The St. Louis Area Foodbank got a little brighter in recent weeks with the installation of energy-efficient light fixtures in their Bridgeton warehouse and volunteer center. It is also anticipated that for every dollar saved in energy costs, efficiency will be improved an additional $4 due to productivity – improved morale […]

by Michele Johnson LMT,
Owner Vitality Unlimited Spa

If you, or someone you know, loves playing Golf, the Spring weather has likely had them dusting off their clubs and planning their tee times best they can around the spring storms. This also means that for those who are just getting out for […]

NEW EXHIBITS

Through June
LAURA BEARD: THICK & SMOOTH
Bruno David Gallery, 3721 Washington; for info, call 314-531-3030 or visit www.brunodavidgallery.com.

Through June 10
EDGE OF SUCCESS
Multimedia exhibition; Foundry Art Centre, 520 N. Main in St. Charles; for info, call 636-255-0270 or visit www.foundryartcentre.org.

Through June 11
COLORS OF HOPE: CHILDREN’S ART EXHIBIT & SALE
Multimedia works to benefits Children’s Art Village; […]

By Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky
Healthy Planet Arts Editor

Summer Means Shakespeare, Circus Flora & so much more!

I’m battling moles in my yard without any success. Mountains of mud appear overnight, the grass uproots and the lawnmower catches on the mole mounds –-so why did I waste money on grass seed again this year?? […]

By Cathy Burkemper

Q: After taking my multi-vitamin, my urine is bright yellow. Is this normal, or am I just taking cheap vitamins that are doing me no good?
A: Quite the opposite. Whenever your urine is bright yellow in color after taking a multi-vitamin or a B-Complex, it simply […]

Q: My child either withdraws in social situations or becomes aggressive and inappropriate. At three, he can already read and is very verbal, but he panics at loud noises, jumping up and down and screaming. Can you help?
A: There are various aspects we might address in a […]

For those of you “Zumbaholics” out there, (you know who you are) you know what this means! Two hours of pure joy, fun, friends and gathering together to raise money for our friends at Susan G. Komen for the Cure® St. Louis Affiliate! For you potential newbies new to our passion, the […]

In celebration of its 25th season, Circus Flora, St. Louis’ beloved, one-ring circus, presents a brand new show, Vagabond Adventures, June 2 through 26 under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center. Vagabond Adventures is set on the Floating Palace, an actual circus venue that traveled up and down […]

by Kathleen Logan Smith
Executive Director; Missouri Coalition For The Environment

Your Taxes and Your Plate Meet in the Food Bill

We have been exploring the intricacies of American Food policy in this column in order to prepare for the conversations about the 2012 “Farm Bill” which is our nation’s largest package of food legislation. […]

by Gretchen Morfogen

When I was growing up, very little, if my memory serves me correctly, was discussed about healthy eating, dieting or fad diets. We played outside, rode bikes anywhere we wanted, ate whatever and managed to grow up relatively healthy. Nowadays, that is so far from cognizance, you can’t […]

by Dr. Rosa Kincaid, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.

If you could pick out the one malfunction in your home that would cause the most dissention and possibly cause you to leave, what would it be; failure of the electrical system with a subsequent loss of lighting, air conditioning or heating, a leaking roof with […]

by Dr. Doug Pernikoff, DVM Spring and early summer often kick off seasonal allergies in our pets. The term we use in veterinary medicine is ‘atopy’, referring to a generalized allergic condition. There are any number of factors that can trigger chronic scratching, rubbing of eyes and shaking […]

by Dr. Joseph F. Unger, Jr. D.C., F.I.C.S. In 2005 an innovative symposium focusing on the devastating condition known as fibromyalgia was held in Kansas City, Missouri sponsored by Sacro Occipital Research Society International, Inc. (SORSI). The goal of the conference was to gain insight into the causes […]

Native Plant Favorites

These plant professionals have their favorite native plants for St. Louis area gardens. Here are their lists.

Lobelia cardinalis — Cardinal flower
Sanguinaria canadensis — Bloodroot
Mertensia virginica — Virginia bluebells
Polystichum acrostichoides — Christmas fern
Phlox divaricata — Wild Sweet William
Asclepia tuberosa — Butterfly milkweed
Iris cristata — Crested iris
Callirhoe involucrata — Purple poppy mallow
From Kim Reiss, […]

by Cherie Massmann, MA, LPC, NCC – Webster Wellness Professionals

Are you one of the 33% of all Americans that are overweight? Have you tried diet after diet with limited long term success? For some people, the extra weight they carry is more than they can address on their own […]

with Craig Jung • StLouisGreen.com
Healthy Planet Green Living Editor

The St. Louis Green Business Challenge began in February and runs through October 2011. The Business Challenge is a program organized by the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) to help area companies adopt more sustainable practices. On June […]

by Don Fitz

The St. Louis environmental TV show, Green Time, is moving from KDHX to KNLC Channel 24. The show carried some of the best DVDs and discussions at KDHX from 1996 through early 2011.
Federal laws changed, getting rid of requirements for communities to have public access TV. Without funding […]

with Heather Hawk
Healthy Planet Fitness Writer

Sweet Summertime

Many of us are heading to the pool, the beach, or the lake for summertime activities. Water is the perfect destination for summer fun as well as for summer fitness. The water offers a variety of exercise options that are exhilarating, challenging, and […]

by Tom & Carol Braford

The last couple years we had a couple of housemates who did most of the gardening at Culver Way Ecovillage. They were great at working up the soil in the spring, planting and even weeding, but they would forget to harvest and lots of stuff would go to […]

Article courtesy of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership

She’s been studying environmental science since she was 12 years old and planning events since her college years. Now with 15 years of experience under her belt planning events nationwide, Rachel McCalla is working with her own company to plan environmentally conscious […]

A Healthy Planet reader resource to restaurants, markets and stores that support and purchase from local farmers, growers, producers and businesses in an effort to make the food we eat and drink more sustainable & eco-conscious by minimizing the energy it takes to transport goods to market.

AMERICAN GRASS FED BEEF
Delicious, […]

by Simon Yu, MD

Lyme disease has been under the scrutiny of the medical community for over diagnosing when the test does not meet all the criteria set by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the patient is prescribed an aggressive antibiotic treatment. Lyme disease seems to be one of […]

By Nancy Smith, secretary, Farm to Family Naturally

Working with farmers is the part of my job that I love the most. Our efforts at Sappington Farmers Market have created a demand for local product that necessitates organizing farmers and aggregating farm products from very small farms to one spot where […]

by Simon Yu, MD

What is metaphysics? At the beginning of the history of Western philosophy in ancient Greece, Aristotle was questioning the “origin of everything.” Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world by trying to answer two basic questions: “What is […]

by Cheryl Wassermann, Licensed Professional Counselor

Mindfulness is being aware of what we’re doing while we’re doing it, letting go of judgments. Last month we took a look at why it’s so important to slow down and be present for the process of eating.

But there’s so much more. We begin […]

Earth Day may come just once a year, but the Earthways Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden celebrates sustainability year-round! From a “green” resources hotline to classes to home energy initiatives, the Earthways Center is full of information and opportunities for homeowners and the community at large to help keep […]

by Leah O’Donnell, Healthy Planet Lifestyles Editor

Three Dog Bakery has the right ideas for the perfect pet business. Owner, Kathy Caton focuses on providing healthy foods and treats, a fun pet friendly atmosphere and events, and giving back to neglected and abused animals. Kathy opened the Town and Country […]

By Alice Gibson, St. Louis Water Gardening Society

Members of the St. Louis Water Gardening Society are a diverse group of individuals with one or two common passions. As the group name implies, water features in the landscape is a primary commonality. “Some of our members have tall, boulder-lined waterfalls that thunder […]

by Cindy Gilberg

In a world that is quickly losing its biodiversity, many wonder “what can I do to make a difference?” The best place to begin is to plant some of Missouri’s native plants. In a garden full of native grasses, flowering perennials, shrubs and trees one can see an abundance […]

Story & photos by Leah O’Donnell, Healthy Planet Lifestyles Editor

Breakfast in bed, a night out at cooking school, activities for the kids, shopping with friends, delicious Missouri wines, and a relaxing step back in time make Sainte Genevieve the most incredible getaway. This is just a sample of what I experienced […]

by Doug Belleville – Owner, STL Beds

While some stores say they have gone green, STL Beds has done more than talk the talk. As a member of the Sustainable Furnishing Council and a voluntary member of Ameren UE Pure Power program, they have made a commitment to themselves, their customers, and […]

by Dr. Daniel Fazio

Stress is implicated in nearly every health concern we encounter. From routine headaches to heart attacks, digestive complaints to depression, stress shows up in our discussions on a daily basis and for good reason. Let’s take a few minutes to discuss the ‘S’ word, and why […]

by Gretchen Karros

How Destructive Forces Are Understood

We often bemoan the fact that these are “hard times” in which we are now living. One doesn’t have to count the innumerous instances of events that strikes our being to the very core. The “Zeitgiest” or spirit of this age is shaking […]

with Christine Kniffen, MSW, LCSW, Therapist & Relationship Coach

Love Is An Action Word

Sign up for my Art of Relating Newsletter at www.christinekniffen.com
Find out what’s coming up this month on my weekly radio show, as well as info on upcoming articles and free relationship tips.

Anyone can be in love, but it takes something more […]

By Kim Reiss, Sugar Creek Gardens

With last summer still burned into our brains (pun intended), gardeners are probably replacing a number of dead plants this spring – I know I am. My garden last year was in survival mode – every plant for itself – so it was interesting to see […]

by Linda Wiggen Kraft

The story of Noah saving the animals two-by-two is only part of that life saving feat. Noah had a wife named Naamah* who gathered plants and seeds far and wide. Together plants and animals created a new world when the ark arrived on solid ground.

Today our city, […]

by Michael Roads

There are many gardeners in the world, but few are outstanding. What is it that makes one particular gardener stand out from so many others? First and foremost, it is the relationship that gardener has with their garden. And it is a relationship! Some gardeners enjoy looking after the garden, and […]

by Dr. David Peterson, DC, DCCN

Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.” This is true. To support hypothyroidism or regulate an autoimmune thyroid condition like Hashimoto’s, you must address digestive health. Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunctions are the most overlooked health issue today and gut problems are very common. 60% of the […]

by Elizabeth Cowie, M.S., R.D., L.D., Store Nutritionist, Sappington Farmers Market

Warm weather is here and for those who are seasonal eaters it is a time to rejoice. Eating seasonally is a popular trend and with good reason. It means enjoying our food at the height of its natural harvest time, when […]

by Teresa Garden, DVM

In the first article of this series we discussed the importance of vaccinating against life threatening infectious diseases and the vaccination protocols followed by Animal Health & Healing. In this article we will explore situations where vaccination may no longer be advised for a pet. […]

by Dr. Alethea Eller

Headed to a backyard barbeque last weekend, my husband and I were decked out in our best 60’s attire. I had borrowed a “vintage” dress my grandma had hand sown and my husband was sporting a velvet bow tie. What would you have worn to resurrect the […]

by Varsha Rathod, M.D.

In the last 15 years of practice, patients have presented to me several dietary plans such as, Pritikin, Atkins, Paleo, South Beach, The Zone, low Carbohydrate diets for Candida, gluten intolerance / celiac diets, Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, you name it! These diets have been a source of […]

It takes some 400 volunteers and 8,000 volunteer hours to pull off one of our region’s most notable book fairs – the annual YMCA Bookfair.

Volunteers are currently needed to sort and price books at the Historic Cardonelet 600 Loughborough Ave. 63111 and during the YMCA Bookfair, August 19-24, at the Kennedy […]