ZOOTOBERFEST at the Saint Louis Zoo October 5-6 and 12-13!!
Enjoy a Zoo-themed, family-friendly Oktoberfest at the Zoo, including fall-related kids’ games and crafts; live music; German specialty food for purchase; and German bars serving a variety of beers (ages 21 and older), root beer and other soft drinks. An exclusive Zootoberfest beer stein with discounts for refills will be available for purchase (while supplies last).
See more information and schedule below.
Holy cow! Jiminy Cricket! Sarah Schlafly of Des Peres wants us to kick the red meat burger habit in favor of incorporating a little more cricket into our daily diet. She is issuing a “Cricket Challenge” in the Gateway City.
“The idea behind the exciting Cricket Challenge is to dare St. Louisans to try a dish or beverage made with powdered crickets,” said Schlafly, CEO of her company named Mighty Cricket. “The idea is to put St. Louis on the map for innovation in sustainable food choices.”
Support the outdoors with “Explore The Outdoors: St. Louis” presented by Conservation Federation Missouri.
Where: Quail Ridge Lodge 24 Columbine Lane, Wentzville, MO 63385
When: Thursday, October 3, 2019, 5:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
Pricing: Youth: $20; Individual: $60; Couple: $100; Table (8 individuals): $400
Meal: Rib Dinner
Beverages: Open bar compliments of St. James Winery and Public House Brewing
Keynote Speaker: CEO Susan Trautman- Great Rivers Greenway
Activities: Silent and Live Auctions, Yard Games, live music tentative
Contact Elizabeth Peoples at 573-634-2322 ext 108 for information and sponsorship opportunities. To purchase tickets online CLICK HERE.
Visit Cuivre River State Park Saturday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 p.m., for a free Moth Night program. Meet in the park amphitheater for a celebration of nature’s nocturnal pollinators!
Above: Venison steak skewers. Photo courtesy MDC.
Venison: Freezer to Fork is a class being offered by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at East Central College on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Deer hunters go through many steps to prepare for a hunt, from checking tree stands, to sighting in firearms, to reviewing trail cam footage, to picking their favorite scent blocker. But what about preparing to enjoy the harvest when the hunt is over? What can you do with the bounty of nutritious meat after it’s processed?
The MDC is partnering with East Central College to help put you on the path from freezer to the fork by presenting a Venison: Freezer to Fork class. The course will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at East Central College in Union. Participants will discover extraordinary meals they can create with the venison they harvest.
This is an interesting article by Modern Farmer about the items labeled “organic” that we purchase at our local grocers and markets. It seems there is a battle on the menu between the “Big Ag version of organic agriculture” and the “organic purists.”
The purists say the USDA certified organic label no longer represents the “spirit” of what organic should be.
This easy-to-read article from Modern Farmer answers five questions about what the organic labels do not clearly mean for consumers. It’s worth the few minutes!
Read the article HERE.
Photo courtesy MDC.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites you to discover the many benefits of naturally-sourced foods by attending a special event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. Harvest Wild: Water will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 at the nature center from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages. Visitors are especially encouraged to attend and share the experience with the whole family. Hunting and gathering from nature is the ultimate expression of locally-sourced foods.
The $33 million improvement project is now complete and the space has been upgraded to a premier visitor and player-friendly baseball/softball complex. Improvements include elements, such as LED lighting, improved irrigation, path and parking upgrades, additional trees and landscaping and a new pedestrian entry plaza.
Check it out: (video posted by Forest Park Forever.)
The paw-paw has not only been declared as the Official State Fruit Tree in Missouri, but now the paw-paw in also being celebrated with “The Paw Paw Almanac” just published by Steve L. Nagle and Jo Schaper. Like paw paws, the book is “guaranteed juicy and fresh” and the book begins with two paw-paw trees swaying in the breeze along the Meramec River in Missouri.
Paw Paw’s are a popular subject here in Missouri. Don Corrigan also wrote a column about the Paw-Paw being named as the official State Fruit Tree and the Hellbender being names as the State Endangered Species. Check out Corrigan’s article below.
Photo courtesy MDC.
The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) has re-opened Columbia Bottom Conservation Area for public access. However, that access will be restricted for the immediate future.
Due to extensive flood damage, public vehicle access and parking on the area will be limited and public access will mainly be walk-in. The public will only be able to enter the area in the following locations:
– Park in the visitor’s center parking lot and walk into the area
– Drive on the main area road up to Parking Lot C, approximately 0.3 miles from the main entrance, and walk into the area
– Park in Parking Lot V, located near the area maintenance shop just south of the main entrance, and walk into the area
Environmental Echo 