Creating a sustainable and compassionate community
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.
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.
Ginkgo biloba is the strangest tree I know. It’s a conifer, sort of, but with deciduous leaves. Its leaves are neither pinnately- nor palmately-veined. It’s the only living member of its genus and family, and the genus (Ginkgo) dates back 270 million years, the species (biloba) 51 my. Fossilized Ginkgo leaves are found on every continent, including Antarctica. And male trees produce motile sperm! Ginkgo is both the Latin name and the common name of the tree, and because Ginkgo biloba is the only living species of Ginkgo, I’ll simply use its common name, “Ginkgo”. The common name, “Ginkgo” is occasionally spelled with the g before the k, but since the Latin name is “Ginkgo”, I put the k first. [There’s a discussion of Latin names at the end of this article].
You may have noticed some changes recently at Simply Living. First, there is a new set of officers. And we have added a director to the Board. You may also have noticed that we’ve been offering our events with no admission fees. We plan to continue this practice whenever possible. If this approach is going to be successful, we will need to generate funding some other way. With this in mind, Simply Living has instituted two new Sustaining Membership levels: one at $2 per month and one at $5 per month. It is now possible to be a Sustaining Member for as little as $24 per year.
The Hilliard Environmental Sustainability Commission (ESC) is an advisory group for Hilliard City Council, focused on promoting environmental sustainability by reviewing green policies, advising on programs, and engaging the community through initiatives to reduce waste, conserve resources, & improve local green spaces. The Commission advises City Council and staff on sustainability initiatives, reviewing environmental policies, practices, & proposals. It helps implement programs like Go Green Hilliard to educate residents & businesses on reducing waste, reusing materials, and composting.
The Central Ohio Reuse Coalition (CORC) is made up of nonprofit organizations, local sustainability groups, green businesses, faith-based organizations, and committed individuals who live & work in central Ohio. CORC envisions a central Ohio where reuse of food & drink containers in businesses & schools is the model of choice and is supported by a reuse infrastructure. Starting in 2024, the CORC researched reusable cup providers and decided on Okapi Reusables, an app-based service that rents cups to cafes. The Okapi Reuse Program is a simple, borrow-based system wherein users order their beverages in high-quality stainless steel reusable cups, and drop them off at any participating shop. Coffee shops take care of the cups, users save money, and the community gets greener.
Hunger and food insecurity in central Ohio have reached record levels, with local leaders describing the current situation as the worst in decades. Despite the region’s overall growth, rising costs for housing, groceries, and childcare have forced many families to rely on emergency assistance. Over 11% of Franklin County residents, exceeding 147,000 people, are food insecure, with nearly half of these individuals earning too much to qualify for federal assistance.
On Friday, January 31st, twenty members of the Simply Living community enjoyed a Workshop on Recycling in Central Ohio led by Matthew King at the Urban Farm Church in north Columbus. The workshop was lively, informative, and enlightening, even for those who have been recycling for years and who have had past opportunities to ask Matthrew questions.
Persimmon is Ohio’s hardest native hardwood. A true ebony, it even has black heartwood – if you wait long enough. And Persimmon provides a tasty, plum-like fruit. So tasty that the Latin name, Diospyros, means “fruit of the gods”.
Guest Blog by Cathy Cowan Becker Ohio is blessed with 76 state parks and over 750,000 acres of wildlife land managed by the Department of Natural Resources. You’ve likely visited some of them – Ohioans absolutely love their state parks. In a highly industrialized state, our parks and wildlife areas […]
Simply Living held its Annual Meeting and issued its Annual Report, which included in herein. It lists partners, business members, provides a Financial Summary, and summarizes activities and events held during the year.
For the founder of PiaPunk Design, sustainability isn’t just a trend – it’s her way of life. What began as a personal mission to reduce household waste quickly grew into a business built on playful designs and eco-conscious values. Meet Inge Schwab, the creator behind these fun, whimsical household goods. […]
On Sunday, October 19th, 2025, Simply Living members, friends, and supporters gathered for our Fall Gathering and Fundraiser. This was a warm, welcoming celebration of the season filled with delicious food, meaningful conversations, and hands-on learning. The event ran from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM and brought together many longtime […]
By Angie Scheu for Simply Living Discover how the “local multiplier effect” boosts jobs and keeps wealth in Central Ohio — and explore Simply Living’s Local Sustainable Business Directory. Why Shopping Local Matters More Than You Think What if a simple change in your shopping habits could help create 5,000 […]
By Angie Scheu for Simply Living If you care about Central Ohio sustainability or environmental activism, chances are your journey has been touched by Marilyn Welker. As one of Simply Living’s co-founders and a past Executive Director, Marilyn’s gentle wisdom and steadfast commitment to justice helped shape Simply Living’s history […]
♻️ We Have a New Resource for Central Ohio Recyclers!♻️ Recycling can be confusing — the details of what can be recycled and how we recycle keep changing in Central Ohio as advances in technology allow us to do more! That’s why Simply Living created a Household Recycling Resource Page […]
Simply Living’s beloved Annual Sustainable Home and Garden Tour is evolving! This year, we’re expanding the event into our Annual Sustainable Home and Garden Trail—with multiple destination tours spread over several weekends. Simply Living Members are trailblazers living the mission—modeling sustainability and simple living in their own homes, gardens, and […]
By Angie Scheu for Simply Living Nestled in the heart of Ohio’s Hocking Hills, Simply Living Business Member Raven’s Retreat is a soulful and sustainable destination created by artists Raven Morgan and Dustin Weatherby. I had the pleasure of touring this extraordinary space and speaking to Raven, and left feeling […]
In a time when people are craving deeper connection—to their food, their community, and the land—Simply Living Business Member Winchester Farm Exchange has emerged as a powerful response. What started as a farmstand during the pandemic has blossomed into a thriving indoor marketplace in downtown Canal Winchester, showcasing the very […]
Quaking Aspen, White Poplar, Popple Populus tremuloides by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Quaking Aspen isn’t especially tall, generally under 80 feet. But this diminutive tree might be the largest living organism, and it has the broadest range of any North American tree. Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) has simple […]
Creating a compassionate and sustainable world through personal, community and cultural transformation.