Farm Fresh News - February 2019
Greetings from Mexico!
  • Farm Stats 2019
  • Chia Pudding - Our current goto favorite 
2019 Calendar Dates:
Dear Friends,
Greetings from Mexico!
 
In This Season's People, a collection of edited lectures by Stephen Gaskin, he desribe us this way, 
 
You are the people.
You are this season’s people—
There are no other people this season.
If you blow it, it’s blown.
And so we saw that who we were and what The Farm was and is has been in a constant state of change. However at any given point in time we can stop and take stock and say, "This is who we are right now." Which is followed by the larger challenge, "If not us, who? If not now, when?
For the last sevral years, when we get asked, "How many people live on The Farm?" the usual answeris "Around 200."
Two different committess and persons recently did a count, and here are the numbers they shared through our internal e-discussion list.
Farm Stats 2020
 
Buildings
Resident houses 105 (44 of those are1984 original residential houses)
House under construction 2
Business buildings 15
Community buildings 7
School, CC Center, Wooden School, Foundation, Welcome Center, Horse Barn,
Dome
 
January 2019
total population 192
4 Senior parents of members
96 First generation
61 Second generation
31 Third generation
 
Another recent survey study came up with these numbers:
 
187 people live here! That includes:
  • 27 kids  under 18
  • 65 people between the ages over 18 through 59
  • 92 people 60 & over
  • and 3 of our parents.
I always remind folks that there are approximately 20-40 additional people here at any time:
  • Day and Overnight Visitors
  • Extended Visitors
  • Residents
  • Interns
  • Workshop and Retreat Attendees
  • People here for the midwifery services
  • Visiting Family
Make yur plans to visit, and become part of our numbers!
Peace,
Douglas
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Kirtan and Bakti Yoga with Amy Barnes
 
Amy is a powerful presence,a beautiful singer, but also a teacher.
 
If you can do with a dose of spiritual rejuvination through music and movement, I encourage you to spend the weekend with us, celebrating the equinox!

You can listen to her album Rahde Govinda on YouTube, including my favorite, Sita Ram . Delightful!
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A Journey of Health and Compassion
 
In my own dietary choices, I believe one has to consider what is sustainable for our planet. Industrial harvesting of our oceans has pushed fish populations to near depletion. Forests, the lungs of our planet, have been devastated in no small part in a quest for more pasture for cattle and cleared land to produce the crops to feed them.
 
For me personally, and I know the same is true for many others, the sentient creatures of our planet are intelligent, loving beings, and in my desire to live a lighter footprint on this earth, I prefer to not kill and eat them. More on my journey here later.
 
I grew up with a typical American diet of the 1950s and 60s, breakfasts of box cereal and French toast, lunch and supper were hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. We’d have a Sunday dinner with either pork chops, fried chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes and canned green beans. I don’t think I ever ate a salad until I started going out with my girlfriend, now wife of 46 years, Deborah.
 
Deborah has always led the way in our pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, starting when she first read books by the health pioneer Adelle Davis, such as Eat Right to Keep Fit, and Let’s Have Healthy Children.
 
 
We both read a book called The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair, about the meat packing industry around Chicago in the early 1900s. Suspecting that things had not changed much since that time, we stopped eating anything that we could not tell what it was, like all the mystery meats, hamburger, hot dogs, baloney, and my favorite, pepperoni.
 
We discovered the first issue of Mother Earth News Magazine and were immediately drawn to the Back to the Land movement. The two of us planted a small garden in her parents' back yard, and together made the decision that we would only eat meat of animals we would kill ourselves once we got our own farm. We felt uncomfortable taking on killing large animals like cows and pigs, but that we could probably pull off wringing the neck of a chicken or kill a fish.
 
Wedding Day, 1972
 
After we got married (a little under 2 months before Deb’s 18th birthday), we spent our honeymoon camping for the summer deep inside the Daniel Boone National Forest of eastern Kentucky. During the day we would hang out in the sun on a huge boulder on the edge of a cold, mountain stream. At the same time each day, a school of fish would float up from the deep pool below into the shallower waters to feed. We started fishing, and the water was so clear, we could see the moment the fish took our bait and when to pull it up out of the water.
 
We had smoked some herb and were in a highly sensitive state as I cut the fish’s head off with my pocket knife. Perhaps the knife was dull, or maybe it was just our distorted sense of time, but it seemed to take forever! I was holding the fish down with one hand while it squirmed, literally for dear life. Who knew fish made any sound, but this one was squeaking frantically and I swear it was looking me in the eye the whole time.
 
Finally, the knife cut through the spinal cord and the ordeal was over. It was not fun and we were both blown away. As we ate the fish over a campfire that night, I began questioning whether it was fair or compassionate to take the life of any living creature. We could feel that some things could be rationalized in our mind, but not in our heart. Not long after, we became vegetarians.
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Sustainable Health
 
My latest chapter in health and diet actually began a few months ago, trying out a shift away from carbohydrates and exploring the new emphasis on burning fats as fuel and food for the brain. I was interested in dropping a few pounds but even more in reducing inflammation, what many experts say is the root cause of almost all disease.
 
One thing I have learned over my nearly 50 years as a vegetarian is that metabolism changes decade by decade. In my 20’s I weighed 115 pounds and could eat mountains of food. I was also doing a lot more manual labor.
 
By my 40’s I worked mostly on computer, writing for magazines, video editing, work that continued into my 50’s, and my weight corresponded, “filling out” as they say. I stabilized at 155 pounds for about 10 years, but I also reduced my consumption of fat in the form of dairy.
 
Then as I entered my 60’s things began to change again and the scale would bump up over 160, then 162, 63, 64...and I said whoa!
 
I started by changing my breakfast routine, from grain granola, blueberry muffins and pancakes (smothered in Farm blueberries, topped with honey from my bees mind you), to a protein breakfast of tofu or eggs. I added eggs to my diet some years ago, when people on The Farm started raising chickens in an ethical way. You can harvest eggs without harming the chicken. One friend calls them “chicken fruit.”
 
I was able to maintain, but wasn’t losing weight. I was also dealing with chronic inflammation in my elbows, one then the other, occasional pain in my index finger joint, lasting a week or two.
 
OK two months in, and the chronic pain in my elbows that has been bothering me for a year is gone. I've lost 6 pounds.
 
Next month I will go into how to remove sugar from your diet without giving up sweets...and I am not talking about Stevia. I also want to share some basic, common sense health tips that seem to not be on the radar of so many people, despite all the information that is out there.
 
Many of us are getting to the age where the statement, "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd of taken better care of myselft." And for all you young people out there, it comes around sooner than you think.
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Delicious Chia Coconut Pudding - Raw Chia seeds can be added to salads, cereals, you name it. Be sure to floss!
 
Originally from Mexico and Central America, Chia seeds were an important food source to the Maya, and to all the rest of us ever since.
 
A 2-tablespoon, (1-ounce) serving contains:
 
  • 138 calories
  • 9 grams of fat
  • 10 grams of fiber
  • 5 grams of protein
  • 18 percent of the daily value for calcium
  • 4,500 milligrams of alpha-linolenic acid omega-3s per ounce - that's more than flaxseed.
Vegans can use Chia Seeds can use as an egg substitute. When a chia seed gets wet, a gel forms around it, witht he liquid viscocity of an egg white. You could also compare them to tapica pearls or well..frog eggs. No really the little round gel with a black dot of tadpole in the middle?
 
Anyway, one of our favorite current recipes is a Chia Pudding, great as part of breakfast, an afternoon snack, even a dessert! and it takes just seconds to make!
 
We use full fat (not Lite) coconut milk, which really adds to the richness of the pudding, mixed in equal parts with any other kind of non-dairy or dairy cream or milk. Because there are so many different types of milks to chose from today, the amount of chia necessary to achieve a nice, thick, pudding like consistencey will vary. You may have to experiment a bit at first to find the right proportions for your particlar liquid combination.
 
One rule of thumb is to start with a half cup of each milk in a bowl, combined with 2 tablespoon of Chia seeds.
Stir thoroughly, preferably with a wisk. Careful,...the seeds will clump together if you don't get them mixed properly. It can be a good idea to check the mix every half hour at first to keep the seeds suspended and let them all settle on the bottom. Store in the fridge overnight.
 
Other than the fairly mild flavor from the coconut and other milk, the pudding itself is rather bland, which means you can make it about any flavor, from a plain vanilla, to chocolate. Here in Mexico, we've been having a bowl each mornng mixed with fresh fruits such as pineapple, banana, and mango, one of the super nice things about visiting the tropics!
 
 
In my research, I read that people who are allergic to mustard, sesame seeds, oregano or thyme may also react to chia. I also read that people taking blood thinners or other heart medications should check with a doctors before eating chia seeds. If this is you, be forewarned. Here in Mexcio, we have been mixing

 
 
UmmSalaamah Sondra Abdullah-zaimah was a police officer in New York City before she joined The Farm back in the late 70s. She has been a midwife for 40 years, delivering over 4000 babies in homes, hospitals and birth centers in 10 states, Honduras and 2 African countries.
 
She was a Clinical Director in Senegal for 2 years and has been active in the rebirth of direct entry midwifery in this country as an early board member of the Midwives Alliance of North America, Chair of the committee that became the North American Registry of Midwives and a member of their first board.
 
Starting out as a home birth midwife, she earned a Masters in Midwifery from Emory University, the first black woman to graduate that program. UmmSalaamah has an NGO in Ghana, is a Senior Midwife & preceptor at Mandala Midwifery in Atlanta, and maintains a small home on The Farm, where she teaches with The Farm Midwifery Workshops.
 
She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge & experience as widely as possible & helping black women & women of color to become midwives & birth workers.
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Join us for the return of my Summer Retreat June 20-22: Dances of Universal Peace, plus swimming, hiking, great food and great music! The idea is to have a time and place where families can come, bring their kids and celebrate life! I am still working out the details regarding pricing, but you can see a little bit of what's in store on my web site. Let me know if you are interested.

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A big thanks to everyone who has become a patron of Farm Fresh!
When you become a subscriber, your contribution helps spread the word about community based alternatives.
Take this one small step to be part of the solution!
Let me know your interests. Click here to take the survey.    I look forward to hearing from you.
 
I hope you'll make the effort to take a firsthand look at The Farm during one of my GreenLife Retreat Weekends, and that it will inspire you to pursue your dreams and find your chosen path!
 
Thank you for your interest, and your support. I hope to see you down the road.
 
Peace,
Douglas
 
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Dance Calendar
 No doubt by now you have read about the music and Dances of Universal Peace events that have taken place over the last couple months and how much fun everyone is having together. If your soul could use a lift, or you’re just curious, you are welcome to come to any of our scheduled gatherings.
  • January 23-February 19: Dances in Mexico and Guatemala
  • March 9: Dances at the yoga event Chantlanta, in Atlanta, GA
  • March 16, 7 PM at the Friends House, 530 26th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209
  • March 22-24 Kirtan and Dance with Amy Barnes on the Farm
  • April 5-7: Dances of Universal Peace with Allaudin Ottinger on The Farm
  • April 11-14: Dances of Universal Peace, Earth Springs, Texas
 Our regular Dance and Kirtan Schedule are subject to my travel plans.
Please contact me to find out if the dances are scheduled for any particular weekend. 
 
Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30 PM / Sundays, 3 - 5 pm
 
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Click here to take the survey.    I look forward to hearing from you. 
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Speaking Engagements
At the same time, I recognize that I can reach a lot more people if I go outside the community. One of my goals is to speak at colleges and universities where I can talk to young people about Right Livelihood, Service, and Finding Sanity in an Insane World. This is a time when people need to hear an uplifting message of hope.
 
If you are part of an organization, event, or school (or you just want to learn more about my life's work), I invite you to visit my web site www.douglasstevenson.com, where you'll find information on my lecture topics and how to bring me to speak in your area.
Douglas
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out to change the world
 new society Order both and save!
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banner
www.awakeningbirth.org - the Web Site
www.awakening birth.net - The Podcast 
Our birth resource web sites for families seeking guidance on subjects such as
  • Choosing a Care Provider.
  • Health and Diet
  • Challenges and Complications
  • and much more!
  • The Awakening Birth podcast is now available on iTunes or at www.awakeningbirth.net
Please spread the word to anyone in your circle who is thinking of having a baby, expecting, your favorite midwife, or care provider. Please like us and give us a good review on iTunes. It helps!
 
GreenLife Retreats
A division of Village Media Services
PO Box 259Summertown, TN 38483
931-964-2590 - office / cell
Douglas@villagemedia.com
www.villagemedia.com
www.greenliferetreats.com
www.douglasstevenson.com 
Douglas@thefarmcommunity.com
 
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