By Jolia Sidona Allen


This summer, eco-minded music-lovers, musicians, and organizers are doing everything in their power to push for a truly green festival experience — right down to the dirty details like recycled toilet paper in the porta-potties.

By Alastair Bland

By Amelia Glynn

Photo at right: After saving his trash for a year, Berkeley caterer Ari Derfel can’t look at packaging the same way again. Image by Andy Isaacson

By Andy Anderson

By Jessica Ridenour 

"Why can't I have Lunchables?"

Even though my daughter is only 2 ½, I can almost hear the wailing begin. As a parent, trying to cut down on disposable packaging can be a trying task. With all the "cool" (read "wasteful, unhealthful") stuff on the grocery store shelves strategically aimed at kids, the teachable moments are many. A kid's desire and elemental reasoning can be mortal enemies.

Nestled among the psychiatrists who habitually prescribe prescription drugs to their depressed patients, are a few who believe that nutrition, not medication, is the key to mental wellbeing.

Whether it's in response to an increasing distrust of antidepressants or a natural follow-up to studies that have linked nutrients to the control and reversal of psychological disorders, nutritional therapy is becoming a legitimate field. "There have been huge advances over the past few years finding that nutritional intervention can treat many behavioral and mental conditions we used to think were untreatable," explains Lewis Mehl-Madrona, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

• Get the right shoes! These are your number one piece of equipment so invest wisely. Buy from a reputable running store--running shoes also make excellent walking shoes--where you'll be measured and fit for the right shoe.
  Tip: Shop for shoes at the end of the day when your feet have swelled and expanded.

• Map it out. Walking can be done just about anytime, anywhere. Whether you're running errands or just taking a spin around the block, it's all about getting outside in the fresh air and moving.
  

Aromatherapist and social activist David Crow founded Floracopeia: Aromatic Treasures for Health, Beauty and Abundance three years ago. Its mission is twofold: to bring organic, fair-trade, community-supported principles to the production, distribution, and sale of essential oils and to educate people about their benefits.

LIME chatted with the essential oil evangelist shortly before a "Fragrance and Consciousness" workshop, one of many he conducts.

This month, at Lime we're making dietary changes. No, we're not running off to the hills to silently meditate on the value of root vegetables, and you can forget about us learning the joys of cooking with seaweed, or emptying our pantries and alientating our families in the process. Instead we're making small changes for big gains. To do the same, try some of my recipes. Go sugar-free with "Whole Grain Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble," meat-free with "Tempeh Stir-fry with Broccoli," and saturated-fat-free with "Light Eggplant Parmesan." In return, you'll find greater calm and vitality, and take a smaller bite out of the planet while you're at it.