• organic gardening,  Repost: drflower

    Could growing stevia help your Organic garden?

    Though nontoxic, stevia (stevia rebaudiana) plants have been found to have insect-repelling tendencies. You didn’t know it would be a good companion plant!  Their very sweetness, in fact, may be a kind of natural defense mechanism against aphids and other bugs that find it not to their taste.  Perhaps that’s why crop-devouring grasshoppers have been reported to bypass stevia under cultivation.  Growing this fabulous plant in your garden also suggests a statement of protest for the banning of this plant in the past by the FDA.  I find it quite interesting that this past spring season this lovely plant was actually available at garden centers even in Georgia! Does this…

  • Repost: drflower

    Stevia as sweetener, a threat?

    Stevia Plant and Flower My Blog Tweet this morning:  “Stevia may be linked to genetic mutations in lab animals.” In its natural form? My doubt provokes research http://tinyurl.com/6k82ha In this linked article, it was stated that “Stevia may be linked to genetic mutations in lab animals.” This statement provokes this blog post that has required a little bit of research.  I’ve read for several years now that stevia failed the FDA as a safe sugar substitute and was then approved only as a dietary supplement.  Herbie folks (those that follow and study herbs) all asked the question why?  Most answered the question that it was really politics and money.  We…