‘Like’ us on Facebook this month for the chance to WIN a Deluxe Christmas Gift Box worth £60.

The gift box contains the following gorgeous products ~ Organic Frankincense oil 5ml, Organic sweet orange oil 10ml, Organic Silver Fir oil 10ml, Organic Massage & Bath blend 100ml, Organic Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh Chocolate 70g, Ceramic massage dish, Free Aromatherpy book ‘Essential Health’ by Kolinka Zinovieff

We also have special offers on the following oils this month:

10% off Organic Cajeput Essential oil a great oil to support colds and coughs at this time of year as it is anti-microbial, purifying and clearing.

15% off Organic Hazelnut Oil a lovely light oil for the skin, can also be used in cooking!

For Christmas gift ideas click here to see our website>

Pumpkin Cake Recipe

In the spirit of Halloween this month, here is some inspiration for using NHR Organic Oils in this yummy recipe:

Ingredients:

200g Ground Almond, 4 eggs, 175g NHR Organic Virgin Coconut oil, 85g honey (light & mild), 150g pumpkin, 1tspn ground clove, 1 1/2 tspn cinnamon, 1 1/2 tspn allspice, 2 level tbsn baking powder, 3 drops of NHR Organic Red Mandarin Essential Oil.

Instructions:

1. Cut the pumpkin into cubes and roast in a hot oven until cooked through. Allow to cool and sit for a few hours or over night to allow the juices to separate from the pumpkin. Discard the juices.

2. Melt and cool the NHR Organic virgin Coconut oil

3. Whisk the eggs til frothy and then add the 3 drops of NHR Organic Red Mandarin oil

4. Next add the honey and whisk again, and then add the coconut oil, whisking again

5. Add the spices and the baking powder to the ground almonds and mix through

6. Add the almond mix to the egg mixture stirring anti-clockwise as you go!

7. For the finale, add the pre-mashed pumpkin, gently mixing it in anti-clockwise

8. Pour the mixture into a lined loaf tin (you can divide into an individual muffin tin if you prefer but don’t forget to adjust the cooking time to about 25 minutes)

9. Place in to a pre-heated oven, gas 2/3, 160c for 40 minutes then cover with foil for the remainder 15mins or until cooked. Test with a skewer, it should come out clean. . . . Mmmmm. . . . ready to enjoy!

Cakes available to order from

Love~Bites

Gluten & Dairy Free Cooking for everyone

Tel: 07743 806911

Email: heatherhardy37@yahoo.com

Our second NHR Organic Essential Oil Course was held last month at the beginning of September at the Mill Retreat Centre, it is proving extraordinarily popular (See feedback below). It feels exciting to be running a course which is completely unique and so enjoyable, everyone is deepening their knowledge of how to make extremely high quality organic essential oils, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Mill Retreat Centre. People came from all across the world including Canada, the Far East, Australia, South Africa, and USA. Please read below why I set up this course.

The next NHR Organic Essential Oil Courses will be:

Friday 3rd to Monday 6th of May 2013 – There are a few places left.

Friday 6th to Monday 9th of September 2013

To book a place please or for more information on the course click here. We advise booking soon if you would like a place as the course is filling up fast, for the next in May 2013 and the September 2013.

Feedback:

EXCELLENT – I would highly recommend it. ….keep up this WONDERFUL WORK. I look forward to returning for another course. ……A1 – exceptional. F S

Kolinka’s – lovely energy and knowledge, heartfelt – passionate and good teacher. Dana

Perfect balance of theory/practice. Learnt so much yet never felt it was overwhelmingly busy. Mayella

10/10 being with like-minded people. I was really tentative about meeting so many strong people, but it was great. I was so pleased that I joined in (and enjoyed) everything – like the intuitive essential oil session, I leave feeling very uplifted and with lots of ideas. Food was great. Sherry

Practical hands on approach coupled with the holistic elements was so well balanced – thank you.

Great start – loved that it wasn’t filled with “knowledge” of the mental variety. Excellent. empathetic and allowing. The teaching was balanced and quite different to others – allowed real learning on many levels. Fabulous – wonderful to be so in touch with nature – and great food. Ann R.

The venue and the meeting of Kolinka. It was magical, special restful and spiritual. Kolinka was so special. C L

Why we set up the NHR Organic Essential Oils Course

After 20 years running NHR Organic Oils and now the Mill Retreat Centre, it felt it was the right time to share my experience, knowledge and interest in Organic Essential Oils with others. I found most of my aromatherapy training dry and theoretical. I did not gain much knowledge about essential oils themselves: how they are extracted, or what makes a really good quality organic essential Oil. I often found myself getting quite bored. I decided to start a course that would hopefully be breaking new ground. The aim is to make the courses at the Mill Retreat Centre as practical, enjoyable and fun as possible, and not to overwhelm people with intellectual knowledge. Instead of just giving lectures, the course is filled with original, dynamic, intuitive and scientific exercises. We distil our own organic essential oils on site. We plant and pick organic lavender plants in the Mill herb garden so that we can learn about cultivation and organic farming. We also have an onsite GLC Chromatograph for scientific analysis of oils. We also hand out a large Course hand book/curriculum, which can be read after the course to free up our time for practical work, hopefully satisfying the most demanding intellect.

There is also a Subtle Aromatherapy module where we intuitively explore the energetic properties of essential oils. When we trust our intuition; we then have the chance to become original, creative individuals. To quote good old Einstein “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

To be a good aromatherapist we need a better understanding of essential oils themselves, students are simply taught their therapeutic properties, but have never actually made or distilled essentials oils themselves, or even know much about how or why plants produce essentials or what makes a truly good high quality essential oil. These are some of the areas we are introducing into the New NHR Organic Oils Essential Oil School.

We will be planting and picking lavender plants in the Mill Herb Garden, learning about farming to Soil association organic standards, actually getting our hands dirty with soil and cutting and harvesting the flowers and leafs. Understanding what makes a truly healthy plant which in turn makes truly good quality oil.

Course Out line:

*Distillation of your own organic essential oils on site.

*Learning about the importance of organic farming to Soil Association standards, and growing aromatherapy plants in the Mill’s beautiful herb garden.

*The art of cooking with organic essential oils, to make delicious and nourishing meals exploring nourishment and nutrition.

*Exploring the subtle and energetic properties of essential oils, using colour, creativity and intuition.

*Learn the chemical constituents of organic essential oils and how these chemicals therapeutically affect the body. An explanation of GLC (Gas liquid Chromatography) charts.

*Learn the properties of 40 Organic Base Vegetable oils.

*Massage treatments with essential oils you have made yourself.

*Exercises and meditation.

*Lavender cupcakes made during the course.

*Cooking with Essential Oils.

The ‘NHR Organic Essential Oil Course’ is the first of many courses we are planning at the Mill Retreat Centre. Over the next three years, we aim to launch a range of courses from Beginners to Intermediate as well as a three-year degree course and a Postgraduate Master Degrees affiliated with a UK university. We are also working with a Japanese company who have a large number of students, all incredibly keen to join the course, so that will start up next year with translators. Japan has the strongest and most vibrant aromatherapy community. If you would like to help and get involved in these new projects, either as a student or as a teacher or curriculum writer, please contact us at the email below.

If you would like to book a place on the next NHR Organic Essential Oil Aromatherapy Course ~Weekend of Friday 3rd of May to Monday 6th of May 2013, £695 click here>

For more detail on the course click here>

The Mill Retreat Centre updates 2012:

NEW ELECTRIC CAR

We have just bought a charming tiny new electric car for the Mill, but what I feel so excited about is that we will use the River Mill wheel turbine to power it, so it will be charged from our own private 100% carbon neutral natural power source, the river. Completing the whole circle of energy production and transport in to a pollution free solution. Because the main problem with electric cars at the moment is you charge them from your mains socket which gets Mains electricity from quite high polluting sources e.g. Gas, coal, nuclear etc. (long term nuclear waste pollution)

See photo of our new little green Mill Retreat Centre car:

The Mill Retreat Centre turbine that generates free carbon and pollution free electricity from the river.

NEW LARGER 23 SEATER MINIBUS

We have updated our minibus from the old 16 seater to a new 23 seater to accommodate large groups at the Mill. The minibus can pick you up from anywhere in the UK and drive you directly to the Mill Retreat Centre making getting there so easy and hassle free.

NEW WAGON AT THE MILL

We have added a lovely new outside bedroom in the form of a beautiful Gypsy wagon which people staying at the Mill Retreat Centre can choose if they want, it has a luxurious huge queens size bed inside and a cosy heater, with stained glass window, and is situated just next to the river and lake. It is so fun to be in; we think it will be an idyllic option for people who like to be closer to nature.

Please help NHR Organic Oils support the New Soil Association saving the bees campaign:

We need your help to keep Britain buzzing

Huge numbers of bees have been lost in recent years, potentially jeopardising future food supplies. Their loss is a sign that something is badly wrong.

Keep Britain buzzing

• We want neonicotinoid pesticides, widely used in agriculture and domestic gardens to be banned.
• We want to promote bee-friendly organic farming and show that everyone can make a difference by simply changing their shopping habits.

You can support our work, protect bees, and keep Britain buzzing by donating to our campaign today. As a thank you we’ll send anyone who donates £5 or more a campaign badge and pack of bee-friendly organic phacelia seeds. TO DONATE  PLEASE CLICK HERE

At NHR we’ve been experimenting by using our oils in the kitchen. Here is a recipe which includes the infamous NHR Organic virgin Coconut oil that we all love so much:

Natasha’s & Heather’s Seriously Delicious Lemon Drizzle Cake!

150g NHR’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

4 Eggs

130g Agave Syrup

175g Ground Almonds

100g Mash Potato. . . . Yes mashed potato!

Zest of 3 lemons

2 tsp Baking powder

2 drops of NHR’s Organic Lemon Essential Oil (which is food grade).

For the drizzle:-

Juice of ½ lemon

50g (or there abouts) Agave Syrup

1. Pre-melt the coconut oil and put to one side to cool.

2. Grease and line a 20cm deep round cake tin.

3.   Whisk the eggs well. Add the agave and whisk well again.           Add the coconut oil carefully and continue to whisk. Now add 2 or 3 drops of NHR lemon essential oil and whisk again.

4. In a separate bowl, place the ground almonds, lemon zest, baking powder, and mix in well.

5. Now gently add the almond mixture to the egg mix, thoroughly stirring it in.

6. Lastly add the mashed potato, gently blending it into the cake mix. Make sure the potato is well mashed so there are no lumps!

7. Lovingly poor mixture into the cake tin and pop into a pre-heated oven, gas mark 4, 160c, 180c fan – for 40-45mins.

Skewer the middle; skewer should come out clean when cooked.

This is such a yummy delicious cake! :0))) Not only is it yummy, it’s a nourishing and healthy alternative to your usual average wheat, dairy and sugar filled cake. It’s so easy to make, why not have a go, we’d love to hear how you got on…

Ps. It works just as well without the mash potato if you’re shy about it.

Please help  NHR Organc Oils support the New Soil Association saving the bees campaign:

please click here for more details or enter the new raffle by clicking here:

The plight of the bee

Over the past few years there has been a massive, worldwide drop in bee numbers. In the UK, beekeepers report a one in three loss of bee colonies has occurred. It appears that we could be heading towards a global disappearance of bees. The consequences of this would be dire. It is estimated that one third of human food supplies depend on bee pollination.

What’s causing the deaths is unclear – there is a huge amount of research being done worldwide, and it’s likely that a number of factors may be implicated. One suspect is a group of insecticides called neonicotinoids. These were first used in agriculture in the mid 1990s – at exactly the time when mass bee disappearances started occurring. The evidence against these chemicals is strong enough that they have been suspended or banned in France, Germany and Italy – but not yet in the UK.

Another major problem is the issue of intensive agricultural practices in general. For example, monoculture (where the same crop is grown year after year) and the use of a range of pesticides, including herbicides which kill off plants which bees forage on, can have negative impacts on bee populations.

In contrast, organic farming is based on a system which works with nature, rather than against it. Organic farmers aim to produce good food from a balanced living soil. For example, organic farmers use clover to harness the sun’s solar power to transform nitrogen in the air into soil nutrients, and they place strong emphasis on protecting the environment. Genetically modified crops are banned, and pesticides are avoided.

Take action: ways to help the bees

We want the Government to ban neonicotinoids to help ensure the health and future of our bees. However, there are lots of other simple actions you can take in the meantime to help protect these precious creatures.

• Buy organic food. Organic farmers don’t use neonicitinoid pesticides. They also have more complex crop rotations, which means that there is a greater diversity of plants for bees to forage on. Supporting organic farmers at the checkout is an everyday action with a big impact.
• Write to your MP. Writing to your MP to raise this issue is a powerful way of making your voice heard. More details on writing to your MP.
• Avoid using neonicotinoid pesticides. Better still, urge your local retailer to stop stocking them. Click here for a list of products and letter writing hints.
• Use organic techniques in your own garden. Garden pesticides also have the potential to do damage to bees, and good rotations give an extra diversity of flowering crops. Use a wide variety of plants in your garden, and don’t be too tidy. Leave wild flowering plants in place, and ivy is a particularly important source of late season winter food for bees. Find out more about organic growing techniques.
• Take up beekeeping. If you’ve got the space, then keeping your own colony of bees is a great way of boosting bee numbers. There are some excellent courses available in our Practical courses section. Find out more about beekeeping courses.
• Join the Soil Association. By becoming a member of the Soil Association charity you are helping to fund our campaigning and policy work on this, and a range of other important issues like food security and GM. Join the Soil Association today.
• Support our bee campaign by buying raffle tickets. There are six incredible prizes to be won including an organic holiday and £1,000. Buy raffle tickets here.

Save the bee petition

The Soil Association collected over 20,000 signatures in support of our campaign to suspend neonicotinoid pesticides which Monty Don, Soil Association president, sent to the Government on the last UN World Environment Day.

Find out more

• Bees and organic farming
• Bee research
• Vanishing of the Bees
• Write to your MP
• Household pesticides

Summer scents

Refresh your senses and hydrate your skin this summer with our delicious, delicate organic floral waters>

Now available in bulk sizes too> from 100m to 50  Litres

Organic Mother And Baby Range

FREE

Receive a free 10ml bottle of one of our organic mother & baby blends when you place an order and recommend a friend, by sending us their email address.  The first 5 will receive a full size product (100ml). Gentle enough for all skin types to use in the bath and massaged into skin.

IFA Conference Speech  June 2012

Kolinka gave a keynote speech at the IFA (International Federation of Aromatherapist) Year Conference last month.

It was a great success and it was lovely to feel the enthusiasms about the New courses and NHR Organic Oils shared with so many, we have been inundated with people wanting to know more about our new NHR Organic Essential Oil course which is now fully booked in September 2012.

The Mill Retreat Centre

EVENTS  2012

For more information on running a retreat here please contact us on 0845 310 8066 orinfo@millretreatcentre.com

July 2012

Gurdjieff Summer Seminar

29th July – 11th August 2012 (1 or 2 week seminar).

Gurdjieff Movements, Meditation, Relaxation, discussion of ideas, Eneagram, Creative thinking, Prayer…

Contact: Indira Melloul

Email indiramelloul@gmail.com

Tel: 06 10 91 83 60 / 01 60 79 45 03

Website:

www.gurdjieffdominican.com

For more information click here>

August 2012

Yoga Holiday

12th – 17th August 2012

Open to all, we are aiming for this holiday to be an opportunity to relax and refresh yourself with a mix of Yoga, being looked after and good company (if you want it) all taking place in the beautiful surroundings of the Mill Retreat Centre.

The teachers, Sue Peggs and Sarah Waterfield have over twenty years of teaching experience between them and will teach all aspects of yoga to suit the needs and wishes of those who join the holiday.

Contact: Sue@inneryoga.org.uk

Tel: 0117 377 9638

For more information click here>

Rati Bagis Bio-Energy Meditation

24th – 27th August 2012

To some it’s known as Shaking, a truly life changing practice, made possible by the transmission that comes from the energy master Ratu Bagus.

Contact france@ratubagus.com

Tel: Vanessa or Dominique 00 336 64 83 87 / 00 336 73 13 77 68

00 332 51 06 31 44 / 00 332 51 37 82 26

For more information Click here>

September 2012

NHR Organic Essential Oil Aromatherapy Course £695

Friday 31ST August to  Monday 3rd of September 2012

FULLY BOOKED

To book click here>

Or for more detail on the course click here>

Sacred Gardens Workshop 7th -12th September 2012

UPDATE JUNE 2012: A FEW PLACES LEFT! See below to reserve your place

A week-end residential introductory course on the universal philosophy and geometry underlying the sacred gardens of the world and how they might be interpreted when designing gardens today.  The Course will include illustrated talks on the underlying principles behind sacred gardens, practical geometry classes, and inspiring walks in the surrounding woods and lake looking at Nature’s profound spiritual symbolism.

The Course is led by Emma Clark, specialist in Islamic gardens and their spiritual symbolism, with Adam Hunt (landscaper and garden designer specialising in holistic, sustainable gardens (www.petherickurquhartandhunt.com) and Tom Bree (Geometer, artist, teacher and writer).

Cost: £500 to include full board and lodging for 3 nights beginning with a welcoming tea on Friday Sep 7th .

All fresh, organic produce prepared by excellent cooks daily in The Mill’s kitchen.

For more information please contact info@emma-clark.com or click here>

October 2012

Joyful Yoga Retreat

4th – 7th October 2012

As we welcome the changing colours of the autumn, we build our stores of energy for the winter. On this retreat morning meditation sessions, morning and afternoon asana practice and pranayama, is combined with deep relaxation to make us strong and vibrant.

Contact Raquel Alves

raq.alves@gmail.com

07770852239

www.yogadays.co.uk

for more information click here>

November 2012

Yoga Retreat

Thursday 15th ~ Monday 19th November 2012

The retreat is a General level course and is suitable for students who have some experience of yoga. There will be two classes/day in the morning and evening.

Teacher: Karen Watson

357 City Rd. London EC1V 1LR

www.islingtonyoga.com

0208 533 5553

For more information click here>

2013

2013 NHR Organic Essential Oil Aromatherapy Course £695 Weekend of Friday 3rd of May to Monday 6th of May 2013

A few Places left

To book click here>

Or for more detail on the course click here>

For more information about the Mill Retreat Centre Please click here

For more Information about other Events and Courses and Calendar of Availability please click here.

Thank you

All best Wishes

Kolinka, Laura and Pawel from the Mill Retreat Centre

One place has become available for the 4th of May 2012 course, and a place on our minibus if needed, which departs from London to the Mill Retreat Centre, so all travel can be taken care of, as the course starts in only 3 weeks.

The NEW

“NHR Organic Essential Oil Diploma Course”

at the Mill Retreat Centre.

The course will be run over a weekend at the beautiful Mill Retreat Centre. It will take place on the weekend of the

Friday 4th to Monday 7th of May 2012

(1 place has become available in May)

or

Friday 31ST August to Monday 3rd of September 2012 (STILL A FEW PLACES LEFT IN SEPTEMBER COURSE)

Click here for more details

Mill Retreat Centre Events for 2012

Please find details below of the courses running at Mill Retreat Centre this year. If you are interested in booking a place or would like more details, then please contact the organisers directly.

APRIL 2012

ANUSARA YOGA, 20th ~ 22nd April 2012
With Neesha Zollinger & Anne Vandawalle, whose retreats create a cozy nurturing environment for creating and deepending connections with each other, as teachers, students and friends.
Yoga ~all weekend 150€
Accomodation/day/full organic catering 93€
Weekend 335€ all-inclusive
Contact Valentine: +33 6.70.85.40.24
For more information click here>

MAY 2012

The NEW “NHR Organic Essential Oil Diploma Course”

Friday 4th ~ Monday 7th of May 2012 (Previously full, but 2 places have just become available)

also from Friday 31st August ~ Monday 3rd September 2012.

This is an exciting and practical Advanced Diploma Course, set in the peaceful and beautiful surroundings of lakes, rivers and woods. It will deepen your knowledge and give you hands on experience of working with and distilling your own organic essential oils.

Click here to pay and book online: or telephone 08453108066.
For more information click here>
________________________________________

Omtropy invite you to Create Space VII Retreat 10th ~ 13th May 2012
Yoga, Argentine Tango, Meditation and Guided Walks
With Heather George, Tony Davis, David Thomas & Marion Greenwood
Fees per person include daily Yoga classes, Argentine Tango workshops, morning & evening meditation, walking meditation, accommodation, all meals and guided walks:
To reserve your space please go to: http://www.omtropy.com/RetreatMay2012.php
For more information click here>

JUNE 2012
Yoga retreat 14th ~ 18th June 2012
With Claire Weatherley at Simplybeinglotus Yoga, a senior yoga teacher registered with the yoga alliance UK.
Price £450 inclusive of all yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, accommodation and food. simplybeing@hotmail.co.uk
For more information click here>

JULY 2012
Summer Yoga Retreat, Sunday 22nd ~ Saturday 28th July 2012
The retreat is a General level course and is suitable for students who have some experience of yoga. There will be two classes/day in the morning and evening.
Teacher: Karen Watson
Fees £650/£100 deposit to book includes accommodation/meals & tuition
357 City Rd. London EC1V 1LR
www.islingtonyoga.com
0208 533 5553
For more information click here>

AUGUST 2012
Yoga Holiday 12th ~ 17th August 2012
Open to all, we are aiming for this holiday to be an opportunity to relax and refresh yourself with a mix of Yoga, being looked after and good company (if you want it) all taking place in the beautiful surroundings of the Mill Retreat Centre.
The teachers, Sue Peggs and Sarah Waterfield have over twenty years of teaching experience between them and will teach all aspects of yoga to suit the needs and wishes of those who join the holiday.
For more information contact: sue@inneryoga.org.uk tel: 0117 377 9638 or get a leaflet from http://www.inneryoga.org.uk/listings/index.html
For more information click here>
________________________________________
Ratu Bagus Bio–Energy Meditation Friday Aug 24th at 17:00 to Monday Aug 27th at 16:00
To some it’s known as Shaking, a truly life changing practice, made possible by the transmission that comes from the energy master Ratu Bagus. This energy transmission ignites the sacred fire that lies dormant within each of us and calls upon our own energy system, to remember and ‘wake up’ the natural capacity our bodies have for healing, on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Contribution: 190 Euros per person
Contact: france@ratubagus.com
Tel: Vanessa or Dominique
00 336 64 83 63 87 / 00 336 73 13 77 68
00 332 51 06 31 44 / 00 332 51 37 82 26
For more information click here>
________________________________________
The NEW “NHR Organic Essential Oil Diploma Course” 31st August ~ 3rd September 2012

This is an exciting and practical Advanced Diploma Course, set in the peaceful and beautiful surroundings of lakes, rivers and woods. It will deepen your knowledge and give you hands on experience of working with and distilling your own organic essential oils.

Click here to pay and book online: or telephone 08453108066.
For more information click here>

SEPTEMBER 2012
Sacred Gardens Workshop September 7th ~ 12th September 2012
A week-end residential introductory workshop on the universal philosophy
And geometry underlying the sacred gardens of the world and how
they might be interpreted when designing gardens today.
Cost: £500 to include full board and lodging for 3 nights beginning with a
welcoming tea on Friday Sep 7th.
All fresh, organic produce prepared by excellent cooks daily in The Mill’s
kitchen.
For more information, and booking, please contact info@emma-clark.com
For more information click here>
Photos of the Mill Retreat Centre

For more information about the Mill Retreat Centre Please click here
For more Information about other Events and Courses and Calendar of Availability please click here.
Thank you
All best Wishes
Kolinka, Laura and Pawel from the Mill Retreat Centre

We do hope you are happy to receive information from us.

With love,

All at NHR Organic Oils & the Mill Retreat Centre

NHR ORGANIC OILS
24 Chatham Place, Brighton BN1 3TN (UK)
TEL.(UK) 0845 310 8066 FAX.(UK) 0845 310 8068
Tel Toll Free USA: 1866 816 0195
International Tel. +44 1273 746 505 Int. Fax. +44 1273 202 729
www.millretreatcentre.com email: info@millretreatcentre.com