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The official Green Routes newsletter
July 2007
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Welcome to the Second Edition of the Authentic Traveler e-Newsletter - the official newsletter of Green Routes. Green Routes strives to help strengthen rural economies and small, locally owned businesses. The Authentic Traveler is a monthly electronic newsletter sent to travelers who want to patronize businesses and destinations committed to greening. Each month we will highlight destinations, provide travelers with green tips, and give our readers information about upcoming events with a green twist.
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Green Routes Travel Tips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Summer's a great time to picnic in the great outdoors, and by taking a few small steps, you can greatly reduce your environmental impact while supporting the local economy.
1) Pack re-usable items in your basket: When packing for your trip, don't forget to bring lightweight, re-usable flatware, plates, and napkins to use along the way. Many co-ops and grocery stores are selling re-usable plasticware made from biodegradable materials such as corn - they're perfect for picnics!
2) Buy local and organic food: Stop at a food co-op, farmer's market, or buy direct from a local farm where you can pick up the freshest foods for your picnic. Summer is a great time for picking up a variety of local foods for your meal. And once you pick up your fresh, local veggies and fruits don't forget to buy locally produced meat for grilling!
3) Reduce your trash: When possible, reuse any packaging you've brought with you or puchased. If not, recycle as much as possible - if no bins are close, pack it with you until you can find the appropriate recycling bins.
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Wish You Were Here
Featured Green Route Destination - Hilltop Pastures Family Farm
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Driving back from Iowa, my boyfriend and I decided to take a little time to explore beautiful Minnesota Bluff Country. The drive along Highway 52 through Harmony towards Rochester was enough to make it worth the time. The Green Routes website helped us find the Hilltop Pastures Family Farm in Fountain, MN. The farm, owned by Sara and Tom Austin, sits atop a gorgeous hill in Fountain where they raise chickens, heirloom turkeys, pigs, and cattle on organic pastures. We were greeted by an energetic dog followed by Sara Austin and two of her three young children as we drove up. They were happy to give us a quick tour of the farm. There were chickens happily wandering around their grassy enclosures, and turkeys that seemed content to sit in the shade of their coop during the heat of the day. Down the hill a herd of cattle lazily grazed in a sunny field. The pigs, like the turkeys, seemed to prefer napping in the shade. We enjoyed our brief escape from the city and are planning to stop back soon when we return to pick up some fresh beef after their late August processing. Although we are city people, Green Routes has helped us find the best farms and restaurants to visit in rural Minnesota.
Margaret - Renewing the Countryside Staffer
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Glaciers to Grapes - Minnesota's Rich Soils Produce Finest Northern Wines
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Although Minnesota may present one of the biggest challenges for growing grapes in a northern climate, the number of dedicated growers here is surprisingly high, with over 400 members in the Minnesota Grape Growers' Association. Formed in 1976 to further the art and science of growing grapes in cold climates, the Association sponsors workshops, tours, tastings of locally produced wines and sponsors an important annual conference on cold climate viticulture featuring speakers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. http://www.mngrapes.org. The University of Minnesota has greatly furthered cultivar hybridizing and cold-climate viticultural research and introduced the popular Frontenac in 1995. Two Fools Vineyard in Plummer is Minnesota's northern-most vineyard where the summer sun is plentiful and the glacial "terra" is fertile. This combination creates the rich intense flavor in the grapes and berries grown here. No real Minnesotan will be able to resist their strawberry-rhubarb wine. http://www.twofoolsvineyard.comMorgan Creek Vineyards in New Ulm hosts a cycle of events celebrating the highlights of the vineyard season including their Summer German Winefest. Jazz Nites on the patio take place on the first Saturday of every month throughout the season. Enjoy their "Puck's Pride," an award winning, rich mouthful of black cherry, vanilla, and light oak, made from 100% Frontenac. http://www.morgancreekvineyards.com/ |
| Lake Superior Native Fish Recover
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Green Routes is about balancing economic, cultural and environmental interests. Sometimes this is facilitated by decisions that happen within our state agencies and at the state Capitol. Recently the DNR and state legislature decided to lift some restrictions on commercial fishing on Lake Superior, which will in turn mean that more fresh, local fish will be available at markets and eateries on the North Shore and beyond. It will also mean that the century-old traditions of commercial fishing on the big lake will be continued.
Here's a quick overview of the story: The sea lamprey is an eel-like fish that attaches to other fish, with its suction-cup-like mouth, and causes death or sickness. It was introduced into Lake Superior in the 1960s and devasted populations of native fish. In response, the state severely restricted commercial fishing on the lake in order to save the native fish populations.
The DNR has spent years rehabilitating Lake Superior's wild lake trout and other fish that were affected, and a U.S. and Canadian partnership control program has successfully reduced sea lamprey populations by 90%. Due to the recovery in native fish, the DNR and state legislature recently agreed to lift some restrictions on commercial fishing on the lake. Up to twenty-five commercial licenses a year will be issued, which is a small enough number to protect the fish populations, but a large enough number to have positive economic benefits on the region and to enable the culture of commercial fishing continue.
A number of the Green Routes destinations on the North Shore serve fresh, sustainably harvested fish from Lake Superior!
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Green Routes Volunteer Opportunity
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 Renewing the Countryside is starting the search for volunteers at the Healthy Local Food exhibit in the Eco Experience for the 2007 MN State Fair and would love to have you there!
We are looking for volunteers to staff the exhibit in six-hour shifts (we'll have breaks!) ranging from 8am - 9pm on August 23rd - September 3rd. Check with friends, family, co-workers and sign up to volunteer.
Volunteer Benefits:
· 1 free admittance ticket to the State Fair Grounds for the day you volunteer
· A free Eco Experience t-shirt
Volunteers will greet visitors as they enter the exhibit, help prepare food, pass out food samples, and more! We will send you a volunteer orientation packet when you sign up.
Healthy Local Food (HLF) is an exhibit within the Eco Experience, a collaborative effort of many organizations to promote a healthy, green, organic lifestyle. You'll learn about and taste the best fare at the fair. From organic chocolate milk to locally farmed trout. Every day there will be local farmers sampling and talking about the food they grow. Local chefs will show you how they take that food and create amazing dishes. Every day will have a new theme on how you can be a healthier and better informed food consumer. HLF goal is to educate visitors about the many wonderful benefits of eating healthy local food.
To learn more about the Eco Experience go to http://www.pca.state.mn.us/ecoexperience
If you're interested in joining us for this great experience please contact Lindsay Rebhan at 612.871.1541 or lindsay@rtcinfo.org |
| Have Fun! Make a Difference! Take the Green Routes Travel Pledge!
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 If you didn't sign up last time - we are continuing to collect Travel Pledges. We're serious about growing and sustaining our rural economy. We want to support small businesses and communities that have made a commitment to be more environmentally and socially responsible while building their local economy. Join 1,000 green travelers who pledge to visit at least five Green Routes businesses this summer.
Here's how the pledge works.
1) Send us an email with "I pledge" in the subject line. In the body of the email, include your name, preferred email address, and your mailing address (optional).
2) Then, next time you travel in the state, use the Green Routes website or one of the Green Routes maps to find fun and unique places to eat, play, sleep, shop and learn.
3) Keep track of the places you visit, and then once you've visited five places, send us an email with the names of the places you've visited and the dates you were there.
4) As an incentive to for you to keep track of your visits, those who submit their list will be entered in a drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate that can be used at any of the Green Routes businesses.
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| Events - with a Green Twist
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July 19-21, 2007
EcoSquared Fair
Pine River
http://www.ecosquared.org/
July 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Grazefest Minnesota 2007: A Day for Eaters
Cedar Summit Farm, New Prague
http://www.sfa-mn.org/grazefest/eaters.php
July 22, 12:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Celebration of Food, Family and Farming
Greg and Jeannie Erickson's Farm, East of Lewiston
For more information, please contact any Land Stewardship Project staff at the Lewiston office, 507-523-3366.
Saturday and Sunday, July 28-29
Kickapoo County Fair
LaFarge, WI
http://www.kickapoovalley.org/Activities.htm
Next Month's Events (Including volunteer and carpooling opportunities)
August 18
Parade of Community Gardens tour
Twin Cities, MN
For more information, contact GardenWorks at 612.278.7123 or visit their website at http://www.gardenworksmn.org/index_2.htm
August 18, 10:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.
Garlic Fest
Wright County Fairgrounds, Howard Lake, MN
To learn more, go to http://www.sfa-mn.org/garlicfest/index.html
We'd like as many people as possible to join us at the festival. If you're interested in carpooling or joining us in a bus (for a small fee) from the Twin Cities area, please contact Margaret at Margaret@rtcinfo.org or 612.871.1541.
August 18, 9:00 - 12:00
Breakfast on the Farm
Minnetrista, MN
August 23- September 3
EcoExperience at the Great Minnesota Get Together
August 26
Food and Travel Day, hosted by Renewing the Countryside
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/ecoexperience
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Quick Links...
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Happy travels,
The Renewing the Countryside staff
- Brett, Christy, Deborah, Jan, John, Lindsay, Lisa and Margaret
Contact Information
Phone: 612.871.1541
Email: info@greenroutes.org
Website: www.greenroutes.org
www.renewingthecountryside.org |
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