My letter to Whole Foods Market about their changes at Greenlife
Dear Ms. Townsend:
First of all, I want to let you know that I am a long-time supporter of Whole Foods Market. In fact, I shopped at your original store when I lived in Austin during the 1990s. I appreciate your creating opportunities for folks to purchase healthy foods across the nation and wish you continued success in that regard.
I am writing to you today, however, about Greenlife Grocery in Asheville, North Carolina. Since Greenlife is less than a mile from my home, my wife Shonnie Lavender and I consider it our neighborhood grocery store. We shop there regularly and spend between $200 and $300 per week, primarily on groceries. We also frequently meet friends and business associates there for coffee and for meals.
When we discussed Whole Foods’ purchase of Greenlife with the staff members there, we were told that Whole Foods didn’t intend to change anything that made Greenlife the success it has been. Now, however, I’m finding conventional produce mixed with the organic produce, and I am very concerned about this.
I understand that Whole Foods thinks that taking such measures will bring in shoppers who may be interested in purchasing lower priced produce and other food items. Maybe so. But actions such as these may also drive shoppers such as my wife and me to back to Earth Fare or the French Broad Food Co-op, both within an additional five-minute drive of our home.
I’m guessing that you did a good bit of market research before you bought the Greenlife stores, so I’m sure that you know that Asheville is a unique market with many political progressives, spiritual activists, outdoor athletes, participants in holistic healing and a variety of combinations thereof. We are not purists, but we want what we want. And what we want is to be able to count on the grocery store to which we give our loyalty and our money to carry organic, locally grown produce whenever possible without adulterating it with conventional produce from factory farms. This is not only a personal health issue, it is also a values issue. We want to eat healthy food, and as much as possible, we want it to come from farmers and suppliers who really care about those who will be buying their products, from farmers who nurture the earth from which the bounty came.
I don’t want to have to regularly wade through the plethora of so-called “natural” foods that I see cluttering the aisles of Whole Foods Market stores when we visit Raleigh, Denver or NYC. There’s plenty of that stuff for sale in regular super markets for those who want it. In the end, I can only speak for myself: If Greenlife continues becoming more like your other stores, I will be taking my business elsewhere. Furthermore, I will be encouraging others to do so as well.
I would appreciate a response to this message.
Respectfully,
Bruce Mulkey
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Will you help provide health care for the uninsured in Buncombe County?
Next weekend I will be taking part in HeartStrings, an annual fund raiser for Project Access that will help to provide medical care for low-income, uninsured folks in Buncombe County. Asheville CrossFit is one of the sponsors of this event.
As part of my participation, I am seeking to raise at least $200 in contributions to support Project Access patients. I a
m asking you to contribute in one of two ways by Friday, February 5:
- A financial donation using the secure online form by clicking here.
- A contribution of a non-monetary nature (e.g., positive thoughts, prayers, passing this letter on to others who might wish to support me with a personal note from you, etc.)
It is unfortunate that many of our fellow citizens still lack essential health care, but until we create a system in which health care is a right rather than a privilege, Project Access will continue to fill a great need in our community.
Thanks a lot for your consideration of my request!
Bruce
HeartStrings Details
Project Access is a program of Buncombe County Medical Society that provides free health care to low-income uninsured residents of Buncombe County. In 2008, physician volunteers contributed more than $14 million of free medical care and over 3,500 people were able to receive the medical care they needed—even life saving specialty care like heart surgery—for free.
The goal of Project Access is to provide a coordinated system for helping uninsured people get the care they need in the most efficient and cost effective way possible. Physicians who volunteer their time, as well as hospitals and other providers who donate resources, provide the care to Project Access patients.
100% of the money we raise during Heartstrings will be used to pay for programmatic essentials such as eligibility screening, medications, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs and crutches), case management, language interpretation, and other services that ensure that the patient receives comprehensive, high quality care. Donations are tax-deductible.
If you want to learn more, please visit https://www.bcmsonline.org/pa/pp/.
Saturday, January 30th, 2010According to Rep. Zach Wamp, universal healthcare = socialism
Republican Rep. Zach Wamp, who is running for governor of Tennessee, unintentionally exposed his ineptitude and biases in an appearance on MSNBC Thursday. Despite the fact that there’s general agreement about the need to radically revamp our health care system, from citizens as well as from physicians, hospital administrators, employers, insurers and numerous others, Wamp spouts the same old tired talking points of decades gone by . . . and not very well at that. Here are a few highlights from his interview:
“It’s probably the next major step towards socialism. I hate to sound so harsh, but…. this literally is a fast march towards socialism, where the government is bigger than the private sector in our country and health care’s the next major step, so we oughta all be worried about it.”
[. . .]“Listen, health care is a privilege . . . for some people it’s a right, but for everyone, frankly, it’s not necessarily a right.”
[. . .]
“Half the people today choose to remain uninsured. Half of them don’t have any choice, but half of them choose to, what’s called, ‘Go naked.’ And just take a risk of getting sick. They end up in the emergency room, costing you and me a whole lot more money. How many illegal immigrants are in this country today, getting our health care? Gobs of ‘em.”
Watch Wamp’s desultory performance for yourself.
Friday, March 6th, 2009Movies that inspire, uplift, and awaken us
Since 2004, Bruce (my husband) and I have seen some of the most heart-warming, funny, inspiring, thought-provoking, interesting, unusual, meaningful, and magical movies. The films include features, documentaries and shorts. Some are animated, most are live action. Many films are from foreign countries. All of them are independent and unique.
We’ve seen these amazing films through our membership in the Spiritual Cinema Circle, a DVD club that specializes in uplifting and inspiring films. These are movies for people who want cinema that opens their heart, expands their mind and stirs their soul!
Each month, members pay $21 plus shipping and receive 4 films on DVD. The DVDs are yours to keep so you’ll get to build a library of inspiring films (this is one of my favorite parts of membership because then we can share our favorite films with others). Members of the Circle also get access to members-only teleconferences with amazing people such as Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch, Deepak Chopra, James Ray, and more!
The Spiritual Cinema Circle (SCC) generally offers a special trial membership deal (you often pay just the shipping for that month), so you can check it out risk-free (you may cancel at any time and for any reason).
“I love movies, but the movies I get from Spiritual Cinema Circle love me.”
~ Gary Zukav
Spiritual Cinema Circle Films for September 2007
Believe In Me (feature film)
A young man dreams of being an important basketball coach until he is forced to take a job as the coach of an all-girls team. Though he fears his short career will come to an end, what actually happens is nothing short of a miracle. The joy, tears and friendships captured in this wonderful film remind us how important it is to put our faith in a higher plan. This is a film for the whole family!
7 Days With 7 Dogs (short film)
Two of SCC’s original filmmakers spend a week taking their furry friends from one beautiful doggy heaven to another. This short documentary reveals the joy that comes from giving something wonderful to others.
5 Wishes; The Conversation (short film)
This insightful film probes the depths of what it takes to find peace and comfort within ourselves and our relationships, while opening a door to new possibility.
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (short film)
This intense, award-winning film from Hungary conveys its powerful message through suspense and chilling action. A simple story unfolds to reveal healing in many forms.
See previews of these films by visiting the Spiritual Cinema Circle’s Preview page. Click on the month of September for the films described above, or watch any previews that interest you.
Earn money with the Spiritual Cinema Circle
Another great thing you can do if you find that you are a huge spiritual cinema circle fan, is join their affiliate program. This allows you to earn money for people you refer to become members. You can find out more about the SCC affiliate program using the link below.
All the links above do connect to our affiliate account and potentially earn us money. If you prefer, you can visit the Spiritual Cinema Circle directly at spiritualcinemacircle.com.
“I love from Spiritual Cinema Circle because every month a DVD with entertainment that is right in line with my spiritual approach to life arrives in the mail. I’m always so excited as I know I’ll appreciate what I see.”
~ india.arie
This post is cross-posted at Lavender Log: Thoughts on Living an Inspired Life.
Saturday, September 8th, 2007We are what we eat.
Big news! The British medical journal The Lancet reports that consumption of the artificial food coloring and other additives (sodium benzoate in particular) found in soft drinks helps create hyperactivity in kids. What’s more, these studies don’t even take into account the 12 teaspoons of sugar found in each 16 ounce serving of Coke, Dr Pepper or 7-Up.
And it’s not just hyperactivity that’s an issue when excessive amounts of soft drinks are consumed. Consider the comments of nutritionist Judith Valentine, PhD, CNA, CNC:
We as practitioners and advocates of a healthy life-style recognize that consuming even as little as one or two sodas per day is undeniably connected to a myriad of pathologies. The most commonly associated health risks are obesity, diabetes and other blood sugar disorders, tooth decay, osteoporosis and bone fractures, nutritional deficiencies, heart disease, food addictions and eating disorders, neurotransmitter dysfunction from chemical sweeteners, and neurological and adrenal disorders from excessive caffeine.
Since 1978, the consumption of soft drinks in the U.S. has tripled for boys and doubled for girls. And get this: Males aged 12 through 29 consume over 160 gallons per year, nearly two quarts a day.
The soft drink industry spends billions in advertising annually and manufactures enough of its sugary products to provide more than 52 gallons to every man, woman and child in the United States. And most of us evidently don’t have the discernment or self-restraint to refrain from gulping down our share.
There is a perilous experiment taking place in the U.S. right now. How are our bodies, minds and spirits ultimately going to react to the junk food and additive-laden cocktails we’re fueling ourselves with?
The Lancet results are merely a harbinger of what’s to come.
Resources for healthy eating
Saturday, September 8th, 2007All I really need to know I learned from bumper stickers and Patch Adams
God bless the people of every nation
Stop continental drift
If you love ’em, hug ’em
Save the world—win valuable prizes
Eracism
Insatiable is not sustainable
Kill your television
Love your mother
Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks
I was sitting in the audience at Rolling Thunder at the Asheville Civic Center a couple of weeks ago listening to Patch Adams—medical doctor, clown, social activist, and founder and director of the Gesundheit Institute, a holistic medical community that provides free medical care. Patch talked about the intention he had set in place at the age of eighteen to never have a bad day. He talked about going to hospitals in war zones to entertain kids and help them forget, if only for a few moments, their excruciating pain. But the statement that really startled me back to consciousness came near the end of Patch’s talk, when he spoke of the element that was truly essential in any effort to create a better world—love, a concept so simple yet sometimes so challenging. (more…)
Saturday, May 17th, 2003You are what you eat.
Food, one assumes, provides nourishment; but Americans eat it fully aware that small amounts of poison have been added to improve its appearance and delay its putrefaction.
–John Cage
The body never lies.
–Martha Graham
Imagine that you’ve received a gift from a wealthy uncle—one of the most superb automobiles made—a new Lamborghini. Imagine how you would treat this prized car so that it would function at its peak capacity for years to come, perhaps even a lifetime. Would you fill the gas tank with the highest quality fuel that could be purchased? Or would you fill it with the cheapest 87 octane to save a few bucks? Would you always change the oil in a timely manner using a top-grade brand? Or would you buy whatever oil happened to be on sale? Would you have the car serviced at regular intervals and have all malfunctions properly corrected? Or would you stretch the periods between tune-ups hoping that somehow that engine ping would fix itself?
Well, you have been given a gift, one of the finest ever. And this gift is definitely intended to last a lifetime—your human body. So, how do you treat this body? Do you fill it with junk food and sweets? Or do you choose fruit, vegetables, and grain free from additives and pesticides? Do you lubricate it with sugar-laden soft drinks and caffeinated beverages? Or do you keep it well hydrated with pure water and fresh juice? Do you plop it on the couch in front of the TV set? Or do you take it out for exercise in the fresh air and sunshine? (more…)
Saturday, April 14th, 2001War on drugs doomed to failure
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
According to Americans Against the War on Drugs (AAWD), the U.S. has spent more than one trillion dollars on the War on Drugs during the past thirty years without achieving even a small reduction in drug trafficking or drug abuse. Traffickers have continued success, now garnering around four hundred billion dollars per year. Drugs on the street are of higher quality and are more plentiful than ever before. And in the past decade, the use of illegal drugs by junior high kids in the U.S. has increased by three hundred percent. How then can you categorize the War on Drugs as anything but total insanity? (more…)
Saturday, March 31st, 2001
