By Dr. Gail Cloud

We can all do much more than we think we can. It is our minds that limit us. Maybe not all of us, but for most of us, we tend to minimize ourselves and/or think we are not good enough in some or even many ways. I have a friend who loves… [click headline to read more]

By Dr. Amy Davis, MD

When most people think about osteoporosis, they think, “I just need more calcium.” While calcium is certainly important, healthy bones depend on much more than one nutrient. In fact, osteoporosis is often the result of several factors working together over many years.

Our bones are constantly changing. Your body breaks down old… [click headline to read more]

By Ann Lapides

Growing and planting instructions for strong plants, vigorous growth, and profuse blooms.

Local St. Louis, Missouri, native plants naturally thrive here, making them among the easiest and most reliable choices for home gardens. With just a few proven techniques—like planting in the right season, watering deeply but infrequently, and matching each plant to its… [click headline to read more]

As summer winds down and school routines begin, life can quickly become a whirlwind of early mornings, packed schedules, and endless to-do lists. Whether you’re a parent balancing responsibilities or a student preparing for a new year, one thing remains true: taking care of yourself is essential. When you prioritize your well-being, you’re better equipped… [click headline to read more]

The Gateway Koi and Pond Club of St. Louis will host the 24th Annual Northern Midwest ZNA Koi Show & Pond Expo on September 18-20, 2026. The event will be held at Timberwinds Nursery in Ellisville, MO and is open to the public with free admission. Hours are Friday 3-5pm, Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 10am-2pm.… [click headline to read more]

The Internal Spirit Holistic Fair is a two-day wellness and spiritual event taking place on September 25 and 26, 2026, at Machinists’ Hall in Bridgeton, Missouri. Designed for people interested in holistic living, spiritual exploration, and alternative wellness practices, the fair will bring together a variety of services, products, and experiences in one welcoming setting.

Visitors… [click headline to read more]

The café opens with a free public celebration from 12-5pm featuring music, speakers, and garden-grown foods

Uhuru Bakery & Café will host a public grand opening on August 15th at 3719 W. Florissant Ave., featuring farm-to-table Caribbean, African, and Southern foods and live entertainment. The event invites the public to celebrate Marcus Garvey’s 139th birthday and… [click headline to read more]

As back to school dates approach, lean into the idea with a school themed getaway to Shawnee Forest Country of Southernmost Illinois.

Book a stay in a converted schoolhouse, or in a school bus. Shop for pottery in a 1928 elementary school, and step back in time in a one room schoolhouse.

Enjoy a Schoolhouse stay, at… [click headline to read more]

By Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation

Photo caption: Plain pocketbook mussels are unsung heroes of the stream bed, creating a better habitat for all aquatic creatures. Photo by Jim Rathert, Missouri Department of Conservation.

A largemouth bass makes its way through a clear Missouri stream. Atop predator of the waters, the bass glides above the rocky… [click headline to read more]

August Arts: Great Art and Great Food

By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Healthy Planet Arts Editor

Image: Album Quilt, c. 1848, St. Louis Art Museum, “Picturing Independence”

I travel a lot and, when I travel, visits to art museums are always on my itinerary. Viewing art can work up an appetite—not only for fine art, but for good food… [click headline to read more]

By Diane K. Wilson

We spend years learning mathematics, science, history, and language, yet few of us are ever taught emotional education. We aren’t shown how our thoughts influence our bodies, how unresolved emotions can shape our health, or how to trust the quiet wisdom already within us.

Imagine standing in a dark cave. One small match… [click headline to read more]

By Susan Hunt-Bradford, Publisher, The Healthy Planet

Have you ever felt like healthy living is impossible?

If you spend much time on social media, it can seem as though you’re expected to:

eat only organic food,

never touch processed foods,

exercise every day,

never drink diet soda,

get eight hours of sleep,

meditate,

and somehow enjoy every minute of it.

If you’re like me, life… [click headline to read more]

By Natalie R. Toney M.F.A., C.H., Healthy Planet Food Editor

I think I finally just got the rest of my summer wardrobe unpacked and here we are already upon the “Back to School” sales, which will soon be followed by “Sweater Weather” season (which is pretty okay by me… I’m not complaining!). Even still, here in… [click headline to read more]

By Jean Ponzi

Tadpoles

Our friend Linden brought over 37 tadpoles in a clear box, rescued from a pool cover. “Raising them,” she said, “will be interesting.”

I met ‘em with trepidation. A lotta little lives to care for!

Plus, in 30-odd years growing our place as an urban forest, NO amphibians have EVER taken up residence.Low spots hold… [click headline to read more]

By J.B. Lester

By the time you read this, I will have turned 75 years old. Three quarters of a century. Wow. Remember when we were in our 20s, seventy-five years old was ancient. The age of grandparents. Reality check: I am a grandparent of five wonderful children. I graduated from college, started two successful publications,… [click headline to read more]

By Tom & Carol Braford

It turns out that people are empowered and less anxious about the future when they work together to solve any mutually recognized problem. The bigger and more challenging the problem, the more empowered they become.

Coming together to solve climate change and lots of other seemingly endemic challenges along the way is,… [click headline to read more]

By Deborah Rogers Curtis, Green Schools Coordinator for Missouri Gateway Green Building Council

Did you know that buildings are responsible for 40% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and over 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the St. Louis region? With over 130,000 public school buildings in the United States, schools can… [click headline to read more]

By Jasmin Acosta, Healthy Planet Staff Writer

A difficult truth that many people who have experienced trauma eventually come to understand is that the event that changed your life may have been just another ordinary day to the person who caused it. While you have carried the weight of painful memories, they may have moved on… [click headline to read more]

By Steve Davies, Healthy Planet Columnist

There’s nothing like waiting till the last minute to do something but that’s what I did today. I finally went to our two local grocery stores here in town to ask them why they don’t carry any food in bulk these days. What I found surprised me a bit and… [click headline to read more]

By Susan Hunt-Bradford, Publisher

Have you ever felt like healthy living was an impossible standard to reach?

Some days it seems like we’re being told we have to eat only organic food, avoid every processed ingredient, exercise every day, get eight hours of sleep, meditate, drink enough water, and somehow eliminate stress. And if we aren’t doing… [click headline to read more]

Gateway Outdoor Summit brings together the region’s leaders, advocates, and innovators on August 20

The future of outdoor recreation starts with collaboration.

 On Thursday, August 20, River City Outdoors invites industry professionals, nonprofit leaders, community advocates, public officials, and passionate outdoor enthusiasts to the 2026 Gateway Outdoor Summit — a free, daylong gathering dedicated to advancing outdoor… [click headline to read more]

The Black Cat Coffee Cafe Project is a 501c3non-profit that began in 2022 by an enterprising group of young people with disabilities in the St. Charles Missouri area. This is a pop-up mobile cafe that supports young, motivated workers with disabilities to gain valuable vocational experiences. Join us at this pop-up host location and enjoy… [click headline to read more]