Omega Vertical Juicer VRT 350 HD String of the Day Post #3

Today I juiced carrots, one apple, a handful of alfalfa sprouts, and organic spring mix, which is fresh, tender, little baby lettuce and greens -- you know, the type you can buy in bulk or purchase in a one pound recyclable plastic box.   And now Southwest Desert Blogger presents . . . the Omega VRT 350HD string of the day photo:

Measure in inches. 

 This is the last in the "string of the day" series.  I do not enjoy this stringy material in my Omega VRT 350 HD juice.  In my opinion, juice should not have strings in it.  The sound of the VRT350HD juicer squeaking has grown old. I will no longer try to invent ways to clean places that their cleaning brush does not fit.

VRT 350HD juicer spout with solid plastic piece in the middle:  the space between the solid rectangular piece hanging down in the middle of the spout and the wall of the spout  is less than one-half inch.  You can see the sort of material that gets caught there.  In one of my many posts reviewing the VRT 350HD I tried to guess the purpose of this rectangular piece. [see post dated Oct. 29, 2011, et al.] 

I am getting rid of this Omega.  Good riddance.  Adios.  Bon Voyage.  Bye-bye.  Cheerio.  Sayonara.  Adieu.  Arrivederci.  Au revoir.  Auf wiedersehen.  Ciao babe. My 16 year old juicer can juice stringy  vegetables such as celery and chard stems without a single string in the juice.  It can juice root vegetables, greens, ginger, fruits, and anything else I have put through it without strings or particulate pulp. The old juicer produces a juice that is smooth and clean.  I find it produces a sweeter carrot juice than the VRT350HD.  I cannot explain why.  It has less parts to clean and actually cleans faster than the VRT350HD!  Finally, I don't have to get the grit out from between my teeth after drinking my old juicer's juice.  With the VRT350HD there was the need to brush and floss the solid material in the juice out of my teeth!  No mas!

May all your juice be smooth and sweet,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012  P.S.  Support this blog by using code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements, raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, soaps such as Dr. Bronner's Castile, raw cacao, organic chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, seaweed noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Currently, they ship free for orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order.  I think you will find iherb prices lower than your local store.   www.iherb.com -- check it out.

FREE Gifts for You! Got Santa?

Did Santa bring you what you wanted this Christmas?  Was you stocking loaded with goodies or coal?  Or was that stocking just left empty?  Did Santa's GPS neglect to direct the sleigh full of gifts to your chimney?  Did you mail out 20 Holiday greeting cards and get only 4 in return?  Less than 4?  Not even an eCard?  Southwest Desert Blogger feels your pain.  But the holidays are about giving, not receiving.  So let me give you some things I hope you or someone you know can use.

First, let me give you a code for $5 off any purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements, raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, soaps such as Dr. Bronner's Castile, raw cacao, organic chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, seaweed noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. --  All at discounts.  They ship free for orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.  WAL= We All Love the $5 discount.  Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order.  I think you will find iherb prices lower than your local store.  It is fun to browse www.iherb.com so check it out.

Get some FREE juice and smoothie recipes and free access to hundreds of short videos (scroll down to "blog" and "recipes") plus other info' on a variety of raw food and health topics at this site:
  http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1383344

You can also get info on a 10 Day Juice Fast (feast) and a 7 Day Raw Food Challenge at http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1383344  Just scroll down to check around the site.   I have done both the Juice Fast and Raw Food Challenge and recommend both.  The 7 Day Raw Food Challenge was my favorite.  See Southwest Desert Blogger posts from mid July 2011 and September 2011 for my notes on the Raw Food Challenge and the Juice Fast.

I trust you are now on your way to a healthy New Year.
Happy, prosperous 2012 to all, from
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2011

Southwest Desert Weather Report and Salt Talk

I decided to quit complaining about my Omega VRT 350 HD vertical juicer (see 9 previous posts including 9/12/11).  Yes, it still has problems.  Today I pulled a 1.75 inch string out of my mouth after drinking some fresh vegetable juice -- do the young folks still use the word "gross" when referring to something very distasteful?  OOps, sounds like a complaint...

OK folks, now for the weather.  It has gotten chilly and wet here.  The temperatures will flirt with the freezing mark tonight and likely hit below freezing during the next few nights.  We have to be sure all the exterior pipes are covered or insulated.  We also cover all the plants that are not frost resistant.  These may consist of plants that are not indigenous that we have planted in the earth or in pots.

I harvested most of my basil a few days ago and made some pesto -- just grind the basil with olive oil, garlic (not too much!), and maybe a touch of fresh ground pepper and, if you like, some salt.  The salt I have been using is red sea salt.  I know Celtic Sea salt is all the rage, but until I finish the bag of red salt, I'm not buying any fancy, high priced salts.  Is that popular Himalayan salt really from the Himalayas?  Salt from Chili, Poland, Bolivia, Peru and other countries are being marketed as Himalayan or pink salt.

My salt is called Realsalt.  It is not bleached, kiln dried, heated or altered with chemicals or pollutants.  It has a full complement of over 50 beneficial trace minerals, including iodine, yet nothing added.  The 26 ounce package has lasted a few years and still has years to go.  The package says that millions of years ago this gourmet salt was part of a pristine sea that covered North America.  Over millions of years the water in the sea evaporated, leaving salt deposits.  During the Jurassic era volcanoes erupted around the ancient sea bed sealing the salt with layers of volcanic ash.  This protected the salt until humans near Redmond Utah extracted the salt from deep within the earth.  They market it without additives, chemicals, or heat processing of any kind.  So, why don't all the raw foodists jump on this?  It sounds like raw salt made in the USA.  It tastes great lightly sprinkled on a green salad drizzled with a bit of oil or as a compliment to any food that needs a little special something.

Back to the freeze:  I think I will cover the young citrus trees and exotic non-native succulents.  I might even bring a few potted plants into the house.  Maybe this low pressure system bringing us cold and rain will bring some snow to the folks in ski country.  For us, it is welcome winter moisture, but challenging cold.

Staying cool, not by choice,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2011  P.S.  Let me gift you a code for $5 off any purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell Real Salt, natural sea salts, nutritional supplements, raw supplements, raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, soaps such as Dr. Bronner's Castile, raw cacao, organic chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, seaweed noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Currently, they ship free for orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order.  I think you will find iherb prices lower than your local store.  It is interesting to browse www.iherb.com so check it out.

More Omega VRT 350 HD Complaints

I made a vegetable juice today that was so pulpy I had to drink it through a straw.  I do not like the pulpy juice the Omega VRT 350HD juicer produces.  After sucking down the juice, I realized something was in my throat.  I pulled out a vegetable string that was over 2 inches long.  This never happened with my old juicer.  The amount of strings in my Omega VRT 350 HD juice is unacceptable and becoming a potential health hazard.  The strings also get jammed into the pulp exit port and are very hard to clean.  I have to try to dislodge a wad of strings and pulp from a very narrow space.  Nearly every other day the juice overflows onto the motor housing.  I suspect it is leaking into the motor housing because I can fit the corner of a paper towel into the places the rubber-like area meets the hard plastic.

Maybe I will add more to this post later.  There are more problems with the way the plastic parts are machined.  It is sloppy.  Enough pulp for now.

Get info on a 10 Day Juice Fast (feast) and a 7 Day Raw Food Challenge and a FREE eBook with juice and smoothie recipes at http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1383344  Scroll down to check around the site. It is full of informative "blog" videos, recipes, etc.   I have done both the Juice Fast and Raw Food Challenge and recommend both.  The 7 Day Raw Food Challenge was my favorite.  See Southwest Desert Blogger posts from mid July 2011 and September 2011 for my notes on the Raw Food Challenge and the Juice Fast.

Another juicy blog by
Southwest Desert Blogger
C (c)2011  P.S.  To support this blog, use discount code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements (Garden of Life), raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, organic soaps, raw organic cacao, organic raw chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, kelp noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Currently, they ship free for US orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order. www.iherb.com .

Omega VRT350HD Vertical Juicer Update #3

It has been a full week since I sent my "defective" Omega Vert back to Omega for a replacement.  Today I phoned Omega, and they were busy.  Problems?  I asked when I should expect to receive my replacement juicer.  I was told 5 business days from today.  That means I will have gone two full weeks without my new juicer!

Luckily I have my old juicer which works well.  Otherwise, I would be high and dry without fresh juice for two weeks.  Today I juiced a small sweet potato with my usual carrot, celery, spinach, and apple.  The sweet potato was a wonderful addition.  It gave the juice a rich quality and creamier texture.  I will get another little sweet potato and have that juice again.  It is a smooth, tasty, drink.

Still waiting for an Omega that works well,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2011   P.S.  To support this blog, use discount code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements (Garden of Life), raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, organic soaps, raw organic cacao, organic raw chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, kelp noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Currently, they ship free for US orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order. www.iherb.com .  Thanks.

Fallen Vegetarians

Day 14 of no coffee.  Day 10 raw food vegan.  It is a comfortable 97 degrees outside with humidity up to 19 percent.  Been so dry I had to water the patio plants today.  Maybe it'll rain on Friday.

I read some interesting information on Dr. Mercola's website:  Most vegetarians are female.  Most of them laps after an average of 9 years of vegetarianism.  This pool of fallen vegetarians outnumbers current practicing vegetarians 3 to one!  They may fall off the vegetable wagon and board the meat truck for reasons such as declining health, cravings for meat, social pressure, etc. Bottom line: 75 percent of vegetarians fall off the wagon, i.e., they are former vegetarians.

They have traded wheat grass for grass fed beef.  Some are just chowing down on commercial greasy burgers and fries, ribs, filet mignon, rib eye, sirloin, bacon cheese burgers, pork chops, ham, you name it.  They crave it.  But I digress.

Back to the website article:  If you want to ensure that your cattle were grass-fed, look for the "USDA Process Verified" label.  That means they were not fed any grain or grain by-products, except for perhaps cow milk, until slaughter.  Apparently that USDA certification is pricey, so many small farmers / ranchers cannot afford it.  There may be some nice grass fed beef in the butcher shop that simply lacks certification.  Tough decision-making for those fallen vegetarians, omnivores, and carnivores -- save a buck or buy USDA certified?

It is not clear whether that USDA grass-fed beef has antibiotics or hormones.  But at least the cattle got to eat grass and hopefully enjoy some nice outdoor grazing in a pastoral environment.  I suppose if demand increases, they will create the grass-fed feed lot.  The concept boggles my mind.

I do not crave meat.  I am thinking about whether I have enough greens in the fridge to get me through tomorrow.  That head of butter lettuce might not be big enough, but I have a good supply of organic celery to fall back on.  I also have cucumbers, carrots, mangoes, nectarines, beets, a green bell pepper, ginger from Hawaii, bananas, blueberries, apples, almonds, one little avocado, and a handful of cherries. What have you got?  Got beef?

Raw veganly yours,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2011  P.S. check out this excellent link for raw vegan info, FREE smoothie recipes e-Book, videos, and a super 7 Day Raw Food Challenge and 10 Day Juice Feast.  I have learned so much from this info. 
  http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/?af=1383344

Yard Sale Review

The yard sale was fun.  Friends were supportive.  Some brought items to sell.  Others just showed up to socialize and help in any way needed.  People met.  People talked.  Most of the people who showed up were nice folks.  Some were shopping for specific items like a dining table or old thimbles.  Others were "just looking" to see what they could find. 

The day was hot.  I drank a lot of iced water.  In the afternoon I switched to iced tea.  I am glad I hosted the event.  So many nice folks from the community came by.  There were young folks starting out and needing things for their homes -- sofa, bed, table, chair, lamp.  There were collectors looking for that overlooked antique or vintage treasure.  Some ladies will always buy another purse, no matter how many they already have.  Men look at tools and such.  Two sisters selected several items each.  One sister said she was employed and was going to pay for the items her unemployed sister had selected.  She said she hated her job, but it was an income.

Folks drove their elderly relatives to the sale.  Young and old were looking for different items.  Sometimes one spouse got out of the vehicle to shop while the other spouse refused to leave the vehicle.  I guess some folks love a yard sale and some don't.  Some folks payed sticker price; some made a lower offer.  One woman said I would be blessed if I sold her an item she wanted at a very low price.  That was an offer I could not refuse.

A well mannered little boy named Noah found a teddy bear in perfect condition.  I gave him a toy fish, too.  Does he have an ark for all the toy animals?  A woman who said she did not purchase butter at the store found a butter dish.  Now her butter would have a home.  A man with a truck took both the old 20 inch deep TV and desk for free.  He wanted a deal and got it. 

By the end of the day, we were giving things away just to get rid of them.  I gave away a toilet and toilet tank with lid.  No one wanted to pay $25 for it.  No one wanted to pay $20 for it.  No one interested made a counteroffer.  Finally, I said to a late-day interested party, "It is free if you take it away now."  She took it.  She was happy. 

We got rid of a lot of stuff ... almost everything but the kitchen sink. The left over items were bagged and boxed and donated to the Veterans of America.

Hoping that all the goods we recycled out into the community are a blessing to you all.  Enjoy your new treasures.

Sincerely,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2011