Category: Organic gardening

How you can go to ‘pot’ and live more happily

Going to 'pot'

Gardening is good for you.Yes, its official! Go potting and help your wellness.Gardening could soon be prescribed by your doctor if you are feeling depressed and under the weather.

Potting plants rather than popping pills may soon be the order of the day to deal with depression and related illnesses, with consequential health benefits to the patient ,and significant financial benefit to the UK National Health Service budget.

Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and a long time  advocate of gardening as an important alternative therapeutic remedy for depression,has recently confirmed he is strongly in favour of gardening courses being used as an alternative to medicines in many cases. This was said by him recently in the context of greater choice likely to be made available under health reforms going through the UK Parliament.

Whether or not the NHS through the GPs support this development,  the message from many quarters – Alan Titchmarsh is reported very keen on this-is : gardening is good for you , and it is free! You can also catch a news report from last year on gardening courses to help beat depression  from the Daily Mirror.

 

 

 

 

What you may not know about your health


  • What you may not know about your health
  • How to avoid losing your garden plants to disease
  • Could you write your autobiography?

This week we look at websites providing information on health and related matters. Are they any good? Well, although not infallible, below are three tips on testing the quality of the sites you are accessing.

We also look at a potential problem in the garden. Yes, we are looking at the spectre of disease spreading to our plants this year. Good simple gardening habits may chase this one away.

Ever thought of writing your autobiography? Oh, I see, only the famous qualify for a worthwhile level of readership? Do read on.

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What you may not know about your health

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What you may not know about your health, you may not find out on the internet. The internet is an amazing source of information on health related matters, but it is a place of misleading and downright wrong information for the unwary.

Apart from the erroneous stuff there can be presentation of information that, taken out of context and interpreted by the medically untrained, is utterly scary. So to avoid undue anxiety, you should at least follow the following three search tips:

1.    To identify the seriously informed and balanced treatment of content from the purely frightening and the commercially exploitative, look out for domain names that include endings like .org, .gov ,.edu , or.ac. These names indicate that the site is an academic one, perhaps run by a charity; and is probably a not -for-profit operation.

2.    Search for appropriate websites using words which will bring you a result that is nearest to what you are looking for specifically. For improved relevancy enclose your search words in inverted commas, and be as specific as possible, e.g. “rheumatoid arthritis”, rather than “arthritis” which will throw-up many  more results than you  need.

3.    Lastly, when you access a site look for the Information Standard mark which certifies its reliability.http://www.theinformationstandard.org

For a list of 10 health sites certified by the Information Standard go to the new Your Health page athttp://www.the60life.com/?page_id=579

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How to avoid losing your garden plants to disease

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Here are three tips to help keep your plants healthy and free of disease:

1. Don’t water from the top of the plants. Fungus loves moisture. If
you wet your leaves and stems, you’re just encouraging fungal growth.
It’s better to use a soaker hose so your plants aren’t getting wet.

2. Don’t water at night, especially if it’s humid. Watering at night
keeps things moist for longer. This might be ok if you live in the
desert, but it’s a bad thing if you live where it’s humid. As such
water during the day to give your plant leaves and stems a chance
to dry out. Doing so helps prevent fungal disease.

3. Do clean your tools. Some plant diseases are catchy, like a virus.
You can prevent the spread of disease by frequently cleaning your
tools (and even your shoes) as you tend to your garden.

For a fre.e Organic Gardening Academy e-course go tohttp://www.growingorganicnow.com

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Could You Write Your Autobiography?

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Here’s a writing project with a difference. Could you write your own autobiography?

From laterlife.com:

“Now you can receive expert guidance from published author Jackie Sherman who has been running “Writing your Autobiography” courses since 2008 and for the first time is offering a home-based course for Laterlife visitors with personal feedback at the end of every module.

  • Do you regret not knowing more about your parents or grandparents and don’t want your descendants to feel the same way?
  • Do you have stories in your head that you really want to share?
  • Have you been asked by family or friends to write your memoirs but keep putting it off?
  • Do you want to be a writer but don’t know what to write about, or wonder if you will be good enough?

Or

  • Do you know someone else who is always talking about their life but needs encouragement to put their story down on paper?”

You can check-out the home-based course at

http://www.laterlife.com/laterlife-writing-your-autobiography.htm

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, grab that e-course from The Organic Garden Academy which is available to you now, without charge, athttp://www.growingorganicnow.com

Back soon…

Do remember you can pick-up more regular tips and news athttp://the60life.com

Yours,

Mike Paterson,

The 60Life Weekly

[email protected]

How to plan a herb garden

Here are some herbs you may consider:
•Rosemary
•Basil
•Oregano
•Mint
•Chives
•Tarragon
•Sage
•Coriander
•Dill
•Borage
•Caraway
Actually, there’s a good chance that you don’t need an entire garden devoted to your herbs. If you’re companion planting (such as when you plant certain herbs to repel pests or attract beneficial insects), then plant your herbs among your vegetables or flowers.

Likewise, if you’re just planting a few herbs for kitchen use, you can mix them into your regular flower or vegetable gardens. Some people like to put their herbs on the borders of their gardens (so that they’re easily accessible).

Still other people prefer to create a small herb garden and/or just grow a few herbs in pots on the patios or window sills. Again, this works if you just need a few fresh herbs for kitchen use or decorative purposes. However, if you plan to freeze or dry herbs – or if you make potpourri, then you’ll want to carve out more space in your garden for more herbs.

Here are other factors to consider when you design your herb garden:

•Sunlight: Like many plants, most herbs prefer sunlight. Some herbs do ok in partial sun, though you may find that they grow more slowly under these conditions. Herbs don’t tend to do well in shaded areas, however, so don’t plant them under trees or other structures or under tall plants.
•Accessibility: If you plan to use fresh herbs in the kitchen, then be sure to plant them someplace where it’s easy to reach the plant and snip the leaves. You may also want to put them close to your kitchen.
•Aroma: Some herbs are very aromatic. If you enjoy these aromas, then be sure to plant your herbs in a place where you’re more likely to enjoy the scents, such as near your patio or deck.
•Annuals versus perennials: Know whether the herbs you’re planting or annuals or perennials. The perennials will come back year after year. And each year they’ll likely grow a little more (meaning they should have extra space in the beginning).
•Space requirements: Be sure to read the instructions and spacing requirements on the packaging of the herbs you’d like to plant. Certain herbs spread out quickly and thus need a lot of room.
•Know your herbs: Be sure to do research on your favorite herbs to find out which ones do not grow well together. If you’re planting your herbs among other flowers or vegetables, do note that some herbs don’t work well alongside other plants. For example, carrots and dill shouldn’t be planted near each other.
Again, research is key. Take time to learn about the herbs you intend to plant, plan your gardens ahead of time, and you’ll enjoy a great herb “harvest” this year!

Excerpt from The Organic Gardening Academy at growingorganicnow.com