Letter from the Publisher

That steady, high-pitched background “hiss” comes mainly from grasshoppers and crickets, their trill speeding up and slowing with temperature changes. Annual dog-day cicadas still dominate warm afternoons with their rising and falling droning sounds. After dusk, katydids may layer in their “ch-ch-ch” calls while crickets fill in the rhythm, their mix changing as you move through a yard, park, neighborhood, forest preserve, lakefront trail or stretch of countryside. You’ll hear the chorus well into October if temps stay above about 60 degrees, gradually fading away with cooler and drier conditions.

Like smell, sound is one of our brain’s strongest memory triggers, tying us to seasons, times of day and familiar places. Research shows natural sounds like crickets and cicadas may spark memory more quickly than visual cues while also boosting calm and mental restoration. It’s easy to tune out that constant hum, but it’s more than background noise—it’s a natural soundscape that grounds us in time and place while quietly supporting our sense of well-being. And just as these sounds shape memory and mood, they remind us how closely everyday experience is connected to brain health.

This month’s theme, Brain Gain, looks at how daily choices can help the brain adapt, heal and grow. In “Activating Neuroplasticity,” Hannah Tytus explores the science of neuroplasticity and shows us that the brain is never static. Maya Whitman’s “Feeding Our Brain Power” highlights the MIND Diet, a blend of Mediterranean and DASH approaches, proving that caring for cognitive health can be both practical and delicious.

We also share “Strong at Any Age,” where Jordan Peschek shows how resistance training supports women through perimenopause and menopause. Beyond building strength, it boosts balance, bone health and confidence—reminding us that vitality doesn’t fade with age, it evolves.

In this month’s Natural Chicago section, Sheryl DeVore takes a look at our busy local squirrel populations for National Squirrel Month, and M.D. Skeet (“Skeet”) shares why October is the perfect time to fertilize backyard trees. Bob Benenson reminds us that farmers markets are still overflowing with fall favorites as well as late season tomatoes and peppers. And Janie Maxwell of the Illinois Farmers Market Association brings the harvest to our table with a simple, delicious recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts.

This October issue marks 15 years of publishing Natural Awakenings Chicago. On behalf of our entire NA Chicago team, I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to you, our readers, advertisers and community partners, for being an active part of this journey and for the support that makes this magazine possible. It’s a joy to help grow and nurture this community together. 

As always, I encourage you to step outside each day and notice what early autumn has to offer. Watch the full moon rise, catch sight of water birds moving along the lakefront or press a beautiful red or golden leaf between the pages of a book. Plant those native perennials still waiting patiently in their pots on the patio, gather the last veggies and herbs from your garden or simply take in how the light shifts as the season turns.

Wishing you a magical and inspiring October!