We've meant to go up north all summer and never made the time. Getting ready, packing the car and fighting traffic - all to spend a couple nights in a tent with two kids and a labrador fresh out of the lake! It's no wonder that we put if off. But a couple weeks ago we remembered the "Goods from the Woods" marketplace up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and if you don't actually plan for a trip up north you don't have to do any of the fretting. So we packed the car and off we went!

We made it into Grand Rapids in time for lunch at Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse. The owners, Joan Foster and John Ostroot have a stated mission to be a café where you can eat everyday and be healthy. They believe that the way they do business will strengthen their community and even farther reaching ecosystems. This bright and welcoming café features local and organic ingredients on a menu of creative soups and sandwiches and you will find art hanging on the walls by local artists. When you go, make sure you have the soup of the day. We had a great Cuban Black Bean Soup, just one of 55 original recipes Joan has developed over the years. You can get your hands on a few of those recipes in the upcoming book from Renewing the Countryside titled "Minnesota Homegrown Cookbook" available spring 2008.

Goods from the Woods takes place about a half mile away from the café in the Civic Center in Grand Rapids. We didn't really know what to expect other than we were probably going to see a few wooden bowls and a bent willow chair or two. But actually there was a wide array of amazing products. From traditional Swedish carving knives and delicate pine needle baskets to beautiful hand built cedar canoes. We have Goods from the Woods to thank for getting us started on our Christmas list this year. We bought a few very interesting beeswax candles with leaves imbedded in the wax and and a gorgeous translucent, amber colored drum from Joyce LaPorte. According to Ms. LaPorte she uses Autumn deer hides because they can be stretched tightly for use in sweat lodge ceremonies.  It nearly rings when you hit it.

If you haven't started your christmas shopping yet, I highly recommend buying local this year.  And next year, make sure you have Goods from the Woods on your calendar

-Brett, Green Routes staffmember

Travelers Needed!

Have you been to one or more Green Routes destinations this summer?  Do you have a story from your travels that you'd like to share with other green travelers in Minnesota?  We'd like to share your story in our newsletter.  If you're interested, call Margaret at 612.871.1541 or 866.378.0587 or email her at margaret@rtcinfo.org to set up a brief phone interview.