I was just perusing Amazon's special offers this morning (if you've ever bought anything on Amazon you'll know those offers spring up like a batch of dandelions) most dealing with a timely nudge to be green for Earth Day when my attention was grabbed by the roots by the number one selling book on Amazon - All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

Since everything is starting to green in our yard I've had the itch to start a garden, nothing fancy maybe just a little patch in the corner, but I'm a terrible procrastinator (like right now I should be writing the rest of this post yet I am going off on a tangent about procrastinating) Now where was I?

Oh, yah this intriguing book that has been on the Amazon top 100 book list for over 3 years! That's what caught my attention - next was how does a gardening book stay in the top 100 for 3 years not to mention who knows how long at number one.

Looking at Square Foot Gardening I can see why - it is a super simple method to gardening that claims 100% of the yield with 20% of the space - which fits right in with my plan for a little back yard garden. Not only that but Mel reveals his secret soil mix for perfect growing conditions (and never a need for fertilizer): 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 agricultural grade vermiculite spread out in a 4ft by 4ft box. (oops did I just ruin the secret?)

This new version of Square Foot Gardening called All New Square Foot Gardening (pretty original title huh?) Reveals 10 new and improved methods to make the whole process more efficient, easier, and well, garden-tastic. Take a peek at the video and see if you are as excited to get outside as I am - in fact I'm outa here the sunshine is calling...

One last note though, Mel has also written a delightfully delicious book called All New Square Foot Gardening Cookbook (he's got a good thing going with his naming so why change it I guess) that looks to be as savory as the fresh herbs and veggies coming out of the garden.

What are you planting in your square foot garden this Spring? (and when can I come over for dinner?)

This post shared on Fight Back Fridays

Spring is Calling and So is My Square Foot Garden is a post from: Natural Health Goodies

I was reading the latest issue of Natural Health Magazine and was grabbed by a rubber duck. Well he kinda flapped me in the face with his BPA laden wing but you get the picture. Or maybe you don't, but if you check out the book Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things you'll get the picture fast. Last Summer I went to a seminar on environmental toxins (see Benzine Cloud Terrorizes Households) and was shocked by the amount of chemicals we are exposed to every day without even knowing.

Well, back to the rubber duck. For one week authors Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie who normally use all natural organic products as good eco-geeks try to do, switched to the every day products that the rest of us use - shampoo, dish soap, toothpaste etc...

As you might guess at the end of this little experiment - their levels of toxic chemicals jumped significantly and Smith's BPA levels jumped 7 times higher than before - this is after one week! You might make the argument that their levels of these toxins were pretty low because of their conscious effort to buy non-toxic products regularly so a seven fold jump might not be that much but how many of us use only all natural products every day?

Ever since I went to that seminar we've been switching to as many all natural products as possible, but it can be hard to tell what products are actually all natural and which one's just say they are. I am always amazed when I see advertisements in natural health magazines for products only to read the label to find ingredients that are on the no no list. Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things gives you the means to tell which products are safe.

Without trying to sound like I'm standing on the street corner with a sign board screaming about the dangers of everyday products - if you care about your health and the health of those you love give Slow Death by Rubber Duck a good look over. And don't let his BPA laden wing slap you in the face again.

As one reader states: "I always considered myself to be rather savvy when it comes to where I come into contact with carcinogens on a daily basis. I have known about phthalates and BPA and fire-retardants now for many years, but I had no idea the extent to which the chemical companies have infused their questionable chemicals into every crevice of our daily lives. It is shocking and appalling and completely reckless. The only way we can turn this tide around is to arm ourselves with knowledge and demand change. Read this book! If you're not angry after reading it, you weren't paying attention!"

Yah, What they said.

Slapped in the Face by a BPA Laden Rubber Duck is a post from: Natural Health Goodies