The Upstream Blog: Stories from Minnesota

Building for Beauty and Care for Place with Terra Firma

Terra Firma, a Minnesota-based general contracting company, helps bridge between their clients vision and sustainable building practices that care for our place.. As an employee-owned company, they understand the importance of creating shared value and a strong culture.  Terra Firma helps their clients to create sustainable homes that consider their neighbors, the rest of Minnesota,…  Read More

Reducing E-Waste While Building Community with Tech Dump

Tech Dump is an industry-leader in electronics recycling. The nonprofit hosts two drop-off sites – one in St. Paul and another in Golden Valley – where folks can bring their old electronics to recycle. Since their inception in 2011, they have processed more than 35 million pounds of electronic waste, which includes items like computers,…  Read More

Upstream Up North with Bold North Cellars

Situated in the trees and prairie grasses of Alexandria, MN, Bold North Cellars (BNC) is home to  Carlos Creek Winery, 22 Northmen Brewing Co,, Grand Hall Event Center, Stoke Wood-Fired Pizza, and Sizzle food truck   With brews inspired by Scandinavian heritage, 22 Northmen Brewing Co. resembles a Viking long hall. Throughout Carlos Creek Winery,…  Read More

Action for Earth with the Science Museum of Minnesota

Founded in 1907, the Science Museum of Minnesota seeks to improve lives through science education that centers equity. It serves over a million people every year through visits, online experiences, Omnitheater movies, traveling exhibitions, and school programs. The Science Museum is not just a place to visit, though; it is an idea—one about educating, preserving,…  Read More

CentraCare Redwood Falls Hospital Opening

Healthy Places, Healthy People with CentraCare

Upstream Partner CentraCare is the largest healthcare system in central and western Minnesota.  Their purpose statement begins with the words, “We’re Here for Your Whole Life”, and is intentional about the ways they engage with and care for the natural places where they work. CentraCare understands how important nature is to public health. “We’re purposeful…  Read More

Connecting People and Places with Jefferson Lines

Since 1919, Jefferson Lines has been connecting people to places across Minnesota and beyond through intercity bus transportation – the most sustainable mode of long distance travel. Today the Jefferson regional network directly serves 170 communities across 14 states, with Minnesota as its home base. With a fleet of 56 buses, Jefferson and their nearly…  Read More

Creating Connections to Natural Places with Bluefin Bay Resort

Bluefin Bay is an icon of the north shore and offers a chance to stay by one of Minnesota’s greatest natural places: Lake Superior. On a hike, by the campfire or from a kayak on the lake, guests find a sense of calm and connection to nature. Employee-operated, and with all of its staff residing…  Read More

Giving Garden

How a Giving Garden is Helping People with Ecolab

Ecolab employees take the company value of protecting people and vital resources seriously.  Their love and care for Minnesota is demonstrated in many ways, from using cutting edge science and engineering to clean and protect our communities to volunteering in their community to support their neighbors. For over 10 years, 30 Ecolab employees at their…  Read More

Healthy Land, Healthy Goats, Delicious Chevre with Donnay Dairy

Brad and Leanne Donnay’s dairy farm in Kimball Minnesota is a leading producer of Minnesota goat cheese, or Chevre. Their whole family, Brad, Leanne and their 5 children milk 140 goats twice a day, then turn the milk into 20,000 pounds of delicious cheese a year. Their entire practice is sustainable and with an eye…  Read More