Book Reviews
Environmental Ayurveda
Healing Environmental Factors
As all of you who have tried Ayurvedic herbs, food plans, lifestyles, etc. know, has a great healing effect on the mind, body, and soul. One thing we teach in our Ayurveda certification program is that extreme environmental factors can outweigh even healthy Ayurvedic lifestyles. With all the environmental news of late - the hole in ozone layer being larger in August than ever before, fighting over scarcity of water, energy blackouts, etc. - while looking for some positive news on the environmental front these two wonderful books appeared: Gaviotas and Cradle to the Cradle. Both books tell about some truly futuristic thinking that is actually helping not only not pollute the earth, but to heal it as well. The best news is, these are visions and ideas are currently available for implementation.

Gaviotas: by Alan Weisman.
This book was a product of a public radio program on the utopian (or topian) village in the desert of Columbia where nothing would grow except malaria-born mosquitoes. Here, in the midst of drug wars, lives a thriving society that successfully grows food and forests, found healthy water, invented countless and inexpensive solar and wind-powered products, and has a wonderful artistic community as well. The book is so well written - it reads like a thriller, yet it is all true, and what's more, is still thriving today. A diverse group of engineers, biologists, botanists, agriculturists, sociologists, musicians, artists, doctors, teachers, and students, create innovative technologies (solar collectors, irrigation systems, windmills, and hydroponic gardens) that use the environment without depleting or destroying it - and helping the neighboring villages and other troubled countries as well. If you ever wanted to make a difference but felt it wasn't possible, this book will tell you that ANYTHING is possible.

 
Cradle to Cradle: by William McDonough, Michael Braungart. This book takes takes the notion of recycling and turns it all on its head - forget the notion of recycling to not pollute the planet - the authors say, create products that, when disposed of, actually feed and nourish Mother Earth! Examples include Nike sneakers whose rubber soles are made from a nutritious substance to feed the earth at the landfill; and a fabric plant where the so-called 'waste water' leaving the plant after processing is actually cleaner than the initial incoming water. Many more practical ideas and strategies are covered. McDonough is a renown architect and former dean of architecture at Virginia University, Braungart is an internationally sought after chemist, who have teamed up for this clarion call to a new environmental paradigm. Together, these two books give both hope as well as blueprints on how to alter the environment, save businesses money, help all the people, and help Mother Earth too. Gaviotas is not only an exciting story, but the writing is also quite engaging. The interest in Cradle is more about the ideas they have come up with.These books are for anyone who has an interest in humanity, nature, health, economics, and new alternatives.

While healing our families and ourselves, let us expand our vision to heal our environment - and have great dharmic fun in the process!