RESOLVING SKIN PROBLEMS WITH ORGANIC-GROWN FOODS

 

Recently there have been posts by the World Skin Centre highlighting the seriousness of skin issues and need for actions.

As someone who has suffered very serious skin problem I understand very well the pains. Resolving the skin problem I had was also one of the motivation for studying about food in relation to health - I didn't want to use antibiotics or any other medical drugs. 

I found out the foods that were good for solving skin issues. In addition, I started processing the raw forms of those foods - edible agricultural raw materials into body lotion. I also started compounding my bathing soap and hair wash with those edible agricultural raw materials. 

But I also discovered that agricultural raw materials produced or preserved with inorganic elements i.e. chemicals which are mostly  toxic can still flare up skin problems  whether eaten as food or produced into cosmetics used on skin.

That is in addition to myriads of health problems they can cause. But today I am focusing on the flare ups they can cause to skin issues.

If you eat fruits or vegetables or any food produced, processed or preserved with chemicals;  it can flare up any pre-existing skin condition you have. It may cause rashes, spots; acne etc. It may also cause itching. 

The same applies to rubbing products made from such on your skin. But the ones ingested seem to be worse as the inorganic elements in the bloodstream can be very harmful beyond causing skin irritations. 

Though my skin is mostly quite clear and I hardly feel itchy but when I eat food grown with these inorganic elements I still sometimes have that irritating feel of itchiness. Just that I now have very good ideas of resolving it. One of the ways is taking  food that you know for sure have been organic-grown. 

I bought Avocadoes some days ago - apart from eating the fruit; I also use the seeds in production of my body products and sometimes in health care. 

But Avocado has become a highly commercialised crop in high demand. So, many producers would no doubt be using inorganic elements for growing and probably preserving  these highly-demanded fruits. 

After eating the first Avocado; a day or so later my body started itching so much. The second one got ripe; I waited many hours later to cut it and it was already rotting with horrible colouration - so you can understand that these are toxins that would have caused skin itching or other health problems even if eaten before  rotting. 

You will also discover if you are a grower that seeds of crops produced through inorganic means are more difficult to cultivate through natural means. 

If you are fortunate to get seeds of crops produced naturally, you will most likely be able to cultivate more easily - all other factors in place. 

I have included photos of one of the Avocado plants that I have been struggling to grow whereas seeds from organic mangoes and oranges sprout very easily when they touch soil and the seedlings don't need much care to continue growing.

Also see photos of supposedly fresh but already rotting avocado fruit - so terrible- it must have been grown or preserved with inorganic elements

#pureagriculture

#agricutureversusgoodhealth

#organicfoodsforskin

#solvingskinissueswithorganicfoods 

#organicfoods

#organicgardening

#minigardenresearch

#thoroughbredseeds

#purebredseeds

#agriculturalmedicine

#gardeningindryseason 

#growingcropsindryseason 

#growingcropsinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

PURPLE-COLOUR YAMS GROWING IN MY MINI-GARDEN

These purple yams are NOT the purple sweet potatoes o. PURPLE yam is WATER YAM (Discorea alata) which are purple in colour instead of white.

Eeehnnn! You may wonder. Yes o,  there are water yams that are purple in colour and I hear the purple yams are so much more delicious.

I think they originated from Asia and also well-cultivated  in the United States.The Purple yam is also called Ube and Greater Yam.

From reading and making findings about it, I learnt the purple color is completely natural. The Purple colour is as a result of an antioxidant called anthocyanin, the same antioxidant responsible for the color of red cabbage, red wine, and purple cauliflower.

The purple yam (ube) is a great source of carbs, potassium, and vitamin C. The sweetness  is okay for people who are Diabetic. Though starchy, it is also suitable for weight  control among many other health and culinary benefits which I'll explore as the mature yams emerge.

So how did me- an urban  cemented ground mini-gardener get purple yams to plant?

I got them from the Fruithunter I met on Instagram last year and whose garden nursery and then farm I later visited in December.

You see good things can and do  come out of Social Media. As for those who like to use Social Media for bad things, na una sabi o.

OTHER GIST
See the photos- I finally used some almond leaves from my garden to cook moin-miin. 

In a previous post, I highlighted how almond leaves wrap so beautifully and ideal as food packs. But I was not sure if it can be subjected to the heat from cooking.

So today I made  very low cost moin-moin. Why? I said just in case the almond leaves couldn't withstand cooking heat and everything scatters and I have to throw away the moin-moin, it wouldn't pain me too much😄

But mehnn! Even the low cost moin-moin cooked inside the leaves is so delicious o!

Just note that after washing off beans' peel,  when blending the beans, don't add too much water - let it be thick or you add a flour - I added  small quantity of Cocoyam flour.

Then add other ingredients. Put some of the leaves at the base of the pot with little water. After wrapping the mix with the leaves and placing in pot, cook at relatively low heat.

So if you don't get the  commonly-used leaves for making moin-moin or eko from corn (agidi), use almond leaves.

ANOTHER GIST
Do you know some garden leaves among many other benefits can aid in wound healing? Yes o! While processing coconuts for oil and butter over the weekend, as I was using knife to remove the coconut from shells, the knife penetrated my palm.

I rushed to get my homemade organic lotion made from agricultural raw materials and applied - I immediately had soothing relief. The blood flow stopped and I was able to continue the task.

But afterwards,  I still had some pains from  still constantly using the hand to work. I would apply my organic  lotion and get soothing relief.

Later that day, I saw a post on Social Media, about the healing wonders of a certain leaf. Incidentally I have the leaf/leaves in my mini-garden -  the plant sprouted by itself in a basin of soil I prepared to grow another plant.

I went to pluck one of the leaves, I applied on the wound. Instead of the soothing relief that my organic lotion produces, the initial touch of the leaf produced a sharp pain and I started feeling the effects coursing through to my fingers which were weak due to the wound on my palm - it was like being given an injection.

In few minutes, the pain eased and I felt the wound healing and my fingers moving better. I plucked more  of the leaves - I started combining the leaves and my organic lotion in treating the wound - marvellous effects.

  I barely feel any pain now and  was able  to use the hand with the other to do so much chores and gardening over the weekend.

What is the name of the leaf? I will tell you another day. God has indeed given us everything we need in this life.

#purpleyam
#purplewateryam
#ube
#GreaterYam
#Discoreaalata
#moinmoininalmondleaves
#naturalhealing
#naturalwoundhealing
#pureagriculture
#agricutureversusgoodhealth
#minigardenresearch
#growingcornindryseason
#growingcornallyearround
#throughbredseeds
#purebredseeds
#agriculturalmedicine
#gardeningindryseason
#growingcropsindryseason
#growingcropsinsacks
#growingmaizeinsacks
#spaceconstrainedgarden
#gardeningincementedpremises
#gardeninginsacks
#growingplantsinsacks
#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening
#minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening
#intercroppinginsoilsack.
#growingcornindryseason

COCOYAM HARVEST TODAY FROM SACK IN MINI-GARDE

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Over the weekend, I couldn't help getting somewhat  irritated with the continuous  erratic increases in food prices - moreso because certain very very  local  foodstuffs like water-yam and cocoyam that used to be sold at  give-away prices were also experiencing astronomical price increases.

There are  so many other legit expenses  vying for the cash - if so very much money is continually used in buying food, my countrypeople, we are going to become solely stomach investors🤣.

So this morning, I wore my boots,  carried cutlass and shovel to the mini- garden  and let out the irritation  on the oldest cocoyam plants growing in one sack. 

I harvested at least cocoyam plant worth about N1,500 - more of the purple cocoyam than the white - I planted both in one sack some months ago- not up to a year. 

In addition I got a whole lot of organic matter  - leaves and stems of the cocoyam plants which I have used in manuring other growing plants like maize plants. 

Though vegetable plant remnants are good as manure,  one of your best if you are doingg green manuring is use of remnants of carbohydrate plants  in manuring.

I had to plant short duration crop like maize plants in the drum the mango tree is growing. The mango tree seems to be protesting but it will have to endure the corn plants  for three to four months.

While we keep the government/leaders in this nation on their toes over the state of the nation, let's also be doing some things at least to mitigate the effects.

Though very constrained by space, I choose to do farming- mini-gardening on cemented ground until doing it on large expanse of farmland becomes reality. 

 If we have been praying, let's also allow the prayers to have expression through some efforts on our part. 

In addition, the health benefits of healthy foods cannot be over-stated . Other benefits - some of the things that would have been wastes are good for manuring - if your fruits for instance are becoming over-ripe and not ideal for eating, you can use them for manuring. You already know about use of peels of plantain, yam, cocoyam etc  in manuring. 

Thank God for the grace to be able to do this write-up o after working with shovel and cutlass and then cleaning gardening and environs. Let me go and eat well before hunger starts biting . 

The Cocoyam will be good for cooking porridge or pottage, fried chips, pounded yam, pepper soup, bitter leaf soup, Ekpang nkwukwo.  I use Cocoyam flour as an ingredient in making confectioneries. Any other Cocoyam delicacy?

#Cocoyam

#Cocoyamharvest

#minigardenharvest

#sackgrowncocoyam

#pureagriculture

#agricutureversusgoodhealth 

#minigardenresearch

#growingcornindryseason

#growingcornallyearround

#throughbredseeds

#purebredseeds

#agriculturalmedicine

#gardeningindryseason 

#growingcropsindryseason 

#growingcropsinsacks

#growingmaizeinsacks

#spaceconstrainedgarden

#gardeningincementedpremises

#gardeninginsacks

#growingplantsinsacks

#minigarden #urbangarden #urbangardening 

 #minigardening  #integratedgardening #gardening #gardeninginsmallspaces #integratedgardeninginsmallspaces  #spaceconstrainedurbangardening

#intercroppinginsoilsack.

ALMOND LEAVES AS FOOD PACKS CAN REPLACE STYROFOAM

...Nigeria Elites please be local; in fact become bush persons in food safety 

Do you know that styrofoam can be replaced with almond leaves as food packs? Yes o! Even before the Almond tree gets to mature fruit bearing stage; if the plant is well-tended; the leaves become somewhat wide. The leaves would be thick enough to make wraps and durable like the common 'Moin-moin' leaves which are now so expensive and sometimes scarce. 

What I don't know yet is if the leaves can be used for cooking - subjected to high heat like making moin-moin from beans. But I know they are great as food packs as I have tried them as seen in the photos. 

Anyone who so desires can even try using them in cooking moin-moin  or 'agidi' -'eko'  from 'ogi' -pap before me - not sure I want to cook moin-moin until I get beans confirmed not to have been grown or preserved with chemicals. 

The advantage of using edible leaves as food packs or in cooking includes environmental protection. If not before; we know at least  from recent debates when Lagos state announced ban of styrofoam that styrofoam is not fully degradable so they clog drainage channels. 

Such also constitute health menace  as animals consumed by humans such as fish and shrimps ingest these inorganic materials that find ways into their habitats. 

But leaves are bio-degradable and even enrich the soil and water bodies if they get deposited there. 

More importantly; when warm or hot food is put in wrapped leaves; unlike plastic materials that release very toxic elements when heated; hot food is safe inside edible leaves. 

I did write sometimes ago that Almond leaves like many other fruit tree leaves are edible - the leaves can be boiled as tea or taken as soft drink - I am researching  other food possibilities.

But you may be concerned that if people start plucking almond leaves to use as wraps; it wont allow the tree  to bear fruits.

People shouldn't just start cutting almond leaves arbitrarily o - no farmer or gardener will take kindly to that. But those who understand know that plants usually need pruning to grow and produce maximally. 

The logic is simple - when a tree has so very much leaves; lots of the nutrients that  could have been used in fruit formation would be used up by the excessive number of leaves. So to balance out - having just enough leaves to produce fruits.; you need to wisely cut off or prune some branches and leaves.

So if you have access to Almond tree(s); find out when and how to pluck the leaves for food wraps or other uses.

My almond tree is just producing so many leaves as though it is a leafy tree 🌲 so I can be cutting off some of the leaves to allow fruit formation.

Remember such a tree must be well-tended - your efforts  will be worth it as you will get multiple benefits. 

Sophisticated Nigerians in particular that can afford very expensive food packs should take note of this: - you can be sophisticated in your clothing housing and such like but when it comes to anything that goes inside your body; dip sophistication for health safety - be local; in fact; be a bush person when it comes to your food safety.  

#almondleavesaswraps

#foodsafety

#replacingstyrofoam

#replacingplasticpacks

FARM CAFE IS EIGHT (8) YEARS IN OPERATION

STARTING OUT
Though Farm Cafe was registered in Year 2014, it was in February 29, 2016 it began operations.

I was actually directed by the organisers of the Youth Enterprise With Innovation (YOUWIN) programme to go ahead and register a business. I had entered the competition in hope of getting grant of millions of naira to float and begin operations.

So I went to the Corporate Affairs Commission to submit possible names for the business. I was later informed when I went back that none of the  names  I submitted was available.

It was the Commission that actually suggested the business name 'Farm Cafe' in a letter. I was asked to accept or reject.

The name Farm Cafe of course sounded real cool but I was wondering if it actually captured what I planned to do then-production  of crops mainly vegetables and livestock and also  Information  services on agriculture. The last part was a sort of giving back to society.

I accepted the name and completed the registration. I presented to YOUWIN that I had registered the business to start with the grant.

Days later, when I was informed that I wouldn't be given the grant, I was almost shattered- how was I going to start the business without considerable funds? Mainly, I needed farmland which I had gone to negotiate for around Ibeju-Lekki axis area.

Everything was set except that I didn't get the  funds.

NEXT STEPS
I was working in  mainstream media in this our  Nigeria  then. Not daunted by the disappointment of not getting the funds, I used my vacation periods to attend trainings  - one of which was techpreneurship at Fate Foundation sponsored by Microsoft Nigeria and Diamond Bank.

 
Towards the end of 2015 after I left work in mainstream media - I started developing my abilities in tech- I didn't have a tech background but I wanted to fill the information gap I had noticed in the Agricultural Sector - I studied General Agriculture with  some focus on Extension. The form of extension  or information services I had in mind for  Farm Cafe can best be achieved though tech.

During the tech training I had discussed with and contracted one of the very techy entrepreneurs. We mapped out strategies for the operations.

I launched the business with funding from family and personal savings - Due to the limited funds, I could only start on very small, in fact micro-scale.

In February 29, 2016, I floated and announced the operations  - it was designed to do Business to Business Connections, provide information and marketing support to farmers, agro-processors and other businesses in agriculture or related businesses.

THE CHALLENGES
There have been many shocks - for example  - some people won't just do what they agreed on with the person they have been connected with. But they would attempt to ride on Farm Cafe integrity in collecting money upfront for services or goods. 

After some instances of this and other issues,I realised that this Agribusiness brokerage services would be having too many disputes that Farm Cafe at such small level didn't have the framework to keep handling.

Farm Cafe was also intended to give some agribusinesses some boost by building their brands. Farmers didn't have to wait till the day of harvest  to start selling- Farm Cafe can help them circulate the information that they would be harvesting in some weeks or days and connect them to offtakers.

But most didn't  want to include budget for marketing . So they would rather harvest and see how much they can sell.

It is when they encounter problems of low sales and possibility of their harvests getting spoilt that they would contact Farm Cafe - Well,  I don't want to be marketing produce that may no longer be in  desirable state. So on and on the challenges  went.

ENCOURAGEMENT
I have had lots of support from the international community in terms of sponsored trainings which I appreciate so much and have written about.

RESEARCHES
I have delved into researches though on mini-scale to find out more uses for agricultural commodities in health and beauty.

In the course of all these, I discovered that a lot of foods are produced, processed or preserved with toxic elements which are mostly responsible for sicknesses including terminal diseases.

I have discovered that food produced in healthy ways eaten by people and also animals for human consumption are more potent than most medical drugs in not just curing but healing people.

FULFILMENT
So while I have not made the huge money I envisaged, I feel very fulfilled in knowing and sharing information on how people can stay healthy and avoid sudden deaths caused by seemingly healthy but actually toxic foods.

I still offer the initial services with more great plans for the future but Farm  Cafe is now more focused on information services to preserve and beautify human lives with good health by shedding light on the root  causes of most ill-health - food and drink.

APPRECIATION
I thank God who has sustained me, my family for their constant encouragement, the individuals and organisations within and outside Nigeria that have supported my endeavours over the years.

#FarmCafe #FarmCafeis8

GETTING SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH VALUE FROM FOODSTUFFS

Do you know that you can get additional beneficial uses from many foodstuffs, even from parts that are usually discarded?

Yes, let me mention  few - you can explore and read about others.

EGGS

 For instance, from eggs, rather than throw the shells away - you can rinse them, and preferably sun-dry the shells or use dehydrator at low heat so as not to feature them.

You can them blend the shells into powder and use from time to time to brush your teeth - it  whitens the teeth. It  also has healing effects on sore gums. 

You should still brush with regular toothpaste afterwards or rinse mouth with mint water. That is just one of the values.  

The powder can also be used in snail production as organic calcium source. Powder can as well be used as as scouring powder to clean off stubborn stains in pots. 

It may also be used in cosmetics production- though this is highly specialised so don't dabble into it unless you have researched it well - I use as one of the ingredients in the organic body lotion I make  and use.

COCONUT

You can burn coconut shells to make activated charcoal - this can be used to counteract food poisoning and for purification of water among other things. 

Recently I watched the video where coconut shells were boiled and salt added - if having toothache, you can then sip the warm water mix and leave in your mouth for  minutes to relieve the toothache - I have tried it- it worked to some extent. 

DATES

The seeds of dates usually discarded can be dried and blended into powder and brewed like coffee. It's aroma is similar to coffee drink.. Add your preferred sweetener.

WATERLEAF

I have written severely about leaves  and their usefulness in counteracting food poisoning- when we talk about food poisoning, hopefully, it's not about someone deliberately putting poison in another's food or drink.

 It may  be due to the use of dangerous elements  like chemical fertilizers,  herbicides, pesticides,over-treated water, reagents, preservatives, carbide, antibiotics, steroids in the production, processing and preservation of food and drinks which may then make the consumers sickly. 

Unfortunately, there are possibilities that some sudden deaths may be due to this.

If you happen to eat or drink anything that make you feel uncomfortable later, getting to the hospital or clinic immediately may not be possible. Avoid just going to  bed to sleep off the discomfort when you suspect or perceive toxins are in your body system.

 Eat one or few edible leaves organic grown - they soak up dangerous compounds that may otherwise attack your body cells and attempt to stamp out the life from the cells.

A few days ago while going to different places to sort out some things, I bought  freshly-baked snacks  from a nice eatery and ate - I hardly eat out because I am very particular about the source of the foodstuffs and Ingredients used in cooking. But from time to time, there may be need to.

Over the weekend, one late night I had to go pluck some waterleaf from my mini-garden- water leaf is  not easy to chew but it can be blended to extract the juice.

 Alternately, you can cut into small bits, swallow as though taking medicine and drink water. Apart from being a laxative that will help soak  and expunge toxins from the body, water leaf also has analgesic properties - it will help one sleep deeply inspite of any body pains or aches. 

You need just few of the leaves for this- so if what you can grow is not enough to cook, just grow some for such remedies or buy from guaranteed organic producers. 

Over and over again, those who understand the dangers  have been advocating that people who can should grow at least some of their own foods. But if not, start shunning foodstuffs produced with chemicals - buy organic grownfoods.. 

As concerned persons, we are  urging no use of chemicals in food production, processing and preservation. Human life  matters and even the health-safety in production of animals - livestock to be consumed by humans matters. 

LET'S INCREASE PRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL-FREE FOODS

A recent news about how kidnappers killed the kidnapped victim by making her drink chemicals was so saddening.

If a person can be killed by being given chemicals to swallow, why then do many food growers, processors and even merchants use chemicals in growing, processing and preserving foods?

Is there such a thing as food-grade chemicals? Let's bear in mind that chemicals cannot be removed by cooking; in fact the heat even increases their inflammatory effects when eaten. 

You may say the quantity they use is not enough to kill. Well, it may not be enough to  kill the first, second or third time of eating such foods with chemical elements, but the damaging effects gradually build up in the system. Hence, reason, lots of people later in life develop sicknesses that are seemingly have unexplainable causes - which in our clime are usually attributed to 'village people.' 

There are other causes of sicknesses no doubt, but eating of chemical-treated foods and drinks is a major one.

So what's the solution? Even though we can clean our system through some natural detox like eating certain naturally grown leaves or drinking the juices, it's still better to avoid completely the consumption of these harmful foods - they are slow poisons.

How many people would still take a food or drink if you find out that a little poison has been added?- just a little o! Isn't that what we do when we take foods or drinks with ingredients that have been  grown, processed or preserved with chemicals even if little?

Since it's not likely  that those commercial food producers, processors and handlers will desist  from such, the least people who care can do if they are able is to start producing or increasing production of safe, healthy foods.

 This should of course be devoid of chemicals- use organic matter for manuring, use water not treated with chemicals for wetting, use organic pesticides and biological means for preventing diseases.

 When processing and preserving, use organic means. You dont have to add chemicals to speed up drying of foodstuffs.

OTHER GISTS

How have you been coping with the heat?  If the water used for wetting is stored in a tank; It's better to wet the plants early in the morning before the sun rises and starts heating. The water would become warm and would stress the plants if used for wetting. 

If possible; also do other gardening tasks before it gets hot. On Friday; I suffered heat stroke because I was  pouring the soil from a worn-out sack into a new one with a shovel. I finished that around 11am. I started feeling sick from the heat. and went in to freshen up thinking I would be okay. By noon I was having serious symptoms - my breath was hot; I had a serious headache; very painful body aches and other symptoms. 

As always I thank God firstly that I recovered; also with taking of herbs. So by Saturday morning; I ensured I finished gardening tasks before the sun started heating. Let's use wisdom in doing the work  - heat stroke is not good o!