Green Living Monthly

Green LivingMonthlyAugust 2011 • greenlivingmonthly.com

WHY GO ORGANIC?

Going, Growing, Green

Clean Air Education:

A Solution for Yard WasteOrganic Kids

Children and organic foods: where to start?

2 • GreenLivingMonthly.com • August 2011

People who love animals won’t wonder why we have a section on pets in a periodical like Green Living Monthly. Pets are wonderful. They love you uncondi-tionally and ask nothing in return (well, okay…food, pets on the head, and time with you.) There have also been many studies confirming pets are good for your physical and mental health. A person in the hospital will heal faster and return home if their pet is waiting for them; a pet can lower your blood pressure; a pet is a blessing to a lonely person. And let’s face it, here’s a sentient being who thinks you are the greatest person in the entire universe (even if you’re not.) They greet you like you’re their long-lost friend even if you’ve only been out of the house for ten minutes.

Sadly, many times these loving creatures end up with people who do not return the same loyalty. You’ve seen the commercials and ads showing horrify-ing photos of neglected dogs and cats; too many end up in shelters because their humans did not think through what this responsibility meant. Shelters are overcrowded and tragically, too many animals who could have made someone or a family very happy, get euthanized. And sometimes, it’s a tragic life change: a death, a divorce.

This story is about one organization who seeks to make a difference. WAMAL or Washington Malamute Adoption League, is based in Seattle, but works throughout the entire state of Washington and into Idaho and sometimes Alaska. Wherever there is a need to rescue malamutes off of death row, out of shocking conditions in puppy mills or even sometimes when an owner has died and there is no one to take the dog, WAMAL will swoop in and find at least temporary shel-ter for these dogs. WAMAL is not the only organization who does this. There are many nationwide who are breed-specific. Why? Because many people still want a purebred dog but don’t think they can get one except through an expensive breeder. Or, by rescuing, people think they can’t get a puppy, or that the dog will have major personality flaws, or they’re sick, or they’re mean. Sadly, people give up dogs, both purebreds and mixed breeds for many different reasons.

WAMAL has an agreement with every shelter in the state. If a purebred is brought in, WAMAL is called. WAMAL volunteers provide foster homes for these dogs until they can be adopted. While the dogs are with their foster family, they are assessed, a bio is drawn up, and a picture is placed on their website (WAMAL.com.) A prospective adopter can then check the website and read about the dog and decide whether this will be a good fit. But that’s not all. It’s important that this dog finds a Forever Home. It’s extremely stressful for any dog to think he’s come home to a new and loving family only to be returned a week or two later because the people were “surprised” by some breed-specific characteristic. Malamutes are stunningly beautiful dogs. And for this reason, many people don’t take the time to research the breed’s personality; they only see that mystical wolfie face and think “this is for me.” Malamutes can be escape artists and unpaid, unskilled landscapers; they’re big, they shed, they’re sometimes not sociable with children or other dogs (or cats, or farm animals.) Because it’s so important for people to understand what they’re getting, WAMAL checks the prospective adopters: the family makeup, the security of the house and yard, whether there are other ani-mals in the pack (many mals get along great with other dogs; some don’t), how long the dog will spend alone during the day, whether the dog will be an inside or outside dog, and many other criteria to make sure it’s a match made in Heaven.

For those of us who understand malamutes and have the time to spend working with them, they can be one of the most loyal, lovable, personable com-panions you’ll ever have. (Yes, I’ve adopted four from WAMAL…the loves of my life.)

If you are considering getting a pet, do check out WAMAL.com or other breed-specific sites, or shelters. There are far too many dogs (and cats) facing death-row through no fault of their own. These animals are beautiful and just want someone to shower their affections on. Check the breed you are consider-ing. Every breed has its own personality, and every dog within that breed has a personality all his own. If you are considering a malamute but are hesitant (you have an English garden,) please consider volunteering to be a foster home. The love you give these animals who are coming from difficult situations can be just the medicine for their emotional healing. They’ll learn to trust humans again be-cause of you. And, many times you simply can’t let them go. (Yup, uh huh, me…we fostered for 3 hours and then adopted!)

Adopting an animal won’t change the world, but for that animal, his world will change forever.

Article and Photo Chris EllisWAMAL Rescue and Recycle

August 2011 • GreenLivingMonthly.com • 3

Have a Beautiful Yard!Having a clean, beautiful yard and garden is important to most of us. I enjoy keeping my lawn mowed, my garden free of weeds (if I can keep up!) and keeping pine cones,

Smoke from burning leaves and wood is as

harmful as cigarette smoke and can

contribute to birth defects, cancer and lung

disease. Not only is outdoor burning dangerous,

but it is illegal in most communities and can

carry large fines. Chip or compost your yard

waste instead of burning. And

NEVER burn your garbage. This fall,

start really protecting your family.

For clean healthy alternatives to

burning, visit our website.

www.ecy.wa.gov/BreatheTheDifference

BREATHE THE DIFFERENCE

pine needles and branches out of my yard. But the bigger the yard, the harder it can be to keep it up, and the more yard waste you may have to figure out what to do with.

I have the luxury of living in an urban city with a green waste curbside recycling program. Any branches, lawn clippings and weeds I have get picked up right in front of my house every week. But in most parts of central and eastern Washington, this option is not available. So then what do you do?Lots of AlternativesSome people choose to chip their large branches. This is a great option if you are tearing out a large tree or have a large property with lots of trees. Chippers can be rented, or some wood recycling companies will come to you to pick it up. And just think of all of the free mulch you will end up with!A compost pile is another great option, especially if you have a lot of land. You don’t need a fancy composting bin for it to work. Making a pile in the corner of your yard and turning it with a pitchfork or backhoe every once in a while will work just fine. I do have an official “composting bin,” but it just keeps the com-post confined, which is nice for a smaller yard. Composting bins are available at all price points at hard-ware stores and gardening shops, or one can easily be constructed using a few pieces of wood and a

By: Kendra Robinson-Harding, Washington State Department of Ecology few nails. A quick Google search

came up with several instructional videos and plans on the subject. And the resulting compost is great for gardening and revitalizing soil.In communities where curbside pickup is not an option, there are many community-wide or neighbor-hood cleanup days, often in the fall and spring. Contact your local solid waste office for more infor-mation.And at the very least, you can always haul your yard waste to a landfill or transfer station. Many landfills in Washington have reduced fees or special fees for yard waste. For an interactive map by county for residential yard waste recycling and composting facilities, visit our website at www.ecy.wa.gov and search for “Yard Waste/Debris Recycling County Map.”A Poor SolutionAlthough so many great alterna-tives and options exist, some people still choose to burn their yard waste. But did you know that smoke from outdoor burning can be just as bad for your health as cigarette smoke? The Washington

Clean Air Education:

A Solution for Yard Waste

Yard Wastecontinued 14


Vol. 1 Issue 1Maiden Issue

August 2011

Contributing Writers:

EditorChris Ellis

[email protected]

509-981-3839

greenlivingmonthly.com

September 2011Deadline:

Wednesday August 19th

Advertising Copy and Event Listings must be submitted by the above date. Please call if you have any questions.

Contents

Our goal is to bring useful local information and tips to individuals, organizations and businesses that every day are joining the collective movement towards more responsi-ble stewardship of our environment

and planet.

Monthly

Dr. Alycia PolicaniDr. Rose Marie Astertino

Teri SouthworthMaree Koolstra

Trish VieiraKendra Robinson-Harding

PublisherDana R. Michie

[email protected]

509-467-3826

Welcome to Summer! We thought it would never come! Green Living Monthly welcomes this wonderful season with more information and resources on healthy living. Summer is a time to enjoy the fruits of your organic gardens; time for outdoor living, adven-ture and exercise; time with friends and family; time for reading a good book in a hammock under a nice shade tree; time for swimming in the cool waters of our lakes and streams. Time for enjoy-ing the long, hot days that we’ve waited so long for.We wish you a happy, healthy season and hope you will take time for your-self, remembering the child within.

Frog Artist,Kristi Stout

Green Living

Welcome to Summer

Chris Ellislakespokanemedia.com

[email protected]

509-981-3839509-467-3826

2 WAMAL Rescue and Recycle

3 A Solution for Yard Waste

5 The Extreme Importance of Vitamin D

6 Why Go Organic

7 Children and organic foods: where to start?

8 Going, Growing Green

10 Honey Food and Medicine

11 Recycle & Reuse with Recycle Sally

12 Rhubarb is so Under-rated

13 Acupuncture for Pets


You may say to yourself, “Hey, I’m outside all the time, I get plenty of Vitamin D. I don’t live in Seattle so I don’t have to worry”. Unfortunately, this just isn’t true. The problem is that even when it’s sunny, you might not get enough vitamin D. In a study from the city of Calgary – one of the sunniest places in Canada – almost every person measured had a vitamin D deficiency ... 97 percent of them! And in Australia, one of the sunniest places on earth, an osteoporosis study found over 43 percent of people had low vitamin D levels during the winter. The reason for this is our location on the earth in relation to the sun. In the far northern and southern latitudes, the UVB rays that we need to make Vitamin D just bounce off the atmosphere. So, even in the middle of summer, not enough UVB penetrates the atmosphere for us to manufacture adequate amounts of Vitamin D.

Why should we care?A recent study from the prestigious Archives of Internal Medicine found that an astound-ing three out of four Americans don’t get enough vitamin D. That’s a shame because vitamin D might just be your best defense against the stressful, modern world. For example:• High vitamin D levels can lower the rate of ALL cancers by 77%.• People with the highest levels of vitamin D have a 43% lower rate of heart disease.• Men with the highest levels of vitamin D have less skin cancer.• Women with high vitamin D levels have 20% less bone loss and fractures.• People with high vitamin D levels have 20% lower rates of gum disease.• People with the most vitamin D have a 55% lower rate of diabetes.And vitamin D deficiency is the reason behind seasonal affective disorder. Meanwhile, vitamin D deficiency is linked to osteoporosis (metabolic bone disease), increased body fat, unexplained muscle pain, impaired lung function, respiratory infections and even a depressed sex drive. It is very important for proper thyroid function, post menopausal hormone balance and blood sugar control. Studies dating back to the early part of the 20th century, show that Vitamin D supplementation is more effective against preventing

The Extreme Importance of Vitamin Dthe flu than a flu shot. So, whether sunshine is in short supply (or if you’re simply not getting enough of it), how do you ensure you have enough vitamin D? Taking a Vitamin D supplement is usually necessary in our neck of the woods. You can also get it from eating beef, eggs, cod liver oil and, interestingly mushrooms.

Alfalfa is also a good food source of Vitamin D. The herb alfalfa is one of the richest sources of vitamins you can get from a plant, with high levels of vitamins A, E and K, which are necessary for the proper absorption of Vitamin D. And alfalfa sprouts contain 150 percent more amino acids than corn or wheat. There are about 267 IU of vitamin D in each ounce (1.25 cups) of alfalfa sprouts. You can eat them raw in a sandwich or salad, or sauté them like spinach.

The bottom line is that you need to have your Vitamin D levels checked yearly and take the amount of Vitamin D that maintains your blood levels between 60-80. This amount is different for everyone but usually 4000-6000 IU is safe in an adult and necessary for an adequate level in our area. Sources1 The Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study, www.camos.org 2 Pasco, J.A., Henry, M.J., Nicholson, G.C., et al, “Vitamin D status of women in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study: association with diet and casual exposure to sunlight,” Med. J. Aust. Oct. 2001;175(8):401-53 Dahl, Mark V., MD, “Higher serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with lower levels of nonmelanoma skin cancer in elderly men,” Journal Watch: Dermatology January 20104 Parker, J., Hashmi, O., Dutton, D., et al, “Levels of vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders,” Maturitas Feb. 2010; 65:225-236 5 Sutherland, E. Rand, et al, “Vitamin D Levels, Lung Function, and Steroid Response in Adult Asthma,” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2010; 181: 699-7046 Horst, RL, Reinhardt, T.A., Russell, J.R., Napoli, J.L., “The isolation and identification of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 from Medicago sativa (alfalfa plant),” Arch. Biochem.

Biophys. May 15, 1984;231(1):67-71

Dr. Alycia Policani graduated from Eastern Washington University in 1996, with a B.S. in Human Biology and went on to the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, where she achieved her doctorate in naturopathic medicine in 2000. She has ten years of experience in private practice as sole proprietor of Evergreen Naturopathic. Dr. Policani practices as a primary care physician with emphasis on women’s health, menopause, and thyroid disease using science based natural medicine. Dr. Policani grew up in Spokane, pursuing many outdoor activities that allowed her to develop a deep appreciation for nature, ultimately leading her down the path

to naturopathic medicine. When she is not at the office you can find her horseback riding, gardening, hiking or travelling with her husband and son.

Here’s a list of common mushrooms and their vitamin D levels...

MushroomType:

Chanterelle, raw, whole

Oyster,raw,sliced

Brown, Italian, Crimini, raw, whole

Enoki, raw, sliced or whole

White, raw, whole

InternationalUnits (IU) of Vitamin D per cup of mushrooms:

114 25 3 3 5

MushroomType:

Shiitake, raw

Shiitake,dried

Morel, raw Maitake, raw, diced

Portabella, raw, diced

Portabella sliced

InternationalUnits (IU) of Vitamin D per cup of mushrooms:

18 60 136 786 9 17

Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (2010)

By Dr. Alycia Policani

Here is a list of common mushrooms and their vitamin D levels...

Chris Ellis

Spokane's Family Farm...."Where milk comes from"

Tours and Classes Available! Call for Scheduling.


I asked myself this question years ago. My hesitancy was in the fact that organic food looks pretty much the same as “regu-lar” food, but a lot more money. I talked to people and began to read. I read a lot. I talked to people who had made the conversion. It began to be not just about food.

What I learned was so scary that I don’t think I could fall back now if I wanted to. Not that I’m 100% organic. It’s very difficult to do that given the costs and limited avail-ability. but our family is now committed to buying organic whenever possible. Yes, we spend a lot more on food and products, prob-ably twice as much as before, but the benefit of good health, well being, and knowing we’re supporting industries that care about true health and sustainability is well,…mon-ey well spent.

What gets sprayed on, injected into, and genetically tinkered with, seems almost criminal to me. How can the overseers of our health care not stop this? Somehow this prac-tice slinks by the powers that be and ends up on our grocery store shelves. I’ve seen some ingredients in skin care products that would have a skull and crossbones symbol on the

crate in the freight yard stamped by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). And we put it on our skin? Skin is our biggest organ and if you don’t think it’s not one big sponge, check out prescription drugs that use patches or scratches for their drug to make a beeline through your skin and into your bloodstream.

The use of chemicals in our everyday products is rampant. For producers of these products, it’s more bang for their buck. Yet, we are not protected by anything except a la-bel of ingredients with words 20-plus letters long. I looked those up on a few products and so should you. The average person uses nine personal products daily, (more, if you want to look better), exposing them to 126 chemicals (a day!); that’s nine pounds of products on your body per year! My new rule now is the fewer ingredients the better; and, if I can’t pronounce it, I probably don’t want to eat it or apply it to my skin.

An example: two common cosmetic ingredients, D4 and D5, members of the siloxane family, have been “found” to be toxic, causing animals to sustain reproduc-tive damage, including tumors of the uterus. D4 and D5 are found in makeup, including

lipsticks, lotions and hair care products. In fact, they are found in one out of every seven of the 41,000 different personal care products surveyed. They are also used in baby bot-tle nipples (nice!), cookware (yummy), and home cleaning products (a breath of fresh air? Not!)

This revelation and evolution toward healthy, cleaner living didn’t happen over-night. It’s a long process; for me, almost twenty years. Little by little, I began to replace toxic food, toxic skincare products, toxic home cleaning agents and toxic pet food. The more I learned, the more I discard-ed chemical-laden products from my life.

I challenge you to be your own over-seer…a responsible steward of your body and your environment. You must educate yourself, because no one out there seems to be monitoring this stuff. It conveniently and swiftly passes through the system and onto our dinner tables, into our skin, on our babies’ bottoms, into our beloved pets’ stom-achs, on the floors, kitchen countertops and toilet seats in our houses.

And, in the air we breathe and the water we drink.

WHY GO ORGANIC?Article Chris Ellis Photos Dana Michie


2422 E. Sprague Ave. 7302 N. Division St. 534-0694 484-7387

Spokane’s Local Garden Store Supplying Spokane Gardeners With

Quality Products Since 1944

See us for a full line of organic soil amendments, fertilizers, pest controls, beneficial insects, and everything else for your garden and pet needs.

Organic Kids

When my husband and I decided to start down the path of healthy foods our first question was, “Where do we start”? I filled spare time researching new and exciting organic meals to place before my family with a gourmet flourish. The reality was, that as a business owner and mom of six I didn’t have time or energy to start a whole new way of cooking so I started where it made sense; I started with what we already knew. As we used up the foods we already had in our home I re-placed them with the same foods only organic: organic baby car-rots, organic apples, and organic juice. A friend offered to raise a cow and hog on his ranch for butchering in the fall. I stopped buying meals in a box and started buying whole foods and ingredi-ents and cooking from scratch.

We bought chickens and started using our own free-range chicken eggs. I recently found organic chicken feed (special order at Nine Mile Feed Store) and we will be transitioning over to that. I buy milk from Spokane Family Farms (www.spokanefamilyfarm.com). It is organic, non-homog-enized, and pasteurized at a very low temperature which allows the vitamins to stay intact. We planted an organic garden (http://rareseeds.com). I let the kid’s browse the catalogs and find fun seeds to plant. We have multi-colored Swiss chard and carrots. We will soon be eating tomatoes and peppers of every size, color, and flavor. We planted cardoon, Jerusalem artichokes, and kiwi.

Photos and Article by Maree KoolstraChildren and organic foods: where to start?

Children and Organic Foods continued on page12

Article Chris Ellis Photos Dana Michie

purevida.mionegroup.com


reen Building – you hear it everywhere now, but just what

does that phrase mean? Bamboo floors? Solar electric, PV panels? No-VOC paint? Super-insulating your attic? Installing storm windows? Is calling something “green” just marketing hype aimed to encourage an expensive purchase? Indeed, the word “green” has been misused in advertising, but green building has been growing up lately and well executed green design and construction can make your house more comfortable, efficient, beautiful and convenient.

Designing, building and remodeling “green” includes: • an integrated design that works well for your climate, your site and your family lifestyle • siting your home close to restau-rants, shopping, services and recreation • using building materials, energy and water efficiently and effectively • creating indoor and outdoor spaces that are non-toxic and healthy • connecting indoor and outdoor spaces to enlarge your house and enrich your connection with nature • using the sun to light and heat your house • using natural ventilation, shading and landscaping to keep your house cool • creating spaces that are sized right for your intended activities, and that are comfortable, durable, beautiful and long-lasting

If you want an affordable, healthy home with low utility bills and reduced main-tenance that expresses the unique flavor

Going, Growing, GreenArticle & Photos

Kelly Lerner, Architectwww.one-world-design.com

G

of the Pacific Northwest, green building is the way to go. It’s good for you, good for your family and good for the environ-ment. Look to future columns for green building “how-to’s”, from kitchens and bathrooms to choosing materials and landscaping.

Why Build or Remodel Green?

Cost SavingsEnergy-efficient and water-wise designs and products reduce monthly utility bills. Installing a high-efficiency washing ma-chine can save up to $90 on energy bills and 6,000 gallons of water every year. The most efficient new appliances typi-cally use 50% less energy than the most wasteful models. Efficient and durable features can last longer and cost less to maintain in the long run.

HealthA green remodel can be good for you, physically and emotionally. Health-focused designs maximize fresh air and natural light, while reducing the risk of injury and asthma. The US EPA includes poor indoor air quality on the list of the top five most urgent public health risks. Levels of air pollution inside a home can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Using low-toxic materials and good ventilation techniques can help to prevent problems like molds, allergens and poor air quality.

Comfort and BeautyInviting and attractive rooms reinforce the comforts of home. Natural materials, high-quality lighting, and good design details make for pleasing spaces. Your home can be a refuge from the hectic and sometimes polluted world outside.


Added ValueClassic, well thought-out designs keep things from looking dated and hold their value over time. Homes designed to welcome various ages and abilities are marketable to a larger population (a key benefit for resale). And green elements also represent value: 80% of homebuyers say new homes don’t meet their environmental expecta-tions, and 96% said they are willing to pay more for a home with green features.

Ecological BenefitBuilding or remodeling is an opportu-nity to create a home that enhances the environment, instead of depleting it. With your green project, you can be more resource-efficient, minimize waste, and recycle what’s left over to reduce the amount of materials ending up in landfills. Recycling 60% or more of construction waste is easily attain-able. By choosing environmentally responsible products, you can protect forests, wildlife, and air and water qual-ity. And, for every gallon of water or kilowatt-hour of electricity you save, you reduce the amount of carbon diox-ide (the greenhouse gas) entering the atmosphere.

Improving your Local EconomyBuying locally produced materials and working with local professionals helps local economies thrive. Building is one business that can’t be outsourced overseas. Using less water and energy can reduce infrastructure costs in your community, from sewers and pumping to electrical transmission lines.

Resources: • Natural remodeling for the Not-So-Green House by Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner • City of Seattle Green Remod-eling Guides:

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Green-Building/SingleFamilyResidential/Resources/RemodelingGuides/default.asp

• www.regreenprogram.org

• www.GreenHomeGuide.com

“A green remodel can be good for you, physically

and emotionally.”


&Natural HealthHONEY: FoodMedicine

The virtues of honey as both food and medicine have been known for thousands of years. In fact, honey is as old as written history, going back to 2100 BC, where it was found in Sumerian and Babylonian writings, the Hittite Code and sacred writings in India and Egypt. It most likely existed well before that. It is mentioned in the Old Testament as Ca-naan being “the land of milk and honey.” Mead, an alcoholic drink made from honey, was known as the “nectar of the gods,” in Egyptian and Greek folklore.Honey is considered to be a “whole food,” composed of two main sugars, levulose and dextrose. These sugars do not need to be broken down by the digestive process, so honey is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, giving a quick en-ergy boost to the body. It also contains protein, vitamins and minerals, but no cholesterol.Honey is naturally anti-bacte-rial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-oxidant. It contains osmotic properties, meaning it with-draws water. Water molecules strongly react with the sugars in honey, leaving little water available for microorganisms. So, infection-causing bacteria is essentially dehydrated to death. (Go Honey!) This qual-ity can be utilized both inter-nally and externally. The old remedy of taking a teaspoon of honey for a cold and sore

throat was true (Go Grandma!) Externally, honey has been used to treat open wounds and burns to prevent infection. Hippocrates (‘first do no harm,’ western medicine’s Hypocratic Oath,) was a proponent of honey. He considered it a very good expectorant. Accord-ing to Hippocrates, the physi-cal virtues of honey are: “It causes heat, cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips, heals carbuncles and running sores.” Dioscorides, a Greek physician in the first century A.D., who wrote “Ma-teria Medica,” one of the oldest sources of medical knowledge, extols honey as an excel-lent medicine. He also gives kudos the medicinal value of beeswax, propolis and honey-wine. (Those Greeks and their mead!)Athletes in ancient Greece took honey to improve and sus-tain their performance at the original Olympics (Go Hermes, but put your toga back on!) Honey contains glucose and fructose and 22 other, more complex sugars, which produce supplies of glycogen in the liv-er. It causes less of an insulin response than other sugars. It gives athletes (and busy peo-ple) a slower, more sustained energy spike than sugar, which means it doesn’t have the “sugar crash” effect like simple sugars do. This is because of the complex mixture of sugars in honey. These sugars are

formed during the ripening and storage of honey by bee en-zymes.And let’s not forget honey’s cosmetic value, used by beau-tiful people for millennia. Quite simply, honey can be used in a facial mask. It is a natural humectant, which traps mois-ture in your skin and with its anti-oxidant qualities will heal and protect your skin from the sun damaging effects of ag-ing. Simply put the honey in a warm glass or jar, thereby heating it just enough to be-come more fluid. Apply it to your face and lie down for 20 minutes. (It’s a little yucky and sticky, but the benefits far out-weigh the messiness!) Rinse with cool water and apply a good moisturizer.

All honey is not created equal. Different kinds emanate from the different blossoms where bees hang out. Acacia, Bass-wood, Blueberry, Linden, Wild-flower, and Orange Blossom are just a few. They all have their own unique and wonderful tastes and qualities.No article would be complete (and believe me, it’s not com-plete…there are volumes more I could write on the excellent nature of honey,) without a recipe for baklava, that incred-ibly delectable, rich, melts-in-your-mouth Greek pastry. (Again with the Greeks.) I can’t get away with saying it’s low-fat, but I have substituted organic ingredients wherever possible. Make it and enjoy with a glass of mead, Honey.

By Chris Ellis


Ingredients • 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough (I have found frozen organic dough in natu-ral food stores) • 1 pound chopped nuts (these could be walnuts, pecans, or pista-chios) • 1 cup butter (organic, PLEASE!) • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (also antibacterial, antifungal, anti-septic in natural medicine) • 1 cup water • 1 cup non-bleached organic cane sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/2 cup honey (YAY!)

Directions1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter the bottom and sides of a 9x13 inch pan. 2. Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep. 3. Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp. 4. Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes. 5. Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncov-ered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.

BaklavaUnfortunately, many local transfer stations do not recycle glass, but wait…don’t throw those jars away. Jam, pickle and olive jars are anxious to take on a new purpose.

First, soak the labels off, then sterilize the jars in your dishwasher. Next, paint small squares on the glass surface with blackboard paint, (available from hardware stores). Sharpen chalk with a manual pencil sharpen-

er for a fine writing line. A piece of felt works fine as an eraser. Now the fun begins!

Dinner party place markers: Identify each jar with a guest’s name. Then fill the jar with a party favor specifically tailored to your guest. For example: Chocolate chips for Kirby . Hot Tamale candies for Dickie. Paint the lids a favorite color to dress them up.

Going green means buying bulk. When you return home, trans-fer that bag of sunflower seeds into a recycled glass jar. No more plastic bags! Distribute the large bag of organic cereal into more user friendly glass jars. Decant the large plastic container of local honey into a glass jar. When the honey starts to crystallize, pop the jar into the micro-wave for a few minutes to liquefy.

For the gardener….terrariums are the rage right now. Pick the perfect jar from your growing collection and layer in gravel, moss and cut little plants. These also make a perfect hostess gift.

Just returned from a trip? Stash those odd shaped keepsakes in a glass jar. Identify your adven-ture using the technique above. Same goes for organic treasures; a bit of sand from that gorgeous beach, a perfect sea shell, even a few rocks from the hike in Ladder Canyon.

No more bugs in your summer drink! Ditch the plastic cups and use jars instead! Each jar sports a family members name. Paint the lids a bright yellow and pres-to…personalized, BPB free, bug free glasses.

Next month, learn about new uses for beer bottle caps and Mardi Gras beads! Happy collectingfrom Teri Southworth, Sandpoint.

Recycle & Reusewith Recycle Sally


Who knew you could grow your own Poona Kheera cucumbers? My personal favorite.As I began to feel comfortable I decided to branch out a bit. I bought a grain mill, a Bosch mixer (http://marmeesbreadmar-ket.com) and a big bag of organic wheat kernels from Azure Stand-ard (www.azurestandard.com). I started baking my own bread. Last winter my husband bought me a dehydrator (www.excali-burdehydrator.com). One of my family’s favorite snacks is dehy-drated apple rings. I slice them about ¼ inch thick and lightly sprinkle organic cinnamon on them and put them in my dehy-drator for 10 hours. Organic homemade cooking doesn’t require much equip-ment. Instead of using a grain mill, there are many organic flours on the market, People have been making bread by hand for thousands of years. If you don’t own a dehydrator, your oven set very low with the door open or a handmade solar dehydrator works just as well.It is equally as important to me to teach my kids why we are eating the way we do. I want them to understand nutrition and where their food comes from. I want them to want quality whole foods that will have a positive impact on their growing bodies and to understand that food is more than something that fills their bellies. My kids have non-organic foods. Sometimes they have unhealthy foods, but I am teaching them that they are “sometimes” foods and not something they would want to eat regularly. It’s my hope that they will want to eat quality food over junk food.While switching to organic can seem overwhelming, if you

take a comfortable approach the transition can seem effortless. We are still working towards all organic. I know that blessing my family a little at a time is still blessing my family.

The very first fruit of every sea-son, is naturally organic, fresh, tasty, prolific, and it’s **good for you. It tends to sit in folk’s back yards generally unused and soon goes to seed. If used at all, it may grace the dinner table for a pie or two before families give up on it for the year. Our family has several huge plants and we use most of it. Rhubarb grows with very little care and the only thing that seems to harm it is a few thirsty slugs which are easy to scope out and eradicate. Besides making tasty pies and desserts, our boys like to harvest the large stalks and make fresh rhubarb jelly! It is easy, fun, fresh and economical to use. Any sleuthing youth can easily find some unused rhubarb in many backyards. We once found some in an empty lot while visiting Grandparents in a small town in Nebraska! Rhubarb can be harvested most of the spring and summer if picked correctly. Never cut it off, but rather pull its stalks out from the root which will allow it

to make more stalks and keep growing all season. You should also pull all the seed stalks before they make it to seed to keep it producing. Cut off the root ends and the large leaves, using leaves to make a natural weed barrier around garden plants. Across is a fast and easy recipe to make a non-fruit jelly

with very little ingredients. It makes a very color-

ful accessory to any country table and will be enjoyed by

the whole family. Our boys like to give it as a gift to friends and family, and are proud of their creativity. There is something very special about har-vesting and creating something so wonder-ful from nature to the table. The process will help your children to not only experience,

but ignite a passion to eat from the land!

**Rhubarb is low in Saturated fat, Sodium and Cholesterol but a very good source for Magne-sium, Vitamins C, K, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese and has over 25 grams of fiber in 12 cups!!!

Rhubarb is so under-rated!

Children and Organic Foods continued from page 7

“Organic home-made cooking doesn’t require

much equipment.”

Free Range Chickens

Mmm... Organic Strawberries!

Blessings from our organic garden

Article and Photos Submitted by Trish Vieira


Hilton, a geriatric cat with liver disease, would come in regularly for acupunc-ture treatments. Her treatments helped keep her liver values stable, gave her more energy and stimulated her ap-petite. When Hilton would arrive for her treatment, she would briefly say hello to everyone and then jump onto her favorite chair in the exam room. With no one holding her (that is how she pre-ferred it), I would do her acupuncture treatment and she would rest quietly or sleep for 15 minutes. After I took the needles out, she would jump down, say good-bye to everyone and walk back to her carrier.

Maddie, a Great Dane, suffered from inflammatory bowel disease since she was a puppy and later in life from neck and lower back disc disease. Regular acupuncture treatments through most of her life helped her with her digestive disease, gave her pain relief and helped keep her strong and active. Maddie

seemed to love her treatments. During house visits, she would sometimes try and walk me over to her bed (where she received her treatment) if I was taking too long talking with her owner. Maddie lived to be 12 ½ years old, a very long life for a giant breed.

Molly, an older yellow lab, was always very anxious and hated car rides. She was in such pain from severe arthritis that her owner was considering putting her to sleep. Acupuncture gave her much pain relief and greatly improved the quality of her life. She started to like her treatments so much that she actually began to enjoy being in the car and even got excited to go for rides.

WHAT IS ACUPUNCTURE?Acupuncture is part of the holistic system of healing known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM sees the body, mind and spirit as an integrat-ed whole, and recognizes and treats pat-terns of imbalance to restore harmony. Acupuncture has been used to treat animals for over 4000 years; originally it was used to treat valuable livestock in Asia. It is now used worldwide for the treatment of horses, livestock, zoologi-cal collections, wildlife and pets. All pets can be treated including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and pocket pets.

HOW IS ACUPUNCTURE PER-FORMED ON ANIMALS?Acupuncture is very safe and is per-formed by the gentle insertion of very fine, sterile needles at precise points on or near the surface of the body. This process produces physiological changes in the body that promote natural heal-

ing. The needle insertion is usually painless and most pets really seem to enjoy their treatments, becoming very relaxed and sometimes falling asleep. Acupuncture is used to treat existing diseases and injuries, as well as to im-prove overall health and prevent future illness.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?According to the ancient theories of TCM, there is a vital life energy flowing through all living things call Qi (pro-nounced chee.) An individual’s health is affected by the quality, quantity and balance of Qi. Qi flows throughout the body in pathways known as merid-ians. Meridians are like inter-connected highways or rivers flowing inside the body. When the body is healthy, Qi flows smoothly to every organ, gland, muscle, bone and tissue. When Qi flow is disrupted or blocked, disease or pain can occur. Acupuncture can restore the proper flow and balance of Qi and thereby help the body heal itself.Western science has shown acupuncture to have many effects. When the needle is inserted into an acupuncture point, it causes a stimulus that the body re-sponds to in a multitude of ways. These responses have various physiological effects in the body. Acupuncture can stimulate the release of anti-inflamma-tory or pain-relieving chemicals, effect secretions of neurotransmitters, increase blood flow, modify immune function, change some blood chemistries, affect hormone production, and diminish pain.

By Dr. Rosemarie Astertino

ACUPUNCTURE FOR PETS

“Needle insertion is usually painless

and most pets really seem to enjoy their

treatments”.

Pet Acupuncturecontinued on 15

12 cups rinsed and chopped Rhubarb16 oz box cherry gelatin (such as Jello brand)3 oz box cherry gelatin2 cups sugar

1) Prepare 6 pint jars and lids and set aside.2) Put rhubarb in stock pot with ½ inch water and cook on medium heat till very soft 3) Add gelatin to rhubarb slowly while stirring.4) Add 2 cups sugar (more if you like it really sweet), stir well till dissolved.5) Pour hot jelly mixture into prepared jars and place lids and rings on jars.6) Place in preheated oven 225 degrees for 50 minutes (or water bath)7) Take out of oven and let jars cool…….ENJOY!!*Beautiful and easy to make for kids and moms alike!!!*You can use orange gelatin for marmalade or straw-berry works well too! *This makes a special gift for Christmas, house warm-ing’s, or just because. * Makes a great stir in for hot cereal and home made yogurt.

Easy Rhubarb Jelly(Non Fruit Jelly)


State Legislature passed a law in 1991 banning outdoor burning. Garbage burning and burn barrels have been illegal everywhere in Washington since 2000. It is confusing, because burn-ing yard waste is only banned for residents living in an Urban Growth Area (UGA), or for residents liv-ing in a city of more than 10,000 people. The term “Urban Growth Area” is used by cities and coun-ties to define where home and business development is allowed, and often extends past current city limits. Don’t know if you’re in a UGA? Call your local planning department. You can also visit our website and search for “UGA Maps” for a map of UGA’s around the state.So if you can’t burn, you will definitely need to use one of the alternatives. But even if you are in an area that does not restrict burn-ing, here are a few good reasons why you shouldn’t burn: 1. Burning pollutes the air, causing serious health problems. The smoke from burning leaves, grass, brush and tree needles can cause asthma, emphysema, bron-chitis, and lung cancer. Children, the elderly, and those with breath-ing problems are most harmed by poor air quality. 2. Burning also pollutes our water and soil. Smoke particles fall into our water and on our soil. 3. Backyard fires can destroy

property. Backyard fires that get out of control set off most of the wildfires caused by people. You can be held responsible for the cost of putting out your out-of-control fire, which can be very expensive.And if you are in an area that doesn’t allow burning, and you are caught, you can be fined up to $10,000 per day for each viola-tion! It pays to use alternatives to burning.Better for You and the EnvironmentPeople sometimes ask, “Well, if I live in a small town, is smoke really a problem?” Smoke causes the same health problems no matter where you live. Sources of smoke may be different from place to place, but it can still affect the lungs, sting the eyes, and worsen heart and lung disease.And smoke doesn’t just “vanish.” Our air shed doesn’t have borders on it, or invisible walls that keep pollution in one place. Pollu-tion travels, and your smoke can become your neighbor’s problem, and vice versa. The only way to ensure we all have clean air to breathe is by all doing our part, no matter where we live.So have a beautiful yard, and pro-tect yourself, your family and your neighbors by choosing not to burn. You can be the differ-ence in keeping our air clean and healthy. Be green, breathe clean!

Yard Wastecontinued from 3


WHAT CAN ACUPUNCTURE TREAT?Acupuncture is now recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of a wide variety of medical problems in people. In animals, acupuncture can be used alone or in conjunction with more conventional western treatment modali-ties in the treatment of many conditions including:*Treatment of painful conditions including hip dyplasia, neck and back disorders, arthritis and injuries.*Behavioral problems including aggres-siveness, anxiety, fear and inappropriate urination.*Skin disease including allergies.*Respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia.*Digestive disorders including colitis, stomach problems, inflammatory bowel disease and constipation.*Urinary tract disease including kidney disease, cystitis and incontinence.*Neurological disorders including seizures, nerve dysfunction, stroke and spinal disease.*Geriatric management to help with

overall well-being, improve energy and stamina, help with appetite and counter act senility.*Cancer therapy to help with appetite, improve energy, relieve pain and help the immune system.Acupuncture can be used in the treat-ment of almost any condition. Also, animals (even puppies and kittens) may receive periodic treatments throughout their entire lives to help maintain health and prevent illness.Many animals throughout the years have been helped by acupuncture and oriental medicine. These modalities can offer pet owners another treatment op-tion and be used as part of an integrative approach to wellness and better quality of life for our pets.Dr. Rosemarie Astertino received her DVM from WSU in 1986. She received certification in Veterinary Acupuncture from the International Veterinary Acu-puncture Society and certification in the Veterinary Herbal Medicine and Tui-na from the Chi Institute of Chinese Medi-cine and The National Society of Tradi-tional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. She is currently conducting research of the treatment of inappropriate urination in cats with acupuncture for The National Society of Traditional Chinese Veteri-nary Medicine. For more information on acupuncture for your pet, please call 509.327.2062.

Downtown Spokane Farmers’ Market Saturdays - 8am - 1pm

Liberty Lake Farmers’ Mar-ket - Saturdays, 9am-1pm

Millwood Farmers’ Market - West Valley, Spokane, Wednesdays, 3-7pm

South Perry Farmers’ Market - South Hill, Spokane, Thursdays, 3-7pm

Downtown Spokane Farmers’ Market Wednesdays- 8am - 1pm (starts June)

Clayton Market & Small Ani-mal 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sundays @ Clayton Fairgrounds

Lake Spokane 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Saturdays – Jun 25 – Aug 28. Vendors needed.

Montfort School Community Center Thursday 4pm - 7pm 1915 W Monroe Road, May 19 - Oct 13

Springdale Sunday Market11:00 am – 4:00 pm July 10 – Aug 28. Vendors needed.

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Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League

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www.wamal.com

Pet Acupuncturecontinued from 15

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