Biomass fuel refining breakthrough leads to potential to displace 30% or more of total US petroleum production. A fungus and E. coli bacteria have joined forces to turn tough, waste plant material into isobutanol, a biofuel that matches gasoline’s properties better than ethanol. University of…
By Mae Chan A new study from Finland appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that daily consumption of sea buckthorn berries, its extracts, or bilberries may boost the overall metabolic profiles of women. Using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics, researchers from…
by Tess Pennington Even if you live in a city, you might be shocked to find out how much food is available, free for the taking. I’m not talking about shoplifting from the corner store – I’m talking about foraging. In ancient times, humans were…
By Jonathan Parker A while back we posted an article about the benefits of Aquaponic Gardening. I’d just like to share a couple photos and a quick update on the systems we built for our greenhouse. The systems consist of a 325 gallon IBC built…
By Erin Schumacher If you haven’t already learned the numerous ways to use baking soda to effectively and cheaply clean your home then it is about time! Baking soda, also called bicarbonate of soda or sodium bicarbonate raises cakes and calms heartburn. It also fulfills…
By Gaye Levy It is my belief that preparedness is a lifestyle and to that end, we need to be proactive and embrace good habits now so when and if a crisis, disaster or collapse occurs, these habits will be second nature and intuitive. One…
by Heather Callaghan Even though the EU is initiating a 2-year ban on neonicotinoid pesticides which are heavily implicated in causing massive bee die-off, and a few organizations are suing the EPA for turning a blind eye towards pesticides – there is still a dire…
by Mark DeNicola Whether you live in a one-bedroom apartment or a 5-story mansion, the inclusion of plants throughout the house is an almost absolute necessity. Not only do they often aesthetically look wonderful, they also play a big role in improving the air quality…
By brewbooks By Jonathan Parker There’s no denying the past few years of drought have been rough on farmers and gardeners alike. After so many poor seasons in a row, the heavy rain we’ve been having was breathing new life into the fields. In Michigan, we…
By Gaye Levy Three years ago, if someone had mentioned that they were purchasing some worms, I would have grabbed my pole and said “let’s go fishing”. Later, as I became interested in organic gardening, I started reading about worm bins and worm compost. A…
By Jonathan Parker A common enemy of gardeners and lawn aficionados is this little critter to your left. Moles are amazing little creatures that are well suited to their subterranean lifestyle. They eat all manner of insects and earthworms. Their wide paws and sharp claws make…
by Christina Sarich Does your Aunt Martha grow the best organic Meyer lemons in all of Florida? Do you have a favorite tomato plant in your yard that was grown from heirloom seed, and was never treated with chemical fertilizer? Do you buy your produce…
By Natural Blaze The firebrand MSNBC host Dylan Ratigan truly hoped to make a difference with his TV show. He took on the big banks, the Federal Reserve system and their crony politicians. But he realized the cable news format was little more than perpetuating…
by Natural Blaze Our modern way of life has strayed from the family farm and has moved toward the urban and suburban environment. This change has left many people in a compromised position when it comes to full self-sufficiency. However, there are some fantastic examples…
By Jonathan Parker A quick little recipe to make your own air fresheners. These take less than five minutes to make and will fill your house with a lovely aroma for up to a month. Depending on the essential oil you choose, you gain the added…
By Jonathan Parker Aquaponics is an amazing permaculture method that may have been practiced as far back in history as the Aztec civilization. There are records of the Aztec people raising fish alongside of crops that were alien to the growing environment, using the nitrite…
By Jonathan Parker With early plants coming up strong and spring in full swing (except for some northern states, sorry folks) it’s probably time to start considering protecting your garden from pests. The negative effects and safety issues of pesticides have been frequently addressed. With…
By Jonathan Parker There’s no denying that Aloe Vera is an amazing plant. From lotions to natural remedies, its uses are abundant. For detoxing and lowering cholesterol, and the more common uses of soothing burns and revitalizing your skin and hair. This amazing plant can be…
By Jonathan Parker With warm sunny days fast approaching (hopefully right?) pale folks like me start planning the annual easy-bake avoidance strategy. Before I started learning about natural health and the dangers of chemicals, it was an easy fix. Slop a couple handfuls of SPF-one-billion on…
By Karen Foster The peels of fruits hold some of the most incredible nutrients in the world. There are dozens of uses, both medicinal and practical, for orange and banana peels that are unknown to most. Next time you think about throwing away one of…
