.: We invite you to live a healthy lifestyle

Macrobiotic Community of

Orlando, FL

Community Description
Area Description	Orlando is a popular winter resort and tourist center. Its warm climate has helped make it one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Walt Disney World Resort opened about 15 miles southwest of the City in 1971. A large number of retired people have settled here because of its climate. Orlando's metropolitan area population is 1,224,900.
Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities	Altamonte Springs, Casselbury, Fern Park, Lake Mary, Orlando, Sanford, Winter Springs
Summary and Impressions of the Community	The Macrobiotic Foundation of Central Florida was established by Harriet MacNear in 1987. Her extraordinary leadership created and sparked a community of practitioners that have maintained a high level of activities to this day despite Harriet's untimely passing in June, 1999. There are over 120 family and single members of the Foundation, of which about 40-50 are active. The Foundation sponsors visiting counselors to lecture and give personal consultations about four times a year, three potluck dinners per month (one is a paid dinner), and workshops every two to three months. All these events are well attended. Given the foundation of activity in the area, the community spirit, professionalism of those people active in the Macrobiotic Foundation of Central Florida, macrobiotic community life has flourished unabated to this day. The moving to the area of Patrick McCarty and his wife Vashon, has also added considerable depth and direction to the community.
Macrobiotic Community Assessment	Abundant Services: 1 counselor & 7 cooking teachers, cooks, caterer. Harriet MacNear started teaching in 1987, until June, 1999. Abundant Activities: Macro Foundation; monthly pot lucks, newsletter, regular study group. Macro foundation started in the late 1980’s.

Professional Services
Resident Counselors	Patrick McCarty
Resident Cooking Teachers	Rocky Price, Ceri Mauerman, Krista Berman, Vashon Sarkisian, Beverly Owens, Jeff Barrett, Carlos Ablenado
Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers	Past visiting teachers have included Verne Varona of Omaha, NE (recently moved from the LA area), Jeremy and Susan Higa of Great Barrington, MA--lectures and cooking classes; Patrick Verre--French chef who incorporates macrobiotics into his cooking; David Briscoe—lectures on macrobiotics.
Professional Cooks or Caterers	John Procacci, caterer; was the chef at Chamberlin's health food store; Peggy Singleton from Daytona.

Interviewed Macrobiotic Practitioners
Krista Berman
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	18 Years
Community Functions	Cooking teacher--about 4-5 classes per week.
Macrobiotic Study	Learned with Harriet MacNear in Orlando. Harriet was the prime mover in Orlando in macrobiotics; her kitchen was known as Harriet's Kitchen.
Alternative Healing Modes	Food supplements. Also uses Acupuncture, Chiropractor, Kinesiology and Yoga.
Sam Shugrue
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	11 years
Community Functions	Treasurer of the Macrobiotic Foundation of Central Florida
Macrobiotic Study	Studied cooking with Harriet MacNear--"Harriet's Kitchen" Also attended annual retreat for intensive study at St George Island with Harriet; no longer exists.
Alternative Healing Modes	Some food supplements, energy work
Rocky Price
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	9 Years
Community Functions	Cooking lessons. President of Macrobiotic Foundation of Central Florida
Macrobiotic Study	Mostly with Patrick McCarty; no formal studies.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Carlos Ablenado
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	14 years
Community Functions	Goes to Macrobiotic Foundation meetings, but is not involved as he once was as a Board member. Cooking instructor and macrobiotic advisor.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied with Harriet MacNear at her "Harriet's Kitchen." Carlos has also read extensively and went to lectures given in Orlando.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Beverly Owens
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	10 Years
Community Functions	Cooking teacher. She also does some "ad hoc" consultations.
Macrobiotic Study	Christina Pirello's cooking classes and introduction to macrobiotics.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Patrick McCarty
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	40 years
Community Functions	Resident counselor, Shiatsu teacher and Author.
Macrobiotic Study	In Brookline with Michio Kushi in the 1960's.
Alternative Healing Modes	Acupuncture.

Support System
Paid or Potluck Dinners	There is one dinner a month; every two of three are pot lucks, and the third is a catered dinner.
Education Centers	None
Seminars	There is a monthly study group at Patrick McCarty's house. Two seminars a year are scheduled with a speaker invited from out of town to lecture, counsel and/or teach cooking.
Newsletter	A newsletter is issued every 2-3 months of upcoming activities of the Macrobiotic Foundation.
Support Groups	Only within the framework of Pat McCarty's study group.
Work Study Program	With Patrick McCarty
Publications, Books, Cassettes	The Foundation maintains a lending library; the books are brought to events. In addition, books are available at the local health food stores.
Web Sites	None

Natural Food Sources
Macrobiotic Restaurants	No macrobiotic restaurants. 11 restaurants with vegan options, including Chamberlin's and Whole Foods health food stores .
Natural Food Chain Stores	Chamberlin's, Whole Foods
Independent Natural Food Stores	Economy Health Food Center, Sunshine Health Foods, More 4 Less.
Natural Food Coops	None
Mail Order Buying Clubs	None
Cottage Industries	None

The Rice House Home Page