Green Living Magazine February 2020

FEBRUARY 2020

AARON MORENO / Creating stunning eco-friendly furniture SMALL HOUSE, BIG HOME / The new Tempe Micro Estates ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE / Health benefits to know TRAVEL THE WORLD / A trip to Kerala, India

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2020

22

26

34

WORK

LIVE

5

DON’T WASH YOUR CAR! (AT HOME, THAT IS…)

TALIESIN 26 PRESERVING Taliesin West undergoes preservation efforts

6

GET OUTSIDE!

MICRO ESTATES MAKES A BIG IMPACT 28 TEMPE Small living options

8

BETTER HEALTH

CHAMPION 32 GREEN Audrey Martinez and Audrey’s Chia Cookies

10

WHY NATURE SHOULD REMAIN SECRET

12

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER HURTING YOU?

14

ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE

MONTH’S GARDENING TIPS 34 THIS What to plant now

16

CHANGING THE WORLD OF BODY CARE

INDIA 36 KERALA, A tropical and nature sanctuary

18

DRIFT

40 RECIPES Items to try

The environmental benefits of a professional car wash The new ParkRx pilot program Is it worth it to look to “CAM” for help?

The unexpected consequences of geotagging Marilyn Fitzgerald tries a new brand Yes, there are health benefits!

Meet Quench Naturel

The eco-conscious company creating stunning furniture

22 The organic café and wellness brand makes waves LOCAL JUICERY

PLAY

GREEN, HE’S GREEN 42 SHE’S Healthy chocolates OUTRAGEOUS STUFF 44 COOL Products to consider SCENES 46 GREEN February event calendar

FEBRUARY 2020

ON THE COVER AARON MORENO / Creating stunning eco-friendly furniture SMALL HOUSE, BIG HOME / The new Tempe Microestates ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE / Health benefits to know TRAVEL THE WORLD / A trip to Kerala, India

Aaron Moreno of Drift.

Photo by Ian Joseph Jones

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greenliving | February 2020

Background photo by Lauren J Photography.

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Yours in practicing a greener lifestyle PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DESIGN DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS DIGITAL COORDINATOR COPY EDITOR ADVISORY BOARD Sam Campana Ric Coggins Valerie Crosby Lori Diab Ken Edwins William Janhonen

Dorie Morales Michelle Glicksman Sly Panda Design Lindsey Murphy Kait Spielmaker Michael Ziffer

Jon Kitchell John Martinson Mary McCormick Eric Olsen Thomas Williams

CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer & John Burkhart Ivy Ciolli Marilyn Fitzgerald Angel Fuchs Jamie Killin Karen Langston

Stephanie Perrault Kait Spielmaker Lee Stewart Annika Tomlin Elaina Verhoff Barbi Walsh

MEDIA CONSULTANTS Lisa Racz John Waechter

EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Ditomasso Madi Page

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Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for contributed manuscripts, editorial content, claims, reviews, photographs, artwork or advertisements. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the company or official policies. Entire contents © 2019 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. One print subscription is $39 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper.

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February 2020 | greenliving

3

Letter from the Editor Welcome to the February issue of Green Living Magazine!

During this month of Valentine’s Day celebrations, take a moment to reflect on the love we should all have for our environment, Earth, and all its creatures.

Here at Green Living, we aim to embrace that. This month, we share new stories on our favorite topics—embracing the healing benefits of nature, highlighting eco-friendly products, sharing how to be more eco-friendly in your day-to-day life, and more.

In this issue, read details about the new ParkRx pilot program, which has Arizona healthcare providers prescribing park time. Doesn’t that sound amazing?

Speaking of nature, our Master Gardener, Lee Stewart, also takes us outside, explaining what to plant in your garden now and what to do with this month’s produce that you’ve just picked.

Plus, right in time for Valentine’s Day, Ivy Ciolli talks about chocolate—its health benefits (yes, it has health benefits!) and local chocolatiers who offer top-notch chocolates that you’ll definitely want to try. And, in our She's Green, He's Green section, the Burkharts give us their take on some chocolate products too.

We also share the story of Quench Naturel, a company offering all-natural, clean body care products.

For those who have wanderlust, check out the account told by our Owner and Publisher, Dorie Morales, of her recent trip to India. It's amazing how eco-friendly and sustainable the places she visited were—she even flew into the world's only solar-powered airport!

In regards to visiting places, have you heard of geotagging? Read Kait Speilmaker’s article to learn about it—and why it’s something you want to avoid so we can keep enjoying the amazing beauty and resources of this planet that we all love!

Happy February!

Sustainably yours,

Michelle Glicksman Editor-in-Chief Instagram: @MGlicksman

P.S. We love to hear from our readers! Send me an email at editor@greenlivingaz.com with your comments on the issue, the green industry, or story ideas.

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greenliving | February 2020

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DON’T WASH YOUR CAR! DON’T WASH YOUR CAR! (AT (AT HOME, HOME, THAT THAT IS…) IS…)

THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF A PROFESSIONAL CAR WASH

BY STEPHANIE PERRAULT

D

id you know that washing your car at home is more harmful to the environment than a professional car wash? You might initially think that an at-home wash would save water and generally be more environmentally friendly, but that isn’t the case. Next time your car needs a wash, consider these reasons for why a professional car wash is a greener option than taking on the job yourself.

THE WATER SAVINGS The biggest benefit of a professional car wash versus an at-home wash is the amount of water saved. Depending on individual usage, washing your car in the driveway with a hose can use as much as 100 gallons of fresh water per car.

At Raceway Express Car Wash, we closely monitor water usage and use approximately 40 gallons of fresh water per car. To provide context, taking a bath uses between 10 to 40 gallons of water, whereas a load of laundry takes between 13 and 50 gallons. Living in the desert, water availability is of prime importance, so a water savings of almost 60 gallons at a professional car wash is a huge benefit to the environment.

SOAP DISPOSAL Another reason you may want to choose a professional car wash instead of washing your car in the driveway is the greenlivingaz.com

disposal of soaps and detergents. When you wash your car at home, the soaps and dirty residue from the car runs into storm drains, where it can affect plants and animals in the ecosystem. Professional car washes, like Raceway Express Car Wash, properly channel the dirty water into the sewer system, where it can be cleaned and processed safely at a municipal water reclamation plant. Choosing to wash your car at home can harm our environment with soaps and detergents, whereas an express car wash processes them safely without harm to the local ecosystem.

Next time your car needs a wash, think twice before you bring out the hose and soap to the driveway. Not only is a professional car wash a more environmentally friendly car wash, it’s also faster, convenient, and is guaranteed to leave your car sparkling clean.

Stephanie Perrault serves as director of marketing for the Raceway Car Wash Company. In this capacity, she is responsible for strategic planning, marketing initiatives, media campaigns, brand awareness, store aesthetics, and customer experience. Perrault is an experienced marketer and storyteller. Prior to joining Raceway Express Car Wash, she founded the marketing firm, Create Confidently, to provide branding and storytelling for small businesses. Prior to founding Create Confidently, Perrault was a managing editor for the East Valley Tribune.

February 2020 | greenliving

5

GET OUTSIDE!

NEW PARKRX PILOT PROGRAM HAS ARIZONA HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PRESCRIBING PARK TIME

BY ELAINA VERHOFF

A

study published last year in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research found that spending time in a park—even without exercising—has a measurable improvement in well-being. In fact, just 20 minutes in the park was found to result in an immediate and significant increase in life satisfaction.

So, what if Arizona health care providers were to improve patient health and well-being by prescribing park time? Thanks to a grant from Vitalyst Health Foundation, a pilot program has been developed to do just that. The Arizona Community Tree Council recently received a $124,700 Innovation Grant from Vitalyst Health Foundation to implement a ParkRx pilot program that will encourage doctors and other care providers in two Phoenix communities to prescribe park time to patients and support park improvements, such as trees and benches.

Arizona Community Tree Council has been working with partners Maricopa County Department of Public Health; HonorHealth; I.G. Conchos Elementary School; City of Phoenix Departments of Parks & Recreation, Street Transportation, and Neighborhood Services; Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management; The Nature Conservancy; Keep Phoenix Beautiful, and other community members to identify park improvements, such as the addition of the Fit PHX walking course at Mountain View Park, and make recommendations to reduce barriers and improve access to the parks.

“The ParkRx program is taking a new approach to improving health by improving community parks and working with health care providers to use the power of the prescription pad to prescribe park time,” says Melanie Mitros, Vitalyst Health

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greenliving | February 2020

Foundation director of strategic community partnerships.

The Park Prescription movement began in October 2013, when the Institute at the Golden Gate and the National Recreation and Parks Association, with support from the National Park Service, convened a group of practitioners to discuss the emerging trend of prescribing nature to improve mental and physical health. As the movement has evolved, so have the needs of the community and the opportunities to support it.

Liza Oz-Golden, the community health planner at Maricopa County Department of Public Health, spearheaded the Maricopa ParkRx initiative, after attending a presentation at Arizona State University, where she first learned about Tucson’s experience with the initiative.

“I was amazed and enlightened by this concept and saw a big opportunity to focus this approach on low-income communities.

It can help address infrastructure in parks to reduce barriers that keep people from using these parks,” says Oz-Golden.

When asked why a program like this is needed, Beverly Babb, Arizona Community Tree Council executive director, explains that there has been a tremendous loss of connection to the value of outside time in urban settings.

“The ability to go and be present in the park and be in the moment with nature is incredibly valuable to well-being,” explains Babb. “Our program seeks to connect the changes that people experience in their health by being outside in park settings.”

The pilot program officially kicked off in October 2019, with a walkability analysis and collection of data with community members.

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In Peoria, HonorHealth Cardiac Rehab Clinic patients are now receiving prescriptions for park time at Palma, North, and Sunnyslope parks. In South Phoenix, Conchos Elementary School mother’s group members are receiving prescriptions for walking at El Prado Park.

Luz Carrillo, mother to a 6-year-old boy at I. G. Conchos and a ParkRx participant since it began, recently shared her feedback on the program, saying “Walking in the park makes me feel good. Sometimes before I start walking, I’m in a bad mood, but after spending time in the park and having good conversations with my friends, my mood changes. I feel more energetic, and I feel much better for the rest of the day.”

Participants’ blood pressure, mood, behavior, and mental health are being evaluated over time to determine the effectiveness of ParkRx. “We want to include innovative change in the way we plan, design and manage parks in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and Arizona,” says Oz-Golden. “We want everyone to have easy access to a great park near their neighborhood.”

Additional information about ParkRx can be found at www.parkrxarizona.org.

Elaina Verhoff is a freelance writer, PR pro, travel lover, and mom based in Phoenix. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @elainaverhoff.

Luz Carrillo (left) enjoys a walk in the park with Yasmin Zavarce, a Maricopa County health educator who regularly checks the participants’ blood pressure, writes ParkRx prescriptions, and encourages mothers at I.G. Conchos Elementary School to participate in ParkRx.

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SUSTAINABLEYOU One thing you can do...

BETTER HEALTH

IS IT WORTH IT TO LOOK TO 'CAM' FOR HELP?

BY KAREN LANGSTON

W

hen it comes to our health, we really do not put much thought into it until we become sick and enter into the medical nightmare paradigm. As a transplanted Canadian, this is something I did not have to worry about. I moved to Phoenix and had my first surgery. I was terrified. I was worried about what it was going to cost, how were we going to be able to afford it, and what would happen if my surgery was rejected by the insurance company.

What then? My nightmare came true.

I used to suffer with Crohn’s disease and spent a lifetime in and out of the hospital. It was the 2008 surgery that opened my eyes to the financial side of American healthcare. Although I had the tools to heal myself, the mounting medical bills gave me the kick in the bum I needed to finally take control of my own healthcare. I had a decision to make; do I want to keep paying thousands of dollars on co-pays, medical costs, procedures, prescriptions and be sick the rest of my life, or spend a fraction of this money on getting well?

I took what I had learned over the years as a holistic nutritionist, and a year later, after a colonoscopy and

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pathology, my final diagnosis was “no evidence of Crohn’s disease.” This meant no more surgeries, no more co-pays, and no more doctor visits and costly medications. I truly felt I could start living again.

With our crumbling health care system, the rising cost of healthcare, and the price of prescription drugs rapidly increasing each year, is it worth it to look into complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)? I believe more people are becoming disillusioned with the medical profession’s ability to provide quality of life, and are unhappy with the rising insurance premiums and mounting medical bills, with no return on investment—a healthier life.

According to a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)/Los Angeles Times survey, results of people with employer-sponsored insurance found 1 in 5 people had been contacted by collection agencies, while 9% of those surveyed had declared personal bankruptcy due to medical expenses. A Tal Gross and Matthew Notowidigbo 2011 study found out-of-pocket medical costs influenced 26% of bankruptcies in low-income households.

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According to a 2007 NHIS survey, 83 million U.S. adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on visits to CAM practitioners and purchases of CAM products, classes and materials. In total, there were approximately 354 million visits to CAM practitioners and approximately 835 million purchases.

Compare this to the U.S. Health Expenditures 2007, National Health Spending Explorer: Americans spent $457.5 billion for conventional medical trips to physicians and clinics and $234.9 billion on prescription drugs, for a combined total national health expenditure of $2,294.

According to a 2013 Natural Medicine Journal report, although there is an increase in the coverage of various CAM providers, including naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, massage therapists and chiropractors, there is still concern about the cost-effectiveness of both conventional and CAM health care. CAM is cost-effective, presenting cost savings due to inexpensive treatments, lower technology interventions, and its emphasis on preventative medicine. The key takeaway here is preventative health—meaning, let’s do something before it becomes a problem.

IS IT WORTH IT? The real question is, is it worth it? As you can clearly see, there is more being spent on medical procedures and prescriptions than on CAM. Research is lacking on the cure rate between conventional medicine and CAM. This is where we have to turn to those who have had success with integrative and alternative methods when conventional medicine has failed them.

What I can tell you from my own experience is that I no longer suffer with the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. For the last 10 years, there have been no doctor visits, co-pays, procedures, surgeries, medications or insurance claims. If the typical non-elderly family in the United States spends $8,200 per year on direct spending on healthcare (less surgeries and procedures), then I have saved $82,000 over the last 10 years.

After working in CAM centers in different countries, I have witnessed those who were suffering from different types of illnesses or cancers suffering in angst and living a miserable existence with no hope in sight, turn their illness around, reverse their symptoms, and leave with a new hope for longevity. Was it worth it?

With a CAM practitioner, the goal is to restore the body’s natural circadian rhythm and balance the chemistry. This naturally results in reversal of symptoms and some diagnoses, and no longer needing many medications a person may have been on. This, in turn, results in better quality of life, more energy and a renewed sense of hope. This is what preventative medicine is all about—restoring one’s ability to feel they can live a healthier life, and be drug- and symptom-free.

Is it worth it? Living without pain and suffering, constant trips to the doctor’s office, mounting toxic prescriptions, and medical bills with no end in sight? What do you think?

Karen Langston is a certified holistic nutritionist working with clients and professionals on how to have three healthy poops a day. Poop well, be well. www.healthygutadvisor.com

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February 2020 | greenliving

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WHY NATURE SHOULD REMAIN SECRET THE UNEXPECTED CONSQUENCES OF GEOTAGGING

BY KAIT SPIELMAKER

I

f you are someone who is tuned in to the 21st century and the role that social media plays in our everyday life, you probably notice the interactive Instagram feature that allows your photos to be tagged at a specific location. If you are not so technologically inclined, geotagging (or tagging) is an Instagram tool that allows you to tag a specific spot such as a restaurant, city, or hot springs.

So, whether from the edge of a mountain halfway across the world or at your favorite neighborhood coffee shop, your followers can click on the location and see where you were. This feature helps engage local followers for growing a business and continuously expanding the reach for a perfectly curated Instagram following.

This tool is beneficial, even profitable, for businesses and fun for documenting travels, but what happens when that tool causes destruction and leads to the over-tourism of geological sights and natural wonders?

Nature is meant to be a getaway, but places that were once untouched, unknown and secluded are now overrun with tourists, and often left worse than found. Trash and human waste is left behind, visitors are starting fires when there are strict noburn policies, and vandalism, such as graffiti, is happening.

Unfortunately, geotagging often leads to negative repercussions for the tagged locations.

TOO MANY VISITORS HERE Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is seeing the effects of what

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happens when locations within a beautiful natural area are tagged. The Visit Jackson Hole website launched a sustainability campaign that offers ways to tag responsibly while in the area, accompanied by mindful travel tips.

One issue Jackson Hole has faced has resulted from people tagging locations in the backcountry, which caused a surge in visitors often ill-prepared for the rugged terrain. This put tourists at risk, which can be a huge liability for the local government.

National Geographic, NPR and the New York Times have all written about the importance of leaving locations secret. A surge in foot traffic on trails can lead to erosion or disruption of local ecosystems.

Here in Arizona, Horseshoe Bend has seen a spike in visitors in recent years thanks to geotagging. Once a reclusive spot along the Colorado River that had, on average, only 1,000 visitors per year, now sees 4,000 visitors per day.

These types of cascading changes can have calamitous effects on nature. In Ontario, Bogle Seed Farms, a sunflower farm, temporarily shut down after visitors reached 7,000 in one day, leaving behind trash and trampled sunflowers. The city of Kanarraville, Utah, home to Kanarraville Falls, has seen such an influx of transients in the area that the city and the once secluded nature are suffering.

GETTING THAT PERFECT PHOTO Instagram influencers will bend the rules implemented by the local government and conservationists in order to get that greenlivingaz.com

perfect photo. Those rules that were put in place to protect the local ecosystems and help prevent erosion are being broken by those who feel they are above the rules which, in turn, encourages their following to do the same.

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A first-of-its-kind conservation campaign for Visit Jackson Hole to reduce the amount of geotagging in the area.

In 2016, two YouTube personalities were fined and sentenced to jail time for illegally venturing off the boardwalk near the Grand Prismatic in Yellowstone after they posted it to social media. They were banned from U.S. public lands for five years.

They also posted images of them water skiing behind a vehicle on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah when it was flooded.

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Geotagging is also linked to inadvertently assisting poachers in finding endangered animals. In parts of South Africa, there are signs posted urging visitors using social media not to post the location when animals are featured because this is a tool that poachers can use.

WE ARE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS As a transient in the great outdoors, we have a responsibility to abide by the rules and regulations set up by local or federal governments and conservationists. Our actions are not inconsequential, and the impression we leave behind affects the next person and all living things around us. Government budgets do not allow for constant observation of visitors, so it is up to us to help educate and monitor the behavior of others.

In nature, when using the tagging feature on social media, opt for a general area or region rather than a specific place.

If someone asks for a specific location, refrain from putting it in the public comments on your post. Instead, send them a private message telling them and inform them to do the same and respect the land.

Visit Leave No Trace to find the proper etiquette for using social media in the natural world such as tagging, exploring nature and giving back to the areas you frequent.

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Kait Spielmaker is a Michigan native who relocated to Phoenix, and is the digital content coordinator at Green Living Magazine. She is an avid hiker and is working on her master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University.

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February 2020 | greenliving

11

IS YOUR DRINKING WATER HURTING YOU?

BY MARILYN FITZGERALD

T

here are many things in our environment that can harm us. However, I never knew that the water I was drinking was my source of muscle tightness, dry skin, and joint and bone knocking. Don’t all coaches and doctors urge us to “Hydrate! Drink lots of water!”?

Changing not the amount but the type of water I drink is what changed my health.

I have competed in multiple sports for over a decade, while teaching and training people to create healthy lifestyles.

There were many times I questioned why, after drinking large amounts of water before and during my triathlons, that my thirst never seemed to be quenched—I just got a bloated stomach and needed frequent trips to a bathroom.

After teaching a lot of cycle classes one week, my legs became so tight that my usual method to relieve the discomfort did not help. I found I couldn’t cycle during my classes without feeling the need to stop often to relieve the muscular pain. I was desperate for relief, and it came from changing the type of drinking water I consumed. I moved from reverse osmosis and other bottled water to a Japanese medicalgrade water called Kangen Water. Yes! Relief!

Kangen water machines turn ordinary tap water into electrolytically reduced and hydrogen-rich drinking water. I learned that such water hydrates our muscle fibers; because of the micro-clustering property of Kangen water, it hydrates the muscle fibers more deeply and faster than tap water ever could.

The Kangen water was not just being stored in my belly and bloating me like the other waters I drank, but doing a “deep dive” to hydrate my body’s cells.

My knees no longer knocked. The carpal tunnel pain in my wrist stopped. Dry skin was gone. I lost 10 pounds. As an athlete, drinking this water improved my stamina and recovery. My VO2 Max test was off the chart. I am not a scientist or doctor, but whatever they might say about it, just changing my drinking water was changing my life. I could see and feel it.

The water is electrolyzed (alkaline ionized water), a form of water which provides oxygen to the cells, with an effect of reducing inflammation. According to chiropractor Vernell Lucas (one of California's leading chiropractic and sports specialists), water should contain oxygen and electricity, but most waters are devoid of them.

A key property of the water is that it’s alkaline, with a pH of 8.5-9.5. The human body is built to naturally maintain a healthy balance of acidity and alkalinity to function optimally—we need both. A normal blood pH level is 7.40 on a scale of 0 to 14, so human needs are more or less in the middle.

unbelievable. Water is water, it is just a placebo effect, and where are studies, you may be asking? Harvard-educated scientist and doctor H.S. Filtzer, MD FACS, tried the water and felt the difference. Like me, he really did not know why the water made him feel so much better. However, he conducted a study on ordinary water vs. Kangen water at its pH of 8.5-9.5 and published a book called The Kangen Water Study Book*.

One of the studies was on tissue culture, which showed a significant suppression of the inflammatory response by neutrophils as a result of drinking Kangen water.

An additional test showed that “in the presence of glucose, the mitochondria (20-30% of the cell) up-regulate their activity. In other words, the engine of the cell runs better with Kangen water.” ** Another study was done on sports recovery inflammation and revealed an increase in red blood cell production with Kangen water, with increased oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal.** An increase in the production of platelets was also observed with consumption of the Kangen water and suggests “an improved readiness for stress-induced damage repair.” From an anecdotal perspective, participants drinking the water showed “a statistical improvement in recovery from the exercises and an improved sense of well-being.”

It is generally recognized that 70% of the body is water. My drinking water was hurting me. The water I was consuming was acidic and brought on (or at least prevented repair of) inflammation, causing my various pains. The alkalinity of the Kangen water helped to reduce acidity and bring my blood back into balance. This has improved my health.

The Kangen device from Japan that produces the water also helped me to have a “green household,” which is now chemical- and plastic bottle-free. * Kangen Water: Scientific Studies Results on the Benefits of Kangen Water on the Human Tissue Culture and Living Human Volunteers, Dr. H.S. Filtzer, MD FACS ** Sports Recovery and Inflammation Management with Kangen Water” Oshiro et al.

This article is not meant as medical advice. All information contained herein is the author’s. Check with your doctor regarding any medical claims.

Marilyn D.Fitzgerald is a health and wellness speaker, author, master fitness instructor, and lifestyle coach. www.hydratingalkalinewater.com

My drinking water story might strike some readers as

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ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE YES, THERE ARE HEALTH BENEFITS!

BY IVY CIOLLI

W

hen we think of February, we think of hearts, love, and most of all, CHOCOLATE! Okay, well I certainly do, and I’m sure I’m not the only chocolate fanatic out there! Many of us like to use the excuse that chocolate has so many health advantages, which is true. We hear of the common ones such as antioxidants, but are you aware of the mood-enhancing benefits of cacao, which is used to make chocolate?

THE BENEFITS OF EATING CHOCOLATE I read on www.foodmatters.com that cacao boosts brain levels of serotonin, the feel-good brain chemical. When women are experiencing PMS, serotonin levels drop dramatically. (I envision husbands running out for chocolate as they read this!)

The benefits of cacao are proven to boost the brain levels of calming hormones and restore feelings of well-being.

Cacao also contains the mood-improver, anandamide— known as the bliss molecule, which creates a feeling of euphoria. Another mood-enhancing compound found in cacao is PEA (or phenethylamine), which triggers the release of endorphins and pleasurable opium-like neurochemicals.

Your sweetheart is sure to adorn the bedroom with chocolate truffles when they hear about this benefit!

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Mineral-rich cacao energizes the body without overstimulating the nervous system, giving you incredible long-lasting energy. Cacao is a healthy way to combat fatigue and has a high concentration of magnesium. Magnesium helps to protect against osteoporosis, reduces type II diabetes, and lowers blood pressure!

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Now you must ask, “Where should I source my chocolate from?” First, there is some advice I would like to dip your thoughts into. We all understand how important it is to source organic and non-GMO products. However, do you pay attention to the fair trade label you may see on packaging? You can find fair trade chocolate at your favorite natural health food store, such as Natural Grocers, or at your local farmers' market.

THREE VALLEY CHOCOLATIERS There is an abundance of delectable, melt-in-your mouth chocolates out there. Below, I will indulge your aromatic senses in my three favorite chocolatiers in the Valley.

The first two my family visits on a weekly basis at the Old Town Scottsdale farmers’ market. My husband has a special love for b Naked Chocolates. Sue, the owner, makes a decadent greenlivingaz.com

cacao-dipped macaroon that my husband inhales before I can get my hands on them.

coffee and wine, each cocoa bean comes from a unique terroir that impacts its flavor.

Then there is my preferred choice, Stone Grindz Chocolate.

My favorite is their two-time award-winning coconut milk ginger bar. There’s nothing more euphoric than this bar!

My alternative choice would be their salted almond bar.

They use cacao beans from all over the world, and company representatives will give you a tutorial of each bar if you take time to do a chocolate tasting at the market.

“Our single-origin dark chocolate bars contain only organically farmed cocoa beans (most of which are organically certified), organic cane sugar and a small amount of cocoa butter to enhance the smoothness of our chocolate (which we press in-house from the same beans used in each origin bar). Our chocolate making style results in a chocolate that is creamy and smooth, but not bitter.

Finally, if you’re looking for a chocolate mecca experience, hands-down you must visit Zak’s Chocolate! My husband and I fell upon this cacao haven on our 10th anniversary. We were just expecting to pick from an assortment of stunning chocolate designs behind the glass counter, but found ourselves in a dark chocolate connoisseur conversation with the owners. The only way to stop my husband from talking was to stuff a decadent chocolate in his mouth, or like they did, take us for a private tour in the back where all the cacao magic happens.

“All of our dark chocolate bars are vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free. We also offer a rotating selection of beautiful and tasty bonbons and caramels, including several vegan bonbons.

Our milk chocolate bars are crafted with the same ingredients as our dark chocolate with the addition of organic whole milk.

We do not use soy, corn syrup or anything to artificially extend the shelf life in any of our products.”

We were amazed by how many steps go into producing one chocolate truffle. They begin by tediously sorting the cacao beans by hand. The next step is the intricacy of roasting the beans. The beans are then strategically loaded into large mixing bowls. They slowly churn the cacao, stirring up the aromatic flavors of the beans, which eventually turns into the smooth creamy consistency that is then distributed into molds.

As if our experience couldn’t get any better, they made us a housemade hot cocoa that was adorned with a homemade marshmallow. As my palate savored the flavor of my first truffle, I turned to my husband—only to find that he had devoured all the chocolates in seconds.

Zak's Chocolate prides itself in using only ethically sourced cacao to craft their chocolate. Ethical sourcing involves environmental, economic and social standards relating to the farming practices, as well as the people they purchase cocoa beans from and through. In other words, ethical sourcing is about knowing where your food comes from, how it's made, how the land is treated, and how all the people involved in the process handle mutual responsibilities.

From one chocolate lover to another, will you “bean” mine?

Ivy Ciolli is a native of Arizona born with the innate desire to protect Mother Earth. She is a wife and proud mother of Cole and Brooklyn. Her days are filled with volunteering at her children's school, and philanthropic work involving abused and neglected children and animals.

One thing I know for sure is that if I was in the chocolate biz, my husband and mother would eat all the profits before they made it to the shelves!

Here’s what I learned at www. zakschocolate.com: “Zak’s Chocolate is a local, award-winning, small-batch craft chocolate maker and an artisan chocolate shop. We are one of a small number of chocolate shops that makes 100% of our own chocolate.

“At Zak's we roast only ethically sourced cocoa beans and our own single-origin and proprietary House Blend chocolate to use in dark, milk & white chocolate bars, as well as bonbons, truffles, brownies and other yummy confections. Everything is done by hand, from sorting cocoa beans to wrapping bars to hand crafting our chocolates.

“Cocoa beans are the seed of the cacao tree, and each cacao origin will taste different based on the bean variety, its growing environment and how we roast and bring out unique flavor profiles. Like greenlivingaz.com

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CHANGING THE WORLD OF BODY CARE, ONE HERB AT A TIME

BY ANGEL FUCHS

Q

uench Naturel wants to change how you look at body care products.

“We formulate with health in mind, meaning our products not only perform the task intended, but also promote optimal function and overall health,” says Allana Taylor, Quench Naturel co-owner.

That is quite the claim, but Quench Naturel stands by it 100%. Founded by two friends, Taylor and Gina Mynatt-Galdi, Quench Naturel is in its second year of creating all-natural, clean body care products.

The pair started off as friends, connecting when Taylor's oldest son and Mynatt-Galdi's only daughter were in fifth grade together at a Scottsdale Montessori school.

remained close even when our kids went their separate ways.”

When Taylor's husband became ill a couple of years ago, consequently having to switch gears in his career, she wanted to find a way to supplement her family's income during the difficult time and mentioned that to Mynatt-Galdi.

Mynatt-Galdi's daughter struggled with eczema, and she was concerned with the amount of chemicals in the products available to treat the condition, so she had developed her own formulation to help her daughter.

“Gina was already making a cream for her daughter and people were loving it,” says Taylor. “When I told her I was thinking about doing sales for another company, she suggested instead I partner with her to help sell her cream.”

“We met at a school event and just connected,” says Taylor.

The year was 2011, and Taylor had recently moved to the Valley from New York City. At the time, she was working in real estate and Mynatt-Galdi was running her own business in the travel and event industry.

That cream was what would evolve to become Get Whipped, Quench Naturel's moisturizing body soufflé, their first product available to consumers and a current top-seller.

“Becoming business partners was never something we'd intended,” Taylor adds. “We just shared a strong bond and

They've come quite a ways since that night in MynattGaldi's home. Today, Quench Naturel has products in four

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Thus, the idea to create clean, high-quality body care products using only natural ingredients, herbs and botanicals was born.

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categories—body, hair, facial and oral care, with the Q24 line under the facial category being among the top-selling products. Quench Naturel is available online, as well as at events, and very limited and strategic retail outlets.

“We like to sell direct to our customers,” says Taylor.

“This allows us to build relationships and offer guidance and education.”

With a mission of changing the way consumers use and look at skin/body care, education is very important foundation of Quench Naturel. Taylor and Mynatt-Galdi have done extensive research, pored over statistics, and learned that the numbers are alarming.

“Cancer and disease are on the rise, and a big part of that is because of not only what people are putting into their bodies, but also because of what they are putting onto them,” says Taylor.

She added that the FDA doesn't regulate the term “natural,” allowing any company to use it even when the ingredients they are using are anything but.

“People just don't know what they are putting on their bodies,” she says. “Much of it is toxic and that will build up. Getting sick is inevitable.”

Quench Naturel uses EWG standards and pride itself on the clean, high-quality herbs, botanicals and essential oils it uses as its ingredients. Every ingredient used in its products are listed on its website, along with a description of what it does and why Taylor and MynattGaldi love it.

And, while using such high-grade ingredients can seem costly to the consumer at first glance, the reality is that they are not using any fillers, like water, which can dilute formulas. Instead, they use organic shea butter, coconut oil and aloe vera as the bases, which are all known for their therapeutic qualities, providing plenty of bang for the consumer's buck.

Taylor and Mynatt-Galdi are running a small company with big intentions. In 2020 they plan to procure investors to help make Quench Naturel more available to the public. They also plan to expand their reach with additional education and awareness.

“We want to change people's thinking; we want people to be happier and healthier,” Taylor says.

“Just one small change can have so much effect.”

For more information about Quench Naturel and to see their complete line of products, visit www.quenchnaturel.com Angel Fuchs is a freelance writer and owner/editor of Yay Baby!, a mom-friendly lifestyle blog with a focus on family, fun and food. She is an avid home-cook and helps her husband, Tim, run a successful photography business, but her main job is personal assistant and private chauffeur to their 7-year-old daughter, Jax.

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DRIFT: THE ECO-CONSCIOUS COMPANY CREATING STUNNING FURNITURE

BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

W

hen Aaron Moreno was 9, he built his first piece of furniture.

The company’s website showcases ready-to-purchase items, or clients can order custom pieces, as well.

“My uncle owned a construction company and my grandfather taught me how to swing an ax,” he says. “I loved the feeling of creating something that could be useful out of an old stack of wood.”

“I started Drift because custom furniture should not only be for the affluent. It can be affordable and it can be made in the USA,” he says. “It’s all about individuality and we all have our own specific furniture needs.”

At the time, he never imagined that building furniture—and doing his part to save the planet— would one day be his career and passion.

HELPING TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT “Over nine million tons of furniture ends up in landfills every year. This is so unnecessary. A lot of it is beautiful wood, full of character and uniqueness, that can be repurposed into exquisite furniture,” Moreno shares.

WHAT IS DRIFT? Fast-forward to today, and he now owns Drift (www. driftreclaimed.com), a reclaimed wood company that restores wood and uses it to create quality furniture, restaurant buildouts, yoga studios, unique home accent pieces, and nearly anything you can dream up.

Photo by Ian Joseph Jones

“When shopping for furniture for my first home, the options seemed to either lack quality or be ridiculously expensive. I felt like there had to be a better option, and when I couldn’t find it, I decided to build it myself,” he explains. “I have always had the desire to be an entrepreneur and pave a new road. I wanted to start a business that had an impact on the world and met a need, and hence, Drift was born!”

Moreno’s designs are inspired by nature. An outdoorsman who enjoys camping, traveling and ocean activities, he emulates the natural tones found in nature.

“There is a reason that we find peace in nature, and I aspire to share that same impact in our homes,” he says.

Every Drift creation is hand-made, and made in the United States by Moreno and his team. Although they mainly focus on dining tables, shelving, coffee tables and media centers, the Drift team has done everything from building a reclaimed wood bird perch to a complete restaurant overhaul.

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In addition to wood from old items, Drift’s wood is sourced from dilapidated barns and structures throughout the U.S., and following hurricanes and natural disasters, the company collects fallen wood that would have otherwise been disposed of.

As well as repurposing wood, Moreno also works to save the environment in other ways. First, for every item sold, Drift plants a tree.

“Trees are amazing for so many reasons,” he explains. “They give us oxygen and help regulate the planet. Globally, we have a long way to go with sustainability and the more trees we can plant, the better. And, who doesn’t have fond memories of climbing trees when we were kids?”

As well, he is currently working on a recycling program that will allow people to bring their furniture, or any hard wood, to Drift’s facility. He will be instituting an incentive program for this, to encourage people to take advantage of the program instead of sending items to landfills.

“There are a lot of details that we are still working on, but the opportunity for impact is very exciting,” he shares. greenlivingaz.com

Photo by Ian Joseph Jones

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Moreno uses reclaimed wood to create high-quality furniture for residential and commercial uses. Photos courtesy Aaron Moreno

FURNITURE THAT LASTS Creating furniture or items from wood has another benefit— longevity.

“Our grandparents used to purchase a dinner table with the idea that it would last a lifetime. We now live in a time where people look at furniture as temporary,” Moreno says. “A lot of the furniture out there today is made out of non-organic materials that are not recyclable and do not last. The wood we use at Drift is all hard wood and it will last for decades.”

And with all that use comes the opportunity to make memories, as Moreno points out by sharing a story about one of his favorite items that he’s made to date.

“I had the opportunity to build a table for a large family in New Jersey,” he shares. “This table accommodated 14

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people around it and was designed to foster conversation and interaction. I love hearing about the holidays celebrated, the memories made, and the love shared around the pieces we build. This specific table was made out of reclaimed walnut that could have easily ended up in a landfill. Instead, it offered a gathering place for this wonderful family.

“I love taking something that is old and regarded as useless and giving it purpose. When I see an old piece of wood that probably would have ended up in a landfill and repurpose it into a piece of furniture that one of my clients will enjoy in their home, it makes me happy.”

Michelle Glicksman is the Editor-in-Chief of Green Living Magazine.

When she’s not writing, she’s driving her kids everywhere. Follow her on Instagram at @michelleglicksman.

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Introducing

The Peignoir

Available Early 2020

The Peignoir style is designed for zero material waste from pattern to production using luxuriously sheer mesh and lace fabrics from a previous lingerie production.

The Peignoir is designed for versatile styling—it’s a long romantic negligee, a short baby doll nightie, a sexy robe, resort cover up, or whatever she wants it to be.

Purchase online at:

activintimates.com or visit:

Belle Lacet Lingerie, 7131 W Ray Rd #5, Chandler, AZ 85226 Photographer – Brian Delfin; photosbydelfin.com; IG: @photosbydelfin Model – Cassie Hepler; cassiehepler.com; IG: @cassiehepler

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February 2020 | greenliving

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ORGANIC CAFÉ AND WELLNESS BRAND ATTRACTS A BIG FOLLOWING SUMMER AND MIKE SANDERS AND LOCAL JUICERY

BY MADI PAGE

“

Love your body and feed your soul” is the lifestyle that Local Juicery, with locations in both Sedona and Flagstaff, hopes to share with its customers.

Summer Sanders, a former celebrity chef and health coach, is the co-founder of the Arizona-based organic café. She and her husband, Mike, both shared a mutual interest in creating a space that would help people across the country take back their health. So, in 2014 they opened Local Juicery.

With a menu of superfood-infused smoothies, protein blends, juices, H20 blends and tonics, as well as a variety of foods such as toasts, waffles, breakfast bowls, salads, and energizing on-the-go snacks, the café has quickly become a hot spot, even drawing visits from celebrities such as Jason Mraz, Brie Bella, Michaela Angela Davis and more.

All Local Juicery products are made with organic, clean ingredients that include gluten-free and vegan options.

Not only is Sanders the co-founder of Local Juicery, but she is also a well-known author. Her first book, Raw and Radiant (2018), includes 130 quick recipes and holistic tips for a healthy life. Her second book, Love Your Body Feed Your Soul: Self-Care Ritual and Recipes for Your Inner Goddess, debuted last month and includes everything from recipes for natural masks, scrubs and hair treatments to healing tonics and smoothies, and meditations to foods that will make you feel radiant.

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Sanders’ passion and personal experiences in plant-based nutrition is what inspired her to launch Local Juicery and to write the books.

“If your hope is to move to a completely plant-based diet, I believe it is very important to clarify what that term means to you,” she explains. “Potato chips are ‘plant-based,’ and now we have these fake meats that are potentially more toxic than meat! To me, a plant-based diet means a diet grounded in whole foods with an emphasis on leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. I believe in balance and listening to one's body. In my life, I don't stick to any particular diet dogma. I've tried many diets and eventually have come to the conclusion that a plant-focused lifestyle is right for me, but that term has wiggle room. I think the worst thing we can do is box ourselves in, as this creates guilt and shame if we ever slip.

Food should be fun and pleasurable! Keep it simple, light, and don't get too caught up on the terms.”

For more information, visit www.localjuicery.com.

Madi Page is currently a senior at Arizona State University studying nutrition. After graduating in May of 2020, she plans to work towards her goal of becoming a physician's assistant. In her free time, Madi enjoys writing, spending time with her friends, family and dog, Oliver.

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Photos by Lauren J Photography

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Grab a drink or food at Local Juicery, or try the recipes in this book at home.

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ECO-EVENT RECAP CGH Earth Eco Travel Event Green Living Magazine’s ECO Event in January showcased “CGH Earth Experience Hotels: A Sustainable Tourism.” Held at the beautiful 94 Hundred Shea Event Space in Scottsdale, guests sampled Indian foods created by Mint Indian Cuisine, browsed vendors such as Eternal Ayurveda, and enjoyed networking with like-minded, eco-conscious others.

The highlight of the event was the program presented by Green Living’s Publisher, Dorie Morales, who shared photos, videos, and memories from her recent trip to Kerala, India. Kerala is an extremely eco-friendly destination, and her presentation highlighted some of those initiatives.

Sponsors: CGH Earth Discover the World Eternal Ayurveda Scottsdale Body N Brain Pro Travel Pillsbury Wine Events by Danielle North Mountain Brewery Soulchef Safari Witnessing Nature Mint Indian Cuisine To learn about Green Living’s upcoming free eco-events, visit www.greenlivingaz.com/arizona-events/eco-events.

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Are you still on track for retirement?

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Investors have survived market swings and corrections before. But a twinge of uncertainty may have you wondering if you should get another opinion to help confirm your wealth is in the right place. That’s why we’ve made it as easy as we can to have a complimentary, face-to-face meeting with a Financial Advisor.

Maybe you just want to know if you’re really on track for retirement or if your investments could be better aligned to your goals. Or in the process of working hard for your money, you worry you’ve overlooked some necessary steps to transfer your wealth.

Whatever’s on your mind, we’re here to listen, and we’ll help you evaluate your plan. It’s free, and there’s no obligation. Then you can decide if your wealth is getting the care it deserves.

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Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2015 Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Photos courtesy Taliesin West

PRESERVING TALIESIN WEST

BY ANNIKA TOMLIN

F

rank Lloyd Wright began building Taliesin West as his winter camp way back in 1938. Today it still stands as one of the most well-known houses in the world, being recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site along with Taliesin in Wisconsin. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is in constant planning and preservation mode to keep up with the legacy of Taliesin West as an ever-evolving set of buildings.

“We are always trying to keep it preserved for future generations,” says Foundation Vice President of Preservation Fred Prozzillo.

There are four different preservation efforts that are a priority for 2020.

“If we have to effect change, we do it sympathetically and to safeguard the property,” he says.

ACCESSIBILITY As a new UNESCO World Heritage site, there has been an influx of visitors to Taliesin West, and the Foundation wants to ensure that people from all walks of life are able to experience Wright’s work. Three new ramps made out of stabilized decomposed granite will give people who use wheelchairs, walkers or have other mobility restrictions an easier way to travel around the location. Prozzillo and his team wanted to

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find a material that still felt like gravel or a soil-like surface and came across stabilized decomposed granite.

“It helps ground the spaces with the desert,” says Prozzillo. “It makes the building feel like it’s more integrated into the landscape.”

One of the ramps leads to an area where all of Taliesin West can be seen, and then you can turn around and see the Valley.

The path then leads to an accessible indoor area for people to view Taliesin West as a computer-generated model.

Within this space, there is also a new ADA-compliant bathroom. In fact, each level of Taliesin West will have an ADA-compliant bathroom.

WATER AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE In short, the old pipes need to go. The galvanized pipe used for the water and electrical infrastructure that is currently under the buildings is the original infrastructure that was laid down in 1938. Typically, that kind of plumbing has a 40-year lifespan. Right now, the age of plumbing is more than double that. The challenge for replacing the plumbing is to not destroy the historic concrete floors, gardens and walkways around the building. Prozzillo, his team and assisting engineers came up with the concept of horizontal directional boring.

“We want to use (this technique) here not only to protect our gardens but to also show that we can use this kind of greenlivingaz.com

technology at Taliesin West,” says Prozzillo. “It’s a great option for any municipality or property.”

in Saudi Arabia. The lifespan of this kind of fabric is decades, compared to the original canvas that lasted at most two years.

This technique consists of creating a small pit away from all of the historic landscape and another small pit towards the building and piping the new infrastructure through the side, not damaging or uprooting any of the property.

“We can use a fabric to get back to something that was closer to Wright’s time period and develop new ways to connect these fabric panels to the beams so that we are not altering the historic character and historic appearance of the building,” Prozzillo says.

“We’d like to continue the idea that Taliesin West is a place of learning and as a teaching tool for Frank Lloyd Wright,” he explains. “We want to continue that legacy by offering up these projects for people to learn from.”

FABRIC ROOFS The original roofing of the main buildings was canvas.

Wright wanted parts of the estate to have a more open concept and be able to pull back the roof and let the natural light and breezes of the desert flow through. The canvas was changed almost yearly because it could not withstand the desert summertime climate. The roof transitioned to fiberglass in 1960s and then eventually now to acrylic. “[The fabric roofs] made the buildings really dynamic and poetic,” says Prozzillo.

There is currently no official fabric that has been chosen to replace the current acrylic panels. Prozzillo and his team are looking into fabrics that will restore the poetic feeling that they once gave while Wright was alive. One option is PTFE, which is a fiberglass fabric. This kind of fabric has been used for the roofing at the Denver International Airport and other buildings

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Once a fabric is chosen, the preservation team will apply it to a single roof for a year to two-year time period and test its ability to withstand the Arizona weather and the constant manipulation of pulling it up and down to allow crossventilation in the building.

HILLSIDE THEATRE This 120-year-old structure is in need of restorations. A twoyear project will address the compromised building foundation and exterior sandstone walls. Like the rest of the buildings, heat and electrical infrastructure will be replaced, an ADAcompliant restroom will be added, and two rooms will be added to the building to allow for more events on the property.

For more information, visit www.franklloydwright.org/ preservation.

Annika Tomlin is a recent Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication graduate who loves writing and photography.

When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her cat, Becks, and going on hikes around the Valley.

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SMALL LIVING MAKES A BIG IMPACT

TEMPE MICRO ESTATES PLANNED COMMUNITY

BY BARBI WALSH

T

empe Micro Estates is a scaled-down version of a master-planned community with a huge impact. Made up of 13 small homes—or humble homes, as they are often referred to—the LEED-certified development is leading the way into sustainable housing and communities.

Built with high-quality, sustainable materials, these standalone units take tiny home living to another level. Modern architecture pairs with environmentally friendly appliances and materials, making the 600-square-foot loft-style, one-bedroom home feel upscale and spacious. A small private yard is also included, giving homeowners even more space to relax and enjoy.

Each residence faces a central courtyard with desertfriendly Sonoran landscaping. Orchard and shade trees, as well as native and edible plants, create a serene and inviting park-like space where neighbors can enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. There’s even a kitchen garden area where residents can grow their own fresh and healthy foods, says Kirsten Shaw, chief sustainability officer (CSO) of Sustainability Advisors Corporation and collaborator of the project.

“Tempe Micro Estates is designed as an ‘intentional neighborhood,’” she says. “It creates a courtyard community where neighbors want to connect with one another while reducing the impact on the environment.”

Anchored by a 900-square-foot Common Room, The Estates provides a place for residents where they can gather, share meals, relax, and interact with neighbors and friends.

“Even though each home is small and private, the sense of community around it is big,” Shaw says.

GREEN THINK TANK; SHARING IDEAS Those behind the passion and innovation in developing Tempe Micro Estates include non-profit Newtown Community

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Development Corporation and ASU SkySong, who, along with ASU interns, conceived and collaborated on the project.

Located on a small plot of land in downtown Tempe, The Estates will be built on just under an acre of public-owned land designed with an eye on the future. The homes feature everything eco-friendly, such as using gray water to irrigate, and ductless ventilation to keep dust out. These homes have it all.

The many organizations involved haven’t missed a thing, and have helped make the model for Tempe Micro Estates replicable. The hope is to inspire builders to take on the concept of sustainable building and creating sustainable neighborhoods, says Heather Szymanski, building and community advisor for Sustainability Advisors Corp. But finding the information, resources or funding isn’t always easy. It can be daunting to find out even where to start the process, Shaw says. Having the replicable project gives builders a starting point for achieving sustainable goals.

ASU SkySong is like a think tank where industry leaders,

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those who might be priced out of homeownership. HUD affordable housing financing is available for those who qualify. To qualify, prospective buyers must have a household income lower than 80% of the area’s median income.

students and faculty can translate collaborative thoughts and experience into business and actions.

“The replication process helps people plug and play; we’re gap fillers,” Szymanski says. “We have builders, engineers, investors, developers, realtors, marketing people and students all working together to create an amazing project that is good for the environment, economy, and for the community,” she adds.

SHARING THE WEALTH It’s not just the environment that benefits from this innovative project. Homeowners of all incomes are able to purchase one of these new modern homes. One of the ideas behind Tempe Micro Estate is to make it possible for many who have been squeezed out of the housing market to afford the best in eco-living. Prices are affordable and designed to make homeownership accessible to first-time homeowners or hard-to-qualify home purchasers, says Shaw.

According to Newtown’s website, over half of the homes will be sold below market value, giving opportunities to greenlivingaz.com

Shaw says that homebuyers who are single, or empty nesters, sometimes do not qualify for special housing or for conventional loans and are left out of homeownership; others just do not want the average 2,000-squarefoot home. Fortunately, Tempe Micro Estates fits both needs.

The homes are zoned as single-family, which also allows for traditional financing.

As the trend for smaller, more environmentally friendly housing heats up, everyone in the housing industry can benefit from the replicable process that Tempe Micro Estates has set in motion.

BUILDING GREEN FOR THE LONG HAUL Housing costs continue to rise; however, incomes are not keeping up, Shaw says. Add the increasing demand on the planet for resources, and building with the future in mind is paramount.

According to Shaw, most homes are built to last only 50 years, which means tearing down and rebuilding. Shaw adds that almost 70% of the electrical consumption and close to 40% of all energy used comes from the U.S. building industry.

“We need to build homes to last to use less energy; we need to build them in ways that meet our needs today without compromising the needs of our children and grandchildren February 2020 | greenliving

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and the future,” Shaw says.

Builders in the Valley want to keep up the trend for smaller, greener and walkable communities, agrees realtor Nancy Parana. “Builders are moving with the trends.”

Savvy, educated buyers, like millennials, want a different type of home; concern for the environment and less maintenance and expense are driving their home purchases.

“Millennials are experience-driven. They don’t want the 7,000-square-foot home,” Parana says.

The demise of the McMansion isn’t new. The decline and disinterest in the huge-style home started to shift back in 2017, according to a report in Business Insider by Madeline Stone. She points out that the shift away from conspicuous consumption is part of the post-recession attitude.

Parana sees this more now than ever in buyers.

“They’re well-educated and want to spend their money on experiences, not spend money on maintenance of the megamansions,” she says.

And, walkable neighborhoods top of their list of priorities, she says.

Tempe Micro Estates fills those shoes easily. It’s conveniently located near light rail and the future Tempe Streetcar, and is close to employment, shopping, healthcare and entertainment in the downtown Tempe area.

HEALTHY MINDS AND HEARTS START WITH HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS Building sustainable communities is as important as sustainable

building practices. Creating a closer-knit neighborhood isn’t just about meeting the needs of savvy, progressive, edgy-green home buyers, it’s for everybody, mind and soul.

Communities connect people, and connecting with others combats loneliness. The feeling of isolation is a huge problem in our current society. Everyone from the youngest generation to those living on the “fringe” of society and to the elderly suffers from some form of loneliness in our tech-driven world.

Having opportunities to connect on a more physical and personal level helps stave off the negative effects of isolation.

Feeling lonely today is nearly as prolific as smoking was decades ago. No one thought much of smoking, but years later we’re seeing the detrimental effects it has on health.

LONELINESS IS TODAY’S PACK-A-DAY The feeling of loneliness can be just as lethal as smoking about 14 cigarettes, researchers reported on www. psychologytoday.com The findings go on to report that the death rate for people who feel lonely is 50% higher than those with healthy relationships. Numerous studies have also linked loneliness to suicide, substance abuse and increased risk of poor health outcomes, including Alzheimer’s and other related dementias, according to the Journals of Gerontology.

Social connectedness is vital to communities and people, and as Szymanski says, we’re broken in terms of community.

“We’ve lost our sense of community,” she says. “The sense of community is bringing people together.”

It turns out that coming together with people from your community, whether planning events or engaging in shared activities, such as gardening, help people feel part of something, part of a group, which can lessen the anxiety often felt in our disengaged society, studies show.

“In considering the development of a neighborhood, there need to be ways for the people living there to reasonably get to work, shopping and other venues that add to the quality of life in our culture. Also, having places to grow food right outside their doors makes the community more resilient,” Shaw says.

And just maybe this little neighborhood and housing project might be the next big thing in creating a sustainable community by creating affordable, sustainable homes for the future of all of us.

For more information, visit www. newtowncdc.org.

Barbi Walsh is a freelance journalist and veteran flight attendant with a serious case of wanderlust. When she’s not globetrotting her family around the world, she can be found geeking out over food, fitness and fashion at home.

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greenliving | February 2020

greenlivingaz.com

From Hindsight

to Insight

15th Annual

FEBRUARY 26, 2020 WEDNESDAY | 7:00am - 4:00pm RECEPTION TO FOLLOW JW MARRIOTT PHOENIX DESERT RIDGE 5350 EAST MARRIOTT DRIVE

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Economist: Ali Wolf

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Platon is a communicator and storyteller.

Shooting portraits for a range of international publications including Rolling Stone, The New York Times magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ and The Sunday Times magazine, Platon developed a special relationship with TIME magazine, producing over 20 covers for them. He has been a keynote speaker on leadership at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chanel, Nike, Yale University, Oxford University, and Wharton University.

EACH MONTH WE FEATURE A GREEN CHAMPION WHO IS MAKING STRIDES IN THE GREEN COMMUNITY

TASTY CHIA

AUDREY MARTINEZ HELPS OTHERS INCORPORATE CHIA INTO THEIR DIETS, AS WELL AS GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

BY JAMIE KILLIN ingredients like dyes, chemical preservatives and corn syrup, so she ensured the cookies were allnatural and non-GMO. Martinez believes health and happiness go hand-in-hand, and that providing a high-quality cookie that includes a nutrient-dense seed that’s satisfying and delicious helps families enjoy the best of both worlds.

A

udrey’s Chia Cookies founder Audrey Martinez first discovered the life-changing benefits of chia while training for her first marathon—a goal she’d set for herself to achieve for her 50th birthday. To fully understand the mighty superfood’s benefits, she’d train one week with chia and one week without, and found that the weeks she incorporated chia into her diet she noticed a variety of benefits, including feeling more energized, better endurance and increased mental clarity. After experiencing these benefits for herself, she wanted everyone to enjoy the same positive results, so she worked with a local chef to incorporate them into her favorite snack—thin, crispy cookies.

Chia has long been hailed as a superfood for its high fiber content, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids which help provide a variety of health benefits like sustainable energy, improved gut health and balanced blood sugar, to name a few.

Now, with Audrey’s Chia Cookies, chia is easily enjoyed by even the pickiest eaters—including kids!

However, Martinez didn’t just want people to eat chia, she wanted them to enjoy a better-for-you snack free of harmful

As part of Martinez’s commitment to helping others live a healthier and happier life, she also stays active in the community through initiatives with Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization that aims to empower young women. She has donated product, run with participants at their annual 5K, and served as a sponsor for the annual Limitless Potential Brunch. She and her husband Randy also enjoy connecting with community members and teaching them about all the benefits of chia by having a presence at local farmer’s markets and events, such as the Mesa Marathon and Local First Arizona’s Arizona Fall Fest.

Today, the cookies are sold in four flavors—chocolate chip, peanut butter, lemon and almond—nationwide in approximately 400 stores including Whole Foods, Sprouts and Fry’s, as well as online through Amazon. The chocolate chip flavor is the best-seller, but during sampling events cookie enthusiasts usually love the lemon most, with almond as a close second.

Martinez plans to continue to grow Audrey’s Chia Cookies with more cookie flavors and other chia-packed snacks as well as continued expansion in new stores nationwide, especially in the Western part of the United States.

Jamie Killin is a lifestyle publicist for The Knight Agency in Scottsdale as well as a freelance writer. Her work has also appeared in Thrillist, PHOENIX magazine and So Scottsdale! magazine.

If you want to nominate a Green Champion, please email editor@greenlivingaz.com

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greenliving | February 2020

greenlivingaz.com

Don’t Worry About the Weather—Grow Fresh Food All Year Pure Greens is a Phoenix-based company that makes it easy for users to grow fresh produce by offering turn-key vertical hydroponic grow systems that provide a sustainable growing environment capable of producing in all climates. The Pure Greens Container Farms are built in 40 ft. insulated shipping containers, can be customized based off of user’s specifications, and are ready to being immediate production.

Pure Greens, which was developed in 2015 by Damon and Taisiya Jacobson, makes farming easy by controlling the climate of your crops via the automated Grow Link system and a vestibule that acts as a climate barrier and pest blocker.

The Pure Greens Container Farms climate is monitored and controlled through an Automated Grow Link System, where the grower can adjust the CO2 levels, air temperature, PH, humidify, fans, lights and thermostat remotely from a phone app or a computer.

The current systems are perfect for a variety of leafy greens, herbs and micro greens, while future growing systems will be able to produce strawberries, tomatoes and other vegetables.

Pure Greens also sells its produce to local restaurants and various other end users.

With this new way of growing produce, novice and professional farmers alike can say hello to fresh greens and herbs all year, and goodbye to pesticides and herbicides and waiting on crops to become in season.

1005 N 50th St Phoenix, AZ 85008 602-753-3469

/PureGreensLLC

@puregreensllcaz

www.puregreensaz.com

Photos by Lee Stewart

HARVESTING THIS MONTH’S CROPS AND WHAT TO PLANT NOW

BY LEE STEWART

I

t’s February, the month of love, and one of my favorite months of the year! February is not only my birth month, but it is the time that the season begins to make way for spring. The warm rays of sunshine provide confirmation that springtime is just around the corner. The light warm temperatures are a wonderful gift to gardeners!

February is a wonderful month to be preparing your yard, patio or balcony for your springtime planting. It is the ideal time to get your space, soil and irrigation ready for the wonderful spring planting that is just beginning. Picking fresh fruits and vegetables packed with 100% nutrients straight from your own backyard, patio or balcony has so many benefits.

Hopefully you have been harvesting some of your winter crops, such as different varieties of kale, spinach, snap peas, Maryann peas, and other various vegetables. Likewise, you may have had the opportunity to create some wonderful warm stews with the harvesting of your carrots, Chinese cabbage and bok choy.

WHAT TO PLANT NOW You should also be continuing to re-seed some of the varieties of vegetables. The beat can continue when you reseed your beets. So, turn the beet around, because that is one of the many vegetables that you can continue rotating through your garden.

The middle of February is also a good time to be sowing

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your seeds for cucumbers, melons, cantaloupe, corn, and the wonderful watermelons. Yes, who doesn’t love a juicy watermelon when the temperatures begin to climb!

Most citrus fruits like lemons and oranges are ready to be picked now. It may be a good idea to take and share the fruits of your labor with co-workers, friends or family instead of letting that wonderful citrus drop to the ground to rot, or even attract the dreaded roof rats. There are even food banks around the Valley that will accept any citrus.

IDEAS FOR CITRUS CROPS One of the other wonderful things I do at the Veg Up Get Dirty urban farm is juice our fruits. We love juicing the oranges and lemons and then freezing them for future use. I like to take my lemons and juice them into ice cube trays. It’s a wonderful way of making lemonade drinks for the summer months.

I also take my citrus peels and boil them in a huge pot to help clean the air naturally. It provides a natural beautiful aroma and fills your home with a wonderful citrus scent.

February is one of the months when you should be fertilizing your citrus trees. You want to fertilize them around midFebruary—so around Valentine’s Day is a good landmark day to keep in your calendar for fertilizing. Before you head out on your Valentine’s date, give your citrus tree some love. Deciduous and bare root trees can also be planted this time of the year. greenlivingaz.com

If by chance you were not able to protect some of your plants from frost, there is something to keep in mind. If your plants were damaged by the frost, DO NOT prune them. The plants may not look award-winning or becoming now, but be patient for the weather to warm up. There must be more consistent warmer weather before you prune the plants back. Please keep your frost cloths and old sheets accessible, as we are not out of the clear yet for possible frost in February. Just like you have a jacket waiting in the closet, you want to be sure to have your plants’ frost covers close in case we do have a few surprise freeze or frost nights.

A Day of Action & Collaboration

I cover the trees with frost cloths and sheets at the Veg Up Get Dirty urban farm. I also want to share one of the tricks I use on the Urban Farm—I string incandescent white lights around the citrus trees. It gives the trees a fun festive look, while helping provide some small amount of warmth to the fruit trees.

MY COMPANY I started Veg Up Get Dirty several years ago as an edible landscape company. I am a certified master gardener and mentor for the Maricopa Extension program with the University of Arizona. Since launching the company, I have had the pleasure in assisting with gardens in Montessori schools, residential homes, offices, balconies, patio homes and more.

Additional services I provide are through my company include gardening consultations, designing of your garden, custom building of gardens, servicing existing gardens, and education. I have implemented a gardening coaching service to educate individuals to take control of their own garden.

You may be asking what does this service look like? I come out to the location and conduct a 90-minute assessment/ consultation. During this assessment I will look at your area to find the best placement for your garden, assess for amending needs for your already existing garden, educate, and assess possible watering distribution to the garden. It would be my absolute pleasure to assist you in your gardening journey and help you grow your own food.

Lee Stewart is the owner of Veg Up Get Dirty. Learn more at www.vegupgetdirty.com.

Climate Action Summit April 14, 2020 Pera Club, Tempe

EarthArizona 2020 is an all-day business forum with sessions designed to address important topics tailored for Arizona-specific climate change factors such as extreme heat, drought, declining air quality and impacts to human health. Leaders and experts will provide businesses with useful information and strategies to balance economic opportunities with climate action solutions.

For more information and to register visit

arizonaforward.org/eartharizona2020

Social Hour to follow presented by Green Living Magazine

Email sales@greenlivingmag.com for sponsorship opportunities.

Hosted by

greenlivingaz.com

February 2020 | greenliving

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KERALA, INDIA

A TROPICAL AND NATURE SANCTUARY

BY DORIE MORALES

W

hen one thinks of India, many things come to mind—overcrowding, the Taj Mahal, delicious food, holy cows, crazy driving, dancing and singing.

People also usually wonder if it’s safe. I can tell you I felt very safe during my trip. It takes about 3 to 5 business days to get a visa, and if you’re wondering if you need to get shots or malaria pills, those are things that you can talk to your doctor or naturopath about. I had the hepatitis A and typhoid shots. I bought the malaria pills, but only took a couple.

When most people travel to India they do not think of Kerala, which is where I visited. Here, I felt an immediate connection to nature, culture and community.

I flew into the only solar-powered airport in the world, which is located in Cochin, India. It was 3 a.m. I was greeted by a nice man who took my bags and connected me to an enthusiastic driver who pointed out all the local attractions on the way to the Brunton Boatyard hotel.

A beautiful Indian woman welcomed me with a fresh wet towel, and water with lemon and cardamom. It was refreshingly delicious. The bell man took me to my room, which had a breathtaking view of the water. I was very

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greenliving | February 2020

Photos by Dorie Morales and Julie Baum

blessed to sleep for a couple of hours in a comfortable bed in a beautiful room.

At 9 a.m., Beata Kaminski, regional sales manager at Discover the World Canada, and Joanne Lundy, director, Discover the World Canada, and I enjoyed a wonderful yoga class that tested our abilities to do headstands. After we each showered, we went to breakfast at the restaurant overlooking the water where the cruise ships were coming in. We enjoyed tea and coffee with milk; and fresh, tantalizing pineapple juice; fresh fruit; dosa; and eggs made with local ingredients.

We had a walking tour of the old port that had lots of different types of vendors selling fish in colorful baskets, local gifts, and cards made with leaves. I noticed signs that declared, “plastic free zone.” We walked to a spice market that was run by women, where we purchased teas, masalas, saffron, spices and gifts. We went to a washing center, which is where the locals washed, dried (in the sun) and ironed all of the laundry for hotels and other people in the area. After, we headed down to the boat for a striking sunset cruise around the harbor.

We met Shilendran Mohanachandran, the vice president of sales at CGH Earth Hotels, for dinner at Casino hotel, which is the company’s flagship hotel in Willingdon Island, greenlivingaz.com

Our second day, we had a delightful breakfast, then headed into the van with our driver to Prakriti Shakti Clinic of Natural Medicine in Idukki, Kerala. The drive was scenic, filled with views of rubber plants and rice paddies, and pineapple, cardamom, tea and coffee plantations.

We entered the property and were touched with the sandalwood paste on our third eye. It calms you down and is relaxing. The property has a negative edge pool to the left.

The scenery is breathtaking, peaceful and serene. It is a place to heal and connect with nature. I felt a complete connection to this healing space. We visited the rooms, and all of the toiletries were eco-friendly and the toothbrushes were made of bamboo and sustainable. I connected to the healing energy.

We toured the property, the organic vegetable garden, and the greenhouse. The chef, Gireesh Kumar, P.C., prepared a raw

Kochi. It was a tantalizing experience. The fish and lobster were fresh from a tank next to our table. We began with fried sardines and shrimp, and Julie Baum, senior director of network services at Discover the World (and my incredible friend since eighth grade) and I ate a large lobster and shrimp with grilled vegetables platter in clay pot. I devoured my whole platter. Everyone learned on this trip that I am not a small eater and I love food, especially fish and seafood; hence, I am a pescatarian. Then we had three delicious native desserts called vattapappam. One had charcoal in it, and overall, they were similar to flan with coffee and coconut milk.

food lunch of butternut squash soup and shredded carrots, red peppers and pumpkin seeds, with a side of raw onion crackers and a date dessert with fresh raspberry sauce. He gave us a tour of his immaculate kitchen, where we ate fresh, dried bananas that were heavenly.

We entered Spice Village, we were greeted with tea and sat with the manager of the hotel. There is a beautiful set of spices in the lobby. We enjoyed a special chef demonstration, a decadent dinner, and a beautiful Indian dance.

The next morning, we saw monkeys on the street as we were walking to the Tiger Periyar for a three-hour nature walk.

We geared up in our gaiters and set out. We had an amazing guide who showed us bison, deer, a vacant wasp’s nest, birds and bats. It was incredible to see a tree where an elephant had left its mark. You could hear the birds chirping. When we were greenlivingaz.com

February 2020 | greenliving

37

leaving, we took pictures and videos of the monkeys cleaning each other and having fun prancing on the ledges.

The weather was beautiful and the trees were green and robust. As we headed to the spice plantation, our guide spoke with us about the women working in the plantations. The women were beautiful and smiling. They do not make a lot of money so it was a humbling experience. We were able to touch the cardamom beans, and smell and taste the cinnamon leaves.

It was a magical experience.

After, we enjoyed a bullock cart ride (or otherwise known as an ox cart ride), which is a means of transportation used since ancient times. I liked steering the bullocks along the scenic road, which showcased pineapples, cauliflower, and big yellow flowers that looked similar to sunflowers. We stopped to let the bullocks rest and fed them grass that they enjoyed. Later, we enjoyed a presentation by the naturalist about all of the flora and fauna.

The next day, we were off to Kumarakom, headed there by boat to Coconut Lagoon. As we entered the resort, we were given coconut water from fresh coconuts and were met by musicians playing flutes. We enjoyed another chef

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demonstration, this time of dishes that were native to Kerala.

The backwaters are an important way of life, so we enjoyed delicious chai tea from the tea lady in the boat. It was best chai tea that I have tasted. We delighted in a beautiful sunset canoe ride, with a flutist who played in the background.

The next day we began the day with a bird walk by a naturalist, ayurvedic talk and tour, and we enjoyed a house boat ride while looking at beautiful birds and vibrant lily pads.

At 11 a.m., we entered a magnificent houseboat tour for a fourhour tour of the backwaters of Kerala. The backwaters are a network of canals, rivers, lakes and lagoons. The Kamarakom houseboats are one of the largest tourist attractions in Kerala.

We enjoyed the sprinkling of rain, watching it with the families who lived alongside the water.

Julie, Beata, Joanne and I had wonderful conversations about our love of travel. We enjoyed Kingfisher beer, white wine, and a delicious lunch of fish, shrimp, curry, rice and vegetables.

The boat operators were very hospitable.

We took a boat transfer to a jetty, followed by our driver taking us to Marari beach resort. As we entered the resort, we were dotted with sandalwood and beautiful jasmine flowers greenlivingaz.com

followed by fresh coconut water in coconuts. We went on a walking tour of the neighborhood. The families were so friendly and kind. We watched a woman make a rope.

Afterwards, Julie, Beata, Joanne and I went to the yoga center and enjoyed a mediation followed by a male and female saree demonstration. We enjoyed the outdoor tour butterfly area, seeing the largest butterflies in the area as well as cocoons, and had a tour of the organic farm followed by an interactive cooking demonstration with a delicious shrimp and eggplant dish that is native to Kerala.

On our last day, we did not have anything scheduled. I enjoyed yoga class with Joanne and the yoga master, Krishna Kurup, who pushed us to try different yoga poses. He is over 80 years old, and in fantastic shape from doing yoga every day. He suggested that we close our eyes and remember our parents in our yoga session, for they are the reason we are here. He shared with us that he had written a book. When I mentioned that I wanted to buy a few copies, and he suggested that I come to his home to buy them.

Julie suggested that we ride bikes to local shops, and we went swimming in the large pool and swam in the ocean, which was warm, even though it was December. Julie and I jumped into a tik-tok, the local small taxi, to go Krishna’s house. He asked us to sit outside his home on a bench, then invited us in. He showed us the water clock on his roof. I purchased the books for my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and sons, and he wrote a message in each book and signed it. Julie and I went back to the

greenlivingaz.com

hotel, showered and got ready to have our last decadent meal.

We entered the area where we would dine on the property, which was lit by luminarias. We had dinner with Michael Dominic, one of the owners of the hotel; Mridula Jose, vice president of marketing; and Shilendran Mohanachandran, vice president of sales and the general manager of the hotel.

A private chef and his team prepared calamari, shrimp and kimchi mushroom roast, tomato basil soup, fresh fish of the day jumbo, and tiger prawns served with tempered coconut, vegetables, lemon rice, and moilee sauce. We ended the meal with chocolate lava and vanilla ice cream, and finished with coffee and coconut milk.

I am truly blessed to have experienced Kerala and CGH Earth hotels. The people were incredibly friendly, welcoming, caring and happy. The food was amazing, as was the connection to nature and health and wellness. CGH Earth tops the chart when it comes to responsible tourism. I would highly recommend jumping on the next plane to Cochin, India, and traveling to Kerala. You will experience the conscious trip of a lifetime.

For more information, visit www.cghearth.com.

As the publisher aof Green Living Magazine, Dorie Morales turns living green into an art form fully embracing the idea of living, working, and playing green. Her vision of a sustainable future drives the magazine, educating, empowering, and inspiring readers to make their own eco conscious choices for the betterment planet.

February 2020 | greenliving

39

RECIPES

STEAK OSCAR

Recipe and photo courtesy Theresa Greco, with The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine, www.foodhuntersguide.com

INGREDIENTS 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature ¼ cup minced fresh parsley 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice Salt and black pepper 2 14- to 16-ounce ribeyes, New York strip steaks, or T-bones, excess fat trimmed 2 Tbsp., plus 1 tsp. olive oil 6 oz. jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over for shell pieces 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed DIRECTIONS

HONEYED FRUIT & YOGURT PARFAITS

Recipe and photo courtesy Angel Fuchs with Yay Baby! blog, www.yaybabyblog.com IG: @yaybabyblog

INGREDIENTS 1 large ripe peach 1 orange (you will use the zest and juice) 1 cup fresh strawberries, washed and hulled ½ cup fresh blueberries ¼ cup honey ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt 1 cup of granola cereal

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the butter, parsley, lemon juice, ½ tsp. of the salt and ¼ tsp. of the pepper in a medium bowl and stir until combined. Set the butter aside while you cook the steaks. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over mediumhigh heat. Rub both sides of the steaks with the olive oil, and season with the remaining salt & pepper. Place the steaks in the hot skillet and cook approximately 4 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast 6 to 8 minutes for medium-rare (depending on the thickness of the steak and whether your steak is bone-in or boneless).

An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat should register 130°F for medium-rare, 140°F for medium. While the steaks are cooking, toss the asparagus with a tablespoon of olive oil and place on a large baking sheet.

Season with salt and pepper, and roast until asparagus are crisp-tender and lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and baking sheet from the oven; let the steaks stand for 5 minutes before serving. In the meantime, heat another skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 to 3 Tbsp. of the butter mixture. Add the crabmeat and cook until the crabmeat is warmed through. When ready to serve, top each steak with several spears of the asparagus and place the crabmeat on top of the steaks.

DIRECTIONS

Wash and dry all the fruit. Slice strawberries, cut peaches into chunks. Zest the orange and set zest aside. Juice the orange.

Put all fruit in a small saucepan with the honey, orange juice and vanilla. Mix thoroughly. Turn heat on low and bring to a light simmer. Do not boil. Add the orange zest and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Chill until ready to assemble parfaits. Layer granola on bottom of each parfait glass. Top with granola, then a spoonful of fruit. Repeat layering until you reach the tops of the glasses. Chill until ready to serve.

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greenlivingaz.com

BUDDHA BOWLS

Recipe and photo courtesy Giving Tree Café, www.givingtreecafe.com

Serves 4 BANGKOK SAUCE 2 cups almond butter 1 cup tahini 3 cups pure water 2 Tbsps. lemon juice 2 Tbsp. chopped garlic cloves ¼ cup ginger juice 1 tsp. red chili flakes 1 Tbsp. sea salt 4 Tbsp. fresh Thai basil chopped very fine Blend all except basil well in high speed blender until smooth and creamy. Stir in by hand the chopped basil. Set aside until preparing your Buddha bowls.

CAULIFLOWER 1 head cauliflower 2 Tbsp. coconut oil 1 tsp. turmeric ½ tsp. cumin ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the cauliflower into florets. In a mixing bowl, toss the cauliflower with the oil and spices then place the cauliflower onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast for 40-45 minutes. Remove to cool and store in an airtight container until ready to assemble your Buddha bowls.

While the cauliflower is roasting…

ACORN SQUASH 1 acorn squash 1 Tbsp. maple syrup ½ Tbsp. coconut oil liquid Salt and pepper sprinkled over the top Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half.

Remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 2-inch strips lengthwise.

Coat with the maple syrup and oil. Then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and pop in the oven for 15 minutes. Flip them over and bake for another 15-20 minutes until browned on the edges. Take out to cool until time to assemble your bowls.

While the squash is in the oven… greenlivingaz.com

BRUSSELS SPROUTS 4 cups brussels sprouts 2 Tbsp. coconut oil Clean off loose leaves. Cut in half and place cut side down on a baking sheet with 2 Tbsp. coconut oil. Place in over at 400 for 35 minutes. They should be brown around the edges. Take out to cool until time to assemble your bowls.

While the Brussels sprouts are in the oven…

SHISHITO PEPPERS 32-40 shishito peppers 2 Tbsps. coconut oil Himalayan salt to taste 3 Tbsp. local raw honey Clean, rinse, and pat dry peppers with kitchen towel. Heat oil in skillet for 1 minute. Add peppers to the hot oil and let them sit for 2-3 minutes until they begin to pop and the undersides of the skin turns black. Toss the peppers in the skillet to allow them to become blistered on several sides. Remove from heat and when cooled, drizzle honey over them, then salt to taste.

Prepare 4 cups of rice or quinoa.

To assemble the bowls: In each of the 4 bowls, place 1 cup cooked rice or quinoa. Drizzle Bangkok Sauce liberally over the rice. Next place ¼ each of the prepared acorn squash, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and shishito peppers in each bowl. Now use the rest of the Bangkok sauce to cover the rest of the bowls.

February 2020 | greenliving

41

SHE’S GREEN JOHN BURKHART

HE’S GREEN

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE

Product reviews from our eco-conscious couple John & Jennifer Burkhart

JENNIFER BURKHART

We think it's only natural to talk (dream?) about chocolate when February rolls around, but maybe that's just us. How do you choose your preferred way to devour it when it's in everything from yogurt to popcorn? Well, you might find a new way right here—we certainly did. Healthy chocolate?

What's a cacao nib? We got ya (chocolate) covered!

EATING EVOLVED

SIGNATURE DARK PRIMAL CHOCOLATE BAR HE SAID: Calling something your signature product is like saying,

“Look, we know this is good 'cause this is what we do.” If I made this I would call it my signature chocolate, too. It was sweet and smoky, but still had those nice tart fruit notes. I also really liked that it was paleo/ vegan and only had three ingredients.

SHE SAID: Normally, I prefer milk chocolate, but the

healthy hippie in me is managing to convince “eat-allthe-things” me to go to the “dark side.” Less sugar and antioxidants galore, it's hard to ignore the cacao. Especially this bar, with just enough sweetness from coconut sugar, and rich smooth chocolate to please your taste buds. And a cute monkey mascot on the wrapper to boot.

SWEETLEAF

CHOCOLATE FLAVORED STEVIA SWEETENER HE SAID: I honestly had no idea how to use this product. I first

thought to try it in my coffee, you know mocha-style. But hot drinks accentuate that licorice flavor that Stevia has, so... strike one. I tried it in milk for the chocolate milk quick fix, but it didn't mix well so the top had no flavor and the last sip was all chocolate... strike two. It is zero calories and ultra-convenient, but if you're like me and don't dig Stevia in hot drinks, it's a waste.

SHE SAID: So, I'm still getting used to the flavor of Stevia.

My coffee just doesn't taste the same. However, this one hardly had any aftertaste, so, progress! I thought the flavor was more of a vanilla-chocolate blend, which was ok, but don't expect the familiar velvety chocolate taste. Mixing it with plain yogurt was a hit with our kiddos!

FUN FRESH FOODS

WORLD BERRIES BREWING CACAO HE SAID: They market this as a replacement for coffee. But the

world would have to run out of coffee for me to even entertain the idea of drinking this instead. It was very watery with a light cacao flavor. You might be able to switch to this if you like your sugar with coffee and cream because it is naturally sweet with no sugar added. The only way I'm getting through this bag is if I mix it in my coffee grounds mocha-style.

SHE SAID: There's a faint hint of chocolate, but it's pretty much watery, bitter, chocolate tea. I much preferred adding a scoop to my pour-over filter or French press coffee to get those health benefits. You can also add the used cacao grounds to a smoothie or dessert. How's that for re-use and zero waste!

CAPPELLO'S

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH HE SAID: So the instructions said to slice half-inch rounds off the

cookie dough tube, which was challenging to do because it was so packed with chocolate chips (first world problems, I know). We cooked these for the recommended time and they came out a bit dry, but the gooey chocolate chips helped to pull it through. They weren't as good the next day, so you should definitely eat these warm out of the oven (twist your arm right?)

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greenliving | February 2020

SHE SAID: With all that's not in this cookie I was shocked

at how good these baked up! Warm and soft in the middle, and lightly crispy on the outside. I loved how chocolatey they were. The almond flour is definitely noticeable—a bit grainy, but I personally love almonds and chocolate together. I would say the only negative is the price—about $2 per cookie!

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COOLOUTRAGEOUSSTUFF LAZY SUSAN

Sharing your culinary creations was never easier than with the ingenuity and versatility of a hammered copper lazy Susan. This copper Lazy Susan is ideal for dining al fresco or indoors. Made from 100% recycled copper, it adds a touch of elegance and ensures everyone can easily join in on the feast. $208-$413 at www.amazon.com or Hughes Supply, 480.951.0124

COMPOSTABLE PRODUCE BAG

Frusack produce bags are not only a reusable bag, but compostable as well. This versatile bag is made from corn-starch based bioplastic to make it compostable and durable. It can carry a load up to 6.5 pounds and has a lifespan of two years minimum. These bags are made under fair conditions and using sustainably sourced material. And, not only are Frusack bags machine washable, but when you retire them at the end of their life, they will fully decompose in a landfill or industrial compost plant. Find them in a two-pack ($13.99) or three-pack ($19.99) at www.frusack.us/.

TOSSITS CAR GARBAGE BAGS

Driving around town it’s easy to collect garbage in your car. Keep it neat with Tossits.

These garbage bags, which are made from 100% recycled plastic, fit on the back of the headrest and can be filled with dry or wet trash as needed. When the bag is full, rip it off the pack, seal it by removing the adhesive strip, and throw it away in the nearest garbage can or recycling bin. With 10 bags in each pack, you can consistently fill your bags with trash and keep your car clean and organized. $14.99 at www.tossits. com and www.amazon.com.

REISS LADLES

Produced in a carbon neutral facility using locally generated hydro power along the Ybbs river in Austria, this family-owned business has been in the Riess family for nine generations. Using a 40-step handmade process to make each enameled pot, the result is a long-lasting, heat resistant, non-reactive, anti-bacterial, cut- and scratch-resistant kitchenware. Since Riess's porcelain enamel is all natural—including the metal oxides used in the dyes—the entire item is metal-recyclable. $29 at www.ameico.com.

CARILOHA BEDDING

Cariloha bedding and bath are not only luxurious and comfortable, but they are also eco-friendly and planet approved. Cariloha’s products are made of viscose from bamboo—and bamboo is one of the fastestgrowing plants in the world, requiring no chemicals or pesticides to grow, making it 100% sustainable. Cariloha believes in giving back to a more eco-friendly world, and that is something that is implemented in each product. Pillowcases: $40-$44/set at www.cariloha.com.

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greenliving | February 2020

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CRAFT NIGHTS

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GREEN SCENES

FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS CENTRAL ARIZONA

February 7-9

February 8 & 9

Celebrate the year of the rat at Margaret T. Hance Park East. There will be authentic Chinese food, dancing, history, entertainment, children’s activities, and more. Experience continuous entertainment, including the famous dragon and lion dances, martial art demonstrations, folk and traditional dances, and musical performances. There will also be souvenir and arts and crafts booths. For more information, visit www. phoenixchineseweek.org/festival/festivaldetails/.

Enjoy an afternoon of sampling wines from regions around the world at this annual event held at Desert Botanical Garden.

From 1- 4:30 p.m., sample from 40 different wines from regions all over the world and talk with representatives from each winery against a backdrop of live music. All wines are available for sale by the bottle or by cases, and purchases benefit the garden’s education, conservation, research and horticulture programs. Guests will receive 10% off the total purchase price and can mix and match bottles. For more information, visit www.dbg.org/events/ corks-cactus-2020/2020-02-08/.

PHOENIX CHINESE WEEK’S CULTURAL AND CUISINE FESTIVAL

February 8-March 29 32ND ANNUAL ARIZONA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Huzzah! The Arizona Renaissance Festival is celebrating 32 years of cheer with music, comedy, falconry, acrobatics, mermaids and more. Roam the 30-acre festival village, filled with whimsical castles, cottage, pubs, and 14 stages of nonstop performances.

Shop, eat and revel with nearly 2,000 colorfully costumed characters. Also this year, enjoy a five-course meal at the Pleasure Feast (reservations advised). Walk around the 200-plus storybook shops, galleries and studios filled with unique handmade items and people-powered rides. The festival site is located east of Apache Junction on U.S. Highway 60. For more information, visit https://arizona. renfestinfo.com/.

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greenliving | February 2020

CORKS & CACTUS

February 15 GALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day is more than having a significant other, it is about celebrating the love you have for everyone in your life.

Grab a group of your best girlfriends and join in the day of festivities at the Caitlin Court and Old Towne Districts in Glendale from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Local businesses in the area have created the perfect day for women where they can visit participating shops and have a day of fun. Participants will have the opportunity to make charm bracelets, view art demonstrations, explore different gift ideas, take part in make-and-take activities, visit unique boutiques, indulge at local eateries, and get the perfect photo opps. This Galentine’s event is presented by the Historic Downtown Glendale Merchants Association and downtown business community. For more information, visit www.visitdowntownglendale.com/events.

Feb 15-16

ARIZONA VEGETARIAN FOOD FESTIVAL + SYMPOSIUM

Join vegans, vegetarians, locavores and food-lovers’ alike for a day of plant-based food, chef demonstrations, vendors, yoga, meditations, crafts, live entertainment, speakers, and more. This two-day family event has something to offer for the whole family, from vegan beer, wine and cocktails to a kids’ zone. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Scottsdale Civic Center Amphitheater. For tickets and more information, visit www.azvegfoodfest.com.

February 15-17

SUSTAINABILITY WEEKEND

Spend the weekend at the Arizona Science Center, learning how you can live a more sustainable lifestyle. Attendees can participate in hands-on activities that teach how the little changes we can make in our lives can make a big impact on the future of our environment. To learn more, visit www. scitechinstitute.org/event/sustainabilityweekend-2/2020-02-17/.

February 28

FUTURE DESERT SUMMIT

The Living Building Challenge Sonoran Collaborative is putting on something really special—a one-day mini-conference at the Desert Botanical Garden from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in Dorrance Hall. It will be utilizing the Regenerative Thinking processes throughout the day and lead by the author of The Integrative Design Guide, John Boecker. There will be a series of workshops where the audience

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GREEN SCENES

FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS CENTRAL ARIZONA

participates in finding workable solutions to real-world problems, rooting in our desert environment. The goal is to drive real change in our region. www.livingfuture.org

February 29

PHX VEGAN FOOD FESTIVAL

The annual PHX Vegan Food Festival, sponsored in part by Green Living Magazine, returns to Downtown Phoenix at Margaret T. Hance Park. This year, on its fifth anniversary, the event expands into an all-day and nighttime festival. During the day, hungry festival-goers can enjoy foods from over top vegan restaurants and food trucks. Participants can watch chef demonstrations, browse an artisan market featuring vegan-friendly food and products, take the little ones to the kids’ area, watch live entertainment on two stages, and more.

Once the sun goes down, the event become more adult-oriented with energetic music, lawn games, electric light shows, LED and glow performers, and UV light activated chalk art and face paint. For VIP ticket holders, admission begins at 10 a.m.; general admission is at noon. The festival runs until 10 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.phxveganfest.com.

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NORTHERN ARIZONA

BUSINESS

Feb. 1

February 4-6

Join runners from all over the world in a scenic run in Sedona on Feb. 1.

Participating runners can take part in a 5K, 10K and half marathon. This course takes runners through the Coconino National Forest District, which is known for its beautiful iron-clad formations, and through the streets of the famous city. As the Sedona marathon website says, “If the hills don’t take your breath away, the scenery will.” This event also includes a race day expo, with local exhibitors/ vendors, food trucks, local nonprofit organizations, and a beer garden. For more information, visit www.sedonamarathon.com/.

The premier annual event for sustainable business leaders, GreenBiz 20 will be held at JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends, tools and insights. More than 1,500 sustainability leaders and practitioners from business, government, academia and NGOs will be on hand to learn from and to connect with. For more information, visit www. sustainabilityconsortium.org/events/ greenbiz-20/.

RUNSEDONA

February 22- March 1 SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Sedona will celebrate its 26th anniversary of their international film festival this month by carrying on the tradition of recognizing people who are passionate about film and filmmaking. This festival will showcase everything from features to shorts, documentaries, animation, foreign films and student-made films. It will be nine days of over 160 films and excitement. Join celebrities, filmmakers, industry workers and film buffs to celebrate hard work and the beauty of film. For tickets and more information, visit www.sedonafilmfestival.com.

GREEN BIZ 20

February 12

LOCAL CONNECTIONS: IRONWOOD MILLS, CENTRAL PHOENIX

This networking event, held from 6-8 p.m., features a Good Business Summit recap with speakers from the Summit in attendance to chat and answer questions.

Many surrounding businesses will be represented, making it the perfect opportunity to learn a bit more about what’s happening in Central Phoenix. www.localfirstaz.com

February 2020 | greenliving

47

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