Caroline's Connections...

The cheese is 'real'?

2011-10-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

I have been long familiar with cheese products that are only partially real cheese. I worked for a nation-wide pizza outfit back in the late '80's and found out then that the cheese they put on their pizza is a 'cheese food' meaning only about 50% of the cheese is real cheese and the rest is emulsifiers, fillers and other manufactured food to cut the cost down and create a better melting cheese on top of one of America's favorite foods.
So, needless to say, I make my own pizza at least once a week and it has real cheese on it - aged, raw milk cheddar cheese to be exact.

But, while traveling last week, I was delayed in a huge airport and found myself waiting 8 hours for a connecting flight. My supply of my own food was exhausted, I was hungry so I went to a pizza place in the airport and took my chances. Not before I entered into a very spirited conversation with one of the workers, possibly the franchise manager, and it goes like this:

Caroline - Is your cheese real on your pizza?

Pizza Guy - What?

Caroline - Real, 100% pure cheese?

Pizza Guy - Why do you ask?

Caroline - Well....I made pizzas about 20 years ago and I know that most cheese on pizza's today are only partially real...

Pizza Guy - (with a perplexed look) No, it's cheese, it's real. I know.

Caroline - Oh (looking tired and hungry).

Pizza Guy - It's real, it's our cheese, IT COMES WITH OUR NAME ON IT! It's real.

Caroline - (thinking finally that even asking was a lost cause in the first place, let's it go, shrugs and orders a piece of plain cheese pizza).

"It comes with our name on it", OK, that's a great answer. He hasn't a clue for sure.
Just because the restaurant chain has their own labeled cheese means nothing, absolutely nothing. Our food today is so tainted and messed around with we don't know whether we are coming or going. What I should have done is suggested he look at the list of ingredients on his cheese and then figured it out himself if it is real or not. Cheese should have only a couple of ingredients, milk, salt, enzymes/rennet. That's it.

I must have walked around for at least an hour chuckling about that interaction. What really is real nowadays?

Balance

2011-10-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Balance seems to be a hot topic lately: Balancing our free time with work time, our children and their needs with ours and everyone else in our homes. And, let's not forget community needs. We are still in the midst of recovery from two horrible floods here in this county and it's like living in a war zone with the grief, physical damage and an overall feeling of destruction. How do we balance that with regular daily needs? It's a daunting task, but thankfully, we are usually not presented with more than we can handle. We can look at this cosmically or just physically...what ever way you view it, your life may seem like it has 'too much' in it or going on. If that's the case, can you control the 'too much' part? Is it a case of choices you are making that are creating the 'too much'? Scaling back and creating simple, small chunks of time for just you can do wonders. A great example is something I have done to help alievate my perpetual feeling of having too much to do and not enough time in the day: I write down what I need to do the night before, or when I'm thinking of it. That gets those 'to do's" out of my head so I can concentrate on other things. Then, another simple thing I do is pick up my book while dinner is cooking, instead of cleaning or doing some other chore. Granted, I need to do those chores, but It's more important I chill out for just five minutes so I can proceed to dinner and not feel so rushed. Between those two very simple sounding solutions, I feel much better and not so worried.
Another good idea with balance, and this is for all of us women...is to do something for us, just us, as often as possible. This may be a dance class, a phone call daily with a friend or sister or time set aside for reading. We need to balance all that we do for others with doing for ourselves. I don't think it will ever be even, the scales will always be tipped toward us doing more for others, but we can try. Happy Fall!

How expensive is your HEALTH?

2011-08-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

In many of my interactions with people who express interest in what I'm doing, my lifestyle or eating habits, I have been hearing a theme in the concerns of those people, and that is they all think that going organic will mean going broke. One of the first things I tell clients and casual acquaintances alike is that when you eat a traditional food diet like the one I eat (90% organic), my overall food bill is cheaper than when I was a 50% organic vegetarian. Hummm, interesting isn't it? Let me explain:
I eat only local, organic, grass-fed meats that either I raise or farms very close to me raise. I then take those meats and utilize not only the meat, but the fat, the organs, the marrow and other parts to make broth, use the fats in cooking and so forth. The meats on average are only $5.00 per pound. I go through about 2-3 pounds per week. I then drink organic, RAW, grass-fed milk from goats or cows which costs me $5.00 per gallon. That milk is drunk, made into cheese, yogurt, icecream and so forth. Cream and butter I get from a different, fairly local farm. I freeze large quantities of the butter which I get for about $3.00 per lb. and the cream is consumed as a treat!
The vegetables and fruits I eat are either grown by myself or other organic farmers, and about 80% local because I don't always have enough to get me through the winter. I eat a lot of pumpkins and squash which are very inexpensive and nutritious. Now for the grains I consume: I get 50lb bags of my organic grains, from here in NY at about $1.20 per lb. I do purchase ground amaranth/ kamut and millet which aren't local, but they are important healthy additives to my bread flour mixes that I feel the benifits outweigh the distance traveled to get them to me.
So, what do I do with all this SIMPLE food? I make stews, daily bread, yummy roasted vegitable dishes, and yes, lots of pizza as I have two young boys who love their pizza. My sauce is a simple pureed tomatoes, basil, garlic and salt and pepper - the tomatoes and basil are frozen for winter use. We eat eggs daily and in general, our protien intake is slightly higher than our grain intake. We consume as much butter, pork fat and olive oil and coconut oil as needed, without worrying that we are going to harm out bodies. We need this fat (I'll discuss this in another blog) for our health and without it we actually starve outselves inspite of overeating and being overweight. And, the most important factor in all of this food is that it's real, wholesome, and without any chemical alteration, additives or processing.
So, in short, you can eat healthy, local food for less. There are resources in your area to help like the Weston A. Price foundation, westonaprice.org (see older blogs), localharvest.org, naturallygrown.org to name a few. Just remember, you will not eat cheaper if you think you will get all of your food needs from your local grocery store. The food there has traveled great distances and most of it is processed. The only thing I purchase from the regular grocery store are my paper products, natural soaps etc...
If you need help on your journey feel free to contact me, that's what I'm here for.
Happy healthy eating!

March Maple Syrup Challenge

2011-02-04T14:09:00.000-08:00

In the northeast, we all know it's winter right now - just look outside and all you see is snow. It's been an old fashioned winter of sorts which is good (we hope) for us maple producers. After last year's "worst season on record" for our farm and most others in this area, we are hopeful that this very cold, snowy winter may help us produce a good crop of maple syrup.

Did you know that from the start of maple season to it's end, our climate goes from deep winter to spring. I love maple season because it heralds in spring and everything changes. Maple syrup is the only harvest that I know of that starts in winter and ends in spring, instead of starting in spring and ending in summer or fall.

So help us celebrate this sweet harvest by using maple syrup instead of sugar for the month of March this year. Throw out or put away all of your artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and corn syrups and only use maple syrup or maple sugar for one month. The health benefits are numerous as maple syrup does not cause a huge spike in insulin like refined sugars and corn syrups (don't listen to your dietician...they just don't know!). Maple syrup isn't a neuro toxin either unlike aspartame (how can our government condone use of this chemical that is known to kill animals, cause brain cancer and mess with our entire body?).

Maple syrup is one of the oldest sugars know to man. We don't do anything to it except boil water out of the sap concentrating the sugar making maple syrup. No processing with chemicals, no additives - just pure nature.

Take up the challenge and let me know how you feel. If you need help or want to talk about your March Maple Syrup Challenge, just e-mail me at mhfarmvcrb@wilblue.net - I'm here to help you! I'll be sending reminders to change your sweetener this March throughout this month!
Blessings,
Caroline

Buyer beware!

2011-01-02T14:34:00.000-08:00

Starting last summer, I began having a strange rash on my chin, which progressed around my mouth. It took a while, but I finally diagnosed it as perioral dermatitis, a very common dermatitis that affects mostly women, between the ages of 25 and 50. Ok, so what causes this? If you know me, you know that I love digging and finding out what is what. The cause is mostly unknown. The treatments, conventional that is, are ineffective and usually cause it to worsen. Now, remember that I said the cause is ‘mostly’ unknown? Well, turns out that some sort of allergen causes most dermatitis. Ok, I get that, and as far as I knew, I was free of any chemicals in my soaps and I make my own lotions from pure oils. At least I thought I was free of any chemicals. I double-checked my shampoos to make sure, and found the culprit. I purchased it and didn’t fully read the ingredients; of course they claimed it was all natural and organic. Hummmm, does that include industrial fabric softener? Three different types of parabens? NO. So, down the toilet the shampoo went. My skin is slowly improving, but my sense of being duped is stronger than ever.

I have been chemical free and either making my own soaps or only purchasing pure castile soaps and pure shampoos since 1988. Yup, that long. I recognized at an early age that what I put on my skin, my largest organ, profoundly affects my entire body. Every now and then I get duped and make a mistake and purchase something full of crap. I pay for it too. I am extremely sensitive and the tainted products either brings on some sort of rash or makes my hair fall out. When I see all the ads for hair replacement I want to scream, “just stop using those common drugstore shampoos and conditioners and you will be just fine!”

No surprise then, when watching a clip on an infomercial on TV the other day my radar pinged. This product, which was being indorsed by a big, young, popular celeb claimed to be the answer to every woman’s hair problems, no matter the type of hair. It is a shampoo free shampoo that will revolutionize your hair. So, I went on-line and looked it up and thankfully, they have a list of ingredients for the product.
And, guess what? I wouldn’t wash my dog with it. It’s full of parabens, and commercial grade fabric softeners along with a few essential oils. Great, with the power of TV, how many of us will be scammed and buy this crap? Buyer beware?

Thankfully, the Internet has a wealth of info regarding the toxic, cancer causing ingredients found in common soaps and cosmetics. Take time and search products out before you buy. For your safety and peace of mind, I have included what I call a ‘hot list’ of substances you should avoid in your soaps, make-up and skin care.
At the bottom of this blog.

And, one final note – do not despair. If you have taken a gander in your bathroom and realize it should be dumped in a toxic landfill, so be it. Take one type of product at a time and replace it with a good alternative. Here is my best pick list for good, non-toxic products (most can be found at Vitaglo.com or Vitacost.com or in your local health food store – though the web-sites listed are cheaper).

Body & Face Soap: Dr. Brunner liquid castile soap or bar soap or Meyer’s bar soap
Shampoos & Conditioner: Aubrey Organics
Lotions: Aubrey Organics or just pure oil such as apricot kernel oil or almond oil.
Apricot kernel oil is also great on your face!
Healing ointments: Castor oil will heal just about anything, as will pure honey.
Essential oils are a must; visit newdirectionsaromatics.com for the purest on the market.
Make-up – NOTHING from the drugstore! Go to your healthful store and see what they have and read the ingredients to make sure it’s pure.

Good luck and happy, healthy new year.
Caroline

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate bubbly surfactant cleanser allows 40% MORE toxins to enter the LAURETH SULFATE (SLS/SLES) body through the skin! Harsh irritant, contributes to yeast infections. May cause hair thinning; Builds up in the heart, liver, lungs, brain. Contributes to cataracts & improper eye development in children under 6.
*Laureth's and ceteareths and Pegs
May be contaminated with the volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and dioxane; estrogen mimic & endocrine disruptor contributes to cancer, prostate, fertility and reproductive problems. Affects fetus & sex organs
*DEA/ TEA (Triethanolamine)
Interacts with nitrites in the formula to form the potent carcinogen nitrosamine. Caused liver & kidney cancer in animal studies.
Propylene glycol
Shown to cause dermatitis, kidney & liver abnormalities In animal studies. May inhibit skin cell growth and be irritating to the skin
*Caution: There are 100’s of synonyms & trademarked names used in store products to hide these & other toxic ingredients. Note: Hormone/estrogen mimics/disruptors increase female problems, cancer, and reproductive problems in fetus.
*Phthalates
Hormone mimic; teratogen (causes fetal damage); Fragrance fixative; ingredient plasticizer, used to make plastics soft; Dibutyl phthalate is one of several different common phthalates that are routinely NOT listed on labels because they are part of proprietary fragrances. Neways products are certified phthalate-free.
Talc (talcum powder)
Acute or chronic lung disease (Talcosis), contributes to ovarian cancers.
Mineral Oil / Petrolatum
Dissolves skin’s own natural oils & causes dehydration & dry skin. Blocks pores & holds-in toxins. Made from crude oil known to contain carcinogens and reproductive disruptors.
Glycerin
Unless air humidity is over 65%, glycerin pulls moisture from deeper skin layers to the surface, drying basal layers so cells don’t mature properly & age faster.

Fragrance (undefined mixtures)
Usually contain allergens & hormone disrupting phthalates; excito-toxins and neuro-toxins causing brain damage and behavioral issues. Neways products are essentially fragrance-free except for some natural, aromas and flavors used to mask certain herbal odors. Neways scents comply with new stringent E.U. 7th Directive standards: approved as non-allergenic
Benzoic Acid or Benzyl
Contains benzene rings & toluene, potential cancer causing agents, endocrine disrupters, and may also cause birth defects. Neways is guaranteed benzene-free.
FD&C Red 40
Questionable carcinogen & excito-toxin. (FD&C’s are all synthetic)
Sodium Fluoride
Potent carcinogen, cause teeth mottling, bone problems, irritates tissues
Parabens (preservative)
Powerful in tiny amounts; new concerns they are hormone mimics (see Laureth’s, PEG’s) unless vacuum stripped. Neways, for 20 years, is one of few companies in the world to vacuum strip away impurities- which can also occur in organic products-- without adding harmful solvents. Never should be in 1st half of formula
These common alternatives to parabens release carcinogenic Formaldehyde:
• quaternium 15
• diazolidinyl urea
• imidazolidinyl urea\
• dmdm hydantoin
• sodium hydroxy methyl glycinate
• benzyl alcohol
• 2-bromo-2-nitropane-1, 3-diol

Paths of life

2010-06-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

It seems as though, lately I am the ambassador of connections, hence the name of my business, Caroline’s Connections. Whether I connect people to health info or info about the recent FDA ruling about our food rights, I’m your woman! That said, after a talk I gave at a local B&B association meeting here in Central New York, I realized that what sets me apart, and makes what I’m saying so palatable is that I’m not touting that my way is the only way, or that you need to emulate me. What I’m saying, over and over, is this: If and when you are ready, here are the resources you can look into to improve your life. Whether it’s a magazine article, or most importantly, Weston A. Price Foundation information, I believe that it’s my job to lead the horse to water. Do you want a drink?

Case in point; I met a very nice, very active man the other day who lives with Type Two Diabetes. He and I talked extensively, and I kept saying “just go to westonaprice.org and there is a TON of information there about your condition”. Even though, I do have a wealth of info and ho-to’s under my belt, I think he needs to be the steward of his body. Hopefully, I gave him some tools to put to use.

This presence of mind I have now took only about twenty years to come to fruition. When I was first in tuned to Reiki, I thought it was my job to help everyone and open them all up, and wondered why they weren’t getting better or listening to me. How frustrating. I then moved into the phase of my life where I only treated people who needed me and would listen (boy did that narrow my clients). Over the last few years that has given way to me having lots of books and info on hand to either sell or give out, if, and only if the person wanted it. I make it clear that I am not gaining anything in giving them this info and it’s their drive that will make or break them on their journey to optimum health.

I am a natural researcher, and I understand some people aren’t. But, I have found that the people, who actively seek out info and resources to help themselves, are healthier and happier. The people who don’t, tend to complain and play the victim. Ironically, they need all our help the most.

One word on self-help books while I am on the topic of helping one’s self. Beware, not all are what they seem. Self Help is an oxymoron in many cases, because most of the books out there are ‘this is my way, follow it and you will be like me – or cured’. Hummmm, does that really work? Sometimes yes, like placebo pills. A lot of the time no, it leaves us feeling frustrated and unworthy.

Find what works for you on your journey, every path is different yet similar and if I, or someone else can help guide you on your way, great. If you are like me and a self-motivated person, take our guidance and run, learn and grow.

Support Bikeloc.org

2010-05-02T07:32:00.001-07:00

The evening of May 1st was a great one for me for a couple of reasons:
The first of which I was able to get off the farm to attend a casual potluck nearby, and the second of which was the actual potluck and who it was in honor of....Aaron Zueck and Robert DuBois, the duo also known as Bikeloc.org. Aaron and Robert have decided to bike across America to support and learn more about local food. The potlucks are being organized to not only feed this dynamic pair, but to help them connect to local farmers as they treck through our unique country. It was quite an honor to meet them as far as I was concerned as I have great respect (and am a bit jealous) of their journey and cause. Our potluck here in Schoharie County, New York was their second stop. They will be blogging and video journaling this experience as they go, so check out their web-site at bikeloc.org and you may even be able to organize your own potluck if they are in your neighborhood.
So, if you see two rather tired but inspired bicyclists go through your town, they may be the infamous bikeloc dudes, Aaron and Robert - feed them will ya?

Good to know: Info about diatomaceous earth

2010-04-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

I chuckle often when I visit conventional doctors and just recently our Vet. I utilize many natural and organic compounds and substances to treat and prevent problems and/or potential illnesses. Case in point, our dog, chickens and horse. We give all these animals a daily dose of diatomaceous earth to prevent worms and other intestinal parasites. Once in a while we use it too. This is such a simple remedy that the Vet looked at me as though I had grown two horns when I mentioned that this was what we use with the dog and do not wish to use chemicals with him.

You see, the problem is that diatomaceous earth is just too simple. Here’s how it works:
Diatomaceous Earth is odorless and nontoxic (however, when handling it the dust can be an irritant so we always wear a dust mask) and is composed of finely milled fossilized shells of minuscule organisms called diatoms. The microscopically fine, sharp edges desiccate the insects' exoskeletons upon contact, and the pests dehydrate and die within hours. The insects also die when they eat the dust. We use this to kill pests inside and outside our house as well as internally. It’s truly amazing. For more information about this you can visit arbico-organics.com. You can always contact me for more info.

Maple Weekend highlights...

2010-03-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

During Maple Weekend at my farm, I am swamped with tours, running the production kitchen, helping in the evaporator room and trying to keep my sanity! There are many times throughout the day when I am in the middle of comic situations and am asked a wide variety of ‘unique’ questions. My most favorite is: ‘Does maple syrup really come from a maple tree?’ This past weekend was no exception, but the ‘comic’ situations actually involved my two sons.

We had a girl scout troop here and as they were getting ready to come in for the tour, the gathered outside, and my son Rowan was there with my other son and Victor putting ropes up and getting everything ready for tours. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, he was quite entertaining and talking to all the girls, young and old. Next thing I know, the group piles into the store and in comes Rowan with a pickaxe. And what do I say? “Rowan, what have I told you about bringing the pick axe inside? Go put that outside now please”. I then looked up and saw I had quite the attentive audience of moms and their girls; some looking at me with shocked expressions and some with amused looks. Ugh, I thought, here we go, open mouth insert foot!
I was lucky in that once I explained that we teach our boys to use the tools we use, and that Rowan was helping his dad drive stakes in with the pickaxe and blah, blah, blah….that they seemed to get my drift. I’m sure they were amused that I drew the line at ‘no axes inside’. Ahhhh, the joys of being a farmer and helping others understand the life we lead.

The second, and by far the most amusing thing that happened all weekend took place Sunday morning in the store.
My good friend Suzanne was standing by the counter, among customers when my youngest son Brayden went over to talk with her. He is only three years old, and has been in the who has a penis vs. who has a vagina phase for a while now. So, there the two of them are, with other customers around and what does he ask?
“Suzanne, do you have a Vagina?”
“Yes, Brayden, I do.”
“I have a penis.” He exclaims. At this point, some customers are starting to look at them.
“Oh?” Says Suzanne
“Rowan has a penis,”
“Marc has a penis,”
“And, Mommy has a vagina.” (He always says emphasizing the word vagina, of course.)
“And guess what Suzanne?”
“What Brayden?”.
“Daddy has a really, really big penis.”

Meanwhile, I am oblivious to this interaction, and next thing I know, Suzanne leaves rather quickly. It wasn’t until later that she said she had to leave because she had to sit in my parking lot and laugh - for quite a while.
I wish I had witnessed this, and more especially, seen the look on my customer’s faces. And, I can tell you that Victor turned five shades of red when I told him this story….

Behind the scenes during maple season...

2010-03-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

Like all farming, maple syrup is a crop, and we have to harvest it. Instead of plowing, tilling and harvesting with tractors, we rely on the trees that planted themselves hundreds of years ago, to give up some of their sap, or life force, to us for processing. We ‘tap’ the trees, run lines of tubing to connect them all to a tank and then we collect the sap from the tank in the woods and bring it here to our sap house at the farm. From there it goes into the evaporator, to be boiled for eight hours or more. Once a good majority of the water in the sap is boiled off, we then have maple syrup. From sap that looks like water and has only 2-3% sugar content we get syrup that is brown, and has 66.6% sugar content. There are only two by products of making maple syrup: Steam and distilled water. How beautiful is that? What a pure process!

Maple season brings in spring, customers here for tours and lots of hard work. It’s all worth it because without this crop, our farm wouldn’t exist. I love it all. During our Maple Weekends, we sometimes have a thousand visitors come through our doors ready to experience a piece of history in the making. With the sweet smells and tasty treats, customers also take hay rides through a portion of our woods and then feast their eyes on a beautiful view of the northern Catskills. The beauty of our farm, and surrounding land never cease to inspire and amaze me.

Come share my love of life at my farm this maple season!

One Percent

2010-01-31T13:02:00.001-08:00

I have had numerous conversations in the past week regarding raw milk and the benefits of drinking it and making cheese and yogurt from it. During all of these conversations with my acquaintances, friends and Weston A. Price members, I am struck by the fact that in reality, only one percent of the population consumes raw milk. One percent. I am part of that one percent, and it shocks me. I’m not going to go into all the specifics, because if you are reading this, than you can do some research on your own and learn for yourself at realmilk.com. You will find out how safe raw milk is, resources for local farms in your area and how you can help fight our government in its quest to make raw milk illegal in all 50 states. What I can tell you is that my whole family consumes raw milk; I make yogurt, butter and cheese from it and cook with it. We are healthier now than ever!

Back to that one percent: If only one percent of the population is consuming ‘real food’ straight from it’s source such as raw milk, whole grains, grass fed, organic meats etc.. Then is it any wonder that there is so much disease, obesity and cancer?
Processed foods, just about everything in a supermarket, are not real food. Our bodies cannot survive on food substitutes, chemicals and fake food.
I was shocked and thrilled to learn that Oprah had a segment this past week about the benefits of eating real foods, real fats and real sugars (like my maple syrup). Finally, the main stream is getting wind of this and my efforts (along with the other one percenters) are paying off to a small degree.

Take the plunge yourself and go to the Weston A. Price foundation's website at westonaprice.org and start learning and become part of our one percent club! Or, you can always e-mail me, call me, respond to this blog or find me on facebook. Let’s talk!

Good Winter Reading...

2010-01-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here’s a great list of books that are staples in my home/farm and I hope they will become part of your life too:

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Stocking Up by Carol Hupping
Artisan Bread by Zoe Francois and Jeff Hertzberg
Fourfold Path to Healing by Dr. Thomas Cowan

"Don't say stupid"/CNG workshop update

2010-01-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all the participants who attended my Certified Naturally Grown talk this past Saturday! Hopefully I spread the word and more maple producers will be interested in becoming CNG farmers!

I had two heckler's in the class though: I was nearing the end of the talk and was explaining something that slips my mind right now...never the less, I used the word 'stupid' and in seconds head from the back of the class room "Don't say STUPID Mommy!" from two little voices! Ahh, my two boys throwing back my own words in front of thirty odd strangers, great! Then, one of the participants said to me "you are turning red" and at that point I knew there was no turning back. We all had a good laugh and I was reminded that children are amazing and our best teachers!

Certified Naturally Grown Workshop

2010-01-06T06:43:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update- I am giving a workshop about the Certified Naturally Grown program this Saturday in Western New York. This particular workshop is geared for maple producers,so if you are interested contact me.
Location: Vernon-Verona High School, Verona,NY
Time: 10:45
(workshops are on-going all day for other maple topics)

Winter Grounding

2010-01-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

It’s cold, snowy or cold and rainy, whatever the type of winter day, it’s yucky out. If we could, we would all take a break in January and go somewhere warm to re-connect with the ground, nature and all that goes with it. But, we can’t. So, how do we connect with and ground ourselves to mother earth when we are many feet off the ground, stuck inside?

The power of thought and visualization can compensate for surroundings that aren’t ideal. If you see yourself walking on the beach or in a forest in the spring, and keep that image in your mind, guess what? Your sub-conscious doesn’t know that it isn’t true. You are what you think is so accurate it’s scary, and it’s being proven over and over in non-scientific and scientific ways. That’s why people in prison can survive the most horrific of conditions and conversely, why people who are full of negative thoughts and anxiety always seem to manifest the worst in their life from illness to slips and falls.

Back to the cold and wintry conditions…Here’s what I do, and it may help you too:
Walking meditation is a big part of my life, as I just don’t have the time to sit and meditate. So I combine meditation and gratitude prayers as I walk, whether it’s outside or in (on my treadmill). The simple mantras I use are: With every step I take I feel energized and full of life. With every step I take any aches and pains I have are melting away and are replaced love and happiness.
With every step I take I inhale pure life and exhale negative energy and thoughts.

I know what you are thinking, the above seems too simple. To get to a good place and feeling in our life it has to be complicated or hurt in order for that ‘great’ outcome. Well, take it from me, simplicity is the best way. I can turn a bad day around, or a bad thought or a pain with my walking meditation. On a cold miserable day when I am bundled to the hilt tending my chickens, instead of thinking ‘ugh, this is miserable or cold’ or if I do find myself complaining in my mind, I turn it around: I take a deep breath and say “ I am so grateful to be able to take care of my chickens. Even though it’s cold and snowy out, it is beautiful”. I find it soothing to look around in the cold and snow and appreciate its beauty. And, of course I thank the chickens for their eggs and the whole way back into the building think of all the nourishment those eggs will give my family and customers.

Take a moment, close your eyes and visualize a place you love the most. See yourself sitting there, inhale the fragrance of the air, feel the wind, the textures under your feet. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Keep this vision in your mind for a few minutes at least once a day and you will be amazed how much better you feel.

Another trick I do is I have a picture of my meditation place (a beach in Nova Scotia) on my screen saver or desktop. I look at it often and take a deep breath to bring myself a piece of that into me.

Good luck and let’s all have a happy new year in spite of all that negative stuff around us!

Update...

2009-12-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

Interested in finding the most up-to-date info regarding health, nutrition and farming info? Check out The Weston A. Price Foundation's new, improved website: westonaprice.org. The WAPF has profoundly changed my life and many friend's of mine. The great part of this non-profit is that you can get the most honest info from trusted doctors, scientists and healers without having to buy into some pyramid scheme, follow a complicated diet or believe in hocus pocus. WAPF is dedicated to healthy living through research (not funded by the government or big business or any other organization bent on selling you on what they want you to buy, not what's good for you)and time honored traditions of native peoples around the planet. Check it out. Blessings and Happy New Year!

Just Lights

2009-12-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

As a child, I used to sit and stare at our Christmas tree with all its multicolored lights. I especially liked the tree before any of the decorations and tinsel were put on, thinking that the lights on the branches were enough.

Fast forward thirty some odd years and Christmas time is beyond busy here on our farm. I turn into Mrs. Santa Clause shipping our syrup and gift sets all over the country, supplying people with yummy, tasteful gifts. I decorate the county store at Thanksgiving and it takes days to get it just right. So, thanks to all my work, our house usually gets the short end of the stick so to speak. I’m barely able to find time some night around 11 pm to put up the tree and get the lights on. In past years I do the ornaments in the days following, but this year because of the economy, people are ordering our products to be shipped later than usual, so I’m swamped.

Last night as I was heading for bed and un-plugging the tree I started to chastise myself that I fell short, didn’t do enough because the only thing on the tree is the lights. But then, as I looked I realized that it was pretty just as it is. That maybe this year, we just have the lights. My children don’t really care, they love the lights too and can’t keep away. I turned it around right then and have been chuckling all day remembering my love of ‘just lights’ from Christmas’ past. Maybe we all can let go and enjoy something simple this year… we can’t always do everything, especially as mothers and women. Letting go can be kinda fun once in a while.

sustainable change

2009-12-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

2009 has been a year of growth and change on my farm. We have continued on our path of making sure we farm in a conscientious manner that does no harm and still allows us to eek out a living. I have beefed up my volunteering efforts with Certified Naturally Grown (naturallygrown.org), the non-profit that certifies that our farm along with over 700 other farms nationwide grow and produce their food without harmful chemicals; herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers (basically growing food the natural way, organically etc…). In addition to this, I started the Schoharie County Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation. This non-profit foundation is dedicated to farming, activism and wholesome nutrition. I became involved with them years ago when I purchased Nourishing Traditions. With that book plus some health issues that needed attention, I was able to turn my health around for the better by just eating grass fed organic meats (I was a vegetarian) whole grains and nutrient dense, fat soluble vitamins from animals. It just seemed like a natural progression to no only becoming a member but also starting a chapter. For more information go to westonaprice.org or e-mail me.

The most important change on the farm has been our adjustment to the downturn in the economy. I now carry more bulk, organic foods and farm fresh foods, as there is a need and desire to stay local and economize with our food. Since our local health food store closed, myself and a few other farms are the closest and the most wholesome resources for good food other than traveling forty miles or so. I find myself over and over helping people connect with the right food for them, obviously emphasizing organically grown. Even though people aren’t spending as much, they still have to eat. Historically, people in the U.S. spend the least amount on food, less than 10 percent of the average income. One hundred years ago that number was double and in other countries around the world, food and other necessities are the number one purchases. Therefore, I really think we need to re-focus our lifestyles to reflect the hard times we are in. Go from a materialistically driven mind set to a sustainable mind set. Meaning, what will help ‘me’ survive in the long run. Will a flat screen TV or new car mean anything if we haven’t any electricity or oil? Good quality food should be at the top of our lists because if our body fails, we have nothing.
I’ll be talking more about how to do this in later posts, so stay tuned…..
Cheers to good food,
Caroline

Quick food for a fast life…

2009-12-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

Not all ‘fast’ food is bad for you, especially when you make it yourself. Quick breads are a great way to compliment a meal with valuable nutrition including protein depending upon your ingredients. Add a quick bread to salad and soup for a complete meal, use left over quick breads for lunch sandwiches and even French toast in the morning.

What are quick breads? Simply put, quick breads are any bread that doesn’t have to rise using yeast. They are ‘quick’ because they are fast to prepare and usually cook in under an hour. The best part about quick breads is the numerous different styles and varieties of them that exist.
There are quick breads that have nuts in them, quick breads with apples, quick breads that are sweet, corn bread is considered a quick bread and muffins loosely reside in the quick bread category.

A basic quick bread inventory consists of an electric mixer or whisk, bowl, eggs, flour, baking powder and baking soda, honey or maple syrup and the rest of the ingredients are based upon the recipe requirements. Have fun, experiment and enjoy your own ‘quick food’. Here is a great winter quick bread that is nutritious and yummy (I eat this for breakfast year round!):

Pumpkin Bread - for a healthier version, use all organic ingredients.

2 eggs
¾ cup honey or maple syrup
½ cup virgin coconut oil
¼ cup yogurt or ½ stick butter or applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pureed pumpkin or winter squash (can be canned)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Optional: 1 cup cranberries, ¾ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line with parchment paper a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan

In a large bowl beat together all liquid ingredients, set aside.
In another bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until well combined. Fold in cranberries and or walnuts if used.
Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean when inserted into the loaf.
Enjoy...
Blessings,
Caroline

Grab Some Dirt

2009-12-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

Recently, while taking a day – long trip with my family I had the great privilege of being part of and observing a couple of incidences with my two boys that forced me to stop and think long and hard about being a grown up.

We were traveling in our medium size dump truck, luckily fairly new and very comfortable for the boys, age five and three. Plenty of toys and our two stops allowed them to get out and stretch and move while we picked up equipment for our farm.
Fast forward to stop number one, about four hours into our trip. At this stop the show room is large and the boys just ran and ran. They had a blast and luckily no one else was around and I wasn’t concerned in the slightest. I was happy they were able to let off some steam.
Back in the truck and after eating lunch, we arrive at stop number two. This warehouse is huge and not child friendly, though they get out with us as we load the truck. But, first thing they do at this place is bend down and grab some dirt. “Ugh “ I think, and of course I said, “don’t touch that dirt, it’s filthy”. Even as I was saying the words I realized the absurdity of them. My boys, who by this time were holding their dirt like it was gold dust, torsos hunched over, eyes glazed over, just looked at me and did nothing, just kept on holding the dirt. I then decided another tact was in order and asked them to drop it, as there was a lot of yucky stuff spilled on this dirt from all the trucks and tractors. They understood that and reluctantly dropped the dirt. We slipped inside out of the rain to watch all the equipment.
It wasn’t until the ride home that I realized the significance of their running and especially the dirt. Here they have been traveling most of the day, totally disconnected from their elements, the elements they are immersed in daily on our farm, the land. So, what comes natural to them? Grabbing dirt of course. And what do we adults do to them and ourselves, squelch those urges, tell them they are in the wrong or something like that. I’m glad I got one of the two situations right that day and at least let them run unfettered. Next time, I’ll let go of my dirty dirt issues and let them in the dirt at the side of the warehouse. And, maybe next time, when I’m feeling pent up, or disconnected, I’ll go out and grab some dirt. After all, I loved to do that as a child, so why not now?