Happy holidays or what was going on?

A few updates for all of you …to see what I’ve been doing lately. :)

Two birthdays have gone by – my children's. We've had lots of fun and yummy foods. ...Here are one of each their birthday cakes.


Can you tell? That's my daughter's ;). She loooves princesses...and pink (the hearts, etc. are made out of dragon fruit skin...nice color, isn't it??


And this was my son's own birthday "cake". Guess what he is into ;)...yep. Knights and castles.

Sergei Boutenko balancing on the slackline.

Sergei with his sister Valya...and me in the middle ;).

Our Halloween party and preparation course. The ghost is out of parsnip. Parsley root works, too. It so-to-speak grows naturally as a ghost :). It just needs eyes...

And our yummy pumpkin pie. I always need greens with it or it is too sweet ;).

I also created something for you to make it easier to survive the Christmas season. Hope you enjoy it:
http://www.advientos.com/destinatarios-publico.php?codigo=1185-5840

Feel free to share it with your friends and loved-ones :). I apologize for it being late but I ran into trouble with the program and my sloooow internet connection. I hope very much you still enjoy it ;).

Yes, I have been thinking about how to help you during this special time of the year and thought I share with you what we do. As you already know my husband isn’t raw at all (well, a banana or some grapes might find the way into him ;) ..). So for the kids and me I make delicious meals and yummy raw cookies and cakes and for him and guests cooked meals. That works just fine but I am doing this now for 7 years ;)…so, it is easy for me. The children only know it that way as well and are happy. They have food they love and cookies like everybody else does, too. They are the ones always telling their Daddy to go raw ;). He has lots of illnesses like asthma, migraines, allergies, etc. I – in the beginning – wanted him to show how great raw foods are and how much they help your body heal and recover from every illness but learnt that every person needs their time. Everybody is on their journey and that doesn’t necessarily mean for them to be raw. They might “need” (unconsciously think they do) their illnesses to be able to survive. Many reasons are possible but fact is I decided not to talk but live life for myself as good and happy as I can. Being the living example might help him see (and he does) and he can choose to change or not. That’s up to him. He is old enough. Why am I telling you about it? Well, because if you can see it this way you won’t have a problem to eat with “normal” people at the same table and enjoy your fresh yummy food while they eat theirs. You don’t have to explain anything unless they ask and you want to tell ;). At the end it is about being together, talking and having a good time – and therefore it doesn’t really matter what you eat as long as you chew on something ;). They might ask you about it but as soon as they know you just are that way and you believe in it they will take you that way.

So, my tip for you: In the beginning stages of being raw (or even later if you like it and your body feels good with it) make those delicious raw cookies, dehydrate apple rings and decorate your Christmas tree with them, create cakes that make everybody’s mouth water…and invite people to taste and try for themselves if they like to. Make a huge green smoothie for everybody to enjoy…and most of all just be you and don’t worry about what they might think (99% of our assumptions are wrong anyway). If you don’t like those heavy recipes do it simple. Cut fruits with a cookie cutter in different shapes, dehydrate them or eat them like they are, decorate your meals with them and make paradise-like salads. As a main dish you might get exotic fruits and lay them nicely on a Christmas platter - decorated with greens. You might go into an Asian store and find jackfruit, durian (well, that’s very smelly for most people…therefore, I wouldn’t go for it unless you are amongst other raw fooders ;)…), young coconuts or other delicacies. Everybody will look jealously over to you enjoying your meal feeling great afterwards. You can eat as much as you want and not gain anything - probably rather the opposite. Just imagine how you’d feel after a heavy cooked meal… Buy more than you need just to have enough in case everybody likes your food better than theirs which happens quite often ;)… Leftovers can be frozen or dehydrated, so, you won’t have to throw anything away.

Enjoy yourself and be contagious :)…with your humor, fun and excitement about natural foods in a positive showing way (not preaching about it!)

Happy holidays!

Sonja

PS: More tips and tricks in my newsletter. Sign up at http://www.rawfunfamily.com/.

PPS: I am truly sorry if somebody feels offended by me talking about Christmas. It is not meant that way. Those are my/our personal experiences and we do celebrate Christmas. But I do believe that you can use this information for every kind of celebration. I do respect any of your beliefs. This is simply what I know :)....and I didn't think it is a problem as it is not in Germany. I do learn ;)...

What's been going on?

Yes, I looove to have fun :).

I've experienced some exciting and interesting months I have to tell you about!! After we finished moving in our new home (or actually in between) here in Germany (it's right next to fields and forest...close to a lake!) I stayed busy with some amazing raw food events and of course my own life with our wonderful children who still loooove raw foods as well :).



In June I went to a raw camp out where we had lots of fun hiking. In July I attended the biggest raw food congress over here with themes about homeschooling, raw foods, bonding (that is so important!), vaccination, living in and with nature and much more!

End of July to August was the huge raw fun family camp I did over here again where about 100 people attended - yeeeeeah..tons of fun as well and good lectures about raw food and spirituality, The Journey process, manifesting, bonding, child led learning, free love, ecological living and much more... It was very interesting and a wonderful time with so many like-minded families - a short-time raw food community!! You have to experience it if you are thinking about living in a community with like-minded folks! We danced, laughed, enjoyed the camp fire and the stars till late at night, sang and shared our meals. The kids loooved to meet some friends that eat and think samewise. We did games and night walks...oh, I can't express it all in words. I will put out a little movie about it, too - so, you can watch it soon as well.


Those are some of raw fun family camp group ;).



In between we'd had wonderful guests and now there is the next thing coming on: Another congress in Nuremberg and Berlin with Sergei and Valja Boutenko and many German raw food leaders! Yes, there are lots of things going on here - thus the lack of time writing ;).

Nevertheless, I've been busy creating new things. Here is my latest creation (recipes coming soon through my newsletter - please make sure you sign up for it at www.rawfunfamily.com):


Doesn't it look yummy?? It WAS :).

The next totally free event is coming soon as well - it starts on 19 October! Make sure you attend it. There are 15 raw food experts talking about all kinds of highly interesting themes! Just click here:
Rawkathon and make sure you take part in it!

Hugs to all of you!

Unschooling raw food Mom living and loving life!

Happy hi and helloooo everywhere!!

We are happily busy...the kids loooove to explore the midevals with all their knights and castles...and I...??...enjoy the cherries that are ripe now everywhere ;)... have some, too:

...those red glowing jewels!

Back with like-minded folks it is always fun to meet... This was a raw food camp and lots of fun! I can only recommend to get together and do things...get into the way of living foods ...and enjoy it in nature where it actually belongs ;)...simple and easy life makes soooo happy. I promise :).

This was the whole group...

...and that's where the kids and I slept...fun, fun, fun...

Oh I wished I could make you feel that way, too...and want to share sooo much. And with a big group of about 80 - 90 people (families from Germany, Switzerland and Austria) I will sooon. I am so excited about it. There will be lots of fun, connecting, raw foods, nature & easy lifestyle as a community! Oh, you really have to join once at least!! I will keep you informed about all of it. :)

Besides that we now found a new home right next to the fields and forest...can watch the deer and rabbits every day..and enjoy our cherry tree :). As soon as the technic works again fully (I am just on a visit right now and able to go in the internet from here...so, please excuse me for not being able to answer right away. I haven't forgotten about you!) and our boxes are unpacked I will send lots and lots of more information...just make sure you receive my newsletter where all that kind of stuff will float through ;)...to sign up click here.

So much for now...keep your emails coming! I am happy about every feedback I get!

Wishing you a day filled with wonders & sunshine!

Sonja

Life is an adventure...

...and we are right in it :). Back in Germany with lots of ideas and plans we are still looking for a place to live but am close to having one...close to nature... :). A move between continents takes time... Until I have one I show you what happened so far.

The wild edible walks in Dallas...lots of fun & great people! Yes, we enjoyed the last days in Texas and I know for sure I will miss this place...and its people! But life goes on and so we go...

This is how the sun rise looks like 30000 ft. above the ground...beautiful I think...

Even the airplanes serve yummy raw foods!!

That delicious fruit bowl was waiting for us when we arrived... I will explain the different fruits within my next posts. There seems to be a bigger variety here. We are again more on our way to simple and healthy raw foods.

A simple and easy cake for my dear mother!

My happy children in the greeeen meadows... They love to find wild edibles, too! We are all amazed by the abundance over here...

While finding a house to live in we explore the area around here and love it. Lots to do, not far to go...and warmth...yippeee...

The next raw food camp is full...there will be around 70 people attending!! So, lots of fun and a good start... Everyone is welcome to join! I will do more camps, etc. Please find out more information soon on my webpage at http://www.rawfunfamily.com/.

Also, make sure you check out the wild edibles (I just uploaded a few movies and will show you more...) and sign up for my free newsletter for updates and more!

Love,

Sonja from the other side of the earth...still missing Texas...

Wild edible classes are fun!!

Happy hiiii,

Now the wonderful class is over, too...and everybody loved it. We've had a great time and all learned to look different at those magical plants many always consider a weed. We should call it growing gold :)....as important as those natural super foods are!



I took all the information and more....and made a book out of it that I will let you know more about soon...so, you can also get outside and enjoy those energizing and cheap fresh greens - no matter where you are!

Look forward to a book filled with useful information...especially if you want to know what grows around you and how to identify it, what is in those powerful plants that make them so valuable, what can you use them for, can and what can you eat raw...and more...about how and when to pick them, etc...and lots of up-close pictures!!!

Our happy raw Easter party!

A happy helloooooo again :),

Finally I get to upload the pictures for you, so, you can see how our Easter celebration was like. Yes, raw Easter paries are lots of fun, too :)...and the children loooove it!!

But look for yourself...

Hihi...no that's not where we looked for "eggs"...but the beautiful Texas country side...I loooove it!!

Easter "eggs" for every size :))))...

Our Easter table...yummy...

And here comes the Easter bunny...yes, it is raw, too :)...

...and another one...not that they get lonely ;)...

Wild Edible 'BBQ'

A happy hello to you!!!

Just wanted to inform you about the next upcoming event:

WILD EDIBLE ‘excursion’ in my huge back yard !!
(it’s like a healthy BBQ but without a grill.. :)…and fun and information filled Saturday awaits youuuuu…)

Spring is coming and some greens are starting to finally grow again!! This is the time to get to know them :)...before they dry out again... Learn about them and plant them in your garden....those natural superfoods!! They grow without cost for you if you just care a little about them. They will give it back a million times more :).

Anyway, start the season filled with nutrition and happy energy balls in your body!!!

I introduce you to the most common wild edibles that you can find around here. We will identify, smell and eat them :). I will give you tips about what is in them and how to pick and prepare those green power foods...and finally we will make a yummy meal filled with them :).

Experience this wonderful energy that will connect you to our earth again and make you feel soooooo good you think you are flying :)))...especially after an afternoon with me...hihi. Get in touch with the sparkling power source. It's magic!!

It will take place on: Saturday, 5 April 2008
In: Kempner (one hour north of Austin in the beautiful country side of Texas - for more details please mail me )
From 1 am … ooookaay....you want to sleep longer, eh?...sooo...1 pm - 5 pm
Costs: 10 USD/person

Feel free to bring your children, too...bring the whole family, friends...strangers...whoever you can grab on the way ;)... There is always room for lots of fun up here!!

Please register as soon as possible, so, I get a clue how many we will be. I want to make sure I order the right amount of ingredients for our meal…it is not easy to pack all that when we move to Germany…!

See you sooon :) (imagine this smily bouncing…that’s me!)

Sonja…happily awaiting you!
http://www.rawfunfamily.com/

Another happy & fun filled week went by...

It's always sad when they go...our dear guests...but I am also happy they loved it! Last week was just great. We've had looots of fun and connecting time but also shared a lot...learned about raw foods and living it in your daily life...game nights and happy bouncing trampoline dreamers ;)... I love it! All kinds of arts appeared around here and lots of laughter, too. Yes, life is supposed to be fun. I am always grateful as I learn a lot from each and every one of you as well. Therefore, I have some more things planned that you will get to know within the next few weeks.

Everybody is so special and wonderful. And everybody has something they can especially good. We just have to go for it! We are here on earth for a reason...to fulfil our purpose. Find out about it and go for it!! I am here to motivate you...to strengthen mothers...to go for what your heart sings...and take responsibility...to watch your children (and I don't mean watch them all the time...driving them nuts ;)...but make sure they can grow up healthy...physically as well as mentally!!) I will write more about that in my newsletter.

But now a few pictures for you to see what was going on here ;).

Yes, you have to work here :)...but this time it's fun!! Big and small....all love it!!

And this is what one of them thought about it:

"I had the most wonderful and relaxing time on my two day stay with Sonja, Ron, Justin and Jessica as well as my daughter Kaya who came with me. There were many points of realization for me that helped me to recognize some behaviors and feeling that I had that didn't come from a space of love. I learned so much about love while I was here as I saw a peaceful family live harmoniously with an abundance of love and light. It has helped me to incorporate more patience, love and understanding into my life with Kaya and Christopher my fiancé. I even get to take some of Sonja's delicious 'cheesecake' back for him! ....."

The Importance of Wild Edibles

Yummy...wild edibles with raw sweets! :)

Have you heard of eating the wild greens right out of your garden? Next time you go through the wild plants in your garden, don’t throw them away. Some may be just the right thing you need – and this growing "gold" in your garden and everywhere in nature is free.

In case you're wondering why I'm stressing wild greens so much, let me take you by your hand and guide you into the land of wild greens. What we usually find outside – often believed in to be just “weeds” -- are dandelion, chickweed, clover, thistle, lamb's quarters, sorrel, garlic mustard, cress, stinging needles, plantain, and grass -- just mention the most common ones. There are bushes, such as hawthorn and roses with delicious leaves and fruits. There are trees, such as the linden tree, lime or basswood with young leaves so tender and full of nutrients. Or the needle trees with their young spots. And it all grows for you! Best of all, you just have to pick and eat it! No cooking required. Plus, cooking would damage all of this goodness.

So, what else is good about these wild edibles besides they're being free (free in nature and free of charge)? Well, if you think about a normal head of lettuce compared to wild edibles, you’d have to eat a lot of lettuce in order to get the same amount of nutrients you put in your system with just one handful. On average, wild edibles have three to seven times more iron, 20 to 30 times more Vitamin C and 20 to 50 times more Vitamin A than cultivated plants. Those are rough numbers, but you get an idea! If you wanted to get enough Vitamin C, for example, you’d have to eat 600g of Boston lettuce or 1000g if it is one day old, but you could just eat 40g of garlic mustard and have enough for the day!

These wild edibles are super foods. Always remember, God made everything for us. This perfection that you find in wild edibles (not generated, created or somehow influenced by man) is the wonder of nature. All the energy in our universe is found in those strong little plants. They are magic. They are so strong that they even grow through asphalt. They come back every year, again and again, even though some get sprayed with the worst chemicals. But to the surprise of everybody…bling…their head keeps peaking out again…and again…and again…as if they wanted to remind you: I am here. I am here for you! I fight until you realize me! Pick me and eat me and you will be as strong as I am! Watch the animals. They know it, too. Even the pets do.

Studies have found that plants in contact with us even have the ability to produce what our bodies need! They can attract just the right substances through their roots and the air in order to prepare the best mix of nutrients for each personal case! Wow! Imagine that! You really have everything growing around you -- everything you need in order to heal and thrive. But you have to get out and use it. Be thankful and take care of it. Give them your love and they are so happy to give it back many times.

Nutrients
Stinging nettles, for example, are known for their complex pack of ingredients. Even pharmacists know the positive effects. They know there is a lot more iron in them then in most other plants. Iron, our body needs! Not from animals but from those plants that you better know how to pick or you get stung. But what gets done with them? For consumer reasons, they are put in bottles with chemicals added, processed and sold for a lot of money! The same goes for red clover and many other plants. Why don’t we just use it the way God made it for us? Don’t we believe in it anymore? We have to come back to our knowledge and our birth right – to live a happy life in abundance!

Chlorophyll
With plants, think all green, very green, dark green, and bursting full of chlorophyll - another most important substance! Chlorophyll is the juice that is the closest match to our blood. It contains all the energy from the sun. It delivers the light right in our body. Through photosynthesis, the plants perform miracles. Not even our scientists understand this totally. But do we have to? Let’s be in awe and be grateful for them!

Now, that you know how good they are, here are some tips on how to eat them.

You can just put of the edible greens in your mouth and chew well. That’s another good thing about wild edibles -- you have to chew! Chewing is important. Our food needs to be liquid by the time we swallow it. When it comes to stinging nettles, for example, I always wet my finger tips, crab the top part of the nettle (the softest leaves), twist them in my fingers so that the little hairs break off and don’t sting you anymore, and stick those rolls in my mouth. The seeds of nettles are also delicious. They taste a little bit like nuts.

The longer you keep the greens in your mouth, the better your body remembers them and will ask for them more and more often. It’s like waking up; you wake up those old memories of where to get good nutrients from. And the longer you do it, the better they taste.

Oh, you think dandelion is too bitter? But that’s what your system needs from time to time. Your liver will thank you! Or pick a few sour clovers and you will be so refreshed on a hot summer day! Pick some leaves when you take a walk through the woods and you are good to go. Try it! It is very energizing.

You can also pick a bunch of different plants and make delicious sauces from them, such as a green sauce or a yummy green roll.

Green Sauce:
~ One bunch parsley
~ One bunch cilantro
~ A few big leaves of sorrel
~ A little bit of cress
~ An avocado
~ Himalayan salt or sea salt (if desired)
~ A little bit lemon juice

Blend it all together and enjoy over your salad. Be fit and full of energy for the whole day!

Green Roll:
~ A few big leaves, such as chard or romaine lettuce
~ Carrot, shredded
~ Corn kernels
~ Cucumber pieces
~ Sprouts
~ Avocado
~ Tomato slices
~ Wild edibles

Fill the leaves with all the yummy things, roll them up and enjoy!

Another trick to eat more wild ones – bring a banana or an apple on your hike and enjoy it with the greens. It will taste a lot better – especially if you just start with it. One bite banana, one bite chickweed, one bite banana, one bite dandelion and so forth. Before you know it, you will have eaten a handful and will be happy. It does something else for you, too; it connects you on a cellular level. It connects you with nature again. It’s like being newly coded again. You feel so balanced and happy after it - very satisfied from the inside out. Those little plants are just full of life that they love to share with you! And if you don’t want to eat them right away (which is surely best) then bring a bag along and pick some for later. Sprinkle them over your salad and enjoy the flavor.

If you look at their bio-energetic radiation, you will see that they are a lot stronger than our grown lettuces we buy from the stores! And if you are one of the people that can’t get full when you eat raw – try wild edibles! They will fill you up. Just a handful! You have to try for yourself.

Happy picking!

Raw Food Camps!

I am happy to announce:

The Raw Food Connector Camp!!

Trying to connect to your children again? Wanting to have fun but don’t know how??? Doing something special with them?? Or just wanting to have some time with like-minded folks? … just “incidentally” it is all raw, too!! Without thinking…all will enjoy getting into raw foods…and finally feel the connection and the energy of love….open your hearts and come on!!

When? 22 – 24 February (Fri – Sun, 2 nights)

Where? One hour north of Austin on a wonderful piece of land…with lots of room to run around and have fun ;)

Who? Everybody can attend…especially those with children…but also without is ok if you want to have some fun and learn more about raw foods! No age limit! From baby to grandparent…all are welcome…we are all one big community ;)

Accommodation? Simple. Bring your sleeping bags and good music J….you are here for fun!! Remember those fun times as teens?? The sooner you register the more choices you have where to sleep… (It is inside…but who wants can also put up a tent outside ;)..).

Food? Fresh yummy sun foods (raw food)…raw food preparations and more…be surprised!

What else to expect? Laughing, singing, dancing, lots of fun…active games, etc…a relaxed time with wonderful people!

Costs? 150 $/person (12 years and up), 75 $ (age 5 – 12), children under 5 years are free!

If you want to join the great time…please sign up here sr20500@yahoo.de! It is definitely worth it… I am here for you if you have any questions…

Go out and spread the word! We do more fun stuff…and need lots of people!! The more the better it gets!

Sonja Watt

PS: Make sure you check out http://rawveganretreats.com/Sonja/Welcome.html for camps, retreats & much more!!