I believe that Fasting is a very good thing for the body. I find that by leaving food for a few hours once a month helps bring clarity and focus to what I am doing. I was searching the web today on fasting and came accross this man:
82-year-old Indian yogi claims good health after fasting 65 years
English.news.cn 2010-05-09 16:11:37 FeedbackPrintRSS
NEW DELHI, May 9 (Xinhua) -- It may sound humanly impossible, but meet "miracle man" Prahlad Jani, an 82-year-old Indian, who claims to have eaten not a single grain of rice or consumed a drop of water for the past 65 years.
Jani, also known as Mataji, has in fact surprised doctors across the globe who have found that the monk's body is performing absolutely well on different medical tests even at this age which is not usually observed in a normal person taking regular diet.
In a recent interview with a local TV channel, Jani has claimed that he has not taken any food or water for over 65 years and by practicing a special type of yoga, even a normal person can survive without food and water.
In the same program, another yogi from India's northern Himalayan region also confirmed that with the help of the special yoga, normal people can survive without food or water.
These practices come handy for people who pray in Himalaya for years without much food, he said.
To find out the truth, a team of 30 doctors conducted several tests on Mataji for 15 days starting from April 22, 2010.
"During the tests we found that in Prahalad Jani's bladder, the amount of liquid fluctuates even when he does not pass urine," local media quoted a member of the team of medical experts which conducted medical tests on Mataji, as saying.
Fifteen days of medical tests on Mataji were completed on Thursday at 15:30 p.m. and all reports of medical tests were normal. And this is an old man at the age of 82 years.
Dr. G. Ilavazahagan, director, Defense Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), and neurologist Sudhir Shah, while briefing reporters about Mataji's medical reports, said different tests at different time were conducted as per the protocol set up by partners.
"We did blood tests for hematology, bio-chemistry, hormone profile and the reports were in the pre-determined safety range throughout the observation period as per the protocol," said Dr. Shah.
The doctors said Jani's nerve conduction studies revealed normal nerve function, which is not likely in a person of his age.
"Mataji's EEG is also normal and we are analyzing data during meditation if there are any changes," Dr. Shah said.
I am not that commited to fasting and neither do I think you should. Howver it is very useful for us to learn to control our impulses.
Fraser
Sunday, May 9, 2010
What is happening with Plastic Bags?
I came accross this in the Dallas online paper.
The single-use plastic bag gives way to the recycled tote
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, May 9, 2010
McClatchy News Service
The single-use plastic bag could be an endangered shopping species.
TOBY TALBOT/The Associated Press
A shopper prepares to load plastic bags of groceries into her car in Montpelier, Vt. The state is proposing a 10-cent tax per plastic bag. The thin plastic bag with handles – known in the industry as the T-shirt bag – is under pressure from municipal bag bans and a growing number of retailers that are encouraging shoppers to bring their own bags.
A new industry has sprung up that's churning out reusable tote bags and is poised to profit from the passing of the traditional plastic bag.
Dan Sabbah, president of Global Design Concepts in New York, is one executive predicting that the days of the plastic bag are numbered.
"Plastic bags are quickly going the way of extinction," Sabbah said. His handbag and tote bag company has joined with a Canadian business to form a venture called Global Way to make tote bags from recycled water bottles.
In April, Global Way shipped hundreds of thousands of the bags to retailers including CVS and Walgreen's for reusable bag promotions tied to Earth Day observances.
"Retailers are getting ahead of this curve," Sabbah said. "I don't believe anyone thinks this is going to go away. This is going to be the wave of the future."
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has pledged to cut its plastic shopping bag waste by 33 percent, or 9 billion bags a year, by 2013. Ikea and Whole Foods Market Inc. stores banished plastic bags in 2008.
Target Corp. handed out 1.5 million reusable tote bags in honor of Earth Day in April and gives shoppers a 5-cent rebate every time they use one of their own bags instead of a new plastic one.
An organization that represents plastic bag makers argues, however, that the future of plastic bags will be one of rebirth and recycling.
"Reports of the death of the plastic bag are greatly exaggerated," said Shari Jackson, director of Progressive Bag Affiliates, an association representing the major U.S. makers of plastic bags and plastic bag recyclers.
"There's another side – the recycling side – that is just not being told, and it's growing," Jackson said. Progressive Bag Affiliates set an industry goal to achieve 40 percent recycled content in all bags made by its member companies by 2015.
In 2008, Jackson said, more than 832 million pounds of bags and other plastic films were recycled. The bags are being made into composite deck materials, fencing, shopping carts, containers and new bags, she said.
Surveys also show Americans reuse supermarket and department store bags for wastebasket liners and lunch bags, Jackson said. "They are heavily reused after they're used to carry groceries home," she said.
McClatchy News Service
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-p2plasticbags_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.3ddd1ea.html
Thats why at Envirothings we have reusable bags..think today enjoy tomorrow
The single-use plastic bag gives way to the recycled tote
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, May 9, 2010
McClatchy News Service
The single-use plastic bag could be an endangered shopping species.
TOBY TALBOT/The Associated Press
A shopper prepares to load plastic bags of groceries into her car in Montpelier, Vt. The state is proposing a 10-cent tax per plastic bag. The thin plastic bag with handles – known in the industry as the T-shirt bag – is under pressure from municipal bag bans and a growing number of retailers that are encouraging shoppers to bring their own bags.
A new industry has sprung up that's churning out reusable tote bags and is poised to profit from the passing of the traditional plastic bag.
Dan Sabbah, president of Global Design Concepts in New York, is one executive predicting that the days of the plastic bag are numbered.
"Plastic bags are quickly going the way of extinction," Sabbah said. His handbag and tote bag company has joined with a Canadian business to form a venture called Global Way to make tote bags from recycled water bottles.
In April, Global Way shipped hundreds of thousands of the bags to retailers including CVS and Walgreen's for reusable bag promotions tied to Earth Day observances.
"Retailers are getting ahead of this curve," Sabbah said. "I don't believe anyone thinks this is going to go away. This is going to be the wave of the future."
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has pledged to cut its plastic shopping bag waste by 33 percent, or 9 billion bags a year, by 2013. Ikea and Whole Foods Market Inc. stores banished plastic bags in 2008.
Target Corp. handed out 1.5 million reusable tote bags in honor of Earth Day in April and gives shoppers a 5-cent rebate every time they use one of their own bags instead of a new plastic one.
An organization that represents plastic bag makers argues, however, that the future of plastic bags will be one of rebirth and recycling.
"Reports of the death of the plastic bag are greatly exaggerated," said Shari Jackson, director of Progressive Bag Affiliates, an association representing the major U.S. makers of plastic bags and plastic bag recyclers.
"There's another side – the recycling side – that is just not being told, and it's growing," Jackson said. Progressive Bag Affiliates set an industry goal to achieve 40 percent recycled content in all bags made by its member companies by 2015.
In 2008, Jackson said, more than 832 million pounds of bags and other plastic films were recycled. The bags are being made into composite deck materials, fencing, shopping carts, containers and new bags, she said.
Surveys also show Americans reuse supermarket and department store bags for wastebasket liners and lunch bags, Jackson said. "They are heavily reused after they're used to carry groceries home," she said.
McClatchy News Service
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-p2plasticbags_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.3ddd1ea.html
Thats why at Envirothings we have reusable bags..think today enjoy tomorrow
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Sunflowers
One of my favourite flowers to grow at home is the Sunflower. It once began just as a fun thing to do in the empty pots i had laying around. How i try and arrrange them so that there are different heights and colours to make the area look more effective. I originally began with the Russian Giant at 2-3 metres but this year I have discovered some even bigger ones and they are busy germinating under the soil so i havenet seen how big they wil twoer above me yet.
I think it is amazing how we can drive home and see these huge flower heads towering above me and they never fail to bring me a smile. The great thing is that they are full of life and colour.
Why not try them in your gardenand see what fun you can have too. Great for children too.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Composting
Its about a year ago that Kelly and I got our first compost bin. In the past few weeks is the first sign that it is becoming compost. We also run an effective system the Bokashi system. We have some home made jobbies. It is amazing the difference it has made in the garden and in our waste. We fill a 5 L bin on a weekly basis and thats only the two of us. The good thing is we throw our meat scraps in to.
Visit www.bokashi.co.nz/ if you want more info. neil runs a great set up from Christchurch.
I have been told Australia runs a similar set up as well.
We really notice the impact our tradtional compost system has. The amount of green and brown waste that will go into out 50 L bin is amazing. I sometimes wonder if it is the tardus...takes more and more matter. Then when its full leave it a week or so and way we go again.
If you are new to the idea of composting then here are some key steps:
The basic compost recipe
The best compost needs a good balance of four basic ingredients: greens + browns + water + air.
•Greens – includes kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps, vegetable peelings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, soft garden debris, lawn clippings.
•Browns – includes paper, sawdust, straw, leaves, cereal boxes, cardboard, napkins, tree clippings, woody materials like cabbage stalks.
Note: Food scraps and garden material compost much quicker when chopped into smaller pieces. Paper products can be ripped into small pieces and soaked in water before composting.
Non-compostable materials
•Weeds such as oxalis, live twitch, docks, convolvulus and dandelions.
•Large pieces of wood, bones, inert materials like tins, glass, plastic, or diseased plant material.
•Meat, fish, fats or cooking and salad oils - these may create fly, rodent and odour problems.
•Plant foliage with chemical spray residue, especially hormone type weedkillers.
•Toxic material.
Getting started on composting
Locate your compost in a sheltered, level area of the garden with good drainage and access. The site should be within reach of a garden hose, and preferably not in full sun. The compost heap should sit directly on the soil.
First add a 100–150mm layer of coarse organic material to ensure good drainage and ventilation.
Next add equal amounts by volume of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ organic material, in layers. Fluff and partially mix materials and add water as you go to ensure the heap does not get compacted and dry. The compost needs to be moist and should have the consistency of a squeezed out sponge. Cover the compost with the lid of the compost bucket and leave for a few days.
Within a day or two, the material may heat up and start to shrink. Don't be alarmed if this doesn't occur as the composting process is still happening. To speed up the process, try adding some more 'green' material to the compost (like lawn clippings) with some water.
Continue to build the compost heap by adding ‘green’ and ‘brown organic material and water.
When the bin, enclosure or heap is full, tightly fit the lid, or cover with straw, soil, old sacks or similar materials. Leave the compost to mature. This can take several weeks to months to occur depending on the time of the year. During this time no new material should be added.
You will need to start another bin, enclosure or heap while waiting for the first one to mature.
Turning compost
Decomposition takes time. Turning the heap is not essential but will speed up the process. Composting takes about 3-4 months if the heap is turned and up to 9-12 months if it is not.
Perfect time to be starting the system. Reduce your waste and reuse them in compost of Bokasihi
Fraser
Visit www.bokashi.co.nz/ if you want more info. neil runs a great set up from Christchurch.
I have been told Australia runs a similar set up as well.
We really notice the impact our tradtional compost system has. The amount of green and brown waste that will go into out 50 L bin is amazing. I sometimes wonder if it is the tardus...takes more and more matter. Then when its full leave it a week or so and way we go again.
If you are new to the idea of composting then here are some key steps:
The basic compost recipe
The best compost needs a good balance of four basic ingredients: greens + browns + water + air.
•Greens – includes kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps, vegetable peelings, tea leaves, coffee grounds, soft garden debris, lawn clippings.
•Browns – includes paper, sawdust, straw, leaves, cereal boxes, cardboard, napkins, tree clippings, woody materials like cabbage stalks.
Note: Food scraps and garden material compost much quicker when chopped into smaller pieces. Paper products can be ripped into small pieces and soaked in water before composting.
Non-compostable materials
•Weeds such as oxalis, live twitch, docks, convolvulus and dandelions.
•Large pieces of wood, bones, inert materials like tins, glass, plastic, or diseased plant material.
•Meat, fish, fats or cooking and salad oils - these may create fly, rodent and odour problems.
•Plant foliage with chemical spray residue, especially hormone type weedkillers.
•Toxic material.
Getting started on composting
Locate your compost in a sheltered, level area of the garden with good drainage and access. The site should be within reach of a garden hose, and preferably not in full sun. The compost heap should sit directly on the soil.
First add a 100–150mm layer of coarse organic material to ensure good drainage and ventilation.
Next add equal amounts by volume of ‘green’ and ‘brown’ organic material, in layers. Fluff and partially mix materials and add water as you go to ensure the heap does not get compacted and dry. The compost needs to be moist and should have the consistency of a squeezed out sponge. Cover the compost with the lid of the compost bucket and leave for a few days.
Within a day or two, the material may heat up and start to shrink. Don't be alarmed if this doesn't occur as the composting process is still happening. To speed up the process, try adding some more 'green' material to the compost (like lawn clippings) with some water.
Continue to build the compost heap by adding ‘green’ and ‘brown organic material and water.
When the bin, enclosure or heap is full, tightly fit the lid, or cover with straw, soil, old sacks or similar materials. Leave the compost to mature. This can take several weeks to months to occur depending on the time of the year. During this time no new material should be added.
You will need to start another bin, enclosure or heap while waiting for the first one to mature.
Turning compost
Decomposition takes time. Turning the heap is not essential but will speed up the process. Composting takes about 3-4 months if the heap is turned and up to 9-12 months if it is not.
Perfect time to be starting the system. Reduce your waste and reuse them in compost of Bokasihi
Fraser
Monday, September 28, 2009
Seedlings
My name is Fraser and I am passionate about the world in which we live. I wouldnt call myself a greenie. Because I believe in balance. Thats why I care for and love the world in which I live. I am presently a school teacher (One of my many roles). It is a delight in this role to help the children and the community learn about the environment in which they/ we live in. I felt a desire to set up a blog and answer some of the many questions I am asked and posed. They include how to source some seeds....plants...goods...GI recipes etc. Therefore stay tuned as I have many ideas of what I have found to be really effective and I hope you can beefit too.
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