Our BerkshireGreen Magazine

Sept - Nov 2011, vol10

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Our BerkshireGreen

™

Your Healthy/Green Resource

Green Living ● Holistic Health ● Community

Cooperatively Owned ◆◆◆ Community Focused

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Local

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“Great Food, Great Friends and a Magical Turn of the Century Atmosphere.”

Sullivan Station Restaurant

Open for lunch & dinner Tuesday through Sunday

Visit our historic landmark Railroad Street, Lee, Massachusetts (413) 243-2082 Vegan, Gluten-free, Vegetarian upon request Live Entertainment on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights

www.SullivanStationRestaurant.com

OurBerkshireCalendar.com will give you instant gratification! it’s smart ✓ it’s popular ✓ it’s fun ✓ it’s free ✓ and it’s extremely easy to use ✓ It’s YOUR calendar.

See what’s happening around town.

Advertise your events for free!

1. Register  2. Fill in your event information  3. Post!

www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com

About Us Our BerkshireGreen™ is dedicated to supporting our local economy

and creating an ever-expanding, unified network of health and environmentally conscious individuals, businesses, and organizations in our area. We give our readers the opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and inspire one another through our resource guide, networking events, and growing online services. It's all about community!

Our quarterly publication is free to the public and distributed throughout Berkshire County and the surrounding area, every March (mind & spirit special edition), June, September, and December. See our website for a location near you. Our BerkshireGreen is printed with solvent-free, vegetable oil-based ink on paper that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC: www.fsc.org) certified to have been made from trees grown and harvested in a responsible manner. Our paper also contains a full 30 percent post-consumer recycled wastepaper.

ADVERTISE AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS We offer a flexible and cost-effective way to reach your target market.

Our loyal readers are well-educated, environmentally and healthconscious consumers looking for green, healthy, and sustainable life choices. Our affordable advertising also comes with many additional benefits – one such perk is the opportunity to speak at our popular networking events mentioned below. For more information, contact us at (413) 274-1122 or at advertise@OurBerkshireGreen.com.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Most of our editorial content is contributed by our community members. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback, and encourage you to submit original material for consideration through our website at www.OurBerkshireGreen.com. You will find complete instructions on our online digital form.

NETWORKING EVENTS Our popular networking events are held at fine locations throughout the county and publicized by press releases to the local papers and by eNewsletters to our extensive mailing list. There is no admission charge or reservation required for most events, and you will find great company, interesting speakers, delicious free appetizers, a cash bar, and a place to display your advertising material. Please join our confidential mailing list at www.OurBerkshireGreen.com for an invitation.

PUBLISHER Kathy I. Regan publisher@ourberkshiregreen.com _______________ EDITORIAL Editor Kathy I. Regan editor@ourberkshiregreen.com Assistant Editor Rodelinde Albrecht rodelinde@ourberkshiregreen.com Copyeditors/Proofreaders Rodelinde Albrecht Patty Strauch _______________ DESIGN Magazine Design/Layout Kathy I. Regan Advertisements Independent Graphic Designers Christine Dupre cedupre@msn.com Elisa Jones, Berkshire Design Studio elisa@berkshiredesignstudio.com Shirley Sparks, Graphic Design on a Dime sms234@aol.com _______________ ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Patty Strauch patty@ourberkshiregreen.com ______________ EVENT COORDINATOR Patty Strauch patty@ourberkshiregreen.com _______________

FREE ONLINE COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR

MARKETING CONSULTANT Andrea Feldman, Paperclip Studio andrea@paperclipstudio.com _______________

Check out www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com to find out what is happening around town. Take advantage of this free service to upload and publicize your events instantly yourself. It’s easy to do, and you don’t have to be green, holistic, or a computer expert to use it; simply register, fill out your event information, and post!

As we said, It's all about community!

CONTACT Our BerkshireGreen P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: (413) 274-1122, Fax: (413) 541-8000 www.OurBerkshireGreen.com www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com All content in Our BerkshireGreen™ is accepted in good faith. We do not necessarily advocate and cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by our authors, illustrators, and advertisers. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. For printing errors of the publisher's responsibility, liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared. Unless otherwise noted, we use a Creative Commons License in place of a standard copyright.

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September 2011

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CONTENTS September - November 2011

departments 4

Letter from the Publisher

4

Directory of Categories

5 6

Our Contributors Resource Guide

Berkshire Region

12 In Business: Greening Up!

Spotlight on green & healthy businesses

19 Lifestyles & Perspectives

Personal experience of green & healthy living

27 Film & Book Reviews 30 Spotlight on Nonprofits

cover illustration Autumn Symphony

By JD Logan, Contemporary Folk Artist www.jdlogan.com

features 8

Swimming with Beavers

An unexpected adventure

11 Internet Marketing

Take full advantage of the internet for your business

14 The "Oy, Meine Alte Baine!" Workout

Strengthen your old—and not so old—muscles and "baine"

15 Hike to Lion's Head

A quick hike with magnificent views in Salisbury, CT

16 Sustainability Is In

We hear about it everywhere, but what does it really mean?

22 Qigong

Boost energy, improve immunity, shed weight

28 Shameless Flag Waving

Mother Nature is nothing if not a shrewd businesswoman

26 3

Dear Reader,

I

love working with Our BerkshireGreen, and I am very lucky to be able to do so from home. Mind you, I can’t deny there have been times when I miss having an outside office (!), but the reward has been the opportunity for me to be with my young daughter, Brianna.

When Brianna started kindergarten last year, however, even though we have a cozy home it felt rather empty.

Brianna & Sunshine So I suggested to my husband, Kevin, that “we get Brianna” a kitten. We visited the local shelters and found our beautiful, furry, new little family member, Sunshine, at the Berkshire Humane Society. We were impressed with their facility and the special care they give to the animals in their charge.

Next came a visit to BensDotter’s Pet in Great Barrington for supplies. A healthy raw-meat diet and environmentally friendly kitty litter were at the top of our list. Kristina “Tina” Dow, the owner of BensDotter’s, is extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and gracious—a pleasure to do business with. Sunshine loves her new diet, we all adore our new animal companion, and my workday (and often late work nights) are filled with purrs!

Friends,

M

ost people think of new beginnings and resolutions in January, but not me. I still feel like September is the start of a new year—getting back to “regular” schedules after summer vacations, the start of school, and the fact that fall just simply rejuvenates me!

So, while I am eating healthy food from my bountiful summer garden (thank you, Gardens of the Goddess!), I am gearing up for a “healthy new year” this fall by signing up for Kelly Clady-Giramma’s qigong class. I am so excited about this that I just have to share!

More exciting news to share is that Our BerkshireGreen will be hosting its Third Annual Nonprofit Fundraiser this fall, at Crissey Farm. Our theme is Children & Education—read all about it on pages 30-31. Be sure to add your name to our mailing list (www.OurBerkshireGreen. com) so that you don’t miss our newsletters, chock full of community news and information about the wonderful door prizes, mega-raffle, exhibitors—and delicious FOOD—that will be at our fundraiser!

I hope you will join us in supporting these great organizations.

Patty Strauch Event Coordinator & Independent Sales Representative patty@OurBerkshireGreen.com (413) 269-6119

Kathy I. Regan Publisher and Founder publisher@OurBerkshireGreen.com (413) 274-1122

Directory of Categories Calendar of Events .................................................1 Alternative Energy .................................................6 Animals ..................................................................7 Art & Music ..........................................................10 Boutiques & Gift Shops .........................................10 Business Services ..................................................10 Cafes & Restaurants ..............................................13 Dance, Exercise & Fitness ....................................15 Education & Training ...........................................17 Food & Cooking ..................................................17 Farmers’ Markets .................................................18 Food Stores: Co-ops, Markets & Health ..............18 Green Building, Renovation & Landscape Design ..20 Health & Beauty ..................................................21 Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative ..21 Acupuncture ..................................................23 Apothecaries ...................................................24 4

September 2011

Health Care: continued Chiropractic & Kinesiology ............................24 Coaching ........................................................24 Counseling & Therapy ....................................24 Massage Therapy & Bodywork ......................24 Osteopathic Medicine ....................................25 Physical Therapy ...........................................25 Reconnective Healing®....................................26 Reiki ................................................................26 Wellness Centers & Spas ................................26 Yoga ................................................................27 Home & Garden ....................................................28 Love & Laughter Are the Best Medicine .................29 Mind & Spirit .......................................................29 Index of Advertisers ..............................................32 Magazine Sponsors .........................inside back cover ..............................................................................

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Our Contributors Jenny Gitlitz

Cover Illustration

JD Logan, Contemporary Folk Artist

Mercury Analytics

JD is a self-taught artist from Housatonic, Massachusetts. He combines simplicity and balance with bold colors to create imaginary landscapes that draw the viewer into a world that is new, yet somehow familiar. He shows his originals and prints at more than 20 fine art festivals each year and his Studio @ Half Acre Farm is open by appointment. www.jdlogan.com

Jenny telecommutes to her job at Mercury Analytics in Washington, DC, where she develops opinion polls and reports for businesses and environmental organizations. She has a background in green building (Green Depot) and in recycling and waste management (Container Recycling Institute), and lives in Dalton, Massachusetts. jenny.gitlitz@gmail

Avi Dresner

Andrea Feldman Paperclip Studio

Well Talk Radio Avi Dresner is a certified personal trainer in Manhattan and the Berkshires. He writes a regular column on wellness, called Spread The Wellth, for The Berkshire Business News, and is also the host of Well Talk, a weekly health, fitness, and wellness radio program heard on National Public Radio and on commercial stations throughout the Berkshires and beyond. www.WellTalkRadio.com

Andrea Feldman lives online and in Berkshire County. In her business, Paperclip Studio, she specializes in helping solopreneurs create new ways to convey their passion for what they do, and make money at it, too. She provides creative services such as consulting, design and writing, or will show you how to do it yourself. (413) 6557766, andrea@paperclipstudio.com

Gwen Miller

Student - Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning

Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl OM, LAc Fertile Ground Acupuncture

Gwen grew up in south Berkshire County, swimming and playing on the Green River. After receiving a degree in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont, she worked in Syracuse for a nonprofit committed to sustainable community development. She is now a graduate student in Urban and Regional Planning at UMass-Amherst.

Judy Sullivan

Kelly trained extensively in Chinese Medicine while living in China for 3 years. She practices acupuncture and herbal medicine, teaches Dragon’s Way® Qigong for stress and weight management, and breast health classes. Kelly specializes in internal medicine, women’s health, infertility, fatigue, neurological disorders, and weight management. (413) 695-8876, acudoctor.clady@gmail.com

Rodelinde Albrecht

Project Native

Concerned Singles Judy has spent most of her adult life wading through wetlands and scrambling through leaf litter. She created the Native Plant Program at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, designing habitat gardens and teaching about native plants for over 20 years before happily ensconcing herself at Project Native, where she is the Propagation Manager. www.ProjectNative.org

Born in Salzburg, Austria, Rodelinde lived in Rhode Island, New York City, and northern California before landing in the Berkshires. She is director of Concerned Singles as well as a freelance writer, editor, translator, graphic designer, publishing consultant, actor, and videographer. (413) 243-4350, rodelinde@concernedsingles.com, www.ConcernedSingles.com

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

5

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September 2011

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September 2011

7

Swimming with Beavers

B

eavers are intriguing large, semi-aquatic rodents with flat tails and lustrous fur, known for building dams, canals, and lodges. Their dams are the only natural method of forming lakes, ponds, and wetlands in most watersheds, helping to increase biodiversity and improve overall environmental quality. Almost half of the endangered and threatened species in North America rely upon wetlands for survival. The wetlands maintained by beavers help control floodwaters, alleviate droughts, lessen erosion, and act as the earth’s “kidneys,” removing sediments and pollutants from our waterways. ~Editor’s note As spring ended last year, I began swimming in Dalton’s Warren Pond, or as the locals call it, “The Pits.” A longtime gravel mine, the pond formed in the ’70s when miners hit a spring and the pit flooded, forming a clear, narrow lake. It’s frequented by kids and fishermen—and by orioles, turkey vultures, frogs, toads, and a host of other animals. What follows are excerpts from emails to a friend about my adventures.

May 31, 2010 - I swam across Warren Pond today. Saw a nicesized beaver dam at the northern end—never noticed it before.

June 15 - During a late-night swim, I heard telltale slaps of beavers diving nearby, and got spooked. I didn’t know whether they’d attack underwater, so I swam ashore.

June 18 - We all went for a swim after work, and after we got out, we saw two beavers. We watched in silence as the far one climbed on shore—my husband was amazed at their size, like baby bears. The near one dove and I lost him. I slipped into the water and swam north, expecting the beaver who’d dived to surface and scare the daylights out of me, but he disappeared.

June 24 - My dad’s visiting from Florida. We took him for a swim before sunset. The beavers had just felled a small tree and were eating it then and there! We kept very still, and they didn’t seem to mind our presence, chomping away—stick side first, their paws cramming the bunched-up leaves in at great speed. One came halfway up onto the bank to eat. We could see his big tail underwater, coat gleaming, eyes so small.

Sometimes they’d swim away for a minute with branches in their mouths, or they’d dive with a loud smack and resurface.

We were frozen in place watching the amazing spectacle.

June 27 - I swam with a beaver today! After watching for 5 minutes, I slipped into the water and swam a few strokes out, to see how close I could get without threatening him—8 feet apart, as it turned out. He suddenly swam toward me, and I scuttled back and banged into a bush. He dove with a splash that scared me because I didn’t know if he was swimming toward me or away from me. It was the latter, and I emerged unscathed.

/ By Jenny Gitlitz

July 8 - We saw the three beavers again—sometimes in the middle distance, sometimes from afar. I love them!

July 28 - Yesterday evening I was swimming 30 yards away from shore when a beaver surfaced and started swimming toward me. I retreated. He followed. He dove with a splash.

Spooked, I sprinted toward shore, but he surfaced farther away, so back in I went. This dance continued for half an hour. One of us would approach, and when one felt too close for comfort (12−15 feet), we’d either dive (the beaver), or swim in retreat (me). My husband thinks they’re starting to recognize me. Do you think that’s possible?

After a while the beaver swam away to feed on a leafy branch, and I crouched motionless in the mucky shallows 20 feet away. Sometimes he’d climb out, coat glistening, and would drag a branch back to the water, or he’d dive and resurface farther away. I keep telling myself that they prefer leafy branches to flesh and bone.

July 30 - I saw a 10-year old boy cast his fishing line directly at a beaver today, calling out to his dad that he would catch it. His father yelled at him, and so did I. I have to imagine that other kids and adults harass these gentle creatures, too.

July 31 - Tonight I crouched in the muck as a beaver felled a 1” diameter sapling in 3 minutes, and began devouring it in the water. After half an hour, with fish nibbling at my legs and mosquitoes buzzing my face, I got cold and needed to move.

I swam away in a big arc, and to my surprise, he abandoned his meal and followed me. I crouched in the shallows, getting colder as evening fell. But I felt riveted in place because he was checking me out! He swam in an S, back and forth, with me at the mid-point. With each pass he came closer, tightening the S until he was passing 8’ away. After 10 minutes, he dove and resurfaced 30’ away, and swam back.

Another slap and dive. After four times, I wondered: is he warning other beavers of danger? Or is he telling me “This is my turf! Get out!” Or is he just playing or curious?

August 3 - Went to the pond with my girls at 7:30 last night—“the beaver hour,” they call it. My long-toothed friends were nowhere to be found. After a swim, I walked along the shore to see their lodge.

The water level has dropped 2’ since the toads mated on May 2. All the shore trees have 18” of exposed roots hanging down, like red hair on an old hag. The beavers cut down a row of 8” diameter trees well above the shoreline, high on the bank. It’s amazing how they get them to fall in the same direction, perfectly perpendicular to the shoreline.

The lodge is huge. It’s the first one I’ve seen up close, so for all I know it’s a studio apartment, not a mansion, but it seems huge in our tiny pond. It’s 10’ high, and 12−15’ wide.

It’s now in the shallows, only 15’ away from the now-lower shoreline. If the water continues to drop, their lodge will be landlocked. What will they do then?

August 19 - I’ve been sick for two weeks, cooped up at home. Finally better, I went for a walk, and was drawn to the pond. Two beavers fed on the

Animals

September 12 - I hadn’t planned on going swimming because the water was so cold, but I couldn’t resist hanging out with the beavers for 15 minutes. The water is down 4 feet since the spring: perhaps due to the lack of rain, and perhaps partly because of the withdrawals made by the gravel washing operation. Their lodge is nearly landlocked: an 8” deep, 4’ channel now separates it from the mainland.

September 14 - I rode my bike down to the pond but didn’t feel like going in. I saw one beaver nearby and one in the distance. I sat down on a piece of bark to watch, 6’ away from a branch he was eyeing for a meal. But my presence was an intrusion—he hissed at me several times, and dove with loud slaps. I stayed quiet and avoided eye contact, in hope that he’d think I wasn’t a threat. But that never happened. By the eleventh slap, I felt like I was violating his boundaries, so I slunk away.

I never heard hissing before. Each time I’ve been in the water, they’ve tail slapped a few times, but have always calmed down. Maybe they view land-based intruders differently from heads in the water. I’m not sure I’ll be able to test my theory . . . the water’s getting cold.

May 10, 2011 - It’s been a long winter, and a busy spring at work. I finally managed to make it down to the pond to look for my old friends. The water level was high, but there was no sign of the beavers.

May 27 - Swam for the first time. Off in the distance I saw movement on the lodge. Encouraged, I swam closer, but instead of a beaver a Canada goose perched there. Would the beavers allow this, or were they gone? I treaded water and advanced quietly—only my face above the waterline. Suddenly the goose jumped into the water, flapping her wings and squawking as if all hell had broken loose.

Ooh, perhaps there really are eggs there! As I retreated, her goose husband came hurtling through the sky into a spectacular water landing, squawking in indignant support of his mate and baring his little goose teeth. I changed direction and promptly crashed into a submerged tree.

With the lodge behind me, and angry geese to the left and right, I was hemmed in. I only got myself out by going on the offensive—screaming, waving my arms and splashing, and generally challenging the male to let me through. My daughter had a good laugh from shore.

June 27 - I think the beavers are gone. I swam by the lodge again and saw neither hide nor hair of them—although I did see the goose pair and their five goslings. There are no freshly downed trees. I’m worried that they may have come to harm at human hands. Hopefully they just moved on in search of a better habitat.

Either way, I feel that last summer’s visits were an incredible privilege.

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September 2011

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Art & Music

Art & Music

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elm st • stockbridge ma • 413.298.3656 • daily fabulous fall arrivals ! sneak peaks on Facebook!

Business Services From Nothing to Something: Spirited Visions of a Whimsical World Mixed Media Drawings by Judy Fox

J FOX ART STUDIO Opening Reception Saturday, October 1, 3 –7pm Studio Hours: Oct. 2, 8-10, Nov. 5-6, 12-13 2 - 6 pm or by appointment.

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September 2011

9 South St. (Rt. 7), Stockbridge, MA (entrance in back, parking on Park St.) 413.446.2316 www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Business Services Visualize

Strategize

Internet Marketing

Actualize

Millie Calesky

By Andrea Feldman

Business and Life Coach 413-655-2555

“Purpose Beyond Profit” Home, Auto, Business, Health & Life

H

Millie@MillieCalesky.com

80 Maple Avenue Great Barrington, MA 413-528-5509 www.goodworksinsurance.com

Lillian M. Barker Deborah E. Wright

Marketing Help for Small Business Let’s Begin

413-655-7766

ANDREA FELDMAN • PAPERCLIPSTUDIO.COM

All lasting business is built on friendship. ~ Alfred A. Montapert

ave you considered using the internet for your business but struggle with intimidation and/or lack of information? Many have conquered their discomfort and learned ways the internet can open new avenues. Your green/healthy business has the same needs as many other businesses. These include attracting and maintaining a client base and providing information and resources about your field. If what you do is difficult to explain, potential customers may need to know more about you and your work before they hire you.

Q: Should I use the internet to promote my business?

A: Push through the fear and find out! The computer is an amazing, creative tool. Get curious, Google anything and everything related to your business. Find websites of others in your field, and see what tools they use to promote themselves. Ask everyone you know about their experience. Look for opportunities for free publicity like calendars to list your event or class. For example, check out www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com!

Q: I have a local service business. Do I need a website?

A: Whether you’re looking to attract international customers or people in your own town, everyone needs a website.

A professional website that is easy to navigate speaks for you and legitimizes your business. It’s a place to share your contact information, a photo and bio, and more detailed information about what you offer. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to act as an online brochure. You can give added value by sharing knowledge and resources.

Q: Everyone tells me I should be on Facebook. Do I have to report what I ate for breakfast and show pictures of my cat?

A: There’s an explosion of businesses marketing on social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. You might think of them as your satellite websites that can provide valuable ways to keep in touch with customers, attract new business, direct more people to your website, gather research, and develop a following.

You can take advantage of social media dashboards like www.hootsuite.com to help you work more efficiently.

Get your act together.

One of the benefits of creating new material for the internet is that it’s an opportunity to hone your message.

By clarifying your language you’ll reach more people who may be looking for what you offer. Close to a third of the world population is online. How can anyone ignore that?

Write down your goals and make a plan to take action, but easy does it! You can’t do everything at once and what you do will require a commitment. Do your research and consider your skill level, as well. If this is new to you, find someone to teach you, or hire someone to do it for you.

You don’t have to do it alone.~Andrea Feldman, Paperclip Studio, www.PaperclipStudio.com. See ad on this page.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

11

In Business: Greening Up!

SB

potlight on Green & Healthy usinesses in Our Community / By Pamela Scott-Smith

A Portfolio of Services

B

y focusing on wellness, prevention, and healthy living, as well as providing treatment options, owners and proprietors Anne Browne and Joe Martragono have transformed the Lenox Village Pharmacy into the Lenox Village Integrative Pharmacy (LVIP).

The sister-and-brother team have brought together, or integrated, a traditional pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy, and an institutional fulfillment pharmacy.

They also offer pharmaceutical-grade vitamins, minerals, and supplements, along with homeopathic remedies, Chinese herbs, essential oils, and a healthy dose of surprisingly fun shopping!

Treatment Alternatives LVIP is a certified PCCA (Professional Compounding Centers of America) compounding pharmacy; medications are custom made, one order at a time, by LVIP pharmacists in their onsite state-of-the-art clean room.

This is the way medicine was made before it began to be mass-produced by pharmaceutical companies.

Compounding provides customers with more personalized options than traditionally manufactured drugs. For example, if a customer is prescribed a dosage not commercially available, then LVIP can make it, or for those who have difficulty swallowing pills, medications can be made in syrup or liquid form, suppositories, or even as a transdermal cream. For pets, compounded medications can be made with flavoring (tuna is popular with cats), or as a cream that can be applied inside their ears to ensure that they are getting the full benefit of their medication.

Not All Vitamins Are Created Equal Nutritional supplements are a specialty area within the pharmacy. Richard Mole, R.Ph., Managing Pharmacist, with his focus on wellness and a particular expertise in nutritionals, helps customers plan and adjust their approach, and Joe Martragono personally oversees this business segment. LVIP carries more than 65 brands of pharmaceutical-grade vitamins, minerals, and supplements.

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www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

In addition to a wide range of products, customers can choose from a portfolio of services to help develop an approach that is best for them. LVIP works with customers’ physicians and healthcare professionals, provides customers with personal consultations with pharmacy and nutritional staff, and offers a free online resource called healthnotes®, accessed through LVIP’s website. Customers use healthnotes® to research timely and relevant information about conditions, medications, nutritionals, and treatment options.

To help customers manage their wellness and/or treatment regime, and for schools, camps, and other businesses who distribute medication to many individuals, LVIP developed the Healthy Living Pre-Paks® system—individual packets of medications and/or supplements. Healthy Living Pre-Paks® can handle unit dose, multi-dose, and very complex medication regimens.

LVIP accepts almost all major insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare, and is a “buy local” option for meeting the 90-day supply requirement. LVIP is a licensed provider in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. There is a full-time insurance and billing expert on staff to help customers navigate insurance coverage caveats. Also, through a combination of its three reliable, courteous drivers and FedEx, LVIP delivers to customers’ homes and offices throughout Berkshire County and to locations all over the world.

Surprisingly Fun Shopping LVIP extends the concept of its healthy living approach to wellness by carrying all-natural, organic personal care, pet care, and homekeeping products. Customers can choose skin care products made from French grapes, skin care and cosmetics made locally, all-natural nail polish, and pet oral healthcare items, just to name a few.

Anne Browne is the curator behind LVIP’s surprisingly fun front store, an ever-evolving collection of jewelry, hats, handbags, and other unique gift items— many that are made locally and/or that have a human interest side to the products.

The owners plan to continually grow and evolve their customer-centric focus on healthy living, wellness, prevention, and treatment by incorporating new and enhanced products and services for individual as well as business-tobusiness customers. ~See ad on page 24.

Where To Find Us: 5 Walker Street, Lenox, Massachusetts, (413) 637-4700, info@LvipRx.com, www.LvipRx.com

Cafes & Restaurants

photography / design: Michael Lavin Flower © 2009

“Where to Eat”

in Great Barrington – The New York Times

L

10 Reasons to Eat Locally

ocally grown food tastes and looks better; is better for you; is safer; supports local families; builds community; preserves open space; keeps taxes down; benefits the environment and wildlife; is an investment in our future; preserves genetic diversity. See more information at www.berkshiregrown.org/why-locally.

“Award of Excellence” – The Wine Spectator

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Antichi Sapori

The authentic flavors of Pompeian brick oven cooking & grilling savored in an elegant rustic ambiance.

Emphasis on local and organic products.

Meats are antibiotic & hormone-free.

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Beautiful Courtyard Dining

413.499.1192 Trattoria-Rustica.com 26 McKay Street in downtown Pittsfield. Dinner 5 p.m. (closed Tuesday)

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

13

The "Oy,Meine Alte Baine!" Workout

By Avi Dresner

W

hen I was a kid, my grandfather, of blessed memory, upon getting up from a chair, would often groan “Oy, meine alte baine!” in Yiddish—“Oh, my old bones!” This exclamation was often followed by his signature grin, a wistful look, and the admonition, “Don’t get old, Avi.” Alas, he never told me how to accomplish this but, as a personal trainer who works primarily with clients who are older than my grandfather was when he used to say this, I can tell you that while old bones (and old everything else) may be inevitable, the groaning doesn’t have to be.

We’ve all heard the headlines and statistics about how we’re living longer than ever before, and how the first Baby Boomers are now retiring and doing everything they can to forestall and diminish the inevitable effects of aging. Not surprisingly, after genetics, diet, and lifestyle factors like smoking, one of the biggest is regular exercise.

Seeing the writing on the wall, about 12 years ago, in addition to my other training and health and fitness certifications, I got certified as a Personal Trainer for the Older Adult. It was one of the smartest and most rewarding professional decisions I’ve ever made. Along those same lines, I can promise you that deciding to exercise at any age—but especially when you’re older—can be one of the smartest and most rewarding personal decisions you ever make. And you don’t necessarily have to work with a personal trainer to do it although, as my grandfather might say in his Brooklyn accent, “a few sessions couldn’t ‘hoyt’!”

Whether you decide to work with a trainer or not, though, here are a few things to think about and try as we move into literal and metaphorical autumn. In honor and memory of my grandfather, Harry Silverman, let’s call it the “Oy, Meine Alte Baine!” Workout. As with any exercise routine, you should check with your doctor before undertaking it.

When I do presentations on Senior Fitness, I usually break them into several main components—cardiovascular fitness, strength/resistance training, flexibility, and balance.

In terms of cardiovascular fitness, as a trainer, I personally think it’s a waste of my clients’ time and money to do cardiovascular training with me unless there’s a health reason they shouldn’t do it on their own, or unless they really just won’t do it without me. Walking for half an hour a day five days a week is the best thing any of us, of any age, can do for ourselves, but especially as we get older. Start slow and easy, perhaps as little as 5 minutes once a week, and work your way up to it. If for some health reason you can’t walk on dry land, and you have access to a pool, walking, and even running, in water can be a great substitute. Of course, swimming and cycling are other options.

Where a personal trainer can really help someone is with strength training, also known as resistance training. We all lose muscle and bone as we age. Strength training helps slow that decline and can even help reverse it. Plus, you don’t need to join a gym or buy any expensive equipment to do it. The best gym is your own body, and one of the best exercises you can do with it to keep your strength up as you age is the squat. The good news is that, if you’ve ever sat down and gotten up from a chair, then you’ve already done this exercise.

But you probably haven’t done a squat my way, so here’s 14

September 2011

how I teach it: Position yourself in front of a chair, and start with your feet about shoulder width apart, or slightly wider, slightly toed out, and your weight evenly distributed between the ball and heel of your foot. Then, with my male clients, I usually say “pretend someone punches you in the stomach.”

With my female clients, I usually say “take a bow.” Either way, when you do this, you’ll notice that your weight shifts back to your heels. You then bend your knees, and stick your tuchus out, as my grandfather might say, simultaneously looking for that chair with your butt. At first, you can sit down on it completely and take a load off, but in time you’ll just barely touch the chair with your butt then come back up, keeping your body angled the whole time.

You should feel the squat in the hamstrings in the back of the thigh, the quads in the front, and in the tuchus itself. As with pretty much every exercise, try to lower yourself on a 4 count, and raise yourself on a 2 count. You’re going to exhale on the effort as you come up, and inhale as you slowly lower yourself back down. If done properly, this exercise shouldn’t hurt the knees or back. If it does, don’t do it. If you can’t make it all the way down to the chair, do a half-squat or even a quarter-squat, and work your way down from there, if possible.

Shoot for around 12 repetitions of this for anywhere from 1 to 3 sets with as much rest as you need in between initially.

Moving from the lower body to the upper body, a great functional exercise is the good old-fashioned pushup. I like to start people on a wall, standing close to it, with their hands on the wall at arms length. You lower yourself to the wall on a 4 count then press yourself away from the wall on a 2 count, exhaling as you push away and inhaling as you slowly lower yourself back down. Again, 12 repetitions for 1 to 3 sets is the golden number. As you get stronger, you can graduate to getting your feet further and further away from the wall, then maybe the back of a sturdy couch instead of the wall and, eventually—other issues permitting—you make the final leap to doing pushups on the floor. Another nice variation, especially for people who may have arthritic or weak wrists, is to use one of those big exercise balls between you and the wall with more of a side grip around the edge of the ball, about shoulder width apart.

For balance, nothing beats standing on one leg. Again, for insurance, you can and should do this near a wall or some other immovable object. See if you can stay on one foot for 10 Mississippi’s. If you can’t, work your way up to it. As you get advanced, try closing your eyes and doing it. You’ll quickly discover how much of balance is vision.

Stretching can be a good deal more complicated to explain properly in words. That’s one I think you really need to see or, better yet, feel for yourself. If you’ve never been stretched by a fitness professional, I highly recommend it. After that, it’s much easier to show someone how to stretch themselves.

For now, hopefully, I’ve stretched your horizons a little bit on how to strengthen your old—and not so old— muscles and “baine.” If nothing else, I taught you a little Yiddish. Either one would be enough to make my grandfather smile and, I hope, you too. ~ Avi Dresner, Well Talk Radio. www.WellTalkRadio.com. See ad on inside back cover.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Dance, Exercise & Fitness

Hike to Lion's Head

A Tasty Berkshire Experience ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝

Pick your own apples, 26 varieties Free wine tasting of hand-crafted wines Free hayrides Saturdays & Sundays Cider donuts made fresh daily Hiking on groomed trails

O

ne of the best hikes in northwest Connecticut is the hike up to Lion’s Head Overlook in Salisbury. A short walk of roughly thirty minutes from the parking lot at the top of Bunker Hill Road will bring you to a beautiful view overlooking the valley.

To the east you will see Twin Lakes—Panaheconnok and Hokonkamok, or Washining and Washinee, the “Laughing Water� and the “Smiling Water,� named after the daughters of a Mahican chief. To the south you will find Lakeville Lake and Long Pond.

The hike starts with a gentle walk through woods and fields. However, once you have crossed the brook, the trail climbs about 550’ in elevation so there are some steep sections, but the journey is more than worth it. The total distance to reach the overlook is just under a mile, and the incredible views are a big reward for the amount of time required to walk to the top.

If you hike the trail in mid June, you will have the additional surprise of seeing the mountain laurel in bloom—just beautiful—like walking through the Garden of Eden. In September and October the trees are magnificent dressed in their autumn colors. There are a number of people, myself included, who start the day with a quick hike to the top to enjoy the overlook before walking down to join the rest of the world.

This is a Connecticut blue trail (www.ctwoodlands. org/blue-blazed-hiking-trails) that connects with the Appalachian Trail just below the overlook. So, if you wish, you can continue on to Bear Mountain further north, or to the Riga Lean-to camping area that looks over Twin Lakes, just a half mile further from Lion’s Head. This camping area has a lean-to, numerous sites for tents, and a bear-proof locker to keep food safe overnight. And again, one of the most stunning views to wake up to looking over the Twin Lakes. Keep in mind that this is a marvelous spot to camp when there is a full moon, which lights the valley and reflects off the lakes.

To reach the start point for this hike, drive to the center of Salisbury, take Factory Street (the road next to the Town Hall), continue up to reach Bunker Hill Road, and follow it to the end. The parking area will be clearly marked on your right. Note that the road turns into a private driveway after this, and the owners value their privacy, so it is best simply to use the parking area provided. For more information see www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/lionshead. html, and www.salisburyct.us. ~ John Harney, John Harney

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http://www.facebook.com/ pages/Village-Cycle-FitnessLLC/161993317184267

Associates, LLC, www.HarneyAssoc.com. See ad on page 11.

Energy In Motion Studio PILATES, YOGA, FITNESS Movement for renewed energy, health and well-being. Focus on alignment, back care, sports performance; special needs welcome.

Private sessions or small group classes in a beautifully equipped studio.

Catherine Brumley West Stockbridge, MA 413-232-7838

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. ~ H.G. Wells, novelist www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

15

Sustainability Is In

By Gwen Miller

S

ustainability is in. We read about it in magazines and in the newspaper and we hear about it on radio and television. Sometimes politicians throw it into their speeches and their policies to garner attention and additional votes. We often pay for some degree of sustainability at the grocery store, the farmer’s market, or our food coop. Aside from buying local food or using organic household products, though, how and where can we see sustainable practices at work? Beyond the greenwashing and marketability of sustainable goods or practice, there is another concept, one that is hugely important for both human and ecologic communities: resilience.

As defined in the Brundtland Report of 1984, sustainability is the use of resources that does not compromise the ability of future generations also to use these resources. Sustainability can be categorized into three basic Es: ecology, economy, and social equity. These three Es must be promoted and protected to make good places for life, work, and play. In the world of landscape ecologists, resilience is defined as the ever-evolving and adapting systems that compose our communities, whether an urban neighborhood or a natural, undisturbed landscape. A resilient system is one that stays strong, even when disturbed by disaster or cultivation. I learned about resilience theory in a landscape ecology course, but I think it is aptly applied not only to landscape, and the mosaic of different patches of land that constitute our New England landscape, but also to our human landscapes: our towns, neighborhoods, regions, cities, and the network of relationships that these disparate entities create through interaction.

As a regional planning student, I read a lot, hear a lot, and talk a lot about sustainability planning and sustainability theory. The more I think about it, the more I believe that sustainability is really a means to an end, and the end is a resilient region. A resilient region can withstand the shocks and tremors we have become accustomed to witnessing, mostly through the news: earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, volatile fuel prices, increasing food prices, compromised water or soil quality, aging infrastructure, and climate change.

Both of the organizations I worked for this summer seek to enhance the resilience of local communities via sustainable practices. The Youth Agriculture Project champions local food systems and food justice by fostering an involvement with and an awareness of the land and the processes that produce our food, and of the people who tend and harvest these crops. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) leads the region in adapting and modifying current planning practices to reflect contemporary best practices in sustainability planning, ranging from green infrastructure implementation to community organization and environmental justice issues.

PVPC is the Connecticut River Valley’s equivalent to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, which is based in Pittsfield. PVPC, which is based in Springfield, assists in the planning efforts of 43 Pioneer Valley small towns and cities, from the urban cores of Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke to the rural farming communities of 16

September 2011

Whately and Hatfield. It is no easy task to integrate the unique needs, desires, and voices of these communities, especially in a home rule state. In its planning purview, PVPC aids these communities by offering and performing services associated with land use, environmental planning, housing, economic development, and transportation. These small towns have a great deal of autonomy. This spring, PVPC, along with the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) in Hartford, Connecticut, received a $4.2 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs: The HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant. With this grant, PVPC and CRCOG will update existing plans and further integrate sustainability practices into them. This includes updating the existing environmental plan, creating food security, and implementing a green infrastructure plan. The transportation, economic development, and housing plans are also being updated to reflect a region vibrant with opportunity and choice.

My role in all of this was simple and small: I helped the environmental planner to identify metrics (or benchmarks) in previous plans and to communicate with organizations serving environmental justice populations around the Pioneer Valley in an effort better to disseminate water quality information, and to collect information about fish consumption along the river. This particular task spoke to the third E of sustainability: social equity. This environmental justice component also ties into food security. If many people are getting free protein from the river, they need to be aware that it is contaminated with harmful legacies of an industrial past such as PCBs, dioxin, and mercury. E. coli, a bacterial water quality indicator (its presence indicates runoff from both animal and human activity, such as agricultural runoff and sewage), can be high enough after a summer storm to make swimming or even boating unsafe.

Throughout history, land use in New England has been centered around our water resources: such as the Connecticut River, the Housatonic River, or their smaller tributaries.

Early settlement patterns are reflected in place names and archeological records; villages like Housatonic sprang up around an industry specific to waterpower. Now it is time once to again to define how we use the river, what it means to us, and how we plan to leave it for future generations.

Will they be able to play safely in and around the river? Will it be safe for them to consume the wildlife originating from its headwaters? Will the wildlife even still be there?

Think of the first time you glimpsed a blue heron standing stock-still in a quiet pool along one of our rivers, or the first time you heard that bald eagles had once again been sighted above the river oxbows. Think of the first time you caught a fish or refreshed yourself in the cool currents. These are sensations, memories, and feelings that we collect and retain, and hope to preserve through sustainable practice, planning, and a collective cognizance of the strength and resilience in our resources, which in turn strengthen our communities and regions.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Graphic: Antonova Olena/Shutterstock

Education & Training

Sharon True, M.A., C.M.A., R.S.M.T

Somatic Movement Therapist & Certified Pilates Instructor PRIVATE, DUET, AND GROUP CLASS WORKOUTS WITH HOLISTIC APPROACH AVAILABLE IN GREAT BARRINGTON & LEE

413.528.2465

Education & Training Come Celebrate Children & Education with Our BerkshireGreen for our annual nonprofit fundraiser

Thursday, December 1, 2011, 5:30pm-8:00pm at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington, to benefit:

Hands-on sustainability education for all ages

Dance, Exercise & Fitness

Sustainability tours by appointment: i Ecological wastewater treatment i Wind and solar energy i Organic gardening i Composting & recycling i Sustainability Education Experience Days (SEEDs) for grades 7-12 Fourth Annual Sustainability Symposium: Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Montessori School of the Berkshires, The Nutrition Center, and Berkshire Humane Society

Mount Conn e c t

a in

ing

New Lebanon, NY

Photo by Jane Feldman ’74

Darrow is a college-preparatory, co-ed, boarding and day school for grades 9–12 located on the Massachusetts–New York border.

518-794-6000, www.darrowschool.org.

Road Sch o ol Ch i l

518-794-8520 www.mountainroadschool.org

dre n

W ith Na t u r e

LIMITED OPENINGS AVAILABLE FOR FALL 2011!

BRIDGE – We Connect People Through…

Cultural Competence Training  Consulting Multicultural Presentations  Youth Programs Workplace Language Classes

Food & Cooking www.multiculturalbridge.org Strengthening Berkshire County’s Diverse Population With Programs That Foster Communication, Respect, and Pride PO Box 320, Housatonic MA 01236 413-274-1001 | 413-274-1033 info@multiculturalbridge.org FUNDED IN PART BY THE LENNOX FOUNDATION

®

KITCHEN GARDENING:

The Ultimate in “Locally Grown” Save Money. Eat 100% Organic All Year Round.

No Soil! No Green Thumb Required! Coupon OBG10 for $10 off!

Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman | 413-528-5200 | Sproutman.com

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id you know that by sprouting beans, seeds, and nuts you can awaken enzymes that benefit our bodies in many ways? The Sproutman sells convenient natural hemp sprout bags for this purpose. www.sproutman.com www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

17

Farmers' Markets

Food Stores

Adams Farmers’ Market

Fridays 12-6, June 24-Oct 14 60 Columbia Street on Rt 8, Adams, MA Emma Morin, (413) 743-5613

Berkshire Area Farmers’ Market

Wednesdays and Saturdays 8-2, May 7-Nov 26 Old State Road, Lanesborough, MA, Berkshire Mall parking lot Lenita Bober, (413) 569-3663

Farmers’ Market at CHP

Thursdays 4-7, June 2-Sep 1 442 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA Mary Feuer & Michelle Derr www.CommunityHealthPrograms.org, (413) 528-0457

Great Barrington Farmers’ Market

Saturdays 9-1, May 7-Oct 29 44 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA Train Station, behind Town Hall Rose Levine, RosemaryLevine@yahoo.com, (413) 528-8950

Lebanon Valley Farmers’ Market

Sundays 10-2, June 5-Oct 30 In the heart of New Lebanon, NY, on Routes 20 & 22 Carin de Jong, managerLVFM@gmail.com, (518) 860-4294

Lenox Farmers’ Market

Fridays 1-5, May 13-Oct 14 70 Kemble Street, MA, at Shakespeare & Company Rose Levine, RosemaryLevine@yahoo.com, (413) 528-8950

Norfolk Farmers’ Market

Saturdays 10-1, May 21-Oct 15 19 Maple Avenue, Norfolk, CT, in front of Norfolk Town Hall Lisa Auclair, LisaAuclair@sbcglobal.net www.norfolkfarmersmarket.org, (860) 542-5044

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North Adams Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Saturdays 8-12:30, July 9-Oct 8 St. Anthony Drive, North Adams, MA In municipal parking lot between Marshall Street & Holden Street Lisa Loomis & Diana Kittler, (413) 662-3000

Otis Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Saturdays 9-1, May 7-Oct 8 2000 East Otis Rd., Otis, MA, parking lot of Papaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthy Food Jess Ripley, OtisFarmersMarket@yahoo.com, (413) 357-9919

Pittsfield Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Thursdays 3-7, June 9-Oct 20 North Street by the Senior Center, Pittsfield, MA Barry Hollister, Barry@BerkshireHarmony.com www.BerkshireHarmony.com, (413) 281-4114

Pittsfield Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market at Park Square Saturdays 9-2, May 28-Oct 22 Park Squareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bank Row, Pittsfield, MA Barry Hollister, Barry@BerkshireHarmony.com www.BerkshireHarmony.com, (413) 281-4114

Sheffield Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Fridays 3-7, May 27-Sep 2 340 South Main Street (Rt 7), Sheffield, MA In the Village Green parking lot of Old Parish Church Peter Stanton, www.TheSheffieldFarmersMarket.com, (413) 329-0422

TNC Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Wednesdays 3-6, June 1-Aug 31 94 West Avenue, Great Barrington, MA, at The Nutrition Center Peter Stanton, www.TheNutritionCenter.org, (413) 429-8110

Williamstown Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market

Saturdays 8:30-12:30, May 28-Oct 29 South end of Spring Street, Williamstown, MA Roger & Nancy Johnson & Ronald Turbin (413) 458-3933 or (413) 458-9930 18

September 2011

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

mon-sat 9-6

sun 11-4

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not really a career person. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a gardener, basically. ~ George Harrison

Paul Deslauriers

How You Know Him: Paul is the Executive Director of Community Organizing for Action (Co-Act), which is involved with job development, homelessness, ending hunger and malnutrition, transportation access, and local energy production.

Passions: I love to surf, garden, and dance. I also have a driving passion to help unleash the power of community to create more effective approaches to local needs. I grew up in a large French Canadian clan, spent four years in a Catholic Seminary, six years in a yoga ashram, and six years as an environmental consultant. It was all a useful foundation for my next career.

When I was teaching relationship and personal growth workshops at Kripalu in Lenox, participants asked how they could bring their new insights into their businesses. That began my 25 years working as a community organizer and organizational development consultant. Some of my projects have included working with diverse groups such as the Alaskan Inuit, Icelandic, and Hawaiian communities. Employing innovative, new-paradigm concepts for â&#x20AC;&#x153;high energy group performance,â&#x20AC;? I served such clients as Hoechst, Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus, IKEA, and more than 70 TV broadcasting and advertising agencies. It was then that I authored In The High-Energy Zone: The 6 Characteristics of Highly Effective Groups.

In 2006, I became committed to community activism, coordinating and coaching 287 grassroots communities focusing on social change in the United States and Europe.

There was a need to educate about community organizing, so I wrote my most recent book Grassroute Guide: a Roadmap to Community Empowerment, laying out, in a practical and applicable format, insightful principles of community organizing. www.grassroute.org Why the Berkshires? In 2008, forty Berkshire residents

realized that the innovative social system change we seek must first be modeled, and Community Organizing for Action (Co-Act) was born. The Berkshires has strong town governance, abundant resources, and a history of instigating reform making it an ideal location for these new approaches.

What Is His Priority? My top priority is my personal growth and spiritual connection through practicing love and service.

Vision for Our Planet: I see a vast number of local grassroots systems that bring human spirits alive while creating abundance and sustainability. I envision humanity peacefully unplugging from the systems that drain community resources, feed wars, and increase wealth disparities.

Inspiration? There are many people I draw inspiration from. If I were to pick one, it would be Mahatma Gandhi, who kept a spiritual connection while accomplishing great reform through peace, grassroots activism, and the media.

Inspirational Quote: Be the change you would like to see in the world. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Community Organizing for Action (Co-Act) (413) 445-4445 | Paul@co-act.org www.co-act.org

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September 2011

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Health & Beauty

Taking joy in life is a woman’s best cosmetic. ~ Rosalind Russell

Health Care  

Holistic techniques for pain relief and correction of dysfuntion for adults, infants and children 777 Main Street • At the Barrington Bagel Plaza, Great Barrington, MA 413-644-9474 • randiphysicaltherapy.com

L EE F AMILY P RACTICE 11 Quarry Hill Rd, Lee MA 01238 413-243-0536 | LeeFamilyPractice.com

3PECIALIZING IN PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE WITH HOLISTIC APPROACHES Michael S. Kaplan, MD Melanie R. Levitan, MD Kathy Korte, FNP Ann Hummel, FNP Deborah Phillips LDN

Health Care

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Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives. ~ Louise L. Hay www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

21

Qigong

By Kelly Clady-Giramma

Boost Energy Improve Immunity Shed Weight Feel Younger Qigong literally means “energy work” and is a practice whereby one develops and manipulates one’s internal vitality or “qi” (lifeforce or energy flow). Seen by the originators as a means to extend life, there are thousands of different styles of qigong, all which have their own unique structure and benefits. Sometimes referred to as Chinese yoga, qigong gave birth to the earliest roots of Chinese medicine. Like acupuncture, qigong moves energy through the internal energy pathways, called meridians. It can be used either for general balance and health maintenance or for treating specific health ailments. Unlike conventional cardiovascular exercise or weight training, qigong is more about developing the body’s natural healing potential than it is about developing big muscles—though the skeletal muscles, heart, and lungs still reap tremendous benefit. Hypertension, asthma, allergies, cancer, and autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia are just a few of the conditions for which qigong has been shown in studies to provide benefit. Qigong has been practiced for almost 5,000 years in China and is used in stateof-the-art medical facilities throughout Asia today. It is also now gaining more credibility in the West as a tangible way to help people remain healthier in body, mind, and spirit.

Qigong Versus Taiji Not to be confused with taiji, a popular slow form of martial arts where the practitioner refines every small movement, perfecting a 15- to 40-minute meditative dancelike routine under the guidance of a master teacher, qigong poses do not generally involve as much movement as taiji does; also, qigong is simpler to catch on to for a beginner than taiji.

However, becoming a truly skilled practitioner of either taiji or qigong takes years of disciplined practice. It is said that with taiji the external movement of the body creates internal stillness of the mind, while with qigong the external stillness of the body creates the internal movement of the qi.

Types of Qigong Martial qigong was developed for self-defense purposes and still comprises the foundational breathwork and meditation practiced by martial artists throughout the world, whether a slow style such as taiji, or a faster gongfu style. If one skips over the sitting, standing, and lying down qigong meditation when learning martial arts, one will have an “empty practice” devoid of the internal vitality needed to become a true qigong practitioner. Martial qigong is focused on de22

September 2011

veloping the physical attributes of power, strength, agility, flexibility, balance, and coordination.

Spiritual (or religious) qigong seeks to foster tranquility, self-awareness, and harmony with nature and oneself; it may or may not be associated with a specific religious group or spiritual practice such as Taoism, Buddhism, or Confucianism. This type of qigong is comprised mostly of standing, sitting, and lying down meditation and certain other spiritual rituals, healing sounds, and chants.

Healing (or medical) qigong is the type employed in hospitals throughout Asia (and a few in the West) whereby exercises are used for their ability to treat specific medical or emotional diseases and imbalances. It may be combined with allopathic Western medical treatments (such as in the treatment of cancer) or may be used separately from Western medicine. You can find many documented testimonials of people who did qigong exercises themselves religiously over months and then went into cancer remission, healed their arthritis, significantly lowered their blood pressure, or found they could forgo their depression, anxiety, or sleep medications.

When a person does the qigong themselves, this is called internal medical qigong. External medical qigong involves a highly skilled qigong practitioner or master directing his own energy into the patient’s body to heal a particular problem.

Often internal and external healing qigong are used together such as in a video titled 101 Miracles of Natural Healing-ChiLel Qigong. In this video a man, who had been diligently practicing Chi-Lel qigong at a healing center in China for many hours a day for more than 6 months, undergoes directed external medical qigong for his bladder cancer by several qigong masters simultaneously. Miraculously the tumor can be seen dissolving in a matter of a few minutes under live ultrasound.

It may sound too fantastic to be true, but similar experiences have been documented over thousands of years. Accumulations such as tumors, according to Chinese medical theory, are extreme manifestations of “stuck energy,” usually combined with a poor immune system. Since qigong is believed, like acupuncture, to move energy and boost immune function, it is not that difficult to see how it could be helpful in shrinking tumors.

Qigong for Westerners – The Dragon’s Way® The Dragon’s Way® is a uniquely accessible form of qigong, developed by Master Nan Lu (of Manhattan) with Western lifestyles and health issues in mind. He designed this program of ten internal exercises for people who have little time (it takes about 25 minutes) yet want to do something powerful to enhance their wellbeing. Dragon’s Way® classes are taught now in many cities throughout the US and come with a companion book, audio CD, and DVD to make daily home practice, the foundation for the program, a cinch. While the Wuming Qigong exercises can be done all on their own, a sixweek healing food program and herbs are highly recommended and enhance the overall effects. Benefits that students have achieved over the six-week course include lowering total cholesterol, lessening anxiety and depression, greatly enhancing quality and duration of sleep, shedding weight (and putting on weight for underweight folks), increasing joint mobility while significantly decreasing pain, reducing menopausal hot flashes and night sweats, and cessation of food cravings. For

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Graphic: KhrobostovA/Shutterstock

myself, I have healed several digestive challenges, including hypoglycemia, internal yeast overgrowth, and food sensitivities via my Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ practice.

Health Care Acupuncture

Healing Excess Weight and Digestive Problems Though excess weight is a common complaint of many Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ students, the program makes it clear that it is not just another diet. The qigong exercises are more powerful for eliminating weight than the healing foods are alone. The qigong works on stimulating the organ and meridian systems that relate to energy, digestion, and metabolism, and also can support hormonal balance. In addition, by giving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digestive tract a break and eating mostly light-natured foods such as fruits, vegetables, toasted nuts, and some seafood (optional), oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body can actually heal itself so that eventually it can better handle the foods (like dairy, wheat, and gluten) that it was previously adverse to. So even though I try not to overindulge in the foods I used to be sensitive to, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice that I can have an occasional scone or piece of bread now and not pay for it digestively the rest of the day! I was one of those overly skinny folks that put on a few much-needed pounds in the form of muscle and took off an inch or so around my tummy (who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use that!). Students who suffer from diarrhea or constipation find these symptoms all but disappear, especially when they eat more of the healing foods.

Get your â&#x20AC;&#x153;qiâ&#x20AC;? moving!!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Qi Partyâ&#x20AC;? Friday, Sept. 9, 2011

7:30-9:30pm, Yoga Depot 137 North St., Pittsfield in Crawford Square Activities include â&#x20AC;&#x153;Qi dancingâ&#x20AC;? and an introduction to The Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ - a six-week group journey to self-healing.

Prizes & discount for signing up for group qigong classes.

Tasty free food! Bring a vegetarian dish if you wish plus a friend or two. Donation suggested.

RSVP Kelly Clady (413) 695-8876, Acudoctor.clady@gmail.com

Fertile Ground Acupuncture

Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac.

Acupuncture - Chinese Herbal Medicine Dragon's Way ÂŽ and Breast Health Qi Gong Classes 55 Concord Parkway, Pittsfield, MA 01201

(413) 695-8876 | (413) 629-3972 acudoctor.clady@gmail.com

Powerful Help for Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shen (spirit/emotional) disturbancesâ&#x20AC;? are so prevalent in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world. Since the Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ is primarily a stress management program, virtually everyone who practices it notices within a few weeks that they feel a lot more balanced emotionally. In addition, most sufferers of insomnia start sleeping better, particularly if they can practice the qigong at night before bed. One student said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was feeling hopeless about my body. After the Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m more confident and calmerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;feeling healthier from within and I took off 13 pounds!â&#x20AC;?

! ! !

19 Lewis Avenue, Great Barrington

"

ď&#x20AC;&#x160;ď&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x17D;ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x161;ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x2013;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x201C;ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x192;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x203A;ď&#x20AC;&#x2014;ď&#x20AC;&#x203A;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x161;ď&#x20AC;&#x203A;ď&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ď&#x20AC;?

ď&#x20AC;&#x2021;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x17E;ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x2020;ď&#x20AC;&#x2013;ď&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ď&#x20AC;&#x17D;ď&#x20AC;&#x2013;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC; ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x2030;ď&#x20AC;&#x201A;ď&#x20AC;&#x192;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x201A;ď&#x20AC; ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x2C6;ď&#x20AC;&#x201A;ď&#x20AC;&#x192;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Elle Day Spa at the Crowne Plaza â&#x20AC;˘ One West St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 Appointments: 413.445.5600 â&#x20AC;˘ www.jgordonacupuncture.com

Lasting Results The very best aspect of doing the Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ is that, whatever specific benefits your body, mind, or spirit get from the program, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll reverse if you arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t practicing as much or eating only healing foods. Like all forms of qigong, the Dragonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WayÂŽ provides an accessible means to set the body back on its natural path toward self-healing. When the body heals itself in its own time, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yo-yo or regress because it has actually recovered from the original root cause of the problem. Even if some new life stressor throws you off balance, the tools you have received from the Wuming Qigong, healing foods, and herbs, make it much easier to get back in the saddle and start doing something immediately to feel better rather than wait until previous symptoms return.

Important Disclaimer: as with all forms of treatment, one cannot know how any one individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s body will respond to medical qigong.

One needs to do thorough research before engaging in such a practice as with any pertinent medical decision. This article is not intended to offer medical advice or suggest people forgo conventional medical treatments for cancer or any other condition. ~ Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl OM, LAc, Fertile Ground Acupuncture. See ads on this page.

ď&#x20AC;&#x;ď&#x20AC;&#x2C6;ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x153;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x161;ď&#x20AC;&#x2018;ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x2026;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x201C;ď&#x20AC;&#x201D;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x2122;ď&#x20AC;&#x2122;ď&#x20AC; ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x201E;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x201C;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;?ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x2022;ď&#x20AC;&#x17D;ď&#x20AC;&#x20AC;ď&#x20AC;&#x2039;ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x161;ď&#x20AC;&#x152;ď&#x20AC;&#x201C;ď&#x20AC;&#x2019;ď&#x20AC;&#x161;ď&#x20AC;&#x17E;

Naomi Alson

LIC. ACUPUNCTURIST AND HERBALIST SPECIALIZING IN

infertility, herbal treatments, cancer care at Lee Family Practice â&#x20AC;˘ 413-243-3223

Crowne Plaza, Pittsfield, MA (413) 684-4888 | berganacupuncture@yahoo.com Japanese Style Acupuncture Â&#x2021; Five Element Essential Oils Master Cupping Â&#x2021; Energy Balancing Â&#x2021; Second Degree Reiki Weight Loss Â&#x2021; Smoking Cessation

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

23

Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Apothecaries

Coaching Discover what true, lasting wellness feels like to YOU! :HOOQHVV %RXQG &RDFKLQJ Kenly Brozman, LICSW FREE Initial Certified Health & Wellness Coach www.wellnessboundcoaching.com Consultation kbrozman@gmail.com â&#x20AC;˘ 518-929-2050

Counseling & Therapy

Eileen Lawlor, LICSW Short-Term Hypnosis ď&#x20AC;&#x201A; EMDR Imagery for Healing ď&#x20AC; Grief, Loss & Transition Counseling ď&#x20AC;

ď&#x20AC; Guided

413.528.7916 ď&#x20AC;&#x201A; EileenAtStillpointStudio.com

KARI J. AMDAHL, MA Psychotherapist

t Mindfulness, DBT, CBT, EFT t Art & Dream Work t Body-centered approaches t Individuals, couples, & children 413t 528t 6121

www.kariamdahl.com

G REAT B ARRINGTON, MA

The first wealth is health. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chiropractic & Kinesiology

sliding scale

Massage Therapy & Bodywork

/RZ %DFN 3DLQ Â&#x2021; 6FLDWLFD Â&#x2021; 'LVF 3UREOHPV :DONHU 6WUHHW Ć&#x2019; /HQR[ 0$ 2IÂżFH )D[ Ć&#x2019; :HE ZZZ 'U(UULFR QHW

Laughter is the closest distance between two people. ~ Victor Borge

Coaching

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. ~ Helen Keller 24

September 2011

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Medicine

Berkshire Osteopathic Health FAMILY PRACTICE & OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION Stephen Kisiel, DO and Mary K. H. Yee, DO OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATION Joshua Krembs, DO Now accepting new patients for Primary Care and Consultation Services.

Treating newborns through adults. Most insurance accepted.

Located at Berkshire Healing Arts 42 Summer Street, Suite 301, Pittsfield, MA

413.442.0085 | www.BerkshireHealingArts.com

Dr. Goldman, a leading international figure in the practice and continuing education of Osteopathy, has been in practice in Sharon, CT since 1992. He now brings his extensive healthcare experience to Great Barrington and the surrounding communities.

As a certified specialist in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and fully licensed physician, Dr. Goldman treats the whole person not just the symptoms by emphasizing the interrelationships of structure, function, and the ability of the body to heal itself.

���� ��� ����������� ��� ����������� ���������� ��������� �������� ��� ��������� ����������� Great Barrington, �� 413-528-3334 | Sharon, �� 860-364-5990

Physical Therapy

Berkshire Physical Therapy & Wellness PITTSFIELD OFFICE

740 Williams Street Pittsfield MA 01201 413-447-8070 ptpittsfield100@aol.com LEE OFFICE {näÊ* i>Ã> ÌÊ-ÌÀiiÌ iiÊ Êä£ÓÎn {£Î Ó{Î Î{ÇÇ «Ì iiJ> °V

Rachel Welch PT Jennifer Dort PT Wendy Carpenter PTA

Thomas Cooney DPT Alayne Glass PT Jacqueline Bianco DPT Shenna Burke PTA

DALTON OFFICE {ääÊ > Ê-ÌÀiiÌ

> Ì Ê Êä£ÓÓÈ {£Î Èn{ ÇnÎ

Thomas Cooney DPT Nicole Tucker PT Megan Andrews PTA

Visit our web page for directions to the office and more about our programs:

www.berkshirept.com

Occupational Hand Therapy is also available with Andi Vallon OT Massage Therapy with Shenna Burke

Ê > iÊÞ ÕÀÊ>«« Ì i ÌÊÌ `>ÞÊv ÀÊÞ ÕÀÊFit Right iÛ> Õ>Ì t Stott Pilates mat classes and private or semi-private Reformer sessions available at Pittsfield location. Please call Tammy at 413.358.1007

What are some benefits of STOTT PILATES? UÊ VÀi>ÃiÃÊ ÀiÊ-ÌÀi }Ì ÊEÊ-Ì>L ÌÞ UÊ iVÀi>ÃiÃÊ >V Ê*> ÊUÊ*ÀiÛi ÌÃÊ ÕÀ ià UÊ > > ViÃÊ-ÌÀi }Ì ÊEÊ iÝ L ÌÞ UÊ «À ÛiÃÊ-« ÀÌÃÊ*iÀv À > Vi (Golf, Skiing, Etc) Tammy St. John

About Tammy St. John U Bachelor of Exercise Science U ACE Certified Personal Trainer U STOTT PILATES Level 2 Mat,

Don’t find fault, find a remedy. ~

Henry Ford

Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrels and Injury & Special Populations. Working toward Doctorate of PT.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

25

Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Physical Therapy

  

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          

                      

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Reconnective Healing® RECONNECTIVE HEALING ® and THE RECONNECTION ® Marshall Rosenthal* • 413-743-5256 • marshsue@verizon.net *Listed on www.TheReconnection.com Access a new, more comprehensive spectrum of healing than has ever been attainable prior to now!

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NordiCare Physical Therapy, P.C. Hands-On Health & Wellness

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26

September 2011

Wellness Centers & Spas 

Your Health, Our Hands.

Berkshire County’s Premier Manual Therapy & Wellness Practice

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

  

 Graphic: Twixx/Bigstock

Film & Book Reviews

Health Care

for a Cozy Evening at Home

Yoga

W

Yoga Nude in Albany Transcend Body & Mind

Experience joyful, flowing movement ignited by ujjayi breath.

518-577-8172 • www.YogaNudeInAlbany.com

 413.854.3177

Heather Coon

www.triyogaberkshire.com

1224 North Main Street (Rte.7) Sheffield, Massachusetts

3 miles south of Great Barrington over looking the beautiful Housatonic River

In the Flow and on the River

�����������*���������#�������"���������,���������%� ���������$������ �������� ����������������������� ������������������������ ��� ��������� �������������������������� ���������������� !��"������#� ��$�����%����&����'�������� ���(&����)�� ��*��������&����)���)���������+���

������������ ��������������������������� �������� ����� ���������������� ����������������������� -�. -/0 ,1#( So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health. ~ A. J. Reb Materi

By Rodelinde Albrecht

hen the world of people becomes too much to bear, we can find solace in the world of nature. What we witness need not even be spectacular: the twitter of a goldfinch, the buzz of a bumblebee exploring a handy blossom, the sight of a simple blade of grass, can make our heart sing.

To see the natural world very close up, watch the stunning French documentary, Microcosmos (1996). With the aid of unique microscopic cameras and specialized microphones, it takes you beyond the capability of your eyes and your ears: an ant hauling a crumb twice its size, a skirmish between a pair of stag beetles, caterpillars methodically munching their way along the edge of a leaf, ladybugs feasting upon aphids, waterstriders stalking across a pond.

Time is pliable. Marvel at a raindrop falling in slo-mo into a pond, denting the surface, and balancing atop a column of water before falling back in. Through time-lapse photography, experience the blossoming of a poppy from a crumpled bud into silky smooth petals, the unfolding of a dandelion’s gossamer fluff, the emerging of a butterfly from its cocoon.

The minuscule creatures of the earth are largely concerned with matters of birth, food gathering, love, conflict, and death. You can’t always tell the difference between fighting and loving. Sometimes even food-gathering can look remarkably like mating (there’s a lovely vignette of a bee gathering nectar from a deep-throated flower).

Winged Migration (2001), another incredible French film, literally lifts you off the earth. You learn that “for 80 million years, birds have ruled the skies, seas, and earth.

Each spring, they fly vast distances. Each fall, they fly the same routes back.” Recording their journeys, the film was created over the course of four years, with footage made from just about every conceivable flying craft, from gliders to hot-air balloons. Thus you often feel as though you yourself are flying among the birds.

Migration, observes the narrator, is at once a promise to return and a fight for survival. The birds navigate by the celestial bodies - the sun, the moon, and the stars - tracking the earth’s magnetic field. The distances traveled by different birds is mind-boggling. Each spring, the red-crowned crane, for instance, flies 600 miles from the Far East to the Siberian targa. And yet this seems a mere jaunt compared to the 12,500 miles the Arctic tern covers twice a year between the Arctic and the Antarctic - nearly 21 times as far as the crane!

The facts we learn are intriguing, but it’s the sheer beauty of the birds themselves that will enthrall you. Engineers might envy their aerodynamic design and artists might wish they had conceived of the gorgeous variety and coloration of their plumage.

Goodness, I’ve nearly run out of space! Let me leave you with the name of a writer who devoted his life to the study and preservation of endangered creatures: Gerald Durrell. Start with his trilogy of growing up on Corfu - My Family and Other Animals; Birds, Beasts, and Relatives; and The Garden of the Gods. If you love true stories about nature and wildlife, you won’t be able to stop.~ Rodelinde Albrecht, Concerned Singles. www.Concerned Singles.com. See ad on page 29.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

27

Shameless Flag Waving

Home & Garden

By Judy Sullivan

W

hile driving down the highway, have you wondered why some leaves seem to change color prematurely? Slender threads of vermilion weave through an otherwise green canvas; a russet drape over a sweep of shrubbery. We stand barely on the threshold of autumn. Nights are warm, gardens still bursting, and new school shoes not yet scuffed. Why the hurry?

Any entrepreneur will quickly tell you that the first step toward success is getting the customer in the door. And the way to do that is with an eye-catching advertisement.

Mother Nature is nothing if not a shrewd businesswoman.

She uses this same strategy.

Unlike the Winnebago snowbirds, who linger until Thanksgiving before embarking on their migratory trek to warmer climes, real birds begin traveling southward toward the end of summer. Many of these avian travelers, speeding along under cover of darkness, find themselves in new and unfamiliar territory just as day breaks. Tired and hungry, they begin their search for the avian equivalent of the golden arches. They’re not sophisticated, just hungry.

Ruby and garnet threads of Virginia Creeper vines snaking up tree trunks are nature’s billboards for advertising cheap easy eats. How else could a flying traveler discern them among the late summer greenery? Fruit-eating birds dine while the vines have their seeds processed and dispersed; at this dinner both bird and plant benefit. For added variety, grape vines display a deep maroon while poison ivy flaunts autumnal shades of yellow and pumpkin-orange.

These early color changes are referred to as foliar flags.

The key to nature’s neon is contrast, both between one plant and its neighbors, and between the fruit and its surrounding leaves. The round ivory fruit of the gray dogwood against its wine-red foliage and cherry-colored pedicels (fruit stems) doesn’t politely beckon to passing birds so much as it shouts.

The position of the fruit on the branch also determines whether or not a plant needs to advertise. Remember that other cardinal rule of business: location, location, location! A fruit perched on the edge of a branch already has the advantage of visibility. The native spicebush carries its soft green leaves horizontally throughout the summer. Once its fruit ripens to red, the leaves turn a buttery yellow and droop, making the fruit much more visible. Clusters of fruit on the sumac or the non-native magnolia have all of the visibility of a vendor on a city sidewalk, so extra advertisement isn’t necessary. The dogwood tree, by comparison, compensates for its slightly smaller portions by enhancing its presentation.

We don’t see these flashes of foliar color in early summer, because changing leaf color indicates a plant is losing the ability to photosynthesize, and in doing so a plant loses valuable growing time. Besides, there’s no need to advertise. Early fruiters, such as the nannyberry shrub or the shadblow tree, cater to the locals, who always know the best spots to dine.

Whether locals or tourists, we can scan the roadsides from a new marketing perspective and wish migrating birds bon appétit and bon voyage! ~ Judy Sullivan, Project Native,

www.ProjectNative.org. See advertisement above right.

28

September 2011

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Celebrating 10 years

An Evening with Barry Lopez National Book Award-winning Author

A Different Kind of Citizenship: Maintaining Good Relations with the Earth Thurs, Sept. 22, 8PM

Mahaiwe Theatre

Tickets: $20 Order online at mahaiwe.org Cash/Check/BerkShares accepted at Project Native.

Students call for tickets.

413-274-3433 projectnative.org Project Native is a non-profit organization. Supported

by The Dr. Robert C. and Tina Sohn Foundation.

Photo by David Liittschwager

Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile. ~ William Cullen Bryant

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September 2011

29

Nonprofit Organizations

SO

potlight on Nonprofit Alternative Energy rganizations in Our Community Who They Are

Who They Are

The Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) is a private, nonprofit, open-admission animal support organization.

The mission of BHS is to ensure the compassionate care, treatment, and whenever possible, placement of homeless animals through the shelter operation, and to promote and improve the welfare of all animals through community education and outreach. No companion animal is turned away from BHS, and there is no restriction on the length of time that any adoptable companion animal is allowed to remain at the shelter.

In addition, the Berkshire Humane Society conducts many vital programs that benefit the people of our community, including free educational programs and classroom presentations for local school children, shelter tours for schools and other youth groups, and Camp Humane summer program for children. Party with the Animals is a children’s birthday party in the classroom (suggested donation starting at $100 for 10 children; suitable for grades 1-6).

The Nutrition Center (TNC) is a nonprofit organization inspiring a healthy relationship with food through counseling, cooking classes, education, and programs for all ages. Their nutritionists work with individuals and families to integrate health and enjoyment into the daily food experience. They are now seeing patients in their Pittsfield office at 42 Summer Street. The nutrition counseling is reimbursed by medical insurance.

Food Adventures is an in-school cooking and nutrition program providing education to students about nutrition and healthy food choices in a fun, hands-on environment.

The Nutrition Center has delivered 300 Food Adventure classes in Berkshire County. Students work in teams to prepare a healthy food, while learning about nutrition, food safety, how to make balanced food choices, and the value of local farms and food producers in our community. The program allows conceptual nutrition education to come to life and empower children to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Food Adventures is supported by tax-deductable contributions and grants.

Contact

Contact

Peter Stanton

Peter Stanton, Founder 94 West Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 429-8110 info@thenutritioncenter.org www.thenutritioncenter.org

Who They Are

Nestled among field and forest, The Montessori School of the Berkshires (MSB) provides hands-on, individualized education for toddlers through eighth Todd Covert, Head of School graders. Montessori education helps children become responsible, caring learners and community members who are self-motivated, confident, independent, and creative. MSB’s green campus and LEED building allow children to learn about sustainability both within the classroom and out of doors.

Known throughout the world, the Montessori method of education is based on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, the first woman physician in Italy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The method emphasizes self-directed activity and independence on the part of the child and observation and guidance on the part 30

September 2011

School Presentation

Karen Karlberg, Community Outreach Coordinator 214 Barker Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 447-7878 ext. 29 kkarlberg@berkshirehumane.org www.berkshirehumane.org

of the teacher. Children have access to the natural world through garden areas and trails, as well as caring for plants and animals throughout the classroom and campus. Dr. Montessori considered this connection to the earth and living things to be an essential part of education.

At MSB, you will often see Children’s House students sweeping their patio, Toddlers feeding the chickens, or Elementary students studying in the courtyard. You may come across their Adolescent students out in the community: visiting residents at Kimball Farms, working with Community Access to the Arts, or apprenticing with local business owners.

www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

Contact

Todd Covert, Head of School 21 Patterson Road Lenox Dale, MA 01242 (413) 637-3662, info@berkshiremontessori.org www.berkshiremontessori.org

Alternative Energy Children & Education in the Berkshires

By Rodelinde Albrecht

W

hat is education? It is how we develop the abilities of the mind, it is how we acquire the powers of reasoning and judgment, it is how we “learn to know.” As the Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) observed, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

In this issue of Our BerkshireGreen, we shine our spotlight on three nonprofit organizations that light the fire of learning in our children.

The Nutrition Center “Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.” ~ Daniel J. Boorstin (American historian, 1914-2004)

What most of us don’t know about food is quite a lot, and what we don’t know we don’t know about food seems immeasurable.

What most of us do know about food is its significance for our health and well-being, perhaps even for our happiness. As with so much else, the best time to learn about food is when one is young, unbiased, and eager to absorb new information . . . and food! A child who is introduced to fresh, health-giving foods at an early age is more likely, throughout a lifetime, to enjoy such foods and consider them to be not only nurturing but delicious.

The folks at The Nutrition Center (TNC) know a lot about food. Here, youngsters can discover the delights of wholesome eating. Throughout the school year, TNC offers Food Adventures in our local schools. Presented in collaboration with the Berkshire Co-op Market, this program teaches students about nutrition and about making healthy food choices. Working in teams, the young people actually prepare snacks or mini meals right in the classroom. They also learn the basics of kitchen safety and the advantages of using locally grown and locally produced ingredients.

Berkshire Humane Society “No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” ~ Emma Goldman (Lithuanian activist, 1869-1940)

Intrigued by the link between the words human and humane, I consulted thesaurus.com, which gives 46 synonyms for humane in the sense of compassionate, among them the following: considerate, forgiving, gentle, good-natured, helpful, kind, nat-

ural, open-minded, sympathetic, tolerant, unselfish, and warmhearted. These qualities are sorely needed, perhaps more than ever before, in our distressed and distressing world. And could there be a better way of teaching these qualities to children than by letting them interact with creatures even smaller, more innocent, and more vulnerable than they are themselves?

The Berkshire Humane Society (BHS) offers opportunities for children to learn these qualities, which they can then apply in their interactions with others. During the school year, the BHS offers Party with the Animals, a two-hour children’s birthday party in the classroom, as well as free educational programs for local schoolchildren. Shelter Tours available throughout the year offer youth groups the chance to interact with animals awaiting adoption. The BHS summer day camp, Camp Humane, mixes fun and learning with a balanced curriculum of arts and crafts projects and presentations from a variety of animal professionals aimed at teaching the young camper to be a responsible pet owner.

The Montessori School of the Berkshires

“Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.” ~ Ernest Dimnet (French clergyman, 1866-1954) The name Montessori evokes images of independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological development. Traditional educational systems focus on book learning, rote memorization, and the acquisition of objective, testable information. The Montessori method, by contrast, emphasizes experiential rather than theoretical knowledge. It uses the discovery model, whereby students learn concepts from actually working with materials. Learning by doing is a joyful experience rather than a chore.

An important feature of the Montessori approach is that children are not divided into groups by age. Rather, each class is a kind of family group comprised of children of two, three, or more age levels. As the children grow older, they take on increasing responsibility, helping to care for their environment and for the younger children in the group. Promoted by this structure, the focus is on cooperation and collaboration rather than on competition. The Montessori School of the Berkshires offers programs for toddlers through eighth graders, afterschool programs, and summer day camp. ~ Rodelinde Albrecht, Concerned Singles, www.ConcernedSingles. com. See advertisement on page 29.

Come Celebrate Children & Education in the Berkshires with Our BerkshireGreen for our annual nonprofit fundraiser

Thursday, December 1, 2011, 5:30pm-8:00pm at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington, to benefit:

The Montessori School, The Nutrition Center, and Berkshire Humane Society Sponsored by Crissey Farm and Our BerkshireGreen, Inc. www.OurBerkshireGreen.com

September 2011

31

Index of Advertisers Allegrone Construction Co., Inc. .............................20 Andrea Feldman, Paperclip Studio ...........................11 Andrew M. Goldman, D.O. ....................................25 Anne C. Hermans, DVM ..........................................9 Awaken Healing Arts ..............................................21 AzureGreen ..............................................................29 Beardsley Gardens ....................................................29 BensDotter’s Pet ...........................9, inside back cover Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. ...............................7 Berkshire Co-op Market ..................inside front cover Berkshire Humane Society - Purradise .......................7 Berkshire Organics ...................................................18 Berkshire Osteopathic Health ..................................25 Berkshire Photovoltaic Services (BPVS) ....................6 Berkshire Physical Therapy & Wellness ..................25 Berkshires Green Grocer & Claire's Cafe ................18 Bodhi Tree Gallery of Fine Crafts ...........................10 BRIDGE, Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups and Education, Inc. .............17 Bruce Mandel, Performing Songwriter ....................10 Cafe Giulia LLC .......................................................13 Canyon Ranch Lenox ..............................................21 Carolyn Cannon DVM ..............................................9 Castle Street Cafe .....................................................13 Christine M. Tobin, APRN, PC, A-HNC ..............21 Closet Collection II ..................................................10 Concerned Singles ....................................................29 Danielle Mailer Gallery ............................................10 Darrow School .........................................................17 Dr Jerome F. Errico, Bd Cert Chiro Phys ...............24 Eileen Lawlor, LICSW .............................................24 Energy in Motion Studio .........................................15 Fertile Ground Acupuncture ...................................23 Geiger Computers ....................................................11 Genne M. LeVasseur, Certified Public Accountant ...10 GoodWorks Insurance .............................................11 Grenergy Solar Store .................................................6 Greylock Physical Therapy .....................................26 Hair on the Run .......................................................21 Hancock Shaker Village ...................inside back cover Hawkmeadow Meditation Retreat ...........................26 Herrington’s .............................................................20 Hilltop Orchards - Furnace Brook Winery .............15 HL Fuel Company, Inc. ............................................6 Integrative Health Solutions ....................................21 J Fox Art Studio .......................................................10 Jay Kain Physical Therapy & Wellness Center .......26 Jill Powell, Reiki ......................................................26 John Harney Assoc., LLC - Real Estate Brokerage ..11 Kari J. Amdahl, MA, Psychotherapist ......................24 Lee Family Practice ..................................................21 Lenox Village Integrative Pharmacy ........................24 32

September 2011

Leslie Hoss Flood Interiors ......................................28 Life Rocks Jewelry....................................................29 Lynne Vanderpot, Reconnective Healing ................26 Marion Bergan Irwin, Licensed Acupuncturist ........23 Matt Albert, Bodywork ...........................................24 Michelle Manto, Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture......23 Mikka Barkman ........................................................24 Millie Calesky, Business & Life Coach ....................11 Ming Lash, Somatic Movement Therapist ...............15 Montessori School of the Berkshires, ..........................17, inside back cover, back cover Mountain Road School ............................................17 Naomi Alson, Acupuncturist & Herbalist ...............23 New England Center for Osteopathy ......................25 New England Solar & Green Solutions, Inc. .............7 NordiCare Physical Therapy, P.C. ..........................26 Okerstrom Lang, Ltd. ..............................................20 OurBerkshireCalendar.com .......................................1 Petpourri, Inc. ............................................................7 Phoebe Williams, Life Coach ...................................24 Pioneer Plumbing & Heating ..................................29 Project Native ..........................................................28 Randi Haskins-Jordan, Physical Therapy/Osteopathic ..........................21 Reconnective Healing® and The Reconnection® .....26 Renewable Energy Solutions, Inc. ..............................7 Route 7 Grill ............................................................13 Shamanic Healing Services .......................................29 Sheilaa Hite, Intuitive Counseling ............................29 Sproutman® ..............................................................17 Starving Artist Cafe & Creperie ..............................13 Sullivan Station Restaurant .......................................1 Thea Basis - Body, Mind & Spirit Coach .................15 Traditional Acupuncture, Jeffrey Gordon, M.Ac., Lic.Ac. .........................23 Trattoria Rustica ......................................................13 TriYoga Berkshire ....................................................27 Valley Fireplace & Stove, LLC ..................................6 VCA All Caring Animal Hospital .............................7 Village Cycle & Fitness ............................................15 Vlada Boutique .........................................................10 Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center ...........................29 Well Talk ..........................................inside back cover Wellness Bound Coaching .......................................24 WholePerson Movement .........................................17 Windy Hill Farm .....................................................18 Yoga Nude in Albany ..............................................27 your soul path ..........................................................29 Zaanti Yoga Studio ..................................................27 Zorn Family Chiropractic .......................................24

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The wonder of Montessori.

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Toddler â&#x20AC;˘ Early Childhood â&#x20AC;˘ Elementary Middle School â&#x20AC;˘ Summer Camp Challenging and creative academic environment.

Focus on individual learning styles.

40-acre LEED-for-Schools campus.

Transportation from South County available.

21 Patterson Road, Lenox Dale, MA 413-637-3662 BerkshireMontessori.org

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The wonder of Montessori.

Toddler • Early Childhood • Elementary • Middle School • Summer Camp Challenging and creative academic environment.

Focus on individual learning styles.

Optimal learning experience on 40-acre LEED-for-Schools campus.

For more information or to schedule a tour, please call (413) 637-3662 or email info@BerkshireMontessori.org Transportation from South County available.

21 Patterson Road, Lenox Dale, MA BerkshireMontessori.org