Do you have a backyard or garden you would like to show off?  Are you looking for inspiration for your own backyard?

If the answer is Yes to either of these make sure to take part in this years Eastside Backyard Garden Tour 2012 taking place this June 9th and 10th.

The tour showcases a variety of backyard and garden elements across the Eastside:

• Chicken Coops
• Paths and Patios
• Outdoor Kitchens
• Outdoor Structures
• Water Features
• Urban Farms

Visit the Sign Up page and participate if you would like to share your backyard or visit the locations page to view the current participants. The listing is also available here.

Over 50 volunteers living near the Phalen Chain of Lakes—Phalen, Keller, Gervais, Kohlman lakes and Kohlman Creek in the cities of St. Paul, Maplewood, Little Canada and North St. Paul—participated in a networking picnic in August and visioning retreats in September convened by the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. The result was a shared vision for watershed stewardship and hands‐on projects. With the Launching of the Stewards of the Phalen Chain of Lakes on December 1, we will formalize these ideas and create ACTION TEAMS identified at our September 22 Retreat.

EDUCATION: Increase public awareness for taking action, and connect kids with the natural environment as stewards.

CLEAN‐UPS & RESTORATION:  Coordinate and increase volunteers to remove  litter, leaves & invasives. Make Improvements for water quality.  Expand native
habitat. Expand and connect natural corridors.

EVENTS/ CELEBRATIONS: Celebrate our chain of lakes and our efforts; educate and engage residents.

RECREATION: Get more people on and around the water; explore the greenways and trailways of the Phalen Chain of Lakes.

For more information, contact Louise Watson, Ramsey‐Washington Metro Watershed District at 651‐792‐7956 or e-mail louise@rwmwd.org. Additional information is available at www.phalenstewards.org and on our facebook page www.facebook.com/#!/groups/238320409531962/

The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District works to protect and improve local water quality and natural resources. It is generally bounded by the I-694/494 corridor and 35E and the Mississippi River, which encompasses sections of North St. Paul, Maplewood, White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Oakdale, Woodbury, Landfall, Gem Lake and St. Paul.

Food Availability in St. Paul Neighborhoods

Access to Grocery Stores in St. Paul Neighborhoods

Are you an East Side resident who would like better access to local, fresh, organic foods? Would you like to feel a better sense of community with your fellow East Siders?

Want to join?  Here is our membership form.

If you’ve never shopped co op before, here are a few things to know:

• Co ops are, be definition, owned by their members; they are cooperative organizations where everyone has a say in how the business is run, and when there is a profit, the money is either re-invested into the store, or else the profit is split among the members. Unlike a chain store, the profits stay IN the community!
• Food co ops don’t always carry the same foods. The co op stocks the types of foods that will best serve the local community.
• Because co ops are owned by their members, it takes 2000 or more committed people to open a storefront. For this reason, it can take a few years to get the co op up and running. It takes a vision, determination, and dedication to open a co op, but it is possible, and people are doing it all over the world!
• You do NOT have to be a member of the co op in order to shop there! Co ops are not elitist or exclusive. Everyone is welcome. Membership provides discounts and benefits and of course membership is always encouraged—but never forced!
• Membership required either a financial or a volunteer commitment, or both. Every co op has to decide for itself what the membership will entail.
• Because the process can be long, co ops often start out as buying clubs, without a storefront. Members of the club pool their money in order to buy high-quality, organic foods at wholesale prices. This may be a great option for the East Side until we have the membership for a storefront.

We are in the very beginning stages of this truly grassroots process, and we need the help and support of everyone on the East Side to make it happen! Please join us and consider volunteering to help see this vision into reality!

To sign up for updates, email eastcoop@gmail.com.

For more information, check out these great resources:

http://www.foodcoopinitiative.coop/

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/cir7/cir7rpt.htm

http://www.cgin.coop/how_to_start

http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/manual/cover.html

http://www.coopdirectory.org/bp003.htm

This is a new event offering a 1K fun run for kids, plus 5K and 10K timed runs. The race begins at 9 am.

Registration fees are $25 per adult and $10 per child. On race day, the fee is $30 per adult and $15 per child. In addition to the run, there will be exhibitors including sponsors and “every day” superheroes like fire department

http://www.active.com/running/st-paul-mn/the-superhero-run-2011

http://www.preventchildabusemn.org/temp_01.php?PK=83

Join the White Bear Avenue Business Association as we kick off the Ramsey County Fair with one of the East Metro’s favorite traditions, the White Bear Avenue Parade. Meet your friends and neighbors on White Bear Avenue and enjoy this community parade. The route runs North from Ivy Avenue to Aldrich Arena.

The Saint Paul Classic draws over 6,000 bicyclists, more than any other bike ride in Minnesota. It is known throughout the area for its quality. All proceeds go to support the mission-driven work of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota.

The Bike Classic is a great experience for riders of all stripes.  Most of the routes are closed to motorized vehicles.  In this relaxed environment, the tour winds through historic neighborhoods, beautiful parks and parkways, and along the revitalized downtown riverfront.

More information can be found on the official Bike Classic site.  In addition, a map showing the route as is winds its way across the east side can be seen here.

Duncan will join Franken for a tour of Dayton’s Bluff Elementary, followed by a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session on education at 12:15 p.m. in the recreation center auditorium, Franken spokesman Marc Kimball said.

Franken has introduced legislation related to cultivating effective school principals, and he has been impressed with the leadership at Dayton’s Bluff, Kimball said.

The event is open to the public, but space is limited. Organizers ask those interested in attending to RSVP to Franken’s office at rsvp@franken. senate.gov/.

Article from Pioneer Press (thanks Doug): http://www.twincities.com/ci_18142362?IADID

The first scheduled date at Lake Phalen is June 5th at 1:30 with a performance by Charlie & The Good Time.

Visit the official site for additional information.