Green Hugger

By: NaturalFreeChoice.com When storing food it is necessary to verify how we are going to manage the shelf life of our food. Looking for the right conditions is essential to keep it in edible conditions so we stay healthy also during the time we consume this food. When choosing your food for storage make sure that is in good quality conditions. When choosing the place you should follow the following steps, so your food last longer: 1) Quality of Food - Be sure that you are buying or storing fresh food or food that is in good conditions 2) Rotate: Food that was stored first should be the food consumed first (First In First Out) or the one the one that expire first 3) Low Temperature: Try to low the temperature as much as you can in the area of storage since every increase of 18 degrees F cut by half the live of the food. Try to store in an area above 32 deg F and below 72 deg F.

By: NaturalFreeChoice.com A LETS system is a non - profit locally initiated exchange network backed by good and services and there is no need of coins, paper money or tokens of any kind. Transactions are recorded in a local central location and open to all members. Good and services can include the following: food, health services, clothing, repairs, housing, transport, legal services, equipment, business services, entertainment etc., through the operation of a credit economy that is community based and the use of dollars are reduced or not used. The LETS system work in the following manner: 1) Community people set up an organization 2) Anyone on the community can join the organization 3) Good and services are set by a directory of members 4) The transactions are kept on record and updated regularly 5) Services or good are paid by a note or cheque for an agreed amount of LETS units.

By: NaturalFreeChoice.com Choosing the right technology helps to protect our environment, and at the same time makes our work easier, this type of technology is called appropriate technology. It is designed taking into consideration the ethical, community, economical, and cultural aspects from where it is going to be used. There are some characteristics that describe this technology like the reduction of electric use, reduction of labor, uses renewable energy and materials that are friendly for the environment, etc. Following are some example of this technology with a brief description: 1) Solar cookers a) Use heat from the sun and cooks slow b) There are several designs: 1) Heat trap boxes 2) Curve concentrators (parabolic) 3) Panel cookers 2) Solar dryers a) Can be used to dry vegetables and fruits b) Some designs are: 1) Plastic dryers: made of wood frame and wrapped with a clear plastic 2) Wood and glass dryers: uses air flow

By: NaturalFreeChoice.com We can help the environment and at the same time reduce costs. Some of the ways to start is being aware of the waste produced in our home, also what resources could be used in a more efficient way so that we can save water and other resources, therefore reducing the associated costs. Following are some ideas for water management: 1) Reuse water to feed the plant - the water can come from several ways: a) Dishwashing water - Use buckets for washing, for example two buckets can be used for one bucket for soap and water and other with only water to rinse the dishes. Use biodegradable soap for dishwashing so you can reuse it. b) Compost Shower - Use biodegradable soap c) Kitchen water - Water used from other kitchen uses, like water from boiled potatoes. d) Dish drying racks - You can build a rack over an area where you are growing plants, then clean water drips into the ground this way watering the plants.

Video about Getting Started in Food Storage

Video about Home Canning Basics

If you want to be food sustainable it is good to start harvesting your own seeds. One of the advantages of harvesting your own seeds is that you can choose the best ones, and at the same time saving for the future. When you consider harvesting you should choose disease free plants and observe them to see if they have the quality that you want like the size of the plant, the flavor of the fruit or vegetable, resistance to pests, harvest time, etc.

Permaculture designprinciples help us to design our own environment in a self sufficient human settlement which helps to maximize efficiency and production and at the same time leads to sustainability. Since every place is different, the techniques, plants, animals, etc. may vary according to the situation but the same principles apply. Regarding to the planning, observation of the natural patterns and cycles is used; you can make a drawing of the actual area and analyze what needs to be changed. For example you can make notes regarding to the areas where there is more shade or more sun, take notes about what time the sun falls and rise, study which are the best plants to grow and in which area to plant them so you can build an efficient system.

Seed saving is a good way to food sustainability and economy. Being food sustainable is an important part in permaculture. It reduces your garden expenses, you can control the quality, maturity dates, size of the fruit or vegetable, etc. When you save seeds, you save more for the future, and if you need another kind of seeds you could trade them with other people of the community.

f you are planning to be food sustainable a permaculture garden is an excellent idea. A permaculture gardencan be built in a rural or urban area. Just select the space you want your garden. In permaculture practices the place chosen to built the garden is often referred as "site" and the process is called "site design". Efficiency is a key in these designs, we should observe the conditions and patterns in the area so that with the minimum effort and resources we can obtain the best results or what is called "higher yields".

Permaculture ethics and principles can be applied to both home and community. It helps us to make good decisions for healthy people and for the environment. Permaculture itself is an ethical design system. The ethics of permaculture involves three aspects; care for the land, care for the people, and care for the future.

Recent developments at Kailash-Akhara, Adi Yoga Retreat Center, Phu Rua, Loei, Thailand. By David Perkins (Dharmadeva) - Farm Manager and resident

Editor's Note: David Perkins recently sat his PDC with Geoff Lawton and Darren Doherty, and has been very busy since.... Recent developments at Kailash-Akhara,

Harvesting seeds at the right time and storing them properly is a key for successful seed saving. It is good to know in which season to harvest the seeds and if they can be stored since not all the seeds are not suitable for saving.