Greenie Guide Podcast

Four Season Foraging teaches people how to safely and sustainability identify and harvest wild edibles. I connected with Maria, the founder of Four Season Foraging, to learn more about the Minneapolis-based company. In the interview, learn more about urban foraging and how to get started foraging in your area. How to start foraging: Follow Four Season Foraging on Instagram and Facebook. Take a foraging class. Maria teaches classes in the Twin Cities, or look for options in your area. Search by your city and the term “foraging” or “foraging class.” Watch Learn Your Land on YouTube. Read Samuel Thayer books. Three books: Nature’s Garden, The Forager’s Harvest, Incredible Wild Edibles. Read the Peterson’s Edible Wild Plants Guide. Look for foraging Facebook Groups to learn about foraging and find foraging opportunities in your area. Live in the Twin Cities? Learn how to get started foraging with this Four Season Foraging blog post. Community gardens are a great place to forage for edible weeds, either by finding

Rerip is on a mission to keep surfboards out of the landfill. I connected with Meghan, the co-founder of Rerip, to learn more about the organization. In the interview, learn more about Rerip, why it’s important to support zero waste programs, and how to make surfing more sustainable. How to support a more sustainable surfboard industry: Follow Rerip on Instagram and Facebook. Donate your old surfboards to Rerip and give them new life. Learn more about sustainability in the surf industry through Sustainable Surf. Learn more about the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). If you’re in the market for a new surfboard, explore secondhand markets (Rerip and its partners are a good resource!). If you spring for a new surfboard or wetsuit, do a little research to find the most sustainable option. Meghan recommended Firewire Surfboards. Follow surf leaders who care about sustainability. Sustainable Surf has some ambassadors and it’s a good list to start! Commit to one surf location to avoid excessive driving

The Ms. Smarty-PlantsTM program empowers kids to change the world. Through school assemblies, class field trips and special events, the program reaches over 80,000 kids and adults per year. In the interview, learn more about the Ms. Smarty-Plants program, why it’s important to provide nature-based learning for kids, and how to be an earth hero. How to save water: Follow Ms. Smarty-Plants! And visit the Ms. Smarty-Plants website for ideas and resources. Take shorter showers. Reducing your shower time even just a few minutes makes a huge difference in the amount of water used. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Even Colgate had a commercial about this. Eat less water-intensive foods. The Water Footprint Calculator has some great info on water-use in the food industry. Google “water saving tips” and find resources for kids and adults. Check the San Diego County Water Authority for rebates, ideas, and more in the San Diego County region. When doing laundry, only do full loads so you don’t waste water.

Lumbercycle is on a mission to create zero waste utilization of trees, meaning the organization aims to ensure that trees cut down in San Diego are used in the best way possible rather than sent to the landfill. I connected with Tom, the President and CEO of Lumbercycle, to learn more about the organization. In the interview, learn more about Lumbercycle, why it’s important to utilize fallen urban trees rather than send to the landfill and how to get involved in this topic. How to learn more about urban trees and support organizations like Lumbercycle: Learn more and follow Lumbercycle on Facebook and Instagram. Think of a community project you can do! Some ideas: park benches, park fences, Little Free Libraries, Scout projects (Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts), and more. Contact Lumbercycle for the wood to make it happen. Urban trees are valuable in so many ways: carbon sequestration, community beautification, cooling effect, etc. Learn more about urban trees by checking out urban tree organizations in you

Reclaimed Goodness is a company redefining the meaning of new through use of reclaimed materials. I connected with Maria, the owner of Reclaimed Goodness, to learn more about the company. In the interview, learn more about Reclaimed Goodness, why it’s important to reduce our waste and how to utilize reclaimed materials for your own creative pursuits. How to start using reclaimed materials: Follow Reclaimed Goodness and other companies that utilize reclaimed materials. Take a class with your city or county. Find out what’s available in your area by searching your city or county’s name and the term “environment.” Follow some of the people and organizations Maria loves for zero waste inspiration: I Love A Clean San Diego, FROM (and learn more about FROM in my interview with the company), and Eco Goddess. Go to your local farmer’s markets to find local businesses and artists. Plus, you never know who you’ll connect with! Keep an eye out for the businesses that are sustainable and focused on zero waste or ot

Ethel Studio is a company on a mission to eliminate textile waste. I connected with Maggie, the founder of Ethel Studio, to learn more about the company. In the interview, learn more about Ethel Studio, why textile waste is something we all should focus on and how to support a more sustainable industry. How to support a more sustainable textile industry: Follow Ethel Studio and other companies that utilize rescued textiles in their products. Look up the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and learn more about the entities working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of textile products. Learn more about textiles and the textile industry through Textile Exchange. Read Overdressed about the fast fashion industry and look for other books about ethical and sustainable fashion. Develop an awareness and curiosity for the clothes you currently have and the clothes you buy in the future. Look at the labels and see what they’re made from, start to discover what those materials are and what they mean for the

Little Free Library is the amazing nonprofit responsible for the world’s largest book-sharing movement (did you know: there are over 80,000 Little Free Library sites around the world!). I connected with Branden, the Community Engagement Director at Little Free Library, to learn more about the organization. In the interview, learn more about Little Free Library, why access to books is so important and how to support the nonprofit. How to support Little Free Library: Learn more about Little Free Library with these videos. Check out the Little Free Library sites in your area. The Little Free Library website has a great map to find locations. Or keep an eye out for them as you walk, bike and drive around. Get inspired by libraries around the world. Little Free Library’s Facebook and Instagram are great places to find cool locations, as well as here, here and here. Use your nearby locations. Find books, share books and tell friends about it. Donate to Little Free Library. Start a Little Free Library fo

FROM is an incredibly cool company that creates recycled stationery and other goods. I connected with Hillery, the postmaster and creator of FROM, to learn more about the company. In the interview, learn more about FROM, why it’s important to repurpose material and how to get crafty. How to get crafty and use reclaimed materials: Follow FROM on Instagram! Get inspired and get updates on the latest events where you can find Hillery and Al Green in person. Get creative. Find materials in your kitchen or your recycle bin. And don’t be afraid to dumpster dive…recycle bins are much cleaner than trash bins so it’s ok! Shop farmer’s markets for artists and vendors utilizing reclaimed materials. Shop on Etsy. Many shops and individuals sell products made from reclaimed materials. Make your own recycled postcards. Take inspiration from FROM, get the raw material and get crafty! Find the standard postcard size here, measure and cut. Then decorate, write and send. For a postcard tutorials, try this or this.

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Each episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. Brook is a water harvester, business owner and educator who helps San Diegans save water in their homes and landscapes. In the interview, learn more about water harvesting and how to save water in your home. How to harvest water (and save water!): Look up Brook’s companies, Catching H20 and H2OME Take a class on water harvesting or get a consultation (if you’re in San Diego, check out Brook’s website) Learn more about water harvesting through Art Ludwig’s website Read Brad Lancaster’s book Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and check out his website to learn about water harvesting Get involved with Greywater Action to support a sustainable water culture Watch Cycle of Insanity from Surfrider Find water harvesting classes through San Diego Sustainable Living Institute Discover water

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Each episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. Rachel Breen is an artist and the creator of The Garment Solidarity Project, a project aimed to express solidarity and empathy for garment workers around the world. In the interview, learn more about the Garment Solidarity Project, the garment industry and how to support garment workers around the world. How to support garment workers around the world: Look up Rachel’s work and follow along! Learn more about the Garment Solidarity Project Pick one thing you can do and commit to it for a year Buy more used/secondhand clothes Buy less new clothes Research the clothes you want to buy and look for ethical, fair trade clothing Buy from Pact (they have Pact clothes at Whole Foods too!) Make your clothes last longer by washing them less often and air drying versus using a dryer Support organizations that are he

SanDiego350 is an inclusive volunteer organization working to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice. In the interview, learn more about the organization, community choice energy, and how to support community choice energy in your city. How to support community choice energy: Follow SanDiego350. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow on social media (links below). Learn more about community choice energy and see if community choice aggregation exists in your state: LEAN Energy US. Visit CalCCA to learn more about community choice in California. Search “community choice energy” and your city/state to see what local groups are working toward this option. Contact your mayor, county supervisor or city council – let them know you’re interested in community choice energy for your community. Partner with local environmental groups and advocate for community choice energy. SanDiego350 is a great example. If you need help finding a group in your area, contact me and

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Each episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. SanDiego350 is an inclusive volunteer organization working to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and climate injustice. In the interview, learn more about the organization, community choice energy, and how to support community choice energy in your city. How to support community choice energy: Follow SanDiego350. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow on social media (links below). Learn more about community choice energy and see if community choice aggregation exists in your state: LEAN Energy US. Visit CalCCA to learn more about community choice in California. Search “community choice energy” and your city/state to see what local groups are working toward this option. Contact your mayor, county supervisor or city council – let them know you’re interested in community choice

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Each episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. Queer Science creates events and opportunities for LGBTQ high school students to learn about STEM fields and aims to inspire more students to pursue science careers. In the interview, learn more about the program and a few ways to get involved and take action. How to support Queer Science and getting more LGBTQ students into science fields: Share Queer Science events with Minnesota high school students and parents. If you are a queer scientist, start our own chapter and make a difference for students in your area. Look up and get involved with national organizations like OSTEM and NOGLSTP. Share the program on social media (Sample Tweet: Just found out about a great program called Queer Science on the @greenieguide podcast. I LOVE what they’re doing. If you know any high school students in MN, pass along

This is a special episode of the Greenie Guide Podcast. I’ll get back into regular interview episodes soon, but wanted to share some voter resources in a special solo episode. We have an important election coming up next week, and we all need to get out there and vote. In this episode, I lay out a few ways to make the voting experience easier and more fun, whether it’s getting to the polls or knowing who to cast your vote for. Let’s all make a pact to vote together next week, whether it’s our first time voting or our twentieth. Resources to Learn Who to Vote For ACLU Quiz to help you determine candidates who will stand up for civil rights (usually a pretty good bet they will be pro-climate. Utilize Ballot Ready to learn about candidates and referendums. Learn more about your US Senate and US House candidates and their commitment to climate with their climate score from Vote Climate US PAC. What organizations do you follow that align with your political priorities? Many organizations endorse candidates w

Listen to the latest sustainable travel segment I do for the Sustainable Living Podcast. In this episode, learn more about camping with HipCamp. Hipcamp is a great sustainable travel option, because it allows you to explore the great outdoors by renting camping spots from landowners across the US (like an Airbnb but with campsites!). Alyssa, the founder and CEO of Hipcamp, joined me for the segment. Learn more about Hipcamp: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Learn more about the Sustainable Living Podcast: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Steemit Photo credit: Hipcamp and Madison K. at Paradise Shores Camp

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Every episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. Blue Ocean Society is a marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting marine life in the Gulf of Maine. In the interview, learn more about this great organization, its cool educational programs, and a few ways to take action for the ocean and marine life. How to support marine life and healthy oceans: Join in on an event with Blue Ocean Society. Reduce your use of single use plastics, like plastic bags, plastic water bottles, and plastic cups. Skip the straw. See Blue Ocean Society’s Skip the Straw Project for inspiration. Support organizations like Blue Ocean Society by donating and/or volunteering (remember, you can do both even if you don’t live on the coast!). Understand where your seafood is coming from. Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch is the place to start. Buy local w

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Every episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. For this episode, get inspired by an individual taking action for the climate! I chatted with my friend Brian Ettling. He was my mentor at the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training and he’s incredibly knowledgeable on climate action. In the interview, learn more about one person making a difference and learn a few ways to get involved and take action. How to take action for the climate: Talk about climate change with friends, family, and coworkers. Vote! Vote in November, but also vote for midterm elections! Call your reps and let them know a healthy environment is a priority for you and your city. Sign up for a Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training and learn how to talk about climate change. Follow Brian on Twitter! He shares a lot of interesting climate news, articles and action steps. He’s al

Listen to a special monthly sustainable travel segment I do for the Sustainable Living Podcast. In this episode, learn more about outdoor gear rental. Gear rental is a great, sustainable travel option for camping and other outdoor sports. Rachelle and Ross, owners of Coozie Gear, joined me for the segment. Learn more about Coozie Gear Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Learn more about the Sustainable Living Podcast Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Steemit

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Every episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. ElectroMotiveLA is an awesome resource to browse, learn, and fall in love with electric vehicles. In the interview, learn more about the EV resource, why electric vehicles are important, and how to support getting more EVs on the road. How to support electric vehicles: Learn about them. ElectroMotiveLA is a great resource. Take an EV quiz and discover your perfect EV match. Talk about them with friends, family, and coworkers. When you’re in need of a new ride, consider buying an EV. Vote for people who support clean energy and healthy communities. Rent an EV or Hybrid. When you need to rent a car, rent (or request!) EVs or Hybrids (Hertz already has a program in place, for example). With more demand, rental companies will look to fill that demand with more options.   ElectroMotiveLA Website |

There are so many ways people are making a positive impact for our environment. Every episode, we’ll talk to someone new doing great things for their communities and we’ll share resources to take action. Bootstrap Compost is a food scrap pickup service in the Boston area serving residential and commercial clients. In the interview, learn more about the cool composting company, why it’s important to care about compost, and how to prevent food waste from ending up in the landfill. How to find a compost pick up or compost programs in your area: Google! Search “composting” or “compost pick up” and your city. Visit your city, county or public works website for environmental programs. Many areas have classes, discounted compost bin programs, and more. Do a search for free composting classes in your area. Ask friends and family if they know of any composting programs in your area. See if your city/county offers an organics recycling program by checking its website. If it doesn’t, contac