Chickenpox Vaccine: Is It Really Necessary?

The chicken pox vaccine is SO not necessary.  I caught the chicken pox when I was a kid and now I'm immunized.  My mother is a nurse and she understood this to be the best way to be immunized against chicken pox.  When there was a chicken pox outbreak on the east coast a few years ago, 75% of the infected were already vaccinated for the disease.  One would need to explain to me WHY they feel this stuff is actually working... especially when that was neither the first nor last time such a thing happened.

In certain cases some people absolutely CANNOT catch the chicken pox or there would be fatal consequences.  I understand this, but THOSE are the kids who need to stay home.  I know it almost sounds unfair, but in any school environment illness is inevitable unless you have a school full of children with rock solid immune systems which, by the way, vaccines DO NOT deliver!

I was quite disgusted by this video.  It's stories like these that make parents feel that maybe they should just home school their kids and be done.


Chickenpox Vaccine: Is It Really Necessary?

The Overlooked Nutrient

Iodine is perhaps the most overlooked nutrient of all... at least in the US.  There are many of us who are "within range" of thyroid health and still have hypothyroid symptoms.  This is because regardless of the "range" your thyroid falls into, you still have an under active thyroid.

To get my fill of iodine everyday, I used to put kelp powder on my eggs.  Another thing I was doing was experimenting with recipes that I could make with Irish moss.  I was so creeped out by that stuff once upon a time.  My parents made it a few times when I was a kid.  When they soaked it, it looked like it was going to come alive and I wanted nothing to do with it.  I started to experiment with it as an adult.  There are all kinds of other brown seaweeds that can also help one get their iodine intake from food.  I've never heard of sea asparagus until today.  It certainly sounds like something that I would eat, but I would like some kind of recipe though.

If you are intentionally trying to raise your iodine levels,  there are two things that you should be wary of.  First, be sure to stay away from chlorine, bromine and fluoride.  The fluoride I knew about, but the video below just informed me of bromine and chloride.  All these chemicals you could find in our water (especially traditional pools and hot tubs).  The second thing to be wary of, that is often way overlooked, is x-ray machines.  They will kill thyroid function very quickly and very easily.  Decline x-rays when possible, only allow them to be taken when absolutely necessary.  When it is necessary, ask the doctor about the level of radiation it gives out.  There are some machines that are milder than others.  If he can't answer your question, then perhaps you may want to find someone else to do the x-ray exam.

I hope you learn from this video.  I found it to be wonderfully informative.  Enjoy!

Labels on GMO Produce? Could This Be Real?

I saw this in Google Images and had to research it because I didn't believe it.  Monsanto labeling their stuff all of a sudden?  Why?

I know the PLU that starts with a "9" is organic.  The organic industry benefits by labeling their products.  But why would the biotech industry finally label their stuff?  It seems as though produce that starts with a "8" is definitely GMO.  The thing is, is the four digit PLU always conventionally grown; as in they use chemicals and pesticides but not GMO?  The answer is no.  That's where this is very misleading.  GMO labeling is certainly optional, but it isn't required.  So if you see produce with a four digit code it could have been grown with chemicals, pesticides or it could be GMO.

So the information under the first and last circle is true.  The information under the middle is misleading because it isn't always raised via non-GMO conventional farming.  Therefore, unless you buy organic or unless you don't care what you eat, be wary of the four digit PLUs.

Just Label It!

It's unfortunate that 37 didn't pass.  The good news is, those of us who are educated can be a light in the dark.  We could educate each other on how to raise our own food; even on a small amount of land and on a low budget.

It's easy to feel like a victim these days when it comes to the desire to be healthy.  After all of your efforts and the money that you spend are just to have real food in your kitchen; meanwhile there are still people out there trying to poison you.  They poison the air, water and most of the food.  It's so frustrating.  It's a good thing that we can STILL choose not to be victims!

I still join the fight for labeling, but instead of putting all of my hopes in that, I'm trying to gain more control over my own household by raising my own food.  It's a project I had only started, and I'm very inexperienced, but I'm also determined to learn.  I'm also incredibly stubborn when it comes to my health and the health of my family.

Here is yet more info on GMOs, though I have a feeling that most of my readers know all of the information that this video can offer.

Eco Friendly Lawn

Now there are many who encourage growing food instead of lawns.  An individual from Solar City brought up a good point about lawns that I never thought of.  Lawns need to be watered and that water can go to something more useful like food.  To that individual I say "I hear ya!"  It really made me think twice about having a lawn.

This video gave me another idea.  What if I could have a low maintenance lawn that doesn't require very much water or cutting?  If there were such a thing; I'd probably re-reconsider.  Let's hear what Patty Moreno has to say about this fantasy lawn.

Producing Food All Year

There are many methods of year round gardening that I've mentioned.  There are some that I like, some that I wouldn't even consider and others that I would like to do if they just weren't so pricey.

There are three methods in particular that I've considered; hoop houses, cold frames and greenhouses.  A hoop house is a popular idea among gardeners.  To be honest, I'm not crazy about the use of plastic even in the case of a hoop house.  If you are one who would consider a hoop house, regardless of the mentioned issue (that I admit is personal), then a hoop house is otherwise a great way to go.  A hoop house is a very cost effective way of doing year round gardening and it's very easy to make.  If there was just a way that I didn't have to use anything petroleum based, I would happily make hoop houses.  I much prefer the idea of a cold frame.  I recently posted about them and posted a video on how to make a relatively cheap one.  This is a method that is much more conducive to my needs.  Like everything else though, it's going to take me some time to learn how to make one.  The only problem is that I couldn't grow anything very tall in a cold frame.  Therefore, the most ideal method of year round gardening for me, would be a greenhouse.  There are sooo many things that I could grow all winter in a greenhouse.  The grow dome that I posted about is an absolute dream for  me.  But because a greenhouse is simply not feasible right now, I've had my heart set on the cold frame.

There are so many cold frame designs to choose from.  I can even buy one if I really wasn't ready for building yet.  Somehow or another, however, I would like to do some gardening this coming winter.  As far as my favorite veggies that grow to tall for a cold frame, I can be patient and wait for my greenhouse someday.

Genetically Engineered Food Alters Our Digestive Systems!

The article below is not a new one, but even after reading it numerous times it still scares me.  How dare people do this to others just because they can!

I'm all for building the gut flora, but not with artificial bacteria.  As it turns out, however, it looks like this is something that can't be controlled.  Unless you've eaten NOTHING but food produced in your own back yard for the last 20 years, GMOs make up a part of your body.  If this doesn't scare you (even just a tiny bit), then you don't know much about GMOs.

Genetically Engineered Food Alters Our Digestive Systems!