Natural Awakenings Chattanooga - July 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

Special Issue

Food Democracy & Inspired Living Veggie Nation Rising Taking Back Our Food Supply Combatting GMOs Manifesting Miracles Purr-fect Pet Sitters

image is courtesy of PlantPure Nation

July 2015 | Chattanooga | NaturallyChattanooga.com

you CAN get here from there 29 Mins

Signal Mountain

Lee Highway

6201 Lee Hwy.

17 Mins

East Ridge

Ooltewah

11 Mins

Cleveland

17 Mins

Ft. Oglethorpe Ringgold

17 Mins

6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga NutritionW.com 423.892.4085

25 Mins

Mercury Free Dentistry General & Cosmetic Dentistry Veneers & Lumineers Crowns & Bridges Digital Technology Dentures & Partials Implant Placement

$1,195

$997

$99

ALL PORCELAIN CROWNS

NEW PATIENT EXAM AND X-RAYS

IMPLANT SPECIAL

Must mention coupon when setting appointment with this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 7.31.15

Must mention coupon when setting appointment with this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 7.31.15

Must mention coupon when setting appointment with this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 7.31.15

Brian Wilkinson, DDS

7613 Shallowford Road | Chattanooga TN | 423.855.4212

publisher’sletter

A contact us Publishers Bob & Melinda Varboncoeur Copy Editor Allison Gorman Design & Production Steffi Karwoth Advertising Sales Bob Varboncoeur 423-667-0980 To contact Natural Awakenings Chattanooga: PO Box 154 Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Phone: 423-517-0128 Fax: 877-541-4350 chattanoogana@epbfi.com NaturallyChattanooga.com

For National Advertising: 239-449-8309

© 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

Follow us on:

nyone who looks in our pantry could be forgiven for thinking we have some kind of weird tomato fetish. There are jars and jars and jars of tomatoes in there—evidence that we once were Gardeners Gone Wild (a far less marketable concept than the Girls version).

Like most out-of-control projects, our garden started out small; we just loved digging in the dirt. We’ve always loved fresh produce and cooking from scratch, and we’ve always suspected that eating synthetic pesticides and fertilizers (and who knows what else) along with our veggies was bad news. But when we moved to East Tennessee in 2002, we had a hard time finding fresh, organically grown produce, and when we could find it, it was expensive. So we planted a little garden and grew our own. And it was good.

Fast-forward a quite few years and who knows how many tomatoes and zucchini and blueberries and even chickens (OK, 18 chickens) later, and there we were, farming. By any measure we were very small farmers, sure. But from January, when we started seedlings indoors, through October, when we were harvesting the last of the fall veggies and pickling and, yes, canning, a big chunk of our time was spent coaxing miracles from the earth and bringing in the bounty. It was gratifying and humbling and, frankly, exhausting. So this year we made the bold decision to downsize.

Fortunately, folks who were even more prolific and apparently less exhaustible than us were choosing to farm for a living. Now there are farmers’ markets popping up everywhere—including down the street from us, and, even better, in food deserts. Fresh, natural, locally grown produce is steadily becoming easier to find and reasonably priced. The farm-to-table mindset is taking hold with local brick and mortar businesses also (the Bluff View Art District is a perfect example—see page 12, and Nutrition World and The Village Market—who sell organic canned tomatoes); we’ll keep that in mind when we run out in 2021).

That trend must continue if we want to live in a “food democracy,” a place where people have ready access to food that is good for them, their local economies and the environment (read more about the concept on page 16). It also is critical to tackling Americans’ serious health challenges, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Grassroots organizations like PlantPure Nation are leading the charge to transform the American diet to a plant-based one that is both nutritious and sustainable. Read “Veggie Nation Revolution,” page 20, and become part of the change. Our lives, and the life of the planet, depend on it.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

4

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

contents 8

6 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs 12 community spotlight

10

Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

12 At Bluff View,

“Farm to Table” 14 businessspotlight Is a Short Walk

by Meg Gorman 20 consciouseating

28

22 wisewords 24 greenliving 26 healingways 28 healthykids 30 naturalpet 3 1 localcalendar 34 classifieds 35 resourceguide

advertising & submissions How to Advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 423-517-0128 or email chattanoogana@epbfi.com. Deadline for space reservation is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

News Briefs & article submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: chattanoogana@epbfi.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month prior to publication. calendar submissions Email calendar events to: chattanoogana@epbfi.com.

Calendar deadline: the 10th of the month prior to publication. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 1-239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 1-239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturallyChattanooga.com NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

14

14 Busy Days Ahead

for Wheeler’s Orchard & Vineyard

16 FOOD DEMOCRACY

By the People, for the People and Toward a Stronger Nation

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

19 Colony Collapse Disorder in the Honey Bee

by Anita Collins

20 VEGGIE NATION REVOLUTION

by Judith Fertig

16

22 JEFFREY SMITH

WARNS AGAINST GMOS

by Linda Sechrist

24

23 Calcium for Osteoporosis “Marketeering at Its Best”

by Charles Adams, MD

24 FOOD GLEANING Harvesting Leftovers Feeds the Hungry

by Avery Mack

30

30 PURR-FECT

PET SITTERS

Make Sure Your Pet Enjoys Your Vacation, Too

by Sandra Murphy

natural awakenings

July 2015

5

newsbriefs Wauhatchie School Announces Unique Summer Camps

W

auhatchie School, located in Lookout Valley, will offer three unique day camps in July: two sessions of “Young Artists in the Wild” for ages 7 to 10 and “Youth Naturalist Corps” for ages 11 to 14.

By exploring the woods, lake, creeks and meadows at the school site, the “Young Artists in the Wild” will be inspired to create works of art through drawing, painting, weaving, printing and sculpting with natural materials. They will also spend time learning to write stories and poetry and will celebrate the beauties around them through song and dance. Both sessions will conclude with a family campfire program of art and music. Sessions are planned for July 13-17 and July 20-24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The $200 cost includes all supplies.

“Youth Naturalist Corps” camp will provide young conservationists various opportunities to apply their passion for the natural world by building and maintaining trails, testing water quality in the lake and creeks, identifying and eradicating invasive plant species, building bird nesting boxes and feeding stations, and working on other projects. They will participate in learning adventures designed to make a difference for the earth. This camp is scheduled for July 27-31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The $200 cost includes all supplies.

For more information and to register for the camps, visit Wauhatchie.com. See ad, page 28.

Learn to Create Sacred Space at Home

H

ome should be a refuge, a place of tranquility, peace and focus. But for many of us, coming home means feeling scattered and overwhelmed, like our work never ends. On July 11, life coach Stacy Castor, PhD, program director for the Center for Mindful Living, will teach “Sacred Spaces,” a workshop offering techniques and tools for creating a calm, welcoming and restorative atmosphere in the home.

“Transforming your home into a peaceful refuge is truly a necessity, given the hectic pace of life, shrinking amounts of green space and quiet time, and the constant onslaught of technology,” Castor says. “Creating a home that literally greets and embraces you can be an important factor in helping to maintain a mindful attitude throughout your day.” The cost for the workshop is $25 for CML members and $30 for nonmembers. To register, visit CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

Castor, “a perpetual student,” has been a therapist, university professor and school psychologist. She has taught workshops on stress, gentle parenting, mindfulness, positive teaching, self-awareness and personal growth, multicultural approaches to education, and discipline.

CML is a nonprofit with the mission to teach and support practices that help people be with themselves and others in the present moment and without judgment. It offers classes and workshops to support developing a world generous with compassion and acceptance. CML is located at 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga.

Contact CML at 423-486-1279 or centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. See ad page 13.

6

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

CHEO Hosts Free Film Screening, Reiki Presentation

C

HEO, the Complementary Health Education Organization, will offer two free events this month: a screening of The Beautiful Truth July 11 at 2 p.m., and its educational meeting July 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring Joy Hosseinian’s presentation, “Therapeutic Reiki in Hospitals.” Both events will be held in the speaker/yoga room of Nutrition World, off Vance Road near Lee Highway in Chattanooga.

The Beautiful Truth is a documentary investigating the Gerson Therapy, which proposes that cancer can be cured through strict dietary management. In the film, a 15-year-old homeschooled boy named Garrett becomes interested in the dietary habits of animals after his mother dies of cancer and his father assigns him a book by Dr. Max Gerson, who asserts that there is a direct link between nutrition and cancer. He embarks on a cross-country road trip, meeting with scientists, doctors and cancer survivors, and concluding that it is in the best interest of the multi-billion-dollar medical industry to dismiss the notion of alternative cures.

At CHEO’s monthly educational meeting, Joy Hosseinian will explain what Reiki is and how it is gaining acceptance as a meaningful and costeffective way to improve patient care.

“Reiki is gaining wider acceptance in the medical establishment,” she says.

Hospitals are incorporating it into their roster of patient services, often with their own Reiki-trained physicians, nurses and support staff. Reiki can accelerate patient recovery from surgery, improve mental attitude and reduce the negative effects of medication and other medical procedures.”

CHEO Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, visit 4CHEO.org.

Signal Mountain Farmer’s Market Every Thursday

T

he Pruett’s parking lot has become a community gathering place on Thursday evenings, as the Signal Mountain Farmers’ Market is in full swing, offering a variety of organic, sustainable and GMO-free produce, cheese and pasture-raised meats and eggs, all from local sources.

The producers-only, farmer-run market is held each Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Its mission is to provide a place where local farmers, producers, crafters and artisans come together to provide a variety of fresh produce and related products directly to the consumer. The idea is to encourage direct communication between consumers and growers and foster social gathering and community building.

Shoppers can pick up healthy food while getting to know the people who grow it.

The farmers’ market is located in the parking lot of Pruett’s Signal Mountain Market, 1210 Taft Highway. It operates year-round, with winter hours from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit SignalMountainFarmersMarket.com or find the market on Facebook and Twitter.

Big Latch On Promotes BreastFeeding Awareness

O

n August 1, the Chattanooga Area Breastfeeding Connection will celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) by co-hosting the Big Latch On, a global grassroots event that encourages communities to show their support of breast-feeding and demonstrate it as a normal part of everyday life.

“During the Big Latch On, families come together to celebrate feeding their children, and we love to make it a fun event,” says Jennifer Scanlan de Salmerón of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. “The Chattanooga Big Latch On will have children’s activities, snacks, vendors, displays from local breast-feeding support groups, and a baby-wearing fashion show. We’ll also try and break the 2013 global record of 14,536 children breast-feeding at the same time.”

Last year, the Chattanooga Big Latch On had 55 participating mothers and around 200 total attendees, de Salmerón says. “There’s a lot of excitement about this year’s Latch On,” she says. “So far, 116 people have already signed up to attend.” The event will be held at Chattanooga Heritage House, 1428 Jenkins Road, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. for the timed “latch on” at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, visit BigLatchOn.org or e-mail JenniferS@HamiltonTN.gov.

PickaPeck of

PrettyPeppers Get the heat here!

Sun. 8am-6pm Mon.-Thurs. 7am-9pm Friday 7am-4pm Closed Saturday villagemarketcollegedale.com 423.236.2300

Restorative Body Therapies

Carol Bieter LMT, CNMT, CKTP

Seeking to Honor, Respect, Nurture, and Restore the Body

Specializing in Sports Massage, NeuroMuscular Therapy, and Kinesio Taping Hours by Appointment

(423) 605 4855

www.restorativebodytherapies.com 243 Signal Mountain Rd., Suite E Chattanooga, TN 37405 Located across from the entrance to Baylor School in Signal Office Plaza natural awakenings

July 2015

7

Essential Oils for Summer’s Bummers

healthbriefs

Social Isolation Linked to Earlier Death

N

ew research from Brigham Young University indicates that social interaction decreases the risk of premature death.

Scientists conducted an analysis of actuarial health research from 1980 to 2014 that included more than 3 million people.

The study found living alone increased the risk of death by 32 percent, while perceptions of greater social isolation and elevated loneliness showed 29 percent and 26 percent increased risks of early mortality, respectively. The results were consistent among both men and women, but the impact of feelings of isolation or loneliness caused a higher degree of mortality risk for individuals under the age of 65.

The mortality rates among the lonely and isolated were comparable to those of individuals that smoked 15 cigarettes a day or were alcoholics. Lead researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Ph.D., further noted, “The effect of this is comparable to that of obesity, something that public health takes very seriously.”

Eating Peanuts Early On Reduces Allergy Risk

P

(CPTG) Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® Essential Oils

8

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

eanut allergies in Western countries have doubled during the past decade. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine may help reverse this trend. Researchers found that introducing peanuts during early childhood can actually decrease the risk of developing a peanut allergy later in life.

The researchers followed 640 children with a high risk of food allergies, beginning when they were between 4 and 11 months old. Half the children were fed peanuts, while the other half were not given any. All were tested for sensitivities to peanuts prior to and at the end of the study period, which averaged five years.

The research found that nearly 14 percent of those that avoided peanuts had a peanut allergy at the end of five years; seven times more than the 2 percent of those that were fed peanuts and displayed subsequent sensitivity.

Mindfulness Meditation Lowers Blood Pressure

R

esearch from the University of Virginia and Emory University has found that just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation a day can significantly reduce high blood pressure among African-Americans.

The research included 15 men with high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease in a crossover study that tested each with 14 minutes of mindfulness meditation and compared that with 14 minutes of blood pressure education during two different treatment periods.

Results showed that practicing mindfulness meditation reduced systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate among the patients.

Stress Ramps Up Inflammation

R

esearch led by Peggy Zoccola, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Ohio University, has found that dwelling upon events that are stressful can significantly increase inflammatory chemicals in the body. The researchers tested 34 healthy young women giving public presentations for job interviews.

Afterward, half were asked to contemplate their performances while the others were asked to think about neutral events and images.

While all of the women initially experienced significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), the levels continued to rise for at least one hour afterward for the performanceruminating group, but returned to normal during the same time period for those that pondered neutral thoughts.

CRP is produced in the liver and is known to rise following an injury or in a chronic inflammatory condition. “The immune system plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, as well as cancer, dementia and autoimmune diseases,” states Zoccola.

Flaxseed Oil Soothes Carpal Tunnel

C

arpal tunnel syndrome is typically accompanied by pain, numbness and reduced mobility in the hands and wrists.

Research published by the Tehran (Iran) University of Medical Sciences in the DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences has determined that the application of external linseed oil—also referred to as flaxseed oil—can reduce pain and increase mobility for syndrome sufferers.

The research tested 100 patients with the condition in two groups—one rubbed placebo oil onto their wrists, while the other applied linseed oil daily over a four-week period. Both groups wore wrist splints at night.

After the treatment period, those that applied linseed oil experienced a significant drop in pain scores using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Function Assessment. The same patients also reported an improvement in mobility and function.

We offer an extensive array of classes to meet your needs.

105 N. Market, Chattanooga, TN 423-266-3539 www.ClearSpringYoga.com

jo@ColmoreFarms.com | ColmoreFarms.com "Be the Beef Whisperer" a local beef a healthy, safe, lean a humanely raised a no steroids or growth hormones a ultimate flavor and tenderness

Grilling time is coming, call to order a quarter, a half or even a whole beef today!

423.309.3490 natural awakenings

July 2015

9

globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Vermont’s Victory Court Rules GMO Labeling Constitutional In April, a federal court denied a request by powerful food industry groups to block Vermont’s landmark law requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods (GMO).The plaintiffs, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association, had sought a preliminary injunction to stop implementation of Act 120, which passed in May 2014 and will take effect a year from now.

U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss’ ruling said that the plaintiffs failed to show that they would suffer “irreparable harm” to warrant an injunction, and that the state had established that the act’s GMO disclosure requirement is constitutional.

“This important ruling affirms the constitutionality of genetically engineered food labeling, as well as the rights of Vermonters and U.S. citizens across the country,” states George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety and counsel in the case.

The ruling came shortly after an analysis by the Environmental Working Group found that industry groups spent $63.6 million last year—triple the amount spent in 2013—to defeat GMO-labeling measures. The general consensus is the Vermont case is likely to go to trial.

Protest Songs

Rocker Neil Young Celebrates Food Democracy with New Album Tour

photo by DFree/Shutterstock.com

Legendary musician Neil Young and his new band, Promise of the Real, featuring Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah Nelson, are calling out agribusiness giant Monsanto’s practices with a new album and summer concert tour. The band’s Rebel Content tour to support their new album The Monsanto Years will kick off on July 5 in Milwaukee and includes Young’s first-ever concert in Vermont, in Essex Junction, on July 19, a state that passed a law requiring food companies to label products that contain genetically modified ingredients.

Young, a longtime critic of big agribusiness, has sharply criticized efforts by the Grocery Manufacturers Association to block the Vermont GMO labeling law.

“Whatever you think of GMOs,” he maintains, “corporations should not be using massive lawsuits to overturn legitimate, democratic decisions that have strong public backing.”

The tour also encompasses Denver, July 8 and 9; Lincoln, Nebraska, July 11; Cincinnati, July 13; Clarkston, Michigan, July 14; Camden, New Jersey, July 16; Bethel, New York, July 17; Wantagh, New York, July 21; Great Woods, Massachusetts, July 22; and Oro-Medonte, Ontario, July 24. Other dates may be added.

Adams, M.D. FullCharles CircleC.Medical Center Amanda Geitz, L.M.T.

For more information, visit NeilYoung.com.

10

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

GMO Gains

Food Supplies Increasingly Under Siege

Fracking Fallout

Waterways, Soils and Animals Poisoned with EPA Approval Surface disposal of water produced by oil and gas drilling is forbidden in the Eastern U.S., but allowed in arid Western states for purposes of agricultural or wildlife propagation. The result: Millions of gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals from oil and gas drilling rigs are pumped for consumption by wildlife and livestock with approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA is issuing permits at nearly a dozen oil fields on or abutting the Native American Wind River Reservation, in Wyoming, for surface application of drilling wastewater without even identifying the chemicals in fluids used for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, let alone setting effluent limits for the contaminants contained within them. Also, monitoring requirements allow water to be tested long after fracking outflow, or maintenance flushing, is completed. The EPA maintains Clean Water Act jurisdiction on tribal lands.

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Executive Director Jeff Ruch states, “Gushers of putrid, grayish water encrusted with chemical crystals flood through Wind River into nearby streams.”

PEER is asking the EPA to rewrite the permits to regulate all the chemicals being discharged and to determine whether the produced water is potable for wildlife and livestock.

Source: Tinyurl.com/Wastewater FrackingUse

Three hundred farmers recently took over the building and interrupted a meeting where the Brazil National Biosafety Technical Commission was deciding whether or not to introduce genetically engineered (GE/ GM/GMO) transgenic eucalyptus trees into their biosphere. These activists and thousands more around the country have halted plans temporarily, but the assault continues by international corporations bent on patenting and controlling the environment itself.

At home, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already approved the first corporate-sponsored, patented, genetically modified tree, ArborGen’s loblolly pine. Despite outspoken public opposition, the USDA approved it with no public oversight nor assessment of the environmental risks it poses.

Grass-fed beef farmers, supplying an alternative that many seek to avoid GMO feed grain, now have to cope with the advent of genetically modified grass.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Monsanto’s exclusive consumer sales agent for RoundUp glyphosate weed killer, intends to conduct field trials at the homes of company employees absent government oversight, because no laws currently prohibit or limit the planting of GMO grass.

In February, the government approved the first genetically modified apple for commercial planting. The Arctic apple is part of a growing list of sanctioned GMO fresh produce, including papaya and sweet corn. A gene within the apple is altered so it resists browning and bruising.

Many people die or go blind from vitamin A deficiency, so the Gates Foundation has funded research by Australia’s Queensland University of Technology to create a vitamin-enhanced, GMO “super banana”. Testing on humans will take place in the U.S. over a six-week period and researchers aim to start growing the fruit in Uganda by 2020.

Sign concerned-citizen petitions at Tinyurl.com/Credo-No-GMO-Trees and Tinyurl.com/Care2-No-GMO-Grass.

What Are Probiotics?

Many think that they are simply supplements that come in capsule, liquid or chewable form, but they can actually be found in various foods, mainly in fermented foods with active live cultures such as yogurt.

Instead of only containing live cultures, Royal Flora is a unique probiotic supplement made up of friendly soil based micro organisms with a proven track record. Learn all about probiotics and Royal Flora to see if they can benefit you by visiting our website below.

www.RoyalFloraHealth.com natural awakenings

July 2015

11

communityspotlight

At Bluff View, "Farm to Table" Is a Short Walk Story and photos by Meg Gorman

Bluff View Herb Garden now grows fruits, vegetables and edible flowers as well as herbs.

A

cross the country, nine-to-fivers probably expect to see the same things upon stepping into their offices: off-white walls, a drop ceiling, fluorescent lighting and—if they’re lucky—an ergonomic chair.

Imagine going to work and finding bunches of fresh kale next to the stack of documents on the paper trimmer.

Or popping into the accounting office and walking out with the invoice you requested and a handful of scuppernong grapes, picked just an hour earlier. Sounds out of the ordinary, I know. But I’m happy to say it’s the norm in my office.

From the Ground Up

This extraordinary work space started back in 1991, when Dr. Charles Portera and his wife, Mary, founded Bluff View Art District. The couple never had a formal plan, but their passion for art, history and cuisine propelled them into the artisan food world, and by December 1994, three Bluff View eateries had come to life.

From a business standpoint, it wasn’t necessary for the restaurants to be authentic—for the breads to be scratch-made and hand-shaped, the

12

Chattanooga

pastas hand-pulled and the chocolates hand-dipped. But for the Porteras, there was no other way to achieve the quality they sought. It was this dream of keeping the art and love of food alive that laid the ground for Tony’s Pasta Shop, Back Inn Café and Rembrandt’s Coffee House.

By the late 1990s, the Bluff View restaurants had grown so quickly that it was becoming difficult to find suppliers who could meet the demands of the booming businesses. Noticing the lack of local produce, Charles Portera took matters into his own hands and started digging.

While he didn’t have the agricultural upbringing of some of his West Point, Mississippi, counterparts, he did have a mother-in-law whose garden put all others to shame. I could say that she taught him everything she knew and that they bonded over the beds, sharing sowing secrets—but that would be a lie. Charles had a competitive spirit, and though he loved his mother-in-law, he wasn’t about to say no to a little friendly competition. I’m not sure who won that contest, but I can tell you that “Doc” has a green thumb to show for it.

Growing in Numbers

“Afta’noon, ladies.”

Doc follows his Mississippi accent into the room. “Yah’ll know now that we’ve got ourselves all kinds of things from the garden—we’ve

NaturallyChattanooga.com

got raspberries, kale, rosemary, chard and those little purple onions, lettuce, oregano …”

That list is just the beginning.

Anyone who’s sipped a mojito at Back Inn, tried the salmon spinach salad at Tony’s, tasted Bluff View Bakery’s famous rosemary olive oil bread or had a fruit cup for breakfast at Rembrandt’s has experienced one of Bluff View’s many homegrown flavors.

This season alone, there are more than 50 varieties of herbs, edible flowers, fruits and vegetables growing in Bluff View Herb Garden.

Before: squash blossoms and wild sushi rice.

And they’re not just growing— they’re thriving. Over the past four years, the garden has provided the Bluff View restaurants with an average of 580 pounds of basil annually.

During peak growing season, nearly 100 percent of the basil used in the district comes straight from the Bluff View garden. That’s all the basil for Rembrandt’s, Renaissance Commons (the Bluff View event hall and meeting space), Back Inn Café and, yes, even Tony’s Pasta Shop. Tony’s tomato sauces, pizzas and pesto would not be complete without its homegrown basil.

The Bluff View principles of “farm-fresh and handmade” didn’t stop at the company’s foundation, and they certainly haven’t been lost on the younger generations. In fact, Back Inn Café Executive Chef Buck Oglesby plans his After: flash-fried squash specials around what’s blossoms stuffed with wild fresh. It may sound like a sushi rice and served with Top Chef challenge, but warm manchego fondue.

A sample of last week’s haul from Bluff View Herb Garden.

By the late 1990s, the Bluff View restaurants had grown so quickly that it was becoming difficult to find enough local produce. So Dr. Portera took matters into his own hands and started digging. this chef isn’t limited to a five-ingredient basket. Just the other day, I was called over to Back Inn to take a look at Buck’s featured fresh ingredient.

“Squash blossoms …?” I gave the large yellow flowers a puzzled look.

“Squash blossoms,” he confirmed, nonchalantly.

I racked my brain for a suggestion to offer him. It wasn’t a minute before he opened his mouth again.

“We’re doing a wild sushi rice inside—confetti rice—with pancetta. A light cornmeal crust, flash-fried. Then a manchego fondue for dippin’ … a little pepper, jalapeño, so it has a bite at the end.”

It later occurred to me that maybe this isn’t some huge food revolution;

it’s just people and businesses and communities working together to find their roots. It’s Buck receiving something that customers aren’t asking for but is in season, fresh and natural, and then finding a way to use it.

Asparagus wasn’t always available year-round, and it used to be that peaches couldn’t be found at the store when there was snow on the ground.

It is not a human right to commandeer nature, to claim its production. But it is a human right to have access to fresh, natural, wholesome food.

For some people, rekindling that relationship with the earth begins on a national level; for others, it’s a local start. For Bluff View, it began with rediscovering what nature could do, appreciating what it gave instead of questioning what it lacked.

Sometimes starting local means starting in your own backyard.

Meg Gorman is marketing coordinator for Bluff View Art District.

you

Do want to help people and the environment while earning cash?

Natural Awakenings is looking for an outgoing, experienced, independent contractor to meet new clients and develop their business.

Ideal candidate is a highly motivated self-starter.

Must Have genuine desire to help others succeed.

Qualifications: * Ad sales experience * Strong verbal and written communication skills * Well organized with solid computer skills

Job Responsibilities: * Prospecting , calling on clients, and account maintenance * Representation at trade shows and events Compensation and Personal Satisfaction Benefits: * Fulfilling work within a supportive atmosphere * Legitimate work-from-home opportunity * Excellent commission

All the district’s eggshells and coffee grounds come here to be turned into compost, natural fuel for Bluff View Herb Garden.

Send your resume and cover letter to

ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com natural awakenings

July 2015

13

businessspotlight

Busy Days Ahead for Wheeler’s Orchard & Vineyard

T

he heat of sumfresh, cooking, premer is still with serving and juicing,” us now, but the Mauldin says. “One cool, crisp breezes of of our favorite apples, autumn are just around which won’t be found the corner. And in in any area grocery the rolling hills of the store, is the Blushing Cumberland Plateau, Golden. It’s a cross about 45 minutes between the Jonathon, from Chattanooga, the which is quite tart, owners of Wheeler’s and the Golden DeliOrchard & Vineyard cious, which is melare already preparing low and sweet.” The for apple season, when result, she says, is a Wheeler’s specializes tangy, firm, crisp apple visitors come from miles around to buy in raw, unpasteurized whose flavor improves fresh-picked apples in storage. “It’s one of cider, squeezed and grapes and sample our favorite apples to the farm’s authentic fresh weekly from a provide our cider with pressed cider. an extra kick.” blend of five or six Every weekend from

The orchard and vineyard were first Labor Day through varieties of sweet planted in 1978, by November, visitors and tart apples.

Wade Wheeler and his to the farm can see nine children. Today the family’s old-time Wheeler’s daughter, Jane Mauldin, runs cider press in operation. Wheeler’s the farm with her two daughters, Ansley specializes in raw, unpasteurized cider, and Rebecca. squeezed fresh weekly from a blend

“This is a third-generation farm, of five or six varieties of sweet and tart and it’s seen many changes over the apples. years,” Mauldin says. “But one thing

The farm’s small vineyard grows that has remained constant is our deep about 20 varieties of grapes, all of and abiding respect for our rich food which can be eaten fresh or used for heritage and the environment that nurpies, juice, preserves and wine. Mauldtures and sustains it.” in says one of the most popular variet-

Apples, Grapes and More

Wheeler’s grows 14 apple varieties, including popular cultivars like Fuji, Mutzu and Gala, as well as traditional varieties such as Winesap, Granny Smith and old-time Golden Delicious.

“All our apples are great for eating

14

Chattanooga

ies is Mars, a large, blue seedless grape that is juicy and sweet. Many of the grape varieties grown at Wheeler’s are Concords, carrying the distinctive, rich labruska (tangy, tart and sweet) taste indicative of native grapes.

“These grapes are picked at the peak of ripeness,” she says. “There is

NaturallyChattanooga.com

absolutely no comparison to storebought grapes.” Some batches of the apple cider have grapes added for extra flavor and nutrition.

A full description of Wheeler’s apple and grape varieties can be found at WheelersOrchard.com.

For the last two years, Wheeler’s has added a market garden to its farming enterprise. Ansley Steinhice runs the market garden, raising mainly heirloom vegetables from seed started in the farm’s small greenhouse. The farm sells popular heirloom tomatoes such as Cherokee Purple and Pink Brandywine, as well as a wide assortment of peppers, squash and herb starts. Wheeler’s fruit, veggies, herbs and cider can also be found at Main Street Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Brainerd Farmers Market on Saturdays, and this year Wheeler’s will be selling some produce at Nutrition World on Lee Highway.

Commitment to Sustainability

Wheeler’s Orchard & Vineyard is in the final stages of becoming Certified Naturally Grown—an alternative to the USDA’s organic certification process, which can be quite expensive, Mauldin says.

“We’re in our fourth season of growing sustainably without the use of synthetics or pesticides,” she says. “It is quite a chore to grow apples and grapes this way in the Southeast, because the heat and humidity make summer diseases a huge obstacle to growing marketable fruit without the use of chemicals.”

When visitors and customers ask what sustainable means—it’s a common question at Wheeler’s—farm staff members explain that sustainable farming involves several key principles: • choosing the right site and location for what you want to grow or raise so that the natural environment works with you instead of against you • understanding the biology of each life system (tree, vine, soil, pollinator,

NA_February2015 Ad:Layout 1

1/8/15

3:25 PM

Page 1

Come See Our Newly Expanded Store!

More Products to Help Serve You Better!

• Vitamins and Minerals • Herbs • Liquid Vitamins & Herbs • Homeopathics • Omega 3 Fatty Acids • And More

disease, pest …) at work on the farm

• Immune Boosters • Weight Loss Supplements • Probiotics • Food Products • Essential Oils • Diffusers • Seeds • Nuts • Teas

Nutritional Support for the Entire Family!

• using “beneficials” like ladybugs as a first line of defense against pests • using cultural practices like summer pruning and soil amendments to strengthen the crops’ natural ability to fight disease • close monitoring to positively identify disease and pests • spraying minimally, using the safest and least harmful products “We don’t spray any products that harm all the insects that do the heavy lifting on the farm, such as wild bees, ladybugs, preying mantis, predatory wasps, predatory mites, butterflies and bumblebees,” Mauldin says. “And that’s just the beginning of the list.”

In short, at Wheeler’s Orchard, sustainable farming means tending the land in a way that respects the health and safety of the farmer, the environment, the consumer—and all the folks who visit Wheeler’s to learn about and enjoy farming as the wholesome and enriching vocation that it was meant to be.

Wheeler’s Orchard is located at 956 Wheeler Rd., Dunlap, TN. For more information, visit WheelersOrchard.com or call 423-949-4255.

423-843-1760 6462 Hixson Pike, Suite 101 • Hixson, TN 37343 (Across from Burks United Methodist, Next to ProTech Automotive)

Hours: Mon-Fri. 10-6 • Sat. 10-2 • Email: familyherb@epbfi.com

STOP WASTING CASH Trade your Goods and Services for what you need

LEARN TO TRADE! GROW YOUR BUSINE$$

ODAY T S U CALL

CHATTANOOGA

“Se Ha bla Es panol ”

423-877-2202 www.tradebank.com natural awakenings

July 2015

15

ness.” This way, “Everyone has the right to decide what is grown or raised in their community, whether animals are treated humanely, if family farmers and other food workers are paid a living wage and can collectively bargain and whether people have access to safe, healthy food—as well as the right to know what is in their food, how it is produced and where it comes from.”

Peck believes that if we want a cleaner environment, healthier people and more vibrant communities, “We need to be citizens that care about bringing democratic accountability, social justice and ecological integrity to all aspects of our food/farm system.”

Local Food Strengthens Communities

Food Democracy By the People, for the People and Toward a Stronger Nation

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

T

o more fully understand the concept of democracy, we can look to some past U.S. presidents.

Abraham Lincoln defined it as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Thomas Jefferson said, “An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.” Harry S. Truman further recognized that “secrecy and a free, democratic government don’t mix.”

By extension, “food democracy” describes a fair and transparent food system in which people have informed choices and control in determining what and how they eat. It’s what happens when we view people as citizens, rather than consumers, and treat food as a human right, reports the Oakland, California-based Pesticide Action Network (PAN).

Kelly Moltzen, a registered dietitian in Bronx, New York, and member of the Franciscan Earth Corps, defines it as having the freedom to make choices about the integrity of our food from farm to plate, so that we can support

16

Chattanooga

the health and well-being of ourselves, the Earth and all organisms that inhabit the ecosystem.

Food Sovereignty Feeds Independence

A PAN report on food democracy describes food sovereignty as the international equivalent of the U.S. movement to re-localize control over our food and farming. It’s rooted in regenerating historically autonomous food systems with, for and by the people.

John Peck, Ph.D., executive director of Family Farm Defenders, in Madison, Wisconsin, explains that the term “food sovereignty” was coined about two decades ago by the globally active La Via Campesina, comprised of family farmers, farm workers, fishing folks, hunters, gatherers and indigenous communities around the world.

“At its most basic,” Peck says, “Food sovereignty is about reclaiming local democratic control over our food/ farm system from corporate agribusi-

NaturallyChattanooga.com

In their report, Deepening Food Democracy, the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), in Minneapolis, describes how U.S. food and farming has increasingly become concentrated, consolidated and controlled by the few.

Local food enthusiasts want to take back their food system from industrial, corporate masters that lobby for legislation which denies citizens the right to know how their food is produced or if it contains genetically modified ingredients (GMO). The growing local food movement is as much about returning power to communities, food workers, farmers and farm workers as it is about producing and distributing healthy, sustainably grown food, reports IATP.

Anthony Flaccavento, an organic farmer in the Appalachian region of southwestern Virginia, has been working on national food and sustainable farming initiatives for nearly 30 years.

In a recent Food Sleuth Radio interview, he described the resulting tremendous, multiple positive impacts of strong local economies, noting that a strong local food system is usually at their center.

“Once you have vibrant, diverse local economies,” says Flaccavento, “you have better health, lower crime and incarceration rates—and more civic participation.” Basically, a more democratic food system could help fix many of the maladies ailing our nation today. The steady growth of farmers’ markets, farm to school programs and

food policy councils prove that Americans are hungry both for clean food and an enhanced sense of community.

While Flaccavento appreciates conscious consumers that support local food providers, he emphasizes, “Just acting locally isn’t enough. We need to re-engage with bigger social and political debates, as well.”

Growing Vegetables and Democracy

In a food democracy, everyone is a stakeholder.

Not only do people have equal access to food, but they’re informed, active, engaged and participating. ~Rose Hayden-Smith, author, Sowing the Seeds of Victory

After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Jenga Mwendo knew she had to leave her high-powered job in New York City and return to her hometown in the devastated Lower Ninth Ward.

“My parents raised me to contribute,” Mwendo explains. “My first name means ‘to build’ and my last name means ‘always progressing’.”

In 2009, Mwendo founded the Backyard Gardeners Network (BGN), a local nonprofit organization that restores and strengthens what had once been a thriving, closely knit, self-reliant community, rich with backyard gardens and citizen engagement. Residents

went to work, recognizing the potential of community gardens to revitalize their neighborhood and bring affordable healthful food to residents, many of them suffering from obesity, heart disease and diabetes. The BGN both revitalized a community garden and converted a blighted lot into a Guerrilla Garden, where people of all ages gather to grow food, share stories, embrace their cultural heritage and learn how to become responsible citizens.

“We bring people together and make decisions collectively,” says Mwendo. “The garden is for our com-

e d a m e m Hometown — Ho By the Slice • 40+ fresh Toppings • Lasagna • Calzones • Garden Salads • Dough made Daily • Whole Wheat Dough • 40+ Beers • Fine Wines • Fresh Mozzarella • Local Produce • Local Beef & Sausage

BEST PIZZA

year after year ...

East Brainerd 1414 Jenkins Rd.

855-4104

Visit us onine at

Now Serving

3 Eat In 3 Take Out 3 Take & Bake 3 Catering

Voted Chattanooga’s

munity, by our community.” Understanding the value of involving children and teens, she adds, “Kids know they will be loved here. This is a nurturing environment.”

Like Mwendo, Stephen Ritz, a top 10 finalist in the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize, is reaching youth through food. Based in New York City’s South Bronx, one of the country’s poorest school districts, he and his students are growing vegetables in school, thereby improving children’s diets, health, school performance and future potential.

“We are contributing to food democracy by making sure every child we touch, regardless of income, zip code and skin color, faith or nation of origin, has access to fresh, healthy, nutritious food that they help grow,” says Ritz.

So far, his Green Bronx Machine community has raised 30,000 pounds of vegetables. “We’re growing justice,” Ritz announced in his March 2015 TED Talk. “My favorite crop is organically grown citizens—graduates, voters and students who are eating [better] and living healthier lives!”

Gluten-Free Pizza!

Downtown Chattanooga 4th & Broad Sts.

Hixson 5504 Hixson Pk.

Cleveland 2382 N. Ocoee St.

Ooltewah @Cambridge Square

266-5874

476-9464

lupi.com

847-3700

602-7499

or scan here with your smartphone: natural awakenings

July 2015

17

Kitchen Gardens Nourish the World

Roger Doiron is the founder and director of Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI), an online global community of some 30,000 people in 100 countries that are growing some of their own food. He spearheaded First Lady Michelle Obama’s White House Garden. Doiron’s campaign to bring a food garden back to the White House (presidents John Adams, Jefferson and Jackson all had edible gardens) began in 2008, went viral, took root and the

Vintage Wine & Spirits 800 Mountain Creek Rd. 423-877-9474

Wine with body, heart and spirit.

Feel good about the wine you drink.

Natural source of antioxidants & resveratrol.

Organic wines available.

Together

we can build

a stronger community!

Support our advertisers!

Thank you,

18

Chattanooga

rest is history. Today, the first lady continues to champion garden-fresh food to improve children’s health.

From his own 1,500-square-foot garden in Scarborough, Maine, Doiron and his wife harvested 900 pounds of organic fruits and vegetables worth $2,200 in a single season. “Talented gardeners with more generous soils and climates are able to produce even more food in less space,” he says, “but maximizing production is not our only goal. We’re also trying to maximize pleasure and health.”

Doiron believes, “Quality food is central to well-being and is one of the best ways to unite people of different countries and cultures around a common, positive agenda.” He’s convinced that kitchen gardens will play a critical role in feeding a growing population faced with climate challenges. On July 4, his organization celebrates Food Independence Day as a way to recognize the role of home and community gardens in achieving self-sufficiency.

ample harvests and foster good jobs for the next generation of young farmers.

As president of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, Gerritsen led a lawsuit against Monsanto in 2011, challenging the validity of seed patents. In a Food Sleuth Radio interview, he explains, “Patented seeds cannot be saved and replanted. To take that right away from farmers was a terrible mistake on the part of the Supreme Court.” Seed ownership belongs to the people; our seed resource is part of our common heritage. “Genetic engineering was an invention to take away from the commons the ownership of seeds,” he continues. “Regaining control of the seed supply is one of the most pressing battles we have in agriculture.” Gerritsen encourages everyone to plant an organic garden using organic seeds and to advocate GMO labeling.

“Let’s let transparency reign, which is a hallmark of a democratic system,” he proclaims.

Saving Seeds, Saving Democracy

Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and nationally syndicated radio host at KOPN.org, in Columbia, MO (Food Sleuth@gmail.com). She advocates for organic farmers at Enduring-Image. blogspot.com.

Jim Gerritsen operates Wood Prairie Farm with his family in Bridgewater, Maine. He’s dedicated to using organic farming methods to protect the environment and food quality, provide

Food Independence Resources Bioscience Research Project BioscienceResource.org

Kitchen Gardeners International kgi.org

Corporate Accountability International StopCorporateAbuse.org

National Family Farm Coalition nffc.net

Fair Food Network FairFoodNetwork.org

National Farm to School Network FarmToSchool.org

Food Co-op Initiative FoodCoopInitiative.coop

Oxfam America “Behind the Brands” BehindTheBrands.org/en-us

Food First FoodFirst.org

The Seed Library Social Network SeedLibraries.org

Food & Water Watch FoodAndWaterWatch.org Food Policy Councils MarkWinne.com/resource-materials

Seed Savers Exchange SeedSavers.org

Food Sleuth Radio KOPN.org

Table of the Earth EatLocalSimpleSteps.com

Food Voices: Stories from the People Who Feed Us FoodVoices.org

Union of Concerned Scientists ucsusa.org

NaturallyChattanooga.com

Colony Collapse Disorder in the Honey Bee

by Anita Collins

T

he collapse of honey bee colonies is a phenomenon that has recently been occurring all over the world at an alarmingly increased rate, for reasons that are not entirely understood. It began in the fall of 2006, when a Pennsylvania commercial beekeeper reported severe losses of what had seemed to be thriving colonies. In the following months, beekeepers from around the U.S. reported as much as 80 to 100 percent losses of colonies. Prior to this, a normal level of colony deaths through the winter was about 10 to 30 percent.

The reason for the collapse was a mystery, as the symptoms of these losses were unlike what is seen with known disease or parasites. The colonies would be filled with bees and then a few weeks later, all of the adult bees—thousands of them—would be gone without a trace.

The colony would still have honey, brood (all stages of maturing worker bees) and sometimes a live queen and a few newly emerged adult workers. These conditions were unlike any commonly seen causes of death of a colony.

With honey and pollen left, they had not starved to death. A normal response to lack of food would have been for the entire colony to flee, but the queen and all the bees would have flown away together and there most likely would have been no immature bees left behind. The presence of eggs and brood meant the queen had not failed. If it had been a killing by recent spraying of pesticide, there would have been a pile of dead bees outside the hive. If severe disease was present, it would have been seen many weeks prior.

The group of symptoms associated with a dead colony came to be called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Within a few months, scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the Department of Entomology, Penn State University and other agencies were hard at work gathering information and samples from dead colonies that fit this description. They took samples of the bees that were left, the honey, the wax, the pollen stored in the wax comb and other components of the hives.

The only thing all of the dead colonies had in common was Israeli Acute Paralysis virus (IBV), named so because it had first been described in Israeli honey bees. The USDA, which has a diagnostic laboratory for diseases and parasites receiving samples from beekeepers across the country, reviewed samples they had from previous years and found that IBV had been in the country for years before these events.

Scientists proposed a number of different causes: Nosema cerana, a new variety of bee dysentery that was more virulent; a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids that was just coming on the market; cell phone signals; lack of good pollen resources; and greater impact of the serious parasite, Varroa destructor.

In the 1970s, there had been problems with a similar loss of colonies, but only in limited areas of Florida. The syndrome, called “disappearing disease” then, was finally attributed to poor quality pollen that lacked the necessary proteins for bees. Poor nutrition wasn’t the case in

the most recent instances of the disappearing bees, as many of the CCD units still had large stores of good pollen in the combs that were left in the hives.

The mystery remained. Considerable research had been done on the two new parasites and a variety of studies commenced on the possible newly found causes. However, none of these agents alone, when introduced to a healthy colony, would cause the same symptoms that were seen in so many of the dead hives. The next step, studying combinations of the causes, is much more difficult and costly, but the work is ongoing.

A chemical analysis of beeswax that had been in hives for many years showed that there was a buildup in the wax of agricultural chemicals of all types. We know from studies of queen honey bees that rearing them in wax cells contaminated with miticide causes the queens to be smaller in size, weigh less and not perform as well as healthy queens when in colonies. Certainly worker and drone (male) bees raised in contaminated wax would also be affected to some extent. Some beekeepers were already removing older wax combs and making the bees produce new wax and build fresh, uncontaminated comb.

Clearly CCD is not due to a single causative agent, but is the result of the buildup of a combination of stresses in a particular colony. So, there is no simple solution. Perhaps one of the new diseases or pesticides are a major contributor, but nonetheless, it is a case of the straw that broke the camel’s back: there is one stress too many for the bees to survive.

Dr. Anita Collins is a retired Research Geneticist from USDA, Agricultural Research Service. Honey bee genetics, colony defense and alarm communication (especially in Africanized honey bees) are her areas of expertise. In addition, she has done extensive work on the cryopreservation of honey bee germplasm (semen and embryos). Currently, Collins is an Adjunct Professor of Entomology at Penn State, and is collaborating on a U.S. Geological Service survey of native bees east of the Mississippi. Her local study area is at Lehigh Gap Nature Center, where she is also President of the Board.

natural awakenings

July 2015

19

VEGGIE NATION REVOLUTION

by Judith Fertig

Family Atmosphere Private Treatment Rooms Individualized Treatment Options

Tough

PAIN? Call Hans Today!

423.855.0745 Therapy Consultants

2255 Center St., Ste. 104 Chattanooga, TN 37421 20

Chattanooga

I

n 1776, the stirring phrase in the U.S. Declaration of Independence—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness— became a rallying cry for American colonists seeking these inalienable rights of self-government. In 2015, those seeking a new way of eating for personal wellness, a more vibrant local economy and a healthier environment are fomenting their own kind of rebellion.

“You have to make a conscious decision to change for your own wellbeing, that of your family and your country,” according to former President Bill Clinton. In early 2010, suffering from heart disease, Clinton chose to radically change his meat-lover’s diet to a more plant-based focus. “I wanted to live to be a grandfather, so I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival,” he says.

Clinton is part of a growing leadership group that espouses a more vegetarian approach to eating, including a federally appointed panel of nutritionists. For the first time since its formation in 1983, the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee this year elected to factor environmental sustainability into its recommendations, noting that a diet lower in animal-based foods is not only healthier, but has less of an environ-

NaturallyChattanooga.com

mental impact. The impetus toward plant-based foods is also stronger than in their last report in 2010.

Exciting Developments

A bold pioneer in the charge for plantbased eating is PlantPure Nation, a grassroots organization founded by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the author of the bestselling The China Study, a book that helped persuade Clinton to make his own dietary change. Today, his son, Nelson Campbell, is at the forefront of this food revolution, most recently producing the independent documentary film PlantPure Nation, set to debut nationwide on July 4.

Those enticed by the delicious concept of better health for themselves and the planet can also turn to The PlantPure Nation Cookbook, with more than 150 plant-based recipes by Kim Campbell, Nelson’s wife, whom he names “the chef in the family.”

“No issue is bigger than the one of plant-based nutrition,” says Nelson.

“It’s at the root of our healthcare crisis, affecting the lives of millions of Americans, the vitality of our economy and the solvency of our government. The food we eat has enormous effects on climate, water and soil resources. Our food choices also affect the way in which

image courtesy of PlantPureNation.com

consciouseating

Hans Humberger Physical Therapy @

food is produced and distributed in this country, equitably or not.”

Historically, political revolutions tend to be violently adversarial, but a food revolution can take a more nurturing and inclusive course. “The first step people can take is to change their own diet,” Nelson says. “The next step is to help others do the same. The third is to get involved in the movement.”

New Fourth of July Barbecue

A fun way to help ourselves and our friends and family consider making dietary changes is hosting a plant-based Fourth of July get-together. Kim’s recipes for a smoky “barbecue” sandwich, creamy potato salad and a zesty, colorful bean dish celebrate traditional picnic foods with a twist. They’re also perfect for potluck-style entertaining.

“We have often branded this idea of plant-based nutrition as such and such a ‘diet’, and then built these brands around personalities. But in order to make this a more mainstream idea, we need to frame it differently. This concept of plant-based nutrition is a fact of nature; a simple idea that’s accessible to all,” says Nelson.

In a 2012 Gallup poll, just 5 percent of U.S. adults identified themselves as vegetarians, plus 2 percent as vegans. It’s a start, Nelson contends, and there are other promising signs. “The local-food movement is blossoming, with farmers’ markets springing up all over the United States,” proclaims the National Geographic special publication The Future of Food (Food.NationalGeographic.com). The number has increased dramatically in the past five years. The editors point to the demand for fresh produce and a desire to invest in local economies as driving this growth.

“I love the idea of a movement involving millions of people fixing a problem that industry and government have largely caused,” says Nelson. “Our success may show a new way forward for solving other pressing social problems.”

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

PlantPure Nation Recipes BBQ Jackfruit

Yields: 4 to 6 servings Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 to 7 hours Green jackfruit, a native plant of Asia, is often termed the vegetarian’s meat.

The hardest part of this recipe is finding canned green jackfruit (available in most Asian markets). Although fresh green jackfruit is occasionally available, it’s messy, sticky and difficult to cut.

Two 20-oz cans green jackfruit in water, drained 1½ cups barbecue sauce 1 onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced (medium pieces) Rinse the green jackfruit thoroughly.

Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker at medium heat for 4 to 5 hours.

Jackfruit will soften, begin to fall apart and take on the consistency of pulled pork. Use a fork to pull apart the fruit and stir thoroughly.

Turn the slow cooker to low heat and cook for another 1 to 2 hours.

Kim’s hints: 4 Customize this recipe with a favorite barbecue sauce that has no added oils and a low sodium content.

4 This recipe gets better the longer it’s cooked. Leftovers are good.

4 Serve the barbecue on a whole-grain bun and top with coleslaw.

Creamy Potato Salad Yields: 6 servings Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes This traditional potato salad has the perfect blend of celery, onions and seasonings.

2½ pounds red potatoes, unpeeled 4 organic celery stalks, thinly sliced ½ red onion, cut in half again and julienned 6 green onions, sliced ½ cup tofu cashew mayonnaise 4 tsp apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp agave nectar ½ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper Cut the potatoes into half- to one-inch chunks.

Place potato pieces in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and boil 5 to 10 minutes; then turn down the heat to medium and cook until tender.

Rinse the cooked potatoes in a colander with cold water until they are room temperature. Place the potatoes in a large mixing bowl.

Add the remaining ingredients to the potatoes and gently stir thoroughly.

Tofu-Cashew Mayonnaise ¼ cup raw cashews, soaked in water at least 2 to 3 hours, then dried 7 oz firm tofu ½ tsp sea salt ½ tsp tahini 4 tsp lemon juice 1½ tsp white vinegar 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 2½ tsp agave nectar 2 Tbsp water ¼ tsp xanthan gum (in grocery baking aisle)

Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender. Blend until smooth and shiny.

The key is to soak the cashews first.

Source for all recipes: The PlantPure Nation Cookbook, by Kim Campbell. natural awakenings

July 2015

21

wisewords

Be Creative: Try New Directions to Inspire Connections

Jeffrey Smith Warns Against GMOs

by Linda Sechrist

J

effrey Smith is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, author of Seeds of Deception and director of the documentary Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives. Smith and his organization’s Campaign for Healthier Eating in America are spearheading consumer rejection of genetically modified foods (GM/GMO) in order to force them off the market.

What basics should everyone know about GMOs?

Advertise in Natural Awakenings’

August Parenting with Presence & Creativity Issue

Genetic engineering is different from traditional crossbreeding. In engineering six major GMO crops—soy, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets and alfalfa—a gene from a virus or bacteria was forced into the DNA of the plants. Derivatives such as soy lecithin, soy protein, highfructose corn syrup and sugar (unless labeled as cane sugar) are in the vast majority of processed foods.

How did GMO foods invade grocery shelves?

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

423-517-0128 22

Chattanooga

Many U.S. consumers mistakenly believe that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves GMO crops only after careful study. Instead, the agency claimed it wasn’t aware of any significant difference from other food crops and declared safety testing unnecessary. In reality, according to FDA documents later made public in a lawsuit, the consensus among FDA scientists NaturallyChattanooga.com

was that GMOs were different and dangerous and needed rigorous, long-term testing to prevent allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems.

When the George W. Bush administration ordered the agency to promote biotechnology as a way to increase U.S. food exports, the FDA responded by creating a new position of Deputy Commissioner of Policy for Michael R. Taylor, a former Monsanto attorney. He later became a Monsanto vice president and is now back at the FDA as the U.S. food safety czar.

Why is Roundup, Monsanto’s weed killer for GMO crops, so toxic?

Monsanto portrays Roundup as a benevolent herbicide. This is a lie.

Glyphosate, its active patented ingredient, alters biochemical pathways in the body. Scientists such as Anthony Samsel and Stephanie Seneff have linked glyphosate to numerous diseases and disorders, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, gluten sensitivity, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, autism and reproductive disorders. In March, the World Health Organization declared it a probable carcinogen.

How can we avoid unlabeled GMO foods?

Eat organic foods, which are not allowed to contain GM ingredients, or products that are labeled non-GMO,

or those that don’t contain derivatives of the current nine GMO food crops, which now include some zucchini, yellow squash and papaya grown in Hawaii or China. Any packaged grocery product not labeled “Non-GMO” or “Organic” is likely to contain at least one GMO; this includes meat and dairy products, from animals that have eaten GM feed.

NonGMOShoppingGuide.com is a reliable resource that lists about 30,000 non-GMO products. A non-GMO diet is recommended by thousands of doctors, as well as the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

What more can “we the people” do to eradicate GMOs? We are in control, not government agencies. I believe that promoting a stronger message—that GMOs are dangerous and should be avoided—would better serve consumers and the food-labeling movement. High-profile campaigns will continue educating consumers about the dangers of GMOs and the necessity of rejecting them in favor of healthier nonGMO choices, especially for children that are most at risk.

The desired result is that food companies will feel the loss of profits and remove GMOs as a liability.

The tipping point in the U.S. is almost here. In 2013, the president of Whole Foods announced that when a product becomes verified as non-GMO, sales leap by 15 to 30 percent. Thousands of natural product brands were immediately enrolled for verification.

Now conventional brands such as Post Foods’ Grape Nuts, Target’s Simply Balanced brand, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Chipotle’s restaurant menu are GMO-free. General Mills stopped using GMO beet sugar in Cheerios. When the rest of the food industry sees these non-GMO-labeled products increase in sales in conventional supermarkets, they will be forced to eliminate GMOs as well, to protect their market share.

Visit ResponsibleTechnology.org and GeneticRouletteMovie.com to educate everyone about the dangers of GMOs. Connect with writer Linda Sechrist at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

Calcium for Osteoporosis “Marketeering at Its Best”

by Charles Adams, MD

I

t’s a common lowest safe miniassumption that mum level by the upping one’s vitamin D gurus,” calcium and dairy he says. intake will help

While diagprotect against nosing a magneosteoporosis. But sium deficiency is Dr. Charles Adams not as simple, he of Full Circle Medisays, a good rule of cal Center says thumb is to take as that assumption is much magnesium false, the product of is your body can “marketeering at its tolerate. “Most best.” adults tolerate

“We are not about 400 mg of calcium-deficient,” The two primary reasons magnesium daily,” Adams says. “As he says. “You are for osteoporosis are a matter of fact, taking too much if Tom Levy, MD, has magnesium and vitamin you get the Milk of recently published Magnesia effect— D deficiencies, and soft diarrhea.” a book, Death by Calcium, with the Adams also drinks and milk contribute following counwarns against to the problem. terculture quote “two huge causes based on solid of osteoporosis: science: ‘The regular intake of dairy carbonated belly-wash—that is, soft and calcium supplements promotes all drinks—and cow’s milk,” both of which known chronic degenerative diseases, leach calcium from bone. A high level and it significantly shortens life.’ Our of phosphorous is the culprit in soft diets have plenty of calcium. The two drinks, he explains, and the calcium primary reasons for osteoporosis are in milk is not “bio-available” to the magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies. bones. “The proteins in the milk suck Eighty percent of Americans are defithe calcium from your bones,” he says. cient in magnesium and vitamin D.” “It’s like trying to quench your thirst by

Magnesium gets calcium to the drinking ocean water.” bone, where it should be, and keeps

Regular sun exposure can comcalcium out of the soft tissues like the plement or even replace vitamin D kidneys (where it causes kidney stones) supplements, Adams says. “If you got a and out of the blood vessels (where it bathing-suit-quality tan yesterday, you causes “hardening of the arteries”), Addon't need vitamin D today,” he says. ams says. Vitamin D activates the bone cells to make more bone.

Charles Adams, MD, practices at Full Circle Medical Center,

There is a good blood test to de4085 Cloud Springs termine whether your body is deficient in vitamin D, Adams says. He recomRd., Ringgold, GA. For more information, call mends between 5,000 and 10,000 IU of vitamin D a day to achieve a vitamin the office at 706-861D blood level between 60 and 100 ng/ 7377 or visit DrPrevent. ml. “A level of 50 is considered the very com. See ad page 10. natural awakenings

July 2015

23

greenliving

FOOD GLEANING Harvesting Leftovers Feeds the Hungry

by Avery Mack

A

mericans annually discard more food than plastic—35 million tons in 2012—an amount that’s tripled since 1960, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most of the waste is fruits and vegetables, seafood, grains, meat and milk. Since waste starts in the fields before it compounds via restaurants, grocers

and families, the easiest starting point to reverse this trend is with farmers.

“Farming’s a high-risk business. Farmers can’t predict weather, sales or equipment problems, so extra is grown,” explains Laurie Caldwell, executive director of Boston Area Gleaners, in Waltham, Massachusetts. “Up to 20 percent of U.S.-grown

food isn’t harvested. Gleaners save what’s left behind for hungry people in need.”

Everyone Benefits

“Income disparity, economic vulnerability and lack of knowledge leads to unhealthy choices,” adds Caldwell.

“The negative consequences become a community burden.” Countering the problem, “We’ve seen a shift in priorities, with food pantries offering fresh, quality food and educating both staff and recipients,” she reports. In 2014, Boston Area Gleaners harvested 34 farms, contributing 177,000 pounds of primarily vegetables encompassing 60 varieties.

California’s fruit is abundant because of the state’s year-round growing season. Until the 1960s and the advent of Silicon Valley, this was the world’s largest fruit-producing region. Some of its current apple trees date back to the Gold Rush days. “We glean backyards and orchards here,” says Craig Diserens, executive director of Village Harvest, in San Jose. “Apples, pears, cherries, peaches, plums and apricots, plus citrus fruits—it’s ladderless picking, to protect both volunteers and trees.” Telescoping tools pluck out-ofreach fruit. The nonprofit gleans 15 to 20 times a month via volunteers ages 5 to 90. In 2013, its Harvesting for the Hungry program distributed 245,000 pounds of fruit.

The Feeding America West Michigan food bank, headquartered in Comstock, provides more than pro-

We have assisted thousands of businesses in North America to increase sales, get new customers, sell excess inventory, both product and service while saving cash.

423-899-1001

Go to www.IMSbarter.com/account/apply Use Promo Code: TN456

Professional Barter.

A Winning Strategy for Your Business.

7429 East Brainerd Rd. Suite C Chattanooga, TN 3721

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY SYSTEMS

Changing the way the world does business.TM

24

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

duce, with donations from manufacturers, wholesalers, restaurants and stores adding meat, dairy, frozen foods and bread. Volunteers repackage donations into usable sizes; do clerical work; pick produce; and sort, pack, store and deliver food.

While most of the nonprofit’s yield is distributed through 1,100 food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens, many can’t store perishables. Working with churches, schools and community centers, the organization’s mobile units deliver fresh food directly to recipients, often the same day it is donated. Each unit can carry food for 100 to 200 families. This local Feeding America outreach group serves an estimated 492,000 people each year.

The Society of St. Andrew often rescues the “ugly” produce—potatoes not well-shaped for chips, oversized peaches, too-long green beans, too-ripe strawberries and apples that aren’t picture perfect. “Farmers get a tax benefit and people get fresh food,” says Bruce Oland, the Triangle Area coordinator in North Carolina. “Farmers let us know when they’ll harvest a

More than 50 million Americans, including 17 million children, experience hunger or the risk of hunger every day.

TheHungerSite.

GreaterGood.com crop and we have a few days to glean what’s left before they replant. We pick anything edible—kale, lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupe and lots of sweet potatoes.” In a single harvested field, volunteers have gleaned seven tons of sweet potatoes.

The society’s gleaning and feeding ministry has regional offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Additional areas are located in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio and Pennsylvania (see EndHunger.org).

Jason Brown, a former St. Louis

Handy Resources Download a free gleaning guide and handbook at EndHunger.org/other.

Request free seeds to plant a First Fruits Garden at WisdomForLife.org/sow-a-seed-1.html.

Get water-saving tips from the University of California, Davis, at Tinyurl.com/GardenWaterSavers.

Rams’ center with a five-year, $37 million contract, traded his cleats for a tractor. Now in Louisburg, North Carolina, he calls First Fruits Farm home and plans to donate the first fruits of every harvest to food pantries.

He learned about farming from YouTube videos, computer searches and other farmers. The first crop on five acres yielded 100,000 pounds of sweet potatoes; Brown gave it all away. With 1,000 acres to farm, he’s set to tackle hunger big time.

It doesn’t require a big time commitment to help feed the hungry. Backyard gardeners can start by planting an extra row (Tinyurl.com/PlantRow ForHungry). Since its inception in 1995, the Plant a Row program has collectively turned 20 million pounds of produce into 80 million meals.

Offer to pick a neighbor’s excess produce or herbs, and then check with others nearby. Get the kids involved.

Volunteer at or make a donation to a soup kitchen. Gather a group of friends, family, members of an organization or congregation to glean or repackage produce one day a month. If a local food pantry can’t accept perishables, leverage social media to spread the word about which day free food will be available at a church or school.

Everyone can help. No one should go to bed hungry.

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com.

natural awakenings

July 2015

25

coverart

healingways

MANIFEST MIRACLES Tap Into the Field of Infinite Possibility

by Deborah Shouse

PlantPure Nation Lady Liberty has a new tagline: a plantbased diet for all. A return to a simple diet based on whole grains, fruits and vegetables is the revolution the founding fathers of PlantPure Nation hope Americans will embrace this Independence Day.

Founded by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the grassroots organization PlantPure Nation seeks to promote the powerful health benefits for people and the planet offered by a whole foods, plant-based diet.

This July 4, the documentary film PlantPure Nation, directed by Nelson Campbell, Colin’s son, will debut nationwide and start screening in more than 100 cities. It covers a broad landscape of issues, from the politics of food to the science of nutrition, and follows the lives of 16 people in Campbell’s small hometown of Mebane, North Carolina, as they take on PlantPure Nation’s 10-day food challenge.

“No issue is bigger than the one of plant-based nutrition,” says filmmaker Nelson. “It’s at the root of our healthcare crisis, affecting the lives of millions of Americans, the vitality of our economy and the solvency of our government.”

Learn more in this issue’s article “Veggie Nation Revolution,” and visit PlantPureNation.com for dates and times of screenings.

26

Chattanooga

“Something amazingly awesome is going to happen to me today.”

T

hese are the first words Pam Grout speaks when she rises every morning before dancing her way into the bathroom. She plays a favorite uplifting tune such as Pharrell William’s Happy or Abba’s Dancing Queen and creates a sassy choreography complete with fist pumps, joyous jumps and a little rhythmic strutting.

Her easy positive actions take no longer than it would to worry, “How will I get everything done today?” and then trudging into the bathroom feeling fatigued and overwhelmed. Plus, Grout’s playful attitude makes a big difference in the rest of the day’s outcomes.

Grout is the author of two internationally bestselling books, E-Squared and E-Cubed. Both offer readers multiple opportunities to experience a disarmingly simple outlook on life.

“There is an infinite force of potentiality in the universe that has our backs and wants to interact with us and guide us,” Grout believes. “There is no absolute reality; we create the reality that serves us and places our attention on what we most want.”

NaturallyChattanooga.com

Letting Go of Doubt

Grout’s journey to a life filled with joy and miracles is ongoing. As a freelance writer, she initially struggled with self-doubt, wondering, “What do I, a kid from Kansas, have to offer a New York City editor?” and came face-to-face with fears about money.

Even though she was earning a decent living, she was recycling her parents’ anxieties about not having enough.

“I’m not good enough” was another party crasher.

When she began studying A Course in Miracles, Grout learned that consciousness creates the material world and the importance of self-compassion. She examined her staunch beliefs, questioning if they were true and letting go of the tiresome stories of inadequacy and worry. She began focusing on life’s blessings and noticed how concentrating on the good made life happier and more dynamic. Then she started to lay out simple intentions such as finding a good parking spot or uncovering a lost object. The results were immediate and intriguing.

This seeker of truth realized that to gain real spiritual growth, she needed to become more deliberate, so she designed a scientific framework, set a clear intention, imposed a deadline and noted the results. “The results were so convincing that I decided to see if my experiments would work for other people,” Grout says. Before long, friends and acquaintances were manifesting all kinds of amazing things, and she decided to write about her theories.

Ten years later, after a steep learning curve in the publishing world, her work became globally acclaimed.

there, but we need to consciously “plug in” to use it.

Grout details powerful spiritual principles that help us make everyday life richer, more meaningful and more fun.

Part of her “new curriculum” includes:

Tapping a Joyful Reality of Miracles

n The universe is limitless, abundant and surprisingly accommodating.

n Reality is waves of possibility that we have “observed” into form. n We are an energy field, connected with everything and everyone in the universe. n Our universe connection provides accurate and unlimited guidance. n Whatever we focus on expands.

“This little book will prove to you once

“Believe in your bones that the and for all that your thoughts have powuniverse is bountiful and supportive,” ener, and that a field of infinite possibilities courages Grout, asking us to first give the awaits your claim,” the author writes in “field” 48 hours to send an unexpected E-Squared. “It will help you rewrite the gift. Don’t specify the gift, but just ask to outdated thinking that drives your life.” receive and recognize the blessing. Set a

Nine easy energy experiments will deadline and then watch what unfolds. prove that the “field of potentiality,” as ditate, r Grout calls it, is dependable, Dreams Come True emoMaking al, me predictable ve thour and available H to e all. She equates our e bdreams oundaareality Making for us iseen ries b twkey connection with the field to plugging in eThe not only possible, it’s probable. a toaster. We know the energy field is is opening our hearts to the beneficent

universe. “If you want to know what will happen in your life, listen to the words coming out of your mouth,” Grout advises.

If we are deluged with negative thoughts, stop and notice all that is right in our world. Ask the universe for help in shedding dark ruminations.

When we replace poor images with positive affirming thoughts, our lives become more magical and enjoyable.

Grout encourages her readers to invoke two words when life feels chaotic and out of control: “It’s okay,” which allows the loving flow of the universe to do the heavy lifting. Concentrating on living our joys equips us to help ourselves and others.

Grout queries, “Since we are creating our reality, why not create the possibilities that bring us closer to our life’s purpose and higher self?”

For more on Pam Grout’s work, follow her inspiring blog at PamGrout.com.

Deborah Shouse is the author of Love

Hope u aLand ndofyoDementia: yinothe ur hapFinding pshe in the Caregiver’s Journey; ineblogs ss at DementiaJourney.org.

Unfamiliar with floating and hyperbaric oxygen therapy and their benefits?

Find out more at: /luciditychatt

/luciditychattanooga

LucidityChattanooga.com

Come experience Chattanooga’s only float & hyperbaric oxygen therapy center!

Memberships Available! 1405 Cowart Street | Chattanooga | 423.903.4138 natural awakenings

July 2015

27

healthykids

ADVENTURES IN NATURE Families Create Memories at Nearby Parks

by Harriet Shugarman

H

ere’s how to entertain the kids, keep them healthy and get them outdoors this summer.

Where to Go

Traveling to iconic natural wonders like the Blue Ridge Mountains, Niagara

Falls or the Grand Canyon isn’t the only awe-inspiring way to captivate children’s attention and help them contemplate nature’s beauties. As Brian Ettling, a seasonal ranger at Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon, likes to remind park visitors, “Find your own

sacred place and keep going there; it could be a wooded area by your house or a county, state or local park.”

Visits to in-state parks are easy to fit into a family’s summer plans and can generate lifelong treasured family traditions. Participating in programs or other exploratory adventures stimulate creative and critical thinking, challenge outdoor and athletic skills and can even teach life lessons.

July is America’s Parks and Recreation Month, first designated by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in 1985. NRPA makes it easy to tap into what’s happening in local parks or wherever family members may be traveling. Events around the country can be found by visiting nrpa.org/july.

What to Do

Biologist Rachel Carson, the mother of the modern-day environmental movement, wrote, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” In this addictive digital age, it can sometimes be challenging to find exciting ways to help children connect with nature.

Jessica Culverhouse, NRPA senior manager and a volunteer master naturalist, offers ways to channel digital

NOW ENROLLING! Summer Camps in July “Young Artists in the Wild” “Youth Corps Naturalist”

Registration begins June 1 for the 2015-16 School Year: Forest Kindergarten Nature Day Camps for Homeschoolers

Visit www.wauhatchie.com for details!

28

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

Parks maintained by a range of entities are jewels to be discovered, cherished and preserved. habits. “Free apps like the electronic field guide Leafsnap and mobile games like Agents of Nature can be great tools to engage kids with the outdoors with their technology still in hand,” she says. Another idea is a simple nature scavenger hunt using a smartphone camera.

If weekend camping is of interest, in-state parks are convenient and also easy on the budget. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) makes the first step easy with tips and suggested activities through their Great American Campout (nwf.org/great-americancampout.aspx). This summer-long celebration of camping encourages everyone to take the pledge to camp, which helps fuel the conversation and initial planning, whether camping in a backyard or local, state or national park.

Last year, the Carlson family took the pledge and first camped out in Big Basin State Park, only 20 miles from their home in Santa Cruz, California. “It was an incredible weekend none of us will ever forget; a world away, but right in our backyard!” they cheer.

Garden for Wildlife, another popular NWF program, connects people with their local habitats. Girl Scout butterfly heroes in Wyckoff, New Jersey, learned how. “Our troop was looking for a way to provide a community service for their bronze award project,” says Wendy Rosica, co-leader of Troop 94686. “We chose to create a Monarch Way Station garden in a new community park in our neighborhood.

Specifically designed as a space for the butterflies to breed and eat during their annual migrations, it’s not only a beautiful addition to the park, but also a positive way for the Girl Scouts to help area residents learn more about the plight of Monarchs and other pollinators.”

National Audubon Society nature centers are an accessible local resource (Audubon.org/audubon-near-you).

Families learn more about native birds and Audubon hiking trails, and naturalist presentations enhance explorations of the region’s habitats. Local native plant and animal species are disappearing at alarming rates and need habitat stewardship by present and future generations (Climate.Audubon.org).

Our in-state parks are wellsprings of life from which children and adults can draw throughout our lives, enabling us to discover the splendor and uniqueness of nature right in our own community and backyard. When we see and

feel directly what’s at stake, we’ll fight harder and more consciously to protect and preserve it. As Carson eloquently observed in The Sense of Wonder, nature can help us all find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

Harriet Shugarman, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, chairs local and regional environmental committees and works with national, state and local organizations seeking pro-environmental legislation.

Connect at ClimateMama.com.

From fun to elegant We service your needs

Dance Floor * Rides & Games * Drape * Frozen Drinks Obstacle Courses * Concession Equipment * Lighting

www.memorableevents.co 423 553 8100

natural awakenings

July 2015

29

naturalpet

Pet Sitters International provides a localized directory and good questions to ask at PetSit.com/locate.

PURR-FECT PET SITTERS Make Sure Your Pet Enjoys Your Vacation, Too

by Sandra Murphy

V

acations bring rest and less stress, a change of pace and for some, a break from caring for the family pet, made possible by a growing number of professional pet sitters.

“I have more peace of mind with a pet sitter rather than a friend. Even if they’ve already had a long day, sitters still properly take care of the pets,” says Christina Pierce, a federal examiner of financial institutions for consumer protection in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Many professional pet sitters are trained to respond to potential health and other issues. Especially with small animals, early recognition of a problem is key.”

Pierce used to have chinchillas, and now has a cat she rescued and relocated from Dallas, Texas, plus two adopted former foster rabbits.

“A sitter may be excellent, but not know your breed,” advises Rae Bailey, a retiree in Georgetown, Texas, who regularly uses sitters for her Scottie when she travels. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions.” She notes that dogs are particularly good judges of character, so if one doesn’t like the sitter, simply try another.

Pet sitting services use a contract to outline rates, what the sitter will do, the number and duration of daily visits, start and end dates and how the house key is returned when the job is complete. Regular clients may have the sitter keep the key handy.

Professional sitters are bonded, insured and backgroundchecked, have experience with a variety of species and breeds, are fairly flexible and love animals. A pre-visit will introduce pets and sitter to each other and address any relationship concerns

30

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

and individual needs, such as medications.

“I had a diabetic Westie, a big consideration,” says Diane Meadows, a retired paralegal in San Antonio, Texas. “It was huge for me to hand over the keys and my trust, but our sitter was dependable and knowledgeable.” During one visit, her sitter also alerted Meadows to a possible propane gas leak.

At the outset, have the sitter meet all the family pets to ensure mutual comfort. Show the sitter where the leash, toys, treats, food and water dishes are kept, supplies for cleanups, the family vet’s location, hours, office and emergency phone numbers and instructions for any security alarm system. Codes can be personalized and deactivated when no longer needed.

Sometimes clients request extra services such as collecting the mail and newspapers, watering indoor plants and leaving lights on.

Both young and older dogs need three visits a day to avoid household accidents. Cats are usually fine with one. “Cats like to be pampered. A friendly sitter provides the care she’s used to, in familiar surroundings,” says Anne Moss, whose educational website TheCatSite.com originates near Tel Aviv, Israel. “Kitty’s more relaxed and receives a higher level of care than at a boarding facility,” she notes.

A pet sitting service Birds, fish, ferrets and offers the added benefit of backups in case the reptiles are species assigned sitter is sick requiring special habitats or delayed. In Huntley, Illinois, Diane Muchow, that dictate a home stay. an adjunct instructor at Computer Systems Institute, explains why she prefers a pet sitting service for her black Labrador mix. “Our first sitter was a one-woman business. One day, she forgot to crate the dogs when she left, and we came home to find the evidence of an accident on our new carpet throughout the house,” Muchow says.

“We switched to a professional service.”

She sees the primary advantage of professional help as dependability and flexibility. “The service has a website to order the shifts we need, which are confirmed by email,” she notes.

“It’s handy when my husband travels and I work.”

A kennel isn’t for all dogs, says Scott Mell, an area manager for JoAnn Fabrics in Affton, Missouri. He recalls his Bernese mountain dog’s first and only trip to the local kennel. Upon arrival, she climbed on top of the car rather than go inside. “She was adamant,” he says. “I hired a sitter the next day. She loved her sitter’s visits.”

Whether pets need special attention, daily walks, a midday backyard break or multiple visits while the family vacations, a pet sitter can provide excellent care. Many owners like to receive daily text message updates and may even e-retrieve bonus selfies of their happy pets from home.

Connect with writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelance Writer@mindspring.com.

calendarofevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by July 10 (for the August issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Email ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

TUESDAY, JULY 7 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 5:45-8pm.

Claudio Barrientos leads participants through the study and practice of Mindfulness Meditation, teaching them how to use it in daily life to help reduce stress, pain, depression and anxiety and facilitate weight loss and better sleep. $325 CML members; $350 nonmembers. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

SATURDAY, JULY 11 Sacred Spaces workshop – 10am-noon. Stacey Castor, PhD, will help participants learn techniques and develop tools for creating a calm, welcoming and restorative atmosphere in their home, an important factor in helping maintain mindfulness. CML members $25; nonmembers $30. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@ gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving. org/register.

Birth Chatt: Standard procedures of pregnancy labs – 10:30-11:30am. Birth Wellness midwives explain standard lab testing of pregnancy: prenatal profiles, titers, hemoglobin, genetic screening, gestational diabetes, group beta strep, newborn exams, heart-defect screening, hearing screening, metabolic screens. Birth Chatt subjects vary monthly. Free.

Inspire Chiropractic, 400 E. Main St. #140, Chattanooga. Info: 423-622-4226 or BirthWellness.com/ birth-chatt.

Free screening of The Beautiful Truth – 2pm.

Documentary investigating the Gerson Therapy, which proposes that cancer can be cured through strict dietary management. Sponsored by CHEO. Speaker/yoga room of Nutrition World, off Vance Road near Lee Highway in Chattanooga. Info: 4CHEO.org.

MONDAY, JULY 13 Young Artists in the Wild – July13-17, 9am-3pm.

Summer camp for children aged 7-10. Explore woods, lake, creeks, meadows; then create works of art using natural materials. Also writing, singing, dancing. Concludes with family campfire. $200 includes supplies. Wauhatchie School, Lookout Valley, Chattanooga. Info: Wauhatchie.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 14 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 5:45-8pm.

Claudio Barrientos leads participants through the study and practice of Mindfulness Meditation, teaching them how to use it in daily life to help reduce stress, pain, depression and anxiety and facilitate weight loss and better sleep. $325 CML members; $350 nonmembers. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@ gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving. org/register.

SATURDAY, JULY 18 Shoden (Reiki I) plus Animal Reiki – July 18-19, 10am-6pm. Margaret Dexter, PhD, Reiki Master/ Teacher. Usui for spiritual growth in Usui Reiki Ryoho tradition. Healing techniques for self, family, animals. Meditation techniques support spiritual awakening. $300 includes class, manual, certificate. $150 deposit at least one week in advance. North Chattanooga. Info: 423-266-6006 or Margaret Dexter.com/reiki-workshops.

Visualization through Guided Imagery & Art – 10am-12:30pm. With Jas Milam, MAAT. Law of Attraction states that we create our external life experiences first in our internal mind’s eye, with which we “see” our future, and then we must hold the vision and its vibration to manifest our desires.

CML members $50; nonmembers $60. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga.

Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindful Living.org/register.

Q n’ Brew at the Chattanooga Zoo – 4:30pm.

Chattanooga Zoo’s annual BBQ tasting and contest.

Beer, live bluegrass music. Ticket includes admission, souvenir cup, 1 free beverage ticket, tasting punch card. Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Info: 423-697-1322 or ChattZoo.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 19 “Therapeutic Reiki in Hospitals” – 2-4pm. Sponsored by CHEO. Free educational meeting featuring presentation by Joy Hosseinian. Speaker/yoga room of Nutrition World, off Vance Road near Lee Highway in Chattanooga. Info: 4CHEO.org.

Energy Balancing – 3:15-5:15pm. With Chitra Gunderson. Energy balancing brings about deep relaxation, helps reduce stress, harmonize emotions and accelerate personal transformation. CML members $20; nonmembers $25. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@ gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving. org/register.

MONDAY, JULY 20 Young Artists in the Wild – July20-24, 9am-3pm.

Summer camp for children aged 7-10. Explore woods, lake, creeks, meadows; then create works of art using natural materials. Also writing, singing, dancing. Concludes with family campfire. $200 includes supplies. Wauhatchie School, Lookout Valley, Chattanooga. Info: Wauhatchie.com.

Mindfulness Camp: A brain-mapping, bubbleblowing, body-bending week of fun! – July20-24, 1-4pm. Designed to foster present-moment awareness, self-compassion, creativity, self-understanding, healthy ways to cope with stress. Art projects, mindful movement, meditation, active listening, mindful eating. $145 per child. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info:

TUESDAY, JULY 21 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 5:45-8pm.

Claudio Barrientos leads participants through the study and practice of Mindfulness Meditation, teaching them how to use it in daily life to help reduce stress, pain, depression and anxiety and facilitate weight loss and better sleep. $325 CML members; $350 nonmembers. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

MONDAY, JULY 27 Youth Naturalist Corps – July27-31, 9am-3pm.

Summer camp for children aged 11-14. Adventures that make a difference for the earth: build trails, test water quality of lakes/creeks, ID plants, build nesting boxes, etc. $200 includes supplies. Wauhatchie School, Lookout Valley, Chattanooga. Info: Wauhatchie.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 28 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 5:45-8pm.

Claudio Barrientos leads participants through the study and practice of Mindfulness Meditation, teaching them how to use it in daily life to help reduce stress, pain, depression and anxiety and facilitate weight loss and better sleep. CML members $325; nonmembers $350. Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Registration: CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

save the date SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Chattanooga Big Latch On – 9:30am (registration); 10:30am (event begins). Chattanooga Area Breastfeeding Connection will celebrate World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) by co-hosting the Big Latch On, a global grassroots event encouraging communities to show their support of breast-feeding as a normal part of everyday life. Children’s activities, snacks, vendors, displays, baby-wearing fashion show. Info: BigLatchOn.org or JenniferS@ HamiltonTN.gov.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Okuden (Reiki II) plus Animal Reiki – Sept12-13, 10am-6pm. Margaret Dexter, PhD, Reiki Master/ Teacher. Prerequisite: Reiki I. Meditation techniques for continued spiritual growth. Three mantras and symbols. Remote healing for people, pets. Training needed to work as a Reiki Practitioner. $350 includes class, manual and certificate. $175 deposit at least one week in advance. North Chattanooga. Info: 423266-6006 or MargaretDexter.com/reiki-workshops.

natural awakenings

July 2015

31

XYLITOL —Advertorial—

More Innovative than Antibiotics The Power of Xylitol Xylitol’s effectiveness in oral health and usage as a sweetener is well-known. New research also shows its usefulness in upper respiratory health. However, people may not know the reason why it is so effective. Xylitol has a unique ability to interfere with bacterial adhesion.

Anti-Adhesion Xylitol’s anti-adhesive effect was discovered by accident in 1996. A British medical journal published a study, which analyzed past research done with xylitol. Researchers found that there was an additional correlation between xylitol and upper respiratory infections—a correlation researchers didn’t see when the studies were performed originally. The 1996 study found that among the children tested in the studies, those who used xylitol chewing gum had 42% fewer ear infections. Researchers performed subsequent research to answer why there was this correlation. These studies supported the discovery of xylitol’s anti-adhesion property.

Xylitol’s anti-adhesive effect interferes with bacteria sticking to tissue. In order for bacteria to thrive, they must attach to the cell membrane. There they metabolize and the body senses the bacteria, it reacts with various responses like congestion, runny nose, against bacterial infections using antibiotics, attempting to kill the bacteria. However, the use of antibiotics produces resistant bacterial strains, which leads to more serious problems.

Xylitol’s anti-adhesive property interferes with bacterial adhesion, resulting in bacteria not being able to colonize and thrive; eventually they are washed out. This is an innovative way to avoid antibiotic resistance. Instead of them to become stronger and more resistant, xylitol doesn’t allow the bacteria to cling to the cell and start its metabolic processes.

Professionals advise people to regularly wash

their hands to prevent illness. But washing with only water isn’t enough; they must wash with soap. Similarly, just as people should wash their hands, they should also wash their nasal passages. A normal saline solution is like washing with only water. Washing with a nasal spray containing xylitol is like washing hands with soap.

Bacteria and People Bacteria, like people, congregate together.

This is called quorum sensing. When people start coming together, they form a town or city. Bacteria act similarly; as they sense other bacterial “city.”

If a group wanted to take over a city, historically they would send in soldiers to subdue the inhabitants so they could then occupy the city. However, there is no guarantee that they would control everyone, and there may be leftover survivors who rally together. But if that particular city were to have an extreme change in environment, the inhabitants wouldn’t be able to cope and they’d have to leave the city. Changing the environment is much more effective in expelling the inhabitants than attacking with soldiers.

Relating this back to bacteria, if we use antibiotics, we are sending in soldiers to between antibiotics and the microorganisms, with both attempting to get stronger. But if we alter the environment in our nasal and sinus passages so that bacteria cannot adhere to the cell surface, and thus thrive, we win the battle.

What are Some of Xylitol’s Applications?

Studies have shown numerous uses for xylitol, many of which deal with its adverse effects on bacterial adhesion. Sinus, ear, and respiratory infections begin in the nose as we breathe in bacteria which attempt to adhere to the cell membrane. With the use of nasal sprays containing xylitol, the bacteria found in the nose cannot stick to the tissue and are to greater probability that they will not infect the body. Nurse Practitioner Sherril Sego, FNPin this aspect. She says, “Saline nasal rinses containing xylitol have been found to be more effective than traditional saline rinses to reduce the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.”

One of the best things about xylitol is that it is 100% natural and 100% safe. It’s no wonder so

Go to xlear.com and look up the patented Xlear Nasal Spray.

ongoingevents sunday Daily Zen Meditation Group – 8-9pm. Led by Rev. Travis Suiryu Eiseman. Donation-based; sitting cushions provided. Includes Zen meditation instruction. Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 619-820-6832, TravisEiseman@ yahoo.com, MovementArtsCollective.com.

Unity of Chattanooga Service – 11am. Discover Unity’s message of positive, practical Christianity, and experience the warmth of God’s unconditional love. 604 Black St., Chattanooga. Info: 423-7557990 or UnityOfChattanooga.org.

Restorative Yoga (Instructor Rotates Each Sunday) – 4:30-5:45pm. Physical and mental restorative session designed to focus on rejuvenating and healing the body through breath and slow, gentle movement. Regular class rates apply. ClearSpring Yoga, 105 N. Market St., Chattanooga. Info: ClearSpringYoga.com or 423-266-3539.

monday Stretch & Breathe Gentle Yoga – 10-11am.

Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-401-8115 or Movement ArtsCollective.com.

minutes of meditation. $5 drop-in. Nutrition World Wellness Center, behind Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-316-9642 or shreynolds@aol.com.

Zumba Fitness classes with Ana Oritz – 4:305:30pm. Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, high-energy dance burns calories for losing weight and getting fit.

Nutrition World Wellness Center, behind Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-3264331 or alexana_23@yahoo.com.

Yin Yoga with Elisabeth Townsend – 5:30-6:45pm.

Dig deeper into long, quiet postures designed to access the body’s connective tissue. The tough, fibrous network that connects all the major systems of the body readily responds to constant, slow pressure with the assistance of props for added comfort.

No experience needed. Regular class rates apply.

ClearSpring Yoga, 105 N. Market St., Chattanooga.

Info: ClearSpringYoga.com or 423-266-3539.

Power Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Energetic range of flowing movement; appropriate for everyone. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-892-4085 or NutritionW.com.

“Pedaling for Parkinson’s” – 6pm. Stationary bike class ideal for people 30-75 years old diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. North River YMCA, Hixson, TN. Free to Y members; $5 nonmembers.

Info: 423-877-3517.

Flow/Restorative Yoga with Mina Chong – 6:15-

Fundamentals with Cecilia Keefer – 10-11:15am.

Start the journey by developing a solid foundation in yoga, with basic postures, proper alignment, breathing techniques and relaxation. No experience needed. Regular class rates apply. ClearSpring Yoga, 105 N. Market St., Chattanooga. Info: ClearSpring Yoga.com or 423-266-3539.

7:30pm. $10 per class or 11 classes for $100. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-503-9351.

Managing Reactions to Traumatic Stress – 6:30pm. Educate self and significant others on the effects of PTSD. Clinic, support group follow workshop. Free. Dr. Savannah JG or Margie Wesley, 6074 E. Brainerd Rd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-883-5463.

wednesday Yoga in Japanese with Mina Chong – Noon-1pm. $8 per class. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-503-9351.

Dojo Chattanooga – Adult Kenpo 1-2pm; Youth Kenpo 4:30-5:30pm; Fitness Kickboxing 5:30-6pm; Warrior Fit 6-6:30pm; Adult Kenpo 6:30-7:30pm; Wing Chun 7:30-8:30pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-267-0855.

Mindful Yoga with Annie Harpe – 5:30pm. $10 per class. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-598-8802.

Evening Mid-Week Unwind Relaxation Meditation – 5:45-6:15pm. Hit the pause button, catch your breath. Join us for a half-hour guided meditation focusing on mindfulness and relaxation. Facilitated

by Yong Oh. Free for members, $5 nonmembers.

Center for Mindful Living, 1212 McCallie Ave.,

Together ...

we can protect this.

Dojo Chattanooga – Adult Kenpo 1-2pm; Youth Kenpo 4:30-5:30pm; Fitness Kickboxing 5:30-6pm; Warrior Fit 6-6:30pm; Adult Kenpo 6:30-7:30pm; Wing Chun 7:30-8:30pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-267-0855.

Learn to be a Massage Therapist – 28-week class at East Tennessee’s oldest massage school. Massage Institute of Cleveland, 2321 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland.

Info: 423-559-0380.

tuesday Dojo Chattanooga – Warrior Fit 12:30-1pm; Wing Chun 1-2pm; Youth Kenpo 4:30-5:30pm; Fitness Kickboxing 5:30-6pm; Warrior Fit 6-6:30pm; Wing Chun 6:30-7:30pm; Adult Kenpo 7:30-8:30pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga.

Info: 423-267-0855.

Photo: Kevin Livingood

Debtors Anonymous meeting – 7-8pm. Get support for money/debt problems by attending the weekly Chattanooga Debtors Anonymous meeting.

All welcome. Unity, 604 Black St. (off Cherokee Boulevard), Chattanooga.

Donate. Volunteer. Explore. www.trgt.org • 423.266.0314

50+ Yoga with Sue Reynolds – 2-3:15pm.

User-friendly yoga for those aged 50+. Flexibility, strengthening, relaxation and renewal of energy.

One hour of breath and movement followed by 15

natural awakenings

July 2015

33

Chattanooga. Info: 423-486-1279 or Centermindfullivingmanager@gmail.com. Register: CenterMindfulLiving.org/register.

Daily Zen Meditation Group –8:30pm. Led by Rev. Travis Suiryu Eiseman. Donation-based; sitting cushions provided. Includes Zen meditation instruction. Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 619-820-6832, TravisEiseman@ yahoo.com, MovementArtsCollective.com.

thursday

fee, crafts, baked goods, dog treats, boiled peanuts, plants, flowers, all from local farms. New location: front lot of Pruett’s Signal Mountain Market. Info: signalfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

Zumba Fitness classes with Ana Oritz – 4:305:30pm. Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, high-energy dance burns calories for losing weight and getting fit.

Nutrition World Wellness Center, behind Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-3264331 or alexana_23@yahoo.com.

Dojo Chattanooga – Warrior Fit 12:30-1pm; Wing Chun 1-2pm; Youth Kenpo 4:30-5:30pm; Fitness Kickboxing 5:30-6pm; Warrior Fit 6-6:30pm; Wing Chun 6:30-7:30pm; Adult Kenpo 7:30-8:30pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga.

Info: 423-267-0855.

All-Levels Yoga with Beth Daugherty – 5:306:45pm. Gentle class focusing on rejuvenating and healing the body through breath and slow, gentle movement. Yoga props are used for safety and to allow the body to fully achieve each position comfortably. No experience needed. Regular class rates apply. ClearSpring Yoga, 105 N. Market St., Chattanooga. Info: ClearSpringYoga.com or 423266-3539.

Walk-In Acupuncture Sessions – 1-6pm. See Monday listing for details. Margie J. Wesley, LAc, Nutrition World Wellness Center, 6245 Vance Rd. Ste. 4, Chattanooga. Info: 423-596-9024 or FourSeasonsAcupuncture.com.

“Pedaling for Parkinson’s” – 6pm. Stationary bike class ideal for people 30-75 years old diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. North River YMCA, Hixson, TN. Free to Y members; $5 nonmembers.

Info: 423-877-3517.

50+ Yoga with Anita Gaddy – 2-3:15pm. Userfriendly yoga for those aged 50+. Flexibility, strengthening, relaxation and renewal of energy.

One hour of breath and movement followed by 15 minutes of meditation. $5 drop-in. Nutrition World Wellness Center, behind Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: NutritionW.com.

Flow/Restorative Yoga with Mina Chong – 6:157:30pm. $10 per class or 11 classes for $100. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-503-9351.

Signal Mountain Farmers’ Market – 4-6pm.

Seasonal produce, eggs, meats, body products, cof-

Is Your BusIness BloomIng?

Daily Zen Meditation Group – 8-9pm. Led by Rev. Travis Suiryu Eiseman. Donation-based; sitting cushions provided. Includes Zen meditation instruction. Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 619-820-6832, TravisEiseman@ yahoo.com, MovementArtsCollective.com.

Body Massage – One full-hour body massage for $25. The Massage Institute of Cleveland, 2321 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland. Info: 423-559-0380.

Hypnobabies childbirth course – Complete six-week natural-childbirth education program includes effective techniques to reduce or eliminate pregnancy discomforts and to remain awake, mobile and in control during childbirth using hypnosis and hypno-anesthesia. Thursday evenings at Inspire Chiropractic, 400 E. Main St., Chattanooga. Space limited to six mothers/couples. Info: Rachel Jimenez, 423-505-2657.

friday

From a distance, many businesses look the same.

Put the focus on your business by advertising in

Dojo Chattanooga – Fencing 4:30-5:30pm ; Wing Chun 5:30-6:30pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-267-0855.

Emotional Freedom Technique at Nutrition World – EFT practitioner Lucille York is at Nutrition World on Fridays to help people use this natural method of improving health by releasing trapped emotions. Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-355-9205 or EmoFree.com.

and you will be seen.

Contact us today!

ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com

423-517-0128

34

Chattanooga

saturday Daily Zen Meditation Group – 6:30-8am. Led

by Rev. Travis Suiryu Eiseman. Donation-based; sitting cushions provided. Newcomers are encouraged to attend an evening session (Wed, Thus or Sun) for Zen meditation instruction. Movement

NaturallyChattanooga.com

Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga.

Info: 619-820-6832, TravisEiseman@yahoo.com, MovementArtsCollective.com.

“Pedaling for Parkinson’s” – 9am. Stationary bike class ideal for people 30-75 years old diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. North River YMCA, Hixson, TN. Free to Y members; $5 nonmembers.

Info: 423-877-3517.

Qigong Level 1 – 9am. With Clare Mills. Montgomery Room inside Center on Main, 320 E. Main St., Chattanooga. Info: 423-643-1980.

All-Levels Yoga with Anthony Crutcher – 9-10:15am. Poses with emphasis on alignment and stability. Breath and mindfulness are key components. This class builds on yoga fundamentals. Some yoga experience helpful. Regular class rates apply.

ClearSpring Yoga, 105 N. Market St., Chattanooga.

Info: ClearSpringYoga.com or 423-266-3539.

Dojo Chattanooga – Fencing 9:30-10:30am; Fitness Kickboxing 10:30-11am; Warrior Fit 1111:30am; Adult Kenpo 11:30am-12:30pm; Wing Chun 1-2pm. Beginners welcome. 323 Cherokee Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-267-0855.

Zumba Fitness classes with Ana Oritz – 10-11am.

Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, high-energy dance burns calories for losing weight and getting fit.

Nutrition World Wellness Center, behind Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: 423-3264331 or alexana_23@yahoo.com.

Prenatal Yoga – Noon-1pm. Movement Arts Collective, 3813 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga. Info: 423-401-8115 or MovementArtsCollective.com.

monthly Free film screenings at Nutrition World – 2pm every second Saturday. CHEO, Nutrition World host free screenings of documentaries focused on holistic health at Nutrition World, 6201 Lee Hwy., Chattanooga. Info: Cathy Burnett at cgburnett1@ comcast.net or 423-322-2614.

classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SPREAD YOUR WINGS - Add a Rejuvenation Studio to your EXISTING beauty, fitness, or health/wellness business. Bring in new customers, gain revenue from several sources, and your customers will love it! For more information, call: 864-569-8631.

help wanted C an ’ t a f f ord to ad v ert ise ?

Interested in distributing Natural Awakenings magazine? Trade your time for that critical advertising you need. Call 423-517-0128 or email ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com.

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in this directory each month, email ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com or call 423-517-0128.

ANIMAL HEALTH CHATTANOOGA HOLISTIC ANIMAL INSTITUTE Colleen Smith DVM, CVA, CVCP Katie Smithson DVM, CVA 918 East Main Street Chattanooga, TN 37408 ChattanoogaHolisticVet.com

Holistic veterinary facility. Certified Veterinary Acupuncturists integrating conventional and alternative therapies for small animals.

Offering Acupuncture, Stem Cell therapy, laser therapy, Prolotherapy, Reiki, Tui-Na, general medicine, surgery, Certified Veterinary Chiropractic, allergy testing, nutrition consultation and food therapy.

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement therapy FULL CIRCLE MEDICAL CENTER Charles C. Adams, MD 4085 Cloud Springs Rd. Ringgold, GA 30736 706-861-7377 DrPrevent.com

Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute 918 East Main St. Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-531-8899 Offering green grooming, including relaxing hydro-massage baths with all-natural EarthBath products. Certified grooming for all canine breeds, as well as cats.

McKAMEY ANIMAL CENTER 4500 N. Access Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37415 423-305-6500 McKameyAnimalCenter.org

Pet adoptions, animal services, lost & found. Adoptions and Admissions: Monday – closed; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday – 11am-5:30pm; Thursday –11am-7pm. Adoptions: Sunday – 1pm5:30pm. Admissions closed Sunday.

Great things are done when men and mountains meet. ~William Blake

Donna Booker, RDA 7613 Shallowford Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-855-4212 ShallowfordSmiles.com

I have 18 years’ experience as a dental assistant making patients comfortable; learning new dental products and equipment, such as the Wand anesthesia machine; and making sure patients have the excellent, ethical care they deserve.

See ad, page 3.

For over a decade, Full Circle Medical Center has continued to help men and women get their youth back by balancing hormones naturally with bioidentical hormones. See ad, page 10.

Environmental Education

Dentistry SHALLOWFORD DENTAL CARE

JO MILLS PET GROOMING

SHALLOWFORD DENTAL CARE

Cindy Surrena, BSDH, Registered Dental Hygienist Licensed in TN, GA, IN, IA 7613 Shallowford Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-855-4212 ShallowfordSmiles.com Thirty-two years providing knowledgeable, gentle dental cleanings to patients. We provide comprehensive exams, low-radiation digital x-rays, dental cleanings, periodontal therapy for gum disease, dietary counseling. We consider patients’ total health using the latest therapies/equipment. See ad, page 3.

TENNESSEE RIVER GORGE TRUST 1214 Dartmouth St. Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-266-0314 TRGT.org

For more than 33 years, TRGT has worked to protect the Tennessee River Gorge as a healthy and productive resource for our community through land protection, education, community engagement and good land-stewardship practices. See ad, page 33.

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM!

zines – a g a ur m vertsing for your bus o r ines ive free ad l s. e d you u If you have reliable transportation Yo give and would like to work with us for a few days at the end of each month We delivering our magazines, then we will trade for ad space in our healthy living publication.

423-517-0128 ChattanoogaNA@epbfi.com

natural awakenings

July 2015

35

Fitness YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHATTANOOGA 301 West 6th St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 423-265-8834

Serving Chattanooga for 143 years. YMCA programs focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility—because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors.

Health Foods and Nutrition NUTRITION WORLD

Ed Jones 6201 Lee Hwy. Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-892-4085 NutritionW.com Located at Lee Highway and Vance Road, Nutrition World offers Chattanooga’s most complete selection of vitamins, herbs, proteins, weight-loss and joint-support products, athletic supplements, alkaline products and other natural health products. See ad, pages 2 & 40.

Health Foods and Nutrition

KINESIO TAPING RESTORATIVE BODY THERAPIES Carol Bieter, LMT, CKTP 243 Signal Mountain Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-605-4855 RestorativeBodyTherapies.com

THE VILLAGE PANTRY Kate Steward 8949 B Dayton Pk. Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 423-451-7460

We sell organic, gluten-free, gourmet and grocery foods.

Our prices are up to 70% off regular store pricing. We stock a wide variety of nonperishable health products.

The Village Pantry offers a selection of international foods and general groceries.

Holistic Dentistry SMILES OF CHATTANOOGA Robert J. Gallien, DDS 4620 Hwy. 58 Chattanooga, TN 37416 423-208-9783 SmileChattanooga.com

Alison Campbell 6462 Hixson Pk. Ste. 101 Hixson, TN 37343 423-843-1760

Family owned and operated for the last 21 years, we provide a wide selection of vitamins, herbs, essential oils, weightloss products, Advocare and many other natural health products for the entire family. See ad, page 15.

Carol Bieter is a certified Kinesio Taping practitioner, having completed all three levels of training and passed the CKTP exam. Currently one of the only certified Kinesio Taping practitioners in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas. See ad, page 7.

Massage school MASSAGE INSTITUTE OF CLEVELAND 4009 Keith St. Ste. 207 Cleveland, TN 37311 423-559-0380

Massage Institute of Cleveland, East Tennessee’s oldest continuously operating massage school. 28-week-long day or evening program. $3,400 tuition includes books.

No-interest payment plans.

VA-approved. Discount massage clinic open to public.

Catering to patients’ personal needs with a whole-body approach. Dr. Gallien offers tests for sensitivities to commonly used dental materials and uses only biocompatible materials to restore beautiful, naturallooking teeth. Offering removal of mercury-silver fillings. See ad, page 39.

Homeopathy THE FAMILY HERB SHOP

Massage Therapy

TOOLS FOR HEALING, LLC

423-899-6288 CustomerService@ToolsForHealing.com ToolsForHealing.com Offering 500+ products including ozonators, far infrared, hand-crafted mountain herbs, organic body care, water and air purification, nutritional supplements, books, gift certificates and energy devices including parasite zappers and more. See ad, page 11.

FOCUS 4 MASSAGE

423 855-4888 Focus4Massage.com On Facebook @ Focus 4 Massage Since 1993, our focus has been helping others with chronic muscular pain in a clinical setting. Several great therapists have joined our team, and we’re growing like crazy. Incredible therapists ~ Great value ~ Let us focus on you.

See ad, page 25.

Integrative Medicine VILLAGE MARKET

5002 University Dr. Collegedale, TN 37315 423-236-2300 VillageMarketCollegedale.com Over 50 years providing natural foods, bulk items, herbs, vitamins and vegan products along with the area’s largest selection of vegetarian meats. Excellent produce, fresh-baked goods and 20,000+ grocery items create a complete shopping experience. See ad, page 7.

FULL CIRCLE MEDICAL CENTER

RESTORATIVE BODY THERAPIES

Charles C. Adams, MD 4085 Cloud Springs Rd. Ringgold, GA 30736 706-861-7377 DrPrevent.com

Work with a medical or naturopathic doctor or energy medicine technician to seek the root of your imbalance. Traditional and alternative medicine, BHRT, weight loss, detoxification, infrared ozone sauna, hyperbaric oxygen and advanced IV therapies. See ad, page 10.

Carol Bieter, LMT, CNMT 243 Signal Mountain Rd. Ste. E Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-605-4855 RestorativeBodyTherapies.com

Licensed massage therapist and certified neuromuscular therapist offers a wide range of relaxation and treatment massage techniques including neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release and Reiki. Certified and extensively trained in sports massage. See ad, page 7.

natural awakenings

July 2015

37

Reflexology

Salons

THERAPEUTIC REFLEXOLOGY

BANANA TREE ORGANIC SALON AND SPA

Kenda Komula 207 Woodland Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37402 423-400-9175

Experienced; certified in Original Ingham Method.

Works on the hands and feet.

Reflexology increases nerve and blood supply and circulation to the whole body, balancing and helping it normalize.

Calming sessions designed for individual needs.

Angela Oliver 1309 Panorama Dr. Chattanooga, TN 37421 423-553-6773 BananaTreeSalon.com Facebook.com/BananaTreeSalon

Healthy, vibrant hair color without the chemicals! Only at Banana Tree Organic Salon.

Enjoy relaxation time in the massage chair during your visit and complimentary drinks.

Reiki Workshops & Private Sessions

MOVEMENT ARTS COLLECTIVE Stacey L. Nolan, MEd Tara Phillips, MSW, MEd 3813 Dayton Blvd.

Red Bank, TN 37415 423-401-8115 MovementArtsCollective.com

The Movement Arts Collective is a studio for dance and yoga offering classes and specialty workshops in belly dance, yoga, prenatal dance, creative movement for children, Zen meditation, and other movement and wellness arts topics.

Wellness Centers

MARGARET E. DEXTER, PhD, SPIRITUAL COUNSELOR, REIKI TEACHER Reiki Chattanooga 1175 Pineville Rd. #124 Chattanooga, TN 423-266-6006 MargaretDexter.com

Yoga

LUCIDITY FLOAT CENTER OF CHATTANOOGA

CLEARSPRING YOGA

105 N. Market St. Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-266-3539 ClearSpringYoga.com Chattanooga’s original studio since 1999, offering a range of classes seven days a week for all ages and abilities. Small class size, personalized attention, beginner-friendly. Come be a part of this vibrant yoga community. See ad, page 9.

Margaret teaches all levels of Reiki, offers private Reiki sessions, Akashic Record Soul Readings and more. Forthcoming book Waking up on a Strange Planet: A Lightworker’s Guide to Planet Earth.

Calendar or website for details.

1405 Cowart St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 423-903-4138 LucidityChattanooga.com Facebook.com/luciditychattanooga Twitter.com/luciditychatt

Improve your health on the psychological and physiological levels at Lucidity. Experience deep relaxation through floating in state-of-the-art sensory deprivation tanks.

Achieve deep cellular healing and prevent illness through hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Reach new levels of health, happiness and satisfaction. See ad, page 27.

advertisersindex Company

Page

Page

Center For Mindful Living...................................................... 13

Nutrition World............................................................2 and 40

Clearspring Yoga....................................................................... 9

Restorative Body Therapies................................................... 7

Colmore Farms.......................................................................... 9

Shallowford Dental................................................................... 3

DoTERRA.................................................................................... 8

Smiles of Chattanooga..........................................................39

Family Herb Shop.....................................................................15

Tennessee River Gorge Trust............................................... 33

Focus Massage.........................................................................25

The Wolfe Clinic/Tools For Healing....................................... 11

Full Circle Medical Center......................................................10

Therapy Consultants..............................................................20

Humane Educational Society................................................10

TradeBank of Chattanooga....................................................15

International Monetary Systems.........................................24

Village Market............................................................................ 7

Lucidity Float Center of Chattanooga............................... 27

Vintage Wine and Spirits........................................................18

Lupis........................................................................................... 17

Wauhatchie School.................................................................28

Memorable Events..................................................................29

38

Company

Chattanooga

NaturallyChattanooga.com

Experience the Difference • Full service dental care.

• No mercury fillings; safe and effective amalgam removal.

• Chemical free dental products.

• State of the art imaging technology to limit radiation exposure.

Robert J. Gallien DDS

Have Questions?

New Patient Special

Redeem for a

FREE

Consultation

$47

Digital Images & Consultation

$205 value. Coupon must be present for redemption.

Focusing on Excellence to Give You a Beautiful Smile

4618 Highway 58 – Chattanooga, TN 37416 423-208-9783 SmileChattanooga.com

Before

After

We focus on excellence to give you a beautiful smile!

100% Assuree Natural health, serious commitment.

Quality and potency are 100% assured on all nutritional and herbal products. Proots are secondary to our commitment to being your guardian for nutritional health and wellbeing. We only oer products that have met the highest quality control standards from manufacturers and we insure through veriication these high standards.

Empower Yourself.

6201 Lee Hwy Chattanooga, TN

(423) 892-4085

nutritionw.com