About Amy Todisco

In this special interview with my dear friend, Lisa, I’m sharing my top tips and insights for starting your journey to a less toxic, more eco-friendly lifestyle. Some of this I’ve never shared on a podcast. Packed with actionable advice, personal stories, and practical tools, this conversation is more than just an interview—it’s like a mini workshop!

From a small-town activist to a nationally recognized leader in
detoxifying homes & lifestyles:

Meet Catalyst for Positive Change:
Amy (Todisco) Hartshorn

Green Living Expert/Mentor, Retreat Leader, Podcast Host

Speaker & Author

Who is Amy (Todisco) Hartshorn?

With over 30 years of expertise in green living, holistic health, and sustainable practices, Amy (Todisco) Hartshorn is a nationally recognized leader in empowering individuals to live healthier, toxin-free lives. Featured on HGTV, Vermont Public Television, and Vermont Public Radio, her work blends practical wisdom with actionable strategies for lasting change.

Amy was the technical editor of the 2008 Green Living for Dummies book and served as the founding executive director of a nonprofit launched by 7th Generation, where she spearheaded impactful initiatives for environmental and public health advocacy.

As the host of the Green Living Now Podcast and creator of transformative online courses like the Organic Food Blueprint, Amy helps people confidently navigate food choices, reduce household toxins, and embrace sustainable living. She also offers retreats and unique food and farm tours on her organic farm in Vermont, which have been celebrated for their hands-on, life-changing experiences and featured on HGTV.

Amy’s mission is to inspire and empower others to make informed, sustainable lifestyle choices that prioritize health, the environment, and personal well-being. Whether through her podcast, courses, or immersive farm experiences, she has helped countless individuals transform their homes, diets, and daily habits.

Summer Farm Season

During the summer, Amy leads unique experiential food and farm tours, personal growth and wellness retreats, and hands-on workshops on her organic farm in Vermont. These immersive experiences give participants not only a deep connection to nature and sustainable living but also a sense of optimism and empowerment about the future.

Amy’s Leadership

A graduate of the Rockwood Leadership Training Program, Amy has held many leadership positions throughout her career. She served as Board Chair of her local Chamber of Commerce for two years, transforming it into a vital marketing organization for the community.

She has also founded and co-founded several impactful nonprofits, including the Marblehead Environmental Coalition, Marblehead Cancer Prevention Project, Consumer’s Healthy Home Center, Mad River Valley Wellness Alliance, Household Toxins Institute (started by the Seventh Generation founder, where she served as Executive Director), and the Vermont Farm Immersion Program.

Amy is a highly sought-after green living and wellness expert, frequently interviewed in the media. Her work has been featured on Vermont WCAX News, Vermont Public Television, Vermont Public Radio, Rachel Ray Everyday Magazine, Seven Days, Christian Science Monitor, Vermont Life, Farm & Ranch Magazine, and numerous podcasts.

My Story…

Growing up in the heart of New York City, my mom was a die-hard follower of nutrition guru Adele Davis in the '70s. She was all about healthy living through proper nutrition, and let me tell you, she took it to the next level.

Our apartment was a no-go zone for processed foods, junk, and mystery chemical concoctions. Everything we ate was homemade. I was really lucky to have a stepfather who was a chef. Every day we also took vitamins and my mom's infamous "pep up" drink, that tasted about as good as it sounded. 

But hey, I rarely got sick, so I guess mom was onto something.

Despite our wholesome diet, city living brought its own toxic baggage.
Hazmat suits for roach spraying, the faint chemical whiff of dry-cleaning, and a lack of sunlight and fresh air were just everyday realities.

It wasn't until I landed a job in a health food store at 16 that I ventured into the world of organic food, macrobiotic diets, juice fasts, and herbs.

But the big turning point came when I was pregnant with my daughter. I stumbled upon a revelation—everyday household products were loaded with harmful synthetic chemicals. Shampoos, cleaning products, carpets, you name it. I had no idea. 

I embarked on a quest, diving into everything from Rachel Carson's 'A Silent Spring' to building my very own green living library and expertise. I scrutinized every label, ditching anything with unpronounceable ingredients.

And surprisingly, some ingredients weren't even required to be listed—it was an absolute mission and passion.

From letter writing to local activism, my journey toward a greener, healthier lifestyle has been anything but ordinary. I detoxified every aspect of my life, from food to household products—and even started growing my own sustainable food.
 
Starting at age 16, I had already become interested in preventative holistic health strategies beyond food, like herbs, homeopathy, massage (I even became a massage therapist and energy healer too.) I just continued to learn more.

I created my first nonprofit, the Marblehead Cancer Prevention Project, which was designed to investigate the potential environmental causes of cancer in my community. And I launched the first-of-its-kind Earth Day celebration there to showcase what a green sustainable lifestyle could look like.

Then I moved to Vermont (which was really a calling) and was hired by Seventh Generation to become the founding executive director of the Household Toxins Institute.  We had planned to hire toxicologists to test the products that marketed themselves as "natural" and "nontoxic" first to ensure their safety.

After that, it was time to start my own LLC, Green Living Now.  Catalyst for Change Coaching & Retreats is the D.B.A. (doing business as) under my LLC.

I sold what I considered to be the best of the natural household products and wrote a monthly educational newsletter. The natural next step was offering consultations to healthy lifestyle seekers. One of my most famous clients was a band member from Phish, and his girlfriend. 

I got the amazing opportunity to be the technical editor of the Green Living for Dummies book. 

And, not long after that, Oprah wanted to come to my home and interview me about my green living lifestyle—I was on the brink of fame...almost! 
(Spoiler alert—she ended up going with a nonprofit at the last minute.)

I've been really fortunate to get a lot of great media attention—TV, radio, print, and podcasts. Some of the more notable are: HGTV, Vermont Public TV and Radio, Vermont Life Magazine, WCAX Channel 3 in Vermont. 

As a former Psychology major in college, I longed to help others make lasting changes in their lives more easily, so I gathered more skills by becoming a certified life. health and business coach. Yes, I'm a bit of an over-achiever.

Meeting my husband, Dave, an organic farmer, was a turning point in my journey. 

Living on our organic farm, I've gotten to take sustainable living to a whole new level. Over the past 14 years, I've been helping to grow the farm into a destination for inspiration and experiential education. I've offered: unique experiential food and farm tours, workshops, farm to table dinners, festivals, programs and retreats.

My goal has been to empower others to take control of their health by creating a nontoxic indoor environment and adopting a holistic lifestyle that prevents diseases and unhealthy symptoms before they start.  

I believe that together, we can build resilient immune systems and live healthy, sustainable lives. Progress is better than perfection in the quest for a healthier lifestyle.

I love sharing this wild ride of discovery and transformation with you in the pages of my eBooks, private green coaching and now my Green Living Essentials online course, and upcoming Green Living Now Podcast!

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