September 29, 2010 at 1:13 pm (Agriculture, Happy Tonics Butterfly Garden, Herbal medicine, Herbal tea, Herbs, Hidatsa beans, Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center, Native Crops, Pumpkin and Squash, Wellness Fair and Farmers Market)
Tags: Agriculture, Hidatsa beans, Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center, Native Crops, Pumplins and Squash, Wellness Fair
Join us for the upcoming Wellness Fair and Farmers Market at the Lac Courte Oreilles Convention Center at the Casino in Hayward, WI tomorrow, September 30, 2010 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Baby pumpkin
We will display native crops that we grew at the Monarch Butterfly Habitat in the summer of 2010. There will be pumpkins and squash.
Happy Tonics will be shucking Hidatsa beans for winter soup and packaging some for our online store at http://stores.ebay.com/HAPPY-TONICS
We will also be packaging our organic herbal teas and culinary herbs that will be available shortly online.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
July 27, 2010 at 12:36 pm (Agriculture, Farm Animals, Fireworks, Shell Lake, Sit and Chat Wednesday Quilters, Spooner Advocate, Washburn County Fair, Wisconsin)
Tags: 1st place in cultural arts Ribbon, Agriculture, Butterflies Are Free Quilt, Farm animals, Fireworks, Friendshp Commons, Hand stitched and appliqued quilts, People's Choice Ribbon, Quilts, Shell Lake, Spooner, Washburn County Fair
I hope you will enjoy our type of entertainment up here in the North Country where we honor the heritage of agriculture and country. Also view our night sky view at http://www.spooneradvocate.com/articles/2010/07/27/news/doc4c4dd47fa6939664545916.txt
Compliments of the Spooner Advocate in Spooner, Wisconsin.
Quilters win First Place and People’s Choice Ribbons at Washburn County Fair
Myrna Atkinson hand stitching the butterfly quilt
Hard at work, Back left Mary, front Marian, Right Myrna and Mary
The Sit and Chat Wednesday Quilters of Friendship Commons won the People’s Choice Ribbon and First Place Ribbon in the Cultural Arts Division for the “Butterflies are Free” hand stitched and appliquéd quilt at the Washburn County Fair recently. Design, stitching and overall supervision were made possible by Master Quilter Myrna Atkinson. The dedicated quilters included Myra Atkinson, Mariah Brinken, Carol Hubin, Mary Olsen and Mary Raehsler.
The quilters met weekly for a whole year to complete the cultural art winner. The quilt will be sold by Happy Tonics, Inc. to support the nonprofit and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat.
Visit Happy Tonics at 25 Fifth Avenue, Shell Lake, Wisconsin to see the quilt at the Grand Opening event on August 3, 2010.
Butterfly up close
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
June 25, 2010 at 11:56 am (Agriculture, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Genetic Engineering, GMO Food Labeling Bills, GMOs)
Tags: Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH0), Food Labeling Bills, Food Safety, GMOs
On June 21, 2010, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) announced he would introduce three bills to comprehensively regulate all genetically engineered products, including a bill that would require all foods containing genetically modified ingredients to be labeled.
Kucinich on GMOs: “Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?”
“Today the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to genetically modified organisms, we as consumers have to wait until the damage is done and obvious before we can act to protect health and the environment, even if that damage could be irreversible.”
“Haven’t we learned from the catastrophe in the Gulf of the dangers of technological arrogance, of proceeding ahead with technologies without worrying about the consequences? Why do we continue to throw precaution to the wind?
“Tomorrow I will introduce three bills that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all Genetically Engineered (GE) plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms. To ensure we can maximize benefits and minimize hazards, Congress must provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all GE products. Structured as a common-sense precaution to ensure GE foods do no harm, these bills will ensure that consumers are protected, food safety measures are strengthened, farmers’ rights are better protected and biotech companies are responsible for their products.”
- Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a long-time advocate of family farmers and organic foods, on June 21, 2010, after the Supreme Court voted 7-1 to allow the experimental planting of genetically modified alfalfa seed before an environmental review is completed
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
June 13, 2010 at 9:09 pm (Agriculture, Monarch butterfly, Northwest Wisconsin Sustainable Living Fair)
Tags: 10 a.m. Plight of the Monarch Butterfly, Mary Ellen Ryall, Monarch butterfly, Northwesst Wisconsin Sustainable Living Fair, speaker
You are invited to attend a day long event at the Rusk County Fairgronds in Ladysmith, Wisconsin on July 10, 2010. Mary Ellen Ryall will speak at 10 a.m. on the Plight of the Monarch Butterfly.
http://www.nwwisustainablelivingfair.com
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
February 19, 2010 at 1:23 pm (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College, Happy Tonics, Mary Ellen Ryall, Agriculture, Community gardens)
Tags: Ascestral food, biodiversity, Carvacrol, Central New York State, Corn silk, Corn syrup, Dent Corn, Diabetes, Flavonoids, Flour/Flint corn, Food Sovereignty, Green Bay, Happy Tonics, II Annual Winter Environmental Film Festival, Ireland, King Corn, Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College, Landraces, Little Footprint Farm, Mary Ellen Ryall, Maysin, Medicinal conr silk, Mike Brenna, Native Crops, Oneida corn, Oneida tribe, organic gardening, Popcorn, Potato, Sweet corn, Syracuse, Tarahumara serape corn, Turtle Lake, Utica, Wisconsin
Yesterday Happy Tonics was a co-sponsor at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College’s Film Fest featuring “King Corn.” Mary Ellen Ryall, Executive Director of the nonprofit spoke about Oneida Corn, a tribal corn, that originated in New York State near Syracuse and Utica. The corn seed was gifted to the Oneida tribe to the west side of Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1992.
Oneida tribal corn
In 2009 Oneida corn was grown out by Mike Brenna of Little Footprint Farm, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.
Mike told me that the Oneida Tribe in Wisconsin gave him some of the corn seed. He cherished the seed and only gave us three ears. I take one dried ear with me when I am lecturing.
Corn silk is medicinal and good for urinary tract infection. The dried silks can be added to soups and stews. Ayner Larson (originally from Turkey) told me the silks can be used in tea.
Phytochemicals: Maysin, Carvacrol, Flavonoids and Polyphenols make up some of the medicinal properties of corn silk.
Maysin helps protect the plant from bag bug larva such as European Corn Borer. What is good for the plant may be good for our own intestinal health.
Carvacrol may have antibacterial, anti fungal, antiviral and anti-cancer properties when naturally distilled in liquid. If corn silks are in a liquid base such as tea, soup and stew, this will allow the phytochemical to release its essence into the liquid.
Flavonioids have antioxidant properties. Polyphenol also has antioxidant properties. Rather, they may affect cell-to-cell signaling, receptor sensitivity, inflammatory enzyme activity or gene regulation.
Food sources are more than just a question of eating. Are we conscious of what we eat? For example, Oneida corn is a life substance to the Oneida people. My ancestors came from Ireland and I am tied to the potato. Being connected to our ancestral food has an effect on our DNR. We are linked to our past through food.
King Corn points out that corn being grown today is often not for human consumption. Corn is grown to feed cattle in the concentrated animal feed operations. It is often grown as a byproduct called corn syrup. It’s in mayonnaise, ketchup, boxed food and soft drinks. Corn syrup is a processed product from a non food source. Diabetes is often caused by a diet of high corn syrup. The closer to the natural food source, the healthier we can be.
Happy Tonics display featured Tarahumara corn from a remote area of Sierra Tarahumara, Chihuahua, Mexico. Growing biodiversity of corn species can keep the landraces alive. There are more types of corn besides yellow sweet corn. Tribal people understand the importance of growing dent, flour, flint, popcorn and sweet corn.
tarahumara serape corn
Tarahumara serape corn tassels. Just look at the beautiful red striked tassels. This species is a Flour/Flint Corn. When dry, flints generally store better and have a great resistance to insect damage. The kernals can be toasted and ground and popped.
There is more to the corn story. Visit http://happytonics.org/mbr13b1.htm to read the Colonization of Maize by Mary Ellen Ryall.
Be happy insectamonarca friends where ever you are.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
February 14, 2010 at 2:47 am (Agriculture, Brighter Planet, Climate change, Community gardens, Environment, Grant, Mary Ellen Ryall, Shell Lake)
Tags: Amazon, Awakening the Dreamer, biodiversity, Brighter Planet, Climate change, Community gardens, Dream Time, Grant, Happy Tonics, Misahualli, Napo River, Native Crops, Native Habitat, Shuar, the Pacamama Alliance
Hello Insectamonarca friends,
I just watched a video of the Shuar Indians of Ecuador who knew that their world was disappearing when the outer world started to invade the Rainforest. I lived in the Amazon along the Napo and Misahualli River in the late 1970s. Please learn more here at http://www.pachamama.org/content/view/262/97/
Lady sitting in Guadamala copyright by Sue Sill
I am asking for your VOTE so that we can adapt to climate change with native habitat and community garden in Shell Lake, WI, USA. It is not that far away from Ecuador in the dream time. The Shuar say, “The North needs to change its dream.” Materialism is causing all kinds of harm to Mother Earth known as ”Pachamama” in South America. We need to start to grow our own local and organic food and protect and plant native habitat for all species be it plant or animals. Man cannot live without the natural world.
Please Sign Up and Vote for our Grant Proposal with Brighter Planet at http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100
I won’t be blogging tomorrow so I am wishing you a Happy Sunday. Thank you for being part of our dream.
Mary Ellen
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
February 12, 2010 at 3:37 am (Agriculture, Brighter Planet, Climate change, Community gardens, Container Gardens, Environment, Friendship Commons Senior Center, Girl Scouts, Grant, Leopold Education Project, Mary Ellen Ryall, Monarch butterfly, Native Bees, Native Habitat, Pheasants Forever, Ross Gelbspan, Shell Lake, The Heat is On)
Tags: Andrew Eiche, Girl Scouts, Jeff Parker, Lakeland Manor, Mother Earth, News from Indian Country, Rain Barrels, Ross Gelbspan, The Heat is On
I am awed that we have reached so many VOTERS through Brighter Planet. As of 9:30 p.m., 193 conscientous citizens have voted for our grant proposal. Thank you. We are still plugging for VOTES for Climate Change Native Habitat and Community Garden in Shell Lake. For those of you signing up and VOTING now please click on http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100 and give us your support.
Happy Tonics hopes you will listen to testimony about climate change by Ross Gelbspan, author of “The Heat Is On,” on his Web site at http://www.heatisonline.org/ It is no longer about when. It is about how we are going to adapt to Climate Change.
native tomatoes raised in containers at Lakeland Manor
All of us need to bring the message home that we need to protect biodiversity and plant native grasses, wildflowers and crops to withstand climate change. I am hopeful of seeing many rain barrels in place this year in Shell Lake. Andrew Eiche, Executive Director of HUD Housing, told me he plans to grant our request for a rain barrel for resident container gardens at Lakeland Manor, senior housing, in Shell Lake in 2010.
I called Jeff Parker, Director of Public Works, Shell Lake, today about donating a rain barrel for Friendship Commons where the girl scouts are going to plant a container garden with an Aldo Leopold Education and Pheasants Forever Grant. The seniors are pleased that the younger generation will be involved in beautifying outside the center. The educational garden will teach others about growing bee pollinator, butterfly (second more important pollinator), herb, flower and veggie gardens.
Happy Tonics is thrilled that Shell Lake is starting to get the message that we need to grow local and organic food.
Borage a taste of cucumber and bee plant
We need native plants for pollinators. It has taken Happy Tonics a few years of teaching environmental education to reach the public on a deep and profound level. Protecting Mother Earth comes natural to Happy Tonics. Nick Vander Puy, reporter at News from Indian Country, wrote on his Facebook blog recently something to the effect, “Our grandchildren will ask what did you do during the Great War for the Earth?”
It is all about the baby steps and teaching others how to grow their own food in sustainable ways to adapt to Climate Change.
Be happy Voters where ever you are.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
February 7, 2010 at 1:18 am (Agriculture, Climate change, Community gardens, Food Safety, Shell Lake)
Tags: Brighter Planet, Campground Shell Lake, Climate change, Donna Barnes Haesemeyer, Farmers Market, Food Safety, Mayor of Shell Lake, Native Crops, organic gardening, Shoreline Protection Committee, Unemployment benefits Wisconsin, water
Brighter Planet logo copyright
Please help pump up the votes. Please Sign up AND VOTE for the Climate Change Native Habitat and Community Garden Shell Lake grant proposal at Brighter Planet at
http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100
Happy Tonics wants to thank Donna Barnes-Haesemeyer, Mayor of Shell Lake, for her VOTE. The Mayor and I took part in The Natural Step for Communities – How Cities and Town can Change to Sustainable Practices in 2008. I am proud to announce that Shell Lake is a sustainable city.
Local grown food Famers Market
The mayor has implemented many initiatives to help the city start a Farmers Market, promote community gardens, improve wetlands and increase native habitat. She is proactive in environmental advocacy work.
Personally I am proud to live in this small community where so many are trying to protect the lake from invasive species. We have the cleanest lake in Washburn County and perhaps throughout many areas in Wisconsin. The Shoreline Protection Committee is reestablishing native habitat at 13 public access areas around the lake.
The campground with aged cottonwood tree and lake
Native black-eyed Susan at Native Wildflower and Butterfly Garden.
Happy Tonics implemented a Native Wildflower and Butterfly Garden on city land. Now we are trying to raise funds through Brighter Planet to maintain the habitat and help the community with community gardens.
Let me tell you way. Washburn County will shortly be impacted by 8,000 more people who have been taken off the unemployment benefits roll. This means that food pantries need to gear up to address an ever increasing crisis in food security for citizens.
A community that can feed itself is sustainable. You are allowed three votes and we are asking for your help. Please sign up and VOTE for the Climate Change Native Habitat and Community Garden Shell Lake grant proposal at Brighter Planet at http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100
Thank you for VOTING and proving you care.
Quote Source: Cassie McCrow wrote on Nick Vander Puy’s blog: “The genius of hunter-gatherers is that they must live as a part of nature rather than a manipulator of it – playing by nature’s rules, if you will. Part of that is the exchange – gratitude, relationship and respect (all good energies) for food, clothing and shelter.”
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
January 31, 2010 at 4:07 pm (Agriculture, Brighter Planet, Bumble Bee, Climate change, Community gardens, Environment, Food Safety, Grant, Happy Tonics, Honey Bees, Monarch butterfly, Monarch Butterfly Habitat, National Geographic, Native Bees, Soil, Sustainable Agriculture)
Tags: Bumble Bee, Climate change, Community gardens, Happy Tonics, Insects, local food supply, Mary Ellen Ryall, Monarch butterfly, Native Bees, Native Crops, Native Wildflowers, organic gardening
Please take a minute to REGISTER AND VOTE at http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100
Happy Tonics needs your VOTE to help us do our work. Officers and Board Members give of their time to educate and implement programs to adapt to Climate Change by promoting Sustainability of Native Plants, Monarch Butterfly and other pollinator habitat. Our mission is: Sanctuary for the Monarch Butterfly and Food Safety Issues.
Native bumble bee on autumn sedum
small square foot garden
We are a small grassroots nonprofit that needs your help to WIN our Climate Change Native Habitat and Community Garden Shell Lake grant proposal.
This is not Happy Tonics first attempt to bring Adapting to Climate Change into national awareness.
We were honored to participate in the Green Effect grant process with National Geographic sponsored by Sun Chips in 2009. Although other worthy causes won, we believe that each of us must do our part to bring the message of adapting to climate change home. (National Geographic, Green Effect Winning Ideas for a Better World, November 2009, insert after pg. 6.)
Plant native wildflowers for drought conditions
Won’t you help us now? Please SIGN UP AND VOTE at http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/100
Thank you.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
January 23, 2010 at 5:06 pm (Agriculture, Climate change, Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC, Genetic Engineering, Sustainable Agriculture, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Uncategorized)
Tags: Africa, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Biotechnology, Borlaug Dialogue, Community Food Security Coalition, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, Dr. Rajiv Shah, drought, Ethiopia, gentically modified wheat, Hybrid sorghum, Iowa, Second Green Revolution, USAID, USDA Secretary Vilsack, Windfarms, Word Food Prize Foundation, World Food Prize Laureate
Des Moines, Iowa, USA – In October 2009, the Borlaug Dialogue and the World Food Prize Foundation hosted the annual World Food Prize. The World Food Prize Laureate is Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia for his discovery of a hybrid species of sorghum that is resistant to drought.
Windfarm in Iowa equals alternative energy
Happy Tonics was attending the 13th Annual Community Food Security Coalition Confernce in Iowa in 2009 around the time this event took place.
Sustainabile Food Security Issue CFSC Conference attendees
Bill Gates spoke at the Borlaug Dialogue event. Bill and Linda Gates Foundation donated a grant of $120 million to the “Second Green Revolution.”
The money is being given to Africa in part to grow drought hardy corn that 300 million Africans are dependent upon. Gates said the grant will be used in part to train African growers in the science of biotechnology. You can listen to Bill Gates speech at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/symposium/2009/video/gates.html
Collaborative efforts are ongoing between Monsanto and the Federal Government and the decision is to allow genetic engineered crops to combat world hunger in developing poor countries.
Monsanto, with approval of governmental partners including the White House, USDA Secretary Vilsack and Dr. Rajiv Shah, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will seek to plant genetically modified wheat in Africa. Africa is besieged with environmental threats to their wheat crop due of drought and disease. Wheat is one of the four most important crops in the world.
Happy Tonics supports local grown and organic crops. None the less, the public needs to be aware that GMOs are on the rise in the Global Food System.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Leave a Comment
« Older entries
