Hi, I'm Carissa!

Carissa Burk - woman in early 40's with purple and silver ombre hair


I am the editor and lead writer here at Creative Green Living.

A Pacific Northwesterner through and through, I grew up in Western Washington on the ancestral territory of the Suquamish tribe - "the people of clear salt water."

After some time away in Boston for graduate school, I lived near Portland, Oregon for more than a decade. 

I'm now back in Western Washington where I run Creative Green Living as well as our teaching and demonstration garden and farm at Creative Green Gardens.

Carissa Burk - a woman with silver and purple hair wearing a shirt that says Weird Moms Build Charactercarrying a large black bucket full of dahalias
Harvesting bucketfuls of dahlias at Creative Green Gardens

I am also a book author, public speaker, TV personality and advocate for children's health. 

My advocacy work focuses mostly on lead, glyphosate (you might know it as RoundUp) and other toxins that hurt our bodies and our planet. 

I frequently collaborate with Lead Safe Mama (see my articles about lead here) to help answer questions about lead on the Lead Safe Mama Facebook page, in the Lead Poisoning Prevention Facebook Group and on TikTok.

Foreground: Carissa Burk (formerly Carissa Bonham) Background: Tamara Rubin (AKA Lead Safe Mama) talking to a reporter from Fox 12 Oregon about lead in fidget spinners and other consumer goods
Carissa and Tamara Rubin (Lead Safe Mama) talking with a reporter from KPTV Portland, Oregon about lead in fidget spinners and items sold to kids.

I specialize in green and sustainable choices for your home and garden 

with particular expertise in:


I’ve written three traditionally published books under the author name Carissa Bonham:

I was also a contributing author for these books:

And have been featured myself or had my projects featured in the following magazines:

  • Capper's Farmer Magazine
    DIY Farm Girl Apron Sewing tutorial, Summer 2015 issue
  • Kids Crafts 1-2-3 Magazine
    Father's Day Cuff Links Craft Tutorial, Issue 11 (May/June 2014) 
  • Kids Crafts 1-2-3 Magazine
    Patriotic Windchime Craft Tutorial, Issue 11 (May/June 2014) 
  • Kids Crafts 1-2-3 Magazine
    Creepy Crawlies Craft Tutorial, Issue 7 (September/October 2013) 
  • Kids Crafts 1-2-3 Magazine
    Make Your Own Pet Fish Craft Tutorial, Issue 6 (July/August 2013)
  • Turks & Caicos Magazine
    Photo feature, Issue 22, January 2020 issue
  • Urban Farm Magazine
    Cheese Stuffed Squash Blossoms Recipe, November/December 2013 issue

I've also been featured by:

I've won several awards for writing and blogging including:

Carissa Burk (formerly known as Carissa Bonham) with Tre Renee Chambers making reusable bags on Afternoon Live

TV Appearances

Before the pandemic, I was a regular featured guest on Portland's ABC affiliate station KATU. 

I've been featured in their Earth Day programming alongside celebrities like Ed Begley Jr. I've also appeared as a featured expert on Afternoon Live (check out some of my past segments here).

They still frequently play reruns of my recorded expert segments in their program.


Carissa Burk (formerly Carissa Bonham) on Social Media

Follow me online through Creative Green Living or on these platforms:
If you'd like to contact me about speaking engagements, teaching an in-person class, television segments, sponsored posts, product reviews or other advertising opportunities, please email me at carissa@creativegreenliving.com.

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