Well, I don't really know how to start this post. I did learn a lot from this experiment. Mostly that I need to make some preparations during the warmer months so that I can have the home grown food that I want.
Many of the veg that I like (zucchini, cucumber, even carrots) require heat to produce their edible produce. The plants grow indoors and even flower but that is it. At least for me anyway.
In this experiment I did get to eat some fun salad with lettuce I grew inside and some Zucchini blossoms. It was very yummy. Now I have planted some Pansies inside to see if I can add them to salad too.
I wanted to mention the few things that I found when trying to get the indoor garden to grow. The first being fertilizers. Picking the weeds from the garden and adding them to a screen covered and water filled container like a plastic garbage can will produce a fertilizer for the garden that is very good for it and very natural. Any left over fluid in this container at the end of the growing season can be put in cleaned milk jugs and stored inside for the winter for house gardens (veg or otherwise) only the liquid will have to be diluted so that it isn't smelly when applied.
Next, the salad ingredients grown inside should really be added to store bought salad ingredients to help them go farther. It takes a lot of space to grow enough salad for two adults and two children to eat it daily but even a handful of home grown indoor salad adds a bunch of flavour to store bought ingredients. And colour too.
I will do this indoor veg gardening again this fall. I'm going to try starting the ingredients outside and then bring them in and see what result that gives. Also, I am going to try the above mentioned fertilizer indoors. In all I think that this indoor garden attempt was fun and worth the effort. I think it will even help the outdoor growing efforts this year.
Best to all your efforts too.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Lousy Labels - Marketplace
In my last post I mentioned the illusions of product labels and Marketplace has aired an episode that delves into this concept as it concerns organic and natural products, including those for babies.
when my second child was born I became conscious of the natural products out there and now that I have seen the Market place episode - Lousy Labels I can't help feel a little more confused and a little angry.
First I would like to define Organic and Natural. Even defining "Organic" is difficult. I looked Organic up using The Free Dictionary and some other sources and found that really the word organic is redefined for so many things.
Defining Natural is much like Organic as found in The Free Dictionary. It makes it easy then to make Organic and Natural to mean what ever you want.
I read some of the comments attached to the Marketplace episode and some comments were quite good. Uranium is an organic substance but we don't want to hold it in our hands in any form. Asbestos is also organic. You see where this is going. I don't want to be applying harmful things to my person just because I don't have time to read every label when I have two children in the store with me and a wall of choices but this is what we have to do.
One product that I did find when I was preparing for my youngest was Bare Organics and I have read the ingredients of these products. I haven't been disappointed in these products at all. There are other products like this available in Canada but not in any local stores. Thank goodness for the power of the internet.
I'll have to continue this later. we're off to town now.
when my second child was born I became conscious of the natural products out there and now that I have seen the Market place episode - Lousy Labels I can't help feel a little more confused and a little angry.
First I would like to define Organic and Natural. Even defining "Organic" is difficult. I looked Organic up using The Free Dictionary and some other sources and found that really the word organic is redefined for so many things.
Defining Natural is much like Organic as found in The Free Dictionary. It makes it easy then to make Organic and Natural to mean what ever you want.
I read some of the comments attached to the Marketplace episode and some comments were quite good. Uranium is an organic substance but we don't want to hold it in our hands in any form. Asbestos is also organic. You see where this is going. I don't want to be applying harmful things to my person just because I don't have time to read every label when I have two children in the store with me and a wall of choices but this is what we have to do.
One product that I did find when I was preparing for my youngest was Bare Organics and I have read the ingredients of these products. I haven't been disappointed in these products at all. There are other products like this available in Canada but not in any local stores. Thank goodness for the power of the internet.
I'll have to continue this later. we're off to town now.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mental Health?
I've come to understand that I am not mentally well. I don't really mean this in jest either.
When did it become OK or acceptable to expect others to look after our well being?
About a month ago I posted the facts (as I saw them) about mine and my children's adventure to the Emergency Room. We had gone there because I couldn't get my children into see a doctor sooner than a week's time. They were sick forever and I didn't know what else to do. I was upset about having to take them there but more upset because I thought that the doctors had let my kids down. I thought for some reason it must have been an isolated incident but it wasn't. Yes doctors are here to help us but aren't they supposed to be there for us when we (or our children) really need medical intervention?
Today a friend is faced with much the same thing. Her daughter is really sick and can't see a doctor at the clinic. She is faced with the Emergency Room too. it is difficult to know when to go and see the doctor or when the Emergency Room is needed these days.
There aren't enough doctors. We have so many "sick" people. I've just come to understand that I am a chronic disease person myself and one of the "sick" people. I'm only in my mid thirties and I have a chronic disease. I am overweight and I can and have problems being able to move. How did I get to be one of the SICK people?
I remember the anti-smoking campaigns where focus was placed on asking people to think of others before lighting up. That second hand smoke was harmful to others and especially kids. That was moving, to know that an action done by one person could harm a child indirectly.
More so I think now that the moving aspect of that campaign was that the smoker was being asked to be responsible, for themselves and those around them.
Even a month ago I was placing the responsibility of being healthy on the doctor. My husband and I chose to live in rural Saskatchewan and with that comes the responsibility to foster better health in ourselves and our kids because the "Health Care" system can no longer afford to be responsible for our health. That is what this whole lifestyle change has ultimately been about, to be healthier. If we were healthier to start with we wouldn't need the doctor as often, Right?
I can change my actions a lot easier than I can change those of others. The challenge for taking on this responsibility is just that, a challenge. Healthy food is difficult to spot, especially if we don't know ALL of the ingredients (those things that are left out because they are considered to be to insignificant) or are unable to find what things we are looking for. The responsibility becomes mine to grow, raise and learn in order to care for my children and keep them healthy and not in NEED of the "Health Care" system. I have a renewed interest in the 100 mile/Km diet concept. If we can know the farmer or the person that makes the thing that we are going to eat or use, that takes much of the guess work out of things.
To all others out there on the same or a similar path, Bon Chance (good luck), we'll need it. I began this post implying that I was not mentally well. I still don't think that I am. Our brain needs oxygen to function properly and without exercise the brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs. No wonder I can't remember things the way I used to or sleep the way I remember I used to be able to do (and yes I know I have kids and I thought that would make falling asleep easier). As my health returns and I continue to see life as less of an obstacle and more as a gift, I will remember that there are people out there who have better health but I would be willing to bet that they have already taken their health as their own responsibility.
As for the doctors in Saskatchewan. I really wish the best for you. I can't imagine the weight of responsibility for the health of people that won't help themselves and eat better or exercise or even sleep well. As a recovering one of these people I will try to see the doctor for things not chronic disease related in an attempt to not be a "sick" person any longer.
Good luck to my friend and her daughter who really need to see a doctor today.
When did it become OK or acceptable to expect others to look after our well being?
About a month ago I posted the facts (as I saw them) about mine and my children's adventure to the Emergency Room. We had gone there because I couldn't get my children into see a doctor sooner than a week's time. They were sick forever and I didn't know what else to do. I was upset about having to take them there but more upset because I thought that the doctors had let my kids down. I thought for some reason it must have been an isolated incident but it wasn't. Yes doctors are here to help us but aren't they supposed to be there for us when we (or our children) really need medical intervention?
Today a friend is faced with much the same thing. Her daughter is really sick and can't see a doctor at the clinic. She is faced with the Emergency Room too. it is difficult to know when to go and see the doctor or when the Emergency Room is needed these days.
There aren't enough doctors. We have so many "sick" people. I've just come to understand that I am a chronic disease person myself and one of the "sick" people. I'm only in my mid thirties and I have a chronic disease. I am overweight and I can and have problems being able to move. How did I get to be one of the SICK people?
I remember the anti-smoking campaigns where focus was placed on asking people to think of others before lighting up. That second hand smoke was harmful to others and especially kids. That was moving, to know that an action done by one person could harm a child indirectly.
More so I think now that the moving aspect of that campaign was that the smoker was being asked to be responsible, for themselves and those around them.
Even a month ago I was placing the responsibility of being healthy on the doctor. My husband and I chose to live in rural Saskatchewan and with that comes the responsibility to foster better health in ourselves and our kids because the "Health Care" system can no longer afford to be responsible for our health. That is what this whole lifestyle change has ultimately been about, to be healthier. If we were healthier to start with we wouldn't need the doctor as often, Right?
I can change my actions a lot easier than I can change those of others. The challenge for taking on this responsibility is just that, a challenge. Healthy food is difficult to spot, especially if we don't know ALL of the ingredients (those things that are left out because they are considered to be to insignificant) or are unable to find what things we are looking for. The responsibility becomes mine to grow, raise and learn in order to care for my children and keep them healthy and not in NEED of the "Health Care" system. I have a renewed interest in the 100 mile/Km diet concept. If we can know the farmer or the person that makes the thing that we are going to eat or use, that takes much of the guess work out of things.
To all others out there on the same or a similar path, Bon Chance (good luck), we'll need it. I began this post implying that I was not mentally well. I still don't think that I am. Our brain needs oxygen to function properly and without exercise the brain doesn't get the oxygen it needs. No wonder I can't remember things the way I used to or sleep the way I remember I used to be able to do (and yes I know I have kids and I thought that would make falling asleep easier). As my health returns and I continue to see life as less of an obstacle and more as a gift, I will remember that there are people out there who have better health but I would be willing to bet that they have already taken their health as their own responsibility.
As for the doctors in Saskatchewan. I really wish the best for you. I can't imagine the weight of responsibility for the health of people that won't help themselves and eat better or exercise or even sleep well. As a recovering one of these people I will try to see the doctor for things not chronic disease related in an attempt to not be a "sick" person any longer.
Good luck to my friend and her daughter who really need to see a doctor today.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Chickens and Goats
Yep, Chickens and Goats. It turns out that I'm crazy. I like me that way but life can't be dull when you don't know what your doing.
We will be getting 150 chickens this year in two groups. The first group of 75 chickens will be "Browns". This type of chicken has New Hampshire in I think. The second group of 75 chickens will be Black Sex Links. These are really pretty chickens and they lay (at least what I have read) really large eggs and they brood. I want to get our cattle feed lot (we don't have cattle) to be a fenced in chicken pasture for truly free ranged chickens. We want them for meat and for laying.
When we get that under as much control as we can after fencing and grass seeding and coop building etc. we will begin preparation for some goats. Goats! I like that that sounds crazy and I like that I think that I can take that on. I want to be able to milk one and raise them. My biggest concern is their temperament. Goats like to cause trouble. I want animals on the farm that the children will like too.
I'll keep you all posted on this crazy and exciting endeavour.
We will be getting 150 chickens this year in two groups. The first group of 75 chickens will be "Browns". This type of chicken has New Hampshire in I think. The second group of 75 chickens will be Black Sex Links. These are really pretty chickens and they lay (at least what I have read) really large eggs and they brood. I want to get our cattle feed lot (we don't have cattle) to be a fenced in chicken pasture for truly free ranged chickens. We want them for meat and for laying.
When we get that under as much control as we can after fencing and grass seeding and coop building etc. we will begin preparation for some goats. Goats! I like that that sounds crazy and I like that I think that I can take that on. I want to be able to milk one and raise them. My biggest concern is their temperament. Goats like to cause trouble. I want animals on the farm that the children will like too.
I'll keep you all posted on this crazy and exciting endeavour.
Back to basics, Again!
As spring arrives with the start of a new promising growing season and I know that I have taken on too much work, I plan to start with my new frame of mind, small steps, but not in the garden. I had forgotten this concept in practice over the last few weeks. With this spring and the weather and the kids, well, things became overwhelming and I regressed to old ways. I have discovered that I tend to freak out over the unknown. I like order and I want what I want, now. This is of course not useful and I am starting again with my lifestyle change because I do want it and I have made some progress.
Small steps are required for most of the things that I do, I just don't listen to myself that clearly. I had given up coffee and now I am drinking it again. But I have incorporated more veg into my diet and water and I don't even have to think about those any more.
I wanted to share some small step guides with you again. These three things have helped me get back on track without loosing the big picture:
1. upper body strength - I haven't got any upper body strength and haven't for some time now, so a push up for me is intimidating to say the least. I have now been instructed on how to get to a point of being able to do a push up. Do push ups up against the wall. As many as you can do for three sets every other day. It looks silly I'm sure but I can feel it working in my arms. Now if my life depended on a push up I might be able to do one.
2. Cardio exercise - I don't have the time with two very young children to get in the cardio that I need the way I used to think I needed to get it, in 20 or 30 minute bouts. Burst training is helping with that and I am starting to feel stronger too. I've mentioned the Burst training in the past I think but it is worth mentioning again. Just run on the spot for half a minute for three sets with a small 10 to 15 second break in between the sets. Mixing it up with running, jumping jacks, squats, kicks, etc. makes it more fun and must be harder (at least it feels harder). As you get better at it increase the duration to 45 seconds a set, then a minute and so on.
3. Eating Veg - I always thought that a serving of veg was what you put on your plate (and it is) but in general, a serving is about half a cup. When speaking in terms of broccoli for instance, half a cup is only three or four uncooked florets. That's not that much and makes it seems more attainable to get my goal of 10 servings a day. I had a lunch of baby carrots, celery sticks mushroom caps, and broccoli and cauliflower florets with a small sandwich and I've already had three or four servings just with that and I couldn't finish my sandwich.
I'm going to be constantly learning and making mistakes at this but I know that I'm trying to do it and so I have to believe I will.
"Small Steps"
Small steps are required for most of the things that I do, I just don't listen to myself that clearly. I had given up coffee and now I am drinking it again. But I have incorporated more veg into my diet and water and I don't even have to think about those any more.
I wanted to share some small step guides with you again. These three things have helped me get back on track without loosing the big picture:
1. upper body strength - I haven't got any upper body strength and haven't for some time now, so a push up for me is intimidating to say the least. I have now been instructed on how to get to a point of being able to do a push up. Do push ups up against the wall. As many as you can do for three sets every other day. It looks silly I'm sure but I can feel it working in my arms. Now if my life depended on a push up I might be able to do one.
2. Cardio exercise - I don't have the time with two very young children to get in the cardio that I need the way I used to think I needed to get it, in 20 or 30 minute bouts. Burst training is helping with that and I am starting to feel stronger too. I've mentioned the Burst training in the past I think but it is worth mentioning again. Just run on the spot for half a minute for three sets with a small 10 to 15 second break in between the sets. Mixing it up with running, jumping jacks, squats, kicks, etc. makes it more fun and must be harder (at least it feels harder). As you get better at it increase the duration to 45 seconds a set, then a minute and so on.
3. Eating Veg - I always thought that a serving of veg was what you put on your plate (and it is) but in general, a serving is about half a cup. When speaking in terms of broccoli for instance, half a cup is only three or four uncooked florets. That's not that much and makes it seems more attainable to get my goal of 10 servings a day. I had a lunch of baby carrots, celery sticks mushroom caps, and broccoli and cauliflower florets with a small sandwich and I've already had three or four servings just with that and I couldn't finish my sandwich.
I'm going to be constantly learning and making mistakes at this but I know that I'm trying to do it and so I have to believe I will.
"Small Steps"
Friday, February 25, 2011
Is Spring in the Air?
It's that time of year again when I start to think of all of the things that I am going to do outside. For those of you reading this that aren't from Saskatchewan, it is -34 Celsius with a windchill of -45 Celsius. This makes planning the yard and garden difficult for me because I tend to "dream" about all the possibilities in an attempt, I think, to block out the freezing reality.
Never the less, I have already started many garden plants in the house and have run into a small snare. I don't want to fertilize my home grown plants (that we will be eating) with chemical fertilizers. I am looking for a convenient and easy way to make fertilizer to use on things like lettuce, bell peppers and even zucchini. I would use kelp or fish or even the chicken manure from the barn but they all smell foul (no pun intended) when used in the house. Any suggestions would be welcome.
As for the vegetables themselves. We are successfully growing: homesteader peas, black zucchini, beets, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, garlic, bunching onions and strawberries. We are already eating the very dwarf peas and it looks like the zucchini are about to bloom. We started everything the second week of January.
We have just planted the second planting of Tomatoes, Peas and a new batch of herbs and Jalapenos. The first plantings of Jalapenos didn't make it nor did the Rosemary, Artichoke or eggplant.
As for what we can eat now: the mixed lettuce, peas, beet tops, parsley and within days the zucchini blooms (or we could let them grow and see if they make it to full vegetables.
It is all very exciting. I think that we will start some pansies and violas and see if we can make pretty salads. Maybe the kids would like that.
Maybe the weather gets as bad as this so that people like me get motivated at the right time to get the garden veg that needs to be started now started. I really could use a break from this really really cold weather though.
Never the less, I have already started many garden plants in the house and have run into a small snare. I don't want to fertilize my home grown plants (that we will be eating) with chemical fertilizers. I am looking for a convenient and easy way to make fertilizer to use on things like lettuce, bell peppers and even zucchini. I would use kelp or fish or even the chicken manure from the barn but they all smell foul (no pun intended) when used in the house. Any suggestions would be welcome.
As for the vegetables themselves. We are successfully growing: homesteader peas, black zucchini, beets, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, garlic, bunching onions and strawberries. We are already eating the very dwarf peas and it looks like the zucchini are about to bloom. We started everything the second week of January.
We have just planted the second planting of Tomatoes, Peas and a new batch of herbs and Jalapenos. The first plantings of Jalapenos didn't make it nor did the Rosemary, Artichoke or eggplant.
As for what we can eat now: the mixed lettuce, peas, beet tops, parsley and within days the zucchini blooms (or we could let them grow and see if they make it to full vegetables.
It is all very exciting. I think that we will start some pansies and violas and see if we can make pretty salads. Maybe the kids would like that.
Maybe the weather gets as bad as this so that people like me get motivated at the right time to get the garden veg that needs to be started now started. I really could use a break from this really really cold weather though.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Milk from Cow to shelf
I have had the opportunity to speak to the neighbours that used to have dairy cattle. They couldn't continue to supply milk. It wasn't affordable for them. I did learn that there is a lot of detail and attention that goes into dairy farming. Everything has to be just so and this makes sense because of concerns for TB and other bacteria that can make the milk unsuitable for drinking.
I also received a reply from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. They provided me with much information concerning care of animals and quality of milk. Concisely, they say the same thing about care and attention as our neighbours and add that grain fed to cattle is determined by region. They also mentioned that grain is carefully given to cattle because of Stomach problems ( I think this refers to blotting though I am not positive).
Having said all of that I now question more than ever the processes that milk is subjected to once it gets to the production phase. This is truly becoming quite a complicated subject.
Now that the kids are no longer sick I am going to attempt again to get in touch with Parmalat. In the mean time I am going to look into the processes milk goes through just to be shelved in the store as a drinkable product. Also, I am still looking into the difference between Organic Milk and regular milk but I guess now I also need to look into Raw milk and Raw milk products.
Starting with the neighbour's information that when the pasteurization of the milk destroys enzymes that aid in the digestion of dairy.
I also received a reply from the Dairy Farmers of Canada. They provided me with much information concerning care of animals and quality of milk. Concisely, they say the same thing about care and attention as our neighbours and add that grain fed to cattle is determined by region. They also mentioned that grain is carefully given to cattle because of Stomach problems ( I think this refers to blotting though I am not positive).
Having said all of that I now question more than ever the processes that milk is subjected to once it gets to the production phase. This is truly becoming quite a complicated subject.
Now that the kids are no longer sick I am going to attempt again to get in touch with Parmalat. In the mean time I am going to look into the processes milk goes through just to be shelved in the store as a drinkable product. Also, I am still looking into the difference between Organic Milk and regular milk but I guess now I also need to look into Raw milk and Raw milk products.
Starting with the neighbour's information that when the pasteurization of the milk destroys enzymes that aid in the digestion of dairy.
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