Wild Virginia Old Dominion Eco Buzz

Why It’s Important for Kids to Get Into Nature

In today’s world of screens, busy schedules, and urban sprawl, many children are growing up without regular access to the natural world. But getting kids into nature isn’t just a fun way to spend a Saturday—it’s essential for their physical, emotional, and mental development.

We're joined by Trail Kids RVA - an organization doing just that with children and their parents. 

1. Nature Bu...

Virginia Outdoor Adventures Podcast is the ultimate guide for local outdoor recreation, including hiking, camping, kayaking, and so much more. Host, Jessica Bowser, joins the Wild Virginia podcast to talk about her favorite hikes and snacks to pack, but more importantly how critical connecting with nature is for stewardship and volunteerism. Tune in to this episode to hear about wild places that most folks probably wouldn't put on ...

You may have seen the exciting news over the last month or so — Virginia’s final state budget includes $450,000 in funding for wildlife crossings! This is a major step forward in protecting both wildlife and people on our roads. Thanks to the leadership of Senator David Marsden and the tireless advocacy of many partners and supporters, this funding is now secured. We’re incredibly grateful to Senator Marsden for championing this c...

Environmental Nonprofits Struggle as Federal Shake-Up Freezes Key Climate Funds

Environmental nonprofits are navigating significant challenges amid recent federal government shifts under the Trump administration. These changes have disrupted funding streams, prompted legal battles, and forced organizational restructuring.

Sierra Club joins the Wild Virginia podcast [Old Dominion Eco Buzz] to discuss their path forward and offer hop...

The James River, a river in Virginia that begins in the Appalachian Mountains and flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers, meanders through the heart of Virginia for approximately 348 miles before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. Its origins trace back to the Appalachian Mountains, specifically in the Allegheny Mountains, where the river's headwaters begin their journey across the landscape. This magnifice...

Activate Virginia began in late 2016 as a vehicle to address Virginia’s lack of competitive elections and corrupt campaign finance system through candidate recruiting, activism, and public education. Activate Virginia now serves as an all-volunteer network of researchers and activists who focus on uncovering corruption in Virginia and taking on undemocratic features of Virginia government.

Josh Stanfield, Executive Director of Acti...

The diamondback terrapin was once so closely associated with Maryland that the state's leading university adopted the terp as its mascot, and it holds the title of the official state reptile.

However, this species has encountered significant challenges, initially from overharvesting for food and more recently due to drowning in crab traps. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has joined forces with 20 other organizations to ad...

This Refill Store is Cheaper than Instacart! (and More Sustainable, too)

Fillagreen is an eco-friendly store located in Manassas, Virginia. It specializes in providing sustainable and environmentally conscious products to the community. The store offers a variety of items, including reusable household goods, zero-waste personal care products, and natural cleaning supplies.

Fillagreen aims to reduce the environmental footprint...

Bulk food stores play a significant role in helping the environment through several impactful practices.

We chat with the Trace - The Zero Waste Store on the Wild Virginia Old Dominion Eco Buzz podcast. They are Fairfax County's only zero waste and bulk refill store.

Here are a few key ways they contribute:

1. Reduction of Packaging Waste: Bulk food stores often encourage customers to bring their own c...

Fill Happy VA is just that. You’re happy about the product. Happy about your carbon footprint. And very happy meeting the owner, Jana. She joins the Wild Virginia podcast to talk about her store and composting.

Growing up in a rural area has deeply ingrained a love for nature in Jana’s heart. Witnessing her 2-year-old daughter develop a profound fascination with the ocean, particularly whales and sharks, has fueled herpassio...

For this episode of Wild Virginia Coffee Talk, we chat with the owner of Refill Renew, a local refill store in Staunton and Charlottesville VA.

They are your go-to bulk refill store for your everyday essentials. They provide communities with more sustainable options to reduce plastic waste and carry products that are free of sulfates, parabens, plastic, artificial scents and colors. Even when we do our best to sort our plastic...

Eryn from Eco Inspired joins the podcast to discuss her company, an organization that provides you with products, tools, and resources to help you live a healthier and lower waste lifestyle. They are located in Bon Air outside of Richmond VA, and have products that have been thoroughly vetted to ensure they are ethically and sustainable made and sourced, good for you and the planet and most importantly, practically applicable to ...

The International Rights of Nature Tribunal held its 12th local hearing at the Haw River State Park in North Carolina this month. Led by our partners 7 Directions of Service with Movement Rights and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, it was the first Indigenous-led tribunal of its kind in global history. The Yesah Tribunal: Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Rights of Rivers had More than100 people attended in person, an...

On May 23, 2024 Wild Virginia and allied groups held an online program to discuss the status of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and actions groups and individuals may take in the coming months to protect communities and the environment from further damage caused by the project.

In early May, the Mountain Valley Pipeline initially aimed for an official in-service date of June 1. This is far ahead of its original in service d...

In the spring of 2015, Dr. Eric Roy received word from a former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) member regarding elevated lead levels in Flint, Michigan's water. At that time, the residents of Flint were unaware of the water's contents and long before the city faced a public health emergency.

Roy, a chemist specializing in water quality, took it upon himself to address the issue. In July 2015, he established Hydroviv and devi...

Don’t be mistaken: taxpayers are paying for these big data centers.

“What we know historically about fossil fuel plants is they're places in poor communities and black and brown communities.”

Data centers in Virginia have become a focal point of concern due to their environmental impact. These facilities, which house servers and other IT equipment, consume vast amounts of energy to ensure seamless operations. The energy demand of d...

If we’re critically thinking about it - mushrooms have incredible properties and life saving attributes (umm, hello penicillin). Penicillin G was first made from a penicillium fungus that occurs in nature.

Mushrooms show us that our environment is far from binary. Enter queer ecology: an emerging field that seeks to explore the connections between ecological issues and queer identities. At its core, queer ecology recognizes that th...