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. --------- 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 ------------------ 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 -------------- 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp