Written by Melissa Vatterott, Food and Farm Coordinator Their Food Story: The Sustainable Backyard Tour is an annual event demonstrating how St. Louis-area residents can utilize their yards in more sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to provide food for their families, wildlife habitat, relaxation and visual appeal, all while minimizing impact on the earth and…
Read MoreLocal Food Event: St. Louis Earth Day’s 2015 Symposium: Livable Communities
Written by Melissa Vatterott, Food and Farm Coordinator Background on St. Louis Earth Day St. Louis Earth Day is best known for its annual Earth Day Festival in May, which attracts 30-40,000 attendees annually to learn about the environment and enjoy food and activities. However, St. Louis Earth Day works year-round in a variety…
Read MoreFarm Visit: Claverach Farms
In late June 2015, Food and Farm Coordinator Melissa Vatterott and food and farm intern Claire Mai visited the beautiful Claverach Farm in Eureka, Missouri. Farmer Rachel Shulman led a tour of the property and explained some of the ideas behind a biodynamic farm with a soil-chemistry perspective. Farmers at Claverach work hard to…
Read MoreLocal Food Hero: Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Farm-to-School Taskforce
Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Farm-to-School Taskforce Their Food Story: Missouri Department of Agriculture promotes local food from local farmers across Missouri in various ways, including AgriMissouri. AgriMissouri is a website that promotes all things related to Missouri agriculture, including tourism, agriculture events, and a directory of producers based on a particular agricultural product. The AgriMissouri staff…
Read MoreEthanol: Not a “Green Alternative”
Original publication date: July 2, 2015 Environmental Protection Agency’s Federal Ethanol Mandate: Once Viewed as a “Green” Fuel Mandate, The Renewable Fuel Standard is Not Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions as Hoped, and is Not Supporting Wetlands, Monarch Butterflies, or Sustainable Agriculture Source: Corn Policy, USDA, http://ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn/policy.aspx. On June 25, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing for…
Read MoreRecent Floodplain Development Proposals
Proposed Ice Rink Development Threatens St. Louis Co. Creve Coeur Park A proposal to construct a hockey complex in St. Louis County’s Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park would convert 40 acres of parkland in the floodplain to a massive hockey complex. See MCE’s public comments on the proposal’s Environmental Assessment and get more details and learn…
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