Hi All, Spiritual Food for the New Millenium (the food distribution service administered by Shanti Yoga Ashram, that Allan mentions below) is working with marketing the foods of at least 12 farmers who are practicing biodynamics extensively, some Demeter Certified Biodynamic and some are not. Many excellent food products are available from them, produced by farmers using Rudolf Steiners indications. Many of the original farms are still part of the program, including Hugh Lovel, and Jeff Poppen. I am sure a list of participating farms is available from them. Since all of this is done on a voluntary basis, progress hasn't been exactly quick, in the restruturing that began two years ago. A new form of farm evaluation has been developed, one that is not based on a legally binding certification mark, but instead serves as an indicater of that particular farm's commitment to working towards the biodynamic ideal. This is an important step towards an economy based in trust, virtue and association.
Christy ----- Original Message ----- From: Allan Balliett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 6:50 AM Subject: Re: Biodynamic cheeses > Let me say that we wound up getting our biodynamic cheese from the > dairy at Kimberton. We picked up a colby and a cheddar in, what, 5lb > blocks. (Steve Storch did the physical pick up and delivery. Bless > the man.) > > The cheese was unbelievably delicious and seemed to resonate with > everyone's inner sense of what nutrition really is. I'm going to have > a very hard time eating any other cheese in the future, and probably > won't, unless, of course, it is to trial another biodynamic cheese. > > I don't know if these folks mail order. Fortunately, or > unfortunately, most of the biodynamic cheese makers can sell > everything they make right from their own doorsteps. > > As far as Victor goes, well, check your prices at Kimberton and > Hawthorne Valley and maybe Hugh Lovel before you get a quote from > Shanti. And factor this in to what you know about things: Victor and > Shanti had the offer of a free table at the Mid-Atlantic Conference > and, as usual, free admission for as many of his flock as would enjoy > to come and learn more about biodynamics and to meet more BD growers > AND the conference was located within 60minutes of the Shanti Ashram > but Ashram activities were put ahead of attending the conference - > ALL THREE DAYS. Victor excused Shanti's involvement because of ashram > activities but No effort was made to have a non-Ashram individual > represent the growers distributed by Shanti at the conference, the > largest gathering of biodynamically minded growers and eaters (lots > of health-oriented attendees , thanks to Mary Ann Skillman) n the DC > Baltimore area. On top of that, he appears to be partnering with a > very ambitious local non-biodynamic farm for produce. One can only > imagine that early supporters of the Shanti program will soon be left > out of the distribution, or, at a minimum, experience drops in > volume. Better for the consumer to have biodynamically grown food > from farm's with long BD histories like Jeff Poppen's or Hugh > Lovel's, if you're really looking for food filled with the forces > appropriate for development of the spiritual self. Just my opinion, > of course. > > The 7 Stars yogurt we had at the conference was wonderful, also. > Again, fresh from the doc at Kimberton, thanks to SS. > > While I'm at it, the Kimberton Bakery bread was totally awesome, > again reasonating with the viscera in a wonderful way. Strangely, > many of the loaves left over molded by Monday, which is contrary to > how loaves made from biodynamic grains have behaved from other > bakeries after other conferences, but, the short shelf-life aside, > what wonderful bread. (One intern wouldn't eat it. "I'm not used to > such heavy bread." A remark I found strange because the Kimberton > bread was so VERY edible.) > > Later > > -Allan >
