219 Greenconnect

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.