Raw food event in Glastonbury this week

Going within by going without A talk and discussion about cleansing and purification of the body and soul, with Free Love Cannabis.
Thursday 27th November, the Miracles Room – Glastonbury Experience. 6.30 – 9.30 pm – donations welcome.
Subjects to be covered: cleansing, fasting, urine therapy, benefits of raw/live foods, hemp nutrition and a very personal account of Free’s recent 40 day spiritual fast in the mountains of southern Spain. Contact : 01458 835769 freecannabis23@hotmail.com

Winter abundance

A glance up at the skyline reveals that the trees have shed their leaves, which I take to mean that autumn is over and we are turning to face winter. My first raw winter and conventional dietary advice tells us that this is when we need to heat ourselves with warm food; soups, casseroles and slow roasts. I am pleased to say that I do not feel this to be so. Moreover there is an abundance of delicious produce available during the season; the shiny fragrant satsuma, dark green winter greens. It is at this time of year that supermarkets have for sale raw nuts in shells; I have found walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds. This is a real boost as the nut is at its most fresh; they look beautiful displayed in a bowl, forming a connection to the cycle of the seasons. Moreover the fact of having to crack the nuts open, manually, one at a time is an exercise in pure mindfulness and it slows one’s nut consumption considerably, I have found!

Micro meals

I frequently pop into the main house and find the guys standing at the counter nibbling on various raw items. Today, Joe having been to Wells market was offering plump dried figs, harissa paste and a choice of greek olives with flat leaf parsley. A little of each combines in a delicious mouthful. Micro meals.

Supporting the body through seasonal change: bodycare recommendations

I work as a holistic therapist, having studied ayurveda, massage and natural skincare. I am also a veteran spa goer, having spent many blissful hours receiving treatments in salons such as Aveda, Clarins, Elemis and Champneys. I love bodycare products and adjust my routine seasonally to effect maximum personal wellbeing. It occurs to me that we can support our raw food lifestyle through judicious choices and creating a seasonal routine to boost metabolism and immunity, for optimum wellbeing.

Morning: energising, enlivening. Begin with dry skin brushing, which stimulates the lymph and circulatory systems. You can pick up a brush in most chemists & health food stores. It should be a little larger than your palm, in natural bristle. Use light, fluid strokes from the extremities to the centre of the body.
Take a short, hot shower; I use Dr Bronners Hemp Citrus Orange pure liquid soap.

On a weekly basis you might create an exfoliating treatment using dry sea salt crystals mixed with a little olive oil. Apply all over the body with light vigorous movements, scrubbing is not advised.

Evening: Bathing twice a day is important energetically. Here the emphasis is on warming and gently detoxifying. Right now I am using Rosemary bath & shower gel from Avalon organics. Avoid heavy oils and creams before bed as the skin should be clean to optimize metabolic processes whilst we are sleeping.

I am taking a weekly oil massage. Aromatherapy makes sense at this time of year, again the emphasis is on warming and gently detoxifying. For a personal blend I favour clove and orange, or juniper and ginger. Neals Yard Remedies have some great organic blends. It is more appropriate to go for a vigorous massage with percussive movements, rather than a soothing and relaxing technique. The emphasis here is on maintaining a faster metabolism, keeping heat in the body.

When cravings come up…

I have been experiencing strong food cravings. I have a strong sense that this is not linked to nutritional deficiency, as within my raw diet I am developing preferences for certain foods at certain times which do seem to be nutrient linked. For example, right now I am eating raw garlic on salads, daily. I take this to be a healthy, appropriate choice, responding to my body’s genuine requirements. At the same time, I have urges for foods that have limited nutritional value, such as cheese, sausage rolls (?) and chocolate biscuits. I feel certain that this is emotional as these foods are inert and fatty. The effect of eating such foods is to create heaviness in the body and dullness in the mind. If we are to become light, loving joyful beings; channels of spirit and source energy, then we need to support ourselves and facilitate this through food choices. This the fundamental rationale of the raw food diet as it relates to me and my life’s journey. Gabriel Cousens explores this perspective thoroughly in Spiritual Nutrition. I am also waiting for Angela Stokes to publish Raw Emotions in hard copy.

Andrew & Angela Davis at the Glastonbury Positive Living Group

It was a great evening last Weds at the Town Hall. I arrived early to find Samadho juicing away on a Greenstar (celery & apple). Chocolate truffles were laid out in neat piles in anticipation of the audience. Free turned up with yet more truffles and juice and the Anastasia books. I enjoyed the talk; Andrew related his journey into raw, offering personal insight, supported by Angela. The audience were engaged and asked a range of pertinent questions. What struck me most was how this lovely and talented couple have a genuine wish to reach out into community, connecting with others and sharing their skills. A real heart warmer. Angela is holding a beautiful vision of a gardening school for children; she is looking for suitable land in the Glastonbury area.

Glastonbury Positive Living Group: "Raw Food for the Future".

I am very excited about this one...This Wednesday 12th November the Glastonbury Positive Living Group will be welcoming Andrew and Angela Davis who will be giving a talk entitled "Raw Food for the Future".Andrew & Angela are behind The Raw Food School Taking place at the the Town Hall. No need to book. . Lovely relaxed friendly atmosphere. Everyone welcome.Doors open 7.00pmT opic of the evening 7.30pm Social and refreshments 9.00pm Doors close 10.00pm Admission £5/£4 concs (includes refreshments). Peace out x

Radical permaculture: the Cuban response to Peak Oil

Last Wednesday, I watched the short film 'The Power of Community' It was screened as part of the Glastonbury Transition Town initiative. In essence, the locals begun to grow their own food…. everywhere! Reclaiming city space & making ingenious use of domestic gardens. How powerful and inspiring to see how community was strengthened as the Cubans found creative solutions to externally imposed financial restraints, becoming self-resourcing, happier and healthier.

From my perspective as a RawFoodist, I was mesmerised by the variety and volume of fresh produce that had been grown and was being sold in local markets. It was interesting to note that for maximum sustainability the crops favoured were fruits & veggies, perfect for a raw diet!

Watch the film now: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-66172489666918336

Get ready to choc!

Are we on the cusp of a raw chocolate revolution? This would seem to be the entrepreneurial path of choice here in Glastonbury: in the last few days I have had conversations with two guys, both of whom are chocolatiers in waiting.

I am intrigued by this phenomenon; a ferret around local stores yields a wide choice of raw chocolate, from established brands such Pure Chocolate and Conscious Chocolate (surprisingly the ubiquitous Shazzie is nowhere to be seen). There is already a steady presence of offerings from local talent.

I wonder whether raw chocolate has the potential to fuel us on all levels: nutritionally, spiritually, emotionally and also financially?A true superfood indeed.

Dining out with non-rawfoodists

Saturday evening I was invited to dinner as a ‘thank you’ for assisting at a green event in Glastonbury town hall. I was intrigued to find out how I would react to this classic challenge that many rawfooders encounter at some point ie eating socially with non-rawfoodists and being in a predominately cooked food environment.

I had read enough blogs and threads on raw forums to feel sufficiently prepared. I was in safe territory; Glastonbury High St, my home town and whole food eateries whichever direction one turns. And then my companion suggested a pub. Gulp. I knew this was potentially dodgy, having visions of hunks of iceberg lettuce and watery tomatoes and so in a bold move I outed myself, announcing that I didn’t eat cooked food.

We headed to the Hundred Monkeys café, I was mightily relieved. Not only is it a lovely space with great atmosphere and laidback friendly service, they offer a designated raw salad. It came with sprouts, olives & cashews. Yum! I encountered some friendly, genuine questions about the raw food lifestyle, which didn’t feel intrusive.

I did have to deal with a spiky comment from one of the party, I just had to let it go. I also had a wonderful drink that I am going to attempt to recreate: hot apple juice with ginger and cinnamon. Delicious and cider-like. Not strictly raw, so in my version I will juice apple and ginger together and warm slightly with added cinnamon. Oh, I just remembered I no longer have pans in my kitchen, doh!

Cold weather, warm food?

It may seem counter-intuitive to pursue a raw diet during the winter. Here in the UK, the weather has turned sharply cold. I had been expecting to hanker for warmer foods, soups, stews, stodge, yet this has not been the case. Following a forage on Exmoor with friends in seemingly freezing temperatures we piled into a pub for warmth and roaring fires. I was perfectly content with spring water and am still very satisfied with salads, fruit and juices. Which is pleasing to me.