Disqus - Latest Comments for beki123

Re: Raw Model - The Lifestyle for Beauty, Energy, and Mental Clarity: Is the college dream a joke?

beki123 — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:53:57 -0000

Hi Anthony. I want to give some of my two cents. I am at a 4 year university now and I've been doing some soul searching. I think college can be a very enriching, empowering experience just like any life experience. You are around students who want to learn and who have a desire to succeed. You are at times surrounded by students who amaze you with their intelligence. There is abundance of areas to delve into in matters of study within the college world. There are so many great things I can say about college.

Yet with all the wonderful things there are extreme downsides. I thought I wanted to pursue a field and had no idea that I was acting in large part with the influence of my family, society and culture. I took classes thinking that I would have great professors that would teach me and guide me towards better understanding of the subject. Boy was I wrong! At the end of class with an auditorium filled with 200+ students, all that mattered was test scores. There were no discussions, no experiments, no papers to write and no fun projects. It felt stifling. I found out that some professors although having a caring attitude towards the subject matter cared little about the quality of the educational structure.

A large amount of students come to college to succeed in life. They think that if they take the "step by step plan" they'll get hired and make a good living. Some students look at college as a means to an end and they make fun of students who are studying fields of study that are more interesting. I realize for me I have to follow my own true purpose. Everyone has one. College could be utilized for that life purpose. I just learned that the only way to live is to follow one's own passion. So many follow the status quo only to end up in a dead end situation. We are all like pieces to a puzzle we all fit together and we should get to know ourselves first and be true to that.

It isn't easy to be true to oneself when an individual is surrounded by criticism and judgements. Yet when you take contradictory advice you suffer. College made me realize that every decision I make in my life I have to live with it. If I follow the conventions of society and reject my own calling, I could end up miserable and on a wrong path. Or, I could be following my own true purpose and be totally content and resilient through the ups and downs.

I think college is great but it should be used to pursue knowledge and skill in a chosen field and delve into passion and love for a subject. It is the worst place to calculate a plan to become a billionare.

Re: Back in NY

beki123 — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:32:16 -0000

Thanks to the inspiration you provided, now our square foot garden tripled in size! My mom and dad built another 8' by 4' square foot garden. Probably in the next month I'll be taking photos. I haven't finished planting but I feel so proud of this venture. Thanks so much Anthony. You are the best. Happy for you and your opportunities.

Re: A Big Bowl of Sadness

beki123 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:49:21 -0000

Hi A. I know this is off subject but I just watched the Bill Mahr show the other day. He interviewed Alice Waters one of the pioneers of the Slow Food Movement. During the interview he mentioned raw foods. He made this point of how some are health nuts but look sick and pale. He said that he calls Whole Foods Market, "WHole Paycheck Market." He swore that he cined that phrase and I beg to differ since you were the first person I heard say that. I really wonder if he reads your bog and steals your ideas. lol

Re: Contest Winners and New Juice Video

beki123 — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:29:59 -0000

Now that the weather is great it's nice to get outside and eat this way. Dandelion season is here! I'm looking forward to juicing again. Thanks for the motivation.

Re: Pine Pollen...FINALLY

beki123 — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:47:48 -0000

Thank you for asking. I haven't done any gardening yet. I was planning on getting a compost bin so I can officially start a larger compost pile this year. I honestly don't know whether I should start with seeds or go the lazy man route and go with some veggie plants. I think I might do both. Great ideas for sure. I always appreciate you for inspiring me to garden, forage and enjoy life for what it is not what it should be. In addition to that I'm glad that you are a steadfast optimist.

Thanks for keeping in touch it really means a lot to me. I've been so busy at work lately and I think about gardening every day and being in nature. There is meaning in that. There is balance and peace within those thoughts and those moments of stillness when you are sitting on the grass and you are munching on onion grass. You can feel the warmth of the sun's raise. You are just in the moment. It feels right.

Re: Pine Pollen...FINALLY

beki123 — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:38:41 -0000

you were in Scottsadale, Arizona? What an amazingly beautiful place. The desert is such a mystical place. Your goddess is gorgeous!

Re: Lessons from the Millionaire Matchmaker

beki123 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:04:28 -0000

Hi A. Hope spring is treating you well. I was so surprised that you had this show as a topic on your blog. I normally watch this show and relate to the match making thing since my mom has catered weddings and she used to match men and women together for a while.

So I watched this episode and was dismayed by the callowness of these two individuals. What I learned from the past when I have met individuals who call themselves "charitable" "vegan" "green" "raw" or what not is that they are using that to shield their own immorality. To me it was immoral that the woman pointed and shouted at the pharmacist, "Do you dish out drugs?" That is a little embarassing. He was a respectful person and you really demoralize yourself when you interrogate others. And the other issue about narcissism and superficiality. So it makes me wonder how eco friendly is their business? Sometimes (sadly) charity, eco, green are all used for marketing purposes. Their dates came across more as prospective business partnerships than men and women who were looking for love.

What makes me so angry is the self ritiousness. There are so many charitable, environmentally friendly individuals in the world who never call themselves as being more moral than others. They are humble about their achievements. It's possible that a person like Doug or Nicole who are wealthy and probably never endured suffering from not being able to survive in the world. It makes you wonder about their character. Most of us don't behave in the fashion of "I am more moral" "holier than you" crap. It's an isolated phenomenon within the aristocracy.

Maybe I was going off on a tangent but they really pushed my buttons.

Re: NoniLand Bees and Cacao Garden

beki123 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:14:38 -0000

Saw your advice on planting the service berries near the fence. I'll definitely check it out. I'm really thinking about guerilla gardening too. I don't know how far I want to push the gardening this year. Haven't planned anything official yet. Look forward to your future events. Thanks a bunch A

Re: Truffle Giveaway! No joke!

beki123 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:53:21 -0000

I just brewed 2 gallons of kombucha. I got the store bought drink which has the scoby inside and just let it sit out for three weeks. Then I brewed 3 liters of black tea let that cool then put in the sugar and the scoby and let that sit for 3 weeks or more. Now I have an ongoing supply of kombucha so I don't have to spend $3 a bottle. I also added in fresh squeezed juice and sparkling water to make it nice and bubbly.

I can not wait till you host a retreat. I would save up my money to come and I hope that it not only is an ongoing gig but also that it is in the US.
To be honest I often wonder why you put it off for so long. Philip, Daniel Vitalis and Vanessa all did theirs and I know we are all anticipating till you do one that might be officially yours. Love you as always.

Re: Check this Out

beki123 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:56:37 -0000

looking forward to it. Hopefully I can take a wild food foraging class in the near future. Daniel Vitalis did some in 2008 and 2009 so I hope he'll still be doing them.

Re: Check this Out

beki123 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:05:12 -0000

Yardsnacker

You don't know how much I miss wild dandelion now. Wiped my hunger and I used to make it into a green juice for my mom. She is a diabetic and it was so healing for her. Medicines right in the back yard. Hopefully as time goes by I can truly know how to identify more wild foods.

Re: Check this Out

beki123 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:02:39 -0000

I feel a little sad when I read some of these comments. Oh no! We are argueing about food again!? I feel I'm so over that. Like it's so 2008. Some people thrive on raw vegan, some people thrive on carnivore diet. Some thrive on omnivore. Everyone and anyone adapts to food. c'est domage that Dabiel Vitalis is the only one in the raw world that ventures out of food.

Health and happiness, I think is more than food. We have been depriving ourselves for so long since we percieved food as encompassing all of wellness. I find existance is beyond food. It's not about food, water, shelter. It is about the higher consciousness. What if there was an infinate number of ways to be a happy, healthy person. If we just dwell on food then we would get stuck on the level of food.

I guess everyone needs to make a buck but what is insane is that every diet "expert" makes the same ascertion. That their diet is the best and every other diet fails. No! All of them fail when we dwell on food! What about fun, exercise, trying new experiences, working the mind and the body, breathing fresh air, drinking awesome water, laughter all of these food for the soul. Great diet? Their is food for the soul. It is something intangible yet essential.

Re: Check this Out

beki123 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:40:52 -0000

hi Iggy. I really love and totally vibe with what you are saying. I feel myself more and more eating momment by momment. I eat as healthy as I can. I find most of my food nourishing. I also feel like the path has chosen me. It might be ironic but we are raised to take over destiny and know and do what we want. But how arrogant and spoiled to just expect everything to go in accordance to my plan, our plan, their plan. Sometimes a higher power takes over and steers the proverbial ship towards a direction, a path that flows and is for a higher collective power.
I've learned that despite our own mega egos, environmental distractions and wants there is a higher purpose that we can somehow channel to feel and know the ultimate joy and happiness.
get everything we want or could

Re: New D. Vitalis Stuff

beki123 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:21:46 -0000

Thanks. It will be gardening season again in March 2010.

Re: New D. Vitalis Stuff

beki123 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:56:45 -0000

Thank you Zoe. That is very reassuring. I feel that nature is much more benevolent and intelligent and life perpetuating than the human race. Although I don't have anything against the human race per se. I just hope that nature will still exist and thrive. Thanks for the reassurance. I really needed that.

Re: Groupies? Come on now...

beki123 — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:27:35 -0000

Hi. Umm I've shut out the naysayers about you too. I'm really glad that you came out about the dairy thing. I ate pounds of fruit and went low fat and my cravings still came back. And now I kind of need some advice if you have any time. I've been eating pastuerized dairy lately since I've realized it is the only food that wipes my cravings for sugar, junk and grains. People say a person retains water from dairy but I have just noticed that I've lost water from cutting down considerably on grains. I was a "carbotarian" for months. So enough rambling.

Pasteurized dairy has so many pitfalls but it's challenging to find raw dairy since I live in a state that out laws it. I did my research and I would have to travel hours away at inconvenient times to get the raw dairy. I really need this because for years I have struggled with binging and food addiction. I would stick to a healthy way of eating and then bam get bad cravings, tiredness and want the starch and sugar. I think I need raw dairy right now. I feel like it could be the key to my freedom. I don't have the patience to study diets anymore. I don't know about you but I have spent so much of my life studying diets and weight loss. Pardon me for my frankness. I just want to eat healthy nourishing fare and be done with it. I don't want to spend hours a day worrying about how healthy and strict my diet is and how I have to fast and do all this crazy shit.

I have done my research for finding raw dairy distributers but I need to find a cost effective, time efficient way of getting it. I feel this is so urgent for me. I have a concern for money too since I went to Whole Foods and bought grass fed raw cheese for 7.99 ouch (6-8 oz block).

So what is the most cost effective way of getting raw dairy? SHould I go online and order? I have an old car with over 150,000 miles on it I'm afraid that it'll wear down if I make too many long distance trips. Money is an issue for me right now so I just want to know what's your opinion. Thanks.

Re: Fatisfied...SOOOO fatisfied.

beki123 — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:57:25 -0000

I really appreciate this. I actually listened to the radio program and heard some information that was new to me. I had no idea that there was so much to cholesterol and fat that so many others make it out to be. I thought low fat was the way to go so for months I lowered my fat intake thinking that it was just that simple to cut on fat and my digestion would improve. It did improve somewhat but I developed cravings. I just recently realized that grains were making me gain weight and adding puffiness to my face. It's really ironic that on one side of the spectrum Dr Douglas Graham says that grains are very damaging while on the other side Nora Gedgaudas makes the similar ascertion. And I love the fact she says how we are brain washed to believe that grains are good for us. I kept remembering and noticing how I would react less than optimally to raw grains and the weight wouldn't even come off. That was astonishing to me because I believed in 100% raw. I didn't feel balanced for a long time. I knew a lady who kept touting of the benefits of grass fed raw dairy. I didn't feel that it would be beneficial to me. Now I realize that probiotics play a role in it as well. Flooding the digestive system with healthy bacteria is more vital than being on a strict diet regime. I'm so glad that you brought up good fat, minerals and probiotics because my body has been craving that stuff lately. I had raw cheese, kombucha along with other things. I'm bound to try that recipe for the smoothie. I have to get off the grains and at times it seems like an addiction though using that term to emphasize how addicting they can be.

Re: Edible Island

beki123 — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:00:44 -0000

I just watched it and reminded me of how picked a few cauliflower florets in November and garnished it for my friend's soup. I love the granny and the energy being put into cultivation. Food that is grown in the "back yard" is so unique and just satisfying when yo eat it. Maybe they should just call it back yard food. Chickens seem to make good companions. Weird as that may sound.

Re: Fatisfied...SOOOO fatisfied.

beki123 — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:12:32 -0000

Hi. I just want to add some thoughts. Although the fact that some of your writing didn't get into the Huffington Post, you have such a great following and you have a gift and leader within you to publish your own magazine.

Re: Fatisfied...SOOOO fatisfied.

beki123 — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:08:33 -0000

Hi A. I hope you had a great time today. Sorry I missed the event. I can only imagine how grand it really was. I, myself thrive on eating a lot of fruit. Right now I work as a dental assistant and it's in a busy clinic. It's so incredibly demanding and I'm on my feet all day. My brain and body have to be sharp and fruit is the only food that helps me do that without being over energetic.

I can only say that we are all unique and special and not one diet or one lifestyle will work with everyone. Yes, I'm not a skinny miny but back when I lost 70 pounds I would eat high fat, high greens, fast, fast, fast and exercise like crazy. Although I had more energy and was generally making progress, I would feel like a zombie. And if your body is more alkaline then high fat would work for you. Whatever a person does, is their liberty. I just wish that everyone would finally link health with diet.

I think some loose sight that we don't live in a vacuum, that we coexist with other humans and other life forms. An ideal can become dogmatic unless it's successfully applied through an action. I used to be so monolithic about the raw life style. I was becoming really tunnel vision and felt that I lost so many great opportunities to share with others who weren't raw. Then I opened my eyes then realized that there is a great big world out there. I need to physically live and feel it. I use food as a tool. Sometimes the food is constructive, sometimes it's not. But beyond the noise there is a great experience called life and we've just got to live it.

Not to be brash but I love you and all that you do. I look forward to your next post. Thanks for sharing so much and making such a positive impact on my life! Love you always!

Re: Is It Really Bad To Microwave Your Food?

beki123 — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:57:11 -0000

It was really synchronistic that you've done this post. Over the years I have consumed microwaved food less and less. I notice a difference in my energy levels and even my skin when I eat/don't eat microwaved food. I remember reading that in Russia the scientists studied microwave and found that it changes the molecular structure of the food. So microwaves were banned. Victoria Boutenko even wrote about microwave use in her book.

Re: Winter Gardening at the White House

beki123 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:52:06 -0000

I haven't seen the video yet but we had a big snow storm and just last week after the snow had melted I found my arugula, kale and dandelion fresh and ready to eat!

Re: Happy Holidays!

beki123 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:49:59 -0000

Hi lovely Dawn. Have a wonderful Chistmas. Sending good vibes your way. So grateful for your blog and appreciate all the thought you put into it.

Re: Dolores Cannon on Coast to Coast

beki123 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:48:00 -0000

Hi Anthony. I just want to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas. Even though I'm borderline agnostic and a former Muslim I was raised to celebrate Christmas and see at as a "holiday of humanity." I hope you receive what you want out of life. You are such a lovely, wonderful man.

Re: Meet the Natives

beki123 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:31:27 -0000

Hi just want to put this out there.
ttp://www.youtube.com/v/0O2...

I honestly believe that doing the right thing is about following your own internal beliefs and at times breaking the "rules" in order to maximize the quality of life. The word liberty is mentioned throughout the video.