Whoze afraid of zombies?

Yesterday we spent the morning harvesting the yard.  I say that because we don't have a garden that's a part of the yard: we've got us a garden that is the yard.  Tomatoes of various kinds, onions, leeks, shallots, cucumbers, green beans, citrus, melons, 'taters, and of course it's time of the avocado tree to be its fine and crazy self.   Feel like we're getting all prepped up for the zombie apocalypse. 

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This year's addition to the yard-which-is-a-garden:  the melon patch.  Canteloupe, watermelon and pumpkin.  

​ Studies show that people with a garden are healthier.  I'm sure it's being outside, including the sunshine but also the soil: getting those good bacteria from the dirt through our epidermis into our microbiome, and getting "grounded," as we interact with mother earth: syncing the electrical charge in our cells with the planet's.  Of course, there's physical movement involved but don't forget the food.  

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My "garden bowl" for lunch, along with some home-made kombucha, something we just started getting in to.  Our canyon with the creek down below for a stress busting mystical backdrop and, of course, the hammock awaits.   People who nap have lower inflammation rates, stronger immune function, better cognition, the whole deal.  I don't nap because I want to, it's just required by my company health plan. 

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Some other wellness elements from that day come to mind.  For one, a sense of purpose that transcends self and benefits others is proven to support health.  We don't just grow food for ourselves, but to  bless our neighborhood.  People comment how much then enjoy just walking by our front yard (not a yard: a garden), and relational connections get made that otherwise wouldn't, another key to good health. 

Finally, I finished my day by kegging the home-brew from home grown hops: maybe my favorite part of the yard/garden.  You may have noticed a stylized image of them in the Salubris logo.  Sure, a lot of wellness weirdos out there will tell you to ditch the hootch.  But the healthiest, longest-lived populations on the planet regularly enjoy a drink with the people they like to hang with.  And hey, when you brew your own you can draw that 3-4 ounce pour from the kegerator to moderate intake, if you want to.  But it can also be part of the 90-10 rule:  you do it all right 90% of the time so you can enjoy some of the "off the list" stuff and not have to worry, your immune system can more than handle it.  

There are some nasty zombies out there.  Some of them are making us stay home and worry about getting sick, but around here we're doing what we can to beat them off: all the things we can for immune support, being a part of the community and helping others, and enjoying whatever fruits (and vegies) life and the place we live have to offer. 

Ain't afraid of no zombies 'round here.