Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: Biophilic Design for Health + Sustainability
Sheri Davidson: 0:19
Hi friends, welcome to the wellness inspired podcast. I'm your host, Sheri Davidson. And as always, I'm here with my co host, Ben. And who is Finn, if you're new to the podcast Well, if you don't know he's my terrier mix, rescue dog and very loyal companion. And we are super excited you are here today because I had a great conversation with Kimberly Phipps Nicole about biophilic design. Now, this topic is not new to the podcast. In episode seven, I had another great conversation with Jackie berry on biophilic design. And that episode, we talked about our connection to nature and how to incorporate natural elements into our environment for health benefits. And what benefits do we get from bringing outdoor in? Well, it can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, increase the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, increased recovery time and better healing outcomes. It can decrease pain medication, and hospital stays. It can improve cognitive performance, enhance moods and enhance creativity. So if you're interested, check out Episode Seven with Jackie Berry. Now on to this episode biophilic design has another important aspect. That is sustainability. Nature is amazing. It does not waste anything and it is incredibly efficient. So let's look to nature for guidance. biophilic design can help create more sustainable built environments by incorporating features like natural daylight and ventilation. biophilic design can reduce our reliance on energy intensive systems like artificial lighting and air conditioning. In addition, using materials that are locally sourced and environmentally friendly can help to reduce the environmental impact of a built environment. So ultimately, biophilic design is about creating healthy, comfortable and sustainable spaces that support the health and well being of both people and the planet. Kimberly is a commercial interior designer full of experience, passion and expertise. I have to say I learned a lot in this conversation, and I hope you do too. But before I fully introduce you to her and jump into the conversation, I have a teaser for upcoming episodes. Are you familiar with Fung Shui? It is the Chinese art and practice of spatial arrangement orientation and the relation to the flow of energy or chi to create a sense of balance and harmony. And one important goal of Fung Shui is to promote health and wellness by improving the flow of energy in your environment. To help us understand this, I invited Frankie Hickson, a Fung Shui practitioner here in Houston onto the podcast to talk about the benefits of Fung Shui for help. So please tune in it's going to be a great episode. Also coming up. I have a running adventure report from my trail race in Colorado. It was the inaugural Durango Skyline trail race. I did the 30k My friend Jason did 50k. And my friend Kathleen and Jason's wife did the 50 miler, this report will be a little different because I'm doing it with my two friends, Kathleen and Jason. We did the race together. So I thought it'd be fun to talk about it together. Because one of the things that keeps me running is my friends. So I hope you join us for for that episode as well. Okay, so now I'd like to fully introduce you to Kimberly. I have known Kimberly for probably going on three years now. But it wasn't until I sat down and had this conversation with her and read her bio, that I realized how integrated her life is. How authentic her life is. You know, you can't talk about one part of her life without talking about the other. And I just I love that. I think it's amazing. I have a great appreciation for that and I am sure that you will find that as well. So Kimberly is the owner of Blue Water studios. A commercial design and planning firm. Blue Water studio exists to create beautiful responsible designs that are specially tailored to each client building and community. She is a daughter of a pediatric nurse and respiratory therapist. Kimberly grew up working in several health care facilities. Early on she witnessed numerous ailments that were suspicious and origin. Many of these ailments seemingly exacerbated by occupancy within certain buildings or near polluting industries. This experience left a lasting impression that underscores Kimberly's purpose and healthy, sustainable built environments. Beyond owning Blue Water studio. Kimberly is also co founder of Houston Emporium, a retail space celebrating all things hemp, and she does this with her husband, Dr. Winn Tom Griggs. They aim to educate and elevate the conversation about hemp. And it is a perfect fit for Kimberly's goal to make every possible experience or material more sustainable for their clients. And that's not all. In addition to these fun adventures. Kimberly is also co founder of rocky design. Roki is a silk scarf accessory company that aims to produce sustainable wearable works of art while supporting nonprofit organizations collaborating with amazing artists and repurposing vintage luxury scarves. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I hope you do too. So without further ado, let's jump in. Hi, Kimberly. Hi, Sherry. How are you? I'm good. Welcome to the podcast. I am so glad we we finally made this happen.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 6:06
I'm super happy to be here. Thanks
Sheri Davidson: 6:08
for the invite. Yeah, absolutely. Today we're going to talk about biophilic design. Yeah, and for people who don't know, Biophilia was a term coined by Edward Wilson. And it was our innate connection to nature, and that we seek it out. Yes. And then there's biophilic design, which is the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and our communities. Right. So I had a podcast, it was episode seven. With Jackie Berry, we talked about biophilic design, she is a interior designer and a landscape designer. So we're going to talk about biophilic design, again, we'll throw a different spin on it. So I think what I would like to do is allow you to introduce yourself, and tell people who you are, and then we'll jump in.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 7:01
Awesome. Well, like I said before, thank you again for the invite. So my name is Kimberly Phipps, Nicole, and I am the lucky lady who is full owner of a design studio here in Houston called Blue Water studio. And that practice focuses on design and planning for commercial real estate projects. I don't do any residential, because I don't have that kind of patience. It takes a lot of paint. It takes a lot of hand holding. I really admire residential designers, they they have the capacity that I don't have. I did
Sheri Davidson: 7:41
I did corporate design. Yeah, as a corporate design. And then I did one year of residential when I was in Austin, right?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 7:48
It's so different. It's very different. So different. So I love commercial design, because it's about the business case. And you know, your approach is different. Yeah. So. So that's what Blue Water studio focuses on. And we're really in the healthcare community and sustainability space. And so any type of project that really checks those boxes, we are certainly interested in and I'm focusing mostly on smaller type projects, I don't need to hold office building, you know, multiple floor type of project sort of thing to be fulfilled. So that's Bluewater studio and actually started that in 2004. In Northern Nevada, okay. And so I love that it's, it's always been Plan A for me. And so I love being on Plan A for design. So I went to design school, straight out of high school. And so I'm coming up on my 29th year of being in design.
Sheri Davidson: 8:48
Congratulations. That's,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 8:49
yeah, it's a lot what I turned 50 this year. So it's like big year all around and so much fun. And I really
Sheri Davidson: 8:56
love so much experience.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 8:57
Oh, yes. Well, I have seen some things. And then the other two businesses, which still again, sort of orbit around the idea of sustainability, which in my family, I grew up with sailors and outdoors, folks,
Sheri Davidson: 9:15
you know, you know, I love this story.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 9:19
Oh, it's about leaving it better than they found it. Yeah. And being being so responsible and responsive to the earth that that is that is our home, really. And so we with that in mind, my husband and I launched Houston Emporium in October of 2019, which is pre pandemic. Try launching a retail sort of brick and mortar type space, not not an online store, but real brick and mortar because for us it was about being a resource. So, Houston Emporium is really about educating and elevating the Congress sation around hemp, I think that's so important. Yes. Education. Yeah. Because when you can make an informed decision, then you feel like you're exerting personal control over yourself. And it seems like these days, we've lost a lot of that as humanity. And we're really looking for ways to be able to get control of our lives back. And then, and then the third company that I'm a partner in is called Roki design. And we specialize in silk scarves and accessories. And those are both new production items for collaborations like with nonprofit organizations. So I'm a stroke survivor. And so we produced a scarf in partnership with the American Heart Association and their Go Red For Women luncheon event. So that Heartland bloom scarf was a way that we could use our ability to create something beautiful to also give back to something that's very meaningful, because the Heart Association here in Houston, is who helped sponsor the mobile stroke unit that was called to save my life. Oh, really. And so that's why I always love supporting, especially health care type nonprofits. But the Heart and Stroke Association, they're actually one organization, they have two branches. And so because of that, I love that that the Heart Association funded the stroke units, because those are super critical. They have additional training and medications on board, that if it really looks like someone is having a stroke, that they're able to administer those before you even get on the ambulance to get to the hospital. And it when it comes to things like stroke and heart, that's life saving lifesaver. Yes. And so with Roki design, we do things like nonprofit, like I mentioned, or collaborate with both up and coming or established artists to create their art on silk as a wearable piece of art. And then one of my favorite things, which is repurpose, where I get to work with a lot of vintage, luxury silk scarves, and make new things out of them. And that could be a big thing like a pillow because the scarf is largely in good shape, or if I find something that's really not in good shape. And I can make smaller things out of it. lapel pins and little purses and headbands and all sorts of things that allow us to keep things even if they are not in their most beautiful state as they are repurposing them and celebrating them in a different way and giving it new life, keeping stuff out of the landfill, which is super important. Yes. And then that comes all the way back into design, again, because one of the books I brought with me actually is Natural Capitalism, which I love. And Paul Hawken partnered with Amory and Hunter lemons back when they were still married, and created this great book, but they talk about biomimicry. I've heard of that before, and so their definition of biomimicry is reducing the wasteful throughput of materials. Indeed, eliminating the very idea of waste can be accomplished by redesigning industrial systems on biological lines, that change the nature of the industrial process and materials and enabling the constant reuse of materials in continuous close cycles. And often the elimination of toxicity and we hear little blurbs about things like circular fashion which is close cycles, these loops. How do we keep things from a causing deforestation or degradation in the original use? And how do we keep them from becoming waste afterwards because in nature, truly in nature, there is no way there's no way waste is food for the next round. And so by taking that approach and being more responsible, just trying to do our part, and it's efficient, nature's efficient nature is extremely efficient. I loved the during the pandemic when a lot of us had to be indoors a lot. Some of the new studies or a really the I guess you could call them films or just fun little programming on mushrooms, and then fungus and like the world underneath the soil.
Sheri Davidson: 14:25
Amazing. It Have you seen the mycelium furniture?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 14:28
You know what I have seen mycelium furniture I've also seen it used for insulation purposes. It's fascinating and kind of like coming back to the hemp to hemp has 1000s of uses. Yeah. And being in the built environment as my main industry. I love learning about all the different ways that you can use him.
Sheri Davidson: 14:52
So I have to stop because I started to say this earlier, you probably know that I'm going to ask you to tell the story about your family history and help you because it's amazing. Thank you.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 15:03
Thank you. So I am, I am fortunate to have very well documented family tree. So I didn't, I didn't have to go through all the genealogy tests and then 23andme Because my mom is one of those folks who had hurt her entire family tree, all sides, all branches, all roots, everything to be from original Massachusetts Bay Colony founding families. So we are talking early to mid 1600s. At that time, if you were a colonist then you were expected to grow hemp. Hemp was known worldwide as one of the strongest fibers you could possibly have. And really rivals and a lot of people don't realize how strong silk is. And so hammer and silk are so delicate. Well, that's what you think and silk and glass when created in very long, thin strand forms, and then twisted, extraordinary tensile strength. So it's another thing that is just amazing about this federal material,
Sheri Davidson: 16:13
just kind of like the egg right like there. It's very fragile. But if you can put all this pressure, right, like I think it's from the top to the bottom, and you can't break it. Yeah,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 16:22
yeah, exactly. You break it from the outside. It's a bad thing. When broken from the inside. It starts new life. And so it's really interesting. Yeah, that approach and so we were hemp farmers, I'm actually descended from n number of founding families and my family were Adams, and Phipps. And so growing hemp, especially for sales, and ropes, we were I'm not proud of my family having been whalers. But we were whalers. At a time when whale oil was really important for being able to get work done at night, being able to have cooking oil, and all of those things where we were, it's where we where it's most unfortunate, but it is where we were. And so I have a lot of really interesting deep family roots in that New England area. But hemp has has been part of it until it was really unfortunately, grouped together with as it was called marijuana with an H and made illegal in the late 1930s. And so we had a little brief sort of relief of that where we had the hemp for victory push during World War Two. And that was because in the Pacific Theater, we couldn't get our hemp from the Philippines anymore, which is where the vast majority of our templates coming from after 1937, and after World War Two. So had that worked great. Then they just said, Yep, stop growing it again. So it was really kind of ridiculous. Then, in the 80s and 90s. Canada and especially British Columbia were like you know what, we're going to do this industrial hemp thing and really opened my eyes because I was coming through high school and college at the time, and trying to learn all sorts of things that I could about materiality because I was studying design, and learned that they were growing and producing hemp fiber up there. And it was like finally something that was on our own continent because really, if we wanted hemp here in the West as a fabric, we had to order it from China and India, the main places that really didn't stop production of hemp fiber. And so there are still a lot of manufacturers in both of those countries that work in hemp. Really though my favorite hemp comes from Italy, I will say they because they're such a part of the Silk Road and they have really worked to refine how they spin and weave hemp fibers with silk. So it's soft, and it's young. It feels really good. And you're going to Italy in a week. I am leaving for Italy one week from today, because my business partner, Rosalyn and I, in the Roepke soak design. We already have one silk mill up in the Lake Como area that we work with, we'll be interviewing a couple of more, so that we are doing some advanced work in hopes that production needs increase to the point that we need to make sure that we have some backup plans. But really, the first question that we asked when we were looking at these mills is what their environmental certifications are because we want to make sure that the products that we're producing are being done so in a responsible manner. We like meaning one of the purposes of visiting the mill is to also ensure that it's not sweatshop conditions, which largely in these older silk mills in it believe that's not going to be a problem, because they're really proud of their work, and they love it. And people do this for generations. So we're super excited to go and meet these folks in person, and really see how these things are made. beyond the traditional sort of videos that you can see.
Sheri Davidson: 20:17
So we're looking forward, there's a lot of history, like you said, there, a lot of a lot of experience. And the regulations are different
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 20:25
they are especially environmental processing regulations, you know, in a lot of places, they want what's called process water, which is the water used to during the process of creating whatever your manufacturing, especially in Europe, they really want that process water that comes out of the plant to be cleaner than when it went in potentially drinkable. And so that means that you know, those, those heavy metals, dyes and those kinds of things are no bueno there, which we, we feel very good about too, because obviously, we don't want to contribute.
Sheri Davidson: 21:01
Yeah, that's your whole mission not to absolutely to do that. So
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 21:04
the whole idea, is it my personal mission with any business that I'm involved in is that it has it has to move me emotionally and spiritually challenged me mentally, but but really, sustainability is always what I'm going for.
Sheri Davidson: 21:22
Yeah, well, I think that's really great. And that your passion really comes through with that. And that. And I think that's important, because a lot of people put that on their brands and on their label, and they don't have that passion, they don't really care,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 21:35
we call that green wash is that green. And that's been a problem for many, many years, I think really, even pre, in our in our design industry, it was it's called LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a certification process for buildings where you can really kind of create a measurable scorecard on the decisions that you've made along the way, and how they will be more responsible and improve the impact on on the humans who are occupying it, rather than just going in as status quo. Because really business as usual, is why we're having some of these accelerated climate change problems, whether it's fashion, or whether it is the built environment and construction, both of those industries are exceedingly responsible for everything from dirty process water to just wholesale, absolute destruction of where raw materials come from in order to harvest them or use them. And so trying to be more connected to how the things are made. And then more responsible is, it might be a little world. But every step matters every step, and we have to do what we can.
Sheri Davidson: 22:52
We can only do what we can, we should be doing what we can I'm not
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 22:55
I'm not saying we all do, but we should hopefully so so do
Sheri Davidson: 23:00
you. Why No, LEED is for businesses, it is for buildings in general. So it can be a home. So there is I can't remember. Okay,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 23:10
is LEED for Neighborhood Development. So it can create an entire development? Yeah, that's designed on these responsible principles. It's called the LEED nd. But there is also LEED for Homes, which I had experienced. Because when I said earlier that I don't do residential, I have done designed for multifamily housing, which is kind of that really interesting space between commercial and residential, because I'm designing for the developer and the investment group, rather than for individual units. And we're creating sort of standards and expectations. Yeah, but I'm not going through and picking fabric colors with residential class, which I don't have the patience for.
Sheri Davidson: 23:50
Yeah. You need it. Yes.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 23:54
You absolutely. Do. I honor them. Great. Yes. Well know how they do
Sheri Davidson: 23:58
it. So your clients or people asking for it.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 24:02
You know, it's funny, moving to Texas, yeah, Houston. But really Texas, specifically 10 years ago, I moved here from the northern Nevada Northern California area. So all of my projects prior to moving here, it was an expectation. It just was expected that even if you didn't want a certificate certification, or to have something that the plaque that you hang on your door, you would design and build to those standards and then utilize the money you would have spent on certification on some other component within that to make it more impactful. And so LEED really is for buildings in that regard. But it is not as as embraced here in Texas. But what is interesting is we are seeing more folks understand the impact of the built environment on the occupants. And so we see a new process called well, that well desirable design, which really allows owners and operators to focus on creating a better built environment for the occupants and the business's bottom line. And some some of the environmental responsibility is easily fits into that. But you do have certain conflicts, like the early lead process, it's focused on energy efficiency was a little bit of a sacrifice in the occupant experience because of how they would condition spaces, right, and how they would do their lighting. And so just because it's more energy efficient by the numbers, doesn't mean it's more effective. For the people who are occupants actually occupying the space and all business owners know our people are our biggest car, right? More so than our space. And so Steve, I can positively impact my people with my space. It's almost like a dual saving. Yeah. And so really thinking about how I create a, hopefully an inspiring and enlightening and wonderful space for those occupants will mean that the business financially benefits by people are happier at work, they're healthier at work, they're not missing days, because they're in a toxic environment that's off gassing and causing them to have migraines and asthma attacks and all of those things. So it really is beneficial cognition, absolutely. Creativity, absolutely. All of those things that reduces stress. But the idea is that because you're focusing on the human element, rather than just being perceived as some sort of tree hugger, yeah, I like to hug trees, I think 32 And I love trees. But not all, not everyone uses that as a decision making point in our business. And so you have to meet people where they are, you have to understand what's important to each business owner that you're designing for, so that you're really being appropriate in your concepts and solutions. Yeah,
Sheri Davidson: 27:12
yeah. It seems like the well design is more human centered very much. So. And we need is more about the numbers and efficiency and environment.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 27:24
Yeah, yeah, has been Yeah, I think we will eventually see a really interesting connection, collaboration, and maybe marriage of some of our existing certification programs. We did see that with health care lead for health care, and the green guide for healthcare. And those pilot programs eventually kind of became one. And so I got to work on a pilot project for the green guide for health care, which was a small clinic, it was really interesting going through that process. And we were always looking at alignments versus differences across that certification. But by the time we were done, they had come together. So what was it called Green, green guy, g, g, h. C, green guide for healthcare, which it doesn't exist in that format, anymore, because it became so married with LEED for health care.
Sheri Davidson: 28:14
And so what did that would tell our listeners and including me, because I don't know what that is. So
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 28:18
So healthcare projects, you talk about like the extra Whammies healthcare projects can be more challenging design to design because we have so many additional codes and expectations that either come from the state health department specifically, or that the clients are asking for because their patients have things like multiple chemical sensitivities, or we need to think about the materiality of what we're putting into a, an infusion space at the Cancer Hospital because these folks are so immunocompromised from their treatments, that they couldn't be more exposed to off gassing, and those kinds of things. So green guide for healthcare, really looked at that, but it also looked at that output. Remember how we were talking about process water and manufacturing. In healthcare, that's extremely difficult, because a lot of things have to be incinerated, there's a ton of plastic waste because of the way that they prepare surgical instruments and all of that, and, and trust me, sterile spaces are hugely important when the body is exposed, and those elements are out there. So I understand that there are things that still have to be done. So what do we do with those waste products, so that we're not complicating the environment, whether it has to do with incineration, and like a waste heat recovery system that doesn't allow the off gassing of the products that are being burned or there are different approaches for how they can turn some of the the either maybe a rooftop space or some of the property at the back end and into a garden where they He can grow some of the food for the hospital. And you're saying, so it's, it's really it's really cool. It's a great process. And like, like I said, it was fun being a part of one of those pilot projects. It total like naturopathic doctor space, you would have really dug. Yeah, that clinics. Oh, yeah. But yeah, people are there, they're more likely to accept it if they understand the human element, rather than just painting the environmental picture. Yeah, yeah.
Sheri Davidson: 30:31
When you talk to a client, I'm assuming they because this is a mission of yours, and I'm sure you're very upfront with it. Right? It is something that you are on track to do is to make the world a better place, I hope and a healthier place. Right, right. How do you when you when you meet somebody, how do you begin to tell them are? What am I trying to ask you here? Like, how do they do they choose you because of that, I guess, is my question. Do they?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 31:02
That's a great question. I could say here in Texas, I have had a couple of people choose me. Okay, because of that. So for instance, the intersection of health care. And sustainability really meets at places like fertility clinics, because a lot of folks don't realize that within the interior environment of a fertility clinic, even paints and adhesives, they can off gas, certain materials that can cause the premature death of the goods in the lab. And so you're, you're creating a very specific environment. In those it's almost like a microclimate. It's a very highly controlled air lock system, that sort of thing. Because obviously, people are entrusting you with their, their components to be able to hopefully become present pregnant in the future. And so the sustainability side of it is a super natural fit for places like fertility clinics, because they all they in some cases have higher requirements for materials that don't off gas than even some environmental ones, because they're not in business, if they're harvesting, right, egg and sperm, and then they die in the lab because of off gassing materials, right. So that's where you see them together. And people are specifically looking for someone who has that kind of experience. But by and large, when it when it's offices or community spaces or those kinds of things. I, for me, it's we talked about it on our website, but it's really about, I simply don't keep reference materials in my library that I don't think are passing my health and wellness expectations anyway. So I simply don't specify products that I don't feel measure up to your health and healthy indoor environment, right. So it's just something you do, it's just something we do and, and if it's a standalone building, where you have an opportunity to create that connection between the indoors and the outdoors, and you can do more biophilic connection and really help invest in the people by creating that connection and making it more accessible than we absolutely do that. But sometimes you're in an office building where you're just a small suite and a huge building. And so all we're doing is working with you and the contractor and the landlord on what can we do for light fixtures? What can we do for HVAC controls and comfort controls? And then how do I design the most physically efficient when I'm sure that you had this in your time in design, you get the existing floor plan for a space and then you look at the program the client has given you. And ideally, if I'm looking at a lot of second generation space, especially if those spaces are older, I'm really I'm trying to be creative about reusing as many components as possible, even if the the feel is going to be totally different. If there is a way that I can repurpose the materials like take all the interior doors, for example, if I can reuse those in some way more creatively, but demolition of walls always means there's trash always means there's a strain on the HVAC system. So how do we creatively reuse as many components as possible without sacrificing the program and really making it feel like it was designed for them. So that's another way to is thinking about creative, respectful reuse, and not just going in and flattening everything from scratch.
Sheri Davidson: 34:56
So interesting because I did design a long time ago I've been Now out of it for I mean, of longtime hot minute a hot
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 35:06
it's used it's a hot minute a few hot.
Sheri Davidson: 35:10
But I don't remember thinking about design in that way. I mean, I've always been connected to nature. I have a biophilic response I just got back from Colorado. I did a race there. So I was in the mountains. And I just love it like it's been I've always been that way. So when I was going through design school, a lot of my projects, I would incorporate more of the natural elements, right. But I never thought about the sustainability and the breaking down of walls and the trash. And you know, I never thought about any of that. Yeah, until just now. Yeah. So I think that's awesome. And it makes me be more mindful now and conscious of like, what happens when you do that? You know, one of the things one of my complaints about Houston and I love you. So I'm a native Houstonian is we tear everything down? Yeah, we everything,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 36:00
everything. And because we don't have historical structures, like some of the older bigger cities like New York, or Philly or Austin, we don't have as many emotional connections, maybe though to those spaces. And so we don't see them as precious and valued and the need to preserve them. Yeah, that was a similar experience. So when I tell people I lived in Northern Nevada, people were like, oh, did you work in Vegas? And I was like, no, no, never. I never, I never did a project in Vegas. And, and that's because Las Vegas. whole ethos is about a complete reinvention of itself every so many years or decades, and that is highly destructive. Yeah. And I never really wanted to participate in in projects, where it was just a constant raising of everything that was there and rebuilding new again, I wanted to be more creative in that. And I love older buildings. Like so much character family is from Boston and New York. 1600s. It's like, there's a lot of beauty and, and there's energy in those spaces, which I really, really love and diversity,
Sheri Davidson: 37:17
you know, because you might have a really old building, and then the modern building next to it. Like I love that.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 37:22
Yes. And we see that in some really cool European cities, where, you know, they they have done a really good job of preserving some of the buildings, and then they'll come in with this beautiful glass box structure next to it. That's very modern. The juxtaposition of those two, I think just makes both of them more beautiful.
Sheri Davidson: 37:41
Yeah, I agree. I agree. Well, I love that just an interior design. Like I love rustic with modern. Yeah, that's, that's my that's my thing. So I love small spaces, with big pieces. Just really weird. Like I have I live in an old 1930s apartment. Oh, no way. Yes, it's in the architect's name is still on it. And my landlord he is I don't know if you know, John Doe, but John Doe. So it's his one of his property. Oh, very cool. And he bought it when it was rundown at a good price. Yep. And he restored it. Exactly. And I it's, I love it there.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 38:20
We have a number of developers here in the Houston area that are more savvy like that, where they really, instead of just going out and buying raw land all the time and waving their magic wand and coming up with some new thing they really do consider, like all the old warehouses and green spaces in the arts district and all of that, if we can celebrate them, yeah, gold coffee building and like all of these things. I love that. I just really, I love being in those spaces.
Sheri Davidson: 38:52
I do too. There's just something special about it very much. So yeah, that's really great. So we talked a little bit about the sustainability piece of biophilic design, but let's jump into the space itself and that kind of human that human centered design and how incorporating more natural elements like my space is very biophilic. I have this huge glass huge glass wall that overlooks a courtyard courtyard. Yeah, it's really great. And I actually talked about on my website, I talk about biophilic design, because I really believe in the healing power of nature. Absolutely. So let's talk a little bit about that. And well, we are nature we are you're right, you're absolutely our we are and
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 39:38
so when we have spent so much time creating this division of space and separating ourselves from nature, I think our bodies and our minds and our spirits have really been crying out to us. I'm gonna say at least for the last 30 to 40 years if not more, really. I know it's terrible cuz We're here in the south, right? But it's air conditioning changed our relationship with with occupied space. Because we we went pre air conditioning, we had to naturally event ventilate our homes, our apartments, we had operable windows, we had fans, we had transom windows over our doors on the interior environment because hot air rises. And so as it rises during those works for, right make sense, and you try to have lower cooler air come in and flush the space. And so, and that actually is why I love there are some really interesting naturally ventilated buildings, it doesn't work in all places, I understand that. But air conditioning really changed our relationship with the outdoor environment. And I think so many of us, you know, going back a few generations now, I've never had no air conditioning. So we wouldn't even understand how to use the locations of the windows in our spaces if they were operable in the first place to use them at different times and in different ways to create that natural air flesh in the spaces. So that in especially that boy, once you had the air conditioning, right, you created the ability to have skyscrapers with sealed and entirely sealed envelope, which is a real disconnect from the outdoors if I can open a window. So when I go to like New York, San Francisco, a lot of these older cities, I specifically asked the hotel, just do your rooms have operable windows? Yes, I realize in some cities that you don't want that necessarily because of the smog. But for me, I like hearing the city. When I wake up in the morning, I want to open the window and hear the city awakening with me because that connection, that's a connection. Yeah. And so I'm very grateful that I still have all of my senses at capacity to be able to see how beautiful the city is here it feel it more tasted green food. But um, yeah, that's been a that's been I think the biggest challenge with people's connection to the the environment and what has happened in the village environment. So we definitely have people asking questions like, do you think we could do a rooftop garden? So then it comes down to do you own the building? Right? If you don't own the building, then this is a landlord conversation. And then if the landlord is open to the conversation, then the very next question that you do is ask them is who's your structural engineer, because you have, you know, it just because a building has a flat roof does not mean that it can have a rooftop garden because of the weight of the materials and the water and all of those things. And so that is is probably one of the number one amenities that we're seeing newly requested, like Texas and rooftop gardens, you wouldn't necessarily think that they go together, but a lot of people are also connecting the heat island effect, which is, you know, this this phenomenon where areas of high density urban environments can range wildly in temperatures within the same city. And so you can have a really dense urban core that's 10 to 15 degrees warmer than some of the outlying areas where you have access to parks, older trees, or closeness to the buyers or things that allow for breeze movement or air refresh in a way that the dense urban core doesn't. So it's really interesting having people asking about rooftop gardens
Sheri Davidson: 43:53
that's interesting. Yeah. I love i Well, foods getting so expensive now we might
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 44:02
basil in my backyard right now I live in a townhome so in containers on my patio, but Yeah, same thing
Sheri Davidson: 44:09
we need. We need some gardens, maybe some rooftop gardens. Yeah, we do we do.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 44:13
And let us not forget the healing power of Yes, dirty. Okay. So this is one thing that societally I think that we've really gone sideways on is, is we don't let our kids get real. And there are still you know, a lot of savvy parents and places where they get it, but the microbes in that dirt so important. They help the human body create resistance to things like viruses and bacterias because they give them very, very, very low dose exposures in safe spaces in a long period of time. And that's super important for you know, building up that personal immunity. So like My stepdad is in his mid 80s. He grew up on a farm, right and so he has been around farm life for so long that he really hasn't been sick very much like he he's had some some heart challenges with those kinds of things. But when you talk about like flus and colds, and all that kind of stuff, he just he grew up in the dirt, working really hard from a young age. And I'm not saying farm life is for everybody. But I loved getting dirty as a kid. And I think especially for our young girls, yeah, they need to know that getting dirty is a good thing. A good thing. Yes.
Sheri Davidson: 45:40
Yeah, the I was on a zoom call, I think this was during the pandemic. And it was with a global wellness Institute. And they were talking about dirty wellness. And it was, it was a joke. But then I read something a few, I think few months ago, that it was actually a movement. But yeah, calling it dirty wellness, that we need to get dirty. And we are spending so much time trying to stay clean. And all the sanitation and or the hand sanitizer
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 46:10
is really bad for the skin. It's it's bad for wastewater treatment. I mean, there are many, many things that go into that. And quite frankly, I just think you need to learn how to climb a tree and go up and sit in a tree and read a book, which was one of my favorite things growing up as a little bit of a tomboy. So I'm an only child and and I was a total daddy's girl. So if my mom taught me to sew, when I was five, which she did, my dad taught me to shoot when I was five, because he felt like every place along the way of growth. If society thought that something should be taught to a girl, he also taught it to me from the boys perspective, in that I'm going to hopefully pour into you and reassure you that you are capable of anything. Yeah. And shouldn't be limited by anything. And so I loved shooting with my dad and hiking and camping and being in the dirt. As much as I love textiles and being with my mom and my grandma and my aunties and anybody who taught passed on the love of fiber arts. Yeah. So
Sheri Davidson: 47:18
sounds good.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 47:18
I carry outside.
Sheri Davidson: 47:20
I do too. It sounds I'm the only child. Yeah. And my parents did the exact same thing. So I love getting dressed up. And I love design, and I love things that are all beautiful. And then I love to trail run. And I love being out there for hours and dirt. And yeah, yeah, I totally get it and being
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 47:42
over here, right. You knew I was gonna talk about such a good job of protecting race while we're here.
Sheri Davidson: 47:49
I know. My co host. He's, uh, he was on the trails this weekend. Yeah. And I will trail buddy. Yeah. So yeah. And
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 47:56
he, he is looking great. We've talked about this before, because I know that he's had some health challenges and whatever y'all are doing lately, he was jumping around like a three year old when I got here. And that's beautiful.
Sheri Davidson: 48:07
Yes, I know. I'm so happy to see it. He's, you know, one day I was sitting on the sofa. And he would, he was jumping on the sofa. He jumps on the bed. But it was a low, low jump. Like he was barely making it onto the sofa in the bed. And that was for almost a year. Yeah. But he seemed fine. It wasn't in a lot of pain. And then the vet gave me some I think it was telling you the plant based
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 48:33
some anti inflammatory and anti spasmodic. Yes, yeah.
Sheri Davidson: 48:37
antispasmodic and some pain meds and I put half one in his food every night. And he launched onto the sofa one day, and I looked at him. And I was like, Finn. Your mother is so happy right now.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 48:53
Yes, yes. Just wonderful to see him. Yeah. Just be.
Sheri Davidson: 48:57
Oh, no. Yeah. Very cool. Well, you brought some other stuff here. So
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 49:03
I just brought books because I think it's important to realize that just because something is is popular and being talked about now, doesn't mean that it's a new idea. Right. So, you know, I was quoting from Natural Capitalism earlier. And I am trying to remember like, I believe it was the 90s that this came out. Okay. And 1999 Yeah. And so obviously 20 plus year old concept just on on this Natural Capitalism approach, not even like as a built environment, sort of
Sheri Davidson: 49:37
when Edward Wilson coined the term Biophilia late 1887
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 49:43
or something like that. Yeah. And I was really fortunate to see him speak, as well as somebody that really looked up to him, which is Janine Benyus, who's also in the built environment. And she's really kind of making that connection from that, that biophilic approach that EO Wilson started to how we use that in the built environment. And so I've been trying to catch her speaking at conferences for well, more than 20 years on this particular subject too, because she talks about how materiality wise, we can do a better job. And then the biomimicry side of really looking at how do we how do we create an exterior paint, that means that all I have to do is paint the surface, and then whenever it rains, it washes off all of the dirt, and I don't need to power wash or it doesn't harbor things that cause haze, or mold, or those kinds of buildup, right? And when can we then also make that paint not only quote unquote, self cleaning like that, but can that paint also have some thermal qualities so that the interior environment is not attracting and retaining as much of the heat from the outside in the summertime. So it's really interesting to see a lot of the different approaches that people are using. Yeah, and even with some of the interior materials, you know, there are flooring companies, especially whether they're a carpet company or a sheet goods company, because again, I'm in healthcare, right. And so we do have to use flooring materials that are not necessarily 100%, Kosher or super environmentally responsible, but they do the best that they can to create the the sustainable environment and still create the perfectly cleanable scrubbable, sterile environment. But even even flooring companies talk a lot about Biophilia and biomimicry, and trying to use elements of design with nature within the design and materiality of their products, so that they're doing their part to help designers add to the sort of resource box of components when in the whole system to be as responsible as possible. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sheri Davidson: 52:14
Yeah, that's very, very cool. So healthcare is one of the first places that I saw biophilic design, right. And a lot of research was done on how if there was a window, or even a picture of a tree, that it would lower their medication, it would shorten their stay,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 52:33
they realize breath blood pressure may help help with even the that sort of experience of like you were saying, shorten this day because I have better outcomes if I am feeling better about the space that I am in where I'm convalescing. So you, you are exactly right. Healthcare was one of the early ones, there's a process in healthcare called plane tree, which I've been studying since the late 80s. And I've gotten to work on a couple of plane tree projects. And they are really patient and family centered care modes. But it's not just design. It's really like a whole holistic thing. And a lot of people might not know this, but but VA hospitals have the option to sign on to become a plane tree certified space. But that means that they have to really rethink their administrative approach their team members approach as well as the design of their spaces. And so and that comes down to just really interesting little things like, you know, used to be when we're designing public space, we're designing the code, minimum requirements for things like stairwells, right. And a lot of times they're emergency egress, they're only they can only be located in certain spaces, and they have to be this width. And that, you know, that is what it is. So things like plane tree, and even the well building approach, encourage people to use stairs for their own health and well being instead of elevators, right. It's certainly more electric and environmentally responsible. But it's good for exercise. If you do have potentially a sedentary job within the healthcare environment, it's a really good way to get the exercise. And so now we're seeing the idea that stairwells shouldn't be these ugly gray, just Mason rack in the back of the house. You want people to actually utilize them. And if you want to train them that this is a great way to help achieve these things. You have to make it so that it's user friendly and attractive.
Sheri Davidson: 54:46
little nudge design. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. So which i i love nudge design.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 54:52
Hey, you know what, when when we design commercial spaces, and especially companies that employ a lot of people I spend a lot of time working with the leadership on what organizational changes. Have you been trying to incorporate that this project? could better support? Yeah, right. So there is no time like the present, but especially when you're going to redesign a space to truly do it in a way that supports the internal relationships, and communications that the companies are really in need of. And so it's, it's a good opportunity to do it.
Sheri Davidson: 55:36
Yeah. And you find people are open to it,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 55:38
they are because they're already they're already making change, right. And so, and I know, you worked at a firm that was really big into this, but change management is a huge industry. And it's not just specific to architecture and design. You know, there are companies that need to undergo change management, whether it's because of mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy proceedings, there's all kinds of things where there's a cultural shift that needs to happen, and you need people who help in that transition, and change management is a big part of that. We just ended up naturally doing it as part of the design process, if we're, if we're really invested in our clients and their people. I mean, there's always a percentage of people in the industry that are literally just like slapdash, they're just gonna read the code, and they're just gonna give you specs. And that's it. And that happens too. But to really invest in your people as an organization. redesign of a space is a great way to also up the ante on the on the communications strategies.
Sheri Davidson: 56:47
And the interesting thing with design is that when you're designing for people, a lot of the times they don't know, they're not conscious of what's happening. Yeah, but they'll have a completely different experience of a space that is so positive,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 57:00
now walk in and just be like, Yeah, I feel like I'm at home, and I've never been here before. Yeah, I can't tell you. That's all how amazing you know, that feeling when you design spaces, and people are like, this is exactly what I would have envisioned. I'm just not a designer, and I never could have pulled it off. Because what are we, we're listeners, we're observers. And and hopefully, if we're doing our job in the design profession, in there are going to be some big companies that don't want to hear what I have to say big architecture for but I am not a fan of having so many repeat repeated elements. And design touches that you walk into the space and immediately know who the designer is, like, I don't want that in my space. Because it's not my ego. And I'm not designing for me, interesting, this really should be a customized solution for the people who are occupying the space. And it should really, maybe not screen because some people don't want it to be loud and over, but it should completely support the brand. And what that company is trying to accomplish. And I don't feel that if I come through and, and put all of my you know, these are all mine design touches. And I have to check this box of what I include in a project every time. Doesn't doesn't to me feel like it's a truly custom solution. And so, yeah, so there are certain details and sections and things that you keep in your library, because there's no point in recreating those things that are code expected. Yeah. But I am a huge fan of truly custom designs with Chinese medicine
Sheri Davidson: 58:43
is Yeah, right. It is beautiful,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 58:45
the way your wallet herbs and how you really spend all this time. My guess is that when you're getting to know a patient, it's like programming in design. And you're going through a series of questions that will hopefully enlighten you in how they got to where they are so that you can understand where those challenges and things that might be off kilter. And then you you combine your knowledge of all the resources available to create a customized solution. I think that's really beautiful. Yeah, well,
Sheri Davidson: 59:15
that's the only way to go. Right. Because we're all different. You know, I talk a lot, especially on the podcast, I talk a lot about exercise and movement, because I think it's one of the best things that you can do for your health are absolutely I run Yeah, right. But I can't go and say everybody should run five miles a day, right?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 59:31
I can't run. I have both knee and foot challenges. And so running is not an option for me. But boy do I love walking in a new city when
Sheri Davidson: 59:39
you get there and might be able to ride a bike. Like you could sweat. There's so many other things that you can do that you have to find what works for you. Yes. And you have to do that. Yeah, right, not what somebody else is doing. Yes, so Finn has
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 59:55
Finn Finn is also our head of PR and greeting and Sometimes when folks come into the building he likes to let them know that he is there is fabulous.
Sheri Davidson: 1:00:07
See, had something to say about that. Yes,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:00:12
exactly. He's like, I'm just I'm just you know, I'm co host and y'all weren't including me enough in this interview and so I need to make sure that I know I am here. Kimberly just the guest right? I'm sorry, I took your seat
Sheri Davidson: 1:00:28
making making his presence No, no,
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:00:30
what though? I think that's it's, it's beautiful and wonderful that you're in a space where you can bring your animal to work, you know, the take your dog to work day thing. And I, one of my favorite projects that I got to do LEED consulting for when they did a renovation, they had a lot of dogs, people were welcome to bring their dogs as long as it was super fun. They had people because they were right on a river. In downtown area, people would kayak to work.
Sheri Davidson: 1:01:02
That's awesome. I love that.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:01:04
Like, we actually had a place for bike storage and kayak storage. And it was an interesting thing, because in the lead process, you know, it's like, they want bike storage as part of the Sustainable Sites and transportation and reduction. They loved it when we turned in the certification that we showed them that because of the location to the river, and they were like, That's a great innovative add to that particular point.
Sheri Davidson: 1:01:30
Wow. Kayak to work.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:01:34
That would be so cool. In and the Friday Yeah, we're gonna go Yeah,
Sheri Davidson: 1:01:40
we kayak. I when we went to Austin, I took him kayaking on Lake Austin and he had his little life jacket on and Yeah, he did we do it, we would do it. I would walk to work. I'm two miles so it's a little too far. I thought about biking, but I always have my computers. I have the stuff that I have to lug around and sheets. And
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:02:05
it's also most unfortunate that here in Houston, we've become such a car culture biking here. There's some real safety challenges and and folks do not respect the two wheelers. They don't give you the space. I mean, even with the ordinance that you got to give a cyclist three feet of space, people don't do it. They don't do it really bad.
Sheri Davidson: 1:02:28
I when I trained for Ironman, I did a lot of my training in The Woodlands and I was on the bike. And we ran into a lot of that. And it was scary. You know, like that. You don't people don't realize that you are on a half inch tire. Yeah. And that one wrong movement. You're going down spilling? Yes.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:02:46
And just like with motorcycles, stopping distances. Yeah, they're different than vehicles, then, you know, an enclosed car. And so understanding that is crucial to safe roads.
Sheri Davidson: 1:02:59
They're putting a bike lane on Shepherd. Whoo. I think that would
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:03:03
be awesome. I think. Yeah, Luke Shepherd has been torn up the entire 10 years that I've lived here. It's not as bad as I 45, which has been torn up the entire 5040 plus years. My husband's been around here, but Shepherd is constantly under construction. So
Sheri Davidson: 1:03:21
it's on this side, torn up and now they're gonna they're gonna go all the way to the heights. Yes.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:03:27
Yes. Well, I think I think that would be amazing. You should also check out if you haven't already the the Columbia tap rail to trail. I've run that wonderful. Yeah. And there's more improvements happening. There's more there's. So I'm a Rotarian. And the Rotary Club of Houston skyline is doing a what's called Dakotas Grove, which was named after one of their members who, who passed very young. But he was really big into the environment. And he had created an environmental app for them. And so the piece grows there. It's trees that were planted and extra benches that were added to really create that connection, because there are parts of that trail that run parallel to very low income neighborhoods. But because of the way it was designed, they don't have access to that trail, because it's got a ditch on one side, and they can't cross over that like in the CUNY homes, Third Ward areas. And so they're looking at how do we they've been doing these really interesting sort of urban interactions where people will like, come up and build up like a bridge, just a footbridge so people can actually have that connection from the neighborhood and we're seeing more of those activities.
Sheri Davidson: 1:04:47
But trying to run down it right now because I've run that. Yeah, several times. Yeah. All the way into your veins. Yeah.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:04:54
Yeah. And it's amazing, you know, and it's a reclamation of an old rail trail. All right. And so the whole idea is of repurposing something into a community amenity that is very helpful for both have that that natural connection, but also to try to give people alternative transportation modes that are safer than just being on the streets all the time. I'm trying to think of the ditch, I can't really I think, because in some neighborhoods, you know, you're just not looking at how those areas connect. And sometimes where the trail is, you don't necessarily see that or perceive that because you have a different perspective than if you were in the neighborhood trying to look at how do I get onto this thing?
Sheri Davidson: 1:05:39
Yeah. Okay. I'm sure I'll run it again, at some point. So I'll yeah, I'll be more mindful of that.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:05:45
Yeah. And see if you see any of those pop up, like I will, path crossing picture, or places where maybe people have taken some fence down just because I think it's really interesting. People there, they're asking for forgiveness instead of permission, because they've been asking for permission for so long. And nobody's been listening. They're like, we're taking this into our own hands. Yeah. Well, it's what happened. That's Kate. So that's community design. Right there. That's
Sheri Davidson: 1:06:10
right. Yeah. So probably should start wrapping it up here. But I want to ask you, what do you think the biggest challenge is moving in this direction, being more sustainable, being more thoughtful.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:06:28
The biggest challenge is the myth that it cost more, and it's harder. And that's why when we talk about educating and elevating the conversation, whether for Houston emporium and that being about the hemp in the cannabis plant in general, or whether it is about being more sustainable and not supporting fast fashion. The the idea that it is more costly is really just a short term focus on that upfront cost, rather than the true cost of ownership like heirloom pieces last longer. They don't have to be repaired, they don't have to be replaced. So they cost more up front, but the cost of ownership, what we call in construction and design, the lifecycle analysis. That is where because we don't have true cost of goods presented to us in the first place. Like first of all, fashion shouldn't be cheap. Food shouldn't be cheap. It's it's the subsidies that have taken place. It's the degradation of the places where the raw materials are taken from that we haven't been paying the true cost all along. And so I think that if we can get people past those myths are that it's going to be hard or that it's like you're I'm a meat lover, and you're asking me to become a vegan? No, I'm not. Yeah, not at all. I'm asking you to know where your meat comes from, and how its reared and how its slaughtered so that you know, that you are getting the best possible nutrients and the least stressed animal. Yeah, right. So
Sheri Davidson: 1:08:07
yeah. And I think that's education. Right. Absolutely. Which is
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:08:11
always about education. What we're doing right here, right? Yes. And so it's it's funny, that's, it's probably one of the reasons that I married a professional educator. Yeah. Is that I love education I love that's my husband specialty is higher ed, and really focusing on educating the next generation and helping them to see what possibilities are.
Sheri Davidson: 1:08:34
Yeah. So do you have any tips for
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:08:37
what I, we've
Sheri Davidson: 1:08:39
talked about a lot. We've talked about a lot. I think the big part of our conversation has been on sustainability. So do you have any tips on how someone can be more sustainable?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:08:54
Personally? Yeah. So I used to have these little like, top 10 Tips cards. Yeah, that I for one for businesses and one for residences, because I would do articles and things like that, even in the home. And I realized that there. So this is where you're gonna see a really interesting difference between Western res cultures and others. We don't wear shoes in our house. My husband is half Vietnamese. And so in traditional Southeast Asian form, the shoes are backed by the door because you don't bring in the outside into your indoor environment. And a lot of folks don't realize just how dirty their houses become just by wearing their outside shoes inside the change to house slippers or just go barefoot or wear socks or whatever. But that means that you can vacuum less, which also is less of a strain on the filtration system of your HVAC because you don't have all that particulate matter going through there. And so those little steps really do add up not to be cliche, but just you know, every He's going to conferences or community events, and you get in all these free bags, right. So just keep a stash of those reusable bags in your vehicle so that you don't get to the grocery store and be like, dammit, I forgot my bags again, right? Just rotate your stash, I bring them in and I wash them every once in a while rotating back through. Those little steps are helpful if if you aren't in a place where you can go to a farmers market or connect with local farmers and buy your food locally. That's another huge, huge step is is healthy eating is great. But local eating is really key because if you're eating seasonally, it's you're getting the best food. But having it not travel hundreds, if not 1000s of miles means it's more nutrient dense, it tastes better, it's fresher, and you haven't burned all of these carbon fuels in order to get it to you. And so even those little things, if you can tick those off on a personal basis, even if where you live doesn't offer recycling. I mean, it would be ideal if you separate a trash from recycling. But I understand that there are some places that don't have that. So just being conscientious,
Sheri Davidson: 1:11:16
you know, let you use Well, a couple of things. One, we have the Eastside farmers market. Yeah. And then a service that I really like is farmhouse delivery. Have you up? Have you heard of them?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:11:27
I have not. So I'm terrible because I don't watch television. And so if
Sheri Davidson: 1:11:32
they're based out of Austin, oh, cool. They have connections with all the local farmers. And so they will actually deliver it to you if you can't make it to the farmers market. Hey, farmers market is what Saturday that's
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:11:43
the thing is different markets are on different days. A lot of them are when people are working. Yeah. Or you know, when it is on a Saturday, you can't necessarily get there because like your kids got sports or a piano lessons or whatnot. So that's great. I will say the most favorite design projects that I've ever done are community food coops. Anytime that you can create a healthy space to connect people with local food, like Community Food co ops, I love that because it's what's the co op that you're so the one that I'm associated with is in Northern Nevada, it's called Great Basin Community Food Co Op. And they've been around for a number of years in May are such an extraordinary community hub for local farmers to bring their food in. And then either have local restaurant tours come and get the products in bulk or as a member of a co op, then coming in being able to shop and it is not more costly when you do it that way. But you have to know how you use things and if you're going to buy in bulk and that sort of a thing.
Sheri Davidson: 1:12:52
I think I'm thinking Shawna Shawna is associated with a co op here but I can't remember the name of it.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:12:57
I don't know I know that there is one in the heights but it's not truly a co op in the sense that you can have a membership but it is privately owned. Whereas a true Co Op or a cooperative is all member owned. Right? And so every member is an owner in that and they vote on things and they have you know that share represents their voice in the organization. Okay, there's the coop that that I've used here central city does is great. Yeah, beautiful stuff really neat people but it is privately held and you buy a membership into it. So it's a different format. But I'm not I'm not against that at all and I am at a membership so I think it's great but yeah, our I really love the the community ones. I think if we could figure out a way to get more food Co Op opportunities in the Third Ward and Sunnyside neighborhoods so that we can get better access to fresh local foods for our communities that don't have that connection. That would be wonderful.
Sheri Davidson: 1:14:02
Yeah, yeah. That's amazing. What was the last point that you said? That what you said take off the shoes.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:14:10
Take off the shoes. You know some people they can do recycling a little bit yeah, recycling separating your products knowing what isn't isn't recyclable in your area.
Sheri Davidson: 1:14:19
Yeah, so Houston. So I used to have recycle at my apartment. When I first moved moved here, and they for some reason, they stopped doing it on our side of the street, but it was on the other side of the street. So I live here. It's bizarre. So I started there was a recycle center up here off of like, Kirby, you know what I'm talking about? I do so I would take my stuff there. Yeah. Then they close this all that? Yes. So that too. So I was like, Okay, I cannot win here. You know, and so the the recycling center that's closest to me is on top of West Park. But even though it's like three miles away, it takes forever
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:15:05
to get there. It's it's a real track. Yeah, it's a real track. So I just stopped. Yeah. And you know what I'm not suggesting this for everyone but we live in a townhome. Yeah. And so I actually did invest in one of those new countertop composters because I've seen love my coffee and espresso. Yeah. And so I really wanted to try to do my part as a city dweller of minimizing my food waste. And so so far, it's working really well, I love it, you just put it in your garden, put it I do, I've got containers. And so and I don't necessarily put it directly in I tried to have a bigger bin of soil so that I can mix the compost in and it denatured a little bit further. And now it's more time out and then added in. But it is a great amendment and I feel better about not contributing to food waste.
Sheri Davidson: 1:15:57
I just looked up recycled coffee grounds. Yeah. To see Yeah, like what I could use it for?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:16:05
Plants. Do you really like coffee grounds and teas? You know, you can create your own plant tea or plant coffee. It's obviously it's not going to be as nice for J as the ones we drink. But yeah, there's definitely good components for them.
Sheri Davidson: 1:16:20
Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna learn because I just got a new espresso machine. Yeah. And it's a nice one. And it I paid a lot of front. But I go to the coffee shop every day. That's right.
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:16:33
Five bucks a day adds up. It really does. And because of the pandemic, a lot of coffee shops stopped allowing us to reuse our own Yes, mugs. And I totally understand that I respect health departments and sanitation. I absolutely. But it's disheartening for me because I love using my own cup. Wherever I go. This thing has been around the world with me. As you can see, it's beaten up. It's great. It has character, it totally has character because I want to not create that single use waste whenever possible.
Sheri Davidson: 1:17:09
Yeah, that's what I'm working on right now. So I know I'm excited about it. So and I'm learning how to make espresso with the pressure the right amount
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:17:20
of bars. thing. Yes. Yeah. So it's when learning new things, though. Yeah. Because you get to try a lot of trial and error. Do you take notes? Are you like actively like, oh, this was great. This was not?
Sheri Davidson: 1:17:32
No, I just make mental notes. And I was trying to get the is it the create the chroma on top? Is that how you say it? Yeah. So I finally got that this morning. Okay. I love the Chrome OS. Yes. I'm super excited about that. And yeah, so I've been working on that for two days. So I'm excited. So I think I've got it dialed in just right. So I'm going to start playing around with it playing around with different beans and all that other stuff. So nice. Well, let's wrap this up. This has been fantastic. You are a wealth of knowledge. And I would love for you to come back because we didn't touch on hemp. I would love to talk more about CBD. Yes, education does need to happen around that it is a trend is people are using CBD products. And I think the more educated we are about them, the better choices that we can make. Right?
Kimberly Phipps-Nichol: 1:18:24
And I would say let's do something later in the year because for those who are not in Texas, our our legislature here in Texas only meets once every two years on the odd year and only from like January through May. Right. And so the legislature meets again in 2023. So we're going to know this fall, which potential bills are starting to be authored and cooked up at so that they can be presented it and we may have some updates on what's happening in hemp. Okay, cannabinoids in cannabis industry in general in Texas, closer to the end of the year. Okay, let's do it. Yeah,
Sheri Davidson: 1:19:06
we'll put you on the list of ideas. And then we'll, we'll connect and we'll do that. This has been fantastic. And again, your wealth of knowledge. I'd love for you to come back and we can dive into some other stuff because biophilic design is a topic of this podcast because I believe your environment greatly impacts your health and wellness. And so it will be an ongoing, ongoing discussion. Sounds great. I'm excited. Can't wait to come back. Thank you. Thank you. Bye bye so what did you all think? I am grateful Kimberly shared her passion of design and sustainability with us. I learned a lot and it gave me a new perspective on the impact are built environments can have on us and the planet. And I am already thinking, how I can be more mindful in my living and working environment now and in the future. Okay, well, that's a wrap. So let me know your thoughts. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and share with your family and friends. You can also give me a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcast. It helps other people find me as well. To get updates on new episodes and wellness inspiration in your inbox. Please join the wellness inspired community. Go to wellness inspired podcast.com to sign up, I'll put the link in the show notes. So you can click and click and join. Also, there is a Facebook community at the Wellness inspired and you can follow me on Instagram at wellness underscore inspired. If you're in the Houston area or visiting and interested in acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, or dry needling, please contact us. You can find out more on our website at element five. Oh m.com. That's element five, the number five oh m.com. And again, I'll put the link in the show notes. If you're interested and health and wellness coaching, we can connect in the clinic or on Zoom reach out to us and we'll get you on the schedule. And as always, I would love to hear your feedback. I am dedicated to bringing you great content that is inspiring and informative with an artsy fun and edgy spin. Thank you so much for listening. We'll meet here again next time. And remember, never stop exploring, learning loving and being you Bye
