Letter from Publisher

Signs of fall are all around. Trees are getting just a hint of leaf color, monarchs are migrating through the Midwest to their southern winter residences and the afternoon light is a bit more muted than it was a month ago. In my garden, the colorful flowers of native goldenrods, asters and other fall blooming varieties are filled with native bees, small butterflies and other pollinator insects.

The theme of our October issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago is “Healthy Planet,” and we’re covering a variety of ways to both enjoy our natural world, and live and eat more sustainably and seasonally. It’s also “OAKtober”, a month to celebrate not just the white oak (Quercus alba), our official state tree since 1973, but also all of the oak varieties native to our area. Our contributing writer Sheryl DeVore takes us on a tour of Illinois Oak Woodlands in this month’s Natural Chicago section. You’ll also find details of OAKtober celebrations to enjoy in our news briefs and calendar sections.

When someone says “healthy planet”, often the first thing that comes to mind may be a forest, mountains or the wild ocean. But as Sandra Yeyati explores in our main feature, “Sustainable Sanctuaries,” the built environment, particularly that of our homes both inside and out, are an integral part of making our lives more comfortable and sustainable. Forward thinking and creative engineering by organizations like the Children & Nature Network are also helping many communities to extend sustainability efforts to school playgrounds and beyond, as you’ll learn in Sheila Julson’s look at “Green Schoolyards” in our Healthy Kids department.

Fall harvest brings seasonal ingredients to our tables, like crisp apples, bright pumpkins, colorful squash and gourds, late-season greens and root crops, including beets and carrots, as well as final gatherings of peppers, tomatoes and eggplant. I’m already imagining the cinnamon-spiciness of a hot apple pie, the first pot of soup simmering on the stove on a chilly Sunday evening or the taste of freshly roasted beets tossed in olive oil and fresh herbs. Whether from your garden, the farmers market, farmstand, CSA or the local grocery store, the deep flavors and colors of the fall harvest are something to anticipate. Be sure to check our Conscious Eating department for must-try recipes to enjoy all this season has to offer.

October is also Breast Health Awareness Month, and we’ve created a special section in this issue devoted to self-care ideas for the body, mind and spirit for those undergoing a cancer journey, either firsthand or through a loved one.

If you’re like me and look for remnants of the summer past well into fall, cheering on the crickets as their songs gradually slow with dropping nighttime temperatures, you’ll want to read Marlaina Donato’s notes on inviting the wild into our indoor spaces.

As always, I encourage you to step outside your door each. Enjoy the crisp air as well as lingering summer like days that chance our way. Observe the Hunter’s Moon early in the month, and enjoy the waning moon if you’re walking the dog or heading home from work in the wee hours. Press leaves in a big book to find in the future, gather seeds to propagate next spring, rake the leaves to use as mulch on flower beds, watch a squirrel burying acorns and listen to the sounds of autumn rain hitting the ground. Catch the muted colors of late-season flowers in the afternoon rays of the October sunshine. Savor every day.

Happy Autumn!