About Amy Todisco

Amy is an extremely knowledgeable, multi-talented individual. She has worked in the green-living domain and the life-coaching field for some time, not only bringing her knowledge and experience to her clients, but also her warmth and her willingness to educate those she works with and be fully available to them. I highly recommend her both as a green-living expert and as a life coach.
— Dianne Malik

Why is it so important to learn how to eliminate toxins from your food and household products, AND embrace holistic health options?

 

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

Meet Catalyst for Positive Change:
Amy Todisco

Green Living Expert/Mentor, Retreat Leader, Podcast Host, Speaker & Author

Amy Todisco sitting under a tree at Hartshorn Farm, contemplating the nutritious benefits of organic food featured in her Organic Food Blueprint course.

Who is Amy Todisco?

With over 30 years of expertise in green living, holistic health, and sustainable practices, Amy Todisco is a nationally recognized leader in empowering health-conscious parents, eco-friendly professionals, wellness enthusiasts and thoughtful consumers to eliminate toxins from their food and homes 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, and How to Easily Grow Organic Food Almost Anywhere, 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, eBooks, 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.

Dave and Amy Hartshorn, organic farmers at Hartshorn Farm, standing in front of their farmstand in Vermont.

organic farmers, Dave & Amy (Todisco) Hartshorn


My Story…

Amy Todisco and her mother, sharing a loving moment in her apartment in NYC where Amy learned the importance of nutrition and the art of cooking meals from scratch

Amy Todisco and her mother

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.

Amy Todisco and her daughter strolling along a beach in Maine, sharing a love for the ocean and the serene beauty of nature, symbols of the holistic lifestyle Amy promotes.

Amy Todisco and her daughter

And surprisingly, some ingredients weren't even required to be listedit 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. 

Cover of the 2008 edition of 'Green Living for Dummies', showcasing Amy Todisco's role as the technical editor, emphasizing her expertise in sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

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. 

Fall beauty at Hartshorn Organic Farm in the Mad River Valley of Vermont where Amy Todisco lives

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 Green Living Essentials online courses, and Green Living Now Podcast!