Reviews

Collective Eye Collection
www.queenofthesun.com

The new documentary, Queen of the Sun, dazzles our senses with the beauty and magnificence of nature.  The director, Taggart Seigel (The Real Dirt on Farmer John) uses bold colors combined with incredible photography to tell the story of the catastrophic disappearance of bees from our landscape. We get a look at the mysterious world of the beehive through the eyes of biodynamic and organic beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world.  The loss of honeybees affects us all.   Forty percent of all food consumed today is pollinated by bees.  It turns out the honeybee has been viewed from the beginning of civilization as sacred due to its importance in the nurturing of life and fertility.  No matter where you live or your ‘relationship’ with bees, everyone should be interested in beekeeping and the life of the honeybee. This is an engaging film and perfect viewing for 4-H & conservation groups.  Farmers, beekeepers, church groups, garden clubs will all be interested in the preservation of the planet’s agricultural diversity and the life around us.

myKaZoo Music/Universal Music Enterprises

http://www.mykazootv.com/farmerjason/

Oh, my gosh! This collection of songs from our beloved Farmer Jason and special friends is so much fun. The friends include: REM’s Mike Mills, Alison Brown, The Saw Doctors, Suzy Bogguss, Iris Dement, Webb Wilder, Todd Snider, Tommy Ramone, Jason & The Scorchers and many more. Sixteen original songs range in style from rock to sea shanties and jazz to folk. Farmer Jason takes the kids from the farm to the big world outside. The music encourages all types of activities from walking, canoeing, ice skating, bird watching and exploring the great, big, wonderful world of nature. There is even the bayou boogie. Farmer Jason introduces each song by discussing an activity with one of his all- star friends kicking off a rollicking good ole’ Farmer Jason time! The CD comes with a special DVD including 4 music videos and a beautifully-designed booklet. Nature Jams has won a “5 Doves” Family-Approved Seal from The Dove Foundation.

I’m a little big to be considered a kid, but this engaging collection made me want to get up and go outside!

Reviewed By Lisa Shively

The subtitle to this incredible book is ‘How the Largest Movement in the World Came Into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming’. In these uncertain and often scary times, Hawken, a longtime environmentalist and journalist, writes an original and uplifting book looking at what is right in the world. A beautiful and uplifting book and a must read for anyone wondering whether their small efforts to help change the world are truly making a difference. He cites one of my favorite quotes from John Muir, ?When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe? .