How to Bring the Joy of Gardening Indoors

So, you’re not an outdoor person. The thought of bugs and sunburn have you running for the safety of your home. Just because you prefer the indoors doesn’t mean you can’t reap the benefits of gardening and plant life.

Many believe plants can make people happier by giving you more meaning in your life. Watering a plant occasionally does not seem profound, but it really can have a positive impact.

Caring for greenery has other added benefits. Plants filter the air. They absorb gasses around them and emit cleaner oxygen. Learning the needs of different plants expands the mind. Some like lots of sunlight and water. Others prefer shade and infrequent watering. It is fun to learn what your potted beauty prefers.

If you decide to plant herbs and veggies, your loving kindness produces fresh herbs and vegetables for the table. Eating the fruits of your labors is a joy like no other.

Herb Garden

Growing herbs in your home is a great way to add some green on a small scale. Grow your favorite herbs in just a couple of small containers. Unless you have a large window, you may need to invest in some grow lights as well. Many people are able to have a flourishing garden on the windowsill. Popular choices include basil, bay, chervil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme.

Pick plants that you think you will use in the kitchen to start with. This gives you a little extra motivation to tend to your window garden. These herbs will leave your home smelling fresh and your dishes tasting even fresher. Your herbs will need at least four hours of natural light a day. South and southwest facing windows are the best.

Tea Garden

Tea gardens are just another form of herb garden but with a different benefit. Tea herbs are great for hot and cold beverages as well as medicinal purposes. Chamomile, lemon balm, and mint are great to get started with.

Chamomile is a relaxing tea that helps calm nerves, settle stomach aches and indigestion, and help you sleep. It can even be used for a soothing foot bath. It is an easy plant to grow from seed. It has an attractive and fragrant white flower that adds a little brightness to an indoor space. Pick the flowers as they start to bloom and dry in the shade for the best tea.

Lemon balm has a light lemony taste and fragrance. It is known as the ‘happy herb’ because it acts as a natural anti-depressant. This is probably due to its soothing effect on the nervous system. This herb thrives in the sun or in the shade. Leaves should be dried in the shade.

Mint can easily share a pot with your lemon balm plants. Peppermint tea is great for soothing stomach aches. Mints are easy to grow and come in many varieties. Make sure to select a container with a wide surface. Harvest the leaves before budding and hang to dry.

Your well-being is increased by any form of gardening. Herb gardens are an easy and enjoyable way to bring the joy of gardening indoors. Plants bring fresh air, life, and beauty to any space.

How to Bring the Joy of Gardening Indoors

Avian flu: Defra tells owners to keep poultry indoors until spring

Poultry owners across Britain have been told they must keep their chickens, ducks and geese away from wild birds until the start of spring to counter the threat of avian influenza.

Keepers, including people with just a few backyard hens, must place poultry indoors or take other measures to reduce the chances of them coming into contact with wild birds.

The prevention measures were initially imposed on 6 December but keepers had been hoping that birds used to roaming free would be allowed out this month.

On Wednesday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that the restrictions would be maintained in England until 28 February. Similar moves were made in Scotland and Wales and there is a Britain-wide ban on poultry shows and gatherings.

It comes a day after the Welsh government said a backyard flock in south-west Wales had been slaughtered after catching avian flu.

The H5N8 strain of avian influenza has been circulating in Europe for several weeks. An outbreak was confirmed in turkeys at a farm in Lincolnshire on 16 December. The disease has also been found in wild birds in Wales, England and Scotland.

Public Health England advises that the risk to public health remains very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

England’s chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, said: “Anyone who keeps poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese, even as pets, must take action to stop them coming into contact with wild birds to protect them from avian flu.

“Birds should be moved into a suitable building, or if that isn’t possible owners must take sensible precautions to keep them away from wild birds, like putting up netting to create a temporary enclosure and keeping food and water supplies inside where they cannot be contaminated by wild birds.

“Even when birds are kept indoors a risk of infection remains so keepers must also practice good biosecurity, for example by disinfecting footwear and equipment and washing clothing after contact with birds.”

The chief veterinary officer in Wales, Christianne Glossop, said: “Even when birds are housed, there remains a risk of infection and keepers of poultry and other captive birds should ensure that every effort is made to prevent contact with wild birds.”

Avian flu: Defra tells owners to keep poultry indoors until spring

How to Grow Your Own Supply of Turmeric Indoors

Turmeric is a golden colored, strongly flavored ancient spice with a wide range of health benefits.  Renowned for centuries as both food and medicine, turmeric has resurfaced within the health and nutrition communities thanks to curcumin — the healing substance that supplies its vibrant color.

Turmeric not only adds flavor to food, it also has scores of healing properties.  At present, there have been thousands of peer-reviewed articles published proving the health benefits of this phenomenal plant.

How to Grow Turmeric Indoors

If you enjoy growing your own food, and if you find the spice to be expensive, you’ll be surprised to find out how easy it is to grow your own supply of this ancient spice in your home.

Turmeric is a perennial shrub native to Southern Asia.  Like ginger, turmeric does not propagate seeds.  The plant produces rhizomes (roots) with a deep orange flesh.  When the rhizomes are dried, they can be ground to make the familiar vibrant, yellow powder.

Growing turmeric indoors is easy — requiring only a few items and simple steps to follow.

Since this flowering plant is not small, you should select a pot, or container, with good drainage holes — at least 14 inches by 14 inches.

You will also need a large, firm turmeric rhizome that has plenty of bumps, or buds.  Each bump, or bud, is capable of growing a sizable plant.

Most garden stores don’t sell turmeric rhizomes.  Nevertheless, you can find them in some health or whole food stores.  Indian food stores may also be a great supply source for you, as well.

Follow these simple steps:

• Break a larger rhizome into a small rhizome piece that has two or three buds.


• Fill your pot with rich organic soil, which is lightly moist, but well drained.


• Place the small rhizome piece about two inches below the surface of the soil, with the buds facing up.


• Water the container.

That’s it!

Caring for Your Plant

To be successful in growing turmeric indoors, you should give your plant a climate that mimics its natural home as much as possible.

Turmeric grows best in a warm, humid climate.  It also likes water.  Keep the soil moist, particularly in hot, dry climates. Water it at least once every two days.  The plant also likes to be misted frequently, so misting it with a spray bottle once a day is suggested.  But don’t allow your plants to sit in water — turmeric needs good drainage.

However, water your plant less often if you live in cooler climates. The key is to keep the soil from ever getting soggy.

Fertilize your plant regularly, as well.

Harvesting Your Plant

It takes between six to 10 months for the edible rhizomes to mature.  In the mean time, while the rhizomes are maturing, you can harvest and eat the stems and leaves.

But the real benefit of growing this renowned plant comes from its rhizomes, or roots.

After six months, check the rhizomes regularly to see if they’re large enough — about the size of ginger.  The rhizomes are best if they are harvested all at once, so, dig up all the rhizomes from the pot when they are large enough.

For the next planting season, you can also take one of the healthy rhizome pieces you just grew and plant it the same way you planted the first one.  However, you should change the soil, because the original plant probably depleted most of the soil’s nutrients.

Storage and Use

Turmeric rhizomes should be kept in a cool, dry place.  When you are ready to use them, follow these directions:

• Boil the rhizome, or root, for 45 minutes.


• Let the rhizome dry for about one week.


• Peel the root while wearing gloves to prevent dying your hands bright yellow.


• Grind the peeled rhizomes into the healthy and tasty spice that is used in so many recipes.

Turmeric is a super spice. Many experts believe the plant may have over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications.

It has both antibacterial and antiseptic properties, making it great for cleaning and treating wounds.  But what makes the turmeric rhizomes and the curcumin derived from this plant so popular is its anti-inflammatory properties where studies have shown to rival those found in ibuprofen.

Unlike over-the-counter drugs, turmeric has no toxic effects on the body. Turmeric has been used for food and medicine for at least 4,000 years.  And the turmeric flower is beautiful — making this a wonderful houseplant.

How to Grow Your Own Supply of Turmeric Indoors

Air pollution: youngsters, elderly and vulnerable urged to remain indoors

Colleges are being urged to quit pupils from making use of playgrounds at lunchtime and workers to stay away from cycling, operating or strolling to perform throughout rush hour in the areas of England worst impacted by the ongoing rise in pollution.

The government, public well being medical professionals and authorities in pollution are also advising older people and those with a heart or lung problem such as asthma to avoid working out outside and use a gymnasium instead.

One particular professional explained the threat to overall health was so wonderful that even normally wholesome people who exercising outdoors, this kind of as cyclists, may finish up with a sore throat or cough until finally the pollution eases.

For component of Wednesday, East Anglia knowledgeable “very large” levels of pollution – the highest on a ten-level scale – with “substantial” readings recorded in the south-east. Levels were reasonable to substantial in a lot of England from Cheshire to north Devon, the Division of the Setting, Foods and Rural Affairs (Defra) explained.

The surge in smog that started final weekend is expected to carry higher ranges on Thursday in East Anglia and the Midlands, which includes Lincolnshire, eastern parts of Wales as well as Wirral and parts of coastal north-west England and south-west Scotland, but moderate or minimal elsewhere.

The pollution is anticipated to ease from Friday, as cleaner south-westerly winds arrive, however there may be reasonable levels in south-west England, Kent, North Yorkshire and parts of southern Scotland. The entire of the United kingdom is anticipated to return to low amounts by the weekend.

A few colleges in London kept pupils indoors at lunchtime on Wednesday to lessen their publicity to the smog. Their action prompted Professor Frank Kelly, a leading government adviser on air pollution, to state that the policy was wise for colleges in the worst affected regions.

Banning pupils’ access to outside recreational regions throughout the school day could reduce the number of asthma attacks and even stay away from some establishing probably lifelong lung damage, said Kelly.

“As a general response this is a very good strategy as kids have a tendency to run all around outside and therefore breathe deeper. Therefore, on days like this they will be aspiring a great deal more pollution if outside than when they are breathing normally (hopefully) inside,” stated Kelly, who is professor of environmental wellness at King’s College London, chair of the Department of Health’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollution and a member of Defra’s air high quality professional group.

Pupils with asthma may want to use their inhalers, whilst these with other breathing problems could suffer serious harm if exposed to the large level of pollution becoming noticed in London, he warned.

“Besides people kids whose asthma could be exacerbated by pollution and who would then need to have to increase their medication, the major issue is associated to pollution publicity on a continual basis as current proof indicates that lung growth is restricted. If there is no subsequent catch-up lung development then this respiratory deficit is carried forward by means of life.”

Bowes and Chesterfield principal colleges in Enfield, north London, stored kids within on Wednesday .

“When schools are faced with conditions like these we have to make a decision what is very best for children. In the absence of any formal tips from government, we made a decision to preserve young children inside as a precaution,” explained Tom Sheldon, chair of governors at the two colleges, which are close to the usually congested North Circular Street.

“But we can not do this for ever, and in London we encounter the significantly wider problem of bad air quality every day. The Saharan dust will pass, but London will proceed to fail its citizens on air top quality. Children’s building lungs are at particular danger, the two lengthy- and short-term.”

Eight-yr-previous George Stewart had an asthma assault in the course of his half-mile walk to college in Eltham, south-east London, on Wednesday morning. His mother, Leanne, stated: “It truly is usually quite an easy stroll but I am nonetheless breathless now. I could come to feel my chest acquiring tighter and tighter, and my son had to stop and have his inhaler I went light-headed and had to get a bus back. It is only half a mile and I generally do it twice a day, no dilemma. … I’ve never had that issue before. My son felt like the air was not acquiring into his lungs, so I’m worried about him these days.”

The British Lung Basis warned that the heavy air pollution could have “a significant affect” on, and induce coughing and breathlessness between folks with situations this kind of as asthma and persistent obstructive pulmonary ailment.

This kind of individuals “need to keep away from strenuous physical exercise outdoors, particularly close to pollution hotspots this kind of as hectic roads”, stated Dr Keith Prowse, the charity’s honorary health care adviser. “If they cycle, run or stroll to function, commuting at instances other than rush hour or along backstreets is also a good idea.”

Ellie Highwood, professor of climate physics at Reading through University, mentioned the pollution was the outcome of small particulates (atmospheric aerosols) that come from traffic, fossil fuel burning, agricultural practices and, a lot more unusually, dust from the Sahara.” High levels of the pollutant PM2.five meant that “men and women with present lung or heart situations should consider care, and even healthier individuals doing strenuous bodily exercise outside, such as cycling, might recognize a sore throat or cough.”

Air pollution: youngsters, elderly and vulnerable urged to remain indoors

Pupils must remain indoors at lunch to steer clear of smog, says United kingdom government adviser

The skyscrapers of the Canary Wharf spot in London shrouded in smog. Photograph: Matt Dunham/AP

Schools in locations affected by serious air pollution ought to preserve pupils indoors at lunchtime to steer clear of them struggling asthma attacks and possibly lifelong lung injury, a key government adviser is urging.

Prof Frank Kelly mentioned children need to be stopped from employing the playground in the course of school hrs to minimize their exposure to the smog that is affecting south-east England and is expected to spread to the Midlands and East Anglia.

Kelly is the chair of the Division of Health’s Committee on the Health care Effects of Air Pollution and a member of the Department for Atmosphere, Food and Rural Affairs’s Air Good quality Specialist Group.

His tips comes soon after some colleges in the capital made a decision to maintain their pupils indoors on Wednesday as a precaution.

Asked if that was sensible, Kelly informed the Guardian: “As a common response this is a good approach as young children tend to run around outdoors and as a result breathe deeper. Therefore on days like this they will be inspiring a good deal a lot more pollution if outside than when they are breathing typically (hopefully) inside.”

The policy should apply to morning and afternoon breaks, as nicely as lunchtime, Kelly explained. “Tips would be the very same for breaktimes if pollution levels were elevated at the school area.”

Pupils with asthma might require to resort to their inhalers, although people with other breathing conditions could suffer serious harm if exposed to the higher level of pollution currently being noticed in London, Kelly warned.

“Besides those young children whose asthma may possibly be exacerbated by pollution and who would then need to have to improve their medicine, the main situation is relevant to pollution publicity on a chronic basis as recent proof indicates that lung development is restricted. If there is no subsequent catch-up lung growth then this respiratory deficit is carried forward via existence,” he mentioned.

Bowes and Chesterfield major colleges in Enfield, north London, kept children within on Wednesday. “When colleges are faced with circumstances like these we have to determine what is very best for children. In the absence of any formal guidance from government we made a decision to preserve youngsters inside today as a precaution,” stated Tom Sheldon, chair of governors at both schools.

“But we cannot do this forever, and in London we face the much wider issue of poor air high quality each day. The Saharan dust will pass, but London will proceed to fail its citizens on air quality. Children’s establishing lungs are at specific risk, the two prolonged- and brief-term.

“We urgently want an intensive programme of pollution reduction in the capital.”

Leanne Stewart’s son George suffered an asthma attack throughout his half-mile walk to college in Eltham, south-east London, on Wednesday morning.

“It truly is usually fairly an easy walk but I am nevertheless breathless now. I could come to feel my chest getting tighter and tighter and my son, who’s eight, had to quit and have his inhaler. I went light-headed and had to get a bus back. It truly is only half a mile and I generally do it twice a day, no difficulty,” mentioned Stewart.

“I have by no means had that difficulty just before. My son felt like the air wasn’t receiving into his lungs so I am worried about him these days, but I’ve just texted him and he explained he’s fine.”

Meanwhile, the British Lung Foundation urged men and women in affected places who cycle, walk or run to perform to steer clear of undertaking so at rush hour and to use backstreets if feasible, and for folks with lung problems such as asthma to stay away from doing strenuous physical exercise outside.

“Heavy air pollution, of the variety we’re seeing in many places across the Uk at the second, can have a substantial influence on men and women with pre-current respiratory conditions this kind of COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and asthma, worsening signs such as coughing and breathlessness,” explained Dr Keith Prowse, the charity’s honorary health-related adviser.

“When ranges of air pollution are substantial, men and women with these problems, or any person else who finds themselves coughing or wheezing in times of higher pollution, must avoid strenuous workout outside, specifically close to pollution hotspots this kind of as occupied roads. If the option is accessible, working out in an air-conditioned gymnasium or sports activities hall is preferable.”

Prowse extra: “If they cycle, run or stroll to work, commuting at instances other than rush hour or along back streets is also a good idea. People with lung circumstances who use a reliever inhaler should make positive that they carry it with them. If they truly feel their condition is worsening at all, they ought to make contact with their GP.”

Pupils must remain indoors at lunch to steer clear of smog, says United kingdom government adviser

The Hazards of Spending Also Considerably Time Indoors

Although we heard a lot of public well being warnings in the previous century about the dangers of also a lot publicity to UV radiation from the sun, the reality is that such publicity only accounts for .1% of the world’s condition burden, according to the report by the Globe Wellness Organization.

On the other hand, the exact same report states that a much increased rate of the world’s yearly condition burden may be a result of too minor publicity to UVR. There are numerous dangers concerned in investing the bulk of your days indoors, from the most clear Vitamin D deficiency, to lack of physical exercise resulting in fat issues, to even poor eyesight in youngsters. Right here are just a few examples of the dangers of not obtaining your typical dose of sunlight and exercise that comes with investing time outside.

Lack of Vitamin D

Not receiving ample publicity to sunlight can lead to Vitamin D deficiency, frequently referred to as the sunshine vitamin. This can consequence in impaired absorption of phosphorus and calcium by your physique, foremost to poor bone health, compromised metabolic functions and a number of other problems. This kind of deficiency can be the cause behind rickets condition, characterized by skeletal deformities. Minimal Vitamin D levels in the bloodstream are also linked with cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, asthma and even cancer.

Cancers

Even though skin cancer is usually linked to also considerably publicity to sun radiation, scientists say that other cancers can be related with as well minor of sunlight publicity. A study published in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for illustration, showed that taking two to four instances of the everyday requirement of Vitamin D3 and calcium led to a lower incidence charge for all cancers, reduced by as considerably 50% to 77%. The review observed a group of submit-menopausal girls in excess of the period of four years.

Myopia

An rising variety of adults have poor eyesight these days, and scientists think that not paying enough time outside as children is a major contributing aspect to this. The journal Optometry and Vision Science published a series of studies on the triggers of myopia, generally known as short-sightedness.

Their conclusions indicate that the global enhance in myopia circumstances can be partially attributed to the fact that youngsters these days are expanding up in environments exactly where their eyes are not educated to see distant objects. In these crucial growth stages of their eyesight, kids are learning to emphasis only on close by objects, which they are limited to when investing the vast majority of their days indoors.

This currently prospects to a 20% fee of short-sightedness amid 12-year-olds in the U.S., and as much as 30% to 50% in the Asian metropolitan places. The fee spikes even increased by the time young adults attain the age of 20.

Book: The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age

This book by writer Richard Louv (who also authored Final Youngster in the Woods) urges us to modify our vision of the potential and reminds us that if we reconceive environmentalism and sustainability, we will evolve into a larger motion that will touch each part of society.

Much more (from Amazon):

This New Nature Movement taps into the restorative powers of the all-natural world to boost psychological acuity and creativity market well being and wellness develop smarter and much more sustainable companies, communities, and economies and ultimately strengthen human bonds. Supported by groundbreaking analysis, anecdotal proof, and compelling private stories, Louv delivers renewed optimism while tough us to rethink the way we reside.

*Use the affiliate website link above to see evaluations on this book

An additional book of curiosity: I Love Grime!: 52 Pursuits to Help You and Your Kids Learn the Wonders of Nature by Jennifer Ward, Richard Louv and Susie Ghahremani

Other Issues

In his well-liked book The Nature Principle, Richard Louv talks about a host of other issues brought on by the “nature deficit disorder,” that several men and women are going through these days in their quickly-paced, technologies-packed lives. He describes various adverse effects of not spending time outdoors, which includes obesity, heart condition, depression and nervousness, between other individuals.

Sources for this article consist of:

The Hazards of Spending Also Considerably Time Indoors