letterfrompublisher
W
hen I moved down South after college, I’ll never forget being called a tree hugger when I asked coworkers where the recycling bin was located. On more than one occasion, I’ve been offered a turkey burger as a vegetarian alternative to hamburgers. And I often get a look of confusion from guests when I mention that we don’t have any paper towels in our house. Sustainable and natural living may not feel like the norm in our part of the country, but the small choices we make as individuals can have a lasting effect well into the future. Our kids remind me of my influence on a regular basis. Thatch (almost 3) said, “Why we going in the car?” when it was time to pick up his brother Mays from school on a stormy afternoon. To him, a bicycle is the primary mode of transportation for neighborhood trips, just like a canvas tote—not a disposable plastic bag—is a grocery bag and a local farm is the source of much of our produce. One of the things I love most about my job as publisher is regularly discovering more and more local businesses that can help support our family’s commitment to healthy and eco-friendly living. As I put together our fifth annual Healthy & Green Living Directory for this month’s issue, I was again filled with deep gratitude for the number of business owners—more than 60!—that wanted to share their commitment to wellness with each of you. Not only do they dedicate their time to providing our community with healthy alternatives, but they are the reason we are able to distribute Natural Awakenings at no cost to you, month after month. In addition to the businesses that sponsor Natural Awakenings, I am grateful for and humbled by each of you—individuals that take the time to pick up and read our 15,000-plus printed copies and the thousand more that read our digital eZine online each month. It is you who we seek to inspire, educate and serve throughout the year. Whether you’re drinking green smoothies and living off the grid, or clueless about what GMOs and vinyasas are, I encourage you to hold onto this special edition for the months to come and pick up an extra copy to share with a friend. Choose to be a conscious consumer by frequenting the businesses that sponsor our publication and thank them for serving our community so well (after they explain genetically modified organisms or demonstrate a vinyasa). Through the support of our advertisers, the interest of our readers and the commitment of Natural Awakenings, our healthy and green living community of Gulf Coast Alabama and Mississippi will continue to flourish for many years. On behalf of Mays and Thatch and the generations to come, I thank you for contributing to this partnership and to the well-being of our future. In gratitude,
contact us Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Marketing Manager Marcia Manuel Distribution Manager Stephanie Klumpp Editing Team Michelle Bense, Anne Wilson, Michael Wilson, Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo, Josh Montgomery Design and Production Meredith Montgomery Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi P.O. Box 725, Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375
HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe to the free digital magazine at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Mailed subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. © 2017 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 responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. Natural Awakenings is printed on recyclable newsprint.
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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition
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