HOW AND WHEN TO PLANT VARIOUS VEGATABLES

How and When to plant various vegetables, according to your location.

We've chosen North America's most popular garden plants and provided "how to" gardening information to help you prepare, plant, and care for them.

For each plant, we've identified the hardiness zone, sun exposure, soil type, soil pH, pests and problems, harvest tips, recommended varieties, and special features. You'll also find recipes, free e-cards, and a dose of wit & wisdom. Just click on an image below to view that plant's growing guide.

Or, click the links below to browse by plant type: Check It Out...

Do You Have Fake Olive Oil in Your Pantry?

Do You Have Fake Olive Oil in Your Pantry? According to www.examiner.com many popular brands of olive oil sold in stores today are not actually olive oil, but a blend of lower-quality vegetable oils that may include less than 20 percent actual olive oil per volume.

Among the list of oils that brands are “cutting” their olive oil with are genetically modified (GM) canola, soy, cottonseed and corn oils. There are currently no genetically modified olives in production, so customers wishing to avoid GM ingredients often look to olive oil as a healthy alternative.

Surprisingly, as much as half of all the olive oil sold commercially in the United States fails to pass the strict testing standards used to qualify it as authentic. In addition to genetically modified vegetable oils, some companies also add flavoring chemicals and dyes to give the illusion of real olive oil.

As odd as it may sound, the promotion of fake olive oil may also have links to the Mob.

"Olive oil piracy is one of the Italian Mafia's most lucrative enterprises, to the extent that it appears that most olive oil on the market is either greatly diluted or completely forged by a massive shadow industry that involves major names such as Bertolli," says investigative journalist Pauli Poisuo about the olive oil conspiracy.

Author Tom Mueller makes the case in Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil that the fraudsters are busier and richer now than ever before.

Bertolli and its supermarket rivals have also corrupted the meaning of extra virginity, a controlled definition of high-quality oil since 1960.’Gentle’, ‘smooth’ and ‘not peppery on the throat’ are the sort of words Bertolli and its rivals used in ads promoting their generic extra virgin oil. But true extra virgin oil is peppery – it bites the back of the throat so fiercely it can make you cough. The flavors are vivid. ‘Peppery’ is an official, positive attribute of ‘extra virgin’ whereas smoothness will reliably indicate a low-quality oil.”

So Bertolli and other brands came to need low-quality genetically modified vegetable oils in order to hoodwink the public into paying a premium for what they assume is natural and high quality oil.

Tests conducted by researchers at the Australian Oils Research Laboratory and the University of California, Davis also found that many major olive oil brands do not pass International Olive Council (IOC) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authenticity tests for olive oil. The failing brands in their study included Bertolli, Carapelli , Filippo Berio, Mazzola and Pompeian.

Fortunately, there are a number of simple ways to determine if you have purchased fake olive oil.

Look for the International Olive Council (IOC) label of authenticity. Imported olive oils that bear official IOC labels of authenticity generally undergo strict quality control testing.

Buy local. US growers and manufacturers are often held to stricter standards than companies that export to the United States. The California Olive Oil Council (COOC) seal is a good one to look for.

Refrigerate your olive oil. If authentic, olive oil will thicken and become cloudy.

See if your olive oil is flammable. Real olive oil is flammable. Try putting it in a fireproof pan and lighting it with a match. If your olive oil does not burn, it is most likely not real.

Check out these wonderful recipes from lucerooliveoil.com,Lucero California Olive Grove. 

Olive oil has long been used as a baking essential in Mediterranean kitchens. You can easilyand successfully replace melted butter or vegetable oil in many baked goods. Substituting olive oil provides a rich moistness and exceptional depth of flavor. Plus it supplies a healthy dose of good fats and antioxidants called polyphenols, as well as Vitamin E.
Substitute olive oil for vegetable oil in equal measure, and use three-fourths the amount of extra virgin olive oil as butter. For instance, instead of ¼ cup melted butter, use 3 tablespoons of olive oil. For baking, use a mild olive oil with buttery or fruity flavors rather than an intense, peppery choice. Citrus olive oils also lend delicious fruity flavor to cakes, muffins and breads.

Find the recipe for the Blackberry Wine & Chocolate Olive Oil Cupcakes here!

Check out the many good recipes here...

Natural Alternatives for the 7 most popular drugs in the world

According to www.worldtruth.tv;

We don't have to live in a medicated world, but we certainly choose to. The crux of the matter is that we refuse to proactively think about prevention because we re-actively commit to treating the symptoms of underlying health problems. This is the allopathic model. We want the quick fix so we can continue our poor lifestyle and dietary habits. It doesn't have to be this way, but it is. We can blame doctors, the medical institutions and healthcare systems all we want, but self-responsibility is our only recourse if we are ever to surface from this mess. There are no excuses--if you're taking one of these drugs, consult with a Natural Health Practitioner this week about phasing out your medication and phasing in these powerful natural foods and remedies.

 

Of the over 4 billion prescriptions written every year, the United States and Canada make up more than 80% of the world's prescription opioids (psychoactive medications). Between 1997 and 2012 prescription opioids increased in dosage by almost 500%. Pharmaceuticals and medical errors are now a leading cause of death. Painkillers are the leading cause of accidental death.

In the last 15 years of life, people are experiencing more pain for longer periods than at any point on our historical record. If you think life expectancy has increased to the benefit of mankind, you're not looking at the numbers.

78% of U.S. prescriptions written in 2010 were for generic drugs (both unbranded and those still sold under a brand name). The most prescribed drugs aren't always the best selling drugs, there's a difference.

Prescriptions for pain, cholesterol reduction, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, antacids, antipsychotics, diabetes and antibiotics make up 100% of the most prescribed drugs.

Make a commitment to yourself right now and start incorporating some of these amazing foods into your diet with no consequence of side effects. When you accept this, you will get off prescription medications for good.

Check out the top 7 most prescribed drugs and the best natural remedies to treat and prevent disease. Read More...

Vertical Gardening Tips

By growing your cucumbers vertically you can create your own micro climate underneath for your lettuce.Lettuce doesn't like the hot sun and prefers some shade. Check out this and more neat ideas from Louises County Closet. 

Beets: Boost Energy and Provide Cancer Protection

Beets: Boosting Energy and Providing Cancer Protection.

 

I love this article from myscienceacademy.org.  by Trevor Ruben

Dietitians are always arguing over the best foods, the best diets and the best lifestyle decisions a person can make. One year, eggs might be all the rage, while the next they could be the leading cause in X symptom for X disease and should be shunned by the masses. One such fad, if you want to stay as current as possible, revolves around the crimson red beetroot. Only the health benefits of beetroot really are incredible.

Health Benefits of Beetroot - Lowering Blood Pressure with Beetroot

Full of nitrates, roughly 20 times more than most other vegetables, the beetroot may just be a wonder for scientists and dietitians combined as its healing and boosting powers are slowly discovered study by study. Due to the influx of nitrates, which, in assisting in the production of nitric oxide can widen and relax blood vessels, the beetroot is thought to lower blood pressure.
One 2010 study out of Queen Mary’s University in London showed a correlation between daily intakes of beetroot juice and near-immediate drops in the drinker’s blood pressure. What’s more, it was also found that with higher blood pressure came a greater dip. Another study published in the Nutrition Journal found that “500 grams” of beetroot juice also resulted in a blood pressure drop within just 6 hours after consumption.

Cancer Protection

But improvements in blood pressure may only be the beginning to the beetroot’s scientific application. Within the beetroot is betacyanin, which has been found to slow the growth of tumors by 12.5 percent in patients with prostate and breast cancer. The importance of slowing cancer growth shouldn’t be underestimated. Many cancer patients are dubbed “cancer free,” but only in light of the fact that the cancer has not returned over a certain period of time. Anything that might slow the growth of cancer within a patient will always allow more time to treat or even discover the disease before it becomes fatal.
Be wary, however, because this study only evaluated betacyanin on its own, and it’s only assumed and not proven at this point that the beetroot’s other properties do not interfere with betacyanin’s affects.

Boosting Digestive Health

A high fiber count makes beetroot and beetroot juice a prime choice for those with digestive issues. Fiber helps to promote digestive and colon health by cleaning out the gastrointestinal system and making for regular, healthy bowel movements.

“Beetroot is high in fibre and a 100g portion – about two or three small beetroot – contains ten per cent of your RDA, which helps regulate bowel movements. It also contains a substance called betaine which normalises stomach acid secretion,” says Nutritional therapist Dr Elisabeth Philipps.

Beetroot for Boosting Stamina

Further adding to the health benefits of beetroot, the vegetable is also great for providing energy and boosting stamina. In one study, participants consumed a selection of baked beetroot (200 grams) before one run and the same amount of cranberries before a second run. The researchers discovered that beetroot outperformed cranberries in boosting peak performance by a wide margin.
After eating the cranberry dish, the runners averaged a speed of 11.9 kilometers per hour, or 7.3 mph. When eating beetroot, the participants hit 12.3 kilometers, or 7.6 mph. Amazingly, the effects were most observed during the last section of the run — often the most difficult for runners.
Another 2010 study found that adults who drank 500ml of the juice a day could boost stamina prolong exercise for up to 16% longer – and the increased oxygen flow to the brain due to those nutrients may even help slow the progression of dementia.
And don’t worry if your urine turns pink. It happens to about 14 percent of the population when they intake the vegetable – no big deal. Enjoy the health benefits of beetroot!


Source

Natrual Source