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2009

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From the Editor:

Dedicated to:

Ashke
Beloved Companion
~Dec. 1999 to Sept. 19, 2009

I used to think it was kinda corny when people would say that their animals were teachers, but I don't believe it is corny any more. I wasn't looking for a dog when I walked into an animal shelter with my mom and sister, but I fell in love with a wiggly puppy, and started a journey that lasted over nine years. Ashke's whole life was filled with lessons for me about health and healing. I'd like to share some with you.

The first lesson for me was about diet. After we decided to adopt our little puppy, I ran across a book at the library that changed my life. It was called, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy Schultze. At the time I was a vegetarian who had never heard of Dr. Weston A. Price. From this book I learned the concept of the "species appropriate diet" for dogs (raw meaty bones, organ meats, and a small amount of vegetables and superfoods). In the process I started my quest for the "species appropriate diet" for humans. This search has brought me from vegetarianism, to low-carb, to the work of Weston A. Price (with a few other stops along the way).

Later, Ashke taught me lessons about using herbs for healing and the futility of going to conventional allopathic doctors for any real answers about health. His recent illness had many lessons for me, although I am not sure what they are yet. A friend of mine says it may be a long time before I really understand what all I learned. I know they have things to do with simply being in the moment, with taking time for myself, with listening to clues that something is not right and acting on that knowledge, with not waiting for experts to know what to do, with dealing with grief (both old and new), and with going way outside of mainstream beliefs about health to find true healing.

I have a greater appreciation for homeopathy after this experience. I repeatedly saw homeopathy work with him, twice very dramatically. I saw a homeopathic remedy bring Ashke out of an event that I thought was leading to death. The first time I gave it to him I thought I was saying goodbye, but the second time I was more objective and was able to calmly witness this amazing revival from zoned-out and unresponsive, to a dog resting comfortably. I had always considered myself open to homeopathy, but until witnessing it first-hand, I think I had always retained a bit of skepticism. I remember hearing a spiritual teacher once try to explain to us the difference between belief and wisdom. Belief is something that you accept as true from someone else. Wisdom is something that you have experienced and you know in your body and soul. Belief will change depending on whom you are listening to at the moment. Something that you have experienced as wisdom no one can take from you no matter what they say. Now, I know that homeopathy works. I also know that nutrition is a powerful force in healing, and nutritional deficiencies may be at the root of all degenerative disease.

We were using conventional therapies and homeopathy, and also using a coordinated nutritional and energy method with Ashke, and I was really hoping that Ashke would show me that this method works. Unfortunately, that may have been too much to ask from one little dog. His death left me with many unanswered questions. He was not able to prove to me that these methods did (or did not) work. Instead I am left still searching.

Looking back, I see that there were signs that Ashke was not in perfect health. What do a growth between his toes that swelled and burst repeatedly; backache, itchy skin, a stinky-greasy coat and kidney failure have to do with each other? I don't know for sure, but think they were symptoms of a body and an immune system that was not able to keep up with the demands placed upon it. I believe that despite the fact that modern doctors and scientists can tell us intricate details about the workings of parts of the body in isolation, we really do not understand as much about how the body functions as we think we do. I also know that when we accept failing health as a natural result of aging we stop looking for answers. Weston Price and other researchers found traditional cultures that had a high degree of health, and whose elders lived productive lives right up until the time they died at an ripe old age. Degenerative disease is a disease of civilization.

Early on while I was taking care of Ashke a friend recommended I write a book about my experience. I said I would only do it if he recovered because I hate books that have sad endings. This is as close as I will come to writing that book, so thanks for reading.

For more information about the nutritional and energy work we were using, see: More Than A Theory: A New Medical Paradigm by Bert Brooks, DVM. of Cache Creek Holistic Veterinary Service (www.cchvs.com). I wish I had known about Cache Creek earlier. I would have tried it when we were treating the growth on Ashke's foot a year ago. I didn't know about it then, but you do now. I am not going to go into everything that I've learned about it, (or this really would turn into a book) but I am happy to talk to anyone who is interested (they specialize in "Chronic or Unresolved Health Problems of All Mammalian Species").

Ashke lived a month after blood tests showed severe kidney failure (with blood levels "generally not compatible with life"), and even longer from the first diagnosis. I am told that that in itself is unusual, as most dogs rarely live for ten days even in the animal hospital. I think that what we were doing was helping, but think that it was either just not enough, or we didn't start soon enough. I wish I could say I know that it works, but right now I just have belief that I have borrowed from others. I believe that we were on the right track, but not soon enough.

If I have any advice for all of you it is to not settle for degenerating health. Keep searching for answers, and sharing what you learn.

Ashke was a perfect dog. Well yeah, he liked to roll in cow patties when we would go out to the farm for milk, and he'd get so excited about going to the coast that he would whine for miles, and when he was chasing a wild animal he wouldn't listen to a word I said. But he was brave and joyful, loved to cuddle and he was oh so friendly. He traveled nearly everywhere with me, he was our "official greeter" at work, and he taught me much about life. He was a perfect dog to me, and I miss him.

October Events:

Fall Membership Drive

It is time once again for our fall membership drive for The Weston A. Price Foundation. If you are not already a member please consider becoming one.

By joining WAPF you will:

1. Receive the quarterly journal Wise Traditions. An information-packed publication.
2. Support The Weston A. Price Foundation, a wonderful organization that is one of the few groups speaking the truth about our need to return to traditional diets.
3. If you put my name (Lisa Bianco-Davis) as the person who referred you, we may be able to win a copy of the deluxe hardbound edition of Nourishing Traditions (complete with searchable CD-ROM)!
   We plan to raffle off the book sometime in the coming year.

Weston A. Price Foundation
PMB 106-380, 4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington DC 20016

If you have signed up as a new member anytime during this year, please email me your name to ensure that they are all counted towards the contest.

If you have been waiting to become a member, now is the time!
The deadline for the membership drive is OCTOBER 31

Memberships are $40 (or $25 for students and seniors). Membership forms are also available at our local events and on the WAPF website.

Read an invitation from the president of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Celebration of Life for Ashke
and your own wonderful animals

Join us for a Celebration of Life for the wonderful dog, Ashke, and a celebration of your own wonderful animals.

Sunday, October 11, 2009
4:00 to 6:00 PM

Location:
At the home of Dr. Teri Sue Wright, DVM
2919 McKendrick St.
(in south Eugene)

Directions:
From downtown Eugene, go West until you intersect Chambers. Take Chambers South, up the hill and straight through the 28th St intersection (blinking light). The 3rd street passed that intersection is McLean, look for the wrought iron and brick fence. Take a right onto McLean. Then take the next right onto McKendrick.

"My house is about 8 houses down (1/2 way) on the right. A large telephone pole marks the top of my driveway. Tan house w/ black trim and red doors; the house sets down off the road. Feel free to park in the driveway, OK to park on the right side of the driveway a little ways onto the grass."

Phone:
Teri Sue's number is 343-5028

Bring: families, photos, stories, and/or a snack if you wish.

RSVP:
We appreciate an RSVP (info@krautpounder.com) if you think you will be attending so that we have a rough idea of how many people to expect, but feel free to just show up.

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"For the Next 7 Generations"

This is NOT a Eugene Chapter WAPF sponsored event; however listening to the wisdom of indigenous grandmothers seems like something WAPF people may enjoy. I heard Grandmother Flordemayo interviewed on a radio program (Show #626 of The Food Chain), and she was very interesting.

Friday, October 16, 2009
7:00 PM

Location:
Unity of the Valley
3912 Dillard Road, Eugene, Oregon

Description:
"Please join us for the Eugene premiere of the full length feature film "For the Next 7 Generations". A documentary detailing the vision and work of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers as they travel the world to spread their message of peace and healing and a call for change now."

Admission:
$5 - $50
A fundraiser to benefit the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
Dessert and tea will be served following the film.

Contact:
FMI 541-434-1245
www.grandmotherscouncil.com
Presented by the Willamette Valley Grandmothers Council

November Event:

Meeting & Potluck Dinner

We had no volunteers for hosting the potlucks in September or October, so our next potluck will be in November. This is the first Monday in November, so mark your calendars now.

Monday, November 2, 2009
6:00 to 8:00 PM

Location:
At the home of Kira S.
595 Warrington Avenue
Eugene, OR

Directions:
Go 2-1/2 miles North on River Road past Beltline (or get off Beltline at Santa Clara/Fred Meyer exit and turn right). Turn right at River Loop #2 (where the 7-11 is). Follow RL#2 around sharp curve until it straightens out. FIRST street on left is Scenic. Turn left, go down to Warrington Avenue, and turn right. House is beige-white-dark green trim, rock (not grass) front yard.

Phone:
Kira's number is 461-8561 (she will be home after 5 PM)

Topic:
We welcome questions and discusion about all WAPF topics. One topic that we plan to discuss is yummy ways to add organ meats to your diet.

Bring Something to Share
Please bring a Nourishing Traditions-style dish and join us for some great food and great conversation! Families and guests are welcome. Please bring enough food to feed the size of your party, as well as your recipe on a 3x5 card or notepaper (Please include your name, and the source of the recipe. Be sure to give them to Lisa at the end of the evening. We are collecting these and plan to eventually compile a recipe book). Written recipes help everyone to learn about how the dish was prepared, and also allow those of us with food sensitivities to avoid potential problems.

Upcoming Potlucks:
Our potluck meetings are regularly scheduled on the second Monday of each month, but we can make changes as needed. We still need volunteers, so let us know if you are able to host an upcoming potluck.

New to all of this?
We would like to encourage everyone to attend. If you are new to this way of cooking, don't worry, just bring something homemade using real ingredients and you will be fine. Sally Fallon (author of Nourishing Traditions and founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation) reminds us not to become food purists. We are all here to learn. We encourage you to read the Dietary Guidelines and Characteristics of Traditional Diets for a brief overview, and then purchase a copy of the book Nourishing Traditions from the Eugene Chapter for in-depth information and recipes. And if you want to learn more about WAP principles, the potlucks are a great place to ask questions!

RSVP:
We appreciate an RSVP (info@krautpounder.com) if you think you will be attending so that we have a rough idea of how many people to expect, but feel free to just show up.

Kraut Pounder

As a local fund-raiser, the Eugene Chapter produces the Kraut Pounder^©.

Kraut Pounders are perfect for making sauerkraut, kimchi and other lacto-fermented foods.
They can be purchased at our local events, or ordered online and shipped anywhere.

For details see: www.krautpounder.com

Made in Eugene, by the Eugene Chapter, Weston A. Price Foundation^®.

Wise Traditions Conferences
Audio Files

I have frequently wished that all of the sessions at Wise Traditions Conferences were video recorded. We show DVDs at our monthly "Popcorn Review" showings, but there are about four times more audio recordings than DVDs.

In order to share these recordings, I have decided to make this audio player available for rent to local members. It comes with your choice of one or more audio recordings loaded.

There are over 150 presentations. You can view the complete list available on our Audio Recordings page. The small size of this audio player makes it easy to put it into a pocket and listen while walking, cooking, gardening or whenever it is convenient.

Books!
Nourishing Traditions and more

The Eugene Chapter now has the book Nourishing Traditions and selected other titles available for purchase. We also have back issues of the Wise Traditions Journals. They are available at our local events or for pick-up by special request.

Come to a local Eugene area event or contact info@krautpounder.com for details.

Local Member Directory

I would like to offer this space to local people who wish to make their goods and services known to other local members. If you have a business growing, raising, making or selling food, if you are a health practitioner, or if you coordinate bulk purchases please let us know.

The directory may include such resources as:

• Farms and ranches
• WAP-friendly food producers
• Stores and restaurants
• Buying Clubs (Contact person for bulk orders)
• Health Practitioners
• etc.

Please send any of the following information by email to info@krautpounder.com: business name, contact name, phone, email, web, address, and a BRIEF (no more than 50 words) description of your good or service. Remember that this will be archived on the web, so don't include any personal information that you do not want available.

At present there is no charge for this service.