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Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News

Seed St. Louis In the News

Seed St. Louis, formerly Gateway Greening, recently announced it was awarded an American Water Charitable Foundation STEM (science, technology, education, math) Education grant, focusing on its School Program and Seed to STEM curriculum. The goal of these programs is to connect students around the region to their natural environment and healthy food. Seed St. Louis is growing its impact through more excellent teacher professional development and assisting schools in creating a strong school community by utilizing their school garden. Education surrounding growing food and healthy eating will become a regular piece of these students’ educational experience, preparing them for a future of healthy habits and a strong foundation in STEM.

Old Bayer’s Site Resprouts Under New Ownership

The long-time Hampton Avenue site of the Bayer’s Garden Shop is once again providing gardeners the plants and supplies they need for their gardens and lawns. Bayer’s served gardeners from the city and county for 81 years at (approximately) that location as well as another in Imperial before closing in June 2022. Now, husband and wife team Lila and Dylan Waier have opened The Garden Shop at 3321 Hampton, just north of the original site.

The Waiers, who moved to St. Louis in 2018 from California, have operated an indoor/outdoor garden supply shop on Ivanhoe in South St. Louis, since then, specializing in hydroponics supplies and other supplies and services, especially for those wishing to take advantage of recent legalization of homegrown cannabis. That had previous experience in that market in California, where medical marijuana has been legal since 2005. The new Garden Shop is a more traditional garden center and nursery. Though new to that part of garden retailing, the Waiers bring lots of previous experience from other jobs they say applies to the operation of their new business. In addition to the familiar plants and products Bayer’s used to offer, The Garden Shop also plans to focus on native plants, organic gardening and sustainable gardening practices.

“Seed St. Louis provides a unique avenue for STEM education throughout the St. Louis region by helping educators teach their students about how food grows, which encourages students and their families to eat healthy food and improves health outcomes. The grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation will help advance Seed St. Louis’s work in empowering communities to grow their own food,” said April Troxel, Seed St. Louis’ Board Chair.

The STEM Education grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program established by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, and aims to support high-impact projects and initiatives that further American Water’s commitment to ESG, as well as inclusion, diversity and equity.

In another announcement, Seed St. Louis has partnered with One Tree Planted to double the capacity of the Giving Grove program in St. Louis, allowing it to grow from the current 70-100 trees planted per year to 200 trees in 2023 in the St. Louis region.

“With this grant I’m excited to be able to build upon the orchards already in our network as well as add new orchards. These funds will help our Giving Grove program be more accessible to communities in the region by greatly reducing the costs for the

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Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News

trees.” Dean Gunderson, Director of Education, Seed St. Louis.

This project will provide 200 fruit and nut trees across 20 sites in St. Louis, focusing primarily on the City of St. Louis, with some sites in St. Louis County that either have high rates of food insecurity or have land available to grow fruits, berries and nuts that will be distributed in neighborhoods with high rates of food insecurity. Planting will occur in the spring (April-May) and fall (October-November). Plantings also will include understory fruit bushes that will support biodiversity, food sovereignty and a longer harvest season. Each orchard will be cared for by a minimum of two trained volunteers who will serve as orchard stewards; the stewards will receive ongoing technical assistance and support from program staff for the lifetime of the orchard.

This is one of over 45 projects that One Tree

Planted is supporting globally as part of the Urban Forestry Action Fund - a portfolio of high-impact urban forestry projects aimed at planting urban trees to address environmental justice issues - such as urban heat, air pollution, and lack of community greenspaces - and ultimately help communities achieve tree equity.

“We have a long way to go to reach our desired outcome - a future where all people, regardless of race or income, have not only equal access to the benefits of trees, but equitable access to the resources needed to get us there,” said Tanner Haid, Director of Urban Forestry at One Tree Planted. “This project with Seed St. Louis, and the overarching work of the Urban Forestry Action Fund, is a meaningful step in that direction We will continue driving resources towards communities that need them most.”

U. of I. Extension Debuts New Pollinator Website

University of Illinois Extension now has available a free website, Illinois Pollinators, illinoispollinators.org, is devoted to everything pollinators. From different types of pollinator species to the step-by-step process of starting a pollinator garden or attractive habitat, the site is a one-stop resource for those looking to make an impact on the pollinator population. Use the Illinois Pollinators content to:

• Discover which pollinator species call Illinois home

• Understand the importance of pollinators in Illinois and globally

• Identify plants pollinators use. Filter options with the plant selection tool

• Learn about pollinator habitat designs and management tips

• Explore community science and educational opportunities

• Delve into pollinator research at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

“Our plant selector tool includes 95 species of native plants that can both beautify your garden while providing pollinator resources,” says Erin Garrett, Extension natural resources, environment, and energy educator. “The site provides information about each plant’s growing conditions, the pollinators it supports, and its commercial availability.”

Check out examples of pre-planned gardens, explore plants that work for your location in Illinois by filtering our plant species list according to specific site conditions or various plant attributes, such as size, flower color, or bloom timing. The plant selection tool allows individuals to discover beautiful flowering plants that fit landscape preferences while assisting with pollinators throughout the year.

While the site is created for Illinois users, don’t let a little thing like the Mississippi River stop Missouri gardeners from checking out the site. Much of the information is applicable to us as well!