Northern Nevada Green Living Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Reno-based designer Meranda Crosby , founder of Herstory Bridal and Design and The Shoppe at Hillcrest , to talk about redesigning heirloom wedding dresses, sustainability, and building creative community right here in Northern Nevada. Meranda shares how her lifelong love of fashion—from designing clothes for her Barbies to studying at the Fashion Institute of Des...

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’re joined by Kristen Giacomini, a Reno native, mom of two, and the visionary behind Flow Designs. As an interior designer, Kristen crafts stunning spaces that inspire joy and fulfillment—but her passion for sustainability and community doesn’t stop there. Kristen shares the story behind hosting a second Toy & Clothing Swap at her business location, combining her love for de...

In this episode, we're thrilled to explore the world of sustainability in Northern Nevada with Donna, the visionary Founder and President of greenUp and the Nevada Green Business Network. Not only is she leading the charge in providing environmental education to businesses, but Donna is also at the forefront of an exciting initiative—the Green to Go Reusable Container Program. This program is set...

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...

Zoe Bray is a professional artist based in Reno, Nevada, who started offering eco-art classes to children to help them enjoy simple, timeless beauty and connection with nature. As a professional artist, her practice focuses on painting and drawing from life, using traditional fine art techniques, and experimenting with unconventional approaches.  Zoe explores the boundaries between art and ethnogr...

Colin Watley started Scrub Jay Farm in the Spring of 2021 as a result of a career change and a desire to experiment with gardening methods and goals that differ from standard production farms. The emphasis at Scrub Jay Farm is on edible flowers, herbs, food preservation, testing new plant varieties, and seed saving. The farm consists of hugelkultur beds built throughout a 1/6 acre residential lot...

Quinn is a local botanist, ecologist, gardener, and Nevada native. He has spent most of his career studying the native plants of Nevada and fire ecology in the Great Basin.  He’s researched how to effectively restore burned plant communities in our Nevada deserts. More recently, he began working as a garden manager for Farmily, one of our local non-profits partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to...

Today on our podcast I’m speaking with Rebekah Stetson who has worked in the Northern Nevada green community as a connector, leader, passionate activist and as an organic farmer.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Rebekah two years ago in April of 2020 for the podcast, Locals Share Green Action episode number 7.  We’ll be dipping back into some of the topics that she shared then and bring in some...

The Valley Wood Park Waterwise Bird Garden project, in its various phases, was created as a demonstration garden to show visitors alternatives to water hungry lawns.  This park project is meant to inspire and educate our community about trees, shrubs, and flowers that can be grown in our high desert environment using half the water that lawns require.  With our area experiencing less rainfall and...

Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation – Caring for Parks, Open Spaces & Trails In this episode we speak with three representatives from Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation: Matt DeBray, Julie Johnson, and Caroline Stillitano about all of the great things their organization does for people in the greater Washoe County area to increase our enjoyment and knowledge of our beautiful parks.  Truckee Meadows...

Emanuela Heller-MacNeilage is a local farmer, a yoga and homesteading skills instructor, and the Vice President of the Northern Nevada Beekeeper’s Association.  She raises goats, bees, and chickens and offers instruction on how to care for beehives, and sustainable gardens, and how to make cheese, yogurt, mead, and soap.   At Tiny Living Farm, overlooking the Truckee river, she offers goat yoga cl...

Help Save the Bees Foundation – is a 501c3 Nevada nonprofit whose mission is to inspire and educate the community about importance of bees, their challenges, and how to participate in supporting them and taking action for their health and survival.   Ray Hopper is the founder and Treasurer. He has been keeping bees off and on since 1982.  His passion has inspired him to dedicate his life to help t...

Casey Shiver has been a member of the Buy Nothing Project’s Central Reno group for a couple of years now and started volunteering as an admin in February of 2021. She works full time for UNR, is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration and spends much of her free time volunteering with local area nonprofits. Her favorite parts of the Buy Nothing Project are getting...

In this episode we dive into the topic of the local forest stewardship and some of the work that Norman Cone is doing as a research associate working with Great Basin Institute.  He shares many factors that weigh into decisions that are made on a daily basis, as many groups work to maintain, protect, and restore our forests. As residents living near amazing national parks, Norman shares things tha...

Sharon Lugone is retired from teaching computer literacy to elementary and middle school levels and has gone on to instruct and do private consultations to teach sustainable wardrobe fashion strategies called Capsules101.  She is teaching courses locally in the Reno area.  After watching the documentary “The True Cost”, she was moved to take action to address better choices for all of us to meet t...

We meet the owners of Thali an organic vegetarian restaurant that share multiple ways that they are striving to operate sustainably.  Learn more about how this little family-owned restaurant works to support local farms, and avoid waste while delivery delicious meals for their community. https://www.thalireno.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Thalireno/    

Katie Colling who is the founder and manager of Katherina’s Garden a community garden that is seeking to help feed people in poverty with healthy, fresh foods grown right in the neighborhood.  Katie was the vice president for RISE for seven years and she is the founder and manager of Katharina's Garden and Compost Program since it's inception in 2017.  https://gofund.me/97c62413 https://www.facebo...

Life as we know it would be much different if it weren’t for the mysterious and miraculous mycelium. Such an impressive entity, so different than most life on earth. This fungus can destroy and give life simultaneously. Mycelium helps soil by breaking down organic matter, keeping moisture in the soil, and helping to prevent erosion.   ---------------------------------- About Rachel   Rachel Jessee...

Walker Sauls is the founder of the nonprofit GreenVibe World and the urban mushroom farm called Biggest Little Mushrooms.  Walker Sauls completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Environmental Science and founded a nonprofit, GreenVibe World and a sustainable urban farm called Biggest Little Mushrooms.  At Biggest Little Mushrooms they pride themselves in growing high-quality mushrooms with as l...

Tessa Dee Miller is a treasure hunter and upcycling enthusiast.  She is the shop owner of the “The Nest” a vintage furniture, décor, and clothing shop that has been in Reno for almost 10 years.   THE NEST 201 Keystone Ave Reno, NV 89503 (775) 284-8841 thenestreno@gmail.com www.thenestreno.com FB/IG @thenestreno Monday - Saturday 11am - 6pm, Sunday 11am-5pm   TMCC Thrift Store Shopping Class Tuesda...

Nathan Rosenbloom is with Loping Coyote, Rosewater Ranch, and Mountain Mushrooms.  He is an ecological garden designer, a farmer, and a nursery business owner. He shares the benefits of a forest garden designs and more about their local nursery yearly sale to provide the trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs to support these ecological designed gardens and farms. Learn more at: https://www.lopingcoyotef...

Among other numerous community service roles, Earstin Whitten is the co-founder and president of Soulful Seeds, a non-profit whose mission is to provide greater food security through community gardens and gardening education.  He is also affectionately known as the local “Guru of Garlic” as he teaches community members how to grow garlic successfully. Soulful Seeds, Reno, NV https://www.soulful-se...

Charles grew up in California, enjoying the outdoors, surfing, and working in restaurants as he attended school.  He ended up in Reno, Nevada and is now the program director of University of Nevada Reno’s Desert Farming Initiative.  He is an agricultural specialist for sustainable and organic farming practices.  His previous experience includes multiple diversified row crop farms, small-scale orch...

Happy holidays everyone!  We hope you all are staying safe and healthy and having a chance to enjoy some festive cheer whether you are staying close to home, are hiking the hills, or are visiting with a few close friends and family.    If you are in a position to buy gifts this year, please consider shopping at our local small businesses.  Especially the ones that are striving to be sustainable an...