My parents were not exactly cooks or health-fooders...ha! ha! It was mostly Burger King......and grilled cheese sandwiches! Oh well...live and learn.

-David Z. Mason
www.RawFoodFarm.com

Hey Sheryl. I'm a simple fruit kind of guy. So my little organic farm will focus on strong-producing and hardy fruit types for this region. I'll grow a lot of the more fast-growing stuff at first (Papaya, Banana, Fig, Mulberry, etc.). I have 3 acres, but I'm going to start with container grown plants.....and also focus on very intensely cared for mini-groves. It should be some interesting work! The key is to be productive enough to where i produce enough of my own food to not need to purchase food - of course.

-David Z. Mason

-What better way can I show love to myself than by choosing the highest quality foods that I know of....forever?

-David Z. Mason

As long as you have water....food becomes much less of an issue....if you are already quite detoxed. A person can often go days without food......even under strenuous circumstances.....if properly hydrated and exertion is reasonable! The above suggestions are really good. Have fun!

-David Z. Mason

-I tell people: "I've only eaten fresh fruits and vegetables for 5 years." Ha! ha! It blows their minds for sure!

-David Z. Mason

Very uplifting post Durianrider! Thank you. Certainly some major reasons for failure to do well: it tends to be in the early stages...and seems to have a lot to do with Social Pressure and trying to change too much....to quickly. Trying to exert force and discipline rather than power and motivation.

-David Z. Mason

Brett: I certainly agree with your intelligent comments.

MissGiggles: Such a nice thing to say! Thank you - that warms my heart. It's nice to be able to give back (in small measure) to the folks whose wonderful experience and thoughtful responses have helped me to be successful. I look forward to giving back in even more concrete ways!

-David Z. Mason

Yes. I would start with a base of well-shredded lettuce or dark greens (like kale, spinach, or chard).  My favorite was to julienne a lot of veggies like sweet pepper, radish, carrot and lay them inside too. Then I would top with sprouts and raw sunflower seeds. I would top off with a fresh made salsa...wrap up and eat! Oh yeah!

-David Z. Mason

Opinion:

-Human failings (for lack of a better term) are often ascribed as a 'female' thing...or a 'raw food thing'. People that are looking to be dogmatic and superior will find an outlet to do it.....often an outlet that runs counter-culture. When I used to play Dungeons and Dragons, they blamed Dungeons & Dragons for kids committing Suicide or Homicide. People want to blame rock music or video games for childhood violence. People want to blame the internet for sexual predators. Raw food is a tool. Because it is counter-culture (often times) then some folks that are doing negative things in their life are going to express themselves through that outlet. It is unfortunate - but normal.

For example: Focusing on any of the cynicism, corruption, and partisanship in politics. Of COURSE it is there. Does politics CAUSE it...or do some folks gravitate towards politics....and those negative individuals are what we hear about in the news! Ha! ha!

-There are millions of people doing positive things in their lives. There are 1000's of politicians working selflessly to improve all of our standards of living. 99.9% of what folks do every day is miraculous and life-affirming. It's simply not going to make the evening news! Ha! ha!

-As Eckhart Tolle said: You are simply not going to turn on the news and hear there was an amazing shift in consciousness today! Ha! ha! It's just not newsworthy! LOL.

-What do you think?

-David Z. Mason

I got this a bit....on and off...while transitioning. I am also very active. It eventually went away (after about 6 months). I got plenty of stretching and good circulation into those areas while transitioning. Try to get plenty of reasonable sunlight on your skin and in your eyes also. This should help balance your hormonal levels. Just a suggestion. Power to you!

-David Z. Mason

-Accept the level of raw food that you ARE comfortable with right now. Be totally ok and honest with that....set goals.....and stretch from there. That is YOUR path. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by some guru...or some set idea about what raw HAS to be for you. The wonderful folks here certainly accept you the way you are.....not as you HOPE to be. You owe at least the same to yourself.

-Just my opinion.

-David Z. Mason

Sure. My favorite recipe was lettuce wraps with fresh salsa and guacamole. Take your Romaine (or Kale) leaves and lay them out flat. Add shredded lettuce, julienned carrots, slivers of sweet pepper and radish, and top with sprouts...fresh-made salsa...and sunflower seeds. Close up wrap and eat like burrito with extra guacamole for topping.
Adjusting the ingredients to your taste can be great fun!

-For those that eat mushrooms...a similar hardy dish can be made with mushroom caps stuffed with sprouts, topped with salsa, and fresh sunflower seeds. Eat like an hors'doerve (or however that is spelled!) Ha! ha!

-Another great dish is a chopped kale or spinach salad, tossed with a fresh lemon/garlic sauce...and toped liberally with sliced or slivered almonds.

-David Z. Mason

-Thanks RawGreenGoddess! The site is awesome! I hope I can learn from some of you wonderful folks - and share my own experiences...if they are helpful.

-David Z. Mason

Ladytron & CSS.

-David Z. Mason

Heya! David Z. Mason here. I'm building my own little organic farm (3 acres here in Highlands County - Sebring, FL). I'll be hosting weekend health retreats: doing sungazing, fasting, growing foods, yoga, and other topics. If I can be of any support to you here in FL, don't hesitate to drop me a line at DavidZaneMason@hotmail.com.....or check out my new website! www.rawfoodfarm.com

-David Z. Mason