Natural Awakenings of Virginia's Blue Ridge November 2013

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

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Thanksgiving Natural and Local

CLEAN AND EARTH-FRIENDLY FAST LIVING ENLIGHTENMENT GREEN Green Shopping and Local Eco Efforts Pay Off

Holiday Crafts

Personal Growth Tools Abound

November 2013 | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition | NABlueRidge.com

never glossy, always green

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

Phone: 540-384-1815 Fax: 540-444-5668 Email: Publisher@NABlueRidge.com 1390 Southside Drive., Suite 118 Salem, VA 24153 NABlueRidge.com Follow us on

© 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $15 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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ello from Natural Awakenings magazine!

We’re so excited to bring you the November “Personal Growth + Mindfulness” issue. Our feature article, “Fast Track to Personal Growth,” explores ways each of us can examine our lives and expand our energy outward to make the world a better place through health, peace and sustainability practices.

The Healing Way feature this month, “12 Steps to Inner Peace,” provides an “inward looking outward” viewpoint to personal growth. It is accompanied by a sidebar written by local counselor LuAnn KeenerMikenas, who offers additional practical recommendations for your personal journey.

Our Blue Ridge Green Travel piece offer tips on how you can treat your traveling guests to a natural and local Thanksgiving feast and show them the bounty of our beautiful region. As you begin planning your holiday festivities, our “Crafting a Green Holiday” article will provide you with tips and tricks to make homemade gifts and decorations that not only brighten the season but also offer ways to enjoy the season with friends and family.

Before launching into the holiday giving spree, check out our bonus Green Living piece, “Shop With the Planet in Mind,” where you’ll find tips for getting what you need with minimal planetary impact.

This month’s Community Spotlight is about the Clean and Green Business Coalition, a truly unique affiliation of businesses here in the Roanoke Valley. These businesses have been working together with assistance from local non-profits and government agencies to reduce their carbon footprints—and have succeeded admirably. Their individual and collective successes serve as an example of the good that can be achieved through hard work and focus, and as an inspiration for businesses large and small throughout the region.

If you are inspired to reduce your carbon footprint as well, please check out our first installment of the Save a Ton Ecotip series for weatherization tips, and our news brief regarding tax credits for solar installations.

Finally, Natural Awakenings magazine is proud to announce our 5th anniversary of publication in this area, while our corporate office will be celebrating 20 years in business next month. We’re also pleased to again sponsor the annual Green Living and Energy Expo at the Roanoke Civic Center on November 1 and 2. We’ll also be co-hosting a reception for Expo exhibitors on Friday, November 1, at 16 West Marketplace, in Roanoke. The reception is open to the public. We hope to see you there!

Have a great Thanksgiving and look for our Holiday Gift Guide in December’s issue of Natural Awakenings.

Sincerely, Tracy Garland, Publisher

NABlueRidge.com

contents 4

4 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 9 ecotip 10 community

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spotlight

12 blueridge greentravel

14 healingways 19 greenliving

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21 greenliving 23 calendar 27 resourceguide

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.

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.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 540-384-1815. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturalAwakeningsMag.com NABlueRidge.com

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.

10 CLEAN AND GREEN

14

Local Environmental Efforts Pay Off

by Karen Adams

12 BLUE RIDGE GREEN TRAVEL Thanksgiving: Natural and Local

by Anne Piedmont

14 THE PATH TO

15

INNER PEACE

12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening

by Michael A. Singer

15 GENTLE HEALING FROM WITHIN

by LuAnn Keener-Mikenas, LCSW

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16 FAST TRACK TO

PERSONAL GROWTH

Transform Your Life with Mentors, Books, Workshops and Online Courses

by Bess J.M. Hochstein

19 CRAFTING A

GREEN HOLIDAY Happy Ways to Deck the Halls

21

by Avery Mack

21 SHOP WITH

THE PLANET IN MIND

Daily Choices Help Counter Climate Change

by Christine MacDonald

natural awakenings

November 2013

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newsbriefs Roanoke’s First Farm-to-Table Restaurant!

Free Presentation on Cohousing

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ubilee Cohousing, of Floyd, will hold an informational presentation on cohousing from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 9, at Floyd, VA the Brambleton Recreation Center, in Roanoke.

The event is free and open to the public.

This event is an opportunity to learn about the cohousing model and the specific vision for the close-knit, sustainably designed, 38Cohousing acre project in Floyd. Lisa Poley, an expert on cohousing with Village Resources, in Blacksburg, will speak, along with members of the More than a Neighborhood Jubilee Cohousing group.

One of the most important aspects of the Jubilee Cohousing project is that the 30 to 33 clustered homes will be built using Passivhaus construction techniques.

Adam Cohen, of Structures Design Build, in Roanoke, will discuss the design. He is a Passivhaus expert and serves as the project’s architect and builder. Passivhaus homes offer up to a 90-percent reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption over conventional construction and 60 to 80 percent overall energy savings.

The Jubilee project, which will begin its design phase soon, welcomes new members. Anyone interested in cohousing is encouraged to attend and meet the people behind the project who plan to live there.

Jubilee Cohousing also will have a booth at the Green Living and Energy Expo, to be held November 1 and 2 at the Roanoke Civic Center.

Location: Brambleton Recreation Center, Conference Room 2-F, 3738 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke. Cost: Free. For more information, call 540-250-7032, email FloydCohousing.Jubilee@gmail.com or visit JubileeCoho.com. See ad, page 5.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

New Dentist Joins Dr. Fred Smith’s Mercury-Free Practice in Lynchburg

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r. Karen Perkins recently joined the dentistry practice of Dr. C. Frederick Smith, in Lynchburg. Both offer mercury-free dentistry to patients of all ages.

Over the last 18 years, Perkins has practiced dentistry in Michigan and Florida, as well as Virginia, mostly recently in the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area. Her husband, Nathaniel, is a senior pastor. The Perkins’ have three children: Sydni (18), a first-year student at Liberty University, Kelli (10) and Seth (7).

Perkins is trained in all phases of dentistry and is especially interested in offering high-quality dentistry for Karen Perkins, DDS. families. Like Smith, she is a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Technology (IAOMT) and is dedicated to providing the mercury-free and mercury-safe procedures that Smith and his staff have offered for the past 15 years.

“We will schedule a little extra time for you to meet and get to know me and to discuss your treatment needs,” Perkins says. “We look forward to providing the dental care that you want and need in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.”

Location: 46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 434-237-6328 or visit MercuryFreeDDS.com. See ad on page 24 and Community Resource Guide, page 27.

NABlueRidge.com

Free Guide to Going Local from Center for a New American Dream

November Conservation Tips from Save A Ton

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Lighten Up

he Center for a New American Dream, based in Charlottesville, now offers the free Guide to Going Local. In collaboration with the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), this second guide in the New Dream Community Action Kit is full of ideas and advice on how to strengthen the local economy in any town or city.

The Guide to Going Local provides inspiration and practical tools to get started on community projects in four key areas: building pride in a local place, fostering local entrepreneurship, buying local and sustainable and investing locally.

Some recent examples of “going local” include: Organizers in Roanoke, Virginia, launched a cash mob to support a local fair trade business.

Denver, Colorado, explored unique aspects of the city’s neighborhoods through a video series, featuring interviews with community businesses, from coffee shops to tattoo parlors.

Founders of the West Seattle Fixers Collective created a DIY network and community to support the area’s repair economy.

“These cities are unique in their people, culture and needs, just like towns across the United States,” states the guide. “This city-centric uniqueness should be embraced and nurtured because local matters. Strong local economies lead to communities that are self-reliant, provide quality jobs, and are fun places to live.”

For more information, and to download the free Guide to Going Local, visit NewDream.org.

Change conventional light bulbs to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LEDs and save on electric bills.

About 8 percent of your electric bill is for devices that are plugged in when not in use, so turn off your computers and non-essential appliances when you are not using them.

This fall and winter, set your furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower (and in the summer, set the air-conditioning thermostat at 78 degrees or higher), to save on heating and cooling costs.

Power Down Replace old water heaters, appliances, furnaces or air conditioners with an Energy Star®-rated appliance to claim Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit. There are also state tax credits available for insulation, windows, water heaters and high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

Replace your thermostat with a new, programmable one, which can cut energy bills by 10 percent.

Step Up Contact a professional for a whole-house energy assessment, to find systems of your home that need professional repair and/or replacement.

Home-energy experts (such as Energy Check, CAFÉ2 [Community Alliance for Energy Efficiency], J & J Weatherization) can help you get started today with an energy audit and comprehensive weatherization.

For more information, visit Save-a-Ton.org.

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November 2013

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newsbriefs Riverstone Organic Farm Offers Meat, Eggs and Produce for Holidays

Natural Awakenings Offers Reception to Celebrate Five-Year Anniversary

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I

iverstone Organic Farm, of Floyd, is offering pasture-raised lamb and pork, as well as eggs and produce, for the holiday season.

Starting in mid-November, customers can order naturally raised lamb. Jackie Crenshaw, who owns the farm with her husband, Woody, explains that sheep raised on the organic pastures at Riverstone Farm graze on allnatural forage supplemented, when needed, with a little GMO-free feed. “They roam their pastures stress-free and get plump and healthy without the aid of growth hormones and steroids,” she says. “The meat is tender and flavorful; a lamb roast makes a wonderful change for a holiday season feast.”

The farm’s website, RiverstoneOrganicFarm.com, offers information on cuts, prices and ordering, as well as recipes. The meat is available for pickup or can be shipped directly from the farm. Quantities are limited.

Also available from Riverstone Organic Farm this time of year are pasture-raised pork, eggs and a variety of seasonal vegetables. Riverstone goods will be at the farmers’ markets in Blacksburg and Floyd until just before Christmas. “You’ll find some beautiful produce at the market stalls, including winter squash, potatoes, cabbage, beets, turnips, herbs, lots of hearty greens and more,” says Crenshaw.

The farm also offers a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program for the winter. The eight-week produce share begins November 2 and continues through December 21.

Location: Riverstone Organic Farm, 708 Thompson Rd., Floyd. For more information and to place an order or sign up for a CSA share, call 540-745-4780, email Riverstone@swva.net or visit RiverstoneOrganicFarm.com. See ad, page 24, and Community Resource Guide, page 28.

n honor of its fifth anniversary in November, Natural Awakenings of Virginia’s Blue Ridge will hold a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, November 1, at the 16 West Marketplace Building, in Roanoke. The reception will include the exhibitors participating in the Green Living and Energy Expo that weekend (November 1 and 2) at the Roanoke Civic Center. The public is invited to both the reception—which will include an art exhibit by Barefoot Studios, an eco-friendly fashion show and music with a DJ—and the expo.

The magazine was founded November 2008 by Stacy Hairfield, of Floyd. Last year Hairfield, who wished to spend more time with her family, sold the magazine to new publisher Tracy Garland. A Roanoke native with an undergraduate degree in business administration and environmental science from Virginia Tech and an MBA in environmental management from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Garland has long been involved in local environmental work.

“Natural Awakenings magazine has been a major source of inspiration for me,” says Garland. “Since taking the reins as publisher a year ago, I have met countless other readers and businesses whose lives and livelihoods have been changed by the magazine. The Natural Awakenings team is grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our readers and the business community for the next five years.”

Garland adds, “Readers can connect with our digital communities on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn for updates on what we’ll be doing the rest of the month— and the next five years!”

Location: 16 West Marketplace Bldg., 16 Church Ave., Roanoke. For more information, call 540-384-1815, email Publisher@NABlueRidge.com or visit NABlueRidge.com.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Hours: Monday thru Friday - 8 - 6 pm Saturday: 8 - 1 pm

Recycle Markers and Other Old School Supplies

Hybrid construction that makes sense . . . for your lifestyle, your budget, and for the planet.

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hanks to the request of students in San Rafael County, California, the Crayola company has started a program to recycle entire markers into a liquid fuel source. Schools can register for the program, ColorCycle, so students in kindergarten through grade 12 can box up markers of any brand and send them to a recycling facility in Niagara Falls in upstate New York with Crayola paying the shipping costs.

The company, JBI Inc., says that it converts waste products into diesel and other liquid fuels via an “environmentally friendly, cost-effective process.” The fuel can either be used or sold to distributors who can blend it with other additives to produce gasoline. Last year, JBI produced 370,000 gallons of fuel by processing shampoo and pill bottles, coffee containers, paint buckets and other polyethylene that often isn’t recycled.

More than a hundred schools have signed up for the Crayola recycling program. Another art supply company, Dixon Ticonderoga, heard about Crayola’s efforts and started its own program, offering to pay to ship back its Prang Art Markers to a plant in Heathrow, Florida, for recycling.

Many other school supplies can be reused or recycled. Binders often contain cardboard inside a plastic covering; the covers can be removed and the cardboard recycled. Unused sheets of paper can be torn out from notebooks, and the wire bindings and paper covers can be recycled. Plastic glue bottles and glue stick cases can be washed out with warm water and recycled. Paper file folders can be recycled after removing staples or other metal pieces. Backpacks, computers, calculators and outgrown clothes can be donated to many organizations as well.

For more information, visit Crayola.com/ColorCycle or DixonRecycle.com.

Adapted from Care2.com Causes

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New Solar Electric Systems Qualify for 2013 Tax Credit

S

olShine Energy Alternatives, of Check, is reminding homeowners that those who install solar electric systems can qualify for the 30 percent Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit. If an installed system costs $5,000, for example, a qualified homeowner can receive a $1,500 credit on his or her federal tax return.

To apply for the credit on a 2013 tax return, the system must be installed by December 31, 2013. Homeowners should consult the IRS filing instructions or their tax professional to see if they qualify.

“A solar electric system pays dividends over the life of the system, generally 25 years, by reducing a homeowner’s electric bill,” says SolShine owner Rick Brown.

“Environmentally, installing a system immediately reduces your use of coal-generated power, making a smaller footprint on the earth, minimizing your contribution to global warming and your consumption of valuable natural resources.”

Brown encourages people to “go solar” by starting small. “You can have a few modules installed one year, and a few more whenever you are ready,” he says, adding that the cost of installing solar energy has dropped dramatically in recent years.

“Off-setting any portion of your energy use is a good thing! The more people who make their own energy using the power of the sun, the less damage we collectively do to the earth using traditional power sources.”

A SolShine site visit is $75, which is credited back when the system is installed.

Phone consultations are free.

For more information, call 540-808-9502, email Rick@SolShineEnergyAlternatives.com or visit SolShineEnergyAlternatives.com. See ad, page 15. natural awakenings

November 2013

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healthbriefs

Mindful Meditation Relieves Inflammation

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new University of Wisconsin-Madison study shows that meditation, a proven reducer of psychological stress, can also lessen stress-caused inflammation and thereby relieve the symptoms and pain of certain diseases. Long-term stress has long been linked to inflammation, an underlying cause of many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, bowel disease, asthma, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Meditation study volunteers were divided into two groups—an eight-week mindfulness meditation course or a stress reduction program of supportive nutrition, exercise and music therapy that did not include meditation. The meditation group focused attention on the breath, bodily sensations and mental content while seated, walking or practicing yoga.

Immune and endocrine data was collected before and after training in the two methods and meditation proved to be more effective. Melissa Rosenkranz, a neuroscientist with the university’s Center for Investigating Healthy Minds and lead author of the report, concludes that, “The mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction may offer a lower-cost alternative or complement to standard treatment, and it can be practiced easily by patients in their own homes whenever needed.”

The Killer Called Sugar

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new animal study from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City, reports daunting results.

Female mice that consumed the equivalent of a human drinking three cans of soft drinks a day doubled their death rate from all causes. The study further showed that fertility rates dropped dramatically in male mice and their innate ability to defend their territory diminished. All of the sugar-saturated mice performed poorly on cognitive tests.

The lab mice received a diet in which 25 percent of their total calories came from sugar (not high fructose corn syrup, which carries substantial additional health risks). That’s an amount commonly consumed in the Standard American Diet, easy to do in one sitting via a supersized soft drink.

HAPPY LIFE, HEALTHY HEART

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eelings matter when it comes to protecting a person’s physical health. Researchers at Boston’s Harvard School of Public Health reviewing more than 200 studies published in two major scientific databases found a direct correlation between positive psychological well-being and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes. They concluded that positive feelings like optimism, life satisfaction and happiness are associated with the reduced risk, regardless of a person’s age, weight or socioeconomic or smoking status.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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ROSEMARY REVS UP MEMORY

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osemary’s folkloric reputation for improving memory has been validated by science. UK researchers at London’s Northumbria University found that when the essential oil of rosemary was diffused into a room—a method practiced in aromatherapy—it enhanced participants’ ability to remember past events and remind themselves to do tasks planned for the future, like sending an anniversary card.

Mark Moss, Ph.D., head of psychology at Northumbria, says, “We wanted to build on our previous research that indicated rosemary aroma improved long-term memory and mental arithmetic. In this study, we focused on prospective memory, which is critical for everyday functioning.”

In the study, 66 people randomly assigned to either a rosemary-scented or unscented room were asked to complete a variety of tests to assess their memory functions. Those in the rosemary-scented room outperformed the control group.

Blood analysis of those exposed to the rosemary aroma confirmed higher concentrations of 1,8-cineole, the oil’s compound specifically linked to memory improvement. The researchers concluded that the aroma of rosemary essential oil can enhance cognitive functioning in healthy individuals and may have implications for treating people with memory impairment. The findings were presented at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference, in Harrogate.

ecotip Digital Detox Unplug to Cut Stress, Up Success Whether it’s extreme texting, tweeting, Googling, posting or blogging, the phenomenon of being caught in the web of the Web is real. Rationalizations range from coping with today’s information overload to fear of missing out (FOMO). Yet, detriments of such continual digital connectedness range from the stifling of family and social bonds to a lack of life skills that only face-to-face communication fosters.

In 2011, The New York University Child Study Center reported that 8-to-18-year-olds average more than six hours of daily media use and that school grades of a surveyed group that considered themselves “heavy� users were considerably lower than their “light� use counterparts. Stanford Communications Professor Clifford Nass, author of The Man Who Lied to His Laptop, remarked in a 2013 NPR interview that people that do extensive media multitasking “can’t filter out irrelevancy, can’t manage memory and are chronically distracted. They say they are productive and can ‘shut it off’, but can’t keep on task and focus on one thing.�

Fortunately, programs to unplug are catching on. More than 400 middle and high schools in 20 U.S. states plus Canada took a Digital Blackout Challenge to refrain from using electronic devices for one week during the 2012-2013 school year (DigitalBlackout.org). From Chief Sealth International High School, in Seattle, Washington, senior Marissa Evans says the experience informed her “there’s a balance between ‘too much’ and ‘just enough’� in being connected, and classmate Alex Askerov terms the Challenge “a breath of fresh air.�

For the 2013 documentary film, Sleeping with Siri, Seattle-based journalist Michael Stusser underwent a one-week, self-assessed “techno gorge�, followed by a digital detox of the same duration. During stage one, he said his blood pressure went up 40 points after four days. He found, “You’re always waiting for a response.� He subsequently enjoyed being disconnected.

Foresters, a Toronto, Ontario-based life insurance provider, asks families to take a Tech Timeout pledge for at least one hour every day and make Sundays entirely non-tech, packed with family activities and socializing.

Learn more at TechTimeout.com.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

hen the city of Roanoke announced last month that it had succeeded in reaching, and surpassing, its goal of reducing its carbon footprint, there were cheers throughout the valley from the many people that had worked hard toward this goal since it was introduced. But not everyone knows that the city’s green efforts were affiliated with a program that included top employers in the area who pledged to lead by example and make sustainable strides in their workplaces as well—and they did.

It began in 2006, when Gwen Mason, a member of the city council at that time, started a city-wide “Clean and Green” campaign, which included municipal government and the community in reducing trash and carbon footprints, among other things. The Cool Cities Coalition’s Diana Christopulos and Mark McClain got involved and so did many others, such as architect Gregg Lewis, Virginia Tech’s Green Engineering Director Sean McGinnis and Roanoke City’s Mayor Nelson Harris, Manager Darlene Burcham and General Services Administrator Ken Cronin. Roanoke County government joined in, too. Eventually the Clean and Green Business Coalition was formed as well, led by Stan Breakell of Breakell Inc. General Contractors.

“Cool Cities acted as a resource and helped connect them to other experts and resources that could help them,” Christopulos explains. The city joined ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability at their suggestion. An outgrowth of the campaign is the Save a Ton program, which provides citizens with information on how to conserve resources in a variety of ways.

“The Roanoke Valley is one of the best places in the whole state to do this,” Christopulos says. “There is an ethic of not wasting things, and prizing the beauty of the local area.”

Businessman Breakell, a green builder who had always been interested in environmental issues, heard a Cool Cities presentation early on and wanted

NABlueRidge.com

to join the campaign. He and Mason decided that, while clean water and trash management were important, the most measurable effort would be carbon footprints. Breakell’s role was leading the business sector of the project.

“My thought was to pick representation from local industry, with large businesses that were as diverse as possible,” says Breakell, who now consults in energy management and sustainable construction.

Those who joined the campaign were AECOM, Berglund Automotive, Carilion Clinic, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Fralin and Waldron, Inc., Gentry Lock Rakes & Moore, Lanford Brothers Company, Orvis, Roanoke Gas/RGC Resources, SunTrust Bank, Steel Dynamics, Virginia Tech and Virginia Western Community College.

Besides diverse products and services, the businesses had different resources under their control, Breakell explains, which meant they could do some things but not others. But everyone could do something. The goal for each business was to reduce the carbon footprint by 20 percent in five years. Businesses were also asked to communicate these

messages to their employees, clients and suppliers. The coalition ended up reducing its carbon footprint by 33 percent, an impressive 13 percent higher than the original goal. The result has been good for the environment, good for their reputations and good for their bottom lines. “Here we are five years later and a lot of the things we were trying to pioneer locally have become mainstream across the country,� Breakell says.

Nell Boyle worked for Breakell in the program’s early days and has been the sustainability coordinator for the city of Roanoke since 2012. She measures energy performance for the city and works as a liaison in outreach throughout the community.

Now that the initial program has concluded, she is working on forming a new coalition with smaller businesses and organizations. “Employers that use the triple bottom line of ‘business, the environment and society’ tend to have happier employers and customers,� Boyle says. “It also affects the businesses they work with, when they set this example.�

What results have the businesses seen? “We’re very conservation-oriented, but there were still things we could do,� says Mike Rigney, director of operations at Orvis. “We’ve had a 35- to 40-percent reduction in electricity, which is significant.�

Among other things, Orvis also donates clothing and fabric to the Rescue Mission as part of this program. John Wood, senior facilities manager, adds, “It’s not just good for the community. It’s good business too.�

Coca-Cola Bottling has reduced its water, gas and electricity use, and added more recycling bins throughout the facility.

But its biggest success was cutting its landfill waste by 90 percent. “The employees are so proud of this, and we had a celebration when we reached the 90-percent mark,� says Mike Croom, plant manager.

Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore leases its building but was able to remodel one-third of it with eco-friendly materials and appliances. The behavioral changes, however, have been most noticeable, says attorney Charlie Williams. “We have eliminated plastic bottles, serve coffee in ceramic mugs and have reduced costs through recycling, for example,� he says. “We want all of this to be mainstream,� Christopulos notes. “It’s really changing what’s normal.�

For more information, visit Roanokeva.gov/Green.

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When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. ~Tecumseh

natural awakenings

November 2013

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Coming Next Month

blueridgegreentravel

AWAKENING

HUMANITY Revolutionize Your World

Thanksgiving: Natural and Local

by Anne Piedmont

T HONORING AND PRESERVING For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

540-384-1815 12

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

hanksgiving, that quintessential American holiday, is just around the corner. This year, why not take a page out of the Pilgrims’ book and go natural and local?

The Pilgrims and other early settlers did not have a choice. Their meals were all-natural and, by necessity, locally sourced. Since residents of Virginia’s Blue Ridge region are surrounded by nature’s bounty, creating a natural and local feast from wine to dessert should be as easy as pie.

Start with the wine. There are 230 wineries in Virginia, many of which produce award-winning wines, says Adam Markham, beverage manager at Tinnell’s Finer Foods, in Roanoke. Markham stocks 80 Virginia wines, one of the largest selections in the area. Tinnell’s also offers products of three Virginia cideries: Castle Hill (Keswick), Foggy Ridge (Carroll County) and Bold Rock (Nellysford). “Cider is one of the best beverages to go with a Thanksgiving dinner,” Markham says.

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Beyond that, some of his favorites are a dry Petit Manseng from Chester Gap Cellars, near Front Royal; a Pinot Gris from White Hall Vineyards, near Charlottesville; and a Cabernet Franc from Rockbridge Vineyard. He calls Cabernet Franc “one of Virginia’s most successful wines.” For sparkling wines, he likes the Mousseux Extra Dry from Veritas Vineyard and Winery, in Afton, and Virginia Fizz from Thibaut-Janisson, in Charlottesville, which, Markham says, is made from 100-percent Chardonnay grapes. And, speaking of Chardonnay, Markham suggests both the Leesburg-based Tarara Winery’s “almost un-oaked” Chardonnay or Veritas’ Harlequin, which is oaked.

Markham is also fond of Virginia beer for Thanksgiving. His favorites are Starr Hill’s Boxcar Pumpkin Porter and Parkway Brewing’s Raven’s Roost Baltic Porter and Bridge Builder Blonde. Starr Hill is located in Crozet, and Parkway Brewing is in Salem.

Thanksgiving goods at S&W Market

with the December issue of Natural Awakenings

Tinnell’s Finer Foods carries Virginia wines

Many families in the Blue Ridge area will serve dinners with food they grew, raised or hunted themselves. The rest of us will have to buy and cook our meals. Two local markets, which emphasize local and natural food, offer both complete meals and all the ingredients to make your own.

Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op will offer complete Thanksgiving meals per person. John Bryant, marketing coordinator, says the meals will be traditional.

In the past, the co-op has tried complicated, more exotic meals, but finds that customers prefer basic dishes this time of year. The meals will feature turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables and cranberry sauce. The co-op also will offer a variety of pies (some gluten-free), coffee cakes and breads. For those who like to make the meal themselves, there will be fresh, organic turkeys from J and L Green Farm, in Edinburg. Bryant says there will only be 150, so it’s important to order early. Frozen organic turkeys also will be available. Bryant explains that the benefits of organic turkeys come from the way they are raised and what they eat. “They taste better and they’re more nutritious,” he says.

The co-op also owns and operates Heritage Point Farm in Roanoke, which supplies a variety of the store’s organic vegetables, including squash and potatoes, as well as eggs. The co-op also sells local wines, beers and cheese.

For a final touch, shoppers can pick up some gourds to decorate their tables.

The co-op’s gourds come from Good Food-Good People, a Floyd County

organization that provides locally grown and produced food to retail and wholesale buyers in southwest Virginia.

Downtown Roanoke’s S&W Market, located where longtime Roanokers remember the S&W Cafeteria, will sell take-out turkey dinners for four, says general manager Clare Humphrys. This will be the market’s second holiday season, and the meals are offered in response to customer inquiries. The meals will include turkey, stuffing, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bread and pie. Cooks also can order all of the ingredients separately.

S&W Market caters largely to downtown residents and workers. It sells groceries that are organic and all-natural, and local products whenever possible, says Humphrys. It also offers local wines and cheeses, as well as brines and spices.

Humphrys says the store will be open the day before Thanksgiving, so downtown residents can stop by to pick up their Thanksgiving dinners on the way home. And isn’t that just what the Pilgrims would have done if they could?

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

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natural awakenings

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personal thought and emotions, you’ll begin to feel Spirit flowing in from behind. It lifts you and brings great love and joy.

healingways

Your inner experience becomes so beautiful that you fall in love with the energy flow. You’ll see that there is a trade-off between getting involved in personal energies and the amount of Spirit you feel. Once you’ve established a direct relationship with spiritual energy, you’ll long to constantly experience its freedom.

The Path to Inner Peace 12 Steps to Spiritual Awakening

by Michael A. Singer

S

pirituality is meant to bring about peace. Yet our concepts of spirituality often lead to confusion or even conflict. What we need are clear steps that can be taken by people of any religion or intellectual standing.

The following universal road map can be a helpful aid to self-realization.

Realize that you’re in there. First realize, from deep inside, that you are consciously experiencing the outside world, as well as your inner thoughts and emotions.

Understand that you’re not okay in there. If you want to understand why you’ve done everything you’ve ever done, observe your mind and emotions.

If you’re objective, you’ll see that you’re really never completely at peace.

Notice that you’re always trying to be okay. As you observe your inner state, you’ll notice that inner disturbances create the urge to either get something or avoid something. This is all done in an attempt to feel okay inside.

Watch as your mind strives to figure out how everything needs to be for you to be okay. Your mind is always telling you how people, places and things need to be. That’s its attempt to create a conceptual model of what would make you okay and then try to get the outside world to match it.

14

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Realize that defining how the outside needs to be is not working. You’ve been busy trying to be okay your entire life. Although some times are better than others, you’ve never come close to experiencing permanent peace. This is because the world will never match your conceptual model. Eventually, you’ll come to see that this approach doesn’t work, and you need to find a different way.

Learn to not participate in the mind’s struggle. You must learn to relax inside and not get drawn into acting on your disturbances. Instead, be willing to allow them to pass through you and simply witness their passing. If you do, the drama will cease of its own accord.

Experience going about your life like everyone else, except more peacefully, because nothing you do is for the purpose of trying to be okay. When you aren’t preoccupied with trying to be okay, you can learn to sit inside and quietly love, serve and honor whatever naturally unfolds. At this point, you’re no longer living for yourself—you’re serving life.

As you let go of the personal energies, you attune to a much deeper energy flow. Up to this point, everything you were watching inside was front and center in your consciousness. Now that you’re no longer being drawn into

NABlueRidge.com

You begin to feel the energy pulling you up into it, and your entire path becomes letting go of yourself in order to merge. Will is no longer needed. All that’s left is learning to surrender into the higher energy. You must be willing to die personally in order to be reborn spiritually.

Once you dwell deep in the upward flow, you realize that your personal existence can go on without you, leaving you free to live completely immersed in Spirit. This is the greatest miracle: You’ve surrendered your entire being to Spirit, yet people, places and things continue interacting with you. But now these interactions require none of your energy; they happen by themselves, leaving you at peace and absorbed in Spirit.

Now you are truly okay. Nothing inside or outside of you can cause disturbances—you have come to be at peace with everything. Because you are now completely okay, you don’t need anything. Things just are what they are, and nothing can disturb you. You’ve transcended the world and everything in it.

Instead of feeling drawn into Spirit, you now actually experience yourself as Infinite Spirit.

Michael A. Singer is the author of The New York Times bestselling book, The Untethered Soul – The Journey Beyond Yourself (UntetheredSoul.com).

His “Twelve-Step Guide to Spiritual Awakening” is the basis for this article.

He is the founder of the Temple of the Universe, a yoga and meditation center established in 1975 in Alachua, FL.

Take Your Life to the Next Level!

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by LuAnn Keener-Mikenas, LCSW

n Enjoy yoga & massage. n Experience the healing

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sychological healing and spiritual healing have much in common. In the counseling setting it is beneficial to realize “who� is driving one’s reaction to an issue, and often it is a part of the self that was traumatized in an unresolved past experience. Understanding and honoring one’s feelings around a past event, instead of continuing to struggle with judgmental thoughts and conflicting emotions, can open the way for new insights and choices in the present. “What to do with your shadow?� asks Joan Borysenko in Pocketful of Miracles. “Be aware of it, own it, withdraw its projections and learn to live with it. . . . Without your shadow you wouldn’t long so for the light.�

Every step forward on the path of psychological healing evolves us spiritually in the direction of acceptance and freedom.

The process can be daunting, however, as one uncovers past information and feelings that have been suppressed or buried as a way of coping. Working with a therapist in an atmosphere of trust and safety can ease the journey. The goal is peace of mind, the optimal state for living productively and joyfully.

If a list of steps sounds easy and then suddenly seems impossible, this is a sign that fears have arisen and the mind is fighting with itself. How do we learn not to participate in the mind’s struggle? A personal daily practice can help, as it provides a sense of accomplishment while steadily reprogramming old fear patterns. Deep breathing and meditation are an excellent place to start.

It’s wise to start small, committing to 5 to 10 minutes a day, and allowing it to grow naturally. A class in mindfulness meditation can ensure a solid foundation and increase the

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Call now for more information! commitment. Including a daily reading routine provides additional support; just a few pages can set the tone of the day. Meditation books are perfect for this. The works of Borysenko, Eckhart Tolle, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh and Marianne Williamson, among others, work well.

A personal healing practice can take as little as 15 minutes a day, and naturally evolves into longer periods. This routine gently builds discipline, a virtue in all spiritual traditions and a practical psychological skill. A therapist or healing practitioner, if needed, can help one persist and reach the goal.

Every time we enter this transformative space, we demonstrate loving self-attention and take another step toward inner peace.

LuAnn Keener-Mikenas is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Lynchburg. For more information, call 434-221-0778, or visit lkm-lcsw.org. See Community Resource Guide, page 28.

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Transform Your Life with Mentors, Books, Workshops and Online Courses

by Bess J.M. Hochstein

Our capacity for self-examination distinguishes us from other animals.

We feel compelled to ask: “Who am I? What am I here for? How can I attain my full potential?” The quest for answers has engaged humans for millennia.

P

opular books that have helped people on this journey span centuries, from Wallace Wattles’ The Science of Getting Rich (1910), Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich (1937), Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People (1937), Abraham Maslow’s Motivation and Personality (1954) and Dr. Thomas Anthony Harris’ I’m OK, You’re OK (1967) to Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret (2006).

The personal growth genre is a cornerstone of the publishing industry.

Companies like Hay House, founded by motivational author Louise Hay, have flourished. Hay teaches, “No matter where we live or how difficult

16

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

our situation seems to be, we have the ability to overcome and transcend our circumstances.” The success of her 1984 book, You Can Heal Your Life, a New York Times bestseller well into the 21st century, led to her publishing empire, which includes authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Caroline Myss and Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. One of its recent top sellers is Pam Grout’s E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality.

Hay House has expanded its messages of hope and healing through online courses, films, conferences, special events and other opportunities to meet leading thinkers and peers. Such expan-

NABlueRidge.com

Courtesy of Doug Ellis/Esalen Institute

Fast Track to Personal Growth

sion is essential as more of those pursuing the examined life seek personal interaction in community and find that inward exploration frequently translates into outward action to improve the world.

Perched on the cliffs of Big Sur, in California, the Esalen Institute, established in 1962, helped birth the modern human potential movement. It exists to help individuals grow through education, experience and research, with the conviction that positive personal and social transformation go hand-in-hand.

Today, Esalen offers about 600 workshops a year, serving around 12,000 participants. Popular programs range from dance and yoga to couples workshops and psychology courses.

Cheryl Fraenzl, director of programs, explains the appeal: “For most of us, life can be challenging and messy. Gaining the insight, skills and tools to move through the challenging times with more ease and grace while creating more love for yourself and those around you seems like a good investment of time and energy. Being consciously kind and relationally wise ripples out and changes the world.

The effort has to start with the individual, like paying it forward; imagine if we all were doing it?”

The largest holistic retreat center in North America, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, attracts 35,000 participants to 800 programs annually. According to Denise Barack, the nonprofit’s director of program development, current workshops in high demand include qigong, Buddhist meditation, mindfulness and yoga nidra. She also notes a growing interest in diverse dimensions of yoga, dance and “authentic movement” for

Courtesy of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being. ~ Plato healing, addiction recovery, releasing trauma and energy medicine.

Psychotherapist and yoga teacher Stephen Cope, founder and director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, the Center’s yoga research department, notes that many guests first come to Kripalu “… as a result of some form of suffering. Then they engage in a period of self-exploration—perhaps learning some form of contemplative practice to help them manage themselves more effectively. Almost always there is a turn outward, back toward the world, and a longing to bring the healing power of contemplative practice into their own domain.”

Once someone has experienced the benefits of contemplative practices such as yoga, meditation, breathing and other healthy lifestyle routines, notes Cope, a powerful aspiration typically arises to share these practices and perspectives. “These practices all lead to a sense of union, relatedness and sameness with others,” he says, “and this burgeoning consciousness of sameness compels us to share what we’ve learned.”

In Rhinebeck, New York, the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies offers similar self-empowering and reflective opportunities. Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen and Elizabeth Lesser founded Omega in 1977 as a “university of life.” Through working with prominent Zen masters, rabbis, Christian monks, psychologists, scientists and others, Lesser has found, “By combining a variety of religious, psychological and healing traditions,

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natural awakenings

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Courtesy of Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Photo by Ali Kaukas / Wanderlust Festival

each of us has the unique ability to satisfy our spiritual hunger.”

Based since 1981 in a former camp on a lake with more than 100 buildings on 200-plus acres, Omega hosts more than 23,000 guests in up to 500 programs between mid-April and October, plus special programs in Costa Rica and New York City. Director of Rhinebeck Programs Carol Donahoe notes the rising interest in workshops on dietary cleansing, detox and juicing, such as “Reboot with Joe Cross: A Jump Start to Health and Weight Loss,” led by the filmmaker of Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.

Personal transformation and mindfulness programs led by teachers like Jon Kabat-Zinn, Saki Santorelli, Florence Meleo-Meyer, Byron Katie and Pema Chödrön are perennial favorites.

“As humans, we continue to be fascinated by the big questions in life,” observes Donahoe, “like, ‘Where do we go when we die? Who are we if we are not our thoughts?’ People seem particularly drawn to hearing about it from those that have always lived their lives in a left-brain, logical way, and then come to believe the unexplainable through an extraordinary life experience, and now view the world through a completely different lens.”

As examples, she cites neurosurgeon Dr. Eben Alexander, who recounts his near-death experience in his bestselling book, Proof of Heaven, and neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, author of the bestselling memoir My Stroke of Insight. Taylor’s 2008 TED talk was ranked the nonprofit’s second most-watched for the past two years.

Both of these cutting-edge thinkers have given presentations at Omega, which, like at Esalen and Kripalu, helps bring ideas and practices that

18

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

once seemed on the fringe—from yoga and meditation to complementary medicine and sustainability—into mainstream consciousness. Particularly innovative initiatives include helping military veterans heal from post-traumatic stress disorder; the women’s leadership center; the center for sustainable living; and pioneering programs on mindfulness in the workplace, education system and at-risk urban youth communities.

“We recognize that because we live in an interconnected world; the behavior of one can contribute to creating changes that benefit the whole,” says Donahoe. “Doing both the inner and outer work can awaken the best in the human spirit, and so provide hope and healing to individuals and society.”

For those unable to travel great distances for a holistic immersion experience in community with like-minded seekers, Wanderlust Festivals may offer an answer. Four-day regional summits, primarily held at ski resorts during the off-season, feature teachers like Shiva Rea, Elena Brower and Gurmukh; stimulating discussions; yoga; music and adventure, amidst stunning vistas.

Wanderlust co-founders Sean Hoess and Jeff Krasno strive to create an expansive space for personal growth and mindful living. One common element at every gathering—now including urban and exotic locales—is Seane Corn and Suzanne Sterling’s Off the Mat program, mobilizing yoga students toward activating social change.

The Shift Network is dedicated to creating an online community that shares the tools of self-actualization, empowering a global movement of people creating an evolutionary shift of consciousness that leads to a more enlightened society, built on principles of sustainability, peace, health and prosperity. This new model for the human

NABlueRidge.com

potential movement has roots in the grandfather of retreat centers; The Shift Network’s founder, Stephen Dinan, both worked at Esalen and contributed to Esalen’s Center for Theory & Research.

Dinan explains that at a meditation retreat, he received a detailed vision of “a large global transformation network that would be helping to usher in a shift to the new era.” The Shift Network now offers free teleseminars and online summits on subjects ranging from meditation and parenting with presence to enlightened business practices and cultivating peace.

“We started with The Sacred Awakening Series—40 days with 40 spiritual leaders—and 30,000 people signed up in 21 days,” says Dinan. The Inspiring Women Summit attracted 25,000 participants. Since 2010, more than 400,000 people from 160 countries have participated in free teleseminars; 18,000 have paid for online courses such as Barbara Marx Hubbard’s Agents of Conscious Evolution, Andrew Harvey’s Christ Path and Thomas Hüebl’s Authentic Awakening.

The Shift Network has already reached profitability and donated more than $50,000 to nonprofits. Dinan’s vision includes providing education program certifications; building a multimedia platform of e-zines, mobile phone apps and web TV broadcasts; and eventually building facilities and intentional communities to model the possibilities of a more healthy, peaceful, sustainable way of life.

From reading a book on meditation to attending a yoga intensive or tapping into a multifaceted community striving to change the world, we have myriad opportunities to lead an examined life.

While the seeker may have a personal goal in mind, each mode of self-inquiry can expand outward toward making the world a better place.

Hay encourages us all. “You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

Bess Hochstein is a freelance writer enjoying bicoastal bliss in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and Sonoma County, California. Connect at BessHochstein.com.

greenliving

CRAFTING A GREEN HOLIDAY Happy Ways to Deck the Halls

by Avery Mack

Conjure a Norman Rockwellesque holiday fantasy of family members gathered around a home-cooked meal, creative gifts and decorations in place as stories of holidays past mingle with memories in the making.

Cue the strolling carolers.

The reality tends to be more of a distracted and exhausting race to the fi nish line. Available time, energy and money all play into whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to get done by the big day. Some tips can make easy eco-decorations a feel-good part of the merriment.

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ow-maintenance, childand pet-friendly colored seashells make a sustainable alternative to outdoor mulch.

Choose from 22,000 Sherwin-Williams nontoxic, water-based hues to brighten any landscape. Hide a fallow flowerbed under a waterproof tarp, cover with light-colored shells as background. Then design a Christmas tree, wreath, menorah, multihued snowman or another original design with colored shells. After the holidays, the tarp can envelop the shells and be put away for easy storage.

Visit ColoredShells.com.

Canadian Laura Watt, owner of the ethical seed company Cubitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organics, in Toronto, made a felted wool wreath for a front door from an old jacket. A worn-out blanket will also work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It only took one long baby nap to make,â&#x20AC;? says Watt, who gave new life to the wire base from an old wreath by using bits of yarn to stitch flowers. Find instructions at Tinyurl.com/FeltWreath.

A little VOCfree paint, some repurposed mini-decorations and recycled toilet paper rolls could become an indoor wreath to be proud of. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a television producer, blogger and mother of 2and 4-year-old daughters, so it had to be easy and quick,â&#x20AC;? says Karri-Leigh Mastrangelo, in Los Angeles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do it again this year.â&#x20AC;? See how at Tinyurl.com/TPWreath.

Spice up table dĂŠcor using unexpected items. Lay a base of an organic cotton tablecloth, runner and napkins.

Top with a centerpiece base comprising a pie pan, clear flower vase or Mason jar filled with bits of fresh evergreens and accented with small ornaments or beads from repurposed and recycled jewelry. Colored shells can line the bottom. Add a stable soy candle positioned in a bit of water for easy cleanup of dripped wax.

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To continue the theme from the front door to the table, fashion leftover felt from the wreath into candle rings, using the same method, but on a smaller scale.

Add spirals of garland made of star-shaped, dried orange peels handcrafted by Colombia’s Sapia artisans. The green, yellow and orange colors, backed with a soft white, provide a citrusy fragrance that lasts months. Learn more at Tinyurl. com/CitrusGarland.

Beeswax candle kits are kid-friendly and come with enough supplies to make 20 candles.

Order red and green wax sheets for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah or purple and pink for Advent.

The beeswax is rolled around the wick to make an eight-inchtall, one-inch-diameter

taper. The honeycomb texture creates a festive look.

Beeswax is natural and free from the petroleum-based chemicals commonly used in conventional candles. It burns brighter, hotter, cleaner and longer, while emitting negative ions that clean the air of odors, pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites and allergens. No time for a do-it-yourself project? Many readyto-use beeswax and floating candles in the shape of poinsettias, holly leaves and snowflakes are available at ToadilyHandmade.com.

Angela Price has created handblown glass terrarium ornaments for her small-space garden design company and boutique, Eden Condensed, in greater Los Angeles, California. The ornaments range from two to four inches in diameter and include live succulents, dried moss and miniature, holiday-inspired repurposed items. Price says, “Decorating the tree or the table, they’re easy to maintain and can be enjoyed for many months beyond the holidays.”

See Tinyurl.com/Decorative Terrariums for inspired ideas.

Place cards add an elegant, personal touch to any holiday table. Kids can make snowflake ornaments from recycled paper. Print a holiday greeting on one side of the snowflake and inscribe a name and personal message on the other for family gatherings. Tied with a ribbon, the snowflakes can also be hung in the window or on the tree.

Preprinted snowflakes made of recycled paper with soy ink at Tinyurl. com/PlantableSnowflakes are embedded with a variety of wildflower seeds for future planting.

Mail them in lieu of traditional greeting cards or as more formal place cards for a simple way to prosper green holiday wishes.

Mixing mindful shopping with creative touches embroiders a memorable day with family fun and the satisfaction that we’ve celebrated the holidays in sustainable style.

Connect with Avery Mack via AveryMack@mindspring.com.

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greenliving

Shop with the Planet in Mind Daily Choices Help Counter Climate Change

CLICK! Point Your Life in a Healthy Direction

by Christine MacDonald

Visit Our New Website!

Until recently, we’ve been asked to choose between the economy and the environment. Now we’re realizing that the two are closely linked, and that our continued prosperity depends on how well we take care of the natural systems that sustain life—clean air, water, food and an overall healthy environment.

Browse the local news, events calendar, resource guide, coupons and contests, plus all the wonderful articles that support and inspire a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Now just a click away!

A

lthough the worst impacts of climate change are still decades away, experts say it’s already a costly problem. In 2012, U.S. taxpayers spent nearly $100 billion—approximately $1,100 apiece—to cover crop losses, flooding, wildfires and other climate-related disasters, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. That’s more than America spent last year on education or transportation.

Given the lack of action on climate change by Congress, more Americans are looking to leverage their purchasing power to make a difference. Yet, as consumers trying to “shop their values” know, it’s often difficult to distinguish the “green” from the “greenwashed”.

Natural Awakenings has rounded up some tips that can help.

Dismiss Meaningless Labels Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., who leads the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group for Consumer Reports and its Greener Choices and Eco-labels online initiatives, says companies take far too many liberties in product labeling.

The dearth of standards and consistency across

the marketplace has rendered terms like “fresh,” and “free range” meaningless.

Also, there’s more wrong than right about the “natural” label put on everything from soymilk to frozen dinners, she says.

While critics of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s USDA Organic label say its regulations are not tough enough, Rangan says at least we know what we’re getting. The same is not true of many claims decorating consumer goods, Rangan advises. Plus, producers get away without identifying myriad other controversial practices, she says, including genetically engineered ingredients.

To help consumers protect themselves, the Consumer Union and other nonprofit public advocates have made their evaluations easily accessible via cell phones and iPads. The Web-based Good Guide’s evaluations of more than 145,000 food, toys, personal care and household products are at shoppers’ fingertips via an app that scans product barcodes on the spot.

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Calculate Impacts A number of easy-to-use online tools help us understand the far-flung impacts of a purchase, includnatural awakenings

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Who’s Buying Organic or Natural Foods?  High Demand  Low Demand  Average

Helpful Aids GreenerChoices.org/eco-labels/ vk.cfm GreenerChoices.org/eco-labels/ labellogo.cfm GoodGuide.com Tinyurl.com/LoveFoodHateWaste PortionsGuide Tinyurl.com/NatlGeographic WaterFootprint EatFeastly.com GoHalfsies.com Zipcar.com

Courtesy of GfK Mediamark Research and Environmental Systems Research Institute

ing on humans and habitats. The Good Guide, for instance, employs chemists, toxicologists, nutritionists, sociologists and environmental lifecycle specialists to evaluate a product’s repercussions on health, environment and society.

Sandra Postel, who leads the Global Water Policy Project, has teamed up with the National Geographic Society to devise a personal water footprint calculator. It helps people understand the wider environmental impacts of their lifestyle and purchasing choices, and provides options for reducing their footprints and supporting water replenishment efforts.

“It takes a per capita average of 2,000 gallons of water each day to keep our U.S. lifestyle afloat,” twice the world average, calculates Postel. The typical hamburger takes 630 gallons of water to produce, for example, while a pair of jeans consumes 2,600 gallons, most of it to grow the necessary cotton.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Water is just one of numerous resources overused in the United States, according to author and journalist Danielle Nierenberg, co-founder of Food Tank. “We overbuy food. It goes bad and ends up in landfills,” where it lets off methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, as it decomposes.

“We also over-order at restaurants,” observes Nierenberg, whose think tank focuses on the interrelated issues of hunger, obesity and environmental degradation. Overall, the U.S. annually accounts for 34 million tons of food waste. “Part of the problem is we’ve lost home culinary skills,” says Nierenberg, who says we need to rethink how and how much we eat. “We don’t really understand what portions are,” she adds.

Share Instead of Buy Collaboration characterizes the broader trend in careful consuming that relies on cell phone apps. Sometimes known as

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the “sharing economy” or “collaborative consumption”, initiatives can range from car and bike shares to neighborly lending of lawn mowers and other tools and sharing homegrown produce. One of the more innovative food-sharing options is Halfsies, in which diners at participating restaurants pay full price for a meal, but receive half of a full portion, effectively donating the cost of the other half to fight hunger.

Whatever the product, experts say, the new sharing business model is part of a fundamental shift in how people think about consuming, with the potential to help us reduce our personal carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., who specializes in health, science and environmental issues. Learn more at ChristineMacDonald.info.

Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-6852975. LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

calendarofevents

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 To have your event included in the Calendar of Events, please email Meditation for Stress Relief – 9am; Mindfulness Publisher@NABlueRidge.com or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit Matters Discussion – 9:30-10:30am. 30- minute entries. Calendar entries are due by the 5th of the month prior to publication. meditation followed by readings and CD recordings FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Nature Nurture: Reflections on the Land Exhibit – Noon-5pm, Sunday; 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday, through November 30. Curated exhibit featuring the nature of our region. Free. Jacksonville Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln S, Floyd. 540-745-2784.

JacksonvilleCenter.org.

In the Breezeway Gallery – Noon-5pm, Sunday; 10am-5pm, Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, through December 1. Exhibit featuring works by members of the Blacksburg Regional Art Association. Free. Jacksonville Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln S, Floyd.

540-745-2784. JacksonvilleCenter.org.

Ravenelle Corn Maze – November 1 through 3. 4-6pm, November 1; 10am-6pm, November 2; 1-6pm, November 3. Pumpkins, refreshments, inflatable bouncer.

Weekdays by appointment only. $5/person; children under 2/free. Night Walk, November 1, 6-10pm, $8/ person. Russell Farms, Rt 811, 4300 Block Thomas Jefferson Rd, Forest. 434-609-0081.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Arts, Crafts and More – 9am-5pm. Area artisans, crafters, authors and musical artists offer their wares for the perfect holiday shopping experience. Sponsored by the GFWC Bedford Women’s Club. $2/person. Bedford Elementary School (below the National D-Day Memorial), 806 Tiger Tr, Bedford. 540-586-8175.

Learn to Homebrew Day – 11am-4pm. Learn to make craft beer at home. Demos, sampling, wine tasting, food and more. Free. Blue Ridge Hydroponics. 5327-D Williamson Rd, Roanoke. 540-265-2483.

16th Annual Apple Valley 5K – 10am. A 3.1-mile cross-country course run through orchards on grass, gravel and dirt roads. Walkers welcome. Contact Theresa Boyes for more information or to register. Gross’ Orchard, 6817 Wheats Valley Rd, Bedford. 540-2972709. E173Boyes@aol.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Unity of Roanoke – 9 and 11am services. Terry McBride will speak on “The Mystical History of Unity.” All welcome. 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200. Offi ce@UnityRoanoke. org. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

Community Open House – Noon-2:30pm. Special performance of music-making, celebrating the opening of the Center for the Arts in the New River Valley. Free. Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, 330 Turner St NW, Blacksburg. 540-231-5300 (box office). ArtsCenter.VT.edu.

Unity of Roanoke Workshop – 6-9pm. Terry McBride will speak on “Tools to Master Your Creative Mind and Create Your Own Destiny.” $30/person. 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200. Office@UnityRoanoke.org. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Lynchburg Peace Education Center Monthly Meeting – 7:30pm. Join us for discussion and planning of

local peace and justice events. All are welcome. The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg. 434609-3437. LPEC.Weebly.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2013 Women’s Day Retreat – 8:30am-4:30pm.

Join us for a full day of self-care. $129; $25 deposit required. Early Bird Discount. Call to register. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215.

LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Cohousing Information Session – 10am-Noon.

Lisa Poley, an expert on cohousing from Village Resources. LLC, will present. All are welcome.

Brambleton Recreation Center (Conference Room 2F), 3738 Brambleton Ave, Roanoke. 540-250-7032.

FloydCohousing.Jubilee@gmail.com.

exploring topics of mindfulness and meditation.

Free. The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg. 434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

Are You a Hottie? – 9:30am-12:30pm. Explore the triggers of hot flashes, night sweats and irritation attacks. Register by November 13. $45. Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@gmail.com.

LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

“Mindfulness, One Moment at a Time” – 10am12pm. As the busy season approaches, gain tools and insight for being present in everyday life. Instructor: Kay Montgomery. No reservations needed, but please call ahead. $25. Barefoot Studios, 16 West Marketplace Bldg, 16 Church Ave, Roanoke. 540-589-8231. BarefootStudiosAndGallery.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Reiki I – 10am-4:30pm. Learn all about Reiki. You will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Reiki I course. $175 fee includes a manual with all of the information covered and lunch. Bioenergetic Chiropractic, 1413 Grandin Rd, Roanoke. 540-588-0788.

CelebrationOfLight@gmail.com.

Annual Festival of Trees – 9am-5pm. Daily through January 2. Exceptions: closed Thanksgiving Day, noon on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, noon on New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Bedford Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Rd, Bedford. 540-587-5681.

STrussell@BedfordCountyVa.gov. VisitBedford.com.

Yoga – 11am. Join our all-level community class. Donations will be accepted for the local Bedford Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

“The Movement” Video Recording Session – 10am-2pm. Introduction to an innovative series on self-empowerment. Register by November 15. Free.

Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@gmail. com. LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

Health: Exploring the Mind, Body, Spirit Connection for Living Life in Balance and Harmony – 11am-1pm. Includes healthy smoothie and organic snacks. Register by November 5. $35. Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@gmail.com.

LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

Dancing with the “Valley” Stars – 7 pm. Fund-raising event to benefit The Salvation Army’s Turning Point. $75/person; $850/table for 10. Virginia Transportation Museum, 303 Norfolk Ave, Roanoke. 540-521-0365.

ValleyDancing.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Open House and Holiday Photo Extravaganza – 2-5pm. Learn about acupuncture, chiropractic and botanical options for your pets. Pet portraits also available; please call to reserve a portrait time. Holistic Veterinary Consultants, 2401 S Main St, Blacksburg. 540-616WAGS(9247). HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com.

“Living Well Through the Hectic Holidays” Talk – 6:30-7:30pm. Learn how to manage stress and get the most from the holiday season. Pre-registration is required. Free. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg.

540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21 “A Ceramic Voyage in Asia” – 6pm. This lecture by featured artist Donna Polseno will highlight photographs of her six-week trip to Jingdezhen, China. Free.

Jacksonville Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln S, Floyd. 540-745-2784. JacksonvilleCenter.org.

What’s in your water?

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Alkaline Antioxidant Restructured The Healthy Water Solution

Are You a Hottie? – 10am-1pm. Explore the triggers of hot flashes, night sweats and irritation attacks. Register by November 8. $45. Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@ gmail.com.LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Midday Stress Break – 12:30-1:15pm. Enjoy stressrelieving techniques, including aromatherapy and meditation, during your lunch hour. Includes organic snacks. Register by November 8. $21. Luxuria Holistic

Call 540-230-7459 or email HealthyWaterForMe@yahoo.com for a free 3-week trial!

natural awakenings

November 2013

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Mercury-Free Dentistry

Special Event: Gratitude Meditation – 10am. Join us for silent meditation and shared thoughts on generosity, receiving and gratitude. Free; all are welcome.

The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg.

434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

Safe S f removall off mercury/silver fillings (amalgam) utilizing the protocol recommended by the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (see IAOMT.com) Dr. C. Fr Fre rede deri rick Smith, DDS Drr. Ka D Kare K are rren en Pe Per P erk rkiin ins nss,, DD DSS Providing comprehensive and cosmetic dentistry in a mercury-free environment using dental materials that are safe and biocompatible.

yoga with Lisa Wade

46 Shelor Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24502

434-237-6328

www.MercuryFreeDDS.com

One and two student private classes suitable for those with physical challenges and beginners.

Call to begin your path to joy and harmony today!

540-521-0313 1415 Grandin Road Roanoke, VA 24015 lovelylisa131@aol.com

Peace Readers Book Group – 2pm. Book group focusing on titles that help to create a culture of peace. The November selection is The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg. 434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Hot Flow Yoga – 5:30pm. Join our hot flow yoga class for your pre-Thanksgiving cleanse. Part of our proceeds will go directly to the Bedford Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford.

434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Yoga – 9:30am. Bring yourself, your family and friends for this special holiday class. Let’s move after our holiday feast and welcome the winter season.

Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

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34th Annual Mineral and Gem Show – 2-6pm.

Minerals, crystals, geodes, beads, jewelry and more.

Sponsored by the Roanoke Valley Mineral and Gem Society. $4.50/adult weekend pass; free/youth. Salem Civic Center, 1001 Boulevard, Salem. 540-774-2960.

Dejose2@verizon.net. RVMGS.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Annual Flotilla for Toys – 7-9pm. Toy drive at Virginia Dare Cruises’ Beach Pavilion to benefit Lake Christian Ministries. Smith Mountain Lake Park, 1235 State Park Rd, Huddleston. 540-297-5998. DCR.Virginia.Gov/ State_Parks/SMI.shtml.

savethedate SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 Holiday Bazaar - 8am-1pm. Baked goods, Christmas decorations, unique gifts for the holidays.

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

VCCDS.com.

Are You a Hottie? – 10am-1pm. Explore the triggers of hot flashes, night sweats and irritation attacks. Register by December 6. $45. Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@gmail.com.

LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 Are You a Hottie? – 9:30am-12:30pm. Explore the triggers of hot flashes, night sweats and irritation attacks. Register by December 11. $45. Luxuria Holistic Center, 1415 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke.

540-685-2975. LuxuriousPampering@gmail.com.

LuxuriaHolisticCenter.Blogspot.com.

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Virginia’s Blue Ridge

NABlueRidge.com

ongoingevents sunday

Consultants, 2401 S Main St, Blacksburg. 540-616WAGS. HolisticVeterinaryConsultants@gmail.com.

HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com.

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 worship service.

Practical solutions based on the teachings of Jesus.

Services include varied musical programs; refreshments served afterward. All welcome. 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Divine Metaphysics – 10:30-11am. A non-creedal faith that encourages freedom and discernment as individuals search for truth about spiritual, ethical and theological issues. All welcome. New River Valley Metaphysical Chapel. 1410 W Main St, Radford. 540-922-2776.

NRVMeta.com.

NRV Metaphysical Chapel – 11am-12noon. Spiritual prayer, meditation and music service. All welcome.

New River Valley Metaphysical Chapel, 1410 W Main St, Radford. 540-922-2776. RevSteven@NRVMeta. com. NRVMeta.com.

Eckankar Worship Service – 11am-12noon. Service open to people of all faiths and religions. Second Sunday of each month. Lifestream Center, 2006 Windsor Ave, Roanoke. Eckankar.org. Eck-Virginia.org.

monday Vinyassa Flow Yoga – 9-10:15am; 5:45-7pm. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio.

No registration required; drop in or multiple class cards available. This class is multilevel. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150.

YogaBedford.com.

Meditation Sessions – 6-6:45pm. Experience inner peace and tranquility with Weekly Meditation Series. $10/session; package discounts available. Call to pre-register. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

4th Monday Alternative Medicine Study Group – 6-7:30pm. For practitioners. Learn about wellness and healing for our patients. Free. Holistic Veterinary

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 Tai Chi – 12-1pm. Low impact focusing on relaxation, balance and a sense of overall well-being. All ages, all levels. No registration required and drop-ins are welcome. Barefoot Studios, 16 West Marketplace Bldg, 16 Church Ave, Roanoke. 540-632-2323. BarefootStudiosAndGalleries.com.

Kids’ Yoga – 4:30-5:15pm. Ages 4-11 welcome. Call to pre-register; space is limited. First session is free. $8/ one session; $36/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginner’s Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Increase your strength and flexibility. First session is free; call to pre-register. $12/one session; $48/6 sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Stretch and Strengthen – 5:30-6:45pm. Gentle stretching to strengthen and invigorate body and soul. Led by Lauren Scott Jones, DC. Healing Catalyst, 7474 Lee Hwy, Kroger Shopping Ctr, Radford. 540-639-4325. LaurenScottJones@yahoo.com. TheHealingCatalyst.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.

Vinyasa Flow Class – 6:15-7:30pm. Class is open to all levels. Facilitated by Christina Adams, RYT. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge Blue School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 S Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-3923723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.

Healing Help Support Group in NRV – 7pm. A group for any individual who struggles with health issues and chronic illness of any kind. Group meets every second Tuesday of the month. St. Michael Lutheran Church, 2308 Merrimac Rd, Blacksburg. 540-641-0760. HealingHelp.wix.com/Healing-Help.

My Co-op 101 – Learn more about a cooperative business and how to make the most of your ownership.

Want a GREENER community?

Support our advertisers!

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

Source: the3/50project.net

Last Tuesday of every month. Free to owners; walk-ins welcome. Please call to reserve a space. Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd, Roanoke. 540-3435652. RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop.

wednesday Vinyassa Flow Yoga – 9-10:15am. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required, drop in or multiple class cards available.

This class is multi-level. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

Hatha Yoga – 11am-12pm. Gentle yoga focusing on integration of body, mind and spirit with instructor Colleen Carrell. No registration required and drop-ins are welcome. All ages, all levels. $10. Barefoot Studios, 16 West Marketplace Bldg, 16 Church Ave, Roanoke. 540761-5635. BarefootStudiosAndGallery.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.

Nature Zone – Wed, Fri, Sat. 3pm-Dusk, Wed; Noon6pm, Fri; 10am-4pm, Sat. Take in the “wild” sights of the Nature Zone and delve into the mysteries of nature.

There’s a world of fun and excitement for all ages! The Nature Zone, 825 Kemper St, Lynchburg. 434-455-5858.

LynchburgVa.gov/parks-and-recreation.

Beginner’s Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Open to new, beginners or returning students or anyone looking to slow down and renew their yoga practice. Learn yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop-in or multiple class cards available. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.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 Rt 419, behind McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza.

540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Dolphin Way of Healing and Enlightenment – 7-8:30pm.

Each week best-selling author D. Takara Shelor will introduce you to a new aspect of The Dancing Dolphin Way. $11. Lifestream Center, 2006 Windsor Ave SW, Roanoke. 540-639-1633. Takara@MagnificentU.com.

MagnificentU.com.

Improve your Health, Naturally Specializing in holistic approaches to chronic health concerns

Katherine Reinholtz, N.D. NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE 200 Professional Park Dr #3 Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-230-6758

DrKatherineND@gmail.com www.KatherineReinholtzND.com

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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 Beginner’s Yoga – 9:30-10:30am. Learn yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop-in or multiple class cards available. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150.

YogaBedford.com.

3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-562-2200. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

friday Therapeutic Massage – 9am-5pm. Massage therapist Stephanie Jett is available every Friday to take appointments. Call 910-546-4301 to schedule an appointment.

Barefoot Studios, 16 West Marketplace Bldg, 16 Church Ave, Roanoke. BarefootStudiosAndGallery.com.

Vinyasa Flow Class – 9:30-10:45am. Class is open to all levels. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge Blue School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 S Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg.

540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.

Beginner’s Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Increase your strength and flexibility. First session is free; call to pre-register. $12/ one session; $48/6 sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg.

540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginner’s Yoga – 9:30-10:45am. Increase your strength and flexibility. First session is free; call to pre-register. $12/ one session; $48/6 sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Stretch and Strengthen – 5:30-6:45pm. Gentle stretching to strengthen and invigorate body and soul. Led by Lauren Scott Jones, DC. Healing Catalyst, 7474 Lee Hwy, Kroger Shopping Ctr, Radford. 540-639-4325. LaurenScottJones@ yahoo.com. TheHealingCatalyst.com.

2nd Fridays in Centertown Bedford – 5-8pm. Every second Friday of each month through December 13. More than 30 local merchants and eateries staying open until 8pm or later for shopping, dining and exploring. Centertown Bedford. 540-586-2148. CentertownBedford.com.

Laughter Yoga – 6-6:30pm. Laughter yoga is held every first and third Thursday of the month. No experience required. Free. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 S Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. Laugh4U.org.

Art By Night at Barefoot Studios – 5-9pm. Enjoy an evening of fine art and great live music on the first Friday of each month. November Art By Night features artist Jane Rochelle’s beautiful torn-paper collages. Free. Barefoot Studios, 16 West Marketplace Bldg, 16 Church Ave, Roanoke. 540-589-8231. BarefootStudiosAndGallery.com.

Mysore Yoga – 6-7:30pm. Deepen your experience of yoga. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 S Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg.

540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.

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, 214 Summit Wy, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVA.org.

Monthly Community Potluck – 6:15pm. Bring a dish to share and enjoy! Third Friday of every month. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-562-2200. UnityOfRoanokevalley.org.

Healing Circle – 6:30-7:30pm. First Friday of every month. No-touch or light-touch healing. Meets in the sanctuary. All are welcome. Unity of Roanoke Valley,

. . . the place where good things come together.

Mankind Project: Men’s Circle – 6:30-8:30pm.

Second Friday of every month. Meets in the annex.

Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-5622200. UnityOfRoanokevalley.org.

Earth-Friendly Friday – 6:30-8pm. Second Friday each month. Bring a snack dish for sharing. Free. Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Rd, Roanoke. 540-384-7448. RSEgbert@comcast.net.

saturday Zen Meditation Group – 9-10pm. 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 each month. Drawings for free gift certificates, proven wellness information and great savings opportunities. The Well, 1764 Patriot Ln, Bedford. 540-587-9000; 877-THE-WELL. TheWellInBedford@gmail.com.

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

Sponsored by Plowshares, 214 Summit Wy, Roanoke.

989-0393. PlowshareVA.org.

Psychic and Mediumship Development Class – 1-2:30pm. Learn psychometry, telepathy and aura reading and how to meet your spirit guides. Class taught by the Reverend Medium Tracey Lockwood. $10/class. Location: Raleigh Court Library. 540-9989789. fb.com/TheUniversalMind.

Unity of Roanoke Valley Sunday Services 9 & 11 am, Weekly Classes, Workshops & Weddings. CelebraƟng all paths to God!3300 Green Ridge Road Roanoke, VA 24019 www.UnityOfRoanokeValley.org (540) 562-2200

Presenting Coming Home - a new exhibit of handcrafted, decorative collages

Intimate, casual dining featuring pizza & gourmet specialities

Organic coffee and smoothie bar

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16 West Marketplace 16 Church Avenue

26

Downtown Roanoke

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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

ALKALINE WATER HEALTHY WATER FOR ME

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY H2O AT HOME Jean Cox, Founding Senior Group Leader 360-271-9525 MyH2OatHome.com/Jean

Kangen Water® is a great way to increase hydration, balance body pH, obtain optimal health, neutralize free radicals, reduce pain and more. Change Your Water…Change Your Life ™.

Call to begin a free three-week alkaline, antioxidant water challenge today. See ad, page 23.

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.

See ad, page 4.

BAREFOOT STUDIOS 16 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 24011 540-589-8231 BarefootStudiosAndGallery.com Healing touch assists with balancing your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and supports your natural ability to heal. Safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care. See ad, page 26.

BUILDING – GREEN DESIGN/BUILD SOUTHERN HERITAGE HOMES 275 Corporate Dr., Rocky Mount, VA 24151 540-489-7700 KMPeters@SHHomes.net SHHomes.net Southern Heritage Homes is a family-owned construction that makes business offering hybrid d constru sense for your lifestyle, your budget and the planet. See ad, page 7.

CHURCHES 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 – ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RENEWABLE ENGINEERED SYSTEMS Solar power for your home is more affordable than you think.

We provide outstanding quality and value in alternative energy applications for consumers seeing turn-key solutions. Enjoy relief from the escalating cost of fossil fuels. See ad, page 11.

ENERGY – CONSERVATION AND HVAC ENERGY CHECK

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 26.

COFFEE AND TEA

FOREST REST AT MOUNTAIN VIEW

RED ROOSTER COFFEE ROASTERS

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 19.

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 24.

855-241-7999 sales@r-e-s.biz

BURIAL (GREEN) 5970 Grassy Hill Rd., Boones Mill, VA 24065 540-334-5398 Sensor@EvergreenMemorialTrust.com EvergreenMemorialTrust.com

DR. C. FREDERICK SMITH, DDS 46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24502 434-237-6328 MercuryFreeDDS.com

540-230-7459 or 540-789-7808 HealthyWaterForMe@yahoo.com HealthyWaterForMe.com

BODYWORK – ENERGY WORK

DENTIST

Haden Polseno-Hensley 117-B S. Locust St., Floyd, VA 24091 855-r0aster (855-702-7837) RedRoosterCoffeeRoaster.com

701 Progress St., Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-443-9966 WeCheckEnergy.com Offering home energy audits and improvements. We help homeowners find opportunities to improve the health, comfort and efficiency of their homes.

Serving the NRV, Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake. We are BPI-certified and insured, VA Class A contractors. Specializing in windows, crawl spaces, air sealing and insulation. See ad, page 9.

J & J WEATHERIZATION 434-847-5487 JoLangford@juno.com JJWeatherization.com

Coffee with a conscience: highest quality, certified organic, often fair-trade coffee, custom-roasted in small batches. Retail and wholesale, events, private label and gifts.

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.

See ad, page 20.

natural awakenings

November 2013

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MULE HELL TRADING CO.

FITNESS – YOGA

134 Frances Mill Rd., Cripple Creek, VA 24322 276-621-4741 MuleHellTradingCo.com

BEDFORD YOGA CENTER Helen A. Maxwell, RYT 500 715 Liberty St., Bedford, VA 24523 434-944-1150 YogaBedford.com All levels, from beginner and beyond. Choose from a variety of public classes or private, individualized instruction. Offering a FREE monthly community class. Find balance, strength, bliss and harmony. See ad, page 9.

FOOD – FARMS AND FARMERS’ MARKETS RIVERSTONE ORGANIC FARM Floyd, VA 24091 540-577-8218 Riverstone@SWVA.net RiverstoneOrganicFarm.com Offering organic produce and flowers and pastureraised lamb, pork and eggs. Find us at Blacksburg and Floyd farmers’ markets or sign up for a CSA farm share. See ad, page 24.

GARDEN AND LAWN BLUE RIDGE HYDROPONICS AND HOME BREWING COMPANY Williamson Road Plaza, 5327-D Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA 24012 540-265-2483 BlueRidgeHydroponics.com Everything you need to create an indoor growing environment. Hydroponic gardening, indoor lighting and nutrients.

Cheese-making and home-brewing kits also available. See ad, page 11.

GUIDED IMAGERY REV. KANTA BOSNIAK, CHT Life Coach and Wedding Officiant 540-577-8854 art4spirit@yahoo.com KantaBosniak.com Coaching and guided imagery for weight loss, smoking cessation, intuition, life changes, confident interviews, career. Take positive thinking to a deeper level. Personalized and meaningful wedding ceremonies.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOOD AND HEALTH REVOLUTION FoodAndHealthRevolution.com A blog site featuring articles and videos that will help you join the food and health revolution.

28

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

Fine herbal handmade soaps and natural body-care products made at our soap studio in downtown Cripple Creek. We make more than 50 products that will feed your skin naturally!

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING ALEXANDRIA PEDERSON, CERTIFIED LIFE MASTERY COACH Seeing clients in person at Bioenergetic Chiropractic 1413 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015 Mail: P.O. Box 4211, Roanoke, VA 24015 540-588-0788 CelebrationOfLight@gmail.com AlexandriaPederson.com Are you ready to live the life of your dreams? I use proven systems to guide you in taking the steps to be successful and manifest the life of your dreams.

Why wait? Decide today to live it now! Individual or group sessions. See ad, page 11.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS COUNSELING LUANN KEENER-MIKENAS, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker 311 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24504 434-221-0778 LKeener444@live.com LKM-LCSW.org LuAnn is a licensed clinical social worker with 18 years of experience, working to promote personal growth and strength in families. Counseling and complementary therapies: NeuroIntegration, Mandala Assessment and Research Instrument (MARI), Quantum Healing Hypnosis Therapy (QHHT).

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WELLNESS CENTERS 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, equine-assisted psychotherapy, massage therapy, Reiki, yoga classes, creative movement and relaxation classes, meditation, workshops, classes and group therapy. See ad, page 17.

HOME – CLEANING SUPPLIES CLEAN AND GREEN TECHNOLOGIES 160 Corning Dr. NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-381-5983 C-G-Tech.com Your source for natural cleaning and organic gardening products. See coupon in ad, page 7.

H2O AT HOME Jean Cox, Founding Senior Group Leader 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! See ad, page 4.

MASSAGE SCHOOLS BLUE RIDGE SCHOOL OF MASSAGE AND YOGA Colony Park, Ste. 106, 2001 S. Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-552-2177 BlueRidgeMassage.org Prepare for a meaningful, well-paid, flexible career in the growing profession of massage therapy. Gain excellent, varied bodywork skills and knowledge from experienced, caring instructors. Visit our website to learn more about programs, open house events and workshops or to complete an online application. (CTO SHEV)

MASSAGE AND BODYWORK

KATHERINE REINHOLTZ, N.D.

THE WILLOW TREE

200 Professional Park Dr. #3, Blacksburg, VA 24060 540-230-6758 DrKatherineND@gmail.com KatherineReinholtzND.com

Kristina Youker, NCMT 7474 Lee Hwy., Radford, VA 24141 540-558-9585 TheWillowTreeMassage.com

Your conventional medical care is blended with the wisdom of holistic medicine to give you the best possible health care. Specializing in holistic approaches to chronic health concerns.

See ad, page 25.

NABlueRidge.com

Whether you’re suffering from stress or sports-related injuries, The Willow Tree is designed to provide the ultimate experience in therapeutic massage and integrated health services.

NATURAL FOODS 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 earth-friendly products. We support sustainable environmental practices, local organic farmers, local businesses and our community. See ad, page 22.

ORGANIC HAIR CARE

Have a Happy,

ALL ABOUT YOU SALON 1386 E. Main St., Salem, VA 24153 540-312-6141 Full-service hair salon. Organic hair coloring and perms that are made with certified organic extracts and natural ingredients that are 100-percent ammonia-free.

Spa services include manicures, pedicure, facials and massage. Flexible appointments for busy schedules. See ad, page 9.

RECYCLING 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 science-based 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, page 5.

NATURAL REMEDIES NATURE’S SPECIALIST Dorothy Harrell, Pharmacist 4620 Lee Hwy., Dublin, VA 24084 540-674-0914 NatPharm.Dottie@gmail.com Specializing in naturopathic consultation, natural therapies and hair analysis. Nature’s Specialist also keeps a stock of high-quality vitamins, herbs and nutritionals. Call for an appointment, or stop by to shop for supplements.

See ad, page 6.

NATURAL PET 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. See ad, page 13.

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

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

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE VALLEYS

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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. See ad, page 17.

This season, shop online for this and other natural products at

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HOLISTIC VETERINARY CONSULTANTS 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 6.

ADVERTORIAL

Natural Iodine Supplementation A Must for Most Americans e all need iodine, yet most of us don’t get enough of it through our diet. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that iodine deficiency in the developed world has increased fourfold in the past 40 years and now affects nearly three-quarters of all adults.

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