Best Ways to Find your Local Farmer's Markets and Organic Food Coops

We have been discussing in a few forums and shows at Momtv about the need of healthier ways to feed our families. Unfortunately, in the United States there has been a lack of self interest in knowing the quality of our foods. We have been accepting what the mass media has chosen as the best foods and we have ended up as one of the sickest Countries in the world! Can you believe this?

Thank Goodness! A new trend of Healthy Living has arise and more and more people are turning away from fast foods and industrially processed foods.

But then, we are faced with another challenge! It can be pretty costly to eat healthy. The price of all natural products, or organic products at the local Health Food Stores can raise your weekly expenses dramatically. So, how do we do it? Most of us are in an a tight budget and eating healthy can brake us for good. Do we settle for cheap unhealthy food?, or do we manage to find healthy organic foods at reasonable prices?

I have been thinking about bringing you every week tips and tricks to find the best Natural and Organic Products.

This week I want to bring some fun and easy links to get access to your local Farmer's Markets as well as as Organic Food Coops.

I love technology! And it looks that our farmers are getting in with the times too. This were my favorite links to find your local Farmers Markets by County (If you have the option of the County, go with it, you may find information on close areas that you did not have in mind).

FARMERS MARKET DOT COM This a fun website! They have been compiling a lot of information by State. Just click on your State and then scroll down until you find the closest one to you. At the end of each page you will see a link "MORE" click on it and it will take to more and more pages.

http://state.farmersmarket.com/


LOCAL HARVEST. This website has tons of information and it even has the option for you to purchase organic and natural products directly from it. Prices are still a little high but it also gives you the option to search for your local producers and farmers by State, City or Zip Code. Once you have the search options, you can see a little bit of information per organization and how to contact them. Some of them, even offer delivery options. Being closer to you, costs will be reduced.

http://www.localharvest.org/

USDA also offers a link to find your local Farmers Markets. Here I would recommend to do the search by County. Once again, it helps to extend your search to close by places you had not even thought of.

http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets/

Now, I mentioned a great resource local Organic Foods Coops. I have personally save about half of what I used to spend on my organic produce through a local coop. It entitles to take home whatever comes in your "coop share", but so far it has been a happy healthy option for my family. I have been splitting my share in 3 portions, among my Sister in law, my mother in law and myself, and we have all plenty of great produce for a whole week.

I found a few links that will help find coops near your home.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodcoops.htm

http://www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm

Researching for coops, I found that Facebook has fantastic information and links to the actual coops! Don't you love technology. Sign up or Sign in on Facebook and just search Food Coops or Organic Food Coops and you will find a fun list of options. Hopefully one of the close to you.

Lastly, get involved with your community friends, they might know of important resources that you ignored, or may be you can start contacting near by Farmers that would deliver their products to a few families in your area for a delivery fee.

Once again, it just takes to take one step each day to offer our family a healthier life style! Try it! It is worth it!

A Mom's Natural Approach to Family's Health

How Did I Survive The Flu without Tylenol

As many of you know, I had some health issues at home last week. What I week I should say!

I have three kids under the age of 5 and I am by myself most of the time. Last week the Flu Bug got us, well, at least it got the three kiddos. What a nightmare! First it was my three year old daughter, then my five year old son and lastly my 6 month old baby daughter. Fever, stuffy or runny noses, body aches, non-stop coughing and "mommy mommy mommy" to last for an eternity.

Traditionally, many parents face moments like this and unfortunately, due to the times we live in, we need fast solutions to get everyone back to "some" health. So, the easiest way out of the flu virus is to run to the drug store and get either Tylenol, Motrin and all sort of cough syrups. I call this the "Easy Button" and we have all been guilty of using it at one point or another.

After beginning my journey on Alternative Medicine, new options started to pup up in front of me. I was surprised to realize that these Holistic Health options really worked! How is it that the mass media had not been promoting it this fantastic Natural Cures for the Flu? (Well I guess it does not behoove the pharmaceutical industry right?)

After my struggle with the flu I realized that I need to share what I know in order to help other parents find these amazing Natural Remedies for the flu season. Hey, they gotta work, my kids are up and running, no major asthma attacks, coughing did not develop into bronchitis, and most importantly I DID NOT GET SICK! Can you believe it! Well, I can! I have done it over and over and it works every time.

What is the secret? Old fashion home remedies, Homeopathy, Natural Herbal Remedies, fresh organic juices and rest.

Crazy? No, I don't think I am. Everything that I mentioned above works, it just takes some time, and as parents we are entitled to ask our kids care givers to offer the time they need to heal in moments like this (by this I mean nannies, day cares and even grandparents!)

I know, you are probably wondering what on earth I am using, and I can tell you that I am using a lots of things.

First of all I use two of my favorite Immune System Boosters: Colloidal Silver and Family Immune Formula. (Don't worry you are not going to turn blue like the Oprah Blue Guy! This was an extreme case of homemade colloidal silver improperly used). As soon as I see the kids with the first symptoms, I started them on an intensive treatment, appropriate amount per age and weight, 3 times a day of each of the above.

In addition, I continue their daily regimen of DHA supplements,and multivitamins but try to increase their Vitamin C intake, as well as their Vitamin D (obtained through sun light exposure).

Ha! wait a little more to do. Homeopathic treatments are simply fantastic. I usually give them oscillococcinum. You can find the pediatric and adult formulas easily either over the internet or at your local Health Food Store.

And with all this and that, my mom's home made chicken soup and warm fresh lemonade. Some way some how Natural Holistic Remedies work to help your family get over a flu. We just need to let the body build its own defenses and fight for good. This over the counter pain killers and cough medications, only stop the symptoms but the real thing is still lingering in your family's bodies waiting to get you back through another venue.

In my case! this is I what always do: Start Colloidal Silver 3 times a day, Airborne every four hours. I also continue my Fish Oil, B Complex and most importantly Immunity Formula I from Shaklee. All I felt was some sneezing and scratchy throat but they soon faded away.

I have to be honest, it was not easy, I had to be right on schedule with everything, and there as a fair share of crying and fever, but the effort is well worth it. Right now, they are happy, healthy and rambunctious. I have not had to run to the hospital for excessively high fevers or bad asthma episodes and I am super happy with the results.

I know everyone's journey is different, but I certainly hope that my experience will help you at least to make a an easier and informed decision, find some alternatives and achieve Health Naturally.

And please don't forget to share your stories leaving a comment for other ones to read!