Are you concerned about the farming methods and other processes that go into producing and growing food?  More and more people are with you - there is a growing desire to know where our food comes from and to be more connected with it.  Concerns about potentially unethical farming practices have prompted many people to become better shoppers and eat more ethically.  Here are some steps you can take to make your table a more ethical one. 1. Find out where your food comes from.  Make phone calls, do a search online, and don't be afraid to ask questions.  If a store is not transparent and forthright regarding its food's origins, find somewhere else to shop.  Local, smaller stores are probably less likely to give you the runaround, especially because the store's owner is often readily available.  Ask for the name and contact information of the store's food supply sources.  That way, you can research and contact the source directly rather than just taking the store's word for it. 2. Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic, toxic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, making it a healthier and more environmentally-friendly choice.  Because of the lack of poisons, organic food should be ...

Did you know that some of the very first automobiles were electric?  The concept of the electric car is often considered to be the product of an oil-weary culture, but it is actually an original automobile concept.  Basically an electric carriage without the horse, these first electric vehicles were developed in Europe and evolved into efficient, high-capacity, battery-operated autos by the early 1880s.  These electric cars did not require gear-shifting, and were quieter and cleaner than the simultaneous gas-powered, internal combustion engine cars. So what happened? For one thing, American roads got longer and people needed cars that could be driven for longer distances.  Another factor was the decline in American oil prices, making gas-powered cars cheaper to run.  And Henry Ford developed the assembly line for manufacturing his gas-powered autos, making the gasoline car even more affordable. But the electric car was not forgotten.  We are still discussing it over a hundred years later, primarily because it is a great invention.  And it is making a comeback. Here are some advantages of the electric automobile. Advantages of Electric Cars * Better for the Environment - Electric cars do not emit exhaust, which makes for much cleaner air and fewer overall greenhouse gases in the ...

What form of burial to choose is of great concern to many, but for those who are eco-conscious, the concerns are specifically related to being eco-friendly. You may wonder if conventional burial practices are harmful to the earth.  In truth, conventional burial is not particularly green.  Trees must be cut to make the coffin, and embalming fluids like formaldehyde and methanol are not earth-friendly.  Another concern is the use of land for conventional burial.  The earth itself must be dug up and cemetery plots take up space. If these are matters of concern to you, it might be a good idea to take a look at some alternatives and talk them over with your family.  Death is not an easy subject, but discovering eco-friendly options may make the subject more approachable for you. 1. Urns There are now urns available that are made of paper or biodegradable cotton.  They can be very simple or beautifully decorated with floral designs.  Rather than scattering the ashes and having an empty metal urn, these "earth urns" are placed on the water's surface or buried in the ground, where they will sink and/or eventually break down. 2. Coffins * Coffins made from sustainable wood are a viable option for the ...

Cranial osteopathy, as the name implies, involves the manipulation and flexing of the bones of the skull.  However, it is not exclusive to the head.  Cranial osteopathy also includes adjustment and flexing of the sacral vertebrae and the pelvis.  The sacral vertebrae, or sacrum, join the spine to the pelvis. When Dr. William Sutherland developed the theory and practice of cranial osteopathy in the late 1890s and early 1900s, he discovered that the bones of the skull do, in fact, have some flexibility and movement between them in adulthood.  These joints between skull bones were usually considered flexible only in infants, when the infant skull's softness helps in the birth process. The skull's joints eventually close up and the bone hardens.  But some flexibility remains - quite a bit, Dr. Sutherland discovered.  Dr. Sutherland experimented extensively on himself, and then applied his methods to his patients, often with miraculous results. For migraine sufferers, cranial osteopathy holds great promise.  Cranial osteopaths recognize that no body system is isolated, and while the head is the focus of migraine pain, cranial osteopathy is, ultimately, a whole-body treatment.  Some osteopaths look at jaw misalignment, dental work, and tension as possible causes for migraines. Cranial osteopaths have successfully treated ...

What's your favorite color? Most of us get asked that question at various points throughout our lives.  It is worth considering why we ask this - could it be that what color we associate with the most has some sort of effect on us, or says something about our personality? Color therapy taps into the psychological effects of color.  Participants are exposed to a range of colors via food, massage oils, colored lights, crystals or stones, etc.  Some practitioners of color therapy use visualization techniques to help their patients.  Different colors are said to affect different body systems or energies.  Patients who undergo color therapy do so in order to experience restoration and/or healing. Color and Light If you've seen a rainbow, you have seen the colors present in light.  White light, or full-spectrum light, is made of all the colors of the rainbow, and when light is broken up by rain droplets, prisms, or other means, the colors become visible. Light itself, and a lack of it, has been shown to have psychological effects.  For example, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is caused by the decreased light that comes with the change of seasons from summer to fall and winter.  People affected by SAD have ...