Simply Living is creating a sustainable and compassionate community by connecting people to each other and to diverse learning opportunities.
by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Boxelder is the Rodney Dangerfield of Ohio maples; It don’t get no respect. Unlike the October 2021 Tree of the Month, Sugar Maple, Boxelder’s weed-like growth and weak wood make it unloved for landscaping or lumber. Boxelder can be tapped for maple syrup, […]
Our Executive Director, Cathy Cowan Becker (right), recently received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work in Bonn, Germany, for ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. She will be stepping down from her role at the […]
By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Occasionally the Tree of the Month article will feature topics related to, but not strictly about trees. Mistletoe would be an appropriate subject for the December issue, but I wanted to release this article before I lost touch with Daniel and Gigi, who […]
Fascinating information about the great White Oak trees, by Mort Schmidt.
Fellow Steward of the Earth: You may think this is just a chain letter, but, I assure you, it is a whole lot more! The climate crisis is accelerating! Globally storms are bigger and stronger; destructive floods, droughts and fires are occurring worldwide; Refugees are escaping starvation and brutality – […]
This is a 4 week discussion course based on the 4-part article “The Path to an Ecological Future for Humanity.” The article links here. It is not necessary to read the article but it will be helpful. Week 1: The Cultural Creatives – a Third Force in the Radical MiddleWeek […]
by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Oaks, the trees of the genus Quercus, are among the most important hardwood trees. There are approximately 500 species of oaks worldwide and a little under 100 in the United States, but they are found primarily in the northern hemisphere. Oaks provide a […]
Online Solar PV Course Now Available This course is designed for those new to solar. Ideal for folks wishing to install a system on their home or business, understand what they are getting into if they wish to hire someone to install a system, or enter the rapidly growing PV […]
Columbus Climate Action Plan Released GreenSpot will play a critical role in section 1.1 of the Plan: “Empowering a Community of Climate Leaders.” Over the next several months and years GreenSpot will work with residents, business leaders, academia, government, and nonprofits to increase climate change awareness, solutions, and making sure […]
Co-Creating the Eco Future: Presentation & Discussion on Zoom Monday, December 6 at 7 pm Localizing Our Communities!Learn from examples around the worldand here in Columbus and central OhioTuesday, December 7 at 7 pm on Zoom We will explore the many ways our communities benefit when localization is a priority. […]
A Simple Thanksgiving Grace (or for any meal)O Great Spirit, soul of all creatures great and small, we are thankful for this meal; it is the work of many people, and the sharing of other forms of life. Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend, and don’t miss Bill Cohen’s Songs of Gratitude […]
by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Holly has long been associated with the holiday seasons. In fact, the name “Holly” is derived from the word “holy” because of this association. Holly is primarily a southeastern tree, but its natural range does extend into the southernmost counties of Ohio. Left […]
This is Part 1 of a longer essay by Chuck Lynd published in 4 parts on Medium.com. You can read the full essay here. Part 1. The Path to an Ecological Future for Humanity As Yogi Berra observed, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” We chuckle, but […]
Co-Creating the Eco-Future: Meetup & DiscussionMonday, December 6 at 7 pm EST on Zoom Are YOU a cultural creative? Simple livers, renegades from the consumer society, green activists, arts and craft makers, yoga lovers, meditators – WE are the ones we have been waiting for! Join us for a meet […]
Hey Hey Hey – are you tuned in?to our awesome Columbus community radio? Pssst! All the good info in this weekly Community Update is brought to you by two volunteers, Rita Haider and Chuck Lynd. Are you a wannabe blogger, love to search the Net, or just passionate about our […]
Global Warming: What Is It Going to Take? Ohio author Paul Robinson asks: Can It Be Stopped? Co-Creating the Eco-Future: Meetup & DiscussionMonday, December 6 at 7 pm EST on Zoom Hi there all you cultural creatives! Simple livers, renegades from the consumer society, green activists, arts and craft makers, […]
By Martin (Mort) Schmidt, for Simply Living The Ohio State University’s famous football coach, Woody Hayes, described the Buckeye as “a worthless nut”. And so it is. Nor does the wood have much value. But in November, as we’re winding up the football season, what better tree to honor than […]
Is there an alternative to Neoliberal Economics and the Global Consumer Economy? To help you decide if our new 5-week Sustainable U course is for you, spend some time on LocalFutures.org and watch the award winning film, Economics of Happiness. It’s free to watch online and the issues addressed in […]
Must Hear, Watch, and Discuss this Weekend! The Inside Story of a True Hero Who Exposed Dow and Monsanto’s DIOXIN Fraud and Coverup in the film The People Vs Agent Orange Get details below but TODAY at 5 pm (Fri Oct 22) Carolyn Harding will be interviewing the modest and […]
For 8 years now, some musical friends and I have put on a Black Friday concert of songs that express gratitude for many of our blessings: friends, family, freedom, nature, art, music, laughter, our bodies, and our emotions. We’ve used the free event to declare: instead of joining the day-after-Thanksgiving […]
