I have always wanted to have a mini garden of my own! When Graham and I moved into our larger apartment with a mini flower bed I knew the first day of Spring I would have every herb, vegetable, and flower I could fit!
I am going to dedicate this page to my love for gardening and growing your own plants! The what's, how to's, and why's!
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Pesticides and GMOs in Foods
Here's a quick recap of some of the harmful things pesticides can do to us humans:
- cause low birth weight and birth defects;
- interfere with child development and cognitive ability;
- cause neurological problems;
- disrupt hormone function;
- cause a variety of cancers, including leukemia, kidney cancer, brain cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
So, what fruits and veggies are best and worst when it comes to pesticide residues?
Go to this website to look over the chart of eat food!
Day 1: Spring is here! Time to Plant!
I started growing my herbs about 3 weeks ago from my window sill. I was quite excited when they started to sprout! So easy to maintain!
All you had to do was add water and these little round blocks expanded. I was so amazed!
My aftermath! I had to cover thyme and parsley because it needed to have a "greenhouse" effect to sprout.
Water and wait!
2 weeks later they were ready to go outside!
Have you ever thought of growing your own herbs?! You can buy so many at home depot that are already sprouted, all you have to do is plant and water them! I bought about 10 that I will be blogging about next week! Stay tuned and have a great weekend!
Monday April 18th, 2011
My garden is officially complete! (I have taken up every nook and cranny)
Fresh Basil
Parsley
Parsley is an amazing medicinal herb, is delightful to the taste and agreeable to the stomach. It is a very versatile plant to aid the body in regaining health. The root contains calcium, B-complex vitamins, and iron, all of which nourish the glands that help regulate the uptake of calcium. It is a source of both magnesium and calcium, and especially potassium.
Parsley is high in vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C. As a wholesome organic-food it is also a good choice for bone health with vitamin K (536 mg in an average serving).
Traditionally. parsley has been used for congestion and inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, gravel, stones, and urine retention. The root and leaves are excellent for the liver and spleen. It is also one of the best reliefs for edema, helping when other remedies have failed; parsley is a very reliable diuretic remedy often ignored today. Parsley root and seeds contain ingredients that help produce a pain relieving benefit to relax stiff joints.
Broccoli and Lettuce
Broccoli provides a high amount of vitamin C, which aids iron absorption in the body, prevents the development of cataracts, and also eases the symptoms of the common cold.
The folic acid in broccoli helps women sustain normal tissue growth and is often used as a supplement when taking birth control pills and during pregnancies.
The folic acid in broccoli helps women sustain normal tissue growth and is often used as a supplement when taking birth control pills and during pregnancies.
The potassium in broccoli aids those battling high blood pressure, while a large amount of calcium helps combat osteoporosis.
The vegetable is also fiber-rich, which enhances the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as aims to reduce blood cholesterol levels.
Lavender
Today, lavender is most commonly used for anxiety, depression, mental exhaustion, insomnia, scrapes and wounds, digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and women's health problems. In addition to this, lavender can be used to treat exhaustion, heat exposure, fevers, aches and pains, over-exertion, jet lag, rashes, sprains, sunburn, sunstroke, bruises and burns. It can also be used as a disinfectant and insect repellant. Lavender is an antiseptic, natural antibiotic, sedative, detoxifier.
Strawberries
Strawberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber and Vitamins C and K. They are a very good source of manganese, pantothenic acid, vitamin B1, and iodine. They are a good source of folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B6. Strawberries contain high levels of antioxidants, which can decrease the risk of chronic disease.
Stayed tuned!
