Sandhills Naturally • December 2014

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Naturally Beautiful Holiday Events • Shop Local Gift Guide

table of contents

december 2014

Natural Approaches to Stress Management for the Holidays, page 4

nutrition Get Snacking!...........................................6 Stay Healthily Hydrated this Winter............7

living It Takes a Village — and a Clinic ...............8 Using Autumn's Bounty - Leaves..............10 Saving the Monarch Butterfly...................16

d.i.y Make Your Own Body Scrub....................13

Naturally Beautiful Christmas Events, page 21

wellness Cover Story: Natural Approaches to Stress Management for the Holidays...................4 Handling Grief during the Holidays..........14 De-Stress with Essential Oils.....................17

Yoga for All at Embrace Yoga, page 22

explore Shop Local Holiday Gift Guide.................18 Naturally Beautiful Christmas Events.........21 Embrace Yoga Studio...............................22 Resource Guide.......................................24 Calendar of Events..................................27 Brain Games............................................27

Watch our Facebook posts for a chance to win a bundle of classes at Tree of Life

“As a hospital physician, I've seen far too many people succumb to dehydration-related health scares, stemming from high-elevation ski trips to travel to simply forgetting to drink water because it's cold outside.” Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth on hydrating during the winter, pg. 7 2

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December 2014

from the publisher

tis the season...

Tis the season to be jolly — but it sometimes seems that the holiday season has

Your Guide to Healthy Living in the Sandhills

become an increasing source of stress, rather than Editor & Publisher Joy Godwin Crowe Associate Editor Karen Gilchrist karen@sandhillsnaturally.com Contributing Writers Kelli Edwards Seuson Vess Marketing & Advertising Joy G. Crowe joy@sandhillsnaturally.com Mike Cole (Lee Co.) mcole@sandhillsnaturally.com

enjoyment. The everyday pressures of family, work, finances and volunteer obligations (not to mention fitness and health) coupled with holiday gatherings, the financial stress of Christmas presents, cold and dreary weather, less daylight, and Father Time ticking away can be enough to put you over the deep end.

Why is it that as we come out of the holiday of Thanksgiving, and being thankful for all of our blessings (yes, you read all those 30 days of Thanksgiving Facebook posts), we immediately dive into holiday chaos, whether it's Christmas-, Hannukah- or just end-of-year-induced? Some folks thrive on this chaos, and Christmas truly is the happiest time of the year for

Erin Davidson (Cumberland Co.) erin@sandhillsnaturally.com

them. Others just don't quite get into the holiday spirit,

Logo Design Petra Bobbitt, Wild Hair Graphic Design petra@wildhairdesign.com

a happy face for friends and loved ones. But for some,

Published by Main Street Media 213 Skyland Plaza, Ste 1370-163 Spring Lake, NC 28390 For more information or to become an advertiser, please call 910.551.2883 www.SandhillsNaturally.com www.facebook.com/sandhillsnaturallync

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the stress and anxiety of the holidays can truly lead to depression. In this issue, we tackle ways to survive the season with your sanity and maybe even more joy than usual.

Personally, I'm feeling the need to reconnect with my family. To take a little time to detox from electronics and enjoy each other's company. To focus on health and wellness, get organized and start preparing for the new year. Exploring a new place over the holiday season may be just the way to reconnect with your spouse and family over the winter break — or maybe make a new friend along the way. In this issue, you'll also find a few easy recipes to get you through the season in a healthier way.

As you are checking off your holiday gift list, remember to shop local. We expanded our Holiday Gift Guide with even more unique gift ideas from local businesses. Be sure to like us on Facebook (sandhillsnaturallync) and check out our digital edition online. As always, if you would like to help support Sandhills Naturally by being a sponsor or a distribution location,

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Copyright ©2014 by Main Street Media and Sandhills Naturally. All rights reserved.

No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material.

Main Street Media is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or other material. Information in this publication is not meant to diagnose, treat or prescribe for medical conditions. The opinions expressed by contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors and publisher.

suffering from a slight case of Grinch, but putting on

please let me know.

Thanks for reading Sandhills Naturally and have a wonderful holiday season. See you next year!

a

Proud member of

December 2014

Joy Godwin Crowe, Publisher joy@sandhillsnaturally.com

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3

nutrition

natural approaches to stress management for the holidays

By Karen Gilchrist Promoted as a magical time of the year, the holidays can also be one of the most stressful, with the added obligations of gift-giving, get-togethers with one’s not-so-Norman-Rockwell family or celebrating without a close one. And while it may be tempting to escape feelings of holiday dread with another glass of wine or by withdrawing completely from the season’s festivities, many natural approaches to stress management are available to help one feel more relaxed and find more of that holiday cheer.

Maintain nutritious eating habits.. A healthy diet is important year round to maintain good health, but once the parties begin, complete with tempting holiday goodies, it is easy to overindulge, which can actually increase stress (and guilt) levels. Try eating a healthy snack before any party, or enjoy an extra serving of vegetables at holiday meals to avoid overindulging in less healthful choices, like alcoholic beverages, breads, cheese and sweets. Teresa Richter, N.D. Candidate, notes that certain foods contain nutrients that actually combat “seasonal blues”: • Avocados, cashews, cottage cheese, lamb, turkey, tuna fish, salmon and wild game contain tryptophan, an essential amino acid necessary to create serotonin, “a brain chemical that promotes feelings of well-being and relaxation."

• Dairy, eggs and tuna fish, meat, poultry and salmon are rich in methionine, which is necessary for formation of serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and dopamine.

• Black-eyed peas, brewer’s yeast, citrus fruit and leafy green vegetables, contain folic acid, which is necessary for regulating mood.

• Flax seeds, salmon and tuna contain Omega 3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and promote cardiovascular and nervous system health.

Exercise! Take a walk, ride a bike, enjoy a dance class, run, practice yoga – get moving! Exercise is important in helping keep the circulation to the brain strong. It burns calories, releases the brain’s feel-good endorphins, helps one 4

work out some anger and irritation and improves sleep.

Already have an exercise routine?

Don’t be tempted to slack off during the holidays.

Get some rest! Your mind and body need sleep to heal, and a good night's sleep helps the body release hormones that aid in creating a good mood. The longer winter nights provide a great opportunity to improve your sleep quality.

• Try to establish a scheduled time to go to bed and to wake up.

• Avoid watching TV or working at a computer just before you go to bed.

• Avoid going to bed hungry or feeling stuffed, and avoid consumption of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine before bedtime, which can disrupt or prevent sleep.

• Create a bedtime ritual that signals the body that it’s time to prepare for sleep, from a warm bath or shower to reading a book or listening to relaxing music.

• Ensure that the room is comfortable for sleeping – cool, dark and quiet. Avoid sleeping with a nightlight or TV on.

Plan ahead and allow for extra time.

With the activities of the season added to your regular schedule, you’ll want to take time to identify specific days for baking, shopping, visiting friends and family and other events.

Plan menus and make shopping lists to help prevent any last-minute rush to buy forgotten ingredients. Ask for help!

Crowds and traffic may prevent you from adhering to a tight schedule, so avoid the frustration and disappointment by allowing extra time to complete everyday tasks and errands.

Set limits and stick to a budget on holiday spending.

According to statistics from the American Psychological Association, “69% of people are stressed by a perceived ‘lack of money’ and 51% feel stressed out over the ‘pressure to give or get gifts’” (Alternative Health Oasis). During this season of giving, many of us feel pressured to spend more than we can afford, setting us up for resentment and worry about postholiday finances. Avoid overspending by setting limits weeks

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December 2014

quiet place and sit with your spine and head erect. Let the eyes close or take your gaze downward. Inhale slowly through the nose, letting the breath fill the belly, then the ribcage and then the chest, completely filling the lungs. Pause at the fullest point, and then exhale slowly through the nose, using the diaphragm muscles to push all the air out of the lungs, taking the navel towards the spine. Pause at this emptiest point, and then repeat the sequence for five minutes, visualizing the stress and anxiety leaving your body as you exhale.

Repeat whenever you feel stressed.

beforehand. Know what you can afford and stick to a budget or consider donating to a charity on behalf of someone, giving homemade gifts or starting a family gift exchange.

Find meaning in the season.

Each year, the holiday season seems to begin sooner; garland and twinkling lights appear even before Halloween candy and costumes are marked half-price. If allowed, the over-commercialization of the holidays and pressure to buy, buy, buy can detract from the meaning of the season. Research suggests that experiences, not things, contribute to increased happiness. Try finding or reconnecting to a meaning, purpose or value during the season. Consider reestablishing a childhood tradition, or make a new one. Give something to someone else. Volunteer or practice random acts of kindness.

Just say no. Plate overflowing? Feeling overwhelmed?

Learning to say this two-letter word can help. Most people will understand if you are unable to participate in every single holiday event. Find a way to eliminate one activity, be it skipping a party, buying rather that making a dessert or sending a Christmas email instead of cards this year.

Take care of you. If you don’t take care of you, who will? Rethink your approach to stressful situations.

• Stay in the present moment. Try to think of a stressful situation as an opportunity for positivity. Stuck in line?

Get to know the person next to you.

Crawling in traffic? Take a look around at your surroundings and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

Focus on just one thing, such as physical sensations like walking or a household task like washing the dishes or decorating the tree, and let go of the mental “chatter.”

• Protect your personal space.

Maintain healthy boundaries. If you find yourself in a stressful situation around friends or relatives or at events in close quarters, have a place where you can go and “escape.” You may even need to drive, but give yourself room.

• Breathe! Eating well and exercising can be a challenge during the holidays, but deep breathing takes little time and offers many benefits, including stress and anxiety relief. Find a

December 2014

• Meditate. An ancient practice, meditation offers many benefits, and with today’s apps for smartphones, guided and silent meditation are available at any time. Check out “The Best Meditation iPhone & Android Apps of the Year” (www.healthline.com/ health-slideshow/top-meditationiphone-android-apps#1) to help find a more relaxed and healthier state of mind.

• Explore the use of essential oils.

Essential oils contain constituents that are both calming and stimulating and can induce a specific type of effect depending on what an individual needs to restore balance. Refer to this month’s article, “De-stress with Essential Oils.”

Be realistic! Throughout the holidays, images of happy people, close families and couples in love spreading joy and creating memories surround us.

The reality is that most of us don’t experience that “perfect holiday,” and comparing our lives to those unrealistic expectations can create frustration and pain. So don’t! Instead, reflect back on past years and identify events, habits or circumstances that increased your stress. Do you try to do too much? Are certain family members or get-togethers uncomfortable? Then think of ways to approach such situations using some of the natural approaches above for a calmer, happier and less stressful holiday season.

Karen Gilchrist is a writer, yoga instructor and longtime resident of Southern Pines. You can reach her at karen@ sandhillsnaturally.com. A complete list of sources for this article can be found on our website, www.sandhillsnaturally.com.

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5

get snacking!

by Sueson Vess

Hectic days getting prepared for the holiday season, social gatherings and kids on holiday break all call for one thing — snacks! This is a terrific snack mix that is perfect for holiday gatherings. It is gluten- and dairy-free, packed with flavor and uses the nutritious cashew nut. Not only do cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts, but they are loaded with anti-oxidants, copper, manganese, magnesium, vitamin K

minutes in 350° oven, stirring once half-way through cooking and until the bacon is browned.

Taste and adjust seasoning, adding sea salt if needed and/ or more Aleppo pepper.

Stir occasionally until cool, and then serve and watch it disappear. Recipe may be doubled.

Adapted from F&W’s Best Party Snacks, Tiki Style: Return of the Killer Zombie, published November 2008.

and zinc.

If you aren’t familiar with Aleppo peppers — the Aleppo chili pepper comes to us from southern Turkey, near the Syrian town of Aleppo, which is considered one of the culinary meccas of the Mediterranean. It has a moderate heat level with some fruitiness and mild, cumin-like undertones, with a hint of a vinegary, salty taste. If you can’t find this spice at your local market, you can order it online.

This is a great holiday treat to make for friends and family!

Chef Sueson Vess is shown here with daughter-in-law and

Kris’s Cashew Tiki Snack-Krack Mix Ingredients

chef Kris Guffa, namesake of Kris’s Cashew Tiki Snack-Krack

8 thick slices of lean bacon

Mix. Chef Sueson Vess is the author of the cookbook Special

3 cups salted, roasted cashews

Eats, and healthy gluten-free/allergen-free living is her passion.

4 dried pineapple, cut into 1/3” pieces

A resident of Moore County, Chef Vess provides food coaching

2 tablespoons hemp seeds

services to help others achieve a “good-for-your-health”

1 tablespoon gluten-free, low-sodium tamari or soy sauce or

lifestyle, especially for special dietary needs or during special

for soy-free, coconut aminos

medical situations. She can be reached at 1-800-981-5029 or

1 tablespoon honey

sueson@specialeats.com.

1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (more or less to taste) Instructions Cook bacon: Preheat the oven to 350°. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment and topped with a second sheet of parchment.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Drain on paper towels and cut into 1/2-inch strips.

In a bowl, mix honey and tamari; toss the bacon pieces, cashews, dried pineapple, hemp seeds and Aleppo pepper in honey/tamari blend until all are thoroughly coated.

Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20

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nutrition

stay healthily hydrated this winter When the mercury drops, it's more important than ever to stay properly hydrated. During the winter, people may not seem to sweat as much as in the summer, but that doesn't lessen one's risk of dehydration.

"As a hospital physician, I've seen far too many people succumb to dehydration-related health scares, stemming from high-elevation ski trips to travel to simply forgetting to drink water because it's cold outside," says Dr. Ralph E. Holsworth, director of clinical and scientific research for Essentia Water and medical physician at Southeast Colorado Hospital. "Staying properly hydrated can help ensure good health through the winter, reduce dry skin and even help you flush toxins out of your body to reduce the chances of getting a winter cold or flu."

Boost your body's hydration Roughly 75 percent of the North American population is chronically dehydrated. By the time you feel thirsty (and sometimes when you don't) you may already be getting dehydrated. Whether you're skiing or just taking a walk on a brisk day, the experts at Essentia Water provide these simple tips to help you stay hydrated throughout the winter season and beyond. * Set a daily water intake goal. A good rule of thumb for daily water intake from food and fluids is 2 liters for females and 2.5 liters for males with moderate physical activity levels. Adjust your personal goal to account for climate and activity level. Start your day by filling a tumbler or setting out

bottles of your favorite water totaling your goal. Supplement with healthy foods that have high water content like soup, salad and pears. * Winter it up. During cooler weather, chilled water isn't very enticing. To make it more appealing, warm a mug of water or add a burst of flavor from your favorite winter fruit like oranges, tangerines or cranberries. Drop in a cinnamon stick for an added flavor kick and enticing aroma. * Check the mirror. A tried and true way to know if you're getting enough water is to check your mirror. If your skin appears dry and flaky, it's time to drink more fluids. * Drink electrolyteenhanced alkaline water (also called functional water).

Wellness experts agree that disease and infection have a hard time thriving in an alkaline environment.

High-pH water can help neutralize acid levels and restore your body to a natural state. Functional water can help you avoid or fight winter colds and flu, hydrate your skin and re-hydrate someone who is showing signs of dehydration. * Pack the H20. From carrying a backpack to wearing a special hydration pack — it's important to bring water with you during winter outings. If you simply can't bring it with you, be sure you have a list of stores that offer bottled water, and keep a supply of it in your car's trunk for emergencies.

While you may not feel it, your body is in need of proper hydration even on the coldest winter days.

Contributed by Family Features and Essentia Water, www. essentiawater.com. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

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7

living

it takes a village — and a clinic

By Deborah Wilson

At 7:00 a.m. the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic (SNVC) in Vass, North Carolina, is already buzzing quietly as the staff prepares for the sixty-plus animals expected for surgery.

Meds are prepared, surgery units are packed and the endless paperwork insuring proper health history and contact information is put in order. As clients arrive, the technicians receive the pets and begin the workup for each pet's surgery.

Information not submitted on-line or by mail is finished up by the clinic managers with the owners.

The majority of the pets seen at the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic come from individual owners from an 11-county area of the Sandhills region. County animal control centers as well as other nonprofit animal welfare groups

began in 2004 through discussions sponsored by Tom Daniels, Marie Schwindl, Patricia Smith and Deborah Wilson with local veterinarians and Dr. Kelli Ferris of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. In 2005,after planning and research, Companion Animal Clinic Foundation was established as a 501c3 charitable organization, with the mission to provide affordable spay/ neuter for companion animals to address pet overpopulation in central North Carolina.

Fundraising ensued to retrofit of the building at 5071 US #1, Vass, N.C., (currently the SNVC) into a volume-based spay/neuter surgery facility. Companion Animal Clinic Foundation hosted annual fundraising events, solicited private donations and secured grants from 2005-2014 utilize the clinic's affordable spay/ to provide close to 1 million neuter fees and are scheduled as a dollars to create the clinic. At group. Planning surgeries require the heart of CAC Foundation the right balance of canine and is the operating system — the feline spay and neuter operations The 40,000 Surgery Performed by the Spay Neuter Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic and to maximize the limited surgery Veterinary Clinic...PANDA! the extraordinary staff that work time each day. The dogs and cats are day after day helping people be returned to their owners the same responsible pet owners. day as surgery with pain medications and instructions for care.

The endeavor of low-cost spay/neuter was not trivial. The The SNVC staffs two veterinarians based upon the first five-year budget was based on economic assumptions number of surgeries scheduled. Dr. Cynthia Eaton purchased for the building up-fit and operating the SNVC over the first the Practice in 2014 from Dr. Joe Currie who founded the three years. Planning assumed that as the number of surgeries Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic through his participation with increased, the subsidy for operations would allow the SNVC to Companion Animal Clinic Foundation (CACF). Dr. Mackey expand their scope. The initial service area was nine counties serves as the second lead, surgeon bringing years of experience and today the SNVC serves 11 counties. In December of 2012, from private practice. The staff includes both veterinary CAC Foundation purchased the building from Mr. Willard technicians and office staff who provide the critical conduit Rhodes, who had provided the facility at a free lease until CACF between the SNVC and the community. was able to purchase it from him. CAC Foundation is satisfying Since opening in 2008, over 40,000 surgeries have been provided to central North Carolina. the mortgage, maintaining the equipment and property and Companion Animal Clinic Foundation owns the building subsidizing the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic operations, a and equipment and provides the subsidy to the SNVC to enable double-edged sword since as the Spay Neuter Veterinary them to offer affordable spay/neuter surgeries for individuals Clinic increases the volume of surgeries, the equipment that do not have a private veterinarian and animal welfare needs are great, as is maintenance to the physical plant and groups that are sheltering and adopting out animals. The vision expanded staff requirements to accommodate more surgeries.

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December 2014

living Nevertheless, CACF economic planning from the Animal Clinic Foundation is funded through private beginning paid off as the SNVC has provided donations and grants, thus fundraising is critical in affordable spay/neuter through a well-run, first-class keeping the rates as low as possible at the SNVC. veterinary surgical clinic. CACF then and now is The mission of Companion Animal Clinic managed by an all-volunteer board of directors from Foundation is not finalized. It is the portion of diverse backgrounds. Mindful efforts to retain local animal welfare that often lacks the glitz of warm revenue and limit the rising costs of operations and fuzzy feel-good emotions that adoption agencies for "affordable" spay/neuter have been possible garnish, yet it is the only way to end the needless clearly through the positive efforts of the SNVC staff slaughter of adoptable companion animals, and it and veterinarians. is the glue that connects animal groups. Founding Animal control centers' intake numbers escalate board members trusted the old adage, "If you on average by 13% annually. Historically, adoption build it, they will come," as there was a clear was not an alternative to euthanasia. Rural and need for a low-cost spay/neuter service. less affluent counties exhibit higher intake and Furthermore, and paramount to the mission experience higher euthanasia rates. Yet all counties was the philosophy that pet owners, spend from two to three times the cost of if given an option, would do the right thing. "affordable" spay/neuter to euthanize an animal Prevention is the best cure. The proof: Over 40,000 If a pet is on your gift because there are not enough adoption options. surgeries provided by the Spay Neuter Veterinary list, make sure to shop The mission of spay/neuter is multifaceted, both Clinic. at the area shelters, as a community service and as a fiduciary benefit. and get your new pet Deborah Wilson serves on the CACF Board of spayed or neutered.

By reducing intake, thus euthanasia, animal Directors and resides in Southern Pines. For more control centers can better utilize tax dollars for information or to donate, call 910.692.3499 (FIXX) or training, adoption and education for the public. Companion visit www.companionanimalclinic.org

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9

LIVING

using autumn's bounty leaves: compost, mold or mulch

By Bill Kohlhaase Leaves, easily turned into protective mulch, soil-enhancing leaf mold or rich compost, are the fall season’s gift to the composter. Sure, raking can be hard work even for composters who know the value in each and every leaf. But leaves have long been a treasure for the gardeners: easily available, rich in nutrients, an effective mulch in winter and summer and, once decomposed, extremely beneficial to the soil.

But making leaf compost isn’t as easy as piling up a bunch of leaves and spreading them in the garden the following spring. Leaves, by themselves, do not make the rich soil amendment that all composters strive to achieve (but they will make leaf mold, a valuable soil addition; more below). Many of us started composting with leaves alone and it took a few seasons worth of experience to learn just what to add and how to maintain our heaps to turn our leaves into rich hummus. But leaves, in their abundance, can be the primary ingredient in successful compost. And their use is one of the most rewarding green practices a gardener can employ.

Leaves are a tremendous and largely unnecessary burden on our landfill systems. And as a valuable resource to the gardener, the shame is wasting them at all. Stu Campbell, the author of "Let It Rot!" writes, “throwing them away is one of the worst kinds of conspicuous waste I know.”

Leaf Nutrition What’s wasted? Pound for pound, the leaves of most tress contain twice the mineral content of manure. Because they’re a form of organic roughage, they can dramatically improve drainage and aeration of the soil. And they provide the perfect nutrition for beneficial microbes. In short, they make soil come alive.

Leaves are rich in the trace elements your soil needs.

A tree is an effective mineral extractor, putting down deep and intricate root systems that funnel calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus from the soil into its trunk and out to its leaves. Fifty to 80 percent of all the nutrients trees extract from the ground end up in the leaves. Gathered at their peak and composted correctly, leaves will transfer this nutrition to your soil.

But all leaves are not created equal. The leaves of the eastern hemlock have twice as much nitrogen as the leaves of the red maple. White ash leaves are loaded with calcium, but hemlock not so much. White ash leaves have a pH of 6.8; sugar maple leaves have a pH of 4.30. Some leaves aren’t suitable at all for composting, or should be used very sparingly. The leaves of black walnut trees and eucalyptus trees contain a natural 10

herbicide that may keep your garden seeds from germinating.

To avoid wasting all these valuable nutrients and roughage, it’s important to know how to use leaves effectively. Leaves are at their nutrient best shortly after they’ve fallen from the tree.

Soon thereafter, their nutrient value begins to disappear. Leaves

left on lawns or in piles over winter lose much of their mineral value to leaching. Leaves composted without shredding and not mixed with a green source of nitrogen may sit for years before decomposing. Without a source of nitrogen, leaves will not become compost but instead become leaf mold, a valuable soil addition in terms of drainage and water-holding capability, but not as valuable as mineral-rich compost.

Leaf Compost, Leaf Mold, Leaf Mulch What you intend to make with your leaves will determine the process you use. Many gardeners, especially those with abundant access to leaves, will have use for all three leaf products: compost, mold and mulch. Some will be looking only to make compost to enrich their soil. Gardeners with soil drainage problems will want to make leaf mold to improve the crumb and friability of their soil. Those with perennial plantings and extensive shrubbery will want leaf mulch to protect their plants and improve the soil’s water holding capabilities. Making the decision easier is the fact that any of the products can be used more or less effectively for any of these uses. But for the best utilization of leaves’ nutrition, you’ll want to make compost.

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December 2014

The Rake’s Progress Let’s start at the beginning. Leaves should be gathered as soon as they start falling from your trees. At this point, they contain the most nitrogen, and their cells are still pliable and friendly to decomposition. Not only do leaves give up nitrogen as they sit around, but the cells walls harden, becoming resistant to break down. As the lignin between cell walls dehydrates, it not only resists decomposition, but its ability to transmit nutrients through the soil (cation exchange) is decreased. Using freshly fallen leaves to make mold or compost preserves the leaves’ mineral content, and it increases the function that transmits that nutrition from soil to plants. Lignin also provides nutrition for the bacteria that will facilitate the decomposition process. The more viable the lignin, the faster you’ll have compost.

Shreddin’ Leaves break down slowly. A pile of unshredded leaves without added nitrogen sources may sit for years before it will be completely decompose. Early-season raking of clipped grass and leaves help solve this problem by supplying an already mixed source of leaves and grass. As the season moves on, only leaves will be available. To make quality compost, leaf shredding is essential. This can be done by commercial shredders, which are notoriously expensive, noisy and fragile. Or shredding can be done with your home lawn mower. Don’t be content to run over your leaves once. Maximum shredding is important for quick breakdown. It’s easier if you employ help to pile up the leaves again once you’ve passed over them with the mower. Several passes will give you a fine, quick-to-decompose product. This is true if you’re making compost or leaf mold. In a pinch, a Weed Whacker or other line trimmer can be used to reduce leaves to a more compostable size.

Unshredded leaves left to mold will pack tightly in layers, delaying the molding process sometime for as much as two or three years. Even in a compost tumbler, unshredded leaves will sit through the season while all other green materials around it decompose.

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December 2014

Piling On Leaf Mulch Now’s the time to decide what to do with your leaves. If using them as mulch, they can be applied directly under trees, shrubs and plantings to protect the soil and provide insulation from the cold. Don’t be afraid to pile it on. Loft is important; the higher the pile and the more air trapped inside it, the better the insulating properties. Several inches is a good start.

The leaves will compress and layer as the season progresses. In extremely cold climates, a foot of leaf mulch is not too much.

Remember that leaves generally increase the acidity of soil. It’s a good idea to test soils in the spring and add lime or other alkaline substances if you pH is not to your plants’ liking. If using whole leaves or those not finely shredded, you’ll want to pull them back in the spring to allow the soil to warm.

Unshredded leaves can also make a sort of canopy over soils, allowing moisture to run-off and not get to the ground. Finely shredded leaves tend to work themselves into the soil and encourage moisture absorption. Also, shredded leaves will not inhibit the spring soil warming process as much.

Studies have found that mulching leaves directly into turf, lawns and gardens has many benefits and a few drawbacks.

Generally, mulching directly into turf increases aeration and friability of soils, allowing grasses to spread and thicken. It will also lower nitrogen-to-carbon ratios of soils if done to extremes.

A large amount of shredded leaves left on turf results in leaf

nature's own

natural foods market, lunch counter & juice bar (910) 692-3811 • www.naturesowninc.com 195 Bell Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387 Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: Closed

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

11

living litter being apparent the next spring and a chance that new grass growth will be discouraged by the cover.

If you have an abundance of leaves, it’s a good idea to store some in contained heaps to use later during the growing season as mulch. Yes, they’ll lose some of their nutritional benefit through leaching and off-gassing. But come spring, they’ll help conserve moisture in the soil during the growing season and will slowly become integrated into your garden.

The decomposition that occurs during the storage process is beneficial. You’re making leaf mold.

Mold Does Mulch One Better Leaf mold is a step past leaf mulch. It’s made in much the same way as compost, but with little or no nitrogen added to the leaves. Leaves left in contact with the earth and its wealth of beneficial microbes will slowly turn to leaf mold. The speed at which this happens depends mainly on the size of the leaves, shredded or not. Just leaving leaves where they fall will eventually result in leaf mold, not a bad thing in wooded areas, but not a good thing on your lawn (see “leaves on turf” above).

Some gardeners with whom patience is a virtue, see little reason to “artificially” make leaf mold. Those of us without that patience are glad to encourage the natural process.

Making leaf mold is similar to making compost. Piling leaves in heaps or in bins and cages is about all that’s necessary.

Keep the piles uniformly moist. Turning them on occasion is helpful but not necessary. Matting, a problem with leaf-only piles, is minimized by frequent turning. Keeping the pile under a plastic tarp will help conserve heat and moisture. Be sure that the pile has access to air. Even piled in cages, leaves can take three years to reach optimum condition. But if you shred finely, turn the pile and keep it uniformly moist, you’ll have usable product in six to 12 months. Leaf mold can also be made in plastic bags by filling lawn bags with shredded leaves, dampening and poking a few holes to let in air.

Making leaf mold (or compost for that matter) in raised beds can greatly increase the volume of your soil. Filling a raised bed with shredded leaves in the fall and turning them into the soil as soon as possible is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your contained soil.

Covering the bed with plastic over the winter will speed the assimilation process.

Leaf mold absorbs five times its weight in water. Turned in to hard and clay soils, it will help make them more friable and root-friendly while maintaining good moisture levels. And any leaf mold

12

not used in your garden makes a great addition to your compost heap.

Leaf Compost Making leaf compost isn’t different than making other compost. Bins, cages, piles and tumblers will all give satisfactory results, though at different speeds. Because leaves are mostly carbon (60 parts carbon to one part nitrogen), more attention must be paid to the carbon-nitrogen balance.

Not only will the right ratio of leaves to green material or manure yield a more nutritious product; it will also give you compost more quickly.

Chopping and mixing leaves with other brown and green ingredients will speed decomposition by four times. Five parts leaves to one part manure will get your compost pile up and hot. Using only grass clippings requires five part leaves to two or three parts clippings. Kitchen waste, including coffee grounds and those last trimmings from your garden, will also increase the nitrogen content of your pile. But don’t over do it. Too much nitrogen will help make your heap smell or turn anaerobic. Being sure your pile gets enough oxygen will help prevent this problem. To avoid matting, frequent turning of leaf piles is a must. Turning distributes moisture among waterrepellent leaves, making for more uniform decomposition.

Writen by Bill Kohlhaase and reprinted courtesy of Planet Natural. Planetnatural.com has been providing products for a healthy home, lawn and garden since 1991. Photo credits: pg. 10, © Jose Fuente, Dreamstime Stock Photos; pg. 11, © Paul-andré Belle-isle, Dreamstime Stock Photos.

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

D.I.Y.

make your own body scrub Body Scrubs for yourself or for an easy, natural gift

By Joy G. Crowe Sugar/Salt Body Scrub

Ahhh, winter. Cold weather, hot showers, dry skin.... Use your

• 4-8 drops of your favorite

shower to do more than just

essential oil (or mix two or three)

wash your body. Just like the skin

• 1 cup of raw sugar (or brown

on your face, the skin on your

sugar, or salt)

body sheds regularly, revealing

• 2 teaspoons of oil

new healthier skin underneaath.

Oil suggestions: Jojoba, Rose Hip,

A body scrub can help encourage

Fractionated Coconut Oil or Sweet

the process and leave you feeling

Almond Oil

invigorated as well.

Essential oil suggestions:

Massaging a body scrub

Frankincense, lavender, ylang ylang,

over your skin helps in several

and geranium are recommended

ways. It exfoliates skin, removing

for their benefits to skin.

dead skin cells. The massaging

Mix all ingredients and store in

action stimulates lymph flow and

glass container with a lid. Directions

circulation, increasing blood flow

for use: Soak in a warm bath for

to the skin's surface. And you can

8-20 minutes. Dip your hand into

moisturize and hydrate the skin, all in one step.

the salt/sugar mixture and use to massage your body. Apply in a

Store-bought scrubs may contain natural ingredients,

gentle circular motion, avoiding face and other sensitive areas.

like salt, sugar and crushed nut shells. Some contain chemical

Or use in the shower, massaging over wet skin. Rinse with tepid

exfoliants, such as alpha hydroxy, glycolic acid and salicylic

water. The initial shower or soaking in the bath) will soften the

acid. You can make your own homemade body scrub with

outer layer of skin and help the scrub work. Your skin will feel

ingredients from your pantry, like olive oil, cocount oil, raw

soft, silky and invigorated.

sugar, salt, oatmeal, essential oils and even coffee. If you

Joy G. Crowe is a mother of two and the publisher of

have Vitamin E oil, add a few drops. It is beneficial for the

Sandhills Naturally and Kidsville News of Harnett & Lee Co. She

skin and will act as a natural preservative. Play with different

enjoys learning new ways to using essential oils at home for

combinations of ingredients to find the one you like best.

health and wellness. Recipe contributed by Kelli Edwards.

Scrubs also make a quick homemade gift!

Natural Parenting in a Modern World Cloth diapers, nursing supplies, slings & wraps, gifts, toys & more.

910.684.8016 222 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Southern Pines, NC 28387 www.facebook.com/sugarplumsmom Offering Childbirth Education classes and events for expectant families with Ashley Keith, CD(DONA), LCCE

December 2014

Give the Gift of Yoga!

10% off 5 class & monthly packages through Dec. 31

Open 7 days a week, offering 29 classes 145 Franklin St., Fayetteville, NC 28301 910-705-8020 • www.embraceyogastudio.com

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

13

handling grief during the holidays The holidays are meant to be a joyous time. But for

and life's struggles. She also experienced a great loss of

someone dealing with grief, celebrations can be extremely

her own. Twenty-six years ago, her husband was killed

difficult. If you are grieving over a recent loss, or one that

in a plane crash, leaving her to raise their 5-year-old son

happened years ago, experts say there are things you can do to

alone. She was just 31.

make facing the demands and the expectations of the holidays a little easier.

"It's not easy being a widow or having a family member die, because people watch you and make judgments about you and about how you are coping with loss," says Dr. Cecil-Van Den Heuvel. "You're not supposed to get over it. You don't get over loss. You integrate the loss into your life so you become stronger and wiser. You understand the value of life more from your losses."

Cecil-Van Den Heuvel has advice on how to handle your grief during the holidays.

Honor your loved one Finding a way to honor your loved one during the holiday celebration can be especially important, and meaningful, if the loss is recent.

"Honor the one who is not there, and embrace what no one got to experience about

"There are no rules on how to deal with grief during the holidays," says South University, West Palm Beach Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Director, Dr. Denny Cecil-Van Den Heuvel. "You get to decide what is best for you."

Cecil-Van Den Heuvel speaks from both personal and professional experience. In addition to her university duties, she is also in private practice where she helps patients deal with loss

that person but you. That may entail going to the gravesite, or to where the ashes are spread," Cecil-Van Den Heuvel says.

"You can even do a ritual of saying one thing about that person that they would have brought to the holiday if they had been there."

It's O.K. to be sad Pretending to be happy and cheerful, especially after a recent loss, can be a tremendous strain.

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14

910-849-8891 Formerly Waterdragon Wellness, now open at our new location.

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

305 Owen Drive, Fayetteville NC purephoenixcleanse@gmail.com

December 2014

wellness "If you choose to be melancholy and sad, that's O.K. — you need to mourn. A lot people walk a wide circle around it, but everyone deals with grief and loss differently," Cecil-Van Den Heuvel says. "You don't have to do the 'chin up - everyone has to be happy' routine."

She also recommends journaling, if you are thinking a lot about your loss, as a way to explore and express your feelings.

the stage for what the day is going to be like. Just allow it to be what it is."

She speaks of her own experience dealing with the loss of her husband.

"There were many times that I thought, this is going to be the hardest year because it was the fifth anniversary of his death, or some other milestone. And, many times it turned out not to be the hardest year despite those milestones — but it

It's O.K. to be happy

could have been a hard year if I'd pushed it. Don't choose to go

Don't be afraid to take part in fun holiday activities, and

in the black hole and stay there."

don't feel guilty if you do find yourself having a good time during the celebrations.

Be authentic to yourself Being authentic to yourself is the most important aspect of

"Enjoy the presence of those around you," encourages Cecil-Van Den Heuvel.

grieving during the holidays, or anytime.

"Allow yourself to feel the pain so you can integrate it into

Don't set yourself up

your life and learn and grow from it," she says. "Nobody wants

Cecil-Van Den Heuvel believes it is easy for those who are

to suffer, but suffering has its purpose, and that purpose is

grieving to set themselves up to have a bad holiday. "People anticipate what they're going to feel and set themselves up to some degree to have a horrible time," she explains. "Do not set

growth. There is always going to be life and death, and we need to grow from grief rather than being victim to it."

Source: Brandpoint Content

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Wellness Services Now offering: Nutrition Coaching • Wellness Coaching •

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Massage Therapy Exercise is Medicine

For more information or to make an appointment, call (910) 715-1811. Visit us online at www.firsthealth.org/fitness

Sugar Centerpiece

(Festival of Trees 2013)

For all that is recycled, repurposed & organic!

220 NW Broad St., Southern Pines, NC 28387 910-692-5211/910-638-8322 "Buy local, it's thousands of miles fresher."

The Butcher and the Baker serve the Fayetteville, NC area with natural, local and artisan products. Locally grown, sourced and made, most products in our store come from within 100 miles. Our selection includes natural and grass fed meats, specialty meats, artisan baked goods, and local eggs and dairy. Shop knowing that you are supporting the health of your family with our all natural products, and supporting our community and local economy. Stop by or order online at www.thebutcherandthebakergrocery.com

Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sat. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

231 Franklin St, Fayetteville

910-307-7333

1017-101-14

December 2014

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

15

saving the monarch butterfly

Leading Scientists, Over 200 Groups and Companies Call for Monarch Protection In the face of staggering declines of monarchs, more than 40 leading monarch scientists and ecologists and more than 200 organizations and businesses urged Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to protect these butterflies under the Endangered Species Act. The November letters came in support of a formal petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking federal protection for monarchs. The petition was filed in August by the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and renowned monarch scientist Dr. Lincoln Brower.

The North American monarch butterfly population has declined by 90 percent in the past 20 years, dropping from a high of approximately 1 billion in the mid-1990s to fewer than 35 million butterflies last winter – the lowest number ever recorded. The dramatic decline is being driven by the loss of milkweed plants – the monarch caterpillar’s only food – caused by increased herbicide use resulting from the widespread planting of genetically engineered crops in the Midwest, where most monarchs are born.

“The extensive use of the herbicide glyphosate on genetically engineered crops has all but wiped out milkweed in crucial monarch breeding areas. If we have any hope of saving monarchs, our agricultural practices must be at the forefront of the conversation,” said Larissa Walker, pollinator program director at Center for Food Safety.

“The monarch butterfly is North America’s most well-

16

known and cherished insect,” said Sarina Jepsen, endangered species program director at the Xerces Society. “Without immediate action to protect this species and restore critical milkweed habitat, the spectacular migration of the monarch butterfly may no longer be an experience for future generations to enjoy.”

“The Endangered Species Act is the most effective tool available for spurring the large-scale effort that’s needed to protect the amazing monarch butterfly from extinction,” said Tierra Curry, senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Signatories of the sign-on letters include author Barbara Kingsolver, as well as leading monarch scientists and advocates Karen Oberhauser, John Pleasants, Ina Warren, Robert Michael Pyle, Gary Nabhan and Lincoln Brower, among others.

Groups supporting the petition through the sign-on letters include environmental organizations, religious groups and businesses. Among the signatories are Amy's Kitchen, Catholic Rural Life, Center for Media and Democracy, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Clif Bar, Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Ecological Farming Association, Endangered Species Chocolate, the Endangered Species Coalition, Environment America, Equal Exchange, Family Farm Defenders, Green America, Greenpeace USA, Humane Society of the United States, National Audubon Society, Slow Food USA, Sierra Club, Wild Farm Alliance and numerous Riverkeeper chapters from across the country.

Center for Food Safety is a nonprofit, public interest organization with over half a million members nationwide. CFS and its members are dedicated to protecting public health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and instead promoting sustainable alternatives.

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Established in 1971, the Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 800,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Reprinted with permission from the Center for Food Safety, www.centerforfoodsafety.org. Photo credit: © Rall, Dreamstime Stock Photos.

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

WELLNESS

de-stress with essential oils

by Kelli Edwards

Shopping, working, family gatherings, travel and any number of situations can be extra stressful during the holiday season. Add a few drops of your favorite de-stress essential oil or blend into a tissue and tuck in your pocket; when you start to feel stressed, pull out your tissue and inhale the aroma. Use a roll-on and keep it in your purse or pocket; roll on pulse points, chest and neck, take a deep breath and allow yourself to return to a state of calm.

As we approach the holiday season, here are some smart ways to stay balanced and keep our immune systems strong.

De-stress from a hectic day with an aromatherapy bath or footbath Bath: Mix 4-8 drops of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. (You can also add the essential oil to 1/2 cup of whole milk or heavy cream.) Set aside. If you have muscle aches, add epsom or Dead Sea salts with white fir essential oil (4 drops) and a grounding essential oil like Balance,a blend of spruce, frankincense, chamomile and others (4 drops).

Fill the tub with warm water and immerse yourself.

Add the essential oil mixture and swirl the water around you. Massage your skin and breathe in the aroma. Remain in the tub for 10-15 minutes.

Foot bath: Mix 1-3 drops of essential oil in 1/2 teaspoon of carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil. Set aside. Fill a tub (deep enough to cover your feet and ankles) with warm water.

Add the essential oil mixture, stir well and immerse your feet for 10-15 minutes. Breathe in the aroma and massage your feet.

Diffuse to support joy, comfort and balance in the home or office Diffusion: Follow diffuser manufacturer’s instructions to fill the air with therapeutic aroma. My favorite blend is lavender, wild orange and peppermint essential oil (3 drops of each).

Don’t have a diffuser? Here are some easy alternatives.

Cotton balls: Place 2-4 drops of essential oil on cotton balls and place nearby or tuck into the grate of a fan or air vent in your home or car.

Warm water: Add 2-4 drops of essential oils to a small pan of simmering water Pine cone diffuser: Add 3-5 drops to several dried pinecones and place in a decorative bowl for an instant diffuser.

Refresh essential oils as needed.

Scenting an artificial tree, wreaths and garland: Use pine December 2014

cones, inexpensive cloth ornaments or ribbons; add 5-8 drops to each pine cone/ornament/ribbon and hang on your artificial tree, wreath or garland. Refresh essential oils as needed.

Fire logs: Add 1-2 drops of your essential oil blend to fire wood, allow it to absorb into the wood prior to use.

Fire starters: Add 1 drop of essential oil or blend to pine cone to use as a fire starter. Allow the essential oil to absorb into pinecone prior to use.

Inhalation – for anytime stress relief, mood enhancement or wellness support Inhalation: Put 1-3 drops of essential oil on a tissue and inhale the aroma through your nose. Pause and inhale again.

(Avoid touching your nose with the tissue.)

Perfume – customize a signature scent for personal use or as a unique gift.

Perfume: Mix 10-20 drops of essential oil in 1 tablespoon of jojoba. Apply to pulse points, such as inner wrists, behind knees or backs of ankles. Store in a small glass dropper or rollon bottle.

Scented Wrapping Paper and Cards add a festive flare to your holiday.

Scented wrapping paper and cards: Use 1-4 cotton balls (depending on size of container); add 1-3 drops of your favorite essential oil or blend to each cotton ball and place cotton balls, paper and or cards into a sealed container, like a Ziplock bag or storage bin. Allow the aroma to infuse for 24 hours before use.

Room Spritzers – Easy and affordable to make Use a room spritzer in your home or office to shift a mood, soothe a physical or an emotional concern or create a peaceful, comforting, uplifting space for you, your family and friends. It also makes a great stocking stuffer.

Spritzer: Mix 10-12 drops of essential oil in 8 ounces of water in a mister bottle. Shake well before each use, Mist as high up in the room as you can; this allows the mist to fall through a greater volume of air space. Avoid getting into eyes.

Kelli Edwards, owner of Pure Phoenix Cleanse & Wellness, is a health enthusiast with a passion for helping people achieve optimum health. She helps people through yoga instruction, as a colon therapist and as an advocate and educator on essential oils.

She loves taking care of her family, enjoys reading and learning about all aspects of health, creating new recipes, yoga, dancing, music and nature.

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

17

Holiday Gift Guide

for locally grown/raised, handcrafted, recycled, upcycled, natural and green gifts.

Our wares can be found on Etsy under “Hollyfieldsofgold.”

Photographed by Jacob Lee

BUTT NAKED SOAPS & SUCH Serving the Sandhills Area and beyond from Aberdeen.

910.690.3408 buttnakedsoap@windstream.com You may not realize how much healthier and radiant your skin can be until you use Butt Naked all-natural handmade soap! • Made Locally • Gift Baskets • Wedding Favors • Corporate Gifts • Any occasion. Call or text 910.690.3408 today!

Greg's art, pottery & gifts 122 Maxwell St., Fayetteville.

910.483.8355 kelly@gregsdowntown.com www.gregsdowntown.com Locally made pottery and art, soaps, incense, sage, reiki candles, paper lanterns, clothes, and other fun funky, unique stuff. Paint your own pottery studio for all ages. Birthday parties, homeschool groups, military functions.

Call for details.

Green Goods Eco-friendly Recycled, Repurposed and Organic Goods 220 NW Broad St., Southern Pines.

910.692.5211, www.greengoods shop.com Green Goods is an Eco-Friendly store where you'll find something special for everyone on your list.

Green Goods carries organic products such as soaps, body care, perfume, beeswax candles, organic bamboo clothing, organic baby products and much more. We also have very unique gifts made from recycled glass, paper, aluminum, inner tubes and believe it or not, even elephant poo.

Holly Fields of Gold Crafted in Raeford.

910.248.6590 hollyfieldsofgold@aol.com www.etsy.com/shop/HollyFieldsofGold Holly Fields of Gold is a small motherdaughter business that specializes in handmade jewelry and sculptures. We make the majority of our jewelry and many of our sculptures from real flowers that we grow ourselves in our garden and subsequently embed in a resin.

18

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

JITTERBUGZ CAFE & BEANERY 37 Amarillo Lane, Spout Springs.

919.499.5880 morethanabeancounter@gmail.com www.facebook.com/jitterbugzcafe. morethanabeancounter JitterBugz offers locally roasted fair trade and organic coffees, local baked goods and more. We’re your neighborhood coffee shop, where you’re always welcome to relax away from home and enjoy our delicious beverages and free WiFi service. Our beans, locally made soaps and artisan olive oils & vinegars are perfect for the holidays.

KINLAW'S SUPERMARKET 1802 Sapona Rd., Fayetteville.

910.483-3437 kinlawsmeat@aol.com www.kinlawssupermarket.com Fresh, local produce is our first choice.

Hand-cut beef, pork and chicken, local and USA raised. Bundle and box specials.

10% military discount always. We are a proud member of "Got To Be NC" and Goodness Grows in NC. December 2014

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

LIONHEART GLASSWORKS Find us on Etsy.com lionheartglassworks@facebook.com lionheartglassworks@gmail.com Lionheart Glassworks is your source for locally handblown and sculpted glass. Fayetteville's master glass artist Shannon Davis makes each piece of art by hand with love. Catch Shannon at the Fayetteville Farmers/City Market or visit lionheartglassworks@etsey.com. Shannon makes animal figurines, jewelry, marbles on stands, oil lamps, jars and more.

Reiki for you Located in Aberdeen.

910.690.3408 Reiki offers you the opportunity to have balance and wholeness in your life's journey. Reiki works on body, mind and emotional and spiritual levels to reduce stress, promote relaxation and so much more! Call or text Lisa today for your session or to gift a session to your loved one.

RENEW U WELLNESS SPA Relax, Refresh and ReNew at RenewU Wellness Spa! 100-B Wicker St., Sanford.

910.964.3194 www.facebook.com/ReNewUWellnessSpa www.renewuwellnessspa.com ReNewU Wellness Spa wants you to feel beautiful inside and out! Let our team of professionals pamper you by giving you a day to Relax, Refresh and ReNew. We now offer handmade soaps, lip balms and salt scrubs! Spa gift baskets make great Christmas gifts!

Sandhills Essential Oils 910.551.2883 www.mydoterra.com/sandhillsnc Serving the Sandhills area with therapeutic-grade essential oils. Change your family's health and wellness, naturally. Make gift giving healthful with essential oils, bath and skincare spa products, health and wellness supplements and products for the home.

Shop Local!

• Your local businesses give back to the community.

They live here, too! They are your neighbors, support area school booster clubs and contribute to local nonprofits.

• You can find just about anything you need locally.

December 2014

sonshine soaps Crafted in Fayetteville sonshine.soaps@yahoo.com Skin tested, mother nature approved!

Sonshine Soaps blends specially selected vegetable oils, herbs, essential oils, clays and even cocoa powder, creating an unique vegan bar of soap that moisturizes, conditions and exfoliates your skin. Locally owned and operated, Sonshine Soaps are sold at Butcher and the Baker and at Fayetteville's City Market.

SugarPlums Mom Natural Parenting in a Modern World 222 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. 910.684.8016 www.facebook.com/sugarplumsmom SugarPlums Mom specializes in cloth diapers, nursing supplies and babywearing gear. We also have lot of great products for pre- and post-partum moms as well as fantastic gifts and toys for all the babies in your life. Also offering Childbirth Education classes and events for expectant families with Ashley Keith, CD(DONA), LCCE.

• Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods, helping to reduce our global footprint.

• Local businesses value, respect and appreciate your business.

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

19

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

TASTEFULLY SIMPLE Fayetteville area.

910.494.7860 Jean3t@yahoo.com www.tastefullysimple.com/web/ Jethompson With our easy mixes, you're just two ingredients - or less - away from your favorite holiday appetizer, potluck side dish or dinner party entrĂŠe. Business Opportunity - I am looking to growing my Tastefully Simple Team! Two part-time and full-time with big-time perks.

THE FAYETTEVILLE CITY MARKET 325 Franklin St., Fayetteville.

Like us on Facebook.

The City Market is your year-round hub for local goods ranging from farm-fresh produce to fine knit goods and custom carved wood crafts. For the refined taste, there's jewelry, glassware, rare houseplants and bath & body products.

It's a sure bet you'll find that special something for your special someone.

The Shops at 123 HAY Street Antiques & Collectibles.

123 Hay St., Fayetteville.

910.920.2146 info@shopsat214hayst.com www.theshopsat123haystreet.com The Shops at 123 Hay Street are a wonderful collection of the old with the new, classic with contemporary, wild with the tame! Stop by the shops today. We're open 10:30 to 5:30, Monday - Saturday.

Like us on Facebook.

Organic. Fair Trade.

Sustainable.

Before they were buzzwords, they were who we were.

The Butcher & the baker 213 Franklin St., Fayetteville.

910.483.0560 www.thebutcherandthebaker grocery.com Serving the Sandhills area with natural, local and artisan products including grass-fed meats, artisan baked goods and local eggs and dairy. Surprise your favorite foodie with a gift basket of gourmet sauces and jams, or pick up a soy candle for a teacher gift. Most products in the store come from within 100 miles. Have dietary restrictions? We have you covered for paleo, whole 30, sugar-free, gluten-free and lactose-

THE PROMISE 229 Franklin St., Fayetteville.

Rude Awakening coffee house 910.223.1155 RUDE AWAKENING 227 Hay St., Downtown Fayetteville trishajohns229@gmail.com 227 Hay St., Fayetteville.

910-223-7833 (RUDE) OurThe GiftPromise Cardsis a Christian-based store 910.223.7833 www.rudeawakening.net Make Great Gifts!We handmake where GodHoliday is the owner. www.rudeawakening.net a lot of our items, such as stained-glass Organic. Fair Trade. Sustainable. Before mosaics, primitive birdhouses, cabinets, they were buzzwords, they were who we scripture signs and so much more. Come were. You'll find great coffee in a unique see it snowing at The Promise. atmosphere and we serve breakfast, lunch and cake. We also have fun gifts ideas - mugs, t-shirts, magnetic poetry, chocolates, gift baskets made to order and gift cards.

free diets.

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www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

"naturally" beautiful christmas events

by Karen Gilchrist

Not long after Thanksgiving –– even sooner it seems these

people from the 1900s celebrated the traditions

days –– the Christmas lights begin to appear along rooftops

that so many hold dear today. Tour Hours: Tues. -

and crawl up tree trunks, inflatable snow globes billow in yards

Fri. at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; Sat.

and Santa and his reindeer park on rooftops. Entire towns and

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the hour, and Sun. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. on the

neighborhoods light up, some to computer-programed music

hour. 910.486.1330 www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov

and light shows, inviting carloads of visitors to snake through

Yuletide Feaste - Hay Street United Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Fri., Dec. 5 – Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m.

and gaze in wonder and delight.

For those who desire a more down-to-earth approach to

Presented by Friends of Music at Methodist University and

Christmas decorations and activities, the Sandhills area is rich in

the MU Music Department, the Renaissance-style dinner and

historic buildings, settings and events that embrace a return to

performance will be held in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Tickets

naturally beautiful and simpler celebrations. Please contact each

must be purchased in advance.

event or listing directly to verify details.

910.630.7153 www.methodist.edu/

Cumberland County

music

Winter Christmas/Solstice Holiday Celebration

40th Annual Moravian

- Fayetteville Technical Community College Thurs.,

Lovefeast – Hensdale Chapel,

Dec. 4, 7 p.m., Cumberland Hall Auditorium on FTCC main

Fayetteville, Sun., Dec. 7, 7 p.m.

campus. This concert captures the beauty and atmosphere of

The community is invited to attend

the Scottish Highlands and Ireland during the holidays, weaving

the Christmas candlelight service

a tapestry of music, dance, and stories that hearken back to the

and partake in a time of music

ancient Celtic celebrations associated with the Winter Solstice

and sharing. Traditional coffee and

and Christmas. Free. For more information contact - Gerald

Moravian rolls will be served. At the end of the service, the congregation will pass the light and raise their candles. The music will be songs of love and harmony.

910.630.7000 www.methodist.edu Holiday Jubilee - Museum of the Cape Fear, Fayetteville, Sun., Dec. 14, 1- 5 p.m. Annual holiday event features two concerts by the local singing group "Coventry Carolers" at 1:30 and 3:30, Victorian Christmas Stories, cooking on the Poe House stove and a Victorian Santa Claus.

Participants can weave a Christmas bracelet or bookmark.

The concerts are scheduled to take place on the Poe House front porch amid the backdrop of holiday greenery. Free.

910.486.1330 www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov/

1897 Poe House at Museum of the Cape Fear in Fayetteville Daniel, 910.678.8385 Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex,

Christmas Lights at Denton Ridge, Linden, Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13,19-23, 6 - 9 p.m. Christmas music fills the air and lights line the path as you ride a tram to a quaint village nestled

Fayetteville through Jan. 4, 2015. Be sure to enhance your

on a ridge among oak and hickory trees adjoining the Lower

holiday season with a tour of the 1897 Poe House and its

Little River in Linden, N.C. $5 per person Age 3 and under FREE

Victorian decorations. Decorated with a big tree in the parlor,

www.dentonridge.com/

long hallways and tall windows decked with greenery, and the splash of red berries from holly sprigs will give your Christmas spirit a boost. You’ll also come to know and appreciate how

Harnett County Gift Ideas for Your Wild Neighbors at Raven Rock State Park, Dec. 13. Come to Raven Rock State Park continued on page 26

December 2014

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

21

EXPLORE

embrace

a yoga studio on a mission to create a warm and welcoming environment for all

by Karen Gilchrist Everyday living presents any number of stressful situations, from those associated with work and family life, to external events in the world beyond our control.

Factor in the holidays, and one’s stress levels can increase dramatically. Unhealthy stress levels can negatively affect numerous aspects of one’s life, including personal and work relationships as well as one’s health, encouraging, and sometimes forcing, a search for a sense of balance in life.

One of the many tools available to assist in relieving

instructors, came from Om Yoga Studio a block over on Hay

stress is the practice of yoga, and Katherine Huynh, owner of

Street when the owner retired. “At the time,” Huynh said,

and instructor at Embrace Yoga Studio, located in downtown

“there would have been nowhere for that community to go, so

Fayetteville at 145 Franklin Street, works to make yoga available

my business partner at the time and I thought, we can do this.

to everyone who enters the studio.

“Our mission,” said Huynh, “is to create a warm and welcoming environment for all people, of all ages, levels, sizes and shapes, to practice yoga in a safe and fun, relaxed atmosphere.”

“...we took the torch and just went with it. And we found this place and fixed it up, and here we are.”

Huynh knows firsthand the

Things lined up for us personally, so we took the torch and just went with it. And we found this place and fixed it up, and here we are.”

Located in a historic building on the corner of Franklin and Donaldson streets between Callahan Insurance and SpeediPrint, the studio involved

benefits of a yoga practice. “I started in the late ‘90s. I saw

extensive remodeling. “There was wood paneling, there was

it happening at a local gym, and I thought, I could do this. I

plaster,” said Huynh. “There were concrete floors, so we laid

was in a very stressed-out time when I worked for a computer

down the wood, and we added a wall to divide the waiting

software company, and yoga was the only thing that helped

area from the yoga room.”

clear my mind. I kept finding that I kept coming back to it during life challenges —

The studio, open seven days a week except for some holidays, holds up to 45 people and offers mostly unheated

moving, babies. And so in

classes, adhering to no one style of yoga. Huynh enjoys

2007, I decided to delve

teaching “what my students need, typically flow, yin and

a little deeper by doing

restorative. It goes back to the mission of making yoga available

my teacher training at

to everyone.

Om Yoga Studio. I didn’t

“It can definitely help de-stress and help bring balance to

anticipate teaching, but the

the body physically. If you’re strong in one place, it can open

owner offered me a couple

you up. If you are more flexible, it can make you stronger. Some

of slots, and I started to

people think that it’s mostly flexibility, but it’s not.”

teach.”

One of the 28 classes on the weekly schedule includes

Embrace Yoga Studio

yoga for the military through the Connected Warriors program,

opened in 2010. Huynh,

“a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide effective

along with many of her

wellness programs that enhance the lives of veterans, service

Katherine Huynh, Owner of Embrace Yoga Studio

22

members, and their families.”

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

“Connected Warriors is free for military and their dependents,”

“Two things,” Huynh.

Huynh said, “so we see spouses a lot, too. It’s intended to make

“One is consistency.

yoga accessible to them, and they practice in an environment

Consistent in practice,

where everyone kind of knows where they’re coming from.

consistent business

Everyone knows you’re in the army, and so I almost feel that

methods, everything,

they feel more at ease coming, and it’s a pretty big class, mostly

from the schedule to a

younger folks, looking to bring balance into their lives. We

consistent mission. You’ll

make it financially more available, since they’re coming all the

hear the same mission

way here from Fort Bragg.”

throughout the website,

Also included in the schedule line up are special classes

explore: Embrace Yoga Studio 145 Franklin Street Fayetteville, N.C. 28301 910.705.8020 www.embraceyogastudio.com

in teacher training, in the

and workshops. “We offer workshops dealing with all the

way I conduct my business

different populations, from athletes to moms and babies,

– to make it accessible to everyone, because it is. It’s fun. I love

chakra workshops, yin. Restorative is popular this time of year.

every aspect of running a business. I have a family, too, so I

We offer classes focusing more on alignment, ashtanga, more

have to balance, become more efficient.

“And two, practice, practice, practice. You can’t expect to

leaping things like flight school.”

For those wishing to deepen their practice, Huynh offers

be more flexible or strong if you don’t practice on the mat. If

a teacher training program that meets one weekend a month

you can’t find one method that works on the mat, find another

for nine months. “My approach is the same as my approach to

one. It’s the same thing off the mat.”

running the business and the mission of the business: to teach my teachers how to teach skillfully and make yoga available for everybody,” said Huynh. “Generally it is a hatha flow we focus

For more information on Embrace Yoga Studio or schedule information, visit www.embraceyogastudio.com.

Karen Gilchrist is a writer, yoga instructor and longtime

on, but we do touch base on different styles of teaching. We

resident of Southern Pines. You can reach her at karen@

have Lisa [Lofthouse] come in; she does the kirtan and bhakti

sandhillsnaturally.com.

yoga aspect. A kundalini teacher comes in, Thai yoga massage, kids yoga. The things that I can’t do or my staff can’t do, we ask teachers from the local Fayetteville community because we get along and we can. And it shows my teachers that there is a teacher for everybody, and there is plenty of yoga out there.”

And Huynh has found a way to balance business and family with the studio’s mission.

Your Community Solution to Animal Overpopulation!

The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation makes affordable spay and neuter available at the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic thanks to your donations. Donate at www.companionanimalclinic.org or call 910.692.3499 (FIXX).

Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic Surpassing 40,000 surgeries since opening in 2008 5071 US HWY #1, Vass, NC Companion Animal Clinic Foundation PO Box 148, Southern Pines, NC 28388 info@companionanimalclinic.org 501c3# 20-2886984 December 2014

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

23

explore

resource guide ANIMAL HEALTH & WELLNESS Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic Offering affordable spay and neuter for the Sandhills area. Call for an appointment, 910.692.3499 (FIXX), 5071 US Hwy 31, Vass. Donate at www.companionanimalclinic.org CHILDREN & EDUCATION The Griffin Academy: A Montessori Learning Experience, 488-B Commerce Dr., Sanford. 919.499.1032, www.thegriffinacademy.org Chiropractic Care Chiropractic Wellness Center Dr. David Fonke 1570 HWY 87, Cameron. 910.436.3336, cameronchiropracticwellnessclinic.com Coffee Rude Awakening coffee house, 227 Hay St., Fayetteville. 910.223.7833, www.rudeawakening.net Colon hydrotherapy Pure Phoenix Cleanse & Wellness Center, offering Colon Hydrotherapy and Ionic Foot Detox. 305 Owen Dr., Fayetteville.

910.849.8891, purephoenixcleanse@ gmail.com ELECTRICITY Central Electric Membership Corporation, Your Friends, Your Neighbors, Your Cooperative.128 Wilson Rd., Sanford.

919.774.4900, www.cemcpower.com

Environmentally friendly household goods Green Goods - Recycled, Repurposed and Organic Goods 220 NW Broad St., Southern Pines.

910.692.5211, www.greengoodsshop.com FINANCIAL SERVICES Lisa Whalen, CLTC, Thrivent Financial Associate. Connecting faith and finances for good. Named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Institute. 919.708.5031, lisa.whalen@thrivent.com EVENT PLANNING Indigo Earth Events Party Sustainably! Eco-Events, Natural Organic Cake Art & Desserts 220 NW Broad St., Southern Pines.

910.692.5211, www.facebook.com/ indigoearthevents Health & Fitness First Health Fitness 170 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst 910.715.1800 www.firsthealth.org/fitness Corinne Henderson, Independent Representative for Advocare, offering energy, weight-loss, nutrition and sports performance products. 508.954.6415, www.advocare.com/140154604

environment committed to the discovery, recovery and maintenance of living in balance." 3710 Morganton Rd., Ste. 110, Fayetteville. 910.864.6257, guidingwellness@yahoo.com Lotus Holistic Health, Alicia Agard, Ph.D, DN, CCN. Digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, female conditions total body detox, nutrition, difficult-toresolve conditions. 2504 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville. 919.426.7787, www.lotusholistichealth.org Massage Therapists Michael Edwards, Intuitive Energetic Healer at Deeproots Bodywork, 5004 Spruce Dr., Fayetteville. 910.644.5181 ReNewU Wellness Spa, Gina Allen, L.M.T. # 6737, Specializing in Russian Medical & Deep Tissue Massage. Check our facebook page for menu of services and specials. 100B Wicker St., Sanford.

910.964.3194, www.facebook.com/ ReNewYouWellnessSpaSalon Sandhills Therapeutic Effects, Amie O'Connor, LMBT. 237 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.

919.478.5647, www.facebook. com/sandhillstherapeuticeffects, sandhillstherapeuticeffects@gmail.com.

ESSENTIAL OILS Joy Crowe, Wellness Advocate for dĹ?TERRA Essential Oils.

IPC# 1318413. 910.551.2883, www.mydoterra.com/sandhillsnc

Living Balance Studios, Offering Yoga, Pilates, PiYo, Yoga Therapy and Thai Yoga Massage. 201 S. McPherson Church Rd., Ste. 225, Fayetteville. 434.409.6415, www.livingbalancestudiosnc.com, yogangie@hotmail.com, www.facebook.com/livingbalancestudiosnc

Natural Foods Nature's Own Natural Foods Market offers a wide selection of natural, organic and herbal food products, teas and remedies, hard-to-find herbs, roots and spices, supplements & more. The Kitchen lunch counter and Juice Bar. 195 Bell Ave., Southern Pines. 910.692.3811, www.naturesowninc.com

Kelli Edwards, Wellness Advocate for dĹ?TERRA Essential Oils. IPC#446470.

910.644.2307, www.mydoterra.com/ detoxdiva

Health & WELLNESS Guiding Wellness, Inc., Wellness Consulting~Holistic Life Coaching and Therapy. "A holistic-centered therapeutic

The Butcher and The Baker Serving the Sandhills area with natural, local and artisan products, including grass-fed meats, artisan baked goods and

24

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

resource guide local eggs and dairy. Most products in the store come from within 100 miles. 213 Franklin St., Fayetteville. 910.483.0560, www.thebutcherandthebakergrocery.com Natural PARENTING Sugar Plums Mom, Cloth diapers, nursing supplies, slings and wraps, toys & more.

910.684.8016, 222 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. www.facebook.com/sugarplumsmom Prana Doula, Ashley Keith, RPYT, CD, LCCE, Lamaze-certified birth doula, childbirth education & pregnancy yoga.

222 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.

910.585.4084, www.pranayogadoula.com Natural skincare The Fresh Factory. Handmade, all natural, probiotic deodorant that is impressively effective at naturally keeping you smelling fresh and reducing perspiration.

Local Fayetteville pickup available.

910.920.7867, thefreshfactory@yahoo.com, www.etsy.com/shop/thefreshfactorydeo PRODUCE DELIVERY Sandhills Farm to Table. Eat fresh, locally grown produce. Now taking subscriptions for fall co-op boxes. 910.722.1623, info@sandhillsfarm2table.com, www.sandhillsfarm2table.com RESTAURANTS Sherefe, serving healthy cuisine with a Mediterranean flair, focusing on authentic, fresh, local and sustainable food. 114 Gillespie Street, Fayetteville.

910.630.3040, www.sherefe.net .

SPIRITUALITY Center for Spiritual Living Fayetteville Teaching Center, offering spiritual enrichment and development classes, workshops, Wisdom Wednesday gatherings and more. 1404 Raeford Rd.,

December 2014

continued Fayetteville. 910.644.6608, www.cslfayettevilletc.org THERMOGRAPHY Jill Merrill CHC CCT Picture of Health Thermograms and Holistic Health Coaching.

910.527.7733, www.PictureOfHealthThermograms.com Vitamins & Supplements Vitamins & Things carries vitamins, nutritional supplements, teas, essential oils, food supplements and literature to aid in your quest for perfect health.

3723 Carbonton Rd., Sanford.

919.777.0288. www.vitaminsandthingsnc.com Whole-food based nutrition, through Juice Plus+, including juice powder concentrates from 25 different fruits, vegetables and grains. And grow your own good health with the Tower Garden! www.jcrowe.juiceplus.com and jcrowe.towergarden.com Yoga StudioS Embrace Yoga Studio, 145 Franklin St., Fayetteville. 910.705.8020, www.embraceyogastudio.com Tree of Life PiYo. Specializing in Piyo and Yoga, and now offering Yoga Monkeys Family Class. 126 West Main St., Sanford. 910.366.3664, www.piyo4me.moonfruit.com WATER PURIFICATION Alkaline Antioxidant Water at The Water House. We offer education & information and a Free 21-Day Trial of Kangen Alkaline Antioxidant water, Change Your Water...Change Your Life!

207 W. Front St., Lillington.

910.850.9278. www.KangenDemo.com

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

WRITING & EDITING SERVICES Plays with Words: Writing, editing and proofreading. Over 25 years' experience.

Karen Gilchrist, 910.638.6397, playswithwords@embarqmail.com This Resource Guide is a directory of local natural health and wellness practitioners and supporters of green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in our Resource Guide, call Joy at 910-551-2883 or email joy@ sandhillsnaturally.com.

Come Grow With Us. Thank you for reading our publication!

Do you have a local business that could benefit from reaching 20,000 people each month — those that share your interest in natural health and wellness and sustainable living? If so, we'd like to help you.

For more information, call 910-551-2883.

25

"naturally" beautiful christmas events, continued from page 21 anytime between 9

decorate Weymouth Center in live greens along with festive

a.m. and 4 p.m. on

Christmas decorations. “Where the Treetops Glisten” a White

Saturday, December

Christmas at Weymouth, celebrating the music of Irving Berlin,

13, 2014 to make a

Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. The local garden clubs

gift for your backyard

decorate Weymouth Center in live greens along with festive

birds. Other gift

Christmas decorations. Refreshments, musical entertainment

ideas for your wild

throughout the day. 910.692.6261 www.weymouthcenter.org

neighbors will also

Admission: Advance Tickets $10, Day of $15

be discussed and on

Bryant House Holiday Open House, Carthage,

display. You will be

Sun., Dec. 7, 1 - 4p.m. Free. Get into the old-time Christmas

making suet cakes,

spirit with the annual Christmas open house at the historic

an energy packed

Bryant House and McLendon Cabin. The Moore County

treat for birds to

Historical Association and Friends of the Bryant House host

help them through

the event without admission charge so every Yule visitor can

Cedar Rock in the rain, at Raven Rock State

the cold of winter.

get a little taste of how early settlers celebrated Christmas.

Park. Photo: M. Walker.

Please note there will be

Decorations are based on old-timey materials and traditions;

peanuts involved in this

there will be refreshments, and live music. www.moorehistory.

program. Children must

com/events_and_news

be accompanied by an adult. Supplies for the suet cakes will be furnished, thanks to a generous donation from the Friends of Raven Rock State Park. Afterwards take the Track Trail "Birds of

Shaw House Holiday Open House, Southern Pines, Dec. 12 -14, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Free Enjoy old-time decorations, warm apple cider and

the Piedmont" brochure with you on your hike and see what

homemade cookies at the annual Christmas Open House.

different feathered friends you can find, hear and identify along

Tour three house-museums built between the 1700s and 1800s. The event is free to

the way. Meet at: Visitor

the public to let people see

Center Lee County

how early Southern Pines and

House in the

Sandhills residents lived. www.

Horseshoe Christmas

moorehistory.com/events_

Open House, Sanford,

and_news Christmas Horse

Sat., Dec. 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Free, donations

Carriage Parade,

appreciated. Join us in

Southern Pines, Sat., Dec.

celebrating the holiday

13, 1:00 p.m. Free. The Moore

season in 18th-century

County Driving Club decorates

style. The Alston House,

their horses and carriages for

decorated for the season,

Christmas and drives them

will be open for tours, with dulcimer music playing

House in the Horseshoe on a crisp winter day.

through the historic district in downtown Southern Pines.

This parade is sure to get you

the great chamber. Reenactors in Colonial attire on site and cannon and musket firing will be conducted throughout the day. 910.947.2051 www.

into the holiday spirit! www.moorecountydrivingclub.net Karen Gilchrist is a writer, yoga instructor and longtime resident of Southern Pines. You can reach her at karen@

nchistoricsites.org Moore County

sandhillsnaturally.com.

Christmas at the Weymouth Center, Southern Pines, Dec. 4 - 7, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The local garden clubs 26

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

December 2014

calendar of events • december • ONGOING EVENTS & EXHIBITS • From Statehouse to Statehood Exhibit.

Ongoing through December 31, 2014, Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. On November 21, 1789, North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution. Fayetteville was the place where the General Assembly ratified the United States Constitution, and this year marks the 225th anniversary. The exhibit explores the people and places that surround the founding of the Constitution.

Every Wednesday night, Kirtan Night at Breathing Space, 1404 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville. 910.977.4476, 7:30 - 9 p.m.. It's free, and it's fun.

Every Wednesday night, Wisdom Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Center for Spiritual

- 1 p.m.; Fourth Friday 6 - 10 p.m.

Fayetteville Transportation & Local History Museum Grounds, Fayetteville. www.facebook.com/ CityMarketAtTheMuseum 910.433.1457

Living, 1404 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville.

910.644.6608 Every Thursday, 9 a.m. Hike for Your Health at Raven Rock State Park. Must be able to hike 3 to 6 miles on trails that can be flat, hilly and include steps. Ages 12 and up. Please call 910.893.4888 to register.

Murchison Road Community Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 10 a.m. 2 p.m., Parking Lot at Bronco Square (across from Fayetteville State University), Fayetteville.

Every Saturday, Noon - 4 p.m.,Free Wine Tasting, Elliotts Provision Company, 905 Linden Rd., Pinehurst. 910.255.0665.

Sanford Farmer's Market Every Saturday, 9 a.m. - Noon, Depot Park, Sanford. All products locally grown or hand crafted! 919.343.8440

Every Sunday at 1 p.m., Free Piedmont Biofuels Tours, Lorax Lane, Pittsboro.

Tours are of the biodiesel plant and begin promptly. Rain or shine.

Southern Pines Farmers Market, The Armory Sports Complex, Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., year round. 604 W. Morganton Rd., Southern Pines.

• FARMERS MARKETS • Fayetteville City Market Wednesdays 2 - 6 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m.

brain games

"survive holiday stress" wordfind

Research has found that keeping the brain active seems to increase its vitality and may build its reserves of brain cells and connections.

BE PRESENT BOUNDARIES BREATHE EXERCISE

Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a popular holiday work. Using the hints N=E and M=L, decipher the clues to name the work.

1 2 3 4 5

VIJEX TMIZV QMESSNX VMNAJR

XNAFLNNX QRAZFNW

This poem was written by Clement Clarke Moore:

Answers: 1) Sugar Plums, 2) Clatter, 3) Sleigh, 4) Reindeer, 5) Chimney, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas

December 2014

J F S C W H O C V I J I T E E

P T E O I D P W U P S J P L K

U J I N V T K B E K K J C C N

www.SandhillsNaturally.com

READ REALISTIC SAY NO SLEEP

MEANING MEDITATE NUTRITIOUS PLAN

W D R Y A W S E P X I H U C S

W L A A E L L I G T P J K Y S

Y S D S N S P E L S Y H G M L

N P N I P K X C U A E V R E V

I G U C T E M O G U E N S D V

X E O K R D I E B B R R Z I T

C U B C Z T Q R A D S C S T V

P V I J I W R M D N K D V A O

W S B R E A T H E P I R S T H

E K T Q L F G I Q V O N Z E S

H U J L D W N F N D M D G V A

N T N E S E R P E B Y D A E R

27

FRESH

ORGANIC

S E AS O N A L

It takes 10 calories of fossil-fuel1 energy to produce a single calorie of modern supermarket food! Switch to fresh snacks and ingredients for a lighter “foodprint”—your tastebuds and your planet will thank you.

Foods grown organically skip the pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth hormones and are not genetically modified!2 Organic not only reduces greenhouse gas but it also builds carbon-storing soils.3

Fruits and veggies that are ripe & in-season have the most flavor and nutrients.4 By choosing these you are supporting a system that works with our Earth, not against it.

LO C A L

COOL FOODS: COOL FACTS

U N P R O C E SS E D

The average conventional food product travels 1,500 miles.5 Support your local food system with a CSA, trip to the farmer’s market, or look for signs at your local grocer. Coolest of all? Try growing your own.

MINIMIZE PAC KAG I N G Packaged foods may seem cheap, but in fact processing and packaging account for 26 cents of every food dollar.6 Opt out of oil-based plastics with fresh snacks.

www.coolfoodscampaign.org

Shorten the journey from farm to you! Eating whole, real foods provides your body with energy while reducing energy-intensive production methods.

LOW WAST E

PASTURED ANIMALS

Feed people not landfills by cooking what you need, loving your leftovers, and composting what’s left. Food makes up 21% of waste going into municipal landfills creating planetwarming Methane gas (CH4).7

Animal confinement operations (beef, poultry, pork & dairy) contribute to air and water contamination8 as well as to CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions.9 Reduce your intake, and select organic, grass-fed products.

1. http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/farmer-in-chief/; 2. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop; 3. http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/ap563e/ap563e.pdf; 4. http://www.naturalnews.com/035575_seasonal_food_diet_health.html; 5. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064; 6. http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-dollar-series/food-dollar-application.aspx#.UVtCTqLqmQ0; 7. http://www.epa.gov/foodrecovery/; 8. http://www.ncifap.org/issues/environment/; 9. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1646484

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December 2014