Podcast appearances and mentions of missouri coalition

Christen Commuso Community Outreach Specialist – St. Louis, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, joins Megan Lynch to detail efforts to remove decades-old nuclear waste from North County.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Director of Development Carmen Harris joins Megan and Tom to discuss the impact of chats with local leaders about clomate concerns

Gary Harbison... Executive Director at Missouri Coalition for Oral Health joins Megan Lynch with details and the impacts on Medicaid Rollback.    Credit: © CLIFFORD OTO/THE STOCKTON RECORD / USA TODAY NETWORK

In this episode of the MML City View Podcast, we speak with Jon Nelson, assistant to the state highway safety and traffic engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation. Jon works a great deal with Missouri's highway safety programs, especially in conjunction with the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety. Learn more about the Show Me Zero program and how you can help decrease traffic crashes and fatalities in your community.Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safetyhttps://www.savemolives.com/mcrsShow Me Zerohttps://www.savemolives.com/mcrs/show-me-zeroBe sure to subscribe to Missouri City View and leave us a review in your favorite podcast app! Learn more at www.mocities.com.Follow MML!www.facebook.com/mocitieswww.twitter.com/mocitieswww.linkedin.com/company/mocities

Environmentalists and parents of Jana Elementary students are concerned about a study that shows radioactive contamination from World War II-era nuclear waste in nearby Coldwater Creek. STLPR education reporter Kate Grumke, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Executive Director Jared Opsal and Community Outreach Specialist Christen Commusso discuss what's next — and steps the Army Corps of Engineers should take to reverse the damage.

Listen back to highlights from the 2022 Air Quality Rally. The program was hosted by Miles Brenton and you will hear from Rev. Kevin Anthony, DeAndress Green, Mamie Cosey, Rajiv Ravulapati, Dale Wojtkowski, Zach Chike, and Fr. Michler. Sponsors included Metropolitan Congregations United, United Congregations of Metro East, the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.Take action:MO Residents Demanding the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reform its air permitting policy: https://bit.ly/MOAirPermitReformIL Residents demand your state representatives support the Illinois Environmental Justice Permitting Bill: https://secure.everyaction.com/kg2wc7-OGEO2d-VIzqVLMw2Join the UCM Youth Leadership training on 8/6: https://secure.everyaction.com/WV9mdclXikmZiaKARjimdQ2Join MCU on 9/8 to learn how to Powerfully Engage with Boards and Commissions: https://secure.everyaction.com/-UZiMOGaBESiuskMNjV3fA2Join the IL Sierra Club on 9/17 for the Mississippi Earthtones Festival: https://downtownalton.com/events/mississippi-earthtones-festival/

Max Foizey reviews the new Joey King movie "The Princess" and chats with Brandyn James of Animal House Cat Rescue and Adoption Center, and Jared Opsal of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.

Join host Caroline Beidler, MSW as she talks with founder of the Healing House, Inc, Bobbi Jo Reed about what it is like to answer the call to service in recovery.Bobbi-Jo Reed is a person in long-term recovery with 26 years of continuous sobriety. She has provided safe, transitional housing for nearly ten thousand individuals over the past 20  years. Her passion in life is to help those suffering with substance use disorders find their purpose.She is the Founder and CEO of Healing House, Inc. in the Historic Northeast Kansas City, MO; the ministry currently houses 200 adults and 30 children. She is Chair of the Kansas City Recovery Coalition, member of the Missouri-Division of Behavioral Health State Advisory Council, a Mental Health First Aid instructor, Trauma Informed Care trainer, Certified Peer Specialist- Supervisor and Medicated Assisted Recovery Specialist; recognized as a 2018 Mental Health Champion and an Executive Member of the Missouri Coalition of Recovery Service Providers and the National Association of Recovery Residences.The award-winning documentary film, Bobbi Jo: Under The Influence, was released on various streaming platforms in 2021 and continues to be recognized amongst film festivals internationally. Her autobiography, Beautifully Broken, continues to bring others out of darkness and “Welcomed Home”.Access more resources at www.brightstoryshine.com.

From plots of land in the Dutchtown neighborhood of south St. Louis, farmed since the 1870s, partners Mimo Davis and Miranda Duschack send forth bunches, bouquets and buckets of flowers that are "locally grown, not flown" to gladden many local hearts.       Especially poignant in this conversation with Earthworms host and flower fan Jean Ponzi is the story of Urban Buds covid pivot. Nature, Love and Beauty will not be stopped!           More than 70 varieties of blooming plants are sustainably grown using drip irrigation, compost, integrated pest management, minimal tillage and cover crops. This unique farm's one acre across seven city lots embodies knowledge and commitment that joyously hold Golden Beet Certification from Known & Grown St. Louis, the regional local food evaluation program of Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Thanks to Known & Grown!           Urban Buds supplies seasonal and high-tunnel grown flowers for weddings and events, direct sale at Farmers Markets, and wholesale customers. Farm tours (by appointment) welcome visitors of all ages to see how the blooms we all love grow, and learn why local growing is so valuable - especially for plants with intense production impacts as we "typically" source them.  Pick details at www.urbanbudscitygrownflowers.com  THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms intrepid engineer, and to Jon Valley and Andy Coco, KDHX production team.  Related Earthworms Conversations: Custom Foodscaping with Matt Lebon (Dec 2018) Kate Estwing Grows, Loves, Arranges . . . Slow Flowers (July 2018)

Where in an urban space do goats, bees, flexible muscles, resilient spirits, elderflowers, generous hearts, and veg all flourish? Thanks to farmer and healer human being Janett Lewis, in Spanish Lake, a community in unincorporated North St. Louis County, MO.          Janett's work through Rustic Roots Sanctuary grew its strong fibers from her Georgia childhood on a family plantation, through work at a Waldorf School "where everything revolves around nature," to hands-on learning of bodywork skills in global cultures. A real estate business decision brought her to Spanish Lake. She stayed to address community needs and "because it's so beautiful and the people are amazing." Rustic Roots 6.64 acres add urban farming land-wealth to the GROW Spanish Lake community garden, both co-creators with Spanish Lake CDC - with Janett's strong hand in each. In each of her key roles in Spanish Lake, Janett Lewis draws from her lifetime of experience and commitment to help people feel better. Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a proud member of Known & Grown STL, our regional local food brand and certification program from Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Thanks to Jenn DeRose and Known & Grown STL for facilitating this edition of Earthworms On The Farm! Thanks to Earthworms truly verdant engineer, Andy Heaslet - and to Jon Valley and Andy Coco, KDHX Production guys. Related Earthworms Conversations: One Health for People - Animals - Earth with Dr. Sharon Deem (April 2020) Tend & Flourish School of Botanicals (Feb 2020) Building Futures: Kids, Wood, Tools, Design, Future Benefits Now (June 2019)

On Legacy Circle Farms, Tyler and Erin Bernsen start their growing underground: nourishing "challenging Ozark soil" with compost, mulch and intensive grazing. Vibrantly visible are their crops of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, nuts, high value herbs like turmeric and ginger, and heirloom varieties of garlic.            Recent addition of high tunnels boosted productivity from the quarter-acre the Bernsens farm. Their big-picture stewardship of Legacy Circle's 71 acres in Lonedell, MO embodies a unique exchange: a rent-free relationship with their landlord from which Tyler and Erin are seeking like-minded "landless" farmers to share their place for a farming start.               Legacy Circle Farms proudly holds Golden Beet Certification from Known & Grown St. Louis, our regional local food brand, a program of Missouri Coalition for the Environment. With advance reservations, tours are welcome. Goods are available through a local farms online collaborative,  at the Wildwood, Washington and Point Labbadie Farmers Markets.  Change in 2021 plans since this Earthworms conversation was recorded: juices not yet available.  THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms engineer, and for KDHX production support from Jon Valley and Andy Coco.  THANKS to Jenn DeRose of Known & Grown STL for coordinating this special series, Earthworms On The Farm. Related Earthworms Conversations: Fungus Farming for Food & Fun: McCully Heritage Project (Feb 2018) Project Garlic: Crop-Sourcing the Super Bulb with Brian DeSmet (Oct 2015)  

In this episode of Rural Health Leadership Radio, we’re talking about various initiatives centered around health and child well-being, wellness, strengthening families, transportation, a diversity of projects and activities in rural communities through the Randolph County Caring Community Partnership. We’re having that conversation with Lorna Miles, Project Director, and Brian Williams, Executive Director of Randolph County Caring Community Partnership in Missouri. “Our goal is to remove all barriers.” ~Lorna Miles Brian Williams has served as the Executive Director of the Randolph County Caring Community Partnership since 2007 and has facilitated several workshops on organizational, program, and community development. He also serves on the board for the Network for Strong Communities, the industry leader for affordable and innovative capacity building, programs and services and resources that strengthen nonprofits, and as the Chair for the Northeast Alliance Advisory Coalition of the Office of Minority Health. Brian works extensively with community and faith-based agencies, government agencies, and health agencies to implement diverse health and social-health-related projects within Northeast and Central Missouri. Lorna Miles, MBA, BS Paralegal Studies is currently employed as a Project Director for Randolph County Caring Community Partnership (RCCCP) since 2011. She supervises Community Health Workers (CHW's), as well as plans, directs, coordinates, and leads activities of their Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Opioid federal grant. Lorna formerly worked as a Governmental Paralegal to the Missouri Attorney General Jeremiah Wilson "Jay" Nixon for several years. Lorna operated the Victim’s Compensation Fund, as well as provided resources, counseling, advocacy, and referral for thousands of victims of crime and their families. Prior to Lorna’s employment with the Missouri Attorney General, she was a leader in the healthcare industry for over 20 years. On the business side of healthcare, Lorna has expertise in the area of risk management and catastrophic case management, and long-term care. Through each of these experiences, Lorna has been an advocate for the patient and family, which allowed her to have a broad scope of the practice and an understanding of how and why the area of patient advocacy is emerging as a key tool to engage patients to be active participants in their health and healthcare. Lorna is the Co-Chairperson for the Northeast Alliance Advisory Coalition for the Missouri Office of Minority Health. She serves as a Civic Interest Representative on the board of North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC); a non-profit agency that has been managing and delivering an abundance of social service, community health and public housing programs to the low-income, elderly, youth, handicapped and disadvantaged rural Missourians since 1965. She is a board member of the Missouri Coalition of Oral Health and is on the Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Moberly (her term ends 2024). www.ruralstrategies.org

Earthworms On The Farm -  conversation series NEW for 2021! This periodic feature welcomes farmer participants in Known & Grown STL, a regional local-food certification program and brand from the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.       First up: Crystal Stevens, whose Flourish farm is located near Godfrey Illinois, returns to Earthworms to share her story of family-farming over 100 varieties of fruits, flowers and culinary and medicinal herbs.                           Learn more about Flourish and Known & Grown STL! Andy Heaslet is Earthworms engineer, supported by Andy Coco and Jon Valley on the KDHX staff. THANKS! Related Earthworms Conversations: Known & Grown STL: New Brand Boosts Capacity for Local Food (June 2019) Tend & Flourish School of Botanicals (Feb 2020) Grow, Create, Inspire: a Lifestyle Guide from Crystal Stevens (Oct 2016)

Earlier this summer, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club and other St. Louis environmental groups issued anti-racism statements in solidarity with the George Floyd protests. But these groups are almost entirely staffed by white people and do minimal outreach in communities of color.

Dr. John Dane is the state Dental Director and Gary Harbison is the executive director of the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health.

Dr. John Dane is the state Dental Director and Gary Harbison is the executive director of the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health . They spoke about some of the concerns they have about the possible long-term impacts of COVID-19 on oral health, as many dental clinics have been closed and Missourians may have gotten out of a normal oral health routine. Missouri Health Talks gathers Missourians’ stories of access to healthcare in their own words. You can view more conversations at missourihealthtalks.org .

Missouri Coalition for the Environment has celebrated 50 years of environmental advocacy, legal work, education and policy-making in 2019. It's been a gala year of recognition well earned, with plenty more to do.            This conversation with Heather Navarro, MCE Executive Director, caps the year with Heather's perspectives on the work, processes as well as outcomes. Heather's service extended to public life when she was elected Alderwoman of the City of St. Louis 28th Ward in 2017. Some of what she's proudest of at MCE? The organization's robust capacity-building Internship program and concerted work to integrate racial equity awareness and practices into MCE's everyday action.  A series of recent KDHX Earthworms conversations salute the work of MCE, with both personal and professional BIG THANKS for opportunities to serve our shared goals. Onward, into a new decade of Green action! Music: Washboard Suzie, performed live at KDHX by Zyedeco Crawdaddies Thanks to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms engineer from Sierra Club Related MCE Earthworms Conversations:  Citizens Pocket Guide to Enviro-Action with Caitlin Zera  Tosha Phonix: Organizing Food Justice, Growing Community Known & Grown STL: New Brand Grows Capacity for Local Food Superfund Site, Water Action Updates Water Issues: Meddling, Muddling, Advocacy Kay Drey: A Lifetime Engaged on Nuclear Issues

David Lobbig, Curator of Environmental Life at the Missouri History Museum and longtime board member at the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, talks all things Mississippi River — the Mississippian culture that once lived on its banks; how 19th-century riverboats not only impacted the river but contributed to climate change; flood plains; and "Mighty Mississippi," the exhibit he curated for MoHist that opened on November 23 and runs through April 2021. Cahokia Moundshttps://cahokiamounds.orgGrist: The Army Corps of Engineers and Mississippi River Management https://grist.org/series/the-corps-of-the-matter-on-the-army-corps-and-the-mississippi-river/“Mighty Mississippi” at the Missouri History Museumhttps://mohistory.org/exhibits/the-mighty-mississippi/Missouri Coalition for the Environment https://moenvironment.orgRadical Cartography: Mississippi Meander Maps http://www.radicalcartography.net/index.html?fiskScientific American: Mississippi River Flooding and Climate Change https://newrepublic.com/article/148352/can-rivers-people-too

From her focus on Food, Tosha Phonix embodies the transforming nature of her namesake for the communities she serves. As Food Justice Organizer for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Tosha is growing connections between environmental and social justice efforts in powerful, insightful ways. Word from her: she is so dope.        Tosha Phonix talks Jean Ponzi as part of a series of Earthworms conversations honoring MCE's 50 years of service to Missouri humans and our environment. She's rooting her ideas and connections to communities of color into the work of the MCE team, at a time when Earth needs all of our diverse human contributions more than ever. "You need to believe in community to allow a community to solve its own problems," she says. "And if you protect people, people will protect the Earth." Listen up to learn and be inspired by much more, including Tosha's accelerating experience with Women's Earth Alliance. Music: Dirty Slide, performed live at KDHX by Brian Curran THANKS to Andy Heaslet of Sierra Club, Earthworms engineer  Related Earthworms Conversations - Known & Grown STL - New Brand Boosts Capacity for Local Food (June 2019) Urban Agriculture Guide: A Tool for City Farmers (June 2016) Leah Clyburn: Organizing to End Environmental Racism in St. Louis (Oct 2019)    

This week on Intersection we bring you a special on oral health from Missouri Health Talks. KBIA's Rebecca Smith spoke with Dr. John Dane, the State Dental Director, and Gary Harbison, the Executive Director for the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health.

This week on Intersection we bring you a special on oral health from Missouri Health Talks. KBIA’s Rebecca Smith spoke with Dr. John Dane, the State Dental Director, and Gary Harbison, the Executive Director for the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health. They followed up on their conversation with Smith in August 2017. They spoke about the current status of oral health care in Missouri, advances that have been made in oral health policy and struggles Missourians still face when it comes to accessing quality, affordable dental care.

Nuclear power plants. Radioactive waste from building the WWII atomic bombs. Low-grade nuclear weapons waste. Nuclear medicine.  These complicated technical issues are hardly citizen stuff, except for Kay Drey.         Nuclear focused groups here and abroad consider St. Louis "ordinary citizen" Kay Drey as both ally and expert resource in their work. For well over 40 years, Kay has dug into these issues, both vetted researched them with science and policy professionals, and spoken up about them in countless public forums. More impressive than her own advocacy, according to her longtime colleagues and friends Arlene Sandler (Board member for Missouri Coalition for the Environment) and special librarian Rebecca Wright, is how Kay has empowered countless fellow ordinary citizens to get up and testify, with personal viewpoints and facts, armed with info from Kay's files. Kay Drey is an untiring opponent for causes she espouses, especially nuclear power, and an enviro Living Treasure in Missouri. Earthworms owes a great debt to Kay: in the show's first year her call to cover nuclear waste transportation issues affirmed for volunteer host Jean Ponzi that these conversations on KDHX were a real and necessary community service. Thank you, Kay Drey!                           Kay is also a founding member of Missouri Coalition for the Environment. MCE is celebrating 50 years of achievement in 2019. This conversation with Kay Drey is one in a series of Earthworms tributes to the work of MCE, especially the people who help it grow. Music: Bitter Root, performed live at KDHX by Matt Flinner THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms engineer and Partner-In-Green Related Earthworms Conversations:  A Tribute to Leo Drey (June 2015)  MCE Food Policy Update (June 2019)  Peoples' Pocket Guide to Environmental Action with Caitlin Zera (July 2017)

St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann delves into what the Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Known & Grown project entails, as well as its broader implications for growers and consumers, with the MCE’s food and farm director Melissa Vatterott and local food coordinator Rae Miller.

What does local food mean? And what do you need to know - and to prove - to grow capacity for local-food producers, and get their foods to an equitable range of eaters? Missouri Coalition for the Environment is digging deep, strategically, into these questions, and raising a healthy crop of results! Two big ones are the launch of Known & Grown STL, a branding campaign to help progressive farmers working within 150 miles of St. Louis spread the word about their practices, their products and the sustainable principles grounding their work, and a Farm to Institution Feasibility Study.           Rae Miller (left), MCE's Local Food Coordinator, and Food & Farm Director Melissa Vatterott (right) lead a regional effort to better promote local foods and cultivate connections between farmers and consumers, at both individual and institutional scales. Developing data, partnerships and sound policy supporting Healthy Food Access  is one of four areas of priority focus for the Coalition.                            This Earthworms conversation is the first in a series that will celebrate MCE achievements and leadership during this 50th Anniversary year. Music: Hunter's Permit, performed live at KDHX by Mister Sun THANKS to Andy Heaslet, Earthworms green-savvy engineer Related Earthworms Conversations: The Farm Bill: A Citizen's Guide (January 2019)  The Easy Chicken: Fowl Fun Comes to You (Dec 2018) Custom Foodscaping with Matt Lebon (December 2018) Farm on a Building Raises the Roof! (August 2016) Urban Agriculture Guide: New Tool for City Farmers (June 2016)

Join host Craig Lubow for a discussion of the Endangered Species Act with Heather Navarro, Executive Director of Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Discussion will include an overview of the […] The post Endangered Species Act appeared first on KKFI.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment's Ed Smith, Policy Director, and Water Policy Coordinator Maisah Khan present a report on current energy, water and pollution-related issues from the St. Louis Region.     This update covers potential EPA Superfund resolutions to the radioactive-material contaminated West Lake Landfill, clean-up proposals for lead contamination in the Big River, and more fine work from MCE. As MCE approaches their milestone 50-year anniversary of service in 2019, Ed and Maisah and the MCE staff, interns, board and allies continue hard at work protecting Missouri's water and air quality, open space and food access. This is exemplary work - worth hearing! Music: Hunter's Permit, performed live at KDHX by Mister Sun THANKS to Jon Valley, engineering this week's Earthworms  

For a region of this planet blessed with so much WATER, you'd think we'd have darn diligent doggin' of water protection. And you would be RIGHT. Water quality advocates with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment are among our waters' ardent champions.           This week Earthworms talks with Brad Walker, MCE's Rivers Director, and Alicia Lloyd, Water Policy Coordinator (looking handsomely Glad in Plaid) for an update on water advocacy issues, needs, and some victories during 2017. You'll hear about pro-Big Ag stacking of Missouri's Clean Water Commission (Bah!), collaborative strategies of the Lower Missouri River and Nicollet Island Coalitions (Yay!) - with more good river info on the MCE Blog. Listener Quiz: can you name three dumb river "management" outcomes of the Pick-Sloan Act? There are plenty to choose from. THANKS to Anna Holland, Earthworms ear-friendly engineer Music: Cadillac Desert, performed live at KDHX by William Tyler Related Earthworms Conversations: People's Pocket Guide to Environmental Action - July 2017 Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative Infrastructure Proposal - April 2017 Big Muddy MO with Greenway Network, MCE - February 2017

Everyone at 88.1 KDHX is wishing DJ Wilson a speedy recovery from his illness. **************** Alderwoman Heather Navarro was elected this July to fill the seat left open following Lyda Krewson's victory in the river city's mayoral election last spring. Navarro, a licensed attorney, is also the Executive Director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, an organization that seeks to "educate, organize, and advocate in defense of Missouri's people and their environment." Here's a look at how the conversation went: 0:00-6:30 - Introduction. "I don't know if anything can prepare you" for serving on the Board of Aldermen (BoA). 6:30-12:30 - Joining the BoA during a tumultuous time. "My role as a white person is to say 'Black Lives Matter'" and support the board's Black Caucus. 12:30-24:45 - Prop P. Navarro is glad the decision is ultimately in the hands of the voters. 24:45-25:45 - City-County merger. 25:45-28:45 - Public Education. 28:45-31:30 - Shrinking the BoA. Navarro serves on the legislative committee, the body who will decide how the new lines are drawn. 31:30-37:45 - What encourages Navarro? Passing a resolution calling on the city to get their power from 100% Renewable Energy certainly gives this environmentalist hope. 37:45-45:00 - Tax Abatements and wrapping up. "I have two dream jobs right now!" You can catch guest host Hank Thompson on the air Sunday nights at 6pm on 88.7 WSIE.

This week on Intersection we bring you a special on oral health from the new KBIA project, Missouri Health Talks. Health reporter Rebecca Smith spoke with Dr. John Dane, the current State Dental Director, and Gary Harbison, the Executive Director for the Missouri Coalition for Oral Health.

Heather Navarro shares information and insights into the CLEAN Missouri Initiative and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. She was also recently elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for the 28th Ward, which filled the seat formerly held by Mayor Lyda Krewson. In this wide-ranging interview, Navarro talks about the importance of the City of St. Louis becoming sustainable and combating the affects of climate change, urban and rural areas working together, the safety of residents living near the radioactive waste in North County, and measures that will be on the ballot for St. Louis City in 2018.

We too often hear how out society is checked-out, apathetic, overwhelmed. There is a LOT of keep track of and cope with in the news today - in no small part because there's so much news coming at us constantly. But keeping engaged as citizens is IMPORTANT. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment has a new tool to help us be active, responsive, inquiring. It puts efficient, effective potentials in our pockets.                   Caitlin Zera, Community Engagement Manager for MCE, leads the team developing The People's Pocket Guide to Environmental Action. A pdf version is available now. MCE staff and volunteers are distributing (pocket sized!) print copies at community outreach events, and will be offering citizen action trainings starting this fall. An interactive online Pocket Guide is in the works, giving MCE and many partner organizations the capacity to illustrate the basic action measures with community issue examples.  As Caitlin talks through the action process with Earthworms host Jean Ponzi, we are confident you'll get the goal this guide's subtitle energizes: How YOU Can Make a Difference in Your Community NOW. Music: Magic 9 performed live at KDHX by Infamous Stringdusters THANKS to Cody Pees, Earthworms engineer Related Earthworms Conversations: From the Pipeline with Filmmaker Caitlin Zera (January 2016) New Food Policy Coalition Grows Health & Environment Resources (December 2015)

Today we are going to explore The Himalayan Rabbit Breed. But first we are going to cover Rabbit Awareness Week which is from June 17th - 25th, 2017 This is the 11th year for Rabbit Awareness Week and the 2017 campaign is focusing on the importance of hay! #HoptoHay RAW is run by a collaboration of organizations: The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund, The Blue Cross, PDSA, RSPCA, Wood Green, Burgess Pet Care and Agria Pet Insurance. This team pick a new theme each year and aim to provide information to both veterinary professionals and the general public about key aspects of rabbit care. Many veterinary clinics sign up to RAW and offer a range of events and promotions – you can visit the RAW website to see who has signed up and whats on offer. Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is an important week for rabbits. Over the past 11 years we have made it the biggest and best campaign about rabbit care and welfare in the UK! The UK is a nation of self-confessed pet lovers with recent research showing that rabbits are the 4th most popular pet in the UK with 0.8 million rabbits (PFMA Pet Population 2016 report). So we need to keep driving the messages about welfare for rabbits – especially for those pet owners who have got rabbits or are thinking about getting one! Every year Burgess Pet Care, together with its partners Agria Pet Insurance, RSPCA, PDSA, The Blue Cross, Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) and Wood Green The Animals Charity join forces to focus on a different aspect of rabbit care and welfare. During the RAW week thousands of vets and practices across the UK offer free health clinics for local rabbits and their owners. So it doesn't matter if your rabbits have never been to the vet before, it's the perfect opportunity to get them health checked by the experts! Hundreds of retailers and rescue centers will be running fun and educational events to also spread the word about how to get the most out of pet rabbits by keeping them happy and healthy. I feel that raising rabbit awareness should continue all year long and throughout many countries, so I urge you all to embrace RAW and continue it longer than just the suggested week. Together we aim to improve the lives of the UK's rabbits and stop them getting a RAW deal! http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/ http://www.rabbitawareness.co.uk/ you can also support the podcast, and help keep the lights on, whenever you use Amazon through the link at Hare of the Rabbit on the support the podcast page. It will not cost you anything extra, and I can not see who purchased what. Although the Himalayan's name suggests that it originated in the Himalayas, it is unknown exactly where its origins lie. It strikes one strange that one of the very oldest rabbit breeds remains so unique today. Indeed, several of the earliest-developed breeds still seem one-of-a-kind. The Himalayan breed is even has a body type category all to itself! In the United States, there are several breeds with commercial, compact, or full-arch body type, but no other with cylindrical! The Himalayan is one of the oldest rabbit breeds we have today. They have been around for so long, we are not sure when they first appeared, or where they originated. Though some say they are indeed from the Himalayan mountain area, records of these rabbits are found is several regions of the old world. History Much of the history condensed from articles about the Himalayan Rabbit's History, written and compiled by Carl "Eli" Shepherd. The Himalayan’s first appearance happened so long ago that its record has been lost. Some say it did indeed come from the Himalayan mountain area in the middle east, but the truth is that there are timeworn writings of it occurring in many areas of the old world.  Himalayans may have come to America during the “Belgian Hare boom” around 1900. They were one of the earliest breeds recognized in the United States. 1857 seems to offer the earliest mention of white rabbits with black points called “Africans.” The description bears no resemblance to today’s Himalayans, other than color. The source of these Himalayan-pointed “African” rabbits was nowhere near China or Africa – they were sports from crosses of tame Silver-Gray rabbits with local wild English Silver-Gray warren rabbits and some unspecified black rabbits, possibly also sourced from the warrens as the Silver-Grays were known to throw recessive black offspring. The History of the Himalayan rabbit is very vague. There are many thoughts and theories of Himalayans. Actually there is no sound solid proof of where the Himalayan rabbit actually came from. There is little tangible evidence to indicate that it even came from the Himalayan Mountain area as many claim. Records indicate that this rabbit is known by over 20 names, which cause one writer to comment that "It is the most Christian rabbit having so many names." This rabbit is called, in various parts of the world, the Russian, the Chinese, the Egyptian, the Black Nose, and on and on. Himalayans are one of the oldest breeds of rabbit known throughout the world, dating back to ancient times in countries like China, Tibet, and Russia. It is one of the few breeds that was not man-made by crossing different breeds of rabbit. It is known as one of the oldest established breeds with a wider distribution throughout the world than any other rabbit. Himalayans, for the most part, will breed true to type and color. It is believed at some remote time in its history, that its ancestors were Silver rabbits in part. As in some litters of today, at birth, soon seem to be white slightly tinged all over with silver gray, and some are almost a solid gray. The Silver-gray or the Solid gray gradually leaves the baby rabbit and its coat becomes snow white, with its extremities, (nose, ears, feet & tail) gradually darkening until they reach a rich, velvety Black, Blue, Chocolate or Lilac. History of the Himalayans in the United States Around the turn of the century, or real early 1900's, Himalayans were shipped into the united States from England, along with what he called the "Belgian Hare Boom." Most breeders of other breeds also had some Himalayans. As at that time, Himalayan fur was the best of all rabbit furs. Back then, they were known as the Ermine fur of rabbits. This was before Rex and Satin fur came along. Many raised them for their valuable fur, as well as to show. Eventually, breeders began to raise them to show, and they also became popular as pets. The American Pet Stock Association recognized black Himalayans in 1912. Later, the American Rabbit and Cavy Association granted a charter to the American Himalayan Association in 1931. The club name was later changed to the current “American Himalayan Rabbit Association.” History of the Blue Variety. Let the records on Himalayans reveal that Black Himalayans are the only naturally occurring variety. Other Varieties (colors) have been created by crossbreeding other breeds of rabbits to create the desired variety or color. The 2nd Variety of Himalayans were Blues. There are no accurate records on who or how the first Blue Himalayans were developed. Breeders in England worked for many years to create Blue Himalayans with many problems to attempt to correct to achieve the true Himalayan type on Blues. Their progress on Blues is very vague. What we do know is Blue Himalayans were accepted at Tampa, Florida, on October 30th, 1962 by AHRA members. Only four AHRA members were present at this meeting. A motion by R. Hanson, that the Blue Himalayan be accepted by AHRA. Motion was seconded by Francis Riffle. And from that day on we have had Blue Himalayans as the second variety. Interest in Blue Himalayans was not very strong for many years. A few dedicated breeders kept Blues alive. Blues were very scarce and very seldom seen in many parts of the United States. It was reported that Don Lovejoy imported a pair of Blue Seniors and a Blue Junior Doe from England in 1963. No one seems to have any information on these imported blue Himalayans. A 1976 Himmie News stated that Diane Ford of California was to try for a Blue Himmie by crossing a Blue Havana doe. No records on how this venture turned out. Over the years there were several breeders who opposed the Blue variety very strongly. Especially one long time, well known breeder from Maryland. Lack of interest in Blues and a few breeders opposed to the Blue variety. A proposal was put to the AHRA membership to eliminate Blues as a variety of Himalayans in the early 1980's. This vote was very close. Blues survived only by a few votes. The Blue variety survived mainly due to the efforts of Ron Smelt of California. Due to Ron Smelt's efforts to save the Blue Variety, two additional varieties of Himalayans have been introduced by Ron Smelt of California. Which are Chocolate and Lilac marked Himalayans. History of the Chocolate & Lilac Himalayans By: Ron Smelt (A.H.R.A. Hall of Fame member). He started with showing and breeding Himalayans in 1976.  At that time only Black Himalayans were obtainable in his area. Some of the active show people were David Holland, Dorothy Bayliss and Leonard Weir and Diane Ford, who were in the process of getting out of the breed. He liked the Himalayan a lot and inherited the breed from Diane Ford. It was the perfect sized rabbit for him with the space he was able to give it. He liked the unique type and what he called an sophisticated look to the breed. He realized right away that England showed the Himalayan in four varieties. Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac. Here in the US only in Black and Blue. He thought it would not be unpleasant to have all four colors showing against each other in the US. He felt that with the four colors would create interest and as a result competition. During this time he also was told by the late Don Lovejoy, that the Himalayan was a dying breed. He did not want to except this and felt that his goal was to try and create interest in this breed and so the mission was set for him to do my part and find a way. He realized that this quest to have the Chocolate and Lilac Himalayans become excepted would be a long one. He felt that he needed support of others who were interested in the idea of having four colors in the standard. Several people he talked to felt that the only good Himalayan was a black Himalayan. A few persons supported him in his quest. Some only liked the Chocolates and did not care for the idea of Lilac Himalayans. The first few years were difficult ones. In the late 70's he corresponded with a Himalayan breeder Mr. Fred Nellis who lived in England. He told him how they got the Chocolate gene introduced into the Himalayans was with the use of the English Spot. English Spots from time to time produced Solid colored animals. An English Spot breeder by the name of Linda Bell of California called him up one day and said she had a chocolate doe for him. This was bred to a small black 3 1/2 lb. buck from Dorothy and George Bayliss. This cross produced all solid black offspring. They were bred together and the first Chocolate marked appeared. These then were bred to other black Himalayans and then mated to each other and the rabbits were beginning to look like Himalayans. Some of these early chocolates were rather large and lacked the refined look. Through line breeding a smaller, finer boned chocolate Himalayan developed. (In 1992 Chocolates Passed first ARBA Showing, Columbus, OH) The Chocolate Himalayan was then bred to the Blue Himalayan and from in-breeding the first Lilac Himalayan appeared. These lilacs were dark lilacs, you can tell the difference when you put them next to a blue. When presenting them to the Standards Committee, they did not like the color, it was too dark and too close to the blue. So what to do? He had reached a brick wall. He had locked in the dark Lilac color into his himmies. At the same time Judy Ball, a Mini Rex breeder, was also trying to get the Lilac Mini Rex accepted by the ARBA Standards Committee. The Standards Committee liked her color Mini Rex Lilacs. An idea went into his head to introduce this color liked by the Standards Committee into the Lilac Himalayans. He knew that he would be introducing a Non-Himalayan gene as well as Mini Rex fur into the Himalayans, and in line breeding and in-breeding this Rex gene would materialize some where down the road. He made a difficult decision and was afraid that his present dark Lilac Himalayans would not pass the Standards Committee since he was told the lighten them, and so he did. The first cross was his purchased Mini Rex Lilac Buck (from Judy Ball) bred to a Lilac Himalayan Doe. All the babies were Lilac, and to his surprise two of them were Himalayan marked, the rest solid. He lucked out again with the two Himalayan-marked Lilacs were buck and doe. They both turned out to be rather coarse and so lacked refinement. They produced lighter Himalayans, and the color he was looking for. The Lilacs became the 4th Himalayan color to be recognized. With selective breeding and culling refinement in the Lilac Himalayan returned, with an added bonus of better fur quality. Now the problem of the Non-Himmie gene and the rex gene will be floating around in some of these himmies, but he feels we can cull this out since there were only a few of these Lilacs passed on to other breeders. These past fifteen years of trying to have Chocolate Himalayans and Lilac Himalayans accepted into the ARBA Standards Committee have been fun with some heart-ache and lots of challenges and he is so glad to have been able to do it. As we have covered in some of the breeds where one breed is crossed to create another, The Himalayan also plays an important part in many other breed's history, especially the Californian's, which looks like a large, meaty version of it. The Californian was made by crossing Himalayans with New Zealands and a few other breeds (some Californian breeders say it is just Himalayan and New Zealand, while others say the Standard Chinchilla was mixed in too). The Californian was added to many other breeds (like Champagne d'Argents and some lines of Cinnamon) to improve body type, so Himalayan marked sports pop up sometimes. Overall Description Description and Standards Himalayans are long and snaky in body, the only rabbit breed with this body type, which is described as “sophisticated” by Mr. Smelt. They are mainly white, with color limited to the points – ears, nose, paws and tail. The eyes are red. They are small, weighing up to 4.5 pounds (2 kg) according to standards in the USA and UK. The Himalayan generally breeds true in type and color. But occasionally, some newborn Himalayan kits are tinged with silver, and others are nearly solid gray. Not to worry - the pigmentation eventually leaves the baby kit, and its coat turns snow white. At the same time, its points darken to nearly black (or blue, chocolate, or lilac). Body The Himalayan rabbit is medium-sized breed of rabbit easily mistaken for the Californian rabbit. The body is white with colored points, recognized colors are black, blue, chocolate and lilac. They are one of the oldest and calmest breeds. Adult Himalayans weigh 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds (1 to 2 kg) with an ideal weight of 3 1/2 pounds. They are the only breed that is classified in shows as cylindrical. They are judged in a stretched-out position. They are posed stretched out, and their body is to be 3.5 head lengths. The Himalayan is posed with the body fully extended – stretched out as far as it will go while all four feet remain flat on the table. European Himalayans and American Himalayans have different poses. On most breeds, the top line of the body should be very round, but on a “Himie” it should be flat as possible. When looking at a posed Himalayan from above, the side body lines should be straight also, with little or no taper from the hindquarters to the shoulders.  Fur is a fly-back. All Himies are white with red eyes and colored markings on the points. Markings include an egg-shaped “smut” on the nose, colored “boots” on the feet, and colored ears and tail. The markings are black, blue, chocolate, or lilac, but the body is always pure white. The Himie color is found as a variety in a number of other breeds, such as Mini Rex and Netherland Dwarf. It’s called Californian in the Cal, Satin, and Rex, and pointed white in Jersey Woolies, lops, and angoras. The color can vary with the surrounding temperature: points become darker in colder climates and lighter in warmer ones. In fact, a rabbit can even develop a dark spot if it lies against a cold metal object such as a feed cup on a winter night. Color differences: The black color variety is the only one in the Himalayan that was not produced by crossbreeding. Other acceptable colors are blue, chocolate, and lilac. This breed is born solid white, but its colored markings develop with age. Coat A Himalayan rabbit’s fly-back fur is short, soft and doesn’t need much maintenance in order to keep its healthy sheen. Should you find your Himalayan rabbit is shedding more than usual (such as during spring), simply brush their fur 2-3 times per week or as required. Otherwise, a weekly brushing with spot-cleaning using a damp cloth should more than sufficient. Colors The Himalayan rabbit is well known for its markings, which are similar to the Himalayan cats'. The Himalayan rabbit’s body is always white with different colored markings. The markings include colored “boots”, an egg-shaped marking on its nose and a colored tail and ears. The markings can be black, blue, chocolate or lilac. This coloration is due to a heat-sensitive enzyme on the Himalayan’s body that creates a brown pigment melanin. This enzyme is active on the parts of the body where the Himalayan rabbit is discolored, such as their ears, nose, feet and tail.The markings change with age and environment. The colder weather may darken markings, enlarge markings, and also add markings around the eyes and genitals (vent smut). These markings are not a disqualification because it is not on the usable portion of the pelt. If the markings spread into the usable portion of the pelt, such as into the belly or on the pin bones, it is a disqualification. Warmer weather may lighten markings, shrink markings, and cause white hairs in markings (known as "frosting"). In extreme warm weather, a Himalayan may even develop light or white toenails. Chocolate and lilac Himalayans usually have bigger markings than blacks and blues, and are more likely to develop disqualifying markings, known as "smut". Himalayans may develop smut after just ten minutes of contact to cold objects. Baby Himalayans are especially sensitive to temperature. Most babies in the warmth of the nest will look the same as albino babies (because Himalayans can only produce eumelanin under a certain temperature and they cannot produce pheomelanin at all.) If a nest gets too cold or a baby falls out, they will get dark bands on their fur. This varies from looking to off-white to looking chinchilla-colored, and it causes confusion among many novice breeders. Because of their constantly changing colors, most Himalayan breeders do not look at markings as a factor when making breeding plans. A baby who was chilled in the nest box is often called "frosty," which is not to be confused with frosted pearl. Genetics Himalayans are known for having a double copy of the ch gene. They also have a black color, which is probably caused by a double copy of the a (self) gene. Then there are the variations with the B gene (chocolate) and the D gene (dilute). A Himalayan with bb will show up as chocolate, a Himalayan with dd will show up as blue and a Himalayan with both bb and dd will show up as lilac. The Himalayan gene (ch) has been bred into many other breeds, they lack marking modifiers so they often show up with smaller, lighter markings. Things to Avoid: Rabbits with short, close coupled type, or an arch or taper in the top or side lines. Heavy hips, large bone, or large rabbits. Fat rabbits or animals with pot bellies are faulted. A dewlap is a disqualification. Full, bulldog type head, or pinched muzzle. Thick ears, ears shaped like spoons, or ears that are spread apart. Unmatched toenails are a disqualification. Fur that is long, harsh, uneven, or hutch stained is a fault. Eye stains are a minor fault. Smut (dark color) is a disqualification on any useable part of the pelt, and white spots in any marking is a disqualification. Markings that have stray white hairs, are not clean cut, are frosty, brassy, or are unequal. Himalayans commonly have an extra set of teats. Diet Like other rabbits, the Himalayan will benefit from a diet that consists of high-quality hay and Pellets and the rest of a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens and pellets. There are plenty types of pellets and hay available on the market, some with higher protein content than the other depending on your budget. Be aware of what kid of fruits, leafy greens and vegetables you have in your home as some are rabbit-safe and others are not. In fact, most leafy greens are unsafe as they can cause digestive issues, especially if you feed your rabbit a large amount of it. Feed your rabbit greens that are high in fiber and nutrients, such as romaine lettuce, and be aware of what kind of fruits you’re feeding (nothing that is too high in sugar). Health The Himalayan rabbit is not susceptible to any particular health issues like Wool block. They do require regular checking in a few places such as their ears (for mites), their coat and backsides (for flystrike) and their teeth (for overgrown teeth). Overgrown teeth can protrude into your rabbit’s face and jaw and be painful. Symptoms include a loss of appetite, droppings and overall less movement from your rabbit. When a rabbit’s coat is soiled with feces, urine or other unpleasantness, flies may like to call your rabbit’s bottom their home. They can lay their eggs and once the eggs have hatched, they will eat your rabbit’s flesh while they are alive in order to get the nutrients to grow. This is painful for your rabbit and can cause death. If you believe your rabbit may have contracted fly-strike, take them to your local veterinarian immediately for treatment. Temperament/behavior Himalayans are a unique breed. There is no other breed as gentle and easy to handle. Their gentle, loving nature puts them in a class unto itself. Their small size and weight allows for smaller cage space and lower feed bills than many other breeds of rabbit. These rabbits are remarkably docile and loving, making them a wonderful choice for 4-H projects or a child’s pet. The Himalayan rabbit is gentle and patient, making them the perfect pet for families with young children or seniors. Himalayans are known for their easy-going and docile temperament. This coupled with their small size makes them an excellent choice for children wanting to start raising and showing rabbits. This rabbit’s small size makes it ideal for smaller hands to carefully pick up. In fact, this breed of rabbit is not known to scratch or bite humans, making them the perfect pet for families with young children or seniors looking for a furry companion to add some color to their life. They are generally calm-natured animals who don’t mind being picked up, petted and handled and unlike other high-energy rabbits, Himalayans are not particularly active. Having said that, they do require plenty of time out of their enclosures not only to socialize and bond with their human family but also to stretch their legs and catch some sunshine. Rabbits are not impossible to litter train, however they are significantly more challenging than training, let’s say, a dog or a cat. They have the tendency to “go” anywhere they please. To remedy this requires plenty of patience…and lots of litter boxes. Place a few litter boxes around your home where you find your Himalayan tends to do the deed and with lots of hard work (and rewards!), you should be well on your way to litter-training your little rabbit. Make sure their enclosure is large enough so they can comfortably stretch out of their full size and although Himalayans are relatively small, they are long so make sure you purchase the correct enclosure size. uses Rabbits tend to be bred for one of four things: meat, fur, show, or pet use. Himalayans are popular both as show rabbits and as pets. They have fine bone and a skinny body, and, unlike many other breeds, were never raised primarily for meat. This breed's main purpose is for showing, but in its past, it was raised for its white pelt. Club The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership. Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition. The AMERICAN RABBIT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. is an organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of the domestic rabbit and cavy. The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is a British showing organization for rabbit breeders. Today, the BRC among other things investigates rabbit diseases, maintains a catalog of rabbit breeds, and sets rules for about 1,000 rabbit shows annually in the UK. Today all four varieties are recognized in both the UK and the USA. The Black variety, however remain a popular variety. Himalayans are easy to find in most areas and breeders are easily found online Have I Missed Anything about the Himalayan? If you know something about the breed standard, history or status of the Himalayan rabbit, please let me know. Do you have a story about the Himalayan Breed? What do you love about them? Do you have any tips or tricks up your sleeve for what might make this breed happiest? Perhaps you're a breeder of the Himalayan rabbit. Let me know, and maybe we can set up an interview? http://www.himalayanrabbit.com/breed_history.htm http://himalayanrabbit.com/ http://www.raising-rabbits.com/himalayan-rabbit.html http://rabbitbreeders.us/himalayan-rabbits http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-breeds/himalayan-rabbit-breed-information/ http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rabbits/HimalayanRabbit.php http://ahra2001.tripod.com/history.html http://www.petguide.com/breeds/rabbit/himalayan-rabbit/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_rabbit If you would like to support the podcast, you can support through Patreon for one dollar a month. Patreon is an established online platform that allows fans to provide regular financial support to creators. Plant of the Week:  Carrot Word of the Week:  Catnip A Rabbit Story http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/tft/tft38.htm The voice of the wolf is a sign to the sheep. Tibetan Proverb. ONCE upon a time there were two neighbor families, one family composed of an old mother bear and her son and the other of an old mother rabbit and her son. The children kept the house while the two mothers went out to dig roots. The rabbit's claws were sharp and quick and she got the most. This made the old bear mad so she killed the rabbit and took the dead body and roots home, although she couldn't dig very many, as her claws were dull. The little rabbit waited and waited and could not understand why his mother didn't come home. Finally he slipped over to the old bear's house to see what he could discover. He peeped in and saw that the old bear was cooking his mother, and she and her son sat down and ate her all up. He felt dreadfully bad and began to think of revenge, and said to himself: "Some day I will get even with them." One day the old mother bear went out to carry water, and while she was gone the little rabbit heated an arrow red hot and shot the little bear in the ear and killed him. Then he took his mother's sack which the old bear had stolen with the roots in it and carried it away with him. As he went up the mountain he met a tiger and said to him, "There is a bear coming after me, Mr. Tiger, won't you save me and find a place for me to hide?" "All right, you crawl in my ear and that bear will never find you." The old mother bear returned, bringing her kang of water, and found her son dead. She said, "The young rabbit has done this. I shall follow him and kill him." So, going after the rabbit, she came upon the tiger and asked, "Have you seen a fellow with gray fur and long ears any-where? If you don't tell me the truth I will kill you." The tiger answered, "Don't talk to me that way, for I could kill you without very much trouble." And the old bear went on. The rabbit sat there in the tiger's ear eating some of the roots he had in his sack and the tiger could hear him munching away, and asked: "What are you eating?" "My own eye-ball," he answered. The tiger said, "Give me one, they seem very good." The rabbit handed him a root, the tiger ate and said, "That's very good. Let's take my eye-balls out and eat them, and if I am blind, since I saved you from this bear, you will take care of me and lead me around, will you not?" The rabbit said, "I will do that all right." So he dug out the tiger's two eye-balls and handed him some roots to eat in place of them. Then he went on leading the tiger, who now was blind, right up to the side of a big steep cliff, where he told him to lie down and go to sleep. Then he built a big fire on the other side of the tiger, who got so hot that when he moved away he fell over the cliff and killed himself. The rabbit now went to a shepherd and told him, "There is a dead tiger up there, you can go and cut him up." Then he went to the wolf and said, "The shepherd is gone and you can go kill some sheep." Then he went to the raven and said, "You can go and pick the little wolves' eyes out, as their mother is gone to kill a sheep." Now the rabbit had done so much harm he thought he had better run away. He went into a far country and I expect he still dwells there. News Campaign aims to put Hungarian rabbit, popular abroad, on local plates https://bbj.hu/economy/campaign-aims-to-put-hungarian-rabbit-popular-abroad-on-local-plates-_134133 Hungaryʼs government and rabbit farming professionals launched a national campaign to boost consumption of rabbit meat on Friday, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. István Nagy, state secretary at the Agriculture Ministry, said that while Hungary is Europeʼs biggest exporter of rabbit meat, it is on the bottom rung when it comes to domestic consumption of the healthy meat, which is low in cholesterol and fat, as well as being easy to prepare. Hungarians consume just 200-300 grams of rabbit meat per capita each year, while residents of Mediterranean countries eat more than 2 kg, he added. Róbert Juráskó, who heads the Rabbit Product Council, said healthy, easy to digest rabbit meat should be on Hungarian familiesʼ tables at least once a week. St. Louis Families Would Be Permitted 8 Chickens, Rabbits Under New Proposal http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2017/06/12/st-louis-families-would-be-permitted-8-chickens-rabbits-under-new-proposal A bill introduced at the Board of Aldermen last week would allow St. Louis families to keep up to eight chickens or rabbits on a normal-sized city lot — a sizable increase to what's currently permitted. Under existing city ordinances, St. Louis residents are allowed no more than four pets total, and chickens and rabbits have no special classification. If you have three dogs and one chicken, for example, you've reached the cap. But the new bill, sponsored by Alderwoman Cara Spencer and Christine Ingrassia, carves out a framework for small farm animals, namely chickens and rabbits, that is separate from pets. It would also allow one Vietnamese potbelly pig per household, although other large farm animals and roosters both remain expressly prohibited. The new regulations are part of a broader effort to encourage urban farming within St. Louis. The alderwomen worked with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, seeking to bring the city's ordinances that affect urban agriculture in line with best practices in other cities. The coalition's survey, which involved more than 850 people, found broad support for such reforms locally. An additional proposal from Ingrassia and Spencer would allow St. Louis residents to sell eggs, honey and produce from the property where they are grown, without costly business licenses. Says Ingrassia, "It's all about letting people have easier access to food, and to make the city more sustainable." Selling home-grown produce won't make anyone rich, she acknowledges. "But if you can make a few extra bucks, that's a good thing." Last year, a proposal to increase to six the number of chickens owned by city households couldn't attain passage at the Board of Aldermen. Spencer, for one, believes this year may be different. "With the new energy on the board and more progressives on it, we should be able to get this passed," she says. She urges all of those interested in the issue to contact their alderman or woman to seek their support.   Sharon J. Mixdorf (1962-2017) http://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/sharon-j-mixdorf/article_4729793d-e6d5-5a2d-bdc2-71b97dd76abb.html DENVER -- Sharon Jane Mixdorf, 55, of Denver, died at home Saturday, June 10, from complications of breast cancer. She was born June 6, 1962, in Marshfield, Wis., daughter of Stanley and Joan Welch Fait. On May 30, 1992, she married Eric Mixdorf in Marshfield. She graduated from Marshfield Columbus High School in 1980. Sharon lived in Marshfield, Waterloo and Denver and worked as a pet and dog groomer for 22 years, most recently at Brookside Veterinary Hospital in Cedar Falls. She was a member of the Bremer County Genealogical Society, Pet Pals, Iowa State Dutch Rabbit Club, Iowa State Rabbit Breeders Association, Collie Club of America, American English Spot Rabbit Club and was a life member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association and the American Dutch Rabbit Club. Sharon also was the director of the Upper Midwest Dutch Rabbit Club, the secretary of the Waterloo Area Rabbit Breeders Association, and was the Rabbit Show secretary at the National Cattle Congress Fair. Survived by: her husband; her mother of Marshfield; five sisters, Nancy (Leon) LeClair of Two Rivers, Wis., Linda (Dan) Neve of Marshfield, Mary Lou (Rich) Volk of Arpin, Wis., Patty (Jim) Shaw of Marshfield and Kathy (Tony) Kuhlka of Hewitt, Wis.; a brother, Michael (Gayle) Fait of Marshfield; two sisters-in-law, Pat Bitel and Brenda (Patrick) Wellner; four brothers-in-law, Darrell Gates of Pittsville, Wis., Richard (Kathy) Mixdorf, David (Rhonda) Mixdorf and Brian (Esther) Mixdorf; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by: her father; and her twin sister, Karen Gates. Services: 2 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Waterloo, with burial in Garden of Memories. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at Parrott & Wood Chapel of Memories, Waterloo. Memorials: may be directed to the family. Condolences may be left at www.overtonservice.com. Sharon enjoyed reading, camping, swimming, canoeing, rabbit shows and exotic animal swaps.   New Species of Cottontail Rabbit Identified: Sylvilagus parentum http://www.sci-news.com/biology/sylvilagus-parentum-suriname-lowland-forest-cottontail-04951.html new species of cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus) has been described from the lowlands of western Suriname by Portland State University Professor Luis Ruedas. The Suriname lowland forest cottontail (Sylvilagus parentum). Image credit: UOL / IUCN. The Suriname lowland forest cottontail (Sylvilagus parentum). Image credit: UOL / IUCN. Prof. Ruedas made the discovery after studying rabbit specimens at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, the Netherlands. The specimens were collected in the 1980s by Dutch scientists during the fieldwork in Suriname. The researcher studied the anatomy of the specimens and determined they were larger and shaped differently than other rabbits throughout South America. He named the newfound species the Suriname lowland forest cottontail. The scientific name of the species, Sylvilagus parentum, honors Prof. Ruedas’ parents, Patricio Ruedas Younger and Paloma Martín Daza. “The rabbit discovery in South America could affect how animal species are identified as unique, which is an important step when determining if a species is endangered,” Prof. Ruedas said. “It could also lead to conservation efforts in Suriname, where environmental degradation is threatening the rabbit’s habitat.” Sylvilagus parentum is relatively large for a South American cottontail. The species measures 15.3 inches (39 cm) in head and body length and 10 inches (2.5 cm) in tail length. The length of the ears is about 2.4 inches (6 cm). The average mass is around 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg). The new species is described in a paper recently published in the online edition of the Journal of Mammalogy. _____ Luis A. Ruedas. A new species of cottontail rabbit (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) from Suriname, with comments on the taxonomy of allied taxa from northern South America. Journal of Mammalogy, published online May 17, 2017; doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx048   A new species of cottontail rabbit (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) from Suriname, with comments on the taxonomy of allied taxa from northern South America https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jmammal/gyx048/3828752/A-new-species-of-cottontail-rabbit-Lagomorpha?redirectedFrom=fulltext Abstract Of the 19 currently recognized species of Sylvilagus Gray, 1867, 15 inhabit North America, and only 5 are recognized in South America: S. brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758 (throughout most of the continent); S. varynaensis Durant and Guevara, 2001, restricted to the southern lowlands of Venezuela (states of Barinas, Portuguesa, and Guarico); S. andinus (Thomas, 1897) from the Andean páramos of Ecuador and potentially in a sporadic manner to the Colombian and Venezuelan páramos; and S. tapetillus Thomas, 1913, from the coastal plain in the region of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to these, putative subspecies of S. floridanus, primarily a North American taxon, nominally are recognized from the grassland plains areas of northwestern South America east of the Andes. While S. varynaensis and S. tapetillus are monotypic, S. brasiliensis contains at least 37 named taxa in synonymy, distributed in various habitats; S. andinus requires further study. As a result of the recent description of a neotype for S. brasiliensis, it is now possible to assess species limits and begin the process of illuminating formerly obscured biological diversity in South American cottontails. Here, I describe a new species of Sylvilagus from the lowlands of western Suriname, and excise S. sanctaemartaeHershkovitz, 1950 from synonymy with S. brasiliensis.

Longest in the US, muddy-waters famous for music-inspiring - and one of the most-altered rivers on Earth. We humans have channelized, narrowed and straightened the Missouri almost (not quite) beyond recognition.                                  With enough River Issues to float a boat, we STILL have opportunities to protect and in some spots even restore health to the Mighty MO. Greg Poleski, VP of Greenway Network, works on river issues by leading paddling outings on "water trails," leading river clean-ups, and organizing public education events. Brad Walker, River Director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, works with legal, legislative, public education and other means to protect the Missouri from further degradation. LEARN MORE at River Soundings - a free panel discussion of Missouri River issues. Wednesday February 22, 5:30-8 p.m. Visitor Center in Forest Park. Panelists Tony Messenger, Brad Walker and Dr. Robert Criss, moderated by Jean Ponzi from KDHX. Music: Big Piney Blues, performed live at KDHX by Brian Curran, December 2003 THANKS to Josh Nothum, Earthworms engineer. Related Earthworms Conversations: Mississippi River Town Mayors: Leadership in a Global Way (June, 2016)

Where can you go to have some fun, close to home or just hours away, with the whole family or your pals, maybe catch some history, for sure get outdoors and enjoy NATURE . . . for free? In any of Missouri's 88 (and counting) state parks and historic sites. Missouri is a national leader in providing nature-based public benefits, in no small part because a modest tax has supported our state park system for over 30 years. The Parks, Soils and Clean Water sales tax levies 1/10 of 1% of sales and uses these funds to manage our parks - and support farmers and landowners statewide through Soil & Water Conservation District services. Amendment 1 brings this tax up for another renewal cycle on November 8. Why consider supporting it? Hear the vivid, diverse and compelling story of Missouri State Parks from the system's director, Bill Bryan, with the Dept. of Natural Resources, and from Heather Navarro, Executive Director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.           Music: Lime House Blues, performed live at KDHX by the great Del McCoury, August, 2013. Thanks to Josh Nothum, Earthworms engineer (and budding State Park explorer) Pictured: Locations of Missouri State Parks, Elephant Rocks State Park

Want to start an urban garden? Or grow your garden-sized enterprise into a feeding others, providing livelihood for yourself urban FARM? There's a brand new "toolkit" in town for you. Melissa Vatterott, Food & Farms Coordinator for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment returns to Earthworms to present the topics covered in this guide. Urban Ag issues include ordinances (the City Chicken Limit), water access (can you tap into a neighboring property's hose bib, or do you need to install a costly water line?), and zoning for types of structures (tool sheds, high tunnels) and location-specific land usage. Opportunities, on the other hand, are great - and growing - in the St. Louis region! We have lots of vacant land, the climate for three-season food production, good soil, and abundant water, even in times of drought. We have partnerships like these toolkit supporters in the St. Louis Food Policy Coalition: Gateway Greening and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. And we have leaders like Melissa Vatterott, cultivating data along with berries, greens and carrots, to ensure the viability and fund-ability of our growing Urban Farming culture. Dig into the new Guide to Urban Agriculture and Urban Farming in St. Louis - and help yourself, your neighborhood and your local farmers grow capacity to feed our region! Music: Magic 9, performed live by the Infamous Stringdusters, at KDHX in June, 2011. Related Earthworms Conversations: Melissa Vatterott on the St. Louis Regional Foodshed Study - December 29, 2015. LaVista Farmer Crystal Stevens (Earthworms' farmer!) - July 29, 2015 Farming on a Downtown Roof: Urban Harvest STL - June 30, 2015 Pawpaw, America's Forgotten Fruit - September 30, 2015 Project Garlic: Crop-Sourcing the Super-Bulb - October 13, 2015

Check the prices at gas pumps. Do we NEED to extract Tar Sands, the dirtiest, hardest-to-refine, lowest value, Carbon-belching petroleum squeezin' on the planet?But we are, and St. Louis filmmaker Caitlin Zera has documented issues with transporting it, across Missouri on the 593 mile route called the Flanagan South Pipeline. It's run by Canadian fossil fuel delivery giant Enbridge, the folks behind a 2010 oil dump into the Kalamazoo River. Zera and her crew traveled the Flanagan Pipeline's route through Missouri, interviewing landowners, small-town civic officials, and environmental advocates about the process and permitting (or lax of it) associated with this pipeline - which typify tar sands pipelines anywhere. One of her goals in making this film is raising public awareness about tar sands pipelines and what actions we can take in the face of this petroleum-based bum deal. From the Pipeline will be featured in five free local January screenings with Q & A, January 12 through 26, as part of the ongoing STL Eco Film Festival, a collaborative of local faith-based environmental groups. Find details and view a segment of the film at www.fromthepipelineproject.com. Zera returns to Earthworms tonight with this major film focus. We had the pleasure of talking with her in 2013 about her short feature End of Line, a quirkly, loving portrait of two men and their devotion to typewriters. She works now (when not directing and producing) at the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, coordinating membership and events for this regional enviro-advocate organization. Thanks, Caitlin, for your perceptive, articulate, diligent efforts! Music: Hunter's Permit by Mr. Sun - recorded live at KDHX-St. Louis

This Week’s Featured Interviews: Ed Smith, who is with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, explains the proposed legislation to put Federal supervision of the West Lake Landfill under the Army Corps of Engineers and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP. Dawn Chapman, a Mom who lives two miles from West Lake...

INTERVIEWS: Ed Smith, who is with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, explains the proposed legislation to put Federal supervision of the West Lake Landfill under the Army Corps of Engineers and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP. And Dawn Chapman, a Mom who lives two miles from West Lake and Admins the West Lake Landfill Facebook site, on latest developments in the PR “divide and conquer” pushback from Republic Services.

INTERVIEWS: Ed Smith, who is with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, explains the proposed legislation to put Federal supervision of the West Lake Landfill under the Army Corps of Engineers and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP. And Dawn Chapman, a Mom who lives two miles from West Lake and Admins the West Lake Landfill Facebook site, on latest developments in the PR “divide and conquer” pushback from Republic Services.

INTERVIEWS: Ed Smith, who is with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, explains the proposed legislation to put Federal supervision of the West Lake Landfill under the Army Corps of Engineers and the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP. And Dawn Chapman, a Mom who lives two miles from West Lake and Admins the West Lake Landfill Facebook site, on latest developments in the PR “divide and conquer” pushback from Republic Services.

Today's nuclear industry was born in secrecy during World War II. St. Louis pitched in, refining the massive amounts of uranium used by the Manhattan Project. We have the world's oldest nuclear waste scattered around this community.  St. Louis filmmaker Anthony West digs in and shows this complicated history, from workers (and the bosses) at the then-small Mallinckrodt Chemical Company, to federal agency officials, to today's on-edge residents living around radioactively contaminated West Lake Landfill that continues to make local to international news. This cinematic story challenges our societal idea that there IS a "Safe Side of the Fence" and hopes to prompt viewers to engage with nuclear issues. The film screens Weds 11-11-15, 7 p.m. at St. Louis University - FREE - in the 24th annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival. Sponsored by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, an environmental group working to keep both public and planet safe in relation to nukes and many other issues. Music: The Exotic Future of Money - Kinetics - Recorded live at KDHX

Missouri's largest private landowner, Leo Drey grew a mighty forest of conservation impacts, cumulatively and literally, over his 98 years (1917 - 2015). In this first edition of Earthworms' new podcast era, Jean Ponzi welcomes historians and fellow enviro-champions to honor a beloved colleague, leader and friend. Guests are: Dr. Susan Flader - Professor Emerita, University of Missouri and Vice-President, L-A-D Foundation David Lobbig - Curator of Environmental Life, Missouri History Museum and Board President, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Music by the late R. Roger Pryor - Co-Founder and Director, Missouri Coalition for the Environment; recorded live in 1997 at The Focal Point in St. Louis Learn more about the life and work of Leo Drey - and explore conservation opportunities YOU can enjoy and support - from the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.