Those who are able to afford the “pack up and go” attitude are indeed lucky. Unfortunately, not all city dwellers are lucky enough to have this kind of opportunity. Some need to be in the city because their jobs require them to be while others are not yet ready for the kind of life that awaits them in farms and rural areas. Let’s face it, not all humans are created to easily adjust to the demands of time, whether they like it or not. The good news is, your home need not be situated in far, far away land nor be as big as your whole street. You can live the kind of life they lead in farms right in the heart of the city, this is called urban homesteading.

Urban homesteading can be considered as your first step to the sustainable life you have always dreamed of and it doesn’t have to be so drastic, especially if you cannot afford it. Those who successfully made it swear that urban homesteading requires a lot from a person but at the end of the day, one will soon realize that it’s all worth it. Taking precious baby steps toward your goal will help you a lot.

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Organic farmers believe that a free range chicken is one happy chicken and therefore is not oozing with harmful toxins. Not only will it help your energy levels and staying power last longer but also it was said to delay the aging process when introduced along with overall healthy lifestyle.

Most free range chickens are kept organic, since then it became so popular to health buffs the world over causing a shortage in supply. This alone makes it a very lucrative business for farmers worldwide especially in times like these when people are beginning to make a conscious effort in living a healthy lifestyle. Organically raised chickens are grass fed and they are encouraged to live a stress free life of clean air and water. As much as possible, no chemicals are introduced to the chicken’s system, whether directly to the chicken or to its surrounding areas.

Free range chickens are a great source of protein. Aside from that, it offers many benefits to humans when consumed. It is healthy and very delicious too unlike those that are raised in coops which tend to be less tasty. Be warned though, since free range chickens require special care, it tends to cost more than its supermarket counterparts.

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Bee farms are cheap and easy. In fact, they are most recommended for small scale farmers with no resources to start their own businesses with. Many organizations are working on introducing this kind of activity for developing countries like Africa and Asia. So far, may farmers have responded and bee farms are faring well.

There’s no better time to start your own bee farm than today since the demand is very high and the supply is somewhat lacking. It opens a door for poor farmers to somehow generate enough income to support his or her family. It can even be a family business since beekeeping can be done by everyone in the family including kids. Best of all, it can blend perfectly with your crops, assuming you’re also growing them. As we all know, bees pollinate, making your crops all the more healthy therefore increasing their productivity level.

Bees produce honey while honey has high value when sold. They are very easy to harvest and won’t require any additional technology to do so. All it takes is a simple know-how which most free seminars will teach you. Furthermore, its byproduct is well sought-after by manufacturing companies and even health conscious individuals so there’s no need to fret where to sell your goods after each harvest.

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Community supported agriculture works effectively in and around areas where farm communities are conveniently located. Since the transportation costs is somehow lessen, if not prevented altogether, produce are offered cheap to members considering that they only have to pay for one-time shareholder’s fee before the planting season starts. There are many types of arrangement when going for CSA depending on what’s convenient for both the farmer and his consumers, these are:

·    Farm-to-home delivery set-up. In this arrangement the farmer will have the produce delivered to his consumers or the consumer picks it up after harvest all boxed up and ready to go. The only problem in this set-up is that the consumer would have to put up with what goes in his or her box since it is all up to the farmer’s discretion.
·    On-farm handpicking set-up. Consumers are allowed to pick their own share in the farm when harvesting season arrives. The only drawback is that this set-up tends to leave the farm in pieces after the harvest is over such as trampled plants. Not to mention this one angry shareholder who happens to be late for the picking.
·    Market style set-up. To avoid farm destruction, some resourceful farmers opt to put up a small stall outside of the farm and put together the produce for the consumers to choose from. This way, everyone is happy to have a variety a produce but also the farmer won’t have to worry about the state of his farm during handpicking sessions.

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Forest farming involves trimming down, albeit cautiously, some certain genus to reestablish balance and equilibrium of a particular forest. Forest farming is encouraged in areas wherein there is an existing issue of overabundance of certain species which restrict growth of other living organisms essential in the biological cycle. Some of the most popular harvests are exotic mushrooms such as Shiitake and other medicinal, edible fungi. This method of farming is not only about harvesting but also it involves planning and cultivating to ensure that the biocycle is not destroyed in any way. Forest farming proves to be a fun and profitable venture that anyone could explore.

Several government funded seminars are conducted to teach locals residing near forest areas about forest farming methods and techniques, as well as the kinds of mushrooms that could be grown in the area. These seminars go as far as how and where to sell your produce after harvests. Aside from mushrooms, there are other crops you can find, grow and harvest in forests since they have rich and very fertile soil that could grow practically anything you can think of. These crops include, but not limited to:  ginseng and ferns which are used for medicinal and ornamental purposes.

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Given these bountiful rewards, who could turn away from this very lucrative business? If the only thing that hinders you from acquiring your own income generating farm is land, think again; there are microfarms operated right in the heart of the city and its neighboring suburbs–one might even be near your place.

Actually, all you need is a piece of land. Determine how much space you can set aside for your own garden and consult an expert on what crops could be grown based on the condition of soil within your space. Usually, you can grow small crops like tomatoes, peppers and radishes. In microfarming, variety is important. However, if you plan to make this as an income generating one, stick to crops that are popular so you could sell them once they are ready and stay away from the ones that will take up too much space such as corn and potatoes. Start with a little garden first then if everything goes right in place, you can add a greenhouse later.

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Always remember to take everything in moderation.  Nothing is really bad for us unless we take in too much.  Fat for example is bad since it has a lot of cholesterol which can clog our arteries.  However our bodies also need a certain amount of fat.  Fat is easily converted into energy which is what keeps all of us going.  Wine and alcohol is also bad for us since it does not only make us tipsy these drinks also contain a lot of calories.  However studies have shown that alcoholic drink like beer actually help in the digestion of food.  Wine also contains anti-carcinogens which can help us live longer.  So keep in mind that everything you consume should be done in moderation.  Chocolates are full of calories and fat but taste good and also contain anti-aging agents.  So eat and drink moderately.

If you like fried food then it’s also best to change into a low cholesterol cooking oil like canola.  Other cooking oil like coconut contain a lot of HDL which is the bad cholesterol.  Oil like canola and olive oil contain cholesterol too but it’s the LDL they contain or the good cholesterol.  Certain oil most especially coconut oil can actually contain more HDL than a piece of beef!

A good tip would be to take in as much fruit and vegetables as you can.  Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals not found in meat, plus fruit make good dessert.  Fruit and vegetables also contain a lot of fibers which aids in good digestion and also helps the body eliminate waste.

Eating excessively is bad because you are doing your body more harm than good.  Eating a balanced diet plus regular exercise can strengthen your body.  People say that you are what you eat so in order to be healthy, eat healthy food all the time.

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First of all health supplements are your everyday, common vitamins.  These are easily available in most drug stores and can be brought with or without a doctor’s prescription.

Probably the most important reason why we should take our vitamins is because of our lifestyle.  Modern man is always on the go.  From house to school  or work and then work to home again.  Our lifestyle has driven us to seek food in fast food joints, junk food, soda and other “instant” food which we can just shove onto our mouths and rush around again.  Because of this we do not get the daily recommended amount of vitamins and minerals our body needs in order to maintain its health and condition.  This is why multi vitamins or health supplements are most useful. They provide our daily dose of vitamins and minerals.

Vitamins and minerals are important.  They boost the immune system which fights off diseases and keeps us in good condition to fight germs.  Which is another good reason why we should take health supplements.

They say that “health is wealth” and when you take your vitamins everyday, you are on your way to having a healthier body.

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A macrobiotic diet is different from a vegan diet. A vegan diet is exclusively greens while a macrobiotic diet includes some foods from animal sources, although in limited amounts only. In some ways, a vegan diet shares common food staples with macrobiotic diet such as brown rice and beans but their principles are different. Generally, macrobiotics is based on healthy eating practices that were applied before, when artificial and chemical compositions in food are unheard of.

Macrobiotic dieters state that macrobiotic is a way of life and not a diet which focuses on nutritional value of the food they eat. They believe that in order for the body to achieve maximum health levels, everything inside it should be in perfect balance. This means that a dieter should not deprive the body of nourishment but not overeat. Macrobiotics also has set of rules for cooking and what to eat on certain seasons such as spring, summer, fall and winter. You will also have to learn how to do a macrobiotic diet properly, if you are planning to engage with one.

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Salt is already known to health experts as a high-risk nutrient for cardiovascular problems – high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. A new study conducted by Dr. Rachel Thompson, of the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), concludes that regular consumption of salty soups increases the risk of stomach cancer. This particularly applies to several well-known brands of creamy soups, especially those containing ham or bacon. Some of these contain around half of the recommended daily intake for salt, which is a maximum of 6 grams per day, in a single serving. Vegetable soups are generally lower in salt (and hence safer), though some of these also carry as much as one-third of the recommended daily intake for salt per serving.

Owing to the risk of stomach cancer, Dr. Thompson recommends that people watch the salt content of branded soups (reading the labels) and make low-salt versions of their favorite soups. People who consume other salted foods – like sausages, hams, and processed cereals (especially those taken for breakfast) – are at a still higher risk of stomach cancer, if they also continue regular intake of salty soups. To stay on the safe side, it is advisable to watch all branded foods for their salt content.

The risk of getting bacterial infection from peanut butter is more immediate as the popular food item is suspected of spreading the infectious bacteria Salmonella. After the latest Salmonella outbreak (culminating in January 2009) in the United States, which left around 600 people down with illness and possibly killed 9 people in the US, the food safety center of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the collection and testing of peanut butter for bacterial content before allowing it to go into a facility. Stewart Parnell, the CEO of the Peanut Butter Corporation of America, was summoned by congressional subpoena to explain his orders to ship products of bacteria-tainted peanuts to about 50 manufacturers of food items. While Parnell chose to use his right of not answering the questions, the potential risk of acute bacterial infection remains with the peanut butter products and consumers are advised to stay away from these until the investigation comes up with its conclusions. A list of peanut butter products recalled by the FDA can be read online at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

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