our berkshiretimes magazine

Left Field FarmMiddlefield, MA

Community Matters.Eat Local Food.www.berkshire.coop

ContentsJune - July 2013

R


A 1999 graduate of The Rhode Island School of Design illustration program, Stephanie has currently completed illustrations for three children's books—Weaving the Rainbow, Sleepy Boy, and You and Me and Home Sweet Home, all pub-lished by Simon & Schus-

ter Publishing. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and exhibitions. [email protected], www.stephanieandersonart.com

4 Fashion & Beauty Event Sampler

8 Home, Garden & Landscape Here Comes the Sun!

12 Community Spotlight Adams, N. Adams & Williamstown

6 Animal Talk You and Me and the Vet Makes Three

7 Our Berkshire Marketplace

13 Health & Wellness Fermenting for Life

A Survivor's Story

PUBLISHERKathy I. [email protected]_______________

EDITORIALKathy I. [email protected]

Rodelinde [email protected]

Copyeditors/ProofreadersRodelinde AlbrechtPatty Strauch_______________

DESIGNMagazine Design/LayoutKathy I. Regan

Ads–Independent DesignersKatharine Adams, Rural Ethic [email protected]

Christine [email protected]

Elisa Jones, Berkshire Design [email protected]

Shirley Sparks, Graphic Design on a [email protected] _______________

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGERPatty [email protected]______________

EVENT COORDINATORPatty [email protected]_______________

CONTACT Our BerkshireGreen, Inc.P.O. Box 133, Housatonic, MA 01236Phone: (413) 274-1122, Fax: (413) 541-8000www.OurBerkshireGreen.comwww.OurBerkshireTimes.comwww.OurBerkshireCalendar.com

COVER ILLUSTRATION ANDILLUSTRATION AT RIGHT BY

Stephanie Anderson, Artist

Follow Us On

2 Special Art & Culture Feature Event Sampler

Free Outdoor Music

In Business 17 Featured Advertisers Tell Them You Saw Them in

Our BerkshireTimes Magazine!

10 Education & Workshops Playfulness: Why it Matters

Event Sampler

16 Mind & Spirit Event Sampler

Our BerkshireTimes™ The Voice of Our Community!

4 Food & Drink West Stockbridge Farmers' Market

1

Our BerkshireTimes™ is an Our BerkshireGreen™ publication. We are dedicated to supporting our local economy and creating an ever-expanding, unified network of community-minded individuals, businesses, and organizations in our area.

We give more than 75,000 readers per issue the opportunity to connect, share knowledge, and inspire one another through our publication, networking events, and growing online services. Our bimonthly publication (six issues yearly, starting in February) is free to the public and distributed throughout western MA, northern CT, eastern NY, and southern VT, and is enjoyed by community members, second home owners, and visitors alike.

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Cantilena Chamber Choir Sings American Psalms and SpiritualsDate: Fri, June 7, 2013, 7pmPlace: Church of St. James, 129 Hudson Avenue, Chatham, NY - (518) 791-0185Price: $15 - The choir will present a concert of American Psalms featuring Psalm 90 by Charles Ives for chorus and organ. Arrangements of fa-miliar spirituals such as Deep River, Ride up in the Chariot, and Wade in the Water. www.cantilenachoir.org

Berkshire Lyric 50th Anniversary Concert Date: Sunday, June 9, 2013, 3pmPlace: Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood, Lenox, MA - (413) 298-5365, Price: $25The Berkshire Lyric Chorus and Blafield Chil-dren’s Chorus will perform choral pieces from several centuries, as well as contemporary American work. Special appearance by Founder, Robert Blafield. Guest soloist soprano Maureen O’Flynn. www.berkshirelyricinfo.org Music at the Mansion Presents “ChampagneJam”Date: Fri, June 14, 2013, 6:30pmPlace: North Adams Public Library, 74 Church Street, North Adams, MA - (413) 662-3133Price: Free - Join us on the library lawn for an evening of oldies “rock and roll.” Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy. www.naplibrary.com

Fabulous Fabric and Fiber ShowDate: Opening Fri, June 14, 2013 5-7pm through July 7 (Fri, Sat, and Sun 11am to 4pm)Place: New Marlborough Meeting House Gallery, Rt 57, New Marlborough, MA - Price: FreeExtraordinary creations of quilt, rug hook, thread paintings, wearable art, basket weave, and more. newmarlborough.org/meeting-house-gallery

Origami in the GalleriesDate: Tues, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Aug 6, 13, 20, and 27, 1pmPlace: Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street Pittsfield, MA - (413) 443-7171Price: Free with Museum admission Celebrate paper with the timeless paper folding art form known as origami. Each week features new designs and skills. www.berkshiremuseum.org

sat“ART”day in the ParkDate: Sat, July 6, 13, and 20, 2013, 10am-5pmPlace: First Congregational Church Park, 25 Park Place, Lee, MA - (413) 446-1988Price: Free - A&M Events is proud to present the 3rd Annual satARTday in the Park. This hand-made marketplace features local artisans. Accept-ing Artisan Applications now. Please visit A&M Events Facebook page or www.eventsbyam.com for an application.

Movie CampDate: Mon, July 15, to Aug 19, 2013, 9am-4pmPlace: Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street Pittsfield MA - (413) 443-7171Calling all budding writers, actors, and directors (grades 3-6) – let’s make a movie! From concep-tion to the rolling credits, campers are in on the action. Write the script, cast the actors, direct the action, and man the cameras! www.berkshiremuseum.org

Verdi�s RequiemDate: Sun, July 28, 2013, 3pmPlace: Yale Summer School of Music and Art Rt. 44/272, Norfolk, CT - (860) 868-0739Price: $25 - Major choral work with full or-chestra put on by the Litchfield County Choral Union. www.lccu-us.org

June - July Event Sampler To see more events or to post your event for free go to

www.OurBerkshireCalendar.com

Special Art, Culture & Entertainment Feature

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39 South St., Pittsfield, MA 413.443.7171Berkshiremuseum.org

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- Authentic American Indian Dancing, -Drumming, Arts, Crafts and Demonstrations

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8th Annual Rock, Rattle & Drum Pow WowGifts of the Four Directions

Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11, 2013Bowe Field, the Adams Agricultural FairgroundsOld Columbia Street (off of Route 8), Adams, MA

It’s Pow Wow time again! After eight years of celebratory dance, song, and drumming, this year’s 8th Annual Rock, Rattle &

Drum Pow Wow will explode in another weekend of American Indian music, dance, education, entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and cultural festivities fun for the whole family!

Everyone is welcome. American Indian vendors will sell na-tive made arts and crafts such as native beadwork, quill work, and silver. Traditional native foods such as Indian fry bread, Indian corn soup, and buffalo will be available for purchase. (413) 443-2481, www.healingwinds.net, [email protected]

We didn’t invent outdoor music in the Berkshires, but it’s usually much sweeter here. Tanglewood is the most elegant option and some

of us will go there several times each summer. But music lovers with a little ingenuity and a willingness to drive a few miles can find great concerts just about every night in July and Au-gust, most of them outdoors and free!

The very best option for free outdoor music lovers is The Clark Art Institute, which provides free events on the South Lawn every Tuesday evening during the month of July. This sum-mer you can drag your blankets and chairs to 225 South Street in “Village Beautiful” (Wil-liamstown) for bluegrass, soul, folk, and even a Beatles tribute band. Go to www.clarkart.edu for details. Arrive earlier than the 6pm start and you can tour the galleries and the spectacular grounds.

Lenox’s Lilac Park Concerts take place Wednes-day nights at 7pm on Main Street (Route 7A). The schedule has yet to be announced, but you can count on some jazz, folk, and traditional American music under a lush canopy of greenery. They pass the hat, but it is otherwise free. Like The Clark, concerts go on even in the rain as a nearby hall is available. Watch the chamber of commerce web site for details, www.lenox.org.

Pittsfield offers two free concert series each summer. For upbeat modern sounds, try “Live at the Lake” Wednesday nights at 7 at Burbank Park off Valentine Road on the west side of Pittsfield. Parking can be difficult at these well-attended events, but some people solve that by cruising to the bandstand in their Lake Onota boats. Springside Park on upper North Street has quieter fare with The Eagles Band, folk groups, and Dixieland Tuesday nights at 7. The web site www.discoverpittsfield.com will have details for both when they are announced.

Great Barrington offers three free summer con-cert series. Friday evenings at 5:30 in the band-

stand behind Town Hall at Main and Castle Streets you can hear selected local performers with acoustic, folk, and jazz in a low-key setting. Children’s concerts are offered at the same lo-cation on Saturday mornings. The “Sounds of Summer” series is held on Tuesday nights at the VFW grounds on South Main Street (Route 7). Information is usually on the town site www.townofgb.org when available.

With a very pleasant drive down the Jacob’s Ladder Scenic Byway (Route 20) to the City of Westfield you can stretch your weekend enter-tainment into Sunday nights at the Stanley Park Concert Series. It’s a 30-year tradition at the Beveridge Pavilion near Westfield State Univer-sity. The 6pm offerings will include traditional band concert fare, country-western, and even a polka party. Go early and try one of the easy walking trails. You can see the full 2013 season’s schedule at www.stanleypark.org.

One tip for finding free music is to watch the local listings (as opposed to tourist events) in the area newspapers. Other venues that invite the public for concerts include the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, the scenic Mount Greylock Visitor Center in Lanesborough, Heron Cove in Cheshire, North Adams’ Windsor Lake, the Ad-ams downtown bandstand, Laurel Lake Nurs-ing Home in Lee, and the North Adams Public Library. Watch local listings every day for up-dates as these events are not usually advertised or publicized as well as commercial concerts.

A few Frisbees will fly through the air, kids will dance by the bandstand, and neighbors will greet neighbors at these informal events. Bolstered by an excellent local talent pool, the music is often surprisingly good. There is an in-comparable joy to a picnic with some fine mu-sic in the invigorating early chill of a Berkshire summer evening.

~ Phil Smith is the former Executive Director and a current volunteer for the Lee Chamber of Com-merce. He is a Trustee of Housatonic Heritage.

Free Outdoor Music Makes Summer Sweeter By Phil Smith

Special Art, Culture & Entertainment Feature

Walker Street, Lenox, MA 413-637-3206 GildedAge.org

Morgan O’ Yuki: Geisha of the Gilded Age

AnnuAL SuMMer pLAy June 28–September 1

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SUMMER

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June 24 - July 13

Complete sChedule :

Miró QuartetShanghai QuartetIda KavafianBrentano QuartetJuly 5: anniversary celebration!

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Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink

A unique boutique in downtown Pittsfield for you to explore! Clothing Accessories Gifts137 North Street, Pittsfield, MAThe Shops In Crawford Square

www.pateezboutique.com

The West Stockbridge Farmers’ Mar-ket made its debut on May 24, 2012, and has been building in momen-

tum ever since. It started this year on May 23, 2013, and will be open every Thursday from 3 to 7pm through October 10, 2013.

Held in the middle of the village, Merritt Green on Harris Street, on property donated by Matt Merritt, the Market has become a popular meeting and greeting ground for the residents of West Stockbridge and sur-rounding towns.

With Tom Tenuta of SoMa Catering mak-ing delicious wood-fired flatbread pizzas every week and Ra-ven & Boar grilling amazing sausages on a stick, the Market is a destination point for families out for an evening’s entertainment and for working folk heading home.

Founding vendors include the aforementioned SoMa and Raven & Boar as well as Hosta Hill Farm, Pittsfield Rye, Sticky Fingers Farm, We Dream Farm, Sarah and Peter Thorne, and Tortured Orchard.

Also on the roster are New Leaf Farm, Abode Farm, the local bistro Rouge, Pretiolas Pret-zels, and, rare for regional Farmers Markets, Furnace Brook Winery/Hilltop Orchards with an array of lovely wines and ciders as well as a selection of baked goods, preserves, and local cheeses.

Beautiful plants, hanging baskets, annuals, herbs, and vegetables will be available from a selection of vendors including VanAlstyne Horticultur-als & Herbs, and a charming lemonade stand,

a la Charlie Brown, lends a touch of whimsy while offering refreshing cold drinks for those warm summer afternoons.

Drop-in vendors include Berkshire Botani-cal Garden, Woolie Glen, and Glendouglas Farm (who bring their ever-popular llamas to delight the young and young-at-heart at the Market), Out of Vietnam, and The Bookloft with their collection of summer- and market-related material. Local restau-rants are on board to make some of their signature provisions available to Market shoppers. Barefoot Farm offers a lovely selection of all-natural body products, just

perfect to beat the drying effects of summer.

Local artist Peter Thorne will be on hand with pieces from his collec-tion, and fiber artist Pam Barich of Otavalo Tex-tiles shows a wide collec-tion of scarves, shawls, ponchos, and handbags of Alpaca wool. Jill’s Jew-elry and Kathy’s Quilts offer lovely original and handmade pieces. Potter Elaine Hoffman exhibits a few of her pieces weekly as well, some particularly appropriate to the season like her unique and useful

berry bowls. There are monthly (or more) Special Event Themed Markets when ad-ditional craftspeople and artists are invited along with family-oriented amusements such as pony rides and petting zoos.

In addition to the live music every week, there is a raffle drawing for a basket of goodies provided by all of the vendors. There is also a Find the Rooster Contest where a wooden rooster (the Market logo and mascot) is hidden somewhere on the property. Whoever is lucky enough to find it wins a prize! At the end of the season, all of the previous winners will be entered into a Grand Drawing. Since the season is only 21 weeks long, only 42 entries will qualify (one winner of each contest each week). The odds are hard to beat!

Local authors Jennifer Trainer Thompson

West Stockbridge June - July Event Sampler To see more events or to post your event for free go to


Summer Herbs Workshop: Healing Balms for Bites, Stings and RashesDate: Sat, June 29, 2013, 10am-3pmPlace: Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY - (518) 672-7500Price: $55The summer heat brings with it the things that “bug” us most! We’ll discuss natural ways in which we can work with plants to calm the calamities of common stings, bites, burns, and rashes. Workshop includes materials and a simple organic vegetarian lunch. hawthornevalleyfarm.org/classes-workshops

Food & Drink

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Farmers' Market Flourishes By Ginna Dudney

(The Fresh Egg Cookbook, Hot Sauce!), Alana Chernila (The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making), Kathy Har-rison (Just in Case) and Bernie Fallon (Goodol-ogy) held book signings in 2012, and more are planned for this year.

2013 Musical Entertainment Schedule

May 23 ..............................................John MyersMay 30 .........................................Bruce Mandel June 6 .......................................Ryan HollanderJune 13 .......................................Robin O’HerinJune 20 .................................Moonshine HollerJune 27 ...................................Oakes and SmithJuly 4 ........................................Ryan HollanderJuly 11 .............................................Kevin JonesJuly 18 ...........................................Steve KelmanJuly 25 .....................................Oakes and SmithAugust 1 .......................................Steve KelmanAugust 8 .....................................Robin O’HerinAugust 15 .............................Richard SandmeyerAugust 22 ............................Berkshire HillsmenAugust 29 ...............................Oakes and SmithSeptember 5 ...................................Kevin JonesSeptember 12 ............................Robin O’HerinSeptember 19 ...........................................RJ Trio September 26 ........................Oakes and SmithOctober 3 .........................................John MyersOctober 10 ......................................Andy Styles

A Sampling of Our 2013 Vendors

Barefoot FarmBerkshire Botanical Garden

Berkshire’s Own FudgeFor the Love of Pie

Furnace Brook WineryGraham Farmhouse

Hosta HillJill’s Jewelry

Kathy’s QuiltsMamaMakes3

Mary & Sarah’s GardenNew Leaf FarmOtavalo Textiles

Pet PartnersPeter Bartlett

Pittsfield Rye & Specialty BreadsRaven & BoarSoMa CateringThe Bookloft

Tortured OrchardVanAlstyne Horticulturals & Herbs

►

Animal Talk

940 MAIN STREET, GREAT BARRINGTON, MA 01230

CARING FOR PETS SINCE 1957

BENSDOTTER’S PET 413-528-4940

Your trusted source for quality foods

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information and advice.

www.bensdotters.com

Convenient Location with Ample Parking

on Route 7 less than a minute south of Guido’s

Monday-Friday 10a-6p Saturday-Sunday 10a-4p


Having worked in a variety of veteri-nary practices, and having an ark-load of pets, I’ve spent a fair amount

of time on one side or another of a veterinar-ian’s exam table. My experiences at that table have given me the opportunity to develop some insight into what I believe constitutes quality patient care and quality client service.

With regard to client service (patient care being fodder for other articles), I’ve come to understand that quality client service, the kind that keeps a pet owner coming back to a particular veterinary practice, begins with a demonstrated willingness on the part of the veterinarians and the staff at the veterinary practice not only to accept but to appreciate, respect, and empower the pet owner as an in-tegral part of the veterinary care team.

For a pet owner’s empowerment to occur, the holy trinity of the veterinary care team must be observed as including the veterinarian, the pet owner (the client), and the pet (the patient). Ancillary members of the veterinary care team (veterinary assistants and technicians) certainly have a very important role to play on the team, but they should be there to lend assistance and technical support as needed, never mistaking themselves to be a veterinarian-surrogate, and remembering that they are there as much in service to the client as they are to the veterinar-ian, or at least lending that feeling to the client.

The importance of ancillary staff remember-ing their proper place outside the holy trinity was made very clear to me one day some 40 years ago when I was assisting in a veterinary clinic exam room. I entered the exam room with instructions to remove a cat from its car-rier ahead of the veterinarian’s arrival. I greet-ed the client, and then proceeded to begin to open the carrier. The client said, “Please don’t do that.” Continuing to proceed to open the carrier, I assured her, “It will be okay.” With that, the client quietly put her hand on my arm, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “It will be okay if and when I say it’s okay.”

Almost four decades later, I have learned that there are two important protocols which re-inforce the holy trinity of the veterinary care team, and, as well, improve the quality of pa-tient care. The first is for the veterinarian to take office visit case history directly from the client,

rather than receive the case history as notes from an exam-room interview performed by ancillary staff. The second is for the veterinar-ian to perform as many routine procedures as reasonably possible in the exam room, with the client present, rather than removing the patient from the exam room (and from the client), and taking the patient to the back of the hospital for others to perform the routine workups.

When the veterinarian, rather than ancillary staff, takes office visit case history directly from the client, the conversation that ensues allows for a complete, uncensored sharing of information with back-and-forth questioning between the client and the veterinarian while the veterinarian references past history in the patient’s chart. Moreover, while speaking with the client, the veterinarian has the opportunity to observe general patient condition quietly before beginning a hands-on examination.

When routine procedures (blood draws, med-ication administration, vaccinations) are per-formed by the veterinarian in the exam room with the client present, as opposed to moving the patient to the back of the hospital for the routine workups, it’s usually much less stress-ful for both the patient and the client, both of whom are concerned and worried, and neither of whom wants to be separated from the other. But, more importantly, mistakes can easily occur with a transition of the patient to the back of the hospital. There can be a lot going on, a lot of distractions, in the back of the hospital. The veterinarian may have their attention called to a hospital patient, a verbal instruction may be misunderstood, or a note in the chart may be misread. Mistakes ensue.

Our pets depend upon us to make informed decisions on their behalf, and to safeguard them from harm. The care of our pets will be the better for our having surrounded our-selves with a team of veterinary care provid-ers who support us in our pivotal role as an integral part of the veterinary care team.

~ Kristina “Tina” Dow is a retired college adminis-trator, former veterinary assistant, and self-described Born-Again Raw-Feeder. Tina’s shop, BensDotter’s Pet, is located in Great Barrington, MA. The shop carries a wide array of supplies and natural treats, and specializes in raw-food diets. www.bensdotters.com. See ad at left and on inside back cover

A Wise Old Veterinarian Once Told Me

By Kristina DowYou and Me and the Vet Makes Three

Our Berkshire Marketplace In Business

www.OurBerkshireTimes.com June / July 2013 7

Enjoy a scenic ride through Bennington, Vermont, and visit Great Works Antiques. Discover four rooms of unique antiques, furniture, home furnishings, collectibles, art Deco, pottery, oil paintings, and garden accessories. Browse through our store and find hidden treasures from America and around the world. Prices to suit every budget. Visit Great Works Antiques at 254½ Benmont Avenue, Bennington, VT. Con-tact Israel Dimas, proprietor, by phone at (802) 688-6742, or by email at [email protected].

Harrison's Bird FoodsBensDotter's Pet offers Harrison’s Bird Foods®, a family of certified organic, formulated diets that were created by avian veterinarians and nutritionists with the health of your pet bird in mind. Harrison’s Bird Foods provide proper nutrition for your pet bird’s lifetime care. Dr. Gregory Harrison, the main developer of Harrison’s Bird Foods, is a certified avian specialist with 34 years experience in pet bird care. His avian wellness clinic incorporates preventive medicine through proper nutrition with Harrison’s Bird Foods. Manufacturer's retail price starts at $6.82 for a one-pound bag and $26.15 for a five-pound bag. Harrison’s Bird Foods and other quality avian products are available at BensDotter ’s Pet, 940 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA. Stop in or contact Kristina Dow, the proprietor of BensDotter's Pet, at (413) 528-4940, www.bensdotters.com

From comfort foods to extravagant feasts, the Wild Oats Market Catering Kitchen in Williamstown, MA, delivers creative dishes prepared by experienced chefs and presented with an earthy elegance. Business and event catering, and menus that emphasize local and organic ingredients. Call our Catering Kitchen at (413) 458-8060. Choose from a standard menu or meet with our Prepared Foods Manager to design the perfect menu for your next event. Crudite and Mediterranean platters starting at $29.99; fruit platters starting at $39.99. Pastry platters starting at $19.99. These and many other items prepared to order. Visit our website www.wildoats.coop/catering for more information.

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that you could have a solar installation for your home with no out-of-pocket costs, with monthly payments at or lower than your current electric bill, and with huge savings on your electric bill over the next 20 years? It really is possible and here’s how!

My husband and I had been looking into putting solar panels onto our home for 10 years. We wanted to do the right thing for the environment, save money if we could, and encourage green industries. However, we just didn’t have the finances even with the state and federal incentives and credits – it was more upfront money than we could swing.

Then, I found out about a fantastic program offered by Real Goods Solar (RGS). Andreas Schmid, Project Development Direc-tor at RGS, made a no-cost visit to our home and went over all of the details. He answered every question we had – and believe me, we had hundreds! In addition to all of the regular questions and concerns that a homeowner might have, we had some additional concerns. My husband, Bruce Mandel, is a performing songwrit-er, and we have a professional recording studio attached to our home. His sensitive recording equipment has very specific electric requirements. Andreas went the extra mile to work with the RGS engineering department regarding our questions, as well as locating other RGS customers with recording studios, so that Bruce could speak with them personally about their experiences with solar.

RGS offers several options for your solar installation, and we chose a 20-year lease program, which has absolutely no upfront costs to us. The solar array is installed, owned, maintained, repaired (if needed), and insured through the lease. At the end of the 20 years, we can choose to have the system removed (again at no cost to us) or we can opt to purchase the system at that time, at the then market value of the system. During this 20-year period, we have two separate monthly payments for our electric usage.

The first payment is our monthly lease payment and is based on calculations specific to our solar array and our annual electric usage. Our electric usage over the past few years is approximately 10,220 kWh per year, and our new solar array will produce 9,500 kWh per year. The electricity we will receive through our solar array is locked in for 20 years at the rate of $0.146 per kWh. The second payment will be to our electric company for any electric usage we have that is more than what is created by our solar array (approximately 720 kWh per year in our case). The rate we all pay to our electric companies is not locked in, and as we see too often, increases every year. With approximately 93 percent of our annual electricity com-ing from our solar array (at a locked-in rate), not only will these two combined monthly payments be less than we currently pay to the electric company, but over the next 20 years, we will save more than $30,000 on our electric bills!

RGS offers several programs which can reduce or eliminate the need for monthly payments. Your individual savings will depend on your yearly kWh usage, the amount of solar energy your array produces, and which plan you choose. This is a win-win for every-one – for us as the homeowner, for the environment, for the resale of our home, and for our pocketbook on a monthly basis!

We are so excited finally to be able to “go solar.” Bruce and I will be hosting a “solar party” – you are welcome to attend, learn more about solar plans and savings for your home, and see how it works. Andreas will bring the food – we will supply the view! Please feel to email me at [email protected].

~ Patty Strauch is an independent Our BerkshireTimesMagazine sales representative. She and her husband, Bruce Mandel, live in Otis, MA, where they make music, support the environment, and play with their cats, BB and Wolfie.

Here Comes The Sun! By Patricia L. Strauch

Visit BerkshireMontessori.org for session descriptions and to register.

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The Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School integrates academics with the arts in a developmentally appropriate, experiential education for preschool through eighth grade, providing a well-rounded education which prepares students for their choice of high school and college.

Have you ever stumbled upon your child act-

ing out an imaginary scene? Perhaps you’ve discovered her “playing

school” or witnessed him using a Lego person to boss a Beanie Baby around a bit.

Play is a way for children to process and make sense of their lives. They need play and, as Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, so eloquently ex-plains in his book, Playful Parenting, children need the adults in their lives to play too.

Let’s be honest, though: as adults we don’t often default to “let’s romp around and have some fun.” Yet by engaging playfully, we can actually create more closeness, cooperation, and confidence in our children.

Cohen describes how children (and really adults, too) need their cups filled. A child’s need for attachment is like a cup that gets emptied by being tired, hungry, hurt, or lonely, and then refilled by being loved, cuddled, en-couraged, and even fed. Cohen suggests look-ing at children’s behavior and thinking about these “cups.” Is a child running around des-perately trying to get a refill? Is she bouncing off the walls in the process and even spilling

what little is in her cup? Does a child have a leaky cup, always needing more attention but never feeling satisfied? Is the child who really needs a refill blocking others from giving him just what he needs to feel better?

When children need their cups refilled, it’s time for us to re-establish connection. And a very effective way to rekindle that connection is through play.

Cohen’s work on playful relationships with children really expands how we can approach discipline in a proactive way. His insight into how we can approach interactions and con-nections with lighthearted, yet meaningful, play is something that can benefit us all.

For more information about Cohen’s work visit www.playfulparenting.com.

~ K. Meagan Ledendecker is the Director of Educa-tion at The Montessori School of the Berkshires, where children encounter meaningful content through all kinds of playful explora-tions. Meagan is the moth-er of three children. www.BerkshireMontessori.org

Playfulness: Why it Matters By K. Meagan Ledendecker


S

Beginner�s Meditation: The Basics for Getting StartedDate: Sat, June 8 & 15, 2013, 9:30amPlace: American Meditation Institute 60 Garner Road, Averill Park, NY (518) 674-8714, Price: $95Have you ever thought about trying meditation, but didn’t know how to get started? In AMI’s two-session course you’ll receive step-by-step guidance on how to start – and stick with – a daily meditation practice. It’s easy to learn the basics: how to deal with distractions, reduce stress, enhance your body’s immune system, and become more focused, creative, and content. This class includes a free guided meditation CD. www.americanmeditation.org/Classes_Events/BeginnersMeditation.aspx

Say Cheese: Take Home MozzarellaDate: Sat, June 22, 2013, 12pm-3pmPlace: Hawthorne Valley Farm Creamery 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY

(518) 672-7500 x232, Price: $65Join Hawthorne Valley Farm’s cheesemaker Peter Kindel in the farm creamery for a day of hands-on cheesemaking. Learn the science and art of turning fresh milk into fabulous curds, and take home fresh mozzarella you made your-self! Space is limited; please reserve in advance by calling Caroline at the number above, or email [email protected]

Writing Workshop for Mothers & OthersDate: Sun, June 30, 2013, 1pmPlace: Eleven, 11 School Street, Great Barrington, MA, Price: $30 Step away from the kitchen sink or conference table and spend three hours writing in the com-pany of other women. Find yourself among others interested in telling the story of mother-hood from the inside out; see what happens to your story, and theirs, when you dwell in their company. www.laundrylinedivine.com

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Adams: The Recreational Hub of the Berkshires / By Jonathan Butler

Adams is an evolving Berkshire Town, nestled beautifully at the base of Mt. Greylock, the highest peak in the Commonwealth. It is a cultural, historical, and recreational destina-tion located right between the cities of North Adams and Pittsfield.

Visitors to Adams are often well served in beginning their travels at the Adams Visitor’s Center, located right in the downtown along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. Historical and cultural enthusiasts often find their way to visit the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace and Museum. The Quaker Meeting House, situated at the top of the historic Maple Street Cemetery, was constructed in the 1780s by settlers of East Hoosuck, the original name of Adams.

The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a regional destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering stunning views of our landscape. If it is hiking that one is seeking, there is perhaps no better place in the Northeast than Mt. Greylock. At the bottom of Mt. Greylock sits the Greylock Glen, a beautiful stretch of ponds and meadows that offers additional options for those seeking na-ture, tranquility, or just a nice meandering hike.

Whether it’s an afternoon stop, a week-end destination, or just a place to grab some breakfast, Adams welcomes all and looks for-ward to becoming a bigger part of the Berk-shire economy. www.town.adams.ma.us

The City of North Adams By Veronica Bosley

North Adams is located in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, just minutes from the New York and Vermont Borders, and is the least populous city in the state. It is home to the largest contemporary art museum in the country (MASS MoCA), and the highest mountain in the state (Mount Greylock).

For much of its existence North Adams was known as a mill town. In the 1940s, Sprague Electric Company purchased a large mill com-plex on Marshall Street. Among other things, Sprague worked with the US government to

develop components of the atomic bomb. At its height, Sprague employed 25 percent of the city’s population, but closed in 1985. The city’s population declined drastically over the next decade, but after a long road of renovation and revitalization, North Adams is currently an art, culture, and recreation destination.

There is a vibrant art scene in North Ad-ams, and not just at MASS MoCA. Artists live, work, and exhibit in North Adams – with galler-ies cropping up all over the city. DownStreet Art, a contemporary art festival put on by MCLA, is an exciting place to see new and site-specific work. The city also hosts a plethora of events and street fairs that draw people from around the country, and is home to two state parks, plac-es to kayak, swim, and fish, and a large network of hiking trails. So stop in. Stay a while. Explore North Adams! www.explorenorthadams.com

The Town of WilliamstownWilliamstown is located in the far northwest corner of Massachusetts bordering Vermont and New York. It is the home of the Ster-ling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williams College, and 8,220 residents including 2,000 Williams College students.

Until the Industrial Revolution, the town flourished on a combination of dairy farming, sheep herding and wool production, small lo-cal mills, and general stores. The coming of the railroad and the Industrial Revolution changed the face of Williamstown – after World War II the town grew rapidly.

Today the local chamber states (www.williamstownchamber.com) that Williamstown’s beautiful setting with the rolling hills and low mountains, thick forests, and wildflower mead-ows offers the kind of spectacular views that lift your spirits. Visitors consistently rank Wil-liamstown as one of the favorite small-town getaways in Massachusetts. The town’s beauti-fully preserved downtown offers a delightful array of specialty stores, restaurants, spas, mu-seums, and historic inns. Add a full calendar of festivities, shows, and special events, and it’s no surprise that so many visitors find Wil-liamstown irresistible. www.williamstown.ws

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Fermented foods have been a part of hu-man history since before we were even human. Approximately ten times our

cellular mass is comprised of bacteria, fungi, and archaea (an ancient critter that resembles bacteria) called the human microbiome. This symbiotic ecosystem is associated with various parts of our biological functioning and is cur-rently known to concentrate in our eyes, skin, digestion, and elimination systems. Researchers are still uncovering the human microbiome and are trying to get it classified as another organ because they consider it to be so valuable to our lives. There are even certain parts of our brains that are believed to have evolved from symbiotic bacteria. Humans aren’t the only ones to have evolved in this way. All life on the planet evolved with and from bacteria and other single-celled organisms. So it stands to reason that we would still have strong relation-ships with such forms of life.

Before refrigerators, existed people would preserve various foods by fermenting them. Kefir, sauerkraut, and pickles are examples of traditional fermented foods that are still con-sidered good to eat by today’s standards. Fer-mented foods have become popular again and many products can be found in natural food stores, but if you have time nothing can beat your own recipe. Not to mention that fer-menting your own food is liberating and fun!

When first starting my journey into fer-mented foods, I took on an easy project. I got some good organic milk and fermented it to make clabber, also known as kefir. One of the first batches had a hard time starting, so I im-patiently added some sugar, in hope that the extra food would help it along. What ended up happening is that the bacteria ate up the sugar and created sparkling milk-wine, which sounds bad but it ended up being great. As a “foodie” I thought this result was incredible fun. What kind of new flavors and concoctions could I come up with that would both taste great and be great for the health of myself and my family? It turns out that the list is quite long.

Following are some simple recipes and resources that will help empower you. If you can master these you will have a handle on anything you wish to ferment.

KefirThe easiest way to make kefir is to buy a start-er online. I recommend kefir crystals because they are supposed to contain more strains of probiotic bacteria than powdered starter and are quicker to colonize the milk. The crystals are comprised of a matrix of bacteria and milk proteins. If you only have the powdered starter you are still in good shape, just make sure it’s new and vital. Once you have your starter, get the best milk you can find. If you start with a low-quality product you will end up with a low-quality result. Take your milk and flash pasteurize it by bringing it to a light

simmer (200°F) and allow it to cool while covered. Once the milk reaches between 92°F and 72°F, you can add the kefir crystals and let them sit for eight hours. After eight hours, strain the crystals out, gently rinse in luke-warm water, and allow them to dry. If you be-gan with a powdered starter you may still find kefir crystals as they will form as a byproduct of the kefir fermentation process.

Drying your crystals puts the bacteria into a dormancy cycle and they will last for about one year in this state. You will know when your kefir is ready when it smells like an effer-vescent yogurt. Your kefir may have separated into liquid and solid. This is OK – what you are looking at are curds and whey, whey be-ing the slightly clear liquid. Just stir the solids in and note that the finished product should resemble a watery yogurt.

Cheese and WheyTo make kefir cheese and probiotic whey drink you start the same way as you did with the kefir. Stop at the point where you might stir in the separated whey and curds. Strain off the whey by pouring the whole thing through a cheesecloth with a pan under it. Keep the whey as a high-protein probiotic beverage; add it to smoothies, add pasteurized honey and al-low it to continue fermenting and so forth. Once the liquid fully drains off for about one hour, the cheese will be ready for finishing touches before use. For more information or creative tips, please see the references and do your own research on cheesemaking.

SauerkrautThe basic sauerkraut recipe involves shredding cabbage, mixing it with grey sea salt and water, and stuffing it into jars. Let sit for two to four weeks when ingredients look slightly cooked. To further regulate the bacterial strains you can purchase a vegetable bacteria starter to ensure you are promoting probiotic strains; this will help the fermenting process start faster. This may only be necessary if the veggies are not or-ganic as organic veggies are covered in healthy bacteria that will colonize on their own. If you really want to get fancy you can add some pur-ple cabbage, peppercorns, shredded carrots, beets, and celery to your green cabbage.

ResourcesBody Ecology Diet - www.bodyecology.comWild Fermentation - www.wildfermentation.comNIH; Human Microbiome Project - www.commonfund.nih.gov/hmp

~ Joel Moodie is the owner of Modig Internal Dis-ciplines offering classes in Jow Ga Kung Fu, Tantric Hatha Yoga, and Capoeira. Services include Posi-tional Therapy and Reiki. For more information or to schedule an appointment visit www. ModigID.com or call (413) 551-9848.

Fermenting for Life / By Joel Moodie DR. KATHLEEN M. FAVALORO, DC, PTChronic Pain & Wellness Care Specialist

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Health & Wellness

A Survivor's Story

I don’t think anything could have prepared

me for becoming electrically sensitive (ES). I can’t say it was my worst nightmare come true because ES is something I never had nightmares about. Lit-erally I had never heard of electrical sensitiv-ity or electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Up until February 2002 I was just like ev-eryone else. I bought my first cell phone in 1998. Running my own small business it was a god-send. I no longer had to be chained to my office desk to make telephone calls. Freedom at last.

I started to use my cell phone more and more. But I wasn’t an intensive user by any stretch of the imagination. I received calls but rarely used my cell phone to ring out and I never took it into my bedroom at night. Dur-ing the day I occasionally carried it round with me in my coat or pants pocket but often I would carry it in my work-bag.

So that day in February 2002 when my cell phone rang and I suddenly felt a strange pain, I really had no clue as to what was going on. Neither had the doctor. He said it was stress. Take a few days off work, relax, you’ll be fine, he said. After taking a week off I wasn’t fine. The very first time my cell phone rang and I put it to my ear the symptoms started again. Only now it was a very distinct, sharp pain; it felt like my head was being held in a vice.

So I didn’t have to use my cell phone so much, I started to do more office work. I worked on my computer. Before long I began to feel symptoms when using the computer, sensitivity to light, headaches, tingling in my fingers when using the keyboard. After a very short time I stopped using my cell phone al-together, I could only use my computer for short periods, and even using a normal corded telephone began to be painful.

This went on for two years. It was a com-plete mystery to me and the medical commu-nity what was wrong with me. Neurologists, CT scans, blood tests, ear nose and throat specialists, psychiatrists . . . apart from high blood pressure nobody could find anything wrong with me.

All I knew was that somehow I had be-come allergic to modern life. My symptoms came on in stores and shopping malls and in friends’ homes. And in my own home. I felt well nowhere, except when I was out in the forest, far away from “everything.”

I was just 35 years old when this all started. Up to then I was a picture of health. I’d hardly had a day off work through illness in my entire life. I had a nice life, a charming wife, and two young children. I enjoyed a healthy diet and did plenty of sport and my business was doing well.

Despite all this, from one day to the next my life was turned upside down. I tried to convince

myself that nothing was wrong with me but there was something wrong with me, I was in pain.

I thought I was going crazy. Then one day I was reading my newspaper, and I read an article about a CEO of a listed company that could no longer use a cell phone and had to switch the electricity off in his home at night to get to sleep. The name they gave to this condition was electrical sensitivity or electri-cal hypersensitivity (EHS). The relief I felt was immense. No longer was I on my own. There were others like me. I was not going crazy.

I subsequently learnt that somewhere be-tween three and five percent of the population is electrically sensitive and aware of their con-dition. But it’s thought that about 35 percent of the population have symptoms of electri-cal sensitivity, though they may not realize that they are electrically sensitive.

What are the Symptoms of Electrical Sensitivity?

Sleep disturbance and tiredness. Massive fatigue and difficulty sleeping are common symptoms. Various auditory problems. Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, tinnitus, an unexpected ear-ache, is common. Difficulty in keeping your balance might be an indicator. Cognitive difficulties. Confusion, memory loss, forgetfulness, learning difficulties, and an inability to concentrate are not uncommon. Diverse neurological effects. This could take the form of dizziness and nausea without any discernible cause, as well as insomnia. Respiratory problems. Coughing and throat problems, sinusitis, asthma. Cardiovascular problems. Tachycardia, chest pains, shortness of breath, and fluctuat-ing blood pressure. Ophthalmologic symptoms. Gritty and smarting eyes, deteriorating vision, the devel-opment of “tics.” Emotional problems. Irritability, such as de-pression, anxiety, anger, and mood swings. Musculoskeletal difficulties. Weakness and spasms in the muscles, limb and joint pains, numbness or tingling sensations. Dermatological symptoms. Acne, irritation, or rashes, swelling in the face or flushes.

Genitourinary symptoms. Bladder problems and unusual sweating.

Gastrointestinal problems. Upset stomach, allergic reactions, and flatulence.

Various sensitization. Allergies and sensitivi-ties to light, chemicals, smells, or noise.

By Lloyd Burrell


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Dealing with Electrical Sensitivity

Dealing with electrical sensitivity is hard for several reasons:1. It is very difficult to diagnose because the range of symptoms are so diverse. 2. Doctors are not trained to recognize the symptoms. 3. Many practitioners put ES down as psychosomat-ic, all in the mind, despite proof to the contrary.4. There is no widely accepted treatment or cure and certainly no magic pill you can swallow which will make it go away.5. Sufferers very quickly become isolated. They are unable to use accepted means of communication, like cell phones and computers. Holding down a regular job can become impossible.6. ES can be combined with other sensitivities like CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) and MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity), complicating diagnosis and treatment

What You Can Do

I learned about electrical sensitivity the hard way. Most sufferers realize there is a link between electromag-netic field exposures (EMFs) and their condition.

Since the wireless revolution, EMFs are

omnipresent. Wireless technologies like cell and cordless phones, cell towers, “smart meters,” WiFi, wireless laptops, wireless routers, and baby moni-tors rely on EMFs to function, as do nonwireless technologies like power lines, electrical wiring, and other electrical appliances.

The first step to treating this condition is to reduce exposure to these electromagnetic fields. Avoidance and protection are the key. This might mean replacing your cordless phone with a land-line, replacing your WiFi connection with an Eth-ernet connection, etc. But buying an EMF meter is essential. Sometimes your exposure can come from the most unlikely sources: faulty electrical wiring, games consoles, magnetic fields in your car, etc. Until you can actually see and measure the EMFs in your environment you’re going on guesswork.

The mistake many electrosensitives make is to think that because they react to EMFs, that EMFs are the only culprit. EMFs have an important role to play but they are not the sole and unique cause of electrical sensitivity. I came across this revelation by chance. I had already reduced my EMF exposures to a minimum and yet my symptoms were very much present. I undertook a program of cleansing and detox and experienced a rapid improvement in my condition. I came to realize that toxins in my

system were the real problem. Reducing my EMF exposures was not going to get me better. But when I started looking at the bigger picture, at my nu-tritional choices, my chemical exposures, that was when I started to get the better of my condition.

I recommend a whole, natural, organic diet as far as possible. Sport and exercise is also important. You don’t have to have any athletic prowess but you need to move, every day. If you can’t run then go for walks. Even five minutes to start with will be beneficial. Find a new sport, something at your level, preferably outside.

Perhaps more important is managing your en-ergy or energies. This for many people is the hard-est to accept. We are in a culture where taking a pill is seen as an acceptable way of dealing with illness. Energy work gets much bad press. But nurturing feelings of love towards others and having a posi-tive outlook are very important. Prior to becoming electrically sensitive I had never been concerned with my energies. But in retrospect my energy work was certainly the single most important element in beating electrical sensitivity.

~ Lloyd Burrell is the author of an ebook entitled How To Beat Electrical Sensitivity, which offers a solution for the growing number of people whose health is being compro-mised by exposure to wireless and similar technologies. Visit Lloyd’s website at www.electricsense.com.

Did you know that Titanium Dioxide, which is very often used as a “natural” coloring for health foods, cosmetics, and sun-

screens is really a heavy metal? Studies show that it is a possible car-cinogen and causes adverse effects by producing oxidative stress, resulting in cell damage, inflammation, and immune response.

June / July 2013 www.OurBerkshireTimes.com

16

Health & Wellness Mind & Spirit

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Comprehensive Meditation: The Heart and Science of YogaDate: Wed, July 10, 2013, 6:30pmPlace: American Meditation Institute, 60 Garner Rd, Averill Park, NY - (518) 674-8714Price: Visit Website for DetailsAMI’s acclaimed six-week course on Wednesday evenings teaches you how to apply meditation principles to every situ-ation. This complete “self-care health program” includes all the Beginner’s Meditation material plus breathing techniques, nutrition counseling, easy-gentle yoga exercises, instruction on how to make the best possible choices, and lifelong support for your meditation practice.www.americanmeditation.org/Classes_Events/Comprehen siveMeditation.aspx

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