Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-18 Thread Hugh Lovel
Allan,

Maybe you didn't get it at the time?

Victor, and his ashram's CSA, were prohibited from using the term
"Biodynamic" by the Demeter, Inc. holders of the term as a
trademark--namely Anne Mendenhall. Has she resigned yet? Has this
prohibition been retracted? Not wanting a lawsuit from Demeter Victor is
being circumspect. Who can blame him. Do you blame him?

I believe his "ambitious" grower who is "non-biodynamic" has one of my
field broadcasters and is using "the preps" to grow better food than 90+%
of the Demeter certified growers, who don't seem to be numerous anyway.
What is Demeter doing to spread the method? And I don't mean to spread the
hype, I mean to actually get the effects of the preparations out on the
land.

I don't advise people using my towers to say they are biodynamic, since
that could only land them in trouble with Demeter. Yet many of them are
more "biodynamic" (though I use the term advisedly) than the Demeter
certified growers. I don't mean to desparage those certified by Demeter. I
have seen many evidences (taste and smell particularly) that most Demeter
certified products are superior. But I don't see that being certified by
Demeter is any significant advantage to them. I wonder why they continue
their certification? Victor distributes foods from sources he knows to be
superior, regardless of the Demeter label. He is puzzled that Demeter has
leaned on some of their certified farms to not sell through him. Others
sell through him anyway. What is the advantage of enforcing Demeter's
prohibition? He has sworn off use of the "biodynamic" term, but what is the
big deal that a certified farm will not now sell its products through him?

Could it be your effort to group us all together under that term that
ensured attendance of your conference was not a high priority for him? I,
though I'm trying to avoid the use of the term "biodynamic" also, I felt
your committment to good food far outweighed your use of the term. So I
attended and did my best to participate fully. But I'm not committed to
using the term "biodynamic." Sorry.

You had an assembly of tallent that should have had more like 300 people in
attendance rather than 100. You're doing good work, and sacrificing to do
so. But do you owe so great a debt to Demeter than you have to enforce
their ownership of a word that should by rights be in the public domain? I
don't understand. By the way, let me know when Anne resigns, her policy is
revoked and the term "biodynamic" is returned to the public domain. I might
feel warmer to your use of the term "biodynamic" then.

Best
Hugh Lovel




>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 l

Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-16 Thread The Korrows

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
>




Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-16 Thread Allan Balliett

>maybe seven stars farm would do mail out too, i think they must do 
>cheese, with all the yogurt they make it's kind of hard to imagine 
>otherwise. again if you want stuff from them, manners help.

7 Stars doesn't do commercial cheese, although, as suggested, there 
probably is some available for nice people. The Kimberton Dairy is 
the probably source for the excellent Kimberton Cheese. There's also 
a Kimberton Natural Foods store which does, I believe, ship the 
cheese. -Allan




Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-16 Thread Allan Balliett

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




Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-16 Thread brad rader




i know about lifeline farms www.lifelinefarm.com , smaller 
orders through www.azurestandard.com 
541-467-2230. what about hawthorne valley? they used to have a sizeable mail 
order cheese setup and from what i hear they still do occasional mail out for 
some of it today if you ask nicely. www.hawthornevalleyfarm.com 
 518-672-7500 . maybe seven stars farm would do mail out too, i think they 
must do cheese, with all the yogurt they make it's kind of hard to imagine 
otherwise. again if you want stuff from them, manners help. 

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 12:26 
  AM
  Subject: Biodynamic cheeses
  Is anyone familiar with a mail order 
  or online source for biodynamic cheeses?Thanks, RB 



Re: Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-15 Thread gideon cowen



Victor @ Shanti yoga.
 
        
                
                
                
Gideon.

  - Original Message - 
  From: 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  
  To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 6:26 
  AM
  Subject: Biodynamic cheeses
  Is anyone familiar with a mail order 
  or online source for biodynamic cheeses?Thanks, RB 



Biodynamic cheeses

2002-10-15 Thread NEILLCO
Is anyone familiar with a mail order or online source for biodynamic cheeses?

Thanks, RB