PURIFYING WITH PLANTS

Words by Lisa Blake

Clean breathing means a clearer mind and better sleep. Tap into nature’s healing channels by bringing air-filtering houseplants into your living space.

NASA’s famous 1989 Clean Air Study calls out known carcinogens in the air we breathe — pollutants that include benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene found in carpets and furniture. They recommend an air-purifying plant placed every 100 square feet to cleanse home and work spaces of airborne toxins, dusts and germs.

A closer look at these toxins reveals some scary, negative health effects: benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches and confusion, while formaldehyde irritates the nose, mouth and throat. Perhaps the most menacing, trichloroethylene can spur headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Fortunately, relief is accessible with an easy trip to your local greenhouse or garden center. The NASA study named several no-fuss plants that naturally filter out the nasty stuff and easily grow indoors. Using popular houseplants to convert carbon dioxide and toxins into fresh oxygen — it’s a good housekeeping no-brainer.

Here, president of Mountain Greenery Plantscapes Inc. in Basalt, Jillian Kops, helps us choose the right purifying potted plants.

Philodendron

This dark green heartleafed plant is easygoing and virtually pest free. Philodendrons have low light and low water requirements, but can be toxic to pets and small children, if eaten.

Peace Lily

Beautiful white calla-like blooms stretch on tall green stems in this decorators’ favorite. Peace lilies are master air-sterilizers and crave medium to high light and high moisture.

Chinese Evergreen

An excellent beginner plant, this sturdy tropical beauty cleanses formaldehyde and benzene found in detergents and cosmetics and does well in low to medium light and humid conditions — perfect for bathrooms.

Bamboo Palm

Tall and exotic, bamboo palms (also called reed palms) can reach heights of five to seven feet. The purifying plant pumps moisture into the air and requires medium light and moist soil. Palms can be susceptible to spider mites. Fight them off with a spray bottle of biodegradable liquid soap and water.

Snake Plant

The laid-back snake plant — sometimes called mother-inlaw tongue — absorbs toxins through its vibrant, swordlike leaves. It thrives with very little water and low light and is insect resistant, making for a wonderful low-maintenance apartment roommate. :

Call on Mountain Greenery in Basalt for plants sourced from their garden boutique, along with indoor and outdoor gardening services. The family-owned Roaring Fork Valley nursery prides itself on a wealth of healthy annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and exotics. Find them at 185 Southside Drive, Basalt, or mtngreenplants.com.

SPRINGTIME EATS

Words by Oliver Mayer | Images by Cat Mayer

Cooking for others feels good. It makes me happy and proud when they like my dishes. I look through my family’s cookbooks or library books to find new recipes. After I choose one, I make a shopping list. I have to use math to figure out how much food to buy. Then, my parents take me to the store to choose all the ingredients. I like the self-checkout at the store — it’s fun!

In the springtime, I like to bike and hike with my family. When we get home, we drink fizzy water from our Sodastream. If you don’t have a Sodastream, you can buy Pellegrino or Perrier. We add slices of limes and lemons, mint leaves, frozen fruit or cucumbers. It’s a refreshing and healthy alternative to soda. After we’ve quenched our thirst, we are ready to eat!

This is a favorite warm weather meal that kids of all ages can make. My family loves it!

CORN, AVOCADO AND TOMATO SALAD

MAKES 4-6 SERVINGS This salad is tasty, colorful and zesty. You can ask a parent or older sibling to help you chop the ingredients if you’re too little to use a knife safely.

SALAD 2 cups cooked or frozen corn, thawed 1 diced avocado 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup finely diced red onion

VINAIGRETTE 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice 1/2 tsp lime zest 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl. 2. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the vinaigrette. 3. Stir vinaigrette into the vegetables and serve.

GRILLED AVOCADO & TOMATO TAQUITOS

MAKES 8 TAQUITOS I like eating Mexican food, because, to eat it, we sit together as a family and choose our own ingredients. My parents help me warm these taquitos on the grill or in a hot pan until the cheese is melted. They are delicious! These are vegetarian, but you can add shredded meat or pinto beans seasoned with cumin if you need more protein.

8 small flour tortillas 2 avocados, cut into thick slices 1 small red onion, sliced thinly 2 tomatoes, preferably different colors, sliced thinly 4 1/2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lime, cut into wedges 2/3 cup coarsely chopped cilantro Flaked sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper Hot sauce if desired (we like Dad’s Chipotle Jalapeño Sauce from Pear Blossom Farms) 1. Put your choice of ingredients on the tortillas. Be sure to top with a squeeze of lime juice, salt and pepper and hot sauce. 2. Roll up the tortilla and secure it with toothpicks. Grill for about 3 minutes on low heat, and turn them halfway through grilling time. They are ready when the tortillas are lightly browned and the cheese has melted.

FRUIT & CREAM CHEESE POPSICLES

MAKES 8 POPSICLES These are a healthy treat made with fruit. Popsicles are one of my favorite things to eat on warm days.

1 cup of frozen cherries, raspberries, strawberries or bananas 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 ounces cream cheese 1 cup milk 2 Tbsp honey or pure maple syrup

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. 2. Pour the mixture into an ice pop mold, and freeze for at least six hours. 3. Un-mold and serve. :