by Ingrid Justick:

Vol. 26, No. 2

When we are working in our gardens, we are Nature ourselves, looking after and tending Nature, and that not very complex act, somehow, leaves us not only physically strengthened, but takes on a spiritual and healing overtone.  We experience many positive effects when we garden, or just spend time in there.  Experts agree:

♥   An hour in the garden is equal to one hour of meditation for reducing blood pressure.

♥  Physiologists report heightened muscle relaxation, slower breathing and increased endorphin production among gardeners.

♥  Psychologists say self-esteem, patience and generosity are boosted when people garden.

Simply stated:  If you want to increase your joyful feeling in yourself – find a garden.  The peace and serenity it offers are un-measureable!  Tending plants teaches us about the true rhythm of life – that it cannot be forced, only nurtured, we just work the soil and let Nature do its own magic.

Herbal plants have a physiological influence on gardeners, the smell of Lavender affects the limbic system of the brain, it calms. Mint relaxes. If we observe all the signs of Nature, we find that it offers us everything at the time our bodies are in need.  “Dandelion greens” are a Spring tonic that invigorate and strengthen all systems to help to purify our body after a long winter of rich foods.

Its slightly bitter taste increases “bile flow,” which enhances liver function and eliminates harmful toxins in the blood stream. Rosemary, according to Dr. James Duke, is a very powerful memory-enhancer. It contains cineole, a central nervous system stimulant.  Chamomile and Lemon Balm are relaxing and sedative.

So if we want to get in touch with our kinder, gentler self, the plant kingdom can help.  The interconnectedness of Nature can benefit us in so many positive ways – if we choose to be a part of it!

While we are gardening – outdoors or indoors – we can 
honor our Earth by treating it with Love!

For environmentally friendly information call: 732-922-2935

by Ingrid Justick:

Vol. 26, No. 1

Global warming is probably the greatest threat our earth has to face. Each of us can have a positive impact on the production of greenhouse gasses. And if we act together in the following minor ways, the cumulative effect will be dramatic. So much of the way we live our lives is wasteful or thoughtless. It takes nothing to switch off a lamp, unplug a phone charger, take a shorter shower, skip the pre-wash cycle on the dishwasher, walk instead of drive. Some suggestions that follow involve a little more effort: recycling, fixing leaky faucets and toilets, buying a fuel-efficient car, insulating your home, purchasing only appliance and electronics with the Energy Star certification.

Energy Star certified appliances and electronics: An Energy Star qualified washing machine uses 50% less energy and could reduce your utility bill by $110 annually. Wash your clothes in cold water with organic enzyme-based cleaning products, which do not pollute our groundwater.

Paint: Most paint is made from petrochemicals and its manufacturing process creates 10 times its own weight in toxic waste. It also releases volatile organic components (VOCs) that threaten our health. Best alternatives: natural paints made from plant oils and almost 100% degradable.

Food: Food is traveling farther than ever. The average American meal contains ingredients produced in five different countries. To reduce CO2 emissions from trucks, airplanes and cargo ships, purchase foods that are in season, organic and grown locally. Buy eggs in cardboard cartons; they are manufactured from recycled paper and are again recyclable. Styrofoam or plastic cartons are not biodegradable and their manufacturing produces harmful toxins. 

Save water: Fix leaky faucets and toilets. A steady faucet drip can waste 20 gallons of water per day. A leaky toilet wastes up to 100 gallons per day. By leaving the water running while you brush your teeth you waste 150 gallons of water per month. Turn your thermostat down 1 degree and your heating costs will decrease by 3 %.

Avoid disposable goods. In our country alone, we throw away 2.5 billion polystyrene cups every year, which wind up in landfills. Buy recycled or used products and you will save virgin materials, conserve energy and reduce landfill waste.

Avoid pesticides. Use natural methods of pest control. Use organic fertilizers. You can save 6 gallons of water every minute of watering by attaching a trigger nozzle to your garden hose, so that you use water only where it is needed.

Recycle your newspaper. There are 63 million newspapers printed each day in the U.S.  Of these, 44 million, or 63%, will be thrown away. Recycling just the Sunday paper would save more than half a million trees each week.

Buy a hybrid car. These cars drive 50 miles per gallon; a typical S.U.V. travels only 15 MPG.

The continued rise in carbon emissions is a matter of individual concern, each of us can and should do something, however small, to protect our Earth.

For environmentally friendly information call: 732-922-2935

by Ingrid Justick:

Vol. 25, No. 5

Toxic elements and energy-inefficient practices within our own homes negatively impact not only the health of our bodies, but of the earth, too. A few simple, inexpensive changes can make a significant difference in the well-being of our planet and our homes.

Since we spend almost 90% of our time indoors, breathing easy can be a matter of concern. Indoor levels of many pollutants are 25 to 100 times higher than those outdoors. In our indoor air, we find pet-dander, pollen, and chemicals from pesticides, cleaning products, paints, treated carpets and wood, that cause allergies, asthma and neurological damage. Making a few basic adjustments can clear the air considerably:

• Open your windows for at least 10 minutes every day.
• If your water is so heavily chlorinated that you can smell the chlorine, open your bathroom window or turn on the exhaust fan whenever you are taking a shower. Airborne chlorine is a potential carcinogen at high levels.
• Ventilate when using gas or wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, which produce harmful gasses (including carbon-monoxide.)
• Run your kitchen exhaust fan (it should ventilate to the outside) when using your gas appliances.
• Vacuum at least twice a week using a unit with a high-efficient-particulate air filter to eliminate dust and all those contaminants that accumulate in it.
• Use green housecleaning practices. Many indoor pollutants come from household cleaning products. So please use environmentally friendly cleaning alternatives.
• For clothes that need dry cleaning, find a wet cleaner. Many dry cleaners use perchloethylene, a chemical shown to cause cancer in animals. If you cannot find a natural wet or green cleaner, remove the plastic bag from your traditionally treated garment and hang it outdoors for a few hours, before hanging it in a closet.
• Avoid gas-emitting products, including paints, sealants, furniture made from pressed wood and wall-to-wall carpeting made with products containing formaldehyde. This toxic chemical off-gasses into the air. Open windows when applying paint or sealers. If this is not possible, place a bowl filled with white vinegar in the center of the room to absorb the toxins.
• Avoid commercial air fresheners, which can release chemical toxins and airway irritants, such as dichlorobenzenes and xylene. Instead, use natural air fresheners like Ecco Mist, available at health food stores. Their Lavender Mist removes smoke, cooking and pet odors. Sprayed on your bed linens at night, it relaxes and soothes your emotions. It also is known to combat germs and boost immunity. It is used to disinfect hospitals.
• Grow indoor plants. Plants are not only nature’s air filters, but this connection to nature can have other health benefits, like improving moods and lowering stress levels.

Please establish living patterns that benefit and sustain all elements of life.

For environmentally friendly information call: 732-922-2935

by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 4

This is an excellent time to step back and take a look at how your organic garden did grow this season. Do your plants look as healthy as you expected them to be? Take photographs of your plants each year. This winter, when you are planning next year’s garden, reach for the photos and you will be quite surprised on how much you accomplished.

Most trees, lawns and spring-blooming shrubs grow better if you plant them in the fall in well-prepared organic soil. Top growth is less active, ground water more plentiful and tiny roots become strong, storing energy for the spring show of flowers and foliage. 

Now is an excellent time to plant fall-flowering perennials: graceful Japanese anemones, sweet autumn clematis, along with other cool weather plants such as asters, kale and pansies. Fragrant witch hazel will bloom even when snow is on the ground. Do not forget to plant your bulbs into the ground. They will announce spring’s arrival.

Autumn is the perfect time to prepare your organic spring vegetable garden. Clean your vegetable beds and turn the soil adding plenty of compost. Scatter spinach seeds that will mature and flourish in cool weather. These hardy greens grow throughout the fall, lie dormant under the snow and then start growing again in spring. Plant some Egyptian onions; they are perennial and you can harvest the green tips all winter. 

Herbs are among fall’s most rewarding plants. Cut them back and freeze or dry the clippings for winter enjoyment. Place organic leaf mulch around your perennial herbs, to protect from frost damage. 

Before moving your potted plants indoors, wash them well with an all-purpose natural spray that will eliminate most pests: mix two teaspoons of liquid dishwashing detergent with one cup of vegetable oil. Shake vigorously to emulsify then add one quart of water. Be certain to spray the undersides of leaves, too. Mealybugs and scales grow a tough coat of arms, so use a cotton swab and dab each bug mass with rubbing alcohol. Then once a month scrub leaves gently with soapy water to remove dust particles from the breathing holes. 

It is time to relax from our summer labors while we are anxiously awaiting the end of winter and the first sign of spring to start our organic gardens —  all over again. 

You must heal any wounds you give the Earth
and you must feed her to replace what you take from her. 
Only if you repay your debts will she continue to provide.

For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935.

Printing compliments of The Atlantic Club

by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 3

More than 70 million Americans will garden this year, spending billions of dollars to keep lawns green, and flowers and vegetables free from pests and diseases. Last year, stores sold more than $2 billion worth of pesticides. But as concerns about tainted groundwater and contaminated food increase, gardeners are seeking more healthful alternatives to toxic chemicals.

We have to learn to understand the delicate relationship we have with nature and to participate without disturbing this important balance. Attract beneficial insects and birds to your garden by planting flowers, supplying water, providing shelter and food. Over 95% of insects in your garden are either beneficial or do no harm.

By practicing organic gardening, we keep our plants healthy and pest resistant. Water is one of the most effective weapons against pests. Here are some eco-friendly insect sprays and tips:

Basic insect spray: Mix 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid (not detergent) and 1 gallon water. Add sulfur to kill mites and insects (see packaged directions for amount.)  Add 1-2 tablespoons baking soda to this basic recipe and you will kill fungi and insects.

Lemon spray: not only repels white flies and soft-bodied insects, it will also destroy fleas on your pet. Boil peels of 3 lemons in 1 quart water, cool, remove peels and place solution in spray bottle.

Hot pepper spray: repels insects and alienates black-spot on roses. Mix 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper, 1 quart water and 1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid.

Garlic spray:  Mix 1 quart water, 2 teaspoons garlic juice, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon liquid soap.

Tomato leaf spray: Mix 2 cups tomato leaves, 1 quart water. Bring to boil, cool, strain and add 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid.

Basic oil spray:  Mix 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid.

Fungus-killing spray:  Mix 2 tablespoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and 1 gallon water, or, mix 1 tablespoon garlic juice and 1 quart water.

Vinegar spray combats fungal disease and black-spot on roses. Mix 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 1 gallon water.

Banana peel repellent: place banana peels around roses, or other plants plagued by aphids. As a bonus, the potassium in the peels stimulates large blooms.

Peppermint: repels ants and peppermint tea is a good all-purpose insect spray.

Lemongrass: repels wasps. Place some lemon grass in a vase on your picnic table and wasps will stay away.

Plants that repel insects: borage, dill, onion, fennel, sage, thyme, parsley, garlic.

By gardening in an organic, chemical-free way, you give back to our environment that has given us so much.

 For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935.

Printing compliments of The Atlantic Club