by Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D.

A Tragic Call To Attention

The recent and tragic events that involved three deaths and more than 19 injured and emotionally traumatized at a James Ray “Spiritual Warrior Retreat” deserves to be treated with some gentleness, for this is more than a news item, but a horrific experience of loss and suffering that is having an impact on far more people than only those who were there. It is also a criminal investigation and a man’s career under scrutiny. What happened brings up some critical issues in our society, and can either learn something that will serve everyone, or fall into blame and stereotyping, and abandon a useful tradition that has served many.

Sweat Lodges: Good. Cultural Appropriation: Bad

Ceremonial steam baths are a part of many traditions across the world and have been around for thousands of years. They are health promoting, safe environments for personal growth, spiritual reflection and physical detoxification – if done properly and according to protocol. There is an important place for this powerful tradition in the modern age. Each type of Sweat Lodge, however, has its own unique history, protocol and procedures that are essential to its impact and safety. Not just anyone should run a Lodge or make one up.

Interfaith, non-Native Lodges, must be treated with as much respect, reverence and care as traditional Native Lodges. The act of “borrowing” or “copying” Native traditions by non-Native people, without permission, guidance or extensive forms of supervision is essentially just stealing and selling someone else’s culture. Native American people have endured this kind of abuse for more than 500 years and it needs to stop. A self-respecting therapist, healer or spiritual teacher must find his or her own innovative and culturally appropriate ways to conduct ceremony, rather than fake it or steal it. That can be dangerous.

Recently, I asked a friend of mine who had lived and studied in a Tibetan Buddhist temple for five years if she’d come to my place of work and teach a session on a specific form of Buddhist mediation she had learned. Her reply was worth noting: “There are certain things I can and will share based on my experience, and some things that I am able to teach, but don’t. Just because I know how to do something doesn’t mean it’s my place to teach it to others. In the Tibetan tradition there are certain rules that determine who can teach what and when. I have to honor those because I honor the tradition and myself. Being a spiritual teacher should not serve the ego.”

Who Is A Self-Help Guru?

The media is quick to call James Ray a guru, which is precisely why most people today are afraid of that word. It is often used in connection with negative media stories. The mere mention of the word causes many people to recoil, but guru simply means “teacher,” one to whom students are devoted in an equal relationship of power. The teacher is also devoted to the students and stands by them no matter what. It is a selfless role – ideally. It is wonderful to find a true teacher or a mentor. The difficult part lies in sorting out who claims to be a guru from who truly deserves the title.

Extreme Spiritual Practices

Extreme spiritual practices have a complex history of misuse and abuse. Yet, things like fasting, deprivation, staying up without sleep, and other physical types of austerity can lead to very real and meaningful experiences and personal healing. They have been at the heart of our religious traditions as long as we have record. Think of Jesus in the desert, Moses up the mountain, Buddha beneath the tree, and even Muhammed in the cave – all practiced austerities that would make the average American cringe. Most of the great spiritual teachers who have made a positive impact on the world, Gandhi and Martin Luther King included, undertook training and retreats that would make the local police chief and medical authority suspicious. People do these things because they work. I support that. The problem lies in how we do them, who guides us and why. We need to expect more from our leaders: accountability and credibility – not just great marketing. We also need to expect more from ourselves.

Accountability in the World of Self-Help

Each teacher and each student must take as much responsibility as possible to live, act and choose with accountability. That means integrity, credibility, proper training and humility. There is a line between trusting another and ignoring your intuition and safety. This sad event calls us see that our world is out of balance and people need retreats and self-help leaders more than ever. But we also need more discernment, more caution and more accountability in such things than ever before.

Spiritual practices are more powerful than most people will ever know, but anything with power, even medicine, has the ability to hurt as much as it has the ability to heal.

Dr. John Ellerby has studied sweat lodges and numerous other spiritual practices around the world for more than 20 years. He is the author of Return to the Sacred; Your Spiritual Personality and is spiritual program director for the Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. www.returntothesacred.com

Why the FDA withholds information about nutritional supplements

By Jonathan W. Emord

Some say ignorance is bliss, but when it comes to your diet, it’s anything but. Over the last 60 years, scientists have investigated the healing power of certain dietary ingredients found in nature and published their findings in peer-reviewed scientific literature. Among them: folic acid can reduce the risk of neural tube defect births; omega-3s can reduce the risk of heart attacks; glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can rebuild cartilage and lessen the progression of, or reverse, osteoarthritis; co-enzyme Q10 can lessen the progression of heart failure; and SAMe (s-adenosylmethionine) can relieve the pain of osteoarthritis as effectively as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and can treat mild depression as effectively as prescription antidepressants. That information, however, is kept from us by federal censorship.

Constitutionally Incorrect

In 1789, when James Madison introduced what would become the First Amendment to the Constitution, he explained that the speech and press amendments were intended to confirm that the federal government had no power over speech and press. He declared, “The right of freedom of speech is secured; the liberty of the press is expressly declared to be beyond the reach of this government . . .”

Under our Constitution the government has no power to impose a restraint on the communication of truthful information to the public, or second guess whether the public ought to have access to science, yet that is the role the FDA has assumed. No statement that associates a nutrient with a disease, regardless of its validity, can be lawfully communicated in the marketplace unless the FDA approves of the statement in advance. For example, if a company sells prunes, it’s illegal to state on the label that the fruit can help chronic constipation, although that is undoubtedly true. If a prune company were to put that on the label, the FDA could declare the prunes unapproved new drugs, stop their sale and prosecute the packager under federal civil and criminal laws.

The First Amendment presupposes that the citizen is best left to weigh the relative value of such information, and that government may not withhold it on the arrogant presumption that it knows better than the consumer what is in the consumer’s best interest.

The FDA starts from the opposite premise. In 1999 in the case of Pearson v. Shalala, a U.S. attorney arguing against me declared in so many words that the First Amendment did not apply to the FDA. She went on to explain that consumers couldn’t be trusted with scientifically proven information (in that case, claims concerning birth defects and folic acid; heart disease and omega-3; and the cancer risk reduction effects of antioxidant vitamins) because if given that information, consumers might make unhealthful choices, consume too much of the nutrients, or neglect prescription drug treatments the FDA favored.

In short, the FDA then and now argues that consumers are too ignorant to evaluate nutrition science and cannot be trusted with the information to make the choices the FDA thinks are in their best interest. This directly contradicts the First Amendment, which disarms the FDA of any power to prohibit our access to such basic information as the effect of dietary ingredients on health and disease.

Fortunately, in a lawsuit filed last summer (and in four other suits brought by my firm), we have defeated the FDA’s censorship of nutrient-disease prevention claims in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Unfortunately, the FDA brazenly refuses to abide by the orders of the federal courts, and continues to censor many of the claims the federal courts require to be allowed. It most recently reversed a prior decision to allow claims of cancer risk reduction by selenium and antioxidants.

Above the Law

The FDA considers itself above the law, restrained by neither the Constitution nor federal courts. It is an all powerful bureaucracy largely unaccountable for its actions, yet it regulates one quarter of every dollar spent and the entire food, drug, dietary supplement, medical device, biologics and cosmetics industries.  As many an FDA whistleblower has testified to Congress (including associate director of the FDA Office of Drug Safety Dr. David J. Graham; former FDA medical reviewer Dr. David B. Ross; and former FDA medical reviewer Dr. Andrew D. Mosholder), the FDA views the drug industry as its client, and its decision-making furthers the interest of that client.

Perhaps this is why the FDA, an agency that presents itself as the guardian of public health, withholds vital truths about effective dietary ingredients from consumers. It polices the market to prosecute civilly and criminally any who claim that a product not approved as a drug or medical device can successfully treat, mitigate or prevent a disease, thus effectively protecting the drug industry’s interests. Since the cost of bringing a drug from discovery to FDA approval is about $800 million—the filing fee alone exceeds $200,000—only the wealthiest monopolies can play the drug approval game. No independent scientist at a university who discovers that a nonpatentable food element treats a disease can get that information into the commercial marketplace.

Two bills now pending in Congress would end federal censorship of scientific information regarding nutrients and disease. Encourage your representatives to vote for the Health Freedom Act (HR 3395), which would end FDA censorship of nutrient-disease links; and the Freedom of Health Speech Act (HR 3394), which would end FTC censorship of health information.

In a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush dated September 23, 1800, Thomas Jefferson referred to a personal oath he had taken: “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” There is no doubt as to how Jefferson would feel about the FDA’s tyranny.

Attorney Jonathan W. Emord (Emord.com) has defeated the FDA more times in federal court than any other attorney in American history. His 2008 book, The Rise of Tyranny, reveals FDA corruption and knowing approval of unsafe drugs.

By Mark Rickerby

My “summer of love” happened in 1970, the year after Woodstock, when I was seven years old. Our house was on the corner of 26th and Pearl in Santa Monica, exactly 26 blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the pier, the midway rides, and one of the prettiest beaches in the state. My parents took my brother and me to the beach almost every weekend, but on long summer afternoons I toyed with the idea of making the journey myself. I stared down the sidewalk as far as I could see—26 measly blocks? No problem. Then one hot day I started walking.

A few minutes later, 24th, 23rd and 22nd streets had become a memory. As I crossed 21st, however, I heard strange music coming from a house. Unlike the neighbors’ well-manicured lawns, the garden at this house was bursting with the wildest assortment of flowers I had ever seen, spilling over and through the picket fence. The dozen or so adults in the yard looked like the kind of people my father called “damn hippies.”

Giant sunflowers towered overhead, and purple cosmos exploded like mini-supernovas. Daisies, kangaroo paws, California poppies, black-eyed Susans and dozens of other flowers blended into one giant bouquet. The fence pickets had been painted with rainbows, flowers, cartoon insects and words like “peace” and “love.” The music was very loud, but soothing. I know now that it was a sitar, but then I just thought it sounded magical, like a ride at Disneyland.

One of the hippies was reading on the porch. Another was in the garden blowing bubbles that caught the breeze and danced around the flowers before floating away. Someone else was sharing a “cigarette” with a girl who had flowers in her hair, and a man with long hair sat in the shade playing a guitar. Three younger girls in colorful sundresses whispered and laughed together.

I was so transfixed by this spectacle that I forgot they could see me, too, until one of the three girls exclaimed, “Ahhh! Look at the cute little boy!” I looked behind me, but no one was there.

“Yes, you!” she said. “Come here!” My parents had always told me not to talk to strangers, so I hesitated.

“Ah, he’s shy. That’s okay. We’ll come out there,” and they came flooding through the gate.

“He’s adorable!” one of them cooed, kneeling and wrapping her arms around me. The other two also knelt, hugging and kissing me. I stood in the middle, rigid as a plank, swallowed up in a sea of breasts, blonde hair and heady perfume. I was used to the occasional hug and kiss from my mother’s friends, but nothing like this. This was complete and total love bombardment, and I liked it.

One ran in the house and brought out a frosty glass bottle of Coke and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and we sat on the grass. The guitar player showed me how to strum the strings while he held the chords, and we sang “Puff the Magic Dragon,” which I knew because my mother often sang it to me when tucking me into bed. The girls asked me all kinds of questions and gave me advice about a bully who wouldn’t leave me alone. “Just keep being extra nice to him,” one suggested. “Eventually, he’ll feel like a jerk for being so mean to you.”

I was having so much fun, I forgot all about the beach. The late afternoon sun was slanting through the flowers and the shadows getting longer when I told them I had to get back home. They offered a ride but I said I could make it myself, independent man that I now was. The three beautiful girls walked me to the sidewalk and swallowed me in their embrace again, then waved goodbye as I staggered away, my young heart suffused with love and peace.

I visited their garden often in the months that followed, until one day at the end of summer I went to the house and found it empty. The garden was dry and the house, once so full of music and life, was dark. I cried. Over the years, though, the memory of happy hours spent in that garden feeling safe and loved has banished whatever sadness I felt that day.

Mother Teresa said very few of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Whether or not the hippie movement was a success, and whether or not their ideas and protests stopped the Vietnam War, the flower children in that garden were the real article. For a few happy afternoons in one blessed summer, they made a little boy feel like a prince, like he mattered, like the world wasn’t such a scary place after all. What greater thing can any of us really do?

As the weather gets cooler, salads and sorbets are gradually replaced by soups, heartier meals and desserts that have more substance. This Vegan Chocolate Blackout Cake features chocolate covered goji berries, rich in antioxidants and purported to help protect the liver and eye retina, and improve overall circulation and immune function.

Goji berries usually come dried, since they mostly grow in China, Mongolia and Tibet, where they’ve been used by herbalists for thousands of years. In this form they resemble red raisins.

Cake Ingredients

3 c. whole wheat pastry flour

2 c. sugar

3/4 c. good quality cocoa powder

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. cider vinegar

2/3 c. canola oil

2 c. lukewarm water

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease an 8” round or 8”x8” square pan.

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk and sit aside.

3. Whisk together all wet ingredients in a separate bowl.

4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and fold together using a large spatula.

5. Pour into prepared pan and bake approximately 40 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

Frosting Ingredients

1 c. chocolate covered goji berries*

1/4 c. canola oil

3 tbsp. honey (or substitute agave or brown rice syrup to taste)

2 tsp. vanilla

3 tbsp. cocoa powder

1. Place all ingredients on top of a double boiler and mix well.

2. Mix gently till goji berries are melted.

3. Pour over cake while still warm and still in pan.

4. Sprinkle chocolate covered goji berries on top.

* Kopali goji berries are available from KopaliOrganics.com, Amazon.com, Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods Market.

These Filipino desserts prove coconut isn’t just a flake

By S.T. Alcantara

Growing up in West Hartford, Conn., there were three Filipino kids in my high school: my brother, another boy and me. But in summertime, there were large, multifamily picnics where many Filipino families gathered to share Filipino foods of every kind, including bibingka, cake made from coconut milk and rice flour, traditionally steamed or baked in banana leaf.

Coconut water and coconut milk have recently taken the health food world by storm. Nutritionally, coconut milk fat is a saturated fat, which the USDA recommends should comprise no more than 10 percent of your daily calories. One cup of coconut milk has 552 calories and a whopping 57 grams of fat, of which 51 grams are saturated.

Light coconut milk, however, is widely available (and used in the recipes below). A one-third cup serving equals only 50 calories, including five grams of total fat, of which four grams are saturated.

Coconut water is lowest in fat, as it is essentially the liquid inside a coconut. The coconut “meat” is where most of the coconut milk fat resides. Coconut flake is somewhere between the two.

“Coconuts and coconut oil, just like soy and soy milk, are a healthy addition to one’s diet,” stated Ray

Sahelian, M.D., an integrative physician in Marina del Rey. “The problems arise when marketers make it seem that these are miracle foods, and consumers think the more they consume, the healthier they will be. Thus, their diet goes off balance and they fail to incorporate other healthy food choices.”

Coconut milk has no cholesterol, carbohydrates or dietary fiber, but with vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B-6 and folate, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, calcium, potassium, copper, selenium and manganese, it’s an excellent mineral supplement. Sahelian believes “coconut products may lower cholesterol and perhaps blood pressure.”

My mother still bakes bibingka with regular, full-fat coconut milk, as she did in my childhood. She is 70 and both she and my father, 83, remain in excellent health despite this particular extravagance.

Kalamansi limes are sold in Asian and some specialty markets. Banana leaf can be found in some Asian markets in the frozen foods section, or procured from a friendly neighbor’s yard. These coconut desserts are always a big hit at a dinner party.

Bibingka: Filipino Coconut Cake

Traditionally made with coconut milk, rice flour and sugar, then baked in a banana leaf, this version uses lowfat, light organic coconut milk, maple syrup and olive oil. It’s still a lush—and healthy—dessert.

1 c. brown rice flour (or any combination of soy, whole wheat and unbleached white flour, or corn meal)

½ to 1 c. maple syrup (to taste)

15 oz. (1 can) organic, light coconut milk

1/3 c. filtered water

2 eggs (vegans substitute 1 tbsp. baking powder)

1/3 c. olive oil

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. baking soda

¼ c. unsulfured, unsweetened coconut flake (optional)

Banana leaf (optional)

If you have banana leaf, clean with water, dry with a paper towel and cut to fit either inside individual cupcake paper liners or a 6”x 9” baking pan. Lightly oil the banana leaf. If you do not have banana leaf, oil the pan.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs, adding the oil, coconut milk and maple syrup. In a second bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, coconut flake (optional) and water. Add egg mixture to flour mixture and blend until there are no lumps. Pour batter into the baking pan.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes in a 325° oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry. Serve with fresh mango slices, a dollop of Greek-style thick yogurt, honey and jasmine tea.

Chocolate Chip-Coconut Brownies

This bar cookie is a retooled, vegan version of one that was popular in the 1980s made with evaporated cow’s milk. It’s made with low-fat coconut milk, and the only sweetener is the grain-sweetened chocolate chips.

¾ c. almond meal

3 tbsp. olive oil

15-oz. can organic, light coconut milk

½ c. unsulfured, unsweetened coconut flake

1/3 c. grain-sweetened chocolate chips

¾ c. roughly chopped almonds

Crust: Prepare a 9” x 9” baking pan by spraying or brushing with olive oil. In a small bowl, combine the almond meal and olive oil. Pour into pan and using a fork or spatula, flatten into an even crust.

Bake in a 325° oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove from oven to cool.

Filling: Combine the coconut milk and coconut flake in a bowl, blending until there are no lumps. Pour into the pan with partially baked almond meal crust. Scatter chocolate chips and roughly chopped almonds over the top. Bake in a 325° oven for 25 minutes. Do not overbake! Allow to cool completely and chill in the refrigerator for several hours before slicing and serving.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip-Coconut Bars

This raw food version takes more time but can also be fun for children to make. You can use almost any nut, but if you use almonds, slip off the skins after soaking overnight. Always use organic nuts for raw food recipes.

1 c. organic raw nuts

1/2 c. pineapple juice

10 organic dates, chopped

1 to 2 organic coconuts

¾ c. organic cocoa nibs

In a small bowl, soak the nuts overnight in pineapple juice and add filtered water so the nuts are completely submerged in liquid.

The next day, strain the liquid and discard any skins that have surfaced. Rinse and coarsely chop and set aside.

Coarsely chop the dates.

Crack open the coconut(s) with a hammer and pick. Pour off the coconut water and reserve.

Scrape out the coconut meat and chop. Harvest about ¾ to one cup of coconut meat. In a food processor or blender, pulverize the coconut meat with enough coconut water until a smooth paste forms.

Crust: Combine the chopped nuts with the dates and press into a nine-inch pie plate.

Filling: Pour the coconut filling into the crust. Scatter the cocoa nibs over the coconut. Chill for several hours or overnight. Serve with fresh mango or papaya slices and kalamansi limes.

—When she’s not tempting her friends with tasty treats, S.T. Alcantara is a freelance writer and editor who also teaches yoga in L.A.

Buckwheat

By Tess Whitehurst

Burning sage is commonly understood to be an effective way of clearing energy, but it’s more than that. Every time we light a sage wand and let its fragrant smoke swirl around our homes, we’re not only creating good vibes, we’re also powerfully connecting with the native traditions of the land we inhabit.

White sage flourishes in the hills around Los Angeles, and while it’s neither appropriate nor legal to remove any part of a plant that’s in a state or national park, plants growing wild in nature afford us the opportunity to cultivate a personal relationship with them. We can examine a plant, touch it gently, smell it, and even have a conversation (silent or otherwise) with it. Many studies have been done on the benefits of communing with household plants, and those in the wild are equally responsive. Connecting with plants in this way is a sacred act; it reminds us that we are, on a very deep level, one with the earth and with all of life.

There’s much more than sage in our hills and canyons, and pretty much any plant you see growing in the wild has its own set of magical traditions and practices. What’s more, the plants that live in the L.A. area are as diverse in their origins as the people who inhabit our city, so one jaunt through the hills allows us to rub elbows with beautiful botanical traditions from all over the world.

Oak

Oaks were sacred to the Druids, and California oaks were an essential part of Native American life. Interestingly, in both cultures the oak was a symbol of prosperity, strength, justice, healing, protection, and the divine oneness of all things.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

Yucca

• To protect your home from negativity and danger, create a charm by binding two oak twigs together with red thread to form an equal-armed cross. Hang the charm above the front door.

• Wear an acorn in a pouch around your neck to preserve youthfulness and increase luck.

Eucalyptus

You may know that eucalyptus is originally from Australia. It has numerous medicinal uses, and its chemical constituents are included in many commercial cough drops and cough syrups. It’s also an effective insect repellent.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• To speed healing from an illness, place a white or green candle on top of three eucalyptus leaves, set it near the patient, and allow it to (safely) burn all the way down.

• To protect those in the household from colds and flu, hang a small eucalyptus branch above the front door.

Castor

The beans of this gorgeous plant are deadly, but the oil is safe for both internal and external use, and has been used as a folk remedy in Europe, Africa, India, China, the Middle East and America. The beans and oil were found in the Egyptian pyramids, and the plant is mentioned in an Egyptian medical text from 1550 BCE. Edgar Cayce recommended the oil for a number of things, including digestive complaints, sleep disorders and allergies.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• Although the beans are deadly when consumed, they’re said to protect against the evil eye and to repel negativity.

• Before entering a potentially stressful or negative situation, you might visualize a sphere of white light around yourself, and then anoint the center of your forehead, your throat, your heart and your inner wrists with a tiny touch of castor oil. This will help preserve your positive outlook and prevent you from getting pulled into drama or discord.

Yucca

Yucca was (and sometimes still is) used by some Native Americans to make soap and shampoo, and the fibers were woven into such useful items as sandals and bags. It’s native to our region, and because of its appearance, is often confused with agave.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• It’s been said that under the right conditions, a human may transform himself into an animal if he jumps through a loop constructed of yucca fibers.

• A wreath of yucca fibers worn on the head was believed to allow the wearer to shapeshift into any desired form.

California Poppy

The California poppy is a mild sedative with slight euphoric properties.  Traditionally it was used to soothe anxiety, relieve pain and treat insomnia, and some modern herbalists still recommend it for these purposes.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• To attract love and enhance your physical beauty, sleep with California poppy seeds under your pillow in a small red flannel sack or sachet.

• To promote sleep, plant California poppies in a window box or flowerbed right outside your bedroom window.

Castor Bean Plant

There are many different varieties of buckwheat in our area.  For Native Americans, it was both a food source and a soothing digestive tea.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• Keep a small corked jar full of buckwheat seeds in your freezer to ensure that you’ll always have enough money for everything you need.

• Sprinkle buckwheat flour around the perimeter of your property or across your doorstep to protect your assets and enhance your wealth.

Getting to know the unique magical qualities and traditional uses of plants is a habit that will enhance your spiritual practice, your delight in nature, and your awareness of the oneness of all things. These plants are just a few of the thousands that thrive in our climate, so put on some sturdy shoes and head for the hills. To begin to develop a personal relationship with the spirit of a plant, all you need to do is stand in front of it, relax, and silently tune in.

Tess Whitehurst is an L.A.-based feng shui consultant. Her first book, Magical Housekeeping:  Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home, will be released by Llewellyn Worldwide next year.

by Elliot Jay

Feng shui philosophy contends that a harmoniously arranged home will engender harmony in the lives of its inhabitants. Nowhere is this more true than in the bedroom.

There are three Rs of bedroom feng shui: rest, rejuvenation and romance. Rest and rejuvenation are the first consideration. When a relationship is still in the honeymoon stage, the newness is like an aphrodisiac. As the saying goes, “When you’re in love, even a park bench is wide enough. After the newness wears off, a king-sized bed might not be big enough.”

In fact, king-sized beds and oversized bedrooms tend to diminish feelings of intimacy, just as a bed that is too small or placed up against a wall inhibits free movement and feelings of independence.

Another problem with many king-sized beds, especially older models, lies in the two box springs beneath the mattress that incline each sleeper to roll away from the center. If you like a king-sized bed, replace the double box spring with a single box spring or wooden platform.

An exposed beam running lengthwise directly over the bed can foster that same sense of division, so if there is a beam over your bed, try to reposition the bed or cover the beam with fabric.

What’s the Best Position?

Notice the colors, art, objects and positioning of furniture in your bedroom, and whether or not there’s any symbolism in these things. You want to feel relaxed and rested, so get rid of negative images like a storm-tossed boat on a foggy sea.

Any photos should set an intimate mood. It’s great to surround yourself with family, but family pictures are better displayed in a family room, or at least not facing the bed. This way, you can avoid looking up in a passionate moment and seeing your parents’ or kids’ photos.

Some color is great in the bedroom. White is sterile and lifeless as the dominant color here, but with white as the backdrop, color becomes more vibrant. The creative use of color for window treatments, throw pillows or even an entire wall can bring life-energy (ch’i) into an otherwise bland room. Of course, you don’t want to make the room too lively or rest and intimacy will be more challenging.

Large mirrors in a bedroom may be fun at times, but detract from a potentially peaceful and intimate ambiance. Reflective surfaces bounce light and can make a quiet room feel too busy. They also multiply images so the bedroom can start to feel pretty crowded, especially when positioned at the foot of the bed.

Indeed, consider that whatever you are looking at will be what you are inspired to talk about. Would you prefer framed artwork on the wall, a lovely view of the outdoors, or an open bathroom door? Is one of you looking at the toilet while the other gazes at visionary art? Is one partner lamenting the “crap” in life while the other talks about dreams and goals?

It’s also important that you both have enough room to stand and walk comfortably alongside the bed. Is one of you blocked by obstacles, tripping over clutter or avoiding the sharp edges of a bureau? Starting or ending a day with these minor irritations inevitably gets expressed as nitpicky complaints and hostile overreactions to petty situations. All of which result in distraction from rest, rejuvenation and romance.

The Ba-gua Template

The ba-gua, or eight-sided diagram (ba=eight; gua=sides), assigns one of eight “aspirations” to an area of the house, property or room. One of these aspirations relates to personal relationships.

The personal relationship gua (side) of the house in the Compass School is said to be in the southwest of the home or room. However, in Black Sect Tantric Buddhist School, the personal relationship area is said to be in the far right corner of the home or room as you look in from its entrance. Each orientation has its underlying principles, so whichever school you choose, be consistent. Both have strengths, and either will assist you in living more harmoniously.

Now analyze what is in the personal relationship gua of each room. Are these items or images positive or negative? If negative, you are probably in a difficult relationship or none at all. Is this where you have a kitty litter box, trash can or dirty laundry? Is there an image of a single woman or single man in this area? Is there nothing in these areas? If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to make adjustments. Use warm, intimate colors and double images like vases on a table or two figures entwined. If this corner of the home is missing, consider what you could put in the outside area that would “fill in” the space.

Feng shui theory states that what you see is what you get. Hang an inspiring picture on the wall opposite your front door, place a vase with fresh flowers on a table and keep the floor clear of clutter. In this way you will encourage creativity, harmony and abundance.

For more feng shui information, visit ElliotTanzer.com or Astrolog2009.com.

Ashland, as American as Organic Apple Pie

By Abigail Lewis

As a bright, blue-sky summer afternoon gives way to the softer hues of early evening, there’s not a single available parking spot along the perimeter of Ashland, Oregon’s downtown jewel, Lithia Park. It’s not always this crowded in Ashland, despite tourists flocking in droves to the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s three theatres near the main park entrance and free daily outdoor Green Show. But when there’s yet another free performance at the bandshell—tonight it’s the Ashland City Band—locals and visitors delight in the opportunity for an outdoor picnic with live entertainment.

Situated in a broad, verdant valley in the Siskiyou mountain range of southern Oregon, just 15 miles north of the California border, Ashland is the kind of town conjured by the words “American as apple pie.” It’s also a “transition town,” which means that the entire town is collaborating on moving toward a permaculture ethic. “By carefully observing natural patterns characteristic of a particular site, [a transition town] gradually discerns optimal methods for integrating water catchment, human shelter, and energy systems with tree crops, edible and useful perennial plants, domestic and wild animals and aquaculture,” the city’s website explains. Small as it is, the town boasts two weekly farmers markets, three natural foods markets (none of them chains), an efficient public transportation system and many miles of bicycle paths.

Even were it not so clearly progressive and community oriented, Ashland has abundant charm. The downtown area, studded with boutiques and art galleries, is small enough to walk from one end to the other, and the year-round population is just 21,000 (though that jumps to an annual six figures with visitors). Add restored turn-of-the-20th-century homes, a top state university and stunning vistas surrounding the Rogue Valley, and you’ll understand why real estate is thriving even in a down economy.

A Town for All Seasons

I first visited Ashland one December after driving up the California coast through Mendocino, then cutting east to the Interstate 5. We’d driven through a blinding snowstorm, but arrived to a light frosting of snow on the treetops. At just 2,000 feet above sea level, the town gets only 10 inches of snow a year, and it usually melts off within a few hours, or just long enough to build a snowman.

Although it was mid-winter at my first visit, a month after the annual Festival of Lights parade lit the square with millions of white fairy lights, it was surprisingly mild ­–winter’s in-town temperatures usually run in the mid-40s, with lows in the 30s. High on 7500-foot Mt. Ashland, however, the season revealed an abundance of the fluffy white stuff. Ashland hasn’t been called “the next Aspen” for nothing, and it’s only because the ski and snowboard slopes are a short shuttle ride away, rather than in town, that non-millionaires can still afford to live here.

The Ashland climate is great any time of year, and although it isn’t dramatic, there are four distinct seasons. I love to visit in summer when it gets hot enough to swim in Emigrant Lake or the reservoir, and wear skimpy sundresses to outdoor restaurants. But autumn is spectacular, with colors that rival New England in variety and beauty. Days get crisp, and chilly nights are ideal for burrowing under a comforter after a brisk hike or a day exploring regional wineries in nearby Applegate Valley (think Napa, circa 1970), where some vintners still offer tastings on the back porch.

Oregon often conjures images of rain, but Ashland gets a mere 20 inches annually, far less than its neighbors to the north.

Out and About

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s celebrated outdoor performances on the Elizabethan Stage stop when nights cool in autumn, but repertory continues at two indoor state-of-the-art theatres into November. There’s a wide selection in fine dining throughout the year, and many of the restaurants offer a number of vegetarian options. The prevailing emphasis is on local and seasonal.

Outdoor adventures can start right in town. Walk up through Lithia Park and if it’s a warm day, stop to cool your heels in the icy mountain runoff of Lithia Creek. Nearby whitewater rafting trips navigate the Rogue River through October, Kokopelli River Guides assures me; and Noah’s River Adventures leads four-day wilderness fishing trips throughout three seasons. There are an abundance of great hikes, and Mountain Sports on the square will happily direct you to a local favorite. At higher elevations, autumn may bring enough snow to cross country ski or snowshoe.

Prefer to exercise indoors? Several yoga studios and Nia classes in town will gladly welcome you, or get a day pass at the well-maintained YMCA. At the end of the day, soak in the hot mineral pool at Jackson Wellsprings in Talent, the next town over, or get a massage at one of several local spas.

If you visit at Halloween, you’ll see the most eclectic small town costume parade you can imagine, possibly even better than the annual 4th of July parade with its record crowds, floats, puppets and marching bands.

Time your visit right and you may also catch the Food & Wine Classic or the Independent Film Festival. And on the first Friday evening of every month there’s an art walk, when dozens of galleries stay open late for strolling art lovers.

There’s an amazing amount of live music in Ashland, and if you’re a jazz fan, you’re in luck. The outdoor Britt Festival in nearby Jacksonville ends at Labor Day, but there are almost as many top-quality musicians making their homes here as there are visual artists, so there’s live music somewhere nearly every night.

Ashland is easy to get to: Get on the 5 freeway and head north for about 10 hours. If you prefer to fly, you can maneuver your own plane right into the Ashland airport, or take a commercial flight to nearby Medford International Airport, just 15 miles up the road.

Sidebar

Ashland offers a variety of delightful lodgings and excellent restaurants in every price range. These are just a few favorites.

Where to stay

Country Willows, a classic country inn with a great view on five acres at the edge of the village, offers peace and quiet in a restored 1896 farmhouse or private cottage and barn. countrywillowsinn.com

The Inn at Lithia Springs on four acres of organic gardens has its own hot springs, comfortable cottages and an in–house spa. ashlandinn.com

The Peerless, on the National Register of Historic Places, is both luxurious and serene, with an in-house restaurant. peerlessrestaurant.com

Where to dine

Liquid Assets wine bar offers more than 20  wines by the glass, or choose from their retail section and add just $5 corkage. Sip along with French-inspired dishes culled from local farms. liquidassetswinebar.com

Dragonfly Café and Gardens fuses Latin and Asian cuisine. Great vegetarian selection, and all meat, poultry and fish is sustainably farmed and hormone-free. dragonflyashland.com

Amuse offers a Northwest/French menu with organic, seasonal meat and produce, and Oregon and California wines. Reservations essential. amuserestaurant.com

Munchies on the square serves perfectly fine meals, but we go there for pie. Bursting with local, juicy fruit, these pies are the best ever. ashland-oregon-munchies.com

For a quick, inexpensive bite, don’t overlook takeout on the patio from the Ashland Coop market. www.ashlandfood.coop

To vaccinate or not, that is the question

By Maria Fotopoulos

Since it first appeared last April in Mexico, the H1N1 flu has been not-so-merrily skipping around the globe strewing fear and misinformation in its path.

The Internet is rife with outlandish remedies (from cannabis to putting ghee up your nose), conspiracy theories—H1N1 is an evil plan by the Illuminati to reduce world population by two-thirds, and suggestions for “swine flu parties.” These party animals—and even some misguided parents who’d like to send their kids—deliberately seek exposure to the flu in hopes of acquiring immunity before it mutates into a more virulent strain. It just sounds like a bad idea to actively seek a virus that has killed 3,500 people worldwide—more than 700 in the United States. Not surprisingly, the U.S. Centers for Disease  Control agrees.

Another misguided concern is that eating pork can cause swine flu. For the record, you can’t get H1N1 from properly prepared pork. The pork industry, however, did get sick as pork consumption dropped. To combat this PR disaster, the industry lobbied against calling the new virus mutation “swine flu,” which pushed the switch to “H1N1.”

Fear Factor

One fear that may be more reality based is that of mandatory vaccination. The federal government has thrown considerable budget at H1N1 flu preparedness—$7.7 billion—and there are organizations insisting on vaccinations. All uniformed military personnel will be required to get the H1N1 vaccine, and in New York, health care workers must be vaccinated against seasonal flu or lose their jobs. Some fear a broader H1N1 vaccine mandate may not be far behind.

There’s well-established legal precedent for mandatory vaccinations, with state and local governments assuming primary responsibility for public health. Historically, that’s been a good thing. Think eradication of smallpox and polio, just to name a couple of loathsome diseases. States do offer exemptions for religious, philosophical, moral or medical reasons, so nobody can hold you down and stick a needle in your arm. As a practical matter, enforcing mandatory vaccination for 307 million Americans would be virtually impossible.

Vaccination against H1N1 remains recommended, but voluntary. Expected to be available in October, it will be an adjunct to the seasonal flu vaccine and allegedly equally safe. The CDC’s goal is getting “as many people vaccinated as want to be vaccinated,” but mass numbers queuing up for flu vaccinations, as they did in the ‘50s and ‘60s for the polio vaccine, are unlikely. It could be more like Dr. Carol (Nicole Kidman) in the 2007 film, The Invasion, heading in the other direction when asked, “Have you had your shot?” Even on the front line, there’s not much enthusiasm. Studies show fewer than half of health care workers want the vaccination, despite being among those at highest risk.

Other at high risk are first responders, pregnant women (who so far have accounted for six percent of the deaths, but comprise only one percent of the population), those caring for infants less than six months old, children six months to 24, and ages 25 to 64 with medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. The grand total is about 159 million people.

Birth of a Virus

So where did this nasty thing come from? H1N1 virus is an alchemical blend of human genes, avian genes and two genes that normally circulate in pigs. Scientists call it a “quadruple reassortant” virus, which simply means that the four genes got into a cell at the same time, swapped genetic material (chromosomes) and then reproduced themselves.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared an H1N1 nationwide public health emergency in April, the same month as the first confirmed U.S. death from the virus. In June, the World Health Organization (WHO) conferred pandemic status on H1N1. To be deemed pandemic, a disease must be easily spread across the globe by human-to-human contact. Being defined as a pandemic does not, however, reflect the severity of the disease.

Worldwide, there have been close to 300,000 cases since April. Most severe cases and deaths have been in adults younger than 50, with elderly deaths comparatively rare. This contrasts with seasonal flu, which hits those 65 or older hardest and kills about 36,000 people annually in the U.S. For further perspective, an estimated 70,000 Americans died in the 1957 Asian flu pandemic, and an estimated 500 million worldwide became ill in the 1918–’19 flu pandemic.

H1N1 swine flu virus may not be the agent to deliver on growing fears of a widespread killer disease—a concept shaped by both real science and numerous apocalyptic-themed films and television shows. It’s thus far seemingly no more virulent or aggressively transmitted than seasonal flu, and seems to be more or less similar in complication rates. So any hysteria is misplaced.

That said, the appearance of H1N1 has elicited other fears. There are safety concerns about the vaccine and questions about close ties between government and drug makers. The new vaccine likely will be the fastest ever to market, and immunity has been granted to the vaccine’s developers—purportedly in the interest of efficiency—by secretary of health and human services Kathleen Sebelius, raising numerous eyebrows.

Vaccination Rebellion

Yet one more vaccine in the mix also raises questions about the overall vaccination schedule. Ten vaccines were recommended for children in the 1970s; the number now is 36, making U.S. children the most vaccinated kids on earth. There are also questions about side effects and the safety of combo vaccines.

Some parents completely eschew vaccinations for their children, but the long-term effects of such rebellion remain to be seen. There are, however, signposts. In 1990 the CDC reported large outbreaks of rubella among unvaccinated Californians and among midwest Amish. Britain experienced a 24-fold increase in measles associated with a drop in measles vaccinations. This decrease in vaccinations had followed publication of a study—later discredited—in the medical journal, Lancet, connecting autism to the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine.

General disillusionment with the medical community and fear that pharmaceutical companies put profit ahead of health are contributing to anti-vaccination anxiety. Previous gross mistakes also have damaged the credibility of vaccination programs. During the 1976 swine flu outbreak, vaccine was pulled after cases of a neurological condition that causes paralysis, Guillain-Barré, were linked to the vaccine.

Nonetheless, “I think a parent who says ‘no vaccine’ is living in a bubble,” says San Francisco integrative physician Paul Abramson. “There are individual and societal benefits from vaccination.” Abramson expresses concern about how fast the H1N1 vaccine is coming to market, but he’s also seen the full spectrum of symptoms, from mild to critical illness.

“If you’re not in one of the high-risk groups, I’m not sure there’s any need to push,” he says. “But people in high-risk groups may want to consider getting vaccinated. If there’s an option without thimerosal, I’d err on the side of caution.”

Many believe there’s a link between thimerosal (ethyl mercury), long used as a preservative in vaccines, and autism. While medical research claims no linkage, some studies, including one published this year in Toxicology and Environmental Toxicology, show otherwise. Debate continues, apparently with no reconciliation any time soon.

Although only trace elements of thimerosal have been used in most childhood vaccines since 2001, it’s still included in some flu vaccines. For those who choose to vaccinate, Dr. Martha Howard in Chicago recommends asking for a single-dose vial, which doesn’t have thimerosal or an adjuvant (substance that boosts a vaccine’s effectiveness). A nasal spray vaccine called FluMist, containing a weakened, live virus (not recommended for some high risk groups), will be thimerosal-free and may be first to market. The injections will contain killed virus.

“I would just be wary of vaccinations,” cautions naturopathic M.D. Dana Churchill. He acknowledges the importance of some vaccines, but notes that autism, thimerosal, autoimmune illnesses and toxicity are red flags.

Prevention Basics

As with seasonal flu, H1N1 virus is spread by coughing, sneezing and touching—virus potentially live a day on surfaces and in the air. Symptoms are similar as well, and include coughing, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, runny nose and sore throat, and potentially diarrhea and vomiting.

To protect yourself, think basic hygiene. Avoid close contact with sick people, don’t touch your eyes, mouth and nose, and cough into your sleeve or a tissue. Common sense also dictates staying home if you’re sick—a practice ignored by many.

Frequent hand washing with soap and water goes without saying. If sanitizing gel is handier, CleanWell is made from essential plant oils and doesn’t use alcohol, and organic hand sanitizer Clean George doesn’t contain triclosan or benzalknonium, antiseptics that are toxic when mixed with water.

If you get sick with H1N1, antiviral drugs—oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza)—may reduce symptoms and length of illness, just as they may do with seasonal influenza. WHO claims antivirals may help prevent severe disease and death, but other medical practitioners credit them with only limited effectiveness.

Although there are a multitude who won’t even consider being vaccinated, many more will opt for immunization. As Illinois Obstetrician David Rivera says, “I got a swine flu shot in 1976, when I was a medical student, and there was hysteria about the vaccination then. I plan on getting my shot as I do every year.”

While public health recommendations are based on the big picture, they may not apply to one individual for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice.

The Best Defense: Stay Well

“There are tons of influences” on immunity, says Hans Gruenn, an integrative and preventative L.A. doctor who lectures on alternative and mind-body medicine. Among them are nutrition, your genes and your psychological fitness. “If we catch the flu or get a bacterial infection, it’s often due to a weak immune system and not the latest bug.”

Dana Churchill says his experience has been that once the immune system—which is “75 percent in the gut”—calms down, there’s a return to health. To stay ahead of H1N1, the L.A. naturopath suggests three homeopathic remedies: Influenzinum, made from the flu vaccine that’s created for each year’s unique flu; Baptisia tinctoria, made from the perennial plant, wild indigo; and Arsenicum album, derived from arsenic.

Other homeopaths recommend Boiron’s Oscillococcinum (derived from duck liver and heart), oil of oregano (hailed as an antiviral) and mustard oil. Also suggested have been n-acetylcysteine, an amino acid available in health food stores; two Chinese herbs in tandem—Zhong gan ling and Yin chiao chieh tu pien; and garlic and beta-glucans, both of which activate the immune system. It’s also a good idea to drink fresh lemon juice, which helps restore the body’s acid/alkaline balance.

L.A. naturopath Stephen Stiteler suggests emulsified vitamin D and plenty of omega oils. Additionally, he and others emphasize the importance of avoiding sugar and processed foods, maintaining an appropriate diet, getting sufficient rest, adjusting stress levels and exercising.

If you do get sick, whether taking an antiviral or homeopathic approach to symptoms, it’s important to address the illness quickly. Dr. Gruenn recommends that you “Throw everything and the kitchen sink at it” within the first few hours, because there’s a short window of time in which to fight back. However, treatment by a licensed medical doctor should be sought if symptoms are severe.

U-pick orchards in the Tehachapi Valley share their luscious bounty.

by Lisa Johns

My grandmother loved autumn. Part of her joy in watching the vestiges of summer fade into the crispness of fall came from our long Sunday drives through the countryside. She never tired of looking out the window or marveling at the vivid colors of the changing landscape. A native of central Wisconsin, she loved the outdoors—the blue skies of October, our long walks in the woods, the piles of leaves. She would hunt for the biggest, most colorful maple leaves, take them home and press them between pages of wax paper in her scrapbook.

As an urban dweller, I know I have to make a conscious effort to spend time in nature, lest I realize all of a sudden that several weeks have passed and I’ve scarcely seen the ocean or spent time among the trees. Those autumnal visits with my grandmother were one of the ways I stayed connected to Mother Earth. In an effort to carry forth my grandmother’s love of nature, as well as maintain my tie to the environment, I decided to start a new tradition for myself, one that involved a popular object of praise—the apple.

Apples are one of the world’s most popular fruits, and when picked fresh from the tree, their goodness-factor goes up by several notches. Not only are they a great source of fiber, their skins contain quercetin, an antioxidant that helps keep the heart and lungs clean.

When I first started my annual apple-picking tradition, I was living in New York City and would travel to Vermont where there were plenty of color explosions in the foliage and a wide variety of apples. I always returned with a bushel or two and baked a bunch of pies. It’s big fun and even though I’ve never been much of a baker (the exactitude of measurements, not my forte), visiting different farms and orchards keeps me close to my roots and reinforces the notion that no matter where we live, we all depend on the earth for survival.

Although the desert landscape of Southern California yields a different kind of seasonal change from the east coast or colorful Midwest, autumn, after all, is apple season, and orchards nationwide are in full swing. Paul Cézanne once proclaimed, “With an apple, I will astonish Paris,” and the farmers of Tehachapi are doing beautiful things with theirs. The Tehachapi Valley is an oasis located in the mountains between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert, just two hours northeast of Los Angeles. The u-pick phenomenon in Tehachapi includes everything from pressing cider stations, corn mazes, hay rides and alpaca farms to enough orchards and pumpkin patches to have me baking homemade pies and canning apple butter from now until Thanksgiving!

A visit to Tehachapi reveals desert blooms, wind farms, plenty of altitude and mountains filled with oak and pine trees, making the excursion a great day-trip for city folk. With a whole host of outdoor activities like horseback riding, ostrich ranches and wine tastings, a trip to Tehachapi is likely to yield more than just a bushel of apples. Most of Tehachapi’s orchards are privately owned, offering a direct and intimate experience with the farmers themselves. It also means that cash will come in handy. The cost of u-pick apples ranges from $1.50 to $2.50 a pound, and just for the record, the federal standard for a bushel of apples is 48 pounds.

With nearly 2,000 varieties of apples currently growing in the United States, it won’t be difficult to find some unique varieties this season, including the tart, crisp and juicy Braeburn, or Arkansas Black, which has a dark purplish fruit with a distinctive aromatic flavor. Depending on what kind your favorite recipe calls for, be sure to call ahead to check availability, as the harvest yields different varieties at different points in the season.

Whatever your plans for the fall, in the spirit of Pablo Neruda’s call to action in his poem Ode to an Apple, “I want to see / the world’s
entire
population / reunited
in the simplest act we know / I want us to bite into an apple,” grab your family members or favorite friend, spend some time in nature and  be sure to pick a lot of apples!

Sustainably Farmed Tehachapi

Murray Family Farm: Located between Bakersfield and the outskirts of Tehachapi, Murray Family Farms is the place to go for family fun and year-round u-pick of a variety of fruits and vegetables. Starting in October, the big red barn and its nine surrounding acres are completely decked out with several varieties of pumpkins (also available for u-pick), corn mazes and learning stations where kids (and adults) can learn about spiders, organic gardening or how we all depend on Mother Earth to survive. Steve Murray, a fifth generation farmer, has turned his family’s initial investment of two acres into 380, including two different store locations and 220 total crops. A well-known name among local farmer’s markets, Murray’s utilizes sustainable farming practices, and their autumn excitement will create fond memories for everyone. Open Mon-Sun, 9am-6pm.

Murray Family Farms, 6700 General Beale Road, Bakersfield, CA 92307, 661.330.0100, www.murrayfamilyfarms.com

Foothill Farms: Press your own apple cider at Foothill Farms, where opening day starts October 1. Owner Donna Fischman has also launched Tehachapi Ag & Arts, an organization that promotes independent farmers, ranchers and artists working among the greater Tehachapi community. Foothill Farms provides a great segue to Field of Dreams Alpacas, an alpaca ranch where kids and adults can interact with the fluffy alpacas. Open weekends, 10am-4pm.

Foothill Farms, 21916 State Highway 202, Tehachapi, CA 93561, 661.822.6482

www.tehachapiagandarts.com

Field of Dreams Alpacas, 18550 Chalet Drive, Tehachapi, CA 93561, 661.557.5737

www.fieldofdreamsalpacas.com

Moessner Farms: Owned and operated by second-generation German farmers, Moessner Farms features organic produce and a vast array of jams, sauces and pastries. Although there is limited u-pick this year, Moessner’s apple orchard features a dozen different varieties available for purchase in their general store and is a fun stop along the way with traditional (and delicious) German eats. Open Mon-Fri, 1pm-6pm. Sat & Sun, 10am-6pm.

Moessner Farms, 25000 Bear Valley Rd., Tehachapi, CA 93561, 661.821.6272

www.moessnerfarms.com

For a complete list of orchards in the Tehachapi valley, visit the local Chamber of Commerce at www.tehachapi.com