Sunflower seeds

The high-fiber seeds also help promote and maintain digestive health. Their impressive nutritional profile makes sunflower seeds an excellent source of energy and a simple way to add lift to your everyday recipes.

A handful of sunflower seeds will take care of your hunger, while also enhancing your health by supplying significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium.

It is a very easy task to cut and dry your sunflowers. Sunflowers are ready to be harvested once the back side of the flower turns yellow and will droop somewhat, instead of facing the sun.

In northern areas, this might be after the first killing freeze. In warmer areas, the plant will dry down naturally.Harvesting sunflowers usually occurs sometime between September and October.

By this time, most or all of the petals should have fallen off, and the backs of the heads will have turned tan or a pale yellow. Simply snip the head off the plant and rub the seeds out by hand.

If birds or other pests are attacking your sunflower heads, you can cut the heads and hang them in your garage like onions often are dried. But you need to ensure that the seeds are mature. You might also have another option to discourage the critters. Cover the heads with paper sacks so the seeds are harder to retrieve.

If you’ve determined that your sunflower is ready, cut the head of the sunflower off while leaving a bit of the stem still attached. Do not harvest sunflowers that are still green in appearance. Look for sunflowers that have lost most of their leaves, are somewhat brown and hang heavily.

Your sunflower seeds are ready if they are plump and striped with black and white. Once you have cut the sunflower, allow the flower to dry out for approximately one week.

The drying process allows the seeds to be released from the sunflower head.  If the sunflower head has dried sufficiently, the seeds should fall out rather easily. If you find that your seeds are not coming out easily, it’s a good indication that the flower head needs some additional drying time.

When the seeds are thoroughly dried, dislodge them by rubbing two heads together, or by brushing them with your fingers or a stiff brush. Allow the seeds to dry for a few more days, and then store in airtight glass jars in the refrigerator to retain flavor. Use nutrient-rich sunflower seeds for snacks and as a substitute for nuts in baking.

To toast the seeds to enhance their flavor, lightly brown them in a skillet over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, or on a cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Lots of gardeners grow sunflowers as home-grown bird feeders. It’s great fun to watch little birds hanging upside down on the heads as they peck out one seed at a time. After the seeds are gone, chop up the stalks with a shredder or a machete and add that organic matter to your compost pile.

Assuming that you want some of the seeds for yourself, choose the biggest heads for harvest.

Want  to know more about sunflower seeds? Then click here:

Sunflowers Rise & Shine In Your Garden! | Your Organic Gardening Blog

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener

Stress

Just about every illness is either directly caused, or made worse, by stress. That includes heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, along with:

• Back pain and headaches
• Stomach and digestive problems
• The growth of tumors
• Sleep loss and fatigue
• Skin problems
• Weight gain or loss
• Depression
• Confusion, irritability, forgetfulness and more

While stress plays havoc physiologically, even depleting our bones, research shows that gardeners do not suffer from osteoporosis because of weight bearing activities like digging, raking, squatting to plant shrubs, lifting bags of soil, or pushing a lawnmower.

Have you ever noticed that some of the calmest people are dedicated gardeners? Most of them don’t have large gardens, but they are committed to being outside in their “space” on a regular basis.

Gardening is one of the best kept secrets around for a complete workout. No expensive equipment required. A hoe, a rake and a desire are mostly what are needed to start. Thirty minutes and longer of continual gardening is equal to a good workout at the gym. You will get in your aerobics, weight training, running, and stretching.

Nothing makes me feel better than being outside on a warm sunny day working in my garden. It helps me relax, gives me time to think and just makes me feel really good. For me it works better than meditation or yoga or even traditional therapy.

The stress just melts away as I dig in the dirt and pull weeds. I love the anticipation of wondering what the flowers will look like and I get excited every time a bud blooms. It is such a great feeling to know that I had a part in creating something beautiful.

Studies show that just looking at a garden can be good for your psychological health. Bright colored flowers make people feel happy. Being outside and smelling the fragrance of the flowers and fresh-cut grass can be deeply relaxing

At harvest time I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I can put fresh food on my table and say, “I grew that,” or, “That came out of my garden.” I love sharing the fresh fruits and vegetables with my family and friends.

Scientists have known for a while now that lack of sunlight can be detrimental to our mental health. Lack of sunlight can make you sleep too much, feel lifeless, crave bad foods such as sweet and starchy items, and even make you feel depressed. Getting out and tending to the plants in your garden will help you get more of the much needed sunlight, which will also provide you with vitamin D.

Besides the feeling of warmth, you are getting vitamin D which helps raise your mood. Because gardening is a beloved hobby, gardeners lose track of time and therefore do not age while immersed in their passion!

In addition, gardening lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. We spend our lives wishing to return to the Garden of Eden in the afterlife; yet the Garden of Eden is here on earth…

Want  to know more about the joys of gardening to relieve stress? Then put your question here.

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener