In Honor of Earth Day!

So I was thinking about earth day and then again about my garden I'm about to start planting and thought what better way to celebrate Earth Day than to write about organic gardening!

Its safe to say that growing your own vegetables is easy on the pocket book, but what about the health and environmental benefits of a victory garden of your very own? A chemical free garden would be the healthiest and most environmental friendly alternative to grocery produce but in today's world of chemical for this and another for that how easy it that to achieve? It's possible! It just takes a little research and some tips from my great grandfather who grew the biggest tomatoes I've ever seen!

-Use natural fertilizers. If you don't have a cow pasture or a compost bin you can purchase manure and compost from your local garden store. Manure, compost and peat are all great alternatives to chemical fertilizers. For best results mix them well with the soil before planting.

-Use plants to deter pests. Marigolds are great for repelling most insects and protecting tomatoes and potatoes from beetles and slugs. Planting herbs like sage, rosemary, peppermint, mint and basil can keep pesky bugs away also.

-Grass clippings or straw can be used as bedding to prevent weeds from popping up. Just be sure they are free from herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Grass and straw will also breakdown and provide nutrients for next season's crop.

Gardening is tough work, don't forget the sunscreen (preferably zinc oxide), and enjoy the benefits of an organic summer for your health and the earth!

Happy Feet!

With summer upon us and all the wonderful ways to get active our feet can really take a beating. Because our feet are the foundation of our every step it's important that we support them well. Pain in the arches, heals and ball of your feet as well as in our calves can be a sign that we're not supporting our feet properly. Here are some easy steps to make sure our feet are well supported.

-- Wear good shoes! Shoes could be flexible with support for our arches and cushion for the heal and ball of the foot.

-- Replace your shoes often. Athletic shoes worn 4-6 days a week for moderate activity should be replaced every 3 months. After 3 months the support begins to break down.

-- High heels are not ideal. They cause our center of gravity to shift forward putting strain on calves, hamstrings and muscles of the back and even the neck which work to hold us from falling forward. High heels also do not usually have any arch support and the angle that the heel causes the foot to be in can actually cause the arches to fall.

-- Avoid those fun colored bejeweled flip-flops. Most flip-flops have a cushy flat foam base and offer no arch support. Save these for shower shoes and the beach. Instead look for sandals with support for your arches and a heal strap to hold it firmly to your foot.