Environment
Environment
Smelly pole raises stink in Seward
Last spring’s warm weather brought something less desirable for Laura Muessig: an unpleasant scent that she described as “like lighter fluid for an outside grill.”
Muessig approached her Seward neighbors and found that they, too, were suffering from the odor. Eventually, they identified the culprit: a pesticide-treated utility pole, installed in the late winter by Xcel Energy to replace an old one. The pole, in the alley behind 2530 38th Ave. S., is just one of 15 that were replaced last year in Seward. (Two more will be replaced in Seward by April 15, according to Xcel.) Last year, Xcel identified 753 poles for replacement, the majority in Minneapolis, as part of its regular ongoing maintenance. 227 had been installed by early December. MORE »
Make dirt, not waste: local restaurants start composting
Trying to eat a sustainable diet? One big reason the whole Eating Locally trend has caught on is that a lot of environmentally conscious consumers have started thinking about their carbon footprint. Now a group of Minneapolis restaurants has taken the next big step – composting kitchen wastes to cut down on landfill. MORE »
BOOKS | Minnesota's trees and shrubs get the rock star treatment
“That’s a gorgeous book!” said our operations manager as I pulled Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota from its shipping box. Indeed it is: a big glossy tome full of beautiful close-up photos of glistening wet leaves and berries, with captions like “plump red arils dangle from the leathery capsule” and “fruits remain enclosed in the shaggy calyx.” Botanic porn, if you will. (What’s that…you won’t? Okay, I understand.) MORE »
Making dirt makes sense
Food not used or eaten at three innovative Uptown restaurants isn’t dumped into a landfill anymore. At Barbette’s, Bryant Lake Bowl and Common Ground food scraps are composted and transformed into dirt that nourishes more growing food. MORE »
U of M generates hydrogen from rooftop solar array
by Michael Fraase
New management plan for Loeb Lake, a neighborhood treasure
Loeb Lake and the surrounding Marydale Park is a North End neighborhood treasure in the middle of the city. Despite its location near the busy intersection of Dale and Maryland, the quality of the lake water is good because it receives only a small amount of stormwater runoff from streets. MORE »
Atrazine’s ace in the hole
by Brian Devore
Hoop Dreams: Homegrown veggies in January?
“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” Immanuel Kant, German philosopher, 1724-1804.
Ever do this? You’re confidently traveling your chosen path when you suddenly notice that the landscape isn’t what you’d hoped for. You pause and wonder: Should I have taken a different turn a few miles back? MORE »
