All Paper Recycling, Inc. creates environmentally responsible products and building materials from one hundred percent recycled paper, cloth, and plant fiber.

The Angry Trout Café on Minnesota's north shore serves fresh, delicious foods made from organic and locally grown ingredients. Owners George Wilkes and Barb La Vigne believe that making good environmental choices lead to a better business.

Badgersett's 160 acres are utilized in the growing of hazelnuts and chestnuts for purposes of commercial food production, biomass, and direct sale to market.

In Brainerd, residents have a vision for a healthier community and people are working together to optimize their many resources.

This cooperative has a plant that produces fuel grade ethanol and dried distillers drains with solubles from the processing of locally produced corn.

Alpine Ranches, Arizona · By Ashley Rood and Rose Houk

The name “Earthship” might raise the question whether the alternative home design this word refers to is something of this world or perhaps the next adventure into space. In fact, these homes are quite earthbound and represent a self-sustaining, self-determined masterpiece of each owner’s dreams. Charlie Laurel and his co-conspirator, Margaret Spilker, brought the Flagstaff, Arizona, area its first Earthship in 1996.

The Clay County MATCH program finds uses for materials discarded in their landfill. Last year alone they salvaged 109,000 pounds of lumber, which translates into huge monetary and environmental savings.

Mike LeBeau established Conservation Technologies in 1994 to bring the best energy efficient products he could find to the North Shore area. Specializing in air heat exchangers and fiber glass windows, CT helps make homes healthy and sustainable.

Lexington, Oklahoma · Sometimes personal adversity and limited funds foster an environment of innovation and creativity. For April Harrington, the sole proprietor-farmer of Earth Elements Farm in Lexington, Oklahoma, it's led to an agricultural operation that is practically 100 percent value-added. On 3/4-acre of her five acre farm, April organically grows the medicinal and culinary herbs she uses in her body care products as well as in her breads and homemade canned soups. Along with fifteen varieties of heirloom vegetables, she sells her food products, body care products, and herbs at a local farmers' market. She also retails her body care products by mail and through two area health food stores. Her sales have all resulted from word-of-mouth marketing.

On 14 acres in the hill and coulee country above the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota, a seasonal dance with the forces of nature takes place.