The first time I was at the Living Seed

The Living Seed at 175 Avenue Road
(under new ownership since 1978)

Somewhere in my archive of photos I have some pictures from that period that I will post, but for now I want to reflect on some stories of those early visits, when my father would pick-up my sister Valerie and myself in buffalo and drive back to Toronto.



I recall some of the details of that first visit to the Living Seed Health Centre then at 181 Avenue Road as being surrealistic; the wonderful aromas when we walked through the back door (entering from the basement), as my father always parked out back. Then up those wooden stairs to the left into the expansive, high ceiling, white kitchen with its rear porch, then into the back book room and finally into the main store; a quaint, inviting place with wooden floors and shelves filled with a fascinating assortments of foods, books and items; the low hum of the display refrigerator against the front wall opposite the entrance. The general ambiance of the place overwhelmed me with a positive energy, a place of healing and solace against the backdrop of the busy city just outside the door. For many, this was no doubt a safe haven of tranquility and enlightenment, while for others no doubt, found it a curiosity.

One of the first people I recall meeting was Devraj, a jolly, gentle, yet humble Indian who in his spare time would use his hands and feet to weave rope belts and was, at least for my sister and I, our first introduction to traditional Indian Cuisine. One evening he cooked a curried rice and potato dish which as I recall, and my sister and I both agreed at the time, that it tasted more like cigar ash then anything edible like curry. We were dead certain that our father had somehow managed to recycle his ash tray into that evenings repast. Of course, now both my sister and I enjoy Indian food with great relish, having overcome that that early dubious introduction. I suppose, upon reflection, in the traditional Indian culture, women do most of the cooking, thus it is not outside the realm of possibility that our dear Devraj never really learned to cook, but he sure gave it his best efforts in any case.

...More stories and recollections later!