The Sustainable Living Podcast

 In this episode, Jenise interviews James Robinson, Co-Founder of The Green Traveler, about options for carrying food when you're on the go.  

Colleen Valles, a mother of a 10 year old and just about now, of a tiny new baby, is also a writer, a knitter, a pet mama and a tiny house enthusiast. When her 10 year old daughter got excited about the Tiny House idea, Colleen decided to take action on her dream. She explored all different ways to downsize and move to her parent's property, but found that building codes pretty much nixed all her good ideas. Converting the garage to an apartment: No. Can't build a kitchen. Building an addition to the house like a granny flat: No. Adding a second structure in the large yard: No. Colleen had to get creative and instead of building a house on the ground, she decided to build a tiny house on wheels. Now, her new home is considered and registered as an RV and can legally be parked in her parent's yard. Yay! The brand new, custom build RV featuring 275 square feet of living space will be completed somewhen next month and Colleen and her family, including the can and the dog, will make the move. But to be able to mo

In this podcast we give a Fall homestead update, both personal and from a national political perspective. We talk a little bit about the current United States Presidential election, our political system and the part that collaboration plays in all of it. We chat about is wrong with the political system and what is the value of voting? Are there any, more effective ways of really creating change? I am currently experiencing a major gopher infestation on my property and I'm at my wit's end!  Marianne (to the rescue!) offers some excellent tips for getting rid of and protecting plants from gophers. Have you ever heard of an "owl box"?  Marianne explains what it is and how to use one for managing rodents on your property.  Marianne also talks about a fence project she is working on that will incorporate urbanite (broken concrete) with succulents. She really knows how to stack functions! We touch a little bit on organizing local communities to make them more economically self-sufficient and sustainable. But we are

Oregon State University is offering the Free Introduction to Permaculture Course again. What a gift to the world! The 4 week course starts on October 31st 2016. The best time to sign up is right now. open.oregonstate.edu/courses/permaculture/ In this interview, Andrew Millison, the creator of this course, shares what they have learned from the first round which had almost 16,000 sign-ups from over 100 countries. We had recorded an interview prior to the first course in which we are discussing in detail what to expect from this course. Have a listen here. Some of the highlights of this interview: Expect to spend 12 to 16 hours to go through the material Creating a local study group makes the course even more fun Having over 10,000 people with different levels of computer literacy and different technologies log on to a course is quite a challenge In this Intro, the design system is distilled into a compact curriculum, a PDC will cover more details Expect an overview of Permaculture practices in different clim

Episode 58 - What is a Gift Economy? What exactly is a gift economy and how does it work? In this podcast gift economy aficionado Frederick Malouf joins me for a discussion about a different kind of economy, not based on money. Gift economies eschew both bartering and money in favor of a system that runs on abundance rather than scarcity. The Gift Economy and Creativity A gift economy runs on the assumption that doing what you love can benefit others and yourself. As Frederick says, money may not be abundant but creativity is, and gifting makes use of this creativity. As I've come to understand the concept, a gift economy runs on social capital.  When you give to others, you build a sense of gratitude and a desire to respond in kind. This is what's known as social capital.  Those who give the most build up the most social capital and this social capital enables them to get things or services they want or need from other members of the community. Frederick explains how this system can be scaled to work in larg

Almost a year ago, we published a podcast trying to help a group of young people to reach their goal of attending a PDC - Permaculture Design Course - in Mallorca, Spain. The group was able to do work trade for the teachers' fees, but needed to earn hard cash for food and board. They started a Kickstarter campaign and were successful. In this current interview, four of the students share what they have learned and how they have applied that  knowledge during the past year. We also hear from their teachers about a new program being developed called Pathway. The fabulous Rosemary Morrow was in Mallorca to lead a workshop and was kind enough to be part of this interview. Also, if you like this podcast, please give us a 5 star rating and a review on iTunes. Here is how: go to iTunes Store find our podcast: Sustainable Living Podcast Click on Ratings and Reviews and follow instructions If you are subscribed to the podcast, the rating feature doesn’t appear – at least not on my phone. Then, please take the extra s

Evan Folds developed a system called Bio-Energetic farming after experiencing a shift in perspective. Few would deny that our perspective molds our reality. When we look at something like a farm and see it only as a patch of ground that can be used as a medium for growing food, we approach farming in a specific way that elicits specific results. But when we look closer and see the other components involved - in other words change our perspective - we are pushed to change our approach to adjust to this new information. This is what happened to Evan after he was exposed to the ideas of Rudolf Steiner Tasked with bringing back the "life force" of farms that had experienced the detrimental effects of "chemical" based farming, Steiner developed bio-dynamic farming. His ideas, which included celestial rhythms, homeopathic farming and using vibrations - were and still are quite unconventional.  But after meeting a farmer who validated these teachings, Evan began to implement them at his gardening store, Progressive

Amy and Stacy from SEPP podcast are sharing how they met and what it took to fulfill their dream of buying a 100 acre farm. We talk about homeschooling and the benefits of three generations working and living together. The SEPP podcast allows the listener to follow the building of farm step by step and why certain decisions were made. Anybody interested in homesteading can learn lots from Stacy and Amy. In this episode we talk about SEPP Amy & Stacy Three Generations Together on the Homestead Homeschooling and more To read a full blog post about our conversation, go to Sustainable Living Blog   If you like what you hear, please give us a rating on I-Tunes. Thank you.

In this episode, Jenise and  I are discussing some of the tools each of us have found useful to pull ourselves back from this deep dark hole called burnout. The same techniques work beautifully to prevent getting there in the first place - a much better way to go. Determine what is truly important. Say no to everything else - unless it is something which brings lots of joy. Ask for help.  Find time to go inward. Let go of self-destructive thoughts. Focus on breath several times during the day. Connect with nature. Pay attention to diet. Incorporate activities like Yoga and Meditation into the daily life. Let go of toxic relationships. Let go of Eco guilt   

For many of us, homesteading is just a dream we entertain on coffee breaks. We long to escape mind-numbing work done in artificial environments.  We imagine a life on the land with time spent growing and raising our own food, moving toward self-sufficiency.  Too often, we see this as a pipe dream, possible only when and if our current circumstances change. But more and more of us are not willing to wait. Jeri Wheatley is one such person. After years spent in a corporate office, Jeri found the wherewithal to follow her dream of building a homestead in Colorado. In this podcast she shares the story of how she got to where she is today. She describes her homestead projects and shares inspiration and insight for anyone interested in making his or her homesteading wishes come true.      

Linda Borghi wants to turn the tide on the industrial/agricultural system by building a movement around backyard farming. The problem with the agriculture industry is that we are dependent on it, she says. So, with the help of some friends, Linda is launching an online webinar series that aims to teach people how to "Farm-a-Yard" to meet their own family's food needs or to generate $75,000 on a half acre of land in a 22 week season. We all have to have food. But because we are dependent on industrial agriculture to provide that food, we are vulnerable, she points out.  Linda says true food security is opening up your kitchen door and going and getting your own food. In her own words: Today we use 40% of the drinking water on the east coast just to water that lawn, it's stupid.....really really stupid. We need to convert this into food production areas, just like the victory gardens during World War 2. In this interview, Linda shares the experiences that brought her to this point in her life.  As a child she

Imagine a new economy that has the betterment of mankind as the driving force, instead of profits. Seriously. Take a moment and envision what the world would be like if those who did good for humans and the planet were the ones who were rewarded. This is the type of world that Perry Gruber wants to create. Perry is the founder of Copiosis, a new economic system that thrives without money, markets or government. I took a drive to the grocery store shortly after recording this interview with Perry. During that drive, I could envision a much more beautiful, loving and helpful world. The stores would be different. People would engage and connect with each other more. Beauty would be a priority.  It was a lovely vision. I also knew that my envisioning probably didn't even come close to the positive changes such a world would embody. And so I'm excited about sharing this interview with you. Because, while some of the concepts that Perry shares may be a little complicated, just knowing that there are people in the w

We know that organic, fair-trade clothing can help save the planet as well as human beings.    Though we may not know all the details, we understand pesticides wreak havoc on living things.  We know that too often big clothing brands make their profits on the backs of farmers and sweat shops located in developing countries.     But what choices do we have?   As a new entrepreneur, Lauren Adelman of Human Revolution Clothing went searching for the answer to this question. What she found out was a real eye opener.   For instance, according to the USDA over 90% of cotton grown worldwide is genetically modified.   BT cotton is a GMO that was created with a bacterial pesticide encoded into every cell of the plant's DNA. BT cotton also features terminator gene technology; that is, it produces sterile seeds that will not regenerate, requiring farmers to purchase new seeds every year. BT cotton is also the most chemically intensive crop in the world. In the United States, seven of the 15 pesticides sprayed on BT cott

Edible landscaping offers many benefits for those interested in sustainable living. Neighbors may envy the beauty, but rarely realize the immense bounty such a garden can produce.  Those who maintain them love the diverse community of plant life but also take comfort in achieving  a measure of self-sufficiency as a result. Permaculture designer Michael Judd has written a book on the topic called "Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist."  He recently joined me on the podcast to offer some tips on using permaculture principles to create edible landscapes. Michael shares a bit of his history growing up in Appalachia and then living with a Mayan tribe in Mexico. The Mayans showed him how a community can provide all of its own needs through regenerative practices that actually restore the soil.  When he stumbled onto permaculture, Michael naturally gravitated toward it. He subsequently started his edible and ecological landscape business, Ecologia.  According to his website,  the goal of Ecologia  "is to cre

How far would you go to educate people about sustainable living? Rob Greenfield, aka the "Dude Making a Difference", seems to be up for anything!   Whether it's riding a bamboo bicycle across the United States (twice); living in a tiny home; dumpster diving; or wandering solo into the jungles of Southeast Asia, his simple and minimalist adventures inspire others to be a part of the solution. I was thrilled when Rob agreed to be a guest on the podcast to share his story as well as tips for living a more sustainable life. Rob is a light-hearted, interesting young guy filled with the kind of passion the world needs right now.  It's tough to change things for the better if you don't really know what's wrong with the way things are.  Rob's adventures, which he documents and shares on social media, serve to educate people about how their daily choices can have a positive or negative effect on other humans and Mother Earth.  For instance, did you know that a large percentage of U.S. citizens live in what's known as

We know you want to have your wedding cake AND eat it too, so in this episode Marianne and I got together to share some sustainable wedding tips that will save you money and help you go easy on Mother Earth. For instance, have you thought about invitations? We share one modern option that allows you to share a much more personal message with more information without a lot of paper.   We also talk about choosing a venue that won't break the bank yet sets a tone that is more personal and reflects your values. My daughter Giselle and my new son-in-law, Rami (the composer of The Sustainable Living Podcast theme music), chose a public park for their wedding. In the photo to the right you can see that they even chose to make their own wedding arch to add a more personal touch. Marianne and her son both had weddings in Marianne's backyard which offered an opportunity to create a beautiful deck that has been used many times since. Paper plates and plastic forks seem to be the standard choice at most weddings.  But ar

Edible native plants are usually written off as weeds by most people. But as Peggy Otterstrom has learned, these plants are often undiscovered treasures filled with nutrition, medicine and effortless natural beauty. I met Peggy nearly three years ago, shortly after I moved to Big Bear City, in Southern California. As someone who was both new to the San Bernardino Mountains and new to homesteading, I was anxious to learn from more seasoned local gardeners about what plants grew best here as well as what native plants were edible and perennial. Peggy's garden is well-known here in Big Bear as it's been part of the local Xeriscape Tour, many times. It sports an incredible diversity of native plants, many of which have become regular additions to Peggy's diet. A group of us women here go hiking together once a week and Peggy is often the one leading us, pointing out this flower and that bush and making note of everything that's edible or medicinal. Honestly, I couldn't believe my luck when Peggy visited my house

Centhua, or Centi for short, and Marianne exploring how women can support each other. Even though this episode is women centered, men can find it informative as well. The topics range from supporting mothers right after birth with nourishment of the body and soul, healing trauma and keeping the body strong by dancing in a group, finding herbs in the wild to cook and making herbal remedies. Health is one of our most precious gifts and food plays an important role in staying healthy. Centi was living on a raw food diet for many years, but found it to be not sustainable for her. When she realized that half of her food came from far away, she re-examined her lifestyle and is now following a more local based diet which includes wild crafted herbs and permaculture raised chickens. She supports new mothers with freshly made bone broth in her role as a postpartum Doula. Also, herbal teas, tinctures and ayurvedic medicine are part of Centhua's life. She holds many women's gathering, among them regular women's circles

David is a health coach, detoxification specialist, Innerwise mentor and raw food enthusiast. At 13 years of age, David faced some serious health problems and was told by his doctors that they couldn't do anything for him and that he needed to learn to live with his condition. His mom found an alternative doctor who was able to help him.  Fast forward to David as a young man, eating a very healthy diet, but still dealing with severe skin problems. Finally, he remembered the Doctor, Uwe Albrecht, who helped him once before. Again, he was helped through the method called Innerwise developed by Uwe. After traveling for one year, which gave David lots of time to think, he decided to not return to his employment as an engineer, but rather help people on their journey to find health. Surprisingly, the right food is just one part of the quest for health. David found that we have to bring our life into overall harmony to create health, happiness and well being. This includes of course healthy food, but also healthy r

Backyard Chickens have become more and more popular all over the country. Great effort has been made to make them legal in many cities. Now the question is: Who is living in your backyard? Karen Johnston and Marianne explore the topic of Heritage chicken in detail. Why it is important to keep many different breeds available. How to avoid the chicken "puppy" mills. What to ask the breeder you are getting your birds from and what it takes to become a breeder and ensure that a varied gene pool stays available. For more info, go to our website www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com Jenise and I would love to hear from you. Please tell us what you think, what you liked or disliked about our show or what topics you want to hear. You can leave a comment, send us an email or engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Tsu. Also, if you like this podcast, please give us a 5 star rating and a review on iTunes. Here is how: go to iTunes Store find our podcast: Sustainable Living Podcast Click on Ratings and Reviews and follow in