Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather with loved ones and enjoy a memorable feast. By making a few mindful choices, you can celebrate this holiday in a way that cares for Minnesota’s natural spaces and reduces waste. Here are some simple tips to make your Thanksgiving a more sustainable celebration: Plan Your Feast with… Read More →
Written by Andy Goldman-Gray, Executive Director of Upstream Guess what? 49% of Minnesotans will be disappointed with the election result this November. But we will all wake up the next morning and still be Minnesotans. In an election year, it’s easy to forget that we have a lot in common – and one obvious commonality… Read More →
Written by Monica Rojas, 2024 Upstream Care for Place Fellow My family of origin were not ‘outdoorsy’ people. The joke growing up was that the closest my parents ever got to camping was a Holiday Inn Express. My mother had done the outdoors as a child growing up in the suburban wonderland of Bloomington, Minnesota.… Read More →
Going Upstream is about being stewards of Minnesota’s shared natural places. Upstream Partner The Toro Company recently worked with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to support a critical update to their irrigation system, conserving water as a key way to care for one of Minnesota’s most treasured outdoor space. Keeping the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s 1,200 acres… Read More →
With cooler temperatures, autumn provides an excellent opportunity to engage in activities that support stewardship of our natural places. Here’s how you can get involved in local efforts this fall and make a meaningful impact in your community: 1. Join Local Conservation Groups Minnesota is home to a number of dedicated conservation organizations focused on… Read More →
As the crisp autumn air settles over Minnesota and the vibrant colors of fall begin to paint the landscape, many of us eagerly embrace the seasonal rituals that come with this time of year. From raking leaves to preparing our gardens for winter, fall offers a unique opportunity to reflect on our connection to nature… Read More →
Written by Dr. Eric Ruhland, Upstream Unsung Caretaker 2024 Dr. Eric Ruhland has been a scientist, avid outdoorsman, and conservation steward for as long as he can remember. Dr. Eric grew up in a large family on a small dairy farm in Western Minnesota. The son of a conservation-minded dairy farmer, whose farming practices used… Read More →
Beverly was nominated as an Upstream Unsung Caretaker for the work she does to coordinate local purchasing efforts in Willmar, working to ensure that individuals purchasing food in her community can do so with local farmers using sustainable practices. Written by Beverly Dougherty, Upstream Unsung Caretaker 2024 I have been working in local food promotion… Read More →
Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary is a black-led, nature-based healing retreat created to provide rest, reconnection, and rejuvenation of mind, body & soul for Black, Indigenous, and communities of color across generations. We are building an intentional space rooted in healing, restoration, and thriving in the region of Minnesota’s North Shore. Written by Rebeka Ndosi,… Read More →
Written by Kathy McNamara 2024 Upstream Unsung Caretaker Kathy McNamara from New Prague organizes and manages a large group of volunteers to care for the extensive gardens of her hometown parish church. She began working with her fourth-grade class on a drainage and retaining wall project in 2000 because the question was asked, “What are… Read More →
Sean Connaughty is a 2024 Upstream Unsung Caretaker Being on the ground, observing conditions and developing a complex and reciprocal relationship with a place and its inhabitants is central to Sean Connaughty’s practice. For the past decade his labor and art practice has been focused on Bde Psin Lake Hiawatha in a stewardship relationship. Lake… Read More →
Written by Alex Blondeau 2024 Upstream Unsung Caretaker I’ve become a student once again, adding another chapter to my varied educational journey. Over the years, I’ve been trained as a fine artist, a professional graphic designer, a motorcycle seat manufacturer, an academic theologian, a contractor, and a utility meter reader. Now, because why not, I’ve… Read More →
