Preserving Food for Winter and Beyond

As the winter season soon approaches, many farmers markets and roadside produce stands will disappear, only to return with the warm spring weather. Gardeners will either have to reap one last harvest before the first frost or will have to move whatever portable plants they can salvage indoors. This last-ditch effort to make the best use of the fresh produce that is available may lead you to an abundant supply of produce that you cannot use before it goes bad. So how can you preserve the food you have now while taking advantage of your garden’s last bounty for months to come?

In The Complete Guide to Food Preservation: Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Freeze, Dry, Can, and Preserve Food, author Angela Williams Duea will explain how to use centuries old techniques that enable you to make tasty creations that will keep for weeks and months at a time. You will learn exactly when and how to harvest herbs, vegetables, and fruits and ways you can store these items. Some of the preservation methods this book covers include canning, freezing, smoking, juicing, drying, pickling, and even fermenting, which allows you to create your own brand of beer or wine. Learn how to create a homemade herbal tea blend to keep you warm on the coldest of winter days, or follow the tips to cook maple-cured bacon to start off any snowy morning. You will also learn all of the tools and equipment you will need to preserve your favorite foods.

Looking for a unique and homemade gift for friends and family this holiday season? Consider making your own jellies, preserves, or applesauce. Planning on making pies for a holiday bake sale or to finish off a large family gathering? This book will not only offer tips on how to freeze your fresh fruits so you can use them for weeks to come, but will also tell you how to thaw those fruits and use them in pie fillings. So whether you want to create a homemade treat to share with loved ones during the holiday season or you are just looking for a way to make the best use out of your garden’s final offering, The Complete Guide to Food Preservation will offer mouthwatering tips and recipes for ways you can capitalize on this year’s last harvest.

Growing Tomatoes, Going Green

According to a recent article from The Iowa Independent, the push to grow and purchase organic produce has become more popular than ever. This movement has drawn more attention in recent months after the May release of the President’s Cancer Panel report that expressed concern federal regulators had greatly underestimated the risk pesticides, antibiotics, and herbicides have on causing environmental cancer. The panel, which has members the president hand selects, reports on issues related to the country’s national cancer program. The report faults the government for lax regulation of the 80,000 unstudied chemicals used on food and produce. This report had drawn new attention to using organic growing practices to ensure the foods and produce consumed are healthy rather than harmful.

Along with the push to go organic, many concerned consumers are making the decision to become “locavores,” a term used to describe shoppers who prefer to purchase food grown locally. The reasoning behind this movement is not only is the produce grown naturally, but there will also be a decrease in the amount of fossil fuels used to transport the food. Instead of purchasing fruits and vegetables that has been shipped across the country, locavores prefer to purchase their produce from farmers markets, nearby co-ops, or even decide to grow it in their own backyard.

So how can you ensure the food you prepare is grown free of pesticides, is the freshest available, and has not been transported hundreds of miles to reach your dinner table? The easiest way is to grow your own produce, and one of the most popular plants seasoned and amateur gardens alike can grow is tomatoes. In The Complete Guide to Growing Tomatoes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply — Including Heirloom Tomatoes, author Cherie H. Everhart covers everything readers will need to know to begin growing tender, juicy tomatoes. Everhart walks gardeners through the steps they will need to prepare their garden plot, including how to select a location and perform a soil test; choose the right seeds; purchase all the equipment necessary to begin planting; how to determine the proper time of year to plant; and the spacing tomatoes will need to grow vibrant and healthy. Readers will learn the difference between heirloom and hybrid breeds; how to prevent and treat pests and disease naturally; and organic practices to use to ensure healthy plant growth, including tips on composting, cover crops, and organic fertilizers. There are even recipe suggestions for how to use your newly harvest tomatoes and ways to store, can, and freeze your tomatoes for future use.

Whether you care about you and your family’s health, your carbon footprint, or are just looking to save money at the grocery store each month, The Complete Guide to Growing Tomatoes will offer all the advice any gardener will need to have fresh and plump tomatoes.

Great Fundraising Tips for the Holidays and Beyond

With the official start of the holiday season only weeks away, people all over the country will see cheerful volunteers ringing bells asking for spare change. Signs will pop up on street corners everywhere, reminding passers-by of various holiday fundraisers that benefit the local homeless shelter, animal rescue organization, or a variety of nationwide nonprofit organizations.

In years past, nonprofits only had to worry about competing against other charity organizations for donations, but with the effects of the Great Recession still looming, nonprofits will face additional difficulty. According to a report recently released by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the top 400 charities in the country experienced an 11 percent drop in donations in 2009 and the impact the recession will have on this year’s donations is yet to be seen. Event coordinators and gift officers for charitable organizations will have to find new and creative ways to entice the American public to continuing donating. How can you ensure this year will be a profitable one for your cause?

In 199 Fun and Effective Fundraising Events for Nonprofit Organizations, authors Eileen Figure Sandlin and Richard Helweg provide readers with events any group can use to raise revenue both during the holidays and throughout the year. This book walks readers through nearly 200 events and explains the amount of prep work needed to create the event, approximate cost of hosting the event, degree of effort required, and how easy it will be to find volunteers and a venue. The events in this book range from simple to complex so your group can discover the perfect way to raise money for your cause. Would your organization be interested in conducting a holiday cookie dough sale or creating a cookbook full of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes? Perhaps your nonprofit would rather sponsor a holiday carnival, host a wine tasting, or have a New Year’s Eve gala. Regardless of the amount of volunteers, staff, time, and funds you have available, you are bound to find a great fundraising event for your organization in 199 Fun and Effective Fundraising Events for Nonprofit Organizations.

43 Ways to Simplify Your Life

Zen Family Habits posted this article by Sherri Kruger on 43 ways to simplify your life.

Here are some easy tips taken from the list:

1. Set your clothes out for the next day the night before.

2. Make your lunch for the next day the night before.

3. Enjoy the present moment as much as you can.

4. Reduce the amount of tv you watch.

5. Create morning, daytime, and evening routines.

6. Don’t get caught up in other people’s drama.

7. Focus on a simple, but healthy, eating plan.

8. Be positive.

9. Finish old tasks before starting new ones.

10. Focus on one thing at a time.

For the complete list, read the whole article at Zen Family Habits.

Simplify Your Life

This week is Simplify Your Life Week, which is all about organizing and uncluttering your life. Things don’t have to be so complicated; make an effort to break free from the unnecessary baggage in your life, and you can live more simply.

Check out these books that can help untangle a few things in your life:

1. The Parent’s Guide to Uncluttering Your Home: How to Organize What You Need and Recycle What You Don’t

2. 101 Recipes for Preparing Food in Bulk: Everything You Need to Know About Preparing, Storing, and Consuming

3. The Complete Guide to Project Management for New Managers and Management Assistants: How to Get Things Done in Less Time

Follow Twitter as we post tips on simplifying your life!

Seven Dimensions of Wellness

While July is only Social Wellness Month, it is still important to consider the other areas of wellness in your life.

The 7 Dimensions of Wellness, according to the University of California, Riverside, are:

1. Social

2. Emotional

3. Spiritual

4. Environmental

5. Occupational

6. Intellectual

7. Physical

Each factor of wellness interacts with the others; so while you are focusing on Social Wellness this month, you are improving other areas of wellness too!

Check out these books if you need some help improving other areas of wellness.

Environmental Wellness: http://atlantic-pub.com/green.htm

Occupational Wellness: http://atlantic-pub.com/career.htm

Follow us on Twitter for more!

Social Wellness Assessment

Are you socially well? Take this assessment from Definition of Wellness to find out.

Social Wellness Assessment

The social dimension of wellness involves developing, nourishing and encouraging satisfying relationships.

Read each statement carefully and respond honestly by using the following scoring:

Almost always = 2 points

Sometimes/occasionally = 1 point

Very seldom = 0 points

_____ 1. I contribute time and/or money to social and community projects.

_____ 2. I am committed to a lifetime of volunteerism.

_____ 3. I exhibit fairness and justice in dealing with people.

_____ 4. I have a network of close friends and/or family.

_____ 5. I am interested in others, including those from different backgrounds than my own.

_____ 6. I am able to balance my own needs with the needs of others.

_____ 7. I am able to communicate with and get along with a wide variety of people.

_____ 8. I obey the laws and rules of our society.

_____ 9. I am a compassionate person and try to help others when I can.

_____ 10. I support and help with family, neighborhood, and work social gatherings.

_______ Total for Social Wellness Dimension

Score: 15 to 20 Points -  Excellent strength in this dimension.

Score:  9 to 14 Points – There is room for improvement.  Look again at the items in which you scored 1 or 0.  What changes can you make to improve your score?

Score:  0 to 8 Points – This dimension needs a lot of work.  Look again at  this dimension and challenge yourself to begin making small steps toward growth here.  Remember:  The goal is balanced wellness.

How did you do? If you need to improve  your social wellness score, keep up with our Twitter all week long for tips on improving your social wellness.

July is Social Wellness Month

Social Wellness Month is sponsored by Words of Wellness and was put in place to assist people in their efforts to live a healthier life. Social Wellness Month offers an opportunity to help others feel good about themselves and build stronger social ties to the people you love.

According to Definition of Wellness, social wellness is having positive interactions with and enjoying being with others. It is having comfort and ease during work and leisure situations and communicating feelings and needs to others. It involves developing and building close friendships and intimacy, practicing empathy and effective listening, caring for others and for the common good, and allowing others to care for you. It is recognizing the need for leisure and recreation and budgeting time for those activities.

At Atlantic Publishing Group, we can help you improve your social well-being. All of this week we will be Tweeting facts and tips for social wellness, blogging about ways to enhance your social wellness, and sharing links to websites for more information.

Check out this book for more help:

How to Start and Make a Conversation: How to Talk to Anyone in 30 Seconds or Less

For more, take a look at our Self-Help books, or follow us on Twitter!

Teachers Can Make a Difference

Teachers can be one of the most powerful influences on children. Their actions go far in shaping the behavior of students, and they often serve as role models for students. They can directly affect their achievements in school, have an influence on future school and career goals, and encourage students to succeed in other parts of their lives.

This article explains the part a teacher can play as a role model:

http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/17266.aspx

Creating a positive student-teacher relationship is important in having a favorable influence on children. A positive relationship is necessary to raising student achievement, as this article explains: Positive Relationships. If teachers have a positive attitude and outlook and try to get along with students, they are more likable and can have a more positive impact.

If you are a teacher, there can be a lot of pressure for you to be that positive influence. The first year of teaching has the most pressure, and at Atlantic Publishing Group, we have books to help you be successful in your first year.

• How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching Elementary School: Everything You Need to Know That They Don’t Teach You in School
• How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching Middle School
• How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching High School

From an Expert

Author and Parent Advocate Sue Scheff believes that educating parents on an industry that is extremely confusing is the first step to finding the best help for their teen. Take a look at her WordPress blog and see what she says about National Make a Difference to Children Month.

http://suescheff.wordpress.com/

Her latest post explains The World’s Longest Group Motorcycle Benefit Run. It started July 17th in St. Augustine, and is heading to Alaska to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit Ski-Hi Institute. Ski-Hi supports the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.