As Minnesotans, we know how to prepare for winter. We pull out our boots, stack wood for the fireplace, and make sure the car’s emergency kit is ready. But beyond our personal checklists, there’s a deeper kind of preparation that matters just as much: caring for the land, air, and water that sustain us all. This kind of care, known as environmental stewardship, is one of the most unifying traditions in our state.
In a time when differences can feel amplified, stewardship offers common ground. Whether you live in the heart of the Twin Cities or on a rural road surrounded by lakes and fields, taking care of Minnesota’s natural places reminds us of what we share. The changing of the seasons is more than just a weather shift, it’s a call to come together in gratitude and action.
Caring for Our Shared Land
Fall is the perfect season to tend to our landscapes. Rake leaves, but instead of sending them to the landfill, compost them or use them to insulate garden beds. Plant native species that provide winter food and shelter for pollinators and birds. If you live near water, create a buffer of native plants along the shoreline to protect against runoff once the snow melts. Small actions like these keep Minnesota’s ecosystems resilient and strong, nurturing the land we all depend on.
Caring for our Air and Water
As furnaces fire up and snowblowers start humming, it’s also time to think about the air we share. Make sure your home’s heating system is running efficiently to reduce emissions. Carpool or use public transit when possible, and keep your vehicle tuned up for better fuel economy. These are practical steps that also speak to our shared responsibility for clean air and healthy communities.
The same goes for our water. Clearing storm drains of leaves and debris before the first big snow helps prevent pollutants from entering our lakes and rivers come spring. It’s a small act, but one that reflects the deep connection Minnesotans have to clean water, a defining part of our identity and our civic fabric.
Strengthening Trust and Connection
When neighbors help one another winterize a home, shovel a sidewalk, or check in on someone during a storm, that’s stewardship, too. Caring for our environment and caring for each other are threads in the same fabric. These acts build trust and connection in our communities.
Stewardship isn’t just about caring for our natural places; it’s about renewing our relationships with each other and the places we call home. As we prepare for winter, let’s remember that every act of care, no matter how small, helps strengthen the Minnesota we love.
This season, let’s show what it means to be Minnesotan: people who look out for one another, tend to our shared home, and face the cold together, with warmth, care, and unity.