April 2022

E R F

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HEALTHY

LIVING

HEALTHY

PLANET

HEALTHY EATING HEALTHY PL ANET DIET FOR A CLIMATE CRISIS

BUZZ-FREE DRINKING WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO HOBOKEN APRIL 30

7 HUDSON COUNTY BUSINESSES MAKING AN IMPACT WITH COMPOSTING

April 2022 | Hudson County Edition | NAHudson.com

April 2022

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Nature’s Virus Killer Copper can stop a virus before it starts

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By Doug Cornell

cientists have discovered a with a tip to fit in the bottom of the natural way to kill germs fast. nostril, where viruses collect.

Now thousands of people When he felt a tickle in his nose are using it against viruses and bacteria like a cold about to start, he rubbed the that cause illness. copper gently in Colds and his nose for 60 many other seconds. illnesses start “It worked!” when viruses get he exclaimed. in your nose and “The cold never start multiplying. got going. That If you don’t stop was 2012. I have them early, they had zero colds spread and take since then.” over.

“We don’t Copper kills viruses almost In hundreds of make product instantly studies, EPA and health claims,” university researchers confirm copper he said, “so I can’t say cause and effect. kills microbes almost instantly just by But we know copper is antimicrobial.” touch.

He asked relatives and friends to try That’s why ancient Greeks and it. They reported the same thing, so he Egyptians used copper to purify patented CopperZap® and put it on the water and heal wounds. They didn’t market. know about microbes like viruses and Soon hundreds of people had tried it. bacteria, but now we do.

Feedback was 99% positive if they used “The antimicrobial activity of copper copper within 1-3 hours of the first sign is well established.” National Institutes of bad germs, like a tickle in the nose or of Health. a scratchy throat.

Scientists say the high conductance Users say: of copper disrupts the electrical balance “It works! I love it!” in a microbe cell by touch and destroys “I can’t believe how good my nose it in seconds. feels.”

Some hospitals tried copper “Is it supposed to work that fast?” for touch surfaces like faucets and “One of the best presents ever.” doorknobs. This cut the spread of “Sixteen flights, not a sniffle!”

MRSA and other illnesses by over half, “Cold sores gone!” which saved lives.

“It saved me last holidays. The kids The strong scientific evidence had crud going round and round, gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. but not me.”

He made a smooth copper probe “I am shocked! My sinus cleared, no ADVERTORIAL

more headache, no more congestion.”

“Best sleep I’ve had in years!”

The handle is curved and textured to increase contact. Copper can kill germs picked up on fingers and hands after you touch things other people have touched.

The EPA says copper works just as well when tarnished.

Dr. Bill Keevil led one of the science teams. He placed millions of viruses on a copper surface. “They started to die literally as soon as they touched it.”

Customers report using copper against: Colds Flu Covid Sinus trouble Cold sores Fever blisters Canker sores Strep Night stuffiness Morning congestion Skin infections Infected sores Infection in cuts or wounds Thrush Warts Styes Ringworm Threats to compromised immunity CopperZap® is made in the USA of pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code NATA28.

Go to www.CopperZap.com or call tollfree 1-888-411-6114.

Buy once, use forever.

Statements are not intended as product health claims and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

April 2022

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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET

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Hudson County

An Earth Day CTA

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here are myriad ways to live more sustainably, whether it’s through recycling, composting, or changing how we eat, dress and shop. Businesses, governments and individuals can all play a role in protecting our planet by building sustainable habits one step at a time. On page 20, we highlight seven local companies that have made composting part of their business model. Hopefully that list will continue to grow.

The impact of climate change cannot be ignored, and the time to act is now. Naturalist David Attenborough noted that in 1937, when he was a boy, 66 percent of the world’s wilderness remained; by 2020 it was 35. Our lifestyle is placing increasing pressure on natural systems. If we don’t change, the consequences will be dire.

Yes, the problem is a big one—perhaps the biggest ever—but there are many of us. If we act together, we can do anything. Each of us must make a commitment to do the best we can to make a difference, because it will take all of us working together to preserve our planet. A wise man said the only thing we can really change is ourselves. I know we can do it.

In health and happiness,

Publisher@NAHudson.com

OUTDOOR EARTH DAY CELEBRATION -Green Artisan Market -Live Music -Animal Demos -Art Classes

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OUTDOOR EARTH DAY

Natural Awakenings is a family of 50+ healthy living magazines celebrating 27 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

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Contents 16

8 WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO HOBOKEN

12 WHY WE NEED WILD PLACES

How to Invite Nature Back into Our Lives and Landscapes

16 TECHNOLOGY

20

MEETS NATURE

Apps Bring Us Closer to Flora and Fauna

18 SCRATCH THAT

Strategies for Channeling Your Cat’s Natural Urge to Claw

20 7 HUDSON COUNTY

BUSINESSES MAKING AN IMPACT WITH COMPOSTING

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21 EVERYDAY

SELF-CARE TIPS

from Mollie Busino of Mindful Power

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact Roger at 917-699-6492 or email MrNaturalNYC@gmail.com. Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

22 BUZZ-FREE DRINKING The Healthy Rise of NonAlcoholic Beverages

24 EATING FOR THE PLANET Diet for a Climate Crisis

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Tina@NAHudson.com.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Tina@NAHudson.com.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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DEPARTMENTS 6 news briefs 10 health briefs 16 green living 18 natural pet 20 community

spotlight

22 24 27 30

healing ways conscious eating resource guide calendar April 2022

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SHOP LOCAL LIVE LIFE UNCORKED Shop: Etsy.com/shop/LiveLifeUncorkedShop Instagram.com/livelifeuncorkedshop/ Connect: @LiveLIfeUncorked Love wine or know someone who loves wine? Shop Live Life Uncorked’s readymade upcycled wine cork and sparkling wine capsule products, or reach out to have something specially made. Live Life Uncorked can preserve corks from special moments or trips for you to remember forever.

Offer: 10% discount on Etsy or Instagram use or mention code NATURALAWAKENINGS10

MEOW MINI MART Shop: MeowMiniMart.com Connect: @MeowMiniMart Online cat boutique featuring unique and sustainably made fashion pet collars, home and kitchen gifts, cat toys and wellness products. Charming and sophisticated collections created by artisans and designers who love all animals, especially cats. A percentage of every sale is donated to local cat rescue groups to help pay vet bills.

See us at MainStreetPops Hoboken Artisan Market - April 10th and Hoboken Arts and Music Festival - May 1st.

SEAZEN SOAP Shop: SeazenSoap.com Connect: @SeazenSoap Local Handmade natural soap for your skin. SEAZEN specializes in all natural products - soap, skin butter, and CBD products to bring humble luxury to your skin and to create time to indulge yourself and cultivate self-love.

Offer: $5 off with $35+ purchase. Expires on 4/15. Use Code: SPRING. 15% of all sales proceeds will be donated to United For Freedom.

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Hudson County

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news briefs

Bambino Chef Hosts Spring Break Camp

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ambino Chef—owned by Jersey City certified chef and youth nutrition specialist Rene Gonzalez—will hold a Spring Break Camp from 9 to 11 a.m. April 18- 22, for children ages 4 to 8.

This in-person morning camp (dropoff only) will lead small groups in kitchen activities. Each student will receive a set of ingredients and tools, as well as art supplies and a disposable apron. Camp leaders are fully vaccinated. Masks are required at all times.

Gonzalez launched Bambino Chef based on her experience as a mom who’s gotten her own kids to eat healthy food by getting them involved in the preparation process.

“I love developing kid-friendly recipes and getting creative in the kitchen with kids,” she says.

Bambino Chef offers virtual cooking classes, in-person cooking classes at their studio, after-school enrichment programs and field trips, private group classes, and cooking-themed birthday parties and celebrations.

It also sells scone baking mixes so kids can whip up a batch at home.

All they need are a few common ingredients, a spoon and a whisk.

Cost: $48 per day. Registration is flexible (per day or for the week).

Location: 213 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ. For more information, call 201-333-9090 or email info@bambinochef.com.

Virtual Support Group for New Moms Begins April 20

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icensed psychotherapist Michele Passman, of Anchor Therapy, will lead a virtual support group for new moms on eight consecutive Wednesdays, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., beginning April 20. The group is open to New Jersey residents (and their babies), who can participate from the comfort of their own homes. Registration ends on April 13.

Passman—who is also a mom—will lead the group as they discuss the range of feelings new mothers can experience, including postpartum depression, “baby blues,” anxiety, loneliness and guilt, as well as hormonal and emotional changes.

The cost is $75 per session. New clients of Anchor Therapy must complete an intake process ($255) before they can join the group. An out-of-network “superbill” will be provided for insurance reimbursement for all sessions.

“If you are a resident of New Jersey and are a new mom who had a baby within the past year by birth, surrogate or adoption, then you qualify to join our group,” Passman says. “Space is limited to only eight members, and they will be reserved on a firstcome-first-serve basis. So if you’re interested, definitely reach out now to get started by reserving your spot.”

To register or for more information, visit AnchorTherapy.org/groups.

Mindfulness-Based Weight-Loss Program Starts in April

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indfulness is “the missing link to weight loss,” says Laurie Wasserman, co-founder of Absolute Nutrition, who along with holistic integrative healer Rachel Lee Cronin will lead a mindfulness-based weight-loss program beginning April 26.

“Achieving sustainable weight loss is hard, and doing it in our current world almost seems unattainable,” Wasserman says. “Combine the rush, the stress, the responsibilities and the sleeplessness we endure with the constant barrage of temptation: food porn everywhere, the social pressure to overindulge, the endless amount of unhealthy fast food.

Without the proper mindset, achieving our health and fitness goals can easily become a lifelong battle.”

Mindfulness is being fully aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive to or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us, Cronin says. “Mindfulness is the wherewithal to pause before eating food that isn’t serving us or ditching a workout we know is good for us.”

The Absolute Self Virtual Imprinting Program, a six-week course, uses guided meditation and mindfulness to help participants “reprogram” their brain to achieve their weight-loss goals. It includes seven weekly two-hour Zoom group meetings with Wasserman and Cronin, and access to an online platform where participants can connect.

For more information, visit AbsoluteSelfWeightLoss.thinkific.com.

Partners in Prevention Hosts Inaugural 5K Fundraiser

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artners in Prevention will host its first PIP Spring Sprint 5K on April 23, in Seacaucus. Whether you choose to run, walk or do a little of both, participants will be supporting PIP’s mission to improve wellness and prevent substance-use disorders and related health challenges in Hudson County and New Jersey.

PIP works toward this mission through education programs focused on community health; the Hudson County Coalition, a group of volunteers and professionals whose goal is to reduce youth substance abuse through policy change, providing information and community advocacy; and the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute, which helps young people realize their leadership potential and become empowered to create positive changes in themselves, their schools and their communities. PIP is a nonprofit organization established in 1988 as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Hudson County.

Participants in the PIP Spring Sprint 5K can sign up as teams or as individuals. There is also a virtual race option for those who are unable to attend in person. Awards will be given for top finishers in the virtual and in-person 5K runs.

Location: 11 Millridge Rd., Seacaucus, NJ. Cost: $30 to participate in person or virtually. To register or for more information, visit pipnj.org.

SHOP LOCAL INSPIRED UNIVERSE BOOKS Shop: InspiredUniverse.com Connect: @InspiredUniverseBooks @InspiredUniverse_Books How lucky are we, having a future to see? Through charming rhyme of her new book, New Jersey author, Aleksandra Starling reminds children, teens, and young adults to dream big and follow their hearts.

Illustrated by world-renowned artist, Keico Watanabe (www. keicow.com), You’ll Always Find Your Way, is a perfect graduation gift for any age.

Starling is the founder of Inspired Universe, a company devoted to children’s health. Her richly illustrated books are designed to make kids laugh while inspiring them to try new things that will become foundational habits for a balanced life.

Join the author and the artist LIVE on Instagram @InspiredUniverse_Books or Facebook @keicow on Saturday, Feb 19th, 11am-12pm (add to your calendar) to hear about the inspiration behind this amazing book, take a tour of Keico’s art studio, and have a chance to win beautiful artworks and gifts.

Offer: Receive a beautifully designed bookmark with each purchase.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY. LET US HELP YOUR BUSINESS WEATHER THESE TIMES OF CRISIS! CONTACT US TODAY TO ADVERTISE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: PUBLISHER@NAHUDSON.COM

April 2022

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OUTDOOR EARTH DAY CELEBRATION -Green Artisan Market -Live Music -Animal Demos -Art Classes

SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH 3-10PM 770 Jackson Plaza, Hoboken, NJ www.mainstreetpops.com

OUTDOOR EARTH DAY CELEBRATION OUTDOOR EARTH DAY

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Returns to Hoboken CELEBRATION -Green Artisan Market -Live Music -Animal Demos -Art Classes

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he Wild & Scenic Film Festival, presentedAPRIL

by Main Street Pops and the Hoboken Business SATURDAY, 30TH -Green Artisan Market Alliance, will return to Hoboken live and in person on April 30, in conjunction with an outdoor Earth Day celebration.-Live The3-10PM free Music film festival will cap off an afternoon of commu770 Jackson Plaza, nity activities for all ages at 7th and Jackson Park. anHoboken, urban coastal city,NJ businesses in Hoboken -Animal“As Demos are particularly vulnerable to thewww.mainstreetpops.com effects of climate change. A sustainable future is inextricably Classes linked to the actions we take now.” says-Art James Runkle, President of the Hoboken Business Alliance.

Earth Day 3 toSATURDAY, 7 p.m.

APRIL 30TH

Earth Day events will begin at 3 p.m. Guests can shop at the Green Artisan Market, featur3-10PM ing local sustainable and up-cycled vendors; listen to live music by the Demolition String Band; and watch live, earth-inspired chalk art by Ezenwa.

770 Jackson Plaza, Hoboken, NJ They can also participate in nature-themed art classes for all ages with Urban Arts and an ocean-themed craft project with Sea Smart; watch a live beekeeping demonstration www.mainstreetpops.com with the Weehawken Bee Club; learn Composting 101 from the Hoboken Green Team; and take part in outdoor-adventure-themed exercise demos with Jane Do. The NJ Snake Man will host live snake, lizard and bird shows at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.

Film Festival 7 to 10 p.m.

The film screenings will begin at 7 p.m. with a film panel moderated by Mile Square Theatre founder Chris O’Connor and featuring Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Melissa Gigante of the Hoboken Police Department, and the filmmakers from Hoboken’s Branding Shorts, which produced the award-winning Mile in the Eye, about the city’s response to the COVID pandemic. The panel discussion will be followed by a screening of the short film.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival will begin at 8 p.m. Themed “Inspiring Adventure,” it’s a 90-minute collection of uplifting short films that illustrate the earth’s beauty, the challenges facing our planet, and the work communities are doing to protect it.

Guests who can’t stay for the films can register for free to watch them at home. Registrants will be emailed a video-on-demand link that will be active for seven days, beginning April 30.

For more information or to register for the free video on demand link, visit MainStreetPops.com.

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Hudson County

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WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL

2022

Inspiring Adventure My Last Day of Summer A young rider finds adventure in animation The Ghost An intimate portrait of famed through-hiker Heather Anderson Denizens of the Steep Explores the intersection of backcountry recreation and the conservation of an iconic species of big horn sheep in Grand Teton National Park DURGA: Forging a New Trail A young woman in Nepal changes societal and familial expectations for herself and future generations Maneuvers An experimental film combining skiing with stop-motion animation Can’t Beat This Place for Fun Flagstaff ’s Fretwater Boatworks defines the process of building Grand Canyon dories An Imperfect Advocate A jet-setting mountain climber becomes a climate-change activist Sea Gypsies: The Plutonium Dome An expedition to the birthplace of the nuclear age, a small coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean

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health briefs

Avoid Formaldehyde to Sidestep Cognitive Problems olga/AdobeStock.com

Eat Lots of Fiber to Improve Melanoma Outcomes

A new type of immunotherapy that enables T-cells to fight cancer cells is proving hopeful for people with the deadly skin cancer melanoma, and a new study has found that a high-fiber diet improves the effectiveness of the therapy.

Researchers from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported in Science that, by analyzing the gut microbiome in hundreds of patients, they found that higher dietary fiber intake was linked with disease nonprogression among patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy compared to patients eating little fiber.

The results were strongest in patients that ate the most dietary fiber, but did not take probiotics, a finding that was replicated with lab animals.

Workers exposed over years to formaldehyde may experience thinking and memory problems later in life, researchers at the University of Montpellier, in France, have concluded. Their study published in the journal Neurology surveyed and tested more than 75,000 people with an average age of 58. Of those, 8 percent were exposed to formaldehyde through their occupations as nurses; caregivers; medical technicians; workers in the textile, chemistry and metal industries; carpenters and cleaners. The risk of developing thinking and memory problems was an average of 17 percent higher in people that were exposed to formaldehyde on the job than those with no such exposure. People exposed to formaldehyde for 22 years or longer had a 21 percent higher risk of cognitive impairment.

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OUTDOOREARTH EARTH DAY OUTDOOR DAY CELEBRATION FILM CELEBRATION

SCREENING 7-10pm See page 8

-Green Artisan Market -Live Music -Green -Animal Artisan Market Demos -ArtMusic Classes -Live

SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH -Animal Demos -Art 3-10PM Classes 770 Jackson Plaza, Hoboken, NJ

SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH www.mainstreetpops.com 3-10PM 770 Jackson Plaza, Hoboken, NJ www.mainstreetpops.com

April 2022

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Why We Need

WILD PLACES How to Invite Nature Back into Our Lives and Landscapes

by Sheryl DeVore

danita delimont/AdobeStock.com

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Hudson County

NAHudson.com

n a blustery day, Julian Hoffman stood outdoors and watched wild bison grazing in the restored grassland of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, fewer than 50 miles from downtown Chicago. For him, it was a wild place, affording a glimpse of what North America looked like hundreds of years ago when bison roamed the continent by the millions. “We’re witnessing, in a way that’s both terrible and tragic, just what the profound cost is of continuing to destroy the natural world,” he writes.

Saving wild places is critical for human health and well-being, say both scientists and environmentalists. But defining what a wild place is or what the word wilderness means can be difficult, says Hoffman, author of Irreplaceable: The Fight to Save Our Wild Places. “If wilderness means a place untouched by humans, then none is left,” he says. Even the set-aside wildernesses where no one may have ever stepped have been altered through climate change, acid rain and other human interventions.

Humans are also losing the wilderness that is defined as land set aside solely for plants and creatures other than humans. Prominent naturalist David Attenborough, whose most recent documentary is A Life on Our Planet, says that in 1937, when he was a boy, about 66 percent of the world’s wilderness areas remained.

By 2020, it was down to 35 percent.

A wild place can be as spectacular as Yellowstone, a 3,500-square-mile

Sustaining Our Species

daniel prudek/AdobeStock.com

“We need these places to save ourselves,” says Tallamy, who heads the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. “Humans are totally dependent on the production of oxygen and clean water, and that happens with the continued existance of flowering plants, which are dependent on the continued existence of all the pollinators. When you lose the pollinators, you lose 90 percent of the flowering plants on the Earth. That is not an option if we want to stay alive and healthy.”

Our mental and emotional health is also at stake. According to a recent overview in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, studies have shown that natural settings can lower blood pressure, reduce depression and anxiety, and help the immune system function better.

People have saved wild places over time, of course. “The world’s ancient redwoods are still with us today because people in the early 1900s fought to protect and preserve what they could already see was rapidly diminishing,” Hoffman says. “In

gajus/AdobeStock.com

national park in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, filled with hot springs, canyons, wolves, and elk. It can also be as simple as a sky filled with a murmuration, or gathering, of thousands of swooping starlings, which once caused two teens to stop taking selfies and photograph the natural scene above them instead, as Hoffman witnessed in Great Britain.

Such regions that offer vast tracts of natural beauty and biodiversity are even found in and around major cities like Chicago, says Chicagoland nature blogger Andrew Morkes. “A wild place is also where you don’t see too many people, or any people, and you can explore,” he says. “You can walk up a hill and wonder what’s around the next bend.”

“A wild place could be a 15-minute drive from home where we can walk among plants in a meadow, or a tree-lined street, or front and back yard, if landscaped with wild creatures in mind,” says Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts with Your Yard.

the year 2022, we are the beneficiaries of those past actions. Yet less than 5 percent of those old-growth redwood groves are left, and we live in an age where we’re losing an extraordinary range of wild species; for example, 3 billion birds have disappeared from the skies of North America in just the past 50 years. That’s why people need to continue to fight for wild spaces.”

Community Crusaders In researching his book, Hoffman went looking for wild-space struggles. In Glasgow, Scotland, he met people that fought to save an urban meadow from being turned into a luxury home development. “I’d never experienced as much joy in any one place as when I spent time with the community fighting to preserve this tiny meadow,” he recalls. “They campaigned and lobbied politicians, and eventually, the government backed down. And now the whole community is able to enjoy this site where a lot of urban wildlife thrives.”

Once-wild places may also need human help to again become wild refuges. The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, where Hoffman saw the buffalo, “was once an arsenal for the production of extraordinary quantities of ordnance for a number of wars,” he says. After hundreds of die-hard volunteers dug out invasive plants, scattered seed and documented wildlife on the 18,000-acre prairie, visitors can now walk among big bluestem and golden alexander, and listen for the sweet song of meadowlarks in the grasslands and chorus frogs in the wetlands.

Conservation volunteers working to save wild places hail from every state. In fact, nearly 300,000 volunteers contribute more than 6.5 million hours of volunteer service a year to the U.S. National Park Service, from leading tours to studying wildlife and hosting campgrounds.

One doesn’t have to be an environmental crusader to save wild April 2022

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places, Hoffman stresses. Exploring local wild places and sharing them with others can help save them, as well. “We can only protect those places that we love,” he says. “And we can only love those places that we know.”

Sadly, roughly 100 million people, including 28 million children, do not have access to a quality park within 10 minutes of home, according to The Trust for Public Land.

Projects, such as the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program, which enables urban communities to create outdoor spaces, can help. The U.S. Department of the Interior committed $150 million to the program in 2021. “Every child in America deserves to have a safe and nearby place to experience the great outdoors,” says Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

A Homegrown National Park Tallamy says one of the most important ways to get people to appreciate and save wild places is to begin in their own yards. “We have wilderness designations. We have national forests.

We have national parks. We have 12 percent of the U.S. protected from development,” he says.

“Yet, we are in the sixth great extinction. Our parks and our preserves are not enough. My point is that we have got to focus on the areas outside of parks and preserves.” He urges what he calls a “homegrown national park,” in which homeowners, land managers and farmers create a habitat by replacing invasive plants with native species.

Tallamy speaks from experience. He lives on a 10-acre former farm in Oxford, Pennsylvania. “It had been mowed for hay and when we moved in, very little life was here,” he says. “We have been rebuilding the eastern deciduous forest here, getting invasive plants under control and replanting with species that ought to be here.” He’s now counted more than 1,400 different species of moths on his property and documented 60 species of birds nesting within the landscape. “We have foxes who raise their kits in the front yard,” he says.

Lots of acreage is not required, he says. In Kirkwood, Missouri, homeowners created a wild place on six-tenths of an acre on which they’ve documented 149 species of birds. “If one person does it, it’s not going to work,” he stresses. “The point is to get those acres connected. When everybody adopts this as a general landscape culture, it’s going to help tremendously. By rewilding your yard, you are filling in spaces between the true wild places and natural areas. The reason our wild spaces are not working in terms of conservation is because they are too small and too isolated. Even the biggest national parks are too small or too isolated.”

Tallamy says people can create wild spaces in their yards by reducing the amount of lawn they have or even getting rid of it. They can grow native plants and discontinue the use of pesticides and herbicides, which are disrupting ecological function of wild places the world over, as research shows. Hoffman agrees, “We’ve cultivated a culture of tidiness.

It’s actually very easy to welcome wildlife into your home places, often by doing fewer things, by not bringing the leaf blower out and by leaving some dead wood where it fell, which creates important shelters for insects, for example.

“Such wild yard spaces encourage wonder.

Suddenly, the kids are out there and they can be absolutely fascinated by a small glittering beetle. For me, to experience the wild is to go to the shore of a lake, to be present in the mystery, to be among the lake’s reed beds, to see a marsh harrier sleek out of those reeds and to know you’re part of something much larger,” he says. “There’s so much joy and beauty and complexity in being in the presence of other lives besides human.” That in itself is reason enough to save wild places.

Sheryl DeVore has written six books on science, health and nature, as well as health and environmental stories for national and regional publications. Read more at SherylDeVore.wordpress.com.

Natural Awakenings Editor & Realtor Helping Hudson County Residents Relocate to Central Jersey

Tina is a Zillow Premier Agent and shows homes featured on Zillow, Trulia, Realtor and Redfin.

Tina Woods, Real Estate Agent M: 973.255.0981 • O: 973.310.6816 tina.woods@compass.com tina.woods.nj Tina Woods is a real estate salesperson affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

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those native to the region.

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native plants. n Leave leaf litter, withering plants and dying trees alone to provide shelter and food for wildlife. n Create a small pond or another water feature.

“Mourning cloak butterflies overwinter as mature adults. If you say, ‘Hey, let’s just clean up all of that so-called leaf litter,’ you could be cleaning up the habitat of mourning cloaks and killing them,” says Darke, who has served as a horticultural consultant for botanic gardens and other public landscapes in Texas, Maryland, New York, Illinois and Delaware. “That’s not litter. It’s meaningful habitat.

“A dead tree in your home landscape, called a snag, often contributes as much to the local ecology as a living tree,” he adds.

“For example, woodpeckers build nests in holes or cavities in a snag, and countless insects find shelter and nourishment in the organic material of the snag.”

April 2022

15

TECHNOLOGY MEETS NATURE APPS BRING US CLOSER TO FLORA AND FAUNA

by Sheryl DeVore

W

k.decha/AdobeStock.com

hile exploring Seattle, Jackie Lentz Bowman noticed some bushes filled with pink and orange berries. She discovered she could safely eat them by using the smartphone nature app called iNaturalist (iNaturalist.org). “I learned they were salmonberries and edible,” says the Chicago area photographer and birder. “I just had to try them.

They were very similar to raspberries.”

Bowman is among a growing number of people using their smartphones to enhance their

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nature experiences. Phone apps are available for free or a modest price to identify mushrooms, bugs, birds, dragonflies, reptiles, beetles, wildflowers and other flora and fauna. “Whether it is to help identify a plant I’ve taken a photo of or to familiarize myself with what a bird looks like and sounds like, these are tools I’m always glad to have in my back pocket,” she explains.

At least 6,300 nature apps were available in 2015, according to Paul Jepson and Richard Ladle, Oxford environmental scholars and co-authors of “Nature Apps: Waiting for the Revolution,” a research paper published in the Swedish environmental journal Ambio.

Such programs are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible. They write, “As most people own a mobile phone today, the app—though a small device—is a major way conservationists could be reaching a huge audience with transformative possibilities.”

Right now, some apps allow the user to point a smartphone to a plant or animal to get instant feedback on its common or scientific name. Others ask the user questions about what they are seeing and suggest an identity based on the answers. Some allow the user to interact with scientists, share their knowledge, record their observations and contribute to science.

Perhaps the most popular nature app is iNaturalist, which has all those features and more. “Our mission has been to connect people to nature through technology,” says Scott Loarie, co-director of iNaturalist, a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. “By 2030, we want to connect 100 million people to nature to facilitate science

jpc-prod/AdobeStock.com

green living

photo by Jackie Lentz Bowman

and conservation.”

The app began as a master’s degree project at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2008, and today 2 million people have recorded about 100 million observations, covering one in six species on the planet. “iNaturalist has grown to the point where it’s helping take the pulse of biodiversity,” he adds.

Newcomers are often mentored and helped with identifications by volunteers that are experts in different fields. One example is a worldwide competition called the City Nature Challenge in which beginning and advanced naturalists document urban flora and fauna for several days. During the event, people share their photos of plants and animals on iNaturalist.

During Chicago’s Challenge, Eric Gyllenhaal, who blogs about nature on the city’s west side, found an uncommon species. “A Canadian expert helped confirm the identification as a bronze ground beetle native to Europe,” says Cassi Saari, project manager of natural areas for the Chicago Park District. “It’s an introduced species in Illinois and could have implications for wildlife in the region down the line.”

Two other nature apps that Loarie likes are eBird (eBird.org) and Merlin (Merlin.

AllAboutBirds.org), both administered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in Ithaca, New York. With eBird, users can report on their phones a list of birds they’re seeing in the wild, including when and where, and the sightings are added to a database for

scientific research.

Merlin is a field guide app to help folks identify the birds they are seeing. “Merlin has taken on authoring content with great descriptions of birds, something iNaturalist doesn’t do,” Loarie points out. “Merlin also just released sound recognition in the app, so people can identify birds by sound. It’s huge for birders.”

Award-winning nature photographer Adriana Greisman, of Phoenix, says she uses both Merlin and iBird (iBird.com), another field guide app, to identify birds in the wild and when processing photos. “These are great resources to identify unknown species and to learn about their behavior.”

The favorite app of Joyce Gibbons, a volunteer at the Natural Land Institute, in Rockford, Illinois, is Odonata Central (OdonataCentral.org), which focuses on her passion—dragonflies and damselflies, collectively called odonates.

“I’ve loved solitary walks in the woods, prairies and other natural areas since I was a child,” she says. “I’ve always taken photos and tried to ID the many species I’ve observed. Now, with these apps on my phone, I feel like I am actually contributing to the scientific body of knowledge and connecting with other enthusiasts and not just keeping all this joy of discovery to myself.”

Sheryl DeVore is an award-winning author of six books on science, health and nature.

Connect at SherylDevoreWriter@gmail.com.

NATURE APPS TO LEARN BY AUDUBON GUIDE: Search a field guide to 800 species of birds found in North America with tips on places to find them (Audubon.org/app).

PICTURE INSECT: Identify thousands of different insects and learn about them using this entomologist in a pocket (PictureInsect.com).

PICTURE MUSHROOM: Identify thousands of different mushrooms using a smartphone (PictureMushroom.com).

PLANTNET: Identify wild plants by posting photos. Images are compared to thousands of images from throughout the world in a database (PlantNet.org).

SEEK BY iNATURALIST: Seek uses data submitted to iNaturalist to show suggestions for species nearby, but unlike iNaturalist, findings made with Seek will not be shared publicly, making it safe for children to use. Users can earn badges as they discover wildlife (iNaturalist.org/pages/seek_app).

TRAILLINK: Search a database of more than 40,000 miles of trails in the U.S. and download trail maps on a smartphone (TrailLink.com).

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by Jorelle Baker

O

ne of the biggest challenges with owning a cat is managing their desire to scratch.

When that urge isn’t channeled properly, cats can cause considerable damage to furniture, clothes and walls. However, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide their cat with an outlet for scratching and avoid unnecessary procedures like declawing to keep their home and family safe.

Why do cats scratch?

Cats have a biological and physical need to scratch. Scratching helps them remove old nail sheaths, allowing their nails to continue growing without impediment. Scratching is also a way to mark their territory from other animals, stretch their long bodies and provide them better grip when climbing and running.

How to keep cats from scratching furniture 1. Scratching posts: Having a variety of stable scratching posts around the house offers the cat different options for focusing its instincts. Posts made of various materials, like cardboard and sisal rope, are readily available at pet stores. Avoid posts wrapped in fabrics that feel similar to furniture, to reduce confusion about what’s OK to scratch.

2. Pet-safe tape: This product will prevent your cats from clawing furniture without doing any harm to your cat or your furniture.

3. Nail clipping: Introduce your cat to getting its nails clipped at an early age. This will not remove its need to scratch, but clipped nails won’t damage furniture as much as sharp nails will.

4. Nail caps: Cat-specific nail caps cover sharp nails, providing a soft and smooth edge so the cat can scratch any surface without damaging it.

5. Positive reinforcement: Leaving scented treats or sprinkling catnip on a scratching post will teach the cat to scratch that specific surface.

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The problem with declawing As a holistic practice, we are highly against declawing, a surgical procedure where the veterinarian removes the third bone in the cat’s front paws. It’s unnecessary, only benefitting the owner while harming the pet. It also comes with a variety of post-surgical risks: Acute/chronic pain: The cat’s body will inform it that it’s missing bones and there’s a problem.

Improper posture: The bone structure has changed, so the cat will be forced to walk differently, which can cause spinal problems and improper posture.

Nerve damage: Improper posture can damage the nerves over time, as they are forced to engage with the body differently.

Aggressive behavior: Cats can be vindictive. If they are constantly in pain, they may lash out at the owner.

It is our responsibility to care for our pets and provide them with everything they need for a safe, comfortable and healthy life. Cats have a need to scratch, and it is the cat owner’s job to provide an outlet for them. If you’re having trouble keeping your cat from clawing, speak to a veterinary professional to find out what else can be done.

Jorelle Baker is the social media manager, content creator and webmaster for Holistic Pet Care, located at 125 Paterson Ave., Little Falls, NJ. For appointments or information, visit HolisticPetCareNJ.com.

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HUDSON COUNTY BUSINESSES MAKING AN IMPACT WITH COMPOSTING

by Nicole Teitler

G

oing green, even on the most basic level, takes effort. It requires making conscious decisions on a daily basis—to recycle, to unplug, to conserve water, to go plastic-free, to shop local—turning individual effort into action that is beneficial to our planet. Perhaps one of the most overlooked ways to make an impact is through composting, which recycles organic matter (like food scraps) that is then used to fertilize and improve the soil.

For a business, composting is one of the easiest ways to be environmentally conscious and reduce its carbon footprint. Here are seven Hudson County businesses that compost: 1. Black Rail Coffee: Located at 800 Jackson Street in Hoboken, Black Rail has been proudly composting since the very beginning, even through a change in ownership.

2. Bwè Kafe: One of Bwè Kafe’s two Hoboken locations, its North End store (1401 Adams Street) began composting this year. As another way to keep green, Bwè’s online store offers “Zero Waste + Eco Options” for the conscious consumer.

3. Choc-O-Pain French Bakery and Café: This business composts companywide, in each of its three locations—downtown Hoboken, at 157 First Street; uptown Hoboken, at 1500 Hudson Street; and Jersey City, at 530 Jersey Avenue.

4. Do Good Donuts: This pop-up donut shop does more than fuel the soul, they protect the earth. They use sustainably sourced ingredients and compost all their unused scraps.

5. Hudson Table: Located at 1403 Clinton Street, this is, so far, the only restaurant in Hoboken that’s been confirmed to compost, reducing their carbon footprint one meal at a time.

6. Hoboken Food Pantry: Operated by the not-for-profit Hoboken Community Center, the Hoboken Food Pantry doesn’t just give much-needed resources to food-insecure residents; it also composts any leftover or damaged food in a large bin outside its facility.

7. Petite B Bakery: This little French bakery, located at 200 61st Street, in West New York, is on a mission to do its part, working directly with local pickup service Neighborhood Compost.

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FOR ANY BUSINESSES INTERESTED IN COMPOSTING, HERE ARE TWO WAYS TO GET STARTED: Subscribe to Neighborhood Compost

Neighborhood Compost was launched in June 2020 as a subscription-based compost pickup service. They pick up from several New Jersey counties, including Hudson County, and have more than 150 compost subscribers. Since they began collecting food scraps and organic matter from both residences and businesses, they’ve helped divert 112,000 pounds of waste from landfills and facilitated the donation of 580 pounds of produce.

Founder Adison Evans and her team drive around weekly, biweekly or on a customized schedule to collect the donated materials, which then go to fertilize local farms or even are returned to subscribers for their own garden.

“By providing this ideal environment for these materials to break down efficiently and without producing methane, we can reduce how food is being wasted,” Evans says.

For more info, visit NeighborhoodCompost.com.

Contact a TRUE Zero-Waste Advisor

Leah Shoot is a Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certified advisor who works with businesses in Hudson County and beyond, helping them make their business more efficient and ecofriendly through a waste management and composting program.

“Every business who cares about their community, their finances, and the state of the environment should look into implementing a composting program immediately. When businesses choose to compost, especially before they are mandated to do so, it’s their way of telling the community that they care about the cleanliness of our streets and air,” Shoot explained.

EVERYDAY

SELF-CARE TIPS

FROM MOLLIE BUSINO OF MINDFUL POWER

1

For more info, visit LeahShoot.com.

While the list of Hudson County businesses known to compost is small, there are plenty more that incorporate other green practices into their day-to-day operations. The hope, of course, is that as consumers become more eco-conscious, so too will the businesses that serve them.

2

Nicole Teitler—known by her trademark, Nikki On The Daily—is a brand storyteller based out of Hoboken. Contact her at nteitler@gmail.com or NikkiOnTheDaily.com.

3

Create a morning routine and make time for it each day. Having a mindful morning can help keep your stress down.

Having a relaxing night at the end of each week. You can take the time to cook for yourself, do an athome spa, read or watch something you enjoy or simply relax with some candles.

Try to keep track of goals, mood, gratitude and your personal growth journey.

Mindful Power is a group psychotherapy practice specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness based in Hoboken, N.J. Find our more at MindfulPower.net.

April 2022

21

healing ways

Buzz-Free Drinking THE HEALTHY RISE OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

by Ronica O’Hara

photo courtesy of Kerry Benson and Diana Licalzi

A

SOUR MOCK-A-RITA 1 cup and 2 Tbsp lime juice ¼ cup and 2 Tbsp orange juice 3 Tbsp agave nectar, plus more to taste 2½ cups and 2 Tbsp coconut water Few dashes of salt Lime wheels for garnish Lime wedges and sea salt to rim the glasses To salt the rims of four to six lowball or margarita glasses, pour a thin layer of salt onto a plate or a shallow bowl.

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Slide a lime wedge around the rim of the glass to wet it, or use a finger to apply the juice to the rim, then dip and twist the glass in the salt. Combine all of the drink ingredients in a pitcher. Stir.

Fill the rimmed glasses with ice. Divide the margarita mix among the glasses.

Garnish with lime wheels.

From Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, NonAlcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion, by Kerry Benson and Diana Licalzi.

s a former bartender, Katie Cheney enjoys mixing drinks for friends, and one night recently, in her San Francisco apartment, she tried out something new: an alcohol-free “Noquila Sunrise” made with a distilled, plant-based spirit. “I was actually pleasantly surprised. Even though we were drinking non-alcoholic drinks, we still had just as much fun as usual!” recalls Cheney, who blogs at DrinksSaloon.com.

In New York City, Marcos Martinez has begun drinking virgin piña coladas when out on the town with friends. “The feeling is surprisingly great since I don’t wake up with hangovers. More importantly, I’ve realized that I don’t have to use alcohol as a crutch for my social anxiety,” says Martinez, who owns the black gay lifestyle blog TheMenWhoBrunch.com.

At Chicago’s Kumiko Japanese cocktail bar, owner Julia Momosé offers a menu of what she calls “Spiritfrees,” crafted without alcohol and with ingredients like yarrow, ume—a Japanese fruit—and cardamom. “Folks comment on how they appreciate that it is ‘more than just juice,’ or how surprised they are at their depth, texture and complexity,” she says.

The “sober-curious”—people experimenting with alcohol-free beverages as a way of prioritizing their health and fitness over a short-lived buzz—are changing America’s drinking culture. For the first time in 20 years, fewer Americans are regularly drinking, reports Gallup, and tipplers are drinking measurably less than they did 10 years ago.

No longer stuck with a seltzer while dodging questions from inquisitive imbibers, today the sober-inclined can sip from a vast array of sophisticated choices—from faux vodka in exotic, crafted drinks to prize-winning sparkling wines to low- and no-alcohol

photo courtesy of Vanessa Young/ ThirstyRadish.com

“You have your wits about you, you can drive if necessary, you are less likely to say or do something you might regret and you won’t have a hangover the next morning.”

–Kerry Benson

craft beer. No-booze options can be easily ordered at restaurants, picked up at supermarkets or delivered at home with a few online clicks.

“The best part about having a fun, non-alcoholic beverage in hand is that you get the taste and experience of a cocktail or beer, just without the alcohol and potential negative side effects,” says dietitian Kerry Benson, co-author of Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, NonAlcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion. “You have your wits about you, you can drive if necessary, you are less likely to say or do something you might regret and you won’t have a hangover the next morning. And alcohol-free drinks are usually less expensive than their alcoholic counterparts.”

Sober-curious strategies range widely. Some people start tentatively, but increasingly turn to non-alcoholic drinks because they prefer the taste, price and lower calorie count, as well as the diminished risk of heart and liver disease. Others may go cold turkey for a month or two to break a pandemic-induced habit, alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at a game or bar to avoid getting tipsy, or drink a Bloody Mary for a weekend brunch and virgin versions during the week to enhance work productivity.

The sales of non-alcoholic beverages shot up 33 percent to $331 million in 2021, reports Nielsen, and online sales of non- and lowalcoholic beverages skyrocketed 315 percent. To compete for the Millennials-heavy market, distillers like Seedlip, Suntory and Lyre’s have created beverages evoking tequila, Campari and vodka; breweries like Guinness, Budweiser and Carlsberg and small crafters are offering robust-tasting near- and no-alcohol beers; and wineries are using distillation and reverse osmosis to produce fine, low-alcohol Cabernets, Chardonnays and other varieties. Niche products are growing: for example, Los Angeles-based Optimist Botanicals bills its gin-, vodka- and tequila-like botanical blends as being vegan, glutenfree and paleo- and keto-friendly.

On the home front, people are making their own concoctions, often with natural and herbal ingredients, such as pears, tomatoes, cilantro and spices. “Garden-grown produce, windowsill herbs and farmers market finds are the ideal foundation for recipes, from tea sangrias to shaken mocktails,” says New Jersey cooking instructor and recipe developer Vanessa Young, creator of ThirstyRadish.com. As an example, she says, “A slice of brûléed fruit gives a non-alcoholic drink a touch of smoky sweetness, plus it is so appealing in the glass.”

Substance abuse counselors caution that beverages that mimic alcohol may not be a good route for recovery from serious alcohol abuse because they can reawaken destructive patterns. And consumers are advised to look carefully at labels. “Alcohol-free” beer contains

0.0 percent alcohol. “Non-alcoholic” beer can contain up to 0.5 percent alcohol, but some have been found to contain up to 2 percent— not desirable if pregnant or in recovery.

Still, says Karolina Rzadkowolska, author of Euphoric: Ditch Alcohol and Gain a Happier, More Confident You, “The popularity of alcohol-free drinks is changing a culture. We are going from a culture that glamorizes drinking at every social situation, with little valid excuse to decline, to a culture that gives people healthier options.”

Health writer Ronica O’Hara can be contacted at OHaraRonica@ gmail.com.

MAPLE PEAR SPARKLER ½ cup pure maple syrup ¼ cup filtered water 1 rounded tsp fresh pomegranate arils (about 12 arils, or seeds) 1 tsp fresh lemon juice ½ oz maple simple syrup 2¼ oz pear juice 2 oz sparkling mineral water Bartlett pear slices for garnish For the syrup, whisk to combine ½ cup maple syrup with ¼ cup filtered water in a small saucepan, and heat until small bubbles begin to form around the edge. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

In the meantime, to prepare the jewel-like pomegranate arils, score a fresh pomegranate cross-wise. Twist to separate into halves. Loosen the membrane around the edges and tap firmly with a wooden spoon over a bowl to collect the pomegranate arils. Continue to loosen the membrane and tap to release all the arils.

For each drink, gently mash the pomegranate arils with lemon juice in a muddler, then add the mixture into a cocktail shaker, along with the syrup, pear juice and ice. Shake to chill, and strain into a glass to serve.

Top with sparkling mineral water. Add a slice of ripe Bartlett or brûléed pear.

Courtesy of Vanessa Young of ThirstyRadish.com.

April 2022

23

conscious eating

Eating for the Planet DIET FOR A CLIMATE CRISIS

vector mine/AdobeStock.com

by Sheila Julson

W

hat we choose to put on our plates influences not only our physical health, but also the health of the environment. While much of the climate conversation focuses on the burning of fossil fuels, commercial food production—particularly livestock—uses large amounts of land, water and energy.

Wasted food contributes to approximately 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Leigh Prezkop, food loss and waste specialist for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), says agriculture accounts for 24

Hudson County

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about 70 percent of the world’s fresh water use, while pasture and crop land accounts for about 50 percent of the Earth’s habitable land.

“The environmental impacts begin with the soil,” Prezkop explains. “Soil that’s depleted of nutrients loses its ability to capture carbon and produce nutrientrich foods. The long chain continues with the processing and packaging of that food, and then transporting it to grocery store shelves and, eventually, to the consumer’s home.”

Eat Less Meat

Animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, argues author, screenwriter and playwright Glen Merzer in his latest book, Food Is Climate: A Response to Al Gore, Bill Gates, Paul Hawken & the Conventional Narrative on Climate Change.

“When we have 93 million cattle farmed in the U.S. and 31 billion animals farmed globally each year, they create mountains of waste,” says Merzer, a dedicated vegan of 30 years. “That waste infiltrates water supplies and causes contamination, such

“When food is wasted, we’re not just throwing away food, but everything it took to produce that food is also wasted— the water, the fertilizer and the land.”

–Leigh Prezkop as E. coli outbreaks, in foods like lettuce and tomatoes that are grown downstream.”

He adds that cows belch methane, a far more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and that grass-fed cows belch even more of it than grain-fed, feedlot cows. In addition, nitrogen fertilizers used to grow animal feed run into waterways. Overfishing and ocean warming threaten populations of phytoplankton, which sequester carbon dioxide and seed clouds. Deforestation to create grazing land may be the single greatest future threat to our climate because forests also sequester carbon and provide a home for diverse flora and fauna.

Инесса Шустикова/AdobeStock.com

Make Simple Swaps Prezkop emphasizes that despite these problems with the industrial food chain, changing the way we produce food is also the solution. The WWF works with suppliers to educate and promote regenerative production practices. On the consumer side, changing the way food is produced can be achieved by changing people’s dietary demands.

“We don’t prescribe people to eat a certain way. We do believe different people and cultures have different dietary needs,” she says. “The global north eats a lot of meat, so we do recommend a plant-forward diet while still incorporating animal proteins, depending on individual dietary needs.”

Merzer argues that we have little control over fossil fuel burning, but we can control our diets. He promotes plant-based eating as a primary solution to climate change. Changing mindsets about “normal” traditions, such as having hamburgers on the Fourth of July or turkey on Thanksgiving, can be difficult, but achievable with the planet at stake, he says.

Sophie Egan, founder of FullTableSolutions.com and author of How to Be a Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good For You, Others, and the Planet, advises to start small by looking at the foods eaten most frequently and identifying ways to make simple swaps. “If you have toast with butter every morning, that could be changed to a nut butter. A sandwich with cold cuts every day for lunch, that can be replaced with a roasted vegetables and hummus sandwich or an avocado sandwich. You can still eat something in a familiar form, but replace ingredients with loweremissions options,” she says.

If someone is intimidated by switching to an all plant-based diet, a flexitarian option emphasizing foods from the plant kingdom while enjoying meat only occasionally may be more sustainable throughout a person’s lifetime. Her book contains a “protein scorecard” from the World Resources Institute that lists animal

SCRAP VEGETABLE STOCK Those potatoes that start to sprout, the straggler stalks of celery wilting in the back of the crisper drawer or that pompon of green carrot tops can all be used to make vegetable stock. This is a very general recipe with plenty of creative license to get more mileage from leftover vegetables that normally would have been discarded.

Start by collecting vegetable scraps that typically aren’t used— thick asparagus ends, carrot tops and broccoli stems. Even wilted kale or limp carrots that are no longer good to eat fresh, but are still free from mold or mush, can be added. Coarsely chop scrap veggies and put them into a freezer bag. Store them in the freezer until four to five pounds of vegetable scrap have been accumulated. yield: about 3 quarts 4 to 5 lb vegetable scraps (can include the freezer bag of vegetable scraps, green tops from a fresh bunch of carrots, slightly wilted kale, turnips that are starting to turn soft or any combination) 2 bay leaves 6 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 2 medium onions, cut into quarters 6 quarts water Salt to taste Coarsely chop all vegetables and add to a large stockpot. (If the vegetables are still frozen, dump them into the stockpot; they’ll begin to thaw during the cooking process.) Add the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently.

Cook for about two hours or until the liquid is reduced by about half and the color begins to fade from the vegetables.

Let the mixture cool. Strain the stock into a large bowl.

Compost the vegetables, as they are now flavorless; all of the flavors have been cooked into the broth.

Strain broth a second time through a cheesecloth or sieve for an even clearer broth. Salt to taste and portion into Mason jars.

Store in the refrigerator for one to two weeks, or freeze if saving for later use.

Courtesy of Sheila Julson.

April 2022

25

Cut Food Waste Prezkop says approximately 40 percent of the food produced globally is lost while still on the farm or further up the supply chain. “When food is wasted, we’re not just throwing away food, but everything it took to produce that food is also wasted—the water, the fertilizer and the land.”

A recent WWF report entitled Driven To Waste cites new data indicating that food waste contributes to approximately 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions—nearly twice the emissions produced annu-

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Sheila Julson is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.

kravtzov/AdobeStock.com

ally by all the cars in the U.S. and Europe.

Egan suggests using a shopping list; impulse buys can be forgotten and are prone to spoiling. Keeping food visible by putting fruits and vegetables front and center ensures they won’t be forgotten. Leftovers can be kept from languishing by designating a section of the refrigerator for food to eat first or a day of the week to eat leftovers for dinner. “You can freeze just about anything,” Egan says, from leftover bread to cheese, which can be shredded before frozen. Even scrambled eggs can be poured into a freezer container to use later. (For more ideas, check out SaveTheFood.com and Dana Gunders’ Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook.)

Nonprofits throughout the country are creating solutions to divert food waste from the landfills. Keep Austin Fed, a nonprofit comprised of mostly volunteers, helps neighbors experiencing food insecurity by redistributing wholesome, nutritious, surplus food from any food-permitted business. Volunteers pick up leftover food from urban gardens, rural farms, grocery stores and caterers serving area tech firms. All prepared food accepted and redistributed is handled by licensed food handlers. Executive Director Lisa Barden says that Keep Austin Fed redistributed 982,428 pounds of food, or the equivalent of 818,695 meals, in 2021, thus keeping it out of the waste stream.

Similarly missioned organizations exist nationwide. FoodRescue. us, with 40 locations in 20 states, provides assistance and even a dropoff/pickup app for people starting local groups. Since its founding in 2011, it has provided 85 million meals and kept 109 million pounds of excess food out of landfills. Its website offers a potent plea: “Fight Hunger. Help the Planet. Be the Rescue.”

elenabsl/AdobeStock.com

and plant sources in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per gram of protein from the worst offenders to the least, with beef (along with goat and lamb) being at the top.

Prezkop recommends eating a wide variety of foods. “Currently, 75 percent of food produced is from 12 plant species and five animal species, despite that there are thousands of varieties. This means there’s less diversity happening in the field.

Diversity helps with regeneration and healthy soils.

Producing the same crops over and over means there’s no crop rotation and no diversity happening, leading to degraded soils and deforestation to produce more of the same crop.”

Egan adds that diets that are over-reliant on just a few food sources like corn, wheat, rice and soy threaten the Earth and can lead to food insecurity. “Think of it as risk management with a financial portfolio: We have a diversified portfolio of foods available to feed a growing population, but as the climate warms, extreme weather events threaten yields because lack of fresh water and unhealthy soil threaten the planet and, ultimately, food production.”

Eating food that is as close as to its original state as possible is better for the planet. “The more food is processed, the more resources it took to get it to market,” Prezkop notes.

communityresourceguide

MUNG BEAN CURRY

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAHudson.com to request our media kit.

DENTIST LOUIS STEINBERG, DDS, MS

6050 Boulevard E, Ste LE, West New York, NJ 201-662-2020 • DrLMSteinberg.com Biological dentist offering mercury-safe dentistry, Biocompatible Restorative Dentistry and TMJ analysis and treatment. See ad on page 17.

3 cups water 1 cup dried mung beans 2 dry bay leaves ½ medium onion, chopped 3 cloves raw garlic, minced 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, minced ½ tsp turmeric powder ½ tsp yellow curry 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro or sweet basil 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice Black pepper to taste

FAMILY

Rinse the mung beans, then soak overnight in water. The next day, discard the water, rinse the beans again and add 3 cups of water and bay leaves. Bring the beans to near boil and reduce heat to simmer.

Scoop away the white foam that forms on the surface of the water and discard. Simmer covered for about 40 minutes.

Add the onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric and curry, and continue simmering for an additional 20 minutes. Stir in chopped cilantro or basil, lemon juice and black pepper.

Serve over rice or another grain.

Courtesy of Joanna Samorow-Merzer, reprinted with permission from Own Your Health, by Glen Merzer.

401 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ Boutique Pilates & fitness studio located in midtown Hoboken, offering smallgroup Pilates, reformer, mat classes and one-onone sessions (virtual until studio re-opens). With a belief that every body is unique, Pump maximizes every workout with dynamic movements that work multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Strengthen your body and soul and view their virtual schedule.

HEALTHY FOODS

ALPHAKEY CLUB

BUSY BEE ORGANICS

Virtual Based Jersey City, NJ info@alphakey.club • AlphaKey.club

451 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 201-656-5065 BusyBeeOrganics.com

A foundation in reading is the classic predictor of academic success. But there are also certain character traits— like confidence, gratitude, integrity and patience—that are critical to success in the classroom and in life.

AlphaKey Club is a holistic educational program and interactive workshops founded by ShalomIsrael Diggs, a Jersey City teacher, dancer and artist, who teaches those foundational qualities right along with the ABCs.

Chef Michelle Berckes and her team make up Busy Bee Organics, which serves nutritious, immuneboosting eats to the local c o m m u n i t y. T h i s h e a l t h supportive, local eatery offers instore specials, a brand-new cafe menu & limited outdoor seating. With choices to accommodate every dietary restriction and allergy, you can expect to find delicious options for everyone organic, plant based, customizable & 100% gluten-free.

FASHION ONE/SOL

1422 Grand Street, Suite 3A Hoboken, NJ 201-809-9401 • BeOneSol.com ONE/SOL is a lifestyle boutique devoted to the wellness scene. It offers beautiful clothing and accessories to add confidence and color to someone’s wardrobe, and is also a unique haven for events, bringing all types of people and their fabulous energy together to experience parts of themselves... variations of wellness that can propel them to truly find “what makes their SOL happy”.

FITNESS PRIME CYCLE HOBOKEN

70 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 201-683-6956 • PrimeCycle.com almaje/AdobeStock.com

PUMP HOBOKEN

Prime Cycle Hoboken is now offering more than 25 outdoor classes a week—from early morning to midday to evenings, including Saturday and Sunday mornings—on the Hoboken Little League field, on 5th Street.

BWÈ KAFE

1002 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 1401 Adams St., Hoboken, NJ 140 River Dr. S, Jersey City, NJ 201-683-0045 • bwekafe.com All three locations serve drink and food menus with several fun and fresh seasonal items. Offering fresh lemonade, housemade lavender coldbrew lattes, green water detox drinks, salads and toasts, bwé kafe is always thinking of creative and tasty drinks to satisfy your health and pallet. They also source and roast their own coffee beans. Order at the door, ahead of time online, or have them deliver right to your home.

CAFE PEANUT

586 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 201-721-6270 CafePeanut.com Funky cafe dedicated to quality foods using locally grown, natural and organic produce.

Menu selections include delicious salads, sandwiches, soups, pastries, and artisan coffees & teas.

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GREEN PEAR CAFÉ

93 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ 201-659-0940 93 Franklin Street, Jersey City, NJ 201-968-7151 GreenPearGroup.com Green Pear Cafe is Hoboken’s healthy and innovative eating destination offering gluten free dishes, house made soups, nut milks and smoothies.Recently opened Jersey City Heights location completed their menu with European classic cuisine featuring AustroHungarian goulash dishes, wide variety of pickles, linzer desserts and much more. For more information, please visit greenpeargroup.com.

KEY FRESH AND NATURAL

574 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 201-204-4200 Local grocer offering huge selection of healthy products and quality brand names for the entire family. Fresh produce with many organic options, quality meats and poultry, organic baby food, grain-free and natural pet foods, non-toxic cleaning products and much more. Save time shopping in one location and get all your grocery needs met at Key Fresh and Natural.

Hablamos Espanol. See ad on back cover.

PLANT BASE JC

370 Pacific Ave, Jersey City, NJ 551-256-3868 • PlantBaseMarket.com An ethical, vegan, zero-waste market and restaurant offering a full-vegan, all-day food menu, bulk groceries, organic produce, homeopathic wellness products, body care products and household products. Plant Base is also a strong community hub, known as “the living room for the hood”, where neighbors come together to share knowledge and ideas.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS ANCHOR THERAPY

223 Bloomfield St, Ste. 121, Hoboken, NJ 201-565-2275 • AnchorTherapy.org Therapy is the anchor that holds life together through choppy waters. Anchor Therapy specializes in helping teens and adults through these times. Their experience and professional skills help clients feel better sooner. Call for a free consultation.

ACUPUNCTURE ATELIER

1321 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 201-708-8577 • AcupunctureAtelier.com Acupuncture Atelier offers undivided personalized attention during each and every session.

Sara and Samia pride themselves on being unique and adaptable.

Tr e a t m e n t s m a y i n c l u d e acupuncture, reiki, aromatherapy, moxibustion, cupping, auricular therapy, as well as ancient Shamanic healing methods.

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BABY STEPS PEDIATRICS

Dr. Carmen H. Lebron 75 Montgomery Street, Ste. 401 Jersey City, NJ 201-600-4306 • LebronPeds@gmail.com BabyStepsPediatrics.com Carmen Lebron is a fun-loving and creative pediatrician in downtown Jersey City. Our clinical approach is holistic, giving attention not just to medical issues, but integrating all aspects of the social and family environment. Dr. Lebron is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and is a clinical homeopath.

FOOT AND ANKLE PREMIER SPECIALISTS

Dr. Juliana Paternina 70 Hudson St, Hoboken, NJ 201-659-5222 • FootandAnklePS.com Dr. Juliana Paternina, is a boardcertified Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgeon. She provides compassionate and comprehensive care for both adult and pediatric patients with any type of foot and ankle needs. She is well known for being thorough and for having a holistic approach.

Specialties include dermatologic foot conditions, any foot and ankle deformities including bunions and hammertoes, chronic nerve pain, sports-related injuries including heel pain, fractures, sprains, and treatment of diabetic foot complications.

HOBOKEN CHIROPRACTIC + WELLNESS

Dr. Laura Brayton/Dr. Olga Alvarez 113 Monroe Street, Hoboken, NJ 201-792-3544 • HobokenChiro.com Family wellness practice, specializing in pediatrics and maternity, that strongly believe in the body’s innate intelligence and ability to heal itself when blockages to the healing process are removed.

Utilizing chiropractic, soft tissue techniques, allergy elimination, nutrition/ supplements, and massage, health is restored and maintained for optimal wellness.

INSPIRED TO HEALTH

85 Maple Street #3L, Weehawken, NJ 201-344-6448 • InspiredToHealth.net Dedicated to helping women destress and lead more healthful lives, Lorraine Giordano offers the following treatments: Quantum To u c h , Q u a n t u m E n e r g y Transformation, Reiki, Quantum Allergy Release, Age Clearing and Energy Medicine. Also specializing in helping women with female reproductive issues and helping them connect to their sacral chakra; an energetic center linked to emotions, self-care, creativity and passion. She also offers Akashic Record readings.

JACQUIE BIRD, SPIRITUAL WELLNESS JacquieBirdWellness.com

Jacquie Bird, Spiritual Wellness offers products and services that, support, guide and empower the individual. She is the author of the 7 Daily Thoughts & Mantras 4 Mindfulness eBook series; the Creator/Practitioner of Stress Busters Guided Meditations; she creates guided meditation as well as meditation music called SoundSoulVibin’ and is the Owner/Creator of the handmade wellness brand MODAL VISIONS, which is rooted in the energetically dynamic properties of gemstones, crystals and copper. Jacquie is also the Creator and host of the podcast Roll With Peace, In Mind. Her entire platform and intent is in mindfulness, personal growth, stress relief and stress management – in essence, how we can live more calm, centered, grounded and meaningful lives.

JC BUMP AND BABY Jersey City, NJ JCBumpAndBaby.com

JC Bump and Baby connects moms through support groups, yoga classes and workshops.

LEAH CRESCENZO

917-525-3477 • HeyLeahC.com Transformative healer who utilizes the powerful tools of Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) and Hypnotherapy to improve everything from emotional to physical conditions.

LOTUS GENESIS WELLNESS CENTER 7000 JFK Boulevard East Galaxy Mall, Ste. M-15, Guttenberg, NJ 201-210-4764 • LotusGenesis.com

A holistic sanctuary offering a team of healers, therapists, mind-body experts and a naturopathic doctor, who combine various modalities from energy healing, diet and nutrition, to hypnotherapy and body work. Lotus Genesis offers a full line of wellness services, from detox and weight-loss programs, to caring for more complex medical issues. Their unique focus and approach to addressing root causes allows for rapid and long-term wellness.

MIND BODY HOBOKEN

51 Newark Street, Ste. 402, Hoboken, NJ 201-994-3500 • MindBodyHoboken.com Mind Body Hoboken works with individuals, corporate teams and small business owners to find balance in their personal and professional life. Finding the calm and peace in life is essential to balancing out the “fight or flight” response caused by stress. Founder/practitioner Jennifer Araneo utilizes neurolinguistic programming, hypnosis, meditation and reiki to help clients find the Zen in their lives.

MINDFUL PLAY YOGA

646-552-2982 • MindfulPlayYoga@gmail.com Mindful Play Yoga brings out the kid in all of us by working with children, adults & caregivers through mindfulness, play & yoga to see the best in everyone.

MPY is committed to inspiring children ages 3 -15 & families to be curious life-long learners.

NALU CHIROPRACTIC

Dr Sura Devi 75 Montgomery Street, Ste. 201, Jersey City, NJ NaluChiro.com Nalu Chiropractic is a holistic family practice with a special focus on Women’s Health and Healing.

Providing unique, honoring and gentle care - body alignment for a happier and healthier life. Specializations include: fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, motherhood and pediatrics.

OLEVIA METRY, MD

Family Medicine 108 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 201-656-5688 • Linktr.ee/Dr_Olevia Dr. Olevia Metry is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician who grew up in Florida and has made Hoboken home for 3 years. She’s passionate about preventative medicine, lifestyle medicine, women’s health and diabetes.

RISE COACHING

Kelly Bonell West New York Kelly@YouWillRise.co • YouWillRise.co Serving ambitious professionals who strivie to live their best life, but sometimes get weighed down with stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and that ‘stuck’ feeling. RISE helps clients to close the gap between stagnation and success by expanding what their mind sees as possible, helping them release limiting beliefs, and accelerating their growth. Kelly Bonell is a trained life coach who provides her clients a non-judgmental, inclusive, and trauma informed space to empower them to rise to new heights. Virtual sessions available.

SALVATION WELLNESS

30 Provost St, Jersey City, NJ 551-689-0763 • SalvationWellness.com Salvation Wellness is a multiservice wellness center that offers services such as massage, meditation, yoga classes and sauna sessions. It also sells a variety of personal care products, including CBD bath and body items. Co-founders Celia and Andres Pender have

lived in Jersey City for more than a decade. They both have been dedicated to holistic health studies and deductive, science-based, natural healing for more than two decades.

THE GREEN ROOM

109 14th St, Hoboken, NJ 64 Newark Street, Hoboken, NJ 512 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ TheGreenRoomNJ.com Newly added Jersey City location. Hoboken and Montclair’s first CBD shops that provide both in-person and online shopping. Owner Darek Michael offers education and high-quality products. The Green Room is open Sunday through Thursday 11am-8pm and Fri and Sat 11am-10pm in Jersey City and Monclair.

VICTORIA REED MASSAGE THERAPY

Victoria Radzinski, LMT, CPT 80 River St., 3E-2, Hoboken 201-551-7154 • VictoriaReed.Info@gmail.com ReedWellness.com As a licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer and Yoga instructor, Victoria’s healing and relaxing services reverse the effects of daily stress by repairing damaged muscle tissue to eliminate aches and pains throughout the body. Improve circulation, detoxify your body, and increase mental alertness as you decompress with her carefully designed massages. Victoria’s drive behind her work stems from her observations on today’s lifestyle/living.

See ad, page 19.

OUTDOORS A SMALL GREEN SPACE Jersey City, NJ ASmallGreenSpace.com

A Small Green Space is an urban garden design firm, specializing in designing, installing and maintaining small city spaces.

PETS GALLA WELLNESS

Florentina Galla, Rdh.MS GallaWellness.com Florentina has been using holistic care and reiki healing for decades and now is providing that for pets.

She provides pet healing and holistic pet nutrition. She’s using gentle touching if an area is in pain after trauma and to reduce the healing time; she offers customized nutrition and supplement needs to manage stress and weight gain based on the pets need. She is a regular volunteer at North Star Animal Rescue and is the author of Confessions of a Holistic Hygienist in a New Era of Wellness.

HOLISTIC PET CARE

125 Paterson Avenue, Little Falls, NJ 973-256-3899 HolisticPetCareNJ.com Holistic Pet Care of Little Falls provides guidance on optimum diet and environment, and how to minimizing negative elements/toxins to keep your pet healthier and living longer. Holistic and complementary modalities include acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, homeopathy, bach flow remedies, herbal therapies (western, chinese & ayurvedic), nutritional therapy, ozone therapy, cold laser therapy, and reiki for addressing problems and for preventive care.

PAWTANICALS

7622 Broadway, North Bergen, NJ 201-520-3036 • Pawtanicals.com Pawtanicals was established to give pet owners the accessibility of washing their pets without space constraints– as they normally would do at home in their bath tubs. It allows for pet owners to create a stronger bonding experience while simultaneously making their pets feel safe and secure having their owners personally wash them.

MR NATURAL NYC

Roger Dubin 917-699-6492 • Instagram @MrNaturalNYC MrNaturalNYC@gmail.com My mission is to connect people with the beauty and health benefits of hiking and nature. I share this in my Instagram and practice it by supervising over 60 miles of trails in Harriman State Park and being a hike leader and naturist for the Nature Place Day Camp. I am also the Marketing Director for Natural Awakenings where I help people and businesses further healthy living on a healthy planet. Email me for hiking tips and route suggestions. Find Hikes: NYNJTC.org.

Expose your kids to Nature: TheNaturePlace.com.

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

Contact us today for special ad rates.

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calendar of events Healing Meditation, Restorative Yoga and Reiki – The Healing Center is a favorite space to experience healing through connection, meditation, and movement. They offer guided meditations, yin yoga, mat-based experiences, rhythm-based cycling and expansive workshops to support your healing journey.

The Healing Center, 80 River St, Ste 5A, Hoboken.

973-216-2492. TheHealingCenterHoboken.com.

Recovery Meetings – RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Hope and Healing Program offers emotional support services, education and community-based resources for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a variety of virtual services, this program aims to assist those impacted by the pandemic to better adjust to their new reality, mitigate stress, review options, develop coping strategies, and, if needed, find linkages to agencies, programs, and other resources in their community.

All Recovery virtual meetings provide social support for those seeking or maintaining recovery, as well as family members, friends and supporters of those who have been influenced by substance use. See website for a list of meetings and registration info. RWJBH.org/ treatment-care/institute-for-prevention-and-recovery/ programs/hope-and-healing/ Friday Storytime at the Museum – Fridays 10:3011:45am. Hoboken Historical Museum staff and other guest readers share stories, rhymes and sing-alongs with children ages 2 to 5 years and their caregivers.

The program is open to all on a first-come, first-served basis; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. $5 donation appreciated. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240.

HobokenMuseum.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1 Yoga for Beginners – Fri through Apr. 12:30-1:30pm.

This class is suitable for those who are beginners with little or no experience, or for those simply looking for a gentle yoga class. The class consists of yoga postures (asanas) breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation. Instructor Komal Majmundar. $20.

Roots Yoga, 2983 John F. Kennedy, Jersey City.

RootsYogaStudioJC.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2 Louis Lortie with the New Jersey Symphony – 8pm. French-Canadian wonder Louis Lortie teams up with the New Jersey Symphony to perform all five Beethoven piano concertos across four days.

The “middle set” holds surprisingly tender music, and passages of jaw-dropping virtuosity, from the heavenstorming composer. $25-$90. New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Prudential Hall. 1 Center St, Newark.

888-696-5722. NJPAC.org.

MONDAY, APRIL 4 Baby & Me Yoga – 10:30am. Carolyn Brush presents Baby & Me Yoga. Join on Zoom for stories, songs, and simple poses for you and your little one. Register online.

Zoom links will be sent out 30 minutes prior to story time. Free; space is limited - register to secure your spot.

For any questions, please email Valerie.Coughlin@ hoboken.bccls.org. BCCLS.LibCal.com/Calendar.

The Searcher, by Tana French: a Book Club Discussion – 5:30-7pm. In French’s novel, Cal Hooper thinks a fixer-upper in a bucolic Irish village would be the perfect escape. After 25 years in the Chicago police

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force and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens. But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets. One of the greatest crime novelists writing today, French weaves a masterful, atmospheric tale of suspense, asking how to tell right from wrong in a world where neither is simple, and what we stake on that decision. Free; register online. Amelia’s Bistro, 187 Warren St, Jersey City. Meetup.com/JC-BookClub/.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Silver Lining for All Recovery Wellness – Tues.

10am. All Recovery virtual meetings provide social support for those seeking or maintaining recovery, as well as family members, friends and supporters of those who have been influenced by substance use.

RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Hope and Healing Program Daily All Recovery Meetings offers emotional support services, education and community-based resources for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through a variety of virtual services, this program aims to assist those impacted by the pandemic to better adjust to their new reality, mitigate stress, review options, develop coping strategies, and, if needed, find linkages to agencies, programs, and other resources in their community. RWJBH.org. Zoom Meeting ID: 921 8005 4325 Passcode: Healing. 929-205-6099 Kiddie & Me Music Classes – Tue through April 12.

10:30-11:30am. 45 minutes sessions in person music classes for you and your little ones (6 months - 5 years). Fostering social skills, listening skills, imitation skills, and following along in a group. All while having fun! Music & movement helps to foster the foundational developmental skills. JDK Social Station, LLC, 780 Post Place. Secaucus. 833-535-1212.

BergenResourceNet.org.

Shamanic Sound Journey – 7:30-9pm. In studio & livestream. Leigh Higgins leads a sound immersion for the soul, using vocals and a variety of ancient instruments to shift our inner and outer perspective, helping discover our spirit guides and soul’s path. At the core of this path are experiential practices that lead to a deeper understanding of who we are. By exploring these practices personally and as a community, we learn to access the wisdom of spirit and make changes that enable us to feel fully connected. $25/livestream, $35/in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-6834002. UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

Register online for the event and you’ll be sent the meeting invite which includes the Zoom code as well as the weekly Theme of the Week. ShopYarnia.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Kids Art Classes – Through Apr. 10am-1pm. Classes take place three days a week – Tues, Thurs, Fri – for fun art making in the Museum walkway. Recommended for ages 2-5. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Art materials are provided; adults must wear masks and maintain social distance. Seating available first-come, first-served. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org.

JC Winter Market – Apr 7, 14, 21. 4-6pm. The Historic Downtown Farmers Market is here to take care of your fresh food needs. Operating for over a decade, the market is conveniently located by the PATH Train station and Grove Street bus stop, in the heart of the historic downtown. It’s the place to get your groceries and treats.

Come out and support NJ farms and businesses and get your fresh produce, pies, cookies, flowers and more! 344 Grove St, Jersey City.

Creative Arts Workshop: Inspiration Trap – Thur. through Apr. 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. This unique workshop seeks to reclaim our inspiration and imagination, rethink the unthinkable. It is ideal for people working in the creative arts as well as students, entrepreneurs, team managers, corporate leaders and anyone looking to implement their creative vision. Feel free to bring along a personal object, a piece of clothing or even a small piece of furniture to play with during this handson experiment in innovative thinking. Please sign up for the sessions on Eventbrite. $30. Issyra Gallery, 300 Observer Highway, Hoboken.

Yoga for Beginners – Thur. through Apr. 6:30-7:30pm.

This class is suitable for those who are beginners - with little or no experience, or for those simply looking for a gentle yoga class. The class consists of yoga postures (asanas) breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation.

Instructor Komal Majmundar. $20. Roots Yoga, 2983 John F. Kennedy, Jersey City. RootsYogaStudioJC.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9 Musical Cooking Class – Sat through Apr. 1pm.

Learn some colorful home cooking. Get ready for an entertaining experience with One Great Vegan, aka the singing chef, Gabrielle Reyes in a live-streaming musical cooking class where you’ll learn to make colorful and flavorful treats you can create easily in your own kitchen. Be sure to log in and learn live how to cook quick, vegan recipes full of flavor and fun. Free virtual event. OneGreatVegan.com/Great-Events.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

Pranayama Class: Joy of Breathing – Wed through Apr. 1pm. The transformational breathing technique works to quickly and effectively allow you to access a deeper, more conscious connection with the body, mind, heart and spirit. Learn to access deep meditative states of consciousness and how to breath naturally and fully with this simple and effective method, and breathe your way to greater health, vitality, peace and joy. Virtual event, free. Soul Dimension. Jersey City. EventBrite.com.

Main Street Pops Artisan Market – Sun through Aug 14. 11-4pm. Shop small and local at this outdoor market with artisanal foods, jewelry. home goods, fashion & accessories, beauty, fine art, photography, kid’s stuff, pet products and more! A variety of other attractions like live music, arts and crafts projects and special themed holiday activities. Under 14th Street Viaduct, 1401 Adams St, Hoboken. MainStreetPops.com.

Fiber Craft Night – Weds, 7-9pm. Fun conversation and working together by Zoom on fiber crafts! Bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery, spinning, weaving or whatever craft you’re enjoying at the moment.

TUESDAY, APRIL 12 JDK Social Station – 6pm. JDK Social Station, LLC is a specialized multi-sensory inclusion program that enhances learning, social, and communication skills of children with social deficits. Early treatment is

essential for growth and learning. The program is individualized based on each child’s needs to reach their maximum potential. JDK Social Station, LLC, 780 Post Place. Secaucus. 833-535-1212. BergenResourceNet.org/News-Events.

a willingness to commit themselves to a foster child in need of the unique one-on-one attention of a CASA volunteer. The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend an information session. Email Volunteer Coordinator Clare Daley: CDaley@hudsoncountycasa.org.

Sound Bath Energy Healing (In Studio) – 7:30-9pm.

2nd & 4th Tues. The Sound Bath was created to be a self-care experience to aid in the healing and strengthening of the mind-body connection. The Sound Bath experience targets the physical, emotional, mental, energetic, and spiritual components of the mind-body connection by utilizing the amazing healing powers of sound vibrations. These vibrations allow us to release energy blockages and let go of unhealthy patterns.

As we shift our vibrations away from harmful lower frequencies, we allow ourselves to transform into the best version of ourself. $35 in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-683-4002. UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13 Zumba Online – 6:30pm. 2nd & 4th Wed. Have fun and get fit with Zumba. It is now being held virtually on zoom! By participating in the North Bergen Library’s online Zumba classes participants accept sole responsibility for any injury or other damages incurred, directly or indirectly, as a result of such participation, and waive any and all claims or causes of action against the library related to any such injury or other damages.

Disney Princesses: The Concert – 7pm. The Disney Princesses in an evening of story and song! Dress up in your best royal attire for this enchanting live concert experience for all ages. Dreams will come true as awardwinning Broadway stars perform 30+ Disney Princess songs, and share their hilarious and heartfelt behind-thescenes stories from their time on the stage and screen.

Larger-than-life onstage animations will immerse you in pure Disney magic. This production features Broadway performers appearing as themselves. Costumed Disney characters do not appear at this event. $29-$79. New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Prudential Hall. 1 Center St, Newark. 888-696-5722. NJPAC.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14 FitKidz Fitness Program – Thur. through Apr 21.

4-5:30pm. Foster your child’s fitness, self- confidence, following directions and social skills each week! A program dedicated to fun & fitness. Classes are in person and virtual. Ages 3 to 14, siblings welcome. JDK Social Station, LLC, 780 Post Place. Secaucus. 833535-1212. BergenResourceNet.org/News-Events.

Hoboken Talks! – Apr 7, 14 21 28. 7-8pm. The Hoboken Museum offers a live-streamed program Hoboken Talks! - streamed live on YouTube, as well as Facebook and Twitter. Viewers can submit questions using the chat feature. YouTube.com/User/HobokenMuseum. See the website for other social media links to bookmark your preferred channel. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org.

SATURDAY APRIL 16 CASA Information Session – CASA volunteers (court appointed special advocates) are ordinary people who have the opportunity to influence a foster child’s life across many significant and far-reaching life concerns such as medical care, academics, and enrichment activities. Individuals with a desire to help children and

Small Group Reformer Classes – Sun through Apr. 9-10am. Downtown Pump’s signature, total-body reformer class with Jennifer Shukofsky. With a max of just 4 people, these are really more like semi-private sessions. Lots of individualized attention, and open to all levels. Modifications can be made as necessary to meet you where you are. Prenatal and postnatal clients welcome. Pump Hoboken, 401 Bloomfield St, Hoboken. 201-326-6811.

For and About Kids: Media News – Sun through Apr. 6pm. A radio show hosted by a nationwide team of more than 60 youth entertainment reporters, ages 8 to 21, who attend press screenings, press junkets, premieres and red carpets and other media events.

They give you the latest news about media for kids, by kids. Before you spend your hard-earned money at the movies, listen to what they have to say. VoiceAmerica. com/Show/1950/Kids-First-Coming-Attractions.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19 Yoga For Frontline/Healthcare Workers – Tues.

9am. RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Hope and Healing Program offers emotional support services, education and communitybased resources for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a variety of virtual services, this program aims to assist those impacted by the pandemic to better adjust to their new reality, mitigate stress, review options, develop coping strategies, and, if needed, find linkages to agencies, programs, and other resources in their community. RWJBH.org. Zoom Meeting ID: 982 7720 3249 Passcode: Yoga.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 Lessons from Maritime Artist-in-Residence – 12:30-3:30pm. Frank Hanavan is the Museum’s Maritime Artist-in-Residence. Hanavan will be offering classes in knot-tying, ship model building, and the creation of hand-stitched sailcloth bags. He’ll demonstrate his skills, share his knowledge and answer your questions. For his initial project, he created a model of the America, an 1851 racing yacht sponsored by the Stevens family. It was the first winner of the America’s Cup international sailing trophy. Free with entry. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St, Hoboken. 201-656-2240. HobokenMuseum.org.

MONDAY APRIL 25 Crossword Club – 5-6pm. Join on Zoom to do a crossword puzzle every Monday! Test your puzzle skills! Geared for children in grades 4 to 12. NBPL. org/Event/Crossword-Club

THURSDAY, APRIL 28 New Jersey Symphony w/Conrad Tao – Apr 28, 1:30pm and Apr 30, 8pm. Since Conrad Tao’s New Jersey Symphony appearance four seasons ago he’s written music for the New York Philharmonic and performed all over the world. He plays his own Spoonfuls and Tchaikovsky’s big-shouldered First, with Shostakovich’s lighthearted Ninth between. $25-$90.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Prudential Hall.

1 Center St, Newark. 888-696-5722. NJPAC.org.

The Awesome – 7:30-9pm. This experience pairs ancient practices with modern science to improve and maintain your vital energy flow. The Awesome revitalizes and relaxes by combining QiGong, vigorous breathing, body tapping, and energy flow mediation. The Awesome! allows you to maximize your innate healing abilities as well as release deeply held stress and stagnant energy through a super-fun practice of easy, flowing movements. Join us in the studio or on line this month for a transformative experience that will leave your energy flowing and your heart invigorated! $35 in studio. Urban Souls Yoga, 100 Hudson St, Fourth Fl, Hoboken. To register: 201-683-4002.

UrbanSoulsYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 Bored in the House: Youth Hangout – Weds, 4pm.

RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery’s Hope and Healing Program offers emotional support services, education and community-based resources for individuals and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a variety of virtual services, this program aims to assist those impacted by the pandemic to better adjust to their new reality, mitigate stress, review options, develop coping strategies, and, if needed, find linkages to agencies, programs, and other resources in their community. RWJBH.org. Zoom Meeting ID: 947 3214 9652 Passcode: 726468. 929-205-6099.

April 2022

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