pumpkin dog treats

What You Seed Is What You Get

South Kona Green Market

My dog Zelda and I have been spending our Sundays at the South Kona Green Market. We are finding not only do we get to get our organic pumpkin noni coconut oil dog treats to other dogs who need it for itching, scratching and licking, but the experience of abundance with those that are becoming our friends who also have their goods at the market is more than a wonderful experience.

We’ve got some awesome Kona Coffee hand picked, sun dried and from our own home here on the Big Island of Hawaii as well.  And the dog themed jewelry by Barbara Hanson is the classy stuff dog ladies search for!  You can get it on Etsy if you don’t get to live or visit the Big Island!

The real impact of The Green Market came for me this week with observing and interacting with the people who were next me. They were a young couple with a 15 month old baby. They were selling plants, greens and vegetables from their organic farm.

Early on in the day people were buying their great looking plants and vegetables. They sold more than they thought they would all day in the first couple of hours. They were giving things away too. In abundance.

I believe that is why it was all coming back to them.

The guy’s name is Mason. He is tan and kissed by the sun, he is content, he is engaging. He had his family around him. He is inventive and full of knowledge.

For instance when they arrived and began to put up their pop up tent, like everyone has at the market, he realized he had no top to it packed with him. Only three sides. His plants were starting to wilt. He needed shade. So, he used some small pieces of rope he had with him and made a top with the 3 sides.

The way of thinking that has become the normal would have made this problem into a disaster. It would have been having to leave to go get the top and miss the morning customers.

A Different Perspective

It is what I am growing to love about many of the people I meet on the Big Island. Creative, inventive, and an attitude of abundance which usually is not about the kind of car you drive or the size of your home, or the number of clothes you have in your closet.

Mason, love the name because I’m really obsessed with Mason jars these days and the practicality to re-use for storage as well as glassware. We use them as our coffee mugs! Anyway, Mason was also full of huge knowledge he shared freely. He gardens and makes it simple. And he gets the most of food for his family and for the community around him.

He taught me parsley has huge calcium content. I did not know that and it’s one of those things that both women in their midlife years need good sources of, as well as dogs need in a whole food based diet.

There was a lot more tips and tidbits like beets and spirulina have huge iron in them. Some things I knew already, but the reminder is always helpful in a world where food can be so easily marketed to look good so we buy it, but may not have the nourishment we need in it.

Such great information. Good news for those taking care of adrenal and thyroid issues too.

Seed Positive Thoughts and Success will Bloom for You

The other thing I noticed was how the family interacted. They were having fun together the whole time. They were helping one another while they let their kid be a kid and taught her things at the same time. They exuded that they had enough, that they were happy, that they were living in abundance.

Another concept I’ve not lived around all that long. Our society is one where we don’t have enough, we need more money, we need more things, we need something else to be successful, to be happy.

It made me realize I have enough. I have abundance. Once again the lessons of the Big Island are what I was brought here for. I’ve always had these thoughts under it all, but the world wide marketing effect worked on my mind as it does most of us in the Western hemisphere. I have less stuff, by choice, than I have my entire adult life and I feel much more abundant.

How much is enough? What feels like abundance to you?  Please join the discussion on G+

Jt Clough lives on the Big Island, Hawaii, and practices health, happiness and natural remedies.  Her work at ReVIBE is for people looking to live healthier and happier lives and her passion for it has helped so many to find and do that thing they’ve been talking about/wishing to happen for so long.  She is a dog whisperer for our best friends and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication.

Holiday Pumpkin Dog Recipe

Incredibly Easy Holiday Pumpkin Dog Treats

Pumpkin is great for dogs and humans. This year more and more are turning to making gifts and planning dinners around the table with friends and family.

Dog lovers here is your chance to make a dog treat that is not only really healthy for any dog, but is so easy to make you’ll find yourself with a thoughtful gift for even those you wish you could have given something to in years past but the budget didn’t stretch that far.

The big bonus…. the pumpkin treats are great for humans too!

Health Benefits of Pumpkins

Pumpkin is loaded with Beta carotene and anti-oxidants especially vitamins C and E. These vitamins help to lower heart disease, cancer and cataracts. Pumpkin is a great aid for dogs in weight loss and for tummy issues like diarrhea. Read more on the healing properties of pumpkins and you’ll find yourself the hit of the holiday new recipe dishes and your dog lover friends will not only get a really cool gift but dogs will love it and add health to their diet.

 Pumpkin Dog & Human Treat Recipe

The instructions are simple.  So simple you’ll find it’s very easy to get creative and make thoughtful homemade gifts, appetizers or a little treat any time for dogs and for people.

  • Turn the oven on to about 350 F.
  • Put the pumpkin in the oven on a baking sheet.
  • Cook until a knife punctures the pumpkin easily, usually about 45 minutes.
  • When it’s done, slice it up, remove the seeds and cut into small cubes.
  • Keep the seeds to roast alone. The health benefits of the pumpkin seed are amazing as well.

That is an incredibly easy recipe. Plain pumpkin cubes. Your dog will love them. It’s easy, its good for your dog and for you.

Simplicity Packaging

Use a small paper bag and tie ribbon around the top. Or go green and beautiful and use a Ball glass jar with the seal-able lid. Tie your holiday wishes to it if it is a gift or just simply put it in the refrigerator and dole treats out for any good reason. *make sure to add a note if it is a gift that these treats need to be refrigerated.

The More Difficult, More Yum Pumpkin Treat Recipe

Same as above. Once you have cut the pumpkin into cubes drizzle Manuka honey, or raw honey over the pumpkin. Use these treats as an eat right out of the oven appetizer or side dish.

Your dog only needs a few. Probably the same for you. Put on a dish or flat pan, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for later.

But wait. Is honey good for the dog?

For thousands of years, honey has been recognized as one of the most natural home remedies to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints including yeast infection, arthritis pain and fungal infections like athlete’s foot.  The antiseptic properties inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and aid external wounds to stay clean and free from infection. Antibacterial properties prevent infection and functions as an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing both swelling and pain, and even scarring. It is widely believed that Manuka is the preferred honey for wound dressing due to its strong antibacterial property even when taken internally.

The inclusion of a teaspoon of honey to the dog’s daily regimen is proven effective in alleviating pain associated with arthritis.  The enzymes in raw honey aid in maintaining the dog’s stable digestive system.  The rest of the anti fungal, yeast infection fighters also apply when ingested by your dog.

Unlike other human foods, honey can be easily digested by dogs. Dog are not inherently allergic to this insect-made substance. However, too much of anything including honey can be a dangerous thing. Dogs should get small doses off honey. A few pumpkin treats drizzled with honey should do the trick to super duper your dogs immune system.

Enjoy each and every moment of the holidays and remember: Joint consumption doesn’t create intimacy. Only joint creativity and gifts create intimacy and connection. Occupy Love.

Aloha wags!

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your own paradise from where you are now!  Please subscribe to Big Island Dog and follow me on Twitter.   Retweets are cool too.

As a 9 time Ironman finisher, change maker and author and creator of  5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs and K9 Cross Fitness Classes in Kailua Kona Hawaii I encourage you to make that change you want so badly today!

 

All material on this website is provided for your information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction for you or your dog. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being and the health and well-being of their dog.

Pumpkin Dog Treat Biscuit Recipe

Pumpkins have amazing healthy qualities to them and are so much more than a holiday decoration carved for what many of us enjoy immensely, Halloween.

Pumpkin can help with your dog’s digestive system from constipation to diarrhea to urinary health and weight loss.

Carve a pumpkin as a greeting from your dog at the door using these free breed pumpkin carving stencils. And use what would have been waste to bake some healthy treats for your dog too.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Dog Treat Biscuits

Put the insides of the pumpkin you carved into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  You can use any part other than the skin as the pumpkin ingredient for these dog treats.  If you are using the flesh of the vegetable cut into small chunks before putting in the blender or food processor.

If you don’t have a real pumpkin to use, canned is great, just make sure it is not the pie form which contains sugar and other ingredients not good for your dog.

  • 1 cup pumpkin
  • 3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 2/3 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup corn meal
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup water

Mix ingredients. The dough should be thick so add water last and cut back on the amount if your dough is not quite thick enough to roll.  Add flour and/or oats to thicken if dough is not stiff enough to roll.

Roll the dough to about 1/4″ thick.

Cut in squares or use a cookie cutter if you want to be super creative.

Place squares on on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 250 degrees for one hour on the middle rack.  They can brown easily so check them often to make sure they are not getting to dark and adjust the temperature.

After 1 hour turn the oven off and let the biscuits stand overnight.

Store at room temperature for a couple of weeks or put in the refrigerator for up to a month.

They make awesome gifts for dog lovers over the holidays and perfect dog training treats with low calories yet high on the healthy scale.

Get more pumpkin dog food + treats recipes here.

Aloha Wags!

Thanks for reading.  My hope is to give you inspiration and thought provoking ideas to take your very next step in creating your best life for you and your dog!  Please Join my Inbox ReVIBE | Dogs + Joy + Vibrance  for more on dogs, natural remedies, recipes and things to do. Follow me on Twitter  and join my dog discussions on G+

Jt Clough lives in Maui, Hawaii and practices health, happiness, natural remedies and training for dogs and their people.  Her uncanny way of communication with both dogs and people is healing and her training is effective physically and emotionally. Her work at ReVIBE | Dogs + Joy + Vibrance is for people looking to live healthier and happier lives through their dogs and her passion for it has helped so many to find and do that thing they’ve been talking about or wishing to happen for so long. She is a dog whisperer for our best friends and studies natural dog remedies, nutrition and communication. Her latest publications are Treading for Dogs DVD, Pumpkin Dog Food + Treats Recipes and 5K Training Guide | Running with Dogs.