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FORKS OVER KNIVES

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CONTAINER GARDENING

Easy Herb Garden

The New Food Revolution Changing the Way America Eats

March 2012 | Greater Las Vegas | NaturalAwakeningsLV.com

EAT WELL ON A BUDGET

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Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more

balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge

information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal

growth, green living, creative expression and the products

and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

contents 5 newsbriefs

8 healthbriefs

10 globalbriefs

1 1 community spotlight

14 conscious eating

20 fitbody

2 1 wisewords

22 greenliving

26 calendar

29 resourceguide

30 classifieds

9

14

10

1 1 solAr is the New seXY by Nancy Somera

13 PrePAre Your YArd For sPriNg by Dominick Valdez

14 eAtiNg well oN A budget by Judith Fertig

16 chANgiNg the wAY AmericA eAts Nourishing the Shift to Farm-Fresh Foods by Melinda Hemmelgarn

20 eXercise detoX Six Ways to Burn Calories and Clean Out Your System by Annie B. Bond

21 choosiNg Forks over kNives Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet by Linda Sechrist

22 the herbAl gArdeN Eight Easy Picks for Container Gardening by Barbara Pleasant

24 dish uP vArietY Treat Your Dog to Good Health and Good Taste by Wendy Bedwell-Wilson

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24

20

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© 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we respon-sible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

One of my favorite pleasures in life was extended visits to my grandparent’s house. At the time I didn’t realize it, but those visits were lessons in sustainable living from a generation that lived simply. More and more, I see its value. On warm days, we would sit on their covered patio and play cards, waiting for a breeze that carried the fragrant scent of sweet peas to cool us off. If the air was still, an oscillating fan cooled us. We never retreated to

the air-conditioned indoors; I doubt they even had A/C. Sometimes I would help my grandmother hang laundry on the clothesline or dump food scraps and peelings into the big bin out back with my grandfather. Composting wasn’t something I understood then. They told me it turned into something good for their plants, and that was good enough for me. We saved our empty Coke bottles and returned them to collect the bottle deposit, unaware I was being introduced to reducing, reusing and recycling. I just wanted my nickel. But it’s the strawberries and plum jam I remember most. My papa grew the best strawberries, that when picked at the peak of ripeness, were juicy and sweet and the perfect topping to our morning cereal. And I loved Grandma’s plum jam. When the plums were ripe on their tree, she would make jars of the tasty spread. To this day, no jam comes close to being as delicious. Take pleasure in this month’s Food and Garden issue. Our feature article, “Changing the Way America Eats,” reports that more people are purchasing local, organic food from farmers’ markets because fresh, seasonal food tastes better, and its reassuring to know where the food we eat comes from. Use our listing of Las Vegas farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) on page 19 to find a market or farmer near you, and give your taste buds a treat. Believe it or not, eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive, we explain in “Eating Healthy on a Budget.” While our bodies need food for nourishment, our spirits require something more. Living in cities, plugged into networks of jobs, friends and projects, we sometimes neglect the need for empty space in our lives to nourish our souls. What I now understand is those trips to my grandparents nourished me; body and soul. Sitting outside in pleasant weather with nothing much to do, staring at billowy sheets on the line and listening to bees buzz was pure refreshment. Let me remember the recipe for idleness. It’s a craving we shouldn’t ignore.

Nourish yourself today, and every day.

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Natural Awakenings of Las Vegas practices envi-ronmental sustainability by using 90 to 100 percent

post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based ink on un-coated stock, avoiding the toxic chemicals and huge energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is harder to recycle. For more about why we look the way we do, visit NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

Natural Awakenings ronmental sustainability by using 90 to 100 percent

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newsbriefsProject Dinner Table Returns

Tickets to the third season of Project Dinner Table, the popular local dining phenom-

enon that blends a philanthropic approach and appreciation for the farm to table movement, go on sale March 3 for events to be held April 14, May 19, June 30, September 8, October 13 and November 11. A series of dinners, served around one long, white-linen-draped table set in unique and adventurous settings, celebrates phenomenal chefs, local growers and sustain-able sources. Each gathering brings diverse individuals together to share a meal served family-style,

while rediscovering the lost art of conversation. Guests at every event may expect to find themselves breaking bread with local growers, food artisans, restaurateurs and other spirited community members. “We have some incredible chefs and locations we’re preparing to announce for 2012,” says Gina Gavan, founder of Project Dinner Table and self-proclaimed spoonbender. “We’re going to new locales and thinking outside of the proverbial box, or in this case, dining room, to secure interesting locations where our guests have never dined before.”

Season packages and individual dinner tickets may be purchased at Project DinnerTable.com.

Energy Retrofit Home Tours BeginNevada Energy Star partners – Green

Alliance (NVESP) teamed up with the U.S. Department of Energy Building America Retrofit Alliance (BARA) to implement energy efficient retrofit packages on two Las Vegas homes. Provided by the city of Las Vegas Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the homes are open to the public for educational tours, giving residents a firsthand look at the latest in energy-efficient construction, technology and design strategies to improve whole house energy performance. One home is undergoing a 50 percent energy improvement remodel, while an-other is undergoing a 30 percent remodel. The yards outside the homes follow Las Vegas Valley Water District guidelines for Water Smart landscapes. Tours are available through May, and then each home will be placed on the market for interested buyers. “It is important to note that the energy efficiency retrofit packages implemented at the two case-study homes are upgrades that are practical and affordable for the average homeowner,” says Annette Bubak, president and co-founder of NVESP. “Our key message to the community is that investing in energy efficiency is not only an important step for a homeowner, but an attainable one.”

Groups or individuals may schedule an educational tour by contacting the Green Alliance at 702-534-5054 or [email protected].

Get Out! and Get Hands DirtyGr e a t B a s i n

Permaculture (GBP), an organiza-tion focused on in-spiring sustainable choices in dryland communities, is of-fering monthly Get Out! events at To-nopah Community Garden, to encour-age observation of native ecosystems, al-lowing guests to get up-close and personal with the surrounding environment. Permaculture is the development of agricultural ecosystems that can main-tain life for more than 20 years. The 5,850-square-foot GBP demonstration garden at Tonopah demonstrates permac-ulture techniques by combining perennial, drought-tolerant plants with a thoughtful design, adapted to the local environment. The hands-on workshop offered in March focuses on Cobb building, giving attendees the opportunity to build with a material that is non-toxic and creates no waste. Volunteer sessions are ongoing, with each session building better soil, a vibrant community garden and a more intimate relationship with local food.

Location: 715 N. Tonopah Dr., Las Vegas. For more information, visit GreatBasin-Permaculture.org. Find more GBP events in our calendar section.

News to share? submit editorial online at NA-LV.com (deadline: the 10th of the month)

Our Facebook Fans Sharewe asked our fans “whatnourishes you?”

n My heart and soul are nour-ished each and every time my dog wags his tail! ~ Julie J.S.

n Real food, clean water, fulfill-ing work, love. ~ Shelly O.

n Love, kale and heavy metal! That’s what nourishes me. ~ Maria B.

For April: what do you practice to create a healthy home?Like Us at facebook.com/NaturalAwakeningsLV


Naming Contest for Solar FestivalThe Conservation District of South-

ern Nevada invites individuals in the community to come up with a catchy name for the greater Las Vegas Solar Festival, to be held June 21, at the Henderson Events Center. This free com-munity event is a celebration of the abundant solar energy resources within the valley, and a wide range of exhibitors will be available to answer questions about solar energy, green building, sustainable home products and hybrid and electric vehicles. “We promise to deliver a fun family event that will be a one-stop location for everything related to going solar,” says Jennifer Clifford, executive director of the Conservation District. “We will have all the latest information regarding energy rebates, tax credits, solar financing and lots of hands-on activities for all ages of young people.” The winner will receive $50 and will be recognized on the day of the event. There is no limit to the number of entries. Proceeds from the festival will be used to commission a solar-powered public art project, to be enjoyed by the community throughout the year.

Location: 200 Water St., Henderson. Email submissions before Mar. 30 to [email protected]. For updates, visit Face-book.com/solarfestival-lasvegas.

Master Gardener Program in Full BloomThe University of Nevada Coop-

erative Extension (UNCE) Master Gardener program will celebrate its 20th anniversary by hosting a Garden Gala, April 21, at the Lifelong Learning Center and Outdoor Education Center. Master gardeners, past and present, and interested gardening enthusiasts are invited to join in this free open house celebration. Garden tours and talks at UNCE demonstration and teach-ing gardens will be offered every half-hour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be a native plant sale, an Ask a Master Gardener information booth and community project displays. Horticulture expert Linn Mills, who started the local Master Gardener program, will be honored, as will Master Gardener Mary Rider, a graduate of the first training class. Cutting of the anniversary cake and a reunion of current and former master gardeners will also commemorate the day.

Location: 8050 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. For more information about the Garden Gala or the Master Gardener program, call 702-257-5587, email [email protected] or visit unce.unr.edu.

newsbriefs

Solar Festival, to be held June 21, at the Henderson Events Center. This free com-


Women’s Day Film FestivalCelebrate International

Women’s Day at the annual, nationally touring LunaFest film festival, at 6 p.m., March 8, at Alexis Park Resort. This unique event highlights women as leaders in society, illustrated through nine short films made by women filmmakers, ranging from animation to fictional drama and covering topics such as women’s health, motherhood, body image, aging, cultural diversity and break-ing barriers. Proceeds benefit two charities – Girls on the Run of Las Vegas and the Breast Cancer Fund. Girls on the Run of Las Vegas is a 12-week, curriculum-based program inspiring third- through fifth-grade girls to live healthy and free from societal stereotypes, while training for a 5k running event. The Breast Cancer Fund helps to expose and eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at LunaFest.org/LasVegas.

Celebrate the Luck of the IrishOne of the country’s biggest

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will be held from March 15 to 18, at the Henderson Events Plaza. The 46th annual Southern Nevada Sons of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival comprises four days of holiday celebrations, including a carnival, festival, car show and great live entertainment. Proceeds from this year’s parade and festival will benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity com-mitted to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Every year, hundreds of people from across the Las Vegas Valley shave their heads to raise money and show support for these young cancer patients.

Location: 200 Water St., Henderson. Admission is free to the carnival, festival and live entertainment. Carnival rides require tickets. For full schedule of events, visit HendersonLive.com.

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Kudos for Bacteria- Busting CorianderOil derived from the

aromatic cori-ander plant—one of the 20 most popular es-sential oils worldwide—has applica-tions beyond aromatherapy as a food addi-tive and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. Co-riander oil’s reputed health benefits include relieving pain, easing cramps and convulsions, aiding digestion, curing nausea and fighting fungal infections. Now, researchers from the University of Beira Inte-rior, in Portugal, have specifically found that the oil is highly effective in killing bacterial strains such as Esch-erichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella enterica, Bacillus cereus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Thus, coriander oil may be useful in preventing and treating food-borne illnesses. “Coriander oil could also become a natural alternative to common antibiotics,” says study leader Dr. Fernanda Domingues.

Source: Society for General Microbiology

Red Meat Linked to Type 2 DiabetesA new study by Harvard School of Public Health re-

searchers finds a strong association between the con-sumption of red meat—particularly processed meat—and an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. They ana-lyzed questionnaire responses from 37,083 men, spanning 20 years; 79,570 women, covering 28 years; and 87,504 women for 14 years. The researchers also conducted an updated meta-analy-sis that combined data from their new study with earlier ones involving more than 442,000 participants, 28,228 of which developed Type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for age, body mass index and other lifestyle and dietary risk factors, they concluded that a daily 100-gram serving of unprocessed red meat (about the size of a deck of cards) was associated with a 19 percent increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. They also found that one daily serving of half that quantity of processed meat, or 50 grams—equivalent to one hot dog or sausage or two slices of bacon—was associated with a 51 per-cent increased risk. According to the study, replacing red meat with healthier proteins can significantly lower the risk. The researchers concluded that the consumption of processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats, which usually contain high levels of sodium and nitrites, should be minimized. They recommend that people eat less unprocessed red meat and instead suggest healthier choices like nuts, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fish and beans.

Source: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition


inspiration

High Fiber Trumps Low FatWhen food shop-

ping, concentrate on fiber content, rather than just the amount of fat, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. New Michi-gan State University (MSU) research suggests that foods high in fiber—but not necessarily low in saturated fats or cholesterol—are tied to lowering the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in teens; it’s a generation noted to be at high risk for developing chronic disease, due in part to the popularity of processed foods with this age group. The researchers found that due to low consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, the teens’ total dietary fiber intake was about 13 grams a day, well below the recommended 26 grams and 38 grams for female and male adolescents, respectively. “Our study reinforced the current dietary recommenda-tions for fiber intake by including a variety of plant-based foods,” says lead author Joseph Carlson, a registered dieti-cian and associate professor at MSU. “It may be better to focus on including these foods than to focus, as is commonly done, on excluding foods high in saturated fat.” Teens are not the only ones that benefit from a fiber-rich diet. A recent report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that adult women and men that eat at least 26 grams and 30 grams of fiber a day, respectively, had a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases.

HEALTHy WEIGHT FOR HEALTHIER GuMSRegular brushing and flossing is

vital for keeping teeth and gums healthy. Surprisingly, so is manag-ing our weight. Case Western Reserve University researchers have found that the body is better at fighting gum disease when fat cells disappear. Excess weight often triggers damaging inflammation throughout the body, and inflammation from gum disease can erode bone, lead to tooth loss and create fissures in the gums, allowing harmful oral bacteria to enter the blood-stream. Such bacteria have been linked to preterm births, fetal death, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, according to Nabil Bissada, chair of the department of periodontics at the university’s School of Dental Medicine.

GRASS-FED BENEFITSA new, in-depth guide to the benefits

of grass-fed beef is now avail-able from Animal Welfare Approved, a national nonprofit organization that audits, certifies and supports farmers that raise their animals according to the highest welfare standards, and outdoors on pasture or range. The Grassfed Primer, available as a free download at AnimalWelfareApproved.org/consumers/food-labels, notes that grass-fed meat and dairy products offer health benefits via higher levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and vitamin E, and can reduce the risk of E. coli infection. Scientists now believe that CLA may be one of humanity’s most potent defenses against cancer.


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

globalbriefs

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Breathe DeepThe Gift of Cleaner AirThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards created to protect families from power plant emissions of mercury and airborne toxins such as arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium and cyanide. The new standards are expected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths, 4,300 heart attacks and 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms each year. “It has taken almost 20 years to amend the Clean Air Act, despite clear, unequivocal scientific knowledge that mer-cury and other pollutants have been killing our children,” remarked Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network.

Source: EarthDay.org

Little ThumbsGardening Helps Children GrowGardening provides many varieties of engagement for children: designing, planting and maintaining a garden patch; harvesting, preparing and sharing food; working cooperatively in groups; learn-ing about science and nutrition; and creating art and stories inspired by their garden experiences. When third, fourth and fifth grade students participating in a one-year gardening program were surveyed for life skills, they showed significant increases in self-understanding, interpersonal relationship skills and the ability to work in groups, compared with nonparticipating students. Qualitative surveys of 52 second and third grade stu-dents working in a community garden classroom program in San Antonio, Texas, further revealed the children were likely to have more positive bonding experiences with their parents and other adults. A study of children with learning disabilities that engaged in gardening measured increases in nonverbal communication skills, awareness levels of the advantages of order, understanding of how to participate in a coopera-tive effort, and the ability to form positive relationships with adults. Juvenile offenders that gardened showed improved self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and attitudes towards school. Overall, gardening has been recognized by many studies as a therapeutic healing activity that can positively impact mental health and well-being.

Source: University of Colorado-Denver; Health Sciences Center


communityspotlight

Solar is the New Sexyby Nancy somera

those same pinholes, making your home an unhealthier place to live in.” To determine a home’s energy performance, experts at Today’s Energy Store perform a home energy audit. Based on this assessment, a list of improvements is recommended to the homeowner. “We offer an a la carte menu and let the customer choose which improvements they want to make and when,” says Hale. The average cost to improve the efficiency of a 2,000 square foot home is $3,000 to $4,000, with an 18-to-36-month payback period. State funds are available through the Home Free Nevada program, which matches the

Many houses currently stand in Las Vegas that weren’t built to today’s energy standards,

so their homeowners are using 25 to 45 percent more energy than neces-sary and paying inflated energy bills each month because of poor insu-lation, unbalanced duct work, air sealing issues and other inefficiencies within the home. Marc Hale, owner of Today’s Energy Store, wants to help homeowners save energy and money by giving their homes an energy efficiency makeover. “Our goal is to help people save energy, improve their living environment at home with our products and services and do it as economically as possible,” says Hale. He became interested in solar 15 years ago and began selling and installing solar power systems five years ago, which has progressed into overall energy efficiency. “You have to look at the house as a whole system, and solar is only one component,” Hale explains. “Windows, insulation, your HVAC sys-tem, appliances and the amount of air leaking from the house also determine how efficient or inefficient your home is.” Prior to installation, Today’s Energy Store makes the house as energy-effi-cient as possible. Homeowners not interested in solar also have motivation for improv-ing home energy performance. A home that is properly sealed and insulated not only reduces heating and cool-ing needs, but it improves indoor air quality, because fewer dust and dirt particles enter the home. Many custom-ers comment that they enjoy a quieter and more comfortable living space after making improvements. “Imagine your home is a balloon during the summer,” Hale explains, “and this balloon has a bunch of pinholes in it. Your HVAC unit has to constantly run to keep the balloon inflated, and this costs you more money. At the same time, dirty, hot air is entering through

first $1,000 spent on improvements. Rebates are also available through Southwest Gas and Nevada Energy, and Today’s Energy Store offers zero percent financing. Energy rates are increasing by 5 to 7 percent each year, so a homeowner that reduces their energy costs by 25 percent will see a return on their invest-ment that much sooner. Additionally, there is value that is difficult to measure monetarily by helping protect the envi-ronment and living in a healthier, more comfortable home. “Let’s face it,” Hale says, “home energy efficiency isn’t as sexy as new granite countertops in your kitchen or a new car in your driveway.” He continues, “But solar panels and energy savings don’t depreciate. What you spend now will only continue to save you more and more over time.”

To learn how to lower or completely eliminate your power bill, call To-day’s Energy Store at 702-558-1500 or visit TodaysEnergyStore.com. See ad, page 8.

For more info about advertising and how to participate,

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Celebrate Earth Day with Natural Awakenings’ April edition, brimming with eco-

solutions for your home, work and everyday family life.

GREEN LIVING

Coming in April



Prepare Your Yard for Springby dominick valdez

Keeping your landscaping healthy and pest-free requires ongoing

maintenance. As the winter months come to a close, consider these recom-mendations for a lush and beautiful yard this spring.

n Irrigation: Inspect the irrigation sys-tem for any breaks and leaks that may have occurred during the colder winter months. Fix repairs and adjust your watering schedule to meet the Southern Nevada Water Authority spring guide-lines. Consider converting to a water-efficient landscape.

n Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer to turf and shrubs to activate growth. Contact your local nursery or an experienced landscape contractor to help choose which fertilizer is right for your plants. Consider an eco-friendly automatic tank feeder system for con-sistent and timely fertilization.

n Weed Control: Combat potential weed growth by applying a time-released weed killer in planters, rocked areas and turf, if necessary. Some

fertilizers already contain weed pre-emergent ingredients.

n Aeration: It is highly recommended to aerate turf prior to fertilization, to help with water and nutrient absorption into the soil.

n Overseeding: Prepare turf for spring overseeding by removing any damaged areas caused by the winter cold. Power or manually rake affected areas and ap-ply seed consistent with the turf type.

n Pruning: Finish pruning any shrubs, trees or vines prior to budding. Wait until new growth emerges on winter frost damaged plants. It makes it easier to see where to prune.

Dominick Valdez is project manager at Sunstate Companies, a full-service landscaping business for both commer-cial and residential properties. Sunstate is a SNWA Water Smart Contractor and staff members are trained in water effi-ciency practices. For more information, call 702-798-1776 or visit Sunstate-Companies.com.

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Six months ago, Josh Viertel threw down the “value meal” gauntlet in a major way. The Slow Food USA

president challenged cooks around the country to create a family-friendly feast for under $5. Many responded, sharing their tips and tricks at SlowFoodUSA. org/5Challenge. Here are some favorites.

Setting a BudgetFive dollars per meal for 21 meals a week, plus snacks, neatly totals the $125 weekly food budget set by the Leake family, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Lisa and Jason Leake, parents of two young daughters, first explored what it would be like to eliminate processed food from their diet, which they describe in their blog at 100DaysOfRealFood.com. Their success led to the additional challenge of eating real food on a budget.

“Having a realistic weekly budget is helpful, because you can’t go too far over budget before you realize you are in trouble,” advises Lisa Leake. To make it even easier to stay on track, she

makes it a habit to shop near home and uses cash instead of credit.

Seasonal Shopping“If we shop for seasonal produce and freeze or can surplus from our local farmers’ market, we can eat well all year and still eat frugally,” advises Rebecca Miller, a macrobiotic and healing foods caterer from Overland Park, Kansas. “When fresh blueberries are $3 a cup at the grocery during the off-season, for ex-ample, we can still enjoy canned berries in recipes or thawed from the freezer on our morning oatmeal.”

Eating Down the FridgeSeattle-based Kim O’Donnel, author of The Meatlover’s Meatless Cookbook, blogs about family meals for USA Today. “I regularly emphasize what I call ‘eating down the frig,’” she says. “That means making use of what we’ve got on hand, like generations before us that also went through food shortages. We’re just out of practice.” One way to help ourselves learn, says O’Donnel, is to stock a “smarter” pantry. Staples include different va-rieties of dried beans; lentils; quick-cooking grains such as quinoa, bulgur, couscous and purple barley; garbanzo beans; brown and black rice; and a few BPA-free canned goods like tomatoes, black beans and chickpeas. “If we take our time and watch for good deals, we can build a pantry at a low cost,” she says, because such ingre-dients are basically “blank slates.” As just one example of a low-cost, pantry-based

consciouseating

EATING WELL ON A BuDGET

by Judith Fertig

meal, O’Donnel might start with cooked red lentils, then add fresh ginger and gar-lic, sautéed onion with cumin, and fresh spinach and tomatoes, and then serve it with whole-wheat pita bread.

Ingredient-First CookingJane Zieha, a certified public ac-countant, knows that feeding people and watching the bottom line can go together. She owns the acclaimed Blue Bird Bistro, in Kansas City, Missouri. An avowed all-natural, organic, sustain-able and local foods passionista, Zieha has stayed true to the principles of her Pennsylvania upbringing. “I didn’t eat like anybody else growing up,” she says. “We never ate packaged food. We ate what was fresh. When I was old enough to go to a friend’s house for dinner, I was surprised at how they ate.” Today, both at home and at work, Zieha continues to select the best that local farmers can provide. “I don’t start with a recipe and then find the food, like most chefs and restaurants do,” she explains. “I find the ingredients and then go from there.”

Meat as a CondimentMore expensive ingredients, such as heritage turkey, can bring more flavor and texture to an entrée as an ingredi-ent instead of a standalone part of a meal, advises Zieha. She might feature heritage turkey in an enchilada filling, pasta or savory bread pudding, so that a little goes a long way. It also makes sense to shop for va-rieties of fish or cuts of meat that aren’t widely popular or that take longer to cook. Slow Food’s Viertel, who shops near Brooklyn, New York, remarks: “I buy ‘trash fish’—sea robin, squid, mackerel, sardines—because they are cheaper and I believe, taste best. The same is true of the other meats I buy. I never cook pork chops or filet mignon; I cook oxtail and short ribs.” Then, O’Donnel adds, the frugal cook turns bones of roasted poultry or trimmings from a whole fish into a deli-cious stock. Any homemade broth can be just the frozen asset we need for yet another tasty “value” meal.

Cookbook author Judith Fertig writes at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

In tough economic times, many families include food in their spending cuts. How can we tighten our budget and yet still eat well?


n Buy certified organic and local when possible.

n Always choose certified organic when shopping for the publicized dirty dozen: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

n When buying local, but not organic, ask the farmer: “Why not organic?” He or she may be doing something close.

n When joining a CSA, ask the farmer if he or she ever adds non-local food to the basket. If so, ask where it comes from and how it is produced.

n At a farmers’ market, ask the management how they choose their vendors. Must they be lo-cal, or certified organic? How are they screened?

n If buying “natural,” learn how the producer defines it (the government definition is vague).

n Eat less meat. It uses fewer resources to produce.

n Plant something. Try a con-tainer garden on a balcony or in a window box.

n Learn about good sources of healthy foods in various seasons.

n Take a cooking class.

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Kentucky farmer and writer Wen-dell Berry states that in order for people to care about their food,

“They have to taste it.” Tasting the difference between fresh, local, organic foods and those that travel hundreds or thousands of miles before touching our taste buds is catalyzing a healthy change across America. Consider the growth in pa-tronage of farmers’ markets alone: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports the number of markets has soared, from 1,755 in 1994 to 7,175 in 2011. What’s driving the surge? Incentives include our appreciation of scrumptious seasonal flavor, a comforting sense of community and the

reassurance of knowing exactly where our food comes from and who—often on a first-name basis—grew or produced it. Good, healthy food germinates in genuine relationships—between grow-ers and consumers, and farmers and the Earth. Local markets boost hometown economies, too; the USDA predicts a record $7 billion in such food sales this year, delivering a greater proportion of food dollars directly to farmers. Regional food systems also support the biological diversity that is vital to sustainability. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organi-zation, “different varieties of the same

species,” have “statistically different nutrient contents.” In other words, each

variety promises a unique mix of health-protecting compounds.

Supermarkets must rely on crops and animal products

that can withstand long-distance travel and also meet uniform appear-ance standards. Small farmers serving local markets, on the other

hand, can better preserve the legacy of biologically

diverse heirloom crops and heritage breeds because of the shorter distances between field and plate. An heirloom tomato

picked ripe at peak flavor can’t survive a lengthy commute, but nothing tastes better when it’s plucked fresh from the vine and still warm from the sun. Planting diverse, region-specific crops also reduces the burden of weeds, pests and plant diseases—and any related chemical use—and helps provide safe nourishment for pollina-tors and wildlife, as well. No wonder the Organic Farming Research Founda-tion characterizes farmers as the largest group of ecosystem managers on Earth. Everyone can support a cause that feeds us well while caring for the planet.

Farmers’ Job MarketWith 57 being the current average age of American farmers, and more than a quarter 65 or older, the National Sus-tainable Agriculture Coalition recognizes the desperate need for more young farm-ers. When the National Young Farmer’s Coalition recently surveyed 1,000 beginning farmers, it found that access to capital, land and health insurance presented the biggest hurdles to entering farming as a career. The Women, Food and Agriculture Network has identified access to health care as the main chal-lenge facing females that want to farm. While city dwellers tend to ideal-ize farming as a romantic occupation in a bucolic setting, it is actually a risky, physically demanding job. Despite the

changing the way America eatsNourishing the Shift to Farm-Fresh Foods

by melinda hemmelgarn


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challenges, farmers say they love their work because they enjoy being outside, working with their hands, producing high-quality food and being their own boss. It helps to be healthy, smart and an optimist at heart.

Sticker Price versus Hidden CostsTo consumers coping in a down econo-my, the cheapest price may sometimes seem like the best choice. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural eco-nomics at the University of Missouri, notes that, “Americans, on average, are spending only half as much of their disposable income for food today as they were in the 1960s.” However, at the same time, “The percentage spent on health care has doubled.” Scores of studies show that many of today’s chronic diseases are related to poor diet. Factor in medical costs associ-ated with food-borne illnesses, antibiot-ic-resistant bacteria and pesticide- and hormone-contaminated food and water, and it’s easy to understand why Michael Carolan, author of The Real Cost of Cheap Food, declares, “Cheap food... is actually quite expensive.” One way for families to save mon-ey on food costs is to reduce waste. Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland, says Americans waste more than 40 percent of the food we produce for consumption, throwing away $100 billion-plus in food a year. Most of it ends up in landfills. Instead of providing incentives to agribusinesses to produce less expen-sive food, smarter national farm and food policies could prioritize producing higher quality food and wasting less of it. Kathy Bero, board president of NuGenesis Farm, in Pewaukee, Wis-consin, advocates shifting commodity payments to organic farmers. Her non-profit educational farm promotes “food as medicine,” along with cost-saving, health-boosting consumer strategies such as learning how to garden and cook to maximize nutritional value.

Inspiring TrendsStephanie Coughlin, a farmer in San Diego, California, says: “If you don’t have local farms, you don’t have local security.” Across the country, commu-nities are proving how a few conscious buyers can improve everyone’s access to high-quality local foods. Farm to Hospital: As director of nutrition services at Fletcher Allen Health Care, in Burlington, Vermont, Registered Dietitian Diane Imrie has the power to influence the economic secu-rity and sustainability of her community and surrounding region. Imrie sources approximately 40 percent of the food served at her hospital from farms lo-cated within a day’s drive. In her work, she helps keep farmers on their land while providing higher quality food to patients and staff. The facility also supports onsite gardens, which yielded $2,000 worth of produce in 2011, despite Vermont’s short growing season. The hospital food is so popular that its café serves down-town businesspeople, further bolstering profitability and community benefits. For local maple sugar producer Bernie Comeau, Imrie’s consistent pur-chases provide an income he can count on every month. Imrie is glad to note that for farmers, selling their food to the hospital is “like a stamp of approval.” Marydale DeBor, who founded and led the “plow to plate” compre-hensive food and disease-prevention initiative associated with Connecticut’s New Milford Hospital, maintains that, “Institutional leadership is critical.” She says that thanks to a supportive CEO that believed in bringing farm-fresh foods to hospital food services, their retail café more than doubled its revenue within two years. DeBor believes that hospital food

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should set an example for pub-lic health. “We need to support beginning farmers, and more food hubs and new distribution systems to facilitate access,” she says. “Consumers need to let their hospitals know they should focus on good food and nutrition.” Farm to Restaurant: Leigh Lock-hart, owner of Main Squeeze Natural Foods Café and Juice Bar, in Colum-bia, Missouri, buys supplies directly from local organic farmers and never quibbles about price. She composts any food waste in her garden, where she grows some of the produce used in her restau-rant. Rather than large plates of cheap food, Lockhart serves por-tions within U.S. Dietary Guide-lines, comprising higher quality, more satisfying meals. Relationships with chefs are important to farmers, ad-vises Carol Ann Sayle, owner of Boggy Creek Organic Farm, in Austin, Texas. Farmers can rely on a sure buyer; chefs appreci-ate dependable and high quality food;

and customers return because of the great taste. Farm to School: Organic farm-er Don Bustos, program director for the American Friends Ser-vice Committee of New Mexico, trains beginning farmers and ranch-ers in ways to provide food to the Albuquerque Public School District and beyond. For example, farmers

grow crops during the winter in solar-powered greenhouses, and

aggregate their products to meet school needs. Mobile meat processing and distribution networks also create jobs while keeping small farmers eco-nomically and environmentally viable, explains Bustos. Local agriculture fuels strong commu-nities and fresh local foods help children thrive. In the Pacific Northwest, AmeriCorps volunteer Emma Brewster works with the Real

Food Challenge, a national youth-based program that encourag-

es colleges and universities to shift 20 percent of their food budgets to farm-

how to grow and Find local Food

Find a farmers’ market ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets

In season in the region; local harvest calendars and markets FieldToPlate.com/guide.php

Locate sustainably grown food nearby LocalHarvest.org

Food gardening tips KitchenGardeners.org

fresh, locally sourced foods. Brewster works with Lucy Norris, project manag-er for the Puget Sound Food Network, which creates opportunities beyond farmers’ markets for local area farmers to connect with regional processors, distributors and end users, including Seattle Public Schools.

Hands in the DirtRegardless of occupation, many people feel a natural urge to work with the soil and witness the miracle of seeds sprouting new life. Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D., a garden historian and a designated leader in sustainable food systems at the University of California–Davis, points out that home, school, community and workplace victory gardens established during World War II succeeded in producing about 40 percent of our nation’s vegetables. In both world wars, she says, our na-tional leadership “recognized that food and health were vital national security issues.” They still are today.

Melinda Hemmelgarn, a.k.a. the Food Sleuth ([email protected]), is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host, based in Colum-bia, Missouri. She co-created F.A.R.M.: Food, Art, Revolution Media – a Focus on Photography to Re-vitalize Agri-culture and Strengthen Democracy to increase advocacy for organic farmers (Enduring-Image.blogspot.com). Learn more at Food Sleuth Radio at kopn.org.


FARMERS’ MARKETSLas Vegas Farmers Market - 3 locationsLasVegasFarmersMarket.comn Gardens Park10401 Gardens Park Drive, LVTuesdays, 4-8 p.m.

n Bruce Trent Park1600 N. Rampart Blvd., LVWednesdays, 4-8 p.m.

n Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs9100 Tule Spring Rd., LVFirst and third Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

fresh52 Farmers’ & Artisan Market – 2 locationsfresh52.comn Sansone Park Place9480 S. Eastern Ave., LVSundays, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

n Tivoli Village – Indoor/Outdoor Market302 S. Rampart, LV Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bet On The Farm Farmers’ MarketBetOnTheFarm.comThe Springs Preserve333 S. Valley View Blvd., LVThursdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Country Fresh Farmers’ Market – 2 locationsCountryFreshFarmersMarket.comn Downtown Henderson Events Plaza240 Water St., HDThursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

n Green Valley Pavilion200 S. Green Valley Pkwy., HDFridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Boulder City Farmers’ MarketBicentennial Park999 Colorado Street, BCThursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Apr-Nov)

CSAS AND FOOD CO-OPSCommunity Supported Agriculture (CSA) provides a direct link between a local farmer and you. you purchase a share of harvested crops at the beginning of the season which helps farmers cover planting and harvesting costs, and they provide in-season, local vegetables (and sometimes fruit, dairy, meat, and more) weekly at a predetermined drop spot throughout the growing season. Co-ops can take the shape of retail stores or buying clubs. All food coops are committed to consumer education, product quality, and member control, and usually support their local communities by selling produce grown locally by family farms.

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-OpBountifulBaskets.orguse collective purchasing power to receive fresh conventional and/or organic, high-quality food at lower prices. Order weekly online from Monday, 12 p.m. to Tuesday, 10 p.m. Pick up times/locations vary.

Vegas Food Co-OpVegasFoodCoop.comGrass-fed beef, poultry, herbs and other resources. Order monthly. Pick up sites vary. [email protected].

Quail Hollow FarmsQuailHollowFarmCSA.comWeekly and biweekly shares of farm fresh seasonal harvest. Seven pick up locations in LV/HD/Summerlin. Order online or call 397-2021.

Meadow Valley CSA FarmMeadowValleyCSA.comWeekly basket of seasonal, fresh picked vegetables, herbs and occasional flow-ers. Pick up at Moapa, NV, farm or home/business delivery for additional fee. Order online or call 864-2291.

Gilcrease OrchardTheGilcreaseOrchard.orgSixty acres of prime agricultural land in the heart of the Las Vegas Valley offer a diverse choice of produce that you can select and pick yourself. School field trips and group tours are welcome. 7800 N. Tenaya Way, LV. 409-0655.

Cowboy Trail Farm CSAOrganicEdibles.orgWeekly basket, full of fresh and local vegetables, herbs and fruit. CSA support helps supply baskets to Senior Centers and the Las Vegas Blind Center. Three pick up locations: NW, SE, SW.

Trish & Ed’s Organics CSA @ Etheridge FarmTrishAndEdsOrganics.comSeasonally grown certified organic fruit, vegetables and citrus each week to be picked up at your designated pick-up location. Business delivery available. 622-0752.

Brighter Ideas, Inc. [email protected], vegetables and brown eggs avail-able. Certified master food preserver offers canning, dehydrating and freez-ing classes. Weekly shares designed for singles and seniors. 239-2802.

Valley Farms CSA – Coming AprilValleyFarms.orgWeekly basket of fruits, vegetables and specialty homemade items. Pick up sites to be determined. Order online or call 395-4473.


EXERCISE DETOX

Six Ways to Burn Calories and Clean Out Your System

by Annie b. bond

There are as many different types of exercise as there are ways to move. Although all types of ex-

ercise will help to detoxify your body, some are clearly more beneficial than others. Try one of these today and feel better immediately.

Walk This Way Generally speaking, aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are the most detoxifying. Of the wide array of choices, walking is hands-down the most popular. It is something almost everyone can do to get a daily dose of healthy detoxification.

Jump for Joy Bouncing on a trampoline, such as a mini-tramp or rebounder, is one of the least appreciated exercises for cleans-ing and strengthening every cell of the body. Experts point out that it is also one of the best workouts for activating the lymphatic system.

Let Your Body Flow For centuries, yoga has been pre-scribed as moving medicine for the immune system. Yoga has been report-ed to lower stress hormones that com-promise immunity, while stimulating the lymphatic system to purge toxins and bring fresh, nutrient-oxygenated blood to each organ to help ensure optimum functioning.

Pick Up the Pace There’s a longstanding myth among participants that exercising at a lower intensity for a longer duration maximiz-es the burning of fat and releases toxins. Not true. To really rev up metabolism, burn more calories and keep the fat-burning switch turned on longer after an exercise session, try picking up the pace for one or more shorter periods.

Make Some Muscle Strength training is known to boost natu-ral muscle-making chemicals such as hu-man growth hormone and preserve the muscle we have, while also replacing the muscle tissue we’ve lost. Lifting weights also helps us shed fat by simply burning calories. As a bonus, a calorie-burning metabolism can stay elevated for up to 48 hours after we’ve finished lifting.

Take It OutsideWhen possible, infuse an exercise rou-tine with fresh air by doing it outdoors. When exercising outside, it’s important that we not add to our toxic burden by walking or jogging along busy roads or highways, because breathing in chemi-cal-laced exhaust nullifies the benefits.

Annie B. Bond is an internationally renowned expert on personal detoxifica-tion and past executive editor of Care2.com/greenliving, which sourced all health claims in The Purification Plan, by the editors of Rodale Health Books.

fitbodyNeon to Nature Makes Hybrid Travel Possibleby Nancy somera

With abundant sunshine in Las Vegas throughout the year,

exercise in the fresh outdoor air is just a trailhead away. The Neon to Nature Open Space and Trails System offers 200 miles of off-street, multi-use trails that wind through the municipalities of Clark County, linking communities to parks, open spaces and recreational facilities. An additional 162 miles are funded and in various stages of design and construction, with another 850 miles planned for the future. Using the trail system improves fitness and mental health and helps families and neighbors socialize with one another, creating an im-proved sense of community. Accord-ing to the Global Healing Center, nature and sunlight can greatly improve mood, and being close to nature lets you feel removed from the things that cause stress. Addi-tionally, attractive open spaces offer a place for contemplation, solace and inspiration.

Feeling adventurous? Hop on a bike and explore greater distances using the 250 miles of on-street bike lanes. Use the interactive “Find a Trail” feature on the Neon to Nature website, and plan your route, linking trails and bike lanes. By combining Regional Transportation Commis-sion (RTC) transit to your route plan, its possible to find an alternate route to work or other social activities that remove you from your car, reducing traffic congestion and your carbon footprint.

For more information about the Neon to Nature trails program, visit GetHealthyClarkCounty.org. Visit rtcsnv.com for information on the RTC Bike & Ride Transit.


wisewords

Film Producer Brian Wendel’s concern for the many Americans suffering from multiple chronic

diseases, as well as the strain this puts on our nation’s health care system and economy, sparked the idea for documenting what doctors researching the issue have to say about it. In his latest film, Forks Over Knives, these pioneering thinkers examine the claim that most, if not all, of the degenera-tive diseases afflicting humanity can be controlled or reversed by avoid-ing the ingestion of animal-based and processed foods; more, they make a compelling case that switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet can restore health. Much of the foundational science showing why a plant-based diet of whole foods is not only best for every-one’s health, but also for the planet, comes from noted nutrition research pioneer T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. He has summarized his results in his book, The China Study, co-authored with his son, Dr. Thomas M. Camp-bell. His 1980 study of 130 Chinese villages, involving 6,500 adults and their families, directly tied the con-sumption of animal protein-based foods to the development of cancer and heart disease. Based on his research, Colin Campbell, teamed up with Dr. Jun-shi Chen, currently a senior research professor with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in Beijing, specifically characterized casein, a protein found in milk from

mammals, as “the most relevant car-cinogen ever identified.” With con-crete evidence in hand, and account-ing for other diet and lifestyle factors, the pair went on to conclude that consuming whole, plant-based foods offers the best strategy for improving health and preventing serious diseases. Other solid science presented in the film comes from Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., whose 150 scientific arti-cles complement the 1995 publication of his peer-acclaimed book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, which summarizes the results of his long-term research on arresting and revers-ing coronary artery disease through

nutrition. In his two decades of global research, Esselstyn, who directs the cardiovascular prevention and rever-sal program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, found that wherever people ate a plant-based diet, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were rare. In many of the case histories and personal stories chronicled in Forks Over Knives, diet was used as a treat-ment for various diseases and cited as being more effective than prescription drugs. Anthony Yen and Evelyn Oswick, for example, attest how their lives were saved by switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet after a lifetime of illness that included multiple heart attacks and surgeries, as well as chronic chest pain. Treatment under the care of Esselstyn succeeded in reversing advanced-stage heart disease in both cases. Today, they enjoy active lives full of friends, family and meaningful work. Social media channels such as Facebook have been vital to spreading the word about the effective solutions presented by the Forks Over Knives film and companion book (complete with recipes). Wendel reports inspiring posts such as, “Your film changed my life,” or “I no longer require diabetes medication.” Potential savings in costs to people and the planet are vast. Con-sider, for instance, that according to the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, if the entire U.S. popula-tion were to adopt a plant-based diet for just one day, the nation would save at least 100 billion gallons of drinking water, enough to supply every person in every home in New England for nearly four months. Wendel foresees the ForksOver Knives.com website ultimately ex-panding into a news resource, linking people with information provided by leading experts in the whole-foods, plant-based world via various me-dia platforms. It will also provide opportunities to blog with experts, listen to live broadcasts about food preparation and find resources to help individuals transition to a healthier, plant-based diet.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.

CHOOSING FORKS OVER KNIVES

Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet

by linda sechrist


greenliving

Humans have had good reasons to grow basil, rose-mary and other culinary herbs for thousands of years. Edible herbal accents and aromas enhance the beauty

and flavor of every dish they touch, be they sprigs of fresh parsley tossed into hot couscous or marjoram and thyme sparking a savory risotto. A big garden isn’t needed to grow most kitchen herbs; in fact, it’s often better to grow these culinary gems in pots. In any household, the sweet spot for cultivating herbs is a puddle of sunshine near the kitchen door. Time and again, the cook will dash out to gather a handful of this or that while two or three dishes simmer on the stove. Dinner is less likely to boil over when herbs can be snagged in a matter of seconds.

Individual Pots vs. Container BouquetsBecause small pots heat up and dry out faster than larger ones, herbs usually grow best in larger containers. Fourteen-inch-wide plastic or fiberglass pots are lightweight, easy to handle and pro-vide ample room for four or more plants. Half-barrel wooden planters are great and fixed oblong planters also work well. Cooks and gardeners will have the most fun combin-ing upright herbs that reach for the sky with others that tend toward low, mounding growth. When shopping for seedlings, look for interesting ways to combine leaf textures and foliage colors, too. For example, anchor an herbal container bou-quet with red-leafed basil and surround it with marjoram and thyme. Then, create a second container by combining silvery sage with green chives and curly parsley. This two-pot herb garden will produce a season’s worth of fresh flavors.

Eight Easy Herbs for PotsBasil’s spicy-sweet flavor with strong floral notes puts it on everyone’s planting list. This fast-growing annual loves warm weather. Basil planted in the early part of the growing season will produce numerous flowering spikes within a couple of

The Herbal KitchenEight Easy Picks for Container GardeningKeep culinary herbs handy by growing themin a large pot just outside the kitchen door.

by barbara Pleasant

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months, which should be snipped off. The more basil is pinched back, the bushier it becomes.

Chives taste like very mild scallions, and plants will produce new leaves throughout the growing season, if trimmed regularly. These cold-hardy plants become dormant off-season and return the following year, featuring an early show of edible pink flowers. The slender, upright leaves combine well with other herbs.

Dill is a fast-growing annual that prefers cool growing conditions. Its leaves, flowers and seeds carry a savory tang that enhances the flavor of pickles, marinated vegetables and breads. Placed in the center of a large pot, a single dill plant will grow more than two feet tall and may require staking.

Marjoram deserves wider use, because the little plants combine a light oregano flavor with subtle notes of mint and lemon, and marjoram tastes good raw or

Mix it UpWhen shopping for plants, experi-ment with the way herbs from these two groups look when they are ar-ranged together:

n Upright growth habit: basil, chives, dill, rosemary, sagen Mounding growth habit: marjo-ram, parsley, thyme

cooked. Its lanky stems look lovely spill-ing over the sides of mixed containers.

Parsley needs a bit more moisture than other herbs, so place it closer to the center than the edge in mixed contain-ers. Both mild-flavored curly and more assertive flat-leafed Italian parsley do well in roomy containers.

Rosemary tolerates strong sun and heat, so it’s a wise choice in hot months. Northerners grow rosemary as an annu-al, but in milder climates, these woody perennials can continue as a perennial for years. Rosemary’s piney flavor and aroma takes center stage in rice dishes and casseroles, and the woody stems make delightful skewers.

Sage charms everyone with its luminous leaves, which may be gray-green or var-iegated with pink and cream, depending on variety. Smoky sage is the definitive herb to pair with poultry, and it’s great with potatoes, too.

Thyme is the flavorful herb that brings depth to many French and Cajun dishes. The fresh version is incomparable for lending savory flavor notes to fresh vegetables. Both English thyme and low-growing lemon thyme make appealing edge plants in mixed containers.

Barbara Pleasant is the author of numer-ous gardening books, including Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens. For more infor-mation visit BarbaraPleasant.com.

How to Transplant Herbs

Follow these simple steps to get any container herb garden off to a strong start.

1. Water seedlings and set them in a shady spot. Meanwhile, fill a large container that has at least one drain-age hole to within two inches of the brim with fresh potting soil.

2. Keeping seedlings in their nurs-ery pots, array them into a pleas-ing arrangement, with the tallest plants placed near the center. Then, squeeze each plant from its nursery pot and nestle it into the soil in the selected spot.

3. Use scissors to trim off any broken branches and thoroughly water the container herb garden. Keep newly planted containers in a shady spot for about three days. In stationary plant-ers, cover the plants with flowerpots to shade them from direct sunshine. Remove the shade covers after three days, water again, then start snipping bits of fresh herbs as needed for the kitchen. Herbs generally develop their best flavors when they receive sun most of the day. In hotter cli-mates, move herb containers to par-tial shade during the hotter months to prevent excessive heat stress.


“Broiled chicken, brown rice and steamed broccoli again?”

When you sit down to dinner, you prefer some variety, and so does your dog, who may well inquire, “What, kibble again?” Day after day of the same mix of protein, carbohy-drates, fats and veggies can hamper any appetite, human or canine. But a diet packed with different food types can make eating more enjoyable. Before concocting your own dog food blends, it helps to learn more about potential ingredients and the benefits of a varied diet, as well as how to successfully introduce new foods.

Healthful VarietyBy definition, a varied diet is dense in nutrients and changes regularly; a decided departure from the stick-to-the-same-food routine encouraged by dog food experts of the past. Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist in Davis, Cal-ifornia, says that today’s varied diet for dogs should resemble a cornucopia, filled with healthy meats, whole grains, legumes, dairy, fruits and vegetables. “For optimum health, it’s better to have the food in a natural, unprocessed state,” he says. To start, dogs require 12 amino acids in their diets, so foods that contain all of them would provide the best qual-ity protein for dogs, advises Dr. Rebecca Remillard, Ph.D., a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and founder of Veterinary Nutritional Consultations, in Hollister, North Carolina. “Egg and liver are of the highest protein quality because of their amino acid profiles,” she advises. A varied diet even reduces the chances of dogs developing an allergy to certain foods, like chicken or wheat, adds Del-

Dish up Variety

Treat Your Dog to Good Health and Good Taste

by wendy bedwell-wilson

naturalpet


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aney. “Feeding a dog food that’s not commonly used in the pet food industry—a food that he’s naïve to—reduces the potential that the animal will develop an allergic reaction to it.”

Shopping for ChoicesDr. Tracy Lord, a holistic veterinarian based at the Animal Clinic and Wellness Center, in Williamsburg, Virginia, says that older theories once claimed that dogs would become picky eaters or experience indigestion on a varied diet, but that perspective has since been questioned. To the contrary, variety brings excitement and interest to the table—or the bowl. For instance, Lord points out, “If you feed your child a dinner of chicken, broccoli, brown rice and cantaloupe, you can pat yourself on the back for providing a well-balanced nutritious meal. But if you feed this same meal to your child three times a day throughout his life, you would start to see nutritional deficiencies.” Plus, no one would be surprised to hear that the child is tiring of it. The same holds true for dogs, she says. Their bodies appreciate the different sources of nutrition, while their taste buds respond to delicious change-ups. One popular type of varied diet centers on taking com-mercially prepared, top-quality, frozen, canned or dry foods and simply rotating them, as long as the owner provides a consistent number of calories. This approach will ensure that a dog receives the right balance of nutrients, says Remillard. She explains that, “Federally regulated, commercially prepared foods have processing methods and quality assur-ance programs that limit the potential for food-borne ill-

nesses in pets and offer guarantees, a nutritional profile and bioavailability of nutrients.” Remillard further notes, how-ever, that not all products are equal when it comes to highly desirable ingredients, so as with any other processed food, consumers must read labels. Varied diets also may be prepared at home. That’s where home chefs can get creative with different types of meats, grains and vegetables, but they should follow guide-lines prepared by a trained nutritionist, Remillard cautions. “Unless properly formulated by a nutritionist, diets de-veloped at home are not likely to be complete and balanced,” she says. “The nutritional profile of any diet—including home-made diets—depends on how the recipe was formulated, the nutrient content of the ingredients and how the owner pre-pares the food. Homemade diets may also contain contami-nants and food-borne microbes if the owner isn’t careful.” Sometimes, just adding a little something special to a dog’s bowl will give him the variety he’s craving. For ex-ample, “If we’re making something our dog loves, like grilled salmon or ahi, we’ll cook a little piece for her and give her a little less kibble in her dish,” relates Alyce Edmondton, who lives in Redmond, Washington. “We always share our dog-safe leftovers with her. We figure that if it’s good for us, it’s good for her, too.”

Wendy Bedwell-Wilson’s healthy living pet articles regularly appear in national and international magazines. Her latest of six books on dogs, Shih Tzu, is part of the DogLife series. Connect at [email protected].


SATURDAY, MARCH 3Vegan/Vegetarian Cooking Classes – 3-6pm. Transform your home kitchen into a meditation room and your food into spiritual karma-free veggie treats. $15. Govinda’s Center of Vedic India, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. GovindasCenter.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7Introduction to Raw Foods – 6:30-8:30pm. Stepha-nie Williams covers all aspects of eating healthy with raw foods. $10 plus one-time course manual. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372. HerballyGrounded.com.

Sound Healing Concert w/Paradiso & Rasamayi – 7-8:30pm. Enjoy the spiritual soundfield which has helped thousands to heal themselves on all levels. $25. Ganesha Center, 3199 E Warm Springs Rd, Ste 300, LV. 485-4985. GaneshaCenter.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8LunaFest 2012 – 6-8pm. Nine short films that highlight women as leaders in society. Topics covered:women’s health, motherhood, body image, aging, and cultural diversity $15/$20 at door. Alexis Park Resort, 375 E Harmon Ave, LV. 366-5348. GirlsOnTheRunLV.org.

Accessing the Subconscious Mind – 6:30pm. With Margie Majors, hynotherapist of Mind Over Matter . Learn ways to change your thoughts, your mind and your life. Bring mat or blanket.$15. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372. HerballyGrounded.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10Work Bee – 10am-1pm. Join us as we work on spring planting at the permaculture learning garden. Seedlings available. Tonopah Community Garden, 715 N Tonopah Dr, LV. GreatBasinPermaculture.org.

Feng Shui: The Prosperous Home – 1-2:30pm. Join Mary Swick, The Feng Shui Lady, as she shares prosperity building Feng Shui cures for your home. Free. West Charleston Library, 6301 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 507-3964. lvccld.org.

Smith Center Opening Night – 8pm. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts opens with an all-star performance. Various ticket prices. The Smith Center for Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park, LV. TheSmithCenter.com.

practitioners, Theta, EFT, Healing Touch, and any other energy healers to work on each other. Please RSVP. Free. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow Blvd, Ste 140, LV. 948-4999. Enchanted-ForestReiki.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 24Spring Desert Landscape Tours – 10am-12pm. Early bloomers landscape tour. Master Gardeners discuss desert adapted plants for home landscape. Free. UNCE, Lifelong Learning Center,8050 Para-dise Rd, LV. 257-5555. unce.unr.edu.

Work Bee Workshop – 10am-1pm. Play with mud and learn how to make cobb structures with a hands-on project. $10. Tonopah Community Garden, 715 N Tonopah Dr, LV. GreatBasinPermaculture.org.

Gardening in Small Places: What Went Wrong? – 8am-12pm. Workshop on gardening in small places and how to organically fix what went wrong. Class space is limited. Pre-registration required. $25. Uni-versity of Nevada Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Rd, LV. 257-5573. unce.unr.edu.

Accessing the Subconscious Mind – 11am. With Margie Majors, hynotherapist of Mind Over Matter. Learn ways to change your thoughts, your mind and your life. Bring mat or blanket.$15. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372. HerballyGrounded.com

TUESDAY, MARCH 27Monthly Membership Meeting & Bookclub – 6-7:30pm. Join us for tea and a discussion of chapter 3 of One Straw Revolution. Sunrise Coffee Co., 3130 E Sunset Rd, LV. GreatBasinPermaculture.org.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29Green Living Series with Steve Rypka – 6:30-8pm. Explore how we can build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Free. West Charleston Library, 6301 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 507-3964. lvccld.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31Get Out! Local – 10:30am-1pm. Join us as we explore our local watershed. This observation walk is part of a series focusing on the Wetlands and Flamingo Wash Trail. GreatBasinPermaculture.org.

There’s an Herb for That – 11am. Explore how natural medicine can help your body heal itself. $5. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372. HerballyGrounded.com.

looking aheadSATURDAY, APRIL 21GREENFest Earth Day 2012 – A community celebration and festival featuring green vendors, activities, demonstrations, music, farmers’ market and giveaways. A business mixer will be held April 19. Free. Town Square.

Women’s Expo Shopping Event – 10am-5pm. Enjoy unique shopping, beauty tips, cool jewelry, women’s accessories, and health screenings. Free. Texas Station Casino. WomensExpoShoppingEvent.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11Yoga + Tea + Chocolate Workshop – 3-5pm. A sen-sual yoga experience filled with a closing cup of tea, dipped fruit, and sampling of chocolates including a vegan selection. $20. Northwest Yoga, 7810 W Ann Rd, Ste110, LV. 325-9923. GoldLightYoga.com.

Kirtan Fest – 6-9pm. A retreat-festival experience which awakens your inner-soul and touches your heart through blissful devotional chanting and danc-ing. $8. Govinda’s Center of Vedic India, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. 434-8332. GovindasCenter.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival – Mar 15-18. One of largest St. Pat’s celebrations in country. Car-nival, festival, car show and great live entertainment. Free admission, purchase ticket rides. Henderson Events Plaza, 200 Water St, HD. HendersonLive.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16Designing and Transforming Reality Workshop – Mar 16-18. Amazing new teachings by Russian scientist/clairvoyant Grigori Grabovoi on governing of consciousness, manifestation, rejuvenation, res-toration of human organism. $295. Hampton Hotel and Suites, 3245 St Rose Parkway, HD. 400-8875. SynergyBreakthroughs.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 18Shaman Drumming Circle – 4:30pm. Bring cushion, blanket, eye covering and rattle or drum to drum together, and then fall into a meditative Shaman journey. RSVP required. Free. Enchanted Forest Reiki Center, 800 N Rainbow Blvd, Ste 140, LV. 948-4999. EnchantedForestReiki.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 20Parasites, Who Me? – 7pm. International travel in-creases the likelihood of exotic types of critters that have come into our neighborhoods. Find our how to protect yourself and your family. $15. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22Health Fair – 9am-9pm. Free samples and demon-strations throughout the day. Join the fun and enter a drawing for an Herbally Grounded gift basket. Free. Herbally Grounded, 4441 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 558-4372.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23Energy Healers Exchange – 6pm. A night for Reiki

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NOTE: All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publica-tion and adhere to our guidelines. Submit listings online at NaturalAwakeningsLV.com.

ongoingevents Yoga & Qigong – 7:45-9:15pm. Multi-level ashtanga yoga class and qigong infuses balancing chi (energy). $10 donation. 107 E Charleston, LV. 325-9923. GoldLightYoga.com.

tuesdayWork Bee –10am-1pm. 2nd & 4th Tues. Join us as we work on spring planting at the permaculture learning garden. Seedlings available. Tonopah Community Garden, 715 N Tonopah Dr, LV. Great-BasinPermaculture.org.

Transformations Social Party – 6-6:30pm. Social-ize and network with like-minded people. Stay for Healing Circle. Snacks, beverages served. Free. Transformations, 1720 Bannie Ave, LV. 252-3502. Transformations-LasVegas.org.

Brain Balance Parent Open House – 6-7pm. 2nd & 4th Tues. Learn how our research-driven drug free approach can help your child overcome social, educational or behavioral challenges and achieve un-limited potential. Free. Brain Balance Achievement Centers of HD, 11 S Stephanie St, HD. 778-9500. BrainBalanceCenters.com.

Hatha Yoga Group Class – 6-7pm. A yoga class for all levels, combining postures, breathing and relax-ation. $10. World Wellness Group, 3120-A S Valley View Blvd, LV. 338-3309. WorldWellnessGroup.net.

Inspirational Reiki Healing Circle – 6:30pm. Natural healing through guided meditation. Relax and recharge your mind and body. Suggested dona-tion $5; free to 1st time guests & Reiki practitioners. Transformations, 1720 Bannie Ave, LV. 252-3502. Transformations-LasVegas.org.

Law of Attraction Meetup Group – 6:30pm. Listen to and discuss a Law of Attraction CD (1 hour in length) together in a like-minded group. $20 for guidebook. Something’s Brewing Café, 3100 S Du-rango, LV. 575-5086. Meetup.com/LawofAttraction-YourWishisYourCommand-LasVegasNV.

Visualization & Guided Meditation – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to calm the mind and relax. Get in touch with your breath and focus on the moment. $15 sug-gested. The TOTAL Concept, 1415 Arville, Ste 100, LV. 885-8358. TheTotalConcept.org.

Reiki Healing Circle – 7-9pm. Relax and de-stress in a safe, serene environment of friends and practi-tioners. Free. 2595 S Cimarron, LV. 702-327-3720. [email protected].

Meditation & Readings Service – 10-10:45am. Commune with God and share spiritual fellow-ship. Sunday School available for children. Las VegasMeditation Group, 1555 E Flamingo Rd, Ste 333, LV. Yogananda-SRF.org.

Second Sundays – 10am-6pm. 2nd Sun. Paintings, ceramics, sculptures, meet new friends, coffee and snacks, crafts and more. Free. Dinosaurs & Roses, 6029 W Charleston, LV. 277-3752. DinosaursAn-dRoses.org.

Las Vegas Rosicrucian Order AMORC – 1:30-2pm. 2nd & 4th Sun. Understand how to apply the Natural Laws of the Universe to your everyday life. Free. Sand Creek Mobile Home Community Club House, 2627 S Lamb Blvd, LV. 431-5224. Rosicrucian.org.

Sanha Meeting – 3:30-5:30pm. Vipassana (insight) meditation. New and experienced meditators are equally welcome. Sahara West Library, 9600 W Sahara Ave, LV. 571-1820. LotusInTheDesert.org.

Spiritual Yoga Fest – 6-9pm. Experience mantra chants with vibrant world music and hear the stimulating spiritual knowledge of ancient India. Free. Govinda’s Center, 7181 Dean Martin Dr, LV. 434-8332. GovindasCenter.com.

mondayNia Technique: Joyful Movement Classes – 5-6pm. $5. Northwest Yoga Studio, 7810 W Ann Rd, LV. 413-5316. NorthwestYogaStudio.com.

dailyBikram Yoga Classes – See website for class schedule and rates. Bikram Yoga Green Valley, 1550 N Green Valley Pkwy, Ste 310, HD. 463-0671. BikramGreenValley.com.

Bikram Yoga Classes – See website for class schedule and rates. Bikram Yoga Las Vegas, 5031 Wagon Trail Ave, Ste 109, LV. 547-9642. Bikram-LasVegas.com

Daily Meditation Classes – 4am, 9am, 2pm, 5pm. 1 -hr classes. Chaiya Meditation Monastery, 7925 Virtue Ct, LV. 456-3838. ChaiyaCMM.org.

Candle Glass Recycling – 10am-6pm. Drop off clean candle glass anyday of the week, the more you return the better your discount. Free. The Fragrance Factory, 45 Via Brianza, Ste100, Lake Las Vegas, HD. 576-0554. Facebook.com/FragranceFactory.

weekdaysStaying Healthy! Radio Show – Mon-Fri. 8-9am & 5-6pm. Hosted by Jeffrey Burke, ND, MH on KLAV 1230 am. Enrich your knowledge and learn how to stay healthy all year long. Free. 731-1230. StayHealthy.info.

sundayfresh52 Farmer’s & Artisan Market – 8:30am-2pm. Lively, friendly, open-air market. Free. San-sone Park Place, 9480 S Eastern, HD. fresh52.com.

Botanical Garden Tours at Lake Loews – 9am. Learn interesting details and receive great informa-tion while exposing your senses to Loews’ botani-cal wonderland. Free. Botanical Gardens at Lake Loews, 1605 Lake Las Vegas, LV. 567-6000.

Zen Meditation – 9-10:30am. Sitting and walking meditation practice with pre-recorded Dharma talks from the Chung Tai Monastary. Free. Lohan School of Shaolin, 3850 Schiff Dr, LV. 217-1498. ZenBud-dhismLasVegas.com.

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advanced welcome. Donations accepted. Lohan Spiritual & Cultural Center, 3844 Schiff Dr, LV. LohanSCC.org.

Country Fresh Farmers’ Market – 10am. Free. HD Pavillion, 200 S Green Valley Pkwy, HD. 579-9661. CountryFreshFarmersMarket.com.

First Friday – 6-10pm. Arts festival on 1st Fri each month. Food, drink, art and entertainers. Free. Downtown Arts District, LV. 384-0092. FirstFriday-LasVegas.org.

Visualization & Guided Meditation – 7pm. 3rd Fri. See description Thursday. $15 suggested. The TOTAL Concept, 1415 Arville, Ste 100, LV. 885-8358. TheTotalConcept.org.

saturdayfresh52 Farmer’s & Artisan Market – 8am-2pm. Lively, friendly, open-air market. Free. Tivoli Vil-lage, 302 S Rampart, LV. 900-2552. fresh52.com.

Boot Camp in The Park – 9-10am. Affordable, structured fitness program. $15person/$20pair. Reunion Trails Park, 44 Chapata Dr, HD. [email protected].

Chi Kung & Tai Chi Classes – 9-11am. Chi Kung (Qigong) is the art of developing internal energy particularly for health and vitality, mind expan-sion and spiritual cultivation. $10. Rainbow’s End Natural Foods, 1100 E Sahara Ave, LV. 324-0353. EarthPowers.com.

The 5 Tibetan Rites – 9:30-10:30am. Intro to The 5 Tibetan Rites. RSVP: [email protected]. $12. Transformations, 1720 Bannie Avenue, LV. 252-3502. Transformations-LasVegas.org.

Kids Rhythm Club – 11-11:45am. 2nd Sat. Drum together for fun, make new friends. $3. 6029 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 702-889-2881. DrumCircles-LasVegas.com.

Family Drum Circle – 2:30pm. 3rd Sat. Have fun with your family drumming away stress and problems. $3. 6029 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 702-889-2881. DrumCirclesLasVegas.com.

hosted by lactation specialists. 6000 S Eastern Ave, Ste 9A, LV. 795-2500. WellRoundedMomma.com.

Pain-Free Electrically – 12-1pm. 1st Thurs. Learn how the electro acusope and myopulse can relieve pain and accelerate healing. Free. World Wellness Group, 3120 S Valley View, 1st Fl, Main Rm, LV. 239-1069. ThorpInstitute.com.

Messages from St. Germain – 6pm. Free your mind from practiced thoughts and patterns as translated through Brenda Calvin. Listen, receive and be moved energetically. $20. Ganesha Center, 3199 E Warm Springs Rd, Ste 300, LV. 485-4985. GaneshaCenter.com.

Hypno-Nutrition Class: EZ Weight Loss Series – 6:30-8pm. Stress, pollution, and poor diet contribute to digestive disorders. Learn how to safely detox your body. $12. Transformations, 1720 Bannie Av-enue, LV. 252-3502. Transformations-LasVegas.org.

Visualization & Guided Meditation – 7pm. 1st, 2nd & 4th Thurs. Learn how to calm the mind and relax. Get in touch with your breath and focus on the moment. $15 suggested. The TOTAL Concept, 1415 Arville, Ste 100, LV. 885-8358. TheTotalC-oncept.org.

Happy Hour Drumming – 7-8pm. 3rd Thurs. No cocktails needed while we beat drums to the rhythm of happiness making new friends. $5. 6029 W Charleston Blvd, LV. 702-889-2881. DrumCircles-LasVegas.com.

Meditation & Readings Service – 7-9pm. Com-mune with God and share spiritual fellowship. Las Vegas Meditation Group, 1555 E Flamingo Rd, Ste 333, LV. [email protected]. Yogananda-SRF.org.

fridayAroma Wellness in the Palm of Your Hand Radio Show – 9-10am. Learn how to give yourself the gift of wellness one drop at a time. Free. TalkShoe.com.

Chi Kung and Meditation Training Class – 9-11am. Experience different meditation techniques with guided help and instruction. Beginner to

wednesdayThe Chi-To-Be! Experience Radio Show – 9am. Learn tips for aligning your intentions to activate your intuition to achieve your greatest goals. Free. TalkShoe.com.

Brain Balance Educator Open House – 2:30-4:30pm. 3rd Wed. For all teachers, educators, administrators and support staff. Learn about ground breaking, drug free program that helps kids with ADD, ADHD, Aspergers,Tourettes, OCD, PDD. Free. Brain Balance Achievement Centers of Henderson, 11 S Stephanie St, HD. 778-9500. BrainBalanceCenters.com.

Health Science Conference Call – 5pm. Get ques-tions answered by scientist Dr. Thomas Brewer. Free. 646-519-5860. Pin: 7123#. TheTotalConcept.org.

Let’s Grow Wings – 6pm. Discussion on synchron-icity, is life more than just coincidence, and how does healing really work? The TOTAL Concept, 1415 Arville, Ste 100, Metro Bldg, LV. 885-8358. TheTotalConcept.org.

thursdayGreen Drinks – 2nd Thurs. Network with other eco-friendly business professionals. Times/locations vary. Facebook.com/GreenDrinksLV.

Hatha Yoga Group Class – 9-10am. A yoga class for all levels, combining postures, breathing and relaxation. $10. World Wellness Group, 3120-A S Valley View Blvd, LV. 338-3309. WorldWellness-Group.net.

Country Fresh Farmers’ Market: Water Street – 9am-4pm. Free. Events Plaza, 240 Water St, HD. 579-9661. CountryFreshFarmersMarket.com.

‘Bet on the Farm’ Farmers Market – 10am-1pm. Mario Batali’s and Joe Bastianichу’s sustainable market. Free. Springs Preserve, 333 S Valley View Blvd, LV. BetOnTheFarm.com.

Momma’s Milk Circle – 10am-1pm. Support group for nursing moms and babies of up to one year of age

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PRIMORDIAL SOUND MEDITATION - Learn the Chopra Center’s mantra based technique. For more information, visit MeditationLasVegas.com or call Cherie at 714-401-2683.

QUANTUM HEALING HYPNOTHERAPY – Hypnotherapy approach developed by world-famous author, psychic researcher Dolores Cannon elicits answers from your Higher Self. Post-Holiday Special extended: first five people to book a session, 80% off; 6-10, 50% off; 11+, 20% off. Limited time only, first-time clients only. Info/schedule a ses-sion: SynergyBreakthroughs.com, [email protected], or 303-400-8875.


Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email [email protected] to request our media kit.

communityresourceguide

ACUPUNCTUREheAther brookmAN, omd, rN7380 S Eastern Ave, Ste 125, LV 89123702-562-2202 (east), 702-546-8358 (west)[email protected]

Safe, effective and integrated health care. Acupuncture is safe, comfortable and effective. Relieve insomnia . Free 15-minute consultations available to all new patients. See ad, page 7.

ADD/ADHD TREATMENTbrAiN bAlANce AchievemeNt ceNter oF heNdersoN11 S Stephanie St, Ste 120, HD, 89012702-778-9500 • BrainBalanceHenderson.com

Offering individualized plans to help children with learning difficulties reach their greatest physical, mental, social and academic potential. Customized programs correct imbalance and reduce /e l imina te nega t ive

behaviors. We are brain-based, not drug based. See ad, page 22.

AIR PURIFICATIONtodAY’s eNergY store137 N Gibson Rd, Ste 100, HD 89014702-558-1500TodaysEnergyStore.com

Providing customized home eff ic iency solutions to meet your needs. Energy

audits, solar power, insulation, air purification, window tint, solar screens, solar hot water heaters, attic fans, and more. See ads, pages 8 and 15.

ANTI-AGING MEDICINEskiN & wellNess coNcierge cliNicDr. Darlina Manthei DO FAAFP FACOFP702-263-4001 • TheSkinClinicLV.com

Specializing in anti-aging-restorative health medicine, bioidentical hormone restoration for men and women, medical and cosmetic dermatology. Custom-ized nutrition and hormone balance programs for menopause symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, and obesity.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACYsolutioNs sPeciAltY PhArmAcY301 N Pecos Rd, Ste D, HD 89074702-792-3777 • VegasCompounding.com

We design medicines m a d e f o r e a c h unique patient and their specialized needs inc luding

bioidentical HRT for men and women. We consider a customer’s general well being and offer consultations with appointments.

ENERGY MEDICINEthe totAl coNcePtLas Vegas & Henderson Locations702-339-3076TheTotalConcept.org

Christine Contini’s specialty as an energy worker is releasing pain from the emotional and physical body, especially long term from surgery or injury. Join our community group “Let’s Grow Wings”.

ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPING

suNstAte comPANies6590 Boulder Hwy, LV [email protected]

Water Smart c o n t r a c t o r specializing in l a n d s c a p e

construction, grounds maintenance, fertilizer, masonry, concrete, interlocking pavers and tree service. Call for a consultation. See ad, page 18.

HOLISTIC DENTISTFour seAsoNs deNtAl sPADr. Jim Wright, DDS, AIAOMT8855 W Flamingo, LV 89147702-281-9900 • HolisticDentistLasVegas.com

Practicing holistic, mercury-free cosmetic and general dentistry in a relaxing spa atmosphere. Specializes in veneers, Lumineers, Invisalign braces, All-on-4 Dental Implants, sleep dentistry, sedation dentistry and teeth whitening. See ad, page 10.

HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCYtodAY’s eNergY store137 N Gibson Rd, Ste 100, HD 89014702-558-1500TodaysEnergyStore.com

Providing customized home eff ic iency solutions to meet your needs. Energy

audits, solar power, insulation, air purification, window tint, solar screens, solar hot water heaters, attic fans, and more. See ads, pages 8 and 15.

HYPNOTHERAPYwellNess hYPNotherAPYElijah D. Love, CMS-CHt702-806-1745WellnessHypnotherapy.net

Would you like to be healthier, more motivated, and peaceful without drugs, cravings or side effects? Cal l now or vis i t WellnessHypnotherapy.net for more details. See ad, page 19.

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPYchuck williAms, Nvmt49373315 W Craig Rd, Ste 105, NLV 89032702-285-8321 • MassageHelpsThat.com

Therapeutic massage reduces pain, increases function, and well-being. I was trained in Alaska by the founder of Integrating Shiatsu in 2001. Experience a new kind of massage. $39/hour. Call now.

NATURAL HAIR CAREheAlthY hAir chickPenny CreedonDestination Spa Salon, Horizon Ridge702-617-6100 x 108

Specializing in ammonia-free hair color and keratin smoothing therapy. Caters to clients with allergies and sensitivities. Free consultation to enhance and improve the health of your hair. See ad, page 27.

PHYSICAL THERAPYheAlth iN motioNLinda Perry, [email protected]

Licensed physical therapist and Thorp-certified electro-toxicolo-gist. Electrically detoxify and accelerate the healing process from inside the cell out using pain-free electro acuscope and myo-pulse.


RECYCLINGre-New recYcliNg3050 Sirius Ave, LV 89102702-489-3029 • Re-NewRecycling.com

Delivering excellent customer service. We specialize in i m p l e m e n t i n g tailored recycling

programs and showing our customers how to reduce waste disposal. Competitive rebates. Free pickup and delivery service for large-volume customers. See ad, page 13.

REIKIthe reiki cliNicTerry Maurer, Reiki Master3110 S Valley View Blvd, Ste 202D, LV 89102702-497-3385 • TheReikiClinic.com

Reiki delivers a naturally induced state of peace and well-being. It ba lances the b io-energe t ic channels, bringing mental clarity, emotional healing and physical relaxation. Extensive experience with cancer patients.

SKINCAREForever YouNg skiN studioShona Susca, Aesthetician10905 S Eastern Ave, Ste 110, HD 89052702-353-3684

Change your skin. Offering facials, microdermabrasion, “no down time” peels, ultrasound deep hydration, brow sculpting and more. Monthly clients receive complimentary brow sculpting.

YOGAbikrAm greeN vAlleYStacey Shea, Owner & Instructor702-463-0671BikramGreenValley.com

Reduce stress, increase strength and fl exibility, lose weight, and improve the quality of your life. A 90-minute series of 26 Hatha yoga postures. See ad, page 7.

om YogA therAPY iNstituteOmita Kumar, yoga [email protected]

Customized, one-on-one yoga therapy to treat medical conditions or for general well-being. I use hatha yoga, a combination of postures, breathing and relaxation to bring mind/body balance.

vegAs hot!5875 S Rainbow Blvd, Ste 206, LV 89118702-257-8171VegasHot.com

5875 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 206Las Vegas, NV 89118

702-257-8171

Five Miles From The Strip!

New clients & local residents only.Coupon and New Client Tour required.

5 Class Card ONLY

$10

Get MOVING! Get HOT!

Vegas Hot! is a yoga fi tness studio. Created by Chiropractor, Dr. King Rollins to enhance both fi tness and healthy lifestyle. Classes include, yoga, Pilates, kettlebells. Temperature varies according to effort. See ad, page 17.

VEGAN LIFESTYLEvegAN coNsultANtKelly Bennett [email protected]

Seeking a simple, conscious and compassionate lifestyle? We will teach you how to create your ideal l i fes ty le wi th empowering information and tools. Visit VeganConsultant.com for details and delicious vegan recipes.

WELLNESSAble wellNessA Better Life Experience6000 S Eastern Ave, 9A, LV 89119702-983-0687 • AbleWellness.com

Dr. Shelly addresses the emotional, chemical and physical roadblocks to we l lness wi th spec i f i c chiropractic care, NET, nutrition, fi tness and lifestyle coaching. Las Vegas locals are welcome to come in for a free adjustment to try A Better Life Experience.

the totAl coNcePtLas Vegas & Henderson Locations702-885-8358TheTotalConcept.org

The one-stop shop of health practitioners and doctors. Services include: blood analysis, nutritional guidance, stress relief, and energy work. Our mission: To educate and serve the health and wellness of body, mind and spirit.

For information about how to publish Natural Awakenings in your community, call

239-530-1377NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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own a Natural Awakenings magazine!As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love!

Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, Earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security.

No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine.

Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the

way we live and care for ourselves. Now available in Spanish as well.

To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right

for you and your target community, call us for a

free consultation at 239-530-1377.

CLICK!Point Your Life ina Healthy DirectionVisit Our WebsiteBrowse the local news, events calendar, resource guide, coupons and contests, plus all the wonderful articles that support and inspire a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. Now just a click away!

www.NaturalAwakeningsLV.com


For information about how to publish Natural Awakenings in your community, call

239-530-1377NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

• Low Investment

• Work from Home

• Great Support Team

• Marketing Tools

• Meaningful New Career

• Birmingham,AL• Huntsville,AL• Mobile/Baldwin,AL• LittleRock/ HotSprings,AR• Phoenix,AZ• Tucson,AZ• EastBayArea,CA• LosAngeles,CA• SanDiego,CA*• SantaBarbara/ Ventura,CA• Denver/Boulder,CO• Hartford,CT• FairfieldCounty,CT• NewHaven/ Middlesex,CT• Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler,FL• NWFLEmeraldCoast• Ft.Lauderdale,FL• Jacksonville/ St.Augustine,FL• Melbourne/ VeroBeach,FL• Miami&FloridaKeys• Naples/Ft.Myers,FL• NorthCentralFL*• Orlando,FL• PalmBeach,FL• PeaceRiver,FL• Sarasota,FL• Tallahassee,FL• Tampa/ St.Petersburg,FL• Florida’sTreasure Coast• Atlanta,GA• WesternNC/ NorthernGA• ChicagoNorth Shore,IL• Indianapolis,IN• Louisville-Metro,KY• Lafayette,LA• NewOrleans,LA• MiddlesexCo.,MA• AnnArbor,MI• GrandRapids,MI• EastMichigan• Lansing,MI• WayneCounty,MI

• Asheville,NC*• Charlotte,NC• Raleigh/Durham/ ChapelHill,NC• Monmouth/ Ocean,NJ• NorthNJ• NorthCentralNJ• Somerset/Middlesex Counties,NJ• SouthNJ• SantaFe/ Albuquerque,NM*• LasVegas,NV• LongIsland,NY• Manhattan,NY• Rockland/ OrangeCounties,NY• Westchester/ PutnamCo’s.,NY• Cincinnati,OH*• OklahomaCity,OK• Portland,OR• Bucks/Montgomery

Counties,PA*• Harrisburg,PA• LehighValley,PA• NortheasternPA*• RhodeIsland• Charleston,SC• Columbia,SC*• GrandStrand,SC• Greenville,SC• Chattanooga,TN• Knoxville,TN• Memphis,TN• Nashville,TN• Austin,TX• Dallas,TX• Houston,TX• NorthTexas• SanAntonio,TX• Tyler/Longview,TX• Richmond,VA• SouthwesternVA*• Seattle,WA• Madison,WI• Milwaukee,WI• PuertoRico

*Existingmagazinesforsale

Phenomenal Monthly Circulation Growth Since 1994. Now with 3.6 Million Monthly Readers in:

turn your passion into a business...

own a Natural Awakenings magazine! Natural Awakenings magazine!As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can enjoy learning about healthy and joyous living while working from your home and earn a good income doing something you love!

Your magazine will help thousands of readers to make positive changes in their lives, while promoting local practitioners and providers of natural, Earth-friendly lifestyles. You will be creating a healthier community while building your own financial security.

No publishing experience is necessary. You’ll work for yourself but not by yourself. We offer a complete training and support system that allows you to successfully publish your own magazine.

Be part of a dynamic franchised publishing network that is helping to transform the

way we live and care for ourselves. Now available in Spanish as well.

To determine if owning a Natural Awakenings is right

for you and your target community, call us for a

free consultation at 239-530-1377.

Documents

NATURAL AWAKENINGS - GREATER LAS VEGAS