By Phyllis Thorpe

“Living in Harmony with Nature” is a topic which has great appeal to HEALTHY PLANET readers. This is the theme of a retreat at Rockhaven Ecozoic Center this Memorial Day weekend May 27-29. It will be led by David Lorimer, whose book PROPHET FOR OUR TIMES introduces a spiritual teaching, preserved throughout years […]

By Terry Winkelmann

You may have heard of — or even gone on — a unique event in St. Louis called The Sustainable Backyard Tour. This year, June 12th will be the sixth year for the tour — a free open-house-style peek into private yards and gardens throughout the city and county.
Why is it called a […]

Nestled in the eastern Ozarks, there’s a place that believes in family-friendly fun and bonding, where the mountains of southern Missouri meet the bright blue sky, and people of all ages are playing, relaxing and exploring – away from the ordinary. Meet YMCA Trout Lodge, a year round resort located 90 minutes south of St. […]

NEW EXHIBITS

Through May 15
LINDA SKRAINKA: REFLECTIONS
Saint Louis University Museum of Art, 3663 Lindell; for info, visit www.slu.edu/sluma-home.

Through May 21
CARMON COLANGEL: THEORY OF NOTHING
WILLIAMS MORRIS: IMMEDIACY OF DISTANCE
Bruno David Gallery, 3721Washington; for info, call 314-531-3030 or visit www.brunodavidgallery.com.

Through July 2
ELLIPSIS
Pulitzer Arts, 3716 Washington; for info, visit www.pulitzerarts.org.

May 5-26
INNVASIVE INNOVATIONS
Opening reception, 6-9 p.m.; group show of […]

Michelle “Mike” Ochonicky, Arts Editor

Bouquet of the Arts

While spring steals the show this month, bringing grand variety of plants to new life and flowers to bloom, check out this bouquet of the ARTS!

Bush honeysuckle may be spell misery to gardeners, especially those with larger-scale property, but artist Dale Dufer has an ARTful way of dealing […]

With Cathy Schram

What Can I Do For Spider Veins & Poison Ivy?

Q: Summer is coming and I can’t wait to wear shorts. However, I am starting to notice several spider veins forming in my legs. What can I do to help improve this condition?

A: Spider veins, which are very common, often lead to varicose veins. […]

Bark in the Park has been Raising Dollars for Dogs for more than 20 years! The Humane Society of Missouri’s largest fundraising event, Bark in the Park is a 5K Run, One-Mile Walk and Pet Festival benefitting HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Fund. Register as an individual, form or join a “Pack” and raise dollars by asking […]

By Melissa Vatterott,
Food and Farm Coordinator
Missouri Coalition for the Environment

Food Hubs: A Tool for Building up Our Local Food Economy

Local food is rising in popularity as people learn to appreciate fresh, seasonal flavors. But how can we expand local food options beyond farmers markets and specialty displays at supermarkets? Food hubs are entities that […]

By Jon P. Frieda, MBA

The compounding of medications by pharmacists is a long standing and traditional part of pharmacy practice. Compounding is the art of mixing one or more active pharmaceutical ingredients to fill a physician’s prescription order. The compounding pharmacists and technicians at Neels Pharmacy work with clients and physicians in Missouri and Illinois […]

By Crystal Stevens

The benefits of eating with the seasons are profound and can truly make a difference in your health, for the environment, for the lives of small family farmers, for the community and for the greater good. When you support local farmers, you are supporting their livelihood; you are supporting their family, you are […]

Saturday, June 4th, 9am–4pm. Bringing Sustainability Home — For All Ages!

By Jean Ponzi

The 15th annual Green Homes Festival returns to the Missouri Botanical Garden on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will discover affordable, practical options for sustainable living combined with positive ways to maintain personal well-being and a healthy planet.

This […]

By Kari Hartel, RD, LD
Program Coordinator, Cooking Matters, Operation Food Search

The school year is almost over and summer is right around the corner. Many families start thinking of all of the great food gatherings summer has in store — barbeques, picnics, food truck events, family dinners and trips to Ted Drewes — not worrying about […]

May 2 & May 9
REINCARNATION: THE SOUL’S JOURNEY
With Rhonda Leifheit . 6:30-8:30 P.M. The Classroom at The Center for Mind, Body & Spirit. 7647 Delmar Blvd. 63130 Cost $60. According to theories of reincarnation, our present lives are influenced by events and choices made in previous lifetimes. Reincarnation reminds us that there is a divine purpose […]

By Simon Yu, MD

The 10:1 ratio of bacteria living in the human body to human cells has been promoted like the Gospel. Nobody had questioned this ratio until recently. Calculations of human microbiomes suggest a very different ratio (Science News, Feb 2016 by Tina Hesman Saey).

This new research suggests the average person is composed of […]

By Dr. Amy Davis, MD

Functional Medicine provides a new way of thinking about chronic disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) which can impact 1 in 6 people and is entirely correctable.

Typical symptoms of IBS include:

Bloating
Gas
Distention
Constipation
Diarrhea that often comes on after a meal
Cramping
Each person with IBS may have a different cause even though the symptoms are […]

By Abby Elliott,
Owner, Sugar Creek Gardens

Prepare yourself for a vibrant shade garden saturated with vivid color. “Boring!” A common complaint we hear from our customers describing their shade gardens. You too? If so, put those days behind you. You can bring vivid color and exceptional flower form to your darker areas with shade loving Clematis. […]

With Pat Tuholske, Naturalist

Nature’s Pantry of Flavorful Flowers and Luscious Weeds

The annual weed war is upon us. All too often, homeowners and gardeners battle against weeds in the landscape that are incredibly vibrant and offer tremendous health benefits. Edible weeds can play an important role in satisfying your body’s daily vitamin and mineral requirements. These nutritious […]

Dillard’s St. Louis Galleria is hosting a visit by P. Allen Smith on May 6, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Paul Allen Smith is a television host, designer, gardening and lifestyle expert. He is the host of two public television programs, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden to Table and the […]

Thanks Mom!

As the Healthy Planet magazine embarks into our 20th year of service in the St. Louis area, we are so pleased to be your ongoing source for healthy and green resources. For me, there is no better job in the world and I am very fortunate to be doing what I love – publishing! […]

By Dr. Doug Pernikoff, DVM

Wow! Even ole’ fellas like me feel invigorated with the warm, bright days of Spring. I often jump out in the garage to clean out junk, and begin working on my garden. Yikes, by evening, I can hardly stand up without wrenching in pain.

Why am I sharing such personal information. Well, […]

By Linda Wiggen Kraft

Sweetgrass (hierochloe odorata) is a native perennial grass that grows in most areas of North America as far north as the artic and as south as Texas. The name, hierochloe odorata, comes from the Greek meaning “holy fragrant grass”. It has the sweetest vanilla scent, fresh or dried, where its long strands […]

With Christine Kniffen, MSW, LCSW

Therapy — your commitment to you!

As you can imagine, many people cringe at the idea of going to see a Therapist or Counselor. There are so many old myths, it is probably impossible to dispel them all. One of the big ones, “only crazy people see a therapist”, unfortunately stops many people […]

By Hope Gribble & Carlton Poindexter, USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter

How can we create sustainable educational institutions? Schools across the country are trying to answer this question. Some are approaching this pursuit by incorporating sustainable practices into their physical environment – composting and recycling, rainwater collection, green cleaning, and lights-out campaigns. Others are integrating sustainability into their […]