What’s So Special About Oregon County? 
By Louise Bullock

Did you know, Oregon County contains more national forest acreage than any other county in the state of Missouri? More than 100,000 acres of Mark Twain National Forest are located in Oregon County. Here are several other natural and historical treasures worth seeking out in this county filled with surprises. 

• Falling Spring Mill - Mill was built in late 1920’s to grind corn, saw wood and generate electricity. Drive 13 miles south of Winona on Hwy 19; then turn east at sign onto FR 3170; then onto FR 3164.
• McCormack Lake Recreation Area - Picnic, fish, hike, camp (primitive). Drive almost 15 miles south of Winona on Hwy 19; then turn west onto FR 3155.
• Greer Crossing Recreation Area - Picnic, fish, hike, camp (primitive), boat. Drive 19 miles south of Winona on Hwy 19. Area is on east side of the highway just before the pristine Eleven Point River, which is part of the National Wild & Scenic River System.
• Eleven Point Section of the Ozark Trail - This 29 mile rugged section of the OT runs through Greer Rec. Area. It begins at Forest Service Road 3152 to the east and ends at Forest Service Road 4155 to the west.
• Greer Spring Mill - This restored grist mill was built in 1899. Location is on the west side of Hwy 19, one mile south of Greer Rec. Area.
• Greer Spring - This is the second largest volume spring in Missouri. Trailhead to spring is on west side of Hwy 19, 1/2 mile south of the mill. Scenic 1.8 mile trail (round trip) is moderately strenuous down to the spring and back out.
• Turner Mill 25-foot Water Wheel and Spring - Mill was used to saw lumber and grind wheat and corn for the village of Surprise. By river, site is almost 0.5 miles downstream from Greer Rec. Area. By land, drive 15 miles south of Winona on Hwy 19; then turn east onto Forest Road 3152 and go 6 miles; then turn right onto Forest Road 3190 for another 2.6 miles.  
• Grand Gulf State Park - View an outstanding example of a collapsed cave system featuring 130-foot-high rock walls on either side, giving the park its nickname, “Little Grand Canyon”.  From Greer Rec. Area, go south on Hwy 19 approx. 26 miles to Thayer.  Turn west (right) onto “W” and go almost 6 miles to the park.
• Irish Wilderness - This nationally designated wilderness area containing the remote 18.6 mile Whites Creek backpacking trail. From Winona, take Hwy 19 south less than 1 mile to US 60; turn left onto US 60 east for 11 miles; then turn right onto “J” and go south for 16 miles to the trailhead at Camp Five Pond. 

How Industry Money Shapes Public's View of Pesticides
Condensed from an article by Daniel “digger” Romano.
Go to supplementstlouis.com to see full article.

Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides and others. Pests are anything humans define as such, even though many “pests” actually benefit the environment.  Our opinions on these poisons are very much shaped by the corporations that market them. (What could possibly go wrong with that?) 

Farmers certainly think about pesticides, as modern industrial agriculture has become so dependent on them. Most of the soy, corn and cotton grown in this county are genetically modified organisms (GMO) created by companies to resist herbicides – “Roundup Ready” as some are called commercially. Farmers can repeatedly spray Roundup all over the fields, and it will kill only the weeds and not the cash crops. Roundup is also sometimes sprayed on oats and wheat crops as a drying agent just before harvesting. Roundup is, by far, the most widely used pesticide on the planet. Its use is so prevalent that measurable amounts of glyphosate have been found in rainfall and human urine: It is in our bodies. CONTINUE READING HERE

Castlewood Service Project - November 7
We will be assisting in the general care and upkeep of the park under the direction of park staff.  The specifics of our tasks depend on what they determine is the parks' greatest need at the time. Some of these tasks are maintaining and repairing trails, closing social trails, and picking up trash. RSVP HERE

Trail Maintenance at O'Fallon Park - November 8
This is a great opportunity to do some trail building and maintenance work. If you have not done this work before, this is a wonderful way to learn. We will be working with the St. Louis City Parks and River City Outdoors. MORE INFO

Trail of Tears State Park Trail Work - November 14-16
This trail s a public recreation area covering 3,415 acres (1,382 ha) bordering the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Our project is to create a little under one-half mile of new trail re-routing the existing trail which has deteriorated beyond repair. RSVP HERE

Gateway Outdoors with the Sierra Club - November 15 & 16
The Gateway Outdoors Expo is a really cool event! We need volunteers to help talk with people about getting outdoors, environmental issues and becoming active! RSVP FOR A SHIFT HERE

Recurring Stewardship Work at Don Robinson State Park - November 21
We’ll be working on various activities deemed important by the park superintendent.  Participants can expect to possibly hike into the work site on a single-track trail that is rocky and rooty at times and can be slippery when wet. We’ll aim for 3-4 hours, but everyone can work as they see fit. MORE INFO

Cocoa & Canvass Blitz! - November 22
Join Sierra Club for a hot cocoa bar + lunch before heading out on the doors to speak to residents about the energy burden. MORE INFO