May 2011
Your conscious life
AZ
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in Sustainability ALSO INSIDE:
Vitamin D | Cancer is Curable Mother/Daughter Green Makeover DIY Energy | Guest House, Green Design Wolf in Coyote’s Clothing | Nourish Green Living AZ Magazine is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.
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features
May 2011
Women in... 34 | Architecture 50 | Dance
8 | Renewable Energy April corrections : In the Eco-baby article, Jeff Frost is the Sustainability Coordinator at Smithgroup not the Sustainability Project Manager.
2 greenliving az | May 2011
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departments 4 Editor’s Note
May 2011 Live Green
61 Green Scenes
Women in Renewable Energy
62 Green Pages 64 Green Personalities
Get your Vitamin D from UVB Dr. Gordon: Cancer IS Curable An Interview with Dr. John Gray Nourshing a Community
8 16 18 20 22
24 26 28 29 30
Mother/Daugher Green Makeover Green Kids Everyday Uses: Door Knobs Pets: Hummingbirds Green Thumb: Pesticides
Work Green Green Ideas Journal Architects in Heels Corporate Social Responsibility Sandra Day O’Connor House Guest House Invites Green Design Wind Turbine
32 34 37 38 42 48
29
42 54 Play Green For the Love of Dance Wolf in Coyote’s Clothing A Healthy Approach to Art Momma-licious May greenlivingaz.com
50 52 54 55
56 57 58 60
Restaurant Review He’s Green | She’s Green Recipes Cool/Outrageous Stuff May 2011 | greenliving az 3
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May 2011
Editor’s Note
greenlivingazmag greenlivingaz tishinD
have been instrumental in the design and build of sustainable projects around the country and within our state. One home at the hub of civil discourse is the Sandra Day O’Connor House. I had the pleasure of touring this inspirational space and left with the hope that more governmental entities would take advantage of Justice O’Connor’s desire to bring people together, talk, encourage bipartisanship and create solutions for the betterment of our community.
T
o me, May is a time of celebration of moms. I can
If you are a “Dancing With the Stars” fan, the article in
attribute most of my knowledge about food, being
PLAY, For the Love of Dance by Barbi Walker, might make
environmentally friendly and supporting the community
you want to dust off your dancing shoes. The opportunity
to my mom. She always encouraged me to give back.
to witness the beautiful expression of dance or take up
Whether it be time or donations, giving back is key to
ballroom dancing is ready and waiting for you here in your
building a community.
backyard.
This month I focused on women: More specifically, women
Finally, this issue wouldn’t be complete without honoring
who have led the charge in many areas of sustainability.
one woman who is instrumental to Arizona’s renewable
In LIVE, our feature is Women in Renewable Energy
energy efforts and in our hearts for a speedy recovery
by Aimee Welch. With solar and wind power, these
- U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords is my choice
women are making strides in making renewable energy
for Green Personalities this month. Godspeed on her
more accessible. If you have an appetite, Nourishing a
recovery.
Community, by Barbi Walker, is on the menu as we take a look at women chefs making a difference in their kitchens and our school systems. A green makeover? If you’ve ever wondered or heard about it, check out our contest winners, Lindsay and Wendy, as they were pleasantly pampered by our sponsors in the Mother Daughter Green
P.S. Mom, I love you and I couldn’t have made it through many bumps in the road without you. Thanks for believing in me today and always.
Makeover, and you too can get a glimpse of green glam. With their pencils and protractors in hand, women are leading the way in building green. In WORK, the article
Architects in Heels, by Kristi Eaton, showcases women who
Tishin Donkersley, M.A., Editor-in-Chief
Photography by Branden Eastwood
4 greenliving az | May 2011
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Your conscious life
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It’s All About
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Your conscious life
associate Publisher Dorie Morales dorie@greenlivingaz.com AZ • MAgAZine editor-in-chief Tishin Donkersley, M.A. creatiVe director Kate Larson kate@greenlivingaz.com oPerations ManaGer Angela Sinagoga-Stacy, M.A. angela@greenlivingaz.com senior adVisor William Janhonen, LEED AP NAHB-CGP assistant to the editor Heather Fulton coPY editor Gre en LivingMichael M agaz Ziffer ine contributors David Brown Jennifer Burkhart John Burkhart Keith Clausen Kristi Eaton Amanda Formaro Abigail Gilmore Dr. Garry Gordon Dr. John Gray Chad Hays Healthy U TV Show
Jeff Hecht William Janhonen LEED AP, NAHB-CGP Kelsey Makings Doreen Pollack Charlie Popeck LEEP AP Edward Ricciuti Lexie Runge Carrie Simmons Terri Schlichenmeyer Barbi Walker Aimee Welch
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Making a Living, Making a Difference BY AIMEE WELCH
R
enewable versus non-renewable energy— it’s quite possibly the hottest issue (and biggest can of worms) of our generation. Ongoing research, political agendas and powerful viewpoints on every side of the issue keep energy in the headlines every week. It’s not a question of whether renewable energy is where the world needs to go; it’s about how quickly we need to get there. And we have to get there. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 92 percent of our energy currently comes from nonrenewable resources, which are a limited resource, and the source of many national and global concerns. From the greenhouse effect to national security issues, energy debates run the gamut. Energy has a long history and, until about the last 150 years, renewable energy sources dominated. Egyptians used wind to move their boats in 3200 B.C.; 2,500 years ago Greeks used sunlight to heat their homes and hydropower for grinding grain; and in 200 BC the Chinese invented the windmill. Today, only 8 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources. Nonrenewable fossil fuels—coal, oil and natural gas—now reign and account for many of the smoggy, acid-rainy, global warming “worms” in our can. But we’re moving in the right direction. Despite fossil fuels’ perceived advantages, proponents of renewables, future generations, economic stability, service men and women and our Mother Earth are coming in droves to the rescue. In light of renewable energy’s far-reaching history, what’s old is new again—an exciting and emerging frontier, championed by many amazing women.
Dr. Janice G. Hamrin
CEO, HMW International, Inc. “Our priorities should be energy efficiency and renewable energy, in that order. If we don’t head in that direction, we’re going to be up to our navels in water.” ~ Dr. Hamrin
8 greenliving az | May 2011
In the midst of the U.S.’s first energy crisis in the 1970s, Jan Hamrin was a working on her Ph.D. at University of California Davis. Fittingly for the times, renewable energy became the subject of her dissertation, and a cause she would champion for the next three decades. Her work, providing both policy and technical support, has played an integral role in shaping renewable energy policies in the U.S., China, Brazil, Mexico and beyond. She managed solar programs for the California Energy Commission and founded the Independent Energy Producers Association, where she negotiated the standard offer contract for California that resulted in a significant number of renewable projects for the state. She also led a team to develop and implement California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country. She has served as advisor to the G-8 Renewable Energy Task Force, the International Energy Agency, and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation; and, through her own non-profit agency, Center for Resource Solutions, she developed the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market—Green-e. In 2007, she received the Women of Wind Energy’s Woman of the Year Award, and the Green Power Pioneer Award from the Environmental Protection Agency in 2008. Her passion comes, in part, from her belief that climate change and global warming are issues for her generation to work out. “We can’t leave it all to someone else to clean up,” she stated authoritatively, as she discussed the great environmental and economic implications of even a slight increase in sea levels, effortlessly rattling off a handful of major international airports and water purification plants located along coastlines. And cost is no excuse, in her book. She believes that renewable energy is cost effective now, and that by focusing too much on financial implications today, politicians are discounting the future. As CEO of HMW International, Hamrin continues to work with the Energy Foundation China team to implement China’s renewable energy law, and serves as the Secretary General of the Environmental Tracking Network of North America (ETNNA), as well as on a number of boards and advisory committees. “Renewables are cost-effective now…even if you’re not worried about climate change, doing renewables now makes jobs and creates trade-off opportunities.” ~ Dr. Hamrin
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“Arizona’s Solar Resource” The Solar Store… but it can equally be used to characterize the owner, Katharine Kent. With more than 25 years of professional experience in sustainable energy design and installation, building design and construction, Katharine Kent is a one-woman resource for solar. “I have been in solar well before it became fashionable,” stated Ms. Kent during a recent interview. Kent’s passion for engineering and energy awareness focused her efforts on teaching others how energy is created and consumed as well as the importance of alternative, sustainable sources to offset the costs, both monetary and environmental, of traditional energy sources. That passion has garnered a whole host of awards including the American Solar Energy Society’s Solar Women of the Year in 2007 and the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Award in 1990. Additionally, US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords acknowledged Kent’s singular contribution in March 2010, awarding her Special Congressional Recognition “Pioneering Woman in Solar for Southern Arizona.” Kent obtained a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston and M.S. in Nuclear and Energy Engineering as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona. She has been employed by Dow Chemical, UofA, Vulcan Chemical and Calgon Carbon. In 1998, Kent and her father, John Wesley Miller, opened The Solar Store in Tucson, Arizona. Miller, a builder and developer who has received national recognition for his energy efficient projects, provided hands on guidance and support during the early years.
The Solar Store provides energy solutions for homeowners in both urban and rural settings as well as for commercial institutions. They offer a variety of systems including passive and active solar hot water systems, instantaneous hot water, solar hot water heating, radiant floor heating, and solar electric systems. Interestingly, Katharine Kent was the first NABCEP (North American Board of Energy Practitioners) Solar Thermal Installer in Arizona, which allowed her to become the first woman to obtain both PV and Solar Thermal Installers’ NABCEP certifications. To round out her expertise, she also holds both a commercial and residential plumbing and electrical contractors’ license. Kent recognizes, “Being a woman in a male-dominated field has forced me to work harder.” Kent has been appointed to the Arizona Solar Advisory Council. She has served on various boards and commissions including the Tucson-Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission. She currently is the Chair of The City of Tucson Small, Minority and Women-Women Owned Business Commission. Katharine Kent “walks the walk.” Her home is an example of sustainable design including solar hot water, photovoltaic, tankless water heater, LED lighting and high efficiency appliances. Kent reports, “My average electric bill has decreased in the last 5 years from $150 per month to around $75.” As an advocate for sustainability, she is a force to be reckoned with and a woman to admire.
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LAuRIe GuevARA-stONe International Program manager, solar energy International “Solar energy is going to become more and more prolific, costs will come down and eventually we’ll see solar on every house.” ~ Guevara-Stone While living in Nicaragua in the 1980s, Laurie Guevara-Stone experienced first hand what life would be like without electricity. In the midst of a revolution, most of Nicaragua simply didn’t have it. Guevara-Stone came back to the U.S. to learn how she could help. The U.S. energy crisis in 1973 had prompted greater interest in renewable energy and, upon her return, Guevara-Stone joined Solar Energy International (SEI), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development around the world through empowerment, education and hands-on training. She got the experience she needed, and then returned to help the Nicaraguan people. Twenty years later, Guevara-Stone has implemented photovoltaics, solar cooking and water distillation projects in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico and Ecuador, and is one of the nation’s experts on renewable energy policy and practice in Cuba. She is now the international program manager at SEI, where she spearheaded the Women’s Photovoltaics program, coordinates SEI’s programs throughout Latin America, and organizes and instructs the Renewable Energy for Developing World Workshop. She still travels six to eight weeks a year, guiding others down the rewarding path that shaped her career. Fluent in Spanish, Laurie trains technicians on solar panel installations and celebrates as schools, health clinics and individuals around the world improve quality of life through sustainable energy sources.
In the last few years, Altronics Energy, LLC has come a long way in renewable energy, and Ashley McNees has been there from the beginning. Best known for its award-winning Honeywell Wind Turbine, a gearless wind turbine that measures just six feet in diameter, Altronics creates partnerships and green energy solution packages that combine wind, solar and lighting. McNees started her career in renewables as a manufacturing engineer, working on operations for the WindTronics Honeywell Wind Turbine assembly line. She was fascinated by the potential of the product and the impact it could make. “I began to research the applications and the difference it would make in not only individual’s lives in America, but the millions of people around the globe that have limited to no electricity. This product would revolutionize their day-to-day life,” she recalled. Now the director of sales and marketing, McNees developed and spearheads Altronics’ national sub-dealer network, which unifies sales, distribution and installation for the Honeywell Turbine, and provides businesses and individuals a no-risk opportunity to work in wind energy. “Wind energy always seemed to me like you needed lots of land and it needed to be in the middle of nowhere. Now I can offer wind energy to people on their home, in their neighborhoods and within reach.” “I really feel that this product and these types of technology are going to change the world.” ~ McNees
ARIZONA’s wOmeN For Solar Energy, Arizona is a Natural Fit
The sun alone could (and perhaps someday will) solve the world’s energy problems. Every hour, “In developing countries, sustainable energy makes a huge difference in people’s lives.” ~ Guevara-Stone enough solar energy falls on the Earth’s surface to meet world energy needs for an entire year, AshLey mcNees yet today, only 1 percent of Director of sales and the world’s energy is generated marketing, Altronics energy, LLc through solar power. But according to Arizona’s women in “In 25 years I believe that we will meet our quota as a renewable energy, change is on the nation and the majority of the country will be run from solar, wind and bio fuels.” ~ McNees horizon. 10 greenliving az | May 2011
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Feature
lori sinGleTon Manager, sustainability initiatives and emerging Technologies, salt river Project
“It appears that renewable energy sources are coming full circle… as we have industrialized and grown more dependent on fossil fuels, we’ve come to realize that where we were 150 years ago is where we are heading in terms of using clean renewable energy for a significant portion of our power needs.” ~ Singleton Discussing current policy issues related to renewable energy; making presentations to outside organizations; and guiding solar technology customers are all in day’s work for Lori Singleton. Singleton began working with SRP in the 1970s, back when ‘a day’s work’ was a lot different. “I am not sure that I could even define the word ‘sustainability’ at that time,” she admitted, but continued that the introduction to public policy issues and involvement with non-profits early in her career inspired her to pursue projects that make a difference—like renewable energy. SRP is the third-largest public power utility in the nation and, due to its location in the U.S.’s sunniest state, the nation’s eyes are upon it and other Arizona utilities to move the solar initiative forward. If you’re Lori Singleton, that’s enough to keep you up at night. She said balancing a growing renewable portfolio while maintaining low rates is not without challenges, but it’s a goal SRP has met successfully, and more projects are on the horizon. “The utility efforts in the state, combined with new manufacturing plants and green jobs, added to the robust number of solar installers, are all paving the way for our state to achieve its goals of becoming the solar mecca of the U.S.” Singleton has seen a lot of “firsts” in the solar industry— she’s watched Arizona’s first wind farm double in size, the first renewable energy/public art project generate electricity from a low-impact hydro plant, and the first commercial-scale solar energy plant in the nation use a concentrated solar power dish to generate clean energy. Lori beams with pride about her job, and the excitement that comes along with watching it “grow up.” “I meet hundreds of people each year all involved in renewable energy or sustainability issues, and passion is a common thread among all of them. It’s invigorating to be part of the renewable energy industry…I love my job!” ~ Singleton
greenlivingaz.com
Gabrielle Giffords
U.s. representative, Tucson, aZ “The question is not if we will see increasing demand for solar power in the coming years, it is only whether Arizona will dominate this emerging industry or will settle for a small slice of the pie.” ~ Representative Giffords Arizona has sun, and Tucson has Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords—that adds up to huge potential for the solar industry. Congresswoman Giffords is passionate about solar energy, and Arizona’s role in blazing a trail. Renewable energy isn’t extreme; it’s mainstream, according to Giffords, and her position is clear as stated on her website, “Our state can and must be at the very epicenter of this burgeoning industry.” The health of the planet, the economy and our national security are all tied to the continued advancement of renewable energy, and Giffords is a vocal and effective proponent for the cause—so much so, she used her first inaugural floor speech to call for the founding of a Strategic Renewable Energy Reserve, and the repeal of billions in tax incentives for oil companies in favor of renewable energy subsidies. Last year Giffords introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, legislation that proposes an increase for solar funding to help guide new research partnerships that benefit solar energy technologies. She also helped secure a $1.45 billion federal loan guarantee for the construction of Arizona’s largest solar power generation plant in Gila Bend, which will provide solar power to 70,000 homes. Her inspiration comes from an unwavering confidence in what renewable energy can do—for the world, and for her home state. “We have the talent, skills, and resources to lead all aspects of the solar industry – from research and development to product design, from manufacturing to installation, from the exporting of solar products to the exporting of clean solar power itself… the solar industry can contribute significantly to job growth and economic recovery in Arizona.” Giffords stated in an article in the Tucson Sentinel. “Now is the time for us to focus our efforts and make Arizona the best place in the world for the solar industry to do business.” ~ Representative Giffords
May 2011 | greenliving az 11
Feature
Lynn Paige
Owner and CeO, Perfect Power, inc.
passion for its importance on a global scale. “That each of us as individuals can actually build a personal energy production plant on our home and be an active influence on the energy independence of our whole nation…it’s a ‘powerful’ feeling,” she said [pun intended]. “The energy field is still a new frontier, and being some small part of it is exhilarating.” ~ Paige
“In 25 years, I believe the technology and efficiency of solar electric will be unrecognizable to today, with unimaginable advances.” ~ Paige A 23-year veteran in the accounting business, founder and CEO of an international multimillion-dollar seminar business, and cofounder of a CEO consulting firm, Lynn Paige’s successes in business were impressive even before she became the first female CEO of an Arizona-based solar energy company. When asked in 2001 to provide a business proposal to John Balfour, owner of Perfect Power and an accomplished solar energy veteran, Paige found a new job, and her inspiration. “[John’s] vision 10 years ago was exactly what has happened in the solar industry today. The businesses proposition is what intrigued me. The possibilities for adopting an ‘early in’ decision were limitless,” Paige said. Her assignment was to help boost Perfect Power’s earnings. After 18 months of observation and research, she presented ideas that impressed Balfour so much he asked her to come aboard to implement them. She not only came aboard, she improved upon Balfour’s vision for Perfect Power, and turned it into the profitable company it is today. As her understanding of the solar industry grew, so did her
MiriaM rObbins
Marketing Director, southwest Windpower
“While we may think primarily of homeowners taking advantage of opportunities to offset their electric bill, the real opportunities are worldwide in developing world and remote locations that don’t have the support of an electrical grid.” ~ Robbins One characteristic that seems ubiquitous among professionals in the renewable energy field is passion. When Miriam Robbins interviewed with the owners of Southwest Windpower in Flagstaff, the co-founders and staff made an instant impression. “The passion of the people at Southwest Windpower inspired
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me…they had so much hope and potential for the future that it was contagious,” she recalled. As marketing director for Southwest Power, Robbins wears many hats. One of her favorites is that of facilitator for Flagstaff’s Wind for Schools program, through the National Department of Energy (DOE). Through the program, children and young adults get hands-on experience with renewable energy at an early age. Small wind turbines are installed at K-12 schools and universities across the country, and kids learn about the technology itself, as well as the overarching benefits of conservation and the importance of renewable energy. “I believe the more children are involved in renewable energy at a young age, the sooner sustainable energy options will become commonplace and expected,” Robbins said.
Today, Robbins exudes the same passion that first inspired her. “I’ve been here for almost seven years and even the most challenging days are fulfilling because we all believe in what we are doing.” “This industry has so much potential and there are multiple worldwide applications.” ~ Robbins SOURCES • AIP Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy: jrse.aip.org/resource/1/ jrsebh/v2/i2/p023102_s1?view=fulltext • eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=2 • Energy Facts: energy-facts.com/renewable-energy-facts.html • eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/42864.pdf • Nobel Prize: nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1921/ einstein-faq. • Planet Green Group: planetgreengroup.com/green-homes/renewableenergy.html
On making a career in renewable energy: Get hands-on training – the jobs are there, but companies want experience. There are a number of professional organizations, non-profits, training organizations and universities where you can get your hands on equipment. ~ Laurie Guevara-Stone
On doing your part – Consumers can tighten up their houses to conserve (fix leaky faucets, replace old windows), purchase energy certificates online, or check with their utilities about available “renewable electricity” options. Also write to your state representative and let them know you care about renewable energy. ~ Dr. Jan Hamrin On energy efficiency in your home – Get an energy audit for your home and take steps to make it more energy-efficient. ~ Lori Singleton
• Rolling blackouts are a common daily occurrence in many developing countries due to underfunded electricity generation capacity or poorly managed infrastructure. • Every hour, enough solar energy falls on Earth’s surface to meet world energy needs for an entire year. • More than 100 new geothermal power projects now in development in 13 states will more than double the county’s geothermal capacity over the next five years. • Wind turbines can be large enough to produce electricity to power up to 300 homes, or small enough to power an individual home, farm or business. • U.S. wind power grew by 50 percent in 2008, and wind energy could supply at least 20 percent of U.S. electricity needs by 2030. • Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his ground-breaking experiments with solar power and photovoltaics.
14 greenliving az | May 2011
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Women’s Health
Get your Vitamin D from UVB
BY LEXIE RUNGE
W
omen throughout the Valley are discovering that their frequent fatigue is not just a result of stress or lack of sleep – it is actually linked to vitamin D deficiency.
would require 30 minutes,” Jacobs said. “Certain folks who are susceptible to skin cancer and burning absolutely should not do this.”
Vitamin D is fortified in a variety of foods, but we get a majority of our vitamin D from the sun’s UVB rays. According to Scottsdale Holistic Health, sunlight exposure accounts for 90 percent of your body’s vitamin D levels. Simply living in a sunny state like Arizona does not guarantee that you’ll receive the proper amounts of vitamin D. In fact, many Arizona residents are at risk for vitamin D deficiency, as people have become more than diligent about protecting themselves from the sun’s rays.
Jacobs also stresses that tanning for the sole purpose of vitamin D exposure will actually reduce your ability to absorb UVB rays. In a recent study, Jacobs and her co-workers examined UVB rays and melanin, a pigment in the skin. The study indicated that individuals with darker skin have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency.
It is true that excessive amounts of sunlight can be linked to skin cancer, but a mere 15 to 20 minutes in the sun without sunscreen protection can be good for you. There is no need to feel guilty about getting some sun on a Saturday, just do so in moderation. Elizabeth Jacobs Ph.D. is a cancer epidemiologist at the Arizona Cancer Center and gives some guidelines about sun exposure. “People with lighter skin can do 10 to 15 minutes in the sun with their face and arms exposed. People with darker skin
“Our work showed that in Southern Arizona approximately 20 percent of Whites, 35 percent of Hispanics, and over 50 percent of African-Americans are vitamin D deficient,” Jacobs said. Infants, the elderly, and individuals suffering from obesity are most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. Monitoring sun exposure will provide the body with the vitamin D it needs to provide protection from diseases such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases. Vitamin D also helps the body maintain levels of blood sugar and aids in calcium absorption, which strengthens bones. For those who do not enjoy getting sun or must wear sunscreen because of fair skin, there are many other natural ways to get vitamin D. Fish oil, butter, egg yolks and dairy are among many foods fortified with vitamin D; however, these foods only provide about 10 percent of the vitamin D your body requires. Side effects of vitamin D deficiency include chronic fatigue, muscle weakness, and in some cases chronic pain or depression. More severe results include rickets (a disease that causes softening and distortion of the bones in children), tuberculosis, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. In recent months, primary care doctors have become more aware of vitamin D deficiency and are performing blood tests on patients more frequently. For more information about vitamin D deficiency, visit Arizona Cancer Center at azcc.arizona.edu. SOURCES acjn.org biology.arizona.edu health.nytimes.com
heart.org vegsoc.org vrg.org
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16 greenliving az | May 2011
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Women’s Health
Stressed out? Eat… this! Dietitian and nutritionist Maya E. Nahra recommends eating the following: Fish – B12 serotonin regulator: B12 deficiencies are related to depression
Get creative when it comes to saving money AND being green. • Saving money could be as easy as changing your font. You can save up to 31 percent on ink cartridge purchases by switching to Century Gothic or Times New Roman. These fonts use less ink when printed compared to others. • Get digital with your coupons! Search for moneysaving apps on your smart phone, like Coupon Sherpa for iPhone or The Coupons App for Android. • Dining out doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Plan your meals out around dining coupons from Groupon.com, Restaurant.com and LivingSocial.com.
Almonds – Vitamins B2 and magnesium: involved in production of serotonin, helping to regulate stress levels and mood Broccoli – Folic Acid (also a B Vitamin): relieves stress and anxiety/panic Whole grain rice or pasta – Carbohydrates boost serotonin: small amounts throughout your day can maintain an even mood Fruit – Vitamin C: prolonged stress depletes Vitamin C in the adrenal glands, which produce our stress hormones, hence the importance of supporting these glands with the vitamin it needs
awakeningconnection.com
“Women Do”
From diapers, to board rooms to the art studio, Women DO inspire, educate and empower our community!
Join our next event held at Perfect Power with host Lynn Paige, CEO of Perfect Power Solar, and guest
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PERFECT POWER SOLAR 20601 N. 19th Ave. Suite 150
speaker S. Diane Graham, CEO StratcoGlobal.
r.s.v.p. events@thefusionfoundation.org 623.688.1278
Also featuring original artwork of Jenna Raskin,
jennaraskin.com and Judy Bruce, judybruceart.com
May 2011 | greenliving az 17
Health & Wellness
Cancer IS Curable
Where to Seek Successful Answers BY DR. GARRY F. GORDON, MD, DO, MD(H)
C
ancer is preventable, treatable and reversible! Anyone treating cancer patients with alternative approaches needs to keep fully informed of the good things you can legitimately offer to every cancer patient at any stage of the disease. I am incredibly excited about the latest research recently presented at the Healthy Medicine Academy Conference, “Cancer Strategies: Improving Outcomes and Quality of Life,” as well as obtaining the incredible wealth of information from Marcus Freudenmann’s and his resourceful Web site, Holistic Cancer Healing. These resources, along with my F.I.G.H.T. For Your Health program, are truly helping to stem the tide of cancer today! Marcus Freudenmann is the founder of MaxAwareness, a private research and education resource, who embarked on a threeyear journey around the world. Marcus interviewed 31 of the world’s leading experts, doctors and oncologists about better possibilities for preventing and treating cancer and disease. He compartmentalized all the knowledge into his film, now on DVD, Cancer is Curable Now. He aims to teach people how to help the body achieve and maintain the best possible health, prevent disease and heal from cancer. Many leading integrative physicians and healthcare professionals are recommending this resource for their patients and families. Dr. Robert Rowan, author of Second Opinion Newsletter, along with his wife, Dr. Terri Su , claim to share Freudenmann’s video with all of their cancer patients. Kent L. Pomeroy, MD, MD (H), said, “I am personally and professionally grateful [for those] who put together and presented the information. The knowledge and enthusiasm of each speaker inspired me to do a better job of curing my own cancer.” Another valuable resource for those seeking natural therapies against cancer comes to us from the Healthy Medicine Academy Conference, “Cancer Strategies: Improving Outcomes and Quality of Life.” Held this past March in Scottsdale, the conference presented some very exciting research from several expert integrative healthcare professionals. Topics included information on the current state of integrative oncology practices in the U.S., intravenous vitamin C, diet and nutrition in oncemetabolic syndrome, acupuncture and homeopathic remedies in detoxification for cancer patients, electromagnetic fields and cancer, and medical Qi-Gong. Dr. Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD, gave a particularly exciting lecture where he presented evidence that inflammation is a link to cancer. As an expert in the ancient tradition of Ayurveda, he has published dozens of scientific articles documenting the efficacy of natural herbs and spices in the treatment of disease, especially
the popular Indian spice turmeric, or curcumin. Dr. Aggarwal shows how all cancer therapies should include high-quality absorbable curcumin, as it provides the same effects as standard chemo! Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities, and has a potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic illnesses. These effects are mediated through the regulation of various transcription factors, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinesis and other enzymes. More specifically, curcumin exhibits activities similar to recently discovered tumor necrosis factor blockers (e.g., HUMIRA, REMICADE, and ENBREL), a vascular endothelial cell growth factor blocker (e.g., AVASTIN), human epidermal growth factor receptor blockers (e.g., ERBITUX, ERLOTINIB, and GEFTINIB), and a HER2 blocker (e.g., HERCEPTIN). Considering the recent scientific bandwagon that multi-targeted therapy is better than monotargeted therapy for most diseases, curcumin can be considered an ideal “Spice for Life.” Another intriguing presentation came from Karl Maret, MD, who addressed the relationship between electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and cancer, with particular focus on our modern telecommunications and the current changing microwave and magnetic environment. Our Earth’s natural and protective electromagnetic field is in decline, most rapidly losing 10 to 15 percent of its strength over the last 150 years. With the increasing use of electricity and wireless technologies, Dr. Maret theorizes these technologies have contributed to major mitochondrial dysfunction in our bodies, which in turn has contributed to the modern epidemic of auto-immune related diseases, including cancer. Energy medicine is one of the most exciting new developments in health and longevity, and in my opinion, represents a “missing link” in successful treatment and real healing. To learn more about this exciting new cancer research and about my F.I.G.H.T. For Your Health Program, please visit Gordon Research Institute at gordonresearch.com SOURCES Healthy Medicine Academy: healthymedicineacademy.com/index.htm MaxAwareness Holistic Cancer Healing: cancer.maxawareness.com/ members/ Wake Up Cancer is Curable Now DVD: wake-up.tv/buy-now
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18 greenliving az | May 2011
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Health & Wellness
An IntervIew
wIth
Dr. John GrAy
BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A., EDITOR-IN-CHIEf
How do men and women handle stress differently? • Women become overwhelmed while men lose motivation. • Oxytocin lowers stress for women; communicating feelings releases oxytocin. • Testosterone lowers stress for men; solving problems, or forgetting them, releases testosterone. • Women’s brains are hardwired to have emotional reactions. • Men’s brains are designed to become less emotional in order to take action. What role do hormones play? Women are drawn to situations that stimulate the release of oxytocin. Putting herself in nurturing situations releases oxytocin and decreases her stress levels. By receiving support in nurturing situations, she is able to rebuild oxytocin levels. This cycle of giving and receiving support permeates the life of a woman who successfully copes with stress. How can men best cope with stress? Men need down time. Relaxing helps men build testosterone levels, which helps relieve stress. What are some common mistakes couples make while handling stress? Misinterpreting differences is a major source of stress. What do people need to have a healthy mind and body? The answer is in our hormones. Hormones powerfully affect what we think and feel. Moods have been shown to be directly related to hormone levels. An estimated one in five Americans is dependent on stress-managing medication to help cope with life stressors. This dependence is the direct consequence of our failure to support our body’s health and well-being. What are common ways couples inadvertently stress each other out? • Men reduce stress by offering solutions to problems. Women reduce stress by talking about feelings. This Mars/Venus collision creates unnecessary fights. • He minimizes the problem and unknowingly minimizes her feelings. • While expressing her feelings, she gives him the message she doesn’t trust his point of view. • She often asks questions, then shares feelings and expects him to empathize with her feelings. • He expects her to appreciate his point of view. How does an individual handling stress well lead to longevity? Eating super foods allows our brains to more effectively regulate our stress response. With the right fuel, it only takes a few changes in our relationships and lifestyles to create a lifetime of health and happiness. Sufficient sleep is one of the most important factors for
20 greenliving az | May 2011
effectively coping with stress. The amount of sleep, quality of sleep and time you go to bed make a difference. Ideally, I recommend sleeping from 10 PM to 7 AM. How does understanding how to deal with stress lead to longevity? • Steady blood sugar levels prevent spikes in cortisol, the stress hormone, which prevents adrenal burnout and promotes the production of healthy hormones. • Relationships and our health are directly related. • Stress inhibits healthy hormone production, which causes sugar cravings. How does proper diet and nutrition help couples with their stress? What super foods do you recommend? • Healthy blood sugar levels provide fuel to make feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. • Super foods are rich in amino acids, good fats, vitamins, minerals and medicinal phytochemicals. • Eating too many processed foods creates blood sugar fluctuations. Additionally, sugar has been added to processed foods, making them less nutritious. • Stabilizing blood sugar is the key to balancing hormones. SUPER FOODS • Maca powder, derived from a Peruvian root, is known to lower stress levels and increase hormone production. Maca can help relieve hot flashes in women and increase libido in men. • Research in China has shown that Goji berries help stabilize blood sugar. • Cacao nibs are a pure source of chocolate rich in magnesium and iron. Like Goji berries, cacao nibs are a super-concentrated source of antioxidants. • Açai berries are known to increase energy levels without the side effects of caffeine. • Molasses is a good alternative that contains all of the minerals that are stripped away from processed refined sugars. • Coconut oil stimulates the body to burn fat. What are some of the simplest ways busy couples can effectively handle stress? Understanding ways men and women cope with stress on a physical hormonal level frees us from feeling hopeless, or even worse, taking our partner’s actions and reactions personally. Women commonly ask, “How can he just sit there and watch TV when the house is a mess?” Answer: Men seek out the couch or an easy chair after a stressful day because relaxing helps rebuild testosterone levels. He may not even notice the mess. Men commonly ask, “Why does she always want to talk about her day? Even worse, why does she want me to talk about my day?” Answer: Women seek out nurturing activities as a way to rebuild oxytocin levels. Listening to her will help rebuild these levels. For more advice from Dr. John Gray, visit MarsVenus.com. greenlivingaz.com
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Women Chefs
Nourishing a Community
BY BARBI WALKER
Food.
It nourishes the body and can nourish the soul. Four local female chefs know this and the rewards of nourishing a community. Arizona has a variety of female chefs making everything from sweet pastry delights to mouth-watering south-of-the-border sizzling salsas, and they are as passionate about their food as they are in their eco-cooking practices.
L: Pavle Milic, co-owner of FnB and R: Charleen Badman
Arizona native chef Charleen Badman of FnB restaurant in Scottsdale believes so strongly about using only local ingredients that she includes an abundance of Arizona wines on their menu.
“It’s very important that we are buying from local vendors,” Badman said of her commitment to buying locally. She says the relationship with local growers, producers and suppliers is very important to the community. Badman was recently asked to be part of a visiting chef program by Taylor Jones, assistant principal of Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center (ANLC) elementary school in Scottsdale, Badman rallied local troupes of organic growers, like McClendon’s Select and Maya’s Farm at South Mountain, to feed the 500 plus K-8 school children and staff. While Badman was talking to the kids about the value of fresh produce, she noticed what they were really offered for lunch. “Everything they were eating was processed food,” Badman said. She was amazed to learn the school wasn’t using the produce grown in the school’s garden to make healthy lunches. Badman proposed to the Assistant Principal Jones the idea of a fresh homemade lunch for the kids using the produce from the school’s garden. Jones, a passionate foodie herself, agreed. “Our goal was to supplement our cafeteria food with produce from the gardens, but there is a state law that prohibits us from doing that,” Jones said. That didn’t stop Badman. “She didn’t blink an eye,” Jones said. Badman improvised, using the catering license from her restaurant, she prepared the food off-site at FnB.
22 greenliving az | May 2011
“It wasn’t the typical cafeteria experience. The kids ate with their teachers and peers,” Jones said. “They exchanged pleasantries and talked about the food they were eating. I think just taking a break and relaxing over food had a huge impact on the kids and teachers.” In fact, Jones said the school nurse reported it was the quietest day all year. “I did make an impact,” Badman said. “And for what I spend on an event like Devour Phoenix, I can do this six times a year.” Devour Phoenix is a city-wide, non-profit coalition of select, independent restaurants that come together with Local First Arizona to promote local business and cultural diversity. Badman’s love of healthy food and community spirit is ingrained in her, and she wants other chefs to take up the task. Badman says that if every chef would take on one pet project like the one she did at ANLC, many people’s lives would be changed. Jones says Badman is ANLC’s own guardian angel. “The kids cheered when they heard she was coming back,” Jones said of Badman’s return to teach the kids how to make homemade pressed olive oil. “I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about olive oil before.” Badman will be at ANCL on May 23, the last day of school, with olives and olive oil from the Queen Creek Olive Mill [which was featured in Green Living AZ’s November 2011 issue]. Female chefs aren’t the only ones looking to change the way kids eat at school. Famous TV reality show and chef Jamie Oliver, of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, has challenged many school boards to change school lunches. In fact, Badman and her experience at ANLC was featured on Oliver’s Web site. But long time chef and culinary educator Barbara Fenzl Barbara Fenzl says female chefs notice that kids aren’t eating well in school because so many chefs are also moms. Fenzl had the honor of knowing and working with famous female chefs Julia Child and Simone Beck, both whom changed the American food scene. Fenzl, a Certified Culinary Professional
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Women Chefs
Chef Amanda Stine oversees the delectable menu. She uses herbs, fruits and vegetables from the organic garden and will not budge when it comes to using seasonal produce. “She doesn’t do apples until it’s apple time,” Garland says. Stine started her career cooking in Wyoming but ended up at Garland’s where she and the Garlands collaborated on the inn’s cookbook, “Sharing the Garland’s Lodge.”
(CCP), studied at LeCordon Bleu® in London and at Ecole Lenôtre in Paris and is the owner of Les Gourmettes Cooking School in Phoenix. She believes in supporting women in the food industry and has established a scholarship for young women through the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). She says being a head chef at a restaurant typically is a young and single woman’s game, and historically [and currently] there are fewer female chefs than men in the restaurant business. Suzana Davila is owner and head chef of the highly praised Café Poca Cosa in Tucson and has been working in the kitchen since she was a child at her father’s restaurant. The cafe’s menu changes daily and Davila uses as much local produce as possible in her authentic Mexican menu. But don’t expect to find your typical gut bomb deep-fried chimichanga at Café Suzana Davila Poca Cosa. Davila loves to browse the farmers’ markets for fresh and seasonal produce and incorporate her findings to bring authentic, fresh Sonoran cooking to her customers.
Amanda Stine
By taking their love of cooking and their passion for nutritious food into the community, Charleen Badman, Suzana Davila and Amanda Stine have turned FnB, Café Poca Cosa and Garland’s Lodge into successful restaurants that employ Arizonans; open people’s minds to nutritious and locally based food; and they, along with Barbara Fenzl, serve as role models for young women looking for a way to follow their passions and make a difference in people’s lives.
If your taste buds and eco sensibilities are looking for somewhere farther north, then head to Garland’s Lodge in Sedona. The lodge became a homestead in the early 1900s and the current owners, Gary and Mary Garland, have made this beautiful spot into an eco dream. This peaceful bed and breakfast serves delicious gourmet meals made with fruits and vegetables grown in the organic garden just behind the main house.
That is what ‘sustainability’ is really all about – socially, environmentally and economically beneficial practices that make Arizona a better place to live. SOURCES cafepocacosatucson.com ccapinc.org devourphoenix.org garlandslodge.com
fnbrestaurant.com jamieoliver.com Les Gourmettes Cooking School | 602-240-6767
Barbi Walker is a freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. Barbi lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son.
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480-414-9024 May 2011 | greenliving az 23
Mother / Daughter Green Makeover
Winners of the Green Living AZ makeover, Wendy and Lindsay Wesley, share their story about striving for and living a greener lifestyle. Lindsay Wesley [Daughter]
I mainly grew up in California. From as early as I can remember, my mother was most influential in my education about conservation and recycling. When I went out on my own and moved to Arizona, I became more aware of my sustainable choices. At the time, my apartment complex did not have recycling, and I took it upon myself to separate the waste and transport everything recyclable to stations nearby. As I grew in my real estate career, the biggest thing I noticed was the integration of solar energy on homes. I hope to have solar panels on my home one day. Overall, I believe that one can go further today, more than ever, in their efforts to create a greener lifestyle. Aside from my everyday efforts to cut down on electricity, carpool, recycle and save water, I strive to learn more about how to integrate sustainable practices into my everyday routine and live a healthier life. My green goal for 2011 is to be more conscientious about my eco-product and service choices – starting with beauty!
24 greenliving az | May 2011
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Mother / Daughter Green Makeover
Wendy Wesley [Mom]
Sustainability has always been a part of me, wherever I lived – and that was many places. I grew up in Oregon, a logging state, and was trained to use everything I had and not to waste. It was an everyday practice to pick up trash, recycle and conserve. When my family moved to California, continuing our conservation efforts was a seamless transition. We saved water, recycled and managed our gas consumption. In Chicago there was a great recycling program, especially for your yard trimmings. We were required to purchase brown recyclable bags and place our yard waste in them for special pick-up. Recycling was mandatory there, and if you did it wrong, you were given a fine so I learned to do it correctly fast! Another move was to Australia, a place that taught me about the benefits of using cloth bags, and I became more aware of the need to stop using plastic bags. Since living in Arizona, my daughter and I have carpooled to work, we changed out all of our light bulbs to CFLs, converted our pool to salt water, and we continue to cut back on water usage and extend our recycling efforts. My hope for Arizona is that leadership takes a more proactive role in recycling and develops and executes a better way to help the community in this effort. My green goal for 2011 is to really stop using plastic in all areas.
Thank you to all the sponsors:
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May 2011 | greenliving az 25
Green Kids
Conversational Marble Magnets
You will need: Flat glass marble magnets Pastel card stock Black fine point Sharpie Scissors Mod Podge Paintbrush Pencil Small magnets Hot glue gun
Directions: Write conversation heart sayings on pastel paper, such as “Hug me” or “Happy Mother’s Day.” Place marble over the top and trace marble lightly with pencil Cut out circles, cutting the circle a little smaller than the tracing. Paint some Mod Podge onto the flat side of the marble. Put the paper circle in place and paint Mod
Vintage Dolls
Podge over that as well. Leave the marble round side down to dry. After it has dried, attach magnets to the back of the marbles using a hot glue gun. DESIGNED BY AMANDA FORMARO Amanda is a mother of four and the craft expert for Disney’s Kaboose.com. Find more crafts, recipes and activities at craftsbyamanda.com Have a fun family craft to share? Send it to us at submissions@greenlivingaz.com.
BY CHAD HAYS
That shiny new version of Barbie as a glam mermaid is only exciting until the newer and shinier mermaid Barbie hits the stores, but vintage dolls have a timeless charm that makes them worth holding on to for many years. Whether it’s old porcelain dolls, a decades-old Barbie or Raggedy Ann and Andy, vintage dolls are worth checking out.
Where to find them: Sometimes you find exactly what you want when you weren’t even looking. Yard and estate sales can be great places to find a vintage doll at a very cheap price. Antique shops and secondhand stores can also be great places to find unique dolls from another era, also at low prices. And of course, most anything can be found on the Internet and especially eBay.
How to care for them: You’ll want to take extra special care of vintage dolls to ensure their longevity. – When cleaning the doll, be sure to use the proper cleaning method for the type of fabric or material the doll is made of. – Keep your doll out of extreme hot or cold temperatures, as this can cause paint to flake and certain materials to dry out. – Keep the dolls out of water, as this could lead to cracks and mildew forming over time. Instead of heading to the mall or a toy store, the next time you want to get a new doll, ask to go to an antique shop, Goodwill store or a yard sale and see what unique dolls you can find. You may just find one you keep for many years to come! Post a picture of your vintage doll on our Facebook page, facebook.com/ greenlivingazmag or send it to us at submissions@greenlivingaz.com. Photo source fashion-doll-guide. com/Vintage-Skipper-Dolls.html
26 greenliving az | May 2011
Tea Time You don’t have to be across the pond to enjoy a nice cuppa and scone! Treat your mom or any lovely lady in your life to a nice afternoon tea at one of these local tea houses. English Tea Room Carefree | carefreetea.com The Urban Tea Loft Chandler | urbantealoft.com Ms. Thomas’ Lovely Teahouse Mesa | msthomasteahouse.com Kimberly Ann’s Tearoom Glendale | kimberlyannstearoom.webs.com Souvia Phoenix | souviatea.com The Phoenician Resort, Lobby Tea Court Scottsdale | thephoenician.com Hackett House Tempe | hacketthouse.org/teas SEDONA The Jazz Bouquet Flower Shop and Tea Room thejazzbouquet.com TUCSON Chantilly Tea Room & Gift Boutique chantillytearoom.com Seven Cups Tea House sevencups.com Photography by Branden Eastwood
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OFF
Everyday Uses
BY KELSEY MAKINGS
F
Ways to HANDLE the extra door knob
or most, a door knob means nothing more than a way to enter or exit a room. But who says they must stay attached to the means of access? A jiggling doorknob may be replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing version, but its versatile purpose can carry on throughout the home. It just takes a little thinking outside the door. - Handle the clothes and accessories: The floor is no longer the largest closet in the house with this creative organizer. Simply attach door knobs to a wall using an anchor. The mimicked hooks can store hats, coats and scarves, and may be used in the laundry room, garage or front entry. Attaching smaller ones in the closet is an effective way to hang jewelry, while mounting them in the bathroom is a nice way to hang towels and robes.
- Handle the curtains: Jazz up the standard curtain rod by attaching complimentary door knobs with metal-to-metal glue or by welding elegant glass versions to the rod. - Handle the keys: Never lose those keys again by arranging a nice display of door knobs near the entrance of your home. Mount a few on a painted wooden board to hook your keys, purse, backpacks or other accessories. - Handle the furniture and décor: With a little creativity, old door knobs can give existing furniture a new, fun flare. Hang your favorite mirror by mounting two knobs on the wall, fastening ribbon to the back of the mirror and then tying two bows which then hook onto the knobs. Heavy knobs will make a good bookend in the office or as a paperweight on a desk. - Handle the wine: Create your own decorative wine stopper by attaching a small glass door knob to the cork, or by welding the handle to a metal wine stopper for a more permanent piece. Use this creative idea as a gift for family and friends, or as a conversation piece during gatherings.
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28 greenliving az | May 2011
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Pets
Hum mingbi rds BY ABIGAIL GILMORE
W
hen one thinks of all of Arizona’s wildlife, hummingbirds may not come to mind. But these charming, charismatic creatures can be found fluttering all over the state. If you’ve never seen one in your yard, look again. After all, Arizona is second to only Texas for the number of hummingbird species found, said Vashti “Tice” Supplee, director of bird conservation at Audubon Arizona. “Most people think of one or two species when we talk about hummingbirds,” Supplee said. On the contrary, they are the second-largest family of birds in the western hemisphere. “Like bees and butterflies, hummingbirds are important pollinators; they are able to gain nourishment from flower nectar.”
Attracting the birds When it comes to attracting hummingbirds, Supplee suggests a combination of techniques. “The very best way to enjoy hummingbirds is to plant a pollinator garden and provide a water source – decorative garden fountains or water features are perfect,” she said. “Hummingbirds are attracted to penstemon and honeysuckle varieties.” She added that hummingbirds tend to visit many flowering plants, including Texas sage, valentine bush and fairy duster. “The key is to have a variety of flowering plants that will bloom throughout the year here in the southwest,” Supplee said. If you are interested in setting out a feeder for hummingbirds, you must be committed to keeping it pristine. “During the summer heat, the solution [one part sugar and four parts water] should be changed at least every other day. Otherwise, it will ferment or get moldy,” she said. “Do not use honey or other sweeteners, as hummingbirds cannot digest them. Multiple feeders work best so that birds can gain access if a feeder is being guarded by a dominant bird.” Though hummingbirds love sugar water, another expert suggests using proteins to attract the birds. “Hang an overripe banana or soft orange [or] apple on a nail or twig on a tree – and it will attract those pesky little fruit flies. Those will bring in the hummingbirds!” said Sam Kathryn Campana, founding director of Audubon Arizona. greenlivingaz.com
If you aren’t equipped to feed the birds, you can certainly help them build their nests. “When you brush your hair in the morning, just pull the hair from the brush – and let the breeze take it onto your outdoor plants,” Campana said. “The hummingbirds will find it and incorporate it into their nest.” The birds’ nests are wound very tightly, but they will expand to make room for the growth of their eggs and babies, she said. “It’s so sweet to see your own hair (or your garment threads) in their thumb-sized nests!”
Amazing, little birds Though the birds live off of sugar water and small insects and are relatively small in size, don’t underestimate them, Supplee said. “They are amazingly tough for their small size and are truly the ‘jewels’ of the bird world, with the iridescent feathers on the head and throat of the males.” Perhaps one of the reasons hummingbirds are so intriguing is that these small birds are still a mystery to many. “Because they are small and have the ability to hover, standard bird monitoring techniques do not work very well for this family of birds,” Supplee said. “Specialized monitoring programs that include citizen observation programs are helping us better understand these dynamic and charismatic birds.”
Bird watching If you would like to catch a glimpse of many hummingbird species, consider visiting the Sky Island Mountains in southeastern Arizona during the summer, Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains, the canyons on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains or Cave Creek in the Chiricahua Mountains – they are all prime destinations. Source az.audubon.org Photo source http://rutgers-leslie.blogspot.com/2010/04/buzz-onhummingbird-gardening.html
May 2011 | greenliving az 29
Green Thumb
Natural Pesticides
BY DOREEN POLLACK
*Note: Before embarking on a bug-killing tirade, get to know the bugs in your garden. There are plenty of insects living in your mini ecosystem that are beneficial to preserving the sanctity of your space. Knowing the difference between the good and the bad bugs will aid you over the long run. Smellerific citruS peel Spray use: Soft-bodied insects, such as aphids, mites and caterpillars. ingredients: 4 cups boiled water, Chopped peel of 1 citrus fruit (orange or lemon), thin strainer, funnel, spray bottle Directions: 1. Steep the chopped orange or lemon peel in boiling water then leave overnight. 2. Strain your citrus brew through a thin-meshed strainer. Be sure to capture all the particles to avoid clogging your sprayer. 3. Funnel the liquid into a spray bottle and use. Non-edible variation: Try adding 1 teaspoon dish soap or insecticidal soap (something without fragrances and additives is preferred) to the mix. How to use: Be sure to test the sensitivity of your plant before launching a full-on assault. Some plants will burn when directly sprayed with citrus oil, especially in hot sun. Move your plant away from direct sun if possible and spray the underside of one leaf. Wait an hour or up to one day, then proceed if there is no foliar burning on the tested leaf. For the spray to have the maximum effect, you must spray the insects directly, as indirect contact may not be enough to kill the insect pests. Why it works: Oils found in citrus peels act as a nerve poison that sends soft-bodied insects into a crazy fit upon contact. Of course, anyone who has experienced citrus juice in the eye is also aware of this simple fact – it BURNS. BaD BreatH pepper garlic Spray use: All purpose. Try it on a host of insect pests. ingredients: 4 cups boiled water, 1 entire bulb of garlic, 1 small onion, 1 tablespoon hot pepper (flakes, powder or fresh), thin strainer, funnel, spray bottle Directions: 1. Steep all ingredients in boiling water then leave overnight. 2. Pour the mix into a blender or food processor and liquefy. 3. Strain through cheesecloth or a thin-meshed strainer. Be sure to capture all the particles to avoid clogging your sprayer. 4. Funnel the liquid into a spray bottle. Non-edible variation: Try adding 1 teaspoon dish soap or insecticidal soap (something without fragrances and additives is preferred) to the mix. How to use: Thoroughly coat the leaves of the infected plant with the spray. Be sure to get the undersides and other nooks and crannys where bugs will hide. Store your mixture in the fridge to avoid the rotting smell that will eventually arise. Why it works: Garlic contains a chemical that bugs don’t like. As an added bonus, it also has fungicidal properties that may aid or prevent some plant diseases. The active ingredient in hot pepper is capsicum – this is the stuff that burns your eyes. Some rodents will also be repelled by hot peppers. OtHer peStS Snails: You can also solve your snail problems with the help of recycled eggshells. Hand-crush the shells and leave plenty of rough, sharp edges. Scatter the crushed shells in circles around plants the snails are snacking on. Since the shells cause the snails discomfort when they try to cross them, they nearly always retreat. Don’t forget, a shallow bowl of beer works too! ants: Use boric acid, talcum powder or chalk as a barrier along the line of entry. roaches: Set out a dish containing equal parts sugar and baking soda. Roaches are attracted to the sugar, and the baking soda kills! Visit down2earthgardens.com for more information.
30 greenliving az | May 2011
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Growing Arizona’s Best Gardens
www.GRO-WELL.com
Green Ideas Journal
DIY | Energy-Savings Tips BY CHARLIE POPECK, LEED AP
R
eady to reduce your home’s energy costs? Charlie suggests some energy-saving strategies that can also make your home more comfortable and sustainable. It’s evident that energy costs are not going down anytime soon. In fact, as gasoline prices continue to set record highs, any energy-related lifestyle improvements we make today will produce big dividends in the months and years ahead. The current trend in big thing now is to save money in your home is to hire an energy audit company to find ways to save you energy and money. There are specific items that the audit will reveal about your home. Instead of explaining the audit process, why don’t we get right to the recommendations that might derive out of an audit, and you can get started on your DIYs and saving energy and money. Please note that as you read over the energy-saving strategies, you need to view your home from a holistic perspective rather than as a collection of separate systems and components. Each suggested strategy should be considered in relation to how well it will work with or against other strategies to ensure the exponential benefits a whole-building approach can provide. Seal all cracks and crevices inside and out. Use expandable foam sealant products around doors and windows, then finish off with the best quality caulking you can find. Make sure all products are low in volatile organic compound (VOC). Weatherstrip doors and windows – especially at the door threshold. Install additional insulation in the attic. Consider installing insulation in the rafters instead of ceiling joists. If your mechanical equipment is located in the attic, creating this semi-conditioned space will greatly improve your home’s energy performance. Install ceiling fans to reduce the need for heating and air conditioning. Window film, blinds or coverings will lessen solar heat gain. Install compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) which save about 50 percent energy over standard bulbs. Many utility companies offer incentives to replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs, so it’s worth a phone call to see what your local utility offers. Install a breather vent in your laundry room. This will allow your dryer to pull in outside air for drying your clothes instead of drawing in air you’ve just paid to heat or cool.
32 greenliving az | May 2011
For your water heater: Lower the thermostat, install a timer to avoid heating water at night or during on-peak hours, wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket, install a hot-water recirculating pump, upgrade to a tankless water heater, or install a point-of-use water heater in the kitchen (if the kitchen sink is located far from the water heater). Seal your attic access. You can buy a seal kit at most hardware stores that will fit neatly over your attic opening. Utilize landscape elements like deciduous trees and plants for shading. Incorporate other shading devices like awnings, light shelves and extra-large overhangs which will keep the hot summer sun from striking your windows and envelope, but may be more expensive than other options. Landscape lighting can be converted to low voltage, some fixtures can be eliminated or all exterior lighting can be switched to solar fixtures. They are easy to install, low in maintenance requirements and eliminate all electricity costs. Since it’s not unusual for your pool pump to use more electricity than all of your other appliances in the home combined, consider replacing your energy-hungry pool pump motor with an energy-efficient pool pump. The IntelliFlo VS-3050, made by Pentair (pentairpool.com) can save more than 90 percent on pool filtering costs due to its efficient design, which could save you more than $100 per month! Also, be sure to only run your pool pump during off-peak hours. Sign up for your utility company’s time-of-use plan and stick with it. Other energy-efficient pool strategies include solar heating, and pool/spa covers. There you go, green ideas you can use to lower your energy costs now! My advice is to develop an overall energy savings program and start with the strategies that will give you the most bang for your energy-efficiency buck. As more money becomes available through energy savings, consider working down the list. In a short time, you’ll have greatly reduced energy costs, reduced your home’s environmental footprint and improved the value of your home. Charlie Popeck is the president of Green Ideas Sustainability Consultants and is a contributor to Green Living AZ magazine. Green Ideas specializes in helping design, construction and facility management teams understand and implement building science and sustainability into their projects. He can be reached at Charlie@Egreenideas.com. Find more of Charlie’s energysavings tips at greenlivingaz.com.
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Feature
Architects in Heels Women Architects Take the Lead
BY Kristi Eaton
As architect Erin Nunes Cooper arrived at a construction site for a meeting, the new site supervisor approached her and asked if she was lost. She wasn’t lost in fact, she was running the show. “He was quite surprised when I introduced myself, and he realized not only that I belonged there, but that I owned the company whose stamp was on all the drawings,” said Cooper, owner of Florence, Massachusetts-based Cooper Green Design.
I
n a field that has historically been dominated by men, it’s a scene that many female architects can probably identify with. While there has been improvement in the male-to-female ratio in recent years, men still far outnumber women in the industry. A 2009 study from the National Architectural Accrediting Board showed 41 percent of architecture program graduates were women – but even fewer become licensed. “Even though architecture schools produce an equal [ratio] of women and men when they graduate, for some reason not a lot of women go on to pursue getting licensure,” said Lira Luis, a principal architect at Atelier Lira Luis, LLC, in Chicago and Manila.
34 greenliving az | May 2011
One of the biggest problems for women is getting licensed, said Jane Frederick, who owns Frederick + Frederick Architects with her husband, Michael, in South Carolina. “I think this is due to life getting in the way.” Frederick said she’s thankful she passed her licensing test while she was six months pregnant, because it would have been difficult to study with an infant at home. However, firms today seem to be more flexible and accommodating to mothers, she added. Luis, like many others in field, knew at an early age that she wanted to become an architect. She was in first grade when she decided to pursue her dream. Her personal determination led her to be the first Filipino who earned American citizenship and was accepted into Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Preservation. “It was an uphill battle being a woman in architecture, from my architecture school days to getting license to getting my own work,” said Luis, who counts the Perkins+Will’s Project Architect of the Bank of America headquarters, a high-rise building pursuing LEED gold certification, as her most complex building. But not everyone knows they want to be an architect as a child. Cooper didn’t consider studying architecture until a series of injuries sidelined her dreams of becoming a dancer and choreographer. She applied to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh on a whim, but is grateful she found the perfect marriage of her rational and creative sides. greenlivingaz.com
Feature
...sustainability can come in two variations: the person who lives and works within the built environment and the actual building site itself. “They complement each other and one can’t work without the other,” said Heiberger.
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Feature Gail Zylkowski Merth, design director for BRCA, a 140-person design firm with several offices in Washington and Virginia, said she is often the only woman on a project among engineers, contractors and subs. However, Merth added, “I expect this to change dramatically during the next ten years or so.”
Architecture has many opportunities for women and favors to the natural multitasker. “One peek into the calendar of a working mother proves these abilities,” Merth said. “I’ve also noticed that we tend to be good at compromising when the situation demands it and work very hard to listen and meet client needs.”
Sustainability in architecture Julie Heiberger, a project architect at Appleton, Wisconsinbased Hoffman LLC that specializes in the Senior Living and Women Religious sector, believes sustainability can come in two variations: the person who lives and works within the built environment and the actual building site itself. “They complement each other and one can’t work without the other,” said Heiberger, who counts a new convent, Cenacle Sisters, targeting LEED Gold in New York as one of her most noteworthy projects. “Design has to ultimately be functional — both the residents of the building need to feel at home and the staff needs to have work areas in order to provide services to residents when needed. [Additionally,] the process of good design is not selfserving but listening to the needs and challenges of our clients and recommending solutions that address the issues.” Jennifer Knudsen, associate principal at CO Architects, said she envisions a time in the future when architects move beyond checklists and scorecards for measuring sustainability. “These tools have been important for the advancement of sustainability, but are less successful in measuring more
subjective approaches, such as integrated design,” said Knudsen. Her take on new technology is that 3D building modeling systems like BMI allow for greater collaboration between owner, architect, contractors and engineers, and allow for better sustainable methods. Knudsen is currently working on the SF Health Sciences Building on the Phoenix Biomedical campus. Sharon Woodworth, senior associate architect with Ashen+Allen in San Francisco, believes architects need to reclaim sustainability. “The LEED program has made it convincing for clients to participate in sustainability, but clients are now left with the impression that ‘accreditation’ is required to do the right thing when I believe the education of architecture has always strived for sensitivity to the Earth.” Woodworth is part of design teams that help design hospitals ranging from 5,000 square feet to more than 1.5 million square feet. Building responsibly — the first time — is important to Kim Fernandez, a principal with ABA Architects in Tucson. “I would like to find a way to build more responsibly the first time — back to 50-year-building quality — since the best green building is one where we keep reusing it and not using up valuable resources to demolish and build more and more cheap new construction,” Fernandez said.
A promising future While leading architecture organizations have chapters and committees devoted specifically to women, Cooper thinks that with the strides women are making many organizations will blend together as one. “I think the smartest and most savvy male leaders in the field will begin to recognize that women have talent and skills that the profession really needs,” Cooper said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if these men start showing up at the women architecture events to learn how they can adapt their practices to embrace women architects.” Comment on this article at greenlivingaz.com
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Contact Cheryl Crawford at 520.292.1020 or greeningredientsllc.om 36 greenliving az | May 2011
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Corporate Social Responsibility
Green Living AZ asked our municipalities, non-profits and local businesses how are women in your organization leading efforts in sustainability? World Care Civilian Emergency Relief Center of Tucson
Lisa Hopper is the CEO/Founder of World Care Civilian Emergency Relief Center of Tucson. Since its inception in 1996, World Care has promoted “Recycling and Reusing for Humanity First” in an effort to help those in need locally and globally in times of crisis. World Care has diverted nearly 30 million pounds of resources (valued at $50 million) away from landfills and put it in the hands of those in need. World Care is also is the largest non-profit recycler of electronics in southern Arizona and has an active community outreach to educate individuals, companies and others on how they can be green.
City of Peoria
Susan Daluddung, Deputy City Manager for Development and Community Services, has provided visionary leadership in sustainability and has inspired the government and the community to align efforts with that vision. “Decisions we face in Peoria are crucial to our quality of life now and in the years ahead,” Daluddung said. “We want to act wisely for the long term and not wildly on random experimentation.” Lisa Estrada, Intergovernmental Affairs Coordinator, has led the city’s sustainability educational outreach program and was the organizer behind the city’s Green Zone, which showcased Peoria’s commitment to future generations through green practices. “We are leading by inspiring employees and the community to live more sustainably, even if it is subtle at first,” Lisa Estrada said. “I truly believe that once we see that it is possible to change our behavior, you can’t help but take it one step further.” Sherine Zaya, Public Information Manager, Acting, developed the comprehensive communications strategy, in an effort to engage the public in sustainability.
Ace Air
“As the first technologically advanced HVAC company to go ‘green’ in Arizona, it’s our responsibility to perform our services with the highest level of ecological and efficient sustainability,” said Jessica Feldman, Marketing Coordinator for Ace Air. As a leading residential HVAC contractor, Ace Air’s eco-friendly and innovative recycling efforts are paving the way for advanced green efforts in the industry. In addition to recycling all air conditioning unit packaging and coolant, Ace Air goes above and beyond by additionally recycling the actual air conditioning unit piece by piece. Ace Air staff takes irreparable units, dissects and sorts metals by alloy to recycle. Ace Air recycles over 10 tons of steel, 6 tons of copper, 3 tons of cardboard and 1 ton of aluminum twice each week. Jessica Feldman oversees various facets of Ace Air’s marketing and day-to-day operations, including sustainable practices.
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May 2011 | greenliving az 37
Community
Sandra
Day O’Connor House
Arizona’s Switzerland for Public Discourse
BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A.
T
he rustic gate opens the pathway leading up to the Sandra Day O’Connor House. Up the hill I go until I reach the house that is famous for not only being relocated, but also being the home of the first female Supreme Court Justice of the United States, Sandra Day O’Connor. A gentle reverence comes over me.
History of relocation The original Sandra Day O’Connor House was designed by architect D.K. Taylor. Taylor reached out to George Ellis, who had previously built adobe houses, to complete the O’Connors’ vision. Within the walls, John and Sandra O’Connor raised three boys and lived in the house until 1981, when they had to move because Sandra was appointed to the Supreme Court. Over the next 20 plus years, the house changed hands. In 2007, the owner decided to demolish the O’Connors’ home. This prompted an intimate group of people to come together and preserve this part of Arizona history. With a cast of Barbara Barrett, Gay Wray, Elva Coor, Viki Budinger, Mike Rooney and Kim Sterling Heflin, they put together a dream team with the help of the City of Tempe, Mayor Hugh Hallman, Rio Salado Foundation and the daughter of George Ellis, Janie Ellis, to preserve the house. Partnering with Sundt Construction, McCulloch Moving, Tim Brown, AIA, Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Pulte Homes, Jeff Abraham, and Paolo Soleri, the team prevailed in moving the home to its current location in Papago Park, adjacent to the Arizona Historical Museum. The
38 greenliving az | May 2011
O’Connor House exists to facilitate a space where people and the government can come together and engage in civil discourse.
Today Rita A. Smith, AIA, board member on the O’Connor House and architect by trade, was my hostess for the day. When asked how she got involved with this entity, she said, “Elva Coor, [chair of the O’Connor House executive committee], was on NPR and I was inspired by this story, and as an architect it took on another interest. I actually called into the show to talk to Elva and see how I could get involved.” As Rita opened the door, we entered what is considered the kitchen and family room. I looked around at the spacious area, admiring this structure. The historic part of the house consists of the 2,883 adobe bricks, made from the Salt River banks, that make up the walls and fireplace, and the 4,000 square feet of roofline. The foundation, floors and internal steel walls were all new. Interior design includes mid-century modern aesthetic pieces and a desk and two chairs from Justice O’Connor’s collection. From the moment you walk through the door, there is an unwritten message of, “Come in, sit down, let’s chat.” In an article for Arizona Attorney Magazine, Andrea Norman writes, “O’Connor credits her adobe home with providing the setting for compromise and collaboration. Over potluck or greenlivingaz.com
Community
specially prepared dinners, Justice O’Connor hosted Democrats and Republicans to reach bipartisan solutions for closely divided issues.” In the O’Connor House Press Kit, Justice O’Connor stated, “My hope is to re-create a place that will be a center for problemsolving and bringing together groups with divergent views. This House is a great place to do that.” We ventured outside, and rabbits, lizards and quail scampered away as we walked by. An aloe vera garden was in full bloom and other native plants added to my vision of where the home used to reside. A few steps down, a cement circular seating space with a fire pit in the center is available for congregating. Back inside, I walked down the hallway to the former bedrooms. The two smaller bedrooms have been transformed into meeting rooms decorated with Arizona memories and pictures of the O’Connor family. Continuing down the hall, I approached the old master bedroom and paused in the doorway. Before me was a rectangular table with 10 chairs, and at the head of the table, placed strategically on the wall, was a stunning picture of Justice O’Connor. To me, the picture set the tone for anyone who entered: Come, sit together, stay civilized and discuss. I was mesmerized by this photograph and stood there for quite some time daydreaming about her efforts to create bipartisanship and the true meaning behind the preservation of this structure. “Spaces can have memory,” my guide Rita said. “The memories of Justice [O’Connor] bring people together [and] resonate within these walls. And that energy can [lead to] civic action.” Photographer Jon Simpson was a witness to the entire relocation process while creating a short documentary film of the journey. “The experience was analogous to what an adobe house is itself. You have all of these natural materials coming together to provide a loving shelter for the young O’Connor family,” Simpson said. “And in 2007 all of these women came together, and with their love and natural energy they were able to make the dream of relocating and preserving the house a reality.” During the transition of the House, I remember the efforts many friends and civic leaders made to make this happen. Unfortunately, my involvement in this project was more from
At the time, I didn’t completely understand the true meaning and message behind this home. After experiencing this space with a new set of eyes, I can attest to the need to bring people together, talk and find solutions here at the O’Connor House. With technology at the helm of communication, I still believe there is a value in the face-to-face, and when given the chance to interact, there is more opportunity to understand, clarify and co-create.
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Community
Current projects of the O’Connor House include public policy, domestic violence, civic education and renewal, Arizona Education Commitment and the public history of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The O’Connor House is opening up more opportunities for the community to rent the space for meetings, events and gatherings. I encourage you to learn the story about the relocation and consider visiting this amazing piece of Arizona history. Come in, laugh, talk and be – together. For more information about the O’Connor House and programs, call 480-921-2430 or email oconnorhousevolunteers@gmail.com. To view the Justice Sandra Day O’Connor exhibit visit the Arizona Historical Society in Tempe, call 480-929-0292 or go to arizonahistoricalsociety.org. SOURCES myazbar.org oconnorhouse.org Press Kit provided by O’Connor House supportriosalado.org
Photography by Jon Simpson
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Architecture
Guest House
Invites Green Design BY DAVID M. BROWN
S
tarted in January 2010 and scheduled for completion in October 2011 by Scottsdale’s RD Hendrickson & Son Construction, the energy-efficient 1,200-square-foot casita includes two bedrooms and two baths. Twelve years ago, RD Hendrickson completed the original “Desert Dome” main house with four bedrooms, a walk-out basement, two-car garage and pool area. The 8,250-square-foot three-level incorporates two domes flanking an arched glassed section, shaded by a sail canopy. The aluminum panels were manufactured in Florida by StarNet, known for Epcot in Orlando and Paris Paris in Las Vegas. In summer 2009, the homeowner approached RD Hendrickson to return for the guest house project. “I like keeping my living environment comfortable, with as little negative impact as
Photography by Tonyhernandezphotography.com
possible,” she said, noting that the addition celebrates her love for the desert while reiterating features of the main home. “We sat down and came up with a basic design, and from there I assembled my dream team,” said Hendrickson, a custom homebuilder since 1984. He selected two of the Valley’s most respected design professionals: James Hann, AIA, and Tony Sutton, ASID, owner of Scottsdale-based Est Est Inc., the city’s oldest interior design firm. “The incredible vaulted space that connects the two domes was
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Architecture the inspiration for the shape of the guest house,” explained Hann. For the interior design, Sutton’s crew was inspired by the owner’s love for desert fauna and flora and its earth tones and textures. “While maintaining the focus on green products, we chose to keep nature-themed elements as a predominant player in the interiors of the home,” explained Holly Asher, Allied ASID, the project’s primary interior designer. “The guest home is in the heart of the Arizona desert and surrounded by five acres of beautiful desert, with majestic saguaros, palo verde trees, rocks and boulders and Black Mountain,” Asher said. “We wanted to incorporate many of those elements in the décor of the home.” For privacy and views, Hann sited the guest home on an eastwest axis to maximize efficiency of the roof solar panels, shading and mountain views to the north. The bedrooms are on the east and west sides; the adjoining baths are on the south, providing a thermal buffer.
trees, potted sago palms, lantana and purple-flowering green cloud sage ground covers and golden barrel and night-blooming Argentine giant cactus. May installed a Solar Sync “smart” controller from Hunter Industries; a sensor adjusts the drip irrigation based on rainfall. The home also uses two tankless ondemand water heaters, which, without a storage tank, avoid the standby heat losses of traditional units. Six arches are the central architectural element, meeting concrete piers at the front and back of the home. Clad in painted sheet metal, the Douglas fir arches cradle a standing seam roof that supports the solar arrays. “This is a more efficient way to enclose space and ‘softens’ the transition to the vertical walls,” Hann explained. Natural light streams are maximized from the north and minimized on the south. The east and west sides are configured as mechanical and storage space, creating a natural sun buffer, Hann said. A north-facing clerestory window adds entry light. Inside, energy savings continues as Hendrickson ordered spray
Similarly, the back windows and door frame the landmark mountain as well as eliminate views of two neighboring homes. All windows are Pella, low-e, dual-pane, aluminum-clad, wood windows, with Forest Stewardship Council approved frames. Just outside the rear doors is a lounging patio, set with travertine tile and surrounded by an integrally colored concrete earthtone sitting area. Here, the owner and her guests enjoy pristine saguaro-studded desert, where jackrabbits, bobcats and javelina visit on the ground and red-tail hawks and other indigenous birds fly through. Water efficiency extends on the casita grounds and in conjunction with the main home. Jeff May, owner of Superior Landscape Specialists in Cave Creek, planted a “sonoran lush composite” xeriscape with native or other drought-tolerant trees and plants. These include Brazilian pepper and sweet acacia
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Above and next page: Photography courtesy of homeowner
May 2011 | greenliving az 43
Architecture foam insulation resulting in R-30 walls and an R-50 roof/ceiling. This is much more efficient and requires less depth than traditional fiberglass batts or blownin insulation, he noted. Additionally, the air quality is that of a medical facility. There are dual-speed 20-SEER Carrier air-conditioning units that have underground returns for natural cooling, as well as a Venmar air exchanger with a Carrier air purification system. For most of the year, the solar arrays on the casita roof and on an adjacent open-wall parking structure provide all power needs for the main and guesthouses, and about 40 percent of the required peak-power demand, Hann said. The owner sells the excess power back to Arizona Public Service. Furthermore, Hendrickson installed Viking energy-efficient appliances and low-water-use faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms. Hann recommended TruStile doors, engineered
with all recycled content yet custom crafted. In the bathrooms, and elsewhere, Sutton and Asher incorporated cream-colored travertine with gray and white stones. In one of the shower enclosures, for example, the white stones seem to move within a horizontal channel, as if replicating the natural wash separating the main and guest homes outside. Est Est extensively used bamboo for parts of flooring and much of the guesthouse cabinetry and pressure heated the material for a richer caramel hue. “We used this treatment rather than staining to omit any off-gassing that typically occurs with staining bamboo or any other hardwoods,” Asher said. Sutton and Asher also used natural fibers, such as cotton, silk and hemp, as the main content for the upholstered goods. Window treatments include natural linen drapery panels as well as woven wood shades and bamboo cornices. All project members coordinated to develop the natural theme: link the two homes as designs and build green. “This was a fun project because of the people that came together — each bringing their expertise and working as a team,” the owner said. “From the beginning, everyone was willing to listen to what I wanted, and they created a wonderful-looking building that, simply put, feels good to be in.” David M. Brown is a 30-plus-year Valley resident who writes on architecture, design, the environment and other subjects. He has two grown children, who keep him young, and a Border collie, who keeps him in line. Send us your architecture story to submissions@greenlivingaz.com.
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44 greenliving az | May 2011
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Prescott College When you think of obtaining a sustainable education, what schools come to mind? Just look in your own backyard and you’ll find Prescott College – a college without walls. At Prescott College, we strive to expand our students’ mindset about sustainable education and challenge them to take their local knowledge and expand it globally by integrating sustainable technology, research, and methodology into their experience. We are an independent liberal arts college offering bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, as well as teacher certification and adult education/ lifelong learning opportunities. Each of our educational programs reflects the College’s commitment to the environment and social justice. Our On-campus Bachelor of Arts Program allows students to tailor undergraduate coursework to match their collegiate goals while preparing them for the real world. Internships, independent studies, apprenticeships, and study abroad opportunities are strongly encouraged. Prescott College students are able to work in interdisciplinary fields such as human development, ecopsychology, interdisciplinary arts, environmental education, human ecology, agroecology, outdoor and adventure education, counseling psychology, and wilderness leadership, among many others. Returning students can take advantage of our Low-residency Bachelor of Arts Program. Each student pursues an independent-study curriculum with guidance from Prescott College faculty. The coursework is completed in the student’s home community through the
assistance of local, qualified mentors. This flexible structure allows students to maintain their family and work life while they study at a distance. The Low-residency Master of Arts Program allows students to earn a master’s degree from wherever they are in the world. Students can design just about any degree within five broad areas of study: counseling and psychology, education, environmental studies, humanities, and adventure education. You won’t find a better graduate program to integrate your needs, interests, and career goals. Our Ph.D. in Education, concentration in Sustainability Education, is a lowresidency program that brings together several current undergraduate and graduate specialties, from environmental studies to psychology, to accommodate many individuals’ learning goals. The program strives to contribute to synergistic learning and change in consciousness, education, culture, and society. Ph.D. students undertake an action-oriented dissertation, demonstrating passionate scholarship in the sustainability education niche. The Lifelong Learning Center at Prescott College provides educational and service opportunities for learners of all ages. Courses extend learning opportunities similar to Prescott College degree courses to non-degree-seeking students who may only be interested in one particular topic or course offering. Programming includes educational travel; professional development; certification and continuing education; children, youth, and family; and community classes and educational programs.
“I am excited by the fact that at Prescott College I can study sustainability and focus on an area that relates to my occupation and interests.” – Darien Ripple, faculty member at Chandler-Gilbert Community College We find that our students thrive in an environment that allows for selfdirection and self-designed programs of study. Our faculty is highly qualified and committed to working with and supporting students in their individual area of interest. Throughout our students’ education, whatever their path, we strive to make their experience personal, fuel their passion, and help them find meaning in their work. We challenge them to ask important questions: “Who am I serving?” and “How am I impacting humanity, the eco-system, or my community?” When you graduate from Prescott College, our curriculum and the life skills gained here will be transferrable to both your work and daily sustainable living. In addition to the main campus in Prescott, the College operates a center in Tucson. The Tucson Center serves students residing in Tucson and other southern Arizona communities. The Center is a meeting place for students, faculty and advisors, and provides opportunities for students in similar study areas to meet and discuss their work.
technology
Become Your Friend? BY WILLIAM JANHONEN, LEED AP, NAHB-CGP
I
n March 2010, a devastating windstorm hit southwestern Connecticut. Some claim a microburst caused the 75 mph winds that followed the two-day rainstorm. The resulting devastation showed century-old trees uprooted and many others broken like matchsticks. Several areas were without power for a week and teams of tree specialists and electrical crews came from as far away as Canada and North Carolina to help repair the damage. My wife and I were in our kitchen when one of the seven century-old oak trees we lost during that storm hit our rooftop. Afterwards the damage from flooding and seepage into basements of homes was the biggest concern for many families. With no power, it means no sump pumps, furnaces or water pumps for potable water. Additionally, the local Home Depot ran out of generators in one day because of the enormous demand. The national cry for renewable energy is loud and active. Everyone from President Obama to Secretary of the Department of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu, has been voicing the renewable energy message: According to the White House FACT SHEET on America’s Energy Security, with regard to creating markets for clean energy technology, it states, “To move capital off of the sidelines and into the clean energy economy - creating jobs in the process - we need to give businesses and entrepreneurs a clear signal that there will be a market for clean energy innovation. That’s why the Administration is committed to pursuing a Clean Energy Standard (CES), an ambitious but achievable goal of generating 80 percent of the Nation’s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035 - including renewable energy sources like wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower; nuclear power; efficient natural gas; and clean coal.”
48 greenliving az | May 2011
Altronicsenergy.com discusses how Honeywell’s® Wind Turbine is one innovation providing a new direction in wind turbine power for homes and businesses - it starts turning at only 0.5 mph of wind, and electrical generation starts at 2 mph versus 7 to 10 mph for conventional turbines.
This turbine’s innovative shape and method of power generation do not involve conventional gearing. The turbine’s blade tips are the point of generation and allow easier, and quieter, movement. I stood next to a unit at the International Builders Show in Orlando this January and could not hear it running over the crowd asking questions. It seems a very viable alternative for certain areas with ample wind to provide clean, renewable energy for a home or business. Many have questioned the kilowatt output of wind turbines and the return on investment. While solar photovoltaic systems seem to be the rage, they average between $2.14 to $5.34 per watt. If it weren’t for federal and state tax incentives and rebates, many of these systems would not be cost-effective. Wind turbines are flexible and come with various components and configurations. They can be set up in series “on-grid” or “off-grid,” so the price is dependent on each individual installation. Other concerns involve wind speed maintained at lower levels to create sufficient power for optimal power generation. Most wind turbines recommend installation at heights of 60 to 90 feet, and airspeeds of 7 to 9 mph minimum. The Honeywell Wind Turbine allows for installation at a minimum of 33 feet, and depending upon the class wind level of your area, a height of 40 feet for average
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Technology
power generation in as little as 2 mph for electrical power generation. “We became involved in the turbine because we were manufacturing sub-components for the Honeywell Wind Turbine by Windtronics and we saw the need for a complete turn-key operation,” said Ashley McNees, director of sales and marketing for Altronics Energy. “We have a group that sells and installs the units as well as understands the rebate and tax incentives completely, so it’s one-stop shopping.” “People are excited about the wind turbine because they have been waiting years for this type of product,” McNees said. “When we display the unit, we are constantly answering questions and the excitement is enormous.” If the need for reducing the dependence on foreign oil is a goal in this country, we will have to start being proactive at finding alternative sources for power. If every home had an alternative power source, either solar or wind (or both), could the threat of natural disaster or attack on the national grid be decreased? Take it a step further, would it be possible that we could one day actually say, ‘NO THANK YOU’, to foreign oil? Like any new technology, I think Honeywell’s Wind Turbine is a start in the right direction. With time and trial, the systems will become more sophisticated, efficient and cost-effective. My personal philosophy is, I’d rather try something and fail than succeed at doing nothing. To protect my home I will get a wind turbine, and the next time we have a storm that knocks out our power for days, I will just say thank you for the blowhard storm.
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May 2011 | greenliving az 49
Feature
For the
Love
modern dance to the streets of Tempe and Phoenix.
D
ance is the movement of the human body through space and time to a rhythm or pattern. It can be to music or a metronome, choreographed or free-style, but dance always involves the body in motion. Watching the graceful fluidity of ballet or the heart-pounding moves of the samba can communicate feelings of awe, or even inspiration to the observer. Dance has been communicating for thousands of years. Tribes from North America to Africa have carried down tales of heartbreak, love, longing and important lessons illustrated by dance. People’s love of dance hasn’t faded today, just look at the Nielsen ratings where Dancing With the Stars, a reality/dancing show, is now in its twelfth season and regularly holds the number one spot with over 22 million viewers. When I asked professional dancers, “Why does dancing matter?” I wasn’t being rhetorical; I really wanted to know, what made people care so much about dance? Aileen Mapes, a dance teacher in Austin, TX, with a Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University, said, “It’s an ephemeral experience, it’s a personal experience. I think dance is emotional and spiritual, and to come see dance brings people together in a community. I think dance breaks down barriers of self confidence,” She adds. To explore dance in a new way, Mapes created, performed in, and documented Guerrilla Dance Attack, which brought the art of
50 greenliving az | May 2011
Dancers in Mapes’ troupe were strategically placed in pedestrian venues, such as Mill Avenue. The dancers looked like they were shopping or having lunch, but when the music started, they danced – on the street, sidewalk, or in the cafe. This spontaneous expression of emotion and movement would frequently provoke on-lookers to get up and dance. “I loved it when I would see a businessman in his suit get up and dance to the music, or the one old cowboy in his boots and jeans get up and dance,” Mapes said of her thesis project. “I figured if people weren’t coming to see dance, we would take dance to them.” It reminds me of the proverb, “We are fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well just dance.”
We often worry we will look foolish, so we don’t move, we don’t celebrate the moment or the emotion. We never wonder whether our fear of looking foolish may actually be more foolish than our failure to live fully in the moment or the emotion. Native Arizonan and professional dancer Wesly Feuquay, M.ED., thinks that we, as a Western culture, have gotten away from movement. “We are drawn to dancing because we aren’t meant to be as sedentary as we have become,” Feuquay said. “It’s very natural for the body to move.” Feuquay has danced professionally for 17 years and competes greenlivingaz.com
Feature
internationally in ballroom dancing. He also teaches dance at the college level. With a background in psychology, he sees dance as ingrained in our social connectedness. “The intuitive nature is in us to read bodies in motion, whether it’s a healthy body, a sick body – I mean, you can tell someone limping from yards away,” Feuquay said. He goes on to explain that all ballroom dances have deeper cultural backgrounds than most people know. “Anthropologists would be out discovering tribes and their native dances, bring them home and put them to ‘modern music’ of the time. These dances would get ‘cleaned’ up,” Feuquay said of the Latin-based dances like the samba, mambo and cha cha, “[and] their tribal genesis [would be] all but forgotten.” “Whereas in Western Europe [dance has] more of a religious, spiritual background. The dancers are carried up, away from the floor, even in ballet,” Feuquay said. “Looking at the more primal, tribal dances in South American or African countries, dance was expressed in a small, earthy and grounded way. There was probably less space to move in, yet in that tribal environment people were more free to express themselves.” Feuquay said. Those dances were often more sexually expressive than their European and American counterparts, the waltzes and foxtrots.
Dance has always been about more than beauty and entertainment, and it can be just as much science as it is art.
Photography courtesy of Aileen Mapes
One company exploring that confluence is a collaboration of dancers, musicians and technology experts called UrbanSTEW (which stands for Safe Terrain for Experimental World), a nonprofit organization that brings together experts in fine arts and technology.
UrbanSTEW is finding ways to make dance more vital in our society. Aileen Mapes’ Guerilla Dance Attack created a way to take modern dance to the community. And Wesley Feuquay is teaching a new generation not only how to dance but educating about why we dance.
Dancer and UrbanSTEW spokeswoman Jessica Mumford says the organization looks at how to make dance more useful and meaningful in society.
Dance is a form of expression, and your expression, for that matter. I say again, “We are fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well just dance.”
“We, as dancers, have a complex and deep understanding of movement,” Mumford said. “We have such a detailed vocabulary of movement and we have this beautiful art form so we understand how people naturally move through space.” UrbanSTEW uses that knowledge and artistic insight to help technical experts find new solutions to engineering challenges involving mobile phones, software, and computer software.
SOURCES jessicamumford.com phoenixusadance.org pvfads.com – Fred Astaire Dance Studios wfeuquay@netscape.net urbanstew.org
Sarah Malan-McDonald MFA in Dance from ASU C3 (Creative Community Collective dance) 208.403.1142
VIDEOS ustream.tv/channel/guerrilla-dance-attack
Mumford, a 2009 Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts outstanding graduate of the year, sees her work with UrbanSTEW as using dance to help find solutions in disciplines as diverse as ergonomics and software development.
Barbi Walker is a freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. Barbi lives in Phoenix with her husband and young son.
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May 2011 | greenliving az 51
Conservation
Wolf in Coyote’s Clothing BY EDWARD R. RICCIUTI
T
aylor Mitchell’s career as a folk singer was taking off, bigtime, two years ago. The 19-year-old from Toronto, Canada, had just released her first album, been invited to perform in the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and in October was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Young Performer of the Year. A few days after the nomination, she was dead, savaged by coyotes in an attack that made international headlines and was the subject of an hour-long show on the National Geographic Channel. The assault on Mitchell, who was hiking alone in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands National Park, was not a defensive reaction by startled animals nor motivated by rabies or other animal health issues. It was a deliberate act of predation on a full-grown human by at least two adult coyotes in prime condition, a first for the record books. Even though coyotes are as common as blackbirds in Arizona, there is no need to panic over the Cape Breton attack. Coyotes in the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada are an entirely different breed of cat – or, rather, canid – than those of the western states. Genetic studies during the past few years have confirmed long-held suspicions that coyotes from the North and East carry wolf DNA. In fact, some scientists are beginning to call them “coywolves,” a wolf in coyote’s clothing, so to speak. Western coyotes began pushing into the fringes of the eastern deciduous forest about a century ago. Agriculture and logging had opened up the landscape, smoothing the way for these former residents of the plains. One group moved through Ohio, the other around the northern Great Lakes and Ontario. Coyotes taking the northern route began to interbreed with the
52 greenliving az | May 2011
eastern subspecies of the gray wolf, something that seldom, if ever, happened in the west. Some scientists believe they also bred with the wolves of the Algonquin Provincial Park, north of Toronto, which may be a distinct wolf population. Unlike most hybrids, these coywolves were fertile. Coyotes moving through Ohio never encountered wolves, although eventually many mixed with the coywolves. Starting in the 1930s, reports surfaced of coyotes in western New York and Ontario. By the 1960s, coyotes were becoming common in many eastern states and now are a major ingredient of the fauna, markedly distinct from their western brethren. The difference between eastern and western animals was repeatedly cited by federal and state wildlife officials hoping to calm public fears during a coyote scare in Los Angeles about a month after Mitchell’s death. They stressed that the coyotes of the northeastern states are a bigger, more aggressive creature than those of the plains and sagebrush country. According to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, western coyotes typically weigh between 20 and 30 pounds. A 40-pound northeastern coyote is relatively small, and some approach twice that in poundage. Typically, the coyote-wolf hybrids are about the size of a German shepherd – or a small gray wolf. The coywolf, to use its appropriate name, also has a wider, sturdier jaw, with bigger chewing muscles, than its western counterpart, suiting it for masticating large prey. The population explosion of whitetail deer east of the Mississippi provides a convenient food source for the bigger coyotes, which prey on fit adult deer virtually as often as Arizona coyotes chase kangaroo rats. The coywolves do so in packs, like wolves. Ironically, the extermination of the gray wolf from most greenlivingaz.com
of the United States has been a factor in the expansion of the coyote’s range, not just to the Atlantic Coast but throughout the land. Proving that nature does indeed abhor a vacuum, coyotes have moved into former wolf territory. As coyote numbers increased, they also demonstrated their superb adaptability by spilling over into areas with dense human populations. Moreover, the traffic is two-way, as urban and suburban sprawl brings people into coyote country. Understandably, as people who have never been exposed to coyotes come into contact with them, conflicts arise. Absolute opportunists, coyotes regularly snatch unwary pet dogs and cats for lunch. There is no dodging the fact that coyotes can be dangerous to people. Despite the death of Taylor Mitchell and seemingly endless stories in the media, coyote attacks are the exception rather than the norm. Only one other fatality is on record, that of a Glendale, California, toddler who died when a coyote tried to drag her off in 1981. The child probably was a target of opportunity and in the coyote’s eye could have been any small prey animal. An Ohio State University study turned up only 142 attacks on 159 victims in the United States and Canada from 1960 to 2006. Most attacks are chance encounters between people and coyotes that have been scrounging around trash pails and dumpsters and lost their fear of people. “Coyotes will keep coming back to the same area if attractants are not removed,” the Arizona Game and Fish Department advises. Garbage, pet food and other edibles left outside one’s home can draw coyotes, the department says. Obviously, do not feed them. Feed pets inside and do not let them wander unattended, especially as the sun goes down. Secure enclosures for poultry, rabbits and other livestock. Outdoor trash containers should be coyote-proof. Low-lying branches, brush and other ground-level debris can make hiding or den sites for coyotes – and their prey. Trimming and cleaning up tangled vegetation goes a long way in repelling coyotes. Arizona Game and Fish suggests that, in the case of coyote emergencies and severe property damage, a call should be placed to one of its local offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. After hours, on weekends and holidays, the dispatch number is (623) 236-7201. If you are still worried about coyotes, there is an easy way to put the whole situation into its proper perspective. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic dogs bite about 2 percent of the United States population, almost five million people, a year - at least 10 of them, often more, fatally. While cuddling up with a coyote would be a bad idea, so is excessive fear of these admirable wild creatures. SOURCES azgfd.org cdc.gov nationalgeographic.com Edward Ricciuti has covered conservation issues around the globe. His specialties include natural history, environmental and conservation issues, science and law enforcement. He was a curator for the New York Zoological Society, now the Wildlife Conservation Society. He has written more than 80 books, with his most recent “The Snake Almanac” (The Lyons Press). Photography source scoutdog.wordpress.com/tag/coyotes/
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May 2011 | greenliving az 53
Artist
A HeAltHy ApproACH to Art BY ABIGAIL GILMORE
Photography by Lisa Olson
Christine Cassano grew up creating all kinds of art, but it was her senior year of college when she started experimenting with different materials. From then on, her life was changed forever. Cassano began working with resin and many different solvents in her art – “stuff that is hazardous in general,” she said. She needed those materials to produce her art. At one point, she began working for a.k.a Green, a green building material supplier in Scottsdale that had an environmental focus [it has since closed]. “At the same time I was using these harmful materials, I was doing research on [the material’s] environmental and health impacts,” Cassano said. Cassano began feeling ill. “I developed a number of endocrine issues,” she said. “And though I cannot directly correlate using the hazardous materials to my health issues, I think it had an effect on me.” Cassano suffered everything from thyroid disorders to a host of endocrine disorders and chemical imbalances. “I felt so sick and unhealthy, and I decided it was time to change,” she said. Her employer provided her great resources, and Cassano learned which substances weren’t healthy to use in her art and why, and found alternatives. “I gave up all the different solvents, even turpentine, which is a staple of artists in studio,” she said. As a part of her change, she began to dabble in concrete and use soy-based stains and other eco-friendly materials. Cassano began to connect with this art form and integrate
54 greenliving az | May 2011
repurposed materials. “Within the concrete, I began embedding different materials, like old metal gears, things that would normally end up in the landfill,” she said. “It became a combination of understanding what these materials do to our environment and our health.” Cassano’s art expands to creating fine and functional pieces and has been showcased in many local art galleries. “I’ve gotten a lot of compliments that the work has changed and evolved and grown,” she said. “With the work I do, not only am I trying to make art on a conscious level that is environmentally stable and sound, but I am also interested in doing things with the art that raise awareness.” Recently Cassano worked with a scientist on a project mandated by ASU, called the Phosphorous Summit. The venture was created to bring awareness to the supply and demand of phosphorous. This project was picked up and featured on Public Broadcasting Service television. Cassano’s art journey and experience has been positive for her personal growth. “The other thing I get out of it is being able to bring the information to other artists,”Cassano said. To view Cassano’s art, gallery venues, dates and times, visit her website at christinecassano.com. greenlivingaz.com
Travel
Momma-licious May:
BY CARRIE SIMMONS
They say it’s the hardest job in the world being a mom. No pay, little in the way of support staff and an endless list of tasks; however, the payoff is remarkable – when you actually have time to sit and enjoy it. One of the greatest gifts you can give a mom or wife this Mother’s Day is the gift of time. Time to sit and relax, time to reflect on the joys of parenthood (and yes, there are many). Many moms wrestle with guilt when they are vacationing away from the kids, but there is a way to alleviate the kid withdrawal and rejuvenate on a family vacation with plenty of activities to keep the kids occupied. Jamaica Me Crazy! As if the kick-back, irie attitude in Jamaica isn’t enough to put even the most tightly wound mom in a better mood, Franklyn D. Resort offers the carrot that will make any mom say ‘Ahh’ - a personal vacation nanny. Upon check-in, the resort assigns each family a personal nanny to assist with all the mundane tasks of parenting. Whether you want the nanny to take your kids to the other side of the resort for activities, such as fishing and cooking lessons, throughout the day, or you want her to perform your routine tasks, such as applying sunscreen for the fifth time and getting Johnny to finish his meal, she’s there for you. Plus, at the oceanfront at the open-air spa, mom can enjoy a massage to the sound of the tranquil waves. greenlivingaz.com
Take Your Mom Away Oh Mexico! The sun and surf of Cabo San Lucas combines a peppering of culture to offer the perfect family getaway. Every mom can live her dream of fun with the kids and a bit of relaxation at Dreams Los Cabos Resort & Spa. During the day, relax in the massive beachfront infinity pool while kids splash along a shallow shelf and fly down the water slide. In the evening, dance the night away with the kids at a live music party or enjoy an outdoor movie on the beach. The swim-up bar offers smoothies for kids and something a bit stronger for mom and dad; since it’s allinclusive, you never have to tell the kids no. When you need a break, the Explorer’s Club for Kids has innovative activities, such as iguana safaris and Euro-Bungee jumping (not as scary as it sounds) on the beach. If that’s not enough to entice her, the full-service spa offers beachside massages, body treatments, hydrotherapy and more.
Paradise Just a Drive Away! If the plane ride sounds like too much with kids, then the staycation paradise awaits you at Scottsdale’s own Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. This resort offers a spectacular combination of parent relaxation and kid-friendly fun – and it is certified green by the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association. At the Adventure Water Park, parents can relax in the shade as the kids take on the 900-foot lazy river ride and a 110-foot-long waterslide. Mom can get ready for the evening at the Agave spa, then enjoy time with the kids around a campfire with s’mores before bed. Carrie Simmons in the producer of Travel With Kids, a family travel documentary series airing on television around the world, and has traveled to five continents in search of adventure. For more information on the series, visit TravelWithKids.tv. SOURCES dreamsresorts.com/drelc fdrholidays.com/fdr kierlandresort.com
Photography source: hotsauceandsalsa.com/multi-sauce-famousbrands-jamaica-hellfire-c-1_11_38 and rizzieri.com/blog/massage-rizzieri-spaphiladelphia-area
May 2011 | greenliving az 55
Restaurant
Nourish BY ABIGAIL GILMORE
Kristen Carey grew up not liking vegetables or anything from the sea, but now, eating healthy is her way of life.
Carey added that the way the food is prepared makes Nourish different from other dining establishments. Nourish strives to keep ingredients separate, not crossing certain dishes with allergyprone ingredients. “A lot of food prep places do it that way [without considering food allergies] because that is the way it has always been done,” she said. “The regular eater doesn’t know the difference.”
Her own gluten intolerance inspired her eighth business venture: opening Nourish, a gluten-free restaurant in Scottsdale.
Carey often hears compliments from patrons, thanking her for taking the precautions that allow them to feel safe ordering and eating out. She couldn’t think of better compliments to receive as a restaurant owner.
“I’m from Philadelphia,” Carey said. “Cheese steak [sandwiches] and pretzels were a way of life. And then I found out about my allergy [to gluten]. I really had to rethink a lot of food options and how they were prepared.”
While the food is prepared with the best intentions, the ingredients at Nourish are also of the best quality, Carey said, with food being organic and local whenever possible.
The restaurant offers food options for people with many common food allergies and preferences. “The concept is [that] nobody [needs to] feel like a freak at the table,” she said. Nourish is gluten-free first and vegan second. The menu also offers soy, vegetarian, nut-free, corn-free, and non-dairy options for patrons. “We identify [on our menu] all of those [allergy] items because more and more people were asking about it,” she said.
Gluten Free Menu
With great food and customers, Carey said she really enjoys owning Nourish. The best thing about it? “I get to eat anything I want!” she said with a laugh. “I can never eat out and eat anything I want on the menu, but at Nourish I can!”
Happy Hour everyday! 3:30-6:30pm
Nourish 7147 E. Highland Avenue, Scottsdale 480.684.2233
Never Any Antibiotics Never Any Hormones Never Anything But All Natural Feeds
Buy any 2 entrées & 2 drinks & receive $5 off your bill.
*Dine in only. Not valid with any other offers. Must present coupon to redeem. Expires 5/31/11.
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SW Corner Scottsdale/Shea | next to Bevmo (480) 998-2222 56
greenliving az | May 2011
greenlivingaz.com
He’s Green She’s Green
She is: Jennifer Burkhart He is: John Burkhart
It’s about that time again, Arizonans. Temps are rising and we’re wearing less. Before you step outside this May, stock up on the best lotions to hydrate and protect your skin. Avalon Organics Lavender organic ingredients, paraben free, no animal testing, vegetarian
JASON Natural apricot organic ingredients, paraben free, petroleum free, no animal testing, vegetarian
He said: I am quite possibly the worst person to write a review about lotion. I use moisturizing lotion maybe five times a year. But here goes! The Avalon brand was good… I guess. It has a strong lavender scent, which is good as long as I don’t have to go out in public. It left my hands feeling soft and not too greasy.
She said: The label should read, “Operation of heavy machinery is not recommended after use.” One deep breath while applying this one, and the intoxicating organic lavender oil had me instantly relaxed. It left my skin soft, without the greasy texture. Absolutely dreamy, loved it!
He gave it:
She gave it:
He said: The grocery store we patron shop at was out of the unscented version of this lotion. So I had to decide between four manly scents: apricot, cranberry, cocoa butter, or rosewater. I chose apricot because it was one I most wanted to eat. It was very light, dried quickly and was only slightly greasy. When they come out with a saw dust or leather scented lotion I’ll give it more stars.
She said: This one is thin and light, with virtually no greasiness. It made my skin feel soft for a while, but here’s a word of caution: the strong apricot scent lingers. Not a bad thing, but you must love apricots. A lot! I’d definitely give this brand a second try, probably in another scent. She gave it:
He gave it:
Depth Mangrove citrus organic ingredients, paraben free, no animal testing, vegetarian
He said: Depth lotion has a funky, vaguely citrus, smell, but I guess that’s what happens when you put seaweed and algae in your lotion. It does a pretty good job at hydrating, absorbs quickly and isn’t too greasy.
She said: This sea-inspired lotion is light and slightly greasy, but a great moisturizer. There must be something more to giant kelp and sea lettuce besides being a salad bar for sea otters! The citrus aroma smelled great out of the bottle, but morphed into a bizarre “dirty” orange scent after application. Luckily it faded quickly!
He gave it: She gave it:
John Masters Organics Blood orange & vanilla
organic ingredients, paraben free, petroleum free
Desert Essence Organics Coconut organic ingredients, paraben free, no animal testing, petroleum free, vegan
greenlivingaz.com
He said: Eighteen dollars for an eight ounce bottle of lotion. How do the people at sleep at night? For eighteen dollars this lotion should hydrate my bones. I’d love to give this one a bad review. But I can’t it was the best out of the five. Good scent, dries quickly, and was the least greasy. I’m subtracting one star for price gouging though.
She said: Smells like a creamsicle! Mind you, it’s not a sickeningly sweet aroma. This enticing, warm, vanilla-orange fragrance will have you sniffing your hands until people look at you funny. It has a light texture and keeps your skin hydrated and vanilla-scented for the day. Very nice. She gave it:
He gave it:
He said: This one smells so much like coconuts that it gave me a bellyache. I called the doctor, woke him up, to see if there was something I could take. He told me “Put the lime in the coconut and drink em both up!” *Don’t drink the lotion* See you next month for Beer! :D
She said: Excuse me, waiter? Bring me one of those fruity drinks with the umbrellas. At least this lotion can make you think you are on a tropical island! The scent is a fantastic blend of coconut and tropical delights like pineapple and passion fruit. It was thick and slightly greasy, but made my skin feel very hydrated! Blissful!
He gave it:
She gave it:
May 2011 | greenliving az 57
Gluten-Free Pesto Pasta with Pine Nuts Serves 4-6 1 pkg. of your favorite gluten-free spaghetti 2 cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves, stems removed 3 cloves fresh, peeled garlic, sliced in half 3/4 cup toasted pine nuts (pignolia or piñon nuts). Use 1/4 cup for pesto sauce and 1/2 cup on top of pasta.
1/4 tsp. salt and fresh ground pepper to taste 1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped 3/4 cup EVOO. Use 1/2 cup for pesto sauce and 1/4 cup on top of pasta. *Optional: 1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese. Use1/2 cup for pesto sauce and 1/2 cup on top of pasta.
Basil pesto sauce Place basil leaves, sliced garlic cloves, 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese (optional), salt and pepper into a food processor. Slowly drizzle 1/2 cup of olive oil through the processor feed tube while pulsing the processor. Pesto is done when the mixture is just pureed – don’t overprocess. Pasta dish Cook gluten-free spaghetti according to package instructions. After rinsing and draining, return the cooked pasta to a large pan. Toast the pine nuts: Place pine nuts in a medium-sized heavy skillet and lightly brown over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally and watch carefully – pine nuts go from golden brown to burned quickly! Pour the pesto sauce over the cooked pasta in a large pan on the stovetop. Drizzle remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil over the pasta/pesto mixture and add remaining 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts. Use tongs to gently coat olive oil and pine nuts. Top with remaining 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese (optional) and chopped bell pepper. Over medium-low heat, warm the pasta for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Tip: For convenience, pesto sauce and toasted pine nuts can be prepared ahead and frozen. Thaw for about 30 minutes before preparing the recipe. Gluten reminder: Always make sure your work surfaces, utensils, pans and tools are free of gluten. Always read product labels. Manufacturers can change product formulations without notice. When in doubt, do not buy or use a product before contacting the manufacturer for verification that the product is free of gluten.
Fruited Chicken Salad Serves 8 1-2 apples, cored and diced (Granny Smith recommended) 1/2 - 3/4 cup seedless red grapes, halved 1/2 - 3/4 cup pecans, chopped and toasted
2 celery stalks, diced 1/4 -1/2 tsp. apple pie spice 3/4 cup mayonnaise 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, grilled and diced
In a large salad bowl, lightly mix all the ingredients, except the chicken, until well combined. Stir in the grilled, diced chicken breasts, cover and chill until cold. You may add additional ingredients, such as raisins or cranberries, if desired. Serve on a bed of lettuce. Plate a bed of butter lettuce around a martini glass and place a serving of chicken salad into the martini glass with a small fork for a more festive arrangement. Recipe provided by Mary Heitmeyer of chefdujour.com, and co-host of HealthyUTVShow.com.
Cinco de Mayo Margarita Serves 4 2 oz organic tequila 2 limes squeezed 1 1/2 oz agave nectar In shaker, add tequila, lime juice and agave nectar, shake, serve over ice.
Recipe courtesy of Keith Clausen. Keith has been a mixologist for 14 years and for some of the finest resorts and restaurants in Arizona.
Recipe compliments of Luci’s Healthy Marketplace
58 greenliving az | May 2011
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great food • craft brewed beer fine wine • espresso, coffee & tea live music • local art a green cafe
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Join Us For some Green Drinks networking, Have one of our tasty creations and enjoy one of arizona’s Largest selections of Wine and craft Brewed Beers HoUrs Mon. - Thurs. 7:30am -11:00pm • Fri. - Sat. 7:30am - 12:00am sun. 8:00am - 3:00pm we accept all major credit cards
check for coming events • w w w.ravencafe.com FOOD
BEVERAGES
RECYCLED GOODS
WASTE
Organic, Grass-Fed Beef From Ancient Harvest Ranch • Sustainable Fish Honolulu Fish Company Organic Eggs from Hickman’s Family Farms • Organic Salad Greens and Spinach • Horizon Organic Cheddar, Provolone, Mexican and American Cheeses • Breads from Jonathan Robbins Bakery • Strauss Yogurt Muir Glen Canned Tomatoes
Horizon Organic Dairy • Silk Soy Milk • Rice Dream Rice Milk • Locally Roasted, Organic, Fair-Trade, Shade Grown Coffee & Espresso Swan Sisters and Maya Teas Organic Lakewood Lemonade Valley Orange Juice • Knudsen Apple Juice Organic • Monin Flavoring Syrups • Natural Blue Sky Cola Reed’s Ginger Ale & China Cola • Organic Beer & Wines
Seventh Generation Recycled Paper Towels, Toilet Paper and Napkins • Corn Plastic Cold To Go Cups Recycled Hot To Go Cups
Frying Oil Donated To a Local Biodiesel Manufacturer • Glass, Plastic, Tin, Aluminum & Cardboard Recycling By Earth Business • Vegetable Compost Donated To Karma Farm
NATURAL CLEANERS
Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Soap & Iodine Sterilizer • Citrasolve Floor Soap • Seventh Generation Multi-Surface Cleaner & Dish Washing Fluid • Ecover Dish Tablets • Biokleen Surfactant
WE SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND USE ORGANIC, NATURAL & BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE
Cool Outrageous
4 [Green games
1 [No more rolls Imagine replacing 15 rolls of expensive paper towels with a single cloth that costs just over $2. The multipurpose Skoy Cloths have an absorption factor of 15 times their own weight, and one cloth can replace the use of many paper towels. The cloths are also 100 percent biodegradable and can be washed in the dishwasher and reused until they eventually break down. skoycloth.com.
Be green and have fun with Blue Orange Games! This multiple award-winning company produces games using ecofriendly and durable materials, such as wooden pieces and tin packaging. They are also committed to planting two trees for every one tree they use. Check out their popular games like Spot It! and Gobblet Gobblers, pictured right. blueorangegames.com.
5 [Simply created, simply stylish 's tor
2 [Go organic for mom When buying mom flowers this year, skip the chemical-covered petals and go organic with Organic Bouquet. The flowers may come in a variety of colors, but they’re all ‘green.’ Organic Bouquet is the world’s first eco-certified online florist, and all of their blooms are sustainably grown and certified organic or Veriflora, like the stargazer lilies shown. organicbouquet.com.
3 [Seaweed for smooth skin
Whether you suffer from psoriasis or eczema, or have dry, flaky skin due to our dry desert air, Seaweed Bath Co. has products that help. The company uses specific species of seaweed combined with high-quality natural ingredients that have moisturizing and pH-balancing properties in their wide-ranging line of products. One of our review team’s favorites is the Wildly Natural Seaweed Body Butter stick that easily glides across the skin for instant hydration. seaweedbathco.com.
60 greenliving az | May 2011
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Leather, steel and stitching are the only three materials used in the stylish Simply Chair & Ottoman from StudioROEDER. The set can be made using reclaimed or recycled steel to create the simple yet elegant piece. More furniture pieces can be found at studioroeder.com.
6 [Living in the clouds This is one way to combat urban sprawl. The city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia has a green light to build the world’s tallest building. The Kingdom Tower won’t just inch past the current world’s tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa; it will be twice as tall. Yes, the tower is planned to be one mile tall with 12 million cubic feet of space, and will be a part of an urban development expected to house 80,000 people. No word yet on an expected completion date.
7 [ Copper comfort If you’re looking to renovate or redecorate your home, check out local company Premier Copper Products. From sinks to lights to bathtubs and other accessories, their products are made with 99.7 percent pure recycled copper wire. All products are handmade, then hand-hammered by a team of artisans. We especially like the looks of their Japanese-style bathtub pictured left. premiercopperproducts.com.
greenlivingaz.com
Green Scenes
Valley Permaculture Alliance
Desert Botanical Garden
May 4 Backyard Composting Basics 6:30 – 8 p.m. Practical Art, Phoenix $15 suggested donation (Cash or check)
May 13 Music in the Garden, Spring Concert Series featuring Cosmos 7 - 9 p.m.
May 7 Vegetable Garden Design for the Desert, Part 2 of 4 Noon – 1:30 p.m. Rio Salado Audubon Center, Tempe $15 suggested donation (Cash or check) phoenixpermaculture.org/events
Scottsdale Green Building Lecture Series
May 20 Music in the Garden, Spring Concert Series featuring Bad Cactus Brass Band 7 – 9 p.m. Tickets for each: $21, general public. $15, members. May 25 Lecture: Creatures of the Night II 7 – 8:30 p.m. Tickets: General public, $19. Members, $15.
May 5 Interiors and Indoor Environmental Quality 7 – 8:30 p.m. Scottsdale Granite Reef Senior Center
dbg.org/event-exhibitions
scottsdale.gov/greenbuilding
Phoenix: Downtown Phoenix Public Market 721 N. Central Season: Ongoing 4 - 8 p.m. 602-493-5231
Phoenix Zoo May 8 Mother’s Day Brunch 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Admission: Adults - $35, Children 3 - 12 years - $15, Children 2 and under - Free For reservations, call 602-914-4333
Wildhorse Ranch Rescue May 12-15 Blue Planet Film Festival Madcap Theater, Tempe blueplanetfilmfest.com whrr.org
Phoenix Green Chamber of Commerce May 17 Link-N-Learn Monthly Meeting PGCC’s monthly meeting and educational forum. Topic TBD. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Rio Salado College Tickets: $10, members. $20, nonmembers.
May Events
WEDNESDAY FARMERS’ MARKETS
THURSDAY FARMERS’ MARKETS Tempe: Thursday Night Market 7th Street, west of Mill Avenue in Downtown Tempe 5 - 8 p.m. Season: September - June 480-355-6078 thursdaynightmarket.com
FRIDAY FARMERS’ MARKETS Mesa: Mesa Community Farmers’ Market 263 N. Center Street 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Season: Ongoing 623-848-1234 Carefree: Carefree Farmers’ Market Carefree Amphitheater, Carefree, AZ (Corner of Easy St. and HoHum Rd. at the Gardens, off –Tom Darlington Rd.) 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Season: October - May 602-919-9094
SATURDAY FARMER’S MARKET Gilbert: Val Vista Lakes Art Fair and Farmers Market 1600 E. Lakeside Drive, Gilbert 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on second Saturday of the month Season: September - June 602-314-0323 Glendale: Farmers’ Market at Westgate 6770 N. Sunset Blvd., across from Cardinals Stadium 2nd Saturday of the month 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Season: September - May Phoenix: Roadrunner Farmers’ Market N. E. Phoenix near Paradise Valley, 3502 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix AZ 85032 (Between Freeway 51 & 36th St) 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Season: October - May 623-848-1234 Phoenix: Downtown Phoenix Public Market 721 N. Central Season: Ongoing 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 602-493-5231 Phoenix: Farm at South Mountain 6106 S. 32nd St. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Season: October - May 480-236-7097 Phoenix: Camelback Market 3930 E. Camelback Rd. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Season: October - May 602-224-0225 Scottsdale: Old Town Farmers’ Market The city parking facility at the corner of Brown and 1st Street In the Old Town area. (Next to the Carriage House) 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. (623) 848-1234 Scottsdale: Market at DC Ranch Pima & Thompson Peak Parkway 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Season: October - May 480-563-0019 Tucson: Rincon Valley Farmer’s Market 12500 E. Old Spanish Trail 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Season: Ongoing 520-591-2276
arizonagreenchamber.org
greenlivingaz.com
May 2011 | greenliving az 61
Green Pages Posture • Balance Support • Alignment
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Green Pages
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May 2011 | greenliving az
63
Green Personalities renewable energy solutions, leading to a paradigm shift in how we generate and use electric power. Upon first being elected to Congress in 2006, Giffords introduced and sponsored legislation designed to guide the solar industry in advancing its efforts as well as assisting the government in disbursing funding for research and development projects. In an article advocating the Solar Technology Roadmap Act (H.R. 3585, 2009) Giffords wrote,
“
Because of its tremendous potential, promoting solar power has been a top priority for me ever since I arrived in Congress in 2007. I never miss an opportunity to advance this issue, whether through legislation, public education or personal advocacy.”
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords
Giffords’ Solar Energy Efforts Forge Ahead at Full Speed as Her Recovery Progresses BY JEFF HECHT
A
rizona continues to be at the forefront of research and development for renewable energy generation, with a particular focus on solar energy solutions and implementation. The end of 2010 saw a burst of activity from key players in the Arizona solar power industry, including the announcement of new major solar power plants in Tucson and at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Glendale. In Tucson, a partnership between Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP) and SOLON will bring a new 1.6-megawatt facility to the UATechPark Solar Zone, while Luke AFB and APS will partner to install and operate a 15-megawatt photovoltaic power plant on the Air Force base. This project represents the largest solar installation on U.S. government property. These efforts and milestones were made possible through the support, advocacy and hard work of Arizona’s most prominent solar and renewable energy advocate and champion, Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Tucson. Giffords was the victim of a random act of violence in January, and her ongoing recovery from her shooting is a story of determination, willpower and her “never-give-up” attitude. She is actively continuing her recovery and rehabilitation in Houston, Texas, at one of the nation’s leading trauma centers, making giant strides on a daily basis. Before the incident in Tucson, Giffords’ tenacity was focused on Arizona and the opportunity for her home state to become a national leader in the technology, development and research of
64 greenliving az | May 2011
In 2010, Giffords, along with Environment Arizona, sponsored a report on utilizing solar energy to power homes, businesses, farms and neighborhoods. “This report shows the possibilities of solar energy and how solar is an achievable path to our energy security,” Giffords said in an official press release announcing the report. “We still have work to do before solar energy can make up a large percentage of America’s energy needs, but we are moving in the right direction.” As Giffords recovers from her injuries, her staff diligently continues her work advocating solar power, sponsoring events and roundtable discussions about direction in the development and incorporation of future solar energy solutions, for both environmental and economic reasons. “Congresswoman Giffords is one of the most passionate supporters of solar energy in Congress,” said Pia Carusone, Giffords’ chief of staff, in a press release issued last month announcing two events designed to educate about solar power. “The congresswoman believes strongly that we must find ways to reduce our dependence on imported oil and solar can help us achieve that goal.” Elaine Ulrich, Giffords’ senior legislative aide in Washington, D.C., recently spoke about solar energy to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students from Ohio, in Arizona to engage in intensive, hands-on research projects at Biosphere 2 in Tucson. Giffords’ office staffers continue to host “Solar Power 101” events for homeowners considering installing solar power systems, and in February, Giffords’ office, along with TEP, held a Solar Energy Roundtable for small business owners. There is still much work to be done to develop and bring solar power to the forefront of our consciousness and energy future, but with Giffords’ condition continuing to improve, solar energy’s greatest congressional advocate will no doubt be leading these efforts once again with her hard work and endless dedication to our environmental and economic future. ~ Jeff Hecht is a Valley PR consultant and writer
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