She produced an Emmy-nominated food show, visited hundreds of restaurants across New England, and then -- at 65 -- did something nobody saw coming.

Helen Ryba is the founder of Green Envy Wellness on Elm Street in Manchester, NH -- part art shop, part craft classroom, part community gathering space. Carol sat down with her right inside the shop for one of the most fun, warm, and surprising conversations Beyond the Plate has ever had.

In this episode:

• How a gnome tree class went viral -- 512 people, 32 sold-out classes in two months

• The $10,000 American Express grant that built the Green Room

• Why Helen charges local artists only 20% commission -- and what that means for Manchester's creative community

• The bracelet that says "I love me" on one wrist and something else entirely on the other

• What Helen and Carol have in common -- two women who built community spaces and never slowed down

Find Green Envy Wellness:

• 377 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101

• greenenvywellness.com

• Instagram: @greenenvywellness

• Facebook: @greenenvymanchester

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Find everything at linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH

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This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner.

4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7.

redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner

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ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL

Carol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.

Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH

Follow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24

TIMESTAMPS

• 0:00 -- Intro

• 0:22 -- Starting fresh at 65

• 1:21 -- The Chef's Plate years

• 3:10 -- Helen was Carol's very first guest

• 3:53 -- Red Brick Publishing and Ryographics

• 4:11 -- How Green Envy was born

• 5:16 -- Why women need this space

• 5:37 -- The shy ones make the best art

• 6:18 -- Cheerleader for older women

• 7:08 -- Carol's Angels Sewing store 😄

• 8:05 -- Walk me through the front door

• 8:32 -- Voted best of the best by the Hippo

• 10:47 -- Art Institute of Boston grad

• 11:03 -- What surprises her most

• 12:31 -- The gnome tree class goes viral

• 13:03 -- The $10,000 grant and the Green Room

• 14:37 -- The bracelet reveal 😄

• 19:47 -- How she finds local artists

• 26:24 -- Is everyone creative?

• 27:08 -- The Moth Man dragonfly 😂

• 29:14 -- Two rules of every class

• 29:38 -- The ice breaker question 😂

• 31:35 -- Classes that surprised her

• 33:02 -- Candle pouring and the bead bar

• 34:09 -- The intention spell jar

• 34:54 -- The love spell that worked too well 😂

• 36:27 -- Censy Box origin story

• 41:43 -- Lightning Round

• 51:47 -- Closing