The Positively Green Podcast

Latest Episodes:

How to open a zero waste store with Jenna Meier of The Glass Pantry Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

As the demand for eco-friendly and sustainable items rises, more and more zero waste and bulk shops are opening to meet that need!

Our guest for this episode is Jenna Meier, the owner of The Glass Pantry, a newly-opened zero waste and bulk store located in the Walkers Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, WI. Her goal is to make your sustainability journey a little bit easier by offering pantry staples, household cleaners, and personal care products in a package-free way. The Glass Pantry offers organic, locally-made products in bulk; allowing you to stock up on everything you need, without producing all the trash.

Topics Covered:

Jenna's background and what inspired her to open a zero waste shop
The biggest obstacles she faced on her sustainable-living journey
What sourcing looks like for a bulk shop and some hurdles Jenna encountered while opening
What to typically expect when shopping at a bulk store and what products The Glass Pantry offers
How bulk stores can be vigilant to avoid mixing bins for those with food allergies
Tips for making the most of your grocery store visits if you don't live near a zero-waste store
Advice if you want to open a zero-waste bulk shop of your own!

Resources Mentioned:

Website www.glasspantrymilwaukee.com

Facebook @glasspantrymilwaukee

Instagram @glasspantrymilwaukee

Address: 1039 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204

And be sure to check out our sponsor, OSEA! Use code POSITIVELYGREEN10 for $10 off your first purchase of $50+.

How to build a community effort around sustainability with Laura Loucks of the Waukesha County Green Team Jul 13, 2020

Show notes

Do you ever feel like you're on an island when it comes to caring about sustainability? Do you wish you could get involved with a local group that also shares that passion? You can! Please welcome our guest Laura Loucks, Volunteer Coordinator with the Waukesha County Green Team, as we learn about green teams and building a community effort around sustainable living.

Topics Covered:

Laura's background and how she became involved with the Waukesha County Green Team
What a "green team" is and initiatives they are involved with spearheading
Opportunities to volunteer and get involved with the team
Tips for working with your local government to push sustainability efforts
Common obstacles the team faces when it comes to making changes
Steps you can take if you want to start your own local green team!

Resources Mentioned:

Modern Fertility test
Waste Not Compost and Compost Crusader services
Wisconsin Women in Sustainability Group

Get involved with the Waukesha Green Team:

Website: waukeshacountygreenteam.org

Podcast: GreenCast

Facebook: @WaukeshaCountyGreenTeam

Instagram: @wcgtgreencast

Volunteer: Sign up here

Shop: "One Simple Act" Cards

And be sure to check out our sponsor, OSEA! Use code POSITIVELYGREEN10 for $10 off your first purchase of $50+.

Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to stay up to date with all of the latest episodes. You can also follow along with us on Instagram @positivelygreenpodcast.

Where regenerative agriculture gets it wrong and what we can do about it with Chris Newman of Sylvanaqua Farms Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

We're having an important conversation today about the intersection of race and agriculture, the glaring issues within the clean food movement, and how regenerative agriculture keeps getting it wrong with Chris Newman. Chris is the co-founder of Sylvanaqua Farms, which is based in the D.C. region. They raise forest-raised pork, grass-fed beef, and pastured chicken and eggs. Chris offers a unique perspective on regenerative agriculture and where mainstream regenerative ag gets it wrong.

A member of the Choptico Band of Piscataway Indians, Chris places a heavy emphasis on the indigenous ethics, values, and knowledge serving as the (often unacknowledged) foundation of the modern permaculture movement, and the decolonized worldview necessary to ensure the sustainable stewardship of natural resources. An engineer and technologist by trade, he also accepts and explores the potential of modern scientific innovation to address the gaps left by ecosystem farming in solving a sustainability problem wherein timeliness is a factor.

Topics Covered:

Chris' farming journey and how Sylvanaqua Farms came to be
Common issues with small farming practices for farmers, consumers, ecosystems, and the food system in general
What "democratizing agriculture" means and how it's different than the model most small farms are using today
The issue with the notion that all beef should be grass-fed and grass-finished or that all livestock must be farmed regeneratively for its entire life
The presence of environmental racism, inequality, and what it means to be "Thunberged"
Books and resources to learn more about environmental racism
Why conscious consumers can't just "zero waste" their way into a climate-change-free future
What we can do to be an active part of an environmentally-sound future
Chris' vision for the future of Sylvanaqua Farms

Resources Mentioned:

Preorder The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee
Chris' "Grass-Fed Cows Won't Die for Our Sins" essay
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

You can follow Chris @sylvanaquafarms on Instagram and visit their website www.sylvanaqua.com. If you're feeling generous, you can send money to @sylvanaquafarms on Venmo.

Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to stay up to date with all of the latest episodes. You can also follow along with us on Instagram @positivelygreenpodcast.

How to reframe the power of your vote with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

We're heading to the polls and chatting all about voting today! We interview Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that aims to significantly increase voter demand for environmental leadership by identifying inactive environmentalists and then turning them into consistent activists and voters.

Resources mentioned:

Quinta MKE CSA box
Grassway Organics
Kelsey's Holistic Home eBook (code positivelygreen for 15% off)

Topics covered in this episode:

How the Environmental Voter Project got started
The effect of COVID-19 on voter turnout this year
Why does environmental policy always sit lowest on the voting totem poll?
How EVP actually identifies, engages, and mobilizes inactive voters and the challenges that come with that
Pressing environmental issues that exist right now
Results that EVP has seen from their efforts

Volunteer or get involved here

Make a donation here

Sign the Environmental Voter Pledge

Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to stay up to date with all of the latest episodes. You can also follow along with us on Instagram @positivelygreenpodcast.

Refill, reuse, rejoice! Featuring Plaine Products CEO, Lindsey McCoy May 11, 2020

Show notes

We have another awesome lady boss guest on the Positively Green Podcast today! We chat with the CEO of Plaine Products, Lindsey McCoy. They are a natural, refillable, zero waste body care brand that you will LOVE. Get an inside scoop of what it's like running a sustainable business and learn how they have helped divert over 100,000 plastic bottles from landfills to date!

Topics covered in this episode:

How Plaine Products got started and what they offer
Why are plastic shampoo bottles a problem in the first place – can't they just be recycled? Why is refillable better?
The main hurdles when it comes to getting consumers thinking in a more circular mindset
Challenges with maintaining a sustainable business model
Does online shopping have a higher carbon footprint?
The reality of plastics and microplastics in the ocean
What Plaine has planned for the future

You can use the code POSITIVELYGREEN for 20% off your Plaine Products order at checkout! Click here to shop.

Need help switching to natural cosmetics and skincare? Book your green beauty consultation with Becca here: https://organicallybecca.com/consult

How to create community resilience using the Transition Network with Ratih Sutrisno Apr 26, 2020

Show notes

Please welcome Ratih Sutrisno, the Communications & Outreach Coordinator at Transition US, the national hub representing the Transition Movement in the United States. This is a grassroots movement and method of communities coming together to reimagine and rebuild our world. It's based on fostering a deeper connection and acting locally to become self-sufficient and build community resilience. In this episode, we chat about:

What are transition towns?
The core principles of the Transition Network and how it went from a local movement to a global initiative
Tangible benefits that towns and communities have experienced by implementing these principles
Common obstacles when getting started and how to overcome them
Steps to get started in your own community!

Grab the 10 Stories of Transition in the US book to learn more and see some success stories.

Connect with the Transition Network:

International Website https://transitionnetwork.org

National Hub https://www.transitionus.org/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TransitionUS/

Donate to the Community Resilience Stimulus Fund: https://www.transitionus.org/stimulus

And be sure to check out our sponsor, OSEA! Use code POSITIVELYGREEN10 for $10 off your first purchase of $50+.

Holistic Dog Care and Raw Diet Tips with Roberta Donaldson Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

Please welcome back Roberta Donaldson from Millennial Cat Mom! This episode has gone to the dogs. As in, we're talking all about holistic and sustainable dog care today.

Topics Covered:

The problem with conventional dog kibble, how it's made, and how it affects health
What label splitting is and why it's so deceiving on an ingredient list
Raw feeding and why it's so beneficial for dogs and akin to their wild carnivore diet
Why most vets advise against "grain-free" diets; should we actually be concerned about DCM in dogs?
Better kibble and raw food alternatives
How to get started with raw feeding and supplementation (and why it doesn't have to break the bank)
Natural treats, eco-friendly toys, and supplies
Holistic flea and tick remedies

Resources Mentioned:

Click & Grow Smart Garden
Dr. Karen Becker's TED Talk
Dr. Susan Thixton from the Truth About Pet Food
Pet Fooled documentary
Grabbies compostable poo bags
Earth Animal flea and tick products
EarthHero dog toys (Beco bones)
Dogs Naturally Magazine
Raw Feeding Community
University of Helsinki study

Better Dog Food Brands to Check Out:

Kibble: Farmina, Open Farm, Zignature, Stella & Chewy's
Raw: Answers, Primal, Steve's, OC Raw, Northwest Naturals, The Honest Kitchen

Cheers to drinking Natural Wine with Allie Kruse of Nonfiction Wine Mar 29, 2020

Show notes

Grab a glass of (natural) wine and join us for a virtual happy hour! We have special guest Allie Kruse, owner of Nonfiction Natural Wines in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She drops some major knowledge about all things natural, organic, low-intervention wine.

Topics Covered:

What does "natural" wine even mean and what additives are typically found in conventional wines
Debunking the myth of sulfites causing headaches
Common misconceptions about natural wines
Do different regions of the world tend to produce more natural wines?
What to look for on wine labels and why just opting for "organic" shouldn't necessarily be the first priority!
A look at different terminology used: Organic, made with organic grapes, natural, low-intervention, dry-farmed, biodynamic, etc.

Resources Mentioned:

Thrive Market
Kelsey's Holistic Home eBook (coupon code positivelygreen)
Importers to look for: Jenny & Francois, Zev Rovine, José Pastor Selections, Fifi's Wines, Louis/Dressner, Kermit Lynch, Selection Massale, Percy Selections, Scuola di Vino, Amy Atwood Selections, SelectioNaturel

You can visit Nonfiction Natural Wines at 800 E. Potter Avenue in Bay View, Milwaukee. Or go to www.nonfictionwine.com to learn more or order ahead for pickup. Follow Allie on Instagram @nonfictionwine. Cheers!

Nine simple ways to make your home a healthier and safer environment Mar 14, 2020

Show notes

As more and more of us are working remotely and practicing social distancing as the coronavirus hits the US, we thought it would be helpful to share nine simple ways you can make your home a healthier and safer environment. We hope these tips bring you peace of mind and give you a sense of control during this scary time!

According to the EPA, the average American indoor environment is 2 to 5 times more polluted than the outdoor air. The EPA also stated that the worst air pollution in our nation is right inside our own homes and workplaces and that 50% of all illness is connected to the indoor air quality. Crazy! Thankfully there are many easy ways to help improve this, which we address in today's episode:

Show Notes:

9-ish simple tips for having a greener home environment
Why it's so important to have good indoor air quality
Typical chemicals and pollutants that lurk in our homes and their health effects
Different types of air purifiers and filters
Best houseplants for clean air
Why you might want to ditch your beloved candles
How cookware might be affecting your air quality
Best practices for bringing new furniture into your home and how to be more conscious about it

Resources Mentioned:

Microsoft Climate Pledge
Episode 19 EMF Radiation with Daniel DeBaun
Pesticide Action Network for pesticide drift
Stink Documentary
Blog post: Is Your Himalayan Salt Lamp Legit?
Blog post: Common Tap Water Contaminants & What to Look For in a Water Filter
Blog post: A Complete Guide to Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly Kitchen Supplies

Products Mentioned:

The Top 6 Ways To Make 2020 Your Most Sustainable Year Yet Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

We're back for Season 2, hooray! Today we're taking a look at where the top U.S. emissions came from in 2019, and the top six ways you can mindfully live a more eco-friendly and sustainable life in 2020.

RESOURCES MENTIONED: