Natural Awakenings March 2015

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ANIMAL RESCUE

Big and Small, They Need Our Help

Conscious PIPELINE EATERIES FORUM The Best Menus Offer Healthy Foods

The proposed project’s regional impact

Go For The GREENS! Clever Ways to Make Them Tasty

March 2015 | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition | NABlueRidge.com

letterfromthepublisher contact us Publisher Tracy Garland Publisher@NABlueRidge.com Editor Karen Adams Marketing & Advertising Bonnie Cranmer Bonnie@BlueRidgeGreenMedia.com Design & Production Courtney Ayers Karen Garland, Graphic Design Distribution Leigh Anne Woods distribution@nablueridge.com To contact Natural Awakenings Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition:

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s I write this, I am enjoying the view from my home office window of about 8 inches of beautiful, sparkling snow. All of our familial creatures—that is, me, the hubby, our three boys, four cats, one dog and one goldfish—are enjoying a snow day off from work and school, and generally being cozy.

On cold or snowy days like these, I often wonder how all of the homeless animals on the streets and in the countryside are faring. With these thoughts comes gratitude for the shelters, animal rescues and volunteers that dedicate their time and energy toward ending animal suffering and finding these sweet companions forever-homes. We explore the topic of “animal welfare” in this month’s issue, and have assembled articles and resources focused on helping companion, farm and wild animals alike.

Maybe you’re also concerned about the health and welfare of farm animals used to make the food you eat. Did you know that labels like “natural”, “free range” and “antibiotic-free” have nothing to do with animal welfare or environmental sustainability? Check out our news brief about Animal Welfare Approved, a great resource for label information and local sources of humanely-raised foods. (Hint: in our area these include Leaping Waters farm in Shawsville and Happy Rooster farm in Pilot, as well as Local Roots and Lucky Restaurants in Roanoke.)

This month, we also take a look at new distribution trends in the health and local foods industries. Healthy, locally-sourced foods are becoming more readily available at “mainstream” restaurants—for example, Montano’s Restaurant in Roanoke sources their produce and meats from local farms. Please stop by there for a meal, and tell them Natural Awakenings sent you!

Speaking of local farms, the proposed Mountain View natural gas pipeline is slated to travel right through Four Corners Farm in Franklin County. This month’s community spotlight talks to local leaders about the pipeline’s impact and a forum slated for March 9th that will address the issue in more depth.

Have you heard that Kale is King (and likes to be massaged)? Read “Love your Greens” to find out why, then check out the “All Hail Kale” recipes from local gourmets at Roanoke Natural Foods CoOp, Health Nut and Seven Springs Farm.

Don’t forget to mark April 25th on your calendar for Earth Day Roanoke at Wasena Park, and check out our April issue for this and other Earth Day activities in the region!

Sincerely,

Tracy Garland, Publisher

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newsbriefs actionalert healthbriefs ecotip community spotlight

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

12 PIPELINE FORUM

Regional Impact

by Sue Lindsey

greentravel

16 conscious eating

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healingways naturalpet

14 BLUE RIDGE

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EL L GREEN TRAVEL

Greening St. Patrick’s Day

by Anne Piedmont

calendar resource directory

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 540-384-1815 or email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com.

Deadline for ads: the 5th of the month.

16 THE NEW

HEALTHY CUISINE

Good-to-Go Eats

by Judith Fertig

18 ANIMAL RESCUE Big and Small, They Need Our Help

by Sandra Murphy

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NABlueRidge.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 1st of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Publisher@NABlueRidge.com. or fax to 540-444-5668.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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22 LOVE YOUR GREENS!

New Ways to Prepare these Nutritional Powerhouses

by Nava Atlas

24 LIFESAVING ACTS Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

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by Sandra Murphy natural awakenings

March 2015

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newsbriefs Animal Welfare Approved Updates ‘Food Labels Exposed’

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nimal Welfare Approved (AWA) is a food label program for meat and dairy products that come from farm animals raised to the highest animal welfare and environmental standards. The program recently updated and re-released its “Food Labels Exposed” publication, providing definitions for various food label terms and claims. The publication is available in pdf and as an app for smartphones.

According to the publication, terms like “natural” or “free-range” or “antibiotic-free” have nothing to do with real animal welfare or environmental sustainability. For conscious consumers, these definitions can be misleading their purchasing decisions.

“Consumer demand is really driving the industry to make changes to more humane ways of raising animals for food,” says Emily Lancaster Moose, director of communications and outreach for AWA. “It’s important for consumers to know exactly what food producers’ claims mean and what they do not.”

AWA also encourages conscious consumers to check out their product search directory to find local sources for AWA-approved foods by keyword, zip, city and state, distribution category or product type.

AWA operates on a nonprofit basis in order to remain completely impartial in its auditing. To donate to the organization through the Trust for Conservation Innovation, click the “donate” button on the top left of the AWA website.

Visit AnimalWelfareApproved.org/ Food-Labels-Exposed to download the pdf, or visit ITunes or the Google Playstore to download the app from your smartphone. The product search directory is at AnimalWelfareApproved.org/ Product-Search.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Seven Springs Farm Offers 2015 CSAs

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even Springs Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is currently accepting membership applications for the 2015 season.

Seven Springs CSA members receive weekly deliveries of freshly picked vegetables from the middle of May through early December. Each delivery includes five to eight different vegetables which vary with the season. Members arrange to pick up their weekly delivery at predetermined locations in Roanoke, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Floyd, or at Seven Springs Farm.

CSA membership options include full, half and quarter vegetable shares, full and half egg shares, and herb shares. The program encourages people of various income levels to participate through sliding scale pricing. The farm applies all income that is collected above the minimum on the sliding scale range towards one of three programs: offering full or partial CSA scholarships to families who otherwise would not be able to join; donating half shares to Portable Produce (aka Plenty!), a local community program that distributes produce to the needy; and supplementing the head farmer’s 20K salary.

Members may choose a “working share” in which they provide a marginal number of hours (between 4 and 16 hours a year) to help harvest vegetables in order to receive discounts on their share. Seven Springs encourages families to bring their children to help with the harvest.

For more information or to sign up, call 540-651-3226, email PollyHieser@gmail.com or visit 7SpringsCSA.com. See ad, page 17.

FloydFest 2015 Offers New Ticket Options and Onsite Amenities

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loydFest, Southwest Virginia’s premier outdoor music and arts festival, will take place July 22 to 26, in Floyd. Kicking off with a new “Fire on the Mountain” theme, FloydFest 2015 offers attendees a staycation with possibilities to enjoy music, healing arts, sustainable workshops and panel discussions, with activities for all ages, including young kids and teens.

The festival’s on-site offerings include outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, disc golf and canoe trips; a healing arts village with yoga and meditation classes; and a circus trapeze and fire performances on the main field. Attendees can relax in the hammock village or beer and wine garden, and peruse over 100 artisans, food vendors and crafters. The musical line-up features a blend of bluegrass, Americana and rock, with headliners including Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile.

Ticket options include the High Roller All-Access VIP, which offers perks including premium backstage camping, complimentary catering and beverage services and access to onstage seating. FloydFest also offers a number of “glamping” options with comfortable mattresses, electricity and lounge areas. New this year is the HOV EZ-Pass Bundle which offers groups access to exclusive on-site park-and-camp space.

Location: Milepost 170.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information, call 888-VA-823-3787, email Info@ATWProductions.com or visit FloydFest.com.

See ad back cover.

NABlueRidge.com

Virginia Tech Develops Stewardship Plan for Stadium Woods

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he future of Stadium Woods, 12 acres of white oak forest behind Lane Stadium, at Virginia Tech, will be guided by a new stewardship plan. A collaborative effort between the Office of University PlanStadium Woods is a 12-acre ning and the College of Natural forest behind Lane Stadium Resources and the Environment, the plan is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2016.

Using best practices of forest management, the plan will identify strategies for use and enjoyment of the 300-year-old woods while maintaining its health. “The stewardship plan will help us identify appropriate uses for the forest where people can enjoy it while improving its health and maintaining its productivity,� states Paul M. Winistorfer, dean of the college.

As part of the planning process, Virginia Tech is holding a series of meetings to gather input from community groups. “Stadium Woods provides many benefits to the university and the community. It serves as a learning laboratory for our students and faculty and is a recreational area for many,� says Sherwood Wilson, vice president of administration.

Stadium Woods is a remnant white oak forest that has been here more than 300 years. The woods contain approximately 55 white oak trees that are more than three feet in diameter.

For more information, call 540-230-4942 or email Bob.Spieldenner@vt.edu.

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Community Housing Partners Begins 40th Year of Service

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ommunity Housing Partners (CHP), a nonprofit organization that aims to create homes and communities that are healthy, sustainable and affordable for low-income families, is celebrating 40 years of service to the community this year. In that time, CHP has helped over 310,000 people find homes. “I would have no place to go if it were not for CHP,� says Kim Hosey, a Virginia resident. “There’s a huge need for housing and it is important for people like myself to not only have a place that they can afford to live in, but also a place they are proud to live in.�

CHP was established in 1975 to serve the needs of lowincome and low-wealth individuals in Virginia. It is now a 400-employee organization with a footprint across seven states in the southeast. CHP’s activities include real estate development, architectural design, construction, energy contracting and training, asset management, property management, realty and homeownership and comprehensive resident services.

For more information, call 540-382-2002, email MHammond@chpc2.org or visit CommunityHousingPartners.org.

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newsbriefs Earth Day Roanoke Moves to Wasena Park

Survey Finds Virginians Want Clean Energy

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arth Day Roanoke 2015 will be held in Wasena Park this year, on Saturday, April 25. The annual event has previously been held in the Grandin Village area.

According to festival planner, Polly Branch, “The move to Wasena Park will allow us to accommodate more vendors and visitors, and provide a festival experience that is closer to nature.” One example of this is Earth Day Roanoke will now include nature walks with the Blue Ridge Wildflower Society and outdoor environmental demonstrations near the river and in the field.

Other attractions include free bike tune-ups; children’s games; environmental education booths; healing arts practitioners; crafts; food; music; workshops (including composting and bee raising); and the 2nd Annual Recycled Derby Race.

Branch also points out that visitors will be able to travel to the event on foot or bike via Roanoke River Greenway which traverses the park. In addition, parking is available at the Wasena softball fields and the skateboard park and handicapped parking is located near the shelter and the playground.

Earth Day Roanoke is sponsored in part by Roanoke Natural Food Coop, Roanoke City Parks & Rec, Ride Solutions, Tower’s Family Chiropractic, 101.5 “The Music Place” and Natural Awakenings magazine.

Cost: Free. Location: Wasena Park, Roanoke. For more information, email Info@EarthDayRoanoke.com or visit EarthDayRoanoke.com. See ad, page 3.

recent statewide survey found the opinions of 400 registered voters in Virginia on various energy issues.

Virginians are especially enthusiastic about energy efficiency and wind and solar power which they see as creating jobs, cleaning the air and increasing energy independence.

The EPA’s Clean Power Plan—which aims to significantly reduce emissions by the year 2030 by setting strict carbon dioxide emission limits on existing coal-fired power—has support from 64 percent of those surveyed, while 31 percent oppose it. Eight in ten (83 percent) support Virginia developing its own state plan to reduce carbon pollution and increase the use of clean energy and energy efficiency.

Nearly all surveyed favored increased energy efficiency as a way to meet Virginia’s future needs, and over eight in ten want to increase the use of a number of renewable sources, including solar, wind and hydropower.

The survey was conducted via phone by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3Research.com) and Public Opinion Strategies (POS.org) in January 2015.

To download a pdf of the survey findings, visit http:// docs.nrdc.org/globalwarming/files/glo_15020301a.pdf.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Online Course and Conference Offered to Virginia Forest Landowners

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he Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program at Virginia Tech will offer a 12-week online course, Woodland Options for Landowners, March 2 to May 23, for Virginia forest landowners looking to gain an understanding of how to keep their woods healthy and productive. “Interest in this course, now in its 12th year, continues to grow,� says Jennifer Gagnon, coordinator of the Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program. “Participants love the convenience of an online course and appreciate the opportunity to connect with experts as well as experienced landowners.�

Participants practice tree The course aims to help both novice and veteran private identification techniques. forest landowners become better stewards of their land by teaching basic management principles and techniques. Books, CD, and online course materials are included. Natural resource professionals and experienced landowners serve as mentors to the students and help with questions via a group discussion board.

Forest landowners are also invited to attend this year’s Woods and Wildlife Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March 14, at Germanna Community College, in Culpeper. Cosponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Forestry, the conference will teach attendees how to maximize their property’s potential.

The College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech advances the science of sustainability with programs that prepare the future generation of leaders to address the complex natural resource issues facing the planet. As a land-grant university, Virginia Tech serves the Commonwealth of Virginia in teaching, research and with the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Cost: $45/family. For more information, call 540-231-6391, email JGagnon@vt.edu or visit tinyurl.com/pr7yk6x.

Stewardship Virginia Launches 2015 Campaign

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tewardship Virginia is a statewide campaign to encourage citizens and volunteer groups to implement projects that will enhance and conserve Virginia’s natural and cultural resources. The Stewardship Virginia spring 2015 campaign runs from April 1 to May 31, and the fall campaign runs from September 1 to October 31.

Individuals and volunteer groups can participate by registering their projects as Stewardship Virginia events. Projects should focus on one of the following goals: Enhance water quality; Control invasive species; Improve recreational resources; Preserve historic and cultural resources; Conserve natural resources; Educate people about recreational, historical, cultural, wildlife, forest and water resources; Improve wildlife habitat and tree cover.

Project examples include waterway adoption; trail improvement; planting of riparian buffers; invasive species control; landscaping for conservation and habitat improvement.

This is the 13th year for the campaign. Last year, more than 300 projects were registered and had more than 5,000 volunteers. Volunteers cleaned up rivers and streams, hauled away thousands of pounds of trash, cleared trails and planted native plants, among other activities.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation coordinates Stewardship Virginia in partnership with other state natural resource agencies. Participants will receive certificates of appreciation from Governor Terry McAuliffe.

For more information, call 877-42WATER, email BonniePhillips@DCR.Virginia.

Gov or visit DCR.Virginia.Gov/Stewardship.

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March 2015

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actionalert

healthbriefs

New GMO Labeling Bill Needs Citizen Feedback on Capitol Hill

Ginkgo Biloba Calms ADHD, Boosts Memory

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ongressman Mike Pompeo (R), of Kansas, has introduced House Bill HR 4432, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014 (Tinyurl. com/LabelGMOBill), which would ban states from passing genetically engineered food labeling laws and undo those already passed, making voluntary labeling the law of the land. The bill also allows companies to label products containing GMOs as “natural”. Healthy food advocates have dubbed it the “Denying Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act.” The bill bans any mention of organic natural foods as being safer or better than their GMO counterparts and sets a strong burden of proof on organic small farms that wish to grow and market their products as GMO-free.

Congress needs to protect the right to know if food contains genetically modified organisms (GMO). While grassroots efforts to require labeling of GMO are gaining momentum, big agriculture and biotech companies like Monsanto are trying to block this right to know if a food has been genetically modified. The issue is critical and timesensitive, so action needs to be taken now to contact Congress.

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

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

A study from Liberty University, in Virginia, previously examined 262 adults ages 60 and over with normal memory and mental performance and found that the same Ginkgo biloba extract improved their cognitive scores.

Half of the study participants were given 180 mg of the extract daily and half were given a placebo. Standardized tests and a subjective, self-reporting questionnaire found the Ginkgo resulted in significant cognitive improvements among the older adults.

Meditation Minimizes Migraines

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esearchers from the Wake Forest School of Medicine found that mindfulness meditation significantly reduced the number and duration of migraines among 19 episodic migraine patients.

Ten were given eight weeks of mindfulness classes with instructions for adding personal meditation in-between sessions. The other nine received typical migraine care.

Those in the meditation group experienced an average of 1.4 fewer migraines per month, which averaged nearly three hours less than the ones experienced by those in the control group. Pain levels of the headaches reported by those in the meditation group averaged 1.3 points lower on a scale of one to ten.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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

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

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

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

Another option is to install an automatic water leak detection and shutoff system.

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communityspotlight

Proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline Forum March 9

By Sue Lindsey

Photo Credit: Carolyn Reilly Under its current proposed route, the Mountain Valley Pipeline would run through Four Corners Farm in Franklin County

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nvironmental groups have stepped up and grassroots groups have organized to fight a proposed underground pipeline to transport natural gas through Western Virginia. The Cabell Brand Center (CBC) wants to do its part by getting beyond emotions attached to the topic and presenting an objective look at the proposal.

As such, the center will hold a forum, March 9, at Virginia Western Community College’s Whitman Theater, focusing on environmental and economic issues associated with pipelines in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.

The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline is among several that would originate in northern West Virginia, but as of now it is the only one that would affect the Roanoke Valley. Natural Gas infrastructure developer, Williams Transco, is in the preliminary stages of proposing a line that could pass through Western Virginia.

The proposed 300-mile-long Mountain Valley line, a joint venture of EQT Corp. and NextEra Energy, would transmit natural gas at high pressure through a buried 42-inch-wide pipe to southern Virginia. The route hasn’t been determined exactly, but under the current plan it would pass through Giles, Montgomery, Roanoke and Franklin counties before joining a Transco pipeline in Pittsylvania County. The pipeline would require a 125-foot-wide right of way along its route during construction and a 75-foot strip permanently, according to its website.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

“It’s the most important environmental issue facing western Virginia today,” states Rupert Cutler, a member of the board of CBC who will moderate the forum. CBC, founded by the late E. Cabell Brand in 1987, focuses on linkages between environmental, social and economic issues, according to Angela Conroy, its executive director. The goal of the March forum says Conroy is “to present some objective assessment on both the economic and the environmental sides, both the pros and the cons.”

Speaking on the importance of proposed pipelines to the gas industry will be John D’Orazio, president of Roanoke Gas Company. State Senator John Edwards, D-Roanoke, is to give a legislator’s viewpoint, Conroy said, and Roanoke County Supervisor Charlotte

Photo Credit: Kay Moore The Bent Mountain property bordered by a fence is owned by Getra Hanes Selph’s parents, Steven and Patti Hanes is close to the proposed pipeline path.

NABlueRidge.com

Moore will address the local perspective. The pipeline must receive federal approval before it can be built, and Paul D. Friedman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been invited to give an overview of the agency’s role.

Diana Christopulos, president of the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, said opponents of the pipeline are unified and cover a broad spectrum of viewpoints, from landowners to scientists. Her main concern is the fracking process the companies will use to extract natural gas for the pipeline, and that is the issue she will address at the CBC forum. Fracking involves injecting fluids into shale beds at high pressure in order to obtain oil or natural gas.

Natural gas is a cleaner fuel than coal, but Christopulos said fracking can result in leaks of methane gas at the wellheads.

Methane, she said, produces far more greenhouse gas than coal would. “Our whole mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” she added, referring to the Cool Cities Coalition. Christopulos went on to say that the fracking process, which involves deep underground drilling both vertically and horizontally, can also increase the threat of earthquakes and contaminate drinking water.

Natural gas is a good complementary fuel with solar or wind power because it can be turned on and off easily as needed, Christopulos said. Her main objection is the rush to extract it.

“By sloppy wellhead use, they’re (the industry) taking away the benefits it could provide,” she explained.

Joe Lovett, executive director of Appalachian Mountain Advocates who will

address environmental issues at the forum, is alarmed that just as the nation is turning away from coal, there is a boom in natural gas fracking in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. “Instead of that, we should be turning to solar and wind and hydro,” he said.

Property rights are also of concern, Lovett said, because the pipeline companies would be able to take land by eminent domain if landowners don’t agree to give them rights of way. “FERC would allow private companies to take private property for a private profit,” he said, instead of for something for public use such as a school or a road.

Getra Hanes Selph got interested in organizing opposition to the pipeline after she attended a Roanoke County Board of Supervisors meeting on the proposal last October. The result was Preserve Roanoke/Preserve Bent Mountain, one of several grassroots organizations that have been formed in the affected localities. Selph said the pipeline’s current route would affect her parents’ property on Bent Mountain and that of a relative in Franklin County, but she stressed in an email that this is a regional issue, not restricted to a “Not in My Back Yard” position.

According to the CBC’s news release, other speakers for the forum include: Laura Belleville of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, on the impact to the Appalachian Trail; David Perry of the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy, on the landscape impacts of natural gas and other forms of energy; Ashton Berdine of the West Virginia Land Trust, on West Virginia’s experience with fracking and pipelines; and Freeda Cathcart, on insurance-related risks associated with pipelines. Tamim Younos, center president, and Robert Sands, president of Virginia Western, will give opening remarks.

The forum runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Sponsors are the Roanoke Valley Cool Cities Coalition, VaSolarPro, Ann Martyn and Gayle Danielson.

Location: Virginia Western Community College’s Whitman Theater in the Business Science building; 3094 Colonial Ave., Roanoke. Register by email Info@ CabellBrandCenter.org or visit CabellBrandCenter.org/#!registration/c24d2.

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blueridgegreentravel

Shopping Green for St. Patrick’s Day

Gypsy Palooza’s Newberry likes layers and lace.

S

t. Patrick’s Day is all about the green.

Even those who aren’t Irish get in on the fun with green clothes, green beer and more. So, why not shop green?

The annual St. Patrick’s celebration in downtown Roanoke (scheduled for Saturday, March 14 this year) brings thousands of people into the area for the parade, music and other activities. The McDonald’s St. Patrick’s

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Day Parade starts at 11 a.m., and runs down Jefferson Street to Campbell Avenue and from Campbell to Williamson Road.

There will be two music venues. The Shamrock Festival, located in the Wells Fargo Plaza, will feature local and regional music. Corned Beef & Co.’s Celtic Celebration, located in front of the restaurant on Jefferson Street, will offer live Celtic music all afternoon with Second Wynde and other special guests. There’s even a children’s area located in front of the Taubman Museum of Art along Salem Avenue, and in the all-new Market Square, which will include face-painting, games and inflatables.

But there is so much more to do in Downtown Roanoke. Shopping local is “really important to the local economy,” says Deborah Goglia, owner of Birdy’s Loft.

“It’s a way to keep our money in our city.” Her store is inside Center in the Square and features vintage items, local art and “unique things you can’t get online.”

The “green” aspect of Birdy’s Loft lies in recycling and reusing antiques, collectables, vintage and new clothing, estate finds of jewelry, antique purses, furniture and toys. She also sells works from 14 local artists, including a weaver, a wood turner and glass artist, as well as oil and acrylic paintings. She also shows and sells her own photography.

New to the City Market—just in time for St. Patrick’s Day—is Gypsy Palooza Too. This is the second location for the two-and-half year old Salem store, according to owner Katy Newberry. Her store is in the space formerly occupied by Blue Ribbon Boutique, which closed after 31 years. Like the Salem store, it features vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, furniture and other gift and clothing items. “I love layering and lace,” states Newberry. She also enjoys repurposing old things into new. For instance, she takes old skeleton keys, vintage buttons and some leather, and turns them into a necklace.

Newberry has been a massage therapist for years and kept driving by the building that would be her Salem store. “And it grew into this. I like the idea of something unusual.” She says she likes dressing people up—with hats, boots and clothing (vintage and new).

She might take a secondhand coat and change its look with new buttons.

If the shopping and festivities make you hungry, Downtown Roanoke offers many choices. One of the greener ones is the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op Market Square. Since its opening in May 2013, the Market Square Co-op is basically a compact version of its parent store on Grandin Road. Grab a deli item to eat while you’re downtown, or shop for organic, local and healthy foods to take home.

Stroll down Church Avenue to 16 West Marketplace and Cork & Crust for brick-fired pizza, local craft beverages and a daily lunch hot bar with fresh salad options. The restaurant prepares fresh food and baked goods daily, and offers vegan and gluten-free options. Part of 16 West Marketplace which, itself, is repurposed from the former S&W Cafeteria, its art deco details form the Birdy’s loft features the work of 14 artists, including weaver and fiber artist Meridith Entingh.

Necklaces made of various old things at Gypsy Palooza.

backdrop to local merchants. Eight apartments are also located on the second and third floors of the building.

And remember, Goglia reminds us, “Parking is free on weekends.”

Anne Piedmont is a writer and research associate based in Roanoke. For more information, visit PiedmontResearchAssociates.com.

natural awakenings

March 2015

15

consciouseating

The New Healthy Cuisine Good-to-Go Eats

by Judith Fertig

K

atie Newell, a blogging Kansas City mother of two who fights inflammation from several autoimmune diseases, is rigorous about the fresh, unprocessed food she buys. After noticing adverse symptoms from dining at a restaurant, Newell initially thought that eating out was no longer an option for her.

Today, she happily ventures out for the occasional restaurant meal, knowing that the healthy food landscape is changing. “I look to restaurants

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

owned by local chefs that use local and sustainable ingredients and prepare everything from scratch,” she says.

From higher-end dining to fast-food joints, food trucks and vending machines, we now have even more choices for fresh, seasonal, organic, local, sustainable, tasty nutrition when we’re on the go. It’s because entrepreneurial chefs and fitness buffs are responding to customer demand for healthy eating options away from home.

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Range of Restaurants London’s celebrated Chef Yotam Ottolenghi, founder of several restaurants and takeout emporia and author of bestselling cookbooks Plenty and Jerusalem, says that “healthy” can happen simply by putting the spotlight on plants. Ottolenghi’s cuisine is known for celebrating vegetables, fruits and herbs. He says, “That attitude, I think, is a very healthy attitude to eating.”

At Gracias Madre, a plant-based vegan Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles and San Francisco, high style doesn’t mean chandeliers and rich cream sauces.

The brainchild of Executive Chef Chandra Gilbert, also director of operations for the Bay Area’s vegan Café Gratitude, it serves organic, local and sustainable fruits and vegetables and bold flavor without excessive calories. She says, “I’m inspired by what I want to eat that tastes good and makes me feel good, and I want to affect this planet—to create health and vibrancy all the way around.”

True Food Kitchen, a partnership between Dr. Andrew Weil and restaurateur Sam Fox, offers “honest food that tastes really good” at Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., locations. For lunch, diners might sip sea buckthorn, pomegranate, cranberry or black tea along with their quinoa burger or organic spaghetti squash casserole.

Newell and her family gravitate towards SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza, touting recipes developed by James Beard Awardwinning Chefs Michael Smith and Debbie Gold, who partnered with entrepreneur Gail Lozoff to create the first healthy, high-style pizzeria in 2005. Today it offers traditional and gluten-free pizza topped with fresh and organic (whenever

possible) ingredients at locations in Dallas, Omaha, the Kansas City metro area and Orange County, California.

Even at fast-food restaurants, healthy choices are increasingly available. “Unforked, Panera Bread and Chipotle do a great job being transparent about what’s in their food,” says Newell. Before venturing out, she often checks the company’s website for specific nutrition information.

Meals on Wheels– Food Trucks A burgeoning fleet of creatively conceived food trucks takes healthy eating to local customers in U.S. cities. In addition to preparing organic, plant-based foods, The Green Food Truck, in Culver City and San Diego, California, recycles used vegetable oil, composts produce scraps and offers recyclable servingware. Josh Winnecour, founder of the Fuel Food Truck, in Asheville, North Carolina, cites losing 50 unwanted pounds as his incentive for serving nutrient-dense, made-from-scratch food to his clientele.

New Generation Vending Most hospitals, universities, schools and corporations appear to espouse healthy eating—until the offerings in their vending machines reveal the opposite. Ethan Boyd, a student at Michigan State University, noted this disconnect. “While dining halls strive to serve healthy options,” he says, “there are 40 vending machines on MSU’s campus that spit out junk food.”

Sean Kelly, CEO of HUMAN Healthy Vending (Helping Unite Mankind and Nutrition), had a similar, “Oh, no,” moment at his New York City gym when he was a university student. Today, Kelly’s franchise model allows local operators to supply individual machines with better options from organic fresh fruit to hot soup. “Our vision is to make healthy food more convenient than junk food,” he says.

Entrepreneurs Ryan Wing and Aaron Prater, who also have culinary training, recently opened Sundry Market & Kitchen, in Kansas City, Missouri. In their update on a neighborhood market, they sell takeout foods like red lentil falafel and citrus beet soup. “I think people want to eat local food and better food, but they want it to be convenient,” observes Wing.

“The bottom line is we want to make it simple to eat good food.”

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March 2015

17

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

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

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

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

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

by Sandra Murphy

E

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

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

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

“Small dogs get adopted faster, so we

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The important message is not how many species have gone off the list, but how many didn’t go extinct,” says David Mizejewski, a celebrity naturalist for NWF. “It’s important to understand species require different ecosystems. When we quit draining swamps and rerouting rivers and leave them alone in a proper habitat, alligators will come back.

Eagles have fewer young, so it’s not easy for them to recover.”

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

Measures that included banning the

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Donate to support rehabilitation of an abused animal.

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

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

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

4 Lobby politicians to support worthy animal causes.

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poisonous DDT pesticide that contaminated their food and affected reproduction, improving native habitats and prohibiting hunting of the bird allowed its removal from the endangered list in 2007. They are still protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Another raptor, the peregrine falcon, has adapted to urban living in order to survive. Nests adorn tops of buildings and pigeons are a plentiful food supply.

Bears, mountain lions and wolves have been dwindling, hunted as dangerous, a nuisance or for sport.

With fewer of these natural predators, whitetailed deer can overpopulate their habitat and starve. Deer and other displaced animals may migrate into suburban areas in search of food, prompting hurtful human reactions to reduce their numbers.

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

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

If You Learn from Natural Awakenings, Share the If You Learn from Knowledge

Natural Awakenings, Share the Knowledge

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

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

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

Did You Know… n San Francisco’s SPCA is one of many organizations that offer free or low-cost spay/neuter for specific breeds most frequently seen in shelters, like pit bulls, and special programs offer free surgeries. Find locations at Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterServices. n One female dog can produce litters of up to 10 pups twice a year; cats can have three litters a year of up to five kittens each.

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n An estimated 2.7 million healthy shelter pets remain unadopted each year, yet only about 30 percent of pets in homes come from shelters or rescues, according to The Humane Society of the United States. n Factory farms account for 99 percent of farm animals, yet less than 1 percent of donated money directly assists them, reports Animal Charity Evaluators, in San Diego. The highly rated Mercy for Animals, dedicated to prevention of cruelty to farmed animals, reports, “Despite the fact that these are the most abused animals in the United States, they actually have the fewest number of advocates.” n Sandra, a 29-year-old Sumatran orangutan at the Buenos Aires Zoo, was recognized as a “non-human person” unlawfully deprived of her freedom by Argentine courts. “This opens the way not only for other great apes, but also for other sentient beings that are unfairly and arbitrarily deprived of their liberty,” says Paul Buompadre, an attorney with the Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights. “The question is not ‘Can they reason?’ or ‘Can they talk?’ but ‘Can they suffer?’” says Barry MacKay, director of the Animal Alliance of Canada.

“That to me is the ultimate question.”

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kill native species,” says cofounder Susan M. Tellem, in Malibu, California. “They can carry salmonella, parasites and tuberculosis,” she explains.

Unfortunately, a California law passed to limit importation was revoked within weeks due to claims of cultural bias by politicians lobbying for Asian food markets that sell live turtles and bullfrogs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local Animal Rescue Volunteer Opportunities

REGIONAL CENTER FOR ANIMAL CARE AND PROTECTION 1510 Baldwin Ave. NE Roanoke 24012 Volunteer Coordinator: Roxy Brown 540-344-4922 Ext. 300 mbrown@rcacp.org Volunteer Opportunities Cat Socialization Dog Walking Front Desk Assistant Kennel Assistant Off-site Adoption Events Rescue Networking Shelter Photography

ROANOKE VALLEY SPCA 1340 Baldwin Ave. Roanoke 24012 rvspca.org Volunteer Coordinator: Ruth Pierce, 540-339-9506 Volunteer Opportunities Kennel Assistant (daily 9am-Noon) Adoption Counselor (daily Noon-6pm) Special Events Assistant (varies based on event) Front Office Receptionist (daily 8:30am-Noon) Foster Families

ANGELS OF ASSISI 415 Campbell Ave. Roanoke 24016 AngelsOfAssisi.org Volunteer Coordinator: John Nicholson jnicholson@angelsofassisi.org Volunteer opportunities Dog Walking Cat Socializing Special Events Fostering Internship Adoption Ambassador Marketing

SMILES FOREVER ANIMAL RESCUE 13 Breckinridge Mill Rd. Fincastle 24090 Volunteer Coordinator: Becky Andrews, 352-425-8984 bandrews1027@yahoo.com Volunteer opportunities Dog Walking Cat Socializing Dog Training Fostering

FRANKLIN COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY-PLANNED PETHOOD 18401 Virgil H. Goode Hwy. Rocky Mount 24151 540-489-3491 Volunteer Coordinator: Donna Essig donna@plannedpethoodrockymount.com Volunteer opportunities Dog Walker Cat Socializing Front Desk Reception Fostering Store Volunteer Events Volunteer Grounds Maintenance

MOUNTAIN VIEW HUMANE SOCIETY 53 W. Main St. Christiansburg 24073 540-382-0222 5363 Peters Creek Rd. Roanoke 24019 540-562-8440 info@mountainviewspayneuter.org Volunteer opportunities General Assistance Administrative Vets and Vet Techs Trapping Transportation Fundraising Outreach and Education PR and Advertising natural awakenings

March 2015

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healingways

LOVE YOUR

GREENS! New Ways to Prepare these Nutritional Powerhouses

by Nava Atlas

F

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

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

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

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

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Use leafy spring greens in salads.

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

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

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

Visit VegKitchen.com.

All Hail Kale!

Recipes from Local Gourmets Now that you know how good kale can be for you, try these recipes to see how good it can taste!

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KALE CHIPS 1 head kale, washed and thoroughly dried 2 Tbsps olive oil Sea salt, for sprinkling Preheat the oven to 275° F. Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food.

Recipe provided by Seven Springs Farm

KALE-WALNUT PESTO WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES 1 large bunch kale (about 6 cups of leaves) 5 sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil) 1 clove garlic, chopped 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1/2 cup olive oil Salt to taste Place sun-dried tomatoes in a small dish and add boiling water, just to cover. Set aside while they soften. Strip the kale greens from the thicker ribs. Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Add the kale to the water and blanch for 30 seconds or less. Remove the greens immediately and place in an ice bath.

Remove kale from the ice bath, squeeze to remove the water then place it in a food processor. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes and add those, along with the garlic, Parmesan, walnuts, lemon juice and a pinch of salt, to the food processor. With processor running, drizzle in the olive oil, scraping down the sides as needed. Adjust salt to taste. Toss with pasta and top with additional Parmesan and toasted walnuts, if desired, or use as a sauce for pizza or crostini.

Recipe provided by Roanoke Natural Foods CoOp

MILLIEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLASSIC GREEN SMOOTHIE 2 frozen bananas (dice bananas & freeze in a plastic bag for 12 hours) 1 Tbsp sunflower seed butter 3 kale leaves 1 cup almond mylk (carrageenan-free) 1 dash cinnamon Blend kale and almond mylk first. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

Recipe provided by Millieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Living CafĂŠ inside Health Nut Nutrition in Wyndhurst

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March 2015

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

naturalpet

In Faraway Lands

LIFESAVING ACTS Protecting Animals at Home and Abroad

by Sandra Murphy

E

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

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

Spread the word: Only about 30 percent of household pets come from shelters or rescues, according to the ASPCA. To help, suggest that shelters post photos in the lobby, supported by a note about each animal’s good points and special needs to

24

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

entice potential adopters. Also share YouTube videos that celebrate adoption and advocate controlling the pet population (see Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic1 and Tinyurl.com/SpayNeuterStreetMusic2).

Volunteer: The Motley Zoo, in Redmond, Washington, provides medical care and behavioral training for ill, injured, neglected, abused and unwanted animals mainly from overflowing shelters.

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

No kill shelters are becoming more common, even though they require

NABlueRidge.com

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

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

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

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

Pangolins eat ants and termites.

Hunted for meat and their scales (used

in Asian medicines), they are one of the world’s most endangered mammals (see Tinyurl.com/SavePangolins).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saint Francis Service Dogs

by Dr. Marjorie Lewter

L

ooking at our bonds with animals, it’s clear that they rescue us as much as we rescue them. Saint Francis Service Dogs sometimes come from shelters and sometimes from breeders, but they always unquestionably serve to rescue the people who’ve rescued them!

All it takes is to attend a graduation ceremony to see how these dogs change lives. They serve soldiers with PTSD and people with physical handicaps of all kinds. They open a new world for people with severe autism and other mental disabilities.

St. Francis relies entirely on grants, fundraisers and private donations from individuals and corporations, which are always welcome. Volunteers are also needed as well as supplies and equipment.

It is heartwarming to see the work that this group is doing. They say, “Hope is a four-legged word.” What a wonderful saying to describe our animal angels!

Dr. Marjorie Lewter practices holistic veterinary medicine at Holistic Veterinary Consultants, in Blacksburg. For more information, call 540-616-(WAGS) 9247 or visit HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com. For more information on donating to or volunteering for Saint Francis Service Dogs, visit SaintFrancisDogs.org.

See ads page 24 and 28.

Everyday Heroes

honor one. be one. save one.

April 25, 2015 – Join Us 10k/5k/1 mile Ashley Lemon: Daughter of breast cancer survivor, race participant, hero

Primary 2015 Race Sponsors:

komenvablueridge.org

natural awakenings

March 2015

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calendarofevents

savethedate

To have your event included in the Calendar of Events, please email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Calendar entries are due by the 5th of the month prior to publication.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

Eckankar Worship Service - 11am. “Reaching for the truth within. It’s all about consciousness. It’s all about Love.” Potluck following Worship Service.

Forest Library, Hwy 221, 15583 Forest Rd. SWVA. ECK.Cntr@gmail.com, ECK-va.org, Eckankar.org.

Nine Ways to Grow More Food in Less Space – 10:30am. Discover nine simple tips to harvest up to 60 pints of vegetables from a garden area smaller than a twin size bed, with speaker Debra Graff.

Free. Meadowbrook Public Library (Shawsville).

540-268-1964.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 Community HU Song and Introductory Book Discussion - 7pm. Community HU song followed at 7:45pm with an Eckankar book discussion on Wisdom of the Heart, Book 3 by Harold Klemp. Harmonic Wave Wellness Center, 3201 Hill St, Lynchburg. 540353-5365, SWVA.ECK.Cntr@gmail.com, ECK-va. org, Eckankar.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20

Vernal Equinox SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Yoga for All – 4pm. Join Helen Maxwell, owner of Bedford Yoga Center, for a yoga session for all ages and skill levels. Peaks of Otter Lodge, Milepost 86, Blue Ridge Pkwy, Bedford. 540-586-1081.

Spring Carnival Fun-Razer – 10am. Events and activities include outdoor high ropes course, free live music, bounce house, face painting, farmers market, games, timed events, group events and prizes, food available. Bedford Area Family YMCA, 1111 Turnpike Rd, Bedford. 540-586-3483.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Nine Ways to Grow More Food in Less Space – 6pm. Discover nine simple tips to harvest up to 60 pints of vegetables from a garden area smaller than a twin size bed, with speaker Debra Graff. Free.

Blacksburg Public Library. 540-552-8246.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 57th Annual Highland Maple Festival – March 14-15. March 21-22. Tours, pancake and buckwheat cake breakfasts, arts & crafts, Blue Grass music and clogging. The Highland Center, 61 Highland Center Dr, Monterey. 540-468-2550, HighlandCounty.org.

Nine Ways to Grow More Food in Less Space – 10:30am. Discover nine simple tips to harvest up to 60 pints of vegetables from a garden area smaller than a twin size bed, with speaker Debra Graff. Free.

Christiansburg Public Library. 540-382-6956.

Nine Ways to Grow More Food in Less Space – 12:30pm. Discover nine simple tips to harvest up to 60 pints of vegetables from a garden area smaller than a twin size bed, with speaker Debra Graff. Free. Hahn Garden Pavilion, VA Tech.

540-231-5970.

Nine Ways to Grow More Food in Less Space – 12:30pm. Discover nine simple tips to harvest up to 60 pints of vegetables from a garden area smaller than a twin size bed, with speaker Debra Graff. Free. Roanoke City Main Library, 706 S Jefferson St, Roanoke. 540-853-2473.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 Earth Day Celebration – Outdoor family festival celebrating our Earth, with environmental and community service displays, music, crafts, food and children’s games. Free. Wasena Park, Roanoke.

540-387-2782, EarthDayRoanoke.com.

Healthy Kids and Family Day – Informational tables, booths, ongoing talks, demonstrations, and opportunities to exercise, all planned to raise health awareness in the Bedford community. Open to the public. Free. The Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Rd, Big Island. 434-299-5080, Director@ SedaliaCenter.org.

A dog is a vehicle, you

know; a dog is a window to Mother Nature, and that’s the closest species we have. ~Cesar Millan

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Deadly Accuracy: The Night Witches of the Soviet Union – 1pm. The most highly decorated female union in the Soviet Air Force, the Night Witches flew missions against the German military from 1942 until the end of the war. Join us for a lecture to learn more about these remarkable women and their impact. Bedford Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Rd, Bedford. 540-587-5681.

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Support our advertisers!

For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community.

Source: the3/50project.net 26

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

NABlueRidge.com

ongoingevents sunday Unity of Roanoke – 9 and 11am services. All welcome.

3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200.

Office@UnityRoanoke.org. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

Unity in the Seven Hills – 10-11am. Sunday service. Free.

3522 Campbell Ave, Lynchburg. 434-845-5832. Love@ UnityInTheSevenHills.org. UnityInTheSevenHills.org.

Valley Community Church – 11am. Practical solutions based on the teachings of Jesus. Services include varied musical programs; refreshments served afterward. Also streaming live on the Internet. All welcome.

Nursery available. 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza.

540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Eckankar Worship Service – 11am-Noon. Second Sunday of every month. During each worship service we explore a spiritual topic and practice simple spiritual exercises to help gain personal experience with the light and sound of God. All welcome. Eckankar Center, 1420 Third St, Roanoke (first floor, back far right office). 540-353-5365. SWVA. Eck.Cntr@gmail.com. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Meditation Class – 11am-12:30pm. “How to Understand the Mind.” Everyone welcome. $10/person.

Dharmapala Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. Info@MeditationInVirginia. org. MeditationInVirginia.org.

Peace Readers Book Group – 2pm. Last Sunday of every month. Book group focusing on titles that help to create a culture of peace. For more information, check the calendar on our website. All are welcome. Free.

The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg.

434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

Enter the Mysterium – 5-7pm. A weekly spiritual service featuring grounding games, interactive presentations, mudra meditations and energy healing. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke, 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-998-9789. VCCDS.com.

monday AA Meetings – 8-9am. Also Wednesdays and Fridays.

Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

CoWorking at the CoLab – 9am-5pm. Opportunity to sample a working space at the CoLab. Free. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702.

Info@GrandinCoLab.com. GrandinCoLab.com.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

A Course in Miracles – 7-9pm. All welcome. Love offering. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200 x10. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

tuesday Kids’ Yoga – 4:30-5:15pm. Beginners class aimed at being light and engaging for children. Ages 4-11. Free/

first session; $8/one session; $36/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. Call to pre-register 540-3816215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginners Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Also Thursdays 4:155:30pm and Fridays 9:30-10:45am. Increase your strength and flexibility. No experience necessary. Free/ first session; $12/one session; $48/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. Call to pre-register 540-3816215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Mindfulness Meditation – 5:30-7pm. Sitting and walking meditation, Dharma readings and discussions.

Free. Bridge of Compassion Sangha, West End Presbyterian Church, 1200 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke.

540-427-4843. BridgeOfCompassion.Wordpress.com.

AA Meetings – 6-7pm. Also on Thursdays. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-345-5932. TaiNormand@verizon.net.

Community HU Song in Roanoke – 7-7:30pm. First Tuesday of each month. Singing HU has helped people of many different faiths open their hearts more fully to the uplifting presence of God. Eckankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (first floor, back far right office). 540-353-5365. SWVA.Eck.Cntr@gmail.com.

Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Spiritual Experiences Discussion in Roanoke − 7-8pm. Third Tuesday of each month. Open discussion of past-life memory, insightful dreams, déjà vu, inner guidance, soul travel and more. Free spiritual experiences guidebook with audio CD provided. Eckankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (first floor, back far right office). 540-353-5365. SWVA.Eck.Cntr@gmail. com Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Edgar Cayce Search for God Group – 7:30-9:30pm.

New members welcome. 413 Dunton Dr, Blacksburg.

540-552-2873. IniBeckman@yahoo.com.

My Co-Op 101 – Last Tuesday of every month. Learn more about a cooperative business and how to make the most of your ownership. Free to owners; walk-ins welcome. Please call to reserve a space. Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-343-5652. RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop.

wednesday Mindfulness Self-Care for Practitioners – 9-10am.

Second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Hosted

by Alan Forrest, LPC, LMFT. Practice mindfulness for 30 minutes and then enjoy an open discussion for 30 minutes. Free-will offering. Pre-registration is required.

Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215.

LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Life in Balance Open House – 10am-6pm. Stop by and check out all of our great services; no appointment necessary. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Prayer and Meditation – Noon-12:20pm. Add your energy to the peaceful environment of our chapel and be lifted up through the use of positive affirmations during this sacred time of prayer and focused attention. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-562-2200. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

(X)po Wednesdays – 5-7pm. Gathering of local people talking about their ideas, experiences and interests with the goal of sparking a discussion. Light refreshments and beverages. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540524-2702. Info@GrandinCoLab.com. GrandinCoLab.com.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-345-5932. TaiNormand@verizon.net.

Meditation, Reading and Book Discussion – 6:30pm meditation; 7-8:30pm reading and book discussion.

Visit website for current book. Valley Community Church, Divine Science, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke.

One block off Rte 419, behind McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

New River Valley Unity Study Group – 7:30-9pm. Meditation, introspection and discussion. Free. Location varies.

Call for details, Bev 540-763-2410 or Betty 540-639-5739.

thursday Roanoke Community Drum Circle – 7pm. Express yourself through rhythm. Free. Grandin Village, Courtyard of Raleigh Court Baptist Church, corner of Memorial Ave and Grandin Rd, Roanoke. Sponsored by Plowshares, Roanoke. 540-989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

Meditation Class – 7-8pm. Everyone welcome. $10/ person. Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. Info@ MeditationInVirginia.org. MeditationInVirginia.org.

friday Alzheimer’s Support Group – 3-4pm. Third Friday every month. Members will discuss issues that arise from caring for a loved one with dementia. Light refreshments available. Free. Woodland Studio at the Village Center at Warm Hearth Village, 2603 Warm Hearth Dr, Blacksburg. 540-552-9176. Retire.org.

Second Fridays in Centertown Bedford – 5-8pm.

Second Friday of every month. Art Galleries and shops will be open. Centertown Bedford, Bedford. 540-5868582. CentertownBedford.com.

saturday Zen Meditation Group – 9-10am. Meditation instruction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-345-5932. TaiNormand@verizon.net.

Free Science-Based Natural Health Information – 10am-5pm. Second Saturday of every month. Drawings for free gift certificates, proven wellness information and great savings opportunities. The Well, 1764 Patriot Ln, Bedford. 540-587-9000, 877-843-9355. TheWellInBedford@gmail.com. WellOfCourse.net.

Monthly Silent Peace Vigil – Noon. Third Saturday of every month. All welcome. Downtown Roanoke City Market Building, 32 Market St, Roanoke. Sponsored

by Plowshares, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

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communityresourcedirectory To be included in the Community Resource Directory, please email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

ANIMALS AND PETS – SUPPLIES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY GRANDIN COLAB

NATURE’S EMPORIUM 3912 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018 540-989-8020 MyNaturesEmporium.com The largest selection of pet gifts, toys, beds and healthy foods and treats for all the special members of the family. Natural and holistic pet food, wild bird and garden supplies.

ANIMALS AND PETS VETERINARIANS CONCORD VETERINARY SERVICES Lori Leonard, BS, DVM, LFHOM 8908 Village Hwy., Concord, VA 24538 434-993-2403 ConcordVetServices.com

540-397-4377 GrandinCoLab.com The Grandin CoLab is a hub for ideation, or generation of new ideas. It is designed to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to resources, education and networking opportunities throughout the Roanoke and Blacksburg regions.

The space is available for memberships, business meetings and events. See ad, page 13.

H2O AT HOME Jean Cox, Founding Senior Director 360-271-9525 MyH2OatHome.com/Jean

Discover methods of support and comfort for your beloved animals. For 20 years we have offered homeopathy and other holistic modalities as well as conventional veterinary care. New patients welcome!

Ground-floor business opportunity. Earn “green” while helping others go green with your own home-based business. Be among the first advisors in Virginia and help launch the East Coast. Incentive packages available to experienced leaders. Call for more information.

HOLISTIC VETERINARY CONSULTANTS

CHURCHES

Marjorie M. Lewter, DVM 2401 S. Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-616-9247 HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com Professional guidance for clients with many issues including vaccines, nutrition and special health problems.

Geriatric care, cancer support and hospice care. Routine medical care for small animals, farm animals and horses.

Integrative medicine including acupuncture, botanical medicines, chiropractic and homeopathy. Discover the power of holistic medicine. See ad, page 24.

ECKANKAR, RELIGION OF THE LIGHT AND SOUND OF GOD 1420 3rd Street SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-353-5365 swva.eck.cntr@gmail.com eck-virginia.org Are you looking for the personal experience of God, every day? Each of us is connected to God through Divine Spirit (the ECK), which can be heard as Sound and seen as Light. Connect with a spiritual community of people who share your desire for truth. See ad, page 14.

BODYWORK – REIKI ROANOKE METAPHYSICAL CHAPEL

LUELLA CROCKETT

Rev. Reed Brown, Pastor 1488 Peters Creek Rd., NW Roanoke, VA 24017 540-562-5122 RoanokeMeta.org

Usui Reiki Practitioner 229 Union St., Salem, VA 24153 540-397-1355 LuellaCrockett.WordPress.com LuellaCrockett@gmail.com Reiki sessions available at Grandin Gardens every Wednesday and in Salem by appointment. Amethyst BioMat, Bach Flower Remedies and Young Living Essential Oils are combined to create a relaxing healing session as unique as you. Buy 2 Get 1 Free.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

We are a metaphysical church with spiritualist roots. We offer classes, workshops and speakers throughout the year, and we teach and practice positive spirituality. Sunday services: childrens’ Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; adult study, 9:30 a.m.; spiritual healing, 10 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m. Weekly classes and weddings. All welcome!

NABlueRidge.com

UNITY OF ROANOKE VALLEY Rev. Linda Taylor 3300 Green Ridge Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019 540-562-2200 UnityOfRoanokeValley.org We are a vibrant, loving, spiritual community, demonstrating Christ consciousness, embracing diversity and inspiring personal transformation. Join us in co-creating a world that works for all! See ad, page 7.

VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, DIVINE SCIENCE 5000 Carriage Dr., Roanoke, VA 24018 540-774-5512 VCCDS.com Teaching practical, spiritual laws based on and found in the example and teachings of Jesus, as well as the Bible and other great wisdom literature. Through Divine Science teachings you can lead a life of joyful inner and outer satisfaction and serenity.

ENERGY – CONSERVATION AND HVAC J & J WEATHERIZATION 434-847-5487 JoLangford@juno.com JJWeatherization.com With 30 years of experience in home energy performance, J&J Weatherization is a full-service company specializing in insulation, home energy conservation and efficiency.

FITNESS – HOOPING BLUSKYE HOOPS 252-489-7451 Info@BluSkyeHoops.com BluSkyeHoops.com At Blu Skye Hoops we are passionate about making life fun through the art of hoop dance. Invoking a fun, creative way for self-expression, combined with classes and custom hoops, we aim to ignite the passion and light that we each hold inside.

FOOD – NATURAL, ORGANIC AND VEGAN ROANOKE NATURAL FOODS CO-OP 1319 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015 1 Market Square, Roanoke, VA 24011 540-343-5652 RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop Virginia’s largest, cooperatively owned natural-foods grocery store. Nutritious food choices and earthfriendly products. We support sustainable environmental practices, local organic farmers, local businesses and our community. See ad, page 16.

REV. KANTA BOSNIAK, CHT Life Coach and Wedding Officiant 540-577-8854 Art4Spirit@yahoo.com KantaBosniak.com Coaching and guided imagery for weight loss, life purpose, creativity, new directions, business and career growth, confident interviews, dating. Take positive thinking to a deeper level. Personalized and meaningful wedding ceremonies.

A Walk in Nature is a Path to Progress

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DENTIST DR. KAREN PERKINS, DDS

THE WELL 1764 Patriot Ln., Bedford, VA 24523 540-587-9000 The.Well.In.Bedford@gmail.com WellOfCourse.net The destination for natural health when looking for sciencebased information, superior products, herbal tinctures, supplements, natural foods, bulk foods, spices and teas. The Well has all of this and more. Your benefit is our business. See ad, page2.

FOOD RESTAURANTS LOCAL ROOTS FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT 1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015 540-206-2610 LocalRootsRestaurant.com Roanoke’s first true farm-totable restaurant.

Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and familystyle supper. Full bar and wood-fire oven. Available for private parties, corporate events, celebrations and catering. See ad, page 20.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES - GREEN FOREST REST AT MOUNTAIN VIEW 5970 Grassy Hill Rd., Boones Mill, VA 24065 540-334-5398 Sensor@EvergreenMemorialTrust.com EvergreenMemorialTrust.com Forest Rest is a natural cemetery where interments are made without burial vaults or common embalming chemicals. Wood tablets or native stones mark the graves. See ad, page 9.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING

46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24502 434-237-6328 MercuryFreeDDS.com Providing the highest quality of dental care in a mercury-free environment, using safe and biocompatible dental materials. We practice safe removal of old mercury/silver (amalgam) fillings with the safe mercury/silver filling removal protocol outlined by the International Academy of Oral Medicine, IAOMT. See ad, page 11.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPAS AND SALONS REVIVE ORGANIC SALON 2305-A Colonial Ave., Roanoke, VA 24015 540-816-0986 Organic salon offering ladies and men’s haircuts, demineralizing treatments, organic base coloring, highlights, color correction and hair loss solutions.

Revive’s mission is to treat others with respect and dignity while nurturing them in an organic environment. See ad, page 8.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WELLNESS CENTERS

Explore new territory, advertise in Natural Awakenings’ April Nature’s Wisdom & Healthy Home Issue

LIFE IN BALANCE COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CENTER 125 Akers Farm Rd., Ste. D, Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-381-6215 LifeInBalanceCenter.com The Life In Balance team of therapists offers psychotherapy for adults, children, adolescents, couples and families, as well as massage therapy, Reiki, yoga classes, relaxation and meditation classes and health and wellness workshops. See ad, page 13.

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

540-384-1815

natural awakenings

March 2015

29

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

HOME â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CLEANING SUPPLIES H2O AT HOME

KEYQUEST

Jean Cox, Founding Senior Director 360-271-9525 MyH2OatHome.com/Jean Now you can care for your home with our innovative smart tools and just water or certified natural and organic products. Your home will be sparkling with no harsh chemical residues or fumes!

OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ECOTOURISM

Ellen Jones-Walker Floyd County, VA 540-651-2727 KeyQuest.us.com Highly experiential, small-group workshops using powerful HemiSync audio guidance technology for self-discovery and personal transformation. Monroe Institute consciousness exploration workshops, calming mind and body, awakening to inner states, slowing the aging process, healing yourself and improving sleep.

VIRGINIA GREEN

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE VALLEYS 2502 Melrose Ave., Ste. A, Roanoke, VA 24017 540-581-0620 GoodwillValleys.com We put your donations to work by dedicating 90 percent of our resources to providing services to the community. Donations entrusted to us are used to help people with disabilities and disadvantages overcome barriers to employment and achieve a level of independence in life.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES

RECYCLING

804-986-9119 VirginiaGreenTravel.org Virginia Green is Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program to encourage green practices throughout the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry. Member destinations and events include recycling, waste reduction, energy and water conservation and consumer education. The program is a partnership between Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Tourism. See ad, page 11.

BOOKBAG SANTA

RIDE SOLUTIONS

540-342-2083 BookbagSanta@verizon.net BookBagSanta.com

866-424-3334 Info@RideSolutions.org RideSolutions.org

Roanoke-based 501c3 charity keeps two TONS of used school supplies out of the landfill every year. Since 1990 the group has traveled each summer to Belize to deliver supplies to three schools. Email, call or visit the website for more information about making donations.

Ride Solutions connects you to your transportation options with free regional carpool matching, bike commute support, transit assistance and employer services, all for free. See ad, page 10.

WATER CONSERVATION AND FILTRATION - ALKALINE WATER

CLEAN VALLEY COUNCIL

PARENTING

Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Ste. 319, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-345-5523 CleanValley.org

PARENTING-SOS Cathy Songer 540-239-0287 SongerCat@Parenting-SOS.com Parenting-SOS.com Nearly all of us face parenting challenges at some point in our lives.

There is no need to let it create ongoing stress. Our mission is to help you get over those hurdles by teaching you positive and effective skills that will bring out the best in you and your family. Complimentary speaking engagements offered.

Ne Sh w op W ly U Ou eb pg r Sto rad re ed

RETAIL - NONPROFIT

A nonprofit organization serving the Roanoke Valley for more than 30 years.

Providing educational programming and citizen participation events to spread the word about litter prevention, recycling, waste-stream reduction, storm-water pollution prevention and protecting our natural resources. The go-to resource for local recycling information.

HEALTHY WATER FOR ME 540-230-7459 or 540-789-7808 HealthyWaterForMe@hotmail.com HealthyWaterForMe.com Kangen WaterÂŽ is a great way to increase hydration, balance body pH, obtain optimal health, neutralize free radicals, reduce pain and more. Change Your Waterâ&#x20AC;Ś Change Your Life â&#x201E;˘. Call to begin a free three-week alkaline, antioxidant water challenge today. See ad, page 17.

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