SCROLL DOWN PLEASE... UPDATED AUGUST 23, 2010
My BOOK & MOVIE list, favorite quotes and defining LOVE are below.
Michael Bergonzi has been in the alternative health field for the past 20 years. Getting into the field of wheatgrass was not at all what he had in mind! Following his mother and father to a health institute and working in the store/office in 1990, the greenhouse was in need of a new manager. The job was offered to Michael and the rest became history. It seemed that wheatgrass was his new (age) path. (Check out the book by Steve Meyerowitz called "Wheatgrass, Nature's Finest Medicine" page 117 'old version' and page 157 in the 'NEW' version, www.sproutman.com (photo & quote page below as well as more about Michael) Working eight years there, he then worked for an entertainer in the music industry (she is in a photo below if you look close, you might guess who it is), getting away from wheatgrass, but not nutrition as he was able to work with Ellen Tart Jensen (www.bernardjensen.org check out their site for information on "colema boards") at times. After three years, he then took a job with long time friend and wheatgrass owner, Debbie Kleven owner of Grassroots Organic Wheatgrass, growing over 400 trays of grass, 6 days a week.
Moving to West Palm Beach in Oct. 2001 to work with Hippocrates Health Institute, just seemed the next best choice. Since that time, he has developed a seed department, specialty racks for growing on a large & smaller, home version, scale, found two different size planting trays, an organic vegetative compost, designed a system for sprouting every kind of bean available, teaches two different growing classes throughout the program, travels to NY twice a year for health expo's as well as all around Florida (check calendar page for dates & locations), and the Hippocrates Store offers several of Michael's work, including home growing racks, seeds, planting trays, 'how to' video and one of his favorite classes now on DVD called "conscious communication." (part two also now available on audio CD called "moving beyond fear" and coming soon, part 3 called "understanding judgement") (Conscious Communication DVD now available on line through the STORE link on left side of this page) Every six weeks offers a sprouting and wheatgrass growing class to the public along with executive chef Kelly on raw food prep held at Hippocrates. He is honored to now be a part of the number one alternative health retreat in the country! (Which, by the way, his mother & father now work for as well!) For personal questions, please email: wheatgrassking@yahoo.com Also, visit his personal myspace & facebook page as well as the Hippocrates myspace page! Come and be added to our friends list!!!
Michael would like to thank a few growers that helped him back in the beginning to become the number one wheatgrass grower in the country and get his picture in a book! Thank you to Ken & Robin Taylor of Sungrown Organic Dist., Mark Bakula AKA Solman, Rick Sokol & Nurit. If you are interested in starting your own wheatgrass greenhouse, please email Michael at wheatgrassking@yahoo.com and ask for some advice. Some advice is FREE! If you would like to set up a phone consultation, please click on the STORE link to the left. Michael will also be more than happy to come to your area. "Unconditional Love is Total Silence" MB
(More info on MOLD etc... below)
Michael & Rockette in CA grass! The old way, 1990 in CA!
Michael, J & Sister Donna
Michael & Steve Meyerowitz (www.sproutman.com) at DC Expo
Grass grows through the snow in VT, April 2007 (yes, I like the Yankees)
Body, Mind & Spirit Expo Tampa 2004
BMSExpo in West Palm Beach, 2004
Me & Executive Chef Kelly, Expo 2002
HHI Greenhouse & Michael
Pull me over, not in CA! =)
Where am I in this CO photo??
Now at Hippocrates Health Institute....
Moving to CA in 1990 to take a job at the Optimum Health Institute, there were no thoughts of every becoming a wheatgrass grower. After 3 months of changing jobs within this alternative health field, the greenhouse manager position was offered. I took it. There was MOLD everywhere and on every tray of wheatgrass. The grass was running out for the guests who were there to heal. Having to travel to three different growers in the local area to buy the OHI supply of grass was not solving the mold issue. When we talk about mold, we are meaning the ‘spider-webby / cotton’ looking mold that grows up the grass. When the seed is still within it’s first few days of growth and you notice this cotton looking mold, it is NOT mold. Look closer at it and water your seeds. It is actually the root hairs that are reaching for food (water). When the grass is mature, there might also be a greenish type mold on the seeds themselves. Do not be concerned as we always harvest the grass above the seed. Here are the steps I took to solve this, as well as a brown mold on the seeds that were not growing. Please note that there is no “quick fix” to get rid of the mold once it is on your grass. Also, you can still use the grass. Just rinse it off before juicing as this mold is ‘around’ the grass.
Control the temperature: Always keep it between 60 – 80 degrees. Colder than 60 will not kill your grass, it will slow it down and even stop it’s growth.
Create Air Circulation: Air circulation blowing around the grass, especially if the temp. starts to get above 80 degrees. (ceiling fan, osculating fan, air condition, exhaust fan, in front of an open window, etc…) Air movement will prevent 90% of all mold issues. I have grown mold free wheatgrass in 95 degree weather in
Plant thinner: Plant less seed per tray. This will allow more air to flow through your wheatgrass.
Change your seed: If you have good air flow, and you are still getting mold, it is time to change your variety of wheat seed you are using. Note that there are approx. 1,500 varieties of wheat grown all across the
In my quest for “no mold”, I tried several different brands of soil as well as hydroponics (without soil). Just choose a very basic potting mix or top soil from a bag. A soil that looks dark, like the earth. Organic soil, out of a bag, might cause more problems with mold issues as that soil can be to acid based. The wheat likes more of an alkaline base soil. Personally, I will always use soil for growing wheatgrass as well as sunflower greens, pea greens and buckwheat lettuce rather than hydroponics. The reason for using soil is NOT for nutrition, however, something more than what science can prove at this time. It’s for the “vibration / energy / life force” that you can see, feel and taste in the greens. When Ann Wigmore healed herself from grass, it was grass grown in the earth. The message she learned was simple: Get the EARTH back into our diets and more Oxygen back in our blood. The farmer that is growing the wheat seed should be using these other products that add to the soil (Ocean Grown, Sea Kelp, etc…), so that the seed itself will have a better immune system. These products added to 7-10 old wheatgrass will not be as effective as once thought. Once a seed becomes a seed, there isn’t anything you can “feed” it within this short cycle that will help with its nutritional value or with mold problems. Use these products where they are needed, in the EARTH, your garden, your back yard fruit trees, etc…
Spray the grass with Hydrogen Peroxide, grapefruit seed extract, acid base water, etc… These are all nice ideas to get rid of MOLD, but they are not quick fixes. There is no quick fix to get rid of the mold. Once you get it, don’t let it get you down and don’t give up. Just rinse it off.
Change your seed source and this is what worked every time. Throughout the process of changing soil, temperature, watering, planting trays, air circulation, the things that worked the best for the spider web / cotton looking mold was “air movement” and then changing the seed. There are over 1,500 varieties of wheat seed out there these days, and every one of them grow differently. I try to buy my seed from farmers that “summer fow” and put the nutrient back into the earth before planting their next crop of wheat. So, in turn, I get a seed with a better immune system. This makes all the difference. When all else fails, try a different wheat. I choose “hard winter wheat” however; there is a hard spring wheat that might be good too. Soft wheat or white wheat will not work well at all. Hard wheat is at times referred to as “wheatberries”. However, they are not berries, they are seeds.
Michael’s background:
Michael has been growing wheatgrass since 1990 and designed / built the state of the art greenhouse at the Optimum Health Institute. In 1998, he then worked for three years with singer/song writer, Jewel. Still in the alternative health field, traveling as a nutritionist and working with Ellen Tart-Jensen (Ellen spent 12 years with Dr. Bernard Jensen www.bernardjensen.org ), learning about the Colema Board and the importance of colon health. He then went back into the wheatgrass field working for the largest grower in
As of August 2010 (by Michael Bergonzi)
OK, so there are a few other locations that are a possible health center based around the idea's of Ann Wigmore, Hippocrates Health Institute, Optimum Health Institute and (of course) what I have learned in the past 20 years regarding addictions of food, juice fasting, colon cleansing, support of greens / green juice as well as silence, moving beyond fear and understanding judgement. One of them, The Jobri Center in Atlanta, GA, will be open on 10/10/10. If you are in the Atlanta area, or would like to visit for a week of health, healing and rejuvination, getting your MOJO back, then give them a call! They will also have a store / greens & sprouts pick up location for continued support in the community. A special 'Thank you' to Dr. Kimball Johnson for her willingness to go above and beyond with everyone she speaks with, understanding that "food / diet" plays a HUGE roll in health. Dr. Kimball plans to meet with every guest that decides to spend their time with the Jobri Center. She is an all around beautiful spirit. It was recently my pleasure to be able to work with such an incredible group of people that are so dedicated to being "of service" in this world. I wish you continued success! Visit www.jobricenter.com for more details.
These other new locations will be in Costa Rica, just outside the city of Atenas, on top of a moutain, Montreal (as a DAY SPA) and in Ste. Sophie, Quebec as a health center / green retreat on 62 acres, by 2011. These three locations will be managed by the same company, which I have been working with for the past 2 months (when Hippocrates lets me out of the house!) We are developing two different weekly program with green drinks, wheatgrass juice, lectures on health & healing, pratical 'hands on' training and plenty of exercise! Website and more details coming next month!!
The Northern CA location in the beautiful & amazing location of the Redwoods (just outside of Santa Rosa) may also be ready by early 2011.
I will stay true to what Ann Wigmore brought to light, the Earth, the Oxygen and getting leafy greens back in the American Diet. Wheatgrass / GREEN JUICE are the “Life-Blood” of any good cleanse and the most complete food on the planet today! You may contact me via email at: wheatgrassking@yahoo.com (be gentle with me as I am the one who is answering all my own emails right now) However, my sister, Donna Bergonzi / Boyle will be joining the team soon and she knows her stuff!! Check out some of her blogs on our Wheatgrass FACEBOOK page!Keep checking the Calendar page for updates and shows where you can come say "hello" to me!!! I look forward to meeting anyone that has spent the time reading all of this on my website!! =)
Michael’s Book List: (from the conscious communication lecture)
“You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay
Wonderful Self-Help book and a great index in the back of this book for any kind of health issues and what might be going on in your world that might be causing it. This is a good book to pass along to a friend who is just starting their journey into healing. Available in the Hippocrates store.
“The Power of Unconditional Love” by Ken Keyes, Jr.
This was a great relationship book. Relationships with anyone, your spouse, boss, family member, best friend. Anyone that you see in your everyday life. Ken also wrote the bestseller, “Handbook to Higher Consciousness.”
“A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson
Any of Marianne’s books are worth the read. She is insightful and powerful.
“Conversations With God” by Neale Donald Walsch
A must read for anyone wanting to improve your thought process. There are three books in the series. Start with Book One.
“Mutant Message Down Under” by Marlo MorganA woman’s adventure taken from the busy life and thrown into the middle of nowhere. She now has to learn to just let things happen and that everything has its purpose.
“Sabbath” by Wayne Muller
I personally had to let go of the title, but this is the book I read every time I check into Hippocrates for my cleanse. It is a powerful book about learning how to take more time for yourself and ‘slow down’ in life.
“The Architecture of All Abundance” by Lenedra CarrollThis is the person who has helped me get through some of the most difficult periods in my life. She was the ‘voice of reason’ and always answered with ‘higher consciousness’ to all my questions. The person in my life who gave me the strength and power to be by myself without ever being alone. She passed along to me the gift of life and self worth. Thank you Nedra, I love you.
“Who Said So” by Rachelle BreslowA story about a woman who healed herself and her life from MS. This book is out of publication but you should find it on www.amazon.com The ISBN number is: 0-89087-630-4
“How I Conquered Cancer Naturally” by Eydie MaeEydie worked with Ann Wigmore for years and this is her wonderful story. Also might be hard to find. The ISBN number is: 0-89081-221-7
“Celestine Prophecy” by James Redfield (My Very Favorite, enough said!)
Michael’s Movie List (taken from Moving Beyond Fear lecture)
The “no fear” movies
Powder: My favorite movie of all time, how to live in the now.
Phenomenon (John Travolta): The “Hollywood” version of Powder.
Groundhogs Day (Bill Murray): To learn that you can only change yourself in this life.
Fearless (Jeff Bridges): Move beyond fear.
Defending Your Life (Meryl Streep, Albert Brooks): Entertaining, letting go of fear is key.
Angus: Kids can do it, why can’t we?
Must See Movies
I ♥ Huckabees (Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law): VERY FUN!!
Waking Life: Animated, but well worth a listen.
What the “Bleep” do we know?: Excellent “life” movie.
Matrix (all three): Life’s questions. The words and dialog, not the action.
Lorenzo’s Oil (Nick Nolte): Don’t ever give up!!
The Doctor (William Hurt): The doctor becomes the cancer patient.
End of the Affair: a movie to help understand another person’s point of view.
The Secret: The power of thought. What you think, you create.
An Inconvenient Truth: by Al Gore. Nice work.
Peaceful Warrior: Nick Nolte. EXCELLENT x2
“Fear” movies
Armageddon (Bruce Willis): Hollywood, but interesting.
Deep Impact: Like Armageddon, only better.
The Core
The Day After Tomorrow
Outbreak (Dustin Hoffman)
“This is the beginning of a new day. I shall not waste it, instead use it for good. What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. Leaving in it’s place something I have traded for it. I want it to be good, not evil, happy, not sad, success, not failure, in order I shall not regret the price I paid for today.”
"Time ceases to exist at the portals of love" Viktoras
"Keep your power. Don't give it away by allowing other people to define your reality." Viktoras
"The way someone feels about me is none of my business" unkown
"Unconditional love = Total Silence" me
"Stop worrying about what people think and start allowing people to think" me
"Fear prevents us from living in the now" me
Defining Love: by
Such a confusing subect. So many different idea's and "programmed feelings" surronding LOVE. What the TV and Magazines tell us, what our religion tells us, what are teachers tell us, what we see in our own parents and friends and, of course, what we FEEL in our hearts that LOVE is. Those are the several different kinds of LOVE. Now let's try to define a few of them....
True LOVE: (false love): This is the LOVE we can't LIVE without. This love is seen all over the place. On TV, in the magazines, in movies, etc... (fairy tale kind) This love is the one we are told that we need and it is "love at first sight" kind. Not really sure what the word "TRUE" has to do with love, but this particular kind of love is the one we fall for and get hurt by the most. The love we think exists in the world today. However, this is the LOVE that is the hardest to understand. This kind of LOVE is really inside all of us and we are told that it takes another person to "complete" us. That is the big mistake. When we use LOVE to make us whole, we will never be complete and we will always be longing for that other person to come into our life. This is "Conditional" LOVE. We want people to be a certian way in order for us to LOVE them. That is the FALSE LOVE we are sucked into everyday.
Easy LOVE: This is the love that most of us buy into. This is the SEX and physical LOVE. When someone smells good. When the sex is soooooooooo good we can't see anything else. Also known as "blind" love. This also turns into the "love / hate" kind of love. When the other person doesn't want us, we get angry and can't just be friends. I think, this is the most popular kind of love.
UnConditional LOVE: This is the LOVE that is the hardest to find and understand. I would have to say that when we are complete and whole within ourselves, this love will happen. When the person in our life is there for us, always, supporting our choices, holding us when we cry, listening to us when we are upset, laughing with us while watching a movie, not having to be right all the time, rather taking the time to understand our side as we try to understand their side. The best way to define this love is the way we love our pets. With no judgements on how they live their lives. Being able to be with someone and not "wanting" them to change anything about them. We accept them for their food choice, or drinking, or smoking, or being gay, etc... When we can understand that a friendship is more important than anything in the world. Being with another person in silence. This is the LOVE that we need to have for ourself, first.