Allan, Maybe you didn't get it at the time?
Victor, and his ashram's CSA, were prohibited from using the term "Biodynamic" by the Demeter, Inc. holders of the term as a trademark--namely Anne Mendenhall. Has she resigned yet? Has this prohibition been retracted? Not wanting a lawsuit from Demeter Victor is being circumspect. Who can blame him. Do you blame him? I believe his "ambitious" grower who is "non-biodynamic" has one of my field broadcasters and is using "the preps" to grow better food than 90+% of the Demeter certified growers, who don't seem to be numerous anyway. What is Demeter doing to spread the method? And I don't mean to spread the hype, I mean to actually get the effects of the preparations out on the land. I don't advise people using my towers to say they are biodynamic, since that could only land them in trouble with Demeter. Yet many of them are more "biodynamic" (though I use the term advisedly) than the Demeter certified growers. I don't mean to desparage those certified by Demeter. I have seen many evidences (taste and smell particularly) that most Demeter certified products are superior. But I don't see that being certified by Demeter is any significant advantage to them. I wonder why they continue their certification? Victor distributes foods from sources he knows to be superior, regardless of the Demeter label. He is puzzled that Demeter has leaned on some of their certified farms to not sell through him. Others sell through him anyway. What is the advantage of enforcing Demeter's prohibition? He has sworn off use of the "biodynamic" term, but what is the big deal that a certified farm will not now sell its products through him? Could it be your effort to group us all together under that term that ensured attendance of your conference was not a high priority for him? I, though I'm trying to avoid the use of the term "biodynamic" also, I felt your committment to good food far outweighed your use of the term. So I attended and did my best to participate fully. But I'm not committed to using the term "biodynamic." Sorry. You had an assembly of tallent that should have had more like 300 people in attendance rather than 100. You're doing good work, and sacrificing to do so. But do you owe so great a debt to Demeter than you have to enforce their ownership of a word that should by rights be in the public domain? I don't understand. By the way, let me know when Anne resigns, her policy is revoked and the term "biodynamic" is returned to the public domain. I might feel warmer to your use of the term "biodynamic" then. Best Hugh Lovel >Let me say that we wound up getting our biodynamic cheese from the >dairy at Kimberton. We picked up a colby and a cheddar in, what, 5lb >blocks. (Steve Storch did the physical pick up and delivery. Bless >the man.) > >The cheese was unbelievably delicious and seemed to resonate with >everyone's inner sense of what nutrition really is. I'm going to have >a very hard time eating any other cheese in the future, and probably >won't, unless, of course, it is to trial another biodynamic cheese. > >I don't know if these folks mail order. Fortunately, or >unfortunately, most of the biodynamic cheese makers can sell >everything they make right from their own doorsteps. > >As far as Victor goes, well, check your prices at Kimberton and >Hawthorne Valley and maybe Hugh Lovel before you get a quote from >Shanti. And factor this in to what you know about things: Victor and >Shanti had the offer of a free table at the Mid-Atlantic Conference >and, as usual, free admission for as many of his flock as would enjoy >to come and learn more about biodynamics and to meet more BD growers >AND the conference was located within 60minutes of the Shanti Ashram >but Ashram activities were put ahead of attending the conference - >ALL THREE DAYS. Victor excused Shanti's involvement because of ashram >activities but No effort was made to have a non-Ashram individual >represent the growers distributed by Shanti at the conference, the >largest gathering of biodynamically minded growers and eaters (lots >of health-oriented attendees , thanks to Mary Ann Skillman) n the DC >Baltimore area. On top of that, he appears to be partnering with a >very ambitious local non-biodynamic farm for produce. One can only >imagine that early supporters of the Shanti program will soon be left >out of the distribution, or, at a minimum, experience drops in >volume. Better for the consumer to have biodynamically grown food >from farm's with long BD histories like Jeff Poppen's or Hugh >Lovel's, if you're really looking for food filled with the forces >appropriate for development of the spiritual self. Just my opinion, >of course. > >The 7 Stars yogurt we had at the conference was wonderful, also. >Again, fresh from the doc at Kimberton, thanks to SS. > >While I'm at it, the Kimberton Bakery bread was totally awesome, >again reasonating with the viscera in a wonderful way. Strangely, >many of the loaves left over molded by Monday, which is contrary to >how loaves made from biodynamic grains have behaved from other >bakeries after other conferences, but, the short shelf-life aside, >what wonderful bread. (One intern wouldn't eat it. "I'm not used to >such heavy bread." A remark I found strange because the Kimberton >bread was so VERY edible.) > >Later > >-Allan Visit our website at: www.unionag.org
