Updates from The Farm

Greetings from our Farm in the Cowichan Valley where we are up to our elbows in purple potatoes and Red Russian Kale. It is that time of year when the fruits of our labor plentiful. The every day Miracles that Inspire Milagro Retreats are abundant right here in our own back yard. Every moment is filled with natural wonders as the Black Bear is scared up a tree by our 'fierce' Zora Delora and the deer scamper through the yard.

As our Summer season draws to a close, we are filled with Gratitude for our amazing staff and all those who joined us in the Mystical Haven of Tofino on Vancouver Island. Our last Retreats in the Botanical Gardens were a wonderful success. Milagro guests were nourished with Local harvest meals including Stuffed Peppers with Cilantro Pesto and Living Peach Pie. The addition of interactive cooking demos delighted everyone with take home recipes and new tricks to enhance their cooking repertoire. We shared insights about Living Food Concepts and introduce Kombucha Tea with our 'adopt a Bucha' program. Our guests are reporting changes in their digestion with the addition of Rejuvelac and Sprouted nuts and seeds to their diets.

Read on to learn how to create Milagro's new favorite fall salad, The new Moon in Virgo, as well as reminders about our upcoming schedule and a Deep Thought spontaneously created from our own Willy's Well Within.

Gratitude Thanksgiving Retreat in Tofino, October 5-8th, 2007

We have one more offering in the Botanical Gardens this year. October 5-8th is our Thanksgiving Retreat with Natalie Rousseau of Anahata Yoga. This 4 day 3 night all inclusive Retreat will include twice daily yoga, accommodations in the Private Botanical House and 3 Abundant meals/day worth 'Giving Thanks' for.


We will also be sharing another interactive cooking demo focusing on warming winter foods such as Roasted Squash Ginger Bisque and Rosemary White Bean Hummus with Roasted Garlic . This Retreat is limited to 6 live in guests and classes are open to locals. Join us during this quieter time in Tofino when the weather is still great and the pace of life has slowed from the hectic summer bustle.

The New Moon in Virgo on September 11th

This new moon in Virgo is joined by a partial solar eclipse, the last of the year. This is a time for commitment to heal, serve and educate others. How ironic that this day in history brought so much pain and suffering to the world with the WTC tragedy. A wonderful opportunity to connect with the part of yourself that expresses the values of service and selflessness. Also during this upcoming week, we urge you to get one last round of greens planted. Spinach, Cilantro and Oriental Greens will do well into the fall and Lettuce will produce if planted with covered protection. You will be thankful during those dark days of November to have fresh produce still on hand.

Women's Full Moon Yoga and Surf Retreat November 17-24th

There are still 4 spaces left to join our Full Moon Women's Yoga and Surf Retreat in Todos Santos, Baja, Mexico. Many guests from last year are joining us again for this magical gathering of beautiful souls. This year, we will be adding an excursion to see the Turtle Hatchings. The people of Todos Santos help the endangered sea turtles of the region survive by providing protected nesting areas for the developing eggs and then assisting the young hatchlings to the safety of the sea.

Kale Lemon Slaw

With the abundance of Kale 'volunteering' in our Garden, we had to become inventive with ways to use this nutrient dense green. It is considered to be one of the most highly nutritious vegetables, with powerful antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory properties. Kale is extremely high in beta carotene, vitamin C, lutein and zeaxanthin and reasonably rich in calcium.

Inspired by a Kale Salad in the Esalen Cookbook, this recipe is delicious with just about anything. We pair it with eggs for a power mid day meal!


Ingredients:

1 Lb Fresh Kale – stemmed and chopped in thin ribbons
juice of 1 lemon
4 Tbsp Braggs Liquid Aminos or Tamari
4 Tbsp Flax oil (our favorite is Omega Nutrition's chili garlic flavored)
1/2 cup toasted seeds of your choice
1 avocado – cut into small cubes

Directions:

1. Combine lemon, Bragg's and flax oil to make the dressing
2. Massage into the Kale to cover and marinate
3. Toss in toasted seeds and garnish w/ avocado

New Year's Yoga and Surf Retreat in Todos Santos

We are proud to be hosting John Paul Tamblyn in Todos Santos this New Years. His teachings are rooted primarily in the practice of asana (physical yoga practice) but are infused with meditation, pranayama, and the philosophy of yoga. Many of his students come to class seeking initially the physical benefits of yoga and find not only their strength and flexibility, but also compassion, confidence, connection, contentment and, perhaps the most valuable gift of yoga - peace.

Our luxurious accommodations are 2 homes sprawled over 2 acres of beachfront bliss. Milagro Retreats will nourish you with 3 organic feasts/day showcasing the local bounty. Interactive cooking demos will also be part of this week together.

Referral Programs

The Milagro Retreats Referral Program has been created to ensure that our programs are available to everyone regardless of their financial state.

We feel that your 'Word of Mouth' advertising is valuable and we Thank you with 10% towards 'Retreat Time' for yourself with every guest generated by you.

Gather friends to join you on Retreat and save $$. Or direct people to our Retreats and 'Bank' the 10% toward any other Milagro Retreat valid for 1 year! Thank you for spreading the word about Our Programs!!!

hOMe Grown Living Foods

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food" Hippocrates 460 - 359 BC

Our Granola is now Gluten Free. Did you know that Oats are actually Gluten Free, but the cross contamination renders most unacceptable for Celiacs. We have sourced a pure uncontaminated source through No Nuttin in Duncan. With the addition of Organic Turkish Mulberries this is by far our best Living Granola Ever!. What makes it 'Living?' Our entire line is sprouted and dehydrated including 3 flavors of Flax Snax:
Garden Harvest
Sweet Beet
Coco Cacao Ginger

These one-of-a kind Living Super Foods are available direct from us. many of our guests are addicted and orders are being shipped weekly. Email us for more details and stay tuned for the launch of the hOMe Grown Living Foods web site

Willy's Words of Wisdom

Those of you who know Willy can certainly picture this.....We are both working away on the Farm, I in the garden and Willy hammering away on the hOMe Grown Living Foods Production space.

We come together for a sip of Yerba Mate and I start rambling about the next items on the 'To Do' list.

Out of thin air, Willy stops me in my tracks with "Shani, How would you live each day if your life truly was eternal?" So, I take a deep breath and ponder this for the rest of my 'Therapy Session' in the Garden.

Once again, blessed by the Miracles that surround us!

Wishing you an Abundant Fall Season,
Shani Cranston and the Milagro Retreats Tribe