Creating a sustainable and compassionate community
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 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.
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.
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.
ocal Matters is a private non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthier communities through food education, access, and advocacy. It addresses food insecurity by providing cooking & nutrition classes, operating the Veggie Van for fresh produce, and managing Columbus Food Rescue to reduce food waste. Since its founding in 2008, it has reached over 180,000 people with its services. Nonprofit funding is always difficult to predict, and the first quarter of 2026 has been especially difficult on that front. Local Matters is in a uniquely challenging position after the loss of several funding sources, and it’s dealing with a gap in funding that threatens its ability to keep the doors open. It needs help to bridge that gap to ensure that its work doesn’t come to an end.
Members of Simply Living were pleased to be included in a tour of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank held for the central Ohio community on February 28. The Mid-Ohio Foodbank is a part of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC) which, in addition to the Foodbank, consists of more than 600 partners (about half of which are Food Pantries) serving more than half a million people each year across 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio.
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.
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.
One of our community organizations that fight against hunger is the Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC). Its mission is to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co‑creating communities where everyone thrives. Its vision is hunger-free communities and a future where no one worries about their next meal and where every neighborhood is healthy and strong. People can get involved with MOFC by volunteering their time (volunteers are critically needed this time of year) and by donating money and food to support its efforts. Mr. Grimsley concludes by remarking, “Our mission is powered by people who choose to speak up, share their time, and contribute their resources to help end hunger.”
In the summer of 2020, Reverend Ryan Grace and his family traveled around southeast Ohio learning about small, sustainable farms. They tasted raw paw-paw pulp, milked a grass-fed dairy cow, and tried locally made cheese and yogurt. What they found is that local foods are better for the planet, better […]
Simply Living is proud to showcase some of Delaware’s hidden gems as part of our Salute to Sustainable Delaware. Sustainable Delaware is celebrating 15 years! This August 16th event is more than a tour. It’s an invitation to experience how local farms, gardens, and nurseries in Delaware County, Ohio are […]
This National Farmers Market Week (August 3–9, 2025), we’re spotlighting one of Simply Living’s inspiring nonprofit members: Common Greens. This community-rooted organization operates five vibrant farmer’s markets across Central Ohio—in Bexley, Clintonville, Pearl Market, Upper Arlington, and OhioHealth—and is building a stronger, more equitable local food system, one market at […]
In an era of big box stores and online grocery giants, one small storefront in Bexley continues its legacy by doing things the cooperative way. Tucked into a cozy strip on North Cassady Avenue, Simply Living Business Member Bexley Natural Market has been serving the Central Ohio community since 1976. […]
Savor the Season, Preserve the Wisdom By Angie Scheu Nestled just outside of Sunbury, Ohio, Simply Living Business Member Glass Rooster Cannery is a hidden gem that’s preserving more than just food—it’s preserving culture, tradition, and community. Founded by Jeannie Seabrook and Susie Schmidhammer, this unique space blends hands-on learning with deep-rooted values. A Practical […]
Nothing says spring like ripe strawberries—and Del Sroufe’s Strawberry Tarragon Salad Dressing is the perfect way to celebrate the season. This sweet-tangy blend is vegan, quick to make, and a gorgeous upgrade for salads, grain bowls, or even roasted veggies. Pro tip: Serve it with romaine, fresh strawberries, and toasted […]
As the days grow longer and the scent of blooming flowers begins to fill the air, spring whispers a familiar invitation: it’s time to fire up the grill. Seasonal traditions are the perfect time to reflect on how our everyday choices—what we eat, how we cook, and how we gather—can […]
I’ve been composting for a while now, but my compost just isn’t breaking down as fast as I’d like. I turn it, I add to it, I wait. And wait. And wait some more. Still, nothing seems to happen as quickly as I expect. If you’ve ever faced this problem, […]
When you see a recycling label on a product, it’s natural to assume that the item can be easily recycled. However, the How2Recycle labeling system—a set of on-package recycling instructions being widely adopted by industry—raise important questions about its intent and the potential impact on consumer behavior. The How2Recycle system, […]
Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.