Tuesday, April 29, 2014

SOCIAL MEDIA LINK-UP

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!

I'm in a fantastic mood so I thought I'd share the love!  If you'd like a shoutout or a follow here's what to do...

Follow me @ the links below...Then add YOUR link in the appropriate section.  
I follow back!  Feel free to hop around and follow other bloggers!
Happy Linking!


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marys-Heirloom-Seeds/229833070442449


https://twitter.com/marysheirlooms


http://www.pinterest.com/marysheirloom/




https://plus.google.com/u/0/109276524346778741666/posts



Now that you've followed me...Share YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA links!
Please indicate which social media link you have shared.  
This is a HOP.  If you'd like, copy and paste the code to YOUR blog!






Friday, April 25, 2014

Foods that Cleanse the Liver

We're "Spring Cleaning" our recipes and meals this month.  To get started we're going to add in foods to help cleanse and support the liver.  Dr. Hart tells patient that "the Liver is your body's filter" and I think mine needs a good cleaning!  Check it out!
Organic Swiss Chard


Leafy Vegetables
On the top of my list for cleansing the liver and high in plant chlorophyll, these yummy greens pull environmental toxins from the blood stream. They also possess a distinct ability to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides.  Arugula, Dendelion, Spinach, Mustard Greens, Swiss Chard, Kale, Chicory and Cabbage are all excellent choices for leafy greens.  
Grow Your Own!  Heirloom Non-GMO Greens seeds!


Citrus: Orange, Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit
These citrus fruits contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which aids the body in synthesizing toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Drinking freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice in the morning helps stimulate the liver.


Garlic
Garlic is a proven antiviral and antibacterial that helps the liver protect the body against harmful foreign invaders. And the phytochemicals in garlic break down fatty deposits.


Green Tea
My favorite is Yerba Mate.  Full of powerful antioxidants called EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), green tea provides an overall health boost by lending the liver a much-needed hand. It helps reduce liver fat as well as protects the organ from accumulating toxins. Green tea has other, wide-ranging health benefits, including boosting metabolism and aiding in healthy weight loss, protecting and restoring brain cells, and even lowering your risk of cancer.


Apples
High in pectin, apples hold the chemical constituents necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. This detoxifying makes it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.


Cold-Pressed Oils (in moderation)
Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great for the liver, when used in moderation. They help the body by providing a lipid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body.  It can take some of the burden off the liver in terms of toxic overload.


Turmeric

The agent that gives turmeric its bright yellow color contains a powerful phytochemical component known as curcumin. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, curcumin stimulates production of bile by the gallbladder. The liver uses bile to eliminate toxins; bile also rejuvenates liver cells that breakdown harmful compounds. For this reason, turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to treat digestion and liver disorders.
*I buy fresh Turmeric Root from the Yellow Green Farmer's Market*


Cruciferous Vegetables
From Nutrition Facts, "Researchers just found out that the boost in detoxifying enzymes triggered by cruciferous vegetable consumption may last for weeks!"  
*Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, Collard Greens 
and Brussels Sprouts are the most common cruciferous veggies*
Author and liver specialist Dr. Sandra Cabot says the sulphur compounds in cruciferous vegetables, which give them their slightly bitter taste, enhance the liver's detoxification pathways and help the liver break down and eliminate fat through the bile ducts. Cruciferous vegetables also contain glucosinolates, which may play a part in preventing cancer cell growth.
Grow Your Own!   Heirloom Non-GMO Greens seeds!


I found a great recommendation for a "liver Cleanse" at Green Mountain Garlic:
Here is what you need: (All items should be raw, fresh and are better if organic)
1. Garlic
2. Ginger Root
3. Olive Oil
4. Orange
5. Lemon
6. Cayenne Pepper
7. Mint Tea
8. Water, lots of water
9. (optional) L-Arginine & L- Ornithine Capsules
10. Lots of raw fruits and vegetables. Avoid those high in starch such as potatoes and bananas.
First thing in the morning drink a glass of water.
Place ingredients items 1-6 in a blender, in the following amounts
1. Garlic (4 to 8 cloves)
2. Ginger Root (1 to 2 inches)
3. Olive Oil (1/4 to ½ cup)
4. Orange (1 whole fresh squeezed, juice only)
5. Lemon (1 whole fresh squeezed, juice only)
6. Cayenne Pepper (few dashes, appx ¼ to ½ tsp)
Blend until pureed, you may add water if necessary. Should make about 12 ounces. Hold your nose and gulp it down. The first time I drank this I had a hard time holding it down and experienced some stomach pain as I was not used to this much raw garlic. You may drink some water after to rinse some of the garlic taste out of your mouth. After 20 minutes drink 2 cups of mint tea. For the remainder of the day you may only eat raw fruits and vegetables, and drink lots of water. You must drink 1 gallon per day to flush the toxins out (very important!). Repeat for seven (7) days.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

REAL Food Friday linkup is LIVE!

Hello and Welcome to REAL Food Friday!
I'd like to thank all of the conscious bloggers who followed the guidelines and 
shared REAL FOOD recipes and posts. Thank you for sharing!
There's still time!

We're your hosts
Joyce @ It's Your Life
Lydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen 
me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Janine @ My Lamp is Full  
Marla @ Organic4 Greenlivings 

Mary’s Kitchen  
If you're interested in co-hosting let us know! 
You can email Mary at mari_backtonature@yahoo.com


In case you missed "What is Real Food" here's a recap...
I know "Real" food may not seem like as much fun as the sugary, chemically, DIY recipes out there on the internet.  This is why REAL Food Friday is so unique.  This is the place to share your unprocessed, gmo-free, locally grown and/or fair trade posts.
We are trying to make a difference 1 recipe at a time!
If your post includes items like *margarine, *granulated sugar, *food dye, packaged baking mixed with ingredients that you cannot pronounce (betty crocker, duncan hines, pillsbury) then it WILL be deleted.  These are garbage ingredients.  Sorry...Not real food.

Here's a great reference from Food Myths:
Do you ever think about how far the food you eat travels?  Who grew it?  Who picked it? How much in processing it's been through before you took a bite? Real Food is:
-Supports fair farmworker wages
-GMO Free
-Little to no processing/processed ingredients
-Supports local markets/vendors and isn't transported long distances to get to my plate
-Honors fair trade principles when I buy from othr regions
-Meat and dairy should be humanely raised and on real food themselves-Not genetically engineered feed, drugs, hormones and antibiotics.

Link up your Real Food posts!  Processed and "junk food" posts will be deleted.
The party runs from Thursday at 7pm EST through Monday at Noon.
Please follow your hosts and consider adding the Real Food Friday button.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Chiropractic and Exercise Better Than Drugs (study)

A note from my Chiropractor (shared with permission)

  APRIL   2014
A quick note from Dr. Robert Hart
Have you every wondered why we recommend stretching and exercise to just about everyone who walks in our door?  For most patients, we give specific home instructions which are vital to their successful stability and recovery.
Chiropractors and Exercise Are Better Than Drugs (study)
By Dr. Mercola
Chronic pain is an exceedingly common condition impacting an estimated 76.5 million Americans, one-third of whom describe their pain as severe and "disabling".
Among them, many suffer from neck pain, which is the third most common type of pain according to the American Pain Foundation.

It is estimated that 70 percent of people will experience neck pain at some point in their lives but research into effective treatments is surprisingly limited.ii  

If you visit a conventional physician for pain, there's a very good chance you'll leave with a prescription for a medication,as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen (Tylenol) and even opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) are the go-to treatment for pain in the modern medical world.

However, there are better options than drugs for neck pain, not only in terms of pain relief, but also in helping to treat the underlying cause of the pain so that healing can truly occur.
New Study Shows Exercises and Chiropractic Care Beat Drugs for Neck Pain
According to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and funded by the National Institutes of Health, medication is not the best option for treating neck pain.
After following 272 neck-pain patients for 12 weeks, those who used a chiropractor or exercise were more than twice as likely to be pain free compared to those who took medication.
Specifically:
  • 32 percent who received chiropractic care became pain free
  • 30 percent of those who exercised became pain free
  • 13 percent of those treated with medication became pain free
Researchers concluded:
"For participants with acute and subacute neck pain, SMT [spinal manipulation therapy] was more effective than medication in both the short and long term. However, a few instructional sessions of HEA [home exercise with advice] resulted in similar outcomes at most time points."
Continue Reading
Most people go to the Chiropractor because of pain.  In our office, we are all about Function.  Chiropractic may also help:
  • Improve Nervous System Function
  • Relieve Prenatal Discomfort
  • Increase Vitality and Improve Quality of Life
  • Provide Preventative Care
  • Improve Overall Health and Wellness for both children and adults
Give us a call for your next appointment!

Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Hart                    Like us on Facebook
2104 Tyler Street 
Hollywood, FL 33020 
(954) 364-8841 
"The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. "
Join
the Family
Through the end of April we are offering a
$25 Gift Certificates for new patients
interested in joining "our family."
In our office, once you're a patient, you're family.
If it's been over 6 months since your last adjustment, we'll apply that $25 gift certificate to your re-exam.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2014!

From our latest e-newsletter...



  from Mary's Heirloom Seeds!
Dear Mary,
We are THRILLED to offer a
 BEE-FRIENDLY Organic Seeds Giveaway
in celebration of Earth Day and reaching 2,000 likes at our "growing" facebook page.
 
How can YOU get involved in Earth Day? 
-Recycle in the Garden
-Grow your own "Medicine"
-DIY Organic Pest Control
*Stop using harmful chemicals in the garden 
-Turn off lights when you're not using them 
-Collect rain water to water your garden 
-If you don't already, try making many of your condiments and breads from scratch.  This should cut down on plastic packaging and processed foods.
Most important...Grow Your Own!  We can help!

Happy Planting,
Mary                                               Like us on Facebook
Earth
Day!
I know we just offered a HUGE sale on select seeds but it was brought
to my attention that I never shared specifics of the savings...Ooops!
So, here you go!     *These are all Full Packs!*

GENOVESE BASIL  ...   Only $2.50!
Forget-Me-Not   ...   Only $1.50
Purple Plum Radish   ...   Only $2.00
Ace 55 Tomato   ...   $2.50
Emerald Green Tomato   ...   $3.00
Tam De Honeydew Melon   ...   $2.00
Long Island Brussels Sprouts   ...   $2.75
European Mesclun Mix   ...   $2.00
 
SALE ENDS SATURDAY, APRIL 26th at Midnight EST

Monday, April 21, 2014

BEE-FRIENDLY Earth Day GIVEAWAY!

I am THRILLED to announce a HUGE GIVEAWAY and just in time for Earth Day!

I have been promising this giveaway opportunity once we reached 
 2,000 likes on our facebook page...And we made it!!!



 Welcome to Mary's Heirloom Seeds!
NEW Heirloom Varieties available in SPECIALTY Heirlooms
All of the seeds listed are
open-pollinated, non-gmo and non-hybrid,
non-patented,  untreated, heirloom garden seeds.

Mary has signed the Safe Seed pledge.  
Seed Orders placed Monday-Thursday are shipped within 24 hours, except for holidays.

Shipping on Heirloom Seeds is Free within the Continental US!

This "BEE-FRIENDLY" Seed Pack Giveaway includes 
1 full pack of EACH of the following organic varieties:
BACHELOR BUTTON
CALENDULA
FORGET-ME-NOT
LUPINE, ARROYO BLUE
AFRICAN CRACKERJACK MARIGOLD
YARROW 
GIANT OF CALIFORNIA ZINNIA

 For more information on Organic Wildflowers, check out  

 This giveaway is available to anyone in the US. Ends 4/30/14 at Midnight.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marys-Heirloom-Seeds/229833070442449

Sign up for our E-Newsletter



Friday, April 18, 2014

Easter Weekend with EARTH DAY right around the Corner!

It's time to plant those seeds if you have not already.  Grow your own Organic produce and save a bundle!


Blue Clouds Header Image
SURPRISE SALE                APRIL 2014
Join My Mailing List
Forward to a Friend
Email Me

*NEW*
Mother's Day gift ideas

Includes free shipping and a Mother's Day card



Includes 6 varieties of Wildflowers 
- Marigold 
-Bachelor Button
-Butterfly Garden
-Lupine Arroyo Blue
-Purple Coneflower
 
-Yarrow







Make wonderful homemade salsa fresh from the garden!

 One packet of each.  Includes:
-Mortgage Lifter Tomato
-Jalapeno Pepper
-Anaheim Pepper
-Red Burgundy Onion
-Cilantro

Mary's Garden Pack

Includes:  
-Amana's Orange Tomato
-German Giant Radish
-Anaheim Pepper
-Detroit Dark Red Beet
-Jalapeno Pepper
-Tom Thumb Lettuce
-Blue Lake Bush Bean
-Purple-Top Whiteglobe Turnip
-5-Color Silverbeet  
Swiss Chard
-Marketmore Cucumber 
Quick Links
 
SURPRISE!!!!
We think you're swell!  We've had such amazing feedback lately from customers that we decided to offer a "Surprise Sale"

Check out these amazing deals...

Purple Plum Radish
Forget-Me-Not
Tam Dew Honeydew melon
European Mesclun Mix
Genovese Basil

This "SURPRISE SALE" will only last through 4/20/14 at Midnight EST.  Orders placed Friday (4/18/14) until noon will ship out TODAY!
If you have additional questions please feel free to ask.
 
Sincerely,
Mary
 

Thursday, April 17, 2014

REAL Food Friday Party is LIVE

Hello and Welcome to REAL Food Friday!
I'd like to thank all of the conscious bloggers who followed the guidelines and 
shared REAL FOOD recipes and posts. Thank you for sharing!

A few HUGE events are coming up...
This Saturday at the Yellow Green Farmer's Market in booth #281 I am hosting a FREE seed-planting event for the kids to celebrate Earth Day!
Easter is this Sunday!  EARTH DAY is Tuesday, April 22nd!
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11th and we just announced 
"Mother's Day Gift Ideas" @ Mary's Heirloom Seeds
Food Revolution Day is Friday, May 16th!

We're your hosts
Joyce @ It's Your Life
Lydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen 
me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen
Janine @ My Lamp is Full  
Marla @ Organic4 Greenlivings 

Mary’s Kitchen  
If you're interested in co-hosting let us know! 
You can email Mary at mari_backtonature@yahoo.com

FEATURES:

Homemade Yogurt from Simple Life Mom

Food Revolution Day is Coming from Juggling Real Food and Real Life

In case you missed "What is Real Food" here's a recap...
I know "Real" food may not seem like as much fun as the sugary, chemically, DIY recipes out there on the internet.  This is why REAL Food Friday is so unique.  This is the place to share your unprocessed, gmo-free, locally grown and/or fair trade posts.
We are trying to make a difference 1 recipe at a time!
If your post includes items like *margarine, *granulated sugar, *food dye, packaged baking mixed with ingredients that you cannot pronounce (betty crocker, duncan hines, pillsbury) then it WILL be deleted.  These are garbage ingredients.  Sorry...Not real food.

Here's a great reference from Food Myths:
Do you ever think about how far the food you eat travels?  Who grew it?  Who picked it? How much in processing it's been through before you took a bite? Real Food is:
-Supports fair farmworker wages
-GMO Free
-Little to no processing/processed ingredients
-Supports local markets/vendors and isn't transported long distances to get to my plate
-Honors fair trade principles when I buy from othr regions
-Meat and dairy should be humanely raised and on real food themselves-Not genetically engineered feed, drugs, hormones and antibiotics.

Link up your Real Food posts!  Processed and "junk food" posts will be deleted.
The party runs from Thursday at 7pm EST through Monday at Noon.
Please follow your hosts and consider adding the Real Food Friday button.

Growing Herbs from Seed (part 1)


Mary's Heirloom Seeds Newsletter
Growing Herbs from Seed






EARTH DAY CELEBRATION!
Join us at the
Yellow Green Farmer's Market

BOOTH #281
this Saturday,
April 19th
11am-1
for a FREE seed-planting event for the kids.

Like us on Facebook
 
Have you seen our


*NEW* variety 
We now offer  
Pick-UP options  
for seed orders.

Call (954) 654-3501 
or email
mary@marysheirloomseeds.com 
for more information or to place an order.



ALL Seed orders placed Monday-Thursday are shipped within 24 hours, except for holidays. 
 

How is your garden growing?  I know I've shared links for growing many varieties of veggies but herbs are some of my favorites (especially the easy ones).  Many varieties take up very little room and require minimal attention to flourish.
Growing Anise Hyssop from Seed
Anise hyssop can be started indoors 4-6 weeks prior to the last frost of the spring.  
Transplant outdoors after the final frost of the season, once plants are approx. 3-4 inches tall and show their first true leaves. 
Anise will grow in partial shade as well as full sun.
The plant grows to 3 to 5 feet tall and 1 foot wide and reseeds freely.  Anise Hyssop is an excellent addition to your garden as it is bee-friendly and edible.  Attracts bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds

Germination: 10-14 days
Days to Harvest: 60
Growing Basil from Seed
Sow seeds outdoors when soil is warm and temperature does not drop below 65°F. Can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Make successive sowings for continuous summer supplies. Pinch back flower stalks as they appear to keep plants from bolting. Prefers rich well-drained soil.

Basil has few pests, but occasionally pests such as aphids, flea beetles, and Japanese beetles will feast upon it. I use a spray bottle of water or water with neem oil to detach aphids.
Grow in full sun (6 hours or more).
 
Germination: 5-7 days
Days to Harvest: 45-75
 
Growing Borage from Seed
Companion plant for Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Strawberries and more
 
 
Sow seeds indoors on surface of soil. Can also be directly sown outdoors two weeks after the last spring frost. Prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil. Divide every 3-4 years.
Growing Catnip from Seed
Catnip grows as a loosely branching, low perennial. In a flowerbed, you can plant catnip in front of purple coneflower, which blooms about the same time. The plant bears tiny, white blooms that are not very showy. You can also grow it in containers.Set out transplants in the spring after the last frost. Keep plants full by pinching the growing stems and flower buds when they appear.
Germination: 7-10 days
Days to Harvest: 80 
Growing  Dill from Seed
Dill is a very easy herb to grow and can be grown indoors or outdoors. 
 
Dill enjoys full sun, and flourishes in average to fertile soil with good drainage.Sun can damage dill if it has too much of it. However, you will want sun shining on it at least six hours a day.
If you have some moisture in the air this is great. But if you struggle with moisture in the air you will want to mist your dill plant from time to time.
 
 
To plant dill, place seeds over loose soil and cover about a half inch deep. Keep soil moist but not water-logged.
Growing  Lavender from Seed
 Lavender can be grown from seed or from cuttings.  Lavender can be difficult growing from seed but not impossible.

Make sure that you plant lavender in warm weather. It should be in the late spring or Early summer. Lavender needs lots of sunshine. Make sure that it will not be in a great deal of shade."

Soil is very important.  Drainage is important and should include loose compost.   Lavender can be grown both in the ground as well as in containers.  The larger the container, the larger the plant may grow.
Growing  Tarragon from Seed
Sow four or five seeds per pot in moist potting soil.   Cover them with compost or soil to exclude light. Keep them indoors at room temperature.  Planting in Peat Pellets will make transplanting simple and ensure the roots are not disturbed.

When the seedlings begin to show, move them outside, out of direct sunlight. Thin them to one seedling per pot. They are ready for planting in their final position outside when the seedlings are 4 inches high.

 Tarragon can be grown in containers for two or three years with no special care.  They can also be over-wintered indoors if you have a sunny windowsill.

Tarragon prefers well-drained soil which is not too high in nutrients. It will do equally well in full sun or partial shade. 

When Transplanting: dig the soil well before planting and add a handful of bonemeal per square yard at the same time. If the soil is not well-drained dig in as much well-rotted organic material as possible to open up the soil - I use rotted leaves.

Choose a position where they can remain undisturbed for two or three years. You may not think that Tarragon is not a very pretty plant (depending on who you ask), so consider this when choosing a position. Mulching with organic matter in October will help them over winter if your area has particularly harsh winter weather.   
That's all for now but there is more to come!!!
Do you have room for more herbs in the garden?
 
Happy Planting!                   Like us on Facebook
 
Mary
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.
Thomas A. Edison 
 "The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway."
Michael Pollan