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

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

FREE

FARM FRESH!

America’s Food Revolution

HERBAL KITCHEN EASY CONTAINER GARDENING

SUSTAINABLE FOODS:

Nell Newman's Own

Organics

GOING VEGAN

IN LOWER ALABAMA

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

Natural Awakenings is Growing... See whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new online,

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

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Mobile/Baldwin Edition

Browse the digital magazines, learn about the Natural Awakenings Network Discount Card, submit calendar listings, explore ways to be a part of the magazine and much more. Now just a click away! Win a Wild Dolphin Encounter Caribbean getaway in the Bahamas. Visit our homepage and enter to win!

Attention!

Providers of Healthy & Sustainable Products and Services: Natural Awakenings invites you to join our discount network focusing on natural health, well-being and a sustainable lifestyle. We are now building the Mobile/Baldwin provider list of this national network.

Finally! A DISCOUNT Card for

Healthy Living and a Healthy Planet!

Promote your business, expand your customer base and be a part of a national network dedicated to healthy living.

The first year is FREE! No commitment, risk free. Visit HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to learn more. Call 251-990-9552, or email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to enroll today.

contents 5

5 globalbriefs

6 newsbriefs

11 consciouseating 13 ecotip

13 16 healthbriefs 18 healthykids 24 wisewords

28 naturalpet 31 greenliving

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.

11 THE HERBAL KITCHEN Eight Easy Picks for

Container Gardening by Barbara Pleasant

14 VEGAN LIVING IN

LOWER ALABAMA Tips for Transitioning to a Plant-Based Diet by Tracey Winter Glover

11 21

18 ECO-CAMPS FOR KIDS

by Gail Condrick

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

FOOD REVOLUTION An Insider’s Guide to Sustainable Choices by Lisa Marshall

24 SUSTAINABLE FOODS &

SOCIAL PHILANTHROPY A Conversation

with Nell Newman by Ellen Mahoney

26 BACKYARD CHICKENS The People’s Choice for Fresh Healthy Eggs by Lisa Marshall

28 LASER POWER 21st Century Pet Therapy Options by Dr. Matthew Heller

30 FROM FARM TO PLATE

An Alabama Resource for Local

and Chemical-Free Farm Products by Meredith Montgomery

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com natural awakenings

March 2011

letterfrompublisher Food is one of my favorite topics to write and read about. Eating and cooking is an enjoyable way to spend time alone or in the company of others, as well as a means to contribute to the health of ourselves, our families and our planet. When selecting food to cook or consume, I prefer organic and locally grown options. To help satisfy these preferences, we started our own garden when a boy from the neighborhood sold us four tomato plants and two bell pepper plants for a dollar each last summer. At this point in my life, gardening needs to be simple. After prepping the soil with some of our own compost, the plants are put in the ground and left alone, aside from occasional watering and light weeding (which is my favorite form of outdoor meditation). Some plants don’t make it because they require too much maintenance. But the plants that survive in our garden and flower beds are happy where they are, naturally. So you can imagine our delight when we were able to harvest a couple dozen tomatoes and two bell peppers from our six dollar investment. We also had several prolific basil varieties growing, and we take cuttings from our rosemary year round. Right now, when I look at our garden through my kitchen window I see spinach, lettuce and green onions that are ready to eat. While it would be nice to have all the fruit and vegetables we need growing in our garden, and a chicken coop out back providing fresh eggs daily (see “Backyard Chickens,” on page 26), our gardening skills and three dogs are not ready for that undertaking. Luckily, Grow Alabama, a statewide CSA (community supported agriculture) is now servicing our area. This produce program not only meets my desires for locally-grown and chemical-free farm products, it follows the rules that guide me in the garden of simplicity and ease. Each Sunday I am able to see what produce will be delivered the coming week and plan our weekly menu around what is available. On Wednesdays Mays and I travel less than two miles from home to pick up our Grow Alabama delivery of fruit, vegetables and eggs. When we get home we both unpack the box with excitement as we admire and put away the colorful produce. I’ll never forget the lettuce I ate from our first delivery. I knew it would be fresher than store bought lettuce, but I was not prepared for how much better it tasted. It tasted as good as the first tomato we harvested from our garden, and that was the best tomato I’ve ever had. Seek inspiration for conscious eating from the articles in this month’s Natural Awakenings. Among the many food-related articles, “America’s Growing Food Revolution,” on page 21, is your guide to making sustainable choices, and “From Farm to Plate in Alabama,” on page 30, introduces you to the history and operations of Grow Alabama. Eat healthy. Live healthy. And keep our planet healthy.

Assisting Editors Josh Montgomery Anne Wilson Design Meredith Montgomery Local Ad Sales 251-990-9552 P.O. Box 725 Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375 HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 © 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Meredith Montgomery Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

With peace and gratitude,

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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

Canned Chemicals

New Packaging Moves Away from BPA The chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), used for years in clear plastic bottles and food can liners, has been restricted in Canada and some U.S. states and municipalities because this synthetic estrogen is a suspected endocrine disruptor—a chemical that can interfere with the body’s gland and hormone functions. The Food and Drug Administration will soon decide what it considers is a safe level of exposure, based on a mounting body of independent research. Now, Consumer Reports has released results of its tests of 19 common canned foods; almost all of them contained BPA—even those labeled BPA-free and organic. The highest levels were found in canned soups and green beans. According to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 percent of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies. Among Japan’s population, after BPA was voluntarily removed from the linings of food and beverage cans in 1997, a 2003 study showed that levels of BPA were down 50 percent. In the U.S., major food suppliers are starting to respond with non-BPA packaging for select products ranging from juice to tuna and pasta sauce.

Double-Duty Label Fair Trade Goes Domestic

Bumblebees, those ace field hands that pollinate apple orchards, berry crops, tomato fields, wildflowers and flowering yard plants, are facing hard times in the United States. Nearly 10 percent of wild bumblebee species have suffered serious declines in numbers and geographic range, according to the first attempt at gauging the health of such populations nationwide. Research surveying 78,000 specimens across eight species—and correlating reductions in numbers with potential causes—found that four of the species are in decline. Each had significantly lower genetic diversity than the four more robust species. This factor may make them more vulnerable to environmental stresses, including fragmented habitat and the intracellular parasite, Nosema bombi, sometimes present in high numbers in the troubled species. The bees’ ranges have dropped by as much as 87 percent below their historically greatest extent, much of the decline occurring within the past 20 years. At the same time, the relative abundance of bees as compared with estimates of their known numerical peaks has plunged by as much as 96 percent. Sydney Cameron, Ph.D., an entomologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, characterizes bumblebees as “incredibly resilient.” Yet, he remarks, “There’s a threshold, and above that threshold? Bang, that’s it. We just don’t know what the thresholds are for these species.” The study is considered an environmental warning and wake-up call.

Many people today are familiar with International Fair Trade, as it applies to the importing of items such as coffee, tea and cocoa. However, as the movement has grown, it has become apparent that many of the challenges facing producers in developing countries are also shared by North America’s family farmers. Big agribusiness continues to thrive, while small farmers have gone out of business. Consumers pay more, while farmers receive less. Meanwhile, farm workers are often denied fair wages and basic rights. So, a group of Canadian farmers, convinced that organics had been co-opted by large corporatestyle interests and that cheap organic grain imports were undercutting their homegrown organic production, have given birth to Domestic Fair Trade certification. To aid organic food shoppers, they have developed the fairDeal food label. It will most likely show up in the organic bins of local food co-ops. Initial products include flax, wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas, lentils, hemp seeds and mustard. Domestic Fair Trade Association (DFTA) members include farm workers and their organizations; farmers and farmer groups; retailers; non-governmental organizations; marketers; and processors and manufacturers. Qualifying standards commit members to the principles of Domestic Fair Trade and continual improvement of their day-to-day practices.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

For more information, visit thedfta.org.

The Buzz

Trouble for Wild Bumblebee Populations

natural awakenings

March 2011

newsbriefs First Annual State Trails Conference Public registration is now open for the first annual Alabama State Trails Conference. Recommended for all trail enthusiasts, this conference will take place from March 31 to April 3, at the Fairhope Civic Center. Attendees will enjoy three days of displays, live demonstrations and workshops on topics including networking opportunities, funding sources, economic and health benefits of trails and updates on current and future Alabama trail projects. The exhibit hall will be open to the general public and attendees of the Trails Conference on Friday and Saturday. Exhibitors include a variety of vendors and nonprofit trail and recreation groups. Information about new and innovative trail development resources and land managing agencies will also be available. To register visit CheahaTrailRiders.com, Trails.Alabama.Gov or call 334-242-5483.

Second Annual Gulf Coast Holistic Health Fair Humans are living longer these days, and there are many factors that contribute to longevity, health, quality of life and well-being. In celebration of wellness, Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living is set to host its second annual Gulf Coast Holistic Health Fair, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 16. Participating vendors will feature yoga, chiropractic services, massage therapy, exercise, nutrition, therapeutic-grade essential oils, hormone balancing, animal wellness and activities for children. As attendees gain more information about ways to care for their own lives, they are encouraged to help save the lives of others. LifeSouth Community Blood Center will accept blood donations that remain in the Mobile and Baldwin county communities to be utilized by local medical facilities. For more information about vendor space and sponsorships, email CMCSLHealthFair@ gmail.com or call 251-343-0777.

Doctor's Nutrition Hits the Air Waves Dr. Jim Fox, co-founder of Doctor's Nutrition, is hosting a weekly call-in radio show focusing on natural health from a clinical perspective. Every Saturday at 9 a.m., on 104.9 FM, listeners will have the opportunity to learn about the role proper nutrition plays in health and healing. The program streams live online at NewsRadio104.9FM.com, as well. Doctor's Nutrition was established in 1996 by Jim and Janine Fox. Using their combined clinical and practical experiences and expertise, the two doctors developed evidence-based nutrition, a method that uses laboratory testing to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of nutritional therapies. To learn more about evidence-based nutrition, visit DocsNutritionMobile. com. Doctor’s Nutrition is located at 2502 Schillinger Road S., in Mobile. See ad on page 9.

Stay Connected

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

Earth Day Exhibitors Needed Earth Day Mobile Bay, Inc. is now accepting applications for its annual celebration honoring the Earth and Mobile Bay. All who respect natural resources, promote sustainability and green solutions and work to protect the Earth are welcome to exhibit at this exciting festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., April 23. Now in its 21st year, Earth Day Mobile Bay is expected to attract more than 10,000 participants from communities throughout Baldwin and Mobile Counties, as well as the northern Gulf Coast area. This is a wonderful opportunity for merchants and groups to garner positive publicity and exposure. Held at Fairhope Pier Park, this free, family-friendly event offers exhibitors an unsurpassed opportunity to promote green energy sources, showcase organic and local food, advertise healthy lifestyle products and services, advocate for protection of the Earth's resources and more. For exhibitor applications and contracts, visit EarthDayMobileBay.org or send email requests to info@earthdaymobilebay.org. For more information, call 251–990-8662. See ad on page 32. 6

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Essential Oils for Radiant Health

Journey Through the Human Body is a series of free workshops designed to highlight the health benefits of essential oils for the entire body. Classes meet the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., to educate attendees about the wide variety of therapeutic uses for essential oils and how they can be used to treat specific conditions. Taught by Judith Wilson and Sue Sides, the workshops include demonstrations of proper application techniques; massage techniques; lessons on the chakra system; and a discussion of essential oils and their healing properties. Wilson was introduced to essential oils and aromatherapy 10 years ago, while attending the Mobile Institute of Soft Tissue Therapy. Not until four years later did she learn of their true healing properties. “The first time I had essential oils applied to my back, pain that I had been living with for 15 years was relieved within minutes. I then realized the oils were for much more than just aromatherapy,” Wilson says. Class location: 1230 Montlimar Dr., in Mobile. For more information call Wilson at 251-656-6696, or Sides at 251-232-2292, or email AromaLife@ bellsouth.net. See listing on page 37.

We have a new website! HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

LOG ON TODAY!

Youth Club Enrolling for Spring Break Program The Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary Youth Club provides affordable, year-round youth development programs and services to enhance the quality of life for kids ages 6-18 in Fairhope, Point Clear and surrounding communities. The Club provides a safe place for youth to socialize and learn skills for success. A special spring break program, offered from April 18-22, is open to members and non-members and will include field trips, theme day and a variety of fun activities each day from 9 a.m.to 6 p.m. Attendees of the club’s after-school program receive help with homework and reading and participate in a variety of recreational and creative activities each weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. Transportation is available from Fairhope district schools. A summer program is also available throughout June and July and features a variety of field trips, art programs, junior master gardener classes and courses in nutrition and life skills. Location: 19128 Young Street, in Fairhope. To learn more about programs and services, or to get involved with the Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary Youth Club call 251-928-9148 or email Info@RotaryYouthClub.org.

National TV Show Features Locally Produced Sacro-Wedgy The Doctors, a daily television show on FOX10 featured the Sacro-Wedgy in a recent episode. The show’s hosts, E.R. Physician Travis Stork; Obstetrician and Gynecologist Lisa Masterson; plastic surgeon and reconstructive surgery expert Andrew Ordon; and Pediatrician James Sears, focus on the latest medical breakthroughs and cutting-edge practices and procedures, In this episode, Stork and Sears educated the audience about what the sacrum is and discussed how pain is common in that part of the back. After listing a few options for pain management, Sears spotlighted the Sacro-Wedgy as an effective product. With both a male and female version of the product on display, Sears demonstrated how to use the device. The family-operated Sacro Wedgy business in Mobile is grateful for the national exposure. “The Doctors opened a whole new world for us, and so many more people will get relief from their chronic back pain,” says owner Cindy Ballis. For information on the SacroWedgy, visit SacroWedgy. com or call 800-737-9296. See ad on page 29. natural awakenings

March 2011

newsbriefs

Yoga as a Healing Art

Vegan Cooking Classes Tracey Glover, certified wellness and nutrition consultant, is now offering vegan cooking workshops in the area. The first class in the cooking series, Veganism 101, is designed to provide answers to the most common questions about why and how to go vegan. In the first hour of the two-hour workshop, Glover discusses the many benefits of a vegan diet, as well as the basics of vegan nutrition, addressing common questions such as, “Where do vegans get their protein?” The second half of the workshop includes a cooking demonstration to introduce some basic vegan cooking techniques and tricks. Glover says, “I provide the attendees with the building blocks needed to create well-balanced vegan meals, so that when they finish the class, they’ll know how to create a variety of healthy and delicious plant-based meals.” The demonstration is followed by a tasting, and at the conclusion of the class, participants receive recipes created by Glover, as well as a packet of educational materials. Veganism 101 will be offered several times throughout the year, as well as follow-up courses on vegan baking, gourmet vegan cooking, vegan proteins, southern vegan and others. The next Veganism 101 class will be held at Virginia’s Health Foods, in Mobile, from 1 to 3 p.m., March 20. The cost of the class is $25 and pre-registration is required.

Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio is hosting a Thai Yoga-Bodywork Workshop, led by renowned Vedic Conservatory certified teacher, Sudevi, on April 2-3. Cost is $275. Thai Yoga, also known as Nuad Boran, or assisted yoga, has roots in traditional Ayurveda and hatha yoga. This ancient system of healing combines acupressure, energy balancing, Ayurveda and asana to facilitate a natural flow of energy and assist in maintaining wholeness and wellness. Participants will learn to lead a 90-minute session consisting of stretching postures and sensitive, rhythmic, gentle compressions. This class is a wonderful way for massage therapists and yoga instructors to expand their repertoire; however, it is open to the public and appropriate for anyone interested in the healing arts. Location: 2065 Old Shell Road, Suite B, in midtown Mobile. Call 251-4766463 or email Yoga@QuietMind MassageTherapy.com to reserve a spot. See ad on page 12.

Pre-register at Virginia’s Health Foods or by emailing Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com. For more information, visit ShantiWarrior.com. See ad on page 16.

Parenting in Mobile Goes Green and Au Naturale The newly formed Natural Network of Mobile is a group of businesses and organizations working together to educate Mobile area families about the natural resources available to them. “We want to promote health and wellness among families in our community,” says member Katrina Breeland, a Birthing from Within mentor. The Natural Network’s Facebook page serves as a one-stop parenting resource, where network members post updates on monthly meetings, events, classes and workshops, as well as tips and other topics relevant to Mobile area families. Current members of the Natural Network include Lil Green Diaper Service, Mobile Area Grow Alabama, Birthing from Within Childbirth Preparation, Dreamscape Studio Photography, ProVita Physical Therapy and Pilates, La Leche League of Mobile, Birth Stories and More, MaxMOMS and ICAN of South Alabama. The Natural Network will be at Earth Day Mobile Bay in April, and at Market in the Square every Saturday. The group is also organizing an expo this summer where members of the network will be represented, as well as other local businesses that facilitate family health and wellness. For more information, visit the Natural Network Facebook page on Facebook.com/ TheNaturalNetworkOfMobile. 8

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

digital MAGAZINE

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

Shop For a Cause Our Sisters’ Closet offers a chance to support a great cause while stocking up on spring and summer fashion essentials at the Cheap Chic Boutique. This twice yearly sale features a fabulous selection of new, nearly new and vintage designer and name brand clothing, jewelry, purses and shoes. Shoppers will find thrift-store prices on items ranging from petites to plus sizes. This year's spring sale will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., March 11 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 12. Proceeds from the sale directly support Our Sisters’ Closet, a nonprofit group dedicated to increasing the self-confidence and job opportunities of disadvantaged job-seekers since 1998. The organization provides free interview and workplace clothing to women, and job search support, career advancement training and mentoring services to men and women of all ages. Clothing and financial donations, as well as volunteers, are always needed. Location: Sisters of Mercy Building, St. Mary Campus, 1450 Old Shell Road, Mobile. For more information, visit OurSistersCloset.org. See ad on page 39.

Tune In! 9AM on Saturdays, 104.9 FM

Dr. Jim Fox of Doctor’s Nutrition answers your questions about Natural Health from a Clinical Perspective.

Call in with questions, tune in for answers.

Doctor’s Nutrition provides you with the essential tools and knowledge for

PREVENTATIVE & NATURAL HEALTHCARE.

High deductibles? No insurance? No problem.

In our convenient retail setting, you’ll never pay an office fee. Be proactive and discover what your body needs to achieve health and wellness... without invasive tests and without extensive costs. Affordable Labwork Basic Labwork ONLY $69 Thyroid Panel $35 Hormone Panels $125 Weight Loss Panel $175 PSA $25 Cardiac C-Reactive Protein $28 Hepatitis C $30

Got questions? We’ve got answers. Call us today! Chiropractic adjustments by Dr. Tripp available on Thursdays. Owners Dr. Arthur Tripp and Kitty Tripp

251-445-7898

2502 Schillinger Rd S at Cottage Hill Rd in Mobile www.docsnutritionmobile.com

Caribbean Adventure Sweepstakes

To Enter, Visit: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Planning a Wedding?

Trial Run Hair & Make-Up Available!

B-Butterfly THE SALON

Keeping You & The Earth Beautiful European Hairstyles & Up-Do’s For Your Formal Style. Percision haircuts Also Available. 103A North Bancroft St in Fairhope • 251-990-9934 • www.bbutterflysalon.com natural awakenings

March 2011

newsbriefs Lend a Hand, Build a Home Habitat For Humanity in Mobile County is in critical need of volunteers and funding for the construction of five houses in the Hillsdale community on Biloxi Avenue. Partial and full sponsorships are still being accepted and volunteers are needed for half or whole days Monday through Saturday during the month of March. All safety equipment, tools and materials are provided. College groups from across the country will be traveling to Mobile and working weekdays during March to frame the houses. Local volunteers are needed during the week to assist the out-of-towners and on Saturdays to continue the week's progress. Partial funding tied to the project requires that houses must be completed by June. The future homeowner familes are currently living in deplorable conditions and are all looking forward to owning sturdy houses in a safe neighborhood. Several are refugees from war-torn Burundi and Congo, in Africa, and have come to Mobile seeking a better life and brighter future. Volunteers should contact Jennifer Tidwell at 251-476-7171 or JTidwell@ HabitatMobile.org. Direct donations to HFHMC, Attn. Dave Betler, PO Box 16422, Mobile 36616, or email DBetler@HabitatMobile.org for more information.

NEWS TO SHARE?

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

Free your Mind. Discover your Spirit.

Collectively chosen with Joyful Intentions, we offer an array of meditation and lounge music, motivational card decks and books, as well as natural skincare products and whimsical art.

Rosie Blu

Live your life unedited...

422 Fairhope Ave in Fairhope • 251.517.5326 • www.rosieblu.com 10

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Fitness Studio Offers New Classes Bodi By You, a private fitness and life-coaching studio whose mission is to serve as a supportive space for women's minds, bodies, and spirits, is offering three new classes. Fusion Fitness, at 6 p.m., Tuesdays, is a low-impact cardio dance class that incorporates traditional belly dance moves to strengthen and tone, while burning calories and having fun. On Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m., Hula Blast uses low-impact Hula dance movements to strengthen the core and firm the abdominal muscles. Appropriate for all fitness levels, this class burns 600 calories in one hour and is a great way to achieve weight loss goals. Holy Yoga is designed to facilitate a connection to Christ through movement, breath and prayer on Thursdays at 6 p.m. This Christ-honoring experience offers an opportunity to believers and non-believers alike to authentically connect with God through his word, worship and wellness, while performing basic yoga movements. Location: 3130 Ching Dairy Road, Ste. 4, in Mobile. Contact Gail at 251649-3337 or visit BodiByYou.com and Facebook.com/BodiByYou. See ad on page 29.

we have a new website! HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

and email:

Publisher@HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com

consciouseating

dormant off-season and return the following year, featuring an early show of edible pink flowers. The slender, upright leaves combine well with other herbs. Dill is a fast-growing annual that prefers cool growing conditions. Its leaves, flowers and seeds carry a savory tang that enhances the flavor of pickles, marinated vegetables and breads. Placed in the center of a large pot, a single dill plant will grow more than two feet tall and may require staking.

The Herbal Kitchen Eight Easy Picks for Container Gardening

Parsley needs a bit more moisture than other herbs, so place it closer to the center than the edge in mixed containers. Both mild-flavored curly and more assertive flat-leafed Italian parsley do well in roomy containers.

Keep culinary herbs handy by growing them in a large pot just outside the kitchen door.

by Barbara Pleasant

umans have had good reasons to grow basil, rosemary and other culinary herbs for thousands of years. Edible herbal accents and aromas enhance the beauty and flavor of every dish they touch, be they sprigs of fresh parsley tossed into hot couscous or marjoram and thyme sparking a savory risotto. A big garden isn’t needed to grow most kitchen herbs; in fact, it’s often better to grow these culinary gems in pots. In any household, the sweet spot for cultivating herbs is a puddle of sunshine near the kitchen door. Time and again, the cook will dash out to gather a handful of this or that while two or three dishes simmer on the stove. Dinner is less likely to boil over when herbs can be snagged in a matter of seconds.

Individual Pots vs. Container Bouquets Because small pots heat up and dry out faster than larger ones, herbs usually grow best in larger containers. Fourteeninch-wide plastic or fiberglass pots are lightweight, easy to handle and provide ample room for four or more plants. Half-barrel wooden planters are great and fixed oblong planters also work well.

Marjoram deserves wider use, because the little plants combine a light oregano flavor with subtle notes of mint and lemon, and marjoram tastes good raw or cooked. Its lanky stems look lovely spilling over the sides of mixed containers.

Cooks and gardeners will have the most fun combining upright herbs that reach for the sky with others that tend toward low, mounding growth. When shopping for seedlings, look for interesting ways to combine leaf textures and foliage colors, too. For example, anchor an herbal container bouquet with redleafed basil and surround it with marjoram and thyme. Then, create a second container by combining silvery sage with green chives and curly parsley. This twopot herb garden will produce a season’s worth of fresh flavors.

Eight Easy Herbs for Pots Basil’s spicy-sweet flavor with strong floral notes puts it on everyone’s planting list. This fast-growing annual loves warm weather. Basil planted in the early part of the growing season will produce numerous flowering spikes within a couple of months, which should be snipped off. The more basil is pinched back, the bushier it becomes. Chives taste like very mild scallions, and plants will produce new leaves throughout the growing season, if trimmed regularly. These cold-hardy plants become

Rosemary tolerates strong sun and heat, so it’s a wise choice in hot months. Northerners grow rosemary as an annual, but in milder climates, these woody perennials can continue as a perennial for years. Rosemary’s piney flavor and aroma takes center stage in rice dishes and casseroles, and the woody stems make delightful skewers. Sage charms everyone with its luminous leaves, which may be gray-green or variegated with pink and cream, depending on variety. Smoky sage is the definitive herb to pair with poultry, and it’s great with potatoes, too. Thyme is the flavorful herb that brings depth to many French and Cajun dishes. The fresh version is incomparable for lending savory flavor notes to fresh vegetables. Both English thyme and lowgrowing lemon thyme make appealing edge plants in mixed containers. Barbara Pleasant is the author of numerous gardening books, including Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens. For more information visit BarbaraPleasant.com.

natural awakenings

March 2011

MASTERS OF YOGA & PILATES Synergy yoga & Pilates

Relax. Refocus. Recharge.

Quiet Mind Massage Therapy & Yoga Studio Group Classes

Private Lessons

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

www.synergyoga.net Conscious Mile - West Mobile Eastern Shore Dance Academy 1230 Montlimar Dr • Mobile, AL 36609 9063 Merrit Ln • Daphne AL 36526

C IN OM A IN PR G IL

Space 301 - Cathedral Square Daphne Civic Center - Recreation Dept. 301 Conti St • Mobile AL 36602 2603 US 98 • Daphne, AL 36526

3152 Old Shell Road, Suite 2 Mobile, Alabama 36607

251.473.1104

Ginger Graf Dunaway LMT 762 Heidi LeBlanc Pritchett

LMT 1962

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

GREEN HOMES & GARDENS

Make your personal living spaces more eco-friendly. Natural Awakenings shows you how. For more information about how you can participate in our April edition please call 251-990-9552 12

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

ecotip A-Peeling Reuse Practical Recycling Tips for Fruit and Veggie Scraps “A rind is a terrible thing to waste,” says Jeff Yeager, who refers to himself as the ultimate cheapskate. Yeager has discovered multiple uses for produce rinds and ways to extract extended benefits before they land in the compost pile. Here are a few of his favorites, shared with us during a recent interview: n Jam – Incorporate the skins from a wide variety of fruits— oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes, tangerines and even kumquats—in easy-to-make marmalades. n Cornhusks – Wrap fish and other seafood in fresh, dampened, sweet corn husks to grill and serve in the husks. n Olive oil infusions – Add citrus peels to olive oil for flavor and to reinvigorate oil that’s getting old. n Savory chicken – Stuff all kinds of fruit and veggie peels inside a free-range chicken before roasting to give it extra flavor. Trimmings from onions, celery, citrus, apples, garlic, etc., can be stuffed in the chicken cavity or sprinkled around the roasting pan. Once baked, the trimmings break down faster in the compost pile.

n Potpourri – Dry all types of citrus rinds, apple peels, pomegranate skins and other fruit trimmings on a rack or in a food dehydrator to make homemade potpourri. Sprinkle on a little essential oil for more aroma, if desired. n Air freshener – Boil lemon rinds in water on the stovetop, microwave them for a minute, or just throw them in the garbage disposal, in order to freshen the air in the kitchen. Also place a couple in the humidifier to make the whole house smell lemony-fresh. n Shoeshine – Put a “split-shine” on leather shoes by polishing them with the slippery side of a banana peel. n Metal polish – Lemon, lime and other citrus rinds and pulp/juice are high in citric acid, which makes them great for polishing brass, copper and other non-ferrous metals. Sprinkle on a little baking soda to hasten polishing (ketchup works, too). n Seedling pots – Scooped-out avocado shells make perfect biodegradable pots to start garden seedlings. n Pest control – Sprinkle ground-up nutshells around tender garden plants to keep slugs and other pests away; they can’t stand crawling across the rough texture (crushed eggshells also work).

n Easter egg dye – Boil organic Easter eggs with onionskins to naturally create wild yellow and orange eggshells.

n Houseplant help – Use banana peels to shine the leaves on houseplants to make them sparkle; this also serves as a natural pesticide and fertilizer.

n Foot rub – Rub papaya skins and pulp on the bottoms of the feet to help soften and soothe skin, particularly on the heels. They’re rich in vitamin A and papain, which breaks down inactive proteins and removes dead skin cells.

Note: Always thoroughly wash the rinds of produce that will be eaten or come into contact with food, even if it is organically grown.

n Hair dye – Boil potato peels in water for about a half-hour, strain and let cool. Rinsing hair with this water after shampooing will gradually darken grey hair without any synthetic chemicals.

Jeff Yeager is the author of The Cheapskate Next Door and The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches. Connect at UltimateCheapskate.com.

Feel Better and Be Healthier A great-tasting drink can change your health and change your life.

Are you tired of hard-to-swallow vitamins and wondering if they are doing any good?

Call 251-607-9783 today to try superior nutritional supplements that really work. www.ChangeYourHealthChangeYourLife.com natural awakenings

March 2011

Vegan Living in Lower Alabama by Tracey Winter Glover

There are many reasons why individuals wish to give up or reduce their consumption of animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs, but they often feel daunted by the change and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where to begin. While New York City and San Francisco are hosts to a plethora of vegan restaurants, organic food co-ops and vegan meet-ups, abandoning an omnivorous diet in the Deep South is a bit more challenging. But with a little information and planning, moving towards a vegan lifestyle is not as difficult as it may seem. By following some simple tips to overcome the initial hurdles, it can be easy to transition toward a greener and healthier lifestyle. Let Go of Myths Many Americans grow up thinking that meat and dairy products are the only source of important nutrients such as protein, calcium and iron, and associate vegan diets with malnutrition. With research contradicting this myth, most nutrition scientists and medical and health organizations now recognize that a properly planned vegan diet may be the healthiest on the planet. It is possible, and many believe preferable, to get necessary nutrients exclusively from plant sources. Vegans can easily obtain optimal amounts of protein by including beans, seeds, nuts and whole grains into their diets, and many vegetables serve as a good source protein, as well. There are myriad high protein meat and dairy alternatives in local supermarkets, in addition to other specialty products such as tempeh (a form of soy tofu) that are sold at health food stores. For calcium absorption, green, leafy vegetables and almonds are excellent plant-based sources, as are widely available enriched and fortified foods such as soy milk and orange juice. Contrary to popular belief, vegetarians do not have a higher incidence of 14

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

iron deficiency compared with meat eaters. Remember Popeye? He got his iron and his strength from spinach, not steak. Dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron.

Vegan Nutrition 101 Those forsaking animal products entirely should first do some research and consider consulting a dietician. Two educational online resources are The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG.org) and the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM.org), which offers a vegetarian starter kit on their website. Strict vegans will need to take a vitamin B-12 supplement. Additionally, depending on their amount of exposure to the sun, individuals may need to seek out a good source of Vitamin D, which can be synthesized by the body from sunlight, but is not found in plant-based foods unless they are fortified, as are many brands of orange juice and vegan packaged foods.

Start Cooking Home-cooked meals, vegan or not, are almost always healthier than processed

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

foods or dining out, and for vegans in southern Alabama, the options for eating out are limited. Transitioning to and sustaining a plant-based diet will be much easier for those who can cook for themselves. Stock up on recipes by doing an Internet search or purchase a cookbook, such as Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook, by Isa Chandra Moskowitz, The Joy of Vegan Baking, by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau or 1,000 Vegan Recipes, by Robin Robertson. Experiment with new foods by trying new vegetables, beans, whole grains, herbs and spices, and utilize different food preparation methods, such as raw sprouts in a salad; sautĂŠd bell peppers and onions for fajitas; stir-fried pea shoots and bean sprouts; roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar; baked sweet potatoes; grilled corn on the cob and pineapple; boiled kale and beets; steamed broccoli and green beans; and slow cooked white beans and lentils. Meals should be well-balanced. A healthy vegan diet should include a wide variety of foods, including plant-based protein; unrefined whole grains; vegetables; healthy fats, such as unsaturated oils and the Omega-3 fatty-acids found in flax, avocado and walnuts; and fruits.

Everyone, vegan or not, should incorporate these elements into their daily diet.

Veganize It! While the perfect vegan analog to a juicy filet mignon has yet to be created, most dishes can undergo a vegan transformation with the right recipe. Most commercially available baked goods contain dairy, but alternative ingredients can easily be substituted to create moist and delicious vegan versions of familiar baked comfort foods. For every egg called for in a recipe, mix one tablespoon of ground flax seed with four tablespoons of warm water. Equal amounts of Earth Balance, a vegan margarine, can replace butter in baking and cooking or used for slathering onto vegan muffins. Additional dairy alternatives include a range of nut milks such as soy, rice, almond and hemp; soy and coconut coffee creamers; and Veganaise, a vegan mayonnaise. For a healthy, gourmet touch, use raw cashew cream (cashews blended with water) in place of whipping cream to make decadent creambased dishes like beurre-blanc or Alfredo sauce. Meat alternatives, such as Gardein’s line of meat-free chicken filets and beef tips, make excellent substitutions in traditional pot-pies and stews. Thinly sliced, crispy-fried tempeh with a little soy sauce can take the place of bacon in BLTs; chickpeas make an excellent double for chicken in chicken salad; and steamed tempeh, without the mercury risk, beats canned tuna by a longshot.

Ease the Transition An abundance of meat alternatives and vegan convenience foods that are easy to prepare, healthy and delicious are available at local supermarkets and health food stores as an alternative to cooking from scratch. Some examples include MorningStar Farms Hickory BBQ Riblets, Lightlife’s Smart Dogs and Amy’s Veggie Burgers, which come in a variety of flavors. When eating out, look for salads, steamed vegetables, whole grains and bean dishes. The best restaurants for vegans are often ethnic venues or natural food stores. Many restaurants happily accommodate vegans, but it helps to call in advance to research the options. Mellow Mushroom, at the loop in Mobile and in Foley offer Daiya (dairy-free) cheese on pizza and tempeh sub sandwiches. In a pinch, vegans can actually survive (though it’s not recommended) at fast-food restaurants by sticking with salads, baked potatoes, bean burritos and veggie burgers–but hold the cheese and mayo.

Find Support For many people, one of the hardest aspects of adopting a plant-based diet is the social isolation that comes with eating differently than one’s social network. However, in time, many people find that friends and families follow their lead. When attending social or holiday gatherings, vegans can ensure they always have something to eat by bringing a delicious dish to share. Those who find they are the first in their community to go

vegan do not have to experience alienation at all. Vegan meetup groups are now forming in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Visit MeetUp.com/Mobile-Vegan-Meetup for upcoming events. Going vegan, or simply incorporating more plants into the diet, is easier than it seems. With time it gets easier, taste buds adapt and new habits take hold. Lower Alabama is far from the vegan meccas of San Francisco and Portland, but it is getting greener all the time. Tracey Winter Glover, JD, RYT 200, certified nutrition and wellness consultant, is a local yoga teacher and wellness coach, offering private and group vegan cooking lessons, as well as personal vegan chef services. Her next Veganism 101 workshop will be held 1-3 p.m., March 6, at Virginia’s Health Foods, in Mobile. Visit ShantiWarrior.com for details.

Local Vegan Resources Local Restaurants Bangkok Thai 3821 Airport Blvd., Mobile 28600 US Highway 98, Daphne Cuisine of India 3674 Airport Blvd., Mobile

Island Thyme Eats and Arts 453 Dauphin St., Mobile Sunflower Café 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope 3952 Airport Blvd., Mobile

National Chain Restaurants Mellow Mushroom Moe’s Southwestern Grill Panera Bread Subway Burger King Taco Bell

Grocery Stores A Better Way 7857 Alabama 59, Foley

The Health Hut 680 Schillinger Rd. S, Mobile

Back to Health 1600 North McKenzie St., Foley

Virginia’s Health Foods 3952 Airport Blvd., Mobile

Fairhope Health Foods 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope

Most large grocery stores have natural food sections carrying a range of vegan products including tofu and vegan meat alternatives.

Internet Resources VeganStore.com ThePPK.com VegWeb.com ChooseVeg.com

Promote Peace, Serenity & Physical Well-Being

healthbriefs Why Sugar Isn’t So Sweet

Usui Reiki

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

RIO BARLOW, Reiki Master 251-979-9851

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

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

e can likely cut the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by cutting down on the added sugars used in many processed and prepared meals, suggests a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, based on National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The food industry often defines such added sugars as sweeteners—foods that provide energy, but have few micronutrients or phytochemicals—which is why aware consumers read labels. In recent decades, total sugar consumption in the United States has increased substantially, resulting in higher risk for cardiovascular disease due to associated lower levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or “good” cholesterol, and higher levels of triglycerides. Today, the average U.S. daily consumption of added sugars averages 3.2 ounces, or about 18 teaspoons, which represents 15.8 percent of total adult caloric intake. This is a substantial increase from the late 1970s, when added sugars contributed only 10.6 percent of the calories consumed by adults. This study is the first to examine the direct link between sugar consumption and its impact on cholesterol and heart disease.

Black Rice – Exotic and Healthy

lack rice—a long-time staple food for one-third of the world’s population—is gaining popularity in the United States because of its exotic look and nutty flavor. Now, research chemists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service report that the black variety of this grain may help soothe the inflammation involved in allergies, asthma and other diseases. These health benefits are attributed to its outer bran layer which, unlike with white rice, is not polished off during processing. Collaborating researchers tested the effects of black rice bran extract on skin inflammation in laboratory mice and found that it reduced the inflammation by 32 percent compared to control animals; the rice bran also decreased production of certain substances known to promote inflammation in the body. Brown rice bran extract did not have these effects. When the scientists fed the mice a diet containing 10 percent black rice bran, swelling associated with allergic contact dermatitis, a common type of skin irritation, decreased. These results show a potential value of black rice bran as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic food ingredient. It may also hold promise as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of diseases associated with chronic inflammation.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

OLIVE OIL PROTECTS THE LIVER

Extra virgin olive oil can help protect the liver from oxidative stress and resultant organ damage, according to research from the University of Monastir, Tunisia, and King Saud University, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. When lab rats were exposed to a toxic herbicide known to deplete antioxidants in the body and cause oxidative stress, those that were fed a diet rich in olive oil were partially protected from liver damage. The organ plays a crucial role in ridding the body of toxic substances. Source: BioMed Central

HERBS ALLEVIATE

ANXIETY

For the first time, scientists have conducted a systematic review of research into the use of nutritional supplements in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Findings by a metastudy team at the nonprofit Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation show strong evidence that the use of extracts of passionflower or kava or a combination of L-lysine and L-arginine can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety. The next step is to measure effective dosages. Source: BioMed Central

Journal of a Reader Featuring Eloise E. Winter What do vegans eat? Natural Awakenings asked a vegan reader to document her daily diet in an effort to answer this common question. This is her account of a recent Saturday and what she ate. 7:00 a.m. I start the day off with two cups of organic Sumatran coffee with French vanilla Silk soy creamer. Breakfast will have to wait until after yoga. 10:00 a.m. 75 minutes of heart-opening yoga class at Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga Studio reaffirms that life is good. 11:30 a.m. On the drive home, I can hardly peel my clementines fast enough. Why does fruit taste so good after yoga? 12:00 p.m. Once home, my rescue dog, Surf, is pleading for a walk. But first, I make a smoothie with a banana, a cup of fresh blueberries, a cup of frozen strawberries, pomegranate juice, orange juice, hemp milk, ground flax seed and walnuts. 1:00 p.m. I worked hard in yoga and the fruit is not satisfying my appetite so I heat up some of last night’s dinner: vegan mac n’ cheese with peas. It’s just like mom used to make, only these peas are organic, and the “cheese,” made with boiled vegetables, cashews, lemon juice and nutritional yeast, is actually good for me. I’d be willing to bet that no one would notice that it’s not actually cheese. 2:45 p.m. I’ve procrastinated long enough. Today is the day I return to the novel I’ve been trying to finish for the last year. Smoking used to be my vice when writing, but since quitting, I now drink lots of water and graze on a combination of pistachio nuts and raw veggies with hummus. 6:30 p.m. While preparing my dinner, I snack on some fresh guacamole and blue corn chips. How wonderful that avocados are good for us! 8:00 p.m. For dinner we have veggies (asparagus, carrots, zucchini, eggplant and kale) roasted with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, salt and pepper, served over a bed of red quinoa and topped with crispy fried tempeh and Goddess dressing. As a side dish we have acorn squash baked with brown sugar and Earth Balance vegan butter. After dinner my roommate and I share the couch with Surf and our cat, Blind Red, to watch one of my favorite movies, Everything is Illuminated. 9:30 p.m. I can resist no longer. We pause the movie to get a homemade buckwheat chocolate chip walnut cookie. 9:40 p.m. We pause again for one more very addictive cookie. 10:30 p.m. I climb in bed with three cats, a dog and the book Teachings on Love, by Thich Nhat Hanh. But I only get through a couple pages of his teachings about spreading compassion to all living beings before my eyelids grow heavy. I once heard that we dream all night about our mind’s last thought of the day. I’m hoping for sweet dreams. To be considered for future Journals of a Reader, email Publisher@HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com for submission guidelines. natural awakenings

March 2011

healthykids

ECO-CAMPS FOR KIDS by Gail Condrick

Just the mention of summer camp What’s in Store Eco-friendly camps can prove to be both an educational and evokes parents’ memories of com- experiential immersion in the living of green values for a child, a pattern for life. Many camps mirror the sustainmunal living, new challenges and establishing able practices families follow at home, like using energy-saving composting and encouraging healthy eating and organic outdoor fun in close encounters devices, gardening. with nature’s wonders. Today’s new For example, campers entering kindergarten through sixth grade like experiencing farm life at the Gwynn Valley Camp, in generation of eco-friendly camps North Carolina (GwynnValley.com). Youngsters pick vegetables from the organic garden, milk the cows and gather eggs. This for our kids offer all of these experi- camp grows 70 percent of its food and has implemented many energy-saving practices. ences and more. In Maryland, at Camp Calleva’s sustainable farm

s the Sierra Club notes: “Camping today includes the traditional fun of being outdoors in a group and [at the same time] can also be an experience in eco-friendly living and practices.” Families looking for the perfect green summer camp will find programs for every child, from the nature neophyte to a budding biologist or environmental activist. Campers can choose to dig into organic farming, naturalist explorations, conscious living classes, green building programs or even sustainable living projects in exotic places. Camp has always proved a perfect time to unplug from daily routines and connect with the extraordinary. As Peg Smith, CEO of the American Camp Association, observes: “Camps have been introducing children to the wonder and beauty of the natural world for 150 years.” Fortunately, the trend continues, in spades.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

(Calleva.org), attendees learn about environmentally friendly design through hands-on alternative energy projects that change each year. Their Build Green and Grow Green weeks, for instance, have engaged campers in building a rainwater collection system for crops and farm animals, a biofuel project and this summer, a windmill alternative energy design. Likewise, the Green River Preserve, in North Carolina (GreenRiverPreserve.org), offers environmental programs for the academically gifted, creative and curious. Kids take daily hikes with naturalist mentors, learning the science behind their experiences, and help harvest, eat and compost vegetables grown onsite. Of course, traditional camp activities add to the fun. The camp partners with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, which encourages caring stewardship of Planet Earth. Teens from 13 to 17 years old enjoy programs offered at the

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Omega Teen Camp, in Holmes, New York (search Teen Camp at eomega.org). On top of outdoor adventures, the camp offers 50 class selections, from dance, yoga and Tai chi to meditation and “Face Your Fears” consciousness classes. When it’s time for dinner, they enjoy vegetarian and organic food selections, with most meals made from scratch. Know a mature teen, ready for travel and community service? BoldEarth Adventures’ (BoldEarth.com) summer camps include between six and 40 hours of service. Participants might plant and harvest organic vegetables in rural Ecuador, rehabilitate wild animals at an Amazon conservation project, or help restore hiking trails in Colorado. For families who prefer to explore close to home, the Sierra Club gives tips to turn any backyard into a year-round environmental adventure camp. One suggestion involves putting up a tent, unfolding sleeping bags and grabbing flashlights for an outdoor evening looking up at the stars (search Backyard Camping at SierraClub. org). Summer is far from the only season for Earth-oriented experiences. Young people can make the most of environmental programs sponsored by local parks and recreation departments, Scout troops, schools and churches, any time they’re offered.

Benefits of the Natural World Camp allows kids to take a break from electronics and breathe in a renewed sense of nature’s daily miracles. Connecting to nature fights the “nature deficit syndrome,” spotlighted in Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, in which he comments on the state of too many of our youth today: “A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon rain forest—but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.” Louv is founder of the Children and Nature Network (ChildrenAndNature.org). Whether our perfect eco-camp is educational or sustainable, in the mountains or under a backyard tent, the experience of just being in nature can be life-changing for a child and for the whole family. Connect with Gail Condrick, writer and workshop leader, at GaelaVisions.com.

The Adoption Spot Azalea City Cat Coalition

BREEZY

6 mos old, Female Short-Hair

Breezy is an affectionate and playful kitty in need of a good home. She is spayed and up to date on her shots. Sponsored by: Synergy Yoga & Pilates Synergyoga.net

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

Fairhope Cat Coalition

MOONPIE

9 mos old, Female Long-Hair

This black and white tuxedo kitty is very affectionate and requests tummy rubs whenever someone new enters the room. She has been spayed and is up to date on shots. Sponsored by: Rosie Blu RosieBlu.com

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

The Haven

REN

3 mo old, Male Lab Mix

Ren has a huge zest for life and enjoys playing with people and other dogs. He would be ideal for a family or an individual that can devote time to raising this new best friend. He is neutered and up to date on shots. Sponsored by: A Friend of the Haven For adoption information: HavenForAnimals.org, 251-929-3980

North Baldwin Animal Shelter

PUPPIES

3 mos old and up, Various Breeds NBAS has many puppies that are vaccinated, healthy and ready for adoption. Adoption hours are 1-4pm, Monday-Saturday. Sponsored by: Julie Wilkins Yoga JulieWilkinsYoga.com

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

March 2011

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

Conscious Grocery Shopping

Come shop the newly revamped

WestSide Grocery

at the Windmill Market in downtown Fairhope! Grassfed Beef Fresh Seafood Alabama’s only Organic Milk Local Produce Local Coffee & Tea Jams, Candies & Cakes NEW! Join our Produce Club for weekly selections of the best produce at a great price! We deliver, too! 85 North Bancroft Street Fairhope, AL (251) 517-5444 www.windmillmarket.org

High fructose corn syrup, the most common added sweetener in processed foods and beverages, is creating a more obese America. A recent study confirmed that this substance induces leptin resistance and consequent obesity, with future heart disease and diabetes not unlikely. As consumers it is also time for us to start favoring American-grown food. Stores continually purchase foods from across border lines for the benefit of large businesses. Studies show that we are the fattest, most obese country in the world and we are supposed to be the leaders of the world. It is time for America to care about America now. Join me in buying foods without synthetic sweeteners, and foods that are grown in American soil, to contribute to the betterment of our country and its people. Submitted by Manuel Mamuscia, Fairhope

Overweight Pets at Risk

Earlier this year, resolutions were made. Inevitably it’s to lose weight and exercise more. A recent survey indicates that 30 percent of Americans are obese. And since our pets have become important members of our families, those statistics are also translating to them. While that cat or dog may look cute and somewhat amusing waddling around the house, the truth is that these pets, just like their human counterparts, face serious health concerns. Health risks include, but are not limited to, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. While your pet’s one to two extra pounds may not seem like much, in a cat or a small dog, one or two pounds could equal 10-20 pounds in a human. One reason why our pets are overweight is that we, the owners, translate overfeeding into love. Dogs and cats seem to know who to stare down to get a little extra food. In addition, keeping food out all day for your pet is not recommended. Exercise also has an important place in helping our pets to maintain a healthy weight, so encourage them to get moving with playtime, walks and toys. Our pets seem to stay with us for such a short time. Excess weight can pretty much guarantee that they will be around even less. Just as we owe it to ourselves to be at a healthy weight, we must ensure that our pets have the same benefit. We are their caretakers and they depend on us for love and good health. Submitted by Kathie Ono of The Haven, Fairhope

A CENTER FOR HEALING ... A CENTER FOR LEARNING Holistic Consultation Energy Work Color Therapy Essential Oils Flower Essences Qi Gong Chartres Labyrinth

Permaculture Design Passive and Active Solar Rainwater Collection Humanure Composting Greywater Recycling Shiitake Cultivation Biodynamics

Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204

MidEarthHealing@yahoo.com * www.middleearthhealing.com

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

America’s Growing Food Revolution An Insider’s Guide to Sustainable Choices by Lisa Marshall

e’ve heard the buzz. America is in the midst of a food revolution. Sales of natural and organic foods are up by double digits. The onceobscure Locavore (eat local) movement has become a national phenomenon. Community supported agriculture (CSA) initiatives and farmers’ markets are proliferating. Even the federal government and some of the country’s largest grocery retailers have jumped on board, with First Lady Michelle Obama helping to plant the first garden on White House grounds since World War II, and Walmart vowing in January to double the percentage of locally grown produce it sells to 9 percent. The statistics are motivating indeed: According to University of Wisconsin researchers, produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from farmland to plate today, up 22 percent from 1981. Half of our land and 80 percent of our water is used for agriculture, reports The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and pesticide use has increased 33-fold since the 1940s. Meanwhile, health problems associated with agricultural chemicals are on the rise. “We have been through 100 years of industrialization of our food supply, and consumers have begun to wake up and realize they have no idea how their food is made,” says historian and food policy writer James McWilliams, an associate professor at Texas State University. “Historians will look back on this time as momentous.”

But with every revolution come tough questions—and fiery debate—on how best to participate. Is it better to buy “organic,” “natural” or “local”? Is shopping at a farmers’ market inherently more green? Are there other ways, such as planting a garden or eschewing meat, that can make an even bigger impact? In reality, there are no easy answers, but, “Consumers need to be prepared to take on a bit more complexity in how we think about food, and not fall so easily for simple mantras (like Eat Local and Buy Organic),” advises McWilliams.

The Case for Organic

Ask Rodale Inc. CEO Maria Rodale what consumers can do to improve their health and environment, and her answer is unequivocal. “If you do just one thing—make one conscious choice—that can change the world, go organic,” she writes in her new book, Organic Manifesto: How Organic Farming Can Heal Our Planet, Feed the World, and Keep Us Safe. Rodale’s grandfather founded Organic Farming and Gardening magazine (today’s Organic Gardening) in the 1940s, jumpstarting an organic movement that by the 1960s was nearly synonymous with environmentalism. But today, Rodale concedes, the organic industry faces a public relations challenge, as consumers trade from USDA Organic-certified foods to “locally grown” or cheaper “natural” options.

One 2009 survey by The Shelton Group found that out of 1,000 shoppers, 31 percent looked for the “natural” label, while 11 percent looked for “organic.” “There is a giant misperception among consumers that somehow natural is the word that is regulated and organic is not. In fact, it is actually the other way around,” says CEO Suzanne Shelton. Law mandates that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) products labeled organic be free of pesticides, hormones and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and that animals be given access to the outdoors. By contrast, the Food and Drug Administration vaguely describes natural as, “Nothing artificial or synthetic has been included in, or has been added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.” With the exception of meat, it is up to the manufacturer to define what natural means. (In 2009, the USDA defined “naturally raised” meat as, “… raised entirely without growth promoters, antibiotics, and never been fed animal byproducts.” It says nothing about GMOs or humane animal treatment.) Organic advocates point out that a genetically modified animal could be fed genetically modified feed and confined to a narrow pen and still be billed as natural. A loaf of natural bread could be made with grains repeatedly sprayed with pesticides and man-made fertilizer. “Natural

natural awakenings

March 2011

refers to the end product,” explains the Organic Trade Association. “It does not provide any information about how the product was produced.” What about buying local? Rodale argues that, while focusing on local is great for reducing farm-to-plate miles, if it isn’t organic, it isn’t necessarily addressing the larger issue of pesticide and antibiotic use. Noting that more than 4 billion pounds of pesticides are used annually in the United States, she points to studies from the National Institutes of Health and the Mount Sinai Medical Center Children’s Environmental Health Center that suggest links between agricultural antibiotic use and the rise in drug-resistant staph infections in humans, and between oganophosphate pesticides and cancer and diabetes. “It is fine to buy local, but if there are chemicals in it, then the farmer is contaminating your own community,” Rodale says. “That’s even worse.”

The Locavore Way

In early 2005, Jennifer Maiser and a handful of friends in San Francisco decided to

limit what they ate for a month to what was produced within 100 miles of home base. By August, 1,000 people had signed on at Maiser’s EatLocal Challenge.com. By 2007, “locavore” was the Word of the Year of the New Oxford American Dictionary. “It just snowballed,” recalls Maiser. “I think it had a lot to do with changes in the organic movement. In the 1990s, if you were eating organic, you pretty much were eating food from a local farmer. But when the big companies came in and you could get organic produce grown in Mexico, it wasn’t the same anymore. We still wanted to know where our food was coming from.” Professional dancer-turned-ethnobotanist Leda Meredith started a 250mile challenge in 2007, in part to see if a time-crunched professional in wintery Brooklyn could achieve what Locavores in warmer climes had. At first, adjusting to the realities was rough. Local cooking oil was hard to find (she saved the rendered fat from her locally raised duck and used it to pop locally grown popcorn) and her one-bedroom apartment was not ideal for

stockpiling canned produce (she keeps canned local tomatoes and dried wild mushrooms under her bed). “But, by year’s end, it had become my new normal,” says Meredith, author of The Locavore’s Handbook: The Busy Person’s Guide to Eating Local on a Budget. She chooses organic and local whenever possible, and if the food is on the Environmental Working Group’s dirty-dozen list of most pesticide-drenched food, she might even buy organic from afar. Yet, she is a Locavore at heart. “It has an impact, on local economies and small farmers, and from a cook’s point of view the food is just fresher,” she says. McWilliams, a vegan and author of Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly, agrees. But he takes issue with the notion that, because it necessitates fewer transportation miles, eating local is a better choice for the environment. He notes that the shipping of food constitutes just 9 to 11 percent of its “lifecycle assessment” (the toll it takes on the environment), while things like water use, fertilizer application and harvesting

Bring Healthy Home, OrganicProduce OrganicMeats

Supplements Holistic Pet Food

AlabamaOrganicMilk OrganicWine Wheat&Gluten-Free

Essential Oils

Bath&BodyProducts 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Ctr

3952 Airport Blvd in Mobile

251-928-0644

251-345-0494

GreenCleaningProducts dairy-free Books BabyProducts SportsNutrition

Open 7 days a week. Serving the public for 35 years.

www.va-fairhopehealthfoods.com

or Eat Healthy Out

Dine at our organic cafes featuring juice bars, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Take out available. Menus online. Call for specials. Next door to Virginia’s Health Foods in Mobile

Next door to Fairhope Health Foods

251-929-0055 22

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

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

251-345-0495

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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

techniques suck up far more. Is it really greener to buy local hothouse tomatoes if, according to McWilliams, they can require up to 10 times the energy? Is it really more sustainable to buy local rice from an arid state if aquifers were drained to grow it? Another issue concerns economies of scale. For instance, a shipper sending a truck with 2,000 apples across 2,000 miles would consume the same amount of fuel per apple as a local farmer who takes a pickup 50 miles to sell 50 apples. “Local is not necessarily greener,” accounts McWilliams. So, what is? Eating less meat, he contends. And mounting studies back up his point. Most recently, a 2009 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a carnivorous diet requires 2.9 times more water, 2.5 times more energy, 3 times more fertilizer and 1.4 times more pesticides than a vegetarian diet. “If I eat less meat or eat a vegan diet, I am automatically shrinking the carbon footprint of my diet, no matter where it comes from,” says McWilliams.

Growing Our Own

Greg Peterson says that there is another perspective often left out of the puzzle when people postulate how they can change the world by what they eat: “Food grows for free. You just have to buy a little seed and put a little water on it. People should grow their own food, share it and give it away.” From his 80-by-60-foot yard in the heart of Phoenix, Peterson grows 50 to 100 individual crops, from citrus trees to snow peas and greens. His neighbors pop in for a bowl of peaches or a few fresh

eggs. He further spreads the word by hosting gardening classes for everyone from wealthy retirees with big yards to thrifty condo dwellers wanting to grow herbs on their porches. “For me, it’s about building local food systems and making neighborhoods more resilient,” he says. “There is also something inherently spiritual about being able to go out in my front yard and pick carrots, beets and greens to make dinner.” Erin Barnett is the director of Minnesota-based LocalHarvest, which connects consumers with family farms, co-ops (collectively owned nonprofit grocery stores or buying clubs that give members discounted prices on health-conscious products in exchange for a fee and work crew hours) and CSAs (in which members buy a share and receive a box of local farm produce each week). She says that these can be excellent ways to benefit our health, environment and local economies. But there can be downsides. For example, a co-op can take years to form and is typically volunteer run, which involves a significant learning curve; it also often requires members to put up several hundred dollars long before the doors open. Belonging to a CSA includes collective risk, so if it’s a bad crop year, member shares are affected. At a farmers’ market, occasionally a vendor will pass off conventional produce shipped in from afar as local or organic. As someone who buys eggs from a farmers’ market, grass-fed meat from a local farm, dry goods from a co-op, nuts from a natural food buying club, and has a garden that dwarfs her own house, Barnett puts it this way: Ask questions first. Then make a plan. “Everyone is going to concoct their own way of meeting their needs by balancing their relationships with local people and their beliefs about organic,” she says. “It is very complex. But at least people are talking about it.”

Tips to Eat Sustainably, Healthy and Smart n Buy certified organic and local when possible. n Always choose certified organic when shopping for the publicized dirty dozen: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes. n When buying local, but not organic, ask the farmer: “Why not organic?” He or she may be doing something close. n When joining a CSA, ask the farmer if he or she ever adds non-local food to the basket. If so, ask where it comes from and how it is produced. n At a farmers’ market, ask the management how they choose their vendors. Must they be local, or certified organic? How are they screened? n If buying “natural,” learn how the producer defines it (the government definition is vague). n Eat less meat. It uses fewer resources to produce. n Plant something. Try a container garden on a balcony or in a window box. n Learn about good sources of healthy foods in various seasons. n Take a cooking class.

Connect with the writer at LisaMarshall 08@gmail.com. natural awakenings

March 2011

wisewords

Sustainable Foods & Social Philanthropy A Conversation with Nell Newman by Ellen Mahoney

In 1989 I worked as the development director for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, trying to raise money for this small nonprofit. I was very motivated to do this work because I was dumbfounded by how the peregrine falcon and the bald eagle populations were being decimated due to the use of the synthetic pesticide DDT. But raising money for this organization wasn’t easy. I started to look closely at the business model Dad was working on at the time to produce and sell high-quality products, with profits going to various charities. I thought it was a great idea that could be done a little differently, and decided to create an organic line of food products. My hope was to have the line support organic agriculture and better the environment, while providing funds to worthy nonprofits.

I grew up in an old Colonial farmhouse in Westport, Connecticut, and my parents were always interested in healthy food and cooking. Mom had been a health foodie since the late ’60s, and she taught me how to cook at an early age. Dad taught me how to fish and how to pick ripe produce from the local farm stand. But I realized that Dad associated all health food with nut loaf topped with yeast gravy and “atomic” muffins, made with heavy whole wheat. He had some stubborn ideas about what he thought organic food really was. So, one year, I secretly prepared a totally organic Thanksgiving dinner for the family. When Dad finished his plate I asked, “So, how did you like your organic dinner?” He was surprised and knew he’d been had, but also realized that organic food didn’t have to taste funny. Our first product for Newman’s Own Organics, an organic pretzel, became Dad’s favorite snack.

Did your parents always support your definition of truly healthy food?

How do you advocate for the principles of sustainable agriculture?

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

What role did social responsibility play in your family life? I knew my parents were politically active, but “socially responsible” wasn’t even a term when I was growing up. They never lectured or made a big deal about their philanthropy; I only learned about it through their example. Dad’s company began because people loved his homemade salad dressing; he was always putting it in big wine bottles and giving it away. Although he thought it was a harebrained idea and was told that celebrity products usually fail, he eventually decided to sell it. In the first year he made $890,000; at that time he was at the peak of his acting career and instead of pocketing the money, he donated it to selected charities.

ollowing in her famous parents’ footsteps, Nell Newman, daughter of actors and environmental activists Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, launched Newman’s Own Organics in 1993 with business partner Peter Meehan. She is also the author of The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures that Benefit You and the Place You Live. Since 1982, the Newman’s Own Foundation, which originated with her father’s company, Newman’s Own, has donated more than $300 million to educational and charitable organizations worldwide.

Why did you decide to create Newman’s Own Organics?

My big goal in life is to support the growth of organic agriculture, because the impact is profound. Our company uses as many organic ingredients in our products as we possibly can. Today, I also love to farm organically in my backyard. I have nine chickens, a peach tree, a couple of citrus trees and four raised beds for fruits and vegetables.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Why did you decide to develop a line of organic pet foods? When I was a kid, we had five dogs, six cats and a pet skunk. I was also a budding ornithologist, and as a teenager I practiced the art of falconry, because the peregrine was my favorite bird. I’ve always loved animals, so organic pet food seemed like a natural product line extension to me. It was a challenge to convince Dad, but we finally launched the pet line in 2005 and it’s been highly successful. Because the type of food an animal eats affects its quality of life, it’s vital to make sure pets receive the highest quality of foods that are closest to what they would eat in the wild. Plus, the happier our animals are, the happier we are. For more information, visit Newmans OwnOrganics.com/index.php. Ellen Mahoney is a writer and radio producer. Email evm@infionline.net.

turn your passion into a business... own a Natural Awakenings magazine!

As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love! Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security. No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine. Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the way we live and care for ourselves. Now available in Spanish as well. To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right for you and your target community, call us for a free consultation at 239-530-1377.

• • • • •

Low Investment Work at Home Great Support Team Marketing Tools Meaningful New Career

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth Since 1994. Now With 3.3 Million Monthly Readers In: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Birmingham, AL* Huntsville, AL Mobile/Baldwin, AL Little Rock/ Hot Springs, AR Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Contra Costa Co., CA Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA Santa Barbara/ Ventura, CA Denver/Boulder, CO Hartford, CT Fairfield County, CT New Haven/ Middlesex, CT Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL NW FL Emerald Coast* Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jacksonville/ St. Augustine, FL Melbourne/ Vero Beach, FL Miami & Florida Keys Naples/Ft. Myers, FL North Central Florida* Orlando, FL Palm Beach, FL Peace River, FL Sarasota, FL Tallahassee, FL Tampa/ St. Petersburg, FL Florida’s Treasure Coast Atlanta, GA Augusta, GA Chicago North Shore, IL Indianapolis, IN Lexington, KY* Louisville-Metro, KY Lafayette, LA New Orleans, LA Middlesex Co., MA Ann Arbor, MI Grand Rapids, MI East Michigan Lansing, MI

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Wayne County, MI Asheville, NC Charlotte, NC Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC Wilmington, NC Monmouth/ Ocean, NJ North NJ North Central NJ Somerset/Middlesex Counties, NJ South NJ Santa Fe/ Albuquerque, NM Long Island, NY New York City, NY* Rockland/ Orange Counties, NY Westchester/ Putnam Co’s., NY Cincinnati, OH Oklahoma City, OK Tulsa, OK* Portland, OR Bucks County, PA Harrisburg, PA Lehigh Valley, PA Northeastern, PA Rhode Island Charleston, SC Columbia, SC Grand Strand, SC Greenville, SC Chattanooga, TN Knoxville, TN Memphis, TN Nashville, TN Austin, TX Dallas, TX Houston, TX North Texas San Antonio, TX Tyler/Longview, TX Richmond, VA Southwestern VA* Seattle, WA Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI Puerto Rico

*Existing magazines for sale

For information about how to publish a Natural Awakenings in your community call

239-530-1377

NaturalAwakeningsMag.comnatural awakenings

March 2011

consciouseating

BACKYARD

CHICKENS The People’s Choice for Fresh Healthy Eggs by Lisa Marshall

s I work in my home office near Boulder, Colorado, I hear a soft, “Cluck-cluck-cluck,” from outside the window. Soon, it will crescendo into a piercing, “Baaaaaaawk,” as the largest of our seven hens—a plump Rhode Island red named Rojo—drops a warm, beige egg into her hay-filled nesting box. When my daughters, ages 8 and 10, return from school, they’ll tromp through the snow to our A-frame coop, fill their basket with a colorful assortment of bluish-green, brown and lavender eggs (some still warm) and skip off to a neighbor’s house to trade them for piggy bank cash. Such is the life of a backyard chicken farmer.

National Phenomenon Once viewed as the realm of rural poultry farmers and commercial egg factories, raising chickens has become a growing trend, with everyone from urban foodies to thrifty suburban housewives erecting makeshift coops, logging on to how-to websites and mail-ordering fuzzy, day-old chicks. Some are lured by the firm, buttery, nutrient-rich yolks and enhanced nutritional quality (a study by Mother Earth News found eggs from pasture-raised hens to contain twice the omega-3 fatty acids, three times the vitamin E, and one-third the cholesterol of conventional eggs). Some simply want to know where their food comes from. Others long for a bucolic touchstone in their frenzied city lives. “I see chickens as a critical piece of my landscape,” says Greg Peterson, co-author of Fowl Play: Your Guide to Keeping Chickens in the City. “They eat all my food scraps. They eat the bugs and the weeds. They produce nitrogen-rich fer26

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

tilizer for the garden. Then they give me eggs.” Peterson keeps 15 chickens in his 80-by-160-foot yard in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. His monthly local how-toraise-chickens courses currently pack in 50 to 60 people, from tattooed and pierced 20-somethings to retirees. Meanwhile, Rob Ludlow’s BackyardChickens.com, which started in 1999 as a coop-design clearinghouse, now boasts more than 50,000 members, who submit 7,000 posts a day. “We have doubled our production from five years ago, and it just keeps getting better and better,” says spokesman Jeff Smith, of Lebanon, Missouri-based Cackle Hatchery. The 70-year-old chicken hatchery used to cater mostly to farmers wanting large orders of baby chicks for meat or egg operations, and the occasional 4-H club. Now, it ships 140,000 freshly hatched chicks each week to unlikely farmers in urban centers like Seattle, Phoenix, Jersey City and Reno. “There is a little bit of fear out there about the economy, and people are looking at being more self-sufficient,” says Smith. “People are also interested in making sure the birds are being fed right, and not kept in a cage all of their lives.”

Bantamweight Contests Not all are fans of the urban poultry-farming boom. Disgruntled neighbors have called upon government leaders to either uphold or implement ordinances that view chickens as farm animals and ban them in urban areas. Some have complained of smelly coops and rodents (all avoidable via regular coop cleaning, proponents say). Others have squawked about noise. But in dozens of recent cases, the hens and their owners have won. In September 2008, for example, the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed an ordinance that allows city residents to keep up to six hens, as long as they buy a $30 permit, provide their birds with a ventilated, predatorresistant coop with two square feet of room per chicken, and keep the birds at least 15 feet from the neighbors. No roosters are allowed. Within the first year, 36 people had gained permits, including Connie Meyer, now the proud owner of four feathered friends. She likes that they follow her around as she works in the yard, eat out of her hands and provide her with eggs to trade for her neighbor’s fresh produce. “People assume it is going to be so much work, but they are incredibly easy to take care of,” she comments. “More than that, they are fun. It’s easy to get attached to them.” Lisa Marshall is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings. Connect at LisaMarshall08@gmail.com.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

GETTING STARTED

THE SCOOP ON A COOP

BE SURE IT’S LEGAL. For a database of laws in 700 U.S. cities, log on to BackyardChickens.com/laws. Otherwise, check with the local zoning department. BUILD A BROODER. Baby chicks must be kept in a draftfree place for 60 days. Create an indoor pen, using a galvanized steel tub, a large dog crate or a cardboard box. Cover the bottom with pine shavings or torn paper towels (do not use newspaper, as the ink can harm chicks). Hang a heat lamp out of reach and keep it set at between 90 and 100° F, decreasing it by five degrees weekly. Make sure the brooder is large enough that chicks can move away from the heat if they wish. BUY HEALTHY CHICKS. Baby chicks can be bought from farm and ranch stores, or ordered online and shipped from commercial hatcheries like CackleHatchery.com.

START SMALL AND SKIP THE ROOSTER. Start with 5 to 10 chicks (never buy just one, because they are very social). Choose a hardy breed known to lay regularly, such as Rhode Island reds or Barred Rock hens. Araucanas lay blue-green eggs and silver laced Wyandottes are among the prettiest chickens. Hens do not need a rooster in order to lay eggs. BUILD AN OUTDOOR COOP. Some people use a recycled storage shed; others build their own, using plans available online. Be sure to have two square feet of coop for each chicken, plus an enclosed outdoor run with four square feet per chicken. Note: In high wildlife areas, a lid on the run is essential. ENJOY THE EGGS. Chickens start laying after about six months. One hen will produce from 250 to 330 eggs a year, depending on the breed, before slowing down at about 3 years old and ultimately ceasing to lay.

SOUTHPAWS PET SPA in downtown Fairhope

HOLISTIC services & NATURAL products for the pampered pet. Grooming • Pet-icures • Massage • Teeth Cleaning Organic treats, bones & grooming supplies

Your Solid Gold Holistic Pet Health Food and Product Center FREE Samples! Mention this ad for 10% off new grooming clients

Lynn Anderson, CEO 251-928-0750 southpawspetspa@gmail.com Find us on Facebook: Southpaws Pet Spa natural awakenings

March 2011

naturalpet

LASER

POWER 21ST CENTURY PET THERAPY OPTIONS by Dr. Matthew Heller

et owners around the country are discovering a new wrinkle in an existing technology to deliver both pain relief and healing for their furry, feathery or scaly companions. Laser technology has been used in the veterinary field for many years for surgery. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Class IV laser therapy to deliver non-invasive relief for pain and inflammation, as well. Treatments benefit pets suffering from arthritis, back injuries, acute sprains or spasms and dermatological hot spots and wounds, plus enhance post-operative rehabilitation.

How It Works The science is fairly straightforward. In a Class IV laser therapy session, a concentrated beam of light emanates from a wand that is slowly moved over the animal’s body, and several processes occur that accelerate healing and pain relief. Effects include an increase in circulation and metabolism, stimulation of nerve cells and a boost in collagen production, all of which facilitate wound healing. The associated production of oxygen encourages cells to regrow, while a release of endorphins stimulates cells to heal more rapidly, reducing pain. Unlike pharmaceutical, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) that provide relief from pain and inflammation, laser therapy does not pose serious side effects for the liver or kidneys, nor is it painful or typically require sedation. Because it promotes cellular activity and increases blood flow, laser therapy should not be used on tumors or pre-surgical sites where it could be detrimental. 28

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Frequency, Duration and Intensity The duration and frequency of a therapeutic laser session depends on the type of injury or illness being treated. A certified operator will select a preprogrammed protocol, established to regulate the power of the laser (typically from six to 12 watts). The desired wattage is often determined by the size of the area to be treated, along with the nature of the injury and the pet’s coat type and body weight. As with most medical therapies, one size does not fit all. Initially, a laser therapy session will begin with a thorough physical examination and radiographs, if indicated, to ascertain the extent of the injury or condition, and develop an individualized plan to return a pet to a heightened state of wellness. For instance, a pet suffering from degenerative arthritis that is experiencing great discomfort in walking may initially be treated for five to 10 minutes every two or three days for a few weeks. As the pet’s situation improves, the frequency of the

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

sessions may decrease to once weekly, and then every two weeks, until the pet receives a laser treatment on a monthly basis. For chronic conditions, laser therapy may not cure the pet, but it will help alleviate its discomfort. For more acute situations, such as a hot spot or a sprain, the animal may be treated for three to five minutes every three days over a 10-day period. A pet that has recently undergone invasive surgery, such as an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, or connective knee tissue) repair or tumor removal, may be treated just minutes after the sutures are closed, to promote circulation, stimulate nerve cells and boost collagen production, reducing healing time. Over the next seven to 10 days, the pet may receive a laser treatment every few days until the skin around the incision is less inflamed. Results of laser therapy treatments are cumulative, but most pet owners report significant improvement after two to four sessions. An article in the Newark Post, in Delaware, quoted pet owner Cricket Barazotto as saying, “I was desperate to get [my dog] Clare out of pain. It was hard for her to walk through our neighborhood. But after the first week of laser therapy, she started jumping back up on our bed.” Pet owners who previously relied upon more traditional means of relieving inflammation or pain, such as drugs, prescription diets for skin allergies and other types of palliative care, are often surprised by the affordability and availability of laser therapy. Treatment costs vary by location, generally ranging from $50 to $75 a session. To find an area veterinarian that uses non-surgical laser therapy, visit the websites of the two main manufacturers: K-LaserUSA.com/locator/ locator/index.php and Companion TherapyLaser.com/Pages/pet-owners. This federally approved safe and effective technology delivers results, increasing mobility, accelerating wound healing and decreasing pain. To see if a family pet could benefit from laser therapy, contact a veterinarian to discuss the best application of this innovative approach. Dr. Matthew J. Heller is a holistic veterinarian and owner of All About PetCare, in Middletown, OH. For more information, call 513-424-1626 or 866-YOUR-VET, or visit AllAboutPetCare.com.

Laser Therapy Helps Local Dog

obile resident Makeda Nichols adopted a German Shepherd named Kaiser after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Kaiser had problems with one of his legs and despite having surgery on it, he continued to feel pain from arthritis. Uncomfortable with the thought of administering pain medication to her dog indefinitely, Nichols inquired about natural alternatives. Dr. Myers at the Theodore Veterinary Hospital, referred her to a doctor in Prattville who performs laser therapy. The Prattville clinic offered to demonstrate the therapy on Nichols’ own shoulder before using the technique on her dog. She experienced chronic pain in her joint but felt almost immediate relief from the laser therapy. After taking Kaiser to six therapy sessions in Prattville, major improvement in his leg was evident and Myers was convinced he needed to offer laser therapy to the Mobile area. Myers obtained the equipment and Kaiser now receives monthly treatments at the Theodore Veterinary Hospital. “I wish Dr. Myers would perform the therapy on me! It works so well,” says Nichols, who thinks more people should learn about this effective treatment and alternative to pain medication. Nichols has also used the therapy on her smaller dog as well as on a cat that was losing it’s hair. The laser therapy was successful in getting the cat’s hair to grow back.

Look Good, Feel Better, & Be Inspired..

to become the You you’ve resolved to be. Bodi By You will push you to achieve your goals in fitness, health and mental clarity, in the comfort of a private, yet intense atmosphere. NEW Classes: Hula Blast, Holy Yoga, Fusion Fitness

“Let me motivate you, challenge you and support you with spiritual, physical and mental guidance. Call today!” Gail McKenzie, Owner

Certified Personal Trainer, CFN, & Certified Breakthru Life Coach

PRIVATE FITNESS CENTER FOR WOMEN

For more information on the Theodore Veterinary Hospital and their laser therapy services, visit Theodore.VetSuite.com or call 251-653-7831.

www.bodibyyou.com bodibyyou@att.net • 251-649-3337 Group Classes & One-on-One Sessions

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

NEED CLEAN? GO GREEN!

Green Clean, LLC provides environmentally friendly cleaning services for residential properties. Call for your free in-home consultation & estimate!

If interested in joining the Green Clean team, please call for an interview.

251-507-3796

Cleaning Kits are Now Available for $75

Enrolling Now!

Winter/Spring Semester

A metal pail stocked with EVERYTHING needed to green clean your whole house: Parsley Plus, Window Kleener, Orange/Olive Oil Furniture Polish, Dr. Bronners’s Sal Suds, Bon Ami, Essential Oils, Microfiber Cloths and a Scrub Brush. natural awakenings

March 2011

From Farm to Plate in Alabama by Meredith Montgomery

ith most farmers markets open only a few months out of the year and the availability of local produce in stores varying seasonally, Grow Alabama, the area’s first CSA (community supported agriculture), is receiving a warm welcome by those conscious of the distance their food travels from farm to plate. Typically, a CSA operates with individuals purchasing a share or subscription from a farm for a yearly fee in return for a box of seasonal produce each week during the growing season. Grow Alabama is a multi-farm CSA, working with more than 100 farmers throughout the state that grow pesticide-free produce year-round. “We are your direct connection to the family farms in Alabama,” says founder Jerry Spencer. Spencer, who worked as a chiropractor in San Francisco for 20 years and had no gardening experience, decided to give vegetable gardening a try 15 years ago after returning to Birmingham, his hometown. The result was bountiful, producing far more vegetables than his family of eight could eat. Spencer sold his surplus to Birmingham restaurants for a few years before transitioning into a CSA. With enthusiastic support from the community, his garden and membership grew, as did his partnership with other farmers. In 2004, Grow Alabama was born, with 25 farms supplying

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

produce and meat to 400 members. Spencer is on a mission to improve the ratio of foods consumed in Alabama to the foods grown in Alabama. According to the Grow Alabama website, more than 95 percent of foods consumed in the state come from another state or country. By reversing this relationship, economic and environmental sustainability will be generated while providing the people of this state with a higher quality of food. This year, residents of Mobile and Baldwin counties are experiencing the convenience and quality of Grow Alabama with drop-off locations recently added in Mobile and Fairhope. Spencer says, “If we aren’t currently dropping off to a location close to you, we need a minimum of five or six members who are able to pick up at a newly proposed delivery site to add it to our route.” Members are able to choose from three different subscription levels, depending on how many items and servings are desired. The deliveries are then customizable by logging onto the Grow Alabama website each week. Additional produce and grocery items such as eggs, honey, coffee and baked goods can be added to weekly deliveries, based on availability, for an additional cost. All of Grow Alabama’s produce is grown without chemicals or pesticides

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

and delivered within 48 hours of harvest. While at least eight months out of the year orders are filled with exclusively Alabamagrown food, Spencer points out that, “Until our Alabama farmers are able to meet the demand, we will substitute when necessary with nearby, but out-of-state, produce to provide the quantity and variety we know you want for your family.” Members can check the origin of their items on the website each week during customization. Grow Alabama’s relationship with its farmers is hands-on and its mission goes beyond putting fresh produce on its subscribers' plates. Spencer works with the farmers to educate them on sustainable farming, replacing their conventional practices with organic standards and informing them of the detrimental effects pesticides can have on the state’s rivers and ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico. OrganiCorps is the organization’s intern program that pairs individuals wishing to pursue farming as a career with farmers working to gain organic certification. This beneficial partnership provides interns with invaluable experience in the field, while providing support for local farmers going through the tedious and expensive process of gaining organic certification. In addition to helping farmers and locavores, Grow Alabama lends a hand to those who cannot afford fresh produce at

all. Greater Birmingham Ministries (GBM) is an ecumenical community needs provider supported by more than 1,000 congregations. After sporadically donating to GBM for several years, the statewide CSA now partners with the supporting congregations by tithing to GBM’s foodbank. This program will be instituted in all areas of the state, allowing more and more canned goods at local food banks to be replaced with fresh fruits and vegetables each week. Plans are currently in the works to build a similar program for local schools in an effort to increase the amount of fresh produce available in cafeterias. For like-minded people that want to support Grow Alabama’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and rural community development, Spencer is kicking off For the Love of It, an ambassador program. Ambassadors will be trained and empowered as special representatives through a program of knowledge, public speaking and on-thefarm experience. They will learn all there is to know about Alabama farming and why improving the rural environment is a necessity. “The Grow Alabama ambassador program will give individuals a chance to put their love for our state, its people and its communities to work. It is a powerful program for those who want to make a real difference,” he says. This is a paid opportunity and requires a four month commitment, beginning in April. Spencer says, “I look forward to when more and more Alabama farmers can send their kids to college, as I was able to do for my son, and when all people have access to fresh, locally grown and sustainably grown farm products.” The chiropractor turned farmer continues to be involved in all aspects of the business, hopping from farm to office to delivery truck and back again. “I couldn’t do this all by myself,” Spencer says. Gesturing upward, he explains, “God is my partner. The answers that led me to what I do today and what I dream of doing in the future, couldn’t have come from anyone or anywhere else.” This inspiring partnership between the heavens and Earth offers an opportunity for everyone in the area to provide fellow Alabamians with healthier, more abundant lives. To learn more about Grow Alabama and it’s programs, visit GrowAlabama.com, call 205-991-0042 or email Info@Grow Alabama.com. See ad on the back cover.

greenliving

GREEN DRINKS

Cheers to Making Eco-Conscious Connections by Judith Fertig

hether attendees at a typical Green Drinks gathering choose to sip a fine wine or organic lemonade, the emphasis is on socializing and networking for a “greener” world, one community at a time. Founded by friends Edwin Datschefski and Paul Scott at a London pub in 1989, Green Drinks currently includes more than 700 chapters worldwide. The first and largest North American group, Green Drinks New York City, was launched by Margaret Lydecker in 2002 and currently counts 14,000 members. After moving to the Big Apple, “I was having a hard time finding a community of like-minded people,” confesses Lydecker, a sustainability advisor who helps companies find greener options in the way they source products and services. She adds, “When you have an

active dialogue with other environmentally conscious people in business or government, you begin to find answers and solutions.” Typically, groups around the country partner with a community sports bar, restaurant, or other food and drink establishment to host a Green Drinks event in a private room. The word goes out via email, Facebook, phone calls or postcards, and people come to meet other environmentally conscious people. Although these soirées sometimes include short talks by sustainability experts, they’re essentially casual. Yet in this setting, attendees can make connections that benefit the environment, businesses, the community—and themselves. John O’Neill reports that at one recent Green Drinks social hour in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the owner of a local environmental service business struck up

natural awakenings

March 2011

a conversation with a restaurant owner. “The business agreed to take the leftover grease from the restaurant and use it on their farm,” reports O’Neill. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we want to see happen.” Jim Horlacher, the founder of Kansas City’s Green Drinks, admits, “I primarily do Green Drinks because I like it.” Although the relationship-building is definitely there, he adds, “It’s hard for me to quantify.” Horlacher is a financial planner for First Affirmative Financial Network, a group that helps individual investors put their money where their socially and environmentally responsible values are. “People get to know me at Green Drinks events as someone who walks the walk and talks the talk,” he says. Although Green Drinks’ environmental mission is deliberately simple— attend, engage, connect—some groups take it further. The Seattle Green Drinks chapter also offers a host of more narrowly targeted member groups, including those who want to hear speakers on innovation in sustainability, support Native Americans or conserve wildlife. G r e e n D r i n k s - D e n v e r. c o m offers an It’s Your Business listing on its Web pages for green businesses and products, building public awareness for greener options, including tips for cleanup and recycling during and after public events. Likewise, Green Drinks of Victoria, British Columbia, has a work and career forum that continues to encourage the forging of the links that people make at face-to-face gatherings. Says Seattle Drinks founder Gabriel Scheer, “I’m immensely proud of how the organization has taken a central role in growing our local environmental community.” A founding partner in Re-Vision Labs, which helps business and organizations incorporate social media and community organizing into their business models, Scheer concludes, “Green Drinks events are helping each community see itself.”

GREEN DRINKS in the

Mobile Bay Area

olding a drink in one hand and environmental concerns in the other, Mobile Bay Area Green Drinks is a community organization open to anyone interested in sustainable living. Meeting monthly at various establishments, the group facilitates an atmosphere where ideas and knowledge can be freely cultivated and shared. Green Drinks provides a venue (alternating between downtown Mobile and downtown Fairhope) and forum for informal networking and discussions about the many green happenings in the area. Eating and drinking are optional, and attendees are welcome to stay for as little or as long as they like. Organizer Elizabeth Tonsmeire says, “We follow the idea of think global, act local and we want to enrich individual thinking and inspire community sustainability. We want to get people talking about green living and help them pick up environmentally-friendly habits.” Previous topics of conversation have included green building, eating locally and environmental education efforts in local schools. “We encourage anyone with an interest in this movement to come out. The idea is to get the whole community involved,” says Tonsmeire. Mobile Bay Area Green Drinks is one of four chapters in the state and was started in late 2009 by a group of enthusiastic ladies from Fairhope. The meetings started taking shape in 2010 and plans for growth in 2011 are in the works. Mobile Bay Area Green Drinks is currently seeking guest speakers and event organizers for the 2011 schedule. For more information visit GreenDrinks.org/ AL/Mobile%20Bay%20Area, or email Elizabeth@GroundedDevelopment.com.

Earth Day Mobile Bay 2011 Save the Date for the Gulf Coast’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration!

For more information visit GreenDrinks. org. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com. 32

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Live Music•Educational Exhibits Art & Activities for All Ages Environtmental Film Festival www.EarthDayMobileBay.org Saturday, April 23rd, 10AM-7PM

Fairhope Pier Park in Fairhope•Free Admission

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

WEDNESDAY MARCH 2

Taking Legal Care of Me – 7pm. Join us for a workshop on Advance Directives/Living Wills. Just as we make choices in life in this workshop we learn what to do to make our choices known should we become incapacitated. Love Offering. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777.

THURSDAY MARCH 3

Fresh Air Family: Family Fun Walk – 5-7pm. Walk along the boardwalk of Bay Front Park to the waters edge. Enjoy a talk on birds and a local plant habitat. Bring binoculars. Meet at the Gazebo, Bay Front Park, Daphne. Contact: Juli@FreshAirFamily.org.

FRIDAY MARCH 4

Feng Shui Friday – 11am. Spring into action with Meryl Hyderally, Feng Shui consultant, to energize your home and your life. This session will emphasize clearing the clutter and creating more opportunity in your life. Hosted by Yoga Birds. $10. 458 N Section St, Fairhope. More info, to register: YogaBirds.com, 251-990-3347.

SATURDAY MARCH 5

BARC! Giant Yard Sale – 8am-3pm. Proceeds will help cover the Baldwin County Humane Society’s (BARC!) medical expenses. Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. BaldwinHumane.org. 251-928-4585.

SEEDS Classic Rock 5K Run – 8am. Certified loop course with some hills. Great post race party with hot food, beverages, door prizes and music. Activities for children including certified one mile fun run. Overall awards and 5 year age groups. Benefits Daphne schools. $20 day of race. Daphne City Hall. 251-401-8039.

THURSDAY MARCH 10

THURSDAY MARCH 17

Stress-The Terrible Tension – 1-3pm. Threats, real and perceived, are all around us and are constantly invading our lives. Stress can make you feel sick, anxious, tired, depressed, tense, overwhelmed. Change your life and others with natural solutions. Free, must RSVP. Curves, Hwy 13, Daphne. 850-380-4943.

Grow Alabama Program – 6-8pm. Presentation on the locally grown fruit and vegetable delivery program followed by a presentation of the Grow Alabama Ambassador Program with video. Mobile. 205-991-0042. GrowAlabama.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Cheap Chic Boutique 8:30am-6pm, March 11, 9am-3pm, March 12

Stock up on spring and summer fashion essentials and support a good cause. New and nearly new and vintage, designer and name brand clothing, jewelry, purses and shoes at thrifty prices. Petite-plus sizes. Proceeds benefit Our Sisters’ Closet who’s mission is to improve the self-confidence and job opportunities of economically disadvantaged women by providing free interview and workplace clothing. More info: 251-423-2001, OurSisters Closet@comcast.net, or OurSistersCloset.org.

SATURDAY MARCH 12 Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Journey through the human body with essential oils. Continuing with issues related to the head (eyes, ears, nose and throat). Learn specifics about essential oils. Learn how to choose an essential oil, how to use and/or apply an essential oil, and the benefits of essential oils. Love Offering. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-656-6696.

Fresh Air Family: Pitcher Plant Bog Walk – 10am1pm. Take an informative walk through a pine tree savanna and pitcher plant bog with Leslie Lassitter. Bring a lunch, wear closed toe shoes. Free. Graham Park, Wolf Bay Rd, Foley. Contact: Juli@FreshAirFamily.org.

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Orientation Meeting – 10am. Individuals interested in applying for the Habitat program in Mobile County must attend an orientation to receive an application. First Baptist Church of Grand Bay, 10170 Grand Bay Wilmer Road South, Grand Bay 36541. 251-476-7171. HabitatMobile.org.

MONDAY MARCH 7

SUNDAY MARCH 13

Fresh Air Family: Blakely for Children – 10am12pm. A nature scavenger hunt and walk. Learn about trees and enjoy a visual scavenger hunt while walking along the Tensaw River on a boardwalk/gravel bath. Bring a lunch for a picnic at the gazebo overlooking the river. Closed toe shoes required. $3 to enter the park. Contact: Juli@FreshAirFamily.org or Kim@ FreshAirFamily.org.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 9

Ash Wednesday Labyrinth Walk – 5:30-8pm. Service begins at 6:30pm. The labyrinth will be open for those wanting to use it. South Auditorium Campus (old Al’s 5 and 10), Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. For more info, Patti Bodenhamer: 251-9522175 or PattiBodenhamer@gmail.com. My Will for My Will – 7pm. Life is so much more secure for our families when we create a will expressing our wishes at the end of life. Join us for a workshop on what is necessary to create a last will and testament. Love Offering. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777.

Fresh Air Family-Family Fun Walk – 5-7pm. A quiet stroll through the woods on gravel paths with a talk about the animal habitat and native plants. Meet at the front parking lot in front of the new gift shop. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center on the Causeway. Contact: Juli@FreshAirFamily.org.

The Yamas and the Niyamas: A Yoga Workshop – 2-5pm. Join Dana Goudie, RYT 200 in a physical yoga practice with emphasis on the pillars of yogic philosophy. All levels. Suggested donation: $25. Space 301, downtown Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity. org. 251-202-YOGA.

MONDAY MARCH 14 5 Essentials Community Dinner – 6:15pm. A dinner program on how to live a longer and healthier life. Free. 401 North Section St, Fairhope. Reservations required: 251-928-5058.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 16 Evening with Kitty Tripp – 7pm. Kitty Tripp comes to us from Doctor’s Nutrition. Whether shopping for a multivitamin or looking for a total health overhaul, they can help empower you to monitor your own health status and make decisions that are best for you. Love Offering. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-656-6696.

FRIDAY MARCH 18 Easter Pet Portraits – Mar 18-20. Easter Bunny portraits for pets will be taken at Southpaws Pet Spa as a fundraiser for BARC!. $5 donation. Southpaws Pet Spa, downtown Fairhope. 251-928-0750. Grow Alabama Program – 6-8pm. See Mar 17 listing. Fairhope. 205-991-0042. GrowAlabama.com

SATURDAY MARCH 19 Saddle Up for St. Jude Trail Ride – 7am gates open. 9:30am trail ride. A trail ride benefitting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Hay ride for non-horse riders, vendors, food and concert. $15 minimum donation. Kaider Farm: 10 miles E of Robertsdale on Hwy 90. Joe Ulrich: 251-747-9806. Annual Spring Fever Chase – 10k at 8am. 2 mi fun run at 9:30am. Fun run and walk in downtown Fairhope sponsored by Wells Fargo and Thomas Hospital. Early registration deadline is Mar 4. More info: 251-279-1518, ThomasHospital.com.

Removing Blocks to Success with EFT – 9-11am. This workshop assists people that want to make progress reaching goals but always seem to have roadblocks in their way. This workshop is geared towards occupational goals for business people, writers, artists and musicians. Dr. Diana Sturm: 251219-4574. DeltaInstitute.net.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Vegan 101 Cooking Workshop 1-3pm, March 20

Discover why a plant-based diet may be the healthiest diet for you and the planet and learn how to make the transition. Workshop includes nutritional information, cooking demonstration, tasting, recipes, handouts and more. $25. Virginia’s Health Foods, Mobile. RSVP by Mar 4 at Virginia’s or Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com. ShantiWarrior.com for more info.

natural awakenings

March 2011

THURSDAY MARCH 24

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Orientation Meeting – 10am. Individuals interested in applying for the Habitat program in Mobile County must attend an orientation to receive an application. Habitat ReStore, 4128 Government Blvd, Mobile. 251-476-7171. HabitatMobile.org.

SATURDAY MARCH 26

The Mind Matters – 11am-12:30pm. Join Marquerite Dillon RN, BSN, HCN for an introduction to therapeutic hypnosis for positive life changes and habit control. $5 donation. Reservations suggested. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, 3152 Old Shell Rd, Ste 2, Mobile. RSVP: 251-473-1104. SynergyYoga.net. Yoga 101 – 1-4pm. This workshop will demystify yoga for the new student. Students will learn the building blocks for practicing basic yoga poses and be introduced to yogic breathing with awareness. Prepares for flowing and faster-paced classes, gives deeper insight of alignment. $35. Yoga Birds, 458 B N Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3347.

SATURDAY MARCH 26

Earth Hour – 8:30pm. Show solidarity by switching off power for an hour. Worldwide, participating residences, commercial facilities, government buildings and iconic landmarks will all go dark for one hour at 8:30 p.m. (local time) to take a stand for conscious stewardship of Earth’s resources. EarthHour.org.

Azalea Trail Run 10K and 5K – 8am. Certified loop course, fast and flat. Great post race party with hot food, beverages, expo, and music. Activities for adults and children. Overall awards and 5-yr age groups but must register before Mar 26. $25 after Mar 24. Government St., Downtown Mobile. 251-473-7223.

SUNDAY MARCH 27

Meditation Retreat – 9am-4pm. Come as long as you like. 25 minutes of seated meditation followed

by 5 minutes of walking meditation on the hour and half hour. If coming late or leaving early, please do so during the walking mediation. Donation appreciated. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@ QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Kirtan with Prema Hara – 7-9pm. Come experience sacred Sanskrit call and response chanting and the blissful, melodic sounds of this enchanting Kirtan group. $15 investment. Plantation Antiques, Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251-202-YOGA.

MONDAY MARCH 28

Seniors’ Best Blood Sugar Screenings – 9-10am. Free for Seniors’ Best members. Fasting not required. Thomas Hospital Health Resource Center. 251-279-1518. ThomasHospital.com

WEDNESDAY MARCH 30

Safety in the City – 7pm. Center for Spiritual Living welcomes Kevin Egan from Judicial Corrections Service to facilitate a workshop on how we can keep ourselves safe by increasing personal confidence and awareness. Love Offering. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777.

THURSDAY MARCH 31

Fresh Air Family: Family Fun Walk – 5-7pm. A walk along the gravel path through the park visiting the Jackson Oak and cemetery while learning a bit about the history of the area. Visual scavenger hunt also. Meet at the gazebo, Village Point Park Preserve, Daphne. Contact: Juli@FreshAirFamily.org.

PLAN AHEAD SATURDAY APRIL 2

Thai Yoga Bodywork Workshop with Sudevi – Apr 2-3. 9am-6pm. 16 CEUs available for massage therapists and Yoga Alliance instructors. All previous Vedic Conservatory students get 50% discount. Call

or email to register. $100 deposit is appreciated. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@QuietMindMassage Therapy.com.

SATURDAY APRIL 2 The Mind Matters – 11am-12:30pm. Introduction to therapeutic hypnosis for positive life changes and habit control. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, 3152 Old Shell Rd, Ste 2, Mobile. RSVP: 251-473-1104. SynergyYoga.net.

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

SATURDAY APRIL 16 2nd Annual Gulf Coast Holistic Health Fair – Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. More information will be forthcoming in the following months.

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

SATURDAY APRIL 23 Earth Day Mobile Bay 2011 – 10am-7pm. The Gulf Coast’s largest and most fun Earth Day Celebration. Live music, educational exhibits, activities for all ages, environmental film festival. Free. Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope. EarthDayMobileBay.org.

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

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

Conscious Mile Spiritual Center Service – 10am. Make every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak a conscious one. New Thought Spiritual Center, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander, 251-343-0777. CMSpiritualCenter.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore your spiritual pathway with Mobile Unitarian Universalists, 6345 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. UUFM.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living, 60 N Ann St, Mobile. 251-391-6960. Sunday Worth-ship Celebration – 10:30am. Find, strengthen and celebrate one’s connection with Di-

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

vine Spirit. Donation. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US Hwy 98, one mile north of US Hwy 104, Montrose. 251-990-8934. UnityEasternShore.org. Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, between Hillcrest and Knollwood, Mobile. 251-661-1788. Align and Flow – 3pm. Flowing vinyasa with attention to alignment in poses. Find stability and refinement, a safe, steady and deep practice. All levels. $15. Yoga Birds, N Section, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

monday Massage Mondays – Relax with a therapeutic massage! Warlocks Hair Salon is now open Mondays for massage only. $20 off your first one hour massage! $70/hour. Warlocks Salon, 2A S Church St, Fairhope, 251-929-1899. Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Take a break in the middle of your day. Join Dana to transform your body, relieve your stress and relax your mind. Synergy Yoga

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

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

tuesday Complimentary First Facials – Tues-Sat, by appointment only. First-time facial customers receive their first facial free. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511.

Ten Percent Tuesday – Get an extra 10 percent off purchases every Tuesday. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackTo HealthNutrition.com. 90 Minute Anusara-Inspired Yoga – 9am. New time and longer class! Join Melanie Buffett, E-RYT in this radically affirmative practice. $15. Packages available. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com. 251-990-3447. Vinyasa Flow with Tracey, RYT-200 – 9:30am. Challenge your body, still your mind, and connect with your own inner light. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Stretch and Rotate Class – 10am. Adult class. Also offered on Thurs. Coastal Ballet Academy, 113 W Laurel Ave, Foley. 251-979-9851, RioBarlow@ ymail.com. La Leche League Series Meeting – 10:30am. Second Tues each month. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251-689-2085. Lenten Season Labyrinth Walk – Every Tues, Mar 15-Apr 12. 2-7pm. The labyrinth will be open for those wanting to use it. South Auditorium Campus (old Al’s 5 and 10), Gulf Shores United Methodist Church. For more info, Patti Bodenhamer: 251-9522175 or PattiBodenhamer@gmail.com. Ballet Class – 4:15pm. Ages 4 and up. Also offered on Thurs. Coastal Ballet Academy, 113 W Laurel Ave, Foley. 251-979-9851, RioBarlow@ymail.com. Yoga with Adrienne – 5:45pm. Refresh and recharge at the end of a long day! Join Adrienne to enhance your balance, increase suppleness and calm your mind. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Fusion Fitness – 6pm. Low impact cardio using belly dance moves to achieve a calorie-burning hour of fun. $10 drop-in or 4 classes for $30. Bodi By You Fitness Center, Mobile. 251-649-3337. BodiByYou.com. LA Hikers Meeting – 6-7pm. First Tues each month. Free and open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. LAHikerMeetings. Blogspot.com. Martial Arts Class – 6-8pm. Jiu Jitsu for adults and children. Also offered on Thurs. Gulf Coast Martial Arts. More info: 251-979-6019. Positive Parenting Class – 6-8pm. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create your happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-4795700. Kids101@comcast.net. Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. First Tues each month. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. A great place to meet others interested in kayaks and canoes. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker.Blogspot.com. Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. First Tues each month. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort. CWG Mobile Group – 7-9pm. Second and fourth Tues each month. Read and discuss books by Neale Donald Walsch. Joy N Love, 171 Crenshaw St, Mobile. 251-382-4215. CWG_Mobile_Group@ yahoo.com. Guided Meditation by Rosie Blu – 7pm. Guided meditation is a relaxation exercise and a way to reconnect with the divine spirit that resides in each

of us individually; however, mostly, it is just a nice break from a crazy pace and hectic lifestyle. Free. Page and Palette, Fairhope. Contact Rosie Blu for more info: 251-517-5326, RosieBlu@gmail.com. Spiritual Cinema Group – 7-9pm. First, third and fifth Tues each month. View and discuss spiritual DVDs. Contact Heiner, 251-607-9089.

wednesday

Hospital Discounted Perms for Seniors – Seniors 65 and over receive discounted perms. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511. Viniyoga with Rhonda – 6:45am. Viniyoga is directed toward healing - a yoga for all ages. Join Rhonda to refresh your breath and renew your spirit. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Yoga with Faye – 8:30am. Enjoy Faye’s seamless style and renew your spirit with a glorious yoga class. Refresh and re-energize your body and mind! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. synergyoga.net. Positive Parenting Class – 9:30-11:30am. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create your happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net. Lunchtime Vinyasa with Tracey – 12-1pm. Feed your soul. Quiet the mind and restore vitality through a challenging sequence of asanas designed to increase strength, balance, and flexibility. All levels. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio. Midtown Mobile. ShantiWarrior.com. 251476-6463. Unusual Film Series – 2pm. Third Wed each month. Thought provoking cutting-edge films shown on big screen in meeting room. Adults only. Free. Popcorn and drinks included. Foley Public Library. 251-9437665. FoleyLibrary.org. All Levels Yoga and Meditation – 5:30-8pm. Join Dana Goudie for energizing flow yoga at 5:30 and learn meditation in a group setting with Betsey Grady at 7pm. Pay what you can. Daphne Rec Center. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251-202-YOGA. Gentle Yoga with Nadine – 6pm. Unwind from your day and let these gentle series of poses leave you feeling calm and refreshed to finish out your week. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy & Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMind MassageTherapy.com. International Association of Near Death Studies (IANDS) – 6-7:30pm. Second Wed each month. Ongoing discussion and support group affiliated with IANDS. Discussion expands to include intuition, after death communication, consciousness studies and related areas of interest to attendees. Free. West Regional Branch, Mobile Public Library. 251-340-8555. 90 Minute Anusara-Inspired Yoga – 6:15pm. Expand your energy with this longer class. Join Melanie Buffett, E-RYT in this radically affirmative practice. $15. Packages available. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com. 251-990-3447.

thursday Running Wild Group Run – 6am. A social group run starting and finishing at Running Wild store. Open to everyone, all ages and abilities. Just show

up and run! Run different distances ranging from 3-6 miles. Free. Running Wild, 214 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope. Jon Adams: 251-990-4412.

Sunrise Yoga with Chris G – 6am. Join Chris Garrett for an energizing blend of Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga. Charge the body and focus the mind to start your day. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Vinyasa with Tracey – 9:30am. Now 90 mins. More time, more bliss! Discover your inner light. Unite body, mind, and spirit in this energizing and centering raja yoga inspired practice. All levels. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio. Midtown Mobile. ShantiWarrior.com. 251476-6463. Gentle Yoga – 3-4:15pm. Focus on breath awareness and joint-opening movement. Perfect for beginners, seniors or those with injuries. Pay what you can. Space 301, downtown Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251-202-YOGA. All Levels Yoga – 5:30pm. Relax, renew and challenge yourself as Wendy Rush, RYT leads you through energizing poses and modifications for any level. Pay what you can. Daphne Rec Center. KulaYogaCommunity.org. 251-202-YOGA.

Yoga with Chris M – 5:45pm. Join Chris McFayden for energizing yoga that will enhance and refocus your body. Find your passion after a long day! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-4731104. Synergyoga.net.

Holy Yoga – 6pm. Connect to Christ through movement, breath and prayer. All levels welcome. $15/ drop-in or 8 classes for $108. Bodi By You Fitness Center, Mobile. 251-649-3337. BodiByYou.com.

friday Fab Fifteen Friday – Get an extra 15 percent off purchases every Friday. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackTo HealthNutrition.com. Weekly Meal Delivery – Vegan Personal Chef Services. Get your orders in! Weekly menus posted Monday. Orders must be placed by Friday for delivery the following week. To view menu and place orders: ShantiWarrior.com. Foundations of Yoga – 9:15am. Learn and practice the basics of yoga poses and breath awareness in a class format that skillfully balances effort and ease. $15. Packages available. Yoga Birds, 458 N Section, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com. 251-990-3447. Vinyasa Yoga with Ginger – 12pm. Join Ginger Dunaway for this fluid series of poses to increase strength, flexibility and balance in the body and mind. Class is instilled with yogic philosophy meant to connect you more deeply with this ancient tradition. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMind MassageTherapy.com. First Friday Artwalk – 6-8pm. First Fri each month. Enjoy an artsy and fun-filled night with an evening of exhibit openings, guest artists and live entertainment throughout beautiful downtown Fairhope. Map of participating venues available at the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St, Fairhope. 251-928-2228. EasternShoreArtCenter.com. LoDa ArtWalk – 6-9pm. 2nd Fridays in downtown have become quite a popular time and place to be at. With the LoDa ArtWalk in its 4th year, the event seems to be getting better each month. Cathedral Square Arts District, Mobile. 251-208-7443.

natural awakenings

March 2011

Fourth Friday Films – 6:30pm. Join us for a film viewing and discussion of various topics pertaining to the study and understanding of yoga. Fun and relaxed atmosphere with free popcorn and tea. Free. 458-B N Section St, Fairhope. Details at YogaBirds. com. 251-990-3447.

saturday Natural Health on the Radio – 9am. Dr. Jim Fox of Doctor’s Nutrition has a new call-in radio show on 104.9 FM. Learn more about natural health from a clinical perspective. Also streamed live on NewsRadio1049FM.com. More info: 251-445-7898. Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) Pet Adoption – 10am-2pm. Third Sat each month. Adoption event. PetSmart, Eastern Shore Center, Spanish Fort. 251-928-4585. BaldwinHumane.org. Hula Blast – 10:30am. A 600 calorie burning hour using hula dance to achieve your weight loss goals. $5. Bodi By You Fitness Center, Mobile. 251-6493337. BodiByYou.com.

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

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

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

OPPORTUNITIES GROW AL AREA MANAGER – Promote the availability of locally and sustainably grown farm products to new subscribers and service existing customers. Base pay plus commission. Call 205-266-5130. JOIN THE GREEN CLEAN TEAM! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, nontoxic cleaning services. If interested in becoming part of our team, please call 251-508-3796 for an interview.

SERVICES

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

300+ Distribution Points 25,000+ Monthly Readers Advertising Options for Every Budget Learn More: HealthLivingHealthyPlanet.com 251-990-9552 Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

BABYSITTING, HOUSEKEEPING & PETSITTING – Over 6 years of experience. References available upon request. Prices negotiable. Contact Maggie: 251-895-6447 or MScribner725@aol.com. COLOR THERAPY – Learn to use colors in all parts of your life and create changes you desire. Discover how they affect moods, emotions and why you’re drawn to certain colors. Rosie Blu: 251-517-5326. RosieBlu.com. HOLISTIC WELLNESS SERVICES – Holistic wellness coaching; vegetarian and vegan cooking classes, personal chef services; private yoga classes. Contact Tracey at Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com or visit Shanti Warrior.com. 251-510-2418. LAB WORK – Only $69 includes CBC, metabolic panel, lipid panel and thyroid panel. Hormone panel only $125. Other tests available with no appointment needed! Doctor’s Nutrition, Mobile. 251-445-7898.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS? Gone! Guaranteed! The Delta Institute, Dr. Diana Sturm, certified energy psychology practitioner. Private sessions and workshops. DeltaInstitute.net 251-219-4574. NEED AN EXPERIENCED HANDYMAN? – Over 8 years of experience in general handyman work. Painting, dry wall repair, pressure washing, wood repair and tile/floor repair. References available upon request. Contact Cody: 251-454-8258. PRIVATE FITNESS AND LIFE COACHING STUDIO – Fitness training, nutritional guidance and life skills coaching for women at Bodi By You in Mobile. 251-422-7265. BodiByYou.com. YOGA AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS – Gentle, therapeutic or fitness-based classes customized to groups or individuals and led by occupational therapist/yoga instructor. JulieWilkinsYoga.com. JWilkins75@gmail.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 OPPORTUNITIES AZALEA CITY CAT COALITION – Volunteers needed in any capacity: transporting cats, trapping and adoption events. Contact Susan Young: 251-648-7582. SusanYoung@AzaleaCity Cats.org. BARC! – Cat lover to help maintain cages at one of the adoption locations in Fairhope is needed. visit BaldwinHumane.org or call 251-928-4585. DORI DOGS – Volunteers (both human and dog) are needed for therapy dog work. 251-348-2158. DrBrown05@yahoo.com. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – Volunteers currently needed for five homes in Hillsdale neighborhood, Mobile. Opportunities include framing, siding, painting, flooring and landscaping. Every Monday thru Saturday, 8am-4pm. Groups or individuals welcome. Must be at least 16. Contact for details: 251-476-7171 or JTidwell@HabitatMobile.org.

LIST YOUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR FREE!

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

ART FAIRHOPE ARTIST GALLERY 18 South Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-8763 FairhopeArtistGallery.BlogSpot.com

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

ROSIE BLU Astro-Numerical Analysis 422 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope 251-517-5326, RosieBlu.com Understand the numerical and astrological influences in place at the time of your birth. Discover why it’s not just about your Sun-sign. Learn more about yourself and your life with a personalized and/or compatibility chart. See ad on page 10.

JUDITH Z. WILSON, MEMBER #759523

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

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

ASTROLOGY

ESSENTIAL OILS

CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING

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

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

A certified organic salon offering organic products and services including hair color, perms and shampoo. Keeping you and the Earth beautiful. See ad on page 9.

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

CHURCHES CONSCIOUS MILE SPIRITUAL CENTER OF MOBILE Sundays at 10am 1230 Montlimar, 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 27.

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.

LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR

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 29.

DIAPER SERVICES BEAUTY

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

LIL’ GREEN DIAPER SERVICE Dana Warner 251-378-8115 LilGreenDiaperService.com Mobile’s only all-inclusive diaper service. Taking care of baby’s bottom and our Earth, for a clean end.

EDUCATION

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

FOODS AND NUTRITION BURIS FARM MARKET & BAKERY

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

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

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

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

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

TO BE INCLUDED IN APRIL'S DIRECTORY, CALL 251-990-9552, OR EMAIL PUBLISHER@HEALTHYLIVINGHEALTHY PLANET.COM BEFORE MARCH 10. This logo indentifies businesses that have signed on to be Network Providers for the Natural Awakenings Discount Card. Learn more: HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. natural awakenings

March 2011

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 Café 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com 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 22.

VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFE II 3952 Airport Blvd, Mobile 251-345-0494 Café 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

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

HEALING ARTS 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.

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE KIRSTEN CHRISTMAS Holistic Health Coach 251-422-8203 Kirsten.M.Christmas@gmail.com Improve your well-being with weight loss, stress management and healthy alternatives.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

SOUND THERAPY MARTHA UMPHREY

ROSIE BLU Pet Therapy 422 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope 251-517-5326, RosieBlu.com Rosie Blu carries the Original Bach Flower Essences and Green Hope Farms Animal Wellness Line. Let us help you choose the right blend for any situation for you as well as your furry friend. See an on page 10.

PHOTOGRAPHERS VICTORIA WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY

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 22.

HOLISTIC PET CARE

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

HYPNOTHERAPY MARQUERITE DILLON, RN, BSN, HCN Hypnosis for Positive Life Changes 4313 Momote Dr., Mobile 251-463-1570, RiteDillon@yahoo.com Utilize mind over matter to achieve goals, control cravings, enhance athletic performance and conquer other personal challenges, all while experiencing a relaxed state of mind. Individual and group sessions available. Call for an appointment.

MASSAGE THERAPY WARLOCKS HAIR SALON 2A South Church Street, Fairhope 251-929-1899 Find us on Facebook: Warlocks Hair Salon Relax and re-juvenate. Now offering massages on Mondays, 8am-8pm. $20 off first visit. Gift Certificates Available!

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

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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 DAUERWALDEN

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

MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER

20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204 MiddleEarthHealing.com Middle Earth is an evolving education center, modeling permaculture, sustainable living and the interconnection of the health of the planet and the health of her inhabitants. See ad on page 20.

YOGA JULIE WILKINS YOGA 251-554-4856 JWilkins75@gmail.com JulieWilkinsYoga.com

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

YOGA BIRDS

458-B North Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-3447 YogaBirds.com Fairhope’s yoga studio and boutique with yoga classes for everyone: Anusara-Inspired®, Foundations, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Chair Yoga, weekend workshops and more. View full schedule and sign-up for classes and special events at YogaBirds.com See ad on page 12.

KULA YOGA COMMUNITY

251-202-YOGA Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org KulaYogaCommunity.org Yoga classes utilizing shared spaces with four locations in Daphne, Downtown and West Mobile. Classes for every level. Learn from teachers with various experiences and backgrounds. All classes are Pay What You Can. Check out our full schedule at KulaYogaCommunity.org. See ad on page 12.

New to You... and green too!

Advertise on this page and save up to $62/mo.

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

Kaglen’s Resale

Furniture & Home Accessories New items arriving daily.

Big Variety, Low Prices. 251-666-2000

3431 Cottage Hill Rd. Mobile, AL

New Creation Consign Clothing and Accessories for Women and Men

Style that makes cents. 251-943-4250

3800 S. McKenzie St., Ste 3 Foley, AL 36535 Mention this ad to receive a 10% disount!

A fundraiser for Our Sisters’ Closet

Cheap Chic Boutique

Clothing, accessories and shoes for every woman.

We are cheap, but oh so chic.

The mission of OSC is to improve the self-confidence and job opportunities of disadvantaged women by providing interview and workplace clothing, and job search support and career advancement training to women, men and teens.

Friday, March 11, 8:30am-6pm & Saturday, March 12, 9am-3pm Sisters of Mercy Building, St. Mary Parish

1450 Old Shell Rd (across from McGill-Toolen High School) Terri Kearns • 251-423-2001• oursisterscloset@comcast.net • www.oursisterscloset.org

330 Fairhope Ave • Fairhope • 251-928-4866 4358A Old Shell Rd • Mobile • 251-517-1197 25325 Hwy 98, Ste 1 • Daphne • 251-625-4332

SECOND THOUGHT CONSIGNMENT 103 Hwy 59 North, Ste B Summerdale, AL 251-989-2444 Second.Thought@hotmail.com

The little shop that fits your life with tables, chairs, sofas, desks, dressers and kitchen stuff! Bring more imagination than money and have fun!

YOUR CONSIGNMENT BUSINESS Mobile & Baldwin Counties Call 251-990-9552 To Reserve Your Spot Rates start at $50 per month. Call today to promote consignment shops as the green shopping option!

Every week you get a beautiful seasonal array of Alabama-grown fruits and vegetables grown by Alabama farmers that care; farmers that know and can take the time to harvest at just the right time for optimum flavor and nutritional value. A group of farmers that can provide the quality and the variety that you want. And it is delivered to you within 24-48 hours of harvest. Add to your weekly delivery from our ever-expanding online healthy gourmet grocery store.

Deliveries are now being made to Mobile and Baldwin counties!

205-991-0042