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May 052009
 

Today is wet, cold and blustery here in the Cascade foothills, but we are braving it and continuing to get the garden ready to plant Poppies_Parking_Strip_300 this week in the hopes that we don’t have another freeze.  The picture at left is meant to give you one of many creative ideas if you are bored with grass in your parking strip in the city.  This is across the entire 60’ double lot in front of our Seattle (Queen Anne hill) house in the mid 90’s, a veritable field of Flanders’ poppies.  As one neighbor commented back then, “It appears we aren’t in Kansas anymore, Marcia!”  Annual wildflower mixes are inexpensive and can be directly sowed in spring for easy-care color and scent and will last well into late summer.  The key is to prepare good soil by tilling peat moss, leaf mold and additives (and hand turn to aerate well), smoothing surface before sowing the seed.  We made extra concrete walkways to allow crossing through without walking in the bed itself, although we did have the occasional “urban deer” as I called those moving too fast (joggers, kids on skateboards) to avoid tromping through. As you can see, little damage occurred and most walkers in our neighborhood went out of their way to pass by and enjoy the display. There is no doubt that there are tons of excellent pest management companies in Buffalo. You can call power pest control at any time. Nevertheless, not all of them are equal. Some companies will deliver a better performance than others. We strongly believe that we’re the best company in the city and we believe that we’ll deliver a better performance than anyone.  We’re locally based and we believe in treating our clients like a member of our family. Since we’re locally based, we’ll have no trouble reaching your location. Our technicians are thoroughly familiar with Buffalo, so they’ll be able to reach your location and rectify your problem in a hurry. For both indoor and outdoor temperature control use Blaux portable ac.

Concrete cleaning is the another important thing to consider. Cleaning your concrete periodically and keeping it safe with the proper concrete cleaners are the key components of any good maintenance program. How often you clean your concrete will largely depend upon the conditions the concrete is exposed to, especially sunlight intensity, weather extremes, and therefore the amount of auto traffic. you’ll ask your concrete contractor to recommend cleaning products appropriate for cleaning concrete, asphalt, stone & the other sort of driveway, sidewalk, and walkway.

Concrete is porous holds dirt, tree sap, rust stains, mineral stains, to sink at heart making it tough to wash with just soap and water. to wash concrete effectively, you want to use knowledgeable grade cleaner made exclusively for cleaning concrete. a good sort of concrete cleaners are available that are custom-made to wash or remove oil and grease stains, dirt, paint stains and rust stains from concrete surfaces. Understanding what these cleaners do and the way they work can save some time and money on a cleaning project. Today there are multitudes of cleaners to settle on from but it is highly recommended to engage with professional concrete cleaners to get a better experience . They are special sorts of concrete cleaners targeting specific sorts of contamination and dirt during a big variety of environmental conditions. Once you discover the cleaner that works, you’ll cut some time for concrete maintenance in half.

TOO MUCH RAIN TO MOW?  If the lawn is wet because you’re getting more rain than you are used to, try thebestleafblowers.com to help keep cut grass from sticking.  This will allow you to cut when grass is still slightly wet.  Keeping your grass at least 3”-4” tall will keep most weeds at bay by preventing them from getting sunlight to sprout.  Use a mulching mower and leave grass clippings to break down and provide healthy nitrogen (this provides about half what your lawn needs) as it breaks down.  Healthy grass should be aerated and fed (composted lightly) twice a year; not doing this will promote more weeds.  Remember: healthy soil/healthy plants/fewer weeds.   Talk to an expert to find the best grass seed combination for your climate and soil.  Reseeding should be done in the fall when you expect at least six weeks of 50-70 degree weather, the optimum temperature for grass seeds to sprout. You can also try MyLawnCare Perth for the best gardening and lawn mowing services in town.

YOUNG FRONDS OF FIDDLEHEAD FERNS (also known as ostrich ferns) can be a delicious food.  The new fronds will be lighter in color than the rest of the plant, about 2” long and 1 1/2” in diameter.  Fiddleheads are safe to eat if cooked, they taste like a cross between asparagus and green beans.  They can be stir-fried or steamed, but they should never be eaten raw.  Cook no longer than 5 minutes for best flavor and texture.

THE MOST NUTRITIOUS GREENS to grow in your garden (or choose from your organic green grocer) are:
Arugula has a slightly peppery flavor; used in salads.
Beet – young leaves are best. Delicious lightly steamed.  When
cooking the beet itself, add the leaves to the pot for extra taste
and nutrition.
Dandelion – young leaves not exposed to pesticides are best.
Their bitter taste is excellent for digestive health. 
Endive – a type of chicory that grows in a small, cone-shaped
head.  Has pale leaves and is slightly bitter for salads.
Kale – My favorite garden green; choose thin stems/frilly leaves.
Stir fry, steam, add to soups and pastas . . . many uses in
cooking.
Romaine lettuce – full of vitamins and minerals.
Spinach – Very high in nutrition; can be eaten raw or cooked.

Tealight_Candle_Blue_150 Special this week only (through Sunday, May 9):  Take an extra 10% off all Samara Synergies.   Good time to stock up on First Defense  for the family’s flu artillery or Calma for aiding sleep.  Many others to choose from.  Orders over $35 will also receive a free decorative tea light holder (pictured at left).    Enter “Earth Day#4” (no quotes) in promotional code on checkout page.
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 Posted by at 6:48 pm
Apr 262009
 

As we continue to look at simple ways to be kinder to the Earth in our every day lives, I become acutely aware of our climactic Caleb_Tree_Farm_250 changes and challenges.  Here in the Cascade foothills in Snohomish county, WA, we are noticing a trend of colder winters and more often several feet of snow when we used to rarely get inches if any at all.  Early Spring is wetter and floods now happen earlier in the year and longer in duration and intensity.  Wind storms are more prevalent and there are more downed trees to deal with.  And, it’s hotter in the summer months, making it imperative to pay closer attention to the garden plants to insure they are well watered, mulched/composted and sometimes shaded from the sun’s intensity.   We continue the discussion with more ideas to create the optimum circumstances for success in the garden.

A COMMUNITY GARDEN is a wonderful way for urbanites to grow a flower and vegetable garden when you don’t have the space or want to interact with others in the community to create a more green urban environment.  This is also a fabulous way to introduce young people to the joys of growing their own food.  Here’s a few resources in larger cities.
Houston TX:  http://www.urbanharvest.org/
Buffalo NY: http://www.urbanroots.org/
Denver CO: http://www.dug.org/home.asp
Rutgers University has a community garden self help guide: http://tinyurl.com/c83fvu
If you start a community garden, make sure that the soil is tested to insure there are no contaminants like lead or other hazardous chemicals that might permeate the crops grown.  Some communities are starting gardens for the poor to help supplement the diminishing budgets of our older citizens and those who make do with less.   All of these endeavors are rewarding, and again, a good place to introduce children to a sense of ‘community’ while connecting them with Nature.

PLANTING SIMILAR SPECIES of vegetables, like broccoli with cabbage or Brussels sprouts should be avoided as they will compete for nutrients.  Companion planting is aesthetically delightful and helps improve soil while keeping pests at bay.  Here’s a great companion planting guide: http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

DIG DEEP when preparing soil for planting.  Digging adds air pockets which help repel root-dwelling insects and oxygenate the soil.  This helps plants put down healthy roots.  This is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to condition the soil.  All organic gardeners I know using the similar approach: first of all, they choose easy slider sheds, and another thing – they prefer to turn soil by hand after using a garden tiller.

Special this week only (through Sunday, May 3) take 10% additional in addition to your 5% web discount off all aroma jewelry and natural perfumes.  Enter “Earth Day#3” (no quotes) in promotional code on checkout page.
http://www.wingedseed.com

 

Food as Fuel Before, During and After Workouts

 

Your body is your vehicle, so you have to keep your engine running when you work out. That means fueling up your body by eating the right foods and drinking the right fluids, in the right amounts at the right times. Learn more about blast portable ac benefits.

The American College of Sports Medicine says, “Adequate food and fluid should be consumed before, during, and after exercise to help maintain blood glucose concentration during exercise, maximize exercise performance, and improve recovery time. Athletes should be well hydrated before exercise and drink enough fluid during and after exercise to balance fluid losses.”

“You don’t have to adhere to a rigid schedule and there are no hard-fast rules,” said Riska Platt, M.S., R.D., a nutrition consultant for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. “But there are some things you should do before, during and after you work out.”

Here is what Ms. Platt recommends:

Before: Fuel Up!

Not fueling up before you work out is like “driving a car on empty,” said Platt, an American Heart Association volunteer. You also won’t have enough energy to maximize your workout and you limit your ability to burn calories.

Ideally, fuel up two hours before you exercise by:

  • Hydrating with water.
  • Eating healthy carbohydrates such as whole-grain cereals (with low-fat or skim milk), whole-wheat toast, low-fat or fat-free yogurt, whole grain pasta, brown rice, fruits and vegetables.
  • Avoiding saturated fats and even a lot of healthy protein — because these types of fuels digest slower in your stomach and take away oxygen and energy-delivering blood from your muscles.

If you only have 5-10 minutes before you exercise, eat a piece of fruit such as an apple or banana, check out the latest pelvic floor strong reviews.

“The key is to consume easily digested carbohydrates, so you don’t feel sluggish,” Platt said.

During: Make a Pit Stop.

Whether you’re a professional athlete who trains for several hours or you have a low to moderate routine, keep your body hydrated with small, frequent sips of water.

Platt notes that you don’t need to eat during a workout that’s an hour or less. But, for longer, high-intensity vigorous workouts, she recommends eating 50-100 calories every half hour of carbohydrates such as low-fat yogurt, raisins, or banana.

After: Refuel Your Tank.

After your workout, Ms. Platt recommends refueling with:

  • Fluids. Drink water, of course. Blend your water with 100% juice such as orange juice which provides fluids, carbohydrates.
  • Carbohydrates. You burn a lot of carbohydrates — the main fuel for your muscles — when you exercise. In the 20-60 minutes after your workout, your muscles can store carbohydrates and protein as energy and help in recovery.
  • Protein. Eat things with protein to help repair and grow your muscles.
 Posted by at 6:46 pm
Apr 202009
 

Last week, we had an amazing podcast with our friends at Unclutterer and talked about ways to be more gentle with the Earth Garden planted 2003_300 in our everyday lives.  It’s warm and sunny here in the Cascade foothills, so I thought I’d continue with ideas for your lawn and garden, thinking this might be where your attention is joyfully focused at this time.

GROW HERBS IN YOUR GARDEN; they are easy to grow and help encourage birds and butterflies, as well as other useful insects.  Take help from free resources like ChemLawn to know how you can achieve that. They are a great choice for planting between other flowers and vegetables to increase diversity.  Planting basil, oregano, cilantro, sage and tarragon alongside vegetables will remind you to use them together.  Having herbs in your garden is one more thing you can take off your shopping list. You can have creepers and climbers on your patio furniture sets to adorn the furniture and cast an aesthetic look.

LARGE PLASTIC BOTTLES can be used as mini-greenhouses, an excellent protective covering for seedlings.  Cut off the ends and there you go.

RAIN BARRELS are probably going to be a necessity in the future to help conserve water resources.  They now come in a range of sizes, shapes and colors. Perfect Tools 4 U have some useful resources from which you can imagine how you can color barrels and have the best look.  Try a decorative one on the deck with a rain chain for melodic ambience and drain it under the deck into the deck-side plantings.   You’ll be surprised at the savings on your water bill and your plants will love you. This website will offer more tips on proper care.

SOAKER HOSES AND DRIP IRRIGATION can reduce water waste by as much as 70 percent because their delivery system sends water directly to the roots, unlike sprinklers, which waste water through evaporation.

TRADITIONAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS are a better choice than hybridized newer varieties.  ORGANIC NATURAL FERTILIZERS like fish emulsion, bone meal and seaweed-based products are far better than synthetic alternatives. Buy the best corn cob light bulb and place it in your garden to light up the area at night.

Special this week only (through Sunday, April 26) take 10% additional in addition to your 5% web discount off all hydrosols.  Enter “Earth Day#1” (no quotes) in promotional code on website
http://www.wingedseed.com

 Posted by at 7:43 pm
Apr 142009
 

The time has come to take our responsibility for stewardship of our bountiful planet more seriously.  Focusing our attention only one day a year to img 050_250honor the Earth isn’t going to solve the myriad problems we are creating.   These problems will grow to overwhelm our children and grandchildren as we continue to ignore the realities of global warming and chemical pollution.  The signs of collapsing ecosystems,  endangered and disappearing species are all around. Saab Bio Power blogs can guide you to resist these kind of environmental issues. In our busy lives, we sometimes procrastinate necessary changes.  We need to learn better ecological habits to reverse a destructive trend before it is too late.   This is the beginning of a series of short articles that will contain simple, yet effective ways to replace harsh chemicals that pollute the environment with safe, gentle natural alternatives and make our lives more in tune with the natural world.  We hope you join us in making these sensible choices.

HOUSEPLANTS act as natural air filters, through photosynthesis, using carbon dioxide and water and releasing oxygen as a waste material.  How symbiotic is that!  You can find delightful houseplants that require little care for every room of the house and never have to purchase synthetic chemical air fresheners again.  These commercial products only mask smells and coat nasal passages with chemicals that diminish your sense of smell.  Samara Botane has a lovely variety of natural environmental aromatic products to keep your home environment, car or camper fresh and clean.  Made with antiseptic and antiviral essential oils, they also limit germs and exposure to viral pathogens.  These come in synergies to use in a diffuser and aromatic room misters.  You can also make your own antiseptic spray by simply adding a few drops of essential oil to a spritzer bottle filled with water.  Try tea tree and lavender, sweet orange and cedarwood, rose geranium and lemon.

HOMEMADE WASHER SOAP can be made by mixing 1 cup baking soda with 10 drops each of lavender and grapefruit essential oils, adding drop by drop and mixing thoroughly.  Add 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of powdered castile soap.  Mix well and store in an airtight container.  Add 1/2 cup to each load of wash.   For really tough stains, dissolve 1/2 cup borax, allow to cool completely.  Add 1 cup distilled white vinegar and 6 drops eucalyptus essential oil.  Soak soiled clothes in this blend for 2 hours before laundering.

Special this week only (through Sunday, April 19) take 20% off all essential oils.  Enter “Earth Day#1” (no quotes) in promotional code on website
http://www.wingedseed.com

 Posted by at 5:23 pm
Mar 152009
 

Like most of you, my passion for aromatics does not always supersede other artistic enjoyment.  As we grow nearer to Spring (thank the stars!), my wanderlust kicks in and I yearn to travel, clearing the cobwebs of inactivity and opening my senses to new cultures and experiences.  My brother recently visited Argentina (what me jealous?) for a month while working on fine art commission and has introduced me to many of the fascinating people he discovered.  Check this out to know about arts here. Revel in this sensuous video featuring one of Argentina’s lovely songstresses of the Tango . . . makes you want to bite your scarf and dance with abandon. . .

Silvana Deluigi vocal, Leading Ladies of Tango Orchestra. Live recording December 2006.Video by John Campbell.

The tanguera Silvana Deluigi dispenses with the cliché of the woman who was made to serve as the source of her man’s unhappiness. In duos with the bassist Jean-Paul Celea, the saxophonist, Ulrich I. Lask, and the Uruguayan bandoneon virtuoso Luis di Matteo, she demonstrates that the sung tango is no nostalgic museum piece but a self-confident and up-to-date musical form.

Be well,
Marcia

Special this week only (through Sunday, March 22) take 20% off all aroma jewelry.  Enter “Silvana Deluigi” (no quotes) in promotional code on website
http://www.wingedseed.com

 Posted by at 5:34 pm
Mar 052009
 

I came upon this cute video . . . no, not created by Photoshop.

Since we talk of the delights of goat tincture (obtained from the male sweat glands by plucking a a few hairs) in perfumery circles, it struck my fancy.  Amazingly, these uncanny goats are actually climbing the Argan trees of Morocco in search of food, which is otherwise very sparse in the region.   They have become quite agile and adept, almost artful as they traipse across the trees and branches with a sure-footedness hard to imagine from a hoofed animal.

Special this week only (through Sunday, March 8) take 20% off all aromatic extracts (essential oils, CO2’s, Concretes, Absolutes, Floral Waxes and Oleoresins).  Enter “16goatsinatree” (no quotes) in promotional code on website http://www.wingedseed.com

 Posted by at 7:57 pm
Feb 112009
 

Valentine_House_300 

Share your love and kindness on this Valentines day.  You’ll be the richer for it. 

We are busy adding drop down boxes on the website.  You can now order small samples of all aromatic raw materials to examine before purchasing larger quantities. 

 Posted by at 8:11 pm
Jun 262008
 

Many of us are reeling when we envision the negative impact the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 could have on small beauty businesses, and the resultant curtailing of consumer choices when it comes to handmade natural products.   The restrictive annual and product registration fees that could be charged under this act could become so burdensome that many of these small businesses would have to close their doors.  Some of our small business customers could be facing a $12,000 product registration fee for each formula for a bar of  soap.

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, CEO of the Indie Business Network has worked diligently to support and provide a wide umbrella of education and services to support independent beauty products manufacturers, most of whom began in their own kitchens.  Many of these companies, after years of diligence and hard work have now emerged as successful, thriving alternatives to mass produced big box cosmetic products. Donna Maria is a big reason for this success.  She now has rallied her legal skills and the energies of the IBN membership to stop this potentially stifling legislation.

Watch the video, then go to her blog  and sign on as a signatory to the petition.  

Indie_Business_Blog 

Then, contact your own representatives in Congress to voice your objection to this pending legislation.  Your choices will be dependent upon the ultimate status of this bill.

 Posted by at 4:09 pm
Jun 062008
 

Yes, it is getting to be that time of year again.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve had an extremely rainy Spring season – so much so, we are calling this month, “Juneuary”!  This unusual dampness will produce optimum conditions for mosquitoes to breed and multiply as the temperatures warm.  Here is additional mosquito information on the website to learn more.

As you can see, we offer a fabulous ready-to-use mosquito repellent in a variety of product applications.  However,  many of you readers grow your own gardens and can easily make your own effective natural spray or oil to take care of those pesky mosquitoes or no-see-ums. Check out the latest buzz b gone reviews.

As you probably already know, DEET is currently the most common active ingredient in commercial bug repellents. Some of the best mosquito repellents also happen to be the best mosquito repellent without deet. DEET is a dangerous chemical, as discovered by Duke University researchers and can cause brain-cell destruction and has caused neurological damage in studies using rats.  Additionally, the Iowa State University Research Foundation has proven Catnip, Nepeta Cataria, known as a cat-pleasing herb or medicinal tea, to be safe and effective to keep bugs at bay.

Catnip is a perennial herb, preferring well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight.  It is easy to grow but can become invasive.  Best planted in the fall, it will get a boost for summer by forming a strong root system, increasing its natural drought resistance.  If you choose to plant now, purchase a hardy plant from a nursery, making sure of the correct Latin binomial.  Catnip doesn’t need much help once it is established and only needs compost, not fertilizer.

Here are the recipes for making your own bug repellents:

Catnip Mosquito Mist (makes approximately 3 cups)

  • 2 cups catnip, stemmed
  • 3-4 cups mild rice or white vinegar

Rise and pat dry herb, roll lightly with a rolling pin to bruise and open plant cells, place in a clean quart jar and cover with vinegar.  Seal jar and store in a dark cupboard for two weeks, shaking lightly every day.  Strain into clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 6 months unused.  To use, spritz on exposed skin and around outdoor recreation or dining areas.

Catnip and Rosemary Mosquito Oil

  • 2 cups catnip, stemmed
  • 1 cup fresh rosemary, stemmed
  • 2 cups light vegetable oil (such as fractionated coconut)

Bruise catnip leaves; finely chop rosemary.  Pack in a clean jar, cover with oil and place in a dark cupboard for 2 weeks, shaking lightly every day. Strain into clean jar, seal and refrigerate unused for up to 8 months.  To use, decant into smaller bottle for carrying and rub on exposed skin when outside. This is the best way to keep your skin healthy and safe, also Skin Clinics can also provide professional advice about your skin of many products.

Let us know if you try these ideas; we love to get feedback.

Aromatically,
Marcia

 Posted by at 5:09 pm
Jun 052008
 

I’ve recently read that our food system is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse emissions.  When you think about bananas being shipped to a U.S. port, then transported by container truck to a distribution point, then trucked across your state to your local grocer, this begins to make sense. 

Here’s a great little calculator to help you compare the relative carbon impacts of your food choices.  The nifty thing is – if you reduce emissions by your eating habits, you will also be eating healthier and maybe learning to grow your own garden and shop at your local farmer’s market (supporting your regional food supply).

You handmade products manufacturers might want to look into being a vendor at your local farmer’s market.  You’ll make good contacts for fresh herbs and flowers to use in your products.  It’s a great way to expand your networking . . . all the time helping the environment.  Excellllent!  (Stroking imaginary beard.)  

 Posted by at 6:04 pm
Uk meds