Creating a sustainable and compassionate community
Global climate change affects the planet in many ways, causing rising temperatures, melting ice & sea level rise, and more extreme weather events, resulting in longer, more intense heat waves, floods, and droughts. All of these threaten ecosystems, food supplies, and human health. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 50% higher than it was before the start of the Industrial Revolution, due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change may be our planet’s greatest existential threat.
Third Act is a community of Americans over sixty determined to change the world for the better. It harnesses its generational power to defend our climate & democracy. Using life experiences, skills, & resources, it tackles the unfinished work of its generation to ensure a safe & stable planet for future generations. Older Americans are the fastest-growing part of the population; 10,000 people a day pass the 60-year mark. Members of this generation saw enormous positive changes early in their lives, but now it appears that the promise of those changes may be dying, as the planet heats and inequality grows.
But as a generation, older Americans have unprecedented skills & resources. Washington & Wall Street have to listen when they speak, because they vote and because they have a large share of the country’s assets.
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.
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.
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.
Earth Day is an annual global event on April 22nd dedicated to environmental protection and sustainability. It mobilizes more than 1 billion people in over 190 countries to fight climate change, reduce waste, and support green energy through education, activism, and volunteering. The purpose of Earth Day is to raise awareness about environmental issues and to encourage action to protect the planet. Activities vary from large-scale marches to local community actions. The theme in 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet” focusing on accelerating the transition to clean energy, promoting clean air and water, and ensuring climate stability.
Clean Fuels Ohio (CFO), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes the use of cleaner alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in Ohio and beyond. It connects fleets, policymakers, businesses & consumers with unbiased resources and practical solutions to reduce emissions, save money, strengthen energy security, and grow Ohio’s economy. The mission of CFO is to improve air quality & health, reduce environmental pollution, and strengthen Ohio’s economy by increasing the use of cleaner, domestic fuels and energy-saving vehicles. Its vision is clean transportation across Ohio.
Green Columbus is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization based in Central Ohio that focuses on sustainability, community engagement, and environmental resilience. Its core activities and initiatives include tree planting & care, tree canopy expansion, community forums, and environmental action. Every year, Green Columbus celebrates Earth Month by bringing volunteers together to make a difference in Central Ohio’s environment. It facilitates service sites across the region, each hosted and led by volunteers. After a month filled with tree plantings, litter cleanups, mulch distribution, and community gardening, we wrap up with the Earth Day Columbus Celebration. This free, family-friendly, zero-waste event offers fun activities and opportunities to learn more about and support a greener Central Ohio community. The event will be held this year at the Scioto Audubon MetroPark on Sunday, April 26.
How can we live in deeper harmony with the land, water, and ecosystems that sustain us here in Central Ohio? That’s the question at the heart of the Central Ohio Bioregional Working Group, and it’s what we’ll be exploring together at our next gathering. The Central Ohio Bioregional Working Group, […]
Simply Living’s Salute to Sustainable Delaware Ohio On Saturday, August 16, 2025, Simply Living hosted a special tour as a Salute to Sustainable Delaware Ohio, celebrating the organization’s 15th anniversary. Founded in 2010, Sustainable Delaware Ohio is a grassroots community group that’s part of a broader network aimed at fostering […]
When temperatures soar in Summer, it’s tempting to crank up the air conditioning. Unfortunately, that can mean skyrocketing energy bills for you and a negative impact on the planet. Here’s the good news! This list of passive cooling ideas can offer you some smart solutions to minimize the effect on […]
Sustainability, conservation, and resilience aren’t just buzzwords at Just This Farm — they’re lived values. In this inspiring interview, Simply Living Member Kevin Eigel shares how he and his wife Marcia Miller are restoring native ecosystems, cultivating biodiversity, and educating others from their home base in western Franklin County, Ohio. […]
By Angie Scheu for Simply Living This week, fireworks will once again light up the night sky across the United States— but for many animals and sensitive humans, they sound like danger, not celebration. As we plan summer festivals, holidays, and moments of joy, more of us should ask: What […]
This past weekend, we were honored to host a special event about Bioregionalism. Kelly Clark (of the GLESS Bioregion in NE Ohio) led us through a rich discussion about what a bioregion is and how one might take shape here in Central Ohio. What emerged was a shared desire among […]
By Angie Scheu | A Simply Living Member Perspective Every Memorial Day weekend in Central Ohio, our family dives into a tradition we affectionately refer to as “Family Gardening Weekend.” It’s our annual ritual to reconnect with the land—and with each other—through planting, prepping, and getting our hands a little […]
If you’re like me, you were puzzled this past weekend to find your cars coated in a layer of dirt following an overnight rain. This unusual occurrence, often referred to as “dirty rain,” was the result of a significant dust storm originating in Texas and New Mexico, with winds gusting […]
As the holiday season approaches, we find ourselves immersed in a blur of shopping lists, festive decorations, and the anticipation of gatherings with loved ones. Amidst the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of spending. Yet, there’s a profound joy that comes from giving—a […]
I remember LBJ’s War on Poverty. When I was a student at Antioch College I worked as a teacher’s aide in an elementary school in Harlem. It was funded by ACTION (predated VISTA) one of many anti-poverty programs funded by the Economic Opportunities Act of 1964. The Act was essentially […]
Renée Cho is the author of this December 16, 2020 article published by the Columbia University Climate School’s “State of the Planet” news website. As followers of Simply Living know, this subject is near and dear to the hearts of all who question our consumer culture. We recently published a […]
On July 15th, Simply Living is hosting a Garden Tour that will be focused on various community-oriented farms and gardens in the Linden area. The Garden Tour will start and end at the Urban Farm Church, located in North Linden, so I went there to learn about the Church and […]
Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.