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Rural Country Living eZine, August 1st, 2008
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Table of Contents
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Letter From the Editor
Energy Saving Tips by David Tanguay
Migraine Relief from Belladonna by Joy Healey
Become an Urban Farmer by Bill Hirst
My Hobby Farm by bentan
Alternative Medicines - Garlic and Onion by alien
Benefits Of Homeschooling by Burt Cotton
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Letter From the Editor
Welcome!
Just a tad late with this issue; my apologies.
You wouldn't believe how much my garden has grown in just about one month since
I planted the first seed. I am going to place a few garden pix on the site this
afternoon, so take a look if you have a minute or two to spare. One problem I
have is with varmints in the garden; rabbits are eating some of the new emerging
squash and leaving the blossoms--naughty rabbits! The corn was uprooted in a
severe storm; however I buried the stalks back into the ground as soon as I
could and they're now thriving. That same storm battered down everything I had
planted but within 24 hours everything had sprung back to life in defiance of
the weather. I hope all of you are growing a beautiful garden this year. I know
mine will help out tremendously with the grocery bills what with prices
skyrocketing with each supermarket visit.
The two farm articles contained in this issue differ in a matter of approach;
however with hobby farms or urban farms everywhere around the globe, extra
income and placing homegrown food on the table can't be surpassed and should be
encouraged.
Enjoy the issue!
Love & Hugs,
Victoria
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Energy Saving Tips by David Tanguay
Astonishingly, Americans generally spend $1600 or more a year on their utility
bills. Not only is much of this wasted energy, but more carbon dioxide is
emitted into the air from one home than two average cars. The following tips
will help you save energy costs both at home and in the car.
*Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in
the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with
your heating and cooling system.
* Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
* Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
* Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
* Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips;
turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs
in standby mode still use several watts of power).
* Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
* Take short showers instead of baths.
* Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
* Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and
braking) wastes gasoline.
* Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY
STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of
Energy.
Energy Auditing Tips:
* Check the insulation levels in your attic, exterior and basement walls,
ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.
* Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors,
light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can
leak air into or out of your home.
* Check for open fireplace dampers.
* Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly
maintained. Check your owner's manual for the recommended maintenance.
* Study your family's lighting needs and use patterns, paying special
attention to high-use areas such as the living room, kitchen, and outside
lighting. Look for ways to use lighting controls - like occupancy sensors,
dimmers, or timers - to reduce lighting energy use, and replace standard
light bulbs and fixtures with compact or standard fluorescent lamps.
Insulation Tips
* Consider factors such as your climate, building design, and budget when
selecting insulation R-values for your home.
* Use higher density insulation, such as rigid foam boards, in cathedral
ceilings and on exterior walls.
* Ventilation plays a large role in providing moisture control and reducing
summer cooling bills. Attic vents can be installed along the entire
ceiling cavity to help ensure proper airflow.
* Recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss, but you need
to be careful how close you place insulation next to a fixture unless it
is marked IC.
These tips, and more, are provided to you in a larger PDF file by the US
Department of Energy.
David Tanguay is dedicated to providing research, reviews & helpful information
to consumers and businesses. For more information related to Green Energy and
Alternative Energy please visit
http://greenenergyonline.org
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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Migraine Relief from Belladonna by Joy Healey
When my debilitating migraine attacks had increased to the extent that they were
occurring weekly, and affecting my ability to function and lead a 'normal life',
it was time to find assistance.
To find migraine relief and help, my first port of call was to my General
Practitioner who was most unsympathetic, implying that three young children,
moving house and working were bound to have a detrimental effect on my health
and the combination of stresses had 'chosen' to manifest in the form of
migraine. When I asked for suggestions for relief, anti-depressants were offered
as the 'best course of action'. The GP also intimated that in time the migraines
would probably disappear; if not a hysterectomy may be the answer!
I wasn't asked if any other family members had similar problems. Nor was I
warned about the possible side-effects of the anti-depressants, including the
potential of becoming addicted. The whole visit was over within five minutes, I
left the surgery reluctantly clutching a prescription. Hopefully this was an
atypical experience, and GPs these days are more sympathetic.
I decided to carry out research into the side effects these anti-depressant
drugs could induce. I was horrified to find that the symptoms I suffered,
headache, nausea, difficulty concentrating etc. could be further aggravated, and
there were other potential side effects such as sexual dysfunction, hair loss
and abdominal pain. My immediate instinct was to throw the prescription away; in
no way did I want all those chemicals inside me, potentially doing untold long
term damage to my body. Neither did I want a hysterectomy, as my migraines did
not coincide with monthly hormonal changes.
I had tried all the well-meaning advice from friends and family: for instance
cut out possible dietary triggers, have more sleep, avoid stress. When none of
these worked, I decided to take the complementary therapy route, and a friend
suggested that homeopathy could be of benefit. The use of homeopaths was not as
widely known as it is today and many people inferred that their practices were
somewhat dubious.
Unperturbed and determined to find someone to help me I used the local telephone
directory to seek out registered homeopaths, finally arranging an initial
consultation with the one who seemed the most genuinely interested and concerned
with my plight during our introductory telephone conversation.
The first thing the homeopath explained to me was the 'like-for-like'
homeopathic philosophy. She was not at all offended or alarmed by my questions
about her training and qualifications, the answers to which were most
reassuring.
We had a full discussion of my family and medical history. During this, I
confided my fears that these migraines could be a precursor to developing
epilepsy, like my sister. We also discussed my present and past emotional states
and the holistic approach to finding suitable relief.
During the consultation I explained that my migraine usually started at the back
of the head and spread predominantly to the right temple, accompanied by a
pounding, throbbing pain and was worsened by light, noise, jarring and cold
hands and feet. From this and careful questioning about other life and family
factors, the homeopath concluded that Belladonna would be beneficial for me.
She told me that Belladonna is also known as Deadly Nightshade. I was somewhat
alarmed by this and expressed my concerns over using such a toxic and sometimes
fatal plant. The homeopath understood my concerns, and agreed that it would be
dangerous to use Belladonna for self-help, without the supervision of a
qualified practitioner, who would know the correct dilution to use.
As an aside, Belladonna means 'beautiful eyes' in Italian and preparations of it
were used in days gone-by to dilate the pupils and make women appear more
alluring and sexy.
Although that was a fascinating snippet of information, I was even more
interested to hear that Belladonna has been a beneficial remedy for over 500
years. I was relieved to learn that atropine, derived from Belladonna, is an
ingredient of some over-the-counter cough medicines.
My homeopath explained that should Belladonna not be beneficial there were other
homeopathic remedies such as Sanguinarine, which is used to treat migraines with
similar symptoms but accompanied by vomiting, which rarely happened in my case.
Therefore it was agreed that Belladonna be prescribed initially.
The recommended dose, for me, was 3 tablets each morning and 3 at night for 5
days. She then asked me to come back for assessment within a week. She also
advised me to exclude cheese, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol for the time
being, while keeping a headache diary to enable triggers to be identified and
discussed during future consultations.
I continued visiting the homeopath on a weekly basis for several months, all the
while continuing to take daily doses of Belladonna which were gradually reduced.
The homeopath always made the visits productive and as she found out more and
more about me, my life-style and triggers, she noticed that I have a tendency to
clench my jaw and grind my back teeth when subjected to topics of discussion
that were upsetting or made me angry. She advised me always to sleep with my
mouth slightly ajar to prevent muscle tension. I still try to remember to do
this, if I feel stressed, and even as I go to sleep. The improvements in the
severity, intensity and frequency of my migraines were astounding and gradually
they disappeared.
I strongly recommend that anyone who suffers from migraine attacks should
consult with a homeopath as I'm sure they will find the experience and their
professionalism as 'life-changing' as I have.
To repeat: Belladonna is another name for deadly night-shade, and should NEVER
be self-administered. Use it ONLY under the supervision of a registered and
qualified practitioner.
Joy Healey's specialist subject, during a three-year course at the Institute for
Optimum Nutrition in London, was migraine. For more information about her
ebook, packed with recommendations for drug-free approaches to treat and prevent
migraine, visit:
http://www.natural-migraine-alternatives.com Keep up-to-date with new
information on migraine at:
http://natural-migraine-alternatives.blogspot.com
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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Become an Urban Farmer by Bill Hirst
Anyone can be a farmer. Growing plants can be done almost anywhere. You don't
have to have large fields and hundreds of acres. You have to have imagination.
Select plants to raise that that you see being sold in quanity by local
nurseries or garden centers. In our area arborvitae are in hot demand. These
plants can be started from cuttings or you can buy rooted cuttings. Thousands
can be grown in a 20'x20' area in small containers. Arborvitae are not the only
plants that you can choose. Dwarf conifers and bonsai are other avenues to
consider. The first thing to consider is what plants you like. They make a nice
starting point. I like arborvitae. Plus they are easy to grow. There are many
varieties to select from. They are compact and very popular. A 2-3" rooted
cutting in 3 years should be 2' if growing conditions are optimal. These might
sell for as much as $5-10 depending on your market and quality. If you were to
raise 1000 of them that might be $5-10,000. You can market them just as I do on
the internet. Being small you can ship them via UPS practically anywhere.
An example of a plant that is not suitable for small plot urban farming is an
Oak tree. It is very fast in growing (good), but has a big tap root, and is best
marketed when over 6-8' tall. You will use up your space with a hard to confine,
large tree that is not suitable for close compact container production. Shipping
will also be more costly as starter plants tend to be larger hence larger
shipping fees per tree. Besides I have sold many people 50 -100 arbs at a time
but no one, 100 oaks at a time. My largest order for arbs to one homeowner was
265.
Try to target plants that will sell multiples to a customer rather than just one
at a time. If you target single plants to individual customers you need high
value plants for your sales cost per unit will be higher. You will hear the same
story from your customers about 1 plant as you will about 10 plants. I can tell
you without a doubt that each customer will tell you about his property and his
neighbors dog. I would rather hear the story once for each 10 plants that I
sell. That is why I like plants that sell in multiples to a single customer.
Additionally an unusual or exotic plant is seldom purchased in quantity and the
buyer has little knowledge of the plant. They will have many more questions
about this plant. This translates to a higher amount of time spent on a smaller
volume of product sold.
Arborvitae are commonly used evergreen shrubs or trees useful in urban areas
where low maintenance and durability is needed. Many cultivars with forms such
as being globed in shape, columnar, or narrow pyramidal, tend to be near
buildings, doors, and walkways. Other forms which are larger are used for
screens and buffers that are planted in rows. These plants will be easy to raise
on your small urban lot.
The form of arborvitae is small, medium, or large depending on the cultivar.
Some reach 50', others only 3'. Most prefer full sun to partial sun. Planting in
dense shade conditions should be avoided. A moist , well drained, loamy soil in
full sunlight are ideal conditions for growing healthy arborvitae. These plants
will tolerate rocky, clay, urban conditions of heat drought and pollution. The
most important pest we have is bagworms which must be controlled to prevent
complete defoliation. Some cultivars have multiple leaders which also prove to
be a detraction for the plant. Pruning out multiple leaders in some cultivars is
a simple remedy.
As you raise these plants if you find that you are selling more than you can
raise on your property, an add in the newspaper such as, "Wanted: land to grow
trees on" will help you find vacant parcels to use in growing more stock. This
land may be free to use as many owners want in urban areas land to be used as it
is then maintained. We have had many offers of free land to use in raising
nursery stock. (You should check with your local BTK Code Enforcement Officer to
make sure that this use is acceptable.)
Another suggestion is that you work for another local urban grower. They may
have facilities set up that they would allow you to use after hours. When they
see that you are a willing go getter, they might even ask you to grow special
plants that they don't want to grow because the volumes are light or they are to
intensive in labor. At any rate it is the best way to learn the trede and its
secrets. Most nurserymen will tell all their trade secrets because its the best
way to help the industry and build a network of reliable and knowledgeable
associates.
You can see more articles by Bill at his web sites
http://www.seedlingsrus.com and
http://www.zone5trees.com
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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My Hobby Farm by bentan
When the wind is blowing up a dust storm and it never looks like a decent rain
will ever come, I can’t help but wonder why I bought this hobby farm. The mood
does quickly turn however- on waking to a nice clear day full of promise
everything feels rosy once again.
Coming from the land always helps when deciding to buy a plot of land, but a
love of nature is essential. Not having a good knowledge of farming means much
more homework is needed, but these obstacles can be overcome. Having lots of
friends and a practical nature will enable you to overcome the problems which
seem to be an everyday aspect of running a hobby farm.
I bought my farm in order to enjoy my lifelong passion for growing
plants-especially fruit and vegetables. There is also the health aspect
resulting from lots of exercise and of course a chance to get out and enjoy the
sunshine and fresh air. The seasons become clearer and the senses are certainly
sharpened by the ever-changing colours, aromas and sounds.
Learning some of the fine details of plant propagation has always been a topic
of interest. Some of the most interesting information has been obtained from
older migrants who spent most of their lives on vineyards and orchards. Meeting
and conversing with other gardeners and like minded people about their successes
and failures also helps to get things into perspective.
In case you may be thinking there is money to be made from a hobby farm, think
again. Most hobby farms being relatively small are inefficient and will cost
much more to maintain than any likely earnings. Profits can me made with lots of
dedication and a hard nosed approach towards a business, but much care and
research will be needed in order to achieve this aim.
If you have decided to buy your own piece of paradise, I believe you can expect
a journey with many ups and downs and lots of unexpected turns.
Wishing you all the best in your venture.
Ben is a close associate of Alf, the proud owner of a hobby farm in Australia.
Ben encourages Alf to share his wealth of hobby farming experiences by writing
articles and books. Ben helps Alf to launch the website
http://www.farmforfun.com
Ben is also in the process of helping to get Alf's books published.
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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Alternative Medicines - Garlic and Onion by alien
Since ancient times, garlic and onion were always present in even the smallest
herb gardens. Both were so widely cultivated for food and medicine purposes
around the world, that the wild forms of these two members of the lily family
are long gone.
Characteristic aroma and medicinal value of alliums (bulbous plants of the lily
family, including: onions, garlic, chives, leeks and shallots) are brought about
by sulfur and carbon compounds that neutralize harmful bacteria.
Garlic’s taste has just as many fans as garlic’s “repellant breath” (according
to Pliny, Roman’s naturalist and author, 23/24-79 A.D.) has enemies. So much so
that in ancient Roman times some of the temples would not let entering those who
ate garlic. The fear of “foul odor” stretched as far as affecting the use – or
the lack of use - of onion and garlic in fine urban cooking recipes.
At the same time, common Roman folk used both onion and garlic as cure-all in
rural areas where both were also among important food staples.
On the other hand, alliums used as aphrodisiac were highly valued by ancient
Romans and Greeks and were therefore widely used in love potions, mixed with
some other herbs.
While wealthy Romans were picky about when, where and how to use garlic and
onions, ancient Egyptians accredited them both with magical powers and swore
oaths to onion and garlic as if they were equal to gods.
Nevertheless, garlic is a traditional remedy, used for all kinds of infections,
especially before the rise of antibiotics. During the World War I soldier’s
wounds were being dressed with garlic. Other uses for garlic have always been:
chest and ear infections, colds and flu, digestive infections, rid of intestinal
parasites, circulatory problems and strokes, lowering cholesterol and blood
pressure, reducing blood sugar and even supporting conventional antibiotics and
warding off their side effects.
Onion, milder in aroma, now grown and used as a vegetable, also has a long list
of traditional medical virtues. Some are similar to those of garlic, but onion
has also been used for preventing oral infection and tooth decay, and to
stimulate hair growth and circulation. Onion juice, mixed with honey is a
traditional treatment for colds.
The list of historically proven benefits of alliums is long. The smell, though,
stays strong. Luckily, Mother Nature provided us not only with natural
antibiotics but also with herbal solutions for “stinking exhalations”. One of
them is raw parsley leaves. Chew – and sweeten your breath (especially after
enjoying raw garlic or onion – for whatever reason).
Read about natural herbs. Also check out for pregnancy diet aloe vera capsules.
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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Ed's Note: Check out our 100% wild-crafted garlic seeds here
http://www.ruralcountryliving.com/wildcrafted.htm
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Benefits Of Homeschooling by Burt Cotton
Why let Tim and Lisa learn at home than send them to school? Well, first of all,
you don't have to wake them up at 7 every morning and bundle them off to school
with umpteen numbers of instructions, and wait with an anxious heart till they
return. Homeschooling gives you more control over the influences that affect
your child. The growth and development of your child is removed from the realm
of the unknown. You, and you alone can decide what your child needs to do or
learn. Tailoring the curriculum to suit the needs and interests of the child is
one of the most obvious benefits of homeschooling
Individual attention is another salient benefit of homeschooling. For instance,
if Lisa needs more time to learn Math, then she can reduce the time for her
English lessons. There are no fixed hours of learning per subject. This means
that a child has the advantage of assigning more number of hours to the subject
that seems tough WITHOUT any additional pressure. The amount of time needed to
learn each subject will depend on the abilities and interests of the child.
The schooling of the child becomes an extended family activity. Parents get
involved in every step of the learning procedure. Field trips and experiments
become family activities. Thus, the child receives more quality time with his
parents. The entire family shares games, chores and projects. Family closeness
becomes the focus here. The child is also free of any negative peer pressure
while making choices and decisions.
Competition is limited when it comes to homeschooling. The child does not need
to prove his ability with regards to other children. His confidence remains
intact. Since parents have a deep understanding of their child, they can plan
the learning program to pique the child's interest. It is also possible to
intersperse difficult tasks with fun activities. A tough hour with Algebra can
be followed by a trip to the nearest museum. Learning becomes fun. Parents can
also tailor the curriculum to suit the learning style of the child. Some
children learn through reading, while others need to write, and still others
need to see objects in action.
Homeschooling allows parents to take control over the moral and religious
learning of the child. Parents have the flexibility to incorporate their beliefs
and ideologies into the child's curriculum. There is no confusion in the child's
mind either because there is no variation between what is being taught and what
is being practiced.
Lastly, more and more parents are getting disillusioned with the public school
system. They believe that their children are being pushed too hard or too
little. Other worrying issues pertaining to discipline and ethics also make the
school system less welcome. Many repudiate the educational philosophy of
grouping children solely on the basis of their age. Some parents themselves have
unhappy memories of their own public school experience that motivates them to
opt for homeschooling when it comes to their own children.
Homeschooling is the best way to teach a child if you have the time, the ability
and the interest to follow through with his education. After all, nobody can
understand or appreciate your child more than yourself.
Burt Cotton
http://www.home-schooling-news.com
Article Source:
http://www.articlegarden.com
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