Upper Minnesota River Valley and  Tamarack Green Routes brochures now available!

To request a free copy of Green Routes brochures for western Minnesota (Upper Minnesota River Valley) or east central Minnesota (Tamarack), contact Renewing the Countryside at 1-866-378-0587 or beth @ rtcinfo . org. 

Download Green Routes brochures (pdf)
• Upper Minnesota River Valley page 1
• Upper Minnesota River Valley page 2
• Tamarack page 1
• Tamarack page 2

GreenRoutes.org launches in May 2006
In May 2006, Renewing the Countryside will launch www.GreenRoutes.org, a new website featuring an on-line mapping tool as well as stories and information to help you plan your next green getaway in Minnesota!
 

What is Green Routes?
In 2004, a number of local organizations kicked off Green Routes, a statewide green tourism initiative in Minnesota.  Green tourism directs people to places where they can get locally grown food and locally made products as well as participate in other attractions, such as hiking and biking trails, birding sights, art events, and other amenities in an area.  Green tourism encourages individuals to eat and vacation in ways that support healthy rural communities and encourage other businesses to support local food systems and green business practices.  “Going green” means making a commitment to gradually, continually making your business, home, or institutions economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially and culturally responsible.  This project offers people the opportunity to learn how to incorporate economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable practices into their tourism and business plans.

What makes a business or destination green?
•    Contributes to the local economy by employing local residents, using local products and
      growers, and supporting local businesses.
•    Conserves and/or enhances our natural resource base (e.g. through use of renewable
      energy, recycling, green building techniques, wildlife habitat protection, etc.)
•    Uses sustainably produced or organically grown products.
•    Engages customers and visitors through active, personal, and meaningful participation in
      nature, people, places, history, and/or cultures.

Green tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the global tourism market.  It emphasizes the natural and cultural resources of a given area and packages the history, food products, artists, and wild areas in a way that draws upon and enhances the inherent cultural and scenic richness of rural areas.

Green Routes is a project of the following organizations:
Renewing the Countryside, Sustainable Farming Association, University of Minnesota Tourism Center, Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Minnesota Grown Program, Minnesota Food Association, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, U of M’s Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Minnesota Bed and Breakfast Association, Land Stewardship Project, the U of M’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, and the Center for Small Towns.  This project is supported through grants from the Minneapolis Foundation and North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) - a program of USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

 
Download a report (PDF) about lessons learned from the Green Routes pilot projects.

1st Minnesota Conference on Sustainable Tourism
April 20, 2006 . University of Minnesota McNamara Center .  Minneapolis, MN