Spring is in the air and as the weather warms up, we are reminded that summer is just around the corner. Frozen treats not only help us keep cool in the summer, our four-legged companions are also in need of a little refreshment and relief.

Buying frozen treats for your dog can be expensive. You may want to consider making your own frozen treats for your pet.  You don’t need any special equipment and it is really easy and far less expensive, too. Here are a few of my favorite recipes to get you started: …read more of Frozen Treats for Pets on Memorial Day and All Summer Long here

Whenever I sell organic seeds at the farmers’ market, I usually sell out of the typical seasonal vegetable seeds by the end of the day. Lately, however I have been selling all of my kale seeds within the first hour or two.

Why is it that kale has become so popular?

Generally, kale has not been among the most popular of vegetables and most mothers have to nag their children to eat their greens. These days, however there seems to be a real rush on this green vegetable.

Many nutritionists and natural therapists recognize the health value of eating kale. Baby boomers are not prepared to simply accept declining health and the younger ‘green generation’ is becoming more aware of the dangers of a nutrient-poor fast food diet.

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Green it is!

The deeper the color, the more beta-carotene and kale has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Kale provides many health benefits and its dark green color is a good indicator that it is rich in iron, potassium and calcium as well as vitamins A and C.

Kale comes up quickly and is really easy to grow at home. It’s like having a power pack growing right at your backdoor. …read more of Grow Your Own Superfood: Kale here

Chocolate chip cookies are an all-American classic that doesn’t need a special occasion, just a half hour or so and a desire to sweeten up your day.

Who doesn’t love dessert? Offer a plate of chocolate chip cookies and young and old alike will step up to sample with delight.  That is, unless you are one of the 25.8 million adults and children in the United States who have diabetes[1]

The 8.3 percent of the population who have to remain vigilant with regard to their serum glucose level need to drastically limit or avoid sugar altogether.

Perhaps you are among the almost two-thirds of adults in the U.S who are overweight or obese  or the whopping 17 percent of our youth 2 to 19 years of age (12.5 million) who are also obese. …read more of Naturally Sugar-free Chocolate Chippers – Sweet! here

“Organic farming methods have increased antioxidant levels in some cases by over 300 percent.  On average, across 7 studies that reported direct comparisons of the levels of antioxidants in conventional and organic foods, levels in organic food averaged about 1/3 higher.”^[1]

So what’s the big deal about antioxidants?

Antioxidants are naturally occurring plant chemicals that help prevent or reduce tissue damage caused by free radicals.  By lessening free radical damage, antioxidants reduce inflammation and can lessen joint and muscle pain.

In this way antioxidants can play a role in promoting cardiovascular health, lessen the risk and severity of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and generally slow the aging process.

Antioxidants have also been shown to prevent or slow the growth of some cancerous tumors.  Some studies suggest that antioxidants can also delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes as well as slowing down its progression for those who already have this increasingly common disease. …read more of Organic Produce One-Third Higher in Antioxidants here

Certified organic fruit, vegetables and legumes may not be suitable for a vegan diet. This is a bold statement. Many may be shocked to hear this since a vegan diet consists of plant based foods, exclusively.

Certainly, organic certification will guarantee the best quality produce without the use of harmful pesticides and is much better for the environment, but is it “animal product free”?

It is the way these crops are cultivated that puts into question how well they fit into the vegan ethos. …read more of Organic Gardening For Vegans here