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“There have been approximately 10,000 big league baseball players in my lifetime,” says 67-year-old East Bay novelist Jack Saunders. “It’s impossible that none of them have been gay, yet 100% of those who were chose to remain in the  closet, at least during their playing careers. “I thought the consequences of the first active major league baseball player to come out and the story behind it would make for an interesting book project.”

That is the back story to Baseball Comes Out, Saunders’s exploration of the first acknowledged gay player to come out while still in the big leagues. As it happens, the protagonist plays for the San Francisco Giants and is portrayed as the best closer in the big leagues; meaning the team would be inclined to put up with the distractions created by such an event. That his partner is the team’s best pinch hitter and a respected veteran of nearly 20 seasons adds further spice to the story.

“In my mind, the plight of gays is the civil rights issue of the early 21^st Century,” Saunders said. “It’s easy to forget that right after World War II, African Americans often could not frequent the same restaurants or drink from the same water fountains as white Americans could. Most of us now, naturally, see that as ridiculous. I believe that Americans later in this century won’t understand the furor around same-sex marriage and the reluctance of gay athletes to be themselves in public. The movie 42 featured the heroism of Jackie Robinson but also highlighted the ignorance and bigotry of some of his white contemporaries. I tried to do the same thing with my book.”

Baseball Comes Out is a what-if story. What if a gay major leaguer decided to come out of the closet? How would the baseball establishment react? What affect would a gay player have on his team? How would fans behave?  “This is not the rant of a gay man,” Saunders says, but rather a protest by an offended baseball fan. “The game I love is screwing men I admire. The villain here is the closet itself.”

The author’s background as a professor at Golden Gate University and a corporate p.r. director for Lawrence Livermore Labs and Pacific Bell are especially useful has he takes us behind the scenes for plausible front office and consultant conversations. The book’s characters are multi-dimensional and the baseball segments are realistic.

A gay athlete coming out in one of the four major North American team sports is probably more a matter of when, not if. World class athletes in tennis, rugby, soccer and golf have already done so. Retired gay football and baseball players have published books about their time as pro athletes in the closet. Reading Baseball Comes Out is akin to reviewing the first draft of a coming major event in American sports history.

Baseball Comes Out is available as an e-book on amazon.com for kindle readers.

“Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.”

                                                                                                Sergei Rachmaninoff

Today, in many homes, one will find the piano residing in the living room or other location. Whether the instrument is played by a family member or just an elegant piece of furniture the piano is important to many.  Have you ever wondered how the piano came to be?  Obviously it just didn’t appear in its present state of construction one day in the past. It, like almost everything, has an origin and a history of its ancestor’s evolution to its present day form.

Piano

How does it work? The piano, a stringed-percussion instrument, produces sound by hammers striking metal strings that are stretched across a soundboard when the black and while keys on the keyboard are depressed.  The piano was originally known as the ‘Pianoforte’ that literally means “soft-loud.”

Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori (1655-1731) is credited with the development of the modern piano we know today, in 1709.  He was a harpsichord maker from Florence Italy. The early piano was first produced because an instrument was desired that had a better dynamic range (degree of loudness) than the harpsichord. The new hammer action could produce gradations of loudness that was lacking in the harpsichord. Finally performers were able to have a better mechanism to provide musical expression and varying degrees of dynamics, contrast and nuance.

Around 1720 the original piano action was improved upon and went virtually untouched for the better part of a century.  Even with modern improvements during the last 300 years the modern version is very similar to Cristofori’s piano of the 18^th century.

“From 1790 to the mid-1800’s, piano technology and sound greatly improved due to the inventions of the industrial revolution,” wrote Mary Bellis in The History of the Piano. “Tonal range increased from five octaves to seven and more.”

The modern piano is so versatile it is used as a solo instrument, an ensemble instrument an accompanying instrument for vocalists and other instrumentalist in both classical and other genres. It is currently manufactured in upright and grand piano formats.

To establish a link to the piano’s present-day construction, appearance and function one must go back several hundred years to the late medieval through the renaissance, baroque and classical eras. Many string and keyboard progenitors preceded the piano; prominent among these are the clavichord and harpsichord that led to the invention and construction of the pianoforte.

Clavichord

The clavichord can be defined as a stringed keyboard instrument housed in a rectangular case. In order to produce a tone, the strings are “struck” by a mental wedge called a tangent. The name “clavichord” comes from the Latin word clavis meaning key and chorde which means string. The Harvard Dictionary of Music states the clavichord produces a very soft sound and at first hearing is often thought as disappointing.  Variations in the force with which the keys are struck produce changes in loudness although not to a great extent. The instrument is limited in the range of its sound therefore it is a very sutbtle sounding instrument best heard in small intimate settings as opposed to a large concert hall or outdoors.

One of J.S. Bach’s sons, Karl Philipp Emanuel Bach, was an important composer of the most idiomatic music for the clavichord. Today there are numerous clavichord societies around the world keeping the instrument and its music alive.

Harpsichord

A rudimentary definition of a harpsichord is: a keyboard instrument similar to the piano. The strings are ‘plucked’ by a quill rather than struck by a hammer like the piano.  “The harpsichord is descended from an instrument called the Psaltery; a hand-held stringed instrument played with a plectrum: a piece of quill, ivory or metal used to pluck the strings,” explained Cynthia Reeser in The History of the Harpsichord. “In the late 14th century a keyboard was added; this development soon led to the harpsichord in the early 15th century.”

Some of the early instruments, especially those made by the Italian makers, circa 1521, were somewhat small and lightly constructed.  It is reported that they have a characteristically pungent, immediate, almost at times percussive tone. The Flemish style instrument from the early 17th century was more solidly constructed than their Italian cousins. Two sets of strings and two manuals (keyboards) were common and they had a fuller sound.

In general, harpsichords were used for both solo work and as an accompanying instrument in chamber groups as well as larger ensembles. It was much in favor in the Baroque period as a ‘continuo’ or bass part in numerous compositions. In the late 18th century the harpsichord was gradually displaced by the piano.

So the piano, the instrument in many of our homes, has a long and storied history. It just didn’t happen – it came about through many prototypes and the genius of talented instrument makers of the past, for whom we are so grateful.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net                                                                           Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

 

 

 

Successful investing is not easy, although it should be.  Unfortunately human nature and our emotions often get in the way of investment success. A great deal of time and energy is put into trying to predict the future. But just like Yogi Berra said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” Our society is addicted to instant information. At every turn your smart phone, tablet, PC, print media and TV are all bombarding you with information 24/7 about the direction of the markets, economy and interest rates. At the end of the day, none of it really matters. The future is unknowable and all of those talking heads on CNBC cannot predict the future any more than you and me.

Don’t get me wrong. A working knowledge of available investment products and an understanding of how different asset classes interact with each other can give you an edge. Staying informed and studying history can give us some perspective on current events. I certainly have some opinions as to what the outlook might be and it is very important to understand how major long-term trends will affect the economy and the markets. My point is that the daily information overload does little to help us make intelligent investment decisions. It is just “white noise” that distracts from what is really important.

So what is really important? I believe there are certain investment basics that never go out of style. These guidelines can bring you success no matter what the future holds. I call them my Five Tenets for Investing:

1)      Invest with a plan.  Sounds basic enough but have a specific plan and time frame for your money. Is your goal to “beat the market” or are you simply trying to make sure your money will provide you a worry free income during retirement? There is a big difference. Decide what is important to you and to meeting your goals.

2)      Diversify.  Invest globally and maintain exposure to a variety of asset classes. This means that there are always going to be some things doing better than others at any given time. Resist the temptation to change your plan and pile into the asset class that is doing best right now. We want some things to zig when others zag!

3)      Invest with a professional.  Get some help.  A professional can help you put a plan together to reach your goals and manage risk. More importantly, a professional cam help take the emotion out of investing by injecting some rational thinking and perspective. This is crucial during volatile periods.

4)      Invest continually.  Up or down markets, keep reinvesting and adding to those accounts.  Regardless of what future investment returns will be, it is certain that the more you save the more you will have at retirement.

5)      Have patience.  The most important tenant of all.It is also the toughest for most investors to follow. Investment results are measured over many years, not quarter to quarter, month to month or day to day. You have got to stick to your plan.Too often, investors derail their long-term plans by making emotional, short-term decisions. We have all heard it a million times (maybe because it is true!) … you have to invest for the long-term.

Investing can be easy if you stick to the basics.

This is my last column for Alive. Thank you for reading. I hope it has made some of you better investors. Good luck and happy investing!

Damien helps individuals invest and manage risk. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a principal of Walnut Creek Wealth Management. These are the views of Damien Couture, CFP^® and not intended as investment advice.  Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic stability and differences in the accounting standards. Your comments are welcome. Damien can be reached at 925-280-1800 x101 orDamien@WalnutCreekWealth.com.

I spent the first one-third of my life taking cucumbers for granted. Whenever I came face-to-face with one, at best, I hoped it would be; A) not bitter, and, B) crunchy. Expectations for flavor were nonexistent. Cucumbers were something that showed up in restaurant salads, and I dutifully ate them without thought.They were neither good nor bad, just…there.

For years I half-heartedly purchased cucumbers to “dress up” green salads at home, or to add yet another element to a crudité basket. Then my friend, Ernie, invited me to dinner at her family’s ranch in Glen Ellen.

Mrs. Raffo, her mom, was a warm and generous hostess whose Sunday suppers rivaled any restaurant in town. The make-shift dining table often extended well into the next room, just to accommodate all the family, friends, and neighbors who routinely dropped in. (And this wasn’t exactly a convenient location for a drive-by. Perched high above the Valley of the Moon, to reach the house required arocky ride up miles of winding dirt road. Believe me, anyone who pretended to “drop in” for a Sunday afternoon visithad an ulterior motive.) While captivating aromas wafted from the kitchen, Ernie’s dad made sure everyone’s glass was filled with local red wine. This Irish girl from the suburbs suddenly longed to be Italian.

I can’t remember the entrée fromthat warm summer evening, but I do remember the huge platter of sliced home-grown cucumbers—both green and yellow (who even knew there was such a thing?)—layered with garden-fresh tomatoes and slivers of sweet, red onion. Was there a drizzle of fruity olive oil on top? Salt and pepper? Who knows? Who cares? It was love at first bite. The combination was heavenly; and these cucumbers actually tasted good. Where had they been all my life? Evidently not in a supermarket’s cold-storage unit.

In those days (when dinosaurs roamed the earth), if you didn’t have a backyard garden, your only chance for truly fresh produce was a country farm stand. But now that California is blessed with a proliferation of farmers’ markets — with a stellar one right here in downtown Danville—procuring a genuine taste of summer couldn’t be easier.

In addition to real cucumbers, this month’s farmers’ market is brimming with vine-ripened tomatoes; sweet corn; summer squash; tender little apricots; juicy berries of all persuasions; aromatic melons; early nectarines, peaches, and plums; and the last of the cherries. And you’d better stock up, in case someone drops in for supper on Sunday.

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The 411 on Cukes

–Varieties found at the farmers’ market include the long, slender Japanese cucumber; round, yellow “lemon” cucumbers (named for their appearance rather than their flavor); the long, ridged Armenian variety; and of course the “slicing” or “common” cucumber most frequently used in salads. Short, bumpy Kirby cucumbers are perfect for pickling, though equally good eaten raw.

–Long, thin English (hothouse) cucumbers have fewer seeds and very thin skin—which is why they are encased in plastic.

–As a general rule, the smaller the cucumber, the smaller the seeds.

–Most large-scale commercial growers favor tough-skinned cucumber varieties that withstand days of abuse during the long ride to supermarket distribution centers. These cucumbers are pumped with water to make them grow faster (and weigh more), and then waxed to hold in the moisture….in case you’re wondering why they are usually such sorry specimens.

–Common cucumbers from the farmers’ market are not waxed, so the skin is perfectly edible. Lemon cucumbers with a rough exterior are the only ones that benefit from peeling.

–Check the ends of a cucumber for any sign of deterioration; then make sure the entire cucumber is firm. If there are any soft spots or it is limp or shriveled, it has lost moisture and is not fresh.(Fresh cucumbers are approximately 96 per cent water.)

–Cucumbers are best eaten within 3 or 4 days. Refrigerate whole, unwashed cucumbers between paper towels in a loose plastic bag. Slice them just before serving.

–Don’t limit cucumbers to salads—they add delicious crunch to sandwiches, too.

–Farm-fresh cucumbers are so tangy-sweet, you’ll want to eat them cold as a snack. A noisy cucumber is a good one!

–Cucumbers can also be sautéed in olive oil or butter with a little garlic or fresh herb, and served warm as an intriguing side dish.

–Give yourself the spa treatment: Add several slices of cucumber to a pitcher of cold water and refrigerate for several hours to blend flavors.Bliss.

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Greek Cucumber-Yogurt Dip

Don’t confuse this with those watery dips that often pass for tzatziki. Thick, good-quality yogurt and farm-fresh cucumber make all the difference.You could take a shortcut—and omit Step 1—by using Greek-style yogurt, but draining plain yogurt overnight ensures proper texture, so be sure to plan ahead. Serve with fresh vegetables for dipping, or wedges of fresh pita bread or pita chips. I also often serve a generous spoonful alongside grilled chicken or fish fillets. It’s cool and creamy and refreshing — the perfect antidote to a warm summer day.

• 2 cups plain yogurt
• 1 large cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded, and coarsely grated
• 1 tablespoon coarse (kosher) salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh mint
• 1 garlic clove, crushed through a press
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• Freshly ground pepper or cayenne

Line a sieve with cheesecloth, an unbleached coffee filter, or a double layer of white paper towels and place over a medium bowl. Spoon the yogurt into the lined sieve, cover with plastic wrap, and let drain in the refrigerator overnight.

1. In another bowl, toss the cucumber with the salt. Cover and refrigerate for about 3 hours to draw out the liquid.
2. Transfer the drained yogurt to a clean bowl.  (Discard the liquid, or whey, or save for soup stock or another use.) Stir in the sour cream, lemon juice, dill, mint, garlic, and cumin.
3. Using your hands, squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the cucumber. Add the cucumber to the herbed yogurt mixture and stir to mix. Season with pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours (or up to 8 hours) to allow the flavors to develop. Makes about 3 cups.

 The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

A summer getaway to Europe is an exciting adventure. However, packing for such a trip can be overwhelming. But, it can be a simple and efficient process that will result in looking sharp and feeling comfortable throughout your travels. I once toured Austria and Italy for three weeks with only one carry-on bag, and I had 42 outfit combinations that I did not repeat!  So, here’s my recommended packing list for a two to three week European escape:

5 Bottoms: (1) jeans, (1) cotton/casual pant, (2) pair of shorts (a longer length will allow you to enter churches, etc. without incident), and (1) skirt. All bottoms should be either of two neutral colors: navy/tan or black/white, for example. If you don’t like to wear shorts, then add another casual pant or skirt instead.

6 Tops:  (2) tanks, (2) short sleeve t-shirts, (1) long sleeve t-shirt, and (1) button-up blouse. Layer the tanks or t-shirts under your blouse if the weather gets cooler. Select tops in accent colors that will coordinate with the bottoms. The goal is to have each top go with as many bottoms as possible for variety and comfort.

2 Sweaters: (1) pullover, and (1) cardigan. The fabrics should vary, so that you’re covered when the temp drops.

1 Dress: a cotton dress that can go with flat sandals during the day, and dressier sandals at night.  Select a dress with an all-over pattern (a feminine floral, perhaps?) that won’t show wrinkles as much as a solid. (photo 1, available at etsy.com.)

4 Shoes:  (1) comfy flats (photo 2, available at shopgeox.com), (1) sporty walking shoes, (2) sandals—one flat and comfy, and one dressy (and comfy). Make sure that the pressure points of the shoes hit your foot in different places, so that if a blister pops up, you can switch shoes, and give that “owie” a break for a day or two.

Additional items: (1) hat, (6) underwear, (2) scarves, (1) lightweight jacket, (1) umbrella, (3) socks, (1) carry-on tote for magazines/books and (1) small cross-body bag (photo 3, available at countryoutfitter.com) and a minimal amount of inexpensive/versatile jewelry.

 

 

A few more dos and don’ts:

*DO roll clothes or use packing cubes (photo 4, available at bedbathandbeyond.com) to maximize space in your luggage.

*DO wear your heaviest clothes/shoes on the plane both ways, including a wrap/pashmina, and use it for a pillow or blanket.

*DO check the weather forecast before you leave. Why carry an umbrella for 3 weeks, when it’s clear skies?

*DON’T wear sneakers or a fanny pack. They scream “Tacky American Tourist”, and that’s a bad thing (photo 5). That includes sports teams t-shirts and baggy cargo shorts, too.

 

*DO use a local laundromat, rather than washing items in the sink. You get to experience the local culture firsthand, it only takes 1 ½ hours, and you don’t have underwear drying all over your hotel room.

*DO go shopping, and pick up anything you’ve forgotten…and have a fabulous time!

Share your packing ideas with Carolyn at C2style.com/blog.

 

 

 

If you have dizziness, vertigo or balance problems, you are not alone. In adults, about half report episodes of these problems to their doctor every year. In fact, among adults 65 or older, falls caused by vertigo, dizziness, and balance problems are the leading cause of injury and death. And it’s not just an issue of the inner ear or sinuses; these problems can be the result of a complex web of neurological, hormonal, immune, mechanical and nutritional problems.

These balance disorders are generally named from the symptoms they cause, like “the room is spinning” (vertigo), a feeling of clumsiness (ataxia), and seeing something that overwhelms the brain and gives the feeling of spinning (visual vertigo).  There are also problems where inflammation will cause hearing loss, nausea and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). And of course we all know about the dizziness we get when riding in the back seat of a car.

The secret to improved balance and the freedom it gives you, is realizing that these disorders are a complex interaction of body systems of the brain, vestibular system, and multiple organ function. This is where you truly find the “cause.” Addressing only the middle ear will unfortunately leave most patients with continued symptoms.

In the past, treatment for dizziness and vertigo was limited to the drug Meclizine, a vestibular suppressant that had inconsistent results. But in the last ten years, the understanding of the brain has exploded. This research has shown that dizziness and balance is also related to other conditions such as panic attacks, anxiety, movement disorders, Parkinson’s, essential tremor and brain injury which can predispose premature fall risk. And as this information increased, it has lead to extensive new therapies and treatments.

To properly move through your life without dizziness, three senses must be intact and in very good working order: vestibular (inner ear), vision (shows you where you are in space) and proprioception from the neck (lets you feel where you are in space). Then your brain, using the cerebellum (that wiggly thing at the back of the brain) compiles all that information and creates a 3-D view we can use to jump, run and play. When one or more of the eyes, ears or neck are out of sync (including the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain), we get dizzy—the room begins to spin.

Reconnecting these areas is the only way to effectively solve the dizziness problem. I’ve found that the most successful approach to be functional-neurological rehabilitation—specific exercises that can be thought of as “activations” that re-synchronize the areas of the brain that are underperforming. Using extensive examination procedures like eye movement videography and functional neurological evaluation, and then creating an individualized treatment program that targets those findings leads to the best result possible.

Equally important is setting the stage metabolically so that the neurons involved are not being damaged by inflammation are not running out of fuel, so they can function properly. Essentially, this is a balancing act, making sure that the brain has the proper fuel (glucose and oxygen), the proper activation and the proper environment (no toxins). I can’t stress enough how important it is to investigate all these areas and scientifically design a treatment program that can address any areas of weakness. By implementing dietary alterations and targeted natural supplementation we can provide the support needed to activate weakened brain cells.

All together, the specific neurological activation and the metabolic improvement in the brain environment can bring balance to your body and brain.

Dr. Don Davis is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic problems for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free case review consultation, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekHealth.com.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer is right around the corner, school will be out, and it’s the perfect time to get braces on. The kids don’t have to miss school for the long starting appointments and won’t have to have the discomfort of getting used to braces while in school. Great…so how does one find the orthodontist?

In most cases almost any properly licensed orthodontist will accomplish what you want and your child will look fine. What you need to know before committing to a treatment is if a complete diagnosis of why the teeth need treatment has been made and if the treatment plan addresses that diagnosis.

Unfortunately, many schools are just turning out practitioners that just follow the rules they learned. After graduating, there are orthodontic supply companies that have developed “no brainer” methods that just make the teeth look good as fast as possible.

This is just too tempting for many parents so, like giving pills for a symptom, parents allow someone to just put on the braces, pull however many teeth are recommended, and 18 months to two years later your precious angel has an acceptable smile. How long it lasts is up to nature.

NATURE?  Up to now, under the assembly line conventional approach I’ve described above, nature has been left out of the picture. The complete diagnosis was not made, just a surface-level treatment plan. The complete diagnosis requires researching out what caused the patient to have crooked teeth. Then the treatment plan should be made to correct the cause while establishing an environment within the patient that can maintain straight teeth that function properly within the oral complex. It should also attempt to make up for the damage that has already resulted by these factors.

Aside from genetic contributions, such as one parent with big teeth and the other with small jaws or one with the lower jaw in front of the upper, there is a myriad of other factors. The oral environment is probably the biggest factor. The musculature of the oral complex forms a matrix creating a framework upon which the teeth are guided. If all is ideal the teeth come in perfectly. The inside of the arch is directed by the tongue and the outside by the lip and cheek muscles. As long as their relationship is ideal, great!

When the oral complex is not ideal, problems usually occur. For example, if the growing child can’t breathe through his/her nose, the mouth must be open. This causes the inner matrix which controls the width of the arches, aka the tongue, to be low. It is not so low that the lower teeth are not directed, but low enough that the upper arch becomes crowded, many times blocking out the cuspids or canines, forcing the front teeth forward.

Now, if the mouth breathing is due to a food allergy, the tonsils and adenoids enlarge, causing further airway blockage as well as forcing the tongue to go forward due to the tonsils taking up the throat space. Since the formation of the dental arches is controlled by the muscles, the forward tongue creates forward teeth. To make it worse, the consistently open mouth stimulates the face to grow longer thus exacerbating the dental problem into a facially esthetic problem.

The best time to see all patients is around age seven. If the problem has to do with growth, something can be done and the results are far better than waiting until later. If growth is nearing the end, usually at around age 13, not as much can be done to change growth and very little can be done to grow more bone in order to prevent removal of permanent teeth to correct crowding.

Orthodontic treatment need not be limited to just making a teenager have a beautiful or handsome smile. When done taking into consideration all the factors that make up the perfect dentition and facial muscle harmony, it not only gives them that incredible smile, but a more ideal facial balance and more stable result. It can be the difference between an unattractive face and a beautiful face.

The stability of the result depends on the proper balance of the muscles which requires proper breathing and proper oral habits. It requires an orthodontist that looks at more than just teeth. And as my regular readers know, I am committed to a holistic approach for the very best patient outcomes.

Have a great Summer!

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.

 

Q. I have two strawberries on separate plants that have small leaf-like structures growing out from the surface of the berries. What causes this and are the berries okay to eat?

A. Strawberries are one of the few berries where the seeds form on the outside of the fruit; hence, they are not considered a true berry. True berries form their seeds inside the fruit. The leaf-like structure is an immature leaf that has germinated. Typically, the seeds on strawberries are sterile but on rare occasions they do sprout. I can’t tell you what triggers this event. All of the strawberry plants available today are propagated from vegetative cuttings or division. But, you can purchase seeds for both alpine and traditional strawberries online. The seeds formed from these variety maybe more incline to sprout on maturing berry. Strawberry leaves are non-toxic so I just rub them off when they appear. Strawberry leaf tea is most commonly used to improve digestion throughout the digestive tract

Q. In April, I planted several Heirloom, Brandywine tomatoes. The plants are producing plenty of flowers, but they’re drying up and falling off before they set fruit. Could you tell me what might be causing this?

A. It is early for the fruit set on Brandywine tomatoes so I wouldn’t be pushing the panic button just yet. It’s not unusual for the first group of flowers to fall off and fail to set fruit. You should expect to see tomatoes by the end of the month or early July. Tomatoes primarily fail to set fruit because of cool nights and or the lack of pollination. Another issue can be excessive nitrogen causing the plants to grow rapidly. I don’t think this is an issue since there was no mention of any excessive growth. Tomatoes like constant nighttime temperatures above fifty-five degrees. The marine influence is a major factor in delaying the formation of tomatoes. The closer you’re to the water the more problematical it can be. Warm days generally translate into warm nights inland so the fruit set occurs as expected. You need to be selective as not all tomato varieties produce well in all of our many microclimates.

Unlike other edibles, fertilization and pollination does not occur simultaneously in tomatoes. They’re two separate events. Once pollination occurs a pollen tube must form to transfer the pollen down to the base of the flower where fertilization occurs and tomatoes form. The cool nights slow the tube formation. After four days, the flowers drop off whether or not fertilization has occurred. The chief pollinator of tomatoes is the wind and not bees. We normally have enough of an afternoon breeze to do the trick; however, poor air circulation can still be a problem. You can aid Mother Nature by gently shaking the plants. The best time to do this is midday. Another option is to spray the open blossom with Blossom Set. It is successfully used on melons, squash, and cucumbers where pollination is a problem.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero

 

Joint pain, known as arthritis, comes in many forms. The most common type is osteoarthritis, known as “wear and tear arthritis.” Joint pain can flare up for a number of reasons — some of which may be overlooked by conventional practitioners. Many of my patients ask me if their pain is caused by arthritis. Sadly, it is estimated that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with some form or arthritis. There are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most well known.

Rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands and feet and is frequently accompanied by a hot or warm feeling in the joint, stiffness for over 30 minutes in the morning, the same joint affected on both sides of the body, polyarthritis (more than one joint affected at a time), and pain that can last through the night. With this form of arthritis, most of my patients notice the pain eases the more they use the joint.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, feels worse the more we exercise and as the day wears on.  Also linked to inflammation, this type of arthritis can be traced back to a breakdown in the joint cartilage. It generally affects the hips, knees, spine, hands and feet and develops as more of a wear-and-tear situation, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is closely tied with genetic factors that lead to an autoimmunity problem.

What you need to know if you suffer from arthritis.

All forms of arthritis involve some kind of inflammation, either local or systemic. When injured, a chain of events in your immune system known as the inflammatory cascade is triggered. This is what causes the redness, swelling and pain we often see with an acute injury. When this process, known as local or acute inflammation, turns on and then off in response to injury it’s a sign of a healthy immune system. Yet when the symptoms of inflammation don’t disappear, it tells us that your immune system is unable to turn itself off when it should and therefore leads to a state of chronic inflammation.

How do I begin to heal my arthritis pain?

1. Adopt a healthy diet rich in natural anti-inflammatories. Eat small meals often and choose a diet of richly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and pure omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Class IV Laser Therapy. Ending the pain caused by arthritis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved.
3. Rule out infection and allergies. Special testing is available to identify subclinical infections and allergies to foods and toxins.
4. Remove/reduce the toxins in your life. If you cannot understand the ingredients on the label don’t buy the product.
5. Reduce stress. Exercise, meditation, nature walks, yoga, prayer. The beauty of stress reduction is that it’s never a waste of time — it serves you on every possible level.

We have great success helping people solve the causes of their joint pain. If you suffer from arthritis it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain, and which combination of therapies will help heal it. The good news is, you can do it—without drugs, and you don’t have to give up any of the activities you love!

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.