E R F
E
HEALTHY
LIVING
HEALTHY
PLANET
WHAT’S BEHIND THE TREND FOR LOCAL FOOD
toxin - free
SKIN CARE BEST TASTING EDIBLE FLOWERS
JEFFREY SMITH on the
dangers of gene - edited microbes
July 2022 | Jacksonville / St. Augustine | NAJax.com
Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.
Contents 8 THE HEALTHY FOOD
8
18
MOVEMENT
Pandemic Trends are Shaping Better Local Food Systems
12 JEFFREY SMITH
on the Threat of Gene-Edited Microbes
14 FLOWER POWER
Edible Blooms Add Flavor and Color to Summer Fare
17 PREPARING FINANCIALLY FOR HURRICANE SEASON
21
18 COOL TREATS FOR HOT DAYS
DIY Recipes Even Kids Can Make
21 THE ART OF DOING NOTHING
22 POLLINATOR HAVEN Create a Toxin-Free Yard for Critical Critters
ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS
22
24 THAT NATURAL GLOW Radiant Skin with Fewer Health Risks
HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise in Natural Awakenings, please call 386-736-3838 or email Ads@NAJax.com. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email calendar events to: Editor@NAJax.com. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com. NAJAX.COM 2
Jacksonville / St. Augustine
26 THE GREAT NATURE GYM Outdoor Workouts Make the Most of Summer
DEPARTMENTS 4 event briefs 6 health briefs 7 global briefs 12 wise words 14 conscious eating 17 financial
wellness NAJax.com
18 healthy kids 21 inspiration 22 green living 24 healing ways 26 fit body 28 calendar 30 resource guide
letter from publisher
HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET
W
elcome to our July edition. This month our focus is on the growing trend toward healthy food choices. With food prices rising, many consumers are choosing foods with a higher return on investment for both the body and the wallet. The road to higher quality food at fair prices leads many shoppers to local farms and farmer’s markets, for freshly picked fruit and vegetables and a variety of handmade products. Some local health foods stores source their produce from local and regional growers. Lower transportation costs of local products are reflected in lower prices, with a bonus of freshness. Global supply chain disruptions will likely affect the dominance of supermarkets and big-box stores. Get to know your local farmers, farm co-op and stores offering products grown or manufactured regionally to insulate from global supply chain woes. While flowers seem an unlikely source of healthy, locally grown nutrition, a surprising variety of blooms are finding their way to the dining table as a garnish or salad accent instead of in a vase. Our conscious eating section describes the many ways to add this delicious dimension to kitchen creations. Are you aware of the increasing push toward gene-edited organisms? The danger of these microbes is covered in wise words. Did you know that GMOs can persist forever in the gene pool, are self-propagating and have a high number of side effects? CRSPR technology kits can be purchased online, with no safety net. One of the most dangerous gene editing hacks is our microbiome, as imbalances account for 80 percent of diseases. Read the full article and interview of Jeffrey Smith, founder, and executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Did you know the personal care and beauty aisle is home to the most toxic offerings in traditional supermarkets and pharmacies? Chemicals found in conventional beauty products activate free radicals in the body and are absorbed into your skin, the body’s largest organ. Natural products may cost a bit more, but they contain vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants that nourish the skin. Learn how to choose the healthiest hygiene and beauty products in our healing ways article. We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to bringing you more healthy content in our August edition. To your health,
Rebecca Young, Publisher
JACKSONVILLE / ST. AUGUSTINE EDITION Publisher Rebecca Young Publisher@NAJax.com Writer Erin Floresca Editor Sara Gurgen Design & Production Melanie Rankin Graphic Design Josh Halay
CONTACT US Natural Awakenings Jacksonville / St. Augustine Office: 386-736-3838 Publisher@NAJax.com P.O. Box 731466 Ormond Beach, FL 32173 Facebook.com/naturaljax
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© 2022 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although so me par ts of this public ation may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.
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July 2022
3
event briefs
Patio Party at Unity Church
U
nity Church for Creative Living (UCCL) invites everyone to their We’re Still Standing Patio Party on July 24 at 11:30. “It has been a long two and a half years, and so much has changed in our lives, our world and our church, but we’re still standing; thank you God!” exclaims Rev. Yvonne McAndrew, of UCCL. “We invite you to celebrate with us at our family-friendly event. We will have music, dancing, fellowship and more. Our favorite food truck will be onsite to serve up their delicious stuffed potatoes and homemade ice cream. Stuffed potato preorder is required.” Cost: Admission is free. Location: 2777 Race Track Rd. For more information or to preorder, visit Unity InJax.com. See ad, page 13.
S
pirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair will be held July 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and July 17, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Schultz Center, in Jacksonville. There will be 60 booths with vendors, practitioners, readers, artists, authors and demonstrations. “We love coming back to Jacksonville. We strive to have many new things each time, and plan to return once each year,” says producer Mary Ellen Popyk, of the Sanctuary for Mind, Body and Spirit. “We have so many great crystal vendors, holistic health practitioners, as well as other merchandise and services.” In addition, speakers are scheduled throughout both days on a variety of topics, included with daily admission. Cost: Admission is $10 a day or $15 for the weekend. Children 12 and under attend free. Location: 4019 Boulevard Center Dr. For more information and discounted admission, call 321-313-2543 or visit SanctuaryFL.com. See ad, this page.
Prosperity Class at Unity Church
Spirit Fest
U
Jacksonville
Metaphysical and Holistic Fair
Vendors, readers, artists, authors, crystals and much more!
July 16 & 17th • 10am-5:30pm Schultz Center • 4019 Boulevard Center Dr.
Speakers all day, each day, included with daily admission FOOD TRUCKS ON SITE • FREE PARKING
For discounted admission and more details visit:
SpiritFestFL.com 4
Spirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair
Jacksonville / St. Augustine
NAJax.com
ONLY
$10ION
ADMISS
nity Church for Creative Living (UCCL), in St. Johns, is hosting The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity—a fiveweek, in-person class with Rev. Yvonne McAndrew, of UCCL, on Wednesdays, beginning July 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity, by Edwene Gaines, is the required book for this class. “Today more than ever, Rev. Yvonne McAndrew we all need a boost in the development of our prosperity consciousness,” says McAndrew. “There is an old saying, ‘Work smarter, not harder.’ To this end, I am presenting an in-person class that will give you a greater understanding of prosperity principles and how to put them to work for you. We will explore sacred truths, coupled with practical steps that will lead you to a more abundant, fulfilling life.” Cost $120; save $20 with an early-bird discount by registering before midnight on July 6. Location: 2777 Race Track Rd. For more information or to register (required), visit UnityInJax.com. See ad, page 13.
film brief
Must-Watch Film About Cell Phone Radiation
E Amanda Johns
Two July Events at Jacksonville Health and Wellness
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acksonville Health and Wellness Center (JHWC) is hosting a prepaid plant-based meals class, called Summer Fun Dinner Night, from 5 to 7 p.m. on July 9 and a free Functional Medicine Open House starting at noon on July 16. The class will be led by Restorative Health Instructor Amanda Johns, who will demonstrate how easy it is to create simple plant-based meals for summer fun. It will include helpful food preparation tips, a booklet and a delicious four-course menu: Cream Cheese Icing Lemon Cake, Apple Walnut Salad, Savory Tacos with Salsa, and Easy White Bean Farrago. At the Open House, a lecture, beginning at noon, will be given by Dr. Jon Repole, a certified functional medicine practitioner, who will discuss the latest advances in treatment, genetics and biohacking, combining the best of modern medicine alongside ancient wisdom practices. Following the lecture, there will be a tour of the JHWC facility and free longevity, hormonal and stress testing. Attendees will learn how to take back their life from chronic illness, including autoimmunity, weight gain, chronic fatigue, hormonal dysfunctions and more. Cost: July 9 class is $65; seating is limited for this prepaid event. Location: 9957 Moorings Dr., Ste. 403. For more information about the class or to prepay, call 904-268-6568 or email Amandajhwc@yahoo.com. For more information about JHWC, call the same number or visit DrRepole.com. See ad, page 22.
nvironmental Health Trust's 2022 Virtual Spring Film Festival presented Something Is in the Air: A Documentary About Cell Phone Radiation on June 2, along with an interview and Q&A with film director Heidi Martikainen, of Flipped Media, who joined from Finland. The great news for readers is that this insightful, probing film is still available for viewing for free on YouTube. Something Is in the Air asks if the radiation from your cell phone or cell towers is harmful to your health. What about cell tower radiation impacts on bees and pollinators? Are scientific conclusions tied to the interests of those that fund the studies? How do governments make sure the radiation stays within healthy limits? How are children more vulnerable to exposure, and who has the power to make decisions about what we are exposed to? Featuring interviews with respected scientists Dariusz Leszczynski, Anssi Auvinen, Daniel Favre and Martin Pall, Something Is in the Air explores these questions and more, revealing the science and politics behind this invisible issue that directly impacts our health, environment and future. Environmental Health Trust is a think tank that promotes a healthier environment through research, education and policy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the world that carries out cutting-edge research on environmental health hazards and also works directly with communities, health and education professionals, and policymakers to understand and mitigate these hazards. To view the film, visit YouTube.com/watch?v=Q89Gv2P3RH8. For more information about Environmental Health Trust, visit ehtrust.org.
YDROPONIC U N I Q U E G O O D S
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www.jaxhugs.com
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5
Anna Pou/Pexels.com
Diabetes is rampant in the world today, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, but it was also a health condition many centuries ago among Tibetan, Mongolian, Miao, Dai, Uygur and Yi people in East Asia. To identify which diabetes medicines were effective in those indigenous medical systems, Chinese researchers examined medical databases and ethnic medical books. They found evidence of 112 such medications—105 plant-based, six coming from animals and one with fungal origins. The most commonly used were Astragalus membranaceus, now available in many contemporary immune-system formulations; Pueraria lobata, known as arrowroot or kudzu, and considered an invasive plant in North America; and Coptis chinensis, Chinese goldthread, whose main compound, berberine, is used in the West to treat bacterial and viral infections. “Ethnic medicine has abundant resources in diabetes treatment and has excellent development prospects, which is worthy of further exploration and modern research,” conclude the authors.
coming in august
Self-Empowerment
6
Jacksonville / St. Augustine
NAJax.com
Tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, typically involves moving the arms and feet in intricate, slow patterns, but a new study in the American Heart Association journal Stroke found that doing the hand and shoulder movements while sitting in a chair produced significant physical and mental benefits for stroke survivors. Researchers at the Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in China, found that after 12 weeks of performing sitting tai chi, 69 stroke patients had better hand and arm function, better sitting balance, a wider range of shoulder motion, less depression and a better quality of life compared to 65 people in a standard stroke rehab program. More than half of those doing the sitting tai chi continued to practice it after the study ended, with continued improvement. Elnur/AdobeStock.com
Consider Herbs from Traditional Asian Medicine for Diabetes
Practice Sitting Tai Chi to Recover from a Stroke
Try Music and Muscle Relaxation to Lower Surgery Anxiety Surgery often activates high levels of anxiety in patients, but a Chinese pilot study of 116 women undergoing operations for gynecological cancer found that simple strategies dubbed “expressive arts therapy” can help. In the study group, women were encouraged to dance and do handicrafts while listening to music the day before the surgery. They practiced progressive muscle relaxation and listened to music immediately after the surgery, and on the day before their release, they were invited to write and draw to express their emotions. The researchers found that women in the therapy group experienced significantly less anxiety during their operations than women in a placebo group, although the effects didn’t continue after discharge. Ninetyeight percent of the women found the therapy beneficial. sasirin pamai/EyeEm/AdobeStock.com
health briefs
global briefs Deep-Sea Mining is the New Frontier
kittitee550/AdobeStock.com
Whether mining the ocean floor will be allowed to proceed and the minerals obtained there play a role in supply chains of the future is one of the biggest decisions of resource governance today. The seabed holds a vast quantity of mineral resources, yet is also one of the last pristine areas on the planet. A new white paper published by the World Economic Forum, Decision-Making on Deep-Sea Mineral Stewardship: A Supply Chain Perspective, has found that significant knowledge gaps make it hard to predict the scale of the potential effect, and decisions made now about mineral stewardship will have lasting effects for generations. The World Bank and the International Energy Agency forecast a multifold increase in the demand for key metals used for decarbonization, many of which are found in mineral deposits in the deep seabed, but some organizations and more than 600 scientists have called for a pause or total ban on the exploitation of these minerals. Positive factors such as increased metal supply, wider use of decarbonization technologies and benefits to countries from extraction royalties must be considered against the generation of sediment plumes, noise from extraction and impacts on the seafood industry.
Chow Time
Native Wisdom
Indigenous Efforts Use Hemp to Remove Forever Chemicals From Superfund Site The former Loring Air Force Base, in Limestone, Maine, on the Canadian border, closed in 2007, is now owned by the Aroostook Band of Micmacs. The superfund site is so polluted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave it a waiver, deeming it technically impractical to clean, being loaded with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), cancer-causing compounds commonly known as “forever chemicals". PFAS tend to bioaccumulate, building up in soil, water, animals and humans; they can persist for hundreds or thousands of years and have been linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage and suppressed immunity. In the spring of 2019, the Micmac Nation, nonprofit Upland Grassroots and their research partners began an experiment. Hemp is a good candidate for phytoremediation because it grows fast across much of the country. Its roots are deep and profuse to better absorb pollutants from the soil. By 2020, researchers discovered that the hemp plants were successfully sucking PFAS out of the contaminated soil via phytoremediation and hope that their example may help farmers that have discovered their soil is tainted. Micmac Chief Edward Peter-Paul says, “Anything we can do to contribute to making the environment better, we want to be a part of.” canva.com
Murky Waters
Attitudes Changing Toward Animal Rights
Image'in/AdobeStock.com
A new survey by the University of Exeter published in Social Psychological and Personality Science shows that children differ dramatically from adults in their moral views on animals. Researchers asked a group of 479 children and adults ages 9 to 11, 18 to 21 and 29 to 59 about the moral status and treatment of farm animals (pigs), pets (dogs) and people. The youngest participants said that farm animals should be treated the same as people and pets, and think eating animals is less morally acceptable than do adults. The two older groups held more traditional views. The findings suggest that speciesism, the moral imperative that gives different value to different animals, is learned as we become socialized. Dr. Luke McGuire says, “Humans’ relationship with animals is full of ethical double standards. Some animals are beloved household companions while others are kept in factory farms for economic benefit. Dogs are our friends, pigs are food.” McGuire notes, “If we want people to move towards more plant-based diets for environmental reasons, we have to disrupt the current system somewhere. For example, if children ate more plant-based food in schools, that might be more in line with their moral values, and might reduce the normalisation towards adult values that we identify in this study.” July 2022
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THE HEALTHY FOOD MOVEMENT
Pandemic Trends are Shaping Better Local Food Systems
Prostock-studio/AdobeStock.com
by Bob Benenson
L
ike so much else on the planet, the two-year coronavirus pandemic turned the health food world upside-down. “I found myself thinking real dystopian and wondering if people would be able to survive if grocery stores crumbled,” recalls Diana Mondragón, of Rockford, Illinois. “That scary thought train reminded me that I want to learn how to be more self-sustainable.” Her once-occasional drop-bys to farmers markets are now an essential weekly ritual. “I want to support local farmers and food producers to help communities grow stronger and healthier,” she says. When the long supply chains of the conventional food system became disrupted, many Americans found themselves feeling insecure about food availability for the first time in their lives. The industrialized food system that had operated so efficiently for many generations had relied on long and complicated supply links; when they broke down or became gridlocked, the result was 8
Jacksonville / St. Augustine
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empty supermarket shelves and long waits for home deliveries. Add the economic repercussions and job losses, and about one in nine households lacked enough nutritious food to sustain a healthy life, report researchers from New York University. Faced with the system’s shortcomings, a noteworthy outcome has been a surge in demand for healthier food production using sustainable and humane practices. Unable to drop by a nearby grocery store and get whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it, many consumers began buying locally grown produce for both practical and environmental reasons. After two high-growth decades, farmers markets initially took a hit during pandemic closures, but they have since bounced back with renewed energy. A wide range of innovative solutions are being pursued by e-commerce entrepreneurs and foodequity advocates to get healthier local food into more hands and more neighborhoods.
Surging Concerns
Sales of natural and organic products in the U.S. grew by about 10 percent in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and by another 8 percent in 2021, reports SPINS, a Chicago-based data research firm, in Nutrition Business Journal. Sales growth in that sector was six to seven times larger than for conventional products, which experienced barely any sales growth at all. Helping spur the trend, cheap food at supermarkets isn’t so cheap anymore, making organic food look better by comparison. The research company Data Weave reported in March that conventional food prices jumped by 11 percent in the previous 12 months of the pandemic, while prices for organic food increased by a relatively modest 2 to 4 percent. The price pressures on conventional food “will continue to go up rapidly,” says Matt Tortora, co-founder of WhatsGood, a Rhode Island-based food e-commerce company. “The war between Russia and Ukraine is going to exacerbate that issue. And it seems like most of what’s going on in the world is going to affect our global supply chains even further, and in more profound ways than just our gas pump.”
Food-to-Table Creativity
The dominance of supermarkets and big-box stores in the years following World War II greatly diminished supply and demand of farm-fresh local food. A back-to-the-future trend that started taking hold a generation ago spurred a five-fold increase in the number of farmers markets across the nation, along with a proliferation of farms selling community supported agriculture subscriptions that delivered weekly batches of fresh produce to members. These increased sales enabled many small farmers to offset the body blow from business lost due to pandemic-related restaurant shutdowns; a number of them thrived, with record sales. The signs for the 2022 outdoor market season have been encouraging. Green City Market, widely regarded as Chicago’s premier farmers market, reported more than 13,000 visitors in a six-hour span on May 7, even though the weather was still on the cool side and few spring crops were in season after a chilly and wet April. At the same time, a previously little-used conduit for local health food sales—e-commerce—shows signs of spurring long-term growth. Some individual producers nimbly built out their webbased product sales by also providing home delivery, previously a rarity in the local food scene. For example, the e-commerce site Avrom Farm (AvromFarm.com), of Ripon, Wisconsin, sells not only its own products, but also goods from other farmers, and Three Sisters Garden, of Kankakee, Illinois, which raises specialty vegetables, has converted entirely to e-commerce and home delivery. Taking this concept to the next level is WhatsGood, which in 2014 began providing home delivery and pickup services for farmers markets in several cities. In the pandemic, the company became a lifeline to connect farmers with consumers at a time when stay-at-home orders and social distancing concerns hampered or closed farmers markets.
Upcoming
Events
www.jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com/upcoming-events www.jacksonvillebusinessconnections.com/upcoming-events
The Great
COMMUNITY GIVEBACK Supporting local North Florida non-profit organizations!
SATURDAY • AUGUST 27th • 10-3PM Francis Field • 25 W Castillo Dr. • St. Augustine Join Jacksonville Business Connections
The Great Community Giveback Event which will spotlight local
non-profits and organizations from North Florida to encourage a day of community engagement and enlightenment on all the wonderful local organizations and nonprofits and spark community involvement!
FREE EVENT • BRING YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS!
BOUNCE HOUSE • FOOD • MUSIC NON PROFITS • RAFFLE • VENDORS NFGCC - Green Chamber of Commerce
Come Join Us Energize your Summer with a HOT topic. Biomimicry! Then cool off with a Green Drink The North Florida Green Chamber Launches the Green Drinks Summer Series
June 16
July 21
August 25
4-5 p.m. | Cobalt Moon Center Neptune Beach 5-6 p.m. | Sliders Bar and Grill Jacksonville’s first Ocean Friendly Restaurant
NorthFloridaGreenChamber.org
July 2022
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Prostock-studio/AdobeStock.com
Late last year, WhatsGood introduced a new business model that bypasses farmers markets to allow consumers to order goods online directly from farmers for home delivery. SourceWhatsGood.com now operates in 21 states. Tortora estimates that demand for local food is about 12 times greater than it was before the pandemic, even as supermarkets again start stocking more faraway-grown, conventional produce.
Even Better for the Planet
While the pandemic created a sense of urgency about healthier eating, it also elevated concerns about the health of the living environment. An April 2022 study issued by New York University’s Stern Center for Sustainable Business found that products specifically marketed as sustainable had a 17 percent share of the market for consumer-packaged goods, up from 13.3 percent in 2015. Nearly half of all products introduced in 2021 touted sustainability benefits, up from 28 percent in 2017. Organic food sales in 2021 amounted to $51 billion; 30 years earlier, that market was estimated at a mere $1 billion, says the SPINS report. Now there is growing support to take stewardship of the land to the next level through regenerative agriculture practices which focus on building and maintaining the health and biological vitality of the nation’s soils, and in some cases, means restoring soils stripped of their vitality by conventional farming practices. It has been most heavily promoted by the Rodale Institute, based in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, which has developed standards for a Regenerative Organic Certified food label. The sustainability issue resonates deeply with people like Katlin Smith, founder and CEO of Chicago-based Simple Mills, a 10-year-old company that’s widely recognized as the preeminent natural baking mix brand nationally. “I started the company after seeing what a huge impact food has on all of our bodies, and I realized how much we had processed the heck out of our food. And it was really undermining people’s health,” she says. In the last two years, the company has expanded its focus to work with farmers to improve soil health and biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It recently joined forces with the frozen smoothie company Daily Harvest and glutenfree frozen pizza maker Capello’s to advance regenerative soil practices in almond growing. “Regenerative agriculture is really just growing food in a way that leans into nature and builds a healthy ecosystem for all who are involved,” says Smith. 10
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Supplying Underserved Communities
Local food communities around the country are also playing an increasingly dynamic role in addressing food equity, access and security issues. Less than a decade ago, fewer than half of all farmers markets nationwide accepted federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for purchases. Today, backed by U.S. Department of Agriculture funding, most do, with many markets accepting state-backed debit cards. To further increase access to locally produced food for lower-income families, many states provide matching shopping funds up to a certain limit, as do programs run by nonprofit organizations such as California’s Market Match and Double Up Bucks, run by the Michigan Fair Food Network. To get healthy produce to people that live in urban “food deserts”, nonprofits are pioneering creative approaches. The Urban Growers Collective operates eight farms on 11 acres of land on Chicago’s Southside that combine education, training and leadership development with the growth of organic crops, which are then driven in a “Fresh Moves” bus to local community and health centers, and churches. Founded by food justice advocates Laurell Sims and Erika Allen, the Collective worked with a coalition of nonprofits during the pandemic to deliver boxes of free food to households in underserved neighborhoods across the city. The pandemic “forced us to do some of the things we’d been talking about, but said we don’t have time yet. We just dived in,” Sims says. The dramatic impact of the COVID-19 crisis drove up local interest in the Collective’s community gardens, with the number of volunteers jumping from 10 to 50. “It made a lot of people realize this ain’t no joke. People close to us were passing away,” says farm manager Malcolm Evans, who started volunteering for the Collective a decade ago as a teenager growing up in a nearby public housing project. “People wanted to really know how to grow food. We’ve been doing it for years, trying to bring this to folks’ attention. Everybody needs to understand food and know where it comes from.” Bob Benenson is publisher and writer of Local Food Forum, a newsletter that covers all aspects of the local food community in the Chicago region. He can be contacted at Bob@LocalFood Forum.com.
SAVVY SHOPPER TIPS FOR THE FARMERS MARKET One longstanding obstacle to convincing folks to go all in on local foods at farmers markets is the widespread belief that it is prohibitively expensive. It’s not. True, some items have always cost a bit more at farmers markets than at a local big-box supermarket. Farmers whose produce carries the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic or other sustainably grown certification eschew artificial fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and GMO (genetically modified organism) crops, which means that their methods are more labor-intensive than is the case for a majority of conventional farmers. Most farmers market vendors are small- to medium-sized producers, and they don’t have the economies of scale that enable conventional growers and retailers to offer deep discounts. Yet there are many ways to save money at farmers markets.
Local
FARMERS MARKETS Wednesday Pier Farmers Market This is an amazing year-round Farmers Market hosting 70 plus vendors with incredible one-of-a-kind art along with delicious local flavors of foods. 350 A1A, St. Augustine, 32080 WednesdayPierFarmersMarket.com 904-315-0952
St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market
Green Community by Sandra Glover
COMPARE PRICES. Most markets have multiple vendors selling similar varieties, so take some time to stroll around and check out the prices at the different stands. We might find one that is the price leader across the board or that different stands have lower prices for different items. BUY IN SEASON. Simple supply and demand: The more of a product a vendor has to sell, the more likely it is that it is going to be priced to move. So, practice seasonality and look for favorite items at the peak of their growing season. BUY IN BULK. Many farmers market vendors provide discounts for multiple purchases of the same or similar items. If summer squash is priced at $1 per piece, but $2 for three, it is the equivalent of, “Buy two, get one free.” SAVOR SECONDS. Consumers became familiar with the concept of perfect-looking (if not perfect-tasting) produce with the era of mass food retailing. As a result, a lot of imperfect fruits and vegetables have been tossed away. The growing national concerns over food waste are leading some consumers to look closely at items—formally known as “seconds” and sometimes referred to as “ugly” fruits and vegetables—that don’t have perfect appearance, but are perfectly edible, nutritious and usually cheaper. If they aren’t visible at our favorite farmer’s stand, just ask, because they are often tucked away. We may not want to serve them as-is to dinner guests, but when chopping and dicing or making stews or preserves, appearances make little difference. KNOW THE FARMER. Farmers market regulars almost certainly get to know their favorite vendors, and may quickly get to be on a first-name basis. They will freely share advice about how to prepare the items they sell and what’s in stock now, soon or at the end of their growing seasons. It also improves chances of getting the occasional personal discount—but do not show up near closing time and ask for a discount on unsold products. Most farmers and market managers hate that. If lots of people wait until the last minute, a lot of farmers would soon be unable to stay in business. KEEP IT COOL. Produce picked a day or two before hitting the market is going to be fresher, taste better, maintain a higher nutrient density and last longer than products that are picked before their peak and sit in warehouses for a while. But that shelf-life advantage can shrink if farmers market purchases are not protected from high temperatures. Some strategies are to shop early on hot days, bring along insulated bags and cold packs, and possibly buy frozen fish, poultry or meat on the way home to keep the produce chilled.
Fresh foods, artisan goods and local art and music every Saturday from 8:30am12:30pm at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. No pets, please. Not currently accepting applications for new vendors, please visit website for more info. 1340C A1A, St. Augustine 32080 TheAmp.com/community/farmers-market
Ben Wells Produce
We grow and deliver over 30 specialty fruits and vegetables, including a large variety of certified organic produce. Order online or buy at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre Market on Saturdays. BenWellsProduce.com 3455 Joe Ashton Road, St. Augustine, 32092
Lincolnville Farmers Market
Weekly outdoor market offering healthy food and artisan crafts in the Eddie Vickers Park. 399 S Riberia St, St. Augustine 32084 LincolnvilleFarmersMarket.com 904-217-0624
Jacksonville Farmers Market
Mon-Sat, 7am-5pm; Sun, 9am-4pm Save up to 70+% on the region's widest selection of Local, Ethnic, & Specialty Produce, Seafood, Misc. Foods, Plants, Agricultural Products, Handcrafted Items, More! Since 1938. 1810 W Beaver St, Jacksonville 32209 JaxFarmersMarket.com 904-354-2821
Second Saturday Arts and Farmers Market
An arts and farmers market held on San Jose Boulevard on the second Saturday of each month from 9am-2pm (time can sometimes vary due to weather). 11924 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville 32223 July 2022
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wise words
Jeffrey Smith on the
Threat of Gene-Edited Microbes by Sandra Yeyati
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hen most people didn’t know what a GMO (genetically engineered organism) was 25 years ago, Jeffrey Smith, the founder and executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, was one of the leaders of a global movement that helped consumers understand the dangers of genetically engineered foods. The success of these efforts prompted significant swaths of the population to reject GM comestibles, leading food manufacturers to develop non-GMO alternatives. His most recent efforts focus on gene-edited microbes.
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First, GMOs can persist forever in the gene pool. They’re self-propagating. Second, the most common result of genetic engineering is surprise side effects. Third, gene editing is so inexpensive that virtually everything with DNA can be a target. You can buy a do-it-yourself CRSPR kit online for less than $200. Already, it’s being used in high school biology labs. Nature’s gene pool is up for grabs with no real safety net, and the impact can last for thousands of years from a single release.
ProtectNature.com provides a short, informative film, a newsletter and resources, with more to come.
We need to disallow any release of genetically engineered microbes through legislation and international treaties.
What are the world’s most dangerous organisms to gene edit and why?
The microbial ecosystem known as the microbiome. It is a basis for human and environmental health. Experts say we’ve outsourced about 90 percent of our metabolic and chemical functions to our microbiome, and imbalances in the microbiome are precursors to about 80 percent of diseases. The microbiome is essential for soil health and health in virtually every ecosystem. If you release a genetically engineered microbe, it might travel around the world, mutate and swap genes with thousands of other microbes. These, in turn, can travel and mutate with unpredicted side effects and changes in function. This can potentially damage or collapse ecosystems around the world.
How can we stop this threat?
We need to disallow any release of genetically engineered microbes through legislation and international treaties. Without such laws, we could see a million GM microbes released in this generation, which could destroy the nature of nature, and all future generations would be forced to grapple with our mistakes. We also should restrict access to these technologies and ban so-called gain-of-function enhancement of potentially pandemic pathogens, even in so-called bio-secure laboratories, because over 1,000 recorded accidents show that bio-security isn’t reliable enough to create and house pathogens which, if released, could lead to another pandemic.
How did you help build a movement that led to widescale rejection of GMOs?
I’ve spoken in 45 countries, counseled politicians and leaders, written two books, made five movies, trained 1,500 speakers and helped organize over 10,000 activists in more than a hundred groups. We
exposed the dangers of GMOs and the corrupt practices by the biotech industry and regulatory agencies. Now, 51 percent of Americans and 48 percent of global consumers correctly believe that GMO foods aren’t safe. This was designed to influence purchasing choices to put economic pressure on food companies to remove GMO ingredients. The tipping point of consumer rejection is underway.
How are you mobilizing a movement against GM microbes?
Our choices in supermarkets won’t stop the release of genetically engineered microbes, so we need to focus on enacting new laws in individual countries and international treaties. But we can’t rely on consistency of government laws. We need to build a popular movement so that everyone in the world realizes we have now arrived at an inevitable time in human civilization where we can damage the streams of evolution for all time, and that we need to become far more responsible in our relationship with nature. We need to institutionalize the choices in academia so that everyone growing up, just as they now learn about climate change, also learns about the dangers of genetic technology and what we need to do as a civilization to protect nature’s gene pool forever.
How can people help?
I invite people to visit ProtectNatureNow. com, sign up for our newsletter and watch the 16-minute film Don’t Let the Gene Out of the Bottle. We post action alerts for people to reach out to elected officials and local papers, and we’ll have plenty more opportunities for people moving forward, including training programs and a global advocacy network. Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
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conscious eating
Flower Power EDIBLE BLOOMS ADD FLAVOR AND COLOR TO SUMMER FARE by April Thompson
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Jacksonville / St. Augustine
photo courtesy of Marie Viljoen
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ruits, leaves, stems and roots are commonly eaten as part of a plantbased, farm-to-table diet, but until recently, the only flowers on the table were in a vase. Today’s health-conscious foodies are finding edible flowers to be a fantastic way to eat the rainbow, adding fun flavors and colors to all sorts of dishes. Urban homesteader Holly Capelle turned her family’s backyard in the Portland, Oregon, suburbs into expansive edible gardens, enjoyed by their flowereating chickens and children alike. “We grow everything from seed, including 15 to 20 edible flower varieties, from spring through fall,” says Capelle. “I love to grow edible flowers for two reasons: one, to eat, and second, for the natural pest control they provide. I think of flowers as a beautiful army that I can eat along the way.” Capelle’s favorite edible flowers are pansies and violets, as they “pop up again and again all growing season and make a beautiful garnish without overpowering flavor.” The home gardener likes to freeze the fresh flowers in ice cubes, press them on the outside of herb butter or dry them between pieces of wax paper to later add to the tops of homemade chocolate bars, along with dehydrated strawberries, lemon balm, mint or other botanical flavors. The family’s fowl get in on the flower fun, too. “We make frozen treats for the chickens out of edible flowers, corn and strawberries, which they love in summer. We also add dried flowers like marigolds to their nesting boxes,” she says, adding that marigolds, with their bright orange hues and distinct flavor, are great in scrambled eggs or as a substitute for saffron.
For larger blooms like sunflowers, Capelle recommends pulling off the often-hard centers. “I often see whole zinnias on edible cakes, but no one wants to eat an entire zinnia. With daisies, for example, I will pull off the petals and recreate the flower on top of a dish, using peppercorns or chocolate chips in place of the center,” she says. Capelle also loves chamomile for its distinctive, apple-like flavor that has the “feel of fall,” and dianthus, with a slightly spicy taste like cloves. “Nasturtiums are another super defender in the garden, with a delicious peppery flavor and nice orange pop of color in a salad,” she adds. “Flowers brighten any dish up, especially hors d’oeuvres, omelets and soups. Pea soup is an ugly soup, but sprinkle some microgreens and a viola on top and it’s beautiful,” says Jan
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photo courtesy of Jan Bell
Bell, of Gilbertie’s Organics, in Easton, Connecticut. The 34-acre farm, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, grows herbs, vegetables and microgreens in 24 greenhouses, including a microgreen blend with nasturtium and viola flowers. “If you pick the flowers on herbs, the plant will grow better and last longer,” Bell adds. Flowers like wild violets, chive blossoms and common milkweed can add bold color and flavor to vinegar with pinkish purple hues that power up salad dressings. Bell also likes to dry chive flowers to use year-round. “They are a nice purple sprinkle to add to dishes when things are boring in winter,” she says. Marie Viljoen, a New York City forager, chef and author of the cookbook Forage, Harvest, Feast: A Wild-Inspired Cuisine, incorporates numerous wild and cultivated flowers, including tree flowers like magnolia and black locust, into her hyperlocal, seasonal meals. Even common garden roses can add a delicious dimension to dishes and drinks, according to Viljoen. “I like to ferment roses into a simple soda, using organically grown rose petals, honey or sugar and tap water. It’s ready within a few days, or else you can leave to ferment a few months to make a sipping vinegar,” she says. “You can also combine really fragrant rose petals with a neutral honey like clover, then strain after a few days for a rose water essence you can add to yogurt or other dishes.” Viljoen also uses rose petals as edible garnishes for deviled eggs or as edible plates for goat cheese balls on her gourmet picnics. Some flowers are for the eyes only, however. Many can be poisonous, so it’s important to ensure a particular species is edible before digging in. Viljoen also advises carefully distinguishing between poisonous lookalikes when foraging: A delicious daylily and a toxic true lily look similar, but are in different plant families, for example. She also says to look for organically grown flowers that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides. Connect with Washington, D.C., freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.
FLOWER SPRING ROLLS WITH TAMARIND AND PEANUT SAUCE by Tara Lanich-LaBrie Spring rolls are a great way to eat all the fresh veggies, flowers and fruits of the season, and they look like little paintings with flowers on the outside and different colors and textures throughout. In the summer months, our bodies naturally gravitate toward eating more raw vegetables and fruits to cool our system and attune to the season of lightness. The grounding aspect in these petal rolls comes from the root veggies and the piquant, velvety peanut sauce. They are easy to make with whatever veggies and fruits we have on hand and are a great meal to take on the trail. Gather whatever ingredients sound delicious at the local market or farm, forage some delicacies if you have the time and put on your favorite music to inspire making these rolls. Package of spring roll wrappers/rice wrappers 2-3 cucumbers or summer squash, cut into lengthwise strips Edible flowers (optional) such as scarlet begonias, nasturtiums, rose petals, calendula, dandelion petals, sweet alyssum, radish flowers, bachelor buttons, violets, violas or pea flowers 1 bunch mint (about 1 cup) 1 bunch cilantro (about 1 cup) Combination of fresh root vegetables in
an assortment of colors, such as turnips, radishes and carrots, sliced in thin sticks Spinach, nasturtium leaves or other tender green leaves to create a background for your petals 1 avocado, sliced thin (optional) Asparagus, sliced in thin sticks Red pepper, sliced thin, lengthwise 10-oz pack of thin rice noodles Snap peas, purple or green, sliced lengthwise
All of these ingredients are recommendations or suggestions meant to inspire, but they are merely ideas. Use what is available. Spring rolls are excellent with almost any combination of fresh ingredients. I use a general framework of one-third each of crunchy or harder ingredients, like cucumber, squash, radish and carrot; softer ingredients like avocado, peach, mushroom and iceberg lettuce; and flowers, herbs, leaves such as rose petals, calendula, basil, mint and squash blossoms. First, prep all the ingredients and set up a space to roll and see all of the ingredients. It isn’t necessary to cut everything perfectly, and tearing lettuces or other leaves is a great way to save time and create texture. I like to have my ingredients separated by type or color to create the rolls like a painting, using a palette. Have a bowl with water that is large enough to dip the spring roll wrappers. Next to this, have a plate that is large enough to hold the wrappers. Have bowls or plates or a large cutting board with all the ingredients laid out to access everything easily and quickly. July 2022
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SPICY MAGNOLIA SALAD CUPS
YIELD: FOUR APPETIZER SERVINGS All magnolia petals have a strong, gingery flavor with a hint of cloves or menthol, depending on the variety. Blooming through summer, North American southern magnolia flowers (Magnolia grandiflora) are the size of dinner plates. Their substantial, fragrant petals make beautiful edible cups for assertively flavored salads or ceviche. Here, blandly creamy avocado, crisp peppery radish slices, quick-pickled onion and a kiss of high-quality soy sauce fill the luscious petals with complementary textures and flavors. Pick the whole petal up like a taco and bite to get the full effect in a mouthful. 1 ripe avocado, cubed 3 radishes, very thinly sliced 2-3 Tbsp quick-pickled red onion rings 2 pickled Japanese knotweed shoots (optional) ¼ tsp chili flakes 2 tsp soy sauce (like organic Ohsawa nama shoyu) Roasted sesame oil
Starting in the middle of the roll, on top of the petals and background leaves, make a line of crunchier or “harder” veggies like carrot, cucumber or radish sticks. Add up to nine sticks about two to three inches long each to make a line in the center. They can be close together and on top of one another. Next, add softer veggies or fruit (peach/mango/mushrooms/ avocado) next to or on top of the line of harder veggies. Now sprinkle on the cilantro/mint/basil (roughly 1 to 2 tablespoons total per roll, unless you love these flavors and want to add more). Add leaves, lettuces, sprouts or spinach on top of this center line. It doesn’t need to be perfect at all, so let things spill out and over. Try to work as quickly as possible while adding ingredients; it will get faster as you make them. Then begin to lift one side of the roll using both hands and carefully pull up into the center of the roll toward the line of filling. Use your thumb to tuck the ingredients under and your fingers to bring more of the wrapper across over the line and then roll it all so the top goes under. You will need a small amount of the wrapper clear of ingredients at the end so it can seal with the roll you have made. (I don’t tuck the sides at all because doing it this way is faster and generally holds together better.)
photo courtesy of Jan Bell
photo courtesy of Marie Viljoen
Quickly dip a rice wrapper into the water and place it onto the plate. Add flowers or individual flower petals to the wrapper. Layer the petals to about a half-inch of the edge of the wrapper. There is really no wrong way to create these rolls.
QUICK-PICKLED ONION The heavy seasoning is important to make these pickles pop. Leftover pickles keep indefinitely in the refrigerator, and the flavorful brine is delicious in salad dressings. ½ cup white wine or rice vinegar ¼ cup water 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp sugar 2 small red onions, thinly sliced into rings In a Mason jar, combine the vinegar, water, salt and sugar. Close the lid tightly and shake to dissolve the seasonings. Add the onions. Allow the mixture to sit in the brine for a minimum of 30 minutes before using. To assemble the magnolia cups, arrange the avocado cubes, radish and pickled onion between the four petals. Season lightly with chili flakes and soy sauce. Add a few drops of the roasted sesame oil. Serve at once and inhale. Recipe courtesy of Marie Viljoen. 16
Jacksonville / St. Augustine
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TAMARIND AND PEANUT SAUCE 1 cup crunchy peanut butter (no oils, sugar or additives) 1 can full-fat coconut milk 4 Tbsp maple syrup 2 Tbsp (heaping) tamarind paste 3 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated ½ tsp sea salt, to taste Sprinkle of cayenne pepper Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan. Heat on low and stir or whisk until all ingredients are blended well. If you like a thinner sauce, add water, a tablespoon at a time, but wait a few minutes until it is incorporated fully. Peanut sauce thickens more as it cools. For more information, visit @themedicinecircle on Instagram or TheMedicineCircle.com.
financial wellness
Preparing Financially for Hurricane Season
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arm temperatures, late afternoon showers, and high humidity—every Floridian’s favorite season is here again … and, no, we’re not talking about summer! We’re referring to the dreaded Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until November 30. This time of year, regardless of the forecast, it is important to be ready for any outcome. With that in mind, we have four tips to help keep you financially prepared. Whether you are a novice or an old pro, you’ll want to make sure these tips are part of your hurricane preparedness checklist.
type of account can be used to cover damage expenses or insurance deductibles in the event your home becomes impaired due to the weather. While you should already be contributing to an emergency savings account, the goal is to not exhaust those funds, so that when you do recover you still have a cushion for future emergencies.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
You never want to worry whether you’re covered in the event of a natural disaster. Knowing what policies you have in place ahead of time can put your mind at ease and allow you to update coverages depending on your needs. Be aware that flood and hurricane insurance are separate add-ons, so don’t assume you’re already covered with your standard policy. Remember, when updating and adding coverage, there may be a waiting period, so don’t delay in purchasing additional policies. Take this time to also review your deductibles and know how much you would need to pay upfront to file a claim.
Gather Personal Documents
It is vital to always keep important personal documents in a safe place, especially when a storm is approaching. This includes having both physical and digital records of birth certificates, passports, social security cards, wills, insurance policies and more. We recommend creating a secure and encrypted folder that is uploaded into the cloud for safekeeping. In the event the physical documents are damaged, this will reduce the chances of that information being lost forever.
Keep Cash Handy
Create a Hurricane Savings Account
While your money is much safer in a financial institution, with any storm, there is always a possibility of power outages. Without power, we lose access to ATMs and are unable to use credit and debit cards and, therefore, have no access to our funds. In the event you need to evacuate, having cash on hand can assist you until power has been restored.
Many families use health savings accounts (HSAs) to offset potential medical costs, so why not consider opening a secondary savings account in the event of a natural disaster? Funds in this
Bottom Line: Stay Safe
We may not have control over the weather, but we do have control over how we prepare. Haven’t started preparing yet? Consider doing so now, as it is still early. Proper preparation can protect you, your family, your property and finances while mitigating damage. Being ill-prepared, however, could potentially cause recovery time to increase and cost you thousands. AllaSerebrina/DepositPhotos.com
alancrosthwaite/DepositPhotos.com
by Carol Ann Aldridge
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healthy kids
Cool Treats for Hot Days DIY RECIPES EVEN KIDS CAN MAKE by Sheila Julson
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any of us have fond childhood memories of cool confections from the neighborhood ice cream truck on sultry summer days. By creating homemade, hot-weather treats with our kids, we get to enjoy the delights of fresh, seasonal produce and inventive flavor combinations, while also providing our kids with kitchen fun, healthy fare without unwelcome additives and summertime memories of their own. “There are plenty of frozen treats from the grocery store that are in the natural or organic categories, but sometimes those still have levels of sweeteners, sugar or other preservatives that we don’t want or need,” says Annie Wegner LeFort, a Milwaukee-based chef and founder of the healthy living business EatMoveMKE.com. She has been making frozen pops for her 13-year-old daughter Vera since she was a toddler. Anything that is homemade is more economical and has less packaging, Wegner LeFort says. Pop molds can be used over and over, and even cups can be used and reused as molds to reduce waste.
galitskaya/AdobeStock.com
Crafting Cool Treats
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Jacksonville / St. Augustine
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Making frozen pops can be as easy as mashing fruits and other ingredients in a bowl, pouring the mixture into molds and freezing them. A blender or a food processor can be used to make a smoother mix, with parents supervising younger kids. Older children that know how to use small appliances can safely blend—and clean up—without supervision. Wegner LeFort notes that young kids might enjoy straightforward flavor combinations, but older kids with more developed palates can experiment with herbs or exotic concoctions.
Jenifoto/AdobeStock.com
Parents can deftly blend vegetables and herbs into frozen pops and refreshing summer smoothies without being detected by finicky eaters. She recommends adding spinach to fruit blends with berries or dark-colored fruits: “You don’t even really see the greens. They are overtaken by the blue and purple fruits.” Beets or beet juice, which is high in iron and vitamins, also add a beautiful color to berry blends. Cooked and mashed sweet potatoes lend a vibrant orange to red and yellow blends made with strawberries or pineapple. Gwen Eberly, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based chef who teaches cooking to kids and teens through the Zest! cooking school, recalls making healthy, decadent, frozen orange cream pops with her mother and enjoying them on her farmhouse porch on hot summer days. “The original orange cream pops recipe came from a cookbook called More With Less, a compilation of recipes offered by Mennonite women in the 1970s,” Eberly says. She made them with her own children when they were young, and they became a family favorite. Now, as teenagers, they make the treats themselves all year long. Other simple cool snacks include monkey tails—frozen bananas rolled in melted chocolate. “That’s a simple and healthy treat that can be topped with nuts or seeds. If you use dark chocolate, that helps cut down on sugar,” Wegner LeFort advises. Ice cream sandwiches can be made with either store-bought or homemade cookies and ice cream. “Those have endless options for creativity and different flavor combinations.” Jessi Walter Brelsford, founder and “Chief Bud” at the cooking school Taste Buds Kitchen, based in New York City, recommends putting a fun twist on fruit salad with Rainbow Kabobs, which parents and kids can make together. “Our recipe uses fresh, summer favorites like strawberries, cantaloupe, kiwis and blueberries, but depending on your family’s preferences, you can easily make these with any fruit sturdy enough to go on the skewers,” she says. “Kids love helping out, so get them even more excited to be involved by using cool tools together, like a melon baller or crinkle cutter. It will help them practice fine motor skills and pattern recognition by threading the fruits onto the skewers in specific patterns.” With a little encouragement and experimentation, kids will be proudly and happily creating their own delicious and healthy summer snacks.
ORANGE CREAM POPS YIELD: 8 SERVINGS 1 banana 1 cup vanilla yogurt, whole milk 1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice 1 Tbsp honey Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour blended mixture into molds, leaving ½ inch for them to expand. Freeze until hard, about 4 hours. When ready to eat, run under warm water and remove from the mold. Variations: omit bananas or substitute milk with full-fat coconut milk.
Ms VectorPlus/AdobeStock.com
Recipe courtesy of Gwen Eberly, adapted from More With Less.
Sheila Julson is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.
VEGAN WATERMELON-BEET POPS YIELD: 6 TO 8 SERVINGS
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¾ cup vegan vanilla yogurt ½ cup non-dairy milk 2 heaping cups frozen or fresh watermelon cubes 1 red beet, cooked, peeled and chunked 1 small frozen or fresh banana ½ lemon, juiced Add all ingredients to a blender and process on high until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze solid. Recipe courtesy of Annie Wegner LeFort. July 2022
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RAINBOW FRUIT KABOBS
MIXED BERRY POPS YIELD: 8 SERVINGS 2 cups mixed berries (frozen or fresh) 1 ripe banana ¾ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice 1 cup milk 1 cup plain yogurt 1 Tbsp honey Combine all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour blended mixture into molds, leaving ½ inch for it to expand. Freeze until hard, about 4 hours. When ready to eat, run under warm water and remove from the mold.
18 4-inch bamboo knot picks 9 strawberries, cut in half 6 oz cantaloupe, cut into balls or ½-inch cubes 1 banana, cut into half-moons 2 kiwis, cut into half-moons 18 blueberries 18 purple grapes Prepare fruit for kabobs. Cut strawberries in half. Cut cantaloupe into ½-inch cubes or use a melon baller to make balls. Cut bananas and kiwis into half-moons. Leave blueberries and grapes whole.
Variations: omit bananas or substitute milk with full-fat coconut milk. For smoothies, add 2 cups of ice to the recipe and pour the blended mixture into a glass.
Thread fruit pieces onto bamboo knot picks, placing fruit in the rainbow order of color: strawberries, cantaloupe, bananas, kiwis, blueberries and purple grapes. Skewer the grape last, so that it can be used to cover the pointy end of the stick. Put one piece of each fruit on each skewer. Arrange the fruit kabobs decoratively on a serving platter.
Recipe courtesy of Gwen Eberly.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Taste Buds Kitchen.
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photo courtesy of Taste Buds Kitchen
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YIELD: 18 SERVINGS
inspiration
The Art of Doing Nothing
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ost of us can remember having the glorious ability to do absolutely nothing of practical significance as children. We rolled in the grass, laughed ourselves silly with friends on the street corner and happily squandered away Saturdays. Somewhere along the line, someone planted a seed in our brains that programmed us to believe that we must earn our existence. We became self-conscious perfectionists that equate leisure and “be-ing” with laziness. As adults, we see “non-doing” as something trivial, something forbidden, unless we become ill or injured, and only then can we shrug off the societal guilt trip. Somehow, well-being has become a luxury, and our physical bodies are paying for it. We feel old before our time and suffer Monday morning blues every day of the week. The Yiddish proverb, “The hardest work is to go idle,” rings truer than ever. We envy our beloved pets when they stretch out in a patch of inviting sun or dream away rainy days, not realizing that we, too, can curl up with the idea of doing nothing. Even foxes and squirrels pause in the survival game to soak up an hour of summer. Unplugging brings us back to our breath, aligns us with our true North and prompts our blood pressure to drop a few numbers. Taking a little time to exhale and watch the clouds overhead can also kickstart our immune systems. If need be, we can appease the to-do lister inside of us by scheduling half an hour of inactivity into the weekly calendar, and when we realize how much we like shooting the breeze, we can increase it to an hour. Consider the last time we gave ourselves permission to sip a little freedom and watch the grass grow. Poet Winifred Druhan noted, “Wasting time is being free.” We won’t win any accolades for doing nothing, but we’ll surely be happier. Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
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by Marlaina Donato
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green living
Pollinator Haven CREATE A TOXIN-FREE YARD FOR CRITICAL CRITTERS by Sandra Yeyati
crops. Riverbed mussels filter our water. Stone flies help break down organic matter. Bees are effective pollinators, helping to sustain our most nutritious food sources.” U.S. bees are declining at alarming rates, thanks in part to neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides, Code reports. The good news is that a few gardening modifications can provide food and safe haven for beneficial invertebrates, while keeping our families (and pets) free from scary chemicals.
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Gardening Tips from Aimée Code
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imée Code has stopped trying to grow roses in her Eugene, Oregon, backyard, where the ground is too muddy for them to flourish. If we stick to plants that do well in our own region, they’ll be less susceptible to disease and pests, and we won’t need to use dangerous chemicals in our gardens, says the pesticide program director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Code works to preserve invertebrate species that are threatened by habitat loss, climate change and pesticides. “Many of these animals provide valuable services,” she says. “Solitary wasps feed their young certain caterpillars that we consider pests because they eat our
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Jacksonville / St. Augustine
NAJax.com
Create a resilient garden with hardy, native plants that invite both pollinators and natural enemies like solitary wasps, lacewings and hoverflies, which help control pest populations. Use restraint when trimming plants or clearing debris. Many bees create nests inside pithy stems and downed wood or underneath bunch grasses and fallen leaves. Develop a greater tolerance for weeds, embracing a slightly wilder garden aesthetic. Avoid using herbicides by mulching and manually pulling weeds before they go to seed. A few pests in the vegetable garden are okay, as long as they don’t harm overall production. Search online for nonchemical solutions by vegetable type and location. As in farming, try rotating crops or look into companion planting to learn which plants work well together. Ensure the soil has what each plant needs. For example, blueberries require an acidic soil. Pesticides address the symptom rather than the problem. Killing pests may be a temporary fix, but won’t address the underlying cause, so the problem will likely return. Even so-called “reduced risk” products contain concerning chemicals for
pollinators. Always try non-chemical solutions first. For example, instead of applying a fungicide to address powdery mildew, water the affected plant less and prune it to improve air flow.
Eco-Friendly Pest Management
TRY FOR FREE!
According to Ryan Anderson, community integrated pest management manager at the IPM Institute of North America, “Chemicals should only be used in a lawn or garden as a last resort, and even then, only the least amount of the least harmful product.” For reduced-risk and organic product lists, visit Tinyurl.com/EPAPesticideList and MidwestGrowsGreen.org. Anderson laments the rampant overuse of noxious products, including glyphosate and 2,4-D, which are classified as probable and possible carcinogens, respectively, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; commercial fertilizers that lead to nitrogen and phosphorus runoffs, threatening marine wildlife; and pyrethroid insecticides for mosquito control, which kill most insects. He champions sustainable measures, starting with a reduction of turf grass. “People like sitting on their lawn, but try keeping it as minuscule as possible and plant native plants which require less maintenance,” he says. “Make sure you’re not planting grass where grass doesn’t want to grow.” Consider an eco-lawn with micro-clover in the mix, Anderson advises. “Clover recycles nitrogen and stays green in drought conditions, so you don’t have to fertilize or water, and you only need to mow eco-lawns once a month.”
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Lawn Care Strategies from Ryan Anderson
Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer and editor. Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.
Any
Time,
Any
Where
ENERGY HEALING
photo by Sandra Yeyati
For weeds, the best defense is a dense, deeply rooted, turf grass system that will out-compete for air, water, nutrients and sunlight. Aerate the lawn in the fall by removing narrow, three-to-sixinch-deep cores and leaving them on the soil. After a day or two, mow the cores over to return nutrients to the soil. Spread turf seed over bare-soil areas and over the entire lawn whenever aeration is conducted. Before or after aerating, spread one-quarter to one-half inch of compost over the lawn to promote a nutrient- and microbiologyrich, spongy soil structure. Visit CompostingCouncil.org for reputable suppliers and DIY instructions for high-quality compost. Apply leaf mulch and grass clippings to feed and promote protozoa, bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, inhibit plant pathogens, balance pH and aerate the soil. Mow less often and as high as possible to minimize stressing the grass plant. Lawns need only a single, one-inch watering per week.
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healing ways
That Natural Glow RADIANT SKIN WITH FEWER HEALTH RISKS by Marlaina Donato
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or basic hygiene and improved appearance, we wash, slather, hydrate, scrub and cover up, often forgetting that our skin is our largest organ and much of what we expose it to can be absorbed and accumulated in the body over time. If we are using products with potentially toxic additives, we are putting ourselves at a higher risk for hormone disruption, reproductive cancers and allergic reactions. Many chemicals that have been banned or controlled in Japan and some European countries are still being used on an unregulated basis in the U.S. Even products labeled “organic” and “natural” can have harmful elements alongside the good stuff. Recent research from the University of Vermont Cancer Center has linked phthalates, the “forever chemicals” used as bonding agents in many personal care products, to a higher risk of cancers in children. The encouraging news is that with a little savvy preparation, these hazardous ingredients can be avoided, and we can have glowing skin with fewer health risks.
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Knowledge is Power
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Being an informed consumer is important when it comes to what goes into the body, and reading labels is just as vital for what’s applied on the outside. “The beauty industry can become fascinated with chemical-based ‘quick-fixes,’ but so often what you find is that these interventions can have long-lasting effects that may actually damage the skin,” says Tammy Fender, founder of Tammy Fender Holistic Skincare, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Liver-compromising and potentially cancer-causing formaldehyde, phthalates and parabens are plentiful in shampoos (including baby shampoo), soaps, deodorants, antiperspirants, body lotions and moisturizers, and have been linked to breast cancer and other malignancies, kidney damage and depression. While some sources claim these substances to be low-risk due to minimal amounts in skin care products, looking at the broader picture can be disturbing when we consider long-term use and the number of products used daily. On a superficial level, the skin just responds better when it is exposed to fewer toxins. “Our skin is our biggest organ and absorbs up to 60 percent of whatever you put on it. When you eat healthy, your body feels great. The same goes for your skin,” says Shannon Reagan, owner of Glimmer Goddess Organic Skin Care, in Frisco, Texas. “Throughout my life, I’ve tried just about every product in the stores looking for something that wouldn’t irritate my skin. I found that the cleaner the products, the better my skin looked and felt.”
What Our Skin Loves
An outstanding resource for information about a particular product’s safety is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database at EWG.org/skindeep, which evaluates and grades more than 88,000 personal care products for toxicity. When shopping online or in a store, nixing any that have long, difficult-to-pronounce ingredients is key. Any label that simply lists “fragrance” is also a red flag for hundreds of possible chemicals. Instead, opt for skin care products with Latin botanical names for herbal and essential oil-based scents. “Natural products may cost a bit more than store brands, but the benefits far outweigh the incremental cost. They contain vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants and flavonoids that help heal, rejuvenate and protect skin,” says Reagan. Fender, a holistic aesthetician and pioneer of clean skin care, concurs, “There is so much care that comes through the plants. Nature is generous.” Her favorite go-to ingredients in her organic skin care line range from white lily to citrus. “I love rose for its powerful rejuvenating benefits. I also love chamomile, an ancient calming and soothing remedy, which is so beneficial for sensitive skin.”
Fun in the Sun
Chemicals found in conventional sunscreens such as avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, oxybenzone and PABA activate free radicals in the body, but natural sunscreens offer total protection without the elevated cancer risk. Reagan, whose products offer broad-spectrum sun protection, explains, “Chemical sunscreens are absorbed into the skin while natural sunscreens (mineralbased) sit on top of your skin, blocking the sun’s rays at the surface. Natural sunscreens such as zinc oxide and non-nano titanium dioxide are usually thick like a body lotion texture. They work by reflecting UVA/UVB rays away from the skin and start to work right away.” Essential oils like red raspberry seed and carrot seed are also reliable ingredients to look for in any natural sunscreen, and may even be helpful for certain types of precancerous skin lesions caused by UVA/UVB rays. Overall, healthy skin comes from a well-balanced lifestyle. For Fender, it is truly a holistic approach. “I love how inspired and educated my clients are these days. They come to the treatment
room with insightful questions, and they understand that caring for the skin is not separate from caring for the soul.” Marlaina Donato is an author, composer and painter. Connect at WildflowerLady.com.
HEALTHIER SUMMER SKIN TIPS FROM SHANNON REAGAN, OWNER OF GLIMMER GODDESS ORGANIC SKIN CARE Our skin needs hydration all year round, but most especially in the hot summer months. The keys to keeping our skin soft, healthy and hydrated is to drink plenty of water, wear lip balm with sun protection and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen throughout the day. For ultimate summer goddess skin, be sure to not overwash your face, which would dry out our skin. Instead, use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water in the morning and night. Use a sunscreen during the day and a body lotion or body butter at night. Shea butter is a great moisturizer for all skin types and is packed with skin-nourishing vitamins. Almond oil is an all-around gem when it comes to skin health. As a child, my mom would melt down shea butter and mix it with almond oil to soothe my eczema. These two natural ingredients have become a staple in my line of natural and organic skin care products.
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fit body
The Great Nature Gym OUTDOOR WORKOUTS MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER by Carrie Jackson
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in nature can reduce stress levels even more than being indoors and can make a workout seem easier. Many outdoor activities are free or lowcost, can be done solo or in groups and are easily worked into a schedule. From a simple walk in the park to an organized club meet-up, there’s no shortage of options to get the heart pumping.
ummer is the prime time to skip the gym and exercise in the fresh air. Studies show that outdoor workouts improve mental well-being and result in greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement. Exercising
Outdoor Safety
There are a few factors to keep in mind when moving an exercise routine outside. Be sure to drink plenty of water, as the warmer temperatures can cause increased sweating and dehydration during exertion. Products like hydration packs provide an insulated way to easily carry water hands-free during a workout. While some exposure to vitamin D is beneficial, sun protection is essential as harmful UV rays can cause the skin to burn and lead to melanoma. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a waterproof, broadspectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapplying it every two hours. UVA rays can also lead to cataracts, macular degeneration and pterygium (a benign growth called “surfer’s eye”), so wear sunglasses that have UV protection.
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Walking
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An easy activity that can be done almost anywhere, walking requires only a pair of supportive shoes and a bit of wanderlust. It is a great introduction for people looking to get started with a fitness program. Relatively low-impact, it can ease joint pain, help reduce stress, improve sleep and boost the immune system. Research suggests that distance is more important than speed for health benefits, so add a leisurely stroll to a daytime routine.
Running
As a weight-bearing exercise, running helps build strong bones and protects against osteoporosis. Over time, it can also reduce the risk of heart disease and lower the resting heart rate. Long- distance running is stellar for cardiovascular endurance, while sprinting is a quick way to jumpstart weight loss. Running clubs all over the country can help newcomers find inspiration, camaraderie and motivation when the couch is calling.
Biking
get around outside. Roller-blading helps build endurance in a wide range of muscles, including upper legs, hips, back and glutes. It can improve balance, is easy on the joints and is just plain fun. Invest in a set of protective gear such as a helmet, wrist guards and kneepads to ensure safety.
Urban Fitness
To create workouts in the city, run up and down a hill or set of stairs, then find a nearby playground and do pull-ups on the monkey bars, tricep dips on a park bench and other bodyweight exercises. Or, grab a few friends and create a high-intensity interval training circuit in the park. Change up the routine and location to keep it fresh and fun. Carrie Jackson is a Chicago-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine. Connect at CarrieJackson Writes.com.
Cycling is easy on the joints, can help improve balance and is a great low-impact cardio workout. Biking can be done solo or in groups and is a great option for families, as even little kids can ride along. Many cities have bike-friendly street lanes, allow bikes on public transportation and have rental bikes such as Divvy available for short-term rides.
Yoga
Classes in yoga and Pilates, traditionally done indoors, can be moved outside when the weather is nice. Practicing in the open air means breathing in higher quality oxygen while practicing deep breathing or moving through asanas. The ambient warmth allows soft tissue to relax more, making deeper poses more accessible. Plus, it’s just more relaxing to practice outside, and taking in the surroundings will heighten a mindfulness practice.
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Water Sports
Canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding can be done on any kind of open water, including lakes, ponds and rivers. These activities strengthen the upper body as well, and water itself can have a calming effect. Take a class or rent a boat for an afternoon paddle, either alone or with friends.
Rollerblading
Popular in the 1990s, rollerblading is again having a heyday. Online skate manufacturer Rollerblade saw a 300 percent increase in sales at the start of the pandemic, as consumers looked for creative ways to
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calendar of events SATURDAY, JULY 2
THURSDAY, JULY 14
Healing Technique St. Jude Benefit – 1-3pm. Experience healing energy work, 7 archangels, reconnective healing, singing bowls and more. $15 love offering goes to St. Jude’s. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. 904-292-4555. SpiritualUplifts.com
Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – 6:30pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.
SUNDAY, JULY 3, 17 & 24 Your Journey Begins Here –10:30am-noon. Introduction to spiritual sources that can empower and align with your higher self. This 18-day workshop is $20 per class or $300 for all 18 days. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. 904-292-4555.
Explore a Spiritual Perspective on Your Relationships – 7-8pm. Open discussion sponsored by Eckankar in Jacksonville on book ECK Wisdom on Relationships. All welcome. Gift book and CD. Free. Pablo Creek Library, 13295 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville. 904-725-7760. MeetUp.com/ EckankarInJacksonville.
TUESDAY, JULY 5
SATURDAY, JULY 16
Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. The phases of meditation are physical exercise, invoking divine blessings, relaxation/cleansing and energizing, selfintrospection and inner reflection, activating heart chakra and crown chakra, achieving illumination, releasing excess energy and expression of gratitude. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder. com/events.
SATURDAY, JULY 9 – SUNDAY, JULY 10 Jewelry Show – 11am-6pm both days. Event room will be filled with sterling silver jewelry and gems. Everything over $20 is 20% off. Spend $200 or more and receive gift. Demonstration of wire wrapping on Sat, from 3-3:30pm, and free crystal class on Sun, from 3-3:30pm. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. 904-292-4555. SpiritualUplifts.com.
SATURDAY, JULY 9 Creating an Intention Agreement/Contract with Your Spirit Helpers – 3-5:30pm. Online class. $36. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. ifsk.org. 407-247-7823.
SUNDAY, JULY 10 Pranayama and Meditation – 10-11am. Through guided breathing, increase the oxygen to your brain and all your internal organs, which facilitates physical healing. Held outside if weather permits. Bring mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-3818686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
Creating an Intention Agreement/Contract with Your Spirit Helpers – 10:30am-1pm. Online class. $36. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. ifsk.org. 407-247-7823. Spiritual House Cleansing Full-Day Workshop – Noon-7pm. Improve your lifestyle by creating a better flow of energy. Learn about the basics of feng shui and more. Also make a feng shui craft and more. $125 (lunch and supplies included). Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. Register/info: 904-292-4555. Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk – 1pm. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Room 112, Postell Market, Casino Bldg, 530 Beachview Dr (by Neptune Park), St. Simons Island, GA. Register/info: 904-375-9517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.
SATURDAY, JULY 16 – SUNDAY, JULY 17 Spirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair – 10am-6pm Sat & 10am-5:30pm Sun. Enjoy 60 booths with vendors, practitioners, intuitive readers, artists and demonstrations. Entrance fee: $10/ day; children 12 and under free. Schultz Center, 4019 Blvd Center Dr, Jacksonville. Info/discounted admission: SpiritFestFL.com.
Yoga Nidra – 11:15am-12:15pm. Guided meditation to achieve intense concentration, enlightenment or bliss. Bring mat and accessories. $15. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
Mini-Readings – 10am-6pm Sat & 10am-5:30pm Sun. Certified medium/healer Rev. Judi Weaver will be providing mini-readings and hosting a workshop presentation during Spirit Fest: Metaphysical and Holistic Fair. Schultz Center, 4019 Blvd Center Dr, Jacksonville. For more info or to schedule a session: Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com or SpiritualServices.Online.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13
TUESDAY, JULY 19
The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity Class – 6:30pm. Join Rev. Yvonne McAndrew for this 5-week in-person class. Explore prosperity principles and how to put them to work for you. All are welcome. Cost: $120. Early bird $100 before midnight July 6. Required book, The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity by Edwene Gaines. Unity Church for Creative Living. 2777 Race Track Rd., St. Johns, 32259. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.
Twin Hearts Meditation – 6-7pm. The phases of meditation are physical exercise, invoking divine blessings, relaxation/cleansing and energizing, self-introspection and inner reflection, activating heart chakra and crown chakra, achieving illumination, releasing excess energy and expression of gratitude. Free. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904-381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
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SATURDAY, JULY 23 – SUNDAY, JULY 24 Reiki Level 1 Healing Class – 10am-6pm Sat & 11am-4pm Sun. Reiki Master Falli Shah, with 20 years’ experience, will guide participants through this exploration of energy and healing. $200, with 50% deposit upon booking. Training certificate included. Lunch provided on Sat. Seventh Wonder Holistic Spa, 4236 St. Johns Ave, Jacksonville. 904381-8686. Seventh-Wonder.com/events.
SATURDAY, JULY 23 Psychic Medium Class with Lynn – 2-5pm. Learn to grow and find your niche. All skill levels welcome. Series of 5 classes. $45 or $200 for the series. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. 904-292-4555.
SUNDAY, JULY 24 We’re Still Standing Patio Party – 11:30am. You are cordially invited to celebrate with us on the beautiful grounds of Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd., St. Johns, 32259. Family friendly event. See page 4 for info. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com. 2.5-Hour Meditation – 4:30-7:30pm. Activate all chakras. Use a yoga mat or reserve a chair. Lynn will do automatic writing for a personal message to take home. Snacks available. $35. Spiritual Uplifts, 2186 Park Ave, Orange Park. 904-292-4555.
SATURDAY, JULY 30 Using Encaustic Art Wax Pictures – 10:30am1pm. Attendees of this in-person class will learn to use encaustic art wax pictures for psychic/mediumship readings. $35. Held at private residence. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823. Developing Psychic/Mediumship Skills – 2-4:30pm. Attendees of this in-person class will learn what they need to know physically, mentally and emotionally as they develop psychic/mediumship skills. $35. Held at private residence. International Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge. 407-247-7823.
plan ahead THURSDAY, AUGUST 4 Transcendental Meditation Introductory Talk by Videoconference – Noon. All the information you need to make an informed decision about learning this highly effective technique for reducing stress and improving health. Free. Register/info: 904-3759517 or Jacksonville@TM.org.
2022
ongoing events
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
JANUARY HEALTH & WELLNESS FEBRUARY HEART-CENTERED LIVING MARCH FOOD & NUTRITION
sunday Unity Church for Creative Living Sunday Service – 10:30am. Join in-person, on Facebook Live or YouTube Channel to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St. Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com.
monday Monday Mantras – Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNPc, is lighthearted and approachable guide to a year of mindfulness intentions and actions in the form of simple practices to help improve your physical, emotional and mental health. Use it to learn the value of your experiences, voice, heart, and story. 904-543-3510. MondayMantrasWithMegan.com. FirstCoastIntegrativeMedicine.com.
wednesday Wednesday Pier Farmers Market – 8am-12:30pm. Oceanfront shopping at the St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park. Approximately 60-80 vendors can be found at the market selling locally grown produce, baked goods, prepared foods, arts, crafts and more. Free. 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-315-0952. Spiritual Enrichment Classes – 7pm. Visit the website for class information. Unity Church for Creative Living, 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns. 904-287-1505. UnityInJax.com. Music by the Sea – Thru Sept 1. 7-8:50pm. This annual summer music and food celebration features local bands and performers paired with local food trucks to entertain visitors. A different band will be featured each week, along with a food truck to offer fresh, tasty, food. Guests are welcome to bring coolers and picnic baskets. Chairs and bug spray are encouraged. Free. St. Augustine Beach Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine Bch. 904-347-8007.
Rotisserie Chickens at Native Sun – 9am-6pm. The first round of rotisserie chickens will be ready around 9am. The last run of birds come out around 6pm. Limit two per household. $5/each. 1585 3rd St. N, Jacksonville Bch.
thursday Farmers Market – 5-8pm. Vendors offer locally grown produce as well as homemade and handmade products. Yamo Italian and Captain Scallywag's food truck are onsite offering local cuisine as well as two other food trucks, which rotate each week. Local musicians provide entertainment throughout the evening. Free. The Artisan Market Coconut Barrel, 3175 US 1 South, St. Augustine. Concerts in the Plaza – 7-9pm. Bring a chair or blanket to relax on the plaza lawn and enjoy summer evenings filled with music in the heart of historic St. Augustine. Picnic dinners are allowed, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. Gazebo of St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución (between Cathedral and King Streets) Downtown St. Augustine. 904- 825-1004.
friday First Friday Garden Walk – 10am. Join a Ranger the first Friday of every month for a garden walk. No registration required. Walk included with park entry fee of $5 per vehicle. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Info: WashingtonOaks.org.
saturday The St. Augustine Ampitheatre Farmers Market – 8:30am-12:30pm. Shop more than 100 tents loaded with local produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade arts and crafts and more. Admission into the market is free. 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine. 904-315-9252.
APRIL SUSTAINABLE LIVING MAY WOMEN’S WELLNESS JUNE MEN’S HEALTH JULY THE FOOD CONNECTION AUGUST SELF-EMPOWERMENT SEPTEMBER INSPIRED LIVING OCTOBER HEALTHY PLANET NOVEMBER MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING DECEMBER UPLIFTING HUMANITY
386-736-3838
Plans change — Call ahead July 2022
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community resource guide FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
ACUPUNCTURE
JACKSONVILLE HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER
A WAY OF LIFE ACUPUNCTURE
4337 Pablo Oaks Ct, Bldg 200, Jacksonville • 904-373-8415 AWayOfLifeAcupuncture.com Dr Christine Yastrzemski, NCCAOM, AP AP2255 Dr Sarah Thomas, DACM, AP AP4183
Dr Jon Repole, DC, CFMP 9957 Moorings Dr, Ste 403 Jacksonville (Mandarin) 904-268-6568 • DrRepole.com
NCCAOM Board Certified Acupuncture Physician specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. We offer the highest quality of care while customizing treatments that best suit your needs.
CBD HYDROPONIC UNIQUE GOODS
8622 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville 904-829-4847 • JaxHugs.com Hemp is all relaxation without intoxication, research shows numerous health benefits. Garden and hydroponic supplies: Leading brands of soil, nutrients, grow tents and LED lights. See ad, page 5.
ENERGY HEALING
Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner. Find the cause of your health challenge. Our office will create a doctor supervised custom-tailored health program that will include the following: meal planning, supplemental prescriptions, detoxification guidance, food/lifestyle coaching, exercise prescriptions, accountability, on-line patient portal, and more. We utilize the most advanced diagnostics testing available to aid both our diagnoses and treatment. See ad, page 22.
GROCERY NATIVE SUN
1585 3rd St North, Jacksonville Beach 904-853-5497 NativeSunJax.com J a x B e a c h ’s community organic grocer, local food and essential items. Order online for curbside p/u.
HEALING ENERGY BY TED
Ted Kostek 7500 Plantation Club Dr, Jacksonville 904-613-7608 • Healingenergybyted.com Certified in Reconnective Healing, The Emotion Code, The Body Code, Reiki Master. Powerful healings, with great compassion and care. Clean chakras, aura, entity removal, in-person and remote sessions for humans and animals.
HERBS LAURENCE LAYNE, LMT, HERBALIST Healing Waters Clinic & Herb Shop 26 Clark St, St. Augustine 904-826-1965 • HealingWatersClinic.com MA0010746 MM005595
A holistic center specializing in pain relief and chronic health issues. Certified in neuromuscular and deep tissue bodywork, myofascial therapy, craniosacral balancing, east-west herbalism. Offering attunement energy healing since 1978. See ad, page 21.
HOLISTIC WELLNESS SPA SEVENTH WONDER HOLISTIC SPA 4236 St John’s Ave, Jacksonville 904-381-8686 • Seventh-Wonder.com
A true sanctuary away from the stresses of the world since 2002. Offering: Ayurveda consultation and services, natural alternatives to facelift, massages, facials, eyebrow threading/tinting, reiki, pranic healing, ear coning, sauna, and a Himalayan salt room.
MASSAGE CARING PALMS HEALING ARTS
Brian Dean, LMT MA36835 MM41272 315 10th Ave South, Jacksonville Beach 904-246-2206 • CaringPalms.com Professional massage and energy work. Many styles of massage, Reiki, meditation, mediumship, massage & Reiki classes. Continuing education for Florida LMTs. See ad, page 10.
MEDITATION TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION© CENTERS Karen & Herb Bandy, Allan Byxbe, Certified Teachers Jacksonville@TM.org • 904-375-9517 Regine de Toledo, Certified Teacher StAugustine@TM.org • 904-826-3838
The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious, evidence-based practice for eliminating stress, increasing well-being and expanding consciousness. Certified Teachers give individual instruction and ongoing support. See ad, page 27.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD CERTIFIED MEDICAL MARIJUANA DOCTORS
10695 Beach Blvd • 904-299-5300 920 Blanding Blvd, Ste 4 • 904-420-0044 2085 A1A S, St Augustine • 904-299-7373 CMMDR.com Get your medical marijuana card and pre-certify by phone. Medical marijuana treats more than 250 medical conditions such as: chronic pain, PTSD, cancer, seizures, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, MS, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, IBS, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, lupus and more. See ad, page 27.
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Jacksonville / St. Augustine
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AKASHIC RECORD
PSYCHIC CHANNEL
CO N S U LTATI O N S
By Stephany Levine
REV JUDI WEAVER
Heart 4 Souls Inc, Ormond Beach Rev.Judi.Weaver@gmail.com 386-503-4930 • Heart4Souls.com Channeled spirit messages, crystal light healer, divine personal guidance, shamanic practitioner, spiritual counseling, guided meditations, home/property blessings, vision quest journeys. For individuals or groups—in person, virtual/on-line, phone or energy distance.
SPIRITUAL CENTERS UNITY CHURCH FOR CREATIVE LIVING IN ST JOHNS 2777 Race Track Rd, St Johns 904-287-1505 • UnityInJax.com
Unity offers positive, practical teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. They take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all life. Join to travel the journey of spiritual unfoldment together. See ad, page 13.
ARCI Trained Certified Consultant/Teacher Over 15 years of experience
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For Appointments Contact Me At: stephanylevine@ymail.com www.stevielevine.com 904.545.2447
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Soft Tissue Specialist 321-271-1678 Flagler & Daytona Bch LaureeMoretto.com 90% of pain is linked to structural misalignment. Your pain is really just a symptom. My work addresses the cause to give you lasting relief. Get your life back now. MA20965.
YOGA YOGA DEN
Mandarin | Fleming Island | Southside | Avondale | World Golf Village | San Pablo | Bayard | Crossroads | Oakleaf | Nocatee | Yellow Bluff Yoga-Den.com Founded in 2002, all Yoga Den teachers are graduates of YogaDen’s nationally accredited 200-hour TT Program. Members may use their key tags at all locations with Passport Membership. Hundreds of weekly classes. Our philosophy is No Judgement, and all levels will feel welcome.
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