At the May 6, 2025 City Council Workshop, Sustainable Stillwater MN Board Member and Energy Action Team Lead Roger Tomten delivered a powerful presentation on a transformative idea for Stillwater’s future: walkability. SSMN donated twelve copies of Walkable City Rules—Jeff Speck’s practical companion guide—to the City for use by council members, staff, and commissions. These books contain specific, actionable recommendations that could be tailored to Stillwater’s unique needs

On Wednesday, May 7, all seven elementary schools in Stillwater Area School District ISD 834 participated in Bike to School Day 2025, making this year’s event a district-wide success! With over 500 students biking, scootering, or walking to school, the event marked a milestone in active transportation for Stillwater’s youngest residents.

As the Executive Director of Sustainable Stillwater MN, I recently had the opportunity to join the EcoFaith group for a fascinating tour of the Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E) Center. Seeing firsthand how our community’s trash is processed was both eye-opening and inspiring.

Young women are leading the climate vote—but where are the young men? A new report from the Environmental Voter Project reveals a striking gender gap in climate activism and voting. Sustainable Stillwater MN explores why this matters and highlights two upcoming opportunities for youth to get involved: the Washington Co. Climate Action Plan vote on May 13 and the 4-H Climate Career Panel on May 16. The time to engage is now.

This week, we're joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and organizations across the country to observe Air Quality Awareness Week — a time to highlight the importance of clean air and share practical ways to stay healthy when the air isn’t.

At the 2025 World Economy Summit, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy had a chance to support safer, cleaner, and more equitable transportation infrastructure. Instead, he grumbled about “bikes” like they were an inconvenience — not a vital, growing part of a healthy transportation system.

Instead of abandoning the mower altogether in May and then compensating with a brutal cut, Slow Mow Summer promotes moderation and consistency. Think of it as the “meditation” of lawn care: slower, more intentional, and ultimately more beneficial to both people and pollinators.

On a gorgeous spring day with a cool breeze and clear blue skies, almost 500 community members gathered at Pioneer Park in Stillwater, MN for the 3rd Annual Valley Eco Fair — and what a celebration it was!

This year’s Earth Week Bike Drive at HealthPartners Clinic – Stillwater was an absolute blast—and a resounding success! Hosted in partnership with Lakeview Hospital / HealthPartners and our amazing Sustainable Stillwater MN crew, we collected a whopping 133 bicycles on April 22!