One

When we speak about becoming self-sustained, we are speaking about relying solely upon ourselves for all of our needs.  This idea doesn’t just revolve around harvesting our own vegetables, getting “off the grid” or learning to bake our own bread and make our own cheese, it means “all of our needs”. This includes ridding ourselves of the waste that we as humans tend to make.  Sure we can reduce, re-use and recycle, we can burn our garbage, and we can even turn our food waste into compost to feed our gardens, but what about a composting toilet?

A composting toilet is like a little tiny ecosystem that will recycle human excrement. It will actually safely contain the excrement while microorganisms turn it into humus for you to return back to the soil. The composting toilet uses very little water, unlike the toilets that we use now.  A “normal” toilet uses almost 5 gallons of drinking water to every ounce or so of waste, which accounts for over 30% of our household water used only for flushing the toilet.

As long as these “humanure toilets” are operated correctly they can be clean, odor-free, environmentally friendly, provide fertilizer for your garden and use less water.  So, what do you think? Would you go this far to become self-sustained?

~Wind

Ever wondered if the quality of air within your home is up to snuff? According to Kamal Meattle in Delhi, there are three plants that you should keep in your home to keep the air fresh and healthy; these plants are the Areca Palm, the Money Plant and the Mother-In-Law’s Tongue!

Apparently you should keep one Areca Palm per person in the house to cleanse the air during the day; 6-8 Mother-In-Law’s Tongue’s per person to convert the CO2 to oxygen during the evening and the Money Plant filters out Formaldehyde and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)!

According to Meattle, and his 15 years of research, by providing enough of these plants within your home, you could survive in an air tight bubble! Meattle has been testing this theory at the Paharpur Business Centre in India which occupies 300 people, by filling it with over 1,200 plants.  The Indian Government has not only rated this building to be the healthiest in all of Delhi but suggests that after spending 10 hours inside the building your body will be working better than it was before!

Not only is filling your homes with live plants a beautiful addition to your home;  but it’s a natural and healthy one as well!

~Wind

It appears that President Obama and the First Lady will be planting a Victory Garden at the White House!  A victory garden is a term that is given to a vegetable, herb or fruit garden that is planted at a private residence during the War.

As we are all fully aware, growing your own foods is not only cost effective for yourself, but it helps reduce the pressure on the public food supply.  Besides the fact that it just makes you feel good to know that you are doing your part in helping with the economy and the environment!

So…a big “Thanks” goes to the President and First Lady for giving America the example that we needed to show that responsibility starts at home!

~Wind

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and the upcoming Spring Equinox, the time for bringing back our lawns from the winter cold is in our immediate future.

Clover lawns are a great alternative to lawn grass!  Clover’s are known as nitrogen fixer’s, which means that they take the nitrogen out of the air and bring it down into its roots providing its own fertilizer! This provides not only a lawn that does not require the financial responsibility of fertilizer, but it adds NO chemicals to the earth!

With its long roots, clover is able to access water at deeper levels than lawn grass which aids in aerating the soil more effectively! Clover produces a pretty flower which adds to the look of your landscaping, but attracts honey bees, as well, which could be a downfall to having a clover lawn…if you’re allergic!  The clover lawn requires less mowing than lawn grass, but if you are allergic to honey bees you might want to mow a little more often.  Another downfall to having a clover lawn is that it doesn’t stand up to foot traffic like lawn grass does, but if you put up a “keep of the grass” sign, that problem can be solved too!

All in all, having a clover lawn is a cheap, low-maintenance alternative to lawn grass and it’s prettier to look at too!  I’d say you’d be “lucky” to have a clover lawn! Sorry, couldn’t help myself…

~Wind

I have spent most of my years living in the Everglades in Florida becoming very familiar with the plants that grew in the area, learning about what is safe to eat, plant and even touch! I think that it’s important to know these kinds of things, especially when you spend as much time outside exploring as I do.  When I moved further north early last year, I had to become familiar with the plants that grow in this area.  Although, I’m only 4 hours further north and still in Florida the differences are many!

One of the new species that I ran into (literally) is called the stinging nettle! OUCH! The stinging nettle is actually a beautiful plant that produces pretty white flowers, but it also a very protective and angry plant, as well! Kind of like a jellyfish! Very nice to look at, but it’s a good idea not to play with it!

Since this was a new plant to me, I did some research and found out some very interesting information about the stinging nettle.

One of the first things I found out, is that in Marshwood, Dorset, in the UK there is an annual Stinging Nettle Eating Competition.  I’m not kidding…check this out…

Humans can be insane!

More importantly, I researched and found that these angry little herbs have health benefits!  Apparently, the stinging nettle can be used as a diuretic, to treat anemia, it helps in the treatment of arthritis, respiratory and urinary problems and it decreases the risk of eczema and other skin disorders…but wait that’s not all…!  The stinging nettle can also be used in asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis treatments AND it protects us from hair loss!

If used in tea from: pour 2/3 cup of boiling water over 3 - 4 tsp of dried nettle leaves or dried root and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Drink three to four cups a day. You can make an infusion with fresh nettle leaves. Always make sure to drink additional water along with the tea.

I guess maybe these “stinging nettle eaters” could be on to something…

~Wind

It’s Saturday! Saturday is one of my favorite days to play in the garden!

If we go by the lunar cycles for preparing our garden, the two things to consider is the astrological placement of the sun and the phase of the moon. At this time the sun is in Pisces and the moon is waxing (also known as the second quarter), as the moon will be full on Tuesday March 10, 2009.

Pisces is a water sign, which is to say, that it is the prime time to plant above ground crops such as leafy greens, vines and sturdy plants. Water signs are also the perfect signs for irrigation and root growth!

When you combine the astrological signs with the moon phases, it narrows down which types of plants that you should be working with during this time. As today is the time of the waxing moon, the gravitational pull has lessened but the moonlight is very strong which produces good strong leaf growth! Therefore, plants that produce seeds inside the fruit, like beans, melons, peppers, squash and tomatoes should be your primary focus during this time.

By combining the moon phase with astrological sign, gardening today should be focused on lettuces, melons, tomatoes and beans.

With that knowledge, I’m off to play in the garden!

~Wind

photo credit: astronomy cast

One of my favorite things to grow are herbs. They are not only beautiful to look at, but they have so many different uses; from cooking to healing to making a nice tea or to be used in soaps, oils or incenses! My favorite herb in particular would have to be lavender!

Lavender originated in the Mediterranean, but is a worldwide and a frequently used herb today. There are several different chemicals with healing properties that are contained within the oil of this beautiful herb. It can be used as an anti-depressant, an anti-inflammatory and a natural analgesic.

If you enjoy the smell of lavender and would like to make an infused oil for massages, the process is very simple. Take a glass jar and fill it with lavender buds and cover in a light oil, such as extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil or almond oil. Let the oil sit for about a month, then strain out the lavender buds. Keep an eye on the oil over the month that it soaks, to make sure that the oil completely covers the buds at all times (if any buds are exposed to air, it is likely to get moldy and ruin the batch of oil). After straining out the buds check to see if there is any water in the oil, if there is, be sure to let the oil sit for a few more days so that it separates; you can then remove the water with a dropper.

If you enjoy the flowery taste of lavender, like I do, one my favorite summer drinks is Lavender Lemonade!

Heat
2 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
to a boil until all the sugar dissolves. Add
1/4 cup lavender leaves, chopped
and let cool to the room temperature. Strain out the lavender and add
2 1/2 cups water
1 cup lemon juice to the lavender infusion. Stir and add some more sugar until you find a taste that suits you. Pour mixture into a pitcher and add ice cubes.

As a hot cup of tea, lavender is a natural healer for anxiety, headaches and upset stomachs.

Soaking strips of sterile linen in a mixture of two tbls of dried lavender in a jug of hot water provides a compress for bruise or place on your chest to aid in congestion.

You can also use dried lavender in sachets, dream pillows or satin-covered herbal eye masks. You can mix lavender buds with oatmeal and crush finely with a mortar and pestle. Take the mixture and add to melted down soaps and re-mold for a new look!

Is it any wonder that Lavender is my favorite with all is many uses and extreme beauty?

~Wind

Spring is creeping up on us fast, so now is the time to start getting your garden/yard prepared. We are hitting the tail end of winter, but there are still some things that you can do to prepare for the upcoming season.

Start by raking up all the leaves around your home; this will enable the grass to grow without any inhibitions. You can always use the leaves for mulch in your garden to keep the weeds down to a minimum. If you plan on fertilizing you will want to do it soon, before the weather gets too warm and the spring rains come.

This time of year would also be a good time to start pruning your fruit trees, bushes and hedges. Remember not to prune the middle of the branches just cut them back at the ‘intersections’ to ensure that they grow back nice and well, bushy!

Now for the fun part…Start planning out your garden! Decide what kind of vegetables you want to plant and where you would like to plant them. Start building a fence that will keep the deer and other critters away from your garden. A good hearty low cost fence can be built with pallets. Many companies just give them away, so the only cost to you would be the posts and the nails! You can also begin planting your seeds in some recycled items from around your house!

There’s much to be done, spring is right around the corner!

~Wind

other related articles
Keeping it Green with Recycled Seed Starter Trays
Preparing Seedlings for Spring
Bag Gardening

There are several different ways to start your seedlings. One way of course, is to purchase a million little pots to plant each seedling in, yeah right!

Then of course are the seed starting plastic trays that you can purchase in the gardening department of the big box stores or at nurseries! Or…and this is my favorite way, make them yourself out of stuff lying around the house! Yes, it’s true! You can make your own little seedling pots with things that would either get pitched or thrown into the recycling bin!

A two-liter bottle can be cut in half and used for a seedling pot! Take the bottle cut it half, poke a few drainage holes, add 4-5 inches of soil in the bottom of the bottle and add your seeds! Put the top half back on to the bottle and you have officially created your own little greenhouse!

Old toilet paper rolls or the cardboard that holds your wrapping paper are also great ways to start your seedlings! Cut the roll in half and make four quarter inch slices around the outside edge of the roll, this creates four flaps that you then fold down like the bottom of a box. This will be the bottom of your ‘pot’. Fill with potting soil and add your seeds. I particularly like this approach because when it comes time to plant your seedlings into the garden you can plant the whole pot! The cardboard will disintegrate into the soil slowly but surely!

You can take a section of the newspaper and cut it in half, roll about four or five sheets of the paper around a spice bottle (so that it takes on a cylindrical shape, close of the bottom of the cone and secure with tape. viola! Instant seed pot!

I also have used egg cartons, just cut the top of the carton and use both pieces for separate trays. I have used egg shells, (just be sure to crush the shell a little bit before you place it in the garden), yogurt cups, the packaging that your strawberries come in, and cream cheese containers. Be certain to poke holes in the bottoms of anything that is too solid to let the water drain through.

Use your imagination before throwing things away and you would be amazed at how much stuff can be turned into something useful…again!!

Off to plant my seeds!

~Wind

other related articles
Preparing Seedlings for Spring

We experienced our last freeze of the year last week, which prompted me to get on the spring gardening! What better day than Valentine’s Day, right?

Planting your garden in sequence with the moon phases and the astrological signs increases the growth of your plants; as you are working in harmony with the Earth, for the Earth.

The fourth quarter moon begins on February 18th this year, which means that we are now at the time of the full moon; this is a great time for planting root vegetables and transplanting seedlings. The gravitational pull of the moon has increased therefore the moisture in the soil also increases providing nutrients to the roots of the plants. We are also in the Sun Sign of Aquarius, an air sign, this brings the perfect time for harvesting and planting herbs and flowers.

So, today I planted my sunflowers, chives and basil and transplanted my squash, green beans and cucumbers! Next week we will be moving into the sun sign of Pisces, a water sign, so the family and I cut back all of the water plants in the pond and got it all prepped for the new growth of spring. There is still much to do, and I look forward to every minute of it!

~Wind
P.S. Friday the 13th was a great day! Black cats and all….

Other articles that may interest you
Planting Our Crops by the Light of the Moon