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Our food is becoming more toxic, our food traditions that are passed down are  toxic.  These food traditions that are passed down, are toxic choices that need to stop.  It is NOT ok to eat a candy cane with red 40 in it, it is NOT ok to eat a valentines day cup cake with Red 40 in it, it is NOT ok to eat marshmallow throughout the summer on your camping trips, they are full of GMO ingredients and toxic food coloring, it is NOT ok to eat at the sports snack shack, it is NOT ok to eat the candy thrown to you at the parades, it is not OK to eat the Little Debbie Snacks with a Capri Sun after soccer practice, it is not ok to eat at Izzy's pizza, it is not OK to eat elephant ears, it is not OK to eat the Halloween candy, It is not ok to eat the Thanksgiving Turkey that is injected with toxic substances, it is NOT ok to eat colorful Christmas candy, It is Not ok to eat the yellow and pink marshmallows for Easter or the Easter candy that is full of dyes and GMO's, it is NOT ok to eat that fourth of July red and blue food coloring.  As you can see this is a big list and I could keep going.  

I made this partial list because I wanted to show you how we go from one fat food fest to the next.

This list is 12 months of many once in a whiles, now add the birthdays in there.  As you can see by this list. that telling a child or teen that it is OK to have a toxic food once in a while, is far from being once in a while.  

American lives are fast and split up  and because of this once in a while becomes almost all the time. 

Mom says it is OK to eat that once in a while, since we have a high divorce rate we have Dad says it is OK to eat that once in a while, grandma said it is OK to eat it once in a while, Auntie said it is OK to eat that once in a while, at my sleep over little Suzie's mom said it was OK to have that once in a while, my coach said it was OK to have that once in a while, my baby-sitter said it is OK to have it once in a while, my teacher said is is OK to eat that once in a while and so on and on and on.  Guess what eating something that is not so healthy has become a (almost) 7 day a week theme.   If you look around like I do you can see it.  The obesity rates are skyrocketing and you see a lot of children that are just not strong like they used to be.  

I just love the voice of "It is only once in a while" or that person who tells you, you can eat a bad food once in a while.  Now days we are so busy and so split up in our lives that  just once in a while is becoming toxic and has become a sorry excuse that we use more than once in a while.  

This toxic saying is allowing us to justify in our minds to do unhealthy things weekly and  now daily that we should not be doing at all.  

Here is my first example that I hear a lot parents, grandparents and most adults who talk to children do.  The child hears that their fruity pebbles, red licorice,  snow cones with red syrup, red frosted cupcakes, valentines day candies are unhealthy.  They share this information with the adult about what they learned.  What happens after that, is that 98% of the adults that are talking to those children tell them, "It is OK to eat it once in a while".  

First, I want you to think about this, how is it OK to let child eat something that has toxic ingredients in it?  Just because they are not being rushed to the emergency room does not mean that the food ended up being safe.  Let me remind you that the cancer rates are at their all time highest.  Diabetes is at an all time high and America is getting more obese by the minute.  

Little Suzie is at a community event and someone is selling snow cones and she wants one.  The adult in charge say's OK, it is only once in a while.   That adult just told her that it is OK to eat unhealthy food.  The once in  a while does not matter in her mind and there was no consequence on the parent or child for eating that toxic food.  Little Suzie feels pretty good, so it can't be bad.  But, here is where all parents,grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult friends, adult cousins went wrong.  That food did affect her.  It is toxic because it has carcinogens  in it.  The worse part about it is that Little Suzy will keep eating those types of foods over and over again into adult hood.  She has been educated wrong by the Adults who could not stay away from toxic food themselves.  These same adults are struggling as adults with their health.  Little Suzie grows up and some day gets cancer from all the once in a whiles that were to many in her life time.  

We have to start thinking about what we are really teaching our children about health. You can't use the parenting style of consequences and making choices when it comes to food.   If you tell the child that a snow cone with red flavored syrup is bad for them and you give them a choice to have it or not, they will eat it and there is no consequence for eating it.  They feel fine. But it is affecting them deep down in their bodies.     As of right now  the children and teens of America are being taught that it is OK to cheat and eat bad food and that they are supposedly to busy to exercise.   It deeply saddens me to hear that most high school kids have no PE and the rest only have it twice a week if they are lucky.  

If you as the adult do not change your habits, and you keep the cheating going on, with "It is OK eat that once in a while",  on the toxic food then you are doing a dis-service to your family, yourself and this world.

42% of us will be obese by 2030 (actually, I think we are already at that percentage), our children are expected to have a shorter life span than us and 41% of us are going to inevitably get cancer. .

We are becoming a Wall-E World (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1BQPV-iCkU).  I do not want this and I am pretty sure you do not either.  But, we all need to change.  It is time to get rid of this thought process that was introduced to us many years ago, (I bet by a corporate commercial) because it has caught up to us.  To many kids with adhd, add, autism, obesity are everywhere and at an all time high, cancer is at an all time high, diabetes is at an all time high.  We can alter this trajectory if we spread as much information about the chemicals in food as possible – specifically the chemicals that can be directly linked to obesity and cancer and that are slowly poisoning us and making us suffer as a society. 

The most widely used dyes, Red 40, Blue 1,  Yellow 5 are contaminated with known carcinogens, linked to cancer and known to cause hyperactivity in children.   “Carmel coloring”  sounds natural,  and is anything but! Caramel color is often manufactured by heating ammonia and sulfites under high pressure, which creates carcinogenic compounds that are also linked to cancer.

More information on Food Coloring: 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/24/are-you-or-your-family-eating-toxic-food-dyes.aspx

Just Have To Stop, No More Once In A While: 

McDonalds, Burger King, Arby's,Taco Bell, KFC, Soda, hot dogs, non organic candies, deserts with artificial colors and artificial flavorings, frozen food, foods with artificial coloring and artificial flavors, the snack shacks at sports events and packaged process foods.  This list is just a small list of foods to say NO to.  

Remember,nothing is going to change until we realize, that healthy food, food without toxins with absolutely no fudging is what we need to be eating. This world is either going to become a Wall-E world or a healthy world.  We are at the tipping point for this.

Wall-E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1BQPV-iCkU

Parents be parents, protect your children.  There should be no choices when it comes to eating a food with toxins or not eating it.  It is your job to protect their health and safety, so this decisions is yours,  Be strong and say NO

Americans 'Just Have To Stop"  this is what is going to change their health, their families health, the future generations of America and it will help our oceans, land and air become toxin free to. 

Once again a celebrity tries to lead the people, I have been deep in thought about this subject and I am putting something together that I will post soon. In the mean time Dr. Akilah El put everything that was on my mind in this video. For those of you who are not familiar with her she has a lot of great health information out there.

My daughter and I were discussing the double mastectomy scam yesterday, she is a very intelligent young lady. She grabbed her boobs and said I love my boobs. She is 110% right and I am very proud of her (she is 16)  I also love mine.  My grandma had hers cut off and for me I would never do that.  I personally would work on a radical organic PH balanced diet, which by the way I already do. 

We watched Dr. Akilah video together, she is very entertaining and Very Right. I hope you make time to watch this with the women in your family or by yourself. Pass it on to your daughters, female cousins, aunts, grandmas and all your women friends. . Make a cup of healthy organic tea and enjoy the video.  

We as women do have the right to choose what we do in our lives, but it is important that we are not stupid about our choices. We seem to listen to other women( who have been put on pedestals even though they are a bad representative of what a woman should be)  they are movie star idiots, who lead most of the women into making stupid choices.

We as women can be stronger than that.

Peace to you and have a beautiful day! 

Dr. Akilah El

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYzyz-KH8x4

If you want to fight cancer than get rid of these foods out of your life.  Conventional produce means chemical produce.  

If you see this, like I do on a weekly basis down highway 18, do not support that farmer ever!  Just the other day I saw them loading up their chemical machine with their log rubber gloves on and big rubber boots to spray the strawberry fields..  Conventional strawberry anyone?  Not me, never......

and this... It does not magically disappear by the time you eat it.. You eat exactly what the sign warns you about.  You are what you eat... You either feed cancer sells by eating this type of food from chemical agriculture( labeled as conventional)  or you eat organic foods and starve cancer cells... 

This is a great statement by one of the best farmers around:

IF you want to starve cancer cells then eat organic foods, limit your sugar use, stay away from artificial sweeteners, eat lots and lots of greens, eat clean organic meat, stay away from petroleum laced products,  EXERCISE, work on your stress levels, build community in your life, limit your cell phone use, limit your screen time use and get outside in nature on a daily basis.  

Being prepared is self defense, why not prepare for an emergency? Instead of being a victim because you did not prepare.  taking care of your health is self defense, buying local is self defense, taking self defense is taking care of yourself and your environment

Are you talking to your neighbors, are you working together to come up with a prepardness plan?  Do you have a plan?  Do you have food, seeds, water, water filter, first aid, batteries, books are gardening, books on building, when technolgy fails.

We are looking at a year, that there has been extreme weather changes, an increase of earthquakes and volcano eruptions. 

From beginning of April, here in Oregon we are have some mild weather extremes.  We are watering like ti is July.  Yet we are having cold mornings   Just a few of the plants seemed confused by the extremely highs and lows.  I feel blessed that I have permaculture forest knowledge, bio-dynamic farming knowledge and organic farming knowledge.  These methods will help me get through the season.  

At the same time I need to make sure I am prepping   Yes, I said the world prepping.  It is not a bad thing at all, but according to some and the media prepares are getting a bad name.  But when a disaster hits and you have a prepper by you, you should be incredibly thankful! 

I am not sure what has happened in our society that preparing for an emergency is getting a bad name.  It is insane.  If you are prepared and your neighbor is prepacked and so on, you will all pull together, help each other. 

Lentil Salad Recipe: 

2 cups cooked lentils, rinsed

Dressing:

3 to 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 cup fresh lemon juice

3 small clove garlic, minced

1/2 red onion  minced

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest (optional)

1 tsp. Celtic  salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. homemade mustard or organic mustard- Summer omit mustard and add cumin

Spring Version: 

handful cilantro chopped

handful garlic chives minced

handful onion chives minced

2 fresh peppermint leaves minced

1 cup organic kale chopped

1 cup of purple orach spinach chopped or regular spinach 

Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.  Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste. If the dressing is too zingy for  you feel free to add more olive oil to soften the flavor. 

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir gently.  Let marinate for a few hours.    Serve with rice wraps or rice tortillas.  You could also add some raw organic cheese.   

Summer Version: 

2 tomatoes

1 organic red pepper chopped

1 organic yellow pepper chopped

2 organic hot peppers minced

optional:  minced fresh fennel leaves 

Multi Bean Salad 

2 cups cooked kidney beans

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans

2 cups cooked butter beans 

6 Tbs olive oil

2 minced garlic cloves (spring use green garlic) 

4 Tbs. lemon juice

6 Tbs red balsamic vinegar

5 Tbs. Fire Cider (http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fire-cider)

1 tsp. local honey

1 tsp. Celtic salt

1 tsp black pepper ( or more)

1/4 lb fresh green beans (if it is summer time and they are in season)

2 medium stalks celery, finely minced

1 red onion minced

1 cup finely minced parsley

1/2 cup chopped carrots 

Combine oil, garlic,lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, fire cider, honey, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 

If it is summer time and you have green beans to add: 

Trim the tips of the green beans, and steam until tender (5 to 8 minutes, or to  your preference). Refresh under cold running water and drain well. 

Drain the cooked beans, rinse gently under cold water adn add them to your bowl with the dressing.   

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Let marinate for at least 2 to 3 hours (even longer is better)  

Serve cold or at room temperature.  Serve with some hot rice, quinoa, steamed tortillas or rice wraps.  You could also try some raw cheese grated on top of it.  

Other optional ingredients: 

During the spring try green garlic, about 4 finely minced

During the summer try adding cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.  

What is Green Garlic? 

Green garlic is young garlic which is harvested before the cloves have begun to mature. The resulting vegetable resembles a scallion, with a deep green stalk and a pale white bulb. It can often be found for sale at a farmers' market in the spring, and can also be grown at home relatively easily. Many large grocery stores do not stock green garlic, although growing consumer demand may change this. It can also usually be special ordered through a greengrocer.

When garlic is grown normally, it is harvested when the lower part of the stalk visible above the ground starts to turn brown. The bulb of the garlic has differentiated into garlic cloves, and it is cured so that it will last in storage. Typically, garlic is harvested in the middle of summer. Green garlic, on the other hand, is harvested before the plant is mature. The stalks are still totally green, usually around one foot (30 cm) long, and the bulb resembles that of a green onion, rather than a segmented head of garlic.

Green Garlic Butter:

http://www.inerikaskitchen.com/2011/04/green-garlic-butter.html

Green Garlic Spread:

http://www.greenling.com/blog/recipes/sidedish-recipe/green-garlic-...

Multi Bean Salad

For many years I have heard people say they can not afford to eat healthy foods.  Being a single mom for years I new they were very wrong. People can afford to eat healthy. The underlying issue is this, we have a society that does not know how to cook.  Living off of a dollar menu will give nothing but bad health and a lot of expensive health care bills.  Besides why not work on feeling good, vibrant, healthy, active, awake, motivated and happy.  You are what you eat.  If you eat unhealthy food, then you are burning bad fuel.  Bad fuel causes things to clog up, slow down, and sputter.  

On that note, I thought I would start sharing some of our low budget healthy meals.  Of course always eat organic as much as you can.  After all the chemicals they use in conventional (I call it poison farming) farming is the same chemicals that they make bombs with.  No wonder there are so many tummy troubles and other serious health issues that are going on in the human race.  

Here are some great recipes, enjoy! 

Multi Bean Salad 

2 cups cooked kidney beans

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans

2 cups cooked butter beans 

6 Tbs olive oil

2 minced garlic cloves (spring use green garlic) 

4 Tbs. lemon juice

6 Tbs red balsamic vinegar

5 Tbs. Fire Cider (http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fire-cider)

1 tsp. local honey

1 tsp. Celtic salt

1 tsp black pepper ( or more)

1/4 lb fresh green beans (if it is summer time and they are in season)

2 medium stalks celery, finely minced

1 red onion minced

1 cup finely minced parsley

1/2 cup chopped carrots 

Combine oil, garlic,lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, fire cider, honey, salt and pepper in a large bowl. 

If it is summer time and you have green beans to add: 

Trim the tips of the green beans, and steam until tender (5 to 8 minutes, or to  your preference). Refresh under cold running water and drain well. 

Drain the cooked beans, rinse gently under cold water adn add them to your bowl with the dressing.   

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Let marinate for at least 2 to 3 hours (even longer is better)  

Serve cold or at room temperature.  Serve with some hot rice, quinoa, steamed tortillas or rice wraps.  You could also try some raw cheese grated on top of it.  

Other optional ingredients: 

During the spring try green garlic, about 4 finely minced

During the summer try adding cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.  

What is Green Garlic? 

Green garlic is young garlic which is harvested before the cloves have begun to mature. The resulting vegetable resembles a scallion, with a deep green stalk and a pale white bulb. It can often be found for sale at a farmers' market in the spring, and can also be grown at home relatively easily. Many large grocery stores do not stock green garlic, although growing consumer demand may change this. It can also usually be special ordered through a greengrocer.

When garlic is grown normally, it is harvested when the lower part of the stalk visible above the ground starts to turn brown. The bulb of the garlic has differentiated into garlic cloves, and it is cured so that it will last in storage. Typically, garlic is harvested in the middle of summer. Green garlic, on the other hand, is harvested before the plant is mature. The stalks are still totally green, usually around one foot (30 cm) long, and the bulb resembles that of a green onion, rather than a segmented head of garlic.

Green Garlic Butter:

http://www.inerikaskitchen.com/2011/04/green-garlic-butter.html

Green Garlic Spread:

http://www.greenling.com/blog/recipes/sidedish-recipe/green-garlic-sandwich-spread

Multi Bean Salad

Lentil Salad Recipe: 

2 cups cooked lentils, rinsed

Dressing:

3 to 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 cup fresh lemon juice

3 small clove garlic, minced

1/2 red onion  minced

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest (optional)

1 tsp. Celtic  salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. homemade mustard or organic mustard- Summer omit mustard and add cumin

Spring Version: 

handful cilantro chopped

handful garlic chives minced

handful onion chives minced

2 fresh peppermint leaves minced

1 cup organic kale chopped

1 cup of purple orach spinach chopped or regular spinach 

Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.  Taste and adjust salt and pepper to taste. If the dressing is too zingy for  you feel free to add more olive oil to soften the flavor. 

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir gently.  Let marinate for a few hours.    Serve with rice wraps or rice tortillas.  You could also add some raw organic cheese.   

Summer Version: 

2 tomatoes

1 organic red pepper chopped

1 organic yellow pepper chopped

2 organic hot peppers minced

optional:  minced fresh fennel leaves 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/08/ewg-pesticide-guide.aspx?e_cid=20130508_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20130508

I rise up out of bed early in the morning, out by 7:00 am, feed the animals, take the horses and dogs up the mountain, I workout doing agility drills up the steep hill with a 10 pound pack on, once I am at the top, I do push-ups, low stances drills, front kicks, outside crescent kicks, inside crescent kicks, straight leg kicks, ab work, stretch, then I have tea, listen to the birds and then come down out of the mountains.  At that point my day is all farmer Sue, I have a couple of breaks and I do not get back inside the house until about 10:00 pm.  There have been many days where my husband and I go back out ( yes after 10:00 pm) and slug patrol.   I figure I am putting in about 12 to 15 hours a day, on the farm.  The days are super long, we are all tired, but at the same time we feel good about what we are doing.  There is something special about the energy of working the land, connecting with it and growing your own and for others.  

This week one of my favorites herbalist passed away.  There were many things that I loved about her, a few of them were, she was very against herbicides, chemical agriculture and that it was important to truly take care of our earth.  

Our job is to enliven and thrive. 

More on Cascade Anderson: 

http://www.methowvalleyherbs.com/2013/05/in-memory-of-cascade-anderson-geller.html

http://io-herbalalchemy.blogspot.com/2013/05/ode-to-cascade-anderson-geller-vol-2.html

As one passes on, it is only the beginning of an everlasting journey of love, helping and the giving of knowledge to those who are ready to take it in and listen.   As the wind whispers in your ear can you hear what she is saying... She whispers, love one another, help one another, seek a life without chemicals........

Herbal Tea, In Celebration Of New Life, New Journeys and Renewal 

This recipe is Kid Approved !   All six of our kids loved this recipe when they were younger.

Pizza Crust Recipe # 1

1/2 cup Almond Flour (add more as necessary for a workable dough consistency) 

1 egg

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

1/4 real salt

Italian spices such as oregano and basil to taste

In a bowl mix the above ingredients together and add more folour as needed to form a ball.  Oil a pan with oilive oil.  Add the dough ball pressing down with hands to form the shape of a small pizza crust.  Do not worry if it is not as big as the pan.  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees with the crust in pan (this allows the crust to setup and brown a bit.)  By the time the oven heats up, the crust should be crisp and ready for the toppings

add toppings drizzle with olive oil and bake for 10 minutes.

Pizza Crust Recipe #2

3 1/2 cups coarsely grated, unpeeled, zucchini squash

3 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 almond flour

1/2 cup grated brick cheese 

1/2 cup grated, 100% pure Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, minced (dried may  be substituted but use only about 1/2 tablespoon)

1/4 real salt

Salt grated zucchini squash with 1/2 teaspoon salt and let stand for 15 minutes to draw out excess water.  Squeeze zucchini with hands to get rid of as much water as possible. 

Mix all ingredients well and spread onto an oiled pizza pan or small cookie sheet.  Pat smooth. 

Bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees or until crust is dry and browned.  

Brush the top of the crust with oil and broil it under moderate heat for 5 minutes.  

Layer cheese on baked crust. 

Spread generously with sauce of choice.

Add your choice of toppings.

heat pizza in 350 degree over for about 25 minutes until it is very hot and cheese is bubbling. 

Serve hot with a tossed salad and enjoy your food. 

The pizza was topped  with our wild edible weed pesto, my own canned tomato sauce and organic bio-dynamic mozzarella cheese.  

This is the beginning of the most active part of the year and the beginning of Summer. All of life is bursting with fertility, sap is rising, birdsong fills the air and growth is everywhere. 

It is a time to practicing the art of wooing, for letting passions fly in the exuberant joy of the moment.  It is a time to express yourself, but also to remember to stay grounded. 

It is a great time to renew your goals.  Ask yourself what you wish to give energy to.  Where will you put your focus?  What can you change for the better?  What actions can you make that will help the spread of goodwill and Love in the world?  Spring has sprung, summer is on the way, it is time to make the most of its raw energy for initiating plans and visions.  Everything you do now will bring you closer to your goals, as the expansive energy of the moment carries you along.  

How about trying some new recipes?  

Wild Pesto: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/let-food-be-thy-medicine-and-medicine-be-thy-food-hippocrates

Great Salad Dressings: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/healthy-salad-dressings

The Elimination Diet: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/food-allergies-and-the-elimination-diet

Wonderful Healing Nettles: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/spring-time-super-tonic-food-nettle

Fire Cider:  Used for salad dressings, morning drink, on top of rice or veggies....

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fire-cider

Longevity Chai: 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/longevity-chai

May Day Challenge: Set a goal for less texting and cell phone use. 

Tea for two, three or more?... Spend quality time together, by turning off cell phones, TV and computers.  Look in each others eyes, look at what is around you, listen to the sounds of life and truly taste what life is all about.. 

My tea this morning is a mix of burdock root, dandelion root, hawthorn berries, ginger, fennel, cinnamon, black tea, a pinch of Damiana... spring water and organic coconut full fat milk

The benefits of Damaina: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-damiana.html

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” 

 Nut flour crust, wild weed pesto, my own canned sauce, mozzarella cheese and all organic.

The wild weed pesto is made out of dandelion leaves, plantain leaves, nettle leaves, yellow dock leaves, olive oil, raw cheddar, dehydrated ground up nuts and raw garlic.   

Plantain

Yellow Dock

Dandelion 

Nettle 

Collected and Ready to Make Wild Weed Pesto 

1 cup or more of edible weeds (make sure no one has sprayed any chemicals on or around them!!)

1/2 to 1 cup organic olive oil 

1/2 cup organic raw cheese of choice

1/8 cup ground nuts or seeds

3 cloves raw garlic ( or more if you are a garlic fan) 

Blend in a  mixer 

Use on crackers, rice, meat, pizza dough or as a veggie dip. 

Create 

Special Garden Spots

Create Special Sitting Places and Enjoy A Cup Of Healing Tea

Create Incredible Meals Full Of Nutrition And Fun 

Create Memories, Watching As Many Sunsets As Possible 

Create As Many Memories As You Can In Nature, With Your Sense Of Smell 

Create Memories Of Having Fun For Others

Create Memories, Observe Nature

Create A Life That Is Full Of Beauty, You Can Create A lot Of Beauty In Your Life If You Follow The Instructions Below 

Create...............................

“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.”

To have a balance with our health there are several things we should be working on.  I routinely lecture about food, but, today I want to chat about being grateful.  

There is so much going on in the world. so much so, that we can get lost in the hustle and bustle of life.I would like to remind you that stopping daily to reflect on the gifts that you have in your life is another part of being healthy.  

Yesterday, as I was working  in the garden, the sun was really warm and I decided to seek some shade under a big tree.    At that point, I was taking in all of what nature had to offer.  I found myself being thankful for many things.  One was I heard the swifts migrating back for the summer.  I was excited about this because that is just another sign the summer is coming.   I was thankful for the sun to be shinning and having a clear sky, I was thankful that I am an organic farmer, I was thankful that I can take a moment under a tree.  That was just a few things that I was thankful for.  

I posted some pictures of what I was thankful for yesterday.  I would love to hear from you about what you are thankful for.      

Practicing the art of being thankful on a daily basis is just another part to add in keeping balance in your health.  

As a close friend of mine would say daily at our meals, " thank you, thank you, thank you"  

Thankful for my morning tea ritual

Thankful for the big trees that give shade when it is hot

Thankful the the sun's brightness and warmth 

Thankful for having feet 

Thankful for sunsets 

Thankful for being alive

Thankful for having this wonderful man in my life 

Everything is really coming together in the gardens this spring.  My vision is being put into place and it feels great, but more on that later.   It has been a lot of physical work, but well worth it..  My back is feeling a lot of the work.  A few months ago I lifted a log by myself, that was  two person log.  It was also  heavier since it was wet.  I knew better but, I still did it and  I hurt my back.  It healed rather quickly which was great but, I find that with all the up and down our steep hills all day with  combination of a zillion squats I am terribly tight by the end of the night.  As I was thinking about my back and different things I should be doing for it, it occurred to me that since it is  garden and yard season, most of us could use a reminder, that we should be taking care of our backs BEFORE, something happens.   

Your spine has many nerves, muscles and ligaments that serve as connections to areas throughout your body, so keeping your back in top condition is one of the best things you can do for both your back and your overall health. There are a number of simple things you can try to help keep your spine as healthy as possible and minimize complications from your back condition and/or prevent future painful episodes.

First Rule:  Do Not lift things that are to heavy for you.  Ask For HELP.... 

2,  Lift Correctly:    Protect your back when lifting anything by standing close to the object with your feet apart to give you a stable base. Squat down while keeping the spine in proper alignment and contract your abdominals as you lift using your legs. 

3.  Choose Your Shoes Carefully:  They should be well balanced, flexible and most certainly comfortable. Good shoes provide not only protection for your feet, but also a supportive base that helps the spine and body remain in alignment. Selection of the right shoes, and correctly using inserts if needed to provide even further balance, can help you avoid muscle strain and possible injury

4.  Stretch:  Here is a few ideas   http://drbenkim.com/stretches-healthy-back.htm

5.  Enjoy the benefits of massage:    Therapeutic massages not only improve flexibility and decrease tension; they can also improve blood flow and increase the level of endorphins in your bloodstream, which is a chemical in the body that makes us feel good.

Ten Ways To Keep A Healthy Back:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/25013.php

My days start out with me getting my exercise going up the mountain,  It has a very steep beginning.   I have added some different agility exercises to my mountain exercise time, to make sure I am cross training my body.  During this time my husband and  I take the dogs and horses to make sure they get their work out in to.

Remember exercise is another key ingredient in keeping your back healthy, as long as you stretch.

Growing my own food has become a passion for me.  My second passion is supporting local organic farmers.  If you can't find time to grow your own, at least try to grow just a few things.  Try some culinary herbs first.  The next step you could take would be supporting a local organic farmer by joining a  CSA.  You could also make a habit of going to the farmers markets weekly..  It is important to have fresh produce, you will be healthier and so will the earth.  Fresh organic produce has a lot of vitamins, something store bought produce does not.    

Here is today's photo's

Starting more root crops

Building a bed out of scrap logs

More Root Crops 

And of course my tea time break.  It has been another great productive day,  Time for me to go pick a salad for dinner.  Peace to you 

My earth day is everyday.  I walk up a mountain for exercise.  I have a variety of  tea  sit spots like, up in the mountains, in the garden, in my special garden spots, in the trees listen to the birds and in the sun.   I put my hands in the dirt in a daily basis, I eat local organic food and organic food,  I use petroleum free products.  We are growing our own food,  I limit my car trips, I do not consume much, I work on a daily basis to keep my earth foot print small and simple.   These are just a few things that I do to take care of the earth.  I would love to see photos and/or hear from you about what you do to take care of the earth... You can create just a blog with photos and statements if you like.  Pictures say a thousand words  

Nettle, very nutritional and not to late to go find some, collect it and cook it... 

Green House

Love Garden Peas

Vertical Growing - Strawberries 

Garden Baby Salad Box 

Celery,..... Yum!

Comfrey- A wonderful bone healer 

Shallots

Red Ranger Chicks.  

Salad from the green house 

Tea time bright and early this morning with a  mountain view 

What’s the point of a homemade, natural egg dye for Easter festivities? While most conventional dyes are boasted as non-toxic, many food-grade, FDA approved dyes are made with toxins such as coal, tar, and other petroleum based products.  This can be a huge issue for anyone's health and there are some who would react violently to these ingredients.  When you have just gone out of your  way to purchase organic eggs for your family, these harsh dyes can be an eco-friendly buzz kill.

Bluish-Gray
Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water, bring to room temperature, and remove blueberries.

Blue
Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.

Jade Green
Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Green-Yellow
Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Orange
Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Red-Orange
Stir 2 Tbsp. paprika into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Yellow
Rich yellow: Simmer 4 oz. chopped carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. 
Mustard-yellow: Stir 2 Tbsp. turmeric into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar. 
Various shades: Steep 4 bags of chamomile or green tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.
Pale yellow: Chop 4 oz. goldenrod and simmer in 2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Faint yellow: Simmer the peels of 6 oranges in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. vinegar.

Brown-Gold
Simmer 2 Tbsp. dill seed in 1 cup water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Brown
Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.

Pink
Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.

Lavender
Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

More Information On Egg Dyeing From Mama Roots: 

http://www.mamaroots.com/my_weblog/2011/04/in-the-shopping-cart.html?fb_action_ids=384843484956475&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=timeline_og&action_object_map=%7B%22384843484956475%22%3A10151521683795752%7D&action_type_map=%7B%22384843484956475%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Frontier Natural Egg Dyeing:

 http://www.frontiercoop.com/learn/hs_naturaleggdyeing.php

7 Herb Long Life Soup

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/7-herb-long-life-soup

Brainpower Seasoning Sprinkle 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/brainpower-seasoning-sprinkle

Herb Flavored Oils

 http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/herb-flavored-oil

Summer cleansing and Fortifying 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/summer-cleansing-and-fortifying-salad

Healthy Salad Dressings 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/healthy-salad-dressings

Fire Cider 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/fire-cider

Energizing Bone Broth

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/bone-broth

Rejuvenating Teas

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/rejuvenating-teas

Strengthening The Immune System

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/strengthening-the-immune-system

Cold Care

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gypsy-cold-care-1

 There is a plague going on in America, food allergies are on the rise

Between the GMO foods, package processed foods and eating to much of the same thing we have created a society that is reacting to food.  Food allergies are on the rise. 

Food allergies are your bodies way of shutting down to the specific foods that your body does not want you to ingest anymore.  Your body is protecting you and also telling you ( if you are listening) that you need different healthy foods, a variety of nutrient dense, local, seasonal eating, no spray foods. Sadly,  most Americans do not know what real food is anymore.  They have been taught to be busy, and eat on the go.  Eating the on the go creates a situation where you are eating the same thing all the time and if you are not being careful you are filling up on GMO Foods.  

When my dad died in 1979,  as a young girl I thought for sure, as I was growing up, that sickness would become less.  I have also lost my mom.   It is the year 2013 and we have more cancer, more disease, more sickness.  It just blows my mind, that this has become worse and supposedly we have better technology?  This mind blowing lesson for me has been my push in life to seek knowledge about health, true health not what the main stream media tells you. My mom listened to the main stream media and western medicine, she is now ashes thrown to the wind.  

The knowledge about our food is there, and it is simple.  Be Simple.  Simple ingredients, no scientific additives, no artificial colors, no artificial ingredients, no gmo food, learn to cook with simple ingredients with beautiful herbs and fresh food.  Simple, fresh, local seasonal food.  

Simple may not be fast. Simple is not a drive through, but a drive through fast food life will get you faster to the emergency room, faster to diabetes,  faster to high blood pressure, faster to arthritis, faster to cancer, and faster to fat.   

Think about this,  you can be pretty sure that  the great Greek doctor and philosopher, Hippocrates, wasn't referring to breakfast at Shari's, snacks from Nabisco   Doritos for lunch or dinner from McDonald's  when he suggested we let our food be our medicine. Rather, he implied eating simply and naturally, so that we nurture our bodies with an array of vitamins, minerals, proteins and fibers found in a well-balanced unprocessed diet. When we eat clean whole foods, we’re not only staying healthy by consuming vital nutrients, but we're also staying healthy by avoiding potentially harmful food additives and GMO foods.

Note on the GMO Food, I really do not want to call GMO foods a food, because they are technically not a food anymore because science has changed its DNA structure from a food to a chemical.   Example:,  GMO Corn is patented at the US patent office.  You can't patent food, but,  GMO Corn is not a food because  it's DNA structure has been changed and  is now  a pesticide  therefore that company owns it, patent's it and the GMO corn and seed is only owned by the creator, the company.  Monsanto ( I like to call them Monsatan) was one of the first to do this.  There are a lot of other bio-tech companies out there now, like, sygentia, dow, pioneer etc.  I can't tell you enough how important it is to avoid and not eat any GMO Food, Period... Never.... Let't put it this way, if you are eating foods that are GMO, you are eating something that is listed at the US patent office as a chemical.  Yuck! 

GMO Foods and food additives are Foreign to your body, therefore it creates dis-ease. .... Inflammation, ..... sickness, .... When there is something foreign being put in your body your body has to fight.  Think of it this way.  Have you ever got a wood splinter, tip of a thorn or a blackberry thorn tip in your finger?  It is stuck under your skin and you can not get it out with the tweezers?  What does your body do to get the FOREIGN object out?  It starts puss up and tries to  push it out.  Now think about what it is like for the inside of your body when you are putting FOREIGN substances in it.  

Food Cravings

The foods you crave are oftentimes the foods that cause you the most trouble, . Common food cravings are milk, ice cream, pasta or bread.

Do You Have A Food Allergy? 

 Questions that can help you determine whether or not you might have a food sensitivity or allergy are:

Do you experience bloating after meals, gas, frequent belching, or any kind of digestive problems?

Do you have chronic constipation or diarrhea?

Do you have a stuffy nose after meals?

Do you have low energy or feel drowsy after eating?

Do you have frequent headaches or migraines?

Does anyone in your family have food allergies?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may want to investigate further.

The Elimination Diet 

There are a few food eating plans out there that can help you find our what your food allergies are.  This method is a cheaper way of doing it.  It also teaches you how to listen to your body.  But, remember what I said up above.  First look at your food as being simple, what is in the food you are eating?   Second ask your self the questions up above and remember many people eat the same foods every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation, (like eating seasonal) and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food.  I gave a link to a site, that I think does a  pretty good job with The Elimination Diet.  They have a lot good recipes and you can download information.  I am very familiar with this diet so if you need help please just ask.   Again, if you answered yes to any of the above questions  you could possibly have a food allergy.   So either do The Elimination Diet or find a Naturopathic Doctor that does the Vega Testing   

The Elimination Diet

http://wholelifenutrition.net/elimination-diet

Vega Testing Information:

http://www.getwellhere.com/pdf/vega-testing.pdf

Easier Method Of Elimination:  

These are the most common Food Allergies:  Tomatoes, dairy, wheat, corn, soy, potato, peanuts, tree nuts, sea food and citrus.  Take all of these out of your diet for 30 days.......................

Then introduce them one at a time in 3 to 5 day increments.  If you get any bloating, acid refux, digestion problems, arthritis flares up, headaches, migraines  mood swings, PMS, stuffy nose or tiredness.  Then that food is not for you. 

Simple Elimination Diet: 

Take wheat and dairy out for thirty days.  Then introduce them one at a time in 3 to 5 day increments

Dr. Mercola on Food Allergies: 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/14/why-are-there-so-many-food-allergies-now.aspx

Food Additives To Avoid: 

http://www.organicauthority.com/health/are-you-allergic-to-food-additives.html

Food Inc, Documentary: Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0