Monarch Butterfly Event Sept 16

One can only guess that news of the decline of the world’s largest population of migrating insects would drive a naturalist mad. So mad that they would rally fellow master naturalists and master gardeners into taking affirmative action. In 2015, Bob Lee did just that. His vision encompassed the entire state. […]

By Dr. Gail Cloud

What does a new chapter look like for you? How do you address a new chapter regarding a health incident or illness or injury? How might you look at your relationship with food, and what would a new chapter look like for you? We can always write a new story for ourselves […]

By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Healthy Planet Arts Editor

Photo Caption: Artwork by Michael Halbert, In/Of/About Nature at Art Saint Louis

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival continues free outdoor performances this month, in 24 (!!) different park locations, August 1-27. At 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays, The Merry Wives of Windsor, set in ‘90’s sitcom style, charms audiences for 90-minute each […]

Article courtesy of the Clean Air Partnership

Scientific research done in recent years has added to the evidence that a changing climate is making it harder to protect human health. These health impacts are a concern for the future, but are also evident right now, as rising global temperatures and disruption of short- and long-term weather […]

By Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation

During the heat of August, people often turn to a cool Missouri stream for relief. The calmly flowing waters provide welcome refreshment from the late summer sun. While there you might notice a very interesting aquatic critter that’s so shy that it never comes out of its shell. That […]

By Diane K. Wilson

The sun reigns as a powerhouse, illuminating Earth and nurturing life! Yet, solar flares have effects on both the Earth and our bodies.

Solar flares are colossal eruptions of intense radiation that occur when magnetic energy stored in the sun’s atmosphere is suddenly released which can both awe and impact the very fabric […]

By Jean Ponzi

This Milkweed was Planted for Monarchs

Look close with guest columnist Besa Schweitzer into Milkweed’s wildly bugged-out world.

My neighbor planted a Swamp Milkweed on the edge of her patio to attract monarch butterflies to her garden.

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) may be their most preferred food source of the milkweed genus, the only plants monarchs […]

By Ann Lapides, Sugar Creek Gardens

Enjoy a special delight in your garden with the mesmerizing Michigan Lily, Lilium michiganense. Although it looks exotic, Michigan Lily is a native Missouri perennial. Tall stems display this wonder’s fascinating orange-red recurved petals and sepals that bring to mind a type of cap worn by early Turks. The speckled […]

By Linda Wiggen Kraft, Healthy Planet Green & Growing Editor

There are many favorite flowers, but zinnias are #1 in my summer garden. They bring such joy and childlike pleasure. In fact, these feelings of innocent joy are exactly what the flower essence “zinnia” imparts in flower essence therapy. Butterflies and pollinators love them too, especially […]

By J.B. Lester

I just got back from a walk at 9:30 a.m. and it’s already 85 degrees and feels like 94 degrees with the heat index (which combines actual temperature and humidity). It’s safe to say it’s darn hot outside. In fact, June 2023 was the hottest June on record nationally. I know it’s silly […]

By Deb Powell, Healthy Planet Columnist

Health is a goal! Weight is a side effect!

I have been eating a plant based diet for 25 yrs, preparing 95% of my food, and make mostly healthy choices. I don’t eat fast or fried food and very little processed. I don’t eat meat or dairy, and prefer salt over […]

By Tom & Carol Braford

After celebrating Independence Day, many of us are wondering once again if our union will long endure and even more importantly if our species, civilization and Earth as a habitable planet will long endure.

Fortunately for now at least, we and those in other more or less democratic countries still have a […]

By Porscha Hayes, Show-Me Green Schools AmeriCorps VISTA

Are you a school looking for ways to go green that do not leave your piggy bank shattered? Do you want to offer more avenues of engaging programming to your students without stretching your teachers too thin? Are your students eager to see real-world impact as a result […]

By Simon Yu MD

Skin care is a big business for cosmetic industries, anti-aging medicine, dermatology and pharmaceutical giants. New psoriasis and eczema treatments called Biologics are leading many TV commercials. The largest outer surface sensory organ in the body, skin is metabolically active with a sophisticated immune complex system to protect the body. Changes in […]

By Jennifer Scalia

I recently moved back to the St. Louis area after being away for almost 9 years. I had moved to Southern California and later New Mexico. I chose to live nomadically at times and at others, the nomadic living came to me. My dog Bella was with me throughout these experiences and in […]

Photo Caption: City Greens Staff

City Greens Market is hosting a “green party” for food sovereignty, and you’re invited! Join them on Wednesday, September 6, at the Wild Carrot to raise some greens for City Greens and their mission of increasing food access for everyone. While attending Growing City Greens, you will enjoy the freshest of […]

By Deb Powell, Healthy Planet Columnist

One more month of summer! Beaches, golfing, garden markets, events, pool parties, vacations, barbeques, ball games, camping, luscious produce…

It’s time to start getting organized for September, but don’t stop having fun, summer isn’t over yet!☺

Here is a short list to check your progress.

Planning for canning! Is your garden harvest or […]

By Christina Staff, Healthy Planet Staff Writer

Photo caption: My son and I planted a small container garden. We may have gotten overzealous with tomato plants, benefiting several friends and family members with backyard fruit.

How did August find us so quickly? With each lap around the sun, I try to do better about celebrating those around […]

August: Summer isn’t over yet!

By Susan Hunt-Bradford

Trying to find a way to be outdoors and deal with the heat can be a challenge but can also be fun. The Missouri Department of Conservation has a great event: Nocturnal by Nature, a free nighttime event Saturday, Aug. 12 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the August A. Busch […]

By Steve Davies, Healthy Planet Staff Writer

So, I thought I would start off with what I would consider the simplest of the three basic materials being recycled today, glass. As I first talked about, I still remember our local recycling center having three individual glass bins, one for green, one for brown and one for […]

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

It seems summer just started, and already here we are, receiving flyers and ads for “Back to School” sales alongside Labor Day deals. Several of you might be thinking of getting that last road trip in for the season, or perhaps going on the first one, and […]

By Cassidy Hartmann, Licensed Esthetician at Vitality Unlimited Spa

Protecting yourself from the sun is the single most important part of everyone’s skin care routine. Premature skin aging such as wrinkles, sagging skin and sunspots can be prevented with regular daily use of an SPF 15 sunscreen. It also reduces your risk of developing squamous cell […]

By Amy Davis, M.D.

We are constantly exposed to potential infectious agents like viruses and bacteria that cause infections such as colds, flu, bronchitis and ear infections.  The immune system defends us from invaders and repairs the damage that occurs with infections.

When the immune system is weak infections may occur frequently and be difficult to resolve. […]

Summer is here and with that comes all the bugs. Many people are now deciding to spend most of the summer inside instead of either getting bitten and stung or having to resort to putting chemicals on themselves which is very sad.

A few years ago, we found that we could be outside without any bugs […]

By Jasmin Acosta, Healthy Planet Staff Writer

Our love for others is sometimes given unconditionally without any limitations. Still, we often limit the love we give ourselves based on the parts of us that we find hard to love since we tend to measure our worth depending on aspects about us that we believe are flawed.

Usually, […]