Lavender Farm Indiana

Focusing on expanding Harmony Farm’s certified organic lavender production, Rich Dinsmore, Director of Business Development and Farming Operations, met with Kie and Libbe O’Connor from Willowfield Lavender Farm. Their organic farm in Mooresville is located about 25 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

Owners Kie and Libbe O’Connor shared their knowledge and experience. Willowfield Farm has over 2000 plants on 4 acres of their 28 acre property. They host outdoor weddings amidst the beautiful lavender beds and have a gift shop that offers a broad variety of lavender based products. The O’Connor’s grow 6 varieties of organic Lavandula angustifolia and 4 varieties of organic Lavandula x intermedia (Hybrids). (Two of their varieties, L. angustifolia ‘Munstead’ and ‘Hidcote’ have been grown successfully at Harmony Farm.)

During the visit Rich enjoyed a lengthy discussion about plants that flourish in our Ag Zone (Zone5) as well as some of the challenges of growing lavender in this area. He learned how to propagate plants from stem cuttings; and explored which plant varieties are better for oil production vs. fragrances.

The O’Connor’s have traveled extensively and toured many lavender farms in Europe.

It was clear from the visit that they are knowledgeable and passionate about Lavender! For more information on Willowfield Lavender Farm go to: www.willowfieldlavender.com

Gaia by AGustavia has been a dream of mine since I first attended meditation with Don Kramer over 4 years ago. As I drove up the driveway the small voice of Spirit whispered in my ear “ You need  to be involved with Harmony Farm”  It has taken some time for the dream to come together , as Fate so often plays by its own timetable…but at last Gaia is open offering gifts for conscious living. Gaia is a new type of gallery. Over 70 % of our art comes from local artisans, those found within a 50 mile radius of Harmony Farm. We also have items from Tibet and Nepal. You will find paintings, healing jewelry, amazing pottery, crystals and even items for tribal belly dancing. I have hand- picked everything you see in the store…it is my hope that you will sense the energy that each piece carries.

Please stop in and say hello…Gaia is as much your gallery as it is ours.

Aleza

If you are one of the many Americans wishing to stay youthful in appearance, try looking younger from the inside out. Many people do not realize how important it is to provide the body with the right nutrients in order to maintain health and stay in great shape. Here are some ideas to consider.

1. Eat a good quantity of fruits and vegetables daily. Most dietitians/doctors/exercise specialists recommend at least six ½ cup servings of fruits and veggies daily. Try to eat one Vitamin C source each day such as berries, melon, tomatoes, potatoes, citrus fruits and kiwi. Include one Vitamin A source at least 3 times a week such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, peaches, spinach or carrots. Vitamins A and C are well known antioxidants that help with collagen production to plump up your skin. They reduce wrinkle formation by protecting from the sun’s rays.

2. Drink tea every day. The antioxidants found in most teas are very beneficial in fighting the effects of environmental pollutants and can even help reverse the effects of sun damage. Try all kinds of tea including pomegranate and green teas to make your tea drinking more fun. Consider Stevia or locally harvested honey as a sweetener.

3. Drink 6-8 eight ounce glasses of water each day. You need the water to help cleanse your body and remove toxins. You would not wash your clothes in coffee or cola, so, consider water the next time you want to “wash” your body!

4. Eat one of the many sources of fatty fish at least twice a week. Tuna, sardines, salmon, and mackerel are all high in essential fatty acids and protein. Both ingredients are needed to strengthen our bodies and keep them healthy, particularly through the winter months. These types of fish also help keep cholesterol levels down, nourish the skin and protect against the winter winds and cold.

5. It is important to look for lean cuts of meat or protein. Proteins are the building blocks for our body, including the immune system, and structure of our skin. They play a part in making us feel full longer which can help with weight control. Chicken, fish, tofu, eggs, lowfat dairy products and lean red meats are all great sources of protein. No matter if you pick more vegetarian food choices or traditional “meat & potatoes” food choices, there are many ways to eat 6-8 ounces of protein daily.

6. Choose whole grains and high fiber foods, all of which are plentiful this time of year. They keep the digestive tract regular and provide additional nutrients, including B-complex vitamins, zinc, probiotic material and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is essential in good cell formation and the B-complex vitamins help to support the energy production needed to make new cells.

7. For the healthy fats, choose canola oil, peanut oil and olive oil. Buy smaller, manageable quantities in dark bottles to protect the oils from oxidation. Large bottles and cans can become rancid before you have the opportunity to use them and this can be a waste of money. Olive oil combined with a little sea salt or sugar makes a great scrub for a quick, easy and inexpensive way to rejuvenate your skin and get that healthy glow.

These last two ways to stay healthy from the inside out do not really pertain to food but we have all seen the benefits of maintaining them in our lives…

8. To increase circulation in our bodies, improve the immune system, see better weight management and increase positive self image, try to get 20-30 minutes of physical activity each day. It will keep the skin elastic, improve digestion and elimination and reduce cabin fever.

9. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Sleeping on your back can reduce the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Winter is a great time to experiment with soup, stews and lower calorie versions of our comfort foods. The family -centered holidays offer the opportunity to share ideas for making better food choices. Ask your children and grandchildren to help in the kitchen, create memories and new traditions. Bon Appetit!

Saturday, December 24 – open 8am to 12noon

Closed – December 26

Closed – January 2

Richard Moss at Harmony Farm in Dayton, OH for book signing

As part of his mid-west book tour, Dr. Richard Moss, spent the weekend at Harmony Farm in Dayton, Ohio.  Richard Moss is internationally respected as a visionary thinker, teacher and author of books on transformation, self-healing and the art of conscious living.

Richard held a book signing, showcasing his newest publication: Inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life through the Power of Presence. In addition, he offered a one-day workshop and private sessions. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience his teachings. For more information on Dr. Moss, go to www.richardmoss.com.

Harmony Farm from Dayton, OH attends Columbus Universal Light Expo

Practitioners and staff from Harmony Farm participated in the 2011 Universal Light Expo in Columbus, Ohio this October. The 23^rd Universal Light Expo, “Gathering Light”, was the largest all-volunteer metaphysical, holistic expo in the Midwest and featured 130 workshops and 330 vendor booths. Events included the Tibetan Monks constructing a sacred Sand Mandala, a 7 circuit labyrinth walk, and 140 different speakers. It was a wonderful opportunity for Harmony Farm to share information about services and introduce individual practitioners.

Since the beginning of time, sound has been used as an alchemical healing tool.

The ancients knew that sound in its various forms could shift vibrational frequency to raise consciousness and enhance self-mastery.

We are beginning to understand, as did our ancestors, the inherent power of sound and its potential to heal our deepest wounds and rekindle the fire in our spirits.

In this modern world that moves so quickly, the power of sound can reconnect us with the sacred harmonies and rhythms of the Universe that we as a people have long forgotten.

Edgar Cayce predicted fifty years ago that sound would be the medicine of the future. In the last decade, we have entered into such a time as he envisioned.

All matter is in a continuous state of vibration. This we know from the wisdom of modern science as well as that of the mystics of long ago.

We as human beings are created as glorious symphonies of frequency that can be brought into harmony through the application of sound.

Every aspect of who we are—from our physical bodies to our spirits—has its own frequency whose vitality depends upon its individual harmonious vibration.

When disease states occur, it can be said in vibrational terms that the body is “out of tune”. There are fascinating studies that illustrate this phenomenon using honey bees.

A robust hive can be placed next to an ailing one and on the basis of the vital hive’s vibration, the weaker hive will raise its frequency to match that of its healthy counterpart.

It is much the same with people when a therapeutic frequency is applied with the intention of bringing the system into equilibrium.

Sound penetrates deep into the human body/mind/spirit and transforms us from the inside out. As a carrier wave for light, it reaches into our very structure and can effect changes on even the cellular level.

With intentional applications of sound, thought forms change, and the chakras—our body’s energy centers—are cleared and brought into balance.

I have been a practicing Reiki master for the last fifteen years, and that has allowed me to be a humble witness to the wonder and mystery of healing.

But since I’ve incorporated the use of sound into my work, I am seeing marked changes in people that would once take much longer to attain.

There’s something about sound therapy that seems to shake loose that which is ready to be released and healed. But it is always accomplished in a way that is comfortable for the individual, for that is our intention.

In my sound studio in Yellow Springs, I use a variety of instruments to assist clients in their personal healing, to include a 32” gong, a circle of twelve crystal singing bowls, and a wide range of tuning forks.

More than I ever saw with Reiki alone, people are experiencing clearer awareness and more profound levels of transformation through the use of these powerful vibrational tools.

When so many of us are operating at basic survival level, trying our best to do what needs to be done, we are not tapping into the wealth of life force energy available to us.

Through sound therapy, we can access the energy we need, not only to survive, but to thrive in our day to day lives.

As we open to our true nature as beings of power and light, we soon learn that even the sky is not the limit, nor are the stars, when it comes to growing into the potential of our Divine creation.

Many of us keep a few microwavable meals in our lunch bag at work or in our home freezers for those nights when we just don’t have time to cook. We are challenged to find affordable, nutritious frozen meals. You may have seen the meals that are advertised as healthy like Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and Weight Watchers. It is important to be able to interpret and understand their nutritional content. The following guidelines may be helpful in making healthy choices.

Calories: Try to stay between 300 – 500 calories per meal.

Fiber: Look for meals that will provide about 5 grams of fiber. Fiber will help you feel fuller longer, so, the more fiber the better. Fiber also helps with regularity and intestinal health.

Sodium: Aim for less than 600 milligrams/meal. Salt is in most frozen foods to help maintain freshness and flavor.

Fat: Keep the fat calories to less than 1/3 of the total calories. So, if a meal has 500 calories, there should only be about 18 grams of fat or less.

Healthier desserts: Avoid the meals with chocolate cake and choose desserts that include fruit like crisps and cobblers.

Vegetarian Options: These meals tend to be higher in fiber and lower in calories.

Smaller Portions: For some, the kid’s meals may be the best choice for adults who want a smaller serving. This holds true for fast food restaurants, the kid’s meals are often the right sizes for French fries and regular soft drinks. You can often choose the fruit option instead of fries and low fat milk instead of soft drinks.

If you are choosing a microwavable meal that is the entrée only, try pairing it with a salad or a serving of fruit. Beverages could include low fat milk, or less sugary drinks like water, sugar free beverages and iced tea.

Nutrition information is required for most foods found in the grocery store as well as fast food restaurants. Fast food restaurants have their nutrition breakdown information posted in the store or online. Use the information to make choices where you can reduce your sodium and increase your fiber intakes.

For more information, go to www.choosemyplate.gov. This website has information on special diets, children’s health, elder health and much more.

Massage is a important component of your facial. I have been a massage therapist for nine years and an esthetician for five. I always knew when I was in esthetic school that massage would play an important part in my facials. It is often overlooked by estheticians, where their main focus is on product application.

A facial massage will effect the whole body system. It can drastically improve the effects of a regular facial procedure by stimulating the skin’s immune mechanisms, firming weak muscles, improving hydration and nutrition of the skin and regenerating tissue. Massaging the face enhances anti-aging effects and stress relief, it purifies, reduces puffiness, and overall promotes a greater awareness of the body-mind connection.

Applying pressure and movement during the massage, assists the skin in releasing toxins, promoting circulation and healing. Facial massage must combine classical massage movements and elements of lymphatic massage in order to be effective in balancing the fluid, allowing the lymphatic system to cleanse away! The longer the facial massage is performed, the greater the success, optimally, 15-20 minutes. I have seen amazing results combining massage with my facials. The skin looks radiant and rejuvenated and my clients tell me they feel like they’ve had a full body massage, feeling very rested and calm, and yet I only physically touched their face, neck, arms and hands! A facial with massage can truly “touch” the whole body, mind and spirit.

Linda Blackburn is a licensed massage therapist and esthetician. To schedule an appointment with Linda, call Harmony Farm at 937-667-8311