Health and Environment

My new book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Living, was released in September, 2007 by Alpha/Penguin Books. It’s great to see the world finally taking note of the important environmental issues I’ve been writing about for so many years, and I’m so pleased to be able to help the world move forward into a healthier future.

Writing about our top choices for natural health was very interesting for the November feature in Natural Health Magazine – I learned a lot about Energy Boosters and ways to improve our health and happiness in the process.

I loved visiting a beautiful Islamorada beach home designed by environmentally responsible design/build team Jersey Devil for the Natural Home magazine cover story. No air conditioning, yet plenty of comfort and stunning efficiency. It’s absolutely true that we can make our homes much more environmentally friendly and energy efficient if we apply green principles of design.

I was honored to learn that my story Toxic Schools, published in South Florida Parenting Magazine in April, 2003, received the 2004 Gold Award for Investigative Reporting from Parenting Publications of America. The same story also earned the Donald Robinson Award for Investigative Reporting from the American Society of Journalists and Authors, of which I am a member.

 

I am also the proud recipient of an Honor Roll Award from LEAF, the Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation, which works to protect people's health and the environment in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

I have written a number of full-length feature stories on health, including such topics as post-partum depression, suicide, obesity, chronic arthritis, chiropractic for kids, de-toxifying the home, herbs and even pet health.

As an environmental journalist, I am especially interested in writing on topics of environmental concern, whether it is about Everglades Restoration, seminars to teach businesses how to conserve resources and reduce waste, or about finding ecologically sound and sustainable building materials. I also incorporate my interest in the environment into my travel stories, frequently introducing readers to the preserved natural features of the regions we visit, with a goal of helping to awaken readers to the beauty and fragility of our earth and to inspire a sense of stewardship.

Check out a few of my environmental book reviews and health stories below.

2001.5.24 Lives of youngsters stolen by suicide

2001.8.4 Tokens of Faith: Visual expressions of religion gain popularity in stores - and in homes

2001.12.16 Sounding the alarm on the next big crisis

2001.12.23 Roving Designers Partner with Mother Earth

2001.5.6 Home sick? Push on for healthier houses

2001.8.23 Beyond the Baby Blues

2001.10.28 Nature's gifts about in her backyard garden

2002.1.3 Help for Fibromyalgia Patients

2004.3.21 Watching the Birdwatchers

2006.2.14 Herbs, music, drama blend into therapy at couple's clinic

2006.2.14 Herbs at a Glance

2006.11.19 Digging deep to explore environmental issues

2007.4.30 Florida, naturally: The unspoiled beauties beyond Disney's borders

1999.10.18 Restorative Powers : Public, private sectors join forces to heal the Everglades

2000.05.15 Small, minority business urged to seek Everglades work

2000.05.22 A Woman's Touch : Pat White transforms male industry ­ and succeeds

2000.02.28 Designing the Feng Shui way : Advocates say proper energy flows help make money flow, too

2000.06.05 Now starring in Hollywood: urban homes

2000.08.07 As region booms, hospitals face layoffs, closures

Green by Design: Local Building Councils are Guided by Environmental Principles

Chemical Consequences