The Rice House Home Page

Community Description

Area Description

Pittsburgh lies in the rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania, where the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet to form the Ohio River.  Steel production gave the city a booming economy but also severe pollution.  Most of the steel mills are gone, but the city is still an important producer of steel, but has a diversified economy.  Its metropolitan area population is 2,394,800.  

Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities

Greensburg, Monroeville, Newtown, Pittsburgh, Wilkensburg.

Summary and Impressions of the Community

Pittsburgh had a very strong macrobiotic community in the 1980's, but is almost without activities today. Deborah Barr sponsored monthly dinners for 8 years in the 1980's; she also lectured, counseled, and taught cooking. About 150 people came to the dinners. There are several very experienced counselors and cooking teachers in the area. Phillip Jannetta, a well known macrobiotic author continues to lecture and counsel part time. He hopes to rebuild a macrobiotic community. Pittsbugh could potentially become a strong community again considering the number of macro people living in the area.  

Macrobiotic Community Assessment

Abundant Services: 4 counselors & 3 cooking teachers. Dormant Activity: No paid dinners or potlucks; used to be strong community in the 1980’s.  

Professional Services

Resident Counselors

Rosemary Traill, Peggy Shaw, Deborah Barr, Phillip Jannetta.

Resident Cooking Teachers

Heather Boyd, Peggy Shaw, Rosemary Traill  

Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers

None

Professional Cooks or Caterers

Peggy Shaw.

Support System

Paid or Potluck Dinners

No paid dinners or potlucks.

Education Centers

None

Seminars

Deborah Barr teaches and lectures on attitudinal healing.  She also has had a natural weight loss program since 1990.  Rosemary Traill lectures at the library and classes at "Sweet Water Center for the Arts" every 3-4 months.

Newsletter

None

Support Groups

Sporadically Rosemary Traill invites people.

Work Study Program

None

Publications, Books, Cassettes

At local health foods stores  

Web Sites

None

Natural Food Sources

Macrobiotic Restaurants

There are no macrobiotic restaurants; 3 restaurants offer vegan options; Fresh Fields and the East-West Co Op offer vegan food.  

Natural Food Chain Stores

Whole Foods

Independent Natural Food Stores

City Farm, Today's Market, Shadyside Natural Foods  

Natural Food Coops

East End Food Co-Op  

Mail Order Buying Clubs

None

Cottage Industries

None