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3Roast Parsnip and Garlic Soup by MichellePetersJones on Flickr
When you're looking to spice up dinner creations, garlic is a staple that can be used to make many intriguing new dishes. From appetizers to desserts, a little garlic can go a long way in making your meal flavor-rich and tasty. Recipe selections offer a range of fresh ingredients and all highlight that kitchen workhorse, fresh garlic.
Garlic-infused recipes fall into five main categories:
Appetizers
-Cold Shrimp with Garlicky Vinaigrette: Cook one pound of shrimp in boiling water for two minutes until just pink. Remove the shells and set aside to cool. Whisk together a (Read More....)
To keep the strawberries fresh longer in the refrigerator, use 1 Part White Vinegar to 10 Parts Water.
Soak the strawberries, leaves and all in the vinegar/water mixture for a few minutes. Then drain the strawberries in a colander until they are completely dry.
Then place strawberries in an uncovered bowl in the refrigerator. The vinegar/water mixture kills any mold spores on the strawberries and keeps them fresh longer. The vinegar does not affect the taste. This also works for all kinds of berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and apples. (Read More....)
You need fertilizer to help your plants and your flowers grow. However, most store-bought brands are loaded with harmful chemicals that will eventually find their way into the food you are growing. You can easily get the fertilizer you need to help your plants grow without the toxic side effects by making your own organic compost.
Making your own organic compost is not difficult. You can make it with things that are already in your house and your yard, and it is much better for your plants than any variety you could buy in the store. Here's how you can make your own organic compost:
Buy or Build a Compost Bin
First, you need a place to create your compost. You can buy bins from the hardware store, or you can build one yourself from some scrap lumber. Your bin needs to have solid sides (no chicken wire or pallets) and a cover. While you can just throw your compost materials into an open heap and eventually get compost, the process will take much longer and will be vulnerable to pests if you don't choose an enclosed bin.
The bottom of your bin should be completely open and resting directly on soil. You need to place your bin in a sunny location that is not in the path of runoff.
Add Your Materials
Compost requires two things: "Green" materials and "brown" materials. (Read More....)
When you think about growing your own food, you typically picture a large garden or plot of land. However there are many foods that you can grow in small spaces with little light or even dirt required. Here are some ideas for foods you can grow organically at home on your windowsill:
1. Wheat grass – Wheat grass is a traditional supplement found in many health drinks. But not only is it good for you but it is super easy to grow your own. All you need is a container (even a yogurt cup will do) a bit of dirt and some seeds. Wheat grass grows quickly and you harvest it by snipping off the tops as it grows. Easy and so yummy.
2. Sprouts – Things like bean sprouts or alfalfa sprouts can easily be grown in your home. They even have specially made containers to grow sprouts in. For a simple solution line a shallow dish with a damp paper napkin and spread out the seeds. Keep the sheet damp and watch as your sprouts come to life! Harvest and replant over and over again to supplement your meals.
3. Green onion – Green onion is another easy to grow food. After you purchase organic green onion from the store, use the green tops in your cooking but save the roots and white parts. Set these root down in a vase or clear cup full of water and let the sun shine in. After only a few (Read More....)
Little doubt exists about the many negative consequences of drought in the agricultural industry. However, the additional impacts of drought in other large industries and experienced throughout the world are less apparent. This is due to an economic chain of events that ripple through industries, and even governments in the form of less income or higher associated costs.
Production
Drought has a large impact on the quality and viability of grain crops. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, global crop yields around the world fell short of preliminary expectations for 2012. Moreover, the United States was expected to produce 35.8 percent of the World's corn in 2012, but by August that percentage had fallen to near 32.2 percent. That decline came despite additional shortfalls in corn production across the globe.
Inflation
Global crop yields affected by drought had also caused food prices to rise 10 percent in July 2012 per The World Bank. Another substantial impact of drought is the price of non-perishable consumer goods. For example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported over 75 percent of total U.S. corn crops had become poor to (Read More....)
Ginger is a herb but is often known as a spice, with a strong distinct flavor. Ginger is popular in recipes such as ginger ale, ginger snaps, gingerbread, ginger biscuits and ginger cake. Some say it can help cure diabetes, head aches, colds, fatigue, nausea and the flu when used in tea or food. Ginger has been known to be effective for the treatment of cataracts, amenorrhea, heart disease, migraines, stroke, angina, athlete's foot, colds, bursitis, chronic fatigue, tendinitis, flu, coughs, depression, dizziness, fever, erectile difficulties, infertility, kidney stones, Raynaud's disease, sciatica, and viral infections.
Here is a list of medicinal properties ginger has been known to have throughout history.
- antiemetic/antinausea
- anticlotting agent
- antispasmodic
- antifungal
- anti inflammatory
- antiseptic
- antibacterial
- antiviral
- antitussive
- analgesic
- circulatory stimulant
- carminative
- expectorant
- hypotensive
- increases blood flow
- promotes sweating
- relaxes peripheral blood vessels
10 Health Benefits of Ginger
1. Ovarian cancer treatment
2. Colon cancer prevention
3. Morning sickness (Read More....)
 From the soils that grow the food we eat to the personal care products that we use on our bodies, chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, and other hazardous agents can be found almost everywhere, in everything, it seems. What's worse is that these dangers are not only a threat to us as individuals--they're a threat to the environment as a whole. The best way to beat this army of toxins is to make your home more organic. When you choose to go organic, you choose to reduce your exposure to a laundry list of harmful substances. Are you ready to make the switch but not sure where you should start? Highlighted for you here are several things you can do to transform your home into a more organic one.
Buy Organically Grown Foods
One way to make your home more organic is to buy organically grown produce, meats, and dairy products. Organic produce is chemical-free, grown without the use of dangerous fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Organic meats and dairy products come from animals that are never fed antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-products, making them completely safe for human consumption. Food co-ops, health food stores, and farmers markets are great places to shop for organic foods--and now many supermarkets carry them as well.
Build a Compost Pile
Building your own (Read More....)
 People can have an almost instinctual fear of snakes and most people are not going to want a bunch of snakes in their garden or hanging out on their lawn. Although there is no reason to fear most snakes, some of them can be poisonous and you may want to look for ways to get rid of any snakes that may be around your property.
Types of Snake Control
There are a number of methods of snake control that you can employ to attempt to ensure that snakes will not take away from your enjoyment of your lawn and garden.
Snake Repellents: Snake repellents attempt to make snakes uncomfortable enough to leave the area. Snake repellents come in both a chemical and electronic form. The chemical form uses smell to irritate the snake by blocking its sense of taste and smell. This will limit the amount of information a snake is able to gather about the surrounding environment and cause the snake to leave the area. You need to be careful when buying chemical snake repellents that the ingredients will not harm the environment or the people who regularly use your lawn and garden.
Electronic snake repellents emit a vibration into the ground that cause discomfort to the snake so that it will leave the area. This has the added benefit of getting rid of other pests and being environmentally friendly. You (Read More....)
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