This year I watched in amazement as my garden grew itself, volunteering plants from last years harvest! Wow. My mystery tomatoes are now bearing fruit, my beans are climbing trellises, kale and hearty greens have replaced my  spring greens which by the way were harvestable in early spring (end of February for corn salad!!!). Watching my plants in their natural cycle makes me question our gardening time tables. It also makes me excited about a zero cost sustainable garden!

Every Winter I am bombarded with people struggling with poor immunity. Dealing with a weak immune system in the winter is a patch job at best. Summer is the time to set the stage for healthy immunity for the more challenging months to come. Unfortunately how we manage our summer health usually sets us up to be vulnerable when cold and flu season hits.

Immunity is not a quick fix. If you feel you have a seriously compromised immune system, pull out the big guns and treat yourself to a serious immune boost for the summer in addition to the ideas below. First and most challenging is sleep….as the sunlight lingers in the evening, it’s hard to settle into a routine that lets you eat and prepare for sleep at a reasonable hour. It’s also hard to slow down and not run yourself ragged with all there is to do!

Taking a good muliti-vitamin in the summer is more important and more often forgotten in the summer. Take extra vitamin C. I like green drinks that are packed with vitamins and easy to take on the go. Boosting your nutrition with concentrated nutrients (vitamins!) helps build you up before winter colds hit.

Focus on building foods. In general fruits and vegetables are cleansing and protein foods are building. There are advantages and seasons to both. Knowing if you need cleansing (to clear out toxins), or building up (to boost your immunity) helps you choose your foods. Spring is traditionally the season of cleansing. Many people start out with a cleansing diet, feel better and just keep going. Eventually the immune system becomes weaker and people become sicker. Often this happens in the summer because of the predominance of fruits and vegetables. And don’t pass them by! A diet focusing on vegetables with a moderate amount of fruit is healthy, but don’t forget the protein! Good summer protein choices are protein smoothies, home-made trail mixes with raw nuts, healthy bars, and ‘chef type salads’ with plant or animal based proteins. If your immune system is lagging, evaluate your summer protein intake. This is especially true of children who tend more towards snack foods.

Discussions of nutrition are meaningless without stressing hydration. You can put great nutrients in, but water is the delivery system to make it useful to your body. Good hydration is more important to your nutritional status than what you eat!

Figure out and eliminate the challenges to your daily immunity. Allergies, Candida, and others ‘rev’ your immune system up and run it ragged. Then when cold and flu season arrives, the immune system is too weak to do it’s job.

Lastly exercise - but do it right! Too little exercise is bad for obvious reasons, but over exercising is a stress on the body too. Over exercising could be a function of conditions (running mid-day when it’s too hot) or intensity (prolonged anaerobic exercise that breaks down muscle). Moderate intensity and a duration of at least an hour is the best immune support.

A final note, but too big of a topic to start now is avoidance of medications that damage functional immunity like antibiotics and cortisone. Figure out alternatives to antibiotics before you need them!

I have received many e-mails about starting plants from seed indoors, so here’s what I do. It is my goal to start all my own plants from seed for my garden, that means starting out with lots of plants. I start my tomatoes and peppers at the end of February. My main garden season is May - September and starting plants indoors allows me to make my garden a lot more productive because I am not wasting prime garden real estate to germinate seeds.

I have tried everything, but for the ease and cost settled on expandable peat pots. These swell up when they absorb water, stand up and can be moved without breaking, there are no  bulky pots, and  they transplant easily with no additional work. I soak mine overnight while I plan my garden. Since Tomatoes and peppers need a long indoor head start, they are the first plants I start. Other plants that can be started in February (in Boise Idaho) are peas, kale and other hardy greens, lettuces, spinach and other plants either requiring a long season or hardy to cooler temperatures.

After soaking the pots for several hours, I pack them into a glass 9×13 pan (but anything will do…) and put between 1 and 3 seeds on top which I push into the moist soil with a pencil. I try to compensate for low germination (with my older seeds) and make these pots 100% productive so that each has a thriving plant. The only way to accomplish this is by over planting and thinning. Labeling is a pain with these pots, I have tried everything, but now I just expect a few mystery plants every year. I usually make a chart of what plant is where and tape it to the pan. I tuck a plastic bag around the pan and seeds to create a mini green house and set it in a warm location. Light is NOT important at this stage so it can go on your refrigerator, near a heat duct in the bathroom, or on a heating mat designed for growing. Keep them moist - water from the bottom so you don’t disturb the seeds.

Once they are up (most plants take 3-14 days) move them to a highly visible sunny spot. At this point plants need attention and seeing them every day reminds you to water them, rotate them so they grow straight, and watch for bugs or disease that can wipe out your starts. By the time my plants are a few weeks old, I prune them back to 1 healthy plant/pot. Remember to feed your plants, they will run out of food after they show true leaves and growth will slow. Also remember that the tomatoes and peppers grow roots along the stem, so it is customary to replant them 2-3 times, each time deeper to encourage root growth. These are heat loving plants and cannot be set out until it warms up (unless they are well protected by wall-o-waters or cloches).

I love Science Fairs! My kids are groaning in the background. But I love perusing books and the web for experiments, gathering materials, watching the drama unfold and finally, walking the rows of exhibits! Wow!

And don’t think I don’t KNOW my passion makes my children cringe and other parents slowly inch away. I guess these events are NOT top ten-ers for other families.

So I have one simple word of advice. Well, I never actually say anything in 1 word, which is why I have my own blog. But my point is to encourage you all to remember the POINT of a science fair!  Hopefully that will make all your efforts more meaningful. I say this like it’s a revelation, but for me, it was. I was all caught up in the drama of the presentation both as a student and as a parent, and I missed the point.

The point of a science fair is to re-inact the foundation of all scientific discovery: the scientific method. This alone should be the judging criteria for all science fairs. The scientific method has been followed by scientists all over the world and throughout time. It is the superglue that hold scientists from diverse fields together. And it starts with the questions our kids all ask every day…’but why?’ or ‘I wonder’ or ‘what if”. Following scientific method is to walk in the footsteps of Einstein.

Anyone can teach a child to follow basic directions (ok, exceptions are noted!). But equipping  a child with a format for advanced inquiry and thought…that is an accomplishment! And THAT is the purpose of science fairs. Don’t get hung up on fancy presentation or complicated experiments that prove only that your child can memorize a conclusion. Start with the basics, teach the method, and move on from there! The beauty of this method is that besides standing the test of time, it can be simplified easily and taught to children of all ages.

How can we teach sound financial values to our children in this world? Teaching them to save or budget is fine, but kind of artificial because, well…they are kids! They don’t pay rent, they don’t have regular expenses, and their goals are not to ’save for their future home’…they are saving up for toys and treats!

I have experimented with many different things over the years. This year I removed money from their savings and decided to allow them to invest. No they are not ‘playing the market’. My kids are helping a man in Azerbaijan expand his mechanic shop. And helping a woman in South America expand her grocery stall by increasing her inventory. Every month, they go online to Kiva.org where they can read posts from all over the world by people trying to improve their condition by applying for small loans for business ventures. Investing as little as $25, you can pool your resources with other people to fund loans that are usually just a few hundred dollars. Welcome to the world of microfinance! Here’s what Kiva says about themselves on their website:

” Kiva lets you connect with and loan money to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. By choosing a loan on Kiva, you can “sponsor a business” and help the world’s working poor make great strides towards economic independence. Throughout the course of the loan (usually 6-12 months), you can receive email journal updates from the entrepreneur you’ve sponsored. As loans are repaid, you get your loan money back.”

There are 2 things about this program that caused me to take an interest. First of all the repayment rate is VERY high, 100% in the places my children invested. Secondly I saw a documentary on microfinance that showed when women receive these loans (the documentary was about women), they improve the quality of life for their family by investing their wages in more nutritious food and school tuition, ending the cycle of poverty.

So, geography, economics, math, social studies, computer skills…This website is a great education tool for children and parents. I figured my money could sit in the bank…or I could invest in something that improved the world and supported women and children. And my greatest hope is that my children will see the value of their own resources in tangible terms and think about how every dollar they spend affects people across the globe….this gives some of those people a face and a name.

I could write a TOME on the subject of food introduction! Alas, this is just a blog! There are so many opinions and much varied information. Much of the way we introduce solid foods to children has little to do with what is best for children. Instead it is influenced by a Mother’s need to work, babyfood lobbiests, the lack of significant nutritional training for pediatricians, the influence of our mothers who feel the need to justify their own parenting practices, lack of support for (prolonged) breastfeeding in our society….

The last thing considered when deciding when and how to introduce solid foods is the development of the immature GI tract,  immune function, and the significant family history of the child. The old adage about it being ‘good enough for you…’ seems hollow in the face of increasing chronic diseases, cancer, and the multitude of other health concerns that seem to be increasing in an alarming way. The vast majority of children I treat, from Asthma to ADD to IBS to chronic ear infections…the overwhelming majority of them are in my office because of underlying food allergies and poor nutrition. These are kids on a Standard American Diet, following the generally accepted guidelines for introducing foods to infants and feeding children.

Children are resilient and as parents we can rest assured that many of our numerous mistakes will be forgotten (just in case you may want to open a fund for future counseling sessons). But some of you parents have struggled with significant food allergies of your own and you are the ones I want to speak to. Anyone with a family history of significant allergies should consider the following when introducing food. These things apply to all of us to varrying degrees:

1. Introduce food at the appropriate developmental stage for YOUR child. Most kids a year and under still need most of their calories in liquid low allergy form. I cannot promote breast feeding enough as a way of decreasing allergies and delaying solid food introduction. Even if everything else is done incorrectly, breast feeding is so protective for your child that it makes a world of difference.

2. DO NOT START WITH CEREAL. In the grand scheme of things we don’t produce the means to digest grains until well after a year. Start instead with root vegetables (carrots, yam, beets), move on to other veggies (spinach, peas, greens, etc), and finally add small amounts of fresh fruit. Many kids who don’t eat vegetables consume high amounts of refined cereal grains.

3. Avoid common allergens until 2 or 3 years (soy, dairy, corn, wheat, etc.) or beyond. Avoid refined sugars, especially juice and dried fruit. Feed your kids real food!
4. Add foods one at a time in a systematic way looking for clues to allergies or reactions. Take your time. You can never do ‘food introduction’ over, so do it right the first time.

I teach a 2-part class on food introduction every year. E-mail me a request to be put on the class list and I will contact you when it is scheduled.

Ever wonder why most New Year’s Resolutions revolve around health? Health concerns are at the top of list when we are looking for things to improve in our lives. But most of the new resolutions will fall by the wayside within the first few weeks of the year….right about…NOW!

Improving health favors gradual improvements over sudden change. Unfortionately most of us require a sudden and strong motivation such as injury or illness to make these changes. Here are a few ideas to consider to make 2008 the year you end up healthier than when you started!

Make improving health a long term goal with gradual attainable and measurable changes. Resist the urge to make radical changes you cannot maintain or that will not accomplish lasting change. Focus on things that will make the greatest difference with the smallest investment. For example if back pain bothers you, commit to a back routine that takes 5 minutes 4 times/ week. Reward your changes. Make a chart to track progress or have a special treat. Set up accountability to increase your commitment. Find a partner to share your goals, tell friends and family, or join a support group. Choose issues that target changes you can make as a family.

Here are a few simple resolutions that will improve your life without making you crazy.

1. Drink more water. Start where you are at (even if it’s zero) and increase your intake by 1-2 glasses/ day. Or just add 1 glass for each coffee or soda you consume. If you drink well now, eliminate tap water and get a good filter (As I frequently say, I won’t say brand names here…ask me personally and I will share what I know).

2. Carry snacks and boycott fast food. Can anyone give me any excuse on this planet to subject your body to a coke, burger and fries??? Eat at least 4-5 times every 24 hours (this is my biggest challenge!). Package healthy snacks for your car, purse and fridge so you can grab something you like when you are in a hurry. If you eat well now, increase your organic food intake or eat more raw foods.

3. Exercise….but don’t set your own goals….sit down with a trusted friend and set practical goals that gradually increase over the year. Make patience and steady improvement part of this goal. Make the goals tangible…train for a race or event, pick a mileage goal, or take up a new sport.

See! How simple is that? Make resolutions that work for you. Take some extra pressure off and make resolutions now, after the new year has started!

Asymptomatic ear ‘infections’ in children are a common cause of antibiotic misuse/abuse! Children treated for ear infections with antibiotics have an 80% reoccurance rate! That means if your child has a mild redness in the ear from teething, congestion, allergies, etc. and gets treated with antibiotics, you may end up on the ‘conveyor belt of ever increasing technology’ and locked into an endless cycle of ever increasing antibiotics, tubes, and continual frustration. How often do I hear this story? When it comes to drugs for kids, JUST SAY NO!

This year my goal is to give away 5 fully planted organic vegetable gardens to families who need it. This has been such an awesome project for us…everyone who has helped or received a garden has been totally blessed. What it entails is choosing recipients, helping to grow the starts and gather the seeds, and showing up for 2-3 hours to put in the garden!

If you know people who could use a garden but lack resources or expertise to get one started, please plan to come to our Garden Party on Feb 23rd and submit their name (we will vote). My hope is just to get people started so they can become gardeners. If you are interested in volunteering (I especially want little enthusiastic young people, but I appreciate adults too) or helping in any way, please contact me and we will organize it all at the Garden Party.

Last year I sat in a lawn chair sipping lemonade in the sun while I directed the kids to put in the garden. It took less than 3 hours! I used my version of the Weed Free Method (see Weed Free Gardening, Oct 5 of 2007 in this blog) and it was a very simple reproducible method. The style of gardening requires little upkeep and it is a perfect first garden.

So plan on joining us On February 23rd! The location is still TBA and will be based on how many we expect….If you are interested in a group seed purchase, contact me NOW (keinfo @mac.com), I can’t wait to start!