Harmony Moon Manifesto: We Believe in Love. Always.

My heart is hurting, as I know yours is too, for the unrest we see in the streets, and for the systemic injustices and hatefulness that has led up to this time of civil protest.  Harmony Moon was founded, 24 years ago, on the principles of inclusivity, fair wages, respect for our differences, and speaking up for those who have no voice. We stand against racism, bigotry, discrimination, and social injustice in all its many forms.  Enough is enough.  We must work together to create the kind of world that we want our children to inherit.  

#WeStandForEquality
#WeStandForJustice
#WeStandTogether 

Hygge & Happiness

In the darkest of times, with cold winds and raging storms all around, the Danish have devised a weapon of first resort.  A weapon that can eliminate, or at least diminish, the feelings of stress, sadness, and hopelessness that often arise in their long, dark, cold winters. That weapon is “hygge.”

Pronounced “hue-guh,” the concept is not easily translated into English but is most often equated with “cosiness.”  Hygge is further associated with a comfortable conviviality and contentment.

Hygge encompasses not only the ambiance of the room (think cushy chairs and wood-burning fireplaces) but also includes dress (flannels and woolen socks), food (porridge and hot cocoa), and company (close friends and meaningful conversations).  Their propensity for creating hygge is one reason why the Danish, in spite of their long winters, have been called “the happiest people on earth.” 

The United Nations has recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and declared March 20th as the International Day of Happiness.  To do our small part in boosting the art and science of happiness, Harmony Moon will be posting suggestions and happy thoughts on our facebook and twitter pages throughout the month of March.  Please join us in helping to increase happiness, health, and hyyge for all the world’s people. 

To get you started, on the right is the GREAT DREAM poster from the Action for Happiness.  It is a science-based “10 Keys to Happier Living."  

To read more about the Danish concept of "hygge," try these resources:

• The Art of Danish Hygge
  
• The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy

And, if that's not inspiration enough, here's Pharrell Williams and "Happy":

 

Happiness Doubled by Wonder

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."    -G.K. Chesterton

 

Exciting news! Harmony Moon celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Oh my! Time does fly and it's been a wild and joyous ride.

Here are some highlights from Harmony Moon's history:

 

We increased the awareness of the fair trade movement in our local communities through our sponsorship of the Fair Trade Resource Network and our partnerships with Ten Thousand Villages in Alexandria and with The Sacred Circle and Cranberry's in Staunton to celebrate and promote World Fair Trade Day.

 

 

We were there at the beginning of the farm-to-table movement. Harmony Moon was the very first in Alexandria to offer CSA (community-supported agriculture) farm shares to our customers through partnerships with The Farmstead at Charlotte Hall in Maryland and Great Country Farms in Virginia.

 

We participated in Washington, DC's first ever Green Festival. Harmony Moon was an early member of Green America's Green Business Network and we were awarded the organization's coveted GOLD medal for our green practices. 

 

 

We saved the lives of dozens of cats and kittens by helping them find their forever homes through our partnerships with local cat rescue groups such as King Street Cats and Tails High in Alexandria, and Cat's Cradle and H.O.P.E. in Staunton. 

 

 

 

In the weeks and months to come, we will continue to share stories of our many adventures and the many wonderful people we have met along the way.

And we continue to feel awe, wonder, and enormous gratitude to the many talented, creative, thought-filled, engaged, uplifting, spiritual, change-makers and activists who, like you, are our friends and customers and who really do believe that one person has the power to change the world.

We are so very grateful for your love and support. Thank you for allowing us to serve you these twenty years. You fill us with happiness doubled by wonder.

And now, let the adventures continue...

 

 

 "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

Blessings

After a rather tumultuous 2012, our move to Staunton – with all its trepidations, hopes, and fears - turned out to be a wonderful blessing. We have met some amazing and talented people here, and made many new friends. With the help of both friends and strangers alike we were able to grow and expand the shop and community center in ways we had never imagined before. And there are even more good things on the horizon for the coming year.

We’re grateful, too, for the continuing support of our Northern Virginia/Maryland/DC and Beyond clientele. It is so heartwarming to know that you have not forgotten us. So many of you made the trip to Staunton to check out our new space and were surprised and delighted with the old-fashioned charm and hospitality of our new hometown. Staunton has a vibrant arts and culture scene and also is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Check out all the wonderful events, happenings, and things to do at: VisitStaunton.com

Our biggest blessing is you, our wonderful and loyal customers. We are honored and humbled that you have continued to support us through seventeen years of transformations. And you've brought your friends, family, and visitors to see us and share in our little "oasis of serenity," expanding our community of fellow travelers to the 4 corners of the world.

Thank you.

Peace & Many Blessings to You in the New Year,
Sally & Scooter

Small Business: The Heart of Your Community

 

In a scene from the hit film, You've Got Mail, the character played by Tom Hanks attempts to justify his corporate bookstore chain's expansion which resulted in the closing of a smaller neighborhood shop. According to Tom: "It's not personal, it's just business..."

Meg Ryan's comeback is classic:

"It's personal to me. It's personal to a lot of people. And what's so wrong with being personal anyway? Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal..."

Locally-owned businesses start with being personal. The shop owners and employees are your friends and neighbors. They know your name. They know your dog's name. They know the names of your children AND their birthdays.

They know the products you like, in the colors and sizes you want, and they stock them just for you. If they don't have it, they special order it. If they do have it but you can't get it just yet, they hold it for you.

Not only do locally-owned businesses give a community its unique personality but research shows that the presence of mom-and-pop shops helps to raise property values. And they support the community in a myriad of other ways. Did you know:

•    A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?

•    Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?

•    Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?

•    Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?

Support locally owned businesses by shopping on Small Business Saturday - the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, Small Business Saturday falls on November 30. To learn more about the "Shop SMALL" movement, follow these links:

Small Business Saturday
The 3/50 Project
Independent We Stand

Not only are you much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at an independent small business, but every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community.

Everyone wins when you "Shop SMALL" on Small Business Saturday!

Everyone's a Winner When You Support Small Businesses

Take a minute now and try to imagine what your neighborhood would be like without your locally-owned mom-and-pop shops. Do the terms "bland," "generic," "boring" come to mind?

Independently owned shops not only give your neighborhood its unique character, they also support the local economy in a myriad of ways. That's the premise behind small business advocacy campaigns like The 3/50 Project and American Express' Small Business Saturday.

Did you know that:

• A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?
• Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?
• Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?
• Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?

And now, according to a recent study conducted by Civics Economics, there's one more reason to support small businesses: they help raise your property values.

The Small Business Saturday Shop Local event is November 26. When you register your American Express card in advance and shop at an independently owned small business on Small Business Saturday, American Express will reimburse you with a $25 statement credit! You can register your American Express card here.

Not only are you much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at an independent small business, but every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community.

Everyone wins when you "Shop SMALL" on Small Business Saturday!

Care for Kids! A Benefit for Children's National Medical Center

It's that time of year again when we proudly support the Children's National Medical Center by sponsoring the "Care for Kids" Card campaign. The program is simple:

• Buy a "Care for Kids" card for $50 here
• get 20% off ALL purchases at more than 300 local shops and restaurants during the campaign period, from Oct. 21 through Oct. 30.

That's it! It's a great way to start your holiday gifts shopping while supporting a worthy non-profit. All proceeds from sales of the cards go directly to Children's National Medical Center, while the savings go directly to you!


In past years, the Care for Kids Campaign has contributed more than $1.5 million towards:

• a clinical simulation training laboratory
• a portable ultrasound machine
• summer camp for sickle cell patients
• a bright and cheerful playroom for patients in the respiratory care unit

Your purchase of the Care for Kids Card includes a catalog detailing the more than 300 shops and restaurants throughout the DC-area that are participating in the program. Purchase yours today!

Strange Vegetables + Ranch Dressing = Delicious!

Support your local farmer by becoming a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). And if you haven't joined a CSA yet because of some qualms about what to do with all those "strange" vegetables, here's a nice little article from our friends at Local Harvest: Strange Vegetables

Small Business Saturday

Join more than 300,000 people nationwide who have already expressed their support for locally-owned businesses. Sponsored by American Express, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a nationwide promotion in support of small business everywhere:

"A day to come together in support of the small businesses we love. The shops and restaurants that employ our neighbors and reinvest our money close to home. The businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local
economies."

Show your support and receive a $25 credit on your American Express statement when you shop your local small businesses on Small Business Satuday. See Small Business Saturday (smallbusinesssaturday.com) for details. If you're a facebook user, you can give a "shout out" to your favorite small business at facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday.

Shop Local, Shop Small!

"Care for Kids" Benefit to Support Children's National Medical Center

Every year at the end of October, The Children's National Medical Center sponsors a pre-holiday shopping promotion. Mindful Hands is once again a proud supporter of the "Care for Kids" holiday promotion. Mindful Hands, along with more than 500 other DC-area retail stores, will generously provide participants with a 20% discount off all regularly priced merchandise during the promotion period.

This year's designated shopping period is from Friday, October 22, through Sunday, October 31. All you have to do is purchase a Care For Kids holiday shopping card at selected merchants, through a team of 200+ volunteer sellers, or online at http://www.careforkidscard.com Your card purchase allows you to give a $50.00 contribution directly to Children's National and, in return, you will receive 20% off all regularly priced merchandise at participating stores, including Mindful Hands.

The Care for Kids program has provided more than one million dollars in donations to Children's National. Donations from previous years provided the Medical Center with a bright and cheery playroom for the patients in the Respiratory Care Unit, a clinical simulation training laboratory, and educational programs for children with Type 1 Diabetes and their parents.

Children's National is ranked as one of the top ten pediatric hospitals in the nation. The hospital provides care to all children in need, regardless of financial situation or whether insured or not. Last year, Children's National provided more than $50 million dollars in health care to children whose families could not afford treatment.

When you purchase a Care For Kids Card, 100% of the card sale proceeds go to Children's National Medical Center. Help this most worthy cause by purchasing your Care For Kids Card today!

Purchase your Care for Kids Shopping Card here.

Eat Healthy, Eat Local

On March 25, Alexandria became only the second city in the country to pass a resolution in support of healthier eating, including increasing residents' access to locally grown, environmentally sustainable foods. And here at Mindful Hands we are happy to do our part in support of that same goal!

Mindful Hands is once again sponsoring an organic farm co-op (also known as a "CSA," or "community sponsored agriculture") in which members pay at the beginning of the season for 20 weeks worth of fresh, organic farm produce. If you are like me, you definitely appreciate the crisp and flavorful taste of homegrown vegetables picked fresh just that morning.

To find a co-op, farmer's market, or CSA near you, check out the Local Harvest website.

Thinking Outside the Box

Think outside the box this holiday season. Instead of shopping at "big box" or national chain stores, shop instead at your local neighborhood stores. You'll find your neighborhood "mom-n-pop" shops have most everything you need for your holiday gift-giving and home decorating.

And you're much more likely to discover some unexpected wonder or unique handmade treasure at a locally-owned shop.

Shopping at locally-owned independent shops also helps strengthen the local economy. Did you know that:

• A locally-owned shop returns 68% of its revenues to the local economy, whereas a national chain returns only 43%?
• Locally-owned shops employ more local residents and pay them substantially higher wages, in addition to having a broader range of jobs available?
• Local businesses buy more than twice as much from other local businesses, and also are more likely to use local banks and other service providers?
• Local businesses contribute more to the community through charitable giving, school funding, and other non-profit organizations?

Every dollar spent in a locally-owned shop is a vote for the health and welfare of your community and supports your neighbors in their livelihoods. This holiday season, think "outside the box" and support your locally-owned stores. Your neighbors thank you!

Support Local Artists

The fall arts season is upon us once again. Alexandria, Virginia is fortunate to be home to many nationally-acclaimed artists as well as the world-renowned Torpedo Factory Arts Center. On the weekend of September 12 & 13, King Street will once again be closed to traffic from Washington Street east to the river. Several of Alexandria's local artists, many of whom rent or own studio or gallery spaces in Old Town, will be exhibiting their works along the sidewalks in front of their galleries. Look for these talented, and local, artists:

- Mindful Hands' own art director, Chris Engnoth, will be exhibiting his fine art watercolors and digital paintings (that's "Key Bridge on Ice" above) in front of 211 King St.

- Our next door neighbor, Nar Steele of Cobblestone Art Gallery, will be exhibiting watercolors, multimedia works and painted birdhouses in front of 213 King St.

- Visit Todd Healy at Gallery Lafayette at 320 King St. Todd is well-known for his paintings of local Old Town scenes and architecture.

- Andrew McDonald, former vice-mayor of Alexandria, showcases his photos and other works at AHM Gallery, 215 S. Union St.

A trip to Old Town Alexandria is never complete without a visit to the internationally acclaimed Torpedo Factory Arts Center. The Torpedo Factory is sponsoring "Art Activated" with artist demonstrations, hands-on activities, and special dance and music performances on Saturday, 9/12, from noon - 4pm.

If you can't make it here the weekend of Sept. 12/13, don't fret. The Torpedo Factory Arts Center and the art galleries and studios of our many talented local artists are open year-round. Celebrate the Arts any day of the year in Old Town!

Support Your Local Businesses

If your community is anything like mine, there have been lots of mom-n-pop shops closing up lately. In every block there is at least one empty storefront. And we are fairly protected here on the outskirts of the nation's capital. Other parts of the country have been hit far worse by the continuing recession.

Old Town Alexandria, VA, where I live and own my shop, Mindful Hands, is lucky to be home to a large number of distinctive independent shops, catering to a wide clientele - from upscale chic boutiques to fine art and home decor galleries to multi-cultural fair trade and eco-minded handicrafts to family-centered children's stores. Many of Old Town's shops will promoting our community by sponsoring family-centered activities, on the weekend of September 12/13. Here are a few:

- Mindful Hands will be partnering with our friends, the King Street Cats, for "Kitty-purr-looza," a kitten adopt-a-thon, on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4pm. The kittens will be in their new "kitty corral" and, if past kitty-purr-loozas are any indication, it will be a kitty 3-ring circus! Stop by to pet and play with these frisky felines and maybe even take home a new friend (or two).

- Enjoy free lemonade and cookies, before or after playing with the kittens, jointly sponsored by Mindful Hands and our neighbors SoBe Unique Shoes - all at 211 King Street.

- Hooray for Books!, an independent children's book store, at 1555 King Street, will be offering hand-cut silhouettes - shadow portraits that capture the unique personality of your child - by Anne Leslie. She's one of only 75 silhouette artists in the United States, and she'll be at Hooray for Books! on September 12 from 1:00 - 5:00pm.

- The largest display of collectible kaleidoscopes will be at Arts Afire Glass Gallery, 1117 King St, all weekend long and through Sept. 30th. Artist reception, Fri-Sat, Sept. 11-12, from 5-8pm and 1-4pm on Sun 9/13.

- and don't miss "Children in the Churchyard at Christ Church," 118 N. Washington St., for family-friendly activities including a moon bounce, Sat and Sun, 1-4pm, FREE.

Support your local artists, businesses, and community institutions. In these tough economic times, your dollars do indeed count!

Greening the Family

You're already reducing, re-using, and recycling. You're bringing your own reusable bag to the organic market, you've replaced all your ordinary lightbulbs with compact fluorescents, and you've even started composting. So now what? Well, how about taking the burden of "going green" off your own shoulders and getting the whole family involved?

Here's a few simple suggestions for making the green revolution fun for the whole family:

(1) Toy recycling night. Have your kids go through their toys and games, considering what they want to keep and what they no longer play with. For every toy no longer wanted, have them consider if it can reused (by being given to someone else), recycled (toys with wooden or plastic parts), or reduced (thrown away). Assign 2 points for every reused or recycled toy, 1 point for everyone reduced. Decide ahead of time a realistic points total for your family and the treat that will be rewarded when the total is reached (such as family fun hike at a nature reserve or park).

(2) Plant a tree. Research trees that are native to your area and have the family go along to the nursery to pick one out. You can have fun planting the tree in your yard while enjoying a backyard picnic.

(3) Organize a community clean-up day. Have your kids and their friends make posters to put up around the neighborhood. Enlist other families to help clean up streets, sidewalks, and curbs. Enjoy a community potluck lunch after the work is done!

For more ideas for family fun while going green, check out these websites:
www.thedailygreen.com

www.treehuggingfamily.com

Ch-ch-ch-changes! The Earth Sangha moves to new location

It's been said that nothing is permanent except change. Our long time friends and fellow meditators, The Earth Sangha, who hosted the Tuesday and Wednesday evening sessions at Mindful Hands, have moved their meditation sessions to a new location. They will now be meeting at Yoga in Daily Life at 2402 Mount Vernon (in the Del Ray section of Alexandria, near the Braddock Road metro station).

Wednesday (beginner-level) sessions stay the same at 7pm to 9pm but Tuesday (intermediate-level) sessions will change to 7:45 to 9:20pm. Visit The Earth Sangha or call (703) 764-4830 for details.

We wish them much success in their new location!

Mmm-Mmm! That's Good Eatin'!

If you've ever grown your own vegetables you know there's nothing tastier than carrots, turnips, or fresh herbs pulled right from the ground and onto your dinner plate. Yet most of the produce you buy in your neighborhood grocery store travels up to 1,500 miles to get to your table. It's often over- or under-ripe and almost always tasteless by the time it reaches your refrigerator.

Even if you can't grow your own vegetables, there's still another solution to buying produce from industrial agribusinesses: buy from your local family farmer. In recent years there's been a growing awareness that locally-produced food is not only better tasting but it's better for you, too.

There are many benefits to buying locally-grown food, including:

• locally-grown food is picked when it's ripe and not before, so it's more nutritious and tastes better
  
• locally-grown food is often cheaper since family farms don't have the high overhead of transportation and labor costs
  
• you'll contribute to the economic health of your local community as more of your dollars will stay in the community
  
• you'll help to preserve the long-term viability of family farms, protecting them from encroachment by development
  
• locally-grown food is often healthier for you and for the environment as many family farmers use fewer pesticides and other chemicals or use entirely organic farming methods
  

Chris and I support a local farm, the Farmstead of Charlotte Hall in Maryland, through a program called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Every week, just-picked produce is delivered to a community location (in Alexandria, the drop-off location is Mindful Hands; how's THAT for convenience!). Members of a CSA buy shares in the farm prior to the growing season and then receive the bounty of their investment throughout the summer and fall.

The Farmstead's season runs for 21 weeks from June 2nd until Oct. 29th. Each week, members will receive a hand-picked selection of the ripest and tastiest vegetables, including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beets, peas, carrots, radishes, turnips, squash, potatoes, and a variety of herbs. Mmm-mmm! Now, that's good eatin'!

To find a CSA in your area and for more information on buying locally-grown food from family farms, try these sources:

Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org)
Local Harvest (www.localharvest.org)