Is chronic disconnection from the earth's energy field contributing to inflammation and illness? Is it affecting your body's ability to protect and heal itself? Could you feel better by regularly connecting with the earth? If you're not already walking barefoot outdoors each day, the surprising answer is - YES! Before you write this off as metaphysical wishful-thinking, check out the science below:

ARE YOU VITAMIN G DEFICIENT?

Just as exposure to the sun energy gives us vitamin D, direct contact with the earth gives us free electrons - call it vitamin G (for ground). Like all essential nutrients, getting enough of this subtle yet powerful energy may mean the difference between feeling good and not so good, of having little or a lot of energy, or sleeping well or not so well.

Throughout history, humans walked barefoot on the earth. But modern lifestyle, including insulating materials in shoes, flooring and furniture, have disconnected us from the earth’s protection and healing energy. A growing body of research has raised the distinct possibility that this disconnection contributes to chronic pain, fatigue, inflammation, and poor sleep that plague so many people.

The remedy for the disconnection is simple: Walk barefoot outdoors whenever possible and/or sleep, work, or relax indoors in contact with grounded, conductive materials that transfer a limitless supply of antioxidant free electrons to your body. People who do so on a regular basis say that they sleep better, feel better, and have more energy.  This simple practice is called “earthing”, and it is both a technology and a movement which is transforming lives across the planet. Earthing is safe and natural for people of all ages, but it is not medicine or a substitute for medical treatment

MY OWN EARTHING EXPERIENCE

Several months ago, I heard about earthing from an on-line wellness newsletter and was immediately intrigued. The concept satisfied an intuition that some sort of major disconnect - between our modern lifestyle and our natural state of health - remained unexamined. Many hours of research overcame my skepticism about the new-age sounding promise to “connect with the earth” for better health. The evidence for earthing’s safety and effectiveness is compelling. It includes clinical and laboratory (double-blind) studies, many video demonstrations of rapid physiological improvements (e.g. body voltage, blood viscosity, cortisol levels), testimonials by people from all walks of life - world-class athletes, mothers, retirees, etc. - and even studies comparing grounded and ungrounded plants.


I knew I had to try it out for myself. So, I bought a voltmeter from a hardware man that was more amused than helpful, and jerry-rigged an extension cord (don’t try this at home). I held the ground wire and quickly noticed a major effect - grounding yourself immediately and dramatically reduces AC body voltage caused by proximity to electric devices and wiring (98% reduction pictured here). A great analogy for the benefit of protection from these unnatural electric fields is that of spilling a hot cup of coffee in your lap either while sitting on a chair (i.e. ungrounded) or in a filled bathtub (i.e. grounded). Since we are surrounded by EFs when we are indoors, this is likely a significant health benefit.

Next, I bought a conductive grounding mat from Earthing.com and used it while I worked at my computer and while I slept. I noticed several benefits including improved circulation, better exercise tolerance and recovery, and elimination of the need for a newly-prescribed medication based upon improved blood work. I encouraged two staff members to try earthing. Both had similar positive results including reducing their medications upon the advice of their physicians.

So, now I’m thinking "this is real". We need to get everyone earthed! 

HOW TO EXPERIENCE EARTHING...NOW

You don’t need to buy anything to get grounded. Simply, go barefoot outside and see what a difference it makes on your pain or stress level. Sit, stand, or walk on grass, sand, dirt, or concrete. These are all conductive surfaces from which your body can draw the earth’s energy. Wood, asphalt, and vinyl won’t work. They are not conductive surfaces. Experience for yourself the healing energy of the earth at work. You can also make your own grounding devices, like I did with my extension cord. Unfortunately, these can be uncomfortable to use, and even unsafe if connected improperly to an electrical outlet.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE EARTHING...ALL THE TIME

When going barefoot outside is not comfortable or convenient, or when you’re exposed to electric fields indoors, a variety of earthing devices are available to connect you safely. Unfortunately, earthing products have not been available locally and on-line sources are not always able to provide the personal service required.  To fill the void, MI Green Team has become an authorized Earthing.com distributor.


ORDER TODAY AND WE'LL PAY THE TAX

To place an order for any Earthing product, visit the MGT Earthing Online Store. For orders placed in October, we will cover your sales tax. And, for orders of $250 or more, we'll provide free local delivery, set-up and testing. For more information about earthing or promoting Earthing products, contact us by email or phone.

We look forward to sharing the earthing movement and technology with you.

John

John Batdorf
General Manager
MI Green Team

248-808-3601

MI Green Team was honored at a ceremony held by the US Green Building Council, Detroit Regional Chapter. The award was given for MGT's support of the Green School in a Lunchbox program, which was the beneficiary of net proceeds from the 2011 Green Living Festival Preview Part. Green School Art Contest winners were recognized at the Preview Party, as well.

Jeremy Eckhous of element-e has offered some of the area's most engaging and timely sustainability programming, under the banner of EcoTuesday, but has been unable to maintain the monthly schedule and meet other demands of the program. MI Green Team is happy to accept an invitation from Jeremy to help continue this worthy educational and networking effort, and is pleased to announce that it will present the MGT Sustainable Speaker Series, starting with "The Secret of OZ" with Bill Still on Tuesday, February 22nd at Oakland University. MGT would like to take this opportunity to recognize Jeremy for his dedicated efforts to promote sustainability education locally. We look forward to working with him to continue these efforts.

Raven Hannah, Local Business Network

MI Green Team is pleased to welcome Raven Hannah of Local Business Network as our newest Champion member. Local Business Network is a second generation business referral organization, combining:

• the extraordinary power of structured networking,
• technology based system-wide information sharing systems,
• robust cross-chapter networking opportunities,
• exceptional networking and marketing skills training,
• a broad array of proprietary, tested tools for development of powerful, proactive referral partner relationships,
• a highly effective support system for both chapters and individual members.

This extraordinary combination provides our members with the bottom line results they are seeking – more referrals.  Our goal is to put more money in your pocket and we do that through a system that has been developing and improving for a dozen years.

Corktown Celebration Rises Above Blight Controversy

 

Corktown, Detroit, MI – (Saturday, October 2)  The Imagination Station, Corktown’s ‘ashes-to-art’ non-profit, and MI Green Team, Michigan’s premier green/wellness network, are partnering to promote green/community initiatives at Slows Bar B Q’s fifth year anniversary celebration tomorrow, Sunday, October 3rd, from noon to 10pm. The event will be held in Roosevelt Park, directly in front of the Michigan’s most famous blighted building, the Michigan Central Station. The event is called “Rainbow Blight”. Net proceeds and donations will benefit the park’s redevelopment.

 

“Corktown has been in the news a lot lately regarding our efforts to prompt developers to clean up their blighted properties.  We want this event to show another side of our efforts - to work together with all stakeholders on the vision of a clean and green future for Corktown,” said Jeff DeBruyn, Imagination Station partner and president of the Corktown Residents' Council.  “We appreciate the support we are getting from outside Corktown and the cooperation of local residents and property owners. We hope this will be a model for future collaboration.”

 

The celebration will include a music stage with 10 bands, food & beer from Slows and Mind Body & Spirits restaurants, and the world's largest Cornhole (bean bag toss) tournament with over 130 teams participating. The Corktown Green/Community Expo will add over 30 green/wellness exhibitors, a full presentation schedule, and a kids’ strawbale play area. The expo will draw attention to Corktown residents’ intention to reinvent itself as Detroit's first sustainable community, and will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about Corktown sustainability projects, and locally-available green products, services and programs. The expo is sponsored by ITC Transmission and presented by The Home Depot, which is active in other Corktown charitable projects.

 

There is no admission charge for tents or outdoor areas. For more information, visit www.rainbowblight.com or www.migreenteam.com/greenevents.

The following letter was sent by John Batdorf as written testimony before a Michigan House committee considering house bill 6454 to provide for two new types of corporations in Michigan - Triple Benefit Corporations, where its mission is equal to profits, and Public  Benefit Corporations, where profits are subordinate to mission.

 

----------------------------

 

September 21, 2010

 

 

Dear New Economy and Quality of Life Committee,

 

My name is a John Batdorf. I am a resident of Shelby Township, Michigan. For fifteen years, I managed a successful healthcare computer systems company in Grand Blanc, MI which grew to 15 employees. In 2000, I sold the corporation and turned my attention to non-profit ecological work as board member and then executive director of Upland Hills EAC. At UHEAC, I co-founded an Earth Day festival in Rochester, MI which grew to over 50,000 in attendance and provided a high-profile platform for Michigan businesses, community leaders and over 60 non-profit organizations, to promote their green/wellness products, services and programs.

 

Due to concerns of UHEAC board members regarding the cost of producing major events, in 2009, I co-founded and managed one of the first L3C companies in Michigan, TriGreen Development L3C, to produce the annual event. Although the festival continued to be successful, the L3C business form did not suit the company’s business expansion plans and the company was closed.

 

To continue to offer a major community green event and to extend our promotional and educational services throughout the year, we recently founded MI Green Team Inc. Our mission is to "promote green living, business and community through the premier green/wellness network in Michigan". The corporate form fits our business growth plans much better than an L3C. Unfortunately, when we formed MI Green Team Inc., we did not have the option of a corporate profit/non-profit hybrid analogous to an L3C. As a consequence and due to concerns about corporate profit-making (versus L3C profit subordination), our government and non-profit partners are hesitant to participate with us as fully as they have in previous years. Although these concerns are understandable and surmountable, they do limit our ability to provide the community benefit which is our primary focus.

 

We appreciate the initiative to provide an alternative to the current profits-only-focused corporate form, since our mission is to pursue the triple bottom line of producing environmental, social and economic value. We strongly support passage of House Bill 6454 to provide for Public Benefit Corporations and Triple Benefit Corporations. It will put Michigan on the forefront of the important effort to apply entrepreneurial methods and motivation to benefit our communities and environment. I believe that these corporate forms will place Michigan at an advantage in attracting dynamic businesses and individuals willing and able to benefit Michigan’s "new economy and quality of life".

 

Sincerely,

 

John Batdorf

President

MI Green Team Inc.

PO Box 81113

Rochester, MI 48308

 

 

We are excited to announce our newest Champion Member and first major sponsor for the Green Living Festival (May, 2011) - Renewal By Andersen. Find their listing at the top of the Products/Services directory. Check out their profile and website for information on their Green Seal and Energy Star certified replacement windows and doors.

We are happy to welcome the O'Brien companies as a Leader member of the Mi Grean Team.

We are happy to welcome GreenFundraiserStore.com to the team. 

This local company provides cleaner and greener alternatives to products used in the course of daily living through their innovative education/fundraising programs for schools, churches and organizations. Check out their profile for more information.

Do you want to go green but don't know where to go? MI Green Team, whose members include leading local green/wellness businesses, non-profits, government programs and advocates, is here to help.

MI Green Team has been formed to connect Michigan consumers and citizens to leading local green/wellness products, services and programs. Team managers include the founder and staff of one of the largest annual green events in the nation - the Earth Day events held for the past five years in Rochester.

"The challenge for folks interested in going green is how exactly to do it. There is a great deal of general information out there, especially about why to go green - but, not enough specific information on how to do it, including detailed information about local providers and their offerings", said John Batdorf, founder of MI Green Team. "There are numerous national and a few local directories, but these tend to have limited local participation and exposure. We hope to fill that gap by providing a comprehensive, easily-accessible and well-promoted directory of leading green/wellness resource providers".

Batdorf should know what he's talking about. He started his career as a retail store manager and then national dealer sales manager in metro Detroit. In 1985, he founded a leading medical computer systems company that received national recognition for its product and service innovations. Upon selling the company in 2000, he offered management services to several companies, including a leading talent agency, before getting the "bug" and turning his focus to green economic and community development. As a board member of Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center, he co-founded and managed the Earth Day Expo which grew to  50,000+ attendance and included 200+ exhibitors. As Executive Director, John co-produced a national energy conference at Oakland University with Community Solutions and oversaw financial growth of over 300%. 

"The initial MGT membership is made up of over 300 organizations that have actively participated with us in promoting the emerging 'green/wellness economy'. With our five years of major event experience, we have established relationships with most of the green businesses, non-profits organizations, local/state government programs, and media, as well as many leading advocates dedicated to supporting people's efforts to live earth-friendly and healthy lifestyles. We are leveraging this experience into a year-round promotional and educational effort."

In addition to a large member directory, the MI Green Team website will include a growing list of resources for green living, business and community. "Our approach is to collaborate with other leading local and national green/wellness resource providers, to act as a clearing-house. We're not going to re-invent the wheel, just make it easier to find and use", continued Batdorf. "The website will offer membership, event, business and "greening" services to local providers and empower consumers with information and contacts, and with access to exclusive discounts and offers through MGT Fan Club membership."  

MI Green Team will provide a wide variety of services but its flagship will continue to be a major spring event in downtown Rochester - the Green Living Festival, to be held in mid-May. Plans are underway to grow the event by moving it later in spring, in an effort to improve chances for good weather, avoid scheduling conflicts (Easter, spring break and Earth Day coincide next year) and appeal to a wider audience. 

Batdorf calls himself a "green soapbox builder" and his intentions are to make MI Green Team and the Green Living Festival his biggest soapboxes yet.

For information on green/wellness products, services and programs, provider and consumer memberships, as well as MGT educational and community events, visit www.migreenteam.com.