natural awakenings april 2015

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H E A L T H Y L I V I N G H E A L T H Y P L A N E T

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April 2015 | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition | NABlueRidge.com

NATURE’S WISDOMIts Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us

SPRING GREENING

Easy Ways to Detox a House

DOGS IN LIBRARIES

Kids Read Better Around Animals

CABELL BRAND’S

Wisdom and Legacy

PublisherTracy Garland

[email protected]

EditorKaren Adams

Marketing & AdvertisingBonnie Cranmer

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letterfromthepublisher

Tracy Garland, Publisher

Welcome to Spring! And welcome to the April issue of Natural Awakenings. Our themes this month are “Nature’s Wisdom + Healthy

Home.” To inspire you, here are some great thoughts about nature – which is, after all, our true home. We hope you will enjoy the great reading we offer this month, and every month, on how to protect our precious earth and those that live upon it. Enjoy!

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

On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it. Jules Renard

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which

is infi nite, which is yes. e.e. cummings

Nature always wears the color of the spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earth and sky, woods and fi elds, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever

learn from books. John Lubbock

Water is the driving force of all nature.Leonardo da Vinci

There are always fl owers for those who want to see them.Henri Matisse

I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. Henry David Thoreau

Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky. Khalil Gibran

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.Walt Whitman

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream. Vincent Van Gogh

I’ve loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Galileo Galilei

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Lao Tzu

To sit in solitude, to think in solitude with only the music of the stream and the cedar to break the fl ow of silence, there lies the value of wilderness. John Muir

I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. John Burroughs

The earth is what we all have in common. Wendell Berry

Happy Earth Day and Happy Spring!

4 newsbriefs

8 healthbriefs

10 globalbriefs

11 ecotip

12 blueridge greentravel

14 community spotlight

19 greenliving

20 healingways

22 healthykids

24 naturalpet

26 calendar

28 resource directory

12 FARMERS’ MARKETS in the Roanoke Valley by Anne Piedmont

14 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT The Wisdom and Legacy of Cabell Brand

16 NATURE’S WISDOM

Its Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Us by Christine MacDonald

18 HOME-GROWN ORGANIC MADE EASY 10 Time-Saving Tips for a Healthy Garden by Barbara Pleasant

20 SPRING GREENING Easy Ways to Detox a House by Lane Vail

22 EARTH IN PERIL Children Confront Climate Change by Avery Mack

24 DOGS WITH LIBRARY CARDS Kids Love Reading to Animals by Sandra Murphy

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

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3natural awakenings April 2015

newsbriefs

Natural Awakenings Earns Top Franchise Business Award

Natural Awaken-ings has been

ranked in the best 50 in its size class among 200 compa-nies named in the Franchise Business Review’s 2015 Top Franchises Report. The healthy living magazine was one of fi ve franchise com-panies cited as best-in-class in the advertising and sales category. To select the top franchises across industries and performance categories, the organization surveyed more than 28,500 franchisees. “We feel privileged that it was our franchisees’ expression of high satisfaction that earned us this award,” says Sharon Bruckman, CEO of Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. “Gaining this recognition proves that our process of providing franchisees with editorial, promotional and operational support, partnered with their enthusiastic dedication in indi-vidual markets, serves communities well. Together, we are nourishing and growing a healthy living consciousness in America.” The network now encompasses nearly 100 franchisees nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Franchise Business Review, headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is a national franchise market research fi rm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. 2015 marked its 10th annual Top Franchises Report. For more information, call Anna Romano at 239-530-1377 or visit Natu-ralAwakeningsMag.com and FranchiseBusinessReview.com. See ad, page XX.

Virginia Tech Researchers Find Too Many Food Choices Boost Obesity

A new study in mice by researchers in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and

Life Sciences and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic has shown that the environment in which children live may be an equal if not stronger force in determining obesity than their mothers’ diets. The researchers found that having too many food choices increases the obesity problem. Their fi ndings were recently released in the journal Endocrinology. “We like variety,” says Deborah Good, an author of the paper and an associate professor of human nutrition, foods and exercise at Virginia Tech. “But when there is a choice, we eat more than when there is not any variety.” The study can help inform researchers of how natural environment can affect food choices and weight. This information is central to the philosophy of osteopathic medicine, which promote swellness and preventive care in medicine. The team had two sets of mothers – those given a high-fat diet and those given a low-fat diet. The offspring were then given a diet that was high fat, low fat or one in which they had a choice of foods. But having a choice of either a high-fat or low-fat diet can lead to overeating, the researchers found. These results suggest that if low-fat foods are more readily available, or priced competitively with high-fat and unhealthy foods, even babies born to overweight mothers could counter their prenatal environment and avoid being overweight themselves. For more information, visit VTNews.VT.edu/articles.

Moonlight Bootlegger 5K at Explore Park

The Moonlight Bootlegger 5K will be held on April 24 at Explore Park, in

Roanoke County. The nighttime race be-gins with registration from 6:15 to 7:55 p.m., and the fi rst wave of the race be-gins at 8:20 p.m. A celebration follows. The Moonlight Bootlegger 5K features candle luminaries along the moonlit path and speakers playing bluegrass music at mile markers. Each participant receives a t-shirt, commem-

orative mason jar, access to post-race concert and (for those age 21 and over) two drink tickets for a moonshine cocktail. Awards are hand-made candlelit lanterns or bottles of moonshine. Everyone, including those under 21, can compete for a prize of homemade pie. Music for the event will be provided by a local bluegrass band. Organizer Trivium Racing is partnering with nonprofi t Leisure Legacy for this event and donating part of the day’s proceeds to the organization. Leisure Legacy was created to assist Roanoke County’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and make recreation op-portunities possible and available to all. Cost: $28 to $42; registration required. Location: Explore Park, Milepost 115, Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke. Bootlegger5K.com.

4 Virginia’s Blue Ridge NABlueRidge.com

Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway See Less Trash

Last spring, cleanup volunteers with Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway

(FBRP) Roanoke Valley Chapter uncov-ered 1,189 whipped cream canisters and other trash and recyclables strewn from the J.P. Fishburn area to the top of Roanoke Mountain. The volunteers learned the canisters were linked to a form of substance abuse called huffi ng. At the time, this situation was under investigation by the National Park Ser-vice – Blue Ridge Parkway and City of Roanoke Police Department. What fol-lowed the FBRP cleanup was press coverage and raised community concern. In February, the chapter returned to the J.P. Fishburn area, where they found 43 whipped cream cans. “That’s a big difference from what we uncovered last year,” says Heidi Ketler, chapter chair. “We also removed far less trash and recyclables, which also is a good sign.” In all, the recent cleanup netted about 245 pounds of recyclables, mostly glass beer and liquor bottles, and trash, including the canisters and one tire, according to Ketler. Last year the FBRP volunteers removed a total of 2,200 pounds of trash and 1,377 pounds of recyclables during their series of three Love Your Parkway cleanups. Volun-teers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the cleanups throughout the year. For more information or to volunteer for future cleanups and other events, email [email protected] or visit FriendsBRP.org.

New App Reminds Blacksburg Residents AboutTrash, Recyclables and Hazardous Materials

Last fall, the Town of Blacksburg launched a free app called My Waste for its curbside trash and recycling

customers. With My Waste, Blacksburg residents can check details for regular and special collections and events for spring and fall cleanup, household hazardous waste collection and e-waste days. My Waste is tailored to each user’s neighbor-hood. Once residents have downloaded the app it can be

set it up to provide regular reminders for any of Blacksburg’s collection programs. For example, residents can set a reminder for the day recycling is collected and set up alerts for household hazardous or electronic waste collection days. This app can reminded residents about when they need to set out trash and recycling and when hazardous waste can be turned in. It can also answer ques-tions about what can and cannot be recycled. Residents can download the free My Waste app at m.My-Waste.Mobi/VA-Blacksburg/. After opening the app, select either the Apple or Android icon on the fi rst screen, depending upon which type of smart phone is used. The My Waste app was funded by a recycling education grant from the Curb-side Value Partnership (CVP) Connect Education Award Program in 2013. The grant program provides resources to selected communities that have been dedicated users of CVP Connect. CVP Connect is a free, online education training tool for recycling coordinators that was launched last year to help communities be more strategic and effective in the promotion of their residential recycling programs.

For more information, visit SustainableBlacksburgVA.org.

Cleanup volunteers with the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway Roanoke Valley Chapter.

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Update on Proposed Pipeline in Western Virginiaby Sue Lindsey

A proposed underground pipeline to transport natural gas through West-

ern Virginia drew nearly 200 people to the Cabell Brand Center’s March 9 forum to hear presentations both for and against the plan. Rupert Cutler, a member of the CBC board who moderated the forum held at Virginia Western Community College, in Roanoke, said the organizers achieved their goal to present an objective look at the pros and cons of natural gas pipe-lines. “We have hosted a balanced presen-tation of information and views on the subject for attendees to use as they see fi t at future meetings with elected offi cials and in correspondence with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, members of Congress and other policy-makers,” Cutler wrote in an email. Several pipelines originating in northern West Virginia are proposed, but as of now only one, the Mountain Valley Pipeline, would affect the Roanoke Val-ley. The exact route for the proposed line has not been established, but it could travel through Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke and Franklin counties. The pipeline would have to receive federal approval before it could be built. The Roanoke County Board of Su-pervisors recently named a 16-member advisory committee to assist in its review of potential benefi ts as well as possible adverse effects of a pipeline on citizens, businesses and natural resources, accord-ing to the county’s website.The 300-mile-long line, a joint venture of EQT Corp. and NextEra Energy, would transport natural gas at high pressure through a 42-inch-wide buried pipe to Pittsylvania County in southern Virginia.A recording of the CBC’s entire March 9 program is available in a set of two DVDs from Roanoke Valley Television (RVTV; see RVTV.org) for $10, according to Cutler.

For more information, visit CabellBrandCenter.org.

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healthbriefs

Acupuncture Increases Quality of Life for Allergy Sufferers

Research from Berlin’s Charité University Medical Center suggests that acupuncture

is an effective treatment for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in 2013, the study analyzed data on the

costs and quality of life of 364 allergy patients that had been randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: rescue medication alone (taken when symp-toms are greatest); acupuncture treatment plus rescue medication; or sham (non-therapeutic) acupuncture plus rescue medication. Patients receiving acupuncture incurred higher total treatment costs, but also gained signifi cantly more quality of life compared with the rescue medication-only groups.

Memory Works Better Reading Real BooksResearchers from Norway’s Stavan-

ger University and France’s Aix-Marseille Université found that readers remember a story better if it’s on paper. The study tested 50 people that read the same 28-page short story. Half of the group read the paper version and the other half read the story on a Kindle e-reader. The researchers discovered that readers of the digital version could not remember details from the story or reconstruct the plot as well as the group that read the paper copy. The researchers found that the feedback of a Kindle doesn’t pro-vide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does. “When you read on paper, you can sense with your fi ngers a pile of pages on the left growing, and shrinking on the right,” explains Stavanger University’s Anne Mangen, Ph.D. These fi ndings confi rm a study performed a year earlier, also led by Mangen. Seventy-two 10th-graders were given text to read either on paper or on a computer screen. The students that read the paper text ver-sions scored signifi cantly higher in reading comprehension testing than those reading digital versions.

THE COLOR GREEN MAKES EXERCISE FEEL EASIERResearch from the University of Essex, in England, sug-

gests that viewing natural green images while exercis-ing may be better than being exposed to other colors. The researchers tested 14 people doing moderate-intensity cycling while watching video footage of predominantly gray, red or green imagery. Each of the participants under-went three cycling tests—one with each of the videos—along with a battery of physiological and mood testing.

The researchers found that when the subjects watched the green-colored vid-eo, they had better moods, with a lower relative perception of exertion than when they exercised while watching the red and grey videos. They also found those that exercised while watching the red video experienced greater feelings of anger dur-ing their exercise.

Strawberries Reduce Blood PressureA study published in the World Journal of Diabetes

concluded that the regular consumption of a fl avonoid-rich strawberry beverage reduces blood pressure in people with Type 2 diabetes. The study divided 36 subjects, all with moderately high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, into two groups—the fi rst drank the equivalent of one serving of fresh strawberries per day made from freeze-dried berries, and the other group drank the same amount of an imitation strawberry-fl avored drink over a six-week period. Blood pressure was tested at the beginning and end of the study for all participants. At the end, the group drinking the real strawberry beverage registered signifi -cantly lower diastolic blood pressure than at the outset; it was also lower than the imitation strawberry group. The average diastolic blood pressure of the group drinking real strawberries went down by 6.5 percent and the systolic dropped by 12 percent. The strawberry-fl avored group’s systolic blood pressure was also reduced, but only by 3.7 percent.


Affordable Health Care from Mother Nature

Unlike their Eastern counterparts, North American and some European herbalists seek to directly mitigate health issues or facilitate specifi c bodily functions using particular plants, roots

and barks. Native Americans embraced the belief that Mother Nature provides, contending that the herbs of a local environment provide for all of the needs of the people dwelling there. For example, snake weed

is prevalent in the Southwest, where encounters with rattlesnakes are frequent. Herbs such as comfrey, arnica and sage, which are found from coast to coast, are used to heal wounds, relieve pain and get rid of parasites, maladies common to people everywhere, according to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Every culture in the world has developed and maintained a system of healing based on their indigenous plants, relying on these natural pharmaceutical entities for thousands of years. A human that lived 5,000 years ago found preserved in ice in 1991 was carrying herbs and mushrooms to mitigate health conditions that scientists confi rmed were present in his body. Despite their effective use for millennia, many modern-day people still question the effi cacy and safety of medicinal herbs. Instead of looking to pharmaceutical companies—born of an industry with less than 200 years of experience—to handle our healthcare needs, perhaps the real affordable care act can be found in the plants, roots and barks provided by Mother Nature. For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page XX.

Local Toxins Increase Risk of AutismConfi rming previous fi ndings,

a large study from the University of Chicago has found that autism is linked to toxic environmental exposure. The research examined data from nearly a third of the U.S. population, which showed that both autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities increased as exposure increased in region-by-region testing. The research measured clusters of autism incidence together with exposure rates in different counties and states across the country. The areas with greater environmental toxin exposures had signifi cantly increased autism rates. The correlation was signifi cant among both boys and girls, but stronger among girls. Proximity to urban areas also increased autism incidence. For every 1 percent increase in urbanization, there was about a 3 percent rise in autism and intellectual disabilities. Infl uential toxins include pesticides, plasticizers, lead and pharmaceuticals.

Olive Oil Boosts Healthy CholesterolIn an effort to understand

what makes olive oil so good for heart health, a study from Europe’s Cardiovascular Risk and Nutrition Research Group and the U.S. National Institutes of Health has found that olive oil’s polyphenols signifi cantly increase the size of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) in the blood and enhance the HDL’s ability to inhibit formation of the abnormal fatty deposits, known as plaque, within the walls of arteries. Polyphenols are natural compounds from plants known to help prevent cancer and heart disease. In the three-week study, researchers isolated the effect of polyphenols by dividing 47 healthy European men into two groups: one ate a diet containing polyphenol-poor olive oil and the other consumed polyphenol-rich olive oil. The enriched diet resulted in increased size, fl uidity and stability (resistance to oxidation) of the HDL molecules by reducing their triglyceride core. The researchers note that the oxidation of cholesterol lipids such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is linked with arteriosclerosis.


globalbriefsNews and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefi ts all.

Corporate Do-GoodersU.S. Recognizes Companies for Earth-Sound PoliciesEach year, the U.S. Department of State presents Awards for Corporate Excellence recognizing U.S.-owned businesses that play vital roles worldwide as good cor-porate citizens. Parameters include sup-porting sustainable development, respect for human and labor rights, environmen-tal protection, open markets, transpar-ency and other democratic values. The 2014 winners, announced last December, include the EcoPlanet Bamboo Group, in Nicaragua, for fostering sustainable development by regenerating degraded pasturelands. The company dedicates 20 percent of its plantations as natural habitat that protects biodiversity by prohibiting ille-gal hunting. EcoPlanet also focuses on employing persons with disabilities and empowering women through recruit-ment to managerial positions. Wagner Asia Equipment, LLC, in Mongolia, a heavy equipment dealership, is recognized for its commitment to pub-lic/private partnerships with Mongolia’s local and national governments designed to protect the environment. Initiatives include planting more than 900 trees, conducting workshops for students on en-vironment and ecology, implementing a project to build a community garden and rehabilitating a toxic waste site. Other fi nalists include the Coca-ColaCompany, in the Philippines; Chevron Corporation, in Burma; ContourGlobal, in Togo; General Electric, in South Africa; General Electric International, in Tunisia; GlassPoint Solar, in Oman; and the Linden Centre, in China.

For more information on fi nalists, visit Tinyurl.com/ACE2014Finalists.

Curbside CompostingNo Food Scraps Need Go to WastePeople in the United States waste more than a third of all of the food they produce, but more than 180 cities and towns are beginning to realize that wasted food can be valuable; they are asking residents to separate unwanted food from the rest of their trash and put it in a curbside compost bin. The idea is to stop sending food waste to the

landfi ll, where it generates harmful methane gas pollution, and start turning it into something useful, like compost. In 2011, Portland, Oregon, launched a curbside compost program in which residents are encouraged to put food scraps into the city’s green yard waste bin. Since then, the amount of garbage sent to the landfi ll has decreased by 37 percent. According to Bruce Walker, the city’s solid waste and recycling program manager, the program also reduces the environmental footprint of the trash heap. Getting people to separate their food waste, however, can be diffi cult. To motivate its residents to put more food waste in the compost bin, the city of Seattle, Washington,has proposed both making curbside composting mandatory and fi ning residents a dollar every time they put a disproportionate volume of food waste in their trash.

Source: NetNebraska.org

Thriving Eco-TownsMalaysian Villages Model SustainabilityInnovations being successfully pioneered in Malaysia offer ideas for improving the world, according to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), including the construction of high-tech, self-sustaining ecological “smart” villages. These villages are lifting incomes for scores of rural families while promoting environmental sustainability. Each 50-acre community consists of about 100 affordable homes, advanced educational, training and recreational facilities and an integrated, sustainable farm system that provides villagers with food and employment that on average, triples their monthly income. Low-cost, 1,000-square-foot homes are built in 10 days and the communal farming operations include a cascading series of fi sh tanks, or “aquafarms”. Filtered fi sh tank wastewater irrigates trees, grain fi elds and high-value plants grown in “autopots”, a three-piece container with a valve that detects soil mois-ture levels and releases water as required, reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Free-range chickens feed on the fast-reproducing worms that process the plant compost. This system optimizes nutrient absorption, minimizes waste and enables crops to be grown on previously non-arable land. The village’s solar-generated power is complemented by biomass energy and mini-hydro electricity. A community hall, resource center, places of worship, playgrounds and educational facilities equipped with 4G Internet service support e-learning and e-health services.

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Sustainable Shopping TipsSmart Choices Help Our Home Planet

The buy local movement and popularity of local farmers’ markets continue to grow, but we can do even better when it comes to sustainable shopping. A recent Greendex.com survey on environmental impacts of consumer behaviors in 18 countries reports that more Americans are eating local and organic foods and say they’re going to consume less meat and bottled water. Nevertheless, we continue to eat the most processed and packaged foods and the fewest fruits and vegetables of all the countries surveyed. Evidently, we need to literally put our money where our mouths are. The Greendex survey cites several basic ways to make our diets more sustainable. These include eating more vegetables and less beef and lamb (recognizing the greater environmental impact of raising animals); participating and supporting community supported agriculture and fi shery initiatives; economizing meal planning; and storing food properly in the refrigerator to maximize space and freshness periods. When grocery shopping, peruse the perimeter aisles fi rst, where whole foods are stocked, instead of the interior shelves, which typically comprise processed foods according to MotherEarthLiving.com. More cooperation between the public and private sectors and individual involvement can also increase sustainability in communities around the world. Rachael Durrant, Ph.D., a research fellow with the UK-based Sustainable Lifestyles Research Group, cites in a recent paper the need for improved understanding of the key roles that civil society organizations play within processes of large-scale social change and warned that many communities are vulnerable to grave environmental and social risks. Durrant lauds “greener, fairer and healthier practices, such as community gardening or cookery classes,” plus “those that change the rules of the game through campaigns or lobbying to coordinate and facilitate activities of other groups.” Supporting food and farming management that’s independent, cooperative and welcomes volunteers, for example, is highly benefi cial.

ecotip

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blossoming in nature.

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blueridgegreentravel

While the HISTORIC ROANOKE CITY MARKET has been around since

1882 and is known to be the oldest continuously operating open-air market in Virginia, there are markets in neighborhoods throughout the city,

as well as in Salem and Vinton and at the Greenbrier Nursery in south Roanoke County. The fi rst City of Roanoke Charter formally authorized a municipally owned market in 1884, and since then it has become the heart of the city, offering fresh fruits, vegetables, fl owers and plants during the growing season, as well as handcrafted items, art and jewelry. It is the site of numerous festivals and celebrations during the year, drawing local shoppers and visitors alike. The Historic Roanoke City Market is open all year (except Christmas and New Year’s Day), seven days a week.

THE SALEM FARMERS’ MARKET, located at the corner of Main and Broad Streets in the downtown district, opened in 1992. “It has become a real gathering

place,” says Mike Stevens, the city’s communications director. Vendors sell local fresh produce, home-baked good, fl owers, honey, eggs, beef and cheese. “It’s a producers’ market,” adds Laura Reilly, Salem’s horticulturist and market director. She says the market focuses on agriculture and agriculture-based products grown or produced within 100 miles of Salem. The City of Salem, which operates the market, offers events throughout the year to bring in visitors. For the past seven years, Stevens says, they have held a Chef’s Circle on Saturdays in the summer. The chefs use a “kitchen on wheels” – an actual

FARMERS’ MARKETSin the Roanoke Valley

by Anne Piedmont

Fresh, locally grown and produced food is available in every corner of the Roanoke Valley – in some places all year long, but especially from April into the fall.

Photo credit: Anne Piedmont. The Historic Roanoke City Market has been selling local food since 1882.

Photo credit: Anne Piedmont. Chef’s Circle cooking demonstrations at the Salem City Market on

summer Saturdays.

kitchen from a house that was torn down, complete with running water, gas and a refrigerator. Local chefs demonstrate how to cook with the available fresh ingredients. Other events include a monthly concert series called Salem After Five, and an informal bluegrass music session on Saturday nights. “Pickers just show up and an audience gathers to listen,” Stevens says. New this year, according to Reilly, is an effort to incorporate community health into the market activities. She’s planning to partner with local nonprofi t organizations to offer screenings as well as healthy cooking demonstrations. The Salem Farmers’ Market is open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., from April to December, and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, January through March.


THE VINTON FARMERS’ MAR-KET, owned and operated by the town, has been around since 1988. Like the City and Salem markets, it has become a community center, says Mary Beth Layman, market manager and special projects director for the Town of Vin-ton. Located at 204 West Lee Street, the market offers produce from within 100 miles of Vinton. While it is food-centered, Layman says special arts and crafts events bring out a large number of artists and craftspeople. In addition to covered stalls with tables for vendors, the market area also features a permanent stage at for concerts and special events, which are held throughout the year. One of those events, “Shake, Bake and Sprout,” is offered for children and held in June, July and August. Layman says the three sessions focus on such things as container gardens, making healthy snacks and fun exercises. The Vinton market, Layman adds, has a dedicated core of shoppers who come to see each other as much as the vendors. “I enjoy seeing neighbors, friends and many generations of families come to the market for events and shopping,” she says. The market is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week from April through October, though Layman says the hours increase during the summer.

It marked its fi rst anniversary on March 22, says owner Jim Monroe. Greenbrier’s Roanoke market and its other market in Beckley, West Virginia, grew out of the economic downturn in 2008 and 2009. Monroe saw it as a way to promote local food and bring more shoppers into the two nurseries. He says the Roanoke County location offers a convenient location and the ability to create a year-round space for the variety of vendors who produce and sell prepared food. Greenbrier also offers space to grow food (which it also sells), and plots that families can rent to grow their own food. And, Monroe says, his staff will till the land, water it the plot and clean it up in the fall, not to mention offer expertise for novice gardeners. Other farmers’ markets in the Roanoke Valley include: Both the GRANDIN VILLAGE AND WEST END COMMUNITY MARKETS feature certifi ed and non-certifi ed organic vegetables, fruit, herbs, seasonal seedlings, cheese, pasture-raised/grass-fed chicken, beef, pork, and lamb, regional seafood, locally roasted coffee, artisan homemade breads, muffi ns, baked goods, hot-prepared foods and cut fl owers. The Grandin market is open

8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from April through October and is located at the corner of Westover Avenue and Grandin Road, in Roanoke. The West End market also holds free cooking demonstrations every Tuesday throughout the summer. It is open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday all year long, and is located at 1210 Patterson Avenue, in Roanoke. The LICK RUN PUBLIC MARKET sells certifi ed and non-certifi ed organic vegetables and fruit, herbs and eggs. Goods are produced on the Lick Run Urban Farm or within 100 miles of the market location. The market is open from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday from April through October, and is located at 1626 10th Street NW, in Roanoke. Most of the local farmers’ markets accept SNAP-EBT benefi ts. And most of the local food is grown or produced within 100 miles. For more information, visit DowntownRoanoke.org/City-Market, Market.SalemVA.gov, VintonVA.gov, GreenbrierNurseries.com, LeapForLocalFood.org, LickRun.org.

Anne Piedmont is a writer and research associate based in Roanoke. For more information, visit PiedmontResearchAssociates.com.

Photo credit: Anne Piedmont. The Farm to Table Market at Greenbrier Nurseries is open year-round.

One of the newest entries to the local farmers’ market scene is the FARM TO TABLE MARKET AT GREENBRIER NURSERIES, on Starkey Road in Roanoke County.


communityspotlight

The Roanoke Valley lost one of its local heroes in January when Salem native Cabell Brand,

philanthropic businessman and longtime champion of many causes and many people, passed away at the age of 91. His decades of community service refl ected the social and environmental issues he and his late wife, Shirley, cared about so deeply. Brand was perhaps best known as the founder of Total Action Against Poverty, now called Total Action for Progress (TAP), which he established in 1965. TAP created the fi rst Head Start program in Virginia. Brand also founded the Cabell Brand Center for International Poverty and Resource Sustainability Studies, which sponsors projects, workshops and presentations on environmental and social justice concerns, and which offers annual scholarships to college students. In 2008, Brand published the book If Not Me, Then Who? With its empowering subtitle – How You

Can Help with Poverty, Economic Opportunity, Education, Healthcare, Environment, Racial Justice, and Peace Issues in America – it serves as a handbook for activism, based on the

author’s “get involved” philosophy and experience that he had gained throughout his life.

Here are some excerpts from Brand’s motivating book.

“My ultimate goal is simple: To exhort by example and challenge the current generation to begin thinking, planning and organizing to create, sustain and strengthen the American society, with the equal opportunity we want and expect our children, and their children, to inherit.”

“. . . I have come to believe that we are all in this enterprise together, making the best we can of our common lot with all humankind sharing this planet. I have come to believe that we have within our power – our intellect, our experience, our technology, our connectedness as human beings – to make the world a better, more promising place for us and for those who will come after us. Indeed, I believe we have a moral we well as a practical obligation to do so. I have learned not to trust the easy instinct toward premature judgment. Many people lack a basic understanding of the plight of others who, for reasons often beyond their

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control, fi nd themselves in the misfortune of poverty. Some people, unfortunately, are so captive of their ignorance that they simply don’t care. Failing, much less refusing, to understand and care about the plight of so many is especially self-defeating in a society that proclaims its dedication to equal opportunity for everyone.

“From nearly half a century of founding and working with community action agencies, I have learned that almost every man and woman desires to succeed. They just need a chance. I have experienced the satisfaction of helping to fulfi ll the hopes and aspirations of people seeking a “hand up,” and not a handout. When those who are weak are made stronger, then the community’s shared burdens – and its opportunities – become not only more bearable but also more promising and productive.”

“I am urging a new generation to take up the torch and to lead our return to the path toward

greater opportunity for everyone, including the growing numbers of the dispossessed who are beginning to lose ground. I believe it is crucial to keep faith with those who paved the way for us, who gave meaning and purpose to the phrase ‘equal opportunity,’ and I hope in this book to challenge, exhort and encourage all – regardless of the generation into which they were born – who desire to keep that faith as they fashion the strategies to confront age-old problems with imagination, innovation, determination and vigor.”

“No achievement of enduring value in life – personal, corporate, civic – is possible without effort, struggle and diffi culty. I have known the uncertainty of a growing business under fi nancial strain. I have been the target of debasement and threats arising from bigotry and racial enmity. I have suffered the agony of the tragic deaths of four children. Yet those ordeals opened to me priceless insights and taught me valuable lessons about patience, perseverance, resilience and determination.

“I hope that those who read this book will come to appreciate, as I have, that each generation contributes to our ‘more perfect union’ when dedicated people respond to their world by confronting problems that require ‘we,’ not just ‘me,’ as an essential part of building an enduring, prosperous and just future for ourselves and for those who will follow.”

For more information, visit CabellBrandCenter.org.

Cabell and Shirley Brand


While the idea that we humans stand apart from—or even above—nature is a prevail-

ing theme in much of modern civiliza-tion, naturalists and other clever souls throughout the ages have observed that the opposite is true: We are part of, depend on and evolve with nature—and we ignore this vital connection at our peril. “If one way is better than another, that you may be sure is nature’s way,” admonished the Greek philosopher Aristotle, in the third century B.C.E. “Time destroys the speculation of men, but it confi rms the judgment of na-ture,” Roman politician and philosopher Cicero ruminated two centuries later. Nobel Prize-winning physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein remarked, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Today, more of us are looking to nature for ways to improve physical, mental and emotional health, develop

intelligence, innovate, overhaul how we build homes and neighborhoods, and raise our children.

Healthful Nature As Henry David Thoreau wrote in his classic 1854 book Walden, “We need the tonic of wildness.” While we know fi rsthand how walking in the woods can elevate mood, scientists have documented that a regular dose of nature has other far-reaching benefi ts. It can lower stress hormone levels, blood pressure and undesirable cholesterol; help heal neurological problems; hasten fuller recovery from surgery and heart at-tacks; increase cancer-fi ghting white blood cells; and generally aid overall health (Health Promotion International research report; also Nippon Medical School study, Tokyo). Regular playtime outdoors helps children cope with hyperactivity and attention defi cit disorders, accord-

ing to research published in Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. Exposure to nature can help adults escape from today’s wired lives; rein-vigorate, be fi tter and less likely to suffer from obesity, diabetes and heart disease, as reported in studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutri-tion and a University of Washington research summary. It can also unlock understanding of the spiritual essence of life. Hours regularly spent by youth outdoors stimulate imagination and creativity and enhance cognitive development, helping them learn. Nature also helps youngsters develop social awareness, helping them better navigate human relations (Tinyurl.com/

OutdoorHealthBenefi tsResearch). “It’s strange and kind of sad that we are so

removed from nature that we actually have to ask why

nature is good for us,” says Dr. Eva Selhub, a lecturer at Harvard Medi-cal School, author of the new book Your Health Destiny, and co-author of Your Brain on Nature. “The fact is our brains and bodies are wired in concert with nature.” Recognition of nature’s positive effects has grown so much in recent years that physicians increasingly write their patients “prescriptions” to go hiking in the woods, counting on the healthy exercise and exposure to sunlight, nature and soothing views to address health problems stemming from poor diets and sedentary life-styles. Healthcare clinics and hospitals in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Indianapolis, Albuquerque, New Mexico, California’s Bay Area and elsewhere have launched Prescription Trails programs aimed at objectives from preventing obesity in children to healthful activities for retirees (Tinyurl.com/AmericanHealthTrails). Bestselling author Richard Louv calls the positive nature effect “vitamin N” in The Nature Principle. He con-tends: “Many of us, without having a name for it, are using the nature tonic. We are, in essence, self-medicating with an inexpensive and unusually convenient drug substitute.”

Nature’s WisdomIts Lessons Inspire, Heal and Sustain Usby Christine MacDonald

The environment is not separate from ourselves; we are inside it and it is inside us; we make it and it makes us.

~ Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, Amazon shaman


Such ideas are commonly accepted in many cultures. The Japanese believe in the restorative power of shinrin-yoku, which could be translated as “forest medicine” or “forest bathing”. Indigenous peoples like the Brazilian tribe led by Shaman Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, fi ghting to preserve their land and way of life in the Amazon, profess to be at one with the innate riches of sustainable rainforests (Sur-vivalInternational.org/parks).

Innovative NatureScientists, inventors and other innova-tors are increasingly inspired by nature. Biomimicry, part social movement and part burgeoning industry, looks to how Earth’s natural systems work and solve problems. University of Utah research-ers, inspired by the durable homes built by sandcastle worms, are creating a synthetic glue that one day could help repair fractured bones. Architectural components manufacturer Panelite makes energy-effi cient insulated glass by mimicking the hexagonal structure that bees use in honeycombs. (Find other precedents at Tinyurl.com/BiomimicryCaseExamples). The inspiration for biomimicry comes from many places, says Dayna Baumeister, Ph.D. co-founder of Bio-mimicry 3.8, a Missoula, Montana, company working with other companies and universities to propel biomimicry into the mainstream. “People are recognizing that they’ve been disconnected to the natu-ral world,” she says. “We also realize that [as a species] we are in trouble. We don’t have all the answers, but we can look to other species for inspira-

tion” for clearing pollutants from our bodies and environments. Plants and fungi are now com-monly used to clean up old industrial sites that resemble nature’s way of removing pollutants from water and soil. A University of California, Berkeley, meta-study confi rms that farmers cur-rently using organic farming methods and solar power achieve roughly the same crop yields as conventional techniques with far less dependence on fossil fuels, reducing greenhouse gases and petrochemical pesticide and fertilizer pollution.

Cyclical NatureThese breakthrough technologies emu-late the way nature uses the building blocks of life in an endless cycle of birth, reproduction, decay and rebirth. It’s part of a broad rethinking of the principles behind sustainability—building, manufacturing and living in greater harmony with natural systems, perhaps eventually eliminating land-fi lls, air and water pollution, and toxic site cleanups. “A toxin is a material in the wrong place,” says architect William Mc-Donough, of Charlottesville, Virginia.

The only individual recipient of the Presidential Award for Sustainable De-velopment, he is co-author of Cradle-to-Cradle, a groundbreaking book that calls for re-envisioning even the nastiest waste, and The Upcycle: Beyond Sus-tainability—Designing for Abundance. McDonough imagines a world where waste becomes raw material for new buildings, furniture and other goods—akin to how a forest reuses every de-ceased tree and animal to nourish the ecosystem and spawn new life. With 80 percent of U.S. residents currently living in urban areas, archi-tects, builders and municipal planners are likewise pivoting toward nature, prompted by the scientifi c evidence of the many ways that human health and general well-being rely upon it. While this contact is preferably the kind of “stopping by woods” that inspired New England poet Robert Frost, even a walk in a city park will work. “Urban nature, when provided as parks and walkways and incorporated into building design, provides calm-ing and inspiring environments and encourages learning, inquisitiveness and alertness,” reports the University of Washington’s College of the Environ-ment, in Green Cities: Good Health. The American Planning Association stresses the importance of integrat-ing green space into urban neighbor-hoods. Not only does so-called “metro nature” improve air and water quality and reduce urban heat island effects, urban wilds such as Pittsburgh’s Nine Mile Run and Charlotte, North Carolina’s Little Sugar Creek Greenway also restore natural connections in densely populated city centers.

Scientifi c studies show that a regular dose of nature has far-reaching health benefi ts. More doctors now write “nature” prescriptions for their patients.


Natural Intelligence A growing number of scientists say that research about our place in nature has sparked fresh thinking about our role and devastated quaint notions about our species’ superiority. “Single-celled slime molds solve mazes. Brainless plants make correct decisions and bees with brains the size of pinheads handle ab-stract concepts,” points out Anthropolo-gist Jeremy Narby, author of the ground-breaking book Intelligence in Nature. At a national conference of Bi-oneers, an organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and San Francisco that gathers nature-minded social and scientifi c innovators, Narby said: “We are nearly identical to many animals. Many behaviors once thought to be exclusively human are shared by other species. The zone of the specifi cally human, as determined by science, has been shrinking.” We haven’t lost the ability to tap that primal animal inside, even if most of us are more likely to “venture into the forest” by watching a movie or playing video games. We may feel cut off from our instincts, but studies show time in the woods can do wonders to restore the keenness of our senses to

True-Life ‘Aha!’ Reads10 Lessons from Nature to Inspire Our Everyday Lives by David Miller,Tinyurl.com/10InspiringLessonsFromNature

9 Amazing Lessons from Nature to Inspire Your Everyday Life by Annie Hauser, Tinyurl.com/9InspiringLessonsFromNature

Intelligence in Natureby Jeremy Narby

Life Lessons from Nature by Elvis Newman

Cathedrals of the Spirit by T. C. McLuhan

Your Brain on Nature by Eva Selhub

Man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned to discord. The proportions and accommodations that ensured the stability of existing arrangements are overthrown. Of all organic beings, man alone is to be regarded as essentially a destructive power.

~George Perkins Marsh, Man and Nature (1864)

connect with the subtle changes in natural habitat, the movements of other species and the changing seasons. The rise of human civilizations may have taken “survival of the fi ttest” in new directions, often decidedly tamer ones, but experts ranging from scientifi c researchers to lifestyle analysts say hu-mankind is still hardwired by our more primitive past. Despite the ingenious ways we’ve devised to exploit other life forms, capitalize on Earth’s resources and protect ourselves from nature’s sometimes terrifying power, our fate re-mains linked to natural laws and limits, from nurturing our body’s immune sys-tem to resolving planet-sized problems like climate change. “‘Nature’ is our natural environ-ment,” according to Selhub. We don’t have to move to the country to recon-nect, she says. “Even spending 20 minutes a day outside has an effect.” Houseplants, nature photos and aro-matherapy Earth scents can also help indoor environments better refl ect our own nature. The wealth of research and com-mon sense wisdom is aptly summed up by celebrated author Wendell Berry in The Long-Legged House. “We have

lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it’ll be possible to live by the contrary assump-tion, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.”

Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science. Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.

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The arrival of planting season has a stunning effect on veggie gardeners. We talk to our seedlings as if they

were children, and don’t mind working until dark if that’s what it takes to get the fi ngerling potatoes in the ground. Then, complications like crabgrass and cab-bageworms appear, and keeping up with all the details feels impossible. We can lighten looming chores by using these time-saving tips, which will reduce later workloads when storms and the hot sum-mer sun threaten to squelch the magic. Mulch to reduce watering and prevent weeds. “You can cut your watering time in half by mulching crops with a three-to-four-inch layer of straw or shredded leaves,” says Niki Jabbour, award-winning author of The Year-Round Vegetable Gar-dener and Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden. “Crops like tomatoes, potatoes, kale, broccoli, cucumbers and squash all benefi t from a deep mulch, which reduces the need to water and also prevents weeds, saving even more time.” Grow herbs in convenient contain-ers. Family cooks will harvest kitchen herbs every day, in all kinds of weather,

so don’t waste footsteps. Grow some parsley, basil and other herbs in large containers near the kitchen door.

Try promising perennials. Plant them once, and vegetables like asparagus and rhubarb come back year after year in cold winter climates like the Midwest and Northeast. Where winters are mild, artichokes or chayote (pear squash) are long-lived and productive. Many resilient herbs will return each spring, too, includ-ing sage, mints, thyme and oregano. Tar-ragon and marjoram make trusty peren-nial herbs in the Sun Belt.

Stock up on organic seeds. “As a year-round vegetable gardener, I try to come up with a list of all the seeds I’ll need for every season when I place an-nual seed orders,” Jabbour says. “That way, I will place fewer orders and have everything on hand at the proper planting time, saving both time and money.”Organic seeds in consumer seed cata-logs and retail racks won’t be genetically modifi ed or treated with pesticides.

Be generous with organic compost.With each planting, mix in organic compost along with a balanced organic fertilizer. Food crops grown in organically

Home-Grown Organic Made Easy

10 Time-Saving Tips for a Healthy Gardenby Barbara Pleasant

enriched soil are better able to resist chal-lenges from pests and diseases, which simplifi es summer tasks.

Grow fl owers to attract benefi cial in-sects. Reducing or eliminating pesticidesand increasing plantings of fl owers can radi-cally improve the balance between helpfuland harmful insects in a garden. Horticultur-ist Jessica Walliser, co-host of Pittsburgh’sThe Organic Gardeners KDKA radio show and author of Attracting Benefi cial Bugs to Your Garden, recommends starting with sweet alyssum, an easy-to-grow annual that can be tucked into the edges of beds or added to mixed containers. “The tiny blossoms of sweet alyssum are adept at supporting several species of the non-stinging parasitic wasps that help keep aphids and other common pests in check,” Walliser says. In warm climates where they are widely grown, crape myrtles have been found to serve as nurseries for lady beetles, lacewings and other benefi cial insects.

Protect plants with fabric barriers. Pest insects seeking host plants won’t fi nd cabbage or kale if they’re hidden beneath hoops covered with fi ne-mesh fabric like wedding net (tulle) or garden fabric row cover. “Cover the plants the day they are transplanted into the garden,” advises Walliser. As long as the edges are securely tucked in, row covers will also protect plants from wind, hail, rabbits and deer.

Hoe briefl y each day. Commit 10 minutes a day to hoeing. While slicing down young weeds, hill up soil over potatoes or clean up beds ready to be replanted. Look out for small problems to correct before they become big ones.

No more misplaced tools. Time is often wasted searching for lost weeders, pruning shears and other hand tools, which are easier to keep track of when painted in bright colors or marked with colored tape. Jabbour uses a tool stash basket placed at the garden entrance. Stop to smell the fl owers. Use mo-ments saved to sit quietly, relax and soak up the sights, sounds and smells of the garden. Pausing to listen to the birds or watch a honeybee work a fl ower is part of the earned reward of any healthy gar-den that can’t be measured by the pound.

Barbara Pleasant, the author of numer-ous green thumb books, including Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens, grows veg-etables, herbs and fruits in Floyd, Virginia. Connect at BarbaraPleasant.com.

Organic gardening experts share strategies for growing a great garden and having a life, too.


For most individuals, odorous chemi-cals are simply unpleasant. For those that are sensitive and susceptible,

however, even common chemical expo-sures may evoke a toxicant-induced loss of tolerance (TILT) marked by multiple-system symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, autoimmune disease, asthma, depression and food intolerance. Since the post-World War II expansion of petrochemicals, the incidence of TILT has increased dramatically, says Claudia Miller, a medical doctor, researcher and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and

healingways

co-author of Chemical Exposures: Low Levels and High Stakes. “Fortunately, public awareness has also grown signifi cantly in the last few years,” says Rick Smith, Ph.D., a Cana-dian environmentalist who co-authored Toxin Toxout. “Now companies and governments worldwide are moving toward making safer products.” We can support progress by leveraging some practical tips in greening our home. Start somewhere. Many volatile organic compounds (VOC) that in-clude formaldehyde and benzene are concealed in household items such as

Spring GreeningEasy Ways to Detox a House

by Lane Vail

couches, chairs, particleboard furniture, mattresses, box springs, carpeting, rugs, synthetic fl ooring, wallpaper and paint. Green TV host and Fresh Living author Sara Snow implores us not to become overwhelmed, disheartened or fearful. “Creating a healthy home is a gradual process that doesn’t require throwing all the furniture out,” she advises. Start by scrutinizing labels and choosing not to bring new toxins in. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is widely found to be associated with reproductive toxicity and is found in many waterproofed and fl exible plastics. Select PVC-free toys, shower curtain liners and mattress covers. In the kitchen, avoid potentially carcinogenic perfl uorinated chemicals (PFC) found in nonstick coatings of pots and pans. Toss the Tefl on when it scratches, says Snow, and upgrade to stainless steel or cast iron. Weed out bi-sphenols, the DNA-disrupting chemicals found in plastics and epoxy resin can liners. Even “BPA-free” products likely contain alternative and equally harmful substances, according to a recent study published in Chemosphere. Choose clear glass instead of plastic containers. When remodeling, look for zero-VOC items, Miller says, plus materials free of stain-resistant sprays and fl ame retardants whose effi cacy is question-able. Consider natural fi ber rugs like jute or wool. Forest Stewardship Council-cer-tifi ed hardwoods or alternative fl ooring like cork or glass tile are safer invest-ments in long-term well-being. Clean green. Conventional clean-ers are among the worst offenders, and even some “eco-cleaners” can be deceptively unsafe, says Smith. He recommends avoiding antibacterial products containing triclosan, which


proliferates antibiotic-resistant bacteria that prolong and exacerbate illnesses, as well as phthalates, a chemical oil that carries artifi cial aromas and has been repeatedly linked to cancer and abnormal fetal development. “Even so-called natural fragrances are often complex petrochemicals that outgas and contaminate the air,” notes Miller. Snow advises formulating products at home using staple pantry ingredi-ents, including distilled white vinegar for disinfecting, baking soda for scour-ing, liquid castile soap for sudsing, lemon juice for degreasing and olive oil for polishing.

Freshen with fresh air. Americans spend about 90 percent of their time amid indoor air pollutants that are signifi cantly more concentrated than outdoor pollutants, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports. “Most energy-effi cient homes are well sealed with ventilation systems that recirculate indoor air, so opening the windows helps dilute accumulated airborne toxins,” says Miller. Snow further rec-ommends bringing air-purifying plants into the home such as Gerbera daisies, bamboo palms and English ivy.

Vacuum and dust. Vacuuming with a high-effi ciency particulate arrestance (HEPA) fi lter and dusting with a moist cloth eliminates allergens such as pet dander, mites, pollen and mold, and helps remove phthalates, fl ame retar-dants, lead and pesticides that “latch onto house dust and accumulate in dust bunnies,” says Smith.

Weed out lawn chemicals. “Or-ganophosphate pesticides are profound-ly neurotoxic,” says Miller, especially to the developing brains of children. Instead try integrated pest management, which involves controlling pests’ food sources and applying non-toxic deter-rents. Eliminating potentially carcino-genic herbicides might mean managing more weeds, says Snow, but it’s worth it.

Eat green. “Buying produce as close to its source as possible, from a farmer

Even small changes can measurably reduce your

family’s daily exposure to health-damaging chemicals.

~Rick Smith

or farmers’ market, provides threefold benefi ts,” says Snow—less wasteful packaging, reduced exposure to chemi-cal plastics and greater concentration of health-promoting nutrients. Buy in bulk and favor glass containers or rectangular cardboard cartons.

Take tests. Radon, an invisible, odorless gas that can emanate from the ground and accumulate in homes, an-nually causes 21,000 U.S. lung cancer deaths, according to the U.S. EPA. Lead, a neurotoxin that may occasionally leach from home water pipes, can also hide in pre-1978 paint. Testing for both and implementing reduction or precautionary measures is simple, advises Smith. Most hardware stores stock test kits.

Take action. Join with other concerned citizens by launching a pertinent petition at Change.org; cam-paigning with organizations like the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) or Safer Chemicals, Healthy Fami-lies (SaferChemicals.org); and support-ing cleaner, greener companies with family purchases.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blog-ger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

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This month, Home Box Offi ce (HBO), in collaboration with

New York City’s American Museum of Natural History, will air the new documen-tary, Saving My Tomorrow. Scientists representing the museum discuss how temperature change affects life on Planet Earth, but the majority of voices are those of children. Their words cry out for universal action to prevent them from inheriting what they believe is a dying planet in desper-ate need of healing.

In the Atmosphere“We need to know the truth, because adults clearly aren’t doing enough to stop this.”~Zoe, age 12

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA recently an-nounced that last year was the hottest in 135 years of recordkeeping, with rising ocean temperatures driving the global heat index. Nine of the 10 hottest years have oc-curred since 2000. The odds of this taking place randomly are about 650 million to 1, especially without an El Nino infl u-

EARTH IN PERILChildren Confront Climate Change

by Avery Mack

healthykids

ence, according to Uni-versity of South Carolina statistician John Grego. “The globe is warmer than it has been in the last 100 years,” says climate scientist Jennifer Francis, Ph.D., of Rutgers Univer-sity, in New Jersey. “Any wisps of doubt that human activities are at fault are

now gone with the wind.”

At Sea“We do more damage to the planet than we think.”~Peri, age 9

In the same 100 years, sea levels have risen seven inches, mostly due to ex-pansion as the water warms. “We have over 2 million preserved fi sh in our col-lection. We study them to see the effect of temperature change,” says Melanie Stiassny, Ph.D., curator of ichthyology at the museum. “The mummichog fi sh is less than an inch long. It’s a bottom feeder and that’s where pollution like mercury lies. When the water is warm, fi sh eat more and mercury is stored in their bodies.” The contaminants move up the food chain, bringing the effects of pollution to our dinner table.

We only have one home. If we

mess this one up, where do we

go next?

~Hippocrates, age 8

Forward Good Change Today

4 Reuse more, buy less. Less trash equals less pollution.

4 Bike or walk, instead of driving. Don’t use the car at

least one day a week. Less use of fossil fuels equals less drilling, fracking and oil spills.

4 Substitute a planet-healing activity for the usual after

school program. Replace lawns with native plants, which need less water and no mowing. Email manufacturers to urge them to use less packaging and plastic, auto makers to produce more fuel-effi cient cars, grocery stores to carry more locally sourced foods and ban plastic bags, and government agencies to improve pollution control measures.

4 When eating meat, make sure the animals were

humanely and locally raised, not factory farmed.

4 For fi sh, factory farmed is preferred when farmers are

vetted by watchdog agencies for being devoid of disease, pollution and heavy metals; clean fi sh are especially rare among international providers. Learn more at Tinyurl.com/SustainableFishFarming.

4 Support wildlife. Help hatchling sea turtles make

their way to the sea. Predators and man are the biggest threats—only one in 1,000 hatchlings reach adulthood. Plant milkweed to feed monarch butterfl ies. Use natural insect repellants like basil or marigolds instead of killer sprays.

4 Speak out and speak up. Search c2es.org/science-

impacts/basics/kids for event ideas and resources.


A 2006 study by Nicola Beaumont, Ph.D., with the Plymouth Marine Labo-ratory UK, found that 29 percent of the oceans’ edible fi sh and seafood species have declined by 90 percent in the past 100 years. The international team of ecologists and economists led by Boris Worm, Ph.D., of Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, predict total saltwater fi sh extinction by 2048 due to overfi shing, pollution, habitat loss and climate change. Rising ocean acidity due to absorption of increasing carbon dioxide and other emissions from burn-ing fossil fuels impacts creatures large and small, like dissolving the shell of the tiny sea butterfl y, a vital link in the ocean’s food chain. Americans currently consume 4.5 billion pounds of seafood each year.

On Land“Each species was put here for a reason. We are the caretakers.” ~a youth at a climate rally

Scientists look back to look ahead. Henry David Thoreau fell in love with the wilderness around Concord, Massachusetts, 160 years ago. From

his renowned journals, scientists know when fl owers like the pink lady slipper (Cypripedium acaule), bird’s-foot violets (Viola pedata) or golden ragworts (Packera aurea) used to bloom. Today, with temperatures six degrees Fahrenheit warmer than in Thoreau’s time, these species now bloom two weeks earlier. The Canada lily (Lilium canadense), plentiful before, is now rare, unable to adapt to the new reality. Paul Sweet, collections manager of the museum’s ornithology department, studies “skins” (stuffed birds). He says, “The skins show us how birds lived years ago.” In just the past 100 years, bird species that have gone extinct range from the ivory-billed wood-pecker (Campephilus principalis) to the once-abundant passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) and Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis). In Colorado, 70 percent of the lodgepole pines have been lost, with pines in other states also in trouble. Pine beetles feed on the pines. Histori-cally, winter brings death to both the beetles and weakened trees, which fall to feed a renewed forest. Due to

warmer temperatures, the beetles are living longer and migrating to higher altitudes to kill more trees. Forest fi res follow the dry timber line.

All Are Needed“I don’t have time to grow up before becoming an activist.”~Ta’Kaiya, age 12

“Get your parents involved.”~Teakahla, age 11

Children are more informed now than ever before. Schools offer classes on ecology, the environment, global warming and climate change. Disasters are instant news, constantly streaming through digital media. Kids are aware that they need adults to work with them to keep Earth habitable.

HBO will air all four parts of Saving My Tomorrow starting Apr. 22. Check local listings—and watch as a family. See Tinyurl.com/SavingMyTomorrow.

Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at [email protected].

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“Doctors told the parents of an 11-year-old autistic son that he would never read… so quit try-

ing to teach him,” says Suzanne Vening, an organic farmer in Jackson, Mississippi. “The doctor didn’t count on Adam, my Australian shepherd.” Abused and aban-doned before being adopted by Vening, she had trained him for therapy work. Vening knew nothing about autistic or learning-disabled children, but she knew Adam could work miracles. The boy made eye contact with Adam during his library visit and read a few words. His parents were overjoyed as his reading continued to improve. “It’s hard to include children with special needs in many fam-ily activities,” Vening says. “A library is a place the whole family can enjoy.”

Dogs with Library CardsKids Love Reading to Animals

by Sandra Murphy

She advises, “Designate a safe cor-ner where a child can escape if feeling overwhelmed. After entering the room, handlers should sit on the fl oor with the dog lying beside them. A standing dog can cause too much excitement. It’s important to trust that your therapy dog will know how to approach a child that’s afraid, has tremors or can’t sit up or sit still.” “An animal’s heartbeat seems to call to kids,” observes Rachael Barrera, a children’s librarian at Brook Hollow Public Library, in San Antonio, Texas. “Dogs have come here once a week for more than a year. Now older kids that are comfortable with the reading pro-gram are showing younger ones how to choose a book.”

The goal of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ), launched

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Cleo, a small gray cat that lives with Michelle Cardosi, a retail clerk in Denver, enjoyed her Love on a Leash therapy visits. When she became arthritic, moving from lap-to-lap was painful, and Cardosi considered retiring her, but Cleo didn’t agree. “So we went to the library’s Whiskers and Tales program instead, where she could sit on a pillow, get petted and be the center of attention,” she says. “She was able to visit until her 18th birthday.”

Clifford, a 24-year-old Morgan horse, is a well-known literacy advocate. He tours libraries in Michigan and using a sponge and watercolor paint, “signs” his biography, Clifford of Drummond Island, by author and Lansing artist Nancy Bailey, for his fans. “The kids probably won’t remember what I say, but they’ll always remember the day they saw a horse in the library,” says Bailey. “We’ve been visiting for about four years. He’s nosy and gets into everything, like the day he noticed the used book shelf. He picked out pulp fi ction books and kept handing them to me.” Bailey notes that Clifford teaches children that horses have feelings and a sense of humor when he goes for laughs and changes his responses when doing tricks.

At California’s Benicia Public Library, kids read to Honey, a friendly brown dog, on Wednesday afternoons. Sheila Jordan, managing editor and owner of Booklandia, founded in Bend, Oregon, says her 8-year-old, Chase, found it diffi cult to concentrate because of ADHD (attention-defi cit/hyperactivity disorder). “The Tales and Tails program was a big help. All summer, we went every week and chose books he said the dog would love.” Jordan’s reward was a more focused child; Chase’s reward was a dog of his own last fall. North Carolina’s Charlotte Mecklen-burg Library offers 14,000 free programs a year throughout its 20 locations, including Paws to Read. Librarian Cathy Cartledge, reading program coordinator for the Morrison Regional branch, shares this story from Jaylee’s mom, Jill. “Jaylee was tutored in reading for a year. After she also began reading to Zoey, a great Pyrenees, or Hunter, a golden retriever, I saw improvement in fl uency, confi dence and enjoyment. It worked miracles compared with the hours and money spent for tutoring,” her mom remarks. The Mount Prospect Library, near Chicago, has an age requirement for its Tales to Tails program. “Rachael, 8, will hardly put a book down now,” says her

mom, Nicole Sasanuma, a senior associ-ate with Business Communications & Advocacy, in Northbrook, Illinois. “Her sister, Emi, 6, is anxious for her next birth-day so she ‘can read to doggies,’ too.” Reading programs aren’t limited to libraries or schools. Jean Maclean, of Lompoc, California, trains her two dogs in agility and rally skills. For a change of pace, they visit the Chumash Learning Center, in Santa Ynez, once a month. The Chumash people value education from both its elders and teachers outside the tribe. Maclean relates that Donny, age 11, was afraid of dogs until he met hers, after which his teachers saw his reading improve three levels in one semester. Animals help kids relax and become teachers to the dogs. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that reading skills for kids that read to dogs during a 10-week literacy program improved by 12 percent. Chil-dren in the same program that didn’t do the same showed no improvement. Dogs and other pets prove that reading out loud doesn’t have to be scary. All it takes is a good book and a good listener.

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at [email protected].

National Library Week, April 12 to 18, celebrates the program Unlimited Possiblities @ Your Library

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3Community HU Song and Introductory Book Discussion - 7pm. Community HU song followed at 7:45pm with an Eckankar book discussion on Wisdom of the Heart, Book 3, by Harold Klemp. Harmonic Wave Wellness Center, 3201 Hill St, Lynchburg. Sponsored by Eckankar Center, Roa-noke. 434-941-7764, [email protected], ECK-va.org, Eckankar.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4Easter Eggstravaganza – 10am-Noon. The 4th annual Easter celebration at Four Corners Farm, in Rocky Mount, will include an Easter egg hunt, games, live music, egg decorating, prizes and farm tours. For all ages. Free. Four Corners Farm, 404 Old Mill Creek Ln, Rocky Mount. 540-334-1044. [email protected]. FourCornersFarm.com.

Prana Dance Workshop – 11am-2pm. Join dance and yoga teacher Leia Jones for this workshop on prana (Sanskrit for “life force”) dance workshop. No dance experience necessary. Bring yoga mat, water bottle and journal if you would like to write during the break. Please register via email. $20. Inner Awareness Studio, 657 Coal Hollow Rd, Christians-burg. [email protected].

Blossom to Bottle 5K Race – 7:30am-Noon. This 5K race, through the blossoms and grounds of Johnson’s Orchards and Peaks of Otter Winery, in Bedford, is a benefi t for the cancer program “A Path to Healing and a Bridge to Wellness.” Register online. $20/advance; $25 race day. Peaks of Otter Wintery, 2122 Sheep Creek Rd, Bedford. 540-586-3707. [email protected] or [email protected]. BlossomToBottle.com.

To have your event included in the Calendar of Events, please [email protected] or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Calendar entries are due by the 5th of the month prior to publication.

calendarofevents

SATURDAY, APRIL 11Clean Valley Day – 9am-Noon. The 37th annual Clean Valley Day will host hundreds of volunteers for cleaning up our valleys. Pick a spot – a park, playground, roadside, stream bank, church grounds or your own neighborhood – and spend the morning preserving it. Free. Trash bags and gloves are pro-vided. Individuals and groups welcome. Registration requested. 540-345-5523. [email protected]. CleanValley.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 14Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Policy Up-date Public Meeting – 4pm and 7pm (same meeting, different times). Presented by the City of Roanoke, this public meeting will discuss the community’s changing wireless telecommunications needs and current and future policies. Free. Roanoke City Main Library, Auditorium (enter through former Bullitt Ave entrance on side), 706 S Jefferson St, Roanoke. RoanokeVa.gov.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18Dance of Breath Workshop – 1-4pm. Experience the dance of the breath with dance and yoga teacher Leia Jones and breathwork instructor Martha Kastler. This workshop combines mindful movement and breath, breathwork and meditation. $25. Bring yoga mat, water bottle and journal if you would like to write during the break. Registration requested. Uttara Yoga Studio, 1217 Maple Ave, Roanoke. 540-309-0071. [email protected]. UttaraYogaStudio.com.

Greens and Beans Class – 2-3 pm. This food-focused health class is part of a partnership between Virginia Cooperative Extension, Carilion Clinic,

Leap for Local Food, West End Center for Youth, Healthy Roanoke Valley and Freedom First Credit Union. Free. West End Education Room, 1223 Pat-terson Ave SW, Roanoke. 540-342-0902, ext 1. WestEndCenter.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 21Garden Day at Poplar Forest – 10am-4pm. Learn about historic garden archaeology and restoration at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat near Lynchburg. An offi cial project of the Garden Club of Virginia. Free with regular admission or Lynchburg Garden Day ticket. Poplar Forest, 1542 Bateman Bridge Rd, Forest. 434-525-1806. PoplarForest.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24Moonlight Bootlegger 5K at Explore Park – 6pm-Closing. Night-time race along candlelit path, bluegrass music and celebration at Explore Park in Roanoke County. Registration packet includes t-shirt, commemorative mason jar, access to post-race concert and (for those age 21 and over) two drink tickets for a moonshine cocktail. $28-$42. Explore Park, Milepost 115, Blue Ridge Parkway, Roanoke. Bootlegger5K.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25Earth Day Celebration – 10am-5pm. Outdoor fam-ily festival celebrating our Earth, with environmental and community service displays, music, crafts, food and children’s games. Free. Wasena Park, Roanoke. 540-387-2782. EarthDayRoanoke.com.

Eckankar Booth at Earth Day Festival in Roanoke – 10am-5pm. Come visit the Eckankar booth and spin the Wisdom Wheel at the Earth Day Festival, a free, family event in Wasena Park, Roanoke. 540-353-5365. [email protected], Eck-va.org, Eckankar.org.

Healthy Kids and Family Day – Informational tables, booths, ongoing talks, demonstrations, and opportunities to exercise, all planned to raise health awareness in the Bedford community. Open to the public. Free. The Sedalia Center, 1108 Sedalia School Rd, Big Island. 434-299-5080, [email protected].

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sundayUnity of Roanoke – 9 and 11am services. All welcome. 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200. Offi [email protected]. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

Unity in the Seven Hills – 10-11am. Sunday service. Free. 3522 Campbell Ave, Lynchburg. 434-845-5832. [email protected]. UnityInTheSevenHills.org.

Valley Community Church – 11am. Practical solutions based on the teachings of Jesus. Services include varied musical programs; refreshments served afterward. Also streaming live on the Internet. All welcome. Nursery available. 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Eckankar Worship Service – 11am-Noon. Second Sunday of every month. During each worship service we explore a spiritual topic and practice simple spiritual exercises to help gain personal experience with the light and sound of God. All welcome. Eckankar Center, 1420 Third St SW, Roanoke (fi rst fl oor, back far right offi ce). 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Meditation Class – 11am-12:30pm. “How to Un-derstand the Mind.” Everyone welcome. $10/person. Dharmapala Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. [email protected]. MeditationInVirginia.org.

Peace Readers Book Group – 2pm. Last Sunday of every month. Book group focusing on titles that help to create a culture of peace. For more information, check the calendar on our website. All are welcome. Free. The Peace Practice, 3200 Memorial Ave, Lynchburg. 434-609-3437. ThePeacePractice.com.

Enter the Mysterium – 5-7pm. A weekly spiritual service featuring grounding games, interactive presen-tations, mudra meditations and energy healing. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke, 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-998-9789. VCCDS.com.

mondayAA Meetings – 8-9am. Also Wednesdays and Fridays. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

CoWorking at the CoLab – 9am-5pm. Opportunity to sample a working space at the CoLab. Free. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702. [email protected]. GrandinCoLab.com.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the Mc-Donald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

A Course in Miracles – 7-9pm. All welcome. Love offer-ing. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd NW, Roanoke. 540-562-2200 x10. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

tuesdayKids’ Yoga – 4:30-5:15pm. Beginners’ class aimed at being light and engaging for children. Ages 4-11. Free/fi rst session; $8/one session; $36/six sessions. Life in

ongoingeventsBalance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. Call to pre-register 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginners’ Yoga – 5:30-6:45pm. Also Thursdays 4:15-5:30pm and Fridays 9:30-10:45am. Increase your strength and fl exibility. No experience necessary. Free/fi rst session; $12/one session; $48/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. Call to pre-register 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Mindfulness Meditation – 5:30-7pm. Sitting and walking meditation, Dharma readings and discussions. Free. Bridge of Compassion Sangha, West End Pres-byterian Church, 1200 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke. 540-427-4843. BridgeOfCompassion.Wordpress.com.

AA Meetings – 6-7pm. Also on Thursdays. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rte 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation in-struction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-345-5932. [email protected].

Community HU Song in Roanoke – 7-7:30pm. First Tuesday of each month. Singing HU has helped people of many different faiths open their hearts more fully to the uplifting presence of God. Eckankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (fi rst fl oor, back far right offi ce). 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

Spiritual Experiences Discussion in Roanoke − 7-8pm. Third Tuesday of each month. Open discus-sion of past-life memory, insightful dreams, déjà vu, inner guidance, soul travel and more. Free spiritual experiences guidebook with audio CD provided. Eck-ankar Center, 1420 3rd St SW, Roanoke (fi rst fl oor, back far right offi ce). 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eckankar.org.

Edgar Cayce Search for God Group – 7:30-9:30pm. New members welcome. 413 Dunton Dr, Blacksburg. 540-552-2873. [email protected].

My Co-op 101 – Last Tuesday of every month. Learn more about a cooperative business and how to make the most of your ownership. Free to owners; walk-ins welcome. Please call to reserve a space. Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-343-5652. RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop.

wednesdayMindfulness Self-Care for Practitioners – 9-10am. Second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Hosted by Alan Forrest, LPC, LMFT. Practice mindfulness for 30 minutes and then enjoy an open discussion for 30 minutes. Free-will offering. Pre-registration is required. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Life in Balance Open House – 10am-6pm. Stop by and check out all of our great services; no appointment necessary. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Prayer and Meditation – Noon-12:20pm. Add your energy to the peaceful environment of our chapel and

be lifted up through the use of positive affi rmations during this sacred time of prayer and focused atten-tion. Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Rd, Roanoke (at the Woodhaven intersection). 540-562-2200. UnityOfRoanokeValley.org.

(X)po Wednesdays – 5-7pm. Gathering of local people talking about their ideas, experiences and interests with the goal of sparking a discussion. Light refreshments and beverages. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702. [email protected]. GrandinCoLab.com.

Zen Meditation Group – 6-7pm. Meditation in-struction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-345-5932. [email protected].

Meditation, Reading and Book Discussion – 6:30pm meditation; 7-8:30pm reading and book discussion. Visit website for current book. Valley Community Church, Divine Science, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. One block off Rte 419, behind McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

New River Valley Unity Study Group – 7:30-9pm. Meditation, introspection and discussion. Free. Loca-tion varies. Call for details, Bev 540-763-2410 or Betty 540-639-5739.

thursdayRoanoke Community Drum Circle – 7pm. Express yourself through rhythm. Free. Grandin Village, Courtyard of Raleigh Court Baptist Church, corner of Memorial Ave and Grandin Rd, Roanoke. Sponsored by Plowshares, Roanoke. 540-989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

Meditation Class – 7-8pm. Everyone welcome. $10/person. Dharmapala Kadampa Buddhist Center, 315 Albemarle Ave SE, Roanoke. 540-521-7989. [email protected]. MeditationInVirginia.org.

fridayAlzheimer’s Support Group – 3-4pm. Third Friday every month. Members will discuss issues that arise from caring for a loved one with dementia. Light refreshments available. Free. Woodland Studio at the Village Center at Warm Hearth Village, 2603 Warm Hearth Dr, Blacksburg. 540-552-9176. Retire.org.

Second Fridays in Centertown Bedford – 5-8pm. Second Friday of every month. Art Galleries and shops will be open. Centertown Bedford, Bedford. 540-586-8582. CentertownBedford.com.

saturdayZen Meditation Group – 9-10am. Meditation in-struction is available. Stone Mountain Zendo, Christ Episcopal Church, 1101 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-345-5932. [email protected].

Free Science-Based Natural Health Information – 10am-5pm. Second Saturday of every month. Drawings for free gift certifi cates, proven wellness information and great savings opportunities. The Well, 1764 Patriot Ln, Bedford. 540-587-9000, 877-843-9355. [email protected]. WellOfCourse.net.

Monthly Silent Peace Vigil – Noon. Third Saturday of every month. All welcome. Downtown Roanoke City Market Building, 32 Market St, Roanoke. Sponsored by Plowshares, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.


UNITY OF ROANOKE VALLEY Rev. Linda Taylor3300 Green Ridge Rd., Roanoke, VA 24019540-562-2200UnityOfRoanokeValley.org

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Are you looking for the personal experience of God, every day? Each of us is connected to God through Divine Spirit (the ECK), which can

be heard as Sound and seen as Light. Connect with a spiritual community of people who share your desire for truth. See ad, page 21.

ROANOKE METAPHYSICAL CHAPELRev. Reed Brown, Pastor1488 Peters Creek Rd., NW Roanoke, VA 24017540-562-5122 RoanokeMeta.org

We are a metaphysical church with spiritualist roots. We offer classes, workshops and speakers throughout the year, and we teach and practice positive spirituality. Sunday services: childrens’ Sunday school, 9:30 a.m.; adult study,

9:30 a.m.; spiritual healing, 10 a.m.; worship service, 11 a.m. Weekly classes and weddings. All welcome!

To be included in the Community Resource Directory, please email [email protected] or visit NABlueRidge.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

communityresourcedirectory

ANIMALS AND PETS – SUPPLIES

NATURE’S EMPORIUM3912 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018540-989-8020MyNaturesEmporium.com

The largest selection of pet gifts, toys, beds and healthy foods and treats for all the special mem-

bers of the family. Natural and holistic pet food, wild bird and garden supplies.

ANIMALS AND PETS - VETERINARIANS

CONCORD VETERINARY SERVICESLori Leonard, BS, DVM, LFHOM8908 Village Hwy., Concord, VA 24538434-993-2403ConcordVetServices.com

Discover methods of support and comfort for your beloved animals. For 20 years we have offered homeopathy and other holistic modalities as well as

conventional veterinary care. New patients welcome!

HOLISTIC VETERINARY CONSULTANTSMarjorie M. Lewter, DVM2401 S. Main St., Blacksburg, VA 24060540-616-9247HolisticVeterinaryConsultants.com

Professional guidance for clients with many issues including vaccines, nu-trition and special health problems. Geriatric care, cancer support and hospice care. Routine medical care for small animals, farm animals and horses.

Integrative medicine including acupuncture, botanical medicines, chiropractic and homeopathy. Discover the power of holistic medicine. See ad, page 20.

BODYWORK – REIKI

LUELLA CROCKETTUsui Reiki Practitioner229 Union St., Salem, VA 24153540-397-1355LuellaCrockett.WordPress.comLuellaCrockett@gmail.com

Reiki sessions available at Grandin Gardens every Wednesday and in Salem by appointment. Amethyst BioMat, Bach Flower Remedies and Young Living Essential Oils are

combined to create a relaxing healing session as unique as you. Buy 2 Get 1 Free.


HEALTH AND WELLNESS - COACHING

REV. KANTA BOSNIAK, CHTLife Coach and Wedding Offi [email protected]

Coaching and guided imagery for weight loss, life purpose, creativity, new direc-tions, business and career growth, con-fi dent interviews, dating. Take positive thinking to a deeper level. Personalized and meaningful wedding ceremonies.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS - DENTIST

DR. KAREN PERKINS, DDS46 Shelor Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24502434-237-6328MercuryFreeDDS.com

Providing the highest quality of dental care in a mercury-free environment, using safe and biocompatible dental materials. We practice safe removal of old mercury/silver (amalgam) fi llings with the safe mercury/silver fi lling re-

moval protocol outlined by the International Acad-emy of Oral Medicine, IAOMT. See ad, page 26.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS - SPAS AND SALONS

REVIVE ORGANIC SALON2305-A Colonial Ave., Roanoke, VA 24015540-816-0986

Organic salon of-fering ladies and men’s haircuts,

demineralizing treatments, organic base coloring, highlights, color correction and hair loss solutions. Revive’s mission is to treat others with respect and dignity while nurturing them in an organic environment.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WELLNESS CENTERS

LIFE IN BALANCE COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CENTER125 Akers Farm Rd., Ste. D, Christiansburg, VA 24073540-381-6215 LifeInBalanceCenter.com

The Life In Balance team of thera-pists offers psychotherapy for adults, children, adolescents, cou-ples and families, as well as mas-sage therapy, Reiki, yoga classes, relaxation and meditation classes

and health and wellness workshops. See ad, page 6.

FOOD – NATURAL, ORGANIC AND VEGAN

ROANOKE NATURAL FOODS CO-OP1319 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 240151 Market Square, Roanoke, VA 24011540-343-5652RoanokeNaturalFoods.coop

Virginia’s largest, coopera-tively owned natural-foods grocery store. Nutritious food choices and earth-friendly products. We sup-

port sustainable environmental practices, local organic farmers, local businesses and our com-munity. See ad, page 17.

THE WELL1764 Patriot Ln., Bedford, VA [email protected]

The destination for natural health when looking for science-

based information, superior products, herbal tinc-tures, supplements, natural foods, bulk foods, spices and teas. The Well has all of this and more. Your benefi t is our business. See ad, page 11.

FOOD - RESTAURANTS

LOCAL ROOTS FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke, VA 24015540-206-2610LocalRootsRestaurant.com

Roanoke’s first true farm-to-table restaurant.

Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner, Saturday for dinner, Sunday for brunch and family-style supper. Full bar and wood-fi re oven. Available for private parties, corporate events, celebrations and catering. See ad, page 5.

FUNERAL AND BURIAL SERVICES - GREEN

FOREST REST AT MOUNTAIN VIEW5970 Grassy Hill Rd., Boones Mill, VA 24065540-334-5398Sensor@EvergreenMemorialTrust.comEvergreenMemorialTrust.com

Forest Rest is a natural cemetery where interments are made without burial vaults or common embalm-ing chemicals. Wood tablets or native stones mark the graves. See

ad, page 25.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it;

the tree is the real thing.

~Abraham Lincoln

Browse the local news, events calendar, resource

guide, coupons and contests, plus all the wonderful articles that support

and inspire a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Now just a click away!

www.NABlueRidge.com

CLICK!

Visit Our New Website!

Point Your Life in a Healthy Direction


HOME – CLEANING SUPPLIES

H2O AT HOMEJean Cox, Founding Senior Director360-271-9525MyH2OatHome.com/Jean

Now you can care for your home with our innovative smart tools and just water or certifi ed natural and organic products. Your home will be sparkling with no harsh chemical

residues or fumes!

OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ECOTOURISM

VIRGINIA GREEN804-986-9119VirginiaGreenTravel.org

Virginia Green is Virginia’s program to encourage green practices throughout the state’s tourism industry. Member des-tinations and events include recycling, waste reduction,

energy and water conservation and consumer education. The program is a partnership between Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Tourism. See ad, page 18.

PARENTINGPARENTING-SOSCathy [email protected]

Nearly all of us face parenting chal-lenges at some point in our lives. There is no need to let it create ongo-ing stress. Our mission is to help you get over those hurdles by teaching

you positive and effective skills that will bring out the best in you and your family. Complimentary speaking engagements offered.

RECYCLINGBOOKBAG [email protected]

Roanoke-based 501c3 charity keeps two TONS of used school supplies out of the landfi ll every year. Since 1990 the group has traveled each summer to Belize

to deliver supplies to three schools. Email, call or visit the website for more information about making donations.

CLEAN VALLEY COUNCILJefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Ste. 319, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-345-5523CleanValley.org

A nonprofi t organization serving the Roanoke Valley for more than 30 years. Providing educa-tional programming and

citizen participation events to spread the word about litter prevention, recycling, waste-stream reduction, storm-water pollution prevention and protecting our natural resources. The go-to resource for local recycling information.

RETAIL - NONPROFIT

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE VALLEYS2502 Melrose Ave., Ste. A, Roanoke, VA 24017540-581-0620GoodwillValleys.com

We put your donations to work by dedicating 90 percent of our resources to providing services to

the community. Donations entrusted to us are used to help people with disabilities and disadvantages overcome barriers to employment and achieve a level of independence in life.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES

RIDE [email protected] RideSolutions.org

Ride Solutions connects you to your transporta-tion options with free re-gional carpool matching, bike commute support, transit assistance and

employer services, all for free.

WATER CONSERVATION AND FILTRATION - ALKALINE WATER

HEALTHY WATER FOR ME540-230-7459 or [email protected] HealthyWaterForMe.com

Kangen Water® is a great way to increase hydration, balance body pH, obtain optimal health, neu-tralize free radicals, reduce pain and more. Change Your Water…Change Your Life ™. Call to begin a free three-week alkaline,

antioxidant water challenge today. See ad, page 18.

Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Want a GREENER community?Support our advertisers!

For every $100 spent in locally owned business,$68 returns to the community.

Source: the3/50project.net


natural awakenings april 2015

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