Locals Share Green Action

Imagine a small patch of land, at a school, in a park, or even a vacant city lot, transforming into a thriving forest in just a few years. In this episode, we explore how Miyawaki forests are turning everyday spaces into vibrant, living ecosystems with the help of dedicated organizers and community support. Episode Overview In this episode, we speak with Neelam Patil about her work bringing Miyawa...

What if your wedding dress could carry generations of love and reflect who you are today? In this episode, we sit down with Meranda Crosby , founder of Herstory Bridal and Design and The Shoppe at Hillcrest in Reno, Nevada. Meranda helps brides redesign wedding gowns passed down through generations, transforming heirloom dresses into one-of-a-kind creations that honor the past while celebrating a...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Bald, founder and owner of Got Weeds? , based in central Vermont. Mike has spent many years working in terrestrial invasive species management, but his approach is far from the traditional “spray and kill” mindset. Instead of quick fixes, Mike works with the land over time—carefully transitioning landscapes so that invasive species gradually lose their foothol...

In this episode, we spotlight the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank (MARSB) and the critical role it plays in strengthening native plant supply chains, supporting regenerative land management, and protecting regional biodiversity. We explore how MARSB is working to better connect native plant material end users with commercial growers—and why this coordination is essential for successful restoration...

In this episode, we talk with Tara Pike , the founder of the Rebel Recycling Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the university’s first Sustainability Coordinator . Tara has spent nearly three decades leading sustainability efforts on campus and across Southern Nevada, transforming how communities approach recycling, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship. We explore...

In this episode, we chat with Ally Marielle, the driving force behind “Aydan & Ally’s First Annual Baby & Kids Clothing Swap” in Hillsdale, NJ. Ally took it upon herself to organize this event to help moms in her community swap gently used baby and kids' clothes. After four months of collecting and sorting donations in her basement, she’s ready to make a difference for local families. Tune...

In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Stratmann, the visionary behind the Inner Magnet process, a transformative approach that has revolutionized executive and corporate coaching. With over 25 years of experience, Kevin shares his innovative methods for unlocking focus, optimizing energy, and creating new possibilities for both individuals and groups. We explore how his Inner Magnet practices ca...

In this episode, we reconnect with Basil Camu, the visionary behind Leaf and Limb and Project Pando, two impactful organizations based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Basil shares his journey and insights on cultivating and distributing free native trees for reforestation across urban, suburban, and wild landscapes with less well-known methods that help speed up the success of local reforestation proj...

Join us for an illuminating episode of the “Locals Share Green Living” podcast as we delve into the transformative realm of eco-restoration through the lens of Miyawaki forests. In this episode, we are privileged to be joined by Maya Dutta, a trailblazer in ecological restoration, as she shares insights from her pioneering journey in establishing the first Miyawaki forest in the northeast region o...

In this episode, we sit down with Richard, affectionately known as Rick, whose career in environmental protection and public service spans over three decades. Starting in 1988 with RKR Hess Associates, Rick's expertise in percolation testing and more led him to establish Fisher Environmental Services. Join us as we explore his remarkable journey, from his role as a Sewage Enforcement Officer to ma...

William Wildcat Coakee is the founder and Executive Director of Mother Tree Food & Forest, drawing upon a rich background that began in the Oklahoma Seminole Nation. His lifelong commitment to organic gardening since childhood, followed by extensive experience in organic farming and a decade of dedicated work in regenerative horticulture, food forestry, and wildland restoration, has provided h...

Samantha Waldron, an unwavering champion of environmental causes and a dynamic member of her community, has woven her passion for nature into the very fabric of her life's journey. Her profound connection with the natural world took root in her formative years, nurtured by the profound influence of her father. This early bond propelled her into the fold of the high school environmental club, where...

Sam Parker Davies has worked in every climate worldwide, with a variety of people including billionaires, refugees, and government officials, working in deserts and forests. As an educator, designer, aid worker, project manager, and farmer, he is on the front line of planetary regeneration creating some of the best of Permaculture Designs for large farm projects, residential properties, refugee ca...

Carla Brown is a creative reuse artist who had a podcast called Trashmagination, where she produced, recorded, and hosted 125 episodes on how to creatively reuse a huge number of different recycled materials. The podcast is on hiatus, but past episodes are still being accessed, and she is actively continuing to post her own artistic reuse creations on social media. Her goal for the Trashmagination...

Keisha & Casey Ernst have been focusing on soil regeneration and habitat restoration as a team since 2011. They have studied under Dr. Elaine Ingham over the past eight years and worked alongside her on many projects. In 2018 Catalyst BioAmendments was founded as an experimental and educational-focused compost lot. The aim was to apply the techniques taught by Dr. Elaine Ingham to compost on a...

William DeMille is a lifelong vegetable farmer. William studied for two years of Horticulture and Agronomy at Northwest Missouri University, Maryville. He holds two certificates in aquaponic engineering and production from Cornell University NY, and from GrowHaus Aquaponics, in CO.  He also graduated from Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School.   William is a farm consultant who helped establish...

Marla Esser Cloos is the principal of Green Home Coach with 15+ years working with green certified homes and projects and applying the knowledge gained through her accreditations - NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP, NAR Green Designee and Wellness Within Your Walls Certified Professional. The groundwork was laid with her BS in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Ener...

Jared and Selena have been married for 27 years and are the parents of nine children and one grandchild. As 3rd generation ranchers, they are managing the operation that Jared’s grandfather and father built in Secret Pass and Clover Valley, Nevada. Jared is a lifelong learner and has not only been using the principles of holistic management, soil regeneration, and biodynamics but is also teaching...

Max Stadnyk is a multifaceted individual with a wealth of diverse experiences and skills. As a Planetary Steward, Leader in Natural Regenerative Building Design, Project Manager, and Master Rammed Earth Builder and Instructor, he has dedicated his career to finding sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for building homes. His upcoming book, "33 Natural Regenerative Design Principles," reflects hi...

The Food Group Minnesota is not your typical food pantry.  Yet that is where they started originally over 40 years ago.  They provide excellent examples of ways that community organizations can take a much larger role in addition to meeting immediate hunger-fighting needs.  The Food Group Minnesota grows, harvests, buys and distributes healthy foods with multiple programs. Laura Mirafuentes is the...

Bainy Suri is the CEO and Founder of Eco Community Solutions. She is a grassroots activist, an attorney, and a mother to her son Kai. For the past eleven years, she has worked on social and environmental justice issues in Princeton, across Mercer County, and the State of New Jersey. As a first-generation, Indian-American, female and the single parent of a special needs child, the environment, dive...

Healthy Eating Education & Farming - Kerin Gould – Author of “Produce With A Purpose” Kerin Gould has a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Health and a PhD in Native American Studies. She has worked with food-related non-profits, but eventually focused on developing her own sustainable, non-toxic, wildlife-friendly farm and exploring a new way to connect vibrant fruit and veggies with those...

Basil Camu is the co-owner of a local tree care company called Leaf & Limb located in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Basil is also the founder of a nonprofit volunteer-driven tree nursery that grows native trees sustainably to give away to the public at no cost.  The project is seeking to support restoration projects both in urban, suburban, and wild areas.   Basil loves all of the aspects of natur...

Don Pierce has spent nearly his whole life working to protect the environment. After decades of work as a professional environmentalist, Don concluded that a new approach––one focused on the environmentalist and not just the environment––was needed.       When famed conservationist David Brower asked him to write “a piece” to show environmentalists how to persevere, the result was a series of onli...

Winona Bateman is the director of Families for a Livable Climate in Missoula, Montana.  They are seeking to connect people for shared action through local family-friendly events that help take action that ensures a livable future for all.   Their vision includes a healthy home planet, connected communities, and a resilient, and equitable economy. Winona has a background in communications and sees...