Iowans for Informed Consent seems to be a relatively new organization in Iowa. They are focused on informed consent relative to vaccines, and particularly the H1N1 vaccine.
At Gray’s Lake: Saturdays 9-10, led by various Yogis.
At the Downtown Community Garden: Sundays at 5, led by Maggie from Firehouse Yoga. (E 6th and Scott)
I have no good way to update the calendar just now (laptop in the shop), but wanted to be sure to share this exciting event:
Des Moines Really Really Free Market
May 2, 11-3, Drake Park (24th and Cottage)
Everyone is welcome at this free event, where all are encouraged to give, receive, and create on their own terms. This free and open market will be a celebration of the cooperation and gift-giving that make life possible beyond the constraints of capitalist markets. The event is self-organized by everyone who participates. No authority rules over the RRFM. As at previous events, we trust that people sharing rather than competing will be able to find their own ways to cooperate with each other and function smoothly.
Everyone is invited to arrive from 11am ’till late afternoon with goods, services, skills, performances, stories, crafts, food, games, music, clothing, furniture, plants, and resources to give and share with others in the community. There is no buying, selling or exchanging involved—in this market, everything is strictly free. Better than a yard sale, the Really Really Free Market has no price tags!
As at other Really Really Free Markets across the U.S. and around the world, we create and participate in an alternative world, a world in which resources are held in common, the community meets the needs of the community, and “free” means just that: really, really free. The Really Really Free Market is an afternoon when social status can be earned by giving things rather than owning things, and when giving and receiving happens directly rather than being administered through an institution or organization.
Nothing is required for participation, but if you would like to give something at the event, please think creatively about the skills you have and could teach, the useful or beautiful things you have and don’t need, or the resources you might be able to bring and share with people to create something during the event. This event is not a ‘dumping ground’ for people to get rid of things they don’t want; rather it is a space where people come together to provide for each other, inspire each other, and share together in the abundance of goods, skills, and creativity of our community. People are encouraged to take responsibility for any goods they bring that are not taken by the end of the event.
Join FOIM on Saturday Feb 14 to write a handwritten letter to your lawmakers in Iowa, asking them to support direct-entry midwives. You can learn more about this event HERE. FOIM will provide paper, envelopes, and postage – you provide the handwriting! There will be events in both Des Moines and Iowa City. (Des Moines is at the Urbandale Public Library 10-12.)
A recent post at the Prairieland Herbs blog reminded me that I haven’t mentioned all the awesome classes and programs that can be found at county conservation boards. I personally like the Dallas County Conservation Board programs way better than Polk County’s, but your mileage may vary.
Dallas County has a Vermicomposting - how to build your own bin class coming up in March. Polk County has Backyard Conservation as well as Rain Barrell workshops in March.
I had the opportunity to participate in a clothing swap this morning. It was completely awesome, and I came home with some new-to-me pants that fit my postpartum figure, without having to go to the store and buy new. I didn’t take any pictures, but our lovely hostess Jessica did, and she’s written about the event at her blog, TattooedMama’s House. She includes some tips to get you started on your own clothing swap! Go check it out!
Filed under: Community
The school is now using green cleaning products.
Buildings Director Gary Haines says that makes for a healthier school. “In other districts they’ve surveyed show less sick leave and better attendance.”
And, Haines says the green products are saving the district green. He says, “We’re looking at approximately 30 percent savings over what we were spending.”
Hopefully, other area school districts will follow suit. Fewer sick kids, better attendance, more learning, and less money – I mean, it seems like a no-brainer.
Simul-posting at all my blogs. 
Central Iowans have an opportunity next month to see an awesome film about childbirth in America – The Business of Being Born is a movie about the business of childbirth in this country. In the film, actress and former talk show host Ricki Lake and filmmaker Abby Epstein draw on their personal experiences in exploring The Business of Being Born.
This 85-minute long documentary follows clients of NY midwife Cara Muhlhahn as they consider their birth choices. The film includes interviews with well-known advocates for physiological birth including: Dr. Michel Odent, an OB/GYN and author of The Caesarean; Susan Hodges, President of Citizens for Midwifery; and Dr. Robbie Davis-Floyd, PhD in Medical Anthropology and author of Birth as an American Rite of Passage.
The Business of Being Born debuted in April 2007 at the Tribeca (NY) Film Festival, receiving a standing ovation, and will have a very limited release in 11 large cities. You can bet Des Moines is not one of those cities. BUT! You can catch a sneak preview hosted by ICAN of Central Iowa.
Schedule for the evening
6:00 PM: Doors open for a meet and greet and book signing with Jennifer Block author of Pushed. (Books will be available for sale–cash or check only–for $20)
7:00 PM: “The Business of Being Born”
8:30 PM: Comments and Question and Answer session with Ms. Block
Ticket Information
Advanced tickets will be $8 each (two for $15). To order tickets in advance:
Click HERE for a mail-in form (paying by check, money order or cash).
Or click HERE to order online (paying by credit card or Paypal).
Or you can purchase tickets from me.
All orders have a will-call pick up option or may be mailed to you.
Tickets at the door the night of the show will be $10 each.
For more details
Please visit the following sites for more information on the movie “The Business of Being Born” and the author Jennifer Block:
FARM CRAWL 2007
Visit five independent family farm operations, all within a six mile radius of each other in central Iowa that are hosting simultaneous open houses on Sunday, October 7th from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Enjoy a leisurely autumn day “crawling” from farm to farm.
Come visit south Marion County/north Lucas County (one hour south of Des Moines) to see each of our individual operations. Tour the farms, visit the animals, meet the farmers, sample the goodies, purchase locally grown products and have fun in the beautiful Iowa countryside! Free admission onto all the farms.
While at the farms, enter to win a basket of goodies assembled with wonderful items from each farm.
The five farms include: Blue Gate Farm, Coyote Run Farm, Pierce’s Pumpkin Patch, Reichert’s Diary Air and Schneider Orchards.
See the Farm Crawl website at www.farmcrawl.com for more details, maps and directions.
Or call 641-203-0758 for more information.
Welcome to a new regular feature at Natural Living Des Moines – “Check This Out” will draw your attention to local businesses that are helping to make natural living a bit easier.
Our first Check This Out focuses on Integrative Health Solutions, and an interview with Liz Bomer, a naturopathic pharmacist.
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What is a naturopathic pharmacist?
Someone who is a pharmacist and has been trained from both an allopathic and a naturopathic model. As a naturopathic pharmacist I help people make choices about their health care specifically integrating natural therapies into already existing prescription therapies or through the use of natural therapies alone.
What is your personal speciality?
Helping people use natural therapies to improve their health.
What types of conditions do people come to see you about most often?
Many of the clients I see are women between the ages of 25-70 dealing with hormone issues, stress, fatigue, and digestive issues. Another group of people we see in our practice is mothers of children with Autism, and Autism spectrum disorders such as ADHD, PDD and ADD. Another area I enjoy is helping people who are looking for natural ways to deal with acute problems such as allergies, sinus troubles, bladder infections, colds etc.
Are there areas of health that respond particularly well to your this type of care?
Women’s Health issues in general, fatigue, digestive dysfunction, stress, hormone imbalances, high cholesterol and autism are some common things we see that respond well to natural therapies. However, as a pharmacist we are not technically treating anyone or any dis-ease. We are simply giving the body natural remedies to allow the body to heal itself and use it’s own amazing resources to bring about health.
Do you work with pregnant women? Babies and children? Nursing women?
Yes, naturopathic medicine can be very beneficial for this population of people. It is especially important for this sub-group to work with someone who is educated in natural therapies to ensure the products they will be using will be safe for them.
What are your personal thoughts on the state of natural medicine in Iowa today? What would you change? Are we doing anything right? What do you think is the best way to go about changing things for the better?
Very breifly, It is an exciting and unfortunate time for natural medicine. The drug companies are continually trying to control each and every one of our health and well being through the use of medications and beaurocracy. It is an exciting time, in that more and more people are looking for their options and turning to natural medicine for their ailments.
What types of things can you do to help those with food allergies or sensitivities?
IgG allergy testing can be very beneficial to help determine the specific allergies and sensitivies. Then elimination is ideal, but the use of homeopathics and support for the digestive system can help the body to get rid of the allergy at hand for some people. Allergies can stem a multitude of imbalances from stress to a disrupted digestive system, so it is important to get to the underlying cause.
Can people who generally feel well and aren’t ill still benefit from your services?
Absolutely, preventative care is the best medicine there is and using natural approaches will improve your health in the long run.
Are any of your services covered by insurance? (Obviously, policies/companies vary)
Some insurances will pay for some lab testing and I have had a few patients who have been able to get some natural remedies paid for by flex spending accounts, however, for the most part, no. We do not bill any insurances for our services, so it is up to the individual to collect payment from their insurance company.
How did you become a naturopathic pharmacist? Is there a licensing process?
I received my Doctorate of Pharmacy from Drake University and am a licensed pharmacist. While I was on clinical rotations as part of my schooling through Drake, I did a rotation with Dr. Ned Looney, who opened my eyes to a new way of viewing dis-ease and natural therapies. I have been hooked ever since. From their I went on to receive training through the Academy of Integrative Medicine and Primary Compounding Centers of America to learn more about naturopathic medicine.
What made you decide on this as your career path?
I love helping people feel their best and educating people on options available to take care of themselves.
How long have you been practicing natural medicine?
Two years
What types of treatments do you offer to patients?
Education is a big part of what I do which includes, diet, exercise, lifestyle modifications, and how the body works. Again we do not treat dis-eases, we simply allow the body to function as it should; balanced. In my practice we may recommend the use of nutritional medicine, botanicals, homeopathy, and ion-cleanse footbaths. I often refer patients to message therapists, chiropractors and other naturopathic clinicians as I see necessary.
