From Stacey Willis, Host of Eco Wise

I don't believe that being Eco conscious and doing our part in reducing, reusing and recycling waste has to be just another chore. We can use it as an opportunity to connect with our children, our parents, educate our students and teachers, as well as improve our community service efforts to revitalize and replenish Youngstown and surrounding communities. Together we can work towards creating an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable place for our children and for ourselves.

Eco Wise airs every other Monday during WFMJ Today. It is sponsored by Villar Maria.

About Villa Maria

Villa Maria Community Center is family of ministries that serves the spiritual and educational needs of adults, children, youth and the community at large. We offer programs, services and products that express our mission of sharing the message of Jesus, feeding and caring for the poor and bringing a more abundant life to others. Our works contributes positively to the lives of women and children, provide fair wages to laborers in improvised conditions and support human life, the planet and our ecosystem through environmental programs and practices.

Villa Maria Farm produces food for residents and guests of Villa Maria Community Center as well as people served by food banks and outreach programs in the area. The farm offers educational programs on topics of land and soil use, rearing of livestock, and care of wetlands, forests and wildlife are offered in cooperation with Farm-Based Environmental Education.

The Villa Shoppe markets the work of underemployed women, minority and developing world artists. The store is committed to principles of fair trade which establishes fair working wages in their local context, support envi¬ronmental sustainability, supply financial and technical support in a fair working environment, respect cultural identity, build direct and long term relationships and educate the consumerThis partnership means that workers can depend on a living wage, a safe work environment and a humane work schedule. Fair Trade is shopping with a heart and a conscience.

Come walk the trails, taste organic produce, touch the lambs, smell the wildflowers, and see God's bounty. It's only natural!