Plant Spotlight: Aloe Vera

The Plant of Immortality !

***Did you know???***
Aloe Vera was utilized by the ancient Egyptians for centuries and was so revered for its healing properties that the plant was elevated to that of "god-like" status. There is a legend that the Egyptian Queens, Nefertiti and Cleopatra used aloe in their beauty regimens. Aloe was one of the ingredients used in embalming the Pharoahs.

Aloe is said to originate in the Southern region of Africa. It thrives in dry, warm climates, and like other succulents, it can withstand severe drought. If the roots are ever submerged in water, the plant will in fact die. When Aloe Vera reaches full maturity, it flowers tall yellow flowers in the Spring. 

You can eat the sap of Aloe Vera! In Asia, it is very common to find Aloe as a soft drink. You can also dice the meat of the fresh Aloe plant into cubes for a delicious raw dessert reminiscent of American Jello. The medicinal findings of Aloe are unbound when taken internally. Aloe soothes the walls of the intestines and helps to flush out harmful bacteria while rebuilding the beneficial flora in the digestive system. It has a "cooling" quality to relieve indigestion and balance stomach acidity.

When used externally on the skin, Aloe acts as an astringent ("shrinking" the tissues and stops fluid discharge), an emollient (smoothing the skin), an anti-fungal, and a cell proliferant (cell regeneration) all at once. The adaptogenic ability of Aloe to act on a wound without hindering another healing process is one of the reasons why natural Aloe is preferred over using pharmaceutical topical gels. According to the book "The Amazing Ancient to Modern Useful Plant Aloe Vera," Aloe Vera is actually the only known remedy for effectively healing atomic burns, as demonstrated by victims in the 1930s following the attack in Hiroshima Japan.

More Information:

Aloe Herbal Legacy

NYR Natural News: Aloe

veghippy hero / August

Rob Somma !

This month, Rob is the veghippy hero of the month because of his big love for gardening, his incredible backyard farm, his 9 cats, and his yoga practice that brings it all together. Check out the interview below!

Sunshine: Hello World! We are in Stony Point, a small town resting atop the Hudson River in Rockland County, NY...Rob, this is such a beautiful place to live. When did you move here and why?

Rob: Felicia and I were living in New City before I lost my job. We moved to Stony Point in 1996.

Sunshine: How big is your land?

Rob: The property is just under an acre, .98acres.

Sunshine: Rob, you told me you built this house! Can you tell us about that?

Rob: The old house on the property was too small for us. At the time we moved in, we had a Great Dane and a New Foundland and then adopted another dog! Between losing my job and selling our last house, a lot of things happened that just afforded us the opportunity to do it.

The house was built in 2001. In the beginning it took a while for us to agree on a design, but when we finally decided on something together, we got the plans, looked at the property, and said, "This is where we want to live!" We based it on a house that we had seen out in the Hamptons which was fun, open, and airy. Basically, having a dream, having a vision, and following our hearts eventually led us to the blessings we have here today.

Sunshine: What made you decide to start a garden and grow your own food?

Rob: I always liked plants, They are alive, they change, they grow...it feels good to be around them, it's one of those things you can't explain. I don't like just having grass around. I want interesting flowers, and all the things that come with the flowers: the birds, the bees, the praying mantises, the ladybugs, all of that! Getting away from the plain old grass keeps my interest and keeps my busy mind active.

Sunshine: When did you start gardening? How did you learn?

Rob: When I was 5 or 6, it was always the springtime thing to help my parents garden. That's where I got my start. Later on, I joined a community garden. There, I got 10x20 plot of land and I was surrounded by all these people with similar interests. I got to see what other people were growing, and everyone would be around to help each other. It was a really nice community down in Brooklyn.

Another thing that got me into this was watching Gardening Shows. I was inspired by many of the guys I saw on TV. Paul James in particular was just so engaging - and he was kooky! He liked fly fishing, he grew bonsai, and practiced Tai-Chi. You know he had so many dimensions to him. P Allen Smith was another, who built his own house and inspired me to say, "Hey, if he can do this, I can do this!" I looked into becoming a Master Gardener after moving to Stony Point and discovered that the Cornell Cooperative Extension was less than a mile from my house!

Sunshine: Rob, I know you are also a Dahn Yoga Master. How has your practice influenced your gardening?

Rob: Dahn Yoga has given me a greater awareness and ability for self-expression. It has given me trust in myself, and brought me to take interest in what's truly inside me - so that I can bring it out! Without my practice, I would not have thought of gardening as more than something merely pleasing to me. I would not have thought of gardening as a way to create and be creative, and to be in harmony with all that is around me. This is why I don't use chemical pesticides in my flowers or vegetables. Instead, in springtime I'll go around collecting egg sacs from Praying Mantises and place them around the garden so that they'll eat the other bugs. My practice has made me more aware of what I do. My actions affect everything around me, it affects every single insect, the earthworms, the soil...everything. Soil is the Earth, the planet itself. And although chemicals will make my flowers grow great, which may be good for me and my ego, it's not good for the soil, and therefore it's not good for the planet. So I've become more caring about what happens beyond me, realizing that there is more than me, and in effect, that I am more than me.

Sunshine: That's a wonderful way to think of gardening Rob. Thank you. Now, before we finish up, I am so curious what Felicia thinks about your creations and your insatiable hobby! Felicia, what do you think of Rob's gardening?

Felicia: I love the garden. I love his passion for the flowers. Rob really has a strong connection to the Earth and he seems so peaceful doing this. Even though I grew up in the city like Rob, I never got the true passion for dirt like he has - although I am not allowed to call it dirt...it's soil! [laughter] So I don't personally get into it but I love what's produced from it. I love that I can go into the garden and make myself a fresh salad. I've had organic food from other places, but there's nothing like picking the food right out of your backyard. It's as fresh as you can get it!

Also, I have to say that because it is Rob who has put his energy, love, and passion into the garden, I can really taste the care he's put into everything he's grown.

Sunshine: What is your favorite thing that has grown from your garden?

Felicia: Oh my gosh. Well, each year he does something different, so it's hard to say because there has been so many good things. Let's see...I love the kale. And one year he grew yellow watermelon, which was so delicious and sweet...but actually, I would have to say my favorite is the tomatoes. We're half-Italian, so naturally there's nothing like fresh pasta sauce. Yeah, the tomatoes are my favorite.

Sunshine: Thanks for the inside scoop Felicia! Okay, last question! Rob, What is in store for the future of your garden?

Rob: I'd love to redo the whole area on the side of the house where the dog runs are so that we can come out to a greenhouse that leads into the vegetable garden. I'd love to do cold frames so I can extend the growing season and get away from using my grow lights right now. I'm using too much energy, burning fossil fuels doing that. So my garden is green but it's not "green" I hope to take time this winter studying and perfecting the use of cold frames so I don't have to keep those lights on.

Once again, we have a veghippy hero who stands as a great example for those who choose to follow their "green dream." Rob's passion for all living things is evident in the life he's supported and created all around him! There is beauty blooming on that land in Stony Point NY. What an inspiration. Thank you Rob!!

If you have any questions for Rob or would like to recommend someone for "veghippy hero of the month" segment, please email: veghippnews@gmail.com

-Peace~!

Plant Spotlight: Chamomile

The "Earth Apple"

***Did you know?***

"Chamomile" derives from the French, Latin, and Greek root: "khamai" meaning "on the ground," and "melon" meaning "apple." In Spanish, chamomile is called "manzanilla' or "little apple."

Chamomile is a common lawn plant, native to Northern Europe and countries along the Mediterranean Sea. It is identified by its spiny feather-like leaves and white flowers surrounding a yellow cone center. There are actually two types of chamomile that have been classified: the "Roman" and "German" variety. Roman chamomile is perennial that prefers fertile soil and grows low to the ground. It produces small flowers that have a bitter taste. German chamomile, on the other hand, has the more notable sweet quality produced from its larger flowers, and can grow up to 3 feet tall. German chamomile, if propagated, is an annual and can tolerate dry, clay soil.

 Chamomile has incredible healing properties, including its ability to treat skin ailments, relieve allergy symptoms, calm the nerves, and aid in digestion. The therapeutic qualities of chamomile are found in the yellow flower head, which contain the beneficial oils and active substances for medicinal use. Dry the whole flowers and crush into a tea to aid in sleep and relaxation. Use the plant as a soak for burns, scrapes, and any skin inflammation to relieve swelling. Chamomile also has an interesting ability to lighten hair when used as a hair conditioner (best results in already blonde colored hair)! It is safe for use on all parts of the body, both internally and externally.

For more information:

Herb Wisdom

Mother Earth Living

German Chamomile

Honey Day at High Line Park NYC

It's Honey Day !!

On Wed July 29th, High Line Park hosted a "Honey Day" event. From 2-7pm Beekeepers from across the New York State area presented their local honey to the public. The vendor lineup included: SkylineHoney, Andrew's Local Honey, The Brooklyn Grange, Mike's Hot Honey, and Ruth Harrigan's Honey / MEEBeauty products, to name a few.

 

While I was there, I got to learn a whole lot about bees and beekeeping! Here are some interesting facts I picked up that day^.^

• The place where bees are kept and farmed are called Apiaries. The process of beekeeping is called apiculture.
• Bees prefer to keep their hives in quiet areas away from humans to protect their Queen and their honey - that is why city rooftops have proven to make great Apiaries!
• The color of honey is dependent on the type of seasonal flowers available. Light to golden-colored honey is harvested from Spring to Mid Summer. The bees pollinate flowers such as Linden in that time. The darker, brown-colored honey is harvested in Late Summer to Early Autumn which have pollen from Goldenrod and Clover.
• Honey is extracted from combs by centrifuge. The "frames" of honeycombs are placed into an extractor that spins the frame until honey is pulled out and drained into a container.

Ever since I watched the eye-opening documentary "Vanishing of the Bees," I have really grown to appreciate the presence of bees. Seeing the bees at Honey Day made me feel really happy. Nowadays, I feel less afraid of them and more appreciative of their existence. When I was very young I was stung by a bee - right on my poor chin! - during a school trip to the Queens Botanical Garden. From that experience I was traumatized and develop a big fear around them. As I grew up too, I was always given the impression that bees are dangerous, or that they are like pests. Bees would make their hives on the gutters of our old house, and my parents would violently spray them down with water to kill them. People around me would also be afraid of bees and run away at the very sight of them. As you can see, I grew up with a strong preconception about bees and was never educated about them until just recently. I truly had no understanding before about what they do besides sting people and make honey!

But bees don't just make honey! They pollinate 80% of flowering crops which includes the numerous fruits and grains that make up 1/3 of the staples in our diet. Bees are also important for livestock as they pollinate crops like Alfalfa feed for cattle. Strawberries, Apples, Avocados, Almonds, Cocoa, Coffee, Tomatoes, Carrot, Flax, even Cotton, and the list goes on, are all crops pollinated by bees both naturally and commercially. So basically, without bees, our entire agricultural system would come to an end.

And what I learned is that it's important to keep chemical pesticides OUT of our food, because bees are unable to withstand the effects of chemical treatment to crops. Upon direct exposure to pesticides, they immediately die. Over time, the bees that pollinate from treated crops also die, although at a slower rate. Chemical pesticides are a direct factor in the occurrence of "colony collapse" when thousands of bees abandon their hive and die. It is a really horrifying and sad situation as documented in "Vanishing of the Bees."

However, the good news is that backyard and city apiculture is helping the bee population regain their numbers, adding to the gene pool of healthy, disease-resistant bees! It also brings more awareness to the value of bees to the larger population who are now separated from methods of food production. Many of the local New York beekeepers at "Honey Day" started out as hobbyists themselves. Robert of SkyLine Honey in the Bronx, and Ruth Harrington of MEEBeauty in Queens, being great examples!

While though they are acting purely out to their own interest and passion for beekeeping, in turn, they represent a new movement that is helping our agricultural system, bringing forward a greater acceptance for an organic and sustainable lifestyle that keeps us close to a more harmonious way of living amongst the earth and our non-human friends.

A big HURRAY for Honey Day! 

Honey Day is an annual event hosted by High Line Park -  a beautiful reclaimed old railway track boasting lush gardens and unique public works in Manhattan. The event is also in partnership with the Brooklyn Grange, the world's largest rooftop soil farm located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

More Information
How can you help the Bees? [PBS]

Vanishing of the Bees

NYC Beekeepers Association

MEEBeauty

SkyLine Honey

Brooklyn Grange

Announcement: A Surprise Guest on The Big Trip 2014....

Introducing...

Phillip the Mad Scientist !

Dear Friends,

Good News!! Phillip will be joining Sunshine on the veghippy van during the Big Trip 2014! Together, they will discover brave new lands, keep each other alive, and experience a journey of a lifetime!

Phillip is an artist and dancer from Queens NY. He shares a deep care for saving the Earth and helping others.

veghippy's Big Trip 2014 | My new trip on Roadtrippers.com!

Together, Phillip and Sunshine will make their way to Taos, NM for the world renowned Earthship Academy program. There, they will join 38 other students from all over the world to receive extensive training on the principles of sustainable design, construction methods, and philosophy. Earthships are a complete off-grid housing system that runs on solar power, catches rainwater, and is built from almost 50% recycled materials. The concept was invented by Earthship Academy founder, Michael Reynolds, who started designing them in 1970. Taos, NM is the original location for Michael Reynolds' early works, and now serves as an educational center to teach people about Earthships and Earthship build.

"It's gonna be an awesome trip!" -Sunshine

"I can't wait!" -Phillip

PLEASE DONATE TO THE BIG TRIP 2014 TODAY!
Phillip and Sunshine need your help desperately to make this trip successful!

Remember, even just $20 today will help fill half a gas tank! Keeping the veghippy van going!

[http://www.youcaring.com/mission-trip-fundraiser/big-trip-2014/210868]

-Peace~*

Plant Spotlight: Ginkgo Biloba

A Prehistoric Plant!

***Did you know?***

The origins of the Ginko Biloba tree has been traced back to the Paleozoic Era almost 270 million years ago! It is considered a living fossil, existing as the only known species classified of its kind.

This week in the Plant Spotlight is: Ginkgo Biloba, also known as Maiden-hair tree. The Ginkgo tree is cultivated across the world and revered for its historical value, its beauty, its environmental benefits, and its significant medicinal uses. It is distinguished by wide fan-like green leaves, which shade into a lovely golden yellow in the fall.

Although the Ginkgo tree has long been known to the East Asian continent, it was thought to be extinct in the Western world until 1690 when German botanist Engelbert Kaempfer documented the plant during his visit to a Buddhist temple in Nagasaki Japan. He brought the Ginkgo seeds to Utrecht and thus began the spread of gingko trees to Western continents, eventually including North America.

Ginkgos can be grown in almost any environment. They are said to tolerate typically unfavorable conditions for trees such as in urban cities, where there is high stress from pollution, insecticides, drought, and disease. On the contrary, Ginkgos are found to be highly tolerant of pollution and resistant to chemical exposure. They have an impeccable ability to photosynthesize carbon dioxide into oxygen compared to many other plants, and are favored to absorb pollutants from storm water below ground.

The Ginkgo leaf is typically harvested, dried, then drunk as a tea  The benefits of Ginkgo are complex, but have been found to target circulation to the brain and acts as a powerful anti-oxidant. The seeds produced from the female gingko trees can also be cooked and is found in specialty Asian dishes such as Congee and Buddha's Delight.

More Information:

Herb Wisdom.com

Chinese Herbs Healing.com

Ginkgo Trees in Oregon

Landscaping: Ginkgo Trees