Get to know the persimmon fruit

Persimmon is a deciduous tree, which can grow up to 25 ft. in height. Scientifically known as Diospyros virginiana, the persimmon trees grow best in places with moderate winters and mild summers.

During the fall season, trees bear numerous fruits that vary in shape and size. Persimmon fruits come in spherical, heart, or squash shapes and weigh from as little as a few ounces to more than a pound. The color of the fruit is generally orange - ranging from light yellow-orange to dark orange-red depending on the variety. The entire fruit is edible, except for the seeds and the calyx. However, the skin is usually removed before consumption.

Persimmon fruits are classified into two general categories: "astringent" and "non-astringent".

Originated from China, the oriental fruit is popular in Japan known as "hachiya". An unripe "hachiya" contains a hight level of tannin making it taste tart. As the persimmon fruit matures (soften and color deepen), the tannin level goes down, leaving the fruit sweet and delicious. Astringent persimmons are harvested when they are hard and ripe. They can continue to ripen at room temperature. The hard astringent variety can be stored in the refrigerator for several months.

On the other hand, the non-astringent persimmon fruit containing less tannin is treated with alcohol to remove astringency. They are ready to be harvested when they are ripe and slightly soft. The non-astringent variety can only last a few days at room temperature.

Although persimmon fruit is not well known in other parts of the world, the fruit is gaining attention for its nutrients. It's low in calories and fats but serves as a rich source of dietary fiber. This remarkable fruit contains vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, all of which are necessary for health.

calcium
iron
potassium
manganese
copper
phosphorus
protein
catechins
vitamin A (for eyes and skin)
vitamin C (tooth, gum, tissue growth & repair)
B-comple vitamins

Like many fruits, persimmons can be eaten fresh, dried, or cooked. Fresh picked persimmons can be cut into quarters like an apple. Dried fruits are eaten as snacks or used in desserts. Persimmons are also used in recipes for puddings, pies and cakes as well in health drinks and jams.

Here's an excellent recipe for cookies using ripe persimmons.

2 ripe persimmons, pureed
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
Dissolve baking soda in persimmon pulp and set aside.
Sift flour, spices and salt together, set aside.
Cream together butter or margarine and sugar until fluffy, beat in egg and persimmon. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in nuts and raisins.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

However you want to consume the persimmon fruit, you'll be delighted by its sweet taste!

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The power of music on living things

Music is a form of communication as well as entertainment for all living things.

We all know that music has a powerful effect on human's emotions. The ancient Greeks even believed that music has the power to form character.

We also know that animals have their own form of music - birds sing songs, humpback whales vocalize stanzas, bats squeak supersonic melodies, etc.

In an experimental study on tamarin monkeys in Central and South American rain forests, psychologist Charles Snowden recorded the tamarin calls and composed music tailored to those monkeys.

As expected, tamarins didn't show any reaction to human songs, but they clearly displayed signs of emotions and reacted strongly to Snowden's composed music for tamarins.

Although plants don't make their own music, they do respond to music. In 1968, researcher Dorthy Retallack used many musical styles to show the effects of music on plant growth. She drew an interesting conclusion, the plants grew well in every type of music, except rock and roll. The plants that were exposed to rock or acid rock withered and died.

How can plants "listen" to music?

Music is made up of sound waves that are frequencies oscillating through air. It has been discovered that plant stomata respond to music.

The function of stomata is to allow gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen to move into and out of the leaf. It has been found that resonant frequency causes stomata to open under the influence of music or specific tones.

However, if rock music or high pitched tones that cause the plant to vibrate, the stomata will close and open after a lapse of time. Thus, the wrong kind of music will interrupt the natural rhythmic process of photosynthesis in a plant, which in turn affects plant growth.

All living things have a natural gift to be influenced by music. Yes, music is that powerful!

Think of the mood you'd like to be in before you select your next song!

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Balcony Farming For City Dwellers

Living in a concrete jungle, you can still feel connected with nature by growing your own food right in your own cozy balcony environment. Growing food just needs a little space, and even the smallest apartments have windowsill space for a pot of salad plants or a container of delicious strawberries.

For whatever reason - saving money, worrying about safe market food products, or simply enjoying the experience of growing your own food - nurturing balcony farming is not only practical, but also challenging and inspirational.  

Anyone can be a farmer. You don't need a green thumb to grow fruits and vegetables as food on your plate. It's really quite simple. If you have pots, soil and water supply, you can grow many popular edible vegetables. Most vegetables will grow in well-drained, rich soil and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day.

Here's a list of various crops (in alphabetical order) that can be successfully grown from your small apartment balcony:

artichokes
asparagus
broccoli
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
cucumbers
eggplants
green beans/peas
lettuce
leeks
onions
parsnips
peppers
potatoes
radishes
tomatoes
turnip
spinach
squash
strawberries
sweet corn
Swiss chard
zucchini

Herbs: basil, chives, cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, peppermint and rosemary, thyme

When our lives have become so complex, saturated with technology and materialism,  we need to return to the basics of nature to understand the meaning of life. By growing our own food, flowers or plants, we learn to appreciate and cherish deeply what nature has given us - nourishment, beauty and life.

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Ten Popular Natural Scents

According to the mystics, the sense of smell gives pleasure and relief to the soul.

Unfortunately, we, humans, perceive the world mainly through our visual and audio senses, while downplaying our sense of smell. We've lost the animal instinct for the sense of smell to make us want to know another or repel us to avoid one another - all part of the biology of attraction.

Nevertheless, smells hold an uncanny power over us - a sniff of food makes our mouths watery, a whiff of a long-forgotten scent takes us back to memory lane, or a long inhale of natural scent alleviates stress while soothes our soul.

In aromatherapy, these are the ten most popular natural scents in alphabetical order for relaxation and sleep. Nature offers its best for natural cures without any side effects.

1. Bergamot - used in perfumes, and tea, popularly known as Earl Grey and Lady Grey - helps digestion, inflammation as well as treats depression.

2. Chamomile - used in tea and medicinal herbal treatment - has antispasmodic and antiinflammatory effect. Chamomile, used for inhalation or as tea, produces a calming agent for relaxation.

3. Jasmine - used in as fragrance as well as antidepressant - induces warm, calming emotions and sensuality.

4. Lavender - used in soaps, shampoos, lotions, potpourris, tinctures and teas - has multiple functions. It can be used as an antiseptic. It also relieves anxiety, rids of insomnia and eases depression. Lavender oil in massage helps one to sleep better, to stabilize moods, and to have better focus.

5. Lilac - used in perfumes and as a tonic - brings serenity, pleasurable memories and peaceful slumber.

6. Mandarin - outer peel extraction used in oils and fragrances - has a balancing, uplifting and calming effect.

7. Rose - used in oils and fragrances - calms nervous tensions and gives one a positive feeling about oneself.

8. Sandalwood - used in fragrances and wooden products - pacifies anxiety and anger while promotes relaxation, sleep and meditative states. In fact, sandalwood’s fragrance is closest to human pheromone. It is traditionally considered as an aphrodisiac.

9. Vanilla - used in food and oils - increases the levels of adrenaline, stimulating and invigorating one as well as producing a calming, relaxing and comforting effect.

10. Ylang-ylang - used in fragrances - has both stimulating and calming effect. It is known for its ability to slow down the sympathetic nervous system and stimulates mental alertness.

Nature offers many wonderful remedies through the sense of smell to cure one's mental anxieties and troubled soul in this stressful world. As Oscar Wilder aptly put it: "To cure the soul by means of the senses, and the senses by means of the soul!"

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