Kim Samuelson
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The decisions farmers, especially those with cattle, make regarding animal manure can have huge impacts, either negatively or positively, on water quality. There are usually two ways that livestock are raised: either open grazing (in a pasture where there is enough grass to feed them) or in feedlots (which, according to the State of Minnesota, is an area where livestock are fed and housed long enough to produce a manure stockpile)
A wise woman, cultural anthropologist and author Margaret Mead, once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world."
The Andersons' passion came from compassion for some of the world's smallest animals: pollinators, like wild and tame bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flies and birds. Pollinators are the animals that carry pollen from the male to the female parts of flowering plants.
Nelson has worked with urban forestry since 1968, when his family planted red pines on one-third acre of their Cloquet property. Years later, Nelson bought the property from his parents and decided to continue maintenance of the urban forest as well as planting and maintaining the pollinator habitat. He has done much of this in honor of his father, Walter Nelson, who "loved nature and would have loved what I've been doing."
Four landowners were recently chosen by the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as the 2018 Carlton County conservation award winners.
Red pine thinning and young forest habitat are two of the eligible practices." Red pines planted in the early 1950s on Finifrock's land were thinned in 1991 to improve the health and growth rate of the remaining trees. And last winter, with assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Finifrock worked with logger Justin Salmela to harvest 11 acres of aspen to create a forest habitat for Golden-winged warblers and other birds and forest creatures.
Few Finnish events are scheduled during August, but here are a couple if you need to get your "Finnish fix" this summer before regular activities start up again this fall. The summer state meeting of the Minnesota Finnish American Historical Society (MFAHS) is Saturday, Aug. 4 at Sampo Beach on Little Grand Lake in Saginaw.
Most Finns all over the world head to the lake — or river or sea — to celebrate Juhannus. Some like to celebrate peacefully with time to relax, hit the sauna, swim, visit with friends and family and eat good food. Others like to do the same but add "party" to the day's activities, too, with liberal amounts of alcoholic beverages. After all, they don't have to go to work the next day.
About 1,000 adults and children started their Saturday, June 23, the right way: with a breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes; a chance to visit old and new friends and neighbors in the community; a beautiful sunny and warm day; and the opportunity to get up close to some cute small and big animals.
If you are looking for some more midsummer celebrating, head to the Juhannus Celebration on Sunday, June 24, at Sampo Beach on Little Grand Lake, 7095 Saginaw Rd., just north of the intersection of highways 2 and 194 in Saginaw. From 2-5 p.m., you are invited to come and enjoy the swimming, sauna, games, live music, sing-alongs and art activities. Coffee and pulla will be available and a grill trailer will be brought in. The event is free and open to the public.