It wouldn’t be April without Earth Day in St. Louis. And this year’s celebration is sure to take us one step farther towards the sustainable world we all desire. Earth Day’s fearless leader and this year’s super hero, Cassandra Hage (Orb), has chosen the theme of Heroes For The Planet, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Actions. Make sure you check out her article on page 5 and see the back cover for all the Earth Day info you’ll need so you don’t miss a beat this year. I am sure this year’s “Super Hero” theme will no doubt amuse and amaze the thousands and thousands of festival goers this April 22nd in Forest Park. Anyone who recycles, reduces and reuses … is a Super Hero in my book . And Planet Earth can use your help!
In the spirit of recycling and reusing, this month’s Earth Day cover art by Leslie Faust is reused from a cover we did way back in 2004. I thought it a good choice since it depicts an earth encompassed by ordinary people banding together for extraordinary actions. It takes all of us to make it work, linking together to create a chain of sustainability, knowledge, awareness and action. At no time in our Planet’s history has environmental unity been so important than now. So strap on those capes and let’s take to the streets, forests and classrooms. We have a Planet to save!
Congratulations to Maddie Earnest (co-owner of Local Harvest Grocery and Cafe) and Liz Fathman (Publications Manager at Missouri Botanical Garden) for co-authoring their new book Missouri Harvest: A Guide to Growers and Producers in the Show-Me State. The book was published by Webster University Press and there will be an author talk and book signing on April 19, 7 pm, in the Library Conference Room of Webster University’s Emerson Library, 101 Edgar Road in Webster Groves. The Event is free and open to the public.
Speaking of events, how about getting your GREEN ON at the Green Ball at the Moonrise Hotel, April 27. My friend Jean Ponzi cleverly narrates the event blow by blow in her article on page 6. If you don’t attend you will certainly end up GREEN with envy. All the local Kermit-ites will be there. Sustainable can be fun, too! Really! And if fun is not enough, the proceeds benefit the Earthways Center at Missouri Botanical Garden. Need I say more?
Congratulations also to all the 2012 Growing Green award winners. Their contributions to the “built environment” will certainly make a difference in how sustainable our world becomes one reused brick at a time. These people are working hard to make it safer and healthier for the rest of us. For a complete list of honorees, see story on page 8.
Do you recycle? Do you love Cardinal baseball? Would you like to see some games for FREE? No problem. Just sign up as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Green Team and help collect recyclables between innings and you can see the rest of the game for free. Talk about a win-win! Please check out the info on page 9 on how this dream can become a reality. The World Champion Cardinals and Recycling … a match made in Cooperstown!
Happy Earth Day, April 22, to all our readers and Happy Birthday to my wife Niki, who shares Earth Day with her birthday every year!
J.B. Lester; Publisher