Natural Awakenings December 2014

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December 2014 | Virginia’s Blue Ridge Edition | NABlueRidge.com

Grandin CoLab

Working Cooperatively

SpiritedAction

Five Pointers toChange the World

EdibleHoliday Rituals

Bringing Joyto the Table

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Awakening Humanity

PublisherTracy Garland

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EditorKaren Adams

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© 2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wher-ever free publications are generally seen. Please call to fi nd a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

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letterfromthepublisher

Tracy Garland, Publisher

Happy holidays! It’s the season to spend time with family and friends, to refl ect on the events of the past year and start

making plans for the year to come. We hope this issue of Natural Awakenings will help you on your annual journey. Our feature article, “Sacred Activism,” explores

paths to becoming an agent for positive change in your community and across the planet. Kids can also start on their own paths to posi-tive change through self-refl ection, giving their special talents and joining forces with others. Our Healthy Kids article, written especial-ly for children, can show them how. Speaking of joining forces, consider joining the newly formed Green Drinks chapter, featured in our news briefs. Green Drinks is a great way to network with environmental professionals in the community in a relaxed environment. The new chapter is being hosted by the Grandin CoLab, which is the subject of this month’s Community Spotlight. Food is at the core of many of our holiday festivities, and special traditions help ensure that we get the most of our family time. In “Happy Feasting to All,” you’ll fi nd ways to help deepen the meaning of the holidays through food and festivities. We hope you’ll try the handful of healthy holiday recipes as well. You can enjoy the season of giving even more fully when you know you’re contributing to the local economy. Our Blue Ridge Green Travel feature highlights some spots where you can fi nd arts and crafts made right here in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. If you are a crafter yourself, our Eco Tip provides ideas on beautiful tree trimmings you can make that will in turn provide forage for your neighborhood birds. After the holiday celebrations are through, do your new year’s resolutions include starting an exercise routine? Our Fit Body article, “Find your Fitness Style,” will help you choose the workout that’s most likely to work for you. And if you’re interested in “greening-up” your beauty routine in 2015, check out our Natural Beauty article, which outlines aspects of organic beauty salons, and features two local salons that have made the commitment to organic and natural products and services. As always, dear readers, please visit our advertisers, whose sup-port brings you Natural Awakenings magazine every month, and let them know you found them here.

See you next year!

4 newsbriefs

7 healthbriefs

8 ecotip

9 globalbriefs

10 community spotlight

12 blueridge greentravel

14 conscious eating

17 healthykids

18 fi tbody

22 greenliving

25 calendar

28 resource directory

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.

10 GRANDIN COLAB A Cooperative Work Environment by Karen Adams

12 BLUE RIDGE GREEN TRAVEL Buying Art for the Holidays by Anne Piedmont

14 HAPPY FEASTING TO ALL Tasty Rituals that Deepen the Holiday Spirit by Lane Vail

17 CAN-DO KIDS Changing Our World at Any Age by Ellen Sabin

18 FIND YOUR FITNESS STYLE Workouts that Suit Your Personality by Wendy Worrall Redal

20 SACRED ACTIVISMLove in Action Can

Change the World by Judith Fertig

22 TOXIN-FREE BEAUTY SALONS Pure Pampering Feels Natural and Safe by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

7

22

8

9

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HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a mediakit, please contact us at 540-384-1815or email [email protected] for ads: the 5th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONSEmail articles, news items and ideas to: [email protected]. Deadline for editorial: the 1st of the month.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONSEmail Calendar Events to: [email protected]. or fax to 540-444-5668. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETSAdvertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 540-384-1815. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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3natural awakenings December 2014

newsbriefs

New Green Drinks Group Gathers in Roanoke

The Grandin CoLab, in Roanoke’s Grandin Village, now hosts a Green Drinks session on the second

Wednesday of each month, from 5 to 7 p.m. Environ-mentally-conscious Green Drinks groups, now active in

nearly 700 cities worldwide, gather monthly to discuss green issues. “We are so excited to provide a space for Green Drinks to fl ourish in Roanoke.” says Ariel Lev, director of the Grandin CoLab. “The CoLab is a great place for these events because it is casual, centrally located in Grandin Village and naturally houses many eco-conscious business people. CoLab has a focus on our own sus-tainability, so these events will educate us as well.” The informal meetings focus on local sustainability and green living topics and enable attendees to converse with like-minded people and learn from their peers. Green Drinks meetings facilitate fi nding employment, making friends, devel-oping new ideas and closing business deals. The November Green Drinks session featured a presentation from LEAP, Roa-noke’s local sustainable food system support organization. This month’s session, on December 10, will include a presentation by commuter services agency Ride Solu-tions. The January session will feature Tracy Garland, publisher of Natural Awaken-ings magazine and author of the book Greening Your Home. Cost: Free (attendance). Location: Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roa-noke. For more information about the Grandin CoLab, email [email protected] or visit GrandinCoLab.com. For more information about Green Drinks, visit GreenDrinks.org. See Community Spotlight, page 10, and Community Resource Directory, page 28.

Gerald P. McCarthy Leadership Award Goes to John Tippett

John Tippett, former executive director of the Friends of the Rappahannock, was

recognized at the Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute (VNRLI) awards lun-cheon in Charlottesville in October. Tippett is the 13th recipient of the Ger-ald P. McCarthy Leadership Award, which is presented annually to one individual “who fosters collaboration and has taken a leadership role in preserving and protecting Virginia’s environment,” according to the institute, a leadership program sponsored by the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Department of Conservation and Recre-ation and the Virginia Department of Forestry. Tippett was an early champion of low-impact development techniques and was instrumental in helping Stafford County, the Town of Warsaw and the City of Fred-ericksburg adopt ordinances based on low-impact development (LID) principles that reduce the harmful effects of stormwater. He also led a three-year campaign to permanently protect more than 4,000 acres of property along the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. In 2004, Tippett and the Friends of the Rappahannock were instru-mental in the removal of Embry Dam, which spanned the river in Fredericksburg. Tippett was also recognized for his role in helping design new stormwater regu-lations in Virginia, a lengthy and sometimes contentious process that began in 2004 and resulted in changes that took effect last year. For more information, see BayJournal.com/blog.

Gerald McCarthy presents award to John Tippett

Local Vets Stay Current on Complementary Therapies

Local veteri-narians Dr.

Marge Lewter and Dr. Marlice Vonck, of Blacksburg, and Dr. Bridget Quatman and Dr. Erin Petrich, of Roanoke,

attended the conference American Holistic Veterinary Medical As-sociation (AHVMA) Conference in Portland, Oregon, in September. The AHVMA is an organiza-tion of veterinarians who sup-port holistic, complementary and alternative veterinary medicine and natural healing for pets and animals, including chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional therapy. The subjects at the confer-ence included quality of life in pet hospice, an integrative approach to osteoarthritis, an integrative approach to oncology and strate-gies for degenerative myelopathy. The conference allowed these local veterinarians to learn the most up-to-date options available in integra-tive therapies for animals. See ad on page 18 and Commu-nity Resource Directory, page 28.

Dr. Lewter’s dog, Aslan, advocates the use of holistic

veterinary therapies

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Creative Reuse Center Accepting Donations

The New River Creative Reuse Center, in Chris-tiansburg, invites individuals and businesses

to donate clean, unwanted items and materials for reuse in arts, crafts and other classroom projects. The New River Creative Reuse Center collects items that might otherwise go to the landfi ll or conventional recycling and makes them available at no cost to local educators for use in art and other projects. The center accepts post-consumer

items in addition to business and industrial overruns, castoffs and surplus ma-terials. Items collected include, but are not limited to, scrap paper, science and nature magazines, stationary, business cards, 35 mm fi lm canisters, pie plates, coffee and oatmeal canisters, craft paper, tulle fabric, computer keyboards, corks, wall maps and leftover craft materials. The reuse center is housed at Fieldstone United Methodist Church, in Christiansburg. Items may be dropped off in the center’s collection box during Fieldstone’s offi ce hours, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. The center itself is open by appointment. Location: Fieldstone United Methodist Church, 3385 N. Franklin St., Chris-tiansburg. For more information or appointments, contact Ann Raridon at [email protected] or 540-552-3243 or Kim Thomason at [email protected].

Virginia Tech’s Sustainability Efforts Receive Gold Rating

Virginia Tech has received a gold rating by the Association for the

Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education after signifi cantly increasing its green initiatives during the past year. The university scored 71.02 through the Sustainability Tracking, As-sessment and Rating System (STARS), achieving the gold rating by more than six points. Previously, Virginia Tech achieved silver with scores of 63.30 in 2013 and 61.91 in 2011, the fi rst year the university was rated. STARS is nationally recognized as the primary management tool for benchmark-ing progress toward becoming a more sustainable campus. Some of the areas evaluated for the assessment include curriculum, research, buildings, dining ser-vices, student engagement, purchasing, transportation and waste management. Virginia Tech’s new score puts it in the top eight percent of the nearly 300 rated institutions nationwide. The university now ranks second in Virginia be-hind George Mason University and second in the ACC behind Georgia Tech. “The signifi cant increase in Virginia Tech’s rating demonstrates our com-mitment to incorporating sustainable practices throughout the university,” said Sherwood Wilson, vice president for administration. “The assessment shows we are steadily making progress toward the goals outlined in the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment.” Virginia Tech’s Offi ce of Energy and Sustain-ability worked with many people throughout the university to gather data for the assessment. Some of the university offi ces that participated include Dining Services, Facilities, Human Resources and Research. For more information, call Bob Spieldenner at 540-230-4942 or email [email protected].

Campus recycling and waste reduction efforts helped lead to the gold rating

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newsbriefs

Goodnight NanookTracy Herrmann

Cover artist Tracy Herrmann’s wildlife portraits portray the tender side of nature, such as the polar bear cub nestled against its mother on a snowy, starry night in the cover image, Goodnight Nanook. Herrmann lends her signature soft, gentle styling to animal subjects that include bears, fox, deer, birds, otters and big cats, while drawing from her studies in zoology and natural history to create realistic renderings. “I enjoy exploring, spending entire afternoons observing and sketch-ing animals for new concepts, and just watching families and kids. Kids are natural artists and keen observers,” says Herrmann. “Sharing the richness of our natural world through my art brings me great joy and satisfaction.” Herrmann has done wildlife illus-trations for such clients as the Seattle Zoo and several national parks, includ-ing the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone. Herrmann also illustrates children’s books; her fi rst is Dabbling Doezee, a story of friendship between two ducks. The artist donates a per-centage of each piece sold to wildlife and parks conservation programs. A former member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Herrmann lives and works in Seattle, Washington.

View the artist’s portfolio at FineArtAmerica.com/profi les/1-tracy-herrmann.html.

coverartist

Roanoke Tree Stewards Offer Free Course

The Roanoke Tree Stewards are currently accepting registrations for their annual

volunteer training classes. The classes are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Mondays, from January 26 through March 23, at the Roanoke Municipal Building. The training classes, taught by subject matter experts, will introduce participants to proper tree pruning and planting techniques, tree diseases and tree identifi cation. The nine classroom sessions are followed by three Saturday morning demonstration sessions outdoors. The training is free, but participants must commit to volunteer at least 30 hours in their fi rst year and at least 20 hours in other years. Volunteer activities may include planting and pruning city-owned trees and sharing knowledge with others at events, either via information booths or presentations. Roanoke Tree Stewards is a volunteer group trained by the City of Roanoke. The stewards are trained in promoting and protecting the health and well-being of Roanoke’s urban forest. Their mission is to plant and maintain public trees. In addition, they provide public education on the benefi ts and care of trees by providing guest speakers to groups, especially schools, and having a presence at various community events such as Grandin Village’s Earth Day celebration. Cost: Free. Location: Roanoke Municipal Building, 215 Church Ave. SW, Room 159, Roanoke. For more information or to register, contact Helen Smythers, Urban Forestry Planner, at 540-853-5225 or [email protected].

Winterfest Crafts Festival in Floyd

The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, in Floyd, will hold its 20th annual

Winterfest Crafts Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 6 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 7. The festival features the work of local artists and artisans, on exhibit and for sale. The event also includes music, free supervised holiday craft activities for children in the Create Lab and a special Jax café, with homemade treats, soups and snacks. New this year is the Festival of Trees, which began in November and runs until 4:30 p.m. on December 7. The tree festival is a partnership with more than 40 Floyd businesses, and supports a community-wide “shop local” campaign. Each pre-decorated, table-top holiday tree will be on display at the festival for a silent auction. The fi rst Winterfest was designed as a year-end showcase of local artisanship and creativity and offered for local residents who like to support local businesses. It is the center’s longest running program. Cost: Free admission. Location: Jacksonville Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln. S., Floyd. For more information, call 540-745-2784, email [email protected] or visit JacksonvilleCenter.org.


healthbriefs

Hospice Care Adds Months for Cancer PatientsResearchers from Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer

Center determined that hospice care signifi cantly increases survival rates among patients with meta-static (stage IV) melanoma, a diffi cult-to-treat form of cancer that occurs when melanoma cells have spread through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body. The study’s authors followed 862 metastatic melanoma cancer patients. Of these, 523 patients received one to three days of hospice care, 114 patients received four or more days and 225 people received no hospice care through their survival period. Those that received four or more days had an average survival period, which typically dates from the original diagnosis, of 10.2 months, while those that received none averaged 6.1 months. In addition, the end-of-life hospital costs for those re-ceiving the most hospice visits were nearly half of what was incurred by patients not receiving hospice attention.

Knotweed and Hawthorn Outperform Lovastatin in TrialChinese researchers recently discovered that two

herbal extracts may treat atherosclerosis, the harden-ing of the arteries, as well as or more effectively than the pharmaceutical drug Lovastatin. Sixty-four patients with atherosclerosis of the carotid artery were studied. For six months, half the patients received 20 milligrams of Lovastatin per day, while the other half took an herbal extract combination of Japanese knotweed and hawthorn. After six months, tests showed artery plaque thickness and infl ammation were signifi cantly lessened among both groups. However, the herbal extract-treated group showed a greater reduc-tion of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, a marker of risk for cardiovascular disease. Relatively high levels of hs-CRP in otherwise healthy individuals are predictive of heart health crises even when cholesterol levels are within an ac-ceptable range. People with lower values have less of a risk.

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Mistletoe Extract Benefi ts Pancreatic Cancer PatientsA study published in

the European Journal of Cancer revealed that a mistle-toe extract may lengthen life for patients with severe pancreatic cancer. German researchers tested 220 patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer, an aggressive, often fatal disease. The patients were divided into two groups; one was given up to 10 milligrams of Viscum album (European mistletoe) three times a week for up to 12 months. Both groups received supportive care throughout the study period. The average length of survival for those taking the mistletoe ex-tract, 4.8 months, was nearly twice that of the other group, 2.7 months; a survival period typically dates from the original diagnosis. Within a group considered to have a good prognosis, the survival period for those that consumed the extract, av-eraging 6.6 months, was more than double that of the no-extract group, which averaged 3.2 months.


Tweet TreatsTrim a Tree, Feed the BirdsFrom December 14 through January 5, citizen scientists of all ages will participate in the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (Tinyurl.com/AudubonChristmasCount), the country’s longest-running wildlife census. Audubon and other organizations use the data collected by volunteers to monitor population trends and guide conservation efforts. Whether or not families plan to help Audubon volun-teers keep track of feathered visitors, they might consider providing backyard birds with gifts of food during the winter, when natural food sources can be scarce. Adorning outdoor trees with edible decorations can also help bright-en landscapes, reduce kitchen scraps, creatively involve children in nature and make yards more bird-friendly. Salvage citrus rinds for feeders. Poke holes along the edge of hollowed halves of grapefruit and orange peels and run twine through them so they can hang from a branch. Fill with bird seed or suet. Create ornaments from bread heels or stale loaves. After cutting out shapes with a cookie cutter, spread them with unsalted nut butter and cover with birdseed. Bagels, rice cakes and pinecones can be frosted and sprinkled in the same way. Avoid using anything moldy. For more col-orful ornaments, hang orange and apple slices. Drape edible garland around tree branches. Thread unsalted popcorn (stale popcorn strings more easily), fresh cranberries, citrus slices, unshelled peanuts, dried apples or grapes into a garland. Use natural string, wool or raffi a for hanging deco-rations. Wild Birds Unlimited suggests selecting these materials so they can be used by birds as nesting materials in the spring. Collect seed heads and berries to tuck among the branches. According to the National Wildlife Federation, good food sources include seed heads from fl owers such as goldenrod, sunfl ower, conefl ower, sumac and mullein; seed heads from grasses such as millet, wheat, foxtail and switchgrass; and berries on sprigs of holly, juniper, cedar, hawthorn and mountain ash. Make sure decorations are hung on a tree or shrub near a window so the whole fam-ily can enjoy watching the wildlife they attract.

Contributing source: The Humane Society

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

Feeding HopeRecognizing Restaurants that Support the Homeless

Food Recovery Certifi ed is a new program that rewards restaurants that donate their extra food to those in need with a sticker on their front door. It’s a project of The Food Recovery Network, a national system of college students that takes cafeteria leftovers to homeless people. Founder Ben Simon started the group in 2011 at the University of Maryland, and the network has

saved more than 320,000 pounds of food from the dump in its fi rst three years. If a restaurant donates unsold food to the hungry at least once a month, it can apply for the certifi cation. Then Food Recovery Certifi ed verifi es with lo-cal nonprofi ts that the donations actually occur before awarding its approval. Simon states, “Every food business should be donating its extra food.”

For more information, visit FoodRecoveryCertifi ed.org.

Bamboo Bamboozle‘Green’ Clothing Made with Toxic ChemicalsBamboo is rapidly renewable and requires few pesticides to grow. However, bamboo fabric manufacturing is a chemically inten-sive process that doesn’t provide clear and legitimate product labeling. Misleadingly using the terms eco-friendly and green be-comes greenwashing when applied to items such as bamboo clothing. As the Fair Trade Commission describes the overall process, “Most bamboo textile products, if not all, are actually rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals. While different plants, including bamboo, can be used as a source material to create rayon, there’s no trace of the original plant in the fi nished rayon product.” This example points out the public vigilance required to secure more sustain-able, environmentally friendly products. Third-party verifi cation of all claims is recommended. Products made of the bam-boo stalk itself, such as poles for furniture or planks for fl ooring, remain true to their naturally sustainable source.

Source: Tinyurl.com/OrganicBambooFraud

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Planet PowerScientists May Harvest Energy from Earth’s Infrared Emissions

Physicists at the Harvard School of En-gineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are developing a device described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that would harvest energy

from Earth’s infrared emissions into outer space. The power is modest, but tan-gible. Steven J. Byrnes, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS, points out, “The device could be coupled with a solar cell, for example, to obtain extra power at night without extra installation costs.” Heated by the sun, our planet is very warm compared to the frigid depths of space. Thanks to recent technological advances such as plasmonics and nanofabrication, and new materials like graphene, the researchers say this heat imbalance could soon be transformed into direct current (DC) power, taking advantage of an untapped, virtually limitless energy source.

Source: ScienceDaily.com


communityspotlight

The Grandin CoLab, in Roanoke’s Grandin Village, may be the greenest business in the area. That’s because it’s

home to many businesses, which amounts to about 45 people sharing the same space and resources in a collaborative, eco-friendly effort called coworking. “Coworking is green because it’s simply people sharing resources that they otherwise would have to fi nd on their own,” says Ariel Lev, Grandin CoLab’s director. “We share the electric bill and other utilities, as well as physical resources such as paper. We also share one printer. It’s a green work space.” Most members market their businesses through their own websites and use the CoLab address as their location, where clients can meet them. “People can come here for their offi ce,” Lev says. “You don’t have to meet at your kitchen table. This is our address.”

Current members include Blue Ridge Green Media, publisher of Natural Awakenings of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, and Virginia Western Community College marketing professor Samantha Steidle, who has an offi ce at the CoLab for her business, Virtual Marketing. She also provides marketing for the CoLab. “Virginia Western provides critical support,” Lev says. Other businesses work as partners, such as Cox Communications, which provides the internet service, and LEAP for Local Food, which includes the CoLab as one of its sponsors in exchange for membership. In addition, program partners meet with CoLab staff to help program special events. Members can host their own events as well, aimed at those who might be interested in their businesses or CoLab members, and often both.

Grandin CoLab:A Cooperative Work Environment

by Karen Adams

Some of the CoLab-sponsored events include a new monthly business book club and weekly (X)po Wednesdays, a gathering of local people who discuss their ideas, experiences and interests with the goal of sparking conversations. Once a month, the (X)po Wednesday is also a Green Drinks event, the fi rst such chapter in the area. Green Drinks offers an evening of conversation and networking about environmental issues. The CoLab also hosts classes on technology, business-building and Spanish, among others. Maureen Best, executive director for Roanoke’s LEAP for Local Food and a CoLab member, was the November (X)po Wednesday Green Drinks speaker. “I had previously been working from home, but I was ready to have a more public space to work out of,” Best says about her CoLab membership. “It’s hard to have meetings at home and it’s hard to have a professional face if you work out of a home offi ce or coffee shop.” She approached the CoLab, which donated a membership to LEAP so that Best could have an offi ce there. “We now have a public face and location, and we have more community involvement as a result,” Best says. “As a small nonprofi t we wouldn’t be able to do that otherwise. In exchange, they are one of our in-kind partners.” Another benefi t of the CoLab, Best says, is that people there come from different backgrounds and specialties. “As a group of professionals, we have a lot to offer each other in terms of skills and expertise,” she says. “For us it’s made a world of difference.”

The interior of the CoLab


Steidle, who opened the fi rst local coworking space, downtown’s Roanoke Business Lounge, was contacted by developer Ed Walker, who owns the CoLab building, about creating a similar business in Grandin Village. Steidle eventually closed the downtown business and opened the Grandin business, and her clients came with her. Taylor Ricotta, who works for Virtual Marketing as its director of communications, says some

of the biggest benefi ts for the CoLab’s members are the members themselves. “We are the launching pad for these individual businesses, and they take it from there,” she says. “People cross paths with other people they might never meet otherwise. And they work near people they need. For example, if someone needs a graphic designer or web designer or videographer or even a Spanish translator, we can literally walk through the building and talk to one.”

She adds that there also are established individuals and businesses who are excited about the Grandin CoLab but do not need a membership – so they offer their services as mentors. “People have come in to support us not as members, but to say, ‘I love this and want to be part of it. How can I help?’” Memberships are $100 per person per month. “The value of this is that even if a member only uses the site fi ve times a month, to come in, network, attend free events and get people in the door to see them, it’s worth it,” Lev says. “I feel very humbled by the work to be surrounded by so many intelligent, infl uential people every day,” she adds. “They are doing important work. Whether they’re heading up a small non-profi t or starting their own small business, they are all important to Roanoke and its growth. Every day I leave work charged up and invigorated.” Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd. SW, Roanoke. For more information, call 540-524-2702, email [email protected] or visit GrandinCoLab.com. See news brief, page 4, and Community Resource Directory, page 28.

The CoLab’s community calendar

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As sure as fall turns to winter, consumers are bombarded by holiday ads from large

retailers. And, for many, the holiday shopping season starts before Halloween. But a new voice is emerging, encouraging us to shop local and to buy art as gifts. Opportunities abound in the Blue Ridge Region, with its many galleries, local art cooperatives, museums and working artists. “Buying art in our own region, community or neighborhood guarantees publicity and support for local artists, which they very much need to survive,” says Ibby Greer, a Roanoke-based author and artist. “The arts community in the region is astounding, with authors, jewelers, potters, painters and more.” One place to fi nd art and the artists who make it is at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts, located in a former dairy barn in Floyd, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The center’s mission is to facilitate and showcase artistic endeavors and creativity and to provide education in the arts throughout the community and region, something the organization has been doing for 20 years.

Jeff Liverman, Jacksonville’s executive director, calls it a “resource that connects artists to art lovers.” He says he sees the center’s two main roles as supporting working artists and providing opportunities for learning. It offers a robust class schedule, featuring accomplished local artisans who teach disciplines as varied as blacksmithing, glassblowing, jewelry making, pottery and painting. Liverman says there are several reasons to buy original, local art. “It’s unique and one-of-a-kind; it supports the local economy, and it supports the artist,” he explains. Plus, he adds, when a person buys a piece they love, it may lead to making something like it. “It can become a jumping-off point for learning,” Liverman says. The Jacksonville Center is holding its 20th annual Winterfest Crafts Festival on December 6 and 7, at which art lovers can purchase local art. Like the center, the event has grown over the past two decades. The fi rst Winterfest was designed as a year-end showcase of local artisanship and creativity. It was timed for local residents, many of whom have always bought local, to

Buying Art for the Holidaysby Anne Piedmont

Artist-made ornaments at the Market Gallery

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do some holiday shopping. Now, 20 years later, organizers say it remains the best opportunity for shoppers to fi nd a variety of handmade, local, unique gifts in one place. Buying from local artists is fun and unique, says Greer, who likens her search to buy art from artists she knows as “a treasure hunt.” So, how does one fi nd and connect with local artists? It might be as easy as visiting galleries or studios in one’s community. Most artists have Facebook pages, where they will post information about their works and events. An excellent resource is the Artisan Center of Virginia, the offi cial

state artisan center, which works to promote Virginia artisans and their communities. The Staunton-based organization has created artisan trails throughout Virginia that connect artisans, venues, galleries and retailers with local points of interest, restaurants and accommodations. The network allows arts tourists to plan their own adventures while they explore the state’s back roads and artisan culture. The center also publicizes events and other helpful information. Art is for sale every day at galleries all over the region. The Market Gallery, in downtown Roanoke, is a cooperative gallery. Each of its 26 member artists takes turns working the front desk, greeting visitors and answering questions. “Buying art is a way for artist and collector to make connections that add to the community,” says member artist Bill White. “Art is a choice someone makes because it speaks to them in a personal way.” He adds that art will last a lifetime, far longer than the latest must-have fashion or toy. “It’s always valuable to have the

experience of knowing my work is appreciated in the same community,” White says. For more information, visit JacksonvilleCenter.org, MarketGalleryRoanoke.com and ArtisanCenterOfVirginia.org. Anne Piedmont is a writer and research associate based in Roanoke. For more information, visit PiedmontResearchAssociates.com.

The crowd at Winterfest 2013

Interior of T he Market Gallery


consciouseating

The holiday season is ripe with an array of spiritual, cultural and family rituals. We celebrate,

refl ect, give gifts and, of course, feast. Fortunately, the media also teems with tips on how to avoid high-calorie holiday goodies, says Dr. Michelle May, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. For our diet-driven culture to resolve its struggle with food, she says we must learn to honor its intrinsic value. Ritualized eating can help; a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science found that engag-ing in food rituals evokes mindfulness that enhances the enjoyment of eating.

PauseHunger, the body’s fuel gauge, mani-fests in physical symptoms like a growling stomach or low blood sugar, says May, citing a useful analogy. “You wouldn’t drive around and pull into every gas station you see; you’d check your fuel gauge fi rst. Before fi lling up with food, pause and check your fuel gauge. Am I actually hungry, or is this desire coming from something else?” May suggests practicing FEAST-ing: First, focus on physical sensations, thoughts and emotions; perhaps we’re thirsty, rather than hungry, rationalizing that holiday foods are special, or feeling stressed or lonely. Next, explore why the feelings or thoughts are present, and

then accept them without judgment. Strategize ways of satisfying the need and take a small step toward change.

SavorComplex preparations for a major holiday can provoke anxiety and impatience, and likewise, feelings of longing or disappointment when it’s over. Sarah Ban Breathnach, bestselling author of Simple Abundance and Peace and Plenty, recommends allowing Christmastide to unfold at its own pace and celebrating all of December with a homemade Advent calendar. Craft a tree-shaped tower of tiny boxes or a garland of burlap mini-bags clipped with clothespins. Place an almond covered in organic dark chocolate in each container and use the treat as a daily mini-meditation. “Drop into the present moment, fully savor the luxurious, small bite and experience the pleasure of eating,” suggests May. Consider it symbolic of the season’s sweetness.

HAPPY FEASTING TO ALLTasty Rituals that Deepen the Holiday Spirit

by Lane Vail

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Connect“Food connects us with one another, our heritage and our culture,” says May. Heather Evans, Ph.D., a Queen’s University professor and a holiday culinary history expert in Ontario, Canada, suggests creating a food diary of traditions to reinforce a connection with the past and support a holiday food legacy for the future. Ask grand-parents about their childhood culinary memories, peruse family recipe books or discover new dishes that honor everyone’s ethnic heritage. Then create an heirloom holiday cookbook with handwritten recipes arranged along-side favorite photos and stories.

SyncAccording to pagan philosophy, sharing seasonal food with loved ones during the winter solstice on December 21 symbolizes the shared trust that warmth and sunlight will return. Eating warm foods provides physical comfort and eating seasonally and locally connects us to the Earth, observes May. Sync body and spirit with the sea-son by stewing root vegetables, bak-ing breads, sipping hot cider and tea, and nibbling on nuts and dried fruits. “The repetition of predictable foods is reassuring,” remarks Evans, and it cel-ebrates nature’s transitions.

PlayStir-Up Sunday is a Victorian amusement fi lled with fun, mystery and mindfulness, says Ban Breathnach. Some December Sunday, have each family member help stir the batter of a special Christmas cake while stating a personal new year’s intention. Drop a clean coin, bean or trinket into the mix and bake. Serve it with a sprig of holly on Christmas Day, and the person with the piece contain-ing the lucky charm will be rewarded with a prosperous, wholesome and positive new year, according to tradi-tion. Evans remarks, “This is a wonder-ful ritual for nurturing the health and spirit of the family.”

GiveBoxing Day offers something far more meaningful to celebrate than post-holiday sales. Originating as a tradition that thrived during the 19th century,

“December 26 was a chance for land-owners and homeowners to give back to household staff and local tradespeople,” says Evans. “It’s a tradition worth reviving to pause, refl ect on our own good fortune and contribute to others’ comfort.” Consider serving a meal at a lo-cal soup kitchen, collecting items for a food drive or offering a box of healthy culinary treats to community stewards at a fi re station, post offi ce or library. On Christmas Day, says Ban Breathnach, “Our kids have the world lying at their feet.” Boxing Day, she says, provides a natural transition to reach out in charity.

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

A Revitalizing Ritual for the New Year

Start the new year with a tabula rasa (clean slate) by hosting a New Year’s Eve Good Riddance Tea Party. Gather family and friends over warm ginger tea, spiced apple cider, hot chocolate and festive fi nger foods. Guests write down on slips of paper any mistakes, disappointments, regrets, hurts or failings they wish to be forgiven or forgotten. One by one, put them into a crackling fi replace or bonfi re to symbolize surrendering of the past. “This ties the heart strings in a com-forting bow,” comments author Sarah Ban Breathnach. Then, inscribe fresh intentions for the year to come and tuck them away in a special place. “This is the most mystical part, because so many prayers get answered,” Ban Breathnach says. Lastly, toast the new year with optimism and joy.

HEALTHY HOLIDAY TOPPERS

Creating a repertoire of delicious win-tery foods can help evoke health, mind-fulness and delight during the holiday season. Dr. Michelle May advises ap-proaching the entire process of eating, including the menu planning, shop-ping and food preparation, with a spirit of mindfulness, which adds a deeper dimension of pleasure to the experi-ence. “Cake becomes more than just cake,” she says. “It becomes something the family creates and enjoys together.” Savor these rituals and recipes with loved ones.

Memory-Making Christmas Cake

This nontraditional, healthy Christmas cake is alcohol-, sugar- and gluten-free. It relies on fruit for sweetness, almond meal for moistness and vanilla, cinna-mon, nutmeg and orange essences for a perfect mingling of fl avors. Prepare the cake with the whole family as a Stir-Up Sunday ritual, and keep it tightly sealed in the refrigerator until Christmas Day. Serve in small portions at room tempera-ture or warmed in the oven and along-side vanilla bean custard or plain yogurt swirled with orange blossom honey.

Yields 20 servings

2½ cups (600 grams) mixed and chopped dried fruit (raisins, prunes, fi gs, apricots, currants, sultanas and/ or dates)1 tsp ground cinnamon¼ tsp nutmeg1 tsp vanilla bean extract Zest and juice from 1 organic orange3 Tbsp olive oil3 organic free-range eggs2 cups (200 gm) ground almonds (almond fl our)¼ cup (50 gm) walnuts

Preheat the oven to 300° F. Line the sides and base of a 7-inch round cake tin with parchment paper.


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2 cups milk of choice (organic, almond, coconut, soy or rice)2 organic free-range eggs2 tsp vanilla bean extract2 Tbsp organic maple syrup or 1 Tbsp honey1 Tbsp cornfl our or kudzuPinch nutmeg

Heat milk in a saucepan with vanilla and honey and bring to near boiling, then remove from heat.

Beat eggs and cornfl our in a stainless steel mixing bowl until combined.

Pour the hot milk over the eggs and whisk in well.

Pour the egg mixture back into the sauce-pan and cook over a gentle heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon.

Remove from the heat quickly and pour back into the mixing bowl.

Whisk well to slightly cool and smooth it out. If any lumps appear, strain the mixture through a sieve.

Serve hot or cold. To warm up cold custard, put in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir and heat through gently. NOTE: For an egg-free custard, heat 17 oz almond milk with 2 Tbsp honey or 100 percent maple syrup and 2 tsp va-nilla extract until near boiling. Thicken with a slurry made from 2 Tbsp corn-fl our, arrowroot or kudzu. Finish with a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Courtesy of Teresa Cutter, author of The 80/20 Diet and founder of TheHealthyChef.com.

Melody Moonlight’s Magical Monster Loving PotionYields 4 servings

Melody Moonlight’s story, which birthed the potion32 oz apple juice½ cup dried holy basil leaf2 Tbsp dried orange peel2 Tbsp dried rosemary1½ Tbsp crushed cardamom1½ Tbsp dried ginger root1 Tbsp dried peppermint leaves½ Tbsp ground nutmeg1½ cinnamon sticks13 drops each of essences of chicory fl ower, beech fl ower and rose quartz (all available at natural grocers)

In a large pot, bring the apple juice to a near boil.

Add all the other ingredients and turn off the heat.

Read Melody Moonlight’s story at Tinyurl.com/LovePotionStory to infuse it all with magic and meaning.

Courtesy of Andy Bottagaro, potion maker at Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place, in Boulder, CO.

Combine the dried fruit, spices, vanilla, orange zest and juice, olive oil and eggs. Mix in the almond fl our and walnuts, then spoon the batter into the baking tin.

Bake for an hour-and-a-half. Insert a skewer or toothpick to see if it comes out moist, but clean; if not, bake for up to 30 minutes more. (Cover the top if necessary to prevent over-browning.)

After cooling, remove from the tin and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.

Courtesy of Teresa Cutter, author of The 80/20 Diet and founder of TheHealthyChef.com.

The Perfect Custard Yields 6 servings

A velvety-smooth custard, also called crème anglaise, may be used as a founda-tion of many desserts. It can be fl avored with cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, cit-rus, coffee or pistachio. Pour this vanilla bean custard over a warm Christmas cake or serve it straight up as eggnog, adding a touch of brandy and dusting of nutmeg.

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This article is written especially for young readers eager to embrace the true spirit of the holiday season. Shar-ing it with them can help cultivate a lifelong practice of giving.

Have you ever seen someone do something that changed a situation from bad to good?

Maybe your parents helped someone whose car broke down, or a teacher spent extra time after class helping you with schoolwork. No matter your age, where you live or what you own, you have the power to do good, too. What you do can make other people happy and make the world a better place. Here are some ideas to help you fi gure out how.

A good place to start is to think about what’s important to you. This will help you fi nd a way of giving back that you’ll enjoy and want to do again and again. For example, if you love taking care of animals, offer to walk an elderly person’s dog for them. If you get sad when you think about someone being lonely, visit a neighbor that lives alone

Can-Do KidsChanging Our World at Any Age

by Ellen Sabin

healthykids

or send a special card to a relative as a way to show your love.

It’s nice to help strangers, but you can also do little things close to home that’ll make life easier and better for your family. You can call your grandma to say hello, help your mom or dad with the dishes or play a favorite game with your little sister or brother.

You can also use your own special talents to help others. If you are a good cook, bake a healthy holiday treat to bring to someone that is feeling sick. You can read out loud a story to a younger child. If you’re strong and have lots of en-ergy, you can help your neighbor take out the trash or do other household chores.

You can have fun and make an even bigger difference by doing good things with others. One way to get your friends excited about joining you is to plan a “Giving Party”. Ask your parents to help you download a free guide (WateringCanPress.com/html/parents.html) that has fun ideas and activities for creating a holiday-time or birthday party or rainy day get-together.

Fun ActivityWho’s Been

Giving to You?Whether it’s time, love or things, the people around us give to us all the time. Sometimes we don’t stop to think about what people do for us, so we forget to say, “Thank you.” Appreci-ating what people give us is just as important as giving to others.

Here are some questions to ask yourself. After you have answered each question, think about what you can do to thank people for their kindness.

Who shared with you? What did they share?

Who taught you something? What did they teach you?

Who showed you love? How did they show you love?

Who made you happy? How did they make you happy?

Source: Adapted excerpt from The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving by Ellen Sabin.

Giving to other people is important, but the planet needs us, too. You can practice giving by picking up litter, recy-cling and even turning off lights when you leave a room. When we pay atten-tion to the environment around us, we can learn how to respond in a giving way.

Ellen Sabin is the founder and president of Watering Can Press (WateringCanPress.com), a publishing company committed to growing kids with character. Her series of award-winning books include The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving; The Greening Book: Being a Friend to Planet Earth; and The Healthy Body Book: Caring for the Coolest Machine You’ll Ever Own.


fi tbody

While some people fi nd rep-etitious workouts boring, others like doing predictable

routines at regular locations. Ensur-ing that our fi tness regimen jives with our “fi tness personality” is integral to making exercise a consistent part of our lifestyle, a concept that has traction among exercise experts. Jonathan Niednagel, founder and director of The Brain Type Institute, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and an ath-letic consultant for professional teams, explains in his book, Your Key to Sports Success, that understanding our inborn brain type can help us to determine which sport is best suited to motivate us. In Suzanne Brue’s book, The 8 Colors of Fitness, she applies principles from the Myers-Briggs personality inventory to help readers develop a personalized exercise program. Susan Davis-Ali, Ph.D., in St. Paul, Minnesota, a professional coach for working wom-en, created a Fitness Interest Profi le survey for the Life Time Fitness health club chain. She points to research that suggests people that engage in activities appropriate for their personalities enjoy

Find Your Fitness Style

Workouts that Suit Your Personalityby Wendy Worrall Redal

here are six categories that assess and capture the way we may feel about exercise; more than one can apply to any individual. Disciplined and driven. This is an image to which many of us may aspire, even though not everyone fi ts the mold. These exercisers are self-motivated and goal-oriented. Com-mitment and consistency go hand-in-hand. They like to use devices to track progress, maintain a training log and/or work with a personal trainer in systematic workouts geared to mea-sure improvement. Disciplined types are often early risers; starting the day with regular exercise is second nature. Compatible fi tness regimens include cardio workouts, interval and weight training, running, swimming and martial arts. Relishes routine. While these folks are disciplined and driven in some ways, they tend to be more relaxed about regimens. The key to success here is consistency. They like order and familiarity in exercise settings and practice and may enjoy reading or watching a screen during workouts. Whatever the preferred approach, whether it’s a favorite training video, Wii Fit video game, favorite teacher or memorized Pilates moves, these exercisers like to stick with it, even working out at the same time every day—often fi rst thing in the morning or after work—fi nding that regularity can be habit-forming. Conscious contemplative. Re-fl ective individuals enjoy quiet, solo activities like long-distance running, biking, hiking and swimming, that allow opportunities to look inward, often without thinking too much about the physical details. Exercise offers a chance to clear the mind and renew

their workouts more and are likely to stay with them longer. Identifying our fi tness personality can help us fi nd a program that suits our rhythms and interests. Based on composites from growing research,


the spirit while strengthening the body. These types naturally gravitate to outdoor pursuits, but some indoor practices may also suit them, like yoga, Pilates, tai chi or even karate, which incorporate a strong mind-body com-ponent. Workouts are often soothing, rather than intense. Plays well with others. For many people, exercise is best enjoyed with others, combining the social and fi tness benefi ts of both. Connections and camaraderie get them off the couch, revved up and ready to go. Whether it’s a committed group of friends chat-ting during water aerobics or a high-powered cardio class that compares notes, motivation comes primarily from the presence—and accountability fac-tor—of others. A lunch-hour class at a nearby studio or gym may be a fun break in the workday. On weekends, consider golf, tennis, dance or a local recreation team. Compulsive competitor. While the communal aspect is appealing, the greater gratifi cation for this type comes through the thrill and challenge of competition. Trying to win is the great motivator, unlike driven and disciplined types that are happy to push through to their personal best. Team sports are a natural outlet, including soccer, rugby, lacrosse, basketball or swimming, plus disc golf, tennis or racquetball matches and running events.

Avid for adventure. It’s tough for any formal exercise program to keep the attention of adventurers. They crave freshness and spontaneity in fi tness venues, activities that engage their interest and animate enthusiasm. It’s crucial for adventurous types to mix things up and not rely on any one exercise practice. Outdoor endeavors such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, inline skating or mountain bik-ing have appeal. They may gravitate to the variables of Nia, Zumba’s high-en-ergy Latin dance groove, kickboxing, exercise balls or hot yoga. A midday exercise escape can break the work routine. Their key to keeping active is to keep things stimulating.

Wendy Worrall Redal blogs at Gaiam Life (Life.Gaiam.com), from which this was adapted.

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The butterfl y, a universal symbol of transformation, reminds us that becoming our best selves is an

ongoing process. Yet these delicate, fl ut-tering creatures are suffering a decline, especially the vivid orange and black monarch butterfl ies that depend on milkweed fl owers for sustenance during their migration to and from Mexico and Canada. “When I heard about the monarch butterfl y crisis, I also noticed that I had milkweed vines all along my back fence,” says Karen Adler, a Kansas City, Missouri, gardener. “In years past, I

would have pulled them out because they can strangle other plants. But I talked it over with my neighbor and we agreed to let them grow. This year, we had more monarchs than ever.” These two women might not realize it, but they had engaged in spiritual activism. They became aware of a problem, approached it with compas-sion, learned about the issue, realized life’s interdependence and committed themselves to positive action for a result that is good for all. It’s a process that Andrew Harvey fi rst described in a 2005 talk he gave at

the Santuario de Guadalupe, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that’s also refl ected in his book, The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism. Born in India, educated at England’s Oxford University and in the religious traditions of Hinduism, Bud-dhism and Christianity, he now resides in Melbourne, Arkansas, where he’s founder and director of the Institute for Sacred Ac-tivism. The goal of his international travel is to bring concerned people together to proactively face global crises. Says Harvey, “Sacred activism is a fusion of two of the most powerful fi res of the human psyche—the mystic’s pas-sion for God and the activist’s passion for justice.”

Hallmarks of Spiritual Intent The Awakening – Progressing from concerned citizen to spiritual activist is a gradual process. It may begin with an issue to which one feels called. “Our life in the world is a continual call and response,” observes Kabir Helminski, of Santa Cruz, California. He authors and translates books on the Muslim Sufi tradition, which tends to have an open relationship with other religions, and is a core faculty member of the Spiritual Paths Institute, which encourages seek-ers to fi nd the sacred traditions that speak to them. “Sometimes events are a waking dream calling for interpretation, and sometimes the heart is directly ad-dressed from within,” says Helminski. Compassion – Once an event moves us, prayer can be a pathway that opens our hearts to compassion, according to Jagadish Dass, of Granada Hills, California. The healer and teacher wrote The Prayer Project: The 3-Min-ute, 3 Times a Day Solution for World Change, which encourages involvement with something bigger than ourselves. Dass maintains that praying for three minutes, three times a day, will help us transmute into expressing a quiet pow-er. “As we take responsibility for our lives, a transformation occurs within,” he says. We begin to inspire others to also take up the cause of working for change and bringing more peace, joy and love to the world. Likewise, Harvey urges each of us to make a real commitment to

Sacred ActivismLove in Action Can Change the World

by Judith Fertig

“Sacred activism is the fusion of the mystic’s passion for God with the activist’s passion for justice, creating the burning sacred heart that longs to help, preserve and nurture every living thing.”

~ Andrew Harvey


daily spiritual practice on the road to spiritual activism. He suggests, “Start with a short prayer that aligns you with the pure deep love that is longing to use you as its instrument in the world.” Options include prayers from many of the world’s spiritual traditions shared in Dass’ book; a free download is pro-vided at StewardshipOfTheSoul.com. Interconnectedness – Just as every-thing in the universe is connected by the simple act of being, like-minded people can connect to do good in the world. Sacred activists pursuing their own spiritual paths need to work with others, according to Harvey. “They form empowering and encouraging networks of grace—beings of like heart, brought together by passion, skill and serendip-ity to pool energies, triumphs, griefs, hopes and resources of all kinds. When people of like mind and heart gather together, sometimes miraculously pow-erful synergy can result.” Harvey has found that groups of six to 12 people become the most effi cient and productive, whether joined togeth-er through a profession (such as physi-cians on medical missions), a passion for animal rights or the environment, or a strong sense of social justice. Knowledge – Knowledge, both inward- and outward-seeking, is an-other key to doing good for all. Carla Goldstein, JD, chief external affairs of-fi cer at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck, New York, and

cofounder of its Women’s Leadership Center, used her interest in women’s empowerment issues as a springboard to spiritual activism. “For the fi rst 20 years of my profes-sional life, I focused on public policy and politics,” she says. “But something was missing in the rhetoric of taking care of each other.” Practicing yoga and meditation and receiving support dur-ing a personal health crisis prompted what she terms “an awakening under-standing of a gap between personal change and systems change.” Goldstein came to question her own “rugged individualism” versus the interconnect-edness she felt when people took care of her. “Can we actually move towards integrating these two ideals?” she asked herself. Knowledge about issues is read-ily available from experts and organi-zations that experts recommend; she observes, “The big question is: What is needed for us to be of help?” Sometimes listening and under-standing can be powerful. Under the auspices of the Omega Women’s Lead-ership Center, Goldstein invited women on both sides of the reproductive rights issue to meet in 2005. They had been part of the Public Conversations Project in the Boston suburb of Watertown, Massachusetts, begun after medical staff members were killed and wounded at an area women’s health clinic provid-ing abortions in 1994. “Women from the divided commu-

nity initially came together to tell their stories,” Goldstein relates. “Over time, they developed a deep love for each other. Nobody changed their positions, but they did change how they inter-acted with one another.” They experi-enced a shift from emotional and verbal turbulence to, if not agreement, feelings of peace and understanding. Since then, the project has grown to facilitate such conversations in 38 states and 15 countries (PublicConversations.org). Positive Action – While many thorny issues take long-term, dedicated efforts to be resolved, others only need smaller individual or collaborative actions for positive outcomes. For Mark Nepo, a New York City poet, philosopher and author of the New York Times bestseller, The Book of Awakening, kindness is the force behind positive action, no matter how modest at fi rst. “Kindness reveals kinship. It gives us connection to everything greater than us and everything else that is kind in the universe,” he says. “I think it’s powerfully effective, yet it’s such a small thing.” Nepo is active in Bread for the Journey, an international nonprofi t that encourages community grassroots philanthropic projects that generate micro-grants. One involved a small town in northern New Mexico that sought to improve the lives of local teenagers when the town’s elders wanted to open a youth center as a positive alternative to the drug scene. Just before the center was scheduled to open, the project ran out of money for required fl oodlights, so Bread for the Journey funded them and the center opened. “Within a few years, the whole culture shifted,” reports Nepo. This small contribution made a big dif-ference to the whole community. Once awakened and nurtured, spiritual activism can become an omnipresent part of our lives. Says Goldstein, “When you put spirit and activism together, you realize that all actions are connected to spirit. It makes you think about your duty in every instance—from how you treat people throughout your day to how you treat the environment. It becomes a satisfying way of living.”

Judith Fertig is a freelance writer from Overland Park, KS.

“When you put spirit and activism together, you realize that all actions are connected to spirit. It makes you think about your duty in every instance—from how you treat people throughout your day to how you treat the environment. It becomes a satisfying way of living.”

~ Carla Goldstein


greenliving

When clients walk into New York City’s Swing Salon, they may be surprised by

what they don’t smell—the range of chemicals usually wafting around hair salons. That’s because the owners have decided to use only natural and organic products. While many people may assume that all salon hair and body treatments are regulated and safe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to require companies to test cosmetic products for safety, due to loopholes in the Toxic Substances Con-trol Act. So, people are being exposed to dangerous toxins through salon prod-ucts like nail polish, hair color proces-sors and hair straighteners. Be aware that while labels of over-the-counter body care products are required by law to list ingredients, with the exception of the chemical soup of-ten hidden under the term “fragrance”, the loophole for salon products is large. Jamie Silberberger, with the Women’s Voices for the Earth’s National Healthy Nail & Beauty Salon Alliance, reports, “Products sold for professional use in spas and salons are not required to be labeled with ingredients.” Fortunately, healthy alternatives are available, either by patronizing a green salon or using natural beauty treat-ments at home.

Hair StraightenersOne salon treatment—Brazilian Blow-out hair straightening—can continue to expose customers and salon workers to toxic fumes even months after ap-plication. It’s among the conventional straightening products that contain form-aldehyde, a known human carcinogen. “Exposure to formaldehyde doesn’t end with the treatment—the fumes are reactivated every time heat is applied to the hair,” says Jennifer Arce, a San Diego, California, salon worker who became sick after applying a single Brazilian Blowout treatment. “So, when a client who’s had a Brazilian Blowout done else-where comes into the salon to get a hair-cut or color and has her hair blow-dried, fl at-ironed, curled or processed under the hood dryer, the fumes that come out of her hair make me and several of my coworkers sick all over again.” Solution: Avoid chemical hair-straightening treatments. Sign on to the Women’s Voice for the Earth letter campaign petitioning the FDA to remove Brazilian Blowout from U.S. shelves by visiting Tinyurl.com/BanBrazilianBlowout.

Hair Dyes and ExtensionsAbout two-thirds of conventional hair dyes in the U.S. contain para-phenyl-enediamine (PPD), a chemical banned

Toxin-Free BEAUTY SALONSPure Pampering Feels Natural and Safe

by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

Roanoke-Area Organic SalonsChoosing an organic salon is one step toward a healthier, more environmen-tally sustainable lifestyle. In the Roa-noke area, two salons are available for consultations and service on how to be more beautiful, naturally.

All About You Salon and SpaSalem • 540-312-6141AllAboutUSalem.webs.com

Offers vegan, organic, ammonia-free hair color, organic perms and relaxing. Specializes in manicures and pedicures using products that are free of formal-dehyde, toluene and DBP. Offers a line of vegan nail polishes.

“Our long-lasting hair color treatments effectively cover gray and the only thing you

will notice different is vibrancy and supe-rior condition of both your hair and hair color,” says salon owner Jennifer Wiseman. “Readers can check out our website re-views to read about the difference it makes when you choose an organic salon.” See ad, page 23, and Community Resource Directory, page 29.

Revive Organic SalonRoanoke • 540-816-0986 ReviveOrganicSalon.com

Offers haircuts, coloring, highlights, hair loss solu-tions and more. Specializes in products that are cruelty-free, 100-percent vegan and free from parabens, plastics , sulfates, andformaldehyde. “Toxicity can derive from chemicals and also everyday life, such as worry, emotional stress and negativity,” says salon owner Alisa Hall. “We con-sider Revive to be unique because of the wellness that we provide for our guests along with the products that we use. We strive to make the whole guest experience as tranquil as possible. It’s great to know that when we come to work, that we are not harming ourselves or our guests.” See ad, page 23 and Community Resource Directory, page 29.

Alisa Hall, In-Salon Coach

& Hair Artist

Casey Pullen, Junior Hair

Artist

Lauren Hall Sacra, Hair

Artist


for use in such products in Germany, France and Sweden. Exposure to PPD can cause allergic reactions ranging from skin irritation to death by ana-phylactic shock, which happened to a teenager in 2010. When Spain’s University of Santiago de Compostela researchers conducted a metastudy examining the risk of cancer among hairdressers and related workers, all reported that employees had a higher risk of cancer than the general population. Hair extensions also warrant atten-tion. Many adhesives used on exten-sions may contain 1,4 dioxane, listed as a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and styrene, a neurotoxin and suspected endocrine disruptor. Solution: Look for a clean, green salon that uses natural hair color treat-ments free from synthetic chemicals, ammonia or PPD. Individuals can also order nontoxic organic color kits direct from EcoColors.net.

Nail PolishWhen getting a manicure or pedicure, beware of the toxic trio of dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene. Used to help nail products hold color, they’re linked to reproductive and development problems, plus dizziness and eye and lung irritation, according to the Environmental Working Group. Facing pressure from consumer groups and salon workers, some polish companies are now producing so-called “nontoxic” nail polish, although their

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labels aren’t verifi able. California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control recently tested 25 nail polishes sold to salons, 12 of which claimed to be toluene-free, including seven said to be free of the toxic trio. The researchers found toluene in 10 of those, and one or more of the three ingredients in fi ve out of the seven.

Solution: Customers should bring their own safe nail polish and only pa-tronize well-ventilated salons.

Find a Green SalonMany conventional body products like shampoos and massage oils contain a litany of ingredients that add to our chemical exposure. Ask questions to en-sure all of a salon’s products are nontoxic or as low in toxicity as possible. For example, a large network of independently owned “concept salons” across America are connected with the Aveda Corporation (Aveda.com), a national leader in developing hair and body products that are free from the most dangerous ingredients. More than 90 percent of Aveda’s essential oils and 89 percent of its raw herbal ingredients are certifi ed organic. Also look for members of the Green Spa Network, a nationwide coalition of spas that pledge to be energy effi cient and sustainable in all of their practices (GreenSpaNetwork.org). If a green salon hasn’t yet arrived locally, bring nontoxic products for appointments and ask the stylist to use them. Visit the Skin Deep Database at ewg.org/skindeep to fi nd the least-toxic products for at-home use.

Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist is a freelance writer in Tucson, Arizona.

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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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1Fashions for Evergreens. Continues through January 1, 2015. Tree-decorating competition featuring profes-sionally designed Christmas trees. Free. Sponsored by Downtown Roanoke. Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, 110 Shenandoah Ave NW, Roanoke. Downtown-Roanoke.org.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 314th Annual Serving the Kids First Dinner – 5:30pm. Cocktail hour and silent auction followed by dinner and a lively performance by the Club Kids. Tickets start at $125 and sponsorships at $1,000. Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, 110 Shenandoah Ave NW, Roanoke. Sponsored by Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Virginia, Roanoke. 540-985-8600. BGCSWVA.org.

Kangen Water Demonstration – 6:30-8:30pm. Also Wednesday, December 10, and Wednesday, December 17. Learn how to turn your tap water into alkaline, antioxidant and restructured water. Free. Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op, 1319 Grandin Rd, Roanoke. 540-789-7808. [email protected]. HealthyWaterForMe.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5Elks National Home Holiday Light Display. Continues through December 31. Elks National Home, 931 Ashland Ave, Bedford. 540-586-8232. ElksHome.org.

Community HU Song – 7pm. Followed by an introduc-tory book discussion of Eckankar: Key to Secret Worlds by Paul Twitchell at 7:30pm. Harmonic Wave Wellness Center, 3201 Hill St, Lynchburg. Sponsored by Eckankar Center, Roanoke. 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6Monroe Institute Excursion Workshop – 9am-6pm. Continues on Sunday, 9am-5:30pm. Easily access ex-

panded states of consciousness using Hemi-Sync technology to realize more of your untapped potential. Pre-registration required. $190/person. KeyQuest, Floyd County. 540-651-2727. KeyQuest.US.com.

20th Annual Winterfest Holiday Celebration – 10am-5pm. Continues Sunday, December 7, 11am-5pm. Local art and crafts exhibits, refreshments, children’s activities, a visit from Santa and other fes-tivities. Jacksonville Center for the Arts, 220 Parkway Ln S, Floyd. 540-745-2784. [email protected]. JacksonvilleCenter.org.

Santa’s Craft Corner – 1-3pm. Fun activities and crafts for children while learning what local wildlife does when winter arrives. Cookies and hot chocolate served. Free; regular parking fees apply. Discovery Center, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, 1235 State Park Rd, Huddleston. 540-297-6066.

Yoga for All at the Peaks – 4-5pm. Yoga session for all ages and skill levels in the picturesque setting of the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Peaks of Otter Lodge, 85554 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Bedford. 866-387-9905. PeaksOfOtter.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8Roanoke County Holiday Tree Lighting – 6-8pm. Lighting of the tree, Christmas crafts, activities, marshmallow roasting, ice fishing and food and stories from around the world. Free. Green Ridge Recreation Center, 7415 Wood Haven Rd, Roanoke. 540-777-6326. [email protected]. VisitRoanokeVA.com.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 132014 Jingle Bell Run/Walk – 9am. 5K run and 1-mile walk to raise funds to help fi nd a cure for arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability. Wear a holiday-themed costume. $25/adult; $15/child. 316

S Jefferson St, Roanoke. Sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. 804-665-9955. [email protected]. JingleBellRunRoanoke.Kintera.org.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16Spiritual Experiences Discussion in Roanoke – 7-8pm. Open discussion of past-life memory, insightful dreams, déjà vu, inner guidance, soul travel and more. Free guidebook with audio CD provided. Eckankar Center, 1420 Third St, Roanoke (fi rst fl oor, back far right offi ce). 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20Eckankar Book Discussion in Floyd – 11:30am-12:30pm. Discussion of the book Stranger by the River by Paul Twitchell. Floyd Library, 321 W Main St, Floyd. Sponsored by:Eckankar Center, Roanoke. 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org..

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24Christmas Eve Service – 7pm. Join us to celebrate this special time of year. Light refreshments following service. Valley Community Church, 5000 Carriage Dr, Roanoke. 1 block off Rt 419, behind the McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-998-9789. VCCDS.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1Resolution Run – 10 am. 5K run to benefi t Bethany Hall. $10/person through December 10; $25/person December 11-29; $35/person day of event. Wiley Drive, Roanoke River Greenway (gazebo side), Roanoke. 540-343-4261. [email protected]. ResolutionRunRoanoke.com. BethanyHall.org.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15James River Day School Open House – 6pm. Parents of rising kindergartners through 8th graders are invited to learn about James River Day School. James River Day School, 5039 Boonsboro Rd, Lynchburg. 434-455-5763. [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.

Community HU Song – 10-10:30am. Second Sunday of each month. Singing HU has helped people of many differ-ent faiths open their hearts more fully to the uplifting pres-ence of God. Eckankar Center, 1420 Third St, Roanoke (fi rst fl oor, back far right offi ce). 540-353-5365. [email protected]. Eck-Virginia.org. Eckankar.org.

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

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

Flow Yoga – 4:30-5:30pm. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

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

Flow Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Practice yoga in a fun, safe, intelligent, well-stocked studio. No registration required; drop in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.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 Rt 419, behind the Mc-Donald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

Creating Your Joy: Yoga to Manage Your Mood – 7-8:15pm. Join us for a gentle yoga class that emphasizes balancing the nervous system and mood regulation. $12 drop-in or purchase a class card. All are welcome. Inner Wisdom Yoga and Psychotherapy, 1420 Third St, Roanoke. 540-798-8478. [email protected].

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

tuesdayKid’s Yoga – 4:30-5:15pm. Beginner’s class aimed at being light and engaging for children. Call to pre-register. Ages 4-11. Free/fi rst session; $8/one session; $36/six sessions. Life in Balance Counseling and Well-ness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

Beginner’s 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; $48/6 sessions. Call to pre-register. Life in Balance Counseling and Wellness Center, 125-D Akers Farm Rd, Christiansburg. 540-381-6215. LifeInBalanceCenter.com.

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

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

Kripalu Yoga – 6-7pm. What distinguishes a Kripalu yoga class is an emphasis on bringing awareness to the physical sensations, emotions and thoughts that arise throughout the practice. Accessible to all levels. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.

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

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

wednesdayMindfulness Self-Care for Practitioners – 9-10am. Sec-ond 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 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.

Green Drinks – 5-7pm. Second Wednesday of each month. Informal meetings focusing on local sustain-ability and green living topics. Free. 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 Rt 419, behind McDonald’s at Oak Grove Plaza. 540-774-5512. VCCDS.com.

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

thursdayHot Yoga – 6-7pm. Best suited to the student with some prior yoga experience, this class incorporates a faster pace, high temperatures and fun music. No registration required; drop-in any time. Bedford Yoga Center, 715 Liberty St, Bedford. 434-944-1150. YogaBedford.com.Laughter Yoga – 6-6:30pm. Laughter yoga is held every fi rst and third Thursday of the month. No expe-rience required. Free. Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 South Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. Laugh4u.org. Mysore Yoga – 6-7:30pm. Deepen your experience of yoga. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge School of Mas-sage and Yoga, 2001 South Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.Roanoke Community Drum Circle – 6:30-8pm. Express yourself through rhythm. Free. Basement auditorium, Main City Library, 706 S Jefferson St, Roanoke. 540-293-4075. RoanokeDrumCircleCommunity/Facebook.com.

fridayVinyasa Flow Class – 9:30-10:45am. Class is open to all levels. $10/public; $5/students. Blue Ridge Blue School of Massage and Yoga, 2001 South Main St, Ste 106, Blacksburg. 540-392-3723 or 540-544-6820. BlueRidgeMassage.org.CoLab Members’ Lunch – 12-1pm. Join your fellow members for a brown bag lunch and discussions on various topics. Grandin CoLab, 1327 Grandin Rd SW, Roanoke. 540-524-2702. [email protected]. GrandinCoLab.com. Alzheimer’s Support Group – 3-4pm. Meets every third Friday of the month in the Woodland Studio at the Village Center at Warm Hearth Village. Members will discuss issues that arise from caring for a loved one with dementia. Light refreshments available. Free. Warm Hearth Village, 2603 Warm Hearth Dr, Blacks-burg. 540-552-9176. Retire.org.

saturdayZen Meditation Group – 9-10pm. 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 each 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] Silent Peace Vigil – Noon. Third Saturday of each month. All welcome. Downtown Roanoke City Market Building, 32 Market St, Roanoke. Sponsored by Plowshares, Roanoke. 989-0393. PlowshareVa.org.

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

We are a vi-brant , lov-ing, spiritual

community, demonstrating Christ consciousness, embracing diversity and inspiring personal trans-formation. Join us in co-creating a world that works for all! See ad, page 7.

VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH, DIVINE SCIENCE5000 Carriage Dr., Roanoke, VA 24018540-774-5512VCCDS.com

Teaching practi-cal, spiritual laws based on and found in the example and teachings of Jesus,

as well as the Bible and other great wisdom litera-ture. Through Divine Science teachings you can lead a life of joyful inner and outer satisfaction and serenity.

ENERGY – CONSERVATION AND HVAC

J & J WEATHERIZATION434-847-5487JoLangford@juno.comJJWeatherization.com

With 30 years of experience in home energy performance, J&J Weatherization is a full-service company specializing in insula-tion, home energy conservation and effi ciency. See ad, page 11.

FITNESS – HOOPING

BLUSKYE [email protected]

At Blu Skye Hoops we are passionate about making life fun through the art of hoop dance. Invoking a fun, creative way fo r se l f -express ion , combined with classes and

custom hoops, we aim to ignite the passion and light that we each hold inside.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

GRANDIN COLAB540-397-4377GrandinCoLab.com

The Grandin CoLab is a hub for ideation, or generation of new ideas. It is designed

to connect innovators and entrepreneurs to re-sources, education and networking opportunities throughout the Roanoke and Blacksburg regions. The space is available for memberships, business meetings and events.

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

Ground-floor business opportuni-ty. Earn “green” while helping others go green with your own home-based business. Be among the fi rst advisors in Virginia and help launch the East

Coast. Incentive packages available to experienced leaders. Call for more information. See ad, page 5.

CHURCHESECKANKAR, RELIGION OF THE LIGHT AND SOUND OF GOD1420 3rd Street SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 [email protected]

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 7.

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 servic-es: 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. See ad, page 13.

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 18.

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. See ad, page 19.


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.

HOLISTIC NUTRITION SOURCEInfo@HolisticNutritionSource.comHolisticNutritionSource.com540-454-8191

Health coach Taunya Bruton offers custom, bio-individual, whole-health solutions for people and companies. Services include individualized health coaching programs, ALCAT food sensi-tivity testing, functional blood chemistry

analysis, pharmaceutical-grade supplements and well-ness workshops. See website for upcoming events. Schedule your free consultation today.

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 25.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS

ALEXANDRIA PEDERSON, HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERCenters of Light and Love in the Be-ing Center for Holistic Living1420 3rd St. SW, Roanoke, VA 24016 [email protected]

Ready to live the light you truly are? Come and enjoy one of the many classes or sessions designed to nurture and sup-port you in awakening to the light within, being empowered

and making the choice to live in harmony!

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 9.

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 8.

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 19.

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 14.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS – PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NATURE’S SPECIALISTDorothy Harrell, Pharmacist4620 Lee Hwy., Dublin, VA [email protected]

Specializing in naturopathic consultation, natural therapies and hair analysis. Nature’s Specialist also keeps a stock of high-quality vitamins, herbs and nutritionals. Call for an

appointment, or stop by to shop for supplements. See ad, page 16.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS - SPAS AND SALONS

ALL ABOUT YOU SALON1630 Braeburn Dr., Salem, VA 24153540-312-6141

Full-service hair salon. Organic hair coloring and perms that are made with certifi ed organic extracts and natural ingredients that are 100-per-cent ammonia-free. Spa services

include manicures, pedicure, facials and massage. Flexible appointments for busy schedules. See ad, page 23.

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

Organic salon of-fering ladies and men’s haircuts, deminera l iz ing

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. See ad, page 23.

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 19.


HOME – CLEANING SUPPLIES

H2O AT HOMEJean Cox, Founding 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! See ad, page 5.

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.

PARENTINGPARENTING-SOSCathy [email protected]

Nearly all of us face parenting challenges at some point in our lives. There is no need to let it create ongoing 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.

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

KEYQUEST, LLC.Ellen Jones-WalkerFloyd County, VA540-651-2727KeyQuest.us.com

Highly experiential, small-group workshops using powerful Hemi-Sync audio guidance technology for self-discovery and personal transformation. Monroe Institute consciousness exploration work-

shops, calming mind and body, awakening to inner states, slowing the aging process, healing yourself and improving sleep.

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 nonprofit organiza-tion 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 re-source 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. See ad, page 24.

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES

RIDE [email protected] RideSolutions.org

Ride Solutions connects you to your transportation options with free regional carpool matching, bike commute support, transit assistance

and employer services, all for free.

WATER CONSERVATTION 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, neutralize 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 4.

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Natural Awakenings December 2014