Natural Awakenings Magazine ~ March 2015

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SPECIAL ISSUE:

Animal Welfare & Healthy Cuisine

SHELTERED Tending Our The 123’s AND SAFE Mental Garden of Composting Saving Animal Lives Everywhere

Plant the Right Seeds for Happiness

Transform Food Waste into Garden Gold

March 2015 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings

March 2015

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contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

18 LIFESAVING ACTS Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

by Sandra Murphy

20 POPULAR

FITNESS MYTHS

Seven Common Maxims that Can Cause Harm

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by Leslie Perry Duffy

22 THE EARTH DIET Liana Werner-Gray on Simple Eating

by Lane Vail

24 MISSION: ANIMAL RESCUE

Big and Small, They Need Our Help

by Sandra Murphy

32 A TEEN’S GUIDE TO

THE CULTURAL GALAXY Foreign Locales Spark Deep Experiences

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by April Thompson

34 A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COMPOSTING Pick the Best Option for You

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

36 MIND GARDENING

It Pays to Watch What Is Planted

by Dennis Merritt Jones

38 LOVE YOUR GREENS! New Ways to Prepare these Nutritional Powerhouses

by Nava Atlas

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5 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 1 1 globalbriefs 1 1 actionalert 13 ecotip 18 naturalpet 11 20 fitbody 22 wisewords 32 healthykids 34 greenliving 36 inspiration 38 healingways 13 41 calendar 44 classifieds 45 naturaldirectory

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advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 616-656-9232 or email: Publisher@ NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for space reservation is the 12th of each month prior to publication.

NEWS BRIEFS & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Email articles to: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for articles is the 5th of the month prior to publication. Submit News Briefs online at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for news briefs is the 12th of the month prior to publication.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalWestMichigan.com.

Calendar deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

WHERE TO PICK UP NATURAL AWAKENINGS If you enjoyed this magazine and would like to know where you can pick up a free copy in your area, please contact us at 616656-9232 or email us at: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com

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letterfrompublisher

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contact us Publishers Kyle & Amy Hass

Photo: Allyson Regan

Assistant Publisher Amanda Grasmeyer

his month’s issue is dear to my heart. We’re not only focusing on New Healthy Cuisine but also tackling Animal Welfare. I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by domesticated animals—dogs, cats, hamsters and horses—spiced with an occasional wild animal that was in need of rescuing and always exploring the wonders of wildlife.

Animals at home provided unfailing comfort. When life got rough, an animal could bring joy and restore hope that everything would be alright. Caring for animals taught me discipline, responsibility and compassion that readily translate into other arenas of life.

My passion for animal well-being soared during my first visit to Sea World in Orlando, Florida when I was 10. After spending the day watching and learning about all the amazing animals there, I realized that I wanted to spend my life helping animals in some way. After going to college for marine biology, I returned to Sea World and went to work.

Little could beat the feeling of helping rescue, rehabilitate and release an animal back into the wild. Seeing one flourish made me feel alive and blessed to be doing what I love. Plus, I got to educate millions of visitors each year and see children become inspired like I had been years before.

Life just can’t get much better than that.

Whether rescuing animals we call pets or saving animals in the wild, I will always be an advocate for giving them a voice. Animals give me far more than I can possibly give back.

I hope reading this issue will inspire you to reach out to a local animal shelter the next time you are looking for a pet, to volunteer time at a zoo, shelter or rescue facility or to help fund world wildlife conservation efforts. Animals need us to preserve their native homes, afford a safe environment and heal those in trouble. Will you be the person that makes a difference in saving those that cannot save themselves?

Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design & Production Interactive Media Design Scott Carvey Printer Stafford Media Solutions Natural Awakenings 484 Sunmeadow Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Phone: 616-656-9232 Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com

www.NaturalWestMichigan.com

Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (12 issues) to the above address. © 2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY Natural Awakenings is locally owned and operated.

In honor of all the animals I could not save,

Amy Hass, Publisher Never Glossy. Always Green.

Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by printing on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink.

This choice avoids the toxic chemicals and high energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is hard to recycle.

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West Michigan Edition

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newsbriefs Canvas Labyrinth Walk

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and includes lunch. Register today, as seating is limited to 250.

For more information and to registration visit WMNLA. com or Facebook.com/marchgardenday.

ome walk the Canvas Labyrinth at Spirit Space on March 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All who are interested in walking are welcome. Learn more about the healing powers and the spiritual growth possibilities as your brain focuses on the path and you journey through our labyrinth.

Spirit Space will be building our outdoor labyrinth in the spring.

J

Thai Body Work Level 1

oin Expressions of Grace for this weekend course March 20-22 and learn the fundamentals of Thai Massage. Learn the critical fundamentals of body mechanics, positioning, compression, working with passive stretches, energetic, spiritual and historical background, an intro to concepts of clinical work, and much more.

Massage therapists will earn 17 NCBTMB-approved CEs.

For more information, call 616-836-1555 or visit SpiritSpace.org. See ad, page 14.

For more information, call 616-361-8580 or visit ExpressionsOfGraceYoga.com. See ad, page 16.

A Celebration of Gardening

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or those who’ve had enough of winter and are eager for the longer, warmer days of spring when the soil warms up and flowers emerge from the earth, there’s no need to wait for inspiration! Join like-minded West Michigan gardeners for the annual March Garden Day on March 14, hosted at the Grand Haven Community Center by the West Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association.

This annual gardening celebration is the perfect antidote for the winter blues. Educational presentations from regional gardening experts cover subjects from shade gardening to succulents, from spring wildflowers to a fantastic fall gardening finale and from orchids to conifers. Add to the educational and inspirational speakers a gourmet lunch, silent auction and displays from local garden businesses, and you have a gardener’s paradise for a day.

The event takes place from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Harmony ‘n Health Colon Hydrotherapy

Mary A. DeLange C.C.T. L.M.T. 616-456-5033

Some Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy: ~ Remove Toxic Waste from ones body ~ Eradicate Constipation ~ Removes Stomach Bloat ~ Increase ones Energy

Therapeutic Massage also available

Mary@HarmonynHealth.net

www.HarmonynHealth.net

New Health Programs Available

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ubtle Energies & D’Rose Institute are offering two new programs in addition to the Usui Reiki, Karuna Reiki and Urevia Healing classes. The two programs include the Urevia’s Integrated Health Program and the Healing Sciences & Energy Mechanics Program.

The Integrated Health Program is for everyone— those seeking practitioner development and/or those seeking personal development. The programs offer students the opportunity to increase his or her knowledge, experience, spiritual awareness and self-actualization. It

Depression? Anxiety? Insomnia?

The Future of Brain-Based Health FDA Cleared Medication-Free Treatment

Bethesda Health and Wellness, LLC Susie Daubenspeck sldaubenspeck@gmail.com 616-594-9005

Nexalin.com

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newsbriefs is not necessary to be sick to be better. Self-mastery is a skill, happiness is a skill, expressing love is a skill and developing wisdom is a skill. If people were born with the knowledge they needed, this world would be without fear. Pursuing growth is an honorable path and these programs are helpful in that goal.

On March 28 and 29 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo, Subtle Energies & D’Rose will also be at the Body, Mind, & Spirit Expo as an exhibitor, offering healings with intuitive messages, tarot readings and a free lecture on the Integrated Health Program.

Ongoing classes are also available all year long and all classes are certified.

take place both days of the expo. Rev Cindy L Spencer “Camp Chesterfield Certified Medium” will be doing a free demonstration giving “Messages from your loved ones in Heaven”. Tom Benedict, a frequent guest on Coast to Coast radio with George Noory and his Beyond Belief TV show will be doing a free presentation on healing stones and their messages to you. You can view Benedict on GAIAM TV. He’ll also be offering individual sessions at the expo.

Cost is $8.00 daily, but kids 12 and under are free. The expo will be held March 28, 10am-8pm and March 29, 10am-5pm at 100 W Michigan Ave. in Kalamazoo. For more information visit HealingBodyAndSpirit.com. See ad, page 3.

Produce Delivered to Your Neighborhood

For more information, call 269-671-4455 or visit ReikiConnect.com. See ad, page 35.

Kalamazoo’s Largest Body Mind & Spirit Expo

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n March 28 and 29 many talented mediums, intuitive communicators, holistic healers, aromatherapist, iridologist & spiritual merchandisers will be gathering under one roof in downtown Kalamazoo for the Body Mind and Spirit Expo. Beverly and John Stephan, and Ms. Margo have been participating in Body Mind & Spirit expos for many years across the US and Canada and are excited to bring a piece of Spirit to Kalamazoo. Join in and spread the word to all who love to help others about this perfect opportunity for many in the profession to spread amazing healing light to the local community.

Free lectures, speakers and demonstrations will

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Discover a superior range of skin & body products made to very strict EU Cosmetics Directive Standards.

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Money Back Guarantee!

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or a limited time, Good News Farm is offering $1 off to Natural Awakenings readers just enter code NA1 at checkout. Good News Farms offers local, certified organic, seasonal produce. Each week’s box contains seasonal vegetables. For example, August FarmBoxes included Romaine lettuce, hot house cucumbers, baby heirloom lettuce, cocktail tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, Kurly kale, carrots, beets, and micro greens.

Good News Farm isn’t just a state-of-the-art certified organic farm—it’s veganic, too, which means every product the farm uses in its soil is plant based. With its ultrasustainable farming techniques, the close-knit team of farmers, students, and builders grow produce ranging from fresh, juicy tomatoes to leafy microgreens. Patrons can purchase these at the farm or order them delivered weekly in a grocery box.

For more information, call 616-550-3555 or visit GoodNewsFarm.org. See ad, page 13.

Yoga with Teacher Trainees

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oin yoga teacher trainees from Mimi Ray Yoga School for yoga classes each Sunday morning in March from 9:3010:45 a.m. at Expressions of Grace in Grand Rapids.

Practice yoga while helping the trainees practice teaching for a suggested donation of $10.

For more information, call 616-361-8580, visit ArtOfTeachingYoga.com or email MRayStyle@gmail. com. See ad, page 16.

Community Quiet Day & Labyrinth Walk

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n March 7, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Muskegon opens its doors, warmly welcoming those of all faiths, to join in this day of contemplation and sacred silence.

Wherever one is on their spiritual journey, they can find strength and peace when they intentionally set apart time to be still.

Come reflect, explore practices of walking and sitting meditation, centering prayer, reading, and simply be.

Refreshments are available all day and lunch is served from noon to 1:00 p.m. Guests are free to come and go as their schedules allow. Reservations are not needed but help with planning.

St. Paul’s is located at 1006 Third St. across from Hackley Park in downtown Muskegon. Suggestion donation is $5. For more information, call 231-744-0377 or email LindaReynolds21@comcast.net.

Collect Water & Manager Run Off

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ou to can help improve water quality and manage storm water. West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) wants to help West Michigan communities learn how by providing low-cost rain barrels along with workshops on how to set up them up.

A rain barrel collects water and stores it for when you need to water plants or wash a car. They provide an ample supply of free soft water containing no chlorine, lime or calcium making it ideal for gardens, flower or the potted plants. Rain barrels are an effective way to manage community storm water issues and improving water quality. WMEAC provides low-cost rain barrels to the West Michigan community as a means of addressing water conservation and pollution issues in West Michigan.

All workshops last around 45 minutes and include all the items you need to set up your barrel. Attending a workshop is required in order to get a rain barrel through our program.

To learn more about WMEAC and to sign up for upcoming rain barrel workshops visit wmeac.org.

An animal’s eyes

have the power to speak a great language. ~Martin Buber

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healthbriefs

GMO Pushback Hawaii Lobbies for Anti-GMO Laws

The Aloha State enjoys a year-round growing season, with multiple harvests annually. Last year, the Hawaiian island of Kauai passed genetically modified organism (GMO) farming restrictions, but they were overturned in court.

Now, Maui County, which includes the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai, has approved a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified crops.

The majority of Monsanto’s GMO corn seed sold to farmers in Argentina, Brazil and the U.S. comes from its Maui operation. If the law stands, Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, another biotech firm with operations in Maui County, will need to seek alternatives.

Lawsuits have already been filed by both opponents of the ban and proponents that want rigorous enforcement built in. Michael Lilly, former attorney general of Hawaii, expects the new law to be struck down like the previous Kauai attempt on grounds that state law supersedes it, although appeals in that case are underway. Meanwhile, an injunction has stalled the whole process.

The message from anti-GMO forces is that although giant firms have deep pockets and many options, staunch determination to stem the tide of GMO crops worldwide may eventually bear the sweet fruit of victory.

Ginkgo Biloba Calms ADHD, Boosts Memory

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esearchers from Germany’s University of Tübingen’s Center for Medicine tested the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on 20 children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a clinical trial. The children were given up to 240 milligrams (mg) of the extract for between three and five weeks. Before, during and after the treatment, the scientists evaluated the children by testing the brain’s electrical activity, along with other ADHD-related tests. Those that had received the extract exhibited significant improvement in ADHD symptoms.

A study from Liberty University, in Virginia, previously examined 262 adults ages 60 and over with normal memory and mental performance and found that the same Ginkgo biloba extract improved their cognitive scores. Half of the study participants were given 180 mg of the extract daily and half were given a placebo.

Standardized tests and a subjective, self-reporting questionnaire found the Ginkgo resulted in significant cognitive improvements among the older adults.

BUGS LINKED TO FACTORY FARM ANTIBIOTICS

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he bacteria E. coli now causes 75 to 95 percent of all urinary tract infections, and research from Iowa State University has confirmed that such occurrences are linked to factory farms that use antibiotics.

The findings support a study previously completed by scientists from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and George Washington University that shows a strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli called ExPEC, an extra-intestinal pathogen, was genetically traceable to factory-farmed animals receiving certain antibiotics.

The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System reports that 75 percent of chicken and turkey, 59 percent of ground beef and 40 percent of pork meats tested were contaminated with E. coli, and that the strains were predominantly multi-drug resistant.

Need a Spring Tune-Up?

Source: Grist

3138 Broadmoor Ave, SE 616-575-9105 8

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Meet our New Addition - Dr. Holly York $27 X-Ray and Exam for New Patients Limited Time Offer - Call Today

Even Modest Drinking Raises Risk of Heart Disease

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ontrary to the hypothesis that moderate drinking can be heart-healthy, a new study published in the British Medical Journal indicates that even light to moderate drinking increases the risk of heart disease.

In a large, randomized meta-study, researchers examined patient data from 261,991 European adults derived from 56 studies. Participants were classified as non-drinkers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers or heavy drinkers. The researchers also used a gene variation to determine alcohol intake—a genetic marker that indicates low alcohol consumption of less than 10 milliliters (about a third of an ounce) per week.

They found that those with the gene variation—and thus are virtually non-drinkers—had a significantly lower risk of heart disease, including stroke and hypertension, and that even light drinking significantly increased heart disease risk. The researchers concluded: “These findings suggest that reductions of alcohol consumption, even for light to moderate drinkers, may be beneficial for cardiovascular health.”

Register Receipts Low Risk for BPA

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esearch from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has determined that handling cash register receipts, common in credit card transactions, can increase exposure of the hormone disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA), but that exposure is well within limits considered safe when the receipts are handled under normal conditions.

The researchers tested 121 people exposed to the synthetic chemical through their skin and found their average BPA urinary excretion levels averaged 2.6 micrograms (mcg) per liter. The researchers then had test subjects handle thermal paper three times every five minutes, simulating a store cashier’s handling of receipts.

The researchers found those that handled the thermal paper during the simulation test had an average increase in their BPA urinary excretions of just under 0.2 mcg per liter per kilogram of body weight. The researchers noted that this was still 25 times lower than the European Food Safety Authority’s proposed temporary tolerable daily intake of 5 mcg per liter per kilogram of body weight per day.

Primary sources of BPA exposure are plastics used in water bottles and many other consumer goods.

WILD THYME KILLS BREAST CANCER CELLS

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study published in the Nutrition and Cancer Journal reveals that the herb thyme is more than a cooking spice. Scientists tested a methanol extract of Thymus serphyllum—also referred to as wild thyme—on two types of breast cancer cells and found that it was able to kill them in laboratory testing. The testing also found the extract to be safe for healthy normal breast cells. The researchers state that wild thyme may provide the means for a promising natural cancer treatment. natural awakenings

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Real Food vs. Fake Food

by Dr. Ronda

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eal food is food, in its most basic form, taken directly from nature without additives, alterations or fillers.

Most people don’t set out to eat “fake food”, but they ultimately do.

Take apple juice as an example. Apple juice starts with an apple, but then everything goes wrong. When examining the ingredient list on a bottle of apple juice, it’s not uncommon to find words on that label that are difficult to even pronounce. Chances are quite high that it’s not simply “juiced” apples.

Instead, it’s apples, lots of sugar and lots of preservatives to “maintain freshness”.

Apple juice, like most other foods, became fake the minute it was stripped of its nutrients and had additives added in.

Our bodies and systems were made to consume real foods, the way they are found in nature. Real foods are always better because they are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes and a host of other nutrients that are vital for a healthy body.

As the saying goes, Americans are overfed but undernourished. Think about this: more than one third of U.S. adults are currently obese and obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States – triple the rate from just one generation ago. What exactly does this mean? We are literally destroying our bodies by eating fake foods. It is not about counting calories or low-fat/no fat; it is about healthy eating today and for the rest of each person’s life.

For more information regarding real foods and fake foods, or to learn how to properly fuel your body, call Dr. Ronda at Dynamic Family Chiropractic 616531-6050 or email Info@DynamicChiro. com. See ads, pages 45 & 46.

Sources: CDC.gov/obesity/childhood, CDC.gov/obesity/data/trends.html

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globalbriefs

actionalert

News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Salty Harvest

Seaweed May Be the New Lettuce Food items such as kelp, dulse, alaria and laver may be unfamiliar now, but likely not for long, as these and other varieties of edible seaweed and sea vegetables appear on more shopping lists and restaurant menus.

These ingredients are already favored by cooks for the jolt of salty goodness they bring to soups and salads and by health food advocates that appreciate their high levels of essential minerals. Goodies in the pipeline include seaweed-filled bagels, ice cream and chips.

The trend toward farming seaweed instead of harvesting in the wild is making news. Working waterfronts often go dormant in the winter as lobstermen that work during warmer months move inland out of season for part-time jobs. Seaweed is a winter crop that can keep boats out on the water, providing year-round aquaculture employment.

Entrepreneur Matthew Moretti, who operates Bangs Island Mussels, a shellfish and kelp farm in Casco Bay, near Portland, Maine, explains, “Mussels are monoculture,” so he has been growing sugar kelp between mussel rafts to create a more ecological model.

Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for a Livable Future

Vanishing Whales

Illegal Hunting Continues to Decimate Species Whales are still being killed, despite an international ban on commercial whaling.

According to Greenpeace, many whale species are down to around 1 percent of their estimated former abundance before the days of commercial whaling.

Fourteen whaling nations came together in 1946 to form the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to manage whale stocks and recommend hunting limits where appropriate, but the continuing decline of populations forced the IWC to call for an outright ban on all commercial whaling in 1986. Yet Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to defy the ban, each harvesting hundreds of whales every year.

Several green groups, including the Natural Resources Development Council (NRDC), recently petitioned the U.S. government to take action against Iceland under the Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman’s Protective Act. “The Amendment allows the president to impose trade sanctions against a country that is ‘diminishing the effectiveness’ of a conservation agreement—in Iceland’s case, the whaling moratorium and another international treaty that prohibits trade in endangered species,” writes the NRDC. The petition names several Icelandic firms—including major seafood companies with ties to the country’s whaling industry—as potential targets for trade sanctions.

To learn more, visit iwcoffice.org, Greenpeace.org and nrdc.org.

New GMO Labeling Bill Needs Citizen Feedback on Capitol Hill

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ongressman Mike Pompeo (R), of Kansas, has introduced bill HR 4432, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014 (Tinyurl.com/ LabelGMOBill), which would ban states from passing genetically engineered food labeling laws and undo those already passed, making voluntary labeling the law of the land. The bill also allows companies to label products containing GMOs as “natural”.

Healthy food advocates have dubbed it the “Denying Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act.”

The bill bans any mention of organic natural foods as being safer or better than their GMO counterparts and sets a strong burden of proof on organic small farms that wish to grow and market their products as GMO-free.

If we don’t want to be kept in the dark about what we’re eating, Congress needs to protect our right to know if food contains genetically modified organisms (GMO). While grassroots efforts to require labeling of GMO are gaining momentum, Big Agriculture and biotech companies like Monsanto are trying to block our right to know what’s in our food. The issue is critical and time-sensitive, so action needs to be taken now to contact Congress.

Find specific legislators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or visiting House.gov. Sign petitions at Tinyurl.com/SignStopDarkAct.

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Feeding the World

UN Lauds Small-Scale, Sustainable Agriculture A recent publication from the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Trade and Environment Review 2013: Wake Up Before it is Too Late, includes contributions from more than 60 experts around the world. They are calling for transformative changes in food, agriculture and trade systems to increase diversity on farms, reduce use of fertilizer and other inputs, support small-scale farmers and create strong local food systems.

The report includes in-depth sections on the shift toward more sustainable, resilient agriculture; livestock production and climate change; the importance of research and extension; plus the roles of both land use and reform of global trade rules.

The report’s findings contrast starkly to the accelerated push for new free trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the U.S./EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which will strengthen the hold of multinational corporate and financial firms on the global economy. Neither global climate talks nor other global food security forums reflect the urgency expressed in the UNCTAD report to transform agriculture.

Source: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (iatp.org)

Cultivating Youth

Farming Seeks to Recruit a New Generation With an aging population of farmers, it’s clear that agriculture needs to attract more young people, because half the farmers in the U.S. are 55 or older.

But for much of the world’s youth, agriculture isn’t seen as being cool or attractive—only as backbreaking labor without an economic payoff and with little room for career advancement.

However, with some effort, young farmers can explore contemporary career options in permaculture design, biodynamic farming, communication technologies, forecasting, marketing, logistics, quality assurance, urban agriculture projects, food preparation, environmental sciences and advanced technologies.

“Increased access to education and new forms of agriculture-based enterprises means that young people can be a vital force for innovation in family farming, increasing incomes and well-being for both farmers and local communities,” says Mark Holderness, executive secretary of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research.

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (nesfp.org), in Massachusetts, trains young farmers in how to run a small farm operation, from business planning to specialized advanced workshops in livestock and healthy food. Likewise, the Southeastern New England Young Farmer Network (YoungFarmerNetwork.org) hosts free social and educational events that bring together farmers of all ages and experience levels to network and collaborate.

Source: FoodTank.com 12

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Frack Attack

Drilling Poisons Both Water and Air Major concerns about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as a means of extracting natural gas have centered on how toxic fracking fluids and methane injected into the ground can pollute water supplies. Now a new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health attests how fracking adversely impacts air quality, too.

Lead author David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at New York’s University at Albany, is concerned that fracking sites show potential to develop cancer clusters in years to come. The study found eight different poisonous chemicals in groundwater near wells and fracking sites throughout Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wyoming at levels that exceeded federal limits, including levels of benzene and formaldehyde, both known carcinogens.

Approximately half of the air samples Carpenter analyzed exceeded federally recommended limits. Benzene levels were 35 to 770,000 times higher; hydrogen sulfide levels were 90 to 60,000 times higher; and formaldehyde levels were 30 to 240 times above a theoretically safe threshold.

“Cancer has a long latency, so you’re not seeing an elevation in cancer in these communities [yet],” says Carpenter. “But five, 10, 15 or more years from now, elevation in cancer incidence is almost certain to happen.”

Source: Grist.org

ecotip

Local, Fresh Produce, Veganic and Sustainable

Healthy Food at the Front Door A growing trend is the ringing of a doorbell heralding the arrival of healthy food. In addition to the convenience and time savings, having a grocery delivery van make roundtrips to and from multiple customers’ doorsteps generates far less emissions than traditional shopping. Home deliveries of local and organic fresh fruits and vegetables have customers clamoring for more.

After serving most of the New York metro area for more than a decade, online grocer FreshDirect (FreshDirect.com) began delivering in the Philadelphia metro area in October 2012 and expanded to other parts of Pennsylvania, plus New Jersey and Delaware, last fall. “Our hyper-local, farm-to-fork food systems result in healthy relationships between consumers, food and farmers,” says David McInerney, co-founder of FreshDirect. The company also supports hunger organizations and provides nutritional counseling.

Planet Organics (PlanetOrganics.com) serves the San Francisco Bay area. Beginning last fall, Instacart partnered with Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and Costco to begin delivering food to homes in 13 neighborhoods in Chicago. Beginning in Colorado, where it’s based, Door to Door Organics (DoorToDoorOrganics.com) now provides its service in Michigan, plus metro areas of Kansas City, Chicago and New York.

Green BEAN Delivery (GreenBeanDelivery.com), based in Indianapolis, now also delivers organic and sustainable foods in Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; and most recently, St. Louis, Missouri.

Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks (FreshPicks.com) taps into 100-plus farmers within a day’s drive of its Niles, Illinois, center, to serve the Chicago and Milwaukee metro areas. “We’re able to concentrate on reaching people of all incomes and get deep into the communities,” says co-owner Shelly Herman. The eight-year-old company also partners with community groups, food pantries and schools.

Going a step further, other companies are delivering prepared healthy meals.

In one example, Power Supply (MyPowerSupply.com) recently partnered with Mindful Chef to foster this connection with 50 yoga and other fitness facilities, as well as other businesses in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Deliveries to: GR/Holland- Wednesdays Battle Creek/Kzoo- Thursdays

Order @ GoodNewsFarm.org 616.550.3555 Enter Code NA1 to Receive $1 off

on

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An Interfaith Worship and Spiritual Enrichment Center

ecotip Stop Drops

How to Find and Fix Leaking Pipes

Sunday Worship: 10:30am Wednesday Discussion & Meditation: 6:30pm Pastor Sherry Petro-Surdel 3493 Blue Star Highway Saugatuck, MI. 49453 616-836-1555 www.Spirit-Space.org

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While municipal water main breaks make news, it’s just as important to be watchful at home. According to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a typical home annually loses more than 2,000 gallons of water due to leakage. SNL Financial, an industry analysis firm in Charlottesville, Virginia, recently reported that water leaks cause $9.1 billion in annual homeowner policy property losses. Sensing a less-than-stellar water flow or seeing a leak from a faucet or mold or damp spots on walls and ceilings can indicate possible water pipe problems.

Copper water lines can develop tiny leaks over time when the water supply is too acidic. Also, clogs can develop, regardless what lines are made of, from lime and rust accumulations, stressing sections and especially fittings. Particularly vulnerable are 45-to-65-year-old homes, the length of time corrosion-resistant coatings on interior and exterior pipes generally last (OldHouseWeb.com). Fortunately, if repairs are needed, most builders group water lines in predictable places; bathrooms are often stacked one atop another in multi-floor houses for easier placement of supply and drain lines, so work can be localized and focused.

Instead of costly copper, many plumbers have switched to PEX—a tough and flexible polyethylene—that doesn’t require fittings or react to acid, like copper does. Repairs typically consist of replacing specific pipe sections as needed. Ask a visiting plumber to inspect all exposed plumbing lines to maximize the value of the service call.

Here’s a simple way to check for leaks: Turn off all water by closing internal and external water valves and don’t use the toilet. Record the current reading of the water meter, and then wait 20 minutes. Record the reading again and wait another 15 minutes. If the meter indicates an increase during this period, it’s probably from a leak. Another option is to install an automatic water leak detection and shutoff system.

According to AllianceForWaterEfficiency.org, 20 to 35 percent of all residential toilets leak at some time, often silently, sending wasted water onto both household water and sewer bills. Flapper valves improperly covering the exit from the tank are the most common problem, and they can easily be replaced.

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large statistical analysis of multiple studies on body-mind therapies such as meditation, tai chi, qigong and yoga found that the practices effectively reduce inflammation and show promise in modulating the immune system. Scientists at the Tufts University School of Medicine analyzed the results of 34 controlled scientific studies that collectively assessed 2,219 people.

Each study involved the use of at least one mind-body practice for between seven and 16 weeks and measured immune system health using multiple biological markers. Eighteen of the studies specifically examined inflammation factors, while seven evaluated antiviral-related immunity. Nine of the studies measured C-reactive protein (CRP) levels—an indicator of cardiovascular-related inflammation.

The analysis revealed that mindbody therapies reduced CRP levels in subjects with high risk factors for cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. The scientists added that some of the research suggested that mindbody therapy may also increase immunity against viral infections.

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naturalpet

LIFESAVING ACTS Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

by Sandra Murphy

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ach year, more dogs, cats and other pets end up in shelters as lost, stray or owner-surrendered than leave them for a new home. What can be done to reverse this trend?

How to Help

Local Shelters/ Rescue Facilities Animal Rescue Project, Kalamazoo, AnimalRescueProject.org Harbor Humane Society, West Olive, HarborHumane.org Humane Society of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, HSWestMi.org SPCA of Southwest Michigan, Kalamazoo, SPCASWMich.org Wishbone Pet Rescue Alliance, Douglas, WishBonePetRescue.org 18

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Immediate steps: Have a vet implant a tiny RFID (radio frequency identification) microchip. It’s safe, affordable and helps reunite the owner with a lost pet. Spay/ neuter pets to avoid unwanted litters.

Spread the word: Only about 30 percent of household pets come from shelters or rescues, according to the ASPCA. To help, suggest that shelters post photos in the lobby, supported by a note about each animal’s good points and special needs to entice potential adopters. Also share YouTube videos that celebrate adoption and advocate controlling the pet population (see Tinyurl. com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic1 and Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic2).

Volunteer: The Motley Zoo, in Redmond, Washington, provides medical care and behavioral training for ill, injured, neglected, abused and unwanted

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animals mainly from overflowing shelters.

About half of its 150 volunteers foster pets; others plan educational events or handle administrative tasks. “Each person has a specialty,” says Jamie Thomas, executive director. “We match fosters and animals to get the best results.”

No kill shelters are becoming more common, even though they require uncommon commitment. As part of implementing effective procedures and infrastructure, shelter leadership works to secure the support and involvement of the community. By joining together to implement lifesaving programs and treat each life as precious, a shelter can transform a community. Find a no kill shelter primer at Tinyurl.com/NoKillReform.

In Faraway Lands

Illegal wildlife trading and loss of habitat are huge and escalating problems wild animals face every day. Small repopulation success stories exist, but progress is slow. Here are some of the most urgent and dramatic perils topping the lengthy endangered species list.

Elephants are hunted for their ivory tusks. “China is the largest consumer of ivory, but the United States is second,” says Jeff Flocken, J.D., North American regional director with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), headquartered in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts (ifaw.org). “Every year, 35,000 elephants are killed; an average of one every 15 minutes.”

Northern white rhinos once freely roamed East and Central Africa south of the Sahara. Until 1960, there were more than 2,000; today, only five exist—one in the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park, one in a Czech Republic zoo and three at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya.

Imported as pets or show attractions, “There are between 10,000 and 20,000 big cats in private hands in America at facilities/businesses not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” says Carson Barylak, with IFAW’s Washington, D.C., office. “There are more tigers in private possession in the U.S. than in the wild.”

Pangolins eat ants and termites. Hunted for meat and their scales (used in Asian medicines), they are one of the world’s most endangered mammals (see Tinyurl.com/SavePangolins).

Thirty years ago, the world population of lowland gorillas numbered 240. Thanks to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the population has grown to an estimated 880 (GorillaDoctors.org is supported by SaveAGorilla.org). Led by Ruth Keesling, the project has shown the inestimable value of the species. “Once you’ve looked into the eyes of a gorilla, you’re forever changed,” says her son Frank, in Denver, Colorado.

How to Help

Make saving animals a priority. Contact legislators. Be a lawabiding consumer—don’t buy ivory or other endangered-animal products. Support conservancy groups. Share information. Donate time and money.

“IFAW is working to advance legislation to prohibit private ownership of big cats in the U.S. The bill received bipartisan support and we hope to see it become law,” says Barylak. “We’ve asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban direct contact with big cats. It’s harmful to the animals and the people that handle them.”

Annual running events with participants donning gorilla costumes raise funds and awareness. Following the Austin, Texas, event in January, runs will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 29 and in Denver, Colorado, on November 1. “Another way to help gorillas is to recycle cell phone and computer batteries. Coltan [tantalite] is used to make batteries—13 percent of the world’s supply of coltan is in the park area of the Congo,” says Frank Keesling.

Barriers to improving the lives of animals can be overcome and banished when we believe it’s possible and everyone helps. The animals are counting on us.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

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MYTHS Seven Common Maxims that Can Cause Harm

by Leslie Perry Duffy

W

e’ve heard them time and time again: fitness tips that guarantee we’ll meet our goals if we follow them. The truth is that some can

hurt more than help. Here are seven fitness myths that are best to ignore.

No pain, no gain. It’s true that what we put into our workout has a direct

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impact on results. However, this doesn’t mean workouts should be painful. If something hurts during exercise, try a different move instead that targets the same muscle group to see if the feeling persists; adjust the form in case improper execution is the culprit or give it a rest and return when ready.

Muscle soreness can be expected after a tough workout and can persist for a day or two afterward. Try not to confuse soreness or the discomfort felt from fatigued muscles during a workout with pain. In the presence of an injury, it’s often best to modify activities that contribute to the pain or refrain from workouts pending expert medical advice. “Working through the pain” might actually make things worse in the long run.

Never exercise a sore muscle.

Muscle soreness is a sign that the muscles are changing. It’s okay to feel sore for a day or two after a workout.

If it appears that the body’s stability or ability to maintain proper form will be affected by the soreness, then wait another day. However, if soreness isn’t severe, working out may actually help to relieve it by warming the muscles and stimulating blood flow. A few good activity choices for sore muscles after lifting heavy weights the day before include light cardio, stretching, yoga and light resistance training.

Lifting weights makes women look bulky. This couldn’t be further from the

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truth. Building big, bulky muscles requires testosterone—and lots of it.

Men typically have 20 to 30 times more testosterone than women.

For women, strength training is well-known to be key in toning and sculpting muscles, maintaining healthy joints and bones, boosting metabolism and even improving mood and confidence. Don’t be afraid to pick up heavier weights.

To lose a belly, crunch the abs.

Yes, abdominal exercises strengthen the core muscles. However, if we carry a layer of fat on top of those muscles, the belly will remain. To lose a belly, continue regular ab work while focusing on cardio exercises, strength training moves for the whole body and eating properly.

The best time to work out is in the morning. The best time to work out is whenever it fits into our schedule.

The more exercise, the faster the results. Not true. When it comes to working out, an appropriate balance of hard work and rest is the best option. Overusing the body actually prevents muscles from growing, resulting in decreased strength, endurance and metabolism (i.e., caloric burn). Plus, becoming overly fatigued often leads to sloppy form, which may lead to injury. Listen to the body and rest at least one day a week or more if a break is needed.

Reduce calorie intake to lose weight. The body needs enough fuel to function, especially if it is regularly working hard. Eating less is not always the answer to losing weight. If we’re not eating enough, the body may think it’s starving, which causes it to store fat instead of burning calories, so eating too infrequently or not enough can sabotage weight-loss efforts. Eating smaller, more frequent meals allows the body to metabolize calories more effectively.

Leslie Perry Duffy is a FIRM workout program master instructor and entrepreneur in Columbia, SC, who contributes to Life.Gaiam.com from which this was adapted.

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The Earth Diet Liana Werner-Gray on Simple Eating

by Lane Vail

L

NaturallyWestMI

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West Michigan Edition

How did you discover the Earth Diet?

Six years ago, I was completely addicted to junk food and chronically sick, tired, bloated and miserable. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a golf-ball-sized precancerous tumor that I decided to take a serious look at my life and make a change.

I began to blog about my journey into self-healing through natural foods and my readers held me accountable to sticking with it. I also started creating healthy recipes that delivered my favorite junk food flavors so I didn’t feel deprived. Slowly, I stopped craving artificial junk foods and started craving natural versions of those flavors. Within three months, the tumor disappeared.

I had demonstrated that I could undo the damage of toxic junk food by restoring proper nutrition into my cells and knew that by going back to nature, I could experience healing. Now people from around the world have testified that

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The Earth Diet has helped them heal ailments from A to Z.

Why is it important to define our eating plan?

Everyone on the planet is on a diet; it’s just a matter of which one. Are you on a junk food diet or a disorderly eating diet? Most people deprive themselves at some point and end up binging later.

Having a name for the lifestyle I wanted to live helped me commit to it. When you’re lost and disconnected from nature and your body, you need rules and guidelines. Day one, eat this; day two, eat that. The Earth Diet’s rules and guidelines helped me to break a disempowering addiction to junk food. After following the guidelines for a while, the whole lifestyle becomes natural and choices become easy. photo by Roxxe NYC Photography

FOLLOW US!

iana Werner-Gray, an Australian-born beauty queen, actress and environmentalist, lectures worldwide on healthy eating and is supported by a corps of nutrition coaches.

Her book, The Earth Diet, describes a nature-based eating and lifestyle plan that has helped thousands realize greater vitality, harmony and peace.

How can busy people prepare and eat fresh foods more frequently?

Try making a huge batch of smoothies or vegetable juice on a Sunday; put a few servings in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. Then, take one to work each day.

Fresh is best, but a thawed frozen juice is better than nothing.

Also, simplify eating. I grew up in Australia’s Outback, alongside aboriginal people that ate “mono foods”—singular, whole, raw foods sourced directly from nature, and they had slim, resilient and

My readers especially enjoy the chicken nuggets, burgers, gluten-free cookie dough, cashew cheesecake and vegan ice cream. The raw chocolate balls are popular, made with just three ingredients: almonds or sunflower seeds ground into flour, cacao powder and a favorite natural sweetener like maple syrup, honey or dates. Sometimes I add salt, mint, coconut or vanilla. I make a batch in 10 minutes and keep them in the freezer so I can have chocolate whenever I crave it.

Transforming the way we eat can be overwhelming; what are some simple first steps for the novice?

Lemon water is incredibly powerful. It’s high in vitamin C, so it boosts the immune system, and it’s energizing, alkalizing and detoxifying. Just squeeze the juice of a lemon into two cups of water first thing in the morning and drink. I also recommend eating a whole, raw, mono food in its natural state every day, like a banana, orange or strawberries.

Eat something that hasn’t been sliced, diced, processed and packaged.

Lastly, practice eating only when hungry and eat what you’re craving in the most natural way possible (for example, upgrading from conventional pizza to organic store-bought brands to raw homemade pizza). On Sunday I woke up and made a big brunch for friends; we had organic eggs, salsa, herbal tea and organic cookies. For dinner, I ate an avocado. That’s all I was craving, and it ended up balancing out my day.

If you’re craving chocolate, there’s a reason. If you’re craving a smoothie for dinner, have one. You can both fulfill cravings and nourish and love your body at the same time.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

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healthy bodies. Eating mono foods gives the digestive system a break; we feel energized because the body doesn’t have to break down a complicated meal. Try, for example, eating a watermelon for lunch or an avocado for dinner.

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infusion into the pet’s testicles causes them to atrophy. It’s less invasive, with a lower chance of infection and less pain, and reduces testosterone.

For feral cat populations where traps haven’t worked, megestrol acetate, derived from progesterone, added to food acts as birth control to slow or stop colony growth.”

Treatment of laboratory animals has also improved. “There have been three significant changes since 1984,” says Cathy Liss, president of the nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute, in Washington, D.C., founded in 1951 (awionline.org).

“General housing conditions are better, the number of government-owned chimpanzees has decreased and laboratories no longer obtain dogs and cats from random sources, so no stolen pets end up in labs.”

MISSION: ANIMAL RESCUE Big and Small, They Need Our Help

by Sandra Murphy

E

very creature in the animal kingdom has an essential purpose, yet through human interference, animal life overall has become so imbalanced as to signal a tipping point for Earth. Extreme care for the rapidly growing population of a relative handful of pet breeds stands in stark contrast to trending extinction of dozens of other species. Fortunately, in addition to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, conservationists and supportive lawmakers, every one of us can make a real difference.

Home Pet Rescues

Zack Skow started by volunteering with a nearby dog rescue organization.

He became director, and then in 2009 founded his own nonprofit, Marley’s Mutts (MarleysMutts.org), in Tehachapi, California, pulling many kinds of dogs out of Los Angeles shelters. “A lot of rescues are breed-specific; I think mutts deserve an equal chance,” says Skow, now the executive director.

“Small dogs get adopted faster, so we 24

West Michigan Edition

get the larger mixes, including pit bulls and Rottweilers.”

Currently, the facility continues to expand its services, working with pet foster homes; providing medical care for severely abused animals in need of rehabilitation and socialization; and managing visits to prisons, mental health facilities and schools. “We take in who we can help. To see a dog triumph over tremendous odds gives people hope,” says Skow. Recently, volunteers pulled 70 dogs from Los Angeles shelters, fostered them for a month and then transported them east to adoption facilities where conditions were less crowded.

Spay/neuter is the best solution to pet overpopulation, says Ruth Steinberger, national founder of Spay First, headquartered in Oklahoma City (SpayFirst.org). From 20 years of experience, she explains that in locations and situations in which surgery is impractical, “We’ve had great results using calcium chloride in ethyl alcohol, done under sedation. A slow

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She reports that animals now are subject to only one experiment, retired for adoption instead of being euthanized, and furnished with natural living conditions on-site—vertical space, an enriched environment with mental and physical stimulation, interaction with other animals and appropriate food and bedding. “Most lab animals are rats and mice,” says Liss. “Any animal has the capacity to suffer. It’s up to us to treat them humanely.”

Farm Animal Stewardship

“Animals become ambassadors,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary’s three locations in New York’s Finger Lakes region, Los Angeles and northern California (FarmSanctuary.org) and author of Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food. “People are distanced from food sources.

Once you learn that sheep love to be petted and pigs like belly rubs, you know an animal as an individual. The best way to help is to share information, farm animal videos and plantbased recipes, so people can see that going meatless is about far more than just eating produce.”

Musician Sir Paul McCartney, author of The Meat Free Monday Cookbook, took the message to schools in 2012. Now students around the world participate in meat-free lunch programs. The adult initiative of going meatless for one or more days extends to 35 countries on six continents.

Pigs, cows, horses, peacocks and an alpaca live in harmony at local nonprofit Cracker Box Palace Farm Animal Haven, in Alton, New York (CrackerBox Palace.org), which spurs recovery from illness, neglect or abuse. “People get animals without doing research on their care or habits. That’s how we got the peacocks—they have a bloodcurdling scream,” says Farm Manager Cheri Roloson, who rents out their goats as nature’s landscapers to clear brush.

Mistreated animals also provide therapy for returning military veterans and abused children at Ranch Hand Rescue, in Argyle, Texas (RanchHand Rescue.org). Kids find it easier to talk about their experiences with an animal that has also endured cruel treatment, like Spirit, a horse that received precedent-setting surgery to repair a leg that had improperly healed after being broken by a baseball bat.

Conscious chicken farms, too, are making an impact. “Chickens can be well-treated and have a healthy, decent life,” says Jason Urena, marketing manager with NestFresh, which operates 20 small farms and five processing plants, concentrated in Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Texas to reduce its carbon footprint (NestFresh.com).

Starting with cage-free hens, the Denver company grew based on nationwide customer requests for certified cage-free, free-range, organic, pastureraised and nonGMO (genetically modified) eggs.

“We’re the first in the country to offer certified non-GMO eggs,” attests Urena.

He explains that in the process for certification, feed is inspected at every step, from planting seed (usually corn

“Pets are considered property, and until that changes, it’s harder to make a difference. Farm animals have no rights at all. Animals are sentient beings with rights commensurate with the ability to feel pain and even be valued members of the family. They deserve far more than a property classification.” ~Diane Sullivan, assistant dean and professor, Massachusetts School of Law or soy) to storage in silos and mill grinding, to allow traceability for potential problems and avoid cross-contamination.

Wildlife Habitat Preservation There are few places on Earth that humans haven’t impacted fragile ecosystems. Loss of habitat and lack of food sources are critical issues. Bats are a bellwether for the impact on wildlife from human-induced diseases. The Wildlife Conservation Society studies the loons in New York’s Adirondack Mountains to monitor their exposure to disease and pollution.

The mission of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is to use conservation and education to protect present and future wildlife.

Of the 410-plus species of mammals in the United States, 80 are on the endangered species list, reminiscent of the bison that used to number in the millions,

but now mostly exist in small bands on private and public lands.

NWF aims to build on the bison restoration efforts achieved to date (now numbering tens of thousands) by reintroducing them onto more public lands, reservations and protected habitats, and likewise build up populations of other wild threatened and endangered animals. Its programs feature green corridors to give native species a home and migrating species a rest stop.

“The important message is not how many species have gone off the list, but how many didn’t go extinct,” says David Mizejewski, a celebrity naturalist for NWF. “It’s important to understand species require different ecosystems.

When we quit draining swamps and rerouting rivers and leave them alone in a proper habitat, alligators will come back. Eagles have fewer young, so it’s not easy for them to recover.”

The success in restoring populations of the bald eagle, our national symbol, during the second half of the last century was significant. Measures

What You Can Do 4 Volunteer to walk a dog, foster a cat, make phone calls or help with shelter paperwork.

4 Spay/neuter pets and consider adopting before shopping at a pet store.

4 Donate to support rehabilitation of an abused animal.

4 Pick up litter, especially harmful in and near waterways.

4 Be a conscious consumer and don’t let factory farm prices influence decisions.

4 Tell companies what is accept able or not via purchases, emails and phone calls.

4 Lobby politicians to support worthy animal causes.

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that included banning the poisonous DDT pesticide that contaminated their food and affected reproduction, improving native habitats and prohibiting hunting of the bird allowed its removal from the endangered list in 2007. They are still protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Another raptor, the peregrine falcon, has adapted to urban living in order to survive. Nests adorn tops of buildings and pigeons are a plentiful food supply.

Bears, mountain lions and wolves have been dwindling, hunted as dangerous, a nuisance or for sport. With fewer of these natural predators, whitetailed deer can overpopulate their habitat and starve. Deer and other displaced animals may migrate into suburban areas in search of food, prompting hurtful human reactions to reduce their numbers.

The American Bear Association provides safe, seasonal habitats for black bears (AmericanBear.org).

Located near Orr, Minnesota, the 360-acre sanctuary also hosts white-tailed

The 1966 Animal Welfare Act improved the lives of many commercial animals, but more laws are needed.

See SustainableTable.org/ 274/animal-welfare. deer, bald eagles, beavers, mink, pine martens, fishers, timber wolves, red squirrels, bobcats, blue jays, owls, ducks, songbirds and ravens.

Among movements to protect smaller endangered and threatened animals, the American Tortoise Rescue lobbies for legislation to ban the importation of non-native species (Tortoise.com). “Turtles and bullfrogs are imported as pets or as food, and many end up in streams or lakes, where they kill native species,”

Did You Know… n San Francisco’s SPCA is one of many organizations that offer free or low-cost spay/neuter for specific breeds most frequently seen in shelters, like pit bulls, and special programs offer free surgeries. Find locations at Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterServices. n One female dog can produce litters of up to 10 pups twice a year; cats can have three litters a year of up to five kittens each. n An estimated 2.7 million healthy shelter pets remain unadopted each year, yet only about 30 percent of pets in homes come from shelters or rescues, according to The Humane Society of the United States. n Factory farms account for 99 percent of farm animals, yet less than 1 percent of donated money directly assists them, reports Animal Charity Evaluators, in San Diego. The highly rated Mercy for Animals, dedicated to prevention of cruelty to farmed animals, reports, “Despite the fact that these are the most abused animals in the United States, they actually have the fewest number of advocates.” n Sandra, a 29-year-old Sumatran orangutan at the Buenos Aires Zoo, was recognized as a “non-human person” unlawfully deprived of her freedom by Argentine courts. “This opens the way not only for other great apes, but also for other sentient beings that are unfairly and arbitrarily deprived of their liberty,” says Paul Buompadre, an attorney with the Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights. “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ or ‘Can they talk?’ but ‘Can they suffer?’” says Barry MacKay, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada.

“That to me is the ultimate question.”

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says co-founder Susan M. Tellem, in Malibu, California. “They can carry salmonella, parasites and tuberculosis,” she explains. Unfortunately, a California law passed to limit importation was revoked within weeks due to claims of cultural bias by politicians lobbying for Asian food markets that sell live turtles and bullfrogs.

As the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums-certified wolf facility in the world, The Endangered Wolf Center, in Eureka, Missouri, has been breeding and reintroducing wolves into the wild for 40 years (EndangeredWolfCenter. org). Founded by zoologist and television host Marlin Perkins and his wife, Carol, they helped increase both the Mexican gray wolf population from nine to 235 in managed care, plus at least 75 in the wild, and the red wolf population from 14 to 160 in managed care, with more than 100 in the wild.

Every pack of Mexican gray wolves roaming the Southwest and 70 percent of North Carolina red wolves can be traced back to the center.

Wildlife protection laws vary by state. Key conservation successes typically begin with local and regional initiatives promoted by farsighted individuals that care enough to get the ball rolling and back it up with supportive legislation.

Christian Samper, Ph.D., CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, observes, “Zoos and aquariums help the public better understand the natural systems that make all life possible. The hope is that what people understand, they will appreciate and what they appreciate, they will work to protect.”

One person’s care can make a difference. For an animal, it can mean life itself.

Sandra Murphy is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect at StLouis FreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.

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Saving Animals

Saves People Rescue You, Rescue Me

by Sandra Murphy

Like water, grace seeks its own level. In rescuing animals, the rescuer is often also rescued. Both lives change for the better.

B

“

uster came to us for a reason,” says Amy Burkert.

“My husband, Rod, and I were walking our Shar-Pei, Ty, in our Philadelphia neighborhood when a man warned us about ‘a big, black dog’ in the alley. The friendly fellow came home with us and after a fruitless search for his family, we decided to make him part of ours.”

In 2009, when the couple encountered difficulty finding a vacation hotel that would accept their new 70-pound German shepherd as an overnight guest, they decided to launch GoPetFriendly.com, a website that assists in finding travel accommodations for families with dogs and other pets.

Selling their house in Pennsylvania and hitting the road in a 24-foot-long RV, they’ve now traveled to 47 states to research and qualify content for the website; Rod works from “home” and Amy writes the weblog. Their travel schedule flexes, with most stops lasting one to three weeks.

“It’s not the life two accountants were banking on, but we couldn’t be happier,” she says, “and we owe it all to Buster.” The site now lists more than 60,000 hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, beaches, dog parks and activities across the U.S. and Canada, plus a road trip planner.

“I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I can’t find a husband, so I’ll get a dog,’” says BJ Gallagher, a sociologist and award-winning author. “I’d lived in my Los Angeles house for 16 years and knew none of the neighbors. Within six months of adopting Fannie from a shelter, I’d met them

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Humans rescue animals, but animals show up for a reason—most humans can use some rescuing, as well.

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all. Thanks to her, I’ve become a full-fledged member of my community.” Fannie’s Chinese heritage includes chow and Pekingese breeds.

Transformations can come from more unusual pets, as well. Soon after Susan M. Tellem, a registered nurse in Malibu, California, gifted her husband, Marshall, with two tortoises for his birthday, the couple discovered there was no national protection program for the reptiles. They started American Tortoise Rescue (Tortoise.com), an organization that has been rescuing, rehabilitating and providing sanctuary to more than 3,000 water turtles and land tortoises since 1990. Their education and awareness initiatives for humane treatment have gone international, as well.

It was a bird that rescued April Leffingwell. She had been dealing with a severe back injury that necessitated pain medication and kept her from regular work for six months when she and her husband visited a local Los Angeles pet store, “to get out of the house.” She was touched by seeing a large Moluccan cockatoo that was afflicted with a damaged claw. Her husband recognized how she related to the bird’s condition and brought Izzi home the next day.

Now with just one leg, Izzi has learned to sleep while lying down to rest his other limb. “Izzi and I found each other when we were both broken,” she says. “We’ve become each other’s source of strength. If he can live with only one leg, I can live through pain.”

When members of the armed forces deploy, they often have to find alternate living arrangements for pets and may not always be successful. Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger at KeepTheTailWagging.com, and her ex-Army partner are securing funding and laying plans to foster dogs for deployed soldiers. Emailing updates and Skype visits will aim to boost the morale of both the dog and serviceman or woman. The couple lives on five acres in Marysville, Washington.

An animal-enriched environment has proved to be helpful for author Kathy Rowe, a 20-year veteran retired from the military, and her husband, Scott, who also retired from Air Force service that included Special Forces duty. They have chosen to live on a 100-acre farm in Tyner, Kentucky. Kathy believes their variety of resident rescued animals, including dogs, cats, chickens, turkeys and a potbelly pig, all help Scott in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Riding, working with and grooming his horse, Quint, is particularly helpful. “My husband is less frustrated, has better focus, is less jumpy and has fewer flashbacks than he used to,” relates Rowe. “Knowing that our rescue dog, Lola, is guarding the farm, he feels he can sleep better because she has his back.”

Humans rescue animals, but animals show up for a reason—most humans can use some rescuing, as well.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy of St. Louis, MO, at StLSandy@mindspring.com.

communityspotlight

by Amanda Grasmeyer

N

estled in the beautiful coastal town of Holland is Nature’s Market, a natural foods store offering bulk products, local, organic products, personal care, supplements, essential oils and much, much more.

A family owned and operated business, Nature’s Market was originally opened in 1987 in Douglas by Leo and Mary Kelly, and is now owned by their daughters, Diane Slayer and Theresa Hoerig. Before Nature’s Market’s beginning, Mary had experienced many health issues and learned that she was able to resolve them with a change in her diet by incorporating unprocessed foods and organic vegetables and fruits.

Slayer recalls this experience of her mother’s and says, “We could just see her get well, right in front of our eyes.”

The family knew they had witnessed something significant in their mother’s path to better health. They then began their journey to help others in their community find solace in the alternative approach that their mother took towards good health. At that time, unprocessed foods and organic vegetables and fruits were difficult to find locally, so the family (Leo, Mary and their three daughters, Mary Jo Duffey, Diane Slayer and Theresa Hoerig) opened up the natural foods store that would grow and expand many times due to the increasing demand for natural products and will celebrate 28 years of business in May of this year.

Slayer and Hoerig are inspired by

being able to continue seeing and helping people get well simply by changing their diets. They’re excited to be a part of an industry that has the potential to change not only the health of their family, but also the health of their community and the health of the world.

In addition to the increasingly numerous amount of products Nature’s Market offers that promote a healthier lifestyle, their friendly, knowledgeable staff is also able to help educate people on alternative and better approaches to good health. Nature’s Market also hosts many educational seminars.

For example, on March 24 at 6:30 p.m., Dr. David Johnson from Impact Health in Spring Lake will be speaking at an event titled, “Real food, whole food, clean eating: I’m so confused, what do I eat?”. Dr. Johnson will discuss the health and ecological benefits of eating organic whole foods with an emphasis on plant-based eating while Mary Dawson Jackson from Veg Lakeshore offers appetizer samples made from ingredients from Nature’s Market.

Also, on April 22 at 6:30 p.m., Chef Adams will share the benefits of a raw-plant based diet during “Raw Plant-based Eating for Your Health and for Mother Earth”. Participants will learn how to transform their lives while helping the planet as well.

Slayer and Hoerig are proud to be able to assist in the education of the community with events like those mentioned above. That being said, along

with a better education on the benefits of a proper diet, there has, without a doubt, been a growing desire of the community and society as a whole to eat, live and be healthier. Nature’s Market has expanded to match that desire, offering a larger bulk section, more personal care products, more organic produce and more local, seasonal products, and they are constantly adding new products to meet the needs of their customers.

More specifically, Nature’s Market offers numerous non-GMO products, a large variety of frozen and refrigeration products that include: non-certified organic eggs, organic milk and meats from local farmers, a large all organic produce section featuring local produce when available, new bulk bins with grains, beans, granolas, dried fruits, snacks, nuts, seeds and gluten-free products (80% of the bulk is organic), personal care with several name brand organic companies, toxic chemical free makeup lines, essential plant oils and a large gluten-free and allergen-free section. Additionally, the store carries vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathic, diet, whole green foods, super fruits, digestive care, amino acids, protein powders and much more.

With all they have to offer, Nature’s Market is a one-stop natural foods shopping destination where good health begins.

Nature’s Market is open Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm, Saturday, 8am-6pm and Sunday, 10am-4pm. For more information call 616-394-5250 or visit NaturesMarketHolland.com. See ad, page 28.

Amanda Grasmeyer is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Magazine. You can contact her at MandiGrasmeyer@gmail.com.

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by April Thompson

S

ummer is a perfect time for teens to broaden their horizons—mentally, emotionally, socially and literally—through foreign travel, and now is a good time to sign up. Programs enable young adults to explore different cultures and careers, learn to work effectively in multicultural arenas, serve communities in need and see the value of conserving resources, all while enjoying safe adventures away from home.

“Teens can have fun, gain new perspectives and get out of their comfort zones in a supportive environment,” says Theresa Higgs, vice president of global operations for United Planet (UnitedPlanet.org). The Boston nonprofit annually places more than 300 youths in 35 countries in programs ranging from environmental conservation to teaching English.

“We’ve had alumni return to start their own nonprofit organizations, change majors or even just change daily habits like turning off the water when they brush their teeth after learning about water scarcity issues,” says Higgs.

Programs range from language immersion, in which students are matched with host families, to studies aboard ships where they engage in marine conservation activities. Whatever the activity, teens are sure to be challenged and inspired in ways they couldn’t have envisioned before venturing forth.

The most unexpected part is often the expansive thrill of exploring a foreign culture.

“On a normal day, after a delicious Indian breakfast, my host’s siblings and I would ride the bus to school. There, we learned Indian dance, art, cooking and many other aspects of the culture,” says 16-year-old Genna Alperin, who traveled to India with Greenheart Travel in 2014 (GreenheartTravel.org).

“I learned how to communicate, share my lunch and be a good friend. When I returned, I wanted to be like the amazing people I had met.” The Chicago organization facilitates language camps, service trips and study abroad programs for high school students.

Learn to Speak Like a Local

Immersion can be both the fastest and most fun way to learn a language. Language study abroad programs steep students in foreign tongues in memorable settings that help accelerate learning, whether practicing Spanish in the coffee-growing highlands of Costa Rica or Mandarin in China’s bustling city of Beijing.

Many programs place students with host families where they can practice the language informally and deepen their understanding of local idioms, complementing classroom lessons from native teachers. Homestays also offer students an insider’s view of the regional culture, from cuisine to family life. Students can elect to learn an entirely new language with no prior exposure or build on beginner-level proficiency. Some programs even enable high school students to earn college credits.

Study Earth’s Underwater Vastness

Action Quest, in Sarasota, Florida, takes teens on seafaring voyages from the Florida Keys to the Caribbean, where they can learn to sail or scuba dive, study marine life and engage in projects to help restore coral reefs and protect sea turtle habitats (ActionQuest.com). Participants gain a deeper appreciation for the ocean’s fragile and complex ecosystems and knowledge of winds and tides. Acting as crew members, teens also learn teamwork and confidence-building skills.

Explore Careers as an Intern

Internships offer teens a chance to test potential career paths, gain resume-worthy work experience and strengthen college applications. While many internships target college students, an increasing number are open to high school students with companies, nonprofit organizations and government agencies nationwide and abroad. Fields can range from accounting, law and engineering to nonprofit work.

AIESEC (aiesec.org), an international, student-run organization headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, works with partners ranging from multinational companies to local nonprofits to offer opportunities in 126 countries for youths interested in interning abroad.

Serve Community, Discover Culture

Whether headed to a destination in Africa, Asia or the Americas, community service trips help teens gain enlightened perspectives and become responsible global citizens.

Students can volunteer to teach English, build wells, restore historic sites or rebuild homes destroyed by natural disasters. Most service trips also include fun outings and options for learning about the host culture, such as learning traditional African dance or Thai cooking, or hiking the Inca Trail to the sacred site of Machu Picchu.

Witnessing the challenges faced by developing communities to access basic needs like clean water and health care can be transformative. Being a small part of a solution can awaken young people to their power to change the world.

Helpful clearinghouse sites for teen travel programs include TeenInk.com/summer and TransitionsAbroad.com/listings/ study/teen.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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JOIN HANDS FOR EARTH DAY

greenliving

A Practical Guide to Composting Pick the Best Option for You

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Y Advertise in

Natural Awakenings’ April Earth Day Issue To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

616-656-9232 34

West Michigan Edition

ard and food waste make up 25 percent of the garbage destined for municipal landfills, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pick the right composter and this organic waste will easily turn into rich—and free—garden fertilizer, saving landfill space and reducing the volume of greenhouse gases generated by anaerobic decomposition.

Unless using a specialized bin, maintain a roughly 50/50 compost mixture of “brown” and “green” organic waste for ideal results. Green waste is moist, such as fruit and vegetable peels; brown waste comprises dry and papery material, including grass clippings.

Low-Maintenance Pile

Good for: People that want something simple, don’t need fertilizer immediately and have extra outdoor space; average to large households with yard waste.

Maintaining a compost pile is as easy as its name implies—simply toss organic yard and kitchen waste into a pile in the yard. Aerating or turning the compost with a pitchfork or shovel will provide quicker results, but waste will also decompose if left alone. Within six to 24 months, all of the waste will decompose aerobically into compost. Once a year, composters can dig out the finished compost from the bottom. This method won’t work for households that don’t generate

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yard waste because a pile of 100 percent green waste will attract pests.

Holding Bin

Good for: People that want a low-maintenance option that’s more attractive than a pile; average to large households with yard waste.

Make a bin out of wood or buy a plastic holding bin, which can contain up to 75 gallons. One with insulated sides may allow decomposing to continue in colder weather.

Tumbling Barrel

Good for: People that want quick results and can compost in smaller batches; small to average households with yard waste.

These barrel-shaped containers are turned with a hand crank, making aerating and speeding up decomposition a breeze. Some manufacturers promise results in as little as two weeks.

Due to the barrel’s relatively smaller size and capacity, getting the balance between brown and green waste right is critical for optimal results, and users will need to wait for one batch of compost to finish before adding more organic waste.

Multi-Tiered Boxes

Good for: People looking for low maintenance, but quicker results than a pile

WHAT TO COMPOST Do compost: 4 Fruit and vegetable scraps 4 Grass clippings, twigs, leaves and wood chips 4 Eggshells (broken into small pieces) 4 Coffee grounds and tea bags 4 Unbleached coffee filters, paper and cardboard Don’t compost: 4 Pet waste 4 Meat and dairy (except in Green Cone device)

Green Cone

or bin; average to large households with yard waste.

Multi-tiered composters are a series of stacked boxes with removable panels to allow the organic waste to move downward throughout the decomposition cycle. Finished compost comes out of a door at the bottom.

Because the boxes are smaller than a large pile or bin, compost will “cook” faster; some users report their first batch took just four to six months. Collectively, stacked boxes are often comparable in size to a large holding bin, so they can compost a large amount of waste.

Worm Bin

For everyone that has wanted to compost, but had insufficient outdoor space, a five-or-10-gallon bucket and some red worms could be the answer.

Worm composting, or vermicomposting, is so compact that a worm bin can fit under most kitchen sinks. Because red worms are so efficient—each pound of them will process half a pound of food scraps daily—a worm bin doesn’t need aeration and won’t smell or attract pests. Note that worms won’t process brown waste, meat, dairy or fatty foods.

Good for: People that just want to dump their kitchen waste and be done with it; those that want to compost fish or meat; households that don’t generate yard waste.

Solarcone Inc.’s Green Cone system will handle up to two pounds of kitchen waste daily, including meat, fish and dairy products. It won’t compost brown waste. Users bury the bottom basket in the yard, and then simply put green waste together with an “accelerator powder” into a cone hole in the top.

According to Solarcone, most of the waste turns into water. Every few years, users need to dig a small amount of residue out of the bottom that can be added to a garden.

Good for: People that want to compost indoors; apartment dwellers and small households that don’t generate yard waste.

Tracy Fernandez Rysavy is editor-in-chief of the nonprofit Green America’s Green American magazine, from which this article was adapted (GreenAmerica.org).

BASIC COMPOSTING TIPS

by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

E

nsure that the compost pile retains a moisture content similar to a wrungout sponge. To moisten, add green waste; to reduce moisture, add brown waste.

Turn compost to get air to the aerobic bacteria and speed the process.

Wear gloves and a dust mask to protect against allergens.

Decay generates heat, so a pile should feel warm. If not, add green waste. Decomposition occurs most efficiently when it’s 104 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit inside the pile; use a compost thermometer.

Keep a small container in the kitchen to easily collect green food scraps. Store it in the freezer to keep unpleasant smells and flies at bay.

The best time to start composting is during warmer months. Alternately layering green and brown waste, using the “lasagna method” in colder months, readies the pile to decompose as soon as the weather warms. Consider stockpiling summer yard waste ingredients.

Be aware that low-maintenance composting won’t kill weed seeds, which can then get spread around the garden. A highly managed compost pile will kill some weeds through the generated heat. Put weeds out for municipal yard waste collection where there’s a better chance they’ll be destroyed.

Contributing sources: U.S Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Composting Council

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inspiration

Mind Gardening It Pays to Watch What Is Planted

by Dennis Merritt Jones

A

n unattended mind is like a neglected garden. Potting soil is incredibly receptive to any seeds introduced to it. It has absolutely no discretion when it comes to

A WALK IN NATURE IS A PATH TO PROGRESS

playing host to seeds; it says, “Yes” to all of them.

So it is with our mind, which is amazingly receptive to whatever suggestions are dropped into it. It has been said that the subconscious mind cannot take a joke.

Whatever is introduced to it, it takes as serious instruction to grow that thought-seed into a full-blown plant, be it a flower or a weed.

When we pause to consider how many thought-seeds are blown, dropped or purposely planted in our mind on a daily basis, it may prompt us to tend to our mental garden with more regularity. These may come from media, negative conversation or overheard comments. The subconscious mind hears it all and takes it personally. The only way to avoid this type of mind pollution is to be consciously focused on what we want to have planted and growing in our flower box called life. It’s a 24/7 proposition to keep it weeded as thousands of mental seeds constantly pour in.

A good full-time gardener plants thought-seeds about their self and others that are rooted in reverence and lovingkindness and skillfully nurtures them. Others will then receive nothing but benefit from the seeds we drop along the way.

Dennis Merritt Jones, D.D., is the author of Your Re-Defining Moments, The Art of Uncertainty and The Art of Being, the source of this essay. He has contributed to the human potential movement and field of spirituality as a minister, teacher, coach and lecturer for 30 years. Learn more at DennisMerrittJones.com.

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communityspotlight

Linda Squires

by Julie Hurley

L

inda Squires, D.C., may be a relatively new transplant to Michigan, but she and her spouse of 28 years have found a better life in Grand Rapids.

Originally from Ohio, Squires moved from the Boston area to Grand Rapids in July of 2012. In Boston, she had cultivated and maintained a large chiropractic center over the course of 25 years.

When her wife informed her of her desires to become a minister, she knew it was time to let go of the big center and par her practice down to part-time. After researching churches throughout the mid-west, the couple settled in All Souls Church in West Michigan and Squires found Holistic Care Approach on the East Beltline.

Squires uses non-force chiropractic techniques along with muscle work and energy therapies to treat her patients. “I am interested in truly finding out the underlying issues for each new patient and then determining the best plan of treatment for that individual,” says Squires. She further explains, “The Dynamic Non-Force Technique that I use was discovered by a doctor who went in to adjust a patient, and was just getting ready to go ‘crunch’ when the fire alarm went off. After the commotion, the doctor went to do it again and realized the vertebrae was back in place. That’s when he had his lightbulb

moment. Force is not always necessary to make an adjustment.”

Squires’ family has been using chiropractic care for two generations, her mother taking her to a chiropractor for her first time in her teens.

While sitting in the waiting room, she recalls noticing that “people went in bent over, and they came out straighter and happy.”

Squires says that her goal, paradoxically, is for a patient to not have to come back to see her. She explains that a patient needing to come back means they are not getting better, and she says, “That’s not satisfying for me, and obviously, the patient.” Squires says that the most common reason people come to see her is that they’ve been to a forceful chiropractor and, for whatever reason, that did not work for them. “They may be scared of the manipulation,” says Squires, “This is not to say that I don’t apply force if necessary.”

In addition to chiropractic care, Squires also does two different types of energy and muscle work. She says getting the muscles to relax is key to a successful treatment plan. The two types of energy work she does are Flow Alignment and Connection, which is similar to Reiki and Zero Balancing (ZB).

ZB is a hands-on approach. It combines touch around different

joints in the body along with an application of contraction and stretch to set up the opportunity for energy to move through the body. While applying this touch, the practitioner must be at interface which allows their energy to be contained and gives safety to the patient and the patient’s energy to move.

Squires is teaching a free Introduction to Zero Balancing class on March 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Holistic Care Approach. She says that ZB can help people learn to “not give away” their energy to others and attributes the longevity of her chiropractic career to this method.

Squires is a conscious eater and laughingly identifies herself as a “chegan”, which means that she is a vegan with an occasional cheat meal. She is thrilled with Grand Rapids, and says “Life is better here—the pace, fewer people, less traffic, and our neighborhood is like Americana. Kids are playing, you can hear their laughter.”

In her spare time, Squires enjoys reading, especially about alternative health treatments and modalities, doing Yoga and walking her dog.

Squires sees patients at Holistic Care Approach. Call 1-800-987-1368 for more information or to schedule a new patient appointment. See ad, page 28.

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healingways

LOVE YOUR

GREENS! New Ways to Prepare

3 GREEN Reasons to Read Natural Awakenings Magazine 1) Post-Consumer Recycled Paper 2) Soy Based Ink 3) Available Online

Have Natural Awakenings delivered to your door for only $30 per year.

NaturalWestMichigan.com for Details 38

West Michigan Edition

these Nutritional Powerhouses

by Nava Atlas

F

or seasonal eaters, farm market shoppers and members of community supported agriculture, vegetable greens have become a normal part of everyday diets. Recognized as the most nutrient-rich group of veggies, they deliver multiple benefits.

Greens are a top source of vitamin K, essential to bone health, and are abundant in vitamins A, B (especially folic acid) and C. They deliver considerable antioxidants and chlorophyll, widely known to protect against cancer, and are anti-inflammatory, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a family physician in Flemington, New Jersey, who specializes in nutritional medicine.

Fuhrman notes, “The majority of calories in green vegetables, including leafy greens, come from protein, and this plant protein is packaged with beneficial phytochemicals. They’re rich in folate and calcium, and contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.”

Hardy greens, like kale, chard and collards, are good sources of accessible calcium. Only about 30 percent of calcium from dairy products is absorbed, but according to Registered Dietitian Ginny Messina, “For certain leafy green vegetables, rates are considerably higher. We absorb between 50 and 60

NaturalWestMichigan.com

percent of the calcium in cruciferous leafy green vegetables like kale and turnip greens.” Tasty and versatile, greens can add interest and value to every meal. Here’s how.

Smoothies and juices. Spinach tastes so mild in smoothies and juices that we barely know it’s there. Kale and collards add a mild greens flavor.

A big handful or two of spinach or one or two good-size kale or collard leaves per serving is about right.

Greens blend well with bananas, apples, berries and pears. A high-speed blender is needed to break down kale and collards; a regular blender is sufficient for spinach. An online search for “green smoothies” will turn up many recipes.

Use “massaged” raw kale in salads. Rinse and spin-dry curly kale leaves stripped from their stems, and then chop into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the stems to add to another salad or lightly cooked vegetable dishes or simply discard. Place the cut kale in a serving bowl. Rub a little olive oil onto both palms and massage the kale for 45 to 60 seconds; it’ll soften up and turn bright green. Add other desired veggies and fruits and dress the mixture.

A favorite recipe entails tossing massaged kale with dried cranberries, toasted or raw cashew pieces, vegan mayonnaise and a little lemon juice.

Massaged kale also goes well with avocados, apples, pears, Napa or red cabbage, carrots, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. It can alternatively be dressed in ordinary vinaigrette, sesame-ginger or tahini dressing.

Add hardy greens to stir-fries. The best stir-fry greens are lacinato kale, collards or chard. Rinse and dry the leaves, and then strip them from the stems. Stack a few leaves and roll them up snugly from the narrow end. Slice thinly to make long, thin ribbons and then cut them once or twice across to shorten; adding thinly sliced stems is optional. Add the strips to the stir-fry toward the end of cooking. They blend well with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, bok choy, asparagus and green beans. Soy sauce, tamari and ginger add flavor.

Use leafy spring greens in salads.

Look beyond lettuce to create invigorating warm-weather salads. Use lots of peppery watercress (a nutritional superstar), baby bok choy, tender dandelion greens, tatsoi and mizuna (Japanese greens are increasingly available from farm markets). Combine with baby greens and sprouts, plus favorite salad veggies and fruits for a clean-tasting and cleansing repast.

Learn to love bitter greens. Add variety to the meal repertoire with escarole, broccoli rabe and mustard greens. These mellow considerably with gentle braising or incorporation into soups and stews. Heat a little olive oil in a large, deep skillet or stir-fry pan; sauté chopped garlic and/or shallots to taste. Add washed and chopped greens, stir quickly to coat with the oil, and then add about a quarter cup of water or vegetable stock. Cover and cook until tender and wilted, about five minutes. Traditional additions include raisins and toasted pine nuts, salt and pepper and a little apple cider vinegar.

Nava Atlas is the author of the recent book, Plant Power: Transform Your Kitchen, Plate, and Life with More Than 150 Fresh and Flavorful Vegan Recipes, from which this was adapted.

Visit VegKitchen.com.

RAW KALE SALADS

by Nava Atlas

H

ealth foodies can step it up a bit by discovering how to make delicious raw kale salads—sometimes referred to as massaged kale salads. Literally massaging this hardy green with olive oil, salad dressing or mashed avocado softens it for easier chewing, brightens the color and improves its flavor. A favorite kind of kale for salads is curly green kale. Lacinato kale works well, too, as long as it isn’t too large and tough prior to massaging.

Even when kale isn’t the main leafy green in a salad, adding a few prepared leaves can up the nutrient value of any kind of green, grain or pasta salad. For each of the following recipes, start with a medium bunch of kale (about eight ounces), or more or less to taste. Finish each salad with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, if preferred.

Southwestern-Flavored Kale Salad

To the massaged kale, add two or three medium-sized fresh ripe tomatoes, a peeled and diced avocado, one to two cups cooked or raw fresh corn kernels, some red bell pepper strips and optional chopped green or black olives. Flavor with freshly squeezed or bottled lime juice, a little olive oil and some chopped cilantro. To up the protein for a main dish, add some cooked or canned, drained and rinsed, black or pinto beans and then sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top.

Mediterranean Kale Salad

To the massaged kale, add two or three medium-sized chopped fresh ripe tomatoes, strips of sun-dried tomato, plenty of bell pepper strips and chopped or whole cured black olives. For protein, add a cup or two of cooked or canned, drained and rinsed, chickpeas. Top with thinly sliced fresh basil leaves.

Kale and Avocado Salad

Add a peeled and diced avocado, plus thinly sliced red cabbage to taste, sliced carrots, diced yellow squash, halved red and/or yellow fresh grape tomatoes and sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

Optionally, add a little more olive oil in addition to that used for massaging and some freshly squeezed or bottled lemon or lime juice.

Asian-Flavored Kale Salad

Massage the kale with dark sesame oil instead of olive oil as an option. Add a medium-sized red bell pepper, cut into narrow slices, three stalks of bok choy with leaves, sliced (or one sliced baby bok choy) plus one or two thinly sliced scallions. Dress with a sesame-ginger dressing. Optional additions include some crushed toasted peanuts or cashews, steamed or boiled and chilled corn kernels and about four ounces of baked tofu, cut into narrow strips.

All recipes courtesy of Nava Atlas, author of Plant Power: Transform Your Kitchen, Plate, and Life With More Than 150 Fresh and Flavorful Vegan Recipes; used with permission.

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West Michigan Edition

NaturalWestMichigan.com

$ave Time & Energy!

Please call in advance to ensure that the event you’re interested in is still available.

ALL MONTH LONG

Save 25%- During the month of March, new clients save 25% at Prana House Reiki & Massage.

For more information visit PranaHouse.wix.com/ PranaHouse or call 616-970-3003. Grand Rapids.

Garden Of Life Demo- Garden of Life will be doing demonstrations once a month at Nature’s Market, 1013 Washington Ave, Holland. Contact Nature’s Market at 616-394-5250 or visit NaturesMarketHolland.com to find out which day they’ll be there each month.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

Guided Meditation and Healing Circle- 7-8pm.

Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation and energy healing from Healing in America-Trained Healers. $5. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct., NE, Grand Rapids.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Intro to Numerology- 6-8pm. How do numbers really work? What do they mean? In this class we will show you the Hows, Whys and What fors in numbers. Later we will have two full days of different types of Numerology if this is of interest to you. RSVP at: 989-352-6500.

TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. Lakeview.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Holi (Hindu) Nada Yoga Workshop- 6:30-7:45pm, March 6 & 20. Join Geoff Lamden for a sensory experience known as Nada Yoga and to learn about the process of using sound to facilitate change in the body and mind and then participate in a soundscape. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale. HeartsJourneyWellness.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Community Quiet Day & Labyrinth Walk- 10am3pm. Those of all faiths can come reflect, explore practices of walking and sitting meditation and centering prayer, read and simply be. Call 231-744-0377 or email LindaReynolds21@comcast.net to learn more. Suggested donation is $5. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1006 Third St., Muskegon.

Canvas Labyrinth Walk- 10am-3pm. walk the Canvas Labyrinth at Spirit Space.. All who are interested in walking are welcome. For more information, call 616-836-1555 or visit Spirit-Space.org. Saugatuck.

Your Healing Gift; An Introduction to Energy Healing- 1-4:30pm. This introductory class will teach you energy healing tools you will be able to use immediately to invoke remarkable changes in your life. Taught by licensed trainer Laurie DeDecker, RN, MHIA. $45. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct. NE, Grand Rapids.

calendarofevents Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.

Denotes an event sponsored by Natural Awakenings Magazine West Michigan.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 International Women’s Day Daylight Savings Time Begins Eckankar- 10-11am. Join the monthly ECK Worship Service where people of all faiths are warmly invited to experience the Light and Sound of God. Services are the second Sunday of each month. Free.

Dominican Center at Marywood, Room 4, 2025 E Fulton, Grand Rapids, 866-546-9224, Eck-Mi.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

Bach Flowers- 6-8pm. Have you ever wanted to control your emotional needs, but not sure of what you need? If so, this is the class for you.

Learn how to pick the right flower for different emotional situations. This is just a beginning of something wonderful. RSVP at: 989-352-6500.

TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. Lakeview.

Healing and Intuitive Arts Monthly Gathering7-8:30pm. Join Denise Iwaniw for a monthly gathering of healers, spiritual practitioners and intuitive artists who wish to expand and more fully develop their skills and natural abilities. Temple Within and Star Nations Academy, 12841 Hillcrest NE, Lowell.

TempleWithin.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13

West Michigan Women’s Expo- March 13-15.

Over 400 exhibits and seminars tailored to women and their families, focusing on health, beauty, fitness, fashion, finance and fun! Tickets available at the door or in advance at Meijer. KohlerExpo.com.

DeVos Place, Grand Rapids.

YMCA Kids’ Night Out- 5:30pm. Join Sylvan Learning of Muskegon for educational games and activities at the Muskegon YMCA. Contact Lisa at Sylvan Learning for more details. 231-799-0613.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

March Garden Day- Had enough of winter? Come to this annual gardening celebration with inspirational speakers, a gourmet lunch, silent action and displays from local garden businesses and more!

Grand Haven Community Center, 421 Columbus St. Grand Haven. Seating is limited to 250. Register at WMNLA.com.

Herbal Series Workshop- 3-5pm. Join the Remedy House at 5150 Northland Dr. in Grand Rapids and learn The ABC+D Systems Approach to Wellness plus the Digestive, Intestinal and Glandular System.

Donations welcome. Call 616-443-4225 to register.

Shoulders & Chakras- 1-4pm. The world can get pretty heavy—are you prepared to carry its weight, or is it time to let it go and heal yourself? Visit OnThePathYoga.com for details and registration.

On the Path Yoga, 701 E. Savidge #3, Spring Lake.

Encompassed Body Experience- 1:30-3pm. This 6-month series focuses on your body, mind and spirit connection. See website for this month’s class description. Costs $15.00 per class or $75 if paid in advance. For more information and registration check out MiBodhiTree.com or call 616-392-7580.

208 W 18th St., Holland.

MONDAY, MARCH 16

Breathe and Be Well- 6:30-8pm. Learn breathing techniques for health and wellness to be calm, peaceful and filled with a sense of well-being. Manage stress and anxiety, energize yet calm your body and fill your system with vitality. $15. Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 E Fulton St., Grand Rapids. DominicanCenter.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 17 St. Patrick’s Day WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18

Ladies Night- 5:30-7pm. Join Keystone Pharmacy for a panel of experts on hormones, skincare and nutrition. They’ll answer your questions and offer multi-focused advice, then shop the pharmacy, open after hours just for you! Demos, sampling and special discounts during this event only. RSVP to 616-558-8334. Grand Rapids.

Reiki Share- 6-8pm. Come to The Remedy House and check out what Reiki is all about and have a mini session done. Open to those that know Reiki and those that don’t. Donations welcome. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

Healing Circle at Spirit Space- 7pm. Following a discussion with Interfaith Pastor Sherry PetroSurdel from 6-7pm, join us in a Healing Energy Circle at 7pm to promote wellness. Join us for all or part of the gathering. Call 616-836-1555 for more information. All healing modalities welcome, Spirit-Space.org. Saugatuck.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

Patient Education Night- 6-7pm. Join Natural Health Improvement Center for a free lecture titled “Allergies and Sensitivities: An Underlying Cause of Health Problems”. Ask questions about allergy testing, rotation diets and how to control your body’s response to food. 4466 Heritage Ct. SW Ste. A, Grandville. NHICWestMi.com.

Introduction to Zero Balancing Class- 7-9pm.

Learn the basics of Zero Balancing with this class.

Class held at Holistic Care Approach, 3368 E. Beltline Ct. NE, Grand Rapids. For more information, call 800-987-1368 or email LindaSquiresDC@ gmail.com.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 20 Great American Meat Out Day Vernal Equinox (Spring) Nada Yoga Workshop- 6:30-7:45pm, March 6 and 20. Join Geoff Lamden for a sensory experience known as Nada Yoga and to learn about the process of using sound to facilitate change in the body and mind and then participate in a soundscape. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr., Allendale. HeartsJourneyWellness.com.

Yoga, Women & Wine New Moon Celebration6-8pm. Enjoy the Vernal Equinox with meditation, movement and mingling! This is always a popular night out with girlfriends—be sure to reserve your spot early! Visit OnThePathYoga.com for details and to register. 701 E. Savidge #3, Spring Lake.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Intro to Shamanism- 10am-5pm. This introductory training in journeying and Shamanism will allow you to directly connect with spirit and your inner self.

Register by contacting Holistic Care Approach. Cost is $85 if registered by March 20 and $95 at the door (if room). Grand Rapids. HolisticCareApproach.com.

Open Mind Fair- 11am-5pm. Experience angel communication, palmistry, spiritual and intuitive readings and astrology. Treat yourself to a chair massage and perhaps a well-deserved gift for you or a loved one. Call 616-863-8868 or email omrockford@yahoo.com for more information.

Open Mind, 90 N. Main St., Cedar Springs.

Your Healing Gift; An Introduction to Energy Healing- 1-4:30pm. This introductory class will teach you energy healing tools you will be able to use immediately to invoke remarkable changes in your life. Taught by licensed trainer Laurie DeDecker, RN, MHIA. $45. Unity of Ada, 6025 Ada Drive SE, Ada. Essential Oils Class- 2-4pm. Come and learn what the ancients knew and why for centuries essential oils were and are the most precious gifts! Free cd; Must RSVP by March 10th by calling Ilka at 616259-7509. For more info go to IlkasHealthyHeaven. com. 1616 Aberdeen St. NE, Grand Rapids.

Blackport Building Open House Party- 2-6pm.

Come to the Open House Party and see the eclectic mix of fifteen shops and service businesses that make the Blackport Building such a great destination! Enjoy refreshments, specials, entertainment and even some prizes! 959 Lake Dr./143 Diamond Ave., Grand Rapids.

MONDAY, MARCH 23 National Puppy Day World Meteorological Day Organic Women Meet-up- 6-8pm. Come learn more about becoming an Organic Woman by using organic cosmetics, feminine products and organic foods. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

Learn Trigger Point Massage- 6pm. In this free workshop, participants learn what a trigger point is, what causes them, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them with hands on training. 4150 East Beltline Suite #4, Grand Rapids. Seating limited to first 30 callers. Register at 616-447-9888.

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West Michigan Edition

Real Food, Whole Food, Clean Eating- 6:30pm.

Discuss the health and ecological benefits of eating organic whole foods with an emphasis on plantbased eating. Nature’s Market, 1013 Washington Avenue, Holland. NaturesMarketHolland.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

Healing Circle- 6:30-8pm. Join other like-spirited people, as we explore various healing-related fields and techniques. This will be an inter-active gathering, so bring your open minds and open hearts. Let us know you are coming by calling 269-221-1961, or healingways@waystohealing.com. 6363 North 24th St., Kalamazoo.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Concert at UGGR- 7pm. Join us for a Celtic-infused, original world-beat music concert. An Dro is a union of four seasoned instrumentalists who speak from the heart with uncommon synergy. Tickets $10 in advance. 616-819-9290. Unity of Greater Grand Rapids, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Body Mind & Spirit Expo- March 28-29. Largest spirit expo to exhibit in Kalamazoo, professional mediums, intuitive communicators and healers gathered under one roof. Many free lectures, speakers & demonstrations both days. Radisson Hotel & Suites, downtown Kalamazoo $8 per day, 12 & under free.

HealingBodyAndSpirit.com.

Essential Oil Workshop- 3-5pm. Learn about therapeutic grade oils and the everyday oil collection. Learn and understand essential oils and how to use them. Workshop fee $25. Call 616-443-4225 to register. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr., Grand Rapids.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 Palm Sunday

savethedate Save The Date Events

Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Events priced $80 or above require a corresponding display ad. There is a $40 charge per listing, up to 50 words. If you are a current advertiser, distribution site or non-profit you just use this listing in place of two of your free listings.

savethedate April 10

Connecting with Our Spirit Guides6-8:30pm. A belief at the core of our being is that we are all related. We naturally feel the connection to nature and all of creation. This 2-hour class is all about how to remember your connection to Nature Spirits Guides and Animal Spirit Guides.

TempleWithin.com. Lowell.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

savethedate April 10-12

A Weekend of Iyengar Yoga - The Yoga Studio is thrilled to be hosting Senior Iyengar teacher Mary Reilly with a workshop to cultivate awareness, bring attention with intention and celebrate presence. Find increased engagement, focus and energy in your practice!

Learn more at GRYoga.com. YWCA, 25 Sheldon Boulevard SE, Grand Rapids.

savethedate April 17

Grand Opening- 6-9:30pm. Celebrating our new School of Ayurveda, creating Ayurvedic Consultants. Learn about Ayurveda and our School. Meet friends and fellow students. Enjoy an evening of festivities, film, food, fun and fellowship.

Free. Public welcome. Sambodh Center, 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo.

savethedate April 18

Beginner’s Series- For those who have never done yoga, this four-week series will teach basic poses and breathework and introduce common terms. No special skills or flexibility necessary.

Pre-registration required, limited to 8 people. Cost $50.00. Bodhi tree Yoga & Wellness Studio 208 W 18th St., Holland.

MiBodhiTree.com or 616-392-7580 for more information or to sign up.

Awaken to the Wisdom of Your Heart9am-3pm. Come to the Dominican Center at Marywood for a spring day for mothers, daughters, sisters and friends and learn how to let the heart guide you instead of the doubts/pressures of the rational mind. $45, includes lunch. 2025 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids.

savethedate April 19

West Michigan Spirit Faire- 11am-5pm.

Intuitive Readers, Reiki, Aura Photos, Jewelry, Palmistry, Angel Messages, Stones, Crystals, Candles, Drums, Energy Tuning, Massage, etc. Held at Plainwell Comfort Inn, exit 49A off US-131. $3 admission, door prizes!

savethedate April 21

Solar Power 101- 6:30pm. Learn aspects of solar power that are not commonly known and about the different types of solar power and their costs. See examples of solar power being used in Michigan and talk to people who are already using it. Grand Rapids Public Library, 2025 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids.

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May 2

Spring Celebration- 11am-6pm. Free angel gallery reading at 1pm with Joan Cranmore. We have vendors, food vendor on grounds, aura photography, card readers and mediums as well as healers.

Vendors offer a wide selection of books, jewelry, music, gift items, candles, etc.

Door prizes hourly. Vendors welcome!

Richland.ChoicesUnlimitedCenter.com.

June 6-7

Karuna® Reiki Level 1 & 2- 10am-5pm.

Costs $225 with non-refundable deposit of $75 for each class required. These are the beginning levels of Karuna® Reiki focusing on compassionate action to be used on yourself and others. It’s the next step for the serious Reiki Practitioner. For more info visit ReikiConnect.com. To register call 800-260-4544. Hickory Corners.

savethedate April 22

Raw Food Show- 6:30pm. Come celebrate Earth day with Chef Adams at Nature’s Market with a raw food show where he’ll demonstrate three raw dishes. Participants will taste and learn the nutrition benefits of eating raw. 1013 Washington Ave, Holland. NaturesMarketHolland.com.

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Urevia® Practitioner - 10am-5pm.

This class is devoted to creating a better you. It’s a prerequisite for the Integrative Health Program. Costs $290, requires a non-refundable $75.00 deposit prior to class. For more info visit ReikiConnect. com. To register call 800-260-4544. Held near Hickory Corners.

April 23

Solar Power 101- 7pm. Learn aspects of solar power that are not commonly known and about the different types of solar power and their costs. See examples of solar power being used in Michigan and talk to people who are already using it. Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids.

savethedate April 25

Introduction to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)- 9am-noon. EFT is a groundbreaking healing tool that relieves negative emotions, thoughts and beliefs.

This interactive course will introduce you to this highly effective method of unlocking your full potential enabling you to live a happier, healthier life! Spring Lake. Lisawlee.com.

Healthy Living Expo- 11am-7pm. Plan ahead for the Healthy Living Expo at The Lakes Mall! Join us for a wide assortment of art, natural products, healthful services and more. (Vendor registration is now open.) RimeTimeProductions.com.

Muskegon.

savethedate May 11-12

Usui Reiki I & II- 10am-5pm. These are the beginning classes for Usui Reiki. Cost of $225 includes a non-refundable $75 deposit prior to class. Learn how to use the Reiki energy, overview of the chakras system, hand positions and a meditation to meet your spirit guides. For more info visit ReikiConnect.com. To register call 800-260-4544. Hickory Corners.

Join our Natural Awakenings group on facebook and we’ll directly alert you of upcoming happenings and events.

savethedate June 5-7

4th Annual Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference - Conference offers pre-conference workshops, guest speakers, over 60 workshops and plant walks, kids and teen camp, plus swimming, evening entertainment, marketplace, red tent, film screenings, roundtable discussions on building herbal community and much more! Held in Almond, WI. For more info: MidwestWomensHerbal.com.

Find us @: Natural Awakenings Magazine of West Michigan Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

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ongoingevents

Saturday

Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events subject to change, please call ahead.

Sunday Spirit Space Sunday Worship- 10:30am. Spirit Space is an interfaith, non-denominational gathering place for worship and spiritual enrichment in Saugatuck. Join us for inspiring messages called Reasonings. Visit Spirit-Space.org or call 616-8361555 for more information.

Community Yoga Class- 4-5pm for $5. All levels welcome. Proceeds donated to the charity of the month. Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 208 W 18th Street, Holland. Visit MiBodhiTree.com for more information.

Sunday Series- 6pm. Explore spirituality, universal truths, self-mastery and balanced, positive, loving and joyful living with The Coptic Center and their ongoing offering of enlightening ministers, teachers and guest presenters. Love offering. 0-381 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids. For more information see TheCopticCenter.org.

Monday Half off Reiki Services- Enjoy half off Reiki services at Prana House Reiki & Massage. For more information visit PranaHouse.wix.com/ PranaHouse or call 616-970-3003. Grand Rapids.

Monday Yoga with Diana Wilson- 6-7:30pm.

Develop your Inner Yogi! Practice Hatha Yoga: strengthen, tone, learn breathing techniques, increase your energy, promote healthy body functioning. Sambodh Center, 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo. Info: 269-579-4091.

The Practice of A Course in Miracles - 7-8:30pm.

Learn “Miracle-Mindedness”. Got joy? This is how to have it. (Hint: You already do.) All are welcome. Free. Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids. 616-458-5095.

Tuesday $10 off Gift Certificates- Enjoy $10 off gift certificates at Prana House Reiki & Massage.

For more information visit PranaHouse.wix.com/ PranaHouse or call 616-970-3003. Grand Rapids.

Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman7:45-9am & 9:15-10:30am. Drop-ins welcome.

Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information.

Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Morning Flow Yoga- 10:15-11:30am. Unwind your body and your mind. A Yoga practice intended to gradually increase flexibility, strength and a range of motion. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

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West Michigan Edition

Sylvan Story Time- 11am. Celebrate the month of reading by joining Sylvan Learning of Muskegon for Story Time for elementary aged kids at the Lakes Mall by JC Penney every Tuesday at 11am and Thursday at 5pm for the whole month of March!

Wednesday $20 off BioMeridian Assessments- Food allergies, environmental allergies, organ function and real food menus and shopping lists for families that are healthy and kid-approved. Visit IntegrativeNutritionalTherapies.com or 616-3659176. Grand Rapids.

Discussion & Meditation at Spirit Space- 6-8pm.

Discussion to promote spiritual enrichment. Questions are welcomed followed by meditation at 7pm.

Spirit Space is an interfaith church and spiritual enrichment center in Saugatuck. Call 616-836-1555 or visit Spirit-Space.org for more information.

Creation’s Lessons for Living- 7pm. 2nd Wed of month. Creation desires to help us grow, mature, evolve. Connect with Creation’s wisdom through the teachings and ceremonies of the shamanic Sweet Medicine SunDance Path. Donation. Call 616-856-4957 for more information. Join me in learning to walk in beauty. NE Grand Rapids.

Thursday Morning Flow Yoga- 10:15-11:30am. Unwind your body and your mind. A Yoga practice intended to gradually increase flexibility, strength and a range of motion. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

Beginning Yoga Level 1- 12-1pm. This class introduces the basic yoga postures emphasizing alignment which allows students to safely gain strength and flexibility. Bodhi tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 208 W 18th St., Holland. MiBodhiTree.com or 616-392-7580 for more information.

Healing Clinic- 6pm. Seeking healing, clarity, or reconciliation in your life? Looking for peace, joy and freedom? Call Pastor at Healing Ways at 269-303-3523 to reserve appointment time. 6363 North 24th St., Kalamazoo.

Friday Yin & Restorative Yoga- 4:30-6pm. Yin promotes joint flexibility, energy increase and body-mind health. Restorative helps lower BP, reduces stress, balance energy. Info: Diana Wilson, eRYT, 269579-4091 Sambodh Center, 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

H a t h a Yo g a - 9 - 1 0 : 1 5 a m . A L i t t l e m o r e invigorating, this is a great class to learn the foundations of a yoga practice. Laketown Healing Arts, LaketownHealingArts.com, Holland.

Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman9-10:15am & 10:30-11:45am. Drop-ins welcome.

Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio. Montague. 231-740-6662.

Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9am-1pm. Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey Street. We are inside if the weather is bad. We are a double up bucks and bridge card market. Hesperia. 231-861-2234.

classifieds To place a Classified Listing: E-mail listing to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. $1.00 per word; must be pre-paid.

CLASSES Energy Healings and Training, Reiki & Urevia Healings/Classes - held near Hastings at Subtle Energies w/ Ken & Dana Gray. Learn a variety of techniques that can heal your life. Reiki I & Urevia Practitioner classes are eligible for NAN 20% discount. Visit reikiconnect.com for more information.

FOR RENT Commercial Space for Rent - Professional office space available for rent. Up to 2500 sq ft with high ceilings and full basement. Great visibility, signage and off street parking. For showing please contact Erin Whiteford at 616-389-5166.

Space for Rent - Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio has a beautiful space for rent. Let your imagination soar with ideas of a special class, workshop or gathering. 208 W 18th Street Holland. Please email info@mibodhitree.com or call 616-392-7580 for availability and pricing.

Space For Rent - Grand Rapids Natural Health is expanding our office space in downtown Grand Rapids. We are looking for other health and wellness professionals to join us. Space is rented by day, front desk staff and scheduling included in rent. Contact Kelly Hassberger for more details, 616-540-0723 or KHassberger@gmail.com.

Treatment Room For Rent in an established organic salon. Rent includes water heat and electric. Email cjsstudiosalon@yahoo.com

HELP WANTED Ad Sales Rep – Natural Awakenings is now accepting resumes for Part/Full Time Sales Reps throughout the West Michigan area. Must be self-motivated with strong organizational skills, sales and computer/database experience. We’re positive people looking for positive associates.

Flexible schedule with great earning potential.

Pay is set up on a generous full commission structure with bonuses. Email cover letter and resume to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com.

thenaturaldirectory

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA

...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michigan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory log-on to www.NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.

ACUPUNCTURE GRAND WELLNESS

Vikki Nestico, R.Ac., Dipl. OM Acupuncture + Chinese Herbal Therapy 616-940-1177 GrandWellness.net

Grand Wellness offers a holistic perspective on wellness and promotes healing through acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy and eastern nutrition.

Set up a free consultation to discuss how Chinese medicine can help your specific health concerns. See ad page 27.

BIO ENERGETIC SYNCHRONIZATION TECHNIQUE B.E.S.T. ALPHABIOTICS & I CHING BALANCING Spark of Life Studio 959 Lake Dr. SE, Ste. 201, Grand Rapids 616-516-1479 SparkOfLifeStudio.com

Living organisms want to be in balance but everyday stress is preventing us from feeling our best. Let us restore balance to your body and thus maximize your well-being and your body’s own innate healing capacity.

BODY CARE PRODUCTS MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings, NW Grand Rapids 616-735-1285 MoondropHerbals.com

Your Local Source for all things Natural and Botanical.

Hand crafted bath & body products, tea, bulk herbs, essential oils, other raw ingredients, containers, local artwork, unique gifts. Practitioner discounts. Space rental and artisan consignment. See ad page 18.

BODYWORK A SENSE OF FLOW

Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 ASenseOfFlow.com Certified Massage Therapist offering Therapeutic, Hot Stone & Matrix Massage. Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix E n e rg e t i c s P r a c t i t i o n e r, Reconnection Healing Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner, and a Certified Reflexologist. See ad page 13.

BRAIN HEALTH

Dr. Andrew Schafer 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids 616-301-3000 GRChiroSpa.com

Tr e a t i n g m u s c u l o s k e l e t a l conditions, but specializing in b ac k p a in , n eck p ain , a n d headaches. Also offering physical therapy, massage therapy, and postural awareness. Most insurance accepted. Breton Village area. See ad pages 7 & 30.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY HARMONY ’N HEALTH Mary De Lange, CCT. LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave, N.E., Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net

Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment.

Using a holistic approach, colonics relieves constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloat, poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad page 5.

BETHESDA HEALTH AND WELLNESS, LLC Susie Daubenspeck 616-594-9005 sldaubenspeck@gmail.com NexalinTechnology.com

Certified technician in Nexalin Technology, a medication-free t r e a t m e n t f o r a n x i e t y, depression and insomnia. The hypothalamus and mid-brain area are gently stimulated, supporting brain function resets. Treatments in your home or Holland office. Find us on Facebook and LinkedIn at Susie Daubenspeck. See ad page 5.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Ronda VanderWall 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com

TRICIA E. GOSLING

Holistic Energy Therapies 616-481-9074 HolisticEnergyTherapies.net Offering an advanced clientcentered dimension of colonics since 1996: gentle, safe and effective. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. Also offering Quantum Biofeedback sessions.

I-ACT certified Instructor.

ENERGY HEALING MATRIX ENERGETICS

Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.

Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 ASenseOfFlow.com Matrix Energetics is a system used to heal, transform and create new possibilities in your life. Using the principles of quantum physics and subtle e n e rg y d u r i n g a M a t r i x Energetics session we are able to enter into different realties and download new possibilities for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves. See ad page 13.

Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members.

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March 2015

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ESSENTIAL OILS

HAKOMI THERAPY KEN PORTER CST, CHT

BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS

3355 Eagle Park Dr. NE Ste. 107 Grand Rapids 616-262-3848 BodyAndSoulGR.com

Clara VanderZouwen Independent Sharing Partner #1024 616-481-8587 ClaraVZ@sbcglobal.net ”What you put on the skin, goes within”.

Offering E.O.B.B.D. guaranteed essential oils, Non-GMO Protein Shakes, chemical free body products and nutrient dense whole food products. Zyto Compass scans and Ionic Detoxing Foot Baths. My goal is to offer you Life-Restoring and Life-Rewarding products and experiences! See ad page 13.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS Marilyn York Independent Distributor 1-877-436-2299, ext. 2 YoungLiving.org/naturalhealth4u

Become an Independent Distributor.

Discover the high potency of therapeutically authentic Essential Oils from Young Living. Enhance your own health, as well as others who seek holistic wellness options. Free Training.

See ad page 20.

FITNESS & NUTRITION MISSY HACKER FITNESS

THE REMEDY HOUSE

Jodi Jenks Natural Health Practitioner, Reiki Master 616-443-4225 TheRemedyHouse.org Certified in bodywork, lymphatic drainage, raindrop therapy, CranioSacral, reflexology, iridology, natural health consultations including a zyto bio-communication scan. Emotional clearing with essential oils and energy work, Reiki, Energy Touch. See ad page 19.

HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER 616-430-2291 WellnessForum.com

A fitness and nutrition coach, making your health and fitness a priority. Plans for people of all ages and fitness levels. Offering many free options, as well as cost effective solutions.

Contact Missy to see how to achieve your optimal level of health & fitness.

TRUE FORM HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS

1140 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids 616-889-9825 TrueFormGR@gmail.com YourTrueForm.com NAMA Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Personal Trainer. Ayurvedic consultations for better health and balance through diet, lifestyle, herbs, exercise and more. Fitness regimens that are tailored to your unique needs. Exercise with a higher purpose.

West Michigan Edition

HEALING SERVICES

THE WELLNESS FORUM

MelissAHacker@gmail.com Facebook.com/MissyCoates MissyHackerFitness.com

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Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.

Educational programs for personal health improvement - Wo r k p l a c e w e l l n e s s programs - Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health - National conferences.

HEALTH / WELLNESS CENTER THE HEALING CENTER

Bob Huttinga PA-C & Rev. Barbara Huttinga 332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com Naturopathic / Holistic Practitioners. Physician assistant, Certified Natural Health Professionals. Private consultations. Counseling & Classes. Blood typing, acupressure, emotional release, iridology, homeopathy, massage therapy, reflexology, cranial sacral, foot detox & more. See ad in page 9.

NaturalWestMichigan.com

HOLISTIC HEALTH HEALING WAYS

Pastor & Casey Brian Kalamazoo & Portage 269-221-1961 WaysToHealing.com Massage Therapy, Energy Healing, Spiritual Counsel, Healing Services for Groups and more. We fully support you in experiencing Healing in all aspects of your life: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual...

HOMEOPATHY BOB HUTTINGA PA-C

332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com A Certified Physician Assistant since 1976, specializing in naturopathic and homeopathic care.

Family care. Also, certified Silva Method instructor. We use Clinical Homeopathy to assist traditional medications.

We take most insurances. See ad page 9.

KINESIOLOGY A SENSE OF FLOW

Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 ASenseOfFlow.com Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix E n e rg e t i c s P r a c t i t i o n e r, Certified Massage Therapist, Reconnection Healing P r a c t i t i o n e r, C e r t i f i e d Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner and Certified Reflexologist. Specializing in muscle testing, massage, energy medicine, nutritional counseling, lectures and classes. See ad page 13.

MASSAGE THERAPY DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY Jaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com

I offer Swedish massage with Integrated Te c h n i q u e s , c h o s e n specifically to your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate! Call for ongoing monthly specials and discounts.

HARMONY ‘N HEALTH

Mary De Lange, CCT., LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net Over 21 years of professional experience and trained in a complete range of modalities.

Whether you are seeking relaxation, renewal, or treatment for a specific condition, Mary will help find an approach that is helpful for you. See ad page 5.

SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA

Sheri Beth Schafer, CMT Ayurvedic Bodyworker, Reiki Master 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids 616-301-3000 We have multiple certified massage therapists offering relaxation, prenatal, deep tissue massage, and medical massage. We also offer Reiki, chakra balancing, and Ayurvedic bodywork. Breton Vi l l a g e a r e a . w w w.

GRChiroSpa.com. See ad pages 7 & 30.

MIDWIFERY FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC. Patrice Bobier CPM Hesperia: 231-861-2234 FullCircleMidwifery.com

In private practice since 1982 specializing in homebirth. Over 1450 births attended.

Offering midwifery care that maintains a family-centered safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways. Free initial consultations including Prenatal check up.

MIDWIFERY MATTERS Leslie Cornwell, CNM 616-258-2386 Midwifery-Matters.com

Looking for different care for your pregnancy outside the traditional maternity system, we have what you have been looking for. High quality care for preconception, pregnancy, and beyond. See ad page 28.

INSTITUTE OF SANATIVE ARTS

SIMPLY BORN

Sara Badger, Midwife Jodi Borsk, Junior Midwife Casi Russo, Senior Student SimplyBorn@yahoo.com A full service Midwifery group partnering with you to provide prenatal care, education, and choice. The first birthing center in Grand Rapids to add to women’s birth choices. Contact us for a free consultation 559-9075341. See ad page 27.

REIKI PRANA HOUSE REIKI & MASSAGE

0-11279 Tallmadge Woods Dr. Grand Rapids 616-791-0472 Info@SanativeTranquility.com SanativeTranquility.com State licensed school for massage and bodywork.

Offering high quality, affordable massage certification courses as well as NCBTMB continuing education courses for the experienced therapist. Located conveniently to Grand Rapids, Standale, Walker and Allendale.

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

Jen Gemski, CMT Reiki Master Practitioner 1345 Monroe Ave. NE Ste. 204 616-970-3003

Facebook.com/PranaHouseReikiMassage Find relief from anxiety, depression, grief, chronic pain, or pain/ discomfort due to cancer treatment. See how Reiki can transform your life from chaos to harmony, you can find balance again! Awaken the healing within. See ad page 30.

SALON SERVICES CJ’S STUDIO SALON 5286 Plainfield Ave, NE Grand Rapids 616-364-9191 CjsStudioSalon.com

503 East Broadway St. Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

Educational Programs Offered: Natural Health Program - Four Years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program - One Year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program - Six Months (one weekend a month). Individual classes available. See ad page 48.

SKIN CARE

An award winning Hair Stylist with 30 years Advanced Education, that uses and sells Organic Hair Care Products as well as uses a professional line of Organic Hair Color.

Ionic Detox Foot Baths also available.

SCHOOL / EDUCATION BVI SCHOOL OF AYURVEDA Attn: Ruth Small, Director 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo Ayurveda@SambodhSociety.us AyurvedaMichigan.org

State-Licensed Post-Secondary AYURVEDA SCHOOL. Opening April 18, 2015. One-year Certificate Program for self-care, healthcare professionals, yoga teachers, massage therapists, chiropractors, dietitians, wellness and holistic-health educators.

Highly qualified instructors.

Accepting Applications.

LAKESHORE NATURAL SKIN CARE

10500 Chicago Drive Holland Twp/Zeeland 231-557-3619 LakeshoreNaturalSkinCare.com Specializing in advanced, customized skin care using all-natural, organic skin care products from Elina Organics.

Facials, Back Facials, Foot Facials, Hand Facials, Tummy Facials, and “Beautiful Legs” services. Needle-Free Mesotherapy, TriPolarRF, DermaLaser, LED, Microdermabrasion, Peels, Body Wraps, Body Scrubs, Brow Shaping, Aromatherapy, Signature Scent, Hair Restoration, Bamboo Massage, RainDrop, Air Compression Lymph Drainage Massage, Acupressure, Reiki, Infrared and Ionic Cleanses, Ear Candling, and more! See ad page 18.

SACRED SKIN CARE

Grand Rapids SE 616-690-3527 Kathy@SacredSkinCaregr.com Facebook.com/SacredSkinCare ”Rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit while nourishing your skin with customized, therapeutic facials using all natural Elina Organics Products.

Individualized, professional treatments provided in a warm, caring environment”.

natural awakenings

March 2015

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The Path You Have Always Wanted Naturopathy

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(989) 773-1714 ~ Mount Pleasant, MI Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info www.NaturopathicInstitute.info 48

West Michigan Edition

Over 19 Years of Experience ~ Licensed and Accredited

NaturalWestMichigan.com