THE TERM “food forest” from the permaculture world sounds big—like if I suggested you start one, you’d probably say, “I don’t have room for a forest of any kind.”
24.07.2023 - 12:17 / hgic.clemson.edu
Start by considering what healthy eating means and what eating patterns are like for you during ‘non-holiday’ times. Referring to basics – use MyPlate to guide balancing and choosing from food groups and the US Dietary Guidelines for general health. Our plates should contain proportionately more plant-based foods – vegetables, whole grains, and fruit, and then lean dairy and protein sources. Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods while decreasing foods high in sodium, sugar, and fat
Most Americans should increase plant-based foods; surveys show that most folks fall far short of recommendations. However, watch portion sizes – you can still eat too much of a good thing!
Stay hydrated – emphasizing water. Fluid needs are based on sex, weight, activity level, and state of health. I recommend following the age-old recommendation of drinking at least eight 8-ounce cups per day to consume a baseline of water each day.
Get physical! Recommendations for physical activity: 150 minutes+/week of moderate activity. You should be able to talk while exercising but not sing. Physical activity should be spread over the week with no more than two rest days.
Make at least one recommended change before Thanksgiving – preferably starting today. I am a firm believer in practical and basic lifestyle changes. If you already have an active lifestyle, including regular and consistent activity, and you are making a point to include at least three vegetables and two fruit servings in your diet every day. And, suppose you are drinking at least eight cups of water every day and keep portion sizes to the recommended serving size. In that case, you will be able to eat a piece of pie on Thanksgiving or during the holidays while enjoying and appreciating
THE TERM “food forest” from the permaculture world sounds big—like if I suggested you start one, you’d probably say, “I don’t have room for a forest of any kind.”
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
21 of the Best Trees for Yellow Fall Color
Sunflowers are big, bold, and beautiful, with bright yellow petals and a dark center that seems to stare straight at the sun. In this article, we will explore the Giant Sunflower Varieties out there!
As Digital Content Editor Christine Alexander explains, pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem and we should all be doing our part to support their populations:
Soil provides nutrients for plants as well as millions of microorganisms. However, this only applies if the soil is healthy. Soil conservation is the movement to keep soil healthy, fertile and productive, as well as protecting it from erosion and deterioration. Learn about different methods of soil conservation here.
In times of this pandemic, it is imperative that you take good care of your health, especially the respiratory system. Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (which are 10 times higher indoors than outdoors), Particulate Matter, Polluting Gases like Nitrogen Oxide andRadon, and Contaminants like Asbestos are commonly found inside homes.
No other plant native to South Carolina has such fragrant and beautiful spring blooms and stunning fall color as the witch-alders. Fothergilla was named after Dr. John Fothergill, an English physician and gardener who funded the travels of John Bartram through the Carolinas in the 1700’s. These beautiful shrubs have been planted in both American and English gardens for over 200 years, including gardens of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is a popular celebration in the United States, due to the number of Americans, 10.5%, with Irish heritage. One million Irish emigrated to North America, Australia, or other parts of Great Britain in the mid-1800s because of the potato disease now known as late blight. Late blight, caused by the water mold, Phytophthora infestans, destroyed the Irish potato crops in 1845 through 1849 and caused the Irish Potato Famine. Another one million people died from hunger or disease.
Virginia creeper is a native North American, deciduous vine, which can easily climb 30 feet or higher. Its tendrils end in oval shaped disks that adhere to surfaces and can damage stucco, the mortar between bricks, and painted surfaces. This highly adaptable plant grows in full sun to full shade. Grown as a groundcover, it can provide erosion control on slopes. Virginia creeper is very drought tolerant and a vigorous grower. To control the spread of this somewhat aggressive vine, prune, mow, or weed whack in the spring.
Virginia copperleaf is a tall, branched summer annual that can grow three feet tall. It takes its name from the copper colored leaves of its late summer color. This weed is a North American native that is found from Maine to Georgia and as far west as Texas and north to South Dakota. It is a member of the spurge family and is poisonous, but it does not have the milky sap that is typical of other family members. The simple leaves are oppositely arranged on the stems when the plant is a young seedling, but they change to an alternate arrangement as the weed matures.
The Cranberry is one of only three native North American fruits that was an important source of food long before the Pilgrims arrived. Native Americans, who referred to cranberries as sassamanash, recognized their healthy giving properties. Cranberries were recognized by the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as a nutrient-dense fruit. University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.