Announcement: Green PolkaDot Box Launches its Organic Online Savings Club

Let’s face it; most of us want to eat healthier. But it seems almost impossible for a couple of fundamental reasons: no convenient market that carries organic fruits, veggies, supplements, and packaged and prepared foods; or, maybe more importantly in the age of the internet, organic foods are simply less affordable than conventional foods.

Here at Global Healing Center we are constantly searching for ways to provide our customers with information to help them achieve optimal health. Our most recent discovery is Green PolkaDot Box— an online buyers’ club that sells many organic foods, natural nutritional supplements, and other organic products at prices lower than MSRP that ship directly to any zip code in the US, no trip to the market necessary.

Natural News labels Green PolkaDot Box as the most promising company to compete with Whole Foods.

Green PolkaDot Box is an online buyers’ club/membership store, similar to Sam’s Club and Costco, for those who are familiar with them. You must purchase an annual membership, but the small fee usually pays for itself fairly quick with the savings, depending on how much and how often you buy. Once you have a membership, you can start saving up to 60% immediately and, as an added bonus, orders over $150 are shipped free in the United States.

Club Membership ($50/yr)- Entitles you to 12 months of shopping privileges, the free shipping bonus on orders over $150 and access to their Learning Center.

Rewards Membership ($125/yr)- Includes all of the above, plus it allows you to earn rewards points- 1 point for every dollar spent. These points can be used to purchase products from Green PolkaDot Box. This membership level also works like a multi-tier affiliate program, earning you points for purchases made by other people that you refer to the program.

We encourage our readers to buy from their local farmers as much as they can to support the farmers’ economy and reduce the overall carbon footprint; remember, all of the extra energy consumed in transportation takes its toll on the planet. When buying local is not an option, Green PolkaDot Box will soon offer farm-to-consumer fresh produce that will ship from America’s organic farms directly to its members using an innovative chilling technique to keep it fresh. Earn rewards points for fresh organic fruits and veggies delivered right to your door!

Save up to 60% off organic and non-GMO products. Some of these products are currently being sold at Whole Foods at a higher price.Free shipping on orders over $150, anywhere in the US.Earn rewards points for your purchases and your referrals’ purchases that you can use to get free products.Saves you time when doing your grocery shopping.

Visit www.greenpolkadotbox.com to start saving now on your organic foods.

View the original article here

8 Uses for Organic Beeswax

Beeswax is yet another gift that Mother Nature has given us to improve our lives. You could write a book about the many ways you can use it, but when you head to the store, make sure what you bring home is organic. Why is this so important?

Beehives around the world use pesticides that are fat-soluble, which means they can accumulate in the beeswax. In order to be certified as organic, drugs and chemicals cannot be used on the land within 3 miles of the beehive since this is the bees’ flying radius. It’s not a small endeavor, but it’s worth it to protect your health.

So now that you have your organic beeswax, here are some our favorite uses!

Keep your lips moisturized during the winter with this natural protectant. To make it, add ½ ounce of beeswax to a small double boiler and melt on low heat. Then add 1 teaspoon of raw honey, 2 ounces of cold pressed organic olive oil and 2 ounces of cold pressed organic hemp seed oil and stir for 1 to 2 minutes. If you’d like to give it a little flavor, add about 20 drops of organic peppermint essential oil and stir well. Then remove it from heat and distribute into lip balm tins or tubes.

Lock in your skin’s natural moisture with beeswax, and add the antioxidant vitamin E to help protect and repair rough, dry, or chapped skin. Melt 4 ounces of sweet organic almond oil and 1 ounce of beeswax in a double boiler. Remove it from the heat, add 2 ounces of distilled water, and stir well. Then add 10 drops of vitamin E oil and 10 drops of lavender essential oil, and stir continuously until the mixture has cooled. Pour into individual tins.

If you want to create a little ambiance without the fear of any dripping or toxic smoke, the bees have you covered. These candles give off the sweet smell of honey. All you need to make your own is beeswax sheets, a wick, a sharp knife, and a safe cutting surface.

Beeswax helps with molding and locking in flavors. It is added to many candies, such as Jelly Belly jelly beans and Haribo’s gummy bears. It’s also used to create the distinctive crunchy crust of the small French pastries called canneles, which are definitely worth making for yourself at home!

You can make a salve that’s great for poison ivy, poison oak, and other scratch-worthy adversaries. In a small saucepan, simmer 1 tablespoon of chickweed powder, 1 tablespoon of comfrey power, and 1 pint of organic olive oil for 3 hours. Then strain, add 2 ounces of beeswax, and pour into individual tins.

Beeswax can also make an effective salve for aches and pains. In a small saucepan, simmer 1 tablespoon chickweed powder, 1 tablespoon wormwood powder, and 2 pints of sweet olive oil for 3 hours. Strain, add 3 ounces of beeswax and 10 drops of tea tree oil, and pour into individual tins.

If you have an old, beautiful bureau, it’s likely you also have problems getting those drawers to slide out smoothly. Add a thin coat of beeswax on the wooden rails, and they’ll be opening and closing like new! The same technique will also work on those pesky sliding glass doors that no longer glide smoothly.

Want to make your party invitations stand out? Give them a fancy, old-fashioned look by using a sealing wax made from beeswax. Then find the right stamp to leave your impression.

Of course, these arent the only ways you can use organic beeswax. How do you use this gift from Mother Nature? We would love to hear your uses for beeswax in the comments below!

~Dr. G

View the original article here

How to Make Organic Coconut Milk Kefir

Kefir, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a healthy and delicious cultured milk drink, similar to yogurt, that has been enjoyed throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and even certain parts of Asia for centuries. Much of the Western world, however, is just now beginning to discover the many benefits of this amazing drink.

Depending on their area of origin, most traditional recipes call for either cow or goat’s milk to be used as a base, for the kefir cultures to ferment. Fortunately though for vegans and people who are sensitive to dairy, they also work quite well with coconut milk.

Like yogurt and other probiotic foods, kefir that generally requires a starter culture of some kind. Because each culture is a unique living ecosystem, and reacts differently to different environmental factors, the subtle differences between one batch and the next can be quite considerable.

In the case of kefir, new cultures are started using specially prepared, fermented kefir grains. These “grains” are a mixture of yeast and bacteria built-up around the remnants of sugar, protein and fat of what was formally cereal grain. While this may not sound particularly appetizing – especially to those of us who didn’t grow up in a culture in which at-home fermentation of dairy is a common practice – it’s actually more robust and easier to work with than most yogurt starter cultures.

Necessary Ingredients:

1 Quart Jar (Glass)1 Wooden Mixing Spoon1 Quart of Undiluted Sweetened Organic Coconut Milk2 Tablespoons of organic live Kefir Grains (Available online)

Directions:
After thoroughly cleaning and drying the glass jar, add kefir grains and then fill jar with freshly opened coconut milk. Mix slowly with wooden spoon. Cover jar with a loose-fitting cloth or paper towel. Set it aside and try to be patient. (It usually takes somewhere between 12 and 36 hours or so for the kefir culture to develop.)

After letting the mixture sit for about 12 hours, begin checking it every few hours. The coconut milk will thicken slightly as the kefir grains act on it. You can leave the grains in longer for a thicker, more sour kefir, but be careful not to overdo it.

Carefully remove all the kefir grains from your new kefir coconut milk and place milk in the refrigerator. Don’t be surprised if it continues to thicken as it cools. Enjoy it as it is, or let it warm back up to room temperature if you prefer to drink it the traditional way instead.

One of the best things about making your own kefir at home is the sustainability. Once you get started, it’s easy to continue making fresh kefir whenever you want. Simply store the leftover grains and a small amount of milk covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make another batch.

Has anybody here made their own coconut milk kefir? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts on our kefir recipe!

~Dr. G

View the original article here

Pesticides Bug Me: An Organic Awareness Campaign By CCOF

Many of you may already know, but our farm, Earth Harmony Organics, is certified organic by CCOF. As a contributing member, I frequently visit CCOF.org to get the latest organic news and check out their ever-growing list of resources.

I was pleased to see a new campaign that they recently started called “Pesticides Bug Me“. The goal is to educate the public about the detrimental effects of pesticides and to encourage consumers to buy certified organic products, helping to keep toxic pesticides out of their food and the environment. By raising awareness on this important issue, we can help wipe out the devastating effects of these toxic chemicals, save our planet and protect our health.

Executive Director of CCOF, Cathy Calfo: “At CCOF we don’t want to live in a world with unhealthy people and no bees. By purchasing certified organic and looking for the USDA label, consumers can make sure that they are buying clean, safe food.”

If pesticides bug you like they bug me and you are looking for a great cause to support, this may be the perfect fit. Right now, CCOF is accepting donations through their web site to the “Pesticides Bug Me” campaign. All donations will help support their non-profit efforts to certify organic products throughout the United States.

Remember, too, that buying certified organic products supports not only certifying agencies but organic farmers and distributors of organic produce, helping them to stay in business and increase the amount of land that is farmed using organic methods.

We understand if you can’t donate anything, as money is pretty tight for many people right now. You should at least check out CCOF’s site. They are one of the best resources for anybody looking to learn more about avoiding harmful chemicals in their food. Next time one of your friends or family members asks why you spend extra money on that carton of certified organic strawberries you’ll be able to rattle off some compelling facts about why, in the words of CCOF, “pesticides are scary stuff.”

As a part of their awareness campaign, CCOF is holding a t-shirt design contest for artists and graphic designers. They are accepting submissions from now until October 17, 2011. The winner will receive $250, inclusion of their artwork on the official “Pesticides Bug Me” t-shirt and be listed as an official graphic designer on the CCOF web site so that any members of the organic community needing design work can find you easily.

More details about the t-shirt design contest can be found by clicking on this link.

~Dr. G

View the original article here

Healthy Eating With Natural Organic Foods

How popular is organic food despite over some recent
years it has become more accessible to us as consumers, we still wonder whether
the extra cost packs any benefits which makes natural organic foods more of a
healthier option for us.  A lot of these health benefits have come by way of word of mouth with various promotions by advocates, which say natural organic eating must be the way forward of course.  Well there have been supported arguments coupled with solid research to back these claims up that organic foods should be as second nature, it’s an everyday thing in life.

More research has shown natural organic food tastes a whole lot better when taste tested against conventional foods; why not give yourself or family the experience of healthy eating for improved health.  The benefits for your health plus the environment will be a great deal better in the long run.  Below you will find information that will give you an idea or a start in the right direction.

Checkout Natural Organic Foods

Healthy Skin Natural Organic Skin Care

Have you ever thought why you should turn to organic skin care products?  With so many reasons to do so, not to mention while using conventional products you are absorbing the chemicals contained within these products through your skin.  To keep clear of the many common issues these chemicals have you should definitely look at the benefits of natural organic products.

Remember natural organic skin range products should only contain natural ingredients naturally.  While being aware of the effectiveness this has compared to say petroleum based waxes and so on that is put inside these conventional products.  You just have to think that organic products are meant to work in balance with you, just like the natural balance you have on earth.  So treat your skin right help enhance your natural healing abilities.

It is really down to us to be concerned with what we let enter our body through our skin or by what we consume as our diet.  You would also guess right there is more and more, lack of support for the crap that is thrown into the conventional products nowadays.  The purer the better natural organic healing products combine the ingredients which come from various sources of untreated natural land.  Meaning of farm land without herbicides and pesticides being involved, you also have sea products and botanicals.  Where it may be necessary for the use of semi synthetic ingredients in shampoos, soaps, and body washes, they are classed as still being healthy as part of the production of such products.

Keep in mind the structure of these ingredients stem from resources which are natural.  Most experts who are in the know, as their recommendation will inform and advise you to be in the know also with regards to skin care product ingredients. Be cautious of the unnatural chemical skin care ingredients when choosing.   If you would prefer check over where the ingredients have been collected produce or farmed.  Organic skin care products will contain some form of preservatives for the product to remain fresh for its purpose.  Again various essential oils, organic herbs comes into play to preserve products by way of natural anti bacterial anti fungal properties, preserving organic skin care products in airtight packaging prevents the build up of bacteria also.

Some products will have the need for additional preservatives, but there are various plant based oils which do have natural preserving properties this include various balms as well.  As we do absorb practically everything we put onto our skin good or bad, organic skin care products by far are the safest and definitely most effective products around.  Note that If you are of the sensitive skin type then natural organic skincare products is a must have in your life.  For a look at how you may benefit from these products click on UK product range.

Natuurlijke Organische Healing: Organische Landbouw

Heir is veel gesproken in de afgelopen jaren over het
mondiale milieu en welke zaken hebben ontwikkeld sinds het grootste deel van de
landbouw is conventionele landbouw in plaats van de meer traditionele
biologische landbouw. conventionele landbouw toestaat voor het gebruik van
synthetische chemische meststoffen, pesticiden en herbiciden sommige van die
heeft gevonden voor het milieu aantasten, zelfs wanneer juist wordt gebruikt.
landen in de wereld zijn meer of mindere mate, de exploratie biologische
landbouw technieken als milieuvriendelijke manieren zijn om te groeien
opleveren voor de wereldbevolking en daarbij het milieu zo gezond mogelijk te
houden. Biologische landbouw, zoals we weten dat ze vandaag, begon in
Midden-Europa en in India.

Vandaag lopen er vele landen gewijd aan een grotere
produceren door biologische technieken zonder verlaging van de
wereldvoedselproductie levering. In de US, biologisch voedsel kan worden
officieel gecertificeerd “ biologisch ” door te berekenen strikte richtlijnen
garanderen van het voedsel is echt biologische. De verklarende organisatie
staat bekend als de “ nationale organische Program ". Er zijn andere
biologische voeding bewegingen in de US, maar dat ook proberen te omzeilen de
formaliteit van certificering door voor te stellen andere, minder dure normen,
net als de “ authentiek voedsel norm ”.

Deze norm laat voor de passage van diverse criteria,
waaronder dat alle levensmiddelen worden verkocht door de organische producent,
dat verse produkten, melk, eieren en vlees worden verkocht binnen 50 mijl van
hun productie en die kaas, wijn, brood en andere gegiste produkten worden
geproduceerd met het traditionele methoden. Een andere Amerikaanse gebaseerd
biologisch voedsel benadering is gebaseerd op het produceren en verkopen
biologisch voedsel producten lokaal. Consumenten partner met plaatselijke
boeren en pre kopen voor een bepaald percentage van het jaar in de oogst.

Voorstanders vinden dat lokaal geproduceerde en
verkochte organisch voedsel smaak beter dan die voedingsmiddelen over lange
afstanden vervoerd in gekoelde trucks. In de gehele wereld, voedsel dat is
geteeld met behulp strikt biologische technieken goed voor ongeveer 1 2 procent
van het bruto voedsel verkopen. Biologisch voedsel verkopen zijn echter worden
steeds dramatisch wereldwijd. In feite is de wereld biologisch voedsel markt is
groeiende consequent sinds 1990 bij een percentage van 20 procent per jaar. In
de Europese Unie, de EU eco verordening organisatie regelt alle van de
biologische voeding in Europa. in Oostenrijk, biologische boeren hebben
gekregen die prikkels en deskundigen verwachten dat tot 10% van alle voedsel
verbouwd lokaal. In Duitsland, bijna alle babyvoeding is volledig biologisch en
in sommige plaatsen, met een derde van alle brood wordt gebakken door
biologische ingrediënten.

Italië nog verder te verzekeren dat haar kinderen eten
biologisch voedsel. Haar regering wetgeving dat alle voedsel bereid in school
lunch programma's moeten worden organisch voedsel. In het Verenigd Koninkrijk,
werd gemeld dat meer dan 600.000 hectare grond werd toegewezen en beheerd onder
organische verzorging normen en de verkoop van biologische levensmiddelen
gestegen van ongeveer 100 miljoen pond aan ruim 1,2 miljard pond in slechts
tien jaar. Misschien wel de grootste verandering is gebeurd in Cuba, waar sinds
de jaren negentig, de regering verboden veel chemicaliën gebruikt in
traditionele landbouw en omgerekend de grond in het hele land naar biologisch
landbouwbedrijf grond. Dit betekent dat hij zou zijn zeldzaam zelfs vinden van
een stuk van biologisch geteelde producten binnen het land. duidelijk de wereld
gaat organische en in verschillende landen zijn lichtjaren voorligt op de US in
bevordering van biologische eten en stimuleren op de biologische boeren. De
trend is echter wel degelijk onder leiding in de goede richting.

Exposed

By now I am sure everyone would have seen this.. Treat this as one of the many guides that is already out there!

Vitamin B17