Typical landscape design is based on a set of design principles that are largely based on convention. In other words, they design things the way they do because that’s the way people have done it for a long time and that’s what they think “looks good.”

Conventional landscape designers love big open lawns, evenly spaced plantings, ornamental non-native shrubs and plantings, straight lines and angular shapes like square pavers or stones for garden beds and pathways.

Ecological design is based on an entirely different premise. As ecological landscape designers, we look at the land and ask a totally different set of questions, giving us a different set of answers. Questions like:

• Who lives on this land and what do they need to live well?
• What animals, plants, and other living organisms used to live on this land and what do they need to thrive here?
• What types of habitat will this land need for its residents to find shelter, food, and safety?
• How are the humans living on this land needing and wanting to use it?
• How does the climate, weather, and sun affect the property and its inhabitants?

Because ecological landscape design starts with an awareness and understanding of our location on this planet (and our planet’s relationship with the sun which supports and affects all life on Earth), it is by default hyperlocal. A good ecological landscape design in Indianapolis, Indiana will look very different than an ecological landscape design in Phoenix, Arizona because the climate is so different, even though the designers may follow the same principles.

Why Ecological Landscape Design is Different

Because ecological designers take into account the wellbeing of the humans, plants, other animals, and all living beings including soil organisms like bacteria, fungi, yeast, protozoa, and more, they are better able to understand the impacts of the decisions they are making. The implications of this can be enormous both financially and for the wellbeing of the community.

For example, large lawns which are often designed and maintained in traditional landscape design can cause massive issues for the occupants and the community including massive stormwater runoff when heavy rains come leading to the city sewer systems overflowing and contamination of drinking water, increased heat from the lack of tree canopies and herbaceous groundcover plants (urban heat island effect), and the devastating loss of insect life upon which all animals depend on for survival.

All three of these are huge problems in Indianapolis where I live, and each of these problems could be greatly improved if not completely solved by simply converting unused lawn into ecological prairies, flower gardens, rain gardens, or forested habitats.

Read more on the problems with lawns here.

We are All Connected to the Land

Ecological designers realize that we are all connected to the land, and that anything you do to the land will affect you (and your neighbors and community and all the animals, plants, and other living organisms).

Whereas a conventional landscape designer might cut down a 20-ft swamp white oak tree (quercus bicolor) out of fear that it may get too large and shade out the lawn, an ecological designer would consider the impact of that tree on native wildlife, among other impacts.

We might ask questions like:

• How might we use this tree in our design as it grows?
• How could we benefit from the shade of this tree?
• If the tree will negatively impact the humans in someway (like being too close to the house or foundation), are there other ways we can use this tree?

If the owners absolutely wanted the tree gone and were not willing to budge on that, we might cut it down and use the wood to build a garden bench, garden beds, paths, mulch, or for other uses.

The more you learn about nature and how the actions of one organism affects others, the more you realize how deeply interconnected we all are. We need bees, mosquitos, and other insects to pollinate plants so that we can eat fruit and nuts. Without them, we and many other animals that we eat would starve. We need healthy soil so that plants can grow. We need plants so they can help build healthy soil. We need insects so they can feed birds. We need birds so they can spread seeds so that plants can rehabilitate damaged land. We need wolves so that rivers can thrive.

I could go on and on because the connections are endless. The net result is that our very lives and wellbeing depends on the lives and wellbeing of plants, animals, insects, fungi, bacteria, and more.

Ecological design seeks to make live thrive for as many living beings as possible so that we can thrive with them too.

There is No Waste

In ecological design, we strive to create a regenerative system where “waste” becomes useful resources for the inhabitants of the land. Old tree stumps can become garden beds, chairs, pollinator habitats, woodpecker feeders, and so on.

Rather than picking up sticks from fallen branches and trees and throwing them in a trash can to be taken to a landfill many miles away, we can use them to create dead hedges, brush habitat for wildlife, and mulch.

The next time you see something in your yard or garden that you think is waste, ask yourself, “How could I use this to benefit this land and its inhabitants?”

How to Apply this Information

If you want to learn more about how to apply ecological landscape design principles to your home or community, read our post on 10 Things Every Property Should Have for a Healthy Ecosystem.

Why Sunchokes are Easy to Grow

Sunchokes are native to North America and have been cultivated by Native Americans including the Cherokee, Cree, Huron, and Iroquois for thousands of years. Where I live in Indianapolis, Indiana, sunchokes easily spread and grow without any effort on my part other. I planted one tuber about 2 inches long and 1 inch thick six years ago and now have over 10,000 sunchokes growing on our property that all came from that one tuber.

Sunchokes are a perennial plant grown from large tubers, and the plants grow and spread aggressively, meaning they will outcompete grasses and other plants with ease. You can simply put a tuber under an inch of soil inside dense grass or vegetation and they will thrive and spread without any weeding or tilling needed on your part.

Sunchokes form symbiotic relationships with beneficial microbes and fungi, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). These deeply connected organisms enhance sunchoke growth by improving nutrient and water uptake and making sunchokes incredibly resistant to drought (in other words, you don’t need to water them, but watering them when there has not been rain for a few weeks can increase your yields).

Because of the incredible relationships sunchokes form with these fungi and bacteria and other organisms in the soil in their native habitat, sunchokes can transform soils in a very short time. They grow great in heavy clay, heavy sand, and highly disturbed soils (and everything in between). This flexibility allows sunchokes to turn even the driest and most disturbed soils into thriving, rich topsoil within a few years.

The only soil sunchokes struggle to grow in would be soil that is regularly flooded for long periods of time. If the tubers are submerged in water for months, they may rot in the ground. Despite that, sunchokes can and often do thrive in floodplains here in the midwest.

How to Plant Sunchokes

Here’s how we recommend planting sunchokes:

Pick a sunny location. These plants are “native sunflowers,” meaning they love sun! The more sun they get, the happier they will be, and they can’t get too much of it. In low sun areas with two-to-four hours a day of sun, they will try to use their tall stalks to reach more sunlight and often still grow fine. With less than two hours of sun each day, sunchokes may still survive, but they will not thrive and be nearly as productive as they would be in an environment with more sunlight.

Ensure that your tubers are covered by soil. You do not need to plant them deeply, but ensure that enough soil covers the tubers to protect them from animals who want to eat them and to keep them from drying out (1/2 inch to 1 inch of soil is enough cover).

Don’t worry about the soil. Sunchokes thrive in very sandy and very clay-rich soil and everything in between. I have yet to find a soil that they have not thrived in. You can even put a tuber underneath a thick mat of grass lawn and they will grow just fine.

Weeding is not necessary. Sunchoke tubers have more than enough energy to compete with just about any other herbaceous plant in their native range. In fact, sunchokes seem to thrive best when they are surrounded by other living plants with which they can share nutrients, bacteria, mycorrhizal fungal connections, and more. The only time when you might need to weed for your sunchokes would be when there are trees or shrubs blocking the light (such as a thick mat of invasive Amur honeysuckle shrubs).

When to Plant Sunchokes

Anytime you have a tuber, you can plant sunchokes! Their hardiness is incredible.

The ideal time to plant sunchokes for a successful harvest at the end of the first growing season would be anytime between early winter and late spring, such as November to May here in Indiana. If you plant them later in the season, you may get less yield in the first year, and then your harvest in the second year should be quite large.

How to Keep Sunchokes from Spreading

Sunchokes spread aggressively and can often outcompete other plants and take over in garden beds.

Here are a few tips to keep your sunchokes from spreading in ways you might not want:

Harvest and Eat Them

As soon as the leaves die in the fall (usually in September or October in Indiana), you can begin harvesting sunchoke tubers and you can continue harvesting them until they begin sprouting in the spring (usually March to April in Indiana).

Because of how productive sunchokes are, it is almost impossible to overharvest sunchokes. A single tuber can sometimes produce as much as 10-20 pounds of tubers, and some of them can be quite deep. So unless you are meticulously digging up every inch of soil within 3-4ft of your sunchoke patch and removing every single tuber, you can still dig up and eat all the tubers you can find while still having enough left over to continue growing the next year.

Eradicating sunchokes from your garden once they are well-established will often take either repeated mowing or a few years of digging and weeding to remove them completely. All this to say, don’t be shy when harvesting and eating your sunchokes! They have been bred to be a fantastic food crop for humans for thousands of years, and they perform magnificently in that role.

Mow Around the Garden Bed

If you have a garden bed with sunchokes and mow a circle around it, the sunchokes will not be able to thrive in the mowed area. The sunchokes will still spread into the mowed area, but they will not continue their spread because the mowing will stop them from being able to photosynthesize in that area.

This strategy is very effective with any aggressively spreading plants such as mints, goldenrod, native asters, and more.

If you already mow regularly, this is probably the easiest and most efficient system for keeping sunchokes from spreading to areas where you do not want them to grow.

Grow Sunchokes in Containers

If you have very limited space or just don’t want your sunchokes to spread, you can grow them in containers.

As long as they have sunlight, they will thrive and produce lots of beautiful flowers and tubers.

Don’t Use Weed Fabric or Garden Edging

Weed fabrics and garden edging will not stop sunchokes from spreading. Plastic weed fabrics will breakdown over time in the soil and are a very ineffective way to control sunchokes or weeds from growing. Furthermore, the microplastics these products release into the soil can damage your plants and reduce plants’ ability to photosynthesize by 7-12%.

Because weed fabric is ineffective and pollutes soil, water, and plants, I never recommend using it at all.

In addition, when you use weed fabrics, they will eventually get covered with a new layer of soil, while still creating a barrier between the upper and lower soil, making it even harder to weed or plant things in your garden beds. They end up wasting an enormous amount of your time and energy that could be better spent enjoying life instead of fighting the fabric.

Where to Buy Sunchokes

We sell and ship sunchoke tubers for planting and eating from September through March each year, and you can buy them at https://www.etsy.com/listing/4409720053/heirloom-jerusalem-artichoke-sunchoke?ref=shop_review

You can also check your local gardening and permaculture groups to see if anyone in your community can share some tubers with you.

Ling’s Oriental Martial Arts, LLC

Dr. Zhichao Ling has been practicing Taiji for over 30 years. He has studied Yang style Taiji, Chen style Taiji, Taiji push hands, Taiji Qin Na (seizing and controlling), Taiji sword, and Taiji applications. He became a 7th generation Yang style instructor under shifu Huang Dongying and grand master Fu Shengyuan.

He has earned a 5th degree black belt in Okinawa Kobudo Kokusairengokai, and 6th degree black belt in Shorinryu Shorinkan Karate. He trained Keijutsukai Aikido with sensei Michael Bandy and has attained Renshi Roku Dan, 6th degree black belt.

Dr. Ling has been active in Professional Karate Commission (PKC) state tournaments, both as a judge and a competitor. He received PKC National Champions 1st place in Kata and 2nd place in Kobudo Weapons awards in 2022 and PKC Region II Champions awards annually from 2012 – 2022. In 2014 he became a Hall of Fame member and received Molum Combat Arts Honor Society Yap Suk Dai Ji Award. Ohio International Chinese Martial Arts Championship 2019 & 2022 gold medalist in Taiji open hand form and Taiji Sword form and coach for Taiji and Kung Fu Gold and Silver medalists.

Dr. Zhichao Ling is also a licensed sports and medical massage therapist and certified Reiki master. He is an experienced acupressure therapist with more than 20 years of practice. 

You can learn more about Dr. Ling at https://lingsorientalmartialarts.com/about.html

Class Schedule: https://lingsorientalmartialarts.com/taiji.html

2. Tai Chi Wellbeing

Christine Bhe is a 5th Degree black belt in Yang style Tai Chi and has many certifications and achievements in Tai Chi and Qi Gong training. You can learn more about Christine at https://taichiwellbeing.com/about-1

Class Schedule: https://taichiwellbeing.com/in-person

3. Indy Movement Arts

Dustin McReery began his martial arts journey as a teen and has been studying Taijiquan intimately with his teacher, Master John Charlton, for over 7 years, under the instruction of Grandmaster William C.C. Chen.  He has taught groups and private lessons since 2018 to a diverse range of people.

Upon meeting my teacher I was enthralled by the effortless yet intentional movement.  Taijiquan gave me a physical space to express and embody concepts I had been sitting with for years. I had found a new place to rest my mind within my body.

Class Schedule: https://www.indymovementarts.org/general-6-5

Dustin also leads the Protectors Club for children and adults to learn Taiji, self defense, and martial arts skills at White Pine Wilderness Academy. You can learn more at https://www.whitepinewilderness.org/class/protectors-club/

4. TigerLily Eastern Arts

Class Schedule: https://tigerlilyeasternarts.org/schedule-of-classes.html#/

Image Credit: www.instagram.com/peschel_press/p/C5Y51NuMEhK/?locale=en&img_index=1

Mosquito Bait Trap

My favorite way to get rid of mosquitos is by far the most effective method I have ever found.

We simply set up a mosquito bait trap (a small pool of water in a bucket or pot) and insert a Mosquito Dunk.

You can throw some grass or weed clippings into the water to make your stagnant pool of water even more attractive to female mosquitos.

You should set up one mosquito bait trap for every 1/4 acre of your property where you want to control mosquitos. If you have any stagnant pools of water already existing on your property that you can’t get rid of, make sure to add a mosquito dunk to those as well.

How do Mosquito Dunks work?

They contain bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that can kill mosquito larvae before they become adults. Bti is a microbial insecticide that contains spores that produce toxins that target mosquito larvae.

The Bti bacteria eat away at the larvae’s stomach and intestines, killing them before they can develop into pupae (the pupal stage is when the mosquito larva stops eating and begins transforming into an adult mosquito with wings). Bti is only effective against actively feeding larvae and does not affect mosquito pupae or adults.

Why is this the best method for killing mosquitos?

If you’re trying to kill mosquitos, you have to stop them from continuing to reproduce in your area. Because mosquitos can create a new generation every two weeks, your problem is only going to continue unless you find a way to stop this cycle.

The mosquito bait trap will trick the female mosquitos into laying their eggs in your pool of water. Those eggs will never reach maturity, thus stopping the lifecycle of the mosquitos immediately.

Why Pesticides for Killing Mosquitos Don’t Work

If you were to use some other method of killing mosquitos, like spraying insecticides, for example, this would not stop all the larvae and pupae in the area from maturing and turning into adult mosquitos.

That’s why spraying insecticides is such a terrible strategy for controlling mosquitos. Not only does it not work to stop the lifecycle of breeding mosquitos, but the insecticides also kill all kinds of native insects and wildlife and may even cause cancer in humans, children, and dogs according to The Health Effects of Pesticides Used for Mosquito Control.

Other Mosquito Control Methods

Once you set up your mosquito bait traps, you’ll still have to wait for the existing adult female mosquitos to die (usually two weeks or less).

In the meantime, what can you do?

Use a Fan

Mosquitos cannot fly with strong wind. If you’re hanging out on your deck, a simple fan will protect you from mosquitos. It may sound crazy or too simple but it works!

Use Mosquito-Repelling Plants

Another option is to use mosquito-repelling plants.

Citronella is the most well-known, but here are other great options:

Lavender

Marigold

Lemongrass

Catmint

Rosemary

Sage

Alliums (Garlic, onion, leeks, etc.)

I highly recommend researching to see which of these plants are native to your area and then plant those plants around the perimeter of where you plan to spend time outdoors. You can also plant them in containers and place the containers around your deck or outdoor living space.

Here are some great personal development opportunities in Indianapolis:

Indianapolis Personal Development Group

This meetup group schedules live personal development events, many of which are free to attend.

You can learn more and join the group on Meetup at www.meetup.com/indianapolis-personal-development-group/

Zarvos Coaching

Zarvos Coaching is a leadership coaching program that is somewhat similar to the Landmark Forum training programs.

You can learn more and see their schedule of events at https://zarvoscoaching.com/calendar/

Men’s Therapy Group with Charlie Bowman

There is currently a waiting list for this men’s therapy group in Indy.

You can email Charlie at charlie@bowmancounseling.com to get on the waiting list and check availability for this group.

Men’s Empowerment Group with Philip Ellison-Hines (Virtual)

This group will allow you to share your struggles and find healthy ways to express yourself and your needs as a man. You will also learn to balance masculinity and vulnerability to bring balance and find purpose in your life.

Email Philip Ellison-Hines for more information: Philip@healingwayscc.com

Personal Development Seminars and Workshops

You can often find some great personal development seminars and workshops listed on Eventbrite in the Indianapolis area.

Click here to see upcoming personal development events in the Indy area on Eventbrite.

Church Small Groups

Many Christian churches in the Indianapolis area offer small groups which are committed to personal and spiritual growth so you can reach out to your local church if that sounds like a good fit for you.

Do you know of any other great personal development groups or opportunities in the Indianapolis area? If so, please share them in the comments below and let us know!

Here are some great communities and places to check out if you’re interested in learning more, connecting with other permaculture enthusiasts, or wanting to hire a permaculture consultant.

Indianapolis Permaculture Facebook Group

The Indianapolis Permaculture Group on Facebook is a great place to start. They host monthly meetups and events throughout the year.

Octavia’s Visionary Campus (OVC)

Octavia’s Visionary Campus is a farm that hosts educational and community events throughout the year. On the second and fourth saturday of each month from February – November, OVC hosts land stewardship days from 10am – 2pm where volunteers can come to help with projects on the farm from giving away free trees to the community to planting Potawatomi Mosqigwat Red Corn to harvesting vegetables for the community from the garden beds. Lunch is provided at these events.

OVC is a project funded by The KHEPHRW Institute.

The farm is located at 2856 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225

Farrell Family Nursery

The Farrell Family Nursery is run by a family out of their home and they specialize in perennial plants starts and fruit and nut trees you won’t find most other places.

Brambleberry Permaculture Farm

Brambleberry Permaculture Farm is located two hours south of Indianapolis but it is an absolute gem! They sell all kinds of amazing perennials and fruit and nut trees and host tours.

Growing Places Indy

Growing Places Indy is an amazing farm located near downtown Indianapolis that grows an enormous amount of food using permaculture principles. They host workshops, programs for kids, tours, a community garden, a CSA program, and much more!

Know any other great places or resources for permaculture enthusiasts in Indianapolis? Let us know in the comments below!

I tried writing about Juice Plus+ over a decade ago on a previous blog I created but the company quickly asked me to take down all mentions of the company and product because they were overly zealous and afraid of regulatory compliance issues that can occur when affiliates like myself make unsubstantiated claims about a company’s products. Because I wanted to continue collecting monthly checks from the company, I chose to take down the blog posts to protect my financial interests.

Recently, the company has become more flexible and I am now allowed to finally publish information about Juice Plus+ publicly online so that’s what I’m going to do here.

What is Juice Plus+?

Juice Plus+ is a line of whole food nutrition supplements created the The Juice Plus+ Company which was founded in 1970. The first Juice Plus+ product was launched in 1993.

There are three main Juice Plus+ products that come in four different bottles: The Fruit and Vegetable Blend (which can only be purchased together, Berry Blend, and Omega Blend.

Fruit and Vegetable Blend

Technically this is two products or bottles but they can only be purchased together as a package. The fruit and vegetable blend comes in capsule or gummy form.

Ingredients for Fruit Blend:

Powdered Fruit and Vegetable Juice and Pulp
Blend from Apple, Cranberry, Beetroot, Orange, Mango,
Peach, Pineapple, Date, Prune; Acerola Cherry Extract,
Tapioca Pullulan, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Lutein/Zeaxanthin,
Sunflower d-α-Tocopherol, Mixed Tocopherols, Citrus Extract,
Beta Carotene, Lycopene, Astaxanthin, Lemon Peel Extract.

Ingredients for Vegetable Blend:

Powdered Fruit and Vegetable Juice and Pulp Blend from Carrot, Parsley, Broccoli, Spinach, Kale, Rice Bran, Tomato, Garlic, Cabbage, Beetroot; Tapioca Pullulan, Acerola Cherry Extract, Mixed Tocopherols, Calcium Carbonate, Spirulina, Lutein/Zeaxanthin, Sunflower d-α-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene, Lemon Peel Extract, Lycopene, Astaxanthin.

Berry Blend

The berry blend comes in capsule or gummy form.

Ingredients for Berry Blend:

Gelatine capsules containing a dried powder blend of juice and pulp from grapes and berries (48%) from (in varying proportions): concord grape,
pomegranate, blueberry (15%), bilberry, blackberry (8%), elderberry, raspberry (4%), cranberry, blackcurrant; cocoa powder, mixed tocopherols; green tea extract, ginger root powder, Vitamin C, anticaking agents: silicon dioxide, mag nesium stearate; artichoke leaf powder, grapeseed powder, citrus extract.

Omega Blend

The omega blend only comes in capsule form.

Ingredients for Omega Blend:

Proprietary blend 1.35g: algal (Schizochytrium sp.) oil, pomegranate seed oil, raspberry seed oil, sea buckthorn berry oil, safflower seed oil, tomato seed oil

Typically providing the following profile:

Total Omega Fatty Acids 925mg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 375mg
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) 175mg
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) 100mg
ALA (Alpha-linolenic acid) 35mg
Omega-5 & 7 Fatty Acids 250mg
Omega-6 & 9 Fatty Acids 250mg

Other Ingredients: Tapioca Pullulan, Silicon Dioxide, Orange Oil,
Vanilla Extract, Rosemary Extract.

Is Juice Plus+ Clinical Research Legitimate?

When analyzing scientific research, it is important to learn about how research is conducted, how to read research studies, and how to identify the pros and cons of different research methods. It’s also very helpful to understand statistics and how to interpret whether results are statistically significant or not. Furthermore, it can be very helpful to understand logic and to therefore be able to interpret whether the conclusions of the researchers are logical and aligned with the data they reported in their research results.

As of 2024, there have been more than 40 peer-reviewed clinical research studies published on Juice Plus+ products. Some of the studies were pilot studies without placebos, control groups, or double-blinded research methods.

More than half of the studies are double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and published in prestigious peer-review research journals like Journal of American College of Cardiology, Journal of Nutrition, Journal of Pediatrics, and Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Although some of the earlier placebo studies were not done to the gold standard of clinical research, there is plenty of very well-done scientific research on Juice Plus+ and many of the findings are statistically significant and, in my opinion, quite meaningful.

Does Juice Plus Actually Work?

More than 40 clinical studies on Juice Plus+ have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Of those studies, more than 20 have found that Juice Plus+® capsules have excellent bioavailability and effectively increase blood levels of vitamins, carotenoids, and polyphenols in people of all ages.

In addition, several studies have shown that Juice Plus+ capsules reduce biomarkers of inflammation, improve biomarkers for immune function, protect DNA from oxidation, improve key cognitive processes such as working memory and executive function, increase micro-circulation in skin, improve markers of gum health, and much more.

You can read more about the clinical research on Juice Plus+ and find links to all the published studies here.

Does Juice Plus Give You Gas?

Some people experience gas for up to a few weeks after taking Juice Plus+. This is likely caused by changes in your gut microbiome. Because Juice Plus+ Fruit, Vegetable, and Berry Blend in combination contain more than 30 different plant foods that you may not be used to eating, it may take the microbes in your gut a few weeks to adjust to digesting these new foods (especially the fibers from these foods found in Juice Plus+).

Other side effects of Juice Plus+ may include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, bad breath, or headaches. These effects often go away within a few weeks as your gut microbiome adjusts to these new foods. You can take half the recommended amount of Juice Plus+ for 5-10 days or until symptoms disappear to help your microbiome gradually adjust with less discomfort.

A Review of Juice Plus+ Reviews

There are several existing reviews posted online about Juice Plus+, and I will attempt to review a few here and clarify any information or arguments to the best of my ability:

Let’s Squeeze the Hype Out of Juice Plus

The writer starts by mentioning Juice Plus+ was sponsored by OJ Simpson, which is fascinating and awkward but also holds no bearing on the validity of Juice Plus+ research or the quality of the product.

The writer claims fiber is missing from Juice Plus+. Although it is true that much of the fiber is removed, there is still some soluble and insoluble fiber in Juice Plus+ capsules, specifically Fruit and Vegetable Blend and Berry Blend capsules.

The writer is concerned about baseless claims being made about Juice Plus+ as everyone should be. Baseless claims shouldn’t be made, listened to, or accepted. However, concerns about baseless claims hold no bearing when it comes to analyzing the validity of scientific research or discussing the actual pros and cons of a product.

The writer seems to not understand the scope of clinical research on Juice Plus+ and claims that “two capsules of Juice Plus have the antioxidant power of about two to three bites of an apple” and I have not found evidence to support such a claim.

They also wrote, “However, the changes noted are in comparison with a placebo. At the very least, the comparison should be with a standard, multi-vitamin-multi-mineral supplement. More realistically, the assessment should be based on popping Juice Plus capsules versus consuming five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. No such studies have been carried out.”

This argument doesn’t make much sense to me. Placebo controls are gold standard. There is significant evidence showing multi-vitamins do NOT improve health outcomes. Therefore, it makes no sense to use a randomly formulated multi-vitamin as a control for a study on Juice Plus+ given that multi-vitamins do not provide benefits related to the outcomes being studied in Juice Plus+ research.

Assessing Juice Plus+ in comparison to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is an interesting idea. From what I’ve heard, the company has refused to do so because they do not want Juice Plus+ to ever be marketed or seen as a replacement for eating fruits and vegetables. No one should ever take Juice Plus+ instead of eating fruits and vegetables. People should eat lots of fruits and vegetables period. If you want to supplement with Juice Plus+, that’s a choice you can make based on your own research.

They also write, “Claims of preventing or curing disease, often made by independent distributors, are totally unjustified and border on criminal.” I agree that claims of preventing or curing disease are unjustified. However, I don’t believe such claims are “often made” given my 15+ years as an affiliate and having attended dozens of Juice Plus+ conferences and events and met hundreds of other affiliates. I am sure that unsubstantiated claims have been made before, but again such information is irrelevant when trying to decide if the research is valid or if the product is useful.

Dismissing the benefits of Juice Plus+ and its research by saying people sometimes make false claims about it is akin to saying that the American economy isn’t important or useful because some people make false claims about it. People do sometimes make inaccurate statements. Those inaccurate statements do not change the reality of the situation. Someone’s opinions, judgments, or false statements are a reflection of themself and their own understanding but they are not an accurate reflection of the object they are talking about.

Reddit Thread: Juice Plus is a Scam!

This thread had me laughing out loud and also shaking my head.

The writer claims that Juice Plus+ research is stupid. When someone says something is stupid, I usually interpret that as, “I don’t understand it and I’m not actually curious about it.”

For example, I think baseball is stupid. I love many sports (especially Pickleball) but I don’t like baseball and don’t understand how people have fun playing or watching it. Is baseball actually stupid? No. I just don’t understand it and I’m not curious enough to research it or try it more.

The writer goes on to say, “I, admittedly, have not read all of the research myself, but other reviews and sources document that nearly all of the research is funded by Juice Plus+ and rarely feature placebos, double-blinds, large sample sizes, etc. This is poor science at best, and intentionally misleading science in actuality.”

This is like saying, “I didn’t read the original research but I read someone else’s opinion and in their opinion it is also stupid.” Which, again, I interpret as they don’t understand it.

The claim that Juice Plus+ research studies “rarely feature placebos, double-blinds, large sample sizes” seems to be refuted by the facts which anyone can see in the actual research if they have the patience and humility to do so. It is true that some of the studies do not feature placebos, some of the studies are not double-blinded, and some of the studies do have very small sample sizes. The same could be said for just about any area of scientific research with 40+ published studies.

“Nearly all of the research is funded by Juice Plus+.” This is true. Nearly all of the research in pharmaceutical drugs are also paid for by the companies who create those products. Who else would fund such research? Yes, there are other studies funded by other organizations or governments, but most of the research done is paid for by the companies who create the products. That is not unusual.

“The supplements contain very few vitamins (only A, C, E and folate).” This is a hilarious misinterpretation of reality. Because Juice Plus+ is labeled as a food and not a supplement, it has a nutrition facts label (here’s the nutrition facts label for the Vegetable Blend). By law, this label must display the nutrients A, C, E, and folate. That doesn’t mean those are the only vitamins in the product. Those are just the ones on the label as determined by law.

“I mean, shit, the ingredients section of their site doesn’t even tell you what is in each pill.” This is hilariously true. The company is, in my opinion, notoriously bad at using the internet (hence why they asked me to take down my previous blog posts long ago). But the company is transparent about the ingredients despite not listing them on that one particular web page (pssst if you work at Juice Plus+, maybe tell your boss that page should have a list of ingredients).

“You’d be much better off taking a multivitamin as a supplement if you’re concerned about your dietary intake.” There is so much research showing multivitamins do not improve health outcomes for most people except in some specific cases of vitamin deficiencies.

Juice Plus+ “doesn’t help the food insecure because it does NOT provide any sort of caloric value.” I agree. Juice Plus+ is low in calories and is not meant to be taken to meet someone’s need for calories.

“If YOU are concerned about not consuming enough fruits and vegetables, I really recommend consulting with a dietitian about how to improve your diet. Eating whole foods and being smart is a much more reliable way to make serious improvements in your health than taking cool-sounding (and unregulated) supplements.” I agree that consuming fruits and vegetables and eating whole foods is probably going to do more to improve your health than any supplement except in certain cases where a supplement may be helpful in fixing a specific deficiency.

Why does my esophagus hurt after taking Juice Plus+?

Because the fruit, vegetable, and berry powders inside each Juice Plus+ capsule are dehydrated and because the capsules are made of gelatin, the capsules can melt inside your mouth, throat, or esophagus. When this happens, the dry powders are released and these super dry powders can irritate your throat and esophagus which can be incredibly painful. It is a very unpleasant experience and after having experienced it dozens of times, I don’t ever want to experience it again.

There are a few ways to prevent this from happening:

Only swallow Juice Plus+ capsules immediately before a meal or in the middle of a meal. By swallowing food shortly after swallowing the capsules, you can ensure they will more quickly reach your stomach where the dry powders will not irritate your esophagus.

You could also open up the capsules and place the powder in a glass of water or in your food and then consume it that way.

You could also consume the Juice Plus+ gummies instead of capsules which do not irritate your esophagus.

I can’t afford Juice Plus+. What should I do?

You should not buy anything you can’t afford.

Juice Plus+ is, in my opinion, a great way to get more micronutrients in your diet, but Juice Plus+ is not a significant source of calories, so if you are struggling to put food on the table you should definitely not be buying Juice Plus+ until you have food security and can ensure you’re eating enough calories to be healthy.

How do I buy Juice Plus+?

You can buy Juice Plus+ on the company’s website or through a Juice Plus+ affiliate like myself (here’s my link to buy it). If you buy through the company’s main website, you will be assigned to an affiliate like myself for customer care.

Most Juice Plus+ products can be paid in full when you order or you can pay four monthly interest-free installment payments.

You are under no obligation to purchase Juice Plus+ and you can cancel at any time. The company also offers a generous 100% money-back return policy.

Juice Plus+ products usually offer a recurring shipment plan so you should contact your affiliate or the company if you do not want to receive a shipment of product every four months. You can cancel any recurring shipment at any time.

Should I become a Juice Plus+ Affiliate?

There is no obligation to become a Juice Plus+ affiliate. If you become a Juice Plus+ affiliate, there is no obligation to buy or sell any products.

In my opinion, it only makes sense to become a Juice Plus+ affiliate if you intend to purchase more than one Juice Plus+ product and want to receive commissions on your own purchases (kind of like a rebate) or if you plan to sell Juice Plus+ products and want to earn a commission on those sales.

If you would like to become a Juice Plus+ affiliate, you can sign up at new.juiceplus.com

Affiliate Disclosure

FTC Disclosure: I am a Juice Plus+ Affiliate and have been for more than 15 years. You should always assume that pretty much every link on this blog is an affiliate link and that if you click it, find something you like and get it, I’m gonna make some serious money. And if I mention a book or some other product, just assume I got a review copy of it gratis and that me getting it has completely biased everything I say.

The bark from the tree has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

Roasted Shagbark Hickory Syrup Recipe

This is a very simple recipe with a lot of flexibility, so feel free to modify it as you see fit to make the syrup stronger or milder.

1. Break up the Shagbark Hickory bark into pieces small enough that they can fit inside the cookware and pot you will use to bake and boil the bark.
2. Place a handful of bark in an oven-safe glass pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
3. After the bark has been roasted in the oven, place it in a quart of cold water and boil it for 30 minutes.
4. Strain the hot tea, removing any pieces of bark.
5. Pour the hot tea back into a pot and add equal amounts of sugar to the tea (you’re aiming for a 1:1 ratio of sugar to liquid to make a simple syrup).
6. Continue cooking the tea on medium-low heat while stirring it thoroughly until all the sugar is dissolved.
7. Let the Shagbark Hickory Syrup cool off for a few hours before placing it in the refrigerator for long-term storage.

What does Shagbark Hickory Syrup taste like?

The syrup tastes very sweet with a hint of smoked hickory flavor. You can make your syrup stronger by roasting the bark longer, by using more bark to make the tea, and/or by brewing the tea for even longer.

How do you use Shagbark Hickory Syrup?

We use the syrup for everything you would use Maple Syrup for: on pancakes, in teas, in baking recipes as a sweetener, and on top of desserts and fruits when you want extra sweetness and flavor.

How long will Shagbark Hickory Syrup last?

The syrup should stay free of mold for up to a year in the refrigerator assuming you don’t eat it all by then.