Dandelion Path

Seed Collecting and Trading

Oct 16, 2007

Ever consider growing a garden from seed? It’s can be cheaper and easier than you think. Most of the many plants around my garden were grown from seed. I started collecting my own seed and found I was saving a bundle and having fun with it! If you’re interested, now is the time of year to try. While seeds can be collected all through the summer (especially from perennials), there seems to be more available in the fall (such as from annuals). To get started, check out The Seed Site. This is an amazing resource for both the beginner and the seasoned gardener. It covers how to save seeds, what to look for, how to grow them and even includes several pictoral indexes of hundreds of seeds, seed pods and seedlings.

Once you start saving your own seeds you can enter the somewhat addictive world of seed trading. Here’s how it works:
You save and label seeds that you collect
Then post the seeds you have available and the seeds you want on a seed trading forum
Through the forum you arrange a trade with another gardener and send them in the mail to eachother. The only cost is postage, which often isn’t much!

I use GardenWeb Seed Exchange for seed trading. I’ve tried other ones but didn’t like them as much.

Happy seed collecting, trading and sowing!

Posted In: Gardening • Comments (0)

The Meatrix

Oct 16, 2007

Most conventional farms today don’t look anything like what you see in children’s books. Yet, many people aren’t even aware of the reality of the situation. The people at Sustainable Table and Free Range Studios have done an amazing job shedding light on the situation. I highly recommend you check out their short animated film The Meatrix. It’s hilarious, creative and unfortunately quite true.

Support your local small farms. It’s better for everyone!

Posted In: Nutrition/Health | Activism • Comments (0)

The Pregnant Patient’s Rights

Oct 15, 2007

If giving birth in a hospital or birth center, it’s important to be aware of your rights. With the birth of my daughter I had no idea that I could refuse the many monitors and wires that kept me on my back in bed. I had no idea that I was allowed to walk around freely or choose the labor position I wanted to be in. While you do have the following legal rights, keep in mind that the hospital has their own standard policies (such as wearing a hospital gown) and can refuse treatment if you do not abide by them. It’s best to find out about these in advance so you can be prepared.

Here are some of the most important of your legal rights:

You have the right to choose where you will give birth.
You have the right to be informed of the credentials of those treating you (including whether or not they are medical students)
You have the right to refuse any drugs, tests, procedures or treatments.
You have the right to be informed of the risks/benefits associated with proposed procedures or medications. Alternative options should also be disclosed. You have the right to accept or refuse the proposed procedures and then have the right to change your mind.
You have the right to access to any of your medical records.
You have the right to know why any procedure is being done.
You have the right to birth in whatever position is most comfortable (including ones that free you from the medical equipment).
You have the right to uninterrupted contact to your baby at all times unless separation is medically required (not currently entitled by the legal system but most likely upheld).

Information taken from the pamphlet: The Rights of Childbearing Women

Posted In: Pregnancy • Comments (0)

Medicines: Not always the best medicine

Oct 14, 2007

With the news Thursday of several children’s medicines being pulled from the shelves I’m reminded of why I pursue a natural life. Many of the medicines available to us are often unnessesary and rarely completely safe. Simple remedies such as a good nights sleep, a cool cloth on the head, drinking plenty of water and eating a whole-foods diet are often overlooked. When medicines are used as a “quick fix” or just to hide symptoms I wonder if we’re really doing ourselves a favor. It’s true that prevention is the best medicine.

Here’s an intersting article to check out:
Statistics prove prescription drugs are 16,400% more deadly than terrorists

Posted In: Nutrition/Health • Comments (0)