Lawn care tips typically focus on the spring and summer seasons: mowing, watering, and fertilizing are common topics. But what can you do in the winter to keep your lawn healthy and make an impact on the natural spaces around you? Living in Minnesota, managing your lawn in the winter means dealing with snow. Snow… Read More →
Urban & Rural Stewardship Tips to Keep Our Waters Clean Minnesota’s lakes and rivers are at the heart of our identity. Whether you’re paddling down the Mississippi, fishing at your favorite up-north cabin, or walking the path around Bde Maka Ska, these waters connect us all. But they need our care. Runoff pollution, invasive species,… Read More →
Starting a home garden is a rewarding way to connect with nature, grow fresh produce, and contribute to healthier natural places. In Minnesota, where the seasons dictate planting cycles, adopting sustainable gardening practices ensures a thriving garden while minimizing your impact. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your gardening efforts, these tips will… Read More →
As the temperature drops and the ground freezes, many people assume composting is a seasonal activity that must be put on hold during the winter months, but that’s not the case! Winter composting can still thrive, and it’s an excellent way to continue your commitment to caring for our natural places, even when the snow… Read More →
Mary Flood was nominated for the care in her yard where she gardens without chemicals. She celebrates her garden in photos which she then makes greeting cards from. Written by Mary Flood, Upstream Unsung Caretaker 2024 I go Upstream in small every day ways with the intention of reducing my impact (or having a positive… Read More →
The Friends of Upper Landing Park are a 2024 Upstream Unsung Caretaker Written by Mary Hilfiker 2024 Upstream Unsung Caretaker I have been to all the State Parks in Minnesota, but I still love my backyard Upper Landing Park on the Mississippi River. It has the soaring eagles, the bluffs, the history, the river, the neighbors… Read More →
Meet the 12 Minnesotans nominated for the work they do to care for our natural places Bill Lane from Tofte was nominated for the many hours he volunteers every week to maintain the trails around him. Molly Stoddard from Fergus Falls is a true friend of the prairie grasses in West Central Minnesota. She is… Read More →
As the leaves change color and temperatures drop, Minnesota’s landscapes transform into a vibrant display of autumn beauty. Along with the seasonal changes come shifts in the behavior and visibility of the state’s diverse wildlife. Fall is an excellent time to observe these creatures as they prepare for the colder months ahead. However, it’s also… Read More →
Backyard Conversations allow people of different backgrounds to come together to find commonality in our love and care for Minnesota’s natural places. Together, we will: Meet Minnesotans from different backgrounds Share a delicious meal together Have a conversation about what Minnesota means to us, and how we care for it
One way to care for the tree canopy in your yard, neighborhood, local schools, and parks is through pruning and maintinence. Caring for and pruning trees & shrubs properly, especially in the first few years of life, is essential for their long term health. I have held a few tree maintenance workshops in my home… Read More →
The Loppet Foundation, which connects people through a variety of outdoor programs, knows the importance of celebrating the place of Minnesota. They operate out of Theodore Wirth Park, and proudly welcome the responsibility of being stewards of that land. As the largest park in Minneapolis, Wirth Park offers plenty of beautiful natural resources for residents… Read More →
Written by Alex Blondeau, Upstream Care for Place Fellow On the north side of Fergus Falls, not far from where I grew up, there was once a junkyard. When I was probably still in junior high, the city purchased the land and hauled away all the broken cars. I remember it being an interesting place… Read More →
