April 2011 - Seattle Natural Awakenings by Seattle Natural Awakenings

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

Special

Premier Issue

Environmental Edition

URBAN

GARDEN

SHARING IN SEATTLE

APRIL 2011

ED BEGLEY JR’S

GREEN HOME

ECO

workout

MAKEOVER

Seattle Edition | SeattleAwakenings.com

FREE

April 2011

SeattleAwakenings.com

contents

5 newsbriefs

8 community

spotlight

12 localprofiles 13 healthykids

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

8 BEYOND THE GREEN

Pathway Design & Construction Helps Create Truly Healthy Homes by Ann Dorn

14 consciouseating 10 URBAN GARDEN 21 fitbody

22 naturalpet

24 wisewords 26 calendar 27 classifieds 29 resourceguide

advertising & submissions

SHARING by Gayle Wilson Rose

13 KIDS DIG

WORM COMPOSTING Red Wigglers Turn Kitchen

Scraps into Gardening Gold by Jessica Iclisoy

14 SALAD LOVERS’ SALADS Signature Dishes from the Garden or Farmers’ Market by Judith Fertig

16 ED BEGLEY, JR.’S

how to advertise GREEN HOME To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media MAKEOVER kit, please contact us at 206-788-7313 or email Saving Energy and Cutting Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com. Waste is a Family Affair Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

10 16

by Brita Belli

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Submissions@SeattleAwakenings.com Deadline for editorial: 5th of the month.

21 ECO-WORKOUT

Easy Green Tweaks Save Money by Linda LaRue

calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: FORBIDDEN CREATURES Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com or fax to 877-531-7691. Author Peter Laufer Discusses Deadline for calendar: the 12th of the month.

the Dark Side of “Owning” Exotic Pets

regional markets by Gail Condrick Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing RICHARD LOUV’S franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other WELL-BEING Rx: markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities RECONNECT WITH call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. NATURE

by April Thompson

SeattleAwakenings.com

24 April 2011

letterfrompublisher Hello Seattle! Welcome to the first issue of our area’s free monthly healthy lifestyle magazine. My husband and business partner, David Seregow, and I are here to serve you in sharing helpful information and connecting Seattle’s growing sustainable and holistic community. Each month we will contribute a wealth of articles and resources intended to help make your life healthier and happier. Browse these pages to learn about community news and local natural businesses and services. Find a nourishing workshop or class, a fun festival or other exciting event in our calendar. Seattle Natural Awakenings presents local experts’ best advice as well as interviews with nationally recognized leaders in personal and planetary health and wellness. Seattle cares about being green, and with so much natural beauty surrounding us, we are continually encouraged to do what it takes to protect our families’ well-being and regional heritage. My journey to this magazine launch has included experience in both journalism and advertising sales, but I’ve found that chance encounters with people passing through the landscape of my life have had the largest lasting impact. For example, when I was pregnant with our daughter five years ago, an acquaintance challenged me to make the world a better place for the sake of my child. That brief conversation became a pivotal point in my life and proved to be the beginning of a journey into eating organic and local, choosing natural health care and reducing our family’s environmental footprint. When friends sometimes feel discouraged that their efforts to persuade others to live healthier and greener seem unfruitful, I say keep hope alive; you just may be talking to someone who is where I was five years ago. Be sure to share a copy of Seattle Natural Awakenings and see what happens. Many people have companioned us in this publishing adventure. Thank you all, especially our advertisers that stepped up in support of this big idea; we are proud to promote you and see your businesses grow. We couldn’t do this without you. Special thanks, too, go to our family members, friends and colleagues who have made a world of difference in this endeavor: Henry and Ruth Dorn; Sandy Fox; Ben and Ashley Wornell; Jason Baker and Felipe Perez, publishers of Natural Awakenings of Portland; and Mike Johnson and Robin Wang, publishers of ReDirect Guides Inc. We’re also grateful to the larger Natural Awakenings family of more than 80 publishers in caring communities nationwide. Please let us know what you'd like to see in these pages. Find me on Facebook and Twitter, call, or email story ideas, news briefs, calendar events or the name of an extraordinary local business that deserves a spotlight. Let’s have some fun with this new connection as we learn and grow together! In gratitude,

Ann Dorn, Publisher 4

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contact us Publishers Ann Dorn David Seregow National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Design & Production Patrick Floresca Zina Cochran Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales John Voell II 239-530-1377

SeattleAwakenings.com 3815 S Othello St. 100-186 Seattle, WA 98118 Phone: 206-788-7313 Fax: 877-531-7691 © 2011 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

newsbriefs Diaper Service:

Best Choice for Baby and Planet

ew parents in the Seattle area who want their latest family addition to make the smallest possible carbon footprint have eco-friendly options available through Baby Diaper Service. Founded in 1946, the company delivers freshly laundered cloth diapers and picks up and washes soiled ones from more than 1,500 households in Seattle and beyond, from Tacoma to Bellingham and westward to Kitsap County. “We create about half the environmental impact of washing diapers at home,” says owner Mark Stief, a fourth generation Seattle native. Due to the efficiency of its pHcalibrated, high-temperature washing machine, the service uses far less water and a fraction of the amount of bleach that many households would use to wash the same number of diapers. “The amount of bleach leaving with the diaper rinse water is under the federal limit for safe drinking water,” advises Steif, who notes that Baby Diaper Service uses only natural soap and balances the pH of every load to protect a baby’s sensitive skin. To conserve fuel, the company’s biodiesel fleet coordinates routes for highest efficiency. Each pick-up and delivery uses less than one-tenth of a gallon of biodiesel per customer. “Compare that to disposable diapers, which take eight ounces of petroleum per diaper to manufacture and deliver,” says Stief. The company also leads monthly classes that explain how to use cloth diapers.

Attendees may bring one well-behaved, non-contagious dog per person, along with a dog bed, pillow and/or mat for comfort, because the workshop will be conducted on the floor. Dogs should be well exercised, relieved and fed a small amount before the session. Volunteer animals are available for those who cannot bring their pet. Rewers is certified through the Chi Institute and the China National Society in Tui Na traditional Chinese veterinary massage. Cost: $120 per person. Location: 110 N. 36th St., Seattle 98103. To register, call 206-547-1025 or visit AncientArtsVet.com. See ad on page 23.

PlantAmnesty Offers Pruning How-Tos Judicious pruning and removing deceased growth are important to preserve a tree’s health. PlantAmnesty, a Seattle-based nonprofit that promotes better pruning and educates about tree and shrub maintenance, will offer a how-to slideshow, Tree Pruning 2, from 10 a.m. to noon, April 10, at the Brig, at Magnuson Park. The program will cover how to prune a tree limb, how to find the branch collar, pruning standards, pruning for young and mature trees and the basics of tree risk assessment. “If I had only one piece of advice to give to new pruners,

To learn more or sign up for diaper delivery, call 206-634BABY (2229) or 800-562-BABY (2229) or visit BabyDiaperService.net.

Ancient Arts Offers Massage Class for Dog Owners

ccording to Dr. Darla Rewers, of Ancient Arts Holistic Veterinary, massage and acupressure can help pets, as well as people. She is offering a class from 3 to 5 p.m., April 2, that will cover simple massage techniques to help ease anxiety, muscle tension, pain, soreness and stiffness and also improve immunity and basic body functions, such as digestion and elimination. “We all pet our animals, so why not learn how to make that touch therapeutic?” says Rewers. “Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and many other animals appreciate the right hands-on massage.” Rewers explains that by stimulating blood flow and lymphatic drainage, reducing muscle spasms and stretching joints, pet owners can help their animals achieve healthy posture, spinal alignment and weight distribution. Therapeutic touch also helps owners notice emerging health problems more quickly. April 2011

it would be, ‘Take out the deadwood,’” says founder Cass Turnbull. “Inside every tree and shrub are many years worth of accumulated dead twigs, branches and stubs, caused by aging, shading out of lower or internal branches, freezing, drought or past pruning mistakes.” Removal of deadwood can enhance the appearance of trees and landscapes. “It makes the single biggest difference in how things look in your garden,” Turnbull says. She recommends beginning at the bottom of the plant with a pair of high-quality, bypass hand pruners. Gardeners should make clean cuts back to a fork in the branch and should also remove branches that touch the ground. “When you are done, rake out the twigs and dead leaves and stand back to admire your work,” Turnbull advises. Cost: $15 per class; $10/PlantAmnesty members; $5/horticulture college students and native Spanish speakers. Location: Bldg. #406, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle 98115. To register or for more information about upcoming classes and events, visit PlantAmnesty.org.

Healthy Fun at Vegfest 2011

he nation’s biggest vegetarian festival is happening in Seattle from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., March 26 and 27. Offering more than 500 varieties of food samples, myriad giveaways, children’s activities and entertainment and lectures, as well as cooking demonstrations from health professionals and chefs, Vegfest attracts people with all types of dietary preferences. “Everyone is welcome—you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy great vegetarian food,” says Stewart Rose, vice president of Vegetarians Society of Washington. “Lots of our attendees recognize the benefits of vegetarian food choices, but they aren’t sure what to eat, what to buy and how to cook it. They can find support and inspiration at this festival, and it’s fun, too.” Admission: $8 for adults; free for children 12 and younger; tickets available on the door. Location: Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. For more information, call 206-706-2635 or visit Vegfest2011.org.

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Belly Dance Your Way to Confidence

elly dancing, an ancient art form, is becoming increasingly popular in Seattle as both a performance art and a flowing, rhythmic means of self-expression. Double Take Belly Dancing is now offering multiple classes each week at Phinney Ridge Community Center and M’illumino, a Roosevelt Way movement studio. Shay Moore, owner/instructor of Double Take, says, “Seattle is booming. There are a lot of teachers and styles— students have their pick.” Moore is certified in American Tribal style, a variation that originated in the Northwest. Students range in age, weight and level of fitness, and Moore notes that belly dance gently challenges them towards a profound transformation. “Their posture changes. From their first night of class, I require them to stand up straight, lift their heart, lift their spine and look around,” she says. “They start carrying that new image of themselves into their everyday life.” First-time students should be prepared to dance barefoot and wear comfortable clothes that allow them to see their own form. The movements require practice and repetition, but are not designed to provide a strenuous workout. “One can get fit through belly dance, but belly dance itself is not necessarily a highly aerobic activity,” says Moore. “However, anything that gets you moving and stretching and gets your blood pumping is going to be good for your body.” Classes are exclusively for women and start every six weeks; the next sessions begin Tuesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 14. Locations: Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle 98103; M’illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle 98115. For more information, email Shay@ DoubleTakeBellyDance.com.

Lullaby Organics Donating to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

ullaby Organics, an online retailer of products aimed at creating safe and healthy sleeping environments for children, is donating 10 percent of all sales through the end of April to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Owner Erin Naumowicz has raised more than $12,000 for the foundation since 2008. Lullaby Organics’ mission is to offer safe, healthy organic mattresses, bedding and sleepwear, natural mom and baby care, green kids’ gear and safe children’s toys. The company only sources brands that aim to reduce children’s exposure to harmful chemicals, toxins and allergens; to promote safe and healthy conditions for their workers; and to minimize the environmental impact of their products and processes. For more information, call 800-401-8301 or visit LullabyOrganicsShop.com. See ad on page 19.

Visit Seattle’s Innovative Green Homes

omeowners and anyone interested in sustainable construction can visit some of the region’s greenest and most innovative residences as part of the free 2011 Green Home Tour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 16 and 17. Attendees can pick up green ideas, tips and contacts and discover solutions for saving money, reducing energy costs and creating a healthy and safe home environment. Presented by the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, the tour highlights design, construction and lifestyle options that are eco-friendly and affordable. Design and construction professionals will be on hand at each site, offering presentations, workshops and individual consultations to answer green-living questions. Signage will highlight site-specific strategies and their benefits. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. Kickoff sites in North, South and Eastside Seattle will provide easy carpooling locations. For information and downloadable maps of site locations, visit EcoBuildingGuild. org or contact 206-575-2222 or info@EcoBuildingGuild.org.

Find your calling. Bring healing and hope Become a five element acupuncturist

Spring classes start Study Five Element Acupuncture in the tradition of JR Worsley at Wu Hsing Tao School. April 28. Call 206-3247188 to register for free Experience intimate class sizes, renowned information sessions: instructors, and meaningful community in a Friday, March 18, 9:30-11am beautiful natural setting. Weekend classes Monday, March 21, 6-7:30pm integrate with work and family. Wu Hsing Tao School � 4000 NE 41st St., Bldg. D, Seattle � 206-324-7188 � www.wuhsing.org

April 2011

communityspotlight

Beyond the Green

Pathway Design & Construction Helps Create Truly Healthy Homes by Ann Dorn

or Paul Kocharhook and Doug Kennedy, of Pathway Design & Construction, thinking green is only part of the solution to building truly healthy homes. Instead, they go “beyond the green,” building Earth-friendly dwellings that are well ventilated and free of allergenic environmental contaminants, or triggers, that cause reactions and symptoms in susceptible individuals. “Most of our clients seek us out because they have an interest in sustainability, as well as allergies or chemical sensitivity issues,” Kocharhook says. As the owner of the designand-build construction and remodel firm, he traces his passion for healthy homes to his previous experience in sustainable construction that lasted more than a decade. 8

SeattleAwakenings.com

A Mission-Driven Company

Kocharhook’s Pathway team members share his commitment. In addition to their reputation for customer service and quality craftsmanship, they devote many working hours to educating building professionals and the public about healthy home construction and maintenance. Although the company was founded less than three years ago, it has already garnered several awards for both construction projects and educational leadership. “Pathway’s belief in green construction and their refusal to do any other kind means first of all, quality,” says Pathway client and Whittier Heights resident Loralee Deshazor. “The other thing I really respect is their time and effort teaching others and bringing other companies on board

with green construction.” The company’s educational outreach includes speaking in an array of settings, both private and public. Pathway has also advised the production team of a television series, The House that Saved the World, which is currently being submitted to PBS for consideration. In addition, the firm was part of the team that helped rewrite the Built Green Remodeler Handbook for a Master Builder’s Association program that helps homeowners achieve a more sustainable, healthier home. The Pathway crew says their livelihood is more than a job—it’s a way to make the world a better place. “The impact that our homes have on our children is really important to me,” say Kocharhook. “We’re starting to see increases in childhood asthma and other illnesses, and they are directly related to the lifestyles we’re living.”

Healthy Homes Are for Everyone

Kocharhook believes healthy homes are important for everyone, not just those with chemical sensitivities. According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, mold, allergens like pet dander, particles of wood, paper, pesticides tracked in from outdoors and even tire “dust” or fragments in the air are among the contaminants that may be linked to shortness of breath, allergic skin reactions, nausea, fatigue and asthma. “I think many people don't realize why they wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose or crusty eyes,” Kocharhook says. “There could be environ-

This Ballard addition includes a living roof, rainwater catchment system and the use of FSC lumber.

mental reasons why this is happening, and it could be related to poor ventilation or contaminants and chemical exposure.” He notes that current medical thought suggests that every body has a threshold for environmental toxins, and compromised indoor air quality may eventually lead some individuals to develop unpleasant symptoms. “A lot of people don’t realize the cost associated with being sick, staying home with sick kids or missing work,” he continues. “It’s not just about the cost of the remodel, it’s about longterm savings and being truly healthy.” “This is all about healing—it’s the construction equivalent of preventive health care,” explains Kennedy, Pathway operations manager. “Doctors often treat people with symptoms caused

Paul Kocharhook, Owner

“This is all about healing— it’s the construction equivalent of preventive health care.” ~ Doug Kennedy by their environment. By helping to remove the factors that cause illness, we lower medical costs.”

A Passion for Improving Quality of Life

Pathway has written a healthy home maintenance manual that is delivered to each client, covering a wide range of issues related to keeping the home free of allergenic triggers. For example, some aspects of indoor air quality depend upon whether residents operate ventilation systems correctly. Other issues are often easily overlooked, like keeping shrubs away from the side of the house to avoid waterlogged walls, or allergens being sucked into ventilation systems. Before beginning a job, Pathway works with clients to ensure that all materials used for a project will contribute to their well-being, by helping environmentally sensitive individuals determine which materials cause allergenic reactions. “Not all ingredients have to be listed on the MSDS (material safety data sheet),” Kennedy notes. Occasionally, ingredients considered proprietary or inert, because their concentration is less than a certain percentage, act as triggers in sensitive individuals. Because even products widely considered eco-friendly may

Doug Kennedy, Operation Manager have components that cause these individuals to react, Pathway customizes material choices for each client. “No two people are the same, so you can’t look at a healthy home with a broad brush and apply the same practices to everyone,” explains Kennedy. Kocharhook and Kennedy are energized by their work to help homeowners enjoy more vitality and wellbeing. “It’s something we get excited about, that makes us get up and want to go to work,” Kocharhook says. “We love the idea of making people’s lives better through healthier homes.” For more information, contact Pathway Design and Construction at 206-9374809 or PathwayDC.com.

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Scott Wurtz LMP PBP Professional Bowenwork Practitioner

Announcing New Locations for Wellness Restoration Arts:

TWO LOCATIONS: Fremont at 3401 Evanston Ave N, Suite E, 98103, 206-524-5511 | Bellevue at 13850 Bel-Red Rd, 98005, 425-672-3130 April 2011

Urban Garden Connections by Gayle Wilson Rose

Cultivating Food and Community Throughout Seattle

t first glance, UrbanGardenShare. org might lead you to think that it is an online dating site for those inclined to play in the dirt, and that assumption wouldn’t be too far off. Recent headlines include: “Well established and composted veg beds seek gardener!” and “Sunset Hill garden with a view needs your love.” The website was started in spring 2009, by Seattleite Amy Pennington. She was learning the basics in a comprehensive organic gardening class taught by Seattle Tilth when the idea for the site sprouted over a post-class glass of bourbon with some classmates. With their shared passion for gardening and connecting people, the crew launched the first site in Seattle to match independent gardeners with garden spaces in need of love and attention. When neighbors come together and cooperatively grow food, “…dirt flies and good things happen,” as Pennington aptly puts it. Not surprised that Seattle has embraced the concept with open arms, she explains, “Many Seattleites eat locally and organically and are very environmentally conscious. Combined with Seattle’s blend of density and sprawl, the urban garden sharing concept has lots of appeal.” Green + Brown = Magic Green-thumbed gardeners create a profile on the UrbanGardenShare.org site that provides a sense of their gardening expertise, personal interests and goals. They also include details such as their location and desired sharing arrangements. Those who have green space to offer, but perhaps a brown thumb, also create profiles and then view and respond to gardener profiles in search for the perfect match. Amy

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ers,” says Gerry Warren, board member of Slow Food Seattle, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to serving regional cuisine and promoting local farming. The desire to have a connection to how one’s food is grown is becoming common among residents in the area, which offers bountiful yearround farmers’ markets. “People appreciate being able to identify the source of their food,” Warren adds. “This is supporting the growth of gardening.”

says that no formal contracts are used when the match is made, though the website offers suggestions on how to build a thriving gardener/garden-owner relationship. Typically, the green space owner supplies water and the grower provides the motivation, know-how and seeds. An equal sharing of the harvest is common, as well. Most relationships are very collaborative, from the design of the space to its contents. Two years ago the site connected 400 gardeners, and last year grew to about 500 matches. Laura McLeod, a Seattle native, was one of the first to connect via the website. Her 5,000square-foot green space in Ballard is now in its third year of sharing and feeds six neighbors. McLeod says, “Not only is it rewarding, but it simply feels important to be doing this. To have the space and have it cultivated to feed people is such a positive experience.” “The Pacific Northwest is quite ahead nationally in efforts to eat locally and support local food produc-

2,000 Homes and 73 P-Patches The P-Patch Community Gardening Program, another Seattle nonprofit, offers green spaces for neighbors to come together, growing community and stewarding a piece of open land. Community members pay an annual fee for individual gardening plots, while all shared spaces throughout a garden are cared for jointly. Gardeners also give back to the community. More than 18,500 volunteer hours were contributed in 2009, supplying 25,000 pounds of fresh produce to Seattle food banks and feeding programs. Currently, 73 P-Patches throughout the city serve more than 2,000 grateful households. Lois Maag, the community relations and strategic advisor for the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, says that in recent years the demand for space in P-Patch gardens has exceeded supply, but organizers

are working to shrink the waiting time, which can be as long as a year in some areas. In 2008, Seattle citizens passed the Parks and Green Space Levy, which enabled the dedication of $2 million to the development of new P-Patch community gardens over the next three years. As a result, Maag reports, “As many as 15 new spaces are expected to become available.” Available Land = Abundant Possibilities “Where land is available, abundance is possible,” states Michael Stein, founder of Groundbreakers, a nonprofit that offers homeless people in King County hands-on educational training programs in sustainable, organic agriculture. He sees community connections blossoming during these times of economic turbulence. The often lamented economic imbalances and upheavals that so many people are experiencing have had, “…a positive recalibrating effect on our core values and beliefs,” Stein explains. “Our understanding of the value of money, real estate and even time has been altered. As we discover a possibility for self-reliance through growing food, we decrease our dependency on commercial food providers.” On Groundbreakers’ two-acre farmland in Duvall, community garden plots are available free of charge for students and volunteers. Groundbreakers provides organic seeds, irrigation and tools; in exchange, new plot owners are asked to maintain and harvest food for two Grounbreakers’ farm beds. “The idea is, ‘You give, you get,’” says Stein. Go Forth and Grow! Seattleites appreciate the vast choices available for nurturing natural food and for personal and community green spaces, where like-minded individuals can grow, share or just enjoy. Wherever participants find a connection to dig in the dirt and cultivate crops, they won’t be the only ones that reap the rewards. For more information about local urban gardening resources, see the accompanying sidebar.

Resources for Seattle Urban Gardening UrbanGardenShare.org This website connects individuals who have land available with those who want land on which to garden. Seattle.gov/Neighborhoods/ppatch Open to Seattle residents, this community gardening program is run by the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. The staff partners with volunteer residents to support, develop and manage community gardening in Seattle. Volunteer gardeners pay a nominal fee and coordinate garden tasks and activities. SeattleTilth.org Seattle Tilth is a nationally recognized nonprofit educational organization that inspires and educates people to garden organically and conserve natural resources. UrbanGardeningHelp.com This website is dedicated to environmentally conscious urban dwellers who want to create a green corner in their own yard or support community-based gardening.

TheGroundBreakers.org This nonprofit empowers disadvantaged men and women in King County through hands-on, educational work-training programs in sustainable, organic agriculture. Community garden plots at their Duvall farm are used for free by students and volunteers. Solid-Ground.org Solid Ground-Lettuce Link, an innovative food and gardening program of the nonprofit Solid Ground, creates access to fresh, nutritious and organic produce and seeds and gardening information for low-income families in Seattle. SlowFoodSeattle.WordPress.com The Seattle chapter of the international Slow Food organization seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system, while reconnecting Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food.

You and your food are one and the same… &IND THE HEALTHIEST YOU THROUGH

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localprofiles

Wu Hsing Tao School Acupuncture for the Soul

ost of us are familiar with acupuncture, the ancient art that uses needles to increase energy flow throughout the body, but we may not have heard of Traditional Five Element Acupuncture. This method addresses the underlying constitution of the person receiving treatment. The Five Element system is taught at Wu Hsing Tao School, which maintains an enrollment of about 40 students and emphasizes intellectual, emotional and physical wellness. Through coursework in psychology, the school also prioritizes understanding the self. “The Five Element system actually treats the patient’s core imbalance,” says Kristin Bach, an acupuncture student and staff member at the school. “By treating the core, the symptoms begin to disappear. Compared to other styles of acupuncture, Five Element Acupuncture also addresses more emotional and psychological imbalances.” When Bach began receiving Five Element Acupuncture treatments more than five years ago, she experienced not only physical healing, but a profound shift on emotional and mental levels, as well. “The most immediate benefit I received was the ability to quit smoking,” she recalls. “Soon, things I never dreamed possible started to become possible. I changed to an organic, whole foods diet; began a regular exercise and yoga routine; became more in tune with nature; and started on a spiritual path of meditation. My friendships and intimate relationships have grown deeper and stronger, and I am able to process my emotions in a healthy way.” “Five Element Acupuncture treats the body together with the mind, and it re-empowers the natural healing mechanisms of our system,” Program Director Dirk Hein advises. “Some of our most responsive clients are people who have suffered trauma, those whose conditions have become chronic, and those who are not responding to other types of health care.” Wu Hsing Tao School is the only Five Element Acupuncture school in the Northwest. For enrollment, call 206-324-7188 or email Admissions@WuHsing.org. Also visit WuHsing.org. For treatment at the Student Clinic, call 206-729-2598. See ad on page 7.

SeattleAwakenings.com

Bastyr Center for Natural Health Chinese Herbal Medicine Eases Allergies

or those whose allergies persist despite conventional treatment; who experience negative side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness or restlessness from antihistamines; or who have chronic allergy-related issues, Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may provide effective help. In China, herbal medicine is considered a powerful form of therapy used to treat most health conditions, including allergies. Herbal formulas are customized to each individual patient and can be taken as a tea, a capsule, or a powder dissolved in water. Due to their long history, the workings of these classic herbal formulas are well-understood by licensed practitioners. Weiyi Ding, M.D. (China), a registered nurse, licensed acupuncturist and clinical faculty member at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, notes, “I see many patients who are simply not responding well to Western medical treatment for allergies. They find that CHM and acupuncture treatments help clear up chronically runny noses or constant sinus headaches without side effects.” “Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) don’t talk about allergens. We talk about four elements— wind, cold, heat and dryness—that can invade the body,” advises Allen Sayigh, a licensed master acupuncturist and the manager of Bastyr’s Chinese herbal medicine dispensary. “The goal of allergy treatment is to expel those factors through the use of herbs.” Sayigh says TCM practitioners prescribe herbal formulas based on the patient’s unique “presentation.” That means 100 patients might be prescribed any of 100 different variations of herbs. Sayigh says those who come in before or at the onset of allergy season can receive treatment that goes to the root of the problem, so allergies don’t recur or are less severe. “If we treat the person in advance, we’re attempting to regulate their qi (pronounced “chee,” meaning life force) and strengthen their ability to ward off those environmental influences,” he explains. For more information, contact the Bastyr Center at 206-8344100 or visit BastyrCenter.org. See ad on page 19.

healthykids

(worm tea) from the compost and dilute it with water to sprinkle any garden with an extra dose of natural fertilizer. Both will promote strong, healthy plants that are resistant to disease. Our family has maintained a four-level worm bin just outside our kitchen door for five years, and for me, the hardest part of getting started was opening the box of wigglers. Now, we have more worm castings and worm tea than I can use, so I routinely pack up the castings into resealable plastic bags, pour the tea into bottles, and use both as much-welcomed gifts. A well-designed worm composter is opaque and has a secure lid and

KIDS DIG

WORM COMPOSTING

tear old newspapers into strips and place a fluffy layer on top to cover food scraps and discourage flies. Also use paper on the bottom to provide bedding for the worms. n Keep the worm bin moist. Periodic spritzing with a spray bottle or fine mist from the hose will keep wigglers moisturized and on the move. n Worms prefer a vegetarian diet; so don’t add cheese or meat scraps to the compost pile. Do feel free to toss in cereal, grains and rinsed, crushed eggshells. If possible, chop up all vegetable waste prior to adding it to your bin to speed up the composting process. Jessica Iclisoy, the founder of California Baby natural baby care products, writes about natural living and backyard organic gardening in Beverly Hills, CA. She also maintains two worm bins and three composters. Connect at Jessica@CaliforniaBaby.com.

Red Wigglers Turn Kitchen Scraps into Gardening Gold by Jessica Iclisoy

our family loves to shop at area farmers’ markets, investigating greens and other veggies to make meals bursting with vitamins and minerals. Yet, it’s not always easy raising children who love to eat the fruits, veggies and salad makings you tote home. So consider mixing in a strategic science lesson—all you need are a few thousand wiggly worm friends to gobble up kitchen scraps; waste that would normally go into the trash and municipal landfill. For kids, worm composting gives food preparation a special mission: The worms must be fed! Worm composting, also known as vermiculture, produces nutrient-rich worm castings. In kid parlance, that’s “worm poop.” This organic matter provides the perfect soil conditioner and organic food for plants, indoors and out. It’s also easy to harvest the liquid

ventilation holes. Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply, in Grass Valley, California, offers both a deluxe bin and inexpensive do-it-yourself worm bin kit at GrowOrganic.com. Or, find step-by-step instructions to build your own at the educational website, RedWormComposting.com, which also lists reputable sources for worms (the pictures alone are enough to juice kids’ interest). Keep these tips in mind for successful composting, indoors or out: n The best worms for composting are red wigglers. According to the Peaceful Valley company, one or two pounds of mature red worms can convert 3.5 to 7 pounds of food scraps into castings in one week. n Newspaper provides cover. Shred or April 2011

consciouseating

Salad Lovers’

SALADS Signature Dishes from the Garden or Farmers’ Market by Judith Fertig

Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm’s Slaw

oing green—at least on our plates—has never been easier. Every season, it seems that more varieties of fresh greens are available at farmers’ markets and in selections of nursery plants or seeds for home gardeners. Not so long ago, Americans generally thought of salad as pale iceberg lettuce with high-fat bottled dressing or some mixture of veggies, bound together with mayonnaise. These days, we can choose from among a bounty of tender lettuces and exotic greens, topped with extra virgin olive oils and splashed with colorful creative counterpoints that add zest and yum. Salads today provide a culinary canvas for both the cook and the gardener. A signature salad generally comprises several key ingredients: cool, crisp, fresh and nutritious greens; a fresh-tasting, low-calorie dressing; and bite-sized fruits, nuts, vegetables or cheeses that add flavor, texture and interest. For the greens, tender leaf or Bibb lettuce, crisp Romaine or cabbage, sliced or finely chopped, make the best-tasting salads. For the best-tasting dressings, cooks whisk ingredients together in a bowl minutes before serving. We can drizzle them over each salad, serve them in a small pitcher on the side or place the salad in a large bowl, and then toss to incorporate the dressing. Added accents have expanded to include everything from soft fruits such as strawberries and oranges; savory and salty crumbled feta or blue cheeses; or something crunchy, like toasted almonds or walnuts, in addition to ubiquitous garden-fresh vegetables, such as scallions or tomatoes. Adding a healthy hot or cold protein makes a salad even more of a main course. Altogether, in ever-evolving combinations, today’s wide-ranging healthful ingredients can work edible magic. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer in Overland Park, KS; see AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com. 14

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When Minnesota’s Nitty Gritty Dirt Farm employees gather for a summer lunch, this crunchy cabbage-based slaw often graces their table. Serves 6 Slaw ½ lb Napa cabbage, cored ½ lb green cabbage, cored 1 bunch red radishes (about 12 medium to large), trimmed ½ lb broccoli, florets separated from stalks ½ bunch green onions, pale and green parts, sliced ¼-inch thick ½ lb green beans, ends trimmed, sliced ¼-inch thick Dressing 1 /3 cup extra virgin olive oil 2-½ Tbsp cider vinegar or more to taste 1 Tbsp honey ¼ tsp ground ginger Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1. Chop cabbages, radishes and broccoli florets into very small pieces. With a knife or vegetable peeler, pare the tough outer layer of the broccoli stalks to reveal the pale core. Chop the cores the same size as the other vegetables. 2. Put all the chopped vegetables in a large bowl and add the green onions and green beans. Toss to mix. 3. For the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, ginger, and salt and pepper in a bowl, according to taste. Add the dressing to the slaw, using just enough to coat the vegetables nicely. Toss well. Let rest at room temperature for about an hour before serving, or cover and refrigerate. The slaw will remain crunchy for at least eight hours. Source: Adapted from Eating Local: The Cookbook Inspired by America’s Farmers, by Sur La Table and Janet Fletcher (AndrewsMcMeel.com).

Salad Lovers’

GARDEN TIPS by Barbara Pleasant

f you really love salad, you owe it to yourself to try growing your own garden-fresh ingredients. Lettuce is fast and easy to grow, with beautiful colors and textures worthy of a flower garden. Most salad staples grow best in cool weather; so don’t wait for summer to get started. Here are eight tips for a successful salad garden season. Make several small sowings. Lettuce and other salad greens grow quickly and must be picked before they get too old, so try planting about two square feet of space every three weeks, starting in early spring. Take a break during summer’s heat, and then plant more salad greens when the weather cools in late summer. In tropical areas, grow lettuce as a winter crop.

Mix in some spinach. Boost the nutrient content of salads by including spinach in the salad garden. Spinach grows best in rich, fertile soil. Add water. All leafy greens crave water, and dry conditions can cause lettuce to become bitter. Keep a watering can near the salad bed and water as often as needed to keep the soil constantly moist, but not muddy.

the long winter growing season as soon as summer temperatures abate. Barbara Pleasant is the author of numerous gardening books, including Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens. Visit BarbaraPleasant.com.

Eat thinnings. Lettuce seedlings often appear close together, and a good gardener will pull out excess seedlings to give the plants room to grow. After thinning seedlings to two inches apart, start eating the pulled plants as baby greens.

Try Bibbs, butterheads and other beauties. Seed racks offer packets of tempting varieties, and all except iceberg types are easy to grow in a garden. Buttercrunch and other Bibb varieties always do well, as do butterheads and leaf lettuces. Choose a mixture of varieties or buy three packets with different leaf colors and textures.

Pick in the morning. Lettuce and other leafy greens are at their best in the morning, after they have had all night to recover from the stresses of the previous day. If it’s not possible to gather greens in the morning, pop a cardboard box over the bed for the day. Protected from hot sun, a salad patch can keep its morning freshness until evening.

Mark boundaries with radishes or scallions. Plant fast-sprouting radish seed or green onions from the store to mark the locations of newly sown seeds. The onions will quickly grow new roots and tops; simply pull them as needed in the kitchen.

Grow more when temperatures cool. Salad crops struggle in hot weather, but often thrive in cooler months. In the north, gardeners can use leftover seeds to start up a second delicious salad season in late summer; in the south, they can get an early start on April 2011

Ed Begley, Jr.’s

GREEN HOME

MAKEOVER Saving Energy and Cutting Waste is a Family Affair by Brita Belli

d Begley, Jr., widely regarded as America’s most environmentally aware actor—the one by which other green celebrities are measured— has never tired of the years of effort he and his family have made in making their home as green as possible. But this past year, his wife, Rachelle Carson-Begley, had had enough. She isn’t fed up with turning off lights or relying on solar power— she’s just grown weary of the home’s tiny closets and sharing one small bathroom between two adults and a soon-to-be-teenage daughter, 11-yearold Hayden. While Rachelle played the disgruntled foil to the over-achieving eco-cop Ed on their former television show, Living with Ed—which aired for three seasons, first on HGTV and then on Planet Green—her problems with their modest 1936 home in Studio City, California, are those to which most homeowners can relate. 16

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For example, cramped rooms make entertaining difficult. The home’s 1,600 square feet of main living space (plus an additional 600-square-foot room above the garage) does not easily accommodate the fundraisers the Begleys regularly host; not to mention the camera crews that routinely invaded the family’s day-to-day lives to capture the couple’s good-natured squabbles over everything from composting to conserving water and energy. For seven years, the family even ran a nontoxic cleaning business—Begley’s Best—out of their garage, adding to the mêlée. “Even if it were designed differently, it would be better,” Rachelle explains. “It’s just that it’s a 1936 house. Yes, it’s efficient, but it would be great to be able to incorporate everything that’s going on now in eco building and be a recipient of all the latest benefits— why not?” So, the Begleys are moving. After

years of documenting how to retrofit an older house to maximize use of solar energy for electricity, heating, cooling and hot water, family recycling and rainwater catchment, they are planning to sell their modest abode and build a modern, 3,000-square-foot home a mile away. Ed emphasizes that the move is a major concession on his part. “I made it crystal clear when Rachelle and I were dating: ‘This is the home I plan to be buried in. I will never move.’ And I said it repeatedly from 1993 until about a year and a half ago; now I’m going against that.” Although the Begleys are trading up, they will continue to set an example by building their new home to green building standards that few homeowners have achieved. They’re going for the platinum; that is, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards, the highest rating possible for buildings certified

by the U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org). This premier LEED designation requires an incredible environmental commitment in every aspect of the building process, from responsible site development, reduced water use and renewable energy utilities to the use of recycled and local materials and indoor air quality control. Of the more than 130 LEED Platinum building projects in California—the state that boasts the most such projects—only about 30 are private homes. Despite his initial protestations, Ed admits that he’s excited about the prospect. If there’s one thing he relishes, it’s a green challenge.

Life with Ed

It’s not easy to live up to Ed’s 30-yearstrong waste-nothing ethos. Although he first made a name for himself as an actor, initially as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the 1980s TV show St. Elsewhere, followed by his recurring roles in the hit TV series Six Feet Under and Arrested Development, as well as a co-starring role in Woody Allen’s 2009 film Whatever Works, lately he’s become best known as Hollywood’s green guru. He’s the people’s go-to expert on green building and saving energy, authoring the how-to books, Living Like Ed and Ed Begley, Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living. Ed is often spotted around Hollywood riding his bike, his preferred mode of travel; on weekdays, he and his daughter ride together to her school, pedaling two miles each way. This down-to-earth, affable man is perhaps eco-conscious to a fault. The success of the show Living with Ed relied in great part on the watchdog antics of Ed catching his wife stuffing vegetable peelings down the garbage disposal, instead of in the compost bin, timing her long showers or opening a running dryer to discover Rachelle’s lone tank top inside. In each case, the chastised Rachelle vowed to be more eco-conscious, with a raised eyebrow aimed at the camera. “I felt vindicated,” Rachelle says of her reality show adventures. “They [the viewers] were going to side with me.” If there’s any question that Ed’s needling occurs only when the cameras are on, his family members put those doubts to rest. Rachelle describes

how her husband insists on keeping the temperature uncomfortably low on cold nights for the sake of saving energy; of turning off her curling iron while it’s warming up if she leaves the room; or switching off the TV if she’s listening to it while getting dressed down the hall. Daughter Hayden’s biggest gripe has to do with TV time. “I love to watch TV for hours on end,” she says. “My dad is very cautious about using power and we have to turn off several different things when we use the TV, like the DVR and its power switch.” But Ed insists that all these little energy-saving strategies add up. While he was willing to recently trade his obsolete 1992 TV set for an HDTV, he knows it’s a major energy hog—and not only when someone’s watching it. “The phantom power can be as high as 100 watts per hour,” he says—that’s the

power the TV consumes simply by being plugged in. “But,” he notes, “ if you have put power strips everywhere in the house and you just walk around and click off a few of them, all of that phantom power is turned off. Then, you can enjoy an appliance like that without using a tremendous amount of energy.” The sun may be an unlimited source of energy, but the solar power stored in their home’s batteries has limitations— and Ed is a vigilant watchdog. With rooftop solar panels providing most of the home’s power, the Begleys remain blissfully unaware when there’s a power outage in the neighborhood. “I only find out about it when I walk to the post office and see the signal flashing to show that power has been restored,” Ed comments. Ed manually switches over to the municipal power grid only when he senses that the stored power capacity in the home’s solar batteries is running low. He foresees that eventually that system will be automated, but for now, he’s happy to keep track. The solar power generated onsite is enough to operate the house and professional TV cameras; it also charges an electric car in the garage—an all-electric 2002 Toyota RAV4 that’s clocked 85,000 miles. For hot water, the family comfortably relies mostly on a simple solar thermal setup—a 4-by-10-foot panel on the roof of black anodized tub-

April 2011

ing behind a piece of glass. A pump activates when a sensor in the panel senses that it’s hotter than the temperature in the tank. Ed observes: “If you keep things simple, they work well.” Simplicity also keeps maintenance issues at bay. The upkeep required for his solar electric system is minor; he’s committed only to adding water to the batteries every nine months and occasionally getting up to the roof to clean the panels with a brush and a little water.

Embracing the Great Outdoors

One of Ed’s first acts when he purchased his current house in 1988 was to rip up the existing lawn and replace it with native California plants and a fruit and vegetable garden. Unless raising cows or running a golf course, he can’t imagine why anyone would need high-maintenance, water-wasting grass outside their home. But, as with many of Ed’s improvements, energy saving tends to trump aesthetics. That’s where Rachelle comes in. “A few years after Rachelle had moved in here, she was telling a friend to meet her at the house,” Ed recalls, “and she said ‘It’s the one on the corner that looks like the Addams Family yard.’ I thought: ‘Oooh, maybe that garden isn’t quite as nice-looking as it used to be.’ It was very droughttolerant, but it didn’t look good.” With Rachelle’s help, a new landscaper joined the effort of turning the formerly bleak-looking yard into an attractive mix of native plants that includes fragrant rosemary and purpleflowering sage along with broccoli, artichoke, corn and lettuce. Plans for the new family home will allow Ed an expanded capability to harvest rainwater through a large catchment system with an underground tank, so that he can irrigate the gardens without drawing from the municipal water supply— which he characterizes as having, “… our straw dipped into someone else’s drink”—namely, Northern California’s water. “If you’re going to take water from someone else,” Ed advises, “the least you can do is to use it responsibly and not waste it on non-native species.”

Meeting in the Middle

Bringing Rachelle’s aesthetic influence to bear has entailed replacing outdated living room curtains with attractive and energy-efficient wooden shutters, and finding ways to recycle without having large bins in plain sight. She’s orchestrating the design and layout of the new house—allowing for both entertaining space and larger closets—while Ed focuses on its renewable energy systems—including more unshaded rooftop panels and orienting the build18

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ing to make the most of natural light. “If we don’t go LEED Platinum, then who will?” Rachelle queries. “That alone is not easy; still, I want to make it look like other houses in the neighborhood. I don’t want a Jetsons’ house; super modern has never been my style. I‘d like to show people that you can have it all, and I’m praying that it’s true.” The Begleys got off to a good start in March by tearing down an existing home on the property they recently purchased—96 percent of which, from cabinets to pipes, will be recycled or reused through Habitat for Humanity. By March 2012, the new house should be finished. They want their LEED Platinum home to serve as a model for people who are building new residences, to show what is possible in achieving real energy efficiency and waste reduction without sacrificing style or comfort. Ed’s aim is to ensure the place produces more energy than it uses. As before, the whole process will be documented. “I hope that I’ve shown what you can do with a retrofit,” Ed says. “Now I want to show people what you can do from the ground up in 2011 and beyond.” The family’s ongoing focus on green living has made a major impact on Hayden, who accepts environmental consciousness as the norm. “I learned everything from my dad, from composting to solar panels,” Hayden says. “I always teach my friends to turn off the lights more often, take shorter showers, stuff like that.” Her green awareness gives this tween maturity beyond her years. As Rachelle says, “She thinks about things outside of herself. She’s always been conscientious. She’s also really concerned about the planet and very compassionate.” Hayden is proof that a family’s day-to-day environmental commitments can leave a lasting impact that reaches far beyond the immediate family. Brita Belli is the editor of E-The Environmental Magazine and the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Renewable Energy for Your Home. Her next book, due out this fall, explores the relationship of environmental toxins and autism.

Everyday Efforts Toward a Green Home Everyone can make small, green improvements in their own homes that add up to help the planet. Seattle resident Jacqueline Powers, a general contractor, interior designer and author of Transitioning to Green: A Workbook for the Homeowner, offers these suggestions: • Change incandescent light bulbs to some type of fluorescent or LED bulbs. • Install timers, sensors and dimmers to maximize energy savings. • Buy a new toilet that uses less water or has a dual flush button. In an existing tank, place a few large, filled water bottles to take up excess volume. • Put a timer in the shower to reduce water use. • Consider using real linoleum, which is made from renewable materials such as solidified linseed oil, ground cork dust and pine rosin, instead of vinyl flooring, a petroleum-based product. • Refinish floors with a water-based sealer or a natural oil and wax product. • Clean floors with a small amount of vinegar in water. • Improve indoor air quality by using paints free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). • To stop the entry of cold outside air, purchase foam electrical outlet insulators and install them in all outlets on outside walls. • Weather strip and caulk all windows and doors. • Plant deciduous trees to shield the house from the sun in the summer, keeping it cool without air conditioning. • This spring, convert portions of the lawn into gardens filled with edible or native plants, and fertilize with organic materials. Find these and other tips in Powers’ book, available online at GreenRemodelWorkbook. com and at Goods for the Planet, where Powers will hold free monthly workshops based on concepts in the workbook at 5 p.m., every third Thursday, beginning March 17. Location: 525 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle 98109; free parking. Also visit GoodsForThePlanet.com.

April 2011

SeattleAwakenings.com

fitbody

boo towels are particularly soft, luxuriant and absorbent. Watch for store coupons. Buy recycled and/or natural fitness products. Fitness product manufacturers are beginning to make and promote items using recycled materials.

ECO-WORKOUT Easy Green Tweaks Save Money W

by Linda LaRue

e all agree that we need to do a better job of conserving our planet’s limited resources, so why not try these simple suggestions to green your workout routine? These eco-friendly tweaks to what you already may do take little effort and save both time and cash. Curb consumerism. Buy less brandname active wear, expensive running shoes and faddish workout gizmos, which are not quick fixes for proper exercise and diet. Recycle water/sports bottles. Buy a reusable water bottle, which is far better for the Earth than any plastic, singleuse beverage container (even if you recycle it). Outrageously overpriced sports drinks are unnecessary because you can obtain all the vitamins and minerals you need by eating a sensible diet and taking a daily multivitamin.

Patronize a workout center that’s within walking distance. You’ll not only boost your workouts, you’ll be supporting the local economy while reducing car emissions and potential parking fees. If the weather is fine, walk outside—it’s free. Did you know that of all motorized fitness equipment, treadmills use the most energy? Use towels made from organic cotton, bamboo or reclaimed fabric. Discount retailers often sell eco-friendly towels made from such natural materials. Bam-

Choose eco-friendly organic and/ or recycled active wear. Today, there seems to be an overabundance of green materials being made into clothing. Time will tell what materials consumers like best, due to price, performance, look and feel. Options include organic cotton and soy fiber blends, seaweed blends and recycled polyester active wear for men and women that can be form-flattering, comfortable and enduring; trend watchers have even spotted a biodegradable athletic running shoe. Try shopping upscale thrift shops. The best days to find great clothes are Mondays and Tuesdays, after folks have dropped off their clothing over the weekend. Thrift shops are a hit-andmiss proposition—you may need to visit them more than once. Buy used workout DVDs. Great quality, popular, used, home workout DVDs are available online and at some thrift facilities and used book stores, often for half-price or less. Core performance guru Linda LaRue is a registered nurse, athletic trainer and creator of Crunchless Abs, and the ecofriendly Core Transformer low-impact, 360° resistance workout. Visit  LindaLaRue.com.

Use biodegradable body products. Buy biodegradable body wash, shampoo, lotion and laundry detergent in large sizes to save money and decrease material use. Then, use them to fill smaller, travel-size, reusable bottles. April 2011

naturalpet

Forbidden Creatures Author Peter Laufer On the Dark Side of “Owning” Exotic Pets

by Gail Condrick

The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway. ~Michael Pollan

eter Laufer, Ph.D., is the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications, a broadcaster and the author of 12 books. His latest, Forbidden Creatures, exposes the illegal network of hunters, traders, breeders and customers who are negatively impacting the lives of exotic animals, humans and the environment.

In Forbidden Creatures, as you explored people’s fascination with collecting exotic and forbidden animals, what did you find? Many of us like to think that humans are the ultimate animal, and that we can tame the rest of nature. My research for the book introduced me to an engaging cast of characters, many of who fantasized not just about communing with exotic beasts, but controlling them. Such dreams can dissolve into nightmares in seconds and without warning. Exotic animals are collected and owned by celebrities, criminals and your neighbors. In fact, there are more captive-bred tigers in private homes in Texas than in the wild in India. I found 22

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a tiger in the back of a feed store in Idaho, a colony of chimpanzees in the countryside south of St. Louis and laundry bags full of pythons at a former missile base in the Everglades. There are legal auctions of exotic animals from aardvarks to zebras in Missouri, and sales of black market chimps on the Internet.

You have stated that illegal trading of wild and protected animals is growing exponentially; how profitable is this? Wild animal trafficking profits are estimated by Interpol to be $10 billion to $20 billion a year. It’s the third most lucrative illegal business in the world, trailing only drugs and weapons smuggling. It is easy to accomplish, the risks of capture are slim and penalties are minimal. Many amateurs also bring in animals for their own pleasure, based on their personal fascination for the exotic. Legal trade in endangered animals also

exists, along with trade that skirts the law. It is the illegal wildlife trade that further threatens already endangered species and creates a crisis for survival.

How many exotic animals are there in the United States? No one knows the answer, because there is no census of exotic pets and the legal enforcement issues differ from state to state and by locality. In fact, while we license dogs, we have no overarching law governing exotics, or even a national registry of owners. This remains a great frustration to many people and organizations working for the benefit of the animals.

What can animal lovers do? Education is needed to make conscious choices. Most of the people who collect exotics are ignorant of the long-term impact of owning these

animals. The cute and cuddly tiger cub or baby chimp may look like an entertaining pet now, but what about the future? What will this animal be like in six months or six years? When animals reach their adolescence and full body weight, we must ask: How will they be cared for and what will their lives be like? Chimps and other great apes grow to be stronger than a man, are overtly dangerous and must be corralled. Pythons can grow to 20 feet, endangering other pets and humans. Often, people cannot keep up with the expenses of the food and care, and release the animals to sanctuaries or simply drop them off in the wild. This creates further repercussions for society and the environment. The reality is that exotic pets will not live happily in confinement. There are many terrifying and heartbreaking stories of captive animals attacking and even killing their owners after years of mutual affection. No one knows what makes the wild side emerge to disastrous results.

What should buyers of exotic animals understand? I view our attempts at taming animals as little more than subjugation. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understandable if our own survival is at stake. But to subjugate other beings for our amusement diminishes our own self-worth. Animal smuggling exists because there is a market for it. Decisions to purchase or own an exotic animal cannot be made in isolation; every action has an impact upstream. We need to realize that there is an environmental impact of removing creatures from their habitats and teach the benefits of seeing animals in their natural environments. Wild animals do not need us. We should leave other animals alone, and they should remain forbidden creatures. For more information, visit PeterLaufer.com. Connect with Gail Condrick, writer and workshop leader, at GaelaVisions.com.

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wisewords

Richard Louv’s Well-Being Rx: Reconnect with Nature by April Thompson

energy in these different environments provides different results, with green exercise offering added value. Science can’t yet tell us the causes and mechanisms behind these correlations, yet we know enough to act. Technology permeates every aspect of our lives today. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that American youth spend an average of 53 hours a week using entertainment media. So we have to consciously bring more nature into our lives—not just to escape technology’s documented negative effects, but also to access the positive benefits that nature provides. It’s not a case of nature versus technology, however; it’s a matter of balance. The “hybrid mind” can access the benefits of both, facilitating skills in big-picture thinking.

f it’s true that people are self-interested creatures at heart, journalist Richard Louv has a message for humankind: Think not only what we can do for nature, but what nature can do for us. Louv’s seminal book, Last Child in the Woods, launched a national dialogue about the disconnection between children and nature, a state he calls nature-deficit disorder. Now, in The Nature Principle, Louv vividly portrays how a nature-infused lifestyle can enhance the quality of our health and relationships, benefiting every facet of experience. He asserts that the more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need, and offers a roadmap to a future that incorporates nature into every aspect of our lives, from our homes to our workplaces. The recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, Louv is the author of eight books and the founder of the Children & Nature Network.

You cite many instances of nature’s power to heal and restore us mentally, emotionally, physically and even intellectually. How does science account for this? Healers have known about the importance of nature to our health and well-being for thousands of years, but only in recent years have scientists begun to study the benefits of what I call, “vitamin N.” Still, the preliminary

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research indicates overwhelmingly positive correlations between human health and intelligence and nature. For example, a University of Illinois study of urban children with attention deficit disorder found that even a little exposure to nature can have a positive effect on ADD. Several other studies indicate that walking in natural areas improves our mental and physical health. Researchers from Sweden and England that compared exercising in indoor and outdoor settings learned that expending the same amount of

You assert that reconnecting with nature also strengthens community and family bonds, but where can busy urbanites start? Often, families want to connect with nature but don’t know how. We offer free tools at ChildrenAndNature.org to help you start a family nature club organized around prearranged nature play dates. One club has 600 families. This helps create meaningful social bonding within and between families. It’s something any family can do, regardless of location or income, and it’s good fun.

What roles do governments play in preserving a naturebalanced world? All have a role to play. Urban planners a hundred years ago planned cities around nature. It’s not a new idea; we’ve just forgotten. Nature can offer cost-effective solutions to some of the problems cashstrapped governments face. For example, it costs a lot to tear up a canyon and put in a new stormwater system, but a lot less to develop a system that takes advantage of the natural watershed.

People often think about nature as somewhere else, like a state park or wilderness area, yet you point out the need to re-imagine our own yards and neighborhoods. What can we do to enhance the local habitats that ultimately sustain us? We often overlook the nature where we live, work and play. In 2008, for the first time in history, more people on Earth, were living in urban, rather than rural, areas. That means if we are going to have meaningful experiences with nature, we are going to have to rethink nature within cities. Looking forward, conservation measures alone won’t be enough to get us where we need to be. We need to start re-creating nature in order to protect the biodiversity that all creatures need, humans included. We can start in our backyards by replacing lawns with flowers and native plants that will bring back sustainable migration routes for birds and butterflies. Acting on The Nature Principle is an optimistic way of looking at the future. It’s not just about survival; it’s creating a way of life that is profoundly all-around better for all of us. April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at AprilWrites.com.

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calendarofevents SATURDAY, MARCH 19 The Embodied Life: Movement, Meditation and Guided Inquiry – Mar 19-20. 10am-4:30pm. A Weekend Public Workshop with worldwide teacher Russell Delman covering embodied meditation, Feldenkrais movement lessons, and guided inquiry. Free introductory talk 7pm Fri, Mar 18. $220. 7910 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 206-372-8822. LeeAnn@NextStepConsultingInc.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 21 Session: Five Element Acupuncture – 6-7:30pm. Learn how to begin a career creating health and wellness for others in this information session. Free. Wu Hsing Tao School of Acupuncture, 4000 NE 41st St, Seattle. Registration required: 206-3247188. WuHsing.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 North King County Green Business Conference – 9:30am-3pm. Learn how to save money, reduce risk and gain a larger market share by going green at the North King County Green Business Conference. $50, includes lunch. Shoreline Community College Pagoda Union Bldg, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline. Registration required: 206-3612260. ShorelineGreenBusiness.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 25 An Evening with Dr. Joe Dispenza – 7-9:30pm. With a dynamic combination of science and accessible how-to, Dr. Joe will teach how to harness the power of the most important tool in your body and life: your brain and mind. $25/advance, $30/at door. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N, Seattle. 970-443-0732. BellaSpark.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26 Can Do 5K/10K –7am, begins. Get outdoors and support children with special needs by participating in the Can Do 5K/10K run and walk. $35/individual, $55/family. North Creek Business Park, 19500 120th Ave NE, Bothell. Sign up: CanDo5k.org. Dr. Joe Dispenza Level 1 Workshop – 9am-5pm. Dr. Joe guides through a step-by-step process of personal change to transform from thinking to doing to being. Learn the tools needed to re-train your brain to change the results in your life for good. $149. Seattle Renaissance Hotel, 515 Madison St, Seattle. 970-443-0732. BellaSpark.com.

SeattleAwakenings.com

Massage and Acupressure for Your Pet – 3-5:30pm. Learn basic massage and acupressure techniques to keep your pet healthy and feeling well. Holistic veterinarian Dr. Darla Rewers shows healing moves your pet will love. One well-behaved and socialized dog per person; space limited. Please exercise and walk dog before class. $120. Ancient Arts Holistic Vet, 110 N 36th St, Seattle. 206-5471025. AncientArtsVet.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 The Heart Is Not A Pump – 7-8:30pm. Registered dietitian Anna Buzzelli lectures on what people need to relearn about their hearts and why people should actually be eating more fat. $15. Lite snacks provided. Registration required: 206-497-5326. Anna@BuzzNutrition.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 Making Flavored Oils, Vinegars & Syrups – 1-3pm. Vickie Phelps shows how to make flavored oils, vinegars, and syrups to bring an extra depth to home cooking. Admission includes 3 products and a 40-page book to take home. $40. Goods For The Planet, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. 206-290-6666.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

WEDNESDAY,

APRIL 6

Vegfest 2011 – Mar 26-27. 10am-6pm. Taste over 500 types of free food samples, see cooking demonstrations and hear the latest information on nutrition at this annual healthy vegetarian food festival. $8. Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall, Mercer St & 3rd Ave N, Seattle. VegOfWA.org/Vegfest.

Women’s Breath Series – Wednesdays, Apr 6-20. 10am-12pm. A unique opportunity to share the depths of the breath journey with a group of women over three weeks. Themes arise each week from the group. $150. Breathing Mandala, 747 90th St N, Seattle. Registration required: 206-769-0040. BreathingMandala.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Kettlebell Training With The Reifkinds – 10am1pm. Tracy Reifkind details how to use the kettlebell swing for advanced conditioning and how to engage the most underutilized muscle, the lats, to create a stable platform for strength and stability. $195. Kettlebility, 905 NE 65th St, Seattle. 206293-0009. Kettlebility.com.

Environmental Restoration at Clover Creek Reserve – 10am-1pm. Help restore woodland prairie with Cascade Land Conservancy. Volunteers should bring a refillable water bottle. Snacks, drinks, tools and gloves provided. 6th Ave E & Johns St E, Tacoma. Volunteer@CascadeLand.org.

Multicultural Hair Care Workshop – 12-3pm. Janis Murray speaks on the intricate and often misunderstood world of multicultural hair care. Space limited. $5. Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St, Seattle. Register: 206-985-1500.

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Communication Oracle – 2-4pm. Bring any communication-related question (personal or professional) and get an answer from communication expert Holly Eckert. Donations accepted. Nonviolent Communication Training Center, 115 N 85th St, Ste 202, Seattle. 206-706-0483. HollyEckert.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 31 Simply Nutritious Supper Club: The Wholey Grain – 5-7pm. Learn to cook whole grains. Class will cover from Adzuki beans to the zinc found in them. Space limited. $25. Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St, Seattle. Register: 206985-1500.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Reiki: The Great Integrity, Level 2 – Apr 1-3. Second level of all-healing energy Reiki taught by world-class healing presence, Norma Jean Young. $333-$500/arrangements welcome. Reiki Center of Origins, 402 1st St, Langley. Registration required: 425-770-4120. NormaJeanReiki.com.

The Heart Is Not A Pump – 2-3:30pm. See Apr 5 listing. 206-497-5326. Anna@BuzzNutrition.com.

Backyard Chickens: No Rooster Required – 6-9pm. Backyard chickens provide great-tasting, healthy, environmentally responsible eggs, plus plenty of entertainment, even in the middle of the city. Jenifer McIntyre teaches the basics of keeping chickens in your backyard, from biology to buildings, in this introductory workshop. $20. Seattle University Admin Bldg, Rm 220, 901 12th Ave, Seattle. Register: EOSAlliance.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 Weigh To Go! – Wednesdays, Apr 13-Jun 8. 6-7pm. A 9-wk weight management and lifestyle program developed by Bastyr’s nutrition and clinical health psychology faculty. $300/9 wks. Registration deadline: Mar 31. Bastyr Center for Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. 206-925-4662. BastyrCenter.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 Weston A. Price Society Presents David Wetzel – 6-8pm. David Wetzel speaks about the history of cod liver oil, how Green Pastures came to make fermented cod liver oil and the results of extensive testing. Some of Green Pasture’s products will be available to purchase at a discount. Free admission. United Evangelical Free Church, 1420 NW 80th St, Seattle. 206-849-2108.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Duwamish Alive: Restore our River – 10am2pm. Help volunteer to restore our parks and the Duwamish River watershed. Options include on the river cleanup with Alki Kayaks, planting trees, removing invasive species, and more. All locations provide tools and snacks. After the restoration will be a festival celebrating Earth Day with free food, live music, hands-on art activities, and more at Pathfinder K-8 School from 2-4pm. 206-923-0853. DuwamishAlive.org. Earth Day Tree Planting – 10am-2pm. Help save salmon by planting trees along Harris Creek in Stillwater Wildlife Area. Tools, training and snacks provided. Dress for weather. RSVP: 425-252-6686. Sarah@StillySnoFish.org. 2011 Green Home Tour for Seattle and Eastside King County – Apr 16-17. 10am-4pm. Builders, architects, designers, craftsman with deep green focus will showcase sustainable design and construction projects in public tours. Sites feature design and construction professionals on hand for presentations, workshops, and individual consultations to answer all your green living questions. Tour participants responsible for own transportation. Free. Northwest EcoBuilding Guild. 425-670-1342. GreenHomeTour@EcoBuilding.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19 Healthy for a Lifetime – 7-8pm. Learn the tools to keep you healthy for your lifetime. We will show how to protect yourself from the damaging things in life and how to promote great health to stay vibrant and strong. Free. Green Lake Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing, 9750 3rd Ave NE, Ste 103, Seattle. Registration required: 206-523-0121. Info@GLChiro.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 Canning Workshop – 6-8pm. Jessica Dally shows how to preserve the summer’s bounty and stretch grocery dollars by canning own produce. Learn about canning equipment, how to can safely, resources for recipes and instruction and recommended tips from a pro. Demonstration of water bath canning seasonal fruit is included. $20. Seattle University Admin Bldg, Rm 220, 901 12th Ave, Seattle. Register: EOSAlliance.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Form Your New Life From Easter Forward – Apr 22-24. Re-calibrate your life direction with the changing times: back to Natural Order. Includes First Level instruction for daily hands-on selftreatment through Reiki healing, and specifically

finding your unique strengths and choices. $222/ arrangements welcome. Reiki Center of Origins, 402 1st St, Langley. Registration required: 425770-4120. NormaJeanReiki.com. Breath Salon – 6:30-7:30pm. All welcome to join this breath class. Learn about the importance of breath, ask questions and experience the power of the self-healing state created by open breathing. $15. Soma Yoga Studio, 1423 NW 70th St, Seattle. Registration required: 206-769-0040. BreathingMandala.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 Earth Day Celebration – 10am-4pm. A familyfriendly day of nature activities, guided hikes, volunteering, and exploring at The Mountaineers Foundation’s Rhododendron Preserve. Open to the public and free of charge, with a suggested donation of $15/family. Rhododendron Preserve, 3153 Seabeck Highway NW, Bremerton. 206-521-6012. SaraHK@Mountaineers.org.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1.00 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@SeattleAwakenings.com. Deadline is the 12th of the month.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 26 An Evening with Lynne McTaggart – 7-9:30pm. Survival of the fairest: How we can connect with our true nature to create a better life, a better world. Featuring Lynne’s new book The Bond. $25/advance, $30/at door. Seattle Unity Church, 200 8th Ave N, Seattle. Registration required: 970443-0732. BellaSpark.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28 Simply Nutritious Supper Club: The Power of Proteins – 5-7pm. Learn about the wide world of proteins that come not just from animals but from plants as well. Space limited. $25. Whole Foods Market, 1026 NE 64th St, Seattle. Register: 206985-1500. An Evening with Lynne McTaggart – 7-9:30pm. See Apr 26 listing. Whatcom Community College, Heiner Theater, 237 W Kellogg Rd, Bellingham. 970-443-0732. BellaSpark.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 Food Forest Workshop at Wild Thyme Farm – Apr 29-May 1. Spend a weekend at a dynamic permaculture site learning the tricks of the trade. Workshop will discuss the permaculture concept of food forests including species selection, community dynamics, and various methods of implementing a food forest for the home landscape. Afternoons spent with hands-on work in the food forest to implement the techniques discussed. $160/by Mar 28, $175/by Apr 15, $200/after. 72 Mattson Rd, Oakville. Registration required: 360-273-7117. QueenBee@HerbnWisdom.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30 Detox Your Home – 10:30-11:30am. Identify common household health hazards. Free. Bastyr Center For Natural Health, 3670 Stone Way N, Seattle. Registration encouraged: 206-834-4163. ClinicMarketing@Bastyr.edu.

April 2011 27

ongoingevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received via email by January 12th (for February issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Email Calendar@SeattleAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit SeattleAwakenings.com submit online.

sunday Prenatal Yoga – 3-4:30pm. Practice the art of relaxation through breath awareness, reduce physical tension, and safely prepare for labor. $110/8-class pass. Registration required. 8 Limbs Yoga, Phinney Ridge, 6801 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. 206-3258221. 8LimbsYoga.com.

monday Feldenkrais® and Yoga with Bridget Thompson – 9:30-10:45am. Focus on dynamic alignment, muscular coordination, strength and flexibility to improve posture, stamina, balance and breathing. $150/10-class card, $75/5-class card, $20/drop in. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com. Infant Massage Class – Begins Apr 11. 10:3011:30am. Promote better infant health and meet other moms while learning infant massage techniques. $25/1 class, $100/5 classes. Queen Anne Christian Church, 1316 3rd Ave W & Lee St, Seattle. Registration required: Info@Parent2Infant.com. Natural Business Networking – 6pm. 3rd Mon each month. Meet sustainable business owners, holistic practitioners and others active in the natural marketplace for relationship building and collaboration. Sponsored by Seattle Natural Awakenings magazine. No registration required. Suggested $3 donation benefits local nonprofit. Goods For The Planet, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. For more info: Ann@SeattleAwakenings.com. Awareness Through Movement® – 7-8pm. Mon & Thurs. Engage your brain and your body in new ways in each class. Learn to move more easily, more comfortably and maybe even more playfully. $15/class. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. For up-to-date info: M-Illumino.com.

tuesday Anatomy of Grace with Bridget Thompson – 9:15-10:30am. Fluent movement combinations constructed around natural principles including effortlessness, grace, elegance and harmony. Reveal innate balance, dignity, poise and grace. $150/10-class card, $75/5-class card, $20/drop in. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com.

SeattleAwakenings.com

Urban Forest Restoration – 10am-2pm. Tues, Thurs & Sat. Volunteer to restore the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest contiguous forest. Volunteers perform a variety of restoration activities, including pulling invasive species, planting native trees and shrubs and mulching previously planted areas. RSVP & location: 206-923-0853 or Volunteer@NatureC.org. Bold Ballet – 10:45am-12pm. Experience the absolute joy of dancing whilst training for focus and elegance. A heart-centered technique, improving posture, flexibility, fitness, and strength. $75/5-class card. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com. Seattle Greendrinks – 5:30pm. 2nd Tues each month. Informal social networking to connect and unite those working or interested in environmental issues. Locations vary. For details: SeattleGreendrinks.org. Nia – Thru Mar. 6-7pm. Blends a range of rhythmic music styles with carefully choreographed hour-long routines. It is a “fusion fitness” program, inspired by the dance arts, the healing arts and the martial arts. $15/class. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com. The Positive Power of Drumming – 7-8:30pm. Scott Wurtz teaches to play drum beats from around the world and to speak the language of the drum. $20/session. Friends, Philosophy and Tea House Event Center, 13850 Bel-Red Rd, Bellevue. RSVP: 206-524-5511 or ScottWurtz@Clear.net. Tribal Bellydance with Shay Moore – 7:308:30pm. Students learn a dance based in Middle Eastern dance (bellydance) blended with influences from North Africa, Spain and India. Classes open to women of all ages and girls ages 10 and up; is accessible to students of all sizes, fitness levels and dance experience. $60/6 classes, $12/drop in. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. DoubleTakeBellyDance.com.

wednesday Moving Meditation with Bridget Thompson – 9:30-9:50am. Center yourself for your day. Movement meditation for 20 mins. Free. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com.

thursday Urban Forest Restoration – 10am-2pm. See Tues listing. RSVP & location: 206-923-0853 or Volunteer@NatureC.org. Greening Your Home Workshop – 5-5:45pm. 3rd Thurs each month. Jacqueline Powers, author of Transitioning to Green, will lead a discussion and answer questions about topics from the workbook. Free. Goods For The Planet, 525 Dexter Ave N, Seattle. 206-652-2327. GoodsForThePlanet.com. Cloth Diapering 101 – 6:30-7:30pm. 2nd Thurs each month. Learn the how-to’s of cloth diapering a baby including folds, diaper covers and various closure systems. Baby Diaper Service. 206-634-2229. Registration required: BabyDiaperService.net. Seattle Carbon Coach Book Club Meeting – 6:30-7:30pm. Last Thurs each month. Salon-style discussion and dialogue covering books and other media focused on climate change-related topics. Everyone welcome and book suggestions encouraged. The March book selection is Solar by Ian McEwan. Free. Capitol Hill Library, 425 Harvard Ave E, Seattle. Free Meditation Workshop – 7-8pm. Sahaja meditation is a simple, time-honored technique that helps reduce stress and increase wellness. Anyone can do it. Free. Sahaja Meditation, 15600 NE 8th St, Bellevue. 425-753-0634. SahajaMeditation.com.

friday InterPlay – Thru Mar. 10:30am-12pm. InterPlay is an improvisational practice that playfully explores the things a body can do: move, make sounds, tell stories, sing, and experience stillness. Its forms and body wisdom principles help people connect more fully with their inner authority and their joy. Donations accepted. M’Illumino, 6921 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle. 206-525-0363. M-Illumino.com.

saturday Awareness Through Movement® Using The Feldenkrais Method® – 9am & 10:30am. Drop ins welcome. Call for space availability. $17. 7001 3rd Ave NW, Seattle. 206-372-8822. LeeAnn@ NextStepConsultingInc.com. Urban Forest Restoration – 10am-2pm. See Tues listing. RSVP & location: 206-923-0853 or Volunteer@NatureC.org.

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

ACCOUNTING C. BROOKS SCHOMBURG, CPA Brooks Schomburg 206-632-3315 Brooks@CBSchomburg.com CBSchomburg.com

O ff e r i n g a f u l l r a n g e o f bookkeeping, accounting, tax, and small business consulting services, we focus on your unique tax, accounting and consulting needs. See ad page 13.

BEDDING SEATTLE NATURAL MATTRESS 206-419-9550 SeattleNaturalMattress.com

Manufacturers and retailers of natural, chemicalfree latex mattresses designed to provide a comfortable and supportive alternative to traditional spring mattresses. See ad page 21.

BOWENWORK WELLNESS RESTORATION ARTS

ACUPUNCTURE WU HSING TAO SCHOOL

Talaris World Campus Bldg D, Ste 1 4000 NE 41st St Seattle, WA 98105 206-324-7188 WuHsing.org Master’s level program in Tr a d i t i o n a l F ive E l e m e n t Acupuncture, a system of traditional oriental medicine rooted in the Taoist science of the Five Elements. Intimate class sizes and personalized attention. See ad page 7.

Scott Wurtz 206-524-5511 WeReStart.com

Bowenwork is a way to be pain free through dynamic “hands on” physical therapy. Simple “moves” redirect your body’s natural healing potential by sending clarifying waves of energy directly to the brain. See ad page 9.

BUSINESS PRINTING 800-989-5086 IonGoGreen.com

Green printing at unbeatable prices. Guaranteed. Business cards, rack cards, postcards and more. See ad page 20.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Krista Arias N Michigan Ave Portland, OR 503-750-1415 Portland urban farm family welcoming guests for overnight visits and to experience farm life. Rise to the sounds of a stirring household, collect eggs from the backyard chickens or feed the goats before setting out to stroll nearby vibrant Alberta Arts District.

Chiaki Hirate Info@Parent2Infant.com Parent2Infant.com

Learn gentle infant massage techniques in a supportive and fun class setting. Babies 6 weeks and up benefit with better sleep, foundation for lifelong health, secure attachment and more independent personality. See ad page 13.

CONSTRUCTION PATHWAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 206-937-4809 PathwayDC.com

Design, build and remodeling contractor specializing in sustainable, healthy homes and the symbiotic relationship between humankind and nature. See ad page 18.

GREEN MERCANTILE GOODS FOR THE PLANET 525 Dexter Ave N Seattle, WA 98109 206-652-2327 GoodsForThePlanet.com

We carry environmentally friendly garden supplies, seeds, outdoor furniture, kitchen supplies, bed and bath linens, solar gadgets, office supplies, cleaning products, books, toys, home decor, gifts and more. See ad page 25.

ION MARKETING

BED AND BREAKFAST TIERRA SOL

PARENT TO INFANT MASSAGE

BABY DIAPER SERVICE 206-634-2229 BabyDiaperService.Net

Committed to providing 100% pure cotton diapers for your baby. Convenient weekly pickup and delivery of cloth diapers and accessories. Better for baby’s skin, more sustainable than washing at home. See ad page 5.

HEALTH CENTERS BASTYR CENTER 3670 Stone Way N Seattle, WA 98103 206-834-4100 BastyrCenter.org

Bastyr Center offers naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition counseling, Chinese herbal medicine, short-term psychological counseling, and more. Our Team Care approach to healing ensures you’ll see a licensed practitioner and two to three advanced student clinicians while receiving individualized treatments and generous practitioner time. See ad page 19.

We, who have so much, must do more to help those in need. And most of all, we must live simply, so that others may simply live.

~Ed Begley, Jr. April 2011 29

COMING IN MAY

HEALTHY HOME LULLABY ORGANICS

800-401-8301 CustServ@LullabyOrganics.com LullabyOrganics.com Lullaby Organics offers safe, healthy mattresses, bedding, sleepwear, toys, gear, furniture, and air filtration systems so your whole family can get a pure night’s rest. See ad page 19.

MASSAGE HEALING HANDS

Malor Karle, LMT 5400 California Ave SW West Seattle, WA 98136 206-229-2469 AmtaMembers.com/Malor

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Intuitive, compassionate bodywork and gentle deep tissue massage. Release old patterns and negative emotions for an improved flow of Chi and more joyful life. See ad page 19.

MOVEMENT CENTERS

PLUMBING GREEN T PLUMBING

Sam Harris 206-414-2968 Sam@GreenTPlumbing.com GreenTPlumbing.com Full plumbing services ranging from fixing leaky faucets to design and installation. Sustainable and independent. Email or text a photo of your problem for free professional opinion. See ad page 17.

REIKI THE REIKI RANCH

Energy Healing Center Chehalis, WA 360-748-4426 ReikiRanch.com All levels of Reiki certification including laser Reiki, advanced Reiki energy training, and cosmic energy healing classes. See ad page 22.

SKINCARE MY MAMA’S LOVE My-Mamas-Love.com

My Mama’s Love skin care products use safe, non-toxic and hypoallergenic organic ingredients. Our products don’t just mask symptoms; they address the underlying causes of a skin condition. Locally owned and operated. See ad page 27.

M’ILLUMINO

SPECIAL EDITION Feel good both inside and out Express your natural beauty Celebrate feminine power

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

206-788-7313 30

SeattleAwakenings.com

6921 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA 98115 206-525-0363 Info@M-Illumino.com M-Illumino.com At M’Illumino, we are dedicated to your transformation through movement. Take a class, try private sessions, discover your own innate grace. See ad page 6.

VETERINARIANS ANCIENT ARTS HOLISTIC VET 110 N 36th St Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-1025 AncientArtsVet@gmail.com AncientArtsVet.com

Veterinary acupuncture and natural medicine for animals rebalances health safely, gently, peacefully. Improve pets’ quality of life the way nature intended— your pet will thank you. See ad page 23.

NUTRITION BUZZ NUTRITION

5801 Phinney Ave N, Ste 100 206-497-5326 Anna@BuzzNutrition.com BuzzNutrition.com Registered Dietitian who knows you’re busy, stressed and unique. Regain your natural healthy buzz using unprocessed foods and the latest nutrition research. See ad page 11.

A house is not a home unless it contains

food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

~Benjamin Franklin

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