About Us
Celebrating 14 Years and 90,000 Monthly Readers!
“The Healthy Planet is St. Louis’ only environmental, health, wellness & natural living publication with more than 90,000 eco-friendly and health-conscious readers.
Our mission is to help our readers and their families improve the quality of their lives. We promote all that is healthy, natural, organic, earth-friendly and socially-responsible.
We encourage earth-friendly and sustainable lifestyle practices and offer our readers ongoing resources from companies, organizations and individuals who offer earth-friendly and socially-responsible products and services. The Healthy Planet is a free, monthly publication distributed to more than 800 pick-up sites throughout the greater St. Louis area including parts of nearby Illinois.”
- J.B. Lester, Publisher
Meet The Healthy Planet Staff
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J.B. Lester Thirty Three years in publishing. Graduate of Webster College. Father, husband, teacher, writer, photographer, entrepreneur, mystery lover. Founded The Webster-Kirkwood Times community newspaper in 1978 and The Healthy Planet magazine in 1997. Loves family, friends, golf, old black & white movies, craft beer, Email: JBL44@aol.com |
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Leah O’Donnell Leah attended Webster University and is a St. Louis native. She has written a pet column, restaurant features, travel articles, and different business profiles in The Healthy Planet over the past 3 years. Leah has worked in animal emergency medicine and volunteered as an animal foster home. Animal health and care are one of her passions. Leah is the mother of three daughters and enjoys traveling, running, and family time. Her favorite thing about working for The Healthy Planet is getting to know, and working with, local business owners and promoting local events. Email: Lodonnellthp@aol.com |
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Colleen Rohm Ten plus years in sales, buying and product development for department and specialty retail stores. Four years with The Healthy Planet magazine. Spent 2 years in Shanghai, China on a work assignment with Anheuser-Busch (husband’s employer). Currently a mother of 3 living in Webster Groves. Enjoys running, traveling and interior decorating. Email: Crohmthp@aol.com |
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Linda Wiggen Kraft Linda is a garden designer, organic gardener, writer, mandala artist, photographer, and creativity teacher. Her work centers around enhancing body, mind, heart and soul through gardens, art, art and gardening workshops, and writing. Linda began writing monthly gardening columns about organic, sustainable and holistic gardening for The Healthy Planet since 1998. Her writing is inspiring, practical and hopefully makes people fall in love with the beauty of nature in their own back yard. Linda’s work can be seen on her website: www.CreativityForTheSoul.com. Email: Lindawiggenkraft@gmail.com |
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Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky Award-winning artist whose work includes murals, drawing, illustrations, sculpture, photography and, most notably, scrimshaw. Her own artwork has been exhibited in the White House Visitor Center, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, the Missouri’s Capitol Rotunda and the Missouri Governor’s Mansion. Mike’s work can be found in private, corporate, state, university and museum collections around the globe. When not working in her own studio, Mike serves as an educator, lecturer, awards judge, arts advocate and, of course, arts editor for The Healthy Planet magazine where she writes her ARTful Living column in every issue, promoting the arts in the St. Louis area. Email: stonehollowstudio@yahoo.com |
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Alicia Martin Alicia spent 10 years as a Business Analyst/Project Manager for Hewitt Associates. Prior to that, she was a Pension Analyst for American Capital Funds and TWA Pilots 401(k) Plan. Alicia and her husband have three children under the age of 13. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing tennis, traveling, and photography. Email: amartinthp@aol.com |