Garden Journaling

    These pictures are from 3 years ago. We had an heirloom tomato (I forget the variety) that grew 18′ tall and provided cherry 🍒 tomatoes for about 6 months. It finally succumbed to Florida’s wet and aphid-y summer. What an awesome plant. I wish I could remember the variety. Which brings up a great point 👉…

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18′ Tomato plant

     We should all keep a journal of our gardening experiences. For many years I did this while I was learning how to grow medicinal plants. I needed to know how they grew, what nutrients they needed and when, light conditions, watering variables. When you really pay attention, a plant needs a lot of caring. Yes you can put seeds in the ground and they will grow. However when you create a bond with a plant things tend to grow a lot better. Also, when you keep track of all the requirements and time invested, you will learn to appreciate nature at a whole new level. You may even begin to see how our lives are very similar to a plant’s. Our cells function in much the same way. We both need food, water, nutrients, to survive. Believe it or not plants seek out their desires just like us. 

     Keeping a diary, journal, or just taking some notes will make you a more educated gardener. You don’t have to get super detailed unless you want to. I will say that after a year or two of journaling, it is interesting to go back and read your notes. Sometimes you’ll recognize a plant symptom that you already know how to fix, and it will be in your journal. In the case of my 18′ tomato, had I kept a record, I would have been able to tell you the variety, and I would grow it again. 

     I have listed a couple journals from Amazon below to give you an idea of what is available or you can make your own. I use a 6X9 note pad. Use whatever is easy for you. If your love is gardening then just briefly jot down some notes. You will be glad you did. 

Here’s a really detailed journal for the experienced gardener. This is a little much for me, I like to keep it simple. If you’re a more scientific gardener, then I recommend this journal. Really good information but it will take some dedication to keep up with it. 

https://amzn.to/2S8tk9s

     Next is a pretty basic journal that may be good for a beginner gardener.it contains the following sections

 Garden Zoning Map, Monthly Garden Planner, Monthly To-Do Lists, Plant Profile Pages, Seed Tracker, pre-printed templates. 

Plant Tracker, Harvest Tracker, Expense Tracker, Soil Amendment/Fertilizer Tracker, Problems/Pests, 50 blank ruled pages for journaling. 

     It sounds like a lot of information, but once you start documenting your garden journey you will be glad you tracked it. 

https://amzn.to/35baBiL

And finally here is a simple notepad. However, it is one of the toughest little notepads I have seen. It is actually weather resistant, repels water, mud, oil, dirt and grime. It’s a tough little book. Which obviously makes it perfect for the note taking gardener. 

https://amzn.to/2VCsp3a

If you’re seriously going to grow things I recommend you record your journey. The benefits of connecting with your plants on an educated level will make a big difference in your gardening experience. 

Stay: Balanced By Nature 

5 Herbal tea recipes

Herbal Tea Booklet

    5 herbal tea recipes that will balance your body throughout the week. You will learn about each herb used. How it works with your body, what benefits are provided by each herb. You will also learn some fun facts and history of how each herb has been used. You are not just getting these tea blends:

  1. Balanced
  2. Cold and Flu 
  3. Energized
  4. Sleepy time
  5. Immune Booster

    You are also getting some amazing health facts that could change your life. There have been studies conducted that showed that knowing how a nutrient is supposed to help you, actually improves the healing benefits. This is why I give you each herb and the main benefits they provide to your body. You are getting over 15 herbs and how they work with your body. Knowing how and why a tea blend is helping your body, will increase your health twofold. First the actual nutrients will begin healing and maintaining balance in your body. Secondly your mind will expect to feel a certain way. You will know how the herbs will affect you, giving you a mental advantage over poor health. 

     Life is about balance, and these recipes can assist your body in reaching homeostasis. In order to reach perfect balance you will need to bring nature into your body (these herbs will do that), and you need to stay mentally strong, and positive as well. These 5 Tea recipes can provide both physical and mental health benefits. Drink in the benefits and stay Balanced By Nature.

https://amzn.to/2Y8qcym

Author: Stephen T. Radentz

     In 2004, having fallen and fractured my spine, I began a slow death spiral as an addict to legal opioids. For the next eight years, I battled depression and stomach ulcers. At the end of every month, I would face withdrawal symptoms, as well as the fear of running out of medication.      At one point, I was prescribed 1080 total pills every month! More than half were opioids, while the rest were prescribed to fix the problems opium was causing.      In 2012, I was rushed to the emergency room with bleeding ulcers. This happened again in 2014. I had lost almost 40 pounds during this time period. I was killing myself.      One night at the end of the month in 2014, I was facing imminent withdrawal sickness. Let me tell you: withdrawal sucks! I was not eligible for a refill but I needed the drugs. I grabbed a gun and went to a nearby pharmacy. I sat outside that store for about an hour. Finally, I decided that the best thing I could do would be to break away from the addictive drugs. I went home, went through some withdrawal sickness, and started planning my strategy.      It took me another two years to successfully get free. Eleven years after beginning my journey with opioids, I was able to beat the addiction through the use of medical marijuana, changing to a mostly natural-food diet, focusing on positivity and gratefulness, and getting outside in nature. I have been pharmaceutical free since 2016      Over several years of extensive research, I learned that medical marijuana could help with eliminating opioid addiction while reducing withdrawal symptoms and providing natural pain relief. I discovered that there was proven science backing up marijuana as medicine. I researched cannabis and hemp: their uses, benefits, and side effects, and how cannabinoids help the human body create homeostasis naturally, without side effects, addiction, or overdose issues.       As a master grower, I was aware of plant nutrient needs, and I realized that they are very similar to human nutrient needs. I began researching fruits, vegetables, and herbs extensively. Learning that nature provides all the nutrients a body needs. Consuming a variety of organic foods everyday will keep your body in a perfect state to fight off disease. As my body healed I was able to focus on my mind as well. You must; get your body right, to get your mind right, to get your life right.       I have also studied many current and historical positive thought mentors. Learning that, "we are what we think we are", as well as negative thoughts attract negative things, and positive thoughts attract positive outcomes.       I combined all of this knowledge to devise my theory on; The Three Life Centers of the body. Keeping these three areas balanced will keep your life balanced.      Medical marijuana helped reduce my drug withdrawal symptoms, enabling me to eliminate opioids, and I credit it with saving my life..      Because of my success eating and medicating naturally, maintaining positivity and gratitude, while embracing nature, I decided that I wanted to help educate others, and assist them with their own health and life issues.      I've been an advocate for medical marijuana legalization since 2014. I have lobbied senators, traveled statewide to speak on behalf of the cannabis community, and appeared in local forums, to share my journey and bring people's awareness to the benefits of medical marijuana, natural dieting, and positivity.       With this website, my goal is to dispel some myths, while educating you on a plant that has numerous health benefits (cannabis). Simplify your diet to achieve balance and good health through nature. Help you to create an environment of positivity and gratitude, and encourage you to get outside experience nature. I will even share some hidden gardening tips.