April 2011 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS by Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

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EARTH DAY APRIL 22

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Ed Begley, Jr.'s HANGOUT COMPOSTING GREEN HOME MUSIC FEST KIDS DIG IT!

MAKEOVER

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APRIL 2011 | Mobile/Baldwin Edition | www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

You can help people affected by the Japan Earthquake and Paciﬁc Tsunami. Click, text or call today. 1-800-RED CROSS | redcross.org Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10

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In celebration of wellness Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living Hosts

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Message & Data Rates May Apply.

The 2nd Annual Gulf Coast

HolisticHealth Fair Saturday, April 16, 2011 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Free Admission 1230 Montlimar Drive, Mobile 36609 Exhibitors of products and services for a healthy spirit, mind and body will include: Chiropractic Services • Yoga • Massage Therapy • Exercise • Nutrition Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils • Skin Care • Healthy Food • Vitamins • Animal Wellness Hormone Balancing • Kids Activities and Much More! LifeSouth Community Blood Center will be accepting blood donations on-site. For more information, or to register as a sponsor or vendor, contact Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living: CMCSLHealthFair@gmail.com or 251-343-0777. 2

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contents 5

5 healthbriefs

6 globalbriefs

7 ecotip 8 inspiration 16 greenliving 18 localopinion 25 healingways

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27 naturalpet

30 healthykids

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.

19 CLEAN AND GREEN

An Eastern Shore Business Changes the Way Households Clean by Meredith Montgomery

20 HARVESTING

RAINWATER LOCALLY Conserving Water Globally

by Lisa Kalloch

21 ED BEGLEY, JR.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

GREEN HOME MAKEOVER Saving Energy and Cutting

Waste is a Family Affair by Brita Belli

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 251-990-9552 or email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month prior to the month of publication. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

24 SMART YARDS FOR

A HEALTHY GULF A New Initiative of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance by Meredith Montgomery

25 NATURAL HEALING IN

UNNATURAL SETTINGS Homelike Touches Help

Restore Health

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

27 FORBIDDEN CREATURES Author Peter Laufer Discusses the Dark Side of Exotic Pets by Gail Condrick

30 KIDS DIG

WORM COMPOSTING Red Wigglers Turn Kitchen

Scraps into Gardening Gold by Jessica Iclisoy

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com natural awakenings

30 April 2011

letterfrompublisher I take sustainability seriously and try to enforce daily habits in our household that reflect this value. At nineteen months, our son Mays knows the difference between the trash can and the recycle bin. But a couple years ago it felt as though I was the police of the trash, fishing out cans that had been thrown away and scolding the perpetrators. While it was a gradual process for my husband Josh to adapt to the lifestyle of a conservationist, he’s now helping lead the effort to set up a recycling program at the school where he teaches. Growing up, my parents taught us to turn off the lights in rooms that were not in use and we recycled cans and newspapers at our church. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until they rebuilt their house last year that I learned of the influence I had on their lifestyle and consequently inspired their efforts to rebuild as green as possible. Habitat for Humanity meticulously deconstructed the old home and was able to salvage 65 percent of the materials to benefit their programs for families in need. The new house incorporates sustainable materials such as bamboo and cork floors, double-paned windows, a radiant barrier on the roof, energy efficient appliances, low flow toilets and no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. My mom also tends to her new backyard vegetable and herb garden and recently started composting kitchen scraps. The health of the planet is a global issue, one that cannot be resolved by individuals alone. But while it’s easy to feel helpless when pondering planetary concerns, individual actions, whether good or bad, big or small, do make a difference. It is satisfying to see the changed habits and outlook of my family members from three different generations as proof that my actions go beyond keeping a couple of cans out of the trash. This month’s Natural Awakenings provides ideas for planet-friendly habits to incorporate into our everyday lives. Learn tips for eco-driving, on page 9, be inspired by Ed Begley, Jr.’s Green Home Makeover, on page 21, and learn about a new local initiative in Smart Yards for a Healthy Gulf, on page 24. Over 25,000 individuals read Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin each month. If we all add a new planet-conscious habit to our lives this month, the difference we can make as a whole is exponential. In celebration of Earth Day, and in observance of the year anniversary of the Gulf oil spill, join me in acting upon our gratitude for this planet we call home.

Meredith Montgomery P.S. This same concept, of every little bit counts, should be applied to helping those in need. Please consider joining Natural Awakenings in supporting the relief efforts in Japan. See the Red Cross ad on page 2 for information on how you can contribute. Every dollar is valued. Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery Assisting Editors Josh Montgomery Anne Wilson Design Meredith Montgomery Local Ad Sales 251-990-9552 P.O. Box 725 Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375 HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 © 2011 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.

With peace and gratitude,

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

healthbriefs

Pomegranate Juice May Inhibit the Spread of Cancer

he exotic red fruit known as pomegranate is making headlines again. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have identified components in pomegranate juice that inhibit the movement of cancer cells and the metastasis of prostate cancer to the bone. The researchers attribute this effect to four key ingredients in the pomegranate: phenylpropanoids, hydrobenzoic acids, flavones and conjugated [types of polyunsaturated] fatty acids. “Having identified them, we can now modify cancer-inhibiting components in pomegranate juice to improve their functions and make them more effective in preventing prostate cancer metastasis, leading to more effective drug therapies,” says Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology at the university. She adds: “Because the genes and proteins involved in the movement of prostate cancer cells are essentially the same as those involved in the movement of other types of cancer cells, the same modified components of the juice could have a much broader impact in cancer treatment.”

TOXIC FOOD WRAPPERS When we buy a packaged prepared meal, we might be ingesting harmful chemicals leached from the wrapper into our food. University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to coat paper and cardboard food packaging to repel oil, grease and water are capable of migrating into food and contributing to chemical contamination in people’s blood. The researchers focused on perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCA), the breakdown products of chemicals used to achieve the nonstick and water- and stain-repellent properties of items that range from food packaging and kitchen pans to clothing. “We suspect that a major source of human PFCA exposure may be the consumption and metabolism of polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters, or PAPs,” explains Jessica D’eon, a graduate student in the university’s chemistry department. “PAPs are applied as grease-proofing agents to paper food contact packaging such as fast food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags.” PAPs are a source of potential personal chemical contamination that we can easily limit or avoid altogether.

SAFETY TIPS FOR REUSABLE BAGS While using reusable cloth shopping bags is good for the environment, taking sensible precautions will ensure it is also good for our health. Health Canada (hc-sc.gc.ca) states that with more consumers choosing to carry reusable shopping totes, it is important to employ food safety practices to avoid the risk of cross-contamination and food-borne illness caused by dirty bags. Foods like raw meat, poultry and fish, as well as fresh produce, can contain or carry bacteria, viruses or parasites that cause illnesses. Be sure to wrap fresh or frozen raw meat, poultry or fish in a clear plastic bag first, and then carry them in a separate shopping bag, away from the rest of the family groceries. When reusing cloth or plastic bags, the Canadian agency recommends that we wash them frequently with natural soap and hot water, especially after carrying fresh produce or meats. After cleaning the bag, allow it to dry completely before storing it. This prevents mold from growing inside the bag. Finally, if a bag gets too soiled or stains cannot be removed, it’s better to part with it than risk getting sick from using it again.

natural awakenings

April 2011

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

Favored Addresses

Walkable Cities Provide Urban Paradise Compact, walkable communities, the opposite of poorly planned sprawl, are the solution to some of our biggest shared challenges, from childhood obesity to social isolation; vehicle crash deaths to disappearing farmland; and costly fuel to the architectural blight of strip development. The concept is also a powerful weapon against climate change, because people naturally replace driving with walking when their basic needs are close to their front door. Such cities also are fun, lively and memorable places of human interaction and inspiration. WalkScore.com ranks the 40 largest U.S. cities and supplies a walkability score for any U.S. residential address, based on density, mixed use, transit, short blocks, public spaces and pedestrian-friendly design. Most important is the number and kinds of destinations (including schools, workplaces, amenities) near each address, which are the strongest indicators of whether people walk. Fortunately, even the least walkable cities generally have some walkable spaces. Visit WalkScore.com to score any home address and pull up a map of what’s within walking distance.

Sweet Sounds Green Proclaimed the Next Big Thing in the Music Industry The Green Music Group, an international coalition of musicians, industry leaders and fans, is leveraging its collective power to bring about widespread environmental change within the music industry and around the globe. Primary goals include reducing the music community’s environmental footprint and magnifying support for environmental nonprofits. Founded by Guster band member Adam Gardner and environmentalist Lauren Sullivan, it’s a project of Reverb, an organization that has spread its eco-friendly message on 80 major music tours, to reach 10 million fans in its first six years. Founding members include the Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, The Roots, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson. Get with the program at GreenMusicGroup.org. 6

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Action Alert

Take a Stand Against Biotech Bullies Early this year, the United States government approved three genetically modified organism (GMO) crops— Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa and sugar beets, and Syngenta’s amylase corn developed to produce ethanol. Food Democracy Now, a grassroots community for a sustainable food system, is circulating an online petition objecting to these decisions that support biotech. Dozens of large food manufacturers and farm, food and agricultural organizations, both conventional and organic, are on board in opposing these lab-engineered food products for a variety of reasons, such as unknown health and environmental consequences, including genetic contamination. Instead, the current administration should be forging progress in making agriculture more sustainable and encouraging farmers to convert to organic farming practices. Join with other organic consumers who daily take a stand for their right to know what is in their food and how it’s produced. Tell President Obama to instruct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban planting of these GMOs. Sign the petition at Action.Food DemocracyNow.org/go/347?akid= 298.238135.FB4IuF&t=7.

Stay Connected

For upcoming local events and news on healthy and green living, search for Natural Awakenings on Facebook and follow @NaturallyAwake on Twitter.

ecotip

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Recyc

Natural Awakenings Celebrates Earth Day Every Day

$ave Earth

Eco-Driving Pays Big Subtle changes in driving habits can produce significant benefits, saving money at the gas pump and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Practicing moderate levels of eco-driving typically reduces fuel use by an average of 15 percent. (Maintaining properly inflated tires adds 3 percent more.) Here are best practices for green driving in honor of Earth Day, April 22. Avoid Rapid Starts and Stops – Jackrabbit starts and stops use more fuel. Gentle acceleration and smooth braking, especially around corners, can save $1 per gallon, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), improving fuel economy by up to 33 percent. Keep on Rolling – Slow-and-go is always better than stop-and-go, because maintaining a constant speed in congestion increases fuel economy; it can take 20 percent more fuel to accelerate from a full stop than from 5 miles per hour. Anticipate stops and coast when possible. Ride the Green Wave – Traffic lights are often synchronized so that a motorist driving at a specific speed will pass through many without needing to stop, delivering better fuel efficiency. Limit Air Conditioning – Air conditioning can reduce mileage by as much as 20 percent. When driving below 40 mph, opening windows is best. At over 40 mph, closing windows and using A/C is better, because it avoids aerodynamic drag on the vehicle. Also use the “recycle inside air” feature to capitalize on already cooled air. Maintain Optimum Highway Speed – The EPA estimates that in highway driving, every 5 miles over 60 mph is equivalent to paying 20 cents per gallon extra for gas. Staying below 60 mph can improve mileage by 7 to 23 percent.

Ea Made

Use Cruise Cont r o l – Te s t s conducted by Edmunds.com found that using cruise control to maintain a steady speed during flat highway driving can provide an average of 7 percent in fuel savings (less in hilly terrain). Navigate to Reduce Carbon Dioxide – Planning driving trips, including errands, saves time and increases motor vehicle efficiency. Electronic navigation helps find the shortest route to an unknown destination. Avoid Idling, Even to Warm Up the Engine – According to the Environmental Defense Fund, autos may burn 20 to 70 percent of a gallon of fuel for every hour spent in curbside idling (the equivalent of 0 mpg). For trucks, it’s a full gallon. Unless quickly dropping off or picking up someone, turn the engine off when waiting for more than 10 seconds. It won’t harm the starter. Even on the coldest mornings, engines warm up more effectively during actual driving (but avoid quick acceleration). Don’t step on the gas pedal before starting the car. Keep Your Cool – The interior of a vehicle can reach 120 to 130° F in 10 minutes in summer. Use a heat reflector or window shades to shield the interior from UV rays. Always roll down the windows to release hot air. It’s best to park in a garage or available shade. Obey the Check Engine Light – Today’s sophisticated onboard diagnostics systems continually monitor vehicle operation. When the alert light comes on, it may indicate that emissions have increased and fuel economy is going down, so always check it out. Source: Adapted from EcoDriving USA.com

Green Solutions 228-219-3653

greensolutionsmobile@gmail.com www.greensolutionsmobile.com

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It’s automatic, it’s free and it’s very, very

green.

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natural awakenings

April 2011

inspiration

eeling disorganized, light impact on the unbalanced or Earth. Slow homes use out of sync? space and energy Your home may efficiently, and be partly work with, to blame. rather than “Mass-proagainst, the duced, cookie-cutenvironment. ter suburban homes While the prinare bad for us and ciples sound like bad for the environcommon sense, ment,” says John when Brown and Brown, a Calgaryhis colleagues surbased architect, proveyed owners of fessor and founder of 4,500 newly built Slow Home Studio. homes in nine North “It’s like the difference American cities, they between a Big Mac found that 54 percent and a home-cooked failed their simple meal, made from loslow home test. Yet, cal ingredients.” those houses were The concepts of no less costly to build slow home and its or maintain than the parent, slow architecones that made the ture, are part of the grade. by April Thompson growing, global slow Brown’s team movement that chalhas created a 12-step lenges us to rethink our relationships with guide to get America’s new housing stock everything from food to money. It’s simple: into rehab. Most steps refer to the design A slow home is easy to live in and has a and site selection process: For example, a

SLOW UP Your Home Creating a Simpler, Lighter Life

slow home is located in a walkable neighborhood, closest to the places the family visits most; it is oriented to maximize sunlight in central living spaces; and a slow kitchen is a well-organized center of activity, with sufficient storage and ample workspaces. There are also easy modifications you can make to the place you now call home. For example: rearrange the furniture in an awkwardly designed room to maximize functional space and make it easier to navigate; refurnish rooms by creatively using found objects and repurposed and repaired items; also declare a weekly electronics-free day and spend it in quietude or with good friends. Slowing your home is also about environmental responsibility, given that residential buildings account for more than a third of the world’s greenhouse gases, according to David Suzuki’s Green Guide. Recycled building parts might be incorporated into a new or renovated structure. Energy-saving measures include many widely-promoted simple steps that any home-dweller can employ. “It doesn’t have to be like the Atkins diet, where you throw everything out that’s currently in your pantry and swear off McDonald’s forever. The slow home philosophy is about making incremental, sustainable changes to the way you live,” advises Brown. Learn more at SlowHomeStudio.com.

Natural Awakenings is Growing... See what’s new online,

and point your life in a healthier direction. Visit our NEW website.

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Mobile/Baldwin Edition

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GREEN MUSIC,

BLUE OCEAN by Meredith Montgomery

Music can be influential, altering the moods of its listeners and inspiring a change in perspective. In the planning of the second annual Hangout Music Festival, taking place May 20 to 22 in Gulf Shores, organizers committed to making sustainable choices whenever possible, in hopes of positively influencing the health of the planet and the local economy. Co-founder AJ Niland says, “Unfortunately, it’s not easy to be green at a music festival. Some things are out of our control, such as the cars, buses and airplanes that attendees take to get to the area. So we do everything we can, where we can, to put on a green event.” The Asheville, North Carolina, company, Clean Vibes (CleanVibes.com), will provide onsite waste management for the event. The company, which got its start with multi-day Phish festivals and the first annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, in Manchester, Tennessee, not only provides receptacles for recycling, they encourage participation by educating attendees and offering incentives. Additionally, 100 percent of the trash collected at the Hangout Festival will be sorted. If a recyclable item accidentally lands in the trash, the sorting process will move the item into the proper receptacle to ensure as little as possible heads to the landfill. Niland points out that while festivalgoers will be able to recycle plastic water bottles, they encourage individuals to bring their own reusable bottles to be refilled on site. Bottled water will be sold, but personal water bottles can be filled up for free throughout the weekend. In an effort to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases generated by transportation at the Hangout Festival, bicycles are

rented for staff members, instead of cars. “Our staff members loved their beach cruisers last year! It’s much more fun to hop on a bike for a 10-minute cruise from your condo and drive right up to the festival gates, as opposed to getting into a car in the parking lot, driving to the site, and then having to search for another parking space,” says Niland. Bike racks will be available near the main entrance. For those staying more than a bike ride away, a shuttle system is available so patrons can share a ride from area parking lots. Hangout organizers make a conscious attempt to purchase products that are easy to recycle and discourage the use of paper products by utilizing cotton towels and other reusable items. To support the local economy and cut down on miles traveled to transport products and amenities, local vendors receive priority over out-of-towners, and premium placement at the event. Niland points out, “A good percentage of our food vendors are local and a good bit of our production equipment comes from locals.” Of the artists on the lineup for the event, Michael Franti is known for his Earth-friendly lifestyle, both on the road and at home. A vegan and driver of a hybrid vehicle, Franti requires that all of the venues where he plays practice recycling on site. His tour bus has been converted to use

biodiesel fuel and his band has replaced plastic bottles with reusable containers while touring. When asked about other Hangout artists that make environmentally conscious choices, Niland says, “Just about all the artists are headed in that direction. Last year, the Foo Fighters did not want any paper products. Keller Williams requested fivegallon coolers backstage instead of bottled water, and we ended up implementing that across the board.” This year’s Hangout Festival will take place exactly 13 months after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill began. The coastal community is still in need of an economic boost from the influx of tourists attending the event. When asked about what sets this festival apart from others, Niland is quick to focus on the uniqueness of the location. “People don’t often associate Alabama with the beach, but we have some of the most beautiful coastline in the country. Music festivals are often held out in the country in a cow pasture, or in the streets of a city. But here on the beach of Gulf Shores, music lovers can enjoy the show on the pristine, white sand, with a view of the ocean as far as they can see.” He believes the beach is also what keeps the atmosphere calm and cool. “It’s a family event,” Niland continues, “With affordable ticket prices and festival hours running from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., the whole family can come out during the day, and then after dinner, parents can come back out on their own. There’s still plenty of time to hit the beach each morning before the festivities begin again.” Kids under 10 years old are admitted for free into the festival. The Hangout Music Festival is on its way to becoming a signature event for the Gulf Coast region and a much-needed boost for the local economy. The green attributes of the festival's production are not only of value and necessary to maintaining the beauty of area beaches, they are an investment in the health of our planet for generations to come. This sustainable approach is a big step in the right direction to ensure that the kids attending the event with their parents this year will be enjoying the same fresh ocean air, pristine white sand and soothing blue waves at the event a decade from now. For more information visit Hangout MusicFest.com.

natural awakenings

April 2011

newsbriefs Mobile Consignment Shop Offers Green Furniture Option In observance of Earth Day, shop secondhand. Consignment Furniture Gallery, in Mobile, sells slightly used furniture as an affordable alternative to buying new products. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions during shopping sprees, customers have the option to shop the store’s entire inventory online at ConsignMobile.com. Store owner Mary Dominguez says, “We’ve been connecting buyers and sellers of really nice furniture since 2007. Our merchandise is consigned through individuals that are moving, downsizing or just redecorating.” In addition to furniture, shoppers will find art and large accessories at the Consignment Furniture Gallery. Free furniture pickup service is available to clients and 60 percent commission is paid to consignors. Layaway is available and credit cards are accepted. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Location: 1312 W. I-65 Service Road S., in Mobile. For more information visit ConsignMobile.com, email ConsignMobile@gmail.com, call 251-414-3616 or text 251-767-2657. See ad on page 31.

Natural Awakenings Launches New Website Natural Awakenings has a new, easy-to-navigate website: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com, a resource for digital versions of the magazine, advertising information, the Natural Awakenings Network discount card and much more. Visit the site before May 1 for a chance to win a Wild Dolphin Encounter Caribbean adventure getaway in the Bahamas. The six-night trip includes a one-night stay in Ft. Lauderdale before flying to Bimini, where the lucky winner will enjoy five days of daily excursions on a comfortable catamaran to connect and play with wild dolphins, swimming free in their natural environment. The combination of yoga, healthy food, supportive surroundings and dolphin encounters creates a transformative opportunity to relax, expand and reconnect with nature. To sign up for the sweepstakes, visit HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com.

NEWS TO SHARE? Send submissions for news briefs to Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com or call 251-990-9552. To be considered for May’s issue, please send submissions by April 10. 10

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Earth Day Mobile Bay Celebration Now in it's 22nd year, Earth Day Mobile Bay is Alabama’s largest Earth Day celebration. This year's festivities will take place at the Fairhope Pier Park from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 23 with complimentary BRATS shuttle service from the Food World parking lot. More than 10,000 attendees are expected to enjoy this free, family friendly event that promotes sustainable living practices and endeavors.The Earth Day Mobile Bay celebration will observe the one-year anniversary of the BP oil disaster and will host the many organizations that are involved in a healthy and sustainable Gulf Coast recovery. Features of the event include live music throughout the day, an Environmental Film Festival, earth-friendly exhibitors offering green energy solutions, sustainable building resources and organic, locally grown food. The Mobile Museum of Art Outreach Program will sponsor the Children’s Art Activity Area and guests of all ages will enjoy the event’s wide variety of interactive, educational opportunities, and information about healthy lifestyle ideas, products and services on the Gulf Coast. Additionally, the City of Fairhope will sponsor the free onsite recycling of household electronics including television's, computers and cell phones. Organizers of the event draw inspiration from the worldwide Earth Day Network and hope Earth Day Mobile Bay will act as a vehicle for increasing community involvement in protecting and preserving the earth's resources. For more information visit EarthDayMobile Bay.org. See ad on back cover.

Correction: Contact Information for Liquid Vitamins

B-Butterfly THE SALON

Keeping You & The Earth Beautiful

The phone number listed for the "Liquid Vitamins Offer Health and Convenience" news brief in February's issue, and the "Feel Better and Be Healthier" ad was incorrect. To learn more about these liquid nutritional supplements, please call 251607-9183 or visit ChangeYourHealthChangeYourLife.com. We apologize for the error. See ad on this page.

Feeling the Healing Vibrations Kula Yoga Community is hosting a workshop and experiential journey into the healing powers of sound from 6:30 to 9 p.m., April 8, at Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Healing, in Mobile. The suggested donation for the workshop is $25 which is led by guest instructor Thomas Orr Anderson, M.A., a musician, physicist, healing-practitioner and current director of research and development at the Integrative Health Community in Nashville, Tennessee. Exploring the many ways in which sound and vibration can facilitate healing, the workshop will cover topics such as the sacred root vowels and the chakra energy centers. Ancient healing instruments, including the Aboriginal didjeridu, Tibetan singing bowls and the Chinese gong will be used during the auditory healing session. Chairs will be provided; however, attendees may wish to bring a blanket, mat or cushion for maximum comfort. Private sound therapy, neurofeedback and HeartMath sessions will be offered by appointment on April 9 and 10, in Fairhope. Neurofeedback promotes balance and synchronicity between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. HeartMath is a technique for achieving coherence in heart rate variability, which can contribute to a state of vibrant health and deep serenity. Workshop Location: 1230 Montlimar Dr., in Mobile. Pre-registration is available through Kula's Facebook page, walk-in guests are welcome. For more information or to schedule a private appointment, contact Anderson at HealingSoundJourney@gmail.com, call 615-599-8930 or visit HealingSoundJourney.com. See ad on page 39.

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April 2011

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Local Company Makes it Easy to be Green

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Green Solutions is a local recycling company that provides easy, affordable recycling services to homes and businesses in the city of Mobile. Some of the items that are recyclable through Green Solutions are two-liter and 20-ounce soda bottles, plastic grocery bags, glass bottles, aluminum cans, junk mail, cardboard and plastic food packaging and office paper. Service plans for businesses, starting at $20 per month, include up to four pickups per week; cleaning, sorting and transporting the recyclable materials to appropriate recycling centers. The recycling company tracks the approximate amount of materials being recycled for interested businesses and offers to advertise their company’s events on the Green Solutions website. Plans are risk-free, with no long-term commitment, and the flat monthly rates include extra pickups during holidays and special events upon request. For residential plans, monthly rates start at $7, and can include a large recycling bin for the collection of materials. Sorting is not necessary, but basic cleaning of containers is required. Green Solutions owner Burton Rabby says, “I believe that recycling should be as easy as disposing of trash, so I work with my clients to create a plan that fits their needs. If it can be recycled in Mobile County, we take it.” Free consultations and a two-week trial period are available. For information and to sign up call 228219-3653, email GreenSolutionsMobile@ gmail.com or visit GreenSolutionsMobile. com. See ad on page 7.

newsbriefs

Independent Film Promotes Options in Maternity Care

Local Festivals Merge for Art, Petals and Wine Art in the Park and Foley's Flower Garden Extravaganza will merge this year forming the Art in the Park Flower and Wine Extravaganza, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 7 and 8, at the John B. Foley and Heritage Parks. Event highlights include displays of watercolors, pottery, jewelry, acrylics and photography, as well as resources for landscaping, home decorating and gardening. A variety of plants will be for sale and local garden experts will be available to answer questions and lead antique rose trail tours. Entertainment and activities for children will be ongoing throughout the weekend. New to this year's event is a wine and craft beer tasting tent, located in Foley's Heritage Park. Complimentary food from local restaurants will be served with beer and wine on Saturday, while champagne, fruits and sweets will be available on Sunday. Tickets for the tastings are available at the Performing Arts Center in Uptown Foley and at Cain's Cost Plus Piggly Wiggly Wine Cellar. Contact the Performing Arts Association of Foley at 251-943-4381 for more information.

Health Coach Receives Certification Lifestyle and Health Coach Hannah Tessen has recently received her holistic health coach certification. Specializing in all stages of pregnancy, from preconception to postpartum, Tessen tailors her services to best help each individual client accomplish a wide variety of health and wellness goals. Services offered include individual and group programs on preparing for pregnancy, nutritional and lifestyle tips while “living for two,” and cooking classes with a focus on primary foods and the integrative nutrition pyramid. Kitchen clean-up services, in which Tessen helps clients replace unhealthy items in the kitchen and pantry, are also available. According to Tessen, “Most approaches to nutrition dwell on calories, carbs, fats and proteins. Instead of creating lists of restrictions and good and bad foods, I coach my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible, fun and free of denial and discipline.” Benefits of holistic health coaching include increased energy, improved personal relationships, confidence and overall improvements in both physical and emotional well-being.

The Natural Network of Mobile, in conjunction with the Alabama Birth Coalition, presents two showings of a ground-breaking, locally produced feature film. You Begin This Way is a labor of love (and volunteer efforts) to highlight the challenges Alabama families face while navigating options in maternity and prenatal care. An adults only showing will take place at 7 p.m., April 2. Cost is $10. Families and children are welcome to attend the afternoon showing at 4 p.m., April 3, for $7. “This moving and important film reflects a gap between what families want and what is available to them for prenatal, birth and postnatal care in the state of Alabama,” says Certified Professional Midwife and Vice President of the Alabama Birth Coalition, Jennifer Crook Moore. Proceeds from the film screenings benefit the Alabama Birth Coalition's mission to provide all Alabama families with access to the safe, proven, cost-effective care of certified professional midwives both in and out of hospital settings. Location: Hargrove Engineers and Constructors; 20 South Royal St., Mobile. For more information call 251-3788115.

To learn more about Tessen's services and to schedule a free introductory consultation, visit GrassRootsHolisticHealth.com or call 256-282-1391. See ad on page 29. natural awakenings

April 2011

newsbriefs New Studio Promotes Whole Body Fitness The 5th Line, a new fitness and personalized movement therapy studio in Fairhope, is now open for group and one-on-one sessions. The studio is the first in the Gulf Coast area to offer the unique Gyrotonic Expansion System™, which promotes strength, flexibility, coordination and integration of the whole body. This system is used worldwide by people of all ages and fitness levels for therapeutic, dance, sport-specific and general conditioning applications. It combines elements of yoga, ballet, Tai chi and swimming to increase the functioning and capacity of the human body. Created by dancer Juliu Horvath, Gyrotonic exercises are performed on a unique weight and pulley tower that works the muscular, skeletal and cardiovascular systems simultaneously. The machine allows for constant, even-resistance training and is designed to be used with fluid, circular movements. The result is a lengthening of the connective tissues, stronger muscles and increased spinal health and mobility. The 5th Line owner Barbara Haines explains, “Gyrotonic motions are three-dimensional, instead of linear, and contribute to a well-proportioned body that is less prone to injury. Anyone can do it, because each exercise is tailored to meet each individual’s needs and capabilities.” Haines, an internationally licensed Gyrotonic instructor, is a former professional dancer with more than 15 years teaching experience in dance, gymnastics and Gyrotonic. Location: 13043 County Road 1, in Fairhope. For more information call 251-2099864 or email Barbara@the5thlinestudio.com. See ad on page 12.

Workshop Teaches Vedic Purification Practices Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center will host a workshop on Agnihotra, Agnihotra Ash Medicines and Homa Therapy Gardening and Farming, at 2 p.m., April 16. The event will be led by Richard Powers, of Madison, Virginia, who has been performing Agnihotra for 38 years. Agnihotra is an ancient purification ritual involving the use of a specially prepared fire. This simple-to-learn practice is performed around the world as a method of neutralizing the effects of pollution and radiation, restoring balance to the environment, reducing personal stress and healing the body, mind and spirit. Homa Therapy Gardening and Farming uses Agnihotra, Agnihotra ash and other Homa fire techniques to rejuvenate soil and plant life. Attendees should bring a covered dish to share prior to the sunset Agnihotra ceremony. There is no charge for this workshop, but donations are appreciated. Location: 20205 Middle Earth Road, Citronelle. For directions and information, call 251-866-7204. Visit Agnihotra.org for more information about this ancient ritual. 14

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Coasties Decals for Pride and Preservation

A new product line created by landscape architect and longtime coastal resident John Renfroe is linking coastal pride with environmental stewardship. Coasties, which was launched in August 2010, sells window decals and T-shirts in a unique footprint design representing the Gulf Coastline. The products allow residents to display coastal pride, while also contributing to a good cause. A percentage of Coasties net proceeds is donated to the re-greening of Gulf Coast states after natural disasters. “I find that trees are one of the last things people think about after a hurricane, but they are a huge part of the Gulf Coast,” Renfroe explains, “While the benefits of trees are not immediate, like those of bottled water and monetary donations, they are long-lasting and will benefit the Gulf Coast for future generations.” For more information and to purchase decals visit Coasties.net.

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THE POWER OF PERMACULTURE Care for People, Sustain the Planet, Share the Surplus by John D. Ivanko

Permaculture is often considered a societal revolution disguised as gardening. It shows up in urban hamlets, suburban neighborhoods and rural farmyards. Be they large or small, the diverse flora and fauna in these Gardens of Eden gush with life.

he ethics of permaculture are simple: Everything revolves around caring for people and the planet, while sharing the surplus. A term coined by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in the 1970s, permaculture melds the needs of human habitation and horticulture, creating viable integrated designs based on natural ecological systems, in which what’s produced by one element of the system becomes the input for another. “It’s about design and relationships,” explains Bill Wilson, co-founder of Midwest Permaculture, with his wife Becky. “Permaculture is larger than gardening. It’s a creative and artful way of living where people and nature are both preserved and enhanced by thoughtful planning and the careful use of resources. Practices mimic patterns found in nature. Principles reflect a respectful approach to life. Embraced,

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these attributes create an environment of diversity, stability and resilience, where all may thrive for untold generations.”

Self-Sufficient Systems Permaculture is widely adaptable to suit local climates, soils and geographies, and can scale to any size location that can sustain life. Because nature fosters no waste, permaculture-inspired gardens recycle or reuse all nutrients and energy sources; this approach regenerates natural systems, while boosting the self-sufficiency of human settlements and reducing the need for industrial production systems that rely on polluting energy sources. Plants are selected and planted according to the way they help one another. Animals also play key roles in garden sustainability. Free-range chickens, for example, can help fertilize and work up

Courtesy of John D. Ivanko

Finally!

GO-TO PERMACULTURE EXPERTS Local Experts

Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center MiddleEarthHealing.com 251-866-7204

General Education

Permaculture Activist, PermacultureActivist.net Urban Permaculture Guild, UrbanPermacultureGuild.org

Regional Workshops Esalen Institute, Esalen.org

Glacial Lakes Permaculture, GlacialLakesPermaculture.org Midwest Permaculture, MidwestPermaculture.com

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The power of permaculture rests in its easy-to-understand foundations. Understanding them and our relationship to Earth’s ecology is where the work begins. n Take cues from nature: The goal of Courtesy of John D. Ivanko

the soil and control insect pests, while providing nutrient-packed eggs; humans, meanwhile, provide shelter, security, a water source and supplemental food. Surplus produced in these gardens is freely shared. “Many permaculturists are concerned about their relationships with others—all others—and the planet,” continues Wilson. “We believe that it is possible to redesign our lives to provide an abundance of food, fiber, energy and shelter for every person on this planet, while dramatically improving overall quality of life.” He notes that only 20 percent of the permaculture process is about growing food. “Permaculture is the big picture,” agrees Heather Lanier, who has developed a plan for Hill of the Hawk Farm, in Big Sur, California. “It’s about how relationships are built and how these relationships help care for one another in the circle of life.” At her farm, the staff are transforming abandoned chicken coops into living spaces and artist studios, and planting a forest garden that will provide shade and fresh fruit, while attracting beneficial insects. Chickens and ducks meander around a series of ponds that collect water in preparation for the region’s long dry season.

Permaculture is for any size property, including an apartment, and for any climate... any place.

permaculture is to mimic a natural landscape, and to make it more productive for human needs, as well. n Put up your own food; preserving

a garden’s harvest is like capturing sunlight. n Grow perennials that produce food;

plant an edible landscape, not a lawn. n Use less energy, feed the soil and har-

Just down the road, the Esalen Institute offers educational workshops, which Lanier’s staff have attended. An instructor there also helped complete the permaculture plan for Lanier’s property.

Place-Based Living Permaculture is equally appropriate for the urban and suburban areas where most Americans now live, says Wilson. “It’s for any size property, including an apartment, and for any climate... any place.” He and other permaculture enthusiasts maintain that, “With more and larger settings, together we can have a great positive effect on the total environment.” When it comes to the potential for rural areas, “We can harvest a far greater amount of resources than we do now—water, sun, carbon dioxide and wind—and greatly improve productivity, while improving the overall quality of the region.” However, he quickly clarifies: “One can be very successful in small spaces, too.” John D. Ivanko is the co-author of Rural Renaissance, describing Inn Serendipity’s journey toward sustainability (InnSerendipity.com), based in part on permaculture and onsite generation of wind and solar power.

vest rainwater. On a finite planet, only renewable resources are sustainable. n Enable the surplus of one design

element to supply the need of another: Garden scraps feed chickens, which produce manure, which makes compost to nourish the garden. n Strive for self-reliance and resil-

iency, not self-sufficiency, and engage with the community; permaculture is an integrated system. n Avoid big and fast solutions that can

have unintended consequences; make the least change necessary and see if it works. As E.F. Schumacher famously stated: “Small is beautiful.” n There’s strength in diversity; value it

by avoiding a monoculture of anything. n Remember that living on the edge

can be a very productive place; not all good ideas come from the mainstream. Source: Karl J. Schmidt, founder and owner of Glacial Lakes Permaculture, created this summary, adapted from the principles originated by permaculture pioneer David Holmgren, an ecological design engineer.

natural awakenings

April 2011

localopinion To submit your opinion pieces, email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com by the 5th of each month.

The Gulf Coast is Left as a Toxic Dump by John L. Stump, Ph.D.

As the threat of syndemics emerges following the 2010 oil spill along the Gulf Coast, American medical anthropologists, as well as physicians of every specialty, remain startled as even more peril to the people of this region is brought into light. The rates of breathing, coughing and allergy related symptoms are steadily increasing, while learning disabilities, autism and other conditions are on the rise, as well. The recent dolphin deaths along the coast raise additional concern. The question is now whether these respiratory symptoms, neurological disorders and marine mammal deaths are linked to the oil spill. There are too many chemicals on the market that are not backed by enough information. Some are being used without any data on them at all. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to release a register of likely pollutants that did not undergo investigation before being made available to the commercial market. This list of possible chemicals could include many

neurotoxins that are capable of damaging fetal and infant brains. Among those neurotoxins is benzene, one of the top 20 chemicals produced in America. It is used to make compounds that are incorporated into plastics, resins, nylon and synthetic fibers. People usually come in contact with the chemical by using lubricants, rubber dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides. However, many unfortunate Gulf residents and visitors to the area were exposed to wave after wave of the toxin last year as a result of the oil dispersants being sprayed over the Gulf Coast. If by chance the benzene was not toxic, the metabolites (what occurs when enzymes change their chemical structure) might be. The EPA has to be pushed, and possibly shoved, into getting this problem solved, yet the solution seems simple. A product should not be be made available to the public until it has been researched and found to be non-harmful to animal and human populations. But under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the EPA

Nourish Yourself in Body, Mind & Soul

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Connect with Dr. John Stump, DC, Ph.D., Ed.D., at 251-990-8188, BamaShogun@ aol.com, or visit Alternative-Concepts. com.

Promote Peace, Serenity & Physical Well-Being

Usui Reiki

Holistic Wellness Coaching Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Classes Personal Vegan Chef and Catering Yoga and Meditation Classes Tracey Winter Glover JD, RYT 200 AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant Learn more at www.shantiwarrior.com tracey@shantiwarrior.com • (251) 510-2418

permits companies to put chemicals on the market without first proving they are safe. Only once it becomes evident that a particular chemical could harm people does the EPA (and the American taxpayer) have to bear the brunt of proving its safety. The EPA cannot even study the effects of a chemical unless independent research indicates potential harmful effects. EPA chief Lisa Jackson and other federal officials, joined by a group of lawmakers, tried to revamp the outdated law last year in hopes of switching the burden of proof back to the manufacturers. They were beaten back by chemical lobbyists. Something is very wrong with this picture and a challenge must be issued. If the inability to conduct tests on these chemicals is presenting a public hazard and Congress is not able to compete with the work of lobbyists, then the power of lobbyists is clearly outweighing the well-being of the American people. I dare to estimate that fewer than 10 percent of citizens are aware of the many chemical toxins being put into the marketplace without first being tested for safety. This fact alone needs our immediate attention and the people of the Gulf Coast deserve more information on the chemicals that they were exposed to during last year’s catastrophic event.

Aligning the natural energy found in all of us to heal your body and awaken your spirit. Call to schedule your Reiki Therapy Appointment or for more information on trainings and CEUs

RIO BARLOW, Reiki Master 251-979-9851

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communityspotlight

CLEAN AND GREEN An Eastern Shore Business Changes the Way Households Clean by Meredith Montgomery

hen Fairhope business owner Nicoll Mastin was looking for a creative way to generate some additional income for her family, a friend suggested a green cleaning service. Mastin recalls, “The idea seemed so simple and appealing to me that I immediately made flyers and placed them in a store in downtown Fairhope. Within two weeks, I had all the houses I could handle on my own.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generate more than 38 million tons of hazardous waste each year, with 55 percent of that waste coming from chemical manufacturing, while cleaning compounds and soap account for 30,948 tons annually. It isn’t just the planet that suffers from harmful household cause I’ve been using these products exclusively for three years,” products. A study by the International Society of Indoor Air says Mastin, a mother of three. For $40, customers receive seven Quality and Climate found that women working at home have items: the Earth-friendly Parsley Plus all purpose cleaner; Window a 54 percent higher risk of developing cancer than women Kleener with lavender; furniture polish with orange and olive oil; working away from home. The study concluded that there is a Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds; Bon Ami Powder Cleanser; Aura Cacia direct correlation between the risk of cancer and the chemicals essential oil (spearmint or peppermint); and a scrub brush. found in household products. Mastin, who also attends nursing school, says, “I’d like to Additionally, toxic cleaners present a safety risk for young challenge everyone to get rid of every other toxic household family members. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis- cleaner they own. My dream is that the Green Clean cleaning sion reports that unintentional ingestion of toxic household kits will infiltrate homes across America, beginning with Baldwin chemicals is associated with an annual average of 39 deaths to county, and replace all the toxic products currently in the cabinet children under age 5 and an estimated 87,700 children treated under the kitchen sink!” in hospital emergency rooms. She points out that packaging effects the sustainability of a Effective cleaning does not require hazardous chemicals product, as well. When an item from their cleaning kit runs out, to kill germs, remove dust and maintain an attractive home. As an alternative to the widely used household products on the customers can pay to have the product refilled, instead of buying market, Mastin’s Green Clean, LLC provides environmentally another bottle. Mastin also encourages homeowners to invest in a good set of microfiber cloths and cut back on paper towel friendly, non-toxic cleaning services to residential properties. Since filling her own workload within two weeks of post- dependency. The Mastin Family enjoys living an Earth-conscious lifeing flyers, Mastin’s cleaning business has style, making it a habit to use cloth napkins According to the evolved into a team of green cleaners. The and growing much of their own produce company prides itself not only on the use Environmental Protection alongside their house. Green Clean has also of non-toxic products and essential oils, but also the quality of service they provide. Agency, Americans gener- become a vehicle for the benefits of their healthy habits to extend beyond their own “Our top priorities are customer satisfaction ate more than 38 million and quality of service. I always encourage household. Residents throughout the area are feedback from customers, both good and tons of hazardous waste now living in healthier, cleaner homes, and bad, because I feel that is the only way to each year, with 55 percent the planet is grateful, as well. Mastin remains progress and grow. Customer feedback is so enthusiastic about her venture, “Green Clean vitally important to the growth and develop- of that waste coming from has come a long way from day one, and it ment of any company,” says Mastin. chemical manufacturing, is still evolving. I don't know what the future Inspired by the experience of cleaning holds, but I am so thankful to have started it!” her own home for her family and in running while cleaning compounds To learn more about the products and serher business, Green Clean, LLC now sells and soap account for vices of Green Clean, LLC, call 251-507-3796. green cleaning kits. “This is everything you See ad on page 26. 30,948 tons annually. need to clean your entire house. I know, benatural awakenings April 2011 19

Harvesting Rain Locally, Conserving Water Globally by Lisa Kalloch

he question is often asked, ”With all the rain we receive here on the Gulf Coast, why is harvesting rainwater important?” As representatives of only a small part of the bigger planetary picture, it is important to do our part as the planet is running out of clean, fresh water. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, the world is heading towards “water bankruptcy” as the demand for water surpasses high population growth. Closer to home, “water wars” between Alabama, Georgia and Florida are ongoing and are likely to continue for many years as Atlanta’s metropolitan population continues to grow. While many reasons are offered for the worldwide decline in fresh water, this fact remains: the planet is facing a water crisis and we must each do our small part, so that all may benefit in the long run. Guided by the ethical philosophy of permaculture, Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center, in Citronelle, conserves water onsite by utilizing several techniques, such as creating swales on hillsides (for water to trickle into the ground, rather than rushing downhill); creating farm ponds and decorative lily ponds; and recycling gray water (wastewater collected from showers, sinks and clothes washers). Middle Earth also harvests rainwater from each roof surface onsite. When rain falls, the water from the roof runs into a gutter system and collects in a washer, where leaves and other debris are collected before the rainwater continues to flow through the pipes and into a cistern for storage. The non-chemical-laden rainwater provides beneficial irrigation to the gardens and greenhouses throughout the year. The roof surfaces of the center’s yurt (a round, semi-permanent tentlike structure) and two greenhouses are able to collect up to 4,100 gallons of water at a time. With the help of a solar-powered pump, this water is used in the greenhouses’ drip irrigation system. Collecting up to 11,500 gallons at any given time, the rainwater harvested from the roof surfaces of the center’s house is used to irrigate the gardens and for watering the animals. With the addition of an inline water filtering system, the harvested rain can be used as a water source within the home, as well. While the volume of rainwater being harvested at Middle Earth is impressive, it is not necessary to be a permaculture education center with large cistern tanks to help Mother Earth evolve into a more sustainable planet. Every household can harvest rainwater with a simple system involving gutters and rain barrels. Barrels can be positioned at corners of residential homes so that they collect rainwater from the gutters along the roofline. 20

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

The proper screen, laid on top of a barrel, can function as a filter, preventing debris from entering the water collection and discouraging mosquito breeding. The insertion of a water spigot near the bottom of the barrel for a hose attachment allows for accessible irrigation of nearby plantings. Conserving water on a planet that is experiencing a shakeup in climate will become more and more important as time goes on. If individuals take responsibility in their day-to-day activities, whether it be turning off the water while brushing teeth or harvesting barrels of rainwater, the world will be a better place for all of its inhabitants. Human beings are the only animals on Mother Earth who have the consciousness to make a difference. So, as the old bumper sticker says, “Love your Mother,” and respect the lives of her future generations. Kalloch is the co-founder of Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center, in Citronelle. To connect with Lisa or to learn more about the center, email MidEarthHealing@yahoo.com, or visit MiddleEarthHealing.com. See ad on page 12.

The 3rd Annual

Clean Coast Expo

Thursday April 21, 2011 1:00 - 7:00 PM Erie H. Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores 1-7PM Expo Open 3-6PM E-Cycling Station Open 5:30-7:30PM Chamber Business After Hours For more information:

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www.CleanIsland.org 251-968-7200

Ed Begley, Jr.’s

GREEN HOME

MAKEOVER Saving Energy and Cutting Waste is a Family Affair by Brita Belli

d Begley, Jr., widely regarded as America’s most environmentally aware actor—the one by which other green celebrities are measured—has never tired of the years of effort he and his family have made in making their home as green as possible. But this past year, his wife, Rachelle Carson-Begley, had had enough. She isn’t fed up with turning off lights or relying on solar power—she’s just grown weary of the home’s tiny closets and sharing one small bathroom between two adults and a soon-to-beteenage daughter, 11-year-old Hayden. While Rachelle played the disgruntled foil to the over-achieving eco-cop Ed on their former television show, Living with Ed—which aired for three seasons, first on HGTV and then on Planet Green—her problems with their modest 1936 home in

Studio City, California, are those to which most homeowners can relate. For example, cramped rooms make entertaining difficult. The home’s 1,600 square feet of main living space (plus an additional 600-square-foot room above the garage) does not easily accommodate the fundraisers the Begleys regularly host; not to mention the camera crews that routinely invaded the family’s day-to-day lives to capture the couple’s good-natured squabbles over everything from composting to conserving water and energy. For seven years, the family even ran a nontoxic cleaning business—Begley’s Best—out of their garage, adding to the mêlée. “Even if it were designed differently, it would be better,” Rachelle explains. “It’s just that it’s a 1936 house. Yes, it’s efficient, but it would be great to be able

to incorporate everything that’s going on now in eco building and be a recipient of all the latest benefits—why not?” So, the Begleys are moving. After years of documenting how to retrofit an older house to maximize use of solar energy for electricity, heating, cooling and hot water, family recycling and rainwater catchment, they are planning to sell their modest abode and build a modern, 3,000-square-foot home a mile away. Ed emphasizes that the move is a major concession on his part. “I made it crystal clear when Rachelle and I were dating: ‘This is the home I plan to be buried in. I will never move.’ And I said it repeatedly from 1993 until about a year and a half ago; now I’m going against that.” Although the Begleys are trading up, they will continue to set an example

natural awakenings

April 2011

by building their new home to green building standards that few homeowners have achieved. They’re going for the platinum; that is, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards, the highest rating possible for buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org). This premier LEED designation requires an incredible environmental commitment in every aspect of the building process, from responsible site development, reduced water use and renewable energy utilities to the use of recycled and local materials and indoor air quality control. Of the more than 130 LEED Platinum building projects in California—the state that boasts the most such projects—only about 30 are private homes. Despite his initial protestations, Ed admits that he’s excited about the prospect. If there’s one thing he relishes, it’s a green challenge.

Life with Ed

It’s not easy to live up to Ed’s 30-yearstrong waste-nothing ethos. Although he first made a name for himself as an actor, initially as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the 1980s TV show St. Elsewhere, followed by his recurring roles in the hit TV series Six Feet Under and Arrested Development, as well as a co-starring role in Woody Allen’s 2009 film Whatever Works, lately he’s become best known as Hollywood’s green guru. He’s the people’s go-to expert on green building and saving energy, 22

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

authoring the how-to books, Living Like Ed and Ed Begley, Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living. Ed is often spotted around Hollywood riding his bike, his preferred mode of travel; on weekdays, he and his daughter ride together to her school, pedaling two miles each way. This down-to-earth, affable man is perhaps eco-conscious to a fault. The success of the show Living with Ed relied in great part on the watchdog antics of Ed catching his wife stuffing vegetable peelings down the garbage disposal, instead of in the compost bin, timing her long showers or opening a running dryer to discover Rachelle’s lone tank top inside. In each case, the chastised Rachelle vowed to be more eco-conscious, with a raised eyebrow aimed at the camera. “I felt vindicated,” Rachelle says of her reality show adventures. “They [the viewers] were going to side with me.” If there’s any question that Ed’s needling occurs only when the cameras are on, his family members put those doubts to rest. Rachelle describes how her husband insists on keeping the temperature uncomfortably low on cold nights for the sake of saving energy; of turning off her curling iron while it’s warming up if she leaves the room; or switching off the TV if she’s listening to it while getting dressed down the hall. Daughter Hayden’s biggest gripe has to do with TV time. “I love to watch TV for hours on end,” she says. “My dad is

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very cautious about using power and we have to turn off several different things when we use the TV, like the DVR and its power switch.” But Ed insists that all these little energy-saving strategies add up. While he was willing to recently trade his obsolete 1992 TV set for an HDTV, he knows it’s a major energy hog—and not only when someone’s watching it. “The phantom power can be as high as 100 watts per hour,” he says—that’s the power the TV consumes simply by being plugged in. “But,” he notes, “ if you have put power strips everywhere in the house and you just walk around and click off a few of them, all of that phantom power is turned off. Then, you can enjoy an appliance like that without using a tremendous amount of energy.” The sun may be an unlimited source of energy, but the solar power stored in their home’s batteries has limitations—and Ed is a vigilant watchdog. With rooftop solar panels providing most of the home’s power, the Begleys remain blissfully unaware when there’s a power outage in the neighborhood. “I only find out about it when I walk to the post office and see the signal flashing to show that power has been restored,” Ed comments. Ed manually switches over to the municipal power grid only when he senses that the stored power capacity in the home’s solar batteries is running low. He foresees that eventually that system

will be automated, but for now, he’s happy to keep track. The solar power generated onsite is enough to operate the house and professional TV cameras; it also charges an electric car in the garage—an all-electric 2002 Toyota RAV4 that’s clocked 85,000 miles. For hot water, the family comfortably relies mostly on a simple solar thermal setup—a 4-by-10-foot panel on the roof of black anodized tubing behind a piece of glass. A pump activates when a sensor in the panel senses that it’s hotter than the temperature in the tank. Ed observes: “If you keep things simple, they work well.” Simplicity also keeps maintenance issues at bay. The upkeep required for his solar electric system is minor; he’s committed only to adding water to the batteries every nine months and occasionally getting up to the roof to clean the panels with a brush and a little water.

Embracing the Great Outdoors

One of Ed’s first acts when he purchased his current house in 1988 was to rip up the existing lawn and replace it with native California plants and a fruit and vegetable garden. Unless raising cows or running a golf course, he can’t imagine why anyone would need high-maintenance, water-wasting grass outside their home. But, as with many of Ed’s improvements, energy saving tends to trump aesthetics. That’s where Rachelle comes in. “A few years after Rachelle had moved in here, she was telling a friend to meet her at the house,” Ed recalls, “and she said ‘It’s the one on the corner that looks like the Addams Family yard.’ I thought: ‘Oooh, maybe that garden isn’t quite as nice-looking as it used to be.’ It was very drought-tolerant, but it didn’t look good.” With Rachelle’s help, a new landscaper joined the effort of turning the formerly bleak-looking yard into an attractive mix of native plants that includes fragrant rosemary and purple-flowering sage along with broccoli, artichoke, corn and lettuce. Plans for the new family home will allow Ed an expanded capability to harvest rainwater through a large catchment system with an underground tank, so that he can irrigate the gardens without drawing from the municipal water sup-

ply—which he characterizes as having, “… our straw dipped into someone else’s drink”—namely, Northern California’s water. “If you’re going to take water from someone else,” Ed advises, “the least you can do is to use it responsibly and not waste it on non-native species.”

Meeting in the Middle

Bringing Rachelle’s aesthetic influence to bear has entailed replacing outdated living room curtains with attractive and energy-efficient wooden shutters, and finding ways to recycle without having large bins in plain sight. She’s orchestrating the design and layout of the new house—allowing for both entertaining space and larger closets—while Ed focuses on its renewable energy systems— including more unshaded rooftop panels and orienting the building to make the most of natural light. “If we don’t go LEED Platinum, then who will?” Rachelle queries. “That alone is not easy; still, I want to make it look like other houses in the neighborhood. I don’t want a Jetsons’ house; super modern has never been my style. I‘d like to show people that you can have it all, and I’m praying that it’s true.” The Begleys got off to a good start in March by tearing down an existing home on the property they recently

purchased—96 percent of which, from cabinets to pipes, will be recycled or reused through Habitat for Humanity. By March 2012, the new house should be finished. They want their LEED Platinum home to serve as a model for people who are building new residences, to show what is possible in achieving real energy efficiency and waste reduction without sacrificing style or comfort. Ed’s aim is to ensure the place produces more energy than it uses. As before, the whole process will be documented. “I hope that I’ve shown what you can do with a retrofit,” Ed says. “Now I want to show people what you can do from the ground up in 2011 and beyond.” The family’s ongoing focus on green living has made a major impact on Hayden, who accepts environmental consciousness as the norm. “I learned everything from my dad, from composting to solar panels,” Hayden says. “I always teach my friends to turn off the lights more often, take shorter showers, stuff like that.” Her green awareness gives this tween maturity beyond her years. As Rachelle says, “She thinks about things outside of herself. She’s always been conscientious. She’s also really concerned about the planet and very compassionate.” Hayden is proof that a family’s day-to-day environmental commitments can leave a lasting impact that reaches far beyond the immediate family. Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home. Her next book, due out this fall, explores the relationship of environmental toxins and autism.

READ MORE ONLINE! A How-To Guide for Moving Up the Home Energy Savings Ladder One Step at a Time Log on to

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

natural awakenings

April 2011

Smart Yards for a Healthy Gulf A New Intitiative of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance

he Gulf of Mexico Alliance educational outreach by the (GOMA) was formed in master gardeners, Gulf resi2004 by the states of Aladents who choose to fertilize bama, Florida, Louisiana, Missistheir lawns will be encouraged sippi and Texas to enhance the to do so wisely, when the grass ecological and economic health is actively growing. Seasonal of the Gulf of Mexico by increasslogans will be used, including regional collaboration. Smart ing, “If you’re going to fertilYard Healthy Gulf is one of the ize, summertime is the right Alliance’s newest projects, which seeks to time,” and “Why fertilize your lawn when it’s educate homeowners on planet-friendly lawn The goal of this cam- asleep?” maintenance techniques. Educational materials such as waterpaign is to reduce The impact that homeowners’ lawn care residential nutrient proof reference cards to keep in homeownpractices have on local water resources is a ers' sheds will be distributed, as well. Master runoff by eliciting gardeners will reach out to the coastal comgrowing concern of GOMA. Fertilizer applied improperly or in excess may result in nutrient behavior change from munity by attending homeowner association runoff to waterways. This adds unhealthy levels homeowners regard- meetings, farmers’ markets and home and of nitrogen and phosphorus to those water boding their lawn care garden shows. “Our goal is to bring about an ies and often causes hypoxia, the depletion of awareness of the issue and the solution,” says practices, thereby Nutrients and Hypoxia Engagement Specialist oxygen in the water. Due to this imbalance in the ecosystem, degradation of water and habitat improving the ecologi- Stacy Ray. quality occur and the lives of inhabiting fish and cal health of the Gulf An Internet-based Lawn Prescription Tool marine mammals are at risk. is also planned for the Smart Yard Healthy of Mexico. As a result of the severity of the runoff Gulf campaign. “Homeowners will be able problem, GOMA is focusing its efforts on Smart Yard Healthy to log on and select different attributes, such as location and Gulf, a nutrient reduction campaign targeting residential lawn the amount of time one likes to spend on lawn maintenance, care. GOMA established a partnership with the United States to receive a personalized protocol for lawn care,” explains Ray. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative Extension Homeowners who meet qualifications laid out by GOMA Service’s Master Gardener Programs in the Gulf states, and the will be eligible for the Smart Yard Healthy Gulf certification and program will utilize the skills and expertise of master gardeners presented with a sign designating their yard as a participant in to educate homeowners. the program. The goal of this campaign is to reduce residential nutrient runoff by eliciting behavior change from homeowners regard- The Smart Yard Healthy Gulf program and website, SmartYard ing their lawn care practices, thereby improving the ecological HealthyGulf.com, is expected to launch by May 2011. For more health of the Gulf of Mexico. Through an ad campaign and information call 251-690-7712 or email SRay@gulfquesteoe.org.

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www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

healingways

COMING IN MAY

Natural Healing in Unnatural Settings Homelike Touches Help Restore Health by Melinda Hemmelgarn

h, how we take the comforts of home for granted—until we lose them. Despite our best intentions and mindful actions to stay physically and spiritually sound, sometimes, bad things happen to good people. Accidents, toxic environments, illness and other situations beyond our control can radically, often unexpectedly, change our lives. No one wants to find themselves in a hospital bed, but if you or a loved one require the high-tech, life-saving skills of a medical center, nursing home or another institutionalized care facility, you can help restore health through high-touch, natural nurturing. To begin, it’s helpful to know that healing is enhanced and quality of life

returns quicker in loving, peaceful, natural environments. Frances Kuo and her colleagues at the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, have shown how green space is a necessary, beneficial component of human health. Because plant life is physically and mentally restorative, an increasing number of hospitals nationwide have created onsite “healing gardens.” The University of Alabama Hospital, for instance, designed a garden according to the concept that the way a patient feels and interacts with his or her surroundings can play an integral part in the healing process. Complementing its soothing greenery and pleasant floral scents, a water feature

WOMEN’S WELLNESS SPECIAL EDITION Feel good both inside and out Express your natural beauty Celebrate feminine power

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April 2011

helps mask unpleasant noise. It’s good to bring green plants, fragrant flowers and herbs to the bedside of a loved one, but intensive care units often ban plants in rooms, due to concerns about mold, allergens and bacteria, so check with nursing staff first. If an institution restricts the presence of plants, substitute posters or pictures of gardens, forests or national parks to bring visions of natural life to barren walls. Here are additional suggestions for transforming unnatural environments into more natural healing spaces: Like Hippocrates, think of food as medicine. Unfortunately, “healthy hospital food,” is too often an oxymoron. It’s wise to ask the staff dietitian for an organic diet. Organic food is produced without toxic chemicals, antibiotics, hormones and genetically modified ingredients. If no organic options exist, let hospital administrators know you would appreciate having local, organic food on the menu. Inquire about dietary restrictions and get approval to bring nutritious, homemade comfort foods, prepared with loving hearts and caring hands. Satisfy the senses. Listen to the healing rhythms of nature via recordings of songbirds, crickets, frogs, ocean surf, trickling streams and gentle rain. Many are available through libraries, local bookstores and websites. Paul Kervick, cofounder and one of the directors at Living Well Community Care Home, in Bristol, Vermont, believes, “It takes more than medical management and clean sheets to feel vibrant and happy.” So, in addition to organic food, Kervick provides music therapy and meditative drumming for residents.

space feel more personal and cozy. Some care facilities even allow visits from pets. Pull up a chair and read stories aloud, sing softly and share memories and images of home. Think positively and hold healing thoughts. Creative visualization can be a vital healing tool. It is the internal process of embracing healing images and good thoughts and then applying them to our experience and our bodies. For example, Dyer references a horse field she saw outside her rural hospital window during an illness that had left her weak. She focused on the horses’ galloping strength and visualized herself running strongly again. Every patient needs an advocate to ask questions, take notes and provide a second set of watchful eyes and helping hands. It’s a good idea to keep a dated record of procedures, doctors’ comments, test results and care plans. Meanwhile, protect your loved one’s rest while offering small services that provide great comfort—such as companionship during meals or helping them step outside for some fresh air. Repeatedly express gratitude to care providers for their services and for incremental gains in healing that bring a loved one ever closer to returning to home sweet home. For additional insights, visit Health Care Without Harm (NoHarm.org). Melinda Hemmelgarn is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio show host, based in Columbia, MO. Her daughter recently spent a month in the hospital while recovering from a fall. Visit FoodSleuth@gmail.com and tune into Food Sleuth Radio online podcasts at kopn.org.

Heal through touch and movement. Medical facilities may employ professional massage, healing touch and physical therapists. If not, a gentle foot or hand massage, with jasmine, rose or lavender-scented lotion, provides soothing stress relief. Be close; hold your loved one’s hand or stroke their hair. In A Dietitian’s Cancer Story: Information & Inspiration for Recovery & Healing, author and dietitian Diana Dyer found that meditative movement, like yoga and qigong, aided her own healing journey. Bring something from home to the facility. Family photographs, a favorite blanket or special sweater can help make a strange

Visit: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

SCIATICA? BACK PAIN? HIP PAIN? POOR POSTURE? Relaxing 20 minutes daily on the Sacro Wedgy®

may be all you need. Placed under the sacrum (tailbone), it allows the hips to suspend and relax, letting go of nerves and ultimately “rebalancing.”

Try the SACRO WEDGY® For individual self-care and therapists. Only $29.95.

www.sacrowedgy.com 251-653-9258 or 800-737-9295 26

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naturalpet

For just $20 a month, you can help pets like Dot find forever homes.

Forbidden Creatures Author Peter Laufer On the Dark Side of “Owning” Exotic Pets

Dot Female Pointer Mix

by Gail Condrick

eter Laufer, Ph.D., is the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications, a broadcaster and the author of 12 books. His latest, Forbidden Creatures, exposes the illegal network of hunters, traders, breeders and customers who are negatively impacting the lives of exotic animals, humans and the environment.

In Forbidden Creatures, as you explored people’s fascination with collecting exotic and forbidden animals, what did you find? Many of us like to think that humans are the ultimate animal, and that we can tame the rest of nature. My research for the book introduced me to an engaging cast of characters, many of who fantasized not just about communing with exotic beasts, but controlling them. Such dreams can dissolve into nightmares in seconds and without warning. Exotic animals are collected and owned by celebrities, criminals and your neighbors. In fact, there are more captivebred tigers in private homes in Texas than in the wild in India. I found a tiger in the back of a feed store in Idaho, a colony of chimpanzees in the countryside south of St. Louis and laundry bags full of pythons at a former missile base in the Everglades. There are legal auctions of exotic animals from aardvarks to zebras in Missouri, and sales of black market chimps on the Internet.

You have stated that illegal trading of wild and protected

animals is growing exponentially; how profitable is this? Wild animal trafficking profits are estimated by Interpol to be $10 billion to $20 billion a year. It’s the third most lucrative illegal business in the world, trailing only drugs and weapons smuggling. It is easy to accomplish, the risks of capture are slim and penalties are minimal. Many amateurs also bring in animals for their own pleasure, based on their personal fascination for the exotic. Legal trade in endangered animals also exists, along with trade that skirts the law. It is the illegal wildlife trade that further threatens already endangered species and creates a crisis for survival.

How many exotic animals are there in the United States? No one knows the answer, because there is no census of exotic pets and the legal enforcement issues differ from state to state and by locality. In fact, while we license dogs, we have no overarching law governing exotics, or even a national registry of owners. This remains a great frustration to many people and organizations working for the benefit of the animals.

The Adoption Spot is dedicated to helping the many adoptable animals in local shelters and foster homes. See page 28.

Visit HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com for details.

What can animal lovers do? Education is needed to make conscious choices. Most of the people who collect exotics are ignorant of the long-term impact of owning these animals. The cute and cuddly tiger cub or baby chimp may look like an entertaining pet now, but what about the future? What will this natural awakenings

April 2011

The Adoption Spot Azalea City Cat Coalition

SUNDANCE

6 mos old, Male Short-Hair

Sundance loves to have his chin scratched and wants to be petted all day. He is tidy with his bathroom habits and gets along with other kitties. Sponsored by: Synergy Yoga & Pilates Synergyoga.net

For adoption information: AzaleaCityCats.org, 251-648-7582

Fairhope Cat Coalition

JILL

9 mos old, Female Maine Coon Mix

Jill is somewhat shy and in need of a good home. She has been spayed and is up to date on shots. She is negative for Feline AIDS/Leukemia. Sponsored by: Rosie Blu RosieBlu.com

For adoption information: FairhopeCatCoalition.org, 251-510-8585

The Haven

ROCKO

8 mo old, Male Medium-Hair

Rocko is a loveable kitty with a sense of adventure and a zest for life! He would be great in a multiple pet situation and would do well with kids also. Sponsored by: A Friend of the Haven For adoption information: HavenForAnimals.org, 251-929-3980

North Baldwin Animal Shelter

DARCY

18 mos old, Female Terrior Mix Darcy is a sweet, loving and playful pup who will make a great indoor pet and companion. She is good with children and other pets, and loves long walks and belly rubs. Sponsored by: Julie Wilkins Yoga JulieWilkinsYoga.com

For adoption information: NorthBaldwinAnimalShelter.com, 251-937-8811 28

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animal be like in six months or six years? When animals reach their adolescence and full body weight, we must ask: How will they be cared for and what will their lives be like? Chimps and other great apes grow to be stronger than a man, are overtly dangerous and must be corralled. Pythons can grow to 20 feet, endangering other pets and humans. Often, people cannot keep up with the expenses of the food and care, and release the animals to sanctuaries or simply drop them off in the wild. This creates further repercussions for society and the environment. The reality is that exotic pets will not live happily in confinement. There are many terrifying and heartbreaking stories of captive animals attacking and even killing their owners after years of mutual affection. No one knows what makes the wild side emerge to disastrous results.

What should buyers of exotic animals understand? I view our attempts at taming animals as little more than subjugation. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understandable if our own survival is at stake. But to subjugate other beings for our amusement diminishes our own self-worth. Animal smuggling exists because there is a market for it. Decisions to purchase or own an exotic animal cannot be made in isolation; every action has an impact upstream. We need to realize that there is an environmental impact of removing creatures from their habitats and teach the benefits of seeing animals in their natural environments. Wild animals do not need us. We should leave other animals alone, and they should remain forbidden creatures. For more information, visit PeterLaufer.com. Connect with Gail Condrick, writer and workshop leader, at GaelaVisions.com.

COMING IN MAY

Expanded Pet Section For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call or email:

251-990-9552 Publisher@Healthy LivingHealthyPlanet.com

Happy & Healthy...

YOUR FARMERS MARKET ON WHEELS

Grow Alabama works closely with our farmers who provide excellent quality and variety of locally grown fruits, berries, melons and vegetables. Every week you get a beautiful seasonal array of these farmfresh beauties delivered right to your door within 48 hours of harvest. You may also customize your order or add on more from our ever-expanding online healthy gourmet grocery store. You can’t get fresher eggs unless they are from your own backyard. Join today! Choose the best plan for your family and budget and register online at growalabama.com or call us at 205.991.0042.

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How motherhood is meant to be. Learn the secrets to healthy living for Mom and Baby.

Grassroots Holistic Health Coaching serves women at all stages of pregnancy, from pre-conception to post-partum, in creating a healthy environment for you and your baby. “Work one-on-one with me, your certified holistic health coach, to develop a program of dietary, spiritual and emotional wellness during one of the most exciting and important times in your life.” -Hannah Tessen, Owner Preparing for Pregnancy • Living for Two Baby and Me•Cooking Classes•& more!

Learn more today by contacting: Hannah Tessen 256-282-1391

HannahTessen@hotmail.com www.GrassRootsHolisticHealth.com natural awakenings

April 2011

KIDS DIG

WORM COMPOSTING Red Wigglers Turn Kitchen Scraps into Gardening Gold by Jessica Iclisoy

our family loves to shop at area farmers’ markets, investigating greens and other veggies to make meals bursting with vitamins and minerals. Yet, it’s not always easy raising children who love to eat the fruits, veggies and salad makings you tote home. So consider mixing in a strategic science lesson—all you need are a few thousand wiggly worm friends to gobble up kitchen scraps; waste that would normally go into the trash and municipal landfill. For kids, worm composting gives food preparation a special mission: The worms must be fed! Worm composting, also known as

vermiculture, produces nutrient-rich worm castings. In kid parlance, that’s “worm poop.” This organic matter provides the perfect soil conditioner and organic food for plants, indoors and out. It’s also easy to harvest the liquid (worm tea) from the compost and dilute it with water to sprinkle any garden with an extra dose of natural fertilizer. Both will promote strong, healthy plants that are resistant to disease. Our family has maintained a fourlevel worm bin just outside our kitchen door for five years, and for me, the hardest part of getting started was opening the box of wigglers. Now, we have more worm castings and worm tea than I can use, so I routinely pack up the castings into resealable plastic bags, pour the tea into bottles, and use both as muchwelcomed gifts. A well-designed worm composter is opaque and has a secure lid and

Free your Mind. Discover your Spirit.

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Rosie Blu

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ventilation holes. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply, in Grass Valley, California, offers both a deluxe bin and inexpensive do-it-yourself worm bin kit at GrowOrganic.com. Or, find step-by-step instructions to build your own at the educational website, RedWormComposting. com, which also lists reputable sources for worms (the pictures alone are enough to juice kids’ interest). Keep these tips in mind for successful composting, indoors or out: n The best worms for composting are red wigglers. According to the Peaceful Valley company, one or two pounds of mature red worms can convert 3.5 to 7 pounds of food scraps into castings in one week. n Newspaper provides cover. Shred or tear old newspapers into strips and place a fluffy layer on top to cover food scraps and discourage flies. Also use paper on the bottom to provide bedding for the worms. n Keep the worm bin moist. Periodic spritzing with a spray bottle or fine mist from the hose will keep wigglers moisturized and on the move. n Worms prefer a vegetarian diet; so don’t add cheese or meat scraps to the compost pile. Do feel free to toss in cereal, grains and rinsed, crushed eggshells. If possible, chop up all vegetable waste prior to adding it to your bin to speed up the composting process. Jessica Iclisoy, the founder of California Baby natural baby care products, writes about natural living and backyard organic gardening in Beverly Hills, CA. She also maintains two worm bins and three composters. Connect at Jessica@ CaliforniaBaby.com.

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and green too!

Consignment and resale shops offer a green and affordable retail experience. Visit one of these local businesses for deals on clothing, furniture and more!

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SECOND THOUGHT

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natural awakenings

April 2011

A BILLION ACTS OF GREEN: CELEBRATING EARTH DAY 2011

o you believe in the power of the individual to change the world? Earth Day Network’s A Billion Acts of Green campaign aims to harness the power of millions of individuals, businesses and other organizations through pledges to live and act sustainably in specific ways. Acts range from riding a bike instead of driving to retrofitting a workspace to use renewable energy, as well as organizing or participating in an Earth Day event. In all, more than 45 million acts have already been pledged, including largescale initiatives such as community beach cleanups, greening schools and tree planting in 16 countries. The goal is to prompt 1 billion large and small acts by the start of the global 2012 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Together, these acts steadily build commitments to measurably reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability. When millions of individuals and groups join in local Earth Day events and vow to follow through on their own pledges to better their environment, the impact can be huge. “People sign the Billion Acts of Green petition with their green actions,” says Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers. Local Earth Day events work to get the ball rolling.

Clean Coast Expo

1 to 7 p.m., April 21 Erie H. Meyer Civic Center Gulf Shores CleanIsland.org

Earth Day Mobile Bay

10 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 23 Fairhope Pier Park Fairhope EarthDayMobileBay.org

Earth Day Pensacola

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 23 Bayview Park, East Hill Pensacola EarthDayPensacola.org

Bring Healthy Home, mobile bay area

Green Drinks

OrganicProduce OrganicMeats

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Ctr

251-928-0644

Supplements Holistic Pet Food AlabamaOrganicMilk OrganicWine Wheat&Gluten-Free

14 North Church Street, Fairhope

Essential Oils

Bath&BodyProducts

3952 Airport Blvd in Mobile

GreenCleaningProducts dairy-free Books BabyProducts SportsNutrition www.va-fairhopehealthfoods.com

251-345-0494 Open 7 days a week. Serving the public for 35 years.

or Eat Healthy Out

Dine at our organic cafes featuring juice bars, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Take out available. Menus online. Call for specials.

251-929-0055

Next door to Fairhope Health Foods

Inside Virginia’s

M-W, Sat 10:30am-4pm Thu-Fri 10:30am-9pm Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2pm

Health Foods in Mobile Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm Closed Sundays

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Thursday, April 21 5:30-7pm at Aurora’s

251-345-0495

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Meeting on the 3rd Thursday of each month, Green Drinks is a community organization that provides a venue for informal networking and discussions about the many green happenings in the area. Eating and drinking are optional. Stay for as little or as long as you like. For more info, or to join our mailing list:

MobileBayAreaGreenDrinks @gmail.com

www.GreenDrinks.org/AL/Mobile%20 Bay%20Area

calendarofevents All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Go to HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to submit entries. Mark Your Calendar events are $40.

SATURDAY APRIL 2

Thai Yoga Bodywork Workshop with Sudevi – Apr 2-3. 9am-6pm. 16 CEUs available for massage therapists and Yoga Alliance instructors. All previous Vedic Conservatory students get 50% discount. Call or email to register. $100 deposit is appreciated. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@QuietMindMassage Therapy.com. Film Showing: You Begin This Way – 7pm. The Natural Network will be showing You Begin This Way, a locally made feature film about the challenges families face while navigating through childbirth in Alabama. No children, please. $10. 20 South Royal St, Downtown Mobile. 251-378-8115.

SUNDAY APRIL 3

The Mind Matters – 11am-12:30pm. Introduction to therapeutic hypnosis for positive life changes and habit control. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, 3152 Old Shell Rd, Ste 2, Mobile. RSVP: 251-473-1104. SynergyYoga.net. Film Showing: You Begin This Way – 4pm. The Natural Network will be showing You Begin This Way, a locally made feature film about the challenges families face while navigating through childbirth in Alabama. Kids welcome. $7. 20 South Royal St, Downtown Mobile. 251-378-8115.

Rolling on the River for Literacy – 6:30pm. Sunset on the Delta benefitting the Eastern Shore Literacy Council. Heavy hors d’oeurves, wine and beer, prizes, live and silent auctions. $25. 5 Rivers, Spanish Fort. For tickets: 251-990-8300.

THURSDAY APRIL 7

300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – Apr 7-10. 9am6pm. Join Leeann Carey Yoga for Yoga Therapy: Bend-2-Mend Dynamic Restorative Training. In this first module of the series learn to teach traditional supported yoga using props. Bridge the gap from 200- to 500-hour RYT certification. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. SynergyYoga.net.

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Orientation Meeting – 6pm. Individuals interested in applying for the Habitat program in Mobile County must attend an orientation to receive an application. Habitat ReStore, 4128 Government Blvd, Mobile. 251-476-7171. HabitatMobile.org.

FRIDAY APRIL 8

Fresh Air Family and River Works Discovery and Picnic – 12-2pm. April Griffin will be doing handson demonstrations with kids about the role our rivers played and will continue to play on our future. Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful park with friends and family. Cooper Riverside Park, Downtown Mobile. KimWright@FreshAirFamily.org or 251-689-2985.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

The Healing Power of Sound Workshop

2nd Annual Gulf Coast Holistic Health Fair

6:30-9pm, April 8 Explore the healing power of sound with physicist, musician and healing practitioner Thomas Anderson, M.A. Explore the basic physics and ever-present healing power of sound, and the sacred root vowels in the tangible context of harmonics and the chakras. $25 suggested donation. Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. 251-202YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

SATURDAY APRIL 9

Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Join us the 2nd Saturday of every month as we learn about essential oils, their benefits, how they work, how they can be applied to your everyday life and how they can help save you time and money. Free. Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-656-6696, AromaLife@bellsouth.net.

One Prayer’s Music, Art and Silent Auction – 6-8pm. Live music, local artwork and silent auction benefitting Under His Wings, a refuge for teenage girls. Community Life Center, Daphne United Methodist Church. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. 228-234-5903 or 913-669-0128. UnderHisWings.Wordpress.com.

SUNDAY APRIL 10

Fresh Air Family: Dauphin Island Audubon Trail Hike – 10am-12pm. Trails are wide and terrain diverse (boardwalk, pine, sand and beach), perfect for birding. Stroller-friendly except on beach. Bring water, binoculars and lunch. Dauphin Island Audubon Trail. Directions: drive to water tower and turn E, trail 1.5 mi on right. Meet at the picnic tables at parking area. Juli@FreshAireFamily.org or 251-377-0054.

THURSDAY APRIL 14

Fresh Air Family: Geocaching Event – 10am. Pack picnic lunch and wear closed toed shoes. Meet at the Earth GeoCache: The 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center main parking lot. KimWright@FreshAirFamily.org or 251-689-2985.

SATURDAY APRIL 16

Bellingrath’s Easter Egg Hunt – 9am. Thousands of eggs will be placed on the Great Lawn for children to discover. Candy and treats for kids of all ages. Professional photographer onsite. $12/adults, $6.50/children 5-12 yrs, free/4 and under. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore. 251-973-2217.

Stay Connected with Natural Awakenings Follow us online for upcoming local events and news on healthy and green living. Search for Natural Awakenings on Facebook and follow @NaturallyAwake on Twitter.

10am-5pm, April 16

Exhibitors of products and services for a healthy spirit, mind and body, kids activities, LifeSouth Community blood drive and more. Free. Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777, CMCSLHealthFair@gmail.com. . Fresh Air Family: Hiking for Dummies – 2-4pm. Learn the basics for a hike in the woods. Whether it is a day hike or over night trip, learn to make it enjoyable with tips on food, equipment, tent setup, etc. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center. Juli@FreshAir Family.org or 251-377-0054.

Middle Earth Workshop – 2pm. Richard Powers of Madison, VA teaches Agnihotra, Agnihotra ash medicines and homa-therapy gardening. Bring a covered dish to share prior to the Agnihorta ceremony taking place at sunset. Free. Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center, 20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle. Call to register: 251-866-7204.

SUNDAY APRIL 17

Half Day Meditation Retreat – 9am-4pm. Come as long as you like. 25 minutes of seated meditation followed by 5 minutes of walking meditation on the hour and half hour. If coming late or leaving early, please do so during the walking mediation. Donation appreciated. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@ QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

Fresh Air Family: Family Fun Walk – 2-4pm. 2.3 mi hike through a restored wetland, a beautiful hidden treasure with a well marked trail and informative signs throughout. Wear closed toe shoes and bring water. Muddy Creek, Theodore. KimWright@FreshAir Family.org or 251-689-2985.

MONDAY APRIL 18

Spring Break Program – Apr 18-22. 9am-6pm. Field trips, theme days and other fun activities during spring break for students. Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary Youth Club, Fairhope. 251-928-9148. Programs@ RotaryYouthClub.org.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 20

Emerson Essay Class – 7-9pm. A class on Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays, led by Rev. Susan E. Berent. The 8-week accredited class begins on April 20th and will meet every Wed night. The book, Emerson's Essays, is required. $110 for accreditation, $15/class without accreditation. The Center for Joyful Living, 60 N. Ann Street, Mobile.

THURSDAY APRIL 21

Clean Coast Expo – Expo: 1-7pm. E-Cycling Station: 3-6pm. Chamber Business After Hours: 5:30-7:30pm. Erie H. Meyer Civic Center, Gulf Shores. Details: CleanIsland.org, 251-968-7200.

natural awakenings

April 2011

SATURDAY APRIL 23

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Orientation Meeting – 10am. Individuals interested in applying for the Habitat program in Mobile County must attend an orientation to receive an application. First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, 10170 Grand Bay Wilmer Road South, Grand Bay 36541. 251-476-7171. HabitatMobile.org. Yoga for Passover – 10:30am. Celebrate freedom and rebirth with Tracey in an all-levels 75 minute vinyasa class highlighting the parallels between the Passover story and the wealth of yogic teachings on freedom. Space 301, downtown Mobile. ShantiWarrior.com or KulaYogaCommunity.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! SATURDAY APRIL 23Bay 2011 Earth Day Mobile

10am-7pm, April 23 The Gulf Coast’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration. Live music, educational exhibits, activities for all ages, environmental film festival electronics recycling, sustainable living vendors and more. Free. Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope. EarthDayMobileBay.org.

SUNDAY APRIL 24

Easter Sunrise Service – 6:30am. A special service as the sunrises over Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Open to the community. An offering will be collected for the Interfaith Hospitality Network-The Family Promise Ministry. Some chairs will be set-up but guests can bring their own. Free. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore. 251-973-2217.

FRIDAY APRIL 29

Hoot and Scoot – 6:30pm. Fairhope Public Library Foundation’s 5K run, 1 mi fun run and post race celebration with Leavin Brothers live. $18/adult and $12/kid pre-registration, $20/adult and $15/kid day of race. Fairhope Library Lawn. FairhopeLibrary.org. 251-928-7481.

PLAN AHEAD SUNDAY MAY 1

Smart Ride to Lulu’s – 7:30am registration. 8:15am Line-up. A fun ride from Fairhope to Gulf Shores to promote Complete Streets - designing roads for everyone to use safely. 33 miles. Starts at De La Mare in Fairhope or shorter route begins at Jessie’s Restaurant in Magnolia Springs. SmartCoast.org. 251-510-8002.

TUESDAY MAY 3

Women Build Week – May 3-7. 8am-4pm. Help Habitat Mobile celebrate Women Build Week by volunteering on a construction site in Hillsdale. Saturday is Mother-Daughter Build Day in celebration of Mother’s Day. No experience necessary. Call Jennifer Tidwell at 251-476-7171 or email JTidwell@habitatmobile. org to sign up.

SATURDAY MAY 14

Mayapuris Cultural Performance – 7pm. Experience call and response Sanskrit chanting, drumming and traditional Indian dancing with world-renowned Kirtan artists, the Mayapuris. Uplifting for all ages. $15. Space 301, Downtown Mobile. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

ongoingevents All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Go to HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to submit entries.

sunday Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread – We all need a little inspiration from time to time. Visit ShantiWarrior.com/DailyBread every Sunday for inspirational quotes.

Conscious Mile Spiritual Center Service – 10am. Make every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak a conscious one. New Thought Spiritual Center, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander, 251-343-0777. CMSpiritualCenter.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore your spiritual pathway with Mobile Unitarian Universalists, 6345 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. UUFM.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living, 60 N Ann St, Mobile. 251-391-6960. Sunday Worth-ship Celebration – 10:30am. Find, strengthen and celebrate one’s connection with Divine Spirit. Donation. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US Hwy 98, one mile north of US Hwy 104, Montrose. 251-990-8934. UnityEasternShore.org. Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, between Hillcrest and Knollwood, Mobile. 251-661-1788.

Align and Flow – 4:45pm. Flowing vinyasa with attention to alignment. Find stability and refinement - a safe, steady and deep practice. $15. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section St, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com.

monday

Massage Mondays – Relax with a therapeutic massage! Warlocks Hair Salon is now open Mondays for massage only. $20 off your first one hour massage. $70/hour. Warlocks Salon, 2A S Church St, Fairhope, 251-929-1899. Mindful Mondays – 9:15am. A class taught by Augusta Kantra designed to be grounding and centering, while at the same time invigorating and inspiring. $15. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Create your own practice during this gentle yoga flow class with Dana Goudie, E-RYT. Modifications suggested to make your practice more challenging for those wanting to move deeper. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

La Leche League Enrichment Meeting – 6:30pm. Last Mon each month. This month’s meeting is geared toward working mothers and those who are returning to work. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251-689-2085. Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Pranic Healing clinics offered to the public followed by the Meditation on Twin Hearts. Learn to heal yourself. Classes available. Free. Mobile. RSVP: 251-454-0959.

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tuesday Complimentary First Facials – Tues-Sat, by appointment only. First-time facial customers receive their first facial free. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511. Ten Percent Tuesday – Get an extra 10 percent off purchases every Tuesday. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackToHealthNutrition.com. Anusara-Inspired Yoga – 9am. Explore asana with Melanie Buffett, E-RYT in this radically affirming method as you increase strength and flexibility. $15. Packages available. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com. 251-990-3447. Vinyasa Flow with Tracey, RYT-200 – 9:30am. Challenge your body, still your mind, and connect with your own inner light. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Stretch and Rotate Class – 10am. Adult class. Also offered on Thurs. Coastal Ballet Academy, 113 W Laurel Ave, Foley. 251-979-9851, RioBarlow@ ymail.com. La Leche League Series Meeting – 10:30am. Second Tues each month. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251-689-2085. Gentle Yoga with Martha – 12pm. Take a break in the middle of your day. Join Martha Collier for a relaxing class to sooth your spirit, calm your mind and replenish your soul. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. Synergyoga.net. 251-473-1104. Lenten Season Labyrinth Walk – Every Tues thru Apr 12. 2-7pm. The labyrinth will be open for those wanting to use it. South Auditorium Campus (old Al’s 5 and 10), Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. For more info, Patti Bodenhamer: 251-9522175 or PattiBodenhamer@gmail.com. Ballet Class – 4:15pm. Ages 4 and up. Also offered on Thurs. Coastal Ballet Academy, 113 W Laurel Ave, Foley. 251-979-9851, RioBarlow@ymail.com. LA Hikers Meeting – 6-7pm. First Tues each month. Free and open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. LAHikerMeetings. Blogspot.com. Martial Arts Class – 6-8pm. Jiu Jitsu for adults and children. Also offered on Thurs. Gulf Coast Martial Arts. More info: 251-979-6019. Positive Parenting Class – 6-8pm. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create your happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-4795700. Kids101@comcast.net. Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. First Tues each month. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. A great place to meet others interested in kayaks and canoes. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker.Blogspot.com. Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. First Tues each month. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort.

CWG Mobile Group – 7-9pm. Second and fourth Tues each month. Read and discuss books by Neale Donald Walsch. Joy N Love, 171 Crenshaw St, Mobile. 251-382-4215. CWG_Mobile_Group@ yahoo.com. Guided Meditation by Rosie Blu – 7pm. Guided meditation is a relaxation exercise and a way to reconnect with the divine spirit that resides in each of us individually; however, mostly, it is just a nice break from a crazy pace and hectic lifestyle. Page and Palette, Fairhope. Contact Rosie Blu for more info: 251-517-5326, RosieBlu@gmail.com. Spiritual Cinema Group – 7-9pm. First, third and fifth Tues each month. View and discuss spiritual DVDs. Contact Heiner, 251-607-9089.

wednesday

Hospital Discounted Perms for Seniors – Seniors 65 and over receive discounted perms. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511. Yoga with Faye – 8:30am. Join Faye for a refreshing yoga class to ease your stress, focus your body and quiet your mind. Start your day in the land of “ahhhs.” Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. synergyoga.net. Positive Parenting Class – 9:30-11:30am. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create your happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net. Lunchtime Vinyasa with Tracey – 12-1pm. Feed your soul. Quiet the mind and restore vitality through a challenging sequence of asanas designed to increase strength, balance, and flexibility. All levels. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio. Midtown Mobile. ShantiWarrior.com. 251476-6463. Unusual Film Series – 2pm. Third Wed each month. Thought provoking cutting-edge films shown on big screen in meeting room. Adults only. Free. Popcorn and drinks included. Foley Public Library. 251-9437665. FoleyLibrary.org. Eastern Shore MS Support Group – Every 2nd Wed. 5:30pm. Guest speaker: Dr. Scott Markle of Mobile. Family, friends and caregivers are always welcome. Ruby Tuesday, Fairhope. Call Weezer for more info: 251-928-7606. Power Flow Yoga with Angela – 5:45pm. Join associate Baptiste Power Vinyasa Teacher Angela Cain - revitalize and energize your day. Enjoy the sweet sweat of power flow and leave class refreshed and recharged. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Gentle Yoga with Nadine – 6pm. Unwind from your day and let these gentle series of poses leave you feeling calm and refreshed to finish out your week. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy & Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMind MassageTherapy.com. International Association of Near Death Studies (IANDS) – 6-7:30pm. Second Wed each month. Ongoing discussion and support group affiliated with IANDS. Discussion expands to include intuition, after death communication, consciousness studies and related areas of interest to attendees. Free. West Regional Branch, Mobile Public Library. 251-340-8555. Group Meditation – 6:45pm. Join meditation enthusiast Betsey Grady in guided meditation directly following the 5:30 flow yoga class. Pay what you can. Daphne Rec

Center. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

sweat in this class, a hybrid of vinyasa-based flow and power yoga set to funky fun music. $15. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

thursday Running Wild Group Run – 6am. A social group run starting and finishing at Running Wild store. Open to everyone, all ages and abilities. Just show up and run! Run different distances ranging from 3-6 miles. Free. Running Wild, 214 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope. Jon Adams: 251-990-4412. Vinyasa with Tracey – 9:30am. Now 90 mins. More time, more bliss! Discover your inner light. Unite body, mind, and spirit in this energizing and centering raja yoga inspired practice. All levels. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio. Midtown Mobile. ShantiWarrior.com. 251476-6463. Story Time at 5 Rivers – 10-10:30am. For parents and children. Relax while we do the reading. Recommended for children age 6 and younger, great for toddlers and lap babies too. Free. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. 251-625-0814.

Gentle Yoga – 3-4:15pm. Join Dana Goudie, RYT 200 for gentle yoga incorporating therapeutic poses and relaxing breathing techniques. Safe for beginners, pregnant women and those with injuries or medical conditions. Pay what you can. Space 301, downtown Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251202-YOGA. Basic Flow Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Join Wendy Rush, RYT 200 for a healing flow class incorporating breath, movement and meditation. Beginners welcome. Pay what you can. Daphne Rec Center. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251-202-YOGA. Yoga with Tamara – 4:15pm. Enjoy Tamara’s refreshing energy as she challenges you with a strong emphasis on alignment and focus while still calming the mind. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Green Drinks Mobile Bay Area – Every 3rd Thurs. 5:30-7pm. Green Drinks is a community organization that provides a venue for informal networking and discussions about the many green happenings in the area. Free. Aurora’s, 14 N Church St, Fairhope. MobileBayAreaGreenDrinks@gmail. com. www.GreenDrinks.org/AL/Mobile%20 Bay%20Area. Tropical Yoga Birds – 6:15pm. You will get hot in this vinyasa class set to lively, fun music. Please bring a towel and water. $15. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

friday Fab Fifteen Friday – Get an extra 15 percent off purchases every Friday. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackToHealthNutrition.com. Weekly Meal Delivery – Vegan Personal Chef Services. Get your orders in! Weekly menus posted Monday. Orders must be placed by Friday for delivery the following week. To view menu and place orders: ShantiWarrior.com. Fairhope Bicycle Company Ride: Saturday Morning Shop Ride – 7:30am. 34 mi at 17mph. Leave from Fairhope Bicycle Company, 325 S Greeno Rd across from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. 251990-7383. Power Hour Yoga – 7:45am. Get ready to work! For these classes the room will maintain a temperature of at least 85 degrees. You will get hot and

Yoga with Annette – 8:30am. Join Annette PorterHam for a glorious yoga experience. Relieve stress, relax your mind and rejuvenate and recharge your body. What a great way to start the weekend! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. Synergyoga.net. 251-473-1104.

Foundations of Yoga – 9:15am. Learn and practice the basics of yoga poses and breath awareness in a class format that skillfully balances effort and ease. Great intro to yoga practice. $15. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com. 251-990-3447. Vinyasa Yoga with Ginger – 12pm. Join Ginger Dunaway for this fluid series of poses to increase strength, flexibility and balance in the body and mind. Class is instilled with yogic philosophy meant to connect you more deeply with this ancient tradition. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMind MassageTherapy.com. First Friday Artwalk – 6-8pm. First Fri each month. Enjoy an artsy and fun-filled night with an evening of exhibit openings, guest artists and live entertainment throughout beautiful downtown Fairhope. Map of participating venues available at the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St, Fairhope. 251-928-2228. EasternShoreArtCenter.com.

LoDa ArtWalk – 6-9pm. 2nd Fridays in downtown have become quite a popular time and place to be at. With the LoDa ArtWalk in its 4th year, the event seems to be getting better each month. Cathedral Square Arts District, Mobile. 251-208-7443.

saturday Natural Health on the Radio – 9am. Dr. Jim Fox of Doctor’s Nutrition has a new call-in radio show on 104.9 FM. Learn more about natural health from a clinical perspective. Also streamed live on NewsRadio1049FM.com. More info: 251-445-7898. Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) Pet Adoption – 10am-2pm. Third Sat each month. Adoption event. PetSmart, Eastern Shore Center, Spanish Fort. 251-928-4585. BaldwinHumane.org.

digital MAGAZINE

automatic. free. green. subscribe online: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

natural awakenings

April 2011

classifieds Rates for classifieds start at $16 per month. Listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com for details. Volunteer Opportunities are listed for free as space is available.

FOR SALE CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Birmingham, AL; Lexington, KY; Manhattan, NY; North Central, FL; Tulsa, OK; Southwest VA and Volusia/Flagler, FL. Call for details 239-530-1377.

More than a magazine... A better way of life. Join Our Family and Connect to Our Community in Mobile and Baldwin counties

NATURAL HEALTH SUSTAINABLE LIVING PERSONAL GROWTH FITNESS CREATIVE EXPRESSION 300+ Distribution Points 25,000+ Monthly Readers Advertising Options for Every Budget HealthLivingHealthyPlanet.com 251-990-9552 Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Earth Day 1970 was irrefutable evidence that the American people understood the environmental threat and wanted action to resolve it. ~Barry Commoner 36

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

HEALING ENERGY NEEDED THE WATERS OF THE GULF NEED YOUR HELP! – Sing along with Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha and renew the life-giving energies of the Gulf of Mexico. LovePeaceHarmonyMovie.com.

OPPORTUNITIES GROW AL AREA MANAGER – Promote the availability of locally and sustainably grown farm products to new subscribers and service existing customers. Base pay plus commission. Call 205-266-5130. JOIN THE GREEN CLEAN TEAM! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, nontoxic cleaning services. If interested in becoming part of our team, please call 251-508-3796 for an interview. MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTERS – Natural Awakenings is in need of distributers for parts of both the Mobile and Baldwin county routes. 4-8 hrs/mo between the 25th and 31st each month. Paid by stop. Reliable transportation and clear driving record required. Call or email for details: 251-990-9552, Publisher@Healthy LivingHealthyPlanet.com. SALES REPRESENTATIVES – Natural Awakenings is looking for part-time commission-based sales reps. Must be passionate about healthy and green living. Sales experience preferred but not necessary. Make your own hours. Call or email for details: 251-990-9552, Publisher@Healthy LivingHealthyPlanet.com.

SERVICES BABYSITTING, HOUSEKEEPING & PETSITTING – Over 6 years of experience. References available upon request. Prices negotiable. Contact Maggie: 251-895-6447 or MScribner725@aol.com.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

COLOR THERAPY – Learn to use colors in all parts of your life and create changes you desire. Discover how they affect moods, emotions and why you’re drawn to certain colors. Rosie Blu: 251-517-5326. RosieBlu.com. HOLISTIC WELLNESS SERVICES – Holistic wellness coaching; vegetarian and vegan cooking classes, personal chef services; private yoga classes. Contact Tracey at Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com or visit Shanti Warrior.com. 251-510-2418. LAB WORK – Only $69 includes CBC, metabolic panel, lipid panel and thyroid panel. Hormone panel only $125. Other tests available with no appointment needed! Doctor’s Nutrition, Mobile. 251-445-7898. NEED AN EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN? – Over 8 years of experience in general handyman work. Painting, dry wall repair, pressure washing, wood repair and tile/floor repair. References available upon request. Contact Cody: 251-454-8258. YOGA WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT IT! – YogaSource offers classes at your home or business for fitness and relaxation. Single or groups. Props provided. 251-202-YOGA. Kula YogaCommunity.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AZALEA CITY CAT COALITION – Volunteers needed in any capacity: transporting cats, trapping and adoption events. Contact Susan Young: 251-648-7582. SusanYoung@AzaleaCity Cats.org. BARC! – Cat lover to help maintain cages at one of the adoption locations in Fairhope is needed. visit BaldwinHumane.org or call 251-928-4585. DORI DOGS – Volunteers (both human and dog) are needed for therapy dog work. 251-348-2158. DrBrown05@yahoo.com. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – Volunteers currently needed for five homes – Volunteers currently needed for five homes in Hillsdale neighborhood, Mobile. Various stages of construction. Every Monday thru Friday, 8am-4pm. No experience necessary. Must be at least 16. Contact for details: 251-476-7171 or JTidwell@ HabitatMobile.org.

naturaldirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to request our media kit. Rates begin at $36 a month.

ART FAIRHOPE ARTIST GALLERY

18 South Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-8763 FairhopeArtistGallery.BlogSpot.com

CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING

ROSIE BLU

Astro-Numerical Analysis 422 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope 251-517-5326, RosieBlu.com Understand the numerical and astrological influences in place at the time of your birth. Discover why it’s not just about your Sun-sign. Learn more about yourself and your life with a personalized and/or compatibility chart. See ad on page 30.

Young Living Educator, Sponsor #327923 251-625-0080, LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/yl/123

Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living in Mobile. Sundays, 10:30 a.m.251-391-6960.

Be delighted by the local color of diverse, original and affordable artwork. Look for the golden palette and ART above the door. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Sun 1-4pm.

ASTROLOGY

LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR

60 N Ann Street Mobile, AL 36695 251-391-6960

Experience the healing, uplifting and detoxifying benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils and supplements. Contact us for personal consultations, in-home classes, household products, health supplements, diffusers, group presentations and business training.

CLEANING SERVICES GREEN CLEAN, LLC Nicoll Mastin 251-508-3796

Green Clean, LLC provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services for residential properties. Regular and deep-cleaning services are available, as well as green cleaning products and kits. See ad on page 26.

B-BUTTERFLY SALON

103A North Bancroft Street, Fairhope 251-990-9934 BButterflySalon.com

A certified organic salon offering organic products and services including hair color, perms and shampoo. Keeping you and the Earth beautiful. See ad on page 11.

CHILDBIRTH SERVICES KATRINA BREELAND

Birthing from Within™ Mentor Mobile, AL, 251-554-5704 Facebook.com/MadeForLoveMobile Birthing from Within classes provide a holistic and mindful approach to childbirth preparation.

CHURCHES

LIL’ GREEN DIAPER SERVICE Dana Warner 251-378-8115 LilGreenDiaperService.com

Mobile’s only all-inclusive diaper service. Taking care of baby’s bottom and our Earth, for a clean end.

3100 Hickory Street Loxley, AL 36551 251-964-6464

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 Café 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

EDUCATION SHELTON ACADEMY

1050 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile AL 36695 251-639-1311 SheltonAcademy.org

No entrance/exit exam. Work at own pace. Get diploma whenever you complete all requirements. One-on-one instruction. Small classes, Grades 5-12. School Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Fully Accredited.

ESSENTIAL OILS JUDITH Z. WILSON, MEMBER #759523

CONSCIOUS MILE SPIRITUAL CENTER OF MOBILE

Healthy Living With Essential Oils 251-656-6696, AromaLife@bellsouth.net YLWellness.com/AromaLife

Rev. Sherrie Quander invites you to visit a loving, inclusive spiritual community where we aim to make every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak a conscious one. See ad page 13.

Workshops held the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10 a.m., 1230 Montlimar Drive, Mobile. Join us and learn how essential oils can help you. Call 251-656-6696 for more information.

Sundays at 10am 1230 Montlimar, Mobile 251-343-0777, CMSpiritualCenter.org

BURIS FARM MARKET & BAKERY

On Hwy 59 on the way to Gulf Shores, AL. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh baked strawberry shortcake, ice cream and much more. Your “first and last” stop to the beach, or any other time.

DIAPER SERVICES BEAUTY

FOODS AND NUTRITION

Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 35 years. See ad on page 32.

VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFE II

3952 Airport Blvd, Mobile 251-345-0494 Café 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and juice bar. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 35 years.See ad on page 32.

natural awakenings

April 2011

GRAPHIC DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHERS

MICHAEL M. WILSON

Creative & Graphic Designer MMWilson@gmail.com, MMWilson.com For all of your graphic design needs, including but not limited to websites, logos, brochures, posters, postcards, business cards reports, greeting cards, mailers, newsletters, menus and door hangers.

HEALING ARTS

VICTORIA WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY

251-716-9699 VictoriaWebbPhotography@hotmail.com VictorialWebbPhotography.com Lifestyle portraits and wedding photography.

HYPNOTHERAPY MARQUERITE DILLON, RN, BSN, HCN Hypnosis for Positive Life Changes 4313 Momote Dr., Mobile 251-463-1570, RiteDillon@yahoo.com

PRANIC HEALING IN MOBILE Deana Lannie 251-454-0959

Free healing nights and group meditations every Monday. Pranic Healing classes and the advanced technique of Superbrain Yoga.

Utilize mind over matter to achieve goals, control cravings, enhance athletic performance and conquer other personal challenges, all while experiencing a relaxed state of mind. Individual and group sessions available. Call for an appointment.

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE

256-282-1391 GrassRootsHolisticHealth.com

Creating dietary, spiritual and emotional wellness for women at all stages of pregnancy, from preconception to post-partum. See ad on page 29.

KIRSTEN CHRISTMAS

Holistic Health Coach 251-422-8203 Kirsten.M.Christmas@gmail.com

PET CARE DR. BROWN AND DORI’S DOGS Pet Specialist 251-348-2158 DrBrown05@yahoo.com

Providing pet birthday parties, pet celebrations, pet funerals and pet bereavement services. Over 30 years of dignified and trusted services to pets and farm animals.

Pet Therapy 422 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope 251-517-5326, RosieBlu.com

LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR

251-625-0080 Daphne, AL 850-380-4943 Pensacola, FL LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com, WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/yl/123 Upcoming Workshops: Phase I & II May 21-22, Pensacola Beach, FL. Phase III July 23-24, Daphne. Certification in Ingham Reflexology through the International Institute of Reflexology. 16 CEUs per workshop. These workshops provide education in better health naturally. Young Living Essential Oil Education also available.

MARTHA UMPHREY

Rosie Blu carries the Original Bach Flower Essences and Green Hope Farms Animal Wellness Line. Let us help you choose the right blend for any situation for you as well as your furry friend. See an on page 30.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Relax and re-juvenate. Now offering massages on Mondays, 8am-8pm. $20 off first visit. Gift Certificates Available!

SOUND THERAPY

ROSIE BLU

WARLOCKS HAIR SALON 2A South Church Street, Fairhope 251-929-1899 Find us on Facebook: Warlocks Hair Salon

REFLEXOLOGY

Improve your well-being with weight loss, stress management and healthy alternatives.

DAUERWALDEN Conservation Community Baldwin County Dauerwalden.com 251-937-3276 Minutes from Pensacola, Mobile and Gulf. Only 25 homesites, more than 1,100 protected acres. Rolling hills up to 275 feet. 20 miles of equestrian trails.

MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER 20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204 MiddleEarthHealing.com Middle Earth is an evolving education center, modeling permaculture, sustainable living and the interconnection of the health of the planet and the health of her inhabitants. See ad on page 12.

YOGA JULIE WILKINS YOGA

MASSAGE THERAPY

GRASSROOTS HOLISTIC HEALTH COACHING

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

251-752-8122 MarthaUmphrey@yahoo.com Offering sound therapy as a natural solution for tinnitus or diminished hearing due to injury, stroke or aging.

251-554-4856 JWilkins75@gmail.com JulieWilkinsYoga.com Do you have a small group of four to five people and an open space? I will bring yoga to your place of business or home. Fitness-based, stress management, gentle yoga.

YOGA BIRDS 458-B North Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-3447 YogaBirds.com Fairhope’s yoga studio and boutique with yoga classes for everyone: Anusara-Inspired®, Foundations, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Chair Yoga, weekend workshops and more. View full schedule and sign-up for classes and special events at YogaBirds.com See ad on page 39

KULA YOGA COMMUNITY 251-202-YOGA Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org KulaYogaCommunity.org Yoga classes utilizing shared spaces with four locations in Daphne, Downtown and West Mobile. Classes for every level. Learn from teachers with various experiences and backgrounds. All classes are Pay What You Can. Check out our full schedule at KulaYogaCommunity.org. See ad on page 39.

This logo indentifies businesses that have signed on to be Network Providers for the Natural Awakenings Discount Card. Learn more: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

MASTERS OF YOGA & PILATES Yoga is an immortal art, science, and philosophy. It is the best subjective psycho-anatomy of mankind ever conceived for the experience of physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. It has stood the test of time from the beginning of civilization and it will remain supreme as a precise psychophysical science for centuries to come. -B.K.S. Iyengar

Synergy yoga & Pilates

Group Classes

Private Lessons

Dana B. Garrett MS, ACSM, RYT PhysicalMind Institute Stott IM and IR Certified

www.synergyoga.net 3152 Old Shell Road, Suite 2 Mobile, Alabama 36607

251.473.1104

Conscious Mile - West Mobile Eastern Shore Dance Academy 1230 Montlimar Dr • Mobile, AL 36609 9063 Merrit Ln • Daphne AL 36526 Space 301 - Cathedral Square Daphne Civic Center - Recreation Dept. 301 Conti St • Mobile AL 36602 2603 US 98 • Daphne, AL 36526

Relax. Refocus. Recharge.

Quiet Mind Massage Therapy & Yoga Studio

Ginger Graf Dunaway LMT 762 Heidi LeBlanc Pritchett

LMT 1962

(251) 476-MIND (6463) 2065 B Old Shell Rd at Upham www.quietmindmassagetherapy.com

h D t a r Eaobile Bay 201y

The Gulf Coast’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration!

This year’s event is in observance of the one year anniversary of the Gulf oil spill, and in honor of all of the groups and individuals involved in a healthy and sustainable Gulf recovery.

Saturday, April 23rd 10AM-7PM

Fairhope Pier Park in Fairhope FREE ADMISSION Free BRATS Shuttle Service (from Food World Parking Lot)

Live Music ● Earth-Friendly Exhibitors ● Art & Activities for All Ages Environtmental Film Festival ● Live Music ● Onsite Electronics Recycling

www.EarthDayMobileBay.org Event sponsored by The City of Fairhope and The Sierra Club Foundation