The Importance Of Organic Gardening.
Organic vegetable gardening seems to be the trend these days as more people have become conscious of what they are eating. This is because conventional methods allow the use of harmful chemicals, which may enter our bodies via the food we eat.
In order to control the problem, the US Department of Agriculture has issued a new directive. This encourages farmers to shift to organic farming.
With organic farming, farmers will no longer need to plant crops using genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge. Instead, this will be replaced with crop rotation.
Crop rotation is the practice of planting a different crop in the same area where another crop once occupied. This keeps the soil’s nutrients fertile, so it can be used again in the following season.
This approach is easier said than done as farmers are accustomed to the old ways of doing things, and may be reluctant to change. To help them change their minds the government offers incentives and subsidies to farmers who decide to follow this plan.
But the main reason why organic vegetable gardening is so important is the fact that the crops harvested have 50% more nutrients and vitamins, compared to those produced using conventional farming methods. This means organic food may reduce the risk of people suffering from a number of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and certain cancers.
Children who drink organic milk will get more anti-oxidants, CLA, Omega 3 and vitamins, compared to GM milk, which will really help strengthen their bones and muscles.
You can buy organically grown vegetables from many supermarkets nowdays. The sad part is the almost everywhere you go, although the packaging comes from Department of Health, Quality Assurance International, California Certified Organic Farmers or the Oregon Tilth Farm Verified Organic, most processed ‘organic’ foods are only 50% to 70% organic. This is why homeowners who want to eat 100% organic vegetables are encouraged to grow these themselves.
There are two ways to achieve this. Buy seeds, or seedlings, plant them and wait until they grow or you can buy fully grown organic plants virtually ready to harvest.
In both cases the garden soil needs to be prepared, to suite the type of plants, and the area needs to be made safe from weeds, and insects and other animals that will eat the plants. Such problems can be fought off with other animals, insects, organic fertilizers, deodorant soap and a few other items which you can find out after doing a little research.
For those who don’t have a big garden, they can try growing these organically grown vegetables in containers. They require more water than those planted in the soil, and more care to ensure roots don’t overheat, or dry out.
There are many internet sites dedicated to organic gardening, and many forums if help or advice is needed. Taking control of what you eat can have a very positive effect on your health, remember, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT…..
Run Your Car On Water!
With ever increasing gas prices I have recently been looking at depth into alternative fuel sources to power my car. All that we here of in the mainstream is bio-diesel – people running their vehicles on cooking fat and suchlike. This is fine if you own a diesel car, but not much use if you’re on gas, like I am.
After a little digging around I came up with a very interesting potential solution – running my car on water. This is not a new idea; the concept was around in the 1930’s but never seemed to take off. It’s seems highly probable to me that the idea was suppressed by the oil and motor companies, through fear of losing their monopoly on fuel and petrol engines. If this is not the case, then it seems very coincidental to me that now people are starting to do their own conversions, suddenly major automobile companies are accepting the technology and starting to use the concept in their own vehicles, notably Honda.
So how does it work? The technology uses a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell separates hydrogen from water, and this is used to power the motor. At the moment it’s just being used as a supplemental fuel alongside gas or diesel, but theoretically a car can run solely on water! This is great for the environment as all that it exhausts is water – zero emissions.
Now obviously a fuel cell backed by millions of dollars of investment and designed and built by a major auto manufacturer will outperform a homemade cell, but thousands of people are making them at home and fitting them themselves – and with these low technology units people are reporting improvements of between 30% and 60% improvement in miles per gallon!
Another great fact about them is that they are inexpensive to build and pretty simple in design; any semi competent DIY advocate can build one, with most items needed being available at Lowes or Home Depot.
The principle behind the technology is simple – you separate the hydrogen in the water from the oxygen, discard the oxygen, and you’re left with a highly explosive gas. A basic cell consists of two stainless steel plates connected to a battery, one plate positive the other negative. When current is passed through the cell the oxygen and hydrogen in the water are pulled apart. The more plates you have the more gas is produced.
Type ‘hho’, browns gas, hydrogen cell or water car into Google and you’ll find a wealth of information on the subject, including actual fuel cell designs and plans, as well as readymade cells for purchase for home fitting.
It seems such a shame to me that this technology is readily available yet not being promoted by governments; a completely emission free, unlimited source of fuel, at very low cost. I feel that cost is the major stumbling block; low cost means low taxes and less profit – the money machine wins again!
I think eventually, especially as people are taking the matter into their own hands and the system is gaining more and more public interest, governments will come up with a reason why taxing us more for water will be a ‘benefit to society’ and the system will become mainstream.
Until such a time I think it’s up to every individual to make the most of the technology while it’s still free!
Removing Garden pests The Organic Way
As with all things in nature, there is a balance. Organic garden pest control doesn’t upset that sensitive arrangement too much. Even if we practice organic gardening, pest control is necessary. Garden pests love the convenience of their favorite foods all being in the same place! Read more
Miracle Grow Organic Plant Food
At The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, anything plant or animal based is considered organic. For example, organic mulch would be derived from a plant, such as fir bark. Ornamental rock mulch, while natural, would not be considered organic. Read more
Biodiesel – The Facts
With gas and diesel prices continually increasing we recently decided to look at the advantages of using a much cheaper fuel in our car – biodiesel. After a little research it has become obvious to us why it is better to use biodiesel over petro-diesel. Many people are still not familiar with all the biodiesel benefits, perhaps you’re one of them? Well we think the following reasons are a good starting point for understanding why biodiesel is an excellent alternative to presently used fuels. Read more
Organic Pet Food
With the increase of organic food in many grocery stores pet owners are now looking at the option of buying certified organic food for their pets.
Choosing organic pet food, especially for cats and dogs, over traditional fare is becoming more popular as organic suppliers increase. Many pet owners are now becoming reluctant to feed their pets any type of food that may contain products they would not want to eat themselves. It is possibly becoming an ethical issue also; why feed your pet something you wouldn’t eat yourself? Read more
Which fish is good to eat?
Years ago, fish was considered a top choice when purchasing natural and organic food. High in protein, while low in fat and calories, it never caused us to pause before placing a few gorgeous filets in our grocery cart.
Today, however, buying fish is like spinning a roulette wheel. Media reports keep us guessing about which fish is safe to eat. Concerns about environmental pollution, sustainability, mercury content and other heath risks have added an element of danger to organic food shopping. Read more
Build An Eco-Friendly House!
This great article is about a genuine family home in Wales. It was built by it’s residents, with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting they moved in! Estimate construction time of 1000-1500 man hours and around $6000 are all it cost to this point! Not really so much in house buying terms (roughly $120/sq m excluding labor). Read more
Top 10 Reasons to Go Organic!
1. Organic products meet stringent standards. Organic certification is the public’s assurance that products have been grown and handled according to strict procedures without persistent toxic chemical inputs.
2. Organic food tastes great! It’s common sense, well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing food for people and animals. Read more
Organic cotton, wool, silk, and hemp
For consumers who are looking for organic clothing information, buying organic clothing is the only “natural” choice. The clothing industry is a $7 trillion industry worldwide. It has been plagued with accusations of worker exploitation, child labor and environmental pollution. As a result, sales of organic clothing have been growing at a rate of at least 11% per year. Today, it is possible to be well dressed and environmentally conscious. Read more
