seedlings with seaweed:                                It adds vital minerals like iodine to the soil mix.  
Q. ‘What if I use an ancient tub with a bottom and the worms can’t get in’? Excellent question… A. ‘Well, worm eggs abound in most excellent soils, so add a couple of handfuls to your mix and once the moisture and conditions are right, they will soon hatch and grow and start the industrious machinations we all appreciate and treasure.
            But if after a few weeks there is still no sign of worms, make sure once again you have adequate drainage (if it’s too moist, they will drown) and then go for a dig around the moist parts of your garden or beg, borrow or buy a few from a neighbour or friend – (you can also buy worm eggs on-line).
            And lastly, be aware that there is a difference between the tiger worms used in worm farms, and the usual garden variety found in most soils.
Well I hope you have loved this tale of how I made my no-dig garden. I now have six grow beds in operation – some tin, some wooden-framed. This allows me to leave a grow bed fallow (unplanted) or plant a green-manure crop – but I’ll tell you all about that and also how I achieve non-toxic pest control using companion planting the next time we discuss the fascinating and rewarding adventure we call organic gardening.
 
Smiles from miles 
Miles Trench – Email:  milestrench_22@yahoo. com. au
http://au. geocities. com/milestrench_22/milestrenchwebpage. html
 
 

If you are doing your best to raise a healthy baby then excellent for you! Babies are life’s most precious gift and should be taken care of accordingly. That is why you should research the advantages of organic cotton for your baby’s clothes instead of the conventional cotton. Read on to learn the major differences between conventional cotton and organic cotton. Conventional cotton is the one of the most pesticide laden crops in the world. Only coffee surpasses cotton in the amount of pesticides used. Conventional cotton farming involves the use of very heavy spraying of pesticides and herbicides, but it doesn’t stop there. Once the cotton is turned into fabric, chlorine bleach is used to give it a clean white color. Then formaldehyde is applied as a finisher. Here is a scary statistic: Approximately 1/3 of a pound of chemicals is used to grow and produce just one t-shirt. So as you can see, conventional cotton is harmful to the environment and to the people that wear the clothing made from conventional cotton. The process of growing organic cotton is really different. There are no chemicals used to grow organic cotton. The fields are fertilized naturally and the weeds are removed with hoes, tractors or by hand. Pests are controlled by the use of specific pest eating insects. Organic cotton crops have earned the mark of organic by using soil that has been free of pesticides for three consecutive years. Organic cotton farming will use chili, garlic, tree tea oil and other natural substances in their farming process. Another fantastic benefit of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton is that organically grown cotton has the ability to “breathe” a lot better. This will allow for moisture to evaporate. Baby clothing or bedding that has been manufactured with conventional cotton fabric will trap moisture next to baby’s skin which can cause a rash. Many babies have sensitive skin so providing them with more breathable clothing is a simple and effective way for parents to minimize skin irritation. Clothing made from organic cotton will last much longer than clothing made from conventional cotton. The fibers of organic cotton are much stronger and thicker than the conventional cotton. Conventional cotton fibers have been weakened by the chemicals and bleaching process. Organic cotton baby clothes can be found in various baby boutiques across the country. As the popularity of organic clothing increases, organic baby clothes will become simpler to find. But if you do not have a baby boutique in your area that sells clothes made from organic cotton, do a search online. You will be able to find a ton of places that sell organic baby clothes. Most parents want the best for their babies. The clothes we choose are part of that. If you are wanting the best for your baby, consider buying baby clothes made from organic cotton. You’ll feel better knowing that you’re not only doing the best for your baby but for the environment as well, all by making this one simple change.

Product DescriptionCaffeine-free, 80 percent organic Ginseng Royal Vitality Tea is specially designed to boost mental and physical energy for both men and women. This healing formula is made with organic pan ax ginseng root (pan ax ginseng and pan ax quinquefolium), used for centuries to help people maintain general health, increase mental clarity, and improve stamina. A favorite herb in Asia where it is often used to increase sexual energy, ginseng is taken by millions of people each. . . More >>
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