Readers of past Frogtown Green columns have heard a lot recently from me and from Rennie Gaither, our longtime communications wizard. With this issue, we introduce another key member of the Frogtown …

Happy Summer! I was born on July 4th, much to the chagrin of my younger sister. “Everybody celebrates Rennie’s birthday,” she said, dejectedly, beneath thick, swollen braids, …

I’ve been discovering plenty of new things to experience lately. Funny how a previously unknown author or new jazz recordings can alter one’s state of being. So too, things overlooked, …

Spring has arrived! “Meteorological spring” began March 1 and will last until May 3. The spring or vernal equinox kicked off on March 20 this year, marking when the equator receives the …

Is there anyone in the United States who has not been affected, indirectly or directly, by the changes enacted by our new President and his unelected sidekick? Farmers, consumers, doctors, …

It’s February, and as of the time of this writing the snowfall total for the winter of 2024-25 is 69% lower than the historical average. Sad news for many winter sports aficionados, yet a boon …

Happy New Year! The winter solstice, harbinger of the beginning of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere and sunlight curmudgeon, has passed. It’s a good thing we have such Grand …

November has arrived! Temps have fallen. The 2024 presidential election has concluded. Please don’t mind the rash of autumn lovers, like myself, prowling city streets, relishing sounds, smells, …

Pretty much anyone who lives in Frogtown for any length of time has been dumped on. Our home is no exception. Tires in the alley. A broken TV on the curb. A sodden couch with a hopeless …

The Minnesota State Fair conjures up scenes of copious crowds, generator-humming eateries, and layering heat. Add to that a palpable ocean of sensory stimulation, spectacle, and awe. Aptly nicknamed …

Enjoying the summer? On balance we’ve had our share of sweltering heat, counterpointed by consistent downpours and bratty algae blooms. Last month saw the hottest day on earth ever recorded. …

Do you remember how hot it was last summer? So far this year we have been enjoying cooler temperatures, but due to climate change, extreme heat events are on the rise. And very hot weather can …

Imagine a roadside right-of-way that can increase native biodiversity, assist with carbon cycling and sequestration, help purify water, and reduce soil erosion. If you’ve ever traveled along …

Ah, spring! Many celebrated Earth Day this year by participating in the annual Citywide Spring Cleanup. Individuals, friends, families, even businesses and community organizations shed their winter …

Not every landlord inveighs against fossil fuels, but then again, Dale Howey isn’t your average landlord.  As the owner, manager and environmental cheerleader-in-chief of Green Rock …

Back in November, our Frogtown household got a letter from the city’s water agency – Saint Paul Regional Water Services – that suggested we should be concerned about lead in the …

The world is awash in plastic. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes. Beyond the aesthetic mess of plastic …

This past semester, I worked as an intern with Frogtown Green, a neighborhood organization I’d never heard of before September. I’m a Bethel University senior, majoring in English and …

On a recent afternoon, Megan Maiers marched into Our Village, a community garden near her Frogtown home. In her hands was a small container filled with ordinary, leftover food scraps. …

Frogtown residents who have spent more than a decade working toward a goal of “1,000 Trees for Frogtown Homes” will reach – and surpass – that goal this year.  …