Plant these 6 perennial vegetables once, and reap their harvest year after year

(Tree Hugger)
By Derek Markham

Traditional backyard gardens tend to be full of annual vegetables that need to be started year after year from seed, and while those veggies can be well worth the time and labor it takes to grow them, planting some perennial vegetables in your garden and yard can end up putting food on your plate for far less effort.

Unless you live in a region with a year-round growing season, your tomatoes and peppers (which are perennial by nature) will need to be planted anew each spring, because they can't handle the cold temperatures of winter, but there are other vegetables that can overwinter in many place and spring back to life as soon as soil temperatures are warm enough. By dedicating a garden bed or two to perennial vegetables, especially in a polyculture with other perennials, you can pack a lot of food production into a small area.

No Yard? No Problem: 5 DIY Garden Projects For People Who Don’t Have Space For A Garden

(Collective Evolution)
By Alanna Ketler

Gardening can be such a rewarding hobby for you, your family, your neighbours and some friends as well as there is much to benefit from. Aside from being rewarding for your mind and soul, it is also physically rewarding because you actually get to harvest the “fruits of your labor.”

Being able to grow your own food means that you have COMPLETE control over what you are putting into you and your family’s bodies. You get to pick the seeds, the soil and the water that is being used to grow your fruits and veggies. That means completely organic, GMO free, fresh food could be right at your fingertips!

Five traditional foods that everyone should be eating for exceptional health

Oftentimes, the most simple solution to avoiding health problems can be found in the past - namely, time-honored foods that are rooted in tradition and wisdom. Long-established cultures, through observation and a close connection with the land and its people, developed exceptionally nourishing food staples. A modern revival of these most basic, yet remarkable, foods is on the upswing - with the following five edibles leading the way.

Traditional fare for outstanding vitality

Fermented cod liver oil - Scandinavian vikings had drums of cod livers fermenting by the doors of their homes. Likewise, Roman soldiers used cod liver oil daily. Historically, the oil was used to keep populations strong and disease-free. Unknown at the time, fermented cod liver oil contained substantial levels of naturally occurring vitamins A and D. Unfortunately, modern processing strips these valuable nutrients, which then requires "enriching" the final oil with synthetic vitamins. Low-temperature fermentation of cod liver bypasses this issue and retains all the healthy perks of the natural oil, including heightened immunity and protection against Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, inflammation, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Europe embraces healthy raw dairy by unveiling fresh milk vending machines

As the U.S. government continues to wage war on raw dairy products, several European countries have done just the opposite by expanding access to the food through unpasteurized milk vending machines. Taking to heart findings from current research, Europe has recognized the exceptional health benefits of raw dairy and subsequently promoted it. Compared with pasteurized and homogenized dairy, raw milk offers a wealth of nutrition—all without the drawbacks of oxidized fats, denatured proteins, antibiotics or growth hormones.

Food freedom and the right to choose

Want to maximize supplement absorption? Try transdermal nutrients

More effective than oral supplements in many situations, topical application of nutrients is often an overlooked (although superior) method of delivery. Whether using magnesium oil for debilitating arthritis, iodine to heal skin cancer or water soluble vitamins for general health, topical creams, gels, oils and sprays are one of the best ways to receive vitamins and minerals that are crucial for healthy well-being.

The dilemma with tablets and pills

For those with a compromised digestive tract or failing health, metabolizing vitamins and minerals orally can be fraught with difficulties. Between digestive upset, poor utilization and the aggravation of yeast and bacterial issues in the gut, supplements taken internally can be problematic. An alternative lies with a transdermal mode of delivery.

Coconut Sugar: Enjoy the New Star Among Low Glycemic Sweeteners

Coconut sugar emerges as an environmental and nutritional champion of low glycemic sweeteners. This is promising news for those concerned with health issues such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer and gallstones.

Produced by slicing the bud off the flowering part of the coconut and collecting the sap (nectar) into containers, the sap is then boiled in a kettle or by using low-temperature vacuum evaporation to create coconut sugar crystals. Amazingly, coconut palm trees can produce fruit and nectar for up to 70 years.

According to Bruce Fife, ND, Director of the Coconut Research Center and author of "Coconut Cures":