No-Dig gardens are the quickest, easiest way to get home grown vegetables on your dinner table. No dig gardening consists of layering organic materials on top of the soil to create a nutrient rich environment for your plants, in this case, vegetables. The garden literally composts the materials while feeding the plants.

The use of pesticides and of artificial fertilizers is opposed to vegan principles, and veganic gardening has proven them to be unnecessary once the correct balance of the soil has been established. Fruits and vegetables grown with the veganic methods (which certainly is not limited to "no-dig gardening) can be as large and beautiful, and perfectly formed, as those grown under any other methods.

• First choose a sheltered, sunny spot for your no-dig garden, preferably one that is away from any tree roots. Now you can build the framework – your frame should be about 8 feet by 4 feet and 12 inches deep, (deeper if you plan on growing deep-rooted vegetables and fruits) and constructed of materials such as concrete blocks, bricks,wood, logs, hay bales, or stones piled up. Secure your framwork well with screws or bolts or strong wire/twine to make it strong. If using hay bales, place them in a rectangular shape, tie heavy duty twine around the entire shape, then place some heavy garden stakes around the outside of the frame to add extra support.
• You can build two or more of these beds with a walkway in between.
• Now place a good layer of gravel or small rocks as the base to ensure your garden will have good drainage and to smother any ground weeds.
• Lay down a layer of thick cardboard or overlapping sheets of newspaper, about 20 pages or so thick. Wet this down well.
• Fill the bottom third of your garden box with clean straw. Any kind of straw will do. Wet this down well too.
• Cover this with one part compost (that hopefully you have been making......see below) to two parts soil, and fill your no-dig garden, increasing the amount of compost if you wish. If you are able to get mushroom compost/soil, mix one part with one part soil.
• Water the garden until it's soaking and let it settle for a few days before planting.
• Seedlings do better than seeds in the no-dig garden.
• The deeper your bed, the more options you’ll have for growing plants in your raised bed.
• Plant vegetables and fruits closer together than in a traditional garden bed.
• It’s important to place plants with similar needs in the same raised bed.



• COMPOST- What to add: Grass Clippings, Fruit and Vegetable Scraps, Coffee Grounds, Tea leaves and tea bags, Weeds (if they haven't gone to seed), Seaweed/Algae, Shredded Newspaper or Junk Mail, PineNeedles, Spent Blooms, trimmings from the garden, Ashes, wood, Bark, Cardboard, shredded, Corn Stalks, Leaves, Newspaper, shredded, Peanut shells, Sawdust, Stems and twigs, shredded, Hay, Straw, Vegetable stalks.
• A compost Pile can be as plain or fancy as you want - you don't even need a bin to make compost. For convenience and aesthetics, you can choose from numerous commercial composters or construct your own from wooden planks, concrete blocks, used freight pallets, or chicken-wire.
• Make sure your compost pile in the sun. The heat will speed up the decompostion process.
• Give your compost heap a "big meal" versus small snacks. Collect all your organic waste over a couple of days and then add it in one big bunch. The more you add at one time, the more your compost will heat up.
• Chop and shred larger items, which makes it easier for the bacteria to break them down.
• Keep the compost pile moist. Add water to the pile if it has not rained recently.
• Turn, turn, turn!,/li>
• Compost is ready when the ingredients are no longer identifiable and the color is dark brown.

It is so important for vegans to either grow their own produce or to research nearby farms and farmers markets to see how they grow their produce to make sure it is vegan safe, since even buying “organic” may mean utilizing dried blood, bone meal, hood and horn meal, plus any other slaughterhouse waste products.

During this time of year when so many people are planting and gardening, cutting/caring for lawns, and sprucing up their yards I would like to suggest that you create a "habitat" to attract and sustain birds, butterflies, hummingbirds and and other wildlife. No matter how small your yard is, you can have your own sanctuary that is a healthy place for you and your family, a place where you can feel connected to the natural world.

"Habitat" loss is the single most important cause of the decline of species. To create your own "habitat" you should:

(some of the above was taken from www.audobon.org)

*** I must say, my backyard is definitely a wildlife refuge and probably one of my favorite places to relax and just enjoy the "view" and tranquility : ) I am fortunate to have over 2 acres of land that is heavily wooded with a great variety of trees and plants........and a huge man-made donut shaped pond with a bridge and a little island in the middle. (pictured but not a grea pic) Our pond is stocked with several varieties of fish and water-turtles. For the first time this year we actually watched one of our water turtles climb out of the pond, dig a hole in a nice warm spot and lay her eggs. We are now watching every day to see if they will hatch!** Every year geese and ducks depend on our island to nest and have young. Our pond is surrounded with the most colorful wildflowers. Purples, reds and yellows......exquisite! We have butterfly gardens, and plants to attract humminbirds; we see deer on a regular basis, along with fox, rabbits, racoons, opposum, chipmunks and groundhogs....plus a vast assortment of birds. The most interesting are these big crane birds that sit on the bridge looking for fish. They sit high atop some of our trees and every now and then we see one swoop down. Their wingspan is incredible and they are really cool to watch. I can sit on my deck in the evening and see no less than a hundred butterflies fluttering around....and the occasional hummingbird.....listen to our very vocal bullfrogs....and the beauty of it all still amazes me every night! So...get gardening! Be creative! Get your kids involved. Teach your children to appreciate and respect nature. It truly is a gift. Be a responsible caretaker of your piece of the planet and create your own "view", no matter how small of a space you have. It can be so rewarding.***

*Natural Insecticides
• Pepper and Herb Dusts Peppers and certain herbs contain the compound "capasaicin" which will irritate and repel many insects. Cayenne, chili, dill, paprika, red and black peppers can be used as dusts. Purchase the cheapest you can find, or grow hot peppers and dill in your garden. Dry them and pulverize them in a food processor. Sprinkle on moist plant foliage and the surrounding soil.
• Pepper Spray Just like the pepper dusts a spray made from hot peppers will release the capasaicin compound to repel insects. To make:Mix 1/2 cup of finely chopped or ground hot peppers with 1 pint of water. Let this sit for 24 hours. Use as is for a soil drench application or strain the mixture through cheesecloth until you have a clear liquid. Add a few drops of castille soap and use as a foliar application. Keep away from your eyes and skin when using.
• All-Purpose Weed Killer Boil a litre of water, add 2 tablespoons of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar. Pour directly on weeds on sidewalks, driveways, etc. while still hot.

**Update: Today, Sept. 16th, 2008, we became the proud caretakers of 7.........7, baby water turtles!! The mother had come out of our pond about 4 months ago, dug a hole in our yard and laid her eggs, carefully covering them back up. We noticed that nicely packed soil had become loose........and we dug down a little and there they were! All 7, none any bigger than a nickel, digging their way out. We will bring them in the house and put them in an aquarium till they get larger, then release them in our pond. How could anyone not be amazed with nature.....

Before clinical medicine was developed, herbs and spices were one of the few even remotely effective ways to treat health problems. Even today, many spices and herbs have shown ability to help alleviate health problems. Research shows that many common herbs and spices contain components that can lower cholesterol, improve blood sugar levels, and increase resistance to infection. Aside from improving the health of the body they imrove the health of the mind also.

"What is the difference between an herb and a spice?"

Spices are aromatic (odorous) seasonings obtained from the bark, buds, fruit, roots, seeds, or stems of various plants and trees. Examples of spices are cloves, cumin, and black pepper.

Herbs, on the other hand, usually come from the leafy part of a plant. Examples of herbs are oregano, basil, cilantro, and bay leaves.

There are three types of Herbs......Culinary, Medicinal and Aromatic.

Culinary herbs include: basil, caraway, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, sweet marjoram, and thyme. Simply snip off what you need from the herb plant and chop to add to cooking. Once you begin to use fresh herbs in your favorite recipes, you'll never want go back to using just dried herbs again.

Medicinal herbs include: aloe vera, calendula, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, echinacea, feverfew, lemon balm, lovage, hops, mint, and valerian, garlic, gingko and hypericum. Medicinal herbs are ususally administered topically or consumed as teas and tinctures, although lately, organic medicine has made its way back into the mainstream. Even in capsule form, many medicines today contain some type of herb. (You should always seek the advice of a professional before using any medicinal herbs.) For the home gardener it is difficult to extract the medicinal parts of most of these plants.

Aromatic herbs: The oils in herbs are extracted and generally used as scents or potpourri. They are also known to carry soothing and healing powers. Aromatic herbs remain more fragrant when they are dried. Examples of these are rosemary, thyme, marjoram, mints and lavender and basil which are used for aromatherapies to ease the stresses of modern life. Some aromatic herbs are also culinary herbs. Plant mint herbs separately, and if possible, off your herb garden as mints are invasive plants. It is best to pick the leaves of aromatic plants as soon as new foliage begins to show, to maintain its steady growth.

Herbal gardening is wonderful since the herbs can be grown in a variety of ways. If you have some room, you can have an outside herb garden in a raised bed. This allows you to plant a wider variety of herbs, especially those like mint tend to take up a lot of room. You could plant a container garden for you deck or patio for great colors, different textures and super aromas. Or if you have limited space, become an inside kitchen gardener and plant your herbs on a windowsill or in a window box.

Most herbs are perennials meaning they will grow back each year. Any of the herbs that need to be planted annually should go in a spot in the herb garden that is easy to get to. Give each herb plenty of room to grow.Herbs are natural insect repellents but if you have to treat for pests be sure you use a non toxic treatment since you will be eating your harvest. Marigolds are a natural repellent so you may want to plant of few of these flowers among your herbs.

Here are a few good choices for you herb garden although the list is endless:

• Bay is a bushy perennial that is temperature sensitive, so grow this one in a big tub that you can bring indoors if you live in the colder climates. Bay needs full sun. Pick the leaves when they are from 1 ½ to 2 inches long. Dry them for long-term use. The leaves only are used in cooking. Bay leaves are a repellant for fleas, moths, ants and many other bugs.
• Chamomile is a low growing perennial, averaging about 9 inches in height. The leaves as well as the flowers have a very strong scent. Chamomile has many uses and has been referred to as the “physician’s plant.” Chamomile flowers may be brewed into a relaxing tea. The tea is also useful as a rinse for blonde hair, an insect repellent, nightmare preventative, and gentle diuretic.
• Chivesare a perennial, sun loving plant. They grow in small clumps that average 6 inches high. Harvest the slender green shoots when they are young. Older shoots become bitter. Chives have a light onion flavor.
• Hyssopis another of the “physician’s herbs” as it has many uses. It is a perennial that grows to a height of 10 – 12 inches. Hyssop needs full sun and prefers to be in somewhat poor soil. The leaves have a strong slightly bitter minty flavor. The leaves may be brewed into a tea which has many historic medicinal uses including loosening the phlegm of a chest cold, curing toothaches, worming, curing breathing problems, as a laxative and to reduce the swelling and discoloration of bruises.
• Lavender is a shrubby perennial that will grow happily in poor soil as long as it has full sun. If not trimmed, Lavender will grow 3 – 4 feet tall. If you are going to preserve the flowers, they must be harvested before they are fully open. They loose their aromatic properties quickly upon opening. The leaves and flowers are used to flavor oils and vinegars, used in salads and brewed into a tea. The tea has traditionally been used for calming coughs, soothing sore joints and toothaches and as an antiseptic. The scent of lavender is thought to repel mosquitoes, flies and moths. Lavender is best known today for its calming, soothing aroma.
• Lemon Balm is a perennial that averages 3 to 4 feet high if left untrimmed. It may be dried or frozen for future use. Harvest the leaves when they are 1 – 3 inches long. Use the leaves in teas, salads and for flavoring wines and vinegars. Medicinally, Lemon Balm’s uses included reducing fevers, curing gout, cleansing dog bites, repelling scorpions, to encourage longevity and to increase a nursing mother’s milk flow.
• Parsley is an annual that grows to approximately 12 inches in full sun. It may be dried or frozen for future use. The leaves should be harvested while they are still young to prevent bitterness. Parsley is used in salads and as a garnish. Chewing Parsley is thought to cleanse the breath. Tea made from parsley has been used as a diuretic, to ease the pain of arthritis, and as a stimulant.
• Peppermint is a hardy perennial that will grow just about anywhere. It has a voracious habit of spreading, so plan to plant it where it has lots of room! You may even want to grow it in its own bed to prevent it from crowding out your other herbs. Peppermint will grow from 12 to 24 inches. Drying is most effective for preserving the leaves. Harvest the stalks and leaves when they are young. Among them were brewing a tea to be use for indigestion, relieving cramps, sore throats, and as a stimulant.
• Rosemary is a bushy, hardy perennial that is another of the multiuse “physician’s plants.” Rosemary prefers full sun and grows to a height of 3 feet if not trimmed. Harvest the small leaves on the stem when they are about 1 – 2 inches long. Use Rosemary directly in salads, herbal blends, to season meat or infused in vinegars and oils. Rosemary teas have been used for improving memory, a mouthwash, hair rinse, and to reduce the pain of arthritis and to improve learning rates.
• Summer Savory is an annual herb, which grows to a height of 1 – 2 feet. It prefers full sun. The leaves have a delicate peppery taste and should be harvested on the stem. Savory is best preserved by drying. It is often used in herbal blends that are used to flavor oils and vinegars
• Thyme is a bushy perennial that grows from 12 – 24 inches tall. Its small leaves are best harvested on the stalk and then dried. Harvest the leaves before the flower opens. Thyme is a universal herb and will complement any food. Thyme tea was used as a deodorant, disinfectant, and meat preservative, diuretic and to relieve sore throats. Thyme repels moths.
• Oregano contains generous levels of phytochemicals and antioxidants. In one study, oregano had the highest antioxidant activity among 27 culinary herbs and 12 medicinal herbs tested, ranking even higher than fruits and vegetables. Oregano also presents antimicrobial activity against pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli and Staphylococcus.,/li>
• Basil which comes from the Greek word for “king,” is one of the medicinal plants widely used in several countries, including Morocco, to reduce plasma cholesterol and the risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases.
• Sage helps your body absorb oils better, and drinking sage tea could help people who have chronically dry skin. Sage tea also relieves congestion, having an expectorant effect on the body. That means it is good for stuffy noses, allergies, chest colds, general colds, flu and bronchitis. Sage tea has been shown to get rid of toxins built up in the body.
• Ginger whether eaten raw, in tea, as an extract, as a syrup or in cooking, Peeka says ginger relaxes the digestive tract and can help calm acid reflux, an irritable bowel and stomach upsets. It can also decrease blood pressure, alleviate arthritis pain.
• Cinnamon can decrease blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol, especially in people with type-2 diabetes. Other benefits are: improved digestion, thinning of the blood and better circulation, relief from arthritis pain, and prevention of urinary tract infections.
• Paprika and cayenne pepper can help fight high blood pressure and improve circulation.
• Tumeric, a spice found in curry has been reported to help prevent Alzheimer's disease and ease arthritis pain.

Besides all the medicinal and culinary benefits of having a herb garden, plus the added beauty to your landscaping, another added bonus is that they attrack many hummingbirds, butterflies and bees!

One thing I love to do with fresh herbs is make either hot tea or sun tea. Fresh herbal teas are great for improving digestion, good for the skin, relieving of allergies, aide for insomnia, nausea, motion sickness and strengthening the immune system, to name a few.

For one cup of hot tea, use 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs. Bruising the leaves of fresh herbs will help release the flavor. Pour boiling water over the herbs in a glass or china pot. Let steep for 5 or so minutes. Strain and add raw sugar to taste. To make sun tea, simply fill a large glass jar with water , add about a cup of crushed fresh herbs, and set in the sun for most of the day. Strain an stir in raw sugar to taste.

For a complete guide to Nutritional and Herbal Remedies, please click on Natural Health and Longevity Resource Center below

We have all heard that ‘we are what we eat.’ We also need to add to that saying that ‘we are what we breathe, we are what we think, we are what we say, and we are what we see.’ Homeopathic medicine does just that, it heals the whole self. "Alternative medicine", which includes Herbalism, Meditation, Yoga, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Reflexology, Massage Therapy, Nutritional Therapy, Body Detoxification, ETC., addresses these concerns.

More and more people are turning to alternative remedies, and to natural herbal remedies to help them with their illnesses when they find that conventional medicine does not work. Conventional medicine treasts the symptoms where herbal remedies heals the illness.

However, many people think that "natural" means safe and non-toxic so they try to self-medicate themselves. It is important to realize that “natural” does not always mean “safe.” The vast majority of herbs are safe — especially when used properly. But herbal medicines are powerful, and they can cause adverse effects and can interact negatively with conventional medicines. Always seek advice from someone trained in herbal and natural medicines, and buy from a reputable source to ensure quality and purity.

According to proponents of Homeopathy, herbal remedies (and alternative treatments in general) not only work, but are much more effective than conventional medicine. All alternative systems of healing, ancient or modern, share one common characteristic which separates them from conventional Western medicine. They all approach sickness as a dynamic event in the life of an individual, a problem of balance and relationship, the result of disharmony between the sick person and his or her environment. The main goal of homeopathy is to stimulate your body’s own capacity of healing. Hence the imbalances and weaknesses that allow diseases to emerge are corrected.

Conventional Western medicine is organized around the Theory of Diseases, which believes that a person becomes sick because he or she contracts a disease. Conventional medicine is a "one size fits all" treatments of diseases, not of people. It supresses the immune system and prolongs the illness.

There are homeopathic remedies available for almost every condition. Cold, flu, allergy, even bedwetting. A few of the conditions that herbal remedies can be used to treat are listed below:

• St John's wort has been found to be effective for the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
• Echinacea may be used to treat colds and other respiratory (breathing) infections.
• Garlic may reduce blood cholesterol levels and could potentially lower your risk of heart disease.
• Saw palmetto is useful if you have an enlarged but benign prostate gland.
• An extract of hawthorn berries may be able to treat mild heart failure.
• Catnip is ideal for children. Mixed with Marjoram can help to stop bedwetting.
• Chamomile makes a soothing anti inflammatory tea & is also used to soothe tired eyes.
• Marjoram is a good children's remedy for colic and colds.
• Wilde Als in tea form relieves coughs, colds and flu.
• Ginger may relieve nausea and vomiting.
• Ginkgo biloba is thought to improve mental performance if you have Alzheimer's disease.
Horse chestnut seed extract has been studied as a treatment for chronic venous insufficiency.

See GUIDE TO HERBAL REMEDIES for an extensive list of herbal treatments. Again, I do stress though, not to self medicate. Seek out a homeopathic doctor or a herbalist to provide you with professional treatment.

Check out Licensed Naturopathic Physicians Directory - United States

See Herbalist Directory by State.

On my products page if you check out NATIVE REMEDIES and also MOTHER NATURE, you will find Herbal Remedies/Supplements, but check with a professional before using any of these to make sure they will not interact with any present medications or supplements you may be taking.

Plants For A Future is a resource center for rare and unusual plants, particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses. They practise vegan-organic permaculture with emphasis on creating an ecologically sustainable environment based largely on perennial plants. There is a 7000 plant database of Edible, Medicinal and Useful plants for a healthier world. I found it fascinating! Pictured to the left is a salad of edible flowers!

Please check out the Vegan Organics section......Vegan Organic Horticulture is a method of growing plants without the use of chemical fertilizers, sprays etc and without using any animal products (except those obtained from humans). It is a system of caring for the soil in a sustainable way to ensure it retains its fertility for future generations. It is a method of growing plants that works in harmony with nature, encouraging a wide diversity of plant and animal life to share the land with us.

Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. For thousands of years, aromatherapy has been used to promote physical, mental and spiritual health. Essential or "essence" oils are the highly concentrated, volatile, aromatic essence of plants. These oils are extracted from various parts of a plant, including the stem, leaf, flower, bark, fruits and even the root............by a method called "distillation.

Early in the 1920's a chemist named Maurice Gatefosse discovered the benefits of aromatherapy by complete accident. Inside a perfume laboratory, while he was deeply engrossed in his work, he had, by accident, one of his arms catch fire. Thinking quickly, he tried to look for the nearest cold substance to put the fire out. He saw a vat of lavender oil and forced his burning arm into it. To his amazement, not only was the fire extinguished, his burns healed without scarring, too. From then on he used the word "aromatherapy" to describe the healing that he experienced.

Aromatherapy can be experienced in different ways. The three types of aromatherapy are Massage, Olfactory, and Cosmetic:

Essential Oils and their benefits:

Aromatherapy treatment is useful in the healing of many diseases and conditions. They include:

Here are several recipes that you can try yourself:

If you check out Mountain Rose Herbs on my Products page, you will find Essential Oils there.

Gardening is a relaxing and rewarding hobby, and greenhouse gardening offers a new dimension to this favorite pastime. For many people, taking time to garden in their greenhouse is their favorite way to escape from the chaos of the day. It is so relaxing, yet it can truly be invigorating to walk into your greenhouse and gaze on brightly blooming flowers and colorful vegetables and to smell those pleaseant aromas. What a contrast to the often dark and dreary days of winter! Although many gardeners use a greenhouse for growing fresh organic vegetables, or flowers, you can also use it to grow house plants, bulb plants and seedlings of all types.

The advantages to having a greenhouse are: (1) you can garden longer than your normal summer season. Unless you are growing plants that are very temperature sensitive, and your environment is harsh, you should be able to count on nearly two months head start and two months extended growing season, all with no supplemental heat. (2) You can also garden year round. In most places across the country, the sheltered environment of a greenhouse provides enough protection for growing vegetables year round. Even when temperatures drop into the single digits, many cold tolerant vegetable crops can survive just fine.

Take a good look at your property. If you really want to build a greenhouse but you're not sure if you have the space to commit to a freestanding structure, consider attaching a greenhouse as an addition to your home. They definitely add value and beauty to your home. Being close to your house also means that the greenhouse will naturally receive some heat radiating off your home. You just have to make sure that you have a decent south-facing location to take advantage of the winter sunlight.

There are "free standing" greenhouses, that can be heated (warm to hot and the heat source can be solar), or cool. You an purchase a kit of build one yourself and depending on your needs, they can range in price from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand. The easiest greenhouse to maintain is a "cool greenhouse" since you don’t need to provide heat. It is protected from the elements and, with proper positioning, will absorb a great deal of the sun’s warmth on sunny days. These can be quite elaborate structures or as simple as a "hoop house". Hoop houses are characterized by natural regulation of its temperature. The hoop houses are warmed by the natural sun and are cooled by the wind. One can roll the sides up and open the hoop house doors to be able to provide ventilation to the plants inside. Hoophouses, because of their easy construction and mobility, are perfect for the small organic gardener, who has to move their rotate their crops to limit disease and insect problems. The hoophouses can easily be moved. They can also be build to fit over one or more of your "raised bed gardens".

strong>Cool weather plants are a great choice for winter gardening. Greenhouse temperatures that remain consistently below 50 degrees at night will still be warmer than the outside air, while offering you a wide range of plants to grow, such as:

CHECK OUT THESE WEBSITES: for a materials list and complete instructions on building a hoophouse: http://westsidegardener.com/howto/hoophouse.html or, check out the many You Tube videos on "how to build a greenhouse", from a mini "hoop house" to more extragavant greenhouses, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5dyGHurXdA. You Tube also has many vidoes on building a "solar greenhouse" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5dyGHurXdA. There are some really informative videos here. If you are really creative and into recycling, you can build a green house out of old windows (see http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/strucs/msg060302466879.html or even soda bottles!! (see http://www.reapscotland.org.uk/reports/greenhouse%20v1.pdf) I'm inspired : )

Check out this website for some valuable information on trees, and see why we all should plant a tree and help the planet. Here are just a few:

• Alleviating the "Greenhouse Effect," trees act as carbon "sinks."( Planting 100 million trees could reduce the amount of carbon by an estimated 18 million tons per year and at the same time, save American consumers $4 billion each year on utility bills.)
• Depending on location, species, size, and condition, shade from trees can reduce utility bills for air conditioning in residential and commercial buildings by 15-50 percent. Trees, through their shade and transpiration, provide natural "low-tech" cooling that means less need to build additional dams, power plants, and nuclear generators.
• Food and Habitat for Wildlife.

Trees Make Effective Sound Barriers, Produce Oxygen, Become Carbon Sinks, Clean the Air, Shade and Cool, Act as Windbreaks, Fight Soil Erosion and Increase Property Values.

Plants can not only add beautiful color and fresh scents to your home, make a home inviting and cozy, they can also have health benefits.

Plants Make You Happy: House plants make people feel calmer and more optimistic. Interestingly, studies have shown that hospital patients who face a window with a garden view recovered more quickly than those who had to look at a wall. The very presence of plants has been shown to increase positive feelings and reduce feelings of anxiety, anger and sadness. They also improve work performanceand creativity in the office.

Plants Fight Fatigue and Colds: According to a University of Agriculture in Norway study, indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust. They clean, purify and condition the air we breathe.

According to the EPA, the indoor environment may be 5 to 7 times more polluted than the exterior.....Today's homes are built to be more efficient, which means better insulation, better windows, better everything. We've created a tight little capsule that has no leaks. This is good in terms of saving energy and doing your part in the green movement, but it has no health value if you're not green on the inside.

The materials used such as carpets, paints and other building products, along with everything from asbestos and pesticides to detergent fumes, carpet fibers, mold, and tobacco smoke, rubber, plastics, cleaning products, all contaminate the air in our homes and can produce harmful substances and the airtight nature of modern homes and workplaces trap these toxins inside the building. If the air you breathe is full of toxins, you suffer the consequences in the form of asthma, allergies, bronchittis, headaches and fatigue.

The indoor pollutants that affect health are formaldehyde, Volatile Organic Compounds (benzene and trichloroethylene or TCE), airborne biological pollutants, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, pesticides and disinfectants (phenols), and radon.

The recommendation is to use 15 to 18 "good-sized" house plants in 6- to 8-inch diameter containers for an 1,800 square-foot house. The best houseplants for removing toxin from the air are:

I would like to suggest that along with filling our homes with lots of plants it is even more important to do as much as we can to eliminate what toxins we can from our home environment, by using natural cleaning products and "green" building and home products.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, consider buying a living Christmas tree each year, and "go green" for the holidays! Buying a Pine tree that you can simply take it outside, roots and all, and plant the in your yard, after the new year, will save money and the environment at the same time. Personally, I find it kind ot sad to know these beautiful trees take years to grow f to the height they do, only to be cut down, put in a bucket of water for a week or so, their needles fall to the grown, and then are thrown out or made into mulch. I have bought quite a few live trees over the years and planted them throughout my yard and found it very rewarding to watch them grow and beautify my landscaping. I planted mine to create a line of trees for privacy. My kids thought it was cool when they realized we cold "save" our Christmas trees and we could have them as "reminders" of our past holidays.

The cost for a "living" tree at a nursery is anywhere from $25 to $125 depending on the size of the tree and where you live. Compared to a "cut" tree, you’re saving money, because no matter what you would pay for the cut tree, you’ll be enjoying your living tree's beauty and shade for years to come.

It is important to wait till just before Christmas to buy your tree and not to leave it in the house for more than a week and a half. I moved mine from my living room to my garage and let it sit there for a few days so not as to have a huge climate change taking it form inside to outside.

One of the most popular Christmas trees that also does well in your yard is the Norway Spruce. If you don’t have a yard, consider getting a Norfolk Pine. It makes a great Christmas tree with its long, lean branches. And this is one pine tree that likes to stay indoors. Just make sure you keep it well watered and in a sunny window. If you see the roots getting pot bound, repot so your Christmas tree will get taller every year.

If you'd like, you can register your tree with the "United Nations Environment Program" at http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/ because "One tree can make a difference..…A billion can help save the planet."