Natural Awakenings Philadelphia October 2017 by Natural Awakenings Philadelphia

E R F

HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

Transformative

TRA VEL Outer Adventures Inner Journeys

Northern Liberties

Neighborhood Spotlight

Ways to Connect a Community

October 2017 | Philadelphia, PA Edition natural | NAPhilly.com awakenings

October 2017

letterfrompublisher

s summer draws to a close and fall is ushered in,

we begin experiencing a seasonal transformation of leaves turning vibrant colors, pumpkins of all shapes

and sizes making their appearance and mums of various hues placed about as a subtle crispness settles in the air. We welcome fall! I absolutely love this time of year. Hands down, fashion ranks high on

Editor Martin Miron National Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Calendar Sara Peterson

my list of reasons for favoring the season. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a turtleneck every now and then? I guess the beauty of it all just surrounds my entire being. Long brisk walks, great outdoor festivals and drives through the countryside are surely food for my soul.

Design & Production Stephen Blancett C. Michele Rose Sales & Marketing Kimberly Murray Multi-Market Advertising Pat McGroder: 704-657-3886 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377

In my momentary state of euphoria, I would be remiss not to mention those af-

fected by the hurricanes. Our thoughts are certainly with you. In light of the devastation, it is definitely worth mentioning that our planet (which includes all life forms) is so very delicate, and each of us have a responsibility to treat it with care. Hopefully, the disaster has given each one of us time to reflect on what’s important in life.

We’re excited to announce that Natural Awakenings got a “facelift” for Octo-

ber, starting with this month’s cover. Our logo may have been artistically altered, but our mission lives on.

This month, we shine a spotlight on Northern Liberties, a neighborhood full of

interesting people, places and eateries. As we travel throughout Philly and see the Natural Awakenings – Philly 1515 Market St., Ste. 1200-533 Philadelphia, PA 19102 Phone: 215-902-9137 Fax: 215-402-3423

excitement in the community, we want to share the richness of this diversity with

Publisher@NAPhilly.com NAPhilly.com

ticularly from learning about new places nearby. I have my own list of the top five

©2017 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

our readers.

We hope you are inspired by our travel theme. I know I certainly am, par-

places I want to visit. We all need to take time out and get away from our routines, and traveling is good for the mind, body and soul. What are your top five local travel destinations?

Kimberly Murray, Publisher

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NAPhilly.com. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~Maya Angelou

natural awakenings

October 2017

contents

5 9 10 11 11 12

newsbriefs eventspotlight healthbriefs ecobrief ecoalert neighborhood spotlight

13 consciouseating 20 community spotlight

11 19

22 24 26 30 31

greenliving wisewords resourceguide classifieds

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 215-902-9137 or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Publisher@NAPhilly.com or visit NAPhilly.com for more information. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 704-657-3886. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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12 WELCOME TO

PHILADELPHIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Northern Liberties by Martin Miron

13 FERMENTED

FOODS REVIVAL

Rediscover ProbioticRich Foods

by Judith Fertig

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advertising & submissions

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

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16 TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL

Outer Adventures, Inner Journeys

by April Thompson

22 22 CREATING

COMMUNITY

15 Ways to Craft a Circle of Caring by Linda Buzzell

24 NATURE

PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT LLEWELLYN ON Moving from Looking to Seeing by April Thompson

newsbriefs Center City Gets New MOM’s Store

OM’s Organic Market-Center City, is now open at 34 South 11th Street, in Philadelphia. With 18 stores and 1,000 employees, MOM’s celebrated its 30th anniversary on July 2. MOM’s offers the highest-quality organic produce and remarkable customer service. MOM’s Purpose is to protect and restore the environment and they walk the talk; they’ve been 100 percent renewable energy-powered since 2005. Their environmentally conscious effort extend to solar and wind power, banning plastic and providing free charging stations for electric vehicles at their stores. The new store includes Naked Lunch, an all organic, vegetarian eatery; sustainable insect proteins; a Backyard Beekeeping section with all the tools needed to sustain these crucial pollinators at home; Only sustainable seafood; limitedbatch seasonal beers and a huge selection of bottled beers; GOTS-certified organic and sustainable clothing; a liquid bulk section including oil, vinegar and honey; plus bulk household cleaners, detergents and hand soaps. For more information, call 215-709-0022 or visit MomsOrganicMarket.com.

Pick Up Some Good Vibes

atalie Bliss, owner of Stress Management Consulting, will be hosting a Good Vibrations Holistic Open House from 1 to 4 p.m., October 21, at the Fellowship Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration. She says, “Relax over tea and light refreshments while practitioners demonstrate and discuss reiki, reflexology, crystal therapy, chiropractic medicine, sound therapy and more.” Location: Stenton Ave. and Gorgas Lane, Philadelphia For more information, call 267-251-6052 or visit ReikiSoundBliss.com/goodvibrations-open-house. See ad, page 9.

A Unique Approach to Pain Relief

ilda Smith, owner of Relax Therapy Spa, formerly Exhale Philadelphia, is a licensed massage therapist with 17 years of experience and yoga instructor who has studied multiple modalities to become an expert in of massage therapy and positional release therapy, an amazingly effective treatment, under three leading practitioners in the field. She addresses her result-driven approach through massage and yoga therapy and offers a twoGilda Smith hour treatment of yoga, massage and meditation combined. Smith has also studied scar therapy with the only White House massage therapist, Dr. Antione Chevalier. She uses a remarkable device called the dolphin to help clients in profound ways, completely reducing pain. She believes in complete healing, from the connective tissue to the muscle; muscle to the bones; bones to neurological pathways and energy flow; autonomic system and back to the intellectual connective tissue, helping the client to be holistically parasympathetic. Location: 7151 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. For appointments, call 866-7763034. For more information, visit RelaxTherapySpa.com. natural awakenings

October 2017

newsbriefs New Rittenhouse Square Location for Holistic Skin Care

u You Skin Care will hold a grand opening celebration its third location from noon to 4 p.m., October 7, at Nu You Well Med in Rittenhouse Square at 1601 Walnut Street, Suite 1523, with specials, treatments and giveaways. Nu You Well Med owner Gerry Christopher, LE, COE, says the new location will offer holistic skin care/waxing and wellness. He says, “Our mission is for your skin to be truly healthy and beautiful. If your skin is healthy, then your true beauty can show!” For appointments, call 215-847-5659. For more information, visit NuYouSkinCare.com. See ad, page 21.

Dining Out for the Environment

he Clean Air Council (CAC), Philadelphia’s oldest environmental nonprofit, has organized an all-day event October 12 at sustainable, environmentally friendly at restaurants, including Bar Hygge, Earth + Bread Brewery and Revolution Taco, throughout the Delaware Valley They will celebrate their commitment to a healthy planet by donating a portion of their sales to the CAC. Executive director Joe Minott says, “Passive Activism! Help make the world a better place by treating yourself or your loved ones to dinner! Just don’t forget to thank the restaurants!” For a full list of participating establishments, visit CleanAir. org/dineoutfortheenvironment. To sign a restaurant up for Dine Out for the Environment, email Kalloway@cleanair. org. For questions and partnering opportunities, email mbradwell@cleanair.org. See ad, page 7.

Winter Harvest Provides Healthy Food in the Coldest Season

arm to City is a food-buying club serving the Philadelphia area. With Winter Harvest, people can select from hundreds of items to prepare home-cooked meals, including winter and greenhouse vegetables, fresh and frozen fruit, meat, poultry and eggs, fish from the New Jersey docks, baked goods and many other items at the online store. All vegetables are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. All meat, poultry and eggs are from grass-fed or pastured animals. Prepared foods are made with the same high-quality ingredients. Join in October to place order; the first delivery of the season is November 2 to 15 locations in Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. With the slogan of “Real Farmers, Real Food”, Farm to City has been uniting families, communities and farmers yearround through good local food since 2001. Food from Winter Harvest is nutritious, tasty, freshly harvested or prepared; sustainably produced with short delivery distances; supports small, family-owned farms and businesses committed to producing good food; and strengthens the regional economy. Location: 1315 Walnut St., Ste. 1526, Philadelphia. For more information and to join, call 215-733-9599 or register at FarmToCity.org. See ad, page 20.

Celebrate Natural Hair Care

he 23rd annual International Locks Conference Natural Hair, Wholistic Health and Beauty Expo, sponsored by the Kuumba Family Institute, Inc., will take place from noon to 9:30 p.m., October 7 and 8 at the Universal Audenried Charter High School. This celebration of culture, natural hair, good natural health and family offers a healthy and productive educational, spiritually uplifting and networking experience. Admission is $10 donation at the door; children 12 and under are free. Location: 3301 Tasker, St., South Philadelphia. For more information, call 215-438-8189. For the full conference schedule, visit LocksConference.com. See ad, page 11.

News to share? Email details to: Publisher@NAPhilly.com Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

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October 2017

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eventspolight Find Deeper Connections at Empowered Light Holistic Expo

he Empowered Light Holistic Expo will be held from from 5 to 9 p.m., October 27, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 28 and 29, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, with a focus on holistic lifestyles, spiritual classes and personal development. “Most people feel stressed and distracted, and are looking for more connection and answers,” says founder Sue Greenwald. “They need healthier ways to handle the increasing stress they’re facing. The Expo offers connection with new friends, new ideas and most of all, a community where people feel supported in a fun way.” Empowered Light seeks to engage attendees through experiential classes such as yoga, meditation and sound healing, or mini-treatments of reiki and massage. Attendees can choose from more than 50 workshops and lectures, all designed with the goal of enlightenment and empowerment, as well as encouraging participation. Most workshops and lectures are included with general admission tickets, with advance sale discounted tickets for the featured speakers. Featured speakers include Gaia TV host and intuitive Corey Goode and author John Van Auken, director of the Edgar Cayce Foundation. Professor Semir “Dr. Sam” Osmanagich, who discovered the Bosnian pyramids, will make a presentation, as will Ataana, an author and energy healer from Nashville.

Other scheduled participants include psychic mediums, published authors and experts on a variety of health-related and spiritual development topics, including developing intuition. Guests will be able to linger and shop in-between workshops and talks with more than 150 holistic vendors. “Our vendor halls will host a variety of natural products, holistic merchandise like crystals, clothing or locally made jewelry,” explains Greenwald. “They can also try healing treatments, and many people come for psychic and intuitive readings to help guide them. Everyone will have an opportunity to get what they need out of the Expo—connection, information, contacts, new experiences—it’s different for everyone. The Expo is a fun and healing environment where the community can explore and connect.” In keeping with its mission to promote healthy living in a healthy planet and engage with the community, Natural Awakenings Philadelphia is one of this year’s media sponsors. General admission tickets are $7.50 to $27; free parking. Location: 100 Station Ave., in Oaks. For more information, call 484-459-3082, email EmpoweredLightExpo@gmail.com or visit EmpoweredLight.com. See ad, back cover.

natural awakenings

October 2017

healthbriefs

Music Soothes Pain after Surgery

Tyler Olson/Shutterstock.com

esearchers from the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, in New York City, studied the impact of music therapy on 60 patients that had undergone spinal fusion surgery. Half received a 30-minute music therapy session, along with standard postoperative care, within 72 hours of surgery. The other half received only standard care. The scientists used the visual analog scale to measure pain before and after music therapy in both groups concurrently. The patients receiving music therapy experienced average pain level reductions from 6.2 to 5.09, while the control group averaged slight increases in pain, from 5.2 to 5.87. “The degree of change in the music group is notable for having been achieved by non-pharmacologic means, with little chance of adverse effects,” explains Center Director and study co-author Joanne Loewy. “Pain is subjective and personal, and warrants an individualized approach to care. Certified, licensed music therapists can tailor treatment to each patient’s musical preferences and address their pain level.”

Valentyn Volkov /Shutterstock.com

Resveratrol May Help Eye Health

esveratrol is a natural substance found in grapes, peanuts, blueberries and other foods that’s known for its heart-protective nature. Researchers believe it may also help promote eye health, including prevention of glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, but not much is known about its presence in the eyes. Scientists from Tongji Medical College, in China, set out to measure the concentration of trans-resveratrol in the eyes after oral supplementation. Three daily doses of Longevinex, an oral trans-resveratrolbased capsule supplement, was administered to 35 adults prior to eye surgery on one of their eyes, and tissue samples of the conjunctiva, aqueous humor and vitreous humor were taken. Researchers measured the tissues for resveratrol concentration to determine how much of the supplement penetrated the eyes. Resveratrol metabolites were detected in the conjunctiva of 25 of the eyes, indicating that the beneficial substance does pass through the brain.

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ecobrief

ecoalert Let it Flow in Area Parks

People Power Prospers in Philly

hiladelphia has been ranked as America’s fifth-most walkable city by Walk Score, a website owned by Redfin, which gave the city a ranking of 79.0, falling just behind Miami’s score of 79.2. The top three cities were New York, San Francisco and Boston. For many city dwellers across the country, owning and using a car as their primary mode of transportation is impractical. Only 64 percent of millennials living in Center City have access to a car, according to PlanPhilly.com. As SEPTA increases its fares, many Philadelphians find themselves relying on their own two feet to get them around town. To calculate a city’s Walk Score, hundreds of walking routes from individual addresses to nearby amenities are analyzed. Any amenity that can be reached via a five-minute walk or less is given maximum points. Pedestrian friendliness is also considered, with researchers analyzing population density and other metrics such as block length and intersection density. Philadelphia also came in fifth in Transit Score, which analyzes how well the city is served by public transportation, and ranked number 10 in Bike Score, which measures how good a given area is for getting around by bicycle.

hiladelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Get Healthy Philly initiative are working together to “hydrate philly” by installing several hydration stations at playgrounds and recreation centers throughout the city. The purpose of the project is to increase water access in PPR facilities. Philadelphia was chosen as a pilot for the Hydration Station Project. This work is part of a research project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to see how improving water access and appeal influences consumption. Each center that receives a station will be matched with a similar center that operates as a “control” site. The stations’ flow meters will track water consumption to determine its overall use. For locations of pending (fall/winter) Hydration Station pilot sites, visit Tinyurl.com /HydrationStationLocations.

For more information, visit WalkScore.com. natural awakenings

October 2017

neighborhoodspotlight

Welcome to Philadelphia—

Northern Liberties by Martin Miron

The greater Philadelphia area has been an important meeting ground in our country’s history since the days of the Liberty Bell, and is no less so today. Teeming with diversity and multicultural heritage from downtown to the suburbs, there are many neighborhoods, many points of view and many lessons to be shared among us all. We hope that our series of spotlights featuring events and personalities in all corners of our great metropolis will encourage residents to think outside the box and stray from their commute to explore their own city with a new perspective.

ombine diverse cultures, environmentally friendly construction and a restaurant scene that would satisfy the palate of any health enthusiast and that sounds like a perfect description of Northern Liberties. Situated within the borders of Girard Avenue, Callowhill Street, the Delaware River and Sixth Street, this innovative, green neighborhood has become a popular spot for Philadelphia residents and visitors alike. And what we really dig about this hip scene is how it showcases healthy living and environmental awareness.

Liberty Lands Fence Project It seems like as if Northern Liberties residents are always seeking to improve 12

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their neighborhood. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and Pennsylvania Horticultural Society recently granted the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association (NLNA) funding to improve Liberty Lands Park. They plan to replace the existing garden fence in the park with a new, stronger one. However, they don’t want to just throw up any old fence. In true Northern Liberties style, this will become an art project, especially for those that work in metal. The NLNA wants to have a new fence comprised of 10 different metal panels that are both artistic and functional. Those that are simply Liberty Lands Park lovers can help choose which panels will be

Situated within the borders of Girard Avenue, Callowhill Street, the Delaware River and Sixth Street, this innovative, green neighborhood has become a popular spot for Philadelphia residents and visitors alike. used for the new fence. The deadline for proposals is October 10, and the project will be completed by Spring 2019.

Northern Liberties Restaurant Scene One of our favorite features of this awesome Philly neighborhood is the choice in restaurants that provide healthier menus. Here are some of our top picks.

Bimini Juice and Salad Bar For those into the juicing scene, this is definitely the place. Bimini Juice and Salad Bar offers juices, smoothies, salads and wraps, all made fresh to order.

Front Street Café Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Front Street Café is a neighborhood favorite. With a vegan-friendly menu, this restaurant also has dairy and meat options. However, it’s a little opposite than the norm: if they don’t specify that a menu item contains animal product, it’s automatically vegan.

Talula’s Garden Upscale dining meets farm-to-table cuisine Talula’s Garden. With diverse seasonal menu options, this unique restaurant serves a dish for everyone’s dietary preferences, with a healthier spin. Northern Liberties is a fantastic Philly neighborhood that has plenty to do and see, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Be sure to stop by “NoLibs” during a future outing.

Fermented foods are meant to be eaten as condiments, not consumed in large quantities. Overdoing such intake might cause bloating, cramping and other digestion problems.

casanisa/Shutterstock.com

consciouseating

Fermented Foods Revival Rediscover Probiotic-Rich Foods by Judith Fertig

Colorful jars of fermented Korean kimchee, Indian chutney, German sauerkraut and bottles of kombucha line many grocery store shelves today. We’re in the midst of a fermented food revival.

Grassroots Groundswell

“I grew up in New York City as the grandson of immigrants from Belarus, and sauerkraut and pickles were common foods I always loved, but neither my grandparents nor anyone else I knew made them,” says Sandor Katz. This Woodbury, Tennessee, writer who travels the world giving related workshops is credited with bringing fermented foods back into the limelight. He explains, “I am self-taught and learned to ferment by experimentation. It was that first successful batch of sauerkraut that sparked my obsession. I also love eating cheese, beer, chocolate, coffee, yogurt and many other products of fermentation.” Kirsten and Christopher Shockey, the authors of Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64

Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes, homestead in Oregon’s Jackson Valley. “A fateful Christmas gift—a ceramic crock full of bubbling, fermenting cabbage under the tree, funky fermenty smell and all,” first piqued their interest, Kirsten recalls. “Eventually, we started our own small farmstead fermentation company.” Christopher explains that the combination of salt and shredded or chopped vegetables can launch the production of probiotic lactic acid bacteria that preserves the food and drives off “bad bacteria”. Jennifer McGruther, who lives in the Pacific Northwest, is the author of The Nourished Kitchen cookbook, an offshoot of her blog of the same name. Her first batch of fermented food was yogurt. Now she visits her local farm-

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic, non-GMO (genetically modified) and non-bromated ingredients whenever possible.

ers’ market every Saturday before spending Sunday prepping foods for the rest of the week. “Traditional foods like fermented vegetables, yogurt or kombucha don’t take long to prepare; they take time to culture, but it’s so rewarding,” she says.

How Much Is Enough?

Fermented foods offer a variety of positive effects on health. “If you’re consuming a diet rich in fermented foods, you’re essentially bathing your GI tract in healthy, food-related organisms,” says food research scientist Robert Hutkins, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Fermented foods with live probiotics can also improve brain function, according to a study in the journal Gastroenterology. Fermented foods are meant to be eaten as condiments, not consumed in large quantities. Overdoing such intake might cause bloating, cramping and other digestion problems. Dr. Leonard Smith, a gastrointestinal and vascular surgeon and medical advisor for the University of Miami Department of Integrative Medicine, recommends “a half-cup of cultured vegetables or two ounces of your favorite probiotic liquid per day to start.” He says it’s possible to eventually work up to having a serving of cultured vegetables and probiotic liquids at every meal, or possibly as a between-meal snack. Christopher Shockey adds, “We don’t see these foods as a ‘medicine’ to be eaten daily because you have to force yourself; instead, we see it as a fun, delicious, easy, healthful addition to mealtime.” Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

natural awakenings

October 2017

A Few Fermented Recipes to Start by Judith Fertig

“

ermented foods are well known for building gut health. Now a growing body of research shows that they improve immunity, brain and heart functions,” says Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D. The board-certified doctor of natural medicine, certified herbalist and author blogs from Vancouver, Canada. Get started with these simple, plantbased recipes from her latest book, The Cultured Cook: Delicious Fermented Foods with Probiotics to Knock Out Inflammation, Boost Gut Health, Lose Weight & Extend Your Life.

Salvadoran Salsa Yields: about 1 quart This gingery and spicy salsa, also known as curtido, is a traditional Salvadoran food. The twist here is added turmeric and green apple. Serve on its own, as a condiment with chips, on sausages or over salad. Maybe mix a couple of heaping spoonfuls with freshly mashed avocado for a fresh take on guacamole. /2 green cabbage 1 to 2 carrots 1 green apple, cored and quartered One 2-inch piece fresh ginger 1 /2 cayenne chili 1 /2 small purple or red onion One 2-inch piece fresh turmeric 3 Tbsp unrefined fine or 6 Tbsp unrefined coarse sea salt 1 quart (or liter) filtered water 1

Use a food processor with a coarse grating blade to shred the cabbage, carrots, apple, ginger, chili, onion and turmeric. (Consider wearing food-safe gloves to avoid touching the chili.) Transfer to a crock or a large glass or ceramic bowl, and mix well. In a pitcher or large measuring cup, dissolve the salt in the water, stirring if necessary to dissolve the salt. Pour the saltwater over the salsa mixture until all ingredients are submerged, leaving a couple of inches at the top for expansion. Place a snug-fitting plate inside the crock or bowl over the salsa-water mixture; then weigh it down with food-safe weights or a bowl or jar of water, so the vegetables remain submerged under the brine as they ferment. Cover with a lid or a cloth, and allow it to ferment five to seven days, checking periodically to ensure the salsa is still submerged below the water line. If any mold forms on the surface, simply scoop it out. It won’t spoil the salsa unless it gets deeper inside the crock. (It may form where the mixture meets the air, but it rarely forms deeper.) After one week, put the salsa in jars or a bowl, cover and place in the fridge, where it usually lasts up to a year.

Vegan Kefir Yields: about 1 quart Traditional kefir is made with cow’s milk, but can be made with plantbased milks like cashew, almond, sunflower seed or coconut. The sweetener feeds the kefir microbes, leaving minimal sugar in the end product. The grains will grow over time; only about one tablespoon of kefir grains is needed to keep the kefir going; remove

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the extras to eat, give to friends or add to compost. 1 quart (or liter) filtered water 1 /2 cup raw, unsalted cashews 1 tsp coconut sugar, pure maple syrup or agave nectar 1 Tbsp kefir grains (a natural starter, available at health food stores and online) Mandarin sections for garnish (optional) Use a blender to blend the water, cashews and coconut sugar (or maple syrup or agave nectar) until it’s smooth and creamy. Pour the cashew milk into a 1½- to 2-quart glass jar, making sure it is less than two-thirds full. Add the kefir grains, stir and then place the cap on the jar. Leave the jar at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours, gently shaking it periodically. The cashew milk will become somewhat bubbly, then will begin to coagulate and separate; shake it to remix the kefir or scoop out the thicker curds and use them like soft cheese or sour cream. Refrigerate up to one week. When ready to serve, pour the kefir into a glass and garnish the rim with mandarin orange sections, if desired.

Fermented Chopped Salad Yields: about 6 cups Unlike other salads, this version stores for many months in the fridge. Serve

on its own or toss it in vinaigrette and serve over brown rice for a quick and nutritious rice bowl dinner. 1 radish, finely chopped 1 /2 small onion, finely chopped 1 turnip, chopped into 1/2-inch chunks 1 carrot, chopped into 1/2-inch chunks 3 small apples, chopped into 1 /2-inch chunks Handful of green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths 1 rutabaga, chopped into 1 /2-inch chunks 1 to 2 grape leaves, kale leaves or other large leafy greens (optional) 3 Tbsp unrefined fine or 6 Tbsp unrefined coarse sea salt 1 quart (or liter) filtered water In a medium bowl, mix the radish, onion, turnip, carrot, apples, green beans and rutabaga; then transfer to a small crock. Place the grape leaves or other leafy greens on top of the chopped ingredients to help hold them under the brine; then weigh the mix down with foodsafe weights or a jar or bowl of water. In a pitcher or large measuring cup, dissolve the salt in the water, stirring if necessary to dissolve the salt. Pour the brine over the salad, cover with a lid or cloth, and let ferment for one week. Remove the covering, weights and grape leaves or other leafy greens. Dish out into jars or a bowl, cover and refrigerate, where the salad should last six to 12 months. Recipes and photos are courtesy of Michelle Schoffro Cook and New World Library; visit DrMichelleCook.com.

Regional Probiotic Delights by Casey Singelton

ietary recommendations are often hotly contested, from the proclamations of low-fat adherents to the against-thegrain assertions of paleo enthusiasts. But one thing is steadfastly prescribed throughout dietary circles—the importance of probiotic-rich foods in maintaining optimal health. Fermented foods, teeming with probiotic cultures, remain an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Many are already familiar with probiotics, the microorganisms that inhabit our gastrointestinal tracts in vast colonies popularly known as gut flora. In addition to ensuring optimal balance within our digestive systems, these probiotic cultures are capable of marvelous feats, from warding off common colds to improving overall immune system function. Scientific studies have even demonstrated that probiotics play an important role in maintaining body weight and composition. Without our cultured compatriots, we’re far more susceptible to many of the daily discomforts and ailments that continue to affect a growing number of the American population. Fortunately for us, probiotics can be found in an ever-increasing variety of commonly available foods. The number of probiotic-rich products is rapidly increasing throughout grocery stores, and there’s no better place to become acquainted with these foods than at the local natural foods market. Essene Market and Café, a decades-old institution in Philadelphia’s Queen Village neighborhood, features a wide selection of foods containing probiotic cultures. From kimchi to kefir, Essene has everything needed to get started in transforming your gut flora. Essene recommends the following fermented fundamentals.

Cobblestone Krautery Sauerkraut Locally made sauerkraut from Philadelphia. Stoop-sitters might enjoy the Kensington Kraut. For the porch-dwelling crowd, be sure to try to the West Philly kraut. Real Pickles Cooperative Kimchi Kimchi, a Korean side dish made from fermented vegetables, is a great choice for those of us that like it spicy. Real Pickles makes organic kimchi with produce from Massachusetts family farms. Inspired Brews Kombucha Once a health food store obscurity, this fermented beverage is rising to prominence nationwide. Inspired Brews, located in Philly’s Old City, has re-engineered the familiar kombucha into a delectable local libation. Wholesome Dairy Farms Kefir Kefir is a tantalizingly tangy beverage that is highly regarded for its probiotic content. Wholesome Kefir is made from the milk of grass-fed, free-range cows in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. South River Miso This savory seasoning, popular in Japan, can be used in many culinary creations. South River is a family company from Massachusetts that has been handcrafting miso since 1979. Rhapsody Natural Foods Tempeh Popular as a meat substitute, tempeh is a fibrous food made from fermented soybeans. Rhapsody is a family operated business from Cabot, Vermont. Essene Market and Café is located at 719 S. 4th St., Philadelphia. See ad, page 10.

natural awakenings

October 2017

TRANSFORMATIVE

TRAVEL Outer Adventures, Inner Journeys by April Thompson

An open-hearted journey can take unexpected paths. More travelers today are searching for deep and lasting changes in their view of themselves and the world.

Declare Your Intentions

Cousineau suggests that travelers prepare to open their thinking by reading about the history, culture and geography of a place, and then continue to learn en route by talking to locals for insight rather than relying only on a guidebook. “Make yourself vulnerable. Ask questions and be humble. Talk to your waiter or cab driver about their lives and conditions in their country. Those that become most delighted and transformed by their experiences are the most curious,” observes Cousineau. Anna Pollock, of London, England, founder of Conscious Travel and a sustainable travel expert, elaborates on potential results. “Travelers may see the world and their part in it differently or feel greater clarity, peace, freedom or hope. For some, it’s about insights into their personal purpose. Others may return with a deeper sense of connectedness or feeling of mastery that comes from trying something completely new.” Jake Haupert, of Seattle, owner of Evergreen Escapes International, co-founded the Transformational Travel Council to help people embark on such life-altering journeys, and translate “Aha!” moments on the road into meaningful changes back home. He has witnessed individuals undergo radical shifts from changing careers to becoming parents. One couple was so moved by their experiences on an African safari that they adopted their first child from Kenya.

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Attention and intention are the main ingredients for transformative travel for Phil Cousineau, acclaimed author of The Art of Pilgrimage. “Ask yourself what is motivating the journey: Are you going just to check something off your bucket list because you read about it or are you going because your grandma told you how magical her visit there was in the 1920s? Are you going because you’re at a crossroads in your life, marriage or work?” queries Cousineau. Naming your intention helps open up the heart and psyche for transformation. Cousineau recommends sharing our choice beforehand with a friend or even a casual acquaintance. Writing it down can also unpack those yearnings and understand the pull to a place.

Part of the intention setting is clarifying what we hope to accomplish through making a journey, suggests Nathaniel Boyle, creator of The Travelers podcast and the travel platform Holocene that facilitates community among transformation-seeking travelers. It might be climbing a mountain with our spouse to strengthen a marriage, or taking a cooking class in Italy or a basket weaving workshop in Indonesia to rekindle a sense of fresh input and creative expression.

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times, and some travelers feel unhappy, unprepared, bored or disappointed,” remarks Cousineau. “But the flip side is that travels can stretch us, just like a medieval rack.” If you have stretch goals, you can build them into an itinerary, advises Haupert, whether it’s getting up the courage to skydive or negotiating a purchase in a foreign street market.

Do Less, Experience More If we truly want to know the secret of soulful traveling, we need to believe there is something sacred waiting to be discovered in virtually every journey. ~Phil Cousineau

Move Beyond Comfort

“Travel can serve as a vehicle for expansive personal growth. Through it, we learn to explore the world and ourselves,” Boyle observes. “When you venture outside the controlled environment of prepackaged trips for tourists to face difficult decisions and confusing and chaotic situations that require problem solving, that’s where real change can occur,” says Haupert. “My 12,000-mile journey from Washington, D.C., to Antarctica was transformative in so many ways,” says journalist Andrew Evans, author of The Black Penguin memoir. “I’m a geographer by training and spent four years studying maps, but I never understood the true size of the world until I traveled across it on a Greyhound bus. I now see the world as much smaller and much more accessible. The trip made me a stronger, more confident person, and less afraid of what other people think of me; it also made me want to keep traveling.” “Travel comes from the word travail, to labor, and trip from tripalium, Latin for a medieval torture rack. Metaphorically, travel can feel like torture at

To heighten experiential awareness while traveling, build fewer to-dos into an itinerary, the experts recommend. “Immerse yourself in a place. Leave time for unplanned explorations, rather than bouncing between destinations without space for spontaneity and restful reflection,” says Haupert. “Also build in time for meditation, yoga, simple relaxation or other intentionally restorative moments in-between the high-intensity peak experiences.” Haupert suggests staging a ceremonial start to a journey, such as a special dinner or bike ride upon arrival. Similarly, Cousineau recommends starting a new journal on every journey, to ceremoniously start anew in one’s thinking. Engaging in ritual can also help awaken the traveler, says Cousineau. He suggests walking in silence as we approach a sacred site, or physically engaging with it, as pilgrims might do when they palm the feet of a Buddha statue or press their forehead to the Wailing Wall. Sacred sites are fertile ground for transformative experiences, says Lori Erickson, an Episcopal deacon, travel writer and author of Holy Rover: Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God, a memoir of her trips to a dozen of the world’s holy sites. “So many people have prayed and opened their hearts in a holy place that you can feel the energy,” she says. Erickson suggests that travelers seek out hallowed ground from different traditions, which can help heal divides among people of divergent faiths. “The art and architecture of holy sites are beautiful manifestations of spiritual longing and human creativity. These places have the power to move you, regardless of your own spiritual background.”

Journey Jump-Offs Here’s a short list of resources to inspire transformative adventuring. n The blog at AyanaJourneys.com explores Cambodia’s sacred Buddhist sites. n Evergreen Escapes at Evergreen EscapesIntl.com specializes in unforgettable locales tailored to the traveler’s inner calling. n “The Travelers” podcast via Holocene.io/travelers features stories and advice from 200-plus changemakers on topics ranging from creativity, fear and gratitude to travel-related careers. n Muddy Shoe Adventures at MuddyShoeAdventures.com offers small-group trips that challenge participants with combinations of physical activities and cultural experiences. n OuterTravelsInnerJourneys.com connects people through shared spiritual adventures like mind-body healing and immersion in nature. n Phil Cousineau (PhilCousineau.net) hosts writer’s retreats, literary tours and pilgrimages to historic sacred sites. n Responsible Travel at Responsible Travel.com offers socially and environmentally conscious tours to all seven continents, including small-ship cruises to more authentic, lesserknown ports of call. n Transformational Travel Council’s website Transformational.travel conveys uplifting stories, a travelers’ forum and other tools for changeseekers. n World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (wwoof.net) links volunteers with organic farmers to help build a sustainable global community.

natural awakenings

October 2017

When you give while traveling, you often get back even more, says Cousineau. “A pilgrim never travels empty-handed. Bring gifts; even postcards from home can make a meaningful connection.” He recently brought baseball equipment along on a group tour he led to give to kids in baseball-crazed Cuba. Giving appreciation is as important as tangible mementos, he notes. “Gratitude makes transformation possible; that’s what modern people are longing for, to be touched.” Boyle suggests that finding ways to give back can unlock unique opportunities. Quinn Vanderberg and Jonathon Button, guests on Boyle’s podcast, left stable lives and jobs in California for Nicaragua in 2012 with only their travel bags and a shared dream. Brainstorming a vision for a new life together, the 25-year-old pair had realized, “We wanted life to be filled with travel, culture and people, and to make an impact along the way,” says Vanderburg. “We went knowing we wanted to create a social venture, but first wanted to see what was really needed by the community.” They went on to partner with local educational nonprofits and artisans to launch Life Out of the Box, a line of

clothing and accessories modeled after Toms’ “Buy one, give one” business model. For every product sold, the entrepreneurs donate school supplies to a child in need. Since 2012, the project has expanded to also support kids in Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico and Morocco.

Drive Home Transformation

Starting with a moment of reflection before departing a place, take advantage of a trip’s afterglow to recall insights learned, gel memories, share insights and move to make changes stick. Haupert sees this as a good time to develop an action plan to “express gratitude for the journey and create a framework for your homecoming.” Then, take a day to reflect upon returning home before jumping back into work or other obligations, internalizing your experience and integrating your “traveler self” back into normalcy. It might involve a trip to the spa, an afternoon of journaling or organizing trip photos, suggests Haupert. “Resist the urge to check emails the minute the plane touches down or start planning the next trip. Take time to remember the journey and see your home turf with fresh eyes,” adds Cousineau.

Close Encounters Eager for a transformative adventure without traveling afar? Here are some ideas for exploring cultures and connecting with others closer to home. 4 Attend festivals celebrating varied cultures in your local community. Every spring in Washington, D.C., embassies showcase the cuisine, art and history of 70 countries. Frackville, Pennsylvania’s 103-year-old Lithuanian Days is the oldest ethnic festival in the country. 4 Host a traveling cyclist and hear tales from the trails via WarmShowers.org, a hospitality exchange for 90,000 touring cyclists and hosts. 4 Take advantage of local, state and national parks, including 88 ocean and coastal parks within the National Park Service (nps.gov). Along with wilderness sites, the service also stewards important cultural heritage sites nationwide. 4 Find a spiritual retreat center at RetreatFinder.com. 4 Overnight on an organic farm. Visit FarmStayUS.com to sample what’s in season in the region. 4 Meet and host individual travelers via CouchSurfing.com, a network of 11 million globetrotters in 150,000 cities. 18

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Lasting Travel Gifts

Adventure travelers named transformation and an expanded worldview as top motives for their explorations. ~Adventure Travel Trade Association The returned pilgrim has a responsibility to memorialize the journey, an ancient tradition of Judeo-Christian and Islamic faiths, advises Cousineau. The San Francisco writer traveled with a group on foot from Louisville, Kentucky, to Thomas Merton’s Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani, near Bardstown, Kentucky, to celebrate the legacy of Merton and Mahatma Gandhi. One of the women inked a footprint from each of 100-plus travelers, sewing them into a quilt to commemorate the pilgrimage. Chronicling the journey can be as simple as a dinner party with friends to share what we have learned, says Cousineau, but suggests that travelers engage attendees to also contribute their own stories and reflections. “We have a choice upon returning; do nothing and just let that experience fade or own it for ourselves,” concurs Boyle. “It’s incumbent to extract the meaning of our experiences and find a way to express them, whether through a photo series, article, painting or video. The traveler’s ‘third act’ of creativity after preparation and execution is how we process change.” Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

Get Top-Notch Holistic Advice on Special Cruise

uiding others on their unique journeys into wholeness, Robin Queen Finkelstein is a certified psycho-spiritual counselor, ordained minister and green living specialist who facilitates individual, couples, family and group therapy sessions and workshops. Known as the “slow medicine therapist”, she takes a whole-being, integrative approach to wellness. Finkelstein is co-director of the Slow Medicine Foundation and SunRaven: The Home of Slow Medicine, a converted barn living/work space on a farm in Bedford, New York. “Rumi says the wound is where the light enters us.” Says Finkelstein. “A willingness to be with and explore our wounds opens us to the possibility of finding grace, strength and deep connection with ourselves. When we turn inward and examine the hurts, when we are able to listen closely to our deeper selves, healing is possible.” She explains, “Slow medicine is a way of living. It is choosing to take a holistic and integrative look at our lives in order to make conscious decisions that lead us back into a state of balance. Against the backdrop of our assemblyline model of medical care, where we receive cookie-cutter prescriptions for complex health matters, slow medicine provides a personalized look at the relevant questions for optimizing well-being and healing chronic illness. Slow

medicine recognizes that our bodies are the authority, and the doctors serve as guides—helping us to navigate the maze of conventional, complementary and alternative medicine options for our unique health needs.” Finkelstein points out, “Slow medicine is not the quick-fix solution to health. Rather, it is a thoughtful approach to health challenges, food, relationships, mental and spiritual well-being. We may schedule surgeries, we may cultivate deeper relationships and we may engage in artistic self-expression, but slow medicine teaches that balance is the greatest indicator of health, and there is a spectrum of lifestyle considerations we must have when striving to bring our being into a state of harmony.” In her philosophy, “We receive nourishment from everything around us: the people, the air, the environment and our food. Having a diet that is closely connected to the Earth and honors the Earth as our great mother and a deeply nourishing entity, fills us with light. It also allows us to connect more deeply to our true selves and to one another as a result.” Finkelstein is a presenter on this year’s Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise from Feb. 15 through 25, 2018. For more information, call 800-496-0989, email Info@HolisticHolidayAtSea. com or visit HolisticHolidayAtSea.com. See ad, page 3.

Connect ~ Promote ~ Advance

Learn more at sbnphiladelphia.org natural awakenings

October 2017

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Making Philly Cleaner and Safer with Zero Waste by Jay Workman

hiladelphia has a bold goal of becoming 90 percent zero waste- and litter-free by 2035. CleanPHL is working to improve the resources available to residents. In addition to being the home of a dynamic litter index, the Clean PHL website serves as a platform for learning about, and engaging in efforts that benefit the entire city, providing the steps needed to make a difference in each neighborhood. The Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet is an interdepartmental effort to continually reduce the waste entering landfills or conventional incinerators, combat litter and enhance the cleanliness of streets and public spaces. Composed of major city departments and agencies, city council representatives and community stakeholders, chaired by the managing directorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, the Cabinet will create subcommittees focusing on five target areas to make Philadelphia a less littered, zero waste city. The data subcommittee will use collaborative and innovative data management processes and tools to collect and analyze existing waste data from each department represented in the cabinet and working group. This group will also assist with the development of a revamped litter index, building off of the streets departmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current litter index. The community engagement subcommittee will develop strategies to engage city departments, residents, businesses and other stakeholders to better un-

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derstand litter and waste challenges by using clear and unified messaging thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s informed by more sophisticated data, improved collaboration between city departments and increased outreach to city residents. The waste reduction subcommittee will work with city departments and the commercial and residential communities of Philadelphia to better understand the overall diversion rates of the city and develop strategies for further reduction of the waste stream. This subcommittee will help to support the current waste reduction efforts of the departments and community stakeholders, as well as aid in the creation and coordination of new strategies across stakeholder groups. The enforcement/cleaner public spaces subcommittee will work to audit the current enforcement, fines and penalties of littering and dumping to better understand what enforcement most effectively addresses litter and how to best coordinate enforcement efforts. This subcommittee will also use data collected from the data subcommittee to determine the best strategies for waste management and waste collection. The behavioral science subcommittee will work with outside experts to analyze individual habits and neighborhood conditions with a goal of informing public messaging and initial neighborhood strategies to reduce litter and raise awareness of waste collection systems. For more information, visit CleanPHL.org.

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October 2017

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solution. Consider using Robert’s Rules of Order or other guidelines for discussions that maintain civility, discourage competitiveness and peacefully resolve conflicts in order to reach consensus.

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Storytelling. Humans learn best when seeing and hearing stories. Facts don’t arouse us as much as narratives and full-body experiences do. Bombarding people with facts won’t create desired change. We must be inspired to act on the knowledge.

Elders. Shared history, respect and affection are vital to belonging. Adults coping with a high-stress, industrialized culture might tend to find elders’ stories slow-moving and boring, but they are a critical resource for our collective survival. Beware of the “star from afar” syndrome that posits outsiders as experts, rather than honoring and developing our own community resources, which won’t disappear at the end of an event.

Creating Community 9 15 Ways to Craft a Circle of Caring by Linda Buzzell

n facing up to today’s often degrading environmental, economic, political, social and hyper-individualistic cultural conditions, we instinctively know that survival requires coming together to effect constructive change. Here are proven approaches to community building that work.

People that feel seen and known are more likely to stay involved.

Provide food and drink. Traditional societies have always taken hospitality seriously. Having people bring items to add to the collective feast is better than catering.

Gifts and sharing. As we focus on creating a sharing society versus a gimme culture, it’s nice to give small gifts such as a plant or garden flower, organic seeds or regifted items to event attendees. It’s a simple way to help everyone feel valued, appreciated and welcomed. The key is keeping events local, simple and created by the community for the community. Many hands make light work, and some of the best community events cost the host little, while everyone involved brings their own chair or blanket, serving ware and potluck dish.

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Build a campfire. Whether literal or metaphoric, create a clear, focused attraction that draws people into a circle.

Connect with nature and the seasons. Tying gatherings into what’s happening seasonally with all life forms is a traditionally effective way of fostering community. Welcome each person. Either designate greeters or go around the circle welcoming and acknowledging each participant before proceeding with the event’s main activity.

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Ceremony, ritual and the sacred. Deep in our collective human memory lie countless spring and harvest festivals, ceremonial or religious events, meals and celebrations that included a strong sense of passage, initiation and the sacredness of all life. Use one as a springboard to add meaning to a contemporary gathering.

Collective problem solving. People bond into a community when they participate in solving a real-world community problem, helping someone in need or addressing a situation that demands a community

Shopping. People have been bonding through meeting others in the marketplace since ancient times. Sales or silent auctions are popular when the money paid becomes a gift to the community. A little excitement. Raffles and door prizes add fun as long as any money raised goes into the common coffers as a gift to all. Child care. Children provide a necessary source of untamed energy and entertainment for any gathering. Multigenerational exchanges also help form and

shape them through exposure to role models and life education, even if they might not feel engaged at the time.

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Transportation. Facilitating carpools and providing transportation for those without cars or unable to walk builds community even before the event starts. Dance and body movement. Modern society makes us sit a lot. Physical action connects us in a way nothing else can.

Beauty and music. Our eyes and ears are portals to the soul and spirit of the human psyche. Even a simple drum can bond individuals into a coherent group. Community singing can be powerful medicine,

as places of worship ever demonstrate. A simple flower on the table or painting on the wall brings powerful archetypal energies to bear as we come together. An outdoor meeting brings nature’s magnificence to our senses, adding extraordinary power to events. The bottom line is that any community gathering, organization or event that engages body, mind and spirit has a far greater chance of surviving and thriving. Linda Buzzell is a psychotherapist, ecotherapist, blogger and co-editor of Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind. She co-founded a local permaculture guild, and a voluntary simplicity circle which met for 10 years in her local community. Connect at EcotherapyHeals.com.

Airport Getting Green Landscape Makeover by Martin Miron

hiladelphia International Airport and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) have chosen five finalists in a juried design competition to create a welcoming image for the Greater Philadelphia region and demonstrate Philadelphia’s prominence as America’s Garden Capital. More than 230 design firms and consultants from 30 countries applied in June. James Corner Field Operations. The New York-based firm led the design of that city’s High Line elevated linear park and Philadelphia’s Race Street Pier. Director James Corner says, “We will ensure the project is environmentally and horticulturally extraordinary, reflective of the diverse identity of the city, feasible, phase-able and achievable.” OLIN. The Philadelphia-based landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm has created signature landscapes in cities throughout the U.S. and abroad. Partner Eric Tamulonis says that OLIN would seek to portray the connection between “past innovations of our horticultural and civic landscape tradition and Philadelphia’s future as a resilient, green city; a metropolis defined by its horticultural excellence.” Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects. The New York-based company has worked extensively on public and private projects in the metropolitan region. Principal Molly Bourne says, “The MNLA team seeks to celebrate the site’s attributes and enhance its natural systems.

West 8. The urban design and landscape architecture firm has offices in Rotterdam, Belgium and New York, and has created large-scale projects around the world, including the landscape at Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam. Project manager Jelle Therry says, “We intend to use the layers of landscape and vibrant cultural fabric of Philadelphia as preface for design.” Phyto Studio. Team leader Thomas Rainer, of the niche landscape architecture firm based in Arlington, Virginia, says, “We have to combine the very best of contemporary ecological science with the boldest and most awe-inspiring artistic and creative vision, all within a context that celebrates Philly’s gutsy, gritty and revolutionary spirit.” Each of the five finalist teams will receive a stipend of $20,000 to develop a thoughtful, creative, environmentally appropriate concept plan and associated budget for the airport. The winning concept will be used in efforts to identify funds for design development and project implementation. The goals of the Image Maker project are to create an iconic landscape, enhance the environmental sustainability of the airport and provide a customer-friendly arrival and departure experience. The finalist’s designs will be showcased during the 2018 Philadelphia Flower Show, Wonders of Water, from March 3 through 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For more information, visit PHSonline.org. natural awakenings

October 2017

wisewords

air, nutrients and light. Trees all have a fascinating master plan for survival and reproduction. Some trees can build an architectural structure that grows 150 feet high and can withstand 100-mile-an-hour winds.

How do you suggest that a newbie tree-watcher start learning how to see trees more intimately? Read a book like Seeing Trees, then get up, go out and observe trees in real time, at different times of the year and track what they do. Take pencil and paper and draw them, or take pictures. Start by exploring trees in your backyard or a nearby park. Share a quality magnifying glass to encourage youngsters to get closer to the trees, too. Challenge them to find flowers, fruit or spots where last year’s leaves fell off. Kids love that. I visit schools and have kids go out and collect fallen tree debris that we look at together.

Nature Photographer Robert Llewellyn on

MOVING FROM LOOKING TO SEEING by April Thompson

or the past 40 years, Robert Llewellyn has photographed thousands of unique beauties—many of them trees, flowers, seeds and other landscape elements. “For a photographer, anything can be a good subject, even dirt,” he says. “My mission is to move people from merely looking at things to deeply seeing things as they are.” For Llewellyn’s first collaboration with garden writer Nancy Ross Hugo, Remarkable Trees of Virginia, published in 2008, the pair drove 20,000 miles in four years observing and capturing the complex lives of 100 notable trees. It was on this assignment that the Earlysville, Virginia, photographer developed his now-signature technique, subsequently used to illustrate one of their follow-up books, Seeing Trees. “I wanted to photograph small parts—leaves, fruit, bark and flowers—so I would cut off a bloom, twig or seed pod and put it on a light table and take hundreds of photos, which, strung together, were infinitely sharp, like a botanic drawing. I found I could zoom into my subject up to a pollen grain this way.” Llewellyn lives with his wife on a 60-acre farm in tree-studded Albemarle County, enjoying 200-year-old oaks outside their front door. His latest of nearly 40 books, The Living Forest, is due out in October.

Why are trees, to your eyes, so captivating? When I first started photographing trees, I thought of them as objects in the design of a photograph, rather than something that’s alive. When I began to look at a tree’s acorns, flowers and pollen, I realized that this tree is doing what we do: it’s born, grows, has offspring and dies; it seeks 24

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What makes some of your favorite trees so distinctive? Red maples make an early entrance in spring, their flowers appearing before the leaves, and drop their “helicopter” seeds in spring to germinate before anything can eat them. In spring, an entire hill will turn red with these maples, but it’s not their leaves; it’s the trees’ flowers, getting ready to drop their showy red dresses on the ground before anything else is blooming. You can learn a lot about trees by seeing what’s on the ground through their life cycles. Sycamore, for example, has both male and female flowers. The female flowers develop into fruiting seedpods that dry out and hang on through winter until a spring wind blows them apart.

Rather than seeing trees as dead in winter, what can we look for? Trees are very much alive in winter. When leaves fall off, they leave behind little pointed leaf buds. You can cut them open and find tiny green leaves encapsulated which remain unfrozen, waiting to open up in the spring. Twigs in winter show leaf scars where the leaves dropped. We can also witness the diverse life in and on trees in all seasons. That includes bugs, plants, fungi and parasites, in addition to the animals that nest in them and eat their fruits and nuts. I once found a round ball on an oak tree that turned out to be a wasp gall for its offspring, its larvae hanging in the middle.

How are tree-viewing skills transferrable to other aspects of our lives? The skill of observation is vital: moving from looking to seeing. At a party, you can just mindlessly chatter with people or you can really see them—what their bodies, gestures and emotions are communicating. Labels and names get in the way of seeing things as they are. Stop labeling things or worrying about what they are called; as in meditation, just relax into observing, to embrace things as they are. Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

We Focus on What’s Best for Your Business and the Environment

A Park Like No Other

uch of Philadelphia’s total area; about 10 percent, is devoted to natural parkland, more than most cities of the same size anywhere. More than a million people visit Wissahickon Valley Park, considered by many to be the “jewel in the crown” in the park system. Its trees absorb about 4,700 tons of carbon dioxide each year and the Wissahickon Creek supplies drinking water to a third of Philadelphia. The park contains seven miles of main creek and 10 miles of tributary creeks between steep slopes covered with tress and dotted with outcroppings of bedrock. There are 50 to 60 miles of natural trails for walkers, cyclists and horses; no motorized vehicles are allowed. Visitors can also jog, fish, ski, kayak and climb the cliffs in the park, which offers a way to get away from the clamor and stress of the city and find solitude and peace. The natural beauty of Wissahickon Valley Park defines the neighborhoods of Roxborough, Chestnut Hill, West Mount Airy and parts of East Falls and Germantown. Philadelphia’s park system comprises more than 60 college campuses, five medical schools, historic sites and thousands of acres of derelict industrial land. The Friends of Wissahickon FOW, a volunteer group that receives funds from the Keystone Fund, execute infrastructure and maintenance projects both large and small.

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natural awakenings

October 2017

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 Philadelphia Walk To Prevent Suicide: Out of the Darkness – 6:30am-2pm. Join team DBHIDS, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, friends, family and neighbors as participants walk to eradicate suicide in Philadelphia and across the nation. Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Register: HealthyMindsPhilly.org.

Open Rehearsal with the Barnes Ensemble – 10am-noon. Sit in on a rehearsal of the Barnes Ensemble, a cutting-edge contemporary music collective debuting on October 8. In this educational, behind-the-scenes program, you’ll see how a conductor works with a large group of musicians; you’ll also have a chance to ask questions. Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia. Info: 215-278-7200. Shambhala Open House – 7-8:30pm. Every first Wednesday The Philadelphia Shambhala Center hosts an evening where newcomers can learn what the center has to offer. The evening includes guided instruction in meditation and a short presentation. Light refreshments will be served. $10/donation. 2030 Sansom St. 215-568-6070. Philadelphia. Shambhala.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5 Twilight in the Garden – 5:30-9pm. An annual gala to benefit Bartram’s Garden, join to honor two champions of Philadelphia’s public spaces and community well-being: Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Lomax Family Foundation. 5400 Lindbergh Blvd. 215-729-5281. Register: BartramsGarden.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 Healthy Woman Empowered For Life Conference: Wellness Inside and Out – 9am-1pm. Learn new ways to improve your well-being to make you stronger and better prepared to help others. Join for the GirlTrek Walk, a one mile loop around the campus, at 7:30am. Bring unwanted shoes for the shoe drive. Free HIV/HCV testing available. Free. New Covenant Campus, 7500 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia. Register/info: CovenantInternationalInstitute.org. University of Nature – 10am-2pm. The day offers a mixture of natural history, environmental art and humanities. Sessions include urban coyotes, peregrine falcon ecology, environmental art, media and its influence on perceptions of the environment, and a hands-on workshop on restoring your yard or garden. $50. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. Preregister: SchuylkillCenter.org.

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Advocacy for a Cleaner Earth Series – 6:30-8pm. Learn about advocacy regarding different environmental topics such as air, water, gas, etc, from professionals during this season’s lecture series at Delaware Valley University. This program is free and open to the public. Bucks County Audubon Society, 2877 Creamery Road, New Hope. 215297-5880. BCAS.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 Dine Out for the Environment – All day. This fundraising event for Clean Air Council takes place at the Philadelphia area’s most sustainable restaurants. Participating restaurants donate a portion of their sales for the day to help fund the Council’s work on air quality issues. Info: 215-567-4004 ext 112 or Events@CleanAir.org. Locations: CleanAir.org/ DineOutForTheEnvironment.

First Sunday Celebrate – 10am-5pm. Performers include the Cambodian Association, Olive Dance Theatre, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, The Renegade Company and Sister Cities Girl Choir. Free. Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia. Info: 215-278-7200.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 Fall Fest – 10am-4pm. Join Subaru and Greensgrow Farms for a celebration of local food, music, crafts and farm fun. Come see how a former galvanized steel plant became a model for urban agriculture. Sample harvest dishes, enjoy various crafts, visit the farmer’s market and bring the kids to partake in loads of children’s activities. Rain or shine. Free. 2501 E Cumberland St, Philadelphia. 215-427-2780 ext 5. Greensgrow.org. Fall Harvest Festival – 10am-4pm. Tradesmen and artisans will demonstrate papermaking, colonial brewing, iron making, brick making, blacksmithing, historic baking and milling throughout the day. Family-friendly activities include hay rides, pumpkin painting and colonial games. All ages; free admission; parking: $5/car. Newlin Grist Mill, 219 Cheyney Rd, Glen Mills. NewlinGristMill.org. Fall Open House – Oct 7-8. 11am-4pm. See the clinic in action and experience educational animals up close. Activities for children, food, live music, silent auction and more. All proceeds go directly to furthering the Aark’s mission. $15/car, members/ free. Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center, 1531 Upper Stump Rd, Chalfont. 215-2491938. Aark.org. International Locks Conference Natural Hair, Wholistic Health and Beauty Expo – Oct 7-8. Noon-9:30pm. Two-days of healthy food, informative and consciousness raising workshops, live musical performances, children’s activities, alluring cultural fashions, martial arts, African and soul line dancing workshops; drumming, visual art breathtaking hair styles, hair adornments, and a stunning natural hair showcase. Universal Audenried Charter High School, 3301 Tasker St, Philadelphia. Info: LocksConference.com.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10 Best for PHL Challenge Workshop – 8:3010:30am. This is a community-led program to discover, encourage, equip and celebrate businesses in the Philadelphia region who commit themselves to improving job quality, building stronger communities and responsibly using environmental resources. Free. Comcast Headquarters, 1701 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia. Registration required: SBNPhiladelphia.org.

Tall Trees Nature Playscape Playdate – 4-5pm. Play and explore with your child in an all-natural play space. The wonder of nature provides opportunities for imagination and creativity. Join for digging, building, art-making and a chance to meet others in the community. Dress for the weather – rain or shine. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. Preregister: 215-482-7300. SchuylkillCenter.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 Fall Foraging: A Nature and History Walk –12pm. This session will feature a hike on the property with Newlin staff to look for flora and fauna that was used by the 18th century inhabitants of the area for food, medicine and more. All ages. $5/members, $7/ nonmembers. Newlin Grist Mill, 219 Cheyney Rd, Glen Mills. Register: NewlinGristMill.org. Seedlings – 1-2pm. Join for a nature-themed story and walk or activity. Children ages 2-6 will have the opportunity to engage in nature-based activities and experience the wildlife and ecosystems of their local East Falls Library Branch. Free. 3501 Midvale Ave, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. SchuylkillCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18 Sports and Sustainability Leadership Lunch Seminar – Noon-1pm. Harnessing the Power and Influence of Sports to Help Protect the Environment featuring Dr Allen Hershkowitz, founding director, Sport and Sustainability International. Presented by Wharton Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) and Wharton Sports Business Initiative. Free. The Wharton School, 3730 Walnut St, Rm F50 Huntsman Hall, Philadelphia. 215-7463878. Spigonaj@Wharton.upenn.edu. Cloth Diaper Workshop – 6-9pm. This cloth diaper class is intended to demystify and simplify cloth diapering for parents interested in investigating them as an option for their child. Participants will discuss why it can be an environmentally-sound and costeffective option for families. The Nesting House, 1605 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia. 215-755-1575. TheNestingHouse.net.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 20th Annual Clean Water Fund Auction and Party – 6-9pm. Learn about our campaign to protect our water, health and environment and to halt the current administration’s actions to cut EPA’s

set up outside with candy for trick-or-treating and other autumn-oriented activities such as an apple press for fresh cider, pumpkin painting, face painting, and more. Free. FarmToCity.org.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 Halloween Hikes and Hayrides – Oct 27-28. 6-10pm. Hike through a candlelit forest to meet the friendly nocturnal animals of the Schuylkill Center. The animals will delight attendees with tales and treats in a beautiful evening forest. Experience hayrides, pumpkin painting, and food trucks for dinner and s’mores by the campfire. $8/members, $10/ nonmembers. 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. SchuylkillCenter.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 budget by 35%, repeal EPA’s Clean Water Rule which protects drinking water sources for millions of Pennsylvanians and more. Philadelphia Seaport Museum, 211 S Christopher Columbus Blvd. RSVP: CleanWaterFund.org.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 It Takes theVillage 5K – 8am-noon. This family event features a one-mile run/walk, a kid’s 100 yard dash and family activities. 5K registration begins at 8am, race begins at 9am. Kid’s 100 yard dash begins at 10am. Family activities from 10am–1pm. 452 S Roberts Rd, Bryn Mawr. Register: Village1877.org. Restoration Volunteer Workday – 10am-noon. Help improve the health and biodiversity of our forest. Volunteers help remove invasive plants, plant native species and maintain and improve our trails. We recommend long pants, sturdy boots and a sense of fellowship. Gloves, tools, instruction and snacks provided. BYO water bottle. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. Preregister: SchuylkillCenter.org. Seedlings – 1-2pm. Join for a nature-themed story and walk or activity. Children ages 2-6 will have the opportunity to engage in nature-based activities and experience the wildlife and ecosystems of their local Andorra Library. Free 705 East Cathedral Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. SchuylkillCenter.org.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 Artists’ Workshop: Nature Journaling – 1-4pm. Continue in the tradition of innumerable artists and naturalists – from William Bartram to Sarah Mapps Douglass – and discover the joys of nature journaling in the early autumn. Explore historic Bartram’s Garden and learn sketching techniques for creating on the go. For beginner-to-intermediate artists. Members/free, $18/nonmembers. 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia. 215-729-5281. BartramsGarden.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26 Philadelphia 2030 District Official Launch – 10:30am-noon. This press event, with DVGBC and partners, will discuss the district’s goal and how it relates to ongoing local efforts to mitigate climate change. Featuring leaders from the district who are committed to reducing environmental impact from buildings all while lowering costs and improving tenant comfort. Philadelphia City Hall, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd. Register/info: dvgbc.org. Autumn on the Avenue –3:30-6pm. Businesses on the 6700 and 6800 blocks of Germantown Ave will

Run for the Mill 5K – 8-11am. Join for this inaugural trail run and one-mile walk through the 160-acres of woodlands and meadows. Proceeds will go toward the rebuilding of the waterwheel that powers the 1704 Grist Mill. Newlin Grist Mill, 219 S Cheyney Rd, Glen Mills. Register: NewlinGristMill.org. Fall Wellness Walk – 2-3pm. Greet fall with some outdoor exercise on the trails. The walk will be led at a moderate pace; be prepared for uneven terrain. Free. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. Preregister: SchuylkillCenter.org. Intro to Nature Play with NaturePHL – 2-3:30pm. Come for some unstructured nature play and a hike. With a Schuylkill Center educator and a CHOP pediatrician, participants will climb, explore and learn more about the many health benefits of outdoor activity and time in nature. Meet at Tall Trees Nature Playscape. Free. 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215-482-7300. Preregister: SchuylkillCenter.org.

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THREE-MONTH EDITORIAL PLANNING CALENDAR

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Diabetes Prevention & Reversal plus: Silent Retreats

Our Readers are Seeking: DiabetesRelated Providers & Services

Uplifting Humanity plus: Holidays Our Readers are Seeking: Spiritual Guidance & HolidayRelated Providers & Services

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 The Generosity Series 5K Walk/Run – 9am. Sign up as an individual or form a team by pledging your donation to The Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Invite your family and friends for an energetic morning of running (or walking) and crowd funding while making strides to prevent homelessness before it begins. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Register: GenerositySeries.com/pihn5k.

plan ahead THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 Winter Harvest First Weekly Delivery of Season – Register and join now to order from a large list of foods produced by Philadelphia-area farmers and food artisans. The food is delivered to 15 locations in the region. Order deadline is Oct 27 at noon. Product list: FarmtoCity.org – select Find Local Food.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Empty Bowl Dinner – 4-5:30pm; 5:30-7pm; 7-8:30pm. For a modest donation, guests receive a free handcrafted bowl and enjoy an all-you-can-eat feast of fresh soups, breads and desserts. At the end of their meal, attendees leave with their bowls to benefit Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Lutheran Seminary Brossman Center, Benbow Hall, 7301 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia. Tickets: PhilaShelter.org.

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natural awakenings

October 2017

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Review guidelines for submissions at NAPhilly.com or email Publisher@NAPhilly.com for more information.

daily

Essene Market and Café – 8am-9pm, Mon-Fri; 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun. Large selection of organically grown produce, natural foods deli, on-site bakery. Located in the heart of historic Fabric Row, 719 S Fourth St, Philadelphia. 215-922-1146. EsseneMarket.com.

sunday Reiki Level I for Beginners – This foundation course is the most important of all levels of training. It’s open to anyone, regardless of experience. Seasoned bodyworkers will benefit, as much as beginners with no background in spiritual development or holistic health. The Reiki School and Clinic, 727 S 4th St, 2nd Flr, Philadelphia. Info: 215-238-0659. Sunday Morning Sangha – 9:30-11:30am. Practice includes mantra meditation, shamatha (calm abiding) meditation; Vajrayana guided meditations and visualizations, and traditional Buddhist prayers followed by dharma teaching. $10-$15 donation. 954 N Marshall St, Philadelphia. TibetanBuddhist.org. Guided Meditation and Sunday Celebration – 10-10:15am, meditation; 10:30-11:45am, celebration. Weekly meditation followed by a celebration in word, song and spirit. Greater Philadelphia Center for Spiritual Living, Paoli Corporate Center, 16 Industrial Blvd, Ste 112. 610-695-0375. CSLPhilly.com. Dickinson Square Farmers’ Market – 10am2pm. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh bread and baked goods and local ice cream. Moyamensing Ave & Morris St, Philadelphia. 215733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Albert Einstein’s Brain – 10am-5pm. The Mütter Museum is one of only two places in the world where you can see pieces of Albert Einstein’s brain. For decades, Pathologist Thomas Harvey, MD, kept the brain of one of the world’s greatest minds in a glass jar, sometimes in a cider box under a beer cooler. 19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia. 215-560-8564. Info@CollegeOfPhysicians.org. A Stitch in Spine Saves Nine: Innovations in Spinal Surgery – 10am-5pm. This exhibition traces the history and development of spinal medicine through

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Practice, Study and Sangha: An Informal Gathering – 6-8pm. A social gathering, meditation practice and study/discussion for meditation practitioners of all levels. Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom St. 215-5686070. Philadelphia.Shambhala.org. La Leche League – 7pm. 3rd Mon. Providing support, encouragement, information and education to parents who choose to breastfeed. Private home. Info: LLLOfEasternPA.org.

Escape Rooms – Days/times vary. Using the most advanced cutting-edge technology and aweinspiring immersive design, Escape Rooms at The Franklin Institute will transport guests to one of two fantastical worlds where a series of clues, codes, puzzles, and tasks lead teams to achieve an ultimate goal. 271 North 21st St, Philadelphia. 215-448-1200 or GuestServices@fi.edu. Morning Prayer and Meditation – 6-7am. This service, conducted in Korean and English, includes prayer, chanting and sitting meditation. Free. Won Buddhism, 23 Abington Ave, Glenside. 215-8848443. Philadelphia@WonBuddhism.org.

monday

Yoga/Pilates Mix – 7-8pm. Stretch the muscles of the core with yoga, and then strengthen the muscles with Pilates. This is a great combination for the body and mind. Bring a mat. $79/8-weeks. Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St at Westview, Philadelphia. Registration required: 215-843-6333 or MTAiryLearningTree.org.

tuesday objects donated by Parviz Kambin, MD, the foremost pioneer in minimally invasive spinal surgery. The Mütter Museum, 19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia. 215-560-8564. Info@CollegeOfPhysicians.org. Silent Meditation and Sunday Celebration – 10:10am, meditation; 10:30-11:45am, celebration. Inspiring words, personal spiritual practice and fellowship. New Thought Philadelphia, CA House, 118 S 37th St (UPenn campus). NewThoughtPhilly.org. Quaker Meeting for Worship – 11am. Participate in this unique, un-programmed service to worship by gathering and silently waiting for Spirit to guide us. Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St, Philadelphia. 215-241-7000. FriendsCenterCorp.org. Sunday Service – 11am. Embracing All Souls and Restoring Wholeness. The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, 6900 Stanton Ave, Philadelphia. 215-247-2561. UURestoration.us. A Course in Miracles – 11am-12:30pm. Facilitators rotate each week. The group will read together from the book and share questions and/or experiences about the subject matter of the week. No outside food or beverages. Essene Market & Cafe’ (community room), 719 S 4th St, Philadelphia. Meetup.com. Korean Dharma Service – 11am-1pm. This dharma service, conducted in Korean, includes prayer, chanting, dharma talk and hymn singing. Lunch will be served after the service. Free. Won Buddhism, 23 Abington Ave, Glenside. 215-884-8443. Philadelphia@WonBuddhism.org. Contemplative Dance Practice – Thru Dec 3. 3-5:30pm. 1st Sun. This personal and group awareness of body/mind includes sitting meditation with self-directed body movement in space. Dress comfortably. $5-$10 donation. Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom St. 215568-6070. RSVP: SilverSpaceDance@gmail.com. Philadelphia.Shambhala.org. Teen Group Meeting – 7-8:30pm.1st & 3rd Sun. Helping teens ages of 13-18 find personal empowerment through spiritual awakening. Along the way deep connections are made and a lot of fun is had. Greater Philadelphia Center for Spiritual Living, Paoli Corporate Center, 16 Industrial Blvd, Ste 112. 610-695-0375. CSLPhilly.com.

La Leche League – 10am. 2nd Tue. Providing support, encouragement, information and education to parents who choose to breastfeed. Calvary Presbyterian Church, basement nursery, 217 Fernbrook Ave, Wyncote. Info: LLLOfEasternPA.org. La Leche League – 10am. 3rd Tue. Providing support, encouragement, information and education to parents who choose to breastfeed. Germantown. Theresa: 617-650-4436. Info: LLLOfEasternPA.org. Rittenhouse Square Farmers’ Market –10am2pm. Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs and sustainably raised meats.18th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Sit n’ Stitch – Thru Dec 26. 7-9pm. Brief periods of sitting will be interspersed with readings from dharma art books and creative time. Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom St. 215-5686070. Info: SusieAndersonFibers@gmail.com. Group Meditation – 7:15-8:45pm. Practice sitting, walking and chanting meditation to calm your mind. All levels. Free. Won Buddhism, 23 Abington Ave, Glenside. 215-884-8443. Philadelphia@WonBuddhism.org. Tara Practice and Discussion Group – 7-7:30pm, Introduction to Tantra; 7:30-8:15pm, Tara practice. Open to all. $10/donation. Limited floor cushions, chairs also available. 954 N Marshall St, Philadelphia. ChenrezigTBC@gmail.com. TibetanBuddhist.org. Drum Circle – 9pm. Join fellow drummers, musicians and dancers for West African, Middle Eastern and Afro-Cuban rhythms in front of a huge bonfire. BYO drum. Fairmont Park, Glendining Rock Garden, Kelly Dr & Brewery Hill Dr off W Girard Ave, Philadelphia. Join/RSVP: Meetup.com/ Drum-Tantrum.

wednesday University Square Farmers’ Market – 10am-4pm. Fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, plants and flowers. 36th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215733-9599. Info@FarmToCity.org. Meditation – Noon-1pm. Reduce stress, learn to

remain peaceful in challenging situations, increase clarity of mind and more. Love offering. Greater Philadelphia Center for Spiritual Living, Paoli Corporate Center, 16 Industrial Blvd, Ste 112. 610695-0375. CSLPhilly.com.

Nov; 10am-noon, Dec-Apr. Year-round market featuring local food and products. Winston Rd between Germantown Ave & Mermaid Ln, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Rittenhouse Farmers’ Market – 9am-3pm, thru Nov; 10am-2pm, Dec-Apr. Year-round market featuring local food and products: seasonal produce, herbs, mushrooms and honey, plus local wine. 18th St & Walnut St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org.

Fountain Square Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs, flowers and honey, plus baked goods, local meat, poultry, eggs and cheese. E Passyunk Ave at 11th St & Tasker St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Sierra Club Southeastern Pennsylvania Group (SPG) Meeting – 6:15pm. 1st Wed. Focused on environmental issues facing the greater Philadelphia area, members and nonmembers are welcome to join SPG Executive Committee meetings in-person or by phone. City CoHo, 2401 Walnut St, Philadelphia. 866-501-6174 (code: 100 4 100#) The People of Color Group – Thru Dec 27. 6:308pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. A meditation, reading and discussion group for folks who identify as people of color and who would like to contemplate and have facilitated discussion from that perspective. $5/donation. Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom St. 215-568-6070. Info: PeopleOfColorGroup@gmail.com. Register: Philadelphia.Shambhala.org.

thursday Jeﬀerson Square Farmers’ Market – 11am-3pm. Seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers and honey, plus plants and flowers and local ice cream. 10th St & Chestnut St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. New Parent’s Support Group – 12:30-1:30pm. Last Thur. All are welcome. $5/donation/family. Lilypad in South Philly, 1234 S Broad St. BlossomingBelliesBirth.com. Farmstand – 3-7pm. Offering organically-grown produce and local produce from within 150 miles. Local items include: dairy products from raw milk to cheese, eggs, hummus, meat-free proteins, and humanely and sustainably raised meats. Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E Cumberland St, Philadelphia. 215427-2780 ext 5. Greensgrow.org. Powers Park Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. Fruits, vegetables, pasture-raised pork, poultry and eggs, local milk and cheeses. Authentic Mexican food and ice treats. Almond St & East Ann St, Port Richmond. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Laughter Yoga – Thru Oct 26. 7-8pm. Experience the empowering, focusing and motivating aspects of intentional laughter, deep yogic breathing and meditation. $59/series. Wesley Enhanced Living, 6300 Greene St, Philadelphia. Registration required: 215843-6333 or MTAiryLearningTree.org.

friday Fit Possibilities – 10-10:45am. Improve flexibility, balance, joints, core strength and overall ability to be more efficient in your daily activities. There will be options to sit or stand throughout the class. $89. Grace Epiphany Church, 224 E Gowen Ave, Philadelphia. Registration required: 215-843-6333 or MTAiryLearningTree.org.

bread and gluten-free baked goods and Jewish and Eastern European delicacies. Ridge Ave & Acorn St, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org.

Swarthmore Farmers’ Market – 9:30am-1:30pm. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs, plants, flowers and honey from local farms. Food trucks, live music, local artists and kids activities. Town Center parking lot, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org.

Farmstand – 4-6:30pm. Offering local produce from within 150 miles from long-time farmer partners. Produce only. Greensgrow West, 5123 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia. 215-427-2780 ext 6.

East Falls Farmers’ Market – 10am-2pm.Local fruits and vegetables, herbs, flowers, plants and honey. Kelly Dr & N Ferry Rd in parking lot under Route 1 at Kelly Dr, Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org.

The Basic Goodness of Mental Illness: Support/ Study Group – 6:30-8pm. 4th Fri. For mental health professionals interested in building confidence, deepening compassion and developing supportive connections in their professional lives. Prerequisites and coursework. Shambhala Meditation Center of Philadelphia, 2030 Sansom St. 215-568-6070. Philadelphia.Shambhala.org.

Farmstand – 10am-2pm. Offering organicallygrown produce and local produce from within 150 miles. Local items including dairy products from raw milk to cheese, eggs, hummus, meat-free proteins, and humanely and sustainably raised meats. Greensgrow Farms, 2501 E Cumberland St, Philadelphia. 215-427-2780 ext 5. Greensgrow.org.

Scripture Study –7-8:45pm. 2nd Fri. This small study group gathers together over a cup of tea to read the scriptures of Won Buddhism and discuss its meaning and how it relates to daily life. Free. 23 Abington Ave, Glenside. 215-884-8443. Philadelphia@WonBuddhism.org.

saturday For the Love of Singing – 9-10:30am. Explore the joy of singing, develop your understanding of what it is to sing, what stops one from singing and explore breathing for singing, vocal range and some basic music skills. $95 plus $8 materials fee. FUMCOG, 6001 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia. Registration required: 215-843-6333 or MTAiryLearningTree.org. Bryn Mawr Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm, thru Dec; 10am-noon, Jan-Apr. The largest farmers’ market on the Main Line. More than 20 local farmers and food artisans during growing season. Lancaster Ave & Bryn Mawr Ave (in the Amtrak Station parking lot), Philadelphia. 215-733-9599. FarmToCity.org. Chestnut Hill Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm, thru

Dharma Service – 10:15am-noon. Includes sitting meditation, chanting, prayer, dharma talk and discussion on Buddhist philosophy and practice. Free. Won Buddhism, 23 Abington Ave, Glenside. 215-884-8443. Philadelphia@WonBuddhism.org. Nature Exploration – 10:30-11:30am. Grab your hiking shoes for a naturalist-led exploration and storytime with your little ones. Free. Schuylkill Center, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd, Philadelphia. 215482-7300. SchuylkillCenter.org. Practice Meditation – 10:30am-noon. Includes an introduction, chanting, sitting meditation, and a dharma talk, reading or circle discussion. Join for brunch afterwards. $5 donation. Studio 34 Yoga Healing Arts, 4522 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia. Meetup.com. A Course in Miracles – 1pm. Members undergo spiritual healing and development by sharing and discussing the great spiritual Tome, A Course in Miracles. The New Leaf Cafe, 1225 Montrose Ave, Bryn Mawr. Meetup.com. Kirtan – 7pm. 1st Fri. Join for monthly kirtan and bhajans and a vegetarian meal afterwards. $10 donation. Govindas Bhakti Garden, 1408 South St, Philadelphia. Meetup.com.

Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.

~Yoko Ono

Gorgas Park Farmers’ Market – 3-7pm. Fruits and vegetables, flowers, plants and honey. Fresh

natural awakenings

October 2017

communityresourceguide 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 Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com to request our media kit.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE NATALIE BLISS, PHD. SH, RMT

Stress Management Consulting Classes • Workshops • Private Sessions Philadelphia • 267-251-6052 ReikiSoundBliss.com Reiki Master Teacher Natalie Bliss is an independent educator and consultant. Following a lifetime as a professional musician and teacher, she was ordained in nonsectarian Spiritual Healing (PhD. SH). Her healing ministry incorporates reiki and therapeutic sound for relief of stress and its manifestations. See ad, page 9.

SAGE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CENTER

FURNISHINGS – ORGANIC YOUR ORGANIC BEDROOM 83 Lancaster Ave, Paoli 610-647-4068 YourOrganicBedroom.com

The healthy and natural alternative store for luxury organic mattresses, bedding, pillows and now, organic sofas. See ad, page 19.

HOLISTIC SKIN CARE NU YOU WELL MED

1601 Walnut St, Ste 1523 Philadelphia • 215-847-5659 Award-winning Nu You Well Med has certified estheticians that specialize in treating skin conditions holistically. We also offer a unique male waxing program. Let us help you look and feel amazing. See ad, page 21.

Wendy Romig, MS, CNS, LDN 538 Carpenter Ln, Philadelphia 215-839-3950 • SageIntegrativeHealth.com

Sage Integrative Health Center offers a customized, natural approach to helping people overcome illness using a blend of nutritional counseling, herbal remedies and wellness coaching. Visit our on-site herb shop. See ad, page 11.

ANIMAL HOSPITAL CHESTNUT HILL CAT CLINIC 8220 Germantown Ave Philadelphia • 215-247-9560 ChestnutHillCatClinic.com

We are a full-service veterinary hospital, dedicated to the gentle compassionate care of felines. We specialize in preventative health care and provide exceptional surgical and dental services. See ad, page 5.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION MT AIRY USA

6703 Germantown Ave Ste 200, Philadelphia 215-844-6021 • Info@MTAiryUSA.org Live. Work. Thrive. The mission of Mt. Airy USA is to preserve, empower and advance a vibrant and diverse Mt. Airy by stimulating development responsive to the community’s needs.

LOCALLY GROWN DELIVERY SERVICE WEGARDN

Katie Delorenzo Philadelphia • 973-216-3668 info@wegardn.com • WeGardn.com We G a r d n i s a delivery service to all of Philadelphia. That means you can access the freshest, most local harvest anytime, anywhere. We have the highest standards for local, quality food sourcing. Our team knows that no other choice affects our quality of life and health more than what you put in it. That kind of discernment often comes at a high cost, but we believe it should be affordable to make the best choice for your family’s health. See ad, page 9.

LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE FARM TO CITY

Weekly Outdoor Farmers’ Markets Philadelphia • 215-733-9599 Info@FarmToCity.org • FarmToCity.org Farm to City connects urban residents with food from local farmers through 15 producer-only farmers’ markets, many CSA farms and its Winter Harvest Buying Club. Visit our website for seasonal schedule and opening days.

We travel initially to lose ourselves; and we travel next to find ourselves. ~Pico Iyer 30

Philadelphia, PA

NAPhilly.com

MASSAGE THERAPY RELAX THERAPY SPA

Gilda Smith, LMT, Yoga Instructor 7151 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia 215-760-9035 • Gilda.Smith@icloud.com Thai massage, yoga, bodywork, positional release therapy, Dolphin Neurostim, MPS. Relax therapy services will bring a sense of grounding, encompassing all of the aforementioned for the client to begin their very unique journey to restoration. Now introducing scar therapy.

NATURAL CLEANING SERVICE NATURALLY NEAT

Philadelphia • 267-507-5862 NaturallyNeat@gmail.com Our team of highly trained neat professionals provides janitorial services for a wide array of commercial spaces using Naturally Neat, environmentally conscious products and services. Contact us for a quote. See ad, page 6.

NATURAL ORGANIC MARKET ESSENE MARKET

In the heart of historic Fabric Row 719 S 4th St, Philadelphia 215-922-1146 • EsseneMarket.com Philadelphia’s premier natural foods market, Essene specializes in organic, local, veganfriendly selections. Our café’s hot bar features ready-made Korean, vegetarian and gluten-free entrees. Our fresh juice bar is renowned for invigorating smoothies and enlivening elixirs. Be sure to try freshly baked treats prepared in our own vegan bakery. From hard-to-find items to everyday staples, we’re your neighborhood market for healthconscious living. See ad, page 10.

NATURAL PHARMACY NOVA STAR PHARMACY 301 East Girard Ave Philadelphia • 215-739-3900 NovaStarPharmacy.com

Nova Star Pharmacy, located in Fishtown, is a local, independent pharmacy that concentrates on holistic and natural medications. See ad, page 10.

NATUROPATH EARTHLY ESSENCE

Dr. Jacquilen Fostor Tomas Ali 3901 Main St, Bldg B, Ste 201, Philadelphia 215-360-4110 • DrAliND.com Become the Master of Your Own Healing ©. Dr. Jacquilen Fostor Tomas Ali, ND, is a Naturopathic Physician, Certified Nutritional Counselor (CNC) and Master Herbalist (MH). Also, as a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, Dr. Ali focuses on and addresses the causes of health challenges, not just symptoms. This focus provides a wellbalanced approach to health and healing.

ORGANIC COFFEE COMPANY ORGANO GOLD

Shambra Johnson 267-455-6019 • CupOfFreedom.com Paid2Cook.OrganoGold.com Organo Gold, world’s leading coffee and tea provider, enriched with organic ganoderma mushrooms; bringing the treasures of the earth to the people of the world. Info: OrganoGold.com. See ad, page 25.

PAIN RELIEF AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

classifieds

STRESS MANAGEMENT NATALIE BLISS, PHD. SH, RMT

Stress Management Consulting Classes • Workshops • Private Sessions Philadelphia • 267-251-6052 ReikiSoundBliss.com Reiki Master Teacher Natalie Bliss is an independent educator and consultant. Following a lifetime as a professional musician and teacher, she was ordained in non-sectarian Spiritual Healing (PhD.SH). Her healing ministry incorporates reiki and therapeutic sound for relief of stress and its manifestations. See ad, page 9.

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK 2401 Walnut St, Ste 206, Philadelphia 215-922-7400, ext 104 sbnPhiladelphia.org

The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit membership organization striving to build a just, green and thriving local economy. See ad, page 19.

WOMEN’S GROUP

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 AlbertasPainRelief.com

ROSE ST JULIEN, LCSW

Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy to ease joint and muscular aches and pains from sciatica, gout, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia and more. Great buy: get a 4 oz. jar for $15. See website for more options. All natural ingredients. Refer a friend and get 10% off your purchase. Read what people are saying about Aunt Alberta’s Remedy at our website.

Rose St. Julien, a licensed clinical social worker for 20 years, hosts a weekly women’s personal growth group for creative, positive change. It offers an opportunity for women to come together for sharing and growing, acquiring creativity in decision making and building positive self-esteem. See ad, page 5.

Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com. OPPORTUNITIES ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings classified ad section. To place an ad, email Publisher@NAPhilly.com. RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SALES – Excellent opportunity for flexible part-time work. Natural Awakenings Philadelphia is seeking a selfmotivated professional with strong interpersonal and communication skills to introduce businesses to the benefits of advertising in print and online. Must be self-motivated, organized, creative and good in sourcing suitable clients and events to target in Philadelphia. Must enjoy conversing on the phone and hosting face-to-face meetings, working from home and from the road. Need 20 flexible daytime hours per week to prosper. Occasional weekend and evening time required to attend events and network. Generous commission plus bonuses. Previous relationship-based ad sales experience necessary. Email your name, phone number and a brief description of your experience to Publisher@NAPhilly.com.

Center City 215-546-1040

SPECIALTY SPICE SHOPPE THE SPICE RACK

8431 Germantown Ave Philadelphia • 215-274-0100 ChestnutHillPA.com/The-Spice-Rack Chestnut Hill purveyors of American made small batch, organic, artisan and gourmet specialty goods and accessories. See ad, page 20.

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We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell

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October 2017