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 one!) on our air, water and land. Asking if there’s a lower impact way to do most everything has become an integral part of my lifestyle. I make a big gesture now & then like volunteering with a clean up or helping with remove invasive species from parkland, but my commitment to this beautiful place we share mostly involves every day decisions, choices & habits. 

Examples of stewardship in Mary’s life:

• Refilling everything from dish soap to peanut butter to rice to eggs in reusable packages in the bulk section at my co-op
• Choosing the most energy efficient vehicle & appliances I can afford
• Composting my food scraps and using the compost to enrich my garden 
• Using a bucket to catch water while it warms up for the shower & using it for watering plants, etc. 
• Growing my own vegetables, fruits and herbs, and purchasing locally sourced food as much as possible 
• Mending clothes, repairing household items, and creating up-cycled gifts 
• Walking or biking whenever possible for errands and social functions and grouping errands / trips together geographically when I drive
• Utilizing my neighborhood Buy Nothing group to keep used but still useful things out of the landfill or to source a small amount of something without buying more than I need

 Every choice big or small makes a difference in loving where we live!

What is your favorite natural place in Minnesota?

I have so many favorite places in Minnesota – it’s hard to choose just one! I truly love where we live and am so grateful for our amazing state park system, our trees and our water. I take a daily walk along the Mississippi River year round and love getting out on the lakes and rivers in my kayak or on my paddle-board. 

What’s Your Upstream Story?

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