The Benefits of Western Red Cedar

If you haven't noticed yet, all of our products are made out of western red cedar. This is no accident. The benefits of using this wood are plentiful, both for style, health benefits, and environmental sustainability. Keep reading to understand why we at Green Gourmet Garden only used the best material for our planters.

One of the greatest benefits of using red cedar for our planters is that it is completely renewable and recyclable, meaning that the footprint this wood leaves on the environment is literally zero. Many other products used to build planters such as plastic or metal use resources that will be forever lost. As well, wood products make up 47% of the raw materials harvested in the USA, yet only use 4% of the energy required to harvest all raw materials!

Another benefit of using western red cedar to build our planters is that it is a quality and durable building material. This wood has been used as a building material for literally hundreds of years in many different settings. As well, red cedar has a natural resistance to decay and insects, meaning that your planter will allow you to grow for years to come. As well, maintenance for red cedar wood is minimal. While the colour can fade over time, as all wood does, all it takes is a quick sanding or power wash to fully restore your planter to a full reddish shine.

Finally, and most obviously, western red cedar just looks darn good! There's a reason that red cedar is used in every sort of building project. It makes any fence, deck, house siding, or other product really stand out and look great. Also, red cedar has a natural hue that no other material can mimic. With a variety of hues and grain patterns, red cedar is the obvious choice!

http://greengourmetgardens.com/
http://www.wrcla.org/

Vegetable Super-foods!

Home grown vegetable are the best way to ensure that you and your loved ones are consuming food that is untouched by pesticides or preservatives. Some veggies though are extremely packed full of nutritional goodness and contain major health benefits, far surpassing the average vegetable. Here are some examples of these super-foods that you can grow in your very own garden!

Broccoli is one of the most common, yet most healthy vegetables one can grown. First off, it is absolutely packed full of much needed nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and ESPECIALLY fiber (10% of your daily recommended intake in a mere cup). As well, broccoli is considered a cool weather crop, meaning that it can thrive in early fall. Broccoli can be prepared in many ways, from steaming them, to casseroles, to simply eating it raw!

Another fine super-food to grow in your backyard garden this summer is lettuce. That stuff normally found in salads is packed full of flavonoids, which contains necessary antioxidants and cancer fighting properties. On top of that, this leafy vegetable is good for your ticker as well! In fact, one Harvard study concluded that by eating 8 or more servings of vegetables a day, and being sure to include leafy veggies, one can reduce their risk of coronary heart disease by up to 20%.

On the stronger side of thing, garlic is an extremely healthy vegetable to grow in your own garden. While it may make your breath stink to high heaven, garlic is packed full of sulfur, which not only gives it that characteristic smell, but also helps to relax and expand your blood vessels, which in turn can lower your blood pressure. Furthermore, the allicin compounds in garlic are antibacterial and antiviral, which helps fight off cold and flu. So, as long as you don’t mind the smelly breath, plant some garlic in your garden for the amazing health benefits!

Finally, one of my personal favourites is the sweet potato. This versatile veggie does an excellent job of stabilizing blood-sugar levels, unlike its potato cousin. As well, it lowers the body’s insulin resistance, making it great for a diabetic’s diet. On top of this sweet potatoes are loaded with anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for conditions such as asthma and arthritis. But the best part about this plump produce is that it can be cooked so many ways! Bake it, mash it, fry it, the possibilities are endless.

By growing these delicious and nutritious super-food veggies, you’ll keep yourself and your family healthy and happy. So what are you waiting for, get growing!

Give back by growing your own garden!

You may have not enjoyed history in high school, but this is quite interesting…

During World War I and World War II there was incredible pressure on food supply, which was brought on by the war effort because farmers were sent to war. Thus, wartime victory gardens were created by civilians who were not only forced to deal with the scarcity of food supplies but also felt that it was their civil duty to give back.  Growing your own garden during these wars was part of everyone’s daily life in Canada, US, and the UK.  

Sometime after this, we lost our way, and factory farms became the norm as life became too hectic!  In a time when we are living with major global threats and shrinking natural resources, we should be taking a page out of our parent’s and grandparent’s book! Growing your own garden will be your opportunity to give back to this planet and give you that same sense of pride and duty that our ancestors felt. Stay tuned to our weekly blog and welcome to another fantastic gardening season!

Happy Gardening!

The Green Gourmet Gardens Team

(Psst, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook)