Environment

Environment, Food, Lifestyle, Sustainable Living

Changes Have Come to Blue Rock Station-part 2

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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.

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Ecology, Energy, Environment, Lifestyle, Living Simply, Sustainable Heros

Changes Have Come to Blue Rock Station–Part 1

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Blue Rock Station is a 38.2-acre sustainability center located at 1190 Virginia Ridge Road, Philo, Ohio, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeastern Ohio. It features Ohio’s first Earthship, a unique living home made from used materials like tires, cans, and strawbales, and serves as a living laboratory […]

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Environment, Events, Health & Wellness

Dr. Ira Helfand to Speak in Columbus

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Ira Helfand, MD, recipient of two Nobel Peace Prizes, will be speaking in Columbus on Saturday, July 11th at 2 pm, at the First Unitarian Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Road. Dr. Helfand will outline the work of Back from the Brink. This organization brings communities together to prevent the growing threat that nuclear weapons pose to our health and environment, transmuting fear & anxiety into meaningful action.

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Culture, Ecology, Environment, Lifestyle

Kokosing Nature Preserve for Green Burials

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The Kokosing Nature Preserve is located in central Knox County at 10620 Quarry Chapel Road, one mile northeast of the Village of Gambier and the campus of Kenyon College. It is a land conservancy around the college with 23 acres set aside for green burials. It is the first conservation burial ground in the nation to be affiliated with a college or university land conservancy. The Preserve, dedicated as a cemetery in October 2015, is Central Ohio’s first and only conservation burial ground. Amid rolling prairies planted with native wildflowers, remains are interred using biodegradable containers and without the use of harsh chemicals. It is a project of the Philander Chase Conservancy, a land trust dedicated to preserving the rural character of the Kenyon College’s surrounding environs.

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Energy, Environment, Sustainable Living, Transit

Transit Columbus: Striving for Improved Public Transportation

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Transit Columbus, a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization created in 2011, is an advocacy group dedicated to improving public transportation, walking, and biking infrastructure in the central Ohio region. Transit Columbus, a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization created in 2011, is an advocacy group dedicated to improving public transportation, walking, and biking infrastructure in the central Ohio region.

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Documentary Films, Environment, Events, Recycling

Look for Simply Living Events Coming in May

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Want to take a behind-the-scenes look at how recyclable waste is processed? You may remember that, back in October 2025, 20 members of the Simply Living Community toured the facility. We are going back again! If you missed the tour in October, here is another chance to check it out. The Spring Tour will take place on Thursday, May 21st at 1:00 pm. Simply Living Simply Living will present Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? on Thursday, May 28th at 5:45 pm, at the Columbus Public Library’s Whetstone Branch, 3909 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43214.

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Climate, Environment, Events

Celebrate the Earth on Earth Day and Every Day

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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.

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Environment, News, Uncategorized

Dig in to Earth Month Activities

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If you are paying attention, you already know that April is Earth Month in central Ohio. Simply Living will be participating in the Green Columbus Earth Day Celebration at the Scioto Audubon Center, 400 W Whittier St, Columbus, on April 26th from 11 am to 7 pm. It is one of the region’s biggest Earth Day events, featuring live music, environmental vendors, food trucks, dog agility shows, and fitness & family activities along the beautiful Scioto riverfront. We hope you will be able to attend and come and visit the Simply Living table. It is also a great opportunity volunteer a few hours of your time and effort to assist in the community. Even though we are almost halfway through Earth Month, there are still over 65 volunteer opportunities available in central Ohio through the end of April. Many are workdays at neighborhood community gardens and urban farms. There are also litter cleanups and beautification projects.

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Business, Economy & Finance, Climate, Energy, Environment, Transit

Transitioning to a Better State with Clean Fuels Ohio

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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.

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Energy, Environment, Transit

Plug In America Launches Survey

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Plug In America has now launched its 2026 Electric Vehicle Survey and has invited residents of the US to take a few minutes to share their experiences with or perceptions of electric vehicles. Anyone who lives in the US is welcome to take the survey, whether they drive an electric vehicle or not. Plug In America will use the feedback to check the country’s pulse on topics such as charging, dealerships, purchase considerations, and barriers to adoption. Once the analysis is complete, it will be shared with the public. It takes about 20 minutes to complete the survey.

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Ecology, Environment, Lifestyle

Make Your Yard a Pollinator Pathway!

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A Pollinator Pathway is a collaborative network of public & private pesticide-free, native plant corridors that provide essential habitat, food, and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and other insects. These projects connect fragmented green spaces, such as residential gardens, parks, and schoolyards, allowing pollinators to travel safely. Even the smallest green spaces, like flower boxes and curb strips, can be part of a pathway. Franklin County Pollinator Pathway (FCPP) is a local affiliate of the national Pollinator Pathway network. Its goal is to connect people & pollinator habitat in Franklin County. It works to expand pesticide-free corridors of native plants across Franklin County, linking yards, parks, schools, businesses, and community spaces so pollinators have safe, connected habitat.

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Bioregionalism, Culture, Ecology, Environment

What is The Bioregionalist Approach?

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Bioregionalism is an environmental philosophy advocating that human activity and governance be organized around bioregions, geographical areas defined by natural features like watersheds, mountain ranges, and ecosystems, rather than arbitrary political or administrative boundaries. It emphasizes living-in-place, sustainability, and local self-reliance to foster a deeper connection between communities and their native landscapes. Bioregionalism emerged in the early 1970s, developing primarily along the western coast of North America, and specifically from a broad coalition of poets, artists, writers, and community leaders, who envisioned a positive, place-based alternative to mainstream environmental efforts. It included many individuals (including Peter Berg, Judy Goldhaft, and Kirkpatrick Sale) working together through the Planet Drum Foundation to create a new place-based philosophy they called bioregionalism.

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Environment, Food

Keep Food Out of the Landfill!

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As hunger impacts our community, the folks at Food Rescue US are taking action! Food Rescue US is a national organization with 51 locations in 24 states & the District of Columbia, including one right here in Columbus, Ohio. The premise is simple: some businesses have extra food they can’t use before it spoils. Food Rescue US has a network of volunteers to pick up the food and deliver it to social services agencies that provide it to those in need.

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Business, Economy & Finance, Environment, Food

Spotlight on Rural Action

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Rural Action is a member-based nonprofit organization founded in 1991, dedicated to fostering sustainable economic, environmental, & social development in Appalachian Ohio. It focuses on building local wealth, restoring the environment, and developing leadership through initiatives in sustainable agriculture, forestry, watershed restoration, and zero-waste projects. It supports entrepreneurs in the creation of jobs & utilization of local assets to build a sustainable economy. It leads efforts for watershed restoration, water quality monitoring, and sustainable forestry.

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Climate, Ecology, Environment, Sustainable Living

Spotlight on Green Columbus!

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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.

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