Spring Expo Has It All!
If I do say so myself, our Natural Living Expo on March 30 in Webster Groves has the best line up of exhibitors, entertainment and giveaway goodies ever! The first weekend of Spring is sure to please all our expo visitors as our 27th event has more than 70 vendors offering everything you need to live a healthier and greener life. At the Webster Groves Recreation Complex we have exhibitors in the gym and our expanded Community Room. You will be able to receive a free health screening, a relaxing chair massage, food/drink samples from the likes of Whole Foods Market, Greene’s Country Store, Traveling Tea, PuraVegan Cafe and more. You will also enjoy craft beer tastings from Schlafly and wine tasting by Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard. All this while listening to the beautiful sounds of Native American Flute player Mark Holland and guitarist Carol Eder. Oh, yes, Chipotle has offered up gift cards for hundreds and we will be handing those out during the day as well. Amtrak will be there with a drawing for two train tickets for a rail adventure. And we will be having a drawing for a family weekend at Trout Lodge YMCA of the Ozarks (a $600 value.) Don’t forget that the first 300 visitors receive free tote bags courtesy of Schnucks Markets and Whole Foods Market and the first 100 people get free passes to Missouri Botanical Garden. We want to thank our main sponsor, St. Louis Composting and encourage you to stop by their booth to learn how compost and mulch can make your lawn and garden healthier and more sustainable, now that we will soon be working in our yards again. The truth is, if you want to get healthier and live a “greener” life, then this Expo is for you. Check out all the info and discounted admission coupon on page 5. See you there!
Also in this issue you will find the Guide to CSAs. (Community Supported Agriculture). You sign up to receive a weekly “share” of produce or products directly from a local farmer. You learn what is in season and you eat straight from the farm! This is a great way to learn more about life on the farm while enjoying fresh-from-the-farm food! Check it out on pages 6-8. And thank you to Crystal Stevens for writing and compiling the CSA Guide again this year. Crystal and her family run the La Vista CSA Farm in Godfrey, Illinois and Crystal is a regular contributor to The Healthy Planet magazine.
I also want to personally congratulate Healthy Planeteers, Mike Ochonicky and Jean Ponz,i as they designed and crafted beautiful cakes for St. Louis’ 250th Birthday Celebration. Check out Jean’s column on page 24 and Mike’s column on page 27.
Check out the fashion shoot on pages 16-17 created by my friend Karen Klaus of Operation Food Search. She finds the most creative ways of promoting healthy eating and sustainable living. Stop by their booth at the Expo, too!
And finally, congrats to all the recipients of the Growing Green Awards to be handed out March 27 at the Mad Art Gallery. These are the innovators, educators and organizations that help us “build” a greener and more sustainable world! See page 25 inside.
See You at The Expo, J.B. Lester