No Chlorine Needed

BY MICHAEL GEYER

Explore Exceptional Water Systems for a Healthy Summer Ahead

Here in Arizona, swimming pools are among some of the worst chemically ridden environments that our families interact with on a regular basis. From those inside lush, lavish resorts, to our gyms, community pools and even our own backyards, we fill these glorious bodies of water with chemicals like chlorine, acid, clarifiers, algaecides and tile cleaners week after week in the name of keeping them clean and safe. But what is safe about exposing our bodies and skin to these chemicals on a regular basis?

Unfortunately, many people have a hard time enjoying their own pools - whether to swim for exercise, play with their kids, or take a break from the summer heat - due to the amount of chemicals used for treatment. While chlorine has undoubtedly provided us with beneficial uses for many years, it can also cause a myriad of health issues from over exposure.

I perceive water in a swimming pool as a caged animal. We contain it and attempt to tame it for our own pleasure and enjoyment, but over the course of time, it’s unreasonable to expect healthy returns from such a toxic situation. Rather than holding it captive, what if we worked to understand it? The process of having a healthy relationship with water - whether in our shower or our swimming poolbegins with understanding its physical makeup.

At Exceptional Water Systems, we research water down to the quantum physics level. It is with this deep exploration that we are able to understand how we benefit from and maximize water’s existence in our world. Our expertly crafted systems are designed to diffuse natural gasses like oxygen, ozone, and carbon dioxide into water, helping to boost its disinfecting, oxidizing, and balancing capabilities while keeping it healthy and safe, even as it goes down the drain or is splashed across the yard with the fiercest of cannonballs.

We are committed to providing water quality above and beyond industry standards. If you’re tired of literally swimming in harmful chemicals, we are here to help you engineer a clean and safe swimming pool system that utilizes nature’s greatest elements to nurture life’s most basic building block - water. Once you’ve had the opportunity to swim in a highly oxygenated pool, you’ll find there is just no substitute! At Exceptional Water Systems, we provide healthy water for humanity.

If you would like to learn more about our systems, please visit our website at www.exwsystems.com or call (480) 694-4709.

GOOD

14 Planet-Minded Parenting

16

20

Eco-friendly habits to teach your kids at home

A Sense of Wonder

How school gardening programs spark curiosity and develop lifelong learners

Code Green

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino’s April Stovall champions sustainability

HEALTH & WELLNESS

24 The 411 on Forever Chemicals

26

SAVOR

What you need to know

Submerged in Sound

Immerse yourself into the world of sound healing with two Valley experts

48 Recipes

Picazzo’s Limoncello Margarita + Queen Creek Olive Mill’s Lemon Garlic Broccoli

50 The Rise of the Climavore

TRAVEL

Eating with the environment in mind

54 Travel With Purpose

Kind Traveler partners with Visit California for the state’s first regenerative tourism program

TECHNOLOGY

58 Achieving Environmental Equity in Arizona

Addressing discriminatory urban planning practices to promote health and well-being in frontline communities

ABOUT THE COVER: The life and times of Arizona native and environmental pioneer Stewart Udall are chronicled in the soon-tobe released documentary, Stewart Udall and The Politics of Beauty.

Largest gynecologic oncology and surgical breast oncology groups in the region

Expert multidisciplinary teams treating colorectal, pancreatic, lung/esophagus, urologic and neuro oncologic disease

Leukemia, hematology and blood disorder therapies

Bone marrow transplant and CAR-T therapies

Extensive clinical research trials

Support services, dietitians, financial assistance and more

Happy Earth Month! This is the time of year that our staff lives for - a time to honor the work our community performs year-round to protect and restore the places that make Arizona, and our planet, such a spectacular place to live. This, of course, is due in part to a truly legendary environmental and political leader from Arizona by the name of Stewart Udall. Our great nation owes a debt of gratitude to this humble man who made it his life’s work to protect our natural lands and resources, and who seemingly amassed a list of environmental accolades as long as the Colorado River. Our cover story is dedicated to his memory and should be a gentle reminder to us all that when we personally embody the principles of environmental stewardship, we have the ability to positively impact our environment for decades to come.

In this issue, you’ll also find a tribute to one of Green Living magazine’s long-time writers, Ric Coggins, whose untimely passing shocked our community in February. He made an impact on our readership that is felt to this day - our office still receives calls and inquiries about his stories detailing his journey and eventual recovery from large B-cell lymphoma. He was a great family man, writer, master gardener, adventurer, worldtraveler, and friend whose passion for the environment and nature was an inspiration to us all.

Both of these men, although very different in their work, shared a similar love for our planet. This month, I intend to continue to evaluate the changes that I can make with my family to continue to be better to our Mother Earth. I hope that you’ll join us at our second ever Green Living Earth Day Extravaganza at Heritage and Science Park in Downtown Phoenix on Saturday, April 22. We’ll be celebrating our planet with a host of eco-conscious exhibitors and activities that will educate, inspire and empower you with the knowledge you need to protect our environment in a fun and interactive way! This free family event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature live music, yoga, Qigong, live healthy cooking demonstrations, dancing, electric car displays and so much more. This month, consider that small changes from each of us can add up to one big positive impact for our planet. What will yours be? Share with us on Facebook (@greenlivingazmag), Instagram (@greenlivingmag) and Twitter (@greenlivingaz).

Eco-consciously yours,

Dorie Morales Publisher

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance journalist who believes that communication is an art, where the right messaging can tell impactful, vivid stories. Using that art, she has built a career as a journalism and public relations professional in the Valley. Her work has been seen in magazines, newspapers, and online outlets across Arizona and nationally for over a decade. Learn more about her writing at mteverson.com.

Born, raised, and educated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, David M. Brown is a Valley-based freelancer. In addition to sustainability, he writes about the arts, architecture, cars, and other topics he is passionate about. Learn more about him at www.azwriter.com.

conscious life