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DECEMBER 2008

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THE EARTH - Online Monthly Newspaper of the
"Ringing Cedars" movement.

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English | Russian

IN THE HEADLINES:

RUSSIA:

TURKEY:

USA:

This section is devoted to the information that will be useful in the creation of a Kin's Domains.

Children's Upbringing and Education:

Meaning of Food in Our Lives

Health, Natural Methods of Health Improvement

Ecological Farming, Permaculture

Green Construction, Eco-friendly Technologies

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IN THE HEADLINES:

Exclusive interview with Vladimir Megre
From the 2008 Ringing Cedars Conference in Turkey

Mr. Megre talks about pressing subjects and Kin's Domains issues.

(Interview by Regina Jensen)

Regina Jensen: Hello again, my dear Vladimir Nikolayevich, really, Vladimir Megre - as you are better known to so many millions of your readers. I very much appreciate that you are, once more, extending your time to us in this interview. There are so many question we all have, where should I even start? But you know, since this movement revolves around Eco-villages, and I believe there are around three hundred eco-villages in Russia alone, which are either in existence already or are being planned, maybe you would speak to us about that first. There are groups gathering and land being purchased or leased all over the world and I myself know of villages being created and planned in the United States and Germany. THAT is such an amazing phenomenon in itself and very happy news.

But I do know as well, as a psychotherapist and having worked with groups for almost twenty-five years, even the most well-meaning people underestimate what it takes to create what we might call a "conscious community", namely a village that comes and stays together by choice, not by accident. Many of us have forgotten what it really takes to live in a sharing community. Can you talk about some pitfalls and problems you might see ahead for people who come together, idealistic and full of joy and hope, to co-create not only their own Space of Love, but the common living spaces we call Eco-villages made up of many Kin's Domains?

Vladimir Megre: What problems do I see? I think that there will be very many problems, but they are all surmountable. Problems can arise for any person who is going somewhere, who is striving for something, but this person will not notice them, he will not notice because he will be constantly thinking about his wonderful future, about his dream. These people who are now building their Kin's Domains in Russia have a great many problems.

The first concrete problem is this. The concept of a "Kin's Domain" does not exist in Russian legislation. There are only general laws, or laws which approximate this idea. So these people who have begun this new way of life continue to appeal to the authorities: "Do this! Do prepare a legislative framework for this."

Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President

I think that legislation will be created, because of how Dmitry Medvedev, now the President of Russia, recently responded to a question during an Internet conference. He was not yet the President but still Prime Minister. The question was about whether or not he supported the creation of Kin's Domains. Let me see if I can relate to you what he said. He felt that the idea of Kin's Domains, as it had been presented, was a positive one. And Medvedev related it to their idea of what he called "low-rise" or one-storied Russia. He said that they had actually specifically taken up that very issue - quite a few months before. He also said that it was obvious that in such an expansive country as ours, with such huge territories, it makes no sense to only concentrate in small areas or little parcels of land, even in very large cities. He said that it made much more sense, both for the general health of the population and the country, to spread over the larger territory of Russia. (Ed. note: complete response available in EARTH newsletter; see full links below.)

But nevertheless, for the time being there is no legislative basis. We understand that bureaucracies do not function very quickly, and that there are a great many other problems. But they are working on it. I do think that the Russian government will come through with this.

Now, some of these people I was mentioning, they just could not wait until these laws were passed and went out to live on the land. They did this in various ways, some of them simply bought land from people who owned it but did not want to work with it. Some of them bought land from farmers. They joined together, spontaneously, and just began to work, began to build their village. Some even committed minor violations; they bought land that is listed in the Government Register as agricultural purpose land. They bought their hectare for an agricultural purpose plot and set aside approximately five ares (Ed: 500 squ. metres) for construction. I don't think this is too bad, though it is a small violation. But at the same time, Dmitry Medvedev, when he was not yet the president but still the deputy prime minister, said that it was time to bring abandoned agriculturally zoned land back into better use, to give it to people so they can organize collective farms.

That is, for instance, the problem that exists for the village in the Vladimir Oblast, not far from where I live. Approximately three hundred families got agricultural purpose land here. They are working it, but in addition, they have built homes on it. I don't think there is anything wrong with this, although there is a minor conflict with the local government. It would of course be much better if there were no conflicts. But the fact that a person built his house on his little parcel means that he is not getting ready to resell it, rather, that he is planning to look after it, to enhance it, plant a garden, bring up his children there. I do think everything will turn out all right. Difficulties still exist, and each person interprets them in his or her own way.

A Space of Love - just what is a Space of Love? What does it mean to live as a community? You see, we have become accustomed to live on different stories of a building and not even know anything about our neighbor. In a community, sometimes people argue with each other, sometimes even curse at each other, but when they argue and curse, this indicates that they are not indifferent to each other. Neighbors, of course, should not quarrel and swear with each other, especially not on the territory of their Kin's Domains. I studied history, and found a very interesting fact: ancient Russians did not allow themselves to quarrel with a neighbor on their Space of Love, on their domain. If they wanted to have a quarrel and swear, they went out to an oak grove and did it there. They quarreled, then returned, and everything was all right.

So, there are difficulties ahead, but they are surmountable. They are most minute in comparison to what awaits these people in the future. And their future will be just wonderful!

Regina Jensen: That does sound very hopeful indeed. Vladimir Nikolayevich. Were there any other insights you might share about all this? How does one find a "common language" with the authorities? How can we make the transition to a constructive dialog with the administrative bodies so as to obtain land for people to create their Kin's Domains?

Vladimir Megre: I probably cannot give an answer to that question because if anyone knew the answer to a question like that, then there would already be cooperation with the government, and the ideal situation would already exist.

It turns out that the most complicated thing is to present an idea in such a way that it would be understandable to everyone. For some reason Anastasia manages to do this. Ten years ago, she said a few words, and they were understood by millions of people and the people began to act. Someone in the government may understand these words, and the deputies also understand and support these ideas; someone else does not understand for one reason or another. Everyone must seek and find their own answer to this question, how to express themselves, to truly communicate. It is in general much more serious, this challenge. How can we learn to understand each other, whatever position we may hold. Let us seek and find an answer.

Regina Jensen: That is such a profound and yet simple answer! Yes, if we can only find a way to say things in a way that the governmental representatives can actually understand us and our needs, so that we will succeed.

Vladimir, I would now like to address another issue about one's Kin's Domain for which you gave a wonderful explanation in an address to an audience in Zurich, Switzerland, namely about the deeper spiritual meaning and gifts that people receive by developing their family land - their Kin's Domain. (Ed: see full links for this speech below.) There you shared your thoughts about how it is important to actually bring one's spirituality directly into matter or it is not embodied. You talked about the fact that, when creating a Kin's Domain, people, by coming into contact with nature, actually work with the materialized thoughts of God. In a whole new way, you defined your concept of a true "spiritual person." Can you please share your thoughts with us about this unusual, important concept of a human being actually connecting with the cosmos by way of his land?

Vladimir Megre: That question is so deep that it requires a long time to answer; it requires more than just one book - the connection with the cosmos and its interrelationship with the Earth. This is all very serious. I shall attempt to answer the smallest part of this question. To join us - but who is "us"? After all, it's not simply us living on Earth, not only.

As you know, a person who obtains land, not as an object on which he will grow potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and then sell them, but as his Kin's Domain. This person is already enveloping this hectare of land, this acreage, with his thought, he is endowing it with additional meaning. He says: "I am creating My Kin's Domain." He is thereby joining whom? He is joining in this spot his entire Kin, which is an ongoing lineage, all the way to God.

After all, the phrase "I am creating My Kin's Domain" also means that he once had a Kin's space, but it was lost over time, and with it the ancestral connection was partially lost. And now this person, after twenty thousand years, perhaps thirty thousand, perhaps a million years, looked at the land and said: "This is my Kin's Domain, here I shall gather my entire Kin." There, in the heavens, his relatives, his great-grandfathers, great-grandmothers, who, just like he himself, lived on their Kin's Domains, perhaps after a million years for the first time felt that someone remembered them.

Their energy, their forces will surely gather and become concentrated in this place. This person will reunite his Kin, and therefore will also be united with God and all his creation, through the creation of his Kin's Domain.

And as far as everything else goes, it will also come to pass, but it is necessary to say a great many things about that. It is very important that on this little patch of land the person will gather all the energy of his ancestors, he will create an earthly paradise, he will have a neighbor who will do exactly the same, to his right and his left will be a neighbor, and he will have another neighbor a kilometer away, and there will be many such parcels of land. So Earth will be turned into a paradise. And this is all very simple. We do not have to have long discussions about spirituality, about lofty subjects. Take your spirituality and bring it into matter, then it will be clear to everyone how a person is really spiritual.

Regina Jensen: Yes, I find that very thought so wonderful. Out there, in nature, on our Kin's Domain, all we need to do is remember that we are touching God's thoughts when we are touching a tree, or even a rock. That awareness would be the most elementary form of prayer.

Now, Vladimir Nikolayevich, I would like to touch on a common but difficult issue. As a psychotherapist, I consider it the root of most suffering, namely what we might call "dualistic thinking". I mean this idea that we are not all part of the same ONE field of consciousness, but separate, isolated little people. This looks to be one of our deepest and most ancient wounds - resulting in divisive thinking. It also weakens our spirit and the spirit of community. I know that even the Ringing Cedars movement has not been immune to such divisive thinking, namely how some people, by way of such dark thoughts, have tried to destroy the positive aspirations of others, especially all the bright aspirations described in the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" books.

Vladimir Megre: Opposition to the Ringing Cedars movement: if you have in mind the concept of the kind of opposition which is generally characteristic, let's say, of opposing political forces, or one perspective of reality versus another, by its nature is insignificant. In general, it is impossible to stop the Ringing Cedars movement, just as it is impossible to stop the sun from rising, as it is impossible to stop the moon from rising. But it's possible to fight the movement, to slander it, to speak badly of it, cast suspicion on it. And perhaps there are some forces that somehow, for some reason, are acting in this way.

The question about opposition also has another aspect, a more global one. We live in a technocratic world, so at some definite moment in time people decided that all of that which was natural around them, that there was something wrong with it, and we should and could make it better. And we started to build houses, machines, even to fly into space. But we immediately ran up against a problem: sure, we flew into space, sure, we built houses, invented machines, but we have nothing natural to eat any more, we don't have any more access to simple, live foods.

Here the problem lies somewhere else, in the technocratic direction of development. That certainly is one path of development, but there is another: the natural one. We should have studied nature and, before destroying it, tried to understand why it was created and how it could serve man. Why was an animal created, for example, or a bear? We are familiar with cats and dogs, but there are many other animals and the overwhelming majority of people have no idea of their the purpose. That is to say that there are two scientific paths of development. We are following one scientific path only, but are not moving along the second at all. I propose that there should be a unifying of these opposites. These paths are opposed to a certain extent, but we should not oppose them, but unite them in some way. That is the task of our time.

Regina Jensen: Yes, so very true! Anastasia seems to experience the Earth, or better the Cosmos, as one giant library - which she accesses easily. But what happens for you, Vladimir - you carry around so much information in your mind?

Vladimir Megre: I cannot answer that question with any degree of accuracy, because I really don't know. I really have not observed myself that closely, but as far as Anastasia is concerned... Anastasia's grandfather once said that Anastasia communicated with you not with words, but with feelings. And, using feelings, immeasurably more information can be communicated to us in the same amount of time than with words. Well, let's suppose that I say to you: "Hello, Regina." What kind of information can I communicate? But I can say it warmly: "Hello, Regina!" that is, I communicated feelings as well, and this is more than a simple "Hello, Regina." In this feeling there is a much greater volume of information, and when she spoke words, she also communicated feelings. Then, spontaneously, you achieve a certain state, let's say, a pleasant state, and you recall how lovely she is, how beautiful she is, what her hair is like, how she walks. Or, on the other hand, once you get into a bad mood - it's not important why - but right away you want to write a book on "How all people are stubborn."

I want to say that the communication of information using feelings gives a much greater volume, if compared with a computer, without feelings you have bytes, and with feelings you have terabytes.

Regina Jensen, Ph. D.

Regina Jensen: That is such a good thing to remember. Transferring information in a whole different way. And that brings me to my next question. Many people still have a poor grasp of how the finest and most powerful of human arts, the power of divine co-creation through Image Making, has fallen into such hellish depths. As you have explained before, Vladimir Nikolaevich, we now play with the dead toys of this fallen science and call these dead images "our life": cars, large houses, jewelry - and we pay for them with our very souls. The world's hungry people as well as the most privileged feel dead inside as long as they believe these caricatures of life are real. Could you talk some more about the world of living images versus the world of dead images?

Vladimir Megre: I shall first try to clarify your question to see whether I understood it correctly - namely how at the present, we live in a world of dead images and dead objects?

Regina Jensen: Yes.

Vladimir Megre: I agree with you. I would also add that this is a world of the constantly dying. It is terrible. In and of himself, a Man is immortal, and he is immortal when he is surrounded by immortal things and when his thoughts are immortal. At least that is how I understand Anastasia. And when you go out in the morning and see a flower blooming - it is always new each time - you see your horse give birth to foal, a new worker for you, a new helper, and all "This" is being born again and again, this entire process is eternal.

Or even if you are living in your own castle, where the floor must be constantly washed, the faucets must be constantly repaired. Let's say that workers are doing all this in your castle, all the same you see that "This" is perishable, "This" is dying, your thought will die together with "This," and the person will cease to be eternal.

And you say, "How was this science able to sink to this level?" But where else could it sink, the poor thing? True, I don't believe that it "sunk" here. Maybe it simply arrived at this spot to summon its friends, its acquaintances, its future children to come to another world, to feel, to look at another world. And that's what will happen. And you and I shall live in another world.

Regina Jensen: Yes we will, along with millions of other people! Vladimir Nikolayevich, the only vision I know of which considers the world as a whole, a global vision, is that which you and Anastasia have shared with the world. Do you know any other leaders of the world who offer what you offer, a healing vision for the entire planet?

Vladimir Megre: I don't have this information, if I did have this information, it would have long ago been proclaimed in all countries through all forms of mass media. But it is true - a global crisis exists, and there are no ideas for a way out of this crisis. This is the saddest statement that can be made. Perhaps that is the way it must be. Meanwhile, decisions about how to get out of the crisis are being made by the very people who led everyone into the crisis in the first place. Isn't it likely that if they truly had some new ideas, they would not have led humanity into this terrible dilemma in the first place?

But I believe that the "Kin's Domain" idea - this is the most familiar term we have used, "Kin's Domain"- and everything connected with it can lead us out of the crisis with ease. Undoubtedly, the most important thing is, as practical experience has already shown, that what this very idea easily staves off is hopelessness and depression, which is the most frightening thing that has occurred in this crisis.

Regina Jensen: Vladimir Nikolayevich, you have talked about how this very Science of Imagery can be used in positive and negative ways; how by using this science, a very few individuals have manipulated entire countries and even humanity as a whole for millennia. Can you give those people who doubt this destructive use of imagery some modern-day examples of how humanity is being enslaved and manipulated out of their birthright - their divine powers of co-creation?

Vladimir Megre: Yes, the world is governed by images, that is already indisputable. At one time in Russia, the image of a happy man was depicted as one who goes into a factory, then comes out again and goes home, all the while admiring the smoke coming from the smoke-stacks. Pictures were painted, films were made on such subject matters - an image of "the happy man" was created. So everyone began to pick up and leave the rural areas to go to the city. Now we are reaping the fruits of all this: There are no people in our rural areas any more - whether money is invested there or not -there is no one there, there is no one to whom to give the money. This is the result of the effect of an image, an idea created for people. This image was created by many, many people for many years. Anastasia has now created another image, all at once and alone. Without any assistance from "official sources", so to speak. I believe this image to be so much more beautiful, more acceptable for today, and it will lead us out of the crisis: the crime rate will fall, birth rates will normalize and we will have another type of beautiful woman.

Let me use that example, about women: Here is one of those images - this type of image that had been created in Russia, namely that the happiest and most beautiful woman is a model. Hundreds of thousands of young Russian girls dream of being models and strolling down the catwalk, flaunting themselves, while not realizing that only one or two make it to the top, if that, and those are most likely not happy anyway. But the image has been created, and everyone aspires to it. But it seems to me that it is necessary to create the image of a woman-as-mother, a beloved woman, a woman who lives on a beautiful Kin's Domain. That is something attainable for anyone. And it is so much more than a model on a catwalk.

Regina Jensen: Vladimir Nikolayevich, I personally hope that Anastasia does not make herself available to the curious public any more than she already has. Carl Gustav Jung, a celebrated author, analyst and psychologist said a long time ago that "people can die from mass-projection," such as people of great fame who are exposed to the masses of images which others project upon them day and night. While Anastasia, more than anyone on this planet, can protect herself from such onslaughts very well, don't you agree we need not burden her any more than we already have with unnecessary demands?

Vladimir Megre: I don't think she is afraid of these onslaughts, after all, she herself said, "Evil of the world, leave your works, rush to me, try, I am alone before you, conquer for the sake of conquering, everyone fall on me, there will be battles without battles," and so on, and so forth. She is not afraid of this.

As far as "making herself available" goes, I think that it is impossible for her to make herself available to the public more than she already has. Judge for yourself, a person emerges onto the public stage and says, "Look, it's me." He stands before the people, everyone looks at him. "So you've emerged, you're standing here, and now what?" People see some person in front of them, they don't know his thoughts, what his personality is like, what he has on his mind, what he has planned, they see only the body before them! What does this give them? Nothing, of course.

Here in Europe, Canada, America, Russia, the countries of the CIS, the Baltic states, and Israel, so many different people all around the world have begun to understand each other without knowing each other's language only by saying the word "Anastasia." She is not making herself available, she has not become a "goddess" - she has become a friend, simply a friend.

So, how much more can she really make herself available? Come out of the kitchen peeling potatoes? Or emerge in such a way that everything around her is illuminated by her radiant thought? I believe that she has made herself available. And what's more, I believe that she will make herself available to each man, but in the image of the woman he loves. And that will really be a masterful entrance!

In general, this question has been asked more than once. And I always think that it sounds a bit strange. Judge for yourself, Regina. You and I walk up to John and ask, "John, when will your wife make herself available to us?" He would say, "What are you talking about?"

So, Anastasia has made herself available in spirit, but in body, for the time being, let her body remain where it is most comfortable.

Regina Jensen: Dear Vladimir Nikolayevich! Talking about making yourself available in spirit, I cannot express to you how much we all appreciate the energy you give to all of us, even answering questions that might feel repetitive to you. You are always so kind and patient. I hope, once more, that we have not overstayed our welcome. We do have many more questions for you but must let you go for now. Thank you so much, in the name of your readers all over the world!

(c) 2008 Regina B. Jensen
(c) 2008 Vladimir Megre
(c) 2008 RingingCedarsofRussia.org

* Dr. Regina Jensen holds licenses as a psychotherapist, physical therapist, certifications as Master Executive Coach, and Somatic therapies with professional training and experience for over 35 years. She is a writer and independent researcher with a commitment "to finding intelligent, expedient and joyful solutions for the predicaments we have co-created for each other on our Mother Planet." fullyalivewellnesscenter.com

1. Ed. Note: You can read Mr. Medvedev's response in full:
In Russian: http://www.rost.ru/themes/2007/03/052148_8215.shtml
In English: THE EARTH newspaper, http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/newsletter/02_03_07.htm#12)

2. Ed. Note: you can read Mr. Megre's speech in Zurich at the following address:
In Russian: The Anastasia Foundation for Culture and Creative Support of the City of Vladimir: http://www.anastasia.ru/forums/topic_2586.html
In English: THE EARTH newspaper: http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/theearth/vladimir_megre_conference_zurich_2008_may.html#world112)

http://www.earthlife.info/

Translation Copyright http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/

RUSSIA

Deputy Head of the Department of Federal Corrections Services for Pskov Oblast - Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Boroday: "There is no romance in prison"

Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Boroday, Deputy Head of the Department of Federal Corrections Services for Pskov Oblast with his daughter

In recent years, topics related to places of imprisonment are constantly on the pages of many forms of mass media or television screens. The problem of crime and punishment has entered the annals of classic vital issues. Does this aspect of life really deserve such rapt attention? We decided to speak of this with Aleksandr Boroday, Deputy Head of the Department of Federal Corrections Services for Pskov Oblast and a graduate of the Faculty of Philosophy at Leningrad State University.

Educate by example

"Aleksandr Vladimirovich, in your view, does this topic really deserve all the sensation that has been created around it?"

"Well, if one takes into account that places of imprisonment hold on the order of one million persons, that is, one out of every fifteen citizens of our country, then undoubtedly it does."

"Do you believe that this situation may be influenced in some way?"

"Do you know what phrase is uttered by convicts when the correctional labour colony is visited by a public prosecutor or someone else from the administration of the Department of Federal Corrections Services? 'Hey chief, I'm innocent!' Here it is irrelevant what crime the convict committed: petty theft or double murder. The majority of convicts blame their crimes on anyone else but themselves. For that reason, our task is to help the convict become aware of the act he has carried out. Without awareness and remorse there can be no rehabilitation."

"And do you often succeed in eliciting remorse?"

"Alas, not as often as we would wish! The number of crimes and criminals is not decreasing. And the problem does not involve the state of affairs in the labour colonies and prisons, the problem is outside them. A society that openly advocates a criminal way of life through films and songs cannot expect a reduction in crime."

"Do you propose to prohibit crime-related films and songs?"

"I propose the creation of works of art that would glorify another way of life. It generally makes no sense to fight against a negative phenomenon. The fight only reinforces the phenomenon against which it is directed. A fight against diseases only increases the number of patients, but propaganda for a healthy way of life essentially reduces them. Extending this to the level of the family: a father who likes to down a few does not have the moral right to forbid his child to drink, and the child will not listen to him anyway. It makes no sense to tell people how to live, they have to be shown an example."

"But our country has a fairly large number of successful people, who, however, are far from being without sin...."

"Then explain to me why a large number of children of successful parents are sitting in our prisons? Why is it precisely these children who become drug addicts or commit suicide? This is the natural finale of the fact that their parents have forgotten the meaning of man's existence on earth."

"But after all the meaning of life is different for each person...."

"That is humanity's greatest delusion. The meaning of life is identical for all people - to experience the strongest positive sensations possible: happiness, true love, the joy of unity with God and all existence. What is different are the means of achieving this. Often the means chosen by a person do not allow him to experience the sensations to which he intuitively strives. The sensations become transient and fleeting, because they depart from the principles that are given to man by God."

"And just what are these principles?"

"'Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.' 'Everything you want to receive - give away.'"

"But all that has been well-known for a long time. And nevertheless...."

"Once on television there was a programme about how a children's home burnt down in a city. The city administration asked the residents to shelter the children during the repairs. When the children's home had been built and it was suggested that the children come back, the people did not return a single child. The example was so infectious that the same thing began to be done it other regions. Children's homes are starting to close in the country...for lack of need. This is wonderful, after all it's no secret that the majority of the wards of children's homes are regular clients of labour colonies, they seem to be taking their revenge for their 'happy childhood.' Adoptive parents - these are the people that deserve a deep bow. They have saved thousands of children. And all their love will return to them, because there exists yet another great law: 'Everything that you send into the world will be received back by you.'"

"But what should be done with those who have already committed a crime? Can they be rehabilitated?"

"In the existing system - no. A new approach to confining convicts is described in the books of Vladimir Megré. If I may speak of it briefly, it looks like this. Let us take, for example, 100 persons, convicts, well, for 10 years. We settle them on a 100 hectare parcel of land, assigning to each a hectare, on which there is a house. We enclose the entire parcel, as customary, with barbed wire and guards. And for the entire period of his sentence the person lives on his own land: he plants a forest, orchard, garden, raises animals, communicates with his relatives. All this purifies his soul, opens it. To the extent that, at the end of his sentence, we must...simply remove the barbed wire. There will be one more populated area, and 100 fewer criminals."

"An interesting system. What is your view of marriages that occur in prison?"

"By law, a convict can both register a marriage and get married. But over my 17 years of service I personally have not seen any happy marriages of this type. On the other hand, I have seen a great number of tragedies. For that reason, my advise to women who have decided to take such a step is this: wait until the convict is released. And if he turns out to be the same person that he appeared to be, then I wish you harmony and love."

For a new civilization

"Aleksandr Vladimirovich, it is not very clear to me what a person with a university education is doing - sorry to put it this way - in not a very cheerful system."

"It's probably simple curiosity. I heard a lot about this world in my childhood and youth. Many of the kids from my courtyard gang ended up in a correctional labour camp. I simply wanted to find out whether this romance they talked about so enthusiastically really exists."

"And does it?"

"There is no romance in prison. There can be no romance in suffering. There is pain, fear, longing for freedom, there is the most negative of everything that you are capable of imagining, but there is no joy at all."

"I suspect that such harsh work days are offset by a certain unusual enthusiasm...."

"I worked for more than twelve years as a psychologist, and it gives me immense pleasure to help people. I experience joy when those who come to me succeed in achieving in life what they dreamed of most of all.

"I also like to write fairy tales. They are called 'Fairy tales of a new civilization for children and adults.' When my daughter was born and the question arose, how to help her resolve the problems of childhood, I attempted to make up fairy tales to tell her, taking the subjects from real life. Once there was this humorous incident. Dasha was 5 years old, and in the kindergarten the children were told that they were going to be given vaccinations the next day. My daughter became frightened and began to cry. To calm her down, I made up a fairy tale about how, in a kindergarten, there was a girl named Dasha. When all the children started to receive the vaccinations, they were afraid and cried, but Dasha laughed and calmed them all down. And she even asked to be vaccinated in her other arm. A week later, the psychologist from the kindergarten asked to see my wife and me. And she strongly recommended that we take our child...to a psychiatrist. She told us that, when the children were receiving their injections, they were all crying. But Dasha was laughing, she calmed everyone down, and even asked that she be given an injection in her other arm.... That is, the fairy tale did what a qualified kindergarten specialist could not.

"Over time I began to write down the stories I had been telling my daughter. I ended up with an entire collection, which I plan to publish at the beginning of this November. I hope that these fairy tales will help other children as they helped my child."

"We wish you success with your new book. Please, wish our readers something in a fairy-tale vein."

"I would like to wish them conscious awareness. The universe fulfills everything that a person wished for himself, even if at first glance it doesn't look that way. Those who understand this simple rule can change their lives and obtain everything they desire."

Alina Darskaya

Argumenty i Fakty Severo-Zapad [Arguments and facts north-west] - Pskov No. 39 (1455), 24 September 2008
http://pskov.aif.ru/

Translation Copyright http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/

Release of
RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA
in Turkish!

Resin of Siberian Cedar

We are happy to announce the release of RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA, Book 2 of the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" Series in Turkish Language!

Right now be the first to order the Turkish translation of Book 2 - RINGING CEDARS OF RUSSIA and recieve a 20% Discount! Click here to go to our online store

Publisher: Kuraldisi Yayincilik Ltd. Sti.

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Ecovillages Rassvet and Dzherelni Yary.

And they moved...to an open field

They believe that everything in the city is impregnated with the power of money, it is even difficult for them to breathe in the city, so they are choosing a life closer to nature. "Ecovillagers" - in Ukraine this is now an entire movement. There are villages in our oblast as well.

You can leave the city, obtain a piece of land in an open area, build a house with your own hands according to long-forgotten technologies, breathe the fresh air, drink pure water that doesn't cost a cent, feed on lovingly grown vegetables and fruits. That is exactly what the ecovillagers are doing.

Using the technique of organic farming (working the land without chemicals), alternative sources of energy, having given up smoking, alcohol, and even eating meat, they are forcing others to think how to make life more wholesome. The ecovillagers do not renounce society, quite the contrary, with their actions they are introducing new ideas into it.

Rassvet in Donetsk Oblast

Residents of Kiev Igor and Anya Lisevich alongside the adobe house that they built themselves

Rassvet and Dzherelni Yary are the names of ecovillages located 15 km from Debaltsevo in Novogrigorevka District, in the village of Nizhnee Lozovoe. The "landowners" came here to live from Debaltsevo, Torez, Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and even Kiev.

Someone buys a house with a plot of land, someone else registers from one to two hectares of open field, on which a so-called "domain" will subsequently appear. Some families have already settled in the new area, several are just erecting houses with their own hands. But all of them have enthusiasm and plans for the future. "I have no intention of trying to persuade anyone. If a person likes my way of life, let him do the same," is the way the majority of the ecovillagers think.

Meet the residents of the ecovillage:

Igor and Anya Lisevich: from Kiev, on an open field

Igor and Anya Lisevich, 31 and 35 years old, are former residents of Kiev. It has already been more than a year since they left the active life of the capital (Anya is a former public relations manager) and moved...to an open field.

In one season, Igor erected, with his own hands, the most genuine adobe house, ten by ten metres in size, in which he now lives with his beloved wife. Thanks to the natural material and design, the house is very warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and, in spite of some things that remain to be completed, is extremely cozy.

The couple did not even bring in a fixed supply of electricity, they are using a special generator. The electrical appliances in the house include a washing machine. They choose the simplest, most comfortable, crease-resistant clothing. The iron they use is old, the kind that can be heated up on a standard stove. The house has a refrigerator - a special aperture in the adobe wall.

Igor and Anya are vegetarians, they say that they were poisoned by eating crab legs in the city, and yet again realized that they should not consume food from a supermarket.

How does the family earn its living? They use a notebook computer and wireless internet, Anya does have her own electronic magazine that she runs and develops. Anya collects herbs, and Andrey's assistance, as a jack of all trades, is in demand among the village dwellers. Work, say the couple, is an untouched country, and there is much, much more in the family's plans.

Valentina: She wants her grandchildren to be healthy

Valentina Zhaparova grows vegetables and flowers in her garden using non-traditional agricultural methods

Sixty-eight-year old Valentina Zhaparova has been a resident of Nizhnee Lozovoe for several years now. She led an active life in the city, she has a three-room apartment there, but in the village she acquired a house, which she renovated with her husband (it wasn't easy, the house was completely decrepit when they got it), and started an orchard and vegetable garden. On an October morning the cabbage is still green, the flowers of the calendula present a motley-coloured palette, small tomatoes are still red. "Which hand? Here, try it!" jokes Valentina's bright-eyed grandson, holding out a pod of chili pepper.

Not far from Valentina Fedorovna live her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. They share the opinion that it is more wholesome to live further from the city. There are always guests in Valentina Fedorovna's family. And it's no wonder: both the house and land beckon with their warmth and coziness. "I moved from the city because of my family. I wanted my grandchildren to grow up strong and healthy." The little ones play musical instruments, are crazy about chess, and easily discuss "adult subjects."

Andrey, a teacher from Kramatorsk

Andrey, a 36-year-old teacher from Kramatorsk, has been the owner of a parcel of land slightly larger than a hectare for several years now. At the present Andrey's parcel is a field with saplings that have suffered from summer fires and the tracks of an unknown automobile. Andrey lives and works in Kramatorsk, he is married, has a child, and, in answer to the question, why does he still need this land in an open field, states: "The project of my domain is a long-term project. For my children and grandchildren, who will breathe fresh air, drink pure water, and use wholesome products in their food, products grown by mother earth."

Andrey already knows how to cope with problems that may arise, whether it is the unpredictability of nature or the lack of protection, after all, with experience comes knowledge. The main thing - Andrey is sure of this - is that his domain is "the Homeland for which I can give up my life."

As often as possible, Andrey comes out from the city to his land, bringing his tent and mess-tin. Not only to spend some time in nature (and nature in the ecovillage is excellent: an abundance of streams and diverse vegetation), but also to plan his own domain. "I already know where my pond is going to be, and the house, and the garden," says Andrey confidently.

Vera Ivanovna, an engineer from Torez

Rassvet has people who, it seems, have no need of our civilized way of life, as they say. In response to the question, "How old are you?" Vera Ivanovna cheerfully answers: "I'm 29, and my daughter is 24." It is difficult to argue with the energetic Vera Ivanovna, she does indeed look young, and dreams of having more children, a boy and a girl. Vera Ivanovna is an engineer, she lived and worked in Torez, led a typical city life, was even involved in business. Now she lives in a little house without even electricity.

Her parcel of about a hectare has not been worked for a long time, there are tall weeds everywhere. In the words of her neighbors, Vera Ivanovna's land is thus "resting." The landowner herself says that she is drawn to a life among nature, and is thereby making her own contribution to the renewal of the ecology.

She does not use coal or electricity, if she reads, it is by candlelight, she is satisfied with simple and modest clothing, she eats grass, as she herself puts it.

In the words of Vera Ivanovna, there is wonder here everywhere, in each blade of grass and little animal, one only has to see it. "I live, and rejoice in life and my inner beliefs," she says. "I need money within reasonable limits." Vera Ivanovna is involved in the preservation and procuring of herbs and mushrooms, so she always has money if she needs it.
Sasha and Sveta Petrov from Israel

It is uncommon to meet a family that has five beautiful daughters, as does Sasha and Sveta Petrov's. By education, Sasha and Sveta are physicians, they lived and worked in Israel, but it has already been several years since they settled in Nizhnee Lozovoe. They bought a house, made renovations, set up an orchard and vegetable garden. Sasha works in Debaltsevo as a physician, Sveta does the housekeeping. By the way, they gave birth to three of their daughters by themselves at home, without any outside assistance.

The children go to school in Debaltsevo, they attend various groups, for example, a music studio. They have a favourable view of the civilized way of life: "What's so bad about a hot bath?" The Petrovs' house has everything necessary for the comfort of such a large family - a computer, a piano, and a warm stove - in spite of the fact that the house is small.

What is a typical day at the Petrovs? "We get up, do exercises to Cindy Crawford, do some karaoke until everyone has had enough of singing, a hike to find mushrooms...," answers Sveta. The Petrovs' small animals include the dog Lesya. They exchanged the goats for manure: "There was a lot of hubbub with them, it's easier to buy milk from the neighbors," Sasha shares his experience. The Petrovs keep bees, so the family is guaranteed a supply of tasty honey, as are those who drop in to visit them....

This is who they are - these landowners, or ecovillagers. These people are not simply escaping further from the dirty cities to villages, they dream of building their small piece of a Homeland, creating a comfortable space around themselves. A space where it also would be good for their children and grandchildren to live.

Nadezhda and Dima from Donetsk: "We had enough of the city"

Here is another family. Nadezhda and Dima, both 37, have two children, live in Makeevka, work in Donetsk. They bought a house in Nizhnee Lozovoe, and also registered land for a future domain. As often as possible they come from the city and make their dream a reality. Dima says emotionally: "We had enough of the city to the extent that I couldn't stand it.... We want to have a farm at our leisure, and if we have to do something, to do it for ourselves, and not to work to pay taxes and realize at the end of our lives that life has passed us by in vain."

In Dmitriy's words, each person needs his living space, and, in distinction from the city, where the windows of an apartment open onto a view of the same type of windows, and it is difficult to breathe when you go outside, in Nizhnee Lozovoe one feels genuine life.

In spite of the stories about wolves that frighten the local inhabitants, Nadezhda and Dima are more comfortable in the village than in the city, where it is terrifying to cross the street because of the profusion of cars. After their account of the advantages and shortcomings of life in the ecovillage (and a shortcoming can be considered the fact that the ecovillagers themselves are not always unanimous in their opinions), Dima energetically dashed up the ladder to repair the roof of the house, while Nadezhda continued her work in the garden.

Vostochnyy proekt [Eastern project] regional weekly
http://www.vp.donetsk.ua/

Translation Copyright http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/


Welcome to
SPACE of LOVE Magazine!

Many of us agree that our planet and world are in profound transition - facing a turning point in human history. Some say that we as a people have had this same chance many times before in our near and far history. Each time, so history shows, humanity sank back once more, en mass, into the same spiritual sleep. But once more, we are also closer than ever to be able to turn this planet into the paradise it was meant to be.

At this time on Earth, more people than ever are committed to awaken and to stay awake even as a large percentage of the world's beautiful people are being hypnotized and mass-manipulated out of their divine powers by only a few dark minds. We seem to have forgotten our most inviolable power, to love each other and co-create this beautiful Earth as a Space of Love, the metaphorical and literal paradise-like garden it was meant to be.

We were inspired to create this magazine by the incredible wisdom and vision of a young, beautiful recluse living in the wild of the Siberian Taiga, Anastasia, and a courageous author, Vladimir Megre. He has recorded her amazing, encouraging story and wisdom for us in a series of ten books, and eleven million best-selling copies, translated into over twenty of the world's languages.

We create and write through this meeting place, this Space of Love, for those of us who are ready to help transform and see this planet as the luscious paradise it was meant to be. Anastasia envisions and holds for us a foreseeable future where every man, woman, child and animal can eat and live in peace and harmony.

Our mandate is to share writings and ideas which help us transfer this inspiring vision into joyful lives all over the world.

* * * * *

SOL magazine is published through the efforts of a few devoted people. As a publication unsupported by commercial interest, we will not offer advertising from corporate-controlled media. Therefore we hope and rely upon your help in promoting SOL Magazine. Word of mouth is our main means of promoting and our readers are our best advertisers. So if you find this Space of Love Magazine insightful, Informative and interesting, please tell a friend. Better still, purchase a copy and give it to a friend or loved one, who just may discover a completely new world - the world of consciously living in their own Space of Love.

Now Space of Love Magazine is available to purchase in USA, Canada, and Europe, in our store at www.RingingCedarsofRussia.org! Good Source for promotion of the ideas of the Ringing Cedars Movement.

Click here to go to our online store

SPECIAL HOLIDAY PROMOTION!

Space of Love Magazine staff has been blessed! X-mas Elves and Santa himself suggested the most generous X-mas Gifting idea in the Magazine-business yet (Northpole News, Dec.' 08)

Truly the Gift that keeps on Giving!

Give yourself or loved-ones the gift of an Annual or Two-Year Magazine subscription to the new magazine which is committed to co-creating and ushering in our new Global Reality: "We now do have the power and guidance from Nature - and research does agree - to bring our Earth back to where each individual, family and creature may eat and live as if in Paradise. Best of all, it all starts now, today - even on your own window-sill, one seed at a time," says Santa.

But first: call, e-mail, web-contact us, fast as the wind! Let us do all the work, and you get all the pleasure:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

http://www.spaceoflovemagazine.com/

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Poetry, art, music, photography and anything else that flows from the heart.

Life's Face

My inner garden is ready for your seed,
Let us create her in His image and likeness.
Your kiss puts into motion Love's deed,
My beloved feel within my soul's caress.
The stars surround the magic taking place,
The dark of night an artist's blank canvas.
Oneness occurs, a shape, a form, and then Life's face,
The lovers embracing within heaven's bliss.
She sees him and is of him and he of her,
Dawn greets the sprout, God cries.
Purity reigns, the act just a blur,
Awakened by a rainbow painted across the skies.

By ~Carina~ at RingingCedarsForums.com

* * *

Love and co-creation.
The way life should go.
My search has shown me,
for my dreams to grow,
that a space of love,
to be the place to go.

Start with some land, O,
air and water too.
A seed with co-operation,
the sun, with loves reflection,
spring summer and autumn too,
to start a life a-new.

A future paradise to grow,
so let all nations know,
that souls in co-creation,
can bring peace and co-operation,
worlds radiant in joy-es contemplation,
yes, Man all complete in perfection.

By Simon at RingingCedarsForums.com


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Please visit the forum at Source of Life Association and share your opinions on the books of Vladimir Megre. Discuss Anastasia's ideas about harmonic life, and how you use them for yourself. Share your impressions.

You can now discuss your ideas on the following topics:

Let's build a strong community together. Support each other with positive thoughts and create a real plan for making our dreams come true.

Visit the Forum.

Forum Talk

Posted by surrender in a topic Doing More to go "GREEN". Join the discussion of this topic here:

Hi Rainbows, Valvas and All,

I was at work one day on the harvest trail where the pay is per kilo you pick. We were not making much money and the boss said 'Ho ho, you'll be right when you find your rhythm'. My rhythm he was talking about did come, after many more hours of sore muscles and working through repetitive strain injuries. building up to a non stop fierce pace in competition with fellow workers. 'Ah, this is my rhythm he was talking about!' And I decided that 'giving ones rhythm' is another way of saying 'giving ones pound of flesh'!

Here is the rhythm of the scythe: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=dVv597m848s

I am looking forward to the day when I can find my rhythm in conjoint creation of beauty and perfection!

I had a scythe once and tried to use it, but it must have not been set right or something as I couldn't get it going? But this is something I would like to master too. I do have my dads sickle and used to use it for cutting road side grasses for my horse.

What about geese? I have heard that they are great for keeping the grass down at lawn height in ones orchard. These are what I am thinking about getting later on.

I love that his bees communicated to him like that. It may be that he is becoming in tune with his space of love. I look forward to these type of communications too.

I designed a 5 (phive) winged house, Each family has their own dwelling here with their own bathroom and this house sits central to every one's one hectare kin's domains. There is a 40 meter walk from each dwelling to their kin's domain. On the way, just out from each wing are each families composting toilets, which sit in the middle of gardens.

This house for 5 families is under 1 roof, so also solves some local council challenges for getting us onto the land.

These are the things I do in my incubation period....Well I think a lot!....about our transition.

Chris

http://www.ringingcedarsforum.com/

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this forum are personal opinions of individuals creating the posts. We are not liable for any information posted on the forum.

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This section is devoted to the information that will be useful in the creation of a Kin's Domains.

Are You Considering Homeschooling?

Written By Pam Sorooshian

Homeschooling isn't new; most of this country's founding fathers were, in effect, homeschooled. But in recent years interest has been growing, and many people, who never thought they would even consider it, are finding themselves more and more intrigued by the idea.
What is it that is attracting so many families to homeschooling?

As a homeschooling parent who has talked to hundreds of other homeschoolers, I know that there is no simple answer to that question. There are many, many reasons why we homeschooling families make the decision to keep our children out of conventional schools, either public or private, and take direct responsibility for our own children's education.

Many people choose homeschooling for:

- values-based or religious reasons
- academic and learning reasons
- social issues
- health issues
- safety concerns
- flexibility of family schedules or lifestyles

The overriding reason, however, is that homeschooling offers freedom along with that responsibility -- freedom to make our own decisions regarding how we wish our children to live and learn. Whatever initially leads parents to make this choice, homeschooling nearly always evolves into something far more than an alternative educational choice -- it becomes a lifestyle choice of personal responsibility and freedom and incredible joy within a close family life.

Values-Based Reasons

Homeschooling allows children to be consistently guided in a family's values. Religious and family special days can be planned and celebrated together, and our children learn from seeing and participating in their parents' daily lives. For some families, religion is a critical reason to choose homeschooling, and many use a specifically religious curriculum. This was not our family's primary reason, but the chance to discuss values in the context of what the children are learning is a wonderful bonus. Volunteer service activities can easily be incorporated into a homeschooling family's regular schedule; community service of all kinds is of tremendous importance in a child's overall development, as well as being a significant learning experience.

Educational Reasons

Most homeschoolers probably begin homeschooling because of the educational benefits that they anticipate. There are many, but the most important is that each child's education can be tailored to fit that particular child. No one-size-fits-all curriculum or methods need be used. Children with varying learning abilities can move at a pace appropriate to their developmental levels and interests. In the classroom, it is especially difficult to accommodate children who are learning more slowly or more quickly than average, and all children are slower and/or quicker than average in different subjects.

There are children who learn more quickly than their classes can allow; at home, they can move through material at their own fast pace, allowing time for learning material not offered at school, or time for more in-depth study of subjects of interest. If a child needs more time to fully comprehend something, they can take it. They won't be pushed on, ready or not, to keep up with the class; they can even drop a subject and come back to it when they are ready.

Learning at appropriate levels can be more satisfying and challenging to the specific child, less like busywork. And, learning can be more efficient because the children use methods most suitable for their own learning styles.

One of our primary reasons for homeschooling was to give our children the gift of long, uninterrupted blocks of time to write, read, think or work on a activity. Creativity and serious in-depth study are discouraged in a classroom where there is a lot of noise, a schedule designed for keeping every child busy, and continuous distractions and interruptions. We also wanted our children to have more time for pursuing special interests, such as art and music.

A major goal of many homeschoolers is that their children feel more responsible for their own education. Rather than being passive recipients of subject matter selected by their teachers (actually administrators or government committees), we wanted them to have input into designing their own education and eventually take over full responsibility.

We also wanted our children to realize that learning can take place in a large variety of ways and that they can seek out assistance when needed from many alternative sources, not just rely on a classroom teacher to provide all the methods, materials, and answers. We hoped that our children would not be as tempted to take the easy way out by doing just enough to satisfy their teacher, that they would be the judge of the quality of their own work and would work and learn for internal self-satisfaction, more than for external reward. We felt that the heavy reliance on reward and punishment systems by schools would undermine this goal. And we hoped that our children would be more willing to take risks and be creative, since they do not have to worry about being embarrassed in front of peers or being criticized by their teacher.

Most important, we wanted our children's love of learning to be supported, and their enthusiasm and excitement about education to be maintained. We felt these goals would be undermined in conventional school.

Social Issues

The question most often asked of homeschoolers is, "But what about socialization?" The resounding response from homeschoolers is that our children are not isolated, but are busy, active participants in community life. They participate in scouts and sports, theater and music, and they have many friends with whom to maintain very active social lives. They have more time and more flexible schedules than children in school. My own children, for example, are members of a Shakespeare theater company, which often involves late-night rehearsals which would be impossible for them to attend if they had to get up in the morning for school.

In school, children associate almost entirely with other children who are nearly the same age. They have few adults with whom to interact, and those interactions are limited, since there are many other children who must also be accommodated. Socialization at school often consists of large numbers of children with very little supervision, much less adult help in learning how to get along with other people. At lunch and recess, for example, playgrounds often have hundreds of children being supervised by one or two playground aides.

Homeschooled children interact with other people of all ages, younger and older. They learn to get along with diverse people, to solve conflicts, to work and cooperate by being out in the community in "real life." They do this with the nurturing guidance and support of their parents and other adults.

Many homeschoolers belong to homeschooling support groups. These are as varied as homeschoolers themselves, but they all offer opportunities for children to work, learn, and play together. Anyone dropping in on a homeschooling group day at the park, for example, would find children of all ages interacting, maybe playing a game of soccer, building a model, practicing a play or song, drawing pictures, playing musical instruments, writing poems, listening to a story, planning a trip, or just climbing a tree. Bigger kids would be helping littler kids. Adults would be conversing with children.

Homeschoolers have many responses to the question of socialization and we recognize it is of primary concern to others. Ironically, one of the reasons many of us have chosen to educate our own is precisely this very issue of socialization! Children spending time with individuals of all ages more closely resembles real life than does a same-age school setting.

Health Issues

Some children begin homeschooling because health problems force them to miss school for an extended period of time. School districts usually provide home-study teachers, who spend a few hours a week helping the child "keep up." These arrangements are not what most of us mean by homeschooling, where the parent takes primary responsibility for the child's education. But they do sometimes lead to permanent homeschooling, as a parent realizes its benefits.

Other health issues may be important to homeschooling parents. For example, our children spend a lot more time outdoors (even reading, writing, or studying) which is more healthy physically and mentally than spending most of their weekdays indoors in a crowded and often overheated classroom. These days, many children come to school sick, and illnesses passed from child to child in the classroom are very common, as are head lice. We certainly can't avoid all illnesses by homeschooling, but many parents who have taken their children out of school say that the frequency of things like colds and ear infections decreases tremendously. Most homeschooling families are able to enjoy less hectic, more relaxed, lifestyles -- often because they stop trying to supplement school during after-school and weekend hours, and because there is no time-consuming homework. Reducing the stress level of family members may also contribute to better overall health.

Safety Concerns

Many people first become interested in homeschooling because they are concerned for their children's physical safety at school. Sometimes this is a because of fear generated by events such as school shootings, and sometimes because their own child is being bullied or mistreated and the parents are unsatisfied with official school responses.

Family Schedules or Lifestyles

Some families choose to homeschool because it fits better with their particular circumstances. For example, their work might involve constant travel or frequent moves. Others have children involved in the entertainment industry or other activities that interfere with standard school schedules.

Like so many others, we homeschool because we caught a vision of what learning and living without schooling could be like, decided to take the risk, and found out for ourselves that we loved it. Having begun this journey, we've never looked back. The benefits are apparent to us as we look upon our children, and we experience great joy seeing the love of learning and life so vibrant and alive in them.

By Pam Sorooshian

http://www.nhen.org/

Image Source - http://www.indigokidsindia.com/

Watch Video:

HOME Where They Belong

Words of Advice from Experienced Homeschoolers

Compiled by Pam Sorooshian for the National Home Education Network

Congratulations on deciding to continue to build your family the way you already are. My only piece of advice is to remember that each child is unique, a piece of star-stuffed gathered, and they come pre-programmed! So the greatest challenge is simply to love them for who they are -- free yourself of preconceptions, and learn to listen as well as you can, for they are gifted teachers. And I'll bet you already knew that! David Albert, Washington

I'm fond of telling folks that the what and how will come if they do one simple thing: Observe the children as they play and learn, get a "feel" for the best way to go about this to "fit" the individual child. The children themselves give us remarkable clues, if we as parents have but the wisdom and patience to interpret them. Linda Dobson, New York

Part of being an "experienced homeschool" is privilege of offering advice to new homeschoolers. I have sometimes wondered if what I am offering is what the person needs to hear. I have realized that the very basic, yet most important thing I want to share with new homeschoolers is that their children are whole and complete.

Dr. Wayne Dyer addresses this issue in one of my favorite books, "What Do You Really Want For Your Children? -How to Raise Happy Kids." In one of the chapters, Dr. Dyer tells a story of a mother who was always thinking about what her daughter would grow up to be. Her child died at 4 years old. She said she realized too late that her child was total and complete just the way she was, she was never going to be anymore than what she was at that moment. It is a sad story, but one that has made me think deeply about how I trust and treat my children.

If you can look at your children and know that they are complete whole beings, right now, it doesn't matter at what time they learn something, or if they ever do. Today, they are whole and complete. They are giving as much as they can and learning as much as they can. Today they are alive, loving and learning. Trust them. Inspire them. Admire them. Krista Lica. Florida

Learning at home means not only having time to enjoy learning but to enjoy life and enjoy being a family. It means having time to just sit quietly by a campfire till midnight and not say anything until the mood and the words are right. It means having time to find out how to be the best person you can be. Homeschooling is giving the ultimate gift to your family and yourself: the gift of time. Kathy Wentz, Colorado

Don't be a slave to your curriculum (if you use one.) Just because a math lesson has thirty problems in it does not mean your child has to do thirty problems! If the child understands a concept, will more practice make him/her understand better or will it just waste time? In dealing with state requirements to have a plan, you can gain more flexibility by providing a skills list, i.e., "by the end of the year, the child will be able to give a synopsis of the state's history at an age-appropriate level." That frees you up to accomplish the feat any way you and your child like. Another, related, hint is to jot down everything your child does THIS year and tell the state that is what your child WILL study NEXT year. That way, it's already done and you don't have to worry about how or when to do it. Most homeschoolers are functioning well above "grade" level anyway, so lagging reports a year behind shouldn't be any problem. The state gets what it wants, and you can let your children study according to passion instead of plan. Chris, Iowa

Children need the opportunity to experience the world personally, using hands, bodies, and all the senses, as well as the mind. These experiences could include water, sand, mud, plants, animals, cooking, repair, all aspects of family life, social relation -ships, privacy, books, art, construction, crafts, dance, model building, sports, drama, math, communication, machinery (including anything from crowbars to computers), music, science, spiritual belief systems, literature, history, travel, and more. Paper and pencil representations of reality (i.e. packaged curriculums or dependence on workbooks) are occasionally a valuable tool. Used excessively, such materials are a flavorless substitute for the real thing. Ann Lahrson Fisher, Oregon

Buy an electric pencil sharpener! Dionne Ray

Relax and trust your children and yourself. Lillian Haas, New Jersey

1. Start with the child, not the resource
2. Ask for your child's input, regardless of their age. I have always been surprised at how well my kids know what they need and how they want to go about getting it.
3. Don't buy anything expensive the first year.
4. Kids don't have to finish everything they start - sometimes they come back to it (even years later) and sometimes they don't.
5. The child is in charge of the learning -- always, regardless of what resource, method, or philosophy you employ or hold.
6. Homeschooling is a long-term adventure. There are few things that have to be accomplished by a particular age.
7. School schedules and school resources were developed for ease of teaching not for ease of learning. Big difference.
Christine Webb, Oregon

Beginning to homeschool is a lot like going on a new diet. You have a lot of plans, you are very sure of yourself, you spend a lot of money on materials, and you just KNOW that other people NEED to know how important and correct what you are doing is. And, just like with the diet, your friends will react according to their own feelings about your diet: positive if they had success with it, and perhaps a bit resentfully if they did not.

There will be those that will even take a slight pleasure in your mis-steps. Success, in that first heady year, may depend on whether you surround yourself with successful 'dieters' or not. No need to avoid your old friends, though, just try not to gloat!
Laurae Lyster-Mensh, Virginia

One piece of advice I always give, and the thing that often gets TOTALLY left out of "what you need to get started" is that new homeschoolers should spend some time thinking about what education, and "being educated" means to them. Where is it that they're trying to go? What do they want to accomplish? What's important to them about the process? What's important to their children? What kind of life do they want to have together? It's so easy to confuse learning with schooling - many people have never even thought about the difference - and it's awfully hard to avoid the trap of bringing school home (even when they know it isn't working!) when you haven't considered other journeys. Laura, Texas

Homeschooling is an individual thing, every family is different, every homeschool is different. Don't think that your homeschool needs to look like your friend's, even if her kids are wonderful and you want your kids to be just like hers! You have unique children, specially gifted by God. Each of your children is unique too, so don't expect the same approach to work for each of your children. One child may do wonderfully with Saxon math, and the other one hate it. That's okay! Work with their strengths.

Remember too that you will make mistakes, you will have bad days, and you will not cover everything. Learn from your mistakes, forget the bad days, and take comfort in the fact that if your kids know how to learn then they can learn anything they want to. We sometimes get caught up with the fear that we will somehow fail our children if we "miss something". You will! Don't worry! If you have a budding artist, go heavily into history of art, artists, and art, and ensure a familiarity with basic science. If you have a budding scientist, then bend your studies in that direction.

Don't be afraid to abandon something in mid-stream if it was a mistake. Better try something new than to slog through bad material. Remember too, you own the books, they don't own you. If your child is getting 100% on his math, there is no reason to do 30 problems a day every day. Pick and choose the ones he needs work on and occasionally review the familiar ones. Likewise, if you feel that you are wasting your time with "busywork" in the curriculum you probably are! Drop the nonsense and keep the meat. Most families try several different approaches before they find one that works for them and their family.

Above all, trust yourself and your instincts. You know your kids better than anyone else! You are not homeschooling for your in-laws or neighbors, but for your kids. Dia Garland, Nebraska

The first thing I would tell a new homeschooler is to relax and try not to panic. I recall that in the first few months following my daughter's removal from private school for homeschool that I regularly felt in a state of panic that she wasn't making the adjustment. By that I mean that she was not internalizing that her school friends couldn't come places midweek with us, that she couldn't go to the school to "play" with her friends, that she was not jumping right in and doing what she heretofore had not done in school: sit and do worksheets and busy work. Although I thought that I was not recreating school at home in my initial panic I actually did. I sat down with my daughter and we read and did some worksheets and other "school". I was greeted with the same reaction I got when she brought school work home-crying and general frustration and lack of completion. So, what was the point I asked myself?

In January, following her first four months of home school my daughter plateaued. She became more tractable, more interested in learning in general, and more responsive to me and our situation. One full year after her coming into homeschooling we are involved in "child led learning" and she reads a great deal. I still worry occasionally that her fundamental learning is not being met, particularly in math, but she is learning a great deal and I am constantly amazed at her perception and recall of detail. So, through great effort, I have relaxed. I think that had I internally felt that this would be the path our road would take I would have relaxed much sooner.

So that is my advice to a new homeschooler-relax.
Tracey T., CA

As someone who's still looking into the different ways people homeschool their children, I'd recommend trying to talk to (this is hard to say) people who use different methods of homeschooling. For example, they should talk to someone who uses a curriculum package, someone who believes in a classical education, unschoolers, etc. This way they can see some very different ways of homeschooling and figure out what they want to do. Marie, California

When I was nearing the start of "official" homeschooling, I was nervous, because I feared criticism from my family. I wrote down *everything* we did, thinking that would "prove" that what I was doing was educational and beneficial. Now I realize no amount of "proof" is going to convince critical people that homeschooling is the best education for my child. The skeptical and curious will ask genuine questions, and listen with an open mind. Some might even read a book or magazine article as a way to understand more fully. But the critics are not likely to change their minds. The best we can do with such people is to stick to our convictions -- to homeschool according to our beliefs and knowledge of our children -- and to do what we must to protect ourselves and our children from the harshest critics. It's not always easy, and we might have to learn new ways, but it's what we must do for ourselves and our children. Shay Seaborne, Virginia

If there is one advice or word of wisdom to new homeschoolers when they enter a new home school group is to be patient. In general people are always taking you in as a person and slowly they will then find common interest. Then slowly friendship will happen. Friendships and acquaintances are coming and going, it is also always good to say to ourselves that no one has the same value system and the more different we all are and think the better.
Emanuelle, California (originally from France)

You and your imagination are your own best resource. Hug your kids. Make it fun for all of you. Keep your sense of humor. Be willing to learn along with your kids. Don't worry about "doing it the right way." Everyone is different so be flexible. Do it the right way for yourself and your kids. Have faith in yourself and your kids. Jean Reed, Maine

http://www.nhen.org/

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Reasons To Homeschool

1. Spend more time together as a family.
2. Spend more time with children when they are rested and fresh rather than tired and cranky from school.
3. Avoid having to struggle to get children to do the tedious busywork that is so often sent home as homework.
4. Allow children time to learn subjects not usually taught in their school.
5. Allow children to have time for more in-depth study than what is allowed in school.
6. Allow children to learn at their own pace, not too slow or too fast.
7. Allow children to work at a level that is appropriate to their own developmental stage. Skills and concepts can be introduced at the right time for that child.
8. Provide long, uninterrupted blocks of time for writing, reading, playing, thinking, or working so that the child is able to engage in sophisticated, complex activities and thought processes.
9. Encourage concentration and focus - which are discouraged in crowded classrooms with too many distractions.
10. Encourage the child to develop the ability to pace her/himself - this is prevented in a classroom where the schedule is designed to keep every child busy all the time.
11. Spend a lot of time out-of-doors. This is more healthy than spending most weekdays indoors in a crowded, and often overheated, classroom.
12. Spending more time out-of-doors results in feeling more in touch with the changing of the seasons and with the small and often overlooked miracles of nature.
13. Children learn to help more with household chores, developing a sense of personal responsibility.
14. Children learn life skills, such as cooking, in a natural way, by spending time with adults who are engaged in those activities.
15. More time spent on household responsibilities strengthens family bonds because people become more committed to things they have invested in (in this case, by working for the family).
16. Time is available for more nonacademic pursuits such as art or music. This leads to a richer, happier life.
17. Children will not feel like passive recipients of subject matter selected by their teachers. They will learn to design their own education and take responsibility for it.
18. Children will realize that learning can take place in a large variety of ways.
19. Children will learn to seek out assistance from many alternative sources, rather than relying on a classroom teacher to provide all the answers.
20. A more relaxed, less hectic lifestyle is possible when families do not feel the necessity to supplement school during after-school and week-end hours.
21. Busywork can be avoided.
22. Learning can be more efficient since methods can be used that suit a child's particular learning style.
23. Children will avoid being forced to work in "cooperative learning groups" which include children who have very uncooperative attitudes.
24. Children can learn to work for internal satisfaction rather than for external rewards.
25. Children will not be motivated to "take the easy way out" by doing just enough work to satisfy their teacher. They will learn to be their own judge of the quality of their own work.
26. Children will be more willing to take risks and be creative since they do not have to worry about being embarrassed in front of peers.
27. Children will be more confident since they are not subject to constant fear of criticism from teachers.
28. Peer pressure will be reduced. There will be less pressure to grow up as quickly in terms of clothing styles, music, language, interest in the opposite sex.
29. Social interactions will be by choice and based on common interests.
30. Friends can be more varied, not just with the child's chronological age peer group who happen to go to the same school.
31. Field trips can be taken on a much more frequent basis.
32. Field trips can be much more enjoyable and more productive when not done with a large school group which usually involves moving too quickly and dealing with too many distractions.
33. Field trips can be directly tied into the child's own curriculum.
34. Volunteer service activities can be included in the family's regular schedule. Community service can be of tremendous importance in a child's development and can be a great learning experience.
35. Scheduling can be flexible, allowing travel during less expensive and less crowded off-peak times. This can allow for more travel than otherwise, which is a wonderful learning experience.
36. Children will be less likely to compare their own knowledge or intelligence with other children and will be less likely to become either conceited or feel inferior.
37. Religious and special family days can be planned and celebrated.
38. More time will be spent with people (friends and family) who really love and care about the children. Children will bond more with siblings and parents since they will spend more time together playing, working, and helping each other.
39. Feedback on children's work will be immediate and appropriate. They won't have to wait for a teacher to grade and return their work later to find out if they understood it.
40. Feedback can be much more useful than just marking answers incorrect or giving grades.
41. Testing is optional. Time doesn't have to be spent on testing or preparing for testing unless the parent and/or child desires it.
42. Observation and discussion are ongoing at home and additional assessment methods are often redundant. Testing, if used, is best used to indicate areas for further work.
43. Grading is usually unnecessary and learning is seen as motivating in and of itself. Understanding and knowledge are the rewards for studying, rather than grades (or stickers, or teacher's approval, etc.).
44. Children can be consistently guided in a family's values and can learn them by seeing and participating in parents' daily lives.
45. Children will learn to devote their energy and time to activities that THEY think are worthwhile.
46. Children will be able to learn about their ethnicities in a manner that will not demean. Children will be able to understand multiculturalism in its true sense and not from the pseudo-multicultural materials presented in schools which tend to depict others from a dominant culture perspective.
47. Children will not learn to "fit into society," but will, instead, value morality and love more than status and money.
48. Children do not have to wait until they are grown to begin to seriously explore their passions; they can start living now.
49. Children's education can be more complete than what schools offer.
50. Children who are "different" in any way can avoid being subjected to the constant and merciless teasing, taunting, and bullying which so often occurs in school.
51. Children with special needs will be encouraged to reach their full potential and not be limited by the use of "cookie cutter" educational methods used in schools.
52. Low standards or expectations of school personnel will not influence or limit children's ability to learn and excel.
53. Children will be safer from gangs, drugs, and guns.
54. Parents will decide what is important for the children to learn, rather than a government bureaucracy.
55. Family will not be forced to work within school's traditional hours if it does not fit well with their job schedules and sleep needs.

http://www.nhen.org/

The Meat-Disease Connection

Posted by Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

Dr. Fuhrman's position on the consumption of animal products is pretty clear, meat and diary dairy products leads to disease like heart disease and cancer. Even "healthy" choices like fish and chicken put you at risk. Take a look at this section from Eat to Live:

There is a relationship between animal protein and heart disease. For example, plasma apolioprotein B is positively associated with animal-protein intake and inversely associated (lowered) with vegetable-protein intake (e.g., legumes and greens). Apolioprotein B levels correlate strongly with coronary heart disease.1 Unknown to many is that animal proteins have a significant effect on raising cholesterol levels as well, while plant protein lowers it.

Scientific studies provide evidence that many animal protein's effect on blood cholesterol may be significant. This is one of the reasons those switching to a low fat-diet do no experience the cholesterol lowering they expect unless they also remove the low-fat animal products as well. Surprising to most people is that yes, even low-fat dairy and skinless white-meat chicken raise cholesterol. I see this regularly in my practice. Many individuals do not see the dramatic drop in cholesterol levels unless they go all the way by cutting all animal proteins from their diet.

According to Dr. Fuhrman white meats are no savior either:

Red met is not the only problem. The consumption of chicken and fish is also linked to colon cancer. A large recent study examined the eating habits of 32,000 adults for six years and then watched the incidence of cancer for these subjects over the next six years. Those who avoided red meat but at white meat regularly had a more than 300 percent increase in colon cancer incidence. The same study showed that eating beans, peas, or lentils, at least twice a week was associated with a 50 percent lower risk than never eating these foods.

Chicken has about the same amount of cholesterol as beef, and the production of those potent cancer-causing compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are even more concentrated in grilled chicken than in beef. Another recent study from New Zealand that investigated heterocyclic amines in meat, fish, and chicken found the greatest contributor of HCAs to cancer risk was chicken. Likewise, studies indicated that chicken is almost as dangerous as red meat for the heart. Regarding cholesterol, there is no advantage to eating lean white instead of lean red meat.

The correlation between disease and consumption of animal products seems very clear. Even newer research warns of heighten stomach cancer risk associated with eating processed meats, like sausage, smoked ham, and bacon. Reuters reports:

A review of 15 studies showed the risk of developing stomach cancer rose by 15 to 38 percent if consumption of processed meats increased by 30 grams (1 ounce) per day, the Karolinska Institute said in a statement.

These foods possess cancer-causing additives outside of meat's normal cancer-causing agents:

The institute said processed meats were often salted or smoked, or had nitrates added to them, in order to extend their shelf-life which could be connected to the increased risk of stomach cancer, the fourth most common type of cancer.

If this information spooked you, you might want to consider Dr. Fuhrman's advice, "The best bet for overall health is significantly limit or eliminated all types of meat - red and white."

http://www.diseaseproof.com/

Image Sources: http://www.nactrading.com/

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Parallels

Global Warming, Environment, Hunger, Vegetarian Diet

By Gretchen Primack

Global warming, we say, shaking our heads, and bite into a hamburger. World hunger, we sigh, grabbing another slice of pizza. What's wrong with this picture?

The fact is that there's nothing so pervasively damaging to our environment - and to world hunger - than eating animal products. And until we connect the dots and change our habits, the problems will continue and worsen on many levels. It's up to all of us to start making a difference right from our own refrigerators.

The U.N.'s recent report on livestock and the environment could hardly be more sobering: 'The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global,' it declares. From pollution to water and land degradation, the predator is clear.

Take global warming. We're used to blaming automobiles and factories for the greenhouse gases that are leading to alarming climate change, and well we should. But the fact is, as the U.N. report notes, almost a fifth of those deadly emissions come from livestock - which, as Kathy Freston points out in a recent article, Vegetarian Is The New Prius, is more emissions 'than all the world's transportation combined'!

Related Environmental Issues

The amount of land used to grow crops to feed livestock is 10 times we need to grow crops for human consumption. As a result, land is in great demand, leading to the decimation of enormous swaths of rainforest and other wilderness. In fact, 70% of former Amazon rainforest is now used for pastureland. This is not only heartbreaking for the endangerment and extinction of countless species, it also means that the world's necessary oxygen filter is being destroyed, further jeopardizing our air quality. And the burning of these forests means the expulsion of all the toxins and carbon dioxide they'd filtered, a terrible blow to our atmosphere.

At the same time, the runoff from factory farms has meant the degradation of water sources. Considering that scientists are alarmed at our water use and what it portends for future generations, the fact that factory farms account for the bulk of the water used in this country and then degrade remaining sources is certainly food for thought - no pun intended.

The energy used to keep us in cutlets is appalling. If you consider the feeding, housing, transporting, and slaughtering of animals, and then the packing and transporting of the flesh and products themselves, you're looking at a tremendous expense and degradation of natural resources. Hence Freston's note that 'Producing a calorie of meat protein means burning more than ten times as much fossil fuels - and spewing more than ten times as much heat-trapping carbon dioxide - as does a calorie of plant protein.'

Solving World Hunger Right Now

Issues of 'low food security' abound all over the world, including the U.S. But we have the power to make sure that every person on the planet is fed right now, as long as we trade in our hot dogs for veggie dogs. We need to bring our fields back to plant sources meant for humans, not livestock. These days, it's absurdly easy.

From fake chicken nuggets, hamburgers, cold cuts, sausages, even bratwurst, to Earth Balance buttery spread, to delicious soy, rice, oat, and almond milks, eating an animal-free diet is a pleasure. Cookbooks, websites, and organizations abound. Your local mainstream supermarkets have healthy food sections that will make your next 'meatball' sub more delicious than your last - without the health, environmental, and moral implications involved. And health food stores and websites can give you even more variety and ideas on how to eat a tasty, satisfying diet that is kind to you and your planet.

Next time you pat yourself on the back for buying energy-efficient light bulbs or recycled paper products, don't stop there. Make that next pot of chili vegetarian, and order the pasta marinara or primavera at your favorite Italian restaurant. You'll do more for the environment than you would driving a Prius to the restaurant.

About The Author: Gretchen Primack has been vegetarian since age 13. Her house is full of energy-efficient light bulbs, recycled paper products, and delicious vegetarian food! She teaches at Bard College (on campus and through the Bard Prison Initiative) and SUNY-Ulster, and serves on the board of Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

http://www.cnn.com/

Image Sources: http://newsbusters.org/;

What is Aromatherapy?

by Jenny Regeling

Essential Oils of Siberian Cedar
Ringing Cedars of Russia Brand

Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.

Essential oils, the pure essence of a plant, have been found to provide both psychological and physical benefits when used correctly and safely. The Essential Oil Profiles area details over 90 essential oils. Absolutes, CO2s and Hydrosols are also commonly utilized in aromatherapy. Although essential oils, CO2 extracts and absolutes are distilled in different manners, the term essential oil is sometimes used in writing as a blanket term to include CO2s and absolutes.

In addition to essential oils, aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients including cold pressed vegetable oils, jojoba (a liquid wax), hydrosols, herbs, milk powders, sea salts, sugars (an exfoliant), clays and muds.

Products that include synthetic ingredients are frowned upon in holistic aromatherapy. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils (and usually listed as "fragrance" on an ingredient label) are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

Buyer Beware: The United States does not regulate the use of the word aromatherapy" on product packaging, labeling or in product advertising, so any product can be marketed as a product suitable for aromatherapy. There are quite a few products on the market that contain unnatural ingredients including fragrance oils and claim to be aromatherapeutic. It's important to look at the ingredient label when seeking true aromatherapy products.

Also, use caution with marketing claims that state a product is "Made With Essential Oils" or "Made With Natural Ingredients." Claims like these do not state that the product is only made with the ingredient(s) specified. Such products may contain heavy proportions of synthetic fragrance oils and only contain a minute quantity of essential oil to simply be able to profess the "Made With Essential Oils" claim.

Don't let false marketing hype scare you away from the benefits of holistic aromatherapy. By exploring AromaWeb and other aromatherapy resources, you can learn how to safely use just a few essential oils and start gaining the benefits of aromatherapy. If you realize you hold an even deeper interest, you can learn to make your own products and control the exact ingredients included in your own personal aromatherapy products.

The Benefit of an Aroma ~ Inhaling Essential Oils

Essential oils that are inhaled into the lungs offer both psychological and physical benefits. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but when inhaled into the lungs, the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) can supply therapeutic benefit. Diffusing eucalyptus essential oil to help ease congestion is a prominent example.

If not done correctly and safely, however, the use of essential oils can have severe consequences.

The Benefit of Physical Application

Essential oils that are applied to the skin can be absorbed into the bloodstream. The constituents of essential oils can aid in health, beauty and hygiene conditions. Since essential oils are so powerful and concentrated, they should never be applied to the skin in their undiluted form. To apply essential oils to the skin, essential oils are typically diluted into a carrier such as a cold pressed vegetable oil, also known as a carrier oil. Common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and grapeseed oil. A more detailed definition of Carrier Oils is found on the What are Carrier Oils page. A detailed list of carrier oils and their properties can be found on the Carrier Oils Used in Aromatherapy properties page.

Other Benefits

In addition to therapeutic benefit at the emotional and physical level, essential oils are helpful in other applications. Essential oils can be used in household and laundry cleaners. Some oils act as a natural insect repellent and pesticide. You may recall using citronella candles during the summer to keep mosquitoes away. Citronella essential oil is the ingredient in the candles that is responsible for repelling the mosquitos. Visit the Essential Oil Uses page for additional information on ways that you can use essential oils.

Essential Oil Blends

Essential oils can be blended together to create appealing and complex aromas. Essential oils can also be blended for a specific therapeutic application. Essential oils that are carefully blended with a specific therapeutic purpose in mind may be referred to as an essential oil syngery. A synergistic essential oil blend is considered to be greater in total action than each oil working independently. AromaWeb's Recipes area offers a variety of recipes and synergies.

About Aromatherapy Products

Not all ready-made aromatherapy products labeled with the word "aromatherapy" are pure and natural. Products that contain artificial ingredients do not provide true aromatherapy benefits. At worst, they provide no benefit or be harmful. At best, they provide only a fraction of the benefit that natural products supply. Buyers seeking true aromatherapy products must look at the ingredient label to ensure that the product does not contain fragrance oils or unpure (chemical) components. A general rule-of-thumb is to be wary of products that do not list their ingredients and those that do not boast of having pure essential oils (look for products that contain pure essential oils on their ingredient list and avoid those that have words like fragrance). A note, however, is that some sellers of good-quality aromatherapy blends do not list their ingredients because they are worried that others may copy their creation. By asking the seller more about the blend, and listening to how they respond, you should have a better idea about the quality of the blend being sold. Good suppliers should be happy to provide you with a list of the ingredients. They understand that some individuals must avoid particular oils due to health problems.

http://www.articlesbase.com/
Image source - http://a.abcnews.com/

Simple Change Could Reduce Obesity in U.S. by 20 Percent

by Dr. Mercola

Dr. Joseph Mercola

According to a new study, a ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent. In addition, the study reports that eliminating the tax deductibility of television advertising would also result in a reduction of childhood obesity.

The study's authors found that a ban on fast food television advertisements during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3-11 by 18 percent, and would lower the number of overweight adolescents ages 12-18 by 14 percent.

Should the U.S. pursue this path, they would be following Sweden, Norway and Finland, which are thus far the only countries to have banned commercial sponsorship of children's programs.

Research indicates that there is an 80 percent chance an overweight adolescent will be an obese adult. Over 300,000 deaths can be attributed to obesity and weight in the United States every year.

Sources:

Science Daily November 19, 2008
The Journal of Law & Economics November, 2008

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Did you know that each week, the typical American child takes in some 38 hours (yes, a full work week) of commercial media, with its endless ads and deceptions?

Corporate advertisers are continuously wedging themselves in between you and your children. They enlist the best psychologists and market researchers money can buy to lure your kids to products and values you may not approve of and even abhor.

On their own, most parents are ill equipped to contend with the nation's largest corporations and their weapons of mass childhood seduction.

And for kids, their role as "consumer superstars" has led to an epidemic of marketing-related diseases. American kids are fatter than ever, and rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes are soaring.

Could Banning Junk Food Ads During Kids' TV Programs Make a Difference?

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 25 years. About 30 percent of U.S. children are now overweight, and, childhood diabetes has increased 10-fold in the last 20 years.

There are many established reasons for this sharp decline in the health of our youth, but little research has been done to determine just how big a role television advertising plays.

This study, the largest of its kind, measured the number of hours of fast food messages were viewed by children on a weekly basis, and was able to directly tie childhood obesity to fast food advertising on American television.

They concluded that banning fast food TV ads during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages:

  • 3-11 by 18 percent
  • 12-18 by 14 percent

I believe this relatively minor change in advertising habits actually could make a noticeable dent in the current obesity epidemic plaguing our children.

But curtailing childhood obesity rates would require more than simply banning junk food ads during children's programming. Perhaps even more important than limiting ads would be to limit TV viewing altogether.

How Many Hours Does Your Child Spend Watching TV, and What Does it REALLY Do to Their Health?

An astonishing 90 percent of American children under age 2, and as much as 40 percent of babies under 3 months old, watch TV regularly.

And, while much of the debate focuses on advertising messages and violent or sexually explicit programming, and their impact on young minds, TV may be harmful no matter what your kids are watching.

More than half of American children have a television in their bedroom; one study put the number at 70 percent. Meanwhile, a growing body of research shows strong links between a TV in the bedroom and numerous health and educational problems, including:

  • Lower scores on school tests
  • Sleep problems
  • Increased risk of smoking, and
  • Obesity

Of course, if your child has a TV in their bedroom, they are far more likely to watch more TV, and be exposed to more advertising. One study, published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, found that having a TV in the bedroom increased viewing time by nearly nine hours a week!

All of this time spent watching TV and/or playing video games, equates to a direct reduction of the time spent outdoors, pursuing more active forms of leisure, which naturally has a detrimental effect on your child's weight and overall health.

When researchers put monitoring devices on the televisions to reduce the children's viewing time by half (by not allowing the TV to turn on once the quota was reached), they found that:

-Relative body mass index dropped
-Children snacked less, consuming more than 100 calories less per day

So yes, fast food advertising is most certainly a culprit in this battle, but it's not the only one.

Obesity is Only One of the 15 Side Effects of Watching TV

Numerous other studies have also found links between health and mental problems and TVs. One researcher, Dr. Sigman, has identified no less than 15 negative effects he believes can be blamed on watching television:

1. Obesity
2. Trouble healing
3. Heart trouble
4. Decreased metabolism
5. Eyesight damage
6. Alzheimer's disease
7. Decreased attention span
8. Hormone disturbances
9. Cancer
10. Early puberty
11. Autism
12. Sleep difficulties
13. Increased appetite
14. Limited brain growth
15. Diabetes

Watching TV also has a major impact on your brain chemistry. In fact, the longer you watch, the easier your brain slips into a receptive, passive mode, meaning that messages are streamed into your brain without any participation from you.

This is an advertiser's dream, and likely one of the reasons why advertising directed at children and teens works so well.

How Can You Take Back Control Of Your Child's Health?

I think it's important to remember that, in the end, you as a parent are not entirely powerless. Your children will, and do, follow your example. This is why it's so important to foster a healthy lifestyle that includes the entire family, and to take the time to discuss your knowledge with your children.

When a toddler recognizes the golden arches of McDonald's before they can speak in full sentences, you can't blame it all on advertising, even though that plays a role...

I have four powerful recommendations for you and your child to follow that can have a dramatic impact on your mind and body:

    1. Increase exercise!

    2. Eliminate soda. Children can easily dramatically cut down on the amount of sugar they consume by cutting out soft drinks and juice, and ONLY drinking water. Remember, each daily soda increases your obesity risk by 60 percent!

    3. Limit or eliminate TV time. TV is one of the most pernicious influences on a child and I couldn't recommend stopping it more strongly. Not only will cutting out TV time increase their activity level, and promote more intellectual pursuits, but it will also dramatically reduce their exposure to commercials promoting worthless foods.

    4. Teach your child healthy shopping habits during your weekly food shopping. Remember, the unhealthiest foods in your local supermarket are located in the isles, so shopping for most of your groceries around the perimeter can be a great way to ease into healthier shopping habits, until you're ready to pursue a mostly organic lifestyle and purchasing most of your foods from local, organic farmers.

http://articles.mercola.com/

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How Television Affects Your Brain Chemistry

Edible Forest Gardens: an Invitation to Adventure

Excerpted from the forthcoming book Edible Forest Gardens: A Delicious and Practical Ecology
Copyright © 2002, David Jacke with Eric Toensmeier

Mid-Succession Ecological Analogs: old fields usually contain diverse, highly productive species. We can mimic such ecosystems by including existing useful species and by substituting useful species with similar niches in the place of less useful species. The same principle applies to every stage of succession. Survey your existing flora, find out what you can use, and figure out what you can substitute that has more direct human uses. The Ecological Analog process is one of the more direct ways to design forest gardens like the ecosystem we want to model.

Picture yourself in a forest where almost everything around you is food. Mature and maturing fruit and nut trees form an open canopy, and if you look carefully you can see fruits swelling on many branches - pears, apples, persimmons, pecans, chestnuts. The shrubs that fill the gaps in the canopy bear raspberries, blueberries, currants, hazelnuts and other lesser known fruits, flowers and nuts at different times of the year. A diverse assemblage of native wildflowers, wild edibles, herbs, and perennial vegetables thickly covers the ground. You use many of these plants for food or medicine, while others attract beneficial insects, birds and butterflies, act as soil builders or simply help keep out weeds. Here and there vines climb on trees, shrubs or arbors with fruit hanging through the foliage - hardy kiwis, grapes, and passionflower fruits. In sunnier glades large stands of Jerusalem artichokes grow together with groundnut vines. These plants support one another as they store energy in their roots for later harvest and winter storage, their bright yellow and deep violet flowers enjoying the radiant warmth from the sky.

What Is an Edible Forest Garden?

An edible forest garden is a perennial polyculture of multi-purpose plants - many species growing together (a polyculture), most plants re-growing every year without needing to be re-planted (perennials), each plant contributing to the success of the whole by fulfilling many functions. In other words, an edible ecosystem: a consciously designed community of mutually beneficial plants and animals intended for human food production. Edible forest gardens can provide more than just a wide variety of foodstuffs; the seven F's apply here: food, fuel, fiber, fodder (food for animals), fertilizer and "farmaceuticals", as well as fun. A beautiful, lush environment is either a conscious focus of the garden design, or a side-benefit one enjoys.

The forest garden mimics forest ecosystems, those naturally occurring perennial polycultures originally found throughout the humid climates of the world. In much of North America, your garden would soon begin to revert to forest if you were to stop tilling and weeding it. Annual and perennial weeds would first colonize the bare soil. In a few years, shrubs would follow the weeds as the dominant plants. Finally, the pioneer trees would move in, and a forest would be born. It can take many decades for this process, called succession, to result in a mature forest.

We humans work hard to hold back succession - mowing, weeding, plowing, spraying. If the successional process were the wind, we would be constantly motoring against it. Why not put up a sail and glide along with the land's natural tendency to become forest? Edible forest gardening is about expanding the horizons of our food gardening across the full range of the successional sequence, from field to forest, and everything in between.

A Sampling of Edible Forest Garden Plants

Perennial Herbs
Onions


Wild Cabbage
Sea Kale
Turkish Rocket
Nettles
Wood Nettle
Sweet Cicely

Mountain Sorrel
Sorrel
Good King Henry

Vines
Hardy Kiwis

Passionflower

Trees
Walnuts
Hickories
Chestnuts
Mulberries
Persimmons
Nut Pines


Pawpaw

Shrubs
American Plum
Chickasaw Plum
Saskatoon
Hazelnuts
Currants

Easy to Grow Fungi
Shiitake
Kuritake
Shaggy Mane
Reishi
King Stropharia


Allium cernuum
A. tricoccum
A. cepa, etc.
Brassica oleracea
Crambe maritima
Bunias orientalis
Urtica dioica
Laportea candensis
Myrrhis odorata

Oxyria digyna
Rumex scutatus
Chenopodium
bonushenricus

Actinidia argua,
Maypop, A. kolomikta
Passiflora incarnata


Juglans species
Carya species
Castanea spp. & hybrids
Morus alba, M. rubra
Persimmons
Diospyros virginiana, D. kaki,
Pinus edulis, P. cembra,
P. pumila. P. flexilis,
Asimina triloba


Prunus americana
Prunus angustifolia
Amelanchier alnifolia
Corylus species
Ribes species


Lentinula edodes
Hypholoma sublateritum
Coprinus comatus
Ganoderma species
Stropharia rugoso-annulata


Delicious greens, bulbs, pest control,
some quite shade tolerant.

Perennial kale, tree collards, per.broccoli
Blanched shoots, delicious flower buds.
Custardy leaves, shade tolerant.
Spring greens, nutrient accumulator.
Native, spring greens, shade, also stings!
Sweet, anisey foliage, flowers, seeds, shade
tolerant, attracts beneficial insects.
Good flavor, native, sun or shade. Buckler-leaved
Tasty, good clumping groundcover.
Spinach flavor leaves, asparagus-like shoots,
shade tolerant.

High vitamin C fruit, woody.

Great flowers, tasty fruit, herbaceous.


Nuts, timber.
Nuts, timber.
Nuts, timber.
Fruit, coppice.
Fruit.
Nuts, windbreaks.


Highly nutritious fruit, part-shade.


Fruit, thicket-forming.
Fruit, thicket-forming.
Fruit, comm. varieties available.
Nuts, thicket-forming, some trees.
Fruit, can fruit in part-shade.


Oak log dwelling, tasty, medicinal.
Logs, sawdust, stumps, tasty, native.
Hardwood chips (mulch), tasty, native.
Stumps, logs, native, tasty, medicinal.
Hardwood chips, straw, soil, compost,
mulch, tasty, native.

Besides the direct human uses, it is critical to design the forest garden for self-renewing self-fertilizing self-maintenance. Most plants used in forest gardens are self-renewing perennials or self-sowing annuals. Continuously mulched and otherwise undisturbed soil allows a healthy and diverse soil community to develop. Including plants that can fix nitrogen, accumulate subsurface soil minerals, act as a source of mulch, or a combination of these functions also improves soil fertility. Some species provide food or habitat for insectivorous birds, or predatory and parasitic insects that devour pests, reducing and at least potentially eliminating the need for pest and disease management work. Selecting and locating plants based on their suitability for the site's soil conditions and microclimate, the amount of labor they require, their ecological roles and their ultimate size helps reduce the amount of maintenance they need and increase their yield. By mimicking the way nature does her work, we can reduce the work we do to get our sustenance to mulching, some pruning, occasional weeding, and minimal pest and disease management depending on the crops you grow. Oh, and then there's the harvesting!

Essentially, edible forest gardening is the art and science of putting plants together in woodland-like patterns that forge mutually beneficial relationships, creating a food production system that is more than the sum of its parts. The idea is that by growing fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and other useful plants and animals in a way that mimics natural forest ecosystems you can create a beautiful, diverse, high yield system that is largely self-maintained.

Gardening LIKE the Forest vs. Gardening IN the Forest

There are many ways to garden IN the forest. These include the restoration of natural woodlands, ecological forestry, agroforestry, and the creation of primarily aesthetic woodland gardens. These and other forms of gardening IN the forest are not what we are talking about. Edible forest gardening is not necessarily gardening IN the forest. It is gardening LIKE the forest.

Gardening LIKE the forest involves forming a deep understanding of the dynamics, patterns and principles that govern the structure and function of healthy, naturally occurring forest ecosystems. We then adapt this knowledge to mimic the structures and functions that meet our needs and help the garden ecosystem to meet its own. We use the forest as a design metaphor, a model of structure and function, while we adapt the design to focus on meeting human needs in a small space. We then participate in the evolution of an ecosystem in our back yards that can teach us about ecology and ourselves as we eat our way through it.

While you can transform an existing piece of woodland into an edible forest garden and have it work well, we don't necessarily recommend it. In many ways it's better to start from scratch in an area currently free of trees. That way you can improve soil conditions before planting, and then create a canopy of highly productive plants where all the sun is, with additional bonus yields from the lower, shadier layers. When you use existing woods, the opportunities for high total system yields decrease unless you kill trees first or happen to be lucky enough to have persimmons, walnuts, hickories or other crop trees in the canopy already.

The most well-known aspect of mimicry in forest gardening is the creation of multiple layers of vegetation in the garden similar to the layers of vegetation in healthy forests. However, vegetation layers are only one of the five physical architectural elements we must work with to create a forest garden. We must also understand the functions, and mimic the structures, of the soil horizons and the density, patterning and diversity of forest vegetation. For example, ecological research has shown that natural ecosystems exhibiting what we call "lumpy texture" tend to have larger and more diverse bird populations and higher levels of predatory insects in the canopy. When we create orchards with the trees evenly spaced, all the same size, age and species, with no shrubs, and a monotonous understory, we create smooth split pea soup texture. This reduces predator diversity and abundance, increases our work load, and pushes us towards chemical controls of one kind or another.

In addition to physical architecture, ecosystems exhibit "social structure" and structures of change through time (AKA successional patterns). These also offer opportunities for reduced maintenance and increased yields if we pay attention and design well. Social structure includes the design and husbanding of the food webs both above and below ground, as well as associations of plants and animals called guilds that partition resources and create webs of cooperation and interdependence. The increasingly sophisticated science of soil food webs is demonstrating exciting results such as the near elimination of the need for fertilizer in some systems, and radical reductions in diseases and pests simply by supplying the resources and conditions necessary for all the elements of a healthy soil food web to thrive. Resource partitioning guilds in particular are essential to the design of high yield polycultures. When we understand the root patterns of different plant species, for example, we can mix and match associates that will use different parts of the soil profile. This allows us to pack individual plants closer together without increasing competition between them, while actually increasing the volume of soil resources the system as a whole uses. Such an arrangement has the highest chance of creating a polyculture that yields more per unit area than the same number of crop plants grown in monoculture.

What all of this means is that when we forest garden we design and garden not only with plants, but with insects, birds, microorganisms and all the other life forms with whom we share our home. We work and garden not as master and servants, but as co-participants in the play of life. The greater our understanding of our partners in this endeavor, the greater our ability to work consciously with them to create harmonious garden patterns. Basically, it comes down to this: don't plant trees, plant ecologies!

The Garden of Eden: It Sounds Great, But Is It Practical?

Eric and I like to think of edible forest gardening as recreating the Garden of Eden, and from the description at the beginning of this article, it sounds as if it is. Is such an abundant, low maintenance food garden really possible?

A Few Lessons From a Little History

Though ancient in many ways, the notion of edible forest gardening is relatively new to modern western culture and especially to the modern North American continent. The people of tropical Africa, Asia, and Latin America have a long tradition of using a multi-storied agriculture integrating trees, shrubs, livestock, and herbaceous crops. They grow fodder trees in pastures that provide windbreaks, livestock forage and shade. Some of these trees also improve the soil by fixing nitrogen from the air and putting it into the soil. Alley cropping systems combine rows of nitrogen-fixing and food trees with strips of annual crops like corn and potatoes. The multi-storied "food forest" systems used in many parts of the tropics mimic the rainforest, growing such crops as coconut, oil palms, bananas, coffee, pineapples and ginger. Village and home-scale tropical forest gardens have existed in Java since at least the 10th century, and comprise 15% to 50% of village cultivated lands.Forest gardens work in tropical climates, and have for a long time.
There is also strong evidence that similar systems were in place in cooler climates hundreds of years ago. For example, some species of temperate forest trees are able to sprout from the stump and regrow vigorously after being cut down. These stump sprouts, called coppice ("cop - iss"), are used as fuel, fiber, fodder or mulch, depending on the species. The coppice forestry systems of medieval Britain and other parts of Europe were the core of integrated systems of land use and building construction wherein logs, poles, saplings and brush were all used as structural materials. Coppice plots also provided critical habitat for wild game mammals and birds, as well as abundant semi-wild foods and medicinal plants that formed an essential part of the Medieval diet.

Several continuously coppiced "stools", or stumps, in Britain have been proven to be 500 to 800 years old, demonstrating that coppicing can dramatically prolong a tree's life span. These very stable, sustainable agroforestry systems existed for hundreds of years before declining and being almost totally lost during the industrial revolution. In addition, the more we learn about the culture and agriculture of the Indians of eastern North America, the more we understand the sophistication of their forest management strategies. Clearly, the record shows that forest garden-like systems have been viable and practical in temperate climates. Isn't it possible for us to do far better now if we put our hearts and minds to it?
A small but growing number of people in the cold climates of the world have been developing these ideas for the current era. J. Russell Smith's seminal 1950 work Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture first sparked interest in the potential of agroforestry in temperate as well as tropical and sub-tropical climates throughout the world. However, tropical countries and large scale tree crop systems received most of the resulting research attention.

Edible forest gardens have been slower to spread in North America. Few people have heard of the idea, so the examples are fewer and farther between - but they exist. Forest gardeners have planted in the maritime climate of coastal Washington state, at 7,000 feet in the cold, dry Colorado Rockies, in the hot, humid city of Greensboro, North Carolina, and in chilly southern New Hampshire, all with at least some success.

Forest gardens are viable in small urban yards and large parks, on suburban lots, or in a corner of a rural farm. We have seen examples ranging from a 2 acre rural research garden to a jungle of food plants on a quarter acre lot, to a heavily planted 30 X 50 foot embankment behind an urban housing project. Smaller versions are definitely possible: though it might stretch the word "forest" rather far, the same principles and ideas still apply. Despite the name "forest garden" it is best if your site has good sun, but, of course, if your land is shady and wooded you can use the ideas, information and plants of forest gardening.

http://www.nofa.org/

Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka is a farmer/philosopher who lives on the Island of Shikoku, in southern Japan. His farming technique requires no machines, no chemicals and very little weeding. He does not plow the soil or use prepared compost and yet the condition of the soil in his orchards and fields improve each year. His method creates no pollution and does not require fossil fuels. His method requires less labor than any other, yet the yields in his orchard and fields compare favorably with the most productive Japanese farms which use all the technical know-how of modern science.

How is this possible? I admit, when I first went to his farm in 1973 I was skeptical - but there was the proof. Beautiful grain crops in the fields, healthy orchard trees growing with a ground cover of vegetables, weeds and white clover. Over the two-year period I lived and worked there his techniques and philosophy gradually became clear to me.

Mollison and Fukuoka took entirely different routes to get to essentially the same place. Permaculture is a design system which aims to maximize the functional connection of its elements. It integrates raising crops and animals with careful water management. Homes and other structures are designed for maximum energy efficiency. Everything is made to work together and evolve over time to blend harmoniously into a complete and sustainable agricultural system.

The key word here is design. Permaculture is a consciously designed system. The designer carefully uses his/her knowledge, skill and sensitivity to make a plan, then implement it. Fukuoka created natural farming from a completely different perspective.

The idea for natural farming came to Fukuoka when he was about twenty-five years old. One morning, as he sat at sunrise on a bluff overlooking Yokohama Bay, a flash of inspiration occurred. He saw that nature was perfect just as it is. Problems arise when people try to improve upon nature and use nature strictly for human benefit. He tried to explain this understanding to others, but when they could not understand, he made a decision to return to his family farm. He decided to create a concrete example of his understanding by applying it to agriculture.

But where to begin? Fukuoka had no model to go by. "How about trying this? How about trying that? That is the usual way of developing agricultural technique. My way was different. How about not doing this? And, how about not doing that, this was the path I followed. Now my rice growing is simply sowing seed and spreading straw, but it has taken me more than thirty years to reach this simplicity."

The basic idea for his rice growing came to him one day when he happened to pass an old field which had been left unused and unplowed for many years. There he saw healthy rice seedlings sprouting through a tangle of grasses and weeds. From that time on he stopped sowing rice seed in the spring and, instead, put the seed out in the fall when it would naturally have fallen to the ground. Instead of plowing to get rid of weeds he learned to control them with a ground cover of white clover and a mulch of barley straw. Once he has tilted the balance slightly in favor of his crops Fukuoka interferes as little as possible with the plant and animal communities in his fields.

This is not to say that Fukuoka did not experiment. For example, he tried more than twenty different ground covers before noticing that white clover was the only one which held back weeds effectively. It also fixes nitrogen so it improves the soil. He tried spreading the straw neatly over the fields but found the rice seeds could not make their way through. In one corner of the field, however, where the straw had scattered every which way, the seedlings emerged. The next year he scattered the straw across the entire field. There were years when his experiments resulted in almost a total crop loss, but in small areas things worked out well. He closely observed what was different in that part of the field and next year the results were better. The point is, he had no preconceived idea of what would work the best. He tried many things and took the direction nature revealed. As far as possible, Fukuoka was trying to take the human intellect out of the decision making process.

His vegetable growing also reflects this idea. He grows vegetables in the spaces between the citrus trees in the orchard. Instead of deciding which vegetables would do well in which locations he mixes all the seeds together and scatters them everywhere. He lets the vegetables find their own location, often in areas he would have least have expected. The vegetables reseed themselves and move around the orchard from year to year. Vegetables grown this way are stronger and gradually revert to the form of their semi-wild ancestors.

I mentioned that Fukuoka's farm is a fine model of permaculture design. In Zone 1, nearest his home in the village, he and his family maintain a vegetable garden in the traditional Japanese style. Kitchen scraps are dug into the rows, crops are rotated, and chickens run freely. This garden is really an extension of the home living area.

Zone 2 is his grain fields. He grows a crop of rice and one of barley every year. Because he returns the straw to the fields and has the ground cover of white clover the soil actually each year. The natural balance of insects and healthy soil keep insect and disease infestations to a minimum. Until Bill Mollison read The One-Straw Revolution, he said he had no idea of how to include grain growing in his permaculture designs. All the agricultural models involved plowing the soil - a practice he does not agree with. Now he includes Fukuoka's no-tillage technique in his teaching.

Zone 3 is the orchard. The main tree crop is Mandarin oranges, but he also grows many other fruit trees and native shrubs. The upper story is tall trees, many of which fix nitrogen and so improve the soil deep down. The middle story is the citrus and other fruit trees. The ground is covered with a riotous mixture of weeds, vegetables, herbs and white clover. Chickens run freely. This multi-tiered orchard area came about through a natural evolution rather than conscious design. It still contains many of the basic permacultural design features. It has many different plant species, maximizes surface area, contains solar sunlight traps and maintains a natural balance of insect populations.

Fukuoka invites visitors from Zone 4 anytime. Wild animals and birds come and go freely. The surrounding forest is the source of mushrooms, wild herbs and vegetables. It is also an inspiration. "To get an idea of the perfection and abundance of nature," Fukuoka says, "take a walk into the forest sometime. There, the animals, tall trees and shrubs are living together in harmony. All of this came about without benefit of human ingenuity or intervention."

What is remarkable is that Fukuoka's natural farming and permaculture should resemble each other so closely despite their nearly opposite approaches. Permaculture relies on the human intellect to devise a strategy to live abundantly and sustainably within nature. Fukuoka sees the human intellect as the culprit, serving only to separate people from nature. One mountain top, many paths.

Natural farming and permaculture share a profound debt to each other. The many examples of permaculture throughout the world show that a natural farming system is truly universal. It can be applied to arid climates as well as humid, temperate Japan. Also, the worldwide permaculture movement is an inspiration to Fukuoka. For many years he worked virtually alone. For most of his life Japan was not receptive to his message. He had to self-publish his books because no publisher would take a chance on someone so far from the mainstream. When his experiments resulted in failure, the other villagers ridiculed him. In the mid-1980's he came to a Permaculture Convergence in Olympia, Washington and met Bill Mollison. There were nearly one thousand people there. He was overwhelmed and heartened by the number and sincerity of the like-thinking people he met. He thanked Mollison for creating this network of bright, energetic people working to help save the planet. "Now," he said, "for the first time in my life I have hope for the future."

In turn, permaculture has adopted many things from Fukuoka. Besides the many agricultural techniques, such as continuous no-tillage grain growing and growing vegetables like wild plants, permaculture has also learned an important new approach for devising practical strategies. Most importantly, the philosophy of natural farming has given permaculture a truly spiritual basis lacking in its earlier teachings.

Fukuoka believes that natural farming proceeds from the spiritual health of the individual. He considers the healing of the land and the purification of the human spirit to be one process, and he proposes a way of life and a way of farming in which this process can take place. "Natural farming is not just for growing crops," he says, "it is for the cultivation and perfection of human beings."

http://www.permaculture.com/

Text and images copyright 2003, Larry Korn.

Watch Video:

Bullock Brothers Homestead - A 25-Year Permaculture Project

Poured Earth

Typical Poured Earth Home

Poured earth is similar to ordinary concrete, in that it is mixed and formed like concrete and uses Portland cement as a binder. The main difference is that instead of the sand/gravel used as an aggregate in concrete, poured earth uses ordinary soil (although this soil needs to meet certain specifications) and generally uses less Portland cement. Poured earth could be considered a "moderate strength concrete." Little to no maintenance is required of poured earth walls, since they have a high resistance to the deteriorating effects of water and sun.

Ideal soil is basically low in clay (something ranging between silt to 3/8 inch aggregate). Poured earth materials need to meet certifiable engineering standards; appropriate testing needs to be done to assure a quality product. Testing should be done to determine shrinkage and compressive strength in order to make sure that the mix has very little, to no, shrinkage and has a compressive strength of 800-1200 psi. On-site soil can be ammended with off-site materials so that they meet appropriate strength and durability standards. When natural or synthetic flyash and lime is added to the poured earth mixture, the amount of Portland cement required can be reduced by up to 50%. Magnesium oxide can also be used to help further reduce the use of Portland cement.

Since poured earth is similar to concrete, local suppliers can provide the product which can then be pumped using traditional concrete pump trucks. Standard concrete forms can be used in preparation for the pour.

It is possible to incorporate rigid insulation within a poured earth wall, so that there is a thermal break between the exterior and the interior, thus allowing the interior portion of the wall to serve as appropriate thermal mass for the building.

Generally, poured earth walls increase the overall cost of construction by 10% - 20%, mainly because of the custom nature of the process. When more homes are built, then the economy of scale should make this method competitive with traditional building.

Michael Frerking's website (Living Systems Sustainable Architecture) has much more information about Poured Earth.

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/

Poured Earth Questions and Answers

Michael Frerking began Living Systems Sustainable Architecture (LSSA) 33 years ago after experiencing the devastation caused by clear cutting in the Pacific northwest. Dedicated from the beginning to the practice of energy and resource efficiency and earth construction, Michael became one of the first architects in the southwest to promote sustainable architecture featuring the beauty of high mass earthen walls for passive solar and earth friendly products for a healthy and resource efficient home. Although beginning with adobe and rammed earth, Michael began to chart a new course in 1995 when he pioneered a unique technology - poured earth - which allowed him simultaneously to reduce the time and cost of labor while raising both strength and insulation values for earthen buildings. Today, Michael's goals are four-fold: first, to design "zero-load," high mass buildings that actually produce excess energy and water as well as reduce CO2 production; second, to make available to the middle market elegantly designed sustainable earthen homes; third, to create buildings made to last for generations but at the end of their life can be regenerated or recycled; and, fourth, to make use of local and regional renewable resources.

Ingredients of Poured Earth

Q: Can I use on-site material for my poured earth walls?

A: Yes, if on-site materials are basically low in clay (something ranging between silt to 3/8 inch aggregate). Many times we amend a site soil with off-site materials so that they meet appropriate strength and durability standards.

Q: Can I mix Portland cement with any site material and expect a strong and durable wall?

A: Probably not. Poured earth materials need to meet certifiable engineering standards. Appropriate testing needs to be done to assure a quality product Depend on testing, not luck, for a quality mix.

Q: Why use Portland Cement rather than gypsum?

A: Portland cement is water stable and gypsum is not. Therefore, while gypsum's strength will remain relatively stable in very dry environments, it's strength drops off significantly in climate where there is rain. In contrast, Portland cement becomes stronger in wet climates and is not affected by dryness.

Q: Are there other alternatives to Portland cement and gypsum?

A: Cement can be created with mixtures of flyash and lime. Also, magnesium oxide is a promising, although presently expensive, alternative.

Q: Is this an earth-friendly product if it uses Portland cement?

A: Portland cement does contribute 6-8% toward global warming (embodied energy use). However, when natural or synthetic flyash is added to the poured earth mixture, the amount of portland cement required can be reduced up to 50%. Magnesium oxide can also be used to help further reduce the use of Portland cement.

Q: My intention is to make roads from calcined gypsum, earth, road aggregates and granulated slag from iron-making and ferro chrome production. These materials are available in plenty. Please help us to know if roads can be made from such raw materials which can withstand the running of bullock carts and light vehicles. We can understand it is difficult for people in advanced countries to know about roads in villages of India.

A: I do not work with calcined gypsum but portland cement, flyash and lime as the primary binder. Calcined gypsum is moisture sensitive as it's strength drops off substantially as moisture content increases.

Q: I made an experiment for myself, the results of which I want to share with you. I made a piece of dirt mixed with gypsum in 1:5.5 ratio, which is told on cast earth website. It creates a good strong enough substance, which is good enough probably for building of one story building or making partitions inside of the building. But when exposed to water, it gets eroded very fast. So it doesn't seem to me practical to use it in construction, unless in some areas, where there are no rains at all, but this is utopia.

You probably heard about perma-zyme, which is used for soil stabilization and in road construction. Some people use it for making bricks and blocks. It makes them waterproof and according to some reports even bulletproof. Regardless the price of this product, what do you think about all this? How safe is this technology from the ecologic point of view? Are those houses healthy for people living in them? Is it going to work if poured into forms like concrete without compacting it?

A: (Kelly) I have heard about similar products over the years, and have often wondered how well they would work for stabilizing earthen buildings, but have never experimented with anything. The perma-zyme that you reference does appear to be quite safe to use, according to their website: http://www.globalzyme.com/perma-zyme.htm. They say you can even store drinking water in ponds that are waterproofed with it.You might give it a try.

Forming and Pouring

Q: Who can supply poured earth?

A: Since poured earth is a "next door neighbor" to concrete, local suppliers can provide the product which can then be pumped using traditional concrete pump trucks.

Q: I am very interested in the concept of natural building and especially in poured earth. Do you have a list of builders in the area of New England that have experience in this technique? (I live in CT)

A: If you have a project and a competent general contractor interested in building poured earth homes in you area, I could consult on your project and it would provide on the job training for your contractor. A primary thing is to have available professional concrete forming sub-contractors that do architectural grade concrete walls and like the idea of doing and providing poured earth services.

Q: Please advise on the sort of concrete pump that has been used to construct poured earth. Any tips on mechanizing the process?

A: Any concrete pump works, small to large scale. This is a highly mechanized process. Try to work with a local concrete
redi-mix plant and pump people so you do not have to purchase equipment.

Cost of Poured Earth

Q: Do Poured Earth walls cost the same as wood frame?

A: Generally, poured earth walls increase the overall cost of construction by only 10% - 20%. However, it is important to keep in mind that frame walls have very low mass and, therefore, little ability to store heat or cooling. On the other hand, when you incorporate poured earth walls into your building project, you are also "purchasing" a large part of your heating and cooling system; one that will never break down, require maintenance, nor need to be replaced!

Q: Why does Poured Earth cost more initially?

A: Today, poured earth has been used in smaller projects like unique custom homes. Economy can only be achieved by building 20-50 homes at a time. Costs will then decrease by 10-20%.

Q: What about financing a Poured Earth home?

A: No problem. Poured earth in common terms is simply a "moderate strength concrete." Mortgage brokers and banks (as well as code officials) understand this terminology. It is important, however, to have your home certified by a structural engineer.

Q: What does it cost to certify a material?

A: The cost is generally about $1000-$2000. Testing must be done to determine shrinkage and compressive strength in order to make sure that the mix has very little, to no, shrinkage and has a compressive strength of 800-1200 psi. Accelerated weather testing is possible at an additional cost. Allow 2-3 months for testing.

Miscellaneous

Q: Is poured earth a patented or proprietary product?

A: No...the more that earth is used as a building product the better it will be for our environment! It is the goal of LSSA to make poured earth available to all who want to use it. However, it is important to do it right so as not to compromise your project. The best thing, presently, is to hire LSSA to develop the poured earth mix and to help coordinate the mixing, delivery and placing by local trades in your area. We also work on site to assure quality control for the forming and placement of the thermal break and the pouring of the walls. All of this takes place in a "training format" so that the material can be used again in your local area with little or no back up from us.

Q: What type of maintenance is necessary?

A: The answer is little to no maintenance as poured earth walls have a high resistance to the deteriorating effects of water and sun. So, enjoy some extra leisure time!

Q: How do I hang pictures and cabinets on a poured earth wall?

A: Pre-drill the wall and then use a concrete type screw which leaves a small, patchable hole. However, the color and texture variation usually visually masks any holes so little to no repair work is required.

Q: Building a small dam (2' high X 40'long) in remote and difficult to reach location.
1. Home method of testing local soil (ranges from sand to marsh muck) to determine which is best to use?
2. Any binder material (straw/grass/wood/fiber-glass) recommended?
3. Ideas on how to best work a small, wet area?
EX: Block water flow / dig out muck / pour soil cement for base / build up from that? (not sure if soil cement will set in wet ground).

A (Kelly): I would recommend that you consider using earthbags for this project. I once built a very effective dam about 6' high and 20' across using bags filled with the local soil (composition not important). It was about a yard wide at the bottom and then tapered up to about 1.5' at the top. Looking from above, it had a curved shape, with the convex side of the curve facing the water. It had strands of barbed wire running between the courses, and then was covered with 6 mil plastic sheeting to waterproof it...then lined with dry-stacked stones to protect the plastic.

C: Thanks - am using roofing tin backed by T-poles and earth for most of the dam (60' run measured today). Connections at the sand rock and dirt end is the major problem. I think some form of soil cement may be tie-end solution. Will let you know how it works out and send details. Need a good Roman engineer to let me know how they did it 2000 years ago!

Q: I am an architectural 3D rendering designer and have a project which depicts a poured earth wall which has 5 layers of color. I am looking for a good hi-res photo which I can use as a reference. Do you have anything available that you could send me?

A: Here is one:

http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/

GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

What is Earth Energy?

The sun has always provided heat for the earth. Its energy warms the earth directly, but also indirectly. Its heat evaporates water from the lakes and streams, which eventually falls back to earth and filters into the ground. A few metres of surface soil insulate the earth and ground water below. The warm earth and ground water below the surface provide a free, renewable source of energy for as long as the sun continues to shine. The earth under an average suburban residential lot can easily provide enough free energy to heat and cool the home built on it.

The free energy has only to be moved from the ground into your home. This is done by drawing ground water directly from a well and using a heat pump to extract heat from it. As well, a circuit of underground piping called a loop can be buried in the soil outside the home through which fluid - water or antifreeze - is pumped. The fluid, called the heat transfer fluid, absorbs the heat in the ground water or soil and transfers it to the heat pump. The heat absorbed by the fluid from the solar-heated ground is extracted from it by the heat pump, and the now-chilled fluid is circulated through a heat exchanger over and over again to extract more heat from the earth.

If your home is located near a suitable pond or lake, you can use an Earth Energy System (EES) to draw on this excellent source of free energy.
Burying a loop in the ground around your home is like owning your own oil well, but instead of pumping oil from an underground pool and burning it to create heat (and greenhouse gases), you tap into clean energy that will be there for as long as there is a sun.

A well-designed ground loop will not hurt the earth or plants growing above it. There is no visible part to show that it is buried in your yard. If your system uses ground water, it has no effect on the water other than changing its temperature by a few degrees. Finally, a welldesigned ground water system will not waste the water, but put it back into the ground by means
of a return well.

How Earth Energy Systems Work

The heat energy taken from the ground by your EES is considered low-grade heat. In other words, it is not warm enough to heat your home without being concentrated or upgraded somehow. However, there is plenty of it - the average temperature of the ground just a few metres below the surface is similar to (or even higher than) the average annual outdoor air temperature. For example, in Toronto, the average annual air temperature is about 8.9C, but the average ground temperature is 10.1C. It is important to note that this ground temperature is 10.1C on the hottest day of summer as well as on the coldest day of winter. That is why some of the first humans lived in caves - the caves would protect them from the temperature extremes of winter and summer. That is also why an EES works so efficiently - it uses a constant, relatively warm source (ground or water) from which to draw energy.

Basic Components of an EES

The figure on page 1 illustrates a typical EES. It is made up of three main parts: a loop, the heat pump and the distribution system. The following section describes some of the various loop designs, heat pumps and distribution systems commonly used in a Canadian EES.

The loop is built from plastic pipe which is buried in the ground outside your home either in a horizontal trench (horizontal loop) or through holes drilled in the earth (vertical loop). The loop may also be laid on the bottom of a nearby lake or pond (lake loop or pond loop). Your EES circulates liquid (the heat transfer fluid) through the loop and to the heat pump located inside the home. The heat pump chills the liquid and distributes the heat collected from it throughout the home. The chilled liquid is pumped back into the loop and, because it is colder than the ground, is able to draw more heat from the surrounding soil. These loops are often referred to collectively as a closed loop, as the same liquid circulates through the closed system over and over again.

Another way is to pump ground water or well water directly through the heat pump. An EES that uses ground water is often referred to as an open-loop system. The heat pump cools the well water, which is usually returned to the ground in a return well. To run an open-loop EES, you need two reliable wells with water that contains few dissolved minerals that can cause scale build-up or rust over the long term, as it is pumped through the heat pump's heat exchanger. In both cases, a pump circulates liquid through the loop and the heat pump. The heat pump chills (or collects the heat stored in) the liquid when it is being used as a source of heat, and circulates it back through the loop to pick up more heat. A system for a large home will require a larger heat pump and ground loop, with a circulation pump to match.

After the EES has taken the heat energy from the ground loop and upgraded it to a temperature usable in your home, it delivers the heat evenly to all parts of the building through a distribution system. It can use either air or water to move the heat from the heat pump into the home. Forced air is the most common distribution system in most parts of Canada, although a hot-water or hydronic system can also be used.

Forced-Air Systems

A heat pump in a forced-air EES uses a heat exchanger to take the heat energy from the refrigerant to heat the air that is blown over it. The air is directed through ducts to the different rooms in the home, as with any forced-air fossil fuel or electric furnace. The advantages of a forced-air EES are as follows:

- it can distribute fresh, outside air throughout the home;
- it can air-condition the home (by taking the heat from the air in your home and transferring it to the ground loop) as well as heat it; and
- it can filter the air in your home as it circulates through the system.

An EES is designed to raise the heat of the air flowing through the heat pump by between 10 and 15C; fossil fuel or electric furnaces are designed to raise it by 20 to 30C. That difference means an EES must move more air through the home to distribute the same amount of heat as a conventional furnace. So to design an efficient, quiet forced-air EES, the contractor designing the ductwork must take into account the larger amount of air to be moved. The ductwork should also have acoustic insulation installed inside the plenum and the first few metres of duct, as well as a flexible connection between the heat pump and the main duct to ensure quiet operation.

Hydronic (Hot-Water) Heating Systems

As we said earlier, a heat pump can heat either air or water. The latter type distributes the heat by means of a hydronic (or hot-water) heating system. If you choose it for your home, keep in mind that currently available heat pumps can heat water to no more than about 50C.

This limits your choices for equipment to distribute the heat to your home. Hot-water baseboard radiators are designed to operate with water heated to at least 65 to 70C; they are less effective when the water is not as warm. As a result, you will need larger radiators - or more of them - to distribute the same amount of heat. Or you can reduce the heat loss from your home by installing more insulation, so you need less heat.

You can also install radiant floor, or in-floor, heating systems. These are becoming more common because they can increase comfort and improve system efficiency. Again, you must make sure that your radiant floor heating system is designed to operate within the temperature capabilities of your EES.

The temperature difference between the ground loop and the hot water distribution system depends on the efficiency of the EES; the greater the difference, the less efficient the system. Typically, an EES will extract heat from the earth at about 0C. If a radiant floor heating system requires a temperature of 50C to heat your home, the heat pump will produce about 2.5 units of heat for every unit of electricity used to operate the system. If the system can be designed to operate with water at 40C, it will produce 3.1 units of heat for every unit of electricity used to operate it. In other words, it will be about 25 percent more efficient.

Think about it this way - if you have hot spring water tos heat your home, you do not need a heat pump. The hot spring is a totally free, 100 percentefficient source of energy. But if the temperature of the water from the well needs to be raised 5C to be high enough to heat your home, you need some additional energy. If it has to be raised 20C, you need even more energy. The greater the temperature difference, the greater the additional energy need.

If you are thinking of installing a radiant floor heating system in your home, you should tell the person designing it that you are planning to use an EES. Make sure you take the following factors into account:
- placing your floor pipe 20 cm (rather than 30 cm) apart reduces the water temperature required to heat your home by 4 to 5C and increases the efficiency of your EES by about 10 percent;
- laying your floor heating pipe in concrete or Gypcrete rather than using aluminum reflectiv plates with the pipe reduces the required temperature by 12 to 15C, increasing the efficiency of your EES by 25 to 30 percent;
- suspending pipe in the joist space under a floor means that you will need temperatures higher than what your EES can produce, unless the heat loss in the space is very low;
- placing insulation under a slab-on-grade floor or under a basement floor reduces heat loss to the ground below; and
- installing a control system that lowers the water temperature pumped through the floor as the outdoor temperature rises increases the efficiency of the EES. This type of control is commonly called an outdoor reset control.

Earth Energy
System Variations

Overview

EESs, by definition, use the earth as their energy source. As noted earlier, there are basically two ways to move energy from the ground and into your home - an open loop or well-water system, or a closed loop.

In a closed-loop system, a loop is buried in the earth around the home, or laid in a nearby lake or pond. Virtually all loops built today use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. This type of pipe was designed to be buried in the ground; it is also used for small natural gas pipelines or water lines. Joints are made by fusing or melting the pipe and fittings together, which makes a nearly leak-proof connection. Mechanical joints are not used in the ground. A loop made out of HDPE can last 50 years or more.

A mixture of antifreeze and water is circulated continuously through the loop and heat pump, transferring heat from or to the soil respectively, as heating or air conditioning is needed. In a closed-loop system, the fluid never comes in contact with the soil. It is sealed inside the loop and heat pump.

In an open-loop system, ground water is drawn up from a well and through the heat pump, then typically pumped back into a return well. New water is always being pumped through the system when it is in operation. It is called an open-loop system because the ground water is open to the environment.

Closed Loops

Closed loops can have many configurations. There are three basic types: vertical, horizontal and lake (or pond). The loop type and configuration most suitable for your home depend on the size of your property, your future plans for it, its soil, and even your contractor's excavation equipment. Most often, the loop configuration is selected on the basis of cost. If the loop is designed and installed properly, by taking into account the heating and cooling requirements of the home, one type of loop will operate with the same efficiency as another, and provide years of free, renewable energy.

Canadian Standards Association International (CSA) and the industry have developed standards for EES installation. In addition, most heat pump manufacturers have developed guidelines or proprietary software for their products to ensure that EESs using them are designed and installed correctly. Most provide training for contractors that install their equipment as well as technical support for their dealers. As a homeowner considering the installation of an EES, ask your contractor for proof of training, experience and competence of its staff in loop design and installation.

Horizontal Loops

As the name implies, these loops are buried horizontally, usually at a depth of about 2 to 2.5 m, although it can vary from 1.5 to 3 m or more. Usually trenches are excavated with a backhoe; a chain trencher can be used in some soil types. Fill can sometimes be used to cover a loop in a low-lying area of the property. The trench can be from 1 to 3 m wide. Four or even six pipes can be laid at the bottom of a wide trench, while some loop designs allow two layers of pipe to be stacked in a trench at different levels. Loop configurations may even use a "slinky" or coiled configuration that concentrates additional pipe in a trench. Many different configurations have been tested and approved. Make sure you ask your contractor for references. Contractors can often show you photographs of loops they have installed.

The area you need to install a horizontal loop depends on the heating and cooling loads of your home, the depth at which the loop is to be buried, the soil and how much moisture it contains, the climate, the efficiency of the heat pump and the configuration of the loop. The average 150-m2 home needs an area of between 300 and 700 m2. Your contractor will use computer software or loop design guidelines provided by the heat pump manufacturer to determine the size and configuration of your earth loop.

Vertical Loops

Vertical loops are made out of HDPE pipe, which is inserted into holes drilled in the soil. Typically, these boreholes are 15-100 m deep, and 10-12 cm around. Two lengths of pipe are fused into a "U-bend" (two 90° elbows) and inserted into the borehole. The size of pipe used for the loop varies, depending on the cost of drilling and the depth of the borehole; 32 mm pipe is common in some areas, 19 or 25 mm pipe in others. After the pipe has been placed in the borehole, it is filled with clay grout. Some contractors add sand, finely crushed stone or cement to the grout. This is to ensure good contact with the soil and prevent surface water from contaminating the ground water. CSA standards specify that the borehole around the pipe is to be filled by means of a tremie line, or a pipe inserted to the bottom of the borehole and retracted as it is filled with grout. This process is designed to eliminate air pockets around the pipe and ensure good contact with the soil.

The main advantage of a vertical loop is that it can be installed in a much smaller area than a horizontal loop. Four boreholes drilled in an area of 9 m2 - which fits easily into an average city backyard - can provide all the renewable energy you need to heat an average 150-m2 home.

The cost of installing a vertical loop can vary greatly, with soil conditions the single most important factor. Drilling into granite requires much heavier, more costly equipment, and is much more time-consuming than drilling into soft clay. It is even more time-consuming when the soil contains a mix of materials, such as layers of boulders, gravel and sand. The installation of a vertical loop in this type of soil is three to four times more costly than that of a horizontal one. In areas like southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, however, where glacial Lake Agassiz has left 15-50 m of soft clay deposits, a vertical loop can be installed for about the same cost as a horizontal one.

The depth of borehole needed for a vertical loop depends on the same factors that determine the land area required for a horizontal one. The land area needed for the vertical loop, however, depends on the depth to which the boreholes can be drilled cost-effectively. For example, if an EES requires 180 m of borehole in total, and is to be installed where bedrock is found at 20 m, it would usually be cheaper to drill nine boreholes to a depth of 20 m than three to a depth of 60 m. Nine boreholes would require an area of about 150 m2, and three, an area of about 60 m2.

Lake or Pond Loops

These types of loops can be installed very cost-effectively for a home located near a lake or pond. Many homes in northern Ontario, for example, are within metres of a lake that soaks up the sun's energy all summer. The water temperature at the bottom of an ice-covered lake is about 4 to 5C even during the coldest blizzard. And in the summer, the lake water can easily absorb the heat you are trying to expel to cool your home. All you need is a year-round minimum depth of 2-2.5 m of water in which the loop can be protected from wave action and ice pile-ups.

Unless you own the lake, however, you need permission from the provincial government, and in some cases from the Government of Canada, to install a lake loop. Some jurisdictions do not allow them. Destruction of fish spawning grounds, shoreline erosion, obstruction of traffic on navigable waters and potential damage to the environment concern several government departments. In some jurisdictions, enough lake loops have been installed that permission is simply a matter of filling out forms. Some EES contractors who specialize in lake loop installation handle all the permission paperwork for their clients.

In the Prairies, farm ponds are often excavated to provide water for irrigation or livestock. A 750- 1000-m2 pond with a constant depth of 2.5 m can do double duty as a clean source of energy. The oceans can also supply vast amounts of energy, but care must be taken to protect an ocean loop from tide and wave damage. Many homes on the West Coast already benefit from free, renewable ocean energy.

Open Loops

Open loops, or ground water EESs, take heat from well water that is pumped directly through the heat exchanger in a heat pump. The required flow of well water is determined by the capacity of your heat pump. In the coldest part of the winter, heating a typical 150-m2 new home takes 20 000-30 000 L of water per day, or a flow rate of 0.4-0.5 L per second (a typical backyard pool contains about 60 000-
70 000 L). A larger home will need proportionally more water. You need a reliable well to supply this volume of water. Typically, you will also need a second or return well to dispose of the water by pumping it back into the ground. Most provinces regulate the use of wells, and can advise you on the use of well water for EES applications. For example, you must take care to avoid affecting your neighbors' wells when pumping continuously. Regulations on the use of well water as a heat source for an EES vary with each province. You should contact the department with jurisdiction over ground water resources for the regulations in your province.

To ensure that the well is capable of supplying the water on a sustainable basis, and that the return well has the capacity to accept the water after it has circulated through the heat pump, you need to carry out a pump test on your wells. In some locations, the capacity of the aquifer is well known, and you can find out the capacity of your new well within a few hours. In other areas, it will be necessary to perform a test by measuring the drop in water levels at specified intervals while the well is pumped at a known rate for as long as 24 hours.

As well water circulates through the heat pump, corrosive water can damage the heat exchanger over time; additionally, water with a high mineral content can cause scale buildup. Most manufacturers can supply heat pumps made out of resistant materials like cupronickel or stainless steel that are more suitable for use in open-loop systems. Manufacturers will specify the quality of water that is acceptable for their equipment. Again, you may need to have your water tested to ensure it falls within the guidelines. The department that regulates the water resources in your province may be able to advise you on where the water can be tested.

Mechanical equipment lasts longer if it does not have to start and stop repeatedly. Well pumps are no exception. The contractor installing the well pump and pressure system must be told that it will be used to supply water for an EES. For efficient operation, the pump design and horsepower must be chosen to supply the correct amount of water. Bigger is not better. The water requirements for the system, the height the water is lifted from the well and the piping from the well to the house and to the return well must be taken into account. To prevent the well pump from short-cycling, you may need to install a larger pressure tank. These details can affect the overall efficiency of your EES by as much as 25-30 percent.

The temperature of ground water is very constant, ranging between 5 and 12C across Canada. The temperature of the fluid pumped through a closed loop used in a home normally drops to slightly below freezing during the winter. When well water is used as the energy source during the winter, the heat pump produces more heat and will be more efficient. However, since the water must actually be lifted from the ground, sometimes as much as 15-30 m, you will need a more powerful pump than the one required for a closed-loop system. In addition, the same pump often supplies water for both the heat pump and general household use. The cost of operating the larger well pump often offsets the efficiency of running the EES with well water. Ask EES contractors in your area about their experience with open-loop systems when deciding on the best option for your home.

Benefits of Earth Energy Systems

Good for the Environment

More than two thirds of the energy delivered to your home by an EES is renewable solar energy stored in the ground. This is great for your wallet because it is free energy. It is also good for the environment because there are virtually no toxic emissions. Each kilowatt (kW) of electricity used to operate an EES draws more than 3 kW of free, renewable energy from the ground.

A large part of the cost of energy supplied to your home is the expense of getting it there. Electric transmission lines, gas lines and oil pipelines are costly to build and require extensive rights-of-way. Oil is shipped in tankers halfway around the world so you can heat your home. Trucks delivering fuel to your home need fuel and maintenance. Shipping energy to your home entails real costs. They include not only direct expenses, like building pipelines and maintaining transmission lines, but also indirect costs, like dealing with emergencies. The infrastructure needed to transport energy is large and expensive - for you and the environment. With an EES, most of the energy you need is moved less than a few hundred metres into your home. The cost of transporting earth energy into your home is the cost of running a circulating pump. When a conventional airconditioning system is installed in a home, refrigerant lines run from the outdoor condensing unit to the coil in the furnace. EESs, on the other hand, are assembled and tested under controlled conditions, so that a refrigerant leak is much less likely. Also, any leak from an EES would be much smaller, as it usually contains just one half the refrigerant charge of a conventional air-conditioning unit. And now, the first units using non-CFC refrigerants are being produced, reducing potential damage to the atmosphere even more.

Year-Round Comfort

People living in homes with an EES often say, "This home is the most comfortable we've ever lived in." There are several reasons for this. The air temperature produced by an EES is typically about 35C. The air produced by a fossil fuel furnace or electric furnace is often heated to 50-60C - much warmer than room temperature. This can create hot spots in a room. Moving around the room, you can often feel temperature differences of 3-4C.

You may have lived in a home where you were often about to adjust the thermostat just before the furnace came on, and a few minutes later had to take off your sweater. This is caused by oversizing the conventional heating system. Even on the coldest day, an oversized furnace may only run for 15 minutes an hour, because it can produce all the heat you need by running only 25 percent of the time. The thermostat is satisfied quickly when the furnace is on, and may even overshoot the desired temperature by a degree or two, and then the temperature drops several degrees before coming on again. This happens because the cost of installing a larger furnace is almost insignificant, so the "bigger is better" attitude often prevails. If the heat loss of a home is reduced (by upgrading the insulation or windows), the overheating problem is made worse.

The cost of installing a larger EES, however, makes it prohibitive to oversize a system. As a result, it runs almost continuously, maintaining very even temperatures throughout the home. Several manufacturers build two-speed units with multi-speed fans. These match the heating and cooling loads of your home virtually year round. In spring and fall, when you do not need the full capacity of the system, the compressor and fan will operate at low speed, providing only as much heating and air conditioning as you need. As the days get colder in winter, or during very hot summer days, the system will operate at high speed.

Most EESs are installed with thermostats that switch from heating to air conditioning automatically. You will find that, on days in the spring and fall when you need heat in the morning and cooling in the afternoon, you are more comfortable.

Operating Cost

As noted earlier, more than two thirds of the energy supplied by an EES is renewable energy taken from the ground. The other third comes from the electricity used to power the system. You only pay for the electricity you use to operate your system. The other two thirds is free.

How does the cost of heating your home with an EES compare to the cost of heating it with other fuel options? That depends on the cost of the fuel and on how efficiently your furnace uses it. As a fossil fuel furnace sends the products of combustion (CO, CO2, SO2, NOx, etc.) up the chimney, some heat leaves the house as well. Older furnaces with pilot lights burn some gas continuously, even when your home does not need heating. If you are using an old gas or oil furnace, you can be venting as much as 35 to 40 percent of the fuel you have purchased up the chimney. If the furnace is greatly oversized, it may waste even more energy, because by the time it reaches operating efficiency, it has already satisfied the thermostat and shuts off.

Electric furnaces and electric baseboard heaters do not require a chimney. All the energy they generate stays in your home - even if the electric motor distributing air through your home is not very efficient. An electric furnace or baseboard system can therefore be considered 100-percent efficient.

An EES does not create any combustion products. As with the electric furnace, all the electric energy used to run the compressor, the pump and the fan stays in the house. But since the system also draws additional free energy from the ground, it can actually produce more energy than you put into it. Because of this, an EES can be considered to operate at more than 100 percent efficiency.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PDF HERE

Residential Earth Energy Systems
Resources Canada

Image sources: http://ingellrefrigeration.liveonatt.com/; http://www.greeninmedusa.com/; http://www.canadiangeothermal.com/; http://www1.eere.energy.gov/

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Geothermal Heating & Cooling

These articles come directly from researchers and are passed on to everybody. The company assumes no liability for any content in these articles.
For Educational purposes only.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease

For more great articles go to http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/infoE.php#article

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Cedar-The Bread Tree

As early as the 16th century, a cedar grove, a desyatina in size, grew in the lands of the Tolgsky monastery near Yaroslavl. Around fifty of the trees which grew there are still alive and bear nuts today, despite the fact that they are more than 400 years old. At present, cedar forests in Europe cover an aggregate area of several thousand hectares.

There are many reasons to love and look after cedars. A cedar forest has a special microclimate, which ensures that it is always rich in berries, mushrooms, useful herbs and wildlife. Cedar nuts are a wonderful natural product. They contain a lot of fat, proteins, carbohydrates, micro elements and vitamins. They can also be used to make cedar oil, which could compete with olive oil.

The people of Siberia praise the cedar as the bread tree. They look after cedar forests near their settlements and turn them into forest orchards. They say that in ancient times, a desyatina of cedar forest was equal in value to a cow.

The large-scale industrial use of the taiga, which began this century, was an extremely unfortunate development for the cedar. This is, primarily, because the cedar is extremely good for logging. Cedar trunks produce a large volume of timber and are easy to process. Nothing comes close to them in the taiga. Some cedars can produce up to ten cubic meters of timber. And no ordinary timber at that! It's soft, pleasantly colored, easy to work and convenient for any purpose. You can make anything out of a cedar trunk: a house frame, a door and doorframe, furniture or house wares. You can put any clothes in a cedar chest or wardrobe without worry. Moths won't get to them because the aromatic, tarry smell will repel them. Cedar planks are the most sought-after raw material for pencil factories. Cedar wood has excellent resonance qualities and is used to make grand pianos, harps and guitars.

They say that during the last century Siberian merchants were offered what appeared to be a very profitable deal by Germans for the supply of Cedar Nut Oil. The only stipulation was that it was packaged into cedar barrels. It turned out that there was a catch. The Cedar Nut Oil containers were sold on to a musical instrument manufactory and the foreign traders made twice as much for them as they paid for the Cedar Nut Oil.

In addition, good cedars grow along rivers, which makes them very easy to log. You cut down a tree and send it downstream - it will get to the destination by itself. Needless to say, this didn't end well for the cedar, the rivers, or the birds and animals it protected.

Foresters have long since understood that you cannot treat cedar forests with the loggers' usual attitude. The earth and everything it produces is important in a cedar forest. The overall products of a living cedar forest are far more valuable that its wonderful and extremely valuable wood, produced by cutting down the whole forest.

IMPORTANT:

Experts believe that allowing Cedar nut oil to come into contact with metal is not recommended (therefore it should not be stored or consumed using metallic objects). The Ekaterinburg Journeyman Foundation, a producer of cedar products, explains this as follows: "Contact between the oil and metal initiates the transformation of unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones, which significantly reduces the oil's antioxidational properties. The natural information is also neutralized."

OIL ADMINISTRATION:

Essential Oils of the Siberian Cedar
Cedar Nut Oil

There are many options for administering the oil when treating various diseases. The most effective and common method of consuming Cedar oil for preventive purposes is 1 tea spoon 30-60 minutes before a meal 2-3 times a day for 40-60 days. Consume very slowly, as if diluting the oil with saliva.

Cedar oil has been used for treatment purposes at: -The Siberian State Medical University -The Tomsk Scientific Research Institute of Balneology and Physiotherapy -The Central Scientific Research Laboratory -The TSC RAMS Scientific Research Oncology Institute -The Rehabilitation Center for those affected by the Chernobyl disaster

Treatment involving cedar oil was administered to people suffering from gastritis, erosive and ulcer diseases of the stomach and duodenum, people who were operated on as a result of stomach cancer, people suffering from astenization, psychosis, and increased excitability of the sympathetic nervous system (increased fatigue, inability to work or sleep, common nervous breakdowns, and regular headaches).

Treatment was effective in all cases to varying degrees.

R. Bobrov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences

Did you know?
HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT CEDAR

Needles were used as a remedy many thousand years BC. Sumerian clay tablets, found during archaeological excavations of the ancient kingdom of Sumer, confirm that needle extracts and decoctions were used in compresses and stupes as early as 5,000 BC.

In ancient Babylon, aromatic oils were added to construction materials used to build temples. The well-known antimicrobial properties of cedar oil ensured that temples were disinfected

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Used by permission
Copyright CedarInfo.info


FOOTNOTES

Cedar Nut Oil - widely known as Pine Nut Oil in North America.

Linguini with Pesto Sauce Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
4 ounces (120 gr) small basil leaves
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 ounce (30 gr) pine nuts
1/4 cup (60 cc) extra-virgin olive oil from Liguria
2 Tablespoons parmigiano reggiano cheese, freshly grated
Salt
1 pound (450 gr) small tender green beans
1 pound (450 gr) new potatoes, peeled and cut into large dices
1 pound (450 gr) linguine pasta
4 ounces (115 gr) parmigiano reggiano cheese, freshly grated for topping
Preparation:
Wash basil leaves and dry them with a towel. If the basil leaves are large, remove the center stems with a sharp knife. Place the garlic, basil, pine nuts, and one third of the extra-virgin olive oil in a food processor or blender. Run the blade, and stop occasionally to push the paste down. Add some more extra-virgin olive oil. Process the pesto until it is reduced to a fine paste and all the oil has been added. Stir in the grated parmigiano cheese (see note below for make-ahead instructions) and salt.

Transfer to a nonmetallic bowl or jar. Cover with a drizzle of olive oil and reserve.

In a stockpot, boil the beans and potatoes in salted water, until tender. Remove the vegetables from the pot; and in the same water, cook the linguini pasta, following manufacturer's instructions, testing for readiness from time to time.

Just before the pasta is al dente (firm but not too soft or overcooked) return the vegetables to the pot, and finish cooking. Drain the pasta and vegetables, transfer to a bowl, top with the pesto sauce and the grated parmigiano cheese. Toss, and serve immediately.

Notes: If you want to store pesto for a longer time, do not add the cheese; it will ferment and become rancid in a short time, dramatically changing the flavor of the pesto.

Store the pesto in a glass jar tightly sealed. Make sure the sauce is fully covered with olive oil to prevent darkening of the pesto. Use only nonmetallic containers and tools. Store the jar in the refrigerator for several weeks. Stir freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese and salt into the sauce just before serving. Pesto can be used in many preparations, including lasagne, soups, and gnocchi.

Yield: 4 servings

Recipe Source: The Timeless Art of Italian Cuisine by Anna Maria Volpi (Publisher Palatino, Inc)

Watermelon, arugula, and pine nut salad

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon table salt, or to taste

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cups cubed (1/2 to 3/4 inch) seeded watermelon, drained (from a 2 1/2-lb piece, rind discarded)
6 cups baby arugula (6 oz)
1/4 cup pine nuts (1 oz)
1/3 cup crumbled feta or ricotta salata (1 1/2 oz)

Coarsely ground black pepper to taste
Fleur de sel to taste (optional)

Preparation:

Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, and salt in a large bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.

Add watermelon, arugula, and pine nuts and toss to coat, then sprinkle with cheese, pepper, and fleur de sel (if using).

For Educational purposes only
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
These articles come directly from researchers and are passed on to everybody. The company assumes no liability for any content in these articles.

For more great articles go to http://www.cedarinfo.info/

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The Strength of Siberian Health:

Winter Holiday Gift Sets! 20% off!

Parents, aunts, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, husband, wife and friends, all the people who play an important part in your life need to know how much you appreciate them. Make this Holiday Season a memorable one with one of our exclusive holiday gift sets which brings the strength of Siberian health to your family and friends.

Ringing Cedars of Russia Company is offering a fatastic selection of Siberian Cedar products with a discount of up to 20%! Please don't be late!

Holiday Gift Set #1 - 20% off!

Holiday Gift Set #1 - Siberian Cedar Nut Oil, Siberian Cedar Pendant, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Wood 25ml, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Needle 25ml, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Cone 25ml. Please go to our store for more information.

The oil from cedar nuts is being extracted for a long time in the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Our ancestors ate cedar nut oil and used it for medical purposes since the ancient times. In XIX century cedar nut oil could be bought on any Siberian market. It has been home-made with the use of only the simplest machinery. It has a soft taste, gold-and-amber color, and a wonderful smell of nuts.

In old Russian folk medicine consider that Siberian cedar nut oil eliminates a chronic weakness syndrome, increases overall strength of an organism, physical and brain activities. Siberian cedar nut oil taken regularly improves immune system. Any vegetative oil can be substituted by Siberian cedar nut oil, but nothing can fully substitute cedar nut oil. It can also be used as a facial night cream for returning a natural beauty of the skin.

Click here to go to our online store

For more great articles go here

Holiday Gift Set #2 - 20% off!

Holiday Gift Set #2 - 3 bottles of Siberian Cedar Nut Oil, Siberian Cedar Pendant, Package of Siberian Cedar Spoons. Please go to our store for more information.

The oil from cedar nuts is being extracted for a long time in the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Our ancestors ate cedar nut oil and used it for medical purposes since the ancient times. In XIX century cedar nut oil could be bought on any Siberian market. It has been home-made with the use of only the simplest machinery. It has a soft taste, gold-and-amber color, and a wonderful smell of nuts.

In old Russian folk medicine consider that Siberian cedar nut oil eliminates a chronic weakness syndrome, increases overall strength of an organism, physical and brain activities. Siberian cedar nut oil taken regularly improves immune system. Any vegetative oil can be substituted by Siberian cedar nut oil, but nothing can fully substitute cedar nut oil. It can also be used as a facial night cream for returning a natural beauty of the skin.

Click here to go to our online store

For more great articles go here

Holiday Gift Set #3 - 20% off!

Holiday Gift Set #1 - Siberian Cedar Nut Oil, Siberian Cedar Pendant, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Wood 50ml, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Needle 50ml, Essential Oil of Siberian Cedar Cone 50ml, Siberian Cedar Resin Chewing Gum, Siberian Cedar Larch Chewing Gum. Please go to our store for more information.

The oil from cedar nuts is being extracted for a long time in the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Our ancestors ate cedar nut oil and used it for medical purposes since the ancient times. In XIX century cedar nut oil could be bought on any Siberian market. It has been home-made with the use of only the simplest machinery. It has a soft taste, gold-and-amber color, and a wonderful smell of nuts.

In old Russian folk medicine consider that Siberian cedar nut oil eliminates a chronic weakness syndrome, increases overall strength of an organism, physical and brain activities. Siberian cedar nut oil taken regularly improves immune system. Any vegetative oil can be substituted by Siberian cedar nut oil, but nothing can fully substitute cedar nut oil. It can also be used as a facial night cream for returning a natural beauty of the skin.

Click here to go to our online store

For more great articles go here

NEW ARRIAVALS:

Space of Love Magazine!

Space of Love Magazine is now available to purchase in USA, Canada, and Europe.

SOL magazine is published through the efforts of a few devoted people. As a publication unsupported by commercial interest, we will not offer advertising from corporate-controlled media. Therefore we hope and rely upon your help in promoting SOL Magazine. Word of mouth is our main means of promoting and our readers are our best advertisers. So if you find this Space of Love Magazine insightful, Informative and interesting, please tell a friend. Better still, purchase a copy and give it to a friend or loved one, who just may discover a completely new world - the world of consciously living in their own Space of Love.

Click here to go to our online store

SUBSCRIPTION WINTER PROMOTION! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Space of Love Magazine staff has been blessed! X-mas Elves and Santa himself suggested the most generous X-mas Gifting idea in the Magazine-business yet (Northpole News, Dec.' 08)

Truly the Gift that keeps on Giving!

Give yourself or loved-ones the gift of an Annual or Two-Year Magazine subscription to the new magazine which is committed to co-creating and ushering in our new Global Reality: "We now do have the power and guidance from Nature - and research does agree - to bring our Earth back to where each individual, family and creature may eat and live as if in Paradise. Best of all, it all starts now, today - even on your own window-sill, one seed at a time," says Santa.

But first: call, e-mail, web-contact us, fast as the wind! Let us do all the work, and you get all the pleasure:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Rodnoe Ecovillage Films

Two films about Rodnoe Ecovillage in Russia where the residents gave 1 hectare to the writer Vladimir Megre. Films are in DVD format.

Recently in Russia there has been an increase in the number of people who, preferring life in nature to the hustle and bustle of the city, have moved to Eco-villages...and are creating Kin's domains. They have given up the use of fertilizers, heavy agricultural machines, and grow all their food themselves.

Eco-village Rodnoe has approximately 100 plots of land, each of which measures no less than a hectare. Families organize their plots in their own way, and say that their domain has the personality of its owner.

Who are they? People who leave their successful and relatively quiet life in modern cities and go to rural areas to set upon a hectare of land - their Kin's domains? What drive them? Are they happy about the change? How they deal with the land and growing plants? How does one build an adobe house? Watch the Day of all-Earth celebration. You will find the answers to all these and many more questions in these two films about Eco-village Rodnoe.

Click here to go to our online store

A Trip to the "Rodnoe" Kin's Settlement.

We offer for your attention a series of photos from the Kin's Settlement.

See the full gallery of the trip.

(c) Copyright http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/

Used by Permition

Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

EXCLUSIVE STORE!

Always Best Prices and Best Promotions! We hold the full stock of Ringing Cedars of Russia brand of products.

251 Carrville Rd., Richmond Hill, ON, Canada. The store is open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm. Tel: 416-628-8976

Evanston Health Market

Evanston IL

609 Dempster St, Evanston, IL 60201

Tel: 847-733-7582

Injoy Now Organics / Herbal Energetics

Northfield NH

32 BAY HILL RD, NORTHFIELD, NH 03276-4617

Tel: 603-286-4696

For a full list of our distributors please click here.

BOOK REVIEWS:

Dear Vladimir Megre,
Recently we have been blessed to have found 6 of your books.Please send our love to Anastasia...we have lived for 9 years here,on a 2 hectare Small Holding,we have 3 milking cows,free range chickens,and geese.

OASIS Environmental Centre
Much love Rachel Jackson.

* * *

I am now on Book 7 and see how these puzzle pieces fit with my research and service

--------------------------------
ROGER GADSDON
WINNIPEG, CANADA

* * *

Hello, I am just beginning to read Anastasia, and I'm finding it truly fascinating!

--------------------------------
Rebecca Voros
British Columbia
Canada

FEEDBACK ON PRODUCTS:

These cedar nuts have the creamiest taste and texture of any pignolia on the market. They're a dream come true in any recipe that uses pine nuts. They're simply the BEST ever!

Allan
USA

* * *

I have been using Cedar Nut Oil for 6 months. I also gave away to my loved ones who are suffered MS, Myocard Enfarctus and old age. They said this is a miracle.

Beril Sonmez
Turkey

* * *

Thank you so much for the wonderful product.
Regards

shirley cassin

WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT OUR COMPANY:

Would like to become a distributor for these books and products. I see nothing more important than to circluate Anastasia's splendid image to all people of the Earth asap. The faster the image spreads, the faster we will have a splendid paradise to live in!

Tor Fjelldal

* * *

Hello,

I am impressed with how quick my order got here! Thanks for the prompt delivery.
I look forward to telling all my friends about your companyas well as purchasing more products in the future from you.

Thanks,

Valorie Vogel

RingingCedarsofRussia.org is the official
literary agent of Vladimir Megre.

This is the official message to publishers and editors.

Dear Publisher:

We are inviting you to participate in the interesting project of publishing the books of the writer Vladimir Nikolaevich Megre.

Vladimir Megre's books embody the human striving for harmony with oneself, the nature that surrounds us, and society. His books have been translated into more than 20 of the world's languages, more than 11 million copies have been printed, the books are international bestsellers.

All Vladimir Megre's works were originally written in Russian.

If you are interested in translating the books into one of the available languages and publishing it in the appropriate country, we are prepared to consider your proposal and give you an answer within a period of three days.

Our requirements:

1) The translator from Russian to the selected language must be highly qualified, with wide experience in prose and poetry styles.
2) The fundamental meaning of the works or any part of that meaning may not be changed or abbreviated in the translation.
3) Professional design work.
4) The presence of a distribution network or a professional business plan.

Some of the existing translations of the Ringing Cedars book series can be found on the Ringing Cedars Information page

Sincerely yours,

Rights Department
RingingCedarsofRussia.org
Official representative of Vladimir Megre

Looking for a Hindi Translator (India).

Dear Friends!

The company "Ringing Cedars LTD." is searching for a translator from Russian to Hindi for the creation of a Hindi translation of the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" series. The translator must be highly qualified, with wide experience in prose and poetry styles. If you would like to participate in this project please send us your profile to contact@secure.ringingcedarsofrussia.org. If you have contacts of such a translator referals are highly appreciated.

With all Respect,

Rights Department
RingingCedarsofRussia.org
Official representative of Vladimir Megre

Looking for a Translator to Mandarin (China).

Dear Friends!

The company "Ringing Cedars LTD." is searching for a translator from Russian to Mandarin for the creation of a Chinese translation of the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" series. The translator must be highly qualified, with wide experience in prose and poetry styles. If you would like to participate in this project please send us your profile to contact@secure.ringingcedarsofrussia.org. If you have contacts of such a translator referals are highly appreciated.

With all Respect,

Rights Department
RingingCedarsofRussia.org
Official representative of Vladimir Megre

www.RingingCedarsofRussia.org contact information.

All services are available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week / 365 days a year!

www.RingingCedarsofRussia.org currently has three regional warehouses in Europe, USA and Canada. Our Customer Service department is available to serve you 24 hour a day, 7 days a week including ordering by phone and inquiry assistance. Ringing Cedars of Russia Customer Service Representatives respond to our customers on a timely basis with accurate information. We work hard everyday to improve our customer service to the level of satisfaction our customers deserve and have come to expect. Personalized attention is what we provide. Understanding your questions and solving any problems as quickly as possible is of great importance to us. Our customer service department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Please feel free to contact us in the manner in which you are most comfortable. We will be happy to get back to you as soon as possible.
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1Mailing Address USA
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USA

Customer service and orders
Tel: 646 - 429 - 1985
Tel: 1 - 877 - TO - CEDAR (862 - 3327)
(Toll free within US)
Fax: 1 - 877 - 549 - 6902
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sales - usa@ringingcedarsofrussia.org
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customerservice - usa@ringingcedarsofrussia.org
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Outside USA:
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1Mailing Address CANADA
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P.O. Box 81768
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Canada

Customer service and orders
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customerservice - can@ringingcedarsofrussia.org
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Mailing Address EUROPE - WIDE
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Customer service and orders
Tel: +44 - (0)870 - 068 - 9694
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1Customer service in ENGLAND
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Outside UK:
Tel/Fax: +44 - (0)870 - 068 - 9694


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Message submitted from: Radha Theresa,

Address: 128 Main St, Montville, QLD, 4560, Australia Phone number: 61 7 5478 5889
Email: capricorndancer@live.com.au
Title: Kins Village forming in Australia User classifieds ad:
A dedicated and soul-connected group is now coming together. Land has called us and we have answered with our intent to conjointly create a Ringing Cedars Village in Australia. If you would like to know more or feel inspired to join us, please visit our 'kins ecovillage' Facebook site http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=29741621717 or email Radha or Chris at christocolegmail.com

Shambhala-Shasta

SUCCESS!!!
The Anastasia Eco-settlement project has found its home in North America on Sacred Motherland!

Many great thanks to all of you who contributed to this success and to many who have supported this dream and vision with your love from near & far.

Shambhala-Shasta community has taken back 466 acres of prestine motherland.
Free and clear. No debt. No Encumbrances. No liens. Free and clear!!!

To freedom, independance and sovereignty!!!

The community will steadily grow out from here as we are bordered on the east and north by national forests.

More to come soon after our visit to our motherland in the next few days.

We have several settlers who have begun the intake process and purchased their domains. If you are ready and feel the beat in your heart, come and join!!!

http://shambhala-shasta.org/become/

Meetings in Ontario, Canada

To all motivated by Anastasia's words, there is a growing group meeting regularly between Toronto and Guelph. All those interested are welcome to join a gathering. Our Meetings take place at 251 Carrville Road, Richmond Hill, ON. For more information please visit central forum of the Ringing Cedars Movement at www.RingingCedarsForum.com, Canada Section, or e-mail to info@sourceoflife.ca, rorland@sentex.ca, or call 416-628-8976 ext 719 (leave a message), 519-829-2281 Robert.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

This Classifieds column is created specifically for the announcements related to the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" Movement (please view example below). If you wish to submit your message please fill out the form below and click "Submit".

Thank you for your attention,

Administration,
The Earth online newspaper.

First name:*
Last name:*
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(Note: The Administration of The Earth online newspaper reserves the right to review all of the announcements. There are no guarantees that your message will be posted.)

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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Earnest request to authors of articles and scientific works to please send your materials to us to the address info@earthlife.info with a subject "Articles". Upon a separate agreement your works may be published in the internet newspaper "The Earth", in separate collections, in the Resource Library of the Source of Life Association, and on the pages of the websites devoted to the "Ringing Cedars" movement.

Also you can open a tread on a forum devoted to readers of Vladimir Megre, at http://www.ringingcedarsforum.com/index.php and publish your works.

We value your work greatly and consider publication activity one of the highest priorities.

Please send your works of art, poems, songs, and paintings, inspired by the books of Vladimir Megre to the following address info@earthlife.info with a subject "Art". Best ones will be published in "The Earth" Newspaper. Also, you can open a thread in the ART OF SOUL section of the forum devoted to readers of Vladimir Megre, at http://www.ringingcedarsforum.com/index.php and publish your works.

For a possible answer to your question we advise you to review with the content of the internet conferences held by Vladimir Megre for the readers of the "Ringing Cedars of Russia" series of books and our Frequently Asked Questions.

You can direct your questions to the Letter Department of theearth.ringingcedarsofrussia.org website. Your question will be answered within 7 business days.

Thank you for your attention,

Administration,
The Earth online newspaper.

Editorial Staff

Publisher - EarthLife.info

Newsroom - Leonid Belov; Petr Kornev; Yulia Portna

Editor - Viktor Rod

Editorail Board - Igor Borodenko; Arthur Grom

Contact Information

Mailing Address
130 Church Street Suit 366
New York, NY
10007
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Contact by phone:
Tel: 646 - 429 - 1985 ext. 720
Tel: 1 - 877 - TO - CEDAR (862 - 3327)

E - mail: info@earthlife.info

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The information contained in this mail is presented for educational purposes only. The information should not be considered complete, nor should it be relied on to suggest a course of treatment for a particular individual. Always consult with your physician, Doctor or other qualified health care provider before embarking on a new treatment, diet or fitness program. You should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this email. The information contained in this mail is compiled from a variety of sources ("Information Providers") and experiences. Neither this email nor Information Providers directly or indirectly practice medicine or dispense medical services, and so all information should be treated as thus. You hereby hold RingingCedarsofRussia.org, or ANY companies/individuals associated with RingingCedarsofrussia.org and it's affiliates NOT responsible for any injury that may occur either directly or indirectly by use or misuse of the information or ideas contained within.

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