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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.

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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.

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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.

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As an environmental economist, Elizabeth Schuster helps conservation organizations solve complex challenges at the intersection of nature and communities. In this episode, Elizabeth describes how her firm, Sustainable Economies, applies systems-level thinking to messy, long-horizon environmental problems to turn them into clear, shared action. Her clients include watershed districts, non-profits, park districts, and various local and national environmental organizations.

Hear how her strategies apply to any organization seeking to incorporate a sustainability and a community mindset into their work with examples from projects with The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and Summit County Metroparks. Elizabeth's advice? Set a clear North Star, listen across sectors, code what you hear, and write goals in language anyone can repeat. This process, which starts with stakeholder engagement, helps align conservation goals with community needs, often with surprising results.

Clarity of purpose and effective internal and external communication are at the heart of any successful organization and are vitally important for organizations with social and environmental missions. Whatever your purpose, this episode provides tips on how to surface blind spots early and how to align staff so everyone rows in the same direction.

Learn More:

• Elizabeth Schuster, Partner and Environmental Economist, Sustainable Economies
• Projects and Clients

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Are you living with too much stuff? Help is on the way! In this first episode of 2026, we help you clear the clutter with Devon Fegen-Herdman, owner of Declutter with Devon. Devon is a professional home organizer, former social worker, and a founding member of Upcycle Parts Shop, our favorite arts reuse center in Cleveland.

Most people agree they have too much stuff, and they struggle with managing it all. Choosing to live differently and more gently on the planet requires rethinking our relationship with our material things. Living with less can bring us more joy, but how to get there? Join us as Devon provides tips for getting our homes under control and buying with more intention to keep future clutter at bay.

Donation, Recycling, and Disposal Suggestions:

Upcycle Parts Shop and Boys & Girls Clubs (arts supplies); Friends of the Library CCPL and Cleveland Children's Book Bank (books); Cleveland Furniture Bank, Chair-ity, and Humble Design Cleveland (furniture); Elyria APL and other animal shelters (linens); Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (holiday lights); Habitat Re-Store (tools); RET3 Job Corp and Best Buy (computers and e-waste); Good Neighbor Thrift Store and Thriftique (housewares and clothes); Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and Lorain County Solid Waste District (special wastes, paint, pesticides and other household hazardous wastes); police stations and pharmacies (RX drug drop-off)

Learn More:

Declutter with Devon

Buy Now, The Shopping Conspiracy (Netflix Documentary)

Becoming Minimalist

The Story of Stuff

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Our region's water isn’t just running through our taps; it is shaping our region and our future. Cleveland is a waterfront city, and in this episode, you will hear how technology, entrepreneurship, destination development, maritime trade, and recreation are blossoming under our culture of freshwater stewardship.

This recording is from Eco Meet CLE, a gathering of local sustainability leaders held on November 18th at Great Lakes Brewing Company. Some have called us a beer-drinking group with a sustainability problem. It works. Eco Meet events are a fun way for people to connect and learn about impactful work in a fun and casual setting.

The topic for the night was our Blue Economy, and we brought together several speakers who reflected on their role in Cleveland's water economy and how this shared asset, which must be protected, makes our waterfront such a vibrant and engaging space for residents, visitors, business, and career development. Our panelists included:

1. Emily Bacha, Director of the Cuyahoga County Fresh Water Institute
2. Samantha Martin, Director of Communications and Engagement, Cleveland Water Alliance
3. Kierra Cotton, Marketing and Communications Manager, the Port of Cleveland
4. Captain Drew Ferguson, Founder and CEO of Argonaut
5. Kate Wells, Manager of Environmental Stewardship and Quality, Interlake Steamship Company
6. Max Pennington, Co-Founder of CLEANR

If you care about clean water, good jobs, and resilient cities, this story is yours. Follow, share with a friend who loves Lake Erie, and leave a quick review to help more people discover how Northeast Ohio turns stewardship into strength.

A clarification for listeners: Cleveland's Irishtown Bend Park is expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029, following the Port of Cleveland's stabilization of the hillside in 2026.

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Cities don’t forget—their land remembers. In this episode, we speak with Isaac Robb, Chief Urban Program Officer at Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and explore how his organization works to turn Cleveland's vacant and underutilized land into living assets, including neighborhood parks, memorial gardens, and reforestation programs that cool, calm, and reconnect neighborhoods. Hear what Isaac loves most about Cleveland and what surprised him most when first coming here in 2105.

The Western Reserve Land Conservancy is a land trust known for farmland preservation, but also built a robust urban program from the tragedy of the foreclosure crisis. Programs to reforest the city, create community parks and green spaces, and reconnect residents with the land in their own backyard are improving health and quality of life.

The Conservancy's urban projects honor community memories and experiences and offer healing and reconnection by planning guided by environmental justice, public health, and the power of place. Join us to hear about the people who founded this work and those who shepherd it today, and the many ways to be a part of this transformative work.

Learn More:

• About the Conservancy
• Conservancy Projects
• Getting Involved

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Brodie Longo is a young organizer and director of the Northeast Ohio chapter of Beyond Plastics. This grassroots organization works to combat plastic pollution and the use of single-use plastics through education and activism. In this episode, Brodie speaks about what it's been like starting a local Beyond Plastics chapter and how, at just 23 years old, he found himself leading in ways he did not expect. Together with his steering committee and volunteers, Brodie is building momentum against single-use plastic, from hosting nurdle patrols and beach cleanups to venue recycling and advocating for policy and legislative change. Hear Brodie's tips for reducing your exposure to microplastic pollution and how to join meetings, find resources, and get involved with this newly formed organization.

Our Guest:

Brodie Longo - Director, NEO Chapter of Beyond Plastics brodielongo@yahoo.com

Resources:

Beyond Plastics National Organization

The Problem with Plastic by Judith Enck

Follow Beyond Plastics on Facebook

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