April 2012 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Celebrate Earth Day

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GREEN LIVING Eco-Home Checklist Room-by-Room

Natural Allergy Relief Reduce Food Waste & Compost 101 The Local Slow Bicycle Movement APRIL 2012 | Mobile/Baldwin Edition | www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

D h t r ay a E

Happy Earth Day!

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Ctr 251-928-0644

3952 Airport Blvd in Mobile 251-345-0494

WE’VE GOT WHAT YOU NEED

TO GO GREEN!

Mo 2 1 bile Bay 20 The Gulf Coast’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration!

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Reusable Water Bottles, Shopping Bags, & Lunch-Packing Supplies Sustainable Paper Products and Dinnerware Visit VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com and follow us on Facebook for Monthly Specials!

Natural Awakenings Network Cardholders receive 10% off of all store & cafe purchases!

Sunday, April 22nd 10AM-6PM

Fairhope Pier Park in Fairhope Live Music•Earth-Friendly Exhibitors Art & Educational Activities for All Ages Environmental Film Festival Free BRATS Shuttle Service

Offering full organic lunch menus featuring freerange meats, farm-fresh produce, organic wines and options for special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free).

(from Food World Parking Lot)

FREE ADMISSION

www.EarthDayMobileBay.org Event sponsored by Earth Day Mobile Bay Volunteers, City of Fairhope and Alabama Sierra Club Foundation 2

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Asian Fusion • Mediterranean Italian • Tex-Mex • Thai Pizza • Sandwiches • Pasta • Salads Catering service and take-out available.

Menus online. Call for specials.

Located next door to Fairhope Health Foods and inside Virginia’s Health Foods in Mobile.

Fairhope: 251-929-0055

Mon-Sat 10:30am-4pm; Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2pm

Mobile: 251-345-0495

Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm; Closed Sundays

contents 13 healthbriefs

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

14 globalbriefs

9 LEARNING TO RIDE

18 healingways

Local Slow Rides

5 newsbriefs

6

24 consciouseating

13 26 NANdirectory

by Meredith Montgomery

11 SHARING THE ROAD,

EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY

Fairhope's Roads for Cars,

30 fitbody

Bikes and People

33 calendar

18 NATURAL REMEDIES

16

37 naturaldirectory

advertising & submissions

9

A BIKE AGAIN

18

by Meredith Montgomery

FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES

by Dr. Lauri Grossman

20 GREEN HOME CHECKLIST

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.

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Room-by-Room Steps We Can Take, Starting Right Now

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by Crissy Trask

24 WASTE NOT, 10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste

20

by Amber Lanier Nagle

28 MOBILIZE FOR EARTH

Pledge a Green Act for Earth Day 2012

31 ESCAPE INTO NATURE Lower Alabama Hiking Guide

by Juli Day

28

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com natural awakenings

April 2012

3

letterfrompublisher “It’s like riding a bike. Once you learn, you never forget,” or so the saying goes.

Several years ago, when we rented bikes during a vacation in Seaside, Florida, it was the first time since I was a kid that I attempted this two-wheeled form of transportation. I was admittedly nervous and even pushed for a big tricycle instead of a bicycle. My husband Josh didn’t take me seriously and my request was ignored.

As I partly walked, partly rode my bike out of the horribly bumpy, gravel parking lot, I really did question whether I had forgotten how to ride a bike! Once I made it to the smooth sidewalk, I managed to get going. As kids zoomed past me I realized that while I was a bit wobbly, I could still pedal and balance at the same time. Turning didn’t exactly come naturally at first, and I may have had an unintentional confrontation with an innocent bush, but I quickly rediscovered the joy of riding a bike. What I enjoyed most, was that our car stayed parked in the driveway during the entire trip.

Once we returned home, Josh was ready to go bike shopping. I very specifically told him that if I was getting a bike, it had to have big wheels, a comfortable seat, pedal brakes and a large basket. I was so excited when he came home with a baby blue cruiser meeting all of those requirements.

We began using our bikes for quick grocery runs, to go out to eat at nearby restaurants and to take casual rides around the neighborhood.

When I learned of Mobilians on Bikes and The Slow Bicycle Society (see Learning to Ride a Bike Again, page 9) I was so pleased to hear about other people enjoying the more casual approach to bike riding as well. In my research for the article I also learned that I’m not the only one that was a little nervous about getting back on a bike for the first time in decades.

Many eco-friendly lifestyle changes may seem intimidating, as bike riding was for me. But often things are much simpler than they seem. Start with our Green Home Checklist, page 20, for some practical changes that you can implement today. Then read some ideas for reducing food waste in Waste Not, Want Not, page 24. You may even be inspired to start composting kitchen scraps and yard waste after reading how simple the process can be in Compost 101, page 25.

As we celebrate Earth Day this month, applaud your current green endeavors and be inspired to make new efforts towards a more sustainable lifestyle. And before the heat of the summer arrives, consider traveling on two wheels instead of four. While the sharp turns and high speeds may require an adjustment period, the sense of joy and an appreciation for a simpler life are sure to return instantaneously.

With gratitude,

contact us Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Assistant Editor Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo Editor@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Contributors Martin Miron Josh Montgomery Anne Wilson Michael Wilson Design and Production Meredith Montgomery Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin P.O. Box 725, Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe to the free digital magazine at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Mailed subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. © 2012 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.

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Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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newsbriefs

Exploring Sound Therapy Through the Solfeggio Frequencies

Kula Sponsors Ashtanga Workshop with Jodi Blumstein Ashtanga Yoga instructor Jodi Blumstein, of Los Angeles, will lead The Roots of Vinyasa: Deepening Your Practice weekend workshop, held from April 27 to 29, at Space 301, in Mobile. Workshop fee is $155. Single sessions cost $45.

Open to all levels, this four-part workJodi Blumstein shop begins Friday evening, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., with Intro to Ashtanga Yoga. Blumstein will review Ashtanga fundamentals, explain her teaching philosophy and set the tone for the weekend. The Saturday afternoon Yoga Chikitsa, from 1 to 3 p.m., is a thorough break-down of the entire primary series in which participants will explore the evolution of this style of practice over time. Pranayama, Chant, Philosophy, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., will introduce the traditional pranayama practice, as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and discuss meditation, chant and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. As the culmination of the weekend, Sunday’s Ashtanga Yoga Practice, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will lead meditation, breathwork and chanting before practicing the entire Ashtanga Primary series.

Blumstein has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for 17 years and is currently teaching the Mysore program for Yoga Works, at the Center for Yoga, near Hollywood. She is the founder of her home-based Yoga Shala, Shanti Shala, in Silver Lake, and the director of Shanti Shala Events, which hosts workshops throughout the Los Angeles area. Blumstein travels throughout the U.S. and abroad teaching weekend workshops and weeklong retreats. Visit YogaGlo.com for a free, 15-day trial of Blumstein’s yoga classes.

Location: 301 Conti St., Mobile. For information call 251-202-9642 or visit KulaYogaCommunity.org. See ad on page 39.

New Service at Dr. Hart’s Dental Office The dental office of Dr. Dayton Hart, DMD, in Foley, now offers TruDenta, a new service to help relieve painful symptoms that result from dental force imbalance.

According to TruDent specialists, imbalanced dental issues can result in serious conditions that include headaches and migraines; chronic head, neck and face pain; ringing or fullness in the ears; grinding and broken teeth; clenching and popping of the jaw and numerous other symptoms not typically associated with dentistry.

“This new program can relieve an issue such as a migraine headache, because most are related to the bite being off,” says Hart. TruDenta treatments are painless, pleasant, drug and needle-free. This “life changing dentistry” utilizes systems and methods perfected in sports and advanced dental medicine to diagnose overall health and well-being.

Hart was uniquely trained and the office equipped with patented examination, diagnostic and treatment technologies. According to Hart, he and his staff will quickly and objectively measure for possible dental forces. Patients will see a real-time movie of their bite and the distribution of the forces within the mouth on a tooth-by-tooth basis.

Location: 225 W. Laurel Ave., Foley. For information call 251-943-2471 or visit DrDaytonHart.com.

Charlotte McCool, of Healing Acres Wellness Retreat, in Robertsdale, has collaborated with Dr. Karen Kelley, director of the Holistic Healing Arts Center, in Foley, to present a two-day, "life-changing" Sound Therapy Level I Workshop, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 14 and 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., April 15, at the Robertsdale Senior Citizens Center. Tuition is $299, a training manual is included and no musical skill or previous training is required.

The workshop will discuss the ancient Solfeggio tonal scale, believed by some to be the original sound frequencies used to help awaken humankind.

These frequencies were found in many sacred hymns including the Gregorian chants and the Great Hymn to St. John the Baptist.

Kelley teaches that these tones can assist energy channels to stay open and keep the life force (chi) flowing freely through the chakra system. Kelley will discuss and demonstrate energy channels, Solfeggio tones and their meanings, ancient healing codes, DNA repair frequency, the principle of Cymatics and among other related topics, how different tones affect our health, cell rejuvenation, moods and the elements of earth, water, fire, air, ether and light.

In addition, participants will experience and practice a Soma Energetic Vibrational Tuning and and Energy Vitality Technique.

12 CEUs are available for massage therapists and bodyworkers through the NCBTMB. Solfeggio energy, body and other tuners will be available for purchase at the workshop.

Location: 22651 Hwy. 59 N., Robertsdale. To preregister or for information, contact Dr. Karen Kelley at 251-9438883 or email HealthIsWealth88@gmail. com or contact Charlotte McCool at 251-423-1863, MagnoliaEyes@hotmail. com. See ad on page 14.

natural awakenings

April 2012

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newsbriefs Getting to the Root of Hunger The Bay Area Food Bank’s on site community garden continues to expand. Built and sustained by volunteers, the garden offers participants fresh produce, a way to be active outdoors and an opportunity to beautify space, connect with the environment and experience the reward of volunteering. “The Bay Area Food Bank welcomes those who want to learn or have something to teach,” says program Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Seal. “Please feel free to contact us and let’s plan a day to grow together!”

The Food Bank Gleaning Program is also expanding. Gleaning is the act of harvesting excess or unmarketable produce from farm fields and gardens for the purpose of providing it to needy populations. “This program is a great way to connect local farmers with people in need of food assistance. With the help of volunteers, we are able to go to farms in Mobile and Baldwin counties and collect excess produce to give to local pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other charitable feeding organizations,” explains Seal.

According to A Citizen’s Guide to Food Recovery report, “Up to one-fifth of America’s food goes to waste each year, with an estimated 130 pounds of food per person ending up in landfills. The real story is that roughly 49 million people could have been fed by those lost resources.”

Location: 5248 Mobile South St., Theodore. For information call 251-653-1617 or visit BayAreaFoodBank.org. For Bay Area Food Bank community garden or gleaning opportunities, contact Ashley Seale at 251-653-1617 or email ASeale@BayAreaFoodBank.org.

Rotary Youth Club Summer Enrichment Program The Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary Youth Club is accepting registration applications for the 2012 Summer Enrichment Program. The program is offered in June and July, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with early drop-off available at 7 a.m. Youth ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited. The Summer Enrichment Program will include a variety of field trips, activities and programs with partner organizations. Early registration deadline for June is April 27.

An additional program, the Summer Enrichment Academy is a hands-on academic program that will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Thursday, July 5 to August 2. This program is designed to prevent summer learning loss through fun, hands-on learning activities. In the afternoons and on Fridays, youth will participate in field trips and a variety of recreational activities. Early registration deadline for July is May 25.

Location: 19128 Young St., Fairhope.

For information and registration, call Charles Durgin or Trina Jackson at 251928-9148, email Info@RotaryYouthClub.org or visit RotaryYouthClub.org.

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Eating Alabama Documentary Premiered in Austin Eating Alabama, a documentary that details the efforts of professor Andrew Grace and his wife Rashmi as they live exclusively on Alabamagrown or raised food, premiered last month at the South by Southwest Film Festival, in Austin, Texas.

In search of a simpler life, the young couple returns to Andrew's home state of Alabama, where they set out to eat the way their grandparents did – locally and seasonally. But as they navigate the agricultural industrial complex, they soon realize that nearly everything about the food system has changed since farmers once populated their family histories. A thoughtful and often funny essay on community, the South and sustainability, Eating Alabama is a story about why food matters.

The film is playing at national and regional festivals across Alabama and will eventually air locally on Alabama Public Television and nationally on PBS in the Spring of 2013.

For more information visit EatingAlabama.com.

eventspotlight Meditation Center of Alabama Hosts Meditation Retreat and Concert The Meditation Center of Alabama (MCA) will host a series of lectures and a three-day meditation retreat course featuring acclaimed meditation instructor and nutritionist Robert Mawson. Special guest Katya Grineva, a renowned Russian pianist, will perform a benefit concert to raise money for the event. The lectures are open Robert Mawson to the public and free of charge. (See calendar on pages 33-34 for details.)

The retreat will take place April 27 to 30, at the Visitation Monastery, in Mobile. The suggested donation is $190 per person, which includes private bedrooms and healthy, vegetarian meals. Commuters are encouraged to join with a suggested donation of $60 per day, which includes meals.

Seven years ago, Mawson underwent a heart transplant by Dr. Mehmet Oz that was featured on the Discovery Channel show, Second Opinion, which documented how meditation played a role in his recovery. With a personal interest in alternative and preventive medicine, Mawson relies on meditation to subdue the daily and nightly pain that results from heart transplant medications, osteoporosis and kyphosis. He stresses self-love and the power of the mind; two concepts he believes in wholeheartedly.

An ordained Buddhist monk, Mawson received his teaching certification at the largest monastery in Thailand and now teaches meditation classes and workshops on disease prevention throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.

“This is going to be a landmark event for our center, due to it’s location and it’s potential to show that meditation is a universal practice that bridges all belief systems and is beneficial to everyone,” says MCA volunteer Craig Lindsey.

A concert and reception with world renowned Russian pianist Grineva (KatyaGrineva.com) is scheduled from 7 to 8:15 p.m., April 30, at the Visitation Monastery Chapel. Suggested donation is $30, benefitting MCA. Reservations are requested.

Born in Moscow, Katya Grineva began studying piano at age 6, made her American debut in 1993, performing with the Baltimore Symphony, and recently finished her 11th season at Carnegie Hall, becoming the first female soloist to ever do so. Despite her fame, Grinevea performs at private gatherings to raise awareness and funding for a variety of charitable causes, and her humanitarian efforts were recognized with the Gusi Peace Prize. The Meditation Center of Alabama is indebted to Grineva for her kindness and generosity, and is honored with her presence.

Location: Visitation Monastery, 2300 Spring Hill Ave, Mobile, Visitation MonasteryMobile.org. For more information, visit MeditationCenterOf Alabama.weebly.com, call 251-623-4485, 251-408-7902 or 251-408-7803.

RSVP for the retreat at Happiness072@gmail.com. Concert tickets are available at Bangkok Thai Cuisine or by calling 251-344-9955. See ads on page 21 and 22.

Celebrate Earth Day

by saving on green products and services with your NAN Card!

Blue Flower Gardens

Organic gardens and landscaping 30% off organic, perennial garden installation

Fairhope Health Foods

(Green household products) 10% discount on regularly priced items

Green Clean

(Eco-friendly cleaning service)

15% off every 4th cleaning service, 10% off cleaning kits with each deep clean service

Institute for Sustainability Education and Development

25% off coaching packages; 20% off seminars and workshops; Free business listing in Coastal Woman magazine

Rosie Blu

(Products for an eco-friendly lifestyle) 15% discount, extra 5% on your birthday

Salt Removers Inc.

(Earth-friendly product that increases air conditioner efficiency) 15% off Air Conditioner Salt Remover

Stemz

(Eco-friendly florist)

$10 off purchases of $50 or more

Sweet Home Cleaning Service (Eco-friendly cleaning service) 10% discount

Virginia’s Health Foods

(Green household products) 10% discount on regularly priced items

Learn more on page 26 or by visiting: Tinyurl.com/NANCard When you purchase a NAN Card

on Earth Day (April 22),

Receive a second card FREE! Visit us online or at Earth Day Mobile Bay to redeem this offer.

April 2012

7

newsbriefs Eastern Shore Chamber Honors Environmental Award Winners The Environmental Committee of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin EMC, city of Fairhope Public Works Department and Fred Corte Tree Farm recently joined forces to honor winners of the Chamber’s annual Environmental Award. Three 15-foot oak trees were planted in Fairhope parks, recognizing the environmental efforts of Windmill Market, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County and Smart Coast.

The 2011 winner, Windmill Market, received a Southern Live Oak that was planted at the Fairhope Municipal Pier. A Shumard Oak tree was planted in the Bay Front Park, honoring 2010 winner, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County.

The 2008 winner, Smart Coast, received a Nuttall Oak, which was planted in Bay Front Park. The new tree plantings are marked with placards baring the recipients’ names.

Each year, the Eastern Shore Chamber selects a member that is proactive in taking steps above and beyond what is required by law to protect the environment and quality of life along the Eastern Shore. The Windmill Market received its award for the green building standards used in reconstructing the warehouse space that is now the market. Habitat for Humanity was honored for utilizing green building standards in the construction of a Habitat home in Fairhope. Smart Coast has been consistently promoting and implementing concepts that foster sustainability in the Gulf Coast region.

For more information visit ESChamber.com.

New Modalities at Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center With the recent addition of an alternative energy system, Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center in Citronelle continues to expand its features for healthy living on a healthy planet. The sun’s energy, along with the installation of solar hot water panels, allowed the center to grow organic tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, basil, dill, parsley, oregano, nasturtiums and marigolds in their greenhouse this winter.

The panels use the sun’s energy to heat water that runs through pex tubing, buried under the surface of raised garden beds to regulate soil temperatures for year-round growing conditions. Ground mount solar panels generate electricity to power the small circulating pump of the hot water panel system, as well as the center’s greenhouses. Lettuces growing outside in the Gulf Coast winter, coupled with summer veggies and edible flowers grown in their solar-powered greenhouse, created many healthy, tasty salads at Middle Earth this winter.

This alternative energy system will also provide power for the air and circulating pumps used in the nearly completed aquaponics system. By creating a closed ecosystem, the aquaponic method will allow Middle Earth to synergistically raise tilapia and cultivate vegetables in aquatic growing beds. The water from the fish tank will circulate through the beds, feeding the plants through their roots, while cleansing the water before being recirculated into the fish tank. According to owners Lisa and Craig Kalloch, “This is a very sustainable practice and a wave of the future.”

Location: 20205 Middle Earth Rd., Citronelle. For information call 251-8667204, email MidEarthHealing@yahoo. com or visit MiddleEarthHealing.com.

See ad on page 11.

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Learning to Ride a Bike Again

Social Bicycle Rides Foster Alternative Transportation Locally

by Meredith Montgomery

W

hile Lance Armstrong is a household name for most, the fast-paced sport of cycling and its streamlined clothing isn’t for everyone.

Fueled by the desire to have fun and a growing appreciation for active and sustainable living, a new bicycle movement is taking off in Mobile and Baldwin counties. This slower paced form of twowheeled transportation boasts enjoyable social activities, healthy lifestyles and a heightened sense of community.

Mobilians on Bikes When Niklas Hallberg moved to Mobile with his wife and kids, he noticed that not as many people walked or biked to town as did he and his family. Having lived in cities where active lifestyles are more common, the Hallbergs started Mobilians on Bikes (MOB) (Facebook. com/Groups/MobiliansOnBikes) to meet like-minded individuals and encourage others to become more active. Hallberg recalls, “We thought there must be other folks who would like to ride their bikes as a means of transportation. It’s good for the environment, good for your health— it’s the healthier way to get around.”

MOB is a grassroots organization that promotes the bicycle as an effective, fun and safe means of urban transportation. What started as a couple of family

rides has grown into an ongoing list of opportunities for social biking in midtown and downtown Mobile.

The group is inclusive of all ages and experience levels, with members ranging from toddlers riding with their parents to retirees in their 70s. While fast-paced workout rides are regularly scheduled for experienced cyclists, the group is primarily focused on biking for transportation. Many of the organized events are short, family-oriented slow rides around the city. Hallberg says, “Our goal is to show people how easy and enjoyable it is to ride their bike. We want people to feel comfortable riding to a friend's house, to the library, to the market or to a play.”

For individuals that are nervous to ride a bike because they have not done so in decades, or those intimidated by traffic, MOB allows participants to get acquainted with this mode of transportation in a supportive and safe group atmosphere. One of the regularly scheduled pedestrian style rides is the Sunday Stroll on Wheels. This outing focuses on socializing and enjoying the communities along the way, while having a relaxing experience. Departing from Cream and Sugar in midtown, the ride is approximately five miles long.

The seasonal Farmers’ Market ride is

a family-oriented slow ride to visit the downtown Mobile farmers’ market. Bicyclists can depart from Murphy High School or from Cream and Sugar.

MOB also hosts monthly theme rides. The Tour de Coop ride took participants on a tour of five urban chicken coops. “You’d be surprised how many backyard coops there are in midtown.

Our themed rides provide a great way to find out about cool and interesting things going on in our community,” says Hallberg. Other themed events have included costume rides, Nice Rack Rides (pub crawls to places with bike racks), progressive dinner rides and a ride to dinner followed by a video showing of an Adele concert. Hallberg says, “MOB puts on both family and adult oriented rides.

Sometimes it’s tame and educational, but at times we like to push the envelope a bit to attract a variety of people.”

Slow Bicycle Society of the Eastern Shore When Fairhope Bicycle Company opened, Molly Peterson was drawn to the display of cruisers outside the store.

“I knew I didn’t want skinny wheels and the bikes they had looked fun and inviting,” recalls Peterson. She bought a cruiser and started enjoying casual rides around town. natural awakenings

April 2012

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Upcoming Slow Rides Bike Curious Ride: Urban Street Art in Mobile

Saturday, April 7 (time TBD) From Cream and Sugar, Mobile Free.

Facebook.com/Groups/Mobilians OnBikes

Family Picnic Ride to Arlington Park

Sunday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m.

From Cream and Sugar, Mobile.

Free.

Facebook.com/Groups/Mobilians OnBikes

Earth Day Ride

Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m.

From Marrietta Johnson Statue, Fairhope Free.

SlowBike.Wordpress.com

Historic Homes Tour Ride

Sunday, April 29 at 1 p.m.

From Fairhopers Community Park $10 in advance, $15 day of event.

(Benefits historical preservation of Fairhope Community) SlowBike.Wordpress.com

Good Life Ride to LuLu’s

Sunday, May 6 8:30 a.m. from Page and Palette, Fairhope 9:30 a.m. from Jesse’s, Magnolia Springs $39/adult, $29/child until April 25, $49/adult, $39/child after April 25 TheGoodLifeFound.org

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Peterson drove across We don’t usually resolved to “buy groceries for my family of four only the bay several times to ride on the road at venues to which I have join MOB’s Sunday Stroll on Wheels. There, she met and we don’t wear walked or bicycled.” For the last five years, she has a Daphne resident and the two teamed up to bring spandex. Our rides made fun and sometimes extreme resolutions. With the concept to the Eastern are more social an interest in alternative Shore. The Slow Bicycle than they are a transportation, Peterson Society on the Eastern Shore made some trial grocery (SlowBike.Wordpress.com) workout. runs by bike before New kicked off last August with ~ Molly Peterson Year’s Day and found it to the support of MOB and be quite easy to carry two to three grocery some local press.

“We are casual bicycle riders,” says bags on her bike.

Three major grocery stores, a health Peterson. “We don’t usually ride on the road and we don’t wear spandex. Our food store, four pharmacies and a farmrides are more social than they are a ers’ market are within a mile of her house workout.” The group aspires to promote and accessible by sidewalks. “I have been bicycling as a means of leisure, enter- amazed by how easy and fun it has been tainment, social interaction and viable to stick to my resolution,” says Peterson.

“I’ve actually enjoyed it so much that I transportation.

Exploring different parts of Baldwin had to put a limit on how many grocery County, regular rides take place on Sun- trips I could make a week because my days at 3 p.m. and last about 90 minutes. pantry was getting overloaded!”

A couple of weeks into the year, PeThe size of the group averages 15 people.

When riding flat trails, children as young terson requested that Winn-Dixie install as 6 years old participate, but the majority a bike rack. Management responded and of the group is often 40 or older, with an Peterson’s request was quickly fulfilled.

Since the installation of the rack, she is equal mix of men and women.

Dixie and Mike Groutt regularly ride pleased to see other bikes parked at the with the Slow Bicycle Society because store, as well.

Peterson points out that she has put they enjoy the fun, noncompetitive na- ture of the group. “All of the other riding herself in a position to make active transgroups we found catered to the athlete portation an easy option. The Petersons who wants to ride fast,” Dixie says. “Slow built their house near the center of town bicycling is much more my speed. I am because they wanted to be connected not fast. I am not competitive.” The slower by sidewalks, as opposed to living in a pace also allows participants to enjoy the subdivision where car-dependence is scenery and visit with fellow riders. Mike inevitable. “I grew up walking and riding is an experienced rider, yet he happily my bike everywhere and by the age of 8, rides at the back of the pack to make sure I had a lot of freedom. I wanted my kids no one is left behind. Dixie points out, to experience the same lifestyle.” Peterson “He enjoys the slower pace, even though is very pleased to see the city of Fairhope he is capable of riding twice the speed of embracing alternative transportation by adding safety features such as bike lanes the slow bicyclists!”

While most events occur along and sharrows, leaving the sidewalks for the Eastern Shore, Slow Bicycle Society pedestrian traffic. (See Sharing the Road, periodically organizes out-of-town trips Educating the Community on page 11) More and more individuals are folto destinations such as Grayton Beach, Florida and Tammany Trace, in Louisiana. lowing the lead of groups like MOB and Several rides have also taken place in Or- the Slow Bicycle Society. Several memange Beach, along the Backcountry Trails. bers have traded in their rusty mountain bikes for comfortable cruisers that are The Bicycle Diet more suitable for day-to-day errands and Peterson’s fondness of bike riding as a outings. Peterson says, “I think if more pastime lead to a lifestyle change with people would come out and join us on her 2012 New Year’s resolution. Re- our slow rides, they’d gain confidence ferred to as The Bicycle Diet, Peterson and feel inspired to ride their bikes.”

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Sharing the Road, Educating the Community Fairhope’s Roads for Cars, Bikes and People

T

white line allows a driver to pull around a delivery truck to the right. A yellow line means you cannot pass.”

In an effort to provide a continuous cycling network throughout Fairhope’s core, residents will notice some new markings. City of Fairhope Manager of Projects and Maintenance, Ken Eslava, says, “In places where the streets are wide enough, we have designated bike lanes on the side of the street, and bikes should remain in those lanes.” Where space does not allow for separate lanes, a large stencil of a bike indicates a shared lane, also referred to as a sharrow, to alert motorists that bicyclists may be using the same lane.

Complete Streets design guidelines cater to citizens of all abilities. For example, additional handicap spaces on the side of Henry George Park will provide easier access for those with handicap parking permits to attend concerts and events in the park.

“This is new for us all,” Kant says, “and it will take some time to get used to it, but Fairhope has always been a leader.

In time, I believe, more communities will see the need to share the streets with all users for the benefit of everyone.”

Smart Coast Program Director Charlene Lee says with enthusiasm, “Our first hope was that Fairhope could make the leap from a Complete Streets policy to actual implementation—that is definitely happening!” In agreement with city officials, Lee continues, “Now our hope is that Fairhope can implement an education effort that will help our citizens understand and applaud these changes.”

he streets of Fairhope narrow, nine-foot-wide a r e u n d e r g o i n g a I know the new mark- lanes to slow traffic makeover. As the first ings and lines look and encourage drivcity in Alabama to adopt a odd. They are differ- ers to be more cauComplete Streets policy, the tious. The elimination city has made it a priority to ent from what we are of some centerlines make the streets safer for evused to seeing, and and the broadening of eryone—drivers, bicyclists edge lines discourages they represent a new the tendency for drivand pedestrians.

Over a period of severway to think about ers to subconsciously al months, unfamiliar markmove to the right. This streets and traffic. creates more room for ings and a new approach to striping has begun to appear cyclists and pedestri~Mayor Tim Kant on the downtown roads. ans to operate safely.

During this transitional peAt the intersection of riod, many Fairhope residents are unsure Fairhope Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, of the changes. the turn lane has been removed to add

Mayor Tim Kant says, “I know the more parking spaces, requiring drivers new markings and lines look odd. They to make a complete stop before turning. are different from what we are used to Because yellow lines signify a no-passing seeing, and they represent a new way to zone, many white lines have replaced think about streets and traffic. Streets used yellow lines to give drivers more flexibilto be designed just for the benefit of cars ity. The mayor explains, “For example, a and drivers. New ways of thinking leads to streets that work for everyone, and this requires slower traffic.”

A CENTER FOR HEALING ... A CENTER FOR LEARNING

After weather delayed the striping of Permaculture Design Holistic Consultation the newly paved roads, city officials took Passive and Active Solar Energy Work the time to consult with Dan Burden, Rainwater Collection Color Therapy the director of the Walkable and Livable Humanure Composting Essential Oils Communities Institute, before completing Greywater Recycling Flower Essences work in the center of town. As a national Shiitake Cultivation Qi Gong Biodynamics Chartres Labyrinth expert on the topic, Burden previously made several visits to Fairhope, educating Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center community members and city officials Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204 about techniques that foster Complete MidEarthHealing@yahoo.com * www.middleearthhealing.com Streets.

The resulting new design has instated natural awakenings

April 2012

11

Our Facebook Fans Share!

Byrne Christopher: I made it my goal to do all landscaping without the use of power tools, electric or gas. Shovels, brooms, hedge clippers, hand saws and a classic style reel push mower are the staples of my shed.

I can keep my electric bill under $25 while the a/c is not on which is about 7 months of the year. All surge protectors are turned off when not in use. Nothing is left plugged in (toaster, coffee pot, chargers). I even unplugged the microwave as I simply don't use it.

And living in southwest Florida, I am able to line dry my clothes just about year around. And to top it off, I average 2 months per tank of gas thanks to bicycling.

Evan Davis: We recycle everything we can and just started composting. I can't wait to grow my own organic garden next year.

We focus on whole, unprocessed foods and I plan to carry on that tradition with our child by making homemade organic baby food. We will be using cloth diapers when baby is born, which I'm truly super excited about!

Byrne and Evan will receive a complimentary Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) Discount Card so they can enjoy a year's worth of healthy and green living discounts on us!

Like us on Facebook at Tinyurl.com/FacebookNA and join us for the next NAN Card Giveaway!

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DINNER AND BIKES

by Meredith Montgomery

W

hat happens when a vegan chef and a publisher team up with a blogging bicycle activist? A month-long tour called Dinner and Bikes is created, bringing people together for delicious food, an insightful look at bicycle transportation and access to a traveling bookstore. Joshua Ploeg, the Traveling Chef; Joe Biel, founder of Microcosm Publishing; and Elly Blue, bicycle transportation and grassroots culture blogger, are touring the Southeastern U.S. this spring as a follow-up to their 2011 West Coast tour. Dinner and Bikes will be making an appearance in Mobile on April 25.

Piling into a rental car, the trio drives from town to town, putting on what Blue describes as, “a dinner theater, but with bikes.” Guests arrive at 7 p.m. to enjoy a buffet of vegan and gluten-free food.

While everyone dines, Blue and Biel use photos and videos to lead an exploration of bicycling from an economic standpoint and as a means to encourage involvement in local bicycling issues. Their hometown of Portland, Oregon is used to inspire and illustrate progressive bike culture. After questions from the audience, everyone is invited to peruse the mobile book and zine shop that features transportation- and food-related titles.

“It’s really rewarding to see the ideas that people in other cities have and to then share those experiences with others on the rest of the tour,” says Blue. “I’m really amazed at how bike-friendly other cities are getting—we are in the middle of a major bicycle movement right now.”

Before their first tour, the group had

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Courtesy of Gary Kavanagh

Natural Awakenings What are you doing at home to be more eco-friendly?

planned on targeting audiences of experienced cyclists. They were pleasantly surprised to attract attendees of varying experience levels and demographics. “It’s great to talk to fellow bike activists about specific concepts that the general public may not be aware of. But we have come to really enjoy when our audience is people who have come out of curiosity,” Blue explains. “They become so engaged in seeing the world from a different perspective—one where streets are no longer boring.”

In response to the overwhelmingly positive response the touring program has received, Blue again points to the bicycle movement that is currently taking place.

“People are hungry for this,” she remarks.

No pun intended.

For more information, visit DinnerAnd Bikes.com. The Mobile event will be held at 6:30 p.m., April 24, at Serda’s Coffee Company. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Visit Facebook.com/Groups/MobiliansOnBikes for more information.

Joe Biel, Elly Blue and Joshua Ploeg

Are Cell Phones Safe?

healthbriefs

Unplug During Screen-Free Week

T

he American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero screen time for children under 2 and less than two hours per day for older children. Yet, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 40 percent of 3-month-old infants are regular viewers of television and DVDs, and school-age kids spend nearly twice as many hours with screen media such as television, video games, computers and handheld devices as they spend attending school. To help kids, families, schools and communities turn off screens and turn on healthier activities, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) urges everyone to participate in Screen-Free Week, April 30 through May 6.

CCFC is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups, parents and individuals, with a mission to reclaim childhood from corporate marketers. “The commercialization of childhood is the link between many of the most serious problems facing children and society today,” advises CCFC Director Susan Linn. “Childhood obesity, eating disorders, youth violence, sexualization, family stress, underage alcohol and tobacco use, rampant materialism and the erosion of children’s creative play are all exacerbated by advertising and marketing.”

Learn more about the weeklong event, efforts to restrict marketers’ access to children and how to help, at CommercialFreeChildhood.org.

Sweet Stuff Combats Infections

H

oney’s use as a medicine was described on Sumerian clay tablets dating back 4,000 years, and ancient Egyptians made ointments of the sticky substance to treat wounds. Now, contemporary scientists have shown that manuka honey, which comes from New Zealand, could be an efficient way to clear chronically infected wounds and help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Professor Rose Cooper, of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, in the UK, has investigated how manuka honey interacts with bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group A Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She discovered that the honey interfered with their growth, blocking the formation of biofilms that can wall off such bacteria from antibiotic remedies.

Q

uestions about how cell phones might impact our health have sparked significant controversy. The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has now classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use.

Caution was also urged in an article about cell phone safety published this past October in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine.

It reported that cell phones that are switched on and carried in shirt or pants pockets can exceed U.S. Federal Communications Commission exposure guidelines, and also that adults and children absorb high levels of microwave radiation from the phones.

According to the paper, children are at greater risk than adults, absorbing up to triple the amount of microwave radiation in their brain’s hypothalamus (which links the nervous and endocrine systems) and hippocampus (vital for memory and spatial navigation) compared to adults. Absorption into their eyes was also greater, and as much as 10 times higher in their bone marrow than adults’.

The IARC concludes that these findings call for cell phone certification consistent with the “as low as reasonably achievable” approach taken in setting standards for using radiological devices. “It is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones,” says IARC Director Christopher Wild. “Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure [directly to the head], such as hands-free devices or texting.”

Additional resource: Epidemiologist Devra Davis, Ph.D., reports on this topic in Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation.

natural awakenings

April 2012

13

globalbriefs

Honk Honk

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

Only 31 percent of American 16-yearolds had a driver’s license in 2008, down from 46 percent in 1983, according to a University of Michigan study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention.

Eighteen-year-old legal drivers decreased from 80 to 65 percent over the same period, as did adults in their 20s and 30s, although by not as much. A new survey by the car-sharing company Zipcar confirmed that those with licenses are trying to drive less, as well.

Altogether, more than half of drivers under the age of 44 are making efforts to reduce the time they spend in traffic.

Factors supporting this trend include the high cost of gas and insurance, tighter restrictions on teen drivers in many states and congested roads.

In addition, Michael Sivak, a research professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, cites the importance of the Internet.

“It is possible that the availability of virtual contact through electronic means reduces the need for actual contact among young people.” He also points out that, “Some young people feel that driving interferes with texting and other electronic communication.”

Public transit is filling part of the vacuum. The United States, which has long trailed other countries in mass transit usage, is catching on among younger generations.

Egg-ceptional Fun

Natural Easter Colors to Dye For From toddlers to tweens, many children eagerly anticipate one of spring’s most pleasurable rituals: coloring Easter eggs. This shared family activity allows kids to be handson artists, as they choose from a palette of cheerful hues to fashion little edible treasures. But youngsters that dip their hands into synthetic dyes can absorb chemicals through the skin that have been linked with allergic reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with ADHD and hyperactivity, per a 2011 report by Science News.

Keep their creations healthy and chemical-free by avoiding commercial food coloring and using easy-to-make, fruit- and veggie-based dyes instead.

The simplest way to use Earth-friendly shades is to add natural materials when boiling the eggs. Some suggestions: purple grape juice or crushed blueberries, for blue; liquid chlorophyll or spinach, for green; organic orange peels or ground turmeric, for yellow; cranberries, pickled beets, cherries or pomegranate juice, for pink and red; and yellow onion skins, cooked carrots, chili powder or paprika, for orange.

Then, follow these directions: Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan and add water to cover. Add one teaspoon of white vinegar (this helps the eggshells absorb color) and the natural dye material; use more material for more eggs or a more intense color. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes. Remove the eggs and refrigerate them.

These naturally colored treats, more beautiful than their artificially enhanced cousins, will mimic Mother Nature’s softer, gentler tints. For a shiny appearance, rub some cooking oil onto the eggs when they are dry. Also remember that hardcooked eggs are more perishable than raw ones, and should remain outside the refrigerator no more than two hours (so the one possibly found the day after Easter needs to hit the compost pile) and be consumed within one week.

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Driving Less and Enjoying it More

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globalbriefs Global Gardens

New Global Warming Planting Map

Stay Connected

The color-coded map of planting zones on the back of seed packets is being updated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reflect climate changes brought on by global warming. The new guide, last updated in 1990, reflects, for instance, that the coldest day of the year isn’t as frigid as it used to be, so some plants and trees can now survive farther north. Nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska and Texas, are now classified in warmer zones.

The new guide uses better weather data and offers more interactive technology. Gardeners using the online version can enter their Zip code and get the exact average coldest temperature. For the first time, calculations include more detailed factors, such as prevailing winds, the presence of nearby bodies of water and other local topography.

Boston University Biology Professor Richard Primack observes, “There are a lot of things you can grow now that you couldn’t grow before. People don’t think of figs as a crop you can grow in the Boston area. You can do it now.” The changes come too late to make this year’s seed packets, but they will be on next year’s, says George Ball, chairman and CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee seed company.

View the planting zones map at Tinyurl.com/7r5u267.

Keep up with local news on healthy and green living. Like Natural Awakenings on Facebook and follow @NaturallyAwake on Twitter.

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Better Threads Rug Industry Tackles Child Labor Injustice The nonprofit GoodWeave organization works to end child labor in the rug industry and provides educational opportunities for kids in weaving communities worldwide.

The GoodWeave label is given solely to rug companies that only hire employees of legal working age. GoodWeave, offering the world’s only independent child labor-free certification for rugs, makes unannounced inspections of looms overseas to ensure that standards are upheld.

Programs funded by GoodWeave-certified rug sales have helped nearly 10,000 children in Nepal and India to attend school instead of working on looms.

An estimated 250,000 children are still weaving today. “It’s widely documented that children are exploited to make all sorts of products in our global economy,” says Nina Smith, GoodWeave USA executive director. “But in the case of carpets, consumers can do something to put a stop to these inhumane practices.

By buying a certified rug, you can change a child’s life.”

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Boxing Day

Greening-Up a Move Can Be Easy ZippGo has launched a California concept poised to be picked up elsewhere as an alternative to traditional-style moving boxes. No one enjoys scrounging or purchasing and then assembling and taping cardboard boxes, only to discard them in a landfill afterward. A better solution is to rent task-designed plastic boxes made from recycled plastic that do the job more conveniently, efficiently and sustainably. Their service even delivers and picks them up. It’s a valuable green business opportunity in any economy.

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Pocket Calculator New Gadget Measures a Family’s Eco-Footprints

A brand-new online environmental tool from Low Impact Living, the Impact Calculator, measures the many footprints of a household’s lifestyle. With it, families can assess their specific carbon, energy, water, trash, wastewater and stormwater-runoff amounts. Then, by entering the Zip code and home size, it encapsulates in one number the overall environmental footprint compared with a typical home in the region, suggests green home and lifestyle projects and saves a profile, along with project notes, for future reference.

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April 2012

17

healingways

Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

by Dr. Lauri Grossman

F

or many, spring brings joy via outdoor activities amid blossoming flowers and blooming trees, as they visit parks, hike through meadows and jog along roads in the warming air. For millions of allergy sufferers, however, the attendant airborne pollen brings bedeviling sneezes, congestion, teary eyes and runny noses. Hay fever alone, which affects 35 million Americans, shuts many of us indoors. Before resorting to such an extreme measure, try controlling allergic reactions using some of these simple suggestions.

The Mayo Clinic recommends that we begin by reducing exposure to allergy triggers: n Stay indoors on dry, windy days and early mornings, when pollen counts are high. The best time to be outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air. n Remove clothes previously worn outside. Immediately after coming inside, shower thoroughly to rinse off pollen. n Don’t hang laundry outside, because pollen may stick to it, especially sheets

18

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

and towels. n Keep indoor air as clean as possible

by turning on the air conditioner in both the house and car, and use highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, especially in the bedroom; most cost less than $100. Make sure the vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter, too. Keep indoor air comfortably dry with a dehumidifier.

For those that love being outdoors, several natural remedies can help. Dr. Roger Morrison, a holistic physician in Point Richmond, California, likes targeted, widely available, over-the-counter homeopathic medicines. Carefully read labels to match specific symptoms with those noted on individual remedies.

For example, for a badly dripping nose, Allium cepa may be the most helpful remedy. It helps lessen nasal discharge, plus reduce sneezing and congestive headaches that can accompany allergies.

If allergy symptoms center around the eyes, causing itching, burning, redness and tears, then homeopathic Euphrasia is a better choice. If

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

nighttime post-nasal drainage leads to coughing upon waking, Euphrasia can help, as well.

Pulsatilla helps people whose allergies are worse when they enter a warm room or feel congested when they lie down at night.

Homeopathic remedies generally are available for less than $10. If symptoms don’t improve in three days, stop and try a different homeopathic remedy.

Homeopathic practitioner Dr. Greg Meyer, in Phoenix, Arizona, says that many of his patients benefit from taking herbs and other natural supplements, and one of the most effective for hay fever is Urtica dioica (stinging nettles). Studies reported in Planta Medica: Journal of Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research, showed that after one week, nearly twothirds of the participants taking two 300 milligram (mg) capsules of freeze-dried nettles experienced decreased sneezing and itching. Dr. Andrew Weil, of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, in Tucson, recommends taking 250 mg of freeze-dried nettles extract every two to four hours until symptoms subside.

Quercitin is another useful herb. By preventing release of histamine, it also works to lessen the sneezing and itching that accompany allergies. Take 400 mg twice a day before meals.

Diana Danna, an integrative nurse practitioner in Staten Island, New York, suggests the age-old remedy of a neti pot to relieve congested nasal passageways.

It may take a bit of practice, but she’s seen how rinsing the sinuses with a warm saltwater solution can reduce congestion and make breathing easier. An over-thecounter squeeze bottle can substitute for a neti pot, as can NeilMed Sinus Rinse.

Danna suggests rinsing twice a day for best results.

Simple dietary modifications often yield promising results, as well. Stick to non-mucous-producing foods and eat more foods that give a boost to the body’s natural immune system. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables and raw nuts and seeds fit both categories, as do lean proteins like fresh fish and organic meats.

Drinking plenty of clean water flushes the system and thins secretions. Foods that tend to cause the most problems for allergy sufferers include dairy products, fried and processed foods and refined

sugars and flours.

Adding essential fatty acids to a diet has benefits beyond allergy relief. In my own practice, I’ve seen how patients that take one to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil or three grams of fish oil during the spring months breathe more easily when outdoors. They also delight in healthier looking skin, shinier hair and harder nails.

Trying these approaches may well turn spring into a favorite time of year for everyone.

Lauri Grossman, a doctor of chiropractic and certified classical homeopath, practices in Manhattan, NY. She also chairs the American Medical College o f H o m e o p a t hy ’s d e p a r t m e n t o f humanism, in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more at amcofh.org and HomeopathyCafe.com.

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April 2012

19

GREEN HOME CHECKLIST Room-by-Room Steps We Can Take, Starting Right Now

by Crissy Trask

G

reen living is being embraced by more folks than ever, in ways both large and small, giving the Earth some much-needed kindness. If you’re interested in some good ideas that fall between a total home solar installation and basic recycling—with many delivering big impacts—check out Natural Awakenings’ room-by-room green checklist. You’ll find inspired, practical changes that are doable starting right now.

4

Kitchen

The kitchen can be a hot spot for waste.

Eileen Green, with EcoEvaluator.com, says that reducing waste, conserving water and increasing energy efficiency are all important considerations within an environmentally friendly kitchen.

4 Eat up food. Each year, a typical household discards an estimated 474 pounds of food waste, according to University of Arizona research—at large economic and

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

environmental cost. Buying more fresh food than we can eat before the expiration date is up and allowing leftovers to expire in the fridge are culprits. “Drawing up menus and avoiding buying on impulse can help,” advises Green.

Compost food scraps at home or sign up for curbside composting, if it’s offered locally. Disposing of food in garbage disposals or landfills is not environmentally sound.

Dispense with disposables. Replace disposable paper and plastic products with durable, lasting alternatives: cloth napkins instead of paper; dishwasher-safe serving ware instead of single-use paper or plastic; glass or recycled food storage containers in place of throwaway plastic bags and wrap; and natural fiber dishcloths to replace paper towels and plastic sponges.

4

Clean naturally. Chemical powerhouses have become the norm in household cleaning products, but they are not essential. Non-toxic cleaners are up to the task, from cleaning a sink to an oven.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

4 Shop for the Energy Star logo. Appliances bearing the Energy Star logo are up to 50 percent more energy efficient than standard ones. This translates to significant savings in annual operating costs.

4 Filter water with less waste. Bottled water is expensive and wasteful. Instead, purchase a home-filtering system that uses recycled or reusable filters. On the road, carry tasty filtered water in a reusable glass bottle.

4 Conserve water. Run dishwashers only when fully loaded and fill the sink with water, rather than running it down the drain, when washing by hand. Use water only to wet and rinse; otherwise turn it off.

4

Phase out non-stick skillets. Teflon coatings can leach toxins when damaged or overheated. Play it safe and begin assembling a set of cookware that includes properly seasoned cast iron, which is naturally non-stick.

4 Avoid cheap reusable shopping bags.

Flimsy reusable bags end up as trash within a few months under normal use.

Buy a set of high quality reusable bags that will give years of use.

Bedrooms

“Most people spend more time in the bedroom than in any other room of the house,” remarks Huffington Post Eco Etiquette columnist Jennifer Grayson. “So it’s important to focus on making bedrooms as green and healthy as possible.” She advocates paying special attention to sleepwear, bedding and furniture people sleep on.

4

Start with a good foundation. Box springs can be constructed of plywood or particleboard, which commonly contain formaldehyde, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a toxic air contaminant by the state of California.

Choose those that have been certified as

formaldehyde-free or with low emissions. A platform bed made of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests, is a healthy alternative.

4 Don’t sleep on a cloud of chemicals. “If your face is pressed up against a conventional mattress for seven hours a night, then you’re going to be breathing in whatever chemicals are off-gassing from that mattress for seven hours a night,” warns Grayson.

Mattresses are commonly treated with fire-retardant chemicals to comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. To avoid toxic chemicals like the hydrocarbon toluene, emitted from mattresses stuffed with polyurethane foam, instead look for untreated, wool-covered mattresses (wool is a natural fire retardant) filled with natural latex or containing a spring system wrapped with organic cotton batting.

Non-organic cotton production relies on lots of hazardous synthetic chemicals in its production. Organic cotton, linen and wool bedding are safer bets, especially when certified to meet strict environmental standards.

The Meditation Center of Alabama Presents

THE MIDDLE WAY

Meditation Retreat with Robert Mawson

Relax Your Body • Rest Your Mind • Find Inner Peace Robert Mawson underwent a heart transplant

by Dr. Mehmet Oz that was televised on the Discovery Channel to show the difference meditation made in his recovery. Mr. Mawson teaches how meditation can activate a natural healing force from within, help you overcome pain, and most importantly bring lasting love, peace and happiness into your life.

Plus Special Guest: World renown piano virtuoso Katya Grineva (www.katyagrineva.com)

4

Block the afternoon sun. During the day, shut off airconditioning vents inside bedrooms and block the afternoon sun with interior or exterior solar shades. By day’s end, even in warm climates, bedrooms should be cool enough for sleeping with the addition of a slight breeze from an open window or a slow-running floor or ceiling fan.

4 Go wireless. It’s impossible to completely avoid electromag-

April 27-30, 2012 at the Visitation Monastery in Mobile.

Private Bedrooms • All Meals & Snacks Included www.visitationmonasterymobile.org www.meditationcenterofalabama.weebly.com RSVP: happiness072@gmail.com • 251-623-4485 • 251-408-7902

netic radiation from today’s technologies, so lower exposure in the bedroom by removing electronic devices and placing electrical items at least five feet away from the bed.

4 Forget fabric softeners. Most fabric softeners contain highly toxic chemicals that latch onto sheets and can be inhaled or absorbed directly into the bloodstream through skin. Instead, add a quarter-cup of baking soda to the wash cycle to soften sheets and other laundry.

4 Leave the lights off. Motion-detecting nightlights save energy while allowing safe passage in the wee hours.

Laundry Room

In a typical U.S. home, the washing machine accounts for 21 percent of home water use and combined, the washer and dryer comprise 5 to 8 percent of home energy demands. Diane MacEachern, founder of BigGreenPurse.com and author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World, explains that a good way to conserve key resources is to use these appliances less—reducing the number of loads and drying items on outdoor clotheslines or indoor racks.

MacEachern says, “You can probably wash things like sweatshirts and blue jeans less frequently without much consequence, and a clothesline requires no energy other than the sun.” Also, make sure that whatever goes into the washer or dryer with clothes is non-toxic, or else you’ll be wearing toxic chemical residues next to your skin all day, cautions MacEachern.

Web Sites | Design | Marketing

Eco-Friendly Marketing Ask us about stylish e-newsletters, recycled paper options and more. opteracreative.com info@opteracreative.com 251-960-5438 natural awakenings

April 2012

21

4 Select cold water. On average, only 10 percent of the energy used by a clothes washer runs the machine; the other 90 percent goes to heat the water. The typical American household does about 400 loads of laundry each year, resulting in much energy squandered on hot water. With the exception of laundering greasy spots or stubborn stains, routinely wash in cold water, using a cold-water eco-detergent.

4 Install a clothesline. Running a dryer for just 40 minutes can use the energy equivalent of a 15-watt, compact fluorescent bulb lit for a week. Stretch out a line and hang clothes outside to dry in the fresh air to save about $100 a year on electric bills.

The sun imparts a disinfectant benefit as a bonus.

4 Replace an old machine. A washer or dryer that is older

Planning your

wedding?

B-Butterfly THE SALON

Keeping You & The Earth Beautiful Offering organic and natural hair color, perms & shampoo.

251-990-9934 www.bbutterflysalon.com 103A North Bancroft Street in Fairhope

Carnegie Hall’s World Renowned Russian Pianist

Katya Grineva

Concert & Reception Benefitting The Meditation Center of Alabama

“Liquid…dreamlike…”

New York Times “Luminescent… a fine Mozart Pianist” Baltimore Sun “…Noted exponent of the Romantic Repertoire…”

WNYC Radio “Lyrical…exquisitely refined …superb performance Buffalo News Katya made history, when she became the first female solo pianist to grace the stage of Carnegie Hall’s historic Isaac Stern Auditorium 11 times.

22

than 10 years has hidden costs. EnergyStar.gov notes that an older machine uses more energy and can cost from 10 to 75 percent more to operate than a new, high-efficiency appliance.

4 Choose eco-friendly laundry products. Conventional laundry soaps contain chemicals that can be problematic for us and wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. Look for cold-water brands that are fragrance- and phosphate-free.

4 Switch to concentrates. Concentrated detergents translate to less energy used in shipping, less waste and more value.

4

Stop static cling without dryer sheets. Never over-dry clothes and always dry natural fibers separately from synthetics to prevent static cling.

Bathroom

The smallest room in the house is a disproportionately large contributor to household environmental impacts. In an average non-conservation-minded American home, 38,000 gallons of water annually go down the drains and toilet. “Along with that water,” says MacEachern, “You’ll be washing lots of personal care and cleaning products down the drain, as well, where they could get into local natural water supplies and make life difficult for birds, frogs and fish.”

Sara Snow, television host and author of Sara Snow’s Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home, cautions against personal skin care products with questionable chemical ingredients. “A good percentage of them are being absorbed right into our bloodstream, so focus on ingredients that do no harm; ones that help our bodies instead, such as nourishing and healing botanicals.”

4 Slow the flow. Ultra-efficient showerheads use as little as

April 30, 2012 from 7:00-8:15 pm

Hors d’oeuvre reception to follow Visitation Monastery Sacred Heart Chapel 2300 Spring Hill Avenue Mobile, AL Suggested Donation: $30, Tickets sold online & at Bangkok Thai: 251.344.9995 meditationcenterofalabama.weebly.com

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

1 gallon per minute (gpm); aerated types that mix air into the water stream to enhance pressure provide a good soak and rinse using less than half the water than some other low-flow showerheads. At the sink, aerators should flow between 0.5 and 1 gpm—plenty of pressure for brushing teeth and washing hands.

4 Flush responsibly. According to the EPA, the toilet alone can use 27 percent of household water. Replace older toilets (pre-1994) with new, higher efficiency models for savings of two to six gallons per flush.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

4

Heat water wisely. A tankless water heater supplies instantaneous hot water only as needed. Or, install a timer on a traditional water heater to cut warming time to a few hours a day at most.

4 Shun a plastic shower curtain. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been called “the poison plastic” for its highly toxic lifecycle, which includes the release of dioxins into the air and water.

These toxic chemicals persist in ecosystems and can cause cancer.

PVC shower curtains are also a short-life product that cannot be recycled, so switch to a PVC-free alternative. Organic hemp is the eco-shower curtain gold standard.

4 Ban antibacterial products. Triclosan is a popular antibacterial agent found in many household cleaners, hand soaps, cosmetics and even toothpaste. It’s also a registered pesticide and probable human carcinogen that’s showing up in the environment and children’s urine. The Mayo Clinic suggests that triclosan may contribute to the development of antibioticresistant germs and harm the immune system, making us more susceptible to bacteria.

4

Install a shower filter that removes chlorine. Chlorine, which is increasingly being linked to some cancers, is used by many municipalities to disinfect water supplies. People absorb more chlorine through the skin and by inhaling chlorine vapors when bathing and showering than from drinking it.

4

Use recycled and unbleached paper products. Using recycled bath tissue helps close the recycling loop on all the paper we dutifully recycle at the curb. Unbleached varieties keep chlorine byproducts like dioxins out of the environment.

Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.

The Pure Vegan Wellness Services {A Shanti Warrior Company}

Health & Wellness Coaching Yoga Group Classes & Private Sessions Plant-Based Cooking Classes, Meal-delivery & Menu Consulting Tracey Winter Glover JD, RYT 200 AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant Learn more at www.ThePureVegan.com tracey@thepurevegan.com • (251) 510-2418

4

Remove bad odors instead of covering them up. In a University of California study, chemical air fresheners were found to have higher concentrations of polluting volatile organic compounds (VOC) than any other household cleaning product. Long-term exposure to some VOCs have been linked with adverse health effects.

This Natural Awakenings checklist suggests steps that are possible in making any home healthier, safer and more enjoyable.

Start checking off items today and begin shrinking the family’s ecological footprint right away.

Crissy Trask is the founder of GreenMatters.com and author of the bestselling, It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for EarthFriendly Living. Follow her at Twitter.com/greenmatters.

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 natural awakenings

April 2012

23

consciouseating

Waste Not, Want Not 10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste

by Amber Lanier Nagle

M

ost of us regularly discard food items—week-old cooked pasta, stale cereal, half a loaf of moldy bread, suspicious leftovers and other foods we fail to eat before they perish. But consider that the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that 40 percent of all edible food products in the United States—comprising 34 million tons—is wasted each year.

Food waste occurs at all levels of the supply chain. Farm fresh fruits and vegetables are often left unharvested because their appearance does not meet aesthetic standards imposed by grocery stores, and pieces bruised or marred during shipping and handling are routinely discarded.

Many restaurants serve supersized portions of food, even though much of it is left on plates when customers leave, and thrown into dumpsters. Plus, many shoppers buy more than they need.

With a little care and a more enlightened system, we could help prevent much of the waste and better address hunger in the United States. Researchers estimate that Americans could feed 25 million people if we collectively reduced our commercial and consumer food waste by just 20 percent.

From an environmental standpoint, wasted food equals wasted water, energy and chemicals. Producing, packaging and transporting these food items generate 24

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

pollution—all for nothing: a zero percent return on our dollars. Food waste represents the single largest component of all municipal solid waste now going into landfills. Although it is biodegradable when properly exposed to sunlight, air and moisture, decomposing food releases significant amounts of methane, a heattrapping greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2).

Ten tips make it possible to reduce our “food print”.

Shop smarter. Preplan meals for the week, including non-cooking days and leftover days. Make a shopping list and stick to it after inventorying the pantry, fridge and freezer. Buy produce in smaller quantities to use within a few days. Because we tend to overbuy when we’re hungry, don’t walk the aisles with a growling stomach.

Organize the refrigerator. Place leftovers at eye level in the fridge, so they are front-and-center anytime someone opens it.

When stowing groceries, slide older items to the front. Pay attention to use-by dates and understand that food is good for several days beyond a sell-by date.

Freeze foods. Many food items will last for months in the freezer in appropriate storage bags and containers.

Share surplus food. For larger dishes such as casseroles and crockpot meals, in-

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

vite a friend over for supper, deliver a plate to an elderly neighbor or pack leftovers to share with co-workers. Donate extra nonperishable or unspoiled food items to a local soup kitchen, food bank or pantry or homeless shelter.

Store food properly. To maximize food’s edible life, set the fridge between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange containers so that air circulates around items; the coldest areas are near the back and bottom of the unit. For fruits and vegetables stored in plastic bags or designated bins or containers, squeeze out air and close tightly to reduce the damaging effects of exposure to oxygen.

Buy ugly fruits and veggies. Grocery stores and markets throw out a substantial volume of vegetables and fruits because their size, shape or color is deemed less than ideal. Purchase produce with cosmetic blemishes to save perfectly good, overlooked food from being discarded as waste.

Use soft fruits and wilted vegetables.

Soft, overripe fruits can be converted to jellies, jams, pies, cobblers, milkshakes and smoothies. Wilted carrots, limp celery, soft tomatoes and droopy broccoli can be chopped up and blended into soups, stews, juices and vegetable stocks.

Dish up smaller portions. Smaller portions are healthier and allow leftovers for another meal.

Take home a doggie bag. Only about half of restaurant diners take leftovers home. Ask to have unfinished food boxed in a recyclable container, and then enjoy it for lunch or dinner within two days.

Compost routinely. If, despite daily best efforts, food waste still occurs, recycle it with meal preparation scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Create an outdoor compost heap, or compost cooked and uncooked meats, food scraps and small bones quickly and without odor in an indoor bokashi bin.

“Earth Day—April 22nd—serves as a reminder that each of us must exercise personal responsibility to think globally and act locally as environmental stewards of Earth,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “Reducing food waste is another way of being part of the solution.”

Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer specializing in how-to articles pertaining to Southern culture, healthy living and the environment.

Composting 101 with Captain Compost Composting keeps food waste out of landfills and generates a valuable ingredient for organic gardening. Although it is often assumed that composting is a stinky, labor-intensive undertaking, the process is fairly simple. Natural Awakenings consulted William Cureton, known throughout Alabama as Captain Compost, to answer some frequently asked questions on the topic.

What is composting?

Composting is the decomposition of organic matter. In a compost pile, beneficial aerobic soil microbes such as bacteria, and higher aerobic organisms such as earthworms, break down the contents into a beneficial soil amendment.

How do you make a compost bin?

A compost bin can be made from almost anything that allows for constant aeration. I have used lots of homemade composting devices, such as a cylinder of chicken wire, wooden pallets or a plastic trash can with many holes in it.

What can be compostable?

Compost is made from a combination of green materials that are high in nitrogen and brown materials that are high in carbon. Green materials include fresh grass clippings, food scraps and manure. Examples of brown materials are dry leaves, hay, shredded paper and sawdust. A good compost mixture should be mostly "browns" rather than "greens," and it should be more plant matter than animal matter. The only meat I use in my compost is fish and seafood scraps from a local seafood market. Fish meals and emulsions are some of the most powerful organic fertilizers and soil amendments in the world. I also add water to my piles every week, because moisture keeps the aerobic bacteria and fungi in the piles alive.

How much turning and stirring of the compost pile is required?

Just as it’s not smart to over-till soil, it is not smart to over-mix or over-turn an active aerobic compost pile! Too much agitation can harm or even run off beneficial soil organisms. Instead of turning, oxygen can be added to a pile by poking it with a broom handle or hoe, or by using several static aeration pipes (PVC pipes with holes) in the pile.

How can the mature compost be used?

I use my compost as a soil amendment, as an ingredient for new raised beds or as extra mulch around my vegetables and flowers. I also brew compost tea, which can be used as a fertilizer, an immune system booster for plants and a fungicide.

For more information call 205-903-9756 or visit CaptainCompostOfAlabama.com.

natural awakenings

April 2012

25

Save with the Natural Awakenings Network Card!

Natural Awakenings presents a discount network that supports healthy living and a healthy planet.

How does it work? It's Easy!

1. Order your card online or over the phone.

2. Check the directory below or online to find out where NAN Cards are accepted.

3. Present your personalized card at time of purchase.

4. Enjoy savings 5% to 50% discounts for 12 months!

Purchase a NAN Card on Earth Day (April 22), and receive a second card FREE!

Visit us online or at Earth Day Mobile Bay to redeem this offer.

NATURAL AWAKENINGS NETWORK

DIRECTORY of DISCOUNT PROVIDERS New providers will be announced each month in Natural Awakenings and a full directory will be published quarterly.

For a current list of providers and details of the discounts they offer, visit NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com.

Cards are valid at businesses throughout the country and in Puerto Rico. To search local providers, use MBAL in the keyword search.

BEAUTY & SKINCARE Glow Wellness Studio Mobile, 251-767-5230 20% discount

Locs of Soul

CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS & SERVICES Lily Pads Children’s Consignment Boutique

Fairhope, 251-929-1899 10% off laser therapy (hair restoration)

David’s Gallery

Gulf Shores, 251-948-7862 25% off inhalation therapy products Daphne, 251-621-0337 15% discount (excludes special orders)

Mobile, 240-515-4388 The Little Gym $10 off natural styles, $4 off barber cuts Fairhope, 251-626-9858 10% discount on enrollment, Made in the Shea $15 off Birthday Bash MadeInTheShea.com, 251-408-2148 Free shipping on online orders Planet Gymnastics Mobile, 251-650-0699 Mami Creations 20% off first session, $10 off all birthday parties MamiCreations.com, 925-215-0545 10% off all orders, CHIROPRACTIC Free shipping on orders of $75+

Warlocks Hair Salon

ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Chiropractic Life Center

Green Clean

Baldwin County, 251-508-3796 15% off every 4th cleaning service, 10% off cleaning kits with each deep clean service

Institute for Sustainability Education and Development Mobile, 251-404-3924 25% off coaching packages; 20% off seminars and workshops; Free business listing in Coastal Woman magazine

Salt Removers Inc.

ACSaltRemover.com, 877-725-8851 15% off Air Conditioner Salt Remover

Sweet Home Cleaning Service Mobile & Baldwin Counties, 251-895-7185 10% discount

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS Good Shepherd Learning Center Bay Minette, 251-937-6001 10% off enrollment fee

Hermes Enchanted Garden Montessori-Influenced In-Home Childcare Daphne, 251-269-0022 15% off first month’s tuition

Mobile, 251-380-0477 Ocean Camp Rosie Blu 1/2 off initial exam, 15% off office visits, Fairhope, 251-517-5326 Gulf Shores, 205-936-9892 10% off supplements and supplies 15% discount, extra 5% on your birthday $25 off summer camp session

Contact us today! 251-990-9552

Weinacker’s Montessori School

Daphne, 888-967-2445 Lake Forest, 251-259-5037 Hillcrest, 251-344-8755 Midtown, 251-478-7219 Tillman’s Corner, 251-653-4707 10% off enrollment fee

ESSENTIAL OILS Healthy Living with Essential Oils

Mobile, 251-656-6696 10% discount, Free shipping on orders over $150

Laurie Azzarella

Daphne, 251-625-0080 Save $80 on an essential oil starter package

FITNESS & YOGA 5th Line Gyrotonic Studio Fairhope, 251-209-9864 10% discount

Coastal Ballet

FOODS & NUTRITION Fairhope Health Foods

Daphne, 251-621-3030 Zero enrollment on any personal training package

Fairhope Fitness 24

The Health Hut

Spanish Fort, 251-621-1865 Mobile, 251-633-0485 10% off non-food items

JusTeas & Peace Tea Bar Fairhope, 251-517-5626 15% discount, additional 5% on your birthday

Lopez Family Chiropractic

Orlando and Sons Produce Gulf Shores, 251-948-4538 $5 off purchases of $25 or more

The Pure Vegan

Fairhope, 251-929-2450 2 for 1 unlimited yoga and unlimited spinning for one month

Mobile, 251-510-2418 10% off personal chef services and wellness coaching

Gulf Coast Martial Arts

Virginia’s Health Foods

Foley, 251-979-6019 Free class for new students

Pneuma Yoga and Movement Studio

Daphne, 251-458-6506 20% off class packages

Thrive Yoga and Massage Fairhope, 251-379-4493 25% off yoga and massage

Trinity Yoga

Foley, 251-609-5541 Buy 1 block of classes, get a second 1/2 off

The Yoga Center

Gulf Shores, 251-975-8687 10% discount on all group and private yoga sessions

FLORISTS Stemz

Foley, 251-943-2837 $10 off purchases of $50 or more

Blissful Massage

Mobile, 256-282-1391 15% off classes & seminars, 20% off 6-month programs

Eastern Shore and Mobile, Fairhope, 251-928-0644 Lotus Doulas 10% discount on regularly priced items 404-822-4469 20% off massage and Pilates sessions Mobile, 251-300-5778 20% off services; excludes photography Grow Alabama Elements Therapeutic Massage packages Statewide, 205-991-0042 Mobile, 251-342-6415 10% off Grow Alabama Store $10 off any massage session My Baby Wears Cloth purchases MyBabyWearsCloth.com, Healing Acres 251-423-8808 The Health Food Center Robertsdale, 251-425-1863 Free diaper with purchase of Mobile, 251-661-3065 $10 off colonics; $15 off massage $75 or more 10% discount on Tuesdays

Fairhope, 251-928-5058 Foley, 251-979-9851 20% off nutritional supplement or Free first class, 10% off for new students organic food item

everyBODY Solution

MASSAGE & BODYWORK

Momentum Massage Mobile, 251-470-9944 20% off any service; $5 off an extra treats

Rosie Bluum

Fairhope, 251-517-5626 15% discount, additional 5% on your birthday

MEDITATION Meditation Center of Alabama Mobile, 251-623-4485 Get 1 month free when you buy a 6 month membership

PET CARE Heavenly Hounds

Loxley, 251-964-2750 $10 off training sessions

SouthPaws Pet Spa

Fairhope, 251-928-0750 5% off products, 10% off grooming services

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mobile, 251-345-0494 10% discount on regularly priced items Victoria Webb Photography Mobile and Baldwin Counties, 251-716-9699 GARDENING 15% off portrait session; Free 11x14 canvas print with wedding package Blue Flower Gardens Fairhope, 251-929-3593 PREGNANCY & BABY 30% off organic, perennial garden PRODUCTS/SERVICES installation

HEALING ARTS Delta Institute

Mobile, 251-219-4574 25% discount for first-time clients; 10% off for returning clients

Healing Arts

Bon Secour, 251-979-9851 20% off single service; free consultation

MARI by Rosie

Fairhope, 251-752-6509 10% discount with an additional 5% on your birthday

RECREATION & TRAVEL 5 Rivers Delta Safaris

Birthing From Within Childbirth Preparation Mobile, 251-554-5704 $50 off 8-week series of childbirth classes

Spanish Fort, 251-259-8531 $5 off any regular priced guided safari (tour boat or canoe/kayak)

Alabama PaddleSports

Baldwin County, 251-279-0703 20% off stand up paddle board and kayak rentals

Coastal Dreams Travel

Gulf Shores, 205-936-9892 Free travel journal and insider tips

RESTAURANTS Bangkok Thai Cuisine

Hwy 90W, Mobile, 251-666-7788 Airport Blvd, Mobile, 251-344-9995 Daphne, 251-626-5286 15% discount at dinner with entree order

Moo Che Che Frozen Yogurt Spanish Fort, 251-626-9992 15% discount

Smoothie King

Airport Blvd, Mobile, 251-479-5464 University Blvd, Mobile, 251-341-0605 Daphne, 251-626-5464 Foley, 251-981-1370 1 Free enhancer with smoothie purchase

Sunflower Cafe

Fairhope, 251-929-0055 Mobile, 251-345-0495 10% discount

Thai Orchid

Grassroots Holistic Health Coaching

Mobile, 251-639-9990 15% discount at dinner with entree order

Introductory Plan Rates (expires on May 1, 2012)

Individual Plan $40 per year

Family Plan $80 per year

* CORPORATE & GROUP RATES AVAILABLE

To learn more about NAN membership or to become a provider, visit Tinyurl.com/NANCard.

Coming in May

MOBILIZE FOR

EARTH

Pledge a Green Act for Earth Day 2012

WOMEN’S WELLNESS L The Latest Great Tips and Technologies for Aging Beautifully

With an

Expanded Pet Section For information about advertising, call

251-990-9552 28

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

arge or small, each green action we take—from workplace commitments to reduce, reuse and recycle to individual initiatives like riding a bike to work—helps to protect the integrity of our irreplaceable planet. We have come a long way from the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, that activated 20 million Americans. Today, the Earth Day Network (EDN) collaborates with 22,000 partners in 192 countries, and 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the world’s largest annual civic observance.

More progress is needed, however.

“This Earth Day, we are mobilizing people on the planet simply to say one thing: The Earth won’t wait,” advises EDN Director of Earth Day, Franklin Russell, noting that environmental issues are frequently put on the back burner in the face of global economic challenges. “All too often, we hear of another oil spill or pipeline break, or another mountain leveled to mine for dirty coal. It’s time that we mobilize the Earth and speak with one voice, one message,” he asserts. “It’s time that our leaders put us on the path to sustainability.”

EDN invites us to help build the momentum by continuing to participate in the Billion Acts of Green campaign launched for Earth Day 2011. Its goal is to record a billion acts of environmental

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

service and advocacy before Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, taking place this June, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To date, more than 499 million acts have been pledged— a powerful cause for hope. “I’m resolutely optimistic,” says Denis Hayes, organizer of the original Earth Day. “I think it’s really valuable for everyone in the world, even for a day, to do something for the environment and think about the Earth.”

Take Part Now Pledge your own green act today at EarthDay.org and help mobilize the Earth by attending and supporting one or more of these local Earth Day 2012 events.

Earth Day Extravaganza Saturday, April 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Graham Creek Nature Preserve, Foley The 2nd annual event includes ecotours, hands-on birdhouse building, a Girl Scout demo: Importance of Bats, Boy Scout demo: A Leave No Trace Campsite, Wolf Bay Watershed Watch demo: Water Testing.

For more information call 251-971-1471 or email LLassiter@CityOfFoley.org.

Clean Coast Expo

Thursday, April 19 1 to 7 p.m.

Erie Meyer Civic Center, Gulf Shores Vendors will be onsite with information and products for ways to reduce, recycle, reuse, seafood safety and much more.

For more information call 251-968-7200 or email Membership@ AlaGulfCoastChamber.com

Springhill Hospital Earth Day Thursday, April 19 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Springhill Medical Center, Mobile

Springhill Hospital hosts this community Earth Day event to present a variety of local and green options for the public.

Eco-friendly exhibitors and children’s activities.

For more information call 251-460-5264

Earth Day Pensacola Saturday, April 21 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bayview Park, Pensacola

The annual event features live music, a sustainable art show, food vendors, an expanded children’s area, a day-long lecture series and many informational booths, including stations for free recycling of cell phones, mp3 players, automotive and marine batteries and other electronic devices.

For more information find Earth Day Pensacola on Facebook or call 850-293-3578.

Earth Day Mobile Bay

Sunday, April 22 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope Alabama’s largest Earth Day celebration. The 42nd annual event hosts environmental displays including interactive art and educational activities for children and adults. Live entertainment begins at 10 a.m. and continues throughout the day.

Free BRATS shuttle service provided from Ecor Rouge Plaza.

NEVER PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD HAS PUT A COMMA. GOD IS STILL SPEAKING. WE HEAR GOD SPEAKING WELCOME TO ALL. Open Table is an Open and Affirming congregation that affirms the worth and dignity of every human being, extending extravagant welcome to all persons. We affirm lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in particular and assure them full inclusion in the life, leadership, and ministry of our congregation.

We acknowledge the suffering they have endured in the context of the larger society. We aspire to develop an increasingly sensitive and informed understanding of God’s good gifts of human sexuality, gender, and relationships. We believe that all people are created in God’s image and thus are loved and blessed equally by God.

For more information call 702-496-5050 or visit EarthDay MobileBay.org.

Explore your true Self and Discover your Inner Light with MARI by Rosie “It’s Self Exploration with a twist of Art Therapy...and a lot of fun!”

MARI utilizes mandalas to reveal your inner most thoughts. It is a tool that guides you to solutions for your current state, the direction you want to go, and blocks that are in the way. Unlock your intuition to get the answers to all of your life questions.

o p e n table united church of christ

phone: (251) 545-1011 5 pm Sunday worship | opentableucc.org 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Available at Rosie Bluum in Fairhope • 251-517-5326 • www.MARIbyRosie.com

natural awakenings

April 2012

29

fitbody

FOREST BATHING The Healing Power of a Walk in the Woods

by Maggie Spilner

“N

ature doesn’t bang any drums when she bursts forth into flowers, nor play any dirges when the trees let go of their leaves in the fall. But when we approach her in the right spirit, she has many secrets to share. If you haven’t heard nature whispering to you lately, now is a good time to give her the opportunity.” ~ Osho, in Osho Zen Tarot: the Transcendental Game of Zen

As we all innately know, spending time in nature is good for our body, mind and spirit. It’s why we’re attracted to green places, flowers, lakes, fresh air and sunshine. Taking a nature walk—affording plenty of fresh air and exercise in a quiet setting—has traditionally been prescribed for good health. That raises a question: How much natural healing are we sacrificing when we spend most of our days indoors?

In Japan, a group of medical researchers and government-affiliated forest organizations support the creation of forest therapy centers, where people enjoy the trails and guided walks and also receive free medical checkups under the trees.

Since 1984, they have been studying the health benefits of walking in the woods, termed shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

There are now more than 30 such officially designated sites.

In related studies, scientists from Japan’s Nippon Medical School and Chiba University tracked positive physiological changes in individuals walking in the woods compared with city walkers. Early results were published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. Forest walkers showed: n Lower concentrations of salivary cortisol, known as the stress hormone n Lower blood pressure and heart rate n R e d u c t i o n o f a d r e n a l i n e a n d noradrenalin, also stress-related hormones n Increase in immunity-boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity, and the numbers of NK cells and anti-cancer proteins known to combat cancer

Newest Findings

The researchers theorized that organic compounds called phytoncides, produced by trees and other plants as a protection from disease, insects and fungus, were also producing beneficial natural killer cells in people in the forests. In a study that exposed participants to phytoncides via aromatic oils fed through a humidifier in a hotel room, the researchers found similar

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

increases in NK levels.

A 2011 study by Nippon Medical School’s department of hygiene and public health showed that the resulting increase in NK cells lasted for 30 days. They concluded that a monthly walk in the woods could help people maintain a higher level of protective NK activity and perhaps even have a preventive effect on cancer generation and progression.

Qing Li, Ph.D., the assistant professor leading several of these studies, suggests that dense forest areas are more effective at boosting immunity than city parks and gardens. He also reports that phytoncide concentrations increase during summer growing seasons and decrease during the winter, although they are still present in tree trunks even when the trees are deciduous.

Li further suggests that walks in the woods should be conducted at a leisurely pace. For stress reduction, he suggests four hours of walking, covering a generous 3 miles, or 2 hours walking about 1.5 miles.

For cancer-protecting effects, he suggests regularly spending three days and two nights in a forested area.

“Carry water and drink when you’re thirsty,” says Li. “Find a place that pleases you and sit and enjoy the scenery.” He adds that relaxing in a hot tub or spa counts as a perfect end to a day of forest bathing.

Li foresees a future in which patients diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension may receive a forest bathing prescription, but counsels that shinrin-yoku is considered preventive, rather than therapeutic, medicine.

Enhancing Nature’s Power Ecopsychologist Michael Cohen, Ph.D., executive director of Project NatureConnect, adds, “If you want to increase the healing effect of being in nature, it helps to change the way you think and feel about connecting with it.” He has students repeat the word ‘unity’ as they encounter natural attractions—be it a tree, bird, brook or breeze—until they feel that they are part of nature, not separate… part of the healing wisdom of the planet. More, he states, “Sharing helps solidify the experience and opens you to greater personal healing.”

Maggie Spilner, author of Prevention’s Complete Book of Walking and Walk Your Way Through Menopause, leads walking vacations for her company, Walk For All Seasons.

ESCAPE INTO NATURE in Lower Alabama

by Juli Day

A

re you looking for places to enjoy the beauty of nature close to home? Mobile, Baldwin and Monroe County residents are fortunate to have easy access to well maintained, family friendly facilities that offer opportunities for hiking, camping, birding, biking and fishing. A few include equestrian trails, kayaking, canoeing and swimming, as well. Take advantage of these destinations for a refreshing escape from life indoors.

Audubon Bird Sanctuary 109 Bienville Boulevard, Spanish Fort 251-861-3607 CoastalBirding.org

Jeff Friend Trail, Centennial Trail and Twin Pine Trail connect to create an 11-mile loop. Visitors can choose to walk one or all three of these diverse paths. Walking is easygoing, with some gravel paths, pine straw-laden paths and boardwalks.

The trails take travelers through a pine savannah and maritime forest that border a lagoon before arriving at the beach. An observation tower provides a relaxing view and a break from the hike. Binoculars are encouraged.

Graham Creek Nature Preserve Wolf Bay Drive, Foley Al.com/Graham Creek Preserve

This sanctuary offers an easy, but diverse half-day hike on several connected trails.

The gravel and pine straw-laden paths and boardwalks lead hikers through a swamp, and then through an upper woodland forest, around a pond and out to the dunes for beach access. There are several observation points on this hike and binoculars are encouraged.

The preserve is an eco-center, featuring walking, hiking, biking and birding trails; a canoe/kayak launch; and a large covered pavilion. Visitors walk 2.5 miles through a pitcher plant bog, along a creek, past a lily pond and through pine forests. The preserve hosts some rare and endangered plants, such as wild orchids, and is home to tortoises and alligator snapping turtles.

Blakeley Historic State Park

Little River State Park

State Highway 225, Spanish Fort 251-626-0798 BlakeleyPark.com Blakely is a great place for a day hike or an overnight camping trip. With extensive trails varying from narrow to wide, gravel to boardwalk, the park is a destination for walking, hiking, biking and horseback riding. Historical features include the 1813 town of Blakeley; Baldwin County’s first county seat, and extensive battlefields and earthworks from the Civil War.

Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge 12295 State Highway 180, Bon Secour 251-540-7720 FWS.Gov/BonSecour

18997 Highway 21 South, Atmore 251-862-2511 Forestry.Alabama.gov/Little_River_State_ Forest.aspx This 2,100-acre longleaf pine forest provides opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing and horseback riding. Two loop trails, equaling 5.5 miles combined, provide a weekend of great walking through the forest. Hikers will be rewarded on the Gazebo Trail with a spectacular and unusual view from the gazebo built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. There are camping facilities, a bathhouse and a lake for swimming and boating. The park is also home to an abundance of birds.

Village Point Preserve Park and Bayfront Park 6200 Bayfront Park Drive, Daphne 251-626-5300 VillagePointPark.com These dog-friendly parks, connected by a boardwalk, are located on scenic Highway 98, in Daphne. Wide, family-friendly gravel or boardwalk trails, designed for easy access, are handicap and stroller accessible. Each park is excellent for fishing and birding, with trails leading to the beach and piers on Mobile Bay. Village Point hosts a historic cemetery, the famous Jackson Oak and is home to state champion trees and one national champion tree. Gazebos and restrooms are available at each park.

Weeks Bay Reserve 11401 U.S. Highway 98, Fairhope 251-990-5004 WeeksBay.org This reserve encompasses more than 6,000 acres of land and water in and around Weeks Bay and along Mobile Bay. Facilities include a free educational interpretive center and two boardwalks.

Some of the many features include nature trails, handicapped-accessible boardwalk trails, a native pitcher plant bog with boardwalk, hummingbird and butterfly gardens and a picnic area. An interpretive center displays ecological, historical, archaeological, live and preserved specimens that are indigenous to the Mobile Bay-Weeks Bay area.

Juli Day is a naturalist guide, a member of the Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club and an art teacher at Bayside Academy.

Eat Fresh. Buy Local.

Treat your locavore palate to farm-fresh foods while contributing to a healthier planet and a more prosperous local economy. Support these Mobile/Baldwin businesses!

CSA’S (COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE) MAE GRACE FARM MaeGraceFarm.com MaeGraceFarm@hotmail.com 251-964-5286 Local organic farm operating a 36 week CSA. Shares include produce, herbs and cut flowers. See ad on page 17.

WESTSIDE GROCERY 85 North Bancroft Street Downtown Fairhope WindmillMarket.org 251-990-8883 Local grocery sells the best produce, meat, cheeses, seafood and sweets that the area has to offer! See ad on page 12.

MEAT & SEAFOOD FIDLER FARMS

WINDMILL MARKET'S PRODUCE CLUB

Highway 55 South to Harris Lane Silverhill, Alabama 36576 251-945-5687

85 North Bancroft Street Downtown Fairhope Info@WindmillMarket.org 251-990-8883

Family-owned grower of grass-finished all natural beef, Super Jumbo Green and dry peanuts.

Fresh fruits, veggies, milk, cheese, grass-fed beef and more delivered from local farms to your table every week! See ad on page 12.

PRODUCE & FARMERS MARKETS THE PRODUCE OUTLET

GROCERY STORES

2700 Pleasant Valley Road Mobile, Alabama 36606 251-476-5001

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center Fairhope 251-928-0644 Offering fresh fruits and vegetables, from local Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com sources whenever possible, at 30-50 percent Comprehensive health food store featuring local products: organic produce, organic milk, meat, eggs, honey and soap. See ad on page 2.

ThePureVegan.com Tracey@ThePureVegan.com 251-510-2418, Like us on Facebook!

Providing fresh healthy and delicious plant-based whole foods, with locally sourced ingredients.

Specializing in weekly meal home deliveries. See ad on page 25.

SUNFLOWER CAFE I 320 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Organic cafe serving lunch and Sunday brunch.

Local produce, herbs and meats used. Menu online. See ad on page 2.

SUNFLOWER CAFE II 3952 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Organic cafe and juice bar. Local produce, herbs and meats used. Menu online. See ad on page 2.

below retail cost.

RESTAURANTS & CATERING LULU'S AT HOMEPORT

VIRGINIA HEALTH FOODS

THE PURE VEGAN

SWEET OLIVE BAKERY & JUICE BAR 85 North Bancroft Street Downtown Fairhope SweetOlive.co 251-990-8883

3952 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

Under the bridge in Gulf Shores 251-967-LULU LuluBuffett.com

Comprehensive health food store featuring local products: organic produce, organic milk, meat, eggs, honey and soap. See ad on page 2.

Proudly serving fresh local produce, Gulf Wild Just Opened! European-style, artisan baked goods; Red Snapper and Alabama Wild Shrimp. See ad on freshly squeezed fruit and veggie juices; coffee; back cover. smoothies and more. See ad on page 12.

This logo identifies businesses that are Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) Discount Providers.

See page 26 for details and visit Tinyurl.com/NANCard to order your card today!

Are you a local farmer or business owner that carries locally-sourced food items?

Contact us today to find out how you can be listed on this page!

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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

SLOW BICYCLE RIDES

For upcoming slow bicycling rides, see the sidebar of Learning to Ride a Bike Again on page 10.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1

CSA Membership-Rolling Admission – 9am. Mae Grace Farm's 36-week CSA season runs Mar 20-Nov 30. Weekly shares include organic produce, herbs and fresh cut flowers. Details online. $20-$40. Loxley.

MaeGraceFarm.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6

MaxMOMS of South Alabama – 10-11am. Super Target Shopping Day is a walk through learning how to read labels, what to avoid and how to make better choices. MaxMOMS' monthly purpose is encouraging learning, leading and maintaining maximized lives through 5 Essentials. Free. Facebook: MaxMOMS Mobile. JenniferBucknell@gmail.com.

Quantum Leap – 7pm. The movie Quantum Leap takes an in depth look at the concepts of Quantum Mechanics. Join with several of today’s greatest minds as they explore the nature of reality and pierce the veil of our mechanistic world. $10 donation. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777.

TUESDAY, APRIL 10

Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Questions and health issues will be addressed using essential oils. Learn how to make your own natural products, listen as others share their own personal testimonies and best of all you get a chance to experience therapeutic grade essential oils. Love offering. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. Sue Sides: 251-232-2292.

THURSDAY, APRIL 12

Maximized Living Makeover – 6pm. The Maximized Living Makeover is a life changing event!

Learn how you can lose weight just like hundreds of people have. Quickly lose ten pounds without feeling hungry. Remove the toxins that prevent you from losing weight. $30. Holiday Inn Express, Fairhope.

251-928-5058.

FRIDAY, APRIL 13

Baldwin County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale – 9am-4pm. Apr 13-Apr 15. Annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, trees, hummingbird and butterfly attractors, native, rare and endangered plants. Free seminars on Fri and Sat, 10am-2pm. Proceeds benefit scholarship fund and community outreach projects. Hwy 98, west of Fish River Bridge and across from Weeks Bay Reserve. Selena Vaughn: SelenaCVaughn@att.net.

Annual Homestead Village Health and Wellness Fair – 9am-12pm. This event offers visitors a morning filled with resources galore from a wide variety of vendor participants. Vendors will offer their healthcare services, wellness screens, educational advice and planning, give-away samples, interactive games

and door prize raffles. Free. Homestead Village of Fairhope, Fairhope. 251-929-0250.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14 MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Kula Yoga Teacher Training Early Bird Deadline

Saturday, April 14 Join like-minded people once a month for this year-long study of all eight limbs of yoga. It's not just an exchange of knowledge, but crossing the boundaries that separate us. Training starts May 18. Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org.

KulaYogaCommunity.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17

The Yoga of Health and Wellness – 9:30am-4pm.

True health integrates wellness in mind, body and spirit. In this all day workshop, learn to apply the tools of healthy living and holistic wellness. Workshop includes journaling, meditation, asana, Ayurvedic healing, plant-based nutrition, yoga nidra and vegan Ayurvedic lunch. $95. Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga, 2065 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. 251-510-2418.Tracey@ ShantiWarrior.com.

Sound Therapy Workshop – 9:30am-6pm. Apr 14-15. Experience ancient Solfeggio frequencies and healing codes revealed using color coded tuning forks related to chakras. Learn about DNA repair, meanings of Solfeggio tones, how they affect health, moods and cell rejuvenation. Learn Energy Vitality Technique to balance chakras, free blocked energy, awaken iuntuition. $299. Robertsdale Senior Citizens Center, 22651 Hwy 59 N, Robertsdale. Dr. Karen Kelley: 251-943-8883 or HealthIsWealth88@gmail.com. Charlotte McCool: 251-423-1863 or MagnoliaEyes@hotmail.com.

Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Concerned about your health? Want a healthy alternative? Learn about Young Living 100% therapeutic grade essential oils, how to use these oils and listen to others share their own personal testimonies. Love offering. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile.

Judith Wilson: 251-656-6696.

Adoption Event – 11am-3pm. Pet Adoption at Petsmart at the Eastern Shore Plaza in Spanish Fort.

Free. The Haven: 251-929-3980.

Big and Bold Moves: A Journey into Spinal Extension and Arm Standing – 1-7pm. In this course we will work towards proper alignment, range of motion, strength building and the proper mechanics students will need for their journey into back bending and arm standing with confidence. PMA approved course (5 CEC). $200. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961. Register at PilatesOnHighland.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15

on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham.

205-323-5961. Register at PilatesOnHighland.com.

Sound Therapy Workshop – 9:30am-3:30pm. Apr 14-15. See Apr 14 listing. $299. Robertsdale Senior Citizens Center, 22651 Hwy 59 N, Robertsdale. Dr. Karen Kelley: 251-943-8883 or HealthIsWealth88@ gmail.com. Charlotte McCool: 251-423-1863 or MagnoliaEyes@hotmail.com.

Yoga for Newbies – 2-5pm. Join Dana Goudie, E-RYT 200 for this afternoon workshop including an introduction to basic poses, breathing techniques, meditation and yoga philosophy in Q and A format. Includes lecture, discussion and physical practice. Modifications make this practice appropriate for all body types. $25 suggested donation. Space 301, 301 Conti St, Downtown Mobile. info@KulaYogaCommunity.org

Big and Bold Moves: A Pilates and Yoga Inspired Movement Intensive – 9am-12pm. This Pilates/ yoga-inspired movement class will give students an opportunity to go deep into the practice of arm standing and back bending. Please bring a yoga mat. $40. Pilates

Prayer & Meditation Vigil – 6:30pm. A prayer and meditation vigil to support the repeal of Alabama's immigration law (HB56). Free. Foot of the bluff, south of the pier in Fairhope. FHopeAgainstHB56@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22

Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012 – 10am-6pm. Alabama’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration.

This year’s 42nd Annual Earth Day of family fun will host over one hundred environmental displays and activities. Live entertainment will start at 10am and live music will continue throughout the day. Free admission at the Fairhope Pier in Fairhope. Earth Day Mobile Bay 2012. Carol Adams-Davis, Publicity Coordinator: 702-496-5050. MCAdamsDavis@ earthlink.net. EarthDayMobileBay.org.

MORE EARTH DAY EVENTS

For all area Earth Day events, see Mobilize for Earth on page 28.

Meditation Flash Mob: Gulf Coast Alabama – 12:30pm. 30 minutes of basking in collective peace during the Earth Day celebration on the bluff by the Marietta Johnson statues. By joining together, we are helping to raise the collective consciousness of the entire world and, in turn, are replacing negativity and fear with positivity and love. All walks of life are welcome. Fairhope Pier. Facebook: Meditation Flash Mob: Gulf Coast Alabama. 251-990-9552.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24

Middle Way Meditation Lecture by Robert Mawson – 6:30-8pm. Relax your body, rest your mind and find inner peace. Certified meditation instructor Robert Mawson underwent a heart transplant by Dr. Mehmet Oz filmed for the Discovery Channel to document how meditation aided his recovery. Free. Mobile West Regional Library. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.

Weebly.com.

Dinner and Bikes – 6:30pm. An entertaining evening that includes talk about bicycle inspiration, vegan food, and a traveling bookstore. $10/advance. $15/door.

natural awakenings

April 2012

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Serda’s Coffee Company, Mobile. Facebook.com/ Groups/MobiliansOnBikes. DinnerAndBikes.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Robert Mawson 3-Day Meditation Retreat

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25

Middle Way Meditation Lecture by Robert Mawson – 6:30-8pm. Relax your body, rest your mind and find inner peace. Certified meditation instructor Robert Mawson underwent a heart transplant by Dr. Mehmet Oz filmed for the Discovery Channel to show how meditation aided his recovery. Free. USA Biomedical Conference Room. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.

Weebly.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 26

Life Meditation Class with Robert Mawson – 6:308pm. See Apr 25 listing. Suggested donation of $15 includes vegetarian meal at Bangkok Thai Cuisine.

Meditation Center of Alabama. 3821 Airport Blvd, Mobile. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

Ashtanga Yoga Weekend with Jodi Blumstein – Apr 27-29. Deepen your understanding of the practice of Ashtanga yoga and explore the relationship of physical practice to the other seven limbs of yoga.

Jodi Blumstein is a nationally recognized teacher with YogaGlo. $155/whole weekend, $45/single session.

Space 301, 301 Conti St, Downtown Mobile. Info@ KulaYogaCommunity.com. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

April 27-30 Relax your body, rest your mind and find inner peace. Certified meditation instructor and nutritionist Robert Mawson underwent a heart transplant by Dr. Mehmet Oz filmed for the Discovery Channel to show how meditation aided his recovery.. $190. Visitation Monastery, Mobile.

Facebook.com/MeditationCenterofAl.

MONDAY, APRIL 30

Katya Gineva Piano Concert and Reception benefitting the Meditation Center of Al – 7pm. World renown Russian pianist Katya Grineva is the first female solo pianist to grace the stage of Carnegie Hall's historic Isaac Stern Auditorium a record 11 times. Her humanitarian efforts were recently recognized with the Gusi Peace Prize. $30. Visitation Monastery Sacred Heart Chapel, Mobile. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.

Weebly.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 12

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive – 2-10pm. Volunteers needed to participate in nation’s largest food

drive. Bay Area Food Bank offers flexible volunteer hours. Free. 5248 Mobile South St, Mobile. To register or for information contact Karla Gardner: 251653-1617 or KGarnder@BayAreaFoodBank.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Bald Eagle Bash – 4-7pm. Fundraising event for the Weeks Bay Foundation featuring live music by Locust Fork Band and shrimp dishes prepared by top local restaurants. $30/advance. $35/gate. Tonsmeire Weeks Bay Resource Center, Fairhope. 251-9905004. BaldEagleBash.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 4

2012 Summer Enrichment Academy – 9am-6pm.

Mon-Fri, Jun 4-Aug 3. Early drop off option starts at 7am. The program is offered to youth ages 5-18.

Limited space. Early registration encouraged. $50/ month (early registration) plus $35 activity fee and $10 membership fee. Rotary Youth Club and former Baldwin County Alternative School, Fairhope. 251928-9148. Info@RotaryYouthClub.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

Summer Camp – 9am-12pm. 1-4pm. Jun 5-22. Sea, Sand and Stars in Orange Beach will host Ocean Camp in a beautiful aquarium learning center. Each week's theme: Ocean Animals, Ocean Scientists and Ocean Explorers. $125 per child ages 5-12. 4900 Wilson Blvd, Orange Beach. 251-802-8605.

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

sunday Discounts on Supplements – Every Sunday get 15% off supplements at Fairhope Health Foods, 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope.

251-928-0644.

Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread – Inspirational quotes. We all need a little inspiration from time to time. ShantiWarrior.com/DailyBread.

Center for Spiritual Living Service – 10am. Make every step, every choice, every word, a conscious one. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander: 251-343-0777.

CMSpiritualCenter.org.

Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore a 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 the adventure of life. Center for Joyful Living, 60 N Ann St, Mobile. 251-391-6960.

Sunday Worth-ship Celebration – 10:30am. Find strengthen and celebrate a connection with Divine Spirit. Donation. One mile north of US Hwy 104.

Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US Hwy 98, Montrose. 251-990-8934. UnityEasternShore.org.

Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Between Hillcrest and Knollwood. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, Mobile. 251-661-1788.

Live Music Sundays – 11am-2pm. The Windmill

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Market features live music every Sunday at lunch.

Bring the family by for lunch, some shopping and some great live, local music. Free. Windmill Market, 85 N Bancroft St, downtown Fairhope. 251-9908883. WindmillMarket.org.

Foundations of Yoga – 2:15pm. A great intro (or re-intro) to yoga practice. Learn and practice the basics of yoga in a slow paced class format. Focus is given to proper form and alignment in essential poses to establish a strong foundation. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

YogaBirds.com.

Open Table: A Community of Faith Worship Service (United Church of Christ) – 5pm. Weekly progressive Christian worship. Free. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-545-1011.

Ellen.OpenTable@gmail.com. OpenTableUCC.org.

monday Pilates Sculpt with Lynette – 9:15-10:15am. Some Pilates experience necessary. Blends Pilates and yoga (primarily Pilates) and traditional strength training exercises with emphasis on the core. May utilize stability balls, light weights, glides or resistance bands to challenge your deep and superficial muscles. Great class to sculpt your body! $5/1st time. $10/preregister. $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. IntegratedFitnessFairhope.com.

Eyes on Living, Baldwin County Low Vision Support Group – 10-11:30am. Third Mon. Anyone who has or knows someone with vision loss or impairment is welcome in the Single Tax room at Fairhope

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Library. Free. Shelia Tetley: 251-929-2169.

Youth Exploring Exercise and Nutrition – 4-5pm.

Mon and Wed. Designed to encourage, empower and educate 4th-6th graders. Strength training, yoga, pilates, obstacle course, rock wall and fitness games. Classes are taught in a creative, playful and fun manner in a non-competitive environment.

Includes nutrition component emphasizing lifestyle changes. Cost varies. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope.

251-554-4121. IntegratedFitness-Fairhope.com.

Gentle Yoga with Dana – 4:15pm. Join Dana for a calming yoga class to ease stress and both sooth and quiet the mind. Find bliss and experience joy in the land of "ahhhhs". Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

La Leche League Enrichment Meeting – 6:30pm.

Last Mon. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251689-2085.

Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Come experience healing for your mind, body and soul. We address specific physical and emotional ailments, followed by the Meditation on Twin Hearts. Let us take the stress off and balance your aura. Classes also available. CEU's -LMTs and Nurses. $10 donation.

Mobile. Deana: 251-454-0959.

tuesday Reiki and Hypnotherapy Sessions – Tues and Thurs by appointment. Promote peace, serenity and physical well-being. Call to schedule an appointment or

for more info on training and CEUs. Foley. 251979-9851. RioBarlow@ymail.com.

Focus on Form – 9:15am. 75 min. An experienced beginner/intermediate yoga class that moves from a basic asana warm up towards an advanced classical yoga pose. Cool down and a closing relaxation meditation make every class a workout and an enlightening mind-body connection. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

YogaBirds.com.

Vinyasa Flow – 9:30am. 75 min. All levels. Tracey, RYT-200 incorporates yogic philosophy and breath work. These challenging and soothing flow of postures are designed to increase inner and outer strength and flexibility while stilling the mind and opening the heart. Quiet Mind Massage. Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. ShantiWarrior.com.

Yoga Therapy for Back Care – 10am. Amanda Brenner, RYT-200 leads this weekly yoga therapy class including joint-opening movement and supported restorative poses. Accessible to anyone that can get up and down from the floor. Beneficial to those with back conditions or those healing from injuries. Pay what you can. The Wellness Center at IWR Physical Therapy, 7965 Moffett Rd, Semmes.

Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Rise and Shine Yoga – 6:30-7:45am. Tues and Thurs. Start the day with an invigorating Hatha Yoga practice. Class includes a mixture of flow yoga, Pranayama, restorative and meditation. Fellowship, coffee and some of mom's homemade bread follows. $7/drop-in, $50/10 class package, $75/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-609-5541.

Chair Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. A Vinyasa flow class that is designed for those with a limited range of motion, yet all are welcome. All poses executed while standing or sitting in a chair. $7/drop-in, $50/10 class package, $75/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-609-5541.

La Leche League Series Meeting – 10:30am.

Second Tues. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251689-2085.

Kids Meditation – 4-4:30pm. Ages 5-12. Parents welcome to join. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626.

RosieBluum.com.

A Modern Day Guide for Improving Eye Sight – 6-7:30pm. Thru Apr 3. These classes will be taught via Skype from San Francisco. Download free E-book course review at EnvisionSelfHealing. com. $15 donation per class, $80/all six classes.

Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Mobile. RSVP at Happiness072@gmail.com. For questions/details call 251-344-9960.

LA Hikers Meeting – 6-7pm. First Tues. Free and open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. LAHikerMeetings.Blogspot.com.

Energize and Relax Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Tues and Thurs. This class emphasizes flow yoga with Pranayama and some Kundalini. Meditation follows the energizing portion to calm in preparation for the day. $7/drop-in, $50/10 class package, $75/family.

Trinity Yoga Studio, Hwy 98 East, Foley. 251-9871147 or 251-609-5541.

Positive Parenting Class – 6-8pm. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Learn tools and skills to create a happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net.

Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. First Tues. Open

to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort.

Yoga at Botanical Gardens – 6pm. Appropriate for all levels. Pay-what-you-can for this community yoga class at the picturesque Botanical gardens. Mats and props are provided. Mobile. Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Creative Spark Writing Group – 7-8pm. Love offering encouraged and appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft St, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. First Tues. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker.

Blogspot.com.

Spiritual Book Study Group – 7-9pm. First and third Tues. Read and discuss spiritual books chosen by the members. Mobile. Contact Joy: 251-3824215. CWG_Mobile_Group@yahoo.com.

Spiritual Cinema Group – 7-9pm. Second and fourth Tues. View and discuss spiritual movies received from “Spiritual Cinema Circle.” Contact Melissa: 251-452-0393. CWG_Mobile_Group@ yahoo.com.

wednesday Yoga Abs with Faye – 8:30am. What a great way to jump start the day. Let breath and body move in sync as Faye Mahan weaves a blend of classical yoga flow and poses with added emphasis on those hard to work abdominal areas. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Gentle Stretching and Meditation – 9am. Wed and Thurs. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft St, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum. com.

Power Yoga with Lynette – 9:15-10:25am. Some yoga experience necessary. A vigorous flow based class. May include inversions such as handstand, forearm-stand or backbend, encouraging you to move at your own pace and listen to your body.

Modifications given. Includes core strengthening. $5/1st time. $10/preregister. $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. IntegratedFitnessFairhope.com.

Positive Parenting Class – 9:30-11:30am. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create a happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Suite 100, Mobile.

251-479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net.

Lunchtime Vinyasa with Tracey – 12pm. 75 mins. All levels. Feed the soul, quiet the mind and restore vitality through a challenging sequence of asanas. Designed to increase strength, balance and flexibility. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio. Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. ShantiWarrior.com.

Unusual Film Series – 2pm. Third Wed. Adults only. Thought provoking cutting-edge films shown on big screen in meeting room. Free. Popcorn and drinks included. Foley Public Library. 251-9437665. FoleyLibrary.org.

Youth Exploring Exercise and Nutrition – 4-5pm.

Mon and Wed. Designed to encourage, empower and educate 4th-6th graders. Strength training, yoga, pilates, obstacle course, rock wall and fitness games. Classes are taught in a creative, playful and fun manner in a non-competitive environment.

Includes nutrition component emphasizing lifestyle changes. Cost varies. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope.

251-554-4121. IntegratedFitness-Fairhope.com.

Guided Meditations – 5:30pm. Nonprofit, nonreligious meditation. Relax the body, rest the mind and find inner peace. Guided meditation with venerable monks from around the world via Skype. $10 sug gested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485.

MeditationCenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com.

Power Flow Yoga with Angela – 5:45pm. Join associate Baptiste Power Vinyasa Teacher Angela Cain to revitalize and energize your day. Enjoy the sweet sweat and moving meditation of Power Flow and leave class refreshed and recharged! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

International Association of Near Death Studies (IANDS) – 6-7:30pm. Second Wed. 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.

Guided Meditation with Rosie Bluum – 7-8pm.

Practice guided meditation at Rosie Bluum and experience an inner journey which heals the heart, mind, body and soul. Nurture the spirit. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A S Bancroft St, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

thursday Yoga with Dana – 10am. Take a break in the busy morning. Join Dana to transform the body, relieve stress and relax the mind. Leave feeling on top of the world and enjoy the magnificence of the day.

Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104.

Synergyoga.net.

Flow and Glow Tropical – 12pm. 60 min. Celebrate your body and deepen the mind body connection with this challenging, dynamic flow class featuring a series of fluid sun salutations, twists, inversions, backbends, forward bends, hip openers and arm balances. Class ends with a vibrant savasana. $10.

Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-9903447. YogaBirds.com.

Energy Healing – 5-6pm. Experience energy healing from trained practitioners. $10 suggested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485. Meditation CenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com.

Group Reformer Class – 5:15pm. Catch the wave of classical fitness and join Adrienne for a Pilates reformer class. Stand taller, get toned and be both leaner and stronger. Call for reservations. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Illumination Yoga Meditation Experience – 5:306:30pm. Stacy Hann will lead light yoga poses to help move you from outside distractions. She ends with a guided meditation to help you let go completely so you leave with a feeling of renewal.

Love offering. Moonstone Massage, 314B Magnolia Ave, Fairhope. Stacy Hann: 251-222-2963. Yoga.

Adagio@yahoo.com.

Guided Meditations – 6:30pm. Nonprofit, nonreligious meditation. Relax the body, rest the mind and find inner peace. At MCA facilities, via Skype, guided meditation takes place with venerable monks from around the world. $10 suggested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.

Weebly.com.

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Foods, 1600 N McKenzie, Foley. 251-970-2225.

BackToHealthNutrition.com.

friday Yoga in the Yurt – 9-10am. No experience necessary. Increase your flexibility, strength and balance through the gentle stretching and poses of yoga.

Instructor, Rosie Denton, has practiced and taught yoga for many years. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel and a pillow. Pay what you can (suggested $7-$12). Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center, Citronelle. 251-866-7204. MidEarthHealing@ yahoo.com. MiddleEarthHealing.com.

Yin/Yang Yoga – 9:15-10:25am. All levels. Blends a focused, mindful yin yoga with a dynamic, active yang yoga. Yin poses are held longer targeting deep connective tissues. Yang poses are rhythmic and flowing. You will experience freedom as you bring your body into balance. $5/1st time. $10/preregister. $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-5544121. IntegratedFitness-Fairhope.com.

Core Barre with Dana – 10am. Work your body to a fusion of ballet, Pilates, yoga and classic fitness. Lift your assets while moving to fun music - this is one hour that can really change your shape.

Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104.

Synergyoga.net.

Fab Fifteen Friday – Get an extra 15% off purchases. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural

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. View menu and place orders: ThePureVegan.com.

Friday Brown Bag Lunch – 11:30am-1:30pm.

Every Friday the Windmill Market offers free live music during the lunch break. Come start your weekend early with delicious food by one of our restaurants and enjoy the music on our outdoor patio.

Free. Windmill Market, 85 N Bancroft St, downtown Fairhope. 251-990-8883. WindmillMarket.org.

Tropical Slow Flow – 4pm. 75 min. Release the stress of the work week and slow down for the weekend with this slower paced tropical class. The heated class allows you to cultivate strength and flexibility by exploring the depth of the poses. $15.

Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-9903447. YogaBirds.com.

Yoga with Adrienne – 5:45pm. Relax and renew at the end of a long work week. Enhance balance, strength and suppleness with Adrienne while your minds experiences pure delight. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

saturday Saturday Morning Yoga with Augusta – 7:308:45am. Designed for all levels. The goal is to present movement and mindfulness simultaneously. The movements will challenge you to stay mindful, and your mindfulness will allow you to honor your limits without judging yourself. $15 drop-in. $10 students and instructors. Creative Outlet, 66 1/2 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-928-5363. HeartStringsYoga.com.

Tropical Flow and Glow – 8:30am. Celebrate your body and deepen the mind body connection with this challenging, dynamic flow class featuring a series of fluid sun salutations, twists, inversions, backbends, forward bends, hip openers and arm balances. Ending with a vibrant relaxation savasana. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

YogaBirds.com.

Pet Reiki at Rosie Bluum – 10am-3pm. Third Sat of month. $20. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft St, Fairhope.

251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

Live Music Saturdays – 11am-2pm. Every Saturday the Windmill market has free outdoor live music on our patio. Come have lunch in one of our restaurants, do your grocery shopping and enjoy our live music.

Free. Windmill Market, 85 N Bancroft St, downtown Fairhope. 251-990-8883. WindmillMarket.org.

classifieds Rates for classifieds start at $20 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.

OPPORTUNITIES GREEN DRINKS ORGANIZER – Mobile Bay Area Green Drinks is a local chapter of an international organization that meets informally at local eateries to discuss, promote and network about local and global green issues. A volunteer leader is needed to organize the chapter's monthly gatherings. Email MobileBayAreaGreenDrinks@gmail.com for more information. Cheers!

JOIN THE GREEN CLEAN TEAM! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services. If interested in becoming part of our team, please call 251-508-3796 for an interview.

LICENSED HAIRSTYLIST NEEDED – Eastern Shore. Call 251-377-0796 for details.

SALES PROFESSIONAL FOR HEALTHY AND GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE – Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin has an opportunity for you to generate income through magazine ad sales and healthy living discount card sales. Be a part of a nationally published family of monthly magazines and earn a residual income by selling ad space to the rapidly growing Natural Health industry and Green living businesses. Our selling method is proven in over 80 major markets. As an independent contractor you’ll have a protected territory and the ability to make your own schedule. Enjoy a generous pay structure, lead generation and participate in ongoing industry training. Our product offerings are as attrac-

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tive as they are diverse, giving you true flexibility in making the sale and providing your advertisers with an excellent growth platform. We have territories in Mobile and Baldwin counties available. Contact Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com.

SERVICES 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: 251-5175326. RosieBlu.com.

ENGAGING GUEST SPEAKER AVAILABLE - Veterinarian Dogtor J, a local and global expert in Food Intolerance in Pets and Their People, educates and energizes groups of all types with health information that changes lives. Audiences enjoy fascinating food for thought with a healthy side of laughter.

Contact Dr. Symes: 251-343-7110 or 251-391-9694.

DogtorJ.com

MARI ASSESSMENTS – MARI is a comprehensive system using colors and symbols to create a visual snapshot of the self. Reveal your inner voice, find guidance through personal issues and better understand your true self. 251-517-5326 or 251-752-6509. MARIByRosie.com.

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS? Gone! Guaranteed!

The Delta Institute, Dr. Diana Sturm, Certified EFT Practitioner. Private sessions and workshops. 251219-4574. DeltaInstitute.net.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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 OPPS AZALEA CITY CAT COALITION – Volunteers needed in any capacity: transporting cats, trapping and adoption events. Contact Susan Young: 251-648-7582. SusanYoung@ AzaleaCityCats.org.

BARC! –Baldwin County Humane Society needs customer service volunteers from either 9am-12pm or 12:30-4pm, Mon-Thur. Duties mainly include greeting customers and answering the phone. For a complete list of volunteer opportunities, visit BaldwinHumane.org or call 251-928-4585.

DOG RIVER CLEARWATER REVIVAL STORM DRAIN MARKRE PROJECT– Volunteers needed to educate the public about the storm drain system. Supplies and instructions provided. Work at your convenience. Contact Janet Miller: J46Miller@yahoo.com, 251-654-1827.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SW AL – Volunteers needed Tues-Sat, 8am-4pm. No experience necessary. Must be at least 16. 251-476-7171 ext 231 or JTidwell@HabitatSWAlabama.org.

naturaldirectory

DENTISTRY DR. DAYTON HART, DM

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

CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING

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

60 North Ann Street Mobile, AL 36695 251-391-6960 Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living in Mobile.

Sundays, 10:30 a.m.

Come and be inspired by local affordable art

in this uniquely creative atmosphere. Look for

“ART” and a golden palette above the door. Open Mon-Sat 10-5. Classes offered.

BEAUTY 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 22.

CHILDBIRTH SERVICES KATRINA BREELAND Made for Love Childbirth Classes and Doula Services 251-554-5704 Facebook.com/MadeForLoveMobile DONA and Birthing from Within™ trained doula

251-943-2471, DrDaytonHart.com

CHURCHES

FAIRHOPE ARTIST GALLERY

B-BUTTERFLY SALON

IAOMT Protocol 225 West Laurel Avenue, Foley

CONSCIOUS MILE SPIRITUAL CENTER OF MOBILE Sundays at 10am 1230 Montlimar Drive, Mobile 251-343-0777, CMSpiritualCenter.org 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 8.

OPEN TABLE: A COMMUNITY OF FAITH (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST) 1050 Azalea Road at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Mobile 251-545-1011, OpenTableUCC.org No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Pastor Ellen Sims and the congregation invite you to join them on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. Childcare provided.

See ad on page 29.

Free book for new patients: Mercury Free Dentistry.

Offering ozone; laser (no-suture) gum surgery; testing for compatible materials and cavity-causing bacteria; examine for gum disease and bacteria; laser cavity diagnoses; saliva pH check; oral galvanic screening; no fluoride used.

ESSENTIAL OILS JUDITH Z. WILSON, MEM. #759523 Healthy Living With Essential Oils 251-656-6696, AromaLife@bellsouth.net YLWellness.com/AromaLife 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.

FOODS AND NUTRITION BURRIS FARM MARKET & BAKERY 3100 Hickory Street Loxley, AL 36551 251-964-6464

Hwy 59 on the way to Gulf Shores.

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.

and mentor offers a holistic and mindful approach to childbirth preparation.

LOTUS DOULA SERVICES Serving Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast 251-300-5778; 251-214-2919 LotusDoulas@gmail.com Lotus-Doula.net Offering postpartum services, labor services, and breastfeeding consultation. Belly casts and birth planning consultation also available.

CLEANING SERVICES

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ

GREEN CLEAN, LLC

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

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 23.

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 2.

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VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ II 3952 Airport Boulevard, 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 2.

HEALING ARTS THE DELTA INSTITUTE Dr. Diana Sturm, Certified EFT Practitioner 5901 Airport Boulevard, Suite 208, Mobile 251-219-4574 DeltaInstitute.net Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a safe, gentle, non-invasive way to release emotional and energetic blockages allowing harmony and balance for natural healing.

REIKI AND HYPNOTHERAPY Rio Barlow 251-979-9851 RioBarlow@ymail.com Promote peace, serenity and physical well-being.

Offering Reiki therapy and hypnotherapy sessions by appointment.

MEDITATION MEDITATION CENTER OF ALABAMA 3821 Airport Boulevard Suite C, Mobile 251-408-7902, 251-623-4485 Happiness072@gmail.com MeditationCenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com Nonprofit, nonreligious. Relax your body, rest your mind, find inner peace. Guided meditation with instructors from around the world via Skype 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays; 6:30 p.m., Thursdays. Energy healing by trained practitioners at 5-6p.m., Thursdays. $10 suggested donation. See ads on page 21 and 22.

PET CARE BELTLINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL John B. Symes, D.V.M. (aka Dogtor J) 1212 West I-65 Service Road S, Mobile 251-343-7110, DogtorJ@bellsouth.net DogtorJ.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.

Blending traditional medicine with a holistic approach, Dr. Symes specializes in conditions related to food intolerance: chronic allergies (skin/ears), gastrointestinal issues, "autoimmune" disorders, epilepsy and more. Find out how diet affects your pet's health. See ad on page 19.

This logo indentifies businesses that are Natural Awakenings Network Discount Providers. See pages 26-27 or visit Tinyurl.com/NANCard for details.

PHOTOGRAPHERS VICTORIA WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY 251-716-9699 VictoriaWebbPhotography@hotmail.com VictoriaWebbPhotography.com Lifestyle portraits and wedding photography.

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

SUSTAINABLE LIVING MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER 20205 Middle Earth Road, Citronelle 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 11.

YOGA YOGA BIRDS 209-A South Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-3447 YogaBirds.com Fairhope's yoga studio with classes for everyone: AnusaraInspired®, Foundations, Vinyasa Flow, Tropical Yoga Birds, 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.

Holy Molé Cartoon

See more at HolyMoleCartoon.com.

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Facebook.com/HolyMoleCartoon

YOGA & PILATES RESOURCES Space Available!

Advertise Your Yoga or Pilates Business Here for $100 per Month.

Integrated Fitness Exercise Studio

Providing personal training, small group training and group classes

Includes calendar listings to promote your classes and editorial coverage.

Fitness-Based Yoga & Pilates Specialty Classes Include:

Youth Exploring Exercise & Nutrition

Explore Your Core Lynette Staggers, LPTA, RYT-200 www.IntegratedFitness-Fairhope.com 456 Morphy Ave, Fairhope 251-554-4121

Call 251-990-9552 today to reserve this spot.

Synergy O

D M

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

Y

Group Classes

yogabirds.com

D

IN

B

yoga & Pilates

SPIRIT

Trinity Yoga

look good,

feel good,

21441 Highway 98 East in Foley 251-987-1147 or 251-609-5541 natstrinityyoga@gmail.com

First class is

FREE

for locals

Enjoy Yoga in a Rural Setting!

Rise & Shine Yoga Chair Yoga Energize & Relax Yoga

do yoga.

(251)990-3447

209-A South Section St. Fairhope, Alabama

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