USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks with elementary school students from Barnard Elementary in Northwest Washington D.C. about their participation in Project Learning Tree, a partnership conservation education program with the American Forest Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service (Photo by Chris Kleponis, LLC)

America’s forests and all the benefits they provide were cause for celebration at a special reception Wed., March 30 in Washington D.C. as part of America’s recognition of the U.N.’s Year of Forests 2011. Read more »

The LaFlammes in their greenhouse.

This winter, I had the opportunity to see an energy audit on a family farm near Amherst, Mass. Bruce LaFlamme and his son, Phil, had requested the audit to help them find ways to conserve heat and better insulate their greenhouse, where they grow vegetables year-round, as well as other plants during certain seasons. Read more »

Morning Star Foodie Brandon Brown inspects the donated cumquat bush he took charge of to ensure its proper care.

Cross posted from the Let’s Move! blog:

Back in January, we posted a blog about the Chefs Move to Schools initiative, called Chef Helps Special Needs School Children Explore New Foods.  The story highlighted the efforts of Morning Star School, Orlando, Fla., and created a windfall of support in the local community for the Morning Star Foodies.  The Morning Star Foodies are the special needs students involved in the school’s Let’s Move! program. Read more »