Golden Turmeric Latte, Unfuck The World, and a dose of RT (oh my)

One of my favorite discoveries recently happened when I met my dear friend Leon at Cafe Gratitude last week. Actually- it was two great discoveries. The day before, I had posted a meme I found on facebook which showed a man in a shirt that said "Unfuck the World". I didn't know it was an actual shirt that could be bought until my friend Leon commented on it and said he knew the woman who owned that company, and that he was going to get one for me. And he did, that sweetheart of a man could not be dissuaded! So I went to meet Leon for lunch at Cafe Gratitude, where I ordered a turmeric latte called I Am Golden. (all the food and drink choices are named with affirmations, so you can't help but say something amazing about yourself in order to...um, order.) I have heard a lot about the healing properties of turmeric, and I was curious but didn't have high expectations for it being yummy. I was wrong, it was exquisite!

So there were two cool discoveries-the shirt, and the latte, both of which I am going to share with you.

Unfuck the World T shirts 

First- here is where to go to get the unbelievably cool Unfuck the World T shirts. They have hoodies, too, and I plan on acquiring one of those ASAP. Click HERE FOR THE WEBSITE and to order. And the coolest part- they donate half the price of the shirt to a charity of your choice- you choose between the three they offer.  These also will make great gifts for your favorite revolutionaries. When I posted this picture on facebook of me last week at the TPP Protest (if you didn't get a chance to read that blog, click HERE) I was bombarded with people asking where they might get one. People love them! Just maybe not your right wing conservatives. Which only makes me love them a little more. This t shirt Shakes the Hive fo sho!

Shake the Hive! Unfuck the World!

Now for the second cool discovery...

Golden Turmeric Latte Recipe

This is super easy to make at home. It gets really creamy- almost too creamy- if you heat it up over a high flame, so don't go crazy.

Pour almond milk in a pan and heat slowly over medium flame.
In a mug, put 1/2 tspn turmeric and a few slices ginger and some honey
(make sure you get high quality, not from a major grocery chain but from a health food store. You can also get the real root and slice it up, I have some of that, too)
Pour heated almond milk over that and stir

There are some variations I have been playing with- like today I made black tea and added it to the almond milk so it wasn't so creamy. I also added a little bit of the following- nutmeg, cardamom, clove, cinnamon. Since it already had ginger in it, this was basically a version of chai tea- although to make real chai you need to brew and steep those ingredients longer in water, then add tea bags and steep, then remove, strain, and add almond milk and honey.

I am a little bit shocked that since I have been drinking these in the morning, I have not wanted coffee. Which saves me $5 a day, and that doesn't suck. I have not had lack-of-coffee headaches and really don't miss it. And my skin looks amazing!

I was going to try to list all the health benefits of turmeric, but there are simply too many to list. Click RIGHT HERE for University of Maryland's findings on the turmeric.

Golden Turmeric Latte- creamy yummy goodness!

March Against Monsanto RT clip/ Look for Ashley Dane up in this joint

So here is a third thing I found- not a discovery, but still pretty neat. I had done a little interview at the March Against Monsanto back in October, and then I never thought twice about it, and never did see it. At the TPP Protest, I saw the same interviewer (Ramon Galindo from RT, and I have to say that Ramon can be counted on to tell the truth the main stream media won't!)  and said hello. He asked me if I had seen the clip and I had not. So he sent me the link, and this is it. Vive la Resistance!

Since it is still Thanksgiving for 45 more minutes, I would like to give a shout of sincere gratitude for the people who both organize and show up to these marches, protests, and rallies.  I would also like a moment of silence for the 5 millions turkeys that were slaughtered for most people's family meal today. No judging- just recognition. May you find the deep joy and insane bliss of radical gratitude always.

Flip the script!



xoxo,

Ashley Dane
Shake the Hive
OCCUPY YOURSELF!

Shake the Hive at March Against Monsanto 2013

This past Saturday was the second March Against Monsanto in Los Angeles. It was a world-wide event, taking place in hundreds of cities all over the globe.  It really is amazing to march- the energy of it is like no other. It can feel a little lonely to be reading about what is happening in the world, and trying to disseminate information to others via social networks, and to have not only facebook's limitations against you (as a like page, they want to force you to need to pay them money to get posts seen and pages liked),  but the general climate of humans in general- its true, a post of a kitten would get 50 likes while a post about Monsanto will get 3. Then there is the third dilemma- people who half know, who half understand, who will like those posts and re-post them, but won't do much more than that.

SHAKE THE HIVE at the March Against Monsanto

 So for all the lonely nights making memes and reading the news and blogging and creating recipes and blogging the recipes- these events where likeminded people who give enough of a damn to show up are manna to me. I need it, or I would lose my energy for the whole endeavor.

When I went to the March Against Monsanto on May, it was a serious turning point for me. Everything about my life changed. I started this blog. I became an activist. I started the facebook page to go along with this blog (click HERE to go and like the page). It was never going to be my health that changed my lifestyle. It needed to be something more than that. Yeah, I know, my health is a big deal, but it wasn't compelling enough for a radical shift, for whatever reason. But coming to understand the big picture about GMOs, and that changing my lifestyle was REVOLUTIONARY- that spoke to me. I learned about bees, and I started taking steps to be a beekeeper with HONEYLOVE. I started urban farming, and helping other organizations, like LA Green Grounds. I spend time at my local farmer's market, and buy at least half of my groceries from there. I get to know local businesses that are using organic, non GMO ingredients, many of whom I met at the recent Artisanal LA, many of whom I will feature in upcoming blogs. And I have been busy at work on my cookbook, the New Anarchist's Cookbook, due in 2014. So you see, it was a powerful event for me, as I am sure it was for the others who attended. And hopefully it got the people who saw the Marches, either in person or in the sparse media coverage interested in knowing more about why so many people would take to the streets.

Its amazing to me that later in the day, I saw some friends, who asked what we had been doing. They said, "What is Monsanto? What is a GMO?" People still remain in the dark. Here is a great video to share on your FB page and on any other social media. People need to understand what is going on.

At this March, I was exposed to  the TPP,  or Trans Pacific Partnership, which I plan on studying up on this week. Here is a little bit about what the TPP is, and its very scary.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership n. 1. A "free trade" agreement that would set rules on non-trade matters such as food safety, internet freedom, medicine costs, financial regulation, and the environment. 2. A binding international governance system that would require the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and any other country that signs on to conform their domestic policies to its rules.  3. A secret trade negotiation that has included over 600 official corporate "trade advisors" while hiding the text from Members of Congress, governors, state legislators, the press, civil society, and the public. 

To read more, click HERE

Here is another way of looking at the TPP-

The Trans-Pacific Partnership would create a super-treaty which would jeopardize the sovereignty of the nations involved by giving that power to large corporations like Wal-Mart, Monsanto, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Halliburton, Philip Morris, GE, GM, Apple.  TO read more of this, click HERE.

I was very impressed to see so many kids at the March. One family that stole my heart was a mom and dad and three kids dressed like bees. The mom was in a full on bhurka. The diversity of the crowd warmed my heart- from a wide range of cultures, and age differences- some really funky hippies and some very conservative looking people- they all hit the streets and they all did that out of love. Why else? They want to wake people up, they want people to know that evil is right on their doorstep, to vote with their dollars, to get informed, to make choices that are aligned with a bright future for human beings and the planet.

If you were not able to make it, I implore you to please make the next March Against Monsanto, and any protests against the TPP. If there are only a few hundred marching, its easy to ignore. But if we can get thousands in the streets- it can not be swept under the carpet. These are some of the biggest issues facing everyone today, whether they want to pay attention to it or not- it affects everyone equally. 

Marching Downtown LA

Just so you know for the next march- Its really easy to get downtown on the Metro, so you don't have to worry about parking or getting back to your car- I took it for the first time, and met the most amazing people, including these kids.  They marched the whole day from 10am to after 4pm. I love these kids, and their mom for exposing them to the idea of taking action. I like knowing these kids are probably not eating foods with GMOs, thanks to their mom's awareness and diligence. This is the future! Shake the Hive!!

Little Anons after the March Against Monsanto at the LA Metro Station

love and rockets,

Ashley Dane
Shake the Hive

Sustainability and Urban Farming for the Homeless, March Against Monsanto, and Artisanal LA

Last Friday, I went to see my friend Chick at Step Up on Vine Street. Step Up is an organization that helps the homeless, and my friend works with them, runs groups and trainings, and maintains the tower gardens on the roof. As he was giving me a tour, I was stunned by how evolved the whole premise and the way it is structured to include urban farming and sustainability in its program.

The roof garden at Step Up on Vine street

Step Up on Second and Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, both 501(c)3 organizations, have retrofitted an existing 20,718 sf, three-story hotel into a 34-unit affordable housing project. The facility is intended for the psychosocial rehabilitation and support of the homeless affected by severe and persistent mental illness. 

Located at the corner of Santa Monica and Vine, the ground floor features retail and community spaces including a computer lab, cafe and commercial kitchen to be used by residents. The second and third floors consist of living quarters, a community room and laundry facilities. The roof of the structure features an aquaponic rooftop garden, outdoor seating and lighting that enables the space to be utilized by residents. 

Sustainable features include green screens on the exterior; daylighting strategies including low E windows and eyebrows that will extend past the green screen; low flow plumbing fixtures; use of a grey water/irrigation system; a potential 50 kW solar array on roof deck; thermal hot water system heated by solar; and new efficient electrical and mechanical systems. 

The cafe at Step Up on Vine Street- full commercial kitchen in back

 I got that blurb from the construction company website- because the Step Up website has the best information about the services they provide for the homeless- which are extensive and impressive- like the commercial kitchen and cafe where they train the residents to work. The cafe is open to the public and is manned by the people who have been trained to prepare the food and run the cafe. CLICK HERE to see more about what Step Up does.

Me at Step Up on Vine Street

For the purposes of this blog, I wanted to mention Step Up not only for their contribution to humanity, but for their efforts at sustainability.  I love that they are using solar panels- it was interesting to learn that the power drops on cloudy days. It makes sense, but I didn't know how that worked. I had gone there to help my friend plant the towers, but by the time I got there, he had planted them all- it was a super hot day, and once I got there I could see why he had wanted to hurry up.  They grow a lot of different vegetables and leafy greens which they use in the kitchen and cafeteria.  I love the tower gardens, and I have one myself, but I've had trouble getting the seedlings going this time around- from the weather scorching them, to me over watering them, to my cats eating them- its been a little challenging.  But once that part is done, the towers manage themselves, and do provide a great option for having a garden when you don't have soil to plant in.  (If you look up garden towers here in the STH blogs, you will see a lot more about them).

The March Against Monsanto, May 25, 2013

 Saturday is the March Against Monsanto. Things like this really separate the chaff from the wheat, when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is. Its easy to share a great activist-y meme or Down with Monsanto meme on facebook- its an entirely different thing to commit a chunk of your day to going to march. Originally I had a big group of people who wanted to go to the March- and its dwindled to my one homey, who I affectionately have called my Wife for many years. She and I are gonna go hit the streets on Saturday, and then we will be attending Artisanal LA, which will feature locally grown and artisan foods and products, as well as classes on beekeeping and creating community gardens and canning and fermenting....a bunch of cool stuff! If you are in LA, I would like to suggest you do your best to get to both. As for the March- I am sure you have stuff to do on Saturday. We all do. I am a mother, trust me, I know. But there is strength in numbers, and if people last minute decide they have to tend to other things, the march will be looked at as a sweet little attempt by a few earth loving hippies and not something to be taken seriously. WE NEED YOU! There is a March in almost very city in the US, and all over the world.

MARCH AGAINST MONSANTO!


CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE MARCH AND WHERE TO GO IN YOUR CITY

Xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Shake the Hive!

Urban Farming in South Central with LA Green Grounds

Last week, I watched a Tedtalk of a man named Ron Finley. I had found a meme that said- "Gardening is gangsta". Awesome! I googled him after seeing that, and watched the Tedtalk. This guy blew my mind. He was saying so much that I was thinking, and a lot that I hadn't thought- but I knew that we were cut from the same cloth and I wanted to get involved.

It happened pretty fast. The next day I was at a home in South Central Los Angeles (which I refuse to call South Los Angeles- like Ron Finley says- they changed the name to remove the stigma, but that doesn't help the people who live their and some of the issues they face in parts of that neighborhood) with a shovel in my hand, helping Los Angeles Green Grounds (which Ron Finley co-founded) install an urban garden. I freaking love these people. LOVE these people.  Here is what they say in their 'about us' page-

"We are an all-volunteer group based in South Los Angeles. We build gardens, with a focus on serving low-income residents and others with scarce access to fresh, affordable food. We also advocate for gardens, open space, and general wellness in S LA and beyond. We run wellness classes and hikes in the Kenneth Hahn Rec Area, which you can keep up with on our Facebook page here. And we also regularly attend community gatherings to table, talk, work, chat, keep up with other goings-on in the food justice/anti-hunger/anti-poverty, and environmental movements in the City… and just to meet new people to work with. We’re keen on creating more spaces for gardening in the City!"

Me and James at the LA Green grounds Dig In

There are remarkable people everywhere, doing amazing things, in your community. I would highly recommend that you find out where they are in your area and help them make the world a better place! One of the people I met at the LAGG Dig-In was a a guy named Jake. He has an organization called Dumbplastic. His role there was to make the event as green as possible- in that there would be an effort to not use any items that are 'single use'. People were asked to please bring a plate and utensils, and not to bring bottled water but to bring a re-usable water bottle or canteen, or you could purchase one of the super cool bottles from Dumbplastic. Its an important message, and one I can't stress enough, and I speak about a lot on my facebook page (www.facebook.com/shakethehive). my family and I went through a case of 24 waters a week. that's 1250 bottles we are now NOT throwing away. Same with almost any single use plastic item- we are doing our utmost- from carrying out own utensils so we never have to use plastic ones...I even carry my own chopsticks...to not using single serve coffee cups every day at Coffee Bean or Starbucks- the re-usable kind of cups are great. That's 365 fewer plastic cups and lids that I am not contributing to the planet.

Dumbplastic's water bottles at the LA Green Grounds Dig In

And if you think that its all getting recycled- think again. Only 8% of plastic waste actually makes it to a recycling plant.  You need to know that the solution isn't recycling- because even that causes so much incredible usage of resources to even produce the recycled product that its almost not worth it.

The truth is that recycling only marginally helps cut down the amount of resources needed to make packaging products such as water bottles. The root of the problem is that there is too much consumption and production of plastics. Try to buy fewer water bottles, because in many cases, tap water is just as clean or cleaner than bottled water.

I love that Jake is trying to educate people about the importance of not using plastics whenever possible. Of course, we live in a world where its not maybe even possible to never use them, but we can use our own bags, water bottles, coffee cups.

Volunteers getting the ground ready at the LA Green Grounds Dig In

And I love that LA Green Grounds is creating urban farms and giving people a chance to have access to an understanding of the benefits of fresh vegetables in their diet. They also visit the recipients at regular intervals to teach them how to can and preserve the fruits and vegetables, how to make nutritious meals with what is planted, how to take care of their little urban farm and they return at each changing season to help install seasonally appropriate plants. Some of them are also medicinal- like lavender and aloe and chamomile, and they help them understand how to use these, too. it gives people a chance at nutrition that otherwise wouldn't have one. The culturally prescribed diet is one that leads to many health issues- the same is true everywhere you go, but Ron Finley asserts that it is more concentrated in areas like South Central, and all evidence points to this being absolutely true.

 

Planting the green stuff at LA Green Grounds Dig In

RESISTANCE IS FERTILE

Its true- urban farming is really a radical thing to do in this day and age. Its these things that we once had to do to survive that everyone is so disconnected from that are truly revolutionary. I think of it like this- if something were to happen that made everything stop- no electricity, no internet or cell phones...maybe a zombie apocalypse? Whatever the case may be- I like to think I would be able to be self sustainable.  Currently- I'm not. My goal is to have my own urban farm, with beehives and chickens, on a property for the Shake the Hive Collective, my non-profit for teenage girls and a resource for the community. It isn't really about some sort of apocalypse- its just a way of  getting some perspective about how dependent we are on the system, how utterly helpless we are without it- and its the very system that is using us as grist for the mill. its the very system that promotes our eating foods that make us ill so they can provide the medication to keep us alive from the illnesses they helped promote. I am not going to get into that here- I've spoken about it at length in previous blogs. The documentaries Forks over Knives and Food Fight chronicle exactly this scenario.

Ron Finley is GANGSTA!!!

We have to be revolutionaries in our own lives. We have to confront the very things that have help enslave us. One of the biggest factors is convenience. As a whole, our culture has been brought to its knees by all of the things meant to make our lives more convenient. Fast food is a prime example. Its not as convenient to grow your own food, or buy local and eat mostly plant based diets- but its much less convenient in the long run to be stricken with diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, obesity, cancer, etc.  Give up some convenience and you gain health, longevity. You give the planet some breathing room so we can continue to live here sustainably. There is really no good reason to not do so- except that its inconvenient. that's a lot to put at stake for the sake of making things a little easier in the moment.

Join the tribe at the March Against Monsanto nearest you! Its a world-wide event, taking place in cities all over the US and abroad. Check below for the march near you!!!

March Against Monsanto- Be there or be square!!!

Shake the Hive!!!

xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Keep Calm and Eat Fermented Stuff- Tempeh Burrito.... More Radical Recipes from the New Anarchist's Cookbook!

I've been seeing tempeh listed in some of the things I've read recently, and its in a great vegetarian, gluten free penne Bolognese I really like, so I wanted to learn how to use it. What is tempeh?


Here is what about.com has to say- Tempeh is made from cooked and slightly fermented soybeans and formed into a patty, similar to a very firm veggie burger. Many commercially prepared brands add other grains, such as barley, and also add spices and extra flavors. Although tempeh is made from soy, it has a unique taste and is mildly flavorful on it's own, unlike tofu.  If you aren't fond of tofu, tempeh is also very high in protein and calcium, as well as beneficial isoflavones, but tastes nothing like tofu. Tempeh has a textured and nutty flavor.

I also have been reading a lot about fermented food (My good friend Ginny Talley Rodgers first introduced me to the benefits of fermented foods- she is way ahead of the curve. My curve!) and I was really interested in how to start incorporating more into my diet. Click here to read 8 good reasons why fermented foods are important- its a great article!

  So as far as tempeh, a fermented soy goes- fermented soy stops the effect of phytic acid (the bad stuff in normal soy products)  and increases the availability of isoflavones. The fermentation also creates the probiotics--the "good" bacteria the body is absolutely dependent on, such as lactobacilli--that increase the quantity, availability, digestibility and assimilation of nutrients in the body.

I'm in! Now what? I searched for recipes online and got a little overwhelmed. They were complicated recipes, and I am all about easy recipes. So, I made one up. And I gotta say, I'm a little impressed with myself. High fives all around!

KEEP CALM AND EAT FERMENTED STUFF- TEMPEH BURRITO (more radical recipes from the New Anarchist's Cookbook)

What you'll need-

Tempeh- I think its all organic, mine is
one purple onion
Course Mustard
EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
cilantro
sesame oil
red pepper flakes
Either Nary Dary Chia Cheddar *fermented* cashew butter (which is only available locally for me) OR if you do dairy, then sour cream. You can also try vegetarian sour cream.
Tortillas (the smaller ones) Corn would have been tasty but I am wary of anything with corn unless it says no GMOs on it
Srirarcha sauce (optional)

I like to use my wok for everything, I like how it evenly distributes the heat, but you can use a skillet too.

Cut up the onion (I used half the onion) and put in the pan with EVOO- about 1/3 cup or so
Put sesame oil in, however much you want- this is more to taste
1 tablespoon course mustard (or more, if you like- I am never exact in my measurements)
red pepper flakes

This is what tempeh looks like. Weird, right?

Let all that simmer on low while you cut up the tempeh into cubes. Once its all cut, toss that in the pan and cut up a bunch of cilantro and throw that in there, too. Keep an eye on it for about 8 minutes, then take one out and see if it seems ready by tasting it. I say this because everyone's pans and stoves work at a different heat, and you will be able to tell. You can't undercook it, so its really up to you.

When its ready, put the tempeh in a burrito (I like to get my tortillas damp on both sides and warm them over the gas flame of my stove- I sort of slap them over the flame a few times)
Add the Nary Dairy, or sour cream, and the srirarcha sauce, if you like it. I also added more cilantro. The tempeh tastes sort of like meat that has been marinating- the texture is more...texture-y. Its dang good!

Keep Calm and Eat Fermented Stuff- Tempeh Burrito!

Let me just rant about cilantro for a minute. Its not for everyone, but for years it was one of the first things I would ask a new acquaintance. If they said they didn't like it, I would be very suspicious of them. Now that I am not such a judgmental freak, I don't harsh on anybody for not liking cilantro....but if you *do* like it, then aside from the amazing flavor, you also get all this-

The health benefits of cilantro come from beneficial phytonutrients and antioxidants, especially the flavonoid quercetin. Cilantro is also a good source of dietary fiber and iron, magnesium and manganese. It's a little-known fact that herbs (and spices) such as cilantro have far greater concentrations of antioxidants than any common fruit or vegetable. Herbs also contain a particularly wide variety of antioxidants as well, which makes them more effective at fighting many different kinds of free radicals. Getting the widest variety of antioxidants is just as important as how much of any one antioxidant you get. Many herbs have also been used for medicinal purposes, further demonstrating their health benefits. Click HERE for more info.

I love the smell of cilantro in the morning. It smells like... victory. (High five if you know what movie that's from!)

This recipe, if you can use the amazing Nary Dairy, contains two fermented foods. If you dig around at your local Natural Foods Co-Op, or wherever you shop for your healthy locally produced foods, I bet they have some other options you could try. Why is this revolutionary? As with any food that keeps you healthy, it keeps you off the BIG PHARMA grid. It keeps you out of their reach. If you eat a whole foods/ plant based diet (even if you still eat animal products, but reduce them to no more than 20% of your intake- its a start. But you want to keep it to a low percentage) then the likelihood of you and your family succumbing to major illness is greatly reduced. GREATLY reduced. I can't say it enough- watch Forks Over Knives, if you haven't already. Watch any and all food documentaries you can- the more appalled you are by what we have accepted as our normal American diet, the better. You should be appalled. They need us to be sick, and weak- its a multi-billion dollar industry, and they stand to lose a lot of we were actually healthy. So for me, eating this fermented stuff instead of a hotdog from Weinerschnitzel is VERY radical. Its not my normal way of doing things- hence, radical.

Don't forget about the March Against Monsanto coming to a city near you this October 12th!

March Against Monsanto! March For the Future! Power to the People!

Shake the hive!

xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Buying Locally Grown

I can't stress the importance of buying locally grown goods.  Buying locally grown is like throwing a Molotov cocktail in the face of Monsanto and Bayer and Syngenta. And if you have a revolutionary nature like I do, then that alone is reason enough to start shopping at your local farmer's market or natural food co-op.

My daughter tagged along with her camera. I had to goof off for her!

BUYING LOCALLY GROWN- WHERE DOES YOUR FOOD COME FROM?

I am going to forego talking about the processed foods from the center aisles of your grocery store- I talk about this a lot, but for the sake of this blog, I am going to just say- Don't eat that crap. Trust me. Its bad. God only knows what havoc its wreaking on your immune system.

 Having said that, some people really do try to shop mostly from the outer edges of the grocery store, where the so called fresh food can be found. Even so, the food there has some issues that are not obvious. Produce, for example. We can now buy strawberries and seasonal produce year round. Sometimes its more expensive than others, depending on the season. Usually, the produce is shipped in from other states, and even other countries, like South America. What this means is that your produce was picked well before it was ripe, in order to get on the shelf in time and also allow it to sit on the shelf for another week or so. When produce is picked before it is ripe, it is lacking the natural processes that make it not only taste good, but deliver nutrients. The nutrients come in the maturation process, so when a tomato is picked several days before it is ripe, even though it will continue to ripen while its in a box on its way to the grocery store, it is not ripening on the vine and lacks the necessary sugars and sunlight to become a true representation of what a tomato should be. You can also see the difference with your own eyes. Cut open a tomato from the grocery store and its water-y and goopy and has lots of space inside it- often only the outer part is usable. But cut open a vine ripened fresh locally grown tomato, and its solid tomato meat all the way through.

My beloved Studio City farmer's market. Its also a fun way to spend a Sunday!

So, by the time it gets to you, its been picked too young, put in boxes and transported across states or even countries. It doesn't taste or look like a tomato that you bought that was picked the day before, as you get from a local farmer, and it lacks the full range of nutrients, too. It is a well known fact that in countries that eat a mostly plant based diet, there is a lack of the major illnesses that plague us in the USA. By eating the most nutrient dense produce you can buy, and learning to eliminate processed foods (I know, it takes time. Even I have a list of 5 that I am not ready to give up yet.) and reducing animal based foods (I said reduce. If you can eliminate them, then I totally salute you, but I am definitely not there yet. However, I now eat meat about once a week. My weakness is milk.) you can significantly decrease you and your family's chances of succumbing to such abundant ailments as obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Fresh fruit and vegetables contain what our bodies need to function properly and stave off illness and disease.

"Let food by thy medicine." Hippocrates said that. Every Dr has to swear a Hippocratic oath to this day in order to become a physician- that's how legit Hippocrates is. And how not legit many Drs aren't.

Check out this trailer from the documentary Forks Over Knives. Its a must see! And don't worry, so many people tell me they are afraid of seeing how animals are treated in meat processing plants- they don't really show all of that. They just tell you some amazing facts that everyone should know.

Another big factor is the cost to the environment to ship all of this produce all over the world. Often your produce has been in several trucks, planes, or trains before it gets to you. There is a lot of fuel used in this transport. When you buy local, you are not contributing to the exorbitant waste, or the emissions from said waste. Local farmers drive to the markets, but not usually from very far, with their fresh, vine ripened produce. So it tastes better, is healthier, and doesn't contribute to the consumption of fossil fuels.



Checking out the zucchini for some Bomb Ass Zucchini Chips!!!

You also don't get GMO produce, since you know where it came from. They don't sell Frankenfoods at farmer's markets. And those who created genetically modified organisms want the small farmers out of business. Its very convenient that they are killing off the honey bees, which farmers have relied upon since the beginning of time to pollinate their crops. When you support small farmers. you DO NOT support those power hungry assholes that are ready to sacrifice the health of you, your children and the planet for profit.

 

ITS NOT JUST FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

At all farmer's markets, you can find a variety of things besides produce. I get fresh eggs from hens that are free range. They left the hens only a day or two prior to my getting them, rather than weeks after. They taste amazing!!! I also get my soap at my local farmer's market in Studio City, spices, and fish. They also have meat from grass fed cows, handmade clothing and jewelry, organic chousehold cleaning supplies, organic coffee and honey, some cool herbal tonic drinks, fresh squeezed orange juice, locally grown nuts, and smoothies. I always buy a bouquet of lilies for $5. One of my favorite discoveries is Nary Dairy,  a cheese alternative spread made from cashew butter.  The Nary Dairy people are so super sweet, and I love eating food made by such great people. My favorite is the Chia Cheddar. I eat it with quinoa, flax and chia seed crackers.  No more chips, no more candy bars,  no more grazing on snack stuff from 7-11. This stuff is awesome!

With Suzanne from Nary Dairy. Such great people!!! So yummy!!

I now do at least half of my weekly shopping for my family at the farmer's market, and I continue to learn new recipes so that I utilize foods that I can buy there, like my Bomb Ass zucchini chips. It makes me so happy to eat food that supports the local farmers, does not support shipping produce all over the world, is ripe and fresh and nutrient dense and delicious. I love that I walk to the market to get it, use only my recycled shopping bags, and don't purchase anything in packaging- no waste whatsoever. I love that I am not supporting the giant food corporations that would like to jeopardize our health to keep Big Pharma fat and happy.  The revolution starts with making different choices in who and what your dollar supports. So its a big fat UP YOURS to Monsanto, and that makes me ecstatic.

Not everyone has a local farmer's market, and not everywhere has a climate where they can buy locally grown.  Here are two helpful websites that can assist you in finding what is in your area-

CLICK HERE for a farmer's market locator.

CLICK HERE for a natural foods co-op locator

Don't forget to use recycled shopping bags. I will soon have some snazzy Shake The Hive market bags, with little produce bags inside so you don't have to ever use any plastic bags again.  A friend of mine is helping me with the new logo, and I can't wait to unveil it!

Don't forget to March Against Monsanto! Check out the facebook page for the March nearest you

Shake the Hive!

Ashley Dane

Radical Recipes from the New Anarchist's Cookbook- Stick-it-To-The-man Stir Fry

This week has been weird. I've been craving deep fried wontons with cream cheese inside- and I'm not gonna lie. I got some. But then I craved them the next night, and I realized how sneaky my brain is. Its wired, via my taste buds, to want deep fried food food, filled with some gooey cheese- I mean,  what is cream cheese, anyway? I will look it up later, but I do love it, and I'm not backing down from it yet- although I get it from trader Joe's, no more Philly Cream Cheese filled with GMOs for me.

I had to have a bit of a stand down with myself. I was in a bit of a state. All I could think about all day long were those damn wontons. Sometimes, in these recipes I post, I offer the recipe itself up as an alternative to a craving. This isn't that, not really. There is no relation to the following recipe and fried cream cheese wontons in taste or texture- but its the best thing I've made all week, and it totally hit the spot, and I won't be surprised if I crave it all day tomorrow- that's the goal. To keep eating the right foods until I de-program myself from the processed, deep fried, palm oil and high fructose corn syrup laden, GMO packed crap that is packaged so cleverly, branded so well its seared into our flesh, and hits all the high notes with our taste buds. I want to crave healthy stuff, because I want to make sure my dollars are not supporting the aforementioned atrocity that is the typical American diet. I want my dollars to go to the local and small and organic farmers, who are not trying to compromise my health for the sake of Big Pharma.

Eat Radical recipes and avoid Big Pharma- stick it to the man by eating like you give a damn!

Enough of me ranting. I posted a recipe a couple of weeks back, and this is actually a variation on a theme.

STICK-IT-TO-THE-MAN STIR FRY

There's no going back now

What you will need-


6 Organic carrots. NOT those already peeled bright orange weird carrots, those are actually reconstituted carrots. But like REAL carrots, with green at the top, that you have to peel
Frozen organic green beans
organic non GMO sprouted tofu, firm
mushrooms
oyster sauce
sesame oil
garlic
Quinoa- optional side dish, I highly recommend.

So the biggest prep time in this recipe is for the carrots. I peel them, place them in tent of aluminum foil with EVOO and garlic, and bake them in the oven at 450 for 20 minutes, or until they are 'al dente'. And yes, there is a perfect texture for carrots. If they aren't al dente, I won't eat them- they don't even taste like carrots when they are cooked right. Which is good since I kind of hate carrots otherwise.

Here is an amazing song to cut tofu and mushrooms by, FLUME featuring Chet Faker...

(Put quinoa on to cook now, if you are going to have that as a side dish)

While carrots are cooking, cut the tofu into squares and set aside. Cut the mushrooms into slices. Mince the garlic, unless you have a Trader Joe's and can get the frozen garlic cubes- they ROCK! Put sesame oil, oyster sauce, and plenty of garlic in a wok or frying pan. (I never measure, but if I had to guess, I'd say start with 1/3 cup of each and 3 cloves garlic- if a clove means one of those little chunks that you have to peel inside a big thing of garlic)

STICK IT TO THE MAN! Right from your own kitchen!!!

Don't turn the stove on high, I always do and burn everything. Keep it on a low-medium setting while the oil, sauce, and garlic get a chance to mingle and infuse.  After about 3-5 minutes, put the tofu in first. Mix it gently so it doesn't break apart but gets saturated with the sauce. After a few minutes, put the mushrooms in and do the same thing. A few minutes later, put the green beans in (I put them in frozen) and let it all simmer for a while.

Now check on those carrots. If they seem good to you, take them out carefully and cut them into bite sizes. Throw those in with the rest of the stir fry and simmer some more.

You will be able to tell when its ready- mostly because the frozen beans will be hot which means everything else is well cooked too. Try to make sure someone is with you- you will want to have someone taste your amazing cooking immediately. You will be grinning from ear to ear, and you know how it is, you have to share the joy asap. At least, that was my experience.

If you try it and you like it, let me know!!

And don't forget, just 5 weeks away and coming to a city or town near you-

Occupy yourself! March Against Monsanto. Find the location near you on facebook.

Love and rockets,

Ashley Dane
Shake The Hive

9/11, Society, And the State of Things

9/11 is always a weird day for Americans.

It was, without question, a tragedy. That we were able to also witness, in all that devastation, incredible acts of valor and selflessness was an ode to the human spirit. And in our memories of that day, one thing is also true- we were united. The entire country was focused on one thing. It might have been the first time I actually *felt* like an American. I think I didn't even realize it at the time, but in retrospect, I felt a kinship with my country, with all Americans. I knew we were all experiencing shock and horror and sadness and helplessness and loss and anger- all of us together.

9/11/2001

I wish it didn't take an event like that to bring people together en masse. There is so much that tears us apart as a people, so much that divides us- and personally, I think it suits the powers that be just fine that this is true. If we were really United, we would be a real force to be reckoned with. But as it stands, we are divided such things as republican or democrat, liberalism versus conservatism. When the towers were hit, those things didn't matter. Why? Because in the final analysis, they don't really matter. We can, and do, all have our own opinions. We can opine all day long about who in government is making what decision and how its their fault and the other party wouldn't have. It doesn't matter. Because there is a plane headed towards another tower, metaphorically speaking. There is a lot happening in the world, and I can't speak to all of it. There is a lot each one of us can do, and I can't speak to all those many things. But in the daily life we are living, there are things we can do, should do, must do, to alter the course of things for the future, for the planet, for the children of our children's children.

be afraid. be very afraid.

In a nutshell, there has been a lot of research into the way the food industry has been controlled. Quite literally, we have been told certain foods are good for us that are not. Things that cause heart disease, and cancer. There are posters and ads encouraging us to eat them, endorsed by the Dairy Association, for example. The most famous recent one- Got milk? I'm sure you know if it. Then there are the foods that are a result of our need for convenience. Fast food, snack foods, processed food products in colorful boxes and bags. A person needs to eat two or three times more of this stuff to feel satisfied. We get addicted to the flavorings, the salt, the chemicals they use to enhance the artificial flavors. Little kids now have diseases that only old people who ate crap their whole lives got- hypertension, heart disease, obesity, diabetes. Its all due to diet. And they WANT you and your children to be sick. Diabetes medication makes Big Pharma a fortune, not to mention heart disease medication...not to mention all the medication for all the side affects of extreme obesity...not to mention a lot of other things- too much to list.  THEY ARE MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and their compromised health. Doesn't it shock you to think people are working hard to pay for food that makes them sick so they can work hard to spend more money on medicine and doctors and insurance? Because, in effect, Americans are like rats in a maze. We are doing exactly what they want us to do, and we go about our business blissfully unaware. We think its all okay. We think we are making these choices willingly. In a sense, we are, but we don't know we are being slowly poisoned. They don't want to kill us- you can't make money off a corpse. We are like the pods of people in the Matrix- dreaming our lives away while they take everything from you. They allow you to have just enough stuff so you don't even notice. Annnnnnd- I didn't even get to GMOs. Don't get me started. Its just another layer of awfulness that can't be ignored.

Don't be 'most people'. Occupy yourself

If this makes you mad, good. Get mad. You are getting FUCKED. You, and your kids, your friends and their kids, your brothers and sisters and neighbors. The American people, who all came together on that fateful day 12 years ago, are all getting the shaft. And one of the hardest things to do is to get them to recognize it. Its crazy, really, but people do not want to know the truth. Ignorance is not bliss, but there is responsibility in knowing the truth- you can not un-ring the bell. You can not act like you don't know. On September 11, 2001, we watched as people died. The truth of the tragedy of it was awake in all of us. Its so rare, and in moments like that, you realize the power of the people. We could all change things. We could.

We are society. Its us, all of us, that need to change. THEY won't. WE must.

The first thing? Stop buying their crap. That's easier said than done. I don't want to take up a lot of word space talking about how to do it- watch FORKS OVER KNIVES. That's a start. Watch FOOD FIGHT. You will want to understand why you must change the way you buy, and what you consume. The short answer is- if we buy locally grown as much as possible, if we boycott fast food, do our best to eat a plant based diet (I don't, but I'm trying, and this entire blog chronicles my endeavors), learn new foods to eat that are not processed, foods that actually expire in a week or two, and of those, things which are GMO free.

The revolutionary is you, doing something different. Caring. Changing. Pissed!

 It sounds like a lot of work, but its more work to have to get a triple bypass by the age of 55. Its more work for our kids who inherit a planet with no bees, with the food supply controlled by the corporations (farming will become illegal, its inevitable), and with only genetically modified foods available whatsoever. No one has to shift everything overnight- but to start to become aware first- I promise the rest will fall into place. A changed perception can not help but call upon a change of behavior.

This is the trailer from FORKS OVER KNIVES-

The future requires us all to be radical in our own lives, to overthrow the status quo of our own selves and question everything we think we believe in. Some of it isn't ours, and we find we don't want it. We've been branded to since we were born, and our taste buds control us. They know it. Question these things. When you think of giving up processed foods- which ones do you think you can't give up? Really start to ask yourself why. You might even discover you don't actually like the thing. Once you start to eat real food, your body may tell you that you never did like it, only your taste buds, and they are easy to manipulate with artificial flavors.

Below is a video I show a lot, it never fails to shock that the seemingly innocent McDonalds Chicken McNuggets are actually a composite of all the parts of a chicken ground up (eyeballs, feathers, guts, feet, beaks) then soaked in ammonia...well, the rest of it is here to see. This is a processed food. It is so far away from what it was when it started that its barely a food anymore. Try telling that to Honey BooBoo.

This is the start of it. Food is so personal. It freaks most people out to even think about changing. There are a million excuses- I am sure you can hear them in your head right now. Look at it. Rebel against it. This is a real revolution. You are waking up. What is happening in the world is happening to all of us, no matter how divided we allow ourselves to be. No matter if you are a liberal, or a conservative- its all happening to you, and to your children, and to your children's children. Time to stop the madness.  Watch this video. This is US. Not just Americans, all of us. A world of people. Our world.

On October 12th, there will be Marches Against Monsanto happening in cities all over the world. Click HERE to find out where a march and rally are happening near you.

Occupy yourself! You can do it.  I believe in you, whoever you are.

XOXO,

Ashley Dane
Shake The Hive