Even in trying times, people in our communities continue to do great things for one another and for the Earth. Telling their stories is what the 2009 Radish Awards are all about. From Cedar Rapids to Fairfield, Iowa, and from Rock Island to Galesburg, Ill., individuals and groups have worked hard in the past year to bring environmental issues to the fore, make their communities cleaner and more sustainable, ensure that local food is available, fight pollution and educate others about how to do the same. It wasn't difficult to find 10 individuals, groups and institutions upon whom to bestow awards. Instead, our challenge was to narrow the field to efforts that were new or of special importance in 2008 or that had yet to be reported in Radish. In addition, to reflect the mission of our magazine, each recipient had to be involved in an activity that in some way reflected a grassroots commitment to healthy living. Following these criteria, we are proud to announce the following 2009 Radish Award winners: City of Fairfield: In 2008 leaders in this small city ratified the Fairfield Green Strategic Plan. Among its goals as a sustainable town, Fairfield is striving to power its city with wind and solar, reduce overall energy use by 60 percent, make walking and biking easier and help local foods flourish -- all while lowering taxes and creating new jobs. Heilmanns Hawkeye Acres: Certified organic by the USDA in 2008, the Goose Lake, Iowa, farm of Cindy and Dave Heilmann is home to 41 varieties of fruits and veggies, as well as sustainably-raised beef. Cindy is known for her belief that organic food should be available to everyone, not only "the rich and famous." iLivehere: Launched on Earth Day in 2008, iLivehere replaced Keep Scott County Beautiful with a can-do attitude. Not only does iLivehere provide citizens with the supplies they need to organize community cleanups, but its social-networking component helps people connect online to solve environmental problems where they live. Quad Cities Transportation Advocacy Group: What started as a group of bike enthusiasts in 2006 has grown into a vocal force for better transportation in the Quad-Cities. Center for Energy and Environmental Education: Founded in 1994 by a federal appropriation, the CEEE in Cedar Falls focuses on giving Iowans the knowledge, tools and inspiration they need to make their communities more environmentally sustainable. It provides curriculum and training, partners with other organizations and connects groups and individuals to eco-friendly goods and services. The Congregation of the Humility of Mary: This congregation of sisters has taken to heart its name, which comes from the Latin word "humus," meaning "earth." In 2007 and 2008, the sisters hosted the Quad City Earth Charter Summit in Davenport, which educated the community about environmental issues. Plains Justice: As a public interest environmental law center, Plains Justice in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, works for environmental justice and sustainable communities in the Northern Plains region of the United States, including Iowa. It helped nonprofit organizations to stall Aliant Energy's proposed 642-megawatt coal plant in Marshalltown and is helping local advocates fight a 750-megawatt plant in Waterloo. Living Lands and Waters: When the Cedar River crested in June 2008 and Cedar Rapids flooded, Chad Pregracke and his crew parked their barge and worked nonstop for three weeks to clean up. In addition to its extensive post-flood efforts around the region, the crew still managed regularly scheduled cleanups and events, including the annual XStream Cleanup in the Quad-Cities. Ice Cube Press: Steve Semken of North Liberty, Iowa, started publishing what he calls place-based books 15 years ago. This year he published four books, including one that was named a Midwest Connections Pick by the Midwest Booksellers Association. Local Growers' Network: In 2008 Knox County, Ill., residents Amy Brucker and Julie Haugland started a new farmers' market and launched harvest updates, an e-mail service that lets subscribers know when local foods are ready and allows them to order online for pickup later. LGN's biggest challenge so far? Keeping up with demand. "We'd like to get to the point where we are the e-mail grocery store," says Brucker. Be sure to read the individual stories about these winners. Each inspiring effort provides a great example of the good work being done around the region to help us all live healthier, more sustainable lives.
