Sandhills Naturally • April 2015

YO U R G U I D E TO H E A LT H Y L I V I N G I N T H E S A N D H I L L S A R E A • A P R I L 2 0 1 5

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Explore Anderson Creek Park • Earth Day • Kid-friendly Recipes

Natural Baby! Conception, Birth and Beyond

2 www.SandhillsNaturally.com April 2015

“It’s been nice to see the community build up around natural parenting. It’s kind of a ‘if you build it, it will come philosophy,’ and so far it’s worked out!” — Sarah Frazer of SugarPlums Mom

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Garden Plot of Their Own, page 18

april 2015nutrition

Healthy Starts: Make Your Own Baby Food .. 6

The Family Table .......................................8

wellness Natural Approaches to Pregnancy, Childbirth

and Parenthood .......................................4

Babypalooza!............................................5

Signs of Congenital Eye Problems ...........10

Essential Oils During Pregnancy ...............12

living Cracking the Egg Coloring Code.............14

Green Living with Baby ...........................16

Earth Day................................................17

A Garden Plot of Their Own ...................18

explore SugarPlums Mom ....................................19

Exploring Anderson Creek County Park ...21

Classifieds...............................................23

Resource Guide ......................................24

Calendar of Events..................................26

Natural Approaches to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Parenthood, page 4

Exploring Anderson Creek Park, page 21

Cover photo by Jenifer Fennell, www.jeniferfennellphotography.com.

April 2015 www.SandhillsNaturally.com 3

Your Guide to Healthy Living in the Sandhills

Editor & PublisherJoy Godwin Crowe

Associate EditorKaren Gilchrist

[email protected]

Contributing WritersKelli EdwardsSueson Vess Patti Ranck

Cory Worrell

Marketing & AdvertisingJoy G. Crowe

[email protected]

Mike Cole (Lee Co.)[email protected]

Erin Davidson (Cumberland Co.)[email protected]

Published by Main Street Media213 Skyland Plaza, Ste 1370-163

Spring Lake, NC 28390

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Copyright ©2015 by Main Street Media and Sandhills Naturally. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Main Street Media is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or other material. Information in this publication is not meant to diagnose, treat or prescribe for medical conditions. The opinions expressed by contributing writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors and publisher.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

a time of new beginningsSpring is a time of new beginnings. New leaves unfurl, sprouts poke up from the

soil, hatchlings emerge — and babies seem to be everywhere! I've been to two baby

showers recently; one friend delivered her baby this week; and several others I know

are expecting.

From the moment that a couple

decides to have a baby, there are

questions. How long will it take

to get pregnant? What if we can't

conceive? When should I start taking

prenatal supplements? What if

there are complications? And when

an expectant mother finds out the

happy news, she starts worrying

about making the right decisions.

What to eat during pregnancy, how

hard to exercise or not, how long to

breastfeed, whether or not to use

cloth diapers — not to mention

major life decisions like whether

or not to continue working and

how to find the perfect childcare

provider, if necessary, or how to

cope if the child has special needs. My own babies are now 14 and almost three, and

still there are so many decisions and worries. Is the body wash I'm using full of bad

stuff? Should I make my own laundry detergent? Am I teaching them everything they

need to know (Why isn't she learning her colors? Is she color blind? Yes, I wonder

this!)? How in the world can we afford to buy all this organic food? (A 14-year-old boy

eats A LOT!) In this issue, we strive to give you a little insight into natural parenting.

There's so much to cover and so little space here!

We also have uncovered a little-known gem tucked away in western Harnett

County — Anderson Creek County Park. This is a wonderful place to get out in nature

with your family. The playground is a truly great example of an amazing play area,

using natural wood materials instead of all plastic and metal.

Check our calendar for several wonderful celebrations happening this month,

from Earth Day to Springfest to the Dogwood Festival. And, if you are enjoying

Sandhills Naturally, be sure to tell a friend and pass them a copy. Like us on Facebook

(sandhillsnaturallync), and check out our digital edition online. Leave us a comment

on our facebook page and on our website. If you would like to help support Sandhills

Naturally by being a sponsor or a distribution location, please let me know.

Thanks for reading Sandhills Naturally, and Happy Easter! Joy Godwin Crowe, Publisher

[email protected]

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Proud member of

Proud member of

What kind of mom would I be if I didn't show

off my own beautiful baby? Photo by Jenifer

Fennell, www.jeniferfennellphotography.com.


WELLNESS

So you’re having a baby, and you’ve decided to go the

“natural” route.

But what exactly does that mean? Pregnancy itself is

natural, and while the term natural

childbirth evokes strong opinions

regarding its definition, isn’t a baby’s

arrival still natural if it arrives as it is

supposed to, whether that be free of

medical intervention, using breathing

and relaxation techniques, perhaps at

home or in a birthing center, or via

Caesarean section in case of

emergency to save Mom and/or

Baby’s life?

Rather than debate what is and

isn’t “natural” when it comes to

pregnancy, birth and child rearing, let’s explore options, some

new and others tried and true, to approaching the miracle of

bringing and raising a new little being in today’s modern and

technologically driven world.

ACUPUNCTURE

Many of the discomforts of pregnancy are often treated

with prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications. Those

wishing to avoid medication may opt to try acupuncture, a

natural and effective non-invasive approach safe for baby and

mommy, before, during and after delivery. Acupuncture can be

used to treat the following conditions during pregnancy:

Anemia Anxiety Backache/Sciatica

Breech presentation Carpal Tunnel syndrome

Constipation Edema

Fatigue General body aches

Headaches/Migraines Heartburn

Hemorrhoids Insomnia

Preeclampsia Hyperemesis (Severe Vomiting)

Morning Sickness Muscular cramps

Preventing Miscarriage Pubic symphysis pain

Round Ligament Pain Sinus congestion

Stress Varicose veins

Additionally, acupuncture can help prepare the body for

labor and delivery by signaling the body to open and relax the

pelvic floor muscles, let the baby drop into position and

minimize anxiety. It can be an

effective alternative to

labor-inducing drugs, like

Pitocin and help relieve

anxiety/stress, back pain,

delayed labor, failure to dilate,

contract or progress, fatigue,

high blood pressure, nausea/

vomiting and pelvic pain.

Acupuncture can also be

used to aid in fertility and

complement in-vitro

fertilization and artificial

insemination treatments, starting at any point in the menstrual

cycle or before IVF or IUI, preparing the body for conception. It

can be used to treat fertility disorders such as spasmed tubes

and is often combined with herbal remedies to treat elevated

follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteal phase defect,

hyperprolactinemia (not caused by a prolactinoma), repeated

pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, polycystic

ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with annovulatory cycles and male

factor, including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.

BIRTHING OPTIONS

Not all babies are born in hospitals, whether due to

availability, timing (baby won’t wait!) – or simply choice.

Women not deemed to be “high-risk” may opt to deliver in the

comfort of their home or in a birthing center that provides a

home away from home.

Newly opened Baby + Co. in Cary, N.C., is a fully equipped

medical facility combining “comfort and cleanliness with the

amenities of a boutique hotel so that you can relax and give

birth in a calm environment.” It includes spacious birthing

suites, a kitchen and living space to accommodate family

members and offers “wellness services and classes including

yoga, massage, childbirth education, breastfeeding support and

newborn care.” Should any complications arise during delivery,

natural approaches to pregnancy, childbirth, parenthoodBy Karen Gilchrist


the center is right across the street from WakeMed Cary and

partners with Triangle Physicians for Women.

If one chooses to give birth at home or in a birthing center,

prenatal care, labor and delivery and postpartum care will likely

be provided by a midwife, a primary healthcare provider for

women.

Midwives

According to the Midwives Alliance of North America

(http://mana.org), approximately 15,000 practicing midwives in

the United States may practice in private homes, clinics, birth

centers, and hospitals. In most countries, midwives are primary

healthcare providers in maternity care and women’s healthcare.

In the U.S., just over 10% of births are attended by midwives.

(MANA notes that countries that use midwives as primary

healthcare providers are those in which mothers and infants

fare best. The United States continues to rank behind most of

the developed world in terms of infant and maternal mortality.)

Professional midwife classifications include Certified

Midwife (CM), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), Certified

Professional Midwife (CPM) and Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM).

Presently in North Carolina, only CNMs, registered nurses who

have obtained additional master's level training, can legally

practice midwifery, but not all hospital administrations welcome

midwives to practice in their facilities.

Doulas

DONA International (www.DONA.org), the oldest and

largest doula-certifying association, offers the following

description of a doula:

"The word “doula” comes from the ancient Greek

meaning “a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a

trained and experienced professional who provides continuous

AccupunctureHighland Neurology Center, PAhighlandneurologycenter.comRichard D. Serano, M.D.

Susan McKibben, L.AC, DIPL.AC, susanmckibben.com

Babywearing Babywearing International (BWI)babywearinginternational.org

Babywearing International Fayetteville Chapterwww.facebook.com/bwifayetteville

Babywearing International of SE Piedmontwww.facebook.com/BWISoutheasternPiedmont

Birthing CenterBaby + Companycary.babyandcompany.com

Breastfeeding SupportLa Leche League of North Carolinawww.lllofnc.org/LocalGroups.html

Cloth DiaperingReal Diaper Associationrealdiapers.org/diaper-facts

Great Cloth Diaper Changegreatclothdiaperchange.com/

Doulas/Doula Locator/ServicesCAPPAwww.cappa.net

DONA Internationalwww.dona.org

Dixie Connolly, Natural Childbirth Educator & Doulawww.purebirthmama.com

Cruz Doula Serviceswww.cruzdoulaservices.com

Full Circle Massage Therapywww.facebook.com/pages/A-Full-Circle-Massage-Therapy/297041580345587

The Growing Tree Doula Serviceshttp://ashlauren.wix.com/thegrowingtree

Mother Worth Networkwww.facebook.com/MotherWorthNetwork

Natasha Baker, www.natashadoulabirthmarks.com

Passion Fruit Birthingwww.facebook.com/passionfruitbirthing

Prana Doulawww.pranayogadoula.com/

Sandhills Doulaswww.sandhillsdoulas.com/

Midwives/Midwife Locator ServiceMonarch Midwiferywww.monarchmidwifery.com/

Midwives of North Carolinawww.ncmidwives.org

Photo by Jenifer Fennell

continued on page 9

NATURAL PARENTING RESOURCES


healthy startsSIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR OWN BABY AND TODDLER FOOD

NUTRITION

Want to give your family a jump-start on good nutrition? By introducing your children to a nourishing, whole-food diet at a very young age, you can teach them to prefer the taste of real foods over more processed ones. This lays the foundation for healthy eating habits later in life.

Help your little ones crawl into a wholesome lifestyle by making your own baby and toddler food. Here are some tips to follow to introduce a meal plan that ensures your child consumes high-quality, healthful ingredients.

Start early Developing eating habits and

food preferences is a learned pro-cess — just like starting to walk or potty train. In order to instill healthy eating habits in children, it is essential to expose infants older than 6 months to the taste and texture of a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. When introduced to these foods early, children are more likely to adopt and practice beneficial eat-ing habits in adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

First bites First bites are a big milestone

in a baby's life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recom-mends starting solid foods around 6 months of age. After introducing your child to single-grain, iron-fortified cereal, you can experiment with different vegetable and fruit purees and tailor each meal specifically to your child's preference and needs. To make your own purees, invest in a quality blender that easily blends whole food ingredients to a silky smooth texture, offering a convenient and tasty way to create hearty and nutritious meals.

When it comes to deciding between introducing a fruit or vegetable first, there are no hard and fast rules, and it makes no dif-ference to your baby in terms of ease of digestion. Some choose to introduce fruits first due to the sweet taste that mirrors breast milk,

while others like to start with vegetables, so the child will be more likely to accept the taste. Whichever you choose, it is important to remember to introduce only one new food every three to four days, as this will help you determine whether your child has a reaction to

a certain ingredient.Fun with fruits and

veggiesAs your little one grows,

continuing good eating habits can be tricky. The toddler years are a time of transition and indepen-dence, when they learn to eat table food and experiment with a variety of tastes and textures. Kids are also notoriously fussy during this time and may reject some of the most nutritious foods. Serving your children homemade fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies is one of the simplest and most deli-cious ways to fit several servings of healthy produce into their diets.

Children experience rapid growth and development during the first few years. It is essential that they be fed a healthy and nu-tritious diet in order to maximize this time. Also, when it comes to eating, be sure to lead by example and also consume some of the same ingredients.

Fool-proof recipes Making your own baby and

toddler food allows you to know exactly what you're feeding your little ones. It increases the nutritional value and freshness of foods and eliminates additives with a lower overall cost. Create a versatile and simple meal plan for your child with the ingredients below and enjoy a tasty smoothie recipe that the whole family will love. These recipes were created with the Vitamix 5200, but any high-speed blender will work.BABY FOOD PUREE

Ingredient ideasBananas, peeled; peaches, peeled; avocado meat; papaya,

peeled and seeded; mango; apples, seeded and steamed; pears,


seeded and steamed; sweet potatoes, baked and peeled; squash (yellow, butternut or acorn), peeled,

seeded and steamed; carrots, steamed; green beans, steamed.

DirectionsChoose one or more items from the list of sample ingredients

and prepare accordingly. Place into the Vitamix 5200 container along with 1/4 cup water, formula or breast milk and secure lid.

Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase to Variable 4. Increase speed as needed, depending on ingredients used, to achieve the desired consistency. If necessary, use the tam-per to press any ingredients into the blade while processing.

Blend for 20-30 seconds. If mixture is too thick, remove the lid plug and add additional water, formula or breast milk, 1/4 cup at a time through the lid opening. Continue blending to achieve desired consistency.

Serve immediately or freeze excess baby food in ice cube trays.

BANANA BLUEBERRY ORANGE SMOOTHIEIngredients3/4 cup water 1 medium orange, peeled, halved1 small banana, peeled, frozen1/2 cup frozen unsweetened blueberriesDirectionsPlace all ingredients into the mixer container in the order listed

and secure lid.Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed

to Variable 10, then to High.Blend for 1 minute or until desired consistency is reached.Article source: Brandpoint.

babypalooza!Malia Allen really just needed a little more space. Three years ago, Allen, owner of Bumbledoo, a downtown

Fayetteville store offering natural products and local resources and instruction for moms-to-be, new moms, families and babies, wanted to host locally the Great Cloth Diaper Change, an international event and attempt to break the world record for the number of cloth diapers changed at one time presented by the Real Diaper Association to advocate awareness and use of cloth diapers.

“I sent in my application and decided we would be a Great Cloth Diaper Change site, but our store was really tiny at the time,” said Allen. “My friend Brian Smith owns the Marquis Market, so I asked him if we could have the event there. The space was huge, so we decided to have a cloth diaper-only consignment sale and then added vendors. We printed 300 flyers, which were all gone in a few hours. We had a huge turnout and basically, all we did was hang posters and announce it on Facebook. Obviously, it was something that people needed and wanted.”

Babypalooza, now an annual event “meant to serve as a go to for products, services and information for new moms, babies and parents seeking natural alternatives for raising their children,” was born.

The next year, Allen sought out sponsors and additional vendors, and a little over 500 adults showed up. This year Allen has ramped up Babypalooza even more. The free event will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., once again at the Marquis Market at 116 Person Street. It will feature the Great Cloth Diaper Change; the biannual ReUse, ReDuce, ReCLOTH (RRRC) consignment sale in the back of the market for gently used cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories and baby carriers; more vendors and the latest addition, the Downtown Seek & Find, a Mommy-friendly scavenger hunt sponsored by downtown Fayetteville businesses, offering a substantial cash prize ($700 at press time!) to the winner. Giveaways, including a $300 stroller, will take place before, during and after the event, and the first 100 Babypalooza visitors will receive a swag bag with full-size products.

“Last year, the bags were gone in 15 minutes,” Allen said.Registration is required for the hunt and to sell in the

RRRC, and food is available for purchase at Marquis Market and at other places downtown.

“It’s awesome,” said Allen. “We start planning in January. It’s a great event for moms and cloth diapering.”

For more information, visit www.babypaloozanc.com or email [email protected].

BabypaloozaSat., April 18, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Marquis Market116 Person Street, Fayetteville www.babypaloozanc.com


One common meal bonds families and

provides an inclusive and supportive environment

for everyone to eat a healthy and delicious meal.

The family table also provides an opportunity to

model positive behavior. What makes a “kid’s

meal” happy or signifies family-friendly food?

The answers vary from family to family across the

globe and are influenced by traditions and what

we model to our next generation. Having raised

four sons and witnessed six grandchildren’s eating

styles, patterns emerge. Taste buds are unique and

changing. It’s important to observe your family’s

style — likes and dislikes, preference of crunchy

versus smooth, sweet or spicy, acidic or bland —

and prepare a list of favorites that can be enjoyed

by all. Having a list of potential menu items and

developing a written meal plan with the input of all family

members saves time, reduces stress and saves money.

If allergies or a special diet requires avoiding certain

ingredients like wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, nuts and eggs,

this meal planning challenge may seem overwhelming. My

“super power” or strength is developing recipes that meet this

challenge and taste good for everyone. Try these simple chicken

bites that please children and adults alike, are easy to prepare,

may be frozen for future enjoyment, are made at home versus

in a factory and won’t break the bank.

COCONUT CHICKEN BITES

Oven baked, “breaded” chicken bites without grains, nuts

or eggs. Serves: 4

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

3 tablespoons olive oil

1½ cups shredded unsweetened coconut

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon turmeric

½ teaspoon dried thyme

¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (may substitute

turkey tenderloins)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare baking sheet (jelly

roll pan or cookie sheet) with a sheet of parchment paper.

2. Whisk mustard and oil in a small bowl until blended.

Set aside.

3. Combine coconut with seasonings and mix well. Place

coconut mixture in a shallow bowl.

4. Slice chicken breasts into 1/4-inch X 2-inch slices. Dip

chicken pieces into mustard/oil combination and roll in coconut

mixture. Press coconut crumbs to adhere to chicken.

5. Place “breaded” chicken pieces on a prepared pan and

bake for 16-18 minutes, turning once.

6. Serve warm. Good with lemon or lime juice squeezed

on top.

APRICOT DIPPING SAUCE

This surprisingly kid-friendly (and adult-approved)

condiment has just enough citrus and horseradish to cut the

sweetness and add a unique complexity to the jam.

Makes: 1¼ cups

1 -10 ounce jar apricot or peach jam (preferably organic

and fruit juice sweetened)

1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice

1 teaspoon prepared horseradish

Mix jam, lime juice and horseradish in a bowl and set aside

until ready to serve.

OVEN “FRIED” CHICKEN FINGERS

The availability of ready-made gluten-free panko bread

crumbs and the variety of gluten-free rice cereals make this

the family tableBy Sueson Vess


NUTRITION

version of chicken fingers easier than ever.

Serves: 6-8

3 cups Rice Crunch ‘Ems or Rice Chex gluten-free cereal

(may substitute other unsweetened brown rice cereal) OR 2

cups gluten-free Panko bread crumbs

2 tablespoons gluten-free (GF) flour blend or brown rice

flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried sage

1/2 teaspoon paprika

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup grapeseed or olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare baking sheet

(jelly roll pan or cookie sheet) with a sheet of parchment paper,

lightly brushed with oil.

2. Combine in food processor or blender: cereal, GF flour

blend, salt, pepper, thyme, sage and paprika. Process quickly,

but do not puree until there is no texture left. (Alternatively,

place ingredients in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.)

Place crumb mixture in a shallow bowl.

3. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized (or finger-sized)

pieces. Put oil in a shallow bowl. Dip chicken in oil and then

into the crumb mixture. Press crumbs onto chicken to adhere.

4. Place chicken pieces on a prepared pan. Pour any

remaining oil over chicken pieces and place in the preheated

oven for 8 minutes. Turn and cook an additional 8 minutes until

lightly browned.

5. Serve chicken fingers with apricot dipping sauce,

bottled GF BBQ sauce, ketchup or honey. Chicken pieces are

also good added to your favorite salad.

Sueson Vess is a professional chef, author/food writer and

educator helping people eat healthier, especially those with

celiac disease, autism spectrum disorders and others with chronic

illnesses. Special Eats provides catering services, educational

presentations and monthly cooking classes at FirstHealth Fitness

Center. Sueson’s cookbooks include “Special Eats: Simple

Delicious Solutions for Gluten & Dairy Free Cooking,” now in its

6th edition, and “Living Without Magazine’s Best Gluten-Free

Cookbook." www.specialeats.com; 800.981.5029; Facebook

page: Special Eats. Sueson’s homemade bone broth is available at

Nature’s Own, Southern Pines.

physical, emotional and informational support to the mother

before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional

and practical support during the postpartum period. Studies

have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter

with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they

breastfeed more easily. Research evidence shows that the

quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition

that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve

parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.”

Ashley Keith, a certified birth doula since 2010 and

recently trained as a postpartum doula in Moore County,

stresses that birth doulas “do not do anything medical. We

provide emotional, physical and informational support. If issues

should arise, we try to help parents obtain the information they

need to make informed decisions. We provide continuous

support throughout the labor. There are no shift changes. We

are there from the beginning of labor to the birth of the baby!

“It’s such an awesome experience, and just being able to

give that support and protect that space to help it to be a good

experience, to help them relax and be confident and trust their

bodies and trust themselves. The birth experience has a

profound effect on the mom. She will remember it for life, and

we want her to come away from the experience with a positive

memory.”

NATURAL PARENTING

Those who choose to parent more naturally (without

judging others who do go more with the mainstream flow, of

course!) — using cloth diapers instead of disposables,

breastfeeding rather than bottle-feeding, preparing baby food

from scratch or wearing Baby in a sling or carrier as opposed

to using a stroller, playpen, baby swing or other entertaining

seat — may find support through groups like La Leche League,

the Real Diaper Association and Babywearing International.

Local community groups or events like Babypalooza and the

Great Cloth Diaper Change, as well as area baby stores or

meetups, may offer resources and opportunities to connect

with like-minded parents. Of course, one can always start a

group of one’s own. Naturally, the Internet makes it easy to

reach out to others!

Sources available on www.sandhillsnaturally.com.

natural approaches to pregnancy, childbirth, parenthood (continued from page 5)


WELLNESS

Signs of Congenital Eye Health ProblemsBy Corinthia Worrell, COT

Where does a visual impairment begin? Vision disorders

can be influenced by a combination of genetic factors,

environmental conditions and lifestyle choices. When taking

these into account, beginning proper prenatal care is a

good place to start. Although some disorders cannot be

cured, its complications and symptoms, including pregnancy

complications, can be reduced.

The more premature a

delivery, low birth weight and

other health factors increase

the risk of possible visual

complications to include

retinopathy of prematurity

(ROP) (disruption of eye

development),intraventricular

hemorrhage (IVH) (blood vessels

within brain burst and bleed

into hollow chambers normally

reserved for cerebrospinal

fluid and into the surrounding

tissues), hydrocephalus

(abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid

within the cranial cavity, causing enlargement of the skull and

forehead) and neonatal infections, to name a few.

Treatment could include the use of lung surfactants to

reduce the risk of respiratory distress, blood transfusions to

improve blood pressure and blood count, spinal tap to drain

fluid and/or placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to

drain fluid from the brain.

With ROP, eye development can be disrupted, and normal

vessels may stop growing or begin to grow abnormally from

the retina. These vessels are fragile and can leak, and scar tissue

could begin to develop and pull the retina away from the inner

surface of the eye. Severe symptoms of ROP could include

abnormal eye movement, crossed-eyes, severe nearsightedness

or white-looking pupils (leukocoria). Severe cases of ROP might

include “plus disease,” which is a major complicating factor at

any stage. This could be characterized by vascular dilation and

tortuosity of the blood vessels that might lead to total retinal

detachment, vitreous and anterior chamber haze, iris vascular

engorgement and immature blood vessels growing over the

lens, restricting pupil dilation, although these symptoms usually

appear later in development. Babies with severe cases of ROP

are at greater risk for developing strabismus, cataracts and

glaucoma and becoming more nearsighted/high myopic. Early

detection or treatment can help prevent vision loss later in life.

Stages I and II of ROP usually improve with no treatment,

and the disease resolves on its own without further progression

and could eventually develop into normal vision.

Treatment for stages III and

up for retinopathy of prematurity

could include laser therapy,

Avastin intravitreal injections

(usually reserved for very

aggressive cases), cryotherapy

and for more severe cases (stages

IV and V), scleral buckle and/or

vitrectomy.

Today, with higher survival

rate of smaller and more

premature infants, cases of

ROP have increased, but with

thorough eye examinations, early

treatment has been shown to

improve a baby’s chances for normal vision.

Other risk factors for vision disorders include cerebral

palsy, albinism, epilepsy, autism and developmental disabilities.

Neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury or cortical

visual impairment, can also affect vision due to trauma of

the brain, not the eyes. The degree of impairment depends

on onset, location and intensity; it can range from severe

impairment to blindness. Asphyxia (lack of oxygen to the brain),

hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the body cells, tissue or blood) and

ischemia (not enough blood supply to the brain) can also cause

brain defects and permanent vision loss.

Children with visual impairments can show symptoms

that might mimic others, such as “blindism” (self-stimulatory

behavior, rituals), which is often mistaken for autism, and

children with neurological vulnerabilities (e.g., seizure disorders,

prematurity associated with bleeds, agenesis of the corpus

callosum, etc.) may be at increased risk. These similarities can

often result in misdiagnosis.

Other visual impairment such as nystagmus (rapid

involuntary eye movement, usually side to side) can be sensory

and can develop as a result of poor vision, or it can be motor

and develop as a result of a neurological problem and may

Premature delivery and low birth weight increase the risk

of possible visual complications. Photo by Jenifer Fennell


result in problems with depth perception. If there is an onset of

nystagmus, this may be a sign of a serious medical condition,

including severe head trauma, toxicity, stroke, inflammatory

disease or other conditions that affect the brain. Immediate

medical attention is necessary.

Some common causes of visual impairment

include significant refractive error (excessive or unequal

nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism), strabismus

(misalignment of the eyes), amblyopia (reduced vision in one

eye not stimulated in early childhood) and binocular visual

impairment (inadequate development of visual skills such as

tracking, fusion, stereopsis, convergence and visual motor

integration). A comprehensive eye exam is recommended at six

months of age to ensure the eyes perform as a team and there

is normal eye development. Amblyopia and strabismus are most

effectively treated when detected early. Eye examinations can

also detect systemic diseases such as high blood pressure and

diabetes.

It is important to understand vision problems and

symptoms. A head tilt might indicate double vision; excessive

tearing and red or encrusted eyelids may indicate blocked tear

ducts or infection. Pupil defects could be a sign of eye cancer,

nerve damage, tumor or defect inside the eye, and an eye turn

may be a sign of poor muscle control. Many eye diseases have

no early symptoms, and you may see no change in your vision

until the disease has become advanced. The single best way to

protect your vision is through regular eye examinations.

ADAPTING TO A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Most children who are visually impaired have low vision.

They use their vision for learning along with some tactile and

auditory adaptations. This may include increased contrast and

color highlighting, lighting enhancement and reading standard

print with the use of hand-held or stand magnifiers that can be

used for near tasks or enlarged print. Technological equipment

such as closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) or screen enlargement

programs for computers can be used as well as monoculars and

telescopes for distance viewing. As technology is improving,

many rely on auditory information for some part of their

learning. Books on CD, spoken output from the computer and

use of tape recorders for memos provide quick means of access.

Children who are blind will depend on tactile and auditory

methods for learning. They may use Braille, tactile material such

as raised maps, speech access and auditory descriptions. Braille

can be written and read using portable note-takers with Braille

displays or computer output. A child who has been blind since

birth might find it difficult to understand verbal descriptions;

therefore, direct contact with materials or objects is beneficial

as they cannot gain this information through pictures.

Children with visual impairments may also benefit from

orientation and mobility instruction, independent living

skills, career development, use of assistive technology, use of

functional vision, and communication and social skills. It is also

important to experience some type of routine physical activity

program to improve fitness and provide confidence. It can also

develop motor skills needed for daily living and mobility tasks.

Although vision loss can result from either disease,

trauma, congenital or degenerative conditions that cannot be

corrected by conventional means, such as refractive correction

or medications, preventive eye care is the first line of defense

against vision problems. Regular eye exams with an eye

care professional and annual physical exams may offer more

treatment options to provide a better visual outcome in the

future.

For more information on congenital eye health, visit our

website at www.capefeareye.com.

Photo by Jenifer Fennell, www.jeniferfennellphotography.com.

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1017-101-14


When I began to write this month's article, it hit me that

my baby was turning seven and I was far from being "in the

know" on what to use for babies. If only I had the help back

then of my favorite doTerra

essential oils to assist in my

pregnancy and delivery and

those first few months of being

a mom. So with all this baby

talk this month, I decided to

go right to an expert with an

Q and A. Stephanie Fritz , LM,

CPM, and also known as "The

Essential Midwife," has years of

experience as a midwife and is

the author of Essential Oils for

Pregnacy, Birth & Babies.

Q: During pregnancy what

essential oil or supplement

do you recommend to tackle

restless leg syndrome?

A: Essential oils that may

help with restless leg syndrome

are the massage blend, calming

blend, marjoram and clary sage.

You can mix the massage blend

with fractionated coconut oil

and rub on the top of the leg to the bottom and then layer

with any other oils of your choice. For pain, I recommend the

soothing oil blend.

Q: I had postpartum depression with my last delivery. What

essential oils or supplements do you recommend to tackle that

condition?

A: Although the reasons women develop postpartum

depression are complex, we do know diet plays a role in this

type of depression. Insufficient omega-3 fatty acids during

pregnancy have been linked to an increased risk. In fact,

a recent study from Bergen concluded that mothers with

the lowest omega-3 index had a 19 percent higher risk of

developing depression.

In a British study, researchers found that women who

consumed greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids during

the third trimester were less likely to show signs of major

depression during pregnancy, and for up to eight months after

the birth.

I recommend the daily supplement trio as a whole food

prenatal vitamin, which includes the perfect amount of omega

3s needed for pregnancy and postpartum.

Frankincense, the monthly blend and grounding blend

are all great oils to help keep hormones balanced throughout

pregnancy and postpartum.

Q: What essential oils help with morning sickness?

A: Any digestive oils can support this, but my favorite is

cardamom. It is a member of the ginger family, and they both

block the nausea receptors in the brain. Apply one drop behind

the ears and on the back of the neck.

Q: What's the best essential oil for cradle cap?

A: Mix one drop of lavender (or melaleuca or geranium)

with a small amount of carrier oil (like fractionated coconut

oil) and apply topically to the scalp. Do not use so much that it

essential oils during pregnancyHOW ESSENTIAL OILS CAN HELP WITH PREGNANCY, BIRTH & BEYOND

By Kelli Edwards


will run into their eyes. Let the oils absorb into the skin before

washing their head. Usually 3 to 4 applications will clear the

cradle cap.

Q: What are your favorite oils to use during pregnancy?

A: I have so many favorite essential oils for pregnancy,

it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. I have a whole book

on my favorites, Essential Oils for Pregnancy, Birth & Babies.

My favorite oils to diffuse in labor are wild orange and the

grounding blend. They both help with courage, anxious

feelings and focus, all things needed in labor.

Q: Are there any essential oils that are an absolute "no"

during pregnancy?

A: I always say to avoid clary sage in pregnancy until at

least 40 weeks. It will not force the body to do anything it's

not in alignment for, but once contractions have started, it may

increase the strength of them.

Q: What's your advice for a colicky baby?

A: My first recommendation is if Mom is breastfeeding,

she should cut out all dairy from her diet. Dairy is usually the

biggest culprit for a colicky baby. The oil I find that works the

quickest and best is the digestive blend. Apply 1 drop diluted

with a tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil and apply on the

belly, including the belly button, before each feeding.

Q: I know there are herbs that help with milk production.

Are there any essential oils that also help?

A: Fennel internally and basil topically on the breast

(avoiding the nipple area) will definitely increase milk supply.

Three to four drops of each, three to four times a day. Usually

only one day is needed for this, and you should notice an

increase by the next day.

Other helpful tips are

• Mom must increase her calories by 500 when

breastfeeding to make enough caloric and fat-filled milk for

baby.

• Nurse as often as you can to help bring up the supply

and demand.

• Drink 3-4 quarts of water.

• Don't drink milk.

• Take extra zinc.

• Use anti-stress/relaxation oils.

One of my favorite breastfeeding support websites is

www.breastfeedinginc.ca.6

Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not

been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on

this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent

any disease.

Kelli Edwards, owner of Pure Phoenix Cleanse & Wellness, is a

health enthusiast with a passion for helping people achieve optimum

health. She helps people through yoga instruction, as a colon therapist

and as an advocate and educator on essential oils. She loves taking

care of her family, enjoys reading and learning about all aspects of

health, creating new recipes, yoga, dancing, music and nature.

Natural Parenting in a Modern WorldCloth diapers, nursing supplies, slings & wraps, gifts, toys & more.

Offering Childbirth Education classes and events for expectant families with Ashley Keith, CD(DONA), LCCE

910.684.8016222 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Southern Pines, NC 28387www.facebook.com/sugarplumsmom

WELLNESS


Come Visit Our New Location!

Colon Hydrotherapy • Ionic Foot Detox •

Massage • Cranio-Sacral

Formerly Waterdragon Wellness, now open at our new location.

910-849-8891 305 Owen Drive, Fayetteville NC

[email protected]

cracking the egg coloring codeEGGS-TRAORDINARY IDEAS FOR DECORATING WITH EGGS

By Patti Ranck

The ritual of painting or coloring eggs during springtime

celebrations has been a part of almost every culture since the

Egyptian times. A symbol of rebirth, the simple, lowly little egg

has, at times, been elevated to such grandiose, artistic and even

regal heights as in the Fabergé eggs. But we are most familiar

with the singular colored eggs as part of a fun family tradition.

We’d like to help make your tradition a bit healthier. Here are a

few great resources for coloring eggs naturally. And although

the ideas here are terrific for Easter, they would be equally

awe-inspiring at a baby shower!

For best basic guidelines on how to color eggs naturally,

shall we say, the “winner” is — by the way, say what you will; I

love this woman, and she always

has the answer you’re looking for

(not to mention is the creator and

driving force behind wholeliving.

com — gotta love that) — yes,

Martha Stewart! Simply Google

marthastewart.com and search any

of the following categories: Dyeing

Eggs Naturally, Natural Egg Dyeing

Techniques, or Natural Egg Dyeing

Methods (this one has videos).

Martha’s website will give you a

good ratio of vinegar to water as

well as time frames, color chart and

some other decorative techniques.

Another good site (that I

personally reference for almost

everything) is

MotherEarthNews.com.

Search "natural dye

recipes" for Easter eggs.

A handy tip offered was

that using frozen

organic fruit produced

more vibrant colors, and

I found it to be a bit less expensive as many store brands now

offer their own frozen organic produce.

Chemistry.about.com had the best list that yielded the

most intense colors and much a quicker method. Leave it to the

scientists! Search this site for "natural egg dyeing." Actually,

the only risk I can find with this method is that the egg may

crack during cooking, and then it will be egg salad or deviled

eggs for lunch! (Of course recipes will follow this article.)

OK, this has

got to be my new

favorite Easter egg

design — plus, if I

ever wear

pantyhose and they

rip, I can recycle

them into

something artistic!

Your old pantyhose

and leaves or tiny wildflowers can help you create gorgeous

patterns on your eggs! Go to Goodhomedesign.com/

DIYEasterEggDye. I am so doing this!

LIVING


I want to definitely be sure to

include the vegans in the whole egg

ritual craftiness shenanigans, but I

also think this would be the most

awesome little gift idea at each place

setting at the table — a plastic egg

terrarium! How cool is that?

Designlotus.com/

DIYeastereggterrariums

But if all this decorating is a bit

more time than your schedule will

allow, fear not. We have a solution

for that, too. It’s called “Eggs with

Wild Flowers & Weeds,” brought to

you by “The Daily Something

Blog,” Sounds like a museum piece.

Simple. Pretty. I like.

Happy Spring!

As promised, the recipes:

SMOKED SALMON DEVILED

EGGS

12 hard-boiled eggs

4 oz. smoked salmon, finely

chopped

3 T mayonnaise

3 T sour cream

2 t dill, chopped

2 t Dijon mustard

½ t horseradish

Salt/pepper to taste

Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Scoop out yolks and mash

with above ingredients. Spoon filling back into each egg white

half and enjoy! (keep refrigerated)

VEGAN “EGG” SALAD

“Yolk”

½ T turmeric

½ T onion powder

1 t ground black pepper

1½ t glutinous wheat flour

1 T Dijon mustard

1 t lemon juice

“white”

8 oz. extra-firm tofu, drained &

pressed & dried between 2 plates

wrapped in a clean cotton dishcloth

4 T Veganaisse

½ T sweet pickle relish

½ c chopped celery

Crumble tofu and mix with

combined “yolk” ingredients. If

mixture appears dry, add more

Veganaisse to your taste. Serve on

bread, roll or crackers.Patti Ranck is an artist & a dreamer who blends her love of nature & her passion for repurposing into the celebrations of life. She can help you create your one-of-a-kind celebration. [email protected] or 910.638.8322

s

190 Bell Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387910.246.2007 • www.bikramyogasouthernpines.com

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL$25 for 10 Days

Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute class consisting of 26 hatha yoga postures and 2 breathing exercises in a heated room (105º and approx’ 40% humidity) which aids warming up your body to stretch safely and detox the body. Our state of the art studio uses renewable energy, LED lighting and green flooring. We pride ourselves on creating a supportive environment to help you feel at home during your visit.

Eggs with Wildflowers & Weeds, via A Daily

Something


The problem with going green is that, sometimes, it just

means more work. Why separate your trash when it can all just

go in one bin? Why look for local products when you can get

everything at a mega-mart? This tension often leads people to

shy away from making the green choice, and this is particularly

noticeable just after a baby is born. While many people want to

make the environmentally friendly choice, the extra work can

make it prohibitive. With just a few simple choices, anyone with

a baby can have a life

that fulfills one's goals

and isn’t (too much)

extra work.

Diapers

Disposable diapers

created a revolution in

parenting when they

arrived on the scene

just a few decades ago.

They are convenient and

extremely easy to handle.

Disposables, however,

also have a downside.

With several changes

every day (2,200 in the

first year), disposables create piles of waste that go directly

into landfills. It is estimated by realdiapers.org that more than

27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the

U.S., and over 92 percent of those end up in a landfill. Studies

have shown that they also take a long time to decay (like 250-

500 years!). Considering the savings of cloth diapers and the

reduction in cost to the environment is something that many

parents are doing today. Cloth diapers, or the hybrid cloth

diaper option, will lighten your footprint on the planet. Another

upside — cloth diapers also don't contain the many chemicals

that are found in disposables.

Toys

There are a lot of great toys that can be found at second-

hand shops or community online yard sales sites that are in

good condition and perfectly fine for young children. Try to

find toys that are made of recycled materials, either partially

or fully. A greater awareness has arisen lately about potentially

harmful chemicals in toys, so look to avoid those with toxic

chemicals. If you don’t know what a toy is made of, ask. If a

sales representative can’t tell you, it’s best to look somewhere

else. Locating a toy shop that stocks environmentally friendly

toys created locally can reduce your footprint.

Clothes

Realize that while a child is young, he or she will be

growing quickly, which means lots of new clothes. Consider

reducing the amount

of clothing you buy.

This will force you to

do laundry more often,

but will save you money

as well. When buying

clothes, try to buy

good quality clothes

made from organic

materials, reducing

hazardous chemicals

in the environment.

Also consider buying

gently used clothes at

consignment stores and

yard sales, and be sure to

gift clothes to friends when you are done with them.

Gifts

Your friends and family will undoubtedly want to shower

you with gifts when they find out that you are having a baby.

Make it clear to your family and friends that they can support

your wishes and your baby by looking for gently used items.

You can also reduce overall consumption by encouraging

people to buy clothes for the child just after birth, giving you a

better idea of what you will need and reducing the amount of

clothes you buy. For many, the packaging is as important as the

present, but asking for unwrapped gifts can also reduce overall

waste.

Going green with a baby isn’t really that much more work.

What it takes is planning, foresight and communicating your

wishes to everyone, including your spouse. A few simple steps

can make a tremendous difference.

green living with babyby Sam Erickson

LIVING


Bringing the poverty, development, climate and

sustainability communities together to build a broader and

more inclusive global

movement is the theme

of this year’s Earth Day,

says Kathleen Rogers,

President and CEO of

Earth Day Network

(EDN), an international

nonprofit organization

that coordinates

Earth Day actions

globally and works

year round on climate and environmental policy issues and civic

engagement.

Under EDN’s leadership, Earth Day has grown from

a single-day event to a year-round movement to promote

sustainability. EDN also runs A Billion Acts of Green, the

world’s largest environmental service and advocacy program.

Momentum is growing, with a goal to reach 1.5 Billion Acts of

Green on Earth Day, April 22, and more than 2 Billion Acts of

Green by the United Nations Climate Change Conference in

Paris, France, at the end of 2015.

“Earth Day Network believes that this will be the most

environmentally active and important year yet,” Rogers says.

This year:

• Two billion people across 192 countries will participate

in Earth Day 2015, making it the largest civic observance in the

world.

• Hundreds of major cities around the world, from Milan to

Houston, Delhi to Des Moines, Rome to Seattle, Dallas to Dubai

,are organizing actions in their communities.

• 2,000 mayors are expected to participate in Town Hall

meetings where local

representatives will

discuss sustainability

issues and solutions

with their communities.

• Global religious

leaders will reinforce the

spiritual imperative of

protecting the Earth.

• Hundreds of

thousands of schools

worldwide will participate in Climate Education Week – an

educational program empowering today’s students to become

tomorrow’s climate literate, green economy leaders.

On the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on April 18,

2015, Earth Day Network will partner with the Global Poverty

Project to present “Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day,” a large-

scale public event that for the first time joins the climate

movement with movement to end extreme poverty.

April 22 also kicks off the countdown to 2020 and the

50th anniversary of Earth Day that marks the date by which

cities, local governments, countries and corporations have

committed to achieving significant progress on reducing the

impacts of climate change.

“Where does the world want to be on Earth Day’s

50th anniversary? This is the question we cannot leave to

governments alone,” Rogers says. “This is our call to action. It’s

our time to lead.”

For more information, visit earthday.org.

earth day network celebrates 45th anniversary of earth day

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Your friendly, family-oriented Planet Natural blogger has fond

memories gardening as a child with dad and mom, grandma and

grandpa and even an uncle or two. That’s when and how we first

learned to garden, not just the craft and practice of it, but also how

we learned to love it. That love has lasted throughout our life.

We started at a very young age, toddling out to the garden

with grandma to pick strawberries — they tasted so good! — or

helping grandpa pull

weeds. Not everything

we pulled at first were

weeds, but with patience,

and kind words on what

was good and what was

bad, we soon learned

just what should get

plucked. Later we helped

dad mark rows and plant

seeds. We learned about

the conditions and the

patience required to see

those seeds sprout. Come

harvest time, we learned

the right way to pinch a

pea pod from the vine,

break an ear of corn from

the stalk or gently twist a tomato from the plant.

This not only made us grow to love gardening; it made us grow

to love eating vegetables.

But just as every kid doesn’t love to eat vegetables, even if they

are fresh from the garden, not every kids takes to gardening. Some,

especially those who are told to do this and do that without concern

as to the why of doing it, might just see it as work. Some, most

often because of their tender years, may not have the attention

span required to see things through. Assigned tasks may not reveal

to your little charge just how they’re invested in the garden. Here’s a

strategy that might help even the most reluctant junior gardener get

and stay involved.

Give them their own garden plot. Even children as young as

five and six will enjoy having their own space in the garden to plant

and grow what they want. They’ll need close supervision at this age,

making sure that they don’t plant too deeply and don’t water too

much, and especially making sure of their safety when using even

the most basic of gardening tools like a simple trowel. Of course,

as a caring parent, you wouldn’t turn your little one loose with any

tool. But when they reach the age and point of confidence that

you can stand up and watch them scooping dirt with purpose and

precision, why it’s time for both of you to be proud.

Your child’s own plot doesn’t have to be large. A two x two

foot space is a good place for a very young person to start. Older

kids might handle more space, and kids who have grown on their

own space before might be ready for something larger. As a parent,

you’re the best judge of what your child is capable of.

The fun starts with the planning. Drawing garden plans with

your child is a great pencil-and-paper activity and a wonderful time

to encourage realistic expectations. It’s also a great imaginative

exercise. Join them in

visualizing what their

garden will look like at

various stages.

Help them stake out

their plot with string so

that the boundaries are

clear. What lies inside

is their very own bit of

garden. Let them choose

what to plant after giving

them choices. And make

sure the choices you offer

will guarantee success.

Radishes are a good place

to start. Small lettuce

and spinach patches also

give good, quick results. But don’t be afraid to try something more

ambitious. A couple of tomato plants in their space will give plenty

of opportunity to observe growth and the fruiting process. Squash

or pumpkin seeds, planted well after the soil has warmed, will give

delightful, garden-filling results (make sure you give them enough

space if this is the choice).

We’ve always made a row of sunflowers a family endeavor.

Everybody gets involved in shared space and growing. And it’s

a good way to demonstrate that gardening is a shared activity.

Everyone helps everyone else. In other words, don’t limit your

children's gardening to just their own plot. Have them help with

yours as you help with theirs.

No matter what your child plants, you as their garden guru

— as their parent! — should look for and anticipate teachable

moments. Do everything you can to reinforce personal responsibility.

But make sure they will succeed in the growing. This means waiting

well past the last frost and helping them keep an eye out for pests,

dry (or too wet) soil conditions and other conditions that might

affect what they’re growing.

We love seeing kids getting started with gardening. And we

bet you do, too.Writen by E. Vinje and reprinted courtesy of Planet Natural.

Planetnatural.com has been providing products for a healthy home, lawn and garden since 1991.

a garden plot of their ownby E. Vinje


Sarah Frazer knows first-hand that necessity is indeed

the mother of invention. As an expectant mom, she knew she

wanted to do certain things like cloth diaper, breastfeed and

baby wear.

“I had Lily in January of 2013,” said Frazer, owner of

SugarPlums Mom, a store dedicated to “natural parenting in

a modern world,” located at 222 W. Pennsylvania Avenue in

downtown Southern Pines.

“And there really wasn’t any local resource for expecting

moms, for new moms, for really any mom that was going

against what’s considered more mainstream parenting and

mainstream products. And so after I had Lily, I was discussing

with my husband how disappointing it was that in our

awesome little community we didn’t have a resource where you

could get help — you could talk to somebody, you could look

at things. You could always order online, but you can’t touch

things, especially things like baby carriers.

“My husband suggested

opening a store, and I kind of

scoffed at him because it’s not

anything I really have experience

with. I don’t have a degree

in business. My degree is in

aerospace, so it was completely

off topic, but after doing some

research and talking with different

people in the community, I thought

okay, maybe I could do this. So I

talked to the Sandhills Community

College advisor. I just had to be

really confident in myself and make

a leap of faith because you never

know what you can and can’t do

until you try.

“We opened in September

of 2013. My husband was deployed at the time, so I did

the majority of the work at home at night after Lily went to

sleep. The La Leche League was already established, so they

moved the meetings here. We started reaching out to different

people and seeing about classes (childbirth, infant massage,

breastfeeding, yoga). But that really satisfied, I think, a need in

the community for more than a boutique store, but a resource

and a place to come and get information and get help. When

I started, the inventory was

significantly less than it is

now. But we went ahead and

opened because we wanted to

start bringing the community

together as fast as possible. We

wanted to go ahead and get the classes going and get people

connected and involved.”

Now that the store is fully stocked in its inventory, Frazer

tries to carry products that are useful from the time that one

finds out she’s pregnant until the child is preschool age, 3 or 4

years old.

“We’re always happy to discuss cloth diapering,

breastfeeding and baby wearing. Everybody who works here is

very well versed in those three main subjects. We try to carry all

kinds of products that relate to parenting, not necessarily just

natural parenting, but we definitely tailor our inventory towards

natural parenting and carry things

like natural laundry detergents or

natural shampoos and body washes,

things that you can’t find at any big

box retailer.”

As a small business owner,

Frazer supports other small business

owners as well. “We try to buy

as many small business products

as we can, things like our Sakura

Bloom ring slings, since they are

handmade in Massachusetts by a

group of mothers. We try to stick

with companies that have the same

ideals.”

And clearly, Frazer has helped

to fill a void. “Response has been

phenomenal. We’ve had great

community support. We’ve had great customer support. I

think we’ve really been able to reach out to a lot of moms

and expecting moms and expose them to some different ideas

that they may not have been raised with, like for instance,

breastfeeding. One of the services we really try to provide is a

place for Mom to come, even if she’s not shopping. We have a

safe place for toddlers to play. We always encourage moms to

sit down, nurse their baby, bottle-feed their baby. We want to

sugarplums momNATURAL PARENTING IN A MODERN WORLDby Karen Gilchrist

EXPLORE


provide a place where someone

can feel comfortable, however they

want.”

Among the products Frazer

carries are cloth diapers. “We’ve

definitely been able to reach out

with the cloth diapering.” She also

offers a variety of baby carriers,

which she notes are difficult to

buy online because there is no one

there to help with the fit. “There is

no one size fits all,” said Frazer, “and what may work for one

person, may not work for someone else.” She and her staff

offer tips for fitting and safely baby wearing, and she carries

those carriers with the best reviews and highest quality in a

variety of materials, from linen to dupioni silk.

One of the most popular lines she stocks is Life Factory’s

glass bottles. Other products include Skip Hop, toys, backpacks

and lunchboxes for preschoolers; Earth Mama Angel Baby

herbal supplements for breast-feeding; Babiators, sunglasses

for the wee ones; natural organic baby-safe sunscreen; outdoor

play blankets and gift items. Customers will find smaller items

for baskets, showers and birthdays. A baby registry is available

as well as gift certificates. “We carry products for mothers and

children, but we have products

in the store for everyone,” Frazer

said.

Frazer tries to offer a

centralized location for resources,

such as new mom groups,

lactation specialists, massage

therapists and chiropractors, “so

Mom doesn’t have to make a

whole bunch of stops.”

“It goes back to our core

value of being a community resource, having a place where

people can come and connect with one another. You can

come and meet other people who do the same things as you.

It’s been nice to see the community build up around natural

parenting. It’s kind of a ‘if you build it, it will come philosophy,’

and so far it’s worked out!”

Karen Gilchrist is a

writer, yoga instructor and

longtime resident of

Southern Pines.

sandhillsnaturally.com.

EXPLORE:SugarPlums Mom22 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines 910.684.8016Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.www.sugarplumsmom.com

169 Beverly Lane, Southern Pines, NC 28387 The Shops of Southern Pines ~ Next to The Fresh Market

910.246.0065 • www.southernpinesyoga.com

Born out of a love for deep transformation and service, Southern Pines Yoga Co. is committed to meeting you where you are and taking you forward to where and who you want to be. We value all schools of yoga and aim to offer classes and workshops accessible for people in all stages in life. Classes offered seven days a week.

Lisa Whalen, CLTC® Financial Associate Office: 919-708-5031 Cell: 919-356-0309

Strength and stability— without compromising integrity Thrivent Financial is more than a financial services provider—we’re a membership organization of Christians, and we honor our members in everything we do. For the third year running, we’ve been named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere Institute. We earned this award as a result of our leadership in promoting ethical business standards and for introducing innovative ideas to benefit the public. Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics.

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According to a study released in October of 2013 from

the family advocacy group Common Sense Media, “…72

percent of children eight and under have used tablets or

smartphones (and more than a third of babies under two!),”

an increase from 38 percent in 20111. And a study by the

Kaiser Family Foundation shows that children spend an

average of seven hours and 40 minutes in “screen time.” In

just one generation, “kids are getting outdoors half as often

as their parents, many kids spend less than an hour a day

outside, 30% of kids get less than 15 minutes of recess a day,

and many schools have canceled recess completely.”2

Not so long ago – just 30 years – kids spent a great

deal of time playing outside in nature. And that opportunity,

according to Carl Davis, Director of Parks and Recreation of

Harnett County, is what Anderson Creek County Park, located

at 1491 Nursery Road in Lillington, brings to Sandhills area

residents.

“The idea behind the park is really to bring nature back

to the citizens of Harnett County and everybody in the

surrounding counties,” said Davis.

Located in southwestern Harnett County, the 1014-acre

park opened less than a year ago in May 2014. Construction

of Phase 1 of the park’s master plan, begun in September

2013 and funded through a grant matched with a donation

of 204 acres of property from the Harnett Forward Together

Committee, is complete.

“We wanted to go ahead and open it up to the public

and let them start using it, have them learn more about the

area and the nature aspects of the Sandhills area,” Davis said.

“We have a little over three miles of walking trails, a picnic

shelter, restroom facility, pond with a nature overlook, disc

golf course and playground.

“The playground is a little different from normal

playgrounds. It’s not your plastic and metal. It’s constructed

of wood and looks like a tree house or a fort. A company out

of Asheville built it using locust and rhododendron trees. The

poles are very weather resistant and shouldn’t give us any

problems. We try to make the nature park more natural.”

The department was fortunate to have a local amateur

player and member of the Professional Disc Golf Association

assist in the design and construction of the park’s disc golf

course.

“Todd Brookhart designed the course for us and did a lot

of work with it, cleaning up a lot of land, laying the course

for us and doing finish work,” said Davis. “We were very

lucky to have a local person who wanted to come in and do

this kind of stuff, and I think it was exciting for him to build

the course, too. We’re still working on it, but it’s a pretty

exploring anderson creek county park By Karen Gilchrist

“The playground is a little different... It's constructed of wood and looks like a tree house or a fort.”


tough course for amateurs, very tree oriented. People can use

it as a trail, too, and another view of nature.”

Wildlife one might encounter includes a “mix of

everything local to this area,” including bobcats, snakes, deer,

squirrels and osprey that fish in the pond.

A large part of the park is a longleaf pine stand,

harkening back to the area’s history of naval stores. Davis

said that the department is looking at doing some history

education with it.

“It’s set up as a nature education park. We’re able to

host kids or adults, anyone who wants to learn, and teach

them about nature, anything from plants to animals to the

soil. It’s a very special park. Very natural, very quiet. Pretty

unique.”

Additionally, the park focuses on sustainability, using

rainwater to flush

the toilets. A gutter

on the picnic shelter

diverts rainwater into a

1700-gallon cistern, and

the water is then pumped

to the toilets. A line from

a well, which is used

for the water fountain,

is a back up should the

weather become too

dry to provide water for

flushing.

“It’s good for the

entire environment,” said

Davis.

Future phases of development of Anderson

Creek County Park call for more walking trails,

mountain bike trails, picnic shelters, playgrounds,

special use campsites and several overlook

areas, as well as an interpretive education center

and gathering area, additional interpretive and

directional signage, passive/nature oriented

activities, an outparcel for a potential school site

and equestrian trails.

“We will keep the equestrian trails separate,”

said Davis. “There’s a ridge that runs through the

park. We would keep all the horses on the north

side and all the pedestrians on the south side.

Plans call for seven to 10 miles of horseback riding

trails built a little bit at a time, including upgrades to the

roads and another parking area for horse trailers.”

All facilities within the park are ADA accessible, including

the trails, shelter, first through eleventh holes of disc golf and

the playground.

"We make sure we have something for everyone, all

backgrounds,” Davis said. “We make sure everyone can get

there and enjoy nature. It gives kids a chance to dig in the dirt

and play in the woods.”

Karen Gilchrist is a writer, yoga instructor and longtime

resident of Southern Pines. You can reach her at karen@

sandhillsnaturally.com. 1“More Than 33 Percent of Kids Under Two Use Tablets So

Prepare for an Army of Robot Babies,” by Noah Rayman, Oct. 28, 2013, http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/28/more-than-33-percent-of-kids-under-two-are-using-tablets-so-prepare-for-an-army-of-robot-babies/

2“Our Children Deserve As Much Outdoor Time as Inmates and Chickens,” by Ben Klasky, posted Feb. 14, 2014, www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-klasky/our-children-deserve-as-m_b_4791244.html

EXPLORE:Anderson Creek County Park1491 Nursery RoadLillington, NC 27547Park Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.910.893.7518www.harnett.org/parkrec/anderson-cree-park.asp


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resource guideANIMAL HEALTH & WELLNESSSpay Neuter Veterinary Clinic Offering affordable spay and neuter for the Sandhills area. Call for an appointment, 910.692.3499 (FIXX), 5071 US Hwy 31, Vass. Donate at www.companionanimalclinic.org

CHILDREN & EDUCATIONThe Griffin Academy: A Montessori Learning Experience. Now enrolling for Fall 2015. 488-B Commerce Dr., Sanford. 919.499.1032, www.thegriffinacademy.org

CHIROPRACTIC CARESouthern Pines Chiropractic, Dr. Joseph Wahl. Offering full-service chiropractic care, licensed massage therapists and nutritional counseling. 361 N. Bennett St., Southern Pines. 910.692.5207, www.ncchiro.com, [email protected]

Call Sandhills Naturally to list your business here. 910.551.2883 www.sandhillsnaturally.com

COFFEERude Awakening coffee house, 227 Hay St., Fayetteville. 910.223.7833, www.rudeawakening.net

COLON HYDROTHERAPYPure Phoenix Cleanse & Wellness Center, offering Colon Hydrotherapy and Ionic Foot Detox. 305 Owen Dr., Fayetteville.910.849.8891, [email protected]

ELECTRICITYCentral Electric Membership Corporation, Your Friends, Your Neighbors, Your Cooperative.128 Wilson Rd., Sanford. 919.774.4900, www.cemcpower.com

ESSENTIAL OILSJoy Crowe, Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils.

IPC# 1318413. 910.551.2883, www.mydoterra.com/sandhillsnc

Kelli Edwards, Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils. IPC#446470. 910.644.2307, www.mydoterra.com/detoxdiva

FINANCIAL SERVICESLisa Whalen, CLTC, Thrivent Financial Associate. Connecting faith and finances for good. Named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Institute. 919.708.5031, [email protected]

EVENT PLANNINGIndigo Earth Events, LLC - Party Sustainably! Offering "green" event styling, custom decor, rentals for weddings/social/corporate events. By appointment, 910.638-8322, [email protected]. www.facebook.com/indigoearthevents

EYE HEALTHCape Fear Eye Associates offers complete eye and vision care — from children’s eye exams and pediatric eye muscle surgery to cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and LASIK. 1726 Metro Medical Dr., Fayetteville. 910.484.2284 or 800.829.2284, www.capefeareye.com

HEALTH & FITNESSFirst Health Fitness, 170 Memorial Dr., Pinehurst. 910.715.1800, www.firsthealth.org/fitness

Corinne Henderson, Independent Representative for Advocare, offeringenergy, weight-loss, nutrition and sports performance products. 508.954.6415, www.advocare.com/140154604

Living Balance Studios, Offering Yoga, Pilates, PiYo, Yoga Therapy and Thai Yoga Massage. 201 S. McPherson Church Rd.,

Ste. 225, Fayetteville. 434.409.6415, www.livingbalancestudiosnc.com, [email protected], www.facebook.com/livingbalancestudiosnc

GARDENINGTarheelFertilizer.comIndependent Dealer for AGGRAND all natural & organic fertilizer products.Studies show 25% - 33% increase of growth. Great for farms, golf courses, orchards, and vineyards. Call for more info (800)781-8840 or [email protected]. Visit www.WhyYouAsk.com for great business

opportunities.

HEALTH & WELLNESSGuiding Wellness, Inc., Wellness Consulting~Holistic Life Coaching and Therapy. "A holistic-centered therapeutic environment committed to the discovery, recovery and maintenance of living in balance." 3710 Morganton Rd., Ste. 110, Fayetteville. 910.864.6257,[email protected]

Lotus Holistic Health. Need a good night's sleep, relief from pain and fibromyalgia, or want to improve your child's concentration and focus or stop smoking? Our safe non invasive therapy can help. Holistic services include nutritional therapy, total body detoxification, hair analysis and hormone saliva testing and auricular therapy. 2504 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville. 919.426.7787,www.lotusholistichealth.org

MASSAGE THERAPISTSMichael Edwards, Intuitive Energetic Healer at Deeproots Bodywork, 5004 Spruce Dr., Fayetteville. 910.644.5181

ReNewU Wellness Spa, Gina Allen, L.M.T. # 6737, Specializing in Russian Medical & Deep Tissue Massage. Check our facebook page for menu of services

EXPLORE


and specials. 100B Wicker St., Sanford. 910.964.3194, www.facebook.com/ReNewYouWellnessSpaSalon

Sandhills Therapeutic Effects, Amie O'Connor, LMBT. 237 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.919.478.5647, www.facebook.com/sandhillstherapeuticeffects, [email protected]

NATURAL FOODSNature's Own Natural Foods Market offers a wide selection of natural, organic and herbal food products, teas and remedies, hard-to-find herbs, roots and spices, supplements & more. The Kitchen lunch counter and Juice Bar. 195 Bell Ave., Southern Pines. 910.692.3811, www.naturesowninc.com

NATURAL PARENTINGNatasha Doula Birth Marks. Trained, licensed and certified Birth and Post-partum Doula. Also offering Prenantal and Postnatal Yoga Summer 2015. 214.206.6046, [email protected], www.NatashaDoulaBirth-Marks.com

Prana Doula, Ashley Keith, RPYT, CD, LCCE, Lamaze-certified birth doula, childbirth education & pregnancy yoga. 222 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines. 910.585.4084, www.pranayogadoula.com

Sugar Plums Mom, Cloth diapers, nursing supplies, slings and wraps, toys & more.910.684.8016, 222 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines.www.facebook.com/sugarplumsmom

NATURAL SKINCARECall Sandhills Naturally to list your business here. 910.551.2883

PRODUCE DELIVERYSandhills Farm to Table. Eat fresh, locally

grown produce. Now taking subscriptions for spring co-op boxes. 910.722.1623, [email protected], www.sandhillsfarm2table.com

RESTAURANTSCall Sandhills Naturally to list your business here. 910.551.2883 www.sandhillsnaturally.com

SUSTAINABLE LIVINGSustainable Sandhills is a nonprofit on a mission to preserve the environment of the Sandhills through education, demonstration and collaboration through four core program areas: Clean Air, Clean Water, Green Schools, Green Business. 351 Wagoner Dr., 2nd Floor, Suite 332-334, Fayetteville. 910.484.9098, [email protected], www.sustainablesandhills.org

VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTSWhole-food based nutrition, through Juice Plus+, including juice powder concentrates from 25 different fruits, vegetables and grains. And grow your own good health with the Tower Garden! www.jcrowe.juiceplus.com and jcrowe.towergarden.com

WOMEN'S HEALTH & WELLNESSBaby+Company Cary Birth CenterPersonalized out-of-hospital birth and maternity care. Preconception & Well Woman Care. Educational and wellness opportunities from Breastfeeding Basics to Prenatal Yoga. Call to schedule a free tour and consultation. 226 Asheville Ave., Cary.919-852-1053, [email protected], www.babyandcompany.com

YOGA STUDIOSSouthern Pines Yoga Company, 169 Beverly Lane, Southern Pines.910.246-0054, 639.1089, [email protected]

WRITING & EDITING SERVICESPlays with Words: Writing, editing and proofreading. Over 25 years' experience.Karen Gilchrist, 910.638.6397,[email protected]

This Resource Guide is a directory of local

natural health and wellness practitioners

and supporters of green living in our

community. To find out how you can be

included in our Resource Guide, call Joy at

910-551-2883 or email joy@

sandhillsnaturally.com.

resource guide continued

Come Grow With Us.

Thank you for reading our publication!

Do you have a local business that could benefit

from reaching 20,000 people each month — those that share your interest in

natural health and wellness and sustainable living? If so, we'd like to help you.

For more information, call 910-551-2883.


calendar of events • april 4SATURDAY

Learn some easy ways to start your own compost by learning the importance of sharing our planet's natural resources and how you can help by using less. Don't forget that this 10 a.m. event will NOT be held at Carvers Creek State Park; instead it will be at the Smith Lake Recreation Area. Carvers Creek State Park, 910.436.4681.

5SUNDAYNature’s Own EGG-Stravaganza,

3 p.m. Come celebrate Easter Sunday by meeting a ranger to have a fun presentation about bird eggs, learning about their differences and how important they are on cultures around the world, followed by our own Easter egg hunt with a nature twist. Bring something to collect some eggs. Prizes will be awarded. Meet in the Auditorium. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Rd., Southern Pines. 910.692.2167

Raptors of Raven Rock, 2 p.m. Come to the Visitor Center to learn about birds of prey that call Raven Rock State Park home. Learn the natural history of these majestic hunters and what interesting differences they have from other birds.Raven Rock State Park, 3009 Raven Rock Road, Lillington. 910.893.4888 or [email protected].

9THURSDAYHealth Fair, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Lillington Parks and Recreation Department will host a Community Health Fair at the Community Center. The event is free to the public and to healthcare-related vendors. The event will focus on providing healthcare- related information to visitors. Lillington Community Center, 607 S 13th St.,Lillington. 910.893.2864

10 FRIDAYWings and Things (For Wee-

Ones), 10 a.m. Soar into spring! Come learn about animals that fly as we read a book, play some games and make a craft. All activities will be geared towards 3 to 5 year-olds and meant for parents to do with their children. Be prepared to be inside and outside for this 30-45 minute program. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Rd., Southern Pines. 910.692.2167

13 MONDAYPublic Hearing: Coal Ash

Disposal, 5-9 p.m. Dennis Wicker Building, Sanford. The first of two public hearings about the proposed coal ash dump in Lee County. Please arrive arrive by 5 p.m. to speak. www.chathamnc.org/index.aspx?

18 SATURDAYBabypalooza, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. A

comprehensive resource for families and mothers-to-be in the Fayeteville area. Babypalooza features the Great Cloth Diaper Change, a nationally recognized annual attempt to break the world record for the number of cloth diapers changed at one time. Held at the Marquis Market, 116 Person St., Downtown Fayetteville. www.babypaloozanc.com

Watch Your Step!, 2 p.m.Most have heard, “Leaves of three, leave it be.” Join park staff at the Visitor Center for this presentation and half-mile hike about outdoor safety. Discover how to avoid poisonous plants and venomous critters and steps you can take to have a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure. After the program is a half-mile hike about outdoor safety. Raven Rock State Park, 3009 Raven Rock Road, Lillington. 910.893.4888 or [email protected].

Volunteer Bike Trail Workday at Raven

Rock State Park. On Saturday, April 18, we will be holding a volunteer trail work day for the mountain bike trails at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. This activity is suitable for adults and children above 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal adult guardian present. Bring work gloves, water and snacks. If you have any questions, please contact the park office at 910.893.4888 or [email protected]. Meet at picnic shelter.

21 TUESDAYEarth Day Celebration, 2–5 p.m.

Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. You’re invited to spend the afternoon meeting representatives from local agencies with missions to advocate for our Earth. Learn about bees, turtles, green energy and composting. Play games, make crafts and so much more! Free admission to the Garden from 2 to 5 p.m. Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 North Eastern Boulevard, Fayetteville. 910.486.0221, www.capefearbg.org

24 FRIDAYThe Fayetteville Dogwood

Festival will be held in Downtown Fayetteville, April 24-26, 2015. A three-day festival featuring a street fair with arts and crafts, food vendors and the Partnership’s KidStuff as well as free concerts, including Craig Campbell on Friday night and Quiet Riot and Warrant on Saturday night. For more information: www.faydogwoodfestival.com or 910.323.1934,

25 SATURDAYEarth Day Celebration, 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Come to Raven Rock State Park's "green" visitor center to celebrate

CALENDAR


calendar of events • april

Items are accepted for the calendar on a space-available basis. Please send the information on your free event to [email protected] for consideration.

and learn about the history of Earth Day and different ways you can help the environment. Bring your empty aluminum cans and donate them to the Friends of Raven Rock State Park to help raise funds for Raven Rock. The Wildlife Rescue Center will be here with live owls and hawks. Harnett County Solid Waste will be here to teach about recycling. Learn to shop local and visit with some of our local farmers. Help bees and butterflies by bringing in a native flower to plant in the pollinator garden. Bring in your artwork or poem showing what earth day means to you. Rain or Shine! Raven Rock State Park, 3009 Raven Rock Road, Lillington. 910.893.4888

Southern Pines Springfest, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Join us for arts, crafts, games, rides, food, entertainment and more! 160 vendors from all around North Carolina and the country. Kid's Block is full of activities for kids. Bring your bike, tricycle or big wheels for the annual Youth Bike Races for children 10 and under. Broad St., Downtown Southern Pines. www.southernpines.biz/event/springfest

Bird Walk with Susan Campbell-Spring Migration, 8 a.m. Spring migration is underway. Join ornithologist Susan Campbell for a 2-mile walk to look for these winged wonders. Learn to ID birds by sight and sound. Bring binoculars, field guides, bug spray and bottled water. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Ft. Bragg Rd., Southern Pines. 910.692.2167

26 SUNDAYBrick City Spring Fest, 12-5 p.m.

Festival in Downtown Sanford. Food, drinks, vendors, crafts, music, bounce houses, rock climbing wall, bike races (kids bike race 1:15) crossfit, 5k/10k (8:15), kids fun run (9:45). See website for full details. www.brickcityspringfest.com

• ONGOING EVENTS & EXHIBITS •Cape Fear River Trail Golf Cart Tours. For seniors and persons with permanent limited physical abilities, interpretive golf cart tours along the Cape Fear River Trail are available for individuals or groups of up to five people. Riders must be able to grasp and hold safety handles. Reservations are required. For more information, call 910.433.1547. Clark Park & Nature Center, 631 Sherman Dr., Fayetteville.

Rockefeller House Tours: Call for dates and times of Tours of the Rockefeller House. Staff will be leading a free historical tour through Mr. Rockefeller’s winter get-away. The park staff will be leading 10 people through at a time. You must sign up in advance for the tours. If you need a ride to the Rockefeller House, you must attend the Tuesday tour. Carvers Creek State Park, 2505 Long Valley Rd., Spring Lake. 910.436.4681

Every Wednesday night, Kirtan Night at Breathing Space, 1404 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville. 910.977.4476, 7:30-9 p.m. It's free, and it's fun.

Every Wednesday night, Wisdom Wednesday Services, 6:30-8 p.m., Center for Spiritual Living, Cliffdale Library, Fayetteville. 910.644.6608.

Every Thursday, 9 a.m. Hike for Your Health at Raven Rock State Park. Must be able to hike 2 to 5 miles on trails that can be flat, hilly and include steps. Ages 12 and up. Please call 910.893.4888 to register.

Second Thursday of each month. Naturalist Thursdays. Curious about nature? Kids 12 and under who attend 4 or more different naturalist programs at any park will receive a “Junior Naturalist” award. Call to register. All ages; 3:30-

4:30 p.m.; Free. J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center, 631 Sherman Dr, Fayetteville. 910.433.1579

Every 4th Friday, 6-10 p.m., Downtown Fayetteville. 4th Friday is a true celebration of the arts and downtown Fayetteville. www.theartscouncil.com/fourthmain.php 910.323.1776

Every Saturday, Noon-4 p.m. Free Wine Tasting, Elliotts Provision Company, 905 Linden Rd., Pinehurst. 910.255.0665.

Every Sunday at 1 p.m., Free Piedmont Biofuels Tours, Lorax Lane, Pittsboro. Tours are of the biodiesel plant and begin promptly. Rain or shine.

• FARMERS MARKETS •Fayetteville City Market, Wednesdays 2-6 p.m.; Saturdays 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Fourth Friday 6-10 p.m. Fayetteville Transportation & Local History Museum Grounds, Fayetteville. www.facebook.com/CityMarketAtTheMuseum 910.433.1457

Murchison Road Community Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., parking lot at Bronco Square (across from Fayetteville State University), Fayetteville.

Sanford Farmer's Market, Every Saturday, 9 a.m.-Noon, Depot Park, Sanford. All products locally grown or hand crafted! 919.343.8440

Southern Pines Farmers Market, The Armory Sports Complex, Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., year round. 604 W. Morganton Rd., Southern Pines.

Items are accepted for the calendar on a space-available basis. Please send the information on your free event to [email protected] for consideration.


UNPROCESSEDShorten the journey from

farm to you! Eating whole, real foods provides your body

with energy while reducing energy-intensive

production methods.

ORGANICFoods grown organically skip thepesticides, synthetic fertilizers,growth hormones and are not

genetically modified!2 Organic notonly reduces greenhouse gas but it

also builds carbon-storing soils.3

SEASONALFruits and veggies that are

ripe & in-season have the most flavor and nutrients.4 By choosing

these you are supporting a system that works with our

Earth, not against it.

FRESHIt takes 10 calories of fossil-fuel1

energy to produce a single calorie of modern supermarket food! Switchto fresh snacks and ingredients for alighter “foodprint”—your tastebuds

and your planet will thank you.

PASTURED ANIMALSAnimal confinement operations (beef,

poultry, pork & dairy) contribute toair and water contamination8 as wellas to CH4, N2O, and CO2 emissions.9

Reduce your intake, and select organic, grass-fed products.

LOCALThe average conventional food

product travels 1,500 miles.5 Supportyour local food system with a CSA,trip to the farmer’s market, or look

for signs at your local grocer. Coolestof all? Try growing your own.

MINIMIZE PACKAGING

Packaged foods may seem cheap,but in fact processing and packaging

account for 26 cents of every fooddollar.6 Opt out of oil-based plastics with fresh snacks.

LOW WASTEFeed people not landfills by cookingwhat you need, loving your leftovers,

and composting what’s left. Foodmakes up 21% of waste going intomunicipal landfills creating planet-

warming Methane gas (CH4).7

COOL FOODS: COOL FACTS

www.coolfoodscampaign.org

1. http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/farmer-in-chief/; 2. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop; 3. http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/ap563e/ap563e.pdf;4. http://www.naturalnews.com/035575_seasonal_food_diet_health.html; 5. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6064; 6. http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-dollar-series/food-dollar-application.aspx#.UVtCTqLqmQ0;

7. http://www.epa.gov/foodrecovery/; 8. http://www.ncifap.org/issues/environment/; 9. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1646484

Companion Animal Clinic Foundation PO Box 148, Southern Pines, NC [email protected]# 20-2886984

Your Community Solution to Animal Overpopulation!

The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation

makes affordable spay and neuter available at the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic thanks to your support. Donate at www.companionanimalclinic.org

or call 910.692.3499 (FIXX).

Spay Neuter Veterinary ClinicSurpassing 40,000 surgeries since opening in 2008

5071 US HWY #1, Vass, NC

Finding Senior Housing can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be.

(800) 764-1709A Place for Mom is the nation’s largest senior living referral information service. We do not own, operate, endorse or recommend any senior living community.

We are paid by partner communities, so our services are completely free to families.

“You can trust A Place for Mom to help you.”

– Joan Lunden

Documents

Sandhills Naturally • April 2015