March 2013

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Rethinking URBAN Meditation PLANTING Find a Technique That Best Suits You

City Gardens and Edible Landscapes

March 2013

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publishersletter

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e have made it through the winter and the warmth of spring is just around the corner. This month’s featured article is on Urban Farming. The article is filled with ideas that everyone can implement.

I am very excited about gardening this year. Last fall I planted my garlic in a raised bed. This was my first time to plant garlic, so I was worried I may have planted it too late. After a week of the cloves being in the ground, I could not resist seeing how it was doing. So I dug up one of the cloves, and sure enough, the tiny roots had started to grow. After another week, I dug another one up and the roots were about 3 inches long and it had a one-inch sprout at the top. I was satisfied at that point that they were going to be okay. Now with green shoots over eight inches high, they will soon be ready to pull from the ground and be replaced with other plants.

There is something about planting seeds and plants and seeing them grow and flourish. My dining room table is now filled with tiny containers of sprouted strawberry seeds, onions, tomatoes, pepper plants, marigolds and various other herbs. I have pampered and tended to these everyday—watering, rotating, and giving them light and warmth to give them the best chance at maturing and producing great fresh vegetables to eat and preserve.

With the rising cost of food, I encourage everyone to plant a garden or just grow some favorites in pots on the patio. Not only will it help out on grocery bills, but you will have a great source of nutritious foods right at your fingertips.

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@Natvalley.com New Business Development Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@Natvalley.com Cell: 256-476-6537 Calendar Editor Jerry Woosley Design and Production Karen Ormstedt Natural Awakenings in the Tennessee Valley 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 Natvalley.com © 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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contents 6

5 newsbriefs 11 healthbriefs

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

12 globalbriefs 14 wisewords 15 community spotlight

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14 WALKING THE TALK

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Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs

by Sandra Murphy

16 community spotlight

17 naturalpet 23 calendar 28 resourceguide

15 RUTH'S NUTRITION Community Spotlight

16 PETS, LOVE AND HAPPINESS Community Spotlight

17 HOLISTIC IS BEST advertising & submissions

Natural Care for a Sick Pet

19

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 256-476-6537 or email Editor@Natvalley.com.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS* Newsbriefs due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50-250 words.

Content limited to special events and other announcements.

No advertorials, please.

Articles and ideas due by the 5th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Calendar of Events and Ongoing Calendar listings due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50 words per entry. Please follow format found in those sections.

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY 256-476-6537 -or- Editor@Natvalley.com *All submissions are subject to editing and will be printed at the publisher’s discretion. Article space often fills in advance. Deadline dates refer to the month prior to next publication and may change without notice due to holidays, shorter months, or printing schedules.

Tennessee Valley Natvalley.com www.Natvalley.com 4

18 POSTURES

Downward Facing Dog Pose

by Gatlianne

19 RETHINKING MEDITATION

by Aaron Peavy

20 URBAN GARDENING TAKES ROOT Feeding Ourselves Well

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

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newsbriefs Natural Awakenings Welcomes Teresa Randles

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atural Awakenings Magazine would like to welcome Teresa Randles, LMT #3601. Teresa graduated from the Madison School of Massage in October of 2012 and successfully obtained her license. Since then she has also completed a certification for fibromyalgia massage.

Teresa is also a member of the Associated Bodyworks and Massage Professionals (ABMP), and is certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworks (NCBTMB).

Ms. Randles has opened Healthy Living Therapeutic Massage, LLC and is ready to see new clients. Her mission is to give personal attention to each individual’s specific needs. She offers Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial and Neuromuscular, and Trigger Point Massage.

Her office is located inside Huntsville Pool and Land Therapy located at 3303 Westmill Dr. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805. Teresa offers flexible scheduling and sees clients by appointment only. For more information, or to schedule your appointment, call 256-426-1867 or visit HealthyLivingTheraputicMassage.abmp. com. See Ad on Page 27 and CRG on Page 29.

Center for Directional Healing Welcomes Barbara Musso

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arbara Musso is happy to announce the opening of her practice in Reflexology and Directional Healing at the Center for Directional Healing. Barbara has been certified in Reflexology by the International Institute of Reflexology since 1996. Barbara’s background and many years working as a registered nurse uniquely prepares her to assist clients with their health concerns.

Barbara invites her past clients and welcomes new ones to contact her at 256-361-4297 to make an appointment, and receive a $10 discount off the first session. The Center for Directional Healing is located at 2225 Drake Ave, SW, Suite 18, in Huntsville, AL 35805.

Spring Bake Sale at Decatur Animal Services

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ecatur Animal Services gets some funding from the city but still relies on donations to meet the needs of the animals they care for. The volunteers help out with several fundraisers like bake sales and a yard sale in the Spring and Fall.

The money raised by the volunteers goes to pay for medical treatment for the animals that is not in their basic operating budget. Some of the animals come to shelter in such bad health it can get really costly to care for these forgotten and neglected animals.

There are several ways we can help Decatur Animal Services as well as all local Animal Shelters in our community. Along with monetary donations, the following is a list of items to donate that they have specifically asked for: Original blue Dawn dishwashing liquid, bleach, white vinegar, over-the-counter antibiotic cream and anti-fungal cream, sanitizing wipes, paper towels, peroxide, alcohol, Adult Dog Food, Puppy and Kitten Food, and an endless supply of leashes natural awakenings

March 2013

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and collars. They can also accept used items like towels, blankets, pet carriers/crates, and leashes and collars that can be washed and sanitized. The shelter is also in great need of a commercial grade washer and dryer.

Decatur Animal Services will be having a Spring Bake Sale just in time for you to buy your Easter Desserts. The Sale will be March 30 from 10-2pm at Decatur Animal Services, located at 300-A Beltline Rd. SW, Decatur, AL 35601. For more information on how you can help, call 256-341-4790.

Kathy Holmes Reed Acupuncturist

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256-303-5729 reedacu@gmail.com 1803 Somerville Rd. SE, Decatur 35601

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The Oxygen Revolution

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urious about Oxygen Therapy?

Want to know exactly what Oxygen Therapy is and how it can help you? On March 19 at 6:30pm Holistic Medical Center of Alabama will be sponsoring an educational event.

Dr. Rodney Soto will be discussing the principles and applications of hyperbaric oxygen therapy also known as (HBOT). He will be discussing a variety of medical conditions associated with inflammation, degeneration and mitochondrial dysfunction.

The event will be held at Grille 29, located at 445 Providence Main St, Huntsville, AL. The cost for the event is $25 and dinner will be served. RSVP by March 19 by calling 256-325-1648. Space is limited. See Ad on Page 25 and CRG on Page 29.

A Course in Comparative Religions

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he Light of Christ Center is described as a metaphysical church, but by definition, all churches are metaphysical because all are concerned with concepts “beyond the physical.” Since the time of our ancient ancestors, humanity has observed the mysteries of our natural world and the heavens above us. Making sense of it all is an ongoing process, so it is little surprise that a multitude of beliefs and viewpoints has resulted in an abundance of faith traditions around the globe.

Unfortunately, wars and conflicts often arise from these differences in religious belief. Now, more than ever before, the world has become too small for us not to get along, and that only happens when we are willing to learn about each other. A study of the world’s religions reveals the commonalities and differences among the world’s different faiths, with the ultimate, practical goal of finding a common ground and a starting point for beginning a true interfaith dialogue.

The Light of Christ Center is offering a ten-week course in Comparative Religions beginning 7pm Thursday, March 7. This course utilizes “The History of Religion” by Bishop

Spong, among other texts. This course discusses the “People of the Book” (Jews, Muslims, and Christians) as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, Unity, Unitarians, Chinese spirituality, and many others. Several guest speakers are planned, and possibly a field trip. Course fee is $100. Please pre-register for this class by calling Rev. Peggy Shanahan at 256-883-6730.

coverartist

A Course In Meditation

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editation has been an integral part of Eastern religions for over 5000 years. Today, many people have accepted meditation as a multipurpose tool and not just for spiritual enlightenment. Meditation can benefit not only the spirit, but the mind, emotions, and physical body as well. It can have remarkable effects on depression, blood pressure, headaches, heart rate, sleep, and other bodily functions.

The Light of Christ Center is offering an “Introduction To Meditation” class starting on Tuesday, April 9 at 7pm. Students will be presented with two Western and two Eastern techniques of meditation. At the end of this 4-week course, students can determine which method will work best for them. To register for this course, call the Center at 256-895-0255 and leave a message, or contact the instructor, Rev. Faye Waite-Glasgow, at 256-881-2658.

The long-term goal of meditation is indeed spiritual enlightenment, but those just beginning to meditate need to bring their minds back under control. Just as physical exercise can improve muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, meditation is an equivalent mental exercise. A regular meditative program or routine is important to increase your powers of attention, and ultimately connect you to your inner higher self, the Soul, your Godself.

The Light of Christ Center is located at 4208 Holmes Ave. in Huntsville. See Ad on Page 5 and CRG on Page 29.

Natural Awakenings Offers New Dating Website

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atural Awakenings is premiering a new online dating site, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, in partnership with the Conscious Dating Network, the Internet’s largest and oldest conscious/spiritual/green dating site.

Niche, online dating offers singles an efficient way to screen and date potential partners that share similar values and interests and are ready to be in a loving relationship. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is designed to facilitate this enlightened way of meeting, dating and connecting.

The site will allow singles to join, create a full profile, upload photos and videos, send hellos, indicate interest, and even read and reply to private messages and IMs, all for free. Upgrading, which allows members to initiate personally written messages and IMs, is inexpensive compared to other online dating sites, with packages ranging from $7.97/month to $16.97/month.

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. CEO Sharon Bruckman says, “I’m really excited about this new alliance, which enables us to offer our 80-plus Natural Awakenings publishers around the country yet another way to help their readers connect with like-minded people, this time for the purpose of creating conscious relationships. I can’t wait to hear the new love stories!”

For more information, visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com. See Ad on Page 10.

Vegan Food Estelle Carol Originally created as a book cover, Vegan Food richly embodies Estelle Carol’s succinct philosophy: “Design can say it all in a glance.” A graphic designer and illustrator, her artwork reflects a dedication to ecological responsibility and sustainable living.

Applying her degree in fine arts from the University of Chicago, Carol began her chosen career as an illustrator and magazine art director. She also designs websites, board games, books, logos and brochures. Her illustrations emerge in several styles; she notes that, “The real secret of illustration is the idea behind it.”

During 20 years in her profession, Carol has created illustrations and designs for many educational, social service, labor and activist groups. She is also the cofounder and creative director of WebTrax Studio, a communications and marketing firm that specializes in serving small businesses, academia and nonprofits with green interests.

View Estelle Carol’s online portfolio at WebtraxStudio.com.

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The Heart of Being: A Silent Retreat Day at the Center for Spiritual Living

Inner Wellness Center for

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he Center for Spiritual Living will host “The Heart of Being, a Silent Retreat,� on March 23 from 9am-3pm.

Lunch will be included. Suggested donation: $25 per person, $40 for couples. Goals and topics of the retreat include: • Exploring your own heart and discover your deepest nature and authentic self. • What has been present all your life and remains consistent through every experience? • What has the gift of your life experiences revealed and how are others touched by you?

Creating Positive Change Through Hypnotherapy, Breathwork & EFT/Matrix Reimprinting t Stress and Anxiety t Fears/Phobias t Release Negativity t Let Go of the Past t Pain Management t Weight Loss t Smoking Cessation

Reverend David Leonard will facilitate a day of silence and exploration as we open the true nature of our being.

With two group discussions, interspersed with periods of silent meditation, attendees will have an opportunity to tend to inner and outer silence and deepen in awareness of this now moment. This silent retreat will offer a potent blend of stillness and dynamic inquiry along with experiential movement and embodiment.

David Leonard has been pastor for the Center for Spiritual Living for 24 years, and he has studied with Adyashanti, Gangaji, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, and Thich Nhat Hahn. David’s retreats bring the mind to rest in the open heart so participants have a direct experience of our true and deepest nature that is peaceful, loving, and accepting of life just as it is.

Center for Spiritual Living is located at 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL 35802. Contact: Gloria Agrelius, at 256-503-3083 or email GAgrelius@yahoo. com. Visit CSL-Huntsville.org for more information on classes, Sunday talks, and upcoming events. See Ad on Page 9.

Call For More Information.

Becky Waters, CHT, BMSC 256.348.5236 3322 South Memorial Parkway Suite 641 Huntsville, AL 35801 www.centerforinnerwellness.com

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Dekko Foundation Presents Check to Athens Limestone Public Library Foundation

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he Dekko Foundation is a private foundation started in 1981 by the late Chester E. (Chet) Dekko. Mr. Dekko’s generosity has benefitted many organizations throughout Limestone County, and the Athens Limestone Public Library Foundation is proud to be a grant recipient. The $1M challenge grant, issued by the Dekko Foundation on behalf of the project to build a new library for the community, provided the Foundation with the boost they needed to engage the community. Paula Laurita, director of the library commented, “The Dekko Foundation shares our mission to offer equal access to information and education.”

The Library Foundation earned the first grant payment of $250,000 in January of 2012 and this $750,000 check represents the final payment of the $1M challenge. Frank Cauthen, MD, chair of the Library Foundation Board said, “We can’t thank the Dekko Foundation enough for their belief in our project and their financial support. With their help, our dream will become a reality and will benefit every member of this community.”

Foundation Board Members are working on a final push to raise the last $500,000 needed to finance the construction of the new facility. Naming opportunities are available, and donations of $5,000 or more will be recognized on a Major Donor Wall.

Jeff Tosh of CMH Architects is designing the new facility, which will be a renovation of the Kroger store on Jefferson Street. Limestone Building Group will begin the oversight of construction this Spring, and the new facility is anticipated to be completed by the summer of 2014.

A Spiritual Community supporting the practice of knowing God in the heart of every person.

ONGOING SERVICES AND CLASSES! New Thought Classes

Tuesdays, 6:30-9:00pm Wednesdays,10:00am-12:00pm

Revealing Services Sundays 9:45am

Celebration Services Sundays 10:30am

Meditation

Tuesdays & Wednesdays 6:00pm Sundays 8:30am

Satsang

Wednesdays 6:30pm

The Paranormal Study Center will host Author/Psychic Rick Hayes

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ick Hayes is the founder of LifesGift, Inc, an association that supports his consultation and speaking engagement services. As a psychic medium and life consultant with unique abilities, Rick consults on a daily basis with those who have questions on life and the life-after. As a speaker and lecturer, Rick has offered his unique insight with inspiration and enthusiasm to thousands since 2003. Rick’s speaking invitations range from a small organization group to major events and conventions attended by thousands. Rick’s wide range of topics is designed to accommodate each speaking invitation.

As a published author, Rick’s books include Stepping Stones: Thoughts Along Life’s Path and You’re not Crazy, You Have A Ghost. Rick’s articles appear in numerous print and online publications. Rick is a media favorite appearing on television, film, radio, and in print media, including appearances on The Travel Channel, SyFy Network, Chiller Channel, Fox Television, and Sirius Satellite Radio. Rick is also the host of the weekly syndicated internet radio show, “Reflections with Rick Hayes.”

Rev. David Leonard Transforming Lives and Making the World a Better Place www.cslhuntsville.org

308 Lily Flagg Rd.

883-8596

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March 2013

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In this insightful and motivational presentation, entitled “The Believe Power of You: What Are You Going To Be When You Grow Up?” Rick creates an explosion of audience participation that will leave the audience wanting more.

This presentation will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4801 Governors House Dr, (next to Landry’s Seafood) Friday, March 22 at 6:30pm. Public Admission is $10. For more information visit ParapsychologyStudyGroup.com.

New HypnoBirthing Class Begins March 2

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ypnoBirthing® – The Mongan Method is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. The concept of HypnoBirthing is not new, but rather a “rebirth” of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it was recaptured in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, who first forwarded the concept of natural birthing in the 1920s. This method teaches that in the absence of fear and tension, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor.

You will gain an understanding of how the birthing body and muscles work in perfect harmony—as they were designed to—when your body is sufficiently relaxed. You will learn how to achieve this kind of relaxation, free of the resistance that fear creates, and you will learn how to use your natural birthing instincts for a calm, serene and comfortable birth.

HypnoBirthing is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth that is enhanced by self-hypnosis, special breathing techniques, visualizations, affirmations, and education. It returns a woman to the art of birthing in a way that allows her to summon her natural birthing instincts and to birth her baby in safety with calm and ease.

The class begins on Saturday, March 2 from 10am-12:30pm and consists of 5 consecutive weeks ending on March 30. The cost is $295, which includes the HypnoBirthing book, the Relaxation Rainbow CD and extra handout materials.

Natural Awakenings Singles Site

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Join for free and manifest an extraordinary, enlightened relationship. Spring is in the air; be proactive by joining today. Your soul mate is waiting to meet you!

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To register for a class, contact your local certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner, Marsha Mathes, at 256698-2151 or Mathes79@knology.net.

See CRG ad on Page 29.

Dreams and Soul Travel—Keys to Healing, Joy, and Inner Peace

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n Saturday, March 16, from 1:008:30pm, the Alabama affiliate of Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God, will host a spiritual seminar entitled “Dreams and Soul Travel—Keys to Healing, Joy, and Inner Peace.” This seminar is being held at the Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Boulevard (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 9) in Madison, and is free to the public.

Inspirational talks, personal stories and panel discussions will offer spiritual tools and insights for working with your dreams to create a more fulfilling life for yourself, and show how Soul Travel can help you move closer to the heart of God. Some of the topics included on the program are Dreams A Source of Inner Truth, Overcoming Fear by Opening the Heart, Soul Travel for a Wide Range of Experiences, and Using Your Creativity to Find Joy and Inner Peace. Small group discussions will provide attendees an opportunity to explore a variety of spiritual experiences that they may have had—a sense of having lived before, out-ofbody or near-death experiences, dreams of departed loved ones, or experiences with an inner light or inner sound, among others. Interspersed among the talks and discussions will be live musical performances.

Amanda Morris, local Eckankar clergy, says, “This seminar will highlight ways of recognizing the divine in every moment of your life.

Anyone interested in finding keys to a life of greater love, wisdom and freedom is invited to attend.”

More information about the seminar or Eckankar events in Alabama can be obtained on the Web at ECK-Alabama.org or by calling 256-534-1751.

healthbriefs

Battle of the Bulge

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ccording to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese today, nearly triple the rate in 1963. A new report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation advises that if adult obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, 13 states could have rates above 60 percent; 39 states above 50 percent; and all 50 states above 44 percent.

A study published in the International Journal of Obesity, based on research at 10 universities, points to the use of hormones in factory meat production as a major reason for this trend. Pesticides are another culprit; the average American is exposed to 10 to 13 different types each day via food, beverages and drinking water, and nine of the 10 most commonly used are endocrine disrupters linked to weight gain. Genetically modified U.S. food crops are also sprayed heavily with biocides. Findings presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science linked bisphenol A (BPA)—an industrial chemical contained in plastic soda, drinking and baby bottles—with abnormal estrogen function.

To win the battle of the bulge, Americans need to eat balanced diets and exercise regularly, but additional steps can further help: choose organic, grass-fed meat instead of corn-fed; use glass instead of plastic containers for beverages and food storage; avoid canned food unless the label states BPA-free; and consume yogurt daily or take a high-quality probiotic to help restore healthy intestinal flora.

Drinks Tied to Tooth Trouble

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hen replacing lost fluids during or after a workout, consider how beverage choices can affect the health of teeth. A recent study published in General Dentistry, the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, found that increased consumption of sports and energy drinks is causing irreversible damage to teeth, especially among adolescents.

A reported 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens regularly imbibe energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent down at least one sports drink a day. “Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ than soda,” says Associate Professor Poonam Jain, lead author of the study, who serves as director of community and preventive dentistry at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

“Most of these patients are shocked to learn that the drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

In testing the effect of acidity levels on samples of human tooth enamel immersed in 13 sports and nine energy beverages, researchers found that damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure. Moreover, energy drinks were twice as harmful as sports drinks. “These drinks erode or thin out the enamel of the teeth, leaving them more susceptible to decay and sensitivity,” says Jain.

WHY WE MIGHT NEED MORE VITAMIN C

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esearchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a leading global authority on the role of vitamin C in optimum health, forward compelling evidence that the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C should be raised to 200 milligrams per day for U.S. adults, up from its current levels of 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. The RDA of vitamin C is less than half of what it should be, scientists argue, because medical experts insist on evaluating this natural, but critical, nutrient in the same way they do for pharmaceutical drugs, and consequently reach faulty conclusions.

The researchers base their recommendations on studies showing that higher levels of vitamin C could help reduce chronic health problems including heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as underlying causal issues such as high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, poor immune response and atherosclerosis. Even at the current low RDA, U.S. and Canadian studies have found that a quarter to a third of the total population is marginally deficient in vitamin C and up to a fifth of those in such groups as students, smokers and older adults are severely deficient in it.

February 2013

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

Coyote Ugly Critters Becoming New Urban Pioneers

Windy Woes Solving Wind Power’s Hidden Pollution Problem The U.S. Department of Energy reports that although wind power accounts for just over 4 percent of domestic electrical generation, it comprises a third of all new electric capacity. Even with the freedom from coal or oil that wind power creates, a major component of the generating devices, the turbine blades, has its own carbon footprint that needs examining.

Some of the blades are as long as a football field, and the metal, fiberglass or carbon composites must be mined, refined, manufactured and transported, all consuming energy and creating materials that are difficult to recycle when they reach the end of their usefulness and are replaced. Christopher Niezrecki, a member of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Wind Energy Research Group, estimates the United States will have as many as 170,000 wind turbines by 2030, creating more than 34,000 discarded blades each year.

The next generation of blade material may come from natural cellulose fibers and bio-based plastics derived from soybean, linseed and other vegetable oils, instead of oil-based polymers. A $1.9 million National Science Foundation grant is funding the research.

Source: FastCoexist.com

Dishpan Plants Waste Water Cuts Fertilizer Use The effluent created by household sinks, washing machines and showers, known as gray water, could provide a new, lowcost source of irrigation for landscape plants that cuts down on the amount of fertilizer required to maintain them. The nonprofit Water Environmental Research Foundation’s (WERF) new report shows that many plants used for landscaping benefit from the use of gray water (Tinyurl.com/graywaterreport).

The study looked at seven homes in Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas with new and longstanding gray water systems that recycle wastewater to irrigate outdoor plants. Although the soil irrigated with gray water showed higher levels of cleaners, antimicrobials and sodium compared with areas irrigated with fresh water, there was enough nitrogen present in gray water to reduce or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers.

Not all plants responded positively, but WERF Communications Director Carrie Capuco says, “Gray water can be successfully used with the right plant choices.” Guidelines include heavily mulching the area where gray water is supplied to minimize contact with pets.

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Stray dogs and feral cats in our cities may be supplanted by raccoons, foxes and coyotes if current trends continue.

Even mountain lions and bears are unexpectedly showing up in urban landscapes. Evidence suggests that clashes between humans and other predators will increase and potentially intensify.

Ohio State University Biologist Stan Gehrt stated, “The coyote is the test case for other animals,” at an EcoSummit 2012 conference in Columbus, Ohio.

“We’re finding that these animals are much more flexible than we gave them credit for, and they’re adjusting to our cities.” Coyotes, commonplace around many metropolitan areas, don’t seem to mind the density, with some packs each confining themselves to a one-thirdsquare-mile territory.

Eradication efforts have sometimes faltered, partially because of public backlashes sympathetic to wild animals, plus a pattern in which new coyotes tend to quickly move into areas where other animals have been evicted.

Gehrt poses the question, “Are we going to be able to adjust to them living with us or are we not going to be able to coexist?”

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

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Ginny Isbell, Pharm D

Seminars and Workshops THURSDAY EVENING CLASSES AT 6:30 P.M. Cost: $20 – General Public $30 – Nursing Continuing Education Credits Date: Thursday, March 7, 2013 Topic: Thyroid Function & Fatigue Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013 Topic: Hormone Interregulation .................

Yoga at Madison Drugs!

Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines stretching exercises, controlled breathing and relaxation.

Yoga can also help reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve heart function.

Join us for yoga Monday thru Thursday & Saturday. We offer Prenatal Yoga, Yoga Start, Yoga Fitness and more. Call the store at 256-837-1778 to sign up.

Location: Madison Drugs Classroom (2nd Floor) Instructor: Ginny Isbell, Pharmacist.

Like us on Facebook

R.S.V.P. @ (256) 837-1778

Serving You For 27 Years.

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256 . 837.1778 natural awakenings

March 2013

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wisewords

animal. We want every adoption to be the best match possible.

WALKING THE TALK Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs

by Sandra Murphy

A

ctress Marlane Barnes recently made her feature film debut as Maggie of the Irish Coven, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II, building on a growing résumé of films, TV and theater credits. A current resident of Los Angeles, she actively supports the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society, a local no-kill facility, and serves as national spokesperson for Spay First. To date, her foster dogs include India, Birdie, Archie and Wally, with more to come.

Why is fostering rescue dogs important?

Fostering is a good way to find the right dog for your personality and circumstances. Dogs aren’t accessories, chosen on looks alone. Fostering allows you to see what breed, size, temperament and activity level works best.

When India, the first dog I fostered, was adopted, she went to a home that suited her nature and needs. Birdie, a 6-year-old golden retriever-beagle mix,

came to me when her shelter time was up. After two months, Birdie was placed with a family that was willing to deal with an older dog’s health issues, and it’s worked out well for all parties.

What do you try to teach the dogs to make them more adoptable?

We take a lot of walks during our six to eight weeks together. Teaching them to sit, be petted, take treats gently and behave well on a leash all helps.

I also expose them to new experiences. We visit the coffee shop, meet kids and take hikes; in these ways, I learn what the individual dog enjoys.

It takes some of the guesswork out of the equation. Fostering is like a halfway house for dogs; after living with them, I can vouch for them, as well as voice any concerns about the family situation.

I feel strongly that the dog must be treated as part of the family, whose schedule has to work with having a dog, and that dog in particular. It’s a matter of finding the right person for the

It is easy to sit up and take notice; what is difficult is getting up and taking action. ~Honoré de Balzac

Who takes care of your foster dog when you are at work?

I have a group of creative friends who jump in to help. It’s easy to ask them to help with a foster dog because it lets them be part of the rescue. That way, they are doing a favor more for the dog than for me.

How do spay/neuter programs benefit shelter animals?

When I was 10, I volunteered at the Humane Society in Fort Smith, Arkansas, so being the spokesperson for Spay First is a natural fit. High volume/low cost spay/neuter programs are the fastest way to reduce pet overpopulation and the number of animals ending up in shelters.

Every year, taxpayers spend billions of dollars to house, euthanize and dispose of millions of animals. Spay/neuter is a commonsense way to permanently solve the problem. Spay First works to keep the cost less than $50, especially in rural and lower income areas, and actively campaigns to make this a community priority around the country.

How can caring people help?

Donate money or items found on a shelter or rescue unit’s wish list. Walk a shelter dog to keep it social and active. Foster a dog to see if having a dog fits and enhances your life. The rescue group pays the bills, support is available and it’s a good way to explore the possibility of adoption. Once you know for sure, adopt.

Also talk about the benefits of fostering and adopting dogs and the importance of affordable spay/neuter programs for dogs and cats in your community.

Spread the word that it is not okay to buy a puppy or kitten in a store when we are discarding millions of shelter animals each year that desperately need homes. Puppies are cute, but older dogs already are what they’re going to be— what you see is what you happily get.

For more information or to make a donation, visit SpayFirst.org.

Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines.

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communityspotlight

W

e’ve all heard the saying that your health is your wealth, but achieving good health is an elusive goal for some. Maybe you’ve been trying to lose weight, but just can’t seem to drop a pound. Maybe you’re eating right and exercising, but you still feel tired all the time. Maybe you feel something is just not right with you, but you can’t figure out what it is.

That’s the perfect time for a visit to Ruth’s Nutrition health food store. The women who work there have years of experience helping customers feel better, be it by simply offering lifestyle advice or choosing from a wide variety of quality products.

When it comes to feeling fit, people have learned Ruth’s is the place to shop.

The store carries protein shakes of all kinds, those with whey and others with rice/chia/hemp/pea proteins for those who cannot eat dairy or soy. Not only that, it devotes an entire section to Dr.

a product can help, but sometimes a visit to the doctor is necessary first. In any case, the women at Ruth’s can help guide you in a healthy direction.

One product that has helped dozens of tired men is Nature’s Plus T-male. It contains several herbs and vitamins that support healthy testosterone production.

It must be doing something because men are buying it two boxes at a time and repeatedly coming back for more!

Stress is something that we all know something about. Let’s face it, we’ve created a very busy, stressful world, and for many of us it takes a toll. We may feel tired, irritable, overwhelmed. That’s when herbs and amino acids can be really helpful. Dr. Oz has recommended Passionflower, and New Chapter’s Holy Basil Force is another herb that promotes

Oz recommended weight-loss products: Green Coffee Bean, Raspberry Ketones, Garcinia Cambogia and Red Palm Oil are just a few of the supplements found there.

If pain is your chief complaint but common painkillers cause you stomach pain, then Ruth’s has relief. Terry Naturally’s Curamin comes with a moneyback guarantee to relieve pain. Dozens of customers can attest it works, and works well. If inflammation is your nemesis, you might consider New Chapter’s Zyflamend, a blend of several anti-inflammatory herbs.

Zyflamend has clinical trials showing it promotes normal cardiovascular and joint function. That makes it great for aching knees, sore shoulders or any other inflammatory condition.

Many women come to Ruth’s because they’ve entered perimenopause or menopause. Either one can turn a women’s life upside down with hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances and more. It can be an unsettling time. Ruth’s customers have learned to rely on the wisdom of Ruth’s staff, many of whom are in menopause themselves. They can help customers pick the best products to alleviate their particular challenge.

If you’re feeling more tired than you’d like, Ruth’s may have a solution.

It all depends on your particular situation. Are you sleeping? Have you been checked for anemia? Are your thyroid hormones normal? Are your adrenals pooped? Each of these situations demands a different solution. Sometimes

calm and balance. When things get really uneasy, Source Naturals Theanine Serene might be the answer. It contains magnesium, relaxing amino acids GABA and L-Theanine, along with Holy Basil, a powerfully relaxing combo.

Of course, if stress is your issue, you also could book an appointment with Ruth’s massage therapist or reflexologist. Both are amazing at what they do, and an hour with either is sure to leave you calm and relaxed.

In short, if you have a health problem you’d like to work on, or if you’re healthy and you just want to stay that way, Ruth’s is worth your time to visit.

They’ll help you solve your health puzzle.

Ruth’s Nutrition is located at 7540 Memorial Parkway SW, in the Rosie’s Cantina Shopping Center. Hours are 9:30am-5:30pm M-F, and 9:30am-2:30pm on Saturday. Visit Ruth’s Nutrition online at RuthsNutrition.com. See Ad on Page 25.

natural awakenings

March 2013

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communityspotlight

by Tom Maples

“The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn’t been fully realized. They keep millions of people sane.”

–Eckhart Tolle, Guardians of Being (available at Pets, Love and Happiness)

R

ebeca Santos has created the thinking person’s pet store.

Every item to be found inside Pets, Love and Happiness has been consciously chosen.

Cycle Dog colorful collars made from recycled bicycle tires. 100% recyclable pet toys that float. Frisbees specially made for Disc Dogs. Animal-inspired art, clothing and gifts.

T-shirts, handbags, and other accessories emblazoned with “Real Men Love Cats,” or “Dog is Good,” among others. Those are simply some of the non-edibles. The store also carries an impressive variety of specialty pet food items, such as Grandma Lucy’s Freeze-Dried Chicken and Rice Remedy for pets’ upset stomachs, as well as several premium natural pet food

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brands. These top-recommended brands include Fromm, Evangers, Zignature, Lotus, and Fussie Cat. What marks all of these brands of dog and cat food is they are made of top-quality natural ingredients with no grains or cheap fillers like corn, wheat or soy. Most of the brands are made by small companies, many

family-owned and operated, and use ingredients grown in the U.S. or Canada.

Some of the stuff in cans looks a lot like what people eat themselves.

People come in the store and linger. Part of the attraction is Rebeca herself, who is exceedingly easy to talk to. She is one of those people who puts other people at ease.

Especially when the subject is pets.

Pets are her passion. She is very philosophical about the relationship between pets and people. Pets, Love and Happiness is the pet store for people who put pets first. We all know these people. We may be one of them ourselves. Our pets give us so much…they literally keep us sane,

Piper the Shop Cat as Eckhart Tolle says…and we want to keep them as healthy as possible for as long as possible…a long and healthy lifespan. We are willing to splurge a little on healthy natural pet food. Some of us feed our pets better than we eat ourselves.

The original name for the store was “Barks & Collars” (or “Barks & Clawers” to specifically include cats), playing off the name of Huntsville’s famous landmark Brooks & Collier home and garden store, which is right next door. But Rebeca’s final inspiration for a store name was much more aspirational, and the name Pets, Love and Happiness truly says it all—capturing the uniqueness, the kaleidoscopic variety, and the highly positive energy, the exuberance, of the store, its space, its products, and its proprietor.

Store hours are 10am5pm, Mon-Fri and 10am- 3pm on Sat. Pets, Love and Happiness: 905 Meridian Street North, Huntsville, AL. Rebeca Santos

256-429-9112.

Paws@PetsLoveandHappiness.com.

Facebook.com/PetsLoveandHappiness.

See Ad on Page 17 and CRG on Page 30.

naturalpet

Holistic is Best Natural Care for a Sick Pet

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

T

he best course of action for any pet that appears to be sick is to see a holistic vet early, before a disease can progress or before the pet has been made even more ill by improper conventional treatment.

Downsides of Conventional Treatment Many sick pets brought to a holistic vet’s office may not have been formally diagnosed, even if they’ve been receiving medical treatment by a conventional doctor for weeks or months. In most cases, the standard blanket prescriptions of antibiotics and corticosteroids—regardless of the cause of illness—have failed to produce positive results. Worse, such drugs carry side effects that can make the pet even sicker; indiscriminate use of antibiotics, for example, has led to antibiotic resistance in bacteria, making it harder to treat serious infections when antibiotics are the only viable treatment option.

So by the time the holistic doctor sees them, the condition of these pets may have worsened. The good news is that with precise diagnosis of the underlying issues, most sickly pets can be treated with good success. Because a holistic approach to healthcare relies on individual factors, the exact treatment will vary according to the patient and situation. A cookie-cutter treatment will not be very helpful.

Holistic Nutrition Therapy Helps Owners can take several steps to provide relief for a suffering pet right away while awaiting the results of proper diagnostic tests. In my practice, three vet-supervised nutrition therapies have been shown to be effective in stabilizing a sick pet for the 24 to 48 hours needed to return test results before the appropriate treatment can be

initiated. Ask the attending veterinarian for other safe, comforting measures he or she likes to recommend.

First, most sick pets benefit from receiving fluid therapy (intravenous or subcutaneous) in a veterinary hospital. The fluids rehydrate and help detoxify the pet by causing increased urination that flushes out cellular toxins.

Second, injectable vitamins C and B complex added to the fluids often have a temporary pick-me-up effect, reducing lethargy and improving appetite.

Third, using supplements selected to restore homeostasis also helps make the pet feel better and encourages healthy eating. I like to use a natural immunity support I developed called Healthy Chi, which contains amino acids, potassium, green tea, ginseng, gotu kola and the herb astragalus. Homeopathic combinations also can be useful; I’ve developed a natural remedy combining gallium, colchicum, hydrastis, anthraquinone and glyoxal.

our office with a chronic herpes virus infection. Percy’s owner made an appointment because the feline had a congested nose and wasn’t eating as much as normal. Natural treatment for the herpes virus began with the amino acid lysine and the herb echinacea, both also helpful in preventing cold and flu.

Supportive care for the general malaise and lack of appetite relied on the same recommended nutrition therapies and again resulted in overnight improvements in the pet’s attitude and appetite; the nasal congestion left during the following week.

While antibiotics and corticosteroids can be helpful in properly diagnosed cases, using natural therapies can provide quick relief without the harmful side effects often seen from the use of conventional medications.

Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. Visit PetCareNaturally.com.

Human Food Especially for Pets Holistic Pet Food (no corn, wheat or soy)

Consciously chosen pet supplies

Case Studies Exemplify Success Two recent cases illustrate the benefit of an informed holistic approach. Gus, a 7-year-old male standard poodle, had a history of inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal cancer. He did well immediately following cancer surgery, but then became lethargic and showed a disinterest in food. So, we conducted a fecal analysis and complete blood profile.

While awaiting test results, I prescribed the recommended nutrition therapies, along with a special diet. The next morning, the owner reported that Gus was feeling and acting much better, including showing more interest in eating. His owner was pleased with this rapid response and relieved to avoid unnecessary medication.

A young Persian cat arrived in

Pet-inspired art, clothing and gifts

905 Meridian Street North Huntsville, AL 35801 (Next to Brooks and Collier)

256-429-9112 256 256-429-9 429 9

natural awakenings

March 2013

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by Gatlianne

—PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEWIS METTS

Downward Facing Dog Pose

L

ife often hands us so much that we want to sit down in the floor and cry and scream out “I can’t take any more!” And sometimes, we even do it and that’s okay. Life is simply reacting to us. Thoughts become things as it were and the thoughts we’re putting out into the world create our reality. When we’re wrapped up and controlled by stress more stressful events pop up. The Universe will provide what we call for!

And even though we may be hoping for relief, if we’re constantly focusing on negative aspects and fear-based worries then that is what we’re actually calling forward because that’s where we’re putting the majority of our energy. It is said that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Sometimes we feel like an angry lion – roaring and crazed, out of control. Our lives seem to be one “bad thing” after another and we truly believe that we absolutely cannot take anything else. This is the point to check in with ourselves and see what’s going on. Are we putting the focus on what we have or what we don’t? Are we anticipating the worst instead of hoping for the best? Are we living in a consciousness of abundance or lack? Are Are we living in a state of fear or in a state of love?

A pose that helps us check in with our bodies and get back in tune

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with our spirits is Downward Facing Dog. This pose is incorporated into most yoga practices but often is used as a transition pose. When the pose is held and the body is allowed to fully stretch and release Downward Facing Dog can bring a new sense of peace and healing. This pose allows you to be very intentional and seek out with awareness the areas of stress and pain in the body.

In this pose feel from the inside out to see where you may be overextending yourself or where perhaps you’re afraid to stretch a bit deeper. Check in with the breath to see if it flows smoothly or if it’s choppy. Is your face soft? Are you gently flowing with the energy of the pose or are you stiff and rigid?

To do Downward Facing Dog g Begin on all fours in Tabletop pose.

Gently curl the toes under and press the heels back. Stay strong through the legs and keep the palms of the hands pressed down into the floor. Let the head and neck hang, keep the face soft, and breathe deeply into the abdomen.

Downward Facing Dog allows you to utilize your inner awareness on a bodily level so you can take that awareness into your daily life. The same intention that you use within the pose can be used with yourself in the behaviors you present and actions you take. Are you constantly on the go overextending yourself? Is it time to slow down and go within to heal? Are you afraid to branch out? Are you bringing unnecessary y stress into yyour life because you’re holding onto fear or worry?

Allow Downward Facing Dogg to give you insight as it brings you relaxation, strength, and calm from the inside out.

M/Gatlianne is an Author, Yoga Instructor, Interfaith Minister and Holistic Health & Reiki Practitioner based in Athens, AL. For more information contact her at M@Gatlianne.com or visit Gatlianne.com, DeepRiversHealing. com, or Discover Path.com.

Rethinking Meditation

different brain response than the others.

Because each of us differ so vastly, it is likely that we simply need to find the particular niche that works best for us.

As one proceeds, it is good to keep in mind that some forms of meditation can be harder to navigate without a teacher. Whether by books, recordings, or in-person, it is beneficial to seek guidance from those who have forged the path before us. However, as a note of caution, beware enlightenmentpeddlers and those seeking to con seekers. This is not to say that legitimate seminars and workshops do not have costs to cover, but proceed with caution. For many, like this author, teaching meditation is a passion and we could never imagine charging money for the privilege to share it with another, unless it was essential to cover travel or other expenses incurred.

by Aaron Peavy

M

any people talk about meditation, having tried it or desiring to pursue some practice, but often get lost in defining what it actually means. There is a tendency to think that meditation means one thing and typical meditators all sit in the same way doing that thing.

Popular culture or societal belief has shaped a common misconception that most meditations are to sit and have an empty mind, or no thoughts.

When people try to meditate for the first time, often without guidance, and find it unsuitable to their needs, it is quite common for a belief to form that one simply “cannot meditate.” Once this belief takes hold, it may become a greater hurdle to overcome than the practice itself.

Do not get caught on the idea that meditation should be easy or else it is wrong. Though a meditation to empty the mind may be a valid exercise for the seasoned meditator, it is not something easily done by a beginner.

Is it any wonder that the typical person gets frustrated when we live in a world that bombards us with a magnitude of information much greater than even a generation past? Stilling a mind that processes and filters so much on a daily

basis would be quite the feat in one’s first attempt. Advanced meditators have built up to their current practice over a period of many years.

Further, consider that there exist multitudes of meditative methods. One may appeal more than another may, which is why trying out the varieties would benefit any serious seeker.

Some who scientifically study the effects of meditation on the individual have defined several broad categories of practices; these are focused attention, open monitoring, and selftranscendent. In each of these broad categories, there are several popular and accessible techniques available.

Finding a suitable practice for each individual requires an open and honest search for what works. There is never a one-size-fits-all technique.

Some examples of the focused attention variety include Tibetan Buddhist compassion or Zen meditations. For open monitoring, a few examples are Mindfulness and Zazen. Lastly, the self-transcendent type includes meditations similar to those taught in Transcendental Meditation. According to a recent scientific study, each of these categories of meditation elicits a

By reframing our understanding of meditation, and broadening our definition, we may approach it in a way that is less self-judging and more open to finding a means to integrate it into our daily lives. Give it time and take it slow. Trying to sit for thirty minutes is a bit much for a first attempt. Take five or ten minutes when starting. All things worthwhile begin with baby-steps. Be patient with yourself and keep going.

“In all this movement you must somehow begin from the other end, from the other shore, and not always be concerned with this shore or how to cross the river. You must take a plunge into the water, not knowing how to swim. And the beauty of meditation is that you never know where you are, where you are going, what the end is.”

– Jiddu Krishnamurti Aaron Peavy has had a lifelong passion for inner exploration and personal transformation. Having studied various esoteric and exoteric traditions and practices over the years, he enjoys teaching from his experiences and working with people.

natural awakenings

March 2013

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Feeding Ourselves Well

Urban Gardening Takes Root

70 percent of these gardens are in urban or suburban areas.

“We’re seeing a new crop of farmers that defy stereotypes,” observes David Tracey, owner of EcoUrbanist environmental design in Vancouver, Canada, and author of Urban Agriculture. “Some are office workers leaving unsatisfying jobs, techie types learning the trade in universities and back-to-theland folks that happen to live in cities.

Others are activists taking on the industrial farm system, folks adopting trends or entrepreneurs that see opportunities in the rising prices of quality food and the proximity of millions of customers.”

Opportunities and Pitfalls

by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

“I

n just one-twelfth of an acre, including lots of paths and a compost heap, our family grows the vast majority of the fresh vegetables we need, plus a decent chunk of our fruits and berries,” says Erica Strauss.

“It’s not a huge garden, but we still feel nearly overwhelmed with the harvest in late August.” Her family of four tends a diversity of edibles on their urban lot in a suburb of Seattle, Washington.

Word has spread because Strauss writes about her experiences via Northwest Edible Life, a blog about food growing, cooking and urban homesteading. “Every kid on the block has picked an Asian pear off my espalier and munched on raw green beans,” she notes. “Even picky eaters seem pretty interested when they can pick tasty treats right from the tree or vine.”

We don’t need to live in a rural area or on a farm to grow our own food.

By the close of World War II, nearly 40 percent of all fruits and vegetables supplying Americans stateside were grown in victory gardens in the communities in which they were consumed.

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Today, these small plots are often termed kitchen gardens, comprising parts of household lawns, schoolyards, balconies, patios and rooftops. Fresh taste and the security of local food supplies in case of manmade or natural upheavals are drawing more people to gardening.

Garden Cities “Urbanization, a major demographic trend, has implications for how we grow and consume food,” observes Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardeners International. “If we agree that feeding more people fresh, local foods is a priority, we’re going to need to landscape and, in many cases, retrofit urban and suburban areas for increased food production.”

Millions of Americans now participate in growing mainstay foods.

According to a 2009 study by the National Gardening Association, 31 percent of all U.S. households grew food for their families in 2008, and more have since the economic downturn. Bruce Butterfield, the association’s research director, estimates that nearly

Urban gardening has unexpected advantages in its use of organic waste like coffee grounds from a local coffee house and rainwater from area rooftops. Converting lawns at schools, churches and empty city lots into community gardens fosters community connections, improves access to affordable nutritious foods and creates employment opportunities.

A widespread challenge to the trend is dealing with the quality of urban soil and testing for possible toxins.

Often, urban soil must be improved using compost and other nutrients before plants can prosper. A nearby irrigation source is also required.

“One potential problem for urban gardeners may be the community reaction to an edible landscape,” admits Strauss. “In some cities, edible gardens in the front yard or even the common parking strip are celebrated and even officially encouraged. But in communities where lawn is still king and city codes regarding vegetation are vague and open to interpretation, one complaint from an anonymous neighbor can become an exhausting political and legal fight.”

Feeding Community Community gardens often transform vacant lots and other marginal land into green growing places. In Chicago, The Peterson Garden Project, an awardwinning nonprofit program, has been turning unsightly empty lots into raisedbeds in which residents learn to grow their own food since 2010.

“Nationally, it’s been found that having a community garden on unused

land increases property values, decreases crime and promotes a sense of unity with neighbors and others,” explains LaManda Joy, president and founder of the project. “We work with property owners on the short-term use of their land to enhance the community in which they eventually plan to develop.”

“Participating in a community garden serves up a lot of individual victories,” says Joy. “Improved health and nutrition, learning a new skill, teaching kids where food comes from, productive exercise, mental well-being, connecting with others and saving money—community gardens help make all of this possible.”

Being Prepared “How many recalls have we seen because some food item has been contaminated and people have suffered or died as a result? I am concerned about the safety and security of our food supply,” says Wendy Brown, whose family tends a quarter-acre garden with raised and landscaped beds and containers wrapped around their home plus an onsite greenhouse in a beach resort suburb of Portland, Maine. “As a mother, it concerns me that I might feed my children something that will hurt them.

High-fructose corn syrup, genetically engineered crops and BPA-lined cans are all making headlines. It just seems smarter to grow it myself; that way, we have more control over what our family is eating.”

Brown is one of more than 3 million Americans that are following FEMA recommendations in preparing for any event that might disrupt food supplies. Her book, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs, shares everything her family has done to safeguard themselves, including growing produce, caring for animals and canning, freezing, drying, cold storage or fermenting foods for later use.

“For me, it’s more about being prepared for the everyday things that are happening, like increases in food and fuel prices or a loss of family income,” Brown says. “If we’re growing at least some of our own food, I have a lot less to worry about when such things happen.”

The family also keeps rabbits and ducks, plus egg-laying and meat-providing chickens that can total 40 animals

in the summer at their “nanofarm”.

These also supply natural fertilizer for the crops. Nearby beehives provide 20 pounds of honey each year. Because the foods they produce are solely for their personal use, the Browns are exempt from regulatory restrictions.

“Our neighbors love what we’re doing,” says Brown, whose house is close enough they can chat across their front porches. “One says our initiative reminds him of growing up in Maine pretty much self-sufficient. The other tells friends and coworkers they aren’t worried if things really go bad because they have us as neighbors.”

Growing Green Thumbs “With some effort, urban gardeners can grow great vegetables anyplace that affords enough light and warmth,” advises Strauss, who gardens primarily in raised beds in her front and back yards.

“I garden on the scale I do because I love it. It’s both relaxing and challenging, and we eat well.”

Urban gardening methods are as diverse as the growing conditions, space limitations and financial resources of the gardener.

“Lasagna” gardening—layering newspaper or cardboard and other organic materials on top—can be effective in urban areas because it involves

no digging or tilling. Just as with making compost, alternate between brown and green layers. Once the materials break down, add plants to the newly created growing bed.

Urban dwellers with limited space may employ square-foot gardening, intensively growing plants in raised beds using a growing medium of vermiculite, peat moss and compost. This method can yield fewer weeds and is easier on the back. “It’s an easy concept to grasp for new gardeners,” remarks Joy. “We use it to both maximize output in a small area and ensure healthy, organic, contaminant-free soil.”

Rooftop gardens are becoming more common as larger agricultural operations use them to grow income crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers anyone that sells more than $1,000 of produce to neighbors or area restaurants a farmer, rather than a gardener, so regulations may apply.

For renters, just a few tomato plants in a well-maintained container on a patio or deck can yield as much as 50 pounds of tomatoes by taking advantage of its microclimate, influenced by wind blocks, heated surfaces and reflected light from windows.

Urban gardening is also thriving indoors in terrariums, window boxes and small greenhouses. Even partially

Helpful Resources Green Restaurant Association, DineGreen.com Kitchen Gardeners International, KGI.org Northwest Edible Life, NWEdible.com The Peterson Garden Project, PetersonGarden.org Uncommon Ground, UncommonGround.com Urban Farm Online, UrbanFarmOnline.com Urban Garden Magazine, UrbanGardenMagazine.com Urban Gardens, UrbanGardensWeb.com natural awakenings

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lit rooms can support certain vegetables or herbs with grow lights. Aquaponic gardening, a closed-loop system that involves both fish and vegetables, expands the self-sufficient possibilities of a hydroponic system of growing plants fed by liquid nutrients.

Feeding Ourselves With more than 80 percent of Americans currently living in urban and suburban areas, the questionable nutrition of many mass-produced foods, increasing pesticide and herbicide use by non-organic farmers, greenhouse gas emissions from food transport and weather patterns altered by climate change, it’s past time to take back some control. Operating our own gardens and preparing our own meals turns us back into producers, not

merely consumers. “For the most part, we’re just average suburbanites,� concludes Brown. “We just choose to have less lawn and more garden. A huge benefit is that we need less income because we’re buying less at the grocery store. Our goal is to semiretire in our mid-50s—not because we’ve made a bunch of money, but because we’ve needed less money to live along the way.�

John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, co-authors of Farmstead Chef (FarmsteadChef.com), ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance, operate the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, in Browntown, WI. They grow 70 percent of their organic food; the cost savings helped them become mortgage-free in their mid-40s.

Local Foods Grow on Menus “Many restaurants are seeking to lower ‘food miles’ and offer fresher, more local food,� reports Michael Oshman, founder and CEO of the Green Restaurant Association, which certifies sustainably operated restaurants. The 500-plus restaurants certified since 1990 include university, government and corporate cafeterias.

The award-winning Uncommon Ground restaurant, in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, maximizes the nation’s first certified organic rooftop farm using just 654 square feet of soil. Combined with its Wrigleyville restaurant’s “sidewalk farm�, client chefs receive 1,200 pounds of fresh produce each year, valued at more than $5,600. Ingredients not grown onsite are sourced directly from regional farms, with their names often appearing on the menu.

Community education is also part of the program.

According to the “What’s Hot�

National Restaurant Association nationwide survey of chefs, hyperlocal food sourcing, including rooftop farms, was the fifth-most-popular trend in 2011.

Also in the top 10 were locally grown produce sourced from area farmers, farmbranded ingredients and sustainability. “Customers now have an opportunity to demand local and organic ingredients as much as possible,� concludes Oshman.

More Americans than ever want to know the origin of what’s on their plate.

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Advanced Rolf Practitioner Susan K. Jeffreys Consultations Available

Find out what Susan K. Jeffreys and Structural Integration can do for you!

Call (256) 512-2094 today

Susan K. Jeffreys, AL Lic.#249 $ :KLWHVEXUJ 'U ‡ +XQWVYLOOH $/

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Structural Integration in the method of Ida P. Rolf

calendarofevents

the laughter and cheer throughout the kingdom.

Admission charged. Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953. VonBraunCenter.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

Trinity Market Place – 9am-6pm. Shop for all of the special occasions coming up. You will find jewelry, children’s clothing, artwork, pottery and much more. Also, stop by the bake sale for coffee and dessert. Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, AL 35802. 256-8833200. TrinityHSV.org.

Spring Into Summer Activities Fair – 9am-5pm.

This event will provide parents with everything they need to know about local spring break and summer programs for children of all ages that focus on science, culture and the arts. Participating organizations will be on-hand to answer questions, hand out materials, and introduce children to their programs. Live music, stage performances, children’s activities and more will make this event one the whole family will enjoy.

Sci-Quest, Hands-On Science Center, 102 Wynn Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-837-0606. Sci-Quest.org.

Alabama Inventors and Innovators – 10am-4pm.

In conjunction with National Engineer Week, Burritt is hosting an exhibit showcasing Alabama’s entrepreneurial and inventive spirit. Ranging from the late 1800s to today, the displays will include an interesting assortment of inventions created in Alabama or by people from Alabama. Admission charged. Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-536-2882. BurrittOn TheMountain.org.

2013 Gala Exhibition – 11am-4pm. This important fundraiser for the Huntsville Museum of Art presents over 100 artworks in a range of media and styles, to be auctioned to the highest bidder during the annual Gala event. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350.

HSVMuseum.org.

Huntsville Photographic Society: 2012 Member’s Showcase – An annual juried selection of approximately 50 outstanding photographs by members of the Huntsville Photographic Society. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350. HSVMuseum.org.

Loîs Mailou Jones: A Life in Vibrant Color – 11am-4pm, Daily through March 2013. The first major retrospective features more than 70 paintings, textiles, and sketches from the pioneering African American artist’s 75-year career. Jones was inspired by the social struggles that she witnessed in the U.S. as well as by travels to Martha’s Vineyard, France, Haiti and Africa. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church Street, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350.

HSVMuseum.org Sound and Vision: Monumental Rock and Roll Photography – 11am-4pm, daily throughout 2013.

An exhibition of 40 large-scale images that documents the rock music scene from the early 1960s through 1990s. Musicians include Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and many more. Among the photographers included are Harry Benson, Joel Brodsky, Art Kane, and Mark Seliger. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350. HSVMuseum.org.

Beginner Bonsai – 6-8:30pm. Bonsai is an incredible horticultural practice fusing art and science together to create living sculptures. In this beginning workshop, you are introduced to the basic bonsai techniques of pruning, wiring, potting and care of this living art form. Admission Charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. Hsvbg.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

FRIDAY, MARCH 8 Earth Fare Open Mic – 6:30-8:30pm. Earth Fare, the Healthy Supermarket, continues its Open Mic Writers Series on Friday, March 8. Writers, musicians with original music, and lovers of the arts, are encouraged to join us for a jolly good time. Bring all goodly writing, strong voices, and worthy companions. This is a free monthly event scheduled for every second Friday. For further details and/or for information, call 256-721-7017. Earth Fare is located at 5900-C University Dr NW in Huntsville, AL.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

2013 “Spring Burst” Guided Hike Series- Wild, Wonderful Wildflower Trail – 3pm. Walk with botanist Lynne Weninegar on the Land Trust trail named for its claim to fame: beautiful wildflowers.

Bring a camera and learn more about the stars of this Blossomwood trail. Wildflower Trail on Monte Sano Nature Preserve, 500 Cleermont Dr SE, Huntsville, AL 35801.

Gala Cocktail Party/Art Auction featuring Charleston artist Kevin LePrince – 7-11pm through March 7. This event will feature Hors D’Oeuvres by Lyn’s Gracious Goodness, fantastic silent auction items, music by the Swingin’ Medallions of South Carolina and a drawing for a chance to drive a 2013 Land Rover, courtesy of Century Automotive. Admission charged. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

256-535-4350. HSVMuseum.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5 Intro To Screenprinting – 6-9pm. Learn how to design, prepare, expose and print a screen using photo emulsion and a light source. Bring 5 T-shirts or other fabric items to print with your original design. Admission charged. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-533-0399. LoweMill.net.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 Align and Wine – 6-8pm. Unwind with Mitzi Connell in the Huntsville Museum of Art’s beautiful spaces, then proceed downstairs for wine and light hors d’oeuvres at the delicious Pane e Vino Cafe.

Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350. HSVMuseum.org.

Juicing Workshop – 6:30-7:30pm. Dr. Olszewski, D.C. will be presenting the benefits of juicing and Earth Fare of Huntsville will be explaining how to juice. There will also be a giveaway for a juicer and lots of door prizes from Earth Fare. Rocket City Chiropractic, 2417 Jordan Lane, Huntsville, AL 35816.

Broadway Theatre League presents Monty Python’s Spamalot – 8-10pm. Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python’s SPAMALOT, the musical comedy sensation lovingly ripped off from the film classic “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” now returns to spread

SPIN Farming Workshop – 8-11:45am. Produce your own food naturally and sustainably, using old and new techniques and help create a vibrant local food economy. SPIN-Farming, the system that has already launched thousands of new home and community-based farm operations throughout the US and Canada, teaches you how to take a backyard, front lawn or neighborhood lot to new levels of productivity and profitability that go far beyond traditional home gardening practices. Admission charged.

Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. Hsvbg.org.

Kite Festival – 10am-2pm. AshaKiran and City of Huntsville will host a Kite Festival to promote awareness and inclusiveness among diverse non-profit organizations Theme of the festival is “Soaring for Social Justice.” There will be booths, entertainment, food, kite flying demonstrations and kids activities. John Hunt Park, 2151 Airport Rd, Huntsville, AL 35801.

Lawn Care 101 – 2-3:30pm. Learn some simple tips to help you enjoy an attractive, healthy lawn without all the back-breaking work. Learn to improve your existing situation without having to give up weekends. Weed control, fertilization, grass selection and proper mowing will all be covered. Special emphasis will be on creating a sustainable plan for your lawn.

Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256830-4447. Hsvbg.org.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 Free Health Screening – 9:30am-12pm. Huntsville Hospital’s Mobile Medical unit will be offering free health screenings to the public. Star Market, 9020 Bailey Cove Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35802.

YAM 2013: Exhibition for Youth Art Month – 1-4pm. An annual gathering of exuberant artwork from North Alabama K-12 students, organized in observance of Youth Art Month. Accompanied by the annual Visual Arts Achievement Exhibition, which presents the blue ribbon finalist artworks of middle and high school students in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-5354350. HSVMuseum.org.

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MONDAY, MARCH 11 Independent Mission Marketer

Mary Achatz t Toxic-free skin and body care

t Living, raw, organic and gluten-free foods t Products to help jump start diets and cleansing mlac@otelco.net 256-509-0823 www.maryachatz.mybeyondorganic.com

St. Patty’s Day Fun Run – 5:30-7:30pm. The St. Patty’s Day Fun Run will be a 3-5 mile fun run with food and refreshments to directly follow the run. Fleet Feet, 2722 Carl T Jones Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL 35802.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 Urinetown the Musical presented by UAHuntsville Theatre – 7:30-9:30pm on March 13-16 and 20-23. In a grim Gotham-like city of the future, a 20-year drought has occurred. As a result, the government has banned private toiletries and the citizens must use pay-to-pee toilets regulated by a monopolistic company. UAHuntsville Chan Auditorium, 301 Sparkman Dr, Huntsville, AL 35899. UAH.edu.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 What is Prediabetes? –6:30-7:30pm. Learn how becoming active and making healthy food choices can reduce risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Instruction is by a registered nurse who is a certified diabetes educator.

Star Market, 702 Pratt Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15 NEACA Annual Spring Craft Show – 9am-7pm. Approximately 150 craftsmen and artists from Alabama and many other states will be featured. Items include Teddy Bears, Dolls, Doll Furniture, unusual pottery, special ornament toys, one of a kind jewelry, and more. Von Braun Center South Hall, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953. VonBraunCenter.com.

UCP’s An Irish Evening – 6-10pm. The 15th annual UCP “An Irish Evening” will feature Irish-themed food and beverage samples from local vendors, and reduced cost general admission tickets. Admission charged. Huntsville Depot, Museum & Roundhouse, 320 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-564-8100.

EarlyWorks.com.

Our Town presented by Theatre Huntsville – 7:30-9:30pm through March 16, and March 21-23. This timeless drama is an American classic. The story takes place in the small town of Grover’s Corners through three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage,” and “Death and Eternity.” Admission charged. Von Braun Center Playhouse, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953.

VonBraunCenter.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 Azalea Propagation Workshop – 9-11:45am. Vernon Bush, namesake for the Vernon Bush Outstanding Achievement Award, shares his secrets of propagating native azaleas. He has spent years collecting, growing, planting, sharing and hybridizing native azaleas and his two signature achievements, the Azalea Trail at Jackson County Park and the native azaleas planted throughout the Nature Trail and Azalea Trail here are something to behold. Admission charged.

Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805.

256-830-4447. HSVBG.org.

Opus Tadpole: Harp – 10:15-11am. Children, parents, and even grandparents will have fun during these twenty minute Opus Tadpole presentations, entertaining and interactive ways for our youngest listeners to learn about the instruments of the orchestra. Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953. VonBraunCenter.com.

Drop In and Create! Colorful Creations – 11am-1pm. Create sunsational masterpieces using warm and cool colors in collage. Color mixing will be explored through mixing the primary colors to create secondary colors. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-535-4350.

HSVMuseum.org.

Dreams and Soul Travel—Keys to Healing, Joy, and Inner Peace – 1:008:30pm. Discover how you can create a more fulfilling life for yourself using dreams and Soul Travel. Free seminar sponsored by the Huntsville ECK Center.

Best Western Plus Hotel, 9035 Madison Blvd, Madison (Hwy 20 near I-565 Exit 9). For info: 256-534-1751. ECK-Alabama.org.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 17 Harlem Globetrotters’ 2013 “You Write the Rules” World Tour – 7-9pm. Known as innovators of the game of basketball for decades, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are again introducing something unparalleled in the history of sports and family entertainment, taking kid participation and fun to a whole new level. Admission charged.

Von Braun Center Propst Arena, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953. VonBraun Center.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19 Art with a Twist- Henri Matisse – 5:30-8pm. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or beverage and your closest friends and enjoy painting your very own masterpiece. Don’t worry if you have never painted before, you will enjoy step by step instructions from a fabulous teacher, and you get to take your painting home at the end of the class. Huntsville Museum of Art, 300 Church St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-5354350. HSVMuseum.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 21 An Affair of the Hat – 11am-1pm. Christine A. Moore, owner and designer of Christine A. Moore Millinery has been creating hats professionally for nearly fifteen years. After studying costume design and fine arts in college, Christine worked as an assistant costume designer at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. There she fell in love with the craft of millinery. Her timeless hats are now seen in boutiques, specialty, and gift stores throughout the country. Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. HSVBG.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22 American Freedom Festival Huntsville 2013 – 7:30-10:30pm. The American Freedom Festival Huntsville 2013 presented by Northrop Grumman is a benefit concert for our Veterans and Men and Women of America’s armed forces featuring Trace Adkins and Jana Kramer. Admission charged.

Von Braun Center Propst Arena, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801. 256-533-1953. VonBraun Center.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23

way hit. Admission charged. Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center, 3320 Triana Blvd, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-534-6455. MerrimackHall.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 Broadway Theatre League presents An Evening with Garrison Keillor – 3-5pm. In An Evening with Garrison Keillor, the beloved humorist shares hilarious anecdotes about growing up in the American Midwest, the people of Lake Wobegon, and “latelife fatherhood.” Von Braun Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, 700 Monroe St, Huntsville, AL 35801.

256-533-1953. VonBraunCenter.com.

Solving your health puzzle

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27

Herbs

Southeastern Raptor Demonstration – 11am12pm. This entertaining and educational program will delight the young and old alike. See and learn about some of the most amazing and majestic birds of prey. Witness many of the raptors taking flight and get a bird’s eye view of the animals close up.

Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256830-4447. HSVBG.org.

Vegetable Gardening – 6-7:30pm. Join Niki Sothers, Director of Horticulture as she demonstrates how simple it is to grow a bountiful vegetable garden in your own backyard! Topics: soil preparation, crop rotation, pest control, garden design/layout, and crop selection. Many helpful tips and ideas will be covered. Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256-830-4447. HSVBG.org.

Vitamins Massage 5HÀH[RORJ\ 1DWXUDO )RRGV &OLQLFDO +HUEDOLVW $XULFXODU 7KHUDS\ 0DJQHWLF 7KHUDSLHV 1XWULWLRQDO &RXQVHOLQJ (OHFWUR 'HUPDO 7HVWLQJ

SUNDAY, MARCH 31 Spring Festival of Flowers – 12-5pm. Thousands of bulbs, colorful spring annuals, a woodland full of wildflowers, magnificent dogwoods, amazing azaleas, and gorgeous container plantings highlight the arrival of spring in the Garden. A long-established Huntsville rite of spring and the largest in the state, the Spring Plant Sale offers annuals by the flat or pack; ferns, geraniums, a huge selection of herbs, cherished heirloom plants, houseplants, orchids, perennials, old-fashioned roses, vegetable plants, water plants, wildflowers, shrubs, vines, and trees.

Admission charged. Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave, Huntsville, AL 35805. 256830-4447. HSVBG.org.

256-883-4127 7540-P S. Memorial Pkwy.

Rosie’s Shopping Ctr. Huntsville, AL Open Monday-Saturday RuthsNutrition.com

2013 “Spring Burst” Guided Hike Series: Herping at Matthews Preserve – 10-11am. Alabama A&M Biology and Environmental Science/Wildlife Program Assistant Andrew Cantrell will help hikers discover just who lives on this protected property.

From salamanders to other critters, you may be amazed at the wide variety of “herps” you may find. Harvest Square Preserve, 5851 Highway 53, Harvest, AL 35749.

The Marvelous Wonderettes – 2-4pm. The Marvelous Wonderettes takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom where we meet the Wonderettes; Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match. A captivating new Off-Broad-

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ongoingevents Revealing Service – 9:45am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

sunday

Celebration Service – 10:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-8838596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

Meditation – 8:30am. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596.

CSL-Huntsville.org.

Unity Church on the Mountain Worship Service 11am, with Metaphysical Discussion at 9:30am.

Unity is a positive path for spiritual living. Reverend Phillip Fischer. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr SE, Huntsville, AL. 256-536-2271.

UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

A Course in Miracles Study Group – 9:15am.

Shared reading and group discussions. Extra books available. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville, AL. 256-895-0255. LightOf ChristCenter.org.

1-Hour Mystery School – 11am. A different service each week including ritual, music, and a message in an open, loving environment. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville, AL. 256-895-0255.

LightOfChristCenter.org.

monday Yoga Class – 6-7:15pm. Iyengar-based yoga focuses on form, technique and alignment. Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Suite C, Huntsville, AL. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguagePilates.com.

tuesday Unity Church on the Mountain 1328 Governors Drive SE Huntsville, AL 35801 UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org Sunday Service: 11:00am Rev. Phillip Fischer Discover Unity’s positive, practical Christianity. We are a joyous community which inspires, embraces, and nurtures all those on their spiritual path.

Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596.

CSL-Huntsville.org.

Beginner/Intermediate Mat Class – 6-7pm. This class adds more exercises from the series and will challenge one’s mind/body connections. Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Ste C, Huntsville, AL. 256-704-5080. BodyLanguagePilates.com.

wednesday HypnoBirthing Classes – 6-8:30pm. Each class is a series of 5 consecutive weeks and includes the HypnoBirthing book and Rainbow Relaxation CD. Classes are held at “A Nurturing Moment,” 7540 Memorial Parkway SW, Ste B, Huntsville, AL 35802. To register, contact Marsha Mathes, HB Practitioner, at 256-698-2151 or Mathes79@ knology.net.

Meditation – 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596.

CSL-Huntsville.org.

Art Critique at Lowe Mill – 6-7pm, fourth Wednesday of each month. In the interest of nourishing our expanding artists’ community we are reviving the Art Critique here at Lowe Mill. The hope is that these critiques provide opportunity for Artist: interaction, expression, and growth. All we ask is that all attending come with the spirit to: create, share and express without reservation. Lowe Mill‎, 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL. 256-533-0399.

LoweMill.net‎.

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Satsang – 6:30pm. Satsang is a sanskrit word that means” to sit in truth.” Satsang is a meeting with our true nature that is pure awareness. This sacred circle brings an opportunity to explore our deepest knowing. Through group discussion and inquiry, we reveal the innate wisdom of the one presence living life as each one of us. Led by Rev. David Leonard. Meditation at 6pm. Center for Spiritual Living, 308 Lily Flagg Rd, Huntsville, AL. 256-883-8596. CSL-Huntsville.org.

“You Are A Powerful Creator” – 6:30pm. A class that will guide you how to create the life you want. Unity Church on the Mountain, 1328 Governors Dr. SE, Huntsville, AL. 256-536-2271. UnityChurchOnTheMountain.org.

Searching? – The Red Mountain Study Group of Huntsville invites inquiries from men and women, no matter what their beliefs, who are still searching for the meaning of their lives now and here. Our work includes meditation, practice and study based on the teaching of G. I. Gurdjieff. We are affiliated with the Gurdjieff Foundation of New York. 256-361-9575.

Email: rmsg@att.net.

thursday Fusion Pilates – 9-10am. A fusion of Pilates and Fusion Pilates – 9-10am. A fusion of Pilates and Hanna Somatic work teaching one to access and strengthen one’s deepest connections bringing balance to one’s spine and overall posture.

Body Language Pilates, 305 Jefferson St, Ste C, Huntsville, AL. 256-704-5080.

BodyLanguagePilates.com.

Jin Shin Jyutsu® of Huntsville

Aiding Healing through Body Harmony & Relaxation

SANDRA COPE

Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu® Practitioner (256) 534-1794 Office (256) 509-3540 Cell

Huntsville, Alabama

WHOAGA! HORSEBACK YOGA 24 Hours of WHOA-GA! 8-Week Program 3x/Week includes riding lessons, horseback yoga & guided practice

Cathy Reynolds, Instructor Call or Text 802-855-1627 whoaga@gmail.com

friday Public Clearance Session – 7pm. Third Friday each month. Learn effective healing through reception and application of Divine energies. Light of Christ Center, 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville, AL. 256-895-0255.

saturday HypnoBirthing Classes – 10am-12:30pm. Each class is a series of 5 consecutive weeks and includes the HypnoBirthing book and Rainbow Relaxation CD. Classes will be held at “Hypnosis, Facials & Massage by Marsha,” 3313 Memorial Parkway SW, Ste 116, Huntsville, AL 35801. To register, contact Marsha Mathes, HB Practitioner, at 256-698-2151 or Mathes79@ knology.net.

Artist Market – 12-4pm. Local artists and others are invited to set up a booth and sell their wares to the public. There will be art, jewelry, vintage clothing, records, and more interesting things for sale inside our facility. Safe from rain.

Free admission. Flying Monkey Arts Center at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Dr, Huntsville, AL. FlyingMonkeyArts.org.

Community HU Song – 1:30-2pm. Join others in singing HU, an ancient love song to God that can help and uplift you in countless ways. Held each Saturday (except March 16). Huntsville ECK Center, 900 Wellman Avenue, #3 (near Five Points). 256-534-1751. ECK-Alabama.org.

Reiki Free Clinic (no charge) – 2-4pm. Every Third Saturday of each month.

Center for Personal Growth, 924-B Merchant Walk Way SW, Huntsville, AL. For appointments, contact Shari Feinman-Prior at Shari1717@gmail.com.

Experience the Relaxation of Therapeutic Massage

Healthy Living Therapeutic Massage, LLC Teresa Randles, LMT #3601 3303 Westmill Dr. Huntsville, AL 35805 256-426-1867

AQUAPONICS Aquaponics Training: Learn from table top, to backyard, to commerical scale operation.

Free Farm Tours: Held on the 1st Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.

Be prepared with food independence and save on groceries.

Grow your own fresh fish, shrimp and organic produce.

TodaysGreenAcres.com

a

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Editor@Natvalley.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

FAMILY MEDICINE

THE NEELEY CENTER FOR HEALTH

JARVIS NATURAL HEALTH CLINIC

PROGRESSIVE FAMILY MEDICINE

600 Saint Clair Avenue SW, Bldg. 5 Suite 11 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-716-4048 Hours: T-F, 9am-5pm, Sat 8am-12pm House calls by Appointment

1489 Slaughter Road, Madison 256-837-3448

Chad Gilliam, M.M.S. PA-C 1230 Slaughter Road, Suite C, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 ProFamilyMed.com

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology, Pastoral Counseling, Beam Ray Therapy, Rapid Eye Technology, Nutritional Supplementation, Detoxification.

I-ACT Certified Colon Hydro Therapists. Do you know that 80% of your immune system is in your colon?

Bathe your body from the inside to improve health.

Colon irrigation aids in soothing and toning the colon, which makes elimination more effective.

ENERGY HEALING COLON HYDROTHERAPY CENTER FOR OPTIMAL WELLBEING U’Jeana Wilson Owner/Certified Colon Hydrotherapist Degree in Psychology 256-489-9806 Center for Optimal Wellbeing is the longest operating colonic therapy provider in Huntsville. First time clients have expressed immediate feelings of increased energy levels and improved efficiency in waste elimination. You will enjoy the experience of your own “personal cleansing spa” as you receive colon hydrotherapy (colonic), far infrared sauna, an optional massaging shower, and ionic footbath services—in a clean, comfortable, and relaxing private environment. Call for directions and a 10% discount on your first service when you mention Natural Awakenings or use code COWB.

CENTER FOR DIRECTIONAL HEALING™ Susan Spalding 2225 Drake Ave. SW, Suite 18 Huntsville, 35805 256-882-0360 DirectionalHealing.com For over 20 years, Susan Spalding and the staff at the Center for Directional Healing have been helping people achieve harmonic health through Directional Healing, Reflexology, and now the Amethyst Biomat.

Clients may choose a single service, or combine all three for the most complete healing experience. Healing techniques, articles, and more information are available online at DirectionalHealing.com.

Progressive Family Medicine provides medical care for patients of all ages and uniquely blends Natural and Prescription medicines together to help speed the patient’s recovery. Progressive Family Medicine is the patient’s clinic of choice when they would like to understand how natural medicines work along with prescription drugs.

FENG SHUI FENG SHUI BY TRUDI GARDNER Trudi Gardner, M.S. 256-772-6999 Tygard2000@aol.com An interior design philosophy that invites serenity and reduces stress.

Feng Shui design concepts brings positive energy into your home and office to encourage Prosperity, Well Being, Harmony, and Balance.

ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY CENTER FOR PERSONAL GROWTH

HOPE FOR LIFE COLON HYDROTHERAPY Amanda Mashburn, owner/certified colon hydrotherapist 10300 Bailey Cove Road, Suite-7A Huntsville, AL 35803 256-270-8731 hope4lifeal.com Our goal is to live long and live strong. Young or old, male or female, healthy or sick, will benefit from an internal cleansing.

Mention this ad and get $10 off your first colonic session.

Shari Feinman-Prior, MS, MRET 915 Merchant Walk Way, SW Huntsville, AL 35801 256-289-3331 Shari1717@gmail.com “SPARK YOUR LIGHT” FROM WITHIN YOUR TRUE BEING and TRANSFORM your life. Offering an individualized integrative approach from energy psychology: Inner Counselor Process, Rapid Eye Technology, Healing Touch, Reiki, and Life Skills Coaching, to create change in deep seated patterns of behavior for a healthy and joyful life.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein 28

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HAIR SALON CJ HAIR AND ART STUDIO CJ Denison 105E Church St Madison, AL 35758 256-603-9018

Specializing in NATURAL Hairstyles. Cuts with Texture and Movement. Specializing in Fine Hair, Razor cuts, Men's Hair Pieces with A NATURAL Look.

Specializing in Hair Color OFF the Scalp. Hair Painting. A Safer way to Color or HiLight Your Hair to Help in Decreasing the Exposure to the Scalp. HEALTHY HAIR is HAPPY HAIR. Also Original Art Work and Private Art lessons available. Call Today for YOUR Appointment.

HOLISTIC MEDICINE HOLISTIC MEDICAL CENTER OF ALABAMA, P.A. Rodney D. Soto, M.D., ABHIM, FAARFM 12205 County Line Road, Ste. E Madison, AL 256-325-1648 HolisticAlabama.com We offer an innovative model for health care that encompasses an individualized approach in order to balance and harmonize the mind, body and spirit thru a comprehensive assessment of your nutritional, hormonal, intestinal and immunological systems for the prevention and reversal of diseases.

HYPNOTHERAPY CENTER FOR INNER WELLNESS Becky Waters Certified Hypnotherapist and Professional Breathworker 3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 641 Huntsville, AL 256-348-5236 Creating positive change through hypnotherapy and Breathwork. Empowering you to live to your highest potential. Relieve stress and anxiety, release negativity, pain management, pre/post medical procedure, fears/phobias, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more

MARSHA MATHES Certified Hypnotist 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste 116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-698-2151 MarshaMathes.SkinCareTherapy.net Hypnosis is a tool to assist you in countless ways to heal your past, empower your present and create your future: • HypnoBirthing Classes • Quit smoking • Weight loss • Nail and lip biting • Teeth grinding • Insomnia • Anxiety and stress relief • Phobias and fears • Pain relief • Sports enhancement • PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) • Current and Past Life Regressions

JIN SHIN JYUTSU®

MASSAGE

JIN SHIN JYUTSU OF HUNTSVILLE Sandra Cope Huntsville 256-534-1794 256-509-3540 Certified Jin Shin Jyutsu Practitioner. An easy, effective way of restoring health and well-being by balancing the body’s energy pathways to enhance the body’s natural healing abilities.

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS MORGAN COUNTY/DECATUR FARMERS MARKET 211 1st Ave SE Decatur, AL 35601 Burl Slaten 256-476-5595

HEALTHY LIVING THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE, LLC Teresa Randles, (LMT #3601) 3303 Westmill Dr. Huntsville, AL 35805 256-426-1867 HealthyLivingTherapeuticMassage.abmp.com Healthy Living Therapeutic Massage is the place for relaxation, health, wellness, and stress reduction. Our mission is to give personal attention to each individual’s specific needs. You’re invited to experience the relaxation of therapeutic massage. Available Monday-Saturday by appointment only. Located inside Huntsville Pool & Land Therapy.

J. L. JONES (LMT AL#3610)

The Morgan County/Decatur Farmers Market will open on April 20 for the season. The Market is open Monday-Saturday from 6am-5pm. They are a variety of vendors selling their homegrown foods. They also shell peas and beans for a fee.

They will be having the following Festivals this year: Strawberry Festival on May 4, Corn Festival on July 13, Tomato Festival on August 3, and the Watermelon Festival on August 17. Mark your calendars and remember to support your local farmers.

MASSAGE CAROLYN NEAL (LMT #422) 220 Rhett Ave, Suite D Huntsville, AL 35801 256-694-9044 With over 15 years of experience. Specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue massage, Myotherapy, as well as Repetitive Use Injury Therapy (RITI). Call Today for Appointment.

CLOUD NINE IN HOME MASSAGES Evening and Weekend Appointments 256-337-6989 Finally, someone who makes housecalls! Swedish, Ortho and Deep Tissue massage in the privacy of your own home. Gift Certificates also available for any occasion.

DIXIE PHILLIPS (LMT #2151) Dixie’s Sunrise Massage Therapy 3313 Memorial Parkway, Ste #116 Huntsville, AL 35801 256-585-0504 Hoss2ride@otelco.net With six years experience, Dixie uses Deep Tissue, Swedish, Fascia BodyWork, Reiki, Jin Shin Do and Medicupping to release stress, knots and improve circulation for overall wellness.

Chi of Life Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, LLC ChiOfLifeMassage@gmail.com 2310 Whitesburg Dr, Suite 4 Huntsville, AL 256-812-1284 BodyWorkByJL@gmail.com ChiOfLife.MassageTherapy.com Chi of Life Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, LLC practicing at Exhale Day Spa. Please come and see me for relief from discomfort and disfunction from muscular and tendinous stress and injury and for detoxification and energetic assistance. Offering Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Muscle Energy Techniques, Neuromuscular Techniques (Trigger Point Therapy), Reiki and Integrative Reflexology. See Website for discount.

MEETING ROOMS/ EVENT SPACE LIGHT OF CHRIST CENTER 4208 Holmes Ave, Huntsville 256-895-0255 LightOfChristCenter.org The Light of Christ Center is comfortably situated in a vintage Centenarian House conveniently located near the UAHuntsville campus. Our Center facilities are available for rent to both members and non-members. We offer our Spiritual Home as your ideal venue for weddings, receptions, memorial services, classes/workshops and other gatherings. Call 256-895-0255 and leave a message if you’re interested in a tour or to speak with someone about your event. Amenities available: • Kitchen (microwave only) • Solarium • Lounge/Salon • Roundtable Room (meeting/dining) • Chapel (w/up to 50 chairs)

natural awakenings

March 2013

29

NATURAL PET SUPPLIES

PILATES

PETS, LOVE AND HAPPINESS

BODY LANGUAGE, INC.

905 Meridian St. North Huntsville, AL 35801 256-429-9112 Facebook.com/PetsLoveandHappiness

305 Jefferson St., Ste. C 256-704-5080 sybil@bodylanguagepilates.com BodyLanguagePilates.com

A Boutique for pets and their people. Pets, Love and Happiness carries a variety of consciously chosen green pet supplies as well as pet-inspired art, clothing and gifts. They also carry a large selection of premium natural pet food for dogs and cats. Brands such as Lotus, Fussie Cat, Fromm, and Evanger’s. Open Mon-Fri 10-5pm and Sat 10am-3pm.

Our goal is to teach individuals how to take control of their health and well-being through the Pilates method, creating a wholesome person of sound mind, body, and spirit. Private, semi-private and group training on the equipment is available along with group mat classes.

REIKI NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES Dr. Deb Gilliam, N.M.D. 1230 Slaughter Road, Madison, AL 256-722-0555 Dr. Gilliam treats a variety of health problems with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, heart disease, hormone replacement and thyroid issues being at the forefront. Dr. Gilliam sees patients from around the world due to the reputation she has earned by treating hard to treat medical conditions. Dr. Gilliam works to find the cause of medical conditions and does not simply treat the patients’ symptoms.

ORGANIC FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Beyond Organic is a direct selling company offering products that go “beyond organic” within the categories of cleansing and detoxification, toxic-free skin and body care, live snacks and beverages, pure mountain spring water, and nutrient dense beef and dairy products shipped direct from the Beyond Organic farm and facility to your family.

WATER, WILLOW & MOON SHAMANIC HEALING Jeffrey Rich 256-337-1699 WaterWillowMoon.com Jeffrey.Rich@gmail.com "Medicine for the Soul," shamanic healing is the sacred technology which can help you achieve wholeness by addressing the spiritual causes of disease.

Empty? Out of sorts? Something "just not right"? "Haven't been the same since ..."?

Explore the techniques of shamanic healing and find answers. Offering Soul Retrieval, Thoughtform Unraveling, Illumination, Space Clearing, Past Life Work and much more.

MARY MORALES Universal & Karuna Reiki Master 256-584-8081 KungaLhadon@aol.com Reiki is a simple natural and safe method of healing. Reiki treats the physical body, the emotions, and the mind and spirit, creating many beneficial effects. Many have experienced miraculous results.

Reiki works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

REIKI FREE CLINIC (NO CHARGE) Shari Feinman-Prior, MS, MRET 915 Merchant Walk Way, SW Huntsville, AL 35801 Shari1717@gmail.com 2-4pm, every Third Saturday of each month. Contact Shari Feinman-Prior at Shari1717@gmail.com for info.

MARY ACHATZ Beyond Organic Independent Mission Marketer 256-509-0823 MaryAchatz.MyBeyondOrganic.com Mlac@otelco.net

SHAMAN HEALER

SHAMAN HEALER KATY GLENN WILLIS 256-426-0232 KatyShamanHealer.com Spiritually Assisted Intuitive Readings, Energetic Healing and Balancing for People and Pets, World Culture Shamanic Training, Spirit Midwife: Assistance for individual and caregivers during Death & Dying Process. Forty years of training and experience.

STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION JACI HOGUE 256-656-4108 jaci@alabamarolfmethod.com AlabamaRolfMethod.com A complete system of body education that balances the physical body, improves posture, and helps resolve chronic pain. Created by Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the 1950s, Structural Integration has been scientifically validated and has withstood the test of time, as millions of people have enjoyed the remarkable benefits.

SUSAN K. JEFFREYS Advanced Practitioner Lic.#249 Dr. Ida P. ROLF method 2336A Whitesburg Drive 256-512-2094 RolfGuild.org Serving Huntsville since 1995 “When the body gets working appropriately, then the force of gravity can flow through. Then spontaneously, the body heals itself.” —Ida P. Rolf

WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION JUICE PLUS WELLNESS COACH Nutrition Made Easy Nikki Skidmore 256-527-3822 NikkiSkidmoreJuicePlus.com

Try to learn something about everything and everything about something. ~Thomas Huxley 30

Tennessee Valley

Natvalley.com

Simple, whole food nutrition of 25 fruits and vegetables a day helps ensure you get the nutrition your body desperately needs. Juice Plus+ is the best, most affordable way to bridge the gap between what you should and do eat. Kids eat Juice Plus+ free with an adult order. Call Nikki today to find out how.

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GPS TBMF March 2013

31

Bio-Identical Hormones Save the Day WOMEN DO YOU SUFFER FROM?

MEN DO YOU SUFFER FROM?

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Mood Changes 3

Decreased Strength of Erection 3

Irritability 3

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Depression 3

Bloating 3

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Poor Concentration 3

Night Sweats 3

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Are we all destined to experience unpleasant changes in our bodies as we age? It’s a fact that as we age, our hormone levels decline or may become out of balance. Individualized biologically identical hormone replacement therapy can help you restore your magnificence and grace at any stage of life.

To find out if Bio-Identical hormones are right for you contact Progressive Family Medicine for a consultation.

Progressive

Family Medicine

Ask about Thermography to screen for Breast Disease and Cancer with NO radiation.

Alternative Medicine Associates Chad Gilliam M.M.S. PA-C

256.722.0555

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Progress Towards Wellness & Prevention