The USDA’s Rural Business Cooperative Service just released a stakeholder announcement that says the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which has historically provided grants and loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, will not be making any further grant awards until a new set of regulations takes effect. 
 

They state that they intend to “update the regulations at 7 CFR 4280 Subpart B to comply with Executive Order 14315, Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign-Controlled Energy Sources.” 
 

The USDA says that a new notice of funding opportunity will be posted once they’re ready with the new regulations, but no timeline was provided as to when that might occur. Applicants who previously submitted a grant application will have the opportunity to reapply. REAP Guaranteed Loans will continue to be awarded during this time.

Learn more HERE.

Top 10 Overall: 

1. Atlanta, Georgia

2. Miami, Florida

3. Houston, Texas

4. St Louis, Missouri

5. Jacksonville, Florida

6. Orlando, Florida

7. Cincinnati, Ohio

8. Fort Myers, Florida

9. Tampa, Florida

10. Austin, Texas
 

These are weighted rankings that look at a city’s access to community gardens, average yard size, growing season stats (such as growing days, precip, sun), the number of garden centers and other supply stores, and how the locale ranks in terms of garden clubs, laws, and internet searches for gardening terms. They even took into account which states have a Right to Garden law (Florida, Illinois, and Maine) that prevents local governments (including HOAs) from fining homeowners for starting vegetable gardens.

 

I figured this audience might be interested in the rankings for supplies—which looked at the number of nurseries and supply stores, gardening stores, and landscaping equipment and supply stores. 
 

Top 10 Cities for Supplies

1. Houston, Texas

2. Miami, Florida

3. Jacksonville, Florida

4. San Antonio, Texas

5. Orlando, Florida

6. Phoenix, Arizona

7. Los Angeles, California

8. Dallas, Texas

9. New York, New York

10. Charlotte, North Carolina

Organic greenhouse growers may have a new tool at their disposal: CO2.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing rule changes to its organic regulations, one of which would allow the use of synthetic carbon dioxide in organic crop production. 
 

The new rule, if approved, will add carbon dioxide to the National List as a synthetic substance allowed for use in organic crop production to adjust the pH of irrigation water and for atmospheric adjustment in indoor crop production environments. While synthetic carbon dioxide has been allowed in post-production food handling, the rule changes expands its use to crop production and water management. The NOSB recommended only allowing it when sourced as a byproduct (which is typically how it is sourced anyhow). 

 

Other organic rulemaking changes up for discussion include using meloxicam as a pain treatment in organic livestock production, changing restrictions on the use of methionine in poultry feed, and affirming the use of sodium nitrate as a fertilizer in organic production (with certain conditions to protect soil quality). The listing for sodium nitrate is currently expired and needed to be renewed. 

 

So, all that said: The next step is public comments on this, which will be accepted until May 22, 2026. To submit a comment, head over to the Federal Register notice on the proposed rule changes. You’ll also find a full explanation of each rule change, along with the NOSB’s findings and recommendations that led to the proposed rules.

My colleague Ellen Wells has brought this topic up a few times recently in her BuZZ! e-newsletter, most recently this article: “A connection to nature fuels well-being worldwide, according to a study of 38,000 people.” Research says that those who have a stronger sense of nature connectedness have a higher degree of mindfulness. And that, dear readers, often leads to better mental health and happiness.  

 

 

At the industry level, a floral marketing association called That Flower Feeling, is expanding its Just Add Flowers campaign to specifically address “modern motherhood burnout” by positioning flowers as a functional essential for mindfulness. They’re touting flowers as one of the simplest—and most effective—forms of self-care. Flowers are a simple, accessible and immediate mood booster. With this campaign, they’re planning a Mother’s Day message that touts the long-term wellness benefits of flowers.

At the Outpost, the aspens leafed out 36 days earlier than last year. Early April gardening was not on my list, but it felt pretty great to get out there in the sun this weekend and clean out the garden beds with the creek rushing in the background. Did I feel more present and connected to the outdoors afterwards? Yes. (But also a little pissed at whoever munched the roots and killed two cotoneasters this winter.) 
 

Afterwards, I headed over to our rental cabin to meet with a potential cleaner who has worked on luxury guest ranches for most of her life, and we had a long conversation about how much people are willing to pay for the experience of unplugging and spending a week amongst the trees and mountains—all in the name of being present and mindful for a short while. While our little cabin isn’t quite the same audience as a luxury guest ranch, I’m seeing the same thing: People craving the simple activities that help them slow down. Guests who say, after a long weekend playing board games and hiking with their family, that, “This was exactly what we needed.” Because they were present. As I contemplate adding an outdoor sauna to our amenity list, it’s with that idea of presence in mind.
 

You can call it a wellness trend, but in simpler terms, I think folks are looking for ways to feel calm in a frenzied world. These things—plants, gardens, nature, quality time with other humans—ground us. Sometimes they even save us.