August 2021 has arrived on the Gulf Coast, and I have again eased comfortably into tropical living, Florida-style. Focusing on the more beautiful aspects of the season, I set my pace to comfortably flow with whatever may come.

I feel blessed to live in this Bay Area paradise and to live among a unique community of earth-loving natural health seekers intent on change for the better. It is a set of circumstances ripe with promise.

With students heading back to school late this month, this issue of N.A. Tampa Bay features an enlightening selection of wellness tips for boosting the health and well-being of the children in our midst. Time flies and there is no time like the present to accelerate progress in the realm of natural health. Whether through avenues of education, nutrition, fitness or sustainable living efforts, the sooner we holistically nurture ourselves, the better.

This month’s Conscious Eating department features cool writer Julie Peterson’s article on the ways to preserve summer’s food bounty for use throughout the year, from dehydrating to pickling and fermenting to canning, including recipes for zucchini bacon and pickled watermelon radishes. Healthy, nutritious fun.

As always, with an open heart and an open mind, I hope you enjoy reading on.