Greetings and Salutations from all at Happy Planet!
First and foremost, our apologies to our human and dog customers for the disruption to stock and communications during our move from the Gold Coast to Brisbane. We thank you for your patience and believe we shall all benefit from the expansion of not only our premises – but of products. Such an expansion does have hiccups and a transition period incorporating new developments takes longer than a routine moving of premises.
Also during this time, it was necessary to change our Dr Skoobie’s dog food manufacturer and take the opportunity to improve on the recipe. Due to that change, there had been unexpected delays to the arrival of dog food stock, causing dog customers and ourselves to be barking impatiently. I can assure you we are now fully stocked with dog food and customer feedback has told us that the dogs love the new semi-moist chicken dog kibble recipe.
It certainly has been an exciting 7 months since I joined Happy Planet. I already knew the benefits for myself from hemp products and then I was given the very enjoyable job of customer liaison, and daily I receive feedback from happy customers of the benefits of our industrial hemp products. It is so satisfying to be working with a company producing such a natural, nutritious product, produced in Australia.
A product so beneficial, that customers are willing to pre-pay and wait for stock to come in. Due to a delay in stock supplies, I waited with much anticipation for the next freshly milled batch of hemp protein powder that arrived in June, and I was not disappointed. It noticeably gave me a much needed boost of energy and clarity of mind and speeded up my recovery from a hip joint replacement operation in May, much to my doctor’s surprise. It also took away my sugar cravings, and for a chocolate lover like me, that is a big achievement. I also rubbed hemp oil onto my scar day and night and now it is already so neat I will still be able to wear my bikini.
Unfortunately, industrial hemp farmers had not been able to keep up with our customer demand, but this year that has been rectified. Sugar cane farmers have realized the benefits to themselves and the planet by growing industrial hemp as a rotational crop. Unlike most crops, hemp requires little water and NO chemicals and very little attention during growing. The large leaves shade the ground, preventing weeds from taking hold and lower leaves fall to the ground turning into nutritious compost for the soil, an excellent preparation for the next crop.
Since moving from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, Happy Planet has invested over $1 million to expand and improve Z Mills, making it the first ever oxygen and heat-free milling plant in the world… Enabling us to not only mill sugar and industrial hemp but grains as well. Most importantly, this means that we now control the processing of our hempseed from the farm to the consumer. The sugar cane farmers will now be supplying industrial hemp as well, with hemp seed sowing starting in two months. We are looking forward to a long, happy relationship with the farmers giving us a consistent supply. No more delays for protein powder.
We are very excited that not only our own milling trials, but independent trials, have conclusively reported that whatever is milled in our new technology mill retains all its nutrients. No other milling process can do that.
Production of icing sugar in other mills requires the addition of wheat starch to enable the icing sugar to stay soft. Without the addition of wheat starch, the icing sugar is hard within 24 hours. Due to our milling process of sugar to icing sugar, it does not require wheat starch to remain soft. This is a first in the industry and industries that require sugar in their products, or just pure organic packed sugar or grains, are keenly waiting for us to finish our milling trials, so they can purchase pure organic Australian products. These products will also be available to Happy Planet customers.
More so this year, all around the planet, hemp is the “word”. Daily TV shows, websites and newspaper articles are declaring the nutritional benefits of hemp to all who will listen, and hemp has been hailed as “the new soy”. In New York this year, hemp food restaurants have opened – selling hemp burgers, hemp food bars, hemp smoothies – only limited by the imagination. Hemp seed is very easily digested and metabolized without the side effects often associated with soy or whey proteins.
In June I was invited to be guest speaker on industrial hemp at Gecko (Gold Coast and Hinterland Environmental Council). The talk covered the history, benefits to the planet and products that can be produced from hemp. All who attended learnt much more than they anticipated. I am more than happy to give this talk to all who are interested and feel it is my mission to spread the word of this humble plant that provides so many benefits to humans, animals and the planet alike. If you are interested in me giving this talk in Brisbane or the Gold Coast, please contact me – Kathleen.
And then there is our organic Agave Syrup and Jam. Cocktail and juice bars are now using Agave Syrup in their recipes with much success and coming back for more.
Mums – check out the hemp baby clothing, nappies and baby soap – sooooo soft and organic for your baby, manufactured on the Gold Coast hinterland by an enthusiastic hemp loving mum. Michelle could not find organic, healthy nappies for her babes, so started making nappies for her wee one and then baby clothing. Very soon, other mums wanted the same for their babes as well and Michelle was more than happy to make and supply for her friends and now Happy Planet mums.
Hemp Recipes – Each month I shall include a recipe or two in the newsletter. If you have a favourite recipe using our products, we would love you to share it with others in the newsletter, and in return I shall reward you with one of our products.
Hemp Pizza Base – ¼ cup hemp flour, 1 cup SR flour, pinch salt, dash olive oil, water to bind.
Mix to bind and flatten. Cook for 15 minutes – bon appetite!
Vote for Dr Skoobies Snax
Our dog food was nominated for Finest Feast in the inaugural Paws and Claws Magazine Awards.
You know if your dog could talk, he/she would say “vote 1 – Dr Skoobies”.
Go To www.pawsandclawsjournal.com.au to vote for Dr Skoobies Snax –
After listening to customers’ comments about the Doctor’s food, he certainly is a cure for all dog ailments and deserving of an award for finest feast.
Happy cooking – happy minds – happy bodies – happy animals – happy planet!
Any queries – contact Kathleen – the Hempster – more exciting news in the next newsletter!
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