Mountain Creek Wholefoods Canberra

Organic vs. Biodynamic?

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:20 +0000

The basic principle of organic farming is to achieve food of high nutritional quality and optimum quantities of produce without the use of artificial fertilisers or synthetic chemicals. It does not use genetically modified foods, growth promoters or hormones. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no anitbiotics or growth hormones. Organic farming emphasises the need to maintain appropriate land management and aims to ecologically achieve the balance between animal life, the natural environment and food crops. Organic farmers do not use pesticides or herbicides. The produce that is gained through organic farming is thus at its most natural form.

Organic and biodynamic are very similar; both are grown without chemicals and GMOs. However, biodynamic goes one step further. It is a holistic practice where all things are considered living inter-related systems – animals, plants and the solar system. Biodynamic practices create healthier plants and heal the earth by replenishing the soil and adding vitality to the plant, soil and/or livestock.

Biodynamic farming methods enliven the soil through human attentiveness and cvareful observation of nature’s rythms. The main difference between organic and biodynamic is that biodynamic farming uses different principles that add vitality to the plant, soil and/or livestock, whereas traditional farming typically deteriorates the soil. Biodynamic agriculture uses specifically prepared preparations made from minerals and herbs – very similar to homeopathy. These preparations are used to enhance the compost applied to the fields and intensify the sunlight permeated into the plant.

Biodynamic agriculture also incorporates astrological influences. Rudolf Steiner, the founder of biodynamics, believed that much like the moon affects the tides, so does it affect the growing phases of planting and harvesting. Complex stellar calendars chart the influences of the moon and other planets for gardeners and farmers to follow.

Lunchboxes

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:08:42 +0000

With one easy tie you can say goodbye to plastic baggies and other leachy food containers. The fabulous ECOsnacksack, inspired by traditional furoshiki eco bags from Japan, is a chic and versatile lunch solution. Plastic-free, BPA-free and waste-free, furoshiki snack sacks are yummy & yuck-free for people of all ages. Fully lined and machine washable, the cotton fursoshiki wrap for children and adults is sewn from colorful fair trade textiles hand printed by artisans using wooden blocks and wax batik techniques perfected over generations. Whether you are packing food at home, picking up take-out or just need a versatile bag, these wraps make it easy to say goodbye to plastic bags, vinyl totes and other leachy food containers. The Ecolunchbox is a stainless steel bento style box that is perfect for your kids’ lunches.

LunchBots. Safe. Durable. Reusable and recyclable. Not only do LunchBots stainless steel food containers meet these high standards, they also simply look great, make lunch more fun, and food more appetizing.

Life Essential Nutrients

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:17:14 +0000

From Morlife’s range we have just started to stock two new products, NuMe and Rejuv, which contain lots of life essential nutrients.

Nu Me is a complete functional super food, containing 95 vital ingredients. It is a blend of antioxidant rich fruit extract powders along with a comprehensive range of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbal extracts, enzymes and other nutrients. Provides an entire solution for optimum wellness, energy and vitality so you get more out of life.

Rejuv is a high potency blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbal extracts and other unique superfoods combined to create a powerful boost and to rejuvenate your day. Rejuv is the ideal natural approach to aid complete wellness and promote revitalisation. Perfect to get you going each day and keep you going.

Both of these products are fee from artificial flavours, colours, preservatives and sweeteners and are beneficial in many ways.

To find out more about our superfoods click here.

Loving Earth Raw Chocolate?

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:36:01 +0000

This chocolate from the loving earth range contains no cane sugar or dairy and is suitable for vegans. This raw chocolate is is uncooked and unprocessed chocolate in its purest form that has been sweetened with agave syrup (a natural low GI sweetener). The cacao beans have not been roasted so that all of their nutrients are still intact! There are often a lot of questions about the flavours that the loving earth range is available in and here are some examples of a few of the more original flavours.

Activated almond and purple corn: Activated almonds are raw organic almonds that have been soaked for up to 12 hours to deactivate the enzyme inhibitors in them. Once these have been deactivated the nuts are much easier to digest. Purple corn is one variety of maize from Peru. The extract that is used in this bar is the powder left when all the mosture has been evaporated out of the corn cobbs’ pulp. This chocolate bar is rich in anti-oxidants and nutrients from both the nuts and corn.

Lucuma and Maca: Lucuma powder comes from the lcucma fruit, part of the sapote faily, and has a creamy citrusy flavour. Maca powder has a slightly bitter caramel and nut flavour which is high in both protein and minerals.

Goji and Camu Camu: Goji berries are found in subtropical regions of China and Tibet adn are very high in anti-oxidants. Camu Camu is a small berry that can be found in the Amazon and is very high in Vitamin C. The extract is created by evaporating all of the moisture out of the pulped flesh and tastes a bit like tangy sherbet.

Sour Cherry and Acai: This is one of the most popular flavours! The organic Acai powder comes from Sambazon and is full of anthocyanins and omegas. The sour cherries provide the perfect tar/sour combination with the bitter chocolate.

Organic Orange and Gubinge: Gubinge is another name for the Kimberley version of the Kakadu plum and is one of the highest sources of Vitamin C.

What are lentils?

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:41:55 +0000

Lentils are edible legumes that originated in India and can be used whole or split. Whole lentils are more nutritious because of their husks. When the husk (skin) is removed from the whole lentil and the lentil is split, it is then referred to as dal or daal in Indian languages. Cooked lentil recipes, either made with whole or split lentils, are also called Dal. The Dals are referred according to the variety of the lentil that is split.

Here are the English and Indian names for the more common lentils:

red lentil – masoor
green or puy lentil – moong bean or green gram
black lentil – black gram or whole urad bean
chickpea – bengal gram or chana
pigeon pea or yellow lentil – toor, toovar or arahar
kidney bean - rajma
cow pea or black eyed pea – lobia or chowli

Gluten-free foods?

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 06:29:49 +0000

Foods containing gluten include barley, oats, rye, wheat, spelt and kamut.

Foods that are gluten-free inlcude quinoa, millet, amaranth, chickpeas, buckwheat, rice and corn.

Aracaria Biodynamic Farm

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:10:11 +0000

The Aracaria Biodynamic farm is in Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia. Biodynamic principles were established on the farm in the 90′s and since then has expanded while sustaining the biodynamic practices that benefit both the plants and the soil. As well as stocking the glasses, ipad and keyboard cleaner, we also sell a selection of Aracaria’s teas and soaps. Their Soft Soap range is exceptional, featuring their own Lotus Seed Soap which is enhanced with the lotus seeds from their very own lotus lake.

Abode Non Toxic Cleaning Products

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:11:32 +0000

We stock a new range of cleaning products from Abode. This company is Australian and all of their products are natural, being plant and mineral based. They are designed to be safe for you and the environment. For more information … Continue reading →

Glass Drinking Bottles

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:04:33 +0000

Glass bottles from Lifefactory are now available in store. These bottles ensure that beverages do not have an added chemical or metallic taste while also benefiting the environment bydiscouraging the purchasing of bottled water and because glass is 100% recyclable. The bottle are sold with a silicon sleeve to give the bottle grip and prevent breakages. The caps are made from non-toxic recyclable polypropylene and all components of the bottle are dishwasher safe. We stock the bottles in a range of colours and sizes.

The Linen Press

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:49:59 +0000

We now have a new range from The Linen Press. The Linen Press is an Australian family business whose products are all designed in Australia with many organic products which are packaged with recycled materials and printed with soy inks. We stock a range of their linen products including tea towels, aprons, oven mitts and pot holders. We also stock some stationary which is all created from recyclable board and paper with products such as journals, address books, sticky notes and memopads.