Editorial
Volume 14 Issue 3 — September/October 2008
by Melva Armstrong

The times they are a’changin’, and so is WHOLifE Journal. We have expanded this issue to 48 pages due to an increase in advertisers and editorial content. So we are growing along with all our readers and with the growth of our entire province. I remember when being in Saskatoon felt like living in sleepy hollow; now every part of the province is booming and bursting with energy, renewed vitality, growth, and development. It is exciting to live here at this time and to be experiencing the energetic changes that are happening on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Saskatchewan is filled with powerful energy and I am convinced that people already here and those being drawn here at this time are all part of the healing of the planet, as well as the healing of all individuals who are awakening to their full potential.

I have known organic farmer Marc Loiselle since I started the journal 13 years ago and I have always admired how dedicated he is to living on the land with gentleness and grace, honouring Mother Nature, and having great respect for his ancestors who started the farm one hundred years ago. Our front cover photo, taken in August ’07, shows Loiselle standing in his field of Prairie Red Fife heritage wheat holding a scythe, which was how they cut crops before modern machinery. Red Fife wheat was grown across Canada for many years, including on the Loiselle family farm, but was eventually replaced by Marquis wheat and so became nearly extinct. It was Loiselle and a few other like-minded folks that knew and recognized the quality and nutritional value of Red Fife, who decided to bring it back into production. Thanks to the generosity of Edible Toronto magazine we are able to reprint an article by Judith Finlayson about the legacy of David Fife called The Little Kernel That Could (p. 24). In her article she talks about Loiselle’s extremely important role in getting the Red Fife seed distributed to farmers across Canada so it could flourish once again. Finlayson points out that “The largest market for Red Fife flour is artisanal bread bakers, who love its distinctive flavour and reddish brown crust.” She also says, “There’s little doubt that much of the interest from those in the know stems from Slow Food International’s 2004 Terra Madre event in Turin, Italy. The previous year, the Vancouver Island chapter of Slow Food nominated Red Fife for the Ark of Taste, the equivalent of the academy award for food. It made the cut in 2004 and now ranks as Canada’s sole entry on this international list, which recognizes historically significant products of exceptional quality.” I believe Marc Loiselle deserves enormous congratulations for saving and growing heritage grains such as Red Fife wheat, which he says is necessary to do in order to keep genetic diversity intact, to preserve our agricultural heritage, and work towards the common good of all.

Continuing on the nutritional topic, this issue Paulette Millis writes in depth about Carbohydrates: The Real Story (p. 12). Remember that many of the grains and legumes she discusses are grown right here in our province, so we have the opportunity to support those who live around us, rather than purchasing from farmers and huge conglomerates that ship goods from thousands of miles away. As usual, she includes lots of tasty recipes and useful cooking tips.

I encourage you to leisurely wander through this issue where you will find a huge array of articles covering topics from Moving Towards Health with Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (p. 14) to What Role Should Nuclear Energy Play Today? (p. 16) to the joys of Creating With Clay (p. 20). As you move on you will find out about Healing the Past, Changing the Future (p. 36) and then discovering The Purpose of Dysfunctional Families (p. 38). After that you will find a profile called Auntie, How Do You Talk to God? (p. 40) and, to stimulate your inner innocent child, you can move on to Animal Partners—Healing People and Our World (p. 42). Last, but definitely not least, you have the opportunity to read about Empowerment—The Story of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh (p. 46) on our Natural Reflections page.

I wish you all a beautiful, glorious, whole, and healthy two months until we meet again. May you keep well and happy and live each day to the fullest.

As you walk in life, may you find peace in every step.

Namaste
(The Spirit in me honours the Spirit in you)