Send us Fan Mail

There are many ways to love a forest, and in this episode, we introduce you to a variety of forest stewards who are nurturing our region's woodlands. They are featured in a Holden Forest & Gardens project called Ways to Love a Forest: Stories of Woodland Stewardship in Northeast Ohio, a booklet that includes interviews with educators, landowners, scientists, and community leaders.

Sharing these stories and ways we can all be stewards of our land are Annie Weight, former Forestry Outreach Fellow at Holden Forest and Gardens, and Jessica Miller Mecaskey, Consulting Forester with Holden Arboretum’s Working Woods Learning Forest. We also hear some of the people featured in the project: Lola Lewis, Dee Belew, Judy Semroc, and Joan Steidl.

What is forest stewardship? Why should we care? Should forests be left alone or managed? How do good intentions and good management differ? What resources are there for landowners and non-landowners to become better forest stewards? And what career paths can forest lovers pursue? We cover all this and more as Annie talks about how the fellowship project came about and the people she met, and as Jessica shares how the Holden Arboretum's Working Woods Resource Hub and Learning Forest supports landowners through workshops, on-site consulting, and guidance on everything from invasive species to long-term woodland management and restoration.

We should all care about sustainable forestry, urban tree canopy, and land conservation, and Ways to Love a Forest provides inspiration and practical advice from those doing the work and helping us all connect to the land. There is much to explore at the Holden Arboretum this spring. Plan a visit.

Support the show

Become a Subscriber

Follow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Contact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

Send us Fan Mail

The Great Ohio Climate March is happening May 16-28, 2026. The purpose of this march is to draw attention to the impacts of fracking on Ohio’s public lands, the climate crisis, and the benefits of renewable energy. The southern Ohio route passes through areas impacted by fracking and begins in Athens, Ohio, travels through Salt Fork State Park, and ends at the Statehouse. The march is organized by Third Act Ohio, in partnership with 20 environmental organizations, including the Ohio Sierra Club and the Buckeye Environmental Network. In this episode, Jess Grim, one of the organizers, tells us all about the march, what to expect, and how to join. Anyone can participate either for the entire event or just for the day. There will be opportunities to learn about the impacts of fracking on Ohio's public land, see fracking operations firsthand, hike along Ohio's Buckeye Trail, and share meals and conversation. You can join the march by registering by April 16th.

Support the show

Become a Subscriber

Follow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Contact - hello@ecospeakscle.com

Send us Fan Mail

An Eco Bite is a "mini” episode of Eco Speaks CLE. In this shorter format, we reconnect with a past guest or showcase someone new, all in under 15 minutes. In this quick episode, we catch up with Rust Belt Riders and founder Michael Robinson to find out what's new with our favorite worker-owned food waste composting company in Cleveland, Ohio.

We first interviewed Rust Belt Riders back in 2022. It was our 4th episode, and we had Dan Brown and Zoe Apisdorf on the show. Since then, Rust Belt Riders has developed new city-supported drop-offs, new commercial infrastructure, and expanded its production of soil and Tilth Soil brand. This cooperative model could scale community composting nationwide through alliances with members of the Community Composting Coalition. We hope you will enjoy this episode and be part of the story by purchasing Tilth Soil at local retailers and signing up for one of Rust Belt Riders' residential or commercial composting services.

Support the show

Become a Subscriber

Follow Eco Speaks CLE on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram
Contact - hello@ecospeakscle.com