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Maybe you've dreamed of living off grid with images of walking barefoot through bright green and swimming in streams, but is off-grid living sustainable? Join as we cover off-grid living problems, the downsides of off-grid living, and answer the question: is off grid living actually eco friendly?  AND this is our season 10 finale! We'll be back October 1, 2026 with season 11 — covering YOUR requested topics. Can't wait! Sources Wikipedia: EarthshipsEnelNeal Haddaway on MediumCNETSunny Simple LivingYoung NRGKuby.caPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

If you have heard negative things about solar power, you might be asking yourself are solar lights eco-friendly, or not? We look at solar lights' environmental impact (from manufacturing to disposal), whether or not you can recycle solar lights, if solar lights cause pollution, and more. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, send your support!  Sources Green Home Systems (company): https://greenhomesystems.com/ Home & Gardens: https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/are-solar-lights-eco-friendlyInternational Energy Agency (IEA) on solar PV: https://www.iea.org/reports/solar-pv-global-supply-chains/executive-summary IEA on critical minerals: https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/executive-summary Renewable Energy Journal: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148124014757 Conservation Law Foundation: https://www.clf.org/blog/the-truth-about-carbon-footprints/ Kleinman Center for Energy Policy: https://kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/research/publications/impact-of-solar-lighting-kits-on-the-lives-of-the-poor/ Harvard study in Uganda: https://healthybuildings.hsph.harvard.edu/cleaner-air-changes-more-than-lungs-findings-from-rural-uganda/ Climate Brief’s 16 misleading myths about solar power: https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html Solar Magazine: https://solarmagazine.com/sustainable-solar-lighting-for-the-garden/ Forbes, Best Outdoor Solar Lights: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/the-best-outdoor-solar-lights/ Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Upcycled outdoor furniture is often greener than buying new — and can still be cute as hell. If an upcycled outdoor space on a budget brings up images of shabby pallet couches and crooked DIY tables, never fear. Learn simple improvements that re-use what you already own (or can get from a Buy Nothing group) to create a beautiful, enjoyable outdoor space that you actually want to hang out in. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, send your support!    Sources Emily Henderson blog HGTV on DIY Outdoor FurniturePatio Living Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

If it's not data centers raising your energy bills, it's hotter days and months. Enter vertical gardens, also called green walls or living walls. We uncover whether green walls in urban spaces actually cool surface temperatures (you'll be shocked!) and whether adding them to your house could have a serious impact on your monthly bills. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources CrunchbasePlenty on its chapter 11 bankruptcyNature-Based Solutions journalUtrecht UniversityGrow a Living Wall: Create Vertical Gardens With Purpose, Shawna Coronado (affiliate link)Lowe’sEWGAGardenPatch.com blogThe SprucePatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

You lie awake at night and wonder if you're doing enough to help the future of the planet. But there's something very close to home that you can do to make an immediate impact: overcome your fear of insects. Tune in as we walk you through why insects are important, as well as strategies for how to overcome a fear of bugs. No more screaming or smashing needed. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  Other Episodes You'll Love Insect Decline: Why You Should Care That Your Windshields Are CleanSources Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Douglas Tallamy (affiliate link)Discover Magazine, Why Are We Afraid of Bugs?How To Podcast, How To Squash Your Fear of Bugs (and Other Phobias) [more helpful]Feel Good Now Podcast (less helpful)Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Bugs are disappearing, which means way more than your windshield being cleaner than it used to be. If this scares you, soothe your panic with us as you learn what you can do to help the bug population, while understanding the link between insect decline and food security. Listen to get these answers: Why are insects disappearing? Why do we need insects?What would happen if insects went instinct? What can we do about it?Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources NPR: Insect populations drop even without direct human interferenceFriends of the Mississippi RiverPenn State Huck Institute of Life SciencesOklahoma State ExtensionHuck Institute (again)UC IPM Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Urban farms are all the rage, but there's a different idea that might be even more impactful — food forests. It might sounds like something out of Fern Gully, but food forests offer a real way to increase biodiversity, lower maintenance, and add useful food sources to your community. Join us for this food forest for beginners crash course to walk away with realistic tips for starting small and cheap where you live. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Project Food Forest - https://projectfoodforest.org/what-is-a-food-forest/Permaculture Apprentice - https://permacultureapprentice.com/creating-a-food-forest-step-by-step-guide/Stanford Report - https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2023/05/food-forests-urban-farms-hold-promise-addressing-numerous-problemsCommunity Food Forests - https://communityfoodforests.com/resources/funding/Garden Therapy - https://gardentherapy.ca/urban-orchards/Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Welcome to our first ever collab episode! Dr. Bronner's has long been considered the gold standard of sustainable soap. It's a staple in outdoor kits, zero-waste homes, and camping gear lists thanks to its versatility, plant-based ingredients, and reputation for environmental responsibility.  But how much of that reputation actually holds up under closer scrutiny? In this collaborative episode with Meg Carney, the host of Outdoor Minimalist, we take a deep dive into one of the most recognizable sustainability brands on the market.  Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Dr. Bronner's: https://www.drbronner.com/Dr. Bronner's, Leave No Trace Guide to Using Soap Outdoors: https://www.drbronner.com/pages/camping-with-dr-bronnersLeave No Trace Seven Principles: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/Dirty Labs: https://dirtylabs.com/Camp Suds: https://www.rei.com/product/407166/campsuds-biodegradable-concentrated-soap-2-ozPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Vegetables you only have to plant once? Sounds like a dream come true. Except it might be slightly more complicated than that. Join hosts Tiff and Kat as they take you on a perennial vegetable journey — from good perennial vegetables for beginners to why growing Jerusalem artichokes may not be your next best move. Learn which are easy perennial vegetables to grow, and which you can avoid eye contact with at the seed store. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Amy Manning: https://amymanning.substack.com/p/perennial-vegetables-mostly-dudsGrowVeg.com: https://www.growveg.com/guides/best-edibles-for-pollinator-gardens/ RuralSprout.com: https://www.ruralsprout.com/perennial-vegetables/ University of California: https://ucanr.edu/blog/napa-master-gardener-column/article/perennial-vegetables-and-herbs Nature.com scientific report: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-09737-1 PLoS One study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7351156/#sec016 Martha Stewart’s blog: https://www.themarthablog.com/2023/04/planting-asparagus-at-my-farm.html Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Sure, a vegetable garden can be expensive the first year. But hosts Kat and Tiff dive into vegetable garden costs over a span of a decade. Once you have your structures in place, what's your vegetable garden ROI typically look like? Join as they revisit this topic for a deeper dive into the reasons why — with the craziness of the world — you may want to consider becoming more self-sufficient.  Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Blog of Gardening: https://www.bigblogofgardening.com/can-vegetable-garden-save-money-on-groceries/Farmers Almanac: https://www.almanac.com/how-save-vegetable-seedsBackyard Garden Lover: https://www.backyardgardenlover.com/9-vegetables-and-herbs-that-could-cut-your-grocery-bill-by-400-this-year/Food Forest Living: https://foodforestliving.com/31-ways-growing-vegetables-is-cheaper-than-buying-them/NPR: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/28/nx-s1-5836525/affordability-report-brookings-inflation-wagesPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Sounds boring; isn't. Wondering how to grow a native garden? You might be surprised at the importance of a seemingly mundane addition: mulch. We cover all things mulch this week — and it's way more interesting than even they expected. Learn: 3 main ways mulch helps your gardenWhere to find free organic mulchWhy is living mulch the coolest thing ever?Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Evolution of Hardwood Mulch article: https://www.ruppertlandscape.com/evolution-hardwood-mulch/Mulch as a Drylands Strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1cgx33E3LM University of Michigan leaf mulch study: https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/mitgc/article/199866b.pdf University of California Cooperative Extension water retention and mulch study: https://ucanr.edu/media/305486Plants journal: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10975533/ University of California pamphlet: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2026-02/UCANR%20Mulches%20for%20Landscapes%20by%20Downer%20and%20Faber.pdf Gardening Know How on eco-friendly mulch: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/mulch/best-eco-friendly-mulch Growing a Greener World on mulch certification: https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/is-your-mulch-safe-heres-how-to-find-out/ Mulch and Soil Council guide: https://mulchandsoilcouncil.org/pdf/Education/2013_Mulch_Selection_Guidev3.pdf Edge of the Woods Nursery on living mulch: https://edgeofthewoodsnursery.com/living-mulch-part-one-an-ecological-alternative-to-wood-mulch Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

If you're wondering just how god awful (but useful!) DIY deer spray is, listen in as we discuss the pros and cons of making it yourself. Learn why you don't need to accept critters constantly munching on your plants. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources Reddit (of course!) https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/14f7b11/how_do_you_prevent_or_reduce_deer_from_destroying/Savvy Gardening - https://savvygardening.com/deer-proof-gardens/The Deer Guys - https://www.thedeerguys.com/blog-posts/what-is-the-best-homemade-deer-repellentLiquidFence - https://www.liquidfence.com/Farmer’s Almanac - https://www.almanac.com/5-natural-homemade-deer-repellents-actually-workPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

Small space doesn't have to mean small impact. Get practical tips for incorporating native plants into small areas like balconies and container gardens, and why it's so essential to start today. Join us to learn which native plant options are happy in containers, as well as strategies for advocating for native plants in public spaces, schools, and your broader community. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   Sources National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Small-Space-Wildlife-Gardening/Container-Gardening Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants, Douglas W. Tallamy: https://amzn.to/4uAiLML (affiliate link)Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon Their GUMA episode on bee hotels and native bees: https://www.greeningupmyact.com/1849707/episodes/14888630-are-bee-hotels-worth-the-space-in-your-gardenHome Depot for pricingPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

In case you missed it the first time, take a listen to one of Tiff and Kat's favorite episodes during the break. They're back with season 10, all about getting your hands dirty outside, on June 4. Clover lawns are all the rage — but should they be? Hosts Tiff and Kat answer: What eco-friendly claims do folks make about clover yards? Are they true?Why is Reddit so uncomfy?What are the disadvantages of clover lawns?Explore how to spot greenwashing in the world of clover lawns with your two favorite marketing writers in this upbeat sustainability podcast. Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!  Sources Martha Stewart: https://www.marthastewart.com/8322420/clover-lawns Gardenia Creative Gardens: https://www.gardenia.net/guide/native-plant-alternatives-to-trifolium-repens Podcast: Backyard Ecology episode on clover: https://www.backyardecology.net/clovers-native-clover-conservation-clover-yards-and-more/ Reddit - No Lawns subreddit specifically covering Clover: https://www.reddit.com/r/NoLawns/wiki/meta/clover/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1#wiki_clover_controversy The Spruce: https://www.thespruce.com/all-about-clover-lawns-6362145Bob Vila: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/clover-lawn/ Wild Ones garden designs: https://nativegardendesigns.wildones.org/designs/  Patreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act

In case you missed it the first time, take a listen to one of our favorite episodes. In this episode, we come clean about essential oils and whether they're worth all the hype -- or hate. Spoiler: it's complicated. There's a lot of info to soak up about green hooey and essential oils. Learn away! Buy Us a Coffee ☕ If you love our show, show your support!   As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are paid links. What We Talked About doTERRA Essential OilsAmazon (basic search for "essential oils")Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Lavender SoapSources National Library of Medicine - Essential Oils as Antimicrobial Agents – Myth or Real Alternative?National Institutes of Health - Essential OilsNLM -  Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils ASPCA - The essentials of essential oils around pets Cleveland Clinic - Essential Oils 101 Healthline - What Are Essential Oils? NLM - Aromatherapy for Health Care: An Overview of Systematic Reviews NLM - A Systematic Review of the Effect of Inhaled Essential Oils on SleepNLM - An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human HealthThe Kind Store - A Guide to Sustainable Essential OilsSustainably Chic - Are Essential Oils Sustainable?Red List of Threatened SpeciesPatreon: patreon.com/greeningupmyact Instagram: @greeningupmyact Facebook: Greening Up My Act Email us with questions: [email protected] YouTube: Greening Up My Act