Archive for November, 2010

All About Gardening Magazines – Some Of The Best

Posted on November 30th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Various garden magazines are readily available in the market. But would you like to know which stands out from the rest? Here are a selection of gardening magazines that anyone in love with his or her garden will appreciate.

 

COUNTRY GARDENS often showcases the more unusual gardens around the country. It introduces wonderful new ways to enjoy garden sights and even scents. It helps the avid gardener to create an eye-pleasing, fragrance – filled country garden.

 

This magazine has very useful advice on setting up and even caring for your garden. Every issue contains profiles of fascinating people and even their gardens, inspiration for gardens plus detailed garden plans. Best of all, it’s a trusted source of information that’s simple to understand. Every season carries a vast harvest of ideas to delight, motivate as well as guide any gardener.

 

How about a garden magazine for those who want to become a better gardener? FINE Gardening MAGAZINE from The Taunton Press brings you amazing design ideas, beneficial techniques, plus the know-how to get the best results from your garden endeavors.

 

In each issue you’ll find eye-opening bits of advice from the experts, detailed info on all types of plants and flowers, effective techniques as well as time-saving tips, straightforward tool reviews from editors plus readers and even planting suggestions for specific regions.

 

But for more intensive info on how to maintain a garden packed with style plus color, then you’ll want to read GARDEN DESIGN. This garden magazine brings out eye-popping photos, illustrations and even useful recommendations on how to create a picture-perfect garden. It is written and even designed for those who are passionate about their homes and also gardens. Garden Design is more than just a dig-in-the-dirt garden magazine; it’s for people who enjoy bringing in more aesthetic value for their particular homes through their own gardens.

 

Garden Design encourages you to create stylish outdoor living spaces and also rare gardens through cultivating rare breeds of plants, with updates on the best tools and also techniques. It contains magnificent photographs as well as articles that capture the imaginations of gardeners everywhere.

 

For passionate gardeners, HOLTICULTURE MAGAZINE is the ultimate guide to garden. The authoritative voice of gardeners,  Horticulture serves as an essential guide plus trusted friend, and is a main resource for serious gardeners from every corner of the country.

 

These magazines aim to instruct, inform, and also inspire serious home gardeners. There are garden magazines for beginners as well as expert gardeners. Discover or develop your green thumb with their own latest gardening techniques and also garden design details.

 

For Australian readers, there’s BURKE’S BACKYARD. Springing form a TV series of the same name, Burke’s Backyard focuses on gardening décor as well as the all-important garden makeovers that have become so popular.

 

YOUR GARDEN is another beauty, claiming the prestige of being Australia’s garden magazine, it usually features two or three popular flowers and even how best to grow them, using a wealth of tips and details on other plant, tools plus items for the garden.

 

Garden AUSTRALIA springs from the ABC’s feature of that name it features many great articles by garden experts and even often holds a free catalogue from among the larger nurseries.

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The End Of Fish

Posted on November 30th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Last week Whole Foods stunned the manufacturers of krill oil, “the new omega-3 wonder supplement,” by eliminating it from its 279 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. To their credit, Whole Foods believes the krill industry may be harming to the entire marine ecosystem by robbing seafood species of their basic food supply.

Not surprisingly, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) — the krill oil trade organization — was furious. They claimed “foul”! And they insisted that  the governing body that monitors krill fishing and fisheries, CCAMLR (short for the 25-nation Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) had approved their fisheries. To them, it’s just “not fair” that tree-huggers (or in this case, “fin friends”) are monitoring the impact of their exploitative practices on the oceans’ ecosystem. Hey, who needs regulation thse days, amyway?

Threatened species such as whales, penguins and seals depend on krill as their primary food supply. And it is krill which bestow the special health and healing benefits to fish that are rich in omega-3sadd omega-3s to fish — including wild salmon, tuna, shrimp, anchovies and sardines, plus many others. These fish populations are on the decline in the areas where krill harvesting is most prolific. Whole Foods seems to believe there’s a connection. Me too.

The Newest “Miracle Food”

As krill becomes the latest aggressively marketed “miracle food” — and also harvested as a source of food for farmed fish — some conservationists worry that CCAMLR’s Scientific Committee is being targeted for “influence” by political and economic interests. “Consensus has not been reached on the approach for an initial organization of krill catch limits,” CCAMLR states. Some member nations such as Korea and Japan consistently oppose putting scientific observers on krill fishing vessels. Does something smell fishy here? The over-fishing of krill is pulling the rug out from under all the fish species that depend on it as their basic food supply.

Hat’s off to Whole Foods for recognizing this — and for not joining in the latest marketing free-for-all. I’m shocked that people I respect (such as Dr. Joseph Mercola, among others) are selling krill oil without considering its environmental impact. Shame on them!

Ultimately, “Sustainability” Is About the Entire Life Cycle

“Sustainable” can have different meanings depending on who you are. In terms of food, Nature ultimately decides what is sustainable so I like the definition “sensibly far-sighted.” By using its market power, Whole Foods has clearly decided that krill harvesting is not “sensibly far-sighted.” After researching this in depth, I have to agree with them.

What’s So Good About Krill?

There is no denying the nutritional value of krill. This tiny shrimp-like creature has 300 times the antioxidant power of vitamin C and E, plus 48 times the essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, as other seafood. (This is because omega-3-rich seafood derives their EPA and DHA directly from krill). Numerous studies show that these omega-3 fats fight inflammation, the root cause of most chronic diseases. For a thorough look at the value of fatty acids and health go to: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/omega3fattyacidsandhealth.asp.

Seafood May Soon Be an Unsustainable Food Source

As I wrote last week, BP’s pollution of the Gulf of Mexico and the powerful Gulf Stream will likely contaminate the global seafood supply. Many impartial experts characterize the deterioration which will result as “dire.”

Dead sea turtles and other creatures are already washing ashore, an ominous sign of the death toll taking place in deeper waters. And it’s not just the oil. BP is using 100,000 gallons of chemical dispersants, further poisoning ocean life for generations to come.

The total ecological consequences of this catastrophe won’t be known for a while. But one reality is surfacing: Seafood in the near future may be too toxic to eat.

Because huge economic interests are at stake, I worry that “official” pronouncements will condone eating seafood “in moderation,” even though it may be contaminated and dangerous. This is like the Chinese government’s “blue sky days” when Beijing residents are given the all-clear to venture outside, even though air pollution levels are intolerably toxic — just not as bad as usual. I’m betting this will happen with coming “fish advisory warnings.” My advice is to buy and freeze as much fish as you can afford now — because the time is at hand when fish will be toxic, regardless of what the government says.

What Can You Do Now?

Hold your politicians’ feet to the fire. For example, Shell Oil is preparing to drill in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi Seas this summer. The company says they are “committed to zero-harmful discharge.” Yet these waters are furiously turbulent most of the time. We are asking for another BP disaster up there. Express your outrage to your local representative — and contact Secretary of the Interior Salazar. who will be making the decision about Shell’s permit to drill by May 26.

But you can do more. On the positive side, continue purchasing local, organically-raised food. A sensible, far-sighted view of healthy, sustainable food means:

Buy organic. Organically-grown foods are known to be higher in all nutrients and they don’t depend on huge-carbon-footprint agricultural practices or toxic pesticides and fertilizers. The demand for this type of food is greater than ever. Right now organics amount to about 5% of US food sales. Make a commitment to put at least 5% (or more!) of organic products in your shopping cart every time you go to market. It’s simple economics: The more you buy organics, the more they will become available — and the lower their price will drop. More growers will be attracted to supplying this hot new market.

Support your local farmers’ market. Even if local growers aren’t fully organic and certified yet, their food still will be healthier. Conventional produce from California, Florida and foreign countries can lose up to 45% of their nutrients in transit between farm and table. Consider this when you purchase fruit from Argentina or greens from across the country. If you buy seasonally and freeze the surplus, you’ll sustain a nutrient-rich diet.

Eat grass-fed animal products. These contain much higher levels of omega-3 fats than feed-lot animals. Consider adding their organ meats to your diets, too. They are very high in essential fatty acids, as are eggs and other dairy products. Otherwise, be sure to buy wild-caught seafood only (also available as canned).

Investigate the Co-op Trade Initiative. This is an organization in the Southwest based on regional distribution centers called “food-sheds” in a play on the word and concept of watersheds. This concept expands markets for small farmers and availability of local foods for consumers. Consider starting or joining one in your region.

Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group. This is a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” of his produce to the public. This is typically a box of vegetables, but other farm products such as honey may be included. Typically, the member receives a box, bag or basket of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. CSAs are offered throughout the US. To find one in your area, go to http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Advantages for farmers: They “sell” the food in advance, long before their 16-hour days in the field begin. They receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm’s cash flow. And they get to know the people who eat the food they grow.

Advantages for consumers: You’ll be developing a relationship with the farmer who grows your food. You receive fresh food regularly, with all the flavor and nutrition, and a tiny carbon footprint. The farmer introduces you to new vegetables and sometimes new ways of cooking. And you usually get to visit the farm during the season so your kids and grandchildren learn to love the food from “their” farm — even unfamiliar veggies.

Shop with sustainability in mind. The most important point about sustainability is this: There is no food choice that doesn’t have a consequence, and you can make a difference by keeping your food closer to home. A krill oil capsule might be extraordinarily healthy — but before rushing out to purchase any trendy “health” product, consider the cost to the planet, especially the endangered sustainability of the oceans’ ecology and its long-term food supply, too.

If humans are to survive as a specie, we must replace the “me first” and “profit now” mentality that is so predominant and seductive today (think Wall Street, the banking industry and Big Oil) in favor of the values that will foster a clean, diverse world for all our children.

You hold the power every time you visit the supermarket or your local farmer’s market. To find one in your area, visit the Farmer’s Market Finder on our Home Page at www.myhealingkitchen.com.

Send me your ideas and solutions at our forum.

On The Net Gardening Brochures With Your Disposable

Posted on November 30th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Are you searching for garden brochures? What kind of garden and these plants do you prefer to read about? You will find there’s wide selection available on-line. Here’s a few website pages that comes with gardening brochures. Look at URL to view if they’re totally free or perhaps not.

1. www.jacksonsnurseries.co.uk

Together with nursery facilities, Jackson Nurseries give landscape creating, ground creating and wholesale these plants from wholesale prices.

2. www.mzbulb.com

Should you be looking for flower bulbs, McClure as well as Zimmerman have each plus every variety. There is a no fuss web site navigation that allows interested clients to very easily order garden catalogs.

3. www.gardennursery.com

In company for over 50 years, Nichols Garden Nursery has an on the web catalogue unit offering seeds and plants. Their 76 page free gardening brochure might be ordered by filling out their brochure request form on the web.

four. www.gurneys.com

Gurneys give super deals like buy one, acquire one totally free. In addition they have got a no-risk guarantee as well as a scheduled shipping of orders is it possible to categories of these plants, i.e., roses, herbal plants, bushes, plus bonsai trees, tender annuals, and all other these plants and bulbs.

5. www.homeharvest.com

House Harvest Garden Supply offers alternative garden products, i.e., organic fertilizers, hydroponics, natural insect controls, container, hobby greenhouse, propagation and even irrigation supplies, indoor plant grow lights and also other rare gardening supplies. They offer an on-line catalogue for every gardening enthusiast.

6. www.jacksonandperkins.com

Jackson as well as Perkins are acknowledged to be one of the best American garden experts. They may be calling other garden aficionados through their particular websites, offering gardening items through their catalogue. They offer a wide range of plants – from new award-winning flowers plus simple to grow perennials, to special outdoor decor. Flowering gifts may also be sent directly to your friends by ordering from their particular site.

7. www.thegardenwindow.com

This website provides an on the web brochure that are experts in imported Chinese tree peonies (from Mainland, China).

While free online brochures could be very good source of gardening produce information, you will also be deluged which has a flood of promotion about other items.

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Earthquake Basics

Posted on November 29th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Recent irresponsible human conduct towards the environment has left our earth more vulnerable to many natural catastrophes. With the disruption of the ecological balance, earthquakes as well as other catastrophes have now become common place. Earthquake in particular, is a common disaster which is affecting diverse world regions and causing many deaths at regular intervals. Thus, given the regularity of this phenomenon, it is only wise to prepare well ahead of time for the same.

When getting ready for an earthquake, there’s no way that you can miss out on a first aid kit. Injuries cant wait and ought to be addressed right away. But, your mediocre first aid kit won’t do when the idea is to get ready for an earthquake. The usual first aid kits that comprise of only band aids and gauzes isn’t what you require here. Many people like to keep even their beloved acne treatments like the Exposed Skin care System in their medicine cabinet but that is not something that you will require at the time of the earthquake.

Rather, you need a ‘real’ first aid which will help you till the time the ambulance reaches you. Ideally, the first aid kit should include trauma dressings, CPR barrier mask, 4X4 gauze dressings, gauze rolls, paramedic scissors and the like. In case, you’re struggling from high blood pressure, ensure that you have your blood pressure medications too as your BP is likely to shoot up at the onset of an earthquake.

Another thing which you would need to prepare for an earthquake is the utility shutoff tool. It is significant that you control your water meters and the gas to minimize the damage. Leaks in gas and water are common after an earthquake. These leaks could result in fires and explosions if not controlled on time. Check the gas meter dials to see if there is a leak. You may also use a non sparking metal tool to turn off both- the gas and water meters.

Have stored water ready. You may not require water in the very next hour after an earthquake. But, there’s a strong possibility that you might be trapped for a number of days following an earthquake. In such a situation, having water accumulated will prove to be of great help. Make sure that you store sufficient water. Ideally, you would need one gallon of water per person per day.

In case you’ve the money, you may even contemplate the choice of hiring a private aircraft as a measure of disaster preparedness. But, just if the idea looks to be a little impractical, following the above mentioned tips will be a brilliant idea.

Government quangos to be hit hard

Posted on November 29th, 2010 by  |  Comments Off

Quangos may not be the ideal acronym in the history of UK governments but that did nothing to stop them from becoming very popular with the Labour government. Quango means “quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations”, and right now there are 679 in the UK.

However, if the Public Bodies Bill is put through parliament and turns into legislation that amount could come right down. The BBC has reported that about 192 quangos are set to be ended entirely and 118 will be merged to reduce costs. The coalition government has researched approximately 901 bodies including 222 non-quango statutory bodies, prior to the decision of what has to be cut and what has to be merged.

The public service sector is a major part of the UK economy. The prior labour government had a lot of belief in quangos and regarded them an essential component to reforming and modernising the country and economy. In places like the north east of England quangos created a great deal of jobs and various opportunities for many people and businesses. Still in tough economic times, many have questioned the present government’s policy of cutting down spending and therefore are seriously concerned about the impact this will have in areas such as Newcastle.

The last government did have in place a plan to gradually reduce the amount of quangos, but because of the state of public finances the coalition government wants the process to be sped up. At the moment it’s unclear just how much of a saving the cuts to quangos will make. The messages from the government are actually more tightly focused on improving state accountability and visibility.

Legal experts and west London lawyers alike, however, have questioned the legality of the Public Bodies Bill. It has been argued by some that the Public Bodies Bill would be a direct violation of the constitution because is bypasses parliament which would give ministers the ability to change, transfer or abolish these public bodies.

Before you go calling up your west London solicitor it is important to look at this in a wider context. The UK is not the only country in the world to have such organisations. There are in fact forty seven EU quangos and the EU hopes to increase this to fifty two and get an 8 per cent rise in the Brussels quango budget.

When Labour was in government the number of quangos grew very quickly and it is possible their early success and popularity, especially in areas such as the north east masked the potential long term difficulties. There are those who argue that quangos have been nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money, only weakening the private sector and inflating the public sector.

The challenge the government faces is how to significantly reduce the number of quangos without damaging vulnerable communities which previously depended on them. Sadly there is no easy or quick solution.