Happy Independence Day! This year, as in many years past, Americans will get together for this miraculous summer holiday and celebrate the good fortune that our forefathers set in motion 240 years ago. Americans are very fortunate to have the freedoms that other citizens in the world can only dream of.

Our senior national writer Linda Sechrist discusses a topic close my heart in our feature article regarding independent media on page 20. She discusses the dangers of media consolidation and identifies some of the successes that independent media outlets are having as they work to bring us truthful and unbiased information. It is in all Americans’ best interest to have everyone’s voice represented fairly so that we can make informed decisions about many topics, including our health, which is the most precious possession we have and should not cost us an arm and a leg to maintain (pun intended).

Three years ago, I took over this edition of Natural Awakenings in the hope of providing a publication that promotes natural healing in a way that everyone can understand and relate to. Our magazine is always reporting new information and allowing our readers to judge for themselves if it is the right solution for them. My own objective is to offer a natural solution for every diagnosis and promote preventative measures such as a good diet and elimination of chemicals from our bodies and our environment.

I have always thought of this publication as a collective voice for dedicated natural healers and healthy living proponents; We are just the facilitator. We have an emerging community of natural providers in the area that fit into a marketing designation called Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS).

The LOHAS market was first defined by the National Marketing Institute of Harleysville, Pennsylvania, to describe an estimated $290 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. According to LOHAS.com, the consumers attracted to this market represent a sizable group in this country. Approximately 13 to 19 percent of the adults in the U.S. are currently considered LOHAS consumers based on surveys of an adult population of 215 million. Research shows that one in four adult Americans is part of this group—nearly 41 million people. These consumers are the future of progressive social, environmental and economic change in this country, but their power as a consumer market remains virtually untapped. This publication does require support from the natural healing community and in turn, support from the readers that value those advertisers’ services. I am grateful for the support we have been given and hope to include more local businesses and expertise as we grow. By working together, we have created an independent media outlet with a focused message of health, good local food and sustainability.

My goal continues to be to make this publication available to anyone seeking an alternative approach to improving their health. From letters, phone calls and spontaneous conversations I’ve had, I believe we have excelled in bringing drugfree, surgery-free and cost-effective solutions to our readers. I truly feel that had it not been for a free copy of Natural Awakenings magazine, many may not have found those solutions.

Reid Boyer, Publisher