Shake the Hive at Crenshaw Urban Farming Project

Crenshaw High School Garden Beautification Project is not just a garden of pleasant flowers. Its a hard core food producing urban farm on the grounds of Crenshaw High School, and its pure awesomeness.

I went as one of the volunteer crew for Los Angeles Green Grounds, of Ron Finley fame. In case you haven't seen Ron Finley's very inspiring Tedtalk, check it out-

I got to the high school not having any idea what to expect. What I did not expect is so much space committed to this endeavor- it is a huge area! There were over 80 volunteers there that day, sweating our asses off trying to uproot the bermuda grass and till the soil to make it ready for compost and amendment. If you've never wrestled with bermuda grass roots, its nothing to sneeze at, and it will humble you like nothing else. Its tenacity is impressive, and you have to be equal to the task!

Shake the Hive at Crenshaw High School Garden Project

Here is an excerpt from an LA Times article on the new crop of school farms-

"Carlos Lopez, a graduate of the garden program at Crenshaw High School, thinks a garden's value extends beyond promoting good health. "This is a way of giving kids a sense of ownership, a place to stay off the street. It saved me, and it saved a whole bunch of us. It can become so much bigger than just a garden."
Lopez was part of the team that created Food From the Hood, a student-run business that sprouted from selling Crenshaw High's produce at local farmers markets and eventually expanded to create a national brand of salad dressing that was distributed at more than 2,000 locations. But since the students from Food From the Hood graduated, the garden has become overgrown and left unattended."

Crenshaw High School Urban Farming Project grounds

And from another article- In the 1990s, Crenshaw Community Garden was such a phenomenon that it spawned a company called Food from the 'Hood, garnered a write-up in The New York Times, and was paid a visit by England's Prince Charles.

For nearly a decade, however, the 2.5-acre garden — which sits on the campus of Crenshaw High in Southwest Los Angeles — hasn't thrived as it once did.

"We're trying to get it revitalized," said Bill Vanderberg, Crenshaw High Dean of Students and faculty adviser to the school's Eco Club. "We haven't used it for the past couple of years. We plan to change that."

Crenshaw High School Urban Farm

It seems that they are now in the process of weeding the gardens and getting them back up and running again. I heard mention of selling the food at farmer's markets like they did before, which for me was very impactful, since that is what I want to do with my non-profit Shake the Hive- teach kids to grow the food, and sell it to help keep it going, and also raise chickens and bees, among other things. I have discovered in my adventures of Shake the Hive that I am truly led to the right place at the right time, and it all unfolds seamlessly. 

Crenshaw High School teens at the August 27 dedication 

Part of the garden was also dedicated to the memory of Trayvon Martin.  On August 27 of this year, many students, LAPD officers, teachers, members of the community and local council members came together on the 50th anniversary of MLK Jr's "I have a dream speech"to commemorate Trayvon Martin in this way, and to speak to students about their first amendment rights. 

Crenshaw High School youth honoring Trayvon Martin and exercising their First Amendment rights

"Eighth District Council member Bernard Parks made a presentation on the Trayvon Martin Resolution passed by the Los Angeles City Council to pressure the federal government to investigate the Martin shooting. Representatives from LAPD’s South Bureau also spoke to students about how to stand up for their First Amendment Rights in a way that won’t end up in arrests. 

Domonic Wilks, an alumni of Crenshaw High School, who graduated this past year and participated in the march, said that it’s important to have this memorial on his campus because a lot of Crenshaw students can relate to what happened to Martin. “We feel that this is the civil rights movement as our generation. There hasn’t been something as big as this that has been televised and on the news, and so we want to show that this happens and we don’t want it to happen anymore,” said Wilks. - See more at: http://intersectionssouthla.org/story/crenshaw-high-school-memorial-dedication-for-trayvon-martin/#sthash.9mTOA8BB.dpuf"

Ashley Dane, founder at Shake the Hive at Crenshaw High School Beautification Project

There will be another volunteer heavy Dig In at the Crenshaw High School on December 21 at 8am until about 2pm. All are welcome, and please bring any garden tools you may have. Be prepared to get dirty, to have sweat dripping down your face, to get bruised and to have your hands in the dirt, to get stinky, to be caked in dirt and mud, to get blisters, and to be deliriously happy.

And last but not least, here is the newsletter I got in my email today- 

** The Crenshaw Garden Beautification Newsletter
------------------------------------------------------------
Mother Of Many, LAPD and LA Green Grounds joined forces to beautify the Crenshaw High School Garden.  With the help of many volunteers the Change What You Eat, Change How You Feel Beautification was a huge success!

80+ Volunteers helped with the effort of digging up grass, weeds and laying down mulch. The pathways that were previously covered with dirt are now visible. Trees have been trimmed.

The compost bins are finally free of contaminated dirt and ready to enhance the nutrients of the soil that will make our vegetables healthier to eat. The plants have all been thoroughly watered and thanks to all the volunteers we are closer to planting more fruits and vegetables for the Spring 2014 Farmers Market.

We'd like to thank officer Paul Evleth, for organizing the awesome LAPD volunteers and Sachiko Speaks for organizing such passionate LA Green Grounds volunteers who not only volunteered their time but donated seeds, worm castings and mulch. Mother Of Many looks forward to the LAPD and LA Green Grounds participating at the next Crenshaw Garden Beautification.Saturday December 21, 2013!



Shake the Hive!

xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Wolves

I have always had a mild obsession with wolves; they have existed in my own personal mythology like a bright shade of yarn in a tapestry- the one that illuminates and ties together all the other colors. This article is not going to be about my personal feelings about wolves, but I would be remiss if I did not mention it, because part of Shaking the Hive is following your heart, and wolves occupy a huge space in mine.

Its a very known thing among my dear friends, and which is why my friend Bean invited me to a fundraising for the documentary, Medicine of the Wolf.  I met the director of the documentary, Julia Huffman, and instantly felt like I knew her already and would know her for a long time to come.  I wasn't able to stay at the event for very long (I had to get to see Marianne Williamson announce her bid to run for Congress), but it was long enough to forge a connection with Julia, and to meet the beautiful wolf, Waya.

Ashley Dane  with Waya the wolf at the Medicine of the Wolf fundraiser

When Julia asked me if I wanted to go with her to Wolf Connection up north, I leapt at the chance. We got to talk a bit on the way up, and I learned more about my new friend and wolf sister. Her connection to wolves began with her lifetime bond with dogs. All dogs are descended from wolves, and inherently contain a little wolf in them. (Even my little 3 pound Yorkie!) From there, she was placed in situations where she was drawn to the wolf and everything it stood for, until a time came that she heard about the plight of the wolf. It seems that as much as the wolf has been the villain in so many legends and stories, the real villain in the life of the wolf is modern man. She was called to bring this situation to public awareness, and is able to bring her experience as a director into this mission, Medicine of the Wolf, the film.

Julia Huffman and Ashley Dane at Wolf Connection

Here are some important bits about the history of wolves in the US, from the website Mission Wolf-

U.S. Wages a War Against Wolves

Over a hundred years ago, people around the world began waging a war against the wolf. The U.S. government implemented a nationwide policy of wolf control. Wolves were seen as pests that posed a threat to the continued safety and prosperity of the American people.  Their skulls and skins were piled high for victory photographs and to claim the bounties. The wolf is the only species to be deliberately driven to the brink of extinction by humans. By 1960, the once populous wolf was essentially extinct throughout its former range.

Slow Natural Recovery - 1970’s

Even though the official war against the wolf had ended in the rest of the US shortly after 1960, hunters still searched for the few elusive remnant wolves remaining in the Great Lakes' region. Despite hunters' best efforts, the northern timber wolves held their ground and actually began to make a slight comeback. . The last of America's wild wolves were starting to win some public interest and concern... and talk of the Endangered Species List had just begun. Wolves gained protection under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) introduced in 1973, which was a landmark piece of legislation. Its purpose has been contentious ever since, but it is intended to save species “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion” of their range.

 Northern Rockies Reintroduction - 1995 & 1996

Perhaps the most monumental move in gray wolf policy over the past century was the decision to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone National Park. After years of political battles and local grassroots efforts to win over support from area ranchers, 31 Canadian gray wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park.

 Since wild wolves have returned to Yellowstone, the elk and deer are stronger, the aspens and willows are healthier and the grasses taller.  For example, when wolves chase elk during the hunt, the elk are forced to run faster and farther.  As the elk run, their hooves aerate the soil, allowing more grasses to grow.  Since the elk cannot remain stationary for too long, aspens and willows in one area are not heavily grazed, and therefore can fully recover between migrations.  As with the rest of the country, coyote populations were nearly out of control in Yellowstone before the wolves returned.

The Future For the Wolf

After decades of federal protection and re­introduction programs, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided the wolves had recovered sufficiently to warrant removing ESA protection. (There are now about 4,000 wolves in the Great Lakes area and nearly 1,700 in the northern Rockies.) Wolves in these areas were ‘delisted’ between May 2011 and August 2012. (Currently there has been a proposal to delist the grey wolf as well.) This meant that hunting wolves was now allowed in certain states.

Said a comment on this picture on Facebook to someone protesting the wolf hunting-  you are a very uneducated individual along with the rest of you wolf advocates!! They are deadly and dangerous and don't belong in the States. Listen to yourselves making empty threats making yourselves look like idiots. Get over it and move on.

Disturbing images like this can be seen all over Facebook. Comments like "They are deadly and dangerous and don't belong in the States" are the exact myth that needs to be dispelled. There are humans in this world who take great pride in killing these animals. The vilification of wolves is still prevalent in the mentality of many Americans, who see them as vicious vermin. There is an effort to open more states up to hunting wolves, and this doesn't just mean men out there with guns- they are hunting from planes, they are trapping them with leg traps as well as neck traps that squeeze their necks until their brains turn to jelly from hemorrhaging. Over 800 wolves were killed last year- almost 1/7 of the total population.

Ashley Dane getting wolf kisses from Maya at Wolf Connection

Medicine of the Wolf and Wolf Connection

When we arrived, I was allowed to walk around while the kids that Wolf Connection were hosting fed the wolves and cleaned the poop from their pens. Most of the wolves are part dog, some more than others. All have been rescued from situations that ranged from serious abuse to flat out neglect. Wolf Connection says this about their Youth Program-

Wolf Connection is a youth education and empowerment program with wolfdogs as the centerpiece. With the help of these magnificent animals, young men and women from all walks of life learn about nature and conservation, work through the challenges in their lives, learn to be of service by responsibly caring for another living being, and work towards becoming the kind of person they want to be.

Kids from the Youth Program cleaning out a wolf pen

I got to see this in action, and it was impressive. These kids get such an incredible opportunity to be a part of this- something that will expand their awareness, take them out of their present circumstances to see a larger view of life. These animals are recovering from unfortunate situations, and working with them is visibly healing for these kids. Julia was going up to speak to these kids about her documentary and her love of wolves, and we all gathered in the gigantic teepee at the center of the ring of wolf pens to hear her story.



Julia Huffman, director of Medicine of the Wolf,  at Wolf Connection

 Julia spoke of her desire to raise awareness about wolves, to bring their plight into the consciousness of more people. I myself, an avid wolf lover, did NOT know that they had been delisted, and found both the fact of it, and my not knowing about it, shocking. There is a lot going on in politics about the fate of the wolf that most of us just don't really know about, people who would care, if we knew. She wants to reach us. We need to hear this message. Like the bee, the wolf is an important part of the ecosystem. Its not only important to protect the wolf, but for the wolf to protect our sacred places where the land is still wild and natural.

 Says the Medicine of the Wolf facebook page about the film-

 Julia Huffman, Filmmaker,  travels into “wolf country” to pursue the deep intrinsic value of brother wolf and our forgotten promise to him. After 40 years of protection, grey wolves were recently de-listed from the Endangered Species Act, and their fate was handed over to state legislatures. What ensued was a “push to hunt” them. The grey wolf, an American Icon, not only lost its federal protection, but was abandoned to politicians and special interest groups. Battle lines have been drawn as both advocates and Native American groups try desperately to save the wolf from its extinction.

 

Wolf Connection Slideshow

 

 

One teen asked Julia- "What can we do?" I love that kid!!! What can a person do? Raise awareness is a good start. Through all means possible. First, you have to learn about it, in order to speak about it. Then, spread the word. If you live where you can find local wolf rescues, donate money, and if you don't have money, donate time. Or both, if you can!! Go to the facebook pages that glorify wolf hunting and report them to facebook (do a search with kill wolf or hunt wolf or wolves and you'll find them). If you are a parent, take your kids to a wolf sanctuary, and educate them. Get your kids involved in spreading awareness- teens need to stand for something, or, as Winston Churchill says, they'll fall for anything.

 

Callan McAuliffe talks about Wolf Connection's Teen Program

 

 

Julia, and the great people at Wolf Connection, are the exact embodiment of everything that Shake the Hive stands for-  Find out what is missing the presence of which would make a difference, and BRING IT. This almost always requires an upset of the status quo- usually your own- because rarely is it convenient to BRING IT. Usually its confronting and challenging and requires that you question everything you think you know. And... so what. Just do it, its not as hard as it sounds. Its the bridge from an ordinary life to an epic one. Shake the Hive suggests that you call on your inner hero ASAP, because the world needs nothing less. So many things need rescuing, so many things need champions. Be that. You, reading this, right now. Unleash your inner revolutionary badass and SHAKE THE HIVE!!!

 

Meeting Maya the wolf for the first time at Wolf Connection

 

I told the folks at Wolf Connection I would like to volunteer my time. They said they are always in need of volunteers, so if you are in the LA area, drop them a line and see what you can do to help- WOLF CONNECTION website. If you can't donate time, then maybe try to donate money. Every little bit helps, and these animals are usually beset with a lot of medical issues when they arrive, so they need HELP!

 

To stay in the loop with Julia Huffman's documentary (she is still raising funds to complete it, so its a work in progress and a labor of extreme love.) and watch her progress, and learn more about wolves- like her MEDICINE OF THE WOLF FACEBOOK PAGE. Once she kicks off her fundraising campaign, I will post that as well.

 

Want to connect with SHAKE THE HIVE on facebook? I highly recommend it. Join the revolutionary banter on the daily at SHAKE THE HIVE ON FACEBOOK

 

 

 

 

Xoxo,

 

Ashley Dane

Shake the Hive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carry On. Stay Kind. Occupy Yourself.

One of the greatest things about having a voice and presence as an activist in the virtual world is the people that find you, rally around you, and support you and your message. Just these past two weeks, I have had some great responses to things I've posted. Halloween night, I posted this-

Angela Davis- liberate minds as well as society

A few moments after posting that, I received this in my inbox, from a wonderful woman named Karen Sue Gaddy. I asked her if I could mention her name and post her message.

Just saw your post w Angela Davis

 I was not much more than 20. They were goin up the jersey tp minding their own business. State police stopped their car. Think they had Lewis or Newton in the car. Angela went to prison pg. I sat in my upstairs window and wept as men with guns walked the fields and woods around my house. They came on the radio and told us to stay inside and lock our doors. There had been a shoot out on the jersey tpk around mile market 8 or 8A between Black Panthers and popo.

I had already seen what the establishment was doing to stop the uprising. Those of us who craved change read the "underground" newspaper and just knew that most of what the establishment was printing was lies. If you gotta stuff a gag in a man's mouth in court, you must be afeared of losing control. (In them days, the popo would stop any hippie or weirdo in a desolate part of the Garden State in the A.M.,rip your ride apart, seats and all, throw it out on the side of the highway and leave you there at the mercy of the night to put your shit back together.)

So, I did not lock my doors. I opened all my windows and doors and prayed they would make it to my house and I could have helped them in some way. I just played "Four Way Street" full blast on the outdoor speakers, blasted it across the fields and woods and awaited the inevitable. They did not make it to my house.     

Carry on. Stay kind. Always there is a movement.

"Those of us who crave change."  If you are reading this, then there is a good chance you are one of those people.  Change must happen, and the change requires that we each look at our lives and do things differently. I love this quote by David Suzuki- it says so much-

David Suzuki- Re-examine our lifestyles is right!

This revolution has elements that none other has had before. The enemy is not only without. There is a complacency that has infiltrated our minds, or homes, and our lives, that is the biggest obstacle in this movement. If we could overcome that obstacle EN MASSE- it would be a powerful, even unstoppable force. There are more of us than of them. And by them, I mean the shareholders and those who make money on the bones of our children's children. Those who profit from our illnesses. Those who package food "products"  to make them tempting, add chemical flavorings to induce cravings, all the while knowing that these diets create obesity, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, all sorts of maladies for which they also provide a plethora of pharmaceuticals- BIG PHARMA. And BIG AGRA, they are all for the GMOs, tout them as being the solution to world hunger, meanwhile American grocery stores are 80% full of GMO tainted products, and people are still starving in the world.  This isn't new information, but how many of you have changed your eating lifestyle radically in lieu of this information? How many people, when presented with images of the plastic garbage vortex in the Pacific Ocean- larger than the state of Texas-  stop using single use plastic items entirely, things like water bottles, cups from coffee shops, plastic bags at grocery stores, lighters? I know that when you read about this stuff, it bothers you. But for most, it doesn't bother them enough, and that's the biggest enemy we face. The apathy, the complacency. that is why this revolution IS primarily an internal one. At least, it begins there, and then it manifests in your life.

Once you start to do things differently, you want to talk about it. You want to have a community around you of like minded people. You tolerate ignorance less. You prefer to learn to be sustainable, to rely less and less on this very flawed system full of sleeping sheep people. You might learn to grow food, or shop at the farmer's markets. You might march at rallies, write blogs, create groups in your community, work with non-profits, learn about beekeeping, help plant urban farms, grow your own food, build a solar panel,  create a non profit, write a cookbook of the new recipes you are learning to create in place of processed foods. You might feel healthier, sexier, people might say, "Wow, you look great, are you in love?" You might be less stressed, moody, prone to anxiety. You might be more present in all your relationships.  You might be EXCITED- for no reason and for every reason. You might feel like part of a movement. You might sense the presence of greater alternatives opening up for the future of humanity. You might feel like one of the good guys. You might love yourself for it.  This is the revolution. The enemy is apathy. Learn to recognize your enemy in your life, and maneuver around it, or kill it dead, but don't let it stop you. OCCUPY YOURSELF!

I loved what Karen Sue Gaddy sent so much. I love how she felt impelled to write to me, a total stranger, and give me a glimpse into a moment and time in her life and her own revolutionary heart. Above all, I love how she signed off. Carry on. Stay kind. Always there is a movement. Thank you, Karen!!

OCCUPY YOURSELF



xoxo,

Ashley Dane
Shake the Hive

Kill Your TV DINNER- Radical Recipes from the New Anarchist's Cookbook

If you have been keeping up with the recipes from the New Anarchist's Cookbook, then you probably know that I am borderline fetish-istic about brussel sprouts. Its a phenomenon that delights me to no end, considering I have spent most of my life sneering at them, determined never to eat a single one. It goes hand in hand with Shake the Hive's philosophy about an inner revolution. What sort of things have we decided were true, without even investigating? What's been branded to us that we never questioned? How much of what we think or believe we like, want. or prefer are even our own beliefs or preferences? Because I am here to tell you, I thoroughly believed that brussel sprouts were disgusting and uncool- and I am so happy to have proven myself wrong. That's a sign that a good revolution is taking place!



There was a time that this was considered progress: a revolution in modern convenience! 

So this is the KILL YOUR TV DINNER. Young 'uns might not remember TV dinners- they were the beginning of the end for the American diet. To make these ultra convenient dinners, all kinds of processed food products were invented that were lacking in the nutrients that the original food would have delivered. But it seemed a small price to pay for the convenience of having a full meal, ready to eat, simply heat it in the oven, break out the tv trays, and plant yourself in front of the boob tube. No nutrient for the body, no nutrients for the brain- and we wonder how America got to be this way.

 The Zombie Apocalypse is already here

KILL YOUR TV DINNER

prep time- 8-10 minutes
cook time- Depends on how you like it
skill level- 0

What you'll need-

aluminum foil (disclaimer- this might not be the best thing for you, I still use it for now)
Fish of your choice- I used Swai
Organic Brussel sprouts (scroll to the bottom of page for nutritional info)
Nutiva organic extra virgin coconut oil (I met this company at the recent Green Festival in LA- awesome people, awesome product! Certified organic and certified non GMO. Order from them- I totally endorse them as a purveyor!!)
Chili garlic Sauce
Organic garlic
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (you can use whatever, but this is all I ever use)
Truffle Salt
Nutiva Organic Chia Seeds (Same purveyor as the Coconut oil- good price for a big bag of certified organic chia seeds!)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place the fish inside a piece of aluminum foil, a piece big enough to wrap the fish up in
Chop up garlic and put it on top of the fish
Put Coconut oil on top of fish and salt the fish, to taste
Wrap up the fish so its in a foil packet and set aside

Not unlike a TV dinner- its all prepared at once. But this is GOOD for you!

Cut Brussel sprouts in half
Make a tray out of aluminum foil so the oil can't run out the sides
place sprouts with the leafy side down and cover with coconut oil and truffle salt

Now put both the fish packet(s) and the tray of Brussel sprouts in a cookie tray and put in the oven.

You will want to take the fish out earlier than the Brussel sprouts- but this will have to be at your discretion. My fish was frozen and I cooked it that way, so it took longer. Yours might not be frozen, or it may be thicker, so you'll have to keep an eye on it.

I like my Brussel sprouts to burn a little on the outside leaves- it give a lot of flavor and is nice and crispy, while the inside is soft and yummy.

When you take out the fish, you can leave it in the foil so it doesn't get cold. Once you take the sprouts out, unfoil the fish and put it in a plate, and add the garlic chili paste (spread it on the top of the fish) and sprinkle with chia seeds.

As with all Radical recipes, this is very easy and *convenient* to make. Convenience is still something sought after, and it can be had without sacrificing the nutrition your body needs. We want to have healthy bodies, because then our bodies belong to us. If we are not in good health (such as a huge percentage of Americans, who suffer from illnesses traceable to diets of processed foods) then our bodies belong to the Big Pharma and the insurance and medical corporations- and trust me, that's how they want it. Being healthy is revolutionary!  A big up yours to the food corporations that would prefer you to compromise your health with their food products!

Oh so yummy! Kill Your TV Dinner!


And a little flashback to the days of yore, when the TV Dinner was a groundbreaking new achievement in modern convenience...

Shake the Hive!!

xoxo,

Ashley Dane

Health benefits of brussel sprouts

• The sprouts are one of the low-glycemic nutritious vegetables that should be considered in weight reduction programs. 100 g brussel sprouts provide just 45 calories, nonetheless, contain 3.38 g of protein, 3.80 g of dietary fiber (10% of RDA) and zero cholesterol.
• In fact, brussels sprouts are a storehouse of several flavonoid anti-oxidants like thiocyanates, indoles, lutein, zea-xanthin, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates. Together, these phytochemicals offer protection from prostate, colon, and endometrial cancers.
• Di-indolyl-methane (DIM), a metabolite of indole-3-carbinol is found to be an effective immune modulator, anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent through its action of potentiating "Interferon-γ" receptors.
• In addition, brussel sprouts contain glucoside, sinigrin. Early laboratory studies suggest that sinigrin help protect from colon cancers by destroying pre-cancerous cells.
• Brussel sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin C; 100 g sprouts provide about 85 mg or 142% of RDA. Together with other antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A and E, it helps protect the body by trapping harmful free radicals.
• Zea-xanthin, an important dietary carotenoid in sprouts, is selectively absorbed into the retinal macula-lutea in the eyes where it is thought to provide anti-oxidant and protective light-filtering functions from UV rays. Thus, it helps prevent retinal damage, "age-related macular degeneration related macular degeneration disease" (ARMD), in the elderly.
• Sprouts are the good source of another anti-oxidant vitamin A, provides about 754 IU per 100g. Vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is essential for acuity of vision. Foods rich in this vitamin have been found to offer protection against lung and oral cavity cancers.
• It is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K; 100 g provides about 177 µg or about 147% of RDA. Vitamin K has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limiting neuronal damage in the brain and thereby, preventing or at least, delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
• Further, the sprouts are notably good in many B-complex groups of vitamins such as niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc., that are essential for substrate metabolism inside the human body.
• They are also rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. 100 g fresh sprouts provide 25 mg (1.5% of RDA) sodium and 389 mg (8% of RDA) potassium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for cellular oxidation and red blood cell formation.

Brussels sprouts are incredibly nutritious vegetable that offers protection from vitamin A deficiency, bone loss, iron-deficiency anemia, and believed to protect from cardiovascular diseases and colon and prostate cancers.

 

 

Marianne Williamson for Congress

MARIANNE WILLIAMSON FOR CONGRESS

On Sunday October 20th, I attended an event at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles. On the bill were Alanis Morrisette, and Marianne Williamson. If you don't know who Marianne is, you should. She is a spiritual activist- a feisty, cut to the chase, in your face speaker who will run the gamut from politics to Course in Miracles, the early history of U.S. democracy, and throw in a personal anecdote about a date she went on. And somehow, she is able to follow the golden thread of truth that weaves through all things, no matter how seemingly diverse the topics might be.

Me with Marianne Williamson, October 20, 2013. Love this lady!

On this particular night, Marianne announced that she would be running for a seat in the House of Representatives. Yep, Congress. Its a bold move, and its one I know she has been considering for a while. Marianne is not a healer in the traditional sense of the word; she doesn't lay her hands on you and heal your wounds or see into your mind and send relief there. What she does do is speak a balm of truth that stings- as truth is wont to do- like hydrogen peroxide on a fresh wound. Suffering comes from distorted information, where "what is so" is confused by other agendas. Marianne has the ability to do with her words what the body does with an army of white blood cells- surround the misinformation, remove the pathogenic debris that distorts it, and nourishes the truth at the heart of everything. Do we need this at the level of government? In the worst way!

Here is Marianne's letter of announcement-

Dear Friends,

I have officially announced my candidacy for election to the U.S. House of Representatives from California’s Congressional District 33.

 

I know many of you are not surprised. At my Sister Giant Conference in Los Angeles last year, I urged almost two thousand women to consider running for office using the principles of non-violence to birth a new American politics. After experiencing the energy and enthusiasm of the conference, I spent long months pondering how I could best further such a movement. The response that feels most real and true to me is to run for office myself. 

 

The biggest threat to our country today is not from armies invading our shores. The biggest threat to our democracy is not bombs falling from the sky over an American city. No, our biggest threat is a pattern of a thousand cuts – the slow but now constant chipping away at our democratic freedoms—one capitulation to moneyed interests at a time, one new gerrymandered district at a time, one government surveillance program at a time, one limiting of our voting rights at a time, one intimidation of journalists at a time, one Patriot Act at a time, one National Defense Authorization Act at a time, one Trans Pacific Partnership so-called trade deal limiting our sovereignty at a time. So at what point— after how many moments when Americans mutter to ourselves “Ya gotta be kidding me!”—do we stand up to our own government and say, “Hey, guys! Whose side are you on??”

That question will not be answered in a meaningful way until it is asked in the most powerful way. And that means not just from the sidelines and not just from online petitions. The question must be asked more often by people sitting in those seats, in that building, in that city.

And that’s why I am running for Congress. I hope you’ll join me.

 

If you want to know more or get involved- text the word MARIANNE to the number 310.906.4755.

 

Do it! Be a part of this exciting time. If the people had a voice like hers in Congress, we could rest a little easier knowing a powerful figure is representing the interest of the people. Her values are not aligned with the economic well being of the elite who butter their bread with the blood of the masses. She will be a voice for the people, the children, the planet. 

 

 

MY PATH TO MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

My path to Marianne was an interesting one. I had had one of her quotes on my fridge for many years, but didn't know much more about her. At a dinner about 5 years ago, I was sitting next to a woman who said, "You know, the things you talk about, you sound like my friend Marianne. She does lectures on Monday nights, you would really like her." I went to meet that friend at the lecture, not knowing she meant Marianne Williamson, and got my first induction into the powerhouse that is Marianne.  I went to several more lectures, and it became clear to me that I needed to know her. No, scratch that. It became clear that I would know her. I can't explain it, but there it was. There were several twists and turns to the story, from sitting next to her at a play and not saying anything- (it didn't feel like the right time), to having so many mutual friends that it would have been easy to broker a meeting- but that didn't feel right, either. I inadvertently talked one of her friends into being forgiving of Marianne over an incident, and she reached out to her and restored their friendship. Another friend of mine was once at Marianne's house (someone I took to see Marianne, and whom discovered they were neighbors) and mentioned me a couple of times. She tells me that Marianne stood up and said, "Who is this Ashley person you keep talking about? I've got to meet her!" And so, just like that, she invoked my name, and when my friend told me that, I knew it was time to meet her.

And the time came. Marianne was to lecture at the rehab where I worked- and I was given the job of coordinating it. On the phone with her, she asked if I could pick her up and drive her to the rehab- it was a very windy and daunting drive up the hill. We had a great talk going up, and afterwards, taking her home, she asked me some things about my kids, and my life. She then said, "Come visit me next week at my apartment." So I did. And she imparted some wisdom to me that, at the time, didn't seem like much of anything. I had hoped she would encourage me on a certain path I was rather gung ho about at the time. She didn't- and I was a little butt hurt about it, truth be told.  But what she did do is encourage me to focus on my life, not on any grand schemes, because the things happening right then, in my life, were what I needed to pay attention to. And in doing what she said, and also doing the Course In Miracles, I found my way through an emotional morass to now- and now is rife with adventure and opportunity. Shake the Hive is growing to be more than I could have dreamed- I am working on the STH non-profit for teenage girls as well, the blog is being read by thousands, and my entire lifestyle has changed in the past 6 months. MW didn't tell me what to do, she just suggested I should be paying attention, and in that attention I found my calling. Shake the Hive was a response to my life, not to an idea I had that was separate from my journey.

In every person's life they are called to do something greater, to be someone great, to be a force of good in the world. Not everyone answers the call- in fact, few do. Below is the quote I had on my fridge for years, and I think its the perfect response to anyone who shrinks back from the call.

 

 

My life has been deeply impacted by Marianne Williamson. I will do whatever I can to help her in her campaign for her seat in the House of Representatives. I am excited that she can bring her clarity and strength into the morass of modern politics- and she can only do that because she did it in her own life first. Then she was able to help others do that, because she had. The first step is the revolution of our own lives. The first order of business is to pay attention to our lives, our choices, and upset our own status quo by questioning everything we believe. Its a powerful thing, to discard negative belief systems that no longer serve us. We all have flawed systems that need re-calibrating- and we Americans have a flawed political system that needs a strong dose of undiluted Truth. MARIANNE FOR CONGRESS!!!

If you want to know more or get involved- text the word MARIANNE to the number 310.906.4755. Do it!!!

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