Dec 2009 - March 2010
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Our BerkshireGreen
™
Your Holistic/Green Resource
Green Living ● Holistic Health ● Coupons
BERKSHIRE CO-OP MARKET
Share the Health gift certificates available.
42 Bridge Street • Great Barrington • 413.528.9697 • www.berkshire.coop • Monday-Saturday 8-8; Sunday 10-6
G E O T H E R M A L H E AT I N G & C O O L I N G
Geothermal systems tap into the free, renewable energy found in your own backyard. For more information and an analysis of savings potential, including stimulus programs, contact us today. It’s money in the bank.
(413) 684-5100 climatehvac.com
CONTENTS
Dec 2009 - March 2010
departments 2
letter from the publisher
3
getting to know us
4
directory of categories
5
our contributors
6
resource guide Berkshire County & the surrounding area
features 9 kids with intestinal distress The natural approach to IBS, Crohn's & Colitis
11
12 calendar of events & classified 13 contests 13 coupons! discounts! savings! 38 in business: greening up! Spotlight on green & holistic-minded businesses in our community 40 lifestyles & perspectives Personal experience of green & holistic living in our community 42 nonprofit organizations Spotlight on nonprofit organizations in our community 46 index of advertisers
15
working out in a winter wonderland
20
thoughts on green masonry
24
keeping more for yourself
33 34 36 43 45
cover illustration by Bonnie White email: Bonnie@bonniewhitefolkart.com website: bonniewhitefolkart.com
tools for success
In your holistic practice - Final chapters Fun winter exercise in Berkshire County Is masonry really green?
Restoring yourself with Chinese Medicine
stimulating wellness
Yoga and the secret of life
the agriculture of tomorrow Indoor gardening with sprouts
living in the postcard
A story about building a home in the Berkshires
community power in the berkshires
The collective power of grassroot organizations
3 minutes竏段mprove your life
Feeling better can be quite simple and fast
M
iracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. ~ Saint Augustine
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
1
Letter from the Publisher
W
inter in the Berkshires always brings up warm and cozy feelings for me – the comfort of connecting with family and friends. I think of miracles large and small. I’ve experienced a true miracle with the recovery of my health some years ago, and more recently for my husband and me, the birth of our daughter, Brianna, who is now four. Then there is the joy of having my longtime desire to create Our BerkshireGreen™ come to fruition. Special thanks to all who have contributed in so many ways, and far beyond my expectations. Here’s hoping your season is filled with sweetness, warmth, joy, and light. Highlights in this issue: no-clip coupons on page 13; spotlight on nonprofits on pages 42 - 43, featuring local .orgs that are making a difference in our community; new resource guide category, Business Services, on page 10 – the help and guidance you need to grow your business may be right in your own neighborhood. Coming soon in 2010: Our BerkshireGreen™ will be published quarterly, beginning with a special theme issue, Mind & Spirit, in March; Online Community Calendar – our website will be the go-to resource for what’s happening in our area, so stay tuned for details on how you can submit listings for your organization or business; Good Tidings – in each issue we will present positive and inspiring stories of life in our community; our social/networking events will continue through the generosity of local trendy restaurants, we have a great lineup of speakers to keep you informed; our free Small Business Marketing Newsletter will continue to deliver helpful articles and resources right to your email; look for our brief survey in your email – let us know what you’re thinking and how we may best be of service. Please join our e-list to receive event e-vites and/or our Small Business Marketing Newsletter. Go to OurBerkshireGreen.com to sign up (you may also leave comments there). Thank you for all the great feedback so far. Please be sure to support healthy, green, and holistic living in our community by telling our advertisers you saw them in Our BerkshireGreen™. I look forward to meeting with you again in 2010 in our March, June, September, and December issues, and through our website. Good health and warm wishes,
Note: This issue is printed with soy-based ink on paper that is Forest Council (FSC: fsc.org) certified to have been made from trees grown and harvested in a responsible manner. Our paper also contains a full 30 percent post-consumer recycled wastepaper.
Special Note: All content in Our BerkshireGreen™ is accepted in good faith. The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for any claims, conditions, products, services, errors, and/or opinions expressed through the articles, illustrations, and advertisements appearing in this publication. We do not advocate or recommend any particular medical treatment. Every effort is made to avoid errors and misspellings; however, if you spot an error please accept our apologies. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback so that we can give you the best service possible. We reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared for printed errors of the publisher’s responsibility or if the publisher fails to print an ad or article for any reason. Unless otherwise noted, we use a Creative Commons License (in place of a standard copyright), which allows anyone to freely copy, distribute, and transmit all content, although it must be attributed in the manner specified by the author or licensor, and no one may use it for commercial purposes or alter, transform, or build upon it.
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December 2009
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subscribe Our BerkshireGreen™ Resource Guide
is a triannual (quarterly in 2010), free publication which can be found at many locations (see our website). For $24 per year you can have the convenience of a subscription (four issues) mailed directly to your door. You can order through our website at OurBerkshireGreen.com, or you can send your name, mailing address, and a check for $24 to Our BerkshireGreen, Inc., P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236. If you would like an e-vite to our monthly networking events, please send us your email address.
contact us For questions, advertising, and editorial submissions, contact our main office below, or our sales representatives on the facing page: publisher@OurBerkshireGreen.com editor@OurBerkshireGreen.com advertise@OurBerkshireGreen.com All mail should be sent to: P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236 Phone: 413-274-1122 Fax: 413-541-8000
Cover Illustration by Bonnie White In 2003, when Bonnie’s youngest son, (now eleven) started kindergarten, she began doing something she hadn't done for more than 20 years; paint. Life on her family’s farm in Canaan, New York, the mountains, valleys, and historic villages that surround it, give her unlimited ideas. In 2007, Bonnie was chosen to design an ornament for the Blue Room Christmas tree. It remains in the White House's permanent collection. Her paintings can be seen at juried craft shows, as well as on calendars, puzzles, greeting cards, and Christmas ornaments. Bonnie and her husband, Scott, still reside on her family's Spring Gait Farm with their three sons, their dog, Misty, and their cats, Mittens and Scooter. Bonnie@bonniewhitefolkart. com, bonniewhitefolkart.com
Getting to Know Us Patty Strauch
Thea Basis
Independent Sales Representative & Event Planner
Independent Sales Representative
Patty was born and raised in Allendale, New Jersey, and spent 25 years in the corporate legal field. In 2004, she and her songwriter husband, Bruce Mandel, moved to the Berkshires, married, and settled in Otis. Patty has a strong sense of community and also performs with Stockbridge Festival Chorus and Berkshire Bach. 413-2696119, patty@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Born and raised in New York City, Thea earned a BS in Holistic Health from Empire State College. In 1993, she came to the Berkshires, working for many years as an intuitive counselor at Canyon Ranch, and created a Wellness Program at Berkshire Medical Center. Thea is a certified personal trainer and teaches meditation. 413-5288084, thea@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Sheri Ann Biasin
Andrea Feldman
Independent Sales Representative
PR/Editor of our Marketing Tips Newsletter
Sheri Ann Biasin is a lifelong resident of Berkshire County and has a BS in Psychology and currently lives in Cheshire. Her extensive sales experience spans over 25 years. Sheri prides herself on excellent customer service and prompt responsiveness to the customer’s needs. She has three children, Jacob, Justin, and Ty. 413-8222070, sheri@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Christine Dupre
A native New Yorker, Andrea relocated in 1997 in search of a healthier lifestyle and to become a macrobiotic chef. Her varied background includes design, counseling, cooking, and professional organizing. She currently helps small business owners to plan and implement their marketing strategies and materials. 413-655-7766, andrea@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Kathy Adams
Graphic Design for Advertisements
Graphic Design for Advertisements
Christine has been a resident of the Berkshires for 22 years, and a professional graphic designer for the past 20 years. She is a veteran of the armed forces (US Army - six years). Her award-winning designs have been a constant presence in the Berkshires. In addition to graphic design her passions include gardening and landscaping. christine@OurBerkshireGreen.com
A Berkshire native, Kathy trained in graphic design at California College of Arts in San Francisco and in English at UMass. Having worked as a toy package designer, costumer, and food writer, she's now an independent graphic designer and writer. She lives and gardens in Otis with musician husband Pete and their son, James. katharine@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Rodelinde Albrecht
Elisa Jones
Copy Editing/Proofreading
Graphic Design for Advertisements Elisa is a 2003 graduate of Bridgewater State College earning a BA in Art and a Concentration in Graphic Design. She began freelancing after graduation and then in 2008 she started her own design business, Berkshire Design Studio. Elisa, her husband John, son Keaton, and kitty Willa, reside in southern Berkshire County. 413-8542608, elisa@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Born in Salzburg, Austria, Rodelinde lived in Rhode Island, New York City, and northern California before landing in the Berkshires. She is director of Concerned Singles as well as a freelance editor, graphic designer, translator, publishing consultant, figure model, actor, and videographer. In her spare time, she writes, sings, and sculpts. 413-243-4350, rodelinde@OurBerkshireGreen.com
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
3
Directory of Categories Alternative Energy .................................................6
Counseling & Therapy .............................27
Animal Products & Services ................................7
Dentistry .....................................................28
Apothecaries ...........................................................7
Energy Medicine .......................................28
Art & Music ............................................................7
Homeopathy ..............................................29
Babies & Children ..................................................8
Life Coach ..................................................29
Business Services .................................................10
Massage Therapy & Bodywork ................29
Calendar of Events & Classified .......................12
Neuromuscular Therapy ..........................29
Classes & Workshops ..........................................12
Nutrition & Supplements ........................29
Contests .................................................................13
Physical Therapy .......................................30
Coupons ................................................................13
Reconnective Healing速..............................30
Dance, Exercise & Fitness ..................................14
Reflexology ................................................30
Fitness Products......................................16
Reiki ............................................................31
Education & Training ..........................................17
Tai Chi .......................................................31
Environmental/Conservation Organizations .....17
Trager速 Approach .....................................31
Food & Cooking ..................................................17
Wellness Centers & Spas ..........................32
Food Stores: Co-ops, Markets & Health ..........18
Women's Health ........................................33
Green Building, Renovation & Landscape Design ...19
Yoga ............................................................33
Green Teams .........................................................23
Home & Garden ...............................................33
Health & Beauty ...................................................23
In Business: Greening Up! ..............................38
Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative......23
Lifestyles & Perspectives .................................40
Acupuncture .................................................27
Love & Laughter Are the Best Medicine! ......41
Chiropractic & Kinesiology ........................27
Martial Arts.........................................................41 Mind & Spirit .....................................................41 Nonprofit Organizations ..............................42 Recycling at Its Best! ........................................44 Restaurants & Cafes .........................................44 Wine & Beer ......................................................44 Index of Resource Guide Advertisers ...........46 Friends of Our BerkshireGreen .....................47 Sponsors .............................................................48
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December 2009
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Our Contributors Millie Calesky
Nina Anderson
Business and Life Coach
President of Safe Goods Publishing
Coach Millie has provided her clients and audiences with the tools, support, and structure they need to achieve their goals since 1998. She is a certified coach who trained at Coach University, a graduate of McGill University, and a Registered Nurse. She is the Author of Tools for Success in Your Holistic Practice. milliecalesky.com
Nina is a retired commercial pilot and an ISSA certified Specialist in Performance Nutrition. She is an active researcher in the alternative health field. Nina has authored 18 books including ADD, The Natural Approach. Her most recent book is Flying Above the Glass Ceiling. safegoodspub.com
Mark Mendel
Avi Dresner, M.A.
Monterey Masonry, LLC
Personal Trainer and Host of Well Talk on WSBS
Mark is the master mason of Monterey Masonry. He apprenticed with Maine stonemasons in the 1960s. Along with practicing his craft, he has taught stone wall building, fireplace building, and lectured on stone in art and architecture. An outdoor bake oven of his design is featured in the recently published book, Great Gardens of the Berkshires. markstone mason@gmail.com, montereymasonry.com
Avi helps individuals and businesses of all sizes achieve their health, fitness, and wellness goals. He is a graduate of Cornell University and a certified Health/Fitness Specialist by the American College of Sports Medicine. Well Talk, his call-in health, fitness, and wellness radio show, can be heard every Tuesday morning at 9:05 on WSBS (860 AM/94.1 FM). 413446-6611, welltalk@wsbs.com, wsbs.com
Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac. Steve Meyerowitz Fertile Ground Acupuncture
Sproutman®, Author
Kelly is a West Coast transplant. She has extensive clinical training from Suzhou and Shanghai, China where she and her husband resided for almost 3 years before moving to the Berkshires in 2007. She earned her 4-year Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. Kelly works at Canyon Ranch and several other locations. 413695-8876, acudoctor.clady@gmail.com
Nathan Smith
Poet, Illustrator, Writer, Teacher, and Bioneer Nathan Smith is the author of Temple Sonnets (earthboundbooks.com), and From Concord’s Jail (Berkshire Review for the Arts). He lives with his life-partner, actor Mari Andrejco, at Moon Cottage, their off-the-grid, green home in the Berkshire Hills. The building of their home has been documented and is available for public and private presentations. nsmith01237@gmail.com
Steve Meyerowitz, “Sproutman,” is the author of several books on health, diet, and nutrition including Sprouts the Miracle Food, Sproutman’s Kitchen Garden Cookbook, and Wheatgrass Nature’s Finest Medicine. Steve is one of the world's leading proponents of sprouting, juicing, fasting, wheatgrass, indoor gardening, raw foods, and pure water. You can visit him at sproutman.com.
Paul Deslauriers
Executive Director, Community Organizing for Action Paul is an author and has over twentythree years of experience as a community organizer, management coach, organizational development consultant, and workshop facilitator. Presently, Paul is the Executive Director of Community Organizing for Action (Co-Act). Paul’s most recent book is Grassroute Guide: a Roadmap to Community Empowerment. paulnrg@aol.com www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
5
Alternative Energy
• Oil Burner Sales & Service • Solar Hot Water Systems • Annual Cleanings • State and Federal Tax Credits • Financing Available • Free Estimates
David A. Dunn Licensed Technician Insured
dunnsheating@hotmail.com
Berkshire Photovoltaic Services, BPVS 46 Howland Avenue, Adams, MA 01220
Tel. 413-743-0152 • www.bpvs.com MA LIC #'s HIC131996, CSL 73150
S
ince 1985, recognized for careful designs, proven components and high quality workmanship, BPVS solar electric systems are user friendly, efficient and reliable.
rr
Member: American Solar Energy Society, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, Solar Energy Business Association of New England, Solar Energy Industries Association.
ALL NEW SOLAR TECHNOLOGY & APPEARANCE
TO COMPLEMENT ANY HOME
Solar Hot Water Solar Electric Back-up Power Systems Del Martin 413 528 6580 del176@verizon.net
Green Energy Savings from the Sun!
C F
heck out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency at dsireusa.org.
Contest #1
ind this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, January 4, 2010, at 12:00 PM with the correct answer, you will win one $25 Upper Crust Bakery Gift Certificate - contributed by Valerie Lawson, Upper Crust Bakery, whose ad appears on page 17.
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December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Animal Products & Services
Pet Partners of the Tri-State Berkshires
Provides Food for needy dogs and cats. Reduced rate spay/neuter and veterinary care.
Rescuing Forgotten Felines For 10 Years
For information call
Bette – 413.229.8579 or Faith – 518.781.0362 A division of Scientific Alliance For Education (S.A.F.E.), a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization
413-528-1328
www.berkshireanimaldreams.org
Apothecaries
BENSDOTTER’S PET 413-229-2277 670 NORTH MAIN STREET (RTE 7), SHEFFIELD, MA
QUALITY FOODS & SUPPLIES RAW DIET SPECIALISTS OPEN DAILY AT 10AM MONDAY-FRIDAY 10AM-6PM
WEEKENDS 10AM-4PM
CLOSED MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, AND DECEMBER 25TH-JANUARY 1ST
The Berkshire Humane Society
the absolute best in professional-grade nutritionals & all natural products to promote your optimum health, vitality & wellness! •
Exclusive! Canyon Ranch nutritionals Metagenics • pure • ProThera Homeopathics • Chinese Herbs Dr. Hauschka • suki • Caudalie • Gabriel Cosmetics and a staff that knows what they’re talking about!
214 Barker Road • Pittsfield, MA Helping Animals and People Since 1992
We have the largest selection of pets available for adoption in Berkshire County.
Visit us at BerkshireHumane.org • 413-447-7878
at Lenox Village Pharmacy 5 Walker Street / Lenox Massachusetts 413.637.4700 • 888.796.1222
. www.healthylivingcenteronline.com Monday-Friday 9-6 Saturday 9-5
Art & Music Unique, handcrafted copper jewelry holders Recycled copper, customized colors
Dog & Cat Adoptions Adoption Hours Sat/Sun/Wed/Fri 10am-2pm Tues/Thurs 2-6pm Closed Monday
Bracelet Holder $24.99 Necklace Holder $29.99
63 Downing Parkway, Pittsfield 413/448-9800 www.pittsfieldanimals.org
Berkshires and Beyond
R
ecommended Reading: Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life by Dr. Ian Billinghurst - ISBN-13: 978-0646160283.
Sheri Biasin 413-822-2070
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
7
Art & Music
Acoustic guitar, a keen lyrical ear, intimate and honest vocals... delight your guests with a personal and memorable musical experience. Available for house concerts and intimate gatherings. For details on booking arrangements & appearances visit: www.brucemandel.com or call 413.269.7229
SINGER/SONGWRITER, HOME
&
CONCERT PERFORMER
photo courtesy of: Michael Lavin Flower
CONTEMPORARY FOLK, AMERICANA, BLUEGRASS, FOLK ROCK
Babies & Children
La Leche League: The Music for Healing & Transition Program, Inc.TM (MHTPTM ) offers a lively and transforming course-of-study at 12 sites in the US, leading to certification as a Music Practitioner ®. ®
What is a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) ? A CMP is a musician trained in the art and science of providing live, therapeutic music at the bedside. Classes are being offered in Hillsdale, NY, as well as NH, MD, FL, OH, TX, CO, MN, CA & WA.
LLL of South Berkshire County meets monthly, and both nursing and expectant mothers are welcome. Join us the 3rd Monday of the month at 10am, downstairs in the Mason Library on Main Street in Great Barrington. We also provide phone assistance and pre-natal breastfeeding classes. Call or visit our website for more information and a meeting schedule.
Please see our web site below for class schedules, enrollment information, our monthly e-newsletter, the MHTP Conference & Concert CDs, and contact listings of over 500 Certified Music Practitioners ®.
www.llleus.org/web/SouthBerkshireCoMa
Karen Johnson, CMP at Portsmouth, NH nursing home
The Music for Healing & Transition Program
TM
22 West End Rd, Hillsdale, NY 12529 • 518-325-5546 • mhtp@mhtp.org
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December 2009
La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche League International to help mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding.
MHTP classes are not far from you!
www.mhtp.org
Mother-to-Mother Breastfeeding Information and Support
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Janet: 413-229-2003 • Becky: 414-528-4998 • Kate: 413-229-6016 LLL of North Berkshire meets at 7:00 pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Chapters Book Store, 78 North Street, Pittsfield, MA Judy 413-443-9599 • Marya 413-743-8205 • Julie 309-444-6828
Alternative Energy
Kids with IBS, Crohn's Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis Find Natural Help
M
By Nina Anderson, SPN
any parents dismiss their child’s occasional stomach cramping, constipation, and the weekly-only diarrhea as just a “bug.” Many hold the belief that rectal bleeding is normal, that blood in the stool is OK, and that missing school because of these difficulties is just part of life. But these can signal that something bigger is going on. Many people don’t really understand that symptoms of digestive distress usually are indicators that there is a malfunction within the system somewhere. The body does not like to be ignored; symptoms are trying to tell you something and it’s important that you listen and take action. In his book, Kids First, Health with No Interference,1 Dr. Ogi Ressel explains that your digestive system is essentially a long tube that starts at your mouth and ends at your other end. It has one purpose: to extract nutrients and energy from the foods we eat. This system is very efficient as long as it is functioning normally. Many children and adults, however, suffer from a malfunction of their digestive system such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. Although not exactly the same, they all have a great deal in common and escalate in severity. Crohn’s disease, the most serious of these ailments, is a chronic and long-term ulceration of the digestive tract. It usually extends though the wall of the intestine and involves all layers of your digestive “tube.” In essence, the system attempts to heal the localized ulcers and sores, and tends to produce scar tissue. In the end, it can literally restrict the movement of food through the system by what are called strictures. On the other hand, ulcerative colitis mainly involves only the internal layers, called the mucosa and the submucosa. IBS is even lesser on this scale. Children affected by these conditions can suffer chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping, severe pain, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of weight, malabsorption, malnutrition, headaches, and the like. It has been noted that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis increase the risk of colon cancer by as much as twenty times. This can also be said for IBS to a certain degree. If these diseases are left untreated, bowel function can slowly deteriorate, leading to a potentially life-threatening situation. The most common medical treatments for these conditions are anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic medication, surgery, diet, and counseling. While sometimes necessary, this type of approach does not deal with the cause of the problems. Modern medicine addresses mostly just the symptoms. Many people are surprised to learn that the body is a self-healing and self-regulating organism. In other words, it is designed to heal itself and regulate its own functions when obstacles are removed. Holistically thinking, many inflammatory conditions can be traced back to food and chemical allergies and intolerances. Dr. G. Borok, a general practitioner in South Africa, has had considerable success with intestinal problems using an elimination and rotation diet developed by Dr. Marshall of Norwalk, Connecticut. In more than five thousand patients with irritable bowel syndrome, 99.9 percent have experienced relief of all bowel symptoms. In cases of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and IBS, the response rate is between 85 and 90 percent.2 One must also remember that your nervous system runs
your whole body and all of its functions: your immune system, your heart, your healing ability, and so on, including your digestive system. It therefore stands to reason that if there is an interference with the normal function of your nervous system, your body will not work the way it should. A number of studies have actually shown that this is exactly the case with Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and IBS; that these conditions are neurologically based. Dr. Ressel is a chiropractor and is mainly concerned with reestablishing the normal function of the nervous system so that the body is able to heal itself. You may be surprised to learn that a contributing cause of this damage is a subluxation (when one or more of the bones of your spine, the vertebrae, move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate, spinal nerves). This eventually becomes a pattern in the body, a habit–and a bad one! A chiropractor who attempts to deal with this habit will, in all likelihood, place a patient on a very intense schedule to start with. Dr. Ressel’s experience has shown that it can take anywhere from six months to three years for correction of a subluxation that has produced this scope of damage. Therefore, it is important to be patient. People affected by these conditions have responded very well with proper diet and chiropractic care. As well as taking your child to a qualified doctor to identify food or chemical allergies and intolerances, and seeing a chiropractor regularly, which I feel is crucial, there are a number of things you can do for the child on your own. • Place a hot water bottle on the stomach area to relieve much of the abdominal cramping. • Charcoal tablets will help absorb excess gas if your child is bloated. Do not use for a prolonged period of time though, as they also absorb most of the nutrients from the digestive tract. • Slippery elm will often relax the intestinal muscles and reduce cramping. • Utilize fresh raw foods, freshly made vegetable juices, and food-based vitamins and supplements such as Standard Process (which can be obtained from many chiropractors) to obtain trace minerals, vitamins A, C, E, B12, folic acid, calcium, and magnesium. • Garlic is known for preventing free radicals from attacking the intestinal lining. • N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), protects the intestinal lining from enzymes that could damage it. • Have the child drink lots of fluids with added electrolytes, herbal teas, and cabbage juice, and eat papaya seeds, while avoiding stress, processed foods, chocolate, and carbonated drinks. These measures will help you and your child deal with these conditions a little more easily, but the best recommendation I can make is to follow a rotation/elimination diet under the supervision of your doctor and see your family chiropractor! 1. Kids First, Health with No Interference – Safe Goods Publishing, SafeGoodsPub.com 2. Based on information in Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, April 1998
~ Nina Anderson, ElectroBlast™. See ad on page 29.
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
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Business Services - helping our green/holistic businesses grow!
color your world!
Let us
Market your business with vibrant, professional marketing tools… Business Cards • Mailers Brochures • Postcards • Customized Holiday Greeting Cards. Too much to mention…
80 Maple Avenue Great Barrington, MA 413-528-5509 www.goodworksinsurance.com
“Purpose Beyond Profit” Home, Auto, Business, Health & Life
Lillian M. Barker Deborah E. Wright
SHERI A. BIASIN WEBSITE & INTERNET CONSULTANT
Your
inc.
CONNECTION
Call about the special offer to Our Berkshire Green Advertisers.
413.637.0500 • ycc01240@aol.com 36 Pittsfield Road (Rte.7) • Lenox, MA 01240
WEBSITE DESIGN SOLAR WEB HOSTING Sheri@GrayMatterHost.com
CELL 413-822-2070
OFFICE 413-528-4402
GrayMatterHost.com
Hey, What do you know? Vendor recruiting for the 2010 Green Fair and Better Living Show. Do you make, eat, build, sell or grow something in Western Mass? Share it, show it and sell it on April 17 & 18, 2010 413‐774‐2791 or gba@franklincc.org
Join our mailing list to receive our free, informative, and useful
Small Business Marketing Tips Newsletter OurBerkshireGreen.com
Got Clutter? GetOrganizedWithAndrea.com
413–655–7766 10
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Alternative Energy Tools for Success in Your Holistic Practice Inspiring You to Step into Your Greatness A Modified Version of the Final Chapters from Millie's Book
By Millie Calesky
A
ccording to the dictionary, success is defined as achieving a favorable or desired outcome; the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence. Holistic practitioners care less about eminence and honors. They care more about doing work that they love and value.
the area. Often, a newspaper will send a reporter to talk with you. This is a wonderful (free!) way to get the word out. Direct mail or email newsletters, flyers with tear-off tabs on bulletin boards, circulars, small classified ads, free seminars, and lectures can all be effective.
Spread the Word
5) Advertising. Display ads are an investment, but they are a proven way to build presence. It takes time for ads to sink into people’s awareness, so they must appear again and again. It is especially helpful to include your photograph in your ad; you’ll be recognized in your community. The more familiar you become, the more likely that readers will consider hiring you.
1) Promotional Materials. Invest in professional design of your business card, brochure, and website. Your materials should make a cohesive and coherent statement. They represent you and speak for you, so they’ve got to be well written and memorable. Wherever possible, include a great photograph of yourself. People are more likely to take you seriously when your promotional materials look professional. 2) Articles. Both holistic and mainstream publications are on the lookout for interesting articles and new information. Why not write an article about yourself and your practice? Don’t let your fears about not writing perfectly hold you back. What’s most important is your message. Start writing; if your grammar isn’t great, you can find someone to help you with the editing. Your counsel is precious and could help someone in need of your expertise. By writing, you’ll educate your readers about their condition and explain how your service can help them. 3) Public Speaking. One of the most effective ways to educate people and promote your practice is through public speaking. Your local chamber of commerce, professional organizations, clubs, and adult education programs all need presenters. As you give more talks, groups will start to seek you out. Speaking is a great way to market yourself and build your network. Public speaking can boost confidence. The more challenges you’re willing to face, the more self-assured you’ll feel. Public speaking is a stretch for most people. There is risk involved. Each time you rise to the occasion and speak before people, you’ll feel stronger and more willing to do it again. There are several organizations that can help build the skills you’ll need to speak in public. Courses are offered at local colleges. Dale Carnegie (dale-carnegie.com) offers a range of classes and workshops designed to help you plan and deliver speeches. You can also attend local meetings of Toastmasters International (toastmasters.org), a not-for-profit organization that helps its members develop their communication and leadership skills. Meetings offer a variety of speaking opportunities in a safe, supportive environment. 4) Publicity at Low or No Cost. Consider sending a press release to your local newspapers and other media. Many welcome the opportunity to showcase a new and interesting business in
Self-Motivation When you work for somebody else, you know that you’ve got to show up every day. When you’re self-employed, you’re accountable to yourself only. It’s essential to be able to self-motivate, and to take consistent steps forward no matter what your mood or how difficult things get. 1) Journaling. I strongly suggest having a daily spiritual practice. Do the things that are going to nourish you and keep you going every day. Fuel yourself with positive thoughts. Use a success journal to record and appreciate your efforts and accomplishments. Writing daily is a powerful tool. It is a way to focus, inspire, and strengthen your resolve. 2) Stay Positive. There is a lot of negativity out there, so be sure to fortify yourself. Find positive thinkers: people with a can-do attitude who are going to encourage you, believe in you, and support you as you move along your path. 3) Show Up and Take Action. If you want to succeed in your holistic practice, you must believe in yourself and in your ability. Beliefs are very powerful. Henry Ford said, “Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you’re right.” And Dale Carnegie said, “If you believe it, you can achieve it.” If you’re willing to believe in yourself, and follow through by taking positive steps, you’ll greatly increase the likelihood of your success. Start with small steps that can lead you forward. Easy does it - but do it! ~Millie Calesky, Business and Life Coach. See ad below. Visualize
Strategize
Actualize
Millie Calesky Business and Life Coach 413-655-2555
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Millie@MillieCalesky.com
December 2009
11
Calendar of Events & Classified
C&
alendar of Events Classified
Please note that we do not accept classified and event listings that are advertisements for standard ongoing daily business services; you must place this type of listing in our directory so that our readers are able to locate your service in our alphabetized directory. Free community event listings are condensed and published on a first-come first-serve basis as room permits. We hope to have our free community calendar on our website soon: if you would like to be notified when this is available, please join our mailing list at OurBerkshireGreen.com. Thank you and happy networking!
calendar listings ongoing weekly
classified listings classified listings green vendors wanted
Tuesdays: Berkshire Co-Act. 6:30pm 9:30pm, includes Pot Luck till 7:30pm. Free and open to all. Come for lively discussions and strategic planning for action. 52 Maple Hill Rd., W. Stockbridge, MA. info@co-act.org or 413-232-7888 ongoing monthly Green Drinks: Open to everyone with any environmental interest. Free appetizers, cash bar. 1st Wed of every month Gt Barrington, starting at 5:15pm, Route 7 Grill. Erik at Orion 528-4422 or ehoffner@ orionsociety.org. 3rd Tues of every month Pittsfield, starting at 5:15pm, Pittsfield Brew Works, CET: 413-445-4556 x14 or Jane at jane@thebeatnews.org january Thurs, Jan 21, 7pm. FREE. “Beyond Labels.” Talk by Elizabeth Frishkoff, MSW. Participants will learn how nutrition and specific gentle activities enhance human capability at every stage of life. 413-528-0477 for information. 94 West Street, Great Barrington, MA. march Fri, March 19 and Sat, March 20, 7pm. Broadway to the Berkshires (and Movies!) ACT 3 Fundraiser for "Friends of Cardiac Rehab" in memory of Angelina Morsello Savko, Cardiac Rehab Center-Berkshire Medical Center. At The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MA. TheColonialTheatre.org, 413-997-4444
wanted
Hey, what do you know? We are seeking vendors for the 2010 Green Fair/Better Living Show. Do you make, eat, build, sell or grow something in Western Mass? Share it, show it and sell it on April 17 & 18, 2010 413‐774‐2791 or gba@franklincc.org
Got Good Green/Holistic News? Please share it with Our BerkshireGreen for our new Good Tidings Department coming in 2010 editor@OurBerkshireGreen.com
P
help wanted
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lease help support this resource guide and our free networking events by telling our advertisers that you saw their advertisement in
Our BerkshireGreen™! Advertisements and Articles Wanted for
Our BerkshireGreen's March Resource Guide issue.
Deadline is: January 25, 2010
Kathy I. Regan at publisher@OurBerkshireGreen.com
Classes & Workshops Berkshire
S
SOUL & SPIRIT
Center Unique & Magical Gifts from Around the World Workshops, Readings, Gallery's, Healers check our website for full calendar of events 69 Main Street, Lee, MA 01238 (413) 243-2834 www.SoulandSpiritCenter.com 12
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
heilaa Hite
“The Motivator’s Motivator”
Life Coaching, Workplace Mentoring and Corporate Wellness Specialist Author, Motivational Speaker Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist Mentor/Life Coach
413-637-0085
Programs • Workshops • Seminars
FOR BUSINESSES, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS
www.SheilaaHite.com
Throughout this issue, you will find seven contests. The summary of prizes shown below are contributed by our resource guide members. As instructed in each contest scattered throughout the publication, the first caller to call 413-274-1122 at the specified day and time with the correct answer, will win the prize indicated. If you get an answering machine it means that we are on the line with another caller or it is not yet the correct time, but please leave your name and number just in case! Everyone is welcome to participate, except for the staff of Our BerkshireGreen, Inc., and their immediate family. Only one prize per person will be awarded in each issue. Best of luck!
Winners from Our August Issue!
Contests in This Issue! Contest #1 - Prize: $25 Upper Crust Bakery Gift Certificate. Contributed by Upper Crust Bakery, whose ad appears on page 17. Contest #2 - Prize: Soul Support Book valued at $10. Contributed by Deb Koffman Art, whose ad appears on page 8. Contest #3 - Prize: One-hour Shiatsu Bodywork Session valued at $80. Contributed by Orchid Blossom Healing Arts, whose ad appears on page 27. Contest #4 - Prize: Gift Basket valued at $35. Contributed by Mystical Rose Herbals, whose ad appears on page 30. Contest #5 - Prize: Reconnective Healing® Session valued at $90. Contributed by Reconnective Healing and The Reconnection®, whose ad appears on page 30. Contest #6 - Prize: $20 Instant Replay Gift Certificate. Contributed by Instant Replay, whose ad appears on page 44. Contest #7 - Prize: Private Pilates or Gyrotonic session valued at $65. Contributed by Violet Eagan, Certified Pilates and Gyrotonic Instructor, whose ad appears on page 16.
Contest #1 - Scott Harrington of Lee won a radon test valued at $250 from Berkshire Radon Technologies. Contest #2 - Barbara Reeves of Sheffield won a case of Zija Queen valued at $70 from Zija Queen. Contest #3 - Debbie Wolleman of Richmond won a 1-hour juggling instruction valued at $75 from Roger the Jester. Contest #4 - Joanne Williams of Dalton won a 1/2-hour healing session valued at $125 from Compassion in Motion. Contest #5 - Dominick Avellino of New Marlboro, and Kristine Bahr of Great Barrington, each won a 1-year membership in Concerned Singles valued at $94 each. Contest #6 - Charles Felix of North Adams won a 2-hour Feng Shui consultation valued at $160 from Practical Feng Shui. Contest #7 - Jacqueline Cote of Adams won 2 five-pound bags of Premium Lawn Seed valued at $66 from Pearl's Premium Lawn Seed. Contest #8 - Deborah Coyle of Great Barrington won a 1-hour reflexology session valued at $75 from Audrey Herrick. Contest #9 - Debra Bailey of Adams won a Jane Iredale mineral makeup for 4 valued at $260 from Face Haven. Contest #10 - Terry Randall of Lee won a 1-hour business/career coaching session valued at $150 from Green Planning and Coaching. Contest #11 - Fiora Caligiuri of Lee won a $20 gift certificate from Stone Soup. Contest #12 - Maureen Diskin of East Otis won a Tom Warner print, On the Backs of Angels, valued at $250 from Tom Warner Watercolors.
Contests! Contests! Contests!
C&
ontests, Contests More Contests!
Coupons! Discounts! Savings! $15 Savings on Reusable Holiday Wrapping Kit
A completely reusable concept…wrap without paper this holiday season! $30 • 5 holiday bags • 5 yards ribbon • 10 yds tulle
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To order: call or email 413 822 8933 olivedesignertotes @gmail.com
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Dance, Exercise & Fitness
Personal Training Post Cancer Workouts Weight Loss • Increase Muscle Tone • Osteoporosis Prevention • Stress Relief …and more! • •
“What is alive in you
NOW?”
!"#$%&#'()) )))*+,%-%&#
Antoine Alston w/client
Group Classes – Get optimal results in our group training classes. Class size limited to 12
A path to deeper self-knowing through the wisdom of the moving body.
Yoga – Group Classes weekly. Privates by appointment Corporate – High quality corporate
Classes forming now. Open to all – for all willing souls with a body. Private sessions ongoing.
Cheryl Ann Luft, MSS Registered Somatic Movement Therapist
programming and wellness at work.
(413) 229-8080
COMPETITIVELY PRICED! FREE CONSULTATION.
movingwellbeing@gmail.com Skilled and caring facilitation for over 20 years
924 S. Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-0067 www.resultzfitness.com
Strength
"The most influential words you will hear are the words you tell yourself!" ~ Thea Basis
Balance Grace Pilates
GYROTONIC ®
Bella Grazia Studio
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing with Amenities
Yoga
Client-Focused Individual Sessions Classes in Pilates Reformer, Mat & Yoga West Stockbridge, MA 413-232-7979 bellagrazia.sacralweb.com Check us out on Facebook
SnowShoe rentalS
d Warm up by the fireplace d Treat yourself to hot cider and snacks d Enjoy Free Wine Tasting Try our new 2.7km orchard and back country trail designed by Olympian John Morton
Hilltop Orchards Open: Thursday-Sunday 9am-5pm 508 Canaan Rd / Rt 295 Richmond, MA 01254 For snow conditions call 800-833-6274 or visit Hilltoporchards.com
Canterbury Farm W i n t e r O u t d o o r Fi t n e s s
SKI-SHOE-SKATE-STAY 1986 Fred Snow Road
Hilltop Orchards 2.indd 1
Becket, MA
A Holistic approach to increase your strength... flexibility... balance... and focus through exercise and meditation
413-623-0100 www.Canterbury-Farms.com
W
ant to dance? Berkshire Pulse, a nonprofit organization in Housatonic, MA, offers an interdisciplinary dance program, World Music, and Theater Arts classes for individuals of all ages in the Berkshires and surrounding region. Check out BerkshirePulse.com 14
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Personal Training for 11/9/09 your 1:12:26 PM Body/Mind and Spirit
(413) 528-8084 theabasis@verizon.net THEA BASIS B.S. Holistic Health and Mind/Body Therapies ACE Certified Fitness Professional
Working Out in a Winter Wonderland
F
By Avi Dresner
or many, late fall signals the end of the outdoor exercise season. It’s difficult – if not downright dangerous sometimes – for all but the most diehard to bike, hike, or run when the mercury dips into the thirties. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get your outdoor exercise fix even as the snow piles up above your knees. In fact, our beautiful Berkshires are a veritable wonderland for the winter exercise enthusiast. We are truly blessed with a host of fun and functional winter exercise options for those of us brave enough to venture outdoors in the off season. Whether you’re into – or would like to try – downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowtubing (not as much exercise, but fun for the kids), crosscountry skiing, ice skating, or something else entirely, you’re bound to find a great reason and a great place to get outdoors this winter in the Berkshires and get some exercise. In addition to the obvious cardiovascular and muscular benefits of doing so, you also get some much-needed sunlight, the lack of which can leave many of us in our part of the world deficient in vitamin D during the darker days of winter, when many of us hardly ever find ourselves outdoors for very long, and certainly not with enough skin exposed to make vitamin D (unless you’re one of those polar bear types who like to jump into freezing water in winter, in which case you need more help than this article can give you!). Getting some exercise and sunlight can also combat the winter blues that tend to creep in as the days get shorter. Lack of exercise and sunlight have been clinically linked to depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to say nothing of the less severe, but still annoying, condition known as cabin fever. So, let’s assume that by now you’ve got sufficient motivation to get outside and get some exercise this winter. The next questions are what you should do and where you should do it. The simple answers are “whatever you want” and “outside,” but if you’re looking for a few more specific suggestions, here is a brief list. Realize that it is by no means exhaustive – it’s just a start – but, hopefully, a good one. With a little more digging on your part, you’re sure to uncover a lot more than just your driveway this winter. For the downhill ski and snow enthusiast or newcomer, you’ve got a number of nearby ski resorts in Massachusetts to choose from. Jiminy Peak in Hancock (413-738-5500, jiminypeak.com), and Bousquet (413-442-8316, bousquets.com), in neighboring Pittsfield are probably the closest destinations for those of you in the northern and central Berkshires. Ski Butternut (413-528-2000, skibutternut.com) in Great Barrington, Catamount (518-325-3200, catamountski.com) in South Egremont and in Hillsdale, New York, and Otis Ridge (413-269-4444, otisridge.com) in Otis, should do quite nicely for those of you in the southern Berkshires. For the cross-country skier and snowshoer, there are a number of well-groomed and breathtaking trails, and even more options for the more experienced, who want to go off-road. For beginners, there’s the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which goes all the way from the Berkshire Mall in Lanesboro to North Adams, with lots to see along the way. Mount Greylock State Reservation (413499-4262, mass.gov/dcr/parks/mtGreylock/) offers many trails from beginner to advanced, and Notchview Reservation in
Windsor (413-684-0148, thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/pioneervalley/notchview.html) owned by the Trustees of Reservations, Kennedy Park in Lenox (townoflenox.com/public_documents/ lenoxma_parkland/kennedy), and Beartown State Forest in Monterey (413-528-0904, mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/bear. htm), Pittsfield State Forest (413-442-8992, mass.gov/dcr/ parks/western/pitt.htm), October Mountain State Forest in Lee (413-243-1778, mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/octm.htm), Canterbury Farm in Becket (413-623-0100, canterbury-farms. com), and Hilltop Orchards - Furnace Brook Winery (800833-6274, hilltoporchards.com), are all popular destinations as well. For ice skaters, there are frozen ponds and lakes galore throughout the Berkshires, but you skate at your own risk. A safer alternative may be found in the public areas that some towns flood for skating in winter. Check with local park and recreation officials for more information, and it’s always a good idea to call ahead for weather and conditions wherever you choose to go and whatever you choose to do this winter. And while we’re on the subject of safety, be sure you’re properly dressed and geared up for your adventure with at least the following: high comfortable waterproof boots; layers of clothing designed for outdoor winter use; a backpack to put them and the rest of your stuff in; hat; gloves; sunglasses; lip balm; water; calorie-packed healthy snacks like nuts/trail mix, or an energy bar that isn’t just a candy bar masquerading as something good for you; and a cell phone. Plus, you should always let someone know where you’re going, especially if you’re venturing outdoors alone. There are many local businesses that will be more than happy to help you gear up for your outdoor adventures this winter. The following are just a few: The Mountain Goat in Williamstown (413-458-8445, themountaingoat.com), Berkshire Outfitters in Adams (413-743-5900, berkshireoutfitters.com), Plaine’s Bike Ski Snowboard in Pittsfield (413-499-0294, plaines .com), Arcadian Shop in Lenox (413-637-3010, arcadian .com), Berkshire Bike and Board in Great Barrington (413528-5555, berkshirebikeandboard.com), and Kenver Ltd. in South Egremont (800-342-7547, kenver.com). In addition to stuff, you can find more information at any one of these stores about guided hikes and other events, like those run by Berkshire Knapsackers, and get more suggestions about other great places to explore this winter. If you follow their suggestions and the ones you’ve found here, along with some commonsense safety rules, you’re bound to have a safe, fun, and fit winter here in the beautiful Berkshires with enough great outdoor exercise options to keep you busy till spring! ~ Avi Dresner, Well Talk. See Avi’s magazine sponsor ad on inside back cover.
www.
OurBerkshireGreen.com
15
Dance, Alternative ExerciseEnergy & Fitness
Sharon True, MA, CMA, RSMT Certified Pilates Instructor since 1998
Fitness, Health and Healing through a holistic, personalized approach to Pilates exercise Quiet, private, fully-equipped studio with woodland view in Great Barrington
413.528.2465 for more information
B
e safe - ask the experts to help you choose waterproof outdoor clothing with adequate thermal protection and insulation this winter. Then enjoy!
MOVE
INTO
HEALING.
Life!
MOVE INTO
GYROTONIC whole body fitness and exercise promotes health and well-being. ®
Ming Lash,
RSMT
SOMATIC MOVEMENT THERAPIST
Graceful, fluid movement, and integral strength increase and sustain the ease and joy of living in a body
413-232-7819
West Stockbridge, MA 01266 • MoveIntoHealing.com
Fitness Products
N TIO ! N E D M IS A TH Lifetime Free Tuneups
M o n day- Friday 10-6; S aturday 10-5; S unday 1 1 -5
16
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
outfitting the Berkshires since 1974 91 Pittsfield Rd., Lenox, MA 413-637-3010 • arcadian.com
Education & Training
Food & Cooking Eat Fresh Greens All Winter Long! Kitchen Gardening and Post Holiday Cleanse Classes at Berkshire South • See webpage for details Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman | 413-528-5200 | Sproutman.com
- GLUTEN & DAIRY FREE -
UPPER CRUST B•A•K•E•R•Y
Menu of Services
Specialty orders upon request.
Public Computers and a computer game station for kids A wonderful, well-rounded collection of books for all ages and interests, plus friendly, respectful library services with a fine "listening ear" to patron suggestions!
(413) 274-3738 1087 Main Street in the Village of Housatonic, MA
Everyone is
Unique world and traditional crafts for all ages "Ancient History Fairs" for children that include related books and hands-on arts/crafts Live music from local & distant musicians All-genre sessions for writers to gather, read and discuss works. Professionally led history, science, animal, and earth programs for families. Well-respected jugglers and storytellers.
WELCOME
and so much more!
Environmental Org. Better for your heating system. Better for the environment.
CET Bio-HEAT Oil Co-op Fair Price, Full-service, Local Dealers
VALERIE POLIDORO LAWSON COOKIES CAKES - BREADS MUFFINS
413.743.2959
glutendairyfreebakery.com
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES Dairy free! Yields 18 cookies. DRY INGREDIENTS 1 cup Unbleached white flour 1 cup Whole wheat pastry flour 1/4 cup Maple sugar 1 1/2 tsp Baking powder 1/4 tsp Sea salt WET INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup Safflower oil 1/2 cup Peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) 1/2 cup Brown rice syrup 1 tsp Vanilla extract 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
1-888-577-8448 x24 / www.cetonline.org
F
Contest #2
ind this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. The first person to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, January 4, 2010, at 12:15 PM with the correct answer, will win a Soul Support Book (uplifting cartoons), valued at $10. Contributed by Deb Koffman, Deb Koffman Art, whose ad appears on page 8.
2. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients with a whisk until well incorporated. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a spatula. 3. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out the dough onto your hand and roll it in your palms to make balls. 4. Place them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper and press each with a fork to make a crisscross pattern. 5. Bake for 11 minutes, rotate the sheet and then bake for another 3 to 5 minutes until bottoms are golden. ~ Mariana Pina-Bergtold, The Dancing Vegan. See ad on page 44.
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
17
Food Stores: Co-ops, Markets & Health
Delicious, healthy local & organic food -
Fresh. Affordable. Convenient.
Delivered right to your door!
NO COMMITTMENT IN STORE: DAIRY, BREADS, SOUPS, PIZZAZ, MEATS, GLUTEN-FREE PRODUCTS, EGGS, BAKED GOODS AND MORE
Sister-owned since 1980!
Fresh harvested produce offered in baskets to suit singles, couples, families & businesses
Delivering all winter long! 413-442-0888
BerkshireOrganics.com
or visit our Farm Store 813 Dalton Division Road, Dalton, MA 01226
Learn more about the benefits of raw milk: Raw-Milk-Facts.com
SPECIALIZING IN: Berkshire Bagels • Richard Bourdon Breads • Equal Exchange Organic Coffee • Variety of Beer & Wines • Homemade Soups • Sandwiches • Cookies • Pies & Cakes
OPEN 7 DAYS
413-269-6220
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
i m mu n i t y
ns
ind this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, January 4, 2010, at 12:30 PM with the correct answer you will win a one-hour Shiatsu bodywork session to enhance your health and well-being, valued at $80 - contributed by Lauren Paul, Orchid Blossom Healing Arts whose ad appears on page 27.
Your Fa y f m ti
i Aga
Contest #3
December 2009
D
’s ily
GULF SERVICE CENTER Route 23 East East Otis, Massachusetts
www.PapasHealthyFoodandFuel.com 413-269-7779
18
H
L&M Auto, Inc
Sun–Thur: 5:30am – 9pm Friday: 5:30am – 10pm Saturday: 6am – 10pm
F
Pittsfield ealth Foo Centre
t
ea so n!
Supporting Local Businesses!
Fo r
Now accepting EBT/QUEST Cards
S Co ld & Flu
Gluten & Dairy Free Foods * Organic Health & Beauty Items Whole Food Supplements & Nutrients
Serving Berkshire County’s health & wellness for over 40 years! 407 North St. Pittsfield, Ma 01201
413-442-5662
Green Building, Renovation & Landscape Design
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December 2009
19
Thoughts on Green Masonry
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By Mark Mendel
e think stone and brick are green building materials. Stone does require a certain energy to quarry, finish, and transport. The supply of stone is endless, and stone is local − almost everywhere. In New England we have a long tradition of building with fieldstone, which is plentiful and may be harvested rather than quarried. Brick requires energy to kiln fire and to transport. Both brick and stone last for hundreds of years and can be recycled. Recycled brick and stone require only the energy to transport. They are nontoxic. So far, so good. So, is masonry green? It depends on the cement. After Portland cement was developed in England around 1830, it began to supplant natural lime mortars. By the mid 20th century, lime mortar had disappeared in the United States. Portland cement is hard and resists water and requires an intense and toxic manufacturing process. Polluters have for many years used cement plants as convenient “burn barrels” for PCBs, mercury, and other hazardous materials. Most of our cement manufacturing plants in the United States are owned by the Swiss, who run them at a level of pollution, including mercury that would not be allowed in Switzerland.¹ For 6000 years, in almost every culture, brick and stone were laid in lime mortars. Lime mortar consists of lime and sand only. Burning limestone or shells removes air and water. The reintroduction of water creates a lime putty that is mixed with sand to make a mortar. When bricks or stones are laid in this mortar it absorbs air slowly and cures to the hardness of limestone. Lime putty was simple to manufacture in a woodburning kiln. Kilns were everywhere (Lime Kiln Road in Sheffield, Massachusetts, for example) that limestone or oyster shells were available. In the late 20th century, architectural preservationists in Scotland and England began to see that earlier 20th-century repairs to historic buildings using Portland cement-based mortars were creating bigger problems than the ones they were being used to solve. Portland cement mortars were too brittle. They didn’t breathe, they trapped moisture in walls, causing damage to stone and brick and, as trapped water grew moldy, it caused sickness to the occupants of buildings. These observations led to a movement among preservationists to return to the ancient lime mortars and rediscover the lost formulas of lime manufacturing. People started reading Vitruvius for his recipes. In the late 1990s and the early
2000s the interest in returning to lime crossed the Atlantic.² Jimmy Price (virginialimeworks.com), a Virginia brick mason working on Thomas Jefferson’s “other house” (Poplar Forest, near Lynchburg, Virginia), built a wood-fired kiln and began burning lime in order to create lime mortar true to Jefferson’s letters to his mason. My first encounter with lime mortar was in 1997 when I visited Jimmy to work on the Poplar Forest project and to learn about this new/old material. Since then I have used lime mortars in historic work. In historic work our rule is simple: If it was built with lime mortar, it should be repaired and restored with lime mortar. But a funny thing happened. The more we all learned about this old material, the more we realized it was the green answer to problematic Portland cement-based mortars. Lime breathes. Architects and engineers have developed expensive and complex solutions to retrofit or cure unhealthy buildings when the simple solution is to build in the first place with a material that breathes. Lime mortar performs as well as or better than Portland cement mortars. The Coliseum in Rome, Chartres Cathedral in France, and the Roman aqueducts, were all built with lime mortar and are still standing. Lime mortar’s compressive strength develops over 69 days rather than 28 for Portland cement mortars. Lime’s compressive strength can equal or surpass that of Portland cement mortars, but lime never gets brittle and its flexibility allows it to withstand forces that would shatter Portland cement mortars. The Chartres Cathedral in France was near enough to the battlefields of World War I to absorb continuous shocks from the artillery barrages. If the church had been built with brittle modern mortars, it would have crumbled. Instead the ancient lime mortars had the flexibility to keep the building intact. But the KILLER APPLICATION of lime mortar? Lime mortar absorbs CO². Absorbs it and transforms it. A house using 9600 bricks and 1000 square feet of stone would absorb 640 lbs - over a quarter ton - of CO². It’s like planting trees. So, imagine a building system that is low cost, produces healthy buildings, and absorbs CO². Jimmy Price and VLW are working on a wall system they call Enviro-Ment. This system consists of lime building blocks filled with lime insulation and plastered inside and out with lime plaster and painted with limebased, non-VOC (volatile organic compounds) natural pigment paints and binder pigment paints. This is a wall system that has a high R value, will not burn, breathes, and absorbs CO². Imagine if the millions of concrete blocks laid each day were lime blocks absorbing CO²! So in summary, lime mortar withstands mother nature, eliminates carbon dioxide, has unsurpassed indoor air quality, and reduces energy consumption. 1. The Nation. The Sultans of Cement by Jock Ferguson, August 3, 1992. Cement Companies Go Toxic, also by Jock Ferguson, March 8, 1993. 2. The best book on the subject of lime mortars is Preparation and Use of Lime Mortars. Published by Historic Scotland, Edinburgh 1995. ISBN 0 9517989 3 6 Further Reading: Structure Magazine, May 2005. Page 26: Properties of Lime Mortar, by Margaret Thomson. Pages 32-35: Historic Masonry Restoration through the Eyes of a Master Stonemason, by Mark Mendel.
Monterey Masonry: Restoring a stone barn with lime mortar in Isle La Motte, Vermont 2007.
Green Building, Renovation & Landscape Design
Hartsville Design
Architectural Woodworking Custom Cabinetry • Fine Furniture • Staircases
Traditional ● Creative ● Original Design
Specializing in Healthy Furniture & Woodwork for Environmentally Sensitive Individuals & Children 413.528.6133 • Kevin@HartsvilleDesign.com Member - US Green Building Council
Resourceful Sustainable
www.hillengineers.com
50 depot st dalton ma 01226 413 684 0925 41 park st adams ma 01220 413 743 0790
engineering architecture civil/survey planning
LEED - Accredited Professionals
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
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Green Building, Renovation & Landscape Design Sustainable Design Deep Energy Retrofits Littlewolf Architecture Christopher Vlcek, AIA (413) 528-5571 littlewolfarch.com
One tree, over its lifetime, will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.
The Logical Choice *no itch or skin irritation *superior acoustic properties *environmentally safe *class-a fire rated *maximum thermal performance
*leed eligible *easy to use *resists mold & mildew *no formaldehyde *sustainable building product
DeVries Building Supply 21 berkshire school rd. sheffield, Ma. tel. 413-229-8777 fax. 413-229-8820 www.devriesbuildingsupply.com devriesbs@gmail.com
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Green Building
Health & Beauty
Design/Build, Inc. Renovations & Custom Cabinetry Maria Pizzuro-Cleary Owner/Esthetician
Joseph Carry (413) 281-0046
Enjoy the luxury of time just for yourself! “I have chosen Dr. Hauschka Skin Care and Iredale Cosmetics which have transformed skincare into a science. Special care was taken to select ingredients found in nature that bring out the beauty of one’s skin in a healthful, holistic manner.”
Green Teams - Send Us Your Info! Lee Recycling Committee
Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics Massage � Facials Body Polish � Fantasy Tan Manicures � Pedicures � Waxing
Working to improve recycling awareness and access No regular meeting schedule but try to meet every 2 months Contact: Monica Ryan: niryan@hotmail.com Jamie Cahillane: jamiec@cetonline.org
Lenox Environmental Committee
2 Elm Street in the Heart of Gt. Barrington, MA 413-528-5523 www.studiodayspa.com
Working to reduce our carbon footprint Meet the first Monday of the month at 5:30 PM at Town Hall Contacts: Jamie Cahillane: jamiec@cetonline.org Greg Federspiel: Federspiel-townmanager@townoflenox.com
GIFT CERTIFICATES, FINE PERFUME & JEWELRY
Stockbridge Green Team
Working to reduce Stockbridge greenhouse gas emissions Usually meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at New Town Hall Offices Contacts: Laura Tota : LTota@nrm.org Laura Dubester: laurad@cetonline.org
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Health Care
Contest #4
ind this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, January 4, 2010, at 12:45 PM with the correct answer, you will win a Gift Basket containing a health tea, salt scrub and herbal facial cream, valued at $35 - contributed by Jean Pollock, Mystical Rose Herbals, whose ad appears on page 30.
F
Contest #5
ind this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, February 1, 2010, at 12:00 PM with the correct answer, you will win a Reconnective Healing® session where you may experience a healing entirely appropriate to your needs, valued at $90 - contributed by Marshall Rosenthal, Reconnective Healing® and The Reconnection®, whose ad appears page 30.
Osteopathic & Manual Techniques Holistic techniques for pain relief and correction of dysfuntion for adults, infants and children 777 Main Street • At the Barrington Bagel Plaza, Great Barrington, MA 413-644-9474 • randiphysicaltherapy.com
S
ince we know that stress can kill, it is vitally important that we learn how to relax. Some popular techniques include exercise, yoga, deep breathing, Tai Chi, massage, reading a good book, humor, biofeedback, meditation, prayer, listening to music, and plain old hanging out. A daily nap can reduce stress and promote a longer life. Do yourself a favor. Slow down, focus on the benefits of relaxation, and smell the roses before it's too late. ~ Paula Schutzmann, Lee Regional VNA
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
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Keeping More for Yourself through Chinese Medicine: The Way to a Restored and StressFree You This Holiday Season
By Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac.
W
hether or not one celebrates a religious holiday this time of year, the frenetic energy floating around can’t help but bear down on a person. Rather than numbing your nerves with the spiked punch at the company holiday party, or heading off on an expensive tropical vacation, how about taking a new approach by looking to the ancient healing modality of Chinese Medicine to keep yourself in balance this winter?
Conserving Qi Chinese medicine teaches that the way toward balance and long life has to do with conserving and building up energy or “qi.” This runs opposite to filling up one’s day with long laundry lists of things to do. If you find yourself recently running on empty, feeling overwhelmed, and falling asleep before your head hits the pillow, listen to what your body is telling you and SLOW DOWN! Multi-tasking is a misnomer; the brain can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time. The reason people feel they’re doing more than one thing at a time is because they jump to the next thing before finishing the first and then back again. Studies consistently show, however, that more gets done by fully completing a task before beginning another one. Keep this in mind when planning your holiday schedule. One actually feels calmer and more focused (thereby conserving precious “qi”) when doing one thing to completion. Therefore, only bite off as much as you can chew on a single day, do tasks one at a time, and allow a little “white space” in your schedule to kick up your heels and take a break from the bustle. Lastly, keep a regular sleep schedule. According to Chinese medical theory, it is important (especially for adults) to be asleep by 10:30pm or so, so that the body’s detoxifying and restorative processes can fully take place.
Tai Ch’i and Qi Gong In addition to eliminating unnecessary busyness, you can actively build up or “cultivate” healthy energy through qi gong or tai ch’i. Studies have confirmed these ancient “internal exercises” have far-reaching benefits for both mind and body, including improving balance, strengthening muscles, increasing energy, supporting the immune system, calming the mind, and possibly even preventing dementia. Qi gong consists of both static poses as well as moderately stimulating repetitive movements. Qi gong gives the foundational power, breath, and concentration to people who practice martial arts. It is said that through the relative external stillness of the body when practicing qi gong, internal movement (of “qi” or one’s inner vital force) is created. Tai ch’i is a slow martial art which keeps the body constantly moving in a meditative fashion. Tai ch’i follows a set routine called the “form” that one learns from a teacher or master over a sustained period of time; through the external movement of the body during tai ch’i, internal stillness (calmness of mind) is created. Surprisingly to some Westerners, tai ch’i is, in fact, considered an aerobic exercise. It moves the entire body in unison slowly and mindfully and can benefit people with physical limitations, world-class athletes, or anyone in between in need of a little holiday sanity. Whether you study with an actual master (“si fu”) one on one or take a group class, you are likely to almost immediately begin feeling 24
December 2009
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less stressed and more centered. There are numerous places in the Berkshires to experience these healing arts including Eastern Light Tai Chi in Stockbridge, Laughing Dragon Tai Chi in Great Barrington, Jim Pullaro in Pittsfield, and the newly opened The Temple 33 1/3 in Pittsfield. Try letting one of those less urgent holiday errands go and instead spend the time doing a little tai ch’i or qi gong; you’ll soon feel the holiday blues melting away! Another way to help balance your body and mind is to walk backwards! The Chinese attribute many health benefits to walking backwards, including improving memory, coordination, and balance.
Winter: The Water Element and the Kidneys According to Chinese five-element theory, winter is represented by the water element which consists of the kidneys and urinary bladder. This means winter is an important time for strengthening these two systems, particularly the kidney system. When your kidney system is in balance you are courageous and can accomplish a lot without feeling stressed or nervous. In other words, you can shop without dropping. When your kidney system is out of balance you may feel a deep sense of lethargy and exhaustion, urinate more liquid than you’re taking in, experience low sex drive, feel fearful, and your hair may even fall out! Coldness damages the kidneys, therefore, during the winter eat fewer coldnatured foods such as raw vegetables, salads, iced drinks, and ice cream, and instead eat more tonifying foods such as soups, meat, stews, and cooked whole grains. If preparing tofu (which is cold in nature), do as the Chinese do and stir-fry it with fresh ginger root (which is warming in nature). Avoid excessive salty processed food and instead eat naturally salty foods such as miso, soy sauce, seaweed, and millet. Chinese medicine frowns upon drinking an excessive amount of water during the winter because it is believed to overwork the kidneys. Taking small frequent sips of warm water or tea between meals is preferred to cold water. Eating a broth-type soup at the end of the meal is a good alternative to drinking a lot of water during meals. Unless one is very dehydrated, no liquids should be drunk shortly before bedtime.
Connect to Nature Unless you’re in the middle of a winter blizzard, it is just as important during winter as in the other seasons to try to get outdoors a little every day. Breathing in fresh air and letting our eyes take in the bright colors offers a much needed contrast to fluorescent lights and overheated rooms. Even a brisk 15-minute walk outdoors can clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. The Chinese believe that fresh air is so important that they open windows partway in winter months. Due to its connection to Taoism, Chinese medicine strongly believes humans are part of nature rather than separate from it. Living life too separate from nature (i.e., all indoors) can only lead to imbalance and disease. You don’t have to be a hardcore naturalist or backpacker. City parks and playgrounds are excellent ways to regain this natural connection to the great out-of-doors. For every 1-2 hours spent indoors, try to get a few minutes outside enclosed walls to take in your natural surroundings, which are plentiful here in the Berkshires!
Immune Enhancement The reason many people get sick when on vacation is because their bodies hold out for as long as they can when the pressure is on, but finally demand retribution once given a little break. If you’re tired of feeling tired on weekends, vacations, or any other time you have a moment off, perhaps it is time to become a little more proactive about your health. According to Chinese medical theory, the internal environment within our bodies needs to be in balance with the outside environment in order for us to be healthy. That is why young babies and old people in China often wear five or six layers of clothes in the winter and open windows even when the heat is on. The Chinese believe that the body’s immune function becomes stronger if one doesn’t rely too heavily on artificial heating. It is thus important to set the heat on either low or moderate. Simulating a tropical environment inside when it’s freezing outside will only serve to confuse the body and possibly set it up for getting ill. Drinking hot water throughout the day is another great Chinese secret for preventing a cold or flu. I even saw it recommended recently by a Western medicine expert as a great natural hygienic practice to prevent thickening of secretions that could allow the H1N1 virus to take hold. Getting an individually formulated herbal concoction from your acupuncturist can address more ongoing issues such as chronic allergies, bronchitis, colds, and flus. If you know the time of year you always get sick, see your acupuncturist regularly during the eight to ten weeks before your allergies or sinus infection would normally hit. Acupuncture and herbs are a winning combination to prevent any upper respiratory problems from beginning and can also kick them out once they start. In fact, if you can get the right Chinese herbal formula soon after your cold or flu begins, you can often recover in one or two days rather than letting it run its usual fourto-seven-day course. In sum, to stay healthy and happy this holiday season, remember to relax, restore, rest, connect to nature. If more specific health issues exist, consider seeing a good acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist to get you back on the road to recovery so you and your family can enjoy all the frivolity this season has to offer. Happy Holidays! ~Kelly Clady-Giramma, Fertile Ground Acupuncture. See ad on page 27.
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Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Dr. Susan Lord
Integrative Primary Care
is pleased to announce the opening of her new medical practice in Great Barrington.
s
MiniMal Medication Medicine
What’s safe, what works.
We face an epidemic of chronic degenerative diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and dementia. This calls for a systems based scientific model that addresses under lying function, not just symptoms. You have many safe options beyond drugs and surgery. I offer precise, personalized care that combines the best of conventional main stream medicine and the emerging systems based holistic medicine.
Dr. Lord offers a personalized, holistic approach to health including Mind-Body Skills Groups to support a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.
“ Now accepting patients
for primary care Integrative medicine consults “ also available Call 413-298-1001 for an appointment.
Call to find out if this is a good approach for you.
Susan B. Lord, M.D. The Granary • 33 Rossetter St. Suite 2 Great Barrington, MA 01230 413-644-9600 • susan@drsusanlord.com DrSusanLord.com
>hqa ? =__alpejc alan inglis, M.d. Pqbpo nkoo+>hq a Odea ( Da] Board Certified Internal Medicine h`( ]j` k hpd Jas A jc pdan _ The Stockbridge Plain School ]nnea h]j` no* 50 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262
Holistic Approach to NeuroDevelopment and Learning Efficiency
“HANDLE helped me be aware of my surroundings and be less clumsy. Now I’m noticing other people who could use HANDLE too.” E.G. 11 year old “Finding HANDLE has been a guiding light. Through the practice of simple activities, worlds within me (that had always been beyond my reach) are being discovered with Excitement and Gratitude.” S.A. 65 year old
Elizabeth Frishkoff, MSW Certified HANDLE Practitioner
Serving ages 2 years old through adult/seniors with: Attentional Issues Autism/Aspergers Traumatic Brain Injury Memory/Organization Dyslexia/Sensory/ Learning Challenges Sleep/Depression Issues
94 West Ave, Great Barrington, MA 01230 efrish@sover.net 413-528-0477 www.handle.org
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Health Care: Alternative, Alternative Complementary Energy & Integrative Acupuncture
Chiropractic & Kinesiology Margaret Carlough, D.C.
PETER GOLDBERG, Dipl. Ac.
Helping people learn to handle stress successfully. 152 North Street, Suite 39D Pittsfield, MA 01201
BERKSHIRE ACUPUNCTURE 46 Main Street • South Egremont, MA (413) 528-5055 • www.berkshireacupuncture.com
Chiropractic care for the whole family
For general wellbeing … Plus, specialized training in: • alleviating the side effects of chemotherapy including neuropathies • infertility • herbal treatment • regulating the immune system
Gentle technique, pediatrics and pre-natal care, auto accident care. NOW ACCEPTING MEDICARE
ADAM KERZNER, DC 413-644-0030
Feel your best!
at Lee Family Practice • 413-243-3223
168 Main Street, Suite 2 • Great Barrington, MA 01230
Counseling & Therapy
Orchid Blossom Healing Arts
W
hat are Ani & Bill Grosser's (below) core values? Deep understanding and listening, simplicity, balance, self-responsibility, kindness, intimacy, interconnection, authenticity, play, compassion, power with heart, and passion. Check out CompassionateRelationships.com.
Classical Acupuncture and Zen Shiatsu
The Center for Compassionate Relationships
Cultivating wellness for the whole family Call
Offering counseling, groups, workshops for creating healthy relationships
-Licensed in CT and MA
Ani Nadler Grosser
413.258.4296 for an appointment
and
Bill Grosser
LICSW’s, Certified Imago Relationship Therapists www.compassionaterelationships.com • 413-637-2868
Fertile Ground Acupuncture
Eileen Lawlor, LICSW
Kelly Clady-Giramma, Dipl. O.M., L.Ac.
An Action-Oriented Therapist Specializing in:
Wo m e n’s H e a l t h - C h ro n i c D i s e a s e s - Pa i n - D i g e s t i ve D i s o rd e r s -We i g h t Lo s s - I n fe r t i l i t y - H e r b a l M e d i c i n e
55 Concord Parkway Pittsfield, MA 01201
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Light Touch
BODY CONNECTION CHIROPRACTIC
LIC. ACUPUNCTURIST AND HERBALIST
M. Ac.
Network Spinal Analysis, SRI & NeuroModulation Technique
413.448.2000 • www.drcarlough.com
Naomi Alson
Lauren Paul,
Specializing in light touch chiropractic including:
LIGHT TOUCH CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
Phone (413) 695-8876 acudoctor.clady@gmail.com
Short-Term Hypnosis • EMDR Guided Imagery for Healing Grief, Loss and Transition Counseling
A p p o i n t m e n t s in M anhattan als o availab le
Call 413.528.7916 for appointment
ill acupuncture fix my back or help me quit smoking? What about my arthritis, my migraines, my short temper? Will it help me feel less tired all the time? The answer is YES! Because the sore back that walks into an acupuncture office is attached to a unique human whose symptoms are an expression of their particular life, the acupuncturist must shape a course of treatment that honors each individual. According to Chinese medicine, pain in all its forms is the result of our life energy (Chi/Qi) being impeded. Acupuncture's great strength is its ability to touch the flow of Qi by working directly with the body's energy pathways (meridians) to encourage proper flow. Enhanced health is the result ~ Lauren Paul, Lic.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Contest #6 Find this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, February 1, 2010, at 12:15 PM with the correct answer, you will win a $20 Gift Certificate for Instant Replay. Contributed by Michelle Loehr, Instant Replay, whose ad appears on page 44.
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
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Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Dentistry
Berkshire Energy Healing The practical approach to personal healing and growth
Your Smile...
Helping to manage: • • • • • • •
Healing the world begins right here Be healthy, be strong, be radiant. There's a lot of work to do
518-325-5142 www.ourfamilydds.com
Our Family Dentist Allan L. Nahman, DDS 10 Anthony Street in nearby Hillsdale, NY
depression fear grief trauma pain abuse addiction
Robert Mason Pollock
I use pendulums of amethyst and quartz to help augment energy flow and diffuse negative blocks
Over 20 years as a trusted professional healer and spiritual counselor
Appointments in the Berkshires and Manhattan Visit the website
w w w.Ber ks hir eEner g y Healing .c o m
413-499-4369
just minutes from Great Barrington
Conscious and Caring Dentistry for your whole family
RELIEVE
Energy Medicine DR. KATHLEEN M. FAVALORO, DC, PT
Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, Chronic Pain Specialist & Massage Therapist
SCENAR LIFE...living pain free! No Doctor’s Office, Therapist or home should be without SCENAR! Do you suffer from: Chronic Pain, Sciatica, Bursitis,Headaches? Do you have: Stiff Neck, Frozen Shoulder, Knee Joint Replacement? Try the SCENAR to speed your healing & feel better FAST! Do you want to reduce your need for Oxycodone and Tylenol?
The SCENAR is an advanced biofeedback and treatment modality, that locates, measures and treats areas Order your portable devise today. of pain and Free Seminar with purchase. dysfunction.
413.528.5535
cav12@juno.com
19 Lewis Avenue, Gt. Barrington, MA 01230
All healing is first a healing of the heart. ~ Carl Townsend
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www.doctor.scenarlife.com
Health Care: Alternative, Alternative Complementary Energy & Integrative Homeopathy
Massage Therapy & Bodywork
HOMEOPATHY Henriette Meran
Master Clinician, Advanced Herbalist For more information:
hpmeran@aol.com or call 413.644.9488 Homeopathy strengthens and stimulates the immune system to promote self-healing. We only treat the individual not the symptoms for a cure.
Life Coach
Neuromuscular Therapy
LEE BODYWORK ASSOCIATES 17 Main Street Lee, MA Suite #9
Advanced massage therapy techniques for pain management, injury prevention & recovery, postural restoration and general well being. Suzanne Higgins Lymphatic & Thai Massage 413-445-2688 Jack McKeon Neuromuscular Therapy 413-243-8240 Karen Rutschmann Neuromuscular Therapy 413-243-8240 Jan Schollenberger Structural Integration 646-234-5170
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
Massage Therapy & Bodywork
Healing Bodywork Ming Lash,
RSMT
ENERGY HEALING • FLOWER ESSENCES • CRANIO-SACRAL THERAPY
413-232-7819 • www.MoveIntoHealing.com
Hearts & Hands:
EMBODYMENT HEALING SESSIONS A wholistic clothes-on approach to bodywork, using an intuitive blend of energy work, sensation awareness, cranial-sacral/myo-fascial release, breathwork, movement & humor.
Jeanne Bassis,
(413) 528-5732
•
Embodyment Practitioner since 1991.
playyes@playreflections.com
The Art of Wellness
Nutrition & Supplements
INTUITIVE EATING COACH • Mindfulness skills to ease stresses that trigger overeating • Nutrition tips to balance food cravings • Eating well on the go • Holistic Cleansing
ALISON SHORE GAINES, Certified Holistic Life Educator Since 1982 • 413.442.3604 • asgaines07@aol.com
Deb Phillips Deb Phillips Nutritionist utritionist N
MS, LDN, CHES
www.debphillips.biz
413-446-3205 • deb@debphillips.biz
Nanci Worthington LMT
17 Bridge St., Gt. Barrington, MA 01230
MASSAGE THERAPY
ArtofWellnessLMT.com 413-329-5573 artofwellness@earthlink.net
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
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Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Nutrition & Supplements
�
�MYSTICAL R�SE HERBALS
Reconnective Healing®
�
Using herbs from “God’s Pharmacy” to achieve Health and Beauty naturally Jean Pollock, HHP, Nationally-Certified Medical Herbalist Private consultations ($40 per hour), Herb Classes & Herb Walks.
Also: Berkshire Meadows Health Tea; All-natural Face & Beauty Products; Skin Salves, Gift Baskets.
Sold in area stores, online and phone orders. New Marlborough, MA 01230 413-229-8057 www.mysticalroseherbals.com
Experience healing beyond anything you’ve read about, thought about, dreamed about.
While each experience is unique, many report healings from afflictions such as: Cancer Depression Fibromyalgia Arthritis Cerebral Palsy AIDS-related Diseases TM
Adam Seavey, Reconnective Healing Practitioner has been personally instructed in the facilitation of these extraordinary healing frequencies by Eric Pearl, the acknowledged instrument through which these frequencies have been introduced to the world. .
To schedule an appointment with Adam call 413.717.0995 or email adamconnect@adamsreconnection.org
Did you know that many herbs are bursting with all-natural vitamins, minerals AND anti-oxidants? Drinking a tea made with these herbs every day will help strengthen the immune system and keep you healthy. Fight colds & the flu this winter with herbal teas. ~ Jean Pollock, Mystical Rose Herbals
Physical Therapy
Berkshire Physical Therapy & Wellness Dalton Office
400 Main Street Dalton MA 01226 413-684-9783 Make your appointment today for your Fit Right evaluation!
Pittsfield Office
740 Williams Street Pittsfield MA 01201 413-447-8070 ptpittsfield100@aol.com Lee Office
480 Pleasant Street Lee MA 01238 413-243-3477 ptlee@aol.com
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TM
DISCLAIMER: Eric Pearl and anyone associated with this work, inclusive of, but not limited to The Reconnection and R Reconnective Healing , make no claims, promises or guarantees and are neither diagnosing nor treating specific health challenges. You are solely responsible for seeing to and/or continuing with your own medical treatment and care. TM . 2002 Copyright Kenna Consulting, Inc. & The Reconnection
“Find out why these
Healing Frequencies
are unlike any other.” - Adam Seavey RECONNECTIVE HEALING ® and THE RECONNECTION ® Marshall Rosenthal* • 413-743-5256 • marshsue@verizon.net *Listed on www.TheReconnection.com Access a new, more comprehensive spectrum of healing than has ever been attainable prior to now!
“If you are lucky, your healing will come in the form that you anticipate. If you’re really lucky, your healing will come in a form you’ve not even dreamed of – one that the Universe specifically has in mind for you.” - Dr. Eric Pearl, author of The Reconnection; Heal Others, Heal Yourself.
~ Contributed by Marshall Rosenthal, Reconnective Healing Practitioner.
Reflexology
Health Care: Alternative, Alternative Complementary Energy & Integrative Reiki
Tai Chi: Rooted in the Earth, Floating in Joy
Angela Michelle
By David Wade Smith, Lao Shr
Reiki Master Teacher Reiki Trainings & Sessions
Be still like the mountain, move like the river:
413-841-9907 heartsdesirereiki@yahoo.com
T
heartsdesirereiki.com
his instruction summarizes in one elegantly simple sentence the entire philosophy of Tai Chi, and helps to explain the worldwide practice of the art.
Reiki
During the practice of Tai Chi, the present moment comes vibrantly alive, pervading one’s entire being, creating a deep sense of peace and joy. It’s no exaggeration to say its powerful yet graceful movements, derived from its origins as a martial art, seem to encompass the universe.
The Usui System of Natural Healing
Jill Powell
Reiki Master Hinsdale, MA 413-655-2109 | 413-441-3672 P R O M O T E S S E L F - H EA L I N G , S T R ES S R E L IEF & BA L A N CE
All of its effects, including its increasingly well documented health benefits, are accomplished through a combination of correct posture, dynamic balance, and relaxation, which enhances circulation of the vital energy called ch’i.
Hours by appointment Home visits available
Tai Chi
In Tai Chi, the highest value is placed on conservation of energy; no aggressive muscular force is ever used. Accessible to all ages, Tai Chi is adaptable through a wide range of physical ability. Though its philosophy is based on the Taoism of ancient China, one need not subscribe to any specific belief system to practice Tai Chi. Its benefits derive solely from practicing its movements with mindful attention.
Laughing Dragon Tai Chi DaviD WaDe Smith, Lao Shr
enhance
health , balance anD agility , increaSe Strength anD peace of minD With the gentle, poWerful movement that iS tai chi
413.528.5669
A word of advice: If you’d like to try Tai Chi, avoid books and videos; instead, seek out an experienced teacher whose trained eyes and hands can spot and correct errors, and whose enthusiasm for the art will inspire you.
lafdragon@gmail.com
~ David Wade Smith, Laughing Dragon Tai Chi, see ad at left.
EASTERN LIGHT TAI CHI & QI GONG SERVING BERKSHIRE COUNTY
Trager® Approach
Yang and Chen Style, Tai Chi Easy™ Integral Medical Qi Gong Private & Group Instruction
PEACE BEYOND RELAXATION Through movement and bodywork
Call 413.563.1469
Ellen Russo
(texting available)
easternlighttaichi@hotmail.com
Compassion in Motion
All Ages, Abilities and Levels Welcome Contest #7
The Trager® Approach - Reiki TM Soul Body Fusion
Find this image in one of our advertiser’s ads. If you are the first caller to call 413-274-1122 on Monday, February 1, 2010, at 12:30 PM with the correct answer, you will win a private Pilates or Gyrotonic session valued at $65. Contributed by Violet Eagan, Certified Pilates and Gyrotonic Instructor ,whose ad appears on page 16.
Call for a free 15 minute consult:
413-644-0148
receivepeace@gmail.com www.compassioninmotion.com
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
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Health Care: Wellness Centers & Spas
SATI
Wellness Center
& Boutique
What is Wellness? A new physician-led integrated health program by Wellness Integral Learn more about this new, yearlong not-for-profit wellness program in collaboration with The Kilpatrick Athletic Center scheduled to begin in January 2010. Sunday: Dec. 6TH, 2:00pm & Jan. 10TH, 2:00pm
Sati offers many ways for you to get good vitamin D this winter We have Vitamin D light beds, supplements and sprays.
OPEN HOUSE @
SATI, Elegant & Affordable
Bard College at Simon’s Rock 84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA
At Aspinwell, 55 Pittsfield Rd, 7D, Lenox MA 413.477.4777 SatiLLC.com
For Information: 413.446.1777
Most major insurances accepted.
Acupuncture • Ton Whiteside, M. Ac., M. Div. Lic. Ac., Dipl. Ac. 413 499-3459
For a full list of services and practitioners please visit us at:
www.BerkshireHealingArts.com
LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF BERKSHIRE NAUTILUS 42 SUMMER STREET, SUITE 201, PITTSFIELD, MA
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
BERKSHIRE SOUTH REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 www.berkshiresouth.org • 413.528.2810
C
Homeopathy • New Harmony Health Cynthia Chrisman, MPH, CCH • 413 243-6095 www.homeopathicprovider.com
S Guide upport
LaHo-Chi • Spiritually-Based Energy Healing Janet L. Mickle, MS., RNCS • 413 329-5253 email: jlmickle@verizon.net
MIND BODY SPIRIT
us t
Nutrition • Maria Cruz, RD, LDN, LMT, RYT • 413 441-8826 email: mariacruz1@crocker.com
tion Balance Lif eT duca E r ng
h Joyful Be lo
Treating newborns through adults and now welcoming and scheduling new patients.
g Lau
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Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Stephen Kisiel, DO • Joshua Krembs, DO • 413 442-0085
New Opportunities for Achieving Health
Whole Caring F r i e nds ices
is a community of independent health & healing practitioners with a common orientation towards health, healing and wellness.
ho
Berkshire Healing Arts
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• PHYSICIAN-LED • NUTRITIONIST SUPPORT • FITNESS TRAINING • WELLNESS COACHING • ATHLETIC CENTER USE • HEALTH TALKS • ASSESSMENTS • REPORT CARD • SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE
Health Care: Alternative, Complementary & Integrative you have time to chew well or really taste your food? Do you have the space to feel and acknowledge what is honestly going on in your body? If it continues to be a puzzle, then seek out the support of a local yoga teacher or studio to assist you in the exploration of techniques and restoration of wellness. ~ Randal Williams, Yoga Educator, see ad below.
Women's Health
Yoga
Stimulating Wellness: Yoga and the Secret of Life
B
By Randal Williams
eing healthy is a precious commodity and when the supply is lacking one can be powerfully driven to demand it back. Ways to stimulate vitality are abundant and diverse, ranging from the simple formula “early to bed and early to rise” to the more complex use of pharmaceuticals. I’d like to share with you one of the simpler alternatives, a secret to life force that is essential to yoga. And it is this, that “the prerequisite to life force is space.” This means that if you can manage to make space or time for yourself, to be with your range of needs, challenges, and sensations then you will stimulate the flow of life force, promoting both wellness and fulfillment. An example of this principle in action is when you open up your day timer and review your schedule. When your schedule is full and you experience that there is no space or time for yourself because you have to attend to others, note the quality of breathing – an expression of your life force – that is associated. Now imagine the opposite. You open up your day timer to find that you booked three days away from it all – no office appointments and no one or anything to take care of. There will be no demands, no alarm clock, no deadlines, no rush hour traffic, no time card. Again, note the quality of breathing that presents itself. Your road to wellness may be as simple as taking steps to manage your sense of available space and time. This life-promoting process is instinctive and something you’ve already sought after when your nerves are overwhelmed and state “I need some space.” Or perhaps you know the feeling of the workday finally ending or the prospect of a long vacation. The effect that follows such “space-time” vitamins includes feeling refreshed and reenergized. This simple principle of making space to support the flow of life force is at the very core of all yoga exercises whether you are stretching your body, deepening breath, or watching thoughts pass along – each a way of massaging and adjusting the mind’s habitual shrunken grasp of reality. It is simple enough to try on your own. Become curious about the resources of space and time as expressions of your own life force. Is it a challenge to sit still and just be here? Do
Home & Garden Reusable, designer gift bags & totes for everyday
see the “Berkshires” totes online…
we doom cust
olivedesignertotes.com
Olive Designs totes feature eye-catching and whimsical design elements that enhance our lives while contributing to the preservation of the planet. Our low-cost designer totes are reusable, 100% recyclable, extremely durable, machine washable, quick-drying, breathable, naturally mildew resistant, lightweight and a fair labor product. Inquiries: 413 822 8933 or email: olivedesignertotes@gmail.com
❣Live. Love. Olive Designs
Practical Feng Shui
• Create beauty/improve functionality in your home or office • Renew & redesign using what you have • Enhance to sell
h
ALISON SHORE GAINES, Certified Feng Shui Consultant
Since 1996 • 413.442.3604 • asgaines07@aol.com
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
33
The Agriculture of Tomorrow Is Here Today by Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman®
T
he earth sprouts. You don’t need a special device. Just seed and water. Wet ground, warm air, and quality seed provide all you ever need to be a successful gardener. Of course, not everybody has the time to garden and some just don’t have the property. Others have the interest, but not the skill. That’s why sprouting is often called “apartment gardening” or “kitchen gardening.” You don’t need a backyard. You don’t need to watch the calendar, the planting dates, temperature, harvest times, northern light, southern exposure. Nope. You can be a kitchen gardener in January or July, in Atlanta or Alaska. You don’t need a green thumb. There is no soil. No muss or fuss. A pound of seeds can produce several pounds of baby greens, depending on the variety. Kitchen gardeners grow many of the same things as the backyard gardener: radish, cabbage, broccoli, kale, sunflower, peas, garlic, and onion chives. The backyard gardener harvests his/her crop in 6 to 12 weeks, but the apartment gardener has a harvest every week. The traditional “bean” sprouts, mung bean, adzuki, soybean, lentil, green pea, chick pea, etc., are ready even sooner, in only 4 or 5 days. Bean sprouts are beans with a “tail” or shoot on them. Asian cultures traditionally use them in stir-frys and wok dishes, but they also add crunchy texture and flavor to salads and marinades, and are the main ingredient in many dips and spreads. Radish, cabbage, broccoli, kale, and so on all grow green leaves. They are called micro-greens because they can be used as lettuce substitutes in salads. Instead of one seed producing a large head of lettuce, the kitchen gardener grows hundreds of baby leaves which combine to create a home-grown baby green salad. Some other flavors, not usually grown in outdoor gardens but popular as sprouts, are buckwheat, clover, alfalfa, mustard, and fenugreek. Some of these are important cover crops for farmers. Ask any organic farmer and they will tell you that alfalfa and clover
34
cover part of their acreage every season in order to regenerate the nitrogen (protein) in their soil so they can produce healthy vegetable crops. Buckwheat is one of the most important grains to a farmer. It is not technically a wheat, but actually related to rhubarb. Have allergies? Don’t worry, buckwheat contains no wheat and no gluten. Farmers love it to feed their livestock and poultry. Bees love it because it creates a dark, flavorful honey. But it is perhaps most beneficial to kitchen gardeners because of its smooth, succulent taste and texture, similar to Bibb or Boston lettuce. Its heart-shaped leaf is reminiscent of a fourleaf clover. The National Cancer Institute, a member of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, recommends consuming five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. And they recommend sprouts as a good way to help you achieve that goal. Sprouts are unique in that they are the only form of agriculture available in all four seasons that can be locally grown – and that means anywhere in the world, from A f ri ca to Alaska! Their harvest cycle, from seed to salad, is only one week. Not only
Sunflower
Pea
December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
that, one pound of alfalfa seed, for example, yields 10 to 14 pounds of fresh mini-salad greens. Even though it grows in a week, this kind of fast food doesn’t sacrifice any nutrition. Alfalfa, sunflower, clover, and radish sprouts are all about 4% protein. Compare that to spinach (3%), romaine lettuce (1.5%), iceberg lettuce (0.8%), and milk (3.3%). These foods compare well because they are all approximately 90% water. But meat and eggs are the traditional protein foods for Americans. Meat is 19% and eggs are 13% protein and 11% fat. Compare that to soybean sprouts with 28% and lentil and pea sprouts at 26% protein. Soybean sprouts have twice the protein of eggs and only one-tenth of the fat. Alfalfa sprouts are also one of the best green foods you can eat. They have more chlorophyll than spinach, kale, cabbage, or parsley. Sprouts are not just salads. Grain and nut sprouts, such as wheat and sunflower, are rich in fats. While fats in flour and wheat germ have a reputation for getting rancid quickly (stores should refrigerate them), fats in sprouts last for weeks. The valuable wheat germ oil in wheat sprouts is broken down into its essential fatty acid fractions, over 50% of which is the valuable omega-6. While sunflower oil is our finest source of omega-6, germination of the sunflower sprout micellizes the fatty acids into an easily digestible, water-soluble form saving our body the work of breaking it down and also protecting us against rancidity. Sunflower sprouts are also popular for their crispness and nutty flavor. Need a good multivitamin? Eat m o r e
sprouts. Radish sprouts have 29 times more vitamin C than milk (29mg vs 1mg) and 4 times the vitamin A (391 IU vs 126 IU). These spicy sprouts have 10 times more calcium than a potato (51mg vs 5mg) and contain more vitamin C than pineapple. While mature radishes contain 10 IU/100g of provitamin A, the radish sprout contains 391 IU – 39 times more vitamin A! This is the miracle of germination. Sprouts are a veritable vitamin factory!
Amazing Phytochemicals Alfalfa, radish, broccoli, clover, and soybean contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals (plant compounds) that can protect us against disease. Plant estrogens in sprouts function similarly to human estrogen but without side effects. They increase bone formation and density, prevent bone breakdown (osteoporosis), and are helpful in controlling hot flashes, menopause, PMS, and fibrocystic breast tumors. Canavanine, an amino acid analog present in alfalfa, has demonstrated resistance to pancreatic, colon, and leukemia cancers in vitro. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers found substantial amounts of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates in broccoli sprouts, which are very potent inducers of phase 2 enzymes that protect cells from going malignant. Broccoli sprouts actually contain 10 to 100 times higher levels of these enzymes than does the mature vegetable. Alfalfa sprouts are also one of our finest food sources of saponins. Saponins lower the bad cholesterol and fat but not the good HDL fats. Animal studies prove their benefit in arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Saponins also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T-lymphocytes and interferon. The saponin content of alfalfa sprouts multiplies 450% over that of the unsprouted seed. Sprouts also contain an abundance of highly active antioxidants that prevent DNA destruction and protect us from the ongoing effects of aging. It would not be inconceivable to find a fountain of youth here; after all, sprouts represent the miracle of birth. Š2009 by Steve Meyerowitz. Used by permission. ~ See ad on page 17.
Buckwheat
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Delicious!
December 2009
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Alternative Energy
Living in the Postcard By Nathan Smith
O
ccasionally I remark that living in the Berkshires is living in the postcard. Mari, my companion, and I have been blessed to settle in a portion of this loveliness. It is a conservative estimate to say we moved some fifteen times in almost twenty years prior to this. Several moves were precipitated because landlords sold the houses we were living in. Some moves were due to square-footage constraints, living out of storage, mold levels, and unhealthy environmental surroundings. By August 2007 we were as stressed as refugees. How then did we come to live in the southern foothills of Mount Greylock? Mari and I wrote and illustrated on a large piece of drawing paper the things we felt would support the lifestyle we sought: a small tract of land with water, woods, and a southern exposure. We also created (in a shallow 9x6-inch basket) a diorama of a house with moss and pebble landscape, twigs for trees, figurines of animals, people, and an abstract image to represent water for a river. These were seeds from our imagination that we wanted to come to fruition. To put it another way, we used Neural Linguistic Programming to clarify our intentions. NLP is using positive language to create neural pathways in the brain so that one’s thinking becomes habituated towards a desired outcome. An example will better illustrate what I am trying to express here. If I were to ask you “What do you see?” when you entered a room, you might name a table, a picture, the bookshelves, a chair. You could go on with no apparent end to it. Next, if I said, “Now, tell me everything you see that is the color green.” Your eye would zoom in on any number of green things: a plant, a green rug, the green spine of a book and so on. We see what we look for. What we put our attention on is what becomes the substance of our reality. From the onset, Mari and I intended a green life style. And when we saw it we recognized it. It is important to reiterate that finding the right space and subsequent building of our home was a long journey, and one often fraught with high anxiety. Having never built a house before, we faced a tremendous unknown. The learning curve was often straight up, as Mari says, and we were essentially nomads most of the time. Our learning curve also included acquiring centeredness, calm, flexibility, and perseverance as much as it required the assimilation of how to go about building a house. These are the necessary components to creating a place where one can belong, in creating anything for that matter. Our intentions stretch before us like a Yellow Brick Road. We only need be conscious of the direction. The details with their solutions will work themselves 36
December 2009
out in amazing and previously unknown ways. Our strategy was to utilize our individual strengths in the areas where they could best accomplish our goals. Mari is one who can research and sift through copious amounts of information. She spent many an hour on the internet, reading periodicals, books, and papers. I am one who would rather communicate directly with people. Thus, she would distill the information and I would contact individuals and coordinate work to be done on site. There were many snags: plumbing problems, uncooperative characters, financial setbacks, some unrealistic goals, obstructionist laws, and forced regulations. Yet there were many sweet and wonderful times too, like seeing the walls going up, putting insulation in the floor ourselves, helping raising the roof, walking through what would eventually become the front door, camping out in the unfinished structure in our sleeping bags, and experiencing the delicious anticipation of finally having a home of our own. What we imagined on that piece of paper many years earlier has been met and far surpassed. At last we are settled in our small, architecturally beautiful, environmentally sound, offthe-grid-home in these magical Berkshire Hills, surrounded on two sides by a state forest, within a large parcel of land where streams and waterfalls abound. In gratitude we steward this land as a sanctuary for birds, animals, and plants. And we further intend to preserve this place as an old-growth forest for future generations. Though one may believe that such a scenario is pie in the sky and not possible, it is worthy of noting here that when Mari and I began our search we were in the midst of a family embezzlement, which ultimately left us reeling emotionally and financially. Could this be considered a miracle? Two people who, having next to nothing, combined their imaginations and incarnated a dream? Regardless of where we are on our Path, it is incumbent on each of us to look for the green. Each of us is a template to encourage our fellow Earth-citizens to live lightly and rightly, contrary to all the impossibilities we have been indoctrinated with, all the outmoded, counterproductive, and destructive beliefs we have been fed on, in an often-times shallow and materialistic culture. This is not to say that Mari and I have done with growing. There is still much to do. The learning curve continues. Yet in our microcosmic way we hope that our enterprise will encourage others to be brave, resourceful, and unwavering green stewards so that collectively we may create an equitable and sustainable future for all on this planet.
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Home & Garden Alternative Energy Hartsville Design
Architectural Woodworking Specializing in Healthy Furniture & Woodwork for Environmentally Sensitive Individuals & Children Kevin J. Regan • 413-528-6133 Kevin@HartsvilleDesign.com
d et a i l s inter ior de sign Carole King Julie Brady 292 South Main Street Sheffield, MA 413.229.3333
Protect your lungs.
✓in your home ❑
CHECK RADON LEVELS
(413) 528-9700 www.berkshireradon.com
The experts in radon mitigation
Experience your own Sauna Spa at home Unique Circular design... A sensation like no other Spa
.com A Swedish Sauna Kit
Call Per at 518-821-8047
Environmentally Inspired Living
Jaya Jacobs,
REALTOR®, CBS, EcoBroker
413.644.9440 413.429.1622 301 Stockbridge Road • Great Barrington, MA 01230 JAYAJACOBS@BERKSHIREDWELLINGS.COM • WWW.BERKSHIREDWELLINGS.COM
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
37
In Business: Greening Up!
SB
potlight on Green & Holistic usinesses in Our Community
Matrushka Toys and Gifts Owner: Brooke Redpath
What Is Unique About Us
We carry a wide array of products representing local artists and small crafters across the USA, as well as hard-to-find imported toys from around the world. The unique selection of toys comes from an appreciation for the following: that the toy is aesthetically appealing and durable; that it requires action or input from the child to develop imagination and/or motor skills; and that it is made by responsible and safety-conscious companies or individuals.
What You Will Find At Our Store
How We Got Started
Matrushka Toys and Gifts is Great Barrington’s oldest existing toy store, originating as a small shop at the local Waldorf School, the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School. In 1992 we moved to Great Barrington, and flourished there for seventeen years. In August 2009, the store moved just down the street, making it accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, broadening the scope of products, and allowing the opportunity to offer free community events for children and parents.
Matrushka is owned by a mother of three, who wants the store to be a fun place to visit and a resource for healthy parenting in the community. The mission of the store is to keep active play a part of children's lives, and to encourage families to play games and spend time together, building a strong foundation for healthy growth. We carry high-quality toys, games, and essentials for children ranging from babies to young teens. From baby layette to frog aquariums, mushroom playhouses to gnome hideaways, and crafting and art materials, you will find it here.
Concerned Singles Director: Rodelinde Albrecht What I Do
It’s been my privilege and my pleasure for the past twenty-five years to bring together likeminded people who are seeking a deeply satisfying love connection. Concerned Singles is the premier virtual meeting place for aware, progressive, socially conscious singles across the country.
How I Got Started
Photo taken by JoAnne Spies
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december 2009
In 1984, dating services were just beginning to be accepted as a way of making romantic connections. Allan Black, the significant man in my life at the time,
www.OurBerkshireGreen.
Contributing To A Greener World
Matrushka supports making the world greener for our children by offering toys and clothing that are made of natural, renewable, or recyclable materials, and water-based paints that are nontoxic and do not pollute the environment. The store offers toys and crafts that are child powered, not battery powered, preventing the disposal problems that exist with batteries, and teaching children the skills to produce useful and beautiful items by themselves.
Where To Find Us
309 Main Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 Ph: 413-528-6911, berkshiretoys.com
was very progressive politically and socially. It was his inspiration to create an introduction service designed to serve people who were interested in matters beyond a shared fondness for, say, tennis and Chinese food. As director, he took care of the business side, including advertising and publicity. As an experienced publishing professional, I was responsible for the design and production of our logo and all our print materials. When Allan died in 1988, I took on the directorship as well.
What I Offer
The profiles of all our members are posted on our website. Although access to the site is open to
Upper Crust Bakery
Gluten & Dairy Free Owner: Valerie Lawson
Tuscan bread sticks, banana bread, pizza dough, chocolate chip cookies, whoopie pies, brownies, and many different types of muffins including blueberry, raspberry, coconut macadamia nut, cran-orange, and chocolate chip. I do wedding and specialty cakes. Cake flavors include carrot, tropical paradise, chocolate bundt with chocolate ganache, chocolate raspberry, tropical, and very vanilla. If you don't see what you want just give me a call! Specialty items for the holidays will be available. I offer gift certificates. Gift baskets start at only $25, and are great to give and receive as birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, and thank you presents.
How I Got Started What I Do
I have a gluten and dairy-free bakery in Cheshire, Massachusetts. I make classic American goodies so people with gluten and dairy intolerance can enjoy them. I especially like it when people say they can't tell the difference between my delicious baked goods and regular products.
What I Offer
My menu is always growing. It ranges from sandwiches, breads, and rolls to cookies, muffins, cakes (also by the slice), and cupcakes. Some specific items include Tuscan flat bread, dinner rolls, chiapatta bread,
anyone, only members may respond to the listings. To preserve confidentiality, the first contact between individuals is sent via Concerned Singles; subsequent correspondence flows directly between the two individuals. For those requesting it, the listings are also available by mail in the form of a quarterly newsletter, and members may correspond by realmail if they choose. Personal service is key: I’m available by phone to members and potential members for consultation and encouragement.
What Makes Me Green
I see myself as a sort of gardener, planting the seeds whose crop will be havested by others and cooked up into
I was diagnosed with celiac sprue twenty years ago. There were only dry tasteless baked goods available at the time. I was left with no choice but to bake and cook for myself. I went back to school at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. My first success was my chocolate chip cookies that were named after my grandparents: Nana Paul’s chocolate chip cookies. Kids of all ages love these! There was a lot of trial and error at first. It was very important to me to make these products smooth and moist instead of the typical dry and gritty texture
you find with most gluten and dairy-free products.
What Makes Me Green/Holistic?
I live on a Christmas tree farm in Cheshire, Massachusetts. My eggs are from free-range chickens. All of my flours are organic Bob Red Mills. My muffins have berries from the farm as well.
How To Find Me
You can order my products by phone or through my website. My baked goods can also be found at Berkshire Organics at Burgner's Farm in Dalton, Pittsfield Health Food Centre in Pittsfield, and Stone Soup in Adams. I can be reached though my website at gluten dairyfreebakery.com, by phone at 413743-2959, and by cell phone at 413281-9763. ~ See ad on page 17.
soul-nourishing relationships. Green living recognizes that speed and size are no guarantee of quality; hence the emphasis on slow food and on small farming. At Concerned Singles we offer the slow food and small farming of love. What’s more, the couples who connect through Concerned Singles tend to create a kind of synergy that allows them to accomplish things they might never have accomplished by themselves.
How To Find Me
On the web at concernedsingles.com, introductions@concernedsingles.com and by phone at 413-243-4350. Also, Rodelinde can frequently be found in person at Our BerkshireGreen events. ~ See ad on page 41.
Love Blooms Even in Winter
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
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Lifestyles & Perspectives
P&
ersonal Experience of Green Holistic living in Our Community NAME: Dom Sacco. HOMETOWN: Pittsfield, Massachusetts. WHY THE BERKSHIRES? “The Berkshires have always been my home. I enjoy the outdoors, activities, great places to eat, and most of all the people.”
It’s All About Giving WHAT IS THE GIVING CAMPAIGN? “The students and staff at MVRMS opened the campaign with an assembly on October 19, 2009. Local politicians, chiefs of police, representatives from the DA's office, and local youth groups joined the school staff in promoting the theme, and challenged the students to give to each other, to the community, and to themselves. Throughout the year, students will participate in poster, essay, and t-shirt designing contests. Local businesses have been generous in offering donations of prizes for the students. The school will collect food for local food pantries, donate to UNICEF, and offer their help to others in need. They are looking for more projects, and are open to suggestions.”
IT’S ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: “I am the School Adjustment Counselor at Monument Valley Regional Middle School in Great Barrington. My job requires me to be involved with students and families, helping them get along and recognize the gifts each has to share. I take my role seriously. This year I started the Mentor Program which empowers students to help each other, to be role models, and to give to one another. The Mentor Program has given birth to the school's theme for the year, Giving.”
INSPIRATION: “I am fired up when young people and their families jump into opportunities to help one another. This energy empowers me to work harder.” WHAT MAKES HIM LAUGH? “I take special delight in watching young people. Playing with the students at recess and showing them that I can still keep up provides me with a good laugh each school day. I'm not above laughing at myself!”
Jane Furey, Principal, with Dom Sacco
HE'S GONE GREEN: “I work in a Green school. I participate in the recycling program, use natural lighting in my office, and stay warm or cool in a building that uses a geothermal heat pump and heat recovery system.” No disposable plastic bottle for Dom. Sitting on his desk is a large pink reusable water bottle! BEST ADVICE: “Help each other. Give to someone else and you will receive the best gift of all: knowing you made a difference.”
WANT TO HELP THE GIVING CAMPAIGN?
If you want to help fund a student scholarship for an event or a field trip please contact Dom Sacco at Monument Valley Regional Middle School: 413-644-2300. Donations for a scholarship can also be mailed to Dom at 313 Monument Valley Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Dom Sacco: 413-644-2300 • www.bhrsd.org
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December 2009
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
Love & Laughter
Martial Arts Teaching Authentic Shaolin Kempo Karate
“Yes, there really is a Rodelinde Yes, there really is somebody there She will help you write your self-description Yes, there really is someone who cares . . . She is sending letters in the mail She’s encouraging a deeper look She is sending love in all directions Picking up the phone was all it took . . .”
Classes for Men, Women and Children of All Ages Call for a FREE CLASS 877 Simonds Road Williamstown, MA VillarisOfWilliamstown.com
(413) 458-2472
Fred Villari's Studios of Self Defense
From Concerned Singles Song © 2009 JoAnne Spies
Mind & Spirit So, why not pick up the phone and call 413-243-4350 for information and encouragement from Rodelinde
Did you know that meditation is good for your body/mind and spirit? • Lower blood pressure • Boost immune system functioning • Increase positive emotions • Increase confidence • Reduce anxiety and muscle tension
• Improve performance on cognitive tests • Connect with the higher dimensions of your being
• Improve concentration and focus
Thea will create a
personalized
meditation session for you.
Individual and group sessions available. (413) 528-8084 celebrating 25 years of helping environmentally and socially aware singles of all ages to find each other and create meaningful relationships
THEA BASIS
B.S. HOLISTIC HEALTH AND MIND/BODY THERAPIES CALL FOR INFO ON THE
C O M M U N I T Y M E D I TAT I O N C I R C L E
Coming in March 2010
Our BerkshireGreen
Mind & Spirit
concernedsingles.com 413-243-4350
Special Edition Resource Guide For more information about submitting articles or advertising please contact Thea Basis at thea@OurBerkshireGreen.com, 413-528-8084
www.OurBerkshireGreen.com
December 2009
41
Nonprofit Organizations
SO
potlight on Nonprofit rganizations in Our Community
What is Wellness? A Program of Wellness Integral, Inc.
What They Do
What is Wellness? is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Margo and Lawrence Davis-Hollander to promote an individual and community foundation of authentic health and happiness physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It is a wellness program and pilot project of Wellness Integral Inc., in collaboration with the Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon's Rock College (physician led–participant driven).
Mission
What is Wellness? provides a unique wellness educational environment, offering a balance of experiential and cognitive learning through access to a team of health/wellness professionals dedicated to community and individual well-being through integrated health and fitness practices.
Project Goals
What They Do
Pet Partners distributes free pet food for those in need, offers reduced rate spay/neuter, and provides partial financial assistance for required veterinary care.
Mission
To help pet owners care for their companion animals during times of economic stress so that the pets will be able to remain in their homes and not need to be surrendered to shelters or rescue groups.
Green Tip
Spaying or neutering a companion animal is one of the most important steps a pet owner can take to address the problem of pet overpopulation.
The aim of the program is to help participants learn and instill new healthy habits through experiential education, a commitment to fitness, healthy diet, and mindfulness practices that are sustainable and measurable.
“I have low income . . . Pet Partners helped me pay for my cats surgery and for their vaccines to keep them healthy. I am very greatful [sic] for Pet Partners! They are really making a difference . . .” ~ SB, Great Barrington “I would not have been able to keep these two boys [cats] if it weren’t for your help. Thank you and keep up with what you’re doing.” ~ CA, Great Barrington
Contact
Margo and Lawrence Davis-Hollander
Lawrence Davis-Hollander 413-229-8316, 413-446-1777 dynamicchange@roadrunner.com margobdh@aol.com
Contact Bette Ellenbogen
Bette Ellenbogen at 413-229-8579
The Angelina Morsello Savko Fund
What They Do
Act III will be presented at Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre, on March 19 & 20, 2010.
Broadway to the Berkshires Act III, a song, dance, and comedy program to benefit the Berkshire Medical Center Cardiac Rehab Unit, returns to the stage with upcoming performances at The Colonial Theatre. Producers Lynn Arseneau and son Brian Arseneau of Pittsfield have reprised the cast who will entertain in grand style to raise funds as a memorial tribute to Angelina Morsello Savko. Ms. Savko conceived the original script, envisioning a showcase for the talents of local performers in which Broadway hits would be combined with choreography and comedy for the entire community to enjoy. 42
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The fund was created in 2006 to assist patients with heart disease (recovering from a heart attack and those at potential risk). The Cardiac Rehab Unit offers an intensive outpatient rehabilitation component lasting ten weeks. In addition, the unit offers Angelina Morsello Savko a maintenance program aimed at providing long-term support. Unfortunately, some patients are unable to pay the co-pay for these necessary and valuable services. The fund offers financial aid to help cover the co-pay.
Contact
info@BroadwaytotheBerkshires.com BroadwaytotheBerkshires.com Lynn Arseneau, Producer, 413-499-3455 To donate: Ann Marie Sadlowski, RN, 413-447-3093 For tickets: 413-997-4444 TheColonialTheatre.org
Community Power in Berkshire County By Paul Deslauriers
T
he collective power that comes from grassroots organizing can raise a barn, find a missing child, respond to a natural disaster, or transform a nation. Community can bring healing and upliftment, and is the most powerful expression of celebration and unity. Grassroots communities have historically been the primary mechanism for social change, human rights, environmental regulations, and improving working conditions. Grassroots groups can be a way to rapidly create new systems that support community self-sufficiency and abundance. The power of community has potential to bring enrichment on many levels including both personal and spiritual renewal. This community power is being tapped in the Berkshires through a wide range of initiatives. The Berkshire Food Net is a unique collaborative effort dedicated to ending hunger, food scarcity, and malnutrition throughout Central and Southern Berkshire County. A 40-percent increase in food assistance participation over the past six months has resulted in some meal sites running out of food. An assessment was conducted during January and February of 2009 that involved thirty-two pantries and meal sites and included ten important service providers and supporters. This first-time collaboration resulted in a strategy of twelve initiatives on how to revise the existing food network. Several of the initiatives are underway, such as networking and supporting community gardens, and delivering the fresh produce to meal sites. Another initiative seeks funding for reducing wastage by networking, soliciting, and transporting donated food from grocery stores and restaurants. Community action can tackle any issue. One Berkshire group focuses on the woeful economic condition in our nation and studies Fractional Reserve Banking, derivatives, and credit practices. They offer a twelve-week course held in Great Barrington. Presently, they are looking at expanding local currency using BerkShares, and are forming a Depositors’ Association. They are members of the Common Good Bank, where all bank profits benefit the community. This group is now offering presentations and house parties, to teach a way out of the financial crisis through local currency use. Citizens are addressing local green energy production by recapturing our region’s original hydroelectric power grid. Their group’s vision is “zero net energy,” meaning the energy used locally is equal to what is produced locally. In Central and Southern Berkshire County there are forty dams and conduit systems that have the necessary requirements for producing electricity but are not doing so. Citizens are organizing a study of the feasibility of restoring and tapping this energy source. They are sponsoring the first collaborative meeting with environmental, regulatory, engineering, state, and funding organizations to utilize this existing resource to benefit our community.
Another committee of people has formed a timebank, which is similar to a barter system except that in a timebank you trade your time, “time dollars,” as a liquid currency. This is especially convenient because the person who provided a service for you can be reciprocated by anyone else in the organization when spending the time dollars earned from you. Each person's hour is valued the same as any other person's hour. The group has forty-five active members offering more than one hundred different services, and making nearly as many requests. The timebank is accessed through the internet, with members listing their personal profiles, offerings, and requests. Timebanking is another workable form of currency. To illustrate the power of grassroots community efforts, all these programs described originate from one group, Berkshire Co-Act (Community Organizing for Action). If one group of volunteers can accomplish this much in one year, then you can begin to see the potential of other grassroots organizations in our region, such as BRIDGE, Railroad Street Youth Project, Project Sprout, Volunteers in Medicine, Orion Grassroots Network, and Volunteers for Change, to name just a few. Regional grassroots groups that work collaboratively with other groups can tap even greater potential. Often, organizations function in individual silos, never really accessing the possibilities that are achievable using a collaborative approach. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, in North Adams, has been going strong for twenty-five years. Their community forum is a pool of resources and creativity to deal with community needs. A similar collaborative is underway in Central and Southern Berkshire County. Become involved in grassroots community initiatives. Participants often claim they receive much more than they give. Attend meetings with other concerned citizens, volunteer at meal sites, and plug into something that is not focused on personal gain, but is about serving the community. This involvement will nourish and feed your spirit. Participate in Strengthening Your Community. Berkshire Co-Act: Community Organizing for Action. co-act.org Contact: info@co-act.org, 413-232-7888
This nonprofit page has been generously sponsored by:
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Restaurants & Cafes
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featuring: Yogi Teas • Deans Beans organic/fair trade coffee & espresso • vegan & gluten free baked goods • an ever-changing menu of local foods & entertainment • free wireless
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Restaurants & Cafes
cafe ADAM
Modern European Cuisine Serving Brunch Lunch Dinner
Fresh local & organic ingredients Extraordinary food • Fine wine 413.528.7786 / cafeadam.org
325 STOCKBRIDGE RD. GREAT BARRINGTON MA
’TisThe Seasoning Reserve your spot for Christmas Dinner and New Year’s Day Brunch! Host up to 60 guests with a catered party. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections available.
Monday–Sunday, 5pm–10pm Birthplace of Berkshire Cuisine™ A cosmopolitan interpretation of New England favorites with an ethnic twist.
Specializing in seasonal, vegan, macrobiotic, gluten-free, and raw foods We offer a variety of deli salads, hot daily specials, delicious soups, sandwiches and desserts. We cater for events, parties and festivals. Call for more details
Take Out Only Winter Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:30-3:00pm 239 Onota Street ~ Pittsfield, MA 01201 (2 Blocks North of Linden St. on Onota St.) Tel: 413.443.2625 www.thedancingvegan.com 44
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Reservations: 413.394.4047 1575 Pleasant Street (Route 102), Lee, MA 01238 Perigee-Restaurant.com
Wine & Beer
Wine & Beer
Hours: Mon - Sat 9am -11pm Sunday 12- 8pm
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3 Minutes−Improve Your Life
I
By Karlee Fain, KYT, LMT, NCTMB
get it, we’re busy. Between work, school, appointments, laundry, finding the right kind of apples in the grocery store . . . well it’s easy to forget to take care of ourselves. Over the years I have found myself in bed with migraines or aches and pains because, quite frankly, that was what it was going to take to get me to slow down and rest. The irony of it all is that when we are rested, healthy, and focused we can get much more done in a shorter period of time. So open the windows of your mind, and promptly throw out the old adage “No Pain No Gain” because feeling better can be quite simple and fast. Begin by sitting comfortably. With your next breath in, inhale as low as you can, allowing your belly to expand like a balloon outward. As you exhale, gently draw your navel back towards your spine, letting go of any remaining air. Not sure if you are doing it “right”? Place your hands on your belly and practice feeling your stomach expand into your hands. Try this simple belly breath a few times. The next time you inhale, allow the belly to expand, but then continue breathing allowing the breath to rise up and expand outwards through the sides of your ribs. Exhale the air from the ribs and then the belly. Try this 2-step breath a few times. If it feels unusual that is OK, in fact it’s a good reminder
that you may not take advantage of all of the room your lungs have every day. The final step is to inhale into the belly, let the air rise to fill the ribs, and finally continue to inhale as high as you can into the chest. Exhale, letting the air release from the chest, ribs, and then belly, in that order. Inhale from the bottom up – belly, ribs, and chest. Exhale from the top down – chest, ribs, and belly. Notice after just a minute or two that your mood may have shifted. As you oxygenate your blood stream, every cell you have has more nourishment to work with. Likewise your nervous system is calmed by the simple repetitive focus of your mind on each stage of the breath in and out. ~ Karlee Fain, KYT, LMT, NCTMB. See ad on page 33.
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Index of Resource Guide Advertisers Advanced Energy Panels ...............................................................21 Alan Inglis M.D., Board Certified Internal Medicine ................26 Alison Shore Gaines, Certified Holistic Life Coach ..................29 Alison Shore Gaines, Practical Feng Shui ................................33 Allegrone Construction ..............................................................21 Arcadian Shop .............................................................................16 Art of Wellness, The ...............................................................13, 29 ArtSmart Creations .........................................................................10 Audrey Herrick Reflexology ..........................................................30 Bella Grazia Studio .........................................................................14 BensDotter’s Pet ................................................................................7 Berkshire Acupuncture ..................................................................27 Berkshire Animal D.R.E.A.M.S. ......................................................7 Berkshire Bike and Board ..............................................................16 Berkshire Co-op Market ......................................inside front cover Berkshire Energy Healing ..............................................................28 Berkshire Healing Arts ...................................................................32 Berkshire Humane Society ...............................................................7 Berkshire Organics ..........................................................................18 Berkshire Photovoltaic Services, BPVS .........................................6 Berkshire Physical Therapy & Wellness .....................................30 Berkshire Radon Technologies ....................................................37 Berkshire Soul & Spirit Center .....................................................12 Berkshire South Regional Community Center ........................... 32 Berkshires and Beyond .....................................................................7 Berkshires Green Grocer & Claire’s Cafe .............................13, 18 Body Connection Chiropractic .....................................................27 Bruce Mandel .....................................................................................8 cafeADAM .......................................................................................44 Canterbury Farm .............................................................................14 Catamount ........................................................................................14 Center for Compassionate Relationships, The ...........................27 CET, Center for Ecological Technology .....................................17 Cheryl Ann Luft, MSS, CAM, RSMT ..........................................14 Cheshire Glassworks .........................................................................8 Christine Tobin, APRN-BC, A-HNC ..........................................26 Circle Sauna ......................................................................................37 Clearwater Natural Foods ..............................................................18 Climate Heating & Cooling ................................inside front cover Compassion in Motion ...................................................................31 Concerned Singles ...........................................................................41 Dancing Vegan, The .......................................................................44 Deb Koffman Art ..............................................................................8 Deb Phillips, MS, LDN, CHES .....................................................29 Decumanus Green Design ............................................................23 delSol ...................................................................................................6 Details Interior Design ...................................................................37 DeVries Building Supply ...............................................................22 Domaney’s Fine Wines & Liquors ................................................44 Dunns Heating & Solar LLC ...........................................................6 Eastern Light Tai Chi & Qi Gong ................................................31 Eileen Lawlor, LICSW ...................................................................27 Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter ......................................................7 ElectroBlast .....................................................................................29 Fertile Ground Acupuncture .....................................................27 Franklin County Chamber of Commerce ...............................10 Fred Villari's Studios of Self Defense .........................................41 Get Organized With Andrea! .......................................................10 GoodWorks Insurance ...................................................................10 greenbodyandhome.com .........................................................13, 37 Grenergy Solar Store ..................................................................6, 13 HANDLE® of New England .......................................................26 46
December 2009
Hartsville Design ......................................................................21, 37 Healing Spirit ..............................................................................28 Health, Flow & Joy Energy Healing .........................................28 Healthy Living Center .....................................................................7 Hearts & Hands ..............................................................................29 Hearts Desire Reiki .........................................................................31 Henriette Meran, Homeopathy .....................................................29 Hill Engineers, Architects, Planners, Inc. ...................................21 Hilltop Orchards - Furnace Brook Winery .................................14 Instant Replay ..................................................................................44 Jaya Jacobs, Realtor, CBR, Eco Broker .................................37 Jill Powell, Reiki .......................................................................31 Karlee Fain, Certified/Licensed Wellness Instructor ..........33 Kathleen M. Favaloro, DC, PT ..............................................28 KENVER LTD. ......................................................................16 KENVERHomeWorks ...........................................................37 La Leche League ..............................................................................8 Laughing Dragon Tai Chi ..............................................................31 Lee Bodywork Associates ..............................................................29 Light Touch Chiropractic Center .................................................27 Littlewolf Architecture ...................................................................22 Mikka Barkman Bodywork ............................................................29 Millie Calesky, Business and Life Coach ....................................11 Ming Lash, Somatic Movement Therapist ...........................16, 29 Morrison's Home Improvement Specialists, Inc. .......................19 Music for Healing & Transition Program, The............................8 Mystical Rose Herbals ....................................................................30 Naomi Alson, Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist .................27 Okerstrom Lang Landscape Architects .....................................22 Olive Designs .........................................................................13, 33 Orchid Blossom Healing Arts ......................................................27 Our BerkshireGreen Small Business Marketing Newsletter ..10 Our Family Dentist, Dr. Allan L. Nahman .................................28 Papa’s Healthy Food & Fuel .........................................................18 Perigee Restaurant and Catering ...................................................44 Pet Partners of the Tri-State Berkshires ........................................7 Phoebe Williams, Life Coach ....................................................29 Pittsfield Health Food Centre ...................................................18 Plaza Package Store ....................................................................45 Ramsdell Library ............................................................................17 Randal Williams, Yoga Educator .................................................33 Randi Haskins Holistic Physical Therapy ...................................23 Reconnective Healing® and The Reconnection® - Adam Seavey .............30 Reconnective Healing® and The Reconnection® - Marshall Rosenthal ..30 Resultz Fitness .................................................................................14 Rowley Fuel Company, Inc. ........................................... back cover Sacred Blossom Doula Services ...................................................33 Sati Wellness Center .......................................................................32 Sheilaa Hite ......................................................................................12 Sheri Biasin, Website Hosting & Design .....................................10 Sproutman® ..............................................................................17 Stone Soup .......................................................................................44 Studio Day Spa ................................................................................23 Susan B. Lord, MD .........................................................................26 Temple 33 1/3, The ....................................................................23 Thea Basis, Holistic Health Coach ........................................14, 41 Upper Crust Bakery .......................................................................17 Violet Eagan, Certified Pilates and Gyrotonic Instructor ........16 Webnash Design-Build ...................................................................22 Wellness Integral .............................................................................32 WholePerson Movement ...............................................................16 Your Color Connection .................................................................10
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Friends of Our BerkshireGreen: Thank You for Your Support!
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Gift certificates available
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Allendale Shopping Center, Pittsfield, MA • 413-442-9073 Holiday Hours: Monday - Wednesday 10am-5:30pm • Thursday & Friday 10am-8pm • Saturday 9am-4pm • Sunday Noon-5pm
~ Voted Best of the Berkshires for 11 Years ~
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Tue 4–9 • Wed 11:30–9 • Thu, Fri & Sat 11:30–10 • Sun 12 noon - 9pm
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Our BerkshireGreen Event Sponsors
Join our mailing list at OurBerkshireGreen.com to be invited to our next event!
-WINNING INN A WARD AND FINE DINING
Enjoy the perfect retreat for your Berkshire visit "The Taste of Germany" Restaurant
Specializing in organically grown authentic German and European cuisine Hands-on cooking & mushroom hunting classes by master chef 16 Individually designed guest rooms with private bathrooms & A/C Set on 10 acres of organic gardens with swimming pool & tennis court Exquisite destination weddings & special events up to 300 guests
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Meet, Eat & Greet
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Come join us at one of our free, fun & informative networking events held at fine locations around the county.
Nov. 14 to Jan. 3 Downtown Pittsfield berkshiremuseum.org
MAKE NEW BUSINESS CONTACTS... AND NEW FRIENDS Complimentary appetizers and cash bar are provided! Door Prizes! No reservation needed
Dynamic speakers
share tips on wellness & green living Invite your friends and family. Join our mailing list at OurBerkshireGreen.com to receive e-newsletter updates & invitations Interested in speaking or hosting? Contact Patty Strauch at patty@OurBerkshireGreen.com
WiFi, Food Cooked to Order, No MSG, Gluten-Free Available 75 North Street (entrance at McKay), Pittsfield, MA 413-443-3188 CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR A LISTING OF LIVE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT www.FlavoursInTheBerkshires.com
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EXCLUSIVE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN 2010
Our BerkshireGreen Magazine Sponsors
thank you for your help in supporting green & healthy living in our community!
134 Hartsville New Marlborough Rd. Rte 57, Village Green New Marlborough, MA 01230
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fine dining • lodging special events Serving from 5pm to 9:30pm Open Wednesday - Monday (Closed Tuesday)
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Walking the
Talk
About Health, Fitness & Wellness with
Avi Dresner
LIVE, CALL-IN TALK SHOW on
Tuesday Mornings at 9:05am or Stream live at WSBS.com
WellTalk@WSBS.com • 413-446-6611
UNDERWRITTEN BY:
Currently inviting guests, underwriters, advertisers and sponsors to participate in the third run of shows starting December 29th.
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