Just a quick post to share some excitement (and say “Hello” since it’s been a while)…

First of all…  I’m happy to say we’ve been making great strides lately on my long-awaited book project, and the wait is ALMOST over.  Really!  :)  I’ve hired some clever and creative folks called “Yoke” to help build me a top notch website, and I’d say they are doing a fantastic job!

This beautiful new site is thoughtfully designed with colorful artwork, instructional videos, gorgeous photography, and even original music– all to be revealed in just a few short weeks.  I’m very excited to share this collaborative effort with you all, and officially launch the making of my book, “Nourishment Made Simple– Good Food for Real Life”.  Stay tuned!

In other news, I am also thrilled to be packing my bags for San Diego tomorrow, where I will be spending a week studying with the brilliant, Jean Haner- author of “The Wisdom of Your Face” and “The Wisdom of Your Child’s Face”.   This ancient healing art of “Face Reading” (which does not begin to do it justice) has become such an integral part of my daily life, both personally and professionally.  I’m looking forward to learning more from Jean and discovering new ways of living in-line with our true nature.  And of course some sunshine will be nice too.  :)

In the meantime, I wish you all happy and healthy winter wishes, and I look forward to sharing more soon!

P.S.  The photo above was taken by my talented Mum, who also has new things on the horizon…  She’s FINALLY launching her first website to showcase her stunning photography of our home region in Maine (coming soon).  Cheers to you,  Mom! :)

With all of the summer festivities going on, I made a little adjustment to the August DHFL class.

Hope this helps!

New Dates: 5 Tuesdays, August 23th– September 27th, 9:30am-11:30 am (no class September 6th)

Where: Lake Shore Studio (directions will be provided individually)

Cost: $225.00 ($25.00 discount for returning participants)

Also, please check out the NEW class description here for full details…

Registration is now closed for this class.

Thank you!

Do you experience frequent digestive discomforts, such as (but not limited to) pain, bloating, motility issues, weight gain, weight loss, or “nervous” stomach?  Does food sometimes “disagree” with you, but you’re not sure which ones?  Does conflicting nutrition or health advice leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused?

Diges­tive Health for Life (with Sharon Gray, MS, LAc) is an expe­ri­en­tial pro­gram designed to help you gain clar­ity, trust your instincts, and find your own unique path to opti­mal health. This is intended to be a place to practice and integrate healing tools into your life with the support of an intimate, facilitated group.

Over the course of 5 ses­sions, we will explore various topics associated with digestive health, including identification of potential “triggers” (both food and non-food), understanding and relieving symptoms, mindful eating, seasonal living, and much more. This course is based on a combination of Western and Chinese medicine, as well as 20 years of my personal experience, recovering from a digestive health condition.

The program lasts for 30 days, but the practice will last a lifetime.

What to expect:

• Weekly presentations covering various factors that effect our digestive health

• Group discussions with time for individual questions

• Guided exer­cises (such as Qi Gong, med­i­ta­tion, acu­pres­sure, etc.)

• Facilitated support for achieving your personal goal*

• An attractive, recycled binder with class notes, handouts and journal

• Private on-line forum for participants (past and present) to exchange recipes, ideas and inspiration

*The DHFL philosophy in regard to goal-setting is one of simplicity and compassion. I believe when we devote our attention to developing one healthy practice at a time (rather than several all at once), the effects are more sustained, relaxed and enjoyable.

Testimonials:

“This class offered me additional resources for making healthy food choices. There were excellent handouts, a beautiful binder to store them in, and lots of material to “digest.” Sharon is an excellent facilitator for “planting seeds” for improved health. The combination of presentations on Chinese Medicine’s view of healthy digestion, humor, and time for group discussion, made this a lively and beneficial class.” MB, Mill Creek, WA

“Sharon’s class has not only taught me that what you eat is important, but how you eat it is an essential part of your health.  I’ve read books and blogs and heard interviews about eating mindfully, but this class allowed me to put it into practice in a way that worked for me, and with support and encouragement from both Sharon and the other members of the class. I always knew Sharon had a wealth of information regarding digestive health, but now I understand this is her passion, and she truly understands it on a deep level.  I feel I now have the tools and experience to eat and live in a way that nourishes my body and soul.  I highly recommend the class–in fact, I’d even take it again and again!” Michelle– Seattle, WA

“This class reminded me of how important it is to tune into my own experiences, physical sensations and emotions as a foundation to begin to improve digestion.  Then comes committing to “mindfulness” as a daily practice:  mindfulness of what I eat; mindfulness of how I eat; mindfulness how how I feel after I eat.  I really enjoyed learning about digestion from a Chinese medical perspective and the acupuncture points that relate to digestion.” Sharon– Seattle, WA

“In the DHFL course, I have had the opportunity to look at food in a way I never have (and never thought I could!) before.  I feel empowered and curious to try new ways of eating and am encouraged in this endeavor by the supportive and informational classes.  Sharon brings so much knowledge about how the body and food work together and I love the holistic nature of this experience.  I am really learning to listen to my body.” Melissa– Seattle, WA

For current schedule, please see: Current Classes.

As you may have noticed, I’ve been especially passionate about gardening these days…   The more I learn about growing my own vegetables (and how fun, easy and DELICIOUS it is), the more I want share this with others!

With summer fast approaching, and plant sales at practically every corner, I cannot think of a better time to show folks first-hand how easy it really is…

In this hands-on introductory class, we will explore simple and practical gardening techniques, which can be applied based upon how much space (and time) you have available.  Instructions and material lists will be provided for each method, including:

1).  Raised bed gardening:  This method involves building a simple wood frame that is filled with soil above ground level.  Some folks find this “tidy” method easier to manage, with higher yields per square foot than non-raised beds.

2).  Straw bale gardening:  This simple and affordable method uses straw bales as the growing “medium” with very minimal soil or compost necessary (perfect when healthy soil is limited).  This is also a great option for folks who have challenges with physical mobility, as it requires very little manual labor (beyond the placement of the bales) and can be reached without a lot of bending. This will be my first year experimenting with this ancient technique, and I am very excited to see it unfold!

3).  Container gardening:  This method is ideal when space is limited, or you just want to start simple with a few of your favorite vegetables.  We will discuss various kinds of containers from commercial pots to burlap sacs, and how you can make the most out of your gardening space.

We will also discuss the basics of healthy soil, composting, planting, transplanting, and much much more…

This event has passed.  Feel free to let me know if you would like to see more classes like this in the future!

Happy Gardening!

Spring has officially sprung and flowers are cropping up everywhere, including in my kale, collards and kohlrabi!

These Brassica vegetables (in the same family as cabbage and Brussels sprouts) are “biennial” plants, which means it takes roughly 2 growing seasons to complete their life cycle.

Part of this process involves producing flowers… Or if harvested at the right time, nutritious and absolutely delicious florets, called “raab”.  A more familiar example is “broccoli raab” (also known as “rapini”), known for it’s slightly bitter broccoli-like flowers amidst bushy green leaves.  While you can usually find this delicious raab in some markets and grocery stores, you are less likely to see the raab of it’s sweeter cousins, such as kale, collard and kohlrabi.

If you grow your own kale, (which I HIGHLY recommend), you’ll most likely notice long stems with broccoli-like buds emerging after a couple of months (or sooner in hot weather). It will take “wintering over” for collard greens and kohlrabi to flower, but their tender sweetness is WELL worth the wait! Last spring, our collards grew over 5 feet tall, and were bursting with delectable new shoots.  Now I grow collards more for the flowers than the leaves themselves!

To harvest: Cut the florets (stem and all) BEFORE you start to see yellow petals. Leave the central stalk of the plant, as it continues to produce more shoots.

To prepare: Simply steam or blanch them lightly until they are tender, but still “sexy green” (thank you, Stacey for teaching me this! :)).  For a little more flavor, saute them with a little garlic and olive oil.  You can’t go wrong, even eating them straight out of the garden!

Enjoy!

Photos: (top left) first collard “raab” emerging, (bottom center) Kohlrabi raab (I love saying that :))

Who says you need lots of land and a “green thumb” to grow your own food?

After finishing the “Comprehensive Organic Gardening” (COG) course through Seattle Tilth last week, I’m more convinced than ever that this is hardly the case.

We learned more in 3 and a half weeks than I can possibly mention, but a few of my favorite highlights were “cloche” building (see photo below), composting, crop rotation, and how to turn your lawn into a flourishing garden with very little effort.

I’m already applying my new-found skills in my own family’s garden, which has been ever-evolving over the last 2 years.  This weekend I planted seeds, planned new beds, and even harvested some of our over-wintering root vegetables and greens!  I’m also excited about building a simple and inexpensive “straw bale” garden in our back yard, which I will write more about soon…

For those of you who have not already discovered Seattle Tilth, they are an outstanding resource for anyone interested in learning more about healthy, sustainable living.  The Tilth offers a wide variety of classes for both the seasoned gardener and the “budding” novice, and they even provide a FREE “Garden Hotline” to help you along the way.

So whether you have the time and space for a full garden or a couple of pots (or even burlap sacks!), all it takes is some soil, light, and a little patience…

The fruits of your labor will be well-worth it.

P.S.  And thanks to the AMAZING teachers at Seattle Tilth, and all of my fabulous classmates for letting me take their pictures and making the class so much fun…  :)

Today’s technology has “gifted” us with the ability to talk while we drive, Skype while we type, and chat with anyone almost anywhere on phones that fit in our pockets.

Have these modern conveniences distanced us from our true inner voice? What does he or she have to say about this? Have you stopped to listen?

I remember the first time I spent 24 hours in silence about 7 years ago. I set out with the intention to “unplug” from the outside world, including my laptop, cellphone, television, music, and most of all, speaking. At first, I resisted this practice, and at the same time, there was a subtle voice inside of me that was begging for it.

For the first few hours of my day, I felt anxious, scattered, and all I wanted to do was complete my morning ritual of checking my email, making a phone call, or bantering with my housemate. Still, I had a feeling there was something to be learned in this unfamiliar silence.

Eventually, the mental chatter began to quell, and my thoughts became more clear and focused. A sense of calm washed over me, and I suddenly felt like I had more room to breath. As I listened in the silence, I heard clear insights about what I needed to do to be healthier and more fulfilled in my life. I wrote, listened, and wrote some more, and was surprised by how much information was right there inside of me all along, just waiting to be heard.

I’ve taken many “Silent Days” since then, and occasionally “Silent Weeks”. I still resist at times, or find myself caught up in what I think I “have to do”. But I now realize that it’s usually those times when I need to go inward more than ever. Each time I do this, I feel refreshed, inspired, and brimming with new ideas. I sometimes say that I feel like a “new” woman, but I’m actually just more connected to the woman I am.

So whether you have a full day, an afternoon, or even an hour, I encourage you to “unplug” from daily distractions, and open up to your own inner wisdom. You are the only one who truly knows what you need to do to be happy and healthy.

Are you listening?

*Photo above: My sleepy hometown of Rockwood, Maine (taken by my talented Mum).

Change is good.

Perhaps it’s the hint of spring in the air, but this past week felt like a great time to breath a little new life into “Theartofnourishment.com”.

After 6 short days from start to finish, a new website was born.  I’m very pleased with the simplicity and ease of navigation– and I hope you enjoy it as well!

I could not have done this without the immense help of Jahnelle Pittman (mix n’ match web solutions), who turned my simple Photoshop images into a (virtual) reality.

Jahnelle (AKA the “Web Genie”) has been granting all of my internet-related wishes for the last 2 years, and she never ceases to amaze me with her skill, patience, and fabulous sense of humor.

THANK YOU, Jahnelle!  Life would be “static” without you…  ;)

I had mentioned in a previous post that the official website for “Nourishment Made Simple” would be completed “in about a week”.  Well, this is taking little longer than I thought…

I feel a little silly for “jumping the gun”, but can you blame a girl for getting excited about her first book-in-the-making?  :)

I have an amazing team of talented folks who are contributing their superpowers, and I’m very excited to see it come together.

I will keep you updated as things unfold, and in the meantime, thank you for your patience!

Ah, the holidays…

As winter approaches, many of us begin our holiday traditions of scurrying around, shopping, decorating, wrapping, celebrating, shopping, traveling, entertaining…  And did I say shopping?

Amidst this hustle and bustle, it is easy to overlook the true essence of winter, which is about deep stillness, quieting our minds, and restoring our energy.  Ideally, this is the time of year to draw our proverbial sap back down to our roots, and begin to rebuild our stores for warmer months ahead.

No matter what your holiday practices are, here are a few simple exercises to help us live in accordance with the season…

1.  Ward off winter’s chill with warming and “damp-clearing” foods, such as winter squash, sweet potatoes, kohlrabi, rutabaga, onion and garlic.  Heap on the dark leafy greens like kale, Swiss chard, collards and beet greens (there is a reason these hearty plants can survive through the winter).  Concentrated protein foods (either animal or plant-derived) will also help you keep your head clear, and your feet on the ground, throughout the winter season.

2.  Take time for moments of silence, even if they are fleeting.  Find a quiet space (if you can) and simply focus your attention on your feet or lower abdomen while taking slow, relaxed breaths.  This will help you feel more grounded and present.  Even a couple of minutes can make a difference!

3.  Sleep.  We can learn a lot from our four-legged friends.  For those of you who live with pets, have ever noticed how they sleep even more during these shorter days?  According to Chinese medicine, this is exactly what we should be doing to restore and replenish our energy throughout the winter months.  So consider following their example, and take more time to sleep and rest!

Hopefully these simple tips will help you all find a little of your own “Peace on Earth”.