The Timeless Health Benefits of Baking Soda

Originally published at Alternative Health Zone

by Howard Jamison on December 14, 2009

I recently acquired this amazing booklet: A Friend in Need – Facts worth knowing about Arm & Hammer Baking Soda as a proven medicinal agent. (copyright 1922!!)

Here are some excerpts from the publication:
“The proven value of Arm & Hammer Bicarbonate of Soda as a therapeutic agent is further evinced by the following voluntary testimony of Edward R. Hays, M.D., in his letter to the Church & Dwight Company (Owner):

“In 1918 and 1919 while fighting the ‘Flu’ with the U. S. Public Health Service it was brought to my attention that rarely any one who had been thoroughly alkalinized with bicarbonate of soda contracted the disease, and those who did contract it, if alkalinized early, would invariably have mild attacks. I have since that time treated all cases of ‘Cold,’ Influenza and LaGrippe by first giving generous doses of Bicarbonate of Soda, and in many, many instances within 36 hours the symptoms would have entirely abated. 

Further, within my own household, before Woman’s Clubs and Parent-Teachers’ Associations, I have advocated the use of Bicarbonate of Soda as a preventive for “Colds,” with the result that now many reports are coming in stating that those who took “Soda” were not affected, while nearly every one around them had the “Flu.”

Subsidized School Lunches Get Meager Nutritional Overhaul

Pffft. Nice work, Team. Photo from Healthline.

Free and low-cost school lunches subsidized by the government for low-income children have met their first nutritional overhaul in more than 15 years to include less sodium, more whole grains, and a wider selection of fruits and vegetables on the side, the Associated Press reported. Yet backlash from potato growers, food companies that produce processed, frozen pizzas for schools, and congress (!) kept the regulations from actually going the distance to provide students with unprocessed, truly healthy meals.

DIY Hugelkultur

A great alternative to paying for your dead trees to be hauled away and mulched—or for anyone out in the country who's got some big logs on the property.

How to Build a Simple Earthship

From Hubpages.com:

What do you get when you put together pop cans, glass bottles, old tires, chicken wire and concrete? Would you believe, it's a house? This would be a special earth friendly house design called an Earth Ship.

JCJDC's New Business Venture Award

Each year, the Jefferson County Job Development Corporation (JCJDC) recognizes a company established and located in Jefferson County that has been operating for at least two years, but not more than four years, and has shown that it is effectively implementing its business plan and experiencing growth. The winner of the award will be presented with a check for $1000.

We are so thrilled to have been one of four finalists for this award, and offer our most sincere congratulations to this year's winner, Fourth Coast Inc.!  Above is the video reel of the four finalists. Better Farm's clip starts at 3:02!

Lasagna Made with Stinging Nettles

Photo Tour: Winter is finally here!

 

JCJDC Nomination Lands Us on the Front Page of the T.I. Sun!

For more information about this award, click here.

Winter Semester of Creative Writing Workshops Set in Watertown

The North Country Arts Council will begin on Jan. 29 its winter semester of Sunday-afternoon creative writing workshops.

Students may choose between any number of one-day workshops or full, five-week curriculums. The workshops are scheduled based on demand; that is, the first workshop to fill up will be the first taught, and so on. Participants will have the opportunity to express their preferences for which class time and which sessions they desire. Students will be promptly notified when their choices are scheduled. Each class is $17, with five-week workshops $89. Classes are limited to only 12 students, so sign up today!

To ensure your seat is saved for ANY of the seminars, please visit the registration site by clicking here. Below is a list of the courses and workshops offered:

How to Afford Better Food

Originally published at Mother Earth News

There’s growing evidence that industrial food just ain’t what it oughta be. Lucky for us, the path to super-nutritious food at affordable prices offers many entry points. We’ll pilot you through the diverse options in this guide to shopping smart and eating better food.

Buy In Season

WHY? Like most goods and services, foods cost less when they’re abundant. Eat foods during their peak season for scaled-down price plus amped-up quality. Foods that get to you quickly lose less flavor and nutrients, and you can enjoy varieties of produce that can’t survive long-distance shipping. Buying in-season foods directly from farmers is the easiest way to save money on better food — especially at the end of market day, and especially if you’re willing to buy less-than-perfect items. Buying in season is also the best way to get good prices on more-expensive organic produce. 

HOW? Arm yourself with strategies for eating fresh during any season with the comprehensive resources we’ve compiled for you on our website at How to Eat Seasonally.