While we eagerly look forward to gathering again with friends and neighbors, stay-at-home orders are still in place for New York, so in the meantime, we’ve got ideas for things you can do from home:

1) Start a veggie garden. It’s not too late to put in a new garden this year. In fact, May is a great month to start growing your very own hyper-local organic food. Now is the time to put in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, basil seedlings and more. It’s also not too late to plant greens like lettuce and kale, which are super easy to grow and will do well in a garden patch or balcony pot where there’s not a lot of sunlight. You can find structures for small raised beds online that make growing veggies really easy. Just add bagged organic soil and compost and you’re good to go. If that’s too difficult, how about sprouting? That’s another fun and healthy project that allows you to inexpensively and easily access a superfood right from your kitchen counter. 

2) Try a cleanse. If you haven’t tried a cleanse before because you thought it would be hard to do at work—well, now you can. Because our bodies accumulate heavy metals, pesticides, plastics and other toxins throughout our lives, safely removing these toxins is a great practice for preventing chronic disease. Last month Anthony William published his new book, Cleanse to Heal, and as I write this, I am on day four of his new 3:6:9 cleanse. People who know me know that I’m a little bit obsessed with William’s teachings, since they have been instrumental in turning my health around over the past few years. So I was excited to write an article about his approach to healing from autoimmune diseases. Please read “Healing from Autoimmune  Illnesses” on page 39.

3) Start a new exercise program if you haven’t yet. Find fitness professionals on page 57.

4) Join a free inspirational Zoom meeting with psycho-spiritual therapist Cynthia Chase. See page 12 for details.

5) Take a free PULSE call with Janet Alona Catalina on any Monday night in May. She’ll guide you through her system for releasing fears and envisioning an even better future for yourself and the world. See page 9 to learn how to join a free call.

6) Consult a beauty expert for do-it-yourself skin- and hair-care tips. To learn more, read Maureen Toohey’s article, “Fresh Organic Beauty on a Budget—At Home,” on page 18.

7) Do an Ayurvedic seasonal detox with Dr. Somesh Kaushik, an Ayurvedic and naturopathic physician in Cross River. See page 16 for details.

8) Ignite your creativity. If you always wanted to dive into an art project but didn’t have the time or direction, consider getting guidance and inspiration from Susan Spillo. She offers creative classes through Zoom. Read more on page 14.

9) Make mindfulness a habit. Now is the perfect time to explore mindfulness, meditation and connecting with nature with a daily practice.

Be sure to check out our news briefs to read about rescheduled events and big news about Omega. And we’re always updating the event listings on our online calendar at WakeUpNaturally.com, so check in often to stay up to date.

I’m grateful to those in our community and their efforts for the greater good these past months, and how individuals and local businesses continue to find innovative ways to help each other from a distance. And I’m optimistic for our shared future. Our strength is in this kindness and common sense of purpose. Let’s keep it going.

Marilee