Grow Dome

Why have a greenhouse when you can build a greenhouse dome?  This is SO cool.  I've always liked the grow "dome" idea, but this video actually made me like the idea even more.

This farmer uses many sustainable farming ideas to raise food which is wonderful.  The one thing that I found upsetting was the law against rain barrels in Colorado.  Of all the states, I would've expected Colorado to be more level headed.  

The Latest on the GMO Rider

Ladies and Gentlemen of the fight for health freedom:

Well, it's official.  The Constitution is now officially in ICU fighting for it's life.  "Checks and balances", "of the people, for the people, by the people", "land of the free and home of the brave"...  my foot, my foot, my foot!  Congress just stripped the judicial system of it's power to regulate biotech companies like Monsanto.  It's not like the judicial system had very much power in the first place; not with men like Clarence Thomas in the supreme court.

It is so frustrating that the people aren't being listened to at all in this matter.  MORE than enough people are asking for restrictions or labeling or SOMETHING to protect us from these poisons, but the only thing that seems to talk to the government is money.

Please click the link below for more details on this new fiasco.

The Latest on the GMO Rider

Beekeeping

Beekeeping is a practice that I foresee myself having to learn.  With Monsanto destroying all of the bee populations with their nonsense, I feel that having bees will be an important addition to the livestock that I will be raising.

I admit that I have a few concerns.  I tend to fear bugs that sting or bite.  The reason why I have a heart for bees despite their sharp tails, is because of the important role that they play on this planet and because honey is such a wonderfully medicinal food (not to mention yummy) as is bee pollen.  Another concern I have is just not knowing much about how to care for bees; for example, how to shield them from the cold or predators.

I know that beekeeping is a skill like everything else, but I get nervous when lives are on the line.  It bothers me to see my plants die; I would have continuous nightmares if a whole bee colony died because I didn't know what I was doing.

KOL Foods

The one thing that struck me about KOL foods is the fact that they have meats that are kosher on top of organic and 100% grass fed/ pastured!  I saw fit to add them to the Wellness Avenues page as well because organic and 100% grass fed/ pastured is hard enough to find, kosher on top of that can be a nightmare.

A very close friend of mine is Jewish; even though I don't look for kosher for myself, I always try to keep an eye out for her.  I'm pretty fired up about KOL foods because of this.

KOL Foods

DIY Wooden Worm Bin

I"ve posted much about worm bins this month; mostly because I've been researching how to make one.  I refuse to buy petroleum based bins; I can't imagine making any livestock (not even worms) live in such a toxic environment.  I'm depending on these little critters to create a home for my vegetables until they are ready to be picked and eaten.  If that's the case, then I need to create a good home for them too.

If you live in an apartment and you don't like petroleum based bins either, you may need to purchase a wooden bin or get REALLY creative.  Many people keep worm bins in their kitchen since that's where most of the worm food comes from anyway.  Some don't like the idea of worms in their kitchen though.  As long as you have a place where your little friends are sheltered from extreme heat or cold, keeping them outside is fine.

This is the closest version of a worm bin that I am planning, although there are some additional things that I will be adding to my worm bin to make it easy for me to keep them happy, safe and warm.

FDA Now Censoring Consumer Free Speech on the Internet | The Alliance for Natural Health USA

Even though there are consequences for speaking openly and frankly on a social media site like Facebook; one consequence should not be "warning letters" from the federal government and I don't care how fervently they disagree.  The only exception to this rule would be if someone is threatening to hurt another, hurt themselves or something of this nature, and even in THIS case they need to be careful.

Unfortunately, I can't say that censoring free speech is something new.  It's certainly not the first time that the FDA attempted this, and it needs to stop.  One of the things that makes America so great, is the fact that the Constitution grants us free speech.  Free as in the FDA can express their opinion and that's it.  Issuing warnings is NOT acceptable; not when someone is expressing what they like about a product.

There is a link below that gives the full story.  Please take the time to read it, but even more so, please take action.  You may be the next person who receives a warning from the FDA for expressing your opinions.


FDA Now Censoring Consumer Free Speech on the Internet | The Alliance for Natural Health USA

Rocky Mountain Organic Meats

We were looking at this organization for our meat.  They have 100% organic grass fed beef and lamb!  Thinking about it makes my mouth water.  We've ordered some soup bones which will be coming in next week (SO excited).

I like the farmers who believe in the basics.  This is all that you need for farming.  All the toxins sound good when it is being pitched, but when one knows the long term effects, one tends to figure out rather quickly that it's just not worth it.

I added a Rocky Mountain Organic Meats link to my Wellness Avenues Page.  I encourage the omnivores who like clean food to check it out.

Monsanto's Micro-Monster Could Kill Us All

In the video below, Dr. Joseph Mercola interviews Dr. Don Huber.  They discuss what Monsanto has created.  Dr. Huber sent letters to Barack Obama and Tom Vilsack warning them of the great dangers of approving GMO alfalfa back when it was still being reviewed.  His information was based on the many sickly GMO crops that he has studied.  These crops are sickly for many reasons including the superbugs and superweeds created by the built in pesticides in some GMO plants and the tons of glyphosate (from the Roundup herbicide) sprayed on others.

It stinks that our nutritional choices should be so political when it was one of those things that was deemed a natural right by those who created the Constitution.  Well, this isn't over yet!




Monsanto's Micro-Monster Could Kill Us All

DIY Cold Frame

Cold frames are wonderful for year round gardening.  Because spring is upon us, a cold frame is obviously not something that is absolutely necessary right now, but I am thinking about it now so that I could raise some greens next winter.

There are many places where you could just buy a cold frame, but if you would prefer to make one then the video below will be worth watching for ideas.

Monsanto Strikes Back

They really won't stop.  A bill was just passed, one that some are calling the Monsanto Protection Act.  This new law will protect Monsanto from "judicial review" therefore they will be able to continue destroying our food supply with their poisons with very few obstacles.

Haven't you had enough?  There will come a day when you can't even have real salmon because all that will be left is frankenfish.  It's bad enough that we had to practically say goodbye to corn, soy, papayas and many other foods that are now just GMO garbage.

Click *here* to call congress and tell them that you want this bill to be SHUT DOWN immediately.  We, as consumers, have rights too.  Let's make them known.

Urban Farmers

Just because you are a city slicker doesn't mean that you can't raise food.  It just means that you have some challenges with space and city codes... challenges, but not road blocks.

On the Be Well My Friends facebook page, I posted pictures the other day of what one can do with a small backyard and there was even a picture of someone raising food on their fire-escape.  All you need is a small amount of outdoor space and a little creativity.

As you raise food in your small space, you learn about gardening which is part of the benefits.  I've always had a black thumb. This is why I have been procrastinating for the past two years.  I mean, I came up with many other excuses, but the main reason why was because I was afraid of the many plants that would die because I lacked the skills to care for them properly.  This year I decided to take the risk, figure things out as I go and learn from my failures.  No matter what happens, it will be completely worth it.

Judge--Case of Seized Newborn May Now Proceed

Remember Scott and Jodi Ferris (the parents who had their newborn girl taken away from them because they "asked too many questions" about vaccinations)? Well, it looks like they will have some hope for justice. They are taking that Social Worker to court.

I guess justice isn't dead in the US just yet.  I'm so happy that these parents are going to be heard at the very least.  My great hope is that it will dissuade other social workers from taking such unjust action.  Poor Jodi went to the hospital to have a baby and ended up living her worst nightmare.

I want to say thank you to Jodi and Scott Ferris for taking that woman to court.  You aren't just speaking up for your rights and little Annie's, you're speaking up for all of us even if you don't realize it.

(Please click on the link below to read more on the case)


Judge--Case of Seized Newborn May Now Proceed

Geese

I never thought of raising geese before, but once I heard about their pest control benefits I had to know more.  Then I saw the size of the goose eggs and so now I'm considering raising geese.

Many factory farm raised animals feed on grain (GMO corn to be precise), but many of these animals don't naturally eat grain.  Cows, for example, are grass eaters.  They eat grain because it is available, not because they would normally choose it.  Geese eat bark, grass and some of the pesky bugs that ruin your crops; this is why many suggest raising geese if you have an orchard.  I plan on having a variety of fruit trees so geese just may be the perfect livestock for me.

I don't know if I would pluck geese to sell their down though.  It sounds like it's an awfully painful process for them.  If I was to sell goose meat, (which may never happen) then I may consider selling the down that is left over after plucking the feathers off of the meat, but I would never want to live pluck the poor thing.  I love animals too much to watch them suffer.  I don't think I could even raise livestock for meat (yet I'm definitely an omnivore)!

I'm looking forward to learning more about geese.  It sounds like they would be an excellent choice for any homesteading project and the added bonus of harvesting goose eggs isn't bad either.

Feed Your Worms To Keep 'Em Warm

Both this video and the previous one I presented suggest that feeding the worms can keep them warm.  The last video said that it's specifically the green compost that will do the trick.  For some reason or another when the worms eat the green compost, heat is generated.  The individual in the video below further suggests to place the food in the center to draw the worms to the center of the bin away from the colder part of the bin.

Keeping Worms Warm

The reason why outdoor vermicompost bins are so large is because the larger ones hold heat in better.  The smaller bins aren't made for outdoor worm farming.

The following video gives additional tips on how to keep your worms nice and warm during the winter months.  Winter is when many worms die so if you live in a state where it gets cold in the winter months, this video may be helpful.  It gave me some ideas that I'm looking forward to utilizing.

on Howcast

Ten food label entries that should send you running

I hope that most people who read or follow this blog are in the process of cutting processed food out of their diets.  I'm fully aware of the fact that eliminating processed foods from the diet completely will take some time, but if you are on your way and have made even some progress know that you have taken a wonderfully HUGE step even if you feel like you have a long way to go.

For those who are still slowly eliminating, the article below may give you an idea of some ingredients that you should cut out immediately.  If any of those 10 ingredients are foods that you eat, find a way to cut those meals from the menu next.

Ten food label entries that should send you running

An Independent Garden?

An independent garden???  For reals?  Yeah!  For reals!  If you live in an arid area like Colorado, clay pot irrigation may just be the ticket for you.  Jules Dervaes, (the farmer in the feature video for March's book), uses this method because he lives in an arid part of California.  Also it works if you are going to be away from your gardens for a few days.  This system allows your plants to water themselves when needed.

How is this done?  Bury a pot (like the one below) in your garden; the plants that need to be watered should be next to the pot.  Make sure the pot is surrounded with dirt all the way up to the mouth but not beyond.  Fill the pot with water, cover it and voila!  You now have plants that can live independently for a few days (how long the plants can sustain themselves depends on the size of both the pot and the plants in the garden.

This isn't the only method that will create an "independent" garden.  There are, in fact, many ways to do this. This just happened to be my personal favorite way.

Another Benefit of Vermicompost Tea

Vermicomposting is something that I've been wanting to do for years.  I need to start this year.  I did some research and I have some ideas on how I'm going to make one myself instead of buying one.  Most bins are petroleum based and I'm trying to avoid that as much as I can.

This gardener is VERY happy with the results of his vermicompost tea.  After watching this video, I'm sure you wouldn't blame him.  You may even run out to get a bin yourself!

Outdoor Vermicompost

I'm very much looking forward to having my vermicompost bin.  The man in the video created one himself (which is probably best).  His is actually even more amazing than the one that I wanted for myself because some sort of scavenger found it's way into the bin and eats meat and bone scraps.  The only problem with his bin as far as I can see is that it is not as easy to get the compost out.

I thought this video would help you urban homesteaders get an idea about how to reduce your garbage if you don't do this already.  Enjoy!

Two Latest GE-Related Health Threats

I used to really enjoy salmon, but now that salmon is on the verge of extinction, thanks to Monsanto's latest frankenfood, I am looking into building a self sustaining fishing pond.  This way, I can raise fresh water fish for my family.  I'm actually very excited about the idea and I can't wait to start the project; although, it's not a project that I can start now.  It may take about two years for me to start the process.

Even so, I'm going to miss salmon.  It was one of my favorite foods once upon a time.  For more information on the dangers of Monsanto's frankenfish, please read the article below.

Two Latest GE-Related Health Threats

March's Book: Urban Homesteading

Homesteading; there really are people who don't think that this lifestyle is possible. Well, it IS possible. There are MANY who are doing it and looooveing it. I look forward to starting my own homestead in a few years. Right now, I'm just gathering ideas, information and inspiration. This way, when I'm ready to paint the life I want for my family, I'll have a clear picture in my head before I put the first drop of paint on the canvas.

This month's book is all about urban homesteading. Yes, it's possible to build a homestead even in the middle of urban life.  The video above is about an urban homesteader. I envy him. I look forward to doing much of the same; only in a more rural situation.

 

My Poor Sore Back

My back is slowly and efficiently healing.  It feels MUCH better than it did a week ago.  When your back is injured, there are very few things that you can accomplish without a lot of difficulty and pain.  Because of this, it is so easy to freak out about a back injury even when it's as minor as mine.

The first thing that I did was make an appointment with my doctor.  My primary health care provider happens to also be a BRILLIANT chiropractor.  She has had a part in healing my back before, so I knew she could help me with this issue as well.  She taped a part of it up (which surprisingly helped tremendously) and instructed me to ice it.  I followed her instructions and occasionally took some Kali C. (homeopathy) for the pain (which she agreed was a good idea).  Over the past week there has been a tremendous reduction in pain.  If this continues, I don't foresee any issue with back pain a week from today except for maybe some chronic stiffness which can be relieved with stretching and exercise.  I'm hoping to start working out again in about a week.

Toxin Free Dreamin'

My hubby just bought a jerky gun for me.  This will make it easy to make jerky from ground beef as opposed to slicing a steak into very, very thin slices.  It will also give me plenty to snack on during the day.

The only thing that I'm not crazy about is the material that makes the jerky gun.  My choices were a plastic jerky gun or an aluminum jerky gun.  I posted an article that talked about such materials.  BPA is simply not an option for me right now and aluminum is something that I've always thought that I've done a good job avoiding; but I found out recently that I may have more aluminum in the kitchen than I would like to believe.

My comfort is the fact that I never heat any of the aluminum that I have.  I use it with raw food.  According to a "Natural Health News" article that I've posted, most of these materials (with some exceptions like plastic), start leaching at 200 degrees.  This would suggest that I really have little to worry about.  Even so, it makes me sad that it can be so difficult to have a kitchen that is free of toxins.

I feel like I have to make almost everything myself in order to have a toxin free life.  I truly hope one day we can increase our choices about things like this.

Beware of Ecover!

Do you see the difference?  I thought it was just the packaging too; unfortunately that's not all that is different.  I've learned my lesson the hard way.  Always, always, always read the ingredients when there is a change in the packaging.  It happened with Biokleen and now with Ecover.

The bottle on your left is Ecover's old dish washing liquid.  It was a product that I preferred even though it wasn't perfect.  The bottle on the right, however, is the new and NOT even somewhat improved formula.  To my shock and horror, Ecover added SLS to their dish detergent.  I have recently switched to Earth Friendly's products and I hope, hope, hope that they keep the integrity of their products.

GAPS Diet Progress

For the last week or so, I've had energy like never before.  That, to me, means that this diet is definitely working.  The one thing I need to work on is having even more stuff to snack on.

Most of my meals include meat and cultured vegetables, but I also eat a lot of broth, buckwheat, coconuts and almonds.  I am constantly experimenting with foods in order to expand my menu.  When things like eggs, dairy, gluten, sweeteners (of any kind even if natural), nightshades, corn and soy are all cut out of your diet at once, eating becomes a challenge unless you have some skills.  I'm slowly gaining some skills, but it's going to be a while before I have a menu that I am happy with.  That menu will contain a VERY large variety of foods that I can eat.

Latex

Rubber is a substance that once came from a tree.  Today, it's a petroleum based item.  I admit that I suspected that most rubber today is petroleum based because most of the time rubber has a plastic-like look and feel.  This just made me suspicious, but after very little research on the matter, I found out that I was right.

I hope one day more businesses go back to basics and use more plant based items.  I look forward to learning more about REAL rubber.  Like the stuff make from the "milk" of the trees in the video.

"A Post A Day" Yeah, Sure!

How interesting life can be!  There were many reasons why I didn't want to live in a cold climate.  To name two, I despise snow and I tend to experience fatigue in cold weather.  Well, the fatigue is finally gone, but just when I think I can actually grow to like winters, I slipped on some ice and injured my back.  I'm going to be okay, it's nothing that won't heal.  It's just funny that it happened now.  We are about to get some info on how to make our house greener (which is why I didn't post much last week), but the last couple days I really wanted to rest so that my back will heal more quickly and efficiently.  That's why I haven't been posting the last couple of days.

My back is actually healing nicely.  I've been icing it for a couple days, per doctor's orders, but I can't work out at all for a while which makes me a little sad.  I may be able to do some brisk walking in a few days, I'll just have to avoid any patches of ice.  

I've been wanting an excuse to get some R&R and even though an injured back was the furthest thing from what I had in mind, I'll just make it the silver lining in this rather dark cloud.  After all, it WILL heal and I can get back to my new life.