It’s spring season which means the perfect time to plant tomatoes! Tomatoes contain beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. They are also a rich source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid. To grow tomatoes keep in mind that they need at least six to eight hours of sun. They need support so purchase a trellis or stake (larger the better) so your tomato plants have room to grow vertically and be kept off the ground and give each plant plenty of room to grow. It’s good to water your tomato plants by soaking the soil (not leaves) once a week or possibly more frequently when it is very hot. Harvest your tomatoes when they have reached their full size and color! To keep it sustainable and healthy, be sure to grow heirloom or non-GMO tomatoes - seeds will be available at any greenhouse or nursery.
Ingredient Spotlight: Himalayan Pink Salt
Himalayan Pink Salt is renowned as the purest salt available. This is because it comes from the peaks of Himalayan Mountains which were under the sea over 200 million years ago. As the plates moved, it caused evaporation and intense conditions that lead to the formation of the salt crystals. And thus they are protected from pollutants (or most of them). Himalayan Pink Salt is helpful to soothe sore muscles, detoxify the body and skin, and balances pH.
Upcoming Event: Earth Day Inglewood
We are excited to announce that we will have a booth at the 2017 Earth Day Jazz Festival. Come by and try our bath and body products and enjoy the food, live music and family fun. See you there!
Details below:
Event Date & Time: April 15, 2017, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: City Hall South Plaza
One Manchester Boulevard
South Plaza facing Manchester Boulevard
Inglewood, CA 90301
Check out the event website for more information.
DIY: Honey and Cinnamon Face Mask
I have dry and acne prone skin and when I need a pick me up and a face mask that won't irritate, dry me out, make me break out, etc- I turn to this gem. That said- this is a great mask for all skin types that is EASY, AFFORDABLE, and only takes 15 minutes! So why not give it a try?
Honey is an incredible ingredient- it's naturally moisturizing and antibacterial (which makes it fantastic for getting rid of pimples). Cinnamon is fantastic for getting rid of pimples as well and stimulates the skin while it gently sloughs off dead skin cells.
Honey and Cinnamon Face Mask:
1 tablespoon raw honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Splash your face with warm water and pat dry with a paper towel.
Mix honey and cinnamon together well and apply to entire face and neck (try not to apply too much as this mixture will melt on your face!)
Leave on for 15 minutes, rinse face with warm water and pat dry with paper towels
And that’s it! I like to do this face mask every two to three weeks. If I am feeling like I’m breaking out a lot I may do more but it’s always good to pay attention to how your skin is feeling. What’s your favorite DIY face mask? Let us know!
Love After Love
Ann's friend and fellow cancer survivor Stephanie recently posted about the importance of being grateful for what we have. She said our products are like "another way to celebrate life. Like each time you bathe a chance to be grateful and present." Yes, exactly! Which reminded us of this poem"
LOVE AFTER LOVE
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
-Derek Walcott
Don't be Fooled by Greenwashing!
On this April Fools' Day, don't be fooled by greenwashing! Greenwashing refers to advertising and marketing claims that make a product or company appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is. When a product has a big leaf or a natural-looking label, how can you tell who's really telling the truth?
Check the ingredients! Be on the lookout for creepy stuff like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, formaldehyde, parabens, PEGs and synthetic fragrances. I know, it's a lot. Make it manageable by starting with one product you use regularly.
Check the rating on http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ where specific concerns for each ingredient are listed, i.e. does it contain skin allergens, potential carcinogens or hormone disrupters? Another good resource is https://greenbeautyteam.com/toxic-ingredient-glossary/ Small, sustainable steps add up to a better, healthier future for you, your family and the earth. Start today!
Product Highlight: Detox Soaking Salts
Immerse yourself in relaxation while you revive and purify! Detoxifying green tea helps fight free radicals and inflammation to keep your skin youthful and balanced. The essential oils in this blend are widely used for their antibacterial and antifungal properties. NO animal testing. NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. Because we love YOU!
How to Use: Add a handful to bath under the faucet and soak for up to 30 minutes or until water cools. A handful is around a ¼ cup or more depending on your preference. We recommend starting out with less and adding more.
Ingredients: Magnesium sulfate (epsom salts), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), organic green tea, essential oils of Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus), Mentha piperata (peppermint), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), and Rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary).
DIY: Soaking Salts
Herbal bathing is a soothing and therapeutic self-care ritual.
When you are immersed in warm water, pores are open and receptive to the healing properties of the herbs in your bath.
You can customize your bath so it’s perfect for what you need that day: to relax, invigorate, soothe tired muscles, soothe cranky skin, etc. Sore muscles? Add plenty of epsom salts. Add fresh or dried herbs or flowers like rose petals, lavender, even rosemary. Make sure to use plants that have not been sprayed or treated with anything you wouldn't want in your bath! Add essential oils for even more botanical benefit. Lavender to relax. Rosemary and spearmint to give you a lift. Eucalyptus and a drop of peppermint to breathe easy. Sandalwood and jasmine for romance. Try your own combinations! What are your favorites?
How to Grow Rosemary
Growing rosemary is easy- plant at the beginning of spring or in a pot indoors. Rosemary prefers drier environments so it's important that when you water to allow the soil to dry in between waterings. Plant in full sun as rosemary, like many herbs, needs at least six to eight hours of sunlight. Rosemary is hearty and drought-resistant and does well year-round in mild climates. However, if temps remain below freezing consistently, plant in pots and bring indoors when it's very cold. Bring them inside and toss a few sprigs in with potatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast and enjoy!
Product Highlight: Clarity Blend Aromatherapy Roller
Feeling foggy? Shakespeare famously said, "There's rosemary and that's for remembrance." And he was right.
Suggested Use: Roll on temples, wrists or nape of neck for an instant lift. A little goes a long way. Avoid eyes. Stop use if irritation occurs.
Ingredients: organic jojoba oil, a blend of essential oils including Mentha piperata (peppermint), Rosemarinus officials (rosemary), Pseudotsuga menziesii (douglas fir) & Abies alba (white fir)
Ingredient Spotlight: Rosemary
This wonderful herb is astringent, antiseptic, and cleansing. It aids circulation, has stimulating properties, and helps bring blood flow to the surface of the skin. Shakespeare famously said, "There's rosemary and that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember." And he was right. It is also a powerful antioxidant and can combat toxins in the body.
Product Highlight: Citrus Bergamot Organic Sugar Scrub
Leaves skin glowing, smooth, and hydrated. Sugar scrubs are gentler on skin than salt scrubs and the alphahydroxy acid in sugar helps loosen dirt and slough off dead skin cells. Appropriate for all skin types (if you have sensitive skin test out on a small area first).
NO parabens. NO SLS. NO animal testing. NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. NO CREEPY STUFF! Because we love YOU!
Ingredients: Organic fair trade brown sugar, organic granulated sugar, dead sea salts, organic calendula-infused jojoba oil, organic coconut oil, vitamin E oil, essential oils of Citrus bergamia (bergamot), and organic Citrus paradisi (grapefruit).
Suggested Use: For best results, after cleansing and rinsing, apply to damp skin with circular scrubbing motion and then rinse.
Ingredient Spotlight: Jojoba Oil
It is one of the most sought after carrier oils to be used in beauty/natural skin care products because of it's incredible similarity to human sebum and its ability to quickly be absorbed into the skin. It is non-toxic, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), and it's non-irritant so it can be used around the eyes. It makes a great eye makeup remover. It works wonders on all skin types and is really popular in creams, massage oils, lip balms, skin salves, and hair care formulas.
Urban Farming 101: Q&A with Kathleen Blakistone from Moonwater Farm
Urban Farming 101: Q&A with Kathleen Blakistone from Moonwater Farm
1. Why did you start Moonwater Farm?
We originally bought the property in Compton to start an Aquaponic greenhouse growing operation. We changed directions slightly when we began to meet the urban youth of South Los Angeles who appreciated the farm experience. Today we offer school visits and workshops for all ages on sustainable food growing, healthy cooking, and partner with community members who make art, music or use the place for fundraising events.
2. What is an urban micro farm?
Our micro farm is in a neighborhood zones Residential Ag which allows residents to raise livestock, board horses and grow food commercially. We have Angora and Nigerian Dwarf goats, horses and chickens as well as row crops, a small Aquaponic system and a permaculture food forest growing on our lot.
3. What types of programs do you offer?
We offer school visits with hands on workshops in seeds, food growing, soil science and composting. We also host quarterly open houses with a farm your and pot luck lunch. Various workshops and events for adults are offered throughout the year and have included Iyengar yoga, mindful cooking, and food preservation. We also host music evenings and fundraisers by request. The property is available for events.
Summer camp is offered for 6 weeks during the summer and offers youth a host if activities throughout the week.
4. How do kids benefit from your summer camp?
Youth benefit from summer camp through hands in learning about urban agriculture - we ask an answer questions about hat is healthy food, what makes us healthy as individuals and what makes a healthy earth? We pay close attention to soil science, organic food growing and yummy food preparation
5. Are there special workshops that adults can take? How can people contact you?
We offer adult workshops and continue to grow our community with whom we can learn with. We have a mailing list people can join through our website contact form.
For more information visit Moonwater Farm's website or check out their Facebook page.
Converted Mall- Shops Are Converted Into 48 Tiny Homes
Conventional malls are having a rough time. This is brilliance! Micro apartments offer affordable, safe, city living and bring life back to an historic building. With micro retail, too! ❤️
Check out the link to read this great article: "Woman Moves Into Old Mall After Shops Are Converted Into 48 Tiny Homes, Could You Live Like This?" http://www.lifeaspire.com/6809/americas-oldest-mall-is-turned-into-gorgeous-tiny-homes/
