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Nature’s Wisdom
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April 2015 | Knoxville | NaturallyKnoxville.com
contents 10
7 newsbriefs
10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 13 ecotip
12 8
16 consciouseating 18 greenliving
2 1 inspiration 22 fitbody
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24 naturalpet
26 localcalendar
28 classifieds 29 resourceguide
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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.
14 NATURE’S WISDOM
14
Its Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us
by Christine MacDonald
16 THE FOOD ARTISANS
NEXT DOOR
by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko
Homemade Delicacies, Direct from Our Neighbors
18 HOME-GROWN
ORGANIC MADE EASY
by Barbara Pleasant
16
10 Time-Saving Tips for a Healthy Garden
20 Nature & Music
Healing People and the Planet
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21 STRONG WINDS
STRONG ROOTS
by Dennis Merritt Jones
What Trees Teach Us About Life
22 MASTERING
THE FORCE
The Martial Arts Hold Deep Inner Lessons by Eric Stevens
23 Give Mother
Nature a High Five!
by Cathy Scott
24 DOGS WITH
LIBRARY CARDS
by Sandra Murphy
Kids Love Reading to Animals
20 24
publisher’sletter
O contact us Publishers Bob & Melinda Varboncoeur Copy Editor Allison Gorman Design & Production Steffi Karwoth Advertising Sales Bob Varboncoeur 423-667-0980 knoxvillena@epbfi.com To contact Natural Awakenings Knoxville: PO Box 154 Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Phone: 423-517-0128 Fax: 877-541-4350 knoxvillena@epbfi.com NaturallyKnoxville.com For National Advertising: 239-449-8309
© 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.
ne of the fantastic things about having your own business is the flexibility. No more of the nine-tofive stuff—been there, done that! We call our own hours. Like early Saturday mornings. And the occasional Sunday night. And some of those weekday evenings when, as poor working stiffs, we used to sit by the fire and read. Obviously it’s not supposed to be that way. Our intention when we launched Natural Awakenings was to simplify, slow down, do all those good-for-you things that the magazine regularly preaches. And we do try to slow down. We’ll take a weekend getaway—or an even longer trip, if possible—when our schedule permits. But you know how it goes (especially in the age of smart phones): when work calls, you tend to answer. And somehow, work always calls. And that is the story of how we got the flu. Apparently while we were on the phone with Work, Nature was on call waiting. Last month, after a particularly busy week during which our flexible work schedule had begun to shape up like a silly straw, first one and then the other of us learned that Nature gets tired of being put on hold. That two-day business trip? It turned out to be two days of feverish sleep in a hotel. That weekend conference? Nope. So we slowed down … and the world kept turning. Somehow we got done what needed to be done, and the April issue of Natural Awakenings came together—including our thought-provoking (and suddenly very relevant) feature story “Nature’s Wisdom,” page 14. We hope this issue gives you plenty of food for thought. A few highlights: Our Green Living column, page 18, offers 10 tips for growing an organic garden. We profile healing music pioneers Dean and Dudley Evenson on page 20. Our friends at Everything Mushrooms give us the rundown on why fungi are one of the most eco-friendly foods (page 23). And those of you who’ve been told “You should sell those (cookies/soups/jellies) of yours!” must read our Conscious Eating column, page 16, which explains that because of the locavore movement, more states are passing “cottage food” laws. Just think—you could work for yourself! We hear the hours are flexible... As for us, we plan to spend as much of April outside as we possibly can. We hear Mother Nature calling. Enjoy this issue and shop with our advertisers! They are the ones who allow us to continue to bring you relevant information that can change your life.
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newsbriefs Herbs, Holistic Medicine Are April CHEO Topics
Empower Your Spiritual & Personal Growth
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ust in time for spring planting, the Knoxville Group of CHEO will host a presentation by local herb expert Mary Garner at its upcoming monthly educational program on April 13. CHEO’s Loudon/Monroe Group will hold an open forum, “Ask the Holistic Doctor,” at its monthly program on April 22. Both programs will begin at 7 p.m., preceded by a 6:30 p.m. meet and greet. A founding member and program chair of Thyme for Herbs, an herb study group in Tellico Village, Mary Garner has been attending seminars, studying, planting, harvesting, cooking, consuming and discovering practical uses for herbs for almost 50 years. At the CHEO program she will share her decades of herbal wisdom and donate a door prize. The Knoxville Group’s monthly programs are held at the Parkwest Medical Center classroom, 9330 Park West Boulevard. The Loudon/Monroe program will feature three panelists specializing in holistic and integrative medicine: Richard Mays, MD; Stephen Pershing, MD; and Rocio Huet, MD. Each doctor will give a brief presentation, and then the floor will be open for questions from audience members. The door prize is a gift certificate to the Health Shoppe. The Loudon/Monroe programs are held at the Rarity Bay Community Activity Center, 150 Rarity Bay Parkway, Vonore, Tennessee. CHEO, the Complementary Health Education Organization, is a nonprofit whose goal is to educate the public about alternative and complementary health practices. For more information about the Knoxville and Loudon/Monroe CHEO Groups or their monthly educational programs, visit CHEOKnox.org. See resource listing, page 29.
Crystal Peace Center 865-200-9582 205 Court St. Maryville, TN 37804 crystal.peace@aol.com crystalpeacecenter.com
See this month’s calendar listings for all events.
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
Reflexology Not Just “Foot Massage”
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Join us for classes or call to schedule your own personal wellness assessment
eflexology is one of many natural healing alternatives that are gaining ground in what used to be a “prescription drug” society. But Naomi Kemp-Govinder, the reflexologist at Total Works Salon, says plenty of people still don’t quite understand what the therapy involves. For one thing, it’s not simply a foot massage. “While a foot massage is generally incorporated along with reflex techniques, the main focus is using gentle but deliberate pressure to work the vital points in the feet, hands or ears,” Kemp-Govinder says. “The feet are mainly used, since this is a larger surface area to work with.” The points worked in reflexology are thought to correspond to the body systems and organs, she says; by stimulating these points, the reflexologist seeks to relieve stress and tension, bring the body’s systems into balance and help organs function optimally. “It’s also very relaxing,” she adds. Kemp-Govinder says reflexology can help people who suffer from certain systematic issues, such as headaches or migraines, digestive issues, bladder problems, infertility, sinus problems, asthma, arthritis, insomnia and menstrual problems. “It can also help alleviate pain in the back, neck and shoulders, increase blood circulation, and make tired and overworked feet feel very happy,” she says. Like many forms of bodywork, the best and most-lasting results happen when treatment is consistent, she says. “I usually tell my clients that I’d like to see them at least once a month; twice a month would be ideal. Consistency is key.”
~John Muir
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The Total Works Salon is located at 120 S. Peters Rd., Knoxville. See ad, page 9. natural awakenings April 2015
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newsbriefs Special Inspirational Music at Unity Services
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ev. Lora Beth Gilbreath of Unity Transformation says April promises to be an especially inspirational month for the ministry, which will host special musical guests at two of its Sunday-morning services. On April 5, Unity’s Easter service will include music by the Knoxville duo of Michele Williams and Will Fletcher. And on April 26, Unity welcomes back the Nashville duo Source, Kenya Walker and Vic Sorrell. Easter is a celebration of the overcoming and crossing out of our limitations, Gilbreath says. “Jesus stated that we could do what he did, and greater things,” she says. “His overcoming demonstrates our own indwelling spiritual potential. Unity believes, and science has supported, that our habitual trend of thoughts and feelings influences our lives and the world around us. Unity is branded as ‘a positive path for spiritual living,’ but it is also known as ‘practical spirituality.’” After Easter, Unity will launch into a study of the New York Times bestseller E Squared:Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality, in which author Pam Grout presents practical exercises demonstrating the principle of “mind action.” Unity Transformation, which is branded through Unity Worldwide Ministries, meets every Sunday at 10:45 a.m. at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, across the street from Books-AMillion. Unity is known for its inspirational magazine Daily Word (DailyWord.com) and for its 24/7 prayer ministry Silent Unity (1-800-NOW-PRAY or SilentUnity.org), which has been in nonstop prayer since 1890. For more information about Unity Transformation, call Gilbreath at 865-809-5207 or visit UnityTransformation.org. See ad, page 13.
Center for Peace Hosts Workshop, Children’s Weekend
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he Center for Peace—a holistic, nondenominational spiritual center located in Seymour, Tennessee—is hosting two April events: a workshop and healing sessions with “That Energy Guy,” David Arms, and a children’s weekend gathering, Native Nurturing Overnight, led by Nan Citty. Arms’ workshop, scheduled for April 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., will focus on how spiritual growth impacts everyday life. “We came here with a plan—each of us has something we came to do,” he says. “When we choose to grow spiritually, we release blocks and things that hold us back from growing, preventing our abilities from growing as they should. As a result, we don’t knowingly create our existence. And so the goal is to get us back in control of things we were meant to have control over: our dreams and aspirations.” The presentation fee is $25, and individual sessions of 45 to 60 minutes are $50. Sessions should be scheduled ahead. For more information, contact Patti MacFee at 865-250-1988. The children’s overnight event, which will begin April 18 at 3 p.m. and conclude April 19 at noon, will focus on the Medicine Wheel, Citty says. Other activities will include storytelling, drumming and singing, and a gentle children’s sweat lodge followed by a feast Sunday morning. “Native Nurturing is designed to support the development of our children, because they are our future,” Citty says. “Our workshops create a place for growth in a beautiful setting with fun activities.” The cost is $50 for one child and one parent, $75 for three family members or $100 for four or more family members. The Center is located at 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., about 45 minutes from downtown Knoxville. For more information, call 865-458-3070 or visit CenterForPeace.us. See ad, page 9.
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Natural Awakenings Earns Top Franchise Business Award
A HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL CENTER
Inner peace through ancient wisdom
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See this month’s calendar section for all event listings or visit us online! (865) 428-3070
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Sweat Lodges Fire Ceremony Messiah Training Drumming Circle Workshops and more!
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865-660-4799 How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. —Annie Dillard, The Writing Life
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atural Awakenings has been ranked in the best 50 in its size class among 200 companies named in the Franchise Business Review’s 2015 Top Franchises Report. The healthy living magazine was one of five franchise companies cited as best-in-class in the advertising and sales category. To select the top franchises across industries and performance categories, the organization surveyed more than 28,500 franchisees. “We feel privileged that it was our franchisees’ expression of high satisfaction that earned us this award,” says Sharon Bruckman, CEO of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. “Gaining this recognition proves that our process of providing franchisees with editorial, promotional and operational support, partnered with their enthusiastic dedication in individual markets, serves communities well. Together, we are nourishing and growing a healthy living consciousness in America.” The network now encompasses nearly 100 franchisees nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Franchise Business Review, headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. 2015 marked its 10th annual Top Franchises Report.
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New Customers receive 15% off any service
120 S. Peters Rd. #18 Knoxville, TN 37932 865-690-5654 natural awakenings April 2015
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healthbriefs
Acupuncture Increases Quality of Life for Allergy Sufferers
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esearch from Berlin’s Charité University Medical Center suggests that acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in 2013, the study analyzed data on the costs and quality of life of 364 allergy patients that had been randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: rescue medication alone (taken when symptoms are greatest); acupuncture treatment plus rescue medication; or sham (nontherapeutic) acupuncture plus rescue medication. Patients receiving acupuncture incurred higher total treatment costs, but also gained significantly more quality of life compared with the rescue medication-only groups.
Strawberries Reduce Blood Pressure
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study published in the World Journal of Diabetes concluded that the regular consumption of a flavonoidrich strawberry beverage reduces blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. The study divided 36 subjects, all with moderately high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, into two groups—the first drank the equivalent of one serving of fresh strawberries per day made from freeze-dried berries, and the other group drank the same amount of an imitation strawberry-flavored drink over a six-week period. Blood pressure was tested at the beginning and end of the study for all participants. At the end, the group drinking the real strawberry beverage registered significantly lower diastolic blood pressure than at the outset; it was also lower than the imitation strawberry group. The average diastolic blood pressure of the group drinking real strawberries went down by 6.5 percent and the systolic dropped by 12 percent. The strawberry-flavored group’s systolic blood pressure was also reduced, but only by 3.7 percent.
The Color Green Makes Exercise Feel Easier
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esearch from the University of Essex, in England, suggests that viewing natural green images while exercising may be better than being exposed to other colors. The researchers tested 14 people doing moderate-intensity cycling while watching video footage of predominantly gray, red or green imagery. Each of the participants underwent three cycling tests—one with each of the videos— along with a battery of physiological and mood testing. The researchers found that when the subjects watched the green-colored video, they had better moods, with a lower relative perception of exertion than when they exercised while watching the red and grey videos. They also found those that exercised while watching the red video experienced greater feelings of anger during their exercise.
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NaturallyKnoxville.com
Memory Works Better Reading Real Books R
esearchers from Norway’s Stavanger University and France’s AixMarseille Université found that readers remember a story better if it’s on paper. The study tested 50 people that read the same 28-page short story. Half of the group read the paper version and the other half read the story on a Kindle e-reader. The researchers discovered that readers of the digital version could not remember details from the story or reconstruct the plot as well as the group that read the paper copy. The researchers found that the feedback of a Kindle doesn’t provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does. “When you read on paper, you can sense with your fingers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right,” explains Stavanger University’s Anne Mangen, Ph.D. These findings confirm a study performed a year earlier, also led by Mangen. Seventy-two 10th-graders were given text to read either on paper or on a computer screen. The students that read the paper text versions scored significantly higher in reading comprehension testing than those reading digital versions.
Olive Oil Boosts Healthy Cholesterol
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n an effort to understand what makes olive oil so good for heart health, a study from Europe’s Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group and the U.S. National Institutes of Health has found that olive oil’s polyphenols significantly increase the size of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and enhance the HDL’s ability to inhibit formation of the abnormal fatty deposits, known as plaque, within the walls of arteries. Polyphenols are natural compounds from plants known to help prevent cancer and heart disease. In the three-week study, researchers isolated the effect of polyphenols by dividing 47 healthy European men into two groups: one ate a diet containing polyphenol-poor olive oil and the other consumed polyphenol-rich olive oil. The enriched diet resulted in increased size, fluidity and stability (resistance to oxidation) of the HDL molecules by reducing their triglyceride core. The researchers note that the oxidation of cholesterol lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is linked with arteriosclerosis.
Local Toxins Increase Risk of Autism
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onfirming previous findings, a large study from the University of Chicago has found that autism is linked to toxic environmental exposure. The research examined data from nearly a third of the U.S. population, which showed that both autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities increased as exposure increased in region-by-region testing. The research measured clusters of autism incidence together with exposure rates in different counties and states across the country. The areas with greater environmental toxin exposures had significantly increased autism rates. The correlation was significant among both boys and girls, but stronger among girls. Proximity to urban areas also increased autism incidence. For every 1 percent increase in urbanization, there was about a 3 percent rise in autism and intellectual disabilities. Influential toxins include pesticides, plasticizers, lead and pharmaceuticals.
Reset your life. Feel the good vibrations. Release tension and experience the deep peace that sound healing brings to the body.
Call Mebbie Jackson to schedule your Acutonics session today! 865-679-9642
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Out of all of the “alternative” modalities I have experienced, this is by far the most grounding, relaxing, centering. It is also the most gentle.” -Tatum L.
My session with Mebbie helped me release some of the trauma after my mother passed.” -Linda B. My body and brain did a happy dance for days after my treatment with Mebbie!” -Pam B. I was vibrating with energy for hours!” -Leslie D.
natural awakenings April 2015
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Vanishing Wildlife
50 Percent Gone in Under 50 years The latest World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Living Planet Report shows that the Living Planet Index (LPI), which measures more than 10,000 representative populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, has declined by 52 percent since 1970. The report is widely considered the leading science-based analysis on the health of our planet and the impact of human activity (Tinyurl.com/WWF-Living-Planet-Report). In fewer than two human generations, populations of vertebrate species—the life forms that constitute the fabric of life-sustaining ecosystems and serve as a barometer of how humans are impacting nature—have dropped by half. Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand; it’s not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but about safeguarding the future of humanity. Living Planet Report partners include the Zoological Society of London, Global Footprint Network and Water Footprint Network. Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, states, “We need leadership for change. Sitting on the bench waiting for someone else to make the first move, doesn’t work. Heads of state need to start thinking globally; businesses and consumers need to stop behaving as if we live in a limitless world.”
Thriving Eco-Towns
Malaysian Villages Model Sustainability
photo by MIGHT
Innovations being successfully pioneered in Malaysia offer ideas for improving the world, according to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), including the construction of high-tech, self-sustaining ecological “smart” villages. These villages are lifting incomes for scores of rural families while promoting environmental sustainability. Each 50acre community consists of about 100 affordable homes, advanced educational, training and recreational facilities and an integrated, sustainable farm system that provides villagers with food and employment that on average, triples their monthly income. Low-cost, 1,000-square-foot homes are built in 10 days and the communal farming operations include a cascading series of fish tanks, or “aquafarms”. Filtered fish tank wastewater irrigates trees, grain fields and high-value plants grown in “autopots”, a three-piece container with a valve that detects soil moisture levels and releases water as required, reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Free-range chickens feed on the fast-reproducing worms that process the plant compost. This system optimizes nutrient absorption, minimizes waste and enables crops to be grown on previously non-arable land. The village’s solar-generated power is complemented by biomass energy and mini-hydro electricity. A community hall, resource center, places of worship, playgrounds and educational facilities equipped with 4G Internet service support e-learning and e-health services.
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Corporate Do-Gooders
U.S. Recognizes Companies for Earth-Sound Policies Each year, the U.S. Department of State presents Awards for Corporate Excellence recognizing U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles worldwide as good corporate citizens. Parameters include supporting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmental protection, open markets, transparency and other democratic values. The 2014 winners, announced last December, include the EcoPlanet Bamboo Group, in Nicaragua, for fostering sustainable development by regenerating degraded pasturelands. The company dedicates 20 percent of its plantations as natural habitat that protects biodiversity by prohibiting illegal hunting. EcoPlanet also focuses on employing persons with disabilities and empowering women through recruitment to managerial positions. Wagner Asia Equipment, LLC, in Mongolia, a heavy equipment dealership, is recognized for its commitment to public/private partnerships with Mongolia’s local and national governments designed to protect the environment. Initiatives include planting more than 900 trees, conducting workshops for students on environment and ecology, implementing a project to build a community garden and rehabilitating a toxic waste site. Other finalists include the Coca-Cola Company, in the Philippines; Chevron Corporation, in Burma; ContourGlobal, in Togo; General Electric, in South Africa; General Electric International, in Tunisia; GlassPoint Solar, in Oman; and the Linden Centre, in China. For more information on finalists, visit Tinyurl.com/ACE2014Finalists.
Soil Salvation
ecotip
The nonprofit Rodale Institute, the United Nations and the Soil Association are reporting that modern, chemical-intensive industrial farming is stripping the soil’s natural ability to take carbon back out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in the soil. Rodale researchers say that by returning to small-scale organic farming, more than 40 percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions could be captured in the soil, and if the entire world’s pasture and rangelands were managed using regenerative techniques, an additional 71 percent of those emissions could be sequestered. Further, organic practices could counteract the world’s yearly carbon dioxide output while producing the same amount of food as conventional farming. Rodale claims that using regenerative organic agriculture—like low or no-tillage, cover crops and crop rotation—will keep photosynthesized carbon dioxide in the soil, instead of returning it to the atmosphere. The institute cites 75 studies from peer-reviewed journals, including its own 33-year Farming Systems Trial, which directly compare organic farming with conventional farming.
Sustainable Shopping Tips
Organic Farming May Counteract Greenhouse Effect
Source: OrganicConsumers.org
Smart Choices Help Our Home Planet
The buy local movement and popularity of local farmers’ markets continue to grow, but we can do even better when it comes to sustainable shopping. A recent Greendex.com survey on environmental impacts of consumer behaviors in 18 countries reports that more Americans are eating local and organic foods and say they’re going to consume less meat and bottled water. Nevertheless, we continue to eat the most processed and packaged foods and the fewest fruits and vegetables of all the countries surveyed. Evidently, we need to literally put our money where our mouths are. The Greendex survey cites several basic ways to make our diets more sustainable. These include eating more vegetables and less beef and lamb (recognizing the greater environmental impact of raising animals); participating and supporting community supported agriculture and fishery initiatives; economizing meal planning; and storing food properly in the refrigerator to maximize space and freshness periods. When grocery shopping, peruse the perimeter aisles first, where whole foods are stocked, instead of the interior shelves, which typically comprise processed foods according to MotherEarthLiving.com. More cooperation between the public and private sectors and individual involvement can also increase sustainability in communities around the world. Rachael Durrant, Ph.D., a research fellow with the UK-based Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group, cites in a recent paper the need for improved understanding of the key roles that civil society organizations play within processes of large-scale social change and warned that many communities are vulnerable to grave environmental and social risks. Durrant lauds “greener, fairer and healthier practices, such as community gardening or cookery classes,” plus “those that change the rules of the game through campaigns or lobbying to coordinate and facilitate activities of other groups.” Supporting food and farming management that’s independent, cooperative and welcomes volunteers, for example, is highly beneficial.
Rev. Lora Beth Gillbreath We ekly Sunday ser v ices 10:45 at Open Chord 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 37919 (Directly across the street from Books-A-Million) A Positive Path For Spiritual Living
( 865) 809-5207 www.unitytransformation.org unitytransformation@gmail.com P.O. Box 32703, Knoxville, TN 37930 natural awakenings April 2015
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Nature’s Wisdom Its Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us by Christine MacDonald
The environment is not separate from ourselves; we are inside it and it is inside us; we make it and it makes us. ~ Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, Amazon shaman
W
hile the idea that we humans stand apart from—or even above—nature is a prevailing theme in much of modern civilization, naturalists and other clever souls throughout the ages have observed that the opposite is true: We are part of, depend on and evolve with nature—and we ignore this vital connection at our peril. “If one way is better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way,” admonished the Greek philosopher Aristotle, in the third century B.C.E. “Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confirms the judgment of nature,” Roman politician and philosopher Cicero ruminated two centuries later. Nobel Prize-winning physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein remarked, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Today, more of us are looking to nature for ways to improve physical, mental and emotional health, develop intelligence, innovate, overhaul how we build homes and neighborhoods, and raise our children.
Healthful Nature
As Henry David Thoreau wrote in his classic 1854 book Walden, “We need the tonic of wildness.” While we know firsthand how walking in the woods can elevate mood, scientists have documented that a regular dose of nature has other far-reaching benefits. It can lower stress hormone levels, blood
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pressure and undesirable cholesterol; help heal neurological problems; hasten fuller recovery from surgery and heart attacks; increase cancer-fighting white blood cells; and generally aid overall health (Health Promotion International research report; also Nippon Medical School study, Tokyo). Regular playtime outdoors helps children cope with hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders, according to research published in Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. Exposure to nature can help adults escape from today’s wired lives; reinvigorate, be fitter and less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and heart disease, as reported in studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and a University of Washington research summary. It can also unlock understanding of the spiritual essence of life. Hours regularly spent by youth outdoors stimulate imagination and creativity and enhance cognitive development, helping them learn. Nature also helps youngsters develop social awareness, helping them better navigate human relations (Tinyurl.com/OutdoorHealthBenefits Research). “It’s strange and kind of sad that we are so removed from nature that we actually have to ask why nature is good for us,” says Dr. Eva Selhub, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School, author of the new book Your Health Destiny, and co-author of Your Brain on Nature. “The fact is our
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brains and bodies are wired in concert with nature.” Recognition of nature’s positive effects has grown so much in recent years that physicians increasingly write their patients “prescriptions” to go hiking in the woods, counting on the healthy exercise and exposure to sunlight, nature and soothing views to address health problems stemming from poor diets and sedentary lifestyles. Healthcare clinics and hospitals in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, New Mexico, California’s Bay Area and elsewhere have launched Prescription Trails programs aimed at objectives from preventing obesity in children to healthful activities for retirees (Tinyurl.com/AmericanHealthTrails). Bestselling author Richard Louv calls the positive nature effect “vitamin N” in The Nature Principle. He contends: “Many of us, without having a name for it, are using the nature tonic. We are, in essence, self-medicating with an inexpensive and unusually convenient drug substitute.” Such ideas are commonly accepted in many cultures. The Japanese believe in the restorative power of shinrin-yoku, which could be translated as “forest medicine” or “forest bathing”. Indigenous peoples like the Brazilian tribe led by Shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, fighting to preserve their land and way of life in the Amazon, profess to be at one with the innate riches of sustainable rainforests (SurvivalInternational.org/parks).
Innovative Nature
Scientists, inventors and other innovators are increasingly inspired by nature. Biomimicry, part social movement and part burgeoning industry, looks to how Earth’s natural systems work and solve problems. University of Utah researchers, inspired by the durable homes built by sandcastle worms, are creating a synthetic glue that one day could help repair fractured bones. Architectural components manufacturer Panelite makes energy-efficient insulated glass by mimicking the hexagonal structure that bees use in honeycombs. (Find other precedents at Tinyurl.com/ BiomimicryCaseExamples). The inspiration for biomimicry comes from many places, says Dayna Baumeister, Ph.D. co-founder of Biomimicry 3.8, a Missoula, Montana, company working
Man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned to discord. The proportions and accommodations that ensured the stability of existing arrangements are overthrown. Of all organic beings, man alone is to be regarded as essentially a destructive power. ~George Perkins Marsh, Man and Nature (1864) with other companies and universities to propel biomimicry into the mainstream. “People are recognizing that they’ve been disconnected to the natural world,” she says. “We also realize that [as a species] we are in trouble. We don’t have all the answers, but we can look to other species for inspiration” for clearing pollutants from our bodies and environments. Plants and fungi are now commonly used to clean up old industrial sites that resemble nature’s way of removing pollutants from water and soil. A University of California, Berkeley, meta-study confirms that farmers currently using organic farming methods and solar power achieve roughly the same crop yields as conventional techniques with far less dependence on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gases and petrochemical pesticide and fertilizer pollution.
Cyclical Nature
These breakthrough technologies emulate the way nature uses the building blocks of life in an endless cycle of birth, reproduction, decay and rebirth. It’s part of a broad rethinking of the principles behind sustainability—building, manufacturing and living in greater harmony with natural systems, perhaps eventually eliminating landfills, air and water pollution, and toxic site cleanups. “A toxin is a material in the wrong place,” says architect William McDonough, of Charlottesville, Virginia. The only individual recipient of the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, he is co-author of Cradle-to-Cradle, a groundbreaking book that calls for reenvisioning even the nastiest waste, and The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability— Designing for Abundance. McDonough imagines a world where waste becomes raw material for new buildings, furniture and other goods—akin to how a forest reuses every deceased tree and animal
to nourish the ecosystem and spawn new life. With 80 percent of U.S. residents currently living in urban areas, architects, builders and municipal planners are likewise pivoting toward nature, prompted by the scientific evidence of the many ways that human health and general well-being rely upon it. While this contact is preferably the kind of “stopping by woods” that inspired New England poet Robert Frost, even a walk in a city park will work. “Urban nature, when provided as parks and walkways and incorporated into building design, provides calming and inspiring environments and encourages learning, inquisitiveness and alertness,” reports the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, in Green Cities: Good Health. The American Planning Association stresses the importance of integrating green space into urban neighborhoods. Not only does so-called “metro nature” improve air and water quality and reduce urban heat island effects, urban wilds such as Pittsburgh’s Nine Mile Run and Charlotte, North Carolina’s Little Sugar Creek Greenway also restore natural connections in densely populated city centers.
Natural Intelligence
A growing number of scientists say that research about our place in nature has sparked fresh thinking about our role and devastated quaint notions about our species’ superiority. “Single-celled slime molds solve mazes. Brainless plants make correct decisions and bees with brains the size of pinheads handle abstract concepts,” points out Anthropologist Jeremy Narby, author of the groundbreaking book Intelligence in Nature. At a national conference of Bioneers, an organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Francisco that gathers
nature-minded social and scientific innovators, Narby said: “We are nearly identical to many animals. Many behaviors once thought to be exclusively human are shared by other species. The zone of the specifically human, as determined by science, has been shrinking.” We haven’t lost the ability to tap that primal animal inside, even if most of us are more likely to “venture into the forest” by watching a movie or playing video games. We may feel cut off from our instincts, but studies show time in the woods can do wonders to restore the keenness of our senses to connect with the subtle changes in natural habitat, the movements of other species and the changing seasons. The rise of human civilizations may have taken “survival of the fittest” in new directions, often decidedly tamer ones, but experts ranging from scientific researchers to lifestyle analysts say humankind is still hardwired by our more primitive past. Despite the ingenious ways we’ve devised to exploit other life forms, capitalize on Earth’s resources and protect ourselves from nature’s sometimes terrifying power, our fate remains linked to natural laws and limits, from nurturing our body’s immune system to resolving planet-sized problems like climate change. “‘Nature’ is our natural environment,” according to Selhub. We don’t have to move to the country to reconnect, she says. “Even spending 20 minutes a day outside has an effect.” Houseplants, nature photos and aromatherapy Earth scents can also help indoor environments better reflect our own nature. The wealth of research and common sense wisdom is aptly summed up by celebrated author Wendell Berry in The Long-Legged House. “We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it’ll be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.” Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science. Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.
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WOMEN LEAD THE WAY
consciouseating
The Food Artisans Next Door Homemade Delicacies, Direct from Our Neighbors by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko
Neighbors in most states can now legally buy fresh breads, cookies and preserves from local food artisans.
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he locavore Healthy as it movement Comes of eating “All of our prodlocally produced ucts are made foods continues to by hand and in expand, thanks to small batches 42 states passing daily,” says cottage food laws Ruth Wardein, that permit comco-owner, with munity members to Andrew Amick, of photo courtesy of Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery, Naples, FL make certain foods Epiphany Gluten at home to sell to neighbors. Some enterFree Bakery, in Naples, Florida, which she prises use a contract packer to deliver on launched from her home kitchen. Besides a scale not possible domestically, or even gluten-free cookies, cakes and breads, operate from a commercially licensed she’s always “perfecting” her Paleo cookproduction facility. ies, brownies and pancake mix. From sauerkraut and distinctive jams Paleo recipes contain no grains, and organic jellies to gluten- or peanutdairy, yeast or refined sugars, explains free cakes and regional artisanal breads, Wardein. “They require nut and seed some of the most flavorful products are flours, coconut oil and natural sugars being produced with no chemical preserlike honey or maple syrup. So they are vatives, artificial colors or other laboratory naturally higher in protein and fiber and ingredients. Nearly all are made in small lower in carbs than the average glutenbatches, and usually by the owner. Many free recipe.” source local ingredients or serve special “We’re experimenting with the dietary needs largely underserved or community supported agriculture model ignored by larger food businesses. with local fruit,” says Erin Schneider. She “In a sharing economy, individuals and her husband, Rob McClure, operlook less to big chain stores for their food ate Hilltop Community Farm, in LaValle, needs and more to each other, making Wisconsin, which produces value-added fresher, tastier and often healthier foods products with organically grown crops. more accessible,” explains Janelle Orsi, “We have salsas, pickles and jams. Our co-founder of the Oakland, California, black currant and honey jam is sold beSustainable Economies Law Center (SELC), fore it’s made. Rob’s garlic dills have their citing its Policies for Shareable Cities report own following.” Wisconsin’s cottage food partnered with the nonprofit Shareable. law restricts sales to only high-acid foods. The Specialty Food Association reports that sales of specialty foods—primarily at Quality over Quantity grocery retailers, but also cottage operators In Royal Oaks, California, Garden Variety via farmers’ markets and direct orders when Cheese owner, cheesemaker and shepallowed by their state—grew 22 percent herd Rebecca King feeds her 100 milking from 2010 to 2012, topping $85 billion. ewes organically raised, irrigated pasture
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grass and brewer’s grain to yield awardwinning farmstead easier-to-digest sheep cheeses from her Monkeyflower Ranch. “Many first-time customers like my story as a small producer and want to buy direct from the farm. They keep buying because of the taste,” says King. “My marinara and pizza sauces are made in small batches by hand in a home kitchen, enabling us to hot pack them to retain the ingredients’ natural favors,” says Liz James, owner of The Happy Tomato, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her sauces are also low in sodium and contain no sugar, saturated fat or gluten. James’ production is facilitated by Virginia’s home food processor license, which lets her work from home and sell wholesale. Whole Foods Market is among her major retail accounts. When home-based cottage food businesses are spurred into expansion to keep up with demand, a situation sometimes complicated by state limits on sales volume, many opt for renting space in the growing number of incubator, or community, kitchens nationwide. “We did farmers’ markets for three years and went from seven customers to thousands,” says Wardein, who now rents a commercial kitchen space. “Returning customers are the momentum that has pushed us forward.” “By growing food in and around our own neighborhoods and cities, we decrease our dependence on an oftentimes unjust and ecologically destructive global food system and build stronger, more connected and resilient communities,” affirms Yassi Eskandari-Qajar, director of SELC’s City Policies program. “We think it’s important to produce what grows well on our soil and then sell it, so that ecology drives economics, rather than vice versa,” says Schneider. “Random things prosper in our area, like paprika peppers, elderberries, hardy kiwi, garlic, pears and currants. It’s our job as ecologically-minded farmers to show how delicious these foods can be.” Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are co-authors of the new book Homemade for Sale, a guide for launching a food business from a home kitchen, plus ECOpreneuring, Farmstead Chef and Rural Renaissance. Learn more at HomemadeForSale.com.
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Home-Grown Organic Made Easy 10 Time-Saving Tips for a Healthy Garden by Barbara Pleasant
Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm
Celebrating our 20th Year! Visit our herb shop - organic growing supplies and seeds, dried organic herbs, essential oils, herb books and gifts, gardening accessories. Herbal education classes, tours/ programs for groups, display gardens. 123 England Lane, Clinton, TN 37716 erinsmeadowherbfarm.com 865-435-1452 Tues - Sat 10:00-5:00 Sun. 12:00-5:00 Closed Mondays and Holidays
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he arrival of planting season has a stunning effect on veggie gardeners. We talk to our seedlings as if they were children, and don’t mind working until dark if that’s what it takes to get the fingerling potatoes in the ground. Then, complications like crabgrass and cabbageworms appear, and keeping up with all the details feels impossible. We can lighten looming chores by using these time-saving tips, which will reduce later workloads when storms and the hot summer sun threaten to squelch the magic. Mulch to reduce watering and prevent weeds. “You can cut your watering time in half by mulching crops with a three-to-four-inch layer of straw or shredded leaves,” says Niki Jabbour, award-winning author of The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener and Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You
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Grow Your Garden. “Crops like tomatoes, potatoes, kale, broccoli, cucumbers and squash all benefit from a deep mulch, which reduces the need to water and also prevents weeds, saving even more time.” Grow herbs in convenient containers. Family cooks will harvest kitchen herbs every day, in all kinds of weather, so don’t waste footsteps. Grow some parsley, basil and other herbs in large containers near the kitchen door. Try promising perennials. Plant them once, and vegetables like asparagus and rhubarb come back year after year in cold winter climates like the Midwest and Northeast. Where winters are mild, artichokes or chayote (pear squash) are long-lived and productive. Many resilient herbs will return each spring, too, including sage, mints, thyme and oregano. Tarragon and marjoram make trusty perennial herbs in the Sun Belt.
Stock up on organic seeds. “As a year-round vegetable gardener, I try to come up with a list of all the seeds I’ll need for every season when I place annual seed orders,” Jabbour says. “That way, I will place fewer orders and have everything on hand at the proper planting time, saving both time and money.” Organic seeds in consumer seed catalogs and retail racks won’t be genetically modified or treated with pesticides. Be generous with organic compost. With each planting, mix in organic compost along with a balanced organic fertilizer. Food crops grown in organically enriched soil are better able to resist challenges from pests and diseases, which simplifies summer tasks. Grow flowers to attract beneficial insects. Reducing or eliminating pesticides and increasing plantings of flowers can radically improve the balance between helpful and harmful insects in a garden. Horticulturist Jessica Walliser, co-host of Pittsburgh’s The Organic Gardeners KDKA radio show and author of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to
Your Garden, recommends starting with sweet alyssum, an easy-to-grow annual that can be tucked into the edges of beds or added to mixed containers. “The tiny blossoms of sweet alyssum are adept at supporting several species of the non-stinging parasitic wasps that help keep aphids and other common pests in check,” Walliser says. In warm climates where they are widely grown, crape myrtles have been found to serve as nurseries for lady beetles, lacewings and other beneficial insects. Protect plants with fabric barriers. Pest insects seeking host plants won’t find cabbage or kale if they’re hidden beneath hoops covered with fine-mesh fabric like wedding net (tulle) or garden fabric row cover. “Cover the plants the day they are transplanted into the garden,” advises Walliser. As long as the edges are securely tucked in, row covers will also protect plants from wind, hail, rabbits and deer. Hoe briefly each day. Commit 10 minutes a day to hoeing. While slicing down young weeds, hill up
soil over potatoes or clean up beds ready to be replanted. Look out for small problems to correct before they become big ones. No more misplaced tools. Time is often wasted searching for lost weeders, pruning shears and other hand tools, which are easier to keep track of when painted in bright colors or marked with colored tape. Jabbour uses a tool stash basket placed at the garden entrance. Stop to smell the flowers. Use moments saved to sit quietly, relax and soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the garden. Pausing to listen to the birds or watch a honeybee work a flower is part of the earned reward of any healthy garden that can’t be measured by the pound. Barbara Pleasant, the author of numerous green thumb books, including Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens, grows vegetables, herbs and fruits in Floyd, Virginia. Connect at BarbaraPleasant.com.
a Grow healthy, medicinal mushrooms at home a Mushroom logs, spawn, and ready to grow kits a Dried reishi, shiitake, maitake, chaga mushroom Kombucha starters and more Showroom Hours: Wednesday - Friday 10:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Dean Evenson
Nature & Music Healing People and the Planet
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n 1970, when sound-healing and videotaping Lakota elders, activists and video pioneers Dean and Dudley medicine men, who spoke strongly Evenson first became aware of the about the challenges facing the earth serious environmental issues threatat that time. Again the Evensons conening our world, they wanted to find templated this new information and a way to help educate people about tried to figure out a way to share what the plight of the planet. They got that they were learning. opportunity two years later, when they A few years later, now living in worked as videographers at the first Tucson, Arizona, the Evensons decided United Nations Conference on the to form a record label, Soundings of Human Environment in Stockholm, the Planet, to distribute what Dean Sweden. describes as “the music that was flow “In Stockholm we met and were ing through us.” He spent the night in exposed to the wisdom of the fifteen a desert canyon, and as the sun rose, Native Americans who were at the he used two stereo mikes to catch the conference talking about Mother sounds of the birds at dawn. The EvenEarth,” recalls Dudley Evenson. “We sons’ first album, Desert Dawn Song, documented this historic event with included these sounds of dawn in the the new, portable Sony video camera desert along with the couple’s calming that had just become available, and music of flute, harp, cello and vocal looked for ways to apply these new tones. ideas.” “This album was one of the very The next year, Dean Evenson was first to include meditative music along invited to Wounded Knee on the Pine with field recordings of nature sounds, Ridge Reservation and it ushered in a in South Dakota new genre of “Even though we didn’t whole to help transmit music,” Dudley says. start out trying to make “This was our way of television out of the occupied town. the earth, healing music, that is honoring He stayed on the and our vision was reservation a month, exactly what happened.” to get this nature-
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based music to people living in cities who made decisions about the fate of the planet.” The Evensons have continued to create this special type of music, and over the past 35 years they have released more than 80 albums and videos dedicated to their vision of creating “peace through music.” Dean has spent many hours next to flowing rivers or ocean beaches, and in wetlands, forests and mountain valleys, recording both audio and video. These “soundings of the planet” have found their way to a number of popular, award-winning albums and DVDs. The added bonus, Dudley says, is that the music seems to have a healing effect on listeners. “Even though we didn’t start out trying to make healing music, that is exactly what happened,” she says. The Evensons also added to their recordings the Earth Resonance Frequency (ERF) of 7.83 hz (cycles per second), which is the actual resonance of the planet’s atmospheric cavity, Dean explains. “This is also the same frequency that our brains emit when on the cusp of the alpha and theta brainwave states,” he says. “This tends to have a positive, healing effect on people, adding to the already peaceful state the music and nature sounds create.” For more information on Dean and Dudley Evenson and their music and videos, visit Soundings.com; search “soundings of the planet” on Facebook or YouTube; visit their blog, HealthyLivingDreams.com; or call 800-93-PEACE (800-937-3223).
inspiration
Gentle Touch Therapeutic Massage Because you deserve a time to relax. Because you deserve to feel great. Because you deserve a healthy body.
Strong Winds Strong Roots
What Trees Teach Us About Life by Dennis Merritt Jones
A
great experiment in the desert called the biodome created a living environment for human, plant and animal life. A huge glass dome was constructed to house an artificial, controlled environment with purified air and water, healthy soil and filtered light. The intent was to afford perfect growing conditions for trees, fruits and vegetables, as well as humans. People lived in the biodome, for many months at a time, and everything seemed to do well with one exception. When the trees grew to a certain height, they would topple over. It baffled scientists until they realized they forgot to include the natural element of wind. Trees need wind to blow against them because it causes their root systems to grow deeper, which supports the tree as it grows taller. Who among us doesn’t long for a perfect growing environment for ourselves, with no disruptions from outside influences? We strive to avoid the times of contrast and tension, when life’s daily challenges push against us. When they do, the normal tendency is to curse them. If trees could talk, would we hear them curse the wind each time they encountered a storm? We can learn a great deal from nature’s wisdom at work if we are open to the lesson. Watch how a tree bends and sways gracefully when the wind blows against it. It does not stand rigid, resisting the flow of energy. It does not push back. The tree accepts the strong wind as a blessing that helps it grow. Such experiences develop our character and deepen our spiritual roots. When we grow deep, we too, stand tall.
Call today to schedule your time 865-691-1565 or visit www.gentletouchtherapeutic.com Located at 220 S. Peters Road, Suite 102 – Knoxville, TN
Marty Austin, MS, LMT Certified In: CranioSacral Therapy - CST Infant CranioSacral Therapy Manual Lymphatic Drainage - MLD NeuroMuscular Therapy - NMT Russian Medical Massage Therapy
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. natural awakenings April 2015
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fitbody
MASTERING THE FORCE
The Martial Arts Hold Deep Inner Lessons by Eric Stevens
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ew words are as oddly coupled as martial and arts. The first means “relating to war and soldiers,” while the second means “something that is created with imagination and skill, and is beautiful or expresses important ideas or feelings.” All martial arts represent a paradox of push and pull, yin and yang, external and internal. Their practice represents the blending of our physical lives in harmony with our emotional makeup, allowing our external activity to mirror our internal being. Seldom is the fusion of body, mind and spirit easily achieved with one activity, but martial arts are an exception, because they focus equally on internal and external well-being. Here are five key life lessons that martial arts can teach us. Learn how to breathe. True connection with our breath permeates an artist’s realm. A vocalist must reach deep within the diaphragm to sing proficiently and a dancer must learn to time their breath while performing. A martial artist learns to control breath with stillness and speed, like juxtaposing yoga with intense contact sports. Breathing properly makes the practitioner a better martial artist and a
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healthier one. According to a study published in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, hypertensive qigong program participants were able to both lower their blood pressure after 10 weeks and increase their oxygen uptake by 20 percent. Avoid conflict by developing character. While it may seem counterintuitive that learning how to fight could avoid conflict, it’s an essential part of martial arts. The philosopher Lao Tzu said the best fighter is never angry. The martial arts are primarily about discipline, heightened awareness and honing an ability to face our own internal conflicts. Several studies corroborate that practicing martial arts produces positive behavioral changes. For instance, according to a study published in the Journal of Adolescence, participating students in the martial arts were characterized as being less impulsive and less aggressive. Connect the external (body movement) with the internal (energy movement). The energetic force that catalyzes expressive kicks, punches, blocks and other outward forms is as essential as the movements themselves. In Chinese martial
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arts, that force is referred to as qi, the life energy that intrinsically unites body, mind and spirit. Be both an artist and athlete. Artistry and athleticism need not be divergent forces. The martial artist combines the grace of a creator and skill of a warrior, and watching a martial arts competition can be as riveting as watching a ballet or sports event. Most of us may not be talented artists or natural athletes, yet all students can learn how to integrate both worlds by blending physicality with stillness and expression through action. Let go of ego, find mental clarity and access the present moment. Jirōkichi Yamada, a master of Japanese kenjutsu, said, “The way of the sword and the way of Zen are identical, for they have the same purpose; that of killing the ego.” The focus of all true martial arts is the process, not the outcome. Whatever the style of execution, preparatory practice and meditative application, they all require the discipline of being purely present. Gaining such clarity requires grappling more with ego than with opponents; the real battle of a martial artist is waged within. Bruce Lee, the film star who revolutionized Western awareness of martial arts and founded jeet kune do, realized that martial arts’ transcendent philosophy gives us many lessons to draw upon. He suggested, “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.” Eric Stevens has been a fitness professional and martial arts coach for 15 years. He writes about related topics from Denver, Colorado. Connect at EricChristopherStevens@gmail.com.
Give Mother Nature a High Five! by Cathy Scott
Shiitake
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t doesn’t always take a huge effort to make Mother Nature happy. Simple things like recycling, eating local, and eating less meat do more for the environment than you might realize. Lets face it: making big life changes is rarely easy, and those are the changes most often dropped by the wayside. If you want to improve your health and the environment, it is more reasonable to make several small changes over time. Here’s an easy change that can pay big dividends for Mother Nature: eat more specialty mushrooms, like shiitake, oyster and Lion’s Mane.
Nature’s Recyclers
disease. Mycelium straw is also more digestible than straw alone, and it has been shown to boost the immune system of animals. As with most recycling, buying “mushroom-recycled” goods not only keeps waste out of a landfill, but it also creates an infrastructure and a market that can keep that kind of waste out of landfills for … well, forever.
Perfect Farm Food
Mushrooms are best when eaten fresh and don’t travel well unless dried, so they are a natural fit for local farmers. Consuming locally grown food obviously saves on gas and reduces greenhouse effects, as the food isn’t shipped to or from faraway lands. In some places, the locavore movement is actually slowing urban sprawl and creating more green space, because land has value for more than just home sites. And since mushrooms can be grown right on the farm using waste products, they can play a large role in ecological farming practices.
You see, mushrooms are nature’s recy- Send Meat Packing Specialty mushrooms can replace the clers. Specialty mushrooms grow on protein on your plate. These beauwaste from crops, forestry, and paper ties come from nature rich in umami and food processing. This is waste flavor, full of nutrition and ready to that would normally rot and produce satisfy. Relinquishing meat even occarbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) casionally not only keeps animals through microbial action, or out of the slaughterhouse but be bagged and thrown in can also have a positive efthe landfill. fect on climate change. When mushrooms Here’s a recommendaare grown on this waste, tion from head of the what remains (myceUnited Nations’ Nobellium) can be used as prizewinning Intergova fertilizer or feed ernmental Panel on that can improve the Climate Change: sustainability of small “In terms of immefarms. Using mycelium diacy of action and as a fertilizer has been the feasibility of bringshown to increase crop ing about reductions in a yields and decrease pests and Oyster mushroom
short period of time, (giving up meat) clearly is the most attractive opportunity. Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there.”
Mushrooms are a sustainable, healthy food crop that requires little petroleum input while preserving and actually improving the soil. And here’s another environmental reason to love mushrooms: mushroom mycelium breaks down organic pollutants like PAH, PCB and dioxins. Specialty mushrooms that degrade things like straw produce enzymes that can reach nonsoluble pollutants in soil. So the waste generated from mushroom farming can actually clean contaminants that could potentially leach from soil into the watershed. Mushrooms are a sustainable, healthy food crop that requires little petroleum input while preserving and actually improving the soil. Whether mushrooms are used to replace livestock farming (which produces 18 percent of the earth’s greenhouse gas emissions) or a processed soy product, this little change in the diet can do a great deal for the earth. So the next time you eat mushrooms, imagine Mother Nature standing there, saying, “Give me some skin!” Cathy Scott is chief science officer for Everything Mushrooms, located at 1004 Sevier Ave., Knoxville. For more information, visit EverythingMushrooms.com. See ad, page 19.
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National Library Week, April 12 to 18, celebrates the program Unlimited Possiblities @ Your Library
Dogs with Library Cards Kids Love Reading to Animals by Sandra Murphy
The goal of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ), launched in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1999 as part of Intermountain Therapy Animals, is to improve children’s literacy skills with the mentoring help of certified therapy teams. Its reach has spread through library programs across the U.S. and Canada and internationally, with other therapy groups following suit.
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octors told the parents of an 11-year-old autistic son that he would never read… so quit trying to teach him,” says Suzanne Vening, an organic farmer in Jackson, Mississippi. “The doctor didn’t count on Adam, my Australian shepherd.” Abused and abandoned before being adopted by Vening, she had trained him for therapy work. Vening knew nothing about autistic or learning-disabled children, but she knew Adam could work miracles. The boy made eye contact with Adam during his library visit and read a few words. His parents were overjoyed as his reading continued to improve. “It’s hard to include children with special needs in many family activities,” Vening says. “A library is a place the whole family can enjoy.”
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She advises, “Designate a safe corner where a child can escape if feeling overwhelmed. After entering the room, handlers should sit on the floor with the dog lying beside them. A standing dog can cause too much excitement. It’s important to trust that your therapy dog will know how to approach a child that’s afraid, has tremors or can’t sit up or sit still.” “An animal’s heartbeat seems to call to kids,” observes Rachael Barrera, a children’s librarian at Brook Hollow Public Library, in San Antonio, Texas. “Dogs have come here once a week for more than a year. Now older kids that are comfortable with the reading program are showing younger ones how to choose a book.”
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photo courtesy of Jean Maclean
naturalpet
At California’s Benicia Public Library, kids read to Honey, a friendly brown dog, on Wednesday afternoons. Sheila Jordan, managing editor and owner of Booklandia, founded in Bend, Oregon, says her 8-year-old, Chase, found it difficult to concentrate because of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). “The Tales and Tails program was a big help. All summer, we went every week and chose books he said the dog would love.” Jordan’s reward was a more focused child; Chase’s reward was a dog of his own last fall. North Carolina’s Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers 14,000 free programs a year throughout its 20 locations, including Paws to Read. Librarian Cathy Cartledge, reading program coordinator for the Morrison Regional branch, shares this story from Jaylee’s mom, Jill. “Jaylee was tutored in reading for a year. After she also began reading to Zoey, a great Pyrenees, or Hunter, a golden retriever, I saw improvement in fluency, confidence and enjoyment. It worked miracles compared with the hours and money spent for tutoring,” her mom remarks. The Mount Prospect Library, near Chicago, has an age requirement for its Tales to Tails program. “Rachael, 8, will hardly put a book down now,” says her mom, Nicole Sasanuma, a senior associate with Business Communications & Advocacy, in Northbrook, Illinois. “Her sister, Emi, 6, is anxious for her next birthday so she ‘can read to doggies,’ too.” Reading programs aren’t limited to libraries or schools. Jean Maclean, of Lompoc, California, trains her two dogs in agility and rally skills. For a change of pace, they visit the Chumash Learning Center, in Santa Ynez, once a month. The Chumash people value education from both its elders and teachers outside the tribe. Maclean relates that Donny, age 11, was afraid of dogs until he met hers, after which his teachers saw his reading improve three levels in one semester. Animals help kids relax and be
come teachers to the dogs. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that reading skills for kids that read to dogs during a 10-week literacy program improved by 12 percent. Children in the same program that didn’t do the same showed no improvement. Dogs and other pets prove that reading out loud doesn’t have to be scary. All it takes is a good book and a good listener.
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Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.
Other Four-Footed Reading Partners
Call 865-607-7464 for more information
Crown Cleaners. A tradition of excellence for over 40 years. 6300 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 | 865.584.7464 9409 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922 | 865.539.6040
photo courtesy of Nancy Bailey
Cleo, a small gray cat that lives with Michelle Cardosi, a retail clerk in Denver, enjoyed her Love on a Leash therapy visits. When she became arthritic, moving from lap-to-lap was painful, and Cardosi considered retiring her, but Cleo didn’t agree. “So we went to the library’s Whiskers and Tales program instead, where she could sit on a pillow, get petted and be the center of attention,” she says. “She was able to visit until her 18th birthday.” Clifford, a 24-year-old Morgan horse, is a well-known literacy advocate. He tours libraries in Michigan and using a sponge and watercolor paint, “signs” his biography, Clifford of Drummond Island, by author and Lansing artist Nancy Bailey, for his fans. “The kids probably won’t remember what I say, but they’ll always remember the day they saw a horse in the library,” says Bailey. “We’ve been visiting for about four years. He’s nosy and gets into everything, like the day he noticed the used book shelf. He picked out pulp fiction books and kept handing them to me.” Bailey notes that Clifford teaches children that horses have feelings and a sense of humor when he goes for laughs and changes his responses when doing tricks.
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calendarofevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by April 10 (for the May issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com for guidelines and to submit entries.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-6604799. Write Now – 12:30-3pm. Creative writing workshop for women following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-660-4799.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Beekeepers’ Field Day –10am-4pm. Anderson County Beekeepers Association presents a free beginning beekeeping field day at Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, 132 England Dr., Clinton, TN. Preregister: Cathy Lowden at clowden@comcast.net or 865-463-8541. Full Moon Monthly Meditation, Channeling and Ceremony – Noon-2 pm. Each month The Healing Classroom offers a full moon meditation. The April full moon is in Libra, and there is a total lunar eclipse, making it a good time to “reboot” your systems and create personal change. Meditate, share with others, create an individual and group reality of love, joy, abundance of good. $22. 428 E. Scott Ave., Knoxville. Info: TheresaRichardson.com. Astrology Class – 1:45-3:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology. com or 865-719-2049.
SUNDAY, APRIL 5 Easter Sweat Lodge – 10:30am. Experience a deeper spiritual awareness through this ancient form of prayer and purification. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070. Easter Service – 10:45am. Michele Williams and Will Fletcher will provide special music for the Easter service for Unity Transformation at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pk., Knoxville. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7 Erin’s Meadow Herb Club Meeting – 6-7:30pm. Agenda: Spring gardening tasks; 2015 planning meeting. Everyone is welcome. Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, 132 England Dr., Clinton, TN. Info: ErinsMeadowHerbFarm.com. Fire Ceremony – 6:45-7:45pm. Ceremonial fire is perfect for insight, releasing and transmuting what no longer serves you. Center for Peace, 880 GravesDelozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace. us or Katy Koontz at 865-693-9845. “Drumming, Meditation and Channeling” –
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7:30-9pm. Weekly gathering. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9 Astrology Class – 6:45-8:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology. com or 865-719-2049.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11 David Arms at Center for Peace – 10-11:30am. Topic: How your spiritual growth can impact your everyday life. $25 fee. Healing sessions to follow, $50. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or Patti MacFee 865-250-1988. A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Medicinal Herbs – 1pm. Learn the best medicinal herbs to grow in a home garden, along with cultural requirements. Families looking for natural remedies and self-sufficiency will benefit by adding these healing plants to their garden. $30. Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, 132 England Dr., Clinton, TN. Info: ErinsMeadowHerbFarm.com. Astrology Class – 1:45-3:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology. com or 865-719-2049.
MONDAY, APRIL 13 Presentation on herbal gardening and wisdom – 7pm (6:30pm meet & greet). Knoxville Group of CHEO hosts presentation by Mary Garner, founding member of Thyme for Herbs. Free to members, first-time guests; $5 suggested donation returning guests. Parkwest Medical Center classroom, 9330 Park West Blvd., Knoxville. Info: CHEOKnox.org.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-6604799. Write Now – 12:30-3pm. Creative writing workshop for women following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-660-4799.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16 Sweat Lodge – 6:30pm. Experience a deeper spiritual awareness through this ancient form of prayer and purification. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070.
NaturallyKnoxville.com
SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Spring Garden Supper Culinary Class with Janet Powell – 10:30am-noon. On the menu: Chilled ginger asparagus; snap peas with mint and chervil; smoky black bean sliders with herb yogurt sauce; broccoli with warm garlic butter and cashews. Cooking demo, sample dishes, take-home recipes. $35. Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, 132 England Dr., Clinton, TN. Info: ErinsMeadowHerbFarm.com. Astrology Class – 1:45-3:45 pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology. com or 865-719-2049. Native Nurturing Overnight – 3pm April 18 to noon April 19. Drumming, storytelling and ceremony teachings. Suggested donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or Nan Citty at 865-405-6809
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 “Ask the Holistic Doctor” – 7pm (6:30pm meet & greet). Loudon/Monroe Group of CHEO hosts panel presentation, Q&A featuring integrative physicians Richard Mays, MD, Stephen Pershing, MD, and Rocio Huet, MD. Free to members, first-time guests; $5 suggested donation returning guests. Rarity Bay Community Activity Center, 150 Rarity Bay Parkway, Vonore, TN. Info: CHEOKnox.org.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25 Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm 20th Birthday – 10am-3pm. Free event features UT/Pellissippi State Culinary Institute cooking demo (10:30am-noon) and Erin’s Guide to Growing Herbs (1-2:30pm). Refreshments and door prizes. Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, 132 England Dr., Clinton, TN. Info: ErinsMeadowHerbFarm.com. Free “Learn to Meditate” workshop – 2-3pm. Create your own personal meditations to reduce stress, anger, fear and help with sleep, weight, substance abuse, healing issues. Suggested donation to Fish Hospitality Pantries. Led by Michael Wright, author of 800 Stepping Stones to Complete Relaxation. Followed by three-week class beginning May 2. Lawson McGee Library, 500 W. Church St., Knoxville. Info: mikewright102348@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26 Source (Kenya Walker & Vic Sorrell) – 10:45am. Nashville-based duo Source will provide special music for Unity Transformation at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-660-4799.
Write Now – 12:30-3pm. Creative writing workshop for women following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: judybingham.net or 865-660-4799.
save the date SATURDAY, MAY 2 Free “Learn to Meditate” class – 2-3pm. Create your own personal meditations to reduce stress, anger, fear and help with sleep, weight, substance abuse, healing issues. Suggested donation to Fish Hospitality Pantries. Led by Michael Wright, author of 800 Stepping Stones to Complete Relaxation. First of three weekly classes. Lawson McGee Library, 500 W. Church St., Knoxville. Info: mikewright102348@gmail.com. Powell River Kayak and Canoe Regatta – A 12mile charity race on the beautiful Powell River in Claiborne County, TN. Prize money for 10 event categories. Starts at Well Being Conference Center. Benefits Pat Summitt Foundation. Info: Facebook. com/PowellRiverRegatta.
SATURDAY, MAY 9 Free “Learn to Meditate” class – 2-3pm. Create your own personal meditations to reduce stress, anger, fear and help with sleep, weight, substance abuse, healing issues. Suggested donation to Fish Hospitality Pantries. Led by Michael Wright, author of 800 Stepping Stones to Complete Relaxation. Second of three weekly classes. Lawson McGee Library, 500 W. Church St., Knoxville. Info: mikewright102348@gmail.com.
SATURDAY, MAY 16 Free “Learn to Meditate” class – 2-3pm. Create your own personal meditations to reduce stress, anger, fear and help with sleep, weight, substance abuse, healing issues. Suggested donation to Fish Hospitality Pantries. Led by Michael Wright, author of 800 Stepping Stones to Complete Relaxation. Third of three weekly classes. Lawson McGee Library, 500 W. Church St., Knoxville. Info: mikewright102348@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, JULY 17 Radical Gratitude Weekend Playshop – July 17-19. Will Pye, author of Blessed with a Brain Tumor, will lead “playshop” exploring the potential for joy, wisdom and gratitude despite adversity. Well Being Conference Center, Tazewell, TN. Info: WellBeingCC.org or Patty at 423-626-9000.
FRIDAY, JULY 24 Radical Gratitude Weekend Playshop – July 24-26. Will Pye, author of Blessed with a Brain Tumor, will lead “playshop” exploring the potential for joy, wisdom and gratitude despite adversity. Well Being Conference Center, Tazewell, TN. Info: WellBeingCC.org or Patty at 423-626-9000.
ongoingevents sunday Unity Transformation – 10:45 a.m. at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, with Rev. Lora Beth Gilbreath. Join us each Sunday for music, meditation and Unity teachings with uplifting, positive fellowship. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com. Eckankar Center Sunday events – 11am. First Sunday of month: worship service. Second Sunday: spiritual truths for personal growth discussion. Third Sunday: book discussion, Journey of Soul by Harold Klemp. Fourth Sunday: HU Sing. Eckankar Center of Knoxville, 301 Gallaher View Rd., Ste. 226, Knoxville. Info: 865-622-7685 or Eck-Tenn.org. Circle Modern Dance Class: Ballet Barre – 1-2pm. Basic ballet class open to all levels. Socks or ballet shoes recommended. Emporium Annex, two levels below Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. $7/class (first class free). Multi-class rates available. Info: CircleModernDance.com. Circle Modern Dance Class: Modern/Contemporary Dance, Open Level Technique– 2-3:30pm. Taught by rotating core members and guest artists of CMD who will present a variety of styles and techniques. Open to anyone. Comfortable clothes; no shoes necessary. Emporium Annex, two levels below Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. $7/class (first class free). Multi-class rates available. Info: CircleModernDance.com. Circle Modern Dance Class: Improvisation – 3:304:30pm. Classes vary each week with a different core member to facilitate and bring new focus or improvisational structures. No dance experience necessary. Comfortable clothes; no shoes necessary. Emporium Annex, two levels below Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. $7/class (first class free). Multi-class rates available. Info: CircleModernDance.com.
monday Women’s Sacred Circle – 6:30-8pm. Every second and fourth Monday. Gather around the circle as women share, grow and support each other. Light refreshments available. $5 per class. Crystal Peace Center, 205 Court St., Maryville, TN. Info: 865-2009582 or crystal.peace@aol.com.
tuesday 8 Move Tai Chi – 11am-noon or 6-7:15pm. Delivers physical/mental benefits in as few moves as possible. Taught by certified instructors from Clear’s Tai Chi. Clear’s Silat & Street Kung Fu, 113 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. $69 for six weeks. Info: Richard Clear or Roland Jackson, 865-379-9997 or MaryvilleTaiChi.com. Mat Pilates with Susie Kaplar – 5:30-6:30pm. First class free, then $10 per session (half price if you bring a friend). Drop-ins welcome. Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Dr., Knoxville. Info: Susie Kaplar, 661-803-1526.
Breastfeeding Support Circle – 6pm. Lactation consultant will discuss any breastfeeding problems or questions. Moms Café-style supportive place to bring your baby to socialize with other mothers. Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk. Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: 865-588-1105 Drumming, Meditation & Channeling – 7:30-9pm. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865428-3070.
wednesday Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. First, third and fifth Wednesdays. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net. Write Now – 12:30-3pm. First, third and fifth Wednesdays. Creative writing workshop following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net. Energy Therapy & EFT Practitioners’ Mastermind (Live Call) – 4-5:15pm. First and third Wednesdays. Join other health & wellness Practitioners as Dr. Anne Merkel leads powerful Mastermind sessions using energy therapy to enhance your life & practice. Monthly series of two live calls, Mastermind, notes & recordings, email support: $76. Register: is.gd/ PractitionerMastermind. Info: 1-877-262-2276. Circle Modern Dance Class: Modern/Contemporary Dance, Intermediate/Advanced– 6-7:30pm. Taught by rotating core members and guest artists of CMD who will present a variety of styles and techniques. Primarily intermediate but open to anyone. Comfortable clothes; no shoes necessary. Emporium Annex, two levels below Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. $7/class (first class free). Multi-class rates available. Info: CircleModernDance.com. Circle Modern Dance Class: Open Level Ballet –7:30-9pm. Basic ballet class open to all levels. Socks or ballet shoes recommended. Emporium Annex, two levels below Gay Street, downtown Knoxville. $7/class (first class free). Multi-class rates available. Info: CircleModernDance.com.
thursday Burn, Baby Burn! – 10:30am. Kim Day Training is in store in our spacious classroom to offer mommy and baby fitness. Bring your little one to help you work away those winter blahs. $10. Drop-ins welcome. Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk., Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: 865-588-1105. 8 Move Tai Chi – 11am-noon or 6-7:15pm. Delivers physical/mental benefits in as few moves as possible. Taught by certified instructors from Clear’s Tai Chi. Clear’s Silat & Street Kung Fu, 113 E.
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Broadway, Maryville, TN. $69 for six weeks. Info: Richard Clear or Roland Jackson, 865-379-9997 or MaryvilleTaiChi.com.
weekly
Mat Pilates with Susie Kaplar – 5:30-6:30pm. First class free, then $8 per session (half price if you bring a friend). Drop-ins welcome. Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Dr., Knoxville. Info: 661-803-1526 or susiekaplar@gmail.com.
Intuitive Counseling Sessions with Pamela Nine – Receive relationship, life-lesson, career and lifepurpose guidance and further your personal, professional and spiritual growth through professional intuitive counseling. By appointment at Nine Wellness Centre, 3113 Gose Cove Ln., Knoxville. Info and appointments: 865-531-9086, PamelaNine@msn.com, PamelaNine.com.
Tapping for Weight Loss - 7-8pm. First of and third Thursdays. Learn how to eliminate the self sabotaging thoughts that keep you from the slim body you want. Join Instructor Nancy Allen , LMT. $7 per class. Crystal Peace Center,205 Court. St.,Maryville, TN,Info: 865-200-9582 or crystal.peace@aol.com.
friday Gentle Yoga Flow – 11am-noon. Every first and third Friday. Stretch and strengthen; perfect for beginners as well as more experienced yoga practitioners. Instructor Jill Hawn offers modifications to suit all levels ofexperience. $10 per class. Crystal Peace Center, 205 Court St., Maryville, TN. Info: 865-200-9582 or crystal.peace@aol.com.
saturday Intuitive Readings with Theresa Richardson – Explore your options and opportunities for growth and enlightenment. Readings address work, relationships, life purpose and how to align with your most positive future. Questions welcome. Call for appointments. Info: 865-705-2525 or TheresaRichardson.com. Astrology Class – 1:45-3:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for exact dates and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049.
monthly Write to Grow – 6:45-9pm. Every second Tuesday. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865660-4799 or JudyBingham.net. Astrology Class – 6:45-8:45pm. Every second Thursday. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049. Spiritual Apprenticeship Program – Advance your personal, professional and spiritual path; promote healing; develop inner awareness, intuitive and mediumship abilities through a one-on-one learning experience. Available for 3- and 6-month terms. Limited-time discount. Pamela Nine, Nine Wellness Centre. Info: 865-531-9086, PamelaNine@msn.com, PamelaNine.com. Monthly meeting of Holistic Moms Network, Knoxville – 11am. Follow the natural path to parenting. Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk., Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: Mary at 865-356-7987 or KnoxHMNLeadership@gmail.com. Autoimmune Coaching & Energy Therapy Support Call – 4-5:15pm. Second Wednesdays. Dr. Anne Merkel shares information and solutions for people experiencing autoimmune disorders, to naturally address their condition and support healing. Free. Notes and past month recordings provided when you register at is.gd/autoimmunegroup. Info: 1-877-262-2276.
classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SPREAD YOUR WINGS - Add a Rejuvenation Studio to your EXISTING beauty, fitness, or health/wellness business. Bring in new customers, gain revenue from several sources, and your customers will love it! For more information, call: 864-569-8631.
FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in established West Knoxville complementary/alternative wellness center with professional, peaceful environment. 12 x 14 room suited for massage therapy, energy work, acupuncture, similar therapies. Furnished or unfurnished. Full- or part-time. Monthly rate. Pamela Nine, 865531-9086 or PamelaNine.com.
For Sale Comfort Craft Table for sale: Model 800 with stool, bolsters, extra side-lying & sports/therapy bolsters, top shape #3, used, good condition, asking $2500. List: $6950. Shipping not available, you must come get it in Knoxville. See pic at massageworkstn.com. Charles West, 865-694-3144.
HELP WANTED Can’t afford to advertise? Interested in distributing Natural Awakenings magazine? Trade your time for that critical advertising you need. Call 423-517-0128 or email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com.
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Page
Company
Page
Celestial Harmonics................................................................. 11
Hemp Monkeys......................................................................... 21
Center for Peace/The.............................................................. 9
Life Line Foods/Buried Treasure........................................... 3
Crown Cleaners.......................................................................25
The Total Workd Salon & Spa................................................. 9
Crystal Peace Center............................................................... 7
Unity Transformation.............................................................. 13
Eddie’s Health Shoppe............................................................ 17
Village Mercantile.................................................................... 17
Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm......................................................18
Well Being Conference Center............................................. 32
Everything Mushrooms..........................................................19
Write Place/The......................................................................... 9
Gentle Touch Therapeutic...................................................... 21
Xlear......................................................................................2 & 5
Knoxville
NaturallyKnoxville.com
communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in this directory each month, call 423-517-0128 or email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com.
BIRTH CENTER LISA ROSS BIRTH & WOMEN’S CENTER 1925 Ailor Ave. • Knoxville, TN 865-524-4422 LisaRossCenter.org
Certified nurse-midwives in a nationally accredited freestanding birth center. Gynecology care, full-scope maternity and postpartum care with birth center, waterbirth and hospital delivery options. Complimentary services include breastfeeding support/lactation consultations, well-baby care and peer support.
Bodywork MASSAGEWORKS
Charles West, LMT, TFH, MAT 318 Erin Dr. #5 • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-694-3144 MassageWorksTN.com Move better, feel better, live better. Bodywork for pain and stress relief since 1994. A c u p r e s s u r e , To u c h f o r Health® kinesiology, structural alignment, stress relief, relaxation, chair massage, cupping, Tai chi. Classes for LMTs, everyone.
THE RETREAT, LLC
Massage and Skincare Allyson Harris, LMT, LE 318 Erin Dr. #5 Knoxville, TN 37919 TheRetreatLLC.MassageTherapy.com Offering relaxation through Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone and pregnancy massage. Skin care is fresh, healing and holistic. Wonderful for all skin types. Please visit website for full menu, gift certificates and appointments.
Feng Shui FENG SHUI DESIGN
Dr. Nancy C. Canestaro 6920 Lark Ln. • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-789-5856 FengShuifyi.com
Conscious Living HEMP MONKEYS
Amanda Keller & Amber Keirn 4928 Homberg Dr. Ste. A1 Knoxville, TN 37919 865-474-1340 Info@HempMonkeysOnline.com Full retail selection of Doterra Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils, Zyto Scans, Free Monthly Classes, Private consultations. See ad, page 21.
Nancy helps you find health, harmony, prosperity for home/ office. With 2+ decades of experience, she will study your property and produce a report with recommendations for enhancements, remedies. Contact her about lecturing for your group.
GREEN DRY CLEANERS CROWN CLEANERS
9409 Northshore Dr. • Knoxville, TN 37922 865-539-6040 6300 Kingston Pk. • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-584-7464 CrownCleaners.com
Energy Healing ROCK AND PINE HEALING Rev. Carol Bodeau, PhD Maryville, TN 865-233-7402 RockAndPineHealing.com
Restoring wholeness and renewing harmony for body, heart, mind, spirit. Rev. Carol Bodeau is an experienced interfaith minister and healer offering spiritual guidance, intuitive counseling, Reiki and crystal healing, wilderness quests and rites of passage.
Energy Therapy ANNE MERKEL, PhD
More than 40 years as Knoxville’s premier dry cleaners. Traditional customer service meets state-of-the-art technology. Eco-friendly dry cleaning equipment and solutions produce superior results. Register online for free pickup/delivery of dry cleaning, laundry, alterations. See ad, page 25.
Health Foods & Nutrition EVERYTHING MUSHROOMS
Energy Psychology/Naturopathy 706-374-6460 877-262-2276 ArielaGroup.com MyEFTCoach.com
1004 Sevier Ave. • Knoxville, TN 37920 865-329-7566 Info@EverythingMushrooms.com EverythingMushrooms.com
Specializing in addressing autoimmune disorders and certifying health & wellness practitioners to adopt energy therapy modalities, Dr. Anne Merkel assists you by phone, in person, and via numerous online self-study packages, leading you to conscious transformation, wellness, release of trauma.
ESSENTIAL OILS Young Living Essential Oils Kat Porter, Independent Distributor 865-360-6343 kitkatp1981@yahoo.com KatPorter.MyOilSite.com
The use of essential oils dates back to ancient times, but it’s relevant for many applications today, including wellness, emotional health and taking care of home and family—even pets! Contact me to learn more!
Complete mushroom s u p p l y, g i f t s a n d r e s o u r c e c e n t e r. Gourmet mushroom foods, mushroom logs, books and much more. For workshops, check website or call for current schedule. See ad, page 19.
Holistic Health Care CHEO of GREATER KNOXVILLE AREA Non-Profit Complementary Holistic Information Organization PO Box 22511 • Knoxville, TN 37933 423-884-6031 CheoKnox.org
Discover your options for wellness using holistic and integrative approaches. Free Holistic Resource Directory available. Monthly educational programs 7pm every second Monday (Knoxville) and fourth Wednesday (Loudon/Monroe). Meet & Greet at 6:30pm. Details at CheoKnox.org
natural awakenings April 2015
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Holistic Health Care CRYSTAL PEACE CENTER
Recycling HIDDEN GEMS RECYCLING
205 Court St. Maryville, TN 37804 865-200-9582 crystal.peace@aol.com CrystalPeaceCenter.com
2810 Hoitt Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 865-742-1151 HiddenGemsRecycling.com
The Crystal Peace Center (CPC) offers a variety of alternative healing services, classes, pathways for progression, and tools of empowerment to support your spiritual and personal growth. Contact the CPC to schedule a wellness assessment/treatment. See ad, page 7.
Intuitive Counseling NINE WELLNESS CENTRE
Pamela Nine, PhD 3113 Gose Cove Ln. • Knoxville, TN 37931 865-531-9086 PamelaNine@msn.com PamelaNine.com Pamela Nine, PhD, owner of Nine Wellness Centre, is an internationally recognized professional intuitive counselor and educator with 25+ years’ experience. Services include spiritual apprenticeship program, educational courses, life and business coaching, and personal and telephone intuitive counseling by appointment.
Offering commercial and residential recycling of Styrofoam packaging. Drop-off and pick-up services offered. See website for details. Serving Knoxville and surrounding communities.
Retreat Centers WELL BEING CONFERENCE CENTER
Don Oakley & Patty Bottari Oakley, Directors Tazewell, TN 37879 423-626-9000 WellBeingCC.org Hour north of Knoxville,160 acres surrounded by 2½ miles of Powell River. Perfect for quiet getaway, vacation, group event, retreat, workshop. Our mission is promoting mind/ body wellness, harmony with nature. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit. See ad, page 32.
SALONS & SPAS THE TOTAL WORKS SALON & SPA Rebecca Cowan, Salon Manager 120 S. Peters Rd. Ste. 18 Knoxville, TN 37932 bctotalworks@gmail.com
READINGS AND REIKI
Theresa Richardson 428 East Scott Ave, Suite 104 Knoxville, TN, 37917 865-705-2525 Info@TheresaRichardson.com TheresaRichardson.com Theresa is an intuitive healer/ teacher whose services include readings, Reiki sessions and a variety of classes. Her intention is to facilitate transformation and alignment with the soul’s wisdom. In-person, phone or long-distance healing sessions available.
The Total Works carries all-natural lines including Aveda, All-Nutrient (gluten-free), Moroccanoil and Osmosis. Licensed professionals provide beautiful, relaxing services to make clients feel stress-free and valued. See ad, page 9.
SOUND HEALING CELESTIAL HARMONICS Mebbie Jackson 865-679-9642 Mebane8@mac.com
Natural Products NATURAL TREASURE
chrisgfortner@hotmail.com 865-964-2897 NaturalTreasure.biz Detoxification and skin-care products; foot detox patches; Dr. Gordshell’s Skin Cream and salves.
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Knoxville
Acutonics is a healing modality that uses tuning forks on acupuncture points to facilitate a healing response in the body. Clients report a strong release of tension and stress from the body after each session. See ad, page 11.
NaturallyKnoxville.com
Spiritual Centers THE CENTER FOR PEACE 880 Graves-Delozier Rd. Seymour, TN 37865 865-428-3070 CenterForPeace.us
Aholistic spiritual center applying ancient wisdom traditions such a s c e r e m o n y, dance, shamanic practice, sweat lodges, meditation, chanting and prayer in the modern world. See ad, page 9.
OASIS INSTITUTE: A CENTER FOR ATTITUDINAL HEALING Stephen Anthony, Executive Director 4928 Homberg Dr. Ste. A-4 Knoxville, TN 37919-5100 865-588-7707 OasisInstitute@OasisInstitute.org OasisInstitute.org
OASIS Institute is a nonsectarian, nonprofit spiritual organization established in 1995. Our mission is to provide a meeting place for groups that will facilitate the well-being of people of all backgrounds.
UNITY TRANSFORMATION
Rev. Lora Beth Gilbreath 865-809-5207 UnityTransformation@gmail.com UnityTransformation.org Sunday morning and midweek activities. Host of the internet “radio” broadcast “Hooked on Classics” through UnityOnlineRadio.org. Affiliated with Unity Worldwide Ministries. See ad, page 13.
Weight Loss SABA ASSOCIATES
Steve and Kim Back, Executive Platinum Directors 865-257-4999 skback.lovemyace.com Saba’s new exclusive ACE formula contains the top five most effective weight-loss ingredients scientifically formulated into one pill. Raspberry Ketone, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Saffron Extract, Konjac Root Extract, Garcinia Cambogia Extract. All of this in one capsule! Call for your FREE sample today.
For Sale:
Knoxville
Natural Awakenings Magazine Don’t miss this opportunity to own a business that makes a difference in your community. • The Nation’s Leading Healthy/ Green Lifestyle Magazine • 20 Years of Publishing Experience • Monthly National Readership of Over 3.8 Million • Exceptional Franchise Support & Training • Make a Difference in Your Community • Proven Business System • Home-Based Operation
Call today for more information!
423-517-0128 or visit
www.naturallyknoxville.com
423-626-9000
patty@WellBeingCC.org
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Fa mily R eunions
– The Possibilities are Infinite! –
Don Oakley & Patty Bottari, Directors and On-Site Managers
FIRST ANNUAL POWELL RIVER KAYAK AND CANOE REGATTA Benefitting the Pat Summitt Foundation
MARK YOUR CALENDARS May 2nd - 12 mile race
Starts at Well Being Conference Center. 10 race categories. Prize money!
Registration and information: www.facebook.com/PowellRiverRegatta