In the Air Car, compressed air, stored in a reinforced tank, is released slowly to propel pistons, much like in a steam engine, in a super lightweight car of composite materials. Since air expands when heated, an on-board gas engine will heat the air, thereby extending the range and power of the stored air. According to the developers of this concept, this heating process will not only allow the car to reach 95 miles per hour, but also extend the car’s range to 800 miles, with minimal emissions.

Although still consuming gasoline, diesel or a biofuel, the company estimates the vehicle would get 106 miles to the gallon, far better than existing or proposed hybrids. But, at citywide speeds of 35 miles per hour or less, it could operate almost entirely on air, with the fuel-powered engine kicking in at higher speeds or for longer distances. [Visit PlanetWatch.org to read more.]

Now, Bid on Art Painted by Your Favorite Animals! “Art By Animals“a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) presents the Art By Animals auction September 16th. This auction will be BROADCAST LIVE by Auction Network. Sergio, a 1-year-old male Humboldt penguin at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo will have his work featured in the auction.

Funds raised from this auction support wildlife conservation.

Click the link below for a video explaining the auction, and get a free event poster when you register. But Hurry — you must register by today!

Click here to register at Auction Network-AZA
Please tell your friends!

Benefiting the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and world-wide wildlife conservation.

Picture of Sergio from Rosamond Gifford Zoo below:

The abundance of perfectly ripe produce spills off the overstocked farm stand. The traffic has turned to a crawl the only consistent vehicles are the school buses. The precious hours of day light are steadily declining and the number of days to enjoy the various lakes and streams rapidly fading. It seems like the perfect time to play hooky!

Richard Malcom
The Schoolhouse Farmer

Its dried leaves can be used to make a tea. The scientific name, from the Latin, means “to make whole”, and refers to the healing properties which have been attributed to it—for liver and urinary tract health.

If these grains look prickly, they are! They’re the microscopic pollen of annual ragweed, Ambrosia artemesifolia (drawing below) an inconspicuous plant that flowers at the same time as the more showy goldenrod in the picture at the top. Goldenrod pollen is large & heavy and falls to the ground to be carried away by insects and other critters, while ragweed pollen is small, light and windborne.

Allergies are yet another call for adequate nutrients and acid/alkaline balance. Yes, if you’re experiencing fall allergies, don’t assume you’re stuck with them for life. I used to have spring allergies to grass pollen and found that cod liver oil and the alkalizing effect of liquid chlorophyll* were truly magical! I have since
shared this remedy with many others who have achieved good results in a surprisingly short time. Remember the acid/alkaline diet formula too. If you’re having allergic reactions, boost your alkaline foods to 80% or higher.

That means lay on the veggies and the raw foods! Lay off sugars (especially the refined kind, including fruit juices** and alcohol), dairy, grains (especially flour products) and be moderate with your protein consumption. Chew your food really well for this will stimulate the secretion of amylase, the highly alkaline enzyme in our mouths that begins starch digestion.

*This is alfalfa juice—it’s like a liquid vitamin/mineral and is slightly phytoestrogenic, though many men find they benefit from it’s strengthening and alkalizing effects. so can be quite beneficial. One brand that I enjoy is World Organics, available with and without mint flavoring.

**If you must drink, dilute at least 50/50 with pure water.

Annual Ragweed
Ambrosia artemesifolia

Ragweed, is an inconspicuous plant, and grows along the roadsides and in waste places. It blooms in September and October in much of the country. Its tiny spiky pollen grains cause allergic reactions that are blamed on the more conspicuous goldenrod. Ragweed has medicinal uses, however, as a liver tonic and is recommended along with catnip for menopause. Gather the leaves in the summer and dry, or make a
tincture of fresh leaves.

Drawing taken from: USDA-NRCS PLANTS
Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Ann Miller-Cohen A.K.A. Organic Annie
www.OrganicAnnie.com
www.SensualSavvy.com
Contact me via E-mail

I don’t add cheese to pesto, it tends to mute the flavor and color. Also, I stopped adding nuts when I saw that they seemed to oxidize and discolor the pesto — I prefer the brighter emerald green of the simpler mixtures. I have served pesto on potatoes, pasta, whole grains, bread, yuca (not yucca), corn-on-the-cob and beans. Whatever you choose to put it on, it will make the meal delicious and distinctive.

Cilantro – A Natural Herbal Chelator
Cilantro (also called Chinese parsley) helps to flush out heavy metals according to the research of Dr. Yoshiaki Omura. The leaves of the coriander plant can accelerate the urinary excretion of lead, mercury and aluminum from the human body. This is a remarkable discovery. It is an inexpensive, effective and easy
way to remove or chelate toxic metals form the nervous system and body tissues.

Chelation therapy using chemicals like EDTA has long been used to help remove these heavy metals, but cilantro is a natural substance that has been demonstrated to have this ability. This will be helpful for removal of the ill effects of silver amalgam dental fillings, which contain mercury.

The active components in cilantro are easily destroyed during processing. For this reason, it’s recommended to stick to the fresh herb. It can be eaten raw in soup or salad, on tacos or as a garnish with practically any dish. Or eat a couple of teaspoons of cilantro pesto a day for two or three weeks at least once or twice
a year.

Homemade Pesto (basil or cilantro)
Makes about 1 pint
Wash a pint jar and allow to completely dry* at room temperature, or in the oven on the “warm” setting. The lid should be enameled and have a rubber gasket for a tight seal—like a BALL** canning lid.

• 1 c. extra virgin olive oil
• 4 bunches, or at least 1 quart, fresh basil or cilantro leaves
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic or to taste (I like a lot)
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Remove leaves from stems. Check carefully for any brown or discolored leaves and discard. Wash and spin leaves in a salad spinner, then spread out on a clean towel and roll them up to blot moisture*. Add the oil and about 2 cups of leaves to the blender and blend until smooth. Add garlic, salt and more leaves and continue blend using a stop/start action until all of the leaves have been finely ground and incorporated.
Fill jar(s), label and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!!

* This will inhibit mold growth.
** The grey sealing material on the gaskets from other companies seems to deteriorate on
contact with the oil.

Ann Miller-Cohen A.K.A. Organic Annie
www.OrganicAnnie.com
www.SensualSavvy.com
Contact me via E-mail

Visitors to the farm stand are visibly humored when they see the band of youngsters marching down from the fields, buckets brimming with potatoes, berries and beans, each outfitted in the colorful mud splattered foot wear. The pristine looking farm stand does a formidable job at disguising the reality of the messy field work. The carefully scrubbed and artfully displayed items create the illusion this is how they always are in the natural environment in which they grow. The truth is that in years of less plentiful precipitation they actually do look that wonderful from field to stand with just a light brushing.

As the deluge continues deeper and deeper into August the rubber wear seems destined to remain a fixture on the porch and the flip flops forgotten at least for a while longer. As a farmer you really need to look at life as a glass half full. This year it is very full! The well will not go dry, the trees will grow more robust and the bare spots in the lawn will disappear. But when will we be able to harvest tomatoes and what kind of flavor will they have? We sigh with the knowledge that we simply must wait patiently just like our flip flops!

Richard Malcom
The Schoolhouse Farmer

Young Thai Coconut
It’s high electrolyte content makes it the perfect beverage for re-hydration. Has fewer calories than most other juices; especially citrus. It contains natural sugars, salts and vitamins; rivaling even the most expensive energy drink. Loaded with potassium – a nutrient necessary for the human body. Although it has natural salts; it is very low in sodium. Because of these unusual life-giving qualities, the coconut has been used for centuries for its medicinal attributes.
-From Thailand-detox.com

Other Things that Prevent Candida Overgrowth
Ramp up mineral-rich greens and veggies. Eat as many as possible raw or lightly steamed, for raw are more cooling and alkalizing. Minerals feed the beneficial flora in our gut gardens so the “weeds”—dysbacteria and yeasts – can’t get the upper hands. It’s all about the terrain, as any good gardener will attest. Include mineral rich sea vegetables like dulse, kelp, arame, hiziki and kombu. Garlic – eat it cooked and raw when possible. Add to dips and salad dressings. Xylitol sugar – a 5-carbon sugar that won’t grow bacteria or yeast; dentists
recommend it because it protects teeth. Purchase from your local health food store or go to http://www.emeraldforestxylitol.com to order.

Chew well, this will insure that your foods are more alkaline-forming also, thanks to the alkalizing, starch splitting enzymes in your saliva! Keep bowels working well with a combination of fiber and water; this favors the beneficial flora because they thrive in a clean, well-oxygenated environment. Get the fruit juices, carbonated and sweetened beverages out! Iced teas or fruit infused waters* are easy to make, lower in calories and higher in protective nutrients like phenols (tea), minerals (herbal teas), vitamins (fruit waters) and essential oils (e.g. limonene in orange, lemon and lime peels). A good multi-floral probiotic with L. Acidophilus, S. cerevisiae and/or S. boulardii and other beneficial flora. *To make fruit infuse waters simply cut a few pieces of fruit and cover with water. Because good old H2O is the “universal solvent,” flavors, fruit sugars and nutrients will infuse into the water. Sun teas, infusions made in glass jars set out in the sunshine for a few hours, will contain more of the essential oils.

Some Products that Fight Candida
Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain of nutritional yeast is well-tolerated by some and fights the Candida albicans strain. Aerobic 07—stabilized oxygen favors beneficial flora that are oxygen-loving by undoing the low-oxygen habitats of the anaerobic flora. Available at http://www.organicannie.com/supplements.htm
Liquid Chlorophyll – potassium rich, alkalizing, promotes the growth of red blood cells which carry oxygen.
Citricidal – grapefruit seed extract (GSE), combats yeast and bacterium. Caprylic acid—actually kills yeasts, fungus and some bacterium.

Wild Plants Can Help Too!
The wild plants common mallow (right), Malva neglecta, and musk mallow, Malva moschata, of the hibiscus family, are tummy soothing and alkalizing, with as much calcium as a glass of milk and as much iron as a 4 ounce steak, in a 1 cup serving (100g). Their healing mucilaginous fiber is said to soothe inflammation from yeast overgrowth. Eat in salads, water sautée with garlic, use as tea, or infuse in Sun Teas and blend into green drinks and smoothies. Common mallow (above) has white, 5 petalled, pink striped flowers (not shown), and it’s fruits look like little gourded Edam cheeses, thus it’s nickname, cheeses. Musk mallow (below) has larger, showier pink flowers and more deeply incised leaves. Photo below provided by
accipiter.hawk-conservancy.org/ images.

Ann Miller-Cohen A.K.A. Organic Annie
www.OrganicAnnie.com
www.SensualSavvy.com
Contact me via E-mail

Meditating on the fact that any sense of separation we have from one another is truly an illusion, we will naturally begin to make more conscious choices in our daily lives. The simple act of preparing food, or determining how to dispose of our refuse, can be done with the consciousness that whatever we do will affect all our brothers and sisters, no matter how far away they live, as well as the planet herself. When we foster this kind of awareness in ourselves out of a feeling of awe, it becomes easier to be conscious than to fall back into old habits of thinking of ourselves as separate.

When we contemplate the earth in her wholeness, we attune ourselves to the truth of the bigger picture, which is the Earth, and all of us, every one of us, living on her body. We are connected to one another in the most intimate way, because we literally share our living space. As more people become aware of the reality of our interdependency, things will shift in a positive direction, and much of the discord that we see now will give way to a more cooperative, loving conscious. This is happening already, so as our consciousness grows, we can join with the many other minds working to live in the spirit of togetherness.

-From DailyOM.com

While I don’t eat a lot of corn, I really do enjoy fresh (“green”) sweet corn this time of year! I go easy though, because it’s highly allergenic and fattening. Cornmeal is made from mature, dried corn and is even more calorie-dense than green corn.

The most cooling form of corn is raw. When we used to grow our own corn, I used to enjoy husking and eating an ear right in the garden, just like the raccoons! Other wildlife like corn too, including skunks, and they always know when the sugar is at its peak. In fact, they’d always beat me to it, if I weren’t paying attention! If you’d like to try it raw, choose tender ears in the milky stage and serve them freshly picked, at room temperature.

For cooked corn, I like to experiment with different toppings. Instead of butter try olive, flaxseed or hempseed oil, for a change. My Latin friends enjoy cayenne pepper on top. It’s also not bad with salsa, kind of like corn chutney. I like it best with cilantro pesto, though recently I enjoyed it slathered with mashed avocado that I seasoned with a little curry powder, lemon juice and salt.

*Though the germ represents only 12% of the total corn kernel–higher than wheat (2.5%) or other grains–it has 22% of the protein (comparable in quality to casein or soy), whereas the whole kernel has only 9-10%. While corn is low in lysine, the key amino acid, the germ is not. From Maize Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry, by Y. P. S. Bajaj Compared to wheat germ, corn germ has 10 times the zinc, 33% more vitamin E, more iron and twice the fiber. Other nutrients include: 50-60% essential fatty acids, minerals and B-complex vitamins.

Ann Miller-Cohen A.K.A. Organic Annie
www.OrganicAnnie.com
www.SensualSavvy.com
Contact me via  E-mail

During the growing season at Schoolhouse Farms harvesting is a routine that happens frequently over the course of the day. Weather plays the key role in determining these harvesting opportunities as you need to work in and around climatic events. It is for this specific reason scheduling is difficult when planning a time for the evening meal. Darkness is generally the only event that determines the completion of the daily harvest. Schoolhouse Farms has not opted yet to employee the use of miner’s helmets or flashlights.

July has held more rain events then normal and harvesting beans when the plants are wet is generally considered not wise as it is far easier to transfer disease and fungus during these conditions. So we must wait for dryer moments. Our bean plants are loaded with delicious beans so when the opportunity strikes every member of the family arms itself with a basket and heads off to the field.

A family bean picking event is something most people will never experience, it is a great way to communicate, tell jokes stories or even break into song while harvesting a wonderful part of the regional bounty. This past Wednesday during one of our early evening bean harvesting events our youngest at age 3 started belting out a song she had heard in mid pluck. The grins spread across all our faces as we encouraged her to continue serenading us and anyone and anything in range. The bean picking continued the singing continued until we filled our baskets with some very satisfied beans.

Richard Malcom
The Schoolhouse Farmer