Water Storage

As water becomes more difficult to obtain we are going to be forced into looking for better solutions.
This is a section of a modular water wall.

I did a quick search and others are also thinking along these lines and some of the walls are very decorative.  The idea of free or cheap drums is admirable but they are not large enough nor are they aesthetic.
 
It's time to think outside the box.  What about large reservoirs of water under our houses or hidden within our walls which would also be used to moderate temperature with it's thermo-mass.

I used to live in a very old house in downtown Tucson.  The walls were built of adobe and they were nearly 3 feet thick.  The hot Tucson summers were quite bearable due to the thermo-mass of these walls even though I had no air conditioning.

If we were to build houses like this our energy and water consumption would both drop.  A stucco finish would make the walls look like any other house except for thick walls, and the comfort would be amazing.  This water could be collected during the rainy season and used later in the hot dry summer months to grow food and ensure a beautiful cooling landscape.

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A family of five uses  about 1 acre foot (about 325,000 gallons) or (1225 m³) of water a year.  So saving water from your roof top may only make a small difference, but small differences add up.   Right now it costs about $1000 to process that much water from waste water or to build a new reservoir.  

Desalination has been done in other parts of the world and California is going to build a desalination plant in San Diego capable of 50 million gallons (189000 m³) a day.  But the cost is probably going to be twice the cost we are used to.  There are also concerns that the plant will kill fish, but efforts are being incorporated that should solve this problem.

In total fifteen desalination projects using reverse osmosis are proposed along the coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco Bay.  In the past many other desalination plants have been closed due to the high cost of operation.  The plant will use an enormous amount of energy -- about 38 megawatts, enough to power 28,500 homes.  
The efficiency works out to be about 3 kWh for 1 m³or 88 gallons / kWh fresh water.  Sounds like a lot of water, but the reality is this will only provide about 7 percent of the total water needs of San Diego County.   

Another problem I see is that this is going to be privately owned.  I would prefer to see communities own their own water source.

Why I Buy Organic & Non-GMO & Support Local Organic Farmers

Organic farmers are stewards of the land rather than soil rapers
 
Organic food is free of chemicals

GMO farmers use more aggressive control measures, such as increased use of chemical sprays. 

Organic food is free of unsustainable petroleum fertilizers
 
Organic food promotes better health.
 
Organic food tastes richer, sweeter and is more satisfying
 
Organic food uses natural defenses, and has no unhealthy pesticides

Bio-engineered crops harm species that are not their target, such as monarch butterflies. 

Organic growers use sustainable methods of growing food that promote soil health rather than destroying the soil

GMO transfer pesticide-resistant genes to related weeds may produce "super weeds"  immune to commonly used control methods

Nature adapts and may begin to produce 'super bugs' putting heirloom plants at a disadvantage.

Locally grown food costs less to ship
 
Locally grown organic food uses less fuel to deliver to consumer
 
Locally grown organic food is fresher
 
Locally grown organic fruit tastes better
 
Locally grown organic fruit has a higher nutrient value than fruit picked early.
 
Seasonal vegetables taste better and deliver diversity through out the year
 
Organic growers are more productive
 
Organic growers use less fuel hungry machinery
 
Local organic farmers employ local people
 
Organic growers use  less water
 
Organic growers use Non GMO seed
 
Organic growers do not use toxic Roundup.  Glysophate is the listed active ingredient, but the other ingredients are even more toxic
 
Organic growers do not have to lie about the toxic chemicals in and on their food
 
GMO crops are infecting heirloom crops
 
Organic growers provide better variety and seed diversity
 
Less wasted produce when you buy from local organic farmers.

Ordinary, familiar foods can become allergenic through the addition of foreign genes.
 

Locally grown food lasts longer


Maybe you can help be think of more reasons to support local and organic farmers.

For more detailed information about GMO [CLICK HERE]

Microbes

Nematode

Mycillium attached to nematode.

Ten Calories Of Energy To Produce One Calorie Of Food.

I just read the article  "The Permaculture Solution – an Interview with Warren Brush". It said "Estimates are that the modern agriculture system uses ten calories of energy to produce one calorie of food."

Fearing that I too may be growing negative net energy food. I immediately looked at the energy costs involved with my soil-less gardens. My hydroponic pump uses 160 watts-hours per day or 137.6 KCal or about 576 KJ/day.   Chris Carr was kind enough to remind me that nutritional calories (KCal) are equal to 1000 chemistry calories (cal).    A chemist would probably use Joules and Kilo-Joules (KJ) rather than KCal.   But the we think of food in terms of KCalories rather than Joules, so I'll keep it in KCal also known as large calories as much as I can.  There were other errors in my first draft,  so here's the rewrite.  Many of my calculations will be done using the 'Energy and Work Unit Conversion' at unit-conversion.info/energy.html. 

I did some research and found a daily harvest of 8lbs of lettuce and 100lbs of tomatoes to be respectable averages for a 100sf garden. So I will be using those figures throughout.
Just for grins lets say you irrigate 100 square feet of garden with 10 gallons per day, and you are pumping water from let's say 100 feet below the surface. 

To calculate the power used to pump 10 gallons per minute 100'

P_whp = q h sg / 3960

where

P_whp = water horsepower (hp)
q = flow (gal/min)    = (10)
h = head (ft)              = (100)
sg = specific gravity = (1)

P_whp = 10x100/3960 = .2525whp = 0.04497210699688 KCal/sec
This could also be expressed as 188.2892175745  J/sec which is the definition of a Watt.

If you are following along and checking my math you can use the 'Power Unit Conversion' to find the Power.
Power and Energy are different.  Energy is what is delivered and Power is the rate at which it is delivered.
In the above example we deliver 188 Watts for 10 minutes or 31.38 Watt-Hours



We pump for 10 minute so
0.04497210699688 KCal/s  x  600sec = 26.9 KCal
So how many lbs of vegetables would you need to produce 26.9 KCal
Lettuce is 67.37 KCal per lb so you would need 26.9/67.37 = 0.40 lbs of lettuce per day from your 100 sq ft garden. If you harvest 8lbs / day the net gain is 19.97 times
Tomato is 80 KCal per lb so you would need 26.9/80 = 0.34 lbs of tomatoes per day from your 100 sq ft garden  If you harvest 100lbs / day the net gain is 296 times

Below is a list of common vegetables which I got from http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calories_in_vegetables.htm


Let's put this in perspective of a soil-less aquaponic or hydroponic system:
Let's say you use a 20 watt pump 5 hours a day.
    That's 20 watt-hours x 5 hours/day = 100 Watt-Hours / day  (W-Hr/day)
    Each W-Hr is equal to 0.859845227859  KCal so you spend about 86.0 KCal to pump water each day.

If you grow 8 lbs of lettuce per day on your 100 sq ft aquaponics garden,
8lb/day x 67368 cal/lb = 538944 cal/day or  ,  538.944Kcal/day

You would spend 86.0 KCal to pump water to produce 538.944 KCal of lettuce.
A return of over 6.27 to 1.  Not quite 19.97 times like soil gardening but pretty good!



How about tomatoes...
Lets say you grow 100 lbs of tomatoes per day in your 100 sq ft garden.   
Let also say you use the same amount of electricity - (86.0 KCal/day).
100 lb/day x 80 KCal/lb = 8000 calories/day
So you would spend 86.0 KCal/day to produce 8000 KCal of tomatoes.
A return of over 92 to 1.  Soil gardening was 296 but this is not bad!

Compared to soil gardening the power efficiency is not as good, but water is also a commodity worth preserving and my guess is any of the soil-less methods will beat soil based gardening several times over.   It gets pretty complicated if you consider that some of the water applied to soil returns to the aquifer but ponics are definitely more efficient with water.  

Back to my hydroponic system which consumes 137.6 KCal per day.  It would need to produce 1.72 lbs of tomatoes per day.  But this is just the power used to move water.  Warren Brush was including the power used to make fertilizers, mine, and apply nutrients, and maintain the crop from start to finish.  That's beyond the data available to me, but at least it still looks like a positive net gain whether you are gardening with soil or without and probably far better than the modern agriculture system using ten calories of energy to produce one calorie of food.

Aquaponics has a side benefit of fish protein which I have not included, but the energy used to make fish food should be considered.  Bioponics on the other hand is free of any further input save iron and magnesium which is also required in aquaponics.


I'll admit this article was difficult for me,  I feel like I have dyslexia where it comes to keeping units straight.  If you find any errors I will correct them, but to my best knowledge I have presented this correctly.

Did You Know

The average gardener spends about $70 on a 600 sq ft garden and reaps about $530 in return!

It can take a few years to build your soil, but start a garden now and enjoy fresh wholesome food you can serve with pride.  Gardening is good for the soul and will bring joy to your life as you learn each year how to do it better.    Gardening promotes good physical and mental health.

Worms break up that rough, dense layer of dead grass, stems and root call thatch in your lawn. Thatch blocks the flow of nutrients and water.

It will be difficult to deny the probability that every particle of earth... has pasted through the intestines of worms - Charles Darwin

Worms eat the nematodes that feed on roots.  Unchecked the cause yellowing, wilting and bare patches in your lawn.

There is often 5 times more nitrogen in soil with worms.

Soil with worms will have as much as 7 times more phosphate, and 11 times more potassium.

P N K - Nitrogen Potassium, and Phosphate are the major nutrient requirement of plants

Worms eat harmful bacteria, fungi, and microbes while increasing the amount of beneficial microbes.

Worms fertilize the soil with their waste. Worm castings are more nutrient rich than the soil initially consumed.

Worms are the intestines of the earth - Aristotle

Keep your worms fed by creating an earthworm stack of leaves, kitchen scrapes and other vegetation.   Leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing and be careful with the pesticides and herbicides you use.  They often kill worms.

Did you know that the 'inactive ingredients' found in pesticides are often 1000 times more toxic than the 'principal active ingredient', and tests done on just one ingredient are often not as toxic as the combination of ingredients.  This presents a false sense of safety.

Roundup was found in this experiment to be 125 times more toxic than glyphosate. Moreover, despite its reputation, Roundup was by far the most toxic among the herbicides and insecticides tested. This inconsistency between scientific fact and industrial claim may be attributed to huge economic interests, which have been found to falsify health risk assessments and delay health policy decisions -
European Environment Agency. EEA Report.Copenhagen, Denmark: European Environment Agency; 2013. Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation.

Fungicides were the most toxic from concentrations 300–600 times lower than agricultural dilutions, followed by herbicides and then insecticides, with very similar profiles in all cell types. Despite its relatively benign reputation, Roundup was among the most toxic herbicides and insecticides tested.

Chronic tests on pesticides may not reflect relevant environmental exposures if only one ingredient of these mixtures is tested alone.
 

Water Facts

From Ensia.com
http://ensia.com/infographics/are-we-on-the-path-to-peak-water/

 For more:
http://www.waterfootprint.org/

Growing fruit from seed.

http://www.homemadehomeideas.com/10-surprising-foods-you-didnt-know-you-could-grow-at-home/

Avocados – This detailed method and demonstration will allow you to grow beautiful avocodoes in your own home.
Blueberries – They are one of the most antioxidant rich foods in the world and have been found to fight against cancer, aid brain health and preserve vision among many other things.
Pomegranate – Start these little beauties off indoors and once ready transfer into your garden.
Oranges – If you nurture these small seeds and take care of them, these will grow into a perfect orange tree – providing you with bundles of vitamin C.
Grapefruit - Transform a tiny seed into a beautiful grapefruit plant.
Lemons - It’s so simple to do, it needs very little equipment and just a single seed from an organic lemon.
Limes – A lengthy process, but such a treat when complete.
Banana - They are surprisingly easy to grow, you will save plenty on your shopping bill and the kids will love eating something they have grown.
Pineapples – By using the top of a pineapple you can grow a whole pineapple tree.
Tangerines – All you need is a suitable container, quality potting soil, and dedicated cultural care to help to ensure you grow a healthy regular fruit producing plant.

Smoothies & Raw Blended Soups - What They Are Good For

My friend Joy loves to make healthy meals and smoothies.  She has been helping my wife Toni and I to get the most out of our new Ninja blender.  (Maybe we will get a VitaMix one day.)

Here's some info she has put together from various sources, and sent as an email.  I hope to post more from her as she continues to inspire us to live healthy lives.

Hi Everyone

Hope you are enjoying this lovely (spring?) weather :).

Juicing:

Info I've copied and pasted from here and there about what greens and things to juice (or blend in some smoothies and raw blended soups) and what they are good for (might be some repetitions):

Cilantro:

1. Powerful anti-inflammatory capacities
2. Protective agents against bacterial infection from Salmonella in food products
3. Wards off urinary tract infections
4. Eases hormonal mood swings associated with PMS and reduces menstrual cramping.
5. Helps promote healthy liver function.
6. Disinfects and helps detoxify the body
7. Stimulates the endocrine (hormonal) glands
8. Helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar
9. Acts as a natural anti-septic and anti-fungal agent for skin disorders like fungal infections and eczema
10. Contains immune-boosting properties

And! It naturally chelates toxic metals out of your body (through urine).

Available most places but farmer's market is best of course. Usually have big bunches with long stems, which is great for juicing.

Arugula (salad rocket):

• As in other greens, arugula is one of very low-calorie vegetable. 100 g of fresh leaves provides just 25 calories. Nonetheless, it has many vital phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals that can immensely benefit health.
• Salad rocket has an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity, a measure of anti-oxidant strength) of about 1904 µmol TE per 100 grams.
• Rocket salad is rich source of certain phytochemicals such as indoles, thiocyanates, sulforaphane, and isothiocyanates. Together, they have been found to counter carcinogenic effects of estrogen and thus help benefit against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers by virtue of their cancer-cell growth inhibition, cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
• In addition, di-indolyl-methane (DIM), a lipid soluble metabolite of indole has immune modulator, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties ( by potentiating Interferon-Gamma receptors and production). DIM has currently been found application in the treatment of recurring respiratory papillomatosis caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and is in Phase III clinical trials for cervical dysplasia.
• Fresh rocket is a very good source of folates. 100 g of fresh greens contain 97 µg or 24% of folic acid. When given to the anticipant mothers during their conception time, folate helps prevent neural tube defects in the newborns.
• Like kale, salad rocket is an excellent source of vitamin A. 100 g fresh leaves contain 1424 µg of beta-carotene, and 2373 IU of vitamin A. Carotenes convert into vitamin A in the body. Studies found that vitamin A and flavonoid compounds in green leafy vegetables help protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers.
• This vegetable also rich in B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), and pantothenic acid those are essential for optimum cellular enzymatic and metabolic functions.
• Fresh rocket leaves contain good levels of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful, natural anti-oxidant. Foods rich in this vitamin help the body protect from scurvy disease; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.
• Salad rocket is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K; 100 g provides about 90% of recommended intake. Vitamin K has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has established role in the treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
• Arugula leaves contain adequate levels of minerals, especially copper and iron. In addition, it has small amounts of some other essential minerals and electrolytes such as calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, and phosphorus.

Arugula is relatively lower in oxalate content than that in spinach, purslane, mustard greens, celery, etc. The greens can be safely used during pregnancy and lactation.

Easy to grow, can eat the flowers too. Best to buy it at the Farmer's Market, when they have it.  Trader Joe's sells it in bags like baby spinach etc.  Need to eat it pretty quickly after opening the bag.

Dandelion greens:

Bone Health: Dandelion is rich in calcium, which is essential for growth and strength of bones, and is rich is anti oxidants like vitamin-C and Luteolin, which protect bones from age related damages due to free radicals, such as weakening and loss in density.

Liver Disorders: Dandelion can help liver in many ways. While its anti oxidants such as vitamin-C and Luteolin keeps it functioning in full gear and protect it from aging, other compounds in it help treating hemorrhage in liver, maintaining proper flow of bile etc. It also stimulates liver and promotes digestion.

Diabetes: Dandelion juice can help diabetic patients by stimulating production of insulin from pancreas and thus help keeping low the blood sugar level. Since it diuretic in nature, it makes the diabetic patients urinate frequently which too helps remove the extra sugar from the body. Moreover, diabetics are prone to renal problems. The diuretic properties of dandelion can help removing the sugar deposition in the kidneys through urine. Moreover, dandelion juice is slightly bitter to taste, which also effectively lowers sugar level in the blood, as all bitter substances do.

Urinary Disorders: Dandelion is highly diuretic in nature. Thereby it helps clean deposits of toxic substances in the kidneys and the urinary system. Moreover, its disinfectant properties inhibit microbial growth in the urinary system. In fact, the diuretic properties of dandlion are so strong that in French its is also called "pissenlit" which means "urinate in bed".

Skin Care: Dandelion sap, also known as dandelion milk, is useful in treating skin diseases which are caused due to microbial and fungal infection, as this sap is highly alkaline and have germicidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties. Care should be taken while using this sap as to avoid its contact with eyes. This sap can be used on itches, ringworm, eczema etc. without risk.

Acne: Dandelion juice is a good detoxifier, diuretic, stimulant and anti oxidant. These four properties make it a good treatment for acne. Before we know how it treats acne, we must know what causes it. Acne is caused mainly during teens, when the body undergoes many physiological and hormonal changes. The hormones, which bring about changes in the body, if do not maintain proper ratio among themselves or are not regulated properly, tend to deposit as toxic substances in the body which tend to come out with sweat through the sweat glands or sebaceous glands on the skin. Now, during these changes, these glands secret more oils which, mixed with dead skin, block the pores and the secretion is obstructed. Due to this, these toxic substances cannot escape and result in acne. This is further worsened by the microbial infections on the effected places. Dandelion juice, being a stimulant, diuretic and detoxifier in nature, can help regulate proper secretion of hormones, increases sweating and widens up the pores facilitating removal of toxics through sweat and also through urine, as it is diuretic too. Its sap, if externally applied on acne, can inhibit microbial infection.

Weight Loss: Our urine contains up to 4% of fats. So, more we urinate, more water and fats are lost from the body. Dandelion, being diuretic in nature, promotes urinating and thereby helping lose weight without side effects.

Cancer: Dandelion is high in anti oxidants such as vitamin-C and Luteolin which reduce the free radicals (very much responsible for causing cancer) in the body, thereby reducing the risk of cancer. It also detoxifies the body, which also helps protect from cancer.

Jaundice: Jaundice is primarily a disorder of the liver in which it starts over producing bile, which ultimately gets into the blood stream damaging the whole metabolism. The excess of bile is also reflected through color of the skin, eyes etc. The treatment of jaundice includes three main steps. First, checking production of bile; second, removal of excess bile from the body and third, fighting the viral infection. Dandelion is very helpful in all of these. It promotes liver health and regulates bile production. Being diuretic in nature, it promotes urination through which the excess bile is removed. Finally, being anti oxidant and disinfectant in nature due to presence of vitamin-C and Luteolin, it fights viral infection too. It is more beneficial if taken with sugarcane juice, since it replaces the sugar in the body which is very much lowered due to action of bile, causing extreme fatigue and weakness.

Gall Bladder Disorders: Dandelion is very beneficial for gall bladder and liver, as it improves their functioning, protects them from ill effects of oxidants and infections and regulates secretions from them.

Anemia: Dandelion has pretty good iron, vitamin and protein content. While iron is the integral part of hemoglobin in the blood, vitamins (particularly vitamin-B) and protein are essential for formation of red blood cells and certain other components of the blood. This way dandelion can help anemic people.

High Blood Pressure: Urinating is an effective way of lowering blood pressure. In fact, most of the modern drugs for lowering blood pressure are based on this phenomenon. Dandelion juice, being diuretic in nature, increases urinating, both in quantity and frequency and thus helps lower high blood pressure. The fiber in dandelion is also helpful in reducing cholesterol and thereby assists lowering of blood pressure, since cholesterol is one of the factors which make blood pressure high. Then there is potassium, which is in plenty in dandelion juice and is very effective in lowering blood pressure by replacing sodium.

Other Benefits: Dandelion can also be used as a vegetable and is a good source of fiber. It promotes digestion. In old days it was also used to treat scurvy, due to presence of vitamin-C in it. It also has healing effects on dyspepsia, infections in the stomach, intestines and urinary system.

For more info & recipe ~ http://ybertaud9.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/horta-dandelion-weed-vegetables/

Where to get it: Farmer's Market (seasonal). S&S has organic dandelion greens and I think CNF does.  Also Food Max (not organic, but they have a much higher "turnover rate" and it's much fresher usually (due to the ethnic customer population).

Watercress:

I haven't tried growing it but this Youtube page has lots of info on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAzW-HR3ufs

Watercress, like many leafy greens, is one of the most intensely nutritious foods you can put in your body. Rich in a whole host of bio-available minerals and vitamins K, A, C and B, watercress has as much or more calcium as milk, as much vitamin C as an orange and more bio-available iron than spinach ... this is definitely a green superfood that can hang with the rest! The spicy flavor of watercress comes from a unique mustard oil in the plant with well-known anti-cancer properties and, most notably, these greens are found to powerfully protect our DNA. Harmful behaviors like smoking and even healthy habits like going for a hard workout can cause damage to our DNA. Numerous well-known studies have shown that a diet rich in watercress can provide profound protection against DNA damage, especially for high-intensity athletes and those who smoke.

Watercress is used for swollen breathing passages in the lung, coughs, bronchitis, flu, and swine flu. Other uses include treating baldness, constipation, parasitic worms, cancer, goiter, polyps, scurvy, and tuberculosis. Watercress is also used to improve appetite and digestion, to enhance sexual arousal, to kill germs, and as a "Spring tonic."

Where to buy it:   S&S  In a plastic bag, still alive, with the root ball...)

Stevia plants:

Usually available from Nancy (big straw hat) at the Farmer's Market. Go early, or tell her you want one the next week and she will probably save one for you.

Lemon Grass:

You can get this very cheap at the Farmer's Market.  It makes the juice taste good and has amazing benefits as well:  (not too much!)

The stalk, leaves and oils have anti cancer properties and is known to heal rheumatic joints, sprains, gastric problems and flatulence. In addition to being antifungal, antiseptic, antidepressant and analgesic. Strengthens skin cells and connective tissue and helps to tighten the skin, making it look and feel younger. It also aids lymphatic detoxification, which simply means it helps to cleanse the body of impurities.

Edible weeds:

My favorites are lambsquarters (very mild/use like spinach) and purslane.

Lambsquarters aka goosefoot likes to grow in "disturbed areas".  I haven't seen much around this year (things grow according to the rain cycles etc). Best to get it in the spring when it is young. Probably has more oxalic acid and stuff when it is mature.  Right now I've actually been buying it at the farmer's market from Towani farms. You can get a bunch for $2.50.  A lot for weeds but I love it. Won't be available for much longer. Lambs quarter is the second highest in nutrition of all wild foods. Amaranth is #1   Common lambsquarters are very high in Vitamin A, high in Vitamin C, moderate in calcium and low in iron. They're also high in fiber but low in calories and fats. Lambsquarters contain known anti-inflammatory nutrients, including Beta Carotene and Vitamin K. (If a person is on blood thinners, they need to consult their health care provider concerning foods high in vitamin K. Vitamin K is a blood coagulator). Low in protein but high in many amino acids. The vitamin and mineral profile reads like a who's who of healthful foods.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2468/2  (This is a great site for looking up the nutritional value of anything).

http://skipthepie.org/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/lambsquarters-raw/compared-to/spinach-raw/

Lambs quarter Spread2 cloves garlic
1 small red onion
3 cups Lambs 1/4 leaves
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup toasted nuts (I use walnuts or almonds)
1/3 cup kalamata olives
2 T miso
1 T chili paste or 1 t cayenne pepper or to taste
1. chop the garlic in a food processor
2. add the onion chop
3. add the remaining ingredients and process or chop until finely chopped
Makes 2 1/2 cups

Don't go overboard and eat too much of it raw. :)

Purslane is a succulent plant that spreads. You will find it in a lot of gardens. I have a friend with a beautiful big garden who actually waters it so it is really good stuff!

Purslane is a common edible wild food that grows throughout the world and has more recently become a popular cultivated salad green. Purslane contains the highest amount of alpha linoleic acid (which is the precursor to omega-3 fatty acid) and vitamin A out of any of edible plant which makes it one of the most nutrient rich green leafy vegetable to eat. Purslane also contains CoQ10, glutathione, dopamine, and melatonin which can not only can help regulate your sleep cycle, but also inhibit cancer growth as well. Purslane is excellent for boosting the immune system, improving vision, sharpening cognitive abilities, and strengthening the cardiovascular system. It is also great for helping to improve the effectiveness for treatment for bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, hyperactivity, depression, autism, ADD, and Alzheimer's disease. Purslane is a rich source of vitamins C & B-complex and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Purslane contains a betalin alkaloid that has anti-mutagenic properties that can help to prevent or slow down the growth of tumors in the body. Purslane also contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is an ideal food for those suffering with autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, irritable bowel syndrome, and lupus. Purslane is known to be good for hemorrhoids, diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and parasites. In ancient Egypt, purslane was used to help prevent and treat heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Purslane leaves are crisp, chewy, and succulent with a mild lemony taste. It is a perfect addition to fresh vegetable juice and it also blends well with other herbs and leafy greens in a salad. The whole plant can be steamed, sauteed, or added to soups or stews. It's mucilaginous texture gives it a thickening power similar to okra.

Let me know if you like getting emails like this from me, or also if you no longer want to receive them.   Thanks!

See you at the farmer's market!!! :)

Green Love,

Joy