Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0719

EE R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

FOREST BATHING Restores Body and Mind

COOLING HERBS Choices That Beat the Heat

CITY FARMS

Urban Farmers Break New Ground

LET KIDS PLAY Unstructured Fun Builds Brains

July 2019 | Columbia Edition | MidlandsHealthyLiving.com July 2019

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July 2019

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Contents 15 ABOUT YOUR HEALTH

The Journey to Healing

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17 GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE: NEW LOCATION …

Same Amazing Experience!

18 FOREST BATHING

Mother Nature’s Rx for Body and Mind

20 THE PURE JOY OF PLAY Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun

22 HELP FOR

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HOME GARDENERS

Extension Agents at Your Service

24 CROPS IN THE CITY

Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground

28 SUMMER EATING The Herbal Connection

30 TONING THE

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VAGUS NERVE

Relief for Pain, Anxiety and Inflammation

32 BEYOND ANTIBIOTICS

Pets Can Heal With Natural Approaches

34 ALICE ROBB ON THE Transformative Power of Dreams

DEPARTMENTS 8 community news 12 health briefs 16 global briefs 18 fit body 20 healthy kids 22 green living 28 conscious

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eating

30 healing ways 32 natural pet 34 wise words 38 calendar 39 inspiration 39 classifieds 41 natural

directory 43 eco tip

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 70 healthy living magazines celebrating 25 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month prior to publication.

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July 2019

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

COLUMBIA EDITION

letter from publisher

George Washington’s Example …

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id you know that after routing the British from Boston in PUBLISHER Annette Carter Briggs the spring of 1776, George Washington fought a series of EDITOR Sara Gurgen humiliating battles in a losing effort to defend New York? But DESIGN & PRODUCTION Kristina Parella

Billy Briggs on Christmas Day that same year, he led his army through a ONTRIBUTING WRITERS Odell Williams C Kristi Antley SALES & MARKETING Annette Carter Briggs Angel Brown WEBSITE Kristina Parella Billy Briggs

CONTACT US PO Box # 2812 Columbia, SC 29202 Email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com Annette Briggs Ph: 803-309-2101 Angel Brown Ph: 919-436-9020 SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

NATIONAL TEAM

CEO/FOUNDER Sharon Bruckman COO/ FRANCHISE SALES Joe Dunne

NATIONAL EDITOR Jan Hollingsworth

MANAGING EDITOR Linda Sechrist NATIONAL ART DIRECTOR Stephen Blancett

ART DIRECTOR Josh Pope FINANCIAL MANAGER Yolanda Shebert FRANCHISE SUPPORT MGR. Heather Gibbs WEBSITE COORDINATOR Rachael Oppy NATIONAL ADVERTISING Kara Cave

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2019 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. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

ferocious blizzard, crossed the Delaware into New Jersey, and defeated the Hessian forces at Trenton. In May 1778, the French agreed to an alliance with the Americans, marking the turning point of the American Revolution. Washington knew that one great victory by his army would collapse the British Parliament's support for its war against the colonies. In October 1781, Washington's troops, assisted by the French Navy, defeated British General Lord Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. By the following spring, the British government was ready to end hostilities.

What an amazing account of Washington’s uncommon valor, courage and bravery, and the very tough decisions and choices he made in the midst of difficult circumstances (a war). In his relentless pursuit of freedom and independence on behalf of those settling into the fledgling new colonies, which would later form this great nation, Washington understood very clearly that the real war to be won was not on the actual battlefields littered across the land, filled with soldiers from both sides fighting for their respective causes; in fact, the true war and most formidable challenge was the fight to win the battle raging in their very own minds, where the hope killers of fear, doubt and discouragement can reap havoc, stealing away victory.

What was the end result for Washington and his army’s plight? It was freedom, not only for them but for you and me.

This month all across the nation, we will celebrate and commemorate our freedom and independence won for us with the usual array of festivities. And while doing so, let’s remember to celebrate responsibly. Enjoy the great summer food and beverages that we all look forward to this time of year; however, do so free from and independently of the tendencies to overindulge and overdo it. Be committed and resolved to win the war against bad habits and bad moods, which often have us looking to food and other substances to self-medicate. Capture the enemies of fear, doubt and discouragement and face life’s challenges head on, knowing that you are the commander of your mind, body, soul and spirit.

Enjoy the fourth and enjoy your summer.

Washington convinced his soldiers and an emerging nation that this kind of commitment, attitude and conviction were the keys to winning on the battlefield and in life—and, you know, I would say that he was (is) right. One more important thing: Please remember those serving, and those that have served, our country by sacrificing themselves to make our celebrations even possible. They deserve it.

In honor of them … Happy Fourth of July, Annette Briggs, Publisher

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

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community news Whole Truth Health and Nutrition: Transforming the Midlands

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ulie Estes, owner of Whole Truth Health and Nutrition, understands the frustration that accompanies chronic unresolved health issues like fatigue, depression, brain fog and eczema. To make matters worse, many conventional methods treat symptoms only—without discovering the underlying causes. And all too often, the treatments themselves trigger unwanted side effects and health challenges of their own.

Julie coaches and helps her clients navigate the process of healing by giving each a personalized road map. She strongly believes in the body’s ability to heal itself when given all of the right set of conditions.

Since each person’s body and life situation is very unique, there is no “one-size-fits-all” diet or strategy. Her goal is to equip people with the right knowledge and tools to create those healing conditions for their bodies.

Gut health, toxins, food sensitivities and lifestyle factors are among the topics that she will address either in private consultation or small (four to six people) accountability groups called Esprit de Corps training sessions.

Julie’s background is in corporate wellness and exercise physiology. More recently, she has been trained in functional nutrition through Functional Nutrition Alliance.

To set up a private consultation or join an Esprit de Corps group, call 803-746-4588 or register online at WholeTruthHealth.org. Whole Truth Health and Nutrition is located in Lexington (inside Cocreate). See ad, page 5.

You must be the change you want to see in the world.

-Mahatma Gandhi

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EEASC Hosts Midlands Meetup

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n Tuesday, August 6, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina (EEASC) is hosting a green networking “meetup” session for environmental educators at Harbison State Forest, located at 5600 Broad River Road, in Columbia. Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to share upcoming event information (including flyers) and sustainable program updates with the gathered group in this intentionally informal setting. Those that desire to send any information to be disseminated on the day of the event in advance, may do so by emailing items to CooperC@rcgov.us.

Cost: Call for details. To RSVP, register or for more information, contact Jane Hiller, central section director, at 803779-0608 or Jane.Hiller@Sonoco.com.

Also visit eeasc.org.

Chapin Holistic Heritage Hosts Community Picnic

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ou’re invited to a picnic!

Chapin Heritage Holistic Apothecary and Wellness Center is hosting a community picnic on Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event highlights include local vendors, great food, games, face painting, a bouncy house and a raffle featuring lots of great items provided from other popular businesses in Chapin.

As a free, fun family event for all ages, it is specially designed to bring the community together in an effort to build relationships and to spread the “good news” about the tremendous benefits of holistic health and wellness. In addition, information concerning Chapin Holistic Heritage’s upcoming grand opening for its second location taking place in August will be distributed.

Chapin Holistic Heritage is an apothecary and wellness center focusing on holistic health and spiritual awareness—providing a wide array of services, including chiropractic care (with Aleisha Taylor, DC), reiki, herbalist consultations, tinctures, herbal medicines and more.

Location: Chapin Holistic Heritage, 211 E. Boundary St., Chapin. For more information, call 803-941-7083 or visit ChapinHolisticHeritage.com. See ad, page 11.

Take Action SC Environmental Educators Workshop

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t’s time to take action! Registration is now open for the Take Action SC Environmental Educators Workshop scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Watt Family Innovation Center, in Clemson.

Hosted by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and the Take Action SC Environmental Education Partnership, the annual environmental educators’ summer workshop will feature activities, tours and sessions to help attendees find ways to integrate environmental lessons into everyday teaching. This year’s workshop will include new partner lesson demonstrations from the Office of Regulatory Staff—Energy Office and Clemson University and lesson demonstrations from SCDHEC educators on waste audits, recycling, composting and more. Other workshop highlights include guided tours of the Watt Family Innovation Center and networking opportunities with other Take Action partners, green vendors and educators. Lunch and goodies will be provided.

The goal of the Take Action Partnership is to provide a program that informs, inspires and empowers students and teachers to protect and preserve the environment.

Cost: $15, $20 (for workshop and pre-event tour). Location: Watt Family Innovation Center, 405 S. Palmetto Blvd., Clemson. For more information, visit TakeActionSC.org.

Sandhill Farmers Market

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he Clemson University Sandhill Research and Education Center is hosting its Sandhill Farmers Market every Tuesday through Tuesday, November 26, at the Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center, located at 900 Clemson Road, in Columbia. The Sandhill Farmers Market is home to farmers from around the region and all are required to personally grow a certain percentage of their items to sell.

Items available include fresh local produce, meat, fish, eggs, butter, milk, cheese, honey, plants, flowers, shrubs and baked goods. Many products are organic. An Ask a Master Gardener Booth is available for anyone with questions on lawn and garden issues. The market often features music and healthy-lifestyle demonstrations in addition to specially themed market days.

For more information, call 803-699-3187 or visit Clemson.edu.

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community news Sustainable Midlands Hosts Tasty Tomato Festival

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ime for a tasty celebration! On Saturday, July 13, from 1 to 7 p.m., Sustainable Midlands—a champion of the region’s sustainable food efforts—will host its annual Palmetto Tasty Tomato Festival at Earlewood Park, located at 1113 Recreation Drive, in Columbia. Tasty Tomato is a family-friendly event that offers a variety of fun and exciting activities for all ages. An annual celebration of fresh food and the growers that grow it, this year’s event is designed to celebrate the North Columbia region and the many organizations and area businesses that work to bring more fresh food to the Midlands. Festival highlights will include live music, games and activities, contests, delicious food from local vendors, and much more.

Festival proceeds will go to support Sustainable Midlands’ local community programs and help to promote local businesses. The Tasty Tomato Festival is the largest local food event in the Midlands area.

Cost: $15. For more information, visit TastyTomatoFestival.com. See ad, page 32.

SCWF Hosts Wild Summer's Night Auction and Feast

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oin the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) on Saturday, July 20, from 6 to 10 p.m., for its biggest fundraiser of the year—the Wild Summer's Night Auction and Wild Game Feast.

To an estimated crowd of nearly 400 people, SCWF will auction off some great items, such as beautiful works of art; jewelry; guided birding and wildlife-watching trips; hunting and fishing excursions, both in South Carolina and other amazing places; guided river and kayak tours; hunting and fishing equipment; and much more. The night’s festivities will also feature great food, music and an open bar. Other activities include live and silent auctions, prize drawings, games, an open bar, music and much more. As a note, attire is business casual.

As a nonprofit organization, SCWF’s primary source of funding is through memberships and general donations. This critical annual event provides 15% to 20% of the federation’s annual operating budget. Last year, the event raised nearly $45,000.

Cost: $75. Location: Seawell’s Catering, 1125 Rosewood Dr., Columbia. For more information or to order tickets, call 803-256-0670. Also visit scwf.org.

SCWF Hosts the Day of the Dragon

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n Tuesday, July 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the South Carolina Wildlife Federation (SCWF) will host its annual Day of the Dragon event at Goodale State Park, located at 650 State Road (S-28-331), in Camden. Participants will have the opportunity to investigate the exciting natural history of dragonflies and damselflies— analyzing each part of the dragonfly while learning about its habitat. These majestic creatures grace the waterways, lakes and rivers throughout the summer in South Carolina. The Palmetto State is home to more than a hundred species that come in all shapes, sizes and incredible colors.

The class will be taught by Austin Jenkins, who teaches and facilitates SCWF’s popular Midlands Master Naturalist Class.

Jenkins also teaches Natural History of South Carolina at University of South Carolina Sumter. Restrooms will be available at the park and each participant should bring a bag lunch and water.

Important advisory: Participants should be in good physical shape. Weather conditions will most likely be very warm and a great deal of walking will be required, so discretion is advised.

Cost: $60. For more information, call 803256-0670 or visit scwf.org.

Goodbye Junk.

Hello Relief.

Trusted Junk Removal Since 1989 1-800-468-5865 | 1800gotjunk.com

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Sunday Yoga Classes with Malai

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ertified yoga instructor Malai Pressley (RYT 200) is hosting yoga sessions every Sunday at Converspace, located at 1364 Forum Drive, in Northeast Columbia.

Class attendees will be guided by Pressley in the art of yoga and meditation—discovering the numerous health and wellness benefits that this ancient modality offers, which may include increased flexibility, decreased blood pressure, and relief from chronic pain and insomnia. Malai’s uplifting classes focus on letting go and releasing through breathing, asana and meditation for mind, body and spirit.

Cost: $10. Times: 2:30-3:30 p.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, call 803-807-2173 or visit YogaWithMalai.com.

See Natural Directory Entry.

Columbia Water and Fireflies Join Together for Trash the Poop

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ime to pick up the poop! Columbia Water's Trash the Poop campaign is sponsoring all of the Columbia Fireflies' Wag-Along Wednesday baseball games for the 2019 season. Bring your favorite pooch along for a night of fun, which will include the Columbia Water and Richland County Stormwater Trash the Poop trivia wheel, great prizes and a free Trash the Poop bag dispenser for dog owners. The campaign is designed to encourage pet owners to pick up their pets’ waste and discard it in the trash by offering free pet waste stations to neighborhoods throughout the area.

For more information, call 803-545-3300 or 803-545-0184. See ad, page 23.

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health briefs

Sleep Better and Feel Happier With Probiotics

Eat Mostly Plants to Ease Gum Inflammation

In further confirmation of the importance of the gut-brain axis, 18 Italian students at the University of Verona from ages 18 to 33 that took a freezedried mixture of four probiotics for six weeks experienced less depression, anger and fatigue compared to a control group of 15 that consumed a placebo. The positive effects continued, as discovered in follow-up testing three weeks later. The probiotics group also slept better.

The probiotic bacteria blend of 4 billion colony-forming units included Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium longum.

Emily Li/Shutterstock.com/Shutterstock.com

The inflamed gum condition known as gingivitis is fairly common and often mild, but can be a precursor of more serious periodontal disease linked to Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis. German researchers at the University of Freiburg tested 30 people: half in a control group that did not change their diet, and half that switched to a diet low in meat and processed carbohydrates and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, plant nitrates and fiber. After four weeks, those on the plant-based diet had significantly less gum inflammation and bleeding. They also lost weight and had higher vitamin D levels.

With the aid of a new infrared camera technology called optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), early Alzheimer’s disease can be detected by checking the back of the eyes for weakened and decreased blood vessels, reports a new study. Northwestern Medicine researchers reached the conclusion by comparing the vessels in the eyes of 32 people that exhibited the forgetfulness typical of early-stage Alzheimer’s with those of another 32 people with normal cognitive

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abilities. The vascular changes were detected non-invasively, without the need for dyes or expensive MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. The technology quantifies capillary changes in great detail and with unparalleled resolution, making the eye an ideal mirror for what is going on in the brain. Early detection of Alzheimer’s is critical because existing therapies are more effective if they are started before extensive brain damage and cognitive decline have occurred.

Prokrida/Shutterstock.com

Get Eyes Checked to Detect Early Alzheimer’s

Creativision/Shutterstock.com

Emily Li/Shutterstock.com

Try Cordyceps to Strengthen the Lungs People suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, can breathe easier by taking the Chinese medicinal fungus Cordyceps sinensis, a new meta-analysis shows. Researchers at the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine conducted a review of 15 high-quality studies that involved 1,238 COPD patients and found that cordyceps significantly improved lung function, exercise endurance and quality of life with no report of any serious adverse effects. Cordyceps, which is said to relax and open the airways, has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as an anti-asthmatic, expectorant and cough suppressant.

Snack on Walnuts to Slow Growth of Breast Tumors

The gene expression in the breast cancers of women that ate a handful of walnuts each day for about two weeks changed in a way that suppressed the growth of the tumors, according to a small clinical study from the Marshall University School of Medicine, in Huntington, West Virginia. Five women in the experimental group with biopsies that had revealed breast cancer tumors ate two ounces of walnuts a day until their surgery two to three weeks later. Using cells taken during surgery, researchers identified 456 genes in the walnut-eating group that had significantly changed their expression and slowed tumor growth.

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community spotlight

About Your Health: The Journey to Healing

by Odell Williams

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omeone once said: “Many a good move has come out of a desperate situation,” and so it was with About Your Health. When owner Lois Bradley got sick many years ago, she felt she had an inside advantage that most did not. After all, she was a nurse who worked in a large hospital. Knowing many of the physicians in the area, she thought that all the best that medicine could offer was available to her.

What a surprise it was to her to find out just how limited the medical community was in its ability and efforts to help to cure, and not just endure, her illness. From this perspective, Lois' story is like that of many others, marked by numerous tests, doctors’ visits and prescriptions with seemingly no relief or cure in sight—so let’s just say that utter desperation can become one’s greatest ally in the fight to survive.

Lois was determined to be healed and not just survive. She refused to settle for a life controlled by poor health. Lois took her health back! The instant that a person desires true change, he or she will make the necessary changes. She was fortunate enough to meet many healers along the way. They have literally saved her life. And she wanted to be saved—even demanded it. If you are willing to do the work, the possibilities are limitless.

As someone with an extensive medical background who has discovered the road back from a deep sense of hopelessness herself, Lois gets it. Many individuals depart their doctors’ offices with prescriptions in hand and will do nothing to truly change how they are feeling. However, she felt there were probably more people like her out there that were willing to take charge of and take back their health.

Since then, Lois has decided to make a difference in the lives of others, having traveled everywhere with her microscope, her newly found hope, and her “enlightened” understanding of illness and cures in an effort to help people understand how the human body works and how important a role that nutrition plays in recovery.

About Your Health was birthed from Lois’ journey and victory over her illness. She inherently believed that she could do it and that others could too if they were willing, as she was, to self-educate, embrace and employ the information and guidance from healers that supported her efforts. Those that are open to new information and paths toward healing, and also understand their unique responsibility to welcome change, follow through, and make the hard decisions necessary to give alternate therapies a chance to work, can experience ultimate victory too. Lois visited gyms, churches, libraries, doctors’ offices and many other health providers, all in an effort to make a difference and change lives through better health. Over the course of time, she realized that she needed a brick-and-mortar site to hang her hat and microscope. Lois’ daughter-in-law, a massage therapist, had a

massage clinic with an extra room, so in December of 2003, she moved in with the goal of offering a full-service health center.

Over the many years, and with Lois’ passion and desire to serve and help others on the journey to better health and healing, About Your Health has added numerous tried-and-true health and wellness services, such as live/dry blood cell analysis, Reams testing and nutritional counseling, a far infrared sauna, aqua-chi footbaths, innovative massage therapy, mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy and thermography.

About Your Health has welcomed onboard several other independent practitioners.

These experienced healthcare providers offer very effective services, such as colonic hydrotherapy, chiropractic care, energy healing, myofascial release, massage and yoni steaming.

With the understanding that the body should be treated as a whole, the qualified staff of About Your Health approach health challenges in very innovative and effective ways based upon the uniqueness of each individual. About Your Health is a progressive natural health business with personalized wellness as its goal.

Celebrating its 15th year of service to the community, About Your Health has proven to be a leader in bringing better health, wellness and quality of life to the Midlands. In recognition and celebration of this accomplishment, the popular health and wellness provider is offering client specials throughout the year. For the month of July 20% off Live/Dry Blood Cell Analysis. Other great deals and offers include drawings for health services, $15 footbaths, 20% off thermography sessions and much more. In addition, make sure to check out About Your Health’s Facebook page and website for all of these celebration specials and upcoming events.

About Your Health is located at 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy., Ste. J, in Columbia. For more information, call 803-798-8687 or visit AboutYourHealthSC.com and Facebook. com/aboutyourhealth. See ad, page 19.

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Wonder Weed Hemp to the Rescue at Detox Sites

Cannabis is enjoying a renaissance of sorts, and one new application for hemp, the nobuzz industrial variety used in fabrics, oils and foods, is cleaning nuclear radiation from toxic soil and removing metals like cadmium, lead, mercury and other pollutants via phytoremediation.

Allison Beckett, a cultivation expert at Marijuana.com, says, “Industrial hemp has been used in areas of high radiation, such as Fukushima, [in Japan,] with promising results. Not only does hemp pull toxic, heavy metals from the soil, it actually improves soil structure, making it usable as productive farmland again. Plus, hemp is a vigorous plant that absorbs CO2 rapidly, making it an encouraging solution to climate change.” Hemp phytoremediation has been used in Italy to clean up the small town of Taranto, where a steel plant has been leaking dioxin into the air and soil. The Pennsylvania Industrial Hemp Council and Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, are running a project to test the process in an arsenic-contaminated area in Upper Saucon Township that once harbored a zinc mine.

Produce to Avoid

The 2019 Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce (Tinyurl.com/ DirtyDozen-Clean15List) highlights increased pesticide use on up to 70 percent of conventionally grown U.S. produce. Several different types of pesticide, insecticide and fungicide residues are present on many fruits and vegetables. The Dirty Dozen list includes strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes. The clean 15 list includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, onions, papayas, eggplant, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushrooms and honeydew melon. The EWG advises that eating organic produce, especially for pregnant and nursing mothers and young children, should be a national priority.

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Dangerous Dozen

global briefs

Wastewater Turned into Hydrogen Fuel

Producing pure hydrogen is expensive and energy intensive, but a research team at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, at Princeton University, used sunlight to pull hydrogen from industrial wastewater by using a specially designed chamber with a “Swiss cheese”-like black silicon interface. As reported in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, the process is aided by bacteria that generate electrical current when consuming organic matter in the wastewater; the current, in turn, aids in the water splitting. It “allows us to treat wastewater and simultaneously generate fuels,” says Jing Gu, a co-researcher and assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at San Diego State University. The scientists say the technology could appeal to refineries and chemical plants, which typically produce their own hydrogen from fossil fuels and face high costs for cleaning wastewater.

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Sunny Solution

businessspotlight

Garner’s Natural Life: New Location …

Same Amazing Experience!

by Emily Crawford, CNHP, RN

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hen I think about natural health and herbal medicine, I think about the countless stories told of how herbs originated. From cultures to traditions, and passed down through generations, people have used herbs for centuries for their health and healing properties. The story of Garner’s Natural Life reminds me of this.

The Garner’s story began with a young Robin Garner who, in 1969, sold organic bread and supplements out of his 750-foot trailer. Candace Garner joined the family business when she married Robin in 1978.

As success began to overtake them, the need for an actual building became very evident, so Robin and Candace opened a large store that featured a wellness section, bakery, produce and a restaurant/deli.

After Robin passed in 2007, sons Jeff, David and Matt stepped up to help Candace with store operations. Any store can sell vitamins; however, the thing that uniquely sets Garner’s apart from other retailers is the passionate commitment to unfailing

customer care, top-notch products and services, and the determination to educate and empower customers to live better and healthier lives. This is the heartbeat of every Garner’s Natural Life location proudly serving South Carolina’s local communities.

The customer shopping experience is very important too. The shift to give Garner’s Natural Life a beautiful “facelift” started with Candace. The creative and beautiful décor in each of the Garner’s stores comes from her vision to provide customers a beautiful space in which to shop—one that feels good and looks great. From the many Himalayan salt lamps, to the earthy yet modern decorations, to the smiling faces of knowledgeable employees ready to help in any way—this is why customers shop at Garner’s stores.

Customer service and education have always been staples at the family-owned stores. Many of Garner’s employees are certified as natural health professionals or herbalists, or certified in other natural medicines. There is also a registered nurse

on staff. Fully understanding the products that they offer, from in-depth research to personal experience and testing, Garner’s staff members stay up to date on products and services, including partnering closely with product representatives. Education is a top priority. When customers are looking for something to better their health, the best is needed.

After countless requests from customers visiting our Forest Drive location, the fourth store has just opened in Lexington.

We carry the largest selection of bulk herbs in the state, second only to our Garner’s location in Greenville. Our objective is to carry the finest products available, including organic and non-GMO products.

Our close relationships with our growers and product suppliers, such as Kratom, are key. Ensuring that customers receive quality products and services is very important to us and a mainstay of our mission because not all supplements are made to the same standard. Adds Nick Beers, regional manager: “We are so excited to be serving the health and wellness needs of people in the West Columbia/Lexington area. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you. Come and see what the Garner’s way is all about … you will not be disappointed!”

Garner’s new location is located at 5166 Sunset Blvd., Ste. C, in Lexington. For more information, call 803-973-3001 or 803-4547700, or visit GarnersNaturalLife.com. See ads, pages 3, 27, 33 and back page.

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fit body

A Simple Meditation

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The main purpose is not exercise or getting from point A to point B, but rather having a mindful, sensory experience in nature.

Forest bathing guide Judy Beaudette suggests: n Find something you can put your attention on that is natural—a plant, a stone, a bird’s song, a stream or a forest, the sky, even a tuft of grass or weeds growing out of a crack in the sidewalk.

~Hannah Fries

FOREST BATHING Mother Nature’s Rx for Body and Mind

by Marlaina Donato

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n 1982, the Japanese government coined the term Shinrin-yoku (“taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing”) to inspire people to visit and appreciate national parks. Today, that walk in the woods has become a medically recommended activity worldwide for improving immunity, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, managing chronic pain and promoting better sleep. The research supporting the physical and mental benefits of forest bathing is so compelling that it’s advocated by the National Institute of Public Health of Japan and prescribed to patients there.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia, in England, examined years of studies and found significant evidence that experiencing nature has a positive impact on health. Published in the journal Environmental Research in 2018, the meta-analysis involving 290 million participants from 20 countries concluded that spending time in green spaces lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduces the stress hormone cortisol. The study also noted a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes and death from heart disease.

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n Practice noticing something small in nature, like an acorn, a leaf or a grain of sand. Put it in the palm of your hand and for five minutes, notice the details. Keep noticing. See what thoughts come to mind and keep returning your attention to this small thing. After the five minutes have elapsed, write down your observations.

Columbia Edition

Terpenes and Tree Therapy

Another recent review of studies, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, concluded that Shinrin-yoku can ease the symptoms of adult depression. “Forest bathing plugs us into something we all seek—a source of peace and well-being. The thing that first hooked me into being a forest bathing guide was reading the robust body of research that proves the benefits of forest bathing,” says Judy Beaudette, board secretary of Friends of North Creek Forest, in Bothell, Washington.

Melanie Choukas-Bradley, a certified forest therapy guide and author of The Joy of Forest Bathing: Reconnect With Wild Places & Rejuvenate Your Life, in Chevy Chase, Maryland, attests to the therapeutic value of forest bathing. “Even occasional nature immersion can have beneficial health effects that can last for days. Many doctors are now prescribing nature to patients. There’s an organization devoted to this called Park Rx America.”

She recommends just 20 minutes during a lunch break to sit on a bench or on the ground beneath trees.

There are many theories of why spending time in the woods or any other

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

natural place makes us feel good; for example, findings published in the journal Toxicological Research in 2017 attribute the immune-boosting, mood-lifting benefits of forest bathing to natural terpenes released into the air by trees, especially conifers.

Terpenes contain anti-inflammatory properties that strengthen the body’s natural defenses.

Sensory Immersion, Not Exercise

Shinrin-yoku is intended to engage the trinity of body-mind-spirit. “The main purpose is not exercise or getting from point A to point B, but rather having a mindful, sensory experience in nature. It isn’t some prescribed task you need to do, like pushups,” explains Hannah Fries, a poet and author of Forest Bathing Retreat: Find Wholeness in the Company of Trees. She communes with the wild for both health and inspiration. “Even if it’s only 20 minutes a week, go outside without a phone or other electronic device. Walk slowly. Look more closely. Listen. Smell. Touch. Interact with the living, breathing world around you. It’s that simple.”

Choukas-Bradley says that obser-

vance is key. Recalling her first forest bathing experience, she says, “We paid attention to our breath and tuned in to the sights, sounds and sensations all around us.

I noticed a perfect spider’s web, just barely trembling in the slightest breeze, its creator clinging to the center.”

She recommends finding a “wild home”—a neighborhood park, garden or backyard tree. “Make it a practice to find a ‘sit spot’ where you can quietly observe beauty and are apt to feel a sense of awe.

Psychology researchers have shown that experiencing awe has many positive effects on emotional health.”

It doesn’t matter if we commune with nature in a rural or urban setting, only that we remain dialed in to our surroundings. “Forest bathing is a tool for slowing down our buzzing minds and practicing a secret superpower—the skill of consciously choosing what we put our attention on,” says Beaudette.

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healthy kids

The Pure Joy of Play

Why Kids Need Unstructured Fun

by Ronica O’Hara

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ot so long ago, kids would be shooed out the door to play and told to return home at meal time.

But the rising use of digital devices and kids’ highly scheduled sports and school activities, as well as parental fears about safety, has made that kind of unstructured play rare—with resulting drops in children’s independence, resilience and creativity, experts say. In fact, play has been shown to be so critical to children’s development that an American Academy of Pediatrics 2018 clinical report, “The Power of Play,” recommends that doctors write prescriptions for it.

“Play is not frivolous; it is brain building,” concludes the report. It defines play as voluntary, fun and spontaneous activities that engross a child, often resulting in joyous discovery, and includes

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imaginative make-believe, experimenting and risk-taking. It cites 147 studies showing that play builds skills critical for adult success such as problem solving, collaboration and creativity; decreases stress, fatigue, injury and depression; and increases range of motion, agility, coordination, balance and flexibility.

Here are some ways to up the play in children’s lives:

1

Give them lots of free time away from devices. Yes, they

might be bored at first—but boredom enhances creativity, partly by allowing for daydreaming, concludes a study from the UK’s University of Central Lancashire.

2

Encourage fun, rather than competition. By age 6, 60 percent

of American boys and Mariana Brussoni, are pushed to compete, than in free play,” Play is how children 47 percent of girls are parPh.D., an associate professays Gray. “Moreover, the kinds of injulearn to create and sor in the department of ticipating on organized ries that occur in free play are relatively govern their own pediatrics and the School sport teams, but three out easy to recover from.” As for the fear of activities and solve of Population and Public of four kids quit sports by kidnapping by strangers, the odds are age 13—one major reason their own problem Health at the University of very small—one in a million, according British Columbia, Canada, to the latest U.S. Department of Justice being, “I was not having independently concurs: “When they’re fun.” Play, on the other data. “Weigh the effect of the limits you of adults. given the chance, even hand, is based on pure enplace on your kids to prevent that very, very young children show joyment and spontaneous very, very unlikely possibility versus the ~Peter Gray clear abilities to manage collaboration among fundamental importance for their own risks and figure out their kids, minus overanxious adult “sidelining”. health and development of exploring own limits. The potential for learning “When children play in their own ways, freedom,” advises Brussoni. is enormous.” they generally play cooperatively. We adults impose competition, unfortunately.

Ronica A. O’Hara is a Denver-based Yet even in our competitive society, the Don’t worry. “The data show that freelance health writer. Connect at really successful and happy people are the children are far more likely to get in- OHaraRonica@gmail.com. ones who are oriented toward cooperajured in adult-directed sports, where they tion,” says Peter Gray, Ph.D., a Boston College psychology professor and author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.

OutsidePlay.ca: This online, 20-minute, self-quiz helps parents reflect upon their own childhood adventures and figure out a plan they feel comfortable with for their Encourage them to take the children’s unstructured “risky play”. Preliminary study data show that by three months, lead. Let kids decide whether they 93 percent of parents using the quiz had accomplished their goals. want to play with friends, siblings or alone.

They will happily make up their own “The Power of Play”: Tinyurl.com/ThePowerOfPlay-AAP This study by the Amerigames with lots of raw materials that are can Academy of Pediatrics lays out the body of research on the benefits of unstructured on hand—blocks, balls, puzzles, crayons, play for children. boxes, wooden spoons, old costumes and hats, sand, water, tarps and shovels. “Play “Say Yes to Play”: A Psychology Today online article offers 12 strategies to encouris how children learn to create and govern age play, as well as additional references. Tinyurl.com/SayYesToPlay-PT. their own activities and solve their own problems independently of adults,” says Gray. “Stated differently, it is how children learn to become adults. This value is destroyed when adults take charge of children’s activities.”

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Explore Free Play

3

4

Back off from hovering supervision. It can rob them of a

sense of ownership and accomplishment.

Leigh Ellen Magness, a clinical social worker and registered play therapist in Athens, Georgia, grappled with anxiety as she watched her 5-year-old son clamber up a roadside sculpture designed for climbing. “He climbed so high that my stomach flip-flopped to see him so far from me. But I knew there was no better way for him to learn the limits of his own body than to test them,” she says.

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green living

HELP FOR HOME GARDENERS Extension Agents at Your Service

by Yvette C. Hammett

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any home gardeners readily list flies, wasps and beetles among the “pests” in their gardens.

However, many of these are actually pollinators that help boost production of fruits and vegetables; others are beneficial insects that keep the real plant-killers at bay. A quick call to the local cooperative extension service can help sort out friend from foe—and that’s just the beginning of what this valuable, underutilized resource can offer.

Each year, millions in federal taxpayer dollars help fund county agricultural extension programs administered through the 108 colleges and universities that comprise the nation’s land grant university system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which supplies the money, also helps fund science-based research meant to reach not only farmers, but home gardeners seeking advice on best practices.

The USDA is trying to do a better job of raising public awareness of assistance that’s readily available, free of charge, especially now that it’s getting more funding.

Organic on the Rise

“The good news is that the 2018 Farm Bill provided increases for many of our 22

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programs, including the organic agriculture research and extension initiative program for which we received significant funding,” says Mathieu Ngouajio, program leader for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

The USDA is eager to see the connections their constituents are making with the research. “We want to identify the needs of organic gardeners, and the best way to meet those needs to get our research into their hands,” Ngouajio says.

County extension agents are on the front lines of this effort, offering low- or no-cost soil testing, handbooks on a variety of local gardening topics and workshops on everything from making rain barrels and creating rain gardens to implementing eco-friendly pest control, cultivating native plants and employing best practices for organic gardening. Master gardeners that volunteer their expertise are central to supporting extension outreach activities.

“We would love more business from the public,” says Weston Miller, an associate professor with Oregon State University’s extension service. “The public service of the master gardener program is to answer questions,” including what and when to plant and how much irrigation is required.

In Oregon, ganic products you The good news is that the there are 3,500 can use and still be 2018 Farm Bill provided master gardeners, organic.” One thing increases for many of our with 650 volunteers to look for on a label in Portland alone. is the seal of the programs, including an “We train master Materials organic program for which we Organic gardeners in how Review Institute, received significant funding. which indicates the to use our resources and interpret product is suitable ~Mathieu Ngouajio the research to the for organic gardenpublic,” Miller says. ing.

“There are trained volunteers in

However, there aren’t many good pretty much every county in the country options for weed management, he adds. ready and willing to answer any gardening “You have to do weeding by hand or use an question,” Miller says. For example, a new herbicide that isn’t organic.” organic gardener might not know the cor Another issue that extension programs rect soil amendments to use or how to start can help with is making sure organic gara composting pile to supplement the soil in deners receive only scientifically researched an organic garden. information, says Nicole Pinson, an urban

There is also a nationwide network horticulture agent with the Hillsborough called Ask the Expert (USDA.gov/ask-exCounty Extension Service, in Tampa, Florida. pert) and questions will automatically

“Gardening information is available go to an extension staff person or master on websites and on social media. Some gardener in the area where the inquiring information that pops up is not regardener lives. search-based, or they are selling a product and are not unbiased,” Pinson says.

Reducing Confusion “We generally stick to recommendations Many of those getting into organic gardenwe have been able to vet through research. ing might feel confused as to what connotes When we make a recommendation, we give organic, Miller says. “Organic gardening folks all of the options of what they can do.” is using a naturally formed material for

fertilizer and pesticide, from plant, animal To find a nearby extension office, visit Tior mineral sources.” nyurl.com/ExtensionFinder.

The biggest area of confusion is that many people think organic means pestiYvette C. Hammett is an environmental cide-free. But that is not always true. There writer based in Valrico, Florida. She can be is organic pest control, Miller says. “In contacted at YvetteHammett28@hotmail.com. terms of gardening, there are certified or-

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City planners need innovative solutions like vertical farming to feed the growing population.

We can grow at scale, with minimum space and environmental impact.

Wendy Coleman, founder of LA Urban Farms, works with chefs, resorts, hotels, universities and corporate clients to set up aeroponic tower gardens, such as these kale and lettuce crops.

from elementary school gardens where kids learn to grow, cook and eat nutritious food to corporate gardens inside a new office building for lender Fannie Mae’s employee café.

One of its crown jewels is a 6,500-square-foot rooftop garden on the Nationals Park baseball stadium, where edible flowers end up in cocktails and organic produce feeds fine diners and VIP ticket holders.

Ray grew his business organically, fueled by passion and curiosity, rather than any horticultural background. “I grew up in NYC, where I had nothing to grow on. When I moved to Florida for grad school, I had a huge backyard to play around with,” says Ray.

CROPS IN THE CITY Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground

by April Thompson

T

he average American meal travels 1,500 miles to reach its plate, according to the nonprofit Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture. Yet, enterprising green thumbs across the country are bringing the farm back to plate’s reach, growing hyperlocal food in backyards, on rooftops, through indoor farms and more. City farming reconnects urbanites to their food sources while bettering the environment, communities, diets and health.

Urban agriculture, harkening back to the Victory Gardens planted to ward off food shortages during World War I and II, is nothing new. While today’s home gardeners have staked out balconies, window boxes and vacant lots in this locavore resurgence, noteworthy pioneers are 24

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forging a path to organic urban agriculture on a commercial scale—tapping into new technologies and markets, and turning challenges like dealing with space constraints into fresh opportunities.

A View From the Roofs

Take Niraj Ray, whose company Cultivate the City is working to transform urban food deserts in the nation’s capital into thriving local food systems. “We want to get more people interested in growing their own food and show them how they can grow more with less square footage through vertical gardens and sustainable techniques like [soil-less] hydroponic systems,” says Ray.

Cultivate the City manages numerous gardens for clients around Washington, D.C.,

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Like many other urban farms, Cultivate the City offers a seasonal farm subscription known as a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that allows city dwellers to buy directly from local producers. Ray’s rooftop greenhouse, located on top of a local hardware store that sells his edible plants at retail, offers all the fixings for a healthy, diverse diet: hydroponic towers of leafy greens, trays of microgreens for corporate clients, specialty varieties of hot peppers for the company’s hot sauce and stacking cubes of an albino strawberry variety that Ray crossbred himself. “There are so many ways to contribute to urban farming, from aquaponics to vermicomposting; it’s about finding your niche,” he says.

Growing Up With Vertical Farming

By 2050, it’s estimated that 9 billion people will be living on the planet—7 billion

photo courtesy of LAUrbanFarms.com

~Wendy Coleman

Joshua Resnick/Shutterstock.com

in cities. “City planair. “It actually uses 90 There are so many ners need innovative ways to contribute to urban percent less water than solutions like vertical conventional growing, farming, from aquaponics which is a huge benefit farming to feed the growing population. to vermicomposting; it’s in a place like CaliWe can grow at scale, about finding your niche. fornia, and avoids any with minimum space kind of agricultural ~Niraj Ray and environmental runoff,” says Coleman. impact,” says Wendy In conjunction with Coleman, who began urban farming parther California-based business LA Urban ners, the business churns out 30,000 seedFarms in 2013. Today, Coleman’s team lings a month using aeroponic technology works with chefs, resorts, hotels, universito grow for their diverse client base and ties, greenhouses and corporate clients like working with chefs to plan seasonal menus Google and Ikea to set up aeroponic tower around their produce. gardens across the U.S. and Europe.

Aeroponics and other innovative

With aeroponics, nutrient-enriched farm technologies are transforming water is pumped through a garden tower spaces in cities across the U.S., reclaiming to shower the roots of plants suspended in peripheral and idle spaces like alleys and

warehouses to grow herbs and vegetables in abundance, using 90 percent less land by growing vertically, notes Coleman.

“With our gardens, diners can see their food growing at their table; they get such a personal connection with their food. It’s an interactive way for hotels and restaurants to demonstrate their commitment to local, sustainable food,” she says.

Breaking into Hives: City Beekeepers

“I had a backyard garden that wasn’t doing so well, and I thought it was the lack of pollinators, so I got bees; but then I realized I was just a bad gardener,” quips master beekeeper John Coldwell, of Fort Lauderdale.

Since this humble beginning in 2012

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Tips From the Pioneers

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hose that have never nurtured more than a houseplant shouldn’t be intimidated, says Wendy Coleman, founder of LA Urban Farms. “Growing food is easy and doesn’t require any special background,” says Coleman, who was green to growing when she started her business six years ago.

When growing commercially, find a niche, says Niraj Ray, of Cultivate the City. The company grows plants of ethnic or cultural significance to appeal to Asian, African and Latino populations, from the nutrition-packed moringa to okra, a staple of both Indian and African cooking, given it is a growing market for immigrant populations not served by most traditional garden centers.

Seek natural allies like sustainability-minded chefs to bolster an urban ag business. The farm-to-fork chef ’s movement has been a boon for beekeepers and farmers, with chefs acting as patrons of the farms, according to beekeeping expert Teresa Coldwell. Sette Bello Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, funds vertical gardens at a community garden where the Coldwells have hives so its chef can have pure organic food like squash blossoms pollinated by local bees.

Urban farming has its pleasures and rewards, but can also bring hardships.

Ray struggles with employee turnover when newbie farmers face the realities of working in the heat and rain, even from a sleek, trendy, rooftop garden.

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with a few backyard The USDA has a huge for 14 years. However, hives, Coldwell and his opportunity here and Marvy says most farmers wife Teresa have been growing in the city aren’t nationally to make cities leading a movement operating at a profitto repurpose public more sustainable and able scale or producing land for “microapiarenough for everyone to feed more people. ies” and provide apiary eat local. ~Ian Marvy education for youth and

Even so, adults throughout South locally grown produce Florida. Through their entity The Urban is a booming market in New York City.

Beekeepers, the Coldwells offer beekeeping Greenmarket, founded in 1976, operates classes, consult with local governments, sell more than 50 farmers’ markets, limited equipment and rescue “feral hives” to inteto vendors that grow within a 200-mile grate into managed hives. They’ve worked radius, some of whom take home five successfully with parks, airports, golf clubs figures on a good day, says Marvy. Interest and country clubs to put honeybee habitats in growing at the community level has also on site. mushroomed, adds Marvy, who estimates

Urban beekeeping works in synergy that 90 percent of the city’s more than 500 with city farms, as honeybees forage up to school gardens weren’t there 15 years ago five miles for food, and in so doing polliwhen he started this work. “The USDA nate a lot of crops. Seventy of the top 100 has a huge opportunity here and nationally human food crops are pollinated by bees, to make cities more sustainable and feed according to the Food and Agriculture more people. I’m really excited and comOrganization of the United Nations. “We mitted to that,” he says. often hear people say their garden is doing

While urban agriculture efforts are better than it has in years, thanks to the sometimes criticized for catering to upper apiaries nearby,” says John Coldwell. income residents that can afford to pay top

The challenges of growing at scale are dollar for specialty items like microgreens, a recurrent theme among urban farmmany businesses and organizations are ers. Ian Marvy, the U.S. Department of working on multiple fronts, with lucraAgriculture (USDA) outreach specialist tive specialty crops helping to subsidize for the greater New York City area, ran programs serving families lacking access to his own urban farm, grossing six figures healthy affordable food.

LET’S GET GROWING

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or those interested in trying home growing or supporting metro area farmers, here are some resources for eating food grown in and around your zip code.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Toolkit walks prospective city farmers through all of the necessary steps to planning a successful urban agriculture operation, from soil testing to accessing financing. Tinyurl. com/UrbanAgriculturalToolkit.

UrbanFarming.org features a clickable map of community gardens in the U.S. and beyond where neighbors can connect and grow together.

The FairShare CSA Coalition’s site (CSACoalition.org) offers an interactive Farm Search tool to find community supported agriculture (CSA) programs where city dwellers can subscribe to local farms and receive a share of the seasonal bounty.

The American Community Garden Association (CommunityGarden.org) provides resources for finding, starting and managing community gardens.

Local Harvest (LocalHarvest.org) has a searchable national directory of farmers’ markets, farms, CSAs and more.

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Grow Ohio Valley takes an integrated approach to food sovereignty in Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Upper Ohio Valley.

“This part of the Appalachian Rustbelt has lost much of its population, jobs and economic base over the last generation.

We want to promote health and wellness through fresh food, while helping to transform the urban landscape from falling-down buildings and vacant lots into productive community assets,” says founder Danny Swan.

The operation’s food hub aggregates produce from small local farmers, providing a guaranteed market for their produce and the opportunity to reach a larger market, usually only served by food grown thousands of miles away. The produce is supplemented by four urban farm sites run by the organization, including an apple orchard on the site of a demolished housing project.

Grow Ohio Valley also works to reach the “last-mile customers” that lack access to high-quality affordable produce via a mobile farmers’ market that goes to housing projects, senior communities and schools six days a week.

Their latest project, the Public Market, is a retail location on Wheeling’s Main Street that will serve as a year-round farmers’ market. The organization is also building alliances between local farmers and healthcare providers through a project called The Farmacy. A partnership with a local free clinic, it targets people suffering from diabetes and other diseases linked to poor diets with a doctor’s prescription for organic produce offered free through the organization’s CSA.

These urban agriculture pioneers are helping to not only grow food, but community, and are nurturing renewed connections to the Earth. City growing has so many benefits: decreasing packaging, costs and food miles traveled, making it easier to eat organic seasonal food and a more diverse diet. “The connection people feel when they plant seed and get to harvest the mature plant is transformative. Growing food is something we can all do to make a difference, for our health and the environment,” says Coleman.

NAPaddle19.indd 1

6/18/2019 1:38:48 PM

Connect with Washington, D.C. freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

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conscious eating

SUMMER EATING

The Herbal Connection

S

by Kajsa Nickels

ummer is an ideal time to add a healthy dose of fresh, organic herbs to make cool salads, luscious smoothies and other hot-weather eats and treats. Herbs are not only a flavorful addition to any meal, they are also chock-full of health benefits, from lowering blood pressure and improving mineral balance to increasing immune support, hydration, energy and healthy skin.

Most people consider using herbs in small amounts as seasonings for recipes such as spaghetti sauce, soups or desserts. However, they are edible plants, just like kale and spinach.

Although they tend to have strong flavors when dried, fresh herbs are usually quite mild and can be eaten in large amounts like any other vegetable.

Cool Benefits “Summertime herbs are important for dealing with the heat and humidity that the season brings,” says Nathaniel Whitmore, a Chinese medicine herbalist and shiatsu massage practitioner in Milford, Pennsylvania. An herb that he recommends for this time of year is American ginseng, which, unlike its Chinese namesake, is considered a “cooling” herb and helps keep the body moist.

When combined with fresh chrysanthemum flowers, the result is a powerful elixir that both hydrates and energizes. “A piece of American ginseng root and a few chrysanthemums placed in a jar of water and set on a windowsill for a few days makes a great cold infusion,” says Whitmore. “You can store it in the fridge for a few days and drink it in small amounts at a time to benefit from its energizing and hydrating properties.”

Soft-stemmed herbs such as parsley and dill can be used in 28

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Summertime herbs are important for dealing with the heat and humidity that the season brings. ~Nathaniel Whitmore large amounts in salads and summer sandwiches. Other heat-tolerant herbs that are easy to grow include lemon balm, rosemary, lavender, mint and basil.

“Lemon balm is great for headaches and insomnia that are common during summer heat waves,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D., an herbalist and doctor of natural medicine, in Ontario, Canada. “Basil can help reduce summer achiness, while lavender serves as a relaxant and an excellent bug repellant.”

In addition to relieving headaches and restlessness, lemon balm is also beneficial for those that suffer from high blood pressure. A study in the Journal of Herbal Medicine reports that it is helpful in reducing blood pressure in patients with chronic stable angina. Rosemary, another herb used for sleep disorders, was found to also help improve memory and decrease anxiety in a study conducted in Iran at the Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

One study in 2009 by researchers in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Allahbad, in India, revealed that polyphenols found in herbs and plants harbor antioxidant properties that can help reduce the risk of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative disorders.

photos by Stacey Cramp Used with permission from New World Library.

Fresh Is Best While herbs can be used in their extracted and dried forms, the most significant health benefits are often found in the raw, organic plant. “Fresh is better,” says Whitmore. “This is especially true when it comes to the more aromatic plants such as basil and lavender. A lot of the more volatile constituents are lost during the drying process.”

Most herbs grow best in dry garden areas that receive at least eight hours of sun each day. Although some herbs can grow in partially shaded locations, they won’t be as flavorful. Many herbs can also be grown in containers or pots.

Maria Noël Groves, a clinical herbalist in Allenstown, New Hampshire, and author of Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies: How to Create a Customized Herb Garden to Support Your Health & Well-Being, lists lemon balm, Korean mint, anise hyssop and purple basil as among her favorite summer culinary and beverage herbs that are easy to grow in pots. These make easy pickings for wraps, salads, sandwiches and more. “Lemon balm can also be used to make infused water,” says Groves. “With lemon verbena, lemon grass or holy basil, the result is refreshing and calming.” Just take a few sprigs and place them in either plain or seltzer water.

The result is a delicately flavored beverage that’s also healthy and hydrating.

Kajsa Nickels is a freelance writer and a music composer. She resides in northeastern Pennsylvania. Contact her at Fideleterna45@gmail.com.

Herbal Chill-Outs Lemon Balm Vinegar This infusion can be used in place of plain vinegar in summer salad dressings. According to the Journal of Medicine, lemon balm is helpful in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Combining it with apple cider vinegar adds extra health benefits to the mix, including digestion enhancement, detoxing and inflammation reduction.

2-3 cups fresh lemon balm, washed 1 qt apple cider vinegar Add coarsely chopped lemon balm leaves and stems to a 32-ounce mason jar. Add vinegar until lemon balm is completely covered.

Allow to sit in a cool, dark place for two to four weeks before straining.

From the book Be Your Own Herbalist by Michelle Schoffro Cook.

Used with permission from New World Library.

Dandelion and Violet Greens Pesto 1 bunch dandelion leaves 1-2 handfuls violet leaves 1-3 garlic cloves 1-3 oz Parmesan cheese 1 cup toasted, salted/tamari pepitas (pumpkin seeds) Juice of ½ lemon ¼ cup olive oil Coarsely chop the herbs and the garlic. Combine with a mortar and pestle, food processor or blender and blend until minced.

Add the liquids and blend to a puree. Serve with organic tortilla chips, crackers or veggie sticks.

Will keep for a few days in a tightly sealed container or frozen.

From the book Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies by Maria Noël Groves. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.

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Toning the Vagus Nerve

Action Alert

Greenhouse Gases Hit Landmark

Certainty that we are facing a climate crisis today and not just in the future was reached in May through an alarming milestone in carbon dioxide levels. Data from the Mauna Loa Observatory, in Hawaii, shows that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached 415 parts per million, the highest ever recorded.

However, environmental organizations charge that ominous news like this is not being communicated to the public to the degree warranted. While the CBS, NBC and ABC nightly TV news reports combined devoted nearly 18 minutes of coverage to the birth of the royal baby between May 6 and 12, airtime regarding climate change and extinction during the same period only amounted to one minute and 21 seconds, and only on CBS.

For more information and to get involved, including signing a petition to demand that the media cover the climate crisis and extinction more frequently and in greater depth, visit Tinyurl.com/ ClimateCrisisCampaign.

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Relief for Pain, Anxiety and Inflammation

by Marlaina Donato

R

The vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can esearch is improve quality of life helping doctors stems from the brain for individuals sufferconnect the to the abdomen like ing from numerous dots between seemingly a communication conditions. One type unrelated conditions superhighway between is a device that can be like irritable bowel implanted by a neurosyndrome, rheumatoid your gut and brain. surgeon, which sends arthritis, post-traumatic ~Hannah Aylward electrical impulses to stress disorder (PTSD), the vagus nerve in children that suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, revealing a common denominator: the seizures and adults with depression as a supplemental treatment when surgery or multitasking vagus nerve, the longest in the medications are not possible or effective. autonomic nervous system.

There is also a handheld, non-invasive

The superpower of this douVNS option called gammaCore, a U.S. Food ble-branched cranial nerve lies in transand Drug Administration-approved device porting major neurotransmitters along that offers hope for sufferers of cluster and what is known as the brain-gut axis. “The migraine headaches. Its effectiveness for vagus nerve stems from the brain to the chronic pain management, as well as in cases abdomen like a communication superhighway between your gut and brain,” of epilepsy and depression, was published in the Neuromodulation Journal in 2015. says Hannah Aylward, an Orlando-based

PTSD researcher Imanuel Lerman, certified holistic health coach and gut M.D., and his colleagues with the Veterhealth expert. “Studies show that the vagus nerve regulates inflammation throughout ans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, found that VNS affects areas of the brain the body.” responsible for processing emotional pain.

The findings, published in the journal Promising Research Recent studies have shown that vagus nerve PLOS ONE earlier this year, also show that

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healing ways

VNS delays the brain’s response to pain signals in individuals with PTSD.

Mental Health, Trauma and the Gut

When it comes to the vagus nerve, anxiety is physical. Post-traumatic stress is rooted in neurobiology and experienced in the body, not just the mind, says Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D., a Boulder, Colorado-based clinical psychologist and author of The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole. “This is why you can’t simply think or talk your way out of your trauma reactions.”

According to Schwartz, “Disruptions in the gut flora, which often occur with overuse of antibiotics, can have a significant impact on mental health. An imbalance in the gut can lead to an inflammatory response in the immune system and a wide range of disruptive symptoms.”

Aylward notes that 95 percent of the body’s mood-boosting chemical serotonin resides in the enteric nervous system, which governs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. “The brain-gut axis is becoming increasingly important as a therapeutic target for psychiatric and GI disorders,” she says.

Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and founding co-director of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, explains the trauma loop. “Developmental trauma impairs the integrative circuits of the brain and nervous system—the prefrontal cortex. When this happens, the brain will be hyperalert, interpreting some non-threatening situations as threatening.

“Learning to be aware of our internal state and learning calming techniques helps to regulate the autonomic nervous system and can go a long way,” says Siegel.

“High ventral vagal tone means having a state of calm.”

Vagus Power

Everyone can benefit from increased vagal tone, which goes hand-in-hand with engaging the parasympathetic nervous system for optimum equilibrium at the cellular level.

Acupuncture, chiropractic—with a focus on the cranial nerves—massage, meditation, singing, laughing loudly, chanting mantras, gentle yoga and exercise, positive social interactions, belly breathing and chanting all make the vagus nerve a happy camper.

These activities promote relaxation and help to decrease inflammation. “As a certified yoga instructor, I can attest to a wide range of natural vagus nerve stimulation techniques, especially using the breath,” says Schwartz. “Diaphragmatic breathing creates a gentle massage across your digestive organs, releases the diaphragm and stimulates nerve fibers within the lungs. Heart rate is reduced.”

Brief exposure to cold water or cold air improves vagal tone and is a good option when anxiety is high. Eating cold-water fish like wild salmon or other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, seaweed, hemp, flax or chia seeds provides vagal nourishment.

Marlaina Donato is the author of several books, including Multidimensional Aromatherapy.

Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.

Vagus-Nourishing Diet Tips Advice from gut health expert Hannah Aylward: 4 Eat plenty of vegetables, high-quality proteins, fiber and healthy fats.

4 A diet low in sugar and processed carbohydrates supports healthy vagus nerve function by maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.

4 Practice intermittent fasting, which stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (not recommended for people suffering from adrenal fatigue or high stress).

4 Take probiotics. Lactobacillus has been shown to increase GABA via stimulation of the vagus nerve. Bifidobacterium longum has demonstrated it can normalize anxiety-like behavior in mice by acting through the vagus nerve.

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natural pet

Beyond Antibiotics Pets Can Heal With Natural Approaches

L

by Karen Shaw Becker

ike people, pets can develop allergies to medications that are overprescribed, including antibiotics, which also have a long list of side effects—many of which are long-term. There is also the escalating problem of resistance, which is the result of too-frequent and unnecessary use of these drugs.

One of the most important things to know is that dogs and cats are exposed to antibiotics when they eat food containing the meat of factory-farmed animals, which includes about 99 percent of pet foods on the market today. The exception is a very small number that contain free-range, organic ingredients.

Antibiotic Resistance

In many cases, even when bacteria are exposed for the first time to a particular antibiotic, the majority will die, but some will survive and pass on that resistance to other bacteria. The problem is not that certain disease-causing bacteria are antibioticresistant, but that the resistance genes in any type of bacteria can transfer their ability to survive to billions of other bacteria.

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This is how superbugs are born.

These are a strain of bacteria able to withstand assault by multiple types of antibiotics. When a veterinarian can no longer eliminate bacterial infections with antibiotics, the life of the animal is threatened, and that’s the biggest concern.

If a veterinarian makes a diagnosis of infection, ask for a culture and sensitivity test. Otherwise, he or she is making a guess at what type of organism is present and the best antibiotic to treat it. Each time an unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic is prescribed, the potential for resistance increases. Only in an emergency situation should a veterinarian prescribe an antibiotic before the culture and sensitivity test can be performed. The vet can then switch medications if necessary when the results arrive.

Giving the proper dose of the antibiotic at the proper intervals and using up the entire prescription is important, even if the pet seems to be fully recovered before the medication has run out. This will ensure the infection is totally resolved and prevent the pet from having to take another full course of antibiotics because

the first one wasn’t fully administered and the infection wasn’t effectively cleared.

It’s important to reseed the pet’s gastrointestinal (GI) system with friendly microorganisms—probiotics—during and after antibiotic therapy to reestablish a healthy balance of gut bacteria. This will also help keep a dog or cat’s digestive system working optimally and the immune system strong.

Alternatives to Antibiotics

Many conditions for which antibiotics are often indiscriminately prescribed respond very well to a combination of natural therapies, including herbs, homeopathic remedies, nutraceuticals, immune system stimulants and specific nutritional interventions. Functional medicine veterinarians, a group that is thankfully growing in number, realize this and are able to partner with pet parents to offer alternatives to antibiotics.

A 2016 study showed cranberry extract to be as or more effective in preventing E. coli-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs as short-term antibiotic treatment. In addition, cranberry extract can help fight multidrug-resistant bacteria

in dogs with recurrent E. coli UTIs.

In a study of shelter dogs, researchers compared the use of probiotics to antibiotics to treat acute diarrhea caused by stress.

They concluded probiotic therapy was as effective as antibiotic therapy. In addition, dogs that were unresponsive to antibiotics appeared to benefit significantly from subsequent probiotic treatment.

Oregano oil, propolis, olive leaf, essential oils, colloidal silver and Manuka honey help reduce bacterial skin infections caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with good success.

If a dog or cat isn’t facing a life-threatening health situation, talk with the veterinarian about alternatives to antibiotics. In these situations, pet parents often find it beneficial to consult a functional medicine or integrative veterinarian whose goal is to treat these problems by starting with the least toxic options first.

Karen Shaw Becker is a proactive, integrative doctor of veterinary medicine who consults internationally and writes for Mercola Healthy Pets (HealthyPets.Mercola.com).

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wise words

Alice Robb on the

Transformative Power of Dreams

by Randy Kambic

W

e know degrees in both Arthat sleep chaeology and Anthropology, she resides in is good Brooklyn, New York. for mental and physical health, but whether dreams can play a role How did your is a fascinating topic. experience in When we journey Peru shape both into that state, science your dreams journalist Alice Robb and your study feels we can reap even of them? more benefits and make It was where it all got our waking lives more started for me and productive, healthier even though it was and happier. eight years ago, I still

Her recent book Knowing you are remember my first luWhy We Dream: The cid dream as if it was lying in bed, but also Transformative Power feeling, physically, that yesterday. If I hadn’t of Our Nightly Journey, you are in another place, had that experience which blossomed from of doing the exercises is very powerful. a trip to Peru, posits a to elicit lucid dreamnew way to look at our ~Alice Robb ing, I don’t know if I dreams including how would’ve written the to recall and even influence them, and how book—although I’ve always been fascinatdoing so benefits us when awake. Rich with ed by my regular dreams, which have been recent studies and evoking famous artists, vivid, and have often wondered what was thinkers and others over centuries, she going on in my brain to produce them— traces the intricate links between dreaming especially when I felt they were affecting and creativity, and offers tips on how we my moods or my daily life. can relish the intense adventure of lucid dreaming.

How is lucid dreaming different

Robb was a staff writer for The New than normal dreaming?

Republic and has also written for New York In lucid dreams, you are aware that you Magazine, The Atlantic, Elle, The Washare dreaming. A lot of people will be in ington Post, the BBC and British Vogue. A a nightmare; it’s really scary, and you say graduate of Oxford with Bachelor of Arts to yourself, “This can’t be real, this must

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be a dream,” and then maybe you can get yourself out of it. You can train yourself to prolong those lucid moments. Some people do it naturally while others can do different meditation exercises to learn to gain awareness within their dreams.

Before you start trying to have lucid dreams, it’s important to have very good recall of your regular dreams. We’re all dreaming every night, every time we have a REM cycle, about every 90 minutes that we are asleep, even if you don’t remember your dreams. It’s easier for most people to improve their dream recall. It’s as simple as saying to yourself before bed, “I want to remember my dreams tonight.” The more intention you have, the more you think about your dreams during the day, can be enough to trigger you to better remember your dreams. If you pay close attention to your environment, looking and examining it and asking yourself whether it’s real, you will then ask yourself the same question in a dream.

physically, that you are in another place, is very powerful.

habits will become ingrained and you’ll start to remember dreams.

What steps can we take to improve our ability to recall dreams?

Randy Kambic, of Estero, Florida, is a freelance editor and writer.

Keep a dream journal. It doesn’t have to be pen and paper; you can speak your dreams into your phone in the morning or in the middle of the night if you wake up… whatever you can do to train yourself to hold onto them because if you don’t remember them when you wake up, then they will fade pretty quickly.

As soon as I started keeping a dream journal, I was amazed at how many I was remembering. When getting started, make sure to write something every morning, even “I don’t remember anything.” The

How do you feel lucid dreaming can improve our overall well-being?

You can practice a speech you are worried about. If you are an athlete, you can mentally prepare. It can help with your mental health. You can use lucid dreams to confront your demons; you can summon someone that you want to have a conversation with and practice talking with them. They are awe-inspiring. Knowing you are lying in bed, but also feeling,

July 2019

35

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by July 10 (for August issue) and adhere to our guidelines.

To submit listings, email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Costs $20 for 35 words each month.

ALWAYS CALL AHEAD BEFORE ATTENDING EVENTS TO AVOID LATE CANCELLATIONS AND CHANGES

FRIDAY, JULY 5

Jubilee! Circle Coffee House and Open Mic–7pm.

Celebrate the best of American protest songs. Asking performers to bring at least one protest song, poem, story, spoken word piece or performance that celebrates our First Amendment right to freedom of speech and the freedom to gather peacefully to lobby for change in our country. Event is free, but donations are accepted for food, beer and wine.

Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia.

Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Backyard Saturdays–1-3pm. Slithers and Giggles: World Snake Day. Multiple nature activities, cool biofacts, and natural materials to touch. Appropriate for children ages 7 and under and their families.

Cost: $5 parking. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-772-1228, icrc.net.

SATURDAYS IN JULY: 6, 13, 20 & 27

Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.

TUESDAY, JULY 9

Sunset on the Shoals–5:30-8:30pm. Enjoy a paddle tour on the Saluda River and learn about the unique history of the area, followed by a wine tasting at the River Overlook. Take home a complimentary wine glass. Ages 21 and up. Cost: $37. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: Contact Bryan Senn at 803-213-2062 or BSenn@icrc.net.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10

Juicing 101–4pm. Learn how to juice properly for better health and weight loss. Free. Blythewood Farmers’ Market, 171 Langford Rd, Blythewood.

Info: Call Mona Patterson at 803-394-4421.

FRIDAY, JULY 12

A Course in Miracles–6:30pm. Facilitator Gina Gibson continues a series of monthly talks. Meditation and Q&A to follow. Free and open to the public; donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

FRIDAYS JULY 12 & 26

Discount Days at Rosewood–8am-8pm. 20% off

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Columbia Edition

purchase price; mention this listing. Deli sale items not included. Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia. Info: 803-765-1083, RosewoodMarket.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 13

Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Every 2nd Saturday. Minister Candace ChellewHodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

Women’s Self-Defense Workshop–1-3pm. Learn how to neutralize six common attacks, ranging from chokes to being pinned on the ground. No experience is required, but space is limited. Free.

Crooked Creek Park, 1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin. Info/vendor cost: 803-345-618, icrc.net.

10th Annual Tasty Tomato Festival–1-7pm. Fun for all ages. The festival will include live music, bouncy houses, face painting, local food from local vendors, and much more. Proceeds from the festival support Sustainable Midlands’ local community programs and promote local businesses. Free admission. Earlwood Park, 1113 Recreational Dr, Columbia. Info: TastyTomatoFestival.com.

SATURDAYS JULY 13 & 27

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition Sessions– 6:30-8:30pm. Training sessions on Body Detoxification and Elimination Diet. Learn how to do a whole-body detox successfully. Cost: $50 per person, per session. Preregistration is required.

Cocreate, 714 S Lake Dr, Ste 100, Lexington. Info/ register: 803-746-4588, WholeTruthHealth.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 14

Dance Church Sunday at Tapp’s–10:30am-noon.

Dance freely in a sacred space in the Skyline room.

Arrive a few minutes early to get settled in. Cost: Sliding scale, $10-$20. Tapp’s Arts Center, 1644 Main St, Columbia. Info: TappsArtsCenter.com, EcstaticDanceColumbia.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 19

An En"chanting" Evening–6:30-8:30pm. Join us for an evening of kirtan chants featuring a mix of prerecorded and live chants. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@ JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

SATURDAY, JULY 20

Prospering Power of Play–10am-1pm. Gina Gibson shows how fun/play can be productive and provide one with better health, better relationships and more financial abundance. Experience the soul shift a little permission to play invites. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

Summer Movie Series–8:45-10:45pm. Midlands area families can come out and enjoy How to Train Your Dragon–The Hidden World. Free to the public, and all ages are welcome. Melvin Park, 370 Eptings Camp Rd, Chapin. Info: 803-345-8113, icrc.net.

TUESDAY, JULY 23

Touch for Health Introduction–10am-3pm. Learn accurate muscle testing from Touch for Health Kinesiology with instructor Joy Lee Connor. This class contains a wealth of knowledge for your self-care or family care. Cost: $150 (instruction booklet included). 540 St Andrews Rd, Columbia.

Info/preregistration: Call Connor at 803-447-6499.

FRIDAY, JULY 26

Paddle and Pint–5:30-7:30pm. Paddle the Lower Saluda River, enjoy the views and meet new friends.

After an hour on the water, sample delicious craft beers at the River Overlook. Ages 21 and up. Cost: $37. Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Rd, Columbia. Info: Contact Lindsay Hudson at 803213-2062 or LHudson@icrc.net.

SATURDAY, JULY 27

Chapin Holistic Heritage Community Picnic–11am-4pm. A family event with kids’ games, bounce house, raffle and more. Local vendors and food. Free admission. Chapin Holistic Heritage, 211 E Boundary St, Chapin. Info: 803-941-7083.

planahead SATURDAY, AUGUST 10

Grand Opening Garner’s Natural Life–Lexington–9am-8pm. Join us for lots of free samples, and enter our raffle to win gift baskets. Company vendors will be here to answer all of your questions.

20% off all items all day long. Palmetto Harmony and doTERRA are excluded from the 20% discount.

Garner’s Natural Life, 5166 Sunset Blvd, Ste C, Lexington. Info: Call 803-973-3001.

inspiration

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Additional .50 per word over 35 words.

Please include billing contact information.

Deadline is the 10th of the month prior.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Love living a healthy lifestyle? Garner's Natural Life is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Garner's team. Please apply online at GarnersLexington.com.

FOR PROFESSIONALS

The Grace of Abundance Five Practices to Create a More Abundant Life

by Meriflor Toneatto

A

bundance means plenty—a flowing of love, vitality, wealth, joy, prosperity, success and more. GRACE is an acronym representing five practices that can magnify abundance in all areas of life, including finances.

G = Gratitude

There is tremendous power in being grateful, because what we focus on expands.

Gratitude opens our heart to receive and give blessings. This puts us in a space to have more things to be grateful for.

Practicing gratitude can be as simple as saying, “I am grateful for…” or “I am thankful for…” If we find ourselves in a negative state, practice gratitude even for as brief a period as 60 seconds. It will positively shift our emotion, thereby allowing us to be open to abundance.

R = Receiving

To graciously receive can be as simple as accepting a compliment. Another way to receive is by requesting our heart’s desire.

There is nothing wrong with wanting

more. The truth is that we can have more— as much as we are willing to receive.

A = Alignment

The key way to get into alignment for more abundance is to know our purpose, follow our passion and work on releasing internal fears and doubts.

When we are in alignment, everything flows. There is ease and doors open for us. People, money and resources will show up on our path to help us achieve our goals. Therefore, we must always be awake to our goodness and take inspired actions to manifest our desires into reality.

C = Commitment

Commit to gifting ourselves with an abundant mindset because our mindset is critical to our success. One way to quickly shift our mindset to the positive is to concentrate on our desire and ask ourselves, “What do I have to believe for this to be true?”

Our mind will creatively generate many possibilities that can get us excit-

Room Available for Holistic Practitioner – Call to schedule an appointment to see the space. Dawn of Your Wellness, 3357 Leaphart Rd, W Columbia.

Call 803-553-7010.

SPACE AVAILABLE Event/Workshop Space at Jubilee! Circle – 2,200 sq. ft. available for one-time events, study groups, classes or weekly meetings. Long-term rentals available for hosting ongoing events or classes. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/ tour space, contact Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge at 803-569-6385.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Columbia Resilience 501c3 provides three community work projects to support sustainability in the Midlands. The Community Orchard, First Time Bank of Columbia, and the Integrated Health Clinic.

Participate in evolving your neighborhood into the beautiful place you want to live in. Go to our website at ColumbiaResilience.org and our Facebook page to join one of the projects. Alternative therapy practitioners interested in volunteering for the Integrated Health Clinic fundraiser should contact Pam Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

ed, which then shifts how we think and feel to what is positive. As we do this, we will also create greater confidence in the knowledge that the universe is always working in our favor.

E = Expression

Express our passion by first doing what we love. Then find a way to use our passion, purpose and life to serve others.When we do this, our world, our financial abundance and our joy will expand exponentially.

Meriflor Toneatto is the author of Money, Manifestation & Miracles: A Guide to Transforming Women’s Relationships with Money. Connect at Meriflor.co.

July 2019

39

kudos The 2019 Conservation Teachers of the Year Award Winners Announced

Chapin High School science teacher Jessica Aldridge won the award for Lexington County. Aldridge taught her students about soil, forestry and water pollution.

Aldridge and her students also participated in several litter-reduction projects and hosted a sustainable fundraiser campaign that utilized reusable metal straws. The proceeds generated from the event were donated to the Sea Turtle Hospital in Charleston. In addition, some of her students competed in the S.C. Envirothon.

Richland County’s winner Jennifer Mancke teaches first through fifth grade at Harmony School. Mancke’s students practice sustainability as a normal part of their school routine each day. Mancke and her team reduce, reuse and recycle items, practice composting with the help of schoolyard chickens, tend indoor and outdoor plants, and monitor the health of a nearby creek.

Kudos to you … Jessica and Jennifer!

Green Ribbon Recognition Given to Midlands School Dutch Fork Elementary Academy of Environmental Sciences has been selected as a 2019 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School.

With only 35 schools across the country receiving this coveted award, this Midlands sustainable school is the first and only school in the state to receive this distinction.

Kudos to Dutch Fork Elementary Academy of Environmental Sciences!

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Columbia Edition

ongoingevents sunday Eckankar. The Sound of Soul Event and Discussion–10am. Free. Every 2nd Sunday. Eckankar reveals how every event in life is an opportunity for spiritual growth. 7 Oaks Park Rec Center, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia. Info: Call Steve Fischer at 803-318-1887, or visit Eck-SC.org or Meetup.com/ columbia-spiritual-seekers.

Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Every second Sunday. Spiritual Director Candace Chellew-Hodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice.

Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises.

Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

Grandmothers Speak–1-2:15pm. Every 2nd Sunday. Based on the book Our Love Is Our Power, by Sharon McEarlane, and the international organization at NetOfLight.org. Free. Chi Energy Balance, 3610 Landmark Dr, Columbia. Info/register: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

Yoga at Rosewood–2pm. Every Sunday. Provided

by Rooted in Wellbeing. Bring your own mat. Free.

Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Dr, Columbia.

Info: 803-765-1083, RosewoodMarket.com.

Yoga in Northeast–2:30-3:30pm and 4:30-5:30pm.

Every Sunday. Give a fresh start to your week with yoga on Sundays. Cost: $10, drop-in. All levels welcome. Converspace, 136-4 Forum Dr, Columbia.

Info: 803-807-2173, YogaWithMalai.com.

A Course in Miracles (ACIM)–3pm. Every Sunday.

Join with others to study the workbook lessons and text of ACIM. Free and open to the public; donations are accepted. Miracle House, 4610 Oxford Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@ JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

A Course in Miracles–Original Edition–4:30-6pm.

Every Sunday. We meet to share love, peace and “atone-ment.” We read together and discuss questions, insights and experiences at the home of Joy Lee Connor near Chapin. Donations are accepted. Call for directions or to schedule introductory sessions with Connor. Info: 803-447-6499.

monday Columbia Resilience Integrated Health–3:307:30pm. Every 4th Monday. Energy-balance modalities offered through trained practitioners for chronic stress and post-trauma relief. Suggested donation: $10/session. By appointment only; must preregister. St Mark United Methodist Church, 3200 Lyles St, Columbia. Info/appointment: Call Pamila Lorentz at 803-749-1576.

tuesday Chakra Energy Healing–5-6pm. Every Tuesday.

Identify physical and emotional imbalances. Herbs, essential oils, foods, breath exercises, and yoga poses to clear and balance. Cost: $15. Chapin Holistic Heritage, 211 E Boundary St, Chapin. Info: Call Alli Plyer at 704-252-7256.

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

Whole Truth Health and Nutrition Sessions–6:308:30pm. Every Tuesday. Training sessions on Body Detoxification and Elimination Diet. Learn how to do a whole-body detox successfully. Cost: $50 per person, per session. Preregistration is required.

Cocreate, 714 S Lake Dr, Ste 100, Lexington. Info/ register: 803-746-4588, WholeTruthHealth.org.

wednesday Yoga Lunch–1-1:45pm. Every Wednesday (no class on July 31). Enjoy relaxing, gentle yoga with energizing and brain-balancing integration movement. $10 per class or $35 per month. 540 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: Call Joy Lee Connor, yoga and Touch for Health instructor, at 803-447-6499.

thursday Introduction to Meditation–Every Thursday (am and pm available). Learn the benefits of meditation.

Cost: $25; preregistration is required. Carolina Healing Arts Institute, 540 St Andrews Rd, Ste 116, Columbia. Info/times: Call Chopra-certified instructor Joy Lee Connor, LMT, at 803-447-6499.

Senior Matinee Movie Series–2-5pm. Every 4th Thursday. Matinee movies are shown per an annual license agreement from the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation. Free to the first 75 registrants. Ages 50+. Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln, Columbia.

Info: 803-772-3336, icrc.net.

Yoga Gives Back–6-7pm. Every Thursday. Studies show that yoga is effective in relieving anxiety, reducing stress and increasing energy. The first class is free. To attend regularly, participants are asked to give a $5 donation, volunteer at least one hour of time at a determined scheduled event or give two to five canned goods to a specified food drive.

Mats and blankets are provided. North Springs Park, 1320 Clemson Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-414-2885.

friday Jubilee! Circle Coffee House and Open Mic–7pm.

Every 1st Friday. Featuring a headliner and open mic at 8pm. Bring your instrument, songs, poems, spoken word pieces, and other talent to the mic. A cash bar will be open for beer and wine. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@ JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

saturday Writing as a Spiritual Practice–10am-12:30pm.

Every 2nd Saturday. Minister Candace ChellewHodge, published author and songwriter, leads workshop to help participants use creative writing as a way to grow their spiritual practice. Bring pen and paper or laptop for writing exercises. Free, but donations are accepted. Jubilee! Circle, 2627 Millwood Ave, Columbia. Info/register: 803-569-6385, RevCandace@JubileeCircle.com, JubileeCircle.com.

Murraywood Health Foods 20% off Saturdays–10am-6pm. 20% off all grocery items, excluding local honey. Murraywood Shopping Center, 7001 St Andrews Rd, Columbia. Info: 803-732-3847.

naturaldirectory Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, call 803-233-3693 or email ColaPublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

ACUPUNCTURE THE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

William D. Skelton, DAc 620 Sims Ave, Columbia 803-256-1000 • SCAcupuncture.com

Bill Skelton is dedicated to helping people live happier, healthier, active lives with safe, gentle and effective techniques.

He has 38 years’ experience and trained in the Republic of China.

Call to schedule an appointment. See ad, page 6.

PALMETTO ACUPUNCTURE Noemi Martinez, LAc, BS, MSOM 1825 Sumter St, Columbia 803-806-8889 PalmettoAcupuncture.com

Acupuncturist Noemi Martinez has more than a decade of experience treating patients for various ailments, both acute and chronic, using Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments in the form of acupuncture, gua sha, cupping and herbal therapy. Noemi also is certified in facial rejuvenation and acupuncture injection therapy for various health ailments. See ad, page 8.

AROMATHERAPY GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15-A, Columbia Trenholm Plaza, in Forest Acres 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

Improve your level of stress, depression and mood with natural products from a locally owned family business. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you using aromatherapy for pain, anxiety, energy enhancement and more. We carry several brands of essential oils, including doTERRA. See ads, pages 3, 27, 33 and back page.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTER INC

Dr. Shelly Jones, DC 5209 Forest Dr, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-9990 • DrShellyJones.com

Webster Technique certified, Dr. Jones provides family chiropractic care, health information and wellness resources to support the body’s natural ability to heal, allowing one to feel better and enjoy living a more active lifestyle! Call to schedule your appointment or discuss bringing our onsite chiropractic care and health-education services to your business, school or athletic team.

CHIROPRACTIC DOWDY RUDOLPH CHIROPRACTIC LLC

Dr. Dowdy Rudolph, DC 1444 Barnwell St, Columbia 803-376-6293 • DowdyRudolphChiro.com

Dr. Gerald Rudolph, DC, focuses on finding the root cause of your problems and not just treating your pain. He utilizes digital X-rays to help diagnose problems, spinal adjustments to stimulate proper movement of spinal and extremity joints, active therapeutic movement exercises to correct movement disorders, and spinal decompression to help relieve numbness and tingling down your arms and legs. Dowdy Rudolph Chiropractic also offers a state-of-the-art full-body lounge hydromassage table that can help you feel more rejuvenated and relaxed. See ad, page 10.

FLEX CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Angela Larson Dr. Felicia Danio 1811 Bull St, Columbia 803-252-0108 • FlexChiros.com

With more than 22 years of experience in the chiropractic i n d u s t r y, o u r t e a m i s knowledgeable, experienced and courteous. Combining a passion for healing and alleviating pain with two decades of good oldfashioned know-how, we give you the customized chiropractic treatment you truly deserve. Our vast list of services includes: decompression; Pro Adjuster; pregnancy care; newborns, infants and toddler care; massage therapy; ultrasound; Kinesiology taping; and cold laser. Call today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Larson or Dr. Danio. Let our team help you achieve a happy, healthy life through chiropractic care!

COLLABORATIVE LAW LAW OFFICE OF SHANNON K. BURNETT

109 N Main St, Blythewood 803-786-1758 • ShannonBurnettlaw.com Shannon.skblaw@gmail.com

Shannon Burnett helps families through legal issues that normally tend to tear families apart. She works in a collaborative fashion with other trained professionals to minimize the damage done to your family; it is her goal for your family to achieve a successful outcome and healthy resolution.

COLON HEALTH SPRING RAIN HYDROTHERAPY

Linda Salyer 120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste H, Columbia 803-361-2620 • LSalyer@ymail.com

All disease begins in the colon.

Constipation; slow, sluggish bowel; gas and bloating? A colonic will help to rid you of these problems. Colonics promote good digestion, help speed metabolism, help lower cholesterol, and help relieve joint pain. Linda Salyer is IACN certified and a retired nurse. Saturday appointments available with an additional small convenience fee. See ad, page 27.

CRANIOSACRAL CHI ENERGY BALANCE

Pamila Lorentz, MSW, RN, LMBT 3610 Landmark Dr Forest Acres • 803-749-1576 ChiEnergyBalance.com

The innate wisdom and healing potential is within you to heal patterns of chronic stress and past trauma. Chi Energy Balance provides experienced guides to support you on your personal journey of health and freedom from pain and anxiety. Services include spiritual aromatherapy, CranioSacral Therapy, integrated massage, sound/vibrational frequencies, reiki and directional healing. Call today!

DENTISTRY FOREST DRIVE DENTAL CARE

Dr. Joanna Silver Dover, DMD 3731 Forest Dr, Columbia 803-782-8786 • ForestDriveDental.com

Dr. Dover provides comprehensive, and compassionate dental care. BPA- and Bis-GMA-free composites, BPA-free occlusal guards, natural periodontal therapy, fluoride-alternatives for tooth remineralization, and mercuryfilling removal following IAOMT standards using supplemental oxygen, special filters and amalgam separators to keep toxic metals out of our waterways.

See ad, page 7.

Gut health is the key to overall health.

-Kris Carr

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naturaldirectory DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS

HOLISTIC FOOT CARE

CHRISTINE M. STEEN Restoring Life Oils LLC doTERRA Essential Oils Gold Wellness Advocate 803-422-7068

SWEET FEET FOOT CARE

Christine M. Steen, doTERRA Silver Wellness Advocate, has embarked on a mission to help those seeking to live happier and healthier lives by using essential oils. Steen’s passion is to educate those that want to learn more about doTERRA oils and the quality and standard they represent. Call Steen today to learn more about doTERRA essential oils. See ad, page 35.

ECO-RICH SKIN CARE PRODUCTS JUST WANNA MELT LLC

Columbia’s foot care service with a holistic approach. Here at Sweet Feet Foot Care, we focus on Preventive Care, Effective Pedicure Treatments and Cleanliness. With advanced knowledge and skills, we help correct disorders of the feet and lower limbs with pedicure treatments and orthotics. Services are ideal for Diabetics, Seniors and Knee- and Back-Pain Issues. Call today to learn more about our services.

HOLISTIC HEALING Apothecary and Wellness Center 211 E Boundary St, Chapin

A green skin care company that creates high-quality, non-GMO, all-natural products that are gentle to the skin and safer for the environment. Our brands include ingredients such as organic oils, butters, flowers, herbs, botanicals, local grains, beeswax and honey. Find our products at such stores as Garner’s Natural Life, Four Oaks Farm, Wingard’s Nursery, Whole Foods and more. For a complete list of retail locations, visit our website.

HEALTH FOOD STORE MURRAYWOOD HEALTH FOODS

Richard Beale, Owner • 803-732-3847 7001 St. Andrews Rd, Irmo In Murraywood Shopping Centre Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Locally owned and proudly serving Irmo and the Midlands area for more than 25 years, Murraywood Health Foods is a health and specialty food store featuring the very best natural product brands, vitamins and minerals, herbs and homeopathic remedies. The store also carries natural and organic gluten-free foods and health and beauty products. Call today for more information or to schedule a special appointment. See ad, page 38.

HEALTH & WELLNESS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aqua-chi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hardto-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional

Columbia Edition

Mona Patterson/Master Pedicurist 9153 Two Notch Rd, Ste 11-C, Columbia 803-394-4421 • SweetFeetCare.com

CHAPIN HOLISTIC HERITAGE

Misty Rawls • 803-331-0063 Info@JustWannaMelt.com JustWannaMelt.com

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supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 19.

803-941-7083 • ChapinHolisticHeritage.com Our center focuses on holistic health and spiritual awareness. We provide a wide array of services, including chiropractic care offered

by Dr. Aleisha Taylor, Reiki sessions hosted by certified practitioners, herbalist consultations with Ashley Adams, tinctures, herbal medicines available for purchase and much more. Come see all of the different services the center has to offer for all of your health and wellness needs. See ad, page 11.

JOY LEE CONNOR, LMT (SC#1229)

Reiki Master Touch for Health Instructor and Consultant 540 St. Andrews Rd, Columbia 803-447-6499

Touch for Health (TFH) is a holistic approach to balancing the body’s muscles, energy system and your attitude using muscle testing and touch reflexes. A TFH balance treatment can help you recover from or prevent an injury and support any personal or health and wellness goals. Sessions with Joy are uplifting, life-shifting, transformative experiences for body, mind and spirit. If you are feeling STUCK in any way, call for the next available appointment or class session.

INTEGRATIVE & HOLISTIC MEDICINE EXPECT WELLNESS

Dr. Rachel Hall 130 Suber Rd, Columbia 803-796-1702 • DrRachelHall.com ExpectWellness@sc.rr.com Find us on Facebook for great health tips.

MidlandsHealthyLiving.com

Integrative/Holistic medicine consults for anyone wanting to

approach their health more naturally. Dr. Rachel Hall is board certified in both family medicine and integrative holistic medicine. Together we will focus on finding the root of the problem, not just treating symptoms. Call today for a consult if you are looking to achieve balance. In-house diagnostic labs and therapies. See ad, page 4.

INTUITIVE EDUCATION HEARTDANCE

Intuitive Training Carolyn Gregory 505-450-5671 VoicesOfTheHeart.org

C a r o l y n o ff e r s c l a s s e s i n meditation and healing and clairvoyant training. She is dedicated to helping others find their path, purpose and true inner voice. Call to inquire about readings, gatherings and meditation classes. Visit her website for more information about her background and experience.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. – Rumi. Call Carolyn today to schedule an appointment.

REAL ESTATE JOSH MINICO

eXp Realty 803-569-0633 OwnItColumbia.com LakeMurrayRes@gmail.com

I provide professional real estate services in Chapin, Irmo, Lexington, and the Greater Columbia and Lake Murray areas. It is very important for you to know that I take the opportunity to work with you very seriously. Given that opportunity, whether buying or selling your home, I can guarantee great results!

ROLFING ANNE MARIE COCKRELL

Certified Advanced Rolfer 1911 Barnwell St, Ste C, Columbia 803-771-6661 • RolfingColumbia.com

Feel better with structural integration, also known as Rolfing.

This holistic form of bodywork addresses the connective tissue in the body known as fascia. It improves posture and relieves pain naturally, allowing for freer movement and improved physical performance.

Anne Marie has been practicing bodywork professionally since 1991. Her services include Rolfing and CranioSacral Therapy. She works with people of all ages, and her office is wheelchair accessible. She is also a leader of Columbia Conscious Dance Tribe. See ad, page 11.

SPIRITUAL HAVE YOU HAD A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE?

Contact Steve 803-318-1887 • ECK-SC.org Meetup.com/Columbia-Spiritual-Seekers

eco tip

Eco-Friendly Outdoor Eating

Save Resources, Reduce Food Waste and More

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

Eckankar, the path of spiritual freedom, hosts free, spiritual discussions. All are welcome.

Topics include how the sound HU can give you a greater awareness of God’s love. We also offer spiritual wisdom on problem solving, the study of past lives, dreams and more.

Call ahead. Times and dates may vary.

THERMOGRAPHY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INC.

120 Kaminer Way Pkwy, Ste J, Columbia 803-798-8687 • AboutYourHealthSC.com

Our main focus is health education and health-enhancing services. One-on-one nutritional counseling, Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Reams pH testing, parasite programs, aquachi footbaths, far infrared sauna, weight-loss programs, and thermography. Hard-to-find natural, organic, whole food nutritional supplements, raw foods and natural household items. See ad, page 19.

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS GARNER’S NATURAL LIFE

4840 Forest Dr, Ste 15a, Columbia Trenholm Plaza 803-454-7700 • GarnersNaturalLife.com

At Garner’s Natural Life, we offer the purest, most innovative highquality natural products. With more than 130 collective years of wellness experience! Allows us to encourage your healthy choices. See ads, pages 3, 27, 33 and back page.

YOGA MALAI PRESSLEY

Yoga Instructor, RYT 200 Northeast Columbia 803-807-2173 YogaWithMalai.com

With an infectious passion, Malai provides thoughtful yoga classes in Northeast Columbia. Malai is certified RYT 200 through the Yoga Alliance. Her classes focus on letting go and releasing through breathing, asana and meditation.

Join Malai for an uplifting experience for mind, body and spirit. Visit her website for more information and class details.

Connect with us naturally!

Midsummer is prime time for outdoor family meals, barbecues and picnics.

Selecting the healthiest food, along with eco-friendly materials in preparing for the fun feasts, can fulfill a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle and conserve resources at the same time. n GreenAmerica.org recommends using organic cloth, reusable mesh or string produce bags when grocery shopping; use bamboo utensil sets and plastic straw alternatives made of stainless steel, food-grade silicone, bamboo or glass. n To keep uninvited flying pests like mosquitoes, flies and the like away from humans and food, apply natural repellents—many made of natural, essential oil; plant-based and foodgrade ingredients can be found at ChasingGreen.org. n According to WebMD.com, charcoal grilling of meat can expose us to two potentially cancer-causing compounds—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that form when fat from meat drips onto hot coals and are “deposited on food courtesy of flame-ups and rising smoke,” and heterocyclic amines that “are produced when red meat, poultry and fish meet high-

heat cooking.” Instead, consider using a closed-flame gas grill to reduce exposure to toxins and cook fresh and organic fruits and vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms. n Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warn against eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish due to high levels of mercury, and to consume no more than six ounces of albacore tuna per week for the same reason. Some studies point to avoiding farmed salmon due to potentially high amounts of PCBs. Bypass larger fish of the food chain; look for those that have earned the Marine Stewardship Council or Aquaculture Stewardship Council labels. n The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently estimated that between 30 to 40 percent of all food in the country is wasted. To improve this situation, use glass containers instead of plastic bags to store leftovers. Also consider sustainable food wraps like Bees Wrap (BeesWrap.com). Made from beeswax, organic cotton, jojoba oil and tree resin, they seal and conform to the shape of whatever food is being stored.

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