Honey, I shrunk my wound.

I know it's not the same as being there and being present among quizzical chickens and Oskar the peacock, but here is a batch of photos that hint at the splendor of working on a small farm, without the sweat and dirt, though I much prefer my experience swelling with both of those enlivening reminders of life. 

Honey is an antibacterial you can eat! Besides it's exquisite taste, it can also be used to treat infections. And it never goes bad. Honey found in ancient Egyptian tombs is still edible. See the link below all of the pics.

Really now, do you really want tomatoes that have been picked before they're ripe and then sprayed with ethylene to artificially ripen them? All in the name of transporting them 1000s of miles so you can pay for their cross-country trip...

"Out of season, the tomato is usually picked before it's ripe for transportation across the country. It is then sprayed with ethylene, a chemical that forces the fruit to ripen - with mediocre results." http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/05/tomato_genome_map.html

Thornbury's CSA store where our savvy neighbors can purchase local honey, natural, aromatic soaps, and freshly picked and washed arugula.

 Oh. Hi!

 Oskar the peacock

3 reasons Honey is an antibacterial. 

1. Honey is a saturated or supersaturated solution of sugars that has strong interaction with water molecules. The lack of ‘free’ water inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
2. When honey is diluted by wound exudates, hydrogen peroxide is produced via a glucose oxidase enzyme reaction. This is released slowly to provide antibacterial activity but does not damage tissue.
3. In addition to its antimicrobial properties, honey also appears to stimulate lymphocytic and phagocytic activity. These are key body immune responses in the battle against infection.

In most cases, honey is used when conventional antibacterial treatment with antibiotics and antiseptics are ineffective. Numerous studies have shown that these difficult-to-heal wounds respond well to honey dressings. Inflammation, swelling and pain rapidly subside, unpleasant odours stop, debridement is enhanced as the honey dressings remove dead tissue painlessly and without causing damage to the regrowing cells. Honey promotes rapid healing with minimal scarring.

Honey can also be used as first aid treatment for burns as it has potent anti-inflammatory activity.

http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/honey.html