RSS

Are We Really Okay With Quinoa?

Native tribes of North America are very nearly lost entirely, largely due to rapid spread of imperialism and corporate consumerism. Sadly, indigenous people of Bolivia are facing a similar plight thanks to a popular "health food" fad.


 Quinoa Grain: 

  • Prices are at an all-time high, as foodies around the world seem to have developed a taste for this 'miracle grain of the Andes.'
  • In Lima (Peru), quinoa now sells at a higher price per pound than flesh foods, other animal-derived products, and far less healthful hybrid/modified grains.
  • Once a nourishing staple for the insolvent peoples of Peru and Bolivia, this protein-rich grain is now far too expensive for them to afford to feed their families.
  • As demand continues to rise, pressure is on to transform a once diverse variety of crops into quinoa monoculture.

 If you must use quinoa, please be sure to buy from truly sustainable sources in locations other than the Andes. We recently learned of quinoa production in Canada, and are continuing our quest to become better informed about alternative resources for this seed grain. Until a time when better resources become quite common, we are more than happy to stick with buckwheat and other healthful foodstuffs grown on U.S. soil which easily suit similar purposes.

Please continue to learn about this issue by taking a moment to read through these related articles:

via Mother Jones - Quinoa: Good, Evil, or Just Really Complicated?
via The Guardian - Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

Vegan Poets

I don't know if I have ever shared this little known fact, but I am a Lover of poetry. From John Agard, to Edgar Allen Poe; from Andrea Gibson to Gwendolyn Brook; I Love Poetry. Yes I certainly have a Love for metaphors, alliteration, and so when I discover that a poet is also an animal activist, or that an animal activist is also a poet, I am often filled with a sense of joy-- unless the poet is absolutely terrible (I jest, sort of).

In my most recent adventures within the world of spoken word I discovered the poet activist Benjamin Zephaniah, a British poet of epic proportions. I had discovered this poet while I was reading about various Black British authors and their plight (discrimination, loss of identity, marginalization) within Britain. From my limited research, I have observed that Zephaniah's poetry, although cultural, also deals with social and political themes.Within the realm of poetry, each poet tackles these topics differently; in essence utilizing his or her own background to communicate a particular pespective.

Another notable poet, this one from the states, is Saul Williams-- a vegetarian. The first video that I saw of this poet blew me the funk out of the water! Seriously. Not only was he quick with his verse but he was also articulate and theatrical. After watching his Def Jam Poetry performance, I quickly sought out his other performances to see if he was just as animate off of HBO. He was but that wasn't the kicker. The surprise has came while I was watching a video of a discussion he led in Tacoma, Washington. Whatever his current dietary makeup is, I am glad that he did this video , in which is powerfully states "What you read is your diet...what you listen to; what you allow to be talked about is your diet." In short, both of these artists demonstrate the artistic capabilities that can achieved when one mindful of one's diet.


Oceans of Love to incarcerated vegans, vegetarians, and raw foodists.

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

Predicaments of Plastics - Is BPA-Free Truly Better?

How many of your plastic kitchen tools and other everyday items of convenience are free of Bisphenol-a (aka "BPA")?

Recent studies are now revealing just how harmful plastics can be to our health. BPA has been proven to leech out of plastic containers (bottles, etc.) into drinking water and food, eventually finding its way into our bodies and biological environment. Exposure to heat causes these chemicals to leech into contents at an even faster rate, thus creating more of a health hazard when these containers are exposed to sun or high temperatures whilst in transit or when heated for consumption. Cutting boards are even more harmful, as chopping can easily damage the cutting surface and incorporate tiny fragments of toxic chemicals (including BPA) into food.

As such, BPA free products have been gaining much popularity due to the release of evidence that BPA can lead to many health issues including reproductive health problems and several types of cancer.
However, is elimination of BPA really going to solve any of the most harrowing issues in relation to production of plastics and their long-term effects on the ecosystem in general?
Please take a moment to consider other important factors:
Fact of the matter remains that plastic of any kind is a compound of chemicals which is not only damaging to biological health, but also completely NON-biodegradable. As such, these items will likely end up in landfills for an eternity, or (more likely) toxifying our oceans and wildlife. There are also many sanitation departments which still make practice of burning non-biodegradable trash, which also releases toxins into the environment thus polluting the air we must breathe. Any way you slice it, plastics are damaging to our ecosystem and manufacturing of such should be greatly reduced - or eliminated entirely.

Consumers have the power to make positive changes to current systems, thus making things better for our environment and future generations. Please consider some of the numerous alternatives available for those of us who truly care enough to make responsible choices. Many alternatives could easily become mainstream (and very affordable to everyone) if enough consumers were to make demands for such.
- For kitchen use (and ongoing re-use), we recommend glass bottles/jars, storage containers, drinking straws, cutting boards, etc. in lieu of plastics. Silicone can also be used as a lightweight, non-breakable option for those of us who may be concerned about breakage.
- For commercial use, hemp & coconut packaging are readily available resources, and could easily be incorporated into production methods for many pre-packaged items and various everyday commodities.

Freedom of choice can be a marvellous thing, especially when those of us who excercise this freedom are willing to do so mindfully - and with care.


We thank you for having taken the time to read and acknowledge these imperatively vital issues, and ask that you please share this post widely. 



Additional references: 
  1. Care2 - "How Safe Are BPA-Free Plastics?"
  2. Science Daily - Plastic Bottles Release Potentially Harmful Chemicals After Contact With Hot Liquids
  3. MedicineNet - Plastic Types, Dangers of Bisphenol-A and Recycling Plastics
  4. Natural Society - Bottled Water Leeches 24,000 Chemicals into Your Body, Study Finds

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

Juicy Goodness in a Glass

Yes, there is something about warm weather, sunshine and fruit that just screams summer lovin'. In combination these elements are a trinity of Earthly goodness. Today I would like to share a part of that Earthly goodness through this video "Juicy June/July." There are a few ingredients that used and an emphasis on making enough to freeze and save (or perhaps savor) later. In any case I do hope that you enjoy this delicious drink recipe.

*The recipe calls for Kombucha, but could potentially be substituted for 50ml of apple cider vinegar. I recognize that the fermented drink is not accessible everywhere and thus recommend the apple cider vinegar as a substitute.

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

Herbs for Healing - Useful Quotes & Book Recommendation

Many of our gardens have already become inundated with herbs, flowers, and even the beginnings of fruit! Due to our penchant for creating an overabundance of herbs at every turn, some of us are really getting into this helpful, yet inexpensively priced book collection.

Here is an excerpt:


"Because not all herbs grow all year round, it can be of interest to preserve them.
When drying herbs it is important not to dry them in the sunlight as the sun can burn away many of the volatile oils.
To dry herbs perfectly, one needs special equipment yet some can be done at home. Best not to delay too much when drying, begin the drying process when the herbs are freshly picked and placed in a drying cupboard. Make sure you clean the herbs first so they are ready to be packaged and used. Glass is the best storage method for herbs."


The majority of ideas presented within are quite basic and easy to follow (even a child could enjoy it). We have spent only a day or so poring over its contents, and are delighted with the collection thus far.





Genesis 1:29-31 - And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

"All that man needs for health and healing has been provided by God in nature, the challenge of science is to find it." Philippus Theophrastrus Bombast that of Aureolus ~ Paracelsus (1493-1541)

"Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favour compared with the products of nature, the living cell of the plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, the mother of all life." - T. A. Edison

Proverbs 15:17 - Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

”If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls who live under tyranny.” - Thomas Jefferson

Revelations 22:2 - Through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

"Most over-the-counter and almost all prescribed drug treatments merely mask symptoms or control health problems or in some way alter the way organs or systems such as the circulatory system work. Drugs almost never deal with the reasons why these problems exist, while they frequently create new health problems as side effects of their activities." -John R. Lee, M.D.

"A man may esteem himself happy when that which is his food is also his medicine." -Henry David Thoreau


"Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food." -Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)

"This large and expensive stock of drugs will be unnecessary....The common resources of the lancet, a garden, a kitchen, fresh air, cool water, exercise, will be sufficient to cure all the diseases that are at present under the power of medicine." - Dr. Benjamin Rush.



  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

New Affiliate Business (+special promotions)


We are very pleased to welcome our newest affiliated small business in Central Florida!

Tampa Bay Organics is kindly offering special discounts and promotional items for friends of Lorax Community in Tampa Bay (& surrounding area) who sign up for their wonderfully convenient delivery service!
Simply enter "Lorax Community" into the referral field on the signup page & the promotion code "LORAX" to get started with a 50% discount on your very first box (with future goodies available to our members along the way). For more details regarding this promotion, please visit the related pages on our website at LoraxCommunity.org/links.

At long last, we are also excited to announce that all systems are finally GO for Lorax Community Purchasing Alliance in Spring Hill, Florida! We are now able to offer delicious organic produce from local sources AND fabulous prices on other delectable fruit, nuts, & specialty raw food items from some of our incredible affiliate businesses (such as Pedro's Avocado Ranch & CaliMac Nut Company in Fallbrook, CA) to members of our collective.

Those interested in joining our newly formed private cooperative are encouraged to visit http://LoraxCommunity.org/contact and drop us a note for more information, password, and instructions for signup.

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It

Hot Off The Press: One Delicious Recipe.






 






A publication of Lunar proportions “Kaleidoscope Soup” provides voice to the many perspectives that can be found within this life. California based but internationally focused this zine will be including recipes, poetry, DIY (do-it-yourself) projects, poetry and art of various mediums. Stay tuned and soar with integrity.
Namaste.
Michael Ray De Los Angeles
La Casa Communal Press
Kaleidoscope Soup Editor

http://michaelraydelosangeles.wordpress.com/kaleidoscope-soup/

  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • RSS
  • Pin It