Cucumbers are a popular and prolific veggie -- and apparently they have many other great uses besides being a delicious addition to any meal.
You can find homegrown Michigan cucumbers at Country Harvest Greenhouse during the summer months.
1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one
cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5,
Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus,
Potassium and Zinc.
2.For a pick me up in the afternoon... Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source
of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up
that can last for hours. Slice some and put in your water bottle.
3. If you rub a cucumber slice along your bathroom mirror, it will
eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Place a few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden
will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber
react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but
drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5.
Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or
to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem
area for a few minutes, the phytochemical in the cucumber cause the
collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and
reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber
slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.
Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish
essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium,
avoiding both a hangover and headache!
7. Looking to fight off
that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for
centuries by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to
thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job
interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your
shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will
provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also
repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge?
Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila,
the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don’t have time for
massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place
it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the
cucumber will react with the boiling water and released in the steam,
creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress
in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11.
Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints?
Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with
your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical
will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless
steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to
clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the
shine, but it won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or
fingernails while you clean.
Source
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Lead & Gardening: Important Facts to Keep in Mind

Unfortunately, the soil in many areas has lead in it. While only elevated levels of lead (over 400 parts per million) are considered hazardous by the US Environmental Protection Agency, no amount of lead is safe for children. Lead can cause serious health problems, including brain damage, especially in small children.
As you make your gardening plans for this summer, please consider the following tips provided by the Healthy Homes Coalition:
How to Protect Your Family
• Always wash vegetables before eating.
• Wash hands after gardening.
• Don’t wear gardening shoes inside the home.
• Add lime to your soil to maintain soil pH levels above 6.5 to limit lead
availability to plants.
• Add organic matter to your soil to bind the lead.
• Don’t let your kids eat dirt.
For more information, view this "Gardening & Lead" Fact Sheet from the Healthy Homes Coalition.
Labels:
Container Gardening,
Health,
Tips
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Know your zone!
Not your time zone. Your plant hardiness zone. That is an important part of plant survival.
Most of west Michigan falls in Zone 5 according to the USDA Map.


That means when selecting perennials, the plant must say it is hardy to Zone 5 or below in order for it to survive a Michigan winter. Anything listed for 6 or above needs a warmer climate than we can offer. (Plants listed 6 might make it on the lakeshore, where the lake keeps things a little warmer).
It also means that when sowing your vegetable garden and planting your annual flowers, you need to be sure you plant when it is safe to plant for Zone 5. After the last spring freeze/frost dates. The weather forcast can help you determine when that date will be this year. Or, a rule of thumb followed by many in Michigan is to wait until after Memorial Day before planting tender annuals and vegetable gardens.
This spring find your zone and enjoy the fruits of your labors!
Most of west Michigan falls in Zone 5 according to the USDA Map.


That means when selecting perennials, the plant must say it is hardy to Zone 5 or below in order for it to survive a Michigan winter. Anything listed for 6 or above needs a warmer climate than we can offer. (Plants listed 6 might make it on the lakeshore, where the lake keeps things a little warmer).
It also means that when sowing your vegetable garden and planting your annual flowers, you need to be sure you plant when it is safe to plant for Zone 5. After the last spring freeze/frost dates. The weather forcast can help you determine when that date will be this year. Or, a rule of thumb followed by many in Michigan is to wait until after Memorial Day before planting tender annuals and vegetable gardens.
This spring find your zone and enjoy the fruits of your labors!
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