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!

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!

We discussed Robert O. Becker M.D.’s book The Body Electric and the dangers of simply standing next to a microwave. We reviewed Swiss, Russian, and German scientific clinical studies on the effects of microwave cooking. I was intrigued and continued research on the topic. There is definitely controversial debate on the subject, but the read that turned me away from microwaves for good is published by Lita Lee, Ph.D.

The waves produced by a microwave oven damage the cell wall of foods to such a degree that the human gut receptors are not likely to recognize microwaved food particles as food subsequently causing an immune response. The human body cannot metabolize these unknown by-products. No atom, molecule, or cell of any organic system can withstand such destructive power.

Wisely banned from Russia, microwave ovens destroy some nutrients and turn some amino acids into carcinogens. It is widely known that breast milk should never be microwaved, many hospitals even refuse to microwave breast milk. So I definitely think avoiding the electromagnetic pollution entirely is a good idea.

Are you ready to stop zapping your food? Take a few minutes and snoop around on the web and make an informed decision. Microwaves are convenient, but with a little planning ahead you won’t miss it at all. If you need to reheat something, simply throw a skillet on the stove top or use a toaster oven. It’s fast, easy, and tastes better too! You will probably find that you actually spend more time cooking from scratch, and that is definitely a healthier choice.

Recyle your microwave at Earth911.com. This informative website includes a search engine that will help you find a recycling center in your area that accepts microwaves.

Waaaah Hooo!  We have cucumbers….

….and tomatoes!

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

Here is my updated Plangarden layout: 

Changes include:

• Strawberries have been omitted (couldn’t find an organic option)
• Sweet potato, borage, and nasturtium have been added
• Asparagus and sage have been relocated

I relocated the asparagus and sage because through my companion planting research I discovered that asparagus does not like onion, garlic, and potato (duh, that’s exactly where I had it!), but loves basil and tomato.  I learned that sage deters cabbage moths, so I moved the sage over near the brassicas. 

How do companion plants work? 

Every plant releases different chemical agents, either above ground through its leaves, or below ground from its roots.  Every plant has special characteristics and growing habits.  Companion plants provide one or some of the following benefits:

• Produce a chemical that deters pests that are attracted to its companion
• Produce a scent that reduces the pest’s ability to find its companion
• Attract the same pest as its companion (a.k.a trap crop)
• Provide food and shelter for beneficial natural pest predators
• Reduce weed seedling numbers, by shading or choking weeds
• Produce nutrients or growth stimulants for companion
• Provide support for climbing plants
• Provide shade for its companion
• Change or enhance companion plants flavor

I would like to highlight two of my favorite new companion plants.  Using these two beautiful plants is making my life a lot easier in the garden.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are a gardener’s best friend because they fend off garden pests from neighboring plants. I’m growing them near my cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini to help repel cucumber beetles and squash vine borers.  This interesting annual also repel many different kinds of aphids. Though they do attract one species of aphid, the black aphid, you can use this to your advantage. If black aphids are already a problem, grow nasturtiums to keep aphids from destroying other plants. Then when the nasturtiums are covered in aphids, pull those plants up and destroy them, aphids and all.

In addition, nasturtiums produce decorative foliage, provide an ocean of brightly colored blossoms, and the entire plant is a tasty addition to salads!  I’m anxiously awaiting the first blooms.

Borage

Borage is an annual plant with gorgeous blue flowers and leaves with the flavor of cucumbers.  It is considered an herb, but is often grown in vegetable gardens because the plant attracts bees and is considered a good companion plant for tomatoes, squash and strawberries.  I planted borage near my tomato plant because it’s even supposed to deter my arch enemy…tomato hornworm. If that’s not enough, borage is said to enhance the flavor of tomatoes growing nearby.

Here’s the garden on June 6, 2010.

There’s nothing better than witnessing nature’s wonder.  Mother nature sure knows what she’s doing.  Happy gardening!