Poetry, art, music, photography and anything else that flows from the heart.

Art by Aleksander Razboinikov

"The Taiga's Ballerina"

"The Dance with Butterflies"

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please send us your poetry and art inspired by Anastasia ideas. The best will be published in our monthly online Newsletter and Facebook. We accept your artworks at info@ringingcedarsofrussia.org

Please visit the forum at Source of Life Association and share your opinions on the books of Vladimir Megre. Discuss Anastasia's ideas about harmonic life, and how you use them for yourself. Share your impressions.

You can now discuss your ideas on the following topics:

• Opinions - Anastasia's ideas in books by V. N. Megre. Share your thoughts.
• Let's get to know each other - A section in which you can create your personal profile for people to see as well as your personal page if you have something to share.
• Get Together People! - Searching for friends in your community.
• Forgotten Knowledge of Our Ancestors - All new, well forgotten old
• Health - Share your experiences.
• About Our Children - Forum that is dedicated to our children, from birth to education.

Let's build a strong community together. Support each other with positive thoughts and create a real plan for making our dreams come true.

Visit the Forum.

Forum Talk

Posted by 'puebloparaiso' in a topic 'purity of thought'. Join the discussion of this topic here:

I have been wondering about this topic for 2 years now, and after re-reading A Course in Miracles, and The Disappearance of the Universe & Your Immortal Reality by Gary Renard, I have also come to the conclusion, as others have hinted at herein, that "purity of thought" really is Truth. Now, as most are aware we classify Truth in 1 of 2 ways...

http://www.ringingcedarsforum.com/

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this forum are personal opinions of individuals creating the posts. We are not liable for any information posted on the forum.

This section is devoted to the information that will be useful in the creation of a Kin's Domains.

Benefits of Role-Models

Why do we use role-models to help children learn the skills needed to be a motivated self-learner? Because modeling the behavior, thoughts, and attitudes of successful people has been shown to help a person become more successful.

Our research has shown that almost all of the successful people today (success defined as setting and reaching one's own goal) had a series of role-models. The leaders of today all had great role-models that inspired them to great heights.

Whether it is Bill Clinton that used John F. Kennedy as his role-model or Henry Ford that used Thomas Edison as his role-model (in fact, he hung a picture of Edison near his work area). The selection of good role-models serves as a guide for them to make the most out of their abilities.

Einstein said, "Imagination is more important knowledge." By introducing your child to role-models for all aspects of their lives, you are growing their imagination. With good role-models, you get your child to imagine success.

Role-models are a very powerful force for setting and achieving productive goals. Our minds are naturally developed to learn from the experience of others. Whether the experience is captured in the form of books, stories, or games – the experience of others offers a very powerful way to reach a higher level of success.

For example, teaching concepts of persistence through stories about the famous inventor Thomas Edison that failed 10,000 times before discovering the light bulb is a great way to show a child the value of determination!

It is imperative that children be exposed to good role-models that can guide them to develop their maximum potential in all aspects of their lives. Children naturally look to their surroundings for role-models. If they cannot find a good role-model, they will cling to bad ones.

Children need a set of good role-models to set an example of the behaviors, thinking styles, and attitudes needed to succeed in life.

A child that is intelligent, but does not have role-models to show them qualities like persistence, determination, and creative thinking is bound to be fall short of their true potential.

Having good role-models in a child's life will give them a sense of productive goals and a sense of direction towards those goals. Humans without goals and role-models flounder in their lives.

A survey of most people in prison will show that many of them did not have goals or good role-models to give them a sense of direction! A survey of successful people show that they envisioned their ambitious goals at a young age. These very same successful folks also had positive role-models that they followed to reach their goals.

At the very least, take some time at the dinner table once a week and introduce your child to successful attitudes by telling them stories about successful people throughout human history.

For example, introduce your child to the positive quality of persistence by talking about Edison and his quest to invent the light bulb. Talking about the fact that Edison persisted through 10,000 failures until he finally found a way to make the light bulb. Mention how Edison's success came from his failures.

Stories like these will help inspire your child to be a motivated self-learner and practical dreamer.

Written by Curiosoft Kids Games

http://www.curiosoft.com/
Images copyright: http://sovettebe.ru/

Helping Your Children Choose Their Heroes Through Reading

By Adam Starchild

Children today are starved for the image of real heroes. Celebrities are not the same thing as heroes. Heroes existed way before celebrities ever did, even though celebrities now outshine heroes in children's consciousness.

Worshiping celebrities leaves children with a distinctly empty feeling -- it doesn't teach that they'll have to make sacrifices if they want to achieve anything worthwhile. No- talents become celebrities all the time. The result is that people don't seem to care about achievement or talent -- fame is the only objective.

What is a hero? Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of traits that instruct and inspire people. A hero does something worth talking about, but a hero goes beyond mere fame or celebrity. The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. If they serve only their own fame, they may be celebrities but not heroes. Heroes are catalysts for change. They create new possibilities. They have a vision, and the skill and charm to implement their vision.

Heroes may also be fictional. Children may identify with a character because of the values projected. People tend to grow to be like the people that they admire, but if a child never has any heroes what images will he copy? Adults need heroes too, but the need is even more urgent for children because they don't know how to think abstractly. But they can imagine what their hero would do in the circumstances, and it gives them a useful reference point to build abstract thinking skills.

Good reading selections can help your children find their own heroes -- to provide the emotional experience of admiring a figure they can look up to. Through the wide variety of reading experiences and choices of heroes, your children will find those models that best suit them.

Plato and Aristotle (by Raphael Santi). Aristotle [right] is a great role-model for kids. He was an Olimpic athlete, philosopher, polymath, a student of Plato and a teacher of Alexander the Great.

It is important that children become familiar with worthy examples -- both real and fictional -- that they can emulate.

This does not mean that everything they read needs to be populated with heroes. Children will turn away from fictional villains they don't like. It is important to avoid children's stories in which the hero commits and gets away with evil actions. Don't assume that because a story is traditional it is automatically the literature you want your child to read. It is easy to think "that's o.k., it's a traditional children's story and I know it isn't dirty" without giving a moment's thought to the other messages that the story might be subconsciously conveying to your child.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is certainly a traditional story, and most parents buy the book almost automatically, without a thought to the message. Goldilocks is lost and frightened, goes to a house and knocks, but no one is home. But that doesn't justify the crimes that follow. Yes, crimes! Breaking and entering, petty vandalism and theft -- even the nerve to go to sleep in a bed which doesn't belong to her either.

Is this really what you intended to teach your child -- that if you get lost it is alright to break into anybody's house and use their property? The story may be traditional, but these aren't the values you want to be teaching. It is so easy to assume that a well known book is okay, and select it for your child without even being aware of the subtle messages that it conveys -- messages that may be having far more influence on your child than you realize. After all, aren't you the one that told your child that this was a good book -- or read the story aloud? As your child is exposed to these traditional stories, you will want to take the time to explain the lessons in them. Without this guidance you may be unknowingly confusing the child. A child can also become confused when the villains in the story are likeable people who do evil.

Visible heroes today may be a bit harder to find and less dramatic, which is all the more reason to help your children start with the clear cut fictional heroes and then gradually transfer those learned ideals to the real world around them. There is no better place for a child to start than well-selected stories and novels where the hero has ability and integrity -- somebody who accomplishes an important, positive job.

All children start life with the same empty brain cells. What the adults around them put into those minds determines the resulting personalities. Stories -- whether heard or read -- are some of the most fundamental influences on a child.

One writer whose books are highly suitable for all ages is Robert Heinlein. He uses a science fiction format to deliver important messages, and it is often easier for a child to receive and understand the message when the setting is entirely unfamiliar and the characters and events can therefore be seen more clearly. For an older child you might want to start with The Past Through Tomorrow a collection of his shorter stories. This lets the child break the reading into distinct units. For younger children look for Podkayne of Mars, Between Planets, or Have Spacesuit Will Travel.

If your child likes westerns, try some of the books by Louis Lamour.

For preschoolers, any Dr. Seuss books. They may not be obvious as sources of heroes from an adult viewpoint, but from a small child's viewpoint they have characters that are easy to remember.

For the whole family, try The Fire Hunter by Jim Kjelgaard or Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson. And Heinlein's The Rolling Stones or Farmer in the Sky. Both are strong family books about future pioneers who have to solve problems for themselves. These heroes had to make themselves intelligent and capable to make a new, better life for themselves.

Don't dismiss heroes just because they are fictional. The power of creative imagination is one that is critically important to develop in children. When they learn to imagine with confidence and pleasure things they can't actually see, it is the first step towards conceptualization and abstract thinking -- important skills for handling adult challenges.

http://www.oocities.org/
Images copyright: http://maminiskazki.ru/; http://www.abc-people.com

Watch Video:

Role Models and Kids

What You Need to Know About Foodborne Illness-Causing Organisms in the U.S.

While the American food supply is among the safest in the world, the Federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness annually–the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year. And each year these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

The chart below includes foodborne disease-causing organisms that frequently cause illness in the United States. As the chart shows, the threats are numerous and varied, with symptoms ranging from relatively mild discomfort to very serious,life-threatening illness. While the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of serious consequences from most foodborne illnesses, some of the organisms shown below pose grave threats to all persons.

	Organism Common Name of Illness Onset Time After Ingesting Signs & Symptoms Duration Food Sources Bacillus cereus B. cereus food poisoning 10-16 hrs Abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, nausea 24-48 hours Meats, stews, gravies, vanilla sauce Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacteriosis 2-5 days Diarrhea, cramps, fever, and vomiting; diarrhea may be bloody 2-10 days Raw and undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk,contaminated water Clostridium botulinum Botulism 12-72 hours Vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, double vision, difficulty in swallowing, muscle weakness. Can result in respiratory failure and death Variable Improperly canned foods, especially home-canned vegetables, fermented fish, baked potatoes in aluminum foil Clostridium perfringens Perfringens food poisoning 8–16 hours Intense abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea Usually 24 hours Meats, poultry, gravy, dried or precooked foods, time and/or temperature-abused foods Cryptosporidium Intestinal cryptosporidiosis 2-10 days Diarrhea (usually watery), stomach cramps, upset stomach, slight fever May be remitting and relapsing over weeks to months Uncooked food or food contaminated by an ill food handler after cooking, contaminated drinking water Cyclospora cayetanensis Cyclosporiasis 1-14 days, usually at least 1 week Diarrhea (usually watery), loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fatigue May be remitting and relapsing over weeks to months Various types of fresh produce (imported berries, lettuce, basil) E. coli (Escherichia coli) producing toxin E. coli infection (common cause of “travelers’ diarrhea”) 1-3 days Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, some vomiting 3-7 or more days Water or food contaminated with human feces E. coli O157:H7 Hemorrhagic colitis or E. coli O157:H7 infection 1-8 days Severe (often bloody) diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Usually, little or no fever is present. More common in children 4 years or younger. Can lead to kidney failure. 5-10 days Undercooked beef (especially hamburger), unpasteurized milk and juice, raw fruits and vegetables (e.g. sprouts), and contaminated water Hepatitis A Hepatitis 28 days average (15-50 days) Diarrhea, dark urine, jaundice, and flu-like symptoms, i.e., fever, headache, nausea, and abdominal pain Variable, 2 weeks-3 months Raw produce, contaminated drinking water, uncooked foods and cooked foods that are not reheated after contact with an infected food handler; shellfish from contaminated waters Listeria monocytogenes Listeriosis 9-48 hrs for gastro-intestinal symptoms, 2-6 weeks for invasive disease Fever, muscle aches, and nausea or diarrhea. Pregnant women may have mild flu-like illness, and infection can lead to premature delivery or stillbirth. The elderly or immunocompromised patients may develop bacteremia or meningitis. Variable Unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, ready-to-eat deli meats Noroviruses Variously called viral gastroenteritis, winter diarrhea, acute non- bacterial gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and food infection 12-48 hrs Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, fever, headache. Diarrhea is more prevalent in adults, vomiting more common in children. 12-60 hrs Raw produce, contaminated drinking water, uncooked foods and cooked foods that are not reheated after contact with an infected food handler; shellfish from contaminated waters Salmonella Salmonellosis 6-48 hours Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting 4-7 days Eggs, poultry, meat, unpateurized milk or juice, cheese, contaminated raw fruits and vegetables Shigella Shigellosis or Bacillary dysentery 4-7 days Abdominal cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Stools may contain blood and mucus. 24-48 hrs Raw produce, contaminated drinking water, uncooked foods and cooked foods that are not reheated after contact with an infected food handler Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcal food poisoning 1-6 hours Sudden onset of severe nausea and vomiting. Abdominal cramps. Diarrhea and fever may be present. 24-48 hours Unrefrigerated or improperly refrigerated meats, potato and egg salads, cream pastries Vibrio parahaemolyticus V. parahaemolyticus infection 4-96 hours Watery (occasionally bloody) diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever 2-5 days Undercooked or raw seafood, such as shellfish Vibrio vulnificus V. vulnificus infection 1-7 days Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloodborne infection. Fever, bleeding within the skin, ulcers requiring surgical removal. Can be fatal to persons with liver disease or weakened immune systems. 2-8 days Undercooked or raw seafood, such as shellfish (especially oysters)

http://www.fda.gov/

Image Copyrights: http://crazys.info/

Protect Yourself from Foodborne Illness

by Leah Greenbaum, Special to Lifescript

Do you know if what you're eating is safe? From food recalls to salmonella-tainted eggs, we've all seen the outcome of foodborne illness in the news. Find out how to protect yourself from food poisoning - and what to do when an outbreak occurs...

Eggs, unfortunately, aren't the only source of foodborne illness.

A farm grows alfalfa sprouts next to a chicken coop, exposing them to poultry feces. A filthy truck contaminates a load of spinach.

Or a worker at a cookie-dough factory doesn't wash his hands after visiting the bathroom.

Do you know how or even think about how food is handled before it gets to your table? Probably not.

Trouble is, what you don't see can be hazardous to your health.

Foodborne illnesses costs the U.S. $152 billion in health-related expenses every year. An outbreak can wreak havoc on our public food safety system, make favorite foods the enemy and even take lives.

But you can't rely on the government to protect you. That's why Lifescript asked top food-safety experts about how you can avoid food poisoning.

What's Making You Sick?

Many different bacteria can leave you wishing you'd never touched that peanut butter sandwich.

The three most commonly linked to food poisoning are salmonella, campylobacter jejuni ("Campy" or C. jejuni), and Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (E. coli).

All are found in underprocessed foods – including unpasteurized milk and uncooked poultry or red meats – and can easily travel to fruits and vegetables.

These bacteria stem from feces and can linger on hands and skin unless washed off, says Sam Beattie, Ph.D., a food safety specialist at Iowa State University.

They can easily contaminate almost anything, from spinach touched by fecal run-off to poultry crowded into filthy sheds.

Here's a rundown on all three bacteria:

Salmonella

The most frequent cause of food poisoning, salmonella causes about 40,000 complaints to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 400 deaths annually.

Symptoms of food poisoning show up within 6-48 hours of eating a contaminated food. Salmonella causes "copious, watery diarrhea," Beattie says. It can dredge up stomach cramps, fever and vomiting too.

Salmonella infection usually doesn't kill, but it can be deadly if it enters the bloodstream and spreads to tissues throughout the body. Then it can lead to other serious infections, such as:

Meningitis, which affects the brain and spinal cord Endocarditis, which targets the lining of the heart or its valves Osteomyelitis, which seeks out the bones or marrow

It can also lead to reactive arthritis, which can cause painful joints and urination, and irritated eyes.

C. jejuni

These unpleasant bacteria, the second-leading cause of food-borne illness, don't receive much media attention since most outbreaks are sporadic and isolated. The bacteria enter the cells of the gut, causing severe diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

The illness will usually begin 2-5 days after eating a contaminated food, and recovery can take up to 10 days, a long time for food poisoning.

In rare cases C. jejuni leads to a rare autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which the body attacks its nerves, possibly resulting in temporary paralysis and requiring intensive care.

E. coli

This bacteria, usually associated with ground beef, vegetables and fruits, has been responsible for the most Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalls and receives the most media attention. Yet it infects only about 1 out of every 100,000 people exposed to it.

High-profile outbreaks have involved organic bean sprouts (Germany, 2011), cookie dough (Nestle Tollhouse, June 2009), ground beef (JBS Swift Beef Co., June 2009), green onions (Taco Bell, 2006) and bagged spinach (Mission Organics, 2006).

E. coli 0157:H7, the most common infectious strain of the bacteria, causes severe bloody diarrhea, pain, vomiting and usually little to no fever.

Infected people can also develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which E. coli bacteria enter the blood stream and destroy red blood cells. The damaged cells clog the tiny renal blood vessels, leading to kidney failure.

Protect Yourself

Even if you don't know how your food is processed or grown, you can ward off foodborne illnesses.

Here are seven food safety tips to outsmart the harfmul microbes lurking in your food:

1. Turn Up the Heat

Cook poultry to 180 degrees and meat to about 160 degrees, advise Purdue University food safety experts.

"Cooking to the recommended temperatures will kill" the bad organisms, Beattie says.

But use a food thermometer, not your eyes, to be sure it's done, says Catherine H. Strohbehn, Ph.D., a food-safety specialist and professor at Iowa State University. "Color is not a true indicator of 'doneness.'"

Most fish should be cooked to 140 degrees, but tuna, swordfish and marlin only have to be cooked to 125 degrees.

2. Chill It Right

Protect meat before it hits the grill, advises Jeff Nelken, a food-safety expert and coach who works with restaurants and the Los Angeles Health Department.

"Invest in a $3 or $4 thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure it's working at the right temperature," he says.

Bacteria multiply rapidly at 45-140 degrees, so set your fridge to 41 degrees or lower. And always store raw meat and poultry separately from foods that won't be cooked. Leave them on low shelves in the fridge, to prevent juices from spilling into other food.

Eggs can be carriers of foodborne illness, so handle them with care. Under new federal proposals, egg producers would be required to test regularly for salmonella, buy chicks from suppliers who do the same and keep eggs refrigerated on the farm and during shipment. (Only half of the egg industry currently takes these measures voluntarily.)

Here are some food safety steps to take at home:

Buy refrigerated grade AA or A eggs with clean, uncracked shells and keep them in a refrigerator no warmer than 40 degrees. Use raw-shell (uncooked) eggs within five weeks of purchase and hardboiled eggs within one week of cooking. Avoid keeping raw or cooked eggs and foods containing eggs (like dough or potato salad) out of the refrigerator for more than two hours (including time for preparing and serving). Remember to wash eggs – even if you've just been handling the uncracked shell – since contamination is usually found on the shell. That's because an egg exits a hen's body through the same passageway as feces.

3. Avoid Cross-Contamination

After Nestle recalled its cookie dough in 2009, the FDA advised people not to eat or even cook the dough. Cooking would have killed the bacteria, but getting dough on your hands or kitchen counters would still be dangerous.

Surfaces you cook and cut on can harbor bacteria from contaminated food. To avoid cross-contamination, keep raw and cooked meat separate.

Iowa State's Strohbehn, for example, carries the meat to the grill on a cutting board covered in wax paper. Then she tosses out the wax paper and carries the cooked meat back on the clean board (or you can use two plates). You can also:

Designate specific platters, cutting boards and utensils for raw meat only. Clean all hard surfaces that come into contact with raw meat. Use hot, soapy water or try a chlorine mixture of one tablespoon bleach to one gallon of water. Buy new cutting boards when they develop cuts or grooves that are hard to clean. Bacteria will multiply in those areas.

Also, disinfect sponges − which Nelken calls "bacteria traps" − in the dishwasher or a bleach solution at least every other day, and replace them every week or two. Sponges transport bacteria: Say you sponge off the plate that held raw chicken breasts. Then you wipe down your counter or a set of glasses and voila! The bacteria in the chicken is now smeared all over those surfaces.

4. Scrub Your Hands

The best food-safety tip: Wash your hands before cooking and eating. But "splash-and-dash" won't cut it, Strohbehn says. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and lather for 15 seconds − sing a verse or two of your favorite song − before you rinse.

5. Wash Uncooked Food

Wash food you're working with, especially fresh produce - even the pre-washed kind, Strohbehn advises. "There are always certain levels of bacteria present on it."

The FDA advises washing produce thoroughly under running water just before eating and cutting away damaged or bruised areas.

That even includes vegetables you plan to peel. Firm produce, like melons and cucumbers, should be scrubbed with a produce brush, available at most grocery stores.

Although the FDA doesn't recommend washing produce with regular soap or detergents, special "produce washes" can be slightly more effective than water alone.

But you can save your pennies by using a vinegar or lemon juice spritz, followed by running water. To reduce bacteria even more, dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel. Here are more food safety techniques for produce:

Buy unbruised and undamaged fresh produce (even if it's discounted). Bacteria thrive in those cracks and moist places. If fruit is pre-cut (like a fruit salad or half a watermelon) make sure it's refrigerated or packed in ice.

6. Understand Your Risk

Children under 9 years old, pregnant women, people with HIV or compromised immune systems and people older than 65 are vulnerable to complications from foodborne infections, such as severe dehydration, and may have to be hospitalized.

Pregnant women and the elderly should avoid packaged lunchmeats and egg dishes that might have runny undercooked yolks, Strohbehn says. And children should never drink unpasteurized apple juice or milk drinks on field trips to farms or county fairs.

Anyone at high risk should see a doctor if they suspect food poisoning, says Walid Alali, Ph.D, a professor at the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia.

Also, check the FDA's website frequently for warnings of outbreaks. And know that most foodborne illnesses can be prevented at home with a little common sense and good hygiene.

7. If You Still Get Sick, Know How to Respond

In most cases, foodborne infections go away in several days with a little R&R – rest and rehydration.

"Rehydration is critical when vomiting and diarrhea are involved," Beattie says. But don't overwhelm your system with liquid, which might make you vomit more. Sip water slowly but frequently.

You may want to reach for Imodium (loperamide hydrochloride), a drug to control diarrhea, but first speak to a doctor, the CDC says. Medications for diarrhea slow digestion, allowing bacteria to remain in your body longer and raising the risk of kidney infection.

Call your doctor if blood appears in your stool or if your diarrhea or fever lasts more than two days.

Antibiotics won't help E. coli infections. They may work for salmonella, but many strains have become resistant to them, says Alali.

If you believe you have a foodborne bacterial infection, alert your local health department, Nelken says. Officials may open an investigation, particularly if others have reported similar health issues.

http://www.lifescript.com/
Image Copyright: http://mealblog.ru/; http://www.pitch.com/

Watch Video:

Garlic Superior to Antibiotics for Common Food-borne Illnesses

The dangers of indoor chemical pollution. Air "Fresheners".

Next to pharmaceuticals, nothing in recent years has been pushed harder upon us than the vast array of indoor chemical so-called air "fresheners" or room "deodorizers." These products include metered sprays, plug-ins, sticks, wicks, mists, aerosols, carpet "cleaners," scented candles and even scented stones. There's virtually no place in the American business world that not only has these "fresheners" in every bathroom, but they're also in lobbies, hallways, office spaces and, most frightening, nurseries worldwide.

Homeowners are seduced through clever advertising to ensure that as many rooms as possible have these "fresheners" circulating various chemical scents throughout the house. Gullible consumers can even extend this passion for perfumed air by installing "fresheners" in their cars, where a variety of chemically-induced scents fill the car's interior. Due to loopholes and favoritism regarding the chemical perfume industry, companies pushing these products aren't even required to list the ingredients of anything labeled as "fragrance." [1]

In no way, shape or form does a chemically-scented fragrance and/or aerosols propelled by butane, propane or other toxins create an indoor environment of fresh air. Chemical "deodorizers" or chemical air "fresheners" only mask other odors. These products do absolutely nothing to improve the quality of indoor air, and in fact, can contribute to a host of ailments from headaches, high pulse rate and nausea; to mention a few.

Reports of the dangers of chemical air "fresheners" are just beginning to make the news. A recent MSN article stated that being exposed to air "freshener" chemicals as little as once a week can increase your odds of developing asthma symptoms as much as 71 percent and can contribute to an increased risk of a number of pulmonary diseases. [2] The article went on to state that "A 2006 study showed that people with high blood levels of the chemical 1.4 dichlorobenzene - commonly found in air fresheners - were more likely to experience a decline in lung function."

A September 2007 TIME magazine article, 'How "Fresh" is Air Freshener' reported that the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) discovered that most chemical air "fresheners" contained variable amounts of substances called phthalates (pronounced THAL-ates). Besides the use of phthalates used as sealants and adhesives and to soften plastics, they are also used to dissolve and carry fragrances. The TIME article went on to report that "phthalates are commonly found in a variety of products, including cosmetics, paints, nail polish and children's toys - and have long been at the center of a larger international controversy over their health effects." [3]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no regulations on the use of phthalates, does not require the labeling of phthalates content on products and does not consider the quantities to which people are exposed to be harmful, even though studies have suggested that high exposure to certain kinds of phthalates can cause cancer, developmental and sex-hormone abnormalities in infants, and can affect fertility. [4]

The chemical ingredients in "deodorizers" – or anything else dealing with chemicals – can be found on the product's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Let's look at several popular chemical so-called "deodorizers" and air "fresheners" :

* * *

Metered Aerosol Sprays

The biggest overuse of chemical air "fresheners" is the boom in metered "deodorizers" that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of chemical spray dispensers being placed in workplaces throughout America. These dispensers typically hold 7-ounce aerosol cans, range in dozens of chemical "fragrances," and the estimated 3,400 - 3,900 metered sprays per can are triggered by battery-operated automatic aerosol dispenser units several times an hour.

Just what are these chemical spray mists that we're subjected to by aggressive sales people and unsuspecting employers? You'll notice a "CAS" number following each chemical name. CAS is an abbreviation for "Chemical Abstracts Service," a uniform number given most chemicals in the chemical industry. Let's look at some of the distributors and ingredients of several metered aerosol products:

Peach, Product # 465, Big D Industries, Oklahoma City, OK, 73148 1-800-654-4752 Ingredients: Acetone (CAS # 67-64-1); Liquefied Petroleum Gas (CAS # 68476-85-7); Fragrance (no CAS #). The label states, "Strong drafts of forced air or wind will remove the effectiveness of the deodorant..." In other words, one is to assume, keep it confined. Compare that with the warning on this next one:

Clean & Fresh, Time Mist, Waterbury Companies, Inc., P.O. Box 1812, Waterbury, CT, 06722 985-878-6751. Ingredients: Acetone (CAS # 67-64-1); Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (CAS # 111-90-0); Propane (CAS # 74-98-6); Perfume (CAS # N/A); and C8-C9 Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbons (CAS # 64742-48-9) "Excessive inhalation in confined areas may cause headaches or dizziness."

Tropical Trade Winds, Health Gards (can you believe the audacity of such a brand name?) HOSPECO, Cleveland, OH 44143, 440-720-1800. Ingredients: Petroleum distillate, aliphatic (CAS # 64742-47-8); Ethanol (CAS # 64-17-5); Propane (CAS # 74-98-6); Butane (CAS # 106-97-8); Isobutane (CAS # 75-28-5). "Just remove the cap and hand spray to prime the area." "Deliberately ... inhaling the vapor of the contents may be harmful or fatal."

Cinnascent Time Mist, Pelican Brand, Long's Preferred Products, Inc., 2630 Broadway, Alexandria, LA, 71302, 800-444-6373 Ingredients: Acetone (CAS # 67-64-1); Fragrance (N/A); Propane (CAS # 74-98-6); Butane (CAS # 106-97-8) "Avoid inhaling spray mist or vapor."

There's a good reason for these warnings. Acetone - the primary chemical in most of these products - and Propane are classified as cardiovascular or blood toxicants, gastrointestinal or liver toxicants, kidney toxicants, neurotoxicants, respiratory toxicants and a skin or sense organ toxicants. [5] Butane is classified as a neurotoxicant, which means that exposure can cause adverse effects on the central nervous system. [6] Furthermore, regarding Acetone, Spectrum Chemical, a top chemical listings service, warns that "The most probable human exposure would be occupational (workplace) exposure, which may occur through inhalation." [7]

Isoparaffinic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons are classified as toxic. [8] Also, since hydrocarbons are chemical compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon, they literally suffocate oxygen in the bloodstream. [9]

Remember this the next time you inhale the fumes from one of those liquid or solid chemical air "fresheners," or when one of these timed dispensers spits a fine mist over your head while you're in a rest room, physician's waiting room, picking up your child at day care, and yes - despite the label's warning - where they might be installed in restaurant dining areas.

* * *

Scented Oils

Glade Plug-Ins Manufacturer: S.C. Johnson & Sons, Racine, Wisconsin. Ingredients: "Amorphous Fumed Silica, Fragrance." Regulatory information: "All ingredients in this product are listed or excluded on the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory."

Regarding "Amorphous Fumed Silica," OSHA states that overexposure to respirable crystalline silica can cause silicosis, a "disabling, non reversible and fatal lung disease." Amorphous is defined as being shapeless, or to lack form; and fumed, of course, is to emit fumes. And since "fragrance" can mean anything, S.C. Johnson is clearly taking advantage of the exclusion clause of the TSCA to push its product, regardless of whatever health hazards that may result from use of it.

Glade Car Scented Oil Manufacturer: S.C. Johnson & Sons, Racine, Wisconsin. Ingredient(s): "Mixture of perfume oils." Exposure limit/toxicity: Not established. Inhalation Health Hazards Identification: "Irritation to nose, throat and respiratory tract." First Aid Measures: "Remove to fresh air."

S.C. Johnson & Sons won't even list the "mixture of perfume oils" ingredients. The product is designed to attach to your car's dashboard air vent, enabling the fumes to circulate throughout your car. So when Little Johnnie is being driven home after breathing hazardous chemicals in his day care all day, your child can be polluted further with an additional dose of perfumed poison. The MSDS of Glade Care Scented Oil warns that "Irritation to nose, throat and respiratory tract" is a possible health hazard. Presumably, then, you're supposed to hold your breath as you drive while using this product.

Air Wick Scented Oil Manufacturer: Reckitt Benckiser, Inc., Wayne, N.J. "Scented oil is used in an adjustable plug-in air freshener unit." Ingredients: "Proprietary fragrance oils."

Again, "fragrance oils." Yet because of special privileges and loopholes granted to the chemical industry in regards to perfumes and fragrances, Air Wick is not required to disclose the "proprietary fragrance oils" ingredients.

* * *

Carpet "Deodorizers"

Carpet Fresh Carpet Refresher Manufacturer: WD-40, 1061 Cudahy Place, San Diego, CA, 92110. 800-448-9340. The product is a white powder that is sprinkled onto carpeting, then vacuumed up. Ingredients: Fragrance oil. CAS number: Not established. Hazard data: Not established. Effects of inhalation overexposure: Possible mild mucous irritation. First Aid Procedure: Remove to fresh air.

If "Fragrance oil" is the only ingredient listed, then what is the white powder? What is WD-40 concealing, and why would a product that's listed as a "refresher" possibly cause a consumer to have to be removed from it to fresh air? Perhaps the following will provide a clue:

Carpet Fresh No-Vacuum Carpet Refresher Manufacturer: WD-40. Ingredients: Liquefied petroleum gas (CAS # 68476-85-7), Isopropanol (CAS # 67-63-0). "Inhalation: No adverse effects experienced in an otherwise healthy individual exposed to this product during normal use. Excessive inhalation can cause headache, drowsiness, nausea and lack of coordination."

"Otherwise healthy individual." "Normal use." Just don't stay in a motel with a frail parent or with an infant where this product was used (or, more commonly, overused by housekeepers).

OSHA has classified liquefied petroleum gas as an asphyxiant (a chemical - gas or vapor - that can cause death or unconsciousness by suffocation) and a narcosis (a stupor or unconsciousness produced by exposure to a chemical). And like other chemicals listed on this page, isopropanol is classified as a cardiovascular or blood toxicant, a developmental toxicant, an endocrine (glands) toxicant, a gastrointestina or liver toxicant, a neurotoxicant, a reproductive toxicant, a respiratory toxicant and a skin or sense organ toxicant. [8]

Arm & Hammer Foam Carpet Deodorizer Manufacturer: Arm & Hammer (No Address or phone number found on its website.) The product comes in a 16-oz. can that sprays out as a foam onto the carpet, and once dried, it's vaccumed up. Although this product is available at practically any retail store such as Wal-Mart for consumers to buy and use in their homes, an Arm & Hammer spokeswoman explained that the company only sends out MSDS's to businesses, not "individuals." The spokeswoman did, however, read over the phone the three ingredients listed on the carpet deodorizer. These ingredients are "Fragrance, surfactants and baking soda."

Again - and again - fragrance can mean anything. While baking soda is certainly a safe product, surfactants are, as the spokeswoman explained, "a detergent compound." Arm & Hammer's Foam Carpet Deodorizer is simply another perfumed mask to counter foul-smelling carpeting with dangerous chemicals that Arm & Hammer wishes to conceal from "individual" consumers.

* * *

These are just a handful of several of the most popular "deodorizers" available practically anywhere. Learn what these products are; read the labels; access their MSDS's. Educate yourself on the effects these chemicals have on yourself, your family and on others.

Furthermore, once these products are used, the empty containers are tossed in the trash, which makes their way to landfills, where they're crushed. Undoubtedly, residue from them leak into the ground water, and to water treatment plants, which aren't equiped to filter these chemicals. Thus, the chemical pollution to our drinking, cooking and bath water is another serious side effect from these products.

Sources:

www.ewg.org, 'Scented Secrets' 'Air Fresheners: Are they bad for my Heath?' by Andrew Weil, M.D, 'Prevention,' October 2008, http://health.msn.com/health-topics/cancer/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100216588>1=31024 www.scorecard.org, Acetone TIME, 24 September 2007, 'How "Fresh" is Air Freshener?" http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1664954,00.html Ibid www.scorecard.org, Propane www.spectrumchemical.com, Acetone MSDS www.petroferm.com, MSDS; www.nationaldiagnostics.com, MSDS www.books.google.com 'Hazardous Materials & Waste Management,' Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff, p. 138 www.scorecard.org, isopropanol

http://www.silentmenace.com/

8 Ways to Freshen Your Indoor Air Naturally

Okay, let's keep it real: it's great that it's a fresh New Year. But lots of us are stuck inside for the next three months thanks to freezing temperatures. And that means we're stuck with indoor smells: pets, kids, cooking, laundry, basements and other stale stuff.

That's why we crave a nice scent that says our house is clean and in order. To get that wonderful fragrance, it's easy to buy all kinds of air fresheners in the supermarket. Fresheners that sit on the counter, stick on walls, plug into outlets or mist the air.

But here at all natural True Citrus, we're concerned about products with lots of chemicals. And it turns out there's good reason to be concerned. Did you know that "use of air fresheners and aerosols is associated with more diarrhea and earache in babies, and more headaches and depression in mothers"?

Those facts are from a long-term health research project by the University of Bristol, which has followed the health of 14,000 children since before birth.

But how could air fresheners cause headaches and other illnesses?

According to the Environmental Protection agency: "there are four basic ingredients in air fresheners: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants. Air fresheners are usually highly flammable and also strong irritants to eyes, skin, and throat. Additionally, the solid fresheners usually cause death if eaten by people or pets."

The dichlorobenzene that many air fresheners contain is one of the active ingredients in mothballs. The EPA's air quality guide lists this chemical as toxic because it can affect respiratory function.

In 2007 the National Resource Defense Council tested 14 different air fresheners and found many had chemicals like phthalates, which can cause developmental and hormonal/reproductive problems.

Air fresheners can also be dangerous in another way. Cancer-causing formaldehyde, as well as several other oxygenated pollutants are created when certain elements in air fresheners are exposed to ozone. And ozone happens to be found indoors at levels up to about 50 percent of outdoor levels.

In short, we Americans are spending more than $1 billion a year on air fresheners that that may be bad for our health. So if you're ready to dump fake freshness and make a healthy change, here's how:

Open windows once in a while. Be sure to take out the garbage often. Burn all natural beeswax candles with cotton wicks, which help remove pollution from the air (and supports local bee keepers!). Keep potted plants inside to clean the air. Basil, mint and thyme can be grown indoors year-round. These naturally fragrant herbs will help clear the air. Simmer cinnamon and cloves, fresh ginger, or herbs in water on the stovetop, or simmer water with a few drops of a pure essential oil. Use natural sachets, potpourris and pomanders. Put an open box of baking soda where it smells. Ground coffee can also be used to absorb odors. Grind (or use whole beans) and put into an old sock or stocking. Or leave a bowl of grinds out in the area that smells.

It may be a long winter ahead, so let's keep it healthy while we're stuck inside!

http://www.truelemon.com/

Images Copyrights: http://www.aroma-beauty.ru

Watch Video:

Watch video: Homemade Air Freshener;

The advantages of cover crops

By Nora Cleland

Parson, Kansas — Cover crops offer several potential benefits for farmers but careful planning to achieve the desired goals is a must, Kansas State University Research and Extension Service crop specialists told a group of Northeast Central Kansas farmers recently at a meeting in Baldwin, Kansas.

No-till farmers are increasing the use of cover crops, and agricultural Extension services are conducting extensive crop research to help farmers profitably include cover crop plantings into their crop rotations.

Kraig Roozebaum, K-State Extension specialist in cropping systems, listed a large number of potential benefits for seeding cover crops:

Improve soil quality Increase organic matter Reduce soil erosion Reduce soil compaction Supply nitrogen Increase water infiltration Decrease run-off Suppress weeds Compliance with EQUIP program requirements Conserve soil moisture Reduce nitrate leeching Increase yields o the following crops

"Obviously, no one cover crop is going to accomplish all of those goals, or even a majority of them," Roozebaum said. "It's up to you to study the situation in your fields and decide what you want to accomplish because each of the specific potential benefits requires a different seeding program. Next you need to plan the specific planting time, the specific type of cover crop, and the specific harvest method and time to end the cover crop."

Roozebaum said farmers also should consider the challenges of cover crops– expense and the extra time in the field required.

"You have to weigh carefully both the short term and long term benefits of a cover crop against the expenses and the extra time required," he explained.

Dave Mengel, Extension specialist in soil fertility and crop production, said that while cover crops can be grown for several purposes, they fall into three main categories–nitrogen trap crops, sources of cover and residue and sources of nitrogen.

For trap crops the use of fast-growing nitrogen-demanding crops are ideal. He suggested summer crops such as "millet or forage sorghum for planting in the summer after wheat or cereal rye, wheat, triticale or canola in the fall after summer crops.

"Most trap crops also are well suited as residue cover sources, but remember the rate of residue decomposition can be controlled to some extent by selecting a cover crop with high carbon and low nitrogen residue such as forage sorghum, millet or cereal rye and let it become fairly mature in a nitrogen deficient environment," Mengel continued. "Adding nitrogen or terminating the crop early to lower the carbon/nitrogen ratio will speed up the decomposition of the residue."

He said the key thing to remember is that trap crops will use the soil nitrogen taken up to support their growth. "In most cases trap crops will have a wide carbon/nitrogen ratio, so the release of the nitrogen to subsequent crops may be slow. In fact it may be the second or third crop grown that actually benefits from the trapped nitrogen. The good thing is that the trapped nitrogen is not available to move through the soil to contaminate ground water."

Roozebaum showed extensive data and photographs of cover crop trials conducted on no-till cropping fields near Manhattan following a wheat crop harvest. The rotation pattern for the fields was wheat, cover crop, sorghum, then soybeans.

He gave a snapshot summary of some of the cover crop characteristics. Sorghum-sudan did a "good job of weed suppression and yielded 7,820 pounds of biomass per acre. The double crop soybean planting yielded 20 bushels of soybeans per acre. It's important to plant a short season soybean seed for the cover crop planting because the growing season is short. The sorghum-sudan and second crop soybeans had the same amount of nitrogen tied up in the residue."

He said the pearl millet plots yielded good grazing. The buckwheat cover crop provided a good canopy over the field, suppressing weed growth and was especially good for a short growing season.

The cover crop yielding the most biomass with the highest nitrogen content was a millet/sunnhemp/cowpea mixture.

In all of the plots grain sorghum was planted following the cover crops.

The cost of the various cover crop seedings ranged from $10 to $90 an acre. Also to be considered if the cover crop is to be terminated with a chemical burn is the cost of glyphosate at $3 to $6 an acre.

Mengel told the group that selecting cover crops to increase nitrogen levels in the soil is probably not realistic in most cases.

"Actually most of us should be interested in weed suppression," Mengel said. "We need to think carefully about our objectives for the cover crop. Cover crops, including legumes, routinely trap nitrogen but don't release it quickly if the carbon/nitrogen ratio in the biomass is greater than 25 to 1. Remember that organic matter mineralizes at a rate of around two percent per year primarily March through December. Soybeans for instance, with a C/N ratio of about 18:1 release nitrogen much more rapidly than corn stalks with a C/N ratio of 60:1. Corn residue leaves considerably more nitrogen than soybeans but the corn stalks break down much more slowly–it takes two to three years for the nitrogen from corn residue to enter the soil while soybean residue breaks down immediately over just a short year."

"If you want to grow cover crops to supplement nitrogen for future cereal or forages, legumes are the first preference," Mengel said. "Remember the carbon-nitrogen ratio still applies when determining how quickly the fixed nitrogen will be available for subsequent crops. Fine textured, low carbon-nitrogen plants, such as alfalfa, clover, soybeans or peas will decompose much more quickly releasing nitrogen much more rapidly than coarse textured plants with wide carbon to nitrogen ratios such as sorghum, millet or mature sunn hemp."

http://farmtalknewspaper.com/
Images Copyright: http://zonagazona.ru/; http://www.123rf.com/

Watch Video:

Crimson Clover Cover Crop

Radishes – A New Cover Crop for Organic Farming Systems

Dr. Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University
Dr. Ray R. Weil, University of Maryland
Charles White, Penn State University
Dr. Yvonne Lawley, University of Manitoba

Over the past decade, radishes have been redefined; once known almost exclusively as a pungent vegetable, radishes have recently gained recognition for their cover cropping potential. After reading this article, you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether cover crop radishes are worth a try on your farm.

Radishes have made rapid inroads as a cover crop for several reasons. First, the radish phenotype is well suited to perform many valuable cover crop functions—provide soil cover, scavenge nutrients, suppress weeds, and alleviate compaction—while creating few of the residue management challenges associated with many other cover crops. Second, recent research including many on-farm trials has documented beneficial effects of radish cover crops on soil properties and subsequent crops. Third, the seed industry has ramped up production of radish seed, brought new branded products to market, and promoted radish as a cover crop. Fourth—but perhaps most important in terms of the exponential growth in interest by farmers—radish cover crops have become a hot topic of discussion in rural coffee shops and on-line agricultural forums. Between 10/1/2011 and 12/1/2011, there were 51 threads about radishes in the Crop Talk forum of New Ag Talk, with over 500 responses and more than 240,000 views.

Radish Seedstock

Most of the radish varieties currently marketed for cover cropping (e.g., GroundHog radish™, Nitro radish, Sodbuster, and Bio-till radish) are large rooted selections of daikon-type oilseed or forage radishes, but are not the product of formal breeding programs. All are morphologically similar to the large white daikon radishes traditionally used in Asian cooking. Hybrid daikon-type culinary radish seed is prohibitively expensive (more than $100/lb for bulk seed) for use in cover cropping, but open pollinated culinary daikon varieties may have some potential with bulk seed available for about $5/lb. Standard oilseed radish cultivars (e.g., Adagio, Colonel, and Defender) tend to have a stubbier, more branched taproot, greater winter hardiness, and lower seed cost than larger-rooted daikon types (Ngouajio and Mutch, 2004).

There are currently 2 radish varieties marketed for cover cropping with certified genetics - Graza and Tillage Radish®. Graza from Pyne Gould Guinness Seeds (PGG, Ltd.) in New Zealand was developed over 17 years through a complex series of crosses of 3 species—garden radish (Raphanus sativus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), and perennial seaside radish (Raphanus maritimus). The breeding program selected for smooth leaves, ability to recover from multiple grazings, and resistance to bolting. Graza will grow vegetatively for an extended period when spring planted unlike most other cover crop radishes. Compared to rape and forage turnips, Graza radishes have greater ability to respond to high fertility and build up larger root reserves, providing more resilience under difficult conditions (Stewart and Moorhead, 2004). Tillage Radish®, officially known as Variety CCS-779 received U.S. Plant Variety Protection status in June 2012. Unauthorized propagation of Graza and Tillage Radish® for seed production is strictly prohibited.

All radishes are insect pollinated and cross-pollinate easily, increasing the likelihood of genetic variability if not grown in strict isolation. In recent years, some farmers who purchased inexpensive radish seed have reported high levels of variability including early bolting.

In response to the growing interest in radishes for cover cropping, some public and private breeding programs are starting to select for radishes with superior cover crop attributes. More research is needed comparing radish varieties with respect to traits such as winter-hardiness, hard-seededness, seedling vigor, nutrient scavenging, root penetration strength, and biofumigation potential.

The information that follows should be generally applicable to all radish cultivars used for cover cropping unless otherwise noted. In addition, literature discussing other cool season annual brassica cover crops (e.g., a bulletin on the use of mustards as a biofumigant) may contain information that is relevant to managing radishes as a cover crop.

Benefits of Radish Cover Crops

Effects on Soil Structure

The radish attribute that has captured the most farmer interest is their robust rooting ability. Under favorable growing conditions, radish roots can extend more than 3 feet deep in 60 days, with the thickened storage portion of the root (commonly refered to as the tuber, though not botanically correct) extending more than 12 inches. Plants with roots more than 1 inch in diameter normally have a significant portion of the root exposed above ground (often more than 4 inches, even in uncompacted soils) (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Typical above ground growth of the storage root after 60 days. Photo credit: Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University.

After radishes winter-kill and their large fleshy roots desiccate, the channels created by the roots tend to remain open at the soil surface, improving infiltration, surface drainage, and soil warming (Fig. 2). Radish rooting effects on soil porosity also extend into the subsoil. This general process called bio-drilling, can improve root growth by subsequent crops and access to subsoil moisture resulting in greater resilience under drought conditions (Chen and Weil, 2010).

Figure 2. Radish holes after winterkill. Photo credit: Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University.

Research at the University of Maryland has shown that radish roots have greater ability to penetrate compacted soil than cereal rye and rapeseed (Chen and Weil, 2010). Subsequent research found twice as many corn roots penetrated compacted subsoil after radish cover cropping as compared to cereal rye, with both cover crops promoting more rooting than bare-fallow (Fig. 3). These results suggest that radishes may be useful as a biological alternative to deep ripping and other mechanical methods of alleviating soil compaction.

Some farmers and researchers are currently evaluating bio-strip-till strategies which involve targeted fall planting of radishes on the wide rows (e.g., 30") where a subsequent cash crop will be planted the next spring. This approach reduces seed cost and may maximize crop utilization of radish root channels but requires precise equipment guidance in the field. More information about bio-strip-till planting methods is contained in the section on seeding.

Figure 3. Enhanced corn and soybean root density following radish as compared to rye and no cover. Figure credit: Guihua Chen, University of Maryland.

Effects on Weeds

A good stand of radishes can eliminate nearly all weed growth both during and for some time after active radish growth (Fig. 4). To obtain near-complete weed suppression, radishes should be planted early (6 or more weeks before frost), at a relatively high population (more than 5 plants per square foot) into a clean seed bed. Weed suppression from fall planted radishes typically lasts into April, but does not extend much into the summer cropping season.

Figure 4. Near-complete suppression of weeds in April (Hayden Farm, Beltsville, MD). Photo credit: Yvonne Lawley, University of Manitoba.

Recent research at the University of Maryland investigated the mechanisms through which radishes provide weed suppression. Over ten site-years, they found that radishes provided complete suppression of winter annual weeds in the fall and early spring but the suppression did not persist into the summer crop. Controlled environment bioassays involving cover crop amended soil, aqueous plant extracts, and aqueous soil extracts along with a field experiment involving planted weed seeds did NOT provide evidence of allelopathy. In a residue moving experiment, no differences in spring weed suppression were observed if radish residues were removed prior to a killing frost in November or left in place to decompose (3 out of 4 site-years). These results were supported by planting date experiments where fall ground cover and spring weed suppression was greatest for the earliest radish planting dates. The University of Maryland researchers concluded that rapid and competitive fall growth, rather than allelopathy, is the primary mechanism of weed suppression by radishes (Lawley et al., 2011).

Effects on Seed Bed Preparation

After winter-kill (or other causes of mortality), radish residues deteriorate rapidly. As a result, fall biomass production is unlikely to interfere with spring field work. Typically a good stand of winter-killed radishes leaves the soil surface weed free and perforated with open root holes in early spring. As a result, the soil warms up and dries out faster than soils covered by either winter weeds or a growing cover crop and is conducive to earlier spring planting (Fig. 5).

Figure 5. Warmer and drier seedbed in April with forage radish compared to rye as cover crop. Figure credit: Charlie White, Penn State University.

Effects on Nitrate Leaching

Because of their deep root system, rapid root extension, and heavy N feeding, radishes are excellent scavengers of residual N following summer crops (Fig. 6). Radishes take up N from both the topsoil and from deeper soil layers, storing the N in their shoot and root biomass. With favorable fall growing conditions, radishes typically take up more than 100 lb/ac of N. Much higher amounts of N may be acquired when N is abundant—for example, when a drought-stricken summer crop has failed to utilize much of the available N, when a field has a long history of manure applications, when a mature hay field has been plowed out, or when fertilizer has been applied to promote growth of the cover crop. Early planting promotes high biomass production and associated nutrient accumulation but research at the University of Maryland has shown that late planted radishes can still take up substantial quantities of N despite low biomass production due to shifts in plant C:N ratio (Dean and Weil, 2009).

Figure 6. Scavenging of soil nitrate by radish. Figure credit: Ray Weil, University of Maryland.

Effects on Early Spring Nitrogen

Unlike cereal rye and other small grains whose residues decompose slowly and continue to immobilize N for an extended period, radish residues decompose and release N rapidly (Fig. 7). Timely crop establishment following radishes can result in an early boost in growth and N uptake similar to following a legume cover crop or N fertilizer application. In contrast, if planting is delayed (e.g., northern locations) and weather/soil conditions are conducive to leaching or denitrification, the availability of N scavenged by radishes to subsequent crops may be limited. Research at the University of Maryland found that early planting of spring crops following radish was more important on sandy soils than finer textured soils (Kremen, 2006). More research is needed to identify strategies for optimizing recycling of the N scavenged by radish cover crops (e.g., combining radishes with winter-hardy cover crop species).

Figure 7. Spring release of N from radish residues (FR = following radish, NC = no cover). Figure credit: Ray Weil and Amy Kremen, University of Maryland.

Effects on Soil Phosphorus and Potassium

Radishes are excellent accumulators of P and K (root dry matter commonly contains more than 0.5% P and 4% K), and elevated levels of soil test P have been measured following radish cover cropping, particularly within 1–1.5 inches of radish root holes (White and Weil, 2011). Despite radish being a non-host of mycorrhizal fungi, mycorrhizal colonization of corn following radish does not appear to be suppressed (White and Weil, 2010).

Effects on Soil Erosion and Runoff

Radishes grow rapidly when planted in late summer or early fall and 10 lb/ac drilled on 7.5-inch rows can provide full canopy closure in about three weeks. This canopy intercepts rain drops minimizing surface impact and detachment of soil particles. Even after radishes are killed by a hard freeze, a layer of decomposing residue remains on the soil surface throughout the winter and into the early spring providing erosion control. In addition, runoff and sediment transport are reduced because of the rapid infiltration facilitated by open root holes. These holes can capture run-off and sediment before it leaves the field. For more complete protection against erosion, radish can be mixed with other cover crops that are winter hardy (e.g., cereal rye) or winter kill but leave more persistent residue cover (e.g., oats).

Figure 8. Impact of radish on soil loss. Figure credit: Ray Weil, University of Maryland.

Effects on Soil Organic Matter

Total dry matter production by radish cover crops can exceed 3.5 tons/ac (5000 lb/ac aboveground and 2,000 lb/ac below ground) after 2 months with favorable growing conditions (1.1 lb fresh weight per square foot at 90% moisture = 5000 lb/ac dry matter). It is important to keep in mind however that radish biomass is highly decomposable and increases in total soil organic matter (SOM) levels following radish cover crops are unlikely. More sensitive measures of SOM (e.g., microbial biomass C and particulate organic matter) may be able to detect changes in SOM resulting from radish cover cropping but little evidence has been reported to date.

Effects on Nematodes

Laboratory bioassays have shown that the residues of radishes and many other cover crops reduce the survival of plant parasitic nematodes such as root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) and soybean cyst nematodes (Heterodera glycines) compared to unamended controls. Unfortunately these effects are much less consistent in the field but some significant effects of radish have been reported.

In eastern Texas, researchers recently evaluated the effect of incorporating a wide variety of brassicas (Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant, and Bionute White mustards, Graza radish, Purple Top turnip, Vates collards, and Dwarf Blue kale) 58 days before planting sweet potatoes. Graza reduced populations of root knot nematode more than all other treatments and also resulted in fewer ring nematodes at harvest than in the plots with no cover. In addition, ring nematode reproduction rate was lower in Graza plots than all other treatments (Steddom et al., 2008).

Radish cover crops have also been found to have some positive effects on beneficial nematodes. Research at the University of Maryland found that the winter-kill of N-rich radishes activated bacteria feeding nematodes in the early spring creating opportunities for rapid cycling of organic N (Gruver et al., 2010).

Effects on Crop Yields

On-farm comparisons and limited replicated trials in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois (Fig. 9) have reported significant increases in corn and soybean yields following radishes as compared to fallow or other cover crops. These yield increases are likely the combined result of multiple effects described above.

Figure 9. Impact of 3 cover crop systems: volunteer oats (O), volunteer oats with radishes planted on 30-inch rows (PRO) and volunteer oats with radishes drilled on 7.5-inch rows (DRO) on the relative yield of a following corn crop. Corn yields were not significantly different with radishes drilled at the two different row widths (a=0.05), but corn yields with radishes at both row widths were significantly greater than with oats alone. Figure credit: Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University.

Management of Cover Crop Radishes

Seeding

Good stands of radishes can be established by drilling 6–10 lb/ac or broadcasting at 8-12 lb/ac. When using a drill, seed should be placed ½–1 inch deep. When broadcasting, establishment is enhanced by culti-packing or light tillage. Aerial seeding has been successful using 10–16 lb/ac broadcast into standing corn and soybean canopies when soil surface moisture was favorable for germination for several days. It is important that the seedlings quickly have access to light so aerial seeding should not occur until the crop begins to senesce (~50% yellowing of lower leaves) and early harvest also improves growth. Mixing radish seed with other cover crop species (e.g., oats, annual ryegrass and/or crimson clover) can improve seed distribution and stand establishment and reduce total seed cost.

There is growing Interest in planting radishes on wider row spacings, often in combination with other cover crop species. This can be accomplished by blocking off rows in a drill or using a planter with appropriate plates or another seed metering system appropriate for radish seed.

Establishing radishes with a planter has particular appeal because many farmers have wider planters than drills, seed spacing is more controlled than with a drill and lower seeding rates can be used. Specific planter plate recommendations are summarized in the following table (Table 1).

Table 1. Recommended planter plates for cover crop radish. Planter Plate White 60-cell sugar beet Deere small sugar beet 4/64 inch Case-IH sugar beet Kinze 2000 and 3000 series small 60-cell milo Kinze Edge Vac w/ e-sets 60-cell small sugar beet 1/16 inch Monosem 6020 plate; vacuum set to 15

Radishes germinate rapidly, emerging within 3–4 days when environmental conditions are favorable. Seed broadcast on the surface can establish well if seeding is followed by a timely rain or irrigation. Radishes have a very flexible and aggressive growth habit and will spread out in a rosette to fill available space. Radish plants (roots and shoots) grow much larger at lower plant densities but it is not clear that giant specimens (e.g., greater than 3-inch diameter roots) have any advantage over good stands of radishes with 1-inch diameter roots (Fig. 10).

Figure 10. Typical radishes after about 60 days of growth with abundant water and nutrients—much larger radishes are possible but have more value at the county fair than in your fields. Photo credit: Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University.

Radishes grow best when planted early enough to allow 6 weeks of growth before regular frosts. Later-planted radishes tend to be more cold-hardy and less likely to winter-kill. When planted in the spring, most radishes bolt quickly producing much less root and shoot biomass than fall plantings.

Winter Hardiness

Radishes are tolerant of light frosts but generally show injury when temperatures drop below the mid-20s. In regions where winter temperatures regularly drop below 20 F, radishes normally winterkill but it should be noted that overwintering was reported at some northern locations in 2010 and 2012, likely due to early and persistent snowcover and unusually mild winter conditions, respectively. Young radishes in the rosette growth stage are more winter hardy than radishes that have developed a sizable storage root.

Crop Rotations

Radishes fit well following small grains, corn silage, and early harvested vegetable crops (e.g., sweet corn) that allow cover crop planting before September 1. Later plantings can scavenge significant amounts of N but may accomplish little biodrilling or weed suppression. Nutrients scavenged by radishes are released rapidly making radishes a good fit ahead of early planted crops with high nutrient requirements. Caution should be taken when adding radishes to rotations that already include brassicas.

Cover Crop Mixtures

Many farmers and researchers are experimenting with cover crop mixtures that combine radish with other cover crops that fix N, provide more persistent residues or simply have cheaper seed. As a general rule, radish rates should be cut by at least 50% when included in cover crop mixtures because of their capacity to out compete other species.

An alternative method of managing radish competition in mixtures is to plant separate rows of radishes and companion species (Fig. 11). This can be accomplished by blocking off or compartmentalizing the rows in the seed boxes of a grain drill or by attaching an additional seed metering/distribution system (e.g., Valmar airflo or Gandy Orbit-air). In addition, some farmers are using split-row planters to plant alternating rows of radish and companion species on 15-inch spacing or planting twice on 30" rows with a 15-inch off-set using GPS guidance.

Figure 11. Alternating 15-inch rows of radish and oats. Photo credit: Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University.

Spring oats and sorghum-Sudangrass (Sudex) compete well with radish and provide longer lasting residues to immobilize some of the N released from radish residues in the spring. These additional residues may also help maintain soil moisture, reduce weed growth, and reduce erosion during the next growing season. When cereal rye is mixed with radish, the rye overwinters and scavenges N released by the decomposing radish. Hairy vetch is a winter-hardy legume that has also performed well interseeded with radish (both mixed and in separate rows).

Potential Problems

Radishes have little tolerance of wet soils, so planting in fields that collect standing water or are prone to prolonged wetness should be avoided. Enhanced growth directly over tile lines is common (Fig. 12) and plugging of tile lines has been reported but appears to be a rare occurrence.

Figure 12. Larger radishes over a tile line on a farm in Western IL. Photo credit: Mike Roegge, University of Illinois Extension.

Radishes are very responsive to N, and N deficiency limits their ability to compete with weeds, grow through compacted soil, and perform other potential functions. Nitrogen deficiencies have been observed when planting after silage- or grain corn on sandy soils or on soils that do not have a history of manure application. N deficiencies are also likely when excessively high populations are established.

Radishes are only moderately cold hardy and need about 6 weeks of favorable growing conditions to produce sufficient biomass to achieve most potential benefits.

Lastly, be forewarned that rotting radish residues produce a powerful rotten egg-like odor, particularly during winter thaws.

Summary

Radishes have much potential to perform valuable functions within organic cropping systems. Realization of this potential depends upon timely establishment, favorable environmental conditions, and adequate fertility. As described in this article, a solid research foundation supports the value of radishes as a cover crop but farmer innovation is needed to fine-tune strategies for integrating radishes in specific organic cropping systems.

References and Citations

Chen, G., and R. R. Weil. 2010. Penetration of cover crop roots through compacted soils. Plant and Soil 331: 31–43. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0223-7) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

Dean, J. E., and R. R. Weil. 2009. Brassica cover crops for nitrogen retention in the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Journal of Environmental Quality 38: 520–528. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/jeq2008.0066) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

Gruver, L. S., R. R. Weil, I. A. Zasada, S. Sardanelli, and B. Momen. 2010. Brassicaceous and rye cover crops altered free-living soil nematode community composition. Applied Soil Ecology 45: 1–12. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.11.007) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

Lawley, Y. E., R. R. Weil, and J. R. Teasdale. 2011. Forage radish cover crop suppresses winter annual weeds in fall and before corn planting. Agronomy Journal 103: 137–144. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2010.0187) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

Ngouajio, M, and D. R. Mutch, 2004. Oilseed Radish: A new cover crop for Michigan. Bulletin E2907. East Lansing: Michigan State University Extension. (Available online at: http://www.covercrops.msu.edu/pdf_files/extension_bulletin_E2907.pdf) (verified 13 Feb 2012)

Steddom, K, K. Ong, and J. Starr. 2008. Efficacy of various brassica varieties for the suppression of root knot, ring, and stunt nematodes. Phytopathology 98: S150. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO.2008.98.6.S9) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

Stewart, A. V., and A. J. Moorhead. 2004. The development of a fodder radish suitable for multiple grazing. Proceedings of the Thirty-fourth Annual Conference, Agronomy Society of New Zealand, Ashburton, New Zealand.

Weil, R. R., and A. Kremen. 2007. Thinking across and beyond disciplines to make cover crops pay. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 87: 551–557. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2742) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

White, C. M., and R. R. Weil. 2011. Forage radish cover crops increase soil test P surrounding holes created by the radish taproots. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75: 121–130. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2010.0095) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

White, C. M., and R. R. Weil. 2010. Forage radish and cereal rye cover crop effects on mycorrhizal fungus colonization of maize root. Plant and Soil 328: 507–521. (Available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0131-x) (verified 21 Feb 2011).

http://www.extension.org/

Valentine's Day is just a blink away!

Open your heart and let your love shine on everything and everyone that surrounds you. Enrich your life and the life of others with special moments that will forever be treasured in your hearts.

Exchange the warmest smile, a tightest hug, or the most passionate kiss. Be kind, be caring, and show you love deeply through a Gift sharing:

Gift 1: Cedar Pillow

The Pillow is made from a thin film that exists in between the cedar nut and the shell of the nut. This film is known to be very rich in essential oils, which have a tendency of getting absorbed into your blood steam with every breath you take, and expend your arteries; which as a result allows for a much quicker blood circulation; and therefore is wonderful for prophylactics of various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

When placed in a room, it will not only disinfect the air, but also provide comfortable support, which will result in restful, deep and healthy sleep, and protect from harmful electromagnetic waves emitted from electronics.

The wonderful aroma of the Essential Oils emitted by the cedar film; will provide the feeling of deep relaxation, and the sensation of being surrounded by the purifying nature of Cedar Forest.

Furthermore, the Cedar Pillow has remarkable orthopedic properties, while at the same time being flexible enough to provide firm but yet comfortable support to the neck and spine.

Gift 2: Cedar Nut Oil, Essential Oils and Fresh Feet Creme

Planning on a relaxing evening this Valentine's? Our line of Essential Oils would be excellent for those thinking of a cozy bath or in a sensual healing through a massage/aromatherapy.

Simply add 5-10 drops of the oil in a bath, and while in the water massage the body in circular motions. The Oils are best absorbed into skin with hot water, as the pores are open. After aromatherapy bath your skin will feel moisturized, calm, and its texture will start to improve. While in the bath inhale the rich aromas of the Cedar Oils, to infuse your body with energy of Cedar Forest from within.

All the essential oils have the same properties and are equally great; therefore simply choose an aroma that you think you or your loved one would favor most.

In addition to being an effective internal natural remedy for treating ulcers, gastritis, and acid reflex, the Siberian Cedar Nut Oil can also be applied onto your skin. The oil is a rich source of nutrients, fatty acids, and vitamins. Many use the oil as a facial application, and have reported it to be a highly effective in reducing skin discoloration, irritation, age spots and wrinkles. It rejuvenates the skin, makes it supple and smooth, and is suitable for all skin types.

An average person walks approximately four times around the world in their lifetime, so it is evident that there is a lot of pressure on our feet. Engage in reflexology and treat yourself or your other half with a relaxing massage. Fresh feet creme contains all natural ingredients of cedar nut oil along with other plants that will add moisture and nourish your heels. The resin ingredient provides it with anti-septic, purifying and anti-inflammatory properties.

Gift 3: Cedar Wood Pendant and Romantic Songs by Barda Olga

It is believed that those who wear the Pendant heighten their mental senses and physical strength, through a powerful connection to the bioenergy of the universe. The Siberian Cedar is one of the most beautiful and majestic trees on the Earth. It was noted, since the ancient times that natural substances, that are part of the Cedar Tree's structure, help human organism to regain its health and functional balance. The Tree also has a certain effect on the live cells and tissues, at the same time balancing the processes within the whole human organism as well as within each cell. Virtually everything in a Cedar Tree possess medical power, and that power is retained in the Cedar Pendant.

Combined with a spiritual, calming and romantic collection of songs in Russian language by barda Olga, Cedar Wood Pendant in any shape would be a lovely way to express the power of your love.

Please note, that all DVD's and CD's that we carry are made by eco villagers. Ringing Cedars Of Russia offers support to eco settlements through the sales of these products.

Gift 4: Bright Tiding, Rodnoe 2 and Slavnoe 1 DVD

For all supporters of Ringing Cedars of Russia's movement this collection of DVD's would make an ideal gift this Valentine's Day.

"Bright Tidings" DVD includes a comparison of traditional schooling systems to the school of Mikhail Petrovich Shchetinin. In our world today the whole educational curriculum is divided up into divergent layers, isolated from each other. The world of perception is transformed into isolated 'corridors' to such an extent that it is sometimes hard for the pupil to believe that they are all part and parcel of a single whole. Art draws its very strength from the fact that it synthesizes fractionalized phenomena, offers a holistic system of education and child-raising, and inculcates a holistic world-view.

But art cannot fully address this question if children are not immersed in an atmosphere where genuine life values are affirmed - an atmosphere of shared labour and searchings, where every lesson is permeated with a sense of creativity.

"Slavnoe" and "Rodnoe" DVD will take you into the lives of people in kin's settlements. These settlements were organized by people who left their successful and relatively quiet modern lives in the city, and went off to rural areas to set upon a hectare of land. What drove them? Are they happy about the change? How they deal with the land and growing plants? How does one build an adobe house? How do villagers survive in winter, and how to preserve what has been created during the summer? How to live in harmony with Mother Nature? You will find the answers to all these questions and more.

Please note, that all DVD's and CD's that we carry are made by eco villagers. Ringing Cedars Of Russia offers support to eco settlements through the sales of these products.

Wishing you all to love and be loved,
Ringing Cedars Of Russia

Click here to go to our online store

Health-Promoting Cedar Products for an Active Long Life

Health is a treasure that is always with you.
(Chinese proverb)

Each one of us wants to live a long life while remaining physically strong and preserving a clear mind. And we must take care of our health ourselves and do everything possible to preserve it.

It is well known that a person's functional systems undergo successive changes from birth to old age: they are formed, grow stronger, and then grow weaker.

Completely consistent with this regularity, adaptive systems also develop that provide resistance to unfavourable environmental influences and to stress.

A person begins to grow old soon after the developmental period of the body is completed, that is, at the age of 30. It is at this time when you need to begin the struggle for an active old age, the struggle to slow the natural aging process.

To achieve this, you need to create the simple but necessary conditions in the body that support the metabolism at an optimum level. There are only two conditions:

- provide the complete set of all essential nutritional elements;
- allow for the prompt and unimpeded elimination of the end products of metabolism from the body. The paramount role in this is assigned to functional nutrition, balanced in its content and ratio of essential factors. These requirements are met by natural, organic plant products, which saturate the human body with the vital energy of the Earth and the Sun.

Imagine a mighty, handsome cedar surrounded by pristine nature and the crystal clear air. The fruits of this wonderful plant — cedar nuts — are collected in the health-promoting product — "Pine Power" — which is the culmination of scientific research by the scientists at the Clinical and Experimental Lymphology Scientific Research Institute of the Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Siberian Cedars company. Cedar nut flakes possess special health-promoting properties and beneficially support all the functional systems of the human body.

The unsurpassed health-promoting qualities of Cedar Nut Oil, its properties of positively regulating fat metabolism in the human body and assisting in the prevention and correction of atherosclerosis have been confirmed by numerous clinical studies. And this means that the use of cedar products may serve as a means of preventing the development of many pathological processes, the basis of which is atherosclerosis: arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and obliterating atherosclerosis.

"Pine Power" Cedar Nut Flakes assist in improving blood circulation. Well-known powerful antioxidants — vitamin E and vitamin C — while mutually reinforcing each other's action, protect cell membranes from damage by free radicals and thus increase our resistance to damaging and pathogenic factors. Vitamins E, C, and P improve the condition of the vascular wall, assist in preventing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques on artery walls, and assist in the development of collaterals (new vessels). Improving blood flow to organs, including the heart, brain, and endocrine glands, makes it possible to slow the aging process.

"Pine Power" possesses the property of supporting the functions of the immune system, which protects us from everything foreign: bacteria, fungi, viruses. The immune system stands guard, and destroys cancer cells that appear in our body.

This is also facilitated by the presence of dietary fiber in the product, fibre that is an essential medium for the development of the normal microflora of the intestine. The microflora produces certain vitamins, supports the function of the immune system, creates the conditions for food uptake, and inhibits the development of infection. "Pine Power" may be used for the prevention of dysbacteriosis. "Pine Power" Cedar Nut Flakes may be effectively used for the purposes of promoting health and for relief from chronic inflammatory diseases having various localizations, which can accumulate in our bodies over the years. The regular consumption of the Pine Power natural protein-vitamin complex improves immunity and assists in increasing the protective forces of the body, increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases and catarrhal inflammations, prevents the development of seasonal catarrhal inflammations, acute viral respiratory infections, and influenza, and eases the course of these diseases.

"Pine Power" Cedar Nut Flakes may be used for the cleansing and regeneration of the organs in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, including the organs of the bronchopulmonary system, the ear, nose and throat, and the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.

Health-promoting cedar products may, if necessary, be combined with any of the treatment methods of conventional medicine, improving treatment results and sustaining these results for a long time, and also prevent the exacerbation of chronic diseases. "Pine Power" Cedar Nut Flakes are beneficial in old age to establish harmony within the body, especially for those suffering from chronic diseases, and also following serious diseases and operations.

The regular consumption of natural health-promoting products will help you create the conditions for a long active life in harmony.

Dr. Sergey Shirokov, PhD
Clinical and Experimental Lymphology Scientific Research Institute
Novosibirsk, Russia

http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/
Image copyright: http://nxmed.ru/
Used by permission.
Copyright CedarInfo.info

* * *

What People Say About This Product:

I am on an elimination diet to regain better health, having a damaged immune system and digestion. Since I cannot have any grains, the Pine Power Pine Nut Flakes have been a godsend for breakfast (you can eat only so many greens in a day!). I make them with hot water, letting steep while I drink my tea, and love the nutty taste in the morning. Thanks! Looking forward to trying the recipes.

Debor Austin, TX, USA

* * *

When I did my first order I was simply delighted to receive and try out these products and they did not disappoint! I could feel the effects of the Pine Nut Oil immediately. The experience was of an accelerated thought process, mind you I am very sensitive and this may have played a role in my experience. I also got the Pine Nut Power, simply delicious. My only regret is I went through them to quickly, so this time I'm ordering a lager amount.

Enjoy and Be Well,
LeeJames Coles, Australia

* * *

Excellent product [Pine Power], best of the best on the market. I have 12 boxses and want to eat them every day. Very nourishing, delicious and healthy product, balances body and mind.

Thank you, Elena

Click here to go to our online store

Medicinal properties of the needles

The medicinal properties of cedar needles are well known. They contain many biologically active materials that have a medicinal and stimulating action. The needles of the Siberian cedar are rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and carotene. As far back as 1786, the academician P. S. Pallas wrote that the young shoots of the cedar "contain the most pleasant taste, very similar to a citrus rind, and are a very good medicine for scurvy, if they will be used moist, if boiled in beer or water." And further he adds, that from the tops of young cedar "it is possible to make a very medicinal, anti-scorbutic and refreshing beverage."

The anti-scorbutic properties of cedar buds was noted by Doctor Espenberg as far back as 1812, he used them against scurvy during his journeys around the world aboard the ship Nadezhda under the command of I. F. Kruzenshtern. In his report, Espenberg wrote that the broth made from the buds of dwarf cedar trees cured scorbutic diseases and even made abscesses on the feet disappear. Many expeditions of those distant times were saved from scurvy by an infusion of the needles of the Siberian cedar and dwarf cedar trees. B. Tikhomirov and S. Pivnik note that the needles of our northern trees (pines, firs, Siberian cedar, and dwarf cedar tree) may be equated to lemons and oranges with respect to their anti-scorbutic properties.

According to the data of V. S. Fedorova, the needles of the Siberian cedar contain from 250 to 350 mg of vitamin C.

As reported by G. A. Sokolov, one ton of cedar needles can yield five thousand daily portions of vitamin C.

I. I. Grom considers the cedar needle to be a natural concentrate of vitamins. It is especially valuable in the winter period, when the consumption of fruits and berries is limited.

According to the report of A. Skarzhitskiy, from the young shoots of Siberian cedar is obtained an essential oil, "very highly valued in folk medicine; it is used internally for kidney and gall stones, and externally it is used for wounds, abscesses, and rheumatic pains." The essential oils contained in the needle are recognized as most important antimicrobial substances. The last ones are especially active in the summer months (in July and August), as a consequence of which at this time the bactericidal and fungicidal activity of this plant increases considerably.

Siberian folk healers recommend to sleep on a bed made of cedar wood, and to have a cushion made of fresh cedar boughs instead of the usual downy pillow. The same advice they also direct to those who have disorders in the activity of the cardiovascular system, in whom the respiratory organs are sick. Cedar needles yield an essential oil, chlorophyll, vitamin concentrates, produce vitamin flour, which is rich in bactericides, vitamins C, E, carotene, trace elements (copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, phosphorus). A kilogram of flour obtained from the needles of cedar shoots contains 70 mg of carotene, up to 35 mg of vitamin E, and also vitamins B, K, B. Needle flour is produced from needles that have already been processed, i.e., needles from which the essential oil and vitamins have been extracted. First, half of the vitamin C contained in the needle is extracted, in this case its concentration reaches 500 mg for a litre of water. The needles continue to be heated by steam in order to separate the essential oils. From 500 kg of cedar boughs are obtained 2.5 kg of essential oil. The essential oil obtained from the needles is a constituent of some preparations used in diseases of the kidneys, liver, etc. In the form of broths and infusions, cedar needles are used in the same cases as pine needles. Apart from vitamins, the needles are rich in tannins, alkaloids, and terpenes. Needle infusions and broths are drunk as diuretics.

Russian folk medicine uses cedar needles in the form of broths and infusions in cases of bronchial asthma as an antiasthmatic agent. Cedar needle broths, infusions, and tinctures are drunk in diseases of the respiratory organs of both a catarrhal and infectious nature: bronchitis, tracheitis, inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. Needle broths and infusions have an expectorant action, they aid in the elimination of phlegm and the purification of the respiratory tract. The broth of the cedar needle is a remarkable gargling agent in cases of angina, for rinsing the oral cavity in cases of stomatitis, and rinsing the nasal passages in cases of a head cold. Rinsing the mouth with an infusion made from needles strengthens the gums and teeth, and protects the teeth from decay. Cedar needle broths and infusions are recommended for inhalations, phyto-applications (compresses). In the form of a beverage with the addition of honey, needle broth has been given by them to children in cases of rickets. A needle beverage is also helpful in cases of scrofula. It is good to bathe children with scrofula and rickets in needle baths. Drinking needle broths and infusions is useful for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The cedar needle contributes to the cleansing of the vessels, increases their elasticity, improves the composition of the blood, cleans it of harmful substances. Needle broth was once taken as a hemostatic agent in cases of excessive hemorrhage in women. A tincture of the cedar needle in alcohol or vodka is an effective wound-healing agent. For the preparation of the tincture, 200 ml of alcohol is poured over 100 g of the ground needle, it is infused in a dark place for seven days. The bast of young cedar trees was used for the extraction of arrows and splinters. A needle broth from the boughs is used to wash minor wounds and abscesses. In the form of lotions, it is used in cases of pustular lesions of the skin. An alcohol tincture of the cedar needle is rubbed on the joints in cases of rheumatism, gout, arthritis.

Beverages from the cedar needle are useful for convalescents who have undergone serious illnesses or operations. A cedar needle infusion or broth is drunk in cases of some poisonings, for example, smoke, alcohol, exhaust gases. In cases of headache or migraine, a towel soaked in a strong needle broth or infusion may help if applied to the forehead and temples; the infusion is also taken internally.

Siberian folk healers think that the constant use of a cedar needle infusion increases the protective powers of the body, and strengthens the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. An improvement occurs in the well-being and health of the body as a whole.

Cedar needle broths and infusions, and the bast of young trees may be anexcellent anti-scorbutic agents and vitamin-containing substances. Baths from cedar needles are recommended - they are both generally strengthening and therapeutic. They act in a calming manner, eliminate fatigue and nervous tension. These baths are helpful for those suffering from rheumatism or gout. Needle baths are prepared for children ill with rickets or scrofula. The cedar needle is a constituent of different preparations. Since it is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen, the essential oil contained in the needle releases ozone - triatomic oxygen - into the atmosphere. Ozone makes the human body as a whole more healthy. Cedar forests differ from other forests by their extraordinary cleanliness and the curative properties of their air. This air is recommended for patients suffering from tuberculosis, and chronic and other diseases of the lungs as the very best therapeutic agent. In cases of radiculitis, it is good to apply steamed, ground needles or steamed cedar tree sawdust to the painful area. A chlorophyll-carotene paste is produced from the needle. It is used in surgery, dentistry, in cases of ulcers, and also as an external agent in burns and different skin diseases. Cedar needles can also have a purely practical application. In the first half of the 19th century, S. I. Gulyaev found a method for the production of "forest wool." His invention was tested in Tomsk, where at that time a factory installation for processing needles was in operation. "Forest wool," i.e., the fiber obtained from the needle, proved to be an excellent packing material for soft furniture and mattresses. Today, in industrial circumstances, from a ton of cedar needles are produced approximately 5000 daily doses of vitamin C, about 5 kg of essential oil, 10 kg of needle extract for therapeutic baths, more than 200 g of the finest cellulose threads, which are only slightly inferior in quality to the fibers of the cotton plant.

D. Ternenko, Biologist
Kiev Polytechnical Institute, Ukraine

http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/
Used by permission
Copyright CedarInfo.info

Our Unique Production Technique:

Cedar Nut Sheller This equipment and method of shelling Siberian Cedar Nuts brings the difference in the quality of "RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA" Siberian Cedar Kernels and Siberian Cedar Nut Oil

Cedar Nut Oil Press This equipment and method of pressing Siberian Cedar Nuts brings the difference in the quality of "RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA" Siberian Cedare Nut Oil

The brand name "THE RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA" stands for business integrity, decency and the highest possible quality of product. All products marketed under this brand name convey the primordial power of Nature and the warmth of our hearts. We offer:

A variety of high-quality cedar products, including cedar nuts and cedar nut oil.

Huge plantations of cedar trees grow in the Siberian taiga, said to be the ecologically purest area of the world. The virgin forest of the taiga has never been treated with any chemicals or artificial fertilisation, nor abused by agricultural machines.

Cedar nuts (the seeds of the cedar tree) take two years to mature, during which time the tree accumulates a huge volume of positive cosmic energy. Crops of nuts are harvested manually by people lovingly devoted to this task, working in a pleasant environment without undue haste to create unique products full of positive energy reflecting the infinite powers of Nature. Specific preparations include:

We pick only cedar cones which fall naturally from the trees, thus ensuring that only ripe cones are selected. We always avoid hitting the trees to shake unripe cedar cones down (as happens with some other commercial operations) -- a practice which causes the nuts to lose their healing power.

Cones are then manually shelled with the help of wooden shell-removers. Nut centres are separated from their shells using wooden rollers.

Cedar nut oil and cedar nut flour marketed under our brand name are obtained by the cold-pressure method, using manual wooden oil-presses.

Cedar nut oil is then stored in special containers and packed in a small village near Novosibirsk by name "Kandayrovo" using unique technology to avoid any contact with metal. The whole process is strictly supervised to ensure it complies with all sanitary requirements.

Final products are placed in special packaging to prevent daylight penetration, and stored at a temperature of 0C to +5C to better preserve the product's natural components. The resulting product is a bright gold-coloured liquid with the pleasant smell of cedar nuts. It is a 100% natural product with strong healing powers.

SIBERIAN CEDAR NUT OIL

Siberian Cedar nuts (cedar nuts) contain about 60% oil. They are therefore pressed to obtain Cedar nut oil, which is available on the market as a very expensive gourmet cooking oil. Cold pressing in all-wooden presses is preferred to retain the nutritional properties of nuts and derive the oil of highest quality.

The Cedar nut oil bearing "The Ringing Cedars of Russia" brand comes exclusively from wild-harvested Siberian Cedar nuts - one of the most nutritious Cedar nuts in the world. In comparison, other Cedar nut oils are usually pressed from the Italian pignolia Cedar nuts, which are not nearly as potent and are often harvested from trees growing in plantations. Our Siberian Cedar nut oil is extra virgin (100% cold pressed from freshly shelled raw Siberian Cedar nuts), whereas most Cedar nut oils on the market are either not cold pressed or even pressed from roasted (!) Cedar nuts, which significantly decreases the oil value. Finally, "The Ringing Cedars of Russia" Siberian Cedar nut oil is the only one which is available on the market anywhere in the world pressed with wooden presses in accordance with traditional techniques described in Vladimir Megre's life-changing book "The Ringing Cedars of Russia". In contrast, all other Cedar nut oils are pressed using steel presses, which immediately degrades them (contact with steel oxidizes some of the Cedar nut oil's most important ingredients such as vitamins, and is known to remove the 'life force' from the oil).

Cedar nut oil has also traditionally been used in ancient Russian and European natural medicine to cure a wide array of ailments - ingested (decreasing blood pressure, boosting immune system resistance, etc.) or applied externally (a range of dermatological disorders). It is also used in expensive cosmetics.

Cedar nut oil contains pinolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, and is marketed in the U.S. as a means stimulate cell proliferation, prevent hypertension, decrease blood lipid and blood sugar, and inhibit allergic reactions.

Copyright: http://www.RingingCedarsOfRussia.org/

BASIL AND PARMESAN RICE WITH CEDAR NUTS

Ingredients:

1/3 cup toasted cedar nuts
1 T cedar nut oil
1 C long-grain white rice (use Uncle Ben's Converted Rice for the South Beach diet)
2 cups homemade vegetable broth
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1/3 cup or more fresh basil, finely chopped

Preparation:

In heavy dutch oven type pan, brown rice in cedar nut oil over high heat for 2-3 minutes, until rice is starting to look slightly toasted. Add broth and bring to a boil. When broth starts to boil lower heat, cover pan with tight-fitting lid and simmer 20 minutes. After that much time, check to be sure all the liquid is absorbed. When it is, turn off heat and let rice sit 5 minutes.

While rice sits, toast cedar nuts in dry skillet until slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Shake pan a few times and watch them closely so they don't get too brown. Wash basil, spin dry, then chop finely with chef's knife.

After the rice sits for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork, stir in parmesan, chopped basil, and cedar nuts and serve immediately. (This does not reheat well, since it loses that fresh basil flavor when it's reheated, so you'll have to eat it all, which probably won't be much of a problem.)

Makes 3-4 servings

FRESH TAGLIOLINI WITH SHREDDED BRUSSELS SPROUTS, SAGE AND CEDAR NUTS

Ingredients:

250g/9oz Brussels sprouts
2 tbsp cedar nut oil
150g/5.5 oz shallots, thinly sliced
12 fresh sage leaves, sliced
4 garlic cloves, sliced
4 tinned plum tomatoes, finely chopped
1 orange, finely grated zest only
1 tbsp cedar nuts, lightly toasted
salt and freshly ground black pepper
450g/1lb fresh tagliolini
55g/2oz butter
55g/2oz Desmond cheese or parmesan cheese, finely grated

Preparation:

Quarter the sprouts, cut out the core and separate the leaves. In a wide pan, heat the cedar nut oil and cook the sprouts, shallots, sage and garlic over a medium heat for two minutes. Add the tomatoes, orange zest and pine nuts, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for two minutes.

At the same time, bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the tagliolini and cook for 2-3 minutes until just tender. Drain well.

Add the butter, cheese and cooked pasta to the sprouts and mix well. Serve immediately.

PLUM, ORANGE AND CEDAR NUT "TART"

This dressing adds a special touch to your salad with crunchy cedar nuts and the bright flavors of cranberry and balsamic vinegar.

Ingredients:
1 round loaf, white crusty bread
4 tbsp clear honey
6 oranges, peeled, sliced
1 plum, stone removed, sliced
pinch ground cinnamon
2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp cedar nuts, toasted

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Slice the loaf in half horizontally and place on a baking sheet.

Drizzle the bread with honey and lay the orange and plum slices over the top. Scatter with the cinnamon, icing sugar and cedar nuts and place in the oven to bake for 12 minutes.

To serve, cut into wedges.

http://www.kalynskitchen.com/; http://www.bbc.co.uk/;

CEDAR NUTS CAN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH CEDAR NUT FLAKES.

For more recipes please click here

For Educational purposes only
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
These articles come directly from researchers and are passed on to everybody. The company assumes no liability for any content in these articles.

For more great articles go to http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/cedar_nuts_and_ringing_cedars_information.php

Message submitted from: Radha Theresa,

Address: 83 Cassilis St Coonabarabran NSW Australia Phone number: 0268424778
Email: capricorndancer@live.com.au
Title: Vedruss Kins Oasis
User classifieds ad:
Calling Vedruss! A Kin's Village is called into being in Coonabarabran, Australia. If you feel called to participate, please email Radha or Chris for more details - capricorndancerlive.com.au

Shambhala-Shasta

SUCCESS!!!
The Anastasia Eco-settlement project has found its home in North America on Sacred Motherland!

Many great thanks to all of you who contributed to this success and to many who have supported this dream and vision with your love from near and far.

Shambhala-Shasta community has taken back 466 acres of prestine motherland. Free and clear. No debt. No Encumbrances. No liens. Free and clear!!!

To freedom, independance and sovereignty!!!

The community will steadily grow out from here as we are bordered on the east and north by national forests.

More to come soon after our visit to our motherland in the next few days.

We have several settlers who have begun the intake process and purchased their domains. If you are ready and feel the beat in your heart, come and join!!!

http://shambhala-shasta.org/become/

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Classifieds column is created specifically for the announcements related to the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" Movement (please view example below). If you wish to submit your message please fill out the form below and click "Submit" .

Thank you for your attention,

Administration,
The Earth online newspaper.

(Note: The Administration of The Earth online newspaper reserves the right to review all of the announcements. There are no guarantees that your message will be posted. )