NA Tallahassee April 2012 by Donna Konuch

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GREEN LIVING

Earth Day Events

Rainwater Harvesting ECO-KIDS RULE

Ways to Help Them Grow Up Green

NATURE POWER

Take a Forest Walk Writing Contest Winner Announced

April 2012 | Tallahassee, South Georgia, Gulf Coast | www.natallahassee.com natural awakenings

April 2012

Find a Place to

Renew Your Spirit Sunday Services 9:30 and 11:00 AM Youth Education 11:00 AM 8551 Buck Lake Road www.unity-eastside.org 5 miles off Mahan on Buck Lake Road

Inspirational Talks • Meditation • Youth Programs • Community Service • Prayer • Classes • Music • Tranquil Setting

Editor Donna L. Konuch Design & Production Susan McCann Advertising Sales For Advertising questions or a Media Kit please send an e-mail to: NATallahassee@yahoo.com Natural Awakenings Tallahassee 3767 Greyfield Dr Tallahassee, Fl 32311 Phone: 850-590-7024 Fax: 850-270-67NA (6762) natallahassee@yahoo.com www.NATallahassee.com www.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

© 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call for 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 for $18 (for 12 issues). Please call 850-590-7024 with credit card information or mail a check, payable to Natural Awakenings–Tallahassee, to the above address.

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advertising & Submissions How to Advertise

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at natallahassee@yahoo.com. Deadline for ad space reservation for the May issue is Thursday, April 12.

News Briefs and article submissions

Email articles, news items and ideas to: natallahassee@yahoo.com. Deadline for editorial for the May issue is Monday, Thursday 5.

calendar submissions

Email calendar events to: natallahassee@ yahoo.com or fax to 850-270-6762. Please see page 31 for details Calendar deadline for May issue is Tuesday, April 10.

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Coming in May

appy Hot Spring, friends! Amazing how we did not have much of our beautiful springtime weather this year, did we? Although there are some folks in our world that say “there is no such thing as global warming,” I am going to have to respectfully disagree with their statement. Our mild winter and early summer may be shrugged off to living in north Florida and southern Georgia, but my mother lives in the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York and they had such a warm winter this year that it only snowed once in February, and was in the mid-70’s on St. Patrick’s Day. For those of you not familiar with that very northern, mountainous area of our country, take my word for it when I say, “now THAT my friends, is a warm winter.” So maybe our environmental/Earth Day issue this month is coming in right on time. We have some wonderful content for you, as we always do. Articles such as, Rainwater Harvesting on page 14, with tips I look forward to implementing at my own home. Have you wondered what else you can do to help our community and environment? Then check out page 18 and the article on a Green Home Checklist, room by room steps we can start doing right away. This is also the month that I announce the winner of our annual writing contest. This is only our second year hosting this contest, and I am amazed and delighted by the entries this year. As devoted readers of this magazine, you will get to share with me in the upcoming months some really great local content. It is wonderful living in this community with so many interesting people and talented, gifted folks. On page 28, you will read an article about Working with Your Judgments. The author of that article, Leslee Horner, lives in Tallahassee with her husband and two daughters. She is a writer, part-time academic advisor and Uniteen leader at Unity Eastside church. Kudos to Leslee, and we hope she has continued success throughout 2012. Believe me when I tell you the difficulties we had this year selecting a winner. One article would be read with the thought “Hmm, I think this is the winner.” Then the next submission was read with the thought, “No, I think this one is the winner.” And on and on it went. We hope that everyone who submitted an entry this year feels proud of their accomplishment because they were all great. Because we have different themes each month, and each individual submission pertained to a particular theme, you will get a chance to read all of the entries at some point during our calendar year. It is my true pleasure to publish these articles for the talented people sent my way. This was a great issue to put together, and we hope it is one you thoroughly enjoy.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Be well, buy organic, and help others when you can.

Donna K.

natural awakenings

April 2012

contents 8

7 inspiration 8 healthbriefs

10 globalbriefs

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

14 EVERY DROP COUNTS

14 greenliving

Reusing Rainwater Saves Money and is Better for Plants

16 fitbody

by Brita Belli

16 FOREST

10 22 consciouseating BATHING 23 wisewords

24 naturalpet

26 healthykids

32 ongoing

The Healing Power of a Walk

in the Woods

by Maggie Spilner

18 15

18 GREEN HOME CHECKLIST

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

22 WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste by Amber Lanier Nagle

23 ECO-MIND:

CREATING THE WORLD WE WANT

A Conversation with Frances Moore LappĂŠ by Linda Sechrist

24 SHELTERS GO GREEN

LEED-Certified Facilities Care for Animals and the Earth by Sandra Murphy

26 GROWING

UP GREEN

Lessons to Help Lighten Future Footprints by Hilary Ferrand

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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newsbriefs Peace in the Park Festival 2012

n Sunday, April 29th, participating Shops & Studios at the Railroad Square Art Park will host the 5th Annual Peace In The Park Festival, an afternoon of family fun for children of all ages beginning at noon and continuing until 5pm and beyond. This event at the Railroad Square Art Park will commemorate the 54th Anniversary of the design of the Peace Symbol as well as celebrate and honor peaceful practices and programs in Tallahassee. More than 50 civic & service organizations will participate displaying the spirit that volunteerism brings to our community. Throughout the Art Park there will be face painters, music by several local bands, multiple food trucks and assorted buskers. The Tasty Eats Café will be serving lunch and various other goodies will be available around the Park. Previous year’s event have been pretty spectacular, over 50 community associations, 20 FSU groups, a handful of Leon County School organizations; some 14 bands on 3 stages and over 4,000 people participated and had fun. If you would like to perform, the Park is open for more talent to participate. You are invited to showcase your talents, your special gifts, your musical aptitude, your theatrical knack, your dexterity, your doppelganger. A stage is available to perform on or a spot in the Park to busk and entertain. The Park is looking for more musicians, but they are also open to clever diversions for family amazement; magicians, clowns, jugglers, dancers. If you have some ability that awes your friends, bring it to the Square. This is always a fun, family event and we want to introduce you to the throngs at Railroad Square. For more information or if you want to participate or perform, contact Bill Grace at the Railroad Square Art Park – 766-7175 or at events@ railroadsquare.com.

Celebrating Earth day April 21 & 22nd

he Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP), Florida State Parks and eco-VolunteerUSATM are encouraging Floridians to participate in events highlighting conservation and environmental protection. See a list of celebrations and volunteer opportunities visit www.ecoVolunteerusa.org. Examples include installation of solar panels to beach clean-ups and giving persons with disabilities access to our environment. This kind of support can have a meaningful impact on our community for years to come. By going to the eco-Volunteerusa website you can register yourself, family, group or employees to volunteer or enjoy a “green” event. “Celebrating Earth Day April 21 & 22, at one of Florida’ s award winning state parks helps individuals learn how they can make a personal commitment to become an environmental steward,” said Florida State Park Director Donald Forgione. With 160 parks statewide, they are encouraging all Floridians to participate in an outdoor activity by joining a fun family celebration or volunteering at a local state park and learn simple ways to conserve and preserve our natural resources now and for future generations.

natural awakenings

April 2012

newsbriefs Earth Day “It’s in Our Hands”

his Earth Day, April 22, 2012, celebrate with The Magnolia School, Damayan Garden Project, and St. Francis Wildlife Association at the beautiful gardens of Lichgate on High Road from 2 - 6 pm. It is a free event. Join The Magnolia School and learn about sustainable living with presentations on gardening, herbs, composting, green smoothie making, juicing, sprouting, and beekeeping. Presentations with Jill Welch, The Kitchen Goddess; Scott Dantzler & Joyce Grenat, with Bent Tree Bioscaping; Michael Lindsey, Arborist from Bartlett Tree Experts; Phoenix Minklei, Lichgate Garden Manager; Bridget Welch, Children’s Book Author; and the art of beekeeping with Appalachee Beekeepers Association. This is a Family Fun event with face painting, henna, yoga, hooping, book reading and more! Live music with The Mayhaws, Eclectic Acoustic, Stranger Still. Lichgate on High Road preservation project is a unique endeavor and is completely volunteer-based. As an organization that exists completely through volunteer efforts and donations, it is essential that the community be made aware that only with their help will this unique oasis survive for the enjoyment of future generations. If you are interested in making a donation to Lichgate on High Road to help preserve the land, please visit the Laura Jepsen Institute at the website www.lichgate. com. If you are interested in volunteering at Lichgate, please visit Damayan Garden Project’s website www. damayan.org. Phoenix Minklei, Lichgate Garden Manager works out in the garden on Monday’s 9:30 am 12:00 pm and on Friday’s 1:45 pm - 4:00 pm. Special thanks to Espositos, Tallahassee Nurseries, and Soul Vegetarian for donations to this wonderful event! Location: 1401 High Road, Tallahassee, FL 32301. For information, contact Phoenix Minklei @ at Damayan Garden Project’s website at www.damayan.org.

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Announcing Ayurvedic Practitioner’s visit to Tallahassee

d Danaher, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Director of the Panchakarma Department, Ayurvedic Institute will be visiting Tallahassee and offering individual Ayurvedic consultations on Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd, 2012. Ed Danaher is an internationally recognized practitioner of Ayurveda, and associate of Dr. Vasant Lad for over 20 years. Dr. Lad is a world-renowned teacher, lecturer, author, and founder of the Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Individual consultations include a patient interview to determine complaints and concerns. A physical exam, which includes pulse diagnoses will follow. The patient’s body type (dosha) is determined, and any imbalances present in the physical nature are identified. Mr. Danaher will then recommend a management plan designed specifically to address the patient’s needs. The plan may include a variety of dietary, lifestyle, and health routines, and also an individualized ayurvedic pharmacological prescription. Please call 850-385-6904 for an appointment and cost of consultation. A companion workshop, called Panchakarma at Home, is available on April 28th. For more information on the workshop please go to www.leslieyoga.com.

MusicFest: Sounds of Hope

et your groove on Sunday, April 15th, at the third annual MusicFest: Sounds of Hope event that benefits the Refuge House. Listen to the music of national headliners and local talent such as: Dayve Stewart & the Vibe, Sarah Mac Band, Del Suggs, The New 76ers, Hot Tamale, Scott Campbell, Harvest Gypsies, and the Tallahassee Boys Choir. Experience your favorite music on multiple stages in an outdoor setting that reflects the beauty of Tallahassee. Bring the entire family to enjoy delicious food, massage, arts and crafts, and many children’s activities. Refuge House provides services to adults and children affected by domestic and sexual violence. It serves Leon and the seven neighboring counties in North Florida: Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla. Refuge House first opened its doors to provide emergency shelter on February 14, 1978, and later merged with Tallahassee Rape Crisis to provide sexual violence services, as well. Event Coordinator Linda Collins created MusicFest in 2009 as a way to give back to the Refuge House, which she credits with saving her life and life of her children 15 years ago. “I was amazed at the outpouring of support from local businesses and media,” said Collins. “We hope that support continues this year.” MusicFest will be held on the grounds of Unity Eastside Church located at 8551 Buck Lake Road in Tallahassee. For more information about tickets, sponsorship, musicians and vendors, please visit www.musicfesttally.org.

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inspiration

Coming in May

DEEP BLUE CONNECTIONS Extraordinary Encounters with Dolphins by Bill Van Arsdale

or the past dozen years, Amlas McLeod has been leading wild dolphin encounters in Bimini, Bahamas, enabling swimmers to experience transformative changes through encounters with this extraordinary marine mammal. “Wild dolphins often enjoy interacting with boats, but most are not interested in being close to humans. As soon as you get into the water, they disappear,” McLeod explains. “The Atlantic spotted dolphin species near Bimini is unusual in that they are comfortable connecting with people, and seem to enjoy it as much as we do. Amazingly, they actually include us in their pod activities during these encounters.” These spotted dolphins often swim very close to the boat, jumping up or turning to get a better view of folks on McLeod’s catamaran. Once overboard, swimmers revel in how the animals playfully move and twirl amongst them and often come within inches as they glide by slowly enough to make prolonged eye contact. “You cannot help but get the sense that you are interacting with a highly sentient being; the feeling of direct connection is remarkable,” says McLeod. “I am most affected by my quiet connec-

tions with the elders that will just hang in the water with me. Sometimes, they will close their eyes and simply rest at my side. Their presence is one of total, unqualified acceptance.” People who swim so intimately with these dolphins depart feeling they have “met the master,” as McLeod puts it. Comments from guests returned via TripAdvisor.com (Tinyurl.com/7n8khqf) report how the experience puts them back in touch with who they really are and empowers them to make changes in their lives. “Connecting with these special dolphins somehow brings us into the ‘here and now’ in a profound way,” says McLeod. “We drop out of the mind and into the heart. There is this feeling of expansion, connection and being one with everything. When people return home, they often report that they have started to let go of things in their lives that no longer serve them, allowing them to become more true to themselves.” For more information, visit WildQuest. com. Bill Van Arsdale is a contributing writer who recently swam with the dolphins near Bimini.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS The Latest Great Tips and Technologies for Aging Beautifully Experience Life at its Best

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April 2012

healthbriefs

National Start! Walking Day

mproving overall health can be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other—and April 6, National Start! Walking Day, is the ideal opportunity to begin a regular walking routine. American Heart Association (AHA) research shows that individuals can gain about two hours of life for every hour engaged in regular, vigorous exercise—a two-forone deal that’s hard to beat. Walking just 30 minutes per day, five days a week, can also help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, promote better sleep and assist in maintaining healthy body weight. Visit StartWalkingNow.org for resources to kick-start a heart-friendly regimen. The site offers links to local walking paths, heart-healthy recipes, an online progress tracker and an app that helps walkers find and create paths while traveling. To find walking buddies or start a walking club, visit AHA’s MyWalkingClub.org.

Unplug During Screen-Free Week

he American Academy of Pediatrics recommends zero screen time for children under 2 and less than two hours per day for older children. Yet, the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 40 percent of 3-month-old infants are regular viewers of television and DVDs, and school-age kids spend nearly twice as many hours with screen media such as television, video games, computers and handheld devices as they spend attending school. To help kids, families, schools and communities turn off screens and turn on healthier activities, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) urges everyone to participate in Screen-Free Week, April 30 through May 6. CCFC is a national coalition of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups, parents and individuals, with a mission to reclaim childhood from corporate marketers. “The commercialization of childhood is the link between many of the most serious problems facing children and society today,” advises CCFC Director Susan Linn. “Childhood obesity, eating disorders, youth violence, sexualization, family stress, underage alcohol and tobacco use, rampant materialism and the erosion of children’s creative play are all exacerbated by advertising and marketing.” Learn more about the weeklong event, efforts to restrict marketers’ access to children and how to help, at CommercialFreeChildhood.org.

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Diabetes Linked to Dirty Air

ealth wise, the air we breathe is just as important as the foods we eat, according to a recent report published in the journal Diabetes Care. The report is based on one of the first largescale, population-based studies linking diabetes prevalence with air pollution. According to researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston, a strong, consistent correlation exists between adult diabetes and particulate air pollution, an association that persists after adjustment for other risk factors such as obesity and ethnicity. The relationship was seen even at exposure levels below the current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency safety limit.

Green Veggies Boost Immunity

esearchers reporting in the journal Cell have found another good reason to fill our plates with plenty of green vegetables like bok choy and broccoli: Tiny chemical compounds found in these healthful greens interact with the immune cells of the gut, known as intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), by effectively protecting them and boosting their numbers. IELs, white blood cells that inhabit the lining of many body cavities and structures, are concentrated in the gastrointestinal tract, where their primary purpose is to destroy target cells that are infected by pathogens. Because pathogens frequently enter the body via the gastrointestinal tract, a high IEL count benefits overall health. Source: Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK

Are Cell Phones Safe?

uestions about how cell phones might impact our health have sparked significant controversy. The World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has now classified radio frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use. Caution was also urged in an article about cell phone safety published this past October in the journal Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. It reported that cell phones that are switched on and carried in shirt or pants pockets can exceed U.S. Federal Communications Commission exposure guidelines, and also that adults and children absorb high levels of microwave radiation from the phones. According to the paper, children are at greater risk than adults, absorbing up to triple the amount of microwave radiation in their brain’s hypothalamus (which links the nervous and endocrine systems) and hippocampus (vital for memory and spatial navigation) compared to adults. Absorption into their eyes was also greater, and as much as 10 times higher in their bone marrow than adults’. The IARC concludes that these findings call for cell phone certification consistent with the “as low as reasonably achievable” approach taken in setting standards for using radiological devices. “It is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones,” says IARC Director Christopher Wild. “Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure [directly to the head], such as handsfree devices or texting.” Additional resource: Epidemiologist Devra Davis, Ph.D., reports on this topic in Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation.

Sweet Stuff Combats Infections

oney’s use as a medicine was described on Sumerian clay tablets dating back 4,000 years, and ancient Egyptians made ointments of the sticky substance to treat wounds. Now, contemporary scientists have shown that manuka honey, which comes from New Zealand, could be an efficient way to clear chronically infected wounds and help reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Professor Rose Cooper, of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, in the UK, has investigated how manuka honey interacts with bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Group A Streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She discovered that the honey interfered with their growth, blocking the formation of biofilms that can wall off such bacteria from antibiotic remedies.

Qigong: a Boon for Cancer Patients

ancer patients that regularly practiced qigong, a 5,000-yearold combination of gentle exercise and meditation, for almost three months experienced significantly higher levels of well-being, improved cognitive functioning and less inflammation, compared to a control group. Dr. Byeongsang Oh, a clinical senior lecturer at the University of Sydney Medical School, in Australia, who led the study, says the reduced inflammation in patients that practiced medical qigong, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was particularly significant. The project involved 162 patients, aged 31 to 86; those assigned to the medical qigong group undertook a 10-week program of two supervised, 90-minute sessions per week. They were also asked to practice an additional 30 minutes at home each day. When the study began, there were no significant differences in measurements of quality of life, fatigue, mood status and inflammation between the intervention and control groups. However, “Patients that practiced medical qigong experienced significant improvements in quality of life, including greater physical, functional, social and emotional well-being, while the control group deteriorated in all of these areas,” reports Oh. He remarks that the study is the first such trial to measure the impact of medical qigong in patients with cancer. “Several studies have indicated that chronic inflammation is associated with cancer incidence, progression and even survival,” Oh explains. He presented the findings at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.

natural awakenings

April 2012

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

Egg-ceptional Fun

Natural Easter Colors to Dye For From toddlers to tweens, many children eagerly anticipate one of spring’s most pleasurable rituals: coloring Easter eggs. This shared family activity allows kids to be handson artists, as they choose from a palette of cheerful hues to fashion little edible treasures. But youngsters that dip their hands into synthetic dyes can absorb chemicals through the skin that have been linked with allergic reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and with ADHD and hyperactivity, per a 2011 report by Science News. Keep their creations healthy and chemical-free by avoiding commercial food coloring and using easy-to-make, fruit- and veggie-based dyes instead. The simplest way to use Earth-friendly shades is to add natural materials when boiling the eggs. Some suggestions: purple grape juice or crushed blueberries, for blue; liquid chlorophyll or spinach, for green; organic orange peels or ground turmeric, for yellow; cranberries, pickled beets, cherries or pomegranate juice, for pink and red; and yellow onion skins, cooked carrots, chili powder or paprika, for orange. Then, follow these directions: Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan and add water to cover. Add one teaspoon of white vinegar (this helps the eggshells absorb color) and the natural dye material; use more material for more eggs or a more intense color. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer the eggs for 15 minutes. Remove the eggs and refrigerate them. These naturally colored treats, more beautiful than their artificially enhanced cousins, will mimic Mother Nature’s softer, gentler tints. For a shiny appearance, rub some cooking oil onto the eggs when they are dry. Also remember that hardcooked eggs are more perishable than raw ones, and should remain outside the refrigerator no more than two hours (so the one possibly found the day after Easter needs to hit the compost pile) and be consumed within one week.

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Whale Watching

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Whales Greenpeace Executive Director Philip Radford reports that the discredited practice of vote buying at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has been ended. “Countries like Japan can no longer bribe poorer countries to support their pro-whaling stance. This means that whale conservation finally has a fighting chance.” The U.S. delegation supported a measure intended to increase transparency in membership fees after hearing from millions of whale lovers. Initiated by the United Kingdom and backed by a number of countries, the proposal passed via a rare consensus among the 89 participating countries. It is believed that payment of membership dues in cash allowed wealthy countries to purchase the votes of other nations. Dues for the commission must now be paid via bank transfer from government accounts.

Honk Honk

Driving Less and Enjoying it More Only 31 percent of American 16-year-olds had a driver’s license in 2008, down from 46 percent in 1983, according to a University of Michigan study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention. Eighteen-year-old legal drivers decreased from 80 to 65 percent over the same period, as did adults in their 20s and 30s, although by not as much. A new survey by the car-sharing company Zipcar confirmed that those with licenses are trying to drive less, as well. Altogether, more than half of drivers under the age of 44 are making efforts to reduce the time they spend in traffic. Factors supporting this trend include the high cost of gas and insurance, tighter restrictions on teen drivers in many states and congested roads. In addition, Michael Sivak, a research professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, cites the importance of the Internet. “It is possible that the availability of virtual contact through electronic means reduces the need for actual contact among young people.” He also points out that, “Some young people feel that driving interferes with texting and other electronic communication.” Public transit is filling part of the vacuum. The United States, which has long trailed other countries in mass transit usage, is catching on among younger generations.

Want a More Natural Approach?

Stubborn Health Problems? Call Today! We can help find solutions for: Hormone Balance Reflux and digestion Blood pressure and sugar Allergies and Immune Fatigue • Arthritis General Medical Care

Source: Grist.org

Bug Muscle

Biomimicry Presents a Solution for Drought With global temperatures continuing to rise and droughts expected to become more severe, Australian Edward Linacre has designed a beetleinspired device called Airdrop that is capable of extracting water from even the driest desert air. His invention recently won the prestigious global James Dyson award. “Biomimicry is a powerful weapon in an engineer’s armory,” comments Dyson. Linacre, a graduate of Swinburne University of Technology, in Melbourne, wanted to solve the drought problem afflicting parts of his country. The lack of rain has brought dry, damaged soil, dead crops and mounting debt for farmers. Rather than using complex, energy-intensive methods such as desalination or tapping into underground water sources, Airdrop’s source of water, the air, can be used anywhere in the world. The device delivers water to the roots of crops in dry areas by pushing air through a network of underground pipes and cooling it to the degree at which moisture condenses; then the water is pumped to the roots. Linacre was inspired by the Namib beetle, which survives in areas that receive just half an inch of rain per year by consuming the dew it collects on the hydrophilic skin of its back. Find more info at Tinyurl.com/6ts34y5.

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coverartist

globalbriefs Global Gardens

New Global Warming Planting Map

Mother Earth Jenness Cortez

Renewal and purpose are repeating themes in the contemporary works of Jenness Cortez, symbolically portrayed in luminous layers. Internationally recognized and collected as a master realist painter, Cortez is revered for her remarkably intimate landscapes. Her vision comprehends all nature as a manifestation of the divine. Inspired by the light, color and form of the great masters, Cortez’s dynamic and rich compositions invite the viewer’s eye to move eagerly through her paintings again and again, savoring every nuance. Cortez says she hopes her work inspires the beholder to rediscover, revalue and reintegrate their own creative force into the hurried regimen of modern life. “I want to lead people to something good and eternal,” she says. The Indiana-born artist began her studies under the guidance of noted Dutch painter Antonius Raemaekers. She further developed her fine arts background as a graduate of the Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis, and a student of Arnold Blanche, at the Art Students League of New York.

The color-coded map of planting zones on the back of seed packets is being updated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reflect climate changes brought on by global warming. The new guide, last updated in 1990, reflects, for instance, that the coldest day of the year isn’t as frigid as it used to be, so some plants and trees can now survive farther north. Nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska and Texas, are now classified in warmer zones. The new guide uses better weather data and offers more interactive technology. Gardeners using the online version can enter their Zip code and get the exact average coldest temperature. For the first time, calculations include more detailed factors, such as prevailing winds, the presence of nearby bodies of water and other local topography. Boston University Biology Professor Richard Primack observes, “There are a lot of things you can grow now that you couldn’t grow before. People don’t think of figs as a crop you can grow in the Boston area. You can do it now.” The changes come too late to make this year’s seed packets, but they will be on next year’s, says George Ball, chairman and CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee seed company. View the planting zones map at Tinyurl.com/7r5u267.

Better Threads

Rug Industry Tackles Child Labor Injustice The nonprofit GoodWeave organization works to end child labor in the rug industry and provides educational opportunities for kids in weaving communities worldwide. The GoodWeave label is given solely to rug companies that only hire employees of legal working age. GoodWeave, offering the world’s only independent child labor-free certification for rugs, makes unannounced inspections of looms overseas to ensure that standards are upheld. Programs funded by GoodWeavecertified rug sales have helped nearly 10,000 children in Nepal and India to attend school instead of working on looms. An estimated 250,000 children are still weaving today. “It’s widely documented that children are exploited to make all sorts of products in our global economy,” says Nina Smith, GoodWeave USA executive director. “But in the case of carpets, consumers can do something to put a stop to these inhumane practices. By buying a certified rug, you can change a child’s life.”

View the artist’s portfolio at CortezArt. com. Cortez is also co-founder of the nonprofit American Meditation Institute (AmericanMeditation.org). 12

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Find participating local retailers by Zip code at GoodWeave.org. www.natallahassee.com

Boxing Day

Greening-Up a Move Can Be Easy ZippGo has launched a California concept poised to be picked up elsewhere as an alternative to traditional-style moving boxes. No one enjoys scrounging or purchasing and then assembling and taping cardboard boxes, only to discard them in a landfill afterward. A better solution is to rent task-designed plastic boxes made from recycled plastic that do the job more conveniently, efficiently and sustainably. Their service even delivers and picks them up. It’s a valuable green business opportunity in any economy. Watch the movie at Vimeo.com/25114486.

Pocket Calculator

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

We are healthy and green And going…..Greener! If you have a green business • Natural and recyclable • Green and sustainable home building • Solar systems • Windows, insulation • Air and water purifiers • Environmental • More earth friendly

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April 2012

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EVERY DROP COUNTS Reusing Rainwater Saves Money and is Better for Plants by Brita Belli

oug Pushard, an expert in rainwater catchment systems who shares his know-how at HarvestH2O. com, believes that homeowners capture rainfall for two reasons—either to make the most of a precious water resource in states with low seasonal precipitation or to control stormwater runoff in states with high precipitation. It’s also an easy way to make a dent in household water and sewer bills. Capturing and managing rainwater provides an environmentally sound alternative to wasting precious tap water pulled from diminishing underground reservoirs, and can replace some or all of a home’s water needs, depending on the system. Rainwater is also better for nourishing lawns, plants and gardens. “People want to use rainwater instead of city water in their yards because they understand that city water carries chlorine, which is not great for plants,” Pushard explains. The amount of water used by residential irrigation is significant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Sense Program, an American family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day, including 30 percent of it outside. More than half of that outdoor water is used for lawns and gardens, with the rest sprayed on cars, in swimming pools and on sidewalks and driveways. Collectively, nationwide landscape irrigation totals more than 7 billion gallons per day.

Water Calculations

In its simplest form, rainwater harvesting involves little more than placing rain barrels—with capacities from 55 gallons to several hundred gallons—under a home’s downspouts. 14

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

Popular models can be purchased from home improvement stores, or county extension classes teach how to make one from inexpensive parts. Online research shows the various styles available; most have a spigot at the base for attaching a hose or filling a watering can. The larger capacity, more sophisticated systems use storage cisterns than can hold thousands of gallons of water below ground. These employ pumps that move the water to sprinkler systems or other points of use. For these more complicated setups, Pushard recommends engaging professional help, adding that below-ground systems will capture excess water year-round, even in climates where temperatures drop. “In northern New Mexico, where I live, we get almost one-third of our precipitation in the winter,” he says. “If you have a below-ground system, you can capture that; with an above-ground one, you can’t, because the tank or fittings would freeze and burst.” The formula for determining the maximum amount of water available to capture is related to roof size. Multiply the square footage of the roof times the local annual rainfall (found at Tinyurl.com/73enzjx), and then multiply the result by .623 gallons. That .623 factor is “how many gallons are in an area of one square foot by one inch deep of rainwater,” according to one of Pushard’s online tutorials. Not all roof materials are created equal. On the high end, tile, metal, concrete or asphalt roofs have a 95 percent runoff efficiency; gravel roofs, 70 percent; and grass roofs, 17 percent, so factor that in, too. Pushard recommends always going with a bigger tank, if possible, to avoid having to add more water storage later.

Think Big

Rainwater harvesting works as an effective irrigation device, but it needn’t be limited to outdoor use. One of the easiest— and most useful—places to direct captured rainwater is toilets. Citing bathrooms as a home’s biggest water user, the EPA notes that a single toilet can use 27 percent of household water. “It’s ludicrous that we use drinking water to flush toilets,” says Pushard. To use stored rainwater instead, run a new plumbing line to the rainwater storage tank and install a pump that activates when the toilet flushes. Rainwater can supply sink faucets, as well, but counting on rainwater to be the sole source of all household water requires a substantial investment and a filtration, purification and UV light system to make the water drinkable. When capturing rain for potable uses, roofing material becomes more important: Unpainted metal and tile are preferred, because these will not leach chemicals into the water that are difficult to remove. In terms of overall cost, the simplest rainwater collection systems will cost a few hundred dollars (less than $100 per barrel), while a whole-house system will cost tens of thousands. However, Pushard points out, rainwater harvesting can be a lifesaver with water shortages becoming a new norm in many states. Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine and the author of The Autism Puzzle: Connecting the Dots Between Environmental Toxins and Rising Autism Rates.

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April 2012

fitbody

FOREST BATHING

The Healing Power of a Walk in the Woods by Maggie Spilner

“N

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

~ Osho, in Osho Zen Taro: the Transcendental Game of Zen As we all innately know, spending time in nature is good for our body, mind and spirit. It’s why we’re attracted to green places, flowers, lakes, fresh air and sunshine. Taking a nature walk— affording plenty of fresh air and exercise in a quiet setting—has traditionally been prescribed for good health. That raises a question: How much natural healing are we sacrificing when we spend most of our days indoors? In Japan, a group of medical researchers and government-affiliated forest organizations support the creation of 16

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

www.natallahassee.com

forest therapy centers, where people enjoy the trails and guided walks and also receive free medical checkups under the trees. Since 1984, they have been studying the health benefits of walking in the woods, termed shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. There are now more than 30 such officially designated sites. In related studies, scientists from Japan’s Nippon Medical School and Chiba University tracked positive physiological changes in individuals walking in the woods compared with city walkers. Early results were published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. Forest walkers showed: n Lower concentrations of salivary cortisol, known as the stress hormone n Lower blood pressure and heart rate n Reduction of adrenaline and noradrenalin, also stress-related hormones n Increase in immunity-boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity, and the

numbers of NK cells and anti-cancer proteins known to combat cancer

Newest Findings

The researchers theorized that organic compounds called phytoncides, produced by trees and other plants as a protection from disease, insects and fungus, were also producing beneficial natural killer cells in people in the forests. In a study that exposed participants to phytoncides via aromatic oils fed through a humidifier in a hotel room, the researchers found similar increases in NK levels. A 2011 study by Nippon Medical School’s department of hygiene and public health showed that the resulting increase in NK cells lasted for 30 days. They concluded that a monthly walk in the woods could help people maintain a higher level of protective NK activity and perhaps even have a preventive effect on cancer generation and progression. Qing Li, Ph.D., the assistant professor leading several of these studies, suggests that dense forest areas are more effective at boosting immunity than city parks and gardens. He also reports that phytoncide concentrations increase during summer growing seasons and decrease during the winter, although they are still present in tree trunks even when the trees are deciduous. Li further suggests that walks in the woods should be conducted at a leisurely pace. For stress reduction, he suggests four hours of walking, covering a generous 3 miles, or 2 hours walking about 1.5 miles. For cancer-

protecting effects, he suggests regularly spending three days and two nights in a forested area. “Carry water and drink when you’re thirsty,” says Li. “Find a place that pleases you and sit and enjoy the scenery.” He adds that relaxing in a hot tub or spa counts as a perfect end to a day of forest bathing. Li foresees a future in which patients diagnosed with high blood pressure or hypertension may receive a forest bathing prescription, but counsels that shinrin-yoku is considered preventive, rather than therapeutic, medicine.

Enhancing Nature’s Power Ecopsychologist Michael Cohen, Ph.D., executive director of Project NatureConnect, adds, “If you want to increase the healing effect of being in nature, it helps to change the way you think and feel about connecting with it.” He has students repeat the word ‘unity’ as they encounter natural attractions—be it a tree, bird, brook or breeze—until they feel that they are part of nature, not separate… part of the healing wisdom of the planet. More, he states, “Sharing helps solidify the experience and opens you to greater personal healing.” Maggie Spilner, author of Prevention’s Complete Book of Walking and Walk Your Way Through Menopause, leads walking vacations for her company, Walk For All Seasons.

Go Prepared Protect and comfort your feet when traversing forest paths and trails by switching to an off-road shoe, hiking shoe or boot, because the sole will grip uneven surfaces better. If weak ankles are a problem or if uneven trails or rocky climbing are on tap, select high-top models. Wear them around town before heading into the woods, and always take along moleskin or specialty blister band-aids and thicker or thinner socks to aid any hot spots or blisters. Note: A moisture-wicking synthetic sock prevents blisters better than an organic cotton or cotton blend sock.

natural awakenings

April 2012

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

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

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

4 Filter water with less waste. Bottled by Crissy Trask

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

Kitchen

The kitchen can be a hot spot for waste. Eileen Green, with EcoEvaluator.com, says that reducing waste, conserving water and increasing energy efficiency are all important considerations within an environmentally friendly kitchen.

4 Eat up food. Each year, a typical household discards an estimated 474

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

pounds of food waste, according to University of Arizona research—at large economic and environmental cost. Buying more fresh food than we can eat before the expiration date is up and allowing leftovers to expire in the fridge are culprits. “Drawing up menus and avoiding buying on impulse can help,” advises Green. Compost food scraps at home or sign up for curbside composting, if it’s offered locally. Disposing of food in garbage disposals or landfills is not environmentally sound.

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

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

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

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

4 Avoid cheap reusable shopping bags. Flimsy reusable bags end up as trash within a few months under normal use. Buy a set of high quality reusable bags that will give years of use.

Bedrooms

“Most people spend more time in the bedroom than in any other room of the house,” remarks Huffington Post Eco Etiquette columnist Jennifer Grayson. “So it’s important to focus on making

bedrooms as green and healthy as possible.” She advocates paying special attention to sleepwear, bedding and furniture people sleep on.

4 Start with a good foundation. Box springs can be constructed of plywood or particleboard, which commonly contain formaldehyde, classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a toxic air contaminant by the state of California. Choose those that have been certified as formaldehyde-free or with low emissions. A platform bed made of Forest Stewardship Councilcertified wood, sourced from sustainably managed forests, is a healthy alternative.

4 Don’t sleep on a cloud of

chemicals. “If your face is pressed up against a conventional mattress for seven hours a night, then you’re going to be breathing in whatever chemicals are off-gassing from that mattress for seven hours a night,” warns Grayson. Mattresses are commonly treated with fire-retardant chemicals to comply with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rules. To avoid toxic chemicals like the hydrocarbon toluene, emitted from mattresses stuffed with polyurethane foam, instead look for untreated, wool-covered mattresses (wool is a natural fire retardant) filled with natural latex or containing a spring system wrapped with organic cotton batting. Non-organic cotton production relies on lots of hazardous synthetic chemicals in its production. Organic cotton, linen and wool bedding are safer bets, especially when certified to meet strict environmental standards.

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

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4 Go wireless. It’s impossible to completely avoid electromagnetic radiation from today’s technologies, so lower exposure in the bedroom by removing electronic devices and placing electrical items at least five feet away from the bed.

ing nightlights save energy while allowing safe passage in the wee hours.

MacEachern, “You’ll be washing lots of personal care and cleaning products down the drain, as well, where they could get into local natural water supplies and make life difficult for birds, frogs and fish.” Sara Snow, television host and author of Sara Snow’s Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room Guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home, cautions against personal skin care products with questionable chemical ingredients. “A good percentage of them are being absorbed right into our bloodstream, so focus on ingredients that do no harm; ones that help our bodies instead, such as nourishing and healing botanicals.”

Laundry Room

4 Slow the flow. Ultra-efficient show-

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

4 Leave the lights off. Motion-detect-

In a typical U.S. home, the washing machine accounts for 21 percent of home water use and combined, the washer and dryer comprise 5 to 8 percent of home energy demands. Diane MacEachern, founder of BigGreenPurse.com and author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World, explains that a good way to conserve key resources is to use these appliances less—reducing the number of loads and drying items on outdoor clotheslines or indoor racks. MacEachern says, “You can probably wash things like sweatshirts and blue jeans less frequently without much consequence, and a clothesline requires no energy other than the sun.” Also, make sure that whatever goes into the washer or dryer with clothes is nontoxic, or else you’ll be wearing toxic chemical residues next to your skin all day, cautions MacEachern.

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

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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

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

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

4 Shun a plastic shower curtain. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been called “the poison plastic” for its highly toxic lifecycle, which includes the release of dioxins into the air and water. These toxic chemicals persist in ecosystems and can cause cancer. PVC shower curtains are also a short-life product that cannot be recycled, so switch to a PVC-free alternative. Organic hemp is the eco-shower curtain gold standard.

4 Ban antibacterial products. Triclosan is a popular antibacterial agent

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

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

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

4 Remove bad odors instead of covering them up. In a University of California study, chemical air fresheners were found to have higher concentrations of polluting volatile organic compounds (VOC) than any other household cleaning product. Long-term exposure to some VOCs have been linked with adverse health effects. This Natural Awakenings checklist suggests steps that are possible in making any home healthier, safer and more enjoyable. Start checking off items today and begin shrinking the family’s ecological footprint right away. Crissy Trask is the founder of Green Matters.com and author of the bestselling, It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living. Follow her at Twitter.com/greenmatters.

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

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

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

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

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

GREEN UN-ROOM CHECKLIST by Crissy Trask Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms earn the most attention in greening up our homes, but what about the miscellaneous spaces? Attics, garages, closets and entry halls can get overlooked, although they also yield benefits from some green-minded attention. Here are tips for the most common “un-rooms” to get the ball rolling.

Garage

4 Empty the car of extra weight and optimally inflate tires to improve gas mileage by up to 5 percent.

The smallest room in the house is a disproportionately large contributor to household environmental impacts. In an average non-conservation-minded American home, 38,000 gallons of water annually go down the drains and toilet. “Along with that water,” says

4 Replace poisonous windshield wiper fluid with a make-it-yourself solution that combines seven cups of distilled water, one-half-cup isopropyl alcohol and one-half-teaspoon ecodishwashing liquid. Properly dispose of old wiper fluid in a boldly labeled container at a hazardous waste center.

4 Clean with a broom instead of a hose to save water.

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4 Reduce unwanted mail by opting out of catalogs, credit card and insurance offers and Direct Marketing Association-member mailings at CatalogChoice.org, OptOutPrescreen. com and DMAChoice.org, respectively. plastic soda bottles keep millions of them from entering landfills.

Closets

4 Get organized with bins and shelves made from recycled plastic, reclaimed wood, salvaged and repurposed items, formaldehyde-free plant-based boards or Forest Stewardship Councilcertified wood.

4 Slip into some vegan or Earth-

4 Blanket the attic with a reflective

insulation are visible, EnergyStar.gov recommends adding more insulation

ARTS

dirt, at the door for a healthier home.

clothes and accessories from consignment boutiques, thrift stores or a local clothing swap.

warm air out of the attic, keeping rooms below cooler.

• Complimentary pickup service • Homework assistance • Superior enrichment activities • Open until 7:00 PM

4 Leave shoes, along with allergens and

4 Shop for local, previously owned

4 Install a whole-house fan to pull

Benefits to parents:

Entry Hall

4 Doormats made from recycled

Attic

Bathroom

until they are no longer visible when viewed at eye level.

friendly shoes; there’s a lot more to choose from than hemp sandals. Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sierra Club, Mayo Clinic, chej.org, DrClaudiaMiller.com, DrWeil.com, ftc.gov, EnergyStar.gov

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Waste Not, Want Not 10 Ways to Reduce Costly Food Waste by Amber Lanier Nagle

ost of us regularly discard food items—week-old cooked pasta, stale cereal, half a loaf of moldy bread, suspicious leftovers and other foods we fail to eat before they perish. But consider that the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that 40 percent of all edible food products in the United States— comprising 34 million tons—is wasted each year. Food waste occurs at all levels of the supply chain. Farm fresh fruits and vegetables are often left unharvested because their appearance does not meet aesthetic standards imposed by grocery stores, and pieces bruised or marred during shipping and handling are routinely discarded. Many restaurants serve supersized portions of food, even though much of it is left on plates when customers leave, and thrown into dumpsters. Plus, many shoppers buy more than they need. With a little care and a more enlightened system, we could help prevent much of the waste and better address hunger in the United States. Researchers estimate that Americans could feed 25 million people if we collectively reduced our commercial and consumer food waste by just 20 percent. From an environmental standpoint, wasted food equals wasted water, energy and chemicals. Producing, packaging and transporting these food items generate pollution—all for nothing:

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

a zero percent return on our dollars. Food waste represents the single largest component of all municipal solid waste now going into landfills. Although it is biodegradable when properly exposed to sunlight, air and moisture, decomposing food releases significant amounts of methane, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Ten tips make it possible to reduce our “food print”. Shop smarter. Preplan meals for the week, including non-cooking days and leftover days. Make a shopping list and stick to it after inventorying the pantry, fridge and freezer. Buy produce in smaller quantities to use within a few days. Because we tend to overbuy when we’re hungry, don’t walk the aisles with a growling stomach. Organize the refrigerator. Place leftovers at eye level in the fridge, so they are front-and-center anytime someone opens it. When stowing groceries, slide older items to the front. Pay attention to use-by dates and understand that food is good for several days beyond a sell-by date. Freeze foods. Many food items will last for months in the freezer in appropriate storage bags and containers. Share surplus food. For larger dishes such as casseroles and crockpot meals, invite a friend over for supper, deliver a plate to an elderly neighbor or pack leftovers to share with cowww.natallahassee.com

workers. Donate extra nonperishable or unspoiled food items to a local soup kitchen, food bank or pantry or homeless shelter. Store food properly. To maximize food’s edible life, set the fridge between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit and arrange containers so that air circulates around items; the coldest areas are near the back and bottom of the unit. For fruits and vegetables stored in plastic bags or designated bins or containers, squeeze out air and close tightly to reduce the damaging effects of exposure to oxygen. Buy ugly fruits and veggies. Grocery stores and markets throw out a substantial volume of vegetables and fruits because their size, shape or color is deemed less than ideal. Purchase produce with cosmetic blemishes to save perfectly good, overlooked food from being discarded as waste. Use soft fruits and wilted vegetables. Soft, overripe fruits can be converted to jellies, jams, pies, cobblers, milkshakes and smoothies. Wilted carrots, limp celery, soft tomatoes and droopy broccoli can be chopped up and blended into soups, stews, juices and vegetable stocks. Dish up smaller portions. Smaller portions are healthier and allow leftovers for another meal. Take home a doggie bag. Only about half of restaurant diners take leftovers home. Ask to have unfinished food boxed in a recyclable container, and then enjoy it for lunch or dinner within two days. Compost routinely. If, despite daily best efforts, food waste still occurs, recycle it with meal preparation scraps into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Create an outdoor compost heap, or compost cooked and uncooked meats, food scraps and small bones quickly and without odor in an indoor bokashi bin. “Earth Day—April 22nd—serves as a reminder that each of us must exercise personal responsibility to think globally and act locally as environmental stewards of Earth,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “Reducing food waste is another way of being part of the solution.” Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer specializing in how-to articles pertaining to Southern culture, healthy living and the environment.

Which of your seven “thought traps” do you see as most significant?

wisewords

Eco-Mind: Creating the World We Want

A Conversation with Frances Moore Lappé by Linda Sechrist

rances Moore Lappé, author of 18 books including Diet for a Small Planet, is the co-founder of Food First: The Institute for Food and Development Policy, and Small Planet Institute. She also serves on the board of advisors of Grassroots International. In her most recent release, EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want, Lappé explores the latest in climate studies, anthropology and neuroscience. She aims to dismantle the seven widely held messages, or thought traps, that undermine our responses to current eco-crises.

How can civilization think more like an eco-system to better handle environmental challenges? Ecology is the science of relationships among organisms and their environment. Seeing life through an ecological lens allows us to see the world and our place in it without managing quantities of limited things. The most stunning implication of this way of seeing is its endless possibilities, as we learn to align with the laws of nature. With an “eco-mind,” we see that ours is not a finished, fixed world, but rather an evolving and relational world. Through an ecological worldview, we realize that everything, including ourselves, is co-created, moment-to-moment, in relation to all else. Separateness is an illusion and notions of “fixed” or “finished” are fanciful. With an eco-mind, we can move from fixing something outside of ourselves to realigning our relationships within our ecological home. Making such leaps of thought can uplift us from disempowerment and despair to empowerment and hope.

I encourage all of us to examine and reshape the stories we tell ourselves and others. “We’ve hit the limits of a finite Earth and greedy consumers that overtax the planet are to blame,” is a thought trap that engenders fear. People then think there isn’t enough to go around, so they have to grab what they can now. This thinking locks our imagination inside an inherited, unecological worldview that focuses on separateness and lack; that’s precisely the thinking that got us into this mess. Considering the power of frame and language, we can ask ourselves: What is the one piece of my current mental map—my core assumption about life— that limits me? How could I reframe it to free myself? How do I keep my thinking from being mired in the world of separateness and lack? What are other terms I want to start using?

What “thought leap” can move us forward?

In some ways, my “thought leaps” all reflect a shift from focusing on limits to that of alignment. We’re in the mess we’re in because our economic rules are perversely unaligned with the laws of How are our culture’s current nature and with human nature itself; they bring out the worst and keep the best in stories about the causes check. We need the opposite. of environmental crises For example, we now know how disempowering us? to align food production with ecological Current metaphors pointing to such principles so that there’s enough for all, causes of environmental crises as while regenerating flora and fauna. In this “insatiable consumers” and this “age of irresponsibility” fix attention on our thought leap, we shift from fixating on quantities and focus instead on the quality character failings. They make us feel blameworthy and incite feelings of guilt of ever-changing relationships with all life. We work to replace fear with curiosity— and fear. Fear doesn’t motivate humans asking why we are together creating a to be more engaged and giving; rather, world that none of us as individuals would it too often has the opposite effect, and choose? We see the nature of life as conleads us to objectify and dismiss the nection and change—realizing, therefore, “other”, even if the other is nature. that it’s just not possible to know what’s Metaphors of contemporary envi- possible. How freeing. ronmentalism, such as “power down” When we put our eco-minds into and “we’ve hit the limits”, keep us action with the power of connection, locked in quantitative thinking. They we can reach out and spark face-to-face don’t encourage us to see the underly- gatherings with others that are also eaing patterns of waste and destruction. ger to move from feeling overwhelmed They also fail to offer emotionally to taking rewarding action. Everyone compelling, alternative ways of seeing benefits. current challenges and their rich, posiVisit SmallPlanet.org. tive possibilities. People need to see a new path, a way ahead, in order to Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for leave the old. Natural Awakenings magazines. natural awakenings

April 2012

naturalpet

materials.” At least 10 percent of the building materials were sourced within 500 miles of the site and the project contains more than 10 percent pre- and post-consumer recycled content.

Good for the Animals

SHELTERS GO GREEN LEED-Certified Facilities Care for Animals and the Earth by Sandra Murphy

“Use of natural light reduces the cost of electricity,” explains Dr. Amber Andersen, a Los Angeles-based veterinarian. “Lights can be programmed to dim gradually and provide the animals with a regular sleep cycle. It’s stressful for them to be in bright light all the time.” In addition, strategic placement of the dog runs and decorative potted plants to block their view of one another tends to reduce canine stress and barking. “Calmer dogs are more likely to be adopted,” Andersen notes. The facility operates a similar homey setup for cats with room to run around, climb carpeted furnishings and play. In Denver, Colorado, a new LEED Platinum-certified, 36,000-square-foot shelter is twice the size of the former facility. Particular attention was paid to air circulation to help prevent the spread of canine flu, kennel cough and staph infections, and to maintain a healthy operating room while regulating temperatures throughout the facility. “The city of Denver consistently chose the best options for the animals and the environment, while being mindful of the budget,” remarks Scott Jones, of Denver’s Air Purification Company. “This is the benchmark for future designs; on a larger scale, this model can be used for hospitals.”

City managers are realizing that going green is the right thing to do. In many areas, new municipal construction is required to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified to reduce operating costs, conserve resources and provide a healthier work environment. Older municipal buildings slated for remodeling also can be transformed. Buildings may even quality for incentives from local utilities in some states. As Good for Business The Plano, Texas, animal shelter, which a result, animal shelters are now joining the move to green. Good for the Environment “Our goal was to reduce our carbon paw print,” says Dave Dickinson, interim director of Sacramento County Animal Care, regarding the California capital’s LEED Gold-certified shelter. “The Silicon Valley architect incorporated natural light, a beneficial air circulation system and numerous energy- and resource-saving elements to create an extraordinary environment for both the animals and employees.” 24

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

The LEED rating system, developed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), signifies levels of silver, gold or platinum status, based on eco-business practices. Swatt | Miers Architects chose polished concrete for the Sacramento shelter floors. “Tile is nice, but grout harbors bacteria,” says George Miers, a principal of the firm. “Concrete is a sustainable material and when sealed, can withstand a lot of mopping. We used a local quarry for www.natallahassee.com

was due for a comprehensive remodeling, is now LEED Silver certified. “We learned that the addition of a new wing could be done according to LEED standards, but we also had to make improvements to the existing structure, so that the entire building was improved,” says Melinda Haggerty, the city’s sustainability and communications coordinator. “This was a learning experience on all levels. We saw firsthand that you don’t need to sacrifice aesthetics for function. You can have a comfortable place to work while saving money.” The USGBC reports that build-

ings of all types consume an average of 72 percent of the electricity generated worldwide. That can be reduced by 24 to 50 percent with green building practices. “It’s always important to emphasize the return on investment. It might cost a bit more on the front end, but the benefits far outweigh the costs,” Haggerty advises. “Reduced energy costs, better water usage and healthy air quality contribute to a comfortable work space. Employees have pride in the facility, and that makes them more productive.” In Middletown, Rhode Island, Christie Smith, executive director of the Potter League for Animals, remarks that after their old building was demolished, 75 per cent of the materials were recycled, repurposed or reused. Their new, LEED Gold-certified animal shelter was the first in the nation to be certified.

Bringing Benefits to Life “There’s a conceptual moment when the dream comes together as a design idea. From that moment on, the question is: How much of the dream can you keep?” queries Myers. “These cities made LEED a priority, even when animal control projects may be at the bottom of the list. They recognize the synergy between caring for animals and caring about the planet; green design underscores the caring.” THE NATURALLY HEALTHY PET

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Natural, Organic & Raw Diets For Dogs & Cats - Made in the USA Treats - Wheat & Corn FREE Made in the USA Rawhide, Bones & Antlerz • THUNDERSHIRTS Collars, Leads, Harnesses & Apparel Chew, Training, Interactive & Puzzle Toys • Health & Beauty Aids FLEA & TICK Treatments

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Birds are indicators of the environment. If they are in trouble, we know we’ll soon be in trouble. ~Roger Tory Peterson

natural awakenings

April 2012

healthykids

“A single choice is not causing

GROWING UP

GREEN Lessons to Help Lighten Future Footprints

global warming or the extinction of a species; rather, it is a build-up of several choices, made by many people, over and over again.” jars and repurpose them as storage for pantry foods and miscellany. Take children to the local dump to identify items that could be recycled or reused. University of Utah research attests that half of all U.S. garbage could be recycled. In practice, we settle for about 2 percent. Encourage youngsters to make their opinions known. When a toy’s package is much larger than it needs to be, help them write the maker a letter asking the manufacturer to green their business.

by Hilary Ferrand

Creating Concern

arents schooled in environmental principles strive to guide their children in like-minded directions. How can we inspire them to join in addressing larger challenges without coming across as a lecturer about yet another obligation? Thankfully, there are many ways to make green living a feel-good, even easy and fun habit.

Cutting Consumerism

The most important factor is to live as an example. Parents best teach children to buy less by buying less themselves. Discuss various considerations and ask for their opinions. According to a recent study by Empower MediaMarketing, kids see 12 to 14 minutes of commercials for every hour of television screen time. Talk about ads that target kids and how some retailers manipulate young audiences. Compare the advertised benefits of a new toy with their own experi26

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

ences with it; does it measure up? Give kids attractive options and practice in making choices. “I tell them what a product contains and if it’s proven to cause health problems,” says Mary Marsh, a mother of three in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. “I also will tell them about a natural alternative. I really want them to make these important decisions themselves. I can’t decide for them later on.”

Taming Trash

Challenge children to find reusable alternatives to disposable household items. Turn it into a game; conduct experiments to see how well the alternatives work and try their ideas. Put a spin on recycling. Instead of rinsing milk jugs and putting them out for recycling, save some to create an igloo indoors. Unwind that old sweater and use it in artwork. Cut apart old jeans and turn them into skirts. Decorate glass www.natallahassee.com

Help children become experts. “Kids can inspire their friends and parents to be more environmentally conscious,” advises Dr. Moshe Lewis, chief of physical medicine and rehab at the California Pacific Medical Center, in San Francisco. Surround the family with nature. “Kids are naturally curious. As they learn about the natural habitat of animals, their importance in the ecosystem and how beautiful they are, they develop an appreciation for the diverse flora and fauna species on Earth,” says Lewis. Barbara Smith started the Bow Wow Meow Kids Club at the Almost Home humane shelter, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, so that more children could visit the animals. “Volunteering at the shelter has more benefits for kids than just playing with cats and dogs,” says Smith. “It teaches how to be kind, how to earn trust and try to heal. It teaches them to be humane.” Involve kids in choosing good food. “I like to produce some food at home so we can lessen our footprints a bit more,” says Marsh. Two of her

children help care for the family’s quails and collect eggs. The third creates cartoons about the downside of factory farms.

Tough Talking

Environmental challenges can appear daunting, and may make children feel fearful or even guilty that they can’t help. A parent can help calm their nerves, offer constructive perspective and help them feel like part of the solution. “Keep the tone of conversation on possibilities, rather than impending doom,” counsels Licensed Mental Health Counselor Brooke Randolph, of Indianapolis, Indiana. “Focus on what could happen, instead of what will.” Look for the positives. “A single choice is not causing global warming or the extinction of a species; rather, it is a build-up of several choices, made by many people, over and over again.” Talk about current incremental changes that are helping. Make doable, Earth-friendly goals and act together to make a difference. “No matter how small it is,” says Randolph, “if children feel they are doing something positive, they can feel more in control.” Finally, encourage self-expression. “For kids, being able to verbalize or express their feelings is critical,” says Lewis. “Sometimes, this requires more than just talk therapy. I have found that art and other creative expressions are a way to work through various emotions.” Hilary Ferrand is a freelance writer in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

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natural awakenings

April 2012

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moment. Here are the four questions (which are excerpted here from www.thework.com and can also be found in Byron Katie’s books) that can be applied whenever there is suffering in response to thoughts (which is where most of our suffering originates from). 1. Is it true? 2. Can you absolutely know that it is true? 3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? 4. How would you be without the thought? At the end of the four questions you can do something called The Turnaround where you shift the thought to something else. An example of a suffering thought that may be in the minds of many during our current economic times is “I will never find a job that I am passionate about.”

Working With Your Judgments “F

or there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” That quote comes from Shakespeare in Hamlet and sums up the source of both our joy and suffering. Our experiences are just experiences. It is our judgments about them that make them good or bad. Two people can experience the exact same thing and have totally different views about the situation. There are countless authors, experts, and gurus who offer the advice of mindfulness. Psychology Today says mindfulness is about keeping your attention in the present moment. You should allow your thoughts to come up, observe them, but do not judge them as good or bad. There is surely freedom in being able to observe without judging, but what if that doesn’t come easy for you? Recently I discovered The Work of Byron Katie. In the book Loving What Is: Four Questions that can Change Your Life (Three Rivers Press 2003), the reader is introduced to the four questions used in The Work and shown how they can be applied in many situations. The process is an amazing bridge between the mind that is in a constant cycle of judgments and the mind that is totally present in the now

1. Is the thought true? The individual may at first say yes. 2. Can you absolutely know that it is true? No 3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? I feel hopeless and discouraged 4. How would you be without the thought? Peaceful, hopeful, optimistic The turnaround: “I will find a job that I am passionate about.” When you go through the questions, it becomes clear that it is merely a thought that is keeping you in fear. Byron Katie’s method is refreshing in that she not only allows you to do what comes naturally, but she invites you to. She says that we should welcome the judgments because every judgment is an opportunity to do The Work. The questions asked in The Work bring you back to the present moment and the reality of your situation. Twentieth century healer and spiritual teacher, Joel S. Goldsmith said, “As human beings we live in the past, the present, and the future. The past has been, and there is nothing more we can do about it; the future has not come, and there is nothing that a human being can do except wait to see what the future is going to do to him.” So when you find yourself stuck in judgmental thoughts about the past and the future, try applying the questions from The Work to bring you back to the present. Now is the only moment we really have after all. Sources: www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness www.thework.com http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/nothing-eithergood-bad-but-thinking-makes Loving What Is: Four Questions that can Change Your Life by Byron Katie (2003) A Parenthesis in Eternity by Joel S. Goldsmith (1963) Leslee Horner lives in Tallahassee with her husband and two daughters. She is a writer, part-time academic advisor and Uniteen leader at Unity Eastside church. You can visit her website to read her blog and learn more about her writing at www.lesleehorner.com.

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

www.natallahassee.com

EARTH DAY LISTINGS

MOBILIZE FOR

EARTH

Pledge a Green Act for Earth Day 2012

arge or small, each green action we take—from workplace commitments to reduce, reuse and recycle to individual initiatives like riding a bike to work—helps to protect the integrity of our irreplaceable planet. We have come a long way from the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, that activated 20 million Americans. Today, the Earth Day Network (EDN) collaborates with 22,000 partners in 192 countries, and 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities, making it the world’s largest annual civic observance. More progress is needed, however. “This Earth Day, we are mobilizing people on the planet simply to say one thing: The Earth won’t wait,” advises EDN Director of Earth Day, Franklin Russell, noting that environmental issues are frequently put on the back burner in the face of global economic challenges. “All too often, we hear of another oil spill or pipeline break, or another mountain leveled to mine for dirty coal. It’s time that we mobilize the Earth and speak with one voice, one message,” he asserts. “It’s time that our leaders put us on the path to sustainability.” EDN invites us to help build the momentum by continuing to participate in the Billion Acts of Green campaign launched for Earth Day 2011. Its goal is to record a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy before Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, taking

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

Take Part Now

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

Earth Day celebration with The Magnolia School, Damayan Garden Project, and St. Francis Wildlife Association at the beautiful gardens of Lichgate on High Road from 2 - 6pm. FREE event. Learn about sustainable living on gardening, herbs, composting, green smoothie making, juicing, sprouting, and beekeeping. This is a Family Fun event with many activities and dancing with live music! Earth Day Experience at One Hearth Earth Center. 12:30 - 3:30pm. Celebrate the Earth with an organic Picnic lunch, poetry readings, Irish & Appalachian music, make a collage or walk the Labyrinth. Hear the wisdom from Mr. Forest Woods - a tree house dwelling puppet, and see Earth Mother sing the original Earth Mother song. $20 includes lunch. RSVP please. 450 West Madison Street Monticello FL. Celebrate Earth Day! Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage. 2:00-4:00 pm. $10 owners, $12 non-owners. Cynthia Connolly, PhD., owner of Ladybird Organics™, will explain and demonstrate everything you need to know to turn your kitchen scraps into valuable soil amendment, or worm compost. Ladybird Organic Farm, 1211 Waukeenah Hwy., Monticello, FL, www. newleafmarket.coop.

natural awakenings

April 2012

Advertisers – up to 5 free listings. Non-advertisers – $10 each for Calendar of Events listings and $10 each for On-Going Calendar listings. Listings must be emailed to natallahassee@yahoo.com. Classified listings are $1 per word.

Sunday, April 1 Sunday of Silence. Anytime between 8 am and 3 pm. Quiet time for personal reflection, journaling, prayer. Yoga at 10 am with Joy Moore, Instructor. Vegetarian Lunch at noon. Labyrinth, garden nooks, meditation room, sun porch await you. $20 donation. RSVP. One Heart Earth Center 450 West Madison Street Monticello, FL (850) 997-7373. oneheartearthcenter@embarqmail.com www.oneheartearthcenter.org.

Tuesday, April 3

savethedate Eating healthy is not the same as eating foods you don’t like. Whole Foods Chef Sadiqa Williams will show you just how true that is—all you have to do is come to class. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Friday, April 6 Beer Tasting. 4:30-6 pm. $3 per person, cost of ticket deducted from your purchase of beer or wine. Sample our new arrival and seasonal favorite domestic and imported microbrews. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www. newleafmarket.coop. Co-op Café Night. 6:30-9 pm. FREE! Join us for live music and special deli deals! Come by early to enjoy dinner or dessert from our award winning deli. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-9422557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Saturday, April 7

Meditation is Good Medicine: Meditation & Western Science. 7:45-9:00 pm. FREE! Mindfulness Meditation is a well-researched health care practice that demonstrates strong health benefits with chronic/acute pain, stress, disease management, and in preventative wellness practices. Pamela Chamberlynn, MSW, Mindfulness Professional and Integrative Health Coach Professional, is a graduate of Duke University Integrative Medicine Center. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-9422557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Thursday, April 5 Eat Healthy, Live Longer. 7:45-9:00 pm ∙ FREE!

iGrow Bucket Demonstration–Easily Grow Your Own Food Support Local Youth! 9:30-10:45 am. iGrow Bucket $32.00 each. The “Man in Overalls,” Nathan Ballentine, will demonstrate growing your own food using the amazing, revolutionary iGrow Buckets. Buckets pre-filled with compost mix, heirloom tomato plants and built-in trellis. Email to pre-order: maninoveralls@gmail.com, or purchase at seminar. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Monday, April 9 Green Smoothie. 7:45-8:45 pm. FREE! This delicious green smoothie provides six-to-eight servings

Lakulish Summer Yoga Camp for children ages 6-13. Full-day program 9am-4pm only for 2 weeks this summer. July 9-13 and August 6-10. Includes yoga, swimming, arts and crafts, music and dance. We are taking registrations now! Call 222-0291 or see our website at www. lakulishyogatallahassee.com. of fresh fruits and vegetables in one meal. It can reduce cravings (especially sugar) and may increase mineral intake. Feel better and increase energy without a late-morning crash. Jill Welch, L.M., owner of The Kitchen Goddess, is a natural foods chef and educator. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Tuesday, April 10 Reiki. 10:30 am – Noon. Reiki is a way of working with the Universal Life Energy to enhance our own natural healing ability. Join Susie Howell, Usui Reiki Master and Practitioner of 21 years, and her friends. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000.

Wednesday, April 11 Sugar Blues. 7:45-8:45 pm. FREE! Health Coach Wendy Barber will discuss the effects of sugar on the body. Learn how sugar is negatively affecting health and happiness and tips to help you eat foods you enjoy while not feeling deprived. Wendy is a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-9422557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

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Friday, April 13 Wine Tasting. 5:30-7 pm. $3 per person, cost of ticket deducted from your purchase of beer or wine. Sample a variety of red and white wines from around the world poured by our expert specialty staff. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop. Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers in Concert. 7:30pm. Another Night of Bluegrass Concert Series. Thomasville Auditorium, 144 E. Jackson St. Contact: TF 866-577-3600, 229-228-7977.

Saturday, April 14 Yard Sale 8 am - 1 pm. To benefit One Heart Earth Center, a 501(c)(3) non profit corporation, and help customers purchase items at good prices. Before sale bring donations to front carport. Items not sold are donated to Wag the Dog Thrift Store to benefit Jefferson County Humane Society. One Heart Earth Center 450 West Madison Street Monticello, FL 32344 (850) 997-7373. Organic Plant & Herb Sale. noon-3:00 pm ∙ FREE! It’s time to begin your spring planting. “B” O’Toole, owner of O’Toole’s Organic Herb Farm, will at the Co-op selling top quality spring plants, worm castings and potting soil. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your garden started off with the best plants available. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Sunday, April 15 MusicFest. Bring the family to MusicFest: Sounds of Hope, a benefit for Refuge House. Enjoy entertainment by Dayve Stewart & the Vibe, Sarah Mac Band, Del Suggs, The New 76ers, Hot Tamale, Scott Campbell, Harvest Gypsies, and the Tallahassee Boys Choir. Food, Crafts, and Kid activities. For more information visit www.musicfesttally.org.

Monday, April 16 Forks over Knives DVD Viewing and Discussion with Cynthia Connally Ph.D. Certified Organic Farmer, Owner of Ladybird Organics and Monticello Vineyard and Winery. 6:30 - 9 pm (as seen in newsbrief in March issue of Natural Awakenings). Documentary filmmaker Lee Fulkerson explores the idea that diseases such as heart disease can be reversed by adjusting our diets to include less processed and animal-based foods. He follows legendary doctors, Cornell University nutritional scientist Dr. T. Colin Campbell and surgeon Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. Both men share a similar story from their farm-based upbringings to their astounding medical/diet-related discoveries. The film also records the experiences of a group of patients suffering from chronic maladies as they change their diets to wholesome, plant-based foods, which acts as medicine. Donations to benefit One Heart Earth Center, a 501(c)(3)non profit corporation. One Heart Earth Center 450 West Madison Street Monticello FL 850 997-7373 email: oneheartearthcenter @embarqmail. com www.oneheartearthcenter.org. Quit Smoking Now: A Smoking Cessation Program. 2:30 – 4:30 pm. This six-week program (April 16 – May 15) was developed by ex-smokers, for those who want to become ex-smokers. Attend one of these highly effective class/support groups if you are ready to quit smoking now. Nicotine patches provided at no charge. Offered by Big Bend AHEC. Call 224-1177 to register. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Summer Salad Series–Black Bean, Corn & Red Pepper Salad. 7:45-9 pm. FREE! Cynthia Cowen, vegan chef/educator, demonstrates how very quick and easy this dish can be. Black Bean, Corn & Red

Pepper Salad is great for picnics, parties and potlucks. Easy on your wallet, your body and the planet, too! New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Tuesday, April 17 A Natural Solution to Allergies. 7:45-9 pm. FREE! Wendy Creel, Naturopath and Master Herbalist, discusses the possible causes of allergies and the steps to take to clear the body so that it can naturally defend itself against toxins. Wendy will identify the herbs used to assist and clean the body of debris that causes allergies. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Wednesday, April 18 The Philosophy and Practice of Osteopathy. 7:45-9 pm. FREE! Join Victoria Bates, D.O., to explore the philosophy and history of Osteopathy, and what to expect when one visits a D. O. for Osteopathic Manipulative treatment. Gain a better understanding of the osteopathic perspective and how an osteopathic treatment can help you. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Thursday, April 19 Meditation and Mindfulness. 10:30 – 11:30 am. Now offered monthly on the 3rd Thursdays, these workshops will introduce you to some of the secrets of the timeless art of meditation. You will feel calmer, more focused and balanced. Mats optional. Taught by Leslie Hanks. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000.

Friday, April 20 Beer Tasting. 4:30-6 pm. $3 per person, cost of ticket deducted from your purchase of beer or wine. Sample our new arrival and seasonal favorite domestic and imported microbrews. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www. newleafmarket.coop. Internationally recognized practitioner of Ayurveda in Tallahassee. April 20-22nd. Ed Danaher is an associate of Dr. Vasant Lad of the Ayurvedic Institute for over 20 years, and will be holding individual consultations and physical exams to determine patient’s type (dosha) and any other imbalances. His recommendations may include dietary, lifestyle, and health routines, and also an individualized ayurvedic pharmacological prescription. Consultation - $125. 850-385-6904.

Sunday, April 22 Earth Day celebration with The Magnolia School, Damayan Garden Project, and St. Francis Wildlife Association at the beautiful gardens of Lichgate on High Road from 2 - 6pm. FREE event. Join The Magnolia School and learn about sustainable living with presentations on gardening, herbs, composting, green smoothie making, juicing, sprouting, and beekeeping. Presentations with Jill Welch, The Kitchen Goddess; Scott Dantzler & Joyce Grenat, with Bent Tree Bioscaping; Michael Lindsey, Arborist from Bartlett Tree Experts; Phoenix Minklei, Lichgate Garden Manager; Bridget Welch, Children’s Book Author; and the art of beekeeping with Appalachee Beekeepers Association. This is a Family Fun event with face painting, henna, yoga, hooping, book reading and more! Live music with The Mayhaws, Eclectic Acoustic, Stranger Still. Earth Day Experience 12:30 - 3:30 Adorn yourself with Earth-inspired garments while you celebrate the Earth with Organic Picnic lunch, share readings and poetry about the Earth by Mary Oliver,

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Maya Angelou, William Wordsworth, Chief Seattle, Swami Chivilasanda, and others, bring own writings to share, share remembrances of special times in nature, enjoy Irish and Appalachian music played on dulcimer, banjo, guitar, sing your own Earth song, make a collage from Earth items, walk the Labyrinth, and also enjoy a few child-like experiences such as hearing wisdom from Mr. Forest Woods - a tree house dwelling puppet, and see Earth Mother sing the original Earth Mother song with motions.$20 includes lunch. RSVP please. One Heart Earth Center 450 West Madison Street Monticello FL 32344 (850) 9977373, email: oneheartearthcenter@embarqmail.com www.oneheartearthcenter.org. Celebrate Earth Day! Worms Can Recycle Your Garbage. 2:00-4:00 pm. $10 owners, $12 nonowners. Cynthia Connolly, PhD., owner of Ladybird Organics™, will explain and demonstrate everything you need to know to turn your kitchen scraps into valuable soil amendment, or worm compost. Worms, worm castings, plants, organic Muscadine wine/ grapes will be for sale. Ladybird Organic Farm, 1211 Waukeenah Hwy., Monticello, FL, www. newleafmarket.coop.

Tuesday, April 24 Reiki. 10:30 am – Noon. Reiki is a way of working with the Universal Life Energy to enhance our own natural healing ability. Join Susie Howell, Usui Reiki Master and Practitioner of 21 years, and her friends. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000.

Thursday, April 26 91st Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival (April 26th – 28th). The Thomasville Rose Show has been a Southwest Georgia tradition since the 1920’s and over the years has grown into a fabulous festival with something for everyone! Downtown Thomasville. Contact: Thomasville Visitors Center, 229-2287977, 866-577-3600, www.thomasvillega.com.

Friday, April 27 Wine Tasting. 5:30-7 pm. $3 per person, cost of ticket deducted from your purchase of beer or wine. Sample a variety of red and white wines from around the world poured by our expert specialty staff. New Leaf Market, 1235 Apalachee Pkwy, 850-942-2557, www.newleafmarket.coop.

Saturday, April 28 The Pancha Karma at Home workshop follows Ed Danaher’s Ayurvedic consultations and is always offered the following Saturday. New Students $90 Continuing Students $75. Become a proactive participant in your own Radiant Good Health and Longevity. A comprehensive explanation of the 5- Pancha, actions-Karma of Ayurvedic self-care. This will include a 30 page workbook and graph for creating a seasonal wellness program based on the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda. Web info at www. leslieyoga.com and www.ayurveda.com.

Sunday, April 29 Celebration of Peace. Noon – 5pm. Come out to the Railroad Square Art Park for the 5th Annual Peace In The Park Festival and the 54th Anniversary of the Peace Symbol design. This will be a family-oriented, fun-filled afternoon with live entertainment, food vendors and hands-on events and activities for children of all ages. Contact Bill Grace at the Railroad Square Art Park for more information – 766-7175 or events@railroadsquare.com.

natural awakenings

April 2012

ongoingcalendar sunday Unity Eastside Services – 9:30 and 11am. Celebration Service and Youth Ministry. 8551 Buck Lake Rd. 850-656-1678, www.transformingourworld.org. Unity of Tallahassee Services – 9:30 & 11am Rev. Bill Williams. Dial-a-Thought 850-562-3766. 2850 Unity Lane, 850-562-5744, www.UnityofTallahassee.org. Tallahassee Buddhist Book Discussion/Meditation Group. 1 to 2pm. Meets every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the Barnes N Noble Cafe in the Tallahassee Mall. Please contact Stacey Turknett for more information stayc1977@yahoo.com or 850-656-7066.

monday Delicious, nutritious Salad Bar. Monday – Friday - 11:30 am to 12:45 pm. Healthy and homemade salad bar available daily for $2 & $4. Different ethnic theme every week. Eat-in our library café, picnic in our beautiful new memorial gardens, or carry-out. Everyone welcome! On Two Buck Friday” all large salads are $2.00. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Tallahassee Edible Garden Club – every first Monday. Meeting at the pavilion in Winthrop Park behind the tennis courts. 1601 Mitchell Ave. just off Thomasville Road and Betton Road. No RSVP necessary - for questions or to get on their email list contact the Edible Garden Club at Elizabeth. markovich@gmail.com.

Yoga to Feel Good. 5:30-7pm. This class combines postures with inward focus, conscious breathing and meditative awareness to support us in moving from the periphery of our being to the center. As the process unfolds, tension is released, the body relaxes, the mind calms and the Light within begins to burn a little brighter! $80 for 8 weeks, drop-ins welcome. At the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 815 Piedmont Drive. Brain-Body-Memory Balance. 1:30-2:30pm. Low impact, seated exercise. Taught by Kathy Gilbert. Bring water bottle and wear comfortable clothing. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Spiritual Growth/Study Group based on the Edgar Cayce readings. 7pm . Join us or let us help you start your own group. Genevieve Blazek - (850) 893-3269. Chan/Zen Group meets at 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. There are two 20-minute periods of seated meditation punctuated by short periods of either walking meditation or mindful Yoga. Each meeting concludes with a short session of question and answers. If you have no meditation experience, please arrive 20 minutes before the meeting for basic meditation instructions. For more information see us at www.tallahasseebuddhistcommunity.org/mondayevenings.html. Located at the Tallahassee Buddhist Community in Railroad Square -- 647 McDonnell Drive.

tuesday Apalachee Beekeepers meets every second Tuesday at Leon County Extension Office on Paul Russell Road. Business at 6:30 and program at 7pm. The Apalachee Beekeepers are a knowledgeable and friendly group. They love to help new beekeepers get started. Go to their website for more details at http://sites.google.com/site/apalacheebee. Healing Arts Alliance Meeting – 7-8:30pm 2nd Tues each month. Educational meeting open to all interested in healing arts. Email SusieHowell333@ comcast.net to get meeting announcements. www. healingartsalliance.org. Life Exercise - 9:30–10:30am (also Thurs). Aerobics, light weights, stretching. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 850-891-4000. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Mindful Movement Fitness Class. 9:30-10:30am. Gather with friends once a week for this Tai Chi program to improve balance, gait and strength. Class also focuses on reducing risk of falling, better breath control, improving physical dexterity, and self-confidence. Taught by Lori Roberts. Orange Ave. Community Center (2710 Country Club Drive) 891-4000. Brain-Body-Memory Balance. 10:00 – 11:00 am. Dynamic and fun low-impact exercise that improves memory, strength and balance. Bring water bottle and wear comfortable clothing. Taught by Kathy Gilbert. Optimist Park Community Center, East Indianhead Dr. 891-4009. Breath of Life Yoga. 12:00-1pm. With gentle techniques we will learn how to breathe more deeply and with gentle yogic postures we will learn how to move

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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and stretch so that our breath can go deeper. With deeper breath we will begin to experience a deeper meaning and purpose in our lives $60 - 6 weeks. Lakulish Yoga at the Sanctuary at 2824 Par Lane.

thursday

Gentle yoga at Unity Eastside. 10:30-noon.  Dropins welcome. Please contact Geralyn Russell at 878-2843 or yogawithgeralyn@yahoo.com.

Life Exercise. 9:30 –10:30am (also Tues). Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 891-4000.

Seated NIA Yoga (Neuromuscular Intergrative Action). 11:00 am-Noon. Taught by Lori Roberts, certified NIA yoga instructor. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000.

Blood Pressure Screenings. 10am-Noon (also Tues & Wed). Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000.

Intermediate Yoga. 5:30-7:15pm. We will share a new book chapter by chapter to infuse our practice with a high spiritual ideal. 20 minute discussion followed by posture/breathing class $80 for 8 weeks. At the Sanctuary 2824 Par Lane. Call JoAnna at 222-0291. Blood Pressure Screenings - 10am-12 Noon (also Wed & Thurs). Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 850-891-4000. Tallahassee Senior Center. 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Men in Unity. Meets at 11:45 am on the second Tuesday of each month at Honey-Baked Ham, on Capital Circle near Mahan Drive.

wednesday Brain-Body- Memory Balance. 2:00-3:00 pm. Low-impact, seated exercise. Bring water bottle and wear comfortable clothing. Heritage Oaks. 891-4000. Blood Pressure Screenings. 10am-Noon (also Tues & Thurs). Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 850-891-4000. Blood Glucose Screenings. 10:00 am - Noon. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St, 891-4000. Prayer and meditation with Dr. Patty Ball Thomas, L.U.T. Noon. Unity Eastside, 8551 Buck Lake Road, admin@unity-eastside.org 656-1678. Breath of Life Yoga. 9:30-10:45am. With gentle techniques we will learn how to breathe more deeply and with gentle yogic postures we will learn how to move and stretch so that our breath can go deeper. With the deeper breath we will begin to experience a deeper and meaning and purpose in our lives $60 - 6 weeks. Lakulish Yoga at the Sanctuary, 2824 Par Lane.

Coming in May

friday Chair Yoga: 11 a.m. – Noon, by Certified Yoga Instructors Bridget Kamke. A gentle yoga workout for increased mobility, bladder control, self-esteem, and mental focus. Tallahassee Senior Center, 1400 N. Monroe St. 891-4000. Chanting and Meditation. 7-9pm on Second Friday of the month. Enrich your spiritual practice! Join Jeffji in singing easy-to-learn chants from eastern and western traditions. Donations will benefit the church. Unity Eastside, 8551 Buck Lake Road, 656-1678. Drumming Circle. 7-9 p.m. on Third Fridays in the Children’s House behind Unity Eastside’s main building. A willing heart, moving hands and a loving participation is all that’s needed. Some percussion instruments may be provided, but it if you have a drum, please bring it. Contact Mike Smith at msmithdrummerboy37@gmail.com for information. Unity Eastside, 8551 Buck Lake Road, www. unity-eastside.org 656-1678.

saturday

Fifty Fabulous & Fit. 10:00 - 11:30am. Come enjoy creative movement dance class for women 50+. Creative movement is infused with ballet, West African and modern dance for good clean fun, exercise and bonding with other women. 2328 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 5 (behind Papa John’s Pizza). For information 850-545-9835 or www. journeytodance.com. Train Rides at Veterans Memorial Park. The second Sat. of each month. 11:00-3:00pm. NW Theo Jacobs Road, Bristol, FL 32321. For more information check out www.VeteransMemorialRailroad. org and YouTube - Veteran’s Memorial Railroad for video footage of the train in action!

Gentle Yoga. 6:00-7pm. Gentle stretches to open the body and deepen the breath followed up by a short, guided relaxation/meditation. A perfect addition to the middle of the week to glide smoothly to the finish! Drop-ins welcome $12 per class. Lakulish Yoga at the Sanctuary, 2824 Par Lane.

Chen Style Tai Chi. 9-10:30am. FREE. Class is suitable for practitioners of all skill levels. www. webdharma.com/taiji. Please email for additional information to: alannah1000@yahoo.com. Located at the Tallahassee Buddhist Community, 647 McDonnell Drive.

Conversation on “The Field” workshop. 7pm9pm – Facilitator: Anne Bewley $12.00 for the book if wanted and love offering will be taken at each class. Contact admin@unity-eastside.org to register for the class.

Tallahassee Farmers Market at Market Square. 8am – 5pm. Year-round. rain or shine. Early Birds get the best selection! The oldest farmers market in Tallahassee. Growers and resellers. Organic and conventionally grown. 1415 Timberlane Rd Tallahassee.

Tibetan Chenrezig Meditation. The Buddha of Compassion. Chanting, prayer and meditation in the Tibetan tradition. Open to all. Meets 7-8PM. Located at the Tallahassee Buddhist Community in Railroad Square, 647 McDonnell Dr. 445-0387.

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850-590-7024 natural awakenings

April 2012

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email NATallahassee@yahoo.com to request our media kit. CREATIVE SPIRITUALITY Licia Berry, Integrative Artist

www.liciaberry.com licia@liciaberry.com (719) 850-1890

An artist and art educator with a passion for Jungian psychology, indigenous values, symbolism and writing (and over 25 years of professional experience), Licia blends visual image, written and spoken word, and healing and intuitive arts in original, unique art that reveal profound truths. Licia offers specialty commissioned collages for Rite of Passage, “Message from Spirit”, Birthday, Midlife, and Initiation into New Cycle (wonderful gifts!), playshops and customized Collage Retreats. With an international following on her Blog, FaceBook and Twitter, Licia’s genuine messages of self love and inner wisdom are gently affirming seekers all over the globe.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY healthy solutions, inc. Rick Ferrall, lmt, 850-294-8069 521 E. College Ave., TLH 32301 www.healthy_solutions@comcast.net

CranioSacral Therapy addresses scoliosis, chronic fatigue and MS, infant disorders, learning disabilities, orthopedic problems, emotional difficulties, chronic neck/back pain, stress and tension related problems, TMJ, brain/spinal cord injuries, and cancer issues. MA24604 / MM11960

HEALING Healing Path Alice McCall

Advanced Energy Healer & Counselor BS Psychology, MBA, Hypnotherapist www.healingpath.info: 850-585-5496

I offer phone sessions, specializing in healing serious health issues and unwanted patterns. My book ‘Wellness Wisdom’ has little known information on natural health and healing; inspired by my journey with cancer. Free 15 minutes phone consultation to learn how I can help you.

HEALTHCARE Integrative Healthcare

N. Elizabeth Markovich, MSN, ARNP 850-878-4434 2016 Delta Blvd. Suite 100 Tallahasee 32308 www.IHCFL.com

We offer primary care, preventive care with a holistic approach. We use special testing with 11 outside laboratories to help find the cause of chronic illness and use a functional medicine approach (www. functionalmedicine.org). We also have hypnosis combined with acupuncture by IB Price MD, massage and cranio-sacral therapy by Angele LaGrave LMT and Nutritional Counseling by Leah Gilbert-Henderson PhD nutrition.Accept Medicare, Blue Cross, Universal, Aetna, others.

NEW GENESIS CENTER Patrice Bullock, MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner-C www.NewGenesisCenter.com 229-228-9050

A healthcare center-Functional medicine, patient-centered approach, non-drug, science-based, results oriented. Getting to the source of your health problems rather than bandaiding. Simple to complex problems. Skin care, digestive problems to the more complex health problems such as Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Chemical Sensitivity. Extraordinary results & health transformation. Functional medicine approach consults, hormone testing, detoxification, weight loss, expert skincare consult & prof. treatments, colonics, far-infrared sauna, physical therapy, massage therapy,

HEALTHY PET The Naturally Healthy Pet

Owners, Basil Cousins & Jerry Ayers 1850 Thomasville Road Tallahassee, Fl 32303 850-576-7387 tnhpet@gmail.com www.tallahasseepetstore.com

The Naturally Healthy Pet is a unique pet supply store with a mission to provide the finest quality nutrition for dogs and cats. The store provides an eclectic assortment of Holistic, Grain-free dry and wet diets, 100% organic raw pet foods with no preservatives, hormones, chemicals, fillers or additives. There are also treats like natural bakery-style cookies, rawhide and antler chews, as well as an abundant selection of toys, leashes and other pet gifts. We passionately support pet issues such as adoptions, spay/neuter programs, pet therapy and training programs.

INTERGRATIVE MEDICINE Archbold Integrative Medicine Center

John Mansberger, MD, Medical Director. 229-228-7008; 2705 E. Pinetree Blvd. #C, Thomasville, GA 31792.

A holistic team approach to a variety of medical problems. Offering acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, pain relief, natural hormone replacement, Cancer therapy, nutrition, weight control, herbal medicine, yoga and physical therapy. www.archbold.org.

Tallylife

IPHONE APP

Tallahassee’s 1st Local Mobile Town Guide.

The Tallylife website features all the people, places and events happening in Florida’s Capital City. All your event listings are free and can be easily uploaded via the website.Download the FREE iPhone app and soon to be released Droid app! www.tallylife.com

Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast

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MUSIC THERAPY KEEPSAFE MUSIC THERAPY Steffi Tassos Wohlsifer, BMus MS 1100 E Park Ave, Ste B Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-264-0033 Steffi@KeepSafeMusic.com KeepSafeMusic.com

KeepSafe Music Therapy offers research-based therapeutic interventions to help clients define and achieve emotional, physical, and mental health goals by emphasizing and building upon the individual’s strengths. Experience an increased quality of life through a variety of music therapy interventions for conditions such as depression, anxiety, pain management, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, stroke, addiction, and other health conditions. Group and individual sessions available. Adults and children. Previous training in music is not required in order to benefit from music therapy.

Resounding Healing, Inc. Music Therapy Services Lisa Rhoads, BMT, MT-BC, NICU MT ResoundingHealing@hotmail.com ResoundingHealing.com Tallahassee, FL 352-361-7771

Music therapy is an evidencebased therapy that uses music as an avenue for counseling, communication, behavior modification, and medical procedural and rehabilitation support. Board-Certified Music Therapists at Resounding Healing use music therapy in personal counseling for PTSD, emotional issues, eating disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, couples and family therapy, and persons in palliative care. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, spiritual, autism, and medical procedural support, pain management, and neurological and physical rehab are also positively affected by the use of music therapy at Resounding Healing, Inc. Individual or group therapy. Therapists

available for residents of Assisted Living Facilities for cognition and socialization skills. Our music therapists

are NICU MT Certified to provide specialized care for the premature newborn. Call or email for more information.

WORSHIP UNITY EASTSIDE

PHOTOGRAPHY Ansley Studio

Ansley Simmons artist . photographer . owner 229.224.6021 • www.AnsleyStudio.com

Specializing in portraits & weddings. MFA in Photography, Arts Administration Doctoral Student, Art Museum Education Certificate Florida State University

8551 Buck Lake Road, TLH, 850-656-1678 Rev. Jean Debarbieris Owen, Minister www,unity-eastside.org www.facebook.com- unityeastsidechurch

April 1st and 8th will have the two services. Starting April 15th, there will be one service at 10:00am. Rev. Jean believes the love of God is unfolding in each person, place, Thing. Join us in Worship: Celebration Service 9:30AM and 11:00AM; Youth Ministry 11AM, noon prayer Wed.

UNITY OF TALLAHASSEE

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

2850 Unity Lane, TLH, 850-562-5744, Rev. Bill Williams, Minister,

Southeastern community blood ctr. 1-800-722-2218. Located in Tallahassee; Marianna, FL; Thomasville & Douglas, GA. scbcinfo.org

Blood donors save lives. Is there any greater reward? Save Lives. Give Blood. M-F, 9am–6pm. (Sat. hours in Tallahassee: 9am–1pm)

A ministry that seeks inspiration from the teachings of Jesus and finds common ground with spiritual masters from other traditions. We invite you to join us. Sunday Services 9:30 & 11 AM. Youth Education 11 AM. Wednesday Service at Noon.

YOGA LAKULISH YOGA

REAL ESTATE

www.lakulishyogatallahassee.com 850-273-1861 joannadevi@earthlink.net

REAL ESTATE TEAM - KW

Debbie Leo - 273-9306 Jennifer Stowell - 567-3223

You can have a green home or find a green home for your family’s health and future. If you’re looking to buy or sell, call Debbie Leo and Jenn Stowell! Your Tallahassee Keller Williams agents.

Yoga is so much more than the postures we are so familiar with --- yoga is the science of the soul --- our ultimate journey! Come and explore yoga with us. We offer hatha yoga classes, chanting with Om Sweet Om, a Bhagavad Gita study group, summer yoga camp for children and periodic workshops to delve deeper into the classical 8-step path to liberation. We are dedicated to upholding the integrity of the original teachings in a loving and sacred environment.

Need Intern

Do you love this magazine? We are looking for a positive, self-motivated individual who would like to learn the publishing industry. Must be very talented on the computer and with social media. Must be happy with a variety of clerical, marketing and editing duties. Please send your resume and cover letter to the Publisher at NATallahassee@yahoo.com.

Exploring natural methods of health,

natural awakenings

April 2012

Shop with a Conscience at Natural Awakenings’ New Webstore As a leader in green and healthy living, it makes perfect sense for us to open a webstore that features items that support sustainability and natural health. You’ll love our easy-to-navigate site. Shop by product categories that include beauty and skin care, home and office, books and music, fitness, clothing, cosmetics, kids and pets. It’s your one-stop eco-friendly and healthy living destination!

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Tallahassee, S. Georgia, Gulf Coast