Creating a sustainable and compassionate community
E.O. Wilson, eminent biologist and the father of biodiversity, called insects “the little things that run the world” because of the many essential ecological roles they play every day. Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and include ants, lady bugs, bees, fireflies, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and true flies. Insects can be grouped into three broad categories: pollinators, prey, and ecological balance.
Electric vehicles (EVs) offer some real advantages over gasoline-powered cars. They produce zero tailpipe emissions, cost less to run & maintain, provide instant acceleration, and allow for at home charging. If you are interested in learning more about EVs, contact the folks at Drive Electric Columbus, an independent non-profit grassroots organization that brings together central Ohio EV owners & enthusiasts for meetings, ride & drives, educational events, and other activities related to electric vehicles. It advocates for fair policies for all current & future EV owners.
Our present industrial civilization relies on the consumption of enormous amounts of energy, much of it provided by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are used not only in producing transportation fuels and for generating electricity, but are also the starting material of many other products of our daily lives, including such diverse products as plastics, pharmaceuticals, solvents, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and clothing. Our continued reliance on fossil fuels will make it impossible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stop environmental problems such as global warming. It is clear that our present economic system will need a major shift toward effective alternatives, based on renewable energy sources and more efficient ways to use them.
City Folks Has a New Name & Location City Folks General Store (formerly City Folk’s Farm Shop) is a locally rooted market, garden center, and homesteading supply store built around urban farming, sustainable living, and local food. More than a shop, it’s a community hub, a place where neighbors gather […]
The American Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) is a unique, small tree, or more often a shrub. This Ohio native, and the Sierra Bladdernut (S. bolanderi) are the only members of the genus Staphylea native to the US. Their distinctive papery fruits and trifoliate compound leaves set them apart.
Sustainable Delaware Ohio (SDO) is a local, grass roots, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental, social, & economic sustainability for the Delaware community through awareness, advocacy, & action. Sustainable Delaware Ohio is celebrating its 15th anniversary on Saturday, August 8th from 10 am to 1 pm at the Shale Hollow Preservation Park picnic shelter.
The American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) is a nonprofit membership organization of local business alliances, affiliates, & supporters. It was founded in 2001 as part of a nationwide movement to support locally owned, independent businesses, encourage local purchasing, and address the competitive disadvantages that independent businesses often experience. The mission of AMIBA is to build a strong local economy movement by supporting the growth & development of local business alliances & networks that are committed to supporting local independent businesses in growing & thriving; building strong local economies that are diverse, inclusive, & equitable; and working to mitigate climate change and adapt to the damage brought on by global warming.
Trash Party is a grassroots volunteer organization in Columbus that transforms neighborhood cleanup efforts into community celebrations. Founded by Collin Marshall, it has grown into a group of 30-40 residents that regularly gathers most weekends from 9 am to noon to remove litter, tires, & bulk items from local parks, ravines, & vulnerable city spaces.
The Single Payer Action Network Ohio (SPAN Ohio) originated in the early 2000s to educate the public and advocate for single-payer legislation in Ohio. It evolved into SPAN Ohio, a 501(c)4 organization, becoming the central organizing body for single-payer advocacy in the state. It later adopted Healthcare for All Ohioans, organized as a 501(c)3 organization, as its primary public-facing name to better reflect its mission. Healthcare for All Ohioans (SPAN Ohio) is a statewide coalition of organizations & individuals seeking fundamental health care reform in our state & country. Its mission is to educate & advocate for a fundamental change in our healthcare system so that everyone has affordable access to healthcare through a publicly funded, privately delivered system.
Healthcare in the US is delivered through a combination of private providers and public programs. The US is the only high‑income country without universal healthcare, and coverage varies widely by income, employment, age, and state. The US healthcare system is one of the most expensive & complex globally, with significant strengths in innovation but persistent challenges in equity, affordability, and outcomes. It features world‑leading medical research & innovation, including rapid development of new drugs and technologies, and high-quality tertiary care and a strong specialist workforce. But coverage is incomplete, as about 10% of adults are uninsured. Health outcomes are poor relative to other wealthy nations, including higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy. And there are large disparities by race, income, and geography. The system has a high financial burden even for insured individuals, due to deductibles & copays.
The Columbus Department of Public Service provides a variety of essential services that maintain & improve the traveling safety & quality of life for Columbus residents, and supports the growth & economic development of the City. It collects refuse from more than 340,000 households every week and, through a contract with Rumpke, collects yard waste & residential recyclable material from more than 200,000 single-family households and eligible condominium & apartment complexes. And it manages Keep Columbus Beautiful, which conducts litter cleanups and promotes recycling & community beautification.
Keep Columbus Beautiful is a City of Columbus community improvement program and an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. It promotes litter prevention, environmental education, and community engagement through school programs, workshops, and volunteer opportunities. It provides free supplies, encourages data collection, and partners with educators to foster environmental stewardship. It aims to improve Columbus’s health & safety by inspiring community action and sustainable practices. Keep Columbus Beautiful is committed to educating the public on the impact that litter and pollution have on our health and the health of our planet.
The genus Juglans, which includes various species of Butternuts and Walnuts, was named by the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, who developed the modern classification system for plants and animals. He evidently thought well of them, because “Juglans” is the nut of the gods, a combination of Jovis (the god Jupiter) and glans, an acorn or nut. The native Butternut (Juglans cinerea) was never common, and it’s easily overlooked due to the similarity to Black Walnut (J. nigra).
Are you not feeling especially patriotic this semiquincentennial summer? Not entirely proud of our good old USA? Perhaps some satire would lighten your mood! Simply Living encourages you to watch (or better yet, march in) the 43rd Annual Doo Dah Parade on July 4th! Celebrate liberty & lunacy in the Short North Arts District with weird costumes, customs, and funny opinions. Afterward, relax in the shade near the Goodale Park gazebo during the free live-music after-glow party.
Ira Helfand, MD, a two-time Nobel Peace Prize laureate, will address the growing threat of nuclear war at the Free Press Second Saturday Salon on July 11th from 2-4 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Dr. Helfand will outline the work of Back from the Brink, a US-based grassroots coalition of individuals, organizations, & elected officials working together to rid the world of nuclear weapons and secure a set of common-sense policies that will make the world safer, healthier, and more just.
The Whole-Food, Plant-Based diet is a lifestyle focused on eating foods derived entirely from plants in their natural or minimally processed states. It excludes animal products and heavily refined foods.
People follow the diet for heart health, disease management, weight control, and just to feel better, save money, and help the planet. It is often praised for lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and for helping to manage & reverse Type 2 diabetes. Because it leads to a higher fiber intake, which promotes satiety, it often results in sustainable weight loss.
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health is a book by T. Coln Campbell and his son, Thomas M. Campbell II, first published in 2005. I consider it highly recommend reading.
Linden (genus Tilia, aka Basswood in the U.S. or Lime in the U.K.), is an attractive and useful tree with no major drawbacks. The name “Basswood” is probably derived from the word “bast”, the inner bark which was once a major source of fiber. Prized for carving and for landscaping, it has a subtle, but unmistakable appearance in summer, with its yellow-green bracts against dark green leaves.
I received a message in my inbox on Friday letting me know that, after 18 years of operation, June 6th will be the final day of programming for Local Matters. The organization’s recent financial problems have been reported on the Simply Living Blog and in the Community News. I have been hoping the organization would be able to weather the storm and survive. But that is not the case. The central Ohio community has lost an important resource.
Blue Rock Station is a 38.2-acre sustainable living farm and education center near Philo, Ohio. It has served as a working model for eco-friendly living, offering workshops on green building, goat milking, and solar cooking. Founded by Annie & Jay Warmke, its mission has been to focus on environmental sustainability, self-sufficiency, and reducing waste through reducing, reusing, and recycling. Now, with the help of the Women’s Peacepower Foundation and The Farmer’s Land Trust, Blue Rock Station has transitioned to the Blue Rock Farmland Commons.
Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.