From a young age, children benefit from gathering the knowledge and skills necessary to raise plants and develop an organic garden. In earlier times, a significant percentage of people depended on their own abilities to provide sufficient food for their families. While subsistence agriculture is still a factor in many regions of poor and developing nations, the emphasis has now shifted toward large scale commercial plantations. Such enterprises are dominated by limited numbers of high demand crops which are largely processed with the assistance of mechanised technologies. For the last century, sociologists have explained the importance of guardianship in relation to food, development, and sustainability. By establishing guardianship over any...

The life sustaining ability of soil is best understood by appreciating the complex cycles of decay and erosion. Its natural formation occurs in a series of layers starting at the surface but gradating down to the deepest bedrock. The surface layer is where active decomposition begins. Exposure to atmospheric elements, surface warmth and moisture helps to break organic matter into loose mulch like material. At the microscopic level, this layer is teeming with a diversity of bacterial, fungal and algal life forms. In combination with larger organisms like beetles and worms they provide the additional recycling activity to enable minerals and nutrients to be retrieved from the decaying organic matter and returned to the soil. Another family of...

In today’s fast paced world, organic gardening provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature and to appreciate simple but intense pleasures. There’s nothing to beat the aroma of garden fresh herbs or the taste of a peach taken directly from a tree that’s never been sprayed with dangerous synthetic chemicals. Organically grown fruit and vegetables taste better and are safer to eat than other produce. Most commercially grown crops are represented by varieties that demonstrate high yield potential. Taste and nutritional value can be sacrificed to other requirements such as uniformity of size, appearance, and resistance to spoilage. With the current standard of presentation for supermarket produce, the appearance of some organically...

Have you ever considered growing your own sprouts? If you’re not already growing sprouts, there’s a good chance someone you know, whether a neighbour, relative or friend, is already benefiting from this wonderful activity. Here are ten reasons why rearing sprouts is becoming an increasingly popular activity for organic consumers and others who take their health seriously: Sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals - During sprouting, the vitamin content of some seeds increases from 100% to 1000%. Minerals become available to the body in a form capable of being readily assimilated. Sprouts can be grown anywhere and at any time of year - It doesn’t matter where you’re living, whether in Australia, Canada or Ireland, sprouts...

Making your own juice from fresh organic ingredients has to be one of the healthiest lifestyle decisions anyone can make. I’ve been making fresh juice for about 20 years now. Initially, I started my routine morning juicing ritual as a means of ensuring my two children, who weren’t great eaters at the time, had access to the all-important vitamin and mineral nutrition contained in organically-reared plant matter. Although the eating habits of my children are no longer the primary motivation for the time I spend each morning preparing fresh juice, there are still some wonderful benefits that encourage me to continue making and enjoying fresh organic juice. For those of you who’ve never made fresh juice I invite you to consider the many benefits...

You can’t beat good quality fruit bread made with wholesome organic ingredients. Bread that’s lush with plump dried organic fruit and baked to perfection is nearly everyone’s favourite mid-morning snack in my house. When I’m baking, the aroma from this fruit bread permeates every corner of the house and is enough to bring everyone into the kitchen to find out what’s going on. What’s that good smell? And then of course, “Who’s having the first slice?” plays out. It’s a running joke in my house. Drawing on the famous comedy sketch, “Who’s on first base?”, our very own version takes place just before I cut the first slice of fruit bread. Laughter and mirth follow. But the funniest thing of all is that I don’t even remember...

Is your family shampoo potentially harmful? Let’s begin by considering the three compounds mentioned previously. These were methylisothiazoline, dimethicone, and the grouping generally described as parabens. Methylisothiazoline is sometimes included in shampoo and personal hygiene products to limit the potential for microbial contamination in water based solutions. Like many artificial preservatives, methylisothiazoline appears to disrupt the biological integrity of experimental animal subjects. The most alarming of these was the finding that prenatal exposure in laboratory rats resulted in disorientation and destruction of immature nerve cells. This research raised the possibility that the neural development of unborn human babies might...

You may have noticed earlier comments surrounding the health risks associated with conventional cosmetic and personal hygiene products. These include a number of leading brand shampoos and hair treatments which continue to include clearly suspect ingredients like methylisothiazoline, dimethicone, and parabens. In addition to the quantities which can be absorbed through the skin during application, some of the residual traces left after rinsing will attach themselves to the drying hair follicle. Once again these may be absorbed into the system, particularly during exercise and physical activities when the body temperature rises and pores become increasingly active. A significant number of medical health professionals will readily concede the...

It’s fast approaching the time of year when grandparents, police officers, and neighbors stock up on those candy treats which contribute to the traditional festivities of Halloween. When we were little, our favourite treats were the brightly coloured toffee apples and the candied popcorn which came in brown paper bags. The goblins of today are just as likely to receive wholesome muesli bars, trade fair chocolates, or one of the organically certified candy products now appealing to health conscious parents. Organic candy has been around for several decades but has only recently become a mainstream item. A few years ago, you had to search the internet for limited supplies of organic candy. Dealing with small-scale manufacturers and the lack...

My husband and I both work long hours in demanding environments. At the end of each day there’s nothing so relaxing as the moments we spend in our garden. The summer months of extended daylight enable us to enjoy the visual beauty of our shrubs, trees, and flowers. As the sun recedes, we find ourselves reluctant to retreat from our oasis of calm. So we frequently extend our stay beneath the moonlight and stars. This is the quietest reverie of subtle shapes and hidden dreams. Our senses are indulged by a myriad of tiny blossoms and their subtle perfumes which float in the breeze. We have friends who appreciate similar moments and have developed their own strategies for evening display. Here are some useful ideas for establishing a night...