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.
Columbus Area Free Outdoor Concerts
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.”
CCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan grassroots advocacy group for climate change action. We exist to create political will for climate change solutions by enabling individuals to exercise their personal and political power.
Osage Orange, Hedge Apple, Horse Apple, Bow Wood, Bodark (Maclura pomifera) “Horse-high, bull-strong, hog-tight”. That’s how Hedge Apple fences were described a century or so ago. With their strong wood, low growth, and sharp thorns, countless thousands of miles of Osage Orange fence rows were planted across the country by […]
Time Banks exchange services among members. The Care & Share Time Bank has over 560 members, so you’ve got over 560 people offering services to you, and over 560 people asking others to provide services to them. Potlucks are held monthly on the third Sunday of the month in Clintonville, Ohio.
Ahhh…the first day of winter is almost upon us! Here in Central Ohio, it may feel as though winter has already settled in, with cold temperatures and early snow arriving weeks ago. Still, the official turning of the season holds deep astronomical, cultural, and spiritual meaning. This year (I write […]
Mulberry, Morus According to Romeyn Beck Hough’s 1907 Handbook of the Trees of the Northern States and Canada East of the Rocky Mountains, “The White Mulberry, in that its leaves furnish the most valuable food known for the silkworm, has the distinction of being the tree about which more has been written than any other tree. […]
Living with a Little Less By Claudia Cummins This piece originally appeared on Claudia’s substack. Reprinted with permission. We already have everything we need. All the ingredients required for us to thrive are available right now. We don’t, in fact, need anything more. Happiness is here, just waiting to be […]
For decades now, Simply Living has been a unique activist group, spreading the idea that few other organizations espouse. In a nutshell, that theme is — We’ll all be happier and the Earth will be healthier if we stop buying so much “stuff” and we focus on more meaningful parts of life […]
How a daily practice of walking as a college student in Spain became a transformative experience that intersects with issues of city planning, health and longevity, environmental sustainability, community and purpose. By Frank Lesko I spent a semester in Segovia, Spain, in 1997 while attending Hiram College. Segovia is a […]
Arborvitae, American Arborvitae, Northern White Cedar, Eastern White Cedar Thuja occidentalis by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living You have, I have, we all have Arborvitae deep within us. Read on….. Arborvitae, the Tree of Life, is a tree of paradoxes. Both revered and reviled over history, Northern White Cedar […]
On April 20 the School of Environment and Natural Resources at Ohio State University organized an Earth Day event called Time to Act on Climate Change. On tap was a long list of distinguished speakers including university President Kristina Johnson, slated to receive the Chadwick Award for efforts to address […]
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, […]
By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living One of the most beautiful trees native to Ohio is the Flowering Dogwood. Its lovely flowers withlarge white petals are a welcome harbinger of spring, even if the petals aren’t really petals. But first, another tree with white flowers makes its appearance in […]
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 […]
By Elissa Yoder MannSierra Club Ohio Chapter The statewide plastics campaign kicked off the year with a presentation hosted by Jess Boeke and Sarah Pottle from Rust Belt Fibershed, we wanted to share resources from our webinar covering the topic of plastics and textiles. Here is a link to the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.