About 4 generations ago life in the developed working world made a major switch. Everything that was normal about work habits began to change and instead of moving on into progressive work habits in keeping with technology, we stopped moving. Many people’s jobs stopped being a mix of indoor to outdoor to almost only indoor, and ergonomic office chairs and chiropractic's saw a major rise in business. In fact, the chiropractic industry is expecting a market growth in the next 4 years by a leap of almost a billion yearly. That’s quite a jump, but with people spending their days hunched over at computers it was only to be expected.

It’s a bleak outlook, but it doesn’t have to be, good bone structure and health can be promoted through the same types of habits

Engage in Outdoor Activities

When you get home at night do you spend the rest of the evening, or even weekends, watching TV? Don’t. You will find productivity and happiness going way up if you limit the amount of TV watched and replace it with more of an outdoor life. Pick some fruit, go on a bike ride, push mow the lawn, walk whenever you can. It’s a mental push to form habits against sedentary lifestyles and your body will most likely protest at first, after all, it doesn’t take any effort to sit and watch a screen most of the day. However the trade off for mental and physical well-being will soon outstrip any desire to sit still all the time.

Keep Moving

If our pickers only ever stayed at one place we wouldn’t get half the crop we do in a year. The best results in life are learning when it is time to keep moving and when to stay put. This is also true mentally and intellectually - the person who can’t motivate or discipline themselves to move more physically will also have a hard time gaining in the business or workplace world because moving our muscles and bodies has a big part to play in keeping our minds from becoming sluggish

So go on short walks at breaks, remember to move around a minute or two 2-3 times each hour.

For several decades the sun has gotten such a bad rap that some of us have almost developed a fear of being outside. We slather ourselves in sunscreens that contain carcinogenic ingredients to protect against what is actually good for us while covering ourselves in what isn’t. Too much sun exposure isn’t good of course, but studying those who have traditionally lived where the sun burns hotter don’t usually expose as much skin but have learned to cover with light-weight, light-colored clothing to protect the vulnerable area of skins to burns. Instead of covering themselves in unnatural protection they have learned the limits of what is good for us and and what is overkill. They stay inside over hot parts of the day, and then spend healthy amounts of time outdoors the rest of the time getting the gold, sunshine Vitamin D that boosts the immune system and elevates happiness and positive moods in humans.

The truth is that sunlight is a positive thing because nothing and no living organism is able to survive on earth without it and it isn’t something to be feared but harnessed wisely. To grow, develop and live fully - sunshine is key to our life. With all other components of our health and life in place sunshine is the key piece in keeping us that way. Even just 15 minutes outdoors whenever possible will gain greater health and happiness for the average person that spends most of their time indoors.

Stay wise, but get sunshine - Get health.

Kauffman’s Baked Beans

A while ago one of our employees developed a baked beans recipe that we liked so much we decided to feature it here. All the ingredients, including spices, are available at Kauffman’s Fruit Farm.

Serves 12 (sides)

Ingredients:

¼ c. Kauffman’s Apple Butter

½ c. Kauffman’s BBQ Sauce

½ c. bottled chipotle salsa

8 oz Kauffman’s Apple Cider

¼ c. molasses

1 tsp dried oregano, crushed

1 ½ tsp dry mustard

1 ½ tsp ground cumin or chili powder

(1) 31 oz can pork and beans in tomato sauce

(1) 16 oz can pinto, cannellini, Great Northern, black or butter beans, rinsed and drained

(1) 16 oz red kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 large onion, finely chopped

8 slices thick-cut bacon crisp-cooked and cut into 1” pieces

Note: all the spices listed are available at Kauffman’s Fruit Farm.

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine apple butter, BBQ sauce, cider, salsa, molasses, oregano, mustard and cumin. Add undrained pork and beans, drained pinto beans, drained kidney beans, onion and bacon; stir gently to combine.
2. Transfer bean mixture to a 2 ½ - 3 qt. casserole. Bake, uncovered, in a 325° oven for 2 ½ - 3 hours or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Beans with thicken as they cool.

This is perfect as a 4th of July dish to pack up and take out for with grilled brats or hamburgers.