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Organic Pesticides – What Farmers Use Today

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Organic Pesticides – What Farmers Use Today

So, what does the ergonomically-built standing table have with organic pesticides?

Only a decade or so ago, they were considered to be a niche market. Now, they’ve forced their way into the mainstream, thanks to the obvious benefits they offer employees and farmers.

Speaking of obvious benefits, it’s no surprise that organic sales have hit the roof and are now an industry worth $52 billion worldwide. But it’s not just health that we are concerned about but also the need to be more gentle with the environment. And that really counts for a lot, even if we are going back to basics, in a sense.

Indeed, as Arnie put it recently, what was considered old has become new again!

How the Stockholm Convention Ushered in a New Era for Farmers

Signed in 2001, to be put into effect by 2004, the Stockholm Convention treaty truly ushered in a new era for farmers for the simple reason that studies had revealed that 12 compounds (called the ‘dirty dozen’) used to cultivate food were not only harmful to the environment but also to human health.

However, since all twelve compounds are now deemed illegal to be used as pesticides, the question remained as to what would take it place, considering that the pests they kept away would have a field day.

This brings us to organic pesticides and a term now commonly referred to as ‘organic produce’. Yes, the substitute for chemical pesticides were pesticides in its natural form, and which were considered to be anything but unhealthy and environmentally safe as well.

Yet in recent times, experts have revealed that just because one refers to produce as organic doesn’t mean synthetic pesticides aren’t being used – and for good reason too. What they also believe is that farmers are still in the process of making a clear transition to organic farming as we speak.

Worst still, is the reality that even organic pesticides are made from plants, they still are relatively toxic and must be handled with care. But without a doubt, organic pesticides are still a better option, and so let’s look at a list of organic pesticides that are used by farmers and gardeners today.

Organic Pesticides – What Farmers (and you can) Use 

Before we begin the list, it’s fair to say that some of these pesticides that farmers use can also be used if you rear a garden. However, reading instructions or taking expert advice before using these pesticides is advisable.

As for the pesticides that can be used in a garden are many; listing them down here would be difficult, so feel free to follow this link to a List of Approved Pesticides with additional information as to which ones are safer than others.

Also, it’s important to know how much pesticide is in your food, and for this, reading up on this list of vegetables (aptly titled the dirty dozen) that have pesticides in them is also advisable, if only for your health’s sake.

In Closing

So, what do you think about organic pesticides and their? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Health

Comprehensive Guide to Mimosa Hostilis: Unlocking Nature’s Healing Secrets

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Comprehensive Guide to Mimosa Hostilis: Unlocking Nature's Healing Secrets

Introduction

The Mimosa Hostilis plant is a powerful and diverse healer, and we’re happy to provide you with this comprehensive guide. This essay will explore Mimosa Hostilis, discussing its history, customary use, medical properties, and increasing therapeutic interest. If you’re looking for an exhaustive study of this remarkable plant, you’ve found it.

What is Mimosa Hostilis?

The northeastern parts of Brazil are home to the perennial tree Mimosa Hostilis. Mimosa tenuiflora is its scientific name, and a member of the Fabaceae family of plants. There are a number of names for this plant, including “Jurema,” “Jurema Preta,” and “Tepezcohuite.” Mimosa Hostilis is highly prized for its medicinal bark due to its wide range of potential uses.

Traditional Uses

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples across Brazil and the rest of South America have relied on Mimosa Hostilis. Recognizing the plant’s special curative properties, these communities have venerated it for ages. In its traditional forms, Mimosa Hostilis uses are:

1. Medicinal Purposes

Mimosa Hostilis has been used for its curative powers to cure a wide range of illnesses. It helps heal and calm cuts, scrapes, and burns when applied topically. There’s also speculation that it can aid tissue regeneration and general skin health.

2. Natural Dye

Mimosa Hostilis is a highly prized natural dye known for its brilliant reddish-brown inner root bark. It has been used as a natural dye by indigenous people.

Medicinal Benefits

Mimosa Hostilis, for its therapeutic potential, has received a lot of attention in recent years. Traditional applications have been supported by recent scientific investigations into its health advantages. Some of the most important therapeutic benefits include:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Mimosa Hostilis tree has strong anti-inflammatory chemicals that can lessen inflammation and the pain it causes.

2. Antioxidant Activity

The antioxidant properties of Mimosa Hostilis make it effective against oxidative stress, preventing damage to cells caused by free radicals and boosting health.

3. Wound Healing

There is evidence to suggest that Mimosa Hostilis can aid in the healing of skin wounds like cuts and scrapes.

4. Analgesic Effects

Certain parts of the plant have analgesic qualities and are used to treat pain and other unpleasant sensations.

5. Antimicrobial Action

Mimosa hostilis demonstrated antibacterial activity, suggesting it could be used as a natural treatment for a range of diseases.

Modern Applications

Mimosa Hostilis’s fame has grown rapidly outside its usual contexts in recent years. Herbalists, advocates of complementary and alternative medicine, and those in search of non-invasive treatments have all taken an interest in this plant. Some current uses of Mimosa Hostilis are:

1. Skincare Products

Mimosa Hostilis has been used in numerous creams, lotions, and serums due to its calming effects on the skin.

2. Natural Cosmetics

Natural cosmetics that utilize Mimosa Hostilis for its superior dyeing properties are a more sustainable alternative to their synthetically produced counterparts.

3. Ethnobotanical Research

Researchers in pharmacology, ethnobotany, and biochemistry are all looking into Mimosa Hostilis to better understand its many benefits.

Cultivation and Sustainability

The importance of sustainable farming procedures for Mimosa Hostilis grows as demand rises. The plant’s abundance and ecological balance rely on careful harvesting and protection during its life cycle.

Conclusion

Mimosa Hostilis is a miraculous natural gift with numerous potential medicinal applications. Many people find it fascinating because of its long history, various traditional uses, and several contemporary applications. Mimosa hostilis is a shining example of the potential of natural treatments, connecting old knowledge with cutting-edge science.

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Healthcare Reform Bill: And justice for all?

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Healthcare Reform Bill: And justice for all?

Introduction

Ever so often, there comes a movie that slips across that fine line from fantasy into reality (typo intended!) with an ensemble of stars known for their acting prowess. Of course, the critics still have to nitpick, but we would always find it engaging and interesting enough to talk about at the water cooler for the common moviegoer.

And I’m talking about ‘Lions for Lambs,’ which had Meryl Streep (journalist), Robert Redford (Professor in Political Science), and Tom Cruise (U.S. Senator) with the theme of a movie about the war in Afghanistan.

Watching Tom and Meryl go at it for about an hour filled with dramatic monologues from the former and snappy comebacks from the latter was a treat to watch, while Robert’s performance also reminded me that there are three professionals you just cannot trust these days… politicians, car salesmen, and lawyers. And some have engaged in the other two professions before taking office (and that public oath they seem to take for granted).

Political Parties, Bills, and an apparent lack of interest in Patriotism

What struck me the most was the apparent lack of interest in making a change, where some who are motivated enough do what they have to do, whereas others just passively sit on the sidelines and ‘blame it all on someone else.’

And of late, we have the Democrats and the Republicans playing these roles with the buildup to the healthcare bill (Obama’s Universal Healthcare Plan) released on March 21, 2010, with absolutely no support from the Republicans. So much for bipartisanship… huh?

Sad but true, really.

The BBC referred to this victory as the most ‘crucial’ since Obama has been in power, and you can be sure that the ‘change’ has just begun… a change in healthcare reform that will cover 95% of Americans as opposed to the 83% today, specifically to uninsured Americans. An important element of the bill will ban insurance companies from denying coverage for ongoing medical problems.

But apart from all this hue and cry about it being a historic landmark in healthcare reform, one might wonder what this bill can do for him/ her. So, here are a couple of pointers that might help…

Healthcare Reform Bill: And justice for all?

What surprises me is that ‘universal healthcare’ wasn’t even an option in the United States until now, which has been an important part of the healthcare system in several countries for so long now!

Anyways, now that the bill has been passed and made a law, some of the changes will take effect immediately, while others will take place between now and 2014.

1. Cost – An expenditure of $ 940 billion over 10 years

2. Coverage – 32 million uninsured Americans will be covered

3. Medicare – The prescription drug coverage gap is closed, while people over 65 will receive discounts and rebates on brand-name drugs.

4. Medicaid – Expanded to include families under 65 with low gross incomes

5. Insurance Reform – The ability to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions has been taken away.

6. Insurance Exchanges – Thanks to state-based exchanges, self-employed and uninsured citizens can now buy insurance.

7. Subsidies – Low-income families and individuals are NOW eligible to purchase insurance.

8. Individual Mandate: Everyone should be covered by Medicaid or Medicare, or they will be fined.

9. High-cost insurance – Employers who make their workers take costlier plans are subject to further taxation on excess premiums.

In Closing

And somewhere, Karl Marx will be turning in his grave while perhaps the resounding argument of the Political Science professor in ‘Lions for Lambs’ about making a change is finally here…

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Veggie experiment over already?! – Workout Recap (April 19-26, 2009)

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Veggie experiment over already?! – Workout Recap (April 19-26, 2009)

You can follow my weekly recaps here every Sunday, but you can follow me every day as I post daily updates of my journey from GeekLand to FreakVille at Geek2Freak.com.

Current Stats and Measurements (April 26, 2009)

  • Height – 6’3″
  • Weight – 189.6 lb.
  • Bodyfat – 9.94% (Skinfolds in mm – Chest:6, Abs:16, Thigh:13)
  • Biceps – 14″
  • Calves – 14.8″
  • Thighs – 24.1″
  • Waist – 33.1″
  • Chest – 42.3″

“How to Get Abs” Progress Pics (April 26, 2009)

 

Today’s Diet Log

For up-to-the-minute coverage of my world-famous digestive system, check out my very cool and overly-detailed Diet Log.

Current Supplements

Weekly Recap (April 19-26, 2009)

I’ve been 100% clean and meatless for 11 straight days, meaning absolutely no junk or processed food, only natural, whole, and mostly organic goodness.

On top of that, it was all raw up until 2 days ago as well.

I went back to cooking veggies because they were seriously messing with my “plumbing.” This was likely just my system getting used to them, but I was starting to dislike eating them at all.

It wasn’t even necessarily the taste, but something else. I’m not even sure what, maybe just the sheer amount that I had to crunch through at one time to get enough protein from the broccoli and spinach, but I got to the point after a little over a week where I was dreading mealtime.

That’s NEVER a good thing because even at 100% clean, I’ve still found my old diet very satisfying.

As far as the measurements, they were about as consistent as they could be, almost identical to last week, which normally wouldn’t be so bad, but this is the longest I’ve gone being 100% clean in a long time, so I was expecting a little better, especially a drop back into the 32’s in my waist.

My theory is that the enormous amounts of fruit I’m eating (12 servings/day) are just too many carbs, but I still need those calories.

I can’t turn many other places for calories on a meatless diet because I’m already consuming 12 servings of vegetables per day, too, along with 6-8 servings of nuts, plus a protein shake.

I could always turn to beans, quinoa, etc., for the extra protein and calories to replace the fruit. Still, my number one reason for trying this veggie experiment in the first place was the quickness and ease of eating without having to cook anything at all.

So, given the mounting difficulties for little to no improvement, I’m going to go back to my regular diet this week to compare the results.

My “regular” includes pretty much the exact same foods, but chicken and fish will now replace about 9 servings of fruit per day, bringing me down to only three: 1 apple, 1 orange, and 1 banana.

If I all of a sudden explode from meat reintroduction, then I’ll reexamine the veggie thing, but for right now, it just doesn’t “feel” right, and I never had any issue with meat, to begin with. I was just thinking how convenient it would be not always to have to be around a freezer or oven to store and cook meat.

I am cutting the veggie experiment short (11 days instead of 30), but I’m going with my “gut”.

It comes down to, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I’ve had excellent results on my previous diet when I stick to it 100%, so I’m returning to the tried-and-true to prepare for summer!

That about wraps it up for this week. See you next Sunday, and don’t forget you can follow my daily updates at Geek2Freak.com.

Are there any other vegetarians/fitness enthusiasts out there? If so, let me know what the transition was like for you…

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