The Good Life with Stacy

Gardeners Need Water Too

Determining the amount of water each plant in my garden needs to thrive is both an art and a science. If you’re like me, a gardener who is passionate about keeping my plants healthy to avoid the need for pesticides and fertilizer, you keep a close eye on the yard and garden for signs of under or over watering.

Think of your gardening body in the same way…keeping your body healthy and functioning properly will help you avoid the need for medication or other toxic paraphernalia.

Proper hydration is essential for good health for both plants AND their keepers during hot summer months. How much water should you drink each day? It’s a simple question with debatable answers; studies produce varying recommendations. The bottom line? Like plants, our water requirements depend on many factors including individual health, activity levels, and geographic location.

Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60% of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. Water is needed in blood to transport oxygen to working muscles; in urine to eliminate metabolic waste products; in regulating body temperature to lose heat through sweating; and for digestion and absorption. Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you feel lethargic. Symptoms of dehydration include headache, dizziness, muscle weakness, and thirst.

Outdoor physical activity such as gardening enhance the need to replace fluids. Gardeners, similar to athletes, should not rely on thirst to remind them to reach for their Sigg water bottle. Being thirsty at this point is a sign of dehydration. Fluid needs vary from one individual to another; there are general guidelines athletes can follow for staying properly hydrated during exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has revised recommendations for proper hydration and exercise. Drinking before, during, and after a gardening session is essential for efficiency and recovery.

Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body’s need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day. Try a simple hydration calculator that analyzes several internal and external factors.

Finally, keep it eco-friendly and filter your drinking water at home to avoid contributing to the environmental impact of plastic water bottles.

Cheers!

Presto Pesto

A good pesto begins with fresh organic basil. You don’t need a green thumb to grow your own basil, it’s easy! Basil is an annul herb that can be planted in organic vegetable gardens, containers, or hanging baskets. It needs well-drained, rich soil and does best in sunny locations. Soil that has been mixed with organic compost will help ensure vital, fragrant herbs.

As a companion plant, basil will help protect tomato plants by repelling fruit flies, aphids and spider mites. It also protects against the nasty tomato hornworm. I have found that my tomatoes have a delicious basil taste when the herb is grown in proximity. Pruning the sides and tops of the plants frequently, every 2 – 3 weeks, will encourage a bushy plant and maximize production. Pinch the tops directly above two small leaves, leaving enough foliage for continued healthy growth.

Basil is a wonderful source of vitamins K, A, and C, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. Basil is a heart healthy herb, working to prevent free radicals and build-up in the arteries. The magnesium helps blood vessels to relax encouraging blood circulation.

Try this simple pesto recipe and take advantage of the health benefits of organic basil.

Ingredients

3 cups fresh basil

4 cloves fresh garlic

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup roasted or raw pine nuts

Salt and pepper

Directions

Pulse pine nuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor or blender. Add basil and Parmesean cheese. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while mixing, blend to a smooth paste. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Use the pesto as a marinade, with grilled veggies, instead of pizza sauce, in omelets, in white lasagna, and on pasta.

I split the leftover pesto into four servings and popped them in the freezer for a ready-to-go meal in minutes. I’m also excited to try freezing the leaves directly in ice cube trays now to use while cooking this winter. The benefits of growing your own organic groceries are endless, enjoy!

Stop Zapping Your Food

Raw foodists have warned us about the damage that is done to food when it is cooked. Heat changes the make-up of food, and nutrients and beneficial enzymes can be destroyed. Not to mention the digestive system has to work harder and longer to process cooked food. This concern was taken a step [...]

Protect Your Back While Gardening

Gardening is on the rise, yet about one in every five do-it-yourself injuries occurs during the activity. It’s important to recognize, however, gardening does not cause injury. Poor gardening technique causes injury.

Planting flowers or an organic vegetable garden should be enjoyable. Call me crazy, but I actually think weeding is a great way to [...]

Core Strengthening Exercise for Gardeners

Attention gardeners! Perform this simple ball chop exercise to strengthen the core muscles, lower body, and shoulder girdle stabilizers. Strengthening these muscles will help gardeners avoid next day soreness and protect the low back. Complete 3 sets of 8 repetitions on each side.

Cucumber Salad

I’m starting to harvest from the kitchen garden every day! I recently prepared a wonderful dinner starring cucumber salad.

Ingredients

1 large cucumber

1 red onion

1 Tbsp fresh dill

3/4 c distilled white vinegar

1/2 c filtered water

1/2 c organic sugar

Organic sea salt and pepper

Directions

I know that cucumber skin contains curcurbatacin which can cause digestion challenges for some people, so I [...]

Growing Groceries

It just wouldn’t be summer without pasta salad. Can’t wait to pick some of the ingredients straight from the garden.

Waaaah Hooo! We have cucumbers….

….and tomatoes!

Now if I can just keep the critters and insects from enjoying the salad before I can.

Gardening is not all ROSES!

The cold, hard truth? Vegetable gardening isn’t simple and glamorous…it’s a constant learning curve. As the reality gardener, I’m here to share both my triumps and pains.

My cukes, zukes, and squash starting showing signs of trouble. The leaves had white spots and the plants seemed to be struggling. I researched the problem and decided [...]

Proper Lifting Technique for Gardeners

Attention gardeners…give your back a break and watch this quick video demonstrating the proper lifting technique.

Asparagus Luvs Tomato xoxo

I must confess…I have become obsessed with companion planting! I recently invested quite a bit of time researching the appropriate layout for the plants that are growing in my kitchen garden, and have subsequently moved some plants and added plants to my original layout.

Here is my updated Plangarden layout:

Changes include:

Strawberries have been omitted (couldn’t find [...]

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