Natural Awakenings of Northern Michigan - April 2024

Eco-Travel

Embracing EcoTravel: A Journey to Wellness

Escape the mundane and explore the beauty of nature with our Eco-Travel issue, connecting with the environment in a meaningful way that supports local communities and preserves natural habitats. The idea of escaping to the mountains, inhaling the crisp, untainted air and marveling at the vast expanse of the sky fills me with a delightful sense of joy.

This is your invitation to step beyond your everyday routine and plunge into enchanting wonderlands filled with promise and possibility. By embarking on an eco-travel adventure, we have the opportunity to realign ourselves with the Earth, fostering a deeper connection to the natural world and, in turn, to ourselves, seldom found in the midst of our busy lives.

It is all too easy to neglect the profound healing powers of the natural world. Often, we overlook the restorative potential of immersing ourselves in the unspoiled beauty of our planet. However, we encourage you to consider nature as a sanctuary for the replenishment of your soul, allowing the profound beauty of the natural world to rekindle our sense of wonder and awe, providing us with a renewed perspective on life.

As we embark on our travels, let’s remember the impact we have on the environment. Eco-travel is not just a trend, but a necessary shift in our mindset towards responsible and sustainable tourism. By choosing eco-friendly accommodations, supporting local communities, and minimizing our carbon footprint, we ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the beauty of our world. It is our duty to travel with intention and respect for the environment, leaving a positive legacy for the generations to come.

So, dear readers, consider nature as your ultimate vacation destination. Embrace the opportunity to escape to the mountains, the forests, or the seashore, and allow yourself to be captivated by the sheer magnificence of the world around you. In doing so, you will embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and a newfound appreciation for the boundless wonders of our planet.

As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern life, let us remember the transformative power of travel—not just as a means of exploration, but as a pathway to wellness and sustainability.

So pack your bags, set out on an adventure, and let nature inspire and rejuvenate your soul.

Your Adventure Awaits!

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Providence Organic Farm Market

and Café: A Haven for Health and Happiness

Nestled in the heart of Central Lake, Providence Organic Farm Market & Café is a place of serenity and sustenance. This unique establishment is not just a farm and market, but also a “farmto-table” café and natural foods store, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for its patrons.

Co-founder, Farmer Ryan Romeyn, shares, “At Providence, the focus is on bringing joy and health to the community through the cultivation of a beautiful farm and the provision of fresh, organic produce.” The farm supplies not only the on-site market and café, but also area farmers markets and wholesale clients. Additionally, they offer subscription-based “CSA Farm Boxes ‘O Goodness,” allowing customers to pre-order fresh veggie boxes for regular pick-up in multiple Northern Michigan towns, including Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Bellaire, East Jordan, Beaver Island, Charlevoix, Boyne City, Gaylord, Petoskey, and at the farm in Central Lake.

The farm’s offerings are as diverse as they are high quality, including an array of certified organic veggies, fruits, grass-fed beef, lamb and forest-raised pork. In addition to fresh produce, Providence also provides grab-n-go super soups, salads, burritos, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and more, all designed to support a healthy lifestyle.

Ryan and Andrea’s farm-to-table café is committed to serving quality ingredients without hormones, pesticides or antibiotics. The belief that food is medicine underpins the entire operation, making Providence a true haven for those seeking nourishment and wellness.

Location: 5695 N. Michigan 88, Central Lake. For more information, call 231-599-2020 or visit ProvidenceOrganicFarm.com. See ad page 19.

Tea 101 and Tea Wellness Group Class and Workshop in Leelanau County

Light of Day Organic Farm and Tea Shop, a USDA Certified Organic & Demeter Biodynamic Tea Farm, is excited to announce their upcoming Tea 101 & Tea Wellness Group Class and Workshop

at 10:30 a.m. on May 18, The 90-minute workshop will be a combination of rich content from their Tea 101 class and Tea Wellness class, with the option to add on an after-class Farm Tour.

Light of Day Organic Farm and Tea Shop is a Northern Michigan company, located in gorgeous Leelanau County, just eight miles West of historic downtown Traverse City. The farm is eight miles from Lake Michigan and is on the direct route (M-72 West) to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

“We are thrilled to offer this unique workshop that combines the basics of tea with the many health benefits it brings,” says owner Angela Macke. “Tea has been enjoyed for centuries and we are excited to share our knowledge and passion for it with the community.”

Location: 3502 E. Traverse Hwy., Traverse City. Registration is required. To reserve a spot or for more information, call 231-228-7234.

Groundbreaking Dr. Joe Dispenza Event Hosted by Kennith Scott in Traverse City

This event offers business professionals the tools and knowledge needed to create lasting change and lead more effectively. Materials and ideas presented at this Dr. Joe Dispenza, Change Your Mind... Create New Results

event can help attendees that are seeking to think differently, create new results, and tackle some of today’s biggest business challenges.

Sessions will be from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from May 29 to 31 and will present the latest research in the science of change. This three-day interactive course is based on the principles of neuroplasticity and human behavior, providing brain-based, outcome-driven methodologies and frameworks to transform individuals, teams and entire organizations. Participants will receive a workbook, journal, and audio files, along with the opportunity to learn from leading professionals who have effectively created change in their own lives. Host and presenter Kennith Scott, owner of Transformation Coaching LLC, shared his excitement about the upcoming event, saying, “I am thrilled to bring this life-changing event to business professionals in the Traverse City area. Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work has had a profound impact on leaders around the world, and I am confident that this event will provide the tools and knowledge necessary to create lasting change and drive success within organizations.”

Cost: Individual $996; buy one get second seat 50 percent off $1,494. Location: NMC Aero Park Campus, 2600 Aero Park Dr., Room PS 218, Traverse City. For tickets and more information, call 231-883-7769 or email KennithS@NeuroChangeSolutions.com.

Kennith Scott

Turn Your Kitchen Scraps into Bountiful Plants

The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park will present an upcoming workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m., April 22, on plant propagation with an emphasis on turning kitchen scraps into thriving plants for your home garden. The workshop will be led by Matthew Ross, the Garden’s executive director and a nationally recognized leader in horticulture and gardening.

Attendees can look forward to a hands-on experience learning about the various ways in which plants can be propagated, with a focus on unusual edible plants. Participants will have the opportunity to work with a variety of herbs, root crops and seed materials that can be grown indoors in preparation for planting later in the spring. The workshop promises to provide a new perspective on what is possible through propagation, as well as the opportunity to take home a variety of new plants.

“We are thrilled to offer this workshop to the community,” says Matthew Ross. “It’s a great opportunity for people to learn how to make the most of their leftover veggie scraps and create a sustainable home garden.”

Table Health will host a Gluten-Free Pita Bread Class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on April 11. Location: 1490 Red Drive in Traverse City. To register or for more information, visit TheBotanicGarden.org.

Earth Day Sound Bath and Heart Coherence Meditation

Celebrate Mother

Owner Jessica Merwin says, “Together with the heart-focused meditation, this combination of sacred sounds and harmonious waves will provide supportive energy for our bodies and the world, awakening the body’s internal wisdom for healing, releasing stress,and relaxing deeply.” The studio has mats, bolsters, and meditation pillows available for use or attendees may bring their own.

New Moon Yoga, a collaborative of diverse teachers, styles of yoga and methods of movement, strives to be a sacred space to practice the healing arts and share ancient wisdom, for the purpose of energetic alignment, self-mastery and personal growth.

Cost: Donation-based event. Suggested $20 minimum. Location: 10747 E. Cherry Bend Rd., Traverse City. To register or for more information, call 231-392-5813.

Gluten-Free Pita Bread Class at Grand Traverse Commons

Table Health will host a Gluten-Free Pita Bread Class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on April 11. The class will be led by experts in gluten-free cooking and will teach participants how to make delicious pita bread that is free from gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and nuts.

“We are thrilled to offer this class to the community,” says Christine Straley, operations manager at Table Health. “It’s important for individuals with food sensitivities to have access to delicious and nutritious recipes, and we believe this class will provide valuable skills and knowledge for those following a gluten-free diet.”

Earth with a heart focused group meditation and sound bath from 1 to 2 p.m. on April 21, at New Moon Yoga Collaborative. HeartMath techniques will be practiced which can create coherence in the body, mind and spirit.

The meditation will have a soundscape of Tibetan Singing Bowls performed live by Eva, whose collection of antique bowls were handmade by Tibetan monks, and used for centuries for healing and meditation. Additionally, Mari Dew will provide harmonies on the crystal bowls, gongs and other unique instruments.

During the class, participants will learn about different gluten-free grains and flours, as well as the nutritional benefits of using whole-grain flours. They will have the opportunity to make homemade pita bread and hummus and will also take home some dough to make pitas at home. Participants are encouraged to bring a medium-sized mixing bowl and mixing spoon.

Cost: $65. Wellness partners are eligible for a 10% discount on tickets. Location: 818 Red Dr., Ste. 100, Traverse City. To register or for more information, call 231-333-1331 or email inbox@TableHealthtc.com Have News

Email Publisher@HealthyLivingMichigan.com

New Way to Diagnose Autism

According to a 2023 study by Yale scientists published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, two distinct neurodevelopmental abnormalities that arise shortly after the start of brain development have been linked to the emergence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researchers created brain organoids using stem cells from 13 boys with the disorder, including eight with macrocephaly, a condition in which the head is enlarged. The organoids were small replicas of developing brains that mimicked neuronal growth in the fetus.

The study found that children with ASD and macrocephaly showed an excessive growth of excitatory neurons, while those without macrocephaly exhibited a deficit of the same type of neurons. Measuring the prevalence of certain types of neurons, as was done in this study, could help doctors diagnose autism and also identify which autism cases might benefit from existing drugs that treat excessive excitatory neuron activity.

County Declares Loneliness a Public Health Crisis

San Mateo County near San Francisco is the first county in the U.S. to declare loneliness a public health crisis. The resolution, which commits the county to address the issue but does not

set aside funds to reduce loneliness, was inspired by the United Kingdom and Japan, which appointed ministers to tackle the problem. Future efforts by San Mateo County may include investments in infrastructure to make neighborhoods more accessible, social media posts that encourage social interaction, and the earmarking of community mental health dollars for organizations that develop or offer solutions.

Loneliness has been associated with increased risk of dementia, depression, anxiety, heart disease and stroke. A British study found that those that lived alone and had no visitors had a 39 percent increased risk of premature death compared to those visited by loved ones daily.

Treating Anxiety with Mindfulness

According to a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been found to be a well-tolerated treatment option that can be as effective as commonly prescribed anxiety medications. The study involved 276 adults with diagnosed anxiety disorders that were randomly assigned to either an eight-week MBSR course or treatment with escitalopram, a first-line anxiety medication. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Clinical Global Impression of Severity scale (CGI-S).

At the end of the study, both the MBSR and escitalopram groups experienced a reduction in their mean CGI-S score, with no significant difference between the two groups. MBSR was well-tolerated, with no dropouts due to adverse events, whereas a higher percentage of participants in the escitalopram group reported adverse events. The

results demonstrated that MBSR was not inferior to escitalopram in reducing anxiety symptoms.

An estimated 301 million people worldwide are affected by anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic and agoraphobia, causing significant distress, impaired functioning and elevated risk of suicide.

Treating Diabetes with Healthy Food and Exercise

A radical new approach to managing Type 2 diabetes developed by Daniel J. Cox, Ph.D., from UVA Health, has received $3.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health for a large-scale clinical trial. The approach focuses on educating individuals about making wise dietary and exercise choices to control blood sugar and potentially alter the course of the disease. Rather than prioritizing weight loss or medication, it aims to reduce post-meal blood glucose levels, which are linked to cardiovascular risk and high levels of AIC, a marker of blood sugar over time.

Known as Glucose Everyday Matters (GEM), the approach combines educated food and drink selections with physical activity to prevent blood sugar spikes and hasten recovery if they occur. A small, initial trial involving 17 recently diagnosed adults with Type 2 diabetes showed promise, with 67 percent achieving remission after three months, and only one participant requiring medication. This trial was the first testing of self-administration instead of faceto-face delivery by medical providers.

This research offers promising hope for managing Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle interventions, providing patients with new options for controlling and potentially achieving remission from the disease. Cox’s personal success with the approach, maintaining consistently low A1C levels without medication for the past 13 years, further supports its potential.

Heal-Our-World Checklist

Ideas to Help Us Stop Depleting the Earth's Resources

Our current systems and practices are depleting the Earth’s resources at an increasing rate well beyond its capacity to renew itself. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it takes a year-and-a-half to generate the resources we use in one year. That’s an unsustainable path for the planet’s future.

The world needs topsoil to grow 95 percent of its food, and yet the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated in 2019 that 90 percent of the Earth’s topsoil is likely to be at risk by 2050.

Such statistics seem daunting, but if each of us reduces their individual ecological footprint, together we can make a difference. Here is an action checklist. Consult it often and complete one action at a time. Think of incremental change as hope.

Foods and Goods

■ Plant a produce garden for homegrown sustenance.

■ Build a compost bin in the yard.

■ Shop at local farms and farmers markets.

■ Join a community-supported agriculture group.

■ Eat a meatless meal at least once a week.

■ Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metals.

■ Use reusable water bottles.

■ Shop with reusable bags.

■ Buy organic and regenerative organic foods.

■ Buy local, sustainably sourced and packaged products.

■ Choose products with less packaging to reduce waste.

Water

■ Take fewer and shorter showers.

■ Run the dishwasher only when it is full.

■ Fix leaks throughout the house.

■ Buy natural-fabric clothing; avoid synthetic garments.

■ Wash clothes in larger loads, on shorter cycles and in cold water; add a filter to absorb most microfibers.

■ Wash the car less often.

■ Avoid watering the lawn or power washing the home and walkways.

■ Set up a rain barrel to catch water for the garden.

■ Plant drought-tolerant plants.

Transportation

■ Walk, bike and take public transportation over driving.

■ Drive a small car; turn off the engine when idling more than 30 seconds.

■ Regularly service the car; change air filters, fill tires and maintain emission control systems.

■ Avoid short airplane trips; take a bus or train instead.

Energy Use and Toxins at Home

■ Choose energy-saving light bulbs and appliances.

■ Insulate walls, windows and ceilings.

■ Consider double-paned windows.

■ Keep thermostat low in winter and high in summer and strategically open windows.

■ Unplug electronics when not in use.

■ Hang-dry clothes.

■ Choose sustainably produced, nontoxic furniture.

■ Use biodegradable, nontoxic cleaning products.

Learn More About:

• Earth Overshoot Day, when humanity exhausts nature’s budget for the year, and how to #MoveTheDate at EarthOvershootDay.org.

• The personal footprint calculator at FootprintCalculator.org.

• Rodale Institute’s organic-growing resources at RodaleInstitute.org.

A Holistic Approach to Health Care

Find it at Big Beautiful Life Wellness Center

Dr. Jena Hullman is a holistic doctor and entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to helping people achieve optimal health and wellness. Her journey into the world of chiropractic and functional medicine began at the age of 8, when she knew that she wanted to become a doctor. After completing her Bachelor of Science at Michigan State University, she initially pursued a career in traditional medicine, but a disillusioning experience during rounds at a hospital led her to change course. She found herself drawn to the philosophy of chiropractic care, which recognizes the body’s innate ability to heal itself when interference is removed.

After working in a chiropractic office and witnessing the transformation of patients, Hullman decided to become a chiropractor herself. Over the years, she realized that there were still limitations in the care she could provide, particularly for those with complex health issues. This realization led her to pursue further education and training in functional medicine, which focuses on addressing the root causes of illness and creating personalized treatment plans for patients.

Hullman’s practice, Big Beautiful Life Wellness Center, offers a combination of chiropractic care, functional medicine, and holistic wellness services. She takes a comprehensive approach to healthcare, utilizing muscle testing, functional blood

chemistry analysis and customized programs to help her patients achieve optimal health. Her unique ability to read “normal” blood labs from a functional perspective has allowed her to identify and address underlying health issues that may have been overlooked by traditional medical approaches.

In addition to her work in the clinic, Hullman has expanded her reach through a new online business, Dr. Jena Blood Expert, where she offers virtual consultations and support for women seeking to improve their health. Her commitment to helping women and children stems from her passion for holistic wellness and her desire to make a positive impact on her community.

Outside of her professional life, Hullman is a dedicated mother to her two children, Nathan and Westley Rose. She prioritizes self-care and personal development, starting each day with a “Power Hour” routine that includes meditation, journaling and reading or listening to inspiring content. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her family bulldogs and engaging in activities such as yoga, hiking, and exploring new cuisines.

Hullman’s holistic approach to health care, combined with her dedication to continuous learning and personal growth, sets her apart as a leader in her field. Her commitment to helping individuals achieve

a state of optimal wellness is driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to contribute to the well-being of those around her. Through Big Beautiful Life Wellness Center and her online platform, she continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her patients and the broader community.

To make appointments or for more information, call 231-421-9189, email ChiroJena@ yahoo.com or visit BloodWorkExpert.com. See ad page 23.

Dr. Jena Hullman

Sustainable Travel

Wanderlust With the Earth in Mind

by Sara Kaplan

Whether travel is enjoyed for much-needed relaxation, cultural immersion or the opportunity to volunteer in an eco-program spotlighting permaculture or farming, journeying to places far and near greatly enriches our human experience. During these environmentally critical times, our travels may carry a hefty price tag that the planet can no longer afford. This does not mean we need to sacrifice adventure. Every traveler can make a difference not only for the Earth but for the local communities they visit.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, 8.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to travel and tourism. Being in the know and taking more responsibility for our environmental impact can be easier than commonly assumed, all the while inviting unexpected enjoyment.

Amanda Reiser, a global sustainable tourism specialist based in Pennsylvania, encourages her clients to consider the three pillars of sustainable tourism: environment, economy and equity. “We all can play a part in

fostering sustainable tourism and creating a more sustainable world," she explains, noting that a green-minded approach benefits not only the traveler but also the destination. "Ask yourself: Does my participation in this activity create a negative impact on the natural environment? Are there any actions to help reduce my environmental impact?"

A traveler’s footprint extends to the socio-cultural fabric of the destination, too. Reiser reminds travelers, “You may be in your destination for only a week, but the people who live there year-round feel the impacts of visitors every day, for better or worse.” By respecting local traditions and engaging locals in a respectful and inclusive manner, tourists can contribute positively to the cultural integrity of the communities they visit.

Greener Horizons

Instead of hitting all the trendy, transportation-reliant sights, opt to slow down and stay in one place for a longer period. This not only invites a richer, deeper experience but minimizes the need to hop onto another

Dmitry Pichugin / CanvaPro

plane or bus. To support the local economy of a desired destination, buy locally produced items and book small, private hotels and inns, rather than international chains. Dining at locally owned eateries supports small business while giving travelers higher-quality fare and a more authentic cultural experience.

When planning a trip, contemplate the many treasures of domestic travel or choose a location that is not drowning in overtourism. The influx of tourists can significantly strain fragile ecosystems, deplete resources and disrupt the lives of local communities. Consider destinations that can be crossed via boat, train or bus, such as the New York-Montreal border or clusters of countries in Europe or Southeast Asia.

Packing With Purpose

Making small choices even when packing a suitcase goes a long way. Bring eco-friendly sunscreen and opt for brands that avoid chemicals harmful to coral reefs and tropical environments. Pack a cloth tote bag for daily excursions and a reusable water bottle to avoid single-use plastics. Remember that by using plastic containers more than once, we reduce the amount of waste that is released over time. Try not to overpack—bring only the most necessary items, preferably those that can be recycled, reused and disposed of properly.

Sojourning With Savvy

To avoid getaway glitches, become acquainted with local laws and regulations. When planning a fishing excursion, for

A BOLD VISION FOR MICHIGAN

Bringing back passenger rail to Traverse City and Petoskey from Ann Arbor and Detroit is good for Michigan. TAKE ACTION at Groundworkcenter.org/ a2tc-rail-project/

example, identify the legally designated fishing spots and avoid harming endangered species, which are heavily protected under national and international regulations. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) offers an interactive map to show where legal fishing areas are by state (fws. gov/fishing/map). Historical resources should also be taken into consideration. For instance, the Florida Keys require special permits for cultural, maritime, heritage and archeological explorations, including snorkeling expeditions of ancient shipwrecks and other unique, underwater sites.

It is always best to ask whether a destination is a naturally protected sanctuary or requires special permits. The FSW is a good reference site for information on activities in national wildlife refuges and the endangered animals that live there. To enjoy these areas to their fullest, make sure to find a knowledgeable local tour guide that understands the laws of the land.

Traveling consciously involves personal responsibility toward the environment through individual actions. “You can make a difference,” says David Knight, a professor

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of tourism management at Colorado State University. “Regenerative travel is not just leaving things the way you found them. It’s a matter of giving more than you take.”

Don’t Be Greenwashed

Greenwashing is a corrupt practice by companies that claim to support conscious tourism but fail to live up to their claims. Vetting businesses when planning a trip means delving into third-party research and reports to check the fine print. Before booking, make sure the ecolodge or eco-touring company being considered has a legitimate certification on their website. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) sets global standards and provides accreditations for destination managers, hotels and tour operators. There are also certifying groups in specific locations, such as the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii, and others that are accredited by the GSTC, like Preferred by Nature.

For tourism operations that have not been certified, the onus is on the traveler. “Check with the local chambers of commerce. They should know who is working toward sustainability and can direct you to those aligned with what you are looking for,” says Claudia Gil Arroyo, an agricultural agent for the Rutgers University Cooperative Extension, in New Jersey. “If a tour operator or destination does not have a clear goal on how they’re contributing to

the environment, it is unlikely that they are actually green.”

For tourism to be truly sustainable, it must also be economically viable for local communities. Economic sustainability ensures that tourism dollars benefit the local economy, creating fair wages, local sourcing and community empowerment, and allowing communities to thrive while preserving their cultural heritage. When traveling, support local, eco-friendly businesses that provide sustainable products.

A good example is agritourism—a vacation stay at a participating local farm—which can provide exciting, hands-on learning experiences. “Get out there. Look for your local growers and check out the services and activities they offer,” says Gil Arroyo. “People have this idea that agritourism is just picking your pumpkins and that’s it, and there’s so much more that can be done at a farm.”

Eco-Friendly North American Parks

North America is home to many national parks—63 in the United States and 48 in Canada. Here are five exceptional examples that provide a sustainable, eco-friendly vacation experience.

Yellowstone National Park is known for its geothermal features, including the famous

Old Faithful geyser. It also has a diverse range of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves and herds of bison. This U.S. park has implemented sustainable practices such as renewable energy installations, waste management programs and educational initiatives to promote conservation.

Great Bear Rainforest is a temperate locale on the central and northern coasts of British Columbia, Canada. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including the rare Kermode bear, also known as the spirit bear. The park works closely with First Nations communities, implementing conservation measures to protect biodiversity and support eco-conscious businesses.

Everglades National Park is a unique wetland ecosystem in Florida known as the “River of Grass”. It provides habitat for numerous endangered species, such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. The park employs restoration efforts to preserve the natural water flow and conserve wildlife, with plenty of opportunities for eco-friendly recreational activities like kayaking and hiking.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is located on the northern tip of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It offers breathtaking coastal views, rugged cliffs and stunning hiking trails. The park implements waste reduction, energy conservation, ecological restoration and educational programs to promote environmental stewardship.

Redwood National and State Parks, in California, are home to the tallest trees on Earth, the majestic coast redwoods. Sustainable eco-practices include trail maintenance and restoration, wildlife protection, interpretation programs to educate visitors about the delicate ecosystem, and conservation efforts to combat climate change and preserve redwood habitat.

Sara Kaplan is an environmentally conscious freelance writer and eco-traveler from Fort Collins, CO.

Maria Kray / CanvaPro

Connecting to Sentient Earth

by Marlaina Donato

Each April, Mother Nature spills blossoms from her apron as songbirds trill the songs of their ancestors and prepare for the next generation. Contrary to widespread human assumption, many animal species grieve, express empathy and form bonds that still elude our complete understanding. Trees communicate through complex root systems. Plants respond to environmental and emotional stimuli. Wolves howl their soul-song, and particles of desert sand

David Fuentes Prieto / Shutterstock.com

emit bell-like frequencies if the wind’s provocation is just right. Our planet is alive on levels beyond our senses or scientific instruments.

To the ancient Greeks, Gaia (also known as Gaea) was a living being separate from the gods that ruled the Earth—a primordial, maternal entity from which all life springs. Through the centuries, luminaries such as Plato or 1970s scientist James Lovelock have endeavored to define this life force, but perhaps

12th-century abbess and visionary Hildegard von Bingen came closest when she coined the word veriditas to denote “the greening power of nature”. Whether we see this innate energy as simple photosynthesis or handiwork of a higher power, sentient Earth is our all-providing, intelligent resource from cradle to grave.

Many of us can remember a moment in childhood when nature startled our consciousness, be it in a drop of pond water under a microscope or in the shocking power of a summer thunderstorm. We ran barefoot over her grassy lap, made wishes on stars and boggled our minds trying to grasp the concept of light years. This intimate relationship with the planet and her cosmic connections may dwindle in adulthood, but something deep within our souls—if we are honest with ourselves—longs to reunite with anima, Earth’s ever-present, pervasive energy.

Earth Day is an invitation to sync our hearts to Gaia’s force, feel the holy purpose of roots beneath our footsteps and witness her sanctity by planting a simple container garden or inhaling her breath of spring deeply into our lungs, exhaling gratitude.

Marlaina Donato is an author, multimedia expressionist and a cultivator of wild wellbeing. Connect at BluefireStudio.art.

Farm Vacations

American Agritourism Grows in Post-Pandemic Times

by April Thompson

Long a staple of European travel, agritourism is growing in popularity in the United States, as concrete-weary urbanites seek out a taste of country living and a way to support small-scale farms. The concept broadly covers any activity linking agriculture with tourism, and it takes as many forms as there are farms. Farm-stay options run the gamut from helping with farm chores like feeding chickens and collecting eggs to structured classes on weaving, soap making or beekeeping.

“Living in towns and cities, most Americans are very disconnected from nature and agriculture. Farm stays are helping to make an important urban-rural connection,” says Scottie Jones, founder of Farm Stay USA, an association connecting travelers with working farms and ranches that offer hands-on opportunities and overnight accommodations.

Since 2007, Jones has operated her own farm stay, the 70-acre Leaping Lamb Farm, in Alsea, Oregon. She has been surprised at many guests’ “agricultural illiteracy”, underscoring the importance of the educational experiences that farm stays like hers offer. “I used to send guests off to graze in the garden alone, but then realized many people don’t know what carrots look like in the field,” says Jones. “I would get questions like, ‘Don’t you need a brown cow to make chocolate milk?’”

More than one in three guests to Leaping Lamb Farm return for subsequent stays, a very high retention rate for the lodging industry. “We get to watch families grow up as they return to the farm year after year. That has a real impact, as we need the next generation to get involved in farming and food systems,” Jones notes.

Justin Bolois, of Los Angeles, got introduced to agritourism in Tuscany, later seeking out the farm experience closer to home. “We had been living in New York City at the time and came to value the expansive countryside being in Italy,” he says. “The family, which ran a vineyard, would cook incredible meals for us. Vacations are great when they mirror the experience of living in a place, and agritourism is one of the closest ways to access that.”

Bolois and his wife later discovered Straus Home Ranch, in Marshall, California, and fell in love with the place and its people so deeply they hosted their wedding there. The ranch was founded by a pair of pioneers in organic farming and land conservation in Marin County, and it was later revitalized to include a farm stay by siblings Vivien, Miriam and Michael Straus after their parents’ deaths. “You can tell that Vivian and Michael not

only care about what they do, they also care about you, and about you enjoying their life mission. That’s a very special bond to develop with an agritourism owner,” Bolois says.

The ranch features special touches, including a beautifully equipped kitchen to shuck local oysters or to host private chefs for farm-fresh

meals served on a handcrafted table made of reclaimed redwood from their old hay barn. There is no cellphone reception on the ranch, encouraging guests to kayak, hike, birdwatch and stargaze.

“After being cooped up during COVID, people want to see wildlife and biodiversity

again. People are aching to disconnect from their screens and reconnect with nature— what we call ‘dirt therapy’,” says Ashley Walsh, president and founder of Poconos Organics, one of the largest Regenerative Organic Certified farms on the continent, sprawling across 380 acres in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

Walsh built the boutique resort, The Village at Pocono, with her grandfather when she was 25 as a sister destination to the farm. The accommodations feature full kitchens where guests can cook a cornucopia of produce fresh from the fields. Visitors can enjoy luxurious amenities on site, then pop over to the farm to attend hands-on cooking classes, wellness retreats, farm tours and more.

Beyond connecting with rural life, farm stays are a meaningful, mutually beneficial way for farmers and consumers to reconnect on a personal level. “Agritourism puts a face to farming. We want to educate people so they can make better choices in food and get to experience what really fresh food tastes like,” Jones says.

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

Stefano Oppo from Corelens / CanvaPro

Ashley Walsh From Personal Health Crisis to Organic Farming

by Carrie Jackson

As the founder of Pocono Organics, a leading regenerative organic farm in Pennsylvania, Ashley Walsh understands that the way food is grown can determine its nutritional properties and significantly impact the environment. Her own journey from illness to wellness led her to organic foods and responsible farming practices. It is a remarkable story of triumph over adversity and can inspire others on the path to lifelong well-being.

In her late 20s, Walsh was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a devastating condition that involves the partial paralysis of the stomach, making every meal a painful prospect. “I couldn’t digest most fruits, vegetables or meat, and was in excruciating pain with vomiting and nausea, which led to malnutrition,” she recalls.

Desperate for help, Walsh exhausted every treatment Western medicine had to offer. “I cycled through medications without relief and even tried Botox. When my doctors recommended feeding tubes and cutting out parts of my stomach, I turned to functional

medicine,” she explains. “After experimenting with juicing and smoothies, I was finally able to get nutrients and nourishment from real food. This led to a broader detox. I cut out processed food, additives and dyes and introduced plant-based supplements and non-toxic personal care items.”

The more Walsh moved toward an organic diet and lifestyle, the better she felt. “I started seeing undeniable results and went from feeling sick five days a week to having symptoms only five days a month. My whole life, I’d eaten low-quality food like corn chips, cheese sandwiches and pizza, not realizing what I was putting in my body,” she muses.

While she transitioned to a healthier lifestyle, Walsh was assistant director at Fox Sports, a job that required constant travel, and finding the healthy ingredients she needed was difficult. “I was frustrated that the supply did not meet the demand for nutritious, whole food. At the same time, I wanted to share my passion for using

Ashley Walsh-PoconoOrganics

food as medicine, and it was in the back of my mind to start a small community farm for a while,” she recalls.

At a 2015 impact investing conference, Walsh learned how a business could help people and the planet, while still making a profit. “This truly resonated with me, and the seed was planted,” she explains. “I leased a 50-acre parcel of land from the family business and called Rodale Institute, the leader in organic and regenerative farming practices, for consultation.”

Pocono Organics opened its gates to the public in 2019 and has flourished ever since. The 380-acre farm hosts tours, community events, cooking classes, an organic market and a café. It is a global center for research and discovery, as well as an agritourism destination for guest retreats. “Pocono Organics creates moments and experiences that inspire change and transform lives through wellness, health, food diversity and sustainability,” Walsh asserts. “We give people emotional souvenirs through experiences where they can taste and touch real foods and learn why things like soil health are important. Guests develop a connection with nature and see where their food comes from.”

Dark Chocolate & Smoked Sea Salt

Walsh hopes to instill preventative wellness and lifelong healthy habits in a younger generation. “We have a program called Clean Foods, Healthy Hands, which teaches kids to plant, harvest and cook in a healthy way. From an early age, they’re out in the fields eating raw broccoli and cauliflower! They can still have their favorite foods, but they learn to add squash to the macaroni and cheese and end up liking it better. These habits stay with them their whole lives,” she says.

More than anything, Walsh wants people to be mindful of the impact their food choices have. “Every day you have at least three opportunities to make a difference in how you nourish yourself,” she says. “The more we can get food from farms and not factories, the better we can live and work in harmony with nature. Food truly is medicine, and making an investment in your health helps the planet, and therefore other people, too.”

*Makes 30 cookies*

1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1/2 Cup Granulated Brown Sugar

1 Large Egg

1 Teaspoon Premium Vanilla Extract, Madagascar

1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Sea Salt Flakes

1 1/2 Cups Dark Chocolate, chopped

1 Tablespoon Smoked Sea Salt

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugars together until pale and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract and beat for 1 minute.

Whisk together flour, baking soda and regular salt in medium bowl. Add dry mixture to wet mixture, and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Mix in dark chocolate pieces.

Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of room between cookies. Sprinkle generously with Cherrywood Smoked Sea Salt.

Bake cookies until just golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool on pan for 5 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

From Organic to Grass-Fed to Regenerative

Finding the Best Farming Practices

by Sara English

Embarking on a journey toward healthier eating often begins with a quest for a better understanding of food-labeling and food-sourcing options. For those taking their first steps into the world of healthy eating and sustainable agriculture, terms like grass-fed, organic and regenerative can be both intriguing and perplexing. Understanding these distinctions empowers consumers to make choices aligned with their values and priorities when selecting food products.

Conventional Farming

“Conventional farming practices involve very heavy equipment, heavy tillage and a lot of inputs—chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides,” says Elizabeth Whitlow, the executive director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. “Despite its high outputs, conventional farming does not necessarily guarantee nutritious, healthy crops.”

A majority of our meat originates from animal feeding operations (AFOs), where animals are commonly raised in confinement and fed genetically modified grains, as opposed to grazing

or foraging in pastures or rangelands. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Manure and wastewater from [AFOs] have the potential to contribute pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, organic matter, sediments, pathogens, hormones and antibiotics to the environment.”

Grass-Fed Beef

Grass-fed farming focuses on feeding livestock grass rather than grains and, in some cases, allowing them to forage for their food, which is considered more humane than AFOs. Rotational grazing, common in grass-fed farming, contributes to environmental sustainability by promoting soil fertility and biodiversity.

According to a 2019 review published in Nutrition Journal that compared the nutritional profiles of grass-fed and grain-fed beef, scientists from the California State University College of Agriculture noted that grass-fed beef tends to be lower in overall fat and higher in several heart-healthy fatty acids and antioxidants, including omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid, precursors for vitamins A and E, and glutathione. The authors also note, “To maximize the favorable lipid profile and to guarantee the elevated antioxidant content, animals should be finished [fed before slaughter] in 100 percent grass or pasture-based diets.”

While there is no federal standard for a grass-fed label, third-party certifiers that may lend a level of reliability include the American Grassfed Association and A Greener World. Look for 100 percent grassfed and grass-finished certification, and remember that a grass-fed label doesn’t automatically mean that the product is organic or regenerative organic.

USDA Organic Certification

Established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1990, the USDA Organic certification and farming practices focus on soil health, biodiversity and natural methods of pest and weed control,

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rather than using synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, or genetically modified organisms. According to the USDA, 17,445 certified organic farms operated a total of 4.9 million acres in 2021, amounting to less than 1 percent of U.S. farmland. From 2019 to 2021, sales of organic crops increased 5 percent to $6.1 billion.

A 2019 study published in the journal Environmental Research reported that an organic diet may reduce exposure to a range of pesticides in children and adults. A 2024 review of studies published in the journal Food noted that certain health benefits have been associated with a higher consumption of organic foods, including a reduction in obesity, improvements in blood nutrient composition and a reduction in the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal cancers. Rodale Institute’s Vegetable Systems Trial, a long-term, sideby-side comparison of conventional and organic methods, is designed to analyze nutrient density and explore the links between soil health and human health.

Regenerative Farming

In addition to adhering to the core principles of organic farming, regenerative agriculture

Farms and products that bear the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) label meet the highest standards in soil health, animal welfare and social fairness.

sets out to actively rejuvenate and improve ecosystems, nurture soil health, foster biodiversity and promote water retention, with the added benefit of sequestering environmental carbon by returning it to the soil. According to Kegan Hilaire, a small-farms consultant for Rodale Institute, this type of farming prioritizes human health, farmworker conditions, animal welfare and animal integration into farming methods. Farms and products that bear the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) label “meet the highest standards in soil health, animal welfare and social fairness,” Whitlow explains. As of 2023, 156 farms and about 1.1 million acres have received this certification, which is overseen by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, a nonprofit group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and farmer and worker fairness.

Voting With Our Pocketbooks

Hilaire points out that only about 1 percent

of the U.S. population are farmers, fewer are certified organic or regenerative, and many small farms employ these methods without getting the official paperwork. “The best certification is meeting your farmer and deciding if you trust where your food is coming from,” he suggests.

Grass-fed, organic and regenerative organic foods each offer unique benefits, from improved nutrition to environmental sustainability. Every purchase becomes a vote for the kind of world we want to live in. By selecting products aligned with our values, we can collectively drive positive change in the food system and shape a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Sara English is the owner of Wild Roots Farm Marketing, a digital marketing firm for regenerative farmers and ranchers. Connect at Wild RootsFarmMarketing.com.

4g/5g

Grass-Fed Beef Liver

Liver is a nutrient powerhouse. Opt for grass-fed beef liver from regenerative farms. Sauté with onions for a traditional dish bursting with flavor and health benefits.

YIELD: 2 SERVINGS

1 lb grass-fed beef liver

2 Tbsp grass-fed ghee

2 large onions, sliced

2 garlic cloves, chopped Salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp grass-fed butter

Fresh parsley, chopped, as garnish

Cut the liver into strips or cubes and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Heat ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for about eight minutes until softened and lightly browned. Add the garlic to the onion mixture and cook for another minute. Transfer the onion mixture to a plate and set aside.

Increase heat to medium-high, then add butter to the same skillet used for the onions. Once butter is melted, add liver pieces in a single layer, making sure not to crowd them in the pan. Cook for four minutes per side until cooked through, longer for more well-done liver. Return onion mixture back to the pan with liver. Stir everything together and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Serve hot with fresh parsley as garnish.

Organic Chicken Bone Broth

This easy, slow-cooker recipe fills the home with delightful aromas while providing a nutrient-dense broth. Using organic chicken supports farming practices that prioritize animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

YIELD: 8 SERVINGS

1-2 lbs organic whole chicken bones (leftovers from a whole chicken roast is perfect)

1 onion, roughly chopped

3 carrots, roughly chopped

3 celery stalks, roughly chopped

6 cloves garlic, smashed

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tsp black peppercorns

1 tsp salt

Optional: fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme for extra flavor

Place the chicken bones in a large six-quart slow cooker. Add the vegetables, herbs (if using), garlic, apple cider vinegar, black peppercorns and salt on top of the bones and mix to combine. Fill the slow cooker with filtered water until the ingredients are submerged. Cover with the lid and set to low heat for 12 hours.

Once done cooking, let it cool for about 45 minutes before straining through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Discard the solids. The liquid should be thick and gelatinous. Once cooled, transfer to jars or other containers, labeled with the date and contents, and store in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for up to three months. Reheat before serving.

Recipe courtesy of Sara English.

Organic Egg Frittata

This frittata is bursting with farm-fresh goodness. Savor the superior taste and nutrition of organic eggs, supporting regenerative farming practices with every delicious bite.

YIELD: 4 SERVINGS

1 lb organic pork breakfast sausage, chopped

1 Tbsp grass-fed ghee or butter

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups spinach leaves, chopped

8 large organic eggs

½ cup grass-fed cheddar cheese, shredded Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350° F. In a large skillet on medium heat, add ghee or butter and onions. Cook until onions have softened, about four minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add in chopped spinach leaves, stirring until wilted down, about one minute.

Place cooked mixture into a greased nine-by-13-inch baking dish and spread out evenly. Place sausage around edges of the pan and in-between gaps of the spinach-onion mixture for an even layer of sausage throughout the pan.

Crack eight eggs into a medium bowl and lightly beat together using a whisk or fork. Pour eggs over top of the sausage-spinach-onion mixture, ensuring all ingredients are covered in egg evenly and completely. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place dish in oven and cook for 25 minutes or until eggs are set through the center and golden brown on top.

Recipe courtesy of Sara English.

Madeleinesteinbach / CanvaPro

A Look at Single-Use Plastics

Understanding the Challenges and Solutions

by Sheryl DeVore

We might be tempted to bring plastic forks to a picnic or succumb to the expediency of prepackaged chips for our kids’ lunches, but single-use plastics wreak havoc on the environment and human health. Although marketed as disposable, most of these fossil fuel-derived, non-biodegradable items are not being recycled, so they languish indefinitely in landfills or pollute our waterways in the form of microplastics. “Plastic pollution has been linked to everything from infertility and cancer in humans to severe injury and death in wildlife,” says Veena Singla, senior scientist for the National Resources Defense Council, in New York.

Plastic Use Is Rampant

“Roughly 30 percent of garbage in the U.S. comes from single-use plastics,” says Shawn Flood, a partner and vice president of operations and customer care at SBC Waste Solutions, a waste collection company based in Broadview, Illinois.

Marketed for their inexpensive, lightweight, flexible and impermeable qualities, we have come to rely on plastic grocery bags, shrink wrapping, drink bottles, stickers, K-cups, straws, gloves, takeout containers and other throwaway products. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 380 billion plastic bags and wraps are used annually, which require 12 million barrels of oil to make.

Recycling Is Not Happening

Many plastic products that could be recycled are still getting tossed into the landfill. “The biggest problem is contamination,” Flood explains. “When someone puts a plastic milk jug into the recycling bin and there’s still milk inside of it, that ends up getting trashed. Those products become single-use plastics when consumers don’t do the correct job of washing recyclables.”

Banning Single-Use Plastics

Over the past few decades, countries including Costa Rica, France and Italy, as well as some U.S. states, have introduced laws that prohibit or tax single-use plastics. “They are banning single-use plastics in California,” Flood notes. “Everything

McLittle Andranik Hakobyan / CanvaPro

is paper. Basically, you cannot find a plastic straw.”

Other states following the trend to ban certain plastics include Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, New Jersey and Vermont. The U.S. Department of the Interior is phasing out single-use plastics on public lands, including national parks, by 2032. A Los Angeles County public works study reports that a ban on plastic bags in San Jose has led to reductions of plastic bags found in storm drains (89 percent), rivers (60 percent) and residential areas (59 percent).

Some states, however, have chosen to protect the continued use of these items. For example, Indiana passed a bill in 2016 prohibiting city and county officials from taxing or restricting the use of disposable plastic bags by certain retailers. Similar laws have been enacted or proposed in Wisconsin, Idaho, Florida and Arizona.

Beware of Greenwashing

New single-use products are continually being introduced that claim to be better for the environment, but consumers need to be cautious of such promises, says Brandon Leeds, co-founder of SOFi Paper Products, based in Miami, Florida. “There’s

a tremendous amount of greenwashing going on,” he explains. “They stamp the products as eco-friendly. For example, some agave straws are predominantly made with plastic and just mixed with agave.”

SOFi manufactures straws and drinking cups that are 100 percent paper, 100 percent plastic free and 100 percent compostable. They sell to 4,000 businesses in the U.S., including mom-and-pop coffee shops, highend restaurants, convenience stores and popular food chains. Leeds remarks, “Our company mission is to educate people.”

Choosing Better Options

Alternatives to plastic, such as cotton or paper bags, also have environmental impacts, and the jury is out on whether single-use plastic bans can really improve the environment, according to Enhesa, a company that helps businesses with regulatory compliance.

A study commissioned by the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance, a group that represents U.S. manufacturers and recyclers of plastic bags, found that New Jersey’s ban resulted in a 60 percent decline in bag volume. However, the study also found six times more woven and non-woven

polypropylene plastic was used to produce reusable bags, which are not widely recycled. The non-woven bags consume 15 times more plastic, and their production generates five times the greenhouse gas emissions per bag than the thin plastic bags.

Flood says one solution may be “to go back to the early days when glass was used for everything, and it could be used over and over.” Several states have created container deposit laws related to glass and plastic. In Oregon, for example, nearly every business that sells certain beverages in redeemable sealed containers is legally required to accept returned containers that can be recycled or reused.

The bottom line, Flood asserts, is that people need to move away from a throwaway mentality and stop using single-use plastics. “The consumer has the power to do anything,” he says. “When I go on vacation and I’m walking on the beach, I’m picking up pieces of plastic everywhere.”

Sheryl DeVore is a frequent contributor to national and regional publications and has authored six books on science, health and nature. Learn more at SherylDeVore.word press.com.

Relief for Parkinson’s Patients

How Traditional and Complementary Interventions Can Help

by Madiha Saeed, M.D.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, more than 10 million people worldwide and nearly 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Every year, nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with this ailment, which causes the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Symptoms that develop slowly over years include tremors; stiff muscles; a slow, shuffling gait; and difficulties with movement and speech.

There is no cure for PD, and by the time a patient is diagnosed, they may have already lost 60 to 80 percent of their dopamine-producing cells. According to Kenneth Sharlin, a board-certified neurologist and certified functional medicine doctor, the first line of defense for PD is levodopa (L-Dopa), a pharmaceutical that is converted to dopamine in the body. “Unfortunately, natural strategies don’t get a lot of research, so no supplement has been shown to effectively treat the disease,” he asserts. “Mucuna pruriens, a tropical

legume that grows in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands, naturally contains levodopa, but studies have shown it to be unreliable.”

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in controlling memory, mood, sleep, learning, concentration and movement. “If the car doesn’t have gas, then you can’t drive it,” explains Sharlin. Once a patient is taking levodopa to bring dopamine levels up, complementary strategies can be employed to help manage PD symptoms by as much as 73 percent, according to a panel of doctors participating in The Parkinson’s Solutions Summit. Exercise, sleep and even intimacy with a partner can all be managed well once the car has “gas” to drive it.

Exercise

According to Sharlin, the number one strategy for PD patients to maintain their motor function is exercise such as bicycling, chair yoga, movement classes in warm water pools, Pilates and dance. A meta-analysis published in Gerontology and Geriatrics analyzed 15 randomized controlled trials involving 498 participants in several countries to investigate the health impacts of self-directed physical activity (SDPA) on patients with early and mid-stage PD. The study examined the effects of moderate-intensity exercises, including aerobics, dance, strength training, flexibility exercises and Nordic walking. The researchers found that the SDPA significantly enhanced gait function, balance, mobility, function and postural control.

Gut Health

Monitoring gut function is very important for patients with PD, as constipation is very

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common,” states Trupti Gokani, a board-certified neurologist, health and mindset coach, and Ayurvedic expert. Improving gut function with the help of key nutrients from vegetables, fruits, clean protein, nuts and seeds, olive oil, herbs and spices has been shown to slow the progression of the disease. It is best to choose organic when possible, as that will decrease the exposure to brain-toxic chemicals. A gluten-free diet has also been found to improve PD symptoms.

Sharlin recommends an antioxidant-rich diet packed with polyphenols, along with green tea that contains catechins called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant with neuroprotective properties.

Stress Reduction

Anxiety linked to PD can worsen the symptoms,” Gokani points out. Chronic stress is a risk factor for PD, because it elevates the hormone cortisol, which can interfere with neuronal plasticity and damage dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.

Incorporating deep breathing, meditation and other relaxation techniques is integral to improving the patient’s quality of life. According to Sharlin, “Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques to self-regulate have a positive impact in regulating Parkinsonism.”

New Test to Confirm Diagnosis

When a patient comes to his office exhibiting PD symptoms, Sharlin now has a new way to confirm a PD diagnosis by taking a small tissue sample and sending it to the lab to look for a neural protein called alpha synuclein, which is associated with PD. In a 2023 National Institutes of Health study involving 428 people with PD and 120 control volunteers, this skin biopsy was found to be very accurate, with 92.7 percent sensitivity.

Deep Brain Stimulation

According to Sharlin, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-researched and well-developed treatment for PD. The surgical therapy involves implanting electrodes within areas of the brain to interrupt irregular signals that cause movement-related symptoms. A 2019 retrospective study of 400 patients that underwent DBS implantation found that 75 percent of the participants felt the procedure provided symptom control.

Focused ultrasound is another PD tool, using ultrasound beams to destroy areas in the brain cells that are causing movement problems. This procedure is permanent and can be done on only one side of the brain, so it helps symptoms on only one side of the body. Treatment to both sides could cause speech, swallowing or memory problems. Sharlin notes that the results from focused ultrasound are no better than DBS and involve more intense intervention. Also, not all Parkinson’s patients are good candidates for this procedure.

Madiha Saeed is a holistic, functional and integrative doctor in Naperville, IL, and director of education for Documenting Hope and KnoWEwell.

Calendar of Events

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

Roots and Shoots: Food, Farm and Family Fun – 2:30-4:30pm. An interactive experience for families to connect about the impact of locally grown agriculture and cooperatives for vibrant communities that care for people and the planet. Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Cir, Traverse City. Oryana.coop.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

VegMichigan Traverse City Monthly Meetup – 1-3pm. Stone Hound features a delicious selection of plant-based wraps, burgers, bowls and snacks. Stone Hound Brewing Company, 3593 Bunker Hill Rd, Williamsburg. VegMichigan.org.

Roots and Shoots: Food, Farm and Family Fun – 2:30-4:30pm. See Apr 4 listing. Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Cir, Traverse City. Oryana.coop.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Raptors In the Spring Sky – 5:30-6:30pm. Have an up-close experience with live raptors from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary. Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City. Registration required: NatureIsCalling.org.

Gluten-Free Pita Bread Class – 6-8:30pm. We’ll make recipes that are totally allergen-free: no gluten, dairy, soy, eggs or nuts. Table Health Traverse City, 818 Red Dr, Ste 100 Traverse City. Tinyurl.com/4wn6p53x.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Geology Hike Series: Water Reflections – 10am-12pm. Join us for the first hike in our Family & Children Geology Hike Series featuring the Grand Traverse Area Rock and Mineral Club Pebble Pups, Water Reflections: Discovering Secrets Along the River. Free. Meet at the Oleson Pavilion, Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Rd, Traverse City. Registration required: NatureIsCalling.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Groceries for Good – 8am-9pm. Oryana will give 2% of profits from both stores and encourage shoppers to round up their purchases to support Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center. Oryana 10th Street, 260 E Tenth St, Traverse City; Oryana West, 3587 Marketplace Cir, Traverse City. Oryana.coop.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Earth Week Bird Walk – 9-11am. Join us in celebrating Earth Day with a spring bird walk to learn to ID birds by sight and sound and how to log observations online using the eBird webpage or app.

Bring binoculars or borrow some. $5. Grass River Education Center, 6500 Alden Hwy, Bellaire. Registration required: GrassRiver.org.

Makerfest 2024: Special Earth Day Edition – 10am-2pm. Join the library, along with RecycleSmart and many others, for an Earth Day MakerFest extravaganza. Free. Grand Traverse County Civic Center, 1213 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City. tadl. org/makerfest2024.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

Earth Day Sound Bath & Heart Coherence Meditation – 1-2pm. Join us to celebrate Mother Earth with a heart-focused group meditation and sound bath. We will be practicing HeartMath techniques which create coherence in the body, mind and spirit. $20 suggested donation. New Moon Yoga Collaborative, 10747 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. Register: Jessica@ NewMoonYogaStudio.com.

Earth Day at Ethanology – 2-5pm. Grass River Natural Area will be on-site offering conifer, hardwood or shrub saplings with each donation to the non-profit. Ethanology, 127 Ames St., Elk Rapids. GrassRiver.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 22

Getting Scrappy: Propagating from your Kitchen Scraps – 6-7:30pm. Learn how to turn your leftover veggie scraps into bountiful plants in your own home garden in this hands-on workshop. The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, 1490 Red Dr, Traverse City. tinyurl.com/58jea9jr.

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

Wonder of Wildflowers – 6-7pm. Join us for a colorful and warm photography presentation looking at over a dozen of our local species and how their beauty is only outmatched by their wondrous feats. Charlevoix Public Library, 220 Clinton St, Charlevoix. GrassRiver.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Medalie Park Arbor Day Planting Work Bee – 9:30am-12pm. Join District staff in planting native trees and shrubs. Wet-tolerant species will be hand-planted in lowland areas along the shores of Boardman Lake to help improve stormwater uptake, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Registration required: NatureIsCalling.org.

PLAN AHEAD

SATURDAY, MAY 11

Healthy & Sustainable Building Symposium – 9am-5pm. A day of learning about

eco-friendly and health-conscious building practices. 414 E Eighth St, Traverse City. Tinyurl.com/yc85kj2r.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Tea 101 & Tea Wellness Workshop –10:30am. Workshop that is a combination of rich content from our Tea 101 class (the basics) and Tea Wellness class (head to toe reasons why you should be drinking tea). Light of Day Organics, 3502 E Traverse Hwy, Traverse City. Registration required: LightOfDayOrganics.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

Dr Joe Dispenza: Change Your Mind... Create New Results – May 29-31. In this 3-day course, Kennith Scott will provide brain-based, outcome-driven methodologies and frameworks that will help leaders facilitate positive change and lead more effectively. Northwestern Michigan College, Aero Park Campus, 2600 Aero-Park Dr, Traverse City. Tinyurl.com/d8r6aucc.

Ongoing Events

DAILY

Sacred Lights Collective Events – A digital platform and virtual community for seekers and facilitators to walk the spiritual path together offering daily classes, groups and workshops. With Aria Mae Everts. Virtual. 774-578-2762. Sacred LightsCollective.com.

Holistic Health Consultation – 9am-7pm. Online or phone consultation consultations last about 1 hr and are provided by Certified Xolar Vibronics Holistic Educator and Life Coach Ikaro Phoenix. Be introduced to various techniques, elements or holistic ways of viewing the situation which help the soul to be reeducated and empowered to deal with problems and eliminate them from their root. $150. For appt: LivingWisdomCoaching.earth.

SUNDAYS

Gyrokinesis Group Class – 8:30-9:30am. Educate your spine how to sit, stand, and move with ease throughout your day. Suitable for those with spinal ailments and powerful enough for those who love working out. $20/class; $100/6 classes. Bodies In Motion, 10660 E Carter Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-1241. MiaTraverseCity. com.

Kundalini Yoga – 10am. A dynamic, powerful tool that is designed to give you an experience of your energetic body. All levels. Sliding scale $10-$20. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City.

231-392-5813. NewMoonYogaStudio.com. Soul-Stirring Yoga Sundays – 10am. In-person and live online with Crystal Turner. Each class is a multi-level class, allowing for exploration and expansion to flourish from the inside-out. $20. Karasi Fitness and Healing Arts, 104 S Union St, Ste 204, Traverse City. 231-492-9206. Karasi FitnessAndHealingArts.com.

MONDAYS

Cancer Care Support Discovery Call

– 6-6:30pm. For those looking to incorporate a holistic, functional element of care into their cancer treatment plan by working in conjunction with your oncologists, surgeons, primary care physician and physical medicine practitioners. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

TUESDAYS

Charlevoix Senior Center Veteran Social & Lunch – 9am-1pm. 1st Tues. Honoring our veterans. Social beginning at 9am and Free Lunch for Veterans at 11:30am. Charlevoix Senior Center, 06906 Norwood Rd, Charlevoix. Charlevoix.org.

“Sew”cial Day – 10am-6pm. 1st Tues. Grab some interruption-free sewing time with help and support to get you through your projects. A great chance to meet up in a safe space and enjoy some sewing time. Juneberry Cottage, 220 N Main St, Evart. RSVP: JuneberryCottage.com.

Empowerment Circle – 10:30-11:30am. With Heather Zigler. By bringing new light to an ancient and traditional tool used by indigenous people around the globe. Circles are a place to transform ME to WE as a space where the principle of sharing power with each other exists instead of having power over one another. 1st class free. Pure Essence Wellness Center, 1240 E 8th St, Traverse City. 231499-8595. HeatherZigler.com.

Hand Work – 12-4pm. 2nd Tues. Work on a project of your choice. Think of it as the non-electrical side of sewing, piecing and quilting. Juneberry Cottage, 220 N Main St, Evart. RSVP: JuneberryCottage.com.

Turntables and Tacos – 4pm-close. Stone Hound Brewing Company, 3593 Bunker Hill Rd, Williamsburg. 231-421-5010. Stone HoundBrewing.com.

Traverse City Women’s Circle – 6pm. 3rd Tues. With personal transformation coach Samantha Gutowski, owner of Be Here Now Baby. A safe space for women to share their true selves, find their voice, reclaim their power and remind them of their worth, all while having some fun. Donation: $10-$20. More info: 616-915-1646, Info@BeHereNowBaby.com or BeHere NowBaby.com.

5 Hidden Gems in Your Normal Blood Work – 8-9pm. 3rd Tues. Join Dr. Jena for her Bloodwork Webinar and learn 5 hidden gems that can help you go from

unhealthy to healthy. Free. BigBeautiful Chiropractic.com.

WEDNESDAYS

Empowerment Circle – 5:30-6:30pm.

See Tues listing. Pure Essence Wellness Center, 1240 E 8th St, Traverse City. 231499-8595. HeatherZigler.com.

Community Slow Roll TC – 6-8pm. With Norte Youth A weekly ride from Oryana to The Little Fleet. The route is 3-5 miles and the pace is accommodating for all abilities. 260 E Tenth St, Traverse City. 231883-2404. Hello@NorteYouthCycling.org. NorteYouthCycling.org.

Wine Down Wednesdays at Castle Farms – 6-8pm. Visit 1918 Cellars for live music, food, wine and more. No tickets necessary to enjoy the music. Check their lineup to see who’s going to be performing this summer. Castle Farms, 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. CastleFarms.com.

Your Lipid Panel: What Bad Cholesterol Really Means – 8-9pm. 3rd Wed. Grab your latest bloodwork and let’s dive into your blood work and let me teach you how to look for hidden answers. Free. BigBeautiful Chiropractic.com.

THURSDAYS

Cultivating Gratitude Sessions – 9am6pm. Join Candice for a 1-on-1 Zoom session focused on cultivating gratitude. We will walk through the 5 stages of cultivating gratitude (safety, open, notice, appreciate, express), learn what genuine gratitude feels like in your body, then find ways to bring more of it into your day-today life. $33. Tinyurl.com/6vhzuycp.

Weekly Facebook Live with Dr. McSwain – 5:30-6pm. More info: MIHolisticMed.com.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) – 5:30, weigh-in; 6-7pm, meeting. Weight loss support group. $49/yr. Haslett Middle School, 1535 Franklin St, Haslett. tops.org. The Goddess Workout Beginner Hula Dance Class – 6:30-7:30pm. For absolute beginners of all ages, sizes and shapes. Learn basic hula moves and combinations. $80/8-wk session, $15/drop-in. First Congregational Church, 8066 W State St, Central Lake. AmiraHamzarRaks.com.

Red Tent: Women’s Circle – 7pm. 2nd Thurs. Meet local women, share your journey and grow together. Hosted by Aria, Red Tents are a gentle introduction to women’s sacred circles. Free. Yoga Bellaire, 216 Portage Dr, Bellaire. Yoga Bellaire.com.

Community Night – 7-9pm. 4th Thurs. Each month, we will host a different theme for connecting with your fellow Bellaire community members. Movie nights, potlucks, cacao and conversation, etc. Everyone welcome, including families; do not need to practice yoga. Yoga Bellaire, 216 Portage Dr, Bellaire. YogaBellaire.com.

The Thyroid Panel: Get the Real Story of What’s Happening with Your Thyroid – 8-9pm. 3rd Thurs. Learn how to find hidden answers in the bloodwork that you already have so that you can finally get some answers as to why you feel the way you do. Free. BigBeautiful Chiropractic.com.

FRIDAYS

Kundalini Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. A dynamic, powerful tool that is designed to give you an experience of your energetic body. All levels. Sliding scale $10-$20. New Moon Yoga, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-5813. NewMoonYogaStudio.com.

Gyrokinesis Group Class – 8:45-9:45am.

See Sun listing. Bodies In Motion, 10660 E Carter Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-1241. MiaTraverseCity.com.

Online: Prayer Power Hour – 12-12:30pm. Prayer changes things. Our goal is simple: to love you, pray for you, and introduce you to our loving Creator, the Great Healer. Free. Tinyurl.com/PrayerPowerHour.

SATURDAYS

Gyrokinesis Group Class – 7:30-8:30am. See Sun listing. Bodies In Motion, 10660 E Carter Rd, Traverse City. 231-392-1241. MiaTraverseCity.com.

Mindful Morning Flow – 8-9am. In-person and online. Gently energize your body and focus your mind, drawing attention to each movement and breath to each posture in this Vinyasa-style practice. $25 in studio, $15 virtually (bundle 6 classes for $120). True Balance Fitness, Nutrition and Wellness, 1128 S Garfield Ave, Traverse City. 231-519-0808. TrueBalanceLife.com.

Indoor Farmers Market at the Village –Thru Apr. 10am-2pm. Presented by The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Free admission. The Mercato corridor, 830 Cottageview Dr, Traverse City. TheVillageTC. com/farmers-market.

Classifieds PERSONAL

FIND NATURAL MATCH FREE: Are you lonely? Between 70 and 80 years old? Call Shirely at 231-383-5743 or write to Ms. Shirely A. Royston, 17330 Honor Hwy., Lot 50, Interlochen MI, 49643.

Nature’s Trading Post

Advanced Wellness

EARTH LABS

317a E Front St, Traverse City 231-421-1490

EarthLabsHeal.com

Subtle modalities including sound, light, frequency and thrmogenic therapies to enhance and transform your quality of life. Our techno-therapy will reduce pain and restore energy.

Covering all of Northern MI NaturesTradingPost.com

CBD Products

MY CBD

Kelly Young MyTCBD.com

EMF Investigator

GOOD WAVES EMF INVESTIGATOR

Serving Central to Northern MI 231-714-0477

EMFInvestigator.com

Many unexplained health issues are showing links to Cell Phones/Towers/Wi-Fi (with levels now stronger than bodies naturally adapt to). We detect EMF-related causes by determining sources of harmful radiation & offer solutions to mitigate them. See ad page 20.

Functional Medicine

BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE WELLNESS CENTER

515 S. Union St, Traverse City 231-421-9189

BigBeautifulChiropractic.com

All-natural CBD products. We source from only organic, environmentally socially responsible companies that believe in cruelty-free testing. Life is too short to feel anything less than your personal best. Ask about our distributor options where you can be your own boss. See ad opposite page.

naturestradingpost.com

(989) 275-9976

SPICE & TEA MERCHANTS

145 E Front St, Traverse City 231-947-7423

SpiceMerchants.biz/traverse-city-spice-store

Providing the world’s best herbs, spices and teas for your kitchen. We carry over 200 spices from everyday use to the most exotic as well as over 120 different teas. See ad page 17. Community

Specializing in hormonal balancing for women and root cause resolution. Ever been told that your blood work is "normal" yet you still have unexplainable symptoms? Dr. Jena is a Functional Blood Expert and specializes in finding hidden answers in the blood work that you already have to take you from unhealthy to healthy. Telehealth and in-person appontments are available. See ad page 23.

Healthy Food

PROVIDENCE ORGANIC FARM, CAFÉ & NATURAL FOOD MARKET

5695 N Michigan 88, Central Lake 231-599-2020

ProvidenceOrganicFarm.com

Charming farm-market, cafe and natural foods store at their farm, featuring organic espresso and tea bar, kombucha on tap, organic produce and meats, local honey, maple syrup, eggs, cheese, gift items and much more. See ad page 19.

IRISH PAINTING OF NAPLES

989-275-9976

Offering full exterior & interior painting for Northern Michigan. We also offer low & zero VOC paints for the most economical Healthy home. NOW scheduling for spring to summer '24.

Holistic Wellness

WATERSIDE WELLNESS

212 River St, 2nd Floor, Elk Rapids WatersideWellnessER@gmail.com

231-632-4408

WatersideWellness.co

Our mission is to provide a safe and judgement- free healing space! We offer group and private guided meditations, Primordial Sound Meditation, and tailored massage therapy sessions. Stay tuned, more to come!

Medical/Chiropractic Physicians

THE HEALTH HUB

3492 W Park Rd, Luzerne, MI 48636 (corner of M72/Deeter Rd)

TheHealthHubLLC@gmail.com 989-745-2898

TheHealthHubLLC.com

The mission of The Health Hub is to provide health care rather than sick care; to look beyond just the symptoms, understand the root cause, prevent future disease and restore health; implemented with genuine concern for our clients. See ad page 15.

WHOLE HEALTH TRAVERSE CITY

3639 Cass Rd, Traverse City 231-943-2100

WholeHealthTC.org

We help people suffering with chronic joint and muscle pain, and peripheral neuropathy to decrease pain, increase quality of life, and maximize their competitive edge. See ad page 14.

Nutrition/Chiropractic & Cold Laser Therapy

AUTHENTIC HEALTH

415 E Front St, Traverse City 231-633-9393

AuthenticHealthLLC.com

The mission of Authentic Health is to facilitate healing by serving the whole person nutritionally, structurally and energetically, using nutritional therapy, chiropractic care and cold laser. See ad page 13.

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