Choosing fresh organic food is a way of life.   One way to ensure that your food is organic is by growing it yourself.  At the beginning of summer I embarked on growing my own little food garden.  There has been some success, and some fails.  Overall, I’m writing it down as learning.  I have yet to get lemon seeds to grow into lush lemon trees.  I absolutely love lemons!  I always add them to a tall glass of ice cold  water.  Unfortunately, when I try planting the lemon seeds they never seem to want to grow, which is a shame.   My hope is that eventually, I will have a lemon tree in my backyard.  I have to admit limes are just not the same thing lol

In the picture above, you can see that I have successfully grown mint from a packet of seeds.   I just love the fresh scent of mint.   Though I am not a fan of mojitos, mint is great for making some fun flavored mojitos to celebrate the long days of summer.   I admit, I do somewhat like a strawberry flavored mojito.   Mint has other great uses such as adding flavor to savory dishes, or as a simple garnish for a dessert.   Some health benefits of mint are, pain relief for headaches, relief for stomach irritations and helps to alleviate arthritis.  Always good to know natural healthy options to alleviate pain.

As seen in the picture, I have repurposed a soup can, into a plant pot.  I love adding rosemary to pasta dishes.  What is great about rosemary is that you only need 1 table spoon of fresh rosemary to receive 1% of the daily recommend amount of Vitamin A.  One health benefit of rosemary is that it can be used as a remedy for high blood pressure.

 

Avocados are definitely in season! A very versatile fruit that can be added to so many dishes.  I am happy to say that a few of the avocado seeds that I planted are beginning to grow.  A great health benefit of avocado is that it can help lower cholesterol.

 

 

 

 

 

Scallion was probably the easiest and quickest to grow.  What is great about scallion is that it is an excellent source of vitamin K and bonus it could help reduce the risk of cancer.

Summertime may be coming to an end, but the sun will continue to shine.  I encourage you to spend a weekend and start growing some of your own fruits, vegetables and herbs.  If you aren’t one for gardening, then please support the local farmers market.  Support local and support sustainability.  Choose organic produce and products whenever possible.

Have an amazing weekend!

with love, from one tree hugger to another, xo

 

Resources

http://www.livestrong.com