Locals Share Green Action

Rachelle LeRude spent two years traveling to various farms capturing beautiful images of organic and sustainable young farms & farmers in Northern California.  She wanted to personally meet the individuals of “her own generation who are choosing to be stewards of the land.”  In that process she learned about: “soil health, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, food sovereignty and eating locally sourced nutrient dense food.” 

“This exploration has led me to meet some of the most soulful people and has been a deep lesson in the benefits of community. It has been an inspiration that will fuel many projects to come.  I wanted to see who was picking up this role, I wanted to hear their “why” and “how.“ This is a story I am just beginning to put words to.”

More recently she has partnered with local nonprofits in Reno, NV to support and advocate for several local organic food promotions.  Her skills in marketing, and photography have allowed her to bring out the beauty, fun, and celebration in supporting local growers and community.

Upcycle It Now, was born out of a shared entrepreneurial spirit to become sustainability change agents by partnering with textile companies to upcycle their textile waste into beautiful, high quality, and functional products.  Christina obtained her degree at UC Davis and headed to India for an internship with a sustainable design company. There she saw the urgent need for sustainable textile manufacturing and knew that was going to be her mission.

Christina and her mother are the founders of Upcycle It Now in Long Beach, CA.  Liz Bordessa, aka mom, a successful businesswoman who possesses an innate passion for business development and for years owned a tailoring and alterations business. During Liz and Christina’s visit to India, they saw the alignment between their collective experiences, passion for social and environmental sustainability, and the growing need to address the textile waste issue.

Together they created Upcycle it Now a very open and approachable company that is willing to educate and share knowledge with others for the greater sustainability cause.

Hux Family Farm is a small 4-acre sustainable homestead that has grown into a local space for healing with animals. They offer everything from goat yoga to kid’s programs.  With a mission of bringing smiles and healing souls, they want to bring joy and peace to as many lives as possible while taking good care of their goats. 

Among the many activities on their farm: day camps for kids, private birthday parties, farm tours & private events.  Among the many activities they sponsor on their farm, they also provide products such as raw goats milk, goat’s milk soap and pastured duck eggs.

https://www.huxfamilyfarm.com/

Kim Rios has a strong passion for environmental activism and education. She obtained her degree in environmental policy at the University of Nevada, Reno, but discovered a predilection for education after spending four years teaching overseas. Kim came to Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) as an AmeriCorps VISTA participant working to build capacity for the Warriors Youth Education program. Upon completion of her term, she was hired on as the Community Education Coordinator to expand KTMB's education program through its Recycling Guide, the Nevada Green Business Program, and sustainability talks to businesses, organizations, clubs, and more.

https://www.ktmb.org/

https://www.ktmb.org/recycle

https://www.ktmb.org/warriors-youth-education

Lorrie and Jeffrey Scott are brother and sister and co-founders of a small company, Green Village Biofertilizers in Denver, Colorado.  Their company produces a natural fertilizer made from fresh-water algae, selected fungi, soil bacteria, and humates.  They released their first fertilizer product early in 2020 and are working on many more to follow.

Learn about their path of green action as they have used their skills, research, and past experiences to craft a new green enterprise to be a part of the regenerative earth movement.

http://www.greenvillagebiofertilizers.com/

https://www.algaegrow.com/

Andrew Frank is the the founder of the nonprofit, Space Cadet, in Reno, NV.  Every yea

Andrew Frank is the the founder of the nonprofit, Space Cadet, in Reno, NV.  Every year large amounts of retail displays/fixtures are being sent to landfills.  Andrew has made it his mission to prevent this from happening.  His Nevada nonprofit, Space Cadet, helps companies repurpose their components responsibly and he is encouraging and offering to help others to do this as well all across the country.  This is critically important as many large retail companies are going out of business and these items could be utilized by local businesses that are in need.

r large amounts of retail displays/fixtures are being sent to landfills.  Andrew has made it his mission to prevent this from happening.  His Nevada nonprofit, Space Cadet, helps companies repurpose their components responsibly and he is encouraging and offering to help others to do this as well all across the country.  This is critically important as many large retail companies are going out of business and these items could be utilized by local businesses that are in need.

Space Cadet Nonprofit

Space Cadet Shop:

"We opened our store to support local artists, entrepreneurs, and certified B-Corporations.  We're a place to shop sustainably and nurture your creative side, all while generating zero trash."

https://www.cadetspace.org/

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-seeds.com/

Soulful Seeds Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/soulfulseedsnnv/

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 orchards, CSAs, farmer’s markets and restaurants.

He was a part of the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project where he put into practice the belief that farms can contribute to maintaining and protecting the health of watersheds through sustainable soil management and enhancing farm biodiversity. In addition, Charles is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control and registered Soil Health Champion with the National Association of Conservation Districts.

University of Nevada – Reno Faculty:

http://naes.unr.edu/directory_details.aspx?hIj7_GDp0x45=1455

Desert Farming Initiative

https://naes.unr.edu/dfi/default.aspx

Emy Damian with a medical background found herself searching for safer cosmetics for her daughter.  Becoming informed opened her eyes to the hundreds of potentially toxic chemicals in over-the-counter beauty products.  Beautycounter provided her a unique opportunity to start her own micro business that provides safer cosmetic products.  For Emy this is not just a business, but a mission.

Facebook page:

Emy's Beautycounter: https://www.facebook.com/EmyBeautycounter/

Facebook group (where I share more personal clean beauty info and giveaways): 

Emy's Clean Quest: https://www.facebook.com/groups/268025237981638/

Instagram: _untaintedbeauty    (underscore then "untaintedbeauty")

Website / online store: http://www.beautycounter.com/emydamian   (My New clients get 10% off with code CHANGEBEAUTY10)

Contact Emy or subscribe to her monthly newsletter: [email protected]

Lorie English loves upcycling taking vintage feed sacks, and clothing and transforming them into great handbags, wallets, and pouches. It is a unique creative design challenge to work with these fabrics to produce unique bags in many popular styles.  All of the fabric, including the linings are made from other items. 

ReCreated Website: https://www.recreatednow.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recreated_now/

Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LoriesBags?social_invites=1&si_uuid=e510f50f-7d23-402f-abb5-7092d9baeaa1&user_id=18795170&si_time=1573996202&si_page=shop_home&si_trigger=ss&si_object_id=ui.core.CoreActivity&platform=android