Here in Oregon, we are blessed with an abundance of natural beauty both large and small. Take the giant, Miocene-era blocks of volcanic basalt that make up much of the Western Cascades and serve as the source of our all-natural Remineralizing Soil Booster. In a more urban setting, the Lan Su Chinese Garden in downtown…
Happy New Year! Did you resolve to lose weight by eating less? If yes, you are not alone. Eating less food (and making healthier food choices) is one of the top resolutions that people make year after year. Maybe you resolved to feed your pets less, too. According to veterinarians, more than half of the…
The weather is cold and blustery, which means that soup season is officially here. Nothing beats a bowl of hot soup to feed the stomach and nourish the soul—except perhaps a loaf of hearty, home-baked bread. Sure, bread gets a lot of bad press these days (too many carbohydrates! too much sugar!) … but there…
As one year winds down, we begin to think about the year that lies ahead—and how we can make things better. If you are like many people, your New Year’s resolutions may include a promise to start eating healthier. After all, it is one of the most popular resolutions year after year. For many, this means eating less…
Brix levels indicate a plant’s growing conditions by measuring dissolved sugars, proteins, amino acids, essential oils, minerals and other solids. Plants with higher brix levels produce more fragrant flowers with greater concentrations of essential oils and grow better-tasting, more nutritious fruits and vegetables. Brix Levels and Soil Health Not surprisingly, plants grown in remineralized soil…
We know that composting is a smart thing to do. So is choosing organic produce over conventionally grown food to feed ourselves and our families. But the reality is that it’s not always possible for everyone to buy organic all the time. For some people, it’s not just a matter of availability but also a…
Throughout millennia, the forces of Mother Nature have been grinding down mineral-rich rocks into small particles. The result is healthy and fertile soil filled with a natural mix of nutrients that plants (and people) need to thrive. The problem is this: Mother Nature works slowly—while humankind destroys quickly. It takes nature 500 years to replace…
After months of outdoor gardening, our attention has turned indoors. Now is a good time to take stock of the health of our houseplants and to give them the TLC they need to thrive during the winter. The first thing to understand is that most of the plants that we consider houseplants come from tropical…
As we write this, an early Arctic blast is sweeping across the country bringing snow and freezing rain. Judging from the weather predictions, businesses, municipalities and homeowners will face a busy season of trying to prevent icy winter slips, slides and falls. The good news is that there are all-natural alternatives to rock salt and…
Conservation International has launched a stunning campaign called Nature Is Speaking (#NatureIsSpeaking). The campaign features the voices of famous actors speaking as nature. Visit the website to watch the series of short films and to learn more about CI’s “humanifesto.” (Essentially, nature doesn’t need us. We must take care of nature if we humans expect…
