"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet XCVIII

 

April showers may indeed bring May flowers but April in Staunton, VA also brings Earth Day celebrations, Bridge Day celebrations, Hot Glass festivals, and a new season of shows at the American Shakespeare Center. 

April also brings the beginning of cycling and hiking season, farmer's markets, and LOTS of new items at Harmony Moon.

Take a peek here:  New Items

Finally, April also brings longer hours at Harmony Moon.  We're back to our regular hours during the week and open until 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and (most) Saturdays.

Stop in and say "hi," we're always happy to see you!

Connections

Since moving to Staunton two years ago, we have met so many amazing folks and have made so many wonderful connections with the community. Some of our connections include:

• our partnership with non-profit cat rescue group Cat’s Cradle for kitty petting zoos and adoption events 
• local health and wellness practitioners (such as Anne Buzzelli of BuzzNutrition and Brittney Johnson of Top of the Mountain Healing) who use our community room for healthy living classes 
• partnerships with other local retailers, such as our World Fair Trade celebration with Cranberry’s and The Sacred Circle 
• the many talented local musicians whom we sponsored during last year's Fourth Friday Night Vibe 
• and many, many others not mentioned here but just as important. 

We’re thrilled, too, that we've maintained so many connections to our friends and patrons who supported us in our former location in Alexandria, VA, and continue to support us, making that lovely scenic trek from DC to Staunton and being pleasantly surprised at all that Staunton has to offer. 

For those of you who have been long-time supporters of Harmony Moon, you know building community is part of our vital work. Community is important in so many ways, connecting people from diverse backgrounds who might not otherwise have met and pooling resources and talents to create a shared vision for the future. 

Our community is one in which people care how their goods and products are made, expecting that anyone who does a fair day’s work should see a fair wage for that work. We care about the earth and want to walk gently on it. And we care about challenging ourselves to be the best that we can be – whether that’s eating healthier, exercising or meditating more, or simply sharing our life experiences with others. 

To join and help us grow our community, please connect with us on Meetup: Harmonious Living Center 

and on Facebook: Harmony Moon 

And please share this newsletter with your friends and others whom you think might want to be part of our community too. 

According to Malcolm Gladwell, tipping points for change can happen in the most unlikeliest of places. Who knows? That could be us and our community of harmonious lifestylers! 

“In the end, Tipping Points are a reaffirmation of the potential for change and the power of intelligent action. Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push—in just the right place—it can be tipped.”

― Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

18 Birthdays

A big THANK YOU to our new hometown of Staunton, VA for welcoming us with open arms and making us feel like a vital part of a vibrant community! As most of you know, we moved from Old Town Alexandria to Staunton's historic downtown last year. It's been a wild ride but we've loved every minute of it and are so proud and grateful to call Staunton home!

If you're not lucky enough to live here, I highly recommend a visit. Check out VisitStaunton.com to see all that Staunton has to offer, including the American Shakespeare Center, Heifetz International Music Festival, Staunton Music Festival, Staunton Augusta Art Center, and many other arts and culture organizations, events, and activities. Staunton may have a small town feel but is definitely big on culture!

Harmony Moon celebrated our first year in Staunton (and 18 years all together) last week with a birthday party and mini-green fest. Check out these green businesses who participated:

Black Bear Composting
hOUR Economy
Linda Tabor, recycled crafts
Staunton City Backyard Hen Advocates
The Balanced Dog
Brittney Johnson, Top of the Mountain Healing
Joy Boardman, massages

We could not have survived 18 years without our loyal customers, old and new. Thank you for your patronage and support!

Harmony Moon in the News

I was recently asked by Independent We Stand to write a guest blog about fair trade and buying local. Check it out here:

4 Reasons Buying Local Makes a Global Impact

And, in case you missed these recent news stories:

• Harmony Moon - Mini-Green Festival by Allison Profeta, a local Staunton blogger and founder of Staunton City Backyard Hens Advocates

• World Fair Trade Day, my interview about fair trade with Bob Corso of WHSV-Channel 13