If you’ve been following along with our work, you’ve probably heard us talk about Kernza. As the world’s first commercially available perennial grain, Kernza opens exciting new possibilities in the world of sustainable agriculture.  

While the benefits of Kernza are easy to recognize, the reality is that it’s still a new crop with a developing market. That means equipment, resources, and demand can be a challenge for farmers. One of the ways we’re helping build local Kernza markets might surprise you: beer! 

If you picture a prairie in your mind’s eye, you might imagine vast rolling plains of grasses and wildflowers. But what if we told you that some of the most vital prairies may be only a short stretch of land along a road, or in the boulevard of a high school? Our Pollinator Central program supports prairie restoration on a wide scale, transforming often-overlooked green spaces with a broader vision: How can we see our impact more than just plants?

As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, Greening is proud to spotlight Fox Rothschild and Stoel Rives, two corporate partners whose steady current of support keeps restoration work flowing across Minnesota.

30 years. 50,000 acres transformed.

While we take great pride in these numbers, the true measure of our work is not so easily quantifiable. Really witnessing the impact of our work is better done in the parks, rivers, and public lands that we’ve dedicated our services to since 1995. What does three decades of restoration look like in trees, prairies, and shorelines? We revisited several key project sites to reflect on what it means to care for the land across generations.

Here at Great River Greening, we build strong, community-based partnerships, from our staff and Board of Directors to volunteer groups, donors, municipalities, vendors, schools, and the State of Minnesota. Minnesota’s land and water are shared natural systems, and we rely on the support of individuals and groups to protect them.

Today we’re shining the spotlight on several of our corporate partners whose support, through funding and/or in-kind contributions, truly makes them leaders in environmental stewardship.

Future Stewards

Stewardship Spotlight: Sally McNamara and Caitlin Hughes-Parry