How are Degree and Category Determined?
When the farmer has obtained a level of consciousness that motivates him to move away from the “only-for-profit mentality” and treats the soil and the environment with respect that will allow him to get in touch with the cosmic forces and be a steward of the land, that farmer is operating a “spiritual farm.”
That level of consciousness will make him stay away from using any synthetic chemicals and fertilizers or pesticides on the land or the environment. He will use means to heal the soil instead of degrading it or exploiting it.
The level of complexity or integration of the agricultural practices to attain the excellent quality of food and care for the land and environment is what will determine the “degree” attained by the farm being evaluated, the category is determined by the nature of the practices being used, as can be seen in the Farm Categories and Evaluation Chart.
Our search for spiritual food has been furthered by the new regulations given by the USDA for organic food that have caused great concern about the safety of food for human health. At Spiritual Food for the New Millennium, we are facing this challenge by choosing providers who recognize the spiritual aspect and sacredness of growing food for their fellow human beings. In our understanding the best expression and most organized form of agriculture, which includes healing the planet, is found in the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (Agriculture, 1924) who considers the farm a living organism. This is the basis for our classification system. From the beginning, we chose this method for spiritual reasons. However, due to their not being enough food available from these special farms, we are now also reaching out to farms with other forms of spiritual content.
Although we are accustomed in this country to the way that government and big businesses operate, we are trying to develop a way of doing business based on trust between producers and consumers. We believe we have enough tools and a certainty, based on the trusting relationship, to guarantee the best results. A natural way of living that includes a simple and healthy lifestyle brings forth the wisdom of the body that can recognize and communicate to us, by means of taste buds, energy level, and spiritual awareness, whether the food we ingest is beneficial. For this reason, we will appreciate ongoing feedback on your experience with Sattwic Organic food.
Sattwic Organic is the term we have chosen to identify the food offered by
SFNM. The word sattwa comes from the ancient teachings representing one of the three attributes of nature: sattwa -pure and luminous; rajas -active and restless; and tamas -inert and dark. Therefore, sattwic food is the food that will instill purity, calmness, clarity of mind, etc. in the human being who partakes of
it.
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