Environmental Initiative

05/27/2026

Drinking water protection is a shared responsibility, and this summer in Chatfield, it's also a shared creative project. Artist Mary Beth Magyar is working with community members to build two public mosaics rooted in the region's karst geology, with sessions open at the farmers market, local schools, senior living facilities, and community events.

Learn more about the project: https://buff.ly/eOz0VFO

Thank you to the Minnesota Department of Health for their support of the Source Water Protection Collaborative through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.

05/21/2026

Minnesota officials are warning that summer 2026 could bring another active wildfire smoke season.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, we could see:
• 12–16 days impacted by wildfire smoke.
• 4–6 unhealthy ozone days this summer.
• Increased risk from hot, dry conditions linked to El Niño.

Health experts say wildfire smoke can affect everyone, but especially children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and anyone with asthma or heart or lung conditions.

Smoke particles can go deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

A few simple ways to prepare this summer:
✔️ Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) regularly.
✔️ Limit strenuous outdoor activity on smoky days.
✔️ Keep indoor air clean with HEPA filtration.
✔️ Wear an N95 mask if air quality becomes unhealthy.

Minnesota health officials advise checking air quality the same way we check the weather.

Environmental Initiative convenes Clean Air Minnesota to tackle challenges like these. Learn more: https://buff.ly/NZVcpJQ.

05/19/2026

Looking for good news in your inbox? Environmental Initiative's monthly newsletter covers what we're doing across clean air, clean water, sustainable agriculture, and more. Sign up today: https://buff.ly/fYJe7l4

05/13/2026

Source Water Protection Collaborative artist in residence Mary Beth Magyar set up at the Chatfield Growers Market for the first time last week! Chatfield residents came out to create mosaic tiles for a public art installation while learning about their local watershed and how to protect their drinking water.

Mary Beth will be at the Growers Market on Thursdays and the Chatfield Center for the Arts on Wednesdays all spring and summer. The tiles made by the community will become public mosaics at the Chatfield Center for the Arts and Chatfield City Hall.

Want to support this work? Reach out to Sacha Seymour-Anderson at [email protected] or visit our website to learn more: https://buff.ly/eIUuShB

Thank you to Minnesota Department of Health for their support through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. 💚

05/12/2026

Emissions data is only valuable if you can act on it. The Sustainable Growth Coalition is helping Minnesota businesses get there — read about their new project on the Environmental Initiative website: https://buff.ly/dohbstN

05/11/2026

Too many conservation programs struggle to reach farmers not because of low interest, but because of funding bottlenecks, misaligned reporting cycles, and under-resourced teams. This research is the start of a real conversation about what it takes to fix that.

So proud of the work we put into this with Trust In Food and excited to see what it brings!

Read the op-ed: https://www.thefencepost.com/news/why-good-conservation-programs-still-struggle-to-reach-farmers/?utm_content=377321601&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-47668050

Producers are ready to learn more about implementing conservation agriculture practices. The opportunity is making sure our programs are ready to reach them.

New research from Trust In Food and Environmental Initiative shows that farmer interest in conservation agriculture is strong and growing. And the good news for funders and implementors is that the path to faster, more effective enrollment is clearer than ever: better alignment on resources, reporting cycles, and the relationship-building that truly moves producers to act.

The next step starts with open, honest conversations about what it really takes to connect producers with the programs they need.

Read the full op-ed: https://hubs.ly/Q04fPHZw0

05/08/2026

Cleaner air, stronger communities.

What impact did Environmental Initiative's clean air work have in 2025?

-Reduced harmful air pollutants.

-Expanded partnerships across sectors.

-Delivered measurable, community-focused results.

See the highlights below.

05/07/2026

Project Clean Air Repair keeps families on the road and pollutants out of the air by covering the cost of emissions system repairs at 14 partner garages. Since 2017, that's 963 cars repaired and 52 tons of emissions reduced! These repairs not only improve air quality, but they ensure better quality of life for many Minnesotans who otherwise could not afford a fix.

We're on the road to hit 1,000 repairs this summer — that's a lot to celebrate! Stay tuned to learn how we'll be commemorating this moment and how we'll keep making a difference at 1,000 repairs and beyond.

05/06/2026

Wildfire smoke events are becoming more common in Minnesota summers—but what does that actually mean for your health?

We talked with experts from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to answer some of the biggest questions:

Why are smoke events increasing?

Who’s most at risk?

How can families and youth programs prepare?

Our key takeaway? “Treat air quality like any other weather hazard.”

Learn what to watch for and how to protect your family: https://buff.ly/Cf2TDAi

05/05/2026

What does sustainability look like in practice?

At the Church of St. Frances Cabrini in Minneapolis, it looks like real, measurable change—reducing energy use, improving comfort, and planning for a Net Zero future.

With support from the City of Minneapolis’ Green Cost Share program, Cabrini installed a high-efficiency electric heat pump that’s expected to cut nearly 20 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly. Beyond the numbers, the building is now more comfortable, more resilient during extreme weather, and better prepared for a cleaner energy grid.

As one parish leader put it, the existing heating system was "broken whether we want to admit it or not.” Taking action meant rethinking what “working fine” really means.

Read the full story on our blog: https://buff.ly/PWGiqDt