August 9, 2024

Donation Request

Good evening everyone! This is a really difficult post to make, but it’s important to ask… I would like to ask you all to Donate to the blog any I am going to explain in this article why. Don’t worry it’s not for me or the upkeep of the blog even though it costs me £150 a month to run it but that’s nothing really. No it is something that is really important for me. Food for all I’m not rich and you don’t have to be to help others. I have started during the pandemic to cook vegetarian meals for people who can’t afford biodynamic, organic, vegetarian meals. At the moment I am preparing roughly 30 to 40 free meals per week. Those meals I cook fresh, and I usually make a 3 course meal mostly soup or starter, main course and sometimes a dessert. I pay this out of my own pocket and sometimes I get organic food donations from a friend and a local company selling biodynamic produce. I could really do with some donations to get more money to help more people. There are so many that can not afford to buy the food they need and with some extra money I could help more people. Health Currently I am having two people that I support with their medical bills. Most of it I pay for their prescriptions in the pharmacy as they do not have the money to pay for them. There are currently three people I can’t help as their medical bills would exceed my possibilities. One person has a dental bill of 25K that she needs help with and the other person needs help with post surgery cost. The post surgery costs, for recovery and rehabilitation that is not covered by the NHS will be coming to 15K. As I am trying very hard to help those people I have already decided that 10% of my sales for Mugs, and Weleda will go to help them. I’m just worried really that I won’t be able to cover all the cost for this by using the 10%. Please if you think you can spare a one time donation or a regular standing order please do so. If you can’t that’s okay too just ignore the article.
August 31, 2024

MWP-Design Website UP-Date

Hi everyone. I am glad to report some major updates on MWP-Design website. My main business website. I know it has been offline for the majority of this year but is now working perfectly and I have fully redesigned the Website. It has a lot of functionality and brings everything together in one place. I am going to share the updates and pictures. Right side is the main MWP-Design Website. I now have a online designer. Pick your product like a Mug in this example but it could be any that I do. Add text or your own pictures on both sides and get it printed. I also have a huge collection on ready made templates (designs) and clip art. You can pretty much design anything online that I sell from business cards to scratch cards, letterheads, Hoodies, Socks. It is so easy to use. When developing the online designer it was the most important thing for me that it was easy to use. That a novice and a pro can use it. Not can you choose and pick templates and clipart but you can also upload your own design. There are millions of possibilities and you can use the designer free of charge. There is no extra to use it. New Templates (Designs) will be regularly added so there will be something new all the time. The Domain and Webhosting page is already fully finished, and those customers having a domain or hosting with us can log into their account and manage every aspect of it, extend their packages, order new ones, check and transfer domains. Our low prices are here to stay.  Of course all the other hosting related services like SSL certificate, VPN, WordPress Hosting, VPS, Dedicated Server are all available there too and you can place your orders and use our account area to manage your account. If you wish MWP-Design can design your Website for you too. As me for the latest offers.  Those are the latest T-Shirts I have made, and the website as you can see will have a chat function too. I am expecting that I will be finishing the whole website within the next month or two. So that all the products that can be designed in the designer will be online and fully working and that the others that are ready made will be uploaded. I will keep you posted. As always please comment on my blog, like it and share it! Let me know what you want to read about it and I will do my best to cover the topic. 
August 20, 2024

Brooled what?

Howdy folks Mark here. Today’s topic is my BROOLED website. You can find the BROOLED website here – what is BROOLED? The website BROOLED is my retail website. It is also the main website of the BROOLED LTD the company that runs everything and is responsible for all things I do. On the BROOLED website you find a online shop that currently only offers the ESSENS products to buy directly from me, and in the near future you will also find the WELEDA products on the BROOLED website. BROOLED LTD is also the company that purchases all the materials I need for the business and is responsible to write invoices to customers and clients. So all together BROOLED is the main actor in everything. I would like to invite you to visit BROOLED today and start to shop there, you can go to https://brooled.co.uk or click any of the links. As always I invite you to like, comment,
August 20, 2024

Ralf’s new food

Ralf has been getting a new food. Up until now I was feeding him his food that I got from a local pet store. It was great I thought because it catered to his dietary requirements, offered a variety of flavours and 65% meat content while it was human grade food. Recently he had issues eating his food, He left his bowl for like. two days and ate the bare minimum. No idea why. When I asked at the pet store, they said that the recipe hasn’t changed and all is as usual. However Ralf doesn’t like it anymore and I tried all flavours ending up having a multitude of flavours at home (Angus Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Duck) non of it he would want. While speaking to a friend he mentioned that he feeds his dog Tails that is a tailor made food. It’s tailor made to your breed and dog size and age. However as Ralf is a fussy eater and usually doesn’t like the same food twice in a month I am a bit worried but they gave me a two week free trial. As far as I can tell, at the moment is that he likes it. He poops a lot more than before and even had some accidents in the living room during the night but I assume it will ease down when he gets more used to it. At least that is what I hope. What I realise is that Ralf has much more energy. Well if you want to try Tails for your Dog, use my link and get two weeks FREE. You can also use, the voucher code BSFKPYFQ at the checkout both ways you get two weeks free. If you are currently feeding Tails to your pet I would love to hear what you think about it and how your dog reacted to it, and as usual. If you like my blog, read it, share it and comment. I love to hear from you. Mark
August 16, 2024

New Christmas Scratch Cards

I started creating Christmas Scratch Cards As you can see there are fully designed front scratch card and at the back there is a business card in the same horizontal format with all my details on it. Customers can scratch off the round field to review what they get.  Yes, you can’t see it yet as I keep the content a secret until the cards are up on my esmerch.store website. There are going to be two more designs I am currently working on. As always, please comment on the post and share it with your friends. If you have a special design request please feel free to contact me.
August 8, 2024

Demeter Biodynamic® Farm and Processing Standards

The first Farm Standard was written in Germany in 1928 following Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture Course.  Its purpose was to codify what Steiner had presented in his lectures and ensure its adherence through a strict certification program.   The Farm Standard is historically significant because it dates back to the beginning of the modern sustainable farming movement, and captures key agronomic principles not comprehensively addressed within any other agriculture certification system. Here in the United States, it provides the legal definition of “Biodynamic” through the certification mark.  Sections of the Farm Standard include necessary elements of the farm organism, soil fertility management, crop protection, greenhouse management, animal welfare, and the use of the preparations.  Biological diversity within the farm landscape is emphasized, and requires that a minimum of ten percent of the total farm acreage be set-aside as a biodiversity preserve.  That may include but is not limited to forests, wetlands, riparian corridors, and intentionally planted insectaries.  Diversity in crop rotation and perennial planting is required: no annual crop can be planted in the same field for more than two years in succession.  Bare tillage year round is prohibited so land needs to maintain adequate green cover.  The Farm Standard instructs that the foundation of the fertility system, and strategies for disease, insect, and weed control, must originate from the farm itself.  Fertility is generated via the integration of livestock, compost and green manure, nutrient catch crops, and careful crop rotation.  Disease and insect control are addressed through botanical species diversity, predator habitat, balanced crop nutrition, and attention to light penetration and airflow.   Weed control emphasizes prevention, including timing of planting, mulching, and identifying and avoiding the spread of invasive weed species.  The use of the preparations is a requirement of the Farm Standard.  There are nine in all, made from herbs, mineral substances and animal manures, that are utilized in field sprays and compost inoculants applied in minute doses, much like homeopathic remedies are for humans.  Timely applications revitalize the soil and stimulate root growth, enhance the development of microorganisms and humus formation, and aid in photosynthetic activity. The crops resulting from a certified Biodynamic farm are themselves certified (for example Biodynamic tomatoes), but in order to produce a certified processed product  (for example pasta sauce) the product must be produced in accordance with the Demeter Biodynamic® Processing Standard.  There are sixteen different processing standard categories (compared to one for the entire National Organic Program), including wine, cheese, olive oil, dairy and body care.  The Processing Standard is very important because it guarantees an unbroken chain of accountability from the farm to the finished product, and delivers a product that allows for the integrity and purity of the agricultural ingredients to define it.
August 7, 2024

Recognized as a holistic, ecological, and ethical farming system, biodynamic agriculture includes gardening, food and nutrition, as well.

What does an 80-year old, German farm have to do with Weleda? Everything. Literally and figuratively, the roots of Weleda’s NATRUE certified skin care grow in that very special soil. The teachings of biodynamic agriculture, a form of alternative agriculture similar to organic farming, is based on the ideas of Weleda’s founder, Dr. Rudolf Steiner. Developed in the 1920s, it was one of the first agriculture movements. Recognized as a holistic, ecological, and ethical farming system, biodynamic agriculture includes gardening, food and nutrition, as well. The teachings of biodynamically-centered agriculture have been practiced worldwide for nearly a century.The basic idea is that the farm itself is a living organism—a self-sustaining system that creates and sustains life, and supports and heals itself.   If it sounds like the principles Steiner applied to how the skin functions, it is because it is the same concept of self-healing and growth. At a glance, it is easy to see why biodynamic practices support NATRUE certified personal care. Why Biodynamic Practices are Better: Helps support body’s balance and vitality Yields plants full of essential vitamins, minerals Helps support the body’s own balancing system to deal with food/environmental allergies and chemical sensitivities Farming based on biodynamic practices do no harm to the planet Little has changed in Weleda’s gardens, because of our commitment to our founding principles. Our 50 acres of Biodynamic® gardens in Germany— The Weleda Biodynamic Gardens in Schwabisch Gmund, Germany – are one of the largest in Europe.   These kind of pure farming practices make for high-quality Weleda products. These principles are in Weleda’s roots and continue to motivate us today. As always, thanks for reading my Blog. If you like it, comment on it or share it. I love to hear from you and what you would like to read about. Until next time. Mark
August 5, 2024

What is the difference between organic and biodynamic?

You know I’ve known WELEDA since my childhood. WELEDA products are grown bio dynamically and are certified by DEMETER. Both Demeter and Weleda had been founded by Rudolf Steiner the founder of Anthroposophy. He had several impulses that he has shared with other people who then further his research. In my family the arnica range had it’s place for smaller bruises and cuts so did the WELEDA homeopathic remedies for blood pressure and the cough syrup. All this together, made me join WELEDA as a consultant. Today, I will start a series about Biodynamic Gardening and Demeter over this week. What is the difference between organic and biodynamic? There are lots of similarities between organics and biodynamics such as growing healthy nutritious vegetables and herbs, not using synthetic fertilizers and sprays, encouraging beneficial wildlife into the garden, supporting biodiversity and taking good care of the soil. However, biodynamics also offers a more holistic approach and takes account of the wider context of the plant, garden or farm. Biodynamic growers tune into nature’s rhythms and natural systems, which in turn cultivates a deeper personal connection with nature. The Weleda gardens have been certified to Demeter standards for over 35 years, which means that we comply with the most rigorous standards on the worldwide organic crop-growing scene. Fundamental to biodynamics are the ‘BD’ preparations which act as catalysts for the co-creation of healthy living soil, compost and plants. We also aim to create a self-sufficient garden by making our own plant-based compost, saving our own seeds and ensuring we encourage as many different habitats as possible (ie ponds, meadows, woodland edges) to create a truly biodiverse environment. What makes biodynamics so special? Biodynamic gardening comes out of the ideas of the philosopher Rudolf Steiner and has ecological, ethical, social and spiritual roots. Steiner’s philosophy (called Anthroposophy) suggests that the human being is fundamentally a spiritual being, intimately connected to the earth and cosmos. So biodynamic gardening rather uniquely offers a practical but also spiritual approach to growing. As Rudolf Steiner said: “There’s no matter without spirit and no spirit without matter.”
August 3, 2024

Arnica in Homeopathy

I’ve been growing up on Arnica at home. We always had all sorts of arnica remedies at home, most of them came from WELEDA. In Austria you can only get it at the pharmacy and for many arnica remedies you need a doctors prescription o it’s not something you can buy over the counter like here. We realise that the NHS is kind of behind in everything, there is lots of scientific evidence that Arnica has healing remedies. Arnica is used topically for a wide range of conditions, including bruises, sprains, muscle aches, wound healing, superficial phlebitis, joint pain, inflammation from insect bites, and swelling from broken bones. More recent studies suggest it may also be helpful in the treatment of burns. Is arnica as strong as ibuprofen? Arnica gel appeared to work nearly as well as Advil (ibuprofen). Benefits included reduced and improved joint function in people with hand osteoarthritis. More research is needed. How does arnica work so fast? The reason arnica works is because, like many plants, it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, says Anderson. When arnica cream or arnica gel is applied, it stimulates circulation, helping the body’s own healing system react—which encourages some speedy relief. Medicinal Uses and Indications Available Forms Arnica is available in topical creams and ointments. It is most commonly found as a tincture, which can also be used as the base for compresses and poultices. Arnica oil may also be used in topical preparations. A number of homeopathic remedies are available in pill, topical, or injectable forms. How to Take It You should not take arnica by mouth without direct medical supervision, except in an extremely diluted form as a homeopathic remedy, because side effects may be severe (see “Precautions”). Use homeopathic products according to directions on the label or the advice of your homeopathic practitioner. Health care providers may give homeopathic preparations by injection. When using arnica topically, never apply it to an open wound without a doctor’s supervision. Pediatric You may also use homeopathic preparations to treat bruising, swelling, and trauma to soft tissues. Follow the dosage instructions on the product label or consult a licensed homeopath. Use only in homeopathic formulations. DO NOT use the herb itself. Adult Commercial preparations of creams, ointments, and lotions are available through some specialty stores and natural health providers. Homeopathic preparations are widely available at health food stores and many pharmacies. Precautions Arnica is generally safe when used on the skin. However, using it for a long time may irritate the skin, causing eczema, peeling, blisters, or other skin conditions. Arnica should not be used on broken skin, such as leg ulcers. In one study, researchers found that arnica used topically increased leg pain 24 hours after participants performed calf exercises. Also, people who are hypersensitive or allergic to the herb should avoid it. Arnica is rarely used as an internal herbal remedy because it can cause dizziness, tremors, and heart irregularities. It may also irritate mucous membranes and cause vomiting. Large doses can even be fatal. DO NOT take arnica by mouth except under close supervision of your doctor. You can generally take homeopathic remedies, which use extremely small amounts of arnica, safely. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid taking arnica, and ask your doctor before using it on your skin. Talk to your doctor before taking any medication, including herbs. Possible Interactions When used topically or in a homeopathic remedy, there are no known interactions with arnica and conventional medications. Supporting Research The world renowned Mount Sinai Hospital in New York is conducting clinically research in Arnica for over a decade and below is some of their supporting documents. Adkison JD. The effect of topical arnica on muscle pain. Ann Pharmacother. 2010;44(10):1579-84. Auerbach. Wilderness Medicine. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2011. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000. Bolognia. Dermatology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. Brinkhaus B, Wilkens JM, Ludtke R, Hunger J, Witt CM, Willich SN. Homeopathic arnica therapy in patients receiving knee surgery: Results of three randomised double-blind trials. Complement Ther Med. 2006 Dec;14(4):237-46. Huber R. Bross F, Schempp C, Grundermann C. Arnica and stinging nettle for treating burns – a self-experiment. Complement Ther Med. 2011;19(5):276-80. Kotlus BS, Heringer DM, Dryden RM. Evaluation of Homeopathic Arnica montana for Ecchymosis After Upper Blepharoplasty: A Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind Study. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print] Seeley BM, Denton AB, Ahn MS, Maas CS. Effect of homeopathic Arnica montana on bruising in face-lifts: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006 Jan-Feb;8(1):54-9. Sutovska M, Capek P, Kocmalova M, et al. Characterization and pharmacodynamic properties of Arnica montana complex. Int J Biol Macromol. 2014;69:214-21.
August 1, 2024

Esmerch Store

Today I have finished setting up the Essens Merchandise Website. It’s part of my MWP-Design Website but the products I created are all for Essens. Initially I made those for myself as I am an Essens partner and I needed some printed stuff for myself, because Essens did not have them available. So I sat down and made it myself. There is a variety of items I made such as business cards, loyalty cards, scratch cards, flyers and order forms. After I have been speaking to other people who work with Essens they have said that they would be interested in those items too and I should show them what I have made and had already designed. So I constantly had to send huge emails with images, Then I have decided to make a Website so that I can show it off and people can order directly from my website. I have also installed a online tool for people to make little changes, like adding their address, name, email, phone number, store link. I can print those directly at my office and send it off to the customer.