Great News!

I'm happy to announce that I’ve set up a deal with Vitamix where you all can now get the shipping fee waived when you order one. Just use coupon code 06-007377 when ordering. 

If you're not familiar with Vitamix, it's basically a Vegan’s best friend. Watch the videos in the ad above. 

Here are some comments from users on how they feel about their Vitamix: 
"We love our Vitamix and use it daily! Green smoothies, fruit shakes, and vegan ice cream. After a year and a half we've only barely scratched the surface . . . ."

"The Vitamix is, by far, the best kitchen appliance I've ever owned (and I've owned a lot). I use it once a day minimum but sometimes two to three times a day. I make many different kinds of smoothies, soup, hummus and really yummy frozen fruit treats. I've gone through periods where everything I eat for a week is made in the Vitamix."

" . . . a friend of mine had one and used it to get more veggies into her diet. Her smoothies won me over. I use it almost daily now. My health has improved dramatically and it makes soups, curries, and hummus as well."

"The best money you will ever spend and the last blender you will ever need to buy."

"I've had the same one for almost 18 yrs. Would never be without one."

So if you’d like to experience this joy, you can order from their website and enter coupon code 06-007377 for free shipping. 

If you’d prefer to order from a live human, we have an inside sales rep. You can call Prima Ponce-Zapata and order from her at 800 848 2649 ext. 2304.  Use the same discount code if you do it that way: 06-007377.

Christine Clay and her husband are new beekeepers committed to help save the honeybees.  Did you know there's an epidemic of hive failures due to pesticides?  Please consider donating to this fantastic cause with the link below.  Badger Apiary is placing their hives in organic areas to assure the health of their bees. 

Here's her story:

I'm inviting you to join our small community business. With your support,
Badger Bee Farm (under Badger Wellness) will produce delicious varietal and
artisanal honeys and help bees thrive in a healthy, safe refuge from pesticides
and taxing agricultural practices.  Bees are at the center of the CCD
crisis. We will manage hives without the use of synthetic chemicals on
pesticide-free land, far from conventional crop agriculture.

Start-up costs for a bee farm can be exorbitant.With your support we can
launch a larger sustainable apiary, buy equipment for safe bee extractions and
swarm removal. Get the bees to our safe and healthy apiary. Also for honey
extraction to make local healthy honey and its products available.

We currently have just a few bee hives
in our yard in Sebastopol, CA, a small town north of San Francisco. Sebastopol
is surrounded by thousands of acres of parkland and miles of protected open
space, providing a rich terrain for wildflowers. We also have acres of apple
trees, blackberries, blueberries and herbs. That means healthier bees and no
pesticides in the honey.

Why we need your help.
 With your pledge of support, we will be able to
expand our hives and help local farmers by placing healthy hives for pollination
in their orchards.  Your pledges will make it possible for us to continue
working with healthy bees and to share their honey with a wider audience. The
money you pledge will go towards the purchase of extraction equipment, hives,
bees, queens and the equipment necessary to expand the apiary, manage the hives,
extract honey and package it. Our Kickstarter goal of $20,000 will go directly
to covering these costs.

What's in it for you!
 In exchange for your support, you will get your
choice of rewards packages composed of honey, or honey products fresh from the
hives you have helped establish or some other quirky reward that will be a
reminder or your support and how grateful we are.

I hope you'll follow my lead & support this new business. 

I don't think it's any secret water is vital to our health, wellness, and of course our lives, not to mention our life as a planet.  Weather can make or break our food supply by its synergistic relationship with plants and their produce.  Too much water or not enough water can throw the success of a whole year's crop of whatever plant is most critical when it occurs.  Take steps to protect our water supply and ensure the safety of the water you & your family drink. 

The full-length film is available on Netflix.com.

Yarrow is a lovely old fashioned plant that holds up well under dry conditions and in poor soil.  It comes up year after year and attracts butterflies.  Stems, leaves, and flowers can be made into tea with many properties including bringing fever down, anti-inflammatory, and mild sedative.  It contains salicylic acid, the main ingredient in aspirin.

Here is my first tomato of the year!!  It is an heirloom variety, "Black Prince."  The color will come on as it ripens.  I planted several other varieties such as "Lemon Boy", "Mr. Stripey", and "Red Pear" which looks a lot like a Roma.  The great thing about different colored fruits and vegetables is that they have different antioxidant properties.  Plus most of these are heirloom which means they are old, non-GMO varieties.

Tomatoes are great for cardiovascular health, bone strength, and have anti-cancer properties.

The two rows of little seedlings are the Swiss Chard.  This is a dark leafy green that I like to use in soup and stir fry.  Swiss chard helps regulate blood sugar, and aids pancreas health, bone health, and contains anti-inflammatory substances.

What are you growing this year?  Farmer's Markets are also a great source of fresh produce if you can't or didn't grow your own.  Remember that even the U.S. government recommends 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables.  That is easy to achieve with salads and smoothies.