Regional View

2006 Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention
The annual Governor's Awards for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention and the Governor's MnGREAT! Awards (Minnesota Government Reaching Environmental Achievements Together) honor superior environmental achievement by Minnesota's businesses, institutions, and public agencies.... more info
Antique Woodworks
Antique Woodworks offers reclaimed wood products including: flooring, countertops, bar tops, fireplace mantels, furniture, hand-hewn beams, barn siding, and complete buildings.... more info
Aspelund Family Farm
With a vision of how to make their farm a more interesting and profitable place to live and with the help of a moderate grant, the Aspelund's are applying a sustainable approach to their family farm in St. James, MN.... more info
Awarenessideas.com - A Division of Flexi Display
Awarenessideas.com is your resource for energy conservation, recycling, safety and promotional marketing awareness materials.... more info
Benson Biomass Plant
Construction began in summer 2005 on the Fibromin energy plant, the first of its kind in the country, which will burn the manure litter from turkey farms in western Minnesota.... more info
Center for Small Towns
The Center assists Minnesota's small towns with locally identified issues by creating applied learning opportunities for faculty and students.... more info
Choices for Sustainable Living Discussion Circles: Materials available from the Northwest Earth Institute
The Northwest Earth Institute (www.nwei.org) offers seven discussion courses on sustainability, simplicity and ecological issues. These are wonderful resources for those wishing to build community, inspire action, and engage in dialogue with others around important issues.... more info
Dovetail Partners
Information about Dovetail Partners' activities and accomplishments, and announcements about events, issues, and information related to sustainable forestry.... more info
DuPont Community Involvement Program
Grants are available from DuPont to improve the quality of life and enhance the vitality of the communities in which it operates by supporting community sustainability efforts.... more info
Earthrise Farm
This Louisburg, MN farm promotes Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) whose goal is to help close the gap between consumers and producers and change the pattern of land use and food security in this country from corporate-run to small, independent-run farms.... more info
Environmental Dust Control
In 1996, Howard Hamilton, Arland Moger, and Bob Nelson, all grain farmers from Currie, MN formed The Environmental Dust Control (EDC) which uses a soy-based product to suppress wild dust and gravel. This soy-based product is known as DUSTLOCK.... more info
Etica Fair Trade
Etica's mission is to provide consumers with beautiful Fair Trade merchandise that promote sustainable livelihoods throughout the world.... more info
Fortin Consulting Inc.
Fortin Consulting is an environmental consulting firm. We are a women-owned small business. We can help you protect your natural resources & give you the tools & support to do so. From restoration to water quality, we will help you achieve your goals.... more info
Free Paint for Community Projects
Awards of free paint and other coating materials are made annually for restoration and beautification projects for communities outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.... more info
Fresh Energy
Fresh Energy's web site is a useful starting point for information on sustainable energy technologies and policy options to create a cleaner environment.... more info
Home Exchange
Home Exchange Home Swap worldwide vacation travel - I stay in your home while you stay in mine - International home exchange holiday - and Vacation Rental service.... more info
In Business Magazine Features Two Green Companies in Minnesota
The July/August 2000 issue of In Business magazine featured case-study articles about two green Minnesota companies, Sno Pac Foods, Inc. (of Caledonia, MN) and Redwood Candle Company (formerly Country Candles) of Redwood Falls, MN.... more info
Java River Cafe
Mary and Patrick Moore of Montevideo, MN aim to do more than introduce the heartland to the luxury of gourmet coffee. The coffeehouse also features a computer kiosk, linking customers directly to sustainable farms and their produce.... more info
Kas Family Farm
From one perspective, Richard and Roger Kas of Woodstock, MN are typical Midwestern farmers who grew up farming the family land with their father, William. But this family has something unmistakably unique taking place on their farm: they are farming the wind.... more info
Kay's Naturals
As the driving force behind Kay's Naturals of Clara City, Ann Kazemzadeh is bringing her nutritious snacks to health-food stores and fitness centers nationwide.... more info
Life Design Organics
The Noordmans of Hancock, MN converted to organic production for three main reasons: they wanted to practice land stewardship ethics on their farm and they wanted better profits. They also wanted their children to have a good place to work and live.... more info
Lindbergh Foundation Grants
Grants are given to individuals working on projects that demonstrate a balance between technology and the environment.... more info
Locally Grown Foods Guide
A list of farmer's markets in Minnesota, and a 40-page guide featuring over 50 farms, several retailers, community farmer markets, and other information related to locally grown food in the Upper Minnesota River Valley.... more info
Madelia's Rural Development Model
Madelia, MN is working to integrate sustainability and renewable energy into rural development, and is looking toward using perennial crops grown on marginal land as fuel for a biomass energy generation plant.... more info
Mankato Strategic Plan for Sustainability
26 strategic plan goals contained under three broad interrelated categories - Organizational, Public Policy and Community.... more info
Minnesota Initiative Foundations
Grants and loans supporting economic development, leadership development, community building, and families, youth, and seniors.... more info
Minnesota River e-mail Update
An e-newsletter on the river itself, its watersheds, pollutants, and some of the efforts underway to clean it up.... more info
Minnesota's Natural Heritage: An Ecological Perspective
A book by John Tester that offers a beautiful and comprehensive examination of Minnesota's geology, climate, ecosystems, and future prospects for our environment. Published by University of Minnesota Press, 1995.... more info
Model Sustainable Downtown Plan
This free 87-page document (plus appendices) is designed for towns and small cities interested in linking the redevelopment of their downtown with sustainable development principles.... more info
Morris Biomass Gasification Heat Plant
The University of Minnesota at Morris is building a plant that is designed to convert corn stalks and other agricultural residue into syngas that can produce clean energy for heating, and eventually for cooling and electricity.... more info
North House Folk School
A beautiful Grand Marais setting for learning traditional folk arts and crafts that augments a person's pursuit of a more sustainable way of living.... more info
Pine to Prairie GIS User Group
The Pine to Prairie GIS User Group is open to anyone in Minnesota, the Dakotas and beyond that has an interest in GIS. Meetings are held quarterly in Fergus Falls, MN. The group also has a web site which features a Bulletin Board System (BBS), allowing users from across the state to participate.... more info
Reducing Energy Costs in Minnesota Local Governments: Case Studies and PowerPoint Presentations
Case studies contained in a 2008 State Auditor's report and the 2008 League of Minnesota Cities' annual report, and presentations built upon these.... more info
Regional Food System Growing in Southwest Minnesota
This is a collaborative effort whose purpose is to promote the production and use of locally grown food and develop a regional food system in western Minnesota that provides good, nutritious food, nurtures a healthy environment and provides economic opportunity for area entrepreneurs.... more info
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
The Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships program is a research and outreach partnership between Minnesota citizens and University of Minnesota faculty, staff and students.... more info
River-Friendly Faith Communities / Farmer Program
Beginning in spring 1998, churches and other faith-based communities located in the MN River watershed are taking spiritual, educational and environmental actions under 6 categories.... more info
Shalom Hill Farm (SHF) Rural Retreat Center
This conference center and farm demonstrate sustainable design.... more info
Small Town & Rural Design Assistance
Two University of Minnesota centers serve as points-of-entry to the University resources for working with people to preserve, improve, and protect rural and small town landscapes, cultures and communities.... more info
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation grants and loans
Grants, loans, technical expertise and partnerships are available in 20 southern Minnesota counties from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.... more info
Sustainable Media
Copywriting and environmentally-themed digital photography promoting sustainability.... more info
Watersheds and River Basins of Minnesota
The MPCA's web site provides comprehensive information on the 10 major river basins in the state, including contact people.... more info
Willow Lake Farm
Tony Thompson has found that by increasing plant diversity in his corn and soybean fields, he can protect and improve the soil ecology of his Windom farm.... more info
Wind Energy Projects in MN
Buffalo Ridge near Lake Benton, Lac qui Parle Valley High School and the Wellspring Renewable Energy Program.... more info
Wind Power for an Extra $85/year
The Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) offers its customers Wind Power for a premium of only 1 cent/kWh.... more info
Wind Turbine Manufacturer Opens in Pipestone
In November 2006 Suzlon Rotor Corporation began producing state-of-the-art wind turbine blades and nose cones in Pipestone, MN.... more info