Natural Awakenings North Central Florida April 2019

E R F

E

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Earth Day Celebrations & Events

Breaking The Art of Healing ‘Grid-Lock’ Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

April 2019 |

Time to Declare Energy Independence

Sacred Space

Bringing Bliss to Every Room

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letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

W

elcome to April and our annual celebration of Earth Day—a rite of spring that marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement on April 22, 1970.

This is an excellent time to remember that sustainability isn’t a vague, esoteric concept, but a critical factor in our very survival.

The Earth Day Network has chosen to focus this year’s campaign on protection of species to raise awareness of the crucial roles that plants and animals play in the ecosystem and the current threats faced by many of them.

This web of life is inextricably woven into the habitats that form our planet’s life support system. Each link in the chain that is lost or broken—from the smallest microbe to the largest mammal—will have a profound effect on future generations.

And so, sustainability is the watchword of this issue of Natural Awakenings, beginning with the excellent feature “Power Switch: Taking a Home Off the Grid.” Writer Jim Motavalli delivers an in-depth dive into sources of alternative energy, costs, technologies and special considerations—including the availability of government tax credits and the option to make a partial transition to green power without leaving the grid entirely.

What we eat, how and with whom also contributes to the idea that we’re all in this together. Wise Words to that effect can be found in “Ocean Robbins on Personal and Planetary Health,” by April Thompson. Thompson takes this a step further in another article that explores a growing trend across the nation and around the globe in “Potluck for the 21st Century: Breaking Bread, Building Community.”

You will find enlightening and innovative ways to connect with people and the planet on every page of Natural Awakenings and online this month, be it plunging into the woods, establishing a sacred space inside the home, exploring creative art therapies, planting an eco-frienbdly landscape or taking kids on extraordinary outdoor adventures, even if it’s in their own back yard.

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA PUBLISHER Shannon Knight CO-OWNER Dean Schmitt EDITOR Martin Miron DESIGN & PRODUCTION Martin Friedman

Chelsea Rose CONSULTANT Cathy Culp

CONTACT US P.O. Box 4903, Ocala, FL 34478 Ph: 352-629-4000 GoNaturalAwakenings.com GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available for $24 (for 12 issues) email the address above.

Digital subscriptions are free visit our website to sign up.

NATIONAL TEAM CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth

MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

Happy Earth Day! Be sure to check out some of the local Earth Day events!

Be well in love and peace,

© 2019 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. 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.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Shannon

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings of North Central Florida is a faithful steward of global resources.

We are delighted to be a part of an environmentally conscious community and therefore manufacture this magazine utilizing the environmentally-friendly cold-set web printer process which emits virtually immeasurable VOC's into the environment. The product is 100% recycleable.

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November 2015

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Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 13 GENTLE WATERS

15

Making Healing Hydrotherapy More Accessible

15 EARTH DAY

SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES PROTECTION Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

16 POWER SWITCH

20

Taking a Home Off the Grid

18 NATIVE INTELLIGENCE Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

19 SACRED SPACE

Bringing Bliss to Every Room

20 OCEAN ROBBINS

On Personal and Planetary Health

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22 POTLUCK FOR ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 352-629-4000 or email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

24 THE ART OF HEALING Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 8 health briefs 9 film brief 10 global briefs 12 eco tip 13 business

spotlight 18 green living 19 inspiration 20 wise words

22 conscious

eating 24 healing ways 26 calendar 30 resource guide 31 classifieds April 2019

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news briefs

Attention All Classic Auto Junkies

T To promote the Religion, Science and Philosophy of Spiritualism Psychic Medium Spiritual Development Classes The Villages/Belleview April 9th 10th 23rd Gainesville April 6th

he annual Hot Cars and Cool Cats Spring Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 20, at the home of David and Sue Nassivera. There will be custommade trophies, raffle table, 50/50, vendors, music and great food. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS), in Citra.

EARS provides a permanent home for unwanted or abused endangered animals and rescues animals that are in need of help. From tigers, lions, cougars, bears and primates, EARS has them all. They rely entirely upon public support through donations to stay in operation. There are many ways to help, from donations of cash, materials, labor, purchasing EARS gear and sponsoring one of the many residents at EARS. Spectators are admitted free. All cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome with $10 show entry fee. Location: 2250 NE 70th St. (Hwy. 326), Ocala. For more information, call Sue at 352-266-2859 and visit EarsInc.net. See ads, pages 11 and 26.

See Website for details.

Check our complete program on the website.

www.ifsk.org ~ 407-247-7823

Free Wasp Removal Helps Science Inquiry

G

ary Fritz, “the yellowjacket man”, is offering to remove wasp infestations from private homes at no cost to further his research into developing and producing protection against their sting for those that have severe allergic reactions to the venom. Fritz holds a Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida and has been removing the nests for more than 17 years. He says, “Venom immunotherapy is the closest thing to a cure, and is 97 percent effective in preventing future allergic reactions.”

Fritz is investigating the genetics of social behavior in yellowjackets, particularly those that have multiple queens. In Florida, some nests can grow to more than nine feet tall and envelop trees and parts of corners of buildings, with hundreds of thousands of stinging insects. Fritz notes, “We still don’t know what leads a nest to become a huge, perennial colony with multiple queens, but I think that understanding the genetics of their social system will help us get the answer.”

For more information, call 1-866-852-9317. See ad, page 9.

Spiritual Dancing in Fort McCoy

A

Dances of Universal Peace Day Retreat with Maitreya and DiAnahita, of the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace, will begin at 10 a.m., April 6. Doors open at 9:15 a.m., with a meet-and-greet until 9:45, followed by dancing, walking the labyrinth and paddling on the lake. A potluck is held at 6 p.m.

Attendees can expect to meet people interested in spiritual development, sing mantras of world religions and participate in gentle dance movements in a circle. Everything will be taught in the moment by world renowned Sufi teacher and dance leader Maitreya and certified dance leader and hostess, DiAnahita.

Cost is $100 donation plus vegetarian potluck dish; children are admitted free. Location: Dancing Peacock Paradise, Fort McCoy. Address and directions sent with RSVP to FLRetreats@gmail.com. For more information, visit PeacockParadise.org.

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photo by © Dr. James Castner

Orlando April 28th

Holistic Health Fair at Nadi Om Wellness

N

adi Om Wellness, Pure Energy Nutrition and LightWork Therapies will present the 2019 Raise Your Vibration Holistic Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 27. Participants can ask questions, visit with the practitioners, watch demonstrations and try healthy samples. At 9:30, there will be a free Mindful Movement QiGong class with Nancy Reich.

Hosts Grace Beck, owner of Nadi Om Wellness, Nicole Hester, owner of Pure Energy Nutrition, and Reich, owner of LightWork Therapies, will showcase Chiropractic Care with Dr. Randy Bryant; All the Essentials—Three essential oils for Spring; PranaRX—What’s Kombucha?; A Honey of a Thing, with beekeeper Heather Elliott; CBD Benefits, with Dr. Ginger Hoffman; and Ayurveda & Nutrition, with Grace Beck.

Location: 6158 SW Hwy. 200, Ste. 204, Ocala (in the Jasmine Plaza). For more information, call 352-525-0247, email Info@ NadiOmWellness.com or visit NadiOmWellness.com.

News to share?

Submit information to GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com

mission

statement

To empower individuals to live a healthier lifestyle on a healthier planet.

To educate communities on the latest in natural health and sustainability.

To connect readers with local wellness resources and events, inspiring them to lead more balanced lives.

Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

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April 2019

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The heavy use of household cleaning disinfectants may contribute to changes in infant gut bacteria and weight gain, reports a new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. University of Alberta researchers collected fecal samples and studied the gut health of 757 babies between the ages of 3 and 4 months; then restudied the children at 1 and 3 years old. They found that children in households that used disinfectants at least once a week had higher body mass index (BMI) scores and elevated levels of Lachnospiraceae, gut microbes linked in other studies to insulin resistance and metabolic disorders. Babies in households that used vinegar or other eco-friendly cleaners had lower BMI scores and much lower levels of a family of bacteria that includes E. coli.

By mixing food additives with human gut microbes in petri dishes, scientists at the Czech Republic’s Institute of Microbiology found that gut microbes with antiinflammatory properties were highly susceptible to being harmed by additives, while microbes with pro-inflammatory properties were mostly resistant. “We speculate that permanent exposure of human gut microbiota to even low levels of additives may modify the composition and function of gut microbiota, and thus influence the host’s immune system,” wrote the authors.

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Household Cleaning Products Affect Babies’ Guts and Weight

Gut Susceptible to Food Additives

Smoking Bans Lower Blood Pressure Non-smokers that live in areas that have banned smoking in public spaces such as restaurants, bars and workplaces have lower systolic blood pressure. In a Northwestern University study reported by the American Heart Association, blood pressure readings of 5,115 adults ages 18 to 30 in Birmingham, Chicago, Minneapolis and Oakland were taken over a 30-year period and correlated with changes in local laws that banned public smoking. A meaningful decrease in systolic blood pressure readings was found in non-smokers when no-smoking laws were enacted, indicating a reduction in heart disease risk.

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health briefs

Sperm counts have plunged by half in the last 40 years among American and European men, according to a recent review of scientific studies. In a new doubleblind study of 56 infertile men, researchers at Iran’s Qazvin University of Medical Sciences found that curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, can boost sperm counts.

Each day for 10 weeks, half of the men took 80 milligrams of curcumin nanomicelle, in which curcumin is better absorbed; the other 28 were given a placebo. The researchers found that the curcumin significantly boosted sperm count and motility.

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Curcumin Boosts Fertility in Men

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Sugary Drinks Linked to Kidney Disease

film brief

Drinking lots of sugar-sweetened sodas and juices significantly increases the risk of chronic kidney disease, reports a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Using health questionnaires for 3,003 African-American adults in Jackson, Mississippi, covering a 13-year period, the researchers found that the top third of subjects, those consuming the most sugar-sweetened drinks, were 61 percent more likely to develop kidney disease than those in the bottom third.

Netflix Series Reveals Its Fragile Beauty

Probiotics Ease Bipolar Disorder Research on 66 patients with bipolar disorder found that patients receiving probiotic supplements were three times less likely to be rehospitalized than those given a placebo.

The study from the Sheppard Pratt Health System, in Baltimore, gave half of discharged patients a placebo and the other half a capsule containing two probiotics, Bifidobacterium lactis (BB-12) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). Within 26 weeks, 24 of the 33 people that received the placebo returned to the hospital, but only eight of the 33 on probiotics were readmitted. The probiotic treatment was especially effective for those experiencing considerable inflammation, say researchers.

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Stress May Be Worse in the Evening Acute, late-day stress may be harder on our bodies, say researchers at Japan’s Hokkaido University. They measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in 27 young, healthy volunteers, and then put them through 15 minutes of stressful events that included making a speech and doing mental math. Half of the volunteers were tested two hours after awakening, the other group 10 hours after awakening. The subjects’ levels of cortisol, which helps provide the body with energy in the face of a perceived need for fight or flight, rose strongly in the morning, but not in the evening, suggesting that the human body is more equipped to deal with stress early in the day and becomes more vulnerable later.

Our Planet

Ten years after the groundbreaking documentary Planet Earth, an eight-part sequel, Our Planet, shows even more rapturous scenes of our planet’s most precious species and fragile habitats. Premiering globally April 5 on Netflix, it was filmed during four years in 50 countries across every continent, involving more than 600 film crew members and 3,500 days spent in such habitats as the remote Arctic wilderness, the vast landscapes of Africa and the diverse jungles of South America.

The series, narrated by world-renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, is a joint venture of Netflix, the World Wildlife Federation and Silverback Films, whose director Alastair Fothergill was the creator of the critically acclaimed original Planet Earth and Blue Planet series.

“Our Planet will take viewers on a spectacular journey of discovery showcasing the beauty and fragility of our natural world,” says Attenborough. “Today, we have become the greatest threat to the health of our home, but there’s still time for us to address the challenges we’ve created, if we act now. We need the world to pay attention.”

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

April 2019

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Worldwide Worry

global briefs

Under final rules released by the current administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national labeling standard for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) completely exempts foods made with highly processed ingredients grown with GMOs, including sugar made from sugar beets, high-fructose corn syrup and refined soybean and canola oils. The change will allow 78 percent of products containing GMOs to avoid disclosure, according to the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Companies don’t have to comply until January 1, 2022, and the new labels will use the term “bioengineered” instead of more common identifiers like “genetically engineered” or “GMO”. Small businesses, to-go food prepared at grocery stores, and meat, eggs or dairy from animals that are fed GMOs, which involves virtually all livestock not certified organic, are exempt from the labeling requirements.

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GMO Labeling Diluted

Over Dose

Citrus Crops to Receive Human Antibiotics

Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressed concern over a recent ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that opens the door to widespread use of the antibiotics streptomycin and oxytetracycline to spray commercial citrus crops. The antibiotics, which are often used on people, can kill insects that transmit a bacterium that causes citrus greening, which renders fruit small and bitter. But the EPA ultimately ruled that the economic benefits outweigh concerns about antibiotic resistance and potential harm to the environment, people and wildlife. The USDA says the amount of antibiotic exposure to people who eat fruit or juices still will be far less than what people are exposed to when prescribed antibiotics by their doctor. The antibiotics will have to be sprayed repeatedly over years just to keep the trees alive and producing fruit until they succumb to citrus greening. Public interest groups are protesting the action.

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Muddled Message

Environmental risks are the top three concerns among the 1,000 global decision-makers surveyed in the latest Global Risks Perception Survey of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

For the third straight year, “extreme weather” ranked first, followed by “failed climate change mitigation” and “natural disasters”. The survey was part of a WEF annual report produced in advance of the recent confab of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland. The World Bank has calculated that the real cost of natural disasters to the global economy is $520 billion per year.

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Environmental Risks Register as Top Threat

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Fuel Folly

Nuclear Waste Disposal Remains Elusive

A new report issued by environmental watchdog Greenpeace details the growing global dangers of accumulating nuclear waste that will remain hazardous for hundreds of centuries. Several of the designated storage facilities in the seven countries surveyed are nearly filled to capacity now.

Unresolved safety issues across the industry include fire risk, venting of radioactive gases, environmental contamination, failure of containers, terrorist attacks and escalating costs. More than 65 years after the start of the civil use of nuclear power, 250,000 tons of highly radioactive spent fuel exists in 14 countries, and underground storage, seemingly the most viable option, has encountered major obstacles.

Balancing Act

Endangered Species on the Rebound

The Endangered Species Act seems to be working, with more than 75 percent of marine mammals and sea turtles protected by the act recovering, according to a new peer-reviewed study by scientists at the Center for Biological Diversity published in the academic journal PLOS ONE. North Atlantic green sea turtle nests on Florida beaches have increased by more than 2,000 percent and Hawaiian humpback whales more than 1,100 percent between 1979 and 2005.

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eco tip

Healthier Dry Cleaning

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Non-Toxic Ways to Lower Risks

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Chemicals used in dry cleaning clothes have long been linked to health concerns for both people and the environment. Perchloroethylene (“perc” for short) is most commonly used in this process. Federal regulatory agencies have documented myriad negative effects from exposure to the petroleum-based solvent.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration links it to dizziness, blurred vision, loss of coordination and other nervous system effects, including memory loss. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls perc a likely human carcinogen “by all routes of exposure.” The EPA also warns that the chemical can leak into the ground, contaminating water supplies, and react in the air to form smog, which has been associated with respiratory effects.

Earthtalk.org suggests there are safer alternatives through products and processes used by independent “green” dry cleaners nationwide.

These include a biodegradable liquid silicone—essentially liquefied sand—which doesn’t chemically react with fabric fibers. It’s safe to use on delicate garments like beads, lace, silk and cashmere, and won’t cause

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shrinkage. GreenEarthCleaning.com includes a store locator function.

Another good option is wet cleaning, whereby fabric is laundered in a computer-controlled washer and dryer that uses water—along with specialized soaps and conditioners instead of solvents—and spins its contents much more slowly than a typical home washing machine.

Because wet cleaning is free of hazardous volatile organic compounds like those in perc, it eliminates health and safety risks, as well as environmental hazards associated with traditional dry cleaning, according to GreenAmerica.org. As an added benefit, the equipment and operating costs are lower. While the biggest disadvantage to wet cleaning is that it produces waste water, it’s still a highly energy-efficient method.

Another method is liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning, in which some commercial cleaners use the pressurized gas in combination with other gentle cleaning agents to dissolve and remove dirt, fats and oils in clothing instead of using perc; or consider simply handwashing delicate clothes and fabrics in a mild, non-toxic detergent, and then hanging them outside to dry.

business spotlight

Gentle Waters

Making Healing Hydrotherapy More Accessible

by Martin Miron

G

entle Waters Colon Hydrotherapy Center, open since 2004, focuses on colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonics. Owner Dawn Brower is a licensed massage therapist and a licensed colon hydrotherapist. Business manager and co-owner Jennifer Ford is in charge of marketing.

Brower explains, “While I was attending the Florida School of Massage, I was introduced and experienced colon hydrotherapy. Once having the colonic, I knew that I had to bring this service to Gainesville. In the beginning, we offered a variety of services, including massage, Aqua Chi and far-infrared sauna, but I realized we needed to concentrate on colonics. We now have two LIBBE colonic tables so we can better accommodate our clients.”

“We are the only colon hydrotherapy center that uses the LIBBE equipment, which is a newer technology.’ Says Brower.

“The open system allows for the client to release when they are ready, versus the old closed system, where the therapist is in the room controlling the release. As far as I know, Gentle Waters is the only facility offering the open system within 120 miles of Gainesville.”

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They recently added cannabidiol (CBD) products, which in combination with colonies, help many clients with inflammation and pain, and conduct educational events on the benefits of CBD oil derived from cannabis.

The International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy heightens the awareness of the colon hydrotherapy profession and ensures continuing and progressive education in the field of colon hydrotherapy. “I have been part of the healing community for 15 years and love what I do, helping so many with their health issues,” says Brower.

“I have been told that our location is warm and welcoming—not so sterile and cold.

I am comfortable and knowledgeable of what I do and in return, 1 am able to make clients comfortable and relaxed. I am also known as the ‘gut whisperer!’”

Colonies and enemas are not the same thing. An enema is the procedure of introducing liquids into the colon, causing uncomfortable bloating and cramping and resulting in peristalsis and evacuation.

Enemas only clean out the lower part of the colon, missing about four feet of the organ. By contrast, colonics involve the gentle inflow and outflow of warm water that slowly dissolves accumulated toxic

material and encourages release naturally, without undue stress on the system. Colonics clean the entire colon. Typically, one colonic will move some of the stagnant waste and following session will continue to remove more.

“Colon hydrotherapy is all we do, so we can focus on the issues and challenges facing your body because of the toxicity inside,” says Brower. “We never wanted to stretch the services too far, because we wanted to be able to stay focused on detoxing the body.”

She notes, “Our colon health is very important, but it is very difficult to spread the word about human waste and colonics, and that it isn’t a big, scary monster—getting people to not be afraid to talk about their bowels and that there is no need to be embarrassed—letting them know that this isn’t the old type of machine and that things are much more comfortable, private, odor-free and antiseptic. There are lots of wonderful things to teach the community.”

Gentle Waters Healing Center is located at 1215 NW 23 Ave., in Gainesville. For appointments and more information, call 352-374-0600 or visit GentleWatersHealing.com. See CRG, page 30.

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EARTH DAY SPOTLIGHTS SPECIES PROTECTION Is the Focus of 2019 Campaign

Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. Newberry Rd., Newberry. For more information, call Sandra Cashes 352-472-1142.

Central Florida Earth Day

by Ronica A. O’Hara

O

n April 22, eco-conscious citizens will come together again in communities across the country to celebrate Earth Day and work for the planet’s healthy, sustainable future. This year, the Earth Day Network (EDN) is asking people to join its Protect Our Species campaign to raise awareness of the crucial roles that plants and animals play in the ecosystem and the current threats faced by many of them.

The nonprofit cites that the world is facing the greatest rate of extinction in 60 million years because of human activity, including climate change, deforestation, habitat loss, trafficking and poaching, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides. But the good news, EDN says, is that the rate of extinctions can be slowed, and many of our declining, threatened and endangered species can still recover if we work together now.

This will necessitate a united global movement of consumers, voters, educators, faith leaders and scientists that demands immediate action.

EDN is asking people to advocate for government policies that protect species and their habitats, and to continue to build on the worldwide efforts that embrace the value of nature.

It is also asking people to undertake such individual actions as adopting a plant-based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use. More information, including

such as, Plants for Pollinators, Invasive Exotic Plants, Building a Bee House, Protecting Our Creeks, etc.

The annual Heritage Nursery plant sale features heritage plants which have been grown for decades in the Dudley flower gardens, and many species of native plants.

They have 250 longleaf pine seedlings to give away (one per family) til they are gone. Please be ready to plant your seedling.

teach-in toolkits and facts on threatened species, from whales to insects, can be found at EarthDay.org.

Help North Central Florida celebrate and promote progress in species sustainability efforts by participating in these local Earth Day 2019 events.

UF Campus Earth Week April 1 through 6

For more information, visit Sustainable.ufl.edu.

Santa Fe College Party for the Planet

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 13 and 14 This event is perfect for the whole family to explore the zoo and participate in fun activities such as crafts, face painting, training demonstrations, keeper talks, animal encounters and more with local conservation organizations in front of the zoo and delicious food trucks. Visit with the animals, chat with the zookeepers and learn about fun ways we can all enjoy and conserve nature. Make sure to stop and meet some of our animal ambassadors and chat with the zookeepers.

Admission varies. Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville.

For more information, call 352-395-5601

Earth Day & Heritage Plant Sale 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., April 20 They will have tables on various topics

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 20 Earth Day is a family-friendly, dog-friendly, alcohol-free and smoke-free event.

Earth Day, a vegan event now in its 14th year, is the biggest and best Earth Day festival in Central Florida.

Admission is free. Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.

High Springs Emporium Earth Day Celebration

11 a.m to 6 p.m., April 27 Plant exchange, creating a crystal earth grid.

Admission is free. 19765 NW Hwy 441, High Springs. For more information, call 386-4548657 or visit HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Tree Fest 2019

Noon to 11 p.m., April 27 Solar Impact, Inc. and Swamp Head Brewery have teamed up for the fifth Tree Fest, which celebrates the environment by raising money to plant trees with the Alachua Conservation Trust in an event that features food trucks, family-friendly activities, live music and Swamp Head beer. Five trees will be planted for every beer purchased during Tree Fest, 20 trees for every Tree Fest T-shirt bought, and all sponsor donations will increase our tree planting. The trees are 1-year-old longleaf pines and will be planted by the Alachua Conservation Trust at the Little Orange Creek Preserve in Hawthorne.

Admission is free. Swamp Head Brewery, 3650 SW 42 Ave., Gainesville.

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It’s turned out to be one of the best investments we’ve ever made—financially and environmentally.

Power Switch Taking a Home Off the Grid

by Jim Motavalli

J

esse Stafford and Alyssa Craft quit their jobs in 2015, bought five acres of remote land far away from utilities and began building their 36-foot-by-36-foot timber frame home from scratch. Next up was a septic system, then a clean water source and, of course, alternative energy.

Their rooftop solar panels are backed up by a reliable Honda generator.

They had some setbacks, which is to be expected. Now they’re blogging about it. “We didn’t want corporate jobs, we didn’t want to live in the city, commute to work or have a mortgage payment,” they write in their online homestead journey at PureLivingForLife.com.

Off-the-grid living has become downright fashionable, especially for the eco-conscious. But leaving the rat race isn’t easy, and it’s not for everyone. Yet, anyone that wants to become more energy-independent can succeed without moving to an isolated cabin; and there’s never been a better time, because prices keep coming down and technology keeps improving. Choosing the best option depends on several factors, including the specific residence, climatic zone, town and neighborhood.

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Preliminary Considerations Power source: Choose from among

solar ($12,000 to $50,000, depending on the system’s size), wind ($6,000 to $22,000, including installation) or geothermal ($20,000 to $25,000).

Ample resources: Find out if there’s

steady wind, plentiful sun, a place to install geothermal pipes and whether the home is properly oriented for solar without obstruction by trees or tall buildings.

Electricity needed: Get a quick average

by adding up the wattage of all appliances, and then add 50 percent. The American average is 10,000 kilowatt-hours annually, although frugal folks can make do with less.

The local utility company can also estimate energy needs based on past usage.

Realize that alternative energy doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

For instance, a solar system doesn’t have to power the whole house. A smaller and cheaper array with battery backup can be connected to essential services like the water heater, refrigerator and electric stove, with the grid handling heavier loads. Ad-

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vantages are lower upfront cost and access to the grid when needed.

Connecting to the grid makes sense for all alternative power sources, because wind and solar are intermittent, and don’t always provide power. Also, most states offer net metering, which requires the local utility to pay for the electricity a homeowner puts back into the grid.

Solar: Plunging Costs Solar panels for electricity, usually made of silicon, consist of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into direct current (DC). Their cost has come down dramatically in recent years. In January, the average solar panel cost $3.14 a watt, a bottom line of roughly $18,000 with a six-kilowatt system big enough for most homes. The price fell 6.5 percent from January 2018, reports EnergySage.com, a solar vendor pricing source. A federal tax credit covers 30 percent of the cost, so the out-of-pocket cost for a system would be approximately $13,000 if installed before year’s end, when the full residential tax credit is available. Partial tax credits will be available until they are phased out in 2022.

Ron Blumenfeld, a retired doctor in Fairfield, Connecticut, serves on his town’s sustainability task force and “went live” with his rooftop installation six years ago.

“It’s turned out to be one of the best investments we’ve ever made—financially and environmentally,” he says.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working toward residential solar to generate power at just five cents per kilowatt-hour by 2030, which means it will be far cheaper than grid electricity.

Consumers can either buy a system outright or—as a popular alternative—lease the system with no upfront costs. Leasing companies like SolarCity (now part of Tesla) pioneered this approach, in which consumers agree to buy electricity from the system installed on their roof.

Herr Loeffler/Shutterstock.com

~Ron Blumenfeld, a six-year solar convert in Fairfield, Connecticut

Worldpics/Shutterstock.com

Whether to add the extra expense of battery backup is important. A pair of Tesla Powerwalls will cost about $14,000 installed and store enough electricity to power a home for seven days. It’s suitable for people looking to go off the grid because the sun doesn’t always shine, and power generated on sunny days can be stored and used when it’s overcast.

Off-the-grid solar is not just for those living in sun-rich states. Installers can look at a property—often remotely, through applications like Google Earth—and determine if solar is appropriate. Sometimes a few trees will have to be sacrificed, but the benefits are manifold, and not just because there will be power during grid blackouts.

Wind: If the Resource is Right Wind power accounted for the largest share of renewable energy growth in 2017, reports the International Energy Agency, but it’s in its infancy for homeowners, partly due to an average cost of $48,000 to $65,000 per installed project. Residential turbines have been installed in all 50 states, but many parts of the U.S. have marginal resources. Check the Department of Energy wind resource guide for local data at WindExchange.Energy.Gov.

The best-case scenario is strong winds plus few neighbors close to a large property (and lenient zoning laws). Wind may work for the 19.3 percent of the population that lives in rural areas and the 21 million American homes built on properties of an acre or more.

However, it isn’t for everyone. James Weston, of Greene, Maine, installed his turbine 10 years ago, and considers his rooftop solar panels a better investment. “By the time you put up your 100-foot tower to get the tower above the tree line and optimize the wind resource, the return isn’t there,” he says, noting that his savings from the turbine amount to a few hundred dollars a year.

Bergey WindPower, maker of the 10-kilowatt BWC Excel 10 turbine ($31,770), recommends that a property have at least a 10 mph average wind speed, coupled with high electricity prices of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or more. Also consider the neighbors: The system’s turbine is typically installed on an 80-to-100-foot tower, and so-called “viewshed” objections

Residential wind power is in its infancy in the U.S.

have taken down many projects (including Cape Wind, in Massachusetts).

With annual maintenance, the DOE reports that small wind turbines should last about 20 years, the same basic lifespan as solar panels. The federal production tax credit for wind is available this year, but won’t be available afterwards. Some states offer incentives. A useful small wind guidebook can be found at WindExchange.

Energy.gov/small-wind-guidebook.

Geothermal: Available Anywhere

Some common misconceptions about home geothermal are that consumers need to live in one of the planet’s “hot spots” (think Iceland, California or Utah). But the truth is the Earth’s temperature just below the surface almost anywhere is a constant 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Northeast and Midwest have the highest geothermal adoption rates.

Geothermal doesn’t necessarily require a large piece of property. Local geology will be a factor in siting and sizing the system.

Geothermal systems use underground pipes filled with refrigerant that absorbs warmth from the ground through a heat exchanger. In summer, that same underground temperature can be tapped to cool

a home, combining heating and air conditioning in one system.

While it necessitates a relatively high upfront cost, low operating costs mean the systems can pay for themselves in less than 10 years. Most include a ground-source heat pump with a 50-year warranty. For a 2,500-square-foot home, an average offthe-electrical-grid system will cost $20,000 to $25,000 to install. Bill Martin, in Quincy, California, runs an efficient three-ton geothermal system installed in 2014. “It’s been a very good experience,” he says. “I’m ecstatically happy.”

The same 30 percent federal tax credit that applies to solar also applies to geothermal for systems installed by 2020. States also provide incentives. A detailed guide on availability is available at Tinyurl.com/ GeothermalHeatPumpListing.

Special Considerations

Buildings, especially older structures, are usually sieves in terms of energy loss, so before investing in a system, check to see if the local utility provides free energy audits.

Even if it’s not free, it’s worth finding out if the home needs new windows or strategically applied insulation.

There are scammers in every field, and alternative energy is no exception. Ask providers for references to previous customers and check for online cautions from the Better Business Bureau, Yelp and others.

Alternative energy in any form can save money and precious resources. Explore the options thoroughly and choose wisely before pulling the plug.

Jim Motavalli, of Fairfield, CT, is an author, freelance journalist and speaker, specializing in alternative energy, clean automotive and other environmental topics. Connect at JimMotavalli.com.

If a Stream Runs Through It

P

roperties with moving water have a fourth sustainable power source available to them: hydroelectric.

If opting to harness the energy in a nearby flowing stream or river, 10-kilowatt microhydropower systems can power even large homes. They combine piping from the water source to a turbine, pump or waterwheel with an alternator or generator, regulator and wiring.

According to Home Power magazine, a fully installed hydro system for the average use of a modern household might cost $20,000 to $100,000.

April 2019

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MAY

green living

Coming Next Month

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Healthy Vision

Plus: Mental & Emotional Well-Being

NATIVE INTELLIGENCE WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

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Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

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by Avery Mack

aintaining a grassy yard or ornamental shrubs can be time consuming and less than ecofriendly. That’s why conservation-minded gardeners are turning to lush, native landscaping as an aesthetically pleasing alternative to spartan, water-free xeriscaping.

Native plants not only save water, they enhance local ecosystems by providing food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies and wildlife. “Indigenous plants build healthy soil and retain and replenish ground water,” says Michael Fleischacker, chair of landscape architecture and environmental sciences at Delaware Valley University, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Accustomed to the climate and nutrients in their habitat, they don’t need the extra fertilizer required by exotic transplants. Natives are also better equipped to fend off harmful insects, reducing the need for pesticides.

“When pests did show up, I used insecticidal soap and neem oil. Both are great ecofriendly remedies,” says Kimberly Button, an Orlando-based freelance journalist and author of The Everything Guide to a Healthy Home: All You Need to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Hidden Household Dangers.

A genuine indigenous plant in the U.S. predates European settlement. These natives grew in the wildlands of the regions where they evolved and adapted over hundreds or thousands of years.

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However, what’s wild isn’t necessarily native. These days, the woods and forests are rife with alien species that escaped from non-native gardens or were planted to perform some specific purpose that went awry.

Kudzu, for instance, was imported from Asia and installed along roadways to prevent soil erosion. The perennial vine, which can grow up to a foot per day, has become the plague of the South, rooting out native plants and toppling trees under the sheer weight of its smothering foliage.

In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a report summarizing numerous studies that concluded that non-native plants disrupt the food web and present a growing problem for “organisms that depend on native plants for food, shelter and places to rear their young.”

Natives vs. Nativars

While the harm caused by many invasive plants that evolved in a foreign habitat is well-documented and profound, the ecological impact of plant variations derived from native species—known as cultivars or nativars—is sometimes more subtle.

Cultivars have been developed to highlight specific traits, like larger blooms or longer bloom times. They may be bred for a stronger scent, or have the scent bred out of them in pursuit of another trait, making them less enticing to pollinators and wildlife.

FotoHelin/Shutterstock.com

Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth. ~Michael Fleischacker

One drawback to cultivars is what those “improved” traits can affect. “The native serviceberry (Amelanchier) has small, bright red berries birds love to eat,” Fleischacker says. “Because they add color to a winter yard or are used for wreaths and décor, cultivars were bred to produce larger berries. Birds choke on the bigger berry, unable to swallow them.”

A current, multi-year research project at the Mt. Cuba Center’s native botanical gardens in Hockessin, Delaware, is seeking to determine whether certain cultivars are as attractive to insects as their native counterparts.

What’s certain, say the experts: A gardener can’t go wrong with indigenous plants. “Native varieties have longer growing seasons, a decades-long lifespan and tight plant groupings to prevent weed growth,” Fleischacker says. Despite the perception by some that natives are boring, they can be showier than their cultivar cousins and also thrive in their region’s unique conditions.

“I keep my yard as natural as possible to co-exist with my neighbor, the Hiawatha National Forest, and its small animals and birds,” says Monica Cady, co-founder of the Herbal Lodge and a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa tribe in Hessel, Michigan.

Going Native

Transitioning to native landscaping isn’t as daunting as it might seem. Small changes can make a difference, and local plant nurseries can assist. Some may have a staff horticulturalist to help distinguish the natives from the nativars and to steer gardeners clear of invasive, water-guzzling, nutrient-needy non-natives that will spread quickly and overwhelm the landscape.

Going native isn’t an all-or-nothing proposition, says Fleischacker. “Consult a local nursery or landscaper about adding natives to the mix. There are plants that love shade or sun, dry areas or damp.”

When planning, look past what’s trendy. “The ecosystem is set up to protect and promote beneficial insects and pollinators,” says Button. What was old can be new again.

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

photo by Kimberly Button

inspiration

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES Tinyurl.com/GardeningWithNativePlants Tinyurl.com/AboutNativePlants Tinyurl.com/NativePlantFinder Tinyurl.com/NativePlantsForPollinators Tinyurl.com/ChickadeesAndNativeTrees

SACRED SPACE Bringing Bliss to Every Room

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by Maya Whitman

acred space is most often associated with places of worship, but it can be any place that connects us to meaning or joy.

In the blur of daily living, nooks of inspiration and beauty provide spiritual sustenance, remind us of our dreams or celebrate lovely memories. Having “bliss corners” in the home or workplace is a wonderful way to stay connected to the positive.

Most parents or grandparents can confess to having a bliss corner on the refrigerator door where drawings and accomplishments of young family members are proudly displayed. Having a place of inspiration in any room doesn’t have to take up much space and can easily add to the décor. It can be as simple as a wedding veil hanging on a bedroom wall or a bowl of shells, sea glass or sand from a beach vacation in the bathroom. It can be sentimental with dried flowers from a momentous occasion or a small table dedicated to loved ones with framed photos or letters and a piece of cloth that holds special memories.

Corners of bliss fulfill their purpose best in places where they can remind us to follow our heart’s “true north” or help us to foster inner peace during busy days. Such places are office desks and bedroom nightstands near an alarm clock. The kitchen is an ideal room in the house for sacred space; designating a corner to light a candle during meal prep; filling an old teapot with fresh flowers every week; and displaying the photo of someone who once nourished us are all beautiful ways to bring more meaning into our relationship with food.

Cultivating bliss can be a form of active meditation, simple rituals that can include prayer or other forms of mindfulness. On more practical levels, it can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Creating a bliss corner can be a creative and fun activity for teens to express a passion, whether it be a hobby, sport or favorite singer. Many of us have boxes of mementos or nostalgic things from childhood taking up space in a closet. Making a bliss corner is the perfect way to remind us why we kept them in the first place.

Maya Whitman writes about natural health and living a more beautiful life. Connect at Ekstasis28@gmail.com.

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wise words

Ocean Robbins on

by April Thompson

F

ood revolutionary Ocean Robbins has dedicated his life to inspiring others to rethink their food choices to transform both personal and planetary health. It’s a path forged in part by his father, John Robbins, who walked away from the family ice cream company, BaskinRobbins, to become an acclaimed health advocate and author.

Together, father and son founded the 500,000-plus-member Food Revolution Network, an online education and advocacy platform that works for healthy, sustainable, humane and delicious food for all. Ocean launched Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!) at age 16, and directed the organization for 20 years.

Ocean’s new book, 31-Day Food Revolution: Heal Your Body, Feel Great, and Transform Your World, aims to help individuals revamp their diets, and in turn, themselves and their communities.

It distills his lifetime of knowledge and wisdom on food, health and activism into an accessible how-to guide. Learn more at 31DayFoodRevolution.com.

What connections do you see between personal and planetary health?

In many situations in life, we have to compromise—but when it comes to food, the 20

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choices that are best for us personally also happen to be best for the planet. Eating a plant-based diet, organically grown when possible, is not only linked to the best statistical outcomes for long-term health and well-being, it also helps ensure healthy topsoil, water and a stable climate for future generations.

In what ways have you seen members of the Food Revolution Network transform their communities?

We hear incredible stories from members all over the world who are seeing radical changes in their health—reversing heart disease, losing weight, gaining energy and mental clarity. And we also hear inspiring stories of people turning food deserts into wonderful oases of healthy living; for example, Ron Finley, in South Central Los Angeles, who is known for saying that drive-throughs kill more people than driveby shootings in his neighborhood.

He planted vegetables for the community in the curbside dirt strip in front of his home—and got cited by the city for it. He ended up getting the laws changed, and has since started The Ron Finley Project to create an urban community food hub where the community can come together to plant, learn and nourish themselves.

photo by Lindsay Miller

Did you know that the Florida School of Massage hosts a Six Level Certiication course in Traditional Thai Massage? Do you want to learn a transformational and prootable healing modality that promotes the health and longevity of the practitioner as well as the recipient?

Personal and Planetary Health

In many situations in life, we have to compromise—but when it comes to food, the choices that are best for us personally also happen to be best for the planet. ~Ocean Robbins

High Springs Emporium North Central Florida's ONLY Rock

Shop The most unusual store in town Rocks, Crystals, Gifts, Jewelry

Welcome in the color of Spring!

What are some ways busy people can connect with like-minded individuals to support healthy lifestyle and diet changes?

Start by finding out if you have loved ones who do share your food values, and nurture those relationships. Lean into those healthy relationships; you might be surprised how many people around you are also quietly trying to achieve similar goals.

You can also ask friends and family to be a food ally; even if they are not a full participant in your health regimen, they might be a fan or friend. That can mean preparing particular foods if you come for dinner or simply checking in on how you are doing with your goals and commitments.

You can widen your circle of healthy eating through meal swaps or other shared meal programs. It’s always easier to cook in larger quantities, and there is the added benefit of greater social connection with shared meals.

If you are looking for new friends and allies, it helps to connect to organizations that are already promoting healthy food hubs. There are many listed in the back of 31-Day Food Revolution.

So many people struggle with loneliness, and some are afraid they will feel even more isolated if they step out into a healthy eating regimen. On the contrary, you can become a magnet for people who care about their world and aren’t content with the status quo. These friendships can often become deeper and more valued than ever.

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in living a lifestyle against the societal grain, and how have you overcome it?

Impatience. I grew up eating all-natural food; my parents almost named me Kale, and I ate a lot of it growing up. At a certain point, I saw that I had become judgmental and dogmatic when encountering people whose choices did not align with my own, though as Martin Luther King Jr. said, we have no moral authority with those who can feel our underlying contempt. I have since developed a profound respect for each individual’s unique values, needs, experiences and priorities.

I advocate for people’s right to make their own choices about what they need. My goal is to help facilitate people’s choices, and to do so with compassion.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

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spring Visit us at NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com

April 2019

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~Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes

POTLUCK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Breaking Bread, Building Community

by April Thompson

A

mericans are eating alone more than ever, with adults going solo for nearly half of all meals, according to consumer research consultants at the Hartman Group. Yet, fellowship-minded foodies are bucking the trend by finding new and unique ways to bring strangers, colleagues and friends together for healthy, home-cooked meals.

Meal sharing not only builds community and camaraderie; it can also save time and money and minimize food waste.

Eating with others can also encourage mindful consumption, a boon to physical and mental health. A number of emerging ideas and platforms from around the block to across the globe are helping singles and families young and old connect over food.

Linking Diners Through Technology “I wanted to find a place to create more meaningful conversations and meet new people than bars where people often meet up, and thought home is that place. Who 22

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doesn’t like dinner parties or potlucks?” says Jared Gold, co-founder of MealTribes, in Washington, D.C.

Within two years, MealTribes has grown to more than 200 members that can host or join potlucks via a private Facebook group open to area residents in their 20s and 30s. To encourage participants to be fully present, the group encourages guests to leave their phones in their bags.

Instead of strict food do’s and don’ts, MealTribes encourages attendees to bring a contribution that makes them proud. However, guests are discouraged from bringing alcohol in lieu of a food dish to avoid it becoming the focus of the table.

“Lasting friendships and business opportunities have come from our potlucks,” says Gold. “Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario; nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.”

Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing, in Chicago, got the idea for the

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“Airbnb of meals” after seeking out a home-cooked dinner while backpacking in Cambodia. He was invited to a farm feast in the countryside, connecting with local hosts over great conversation and delicious food. “I returned home wanting to find a way to use technology to recreate that serendipitous moment,” says Savsani.

Today, the platform uses technology to connect curious diners with affordable, home-cooked meals in 150 countries. “The concept is open; we encourage hosts to make whatever they believe in,” says Savsani. “That can be a top chef serving nine-course meals or a simple spaghetti someone offers for a few bucks or even free.”

Savsani says the meal becomes secondary to the deeper social interactions that can manifest through these gatherings. “We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better.”

Organically Grown Gatherings Lilia Fuquen, who directs the Food and Community project in Virginia, participates in several gatherings intended to nurture community through food. Fuquen’s project aims to bring people across the state together to document, celebrate and share traditional, contemporary and emerging foodways, initiating a deeper conversation about and the connections between food, place, culture and community.

Last fall, the project convened more than 200 people around a feast celebrating indigenous foods, people and foodways in Virginia. The meal was prepared from locally farmed and foraged ingredients representative of the diverse native culinary traditions of the region, including greens,

Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Even skeptics have come away from events feeling like they got the best-case scenario: nice people, homey environment, with good food and conversation.

conscious eating

Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com

We even got an inquiry from a local fire department interested in hosting meals to get to know people in the community better. ~Jay Savsani, co-founder of Meal Sharing mushrooms, wild rice and fish sourced from fields, forests and streams.

On a more grassroots level, an intergenerational family potluck dinner

“helps create community and a sense of family among people who often live far from blood relatives,” says Fuquen, who lives on a small farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia.

The workplace can also be a great place to break bread together, says Fuquen. Her office enjoys hosting the Souper Club, where co-workers each bring a key element like salad fixings, a loaf of bread or a pot of soup to enjoy together—away from their desks.

Rebecca Shaloff, a fundraising consultant in Washington, D.C., has participated in work lunch swaps, which she says promote camaraderie, new food discoveries and healthy eating. She also takes part in a closely knit monthly supper club of four young families in her neighborhood.

“We all value each other’s friendship and company, but there’s something about coming together for dinner that makes us feel more like family than friends,” Shaloff says.

Every drop in the ocean counts. ~Yoko Ono

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

E-mail—catcrone@aol.com Phone — 352-595-3377 Website — www.cronescradleconserve.org

Kohlrabi — $3.00 Radishes — $3.00/lb Pak Choi — $3.00/lb

Available Naturally Grown Winter Vegetables Carrots — $3.00 Spring Mix Lettuce—$6.00/lb Swiss Chard — $5.00 Cherokee Lettuce — $5.00/lb Parsley — $8.00/lb

Available vegetables change weekly

Crones Cradle Conserve now is selling Florida Native Plants.

Native plants are beneficial to birds, bees and butterflies!

Our varieties will include: Yellow Canna Lilly Tickseed Milkweed Stokes Aster Blanket Flower Narrow Leaf Sunflower Spotted Bee Balm Black-eyed Susan Purple Love Grass

April 2019

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A 2015 study at Butler University, in Indianapolis published in the Journal of Speech Pathology & Therapy shows the significant effects of theater arts on individuals with autism spectrum disorder. “Creative arts therapy can be successful in supporting children with autism, especially ways to practice social skills,” says Marshall. “The drama therapist uses role play, improv and games in order to facilitate interpersonal communication.”

Dopamine and Creating Art

THE ART OF HEALING Creative Therapy Aids Recovery

by Marlaina Donato

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or decades, creative expression has been a valuable tool in healing, and expressive arts therapy—the integrated application of two or more art forms—is now considered a life-changing modality for veterans and anyone else struggling with anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Also called creative arts therapy, this form of psychotherapy helps patients to process and express what is often beyond verbal language using music, art, dance, theater and writing as its primary modes of communication.

“Individuals need no previous arts experience in order to benefit from working with a certified creative arts therapist,” explains Azizi Marshall, founder and CEO of the Center for Creative Arts Therapy, in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence—an outpatient clinic specializing in traumatic brain injuries at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland—ranks creative arts therapy among the top five most effective approaches in helping veterans.

A study of combat veterans and creative arts therapy conducted at Concordia University, in Montreal, reported considerable progress, especially in areas of expressing 24

North Central FL

emotions resulting from trauma and gaining understanding of symptoms such as depression, thoughts of suicide and insomnia.

Psychotherapist Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., has authored several books, including The Art Therapy Sourcebook, and uses expressive arts therapy in her Louisville practice. “I’ve worked with soldiers for the past 10 years, and find that much of their healing comes about through telling their stories on stage or participating as an actor within a play or improvisation.” Malchiodi also incorporates mindfulness practices, visual arts, music and some simple forms of yoga in her sessions.

Creative Arts Therapy for Multiple Diagnoses

Expressive arts therapy is also making a positive impact on those suffering from panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addictions, eating and attention disorders, dementia and chronic physical illness. “Creative arts therapy can be used across life challenges; for example, dance or movement therapy has supported women with breast cancer and eating disorders,” says Marshall, who has also witnessed the power of drama therapy to help reduce feelings of fear in clients diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD.

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

The multitasking neurotransmitter dopamine is one of the brain’s natural antidepressants and plays a key role in feeling pleasure and reinforcing habits.

It reaches its highest levels during the initial stages of love, observing something of beauty or creating art.

A recent Drexel University study published in The Arts in Psychotherapy shows the neurological effects of drawing, coloring and simple doodling. Increased circulation in the area of the brain correlating to pleasure and reward was evident, and this dopamine-dominant response is responsible for decreasing symptoms of anxiety and increasing feelings of joy and accomplishment.

Psychotherapist Doreen Meister, in Oakland, California, encourages her clients to focus on the process of creating, rather than the result. “Expressive therapies are an extension of the self-discovery continuum. I often hear, ‘I draw like a 2-year-old.’ To this I say, ‘Great! Draw like a 2-year-old!’ I believe that somewhere, many of us are told that creative expression must be a certain way. Creativity is a natural state, a human quality that we are born with, and the product of creation is not as important as the process.”

Creativity from a clinical perspective allows for new emotional vantage points, distance from situations and viewing experiences through a different lens. “Bringing in creativity offers a wider palette of tools or access points, and gives us another way to understand ourselves,” says Meister. “Creativity as a life force is accessible to all of us.”

Marlaina Donato is an author and composer. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

RossHelen /Shutterstock.com

healing ways

Copper in new device prevents cold and flu last holidays,” she said. “The kids had colds going around, but not me.”

Some users say it also helps with sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her CopperZap arrived, she tried it. “I am shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.”

Some say copper stops nighttime stuffiness if used just before bed. One man said, “Best sleep I’ve had in years.”

Copper may even stop flu if used earNew research: Copper stops colds if used early. ly and for several days. Lab technicians ew research shows you can went away completely.” It worked again placed 25 million live flu viruses on a stop a cold in its tracks if you CopperZap. No viruses were found alive every time he felt a cold coming on and take one simple step with a soon after. he hasn’t had a cold since. new device when you feel a cold about People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try to start. and say it can completely prevent ugly it. They said it worked for them, too, so Colds start when cold viruses get in outbreaks. You can also rub it gently he patented CopperZap™ and put it on your nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat the market. don’t stop them early, they spread in infections.

Soon hundreds of people had tried it your airways and cause misery.

The handle is curved and finely texand given feedback. Nearly 100% said But scientists have found a quick tured to improve the copper stops way to kill a virus. Touch it with copper. colds if used withcontact. It kills in 3 hours after the Researchers at labs and universities germs picked up first sign. Even up agree, copper is “antimicrobial.” It kills on fingers and microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, to 2 days, if they hands to protect still get the cold it just by touch. you and your That’s why ancient Greeks and Egyp- is milder and they family. tians used copper to purify water and feel better.

Copper even heal wounds. They didn’t know about Users wrote kills deadly germs Sinus trouble, stuffiness, cold sores. that have become viruses and bacteria, but now we do. things like, “It Scientists say the high conductance stopped my cold right away,” and “Is it resistant to antibiotics. If you are near of copper disrupts the electrical balsupposed to work that fast?” sick people, a moment of handling it ance in a microbe cell, destroying it in Pat McAllister, age 70, received one may keep serious infection away. It may seconds. as a gift and called it “one of the best even save a life.

Tests by the Environmental Protecpresents ever. This little jewel really The EPA says copper still works tion Agency (EPA) show germs die fast works.” Now thousands of users have even when tarnished. It kills hundreds of on copper. Some hospitals tried copper stopped getting colds. different disease germs so it can prevent for surfaces like faucets and doorknobs.

People often use CopperZap preserious or even fatal illness. ventively. Frequent flier Karen Gauci This cut the spread of MRSA and other CopperZap is made in the U.S. of used to get colds after crowded flights. illnesses by over half, and saved lives. pure copper. It has a 90-day full money Though skeptical, she tried it several The strong scientific evidence gave back guarantee when used as directed times a day on travel days for 2 months. inventor Doug Cornell an idea. When to stop a cold. It is $69.95. Get $10 off he felt a cold coming on he fashioned “Sixteen flights and not a sniffle!” each CopperZap with code NATA10. a smooth copper probe and rubbed it Businesswoman Rosaleen says when Go to www.CopperZap.com or call people are sick around her she uses Cop- toll-free 1-888-411-6114. gently in his nose for 60 seconds.

“It worked!” he exclaimed. “The cold perZap morning and night. “It saved me Buy once, use forever.

N

ADVERTORIAL

April 2019

25

calendar of events NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted via our website by the 10th of the month and must adhere to our guidelines. Visit GoNaturalAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

MONDAY, APRIL 1

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

UF Campus Earth Week – April 1-6. For info: Sustainable.ufl.edu.

Workshop – 9am-4pm. AumaKhua-Ki® Energy Balancing 1. With Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT. (MA60322.) $225 (6 CEs.) Includes AumaKhuaKi® Level 1 Attunement, book & certificate.

Location: Mammana Chiropractic Clinic, Ocala.

For more info and to pre-register (required): (#5014398.) AumaKhua-Ki.org or 352-239-9272.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Workshop and Pot Luck Dinner – 6pm. Explore your writing talents. Any level of writing skills welcome. Activities include reading discussions, editing and new ideas. Free with pot luck dish.

Crones’ Cradle Conserve Foundation, 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra. Call or email to reserve at 352-595-3377 or CatCrone@aol.com. CronesCradleConserve.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 4 Experiencers Share – 3:30-5:30pm. Connect with like-minded people discussing UFO and paranormal experiences. Love donation. Please call to register.

Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 5:30pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Coaching, education, menus, meal plans, Nutraceuticals. Seating is limited, must pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Retreat – 9:15am-9pm. Dances of Universal Peace Retreat Day. Dancing, enjoy nature, walk the labyrinth, paddle the lake, get to know people. $100 plus vegetarian potluck dish. Location: Dancing Peacock Paradise, Ft. McCoy. Address and directions when you RSVP: FLRetreats@gmail.com.

PeacockParadise.org.

Introduction to Intrasound – noon-1pm. Free Talk and Product Demonstration. With Al and Kathy Wynne. Attendees with receive free samples and great information. Call to sign up. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs.

386-454-8657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Class – 2-4:30pm. New Series Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Held at Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

Women’s Sunday Brunch – 11am. An amazing assortment of women, locally grown food, an entertaining program in an atmosphere of quiet, respect and contemplation. Sliding scale from $10 to whatever you can contribute. Crones’ Cradle Conserve Foundation, 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra.

Reserve by noon the Friday before at 352-595-3377 or CatCrone@aol.com. CronesCradleConserve.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Class – 6-8:30pm. New Series. Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Held at Boardroom at Holiday Inn Express, 1205 Avenida Central, Lady Lake. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Class – 10:30am-1pm and 2-4:30pm. New Series.

Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Held at Boardroom at Holiday Inn Express, 1205 Avenida Central, Lady Lake. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

Living in Heart-Centered Gratitude – 12:301:30pm. Facilitated by Patricia Wagner. Location: College of Central Florida, Bldg 9, Yoga Room 101, Ocala. Participants in a 21-day heart-centered gratitude experiment will share their stories, all free. Info, questions, need campus map: Patricia@ LookingForLight.net or 352-369-3029.

Class – 2:30-4:30pm and 5:30-7:30pm. Working with Crystals. Learn about choosing the right crystals, programming and more. $30. Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Chakra Balancing Crystal Bowl Meditation and

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine Transform your Life!

EARN A Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine

• Study Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs • ACAOM Accredited 10-semester Program • The leading college for Chinese Diagnosis TRY OUR AFFORDABLE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

1000 NE 16th Ave., Bldg F, Gainesville, FL 32601 Licensed No. 2425, the Florida Commission for Independent Education

www.dragonrises.edu 26

North Central FL

352-371-2833

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Playshop – 7pm. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. 352-629-3897.

OakbrookCSL.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Party – April 13-14. 9an-3pm. Santa Fe College Party for the Planet: Spring Into Action. Hosted by the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo. Activities, conservations organizations, food trucks, visit with the animals, chat with the zookeepers. $6 adults, $5 children (4-12.)

Location: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, 3000 NW 83rd St, Gainesville. Info: 352-395-5601.

Workshop – April 13-14 – 10am-5:30pm. Quantum-Touch Level I. Learn this powerful hands-on energy healing modality, distance healing, accelerated healing techniques, creative visualization, 14 CEUs for LMTs. $480; $240 to repeat. Location: Ocala.

Info: QuantumTouch.com. Register: Patricia Wagner, Patricia@LookingForLight.net. 352-369-3029.

Informational Talk and Private Sessions – Talk, noon-1pm. Sessions, 1:30-5:30pm. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. With Kay Steelman. Talk free. Sessions $35/half hour, $60/hour. Call to sign up. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs.

386-454-8657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Drum Class & Jam –1-3pm. With instructor CongaSean. Drumming can be a great tool for spiritual growth and meditation, linking mind, body, and spirit! Learn how to approach a drum circle and join in, the different type of drum circles, etiquette, etc. All levels welcome.

Bring your drum, woodblocks, cowbells, shakers, etc.

Extra drums may be available first come. Drum music to take home will be provided. Free, donations appreciated.

Moonraven Apothecary, 1102 N. Main St, Ste C, Wildwood. 352-460-1401. MoonravenApothecary.com.

Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 5:30pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Coaching, education, menus, meal plans, Nutraceuticals. Seating is limited, must pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinc.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Class – April 14-15 – Sunday 9am-6pm, Monday 9am-2pm. Reiki 1: Usui Reiki. With Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT. $225 (12 CEs.) Includes four Reiki 1 Attunements, class book & certificate. Location: Hyde Away Salon, Ocala. Pre-registration required: (#50-14398.) 352-239-9272 or AumaKhua-Ki.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 15 Patient Education – 6pm. Learn what we do and time to ask questions. Free. Seating is limited, call to

Animal Rescue Sanctuary EARS Endangered Located near Ocala and spans over 35 acres, EARS exists to provide dignified living for endangered lions, tigers, bears and more.

& Sat. at 2pm One-Day EveryAgesWed. Over 12 – $20/pp

Membership Tours

Not Open to the Public – RSVP Required, Please.

RSVP to Sue by email: sportcopy@outlook.com or call for reservations: 352-266-2859.

Please bring a bottle of bleach or liquid soap.

www.EARSINC.NET

EARS is a Non-Profit Organization, Federal ID # 59-3741622

PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO: P.O. BOX 306, CITRA, FL 32113 MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO EARS INC.

berry Rd, Newberry. Info: 352-472-1142.

Car Show – 10am-3pm. Hot Cars and Cool Cats Spring Car Show to benefit Endangered Animal Rescue Society in Citra. Raffle, 50/50, vendors, music, and great food. All cars, trucks, motorcycles welcome for $10 entry. Spectators free.

Location: 2250 NE 70th St (Hwy 326.) Ocala.

352-266-2859. EarsInc.net.

reserve your seat. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16 Natural Eye Program – April 16-18. See what you can do about wet/dry macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts, diabetic retinopathy without injections. Seating is limited, call to pre-register.

Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala.

352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17 Introduction Session – 2-4pm. With Sharon and spiritual being Ma-Ryah. A demonstration of Sound Healing will also be part of this session. Experience for yourself the loving communication of Ma-Ryah.

Free. Please call register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-6934592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Workshop and Pot Luck Dinner – 6pm. Explore your writing talents. Any level of writing skills welcome. Activities include reading discussions, editing and new ideas. Free with pot luck dish.

Crones’ Cradle Conserve Foundation, 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra. Call or email to reserve at 352-595-3377 or CatCrone@aol.com. CronesCradleConserve.org.

Gathering – 6-7:30pm. Lightworkers Gathering. Open floor discussion group on a variety of metaphysical topics. Love donation. Please call to say you are coming. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18 Introduction – 6pm. Free Introduction to Save Your Mind Intensive Program. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459.

LemireClinic.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Mainstage Play – April 19-May12. Sex with Strangers. By Laura Eason. A smart and sexy exploration of the conflict between the life you live online and the life you try to live in the real world.

The Hippodrome, 25 SE 2nd Pl, Gainesville. 352375-4477. TheHipp.org.

Chanting and Meditation Session – 5:306:30pm. With Mary and Bill Dodd. Love donation.

Please call to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-693-4592.

FairyDustCrystals.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 Plant Sale – 9:30am-2pm. Earth Day & Heritage Plant Sale. The sale features heritage plants which have been grown for decades and many species of native plants. Tables on various topics. Location: Dudley Farm Historic State Park, 18730 W. New-

Celebration – 10am-6pm. 14th Annual Central Florida Earth Day. Colorful and educational exhibits and activities, family-friendly, dog-friendly, alcohol-free, smoke-free, vegan event. Admission is free. Location: Lake Eola Park, downtown Orlando.

CFEarthDay.org.

Workshop – 2-4pm. Reach for the Stars – the Lemurian/Starseed Connection. With Sharron Britton. $20. Call to sign up. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs. 386-454-8657.

HighSpringsEmporium.net.

MONDAY, APRIL 22 Happy Earth Day! Thermography Screenings – 8am-5pm; by appointment. A healthy alternative to mammograms.

Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala.

352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 Class – 2:30-4:30pm and 5:30-7:30pm. Opening Your Third Eye. You will be provided with the tools and knowledge you need to open your third eye. $30.

Please call the store to register. Fairy Dust Crystals & Such, 11781 SE Hwy 441, Belleview. 352-6934592. FairyDustCrystals.com.

Chakra Balancing Crystal Bowl Meditation and Playshop – 7pm. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. 352-629-3897.

OakbrookCSL.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 Transformation, Detox/Healing Group series – 5:30pm. Decrease weight, lower A1C and cholesterol, increase energy. Coaching, education, menus, meal plans, Nutraceuticals. Seating is limited, must pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459.

LemireClinc.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Celebration – 11am-6pm. Earth Day Celebration.

Plant exchange, creating a crystal earth grid. Grid making begins at 3pm. Free. High Springs Emporium, 19765 NW US Hwy 441, High Springs.

386-454-8657. HighSpringsEmporium.net.

Holistic Health Fair – 10am-2pm. Raise Your Vibration Holistic Health Fair. Info sessions and guest speakers for alternative, all-natural therapies, vendors, healthy food samples, giveaways and more. Plus a pre-event QiGong class. Free. Nadi Om Wellness, 6158 SW Hwy 200, Suite 204, Ocala.

352-525-0247. NadiOmWellness.com.

Festival – noon-11pm. Tree Fest 2019. Hosted by Solar Impact, Inc. and Swamp Head Brewery. Help the environment by raising money to plant trees with the Alachua Conservation Trust. Food trucks, family-friendly activities, live music and Swamp Head beer. Attendance is free. Location: Swamp Head Brewery, 3650 SW 42nd Ave, Gainesville.

TreeFestFL.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Meditation – 9-11am. AK Energy Sound Healing Meditation. With Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT. (MA60322.) Bring a yoga mat, snack, and bottled water. Event by donation. Public welcome. At door registration. Location: The Martial Arts Center, 3233 SE Maricamp Rd, Ocala. For more info: AKheal.com or 352-239-9272.

Class – 2-4:30pm. Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Held at Serenity Now Yoga, 1200 W. State Road 434, Longwood. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30 Save Your Mind Intensive Personalized Program – April 30-May 2. What can you do to clear mental fog, remember, and sharpen your thinking? Seating is limited, need to pre-register. Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala. 352-291-9459. LemireClinic.com.

plan ahead SUNDAY, MAY 5 Workshop – 9am-5pm. AumaKhua-Ki® Energy Balancing 2. With Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT. (MA60322.) $250 (7 CEs.) Includes AumaKhuaKi® Level 2 Attunement, book & certificate.

Location: Mammana Chiropractic Clinic, Ocala.

For more info and to pre-register (required): (#5014398.) AumaKhua-Ki.org or 352-239-9272.

SATURDAY, MAY 11 Festival – 9am-4pm. 35th Annual Windsor Zucchini Festival. Over 100 arts, crafts and plant vendors from around the state, Cook-a-Zuke contest, zucchini carving contest, raffle, live entertainment, kid’s activities, various zucchini dishes for lunch.

Proceeds go to support the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department and the community. Location: Windsor Fire Station #61, 1401 SE County Rd 234, Gainesville. Info: info@windsor-z-news.org or 352-372-4875.

SATURDAY, MAY 18-19 Class – May 18-19 – Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 9am-noon. Reiki 2: Usui Reiki. With Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT. $200 (9 CEs.) Includes four Reiki 2 Attunements & certificate. Location: Mammana Chiropractic, Ocala. Pre-registration required: (#5014398.) 35+2-239-9272 or AKheal.com.

Remember, PLANS CHANGE! Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

April 2019

27

on going events NOTE: All calendar events must be submitted via our website by the 10th of the month and must adhere to our guidelines. Visit GoNaturalAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday A Course in Miracles – 9:30am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville.

UnityGainesville.org.

Sunday Spiritual Service – 10am. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352­-687-­2113. mail@ UnityOcala.org. UnityOcala.org.

Sunday Service – 10:30am; Guided Meditation – 10am. Awaken and LIVE. Oakbrook Center for Spiritual Living, 1009 NE 28th Ave, Ocala. 352629-3897. OakbrookCSL.org.

Meditation and Book Discussion – 10:30am-noon.

Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville. 352-214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

Brewery Yoga at First Magnitude – 1-2pm Bring your own mat for yoga in the warehouse.

All experience levels. Suggested donation $5.

First Magnitude Brewing Co., 1220 SE Veitch, Gainesville. 352-727-4677.

monday Hearing Screenings – afternoon. By appointment.

Lemire Clinic, 9401 SW Hwy 200, Ste 301, Ocala.

352-­291-­9459. LemireClinic.com.

A Course in Miracles – 6:30pm. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville.

UnityGainesville.org.

Meeting – 5:30-7pm. Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352-6872113. Mail@UnityOcala.org. UnityOcala.org.

thursday A Course in Miracles – 10am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave, Gainesville.

UnityGainesville.org.

Embodiment 101 – 6:30-8pm. Body awareness movement followed by meditation. Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville. 352214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

friday

tuesday

Health Happens Farmers Market – 9am-2:30pm.

Shop for fresh produce, seafood, honey, baked goods, gluten-free snacks and prepared meals for lunch. McPherson Governmental Complex field, 601 SE 25th Ave. Ocala. 352-438-2360.

Technology Help Center - 2-4pm. Free. Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE Hwy 484, Belleview.

352-438-2500.

Meeting – 5:30-6:30pm. Adult Children of Alcoholics. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd, Ocala. 352687-2113. Mail@UnityOcala.org. UnityOcala.org.

Meditation Instruction and Orientation – 6:30pm.

Meditation, book discussion, refreshments to follow.

Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville. 352-214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

Queer & Trans Dharma – 7-9pm. Shambhala Gainesville, 1899 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville. 352214-1334. Gainesville.Shambhala.org.

wednesday Qigong – 9-9:30am. With Dr. Neil Crenshaw and Dr. Don Mederios. Donations go to Connected Warriors. Van Ness Park Civic Center, G Ave and 7th St, McIntosh. 352-425-2975.

The Hippodrome Theatre proudly presents

saturday Haile Farmers Market – 8:30am-12pm. Open rain or shine, heat or cold. Haile Village Center in Haile Plantation, SW 91st Terr, Gainesville.

HaileFarmersMarket.com.

Farmstead Saturdays – 9am­3pm. Free. Crones Cradle Conserve, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-­595-­ 3377. CronesCradleConserve.com.

Ocala Farm Market – 9am-2pm. Locally grown farm fresh seasonal produce, homemade jellies and jams, crafts and plants. Location: Corner of SE 3rd St and SE 3rd Ave, Ocala. 352-629-8051.

OcalaDowntownMarket.com.

Class – 2-4:30pm. One Saturday each month.

Psychic / Medium Spiritual Development. Includes meditation, lesson and practice. $30. Call or check website to confirm date. Held at Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. ifsk.org.

By Laura Eason

Directed by Stephanie Lynge

April 19 - May 12

April 22, 2019 28

North Central FL

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

The first combined Anti-Aging, Holistic, and Family Practice Clinic in Central Florida and The Villages

352-750-4333

SERVICES OFFERED: ✦ Peptides ✦ Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy ✦ Amniotic ✦ Adipose ✦ Bone marrow ✦ PRP-platelet Rich Plasma ✦ Prolo Therapy ✦ Prolozone ✦ Sequenced Amino Acid ✦ Neural Therapy ✦ Chelation and IV Nutrient ✦ Urinary Incontinence

✦ Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy ✦ Femlift Vaginal Tightening ✦ Soundwave for ED ✦ Laser Therapy for pain ✦ Spectravision (Full Body Analysis Test) ✦ Nutritional Counseling ✦ Weight Loss ✦ Pulse Magnetic Wave ✦ Antioxidant Evaluation ✦ Mineral Evaluation ✦ Heavy Metal Evaluation

Nelson Kraucak, MD, FAAFP “We are committed to aid and promote the body’s innate mechanisms to heal and achieve homeostasis for optimum health by introducing and using natural approaches with innovative and cutting-edge technology.”

Individual responses may vary

Jaclynn Sola, LMT

MA56771 Over 10 years experience Specializing In: • Aromatheraphy utilizing essential oils • Myo Fascial Release • Deep Tissue Massage • Micro-current Dolphin Jaclynn’s passion for holistic care is a driving force in her practice of healing clients naturally.

Karin Panyko

Licensed Aesthetician Over 13 years experience Specializing In: • Micro Derm Abrasion • Spa Facial/Galvanic (tightens and tones cheek muscles) • High Frequency Therapy • Light Therapy • Facial Massage – Deep Tissue My passion is to assist others in achieving their balance with inner and outer beauty.

Gretta Ellis, ARNP

Over 10 years experience Specializing In: • Chronic Disease • Gastro-Intestinal Disorders • Alternative Medicine • SIBO/Leaky Gut • ER and Internal Medicine Experience

On-Site Financing Available

Healing Central Florida, One Stem Cell at a Time!

Call to Schedule Your Appointment:

1501 HWY 441, Suite 1704, The Villages, FL, 32159 www. HealthcarePartnersFL.com

352-750-4333

Healthcare Partners Family Medicine Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm April 2019

29

community resource guide

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com to request our media kit.

COLONICS

HEARING AID SPECIALIST

GENTLE WATERS HEALING CENTER 352-374-0600 Gainesville Info@GentleWatersHealing.com

The therapists at Gentle Waters Healing Center assist each individual with detoxing using colon hydrotherapy and/or far infrared sauna. Call Dawn Brower for more information or visit G e n t l e Wa t e r s H e a l i n g . c o m .

MA41024, MM15426.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

FORREST PETTY

Licensed Hearing Aid Specialist Lemire Clinic 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301, Ocala 352-291-9459 • LemireClinic.com Forrest Petty has joined our practice. Forrest has 5+ years in the hearing aid industry with all manufacturers. He offers free hearing exams and hearing instrument demonstrations with the latest technology for all patients. Come experience how well you can hear again. Call to schedule your appointment. See ad, page 3.

JAMES LEMIRE, MD

Lemire Clinic 9401 SW Hwy 200, Suite 301 352-291-9459 • LemireClinic.com Dr. Lemire is both Board Certified in Family Practice for 40 years and is an Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Certified Practitioner. Some of the common protocols Dr. Lemire works with are: Thyroid conditions, Chronic Fatigue, MS, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Leaky Gut, Cancer, Hormone Unbalances, Heavy Metal Toxicity, Inflammatory and Auto Immune Conditions, Lyme Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Weight Management. Dr. Lemire sees children and adults. See ad, page 3.

HEALING ARTS SANDY WILSON

EFT, Emotion Code, Body Code, Hypnosis 352-454-8959 EFTSandy@yahoo.com SandraWilsonPositiveChange.com You can achieve your health, wealth and relationship goals.

Certified Energy Healer, Sandy will help you eliminate blocks to be successful in getting fit, having better relationships, reaching business goals. Why wait?See website or call to start your path to success.

LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE CRONES’ CRADLE CONSERVE FOUNDATION 6411 NE 217th Pl, Citra 352-595-3377 CronesCradleConserve.org

The conserve is an ecological preserve, retreat center and organic farm. Local fresh produce can be bought at The Farm Store on property, through Farm to Fare weekly Baskets or delivered to your restaurant. The Farm Store is open 7 days a week. Certified kitchen honey house and event space available. See ad, page 23.

813-417-6745 BodhiSangha.com ArielaGrodner@yahoo.com

Students can advance in their studies of Thai Massage and Tr a d i t i o n a l T h a i F o l k Medicine. Courses offered are; Thai Foot Reflexology, Double Practitioner Thai Massage, and Thai Herbal Bundle Therapeutics. The Bodhi Sangha Shala is a place to grow and learn, to build community, to cultivate mindfulness and compassion, and to deepen one’s studies of the ancient healing art of Thai Massage. See ad, page 20.

~William Arthur Ward North Central FL

MA47715 Healthy Hands of Ocala 1302 SE 25th Loop, Suite 104, Ocala 352-817-3887 Specializing in easing muscle tension and pain while promoting wellness. With over 10 years experience, Kurt offers massage therapy based on each client’s individual needs. Call or text to schedule an appointment.

MASSAGE THERAPY

BY CATHY CULP, LMT

MA68087 Healthy Hands of Ocala 1302 SE 25th Loop, Suite 104, Ocala 352-207-5423 CathyCulp67@gmail.com Offering Deep Tissue Massage, Hot Stone, Swedish, Therapeutic and Trigger Point with an emphasis on neck, shoulder and sciatic pain therapy. Compassion and knowledge help to aid in pain management and relaxation. See ad, page 7.

SARAH USHER, LMT MA36244

LuDawn Spa & Salon MM36632 4620 East Silver Spring Blvd, Ocala 352-236-5353 or 352-362-4919 SarahUsherLMT.AMTAmembers.com Sarah is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Reflexologist. She is trained in Prenatal Massage. Promoting wellness through the bodywork of Therapeutic Massage.

SCHOOL BODHI SANGHA THAI MASSAGE AND SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL THAI FOLK MEDICINE

A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.

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KURT NICHOLS, LMT

GoNaturalAwakenings.com

VETERINARY CARE MEDICINE WHEEL VETERINARY SERVICES Shauna Cantwell, DVM Ocala 352-538-3021 • ShaunaCantwell.com

Holistic veterinary medicine for small animals and horses. Arthritis, neurologic and hormonal dysfunction, skin, allergies, cancer, pain, immune and chronic disease.

Certified veterinary acupuncture, certified-AVCA animal chiropractic, herbal therapy, tui na medical massage, functional neurology, postural rehabilitation, ozone therapy, homotoxicology and nutrition. Available for workshops. See ad, page 4.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

ADVERTISING ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ads section. To place an ad, email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com.

MAY

Mental & Emotional Well-Being plus: Healthy Vision

OPPORTUNITIES S TA RT A C A R E E R Y O U C A N B E PASSIONATE ABOUT – Publish your own Natural Awakenings magazine. Home-based business complete with comprehensive training and support system. New franchises are available or purchase a magazine that is currently publishing. This local magazine is currently for sale. Call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise.

*************************** BUDDHA ORACLE READING PTSD/EMS & Abuse Relief Energy Healing - Alpha Table Relax Release Renew Thrive Feel Better - Reduce Anxiety Metaphysical Art Classes NC Nurses, First Responders

WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUE

Readers are Seeking These Providers & Services:

Energy Healing • Life Coaches • Spiritual Practices • Retreats/ Workshops • Relationship Counseling • Natural Eye Care Natural Health/Vision Supplements • Senior/Sports Eye Care Specialists ... and this is just a partial list!

High Springs. 352-478-9037

*************************** LOCAL FOOD ISSUE

JUNE

JULY

Brain Health

Urban & Suburban Agriculture

plus: Green Building Trends

Complementary and alternative treatment for advanced cancer DR. DANIEL THOMAS, DO, MS Over 30 Years of Experience

NewHopeForCancer.com

plus: Gut Health

CONNECT WITH OUR READERS

THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL CALENDAR & MARKETING PLANNER

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:

352-629-4000

April 2019

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Do you dream of having a meaningful and creative career in a business that you own — a career that allows you to work from the comfort of your home and connects you to an amazing network of others in your community and throughout the country?

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Learn how you can become the publisher of this Natural Awakenings Magazine.

Visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com/Franchise or call 239-530-1377.

Natural Awakenings won the prestigious FBR50 Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. To learn more, visit www.franchisebusinessreview.com.

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North Central FL

GoNaturalAwakenings.com