1. Spay-N-Save: Audrey Posocco tells us that mission is to reduce pet overpopulation by offering high-volume, low-cost spay & neuter surgeries and to educate our community about responsible pet ownership. Be sure to find out how you can help your community.
2. Orlando Rabbit Care & Adoptions: Stephanie Schrader shares with us little secrets on how to care for these incredibly adorable furry pets. We were amazed that what we thought were good for rabbits to eat, actually was incorrect information. They educate you on everything you need to ensure your rabbits are going to be healthy and loved for a long time.
3. Orlando Pug Rescue & Adoption: Retha Purogel states that they are dedicated in finding caring, safe, and loving homes for rescued, displaced, and homeless dogs of the Pug breed regardless of age or medical condition. The kids absolutely fell in love with them!
4. Save the Chimps: Managing director, Kelly Overton says that their organization is to provide a permanent sanctuary for the lifelong care of chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, entertainment and the pet trade. As we spoke with him, we were so amazed at how much we did not know about chimpanzees and how we can help them! Their vision is for the chimpanzees to be able to live the rest of their lives with the threat of returning to a laboratory.
5. Friends of a Feather Foundation: Coreen Fry tells us that this is a new organization where they support the bird family and help keep them safe as much as possible. There was the first Friends of a Feather Festival in October 2008 at Lake Eola where families gathered to learn about these beautiful majestic creatures.
6. Orange County Animal Services: Katie Lockett shares with us that they will protect the health, safety, and general welfare of Orange County citizens and animals through the effective and courteous enforcement and education of the Orange County Code. They have incredible education programs such as their Bite Prevention classes for students in schools. To get in touch with them, email them at animalservices@ocfl.net or call 407-254-9140.

Again, this only a few of the many that were there. They are all passionate individuals who represent incredible organizations with huge hearts! If you were looking for an incredible organization to get involved with regarding your time or through donations OR were maybe looking to adopt a pet, any of the above mentioned would love to help you out!

We also had three additional businesses we talked with:

1. Jolly Green Planet which is an organic lawn company here in Central Florida. We love them because we use them ourselves for our own lawn at home. Now the children can play on the lawn after they have treated the lawn with all natural products. Becca Sanders gave us some great information that day.
2. Green Clean is wonderful all “green and natural” products cleaning company for your home. This is the brainchild of Peter VonTaborsky who loves what he does. You can rest assured that your home is safely cleaned with products that are environmentally friendly and also has Peter’s special touch. He ALWAYS leaves freshly cut flowers after he leaves your home. This way you can enjoy the beauty of the flowers for the rest of the week.
3. Sunshine Hydroponics teaches us how to garden hydorponically and with eco-friendly products as well. Brenden Hickey educates us on the various products and ideas we can also apply in our own homes. It’s also wonderfully convenient to be located here in Orlando.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Green Earth Voices. If you have any ideas, comments, or questions for our show, please register online and comment on our blog. We love hearing from you!!! Blessings and Peace!

Download audio file (gev_003_-_20081201.mp3)

Download MP3 file

What we wanted to share with you were a few of the incredible people/businesses that helped make this event such a success and give you great resources here in Central Florida for your family to incorporate gradual changes in your own homes. There were about 200 vendors and over 7,500 people come visit Central Florida VegFest in Loch Haven Park. The weather was absolutely magnificent and the energy was even more electric!

So, for this week’s show, Troy and I wanted to share with you six businesses that we categorize under the heading of : Living Well. Of course, we did not have enough time to talk with everyone, so we do apologize. But, the ones we did, please listen to their brief descriptions and at a future date, we do plan to have a more indepth interview so you may learn more.

1. Holistic Moms Network is an incredible group of moms who embrace the natural strength of motherhood, the integration of holistic practices in daily living, and everything to help our children thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am also a part of this wonderful group who meets the first Tuesday of every month. Kristen Rivera and Tracy Neely share with us why moms should come by and visit. Trust me, you’ll love them!
2. Simple Living Institute was started in 2002 by a group of Central Floridians wanted to create a stronger community that valued the environment, personal health, and had a vision for a more self-sufficient lifestyle.Shayla Dougher shares with us the love of organic gardening in addition to other programs we as a community can participate in to learn more.
3. Body Balance System is a business that has great wellness products to help you approach your health in an easy and efficient way. Kim Marosek was talking to us about the detoxification products and how many have benefited in that as well as their other products.
4. Sustainable Synergy helps businesses both large and small make the changes they need to be more environment friendly. Jaime Giroux tells us that they help with strategic planning, business development, and marketing from the beginning to the end. This group will not only help you help the environment, but also improve your overall business relationships!
5. Simply Well is your answer to any physical pains you may have. Dr. Dominic D’Anna explains how he approaches health with the knowledge that your body, when given the right tools has the ability to heal and recover at an amazing rate. He treats not only adults, but also children! He is one chiropractor that also uses SRI techniques which incorporate breath with healing. You must go see him to help you gain the health you deserve.
6. Florida Holistic School of Living is the place to go if you are seeking to learn how to integrate holistic ways of living in your daily life. Michael Tiner and wife, Emily have created the mecca for what you are seeking. They have classes about composting, herbalism, aromatheraphy, parenting, you name it, they either already have it or will teach it.

This is just a few. You will be so impressed when you hear their passion and of course, feel compelled to go visit them. I do highly encourage you to do so. Stay tuned next week when we share with you more wonderful organizations that will literally tug at your doggy, kitty, furry, feathery, heart strings! You’ll want to adopt them all. Thanks for listening!

Download audio file (gev_002_-_20081116.mp3)

Download MP3 file

During her pregnancy, she prepared all her foods with nothing but the best for her unborn child. Organic foods and organic cooking became her family’s lifestyle. Once her son was born, she realized that the call of motherhood was stronger than the pull of career, so she decided to stay home to raise her son full time. Unfortunately, this also caused her to rethink the financial obligation of purchasing organic food. Not willing to sacrifice pure, good, healthy food, she decided to start her own organic co-op. Thus, Get Green Organics was born!

It is an incredible opportunity for families to begin purchasing organic foods for their families affordably. Orders are taken every 2 weeks online and you can look at their rather impressive list of organic foods: milk, cheese, produce, salsa, honey, chutney, nuts, you name it, they just about have it. The only items they do not carry are dry goods such as rice and flour which you can purchase at your local grocery stores. You may be asking yourself just about now, ” 2 weeks? Are you kidding me? The produce won’t last in the fridge that long?!?”

Well, did you know that with Get Green Organics, all the produce is from local farmers here in Florida and are picked fresh either that day or the day before! Not like in the grocery store where by the time it’s on the shelves, it may have been 2 weeks or more since it left the farm. Thus, waiting 2 weeks between orders is no big deal. The lettuce, strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers stay fresh!

So, the way it works, is you log online and register for free. There are drop off points all over Central Florida and you go on that designated pick up day and all the groceries you’ve ordered are already sorted for you and ready for pick up! To offset the cost, when you register as a member, anyone you refer to the program uses your code and you get money towards your own order! AND, if you’d like to save even more, you can be a pick up place yourself and receive even more savings/dollars applied to your order. There are all sorts of ways to save and STILL be able to eat a healthy organic diet! So, the excuse of costing too much is not an excuse anymore, right?

Another GREAT reason to support organic foods is that Get Green Organics support all local farmers and help them with their business. It is so important to help our community and to teach our children about where our foods come from. What more can I say?

So, check out Get Green Organics and get the best of both worlds… healthy food and savings too! The more people who participate in this co-op ( also, families outside our Central Florida area can order online, Kim said.) , the cheaper cost will be and the more variety of foods she can provide families.

Both Troy and myself are members and will start ordering this week. Check out their Sweet Potato Pie. Kim said it’s the tastiest one EVER!!!

Download audio file (gev_001_-_20081024.mp3)

Download MP3 file