The Joy of Pilates - an interview with health and fitness buff Allison Moorhouse!

Hurrah! What an amazing post I have for today's Daisy Readers!! If you're as interested in fostering the health of the body and mind as I am, I think that you're really going to like this one, and I'm proud to offer it to you. Welcome to The Green Daisy's first interview!!!

Allison Moorhouse is originally a Brockville girl who moved to Toronto in 2002 to pursue studies in her fields of interest. She has a degree in journalism from Humber college, but has always had a passion for fitness, which led her to get her personal training certification through Can-Fit-Pro, with the desire to teach herself about the body, how to train it properly, and how to set up and maintain a progressive workout program. In 2005, the fitness buff combined her two diplomas and began work working for a publication you've probably heard of - Oxygen, an international women's fitness magazine. She started as the researcher/fact-checker, but moved up to Fitness Editor, creating the workout programs the magazine featured each month, or finding experts to create additional programs! In 2007 however, she left Oxygen to pursue higher education. Although she loved writing about nutrition, health and fitness, she knew that her true calling was personally teaching and helping others about those subjects... she decided to go back to school to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Allison is currently taking part-time distance courses at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and plans on completing her diploma by early 2009.
Allison became interested in the body-mind-spirit connection through mat Pilates and Yoga, and she is interested in teaching in the near future. In 2008, she completed the first part of the Mat Pilates Certification, and she is able to teach beginner and intermediate students. Once she takes the second part of the course, she will be able to teach advanced students and be fully certified.

Allison is currently training for her first fitness competition (Sports Athletic category) through Neutron Sports on March 29th! After the show, she intends on diving head-first into Pilates training once more. As a yoga enthusiast, I've often heard odds and sods about Pilates and its benefits, but had never more than scratched the surface on information about the topic. Knowing that Allison had plenty of background in natural health and fitness, I was incredibly pleased when she agreed to do an interview with me on her experiences with Pilates for The Green Daisy! Its the Daisy's first interview, and I'm happy to say that it's a fantastic and informative one! For anyone who's looking to amp up their total health, I hope you enjoy this week's post!

(Note: Allison would like to add that she only studies mat Pilates, and hasn't used Pilates equipment, such as a Reformer, etc., because she is more interested in learning and perfecting moves that can be done anywhere without the use of extras. She does note however, that there are amazing benefits to using the equipment as well.)

AND NOW, ONTO ZE PILATES INTERVIEW!

1. What is your personal definition of pilates?
To me, Pilates is much more than doing a few ab exercises. It’s about focus, breath, and truly connecting your mind with certain muscles and organs of the body. Mat Pilates is a core-focused, yet full body strength training routine, that strengthens the body from the inside out. Originally, there were 34 exercises, but a few new exercises have been created since then, and are sometimes included. The main focus of Pilates practice is on the internal muscles – the inner stabilizing muscles that are regularly forgotten in day-to-day life. These muscles can become weak, which can lead to injuries or overall muscle deterioration. By focusing on the ‘Pilates Pillar” during each exercise, you’ll develop and strengthen these muscles, along with the exterior muscles, and create that long, lean look that Pilates enthusiasts aim for.
So, what is the Pilates Pillar? It’s much more than just your abs. It’s located through the trunk of your body, and is comprised of 5 press points:
1. pubis bone and tail bone
2. point between pubis bone and navel, and through to the back. This is known as the “powerhouse”
3. from navel to the point where spine meets the pelvis
4. zyphoid process through to the same spot at the back (this point is generally at a woman’s bra strap)
5. breast bone to the spot between the shoulder blades
Any certified mat Pilates instructor should teach you about the Pilates Pillar and powerhouse the first Pilates class you take. He/she will call out the press points you should be focusing on, while executing the particular exercises. Focusing on these points allows your mind to connect with your body in ways that you probably don’t do regularly. This focus helps strengthen the muscles in and surrounding these press points and allows you to mentally envision these muscles so you can execute the move with grace and control. This mental focus also aids in stress relief, as your mind is preoccupied with that particular moment, and not on outside stresses and thoughts.

2. How did you discover/become interested in pilates?
To be honest, I became interested in Pilates because I was unhappy with my abs. I had a very weak core and knew I had to do something to strengthen it. I started doing the Windsor Pilates DVDs on my spare time, and even though I definitely didn’t have the knowledge of the entire process that I do now, I noticed results within the first couple of workouts. I stood taller, my core was tighter, and I felt like I was in more control of my body. I knew right away that I was hooked. I only wish I knew then what I know now!

3. Does pilates compare or relate to yoga or other practices/exercises?
Joseph Pilates, the man who created the Pilates method, is said to have studied yoga. In fact, in original teachings, he called the exercises “poses.” However, the Pilates exercises are specific and much different than yoga poses. You do not stay static in the exercises, like you do in yoga (actually, “Pilates Zest” is a term that describes the swiftness and continuity of the execution of exercises one is supposed to practice). Also, the breathing practice is different, as yoga focuses on inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the nose, while Pilates is inhaling through the nose, and exhaling through the mouth or the nose. I do feel, however, that practicing both disciplines can only be beneficial to the body and the mind.

4. How long has pilates as a practice been around in its present form?
I’m going to give you this link so that I don’t end up plagerising any information accidentally. This gives the best run-down of the history, as it’s pretty lengthy and I don’t want to get anything wrong!
http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/about/joseph-pilates.html
[Jennie's note: we curious folks at The Green Daisy just loooove clickables.. thanks for the handy link!]

5. Would you say that pilates is more of a mental discipline, a physical discipline, or a bit of both?
I’d say it’s definitely a bit of both, as you can’t do one without the other. Moving through each exercise without having a mental focus can not only lead to injury, but create such a lack of benefit that the moves become pointless. Additionally, having only mental focus won’t do your body much good as your muscles won’t be worked. When I took my certification, my teacher told our class that she once had her entire class only focus on their breathing and Pilates Pillar press points. They were confused, as it seemed from an outsider that they were barely moving their body. But, after 45 minutes of focus on internal muscles, the class participants were dripping in sweat, and had an incredible workout. The mind-body connection is key to Pilates practice.

6. In your opinion, what are the chief benefits that the average person can get from pilates?
There are so many benefits! Let me list a few:
- improved core strength
- improved total body strength
- improved strength in stabilizing muscles
- a mind-body connection
- a sense of empowerment achievement
- improved posture
- stress reduction
- overall well-being

7. Is there any particular equipment or clothing that I need for a pilates class?
Luckily, with mat Pilates, there is minimal equipment requirements. If you go to an actual Pilates studio, they should be equipped with Pilates mats (these are thicker than yoga mats. This is to protect your spine, since you spend a lot of time on your back). If you’re going to a gym for a Pilates class, you should call ahead to see if you need to bring a mat. If you don’t have a Pilates mat, you can double up two yoga mats. As for clothing, you should wear something similar to what you’d wear to a yoga class – comfortable! You will not be wearing shoes or socks. If you’re a woman, it’s probably best that you don’t wear a bra with a back clasp. Try and wear a sports bra without this, as it may cause discomfort in some exercises. Also, if you wear a pony tail, it’s best to take it out during practice, or push it high or low on your head to avoid discomfort while on your back.

8. Who would you recommend pilates to, and why?
I’d recommend Pilates practice to anyone, since it requires minimal equipment, and can be modified based on your skill and technique. A qualified instructor can determine what level you’re at, and what aspects you need to work on. Even the most expert Pilates enthusiasts can improve. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, or an inactive grandmother, Pilates can be modified to your individual needs and benefit your body and mind. It’s never too late to start!

9. What should I expect from first pilates class?
You should expect a qualified instructor who fully explains the “Pilates Pillar” and the “powerhouse.” You should expect to also be repositioned by the teacher if he/she feels you’re not executing the moves properly. Do not get discouraged if the teacher points out that you’re doing something incorrectly. Everyone’s body is different, and sometimes, certain body structures just physiologically have more trouble executing certain exercises. There is no pressure in Pilates. Do not feel that you need to keep up with other participants. Work at your own pace. Your body is unique and Pilates instructors understand that. It is not about executing the exercises as fast or as hard as you can. It’s about proper, precise execution.

10. How long have you been doing pilates, and how has pilates been a positive influence in your life?
I truly appreciate a great mind-body connection in any sort of exercise I do, and try to experience it whether I’m doing cardio, weight lifting, yoga or Pilates. I think that it’s necessary to fully experience whatever activity you are doing, or you don’t achieve that activity’s full benefits. I love how Pilates promotes this connection, and have been interested in it for many years. I’ve been practicing Pilates on and off for about four years, but have become more serious about the practice this year. Not only has it made me stronger physically (my core strength has improved dramatically than what it was years ago), but it’s given me a different outlet to improve my body internally and externally. I love how I am able to practice anywhere, and how there is always something to improve upon. I experience a much calmer mind day-to-day, since I practice focusing so much more during Pilates practice. It’s truly given me a better quality of life, and overall sense of well-being.
Most mat Pilates classes are less than an hour in length, and you can expect to move through the exercises sequentially and with zest (but don’t worry, you’ll be able to keep up). You’ll always begin with the Pilates Hundred – an exercise that warms up the entire body and gets the blood circulating throughout your body. You can expect the instructor to show you the moves, or walk around throughout the class, giving you cues and tips. Most instructors will give you relaxation time at the end of your class, something similar to a yoga class.
You can expect to leave your class feeling exhilerated, long and strong!

WOW! Is it just me, or does this interview make everyone want to jump into some comfers cozers clothing and run off at full speed to the next available pilates class in your neighbourhood??? I wanna be long and strong! Allison, I want to say thanks-a-million for blessing the 'Daisy with your knowledge and enthusiasm. Being open and giving, and sharing your passion with others can enrich and change people's lives in enormous ways!

For more about Miss Allison and her adventures in fitness, check out her blogs!!
http://ilikenaturalfood.blogspot.com
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/allisonmm/

I think Allison puts gets it dead-on when she talks about the importance of the mind-body-spirit connection. What a beautiful way to live your life! Thanks for dropping into The Green Daisy, and if you've got anything to add, please email me or leave a comment! I hope you enjoyed the post.. stay tuned for the next addition to 'Daisy, which will be a love-explosion of... "gastronomic" proportions!!! Tee hee!

Eeek! Plastique!!!

Good evenin', Daisy readers! Welcome to a merry little late-night Thursday post. Thursday night is actually the beginning of my weekend, (a rough life, I know!) and as I was embarking on my half-hour bus ride home after work, I decided to put my feet up, dig out a 'Natural Health' magazine that I found in a pile at my other job and promptly "borrowed", and take a sip of water from my... glass jam jar? That's right! I tote my water around in a cleaned-out, label-removed jam jar. People look at me like I've got two heads when I drink from it on the street sometimes, but I got the brainstorm to start using it as a portable water vessel a couple of months ago when I was washing some old jars out and realized that not only were they a very convenient size to haul all over town, but they were completely leak proof! So my old blueberry jam jar became my 'water bottle', and the random junk in my purse hasn't gotten soaked lately.
Where am I going with this? I'll tell yas. Not long ago, someone asked me if I was using the glass jar in place of plastic. I wasn't - but it made me think. Warnings about the use of plastic to store food and drink have been all over the news lately, even prompting big stores like Mountain Equipment Co-op to pull plastic Nalgene bottles from their shelves!! I decided to check out some of the most recent studies and info on the joys of plastic, and make a handy list to post here on The Green Daisy. Some of it I'd heard before; some of it is fairly common knowledge; and some of it was downright creepy.

Read on! Read on and find out why plastic ain't so fantastic.

Ever check out the little number in the recyclin' triangle on the bottom of that milk jug? There are seven types of plastic, each one made of different stuff, and generally used for different purposes. To start off, here's a brief run-down of plastic types and where you'll find them. Check 'em out:

#1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate Ethylene, commonly used for soft drink bottles, juice containers, water bottles, and peanut butter jars.

#2 - High Density Polyethelene, commonly used for milk and water jugs, detergent bottles.

#3 - Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), commonly used for cling wrap, oil jars, cleaner bottles.

#4 - Low Density Polyethylene, commonly used for plastic shopping bags, cling wrap, and assorted bottles.

#5 - Polypropylene, commonly used in Rubbermaid containers, soup and yogurt containers, drinking straws and baby bottles.

#6 - Polystyrene, used to make styrofoam, egg cartons, and disposable cups, dishes, and cutlery.

#7 Polycarbonate, used in baby bottles, can liners, sippy cups, and plastic cutlery.

So there's the categories - here's the really important stuff. To start off with, only #1 and #2 are recyclable. Put any other kind of plastic in the recycling bin, and you're guaranteed that it's going to the dump, where it's going to sit for a few thousand years.
As far as toxicity goes, there are a few major culprits to look out for in the list o' plastique. If you must use plastic for food or beverage storage, you're better off using #1, #2, #4 and #5. The dreaded #7, #6, and #3 shouldn't be used for anything. Ever. Checkit:

#7 contains Bisphenol A, a chemical that mimics estrogen and can stimulate certain cancers, particularly ovarian. It messes up the reproductive system, sperm count, the immune system, and also interferes with puberty. It can easily pass through from mother to fetus via the bloodstream.

#3 contains di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate. Exposure to this chemical causes nasty effects on the organs and bones, and is a probable liver carcinogen. Besides being the least-recyclable of the plastics, it's the worst for our health too! Its manufacture creates major air and water pollution, and often contains added lead.. yechh! Not in my food, baby.

#6 contrains styrene. It's highly toxic to the brain and nervous system. It messes up organ function, and interferes with red blood cells.


So! #7,#3 and #6 - don't use 'em!! Eventually though, it would be a good idea to phase out the use of plastics in our daily lives as much as possible, as most of them are made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource that's mostly used to create unnecessary packaging anyways... junk that ends up in the landfill (and our streets and waterways!!) and stays there, taking up valuable space on our already overcrowded planet and leaching goodness-knows-what into the ground.
It's obvious why plastic's been such a hit for the last hundred years or so - it's cheap to make, super-lightweight and usually very durable. But the pros don't outweigh the cons when it comes to protecting our health, our planet, and our children's future.

PLASTIC BANISHING TIPS!!!
- Switch to cloth bags for grocery trips! Those plastic bags clog up sewer grates, collect in landfills faster than dirty socks in my laundry pile, and even show up in the tummies of wild animals. Besides, cloth bags are way easier for the long jaunt home and will halt the creepy multiplication of plastic bags in your home, too!
- Invest in some glass, ceramic or stainless steel containers for storing food. Almost anything's better than plastic. Avoid cling wrap and tupperware as much as you can. You don't have to toss it all out right away.. gradually phasing plastic out is the name of the game!
- A strange fact: ordinary tap water is tested for impurities to a much larger extent than any brand of bottled water. Bottled water isn't just expensive - it's a rip-off and a big waste of natural resources. Skip the bottle whenever you can! Glass or stainless steel are great alternatives, and you wont get that plastic taste.
- People might look at you funny for this today, but years from now you'll be saying "I told you so" when everyone's doing it: bring your own containers when you order fast food or coffee to take the place of styrofoam. Styrofoam is gross and toxic. It's your health and your body; it's your right to demand safety. Don't let a few curious looks deter you.. I bring my own containers all the time!
- If you do use plastic or cling wrap any time, doooon't microwave it! When we heat it up in the microwave, we send the particles and atoms in the plastic buzzing and flying all over the place, worsening and quickening the nasty effects of plastic. Keep it at a cool temperature.

And there we have it! You know, it's weird.. now that I haven't been using plastic to drink from in a long while, on the occasional time that I do, I really notice it. As soon as you're not desensitized to plastic anymore, you really sense the negative attributes it has. It tastes funny. It smells funny. It's subtle, but it's there.. plastic gives me a cranky face. It's everywhere, but avoid it as much as you can! In the years to come, I've got the feeling that the general use of plastic, food-wise or not, is going to decline as more and more studies come out. I'd hate to see more bad news on top of the stuff already written here, but you know what they say.. the truth hurts... but the truth will set us free!

As an end note, it's time to recap last week's poll. Meats n' eats.

On the average week, how many of your lunches and dinners include meat?
11% said all, or most
11% said many - at least half
33% said only a few here or there
44% said none - I'm a vegetarian, fool!

This week's quiz is up and running.. thanks for pollin' and thanks for readin'!

treehugger.com!

Hey, Ladies n' Gents! Just a quickie post - I really want to give a hoot to...

WWW.TREEHUGGER.COM!

I'd come across it before a long time ago, but just rediscovered it. It's got EVERYTHING! There's something for everyone on this site. Science, Arts, Travel, Business, Nature, Gadgets... it's got a really easy-to-navigate, modern design and has a lot of neat random goodies of interest to peruse. I'm impressed!

For The Love Of Broccoli!

Hello, Daisy Friends! Welcome to a lazy Sunday Daisy post! This week's topic is something that I've been thinking about a lot lately. It has to do with food, and how what we eat affects our "footprint" on the Earth - that is, how much energy we use, and how much waste we leave behind. Howevah, today's post gets a bit more specific.. it has a lot to do with the ol' meat vs. veggies debate, and the bigger story on that topic.
Now, before I get started, I want to be pretty clear that today's post isn't about the ethics of eating meat; living things eat other living things, and I'm not going to try to push one type of diet over another.. that's the choice of the individual. What I'm concerned about though, is the environmental consequences behind today's large-scale meat production, why it's crappy, and what we can do to make sure that we fund those operations as little as possible by exploring new and exciting alternatives!
Let's get stahhhhted!

This post is really about meat consumption, people, and the environment. It's about how factory farms really get my goat, and if you enjoy meat, why smaller, local, free-range and certified organic farm operations are the real deal, and deserve your support!

These days, the large-scale 'factory' farm is quickly taking over from the smaller, more traditionally run rural and family farms. The idea behind the modern factory farm is to turn out as much meat as possible, as cheaply as possible - that's the very definition of a 'factory'. Lots of product, large-scale production, fast and cheap. The Better World Handbook (a wonderful read!) states that these factory farms are kicking smaller farms into oblivion - a projected 6000 smaller dairy farms alone in the States are projected to go under in the next fifteen years. That's a lot of livelihoods lost, and lot of factory gained. Here's a big fat list of why factory farms are ... well, the worst.

- Factory farms generate HUGE wastes for the environment. There are hundreds to thousands of animals on each factory farm, and the manure run-off alone is cause enough to worry. Downstream it goes, into our rivers, and into everyone's water supply, killing marine life and making us sick on the way. This water contains vast amounts of poop and the hormones, antibiotics, nitrogen, chemical fertilizers, and bacteria of all sorts that come with it. With such a huge volume of waste and not enough earth to re-absorb it, manure alone becomes a major pollutant. Additionally, the factory farm burns large amounts of non-renewable fossil fuel to operate a larger-scale, more heavily mechanized method of farming. Not good.
- Huge grain and soy crops are grown to feed the unlucky animals who end up on these factory farms. These huge crops are almost always treated with vast amounts of chemical pesticides to produce optimum yields.. and optimum pesticide poison in our air and waterways.
- Like I stated before, these factory farms are taking business away from legit, family-run, traditional farms that are better for so many reasons. (I'll get to those reasons next!!) Imagine running your own small-scale, earth-friendly operation on your own family's land, only to be shut down or bought up by a factory farm thousands of times your size, with a track record for heinous cruelty and gigantic wastes. The traditional family farm/rural community is dying.
- As if it couldn't get any worse, I'm forced to add a point that all of us are already aware of: the animals on factory farms suffer. A lot. Many of them have never even seen sunlight. They have no room to move. They're stuffed together, encouraging a whole host of infections and diseases, and violence between them as they compete for food and space. Ech... it's a sad state of affairs. There are a lot of websites out there that are more than willing to go into graphic detail about this kind of stuff, and if you can stomach it, it's worth checking out. I wont go any further on the topic right now, because it makes me feel particularly crummy.

... but there's a ray of hope! A big one! There are a zillion good reasons why we should support the traditional, local, small-scale farm! (Especially if they're certified organic!) Here are just a few of them!

- Cows that are fed on actual pasture grass (that's right! outdoors!!) are healthier, and the meat ends up being leaner and better for you. The same goes for other animals that are treated to the option of enjoying the great outdoors and natural feed - on a smaller farm, grazing makes the huge crops of grain and soy (pesticides!) required for the factory farm unnecessary, and the grass replenishes itself as the cows migrate around (and the grass benefits from the constant fertilizer! Thanks, Bessie!!). Nature!
- Smaller rural farms hire... local people! On a factory farm, employee accidents (machinery, chemicals, scary working conditions) are through the roof. Not so much on a smaller scale farm. The wages are generally better too, and jobs are more hands-on, instead of being a drone on a conveyor belt.
- Since manure is created in smaller amounts, the run-off isn't scary. The earth around a farm can absorb and degrade small amounts of waste, and regenerate itself. Also, with animals moving around outdoors, the poop is spread around evenly, reducing run-off. Thank goodness for that!
- Supporting a local farm means less trucking the produce around. A quick drive into the city or farmer's market is better for the environment than a legion of trucks driving hundreds of miles to deliver mass quantities.
- Finally, the animals acquire less disease, enjoy real air and sunshine, and eat better. That's good karma for everyone involved.

Those are some damn good reasons. But guess what: the best list is yet to come. Because....

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO!!!!!!

1. Support small local farms. Research them on the 'net, and the find out where you can buy their meat. Farmer's markets, smaller butcher shops and health-food stores are always good bets. Try to get a background story on the farm operations if you can. This is stuff that we put into our bodies to nourish us: you have a right to know where it came from, and to know what you're supporting with your dough.
2. Look for certified organic and free-run products. Yes.. you will pay a bit more. But the more we purchase these products when we can, the higher the demand will be for them, and the prices will eventually start to go down. Organic means no pesticides, chemicals, hormones or antibiotics.. in other words, the meat you're eating isn't polluted! Free-range means that throughout their lifetime, the animals get to roam around as they please and engage in their natural behaviors. Watch out for "free-run" though.. that doesn't necessarily mean that they're even allowed outside. Terminology can get tricky.. try to get some facts.
3. You don't have to stop eating meat.. but you can try to eat less. All things considered, meat takes a lot more energy to produce a lot less food, than plant-based products. It's just a fact. By eating less meat, you'll help save natural resources, and help your own health too! Try experimenting with fun meat substitutes - there are a lot out there! And they're good for ya!

Be sure to check out local vegetarian restaurants in your area for superb ideas for introducing more meatless meals into your diet! For more information on the concept of 'flexitarianism', which I think is a pretty frabulous idea, check out this news article on it. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/
If you're interested in vegetarianism, I recommend checking out www.goveg.com, for a massive amount of information on the topic, and a lot of links. It's anti-meat to an extreme though, so don't say that I didn't warm ya. You can also try www.vegetarian.allrecipes.com for some recipe ideas. And don't forget to search for local farms and farmer's markets in your area! It'll pay off big! Local and organic tastes better, I swears it... and the planet will thank you!!

THANKS for reading everyone!!! Don't forget to comment if you've got something you'd like to add, or a recipe you'd like to share! But before we go, as promised, here are the results from last week's poll. Thanks for voting :-D

10% of you drive a car or truck as your major mode of transportation
30% take the bus the majority of the time
40% of you mostly ride your bike
and 20% walk!

Hoot! I like those numbers! Stay tuned for next post.. fun stuff comin' up.

Herbalicious........

Hey folks! First off, a billion (organic fair-trade) sugar-coated thanks for visiting The Green Daisy and for participating in my weekly poll. You have no idea the level of heartbeams I get when I tune in to the Daisy Pages and see that someone's added their info or opinion to it! I'll be sure to start posting the end results and adding my two cents (or three cents, or four) each time they're finished.
OKAY! So my last post was an excellent example of my tendency to be mercilessly long-winded on topic that I enjoy, so I thought it'd be a grand idea to make today's post on a topic that's more concise and listy. (Listy? You can probably tell that I just got up.) A few years ago, I really started getting into using herbs and other materials directly from nature to treat minor health ailments. It was almost more of a curiosity than a quest to heal anything.. after all, most of the compounds that are found in store-bought medicines are just synthetic copies of remedies that can be found in your own backyard (unless your backyard is a parking lot, like mine) and it seemed like a pretty common-sense idea. Why not get your prescription directly from Mother Nature? Now if only she specialized in heart surgery..... ;)
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that if you're on death's door you should fix yourself a cup of herbal tea and forget about it. Obviously there's a time to visit the doctor, and your body will tell you when that is. But for daily gripes and bothers, there's no need to fill yourself up with questionable, synthesized (and expensive) bottled junk from an already filthy-rich company when you can do it nature's way and be extra-kind to your body in the process. It's friendly for your bod, and it's friendly for the planet. I'm no expert on the topic, but I'd like to share a list of herbal/natural remedies that I've added to over the years. I really dig some of them, and I'll add a l'il blip of my testimonials when applicable.

LEMON BALM
It's a plant that is readily available dried or in tea-bag form. Make 2-3 cups of lemon balm tea daily to simmer down a headache or relieve mild depression. I started drinking lemon balm tea a few years ago when I was working a very stressful job and it was starting to affect my mood. It took a few days, but I honestly did feel a hell of a lot better. Then I quit that crappy job.. hee hee.

TEA TREE
A wonderous plant! Ideal for areas needing a natural antiseptic, any skin ailments (cuts, infections, even head lice!) and even athlete's foot. You can add the oil to a bath, or buy soaps and shampoos with tea tree added to them. You can use the oil directly too, but you might want to dilute it somewhat. [Jennie's note: Long story short: I got head lice for the first time in grade 12. Tried on antique-hats. Caught lice. Mortified. Used tea tree oil and tea tree shampoo... lice gone. Only slightly traumatized.]

TUMERIC
A delicious food seasoning, also good for inflammation - of cuts, rashes, etc. Use the dried powder or fresh plant in your cooking a often as possible or take as a supplement. [I use this all the time in my cooking! Tasty and healing? Hooray!]

KAVA KAVA
From the plant - apparently good for stress, muscle tension and anxiety. [I've never actually used it before, but it's on the list waiting, just in case. I've heard good things.] You can buy it as a supplement at health food stores.

ENCHINACEA
We've all heard this one before, but I had to add it, because mercy, it works. Use it at the first signs of a cold, sore throat, or virus invasion. Take a bunch. You can find it in crunchy tasty tablet form too! Its immune boosting properties are known worldwide.

PASSIONFLOWER
Take passionflower as a tea, 2-3 times daily, or in supplement form for anxiety, irritability and especially insomnia. [Jennie's note: I haven't tried this one personally, but I have a friend who does. Apparently having a cup of passionflower tea about a half-hour before bed time is supposed to do wonders. It kinda makes me wonder though... wouldn't I have to wake up to pee? Haha]

ST.JOHN'S WORT
This is supposed to be THE herb to take for mild depression. Funny thing - I've actually tried St.John's Wort in tea-form simply because it tastes good! Anyways, I haven't tried it as a remedy, but like passionflower, I know someone who does, and they swear by it and I put it on this list on their urging. This herb has a very good reputation for relieving depression. Available as a supplement or as tea.

VERLERIAN
Another favorite to help with the havoc that insomnia causes! Take as a bed time tea, or buy the tincture and put it in a bit of hot water. You can get it as a supplement too. Watch it though - this herb is supposed to be a marvelous relaxant, but you don't want to fall asleep at the wheel.

RED CLOVER
This is supposed to be amazing for hushing menopausal symptoms. Needless to say, I haven't actually had a reason to try this stuff yet. Just throwin' it out there for ... further reference? Take as a tea, three or more times daily.

FLAX SEED.
Whoo boy. Say goodbye to constipation. Store-bought laxatives are awful for your system. Try flax seed instead! Soak 1 tsp of the seeds in cold water overnight, and then add it to your oatmeal or cereal in the morning. Have a nice big glass of water with it. Flax works like a charm... don't overdo it.

CHAMOMILE
A tea-lover's favorite, no doubt! I'm in love with chamomile tea. It's great for all over agitation, stress, headaches, and general i've-had-a-long-crappy-day,-wind-me-down-please. It's very calming without making you sleepy, although it is nice at bed time. Have a cup of chamomile tea whenever required, or have it daily. Add honey... it'd delicious.

FENNEL
Fantastic for indigestion complaints. That new spicy Indian dish didn't agree with you? Make tea with fennel seeds. I promise.

GINGER
One of my favorites! Ginger is really neat. Not only does it taste like a (spicy) dream, it's perfect for indigestion, nausea and other complaints - it's great for when you're sick with a cold or flu too. When in doubt - have some ginger. Work it into a dish, or better yet, make a delicious tea from it. Boil a one-inch piece (you can cut it up too) in enough water for a cup or two of tea for five minutes or so, and then strain. You can use just the ginger water as tea, or better yet, add some green tea leaves and/or lemongrass stems to it for an extra boost. Sweeten with honey... great, now I have to go make myself a pot of ginger tea. Be right back.

PEPPERMINT
Peppermint is another one of my best herbal friends. It's fantastic as a natural wake-up, but it's good for indigestion and headaches too. Like ginger, I find that peppermint is one of those all-around very-handy any-time herbs. If you're feeling crappy, try peppermint. You can get it in ready-made teabags, (watch for artificial flavoring... that stuff's crap) or better yet, get a sprig of the fresh plant and add it to freshly boiled water. Add a squirt of lemon and/or honey. You can't go wrong.


So there we have it! And now I ask YOU: what's YOUR favorite herbal remedy? I think we all have one! Or, if you've tried one of the above and would like to share the results, add a comment or send me an email!
That's all for today's Daisy Pages... thanks again for reading! Stay tuned for the next post, too... it's gonna be a doozy. So long - I'll be in the tub with my ginger tea if you need me.

HEMPTASTIC!!!

Hoot hoot! Welcome to the seventh post on The Green Daisy. I've got a feeling that I'm going to have a lot of fun writing today's post, because it's on a topic that I'm really getting into - all things HEMP. So... what do you think of when you hear the word 'hemp'? Probably a lot of different things, but a few major visions are bound to come up.. marijuana... maybe a burlap-sack-like fabric... maybe some filthy guy with burrs caught in his beard at a folk festival. Well, forget all that. Except for maybe the folk festival guy. He needs some help getting those burrs out before he bad-trips. Anyways, the point is, that there's a lot more to hemp than meets the eye, and a lot of the time, I think that common associations with the word and materials distract us from the REAL information that's out there about hemp and why it's so effing great. It's got a long, long history providing valuable resources for us humans, and today, more than ever, it's a highly important source of materials - it's renewable, extremely useful, and fantastic for the planet!

Let's get to the juicy... ahem... hempy stuff, shall we?

Get this: hemp was probably among the very first fibres cultivated by human beings, way, way back in our species' infancy, when we were just figuring out how to use the things that grow out of the Earth to make our lives easier. There's actual evidence that humans across Asia were well on their way to making simple ropes and such from hemp stalks as long as 30 000 years ago, and it shows up in Indian and Chinese texts 5000 years ago, being praised for its use in medicine and as a fibre for nets, ropes, and baskets.
Why was this plant so highly valued for its practical uses? A lot of reasons. Although it grows the tallest in hot and humid environments, the plant is in fact highly adaptable.. high altitudes and cold winter seasons only deter its growth minimally. In can be spun very coarsely, to be used as rope, twine, baskets, sturdy sacks, or boat sails - or it can be spun extraordinarily fine for clothing and linens.. when very fine, it can rival silk. It's highly absorbant, so it makes a way better material for clothing than synthetics, which just make you clammy instead of helping your body out. It holds dye incredibly well, making rich colours and sturdy shades possible.. the fashionable person's dream come true. It doesn't wrinkle easily, and clothing moths hate it. It dries quickly, reducing living quarters for mold and mildew, and it's also highly resistant to the severe cold, heat, dampness, wetness, sunlight, salt and chemicals. Neat! Hemp fibre is extremely strong too, which is why everything from paper to the grand sails of ships were made from it. It's all-purpose and has a million-and-one uses. (There are more benefits to using hemp, but we'll get to those later, as they're the most relevant reasons for using hemp in today's world. )
So... why the heck did it fall out of favor in many parts of the world? There are a lot of different arguments. What a lot of people believe, is that in the 1930's, prohibition was trying to stamp out intoxicants.. and guess what was one of them? Pot. But wait! Are hemp and marijuana both from the same plant? Not quite. Let's get some truthiness going here. Hemp and pot are actually cousins of the same variety of plant, with the big differences being that if you smoke pot, you get high, and if you smoke a hemp plant, you just get a headache. It simply doesn't have enough of the good (ahem) stuff in it that makes cannabis such a sought-after dried herb. On the reverso though, if you try to spin fibre from a pot plant, you'll get a crappy, low-quality result. So, the bottom line is, pot plant = pot, hemp plant = hemp. That's it. Unfortunately, not everyone saw it that way, and the whole shebang got outlawed in America. Crummy. You may have heard this before, but it's true: even George Washington grew hemp. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper, so it would keep! At the same time, cotton production in North America started to boom without hemp as a rival, and people began to favor it over the 'evil weed' as it was sadly called. Hemp was grown again briefly during WWII because they needed it for emergency ropes and such, but ultimately it seemed like hemp had gone the way of the dinosaur. Handy, healthy hemp oil was replaced by synthetic, petroleum-based substitutes, and then we started destroying ancient forests for paper instead of using the super-quick-growing, quickly-replaces-itself hemp plant. What were we thinking?! Cotton, unless certified organic these days, is the crop that uses the most pesticide in the entire world. Oh, and those ancient forests? Yeah. They don't grow back in a single season, like hemp does. You need about two thousand seasons. Crappy.

But don't despair - it's time for the best part.

Hemp is enjoying a newfound popularity lately for a number of very, very good reasons. Put very simply, we've mined our planet's precious resources to the limit, and we need a realistic alternative.. right now. Here are some fantastic facts about hemp that makes it such a blim blammin' good idea to invest in, in these sketchy times.

- Hemp grows incredibly fast. Faster than trees. Faster than your little brother. It's really neat. One plant can grow up to 18 feet in a single year... that's a lot of hemp!! With the demand for paper, textiles, and foodstuffs, that the human race requires, we need something that can bust it that fast.
- Unlike cotton and lots of other crops, hemp actually leaves the soil replenished with nutrients instead of depleted! It makes its own fertilizer for the next generation of baby hemp plants! Think of the resources that can be saved on that alone. Growing hemp is good for the soil and for the other plant-life around it.
- Hemp doesn't need pesticides to grow like crazy and meet our demand, unlike cotton and many other crops. It's hardy and crazy that way.
- Hemp produces a huge seed yield, so you get more, more, more.
- As mentioned before, the hemp plant is highly adaptive, and can follow humans wherever they go. Plant it all over the place! Wherever we go, hemp can go too.

The bottom line: Hemp is a sustainable, renewable resource for a million things that we really need. It we grow more hemp, we CAN limit the destruction of ancient forests and eco-systems that make our planet breathable.

Alright! Now that I'm feeling fabulous about hemp, I'd like to share a few awesome things with you - lots of awesome, fair-trade companies are churning out incredible, happily hempily products right now, and they're not all tye-dyed. Seriously!!! They're practical, beautiful, economical, and hemptastic. Check out:
www.hoodlamb.com (sexy, fashionable hemp clothing for guys and ladies)
www.rawganique.com (clothes and a home section too!)
www.ecolution.com (my personal recommendation.. fair-trade for sure!!!)
www.adbusters.org (hemp SHOES! They're amazing! See the link on right on their site)
www.spiritstream.com (has everything. Everything.)

A ton of stuff in your daily life is available in hemp-form. Clothes, fabric, towels, washcloths, belts, jewellery, footwear, shower curtains, blankets, bags, backpacks, wallets, coffee filters, rope, toys... the list goes on and on. I have a hemp backpack from Ecolution that I bought about three years ago, and let me tell you something about it: it's been tossed about from one end of Canada to the other, all over Vancouver, across the ocean, from one end of Ireland to the other, on countless trips to Montreal, to Toronto, New York City, and on about a zillion grocery and day-trips, and after a wash, it still looks as good as the day I bought it.

Before I bring this post to a close, I'd like to give a quick hoorah to a few of the places in Ottawa that supply hemp stuff: find it at Arbour (800 Bank St.) and Karma Wear (110 Parent St. in the Market). Lots of other places are carrying it now too.. snoop around and send me your hemp sightings!

We hear a lot of the time that perhaps the biggest tool for making change in our lives is our wallets. Be careful who you give your money to, and what you're supporting. If we demand sustainable, and we demand fair-trade, then it'll happen. And finally, if you're the lucky owner of some hemp stuffs, or are thinking about supporting it next time you purchase something hempable, feel proud about it, and tell all your friends the facts! So long 'til next time!

Recipes.... for your FACE! And other places.

Ah... a day off. What better time to pamper oneself a little? In fact, I've got avocado in my hair as we speak... but that's another story. Welcome to today's post - a little something to counteract the gloom n' doom of the previous post, which was a bountiful flurry of the harmful poop that sneaks into our lives via our toiletries and cosmetics. I'm really happy to share a few of my favorite homemade beauty/hygiene recipes with the Green Daisy readers today. There are the tried and true recipes, tested by myself for years, and then there are a few that are next on my list! If you've got a few of your favorites that you'd like to share with the Daisy Pages, please send 'em in! I'd love to put them up! (Also: Grandparents and your hippie aunt are great sources of this kind of information! Haha)
And remember peoples, with all this talk of 'beauty products' and such, don't think that this stuff is only limited to the benefit of the ladies.... fellas need to wash n' shave naturally just as much as the gals. Anybody got a good recipe for eco-friendly beard wash? HAHA! Now there's a market for ya!!!

Just before we start: collecting the ingredients for some of this stuff might seem a little daunting at first read. Luckily, I can say from my experience, that the best places to find this kind of stuff is your friendly neighbourhood health-food shop/natural pharmacy and the grocery store. Surf the web and check out the phone book listings for these kind of places, and call ahead to see if they have what you need. In Ottawa, I can often do one-stop shopping for cosmetic recipe ingredients! Try the Natural Food Pantry and the Ottawa Natural Pharmacy.. they're amazing places.

Alright.. ON with it already!

JENNIE'S FAVORITE BEESWAX DRY SKIN BALM/LIP BALM
I've been making this stuff for years. It's smells lovely and it works wonders.
- 1 oz pure beeswax bar (make absolutely sure nothing's been added to it)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
- a dash of honey (optional)
Directions: In a small pot, preferably one that you don't care for particularly, place the beeswax bar, and heat on the stove over lowish heat. You can watch it slowly dissolve into liquid... really neat. Once it's totally liquified (Don't boil! Oh god, don't boil!) slowly, slowly stir in the olive oil. There reason why I wrote 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup olive oil, is because some people like this stuff fairly hard and scrapeable, and some people like it quite squishy. It's up to you.. it may take some experimenting to get the right final consistency, but it's fun. Once the olive oil is stirred in, add any optional ingredients, like the small dash of honey or a few drops of essential oil for lip-balm yummy smell. Pour while still hot into lip-balm containers, tiny mason jars, tiny empty tins... whatever you want! Let cool, and it will re-solidify into balm. Use it on your hands before you go to bed for an amazing hand-softening treatment, use it on eczema or really dry skin, or enjoy it as an amazing lip balm.

SILKY LOVELY SHAVING LOTION
Gotta love this stuff. Don't worry if your measurements aren't exact or the consistency isn't like the stuff you get in the can.. it's really nice.
- 4oz aloe vera oil
- 1/2oz jojoba oil
- 15 drops chamomile essential oil
- dash of vegetable oil
Mix them together, and bottle it up. Use it on legs n' pits for sure - haven't gotten the word on whether it's groovy for the face or not, but I can only imagine it'd be amazing. (TIP! This one comes from my Mom n' Grandma.. if you're out of shaving cream, an all-natural hair conditioner works incredibly well!)

ALL-NATURAL BUBBLE BATH
I love this stuff! It makes me realize that I simply don't take enough baths. The best part is that you can add whatever essential oil to it that floats your boat the most.
- 1 cup all natural liquid vegetable-based/castille soap (I recommend Nature Clean)
- 2 tbsp vegetable glycerine (available at natural pharmacies/food stores)
- 10 drops of your favorite essential oil - a fruity or flowery one works wonders. Go for lavender for a soothing bath, or for citrus for a gentle wake-up.
Simply mix and bottle. (Don't shake!) Use it within a couple of weeks if you can.

JENNIE'S INCREDIBLE PEPPERMINT SUGAR SCRUB
This is wonderful stuff. I enjoy making a batches of it to be given away as presents just as much as making a big batch of it for myself. It's moisturizing and exfoliating - great for your skin, especially after a shave. If you use the peppermint oil in it though, watch the eyes.. a little strong for the ol' eyeballs and sinuses.
- A cup or two of sugar, any kind will do.
- Olive oil
- 1 - 2 tbsp. vegetable glycerine
- small handful dried mint leaves - crush 'em up and remove stems!
- 5-15 drops peppermint essential oil
This scrub smells good enough to eat. In a mixing bowl, add the sugar, and then enough olive oil to get a nice consistency going - you might like your scrub more on the powdery side, or like me, you might like it a little creamier. Experiment. Add your glycerine and mint leaves (again with the mint leaves, add a few or plenty... they make it really pretty) and then stir in the essential oil. You can make it really strong smelling, or not so much. It's all about personal taste. Stir and beat until totally mixed, and then put it all into a pretty mason jar... tie a ribbon and make a label if it's a present!

CHAMOMILE SHAMPOO
I haven't actually tried this recipe out yet, but it intrigues me (Make my own shampoo! Of course! Why haven't I entertained this idea before?) and it's going to be my next experiment. If anyone out there tries it before I do, give me your input! I got the recipe from somewhere ages ago... I wish I could remember where.
- 4 bags chamomile tea, or a handful of fresh chamomile flowers
- 4 tbsp pure vegetable soap flakes (or grate a bar)
- 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable glycerine
Let the chamomile steep in 1 1/2 cups of boiled water for about ten minutes, and strain. Add the grated soap, mix and let it stand until all soft. Stir in the glycerine and mix well until blended. Bottle!

That sounds incredible! Hmm... speaking of shampoo, maybe it's time to go wash this avocado out of my hair before it turns green. Before I vanish though, I'd really like to add a little list of my recommendations as far as purchased body care products go. We don't always have the time to make everything we'd like to make at home, and it's fun to try new things from respectable businesses. After working in an environmental products store for years, I've had the opportunity to try a lot of stuff... here are my favorites!

Badger - makes a balm similar to the one listed as a recipe, but comes in an adorably illustrated tin. Works wonders.
Aubrey's - at the end of the day, my favorite body care company. They've been making shampoos, soaps, lotions and everything else all-natural since the 1960's, and I've never been disappointed by their stuff. They're really picky about ingredients and I consider them to be the real deal.
Green Beaver - a Canadian company that makes incredible natural deodorant and toothpaste!!!
Nature Clean - another Canadian company that makes mostly home-care products, but do an amazing liquid body soap, shampoo and conditioner. They're so simple and honest.
Dr.Bronner's - specializing in amazing liquid soap.. get a bottle and use it sparingly because it's so concentrated. It'll last you months, and you can read that totally bizarre label while you're at it. You'll know what I mean if you've seen it.
Butterfly Weed - mothers and fathers, check out their diaper-rash balm (they call it nappy-rash), and then buy 12 of them, because parents have told me time after time after time that it works about a thousand times better than anything medicated that their doctor gave them. They also make other great mommy/baby products and balms.
SoapWorks - my favorite soap bars. Stores always have a display of like thirty of their soaps all together, in all varieties, colours and uses. Their olive oil soap is great for dry skin, but try them all!

Got anything else to add? Send me your recipes and natural-product favorites! Until next time... kisses n' daisies.