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It has long been known that a healthy diet and exercise = optimum health.

Sadly, most of us have no idea what “healthy diet” really means, because very few “healthy choices”

even exist in our modern day grocery markets. Foods we think are healthy, rarely are.

So what are we to do?

GET THRIFTY and GET BACK TO THE BASICS!

Grow, raise and produce your own food.

If you have no other options but to “buy” your food, buy only LOCAL grown veggies and LOCAL farm raised meats.

If your last or only resort is buying food from a grocery market, be sure to check the label. If there are any ingredients

your grandmother would not even know how to pronounce, don’t buy it!

Also stay away from products that contain corn syrup and corn starch.

For more information about the health effects and information pertaining to the massive amounts of modified corn in our
modern diet, please check out the first 20 minutes of a fantastic documentary called, King Corn.

My husband and I recently invested in a Reel Mower. He was really skeptical about how well it would work. He is now convinced it is one of the best “green” investments we have made. We LOVE it!!

If you have a small to medium yard or area to cut, we highly recommend switching from a gas or electric mower to an Environmental Elements Reel Mower.

This is a FANTASTIC way to save gas AND reduce your carbon footprint.

TIP: Make sure you rake your yard before mowing to remove sticks (especially the first time). LOL

A good, easy to grow crop is zucchini. Plant some and you will not be disappointed at the yield (it makes PLENTY!). Since you’ll probably have more than you can use at the time, a good idea is to dice the zucchini into about cup sized amounts. Take those, place them in a small freezer bag and store them. Whenever you need an extra ingredient for your soups or stir fry you won’t be sorry.

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Pumpkins are another crop that easy to grow, but be warned that you do need a little room for this one to grow properly. You can buy pumpkin seeds, especially if you want to right kind for making pumpkin pie. If you’re worried about making pumpkins for Halloween decorations you can just save the seeds from this year’s jack-o-lanterns and plant them next year. Don’t forget to place hay under each pumpkin as it gets bigger to prevent the underside from discoloring (and in some cases rotting).

To become self sufficient one must plant a garden. The easiest way to do this is to simply grab a shovel, a hoe, some seeds and a hose. Make some rows yourself, which is great exercise, and search the net for tips on growing and what to grow. You can greatly supplement your diet with items you grow yourself even if you have just a small parcel of land to work with. If you have a large one you can grow all you need for yourself and your family (this is very time consuming however).

A good, all-around mixture for fighting not only fungal growth but even different kinds of insects is to mix a tablespoon of cooking oil, two tablespoons of baking soda, a few drops of Ivory detergent, and a quart of water in a spray bottle.  Spray your plants every day until the problem dissipates.

I own a small home with a small yard.  The wife grows flowers to pretty the yard up.  Me, I grow vegetables.  My dad always kept a garden and he passed the bug down to me.  You don’t have to have 40 acres and a mule to save money growing your own.

Try your hand at home gardening!  Plant a row of tomatoes, beans, or even corn!  You’ll be surprised at how easy this is and how good it tastes.

If you’re interested in learning how to grow your own garden, click here.