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Local Foods Potluck + Recipes • Boredom-Busting Kids’ Activities • Driftless Area Wetlands Centre • Sum of Your Business: Brett Reese • Random Acts of Kindness + Infographic • Science, You’re Super: Bees! • Local Food Directory • La Crosse’s The Mint / Anthony Swartwout • Project: Pirate Hats! • Hiking in the Driftless • Useful Tips for Your Driftless Summer • Probit: Bev Christen & more!
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DRIFTLESS MAGAZINE NO. 42 • Summer 2015
Inspire(d)free!POSITIVE NEWS FROM THE DRIFTLESS REGION.
SCIENCE, YOU’RE SUPER:
BEES!
DRIFTLESS
FOOD DIRECTORY
INSIDE!
POTLUCK PARTYDRIFTLESS AREA
WETLANDS CENTRE
15+ BOREDOM-BUSTING KIDS’ ACTIVITIES
TAKE A HIKE!NEW TRAILS & TIPS
PAPER PROJECT: PIRATE HATS!
HANDY TOOLS for yourDRIFTLESS SUMMER
ARRGH
The MINTLA CROSSE
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
SUM OF YOUR BIZ:
BRETTREESE
infographic
Pilot
Ridgeline
Civic
Crosstour
CR-Z
Odyssey
CR-V
Fit
Accord
Insight
www.hondamotorwerks.comPhone: 877-751-0179Check us out! Downtown La Crosse, WI at 4th and Cameron Streets
Fuel Efficient. Environmentally Sensible. You’ll Love More Miles Per Dollar!
03
...and more!
SUMMER 2015contents
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015
ON THE COVER:Local Potluck Party! Aryn’s good friend, Thea Satrom, helped put this spread together, and it doubled as a Mother’s Day celebration this spring. We hope you enjoy the recipes starting on page 38. Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols
What We’re loving right noW
Driftless area WetlanDs Centre
ranDom aCts of KinDness + infographiC
sum of Your Business: Brett reese
sCienCe, You’re super: Bees!
loCal fooD DireCtorY
projeCt: pirate hats!
loCal fooDs potluCK + reCipes
la Crosse’s the mint / anthonY sWartWout
BoreDom-Busting KiDs’ aCtivities
hiKing in the Driftless
useful tools for a Driftless summer
proBit: Bev Christen
07
14
23
26
30
33
37
38
46
50
60
64
50
50
38
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holY molY this is going to be a great summer.
Summers are already golden in my book, but this summer I’m especially pumped about all the awesome stuff we can do with our almost-three-year-old gal, Roxie! Our ever-fabulous contributor Kristine Jepsen has put together an EPIC list featuring great “boredom-busting,” kid-friendly activities available in the Driftless Region (pg. 50). We can’t wait to check them all out.
On that list is the Driftless Area Wetlands Center – (the also fabulous) contributor Sara Friedl-Putnam put together a wonderful piece on this new regional treasure. The Centre is located just outside of Marquette, Iowa, and is a wealth of environmental and regional information and fun for all ages (pg. 14).
If you’re continuing the outdoor trend, make sure you read Peg Matter’s hiking tips and reviews of a couple of trails we haven’t yet featured in our pages – Pike’s Peak and Backbone State Parks. Matter brings her expertise to the table as the Driftless Area Hikers Club leader (and former Decorah Hatchery co-owner).
While you’re out on your hikes, watch for wildlife – most likely, deer, hawks, and – hopefully – bees, will cross your path! Bees are the super science we’ve featured this issue, and, for real: Those little insects are super heroes (pg 30)!
Besides hanging out with family or enjoying the outdoors, getting together with friends is at the top of the summertime list for us at Inspire(d) HQ. The days are longer and warmer and it just doesn’t seem that important to make bedtime deadlines…or an entire meal! That’s why we decided to feature a potluck party (pg. 38)! But not just any potluck – a local potluck! It ties in perfecly with the annual Local Food Directory (NE Iowa and SW Wisconsin) featured on page 33. The guide – and our potluck spread – serve as a reminder that buying local isn’t that hard, but is oh, so good – both for you and your community. We hope you’ll give it a try. And if you make any of the dishes we’ve featured, tag us on Facebook… we’d love to see what you potluck around the Driftless! (facebook.com/iloveinspired)
Other awesome reads in this issue: an inspiring Sum of Your Business, featuring Brett Reese (Rebound Hospitality / Hotel Winneshiek partner, to name just a couple), an amazing new La Crosse restaurant, The Mint (and their talented chef, Anthony Swartwout), tips, maps, and resources to get the most out of your summer, paper PIRATE HATS (because who doesn’t need a pirate hat in the summer, amIright?!?), and lots more.
Enjoy the season, folks. Because these days, hours, minutes…every little bit we get is LIFE, and – cheesy as it sounds – it is all that matters! Forget the rest. XOX.
Looking forward,
Aryn Henning Nichols
from the eDitor
05
Inspiremagazine
Who are we?
Co-founders:Aryn Henning Nichols / editor & designer
Benji Nichols / writer & advertising sales(& husband, support team, dinner-maker)
We couldn’t do it without:Kristine Kopperud Jepsen / contributor
Sara Friedl-Putnam / contributor
Evan Sowder / photo contributor
Kat Busse / photo contributor
Thea Satrom / local potluck assistant
Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by
Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Summer 2015, issue
42, volume 8, Copyright 2015 by Inspire(d) Magazine.
Although Inspire(d) is free on the newsstands, you can have it sent to your door for only $25/year. Email
[email protected] for a membership or visit
iloveinspired.com for more info.
Want to make a comment about something you read
in the magazine?Email [email protected].
Interested in advertising? Contact Benji at
[email protected] call 563-379-6315.
Write inspire(d)
support inspire(d)
Visit our website:iloveinspired.com
“Like” Inspire(d) Media on Facebook!
G-Gnome says hi!
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Jeff Olinger, FIC Financial ConsultantKaren Trewin, FIC Financial Associate Decorah Area Team 218 E. Water St., Ste. 1 Decorah, IA 52101Office: 563-382-1809 Toll-free: 844-349-7388
Thrivent Financial was named one of the “World’s Most Ethical
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 07
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What We’re
Lovingright now
summer jams You Don’t Want to missLooking for a little fresh summer listening? Some of our favorite
roots artists have new albums out this summer and we’d love to share them with you! First, Duluth Bluesman Charlie Parr (who will be performing in Decorah at the Courtyard & Cellar September 11) has a new album entitled “Stumpjumper” on the epic RedHouse Records label.
Charlie has been tearing up the slide guitar for years and has hit a real home run with this latest recording. Meanwhile NE Iowa’s
own Joe & Vicki Price have just released a new album – recorded in a downhome Nashville studio – entitled “Night Owls”. If you don’t already know, Joe & Vicki are royalty at Inspire(d) HQ, and we can’t sing the praises loud enough for this incredible blues duo. On the other side of the country, but in a similar-to-Driftless-region of upstate NY, Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda – along with a
super-sweet crew of horns and beats and sounds – have released a truly roots-inspired record. “Mike & Ruthy” as they are known, recorded “Bright As You Can” for the 30 Tigers label and we can’t get enough of it. Shine on, indeed.
e.a.t. experienCe. amBianCe. taste. oneota Co-op!What’s better than celebrity cooking shows? LOCAL celebrity
cooking shows! There’s still a live audience (you), and there are cameras (your iPhones), but the “celebrities” are awesome members of the community, cooking up their specialties in the new Oneota Co-op Kitchen Classroom. Aryn went to the E.A.T. featuring Brian Andreas and Vietnamese food, and she loved it. Audience members get to be part of the cooking – learning, tasting, and having fun – and the eating – each course is served up to class-goers. Want to E.A.T. your way through a local cooking “show”? Each class is $20 for Member/Owners and $25 Community Members. Details at oneotacoop.com.
e.a.t. summer 2015 sCheDule: Tuesday, June 23, 6:30-8:30 pm MONSTER Stir Fry featuring Jenni Brant and Eric Peterson, Co-directors of Decorah’s ArtHaus
Thursday, July 9, 6 – 8 pm Ramen Bowl with Richard featuring Richard Merritt), Professor of Art, Luther College (and homemade noodles!)
a little list of What We thinK is aWesome right noW in the Driftless region
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com
a little list of What We thinK is aWesome right noW in the Driftless region
08
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What We’re
Lovingright now
Beer BY BiKe BrigaDe – la CrosseHere at Inspire(d), we
really like our bikes. In fact, it’s safe to say we love bikes. We also enjoy the occasional (probably craft) beer – sometimes while enjoying our bikes! If you know much about the city of La Crosse, you may also well know that they really like beer… and bikes! For a couple of years now, a skeleton crew of folks have been organizing monthly “Beer By Bike Brigade” rides. They’re fired up for the summer season and rides have been scheduled for June 27, July 18, August 22, September 26, October 24. Check the “Beer By Bikes Brigade La Crosse” Facebook page for meet-up details. There’s no registration, no fee, and lots of fun included. The only rule is that you have to be 21 to participate as the Brigade hops from establishment to establishment with stops between. Plan ahead and make a safe night of it on Wisconsin’s West Coast!
norman Borlaug fest & meals from the heartlanD paCKaging event
Many people know the story of Norman Borlaug and the “Green Revolution”. Lots of area folks also know he grew up near Cresco, Iowa – and is remembered fondly each fall with a town festival bearing his name. What you may not know, though, it that in the theme of tackling world hunger, a group of Cresco volunteers have organized an emergency aid meal-packaging event with Meals From the Heartland. It will take place during this year’s Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest, which runs September 17-20. The packaging event, scheduled for September 20, has a goal to package over 130,000 meals in just one day. Those meals will travel all over the world. Hundreds of volunteers will help package – and you could be one of them! Find out more by calling the Cresco Chamber of commerce at 563-547-3434 or visiting www.howard-county.com
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 09
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DeCorah DoWntoWn Betterment assoCiationEach spring, amazing hanging baskets of flowers appear on the lampposts of downtown Decorah,
and it’s no simple task to get them there! The Decorah Downtown Betterment Association has been working for years to “Provide programs, economic development, a favorable business climate, and to help maintain the vitality of the downtown and west side business areas.” The summer flower baskets are only one of their many projects. Did you know they’re responsible for downtown bench placement, the Water Street Park project near the Oneota Co-op, and the informational kiosks found downtown? They also recognize business owners on building improvements, giving annual awards to local businesses. Much of the DDBA work is quiet and behind-the-scenes, but there is no doubt that it has a major impact on Decorah’s thriving downtown areas. Find out more about the DDBA and even become a member at: decorahareachamber.com/decorah-downtown-betterment-association/
nmp turns 40! This summer, the New Minowa Players
celebrate 40 years of community theatre! Started in August of 1975, this Decorah institution has entertained audiences with diverse productions of classics, original works, and everything in between! For the past 10 years, NMP has found a permanent home at their building on South Mill Street, including their sweet, postage-stamp theatre space. You can join in and help support all that the New Minowa Players do – if auditioning for a community production sounds too daunting, you can just make a donation! Check out more about their upcoming 40th summer production – Les Miserables, which runs June 26-28 at the Decorah High School Auditorium, and a Young People’s Production of “Urinetown” in August! Happy 40th NMP – now break a leg! www.newminowa.wix.com
aase 100th CommunitY piCniC!As we mentioned in our Spring edition of Inspire(d), Aase Haugen Senior Services turns 100 this
year. We think the original story of Aase herself is mighty inspiring, and want to make sure you don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary re-dedication celebration June 30 at the original Aase Haugen Home in rural Decorah.
Beginning at 4 pm, there will be special guest speakers from across the state, spotlight musicians, a BBQ picnic, games for the kids, and good old-fashioned entertainment. At5:15 pm there will be a re-creation of the historic opening day panorama picture in front of the original Aase Haugen Home. The event is free and open to all. For more information contact Kate Klimesh at 563-382-6521 or visit www.aasehaugen.com.
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com10
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Mon-Fri 10am-4pm . Sat 10am-3pm
1. All summer: Driftless Safari offers free outdoor adventure and exploration in Winneshiek County all summer long! Visit www.driftless-safari.org or stop by a Winneshiek County library to join!
2. June 1: Adventure Summer Sessions @ NE IA Montessori. 2, 5-week sessions for children ages 3-6. June 1 & July 13. 8am-5pm, Full or Half Day $60-115/wk Call 563-382-6491 to Register.
3. June 2: Wisconsin Author Michael Perry! Dragonfly Books and Decorah Public Library present bestselling author with his new book The Jesus Cow. 7 pm, Carrie Lee Elementary Auditorium. www.dragonflybooks.com.
4. June 6: 2nd Annual Driftless Discovery Trail Run, Van Peenen Park,10K: $40, 5K: $30, Little Drifters 1 Mile: Free. 9 am. www.DriftlessDiscoveryTrailRun.us
5. June 6: Come join us at Seed Savers Exchange June 6 at 1 pm for a FREE Soil Health workshop and farm tour! For more info: blog.seedsavers.org/events
6. June 10: Magician and Puppeteer Jim Jayes appears at the Decorah Public Library, “Summer Reading Heroes” of all ages can enjoy, 1 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
7. June 12-14: Civil War Re-enactment – Allamakee County’s Thunder in the Park! Battles Saturday & Sunday at Waukon City Park. Dance Saturday night. Family friendly! Visit us on Facebook!
8. June 13: 2nd Annual Porter House Art, Antiques, and Adventure Auction! 4:30-6:30 pm, Porter House grounds, Broadway, Decorah. Free!
9. June 19: Naturalist David Stokes brings treasures & tails from the outdoors to the Decorah public Library! Bring your “Summer Reading Heroes” for all the FREE fun – 3 pm. www.decorah.lib.ia.us
10. June 20: Breakfast on the Farm – 8:30 am – noon at Iowa’s Dairy Center, Calmar, Iowa. Including: wholesome breakfast, dairy tours, and more! On-site parking available; donations are appreciated. www.iowadairycenter.com
11. June 20: Dry Run Fun Run 5K. Cross Country 5K on the Beard Century Farm (Hwy 9 & 52, Decorah). All proceeds to the extension of the TRT and Dry Run Trail! More info [email protected]. Free!
12. June 21: Lanesboro Art in the Park festival. 90+ fine arts booths, live music – including Bread & Butter String Band! Food, craft beer, family art activities. 10 am –5 pm Lanesboro.
13. June 22 – July 21: Looking for your Summer soundtrack? Join Lutheran Summer Music for 50+ free concerts and recitals on Luther College campus. www.lutheransummermusic.org
14. June 26-28: New Minowa Players presents Les Miserables at Decorah High School. Tickets $5/$10 Details & tickets at newminowa.wix.com/new-minowa-players or Sheryl 563-379-5738
15. June 26: IPTV’s Dan Wardell brings the 2015 Reading Road Trip to the Decorah Public Library for 2 shows – 10am and 11am. Don’t miss out on the Club House fun! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
16. June 26: ArtHaus presents bike-touring folk singer & guitarist Paul Doffing in the ArtHaus Courtyard, 7-9 pm. Free for 18 and under, $5 for others.arthausdecorah.org
17. June 30: Magician and Illusionist David Casas brings tricks and tons of fun to the Decorah Public Library. Bring your “Summer Reading Heroes” for tricky fun! 2pm www.decorah.lib.ia.us
18. July 4: Celebrate Independence Day in Harmony, MN. Grand Parade 3 pm, Jim Busta Band 4-7pm, Food, Games, Beer Tent, Fireworks & More. Visit www.exploreharmony.com for more info.
19. July 9: Seeking Volunteers! Join the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation for seed harvesting on a beautiful native Iowa Prairie. All Ages. Call Mary 515-288-1846. www.inhf.org
Check out these great summer activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with its number on the calendar!
Looking for more details about events on the calendars?
25W/$25B
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12
-13
: Art
Spi
re /
Dow
ntow
n S
ound
fest
ival
, La
Cro
sse
Trac
tor
Day
s,
Cas
talia
, IA
JUN
E 1
3:
Dic
kie!
, Cou
rtya
rd &
Cel
lar,
Dec
orah
8pm
Pat
sy W
elm
an, M
cCaf
frey
’s, D
ecor
ahI L
ike
You
, Hay
mar
ket,
Dec
orah
Mar
y P
oppi
ns, M
ovie
s on
the
Pla
za,
Roc
hest
er, 9
pm
June
19
-20
: Mum
ford
& S
ons
Gen
tlem
an
of T
he R
oad
Fest
ival
, Wav
erly
, IA
Luth
eran
S
umm
er M
usic
, D
ecor
ah L
awn
Cha
ir N
ight
, C
ourt
hous
e, 7
pm
June
26
: The
La
st R
evel
, H
aym
arke
t, 1
0 p
m
Mis
siss
ippi
B
and,
M
cCaf
frey
’s,
Dec
orah
June
27
-28
: La
ura
Day
s,
Bur
r O
ak, I
A
Can
vas
& C
orks
, Win
n.
Wild
berr
y W
iner
y,
A M
omen
t’s
Not
ice,
Dec
orah
La
wn
Cha
ir N
ight
, C
ourt
hous
e, 7
pm
Mav
is
Sta
ples
, En
gler
t, IA
City
22
JUN
E 2
1:
Hap
py F
athe
r’s
Day
! Fr
ee a
dmis
sion
for
all D
ads,
La
Cro
sse
Chi
ldre
n’s
Mus
eum23
Gua
rdia
ns o
f th
e G
alax
y,
Mov
ies
on
the
Pla
za,
Roc
hest
er, 9
pm
JUN
E 2
0:
Bro
ther
Sun
/ S
iste
r M
oon,
M
cCaf
frey
’s, D
ecor
ahW
isC
orps
Fam
ily F
un D
ay,
Myr
ick
Par
k, L
a C
ross
e,
1-3
pm, F
REE
!
* * *
*If
you
see
this
on
a da
te, k
now
the
re is
a
pullo
ut w
ith
mor
e lis
ting
s on
the
cal
enda
r!
*If
you
see
this
on
a da
te, k
now
the
re is
a
pullo
ut w
ith
mor
e lis
ting
s on
the
cal
enda
r!
“Att
ack
of t
he B
lood
Suc
kers
” ex
hibi
t th
roug
h A
ugus
t 3
0, L
a C
ross
e C
hild
ren’
s M
useu
m
“Cha
rley
’s A
unt”
now
pla
ying
, C
omm
onw
eal T
heat
re, L
anes
boro
“Oce
an S
oul:
Nat
iona
l G
eogr
aphi
c P
hoto
s by
B
rian
Ske
rry”
ope
ns
July
24
, MN
Mar
ine
Art
M
useu
m, W
inon
a
The
Wee
pies
, En
gler
t, Io
wa
City
Ben
Lee
, C
edar
C
ultu
ral
Cen
ter,
M
inne
apol
is
Jaso
n Is
bell,
En
gler
t, Io
wa
City
Mik
e M
cAbe
e,
McC
affr
ey’s
, D
ecor
ah
June
5 (a
nd e
very
Fri
day
thro
ugh
Oct
ober
9):
Frid
ay N
ight
Liv
e Fa
rmer
s M
arke
t,
Dri
ftle
ss A
rea
Wet
land
s C
entr
e
June
27
–2
8:
Gre
at
Am
eric
an
Bac
kyar
d C
ampo
ut,
Dri
ftle
ss A
rea
Wet
land
s C
entr
e
July
10
Im
port
ance
of
Alg
ific
Talu
s S
lope
s,
Dri
ftle
ss A
rea
Wet
land
s C
entr
e
DH
S D
rum
line,
D
ecor
ah L
awn
Cha
ir N
ight
, C
ourt
hous
e,
7pm July
23
-25
: Art
Hau
s S
umm
er A
rt F
air,
Dec
orah
25
July
23
-25
: N
ordi
c Fe
st,
Dec
orah
!
Cha
rles
W
alke
r B
and,
H
aym
arke
t, D
ecor
ah
Gen
eral
B
and
the
Wiz
, H
aym
arke
t, D
ecor
ah
*
JU
LY 4
:Fi
recr
acke
r 4
mile
run
& L
iber
ty
Das
h, L
a C
ross
e P
ark
& R
ecD
on S
cott
/ C
urti
s B
lake
, M
cCaf
frey
’s, D
ecor
ah
*
JULY
11
:K
ing
Sun
ny A
dé w
/ B
lack
M
arke
t B
rass
, C
edar
Cul
tura
l Cen
ter,
MSP
M
irac
le, M
ovie
s on
the
Pla
za,
Roc
hest
er, 9
pmW
isC
orps
Fam
ily F
un D
ay,
Myr
ick
Par
k, L
a C
ross
e, 1
-3pm
Sat
urda
y O
n Th
e S
tree
t,
Dow
ntow
n D
ecor
ah,
8am
-3pm*
*
*
Ste
eple
D
ay,
Lour
des,
IA
Erik
Ses
sion
s /
Joh
n G
oodi
n,
Dec
orah
Law
n C
hair
Nig
ht,
Cou
rtho
use,
7
pm
July
17
-18
: Old
Rou
ndho
use
Trai
l Day
s, E
lma,
IA
Trai
ls F
rom
Fr
eepo
rt
Fund
rais
er w
/
Gae
lsto
rm,
Cou
rtya
rd &
C
ella
r, 8
pm
Abs
olut
e H
oot,
C
ourt
yard
&
Cel
lar,
8pm
Din
o D
ay,
Dri
ftle
ss A
rea
Wet
land
s C
entr
e
JULY
25
:“W
orld
’s L
arge
st S
chot
tisc
he”
wit
h th
e Fo
ot-N
otes
! Nor
dic
Fest
, Dec
orah
Pis
tol W
hipp
ing
Par
ty P
engu
ins,
Hay
mar
ket
Find
ing
Nem
o, M
ovie
s on
the
Pla
za, R
oche
ster
July
31
–A
ug 1
: Pra
irie
D
og B
lues
Fes
tiva
l, P
rair
ie d
u C
hien
July
31
–A
ug 2
: W
apsi
pini
con
Day
s, R
icev
ille
JULY
17
:H
ero
Jr.,
Hay
mar
ket,
Dec
orah
Y
outh
Pot
tery
Wor
ksho
p,
Dri
ftle
ss A
rea
Wet
land
s C
ntr
JULY
18
:K
rist
en F
ord,
Cou
rtya
rd &
Cel
lar,
Dec
orah
, 8pm
Abs
olut
e H
oot,
McC
affr
ey’s
, Dec
orah
“Hea
rt”,
Fre
edom
Fes
t, U
W L
a C
ross
e St
adiu
m
July
7-1
1: W
inne
shie
k C
ount
y Fa
ir, D
ecor
ah
June
24
-Aug
ust
2: G
reat
R
iver
Sha
kesp
eare
Fes
tiva
l, W
inon
a (g
rsf.o
rg)
Thro
ugh
Aug
ust
2: G
reat
Riv
er
Sha
kesp
eare
Fes
tiva
l, W
inon
a (g
rsf.o
rg)
Au
gu
st1
23
4
67
8
91
01
1
5
13
14
15
16
17
18
12
20
21
22
23
24
25
19
28
Mon
day
Tues
day
Sun
day
Wed
nesd
ayTh
ursd
ayFr
iday
Sat
urda
y
26
27
fun stuff to do
25 W
ord
s/$2
5 Bu
cks
Cal
enda
r ti
me
is a
lway
s an
exc
itin
g ti
me
at In
spir
e(d)
Hea
dqua
rter
s. “
Just
how
muc
h ca
n w
e fit
on
ther
e th
is m
onth
?!?”
In r
ecen
t ye
ars,
wha
t w
e ha
d ch
osen
for
thes
e lo
vely
pag
es h
ad b
een
enti
rely
ed
itor
ial a
nd s
ubje
ctiv
e. W
e fig
ured
, hey
, you
like
our
mag
azin
e, s
o yo
u’ll
prob
ably
like
the
fun
stuf
f to
do t
hat
we
pick
out
from
aro
und
our
regi
on. B
ut w
e’re
run
ning
out
of s
pace
and
wan
t yo
u, o
ur lo
vely
re
ader
s, fr
iend
s, a
nd fe
llow
eve
nt p
lann
ers,
to
be a
ble
to t
ell u
s a
littl
e m
ore
abou
t yo
ur fu
n.
We
know
it’s
a t
ough
rac
ket
to p
ut o
n liv
e m
usic
, act
ivit
ies,
and
spe
cial
eve
nts,
so
we
wan
t to
giv
e yo
u a
chan
ce t
o ge
t th
e w
ord
out
wit
hout
bre
akin
g th
e ba
nk.
Thus
we’
ve im
plem
ente
d a
sim
ple,
exp
anda
ble
list
of e
vent
s fo
r th
e pa
ges
follo
win
g ou
r re
gula
r ca
lend
ars.
Tho
se w
ho a
re p
lann
ing
“fun
stu
ff t
o do
” ge
t a
guar
ante
ed s
pot
on t
he c
alen
dar
and
in
that
eve
nt li
stin
g by
pur
chas
ing
“25
Wor
ds/
$2
5 B
ucks
.”
It w
orks
like
thi
s:1
. Go
to il
ovei
nspi
red.
com
and
clic
k on
the
25
W/
$2
5B
sid
ebar
box
2. E
nter
you
r in
form
atio
n in
our
onl
ine
form
3. C
lick
thro
ugh
to P
ayP
al t
o co
mpl
ete
the
tran
sact
ion
Sim
ple!
We
get
an e
mai
l wit
h al
l you
r de
tails
exa
ctly
as
you’
d lik
e to
see
the
m in
the
list
ing,
and
the
n w
e ad
d it
to
the
cale
ndar
!
See
- we
told
you
abo
ut o
ur a
maz
ing
fictio
nal p
arty
in le
ss t
han
25
wor
ds! O
n th
e vi
sual
cal
enda
r (li
ke t
he
one
at le
ft),
your
eve
nt w
ill be
list
ed a
long
with
a n
umbe
r th
at c
orre
spon
ds. P
eopl
e ca
n ju
st s
can
on o
ver
to t
he fo
llow
ing
page
s to
get
the
det
ails
!
56
7M
onda
yTu
esda
yS
unda
yW
edne
sday
Thur
sday
Frid
ayS
atur
day
34
21
Insp
ire(
d)
Wor
ld’s
G
reat
est
Par
ty
Dat
e (n
ot in
clud
ed in
wor
d co
unt)
: Wor
lds
Gre
ates
t P
arty
! 7-1
0
pm. I
nspi
re(d
) inv
ites
you
to
the
grea
test
par
ty e
ver!
We’
ll ha
ve
amaz
ing
amou
nts
of fu
n! S
ee y
ou t
here
! ww
w.w
ebsi
te.c
om1
1
25W
/$2
5B
(Dir
ect
link:
ilov
eins
pire
d.co
m/
25
-wor
ds-2
5-b
ucks
/)
Que
stio
ns?
Emai
l ben
ji@ilo
vein
spir
ed.c
om
26
27
29
28
30
33
32
31
29
30
31
34
35
“Mis
siss
ippi
Riv
er
Sce
nes
by J
ames
D.
But
ler”
ope
ns A
ugus
t 1
5, M
N M
arin
e A
rt
Mus
eum
, Win
ona
Gre
g B
row
n &
Iris
D
emen
t,
Seed
Sav
ers,
D
ecor
ah,
7pm
WC
C N
atur
e S
uper
hero
es
Kid
s P
rogr
am,
DP
L, 2
pm
Dut
cher
Fam
ily
Art
Sho
w O
peni
ng,
Art
Hau
s, 7
-9pm
WC
C
Rec
yclin
g to
th
e R
escu
e /
Ea
rth
Her
oes
Kid
s P
rogr
am,
Dec
orah
Pub
lic
Libr
ary
Aug
22
-23
: Art
In T
he P
ark,
Fo
unde
r’s
Par
k, E
lkad
er, I
A
Aug
28
-30
: Sum
mer
See
d S
avin
g S
choo
l at
See
d S
aver
s,
3 d
ays
of w
orks
hops
!K
atie
Dah
l &
Ric
h H
igdo
n liv
e,
Art
Hau
s St
udio
, 7
pm
Sep
t17
-20
: Nor
man
Bor
laug
H
arve
st F
esti
val,
Cre
sco,
IA
Sep
t 2
0: N
E Io
wa’
s pr
emie
r m
eal
pack
agin
g ev
ent
for
hung
er, C
resc
o, IA
Cre
sco
Art
Sho
w
& F
ly In
B
reak
fast
*If
you
see
this
on
a da
te, k
now
the
re is
a
pullo
ut w
ith
mor
e lis
ting
s on
the
cal
enda
r!
Aug
ust
1:
Oss
ian
Fest
, Oss
ian,
IAM
iche
lle L
ynn
& A
dam
Pta
cek,
M
cCaf
frey
’s, D
ecor
ahH
omew
ard
Bou
nd, M
ovie
s on
th
e P
laza
, Roc
hest
er, 9
pm
*
Bom
bino
w/
A
mer
ican
C
ream
, Ced
ar
Cul
tura
l C
ente
r, M
SP
Mar
itza
, M
cCaf
frey
’s,
Dec
orah
The
Sud
den
Love
lys,
C
hatf
ield
A
rts
Cen
ter/
Wes
tern
D
ays
*
Mic
hael
M
cElr
ath,
D
ecor
ah L
awn
Cha
ir N
ight
, C
ourt
hous
e,
7pm
Dav
e Z
ollo
Duo
, C
ourt
yard
&
Cel
lar,
D
ecor
ah 8
pm
Bre
ad &
B
utte
r S
trin
g B
and,
M
cCaf
frey
’s,
Dec
orah
Gut
tenb
erg
Ger
man
Ban
d,
Dec
orah
Law
n C
hair
Nig
ht,
7pm
“Tai
ls a
nd
Trea
sure
s”
NE
Iow
a H
uman
e So
ciet
y Fu
ndra
iser
, H
otel
W
inne
shie
k
Icon
ic
Son
gs o
f th
e 7
0s,
El
kade
r O
pera
H
ouse
Aug
29
: R
utab
aga
Bro
ther
s,
McC
affr
ey’s
, D
ecor
ah
AU
GU
ST
8:
New
Bo
Mus
ic F
esti
val,
Ced
ar R
apid
sIn
to t
he W
oods
, Mov
ies
on
the
Pla
za, R
oche
ster
, 9pm
Wis
Cor
ps F
amily
Fun
Day
, M
yric
k P
ark,
La
Cro
sse,
1
-3pm
, FR
EE!
Aug
14
-16
: Cze
ch
Day
s, P
roti
vin
*
AU
GU
ST
7:
Sea
n H
ayes
, Ced
ar C
ultu
ral
Cen
ter,
Min
neap
olis
You
th O
utdo
or P
hoto
grap
hy
Wor
ksho
p, D
rift
less
Are
a W
etla
nds
Cen
tre
*
Aug
ust
7-9
: Sw
eet
corn
Day
s, L
ime
Spri
ngs,
IA &
La
Cro
sse
Iris
h Fe
st
AU
GU
ST
22
:D
og H
ouse
Jon
& T
he M
isbe
have
rs,
McC
affr
ey’s
, Dec
orah
Nat
ive
Pra
irie
Res
tora
tion
, D
rift
less
Are
a W
etla
nds
Cen
tre
“Fro
m U
nder
wea
r to
Eve
ryw
here
: N
orw
egia
n S
wea
ters
” op
ens
Aug
ust
22
at
Ves
terh
eim
Aug
28
-30
: Gre
at R
iver
Fol
k Fe
st, R
iver
side
Par
k, L
a C
ross
e
CO
MIN
G U
P IN
SEP
TEM
BER
!S
EPT
3: B
rian
Rea
gan,
Par
amou
nt, C
edar
Rap
ids
SEP
T 5
: • T
omat
o Ta
stin
g, S
eed
Save
rs, D
ecor
ah
• Bee
t R
oot
Ste
w, M
cCaf
frey
’s, D
ecor
ahS
EPT
11
: Cha
rlie
Par
r w
/ J
eff M
itch
ell,
Cou
rtya
rd &
Cel
lar,
Dec
orah
Sep
t 2
4-2
7: B
oats
& B
lueg
rass
Fes
tiva
l, W
inon
a!
Aug
13
-23
: Iow
a S
tate
Fai
r!
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 13
Wednesdays 3-6
Saturdays 8-11
Downtown Decorahwww.winneshiekfarmersmarket.com
with reAugust 1, 2015 • 7pm
Tickets available at www.seedsavers.org/greg-brown
$25 advance, $30 at the door
Greg BrownOutdoor Benefit Concert Featuring
Iris DeMent Dave Moore & Bob Black
Seed Savers Exchange3094 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa
563-382-5990
Pho
to b
y R
om
an C
ho
with
20. July 10: Winneshiek County Conservation “Bee A Hero” program at the Decorah Public Library, for 5–8-year-old “Summer Reading Heroes”, 2 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
21. July 11: Winneshiek County Conservation Eagle program and Christie Gove-Berg book signing at the Decorah Public Library, for “Summer Reading Heroes” of all ages, 2 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
22. July 14: Launch party for “Her Lost Year” with author Tabita Green at Java John’s, 7-9 pm. Music, drinks, and dessert. Sponsored by Dragonfly Books. www.tabitagreen.com
23. July 17-19: Seed Savers Exchange’s Conference & Campout! 3 days, 2 nights w/option to camp on the 890-acre Heritage Farm campus. For more info: blog.seedsavers.org/events
24. July 21: Winneshiek County Conservation Bird Bonanza program at the Decorah Public Library, for 9–12-year-old “Summer Reading Heroes,” 2 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
25. July 23-25: ArtHaus Summer Art Fair with 10 top local artists – photography, basketry, jewelry, ceramics, & more – times and details at www.arthausdecorah.org. Free admission.
26. August 1: Greg Brown Concert at Seed Savers Exchange! Celebrate summer with Iowa’s favorite folk-musician, Greg Brown. 7-10pm, August 1st. Tickets $25 ($30 @ door) Campsite $15. blog.seedsavers.org/events
27. August 2: Cresco’s Fly-In Breakfast at Ellen Church Airport (7 am–Noon) and 54th annual Fine Arts Show in Beadle Park (9:30am-3:30pm). Two great events – one great day! www.howard-county.com
28. August 7: Winneshiek County Conservation Nature Superheroes program at the Decorah Public Library, for 5–8-year-old “Summer Reading Heroes”, 2 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
29. August 7: Opening reception for the Dutcher Family Art Show featuring works by John Cline art teacher, Erik Dutcher & family at ArtHaus. 7-9 pm, admission free. www.arthausdecorah.org
30. August 11: Winneshiek County Conservation Recycling to the Rescue/Earth Heroes program at the Decorah Public Library, for 9–12-year-old “Summer Reading Heroes”, 2 pm, Free! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
31. August 22-23: Art in the Park, Founder’s Park Elkader. Saturday and Sunday, 30+ Fine Artists from the Midwest, Local Food, Local Entertainment, Kid’s Tent-
contest and activities. www.artintheparkelkader.com
32. August 28-30: Summer Seed Saving School at SSE. Immerse yourself in the world of seed saving & sharing in this 3-day workshop. More info: blog.seedsavers.org/events
33. August 29: ArtHaus presents Katie Dahl & Rich Higdon live in the courtyard of the ArtHaus Studio (516 W. Water), 7–10pm. $10 students, $12 others. www.arthausdecorah.org
34. SAVE THE DATE! September 17-20: Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest, Cresco, Iowa. Learn more at www.howard-county.com and www.crescochamber.com. Entertainment, parade, vendors, music, quilts, cars, MORE!
35. SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, September 20: Northeast Iowa’s premier meal packaging event for the hungry. Cresco, Iowa. You are invited to volunteer and/or sponsor. 563.547.3434
25W/$25B
Check out these great summer activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with its number on the calendar!
Looking for more details about events on the calendars?
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com14
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 15
have you visited the Driftless area Wetlands Centre in marquette, iowa, yet? it opened its doors in august 2013 with one goal in mind:
Connect people of all ages to the natural world and empower them to make a positive impact on their local environments.
We say, “mission accomplished” – this place is awesome!
story on next page...
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com16
“What KinD of BirD is that?”“Why is it sitting on those rocks?”“Are there a lot of others like it around here?”After (almost) stumbling upon a white-bellied, brown-winged
bird and its nest, three inquisitive young boys – busy planting purple coneflowers during a native plants restoration event – excitedly fire questions at Katrina Moyna, the gung-ho director of the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre (DAWC).
“It’s a killdeer,” Moyna replies softly to the first question, motioning the boys to back away from the nest. She answers the second just as succinctly: “Those aren’t rocks – they’re eggs.” The answer to the third question, however, will have
to wait – the killdeer (or charadrius vociferous), resting comfortably just moments before, has suddenly broken into a dramatic, attention-grabbing “broken-wing act” to lure the boys, whom it views as predators, away from its nest.
It’s a spectacular display of the spontaneity of nature. It’s also a prime example of the experiential – and occasionally accidental – learning that regularly transpires at the Driftless Area Wetlands Centre, an environmental education and community center established in 2013.
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By Sara Friedl-Putnam
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 17
“Our mission is to get people of all ages to unplug and experience the outdoors,” says Moyna, an Elkader, Iowa, native. “Everyone, regardless of age or background, can reap the benefits of connecting with – and learning from – the natural world, especially in a place as breathtakingly beautiful and biologically and geologically rich as the Driftless Area.”
That was exactly the message a committed group of citizen volunteers successfully conveyed to members of the Iowa Great Places Board in 2008, the year the board awarded the neighboring Mississippi River towns of Marquette and McGregor a “Great Place” designation and a $325,000 grant to build DAWC, develop the surrounding area (including a man-made wetland and restored prairie), and construct the McGregor-Marquette Center for the Arts.
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By 2011 the two communities had secured the funding needed to break ground on a three-acre site just a half-mile from the Mighty Mississippi. (Bright-colored railroad cars in the center’s “backyard” serve as a highly visible reminder that the site once accommodated the largest railroad terminus in the state.) And in August 2013, DAWC finally opened its doors. “We’ve worked hard to spread the word that we are here, that we are open –year-round, in fact – and that we have interesting things going on,” says Moyna without a pause. “Though we’ve only been open a short while, we’re gaining momentum each month.”
And that’s a (very) good thing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spends a whopping 93 percent of his or her life in buildings or vehicles – but innumerable studies have shown that spending time outdoors boosts creativity, improves physical fitness, and reduces stress. The takeaway?
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a Fr
iedl
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nam
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com18
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Turn off the TVs. Stash away those cell phones. Unplug the video games. Then throw on some shoes and head outside.
“Kids who spend time in nature grow into adults that care about protecting it,” says Moyna. “Something as simple as holding a frog or planting a flower can help children form a magical – and lasting –connection with the land.”
In 2014, nearly 4,500 visitors streamed through the center’s doors, half hailing from far beyond the region. This year DAWC expects to attract even more, thanks in large part to a “something-for-everyone” schedule boasting more than 50 events. “Nature provides a way for families to bond,” says Moyna. “We want to ensure this is a place where learning is fun for all ages.”
Mission accomplished. A hawk watch drew hundreds of nature enthusiasts last fall, as did an Easter egg hunt and petting zoo last spring. Highlights this summer include a rollicking “Friday
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 19
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Night Live” Farmers Market (music included!) each Friday from May into October, an “epic” (Moyna’s word) Dino Day at the end of July, and a Tom Sawyer Adventures program that will take area youth out on the Mississippi River to fish, swim, bird watch, wade for mussels, and, yes, learn a bit about the history of the world-famous waterway. This kind of inventive, locale-based programming, Moyna emphasizes, could not succeed without the help of many partner organizations, including the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Big Springs Trout Hatchery, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Osborne Nature Center, La Riviere Park, and the Upper Iowa Audubon Society. “Our partners are the ones doing the ‘dirty’ work – forging into the Driftless Area’s back waters, exploring its deep ravines, and hiking its forests,” she says. “They are our eyes and ears in the area’s plant and animal communities.”
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Tim
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WINNESHIEKcOUNTy fair!
JULY 7-11Buttons $20 in advance / $25 at the fair
Good for all 5 shows, children 6 and under free
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
EvAN's UnItEd Midway The Midwest's best carnival is back Tuesday –Saturday!
www.winneshiekcountyfair.orgKids Fun Zone, Nick's Magic Show, Miller’s Petting Zoo, Antique Farm Tractor display, Skidloader Rodeo, Northland Classic, 3D Barrel Racing , Kid's Pedal Pull, live music, cooking contests, Hobby Shop Creations & more!PL
US:
FREe gATe & parkIng!
FEATURING SAWYER BROWN
Upper Iowa Speedway Stock Car RacingHot Laps 6pm, Racing 6:30pm
Cory Farley Band 7:30pmJames Otto 9pm
Bill Riley Talent Show - 11amJim Busta Band - 4pmTri-State Truck & Tractor Pull 6pm
The Last Ride Band w/ Tony Winkler 7:30pmSawyer Brown 9pm
CC Bulls & Barrels Show 7pmFree Barn Dance with Buck Hollow after! And if DAWC has its way, it will soon have even more
“partners” spreading the word about the wonders of this region – its deep caves and cold-water streams, temperature-regulating (algific talus) slopes and awe-inspiring bluffs, colorful plants and crafty animals. The DAWC Ambassadors Program, piloted last year and launched in January 2015, immerses participants in nature so they can learn about and promote the plant life, birds, fish, and mammals in their own backyard. “What if we could help people develop as much pride in and enthusiasm for their natural ecosystem as they have for their local sport teams?” muses Moyna. “What if they then shared that passion with those around them?”
Regardless of age, participants must attend three discovery/exploration activities at DAWC or partner sites; take part in three educational events at DAWC or local schools; and work with a skilled mentor to complete and present a special-interest project that positively impacts the Driftless Area. Upon completion of the program requirements, participants receive a badge and have the opportunity to take part in a special trip down one of the area’s major waterways. Might that waterway be the Mississippi? “That part’s a surprise,” says Moyna with a smile.
But folks interested in DAWC need not sign up for the Ambassadors Program nor wait for one of its many events to reap the benefits of visiting the center. It is open five days a week and offers plenty of opportunities to touch, feel, and explore both indoors and out. Inside, a muskrat and mink look to tussle in one of several taxidermy displays that line the building’s large glass windows. Four black shelves feature an array of rock formations – calcite, stromatoporoids, straight-shelled cephalopods, and others – endemic to the region. And a large wooden table in one corner showcases more than 20 preserved waterfowl, all poised as if ready for flight.
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 21
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Just outside, a large observation deck extends into the wetland area to facilitate viewing of local flora and fauna, and eye-catching signs present important facts about the wetlands themselves. Were you aware that half of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900 – or that development and conversion continue to pose huge threats to these areas? Did you know that wetlands are home to some of the richest biodiversity on the planet – or that they provide vital habitat for more than 40 percent of the entire world’s species, including killdeer, or charadrius vociferous?
That fun fact recalls the third question posed during the center’s native plant restoration event last April – namely, is killdeer prevalent in the Driftless Area? Yes, charadrius vociferous is a common species inhabiting a wide range of wetlands throughout North America, including those in Northeast Iowa. And the chance to spot one doing its thrilling “broken-wing act” is just one of many reasons to dive into this area called the Driftless. “There really is nowhere else like this place in the world,” says Moyna. “Once people begin to really understand all the Driftless Area has to offer, they also begin to really value it.”
A Florida native, Sara Friedl-Putnam still remembers the awe she felt upon first viewing the spectacular limestone bluffs of the Driftless Area nearly two decades ago. She is thankful that organizations like DAWC are working hard to connect area residents with this special place and share its many natural wonders.
graB Your shoes & heaD outsiDe!
the Driftless area Wetlands Centre – located at 509 u.s. 18, in marquette, iowa – is open tuesday through saturday from 11 am to 4 pm. for more information, call 563-873-3537or visit www.driftlessareawetlandcentre.com.
Following is a list of select DAWC events planned for Summer 2015. See complete schedule online.
June 5 (and every Friday thereafter through October 9): Friday Night Live Farmers Market
June 27–28: Great American Backyard Campout
July 6–23 (a daylong event with dates for 11Driftless Area towns): Tom Sawyer Adventures
July 10: The Importance of Algific Talus Slopes
July 17: Youth Pottery Workshop
July 25: Dino Day
August 7: Youth Outdoor Photography Workshop
August 22: Native Prairie Restoration
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Michelle Giddings, Decorah
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20Random Acts of
kindness
Random
+
We here at inspire(d) often talk about changing the world…or, more accurately, changing the community. But what about simply brightening
someone’s day? that, honestly, changes the world right there. We thought we’d put together a fun list of ways to easily bring a smile to your family, friends’, neighbors’, and fellow community-members’ faces. it’s not so hard, and, happily, it makes both the giver and receiver feel all kinds of good.
the phrase “random act of Kindness” was actually born in a classroom in Bakersfield, California, in 1993. Dr. Chuck Wall was sick of the constant barrage of “random acts of senseless violence” in the news. so the professor decided to do something about it in the form of an assignment for his college class: “go out and commit a ‘random act of senseless kindness’ and write about your experience.” the experiment took off, garnering a lot of press and a new movement: random acts of kindness!
learn more about the story behind random acts of kindness at www.kindnessusa.org. an act of kindness doesn’t have to be something huge – you don’t have to buy anyone anything, make anything, or even do much of anything. it can be as simple as a smile to a stranger or holding the door open for someone. or it can be as thoughtful as preparing an extra meal for a friend or sending a note in the mail. either way, kindness has a way of coming back around, and we love getting balls rolling!
“Kindness Week” is celebrated in february, but we think any time is a great time for compassion and general good-ness! so turn the page for more than 20 ways to brighten your days (it’s gotta rhyme, right?!).
next page
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IF ever a person were “born an entrepreneur”, it would be Brett Reese. Reese is one most inspiring business
professionals I’ve ever met. We recently chatted about business beginnings and parents’ lessons in money over breakfast at Restauration in the Hotel Winneshiek – one the properties maintained by Rebound Hospitality, a Northfield, Minnesota, company owned by Reese and his business partners Jennifer Sawyer and Todd Byhre.
“I still remember the first dollar my brother and I saved. We pooled all our change together to get this one bill. But then we realized there was only one – who gets to keep it?!” he says with a laugh. “We agreed we’d have to share it.” That was just the beginning of Reese’s investment partnerships and doing nothing – business-wise – alone.
Born and raised in Castle Rock, Minnesota, Reese went to Luther College in Decorah. He graduated in 1981 with a B.A. in accounting and political science and passed the CPA exam as a senior. After graduation, he worked as an auditor with Grant Thornton in Minneapolis. While continuing this “day job”, he made the leap into self-owned business ventures in 1982 with the purchase (with a partner) of a Northfield pub, where, coincidentally, Reese logged many an hour working in his younger years.
He currently calls Northfield home with daughters Meredith and Milly. It also serves as the birthplace and home office of Rebound. For many years, Reese ran Rebound as a consulting business that worked as a sort of “business doctor”, helping mismanaged or financially troubled companies in a variety of industries rebound
to success. It was 2008 when the investment and advisory side of the company – Rebound Enterprises – was founded with the help of business partner Jennifer Sawyer. Reese currently serves as Managing Principal of the Organization.
From Rebound Enterprises grew Rebound Hospitality. The Rebound partners had a passionate desire to preserve, maintain, and enhance the Archer House River Inn (circa 1877) in Northfield. During its renovation, which began in 2008, Rebound Hospitality was then created to invest in and preserve historically significant properties – such as the Archer House – that are important assets to their communities. On January 1, 2010, a second property was added – the Hotel Winneshiek (circa 1905) in Decorah. The company – whose vision is “to create a portfolio of historic boutique inns and distinct properties” – currently has five properties on its roster – stretching from Des Moines, Iowa (Des Lux Hotel) to Lakeshore, Minnesota (Lost Lake Lodge).
Rebound also encourages everyone on its team to give of their “time, talent, treasure, and thinking” in the communities where they live and work. It comes
back to one of the biggest lessons Reese has learned along the way: “Don’t work in a vacuum. Do nothing alone. Together, we can always achieve so much more.”
SUMBUSINESSINSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE DRIFTLESS
OFYOUR Brett reese
By Aryn Henning Nichols • All photos courtesy Brett Reese
ofRebound Enterprises
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 27
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The Basics:Name: Brett D. ReeseAge: 56Business: Rebound EnterprisesYears in Business: 35
Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?
Being an entrepreneur was in my blood at young age. At age five I wanted to be a CPA – just like my dad – though I didn’t know exactly what he did, just that he would “bang away” on a great big old adding machine that spit out numbers on paper.
I rode my bike at age 10 to my first job watering trees at Switzer’s Castle Rock Nursery for $.50 per hour, and then “graduated” to baling hay for a local farmer at $1 per wagonload.
I grew up on a hobby farm, and at age 12, started my own cow/calf operation. To fund the business, I took out my first loan with the President of the Castle Rock Bank, Dan Nicolai, who, 44 years later, is still the President of the Bank and someone I still do business with!
I bought my first business at age 23 – one year out of college – with my first business partner Dave Delong. We had the opportunity to purchase the “Rueb-N-Stein,” a bar and grill in Northfield, Minnesota, where I had worked from 9th grade through college. I had worked every position, knew it inside and out, and learned a great deal from the owner, Dan Freeman. My partner ran it while I worked along the sidelines and continued working as a CPA in the Twin Cities.
After 3 years as a CPA auditing companies, I followed my entrepreneur spirit in “taking the leap” by leaving public accounting to became my “own boss” as a “turnaround artist/business doctor.” Playing basketball I was known as “Rebound Reese,” and now found myself helping companies that were struggling by “Rebounding” them back to health. Over time Rebound Consulting became Rebound Enterprises with verticals in Hospitality/ Real Estate/ Manufacturing / Financial Services / Community and now recently Rebound Solutions – led by partner Jennifer Sawyer.
Also at a young age, I learned the value of delegating and surrounding oneself with partners and people smarter than you – helping them realize their dreams, while they’re helping you realize yours.
What’s the best thing about being your own boss?• Independence, Flexibility, Freedom• Controlling your own destiny• The ability to take in and enjoy your kids’ activities, and spend time with them when you want• Creating wealth for your family and investors• Being able to choose to work with others by partnering and collaborating• Seeing value where others don’t and being able to carry out a plan to realize it. How about the worst?• Lots of responsibility and at times being alone; Knowing that the buck stops with you• Sometimes taking on too much risk; Payroll comes around and there is no money in the bank!• Long hours at times• Going out on a limb and being criticized by others
Call now to book a stay at the Hotel Winn! • hotelwinn.com • 104 E. Water St. Decorah, IA • 1.800.998.4164
The welcome is real.
WinneshiekHIS
TORIC
Tap Room
Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?
In 1990 I was on “top of the world, flying high” as the President of CCM, turning around this struggling local manufacturer located in my hometown of Northfield into a very successful company. Then the shareholders started fighting, and the minority owners bought out the majority owner, who then fired me. Never having been fired, it was difficult for me to get out of bed as I was so depressed. I would sleep till noon, getting up to play basketball over the noon hour at Carleton College, which helped keep me going. After a while (like months!) I picked myself up and decided that in the next turnaround project, I wasn’t only going in as management, but was also getting a piece of the action by taking an ownership stake. From this strategy, over time I was able to take ownership positions in a variety of companies that helped form the foundation of Rebound Enterprises.
Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?
I owe a great deal to many individuals:• My father Bert Reese (pictured, left, with
Brett), a great friend, mentor and rock• Dan Freeman – bought my first business,
the Rueb-N-Stein from him in 1983 with $5,000 down; Great Marketer. Learned from him what to do, and what not to do.
• Bill Palmquist – helped me through my first major turnaround – Braco Manufacturing in Moses Lake, WA – where at age 25, I had to fire my first employee (I think I cried more than he did.)
• Bob Skluzacek – Helped me develop as a CEO / President of a manufacturing company: CCM – Computer Controlled Machines. $2m in sales to $18m over three years; 20 employees to 150 employees; from near bankruptcy to success.
• Curt Swenson – introduced me to MCG –Motion Control Group. A struggling company that was bankrupt that become a very profitable company. MCG built a relationship in China beginning in 1999. Owned from 1991 to 2008: sold just before the downturn of the Great Recession. A smart move!
• Bill Cowles – first met him in 1987 when he was a customer of CCM; He became an important mentor and a valuable sounding board for me and still is today.
Brett Reese & partners Jennifer Sawyer & Todd Byhre
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 29Call now to book a stay at the Hotel Winn! • hotelwinn.com • 104 E. Water St. Decorah, IA • 1.800.998.4164
The welcome is real.
Winneshiek
HISTO
RIC
Tap Room
211 W. Water St. | DecorahM.T.W.Fr.Sat 9-5
Thurs 9-8563-382-8940
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What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?
There were a lot of times I didn’t realize that “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” Experience has taught me to really think about this. If I don’t know, I learn from the experiences of others and surround myself with people who do know. To then go out and find the answers and solutions. By not working alone, but through teamwork and collaboration, together we can arrive at the very best decision.
How do you manage your life/work balance?
I have been very fortunate by living and working the best of both worlds! I have had the opportunity to work with companies both globally – traveling the world over on business with our manufacturing firms, and at the same time being a part of local communities with our hospitality businesses and real estate investments. Also I am blessed to have Margaret Jacobson help manage my work as my administrative assistant, who keeps me organized and who says her work purpose is “I am here to serve you, to make your life better and easier.” How lucky am I? I have a passion for life, wanting to bring positive energy along with a good attitude. I try to be the best that I can – in my work, with my family, and in my faith. Here’s what works for me:
• Set aside time for faith, family, profession, working out / physical activity and good nutrition.
• Lots of travel. Finding new, fun, and interesting life experiences.
• To be able to work from anywhere, anytime. Pick and choose when to work and when to play, relax and enjoy life.
What keeps you inspired? Any quotes that keep you going?
I am inspired by challenges; A banker recently shared – “that is what Rebound and Brett do – they take on the unthinkable, the worst of conditions and have the ability to turn it around into success.”
I also am inspired by starting new ventures, such as my most recent, the Northfield Real Estate Fund – where local people invest in their backyard- supporting the community and also providing a return to investors. I think the Decorah community would be ideal for this type of venture.
Some quotes I live by:Energy is Everything!“Success is when Planning meets Opportunity” (by partner Jennifer Sawyer)When the going gets tough, the tough get goingNever say neverYou will never achieve your greatest success without failingTreat others as you would want them to treat youDo the Right Thing
In closing, I am very proud of the Hotel Winneshiek, Restauration Restaurant, Tap Room, and the Steyer Opera House of Decorah. The management team of Dan, Tom, Tammy, Deb, Laura, and their staff have taken a beautiful hotel renovated by Helen Basler – “a gift to Decorah”– and made it into a sustainable, successful business. My appreciation and thanks to you all!
Three of Rebound’s properties. Top: The Archer House in Northfield, MN; Middle: Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah, IA; Bottom: Lost Lake Lodge in Lakeshore, MN.
01 Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com
bees!
Science,You're super!
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 31
riftlessriftlessGardens
driftlessgardendesign.com
DesignMaintenance
InstallationPlant SalesHardscape
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Jeff Scott . 563-379-1101
By Aryn Henning Nichols
Photo by Evan Sowderevansowder.com
there’s alWaYs Been a Buzz arounD Bees.
Okay…it’s a bad pun. But, really, bees are pretty darn amazing. They fly their slightly cantankerous (especially for the bumble bees) bodies around, pollinating flowers and crops across the world – in the U.S., alone, their work is worth an estimated $10 billion. (3)
Some even say bees are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Most crops grown for their fruits (like squash, cucumber, tomato, eggplant), nuts, seeds, fiber (such as cotton), and hay (alfalfa grown to feed livestock), require pollination by insects. Pollination is “the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of a flower of the same species, which results in fertilization of plant ovaries and the production of seeds.” According to Michigan State University’s entomology department, the main insect pollinators, by far, are bees. There are hundreds of species of bees that contribute to the pollination of crops. (5)
So where do these little super heroes come from and how do they know how to do their jobs?
Scientists believe that both bees and flowering plants evolved around 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Before this, many plants released seeds and pollen using cones (think pine trees, but both big and small cones). The wind brought the pollen and cones together, thus fertilizing them. But some plants began to reproduce using flowers, and they needed the help of insects and other animals to achieve pollination. (2)
Around the same time, bees were evolving from their wasp-like ancestors. Prehistoric wasps were carnivores that lay their eggs in the bodies of their prey. After flower reproduction happened, bees became herbivores, eating pollen and nectar from the plants and pollinating flowers as they went. (2)
To further enhance pollination, a bee’s body is covered in fuzzy hair that collects pollen, and its legs are built for specific pollen-collecting tasks. The body has three sections – the head, the thorax and the abdomen – much like other insects. The abdomen houses the stinger, and the crop, or honey stomach, where the bees store nectar. A bee has five eyes – three simple eyes, “orocelli”, and two compound eyes made of lots of small, repeating eye parts called “ommatidia” that specialize in seeing patterns. This allows bees to detect polarized light – a super-power humans do not possess! (2)
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Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com32
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Bees can be solitary – living mainly alone – or social – living in colonies. Less than 15 percent of bees are social, even though many people are most familiar with social bees since they produce things like honey and beeswax, and will pollinate in large groups in orchards and gardens. (2)
Two of the most advanced social bees are honeybees and bumblebees. Each colony has a single queen, many workers, and – at certain stages in the colony cycle – drones. A commercial – human provided – honeybee hive can contain up to 40,000 bees at their annual spring peak (but it’s usually fewer). (1)
Although honeybees and bumblebees are both social, their societies are quite different. Honeybee colonies are perennial – a nest will last generations. Bumblebees, on the other hand, have annual nests. (2) But no matter how they live, most bees have a similar approach to mating. In nearly every species, a male bee’s only job is to mate with a female. After the female mates, she either retreats to a shelter for the winter or returns to her nest to lay eggs. A female solitary bee lays only a few eggs in her lifetime, but a queen honeybee lays thousands! (2)
Bees have an acute sense of smell, and can recognize symmetry and patterns, such as colors or shapes. This helps bees find and recognize flowers and food. Honeybees communicate food’s location with a special bee language: dancing.
When a scout finds food, she uses two known tools to remember its location. 1. A solar compass that helps her calculate where things are in relation to the sun. The bee’s ability to see polarized light (remember the ommatidia eyes) tells her where the sun is even if it’s a cloudy day. 2. An internal clock that tells her how far she has flown.
When the scout returns to the hive, she distributes nectar samples, then performs a dance on the hive “dance floor.”
If the food is nearby, the scout does a “round dance,” making loops in alternating directions.
When the food is far away, she does a “waggle dance”. She runs in a straight line while waggling her abdomen, then returns to the starting point by running in a curve to the left or right of the line. The straight line indicates the direction of the food in relation to the sun. (3)
Then, the sisters head out to forage. They make up to a dozen trips back and forth between the hive and the food; each bee can carry half her weight in pollen or nectar!
Inside the hive, the worker bees transform the nectar into honey. Nectar is 70 percent water compared to honey’s 20 percent. Bees evaporate the extra water by regurgitating the nectar over and over, and also fan their wings over the honeycomb.
While doing all this foraging for nectar and pollen, bees inadvertently pollinate nearly 100 crops. All told, insect pollinators contribute to one-third of the world’s diet. (3) (Super heroes!)
Bees themselves gather enough honey to survive winter. During winter, bees leave their hives only to go to the bathroom. Inside, they take care of the queen and heat the hive by vibrating their wing muscles, similar to humans’ shivering. To control
the temperature in the summer they circulate air with their wings and sprinkle the honeycomb with water. (3)
The length of a female honeybee’s life is usually only a few weeks. A queen, though, can live three to five years!
There has been a major decline in commercial honeybee numbers over the past 50 years – and even more so since 2007 – called Colony Collapse
Disorder (CCD). The cause hasn’t been pinpointed yet, but researchers say reasons could include parasites and bacteria, environmental stress, like a lack of pollen, and, very likely, pesticide usage.
What can we do to help? Here are three easy ideas:
1. Plant a Pollinator Garden. See online guide for plantings. (www.pollinator.org/guides.htm)
2. Reduce your use of pesticides, especially when flowers are in bloom and bees are out foraging
3. Buy local to help support local beekeepers
Aryn Henning Nichols was amazed by bees as she researched this story – dancing? Polarized light? Awesome. Let’s work to save the bees! Plant some butterfly weed (and other pollinator garden plants) today!
SOURCES:1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee2. animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/bee.htm3. www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/4. www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/living/iyw-5-ways-to-help-bees/5. nativeplants.msu.edu/about/pollination
Bee faCts:• The average American consumes a little over one pound of honey a year.
• In the course of her lifetime, a worker bee will produce 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey.
• To make one pound of honey, workers in a hive fly 55,000 miles and tap two million flowers.
• In a single collecting trip, a worker will visit between 50 and 100 flowers.
• A productive hive can make and store up to two pounds of honey a day. Thirty-five pounds of honey provides enough energy for a small colony to survive the winter. (3)
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ALLAMAKEE COUNTY
Harpers Ferry - Church Parking LotFriday, 5-7 pmJune - September
Lansing - Main Street PlazaSaturday, 9 am - noonJune - mid-October
Waukon - FairgroundsMonday, 3:30-6:00 pmJune - September
CHICKASAW COUNTY
FredericksburgN. Washington & E. Main StreetWednesdays, 3- 5 pmMay - September
New Hampton (Accepts WIC/FMNP/EBT)City Park Lot, Water StreetThursdays, 4-6 pm June - September
CLAYTON COUNTY
Edgewood - City ParkFriday, 3-5 pmJune - October
Elkader Keystone Bridge City ParkSaturday, 9 am-noonMay - October
Garnavillo 201 N. Main. City ParkSaturday, 8:30 - 11 amMay - October
GuttenbergRiver Park Drive - City ParkSaturday, 8 am - noonEnd May - early October
MarquetteDriftless Area Wetlands Centre Friday, 4-7 pmMay 22 - Oct 9
McGregor - Triangle ParkFriday, 3-6 pmMay - September
Monona - Gateway ParkWednesday, 3 - 6 pmEnd May - Early October
Strawberry Point (Accepts WIC/FMNP)Inger ParkWednesday, 4-6 pmEnd May- September
Volga City ParkFriday, 4-6 pmJune - September
FAYETTE COUNTY
Elgin Town & Country MarketElgin City ParkThursday, 5:30-7 pmMay - October
Fayette Open Air Market305 W. Water Street ShelterWednesday, 3-5 pmJune - October
Oelwein (Accepts WIC/FMNP/SNAP)Hwy 150 & Hwy 3Monday, 3-6 pmFriday, 8-11 amMid May - October
HOWARD COUNTY
Chester - City ParkThursday, 1-4 pmJune - October
Cresco (Accepts WIC/FMNP)2nd St & 1st Ave, Grube’s N. LotTuesday, 2- 5:30 pmFriday, 2-5:30 pmMay - October
Cresco Beadle Park Sunday Market10 AM: June 28, July 123:30 PM: August 2, Sept 20
Lime Springs - Brown ParkSaturdays, 9 am-12:00 NoonMay 28 - October
Protivin - City ParkWednesday, 2:30-5:30 pmMay - October
Riceville (Accepts WIC/FMNP)203 Main Street (Hwy 9)Saturday, 9-11:30 amMay - October
WINNESHIEK COUNTY
Decorah (Winneshiek FM) (Accepts WIC/FMNP/EBT)City Lot behind Oneota CoopWednesdays, 3-6 pmSaturdays, 8-11amMay 1 - October 31
WISCONSIN
Prairie du Chien – Lucky Park 312 W. Blackhawk AveSaturdays, 8 am - 1 pmMay 2 - October 17
Gays Mills - Lions Club Park (Accepts WIC/FMNP)Wednesdays, 2 - 6 pmMay 13 - October 14
Ferryville Market in the ParkSaturdays, 9 am - 3 pmMay 16 - October 31
Farmers Market Nutrition ProgramsWIC = Women, Infants, ChildrenSN = Senior SNAP EBT (Food Assistance) can be used to buy fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, baked goods,honey, cheese, herbs, jelly and jam, etc. You may not use EBT for hot prepared foods or hot drinks.
LOCAL DRIFTLESSFARMERS MARKETS
This Buy Fresh Buy Local Chapter is a consumer education program for BFBL
Iowa. BFBL Iowa is part of the FoodRoutes Network, a national nonprofit organization
that provides technical support to community based groups that are working to strengthen
regional markets for locally grown foods.Visit www.foodroutes.org.
2015 LOCAL FOOD DIRECTORYGREAT RIVER PARTNERS: NE IOWA & SW WISCONSIN
BUCHANAN
63346
24
150
63
Nashua
63
9 9
9
52
9
9
52
52
150
150
76
76
Dorchester
51
18
52
128
56
150
18
187
3Oelwein
Guttenberg
McGregor
364
272
New Hampton
Cresco
Waukon
West Union
Calmar
18
Postville
Monona Prairie du Chien
13
56
Elkader
13
StrawberryPoint
93 Fayette
26
Lansing
5 miles
Locust R
d
College DrWater St
Fifth Ave
S Mech
anic
St.
9
Decorah
CLAYTON
ALLAMAKEEWINNESHIEK
FAYETTE
CHICKASAWHOWARD
IOWA
MN
WI
IL
N
S
W E
Decorah
FARMERS MARKET
FARMSTAND
FARM
STORE
RESTAURANT
SUPPLIES
FOOD HUB
SUPPORTER
2
4
5
6
7
8
30
14
15
16
19
29
23
24
25
26
31
32
34
28
35
36
1
12
10
22
18
WISCONSIN
27
Lime Springs
Chester
Riceville
Protivin
Fredricksburg
Ferryville
Gays Mills
Marquette
171
27
CRAWFORD
Edgewood
Garnavillo
Elgin
Volga City
Harpers Ferry
21
29
13
1817 33
Hazelton
3 20
11
9
179
V Vegetables, flowers, herbsF FruitM Meat & DairyE EggsO Other Products: Baked goods, honey, syrup, coffee
1 Andon Acres • V Gordon Murray-John Maynard, (563) 637-2766 Chemical-free vegetables Oelwein, Independence Farmers Markets
2 Apples on the Avenue • V F O Nashua (S. on Hwy 218), (641) 210-5506 20+ Apple varieties, pumpkins, mums www.applesontheavenue.com Farmstand open mid-August
3 Bear Creek Acres • MAl Dlouhy & Jen Gamerdinger Edgewood, (563) 255-2839 Certified organic pasture raised beef BearCreekAcresDairy.com
4 Benjegerdes Greenhouse • V F 1115 Hwy 52 - Postville (563) 864-3081 Vegetable and bedding plants Open Mid April-June 30 or by appt
5 Clayton Ridge Farm and Meat Market, Guttenberg (large ad) • M V 6 Country View Dairy Hawkeye (large ad) • M 7 Driftless Hills Farm • M Calmar – (563) 562-3897 All natural, grass-fed lamb. Restaurants & individuals. [email protected]
MA
P K
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2015 LOCAL FOOD DIRECTORY
Local Food Map!
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3 Bear Creek Acres • MAl Dlouhy & Jen Gamerdinger Edgewood, (563) 255-2839 Certified organic pasture raised beef BearCreekAcresDairy.com
4 Benjegerdes Greenhouse • V F 1115 Hwy 52 - Postville (563) 864-3081 Vegetable and bedding plants Open Mid April-June 30 or by appt
5 Clayton Ridge Farm and Meat Market, Guttenberg (large ad) • M V 6 Country View Dairy Hawkeye (large ad) • M 7 Driftless Hills Farm • M Calmar – (563) 562-3897 All natural, grass-fed lamb. Restaurants & individuals. [email protected]
8 Empty Nest Winery Waukon (large ad) • O
9 Fidelity Bank and Trust Decorah & Waukon • (large ad) 10 FJM Produce - Francis Martin • F V M Wadena - (563) 774-2023 Produce, heritage turkeys 11 Forest Hill Farm St. Olaf (large ad) • M
12 Fox Greenhouse & Garden Center • F V ORandalia, (563) 428-4638Flowers, bedding, vegetable plantsFresh produce, baked goods, craftsOpen 8 am - 5 pm, M-Sat
13 From Farm to Market/McClain Family • F V Westgate, (319) 240-0464, (319)240-2725Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Peppers, RaspberriesWaverly, New Hampton [email protected]
14 G It’s Fresh • V Glen & Elizabeth Elsbernd, Cresco(563) 379-395. Certified organic vegetables. www.gitsfresh.com 15 GROWN Locally • V F E M A Community Farming Cooperative (563) 380-9848 www.grownlocally.comWholesale sales to institutions 16 Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch • M Fredericksburg - (large ad)
17 Iowa Food Hub • V F M E OWest Union (large ad)
18 K&K Gardens, Hawkeye, (563) 427-5373. Bedding plants, vegetables, gifts. Trees, shrubs, perennials. www.kkgardens.com 19 Kymar Acres (large ad) • V E O
Good food has a great story.
decorah, iowa
ONEOTACOMMUNITY
FOODCOOPErative
Water Street Caf éf r e s h . o r g a n i c . l o c a l .
Co-opclassroomkitchen
312 West Water Street • Decorah563.382.4666 • www.oneotacoop.com
Monday-Saturday 8:00-8:30 • Sunday 10-7everyone can shop everyone welcome no membership required
20 Leon Kern • V FGarber, (563) 590-7812Chemical-free produceRaspberries, apples, pearsCall for availability
21 Low Oaks Farm • V MLittle Turkey, (563) 202-0399Chemical free vegetables, flowers, herbs, lamb. Decorah & Cedar Rapids Dtwn Mkts. www.lowoaksfarm.com 22 Mountain Lane Farm, LLC • M V Wauzeka, WI, (608) 874-4414 Grass-fed Beef, Poultry and Sweet Corn. Find us at Prairie Street Farmer’s Market. www.mountainlanebeef.com 23 Oneota Community Food Coop (large ad) V F M E O 24 Oneota Slopes Farm • M O Andy & Emily Johnson Decorah – (563) 382-0537 Grass-fed meats; Christmas trees www.oneotaslopes.org 25 Patchwork Green Farm (large ad) V 26 Peake Orchards, Inc. • F O Waukon – (563) 419-0449 Great apple varieties incl. Honeycrisp Family-run orchard Farm Stand, mid Sept-Thanksgiving
27 River Root Farm – Decorah • V O (563) 382-6249, www.riverrootfarm.com. Certified organic seedlings & produce Decorah Farmers Market.Fall/Winter CSA shares available
28 Rubaiyat, Decorah (large ad)
29 Sauser Farms • VHazleton, (319) 481-8737 Vegetables, melons, herbs, pumpkinsGreat fresh cut flowerssauserfarms.com
30 Shrimptastic, Fayette (large ad) • M 31 Timber Ridge Gardens • V O Sara and Randi Vagts West Union - (563) 422-5844 Chemical-free Produce & Angelfood cakes Decorah Farmers Market 32 Top of the Hollow Organic Farm • V Decorah – (563) 380-8344 Certified organic produce, potatoes Decorah Farmers Market Oneota Co-op and special order
33 Unionland MarketWest Union • V F M E O 34 Upper Iowa Organics, LLC Marty Grimm Decorah (563) 419-2222 Bulk compost & composted manure M-F, 8-5; Call on weekends 35 Windridge Implements (large ad) 36 WW Homestead Dairy (large ad) • M O
This directory is organized by the
Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition and its partners.
Visit www.iowafreshfood.com for more information on the farmers listed in
the directory.
Rock Cedar RanchRiver Root Farm
Patchwork Green FarmDriftless Hills Farm
WW Homestead Dairy Country View Dairy
Hansen's DairyLynch BBQ Company
think local117 W. WATER ST. DECORAH563.382.WINE www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THESE
PARTNERS
20 Leon Kern • V FGarber, (563) 590-7812Chemical-free produceRaspberries, apples, pearsCall for availability
21 Low Oaks Farm • V MLittle Turkey, (563) 202-0399Chemical free vegetables, flowers, herbs, lamb. Decorah & Cedar Rapids Dtwn Mkts. www.lowoaksfarm.com 22 Mountain Lane Farm, LLC • M V Wauzeka, WI, (608) 874-4414 Grass-fed Beef, Poultry and Sweet Corn. Find us at Prairie Street Farmer’s Market. www.mountainlanebeef.com 23 Oneota Community Food Coop (large ad) V F M E O 24 Oneota Slopes Farm • M O Andy & Emily Johnson Decorah – (563) 382-0537 Grass-fed meats; Christmas trees www.oneotaslopes.org 25 Patchwork Green Farm (large ad) V 26 Peake Orchards, Inc. • F O Waukon – (563) 419-0449 Great apple varieties incl. Honeycrisp Family-run orchard Farm Stand, mid Sept-Thanksgiving
27 River Root Farm – Decorah • V O (563) 382-6249, www.riverrootfarm.com. Certified organic seedlings & produce Decorah Farmers Market.Fall/Winter CSA shares available
28 Rubaiyat, Decorah (large ad)
29 Sauser Farms • VHazleton, (319) 481-8737 Vegetables, melons, herbs, pumpkinsGreat fresh cut flowerssauserfarms.com
30 Shrimptastic, Fayette (large ad) • M 31 Timber Ridge Gardens • V O Sara and Randi Vagts West Union - (563) 422-5844 Chemical-free Produce & Angelfood cakes Decorah Farmers Market 32 Top of the Hollow Organic Farm • V Decorah – (563) 380-8344 Certified organic produce, potatoes Decorah Farmers Market Oneota Co-op and special order
33 Unionland MarketWest Union • V F M E O 34 Upper Iowa Organics, LLC Marty Grimm Decorah (563) 419-2222 Bulk compost & composted manure M-F, 8-5; Call on weekends 35 Windridge Implements (large ad) 36 WW Homestead Dairy (large ad) • M O
This directory is organized by the
Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition and its partners.
Visit www.iowafreshfood.com for more information on the farmers listed in
the directory.
Rock Cedar RanchRiver Root Farm
Patchwork Green FarmDriftless Hills Farm
WW Homestead Dairy Country View Dairy
Hansen's DairyLynch BBQ Company
think local117 W. WATER ST. DECORAH563.382.WINE www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THESE
PARTNERS
PAPER PROJECT: PIRATE HATS!
Paper Project!
1. Save yer newspa
per
2. go to iloveinsp
ired.com
3. make yer pirate
hats -
instructions onlin
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4. Arrrgh you read
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 37
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com38
POTLUCKLocalPARTY
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What’s local on our table?
eggs
shrimp
arugula
sausage
goatcheese
bleucheese
beets
apples
yogurt
cucumber
cabbage
cabbage
carrots
tomatoesbasil
cheese curds
flat bread
treats from the farmers’ market!
bulk candy from the co-op
flowers
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 39
POTLUCKLocalPARTY
h
What’s local on our table?
eggs
shrimp
arugula
sausage
goatcheese
bleucheese
beets
apples
yogurt
cucumber
cabbage
cabbage
carrots
tomatoesbasil
cheese curds
flat bread
treats from the farmers’ market!
bulk candy from the co-op
flowers
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com40
We get a little excited about GoOD Food.
Water Street Caf éf r e s h . o r g a n i c . l o c a l .
grocerybulk
producecafémeat
cheesebakery
wine/beer supplements
body care312 West Water Street • Decorah563.382.4666 • www.oneotacoop.comMonday-Saturday 8:00 am-8:30 pm • Sunday 10-7
everyone can shop everyone welcome no membership required
decorah, iowa
ONEOTACOMMUNITY
FOODCOOPErative
getting together with friends is the stuff of summer.Getting together with friends, eating food grown by
friends, is the stuff of a Driftless summer. When you live in a place like the Driftless Region, you sometimes
forget that you’re even eating local…you’re just serving up the produce grown by farmers up the road! They might even be sitting across the table from you – ‘cause this is the Midwest, people. We’re friendly. And we like to potluck.
In case this is your first day in the Midwest, a potluck is “a gathering of people where each person or group of people contributes a dish of food to be shared among the larger gathered group.”
It’s a beautiful thing not just because it’s a great format for a party, but also because sometimes summertime livin’ isn’t so easy; it’s busy. Make it a little simpler by having your friends make all the food. Okay…you still have to make one dish, but that’s a lot better than a whole meal.
What goes into planning a potluck? Just an email, text message, or phone call with a loose “you do a main course, I’ll do veggie, they’ll bring dessert” sort of thing. Take it a step further and challenge potluck-goers to use local produce in their dishes. Buying locally is good for your environment, economy, and – most importantly – yourself. And shopping in season at your area farmers markets and food co-ops is also way more affordable than you’d think!
We put together our own potluck of local foods for this issue – from local shrimp (yep!) to bacon-wrapped dates to a beet and apple salad to cheese curd caprese skewers, we’ve got you covered.
In a pinch and don’t have time to actually cook something? That’s totally okay too! We looked to the bulk section of our local co-op for a few ideas…chocolate-covered ginger, anyone? Goes great with a mint julep, we think!
Make it a potluck-y summer, friends, and enjoy!
Story and photos by Aryn Henning Nichols • Photo/Food Assistant Thea Satrom
POTLUCKLocalPARTY
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 41
Galleries & Art Loft Lodging 103 Parkway N
St. Mane Theatre 206 Parkway Ave N
507.467.2446lanesboroarts.org
SUNDAY, June 21, 2015, 10am - 5pm 90+ fine ARTS booths | Live MUSIC--Brian Laidlaw, Reina del Cid, The Bread & Butter String Band | FOOD, craft BEER & WINE | Family art activities | FREE
ART in the PARK
OPENROAD
June 6 - Aug 9, 2015Opening Receptionlive music & hors d’ouevres SAT., June 6, 6-8pm exhibit | OPEN ROAD, featuring 41 artists in a variety of media. FREE!
GALLERY | OUTREACH
Cheese CurD Caprese sKeWers1/2 C balsamic vinegar1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes1/2 lb fresh cheese curdsfresh basil leaves, cut or ripped in half if largesalt & pepperDrizzle of olive oiltoothpicksBring balsamic vinegar up to a boil in a saucepan, then lower heat to medium and simmer until it’s the consistency of very thin maple syrup, about 10 minutes. Pour into a bowl and let cool.
Cut large tomatoes in half / leave small ones whole. Thread a small cheese curd, basil leaf, and a tomato onto a toothpick. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Sprinkle with salt & pepper, then alternate a drizzle of balsamic reduction and olive oil on top.
BaCon-WrappeD Dates (maKes 36)12-ounce package of bacon, cut into thirds 8-ounce package of pitted dates
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Position oven rack in the center of the oven. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil. Using scissors, cut bacon slices into thirds. Wrap one (third) piece of bacon around each date. Make sure the bacon seam is on the bottom, so it is less likely to unravel. Repeat until all of the dates are wrapped in tasty bacon.Bake for 20-25 minutes until crisp (go a little longer if they don’t look crispy). Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
DevileD eggs12 hard-boiled eggs 1/2 C mayonnaise2 T milk1 tsp yellow mustard 1/4 tsp salt ( or to taste, I use seasoned salt)1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper1/4 tsp garlic powderPaprika for dusting
Slice the eggs in half lengthwise; remove the yolks, and set whites aside.Add all ingredients except for paprika into food processor (it makes it so much smoother!), or whisk by hand if you must.Spoon mixture into a plastic bag, snip one corner, and pipe into the whites. Sprinkle with paprika and cover tightly with plastic wrap.Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com42
Affordable Elegance.
Luther College Catering
• A wide variety of menus with a worldly flair, featuring locally grown foods and homemade recipes
• A dining room that overlooks the beautiful Oneota Valley and accommodates 300-plus guests
Let us help you with your next event.Contact us at 563.387.1395 or email [email protected]
Wedding Receptions • Anniversaries Birthdays • Corporate & Family Events
Check us out online at luther.catertrax.com
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521 W. Water St. Decorah . 563-277-1061
Details at facebook.com/cedardreamsinn
DOWNTOWN DECORAH
tzatziKi Dip 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced 1 C plain greek yogurt1/2 C sour cream 2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 clove garlic, minced Freshly ground black pepper and salt, to taste Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for 2 hrs. before serving. Serve with fresh veggies and pita triangles, or try it on top of grilled or roasted meats like lamb, chicken, or gyros.
Beets & apple salaD2 T honey1 T apple cider vinegar1 T olive oilFour beets, roasted or boiled, skins removed, sliced into bite sized-pieces1 Fuji apple, sliced into bite sized-pieces1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese1/4 C walnuts
Whisk together honey, vinegar, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Toss walnuts, cooked beets, and apple slices with dressing. Top with blue cheese and give a little stir. Add another drizzle of olive oil if needed.
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 43
Spend your special day in an elegant yet casual setting overlooking the Oneota Valley and the Upper Iowa River. Enjoy the Amish-built
post and beam barn and restored one room school house – along with spacious outdoor patios and beautiful gardens.
Decorah, Iowa . denovobarn.com . 563-419-8902
Northeast Iowa’s premier wedding destination venue!
Did you know there’s local shrimp now (or soon)? There’s a new farm north of Fayette called Shrimptastic and also a farm in Ridgeway called Sherlock Shrimp. Product will be available later this summer (we got the shrimp at right at the Oneota Co-op). Getting local shrimp will work like this: You head to the farm, they harvest your shrimp fresh, you bring them home and cook ‘em. Pretty cool!
marinateD grilleD shrimp 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 T olive oil 2 T chopped fresh basil 1/2 tsp saltJuice from half a limeJuice from half a lemon 1 lb fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined skewers In a large plastic bag, mix the marinade. Add shrimp and coat evenly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail once near the head. Discard marinade. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.
Head over to shrimptasticllc.com for a how-to on peeling & deveining shrimp
POTLUCKLocalPARTY
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Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com44
Tradition of Deceit Chloe Ellefson Historic Sites Mystery # 5
From Kathleen Ernst, the bestselling author of Heritage of Darkness, comes the eagerly awaited sequel…
Curator and occasional sleuth Chloe Ellefson is off to Minneapolis to help out a former college classmate facing a monumental task.Together they must write a winning proposal for a controversial and expensive project: convert an abandoned flour mill complex, currently occupied by homeless people, into a history museum. When a body is found at the complex, stuffed down a grain chute, Chloe's attention turns from milling to murder. Back in Wisconsin, her love interest Roelke McKenna gets awful news. His best friend,a Milwaukee police officer, has been shot dead in the line of duty. Separated by hundreds of miles, Chloe and Roelke must sift through clues from the past and present. Alone, each takes risksthat threaten their growing trust in each other—and their very lives.
The Chloe series is for adults and mature teens who like books without explicit sex, violence, or gore. They are available from independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and publisher Midnight Ink as trade paperbacks and as e-Books for reading with iPad, Kobo, Nook, and Kindle apps and devices.
facebook.com/kathleenernst.author www.kathleenernst.com
Walnut pesto1/2 C walnuts2 cloves garlic3 cups packed basil leaves1/2 tsp salt 1/2 freshly ground black pepper1/3 C olive oil (or more if needed)1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese1-2 tsp lemon juice
Place basil, walnuts, garlic, salt and pepper, and olive oil in food processor.Blend until thoroughly combined. Add Parmesan and blend 5-10 seconds more. Splash in lemon juice to taste. Add additional salt to taste, if needed. For storing, a layer of olive oil on top keeps the pesto from browning. It also freezes great, so double the batch to get a little summer freshness when winter hits!
POTLUCKLocalPARTY
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 45
15916 Lincoln Road . Faye�e, Iowa. We sell fresh to you!
563-425-3232 • shrimptasticllc.com Sign up for shrimp alerts so you
don’t miss the next batch!
Pacific white shrimp. Locally grown!
Two event spaces for small or large groups – up to 200 people. Contact our Event Coordinator at [email protected] for details.
206 W. Water St. •563-382-5970 • tbocks.com
Burgers • Sandwiches • Salads • Appetizers • Breakfast • In-House Catering Locally Sourced Menu Options • Come watch your favorite games! • 22 Beers on Tap!
SUBSCRIBE! SUBMIT!
Each hang-able, frame-able, gift-able issue also features the work of a regional writer.
WHERE YOUR ART HAS A FLIP SIDE!
DRIFTWARDPRESS.COM
YAY!IT’S
HERE!
pesto pasta salaD With loCal sausage1 lb package of pasta (we used campanelle, but also love penne or other hardy pastas)1 red bell pepper, diced1 package (4) local sausage (we used chicken, but any sausage would work great), grilled and sliced.2 cups arugula1/4 cup goat cheese1/2 cup pesto (see recipe above)
Cook pasta according to package directions. We always undercook a bit, because mushy pasta is no good! In a large bowl (or just use the same pot you made the pasta in), combine pasta, red pepper, and chicken sausage. Add in 1/2 to 1 cup of pesto...whatever your taste preferences are. Gently stir in arugula leaves and top with goat cheese. Great served warm or cold!
ColeslaW1 sm cabbage sliced thin1/3 C mayo1T poppy seed1/3 C cilantro, chopped2 med carrots, shredded1 T rice vinegar1 T honey1 tsp salt1 tsp pepper1 pinch celery seed
Combine all ingredients. Let sit at least one hour before serving so flavors can meld.
apple Crisp5-6 medium tart cooking apples, peeled and sliced thin (5 cups)3/4 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup all-purpose flour3/4 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats1/2 cup butter1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground nutmegIce cream, if desired
Preheat oven to 375F. Grease bottom and sides of 9x13 pan with shortening (I just use butter). Spread apples in pan. In medium bowl, cut butter into dry ingredients until well mixed; sprinkle over apples. Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve with ice cream (if you want)!
Aryn Henning Nichols (that pic is me when I was a kid!) loves a good potluck. She also loves to cook, so putting this spread together didn’t even feel like work! We hope you enjoy the recipes! Head over to iloveinspired.com for recipe printables – we’ll feature each dish online different days throughout the summer – extra details, and more potluck ideas!
Extra special you’re-the-best, thank you to my friend, Thea Satrom, for helping put all this food together. We had a fun time drinking (local) mint juleps and chopping, mixing, and pureeing together. Woot! Potlucks are already paying off for me!
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com46
The MINTLA CROSSE
CH
EFON THEBLOCK
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 47
SUMMER 2015
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The Mint in La Crosse sits on a snug little corner of State Street – just across from the UW. It’s a cozy home for one
of the Driftless Region’s freshest restaurants – literally. Specializing in farm-to-table fare, the food couldn’t get much fresher. From local pheasant (“I used to drive past the farm where it was raised on my way home,” says Chef Anthony Swartwout) to oyster mushrooms to, of course, lots of in-season produce.
Add to that exquisite craft cocktails – think cayenne and cinnamon on the lip of a tasty tequila concoction or house-made marinated cherries in a yummy Manhattan – plus amazing homemade desserts – like the best-ever angel food cake made by Mint pastry chef Jen Barney – and you might never want to leave.
Plus, the place is pretty darn charming. This button of a building and dining patio (previously home to Kate’s On State) is rustic, country, and modern at the same time. Bright blue dining chairs, brick walls and chalkboards, and metal barstools bring together an ambiance that feels just right.
Behind that magic? The dynamic duo and management team of Corrie Brekke and Dane Gonzalez. (They’ve also brought the downtown creperie / coffee shop / craft beer bar stronghold, the Root Note, to life!) They’ve also joined forces with Cody Cottrell of the Ground Up Coffee Shop as part of the “Driftmore” group of establishments. All three of these joints represent grassroots businesses that have done their best to serve amazing products in fun environments – which Inspire(d) loves!
But this feature is about chefs – and Chef Anthony Swartwout of The Mint is the real deal. Coming from haunts like Lucia’s in Minneapolis and The Waterfront in La Crosse, Swartwout and his sous chef, James Foreman, have fully embraced the local concept, connecting with producers like Hoch Orchards, Second Cloud on the Left, Driftless Meats, River Root Farm, Willow Creek Ranch, Driftless Organics, and more.
The menu often features fresh trout, local birds, incredible vegetarian options, as well as locally raised beef and pork dishes – and the beauty is that it changes seasonally – heck, sometimes weekly depending on what is fresh, fun, and tasty.
We suggest you check it out for yourself. If you’re lucky, the lovely Caite will be your server – tell her Inspire(d) sent you!
Name: Anthony SwartwoutAge: 41Restaurant: The MintNumber of Years Cooking: 18ish
Formal training or live-and-learn?Both. Live-and-learn for the first seven or so. Then Culinary School at 30.
What’s your earliest or most significant memory of cooking or being cooked for?I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but it was when my mom was teaching me how to make oatmeal for my sister and myself. I would make it for us before we went to
anthonY sWartWoutIntroduction by Benji Nichols • Photos by Inspire(d)
Swartout, on the right, with sous chef James Foreman.
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com48
FM100.5for details:
kdecradio.comGOOD TIMES GRILL
school in the morning. I was getting bored with plain oatmeal and started playing around with the spices in my mom’s pantry. I came to the realization that a little cinnamon and raisins can completely change the final outcome!!! Then I discovered cardamom and have been hooked ever since.
Why did you decide to become a chef?To make a very long story short, I was way better at cooking then I was waiting tables. After bouncing back and forth between the two for years, I decided I was going to make one of them my life long career. So, off to Culinary School I went.
Do you have any monumental food fails you’d like to share with us? The first time I ever tried cooking with ground cloves when I was a kid!!! I still remember how bad that tasted. I had no clue how little you needed.
How about secret food indulgences you don’t normally talk about? Sugar or Sweets in general... I have a horrible sweet tooth!
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 49
good. honest. local.
Direct from a garden to your cart.
519 1ST AVENUE SWROCHESTER
507.289.9061
315 5TH AVENUE SLA CROSSE
608.784.5798 www.pfc.coop
WILLOWGLEN
willowglennursery.com563-735-5570
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN DESIGNLINDSAY LEE & LEE ZIEKE
What’s your favorite:Ingredient: Pork. Anything that comes off of a pig.Dish: Anything that I didn’t have to cook for myself a.k.a. my wife’s cooking.Cookbook: Savoring the Seasons of the Northern Heartland by Lucia WatsonRandom (or not so random) kitchen tool: Knife sharpening stonesVegetable: Heirloom tomatoesFruit: Raspberries or perfectly ripe strawberries
Benji Nichols is a huge fan of local food – and, heck, most food. He has also been a huge fan of the style and tone of the Root Note in Downtown La Crosse for years, and can’t wait for his next trip to The Mint to see what Chef Anthony and the crew have dreamed up. Cheers!
plan your visit:lunch: tues – sat / 11 am – 2 pmDinner: tues – thurs / 5 – 9:30 pmDinner: fri – sat / 5 – 10:30 pmsunday Brunch: 10 am – 2 pm sunday Dinner: 5 – 9 pm reservations for parties of 6 or more – otherwise just walk on in!
1810 state street, la Crosse608.519.5011
www.facebook.com/themintlaCrosse
great fooD + amazing CoCKtails!
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com50 Pho
to c
ourt
esy
Art
Hau
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iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 51
www.sgbirdwalk.org
600 Maple Dr., Spring Grove | 507.498.SWIMspringgrovemn.com
Private Parties & Swimming Lessons
Available
OPEN SWIM Monday-Sunday 1-6pmFREE Friday Nights! June 5-Aug 7: 7-9pm
1, 2, or 4 mile trail is open all
year and crosses meadows, hills, woods, ponds,
and streams.Located on the east
side of Spring Grove, behind Red’s IGA.
111 W. Main, Spring Grove | 507.498.2787www.bluffcountryartistsgallery.org
summertimeS AV I N G S
Join us for our Homebrew ContestAugust 1
Stay tuned for info on Cliff De Young eventin September!
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Driftless Safari Best for: Anyone!Open: Memorial Day through Halloweenwww.driftlesssafari.orgRare trees and prairie plants, springs to splash in, wildlife tracks.
Driftless Safari is both a self-guided tour of natural resources in Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin and an introduction to community programs that support educational adventures for families.
To get started, pick up your guidebook and map packet for this year’s destinations from a public library in Winneshiek County (or print one online), then visit sites in any order. Prove you were in each location by making a crayon rubbing in your guidebook of the ‘marker’ placed there (crayons provided in your packet). When you have 15 or more rubbings, you may return your guidebook to the library to register for awesome prizes.
so, school’s out, and the snow clothes have been washed and pushed to the back of the closet (finally). light plays out longer in the evenings,
breathing extra life into after-dinner games of tag, dog-walking, and park-going.
sounds magical, right? like everyone in your family should understand summer to mean shade-sitting. and catching up on reads that friends have been recommending. or leisurely picking of wildflowers. surely?
more likely, i – er, you – won’t make it through one golden evening before the summertime chorus starts up: “i’m bored!”
if this refrain has you locking yourself in the bathroom for a sanity check, try these kid-friendly pursuits in the Driftless. from spelunking to strawberry picking, there’s something for every pint-size naysayer. Best of all, many activities are free.
into the WilDs: exploring native lanDsCapes
anD the livin’ is easYBy Kristine Jepsen
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563-538-4228 • 359 Main St. Lansing, IA
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www.NaturallyUnbridled.com . Onalaska, WI . 608-799-8326
Traditional Naturopath & BioEnergetic Practitioner
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Holistic Health Solutions: • Homeopathy • Herbal Remedies Quantum Biofeedback • BioEnergetic Assessments
Open Monday-Saturday
115 Winnebago Street . Decorah, Iowa
/modishdecorah
www.modish.boutiquewindow.com563.382.3600
AFFORDABLE BOUTIQUE SHOPPING Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning CenterLocation: Lanesboro, MinnesotaBest for: 6+ (Kids able to hike some distance without whining!)Open: June – August (by appointment in off-season)www.eagle-bluff.orgLocated on nearly 100 acres of Root River bottom, limestone
bluffs, and tall-grass prairie, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center offers organized outdoor education courses for kids during the school year and family programming and multi-age ropes/zipline courses on Saturdays and Tuesdays ($25/person) in the summer months. Free stuff includes its nearly nine miles of hiking trails and public geocaching course, as well as access to the Schroeder Visitor’s Center.
The center also hosts River Roots Skills School courses for teens 15 and older and adults (generally $40/person) ranging from orienteering to Amish bread-baking to taxidermy basics. Follow the directions online (eagle-bluff.org/top/about-us/visit-us/directions), rather than your GPS, to avoid sometimes-impassable back roads.
Driftless Area Wetland Centre (see full story on page 14)Location: Marquette, IowaBest for: Anyone!Open: Year-roundwww.driftlessareawetlandcentre.comThe Driftless Area Wetlands Centre opened its doors in August
2013 with one goal in mind: Connect people of all ages to the natural world and empower them to positively impact their local environments. The facility provides a shared environmental education and community gathering space, covered plaza area, and 24/7 bathroom, in addition to a beautiful, man-made wetland and viewing platform. See a full story on the Centre on pg 14!
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Change your life today!
Contact Diane Sondrol for more information.
563.419.5420or [email protected] [email protected]
Movement for Health & Well-Being
Small group and private lessons available, all are welcome!
120 WASHINGTON ST, DECORAH, IOWALunch & dinner Monday - Saturday • 563-382-3067
RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED
Driftless region fish hatCheriesBest for: AnyoneOpen: Sunrise to sunset year-roundThe Driftless is home to renowned fishing along its creeks and
winding rivers, and some of those fish (hundreds of thousands, actually) are stocked from Department of Natural Resources fish hatcheries in the summer months. Many hatcheries are open year-round, allowing kids to feed varying ages of brook, brown, lake and rainbow trout a quarter’s worth of pellet food, available from gumball-like dispensers. Tips: Bring a small bucket or cup to hold the food, and wear closed-toed shoes suitable for walking.
ioWaDecorah Fish Hatchery (Decorah)This facility raises around 150,000 “catchable” rainbow and brook
trout annually. Features include their stately limestone office, built in the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Corps project, and family-friendly (clean) bathrooms. Group tours are available 7:30 am – 4 pm daily by calling the office at 563-382-8324.
Big Spring Fish Hatchery (Elkader)Located on the Turkey River and fed by the largest cold-water
spring in Iowa, this hatchery raises 150,000 rainbow and brook trout from 2” in length to 10-12” over 15 months on average. The Big Spring Watershed is nationally renowned among researchers of karst (limestone) groundwater activity. River access at the hatchery is open for trout fishing and primitive camping, featuring a new angler access trail, a trout pond open for public fishing, and Iowa’s first kids’ fishing pond for anglers 15 and under. Fisherpeople must have appropriate licensure. Group tours are available 7:30 am – 4 pm daily by calling the office at 563-245-2446.
Guttenburg Fish Hatchery (Guttenburg)This hatchery spawns Northern Pike fry in the spring,
then operates the kid-friendly Guttenburg Aquarium and Fish Management Station May – October 8 am – 4 pm. See 35 species of fish, fresh-water mussels and turtles native to the Mississippi River ecosystem and its tributaries. Admission to this Great River Road Interpretive Network educational site is free. Call ahead for tour information and special events: 563-252-1156.
minnesotaLanesboro Fish Hatchery (Lanesboro)This spring-fed hatchery produces a jaw-dropping 120,000
pounds of trout per year:450,000 brown trout fingerlings (spring or fall of their first year)24,000 brown trout yearlings (spring following their hatching)85,000 rainbow trout fingerlings and 200,000 rainbow trout
yearlings
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Decorah, Iowa • vesterheim.org • 563-382-9681
VesterheimThe National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center
Visit Vesterheim’s Museum Storefor Nordic inspired gifts, apparel,
jewelry and more!
Sign up
today!
Check vesterheim.org for a 2015 scheduleClasses half price on stand-by for Winneshiek County Residents.
Call 382-9681 to register.
Vesterheim’s Folk Art School
Traditional Norwegian baking with Darlene Fossum-Martin!
Preparing Lefse and FlatbreadNovember 6-7, 2015
Traditional Norwegian Cookies of ChristmasNovember 8, 2015
Guided group tours are available by reservation (507-467-3771). Hours for self-guided tours are 7am–3:30pm Mon – Fri.
Peterson State Fish Hatchery (Peterson)This hatchery specializes in spawning lake trout, stocked to deep,
cold lakes in northern Minnesota, and rainbow trout stocked in the Driftless and urban lakes in the Twin Cities. Self-guided and curated tours are available 7am – 3:30 pm Monday – Friday: 507-875-2625.
WisConsinGenoa National Fish HatcheryLocated on both sides of the Great River Road Scenic Byway
(State Highway 35), three miles south of Genoa, Wisconsin. Visitors should first head to the office (west side of the highway) to check in and learn about operations. There are 13 species of fish reared on site and a number of mussel species common to the upper Mississippi River basin. You’ll also find a 1,000 gallon aquarium, a wetland and native prairie boardwalk with outdoor classroom area, a walking trail , and culture buildings housing 24 species of fish, freshwater mussels, and amphibians. Call 608-689-2605 to schedule group tours, generally provided 7 am – 3:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Cave sYstemsLocations: McGregor, IA, Preston, MN, and Harmony, MN.Best for: Anyone, but best for kids who don’t mind cool, damp conditions and close enclosures.Open: May through OctoberThe Driftless Region’s craggy bluff topography offers stunning
viewscapes underground, too, where water has carved formations and caverns into the area’s soft(ish) bedrock.
Spook Cave & Campground near McGregor, Iowa, offers 35-minute curated boat tours 9 am to 5:30 pm daily. No walking is required, as you travel by boat through the cave chambers. With a free picnic area and reasonable camping hook-ups and cabins on site, Spook Cave suits families, especially those with small children
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CRUSHED STONE PRODUCTS • SAND • GRAVEL AG LIME SPREAD • CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
Serving communities in Iowa, Minnesota, & Missouri
BRUENING ROCK PRODUCTS
900 Montgomery St, Decorah, IA563-382-2933 . brueningrock.com
A community-minded family business for 80+ years
YOU ROCK!From our kids to yours:
Free dump truck coloring pages at brueningrock.com
Come & See theNatural Beauty
of Niagara Cave!Enjoy the refreshing
48 degrees year round. Picnic areas, Gift shop &
Gemstone miningavailable. Walking shoes
are recommended.
Open weekends - April. Open Daily - May thru September
VOTEDBEST FAMILYDESTINATION
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Call 507-886-6606 or 800-837-6606 www.niagaracave.com
•Concession stand available •Ice cream •Sandwiches •Beverages
and 18 Hole Miniature Golf
Course
CAVE
Fall Schedule - Check Website or Call2 mi. south of Harmony, MN on Hwy. 139 then 2 mi. west on County Road 30.
Nationally recognized as one of the best
caves in the U.S.!
• Underground Waterfall• Wedding Chapel• Stalactites• Fossils
and seniors in the mix. Be sure to dress for the coolness (literally) of the cave itself, which remains 47 degrees year-round. Tour admission is $11 for adults 13 and older; $8 for kids ages 4-12, and free for kids 3 and under. spookcave.com
Mystery Cave, managed by the Department of Natural Resources, lies between Spring Valley and Preston, Minnesota, and is the longest cave system in the state, at nearly 13 miles. Park naturalists lead curated tours of the stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, fossils, and iridescent underground pools, where flash photography is allowed, if you’re up to it.
Programs range from a scenic tour for all ages and degrees of mobility (available daily; $12/adults, $7 ages 5-12, youngers are free) to flashlight and geology expeditions for children 8 and older ($13-$20/person). If your teen can’t resist mud or physical challenge, check out the Wild Caving tour, a four-hour exploration of undeveloped sections of the cave system, outfitted with real spelunking gear ($75/person; 13 and older; group maximum of five people).
Reservations for Mystery Cave tours are recommended and available online (dnr.state.mn.us/mystery_cave) or by calling the Minnesota DNR at 866-857-2757.
Photography, Wild Caving and advanced geology tours are arranged by calling cave personnel directly at 507-937-3251. Follow guidelines for appropriate dress (48 degrees underground!) and be sure to consult the GPS-defying travel directions online.
Mystery Cave is located in a state park and requires a park day pass ($5) or sticker valid for the year ($25). While you’re in the gate, consider visiting Forestville, a living history replica of the settlement before railroad development in Minnesota.
Niagara Cave near Harmony, Minnesota, boasts a one-hour, one-mile, guided tour April through October (see niagaracave.com for current hours). Visitors climb down a set of stairs into another world – there’s an underground stream leading to a waterfall nearly 60 feet high, tiny and massive stalactites, calcite flowstone, and fossils that have been dated to more than 400 million years old. There’s also an in-cave wedding chapel where more than 400 weddings have been performed. After the tour, take your minis for mini-golf or gemstone mining. Reservations for tours ($14 / $8 for 4-12 / youngers are free) are recommended, but not required. 507-886-6606.
Visit iloveinspired.com to check out Inspire(d)’s in-depth (haha) Driftless cave feature from 2012.
PATCHWORK GREEN FARMAlways fresh and super tasty vegetables &
herbs produced chemical-free near Decorah by Erik Sessions & Sara Peterson.
Available at the Decorah Farmers’ Market from June - October. 2015 CSA Traditional and Market Shares now available.
Eat Local & Eat Well!
Check out patchworkgreen.com for all the details!
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com
splash DoWn: aWesome sWim faCilitiesLocations: Spring Grove, Minnesota and Hokah, MinnesotaOpen: June - August (or, when lifeguards go back to school)
There are city pools, and then there are swim destinations. Spring Grove Swim Center, in quaint Spring Grove, Minnesota, offers a toddler slide, waterfalls and a zero-depth entry wading area for younger kids, and more thrilling two-story water slides, drop slides and diving boards for, you know, older guests who usually beg off getting in the water. If you’re willing to let carb and sodium counts slide for a day, you can find a whole meal at the poolside snack bar.
Admission is $4/person for the whole day; ages 62+ or 2 and under are free. “All day” means 1-5 pm and 7-9 pm Monday through Friday. Weekends are 1-6 pm. Get in free 7-9 pm on “Free Fridays.” Toward the beginning and end of season or whenever weather might interfere, call ahead at 507-498-7946 to check pool hours. www.springgrovemn.com/swimcenter
If chlorine isn’t your thing, head over to 20 Como Street in Hokah, Minnesota, where you’ll find a natural phenomenon uncommon beyond the Yellowstone Caldera of the West: a sand-bottom, spring-fed swimming area. The Hokah ‘pool’ offers diving boards, an in-water volleyball court, snack concessions and sandy banks for land-locked ‘beach’ play. Admission is $3/person Monday-Saturday 12-5 pm and Sunday 11 am–3 pm. Get in for $1 on Wednesday nights 5-7 pm. Call ahead to confirm pool hours at 507-894-4557. www.facebook.com/HokahPool
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Shop Charles City
charlescitychamber.com
LEARN TO QUILT & SEW! CLASSES OFFERED FOR ALL LEVELS
563-382-4646 | redroxyquiltco.com
415 W WATER ST, DECORAH, IOWA
220 Main Street • Charles City, Iowa
Tues-Fri: 10am–6pm . Sat: 9am–4pm . Extended Holiday Hours
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stiCK a forK in it: Driftless fooD aDventures
Wold StrawberriesLocation: Rural Mabel, MinnesotaBest for: Anyone who can pick more than s/he eats.Open: Daily when berries are ripe. Call ahead for details.woldstrawberries.comSummertime means seasonal food-a-palooza in the Driftless. If
you’re looking to dig in beyond visiting your local farmers’ market, check out Wold Strawberries between Decorah and Mabel, Minnesota. Established in 1973 as a pick-your-own strawberry farm, the Wold plantation now offers ready-picked and pick-your-own varieties of strawberries in early to mid-June; raspberries (red, black and purple) in mid-July and late-blooming red raspberries again in mid-August.
If you’re on top of the season’s optimal weather for berry harvest, you might also get in on their sought-after blueberries and currants in mid-July through
early August. (Hint: Call Wold’s at 507-493-5897 each week for peak picking forecasts, or follow them on Facebook.) In 2015, the highway entrance to the Wold farm is under construction, so follow alternate directions on their site (woldstrawberries.com) to get picking.
Northeast Iowa Dairy CenterLocation: Calmar, IowaBest for: All agesOpen: Dailywww.iowadairycenter.comRead about robotic milking or
seen it on YouTube? It’s here in Iowa – and truly hands-off – as the newest innovation in dairy science. At the nationally acclaimed Iowa Dairy Center, cows produce more milk when they self-select when to enter the robotic milking parlor – up to six times per day. Get a bird’s-eye view from the visitor platform, open 24/7. The center also has a human-powered milking parlor for another 140 cows, where visitors can watch the process three times per day – 4 am, 12 noon, and 8 pm. The adjacent calf barn gives you a peek at doe-eyed dairy youngsters, and if you’re lucky, you might see a calf born in the transition barn.
Don’t miss the free/free-will donation Breakfast on the Farm June 20 from 8:30 am-12 pm. Fill up on ‘Dad’s Belgian waffles,’ sausage and dairy products made in Northeast Iowa before exploring the center’s educational exhibits, including a curated tram tour of the barns. For more info, call the center coordinator at 563-534-9957 ext. 107.
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com58
www.dragonflybooks.com563-382-4275 • 112 West Water Street, Decorah
Knowledgeable staff • Great Gifts • Book Signings
Bestsellers plus special interest: gardening, Scandinavian, cooking, poetry, children’s books & more…even e-books!
Seed Savers Exchange Heritage FarmLocation: Decorah, IowaBest for: Mobile kids or those content to traipse about in a backpack or slingOpen: Daily 10am-5pm March 1 – Oct 31seedsavers.orgIf your kids are just getting the food-to-earth connection, visit the
internationally renowned Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm north of Decorah, especially at the height of summer, for a look at where a diverse diet comes from. Spread over 890 acres, the farm is home to display gardens growing 1,000 seed varieties of heritage vegetables and flowers; an orchard (preserving 950 apple varieties); a herd of Ancient White Park cattle; and heritage breeds of turkeys, chickens, ducks and geese.
Explore eight miles of hiking trails or cool your heels in bubbling Pine Spring Creek (where trout fishing is allowed). If your kids are game, you could spend a good day getting between the growing areas. Pack a lunch and regroup at the Lillian Goldman Visitor Center, which offers picnic facilities, (air-conditioned) bathrooms, a water fountain, and a gift shop. Check online or call ahead to dial in the best times to catch up with the cattle herd, for example, and to learn about special events that may affect visiting hours.
Cooking Classes at Oneota Community Food Co-opLocation: Decorah, IowaBest for: Ages designated in course descriptions (young’uns through teens)oneotacoop.com/education-eventsSomeone brilliant once suggested that we parents should let kids
do the cleaning while they still think it’s fun. The same might also go for cooking and kitchen skills.
To give your kid a knife (with supervision!) and encourage an interest in cooking with fresh healthful ingredients, try a summer session from Oneota Community Food Co-op. Courses cater to little ones through teens, and use the co-op’s stylish new cooking classroom, adjacent to the store on Water Street. Register for classes online (starting at $40) and check out the co-op’s free educational kids’ booth at the Winneshiek Farmer’s Market most Saturdays in May, June and July.
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800.745.3000 · IOWASTATEFAIR.ORG
GRANDSTAND LINE-UP PRESENTED BY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 CASTING CROWNS with special guest for KING & COUNTRY8 P.M. | $32
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 JUSTIN MOORE with special guest EASTON CORBIN8 P.M. | $35
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 DEF LEPPARD with special guests STYX and TESLA7 P.M. | $53
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 REBA with special guest CAROLINE KOLE8 P.M. | $45
MONDAY, AUGUST 17 CARRIE UNDERWOOD with special guest MICHAEL RAY 8 P.M. | $60
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 YES AND TOTO 8 P.M. | $35
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 GRAND OUTLAW NATIONAL TRACTOR AND TRUCK PULL SPONSORED BY IOWA FARMER TODAY2 P.M. | $20 ADULTS,$10 CHILDREN AGES 6–11free for ages 5 and under
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 ALABAMA and special guest CHRIS JANSON 8 P.M. | $40
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 THE FRAY with special guest ANDY GRAMMER 8 P.M. | $38
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 MEGHAN TRAINOR with special guest TBA8 P.M. | $40
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 ROCK-A-THON starring DEE SNIDER, DOKKEN, WARRANT, FIREHOUSE and EDDIE TRUNK 6 P.M. | $30
Tickets for all concerts and events are on sale now through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800.745.3000. All concert seats are reserved. All track events are general admission. Convenience charges apply to all tickets. The Iowa State Fair Ticket Office will open July 6 for walk-up orders only (assuming tickets remain). Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Gate admission must be purchased separately.
2015 IOWA STATE FAIR
ON SALE NOW
shoW time: summer arts opportunities
Mud Club at The Clay Studio in Decorah is a monthly night in for kids ages 5-13 featuring a project-based lesson, art games, and a snack. Sign up online at theclaystudiodecorah.com for upcoming Mud Club events (6-8 pm occasional Saturdays). Note: Register at least a day in advance; online sign-up is not available the day of an event.
If your kids are more at home on
the stage, don’t miss summer productions by area community theaters.
The region is also home to outstanding professional companies, including the Commonweal Theatre (commonwealtheatre.org) in Lanesboro, Minnesota, and the Great River Shakespeare Festival
ArtHaus Camps, Mud Club at The Clay Studio, & Drama (of course!)Location: Decorah, IowaBest for: Ages designated by course descriptions (2-teens)
Do you find yourself confiscating all the household writing or snipping tools from your little artist(s)? Sanctioning the Playdough? Send them to an ArtHaus camp or Clay Studio class, where professionals with more patience will help channel their creative impulses. Read about ArtHaus classes – from Saturday morning art studio for tots to Art Innovations Camp for kids ages 6 through 12 – and register online at arthausdecorah.org.
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250 artists. 7 days a week.
1 gallery.
(June 24-Aug 2) in Winona, Minnesota. Great River Shakespeare Festival even offers summer youth education programs like Shakespeare for Young Actors or Creative Drama and “Chill with Will” (Shakespeare, of course) free performances for ages 10-18 (grsf.org). Me thinks there’s an alchemy in the warm night air, bright stage lights and stories from far-off places.
May 28-31 Mary Poppins - Theater Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids, IA theatrecr.orgJune 12-21 Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Community Theatre for Youth, La Crosse, WI wrctheatre.orgJune 26-28 Les Misérables - New Minowa Players, Decorah, IA newminowa.wix.com/new-minowa-playersJuly 10-11 Cinderella - Elkader Opera House Players, Elkader, IA elkaderoperahouse.comJuly 16-19 Little Shop of Horrors - Ye Olde Opera House, Spring Grove, MN • yeoldeoperahouse.orgAugust (dates TBD) Urinetown: The Musical New Minowa Players Young People’s Production, Decorah, IA • newminowa.wix.com/new-minowa-players
Great River Shakespeare Festival “Chill with Will” performances (ages 10-18*)Chill With Will performances feature free tickets and special student programming before and after the performance. Adult chaperons get a ticket discount, too! Thursday, July 9: Much Ado About NothingThursday, July 16: The Glass MenagerieThursday, July 30: Romeo & Juliet*Do you have a student younger than 10 interested in going to a performance? Contact GRSF for more information. Some Shakespeare fans are ready to join the audience at a younger age!
Kristine Jepsen is definitely one of those parents in need of a go-to guide for kids’ activities in the warm season. When she’s not hunched over her laptop, writing on assignment and for herself (kristinejepsen.com), she’s outdoors drumming up something to do with her family, including her daughter, Eliza.
Shakespeare for Young Actors, 2014, Photo by Kathy Greden Christenson.
iloveinspired.com \ Summer 2015 61
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LOVE & INFORMATION WRITEN BY CARYL CHURCHILLDIRECTED BY BOB LARSON
OCTOBER 15: 7:30 PMOCTOBER 16: 7:30 PMOCTOBER 17: 1:30 & 7:30 PM
$12. ADULTS | $5. CHILDREN UNDER 12 | FREE WITH LUTHER ID Full 2015-16 season details at www.luther.edu/theatre
Dance & TheatreJEWEL THEATRE, CENTER FOR THE ARTS • DECORAH, IA
TICKETS @ LUTHER COLLEGE BOX OFFICE 563.387.1357 & 1 HOUR BEFORE SHOW
FALLSHOW
Soaring bluffs, craggy rocks, open fields, and mossy trails… yes, the Driftless Region is an amazing place for a nice, long hike. Or even a quick walk!
There are tons of wonderful trails – both rugged and groomed – in Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, and Southwest Wisconsin. Inspire(d) has featured a good number of them through a series by former contributor Lauren Kraus (see sidebar for the list), but we felt it was about time to talk the walk (pun!) again.
Inspired by the (relatively) new Driftless Area Hikers Club, we decided to catch up with club leader, Peg Matter, to get some hiking tips and new trail ideas. Matter, former co-owner of Decorah Hatchery, was off on the Superior Hiking Trail on Minnesota’s North Shore as we were going to press, so good thing for the Internet!
The Driftless Area Hikers Club was founded by the Decorah Hatchery, and hikes are generally led by Matter. Each month,
HIKe, tOtALLY.
the club does one full day, 8 to 12-mile-hike in the Driftless Region, and also one half-day, 5-mile hike in the Decorah area. There is also a walking group that meets in Decorah in the parking lot across from the Dunning Springs’ entrance every Tuesday at 5:15 pm for an hour-long walk in the woods. Find details at www.facebook.com/driftlesshikers or by inquiring at Decorah Hatchery (ww.decorahhatchery.com).
Plus, more good news: Waking is not only good for your body; it’s good for your mind as well. A recent Stanford study found that walking increases your creativity by an average of 60 percent! As Henry David Thoreau says, “The moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.”
Do you have a favorite trail in the Driftless Region you think we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with your ideas!
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By Aryn Henning Nichols • Photos courtesy Peg Matter unless otherwise noted
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Don’t believe you can have comfort AND style?
Take a hike!
128 W Water St, Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-9829 • Check current hours online
Men’s • Women’s • Kid’s | Clarks • Merrell • Keen • Sanuk • Haflinger • Dansko • Sperry Top-Sider • Birkenstocks • Wolky • New Balance • & More!
(Get it?)
Interview with Driftless Area Hikers Club leader, Peg Matter
Do you have any favorite area trails that we haven’t covered yet?City, county, and state parks provide beautiful, well-groomed hiking trails in
the Driftless Region. We even have a national park in Iowa – Effigy Mounds National Park – with plenty of hiking trails, Mississippi river overlooks, and of course effigy mounds that are thousands of years old. There is a great museum and kids can spend the day earning a junior ranger badge.
At Pikes Peak State Park (Iowa) you can see the Wisconsin River entering into the Mississippi along with the limestone bluffs you expect in the region. There is a mature maple forest providing shade on hot summer days and beautiful fall colors later in the season. There are enough hiking trails that you can do an all day loop or head out for just a couple hours.
Backbone State park was Iowa’s first state park and is at the southwestern limits of the Driftless area. You will find a backbone of bedrock jutting out over the Maquoketa River. The river is dammed, providing a lake with a swimming beach or you can kayak around the lake and then up the river a good distance before returning downstream to the lake. There are 21 miles of trail going by springs, caves, sinkholes and karst topography. The East Lake trail and Backbone are not to be missed.
Check out other Driftless trails we’ve featured at iloveinspired.com/category/driftless-trails. here’s what you’ll find:
Decorah area trails: twin springs, upper ice Cave hill in Dunning’s spring park, and van peenen park
trails north of Decorah: pine Bluff and Coon Creek
the Backwoods of Winneshiek County: Bear Creek and pine Creek areas
falcon springs state Wildlife area and lionberger environmental preserve
trails at lake meyer (Calmar, iowa) + mother’s Day trail in Decorah
southeast minnesota: root river state trail and harmony-preston valley state trail
effigy mounds national monument (ne iowa)
Kickapoo valley reserve (sW Wisconsin)
Driftless trails online
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Details:Pike’s Peak State ParkMcGregor, IowaOf special note: There are fossil remains including brachiopods,
gastropods and cephalopods, and the trail goes past Bridal Veil Falls, a beautiful (and cool in the summer) spring. Note there is road construction heading into the park through the end of July, 2015
Backbone State Park, Between Strawberry Point and Dundee, Iowa
Of special note: There are exclusive trails for snowmobiling and /or cross-country skiing in the winter, and also mountain biking trails: Barred Owl, Bluebird, East Lake, and West Lake. Plus, there are opportunities to rock climb here! The most popular climbing spots are located near Backbone Trail. Climbers must register at the park office.
What do you need to head out on the trail?Basics for heading into the woods – other than the all important
water – are sun protection (hat, lotion, sun glasses), extra layer (rain coat), first aid supplies, illumination (headlamp or flashlight), and insect repellent. You can spray your feet and socks with insect repellent before heading into a tick area.
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Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com64
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If you’re heading out for a longer hike it is important to have a map. Many parks have maps of their trails on line that you can print off before leaving home. Otherwise if there is a map posted at the trailhead, take of picture of it with your phone so that you will have something to refer back to. Learn more about other helpful items by researching the Ten Essentials for hiking (see sidebar at right)
Are there any extra tips you’ve gathered over your years of hiking?
Knowing your plants and animals will enhance your hiking experience. Additionally it’s good to be able to recognize poison ivy, to know which wild parsnip causes a reaction, and to study up on deer ticks to reduce the fear factor. Consider yourself lucky if you ever see a rattlesnake!
Remember the Leave No Trace principle: You carry it in, you carry it out – that means apple cores and orange peels too, so bring a little plastic bag.
What do you think is the best part about hiking?Hiking is a great way to spend time with friends and family, appreciating the beauty
of our parks and feeling good after a nice long walk. The solitude of a walk in the woods is restorative also, just be sure to let someone know that you’re headed out – or sign in at the register box by the trailhead if they have one.
the original ten essentials list was assembled in the 1930s by the mountaineers, a seattle-based organization for climbers and outdoor adventurers, to help people be prepared for emergency situations in the outdoors. in 2003, the group updated the list to a “systems” approach rather than listing individual items (for example, map and compass now fall into the navigation “system”.)
updated ten essential “systems”1. navigation (map and compass)2. sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)3. insulation (extra clothing)4. illumination (headlamp/flashlight)5. first-aid supplies6. fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)7. repair kit and tools8. nutrition (extra food)9. hydration (extra water)10. emergency shelter
www.mountaineersbooks.org/assets/Clientpages/zz_tenessentials.aspx
10 essential sYstems
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HANDY tOOLs for yourDrIFtLess sUMMer
looking to totally win at summer this year? Check out these handy maps, apps, and resources to help make it all happen!
Iowa by Trail:For over 30 years, the Iowa Natural Heritage
Foundation has been helping establish recreational trails across the state. In just the past year, they have released a highly useful App that not only locates trails, but shows points of interest along the way, natural resource information, and also tracks distance, weather, events, and more. Check it out for iPhone or Android at www.inhf.org/iowabytrail.cfm
Pocket Maps! In just the past year, some fantastic local resource maps have been produced by regional outlets. Grab a map and go this summer!
Trout Run Trail Bike Map:A handy pocket map of the TRT and Prairie
Farmer Trail was produced last year by Winneshiek County Conservation, the Winneshiek County CVB, and Inspire(d) Media. Points of interest, difficulty, and fun tips are all included. They’ve flown off of racks, but can still be found at the Decorah Visitors Center, Decorah Campground, & various spots in downtown Decorah. You can also find it online at: iloveinspired.com/places/winneshiek-county-trail-map
Trout Fishing Map:Just this spring, a new pocket-sized reference guide to Winneshiek
County Trout Fishing Streams was created by the Northeast Iowa RC&D and Winneshiek County CVB. It’s an extremely well done map that features streams and public areas that you may not even know of! Grab a copy at the Winneshiek County CVB office or contact Northeast Iowa RC&D at 563-864-7112.
Water Trail MapsThe Driftless Region is
rich with great river and stream trails for paddling and fishing. Here in Northeast Iowa, we’re lucky to have an amazing resource for water trail maps also from the Northeast Iowa RC&D. Maps for the Turkey, Yellow, Wapsipinicon, and Upper Iowa Rivers are all available for a very small cost, or for free download. Plan your summer adventures on the great wild water of the Driftless – www.northeastiowarcd.org
New Historical Decorah Walking Trail Signs “A Walk Into the Past”A new series of historical signs have been placed around downtown
Decorah offering glimpses into the past at specific sites. Decorah High School art teacher Elizabeth Lorentzen, retired Luther professor Ed Epperly, and the Winneshiek County Historical Society have teamed up to create and implement the project, placing almost 20 historical signs throughout Downtown Decorah. A walking map is planned for this summer (2015).
10 essential sYstems
Summer 2015 / iloveinspired.com
Bev (Halverson) Christen • Interviewed by friend Elly Lensch
proBituarY – a notiCe of life!
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?My grandmother and mother instilled in me some really great advice: work hard (they came from farming backgrounds), do the best job you can, and be kind and considerate to everyone.
How about the worst advice?Have one more cookie. Have one more roll. See, I like to eat, so that’s probably the worst advice or suggestion anyone could have given to me.
What did you want to be when you grew up? I thought about nursing, but as long back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a secretary.
What do/did you do?I got married in 1958 while I was working at the Decorah Superintendent of Schools office, and then I was a stay-at-home mom when the kids were small. I lived away from Decorah for 10 years and really enjoyed getting to know all the people and teachers elsewhere, but my husband, Elliott’s, job brought us back to NE Iowa in 1970. I had suggested he take the Waverly job, so I would be able to visit Decorah when the kids
were out of school or on breaks, but he took the Decorah job! (Which ended up just fine, it’s just, I didn’t have anywhere to visit then!) Then I got the last and longest job I had, which was 27 years as the front desk secretary at NEIA Behavioral Health. A job I LOVED! I retired in 1999 from that job and have kept going ever since with volunteering, travelling, bridge, and coffee club.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?• Good supply of food, water and Diet Coke or Pepsi.• Television – I do like my television; it’s a good source of entertainment. Nothing specific, but I do like detective shows.• Some kind of project to do to help someone with something.
Try to describe yourself in one sentence. If there’s a job to be done, I want it done two weeks ago (that makes me a little OCD I guess).
If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Something sweet... I like most anything sweet and like to have my sweet in the morning, but I would want to be able to have my sweet every day.
Name one thing you could not live without. My family, extended included, and my friends.
Recall a favorite memory. So many good memories, it’s hard to just pick one. I was born in the house on the farm, and was two years old when we moved into town. I’m the middle sister, and am a graduate of the Decorah Class of 1956 (the best class!). I was a cheerleader because I was a busy body who always liked to stay active. I was Homecoming Queen, which I wasn’t happy about that day because I could not cheerlead that game. We had an end-of-August wedding. It was an evening wedding as they all were back then, and had a nice little honeymoon up north of the cities. We have wonderful kids and their spouses, and a great grandson who has brought us a lot of joy and who we got to see because he went to Luther. I love my church and enjoy volunteering there. I am enjoying retirement, bus trips, loved travelling to the East Coast and had the experience of driving to see my previous boss in the fall through the northeastern states. Just beautiful. The best thing that has happened to me overall is the volunteering I do. I volunteer for the Winneshiek Medical Center Auxiliary, the Chamber, and Aase Haugen Homes. To be able to bring joy to other people and fill someone else’s life is priceless. We’re really blessed here in Decorah. Very lucky to be here and have all the activities, attractions, and arts at our disposal. And to have Family Table coffee time. Keep going as long as you can.
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there are a few special people in the world who light up any room or hall they enter with rays of sunshine on a gloomy day. Bev is one of those people. Bev is always so pleasantly positive, you can’t help but love her the instant you meet her. and every time after that, she will remember you and probably make your day by just saying hi with a smile. she does this so successfully because her smile and welcome are authentic. her life is less about quantity and so much more about quality. What Bev gives back is priceless.
BEV’S WORDS TO LIVE BY:Spend time with those you love.
Cherish your grandparents.Have fun.
Do what you can for others to the best of your ability.
A smile and hello go a long way.
Bev (far left) as a child
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