Host Marianne West & guests share information on how to live a more sustainable life including such topics as: homesteading, survival, sustainability, self-sufficiency, natural remedies, self-reliance, gardening, permaculture, meditation, #DIY health & household products, and more.
Avoiding plastic as much as possible. Different ways of sustainable shopping. trading, barter, homemade, buy local, b
5/30/20 • 19:32
I developed this weird cough and my throat was hurting if I talked for more than a couple of minutes. Couple that with a state of environmental depression and a feeling of not being able to make a difference - and podfading for over a year made sense. Now, more than ever, having the conversation about creating a more sustainable way of life, is important. Let me know if you want to be part of this conversation
5/21/20 • 11:37
Mike, a disabled Veteran, is building a Homestead in the South after losing his home due to his injuries. He used recycled building materials like pallets to build immediate shelters for his extended family. Eventually, he is planning on building weatherproof dome houses with Aircrete blocks. In this episode, Mike explains what Aircrete is, how it is made, and why he feels it is a superior building material. He is in need of a tractor to work the 12 acres of land and to build the homes. You can help by supporting his Go Gund Me Campaign. https://www.gofundme.com/helping-a-disabled-veteran-build-a-homestead Follow Mike, also known as @ambiguity at his various social media channels. Steemit https://steemit.com/@ambiguity Weku https://main.weku.io/@ambiguity YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbo-SMJZ2_FdLzYu4ZjY2IA Find the Sustainable Living Podcast here: We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Steem: https://steemit.com/@sustainablelivin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q If you like to join Steem, let me know. I can help you get started.
3/12/19 • 43:40
Garik is the founder of Eco-Stylist, a stylishly curated collection of eco-conscious menswear. 3 years ago he quit his corporate job to start chasing his fears, with his long-term dream of starting a social venture. Fear chasing lead him to the University of Iowa where he pursued an MBA and got the chance to push against many fears, including practicing public speaking, taking an acting class, and rock climbing. This May he completed the MBA, but instead of pursuing full-time work, he took the leap and led Eco-Stylist through the startup accelerator at the University of Iowa, and is now bootstrapping the company fulltime from Iowa City, IA. He helps men find clothes that look good and make a positive impact, while also sharing knowledge about sustainable buying habits, recycling your clothes, and much more. Links to Garik's website and social media: Website: www.Eco-Stylist.com Instagram: @yourecostylist Links to projects he loves: Brands: Adelante Shoe Company: https://adelanteshoes.com/ Apolis Global Citizen: https://www.apolisglobal.com/ Dick Moby: https://dick-moby.com/ No Nasties: https://www.nonasties.in/ Fashion Podcasts Wardrobe Crisis: https://www.clarepress.com/podcast Conscious Chatter: https://consciouschatter.com/ Research Resources: B Corp Directory: https://bcorporation.net/directory Fashion Revolution Transparency Index: https://www.fashionrevolution.org/about/transparency/ Movies: The True Cost: Documentary available on Netflix Eco-Stylist Recycling Article: https://www.eco-stylist.com/how-to-make-a-positive-impact-recycling-your-old-clothes/ Find the Sustainable Living Podcast We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Steem: https://steemit.com/@sustainablelivin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
1/21/19 • 51:13
Marianne takes a look at where we have been and where we are going. Health, life circumstances and more slowed down the regular schedule a bit in 2018. The promise for 2019 is to publish at least one podcast a month - but it might be a lot more than that. The formats will vary but the goal will always be to bring you interesting and useful information. Here is where you can find us: We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Steem: https://steemit.com/@sustainablelivin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
1/9/19 • 10:40
Yiga Miyashiro is the Director of Brewing Operations for Saint Archer Brewery in San Diego. He also happens to be my son and a former homeschooler. We explore sustainability in the brewing process, what it takes to start a brewery, and how he became the Director of Brewing Operation for a fairly large Micro Brewery.
11/16/18 • 43:30
Teri is a long time homesteader and homesteading blogger known as Homestead-Honey. Here is the bio from her book that tells you more about her: "Teri Page is the blogger behind the popular homesteading website, Homestead-Honey.com. Her homesteading adventures have taken her from Oregon, where she planted her first vegetables and fell in love with a dirt-covered lifestyle, to Missouri, where her family built an off the grid homestead from scratch and lived in a 350 square-foot tiny house without running water, to Vermont, where she now lives with her husband and two children." Our conversation centered on her experiences that led her to become a leader in the Homesteading community and to writing this book. Find out more about Teri and a link to a previous episode on our website: http://sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
10/19/18 • 56:01
Emily and Ethan Waldman are two tiny house enthusiasts. Ethan wrote a book "Tiny House Decisions" that is helping people in their research for their own tiny house build. If you are even just a little bit thinking about tiny houses- either to live in or to have as an extra space - you want to listen to this show. We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q Emily wrote: I had a wonderful interview with the tiny house author, dweller, podcast owner, teacher, speaker and tiny house pioneer, Ethan Waldman. He build his own tiny house on wheel in 2012, and has been passionately helping future tiny house dwellers on their journey ever since. Ethan’s guide, Tiny House Decisions, has helped thousands of readers answer the big questions about tiny houses and plan each system in their future home. He’s also the creator and host of Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast, a show that brings you conversations with tiny house luminaries, builders, and DIYers. Ethan and his wife Ann live in their tiny house part-time in Northern Vermont. In our discussion we go over all the amazing aspects of Ethan’s book, podcast and how he enjoys tiny house dwelling. We go over the important role research is in designing and planning your tiny house, which is why he wrote Tiny House Decisions. When he was looking for information during his build, he couldn’t find much of anything, so his book was born. I am excited to say his new book on tiny house parking is coming out so definitely check his website for updates. Ethan has truly enjoyed living in a tiny house and thankful for the sustainability it offers, the financial freedom and community of people it brings. His words of wisdom is to surround yourself with those who have been on this journey to help you on your tiny house journey. Tiny House Lifestyle Podcast: https://thetinyhouse.net/thlp Tiny House Decisions: https://www.thetinyhouse.net/tiny-house-decisions/ facebook.com/buildingthetinyhouse instagram.com/ethan.waldman instagram.com/ethanwaldman
10/8/18 • 22:33
International Podcast Day We are a day late for our contribution to the International Podcast Day - September 30, 2018. Oh well, better a day late than never, right? I, Marianne, spend the day at the Outlier Podcast Festival in LA. I was fortunate to meet some of my podcasting heroes and attend the panels from two outstanding fellow E-Leaguers Ginger Wiseman and Katie Ward. Ginger is host and producer of the Outlander Podcast and if you like romance, history, alternative medicine, time travel, and more, you are going to love the podcast. https://www.outlanderpod.com/ Katie Ward is a feminist with an incredible social consciousness and gets very excited about many topics. Find her at the aptly named The Enthusiasm Enthusiast on any podcatcher or on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TheEnthusiasmEnthusiast/ Other Topics: some info on upcoming episodes update on personal health Homestead update the big declutter project If you are a female podcaster and want to up your game, I highly recommend joining the E-League with Elsie Escobar. The next session is starting on October 15th. http://elsieescobar.com/the-e-league If you sign up and mention my name, Marianne West, I will get a discount during my own tuition and will be very grateful.
10/1/18 • 21:17
Emily shares many tips to reduce the creation of waste. One of the subjects she has been researching are compostable garbage bags. Are they really better for the environment? What are your tips? She also feels strongly that we have to be gentle with ourselves. Sometimes, we are just not as diligent as we are at other times. Trying to do our best is all we can do at times. Let us know what you think! We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
9/26/18 • 21:03
Emily and Marianne hosting a weekly Facebook live session. This week, they discussed a local Farmer's Market and what people can do to keep it going. They also shared their cleaning procedures using readily available household items that are kind to nature. Visit our website for more articles and information We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q Join us every Friday for a Facebook Live conversation. This week, we are going to talk about the idea of a Basic Income for all. Join us here We mentioned Azure Standard
9/12/18 • 36:23
Emily Gerde is exploring with Brian Eck and Tucker Roe the ever-growing Tiny House Movement. Brian is the owner of Eck Architecture. He is building tiny homes for his clients and knows that fiancing, insuring and finding a good place for the home are important issues. He is negotiating with several banks right now to make it easier to get financing for the built. We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q Some Highlights: Code development is important to be able to get insurance and so forth - but you want to make sure that you are safe. RV regulations are not sufficient for what the tiny house movement stands for - to have homes people live in permanently. Parking is still a real problem and many find that they need to park far from the city which adds a daily commute and all the cost associated with that to the affordability consideration. Eck is working with banks to try to find financing for their clients. The loans typically will not be 30-year loans but need to be paid off in a much shorter time period. Regulations are good for the consumer as well. Many builders are starting to offer their services and it is hard for the future homeowners to know who is legit and who is not. If there is a regulatory body, they at least will know if a builder is part of a quality control organization. If a tiny home was built to certain standards and inspected during the building process - then financing, insurance, and eventual resale are all easier. What about the DIYers? Having guidelines and inspections - the stamp of approval so to speak, will help the DIY builder to be accepted into a community or a mobile home park if that is their choice. Tiny Houses: An investment opportunity. Use it as Air B&B or participate in HipCamp. Or an investor could build a tiny house community and either sell it or rent it out. How do you see the future? Hoping for strong regulations to bring it to the larger community. The hope is that politicians will recognize the movement as a way to bring affordable housing to their cities. Allow a tiny home to be part of a large property or even be parked in a driveway. For many, home ownership could become a reality. Eck is specializing on figuring out what the particular person really wants and needs instead of cramming everything in.
8/30/18 • 25:07
Claire is telling us about aging on a homestead and the trials and tribulations. In this episode, her farm and animals are threatened by a wildfire - and then, there is a surprise. This is a rather short episode again. My voice is still not up to snuff. Hopefully, by next week, we are back to normal. We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
8/24/18 • 06:00
Beng true to our sustainable lifestyle is not always easy while traveling. Pia Piscitelli is our sustainable travel expert and is bringing us another great episode. This time, camping is on the menu. As we explored in previous podcasts, getting all the gear for camping can be expensive and use up a lot of our storage space. In episode 138 Pia is telling us how to be sustainable about camping gear and how to get it. http://sustainablelivingpodcast.com/sustainable-outdoor-sports-politics/ In this one, she is telling us how to find the perfect camping spot either close by or across the country. Hicamp is there to serve your needs - or, if you have land, you can list yourself as a camp host and make a bit of extra money. https://www.hipcamp.com/ We love your support! Please visit our Patreon page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q Join us on Fridays at 1 PM Pacific time for a live Q & A in our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sustainablepodcast/
8/15/18 • 08:38
Heat Tips and Getting Started with Chickens We are sharing tips on staying cool in a heat wave without air conditioning. Then, we dive into today's main topic: Getting started with keeping chickens. Is it better to start with already laying adult hens? Or day-old baby chicks. What about incubating eggs? Patreon We love your support! Please visit our page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Find us here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Steemit: https://steemit.com/@sustainablelivin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q SLP 146 Start with Baby Chicks or Big Hens? We are starting the show with Listener Tips The questions: How to stay comfortable in a Heatwave without Airconditioning? Lorien Silverleaf Evaporative cooling; wet linen scarf. Jacqueline Kim 1. A fan. 2. Cold showers to cool off. Cold showers take two minutes or so but make such a big difference. You have to jump into it. It is shocking at first (prepare to yelp), but delicious after. 3. Don't cook meals requiring more than one stove top fire at a time (so nothing that requires the oven coming on). We have been eating all manners of salads, gazpachos, and drinking a lot of ice cold infusions (of cut cucumber or oranges or mint). Sangrias too. Britt Cool Yep, fans. Sit right in front of them Lorien put a scarf on the fan!! It cools the air even more. Sally Hovey Wet clothes and a fan Karl Aldinger If you can spare some water, misting jets on fans drop temps in our greenhouse, for example. Trevor Presley Outdoor shower Darlene Sweetwood Swimming pool! Emi Lio Staying in the shade Tiny Farmer SD Plant a shade tree! it's at least 10 degrees cooler under our Chinese elm tree. Starting with Chickens- Babies or Adult Hens? This episode is inspired by Nate who I met on the social media platform called steemit. You can find him here: https://steemit.com/@nateonsteemit We have big elm tree in our chicken yard. We cut in winter in a process called pollarding and let it grow in summer to provide shade for the chickens. Getting chickens - babies or adults? I am not expert - but I have taken courses from the University of Edinburgh https://www.coursera.org/learn/chickens It is part of their MOOC. Massive open online courses A new one opens August 20th, 2018 and I highly recommend it! Meat and egg chicks Heritage chicken - dual breeds Courses by Patricia Foreman- Author of city chicks Chicken and You courses www.chickensandyou.com/. Backyard Chicken Keeper Certification Course I will post a video of my chicken set up - don't expect perfection Beware of experts that are new to the subject - a tip by Joel Salatin who was on our podcast. Adult or babies? It all depends Adult chickens Benefits: Eggs right away Less sensitive Less work in raising pullets You know that you get a hen Possible problems: Longer possible exposure to disease Don’t know how old exactly Don’t know what they ate - possible GMO and antibiotics More expensive to acquire Possible free ways to get: Backyard chicken folks that are tired of chicken Egg farm that typically culls chicken when about 1 year laying. Baby Chicks Advantages: So cute!!!!! Less exposure to possible diseases Can be handled frequently and became very tame Know what they are being fed They are so cute - chicken therapy Less expensive to buy - start-up costs More varieties available Choices: From hatchery - direct, but will be shipped - stress (3 days without food) From a Feed store - more exposure to possible diseases, more stress - shipping, lots of chicks, then transport home. Disadvantages: More work - but they are so cute!!! They are sensitive - might die It takes 6 to 8 month to get the first egg Might be lots of males Hatching your own: Need equipment - can be borrowed Needs care and attention for the 3 weeks Needs a space for the hatcher Watching a baby chick hatch is an amazing experience and a great teaching moment for kids. You will get at least half of the hatch as little boys. They are cute in the beginning but turn into loud and obnoxious teenagers before you know it. You need a plan what to do with them. Set up for babies: You need to keep them warm - mostly free of drafts. They grow fast and need more and more space. Aspen bedding is recommended - not pine shavings or newspaper. Better to have bottom heat than heat lamps. Lamps can fall and cause fires. Also - light all night long. Learn chicken language Best: Mommy gets broody and does all the work :) Question and comments? Visit us at any of the social media sites. we are most active on Steemit.
8/8/18 • 47:18
We love your support on Patreon! Please visit our page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Exclusive live videos for our Patrons!! Emily has Marcus, the founder and organizer of the Colorado Springs People's Tiny House Festival, on the podcast. Marcus tells us how he found out about tiny homes, fell in love with the idea and is putting his talents to work to organize this festival. Participants from 5 countries are expected. Location: Colorado Springs Date: August 3-5, 2018 This festival is right around the corner. For more information, visit their website https://www.peoplestinyhousefestival.com/ You can buy tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peoples-tiny-house-festival-tickets-39999109413 And join the Facebook Community here: https://www.facebook.com/peoplestinyhousefest/ Find the Sustainable Living Podcast here: Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
7/28/18 • 16:53
Let us know what you think! Feedback and topics you like to hear from us. Email us at SustainableLivingPodcast@gmail.com Tips on how to spend less money and have less clutter in the house but still live a full life. Emily shares how to have all we want and need for our children without spending lots of money. Many of the tips are from Emily's Book “Minimalist Living for a Maximum Life” she published earlier this year. We like to hear from YOU!! Share your tips on minimizing consumption with us!! Website: http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/ Patreon We love your support! Please visit our page and pledge as little as $1 to help create that world we all want to live in. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablelivingpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarianneEWest YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA73SuaMBnBIaB5OdiL_y6Q
7/25/18 • 19:43
We are starting the episode with an Urban Farm update from our Urban Farmer Steven. Then Emily is telling Marianne about the Colorado Tiny House Festival she recently was attending as a speaker. 30 to 50 thousand people were in attendance This leads to the exchange of ideas on how to make large festivals more sustainable. We end with more personal updates and inviting you all to join us on Patreon.
7/17/18 • 37:42
We love to hear from you! Email us @sustainablelivingpodcast@gmail.com Join us on Facebook! Support us on Patreon! Isabelle Nagel-Brice is a tiny house consultant, guiding people through the different phases of their builds. She has put together The Healthy Tiny House Kit, which she offers to DIY and professional builders looking to build a chemical-free and healthy tiny home with continuous fresh air ventilation. Isabelle has also created a website called A Tiny Good Thing, which will be a hub for tiny house building materials and practical goods inside and out. She is passionate about living simply and encouraging others to also have less of an environmental impact. A Tiny Good Thing will only offer products that she strongly believes in, either because she uses them herself daily, or has done her own extensive research and believes in representing them. A Tiny Good Thing focuses on brands that have integrity and offer a high level of functionality. Emily’s interview with Isabelle dives into her experience building a tiny home and overcoming the obstacles of being a female in a male-dominated industry. She jumps into her inspiration for offering green building products for tiny homes specifically and why the wall and air systems are so important in tiny homes. Isabelle explains how air recovery ventilators are essential for tiny homes and how they work. I appreciate how she talked about the lifetime of a tiny house (any house for that matter) and that we need to be mindful of the materials going into a house, so when their lifespan is over, we can reuse or recycle those materials easily. Isabelle wishes there would have been an easy green kit when she was building which is why she was inspired to make one, so people can spend less time trying to source green materials and more time building. Isabelle had a few adjustments to her house if she did it again, including a deck. She also explains how at home she feels in her tiny house because it was custom built for her, so overall she is very happy with it. She recommends doing a lot of research and finding green products whenever possible when starting your tiny house design. Follow Isabelle on Instagram: @atinygoodthing where you can see her process of building her own tiny house and what atinygoodthing.com has to offer. Living Big in a Tiny House video ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzVJ--gOPP8&t=2s Also, check out atinygoodthing.com to see more blog posts.
7/11/18 • 36:43
Emily Gerde jumps into a quick podcast to share her insights on Baby Led Weaning. In a nutshell, baby led weaning is when you start your child on real foods first and you skip the purees. Every child is different and has different needs so Emily also gives ideas for those who want to start with purees first. She discusses extended breastfeeding, best practices for starting baby on foods, when to start and ways to keep baby safe and healthy. Whether you have an infant at home or have a friend or family member with a little one, Emily provides insight on the years of research and professional advice given to her by holistic healers and doctors. Baby led weaning is a great way to ensure your child starts their food journey on a positive note and has a lifelong love of healthy eating. Great Resources: http://www.babyledweaning.com/ https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-when/ Marianne West shares her experience of child-led weaning and the trials and tribulations of introducing food to the babies. Allergies played a big part in the childhood experience of her oldest son and food choices made a huge difference. Support us on Patreon for as little as $ 1 per month and see our exclusive video clips of the lives of the podcasters and urban homesteaders. Link to Patreon
7/2/18 • 27:31
We are now doing live stories on Patreon for our supporters. You can join the Sustainable Living crew with as little as $ 1 per month!! Link to our Patreon Page Marianne and Emily dive deep into the drawbacks of tiny home living. Emily has moved from over 2000 sqft to her 325 sqft tiny home. After two years in the tiny home, they moved to Colorado and are in an even smaller camper now until their home arrives.
6/23/18 • 47:15
In this Solo episode, Marianne gives an update on the happenings at the Homestead. Most notable there are new baby chicks around. Just say No is a new motto to escape feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Many of us say yes when we really need to say not and protect ourselves from taking on to much. Depression is a theme which seems to be talked about a lot these days and it touches so many of us. On a brighter note. We started to do live stories on Patreon. They are there for 24 hours and many are exclusive to our Patrons. You too can support us in our mission to create the world we want to see by sponsoring us for as little as $ 1 per month. https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2723500 Thank you in advance!!
6/15/18 • 26:26
Pia Piscitelli, our Sustainable Travel expert 's segment is on how to enjoy the great outdoors without buying equipment we might only use once. Emily Gerde interviews Colleen Zahradnicek who is running for office in Denver. The city is experiencing a rapid increase in home prices that leaves many unable to afford a house. Emily and Colleen exploring ways alternative housing and financing options can ensure a bright future for the working population of Denver.
6/7/18 • 62:59
Steven, our Urban Farmer is back with an update from the life of a backyard farmer. We talk farmer's markets, farm projects, and so much more. We are also sharing exciting Patreon updates and you will hear a story. To see our Live stories, check us out on Patreon Some of the videos and pictures are for the public and many are for our supporters exclusively. It only takes $1 per month (more is of course appreciated) to be part of the in-crowd.
5/30/18 • 32:58
Emily shares the food choices her family makes and why that works for her - now. We have different needs at different times in our lives. But there are some things which apply to all of us - no matter what. Visit us at on our website and remember to check for stories on our Patreon page Emily's Message Hello! Emily here with a solo podcast adventure! Please excuse the sound quality as I completely forgot to put my earbuds in, so it’s just my computer microphone. I felt called to do a quick food podcast as an overview of what healthy eating looks like for our family. I discuss the many different options available to you as far as a healthy diet goes and help sift through some of the confusion behind all the choices. I also dive into options for holistic practitioners that can help you along on the journey. I provide the best ways to save money and eat clean at the same time and make sure you know the most important ways to keep your food free of any harmful toxins. Join me on this quick journey to a new healthy you. All the insights and more can also be found in my new book “Minimalist Living for a Maximum Life.” Enjoy this beautiful journey to a new healthy you and remember… “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” ~Hippocrates
5/18/18 • 22:30
Marianne and @taskmaster4450 explore how all of us can have a basic income through Manna. We also explain what is the blockchain and what is cryptocurrency. To start receiving a weekly income, use this link https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=179a62831e What is Universal Basic Income? If you have never heard of Universal Basic Income (UBI), you have come to the right place to find out. In this podcast, taskmaster4450 explains what it is, why we need it, and how to get it. If you think that taskmaster4450 is a funny name for a person, you are right. That is his username on the social media site Steemit where I met him. Steemit pays for posting, commenting and voting in cryptocurrency. That is one way to make an income that is different from what you might be used to. But that is not what can be understood as a Univeral Basic Income. On Steemit, you have to put effort and work into building your account and subsequently creating an income. The idea of UBI is that beyond signing up for it, you are not required to do more - just receiving your income on a regular basis. How Can I Receive a Universal Basic Income? That is an easy question to answer!! Manna Universal Basic Income is a 501c nonprofit organization in the US dedicated to ending worldwide poverty. Their goal is to get their token, Manna, to as many people as possible. Why? Remember, the more people who are using it, the more its value will increase. All you need to do is to sign up. Here is my referral link: https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=179a62831e If you use my link, we both benefit. You will have to verify that you are you. That is it. Everyone can participate. The Referral Links I will receive a benefit from some of these links. Manna Universal Basic Income: https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=179a62831e Also, join Steemit.com and look for @sustainablelivin, @mariannewest, @taskmaster4450 Are you interested in other sources of earning for doing what you already do: Join Sola and earn SOL: https://sola.ai/posts/MDExZWV Listen to bitrad.io and earn Bro: https://bitrad.io/?ref=97511 Want to earn sweat coin by walking outside? https://sweatco.in/m/marianne827343 Visit our website sustainablelivingpodcast.com for more information.
5/12/18 • 47:30
Diana MacDonald is Introducing Herself I have been a professional photographer since 1993, and have been shooting stock photography since 1996 when I moved to Florida and landed a job as an in-house stock photographer for SuperStock, a stock agency in Jacksonville. In 1998 I left the agency and branched out on my own, shooting what is known as macro stock for a company called Eyewire, which had previously been owned by Adobe, and was bought out by Getty Images. I shot exclusively for Getty for many years, but with the advent of microstock agencies, the business changed drastically, so I now shoot for 5 micro agencies as well as for Getty and for Alamy (a UK based macro stock agency.) Social Media and the Use of Images Many Social Media platforms are full of images used without permission. In our conversation, we do mention Steemit a lot since that is the platform we met. In Diane's opinion, Steemit allows the illegal use of images because the community is expected to be self-policing. They do not tolerate plagiarism, which means claiming the image is your own. You can attribute her work to Mickey Mouse and it is OK with Steemit. Plagiarism is not illegal, but copyright infringement is. Incorrect sourcing is also considered copyright infringement. Google is not a source. It is a search engine. The SOURCE is the photographer. Web MD etc. is not a source. It is a website which most likely paid a licensing fee for an image. Of course, this kind of behavior is rampant on all social media websites. The countless meme being shared over and over again on Facebook or Twitter use often - or maybe most of the time- a photo grabbed from the web. Diane says that anything published online can be found on the web. Contributors are taking a lot of chances by infringing on copyright. Agencies and photographers DO go after infringers. It is very easy to do a reverse search and find their work. Not knowing is not accepted as being an excuse in the courts! The user is expected to track down the real source of every image used. Diane was recently paid a sum which Getty collected from the illegal use of one of her images on the web. In the world of advertising and graphic design, it is NOT OK to simply take an image and cite the source! Professionals just don't work that way. You cannot copy a copyright image and simply give a SOURCE. Only the copyright holder has the right to use the images. All Rights Reserved means just that. The copyright holder owns ALL rights, so permission must be given to the user, regardless of whether a source is cited or not. The problem with sites like Pixabay etc. is that that they take the word of the persons uploading an image. If they say that they own the copyright and that they are waiving copyright ownership, Pixabay and similar companies will accept that. However, this is not always the case. Now, this is important to know: Pixabay is not liable, but the person uploading AND THE END USER are liable for any infringements. Another problem with using images from Pixabay etc. is that many do not understand the world of model and property releases. The images may have been uploaded by the person who has taken the photos, some properties may not be used without a property release. Certain buildings may not be used at all in stock images, but the photographers on Pixabay probably don't know those restrictions. It is illegal, for example, to license images of the Eiffel Tower at night. The same holds true for many city skylines and for anything related to Disney. Using images of people is particularly troublesome because the end user has no idea whether legitimate model releases were obtained from the models. Also if people are taking images off the web and not getting them from the proper stock source, they have no idea what restrictions there are on the use of those images. This could lead to some nasty legal entanglements. Images are licensed for specific usage when they are Rights Managed Images. Royalty Free Images may be re-used by the licensee WITH CERTAIN RESTRICIONS. If you are simply taking an image off the web, you have no idea what those restrictions are! Links to all of photographer Diane Macdonalds agencies can be found at her website: dianemacphoto.com She is a member of the Copyright Alliance: http://copyrightalliance.org/ Most of this article was written by Diane and is used with permission. Claire and Mark Claire is back, this time with her husband Mark, for the second segment of her Homesteading section of the Sustainable Living Podcast. In this segment, we not only meet Mark but find out a bit more about their history and how they are planning to move forward. Right now, the top priority is their house - but listen in to hear about badgers showing up, calfs being always born when Mark is at work and so much more. Find Us on Steemit Diane @dmcamera Claire @fishyculture Mark @longsilver Marianne @mariannewest The Podcast @sustainablelivin
5/4/18 • 48:51
Emily and Art geek out on all the options available for tiny house construction. Both are in favor of clear regulations so costly mistakes can be avoided. Lots of tips and facts for anyone interested in the Tiny House Movement. Post by Emily Gerde: I had a wonderful interview with Art, where we discuss all things tiny houses from a builder’s perspective. Art mentions tiny homes being one of the great options to minimizing our environmental impact due to the few materials, utilities and space needed for them in society. Art started gaining construction experience in his youth working with family businesses, spending the summers working on roofing, siding and other construction on the east coast. Since then, Art has gained invaluable knowledge and experience in many different facets of construction. Art has experience with concrete and pier foundations, wood and steel framing, outdoor structures, decks, complete renovations, building additions, geodesic dome construction, and now – building the best Tiny House Shells you can find. Art is the builder for Einstyne Tiny Homes, and a geek for “building science”, airtight construction, green building and always striving for ways to ensure the greatest quality builds for the customer. sArt is an avid animal advocate and loves spending time with his pets, volunteering with animal organizations and is very excited to bring this event to Adams County Fairgrounds for a second year. We discussed the ways in which tiny houses are a sustainable option for the future by using yes utilities and more efficient heating and cooling, as well as green construction. Art recommends looking into Building Science White Papers to keep up to date on best practices and resources. Find more info here https://buildingscience.com/. When thinking about building a tiny house, Art recommends taking the time to be in a tiny house, and talking with people who are living the lifestyle. Whether it’s a camper or a tiny house, get an insiders perspective and ask lots of questions. Art builds shells and often has a model available for people to step into, but he highly recommends getting into a finished home to get the best idea of what you want in your design. We both agreed that tiny house festivals are a great way to step into several tiny homes, get to know several builders, and network with vendors. We discuss the exciting future for the tiny house movement and how many builders are moving to IRC codes that specifically align with Appendix Q. Having standards to follow is a great step in the right direction to ensure tiny home builds are safe. We dive into the discrepancy of pricing with tiny homes. Art explains that material quality is the key. Material costs have increased creating a jump in building costs. He explains that there are also differences in cost depending on your location and energy codes. There is a misconception that tiny homes construction is easier but Art explains why that isn’t the case. Art goes into his passion for the DIY crowd and ways he can provide a safe and up to code shell, while still allowing for the creativity and lower price of finishing your own home. He is an expert in air-tight construction and explains on how important air quality is for any home. We dive deep into insulation and the best green options and how to best insulate for your situation. Art has great tips on gutters, siding and ways to keep the weight of your tiny home down. We go into the details of the Colorado Tiny House Festival, including what to expect, how many tiny homes will be available to tour and activities to enjoy. I (Emily) will be speaking at the festival and discussing how tiny living has changed our lives forever! Art will be there representing Einstyne homes so be sure to check him out! Art finishes up with some wisdom to not give up on the tiny house movement. He asks that you get involved in your local community and meetups to work towards getting tiny houses legalized and build beautiful communities. You can find more about Art here http://einstynehomes.com/ And More about the Festival here http://coloradotinyhousefestival.com/
4/26/18 • 48:34
Emily and Marianne catching up. Emily recently moved from Minnesota to Colorado to help build the tiny house community she wants to live in. Right now, she, her family, and pets live in a camper. Soon, their tiny home will arrive in Colorado driven there by an experienced tiny home mover. Emily's Update on Tiny Home Living and More Marianne & I (Emily) had a great conversation where I update her on our exciting adventures since our last interview in episode 116. We start with my new book that is now out and available wherever books are sold. Minimalist Living For a Maximum Life is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Minimalist-Living-Maximum-Life-Simple/dp/1944833390, I am working on getting it as an audiobook and an online version. In the book, I share our journey to minimalist living and simplifying our lives. I also discuss ways to live a mindful, organic, holistic lifestyle that heals your mind body and soul. I share our new journey to Colorado from Minnesota and our vision of starting a tiny house community. We discuss my vision for a cooperative community that has larger lots, community gardens, playground, library, community space, etc. I discuss our vision to build beautiful communities close to the city to offer another option for affordable and sustainable housing. In the interview we discuss a non-profit community, which may or may not change as our discussions with the council members evolve, but we will continue our vision of a collaborative, intentional community. For those interested in the tiny house life, we share the specifics of how to get your home, vehicles, and life moved to a spot where you can park your tiny home. We discuss ways to move your tiny house and some options available. We love our tiny house driver who is insured and experienced. You can contact Steve at 507-456-0281. I share how our vision has evolved not only for sustainability, but also a passion for affordable housing for all. We discuss the current paradigm where the general public thinks we can just live in RV or mobile home parks and I discuss how that differs from the life many tiny home dwellers are looking for. We are noticing a shift in availability of tiny home spots in RV parks from several to very few spots for parking when they can make more money from season RV travelers. I bring up the amazing tiny home community that was started here in Denver that will be interviewed in a later podcast. You can find them here at https://belovedcommunityvillage.wordpress.com/. We talk about the need for housing for the homeless and how the tiny house movement can play a role in that as a place where people can get back on their feet and find their confidence again with some autonomy and privacy. Marianne and I discuss the value of home ownership and how it can add value to your life. We discuss the shift in the movement as Appendix Q has now been adopted in the IRC building code and how the industry is shifting to more standardized, safe and inspectable tiny home models and design. We talk about the goal of making the process for tiny home certification more streamlined and accessible. Marianne mentions the importance of getting involved with your community and becoming a council member or working with council members to change the shape of affordable housing in your area. We talk about ways tiny home communities can shift the idea of community to spending money in the community instead of on our mortgages. She inspires e to get more involved in my local government and definitely got me thinking about getting more involved. She mentions the importance of involvement in local government as being the easiest and most effective way to promote change. Marianne brings up a catalyst in the permaculture and social change movement Starhawk and you can find her information here http://starhawk.org/. As a final note, we discuss the importance of embodying the change we want to see in the world. To spend your money on companies that support change and the values you want. On a fun note… It’s almost time for planting, so get together with your neighbors to create some beautiful organic food. Thank you, listeners, for all your support and input. Let us know more of what you want to hear and share your story of sustainable living here http://sustainablelivingpodcast.com/contact-us/ You can keep up to date on our tiny house journey on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mindfulminimalistmama or at my website www.mindfulminimalistmama.com
4/19/18 • 45:28
Pia and Claire are new voices who are joining The Sustainable Living Podcast. Pia will be talking about sustainable travel and Claire about homesteading and aging. Both will have regular segments in the future. The New Voices on The Sustainable Living Podcast As you know, there are new voices at The Sustainable Living Podcast. When Jenise decided to give up podcasting for now, I got excited about the idea of adding a variety of new voices to our program. Sustainable Living is such a large topic and many of us are trying our best to become knowledgeable about the many aspects of creating a more sustainable life. But try as we might, we always will know more about one aspect than another. Adding new voices with expertise in different topics seems like a good idea. For the past weeks, you have heard from Emily Gerde who loves Tiny House living, is a mom of a young child and promotes the minimalist lifestyle. Today, you will meet two new voices who will be regulars on the podcast. Meet Pia Piscitelli When I first met Pia Piscitelli, she had just returned from a week-long Climate Reality Leadership Corp Training. We had been online friends for a while and Pia was also a listener of our podcast. Of course, we had to schedule a workshop right away where Pia was going to share what she has learned at the conference. This is how we advertised the workshop: Community by community, we are demanding action on climate change. Join us for a workshop on its impacts, solutions, and what you can do to take action. That day, it turned out that Pia was giving a workshop for one - me. But that was perfect since we had time to talk about our goals and our work on and for this planet. A couple of days after our meeting, Pia set out on a journey East to give Minneapolis a try. That was last summer. Fast forward to now and Pia has lived through a winter with ice and snow and got inspired to start a podcast of her own and a sustainability club!! How great is that! But wait, it gets better!! She also agreed to be part of the Sustainable Living Podcast.She is one of our new voices. We are so happy to have her! Pia will be contributing a monthly segment on sustainable travel. In this episode, you will hear the very first segment - all about the rent-a-bicycle programs which are sprouting up all over. Find out about Pia's podcast and the club on her website. Her new enterprise is called the Greenie Group. I had the great honor to be one of Pia's guests on her podcast and hope that you will give it a listen. Find our episode here. Credit for the Music on Pia's segment goes to: Dot Wiggin Band http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dot_Wiggin_Band/Live_on_WFMUs_Miniature_Minotaurs_with_Kurt_Gottschalk_Jan_10_2014/Banana_Bike Meet Claire Cox This is what Claire wrote: My name is Claire Cox, I was born and raised in Ohio I moved to Oregon at age 17, where I met and married my husband, Mark. He is an RN at the hospital "near" us, almost an hour away. We have 2 grown children and 5 grandkids, and 5 cows. About ten years ago we moved to the boondocks and we have been trying to live as self-sufficiently as possible. We have dabbled in permaculture, aquaponics, fodder feeding and many more innovative gardening concepts. It has been an incredible journey, lots of blood, sweat, tears, and laughter, and we even learned a thing or two along the way. We are nearing "retirement age" for my husband now, and so taking a long, hard look at the reality of growing old and homesteading. We need to make some changes... we invite anyone who is interested to tag along as we wander along! Claire has become my friend via a different social media platform called steemit. she blogs about homesteading, of course, but also about her other interests such as gold and silver, singing kareoke with her husband and much more. Find Claire's blog here Her name is fishyculture on Steemit. Please tell us what you like to hear on the podcast. We always love to hear from you. You can leave a comment on this post or send an email to sustainablelivingpodcast@gmail.com. We always love your support on Patreon
4/12/18 • 25:41
