NY Times: A New Breed of Hunter Shoots, Eats and Tells

I wrote this in my blog post Sunday September 30th: 

"I hunt to feed my family and I want to be clear about that. However, this should never be confused with the idea that hunters are not intensely connected to the landscape and everything that lives there. The time I spend hunting is not about killing something, it is about connecting with all that is around me and feeling at peace with God's creation, and having God's creation feel at peace with me. This is what stewardship means to me! It is real, not some slogan or label that is donned when it is socially appropriate. It is how I live and what makes me who I am, and it is how I approach the natural world."

And Monday October 1st this article came out in the NY Times:

A New Breed of Hunter Shoots, Eats and Tells

Who is the most famous hunter in America? If you’re over 30, the first names that come to mind are probably Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent or Dick Cheney. If you’re under 30, the answer is easier. The most famous hunter in America is Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire founder of Facebook.

For the Love of Hunting

Two weeks ago was opening day of archery season for Whitetail deer in New Hampshire. For a hunter the nine months between seasons seems like an eternity. In the off-season there are plenty of activities that occupy your time, however, nothing is like trying harvest a deer with your bow. Nothing!

I look at each season as an opportunity to correct mistakes and missed opportunities from the year before. Its a time when all the "what ifs" are put to rest and you are afforded another season of opportunities to better yourself. 

This is the fourth for me in New Hampshire and Vermont. Four long seasons without taking a deer. During these four years I have spent  many hours sitting in my stands or slinking through the woods looking for "the shot." And in four years I have only shot at two deer, and missed both! As one of my friends said, "this ain't Nantucket; there's not a deer behind every tree." The big woods of New Hampshire and Vermont have been a challenge for me.

My stand sits on the perimeter of an area that was recently clear-cut. Staying true to who I am, I ran out the night before the season opened and hung a stand in a huge oak tree situated next to an equally large eastern hemlock pine. The limbs on the pine provide me perfect cover for any approaching deer. I took the time to find an area with "a lot" of acorns. The lack of rain this summer has affected the amount of acorns, making this year's yield very low. So finding an area with acorns on the ground was a huge score. Look for the food and you'll find the deer. Sounds really easy, but nothing is that simple!

On Saturday the 15^th, I got up at 3:40am, showered, got dressed, and headed out to my stand. I prayed fajr outside under the stars. Lately, the mornings have been crisp; I love the cold morning air. There is something majestic about seeing each breath. Perhaps its the closest we get to the “veil being lifted.”

As I approached my stand I tried to incorporate all of the skills that I learned at my time at the Maine Primitive Skills School—reading the landscape, using wide angle vision, looking for that which is hidden in plain sight and using the bird’s vocalizations and silences to understand activity in the woods. I read in a hunting journal that the hunt actually begins when you leave your home, not when you arrive at your stand. In other words, the mindset begins when you make your first step towards your desired goal. Kind of like making your intention in Medina and heading to Mekkah to perform the Hajj. It’s the intention that brings about the mental state of consciousness. 

I walked to my stand with relative quiet. The forest can be unforgiving at times, amplifying your every movement. About 20 or 30 yards away from my stand I thought I was home free, I had not “bumped” a deer walking in. Then, there was the sound that every hunter dreads, the blowing sound of an alerted "spooked" deer! The deer must have been bedded right behind my stand. After the sound all I heard was the deer running off alerting any deer in the area that a clumsy hunter was now in the arena! Immediately that deer becomes the one that got away, and the logical mind quickly begins to play the "what if” game, running a thousand scenarios through your head. All you can do is try better next time.

My time in my stand opening morning did not produce any deer as I had hoped. I spent most of my time engaged in salutations on the Prophet (peace be upon him), and listening to the alarms of the blue jays. The blue jay is probably the most reliable bird to alert you to movements in the forest. It will let you know when both predators and prey are moving about.

I feel that the energy, which is in us, is detectable by other living animals. I have learned directly from people who spend a large portion time in the woods and from direct observation that animals which are prey, have a keen sense of detecting predatory "energy" as it radiates out from other creatures. So I use the salawat to calm myself by bringing about a state of inner tranquility, which will in-turn be a means of comfort to the animals as well. 

I sat for about 3.5 hours and did not see a deer. I climbed out of the stand around 9am. As I got to the ground I saw two does feeding about 30 yards from my stand. The wind was in my face, so my scent was not an issue. I sat there for a few minutes observing them. They looked too young to take; I was looking for a mature doe without fawns. Suddenly, something scared them. Perhaps an acorn fell off a tree on to her back. Whatever it was, the deer ran away as if her life depended on it. The morning hunt was now over for me.

I came back to my stand for an evening hunt. I prayed Asr outside, and made my way through the woods back to my stand. Seeing the two deer in the morning gave me hope that other deer would present themselves for a shot at some point. Early in to my sitting a young doe made her way back to my stand. She remained about 50 yards from my stand and continued to look over her shoulder. This normally indicates the presence of another deer. Sure enough, a few minutes later a larger doe walked out. The size of this doe made her one that I would harvest. I have waited three years and nine months to take a deer in the northeast. And here was my chance.

I sat in my stand and my heart began to pound as it usual when the time comes to take the life of an animal. I concentrated on the thikr, and tried to bring the meaning from my tongue to my heart. The two deer approached each other with a semi-hesitation. Then they did something I have never seen before. They began to groom each other. Licking each other on the head, shoulders, back and rib area. It was beautiful!

Given the size and age of second doe I felt she was too young to be the mother of the littler doe, perhaps they were sisters? I watched the two deer groom each other for about 30 minutes. It was amazing to witness! 

Watching this expression of affection did something to me. I felt that I could not take this doe if she came within range and presented a shot. I felt a sense of closeness to these two deer.

I hunt to feed my family and I want to be clear about that. However, this should never be confused with the idea that hunters are not intensely connected to the landscape and everything that lives there. The time I spend hunting is not about killing something, it is about connecting with all that is around me and feeling at peace with God's creation, and having God's creation feel at peace with me. This is what stewardship means to me! It is real, not some slogan or label that is donned when it is socially appropriate. It is how I live and what makes me who I am, and it is how approach the natural world.

Perhaps God was testing me? Testing me so that I would know if I was being true to my thoughts and convictions about not shooting this deer. After 30 minutes the deer separated; one walking off away from me and the other walking towards me. I am watching this deer walk directly towards my stand and I begin mentioning the distance between us in my head. I say to myself, “when she passes that tree she is at 20 yards, and at the stump 10, and now she’s at 5 yards! 

This deer walked right below my stand. It walked and smelled the limbs I cut from the beech tree to open up a few shooting lanes from my stand the night before. She smelled the ground where I had just walked. And then she looked right in my face, right into my eyes, I tried to lower my gaze and squint my eyes while she stood 2 yards from my stand. Direct eye contact should be avoided, it will send the animal in to a "fight or flight" mode. She knew I was there, but, perhaps, she did not know what I was. Perhaps the salutations created a wall of tranquility that veiled me from her, who knows? What I do know is that if I wanted to shoot this deer, I could have done so at any time. But something got in to my heart, which was beyond compassion for that deer. After our encounter she carried-on down the trail and out of sight. 

My mind remained on our encounter. I still don't quite know what to make of it? What I do know is that it was a great way to begin my season, seeing deer in both the morning and the evening makes me feel good about my choice for stand placement. 

Hopefully this is only the beginning of many encounters with deer in this area. Hopefully it is not the last. And hopefully as I learn more about myself spiritually, the meanings and encounters will become more profound!

Celebrating Eid...American Muslim Culture

As the dust settled from Eid we moved immediately in to the school year at Dartmouth and the Waldorf school with my girls. The last thing I remember was making all the preparations for the eidul-fitr service and post-service celebration on campus. And now we have begun the same process for the second eid! The movement of time always amazes me.

Shortly after the eid I received a call from my good friend Adnan Durrani, CEO of Saffron Road. He called to wish our family a blessed eid, and hear how things are going in his favorite part of the country (Quechee, VT). I let him know that our eid was great, and we were able to spend time in Boston with friends.  My family and I spent time with Nuri and Kristina Friedlander and had an amazing meal at an Algerian restaurant--Baraka Cafe! The kids were happy, a ton of candy, a remote control helicopter buzzed around our living room, and new faux-jewlery embellished little wrists and necks. Kind of what you would expect on a "traditional day of Eid."

I asked Adnan how he spent his eid, thinking it would have sounded like something similar to mine. However, it was not similar at all!

Adnan and I have had many conversations regarding the American Muslim experience. The beauty about these conversations is that American Muslim culture is constantly developing and we are creating it as we live it.

During my years in Damacus there were many age old traditions around the eid that had formed distinct cultural norms. For example, it was understood that the Syrians always spent the first day of eid with famliy members and then would open their homes to guests on the following days. Or the tradition of placing a green palm frawn at the grave of a deceased family member, and other various customs that are distinct Syrian Muslim culture.

However, in the States we don't have distinct traditions. Perhaps you will find certain members of the immigrant Muslim community upholding traditions from back home. But as far as established traditions, its still being formed.

That's what was special about my conversation with Adnan. His answer to "how was your eid?" was nothing that one would expect about how Muslims would celebrate eid. Adnan had celebrated his eid on a fishing  boat off the coast of Block Island, NY with his son and his son's classmate from Columbia University. The catch was filled with Porgies, Sea Bass, Blues and mainly Striped Bass.

 

If you know me, then you know that I love the outdoors. And you also know that I am equally excited to get people connected with the outdoors. So when I heard about Adnan choosing to celebrate the eid by heading out to sea for some fishing, I was ecstatic.

Adnan had mentioned that his son's friend, Abdul, is the current president of the Columbia MSA. A bright young man from the Gulf, with an equal amount of passion for his intellectual and spiritual development. Growing up near the water he had never been on a boat and had never fished! You could not contain the excitement!

This is what I am getting at! As American Muslims we have every oportunnity to create meaningful, intelligent and beautiful expressions of Islamic tradition. Traditions that are one-hundred percent authentic, with regard to Islamic tradition and one-hundred percent American!

These are amazing times we are living in. At this moment in history the American Muslim community is blessed with the opportunity to create its own narrative. I am happy that people like Adnan--through Saffron Road--and many others are carving out spaces in all segments of society that people will be able to recognize as authentic American Muslim culture.

Venison Tagine?

The fall is a special time of year in New England. The changes are stark and easily recognizable. The days become shorter; the air has a crispness not felt since early spring and the leaves provide an amazing display of colors that highlight this annual transition.

Growing up I remember the smell of burning wood as people warmed their homes during the morning chill. Grassy green fields covered in dew glimmered in the soft morning light.

The fall was also a time when certain foods would return to our home. Nantucket bay scallops, stripped bass and various types of game—rabbit, pheasant and venison all represented the bounties of the fall.

I remember watching rabbit meat being coated in flour and prepared for frying. Pheasant and venison were mostly broiled and served with traditional sides—canned vegetables, mashed potatoes and an occasional sheet of cornbread. This is how grew up. Probably not very different than many American kids whose families hunted or fished.

Over the past ten years I have returned to harvesting game in the fall. I have had the blessing of harvesting many deer with a bow and arrow. My wife and I have tried a few different recipes when preparing venison. Some very traditional, and others which incorporated terriyaki marinades and some as simple as rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper. All of them have been a blessing, and we have shared many meals with family and friends.

However, this year, I plan to attempt a fusion dish. I want to incorporate the delicious Simmer Sauces from Saffron Road and make it a true East West fusion—I can see Kipling turning in his grave! I am willing to say that not many people have tried a traditional Moroccan Tagine Simmer Sauce with tender fresh venison. This represents a great opportunity to incorporate Saffron Road’s sauces with a great American tradition--harvesting a North American whitetail. I can already taste how amazing this is going to be!

I am inspired by the work of Saffron Road. They are committed to providing the highest standards of halal foods to the general public. They are making a huge impact on the industry and helping the American Muslim experience find its way to the forefront of our diverse society.

But why should I limit myself to only their sauces, that would be selling myself short? Thus, keeping in the tradition of true cross-cultural culinary "coolness"--I also plan to begin the meal with Saffron Road, Turkish Figs & Goat Cheese Hor D’oeurves. Maybe Globalization is not such a bad thing!

I have to state this publicly; I like to cook, but I am not the best chef in town. So if anyone has any tips or advice, I am more than willing to learn some new culinary possibilities.

Look for my other posts as I share my time in the woods with my bow.

Searching for West -- Short Film

Those who know me, know that I love hunting and the outdoors. I thank Mark Seacat and his team for their remarkable work in capturing and sharing with us the spirit of hunting and the beauty of the outdoors!

Watch...and enjoy!

Searching for West from Helio Collective on Vimeo.

Moose--In your face!!!

Could you handle this?

Saffron Road...Go Get Some of Halal Goodness!

My trip to the Bay was like returning to the comfort of a family member's home. The people and places are all very familiar, and the hospitality is always amazing. And this trip was no different!

Photo from the Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara, CA

Actually, it was a little different.  This summer I was not teaching Arabic at Zaytuna College. My time in the Bay was spent connecting with people and informing them about Saffron Road's incredible work.

Summer Arabic Language students at Zaytuna College

This trip had me thinking a lot about Ramadan, not only about the physical struggle of fasting. It also made me think about the struggle in following God's command to eat from that  which is halal and pure!

Ramadan is about reduction, and it is through reduction that we find the blessings of God's generosity, grace and benevolence showered upon us like no other time. And it is during this month where the connection between food and spirituality becomes very clear. I have made a conscious decision to eat from that which is halal and pure, and after spending almost the entire month of June on the road visiting the Saffron Road farm and production facility and speaking about this product, I am even more impressed by the vision of this company.

The Abbasi family [Hamza will attend Dartmouth in the Fall]

While on the road Mustafa and I met many people, and consistently from NY to the Bay, people who tried Saffron Road expressed to me that the food was absolutely delicious. However, as the conversation moved beyond taste, it was apparent that people are most impressed with the standards that Saffron Road established in the halal food industry.

This is the game changer! This is why I leave my family and get on the road and promote this product, because I feel an obligation to inform as many people as I can about halal food that is "mainstream" and has not compromised or abandoned any of the ethical or moral values that are important to everyone of us regarding our food.

Pertaining to spirituality in the Islamic tradition, a Muslim should be concerned with what comes out of their mouth and what goes in it, because with both are consequences. Being scrupulous in what we eat leads to greater spiritual clarity and it proximity to God. Truly, I am grateful to have a food option like Saffron Road.

The Future!

When I became Muslim in the mid-nineties there were not many halal food options beyond major cities, and the halal options were very limited, nearly unregulated and not even considering issues around humane, antibiotic free and hormone free products.

However, in  a relatively short period of time all of that has changed. For example, this past weekend I was in Amherst, Mass in the Western part of the state. An area which is relatively isolated, definitely not a bustling hub of Muslim activity. Nonetheless, in "small town America" there are halal food options. This is the type of societal integration that is meaningful, productive and produces lasting relationships.

It is my sincerest hope that the future will continue to motivate pioneers like the Saffron Road team. All of us benefiting through their foresight and forward thinking.

The rising tide lifts all boats equally!

Saffron Road--Rocky Mountain High!

The first thing you'll hear when you get to Denver is, "we get over 300 days of sunshine!" I loved hearing that! We set up on this beautiful Friday morning at one of largest Mosques in the metro-Denver area ready to engage people and tell them about Saffron Road and all the halal goodness that awaits them. The weather was text-book, clear skies and lots of sun! The Friday sermon was a great reminder that small actions yield large spiritual returns. However, when we came out of the mosque the weather had changed, the skies opened up it poured rain and hailed! Paradoxical maybe, Providential, definitely!

After the sermon we made our way outside to meet the outpouring of people. As I mentioned before, the moment you see people's eyes light up is when they learn that the products are certified humane, halal, antibiotic free and hormone free. The great thing about promoting Saffron Road is speaking from a position of complete confidence with regard to the integrity of this product. Oh yeah, it’s not too hard to convince people when the food tastes this good.

This meeting set the tone for the rest of our time in Denver. People are super nice, incredibly supportive and ready to partake in halal goodness.

While in Denver I stayed across the street from Whole Foods mega-store. This store carried all of Saffron Road's products; of course this meant I had these options available for my meals as well. Did I tell you how many times I ate Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Saag? That's another story! While in Whole Foods I met an employee who saw my shirt and asked if I worked for Saffron Road. He immediately engaged me with the shrinking world/global village talk and told me how he thought Saffron Road was at the forefront of bringing global cuisine to local markets. His next question: "Do you have any coupons?" I smiled and handed him a few, he promised me he would "spread the love" with his friends! To me this is Denver, happy people, supportive and always willing to engage.

The rest of my stay in Denver was filled with spending time with leaders of the various segments of the Muslim community. One of the greatest blessings of traveling in the Muslim community is realizing that the spirit of hospitality is alive and well.  Brunch with the Azim family, dinner with Waseem Khan, Monir Ludin and the Nawaz family or coffee with individual members was uplifting and invigorating. Community members opened their hearts and their homes and demonstrated the true meaning of fraternal love and friendship. During one of our meetings a group mentioned that they would serve Saffron Road products at their next community pot-luck dinner. That's amazing!

One of the most interesting segments of the Denver Muslim community was engaging individuals from the Independent Limousine Drivers of Colorado. This service group "ate up" the information about Saffron Road. Many on the drives eat at least one meal, sometimes two while at the airport. One driver said, "this is great brother, I was tired of eating burritos all the time!" Another driver contacted me and told me that he finally bought his first Saffron Road product and..."it was the healthiest frozen entree I have ever tasted, and its perfect for my bachelor lifestyle!" I am not one to say I told you so, but concerning the taste, you can quote me, "I told you so!"

Food is such an integral part of one’s spiritual being and people have been waiting for a product they can trust. As someone asked, “where have you been, I have waiting for this for so long!” Well now you have it, and God willing it will only get better!

I look forward to the hearing feedback from all the people I met during the Denver trip.  Please share your thoughts I will continue to do the same!

Much love!

Arizona--96 Degrees in the Shade!

I like the sun, don't get me wrong! However, 112 degrees was a little too much for this Northerner! You know the heat is problematic when the locals are complaining!

I arrived in Phoenix late Thursday evening and my plan was to confirm a meeting with community leaders in Tucson. All went well, and after a light breakfast I headed to Tucson.

I-17 South brought me straight into Tucson, and I pulled up to the Islamic Center of Tucson. This mosque is in the middle of the ASU campus, surrounded by the University on all sides.

My contact here was a young man named Jameel, he met me outside and ensured me that the board had approved my presence. I set up a display table under the blazing sun and quickly ran inside to the coolness of marble floors and spiritual tranquility that is found only inside the mosque.

This week's sermon was a reminder of the virtue of patience and it was right on time, I needed to hear that! After the sermon I made my way outside and began to engage folks telling them about Saffron Road. I can't say this enough, so you will have to bear with me. When I engage the Muslim community the selling point regarding this product is the standard of certified humane antibiotic free, hormone free raising and production! All the lights go on with that phrase. Jameel introduced me to a young man and told me he was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and an acupuncturist. Obviously concerned with holistic well-being he listed intently to what I had to say, he remained quite until I reached the point of certified humane, antibiotic and hormone free. He smiled grabbed my hand and said, "that is what I have been waiting to hear! There has always been this mystery behind halal products, without knowing what we are buying how can you trust what you getting? May God bless you in all that you are doing. You have a customer in me!" Priceless!

Many people took coupons and listened for a few minutes, but the blazing sun was wearing at their cordialness. Next, Jameel introduced me to the Imam. An amazingly spiritual awakened individual with a warm smile and big heart. A gem from Baghdad, classically trained in the tradition of Suffi masters. The first thing he said was, "where have you been? I was expecting you last night, we wanted to take you to dinner and invite you to give a lecture!" I smiled and reminded him that we plan, but God is best of planners.

From that point on the Imam did not let me leave his side, he invited me to lunch and on route we passed by a Whole Foods. I took him inside to show him our products. He like many others, had made the mistake of thinking our products are in meat section not the frozen entree section. He asked about Costco and told me we should visit one. Back in his car again we headed out.

He was nervous that they may not let him in without a membership, I told not to worry "I got you covered." We entered Costco and headed to the frozen entree section. I grabbed two boxes for the Imam and in typical fashion he tried to snatch them from me insisting he would pay. You could say that I "threw my weight around" and the Imam had no chance of getting the boxes out of my hands. At the checkout he tried to cancel my transaction and prevent me from paying. However, he was not successful!

As the day moved on I was constantly looking at my watch, I have a tentative appointment in the evening in Phoenix at the Islamic Community Center of Phoenix. The Imam insisted that I stay for the evening prayer and at least to give a short talk on any subject I wanted. I knew how this would end, after the prayer and talk he would insist that I stay to eat and then he would tell me that it was too late and should stay with him in Tucson and leave in the morning.

Well I was right! He did insist that we ate, however I persuaded him that he not cook a meal, rather we would eat the Chicken Tikka Masala we bought at Costco. He agreed! About six of us headed to the Imam's house and as he put together a salad I took care of the Chicken Tikka Masala. I could hear the group in the other room, is this going to be enough, how will it taste, is 5mins sufficient? I was quietly laughing out loud as I prepared the meals.

We sat on floor and broke bread at 11:15pm. I asked the Imam to take the first bite, any fatigue that shown on his face was gone, once he put the first morsel of food in his mouth. He looked at me and confirmed what I already knew, "wow...this is good!" Everyone in the room except me were native Arabic speakers so the rest of the comments and expressions of joy were in Arabic and I don't want things to get lost in translation, so I will let them be! Sufficient to say the Imam told me he will let his congregation know that they need to head out and treat themselves to a bounty of halal goodness!

Halal Food We Can Trust

For the last week I have been in the metro Denver area connecting with Muslim communities and speaking to them about Saffron Road and it provides a halal, certified humane, and organic chicken entree to COSTCO. The responses have been extremely positive!

I met with a group of activists that work to build bridges within the greater Denver community, this group is part of a larger community service organization called MILA Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism.

While at their meeting, I began to speak about Saffron Road and what the brand has to offer. As I was speaking the women hosting us stood up and with saying anything began to walk into the kitchen. When she returned she presented me with a 28oz. box of Saffron Road Chicken Tikka Masala from COSTCO. She said, "is this what your talking about? We already buy it!" She began to tell her guests ~15 how much she and her husband loved the product. She politely ordered all of her guests to head to COSTCO and get some of this halal goodness!

The real selling point however, was evident in my ability to answer questions concerning the raising and production of the chickens. Saffron Road products can be trusted! Their products are what they claim to be--halal, certified humane and organic!

During the trip many Muslims looked at me trying to figure out if I used the words certified humane and organic to describe a halal product. At first I feel bad, because people have been waiting so long for a quality product like this. However, that bad feeling soon fades away, when I see them smiling. Their smiles say two things, they are relived that they have a halal option they can trust, and they are similarly excited about halal products entering mainstream retail markets.

This is the way forward. Follow the Saffron Road!

Saffron Road Takes a Road Trip

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saffron Road Takes a Road Trip

Brand to Promote New Halal Products to Muslim Communities

Stamford, CT – June 15, 2012 – In an effort to create more awareness and further their bond with Muslim consumers, Saffron Road^™, the packaged food brand of American Halal Co., is hitting the road to visit multiple Muslim communities across the West Coast region of the United States. As availability with retail partners continues to significantly increase on the West Coast, the Saffron Road team hopes their Club Halal tour will drive more awareness of their Halal Certified products, while also encouraging consumers to go into their local stores to purchase the brand’s products.

Saffron Road CEO, Adnan Durrani, says, “Hitting the road with a mobile tour is a first for our brand, and we’re excited to connect with Muslim communities so directly. I started this company out of the recognition that there are too few Halal options in the American marketplace, and we are certainly doing our part to make it easier for Muslim shoppers to find food products that meet their needs,” continues Durrani.

The brand is partnering with Muslim thought leaders Dawood Yasin and Mustafa Davis to help communicate their message to Muslim communities in Denver, Boulder, San Diego, Phoenix and San Francisco.

Dawood Yasin, Muslim Advisor of Dartmouth College of Hanover, New Hampshire says, “Saffron Road has done all of us a great service by raising the industry standards in Halal food production. For years people have asked me, “where can I find Halal, humanely raised, organic beef and chicken?” I could not recommend any brands, as I was not confident that their products were meeting such standards. Saffron Road has not only met these standards for the American Muslim community, it has, in addition to this, also won the support of mainstream retail food vendors.  That’s huge! I am excited to be a part of this Road Trip, and to share with others my experiences of promoting a Halal brand that I can trust.”

Each stop will include a brief informational session about Saffron Road’s Halal standards, commitment to ethical consumerism and focus on providing Muslim consumers with more quality Halal options in convenient grocery stores all across the country. Complimentary samples of Saffron Road products will also be available, along with special offers exclusively for attendees. In addition, the tour will announce details of an important new retailer partnership with select Costco stores in the area.

Mustafa Davis, Film Director and Photographer from Fremont, California shares, "The Saffron Road tour is a very exciting initiative for me. In the past I, myself, have been skeptical of the meat and poultry industry for many reasons. We live in a time where corporate scandals and mistreatment of animals dominate the food industry media and so it's very refreshing to see that Saffron Road has created a brand that embodies ethical consumerism, all-natural, anti-biotic free products harvested on family owned farms.  After personally visiting the farms, I saw firsthand the amount of care and concern Saffron Road has not only for the animals, local farmers, and the environment, but also for maintaining the highest Islamic principles of Halal. I'm positive that Saffron Road is setting the ethical standard of Halal for the American Muslim community." 

Saffron Road markets a variety of Halal Certified products – from frozen gourmet ethnic meals and chicken nugget items, to broths, simmer sauces and appetizers. All Saffron Road products are Halal Certified by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). Saffron Road’s All Natural Certified Halal entree uses chicken that is Certified Humane by Humane Farm Animal Care. All of Saffron Road’s livestock are fed 100% vegetarian feed and are never given Antibiotics or Hormones.

For more information on the Club Halal tour visit, www.saffronroadfood.com/club-halal. 

About Saffron Road                                                                                                                                                                                          

American Halal Co. markets All Natural Halal Certified food under the Saffron Road brand. Adnan Durrani, the CEO, and Jack Acree, the EVP, are serial entrepreneurs having been involved in companies like Vermont Pure Spring Water, Stonyfield Farms, Inc., Alexia Foods, and Terra Chips. The Company’s management and Board represent a team of proven entrepreneurs at building premium food brands. Saffron Road’s mission is to offer All Natural Halal Certified and Gluten Free foods, which are also holistic, sustainably farmed, and antibiotic free.  Saffron Road’s products are sourced from livestock which is fed only 100% vegetarian feed and are humanely treated. The Company seeks to bring its mission to a higher awakening with the local and global community, embodying a socially conscious company ethic as well as setting the standard for premium quality Halal Cuisine. 

Media Contacts:  Lisa Mabe, Hewar Social Communications, 202.505.2890, lisa@hewarcommunications.com                      Kate Pearson, American Halal Company, Inc., 203.961.1954 x100, kate@americanhalal.com  

For more information about Saffron Road, please visit saffronroadfood.com. You can also join us on Facebook at facebook.com/saffronroadfood, on Twitter at twitter.com/saffronroadfood or on Pinterest at pinterest.com/saffronroadfood.

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Partnering with Saffron Road

I am excited to announce that I have partnered with the halal food industry's leading brand, Saffron Road. Two years ago when the company launched in Ramadan I was in Berkeley California at Zaytuna College for the summer. I took my family to Whole Foods and stocked up on almost all of their frozen entrees. These gluten free dinners were great meal options for last minute iftars. Needless to say we have been supporting Saffron Road ever since, by telling communities and friends about this unique company. 

Two years later, I find myself traveling the Saffron Road and taking the show to various communities. I have teamed up with Mustafa Davis to promote Saffron Road during its new launch in Costco on the West Coast. During the next few weeks; we will be Blogging, Tweeting and posting on Facebook our interactions with communities in Denver, Boulder, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco.

Thursday we arrived in Denver after spending the entire day Wednesday in New York and Pennsylvania with production plant employees, family farmers, management staff and humanely raised chickens, lots of happy chickens!!! This experience has been great! The trip to the plant and modest family owned  farm in Amish country has only increased my confidence in this company.

Saffron Road offers a great product, but don't take my word for it. Go to the website and use the Store Locator to find the nearest location that carries Saffron Road products.

There are many reasons why I support Saffron Road, but in summing it up, it looks like this: 

• Saffron Road is committed to embodying a comprehensive meaning of halal
• I can trust Saffron Road products and serve them to my family with confidence
•  Saffron Road understands that spirituality and food are linked and embodies this belief in their whole eco-cycle from farm to your table. 
• Saffron Road is driven by strong ethical morals and traditional faith-based values 
• Saffron Road is creating greater visibility for the American Muslim community through increased brand presence
• Plainly speaking...their products taste amazing!
  
  Go and get you some...you can thank me later!

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Three Doe Night

I had and amazing encounter with three deer last night. I entered a field just before sunset and stood motionless near some small Maples and scrub-brush, about 100 yards from where I knew the deer would enter. At 8:25pm the first doe hesitantly came into the field. Once in, she flicked her tail (giving the all-clear sign). She was immediately followed by another doe and then a  third.

All three deer looked extremely healthy, not slim and withered like the deer of last season. They walked slowly and grazed, storing their food as ungulates do. Alert, but relaxed, it was a blessing to watch. For twenty-seven minutes we shared each others company. I promise you this is better than any Outdoor TV program. 

After 15mins or so the deer were suspicious of my presence. They stomped their feet and wheezed trying to elicit a response. I remained motionless practicing my awareness skills.

I tried to film them but the battery on my camcorder was dead! Ugh! Hopefully, I will find them again this evening and will be able to record these beautiful and graceful animals.

There is more to write, but I feel experiential engagement is where I am right now. If anyone would like to join me this evening let me know. I am willing to share what I know!

Big Woods: Northern New Hampshire

Here is some video from a weekend up north. I spent the weekend walking in soft and hard woods, steep ridges and clear-cuts. I was looking for Moose antlers that fell off during the late winter season. It was amazing! Tell me what you think?

Diamond Valley Camp: Errol, NH from Dawood Yasin on Vimeo.

Yemen: On the Permaculture Map

What more can I say...Geoff & his wife Nadia making it happen. Beyond talk there are actions.

Yemen: On the Permaculture Map

Zaytuna Summer Arabic Language Intensive--Berkeley CA

Hiking in the Berkeley Hills ZSAI 2008

Sakina Grome

Bismillah Ar-rahman Ar-raheem

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful

As part of the first Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive program held this year in Berkeley, California, students had the opportunity to participate in many local activities and gatherings. Besides attending classes and regular lectures, students were invited to local mosques, lectures, gatherings and other events taking place within the local Muslim community.

Throughout the program, our teachers encouraged us to become actively involved in our communities on all levels, to engage with whichever environment we find ourselves in, and to find solutions to the problems around us. There were many ways, they stated, that we could get involved, and they taught us that we are all leaders in one sense or another.

Our teacher and imam, Dawood Yasin, offered to lead us on a hike after the morning prayer on a Saturday morning in the Berkeley Hills. Many of us were already waking up to perform prayer and to recite a daily litany in congregation. We performed our prayer as usual, but instead of reciting the litany inside, we decided to read it as a group at the top of Strawberry Canyon after hiking up.

The hike occurred early into the course and I remember that it brought many of us together for the first time. It was a great outlet to the week of studying and working hard, while still giving us healthy motivation to keep focusing our attention and efforts towards striving to please Allah.

It was extremely pleasant to be in such a beautiful natural environment, and the experience even served to reawaken some of us to the bounty of Allah’s creation and our responsibility to care for it. The light that morning was stunning, and the collective witnessing of such a scene served to bring our hearts together and renew our spirits.

By the time we reached the top, pushing to get through the last stretch, the fog that had previously settled on the hilltops had cleared and as we sat in the remembrance of God under the shade of the trees, we could see all the way out to the bay. When we came down later that morning, there was a definite shift in our awareness and a contentment that filled our hearts.

Reading The Sands

In 2004 I read an article called Reading the Sands, and was glad to see something positive coming out of the Gulf region regarding the environment and the outdoors.  Here is a brief section of the article.


When I mention that tracking schools have been established in the United States in recent years that keep alive some of the knowledge developed by Native Americans, Abdulhadi Saleh notes the decline of tracking skills in his own country, without any such schools on the horizon as yet. Other than his own thesis, he cannot recall a single recent book in Arabic on the subject of tracking or desert guiding: In Saudi Arabia, he says, there are only living practitioners, and their numbers are declining.

“In the past, trackers emerged and were picked for their specific skills as well as for their character. It was a big responsibility and an honorable status within any tribe and clan. Trackers were decision-makers and often leaders,” he explains. “You’ll see their ability today.” Click here to read the entire article...

I connected a lot the material in the article with a book I am reading by Tom Brown  in his book, Tom Browns Field Guide: Nature Observation & Tracking he says, "Nature is far more colorful and fascinating than most of us can imagine. But our minds are so clouded by modern thought patterns ans stimuli that we do not perceive the pure and natural except through a distorting lens."