Find Your Next

Living Upstream means sharing a common love our state’s natural places, and demonstrating our way of caring for it.

We invite you to share the ways you care for your place to inspire others to go Upstream, and use this guide to inspire you to Find Your Next — the next thing you will do to be a good steward of Minnesota.

Submit Your Idea

Take a Walk

Do you have errands within a few miles of your home? Try walking to complete them rather than driving. You get some fresh air, some exercise, and a break from work stress—and the atmosphere gets a break from fuel emissions. Tip: backpacks are the best way to carry groceries home!

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Care on the Move
Rent an EV

Need a car to run a quick errand in the Twin Cities? Try Evie Carshare, which allows users to rent an electric vehicle to run errands or take local trips. It's a low-cost and environmentally friendly way to get around when walking and transit aren't cutting it.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
eviecarshare.com

Care on the Move
Open the Curtains

If your office, school, or workplace has lots of windows, try turning off the electric lights and using the natural light of the sun. It's good for the brain, good for the body, and good for the planet.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.google.com

Care at Home, Care at Work
Get A Bus Pass

The easiest way to start taking transit is to get a transit pass! With a bus pass, you're free to drive less, chill more, and save some carbon emissions. If you're in the Twin Cities area, the Metro Transit program offers tons of options—check out the link below!

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.metrotransit.org

Care on the Move
Unplug Your Office

Does your workplace have a ton of unused appliances plugged in? Try unplugging them to save power, money, and the environment. Just make sure you talk to your team first!

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
hireitdone.com

Care at Work
Choose Recycling

If your workplace doesn't have easily accessible recycling bins, it can be hard to prioritize recycling. Try setting up a bin in a convenient location where people will remember to use it.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
recyclingpartnership.org

Care at Work
Find a Hike

AllTrails is a great resource to find hikes near you, whether you're at home in Minnesota or traveling around the country—or even the world. Plus, they show you the difficulty, length, and time it'll take to hike the trail, so you can prepare for adventure or a relaxing stroll.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.alltrails.com

Care on the Move
Reuse Shopping Bags

Forgot a reusable bag? Find a way to re-use your plastic and/or paper grocery bags. Plastic makes great trash bags for smaller cans, so you can skip buying small trash bags. Or use them as laundry bags when traveling. Paper bags are perfect for taking recycling out to the bins.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.thekitchn.com

Care at the Store
Try a Zero-Waste Store

There are zero-waste stores all over the state of Minnesota, with tons of products to choose from! These stores typically work by filling up containers you already own with the product, rather than selling you a new set of packaging along with what you actually want to buy.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
www.litterless.com

Care at the Store
Check Out the Farmers’ Market

There are tons of local farmers' markets in the Twin Cities and beyond. Farmers' markets are a fun activity, a great source of local produce and other goodies, and a way to support your community. They're most common in summer, but plenty are running at other times of year.

Amelia P • St. Paul

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Further reading:
twincitiesmom.com

Care at the Store, Care at the Table
Working on Food Waste

Help create a positive culture of saving food at your workplace. Try tips like labeling food in the office fridge and planning ahead for company events.

Julia C • St. Paul, MN

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Further reading:
intheworks.helpscout.com

Care at Work
Sweet Trees

As I have become involved with a local tree planting group following a devastating wind storm, fruit trees have become my passion! Not only do they provide fresh fruit but they also serve as important homes for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Marion C • Grinnell, IA

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Further reading:
www.aldmn.com

Care in the Yard