Join us on April 22 for Navigating Upstream, a gathering and fundraiser focused on the future of Minnesota’s natural places. Your support helps power this work, bringing Minnesotans together, building community, and inspiring stewardship for Minnesota’s land, water, and air.
Written by Gunnar Carlson, Upstream Care for Place Fellow I was 11 years old when my mom decided I was “responsible enough” to ride my bike the one-and-a-half miles across town to the swimming beach with my friends. That sense of freedom and adventure was the moment I fell in love with riding bikes. Now,… Read More →
“We’ve got drive-up food on one side of the street and drive-up birding on the other.” When Molly Stoddard retired from her job at the Prairie Wetlands Learning center at the end of the July, her life, like that of many retired people, got even busier. Not surprisingly, the former US Fish and Wildlife Service… Read More →
Written by Louise Ba, Upstream Care for Place Fellow My name is Louise Ba and I am a current senior at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota, but my family is originally from Senegal. As a Political Science, Economics, and Public Policy major, it is not easy for me… Read More →
Written by Upstream Care for Place Fellow Colin Willemsen After a couple years of continuously photographing I had reached a point where I felt confident in my knowledge of the technical aspects of the camera. Now I had the creative license to experiment with and think freely about compositions, new ideas, and locations without the… Read More →
Ashleigh Harris, 2023 Upstream Unsung Caretaker After purchasing a 153-year-old farmhouse in Stillwater, Ashleigh Harris decided to use her land and her skills to feed herself, her husband, and their three small children. While creating Oakstreet Barn, Ashleigh quickly realized just how much work goes into gardening, but she also found an immense amount of… Read More →
Naima’s Farm in Alexandria has shown the power of sustainable agriculture—and the power of Naima Dhore, a Somali-American farmer who connects to her heritage through her work. Naima makes sure that everything she grows can be eaten straight out of the ground, with no pesticides or additives. Her specialty is growing crops that are commonly… Read More →
You might know Angelina Amérigo as Miss Minnesota 2023, but did you know about her One Bottle, One Straw, One Bag at a Time initiative? In 2019, Angelina used the initiative requirement of the Miss America organization to address the ocean plastic crisis. Inspired by her experience competing as a dancer in Florida, where she… Read More →
Henry LaBounta is on a mission to clean up the Lake of the Isles area, whatever it takes. Henry is a kayaking and dog-walking enthusiast who moved to Minneapolis in 2020 and fell in love with Lake of the Isles. However, he noticed massive amounts of trash in the lake, which he discovered was washing… Read More →
In 2017, Samantha VanWechel-Meyer discovered a deep love of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and waterways, but she also discovered just how much trash finds its way into these beautiful places. Since then, it has been her passion project to clean up the waters surrounding her home in Fergus Falls, focusing especially on the Otter Tail River.… Read More →
Karla Patrick of Cambridge, MN is no stranger to taking care of her community. As the leader of Cambridge Medical Center’s Wellness Leadership Team, Karla prioritizes wellness for fellow employees as well as the surrounding community. In 2015, she extended that care to the Cambridge Medical Center Giving Garden, a 4’ by 10’ plot that… Read More →
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!
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.
