The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture did research that shows few differences in price for Iowa-grown vegetables, eggs and meat when compared to similar non-local products. “We found that during peak season, produce items at farmers’ markets were very competitive and in several cases lower than prices for the same non-local items found at supermarkets,” said Rich Pirog, Leopold Center Associate Director. More...

The following crops are ranked by highest pesticide load (1, peaches) to lowest (45, onions) by the Environmental Working Group. Download their wallet-sized pesticide guide. Prioritize purchasing organics for the lowest ranked crops, and head to the farmers markets listed in our Guide to support local farms.

Day 350: International Day of Climate Action
Groups across the world are getting together to send a message: there is too much carbon in the atmosphere and it’s time to make a huge, worldwide change!
Oct 24, Worldwide
Click here for Minneapolis events
Click here for St Paul events

Image: Flickr/SoraZG More...

Eat Local, America!
From August 1 through 31, the 11 Twin Cities area food co-ops invite Twin Cities residents to make a point to eat food produced close to home in the “Eat Local, America!” challenge.  Various co-ops will host a number of events to celebrate our local farmers and the food they collectively bring to our tables, but you can start at your own home by taking advantage of the bounty at local farmers markets & co-ops.
Aug 1-31


Weekend Farmers Market Highlights
It's all about sweet corn at Mill City Farmers Market, while St Paul Farmers' Market boasts of organic blueberries.  Kingfield Farmers Market gives a $2 off coupon to the first 100 market goers on Sunday, and Midtown Farmers Market always has fabulous music to accompany your shopping.  
August 1 or 2 (depending on location) More...

Rainbarrels Workshop
Watering your garden is a million times better when you get the water from your rain barrel! Learn about why to use one, how to install them and how they work.
May 30, 1-3:00pm
Twin Cities Green, 2405 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis

Flint Hills International Children's Festival
The Children's Festival is packed with outdoor activities and indoor stage performances designed to share various art forms and world cultures with the children of Minnesota.
May 30-31
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St, St Paul

Cheap Date Night at Bryant Lake Bowl
$28 gets you and your date two entrées, a bottle of wine or four tap beers (two pints each), and a round of bowling.
June 1, 6 pm-12:30am
Bryant Lake Bowl
Save that coupon for next time

Have you been to your neighborhood farmers market yet this season? Check out EcoMetro's list of farmers markets to find your favorite! More...

Earlier this month, I celebrated one of my favorite holidays – the beginning of farmers market season!  What with the rising prices of oil and gas, and the popularity of books like Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, plenty of people are thinking more about buying local and organic.  That being said, sometimes farmers’ markets can be a daunting place, especially for newbie visitors.  There are sometimes strange fruits and vegetables, crowds of people you might not know, and masses of dogs and children. 

How do you navigate the market?  And how can you be sure you’re buying something you want?  In this article, I’ll take you on a guided tour through market day with some simple lessons about market etiquette and include questions you can pose to farmers to make sure you’re getting what you want.
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Becki Walker writes about farmers market manners on Fridays and crafts recipes. We're running a recipe a day until May 22nd.

I consider myself a somewhat philosophical person, as do, I imagine, a goodly number of people who read this blog.  Chewing over questions in our brains is a good exercise for our mental mastication muscles, but I’ve taken the teeth out of one question: for the purposes of this blog, the chicken comes after the egg. Yesterday we ventured into the shelled world, today we’ll focus on our feathered friends. More...

Becki Walker writes about farmers market manners and crafts recipes. Search our database for a farmers market near you, and leave your review.

As we scavenge our cupboards and refrigerators in search of the next great meal, we often overlook some of the more common ingredients in our pantries.  We pass over these foodstuffs because they seem less glamorous than other treats lurking in our kitchens, but that doesn’t make them any less tasty. With a little creativity, you can create a classy meal out of nearly anything, including today's special ingredient: eggs. Pickled, frozen, aged, and sauteed. More...

This post is dedicated to a green with what seems to be multiple personality disorder. Today, we examine endive, or rather chicory. Or frisee. Or grumolo. Or succory. Or escarole. Or witloof.

Endive/chicory/etc. is botanically referred to as Cichorium endivia.  However, within that species, there are a number of varietals – including radicchio, untarelle, and Belgian endive. The two main varieties of endive we eat in the US are broad-leaved (escarole) and curly-leaved (frisee, which is also a technique for wilting leaves in oil). We usually eat only the leaves of the plant, but if you travel to Louisiana, you’re bound to see chicory coffee. This coffee doesn’t have lettuce leaves in it – it contains ground Cichorium root. Do yourself a favor and drink a cup or two with a beignet – it’s delicious. More...

Becki Walker writes about food and crafts recipes. In this Fridays series, she examines the culture of farmers markets.

Nearly everyone’s heard (probably over and over again) that one of the best ways to lower your carbon footprint and love the planet is to eat less meat, especially red meat.  Eating less meat’s better for your health, too – when you’ve removed meat from your plate, there’s more room for foods lower in fat and calories, like fruits and vegetables.  But what if, even after trying to be the best environmentalist ever, you’ve still got a craving for something fleshy? More...