In Thursday's Des Moines Register

Get early start for Earth Day
By ERIN CRAWFORD
GETTING THE DIRT ON EARTH DAY

Think Earth Day is about sitting at home, watching "An Inconvenient Truth" 
and feeling guilty? Think again.

This Earth Day, which is Sunday, you have options: music, art, hiking and 
do-gooder community work. What's your shade of green?

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/LIFE/704190357/1039/archive

The sidebar in this article follows:

Environmentally active

5 groups and events that improve the environment

1. Sierra Club: Get involved with a group that practices conservation. Call 
the Iowa Chapter Headquarters at (515) 277-8868 or visit 
http://iowa.sierraclub.org/.

2. Project Aware: This year's work will concentrate on the Raccoon River in 
south-central Iowa. Visit www.IowaProjectAware.com to register or call Brian 
Soenen at 205-8587.

3. NatureMapping: A volunteer-drive wildlife monitoring program. 
www.extension.iastate.edu/naturemapping or call Jason P. O'Brien (515) 
294-6440.
4. Iowa Native Plant Society: Field trips throughout summer visiting natural 
areas. E-mail [log in to unmask]

5. Des Moines Park & Recreation's Eco-Steward Opportunities: Tend a native 
flower bed at Gray's Lake, adopt a prairie, conduct monthly bird inventory 
at a neighborhood park and more. www.dmparks.org or call the volunteer 
coordinator, 248-6380.

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Woodbury County puts stock in organic farming
Iowa growers need U.S. help, official tells House lawmakers

By PHILIP BRASHER
REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU

Washington, D.C. - From a state that typically gets more federal farm 
subsidies than any other state, it was an unusual message - the economic 
director of Woodbury County, Ia., told lawmakers Wednesday that current 
federal subsidies are doing little to preserve rural communities.

Small-scale organic operations run by young farmers could make a difference, 
said Robert Marqusee, but federal help is needed to get them started.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/BUSINESS01/704190381/1029/archive
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In Wednesday's Register:

Iowa River called endangered, but 'opportunity' awaits
Some look ahead to raising water-quality awareness

By MIKE KILEN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Rod Scott was a competitive swimmer in his native New Mexico.

"The water is home to me. I want to share it," said Scott, who this spring 
joins a growing list of canoe rental businesses in Iowa, with Land's End 
Shuttle on the Iowa River.

The 45 percent increase in the number of canoe and kayak liveries in three 
years is occurring at the same time that dire reports are being issued on 
the river's poor water quality.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070418/NEWS/704180373/-1/archive
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Meet the blogger: Iowan lessens impact on environment with bikes, little 
trash
REGISTER STAFF


Blogger: Tim Hammond

Blog: Going Green

Where to find it: www.DesMoinesRegister.com/goinggreen

Where he lives: Grinnell

What he rides: 2002 F-150, Harley-Davidson Sportster and a lot of bicycles.

"I own many bikes but have only bought one in my life. I plan on selling it 
because there is no point in me having it when I can use the used ones that 
many other people wouldn't."

Details of his light carbon footprint: "Over the past year, I have produced 
less than 15 gallons of trash, only taken my recycling out five times 
(because I have that little amount of material), have not bought clothes for 
at least four years, and stopped buying shoes over a year ago.

"My utility bills were never over $20 per month the last two years. If I 
were to average my traveling to per day, I would put around five miles on my 
bike per day, and maybe one in my car."

Why he believes in going green: "The more aware you become of the 
environment, the more you realize how much impact you have on it.

"I grew up in the country, and when I was young, my family was pretty much 
poor.

"A lot of the things I do today my family was doing 20 years ago. Now the 
more I do the more I realize I can do. It is a fun slippery slope."

Environmental Web sites he recommends: www.newamericandream.org, 
www.grist.org

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