Sustainable living often gets reduced to buying the right products, but that misses the real story. Green living mentor and organic farmer Amy Hartshorn joins Healing Horizons to explore why eco-anxiety and overwhelm are so common, and why healing the planet starts with healing our relationship to it.
Amy shares how a shift in consciousness, not perfection, drives lasting change, why hope is often the missing piece for people who feel paralyzed by climate fears, and simple first steps anyone can take toward a less toxic, more grounded life.
About the Guest:
Amy Hartshorn is a certified organic farmer and green living mentor based in Vermont with over 30 years of experience in non-toxic living. She was the founding Executive Director of the Household Toxins Institute, served as technical editor of Green Living for Dummies, and now hosts the Green Living Now podcast.
Key Takeaways:
- Sustainable living is less about buying products and more about a shift in consciousness around the choices you already control.
- Feelings of overwhelm and guilt around eco-friendly living often come from not knowing where to start, not from a lack of care.
- A sense of hopelessness, more than any single event, is often the biggest driver behind eco-anxiety and climate overwhelm.
- Spending mindful time in nature, really noticing it, can pull you out of anxious thought spirals and back into the present moment.
- Checking the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists from the Environmental Working Group is a simple, low-cost way to start reducing pesticide exposure.
- Fragrance-free laundry detergent and skipping air fresheners are two of the highest-impact, easiest swaps for a less toxic home.
Connect with Amy Hartshorn:
Website (mentioned in episode): https://www.greenlivingnow.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhartshorn/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Greenlivingnow/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greenlivingnow
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome to Healing Horizons: where sustainable living meets mental wellness
[03:00] (approx.) Amy's Journey: from New York City to an organic farm in Vermont
[08:00] (approx.) The Biggest Misconception: sustainable living as a shift in consciousness, not a shopping list
[13:00] (approx.) Underneath Eco-Anxiety: why hope is the missing piece
[18:00] (approx.) Everyday Disconnection: how anxiety and powerlessness show up in daily routines
[23:00] (approx.) Starting Small: the Dirty Dozen, Clean 15, and safer laundry swaps
[27:00] (approx.) Staying Consistent: turning change into a challenge instead of a chore
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