219 GreenConnect: Recent Episodes
219GreenConnect
Host Kathy Sipple features guests from Northwest Indiana's green community. Topics include natural health, local food, sustainable business leaders & more.
Host Kathy Sipple talks with Becky Jascoviak of Chautauqua in the Dunes about the current 'Exhibit B' at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center through October 22, 2023. Vote for your favorite photo here >> bit.ly/dunesphotovote. The entry with the most votes will win the 'Peoples' Choice Award.' A donation is not required in order to vote, but please consider supporting this great project if you're able. Chautauqua in the Dunes has been around since 2018 and now features ongoing programming rather than a single exhibit so check their Facebook page to find out what's happening currently if you listen to this episode after Exhibit B wraps up. Mind, Body, Soul and Spirit are the four pillars of chautauqua. This year's focus is around the letter 'B'. Exhibit B was the second art show (thus, the second letter of the alphabet); images in the exhibit were required to title their entries with the letter 'b' and most includes bugs, butterflies, beaches, birds, etc. 'B' also stands for the broader theme of 'Becoming' -- taking pieces of existing works and reimaging in them into a new whole. Kathy shared her previous exposure to the term 'chautauqua' -- it was introduced to her by her previous Earth Charter Indiana mentor, John Gibson. He shared a strategic document with her in 2012 for his project SustainableIndiana 2016, a bicentennial initiative to help Indiana achieve certain sustainability benchmarks in advance of 2016, Indiana's bicentennial year.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Carla Kenney, Master Urban Gardener and Nikki D'Adamo-Damery, Conservation Outreach & Equity Director at Sand County Foundation about the organization and her work with the Land Ethic Mentorship Program, supporting historically underserved farmers and ranchers. Nikki will visit Gary, Indiana in July 2023 for a tour and celebration of several innovative urban farmers, details about this and other events here. Learn about conservation at many scales and how smaller producers are pushing the needle on regenerative agriculture -- and why it’s important to support farmers working intensively on smaller plots of land.About Sand County FoundationIn 1967, Sand County Foundation created a successful partnership among a group of private landowners to protect the land surrounding the famous “Shack” property of Aldo Leopold, America’s foremost conservation thinker. This pioneering cooperative venture led landowners to commit to voluntary conservation while raising awareness of Leopold’s land ethic, which inspires thousands of other owners of working land.Sand County Foundation's mission is to inspire and empower a growing number of land owners and managers to ethically care for the land to sustain water resources, build healthy soil, enhance wildlife habitat, and support outdoor recreation.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Joshua Sutton, Retail Manager at Trailyard in Valparaiso. Trailyard is a community hub for bike and outdoor enthusiasts, conveniently located next to Creekside Trails, a mountain bike and multi-purpose trail destination.
For the second year in a row, Trailyard is excited to host an #OptOutside event to encourage Northwest Indiana families to spend Black Friday together enjoying nature. On Friday, November 25, they're’re hosting a family friendly scavenger hunt and a nature inspired art project children can take home with them.
Rethink Black Friday -- #OptOutside!
If you buy the book using this link. A $15 discount is applied at checkout. So the book will cost $14.95 or use coupon code: NWI. Discount ends 11/25/22, so act soon!
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Daniel Poynter from Carbon Neutral Indiana about their new book, Carbon Neutral Indiana: A Practical Guide to Climate Optimism. The book contains 60 stories of Hoosier entrepreneurs reducing carbon emissions. It also includes:
● 50 local organizations, how they can help you, contact info
● 20 relevant bills
● 31 group discussion questions
● 16 how-to guides
● 220 index entries
Project Drawdown is the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. It’s a list of ways to reduce carbon emissions -- ranging from solar and wind to methane digesters and alternative cement. We started by narrowing down Drawdown solutions relevant to Indiana. Then we identified local NGOs and subject matter experts working on each solution. Finally, we interviewed Hoosiers who implemented these solutions successfully at the household, organizational, or city level.
The result?
An easy to read guide that will inspire, educate, and activate you.
Interested in joining a book discussion? Use this link to select a date with this link.
Nationally renowned author, activist, and sought after speaker, Harriet Shugarman is the 2021 Waterspirit Suzanne Golas Awardee, a 2020 New York City Climate Hero and a 2019 featured speaker at the Global Engagement Summit at United Nations Headquarters. Harriet is the Executive Director and founder of ClimateMama, an on-line community launched in 2009 that reaches individuals in over 110 countries and all 50 states; she is an influencer and connector in the climate movement. As a leader and mentor with The Climate Reality Project, Harriet established the Climate Reality New York City Metro Chapter, and served as its first chair. She was the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award in 2017 and is also profiled in former US Vice President Al Gore’s book: An Inconvenient Sequel, Truth to Power. Harriet’s writing and thought pieces on climate solutions appear in international, national, and regional publications and she is a regular on podcasts and radio around the country. Harriet’s 2020 book: How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst to Action has garnered 3 national book awards. Harriet has worked for more than 25 years with governments, international organizations, and educational institutions on climate and sustainability issues as an economist, policy analyst, and educator, including 13 years with the International Monetary Fund as a representative of the IMF at the United Nations. Harriet is a professor of Climate Change and Society and World Sustainability at Ramapo College of New Jersey and sits on and advises numerous national boards that address climate, public policy, youth, gender, families, and justice. She is a senior advisor with Our Kids Climate, an international coalition of parent organizations. Harriet lives with her family in New York City.
Nationally renowned author, activist, and sought after speaker, Harriet Shugarman is the 2021 Waterspirit Suzanne Golas Awardee, a 2020 New York City Climate Hero and a 2019 featured speaker at the Global Engagement Summit at United Nations Headquarters. Harriet is the Executive Director and founder of ClimateMama, an on-line community launched in 2009 that reaches individuals in over 110 countries and all 50 states; she is an influencer and connector in the climate movement. As a leader and mentor with The Climate Reality Project, Harriet established the Climate Reality New York City Metro Chapter, and served as its first chair. She was the recipient of the prestigious Climate Reality Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award in 2017 and is also profiled in former US Vice President Al Gore’s book: An Inconvenient Sequel, Truth to Power. Harriet’s writing and thought pieces on climate solutions appear in international, national, and regional publications and she is a regular on podcasts and radio around the country. Harriet’s 2020 book: How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change, Turning Angst to Action has garnered 3 national book awards. Harriet has worked for more than 25 years with governments, international organizations, and educational institutions on climate and sustainability issues as an economist, policy analyst, and educator, including 13 years with the International Monetary Fund as a representative of the IMF at the United Nations. Harriet is a professor of Climate Change and Society and World Sustainability at Ramapo College of New Jersey and sits on and advises numerous national boards that address climate, public policy, youth, gender, families, and justice. She is a senior advisor with Our Kids Climate, an international coalition of parent organizations. Harriet lives with her family in New York City.
Confront the Climate Crisis (CTCC) is a grassroots, statewide campaign that has been achieving climate action solutions in Indiana since September 2020, by West Lafayette Climate. Today, we engage over 150 students from communities across Indiana, including Greater Lafayette, Evansville, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, Gary, Hammond, Carmel, Alexandria, and Kokomo. By bringing youth to the forefront of state politics, we know that we can create the change that we need to see to protect Indiana’s future.
CTCC educates youth through climate literacy programs, including building little free climate resiliency libraries, creating an information hub of blogs on resilience projects, and planning events to educate our community. We also hold general community events such as climate strikes and intersectional events.
CTCC facilitates relationships between youth, local organizations, and policymakers to accomplish specific environmental goals. In the 2021 state legislation, CTCC drafted and introduced a bill establishing a climate task force and concurrent resolution acknowledging the climate crisis. Partnering with Indiana Senator Ron Alting, we met with key legislators and built a coalition around our legislation. Although our bill did not make it to committee, we continue to push for statewide legislative action against climate change.
We believe that the climate crisis must be treated as the crisis it is by the state of Indiana. Despite many powerful and passionate student-led events, we have seen little action from our state legislators. We have had enough. We demand that the Indiana General Assembly acknowledge the problem of unprecedented climate change and create a plan to systematically deal with climate change and other environmental injustices.
We have the power to confront the climate crisis and that is what we will do.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks to Highland Neighbors for Sustainability members Cathy Perrin and Connie Wachala about the sustainability commission they are asking Highland to create, why they want one, and what they hope a sustainability commission will accomplish. They will also talk about the Region Neighbors for Sustainability event in Highland on Aug. 27 they are hosting, who should come and why.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Gin DeMaio, Executive Director of Green Team Academy about the International Climate Action Challenge her organization has led since 2020.
The International Climate Action Challenge is a guided 90-day program that has helped launch community projects around the world. Participating teams receive support, network opportunities, and a proven plan of action to transform their ideas and inspiration into results.
Seeking team members for TEAM NORTHWEST INDIANA! Please join me by registering today.The challenge kicks off September 1, 2022!
Upcoming events mentioned in this episode: InVEST (Valparaiso Environmental Stewardship Taskforce) - July 28, 2022 (Valparaiso, IN)Northwest Indiana Green Drinks - August 4, 2022 (Zoom)Climate Follies - August 11, 2022 (Munster, IN)Region Neighbors for Sustainability - August 27, 2022 (Highland, IN)Climate Activist Leadership Development Training - September 2-4, 2022 (Lakeville, IN)Climate Leadership Summit - September 8-9, 2022 (Richmond, IN + some virtual components via Zoom)
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Walter Mueller from Voters for a Green Indiana, a non-partisan, independent group of citizens who want to make this information available to voters so they can make an informed decision.
The group has developed a Green Voters Guide for the May primary, highlighting candidates who support reducing carbon emissions and growing solar. Their goal is to identify the “green” candidates in contested races at the federal, state and county level.
https://www.votersforagreenindiana.org/
If you innovated for 3.8 billion years, how creative would you be? Very! So it is with nature.
Innovation is just what it has been doing since the beginning of time: designing processes and systems and figuring out other ways to survive. From the beginning, humans have looked to nature for new ideas. Leonardo da Vinci of the Renaissance, for example, watched flying birds for hours. From them, he learned and replicated aerodynamic principles and built gliders, a helicopter and other flying machines.
da Vinci’s technique is still useful as people solve complex problems. Today, it is called “biomimcry” - a creative practice of observing and copying nature. The tool is used by innovators in businesses, medicine, organizations, transportation, technology and more.
The Center for Creative Solutions, Inc., a local non-profit organization, sponsors two annual events, northwest Indiana’s celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Week in April and the Innovation Forum in the fall. In addition, it offers other programming throughout the year. To learn more call 219-326-7259, email creativity52@comcast.net, or visit CenterforCreativeSolutions.com.
• Cynthia Hedge, co-founder and CEO of the Center. An attorney, she is also a trainer, facilitator and consultant to non-profit organizations, businesses, government agencies, schools, professionals and individuals.
• Keri Marrs Barrón, a creativity consultant, trainer, facilitator and works with the Center for Creative Solutions on special projects and serves on its Board. Like Hedge, she has a masters degree from the International Center for Studies in Creativity and Change Leadership in New York (SUNY). Her other Purdue University degrees are in biology.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Leslie Dorworth about the Indiana Master Watershed Steward. New in 2019, it will be offered virtually this year (2021).
Indiana Master Watershed Stewards are trained volunteers who understand how watersheds work and are willing to help with watershed improvement efforts in their communities.
Master Watershed Stewards complete a 12-week training program that pulls together information from scientists, researchers, and watershed management professionals. Topics will include how watersheds function, what factors affect watershed health, how water is managed for human use, and how volunteers can play a part in promoting watershed health and appreciation.
Once they complete the training program, Master Watershed Stewards put their knowledge to work on different kinds of volunteer projects, depending on their interests. Some examples are: Monitoring streams for plants, animals, and water chemistry.Pitching in to help with local streambank restoration projects.Joining a local watershed group.Promoting safe boating on local waterways.Organizing a riverside clean-up event.Staffing an information table at a local festival or event.Organizing community workshops on topics such as rain barrels, rain gardens, wildlife, pollution prevention, or invasive plant control.Working with community leaders to find creative ways to protect local rivers and streams. If learning more about water and natural resources excites you, then you will make an excellent candidate for the Master Watershed Steward Program!
Indiana Phenology is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to empowering Hoosiers of all ages to participate in citizen science. We are committed to developing and implementing engaging educational content, facilitating the state-wide collection of data, and making data accessible to policymakers, scientists, educators, residents, and other stakeholders.
In this episode 219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Founder & Executive Director Amanda Wanlass and board member Amanda Cantrell about their programs and how citizens can get involved.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Zach Schalk, the Indiana Program Director for Solar United Neighbors about an innovative, affordable way for people in Northwest Indiana to purchase solar systems for their residences or small businesses.
The first co-op is forming now! Listen to the podcast and learn how to take next steps.
To join, click here. http://SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/NWI
Join the Indiana Facebook group
DONATE HERE
Watch the video
The youth of Gary, Indiana have traditionally lacked access to food security, extracurricular opportunity, and employment for too long. For that reason, the Gary Food Council is establishing a 3-year program to train and employ more than 100 youth in best urban farming practices in partnership with major local growers and assistance from our local Purdue extension office.
After our certified Junior Urban Farmers complete their internships, we will then employ those 100 trained and certified youth as Urban Farming Educators. In this capacity, they will deliver urban farming and nutrition education to more than 1,500 students in the city while expanding access to locally grown food in the city for their peers and fellow residents.
Host Kathy Sipple, together with Jim Poyser from Earth Charter Indiana, speak with Highland residents and volunteers, Alex Bazan and Connie Wachala about their organizing efforts around this pioneering region-wide effort. Connie Wachala, along with several other region residents attended last year's Climate Leadership Summit, hosted by Earth Charter Indiana. Encouraged by the resources she learned about, Connie began planning a Climate Action Blitz in Highland, Indiana on February 15, 2020. 65 northwest Indiana residents from 13 communities attended the event. Based on momentum from the blitz, a group formed, calling themselves NWI Region Resilience.
Their primary focus at this point it to urge the region to join Indiana University's 2021 Resilience Cohort and to conduct a region-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory to get a baseline measurement the region can use as a basis for planning in the future.
Donate Sign the Petition
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Daniel Walker about Purdue's new online course available to Hoosiers who want to learn more about the planning process. More information here.
American Citizen Planner – Indiana provides training to Indiana citizen planners who currently serve or plan to serve on area or advisory plan commissions. The program features 28 units of online content detailing core planning theories, practices, and processes. A comprehensive assessment and two in-person training events reinforce the content learned in the units. The program is hosted by a local Purdue Extension educator for either a county or a region. OVERVIEWTARGET AUDIENCESREGISTRATIONRESOURCESCONTACT
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Dori Chandler & Blake Gardiner about their work with Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light.
Hoosiers of faith working together to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, as a response to climate change.
Visit their website and follow them on social media to learn more about their advocacy work, workshops, and other programs to help faith communities make a difference in Indiana.
https://hoosieripl.org/
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Natalie Johnson, Executive Director at Save the Dunes about their new Clean Water Ambassador program.
Help is needed in the following neighborhoods:
---South of Chesterton Area---
Wind Ridge, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Tanner Trace, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Troom, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Mallards Landing, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
---Valpo Area---
Moraine Manor, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Lexington Farms, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Woods of the Winding Creek, Liberty Township, Porter Co.
Lakeside Meadows, Center Township, Porter Co.
Waterford, Center Township, Porter Co.
Wedgewood Park, Center Township, Porter Co.
Vernon Woods, Center Township, Porter Co.
Wedgewood Park East, Center Township, Porter Co.
Warren Woods, Center Township, Porter Co.
Aberdeen, Union Township, Porter Co.
Sagamore, Union Township, Porter Co.
Little neighborhood north of Shorewood, Union Township, Porter Co.
Spectacle Lake, Porter Co.
---Westville Area---
Carriage Hills, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.
High Meadow West, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.
Jackson Heights, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.
White Thorne Woods, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.
---Lake County Area---
Hidden Creek, near Winfield, Lake Co.
Prairie Crossings: A Boardwalk Community, near Lakes of the Four Seasons, Lake Co.
Deep River Estates, by Indian Ridge Golf course, Lake Co."
The Department of Environmental Affairs gave Aja Yasir a citation for her nontraditional yard. She has wood chips instead of lawn and was told that her wood chips are debris and that the chips attract bugs and fungi; therefore they are being deemed a health hazard.
I befriended Aja after touring her garden on a Farm Hop, sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Food Council. Her unique garden grows both food crops and ornamentals and was very attractive. Her garden was selected for inclusion not only for its beauty, but also because of the regenerative agriculture techniques she uses. By adding more chips, the soil gets better every year and therefore, her yields get better too. Without tilling. Without adding chemical fertilizers. Requiring far less watering due to the chips holding moisture far better than bare ground or turf grass. All of these things are very beneficial for the environment and especially the watershed health.
Please sign and share this petition to help let local decision makers know you stand with Aja and others who want to use these methods to improve their soil and the environment.
219 GreenConnect podcast host Kathy Sipple speaks with Andrea Proulx-Buinicki, an Andover Dr. neighbor, Dr. Larry McAfee, a retired veterinarian and wildlife advocate.
Property owners of a 13.7-acre parcel on Spectacle Drive in Valparaiso, Indiana are seeking to sell their land. They are within their rights to do so, whether it is to a developer or someone else. Neighbors and environmentalists are concerned about: increased traffic on Spectacle Lake Roadincreased water runoff into lakesloss of wildlifeloss of old growth trees This land is a very special parcel, located in the Valparaiso Moraine at one of the highest elevations. Therefore, water runoff is of greater concern than if it were a flat piece of low-lying land.
The sellers are willing to sell it to an environmental group if money can be raised. An appraisal is underway to determine value as are initial "soft" fundraising efforts. To indicate your desire to contribute to this project, please email project leaders at valpolakesandtrees@gmail.com. (No fund has been set up yet to receive payments -- this is for planning purposes only at this point.)
The Porter County Parks Board will meet on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 6pm at the Porter County Administration Building. Concerned citizens and environmental organizations are asked to attend to show support.
Want to stop global warming? Learn how citizens from Northwest Indiana can effectively help.
Please come to our free CLIMATE ADVOCATE WORKSHOP, led by Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL).
CCL is a nonpartisan volunteer group focused on national and international solutions to effectively address climate change. We support a straightforward bipartisan plan to dramatically decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
David Holmquist, an experienced CCL leader for the Great Lakes region, will teach effective approaches to build political will and lobby Congress. Our respectful, nonpartisan approach to climate education is building a broad, sustainable foundation for climate action across all geographic regions and political inclinations.
All are welcome to attend. We hope you can join us. We know that Northwest Indiana is directly experiencing the effects of climate change and the negative health impacts of the continued use of fossil fuels. This workshop is an opportunity for community members like you to make your voices heard and promote a powerful solution.
You can learn more about Citizens' Climate Lobby by watching this quick introductory video.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with author and geologist Ken Schoon about the ancient shorelines and settlements at the south end of Lake Michigan.
Valparaiso University's student group, Earthtones, will host an event open to the public, focused on environmental issues.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Thais Carter from Valparaiso University about the upcoming event they are hosting on Saturday, April 21st from 9am to 2pm in the Helge Center.
Bridge/Work 2018 will build on its core principle of connecting theory and practice to bring together voices that speak to the scientific data, spiritual imperatives, and societal implications of the climate change debate. How do varying disciplines — from meteorology and environmental science to theology and political science — connect around this timely topic? How can they help us think about our own roles in addressing a global concern?
These will be the questions at the heart of the 2018 conference: Preserve & Prosper? Method and Morality in Facing Environmental Challenges
Read about their confirmed Keynote Speaker, Dr. Janel Hanrahan, here.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Anne Laker from the Indiana Forest Alliance. IFA is a non-profit, statewide organization of individuals dedicated to the long-term health and well-being of Indiana’s native forests.
IFA serves citizens, organizations, landowners and communities with a wide range of interests in Indiana’s forests. We provide accurate information to the people of Indiana to involve them in efforts to protect Indiana’s forests and ensure their opportunities for input into decision-making that affects forests. IFA speaks out for the native animals, plants and other creatures who survive in Indiana’s forests and cannot speak for themselves.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Madi Hirschland of the Hoosier Solar Initiative Steering Committee about the group's current efforts statewide, training opportunities and how you can get involved.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Michael Green, Executive Director at Climate XChange (climate-xchange.org), a Boston-based education and research non-profit dedicated to providing policymakers and advocates with cutting edge information on market-based solutions to climate change. The group also developed the State Carbon Pricing Network in order to support campaigns in other states and demonstrate the benefits of strong climate legislation at the local level, thereby enabling potential action in other states and eventually nationwide.
We'll explore why Climate XChange promotes carbon pricing as the most cost-effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and what's happening with Massachusetts' legislative session and its potential impact on carbon pricing for the state.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Linda Rosenthal, organizer of this event about her work with the Pachamama AllianceWe will explore 4 questions about both the urgency and the opportunity of the times we live in and how you can become an active participant in bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, socially just, spiritually fulfilled human presence on the planet.
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Where Are We?
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How Did We Get Here?
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The New Story - What is Possible Now?
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Where Do We Go From Here? - What is mine to do?
Come with an open heart and mind to be inspired to take action. You will realize that you are part of a larger un-named, unstoppable groundswell of creative, committed people around the world generating the energy to make a difference in how the future unfolds for all life on our one Mother Planet Earth.
The symposium will take place on Sunday, September 25th at Unity of Northwest Indiana. Click this link for more details.
Read the full New York Times article here.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Artist Activist Thomas Frank about some of the details surrounding this tragedy and what some concerned citizens are doing about it.
What you can do: Connect with Calumet Lives Matter on Facebook.Connect with Duneland Environmental Justice Alliance on Facebook. Related actions: Attend Awakening the Dreamer Symposium in Hammond, Indiana on 9/25. Details here.Attend Green Drinks monthly meet ups. Subscribe to their email list. Connect with NWI Green Drinks or Green Drinks Gary Group on Facebook Also referenced in this episode: Radical Mycology - Fungal Remediation and Restoration.CoThrive Timebank - Northwest Indiana neighbors helping neighbors through service exchanges.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Mario Longoni, Urban Anthropology Manager at The Field Museum and Lara Gonzalez, Calumet Heritage Communications Specialist at The Field Museum about their recent efforts to create a Calumet National Heritage Area.
www.calumetheritage.org
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Charlotte Wolfe, Regional Coordinator for Sustainable Indiana 2016 about the Green Light Awards. Indiana has long enjoyed the visionary efforts of its early Climate Leaders, the Hoosiers and organizations that have been lighting the way for the green movement to grow. In 2016, we are going to celebrate their achievements and dedication around our state. We are looking for people to nominate groups and individuals for consideration as a a Green Light leader who inspires you.
Many projects qualify in the areas of Sustainable Food & Agriculture, Transportation, Social Justice, Environmental Action in Air, Water, & Wildlife Habitat, Energy, and Waste Reduction, Reuse, or Recycling. We are looking for anyone who has climate solutions for people and the planet!
Charlotte and her husband Robert own Prairie Winds Nature Farm in Lakeville, Indiana. Find out more about this initiative on their website.
The Law Review Symposium will focus on environmental issues that affect the United States. Opening remarks will focus on the EPA’s new Clean Power Plan rule addressing climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions from power plants to promote cleaner energy resources. The first panel will address issues that impact agriculture in impoverished rural communities, water resources, and the increase of extreme weather and natural disasters due to climate change.The second panel will compare traditional energy sources and renewable energies, focusing on the following: utility planning, regulations, and the environmental implications. The third panel will provide an in-depth discussion on food security and agriculture focusing on American food systems, water-based farming practices, crop contamination, and genetically engineered foods. Each panel is comprised of scholars and practitioners geographically and politically diverse to provide a balanced discussion of the issues.
Click here for full details about the event.
Host Kathy Sipple went live on location to the second day of a 2-day climate camp for teens, held at Prairie Winds Nature Farm in Lakeville, Indiana.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Raphael Sbarge. Sbarge stars on TNT’s hit series Murder in the First and recurs on ABC’s Once Upon a Time. He has also directed and produced a documentary about climate change, Is There Hope for Planet Earth.
In the little free time that Sbarge has, he founded Green Wish, a nonprofit that helps local green organizations fund projects for their communities. Green Wish currently has chapters in Los Angeles; Lawrence, Kan.; St. Louis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Denver. Chapters are in the works in other cities, including Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. On why he founded Green Wish:
“After the birth of my daughter, I was struck by how strong and good I suddenly felt as a father. But I asked myself: What can I do and how can I contribute in any small way to leave the world a little better than when I found it, for Gracie?” – Raphael Sbarge, Huffington Post
See more info at www.greenwish.com
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with writer and chef, Lisa Harris, about the joys of cooking seasonally and connecting with the outdoors.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Nance Klehm about her crowdfunding project, The Ground Rules, as well as her passion for soil health and urban foraging.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks wiith Shane Hansen, the new market manager at Michigan City's Farmer's Market. Shane is not only the market manager, he's an owner of a 13-acre organic farm himself. He's seeking to offer market visitors more of a local food experience, limiting vendors to those that are truly local and bringing in an educational component to the market as well.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Coleen Wilder, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Information and Decision Science at Valparaiso University, along with four of her students: Rachel Laveau, Ben Crowe, Nelson Wagner and Iyanna Harris.
Wilder teaches Statistics and Management courses at the undergraduate level and Operations Management in the MBA program. Her research interests are in queuing theory, analytics, and entrepreneurship. She teaches a change management class where students are challenged to find ways to encourage stakeholders to embrace change. For this project, they looked at introducing insects as a protein source and pitched local restaurants to serve them.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Professor Nicole Negowetti, a Law Professor at Valparaiso University. Negowetti teaches a food law class and is the organizer behind the April 24th local food summit in Valparaiso.
Click here for full details.
The 2012 NIRPC Regional Food Study mentioned in this episode is available here.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Kathy Luther of the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) about a new program designed to help make solar energy more affordable and accessible to region residents. Listen in to learn which communities have signed up and how you can be a part of it.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Marshall Willoughby, a hard core environmentalist from Gary, Indiana about his permaculture lifestyle. Marshall lives in a 120-square foot geodesic dome and generates his first 1000 watts of electricity using his home built wood gasification unit. He grows much of his own food and considers it medicine since it is far superior to a lot of what is grown commercially in nutrient depleted soil.
"One day, Willoughby believes, there will be no gas for your cars and your toilet will not flush. If that day comes — and Willoughby thinks it will soon — he will wake again on the floor of his dome, load wood into his generator, and his life will not have changed at all." Excerpted from a Chicago Tribune article. Read the rest here.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Valparaiso Indiana artists, Melissa Washburn and Aimee Tomasek. They are part of a collaborative effort called Community Supported Art Valparaiso, representing eight local emerging and mid-career artists working in a variety of media. CSA Valpo connects artists and supporters of the arts in the community and is partnering with the Porter County Museum to facilitate these connections and strengthen their presence of the arts in Porter County.
From February 15 – May 16, 2015, the Porter County Museum will feature work from this year’s CSA artists in the 2015 Robert Cain Gallery Exhibit. The new exhibit will open to the public February 15, 2015 from 1-4p and feature a panel discussion with the artists at 2p. Learn more here.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Eric Zosso from Zoseco Co-working in Valparaiso, Indiana, a new space designed to allow small businesses to get ahead without the overhead. They provide flexible memberships and include benefits like ultra-fast internet and complimentary coffee and tea to keep members energized and on point.
Learn what co-working is about and whether it may be right for you.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Randi Light of Enlightened Living Hypnosis about her plans for a shared meditation to heal Mother Earth. Randi will attend the live event at East Wind Studios in Chesterton, Indiana on Earth Day -- April 22, 2014 -- and the event will also be available via live streaming at this link.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Valparaiso, Indiana based Spiritual Cartoonist, Annemarie Marti, about her whimsical line of greeting cards that celebrate Earth Day, everyday.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Chef, Brad Hindsley Executive Chef and Owner of Spire Farm-to-Fork Restaurant and Artist, Laura Marie Panozzo of LaPorte. Brad and Laura created Our Common Thread as a creative collaboration between Spire Farm to Fork Cuisine and Earth Angel Eco Art by Laura Marie Panozzo. It's a unique celebration that celebrates what connects each one of us.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Highland, Indiana Permcaculture Designer, Randy Jamrok, author of a new booklet entitled, "Permaculture Solutions to Climate Change".
The booklet is meant to be a way to provide a framework for people new to permaculture to begin implementing solutions for their community, as well as communities already involved in implementing solutions to assess their actions. The booklet stresses the importance of collective / community solutions over individual actions.
Get a copy of the book. Support this project financially.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Tacy Fletcher of Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society’s North Chapter. INPAWS is growing despite the end of the growing season, and the fall of shorter nights and sleeping plants… Tacy will discuss the numerous hikes the INPAWS group led; some of what was seen and identified; friends made; and trails discovered. More of the same can be expected from INPAWS North Chapter in the upcoming year including the indoor monthly talks by invited speakers who have expertise in native plant species. Learn more: www.inpaws.org www.219greenconnect.com
219 GreenConnect Host, Kathy Sipple speaks with Dan Plath and Kat Szot from NiSource about their new renewable energy option available to NIPSCO customers. NIPSCO’s Green Power Program is a voluntary program that allows you to designate a portion or all of your monthly electric usage to be attributable to power generated by renewable energy sources, such as wind power.
When you sign up, NIPSCO buys renewable energy certificates (RECs) on your behalf. RECs are the environmental attributes associated with electricity that is generated from renewable sources.
Your purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) supports electricity production in Midwestern states and helps offset conventional electricity generation in the region where the renewable electricity generator is located. The purchase also helps build a market for renewable electricity and may have other local and global environmental benefits such as reducing global climate change and regional air pollution.
Recycling and reusing items like plastic bottles, hand-me-down clothing and newspapers is important to make part of one’s every day routine to the reduce, reuse, recycle movement that is helping to reduce waste. One aspect of the recycling industry that may not be as popular, but just as important, is scrap metal recycling. Scrap metal exports are one of the largest in the US and by recycling metals, we reduce the amount of ore drilling throughout the world. Some of these metals include copper, steel, aluminum, brass, iron and wires, but they are often tossed in the garbage due to the lack of knowledge and sources for metal recycling. Interested in turning your scrap metal into cash? 219 GreenConnect Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Neil Samahon, CEO at Metro Recycling, about choosing a reputable recycling facility, some important regulations you need to know to comply with current laws and tips for a successful experience.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Paul Quinlan, Stewardship Director at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust about their recent land acquisition. In 2012, SHLT was approached by the Girl Scouts to acquire their former Camp Meadowbrook in Valparaiso, Indiana. This strategic addition to SHLT’s system of nature preserves has been met with tremendous support from funders, partner organizations and volunteers. The property promises to be a nexus for conservation efforts throughout Northwest Indiana.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Ginny Brown from Energizing Indiana. GInny will share information about their free energy assessment for residential power customers and how your participation can help fund green causes like Northwest Indiana Green Drinks, a monthly educational meet up organized by 219 GreenConnect. To enroll, call 1-888-893-8218 or email COE@energizingindiana.com. Please tell them you heard about the program here!
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with David Mueller from Paul Henry's Art Gallery in Hammond about their current exhibit, "Pipelines and Borderlines: People Can't Drink Oil!" It is a group exhibit of 17 artists from across the U.S. who have produced work that brings attention to the tar sands oil issue nationally, regionally and locally in Northwest Indiana. "Pipelines and Borderlines" is a a traveling exhibit that has made its way through several locations in the Midwest and also Canada, Mexico and Nicaragua. The portfolio has changed depending on the location of a given show and the issues important in the locale of a particular exhibit. The extraction and processing of tar sands oil has always been part of the exhibit. "...People Can't Drink Oil" is a revised collection, drawing from and adding to the original portfolio and focuses on the proposed end processing of tar sands oil here in Northwest Indiana, specifically at the BP refinery in Whiting, and the potential impact of that operation on Lake Michigan and the local environment.
Guest host Kassie Meeks interviews 219 GreenConnect Founder, Kathy Sipple, sharing the story behind the initiative and some success stories that have resulted. Sipple is the local organizer for Green Drinks International, a worldwide network of monthly meet ups about environmental issues. She is also Regional Coordinator for Sustainable Indiana 2016 and their statewide Social Media Manager. In her free time Sipple enjoys growing organic vegetables at her community garden, hiking at the Indiana Dunes and taking nature photos.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks to Mitch Barloga, biking enthusiast and Ped, Pedal & Paddle Planner at Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. We'll talk about a number of trail initiatives and events, including Greenways & Blueways, the National Complete Streets Coalition, The Calumet Summit 2013 and Sustainable Indiana 2016's Mass Action initiative to Take the Trail in 2013.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Chemical Engineer turned cooking instructor, Cheryl Dornberg of Mrs. Dornberg's Culinary Experience in Highland, Indiana. Confused by all the fad diets and nutrition advice you keep hearing? One of the best ways to achieve optimal health is to adopt a Clean Eating philosophy. Clean Eating is a focus on consuming whole foods as close to their natural state as possible along with whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats. Cheryl will offer advice to guide you in making clean eating choices and provide tips and techniques for preparing great tasting, good for you meals for the entire family.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Jennifer Shelhart from Green Research Corporation about the organization's work. They divert unwanted and broken computers from the wastestream, refurbish them and install programs on them from Berkeley Open Infastructure for Network Computing (BOINC). The programs allow BOINC to use the idle time on Green Research computers to communicate with BOINC to help cure diseases, study global warming, discover pulsars, and do many other types of scientific research. Green Research uses only green energy to perform computing tasks. Their goal is to eventually create their own green energy to utilitize for their cause and to provide green energy for others.
Host Kathy Sipple of 219 GreenConnect speaks with Donna Stuckert from the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County, organizers of the 8th Annual Northwest Indiana Earth Day to be held Saturday, April 20th 9am-4pm at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Kassie Meeks, about Ujjayi Pranayma breathing (sometimes called ocean breath), a balancing and calming breath technique. This style of breathing keeps the vital life force, prana, circulating throughout the body rather than escaping from it. Kassie Meeks is owner of Yoga Suka Shala in Valparaiso, where she provides group and private yoga and QiGong instruction. Kassie also provides individualized coaching on creativity, well-being, and all-around-living-your best-life to clients worldwide.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Oriana Tiell from www.NeighborhoodFruit.com about their twist on urban foraging. Neighborhood Fruit is a service that helps people find and share the fruits, nuts and vegetables growing within their communities. The site features interactive maps of backyard bounty and abundance growing on public land. Search no more - Neighborhood Fruit is your one-stop-shop for your urban harvest needs! Share the fruit from your yard. Add a tree on public land to the map. Find abundance in your neighborhood. Learn more about unusual fruit. Find Fruit, the iPhone app companion to the site, lets you take your search mobile.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Rich Ferlazzo from the Valparaiso Shrimp Company, a wholesale and retail supplier of high quality fresh salt water shrimp. Kathy met Rich a few weeks ago at Sawgrass Marketplace in Chesterton where he makes his shrimp available for sale. Their facility is one of 9 privately owned indoor re-circulation salt water systems in the United Sates and the only operational clear water system. The shrimp are raised on a high protein diet with no hormones, chemicals or antibiotics.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Neil Davey from Figure Eight Brewery in Valparaiso about the brewery's recent expansion and their part in the local food web.
Join guest host, Emily Russell, of Russell Health & Wellness for a discussion with board certified pediatrician, Biljana Uzelac, MD, about healthy eating and how it directly affects your health. Dr. Uzelac will share her passion for organic cooking and provide tips to help you create a healthy lifestyle for your family. Learn how good nutrition can help prevent disease in your children and your family.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with A Greener Indiana's Founder, Eric Stallsmith, live from the Quiet Sports Expo in Indianapolis. Human-powered quiet sports are among the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities. Activities like, hiking, paddling, mountain biking, rock-climbing and fly fishing leave a small ecological footprint, but are as hard-core as the enthusiasts who practice them. The Quiet Sports and Outdoor Living Pavilion is the only event of its kind in the central U.S., and boasts nearly 100 exhibitors and unique features and attractions you won’t find in any other single location. Need a dose of how-to? Daily seminars are on tap from interesting experts who have been there and done that – from climbing Kilimanjaro to floating Southern Indiana’s Sugar Creek. Eric and his wife also operate Indiana Outfitters, Indiana's premier outdoor information website. It is a rich resource for planning trips to Indiana's State Parks, complete with outfitter information, maps, weather, current river and lake levels and tirp reports.
This show is a rebroadcast of an August 8, 2011 Socially Speaking show. Co-hosts Tracy Traut & Kathy Sipple speak with Lauren Riga, Assistant Director at Environment, Law & Economics Institute, and an instructor for Valparaiso University's new graduate level Sustainability Certificate. Sustainability is the new buzzword, rapidly replacing "green." Find out what it means to businesses, consumers and our planet.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with photographer Pete Doherty owner of Doherty Images, LLC. Pete specializes in Chicago lakefront and Indiana Dunes photography. He enjoys sharing Northwest Indiana's natural beauty through his photographs. Pete's work has been exhibited at South Shore Arts in Munster, Gallery One in Chesterton, Galaxy Arts in Munster, Towle Theatre in Hammond, as well as in many area hospitals, libraries and retail establishments.
This show is a rebroadcast from an August 15, 2011 interview. Socially Speaking hosts, Tracy Traut and Kathy Sipple, speak with Mark Zaranski of East Wind Acupuncture in Chesterton.
Learn why Traditional Chinese Medicine is a natural and healthy alternative.
This show is a rebroadcast of an August 1, 2011 interview. Socially Speaking hosts, Tracy Traut and Kathy Sipple, speak with Sandy Rodriguez. Sandy's local food experience includes managing the Miller Beach Farmer's Market for several years, serving as the Community and Economic Development Intern (Local Food Focus) at Porter County Purdue Extension and project managing Stewart House Urban Farm and Gardens in Gary.
This show is a rebroadcast from July 25, 2011. 219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple was interviewed by host Tracy Traut. In this episode Tracy and Kathy discuss the power of social connections in the new "relationship economy". Sipple urges listeners to connect with intention and invest in relationships, rather than "network" for the sake of networking. Successful connectors plant seeds of connection and nruture their relationships the way a gardener tends to their garden. Learn tips for more enjoyable social connection, online and offline. Social media tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter make it easier than ever to find like-minded people. 219 GreenConnect was created to foster more intentional connecting between ecoconscious people in Northwest Indiana. Have you been "219 green connected"?
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Elizabeth Gingerich, a Business Law Associate Professor at Valparaiso University and Editor of The Journal of Values Based Leadership. The JVBL defines values-based leadership to include topics involving ethics in leadership, moral considerations in business decision-making, stewardship of our natural environment, and spirituality as a source of motivation. Gingerich is a passionate advocate for sustainability--at home and in business. She has installed solar and geothermal systems in buildings she owns. She has worked with sustainable business leader, Ray Anderson of Interface and continues to be an Organizational Stakeholder with the Global Reporting Initiative.
219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Toni Snearly, founder of NWI Food Swap. According to Food Swap Network, a food swap is a recurring event where members of a community share homemade, homegrown, or foraged foods with each other. Swaps allow direct trades to take place between attendees, e.g., a loaf of bread for a jar of pickles or a half-dozen backyard eggs. These events are a delicious way to diversify the homemade foods in your own pantry while getting to know members of your local food community. This particular NWI Food Swap will take place throughout the counties of Starke, Porter, LaPorte and Marshall, located in northwest Indiana (surrounding areas may be included.) Locations will depend on availability of venues. You don’t have to live in a particular county to be involved. It just depends on how far you are willing to drive. Toni promises, "Once you attend one food swap, you’re going to want to attend them all…they are just THAT fun."
Innovators needed! The challenge: build a vehicle that will run 5 miles on alternate power. 219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Bill Halliar of The Alternate Power Initiative, the organizer of Race for the Future. This annual event is sponsored by the city of Whiting, Indiana and British Petroleum. They are looking for independent inventors interested in building vehicles powered by alternate energy sources to compete in a race in August 2013. All are invited to compete, independent American inventors are particularly encouraged to enter. The purpose is not only to discover new sources of energy and means to store energy but also to give encouragement to inventors.
Whatever your interest—protecting natural places, adding native plants to your garden, photographing wildflowers, or lending expertise to our community of native plant enthusiasts—there’s a place for you at the Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society (INPAWS).
INPAWS members are working to create healthy ecosystems and save the wild beauty of Indiana. Host Kathy Sipple Speaks to INPAWS member Tacy Fletcher about the group and its activities. Indiana Native Plant & Wildflower Society
The Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network (IBMN) is a citizen scientist program monitoring the health of butterfly populations throughout northeastern and central Illinois, with several monitoring sites in northwest Indiana. The Network serves to engage citizen scientists in the process of collecting quantitative data on butterfly populations. The goal is to provide data collected with a standardized protocol that allows land managers to evaluate long-term trends in a changing landscape and to document the presence of rare, threatened and endangered species. The Network also provides opportunities for fellowship, information sharing, mentorship, and continuing education between citizen scientists and professional biologists through various field trips and workshops. More information is available at www.bfly.org. Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Presented by John Henry Drake, regional coordinator for northwest Indiana about this program and the upcoming workshops the group is hosting for potential monitors.Saturday February 9th Gibson Woods Nature Preserve, Hammond 930 AM-12 PM.Saturday February 16th Crown Point Community Library, Crown Point 10 AM-12 PM.Saturday February 23rd Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Visitor Center, Porter, IN 930 AM-12 PM.The workshops are designed for potential and beginning monitors, and no previous experience is required. Learn about butterfly biology, ecology and behavior and what it takes to identify the butterflies of northwest Indiana while participating in this important citizen science program.
Paul Quinlan, Stewardship Director for Shirley Heinze Land Trust, speaks with host Kathy Sipple about the organization’s Little Calumet Wetlands project area and the opportunities it provides for recreation, environmental education, and watershed management.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Michael Boos, Executive Director at the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) in Hammond, Indiana. AWLI holds an annual winter festival, celebrating the many outdoor recreation opportunities available in our region. This year's event will be held on Saturday, January 19th and will feature a variety of speakers, demonstrations and tours. See an indoor trout stream Learn about Native American artifactsEcology of Wolf Lake lecture Amphibians & Reptiles of the Calumet Region Global Warming’s Effect on Trees Tree identification tour Ice skating and cross country skiing Pizza by the bonfire And much more! Click here for full schedule.
Guest host, Emily Russell, of Russell Health & Wellness and Shaklee Distributor, will be speaking with Renee Kimberling, ND, board certified naturopath, and director of Healing Arts Center in Valparaiso. The Healing Arts Center offers many services such as NAET allergy elimination, chiropractic, reflexology, clinical massage, stress management, reiki and craniosacral therapies, the Rossiter system for fast pain relief, acupuncture, and several others. Learn more about this collaborative clinic for alternative health care and how Renee can help to relieve your allergies permanently with a system called NAET.
Guest host Emily Russell, of Russell Health & Wellness and Shaklee Distributor, will be talking with Laura Zaranski, M.S. L.Ac., the clinic director for East Wind Acupuncture about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture. They will discuss the similarites and differences between eastern and western medicine, what health issues TCM can help treat, and how TCM and acupuncture can help you to acheive a greater state of health and wellness.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Jim Erdelac, Education & Volunteer Manager at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, about the power of volunteerism. Together, Shirley Heinze Land Trust and local volunteers accomplished a wide variety of restoration projects in 2012.
Guest Host Emily Russell, Wellness Consultant and Shaklee Distributor for Russell Health and Wellness, speaks with Diane Nelson, owner of Au Natural Market in Valparaiso, about how to stay healthy naturally during the cold and flu season. Diane will be sharing different natural remedies that can help build one's immunity to prevent or stop most commom sicknesses that can slow us down during the holiday season.
Host Kathy Sipple interviews Julie Rizzo, Founder of St. John based Recycled Granite and My Choice Recycling. In August, 2008, Julie launched Recycled Granite. To date, Julie and her network of stone recyclers have saved an estimated 5,000,000 pounds of granite and stone scraps from being dumped into landfills across America. The stone is repurposed; the recycled granite is used for split stone tile, landscaping pavers, mosaics, aggregates and jewelry. Rizzo was inducted into the Northwest Indiana Society of Innovators in 2011 and was recognized in the Congressional Record for innovative contributions.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Nicole Barker, Executive Director, and Nathan Pavlovic, Land and Advocacy Specialist at Save the Dunes about the oil pipeline company Enbridge Energy and their plans to construct approximately 60 miles of new pipeline for the transportation of tar sands through Northwest Indiana. The construction will involve excavating approximately 30 rivers and streams in the Lake Michigan Watershed and impacting wetlands along over 4 miles of the pipeline’s length.
What you can do: Share this link! Post on Facebook, forward the link to your email contacts, post on Twitter, etc. Attend a public hearing Thursday, August 23rd: Representatives of Save the Dunes will discuss plans for the pipeline and highlight opportunities for public input on the proposal, including a public hearing hosted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Thursday, August 23rd at 4 PM in Meeting Room B of the Valparaiso Public Library.
Kathy Sipple speaks with Amanda Arceo, Head of Avicenna Academy, an Islamic school in Merrillville. The school planted a garden this year with the help of some local partners. Arceo will share what the experience has meant for community outreach opportunities as well as for student learning.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Paul Quinlan, Stewardship Program Manager at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust. The Trust works to protect and restore ecologicaly significant natural areas in Northwest Indiana. Since its inception in 1981, they have acquired for preservation over 1,100 acres of natural land surrounding southern Lake Michigan, including 900 acres they own outright, 100 acres held as conservation easements and 30 acres transferred to the National Park Service and Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Paul Quinlan earned an M.S. in Environmental and Forest Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He previously worked for the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. Paul has been the Stewardship Program Manager since December 2002. Facebook Twitter
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Janel Hyland, Founder of the Facebook Group: Organic Garden and Food Buying Group of Northwest Indiana.
Members come together to share information, make better choices and save money by purchasing natural, organic, non-GMO products and produce from local farms in bulk.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Carl Lisek from South Shore Clean Cities about NIPSCO’s IN-Charge Electric Vehicle Program and the incentives that this program brings to Northern Indiana.
They will also discuss current projects focused on compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel emission reductions.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with John Gibson of Sustainable Indiana 2016 about their statewide citizens’ initiative to locate and showcase gardens and gardeners in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. The effort launched on May 21, 2012 and will culuminate in a grand, one-day,statewide celebration of gardens and gardeners on Saturday, August 18, 2012. To find out more or register to host a party in you area click here. “Celebrating Indiana Gardens” is the first in Sustainable Indiana 2016’s series of five annual citizen-involvement efforts leading up to Indiana’s Bicentennial in 2016. Garden celebration parties may include:advice on successful gardening by master gardeners, garden produce potlucks, celebrity appearances and Bicentennial Green-Legacy Garden/Gardener awards.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Valerie Steil, ASID, President at Marc T. Nielsen Interiors in Valparaiso about making environmentally friendly choices at home. Steil is also host of her own radio program "Steil & Substance", part of the "Community Voices" magazine show on WVLP 98.3 FM in Valparaiso.
There are many ways to be conscious of the environment when furnishing and decorating our homes and/or workplaces. One of the first, and perhaps most overlooked, is to design it well, and purchase quality pieces, so it doesn't have to be redone any time soon. Then, make the best use of things you already have. After that, there are many factors that affect specific choices for new purchases.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Emily Russell about the benefits of eating local food, moving towards a more vegetable centered diet, and how vegetables nourish the body and calm the digestive system. We’ll also discuss how to get your children (and yourselves) eating more vegetables and reallyenjoying it. Find out how to use local food and farmer's markets to heal your body and raise healthy eaters. Emily Russell holds a BA in Biology, Masters in Teaching, and a continuing education certificate as a Kid's Nutrition Specialist. She will lead a workshop "Raising Healthy Eaters - Kid's Nutrition Class" at Mothering By Nature in Valparaiso on Saturday, July 21st from 10-11:30am.
Emily Russell can be reached for consultation at 219-707-5430 or emilyerussell@gmail.com.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Susan Swarner from the Valpo Chain of Lakes Watershed Group about Naturepalooza! (aka Living with Lakes Seminar) to be held Saturday, June 16th. It is the 13th annual celebration of this event, held in conjunction with the Woodland Savanna Land Conservancy and Porter County Izaak Walton League. More details at http://www.valpolakes.org/
Donna Stuckert Graham from the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County joins host Kathy Sipple to talk about Earth Day happenings planned for Saturday, April 21st at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. Web Site
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with John Ervin of Primal Elegance about Synergistic Living Solutions. In Northwest Indiana, there are over 70 invasive species of plants that threaten one or more things that we value. They impact our gardens, our farms, our woodlands, our ponds, our landscapes, and our comforts. Unlike the weeds with which we are most accustomed, like dandelions and thistles, these “super-weeds” not only dominate their habitat, but they alter it in ways that science is only now beginning to understand. Due to their growth habits and their abilities to disperse, the techniques required to control these species are nearly as diverse as the plants themselves. In his 25 years as an ecologist, arborist, entomologist, and nurseryman, John Ervin has accumulated control methods, and sensibilities regarding invasive species. John will discuss a few of these species, their significance, and his recommendations for the landowner.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with conservationist Mike Echterling of the Lake County Fish & Game Association about his involvement in many local projects, including: his weekly show "Region Bass Buzz", the recent spotting of eagles here in Northwest Indiana, his work with Friends of the Little Calumet River and the upcoming 2nd Annual Little Calumet River Fest May 19th in Hammond where attendees are invited to "paddle, bike or walk the Little Cal and find out what you've been missing." Helpful links: http://www.lakecountyfishandgame.org http://www.facebook.com/regionbassbuzz http://www.facebook.com/littlecalumetriver 2012 Little Calumet River Fest
Host Kathy Sipple speaks to Simon Barrios, sommelier and local wine and spirit expert. Simon will share news about upcoming tastings and events as well as offer tips for meal pairings and recipes.
Host Kathy Sipple interviews Nicole Messacar, Education Coordinator at the LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District about upcoming workshops and programs. Topics include: rain gardens, the importance of cover crops and pollination. Call in with your questions or comments.
Kathy Sipple interviews guest Lourdes Castellanos of Hammond, founder of Healthy U Expo, a 1-day educational event Saturday, March 24th at the Avalon Manor in Merrillville. Her mission is to inform people of healthy, organic alternatives in the areas of health and wellness, fitness, nutrition, style and enviornment. Featured seminars will include: Feng shui basics Eat local: know your food! Sugar and vitamin smarts Acupuncture and traditional Oriental Medicine Chi-Gung It Ain't Easy Being Green Reiki for you and your pet
Larry Alport, Chair for the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) South Suburban Chicago Branch Board Member, joins host Kathy Sipple. We'll discuss how Northwest Indiana residents can be come more knowledgeable about green homes, buildings and neighborhoods, and get involved in making our community more sustainable.
Kathy Sipple speaks with guest Marilee Snyder of Sage Spirit Terra Shamanic Retreat Center for Vibrational Healing in Michigan City. Marilee will share the origin and importance of drumming as ritual and ceremony for families and community. Sage Spirit Terra hosts drum circles open to all who are called on the Sacred Days in the Circle of Life. Check http://sagespiritterra.org for a current event schedule.
Ecologist John Ervin speaks with host Kathy Sipple about this year's unseasonably warm spring and what that means for gardeners. What should we be doing right now to get ready for gardening?
Chesterton, Indiana artist Tyna Bianco-Jessen started Paper Dandelions about 2 years ago. She upcycles other peoples' "weeds" -- everything from from newspapers and junk mail to banana peels, coffee grinds, grass, spinach -- and fashions them into beautiful wedding invitations, envelopes and other custom paper products. Her concern for the environment doesn't end at recycling; she also infuses some of the paper products with native plant seeds so they become plantable and help to further beautify the earth. Fan Paper Dandelions on Facebook.
Host Kathy Sipple speaks with guest John Ervin, ecologist and entrepreneur. John will share how his past public service career informs his new business plans--how to balance concern for the environment and "doing the right thing" with being a business person. Find out why John thinks the term "sustainability" falls short and his ideas about better definitions to describe systems that thrive and grow beyond instead of breaking even.
We'll also talk about what's growing in Northwest Indiana and how to best prepare your yard and garden for the coming season.
Marilee Snyder of Sage Spirit Terra in Michigan City, Indiana joins host Kathy Sipple to talk about candles, the symbology of Light and the celebration of Winter Solstice.