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Category: Walking Sunshine Fresh-Air

Some Good Healthy Walking – Enjoying It’s Many Benefits. Returning To Sunshine And Fresh-Air!

Published on Leave a comment on New Research: Regular Exercise Reduces Cataract Risk And Other Eye Conditions

by Helen Carter, Journalist, Optometry Australia 2020

Another great reason to keep up physical exercise has now been added to the list. Several studies have provided evidence that regular physical exercise reduces the risk of age-related cataracts.

Regular Exercise Proves Beneficial For Eyesight

Australian and Chinese researchers analysed data from six different studies of more than 171,000 people looking at how exercise reduces oxidative damage in the eye. The studies included 19,173 cases of cataract. Participants from America, the UK and Sweden were followed for six to 12 years.

The research found that exercise appears helpful in cataract prevention, as well as being beneficial for other eye conditions including possibly reducing risks of developing glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), plus delaying progression of AMD and diabetic retinopathy.

Researchers found a 10 per cent reduction in age-related cataracts among people who engaged in regular physical activity such as walking and cycling. And they said the risk of developing cataracts could potentially decrease by two per cent for every hour of cycling or jogging.

The researchers from the University of South Australia and Xi’an Jiatong University, China, published their findings in the International Journal of Ophthalmology.…

Published on Leave a comment on Sun-Mapping And Positioning Our Veggie Garden-Beds For Success

Here You Have It Gardeners, Another Way To Improve On Your Veggie Gardening!

Last Week I Made A Companion Planting Guide For Gardeners And Beginner Gardeners. Now To Address The Light And Shade Aspect. Lets Work With Nature. Most Of Us Have Some Shade And Part-Shade In Our Yard (Or Space) When Thinking Of Growing A Veggie Garden (Big Or Small) And Some Of Us Are A Little Confused How To Work Things Out.

Happy Sun-Mapping For Your Veggie Garden

This Post Will Help Bring Some Clarity Into The Situation, So You Have An Idea Where To Grow Your Herbs And Veggies And How To Go About It. The Following Articles Should See You On Your Way To Good Results And Maybe Better Than You Have Had Previously.

How Sun Mapping Can Help Homegrown Veggies Thrive

ABC Everyday  By Koren Helbig

In hindsight, figuring out where the sun falls in our backyard would have been handy to do before we started planting any veggies.

Because edible plants need sunlight to grow — the more of it, the better — yet the sun changes position across the seasons, dropping lower in winter and throwing longer shadows across the earth.

My partner and I didn't even think to consider this when we moved into our Adelaide rental four years ago.…

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Published on 3 Comments on My Companion Planting Guide For Veggies, Herbs And Salad Veggies

By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

GOOD NEWS FOR GARDENERS AND BEGINNER GARDENERS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF COMPANION PLANTING BEFORE. IT HAS REALLY INCREASED IN POPULARITY SINCE I FIRST HEARD OF IT. FOR MANY YEARS, CERTAIN GARDENERS HAVE FOUND THAT CERTAIN PLANTS PLANTED CLOSE TO EACH-OTHER CAN ACTUALLY HELP EACH-OTHER GROW WELL AND SOME ARE KNOWN TO HINDER EACH-OTHER. ORGANIC GARDENERS AND PERMACULTURISTS WATCH AND PRACTICE THESE PRINCIPLES VERY CLOSELY INSTEAD OF MONO-CROPS WHICH CAN ATTRACT A LOT OF BUGS.

CERTAIN HERBS AND VEGIES WHEN PLANTED TOGETHER CAN DETER A LOT OF INSECTS FROM DAMAGING OUR HERBS AND VEGGIES WE SPEND PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY ON – NOT TO MENTION HOPEFUL EXPECTATIONS. PLANTING A DIVERSITY OF PLANTS TOGETHER IS ALSO KNOWN TO CONFUSE THE WOULD BE INVADING INSECTS FROM ATTACKING YOUR HOMEGROWN PRODUCE. THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN GAINING THE INTEREST OF SCIENTISTS ACROSS THE WORLD IN RECENT TIMES WHO ARE NOW INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THESE GARDENING PRACTICES IN PREFERENCE TO CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES – IT’S MUCH HEALTHIER FOR YOU. IT IS BETTER TO SIDE WITH NATURE THAN WORK AGAINST IT. BE A FRIEND OF NATURE AND NATURE WILL BE A FRIEND TO YOU.…

Published on Leave a comment on Companion Planting For Vegetable Patches

From Very Edible Gardens in Australia

I FOUND THIS ARTICLE TODAY ON THE NET WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GARDENING EXPERIENCE. MY SEARCH WAS FOR WINTER COMPANION VEGGIES AND I FOUND THESE HELPFUL PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO PUT INTO PRACTICE FOR A SIMPLE COMPANION GARDEN THAT WOULD WORK MOST TIMES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE WRITER EXPLAINS HOW TO GET THE MOST BENEFIT OUT OF THE SOIL FOR EACH PLANT WE ARE GROWING. HAVE FUN. SHALL WE GO?

Learning Some Simple Practical Principles In Companion Gardening

There are a lot of books written on this subject, filled with long lists, many of which contradict the other.  We say: don’t get too carried away by matching each plant according to someone’s list.  There are however a some simple rules to grow by.  We’ll expand on each below:

  • Use plants with different nutrient requirements and roots at different depths as they compete much less.
  • Some plants are considered natural growth stimulants for other plants
  • Some plants are certainly natural growth inhibitors for other plants
  • Some plants capture nutrients from deep in the soil profile and make them available for nearby plants
  • You can create suitable micro-climates for one plant by using another (eg.
…

Published on Leave a comment on Feeling Down Or Stressed? Try Nature Eco-Therapy.

A Return To Nature – Now Referred To As ECO Therapy

Summer often means spending time outdoors, swimming, camping, taking walks, and just enjoying the great outdoors. These leisure activities are fun and good for you.

That's right. They're good for you!

ECO Nature Therapy Is Good For The Soul

Psychologists in the new field of Eco-Therapy believe that spending time outdoors is important for our health. Connecting more with nature can help improve depression, lower blood pressure, improve self-esteem, help with impulse control, decrease post-operative recovery time, and encourage new social behaviors in patients with dementia, according to ecotherapyheals.com and the book Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind.

Eco-therapists claim that eco-therapy can be especially beneficial for those with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental illnesses. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, and the incidence of depression has increased every year during the past century. Now, one in six people will experience a depressive episode in their lifetime.

Traditional treatment for depression has focused on medications and individual or group therapy.

Now, Eco-therapists suggest that benefit can be gained with activities such as gardening, walking or other outdoor exercise, or spending time with animals.…

Published on Leave a comment on New Study: Gardening Twice A Week Improves Wellbeing And Cuts Down Stress

A new study reveals a significant association between gardening more frequently and improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity.

The study from Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) surveyed more than 6,000 people, and results indicate that those who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who don’t garden at all.

Joys Of Gardening We All Can Experience -
Good For Our Health

RHS Wellbeing Fellow and lead author, Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui says; “This is the first time the ‘dose response’ to gardening has been tested and the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden—the greater the health benefits.

“In fact gardening every day has the same positive impact on wellbeing as undertaking regular vigorous exercise like cycling or running.

“When gardening, our brains are pleasantly distracted by nature around us. This shifts our focus away from ourselves and our stresses, thereby restoring our minds and reducing negative feelings.”

Respondents who gardened 2-3 times a week had a 4.1% higher wellbeing score and 2.4% lower stress levels compared to people who don’t garden at all. However, gardening fewer than 3 times a month has less of a positive impact.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Benefits Of Movement For Different Moods – Try These

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD FIND. I HAVE HERE, 6 SIMPLE THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR MOOD LEVELS FROM DIFFERENT STATES WE FIND OURELVES IN. SOME FITNESS INSTRUCTORS'S ADVICE AND EQUIPMENT ARE ACTUALLY BAD FOR US, ACCORDING TO DR JESSE LYNN HANLEY WHO WORKS ALONGSIDE OF VARIOUS SPECIALISTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS LIKE PYSIOTHERAPISTS, CHIROPRACTORS AND OSTEOPATHS HAVE REPORTED. YOU WON'T NEED A GYM OR MEMBERHIP FOR THESE EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS/NIFTY IDEAS. ENJOY!

Workouts to Improve Your Mood

By Jessica Smith 2018

By nature, humans are moody creatures. And as much as we'd love to feel good and be happy all the time, it's not always possible. Sometimes we're distracted, sad, exhausted, anxious or stressed out. But luckily, there's a solution when you get a case of the feels: We consulted fitness experts to find workouts that are best suited for whatever mood you might be in and how they can help you get out of it!

Anxious? Try Walking

Filled with nervous or anxious energy? Take a walk! “If you have a lot of nervous energy, a great way to deal with it is by, quite literally, walking it off,” says Walters.…

Published on Leave a comment on Outdoor Activities For Kids: Like Some Ideas? Read Some Of These!

By Natalie: A Mum and registered Dietitian with a Passion to help Parents Create a Home Environment where they can Raise Healthy Kids!

Lots Of Ideas For Children's Play Outdoors.
See What You Find!

When the weather is nice, it should be easy to get your kids to go outside to play. Right? But kids can be surprisingly reluctant to skip out the door for playtime. It hasn’t always been like this!

Many kids in the upcoming generation are replacing outdoor play with indoor, sedentary activities like iPad games, texting, or social media. They’re also more involved in knowledge-based downtime like homework and studying than kids from past generations.

How Do Kids Benefit From Outdoor Play?

Studies have shown that kids who spend more time outside might be happier and more relaxed. Time outdoors can even improve short-term memory, concentration and cognitive skills. (It’s almost like nature makes us smarter… amazing!)

It’s Up to Us To Facilitate Outdoor Play

There’s a REAL need for active, outdoor play. Now more than ever. The more outdoor activities you can encourage and facilitate for your kids, the more they’ll reap the physical and emotional benefits of such play.…

Published on Leave a comment on Butterfly Boom Takes Flight In North Queensland Under Perfect Weather Conditions

From TheNewDaily.Com.Au May 3, 2021

Everyone Loves Butterflies, hey?

A kaleidoscope of colour has enveloped parts of north Queensland as the region revels in a butterfly boom. The explosion in numbers has caught the eye of scientists encouraged by the increase.

It flies in the face of fears in recent years that the iconic Ulysses butterfly may be dying out.

The Joy Of Finding Butterflies In My Garden

Thankyou he caught my eye this morning, I must say last week or so I'm definitely getting more butterflies in the garden, which is nice.

“One of the species we are seeing a large increase in numbers is the Ulysses,” said James Cook University senior botanist at the Queensland Herbarium, Ashley Field.

“A couple of years ago people were starting to become concerned that their numbers were down but their numbers are definitely up.”

The Cassowary Coast, Cairns, and the Tablelands are teeming with the beautiful insects with prime weather conditions behind the boom.

Dr Field said consecutive years with reasonable wet seasons had created an ideal environment for butterfly-attracting plants to thrive.

“It’s a Goldilocks effect. It’s the middle ground,” he said.…

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Published on 2 Comments on Children Learn From Growing Things – Let Them Explore, Hey? It’s Good For Them.

I FOUND SOME GOOD FAMILY RELATED MATERIAL ON THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT'S REALLY GREAT. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING NATURE A LOT - OUR NEED FOR REGULAR EXPOSURE TO IT SOME WAY/WAYS THROUGH THE WEEK.

Children Love To Learn How To Grow Plants - Why Not Let Them Try? You May Be Surprised!

IN MY PRETEENS, I WAS FASCINATED BY PEAS AND BEANS EMMERGING THROUGH THE SOIL, WHEN MY MUM WAS TENDING HER VEGGIE GARDEN AND WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE A FEW PLANTS OF MY OWN TO GROW. MY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WERE NOT VOICED UNTIL I MENTIONED IT TO HER LATER IN LIFE (MY 40'S OR 50'S).

IN RESPONSE, SHE SAID "Oh Janet, you never said anything about it. I would have been happy to share some with you - I didn't think you were interested." I WAS ACTUALLY INTRIGUED. IT'S A GREAT INTEREST FOR KIDS OF DIFFERENT AGES, FROM LITTLE TO TEENS and A GOOD CONTRAST TO THEIR TECH INTERESTS - HELPING TO PROVIDE A BALANCE FOR THEM, HEY? AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO BE GAINED TOO, A WIN WIN!

The Government Says:

People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children in particular will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. …