The Natural Step Monona

Since 2007, the grassroots community group The Natural Step Monona (TNSM) has been a catalyst for change and a major driver in moving the City of Monona and its residents onto and down a path toward a more sustainable future. Although our organization's name reflects our mission to "advocate for, educate about, and promote a sustainable Monona," TNSM's valuable programs reach beyond our city's borders and have grown to support a wider network of members, clients, and collaborators throughout the region. TNSM is helping the people of many communities become more sustainable through effective education and community action.

Major initiatives of TNSM include offering group learning through Study Circles and Study Arcs, organizing the Green Tuesdays & Thursdays Films & Lecture series that reaches eight communities, spearheading the Sustainability Section of the Monona Public Library and continuing to build its collection, providing education and outreach with public forums, and helping homeowners harvest rainwater and create compost through promoting rain barrel and compost bin use. TNSM shares ideas about sustainable living through a column in the Herald-Independent, works with the UW Nelson Institute Community Environmental Scholars Program on building capacity and future leaders through Capstone Classes, produced award-winning Green Holiday Ideas videos, and has partnered with the City of Monona on numerous efforts, such as the Energy Independent Communities Pilot program, the Sustainable Monona 2025 forum, and the upcoming Water Conservation Contest.