Week 7 was another week of building the Sustainable Business Directory and we are now up to 575 businesses in the directory. Simply Living founder, Chuck Lynd, helped get a few more possible listings from like minded organizations. The first organization was the Ohio Ecological Food & Form Association (OEFFA). They are focused on sustainable farming and cuisine, meaning the food we eat is locally grown and sourced with organic practices which is both sustainable and good for the environment. Similarly to the “Green Spot Business” tag we gave businesses partnered with Green Spot, OEFFA businesses were given a “OEFFA Member” tag. The reasoning behind these tags is to build a solid network of organizations with the similar goal of sustainability within our community. The second organization was Green Energy Ohio (GEO). They emphasize the importance of renewable energy while promoting policies that also add value to the economy AND environment.  If you are interested in renewable energy and supporting local businesses, I would recommend looking into Kinnard’s LLC. Kinnard’s LLC is a small business out of Heath, Ohio that installs solar systems. Founder Brandon Kinnard was a former electrician for 20+ years who decided to start his own business due to his passion for renewable energy. Solar energy is the way of the future if we want to conserve the natural resources Earth has to offer. GEO’s tag is “Green Energy Ohio Member.” These tags will help connect people to the resources our community has to offer regarding sustainability. Furthermore, these tags are helping Simply Living grow as an organization by further building relationships with other well-known organizations that have like minded objectives. The Sustainable Business Directory will not only be a great resource for our community, but a way for Simply Living to grow as an organization through strong connections.