Landlord Charged for Front Yard Garden - Tenant & Neighbors Fight Back

'Stay-at-home dad Karl Tricamo was another

unsuspecting gardener

just 

going about his

favorite hobby and following the rules. 

He loves to garden

 with his 55 heirlooms and dislikes GMOs and pesticides.'

“I just thought it would be an excellent way to help provide for my family,” he said. “People have been gardening since the beginning of human civilization, and the First Lady has even been setting an example by gardening at the White House! I never expected it to be so controversial.”'




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A Healthy Winter Comfort Food: Roasted Cauliflower

'Who knew that cauliflower could be such a perfect vehicle for olive oil, lemon, garlic, and Parmesan cheese? I'm used to eating cauliflower raw, steamed, or puréed. I love cauliflower and will eat it any way it is prepared. But this method makes cauliflower palatable to any but the most ardent anti-veggie. Perhaps it's that anything is good roasted with those ingredients, or perhaps the cauliflower really is the ideal stage for this blend of flavors.'

by Elsie Simply Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, peeled and coarsely minced
• Lemon juice (from 1/2 or a whole lemon)
• Olive oil
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut cauliflower into florets and put in a single layer in an oven-proof baking dish. Toss in the garlic. Squeeze lemon juice over cauliflower and drizzle each piece with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. If the oven hasn't reached 400°F yet, set aside until it has.

2. Place casserole in the hot oven, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is lightly brown. Test with a fork for desired doneness. Fork tines should be able to easily pierce the cauliflower. Remove from oven and sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

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Grow your own Organic Garden.

growing your own organic garden can actually be helpful to you. It might be a little hard at first but when you get the hang of it. It's actually relaxing and satisfying. And you get healthy vegetables and fruits right from your own garden.

You have to have your own garden of course. Every single person is responsible for how we treat our soil and the environment, to safeguard it for the future generations to come and see. We can grow our own vegetables and fruits the organic way.

Our soil should always be pesticide free. Our healthy soil definitely needs to be maintained with recycled materials and compost. Now compost is not as hard as you think. It's really easy to make. Get any large container to make your compost bin and let it sit directly to the soil so any liquid produce that the matierial brakes down can drain away. so it's best not to put on paving or concrete.

So what can you compost? anything that is on living origin. Vegetable and fruit peelings that you can get easily from your kitchen is very good for composting. Do not add meat scraps or cooked food in your compost bin.Paper likes cardboard boxes, egg trays , kitchen paper, and general low grade paper can be used as well.Crumpled the paper before putting to the compost bin, this is better than shredding it, or cutting it.

Leaves and plants are also good for composting. Compost should be dark,rich sweet smelling and crumbly.Remember that the compost is used to condition your soil and to add for your pots as well.So now you can start to grow your own garden with healthy soil.

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Healthy food benefits, you shouldn't take for grantedl

Here are some simple healthy food tips for everyone.. never take any fruit and vegetables for granted read on...

Our favorite orange:
supports the immune system, combat cancer, protects your heart, straightens respiration

The sweet watermelon:
Lower cholesterol, Protects prostate, controls blood pressure, helps stops strokes.

The red and green apple :
Prevents constipation, protects your heart, cushions joints, improves lung capacity.

The tangy lemon:
protects your heart, controls blood pressure, smoothes your skin, combat cancer

The red tomato:
Protects prostate, combats cancer, lowers cholesterol,

The yellow pineapple:
Relieves colds, aids digestion, dissolves warts,strengthen bones.

Mushrooms:
Kills bacteria, controls blood pressure, combats cancer, lowers cholesterol

My ever favorite banana:
Quiets cough, strengthens bones, Controls blood pressure, protects your heart.

Sweet strawberry:
Boosts memory, calm stress, protects your heart and combat cancer.

Hot Chilli peppers:
Clears sinuses, boost immune system, combat cancer

The broccoli :
saves sight, strengthens bones, combats cancer, protects your heart

Avocado:
Smoothes skin, battles diabetes, lowers cholesterol, controls blood pressure

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Organic-Learn to read the labels

Whenever you are buying your groceries like maybe meat, milk, fish. It can be a little tricky. There are so many signs that are posted there saying "organic" and other stuffs, but how would you really know the difference, Knowing the meaning of those specific names, will actually help you in your buying decision. If you are going to spend or save on something worth buying or maybe not.

The term natural is always associated with vegetables and fruits, Honestly this is just a marketing strategy to tell you to purchase their products, Fruit and vegetables are natural right? Well, Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. But are you looking for Organic?


Remember organic are foods that are grown without fertilizers or pesticides or any other chemicals, You might be asking why many people are so into organic? Because it has benefits.

Here are the main benefits:

First and foremost, Our mother nature is thanking you for helping her, because no chemicals are being used to grow those plants, thus helping to protect the environment from harmful chemicals. Second, is that your helping yourself because you don't let those chemicals get into your body (through those food of course). Healthier food means healthier you.

But Organic food maybe a little pricey, So if you are in a very very tight budget, you have choices whether your going to buy organic or not. For example:
You don't need to buy organic fruits and vegetables that you can peel, like bananas or oranges, because you are actually peeling the chemicals off from the fruit or vegetables, so if you're going to buy organic, go for fruits like apples because you eat its peel. Just always make sure that you always wash your food before you eat and cook them

You probably heard or see a very tricky sign that says. no "hormones". This is usually associated with dairy products, meat products, well this is false, why? beacuse hormones are naturally produce by all animals, It is very essential to all animals, it regulates body organs, so what does " no hormones" means, Some hormones are given to the animals unnaturally, to increase the production of the milk, so if they say no hormones, maybe it means no hormones were unnaturally given to the animals.

There is this another label that tells if the animals in this meat was penned or caged, doesn't have any difference when it comes to nutritional value of the meat or the quality of it, Well. it matters with the animal rights.


All of these products may be a little expensive than the usual, but it's still up to your so learn to read the labels. and know what it means!

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Is Organic Worth It?

Image by kumasawa via Flickr

When you head to the grocery store, shopping for products like eggs, meat, fish, milk, and produce can be very tricky. Signs are posted everywhere labeling food as natural, organic, and a number of other things—but what’s the difference, really? Learning what specific names mean can help you decide if you should shell out extra money on a product of it is simply a marketing ploy.

Natural is a turn associated with a number of fruit and vegetable product. Typically, this is simple a marketing ploy to convince you to buy the product. After all, all fruits and vegetables are natural, right? Unless it’s a new kind of food that has been developed and processed, the product is natural. What you really probably want is organic. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. There are two main benefits to organic foods. First, you are helping the environment because those chemicals are not being introduced into nature. Secondly, you are avoiding ingesting chemicals and are therefore healthy more healthy foods. However, organic products are usually more expensive. If you’re on a budget, skip over organic fruits and vegetables that you can peel, like oranges and bananas. After all, once you’ve discarded the peel, you’ve also discarded the chemicals. Instead, opt for organic items like apples, where you eat the peel. No matter what you buy, however, make sure that you rinse off the food when you get home.

Another tricky label you will see is “no hormones.” This is usually in regards to milk or meat products and is false, since all animals naturally produce hormones. Hormones are what helps an animal (even a human) regulate body organs, have young, and otherwise function. All meat products have hormones. What the labels really mean is that no hormones were unnaturally given to the animal, which is sometimes done to increase milk production. Regardless of hormones, however, the milk and meat is safe for a person and not a violation of an animal’s rights.

Lastly, a label on eggs and meat can indicate if the animal was caged or penned. This does not make a difference in the quality or nutritional value of the meat, but is simply a matter of animal rights. These products may be a bit more expensive, but if you want to make human decisions, that is the way to go. Reading the label and making healthy choices can sometimes be difficult, but learning how to do so can help you make the best choices for you diet.

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How to Start Healthy Eating

Image via Wikipedia

If you currently do not eat a healthy diet, it can be difficult to start such a plan. However, healthy eating is important for maintaining bodily function and living a disease-free life. If you struggle with healthy eating, than you know that breaking unhealthy habits can be the most difficult part of the process. However, if you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, it is important to follow tips in order to start eating a more healthy diet.

A good beginning step when you want to start eating more healthily is to rid you home of all founds that do not into healthy categories. Keep junk foods and beverages out of your house so that you will not be tempted to snack during the day. If you’re worried about getting hungry, keep healthy snacks like carrot sticks, yogurt, fresh fruit, or whole-wheat crackers on hand. If you find that you just cannot bear to toss out the sweets, try keeping something tiny on hand, like chocolate chips. Eating a few of these won’t ruin your diet but also will give you that little sugary fix you rave.

Another great step to healthy eating when you are first starting the process is to take a few moments to learn about what foods are the healthiest for you and how they work in the body. Most people understand that fruits, vegetables, and low-fat means and dairy products are good for you, but few people understand why. The key is learning about nutrients. When you understand how specific nutrients work in the body, you will be more likely to make these healthy choices for your body. Knowledge really is power!

When cleansing yourself to prepare for a new healthy diet, you should also take into consideration your schedule for meals. If you often eat in a rushed hurry at odd times of day, you probably are not getting the best foods possible. Plan ahead! Instead of grabbing a fast food lunch on the go, take a bagged lunch to work, complete with a healthy wrap and some fresh vegetables. Plan ahead for healthy meals in the evening as well by cooking ahead if you are not currently getting healthy dinners and have little time to cook when you get home every night.

Start with baby steps. Even if you only replace one soda a day with a glass of water, you are really improve your calorie intake. If you eat fast food every day for lunch, try replacing that even half of the time. When you start by taking small steps, it does not seem like you are cutting out all of the foods you love and you can take your time to learn about healthy foods which you can love equally as well.

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Korean ginseng's ancient belief and it's health benefits part 1

Last week my husband went to Korea for a business trip, I was hoping that i could go but we got two kids and my eldest still goes to school so I've decided to just stay instead and maybe next time we could bring our kids as well. Ok so i asked him to bring home the ever famous korean ginsengs " Korean ginseng" I asked him to at least buy some tea if he can't bring the ginseng itself, because he hates to bring a lot. So when he went home, he bought some stuffs and even chocolate with ginseng. he bought the tea that i asked and even went home with a very interesting story about this Korean ginseng. He only bought the Korean tea not the root crop.

He told me that there was this kind of dish that he liked, not the kimchi. Although he liked it so much because it very spicy hot. I don't like the smell though. I forgot the name. but he told me it was liked a stuffed chicken with vegetables inside, one of the vegetable that was stuffed inside was the Korean ginseng. He said that he liked the taste and the texture of the food and knowing that it was healthy. he just can't stop eating. He even described it as " the chicken was very very tasty and it was like eating chicken with potatoes or maybe sweet potatoes inside, Which he referred to the ginseng. He told me that his Korean friend tells a story about how ancient people believed this ginseng.

Very long time ago, people often believed that the shape of the Korean ginseng has two human like shaped, if the ginseng shaped like a female body structure then they said that this ginseng should be taken by females only. if the ginseng's shape is like of that a man's structure then it should be taken by a man. They used to believe that it gives different benefits to a male and female. Like if the man-shaped ginseng was eaten/taken by a man, he would not only be healthy but also has the sort of like Viagra benefits, so they say it shouldn't be taken by a woman.

but that story was so long time ago, now, they believe that if the shape of the ginseng was human-like it just simply means that it is a mature one, if the ginseng still doesn't have the shape of a human body, it just simply means that the ginseng was still immature. now, what was the common benefits that you could get with korean ginseng.
here are just some of the many benefits that korean ginseng can give you

helps battle depression

restores memory and # depression

restores memory and enhances it as well

enhances concentration and cognitive abilities

improves our concentration

increases mental and physical efficiency

increases physical and mental activity ]

may slow the progression of Alzheimer's Diseasemental disorders

mildly stimulates the nervous system

promotes mental and physical vigor

stimulates and improves the work of the brain cells

reduces the effects of stress

regulates the nervous system and exhibits normalizing effects on the body

stimulates the central nervous system

now again these are just some, and i mean some of the health benefits ans there's a lot more i will post again this week, now always remember that we also need to consult our doctor when taking anything we have to be caution for any other food or supplement that we are not used to taking, a very good herbal medicine might be helpful to a lot of people but maybe not for you or for some people. Still we should always consult our doctor first.

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Health benefits of Lutein

There are so many health supplement nowadays and people just can't get enough of it. There is this one eye supplement that has been trying make a name in my country, I'm not going to tell the brand, but what is important to me is to know exactly what makes this supplement, different from the other ones, What is it that make it work? and does it have any side effects? and stuff like that. So, What is Lutein?

Lutein is another antioxidant that is one of the caretenoids these are pigments that are usually found in different types of vegetables and fruits, such as squash, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, corn and dark, leafy vegetables like those of kale, collards, bok choy and spicnach. but what exactly does lutein does to help us?

Studies indicate that lutein plays a vital role in reducing the risk of AMD or also known as Age-related Macular Degeneration and can also help slow down the progression of the disease. Lutein deposits in the macula - the part of the eye that controls accurate vision - and helps filter out harmful blue light which stops it from reaching and damaging the sensitive back tissue of the retina, effectively acting as natural sunglasses.

A lot of people may not need to take any supplements like Lutein, especially if they have well balanced diet and a higher intake of lutein-rich foods, but for those people with serious eye problems, a supplement wouldn't hurt. but better chekc your doctor first.

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How to lose the holiday weight gain.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New year. So many holidays and of course........ feast! who doesn't love to eat right? especially when everybody is enjoying eating and having fun. But of course sometimes we tend to forget our diet, counting calories, food portions. etc. I'm sometimes guilty of this too.

Here are some tips that hope to help you lose some holiday weight gain.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables. They'll give you more food and less calories. You just came out of holiday feast so better start eating healthy foods and gain power not fat.

2. Spice things up. A little salsa can add a lot of flavor to a baked potato-and for few calories. I know, many people may not like to eat boring or bland healthy foods. So spice up your food a little.

3. For sweets. just grab low-fat yogurt instead of ice cream. There are many low fat yogurts around nowadays. You might thought of grabbing a low fat ice cream, but better not.

4. Besides cutting calories, a high fiber diet help prevent cancer, heart disease and digestive illness. So wake up with an oatmeal breakfast or just get a high fiber lunch and your off to lose weight.

5. Exercise everyday. Oh yes! You ate a lot last holiday, so lose that fat!

Everything may seem to be very hard, but i still think that if you put your heart to it. I mean discipline is one major key to lose weight! We still have few more holiday feasts to come so if you think you are having a hard time to lose weight. Then control yourself.

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Eating healthy, Healthy foods on a tight budget!

Image via Wikipedia You have to get a variety of foods that include proteins, carbohydrates, beneficial fats, vitamins and don't forget the water! It is essential too.

1. You can get your protein from animal sources - (lean meats like chicken), vegetable sources - (beans, legumes, soy.) or you can get it from fish too.

2. Everyone needs Omega 3 essential fatty acids which you can get from fish like salmon, or you can buy ground flax seed (it has a nutty flavor) for less than $3 and spinkle it on cereal, salads or anything you like.

Here are some great, low cost meals to try:

• soup (you can make enough for a few days) - you can start with vegetable stock and add leftover meats and veggies.

• chili (you can make a big batch and freeze for later) - buy dried small red beans and soak overnight and put in some carrots and tomato paste and any other veggies you have. It's great and can be made with or without meat. You can even add tofu (cheap and very healthy.

• fruit and vegetable salads -you can make a great meal with chili and salad and soup and salad.Try to get your fruits and vegetables from a local farmer's market - you can get some good prices and you will also be eating seasonally which will give you variety. You don't have to buy organic - just be aware that some fruits and vegetables in the supermarket have more pesticides than others, i.e, apples, green and red peppers, peaches, etc.High nutrient vegetables like sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes and carrots can all be used in recipes that can be frozen.
  

Keep the trimmings from your salads and cook up with water to make a great vegetable stock for using in soups and gravies.
Casseroles also work well and can be frozen.

For carbohydrates try:

• Whole grain bread, Starchy vegetables like potatoes and carrots

• Cereals (oatmeal is great and you can add half a banana and berries or any fruit that suits your taste buds.)

Always remember that the more processed the food the more expensive it usually is. Don't forget to use coupons from the paper and you can print some from the internet. Being healthy doesn't mean you have to spend a lot.

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Healthy foods: How to make toddlers eat.

Never force children to eat something that they say they "hate". Instead try to combine these nutritious food items with those that they like . For example", If your tot love hotdogs, make a sandwich with an iron-fortified hotdog, vitamin-enriched margarine, a slice of cheese, a little mayonnaise with minced carrots, and serve with glass of fresh fruit juice.

Nutrients are better absorbed when combined in a dish such as serving vegetables with meat cubes. for instance. Small frequent feedings are better for this stage since they can only eat so much with their small appetites.

Here are top must lists of healthy foods for your toddlers:

The primary food that toddlers should have in their priority list is milk. It is an excellent source of calcium and protein. It is also a good source of phosphorous, some B-complex vitamins, and Vitamins A and D. as well as some magnesium. Toddlers need fats contained in full cream milk, so low-fat or non-fat milk are not recommended. If your toddler gets tired of drinking same milk over and over, try to be innovative: add a teaspoon or two of chocolate or strawberry flavoring. better yet mix it with some fresh fruits your little ones love or make it into a nutritious milkshake.

The next in line, vegetables. vegetable provide minerals, vitamins and fiber. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach contains vitamin c and A , iron, calcium. while yellow veggies such as carrots and squash are rich in Vitamin A.

Third group and non-negotiable food are fruits. fruits are rich in vitamins and are well-liked by most kids. Bananas are rich in potassium, magnesium, and vitamin b6.

Make sure your toddler eats whole grain breads or enriched rice and cereals, as these are good source of iron, thiamin and riboflavin..

When your tots really hates the taste, try to add bitter/bland tasting veggies into their meal by making a puree or or use a juicer then hide it by mixing it to their favorite foods. It is important that we don't take healthy foods for granted. We only want whats best for our kids.

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Does Wheat grass really make us healthy?

Wheat grass for good health? Image via Wikipedia Last Saturday, i learned something new... to me, but it was already known ages ago.I just wanted to share something that i found amazing.(Courtesy of Ms. Jessica Soho)
A lot of people may know wheat grass as just a grass that makes your front lawn looks pretty neat. And cows, goats and horse's daily meal.

Wheat grass is a type of grass that is rich and high in vitamins and minerals, but of course it still a grass. So for some people, they may find these unpleasant to eat or drink. But let me show you what really caught my attention, Producers of wheat grass said that There's a lot of ways to take wheat grass. But you can try to put some in a juicer so you can take the juice from it and drink it from a shot glass. They say that even the pulp has benefits too.(you can use it as a facial scrub.) They claim that one shot glass of wheat grass is equal to 1 kilo of green leafy vegetables. If this is true then I'd better get one of these.

Here are some more benefits of wheat grass that proponents claim:

help make menopause more manageable

prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease

It cures constipation

It detoxify heavy metals from the bloodstream

promote general well-being.

improve the digestive system


This study was pioneered by Dr. Ann Wigmore , a health practitioner, nutritionist,whole foods advocate, and a doctor of Divinity.
Dr. Ann Wigmore has been helping people get well from chronic disorders for 30 years using wheatgrass. Wheat grass may or may not prevent cancer. But i strongly still believe that nothing beats a well balanced diet, So don't just rely on one food to cure a disease. Wheat grass is healthy so you can add it in your daily diet. And you may be surprised what it will truly brings to your health.

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