Isis Biodynamic, a mother-daughter run company named after the ancient Egyptian goddess of wisdom, medicine and agriculture is proud to announce the launch of Isis Biodynamic Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour - the first nationally available certified Biodynamic whole wheat flour on the market exclusively at Whole Foods Market nationwide. The flour is made with Biodynamic Hard Red Spring Wheat grown in rich soil upon the beautiful Northern Plains of North Dakota.

Terms like “organic,” “sustainable” and “biodynamic” are tossed around frequently these days in all matters of food and drink. Like “new and improved,” such words subliminally convince us it’s a better wine. Of course that’s not necessarily so.

Though all agriculture before the Industrial Revolution was in some sense “organic,” that is to say farmers used no chemicals, the current designations are all to some extent a response to gathering ecological crises. To deny that these crises exist is criminally ignorant; to deny that they are important is morally suspect; to hope that wine

They've outlawed any pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or artificial chemicals from entering the ground of the 2 acre vineyard they've started planting this spring, and they monitor everything that touches it.

It's their mission not only to be certified as an organic vineyard, but also as a biodynamic one, which would be the first of its kind in Virginia, according to Loretta Briede.

An April 13, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) announced the four winners of its second annual “Growing Green” awards, which honor leaders in the sustainable-food world in four categories: “thought leader,” “producer,” business leader,” and “water steward.” Here, I turn my attention to Mike Benziger, who brought home the “water steward” prize for his work at Benziger Family Winery.