Dig This

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News

BCH Celebrates 10-year Anniversary

Bring Conservation

Home (BCH) is an innovative program of

St. Louis Audubon

which, for the past 10 years, has been effectively connecting people with nature and, as a result, encouraging the creation of native plant and animal habitat throughout the St. Louis region. Since 2012, more than 1,500 homeowners and stewards of public spaces have requested and received guidance from BCH’s one staff member and a small but enthusiastic army of wonderful volunteer habitat advisors in developing native plant landscaping for the benefit of birds and other wildlife. This unique gardener-to-gardener model of teaching has proven to be a congenial means of helping novices and experts alike, enabling those just getting interested in ecology to take a big leap forward while also offering fresh ideas to those already experienced in the world of native plants. In addition to imparting basic information, technical assistance, and encouragement, BCH also provides recognition for accomplishment through a progression of achievement levels. Many homeowners have committed to a “Healthy Yard Pledge” -- to reduce pesticide use, conserve water, protect water quality, remove non-native invasive plants, and plant more native species to support birds and other wildlife on their property.They can actively pursue BCH’s Silver, Gold, or Platinum status as evidence of their growing expertise. BCH also works closely with other conservation organizations and presents annual educational events, including native landscaping workshops, a native plant garden tour, and a native plant sale. If you would like to learn more about the BCH program or become a member, visit stlouisaudubon. org. (From the St. Louis Audubon Society’s Tale Feathers newsletter.)

Brightside St. Louis Turns 40

Hard to believe St Louisans have been enjoying those cheerful daffodils along area highways for 40 years now! Of course Brightside St. Louis is so much more than just the highway daffodils. They clean graffiti, pick up litter, help green St. Louis by supporting community gardens and public plantings, and so much more.

Originally named Operation Brightside, the organization was founded in 1982 by Mayor Vince Schoemehl and campaign chairman G. Duncan Bauman, the then publisher of the St. Louis Globe Democrat. It was the response to a 1981 survey that was conducted in which St. Louis residents felt the number one problem facing the city was the fact that it was dirty. Volunteers were required to sign up ten additional volunteers who would then each be required to sign up ten more volunteers. The eventual 100,000 volunteers would be both the brains and brawn for the effort that would start the cleaning and greening of the gateway city, filling trash bag after trash bag of litter and debris. The group’s original slogan was “Good neighbors teamed up to clean up St. Louis” – a phrase that stuck around until the recent rebranding efforts.

As part of its anniversary celebration, Brightside St. Louis has big goals, including completing 400 neighborhood clean-ups, engage 4,000 volunteers, plant 40,000 each of daffodils, marigolds, dianthus and celosia, and remove 40,000 sq. ft. of graffiti. If you would like to help, visit their website at brightsidestl.org to learn about volunteering or donating.