Balance With Nature

Everyone can grow food

WE CAN CONTAINER GARDEN YEAR ROUND

It's January 13th, a New Year, and many of your are now thinking about Spring. Some may have run into issues that caused them to plant late, or not at all. Just to let you know, everyone can grow in containers, even if you live in an apartment or condo. You can also grow vegetables and herbs in containers indoors during the Winter, and have those fresh salads you always crave.

Please Plant a Garden. If you don't have a big yard, or any yard at all, you can still plant in containers. I feel now more than ever that we will need to grow Home Gardens, and be able to help Feed our Families. We are in a very uncertain time in our Countries history, and we need to be prepared.

There are several types of containers that can be used for growing vegetables including polyethylene plastic bags, clay pots, plastic pots, metallic pots, milk jugs, ice cream containers, bushel baskets, barrels, and planter boxes. It is important to use containers that can accommodate roots of the vegetables you want to grow as the vegetables vary in sizes and rooting depths.

The container needs to have good drainage, and should not contain chemicals that are toxic to plants and human beings. Most vegetables grown in backyard gardens can be grown in containers, although a container's diameter and depth needs to be considered when selecting what vegetables to grow. The plant density (number of vegetable plants per container) depends on individual plant space requirements, and rooting depth.

It's best to use one of the potting mixes in vegetable container gardening as they are light, disease-free, w**d seed-free, and have good drainage. Some potting mixes have pre-mixed plant nutrients, so read the information on the label about how long the pre-mix will feed your plants before you start applying fertilizers. You can also make your own two bushels of potting mix using the following recipe: Shredded sphagnum peat moss (1 bushel), Vermiculite (1 bushel), Ground limestone (1¼ cups), Phosphate fertilizer either 0-20-0 (½ cup) or 0-45-0 (¼ cup), Slow release granular fertilizer such as 5-10-5 (1 cup).

Container-grown plants require more frequent fertilization than field-grown plants because of the limited space within the container for drawing nutrients. Fertilizers can be mixed with the soil mix before filling the container and can also be applied as a nutrient solution. Nutrient solutions can be made by dissolving soluble fertilizer such as 10-20-10, 12-24-12 or 8-16-8 in water following label directions. The nutrient solution is applied once a day when the plants are watered. How often you water may vary with vegetables, but once a day is adequate.

Leach the unused fertilizer nutrients from the potting mix once a week by applying tap water only. It is also very important to water occasionally with a nutrient solution containing micro nutrients such as copper, zinc, boron, manganese, and iron and follow label directions in order to give plants the right amounts.

Plants grown in containers need frequent watering as the containers dry fast. Watering on a daily basis is necessary to provide adequate moisture for plant growth. Apply enough water to reach the bottom of the container. Allow the excess to drain out through drainage holes. Avoid wetting the leaves when watering as this will encourage development of foliar disease. Try not to allow the containers to dry out completely between watering as this will lead to flower and fruit drop. Do not over water the plants as the container will be waterlogged and the roots will lack oxygen leading to poor growth and eventually, perhaps, the plant's death.

The size of the containers needed will depend a lot on the vegetable or herbs you are planting. Most Herbs can be planted in 1/2 - 1 gallon containers. Cabbages, Cucumbers, Green Beans, Leaf Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, and Cherry Tomatoes can be planted in 1 gallon containers. Beets, Carrots, Eggplants, Peppers and Radishes need 2 gallon containers. Your regular tomatoes will need 3 gallon containers. (great info from the University of Illinois Extension)

When you need some great Non GMO Heirloom Seeds for your containers, please visit our THE SEED GUY website. We have a great 60 Variety Heirloom Seed package with Good Pricing at $89, 34,000 Seeds, and fresh from the New Fall 2022 Harvest--) https://theseedguy.net/seed-packages/50-60-variety-heirloom-seed-package.html and we still hand count and package our Seed varieties, like the old days, so you get the best germination.

We also have 8 other Heirloom Seed packages, in different sizes, and also all our individual varieties in Stock Now on our Seed Guy website. https://theseedguy.net/15-seed-packages

You can also Call Us 7 days a week, and up to 10:00 pm each night, at 918-352-8800 if you would rather Order By Phone.

If you LIKE US on our page, you will be on our list for more great Gardening Articles, new Heirloom Seed Offers, and healthy Juice Recipes. https://www.facebook.com/theseedguy/ Thank you, and God Bless You and Your Family. :)

I am starting a new online series in February. It is called "Healer's in Every Home". It is time to take back your power

5 Reasons to Plant a Chicken Garden and What to Grow There are numerous benefits to planting a chicken garden, including benefits to you, your family, the environment, and your flock. Read on to learn why and what to plant in a chicken garden.

Sugar is a toxin

Milk & cheese are a superfood. Some people are truly lactose intolerant, but not many. That doesn't mean replace milk & cheese with an unhealthy factory alternative. That means omit forever, or heal your gut and decide to try it again, once healed. Most people are not dairy intolerant but intolerant of the process (killing all the good milk cultures aka pasteurization) and drinking "dead milk" OR intolerant to the GMO grains being fed to the cows. Try raw, GRASSFED milk, aged cheese or make your own sugar free, live active whole milk yogurt.

Reposted from

🧀Cheese often gets a bad reputation due to it’s high saturated fat content.

📈For years, we have been advised to cut out “artery-clogging” full fat dairy from our diet to prevent our so-called “bad” LDL cholesterol from rising too high.

🙅🏼However, evidence does not indicate that people who eat more saturated fat are at increased cardiometabolic risk.

🫀Certain full fat dairy products such as whole milk, yoghurt and – you guessed it – cheese, have actually been linked to lower rates of heart disease.

💁🏻‍♀️There is a lot of nuance when it comes to how foods high in saturated fat influence our cholesterol levels.

🥛Minimally processed dairy products such as cheese have an intact milk globule membrane, which leads to a significantly lower impact on LDL levels.

😊Eating cheese is also associated with increased HDL cholesterol and LDL particle size, and lower triglycerides, representing improvements in the overall lipid profile.

😍Personally, I loooove cheese, as not only is it one of the most delicious foods out there, but it also has an impressive nutrient profile.

💪🏻Cheese is an excellent source of protein, B12, vitamins A and B12, calcium and zinc.

🧬It also contains many bioactive compounds that are proposed to be anti-inflammatory, particularly if we choose unpasteurised cheese.

🦠Raw and some aged cheeses also contain live bacterial cultures, or probiotics, which can bring benefits to our gut health.

👍🏻Moral of the story - don’t fear including cheese in your diet, as it is beautiful product with many health benefits.

Do you include cheese in your diet? Let me know below 👇🏻

Did you Know!🌱

Food is medicine

Do you know the Healing Benefits of Basil 🌿

Benefits of basil leaves

There are many beneficial effect that you may get by consuming basil leaves, below are some of them :

1. Prevent diarrhea

Basil is reported by some studies having anti-bacterial effect. The phytochemicals components in basil leaves can fight the infection of Staphylococcus aureus which is the main cause of diarrhea. Adding some basil leaves into your meal can help you to cure and prevent the body from diarrhea

2. Reduce inflammation

Inflammation usually occur in the body due to the presence of oxidative stress. Inflammation on certain vital organ can be harmful. Basil contain anti-inflammatory properties such as essential oil including citronellol, eugenol, and linalool. Those essential oils is effective to prevebt the body and reduce the risk of inflammation such in arthritis and heart disease case.

3. Lower cholesterol level

According to a study, basil has significant effect in reduction of cholesterol level in the body. The phytochemical and antioxidant component in basil leaves lower the LDL or Low density lipoprotein and prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessel which later can cause atherosclerosis.

4. Prevent cardiovascular disease

Basil is very useful for keeping normal circulation of the blood. It promotes healthy blood vessel function and keeping normal blood pressure. Basil leaves contains anti-inflammatory properties which can prevent platelet aggregation which can cause arteries clot and blocking the blood flow.

5. Calming stomach

This is why Italian people loves to add some basil leaves into their meal, basil leave has calming effect which can get rid of the full feeling in stomach. It also can minimize the gastric acid level and prevent from vomiting.

6. Relieve sting wound

If you got sting by bee or other insect and you dont find any medicine or antiseptic to relieve it, you can use basil to relieve the pain and wound. Just simply crush or chew the leaves and rub it to your skin. The anti-inflammation properties of basil leave will be effective to cure the wound caused by sting.

7. Treat ear infection

Basil leaves contains essential oils which has anti-inflammatory effect and can help to cure ear infection.

8. Control blood sugar and prevent diabetes

According to a study by Department of Home Science at Azad University of Agriculture and Technology in India, basil leaves has significant effect in lowering blood sugar level and maintain it in normal level. This function is may become preventive for the body in developing diabetes.

9. Reduce oxidative stress

Some studies have reported that basil has natural component called adaptogen which are serve strong effect to reduce oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition in the body where there is imbalance level of free radical and anti-oxidant who fight it. This condition may lead to damage of several organs and causing serious health disease.

10. Prevent from cough and cold

Basil leaves essential oil has anti-viral effect which means can prevent your body from influenza virus infection. Consuming basil leaves can not only get rid of the virus but also reduce the symptom such as cold, cough and running nose.

11. Prevent from cancer

Who think that basil leaves have ability to prevent cancer? The high antioxidant component in basil leaves has effective impact to fight free radicals which is the main factor causing DNA damage that later causing the excessive cells growth known as cancer.

12. Treat headache

Basil leaves can be used to treat headache. The flowery and aromatic scene may calm the nerve and reduce the impulse of blood vessel in brain. Just put some basil powder in a pot, smell i and , let the steam reach your face and head for some minutes until you feel better.

13. Reduce antibiotic resistance

Our body may develop antibiotic resistance due to missuse of antibiotic. Basil leaves contain anti-bacterial properties which can inhibit pathogen bacteria growth and decrease the antibiotic resistance.

14. Keeping healthy skin

Basil leaves contain Vitamin C and other phytochemicals which bring benefits to your skin. Consuming basil leaves regularly may improve your skin health by get rid the free radical effect and keep moist skin.

15. Treat fungal infection

If you have problem on your skin which caused by fungal infection, just chew or crush some amount of basil leaves to the area which got infected. Basil leave essential oil has anti-fungal properties which can kill and reduce the fungal growth

16. Protect liver function

According to a study which published in the Journal of Medicinal Food reported that consuming basil leaves regularly can improve the number of detoxifying enzyme in liver. This may help the function of liver and reduce the fat cell which accumulate in liver that can cause liver disease.

17. Improve digestion

Basil leaves contains some amount of fiber which can help to improve better digestion and make a healthy bowel movement. It also has calming sensation who make you feel good after eat. It also can improve appetite and reduce stomach cramps.

18. Control body acidity

Basil has ability to control body acidity by balancing the pH level. Normal pH level is required in maintaining metabolism and the function of several hormones and enzymes, it also important to keep healthy immune system, since the normal flora or good bacteria in our body can only live in certain pH level.

19. Improve sexual desire

In Italy, people consider basil as the symbol of love and has used basil leaves as natural aphrodisiac since long ago. The aroma of basil is believed has ability to increase libido or sexual desire. Actually the essential oil in basil responsible in the improvement of blood flow and mood so people will experience better sexual activity.

20. Alleviate depression

Basil contains some amount of magnesium which is important in nerve function. It has calming effect which can help you body to alleviate depression. Just by smell the aroma or consuming amount of basil, you can get this benefit.

21. Maintain strong bones and teeth

Basil is excellent source of Vitamin K which is known has great effect in keeping healthy bone and teeth. Vitamin K can help the body to absorb calcium and prevent bones from losing their mass.

22. Improve vision

High amount of Vitamin A in basil leaves has good effect in human vision. Vitamin A is needed to keep the eye muscle and lens in normal function.

💯❤️

Food is medicine

Oh the healing benefits of eating fruit! 🌱

When & How To Fertilize Garden Plants – 5 Big Secrets To Success! ...

Veterans Valley Point Presents: Photography and Art Workshops!

Saturday, August 13th, there will be 2 workshops available at the Ada Public Library! This is a great way to learn more about photography and art while helping raise money for our local veterans. This is a win-win!!!

Contact Desiree Simons Blankenship at 580-320-1844 for more information!

Learn to grow your owm food

A recent paper found that 95% of U.S. dietary guidelines committee members had conflicts of interest with big food and/or pharma!

Prior to this study, there was NO public disclosure of the committee’s conflicts of interest, despite a 2017 recommendation by the National Academies of Sciences.

It is clear to me that industry and public health authorities have no intention of being truly transparent with the public of their own will. The erosion of trust in public policy and policy makers is not only disheartening, but dangerous, especially when it becomes entangled in the scientific process.

When science stops seeking to identify objective truths about the nature of our world, and is instead used in bad faith to bolster and protect industry, it no longer serves the people. Good science requires genuine curiosity, public accountability and open debate.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35311630/

10 Easiest Vegetables To Grow!

1. Carrots
Find a plot of soil that is free from rocks and deep enough to handle this root vegetable. Rocky soil can result in crooked carrots that, while perfectly edible are not the most aesthetically pleasing. Carrots are ready for harvest when their tops breach the soil line.

2. Green Beans
There are many different kinds of beans, but "broad beans" are one of the easiest vegetables to cultivate. Bush beans are more productive, but broad beans are easier to manage. Pole beans, while easy to grow, also need a trellis. Beans freeze and can extremely well, too!

3. Lettuce
A salad fresh from your yard is unbeatable! Luckily, lettuce--a vast category of plants that includes micro-greens (tender lettuce greens that are chopped when barely a few weeks old), head lettuces, leaf lettuces, spinach, and arugula--is an easy plant to grow and maintain. Do successive sowings every two weeks to space out your harvest.

4. Cucumbers
If you let them, cucumber plants will sprawl, so provide your plants with ample space to stretch their roots. Try smaller varieties to make your own homemade pickles! Be sure to avoid planting cucumbers until all danger of frost has passed.

5. Spinach
Spinach is remarkably high in iron and is a wonderful addition to salads, omelets, and soups. You can pick it continuously once its leaves are of a reasonable size to encourage new growth.

6. Tomatoes (Pictured)
With a little water and a lot of sun, tomato plants will grow and fruit all summer long! Most people prefer to buy starter plants from nurseries or home improvement stores, which is an easy, time-saving way to start. Tomatoes are fragrant and nutrient-rich, and nothing can beat the taste of a freshly picked homegrown tomato!

7. Radishes
Radishes are ideal for beginner gardeners. Plant seeds directly into the garden in early spring or fall for a peppery addition to your favorite salads.

8. Bell Peppers
Like tomatoes, starter bell pepper plants are widely available at nurseries and home improvement stores. They make a crunchy additive to salads, add a pop of color to soups, and act as a nutritious compliment to kabobs.

9. Summer Squash
Squash is a high yielding plant, so you will probably only need a few plants to feed an entire family. Squash plants dislike the wind, so be sure that your plot has some protection. Harvest when the plants are about 8-10 inches long. Your family will Early Crookneck, Summer Prolific Yellow Straightneck, and Dark Green Zucchini Heirloom varieties.

10. Basil
An essential additive to cooking, this aromatic herb isn't just for lovers of Italian cuisine! You can grow basil in pots or in the ground—even indoors on a sunny windowsill. Sow seeds directly into the garden in early June in a sunny, well-drained area. When the leaves reach a desirable size, just pluck them from the plant and wait as the basil continues to provide fragrant and flavorful leaves that you can also dry and use long after summer is past.

14 Ways To Use Sage Leaves That Go Beyond The Ordinary Sage is a favorite herb among gardeners, home DIYers, and home cooks alike. Not only is it an incredibly easy herb to grow, thriving in the worst of conditions, but it also has so many

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The Three Sisters Planting Technique - The Most Efficient Way To Grow Food Companion planting is all the rage these days, but did you know this practice goes back thousands of years? The three sisters garden is one of the oldest and most

Gain Gardening Confidence & Knowledge This Spring This Masterclass is a MUST ATTEND if...You're a dabbling vegetable gardener who has tried to keep pests out of your garden, but without true success. OR You're a beginner who is overwhelmed by all the information out there and just wishes someone would tell you exactly what you need to know. Maybe you’ve read articles on the internet about pest control but much of it sounds like folklore or doesn’t seem to work in your garden. OR You're a garden nerd who wants to up your game to the next level for an amazing garden season after season.

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https://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/how-to-build-earth-sheltered-greenhouse-zbcz1312/

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Enter your plant-passionate students to win the Plant Mash-Up contest! The next generation is losing touch with the plants growing all around them. We can't let their connection with nature slip away. Join us and support the programs that are keeping plant education alive for future generations.

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