Showing posts with label Lemon in England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lemon in England. Show all posts

Friday, January 24, 2014

Lemon Tree Lemon Forest Lemon Festival Lemon Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat


Have anyone thought of planting a lemon forest? Apparently Yes. Such a forest exist in Greece.



The Lemon Forest of Poros (Galatas) The lemon forest of Greece is situated opposite the port of Poros on the shores of the Peloponnese and is the only one in Greece. 
 

In May, the whole town of Poros is engulfed in the heavenly scent of lemon blossoms wafting across from the green lemon forest shores. The dense lemon and orange trees add an ethereal beauty and simplicity to the landscape



The lemon  is a small evergreen tree native to Asia.

Well before the birth of Christ, the people of the Eastern Mediterranean were using citrons, first cousins of the lemon, in religious ceremonies to praise God for the sweet aromas he has given to the world.  

Lemon is an Citrus

Citrus is the general name for a group of species and hybrids that includes Lemons, Oranges, Mandarins, Grapefruit, Pummelos and many others.
 
Citrus fruits are the most valuable fruit crop in international trade. All of the numerous Citrus varieties are cultivated in subtropical or tropical regions.  Oranges were already being used in China in 2000 BC, while the Seville orange (also known as the bitter or sour orange) was first grown in northern India.



The lemon comes from the eastern Himalayas; mandarins, however, probably derive from the Mediterranean.

Today, citrus is cultivated in 140 countries. More than two-thirds of global citrus production is done in Brazil, USA, China, Mexico and Spain. In Brazil and the USA, about 70% of the harvest is used for processing, whereas the Mediterranean countries produce mostly for fresh consumption, supplying primarily the European market.

In Asia, most of the citrus produced is consumed domestically.

Citrus Festival in Menton a French Town



Remember the old adage -  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade? Well, seems that some talented artists are way beyond that. 



The theme of the Lemon Festival 2011 has been The Great Civilizations.  About 145 metric tons of bright and juicy world renowned citrus fruits were used to create some elaborate, extraordinary, temporary, giant sized sculptures. Everything from tiny mandarins to juicy lemons are competing for attention in a massive fun theme park where all the great civilizations of the ancient world are represented.

History

Lemons had been brought to North Africa and the Mediterranean from Southeastern Asia sometime between 700 and 1000 AD. In Arabic, lemon is pronounced ‘laymoun‘, or ‘lamoun‘. Even though lemons are thought to have originated in India, and there are numerous Roman mosaics of North Africa that showcase the zesty fruit, the first literary description of lemons is in an Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi from the early 10th-century. Cool, huh?
Did you know that although lemons are known as citrus fruits, they are technically considered berries? They’re also super healthy, containing many phytonutirents and vitamins, the most well-known of which being Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and boosts the immune system (WH Foods).
- See more at: http://mideats.com/egyptian-preserved-lemons-with-nigella-seeds-and-dried-safflower/#sthash.lf84dMaa.dpuf

Lemons had been brought to North Africa and the Mediterranean from Southeastern Asia sometime between 700 and 1000 AD.  Even though lemons are thought to have originated in India, and there are numerous Roman mosaics of North Africa that showcase the fruit, the first literary description of lemons is in an Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi from the early 10th-century. 


Although lemons are known as citrus fruits, they are technically considered berries? They’re also super healthy, containing many phytonutirents and vitamins, the most well-known of which being Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and boosts the immune system.

The Romans knew the lemon as the Median Apple, which are depicted in one of the Pompeii mosaics. Lemon juice was considered to have excellent anti-venomous properties – the writer Athenaeus states that on one occasion two men felt no effects from the bites of dangerous serpents because they had previously eaten a lemon!  



The first lemons to arrive in England came from Spain in 1289, when 15 lemons, 7 oranges, some pomegranates and dried fruit were landed as a present for Queen Eleanor, a former princess of Castile. The bill for 39 lemons, bought for her during her last illness, was 20 shillings (an absolute fortune at that time).


Persian traders carried the trees along trade routes known as the Silk Road that ran between Asia and the Mediterranean region. According to the BBC, these early traders carried lemon trees to Greece around 300 B.C. During the middle ages, they were known as "golden apples" and were traded for cloth, artifacts and precious metals. Lemons were also prized for their healing properties.

Medicinal Uses
Lemons had been brought to North Africa and the Mediterranean from Southeastern Asia sometime between 700 and 1000 AD. In Arabic, lemon is pronounced ‘laymoun‘, or ‘lamoun‘. Even though lemons are thought to have originated in India, and there are numerous Roman mosaics of North Africa that showcase the zesty fruit, the first literary description of lemons is in an Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi from the early 10th-century. Cool, huh?
Did you know that although lemons are known as citrus fruits, they are technically considered berries? They’re also super healthy, containing many phytonutirents and vitamins, the most well-known of which being Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and boosts the immune system (WH Foods).
- See more at: http://mideats.com/egyptian-preserved-lemons-with-nigella-seeds-and-dried-safflower/#sthash.lf84dMaa.dpuf
Lemons had been brought to North Africa and the Mediterranean from Southeastern Asia sometime between 700 and 1000 AD. In Arabic, lemon is pronounced ‘laymoun‘, or ‘lamoun‘. Even though lemons are thought to have originated in India, and there are numerous Roman mosaics of North Africa that showcase the zesty fruit, the first literary description of lemons is in an Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi from the early 10th-century. Cool, huh?
Did you know that although lemons are known as citrus fruits, they are technically considered berries? They’re also super healthy, containing many phytonutirents and vitamins, the most well-known of which being Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and boosts the immune system (WH Foods).
- See more at: http://mideats.com/egyptian-preserved-lemons-with-nigella-seeds-and-dried-safflower/#sthash.lf84dMaa.dpuf
Lemons had been brought to North Africa and the Mediterranean from Southeastern Asia sometime between 700 and 1000 AD. In Arabic, lemon is pronounced ‘laymoun‘, or ‘lamoun‘. Even though lemons are thought to have originated in India, and there are numerous Roman mosaics of North Africa that showcase the zesty fruit, the first literary description of lemons is in an Arabic treatise on farming by Qustus al-Rumi from the early 10th-century. Cool, huh?
Did you know that although lemons are known as citrus fruits, they are technically considered berries? They’re also super healthy, containing many phytonutirents and vitamins, the most well-known of which being Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals and boosts the immune system (WH Foods).
- See more at: http://mideats.com/egyptian-preserved-lemons-with-nigella-seeds-and-dried-safflower/#sthash.lf84dMaa.dpuf

Did you know the Ancient Egyptians believed that eating lemons and drinking lemon juice was an effective protection against a variety of poisons, and that recent research has confirmed this belief?

There are many health benefits of lemons that have been known for centuries.
The two biggest are lemons’
  • strong antibacterial, 
  • antiviral, and
  •  immune-boosting powers and
  •  their use as a weight loss aid because 
  • lemon juice is a digestive aid and 
  • liver cleanser. 
  • Lemons contain many substances--notably citric acid, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, pectin, and limonene--that promote immunity and 
  • fight infection. 
  • Lemon contains citric acid, which can be effective in treating acne. The vitamin C found in citrus fruits is vital for that healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne.  
 
 With your finger or a cotton ball, apply fresh lemon juice on acne and leave it overnight. Wash with water the following morning. There may be an uncomfortable sensation of burning at first, but it will soon disappear.
  • Research has shown that lemon balm has a calming effect and therefore may be able to help remove fatigue, 
  • exhaustion,
  •  dizziness, 
  • anxiety, 
  • nervousness, 
  • and tension.
  • The proven antibacterial and antiviral properties of lemons can accelerate the healing process in the case of cankers. Mix the juice of freshly squeezed lemon into a glass of lukewarm water and rinse your mouth with this solution; do this three times a day.
 Other Uses
  • insecticide and 
  • immune-stimulant
  • Lemon oil is used in cosmetics and perfumes as well 
  • as soaps,
  •  lotions, 
  • bug sprays and 
  •  lemon-scented cleaning products. 
  • Lemon oil may also be used in machine oil or as a furniture polish.
  •  Lemon byproducts such as pulp left over from juice making may be used as a livestock feed.
How to grow a lemon tree

Choose the sunniest spot in the yard to plant a lemon tree in the ground, or pot a dwarf variety in a small garden.

Soak the roots in a bucket of water before planting to keep the root ball intact, then dig a hole twice its width, position the plant level with the surrounding soil and backfill.

Fertilise with organic matter or manure every three to six months, or add slow-release fertiliser if potted.

Soil should be kept moist
but not wet as too much water yellows the leaves until they drop. Give the tree lots of water in spring and summer, easing off in autumn and winter.

Mulch around the base to protect the roots, suppress weeds and retain moisture. Use an organic variety that breaks down to improve the soil, such as well-rotted cow manure or sugar cane mulch, ensuring it doesn't touch the stem and cause rotting.

Prune to encourage new growth
by cutting back half the current season's growth before planting. Prune again when the tree has matured and annually to keep fruit within reach.

Harvest the fruit buds when they appear for the first few seasons, as fruit fails to ripen properly while the tree is young and growing branches and leaves. Twist lemons off the stem to avoid harming the tree.

Soil type  for Lemon Trees
Lemons tolerates a wide range of soil texture and can be grown in light, medium and heavy soils (sands, sandy loams, loams, sandy clay loams, clays, clay loams and sandy clays).
 Lemons in Italy


 Lemon trees grow abundantly on the Amalfi Coast on the southern Mediterranean coast of Italy, thriving in the rich volcanic soil and the dramatic rugged terraced hilltops.

These trees are planted in regular rows about 20 feet apart, and irrigated by means of water channels between the rows. Methods of cultivation have remained largely unchanged since the Persians first started to cultivate lemons in pre-Roman times.

Once established, a good lemon tree will yield between 400 and 600 lemons a year, and it will go on producing for 50-60 years. 

Electricity from a lemon

It is possible to get electricity from a lemon (and a few other acidic fruits and vegetables) using two strips of metal. The most readily available combination is copper and zinc. The zinc piece can be taken from the casing of an old carbon "D" cell (battery); some zinc coated nails may work as well. The copper can be a coin containing a high amount of copper. (Note: some recent copper coins, including the newer U.S. pennies, contain low amounts of copper mixed with zinc. If in doubt, use a pure copper strip.)
 They are stuck into the lemon, and wires are attached to each one. The wires should be attached securely to form a good electrical contact. If the other ends of the wires are attached to a small light bulb (flashlight bulb) there should be sufficient current to light it. Note that the metal pieces should be clean, and that they should not touch inside the lemon. The electric current comes from the chemical reaction between the acid in the lemon and the zinc. Positively charged hydrogen in the acid oxidizes the zinc, causing electrons to flow from the zinc to the acid. In the process, some of the hydrogen in the acid is reduced to hydrogen gas.The copper merely completes the circuit.

A Rhetorical Question

Why there are not more Lemon Trees planted in Public Parks, School Backyards, in areas that are allowing this type of tree Public Places, Office Buildings, Rooftop Gardens? 

Blog 126-365
other environmental posts at
http://lilianausvat.wordpress.com
Author