Summary: Is neem safe to use in the garden. My answer is yes. Neem oil comes from the fruits and seeds of the Neem tree (Azddirachta indica), a fast growing tree from India. Neem is used in India for cosmetics and in Ayurvedic medicine for many afflictions. The most common are inflammations, skin diseases, fevers, and rheumatic disorders. As homesteaders we know this as an insecticide. I researched Neem as I was concerned about using it in my garden. I was delighted to learn of all of it's medicinal uses. I was ready to buy the seed and get it on my homestead. But alas it doesn't tolerate cold below 35F. It can be grown indoors as a houseplant, but I will just buy it. There is a warning that pregnant women should not handle it -causes aborting in rats. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1924&page=23 We talk about the rising food prices and what we can do. I'll tell you about gardening in an apartment. Here is a link. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/sixtysixthings-growhome-containers-withoutgarden.htm I found an interesting article on alternate ways of cooling a home. does that spark an idea? http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/ice-block-ac.htm We discuss basic goat care, trimming hooves and checking for problems. Trim hooves with a specialized hoof trimmer or straight pruning shears. Hooves should be trimmed flush with the foot. The hooves tend to curl under and get debris built up. A goat should stand on a properly trimmed hoof at about 45 degrees. Disinfect tools between hooves and goats. Here is a link to a pic: http://www.piedmontdairygoats.com/HowtoTrimHooves.jpg We discuss dehorning and castration. Signs of a healthy goat: Eyes clear and bright. Tearing or cloudy eyes probably mean a pinkeye infection. Coat smooth and shiny. A dull coat could indicate parasites. Fluffed up coat means the goat is not feeling well. Appetite good. However, it is normal for a doe in labor to refuse to eat. Attitude alert. Hunched back and droopy tail mean something is wrong Here is a link that you can read the Merck Veterinary Manual online http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp
