Yes, Sprout.mn is sadly closing shop. But we’ll still be out there…in a metaphorical way.

The idea behind this little Poladroid journey was that Sprout—a friendly symbol of everyday green—is everywhere you look in the Twin Cities. The miles of bike paths, the organic seasonal fare at our restaurants, the vintage treasures at local antique shops… The journey continues…

Sprout was always about letting folks discover their own definition of green while connecting to their local community. Thanks for the opportunity.

~Sprout

Concerned about climate change? I’m guessing yes. So why don’t you join me and the millions of other people around the globe who will turn off their lights for an hour this Saturday?

This worldwide event is called Earth Hour, and it’s one way we can show support for a sustainable future through a simple, impactful effort.

Earth Hour takes place tomorrow, March 27, starting at 8:30 p.m. Join Sprout in this call to action and take an hour to contemplate—and celebrate!—planet Earth.

Take the pledge here, and read more.

Do I know these people? … Um, yeah, I have to work with them every day. On some (like this one), just imagine a Mpls. version of “The Office” — can you spot our Steve Carrell?

Now and then we get a little goofy, and because St. Patty’s day is literally the greenest holiday of the year (I’m talking color), the time was ripe for an impromptu parade through our office building.

We marched around, handing out candy, playing traditional Irish tunes, and surprising (and possibly scaring) people in the building. It ended here, atop our parking ramp, as we spread good cheer to the passing cars.

Top of the morning to you! ~SPROUT

My regular a.m. stop—Corner Coffee—just down the street from the office was collecting donations for Haiti today. 100% of all coffee purchases went to humanitarian relief efforts, and the recyclable cups were donated by Faulk Paper Company for the event. Remember to check out Red Cross for more ways you can make a difference.

Turkey! I just rolled three strikes in a row! No joke. For our office holiday party, we all laced up those nerdy-looking bowling shoes and took to the lanes - a little late on the calendar, but is it ever too late to celebrate? Our alley of choice: Bryant-Lake Bowl. We rolled it old school, and enjoyed the happy hour local brew specials. It really was a ball.

Thanks, BLB! ~The Sprout Crew

We’ve had some birthdays to celebrate as of late, and this one called for cheesecake (the honoree’s favorite), fresh flowers, and some fun eco-gifts: a recycled-paper notebook, a pumpkin-spice soy candle, and a bday card that sprouts. All Ms. Birthday Girl has to do is plant it, and the seeds embedded in the paper will do the rest of the work. As she smartly said—it’s a present to me and the planet.

My pack needed a pick-me-up, so I purchased a couple of fun patterned notebooks made out of recycled paper and soy ink in the Target aisles (nice when a big chain makes an effort to save some trees). Their Greenroom Eco line is tres Tarjay—high design, low price. Now about that homework…

We did it! Sprout.mn is finally here, and, with your help, ready to grow, grow, grow! After two years in development, it’s extremely rewarding to see all our hard work in action. To celebrate, we threw an office pizza party, and sat around swapping stories, drinking beer, and listening to Pandora. The swill: Legendary local lager Grain Belt Premium. The pies: Piping hot Pizza Luce. The extras: Recyclable plates and utensils from Linden Hills Natural Home. The entertainment: Early tales about Sprout’s development.