Editorial
Volume 19 Issue 3 — September/October 2013
by Melva Armstrong

I have enjoyed the summer very much and I trust you have, too. I could have done without the many mosquitoes, but such is life on the prairies. I recently found a homeopathic remedy that seems to help keep them away, so that is a blessing. Of course, at the beginning, the ticks were out in full force but thankfully they have gone back to sleep until next year. That just leaves the mosquitoes.

This year we have been experimenting with a no-till lasagna garden, which is made by placing alternating layers of straw, hay, manure, and kitchen compost (including coffee grounds), etc. on top of each other. While casually searching the internet one evening, we excitedly discovered this style of gardening, known as the Ruth Stout method. Although Ruth has passed into spiritworld, she has left this wonderful and unique legacy of growing food without a lot of work. She would just throw her seeds willy-nilly onto her no-till garden and they would magically grow. Our garden has required almost no weeding and while our friends, who have potatoes planted in soil are getting potato bugs on their leaves, we have had none on ours, which appears to be one of the many benefits of this method. It has been a lot of fun watching everything grow. (I have included a recent photo for you to see.) If you have any interesting gardening experiments/methods to share, then be sure to let me know. I can pass them on to our readers.

From my experience and research, it seems clear that our province is abundant with natural and organic market gardeners, who are producing all kinds of delicious and healthy food. Since moving this area, I have discovered that Yorkton (the nearest city) has a large and diverse farmers’ market twice a week. It is also the home of Garden Therapy Yorkton with Stacey and Rob Tress, both certified permaculture designers. They both share a passion for permaculture, horticulture, nutrition, and alternative home building. Recently, they have created a Permaculture Internship Program through their Prairie Permaculture company, and Stacey and their first intern, Danna Bruch, have written about it in Colour It Green! (p. 20).

It’s harvest time again, when we get to reap what has been sown! A time when our eyes can delightfully gaze upon the many colourful fruits and vegetables that have been grown for our nourishment. It is during this season that our regular food writer, Sandra Brandt, pulls out her bicycle, complete with saddle bags, and rides off to the farmers’ market on several occasions to fill the bags with as many squash as they will hold. She has written about the numerous health benefits of what she calls “this whimsical looking fruit of the vine” in her article, Squash: Multi-Coloured Delights (p. 12).

We have included the first part of an Interview with Gregg Braden (p. 24) by Edie Weinstein. Braden is a New York Times best selling author who is internationally renowned as a pioneer in bridging science, spirituality, and the real world. He has written numerous books including his latest one called, Deep Truth: Igniting the Memory of Our Origin, History, Destiny, and Fate. As part of his most recent research, Braden says, “New peer-reviewed scientific discoveries are now telling us a story of our deepest relationships to ourselves and our world around us that is 180 degrees opposed to what we have been led to believe in the past.” This news, which affects all of us, is certainly profound and having now heard it, we may want to seriously rethink all that we have learned to date.

There is a whole lot more to read in this issue, so be sure to check it all out. Thank you to everyone who supports WHOLifE in so many ways. I am truly grateful. It is my pleasure to be doing this work and sharing it with you.

May you enjoy the rest of summer and find delight in the vibrant autumn colours. May everyone be filled with thankfulness and gratitude for the abundant harvest to keep us whole and healthy. And above all, bless those who make the harvest possible.

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