According to a World Health Organization report in 2002, harmful indoor pollutants represent a serious health problem that is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year. Indoor air is up to 12 times more polluted than outdoor air in some areas, with air quality affected by chemicals from paints, varnishes, adhesives, furnishings, clothing, solvents, building materials and even tap water. These produce so-called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that have been shown to cause illnesses in people who are exposed to the compounds in indoor spaces.

Now horticulture experts in the US have tested a number of ornamental indoor plants for their ability to remove harmful VOCs from indoor air. Stanley Kays, the lead researcher at University of Georgia, said some indoor plants have the ability to effectively remove harmful VOCs from the air and not only improve physical health, but also someone’s wellbeing. Adding these plants to indoor spaces can reduce stress, increase performance at work and reduce symptoms of ill health.

The research team tested 28 common indoor ornamental plants for their ability to remove five volatile indoor pollutants. Of the species tested, purple waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata), English ivy (Hedera helix), waxy leaved plant (Hoya carnosa) and Asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus) were rated best for removing air pollutants. The purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida) was rated superior for its ability to remove four of the VOCs.
Prof Kays, writing in the journal HortScience, said: “The volatile compounds tested in this study can adversely affect indoor air quality and have a potential to seriously compromise the health of exposed individuals.”

The study concluded that simply introducing common ornamental plants into indoor spaces has the potential to significantly improve the quality of indoor air.

The recommended plants are listed below. Note that all the plants in the list are easily available from your local nursery.

1. Purple Waffle Plant – (Hemigraphis Alternata)
2. English Ivy – (Hedera Helix)
3. Waxy Leaved Plant – (Hoya Carnosa)
4. Asparagus Fern – (Asparagus Densiflorus)

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Favorite Houseplant?

Source: telegraph.co.uk

• Top 15 Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality
• 5 Plants You Can Easily Grow Organically In Your Home
• Is Cheap Food Worth Risking Your Life?
• White Tea Keeps You Healthy And Looking Younger
• What Are Probiotics? Do They Really Enhance Your Health?

.

(OrganicJar) St Petersburg, Florida — With the disaster in the Gulf keeping everyone on edge looking for a solution, the answer might lay in material manufactured by a Colombian company with an office in Florida.

The company, Global Environmental Technology, has a product that is 100 percent organic and was invented in 1998 by its president, Carlos Forero. He won science competitions in Switzerland and Austria for the product, which encapsulates oil and cleans the material up.

Not only does the product clean up the oil, it can also be recycled for use afterwards. In addition, if birds are contaminated, the product can used for them as well.

You would think that with the disaster in the Gulf, and oil spilling out and heading to the beaches, the Coast Guard would be interested in the product. However, the company says all they are getting is red tape and getting nowhere.

Liz Cabot, Forero’s sister, says the Coast Guard said come back when they got EPA approval.

When EPA reviewed the product and said it could be used, the company went back to the Coast Guard and Cabot says they were told they had to fill out paperwork. Cabot says they have been waiting and waiting for the paperwork to clear.

And while the paperwork is being cleared, the oil continues to spread in the Gulf.

Source: wtsp.com

• ALERT: ‘Organic’ Products Found with Cancer Causing Chemical!
• Is Global Warming a Fraud?
• The Shocking Truth About Orange Juice – Must Watch!
• What is a Neti Pot? How is it used? Why YOU should know!
• WWOOF – World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms

While it’s a well known fact that plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis, the NASA/ALCA study showed that many houseplants also remove harmful elements such as trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air.

The advantage that houseplants have over other plants is that they are adapted to tropical areas where they grow beneath dense tropical canopies and must survive in areas of low light. These plants are thus ultra-efficient at capturing light, which also means that they must be very efficient in processing the gasses necessary for photosynthesis. Because of this fact, they have greater potential to absorb other gases, including potentially harmful ones.

In the study, NASA and ALCA tested primarily for three chemicals: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. Formaldehyde is used in many building materials including particle board and foam insulations. Additionally, many cleaning products contain this chemical. Benzene is a common solvent found in oils and paints. Trichloroethylene is used in paints, adhesives, inks, and varnishes.

NASA noted that some plants are better than others in treating certain chemicals. For example, English ivy, gerbera daisies, pot mums, peace lily, bamboo palm, and Mother-in-law’s Tongue were found to be the best plants for treating air contaminated with benzene. The peace lily, gerbera daisy, and bamboo palm were very effective in treating trichloroethylene. Additionally, NASA found that the bamboo palm, Mother-in-law’s tongue, dracaena warneckei, peace lily, dracaena marginata, golden pathos, and green spider plant worked well for filtering formaldehyde. After conducting the study, NASA and ALCA came up with a list of the most effective plants for treating indoor air pollution.

The recommended plants are listed below. Note that all the plants in the list are easily available from your local nursery.

1. Oxycardium Philodendron, heartleaf philodendron, Philodendron scandens
2. Elephant Ear Philodendron, Philodendron domesticum
3. Massangeana, cornstalk dracaena, Dracaena fragrans
4. English Ivy, Hedera helix
5. Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum
6. Janet Craig, Janet Craig dracaena, Dracaena deremensis
7. Warneckii, Warneck dracaena, Dracaena deremensis
8. Weeping Fig, Ficus benjamina
9. Golden Pothos, Epipiremnum aureum
10. Peace Lily, Mauna loa, Spathiphyllum
11. Selloum Philodendron, Philodendron selloum
12. Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema modestum
13. Bamboo or reed palm, Chamaedorea sefritzii
14. Snake Plant, Sansevieria trifasciata
15. Red-edged Dracaena, Dracaena marginata

For an average home of under 2,000 square feet, the study recommends using at least fifteen samples of a good variety of these common houseplants to help improve air quality. They also recommend that the plants be grown in six inch containers or larger.

Here is a list of resources for more information on this important study:

PDF files of the NASA studies related to plants and air quality:

• NASA Study 1 (PDF)
• NASA Study 2

List of NASA studies related to treating a variety of air and waterborne pollutants with plants:

• NASA Water Research

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Favorite Houseplant?

Source: doitgreen.org

• Indoor Plants Could Save Your Life
• 5 Plants You Can Easily Grow Organically In Your Home
• Top 10 Organic Food Buying Tips
• Meet ACE the Worlds New Super Pepper
• Was Ancient Earth A Green Planet

(OrganicJar) For some of us gardening in a traditional garden just isn’t a reality. Much of the population is packed into large cities with little to no green space to speak of. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t grow your own plants and some of your own food. I would also have to advise that if you’re interested in actually gardening in a large city that you get involved in a community garden so that you can get down and dirty with the planet to your heart’s content. As a general rule, select as large a container as possible. Small containers dry out more quickly and need daily watering. If you have a patio, a porch, or just some well lighted areas with space for potted plants.

Try these easy-to-grow potted plants:

1. Aloe Vera
   Known for its ability to soothe burns and re-hydrate skin, and it’s one of the easiest potted plants to care for especially if you’re super busy. It requires several hours of direct sunlight and watering only twice per month to thrive. It is tolerant of climate changes but bring it inside during a freeze.
2. Pole Beans
   Pole beans grow well in a large pot if they’re trained on a trellis or tepee made from bamboo poles. Plant the seeds 2 to 3 inches apart. The pot should be at least 14 inches high and the temperature of the soil should be at least 60 degrees.
3. Carrots
   Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches apart in soil that’s at least 55 degrees. The pot should be at least 14 inches high because carrots have long roots.
4. Companion Planted Herbs
   Select herbs that grow well together like oregano and thyme. Because they are both from the same Mediterranean climate they require similar conditions. Plant them in a shallow pot so that the soil will remain warm throughout. Herbs grow fast and should begin to be harvested in about a month.
5. Lettuces
   You truly don’t even need to plant many varieties of lettuce in the ground at all and they often sprout all year round. They do need a lot of sun so move the pot around the house so that it’s constantly getting sunlight.

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Favorite House Plant?

• Indoor Plants Could Save Your Life
• Top 15 Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality
• What is Organic?
• Grow, Share, or Find a Garden with Sharing Backyards
• Top 10 Green Eating Tips

.

The red squares in the above map represent the land area necessary to meet the energy demand of the world, the EU (European Union) and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) according to 2005 data. The last square represents the land necessary for the proposed project to generate 100 GW of concentrating solar power. The project being proposed by Desertec would not all be situated in one location, but scattered throughout politically stable countries. Taken as a whole, the project qualifies as the world’s largest solar installation. The power generated would be transported over high-voltage DC lines across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, where it would supply 15% of the energy demand.

Even more frightening than the energy crisis is the water scarcity that is set to occur even sooner. Taking this into account, the project hopes to combine desalination plants and agriculture along with the solar plants to provide fresh drinking water and grow crops in arid desert region. Concentrated solar power will provide energy and waste heat to create freshwater from seawater. Some of that water would then be used to irrigate nearby crops, while the rest would supply fresh drinking water to local populations. This concept is very similar to the Sahara Forest Project.

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Opinion?

Source: inhabitat.com

• Solar Plane Attempts to Circle the Globe
• Saving the Economy by Saving the Planet
• What is Organic?
• Don’t Miss the Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the Century
• Fungus Threatens 80% of Worlds Wheat Crop!

(OrganicJar) Eating green is perhaps the most impactful single act we engage in. The products we buy all have very specific impacts — from where the cows graze before supplying your milk, to how near your home your bread is baked. Of course, it isn’t quite that simple; there are numerous factors throughout the entire life cycle of all your food and its inputs that affect its relative impact. So, how do you navigate all of these choices?

1. Indulge in the Big O

When you eat organic, don’t just picture the healthy food you are putting in your body, picture the healthy ecosystems which produced that food, the workers who are safer from chemicals, the land, water, and air that is being protected, and the wildlife that is being allowed to thrive. Organic vegetables, fruits, grains, juice, dairy, eggs, and meat (and don’t forget the organic wine and beer), are grown and processed in ways that support healthy people and a healthy planet.

2. Feast on Fair Trade fare

Fair trade certified food ensures a proper wage and working conditions for those who harvest and handle it. But fair trade is green for the environment as well. TransFair, the only fair trade certifier in the U.S., has strong environmental standards built into its certification process that protect watersheds and virgin forests, help prevent erosion, promote natural soil fertility and water conservation, and prohibit GMOs and many synthetic chemicals. TransFair claims that their environmental standards are the most stringent in the industry, second only to USDA organic certification.

3. Go local

Buying seasonal, local food is a boon for the environment for a lot of reasons. Since most food travels many miles to reach your table (1,500 miles, on average), locally sourced food cuts back on the climate-change impacts of transportation. Local food also generally uses less packaging, is fresher and tastier, and comes in more varieties. It also supports small local growers and lets them get more for their produce by not having to spend so much on packing, processing, refrigeration, marketing, and shipping. The best way to track down local food is at farmers markets or through community supported agriculture (CSA), which often offer home delivery.

4. Don’t follow the pack

Instead of buying foods that come in extensive packaging (most of which is petroleum-based plastics) look for unpackaged or minimally packaged foods, experiment with bringing your own containers and buying in bulk, or pick brands that use bio-based plastic packing. And of course try and recycle or reuse any packaging you end up with. [Trader Joe, we love you but it’s a packaging nightmare in there]

5. Compost the leftovers

Greening your meals isn’t just about the food that winds up on the plate—it’s the entire process, the whole lifecycle shebang. Composting leftovers will ease the burden on the landfill, give you great soil, and keep your kitchen waste basket from smelling. Apartment dwellers and yardless wonders can do it too! And yes, a composting toilet can be part of the miraculous cycle as well.

6. Grow your own

In the garden, in the greenhouse, in the window box, or something fancier. Even urbanites can get quite a bit of good eats from not much space.

7. To and from

Just as buying locally grown food cuts on “miles per calorie,” buying from local sellers cuts back on emissions, fuel consumption, and unnecessary traffic.

8. Just enough

Put some extra planning into the amount of food you cook will cut back on waste. If it’s something that will spoil quickly, try to avoid making more than you or your family can eat. If you’ve got extra, make a friend happy with a home cooked surprise. If it’s a bigger affair, give the leftovers to those who may need it more.

9. Eat it Raw

Many people swear by the benefits of eating raw. Whatever the health advantages may be, preparing raw food consumes less energy and because raw food is usually fresh by definition, it is more likely to be locally grown.

10. Ease up on the meat

Meat is the most resource-intensive food on the table and eating less of it can be the single most green move a person makes. Producing meat requires huge amounts of water, grain, land, and other inputs including hormones and antibiotics, and leads to pollution of soil, air, and water. A pound of beef requires around 12,000 gallons of water to produce, compared to 60 gallons for a pound of potatoes. If you’re a meat eater, for starters, try cutting out a serving of meat each week. Going vegetarian or vegan is a profoundly meaningful environmental choice, and it’s done wonders for Chris Martin and Prince.

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Favorite Green Eating Tip?

Source: planetgreen.com

• Top 10 Organic Food Buying Tips
• Man Tries to Become ‘Certified Organic’
• Has the Recession Taken Its Toll On Your Eating Habits?
• What is Organic?
• Research Confirms Organic Apples Have More Antioxidants Than Conventionally Grown Apples

With Oregon passing a hemp bill (SB 676) last Monday permitting production and possession of industrial hemp in their state, farmers and eco-designers alike are probably freaking out from all the possibilities at hand. The move is part of a rapidly growing nationwide trend to liberalize laws relating to marijuana. Hemp is a botanical cousin of marijuana.

Bill sponsor, Senator Floyd Prozanski was quoted by Vote Hemp saying “By passing SB 676 with strong bi-partisan support, the Oregon legislature has taken a proactive position to allow its farmers the right to grow industrial hemp, to provide American manufacturers with domestically-grown hemp, and to profit from the effort.”

Until now, only five other states – Maine, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana and West Virginia – have legalized hemp production, making it hard for eco-designers to get hemp fibers for clothing at a reasonable price (not to mention being able to support an American grown textile).

Hemp is one of the most useful fibers known to man with over 25,000 uses from creating clothing to car manufacturing. (It’s too bad hemp production is banned in most place largely thanks to misunderstanding and outright myth.) The fibers themselves are stronger, more absorbent and more mildew-resistant than cotton and can block the sun’s UV rays more effectively than other fabrics. It can also be made into a variety of fabrics including a linen quality.

Leave a Comment and Tell Us Your Favorite Hemp Products?

Source: ecosalon.com prnewswire.com

• Marijuana Proven to Reduce Tumor Growth
• Raw Almonds Still Illegal
• The Shocking Truth About Orange Juice – Must Watch!
• Herbs ‘Can Be Natural Pesticides’
• USDA Organic Labels Not to be Trusted

The Solar Impulse design was first unveiled in late 2007, but now a working prototype has been developed (with a budget of $94 million). The plane will get a chance to take its first test flight at the end of 2009. The test flight will consist of flight sequences over two days and one night. If successful, the team will start preparing for the round-the-world flight.

.

The Impulse is made of carbon fiber, has a wingspan of 63 meters and is covered in 12,000 solar PV cells. The power generated by the solar cells is stored in over 400 kg of batteries, which allow for flying at night. The plane is propelled by four ten-horsepower electric motors. It can’t reach great speeds, meaning circling the globe will take a long time, but if it accomplishes such a feat, we’ll know that solar-powered air travel (as well as other types of transportation) could have a real future.

Source: inhabitat.com heraldnet.com

• World’s Largest Solar Project Planned for Saharan Desert
• Don’t Miss the Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the Century
• Broccoli Sprouts Proven to Protect Skin Better than Sunscreen
• 10 Simple Easy Ways to Save the Planet
• Multivitamins Linked to Younger Biological Age

A team led by Dr. David Jenkins of St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto in Ontario, reported that the traditional Atkins low-carb diet, in which people cut out carbohydrates and eat more meat, has been shown to help lower blood fats known as triglycerides and raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL, the “good” cholesterol, but it also tends to raise bad cholesterol levels.

Jenkins and colleagues looked to see if a vegetarian version of the Atkins diet that was high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils might have more heart benefits.

The study suggests a plant-based low-carb diet can be an effective option for people with high cholesterol who want to lose weight. After a month, people in both groups lost about four kilograms, or 8.8 pounds. But people on the low-carb, plant protein diet had lower LDL cholesterol and healthier blood pressure compared with those on the high-carb diet.

Source: reuters

• A Simple Guide to: What is High Cholesterol?
• Can Eggs Lower Your Blood Pressure
• Herbs to Prevent Heart Disease
• Macadamia Nuts Lower Risk Factors for Coronary Disease
• Common Food Ingredient L-Cysteine Linked to Heart Disease

10. Use eco-friendly household cleaners. It doesn’t make any sense to use “dirty” chemicals to make things cleaner. Recommend: (ECover, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, B_E_E, Method)

9. Composting (recycling your food). Did you know over 60% of household waste is fit for composting. Put a bin in your garage, under your sink or see if your city has a free program.

8. Use a low-flow showerhead which can save you gallons of water and money, each time you use it.

7. Use recycled paper. There’s no need to use virgin paper for things like computer printing, envelopes, paper towels, toilet paper or tissues.

6. Unplug electronic devices you don’t use, especially your computer at night!

5. If given the choice, buy organic fruits, veggies, meat and dairy over conventional food. Because organic food is all free of pesticides, herbicides and other chemical and non-desirables, it’s better for you and the planet.

4. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs, preferable LED bulbs which don’t inhibit your health as fluorescent bulbs can.

3. Use rechargeable batteries instead of single-use batteries. Recommend: Green Batteries

2. Instead of buying bottled water, buy a refillable water bottle. Klean Kanteen makes great eco-friendly ones!

1. The number one way to help save the planet, and my favorite…bring your own grocery bags! It’s so easy to do, just keep the bags in your car or hang them by the door and remember to bring them in the store. I even use mine when I go shopping at the mall.

Now it’s time to go forth and take action! Make sure to sign-up for our Newsletter as well! We’ll be choosing 10 people to win a Free Organic Cotton Reusable Grocery Bag!

My Thoughts

We all have the power to make great changes. The earth is such a precious thing…this mysterious blue floating ball filled with amazing, vibrant life. Let’s keep it this way!!

Tell Us How YOU Help Save The Earth!!

• Was Ancient Earth A Green Planet
• Saving the Economy by Saving the Planet
• 5 Lifesaving Items to Fight Swine Flu
• Deceptive Techniques of Food Labels, What You Read is NOT What You Get!
• A Simple Guide to: What is High Cholesterol?

The key to GoodGuide is that it offers not only an unprecedented amount of valuable information, but information where and when shoppers need it most. Mothers can find out which brands of shampoo and soap are safe for their children through a quick online search. Shoppers can even send a text message from their cell phone while at the grocery store to instantly find out how a product ranks compared to other brands. You can also create shopping lists online to print out or email to yourself and others.

Below is Dara O’Rourke one of the founders explaining why he created GoodGuide. The first 5 minutes are well worth watching. He’ll also explain exactly how you can use and benefit from this site.

• 10 Simple Easy Ways to Save the Planet
• Oil Spill: Why is this 100% Organic Solution Being Ignored?
• World’s Largest Solar Project Planned for Saharan Desert
• Saving the Economy by Saving the Planet
• Top 10 Green Eating Tips

Where: It’s anywhere; there are farms in need of your help and enthusiasm for organic farming all over. From Denmark, Canada, Ecuador, Sierra Leone to the Philippines.

When: You can sign up anytime, you just have to go to the country specific website and initiate the process.

What: Typically the host farm will provide lodging and food. You may also acquire new skill sets regarding the operation of an organic farm.

Why: Maybe you need a 1 month or 3 month break from the drudgery of your current job. In most instances, you’ll be forging new friendships and allow cross-cultural exchange to take place.

How: Here is their website; check it out or maybe you have someone you know who may be interested. http://www.wwoof.org/

If you know of anyone that’s been involved with WWOOF or a similar organization, please post a comment and let the OrganicJar community hear your story.

Source: wwoof.org

• Monsanto Does ‘Dust and Ditch’ Destroying Local Organic Farm
• What is Organic?
• Has the Recession Taken Its Toll On Your Eating Habits?
• USDA Organic Labels Not to be Trusted
• Man Tries to Become ‘Certified Organic’

(OrganicJar) “The financial crisis and prospect of global recession has created an unexpected opportunity to take dramatic action on behalf of the planet. It has become clear that governments will need to intervene in their economies on an unprecedented scale, and many are now considering stimulating growth with massive investment programs. However, it must be recognized that such large-scale intervention will not succeed unless we also protect the environmental capitol that underpins our economic health.” — WASHINGTON

The Opportunity

The response to the credit crunch has demonstrated the vast sums of money governments can make available at low rates of interest when they believe it is required. Already governments have pledged over 2.5 trillion dollars of preferential debt or direct funding to be made available to the financial sector over the next two years.

Greenpeace and others are calling for a planetary rescue package to create jobs, rebuild the economy, and protect the climate for future generations.

What Needs To Be Done:

1. Increase research and development on clean energy and energy efficiency. A new Greenpeace and European Renewable Energy Council report shows that investment in clean power and energy efficiency worldwide would create a $360 billion a year industry.

2. Quitting coal. The biggest contributor to global warming pollution in the United States is coal-fired power plants.

3. Address global warming and invigorate the economy, taxpayers can no longer afford to underwrite the cost of dirty, dangerous and prohibitively expensive technologies, like nuclear and so-called “clean coal”

4. Bring the nation’s power grid into the 21st century. Our power grid is outmoded, overloaded, and unable to provide the country the clean energy it needs now. A new report estimates that we lose six to nine percent of all the power that enters the grid at a cost of $20 billion annually.

5. Create a “forests for climate” fund. Healthy and expansive forests serve as critical “carbon sinks” that turn carbon dioxide pollution into oxygen.

Greenpeace’s global energy blueprint is available for download at:
www.greenpeace.org/energyrevolution

Making The Transition

Finally, in order to jumpstart a clean energy economy, the government must not only create an environment where technological innovation is rewarded, it must require polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions. Today, polluters dump carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere free of charge while the public picks up the tab in the form of massive health costs, acid rain, and global warming impacts.

To move toward a clean economy, the United States needs to implement a cap-and-trade system that requires polluters to pay for their emissions. Polluters must be required to buy 100 percent of all pollution permits at public auctions managed by open and transparent bodies.

Greenpeace estimates that such an auction could generate $250 billion in the United States annually. The revenues must be used for public benefit, such as investments in renewable energy technology, grid development, public transport infrastructure, forest preservation, helping low and moderate income consumers with increased energy costs and helping vulnerable communities adapt to unavoidable climate impacts.

Source: greenpeace

• Is Global Warming a Fraud?
• Was Ancient Earth A Green Planet
• 10 Simple Easy Ways to Save the Planet
• Will the Down Economy Boost the Use of Natural Medicine?
• World’s Largest Solar Project Planned for Saharan Desert

Quinoa is considered a high-protein “grain”, 12-18% protein. The protein in quinoa is considered to be a complete protein due to the presence of all 8 essential amino acids. This makes it extremely well balanced for human and animal nutrition. Quinoa is higher in lysine than wheat (lysine is an amino acid that’s scarce in the vegetable kingdom), along with cystine and methionine-amino acids typically low in other grains. The quinoa seed is has a lower sodium content and is higher in calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. It’s particularly high in iron with just a 1/2 cup containing 8mg and a hefty 5 g of fiber.

It also contains Vitamin E, several B Vitamins and albumen, a protein that is found in egg whites, blood serum, and many plant and animal tissues. The seeds are gluten-free which makes this a nutritious and flavorful alternative grain for those with gluten sensitivity. Quinoa would be a worthy addition to anyone’s diet, supplying variety as well as good nutrition.

Preparing and Eating Quinoa:

You can use quinoa to make flour, soup, put on cold in salads or substitute for rice in any recipe. The seeds cook very quickly, in only 15 minutes. Just take 1 cup of quinoa, add 2 cups of water, put them in a pan. Bring the water to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, cover the pan, reduce the heat to low and let it cook for about 15 min. That’s it! Quinoa can be found in most health food stores or you can order online.

My Thoughts:

Quinoa is one of my favorite foods. It comes in a range of colors from ivory to pinks, brown to reds, or almost black depending on the variety, however the most common is white and red. The seeds are small in size, flat with a pointed oval shape and look like a cross between a sesame seed and millet. As it cooks, the outer germ around each grain twists outward forming a little white, spiral tail, which is attached to the kernel. The grain itself is soft and delicate and the tail is crunchy which creates and interesting texture combination and pleasant “crunch” when eating the grain.

If you haven’t tried this amazing food, I highly recommend you do. It’s extremely inexpensive and so easy to prepare.

• Hemp Seeds: The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source In The World!
• Chia Seeds Are Natures Perfect Food
• Vegetables, Nuts, Mediterranean Diet Amazing For Your Heart
• Walnuts Lower Cholesterol More Than Fish
• Got Raw Milk?

Organic practices include:

* Crop rotation- alternating the types of crops grown in each field, which in turn prevents the depletion of the soil. Pests are also managed through crop rotation by eliminating breeding grounds built year after year with a continuous crop.

* Planting cover crops, such as clover adds nutrients to the soil, prevents weeds, and increases organic matter in the soil. Soil with high organic matter resists erosion and holds water better, requiring less irrigation. Studies have shown that organic crops fare better than non-organic crops in times of drought and stress.
* Releasing beneficial insects to prey on pests helps to eliminate the need for chemical insecticides that can remain in the soil for years or leach into our water supply.
* Adding composted manure and plant wastes helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients. Just as falling leaves return nutrients to forest soil, composting replenishes the soil.
* Preventing illness and maintaining strong animals through good nutrition and minimal stress are key to successful organic livestock farming.

Organic Practices mean:

* No pesticides to contaminate our soil and water or injure farm workers!
* No chemical fertilizers to runoff and contaminate our rivers, lakes, oceans and drinking water!
* A healthier and more sustainable environment for us all!

• What is Organic?
• USDA Organic Labels Not to be Trusted
• Organic or Not? Check the Label
• Man Tries to Become ‘Certified Organic’
• Has the Recession Taken Its Toll On Your Eating Habits?