The Sustainable Living Podcast

We are now doing live stories on Patreon for our supporters. You can join the Sustainable Living crew with as little as $ 1 per month!! Link to our Patreon Page   Marianne and Emily dive deep into the drawbacks of tiny home living. Emily has moved from over 2000 sqft to her 325 sqft tiny home. After two years in the tiny home, they moved to Colorado and are in an even smaller camper now until their home arrives.    

In this Solo episode, Marianne gives an update on the happenings at the Homestead. Most notable there are new baby chicks around. Just say No is a new motto to escape feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Many of us say yes when we really need to say not and protect ourselves from taking on to much. Depression is a theme which seems to be talked about a lot these days and it touches so many of us. On a brighter note. We started to do live stories on Patreon. They are there for 24 hours and many are exclusive to our Patrons. You too can support us in our mission to create the world we want to see by sponsoring us for as little as $ 1 per month.   https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Thank you in advance!!  

Pia Piscitelli, our Sustainable Travel expert 's segment is on how to enjoy the great outdoors without buying equipment we might only use once. Emily Gerde interviews Colleen Zahradnicek who is running for office in Denver. The city is experiencing a rapid increase in home prices that leaves many unable to afford a house. Emily and Colleen exploring ways alternative housing and financing options can ensure a bright future for the working population of Denver.

Steven, our Urban Farmer is back with an update from the life of a backyard farmer. We talk farmer's markets, farm projects, and so much more. We are also sharing exciting Patreon updates and you will hear a story.   To see our Live stories, check us out on Patreon    Some of the videos and pictures are for the public and many are for our supporters exclusively. It only takes $1 per month (more is of course appreciated) to be part of the in-crowd.

Emily shares the food choices her family makes and why that works for her - now. We have different needs at different times in our lives. But there are some things which apply to all of us - no matter what. Visit us at on our website and remember to check for stories on our Patreon page Emily's Message Hello! Emily here with a solo podcast adventure! Please excuse the sound quality as I completely forgot to put my earbuds in, so it’s just my computer microphone. I felt called to do a quick food podcast as an overview of what healthy eating looks like for our family. I discuss the many different options available to you as far as a healthy diet goes and help sift through some of the confusion behind all the choices. I also dive into options for holistic practitioners that can help you along on the journey. I provide the best ways to save money and eat clean at the same time and make sure you know the most important ways to keep your food free of any harmful toxins. Join me on this quick journey to a new health

Marianne and @taskmaster4450 explore how all of us can have a basic income through Manna. We also explain what is the blockchain and what is cryptocurrency. To start receiving a weekly income, use this link https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=179a62831e   What is Universal Basic Income? If you have never heard of Universal Basic Income (UBI), you have come to the right place to find out. In this podcast, taskmaster4450 explains what it is, why we need it, and how to get it. If you think that taskmaster4450 is a funny name for a person, you are right. That is his username on the social media site Steemit where I met him. Steemit pays for posting, commenting and voting in cryptocurrency. That is one way to make an income that is different from what you might be used to. But that is not what can be understood as a Univeral Basic Income. On Steemit, you have to put effort and work into building your account and subsequently creating an income. The idea of UBI is that beyond signing up for it, you are not required to d

Diana MacDonald is Introducing Herself I have been a professional photographer since 1993, and have been shooting stock photography since 1996 when I moved to Florida and landed a job as an in-house stock photographer for SuperStock, a stock agency in Jacksonville. In 1998 I left the agency and branched out on my own, shooting what is known as macro stock for a company called Eyewire, which had previously been owned by Adobe, and was bought out by Getty Images. I shot exclusively for Getty for many years, but with the advent of microstock agencies, the business changed drastically, so I now shoot for 5 micro agencies as well as for Getty and for Alamy (a UK based macro stock agency.)   Social Media and the Use of Images Many Social Media platforms are full of images used without permission. In our conversation, we do mention Steemit a lot since that is the platform we met. In Diane's opinion, Steemit allows the illegal use of images because the community is expected to be self-policing. They do not tolerate p

Emily and Art geek out on all the options available for tiny house construction. Both are in favor of clear regulations so costly mistakes can be avoided. Lots of tips and facts for anyone interested in the Tiny House Movement.   Post by Emily Gerde:   I had a wonderful interview with Art, where we discuss all things tiny houses from a builder’s perspective. Art mentions tiny homes being one of the great options to minimizing our environmental impact due to the few materials, utilities and space needed for them in society. Art started gaining construction experience in his youth working with family businesses, spending the summers working on roofing, siding and other construction on the east coast. Since then, Art has gained invaluable knowledge and experience in many different facets of construction.  Art has experience with concrete and pier foundations, wood and steel framing, outdoor structures, decks, complete renovations, building additions, geodesic dome construction, and now – building the best Tiny H

Emily and Marianne catching up. Emily recently moved from Minnesota to Colorado to help build the tiny house community she wants to live in. Right now, she, her family, and pets live in a camper. Soon, their tiny home will arrive in Colorado driven there by an experienced tiny home mover.   Emily's Update on Tiny Home Living and More Marianne & I (Emily) had a great conversation where I update her on our exciting adventures since our last interview in episode 116. We start with my new book that is now out and available wherever books are sold. Minimalist Living For a Maximum Life is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Minimalist-Living-Maximum-Life-Simple/dp/1944833390, I am working on getting it as an audiobook and an online version. In the book, I share our journey to minimalist living and simplifying our lives. I also discuss ways to live a mindful, organic, holistic lifestyle that heals your mind body and soul.  I share our new journey to Colorado from Minnesota and our vision of starting

Pia and Claire are new voices who are joining The Sustainable Living Podcast. Pia will be talking about sustainable travel and Claire about homesteading and aging. Both will have regular segments in the future. The New Voices on The Sustainable Living Podcast As you know, there are new voices at The Sustainable Living Podcast. When Jenise decided to give up podcasting for now, I got excited about the idea of adding a variety of new voices to our program. Sustainable Living is such a large topic and many of us are trying our best to become knowledgeable about the many aspects of creating a more sustainable life. But try as we might, we always will know more about one aspect than another. Adding new voices with expertise in different topics seems like a good idea. For the past weeks, you have heard from Emily Gerde who loves Tiny House living, is a mom of a young child and promotes the minimalist lifestyle. Today, you will meet two new voices who will be regulars on the podcast. Meet Pia Piscitelli When I first

Zoe became a Yoga Instructor when 17 years old. She had practiced from an early age and Yoga helped her to deal with a stressful childhood. She used to have severe stomach issues caused by anxiety. After beginning her Yoga practice, she did not suffer from that anymore.   Emily Gerde conducted this interview and wrote: I had the pleasure of interviewing Zoe Who Erickson. As a recent graduate from Northwester Health Science University, she displays wisdom beyond her years and inspires us to live sustainably through the mindfulness of yoga. Zoe became a yoga instructor at age 17 and since then she has mastered her craft with unique class structures, meditations and individualized instruction. She notes Eckhart Tolle’s books as a catalyst in bringing even more mindfulness into yoga and allows her to live in the present moment, rather than the past or future. By doing so she has been able to heal herself and assist in healing her clientele by embodying living in the present.   Zoe reminds us that age does not mat

Stephanie Kubes is a single mom who is a Certified Veterinary Technician and spent 5 years planning and researching for her build before proudly becoming a Tiny Homeowner in the fall of 2017. She and her 5-year-old daughter now live in their tiny home, The Willow Tree, and refer to themselves as Two Girls and a Tiny. Stephanie began as a client with Midwest Tiny Living but quickly evolved into the Project Manager for the company. She plans to transition her career full-time into helping build Tiny Homeowners!   In our discussion, Stephanie describes her inspirations for building a tiny house, which focuses on the desire to acquire home ownership. Going with the flow during your design and build can save you a lot of stress, according to Stephanie’s experience. Asking for help was an essential piece on her journey. She reveals her secret to finding a parking spot and how she made a place to call home happen for her.   Stephanie talks about key design features and that your design ultimately comes down to your

Claudia, Bonnie, and Marianne exploring the importance of women's retreats and how to create a business which promotes happiness and fulfillment for all involved. Claudia is a clinical psychologist and Bonnie worked as a Hospice Nurse, is a Homeopath and a Nutritionist. Both wanted to create a business that included a lot of laughter and fun. And what could be better than a women's retreat?  But it is not all about having fun. The connections women (and men) can and will make at retreats are an important part of creating a network of support we all need to live a happy life. In the interview, Claudia and Bonnie are sharing a lot of tips on how to create a similar event anywhere. However, if you are in the San Diego Area, check out Full Moon Retreats and join in. Bonnie Bertano, CEO, is a 10th generation California-born native. She’s the mother of two amazing humans, devoting many years to full-time parenting while also working part-time so she has a deep understanding of work-life balance and self-care, havin

Ryan Ott is a professional builder and has helped many people to fulfill their dream or a tiny house. In this interview with Guest CoHost Emily Gerde, we learn about the cost involved to build a tiny house and much, much more. If you are dreaming to own one in the future, this interview will prepare you to ask all the right questions and make a plan before you spend any money. Best to do it right from the beginning.   Visit our website for more tiny house information and lots of Sustainable Living info.    Ryan Ott is the owner of Midwest Tiny Living LLC. Based in Minnesota, Ryan brings a lifetime of experience and experiments to the tiny house community. His approach is to custom build homes for the clients he serves which helps them make the transition in a way that works best for them. This technique, he feels, is the best way to ensure a successful transition from living in large rooms to living in a large world.   We discuss all things tiny houses including pricing, planning, building, and parking. Ryan

It is with great pleasure that we are introducing one of the new team members of the Sustainable Living Podcast. We are excited to bring even more voices from the Sustainable Living Crowd to you all. Here are Emily's words of introduction: Emily Gerde is an up and coming author with a background as a public school teacher, gymnastics coach, daycare provider, tiny house dweller, and holistic health enthusiast. Emily will provide an inside look into a minimalist lifestyle and how downsizing can forever change your life. She will also dive into mindfulness practices, organic farming, gentle parenting and how sustainable living can be applied in all areas of your life. Emily’s new book, Minimalist Living for a Maximum Life, gives you in in depth look at her family’s journey to healing the mind, body and soul through minimalist, sustainable and mindfulness practices. "The Peacemaker taught us about the Seven Generations. He said, when you sit in council for the welfare of the people, you must not think of yourse

Steven Cornett has the farming bug!! He happily works many hours to get his backyard farm off the ground. Until not too long ago, he also worked a regular job - a job he actually liked. But, he says, he quit that job a few month ago and never has been happier. It all started 6 years ago when he and a friend decided to give farming a try. Both worked part-time jobs and spend the rest of their time building their farm. There was no time for girlfriends or parties. They were too busy following their passion and loving it! Steven tells us about their journey turning absolute awful San Diego soil into a market garden which brought them an income. Hint: It helps to know people who need to get rid of animal bedding from a county fair. Another example how waste can be turned into a valuable resource. After a couple of years of farming with his friend, Steven went to teach English in Korea. There, he did a lot of reading and found Masanobu Fukuoka's book The One Straw Revolution. Mind blown!! Reading this book and lea

Wishing you the best for 2018. We are going through some changes. Jenise has too many obligations and will no longer be co-hosting the podcast. Marianne shares some ideas how to go forward from here. Visit our website and find out how you can become part of the future of this podcast. No worries, the podcast will keep on and will strive to serve you better all the time.

Jenise and Marianne wishing you all the best for the Holidays. Hannuka, the Winter Solstice, Christmas, New Year, Kwanzaa and many might have other celebrations. We are wishing you joy, health, and happiness.     Marianne shares some of her winter garden adventures and challenges. She also invites you to take some time to practice gratitude for the small things in our lives. Of course, for the big events as well. Here is the challenge. Let's express our gratitude by planting trees. We can create a ceremony for the planting or simply say or think the gratitude we want to infuse into the tree. Of course, you can buy a tree and plant it in your yard. Or maybe this is a good time to propagate one. Maybe from seed, maybe from cuttings. A lot depends on your climate zone and what kind of trees will grow in your area. Many cities have tree programs. They give free trees to promote cleaner air. But tree stewards are needed to not only plant the tree but water and care for it until it is established and can live on it

@taskmaster4450 is explaining the basics of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. He is sharing many different applications of this new technology and we are exploring what that means to people who do want to life a more sustainable lifestyle. Some of the options already available to everyone are several applications where Cryptocurrency can be earned. One example is bitrad.io. Earn by listening. So easy. Please use this link to start your own account  http://bitrad.io/?ref=97511 We do get a small benefit if you use it. Another platform to earn cryptocurrency is steemit.com Marianne shares an event that happened on this platform and turned out great for her. Please send your questions to sustainablelivingpodcast@gmail.com We will have regular segments on this subject in future podcasts.

Matt Duncan is an educator who is also concerned about the future of our planet. He was babysitting the young son of a friend who had just moved to the country and had brought very little with them. There weren't many toys but pretty soon they all had fun playing with toys the had made from items in the recycle bin. The idea of making toys by upcycling materials everybody not only has in their house but typically throws away. A year later, their first book is for sale on Amazon and the online upcycle toy club is thriving. Making toys together is not only cheaper than buying, helps to save the planet, and brings the family closer together. Listen and find out how you can win a one-year membership to the upcycle toy club. Deadline to enter the giveaway is December 15, 2017. www.UpcycledToys.Club Visit our website