Courtesy of Laurie Fearon & Shapoor Hoghooghi

HARVESTING TIPS Did you know that harvesting the fruits and vegetables from your garden in the early morning will result in crispier, juicier and sweeter produce? The cooler temperatures overnight allow the fruit or vegetable to retain more water which leads to the crispier texture and sweeter taste. If you're unable to get to the garden first thing in the morning, the next best time of day is in the evening after the heat of the day has passed. After harvesting, you'll want to move your produce to a cool, dry and well ventilated area until you're ready to eat or preserve them. Check the produce regularly for signs of mould or disease and remove spoiled ones immediately to prevent contamination. Look online or check with your local gardening expert to determine how long each type of produce can last to help you organize your preserving schedule. Some vegetables like potatoes can last for months when stored properly, while others like lettuce need to be consumed within days. Knowing what needs to be dealt with first can help prevent you from being overwhelmed when it seems that everything is ready at once.

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP Any number of factors can affect your sleep from noisy neighbours to illness and stress. While you cannot control everything, there are some ways you can try to improve your sleep. You've probably heard it before, but maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is key. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day (even on weekends) goes a long way to reinforcing your body's natural sleep cycle (your circadian rhythm). Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night; an average adult won't need more than that to feel rested. Prepare your body for sleep by including physical activity at some point during the day, limiting heavy or large meals in the hours preceding bedtime, avoiding caffeine later in the day and saying no to daytime naps. Getting outside into the sunshine can regulate your circadian rhythm as well. Be sure to turn off electronics in the hour before bed and use the last 30 minutes of your day for relaxing - taking a bath, meditating, journaling or even low-impact stretching can ease your body and mind and get you in the right frame of mind for sleep. Furthermore, aside from preparing your body for sleep, creating the ideal sleeping conditions will also promote a better sleep. Your bedroom should be dark, cool and quiet. You can use earplugs, fans and light blocking curtains to help create the ideal environment. Choose a mattress, pillow and bedding that not only support your body properly but make you feel relaxed and comfortable.

WORD CHANGE Can you morph one word into another by just changing one letter at a time? It isn't quite as easy as you think!

P O R T

L A S T

HOUR LAST – LOST – LOOT – LOON – MOON

H O U R

M O O N

ANSWERS: PORT – POUT – POUR –

Courtesy of www.thinkablepuzzles.com