Newsletter - December 23, 2025

Dear brothers and sisters,

In celebration of our reopening we are pleased to  offer:-

Walnut Butter, Alive and Organic 8oz jar Now $11.99     (was $14.99)

Tahini, Alive and Organic 16 oz jar Now $14.99  (was $17.99)

Hemp Heart Butter Alive and Organic 16 oz jar Now $13.99  (was $18.99)

Flame Raisins, Alive and Organic 16oz bag Now $6.99   (was $7.99)

Thompson Seedless Raisins, Alive and Organic 16oz bag Now $5.99  (was $8.99)

Sale ends  January 5th at midnight.

We are delighted to present a no-bake pumpkin pie recipe for your culinary delight. Imagine! - a crust of walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds and Medjool dates. Imagine! - a filling of sweet pumpkin, banana, Medjool dates, almond butter, maple syrup and honey.  Into the freezer for a few hours and it's ready to serve! Your family and friends will be delighted.

We feel privileged to present some magnificent articles for your edification and enjoyment: – 

It is our endeavor during these winter months to plan our gardens for spring and summer. Eve teaches us the fundamentals - let's make it an edible landscape! Then Ben with Grow Veg interviews an expert in making alive compost- the heart  of a living garden.  Stephan Meyer asks the most basic questions on the origin of the universe and the origin of life. We conclude with an article on gene editing. All of nature it seems is being turned upside down with the newly found ability to alter the genetic code of life. The article warns of the  dangers associated with this arrogance.

We want to hear from you. We hold in high esteem your comments and suggestions.

Jesse Schwartz PhD
President
Living Tree Community Foods

If you have a love for live, organic food and at the same time possess an entrepreneurial spirit and want to get involved in the organic food industry, why not talk with us? We are seeking a business partner.

If you’re a recent graduate and are contemplating a career in the organic food industry, why not consider doing an internship? We offer hands-on experience in sales, marketing and production of live organic food.

In the past decade, US organic retail sales increased by an average of 8% per year.  

In 2023, the US organic marketplace posted record sales.

For further details email jesse@livingtreecommunity.com

Jesse Schwartz PhD
President
Living Tree Community Foods

by GMWATCH

CRISPR/Cas gene-editing unintentionally disrupts multiple gene functions in a way that is passed to successive cell generations, a recently published scientific study shows. The disruption followed repair of a DNA double-strand break at the intended gene edit sites.

Cells organise their DNA in a three-dimensional structure (called chromatin) that is crucially involved in the control of which genes are turned on or off. The authors of the new study, who are based in Denmark, investigated whether chromatin structure fully recovers after DNA damage is repaired. Using CRISPR/Cas gene editing, the researchers introduced targeted DNA breaks (the necessary and universal first step in the gene editing process) and then tracked changes in genome (chromatin) organisation and gene activity. They found that even after the DNA was repaired, the chromatin of the affected regions remained misfolded and showed reduced expression of multiple genes, and these changes were passed on to daughter cells. DNA damage therefore leaves lasting marks on genome expression.

The authors, Susanne Bantele et al, call this phenomenon “chromatin fatigue”. They note that it is a hitherto unknown effect of cells’ responses to DNA breakage and repair, with the potential to permanently alter the makeup and functioning of gene-edited cells. That includes apparently “successfully” edited cells and their successive daughter cells.

Read more