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Macrobiotic Community  of

Miami-Ft Lauderdale, FL

 

Miami Area

 

Fort Lauderdale Area-Northern Fringe

 

Fort Lauderdale Area

 

 

Community Description

Area Description

Miami is a world famous resort city.  Its recreational areas and warm weather attract about 13 million visitors yearly.  It is located on Florida's southeast coast at the mouth of the Miami River.  Its metropolitan area population is 3,192,600 including the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.

Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities

Boca Raton, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Highland Beach, Hollywood, Lauderhill,  Margate, Miami, Miami Beach, Pembroke Pines, Plantation.

Summary and Impressions of the Community

The Miami Area has had one of the most active and spirited macrobiotic community in the country under the sparkling leadership of Sandy Pukel. In April, 1970, Sandy started macrobiotics in the Miami area and it grew to become a resource for the entire State of Florida. He started giving classes--cooking and lectures--together with Leon Matsil, and was joined by Mona Shwartz who came to help out.  Sandy established the Macrobiotic Foundation of Florida in 1973.  Someone named Neal (last name unknown) invited Michio and Aveline Kushi to Miami to conduct a seminar in the early 1970's.  Sandy invited Michio to stay at his house and by not accepting any payment from all the revenues generated but rather diverting it to the Macrobiotic Foundation, he endeared himself to the Kushi's. For the next 20 years, Michio and Aveline came to Miami every year.  Meanwhile, Sandy established macrobiotic centers in seven other cities in Florida. When Michio and Aveline came, they would work together to give all these centers their support.  Sandy also organized spring camps and children's summer camps as well as informal macrobiotic family oriented gatherings. These annual camps were organized for 6 - 10 years from the 1980's to the early 1990's. Winter programs were big affairs held at a major Miami Beach hotel. Many senior teachers participated in these programs. The deal that Sandy created was that these teachers' flight tickets were paid by the Foundation, but the teachers did not earn salaries. On the other hand, they were free to earn money from counseling.  Based on George Oshawa's "Ignoramus Club", Sandy created an American version.  About hundred teachers paid $100 to join. This entitled them to meet annually after the winter program for discussions on a variety of topics.  Macrobiotic activity flourished in the Miami-Ft Lauderdale area for many years under Sandy Pukel's leadership with many teachers. Lino Stanchich lived in Miami Beach in the mid to late 1980's, and Warren Wepman lived many years in the area. Cooking classes, served meals and educational programs were available in the center.  In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed the center. Property losses of many of its members resulted in their scattering in and out of the south Florida area. An ongoing macrobiotic presence has been maintained in the Fort Lauderdale area by visiting counselors, an excellent macrobiotic chef and cooking teacher, and group support dinner meetings. After a period of dormant activity, Sandy with his unique energy and leadership is guiding the renaissance of macrobiotic interest in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and beyond.  

Macrobiotic Community Assessment

Moderate Services: 1 counselor & 3 cooking teachers; 2 caterers; visiting counselor every 3 months. Moderate Activities: Monthly pot lucks, newsletter. Weekly dinner @ Boca Raton; very active macro center from 1973 until Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  Activities will shortly be generated again with renewed energy of Sandy Pukel.

 

Professional Services

Resident Counselors

Sandy Pukel  

Resident Cooking Teachers

Gayle Stolove, Zeli Melhuish; Luis Molina in Spanish.  Luis also lectures at health food stores, restaurant, or the Marriott Hotel.  

Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers

Lino Stanchich.

Professional Cooks or Caterers

Gayle Stolove, Zeli Melhuish, Ed Stevenson, Carlos Sichi.

 

Interviewed Macrobiotic Practitioners

Sandy Pukel

Length of Macrobiotic Practice

36 Years

Community Functions

Founded the Macrobiotic Center of Florida in the early 1970's, and established 7 macrobiotic centers throughout the State, most of which no longer are active.  He is still active in "Taste Of Health" an annual seminar held in CO, or San Francisco. Sandy gives health consultations, owns and operates a health food store--Oak Feed--the oldest continuously operated in the country, and is opening a Japanese macrobiotic restaurant and cultural center in Coconut Grove.  Sandy is and has been one of the outstanding macrobiotic leaders in the US; he hosted Michio Kushi annually for 20 years, ran winter macrobiotic conferences in Miami Beach for years and continues to invest his boundless energy to develop and promote macrobiotics.

Macrobiotic Study

Kushi Institute (KI) spiritual seminars; scribed for Michio Kushi's consultations for many years at all the seminars.

Alternative Healing Modes

Exercise, Spiritual practice, Positive thinking, World prayers.

Gayle Stolove

Length of Macrobiotic Practice

12 years

Community Functions

Nurse. Cooking teacher and food takeouts.  Also hosts visiting counselor (usually Lino and Jane Stanchich) and arranges their consultation schedules.

Macrobiotic Study

Way of Health at the KI.  3 Michio Kushi health seminars; hosted Lino Stanchich 4 years.

Alternative Healing Modes

None

 

Support System

Paid or Potluck Dinners

Not now.  Sandy just reopened his Oak Feed health food store together with a Japanese restaurant and meeting hall. He is planning to renew macrobiotic life in the Miami area as it once was.

Education Centers

Many referrals to the Kushi Institute and Asheville came from Miami.  

Seminars

"Taste of Health," an annual event co-sponsored by the City of Miami and the Miami Herald.  Between 10,000 - 30,000 people came to a park to taste foods from many US health companies.  These fairs were accompanied by performers.  Lectures were also held.  

Newsletter

None.  Only phone call follow up.  

Support Groups

There was a weekly free group with a psychologist or medical doctor for years attended by about 50 people.  It is now at the Coconut Grove public library monthly. In the Boca Raton area, Dena Axelrod has organized weekly dinners at Wild Oats for years; the health store prepared macrobiotic food for that day.  The store recently closed, and she is looking for an alternative place. These dinners were an important support group function in Broward County.  About 15 - 30 people attended.

Work Study Program

Sandy is planning this with the reopening of his Oak Feed Store.

Publications, Books, Cassettes

Joy of Life; a magazine  

Web Sites

http://www.edenfoods.com 

 

Natural Food Sources

Macrobiotic Restaurants

"Shaky at Best" will be the new Japanese restaurant to open shortly by Sandy Pukel.  Veggie Express has a macrobiotic plate; 19 restaurants, excluding Wild Oats and Whole Foods supermarkets, with vegan options.   

Natural Food Chain Stores

Whole Foods and Wild Oats  

Independent Natural Food Stores

Oak Feed, Natural Food Market, Health Depot, Tunie's Super Save Nutrition Center, Nutrition S'Mart, Nutrition Depot, Natural Life Market, Nutrition World, Country Corner Health Foods, Nutrition Cottage, Nutrition Wise.

Natural Food Coops

None

Mail Order Buying Clubs

None

Cottage Industries

Used to be 3 tofu factories; now there is one. Seitan and miso both started with the Oak Feed store.