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Wild Rice as a Living Food Tradition
Wild rice is one of the few foods in North America that is still gathered, prepared, and eaten much as it has been for generations. The species most commonly referred to as wild rice, Zizania palustris, is native to the upper Great Lakes region and occurs naturally in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as…
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Pine Needles: The needed green among the winter white
I’ve been absent for a few weeks, but I’m happy to be back! I’ve been swamped with my “day job,” which is running a nonprofit news organization. Add in the usual holiday bustle and—most exciting of all—the fact that I’ve officially completed my training to become a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and… whew! It’s been a…
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It’s Goldenrod Season
I was out in Minnesota yesterday, and came across several patches of goldenrod just at the start of their bloom. What an exciting time! Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is one of those plants that signals late summer is on the way, with its bright yellow blossoms lighting up roadsides, prairies, and open fields. It’s often mistaken…
