Garden Wrap Up

Monday, October 18th, 2010

So the growing season here in Colorado is coming to a end. This year I only had a small garden this year. I planted in a 10′ round raised bed in the north side of my house with shade for part of the morning then full sun til evening. Do to running late on planting I had a almost pure cattle farm compost. This is not the way I would have liked it I would have liked to have 50% black soil mixed in but had to work with what I had. I planted Sweet Corn, Artichokes, Brussel Sprouts, Jalapenos, Green Chilies, Banana peppers, Green Bell peppers, Tabasco Chilies, Green Squash and Red Beets. So what made it? Well my friends I had plenty of corn, a ton of chilies and peppers, a few squash and a dozen beets. All in all I was happy with what I had. So I have pulled the plants and put them into my compost bin and started adding ash from last years wood fires into the beds. With that and the addition of black soil in the spring I should be set for a great grow season. Good luck to all of you. I would love to see  some of your pictures from this year I will be posting the best of the submitted.

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The Oil Spill in The Gulf

Monday, July 19th, 2010

So they have done it. What have they done ? The have got away with the largest Eco Crime in our time to date. When this first happened as a country we were asking for someone to pay and they did the oil companies paid the workers that couldn’t work such as fisher man and also the gulf companies that were affected by the disaster. I think that it must have been pretty good because here  in Colorado the only big new story was about a strip club and weather or not the should get paid. Now I think that the President did the right thing by shutting down drilling till the spill is taken care of and the safety issues are addressed. I know a lot of  people were up set with this actions claiming it is unfair to the others that did not have the spill and of course to the employees that can’t work. Well I do feel bad for the employees and the fisherman or anyone effected that are not to blame for this but the people I feel sorriest for are my kids and all the other kids in the world that are going to live in a world that we have screwed up.

I know a lot of you right now are saying to your self I didn’t screw the world up it is the big companies that have done that. Well ask yourself this who are the big companies making and obtaining these products for? If you guessed all of us than you would be right. By not changing the way we live and depend on fossil fuels we make it profitable for big companies and to make a bigger profit they try to make it as cheep as possible to make this product and that means cheaper equipment and labor. So we end up with a oil rig made of sub par parts in operation by the people the could pay the least to lead by maybe one skilled worker that makes double or more what the others do.

I bet your wondering to yourself well why are we still so dependent on these fossil fuels I know I am. I also have a pretty good Idea why. Look at the business of the families of a lot of those in power. I know most of you will not be shocked to find they are in the fossil fuel business. We currently have the means to almost eliminate our need for such things. We have cars that run on water, electricity, and plant fuels. We have the capability to power our homes with solar and wind power. As matter of fact the smart people of the world have figured out a paint on solar cell how cool is that.

There are people today that live completely of the grid. Yes they have the money to get this started and not everyone can afford to do that but that is just a case of supply and demand. The more we demand these Green Products the less these products will cost us. If there is only one company providing solar cells they can charge what they want but if the have competition out bidding them that means lower prices for us.

Well to sum it up the oil companies have gotten away with a crime of nature and the did it by paying off a few of the people effected by this and they did it with the money in profits they make by over charging at the pump. It may not be seen right now but watch gas prices in the months to come as people start to forget what happened in the gulf.

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Mom’s Best Naturals Cereal

Sunday, June 20th, 2010

So this is my review of Mom’s cereals. Now I have not tried all the cereals available for this product line but I will tell you about the ones I have. So here in Colorado I had found Mom’s products in King Soopers. I think that one thing you will love is the price. It sells for $1.99 a box. I won’t lie that is the reason I first bought them. Well I must confess this is some tasty cereal. I have had the Honey Nut Toasty O’s, Mallo Oats, Honey & Oat Blend and Toasted Cinnamon Squares. All of these where great, they are lightly sweetened and have great texture and the biggest thing is my kids like it. Below this is there product line with some descriptions of the cereal.

Honey Nut Toasty O’s®

Sweet Whole Grain Oat Cereal with Real Honey & Almond Flavor

Raisin Bran

Wheat Bran Cereal with Raisins

Sweetened Wheat-fuls®

Lightly Sweetened Whole Grain Wheat Cereal

Toasted Wheat-fuls®

Whole Grain Wheat Cereal

Mallow Oats®

Sweetened Whole Grain Oat Cereal with Natural Marshmallow Pieces

Oats & Honey Blend®

Lightly Sweetened Corn & Whole Wheat Flake Cereal with Granola

Honey-ful Wheat®

Honey Puffed Wheat Cereal

Honey Grahams®

Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal

Toasted Cinnamon Squares®

Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal

Old Fashioned Oats

100% Whole Grain 100% Natural

Quick Oats

100% Whole Grain 100% Natural

Instant Oatmeal

Instant Natural Flavor Variety Pack: Apples & Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar and Cinnamon & Spice

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Water, Water, Water

Monday, June 14th, 2010

So the heat of the summer is upon us. One thing I have found is that to much water is wasted in the name of keeping plants and grass green. The main issue is a lot of people don’t know how to water. How many times have you seen people watering there lawn in the heat of the day? It seems to me that I see it more and more. Now I understand that people are busy and have to get things done when they can, but in this day and age it is not hard to find a solution.

Well let us start with when is the best time to water? I know that a lot of people might have their own Idea but there is a right answer. The best time to water is 2-3 hours before sunrise. Why is that you might ask? Well this give the water ample time to penetrate the soil before the sun rises and starts to evaporate the water. Now I have heard and have seen watering being done in the evening and at night. Well for those of my reader that do that and have a healthy lawn and garden I am glad for you. The issue of watering in the evening or at night is it allows for the water to remain to long and promotes mold and rot. Mold is a very fast killer of plants and grass.

Now If you do not have a sprinkler system you can buy a hose timer that can control what time your sprinkler runs. These cost very little and can be found almost anywhere gardening supplies are sold.

Now if your area allows you should think about rain barrels. You should be able to find 55 gal food drums on Craig’s list for around $20. each. Now cut a hole in the top and divert your gutters into it and place a faucet tap near the bottom attach a garden hose and wait for rain. This allow you to divert the water that would be wasted and use it when needed. Remember that it is not legal in all towns and you should check with yours before doing it.

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Garden Check Up

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

So now you should have mature plants that are ether producing or about too. One thing you might be noticing on your plants is pests. Aphids, Ants,Beetles or some other type of insects. Here are a few tips that will take care of pests without using chemicals that can harm you.

One safe and effective ways to take care of pests like aphids, spider mites, etc, fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water and add 1 teaspoon of dish-washing liquid, 1 teaspoon cooking oil, and 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol. Shake well to mix and spray. The soap allows the mixture to cling better to the leaves, the oil suffocates the bugs, and the rubbing alcohol dries them out. You should try to spray in the morning so that the mixture has time to dry during the day.

For mealy bugs, rubbing alcohol will do the trick. For light infestations, moisten a cotton swab with it and simply wipe them off. For more severe infestations, add two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to a spray bottle filled with lukewarm water, shake well, and spray.

For fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, you can mix up a homemade fungicide. Again, fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water and this time add a tablespoon of baking soda, a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and a tablespoon of cooking oil. Shake to mix well and spray.

To prevent cutworm attacks, place a newspaper or cardboard collar around the stems of tender transplants at the soil surface. Crop rotation and good garden sanitation is essential to repelling squash bugs and cucumber beetles. Heavy mulching can help prevent potato and cucumber beetle larvae from finding the plants. Row covers are another effective barrier against insects, though they may need to be removed to allow pollination to occur. Inter-planting crops with aromatic plants like garlic, chives, or marigolds can repel many problem insects. Soap and water, garlic, and hot pepper sprays can easily be prepared at home for use against many pesky garden insects.

Garlic & Pepper Spray

Protect your garden plants from cabbageworms, caterpillars, hornworms, aphids, flea beetles and other chewing/sucking insects by routinely using a natural spray that you can make at home. The spray must be applied regularly, especially after a rainfall. Brew up a batch as follows:

6 cloves of garlic
1 Tbsp dried hot pepper
1 minced onion
tsp pure soap (not detergent)
1 gallon hot water

Blend & let sit for 1 – 2 days. Strain & use as spray. Ground cayenne or red hot pepper can also be sprinkled on the leaves of plants (apply when leaves are slightly damp) to repel chewing insects or added to the planting hole with bone meal or fertilizer to keep squirrels, chipmunks, dogs and other mammals away from your gardens. Be sure to reapply after rain.

Well I hope that this helps with any issues you might be having with your plants. Now is the time you start to get rewarded for the work you put in so enjoy.

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Is Green just a way to make more green?

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Well I have heard this time and time again from different sources. I have even seen a show where they tried to prove that the green house effect and ozone issues are just made up so a hand full of people can get rich. Well to this I wonder are we really that self involved that we need to tell our self’s that  others are lying to us so that we can keep on living our destructive ways and not feel bad about it. Well to those people I propose that you go visit your local land fill and see how much is there and ask yourself, can we continue to use up resources as we are and continue to pollute like that and not have a effect on our planet? I know that a lot of people are changing and you see that even large industry is starting to change how they effect the environment. Here in Colorado I have see Solar panels pop up everywhere, and fields of wind turbines. This helps give me hope that we might be able to change our ways before it is to late.

Now this change of course with this new changes creates work which creates more cash flow. Yes some people will make a lot of cash mostly people that take that fist step to create to new green products and energy. Trust me even though those oil kingpins are working real hard to make sure that they are on the top of this green movement, because they are quickly losing hold on the American people. Now we have cars that don’t run on gas or oil, they now run on electricity and Bio oils. The electricity comes from wind and solar instead of coal. So they can change or get ran over.

This generation is working on the issue in the very basic and beginning phases, but our children are going to be living in a world that knows nothing else. Look at the biggest oil producer to date the Middle East. They are creating a mecca a small city collage that is completely green from the way it is made to the way it is run. I saw that on the green planet channel and it is to say the least very impressive.

Come on people this is America the greatest Nation on Earth are we really going to be the ones to follow in others foot steps. I lived in Germany for years and they have a recycle program that put ours to shame. The are required to do it and if they do not they will be fined. I know we are great because of our freedom and lack of government control, but is it not the job of the government to protect its country even if it is from it self?

Well that is just my thought on the issue. Thanks

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Do all my foods need to be Organic?

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Once upon a time I was a Chef one of the ones that paid a small fortune for a education because like most people I did not know what I wanted to do with my life till I was in my late 20′s. What I did though is get a great education that tough me not just how to cook but about all parts of the job such as nutrition and purchasing. Now the last place I worked wanted me to provide them with the most Organic and natural foods possible. That is not a big issue unless you are working on a budget. So I figure that if there are readers out there they are on a budget as well.

So to the point where should you start spending your hard earned money to be eating organic? Well you should think on how you are going to prepare that product. Well the items you should first work one are your broad leafy Items such as lettuces, herbs, broccoli and so on. These are the products that get rinsed and used so you want to make sure that they were not treated with any pesticides that are not natural. Yes some pesticides are natural and can be used on a Organic farm they are plant based and not chemical. Next items are the ones with soft flesh such as your berries and fruits. Berries like Strawberries have just a thin membrane on the out side protecting the flesh so if they are sprayed with chemicals they are more likely to penetrate that membrane and end up in you.

So on the other hand Items that have a outer shell or skin that you will remove in the preparation of  it such as corn, oranges, potatoes, some squashes are not as important to have Organic. Now if you can afford to do it all organic great but if you have to decide I hope this is helping make the decision easier.

Now meat products there is a tricky area. If you by organic meat are there no hormones or antibiotics added? Well there is a interesting question, and unless you are the one raising the animal you will probably not ever know. What do I mean by that. See all areas have different restrictions they put on a farmer and this is most common. If a farmer has a sick animal he can treat it with antibiotics till it is well. Most farms will separate the animal from the rest and will only treat as long as necessary, but they are not going to lose thousands of dollars when a $5.00 shot will prevent it. I suggest you find you local slaughterhouse which are there and there you will find that a lot of the smaller farms will sell their meat through them. Why the smaller farms? Well smaller farms can spend more time making sure the animals remain Natural and Hormone Free.  Now Eggs and Dairy, with dairy you will have the same issue as with your meat. So here I would suggest that you find a small dairy farm that deliverers and will put in writing that their milk is organic and hormone free.

With eggs and poultry it is easy to get confused. The best is to find a local farm that sells them. If that is not a option remember that cages free is not the same as free range. Cage free means just that they are not kept in cages. They are kept in larges warehouses packed in so tight that they can’t move. So remember Organic free range and you will be ok also for those that don’t know eggs are not white .  It depends on the breed of chicken but I have seen brown, green and speckled to name a few.

Well I hope this has helped a little on your quest to Living Green Today.

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Why buy natural and organic products?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

Well I know that this question can open a whole can of worms, but with that said I think it is one that should be discussed and looked at all sides. I remember a few years back 10 or so that It was hard to shop for natural and organic products, and those that would look for that where called Hippie or Granola Head. Not only where these products hard to find they also cost quite a bit more then the other products offered.

Well I remember when I first started to hear about the adverse effects of  fillers and additives put in our foods. The first thing that really sticks out to memory is the red dye number 5. Do you remember that? Man all of a sudden something that was so common place and in just about every thing went from fine to something that could have long term effects on your body and quite possibly kill you.  From there it seems like every few months a different product that is being used is found not to be good for you.

So who or what do we have to blame for this? Do we blame the Government the FDA the ones that are suppose to make sure that the products that are allowed to be sold are safe for us? Or do we blame the producers of these products for not finding out the effects of the pesticides used or hormones added to the raw products they receive from their suppliers or do we actually put the blame where it belongs. I for one believe that that blame should fall on all of us and  our love for the all mighty Dollar.

When I talk to my Grandparents and the way things were for them while they grew up and even through most of their lives it amazes me how messed up thing have become. Look at our heath statistics from the early 50′s till now. I know your going to say that our life spans are much longer now then they were then. Guess what if you think it is because we live healthier your in for a rude awaking. The reason we live longer is because of better medicine not healthier living. My Grandparents ate high fat and carb meals daily. They drank and smoked and didn’t count calories or worried about what was in food and why is this?

Because they didn’t grow up in a day and age where the almighty dollar ruled everything. Life was about living and family not on who makes the most with doing the littlest. Who has more and spending all your time trying to get more by doing less. Imagine If that 300lb guy in the office who is on all the newest diet programs and trying to make enough money to get liposuction so he can get with the hot girl that lives on the same floor as him decided one day that what he has and how much he makes doesn’t define him and he takes that job he always wanted as a landscaper. Now instead of getting up and eating his high fat breakfast and going to set on his large behind all day he now goes to his labor job and works all day and burns those calories from that morning and plenty more. Now he is losing weight for the first time sense he was a child and starting to feel better about himself and stops doing the diet of the month and eats what he needs to work that full day soon he is looking better and feeling better then he has ever felt. Now he doesn’t need to spend his money on diet programs his spirit is up so he can quit going to his shrink and now that he is at a healthy weight he doesn’t need to go to the doctor as much and now with this money he saved he finds that maybe he never needed that high paying  job to live after all.

Anyway I can can go on for days so I will force myself to stop here, but this topic is far from over so till next time. Remember to live and what it means to live.

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Compost

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

So how many of you out there go to your local home and garden and find the prices on compost crazy high? Well there is a reason that it seams that way. Most people think that your garden should be all compost, but that is not the case. If you take the time to read up on it. Compose should be mixed into your present soil. This helps give your soil the nutrients it needs to become a great growing material. So does this mean you can not use all compost for your garden? No you can the issue that you can run into is that the dry compost can clump crushing the roots of plants and killing them. So I have found that if you make a 50/50 compost to top soil mix you will have a perfect panting medium. Now you have a good idea of how to use your compost do you still want to pay $5.00 plus a bag for it? If you are like me the answer is NO. So if you have a truck or access to one I would check with my local dairy farms to see if they are sell theirs. I checked with mine and got a great deal of $40.00 a truck load for really nice and clean compost material that would have been 2 palettes of the bagged stuff costing me hundreds of dollars. So once again it is green and local and saved me a bundle.

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Preparing A Green Garden

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

A lot of people spend a small fortune trying to prepare their garden for the season and do it staying green. One of the big costs in preparing your garden area is materials, ( wood posts, bricks, wood, concrete, etc ). A great place to start your search for those great bargains is your local Re Store. Most  people do not even know that these places are out there. A Re Store is ran by nonprofit companies like Habitat for Humanity. These stores take in donated Items from private house holds and construction companies and resell them to the public at a great reduced rate. You can find appliances, wood, furniture, tools and more.

Now If you can not find a restore you should check out your local craigslist on line. Just by typing in www.cragslist.com you can find local connections for Items. On this link you can find free items and tons of items for great prices that are local.

This is one that most over think. Ask your local city for items needed such as mulch, compost materials, old building materials, etc. Most cities have yard waste pick ups and that material gets shredded and turned into mulch. Local business have compost pickups and that material can be bought from the waste management for little or no cost to you.

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