O, Beautiful Terra

Written and performed by Ánne Máddji Heatta
Composed by Thomas von Sonnenberg

Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Vilges dolggiid geigestit
Várrogasat salastit

Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi

Iđitguovssus girdilit
Hávski lei go iđistit
Jaskatvuođain savkalit
Nuorravuođain njávkalit

Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi

Riegádahte áibbašeami
Oktovuođa váillaheami

Njukča, njuvččažan
Buokčal, ligge varan
Njukča, njuvččažan
Ovdal iđitroađi

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A Tasty "Triple Lemon" Drink

by Elaine Johnson


          I was cruising the Sunset test garden yesterday morning and came across just the combo to throw together for a bright-tasting, super-aromatic drink to have on the stove for guests this holiday season. Lemongrass, lemon verbena, and fresh lemons all go into the mix, and it’s good as a virgin drink—like a sophisticated version of lemonade—or with a splash of brandy. (Perfect for those multi-age gatherings.)



The lemon corner in the Sunset test garden, with bushy lemon-
grass, a Eureka lemon tree, and a lemon verbena shrub.

          Here’s how it came together...

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Use Bentonite Clay ...for Just About Everything

Adapted from "The Benefits of Healing Clays"
by Katie "The Wellness Mama"
http://wellnessmama.com/5915/the-benefits-of-healing-clays/


What is Bentonite Clay? 

Bentonite Clay is composed of aged volcanic ash. The name comes from the largest known deposit of Bentonite Clay located in Fort Benton, Wyoming.  Bentonite Clay is a unique clay due to its ability to produce an “electrical charge” when hydrated.

Upon contact with fluid, its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxins. Bentonite is known for its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities and chemicals.

Healing clays like Bentonite have a high concentration of minerals including silica, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron and potassium.  Dr. Weston A Price, in his book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” reported that several native cultures including those in the Andes, Central Africa and Australia consumed clays in various ways, most often my carrying balls of dried clay in their bags and dissolving a small amount of the clay in water with meals to prevent poisoning from any toxins present.

In a study from Arizona State University, bentonite clay was found to be highly effective at killing MRSA as well as Salmonella, E.Coli and others.What is promising as research continues in this area is that depending on the method in which the clay kills the infection, it may not be possible for the MRSA or other bacteria to develop a resistance to it as it does with antibiotics.


What Exactly Does it Do? 

 As Mountain Rose Herbs explains:
“Bentonite is a swelling clay. When it becomes mixed with water it rapidly swells open like a highly porous sponge. From here the toxins are drawn into the sponge through electrical attraction and once there, they are bound.”

It is a common ingredient in detox and cleansing products, having an alkalizing effect on the body.  When taken correctly, it can help balance gut bacteria.  Personally, I’ve seen people benefit from taking Bentonite Clay to help with: 

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Balcony & Patio Gardens

by Nancy Mitchell
for apartmenttherapy.com

Few things are more satisfying than growing your own food. Few things are more frustrating than being a garden lover trapped in a teeny-tiny apartment. What to do? Here are some gardening projects that will work on even the smallest patio or balcony...plus tips for growing citrus indoors if you don't have a balcony at all.

1. Increase growing space on a tiny balcony with this DIY pallet garden.

2. Canning jars mounted to the wall are cute and practical.

3. Possibly the cheapest and easiest gardening idea I've seen yet...re-purpose an old shoe organizer.

4. Here's another vertical solution. You could grow an entire salad.

5. Gutters easily mount to a wall or balcony railing for plants that don't have deep roots.

6. This patio garden is made from a couple of galvanized tubs stacked together.

7. How to make a container water garden.

8. If you're looking to grow larger plants, these self-irrigating planters made from plastic tubs are a great idea.

9. Linsey of LLH Designs planted herbs in wine boxes.

10. For those of you with no outdoor space, here are some tips for growing citrus indoors. Bonus: your apartment will smell amazing.


Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/gardening-without-a-garden-10-ideas-for-your-patio-or-balcony-renters-solutions-167221

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Indoor & Outdoor Vertical Gardens

By Tom Corson-Knowles


Planning out your vertical garden can be a very fun endeavor that you should be a good bit of thought into. If you’re a beginner at gardening, then you will find this information to be very beneficial.

Otherwise, planning a vertical garden is very similar to planning a traditional garden except that you may need to use some different supplies and landscape design to help your garden grow vertically. 


Choosing a Site for Your Vertical Garden
The first thing you’ll need to do is find an area that can be used for your vertical garden. The location of your vertical garden is very crucial. Having sufficient sunlight for your garden is a given, so make sure to time how much sunlight your plants would get per day.

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The Benefits of Tooth Powder

by Andrea

So, I’ve pretty much decided to abandon my quest for a “paste-like” alternative in part because I am thrilled with our newest concoction…tooth powder.

This is not just your usual baking soda.  By the way, I love occasionally brushing my teeth with straight baking soda, but I do worry about it’s abrasive nature.

Lately I’ve been researching the benefits of bentonite clay, and wow…I love all that I’m learning.  Rich in vital minerals that are very beneficial for our teeth and gums –like calcium and potassium, bentonite clay is a fantastic non-toxic, and not to mention very affordable, product that has become my new favorite for brushing my teeth because…

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DIY Natural Room Scents

By Monica Matheny

Here's the gang of five. Aren't they beautiful? I like to make 

these up in pint jars and keep them on hand in the fridge 

so I'm ready to start a pot of simmering scents as needed.

Five Natural Room Scent Recipes
These are all scents that my nose likes. But, scents that are pleasing to one person may not be to someone else. Consider how many different scents of perfumes, soap, and candles there are in stores in an effort to appeal to the masses. So, use my recipe combos as guidelines that you can tweak and customize to suit what your nose likes.

Keeping the supply list simple. I only used items available at the grocery store or in my yard for these scent recipes. I want this to be easy and inexpensive so that I can set up a sustainable routine of pleasantly scenting our home. These recipes are simply guidelines and don't have to be followed exactly. In fact, I change them up all the time based on what I have on hand in my kitchen or yard.

Fragrant items for naturally scenting your home:

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My Favorite Green Monster Smoothie

by Leslie Ann, fitness trainor
Source: http://laqfitness.com/my-favorite-green-monster-smoothie/

Don’t let all the spinach in this photo freak 
you out.  You seriously can’t even taste it!!!

I know I’m about a year behind on this food/fitness blog trend (the green smoothie), but what can I say?  The idea of kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, and other green things in my morning smoothie made me throw up a little.

Uh, most especially because I don’t typically HAVE a morning smoothie.  I prefer to EAT my meals, not drink them, thankyouverymuch.  They just keep me fuller longer and I find them more satisfying.

But, I must credit the crew at South Block Smoothie & Wrap Co. in Clarendon for turning me on to these green concoctions and making me a HUGE believer in their awesomeness.

My first foray in the green [haha, she said it!  --Elisa]  was with their junior sized “Green-a-Colada,” a combination of coconut milk, banana, coconut, mango, kale, and agave nectar (I modified it for less sugar/carbs by omitting the mango and agave).

At first I wasn’t so sure, but I quickly became a HUGE fan of this combo.  A few weeks later, the “Nutty Popeye” came out and I was DONE.  I loved it so much that I had to find a way to recreate it at home for when I couldn’t get to the smoothie shop.  I didn’t nail it exactly, but I think came pretty close.  :)

Combine all ingredients below in a blender, and blend until well-combined.

Press play, pour it, and GO!  SIMPLE, fast, and delish!

My Favorite Green Monster Smoothie:

1 c. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

1/2 c. Chopped, Frozen Banana

1 Tbs. Natural Peanut Butter

1 Tbs. PB2 Powder

1 scoop Chocolate Whey Protein Powder

1-2 big handfuls of baby spinach

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[for more delicious spinach smoothie recipes

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Photography: The Mystical Angel Oak Tree

by Louis Dallara

To see a large, stunning picture of this tree, 
visit Louis's online photo album: 

 http://www.louisdallaraphotography.com/2012/mystical-angel-oak-tree/

My favorite tree which I keep photographing in an attempt to improve the capture and feelings from the tree.  This was from a 2011 visit.  The Oak supports other plants and insects, she has a complete Eco system in a symbiotic relationship with the earth.  Live oaks also share root systems so under ground she is connected to other Oak trees which is invisible to us.  It's like they are holding hands under ground.

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Ogham Alphabet Charts/Calendars

 

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An Assortment of Ogham Few

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Poland's Cool Crooked Forest

Pine trees planted in 1930, just outside Nowe Czarnowo, West 

Pomerania.  The reason for their mysterious shape is unknown.

Source: http://all-that-is-interesting.com/poland-crooked-forest



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1,200-year-old Cosmic Blast Captured in Japanese Trees

By Ker Than
For National Geographic News
Published June 7, 2012

Radioactive atoms in cedars hint 

at  mysterious astronomical event.

 

A surplus of radioactive atoms in Japanese trees may point to an unrecorded astronomical event that showered Earth with cosmic rays about 1,200 years ago.  Cosmic rays are subatomic particles that are flung through space by various astronomical events, including supernovae and "superflares"—more powerful versions of solar flares that happen on other stars.

Earth is constantly being bombarded by a relatively steady amount of cosmic rays. When the high-energy particles collide with atoms in our atmosphere, they shake loose subatomic particles called neutrons.  Free-floating neutrons can then attach to atmospheric nitrogen, creating Carbon 14, a heavier, radioactive version of the element.

Carbon 14 gets incorporated into trees and plants during photosynthesis and into the bodies of animals that eat the vegetation. Scientists can trace its rate of decay in wood and bone to tell the ages of ancient remains.  But in a recent study of annual growth rings in two cedar trees from Yaku Island in southern Japan, researchers were surprised to discover a 1.2 percent spike in the amount of carbon-14 between the years A.D. 774 and 775.  The annual variation for carbon 14 is about 0.05 percent, which means a 1.2 percent increase is more than 20 times higher than normal—a likely signal of a massive cosmic blast.

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Dandelions: Edible and Medicinal Uses

All about dandelions, "the natural multi-vitamin."
Check out her and her family members' interesting vids on their YouTube channel, here: https://www.youtube.com/user/MayeuxMinistries?feature=watch
They pretty much "live off the land." 

Eggshell Tincture

OK, this isn't plant-related.  But I found this and had to include it here.
I never thought of making a ticture from eggshells, a great source of 
calcium.  I highly recommend visiting "Wichodawoods" YouTube channel
for more "educational" vids like this!  I always learn something new there.

Fall of an Ancient Gingko Tree in Japan

In the Shinto faith...nature is to gods and man what 

God is to nature and man in Western religions
--Shigeho Yoshida, Shinto priest

The mighty, shimmering ginkgo towered over the shrine steps and, as legend has it, had stood witness to history being made in Japan for over 800 years.  When it thudded to the ground in March, it was as if the nation shook.  Visitors flocked to the ancient capital of Kamakura to pay their respects and take photos. “Rest in peace, old one. Your tale is now done,” sighed the writer of a blog, with tender poignancy.

But this is Japan, whose age-old belief in nature is at least evenly matched by an unyielding faith in technology.  Under orders from the prefectural government, scientists set about replanting the tree and cloning it.  That is not as tricky as it sounds. The cloning of trees by grafting a cutting onto a living root is hardly modern science.  But in Japan's Shinto faith there are spiritual complications because this tree is, in essence, divine —it is, says Shigeho Yoshida, chief priest of the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine where the Ginkgo stood, “a holy tree.”

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Men Who Stare at Goats in Trees

They really have an incredible sense of balance.

You wander the Moroccan desert lost, dehydration and the scorching sun draining the life from your body more and more with each passing moment.  An oasis appears. A pool of water at the base of a lush tree promise relief from the heat and hope that you may yet find your way home.  You run towards the oasis but then stop suddenly. Did that tree just bleat at me?

You rub your eyes and, as the illusion evaporates into the unforgiving sun, you realize: that tree isn’t covered in foliage, it’s covered in goats. And that pool of water? That’s goats too.  You murmur to yourself: What the $!&#.

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Make a Beautiful Flower Crown

How to make several different styles of flower crowns,
perfect for spring or summer celebrations, weddings, etc.

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Extracting Coconut Oil

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How to Make Tinctures

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Pine for Invigorating Massage & Relaxation

When you think of earthy green smells, pine is right up there with freshly cut grass – but its worth goes far beyond mere scent. Pine needles from evergreens of all sorts including white pine, cedar and arbor vitae contain naturally occurring oils that are antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic according to renowned herbalist Susun Weed. Infused pine oil is very easy to make and blows Vicks Vapor Rub out of the water when used as a massage oil when you’re under the weather.

On a dry day, harvest enough pine needles to fill a glass jar in the size of your choosing (I use a 20-oz mason jar, because I go through infused pine oil fast!). When you get home, cut the needles into small pieces with scissors and place them into the jar, leaving a few inches of space at the top. Pour olive oil over the pine needles, all the way to the top of the jar, screw on the lid and let it steep for 4 weeks. Open the lid twice a day for the first two days and stir it gently with a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon to allow air bubbles to escape. Then, strain the oil through cheesecloth into smaller dark-colored bottles using a funnel.

Pine is often used as an invigorating massage oil and is especially valued as a chest rub for colds and bronchitis, and a breast massage oil for painful lumps and tumors. It’s also highly relaxing, wonderful for unwinding after a long day.


Source: http://eco-chick.com/2010/05/5841/pine- ... ty-health/




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Medicinal Plants of Mexico

Many of the herbs in Mexican herb stalls have been introduced from other continents. This reminds us that more than Mexican-mercado herb stalls being museum like vestiges of the past, they are serious "people's pharmacies" where people go for traditional cures, either because they believe in the cures, or because that's all they can afford. 

When you study Mexican herbal remedies, notice how often the Doctrine of Signatures is in evidence. This is the principle that a plant indicates its use for human beings by its shape, behavior, odor, or some other natural feature.  Thus an infusion of doradilla, the little resurrection plant growing on rocks and perhaps giving the impression that is breaking up the rock, is used traditionally by Mexicans to break up kidney and gall stones. Hierba de la golondrina, a euphorbia with milky-white latex oozing from any breaks inflicted on its skin, is used to cure eye diseases of the sort characterized by a milky opaqueness spreading across the lens. 

Finally, please heed this warning: Do not experiment with these. Very often an herb that is medicinal in one dosage is poisonous in others. Some of these herbs are extremely potent!

 
Aguacate: (avocado, Persea americana): for intestinal worms, grate 8 to 10 grams of fresh avocado-pit rind into a glass of water, and the next day sweeten it, drink, and eat nothing

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Mugwort: Its Many Healing Properties

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Photography: Japanese Maple

One of the winning pics in Nature's Best Photography competition sponsored
by the Smithsonian Museum.  Source: Natural History photo competition 

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Connecting with Dryads, Tree Spirits and Tree Angels

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Hangover Helpers ...When You Need a Helping Hand

by PopsugarFashion
Source: http://www.fabsugar.com/Hip-Hangover-Remedies-43218

If you overindulged last weekend, don't worry: There are some great over-the-counter solutions for those terrible hangovers we're all guilty of from time to time. Sure, greasy foods might work too, but I prefer herbal remedies instead for a pick-me-up that's easy on the stomach. Just remember to rehydrate and apologize to your posse for anything that you conveniently can't remember doing from your wild night out.



Sweet Botanicals Hangover Drops are the latest and greatest cure for hell-on-earth hangovers. These delicious candies are made from real red fruit juices, bramble, lemon, orange, rose hips, and a smidgen of ginseng. You can buy a pack for $6.50 here or email jane@sweetbotanicals.com to place an order request. She'll e-mail you back with payment instructions.


Whittard Hangover Tea Bags are also a fantastic remedy to help you cope with your pounding head. This soothing blend of hibiscus, rose hips, orange peels, passion fruit, bramble, lemon, raspberry, ginseng, and apple tastes deeeelish and is oh so easy on your woozy belly! Buy a box of eight tea bags here for $4.79.

 
DIY Hangover Helper - Lastly, here's how to make your own hangover helper at home. Take a multivitamin (mineral supplement) and wash it down with a large glass of unsweetened orange juice. Next, make a hot cup of peppermint tea (don't use milk) to help quiet the waves and gurgles in your tummy. If you are able to get out of bed, make some oatmeal (use water, not milk). Add a tablespoon of wheatgerm and sweeten with honey to taste.

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Miranda Kerr Reveals The Secret To Her Pregnancy Glow: Rose Hip Oil

By Kristin Booker
Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2010/10/19/celebrity-mom-beauty-miranda-kerr-skincare-secret-pregnancy-glow-rosehip-oil-cleanser-moisturizer/


It kind of makes sense to take beauty advice from one of the world’s most beautiful women, so when supermodel Miranda Kerr recently told Modelinia that one of the secrets to her amazing glow ( in addition to being pregnant with hubby Orlando Bloom’s baby) is rose hip oil, we listened!

The Victoria’s Secret model says, “A key ingredient to look for in skin care products is rosehip oil. It’s rich in vitamin C and full of essential fatty acids, which really help replenish the skin.”

Rosehip oil really is packed with nutrients and can help replace moisture lost due to hormonal fluctuation and environmental factors. Feel like testing Miranda’s beauty secret? Try Weleda Wild Rose Cleanser to gently remove makeup and the grime of the day, then follow it with Weleda Wild Rose Moisturizer to seal the effects of the cleanser for glowing, healthy skin.

Since you might not want to go in for heavy chemical peels or resurfacing while you’re expecting, try Burt’s Bees Repair Moisture Complex, which helps soothe and repair skin naturally. Used regularly, you’ll love the results. Eminience Rosehip Toner is also great to firm and refresh skin throughout the day.

I mean, look at Miranda and her glowing skin. If that’s not a walking advertisement for the positive effects of rose hip oil, I’m not sure what is. Give these natural products a try and watch your beauty positively bloom during (and after) your pregnancy.



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Rose Hip Recipes - Lots!

By Gail Butler
Source: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/butler95.html


Vitamin C-rich rose hips can be found in dried form in most health food stores, but why not gather your own? You'll save money and you'll know where they came from and the conditions in which they grew. Furthermore, you'll be adding to your own self-sufficiency by locating and gathering a nutrient-dense food source to nourish yourself and your family.

Known mostly for beauty in the garden and as a floral declaration of love, roses don't usually come to mind when we think of either food or nutrition. Yet, all parts of the rose, and especially the hips, are storehouses of Vitamin C and other important nutrients.

Compare the nutritional content of oranges to rose hips and you will find that rose hips contain 25 percent more iron, 20 to 40 percent more Vitamin C (depending upon variety), 25 times the Vitamin A, and 28 percent more calcium. In addition, rose hips are a rich source of bioflavanoids, pectin, Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and the B-complex vitamins. Rose hips also contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, sulfur and silicon.

All About the Rose ~

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Uses of the Rose

As Perfume

 

Rose perfumes are made from attar of roses or rose oil, which is a mixture of volatile essential oils obtained by steam distilling the crushed petals of roses. An associated product is rose water which is used for cooking, cosmetics, medicine and in religious practices. The production technique originated in Persia then spread through Arabia and India, and more recently into eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, Iran and Germany, damask roses (Rosa damascena 'Trigintipetala') are used.

In other parts of the world Rosa centifolia is commonly used. The oil is transparent pale yellow or yellow-grey in colour. 'Rose Absolute' is solvent-extracted with hexane and produces a darker oil, dark yellow to orange in colour. The weight of oil extracted is about one three-thousandth to one six-thousandth of the weight of the flowers; for example, about two thousand flowers are required to produce one gram of oil.

The main constituents of attar of roses are the fragrant alcohols geraniol and l-citronellol and rose camphor, an odorless solid composed of alkanes, which separates from rose oil. β-Damascenone is also a significant contributor to the scent.

Rose-y Food and Drink

Rose hips are occasionally made into jam, jelly, and marmalade, or are brewed for tea, primarily for their
high vitamin C content. They are also pressed and filtered to make rose hip syrup. Rose hips are also used to produce Rose hip seed oil, which is used in skin products and some makeup products.
Rosa canina hips

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Rose Water

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        Rose water is one of several products you can buy or make that retains the fragrance of rose petals. It is used in perfumes and cosmetics, plus it has slightly astringent properties, so it makes an excellent facial toner. Because the commercial process used to make rose water is labor intensive and requires a lot of roses, it's an expensive product to buy.

        However, if you have roses, you can make your own rose water quite easily.  It's an easy example of distillation, a chemical separation and purification process.

Perfume-making

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Yummy Protein Bars - Mm mm!

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Rose Petal Jam

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How to Make Essential Oils

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