KEQ - The Nature Issue - Fall 2016

KEQ

Volume 4 Issue 1

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

- Albert Einstein

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{nature issue} Letter from the editor

Hey y’all,

For the first issue of the year, we decided to focus on nature and that includes more than just pictures of leaves on trees and cheesy headlines with “green” in them (both of which this issue has). When we think about nature, the overlap of that world and our world is often overlooked––we go to our cabins and go on hikes but we don’t see what’s right around us. So, when we came up with stories, we thought of articles that explore how nature affects us, how we interact with our environment, and how we find a connection to the outdoors in the city.

For the best examples of these themes, check out the story on farmers’ markets on page 28 and 29 which explores the benefits of buying local and the mechanics of a putting on a market. On page 25, Olivia Rossman explains the history and importance of nature-based video games. ‘City Critters’ on page 14 and 15 chronicles the wild life city slickers deal with and is a delightful read

by Nick Bolin. The photo feature on mocking takes a

look at why it’s appealing to lay in a hammock for hours through photography and interviews.

I’d like to thank the staff who worked so hard on this issue. Thank you to all the designers who added however many lines I wanted, and especially Andrew Cadle for spending almost two months working on the cover. Thank you to the photographers and especially Ashley Ortizcazarin who has as many ideas about what she wants as I do. Thank you to my assistant editor Grace Gyolai who wrangled writers for me and is never stressed. Thank you to my fellow editors-in-chief who ask when the magazine will be done (haha guys) and who care about this publication. Thank you to the writers for bringing enthusiasm to their writing. Finally, thank you to Koshiol who listens to every single thing that I’m thinking about for the issue (ideas, worries, complaints, etc) and who looks happy while she does it.

Thanks for reading,

Carolina Jimenez

Editor-in-Chief

Volume 4 Issue 1

Publication Policy

Staff

KEQ is written and produced by the journalism students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School. The views expressed in this magazine are the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the Knight Errant staff, advisers, or BSM administrators. It is distributed for free to all BSM high school students.

Editor-in-Chief: Carolina Jimenez Magazine Editor: Grace Gyolai Photography Editor: Ashley Ortizcazarin Graphic Editor: William Krane Writers: Nick Bolin, Emma Lindahl, Anna Latourelle, Andrew Torrence, Erin Long, Sally Calengor, Jordan Sims, Jack Hendrickson, Vivian Shinall, Jack Feyereisn, Claudia Elsenbast, Jack Beuts, Olivia Rossman, Lucy Scherer, Elizabeth Kupchella, Annie Paulison Photographers: Lauren Beh, Ginny Lyons, Morgan Williams, Amira Carter Graphic Designers: Michael Koch, Jack Feld, Kate Hancuch, Skyler Burns-Goetzmann, Charlie Peavey, Andrew Cadle

Benilde-St. Margaret’s School 2501 Highway 100 South St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416 Contact at kkoshiol@bsmschool.org

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CONTENTS 4

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“Nature never repeats herself, and the

possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another.�

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

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Picnic Picks Writer: Sally Calengor Photographer: Ashley Ortizcazarin Designer: Jack Feld

As the end of beautiful days and warm weather approaches, everyone is desperate to squeeze in a few more rays of sun before rediscovering just how low the temperatures can reach in Minnesota. So, straight from the mouths of Benilde-St. Margaret’s picnic professionals, here are the top three best picnic spots in the Twin Cities to make sure that the final days of fall feel as much like summer as possible.

#1

Minnehaha Falls is an extraordinary locale that has something for everyone from a roaring waterfall to a jaw-dropping bandstand. If you accidentally manage to forget your lunch at home, don’t worry! The park features its very own seasonal restaurant, The Sea Salt Factory. “It’s a fun twist on seafood, with delicious kettle chips on the side. They also serve bottled beverages and ice cream,” sophomore Frannie Scherer said. The eatery is open from 11am to 8pm until they close in October. If you feel like taking a walk after chowing down, you can try out the trails that lead all the way to Fort Snelling State Park. “It’s definitely one of the best picnic spots in a thirty mile radius [of school],” junior Leif Anderson said. There is no denying that the Falls is one of the premier places to chill out with a basket full of food.

Minnehaha Falls

#3 Centennial Lakes

#2

Also known as the Trifecta, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet deliver some of the most stunning picnic spots around. Lake of the Isles’ key feature is its community dog park, which is the only incentive needed to get people out, about, and ready to picnic. Lake Calhoun gives a beautiful view of the Minneapolis skyline and The Tin Fish, a restaurant which specializes in a range of seafood from fish tacos to oyster po’ boys as well as chicken and hamburgers. Lake Harriet has a bandshell with performances throughout the summer months, the restaurant Bread & Pickle where you can get everything from lobster rolls to ice cream, and Wheel Fun Rentals for everything on land and on the lake. “No matter which lake you go to it’s a really poppin’ area,” Anderson said. These sandy beaches, bike trails, sailboats, and community atmosphere make it the perfect place to drop your picnic basket and enjoy a little time in the Twin Cities.

The Chain Lakes

This ultimate urban escape offers an amphitheater, banquet space, and a sprawling twenty-four acre park and pond. If you want to step outside the box of typical picnicking, Centennial Lakes offers the ability to take a ride on one of the Park’s Norwegian ice sleds.

This picnic area also offers a 10-acre, carefully maintained ice-skating area in the winter. You can rent figure skates or hockey skates if you don’t have your own. After you’re done adventuring on the ice, you can relax by one of the three fireplaces in Hughes Pavilion and grab some hot chocolate from the concession stand. “It’s a very versatile place to hang out and really fun to go to all year round,” sophomore Annie Pohlen said.

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Top Fall Foods 1 2 3 4 Soup, no matter what kind, is homely and delicious. Whether you are staying in for a Halloween movie marathon or going out to dinner on a cold, crisp fall night, soup is an aesthetically pleasing, flavorful choice. “[Soup] makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. I like my mom’s homemade chicken tortilla soup the best. My mom only makes this soup in the fall so it is special to me,” senior Sedona Brown said.

In the mood for a dessert you can justify? Technically when you eat apple pie, you’re eating apples. You can try to delude yourself with this thinking, but really, fall foods don’t need to be the healthiest––that’s what makes them so great. When in the mood to snuggle in piles of blankets and binge watch Netflix, apple pie is a great companion. This fruit pie is typically served on special occasions, but can be made as a tasteful substitute for popcorn when watching your new favorite show. It’s a crime to eat apple pie without whipped cream, ice cream, or alongside cheddar cheese; all of these options are equally mouth-watering.

“Apple pie with ice cream… is sweet and it can cool you down on a warm day. I like buying this specific pie at grocery stores by my house. I don’t make this pie as a fall activity, but instead, just buy it,” junior Carter Uphus said.

Writer: Annie Paulison Photographer: Morgan Williams Designer: William Krane

Pumpkin pie is a must-have dessert. Completed with a spiced, pumpkin-based custard filling, pumpkin pie is to die for. This fall dessert combines all of your favorite pumpkin flavors into one and makes for a great fall baking activity. “I like [pumpkin] pie and pumpkin bread. I like getting my pie from the Wuollet Bakery in Wayzata. No, I don’t make these pies as a fall activity, I just buy it from the store,” sophomore Matthew Murnane said.

Pecan pie is a pie of pecan nuts mixed with a filling of eggs and sugar. Variations may include white or brown sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, maple syrup, or honey. This pie is a fall favorite and is one of the more elaborate desserts to make.

Sophomore Rachel Scoggis stands for all pie lovers in the room as she explains her grandmother’s amazing pies. “Pecan pie is bomb. I get the pie from my grandma; she makes it for me,” Scoggis said.

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Apples, along with many other sweet fruits, pair very nicely with the fall season. Apples can complimented by caramel, peanut butter, cinnamon sugar, you name it. Also, apples can be used as very important ingredients in the following fall delectables: french toast, apple crisp, applesauce muffins, apple cider vinaigrette; the list is endless. Throwing on a big, comfortable sweater and heading to the nearest apple orchard to pick apples and drink apple cider is a great fall activity. “Apples are my favorite fall food because they’re good for you and go with a lot of other things like peanut butter and caramel. I like getting the apples from orchards,” junior Kylie Nevells said.

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Make a Splash

Minnesota is dubbed the land of 10,000 lakes, but when it comes to the best place to cool off from the summer heat, not all lakes are equal. Here are some of the best swim holes to help you find an escape from the overbearing heat of a Minnesota summer.

The Quarries Located in Waite Park just outside St. Cloud, the series of swimming holes are relics of the massive granite quarries that gave St. Cloud its nickname “granite city.” The pits, mined of all their granite, filled with rainwater over time. Today, the deepest of these pits reaches 116 feet. Dramatic cliffs towering up to 20 feet above the water provide a perfect platform for leaping into the cool water on a hot and muggy summer day. The quarries can be accessed from a trail that extends from a parking lot with a 5 dollar fee for day parking.

kson

Writer Jack Beutz Designer: Skyler Burns-Goetzmann Photographer: Ashley Ortizcazarin

Hidden Beach Although not so hidden as its name implies, this beach is still a place to retreat and escape the summer city heat. Hidden Beach, located on Cedar Lake less than one mile from BSM, was once the only nude beach in Minneapolis, and although you can no longer rock your birthday suit on the beach, you can still explore the Minneapolis bohemian scene. You can access Hidden Beach from the cedar lake trail, thus making it accessible for Twin Cities bikers.

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Cannon River One hour southeast of the Twin Cities, the meandering Cannon River is perfect for a family day trip or an adventure with your best pals. The tranquil tributary moves at the ideal speed for kayaks and inner tubes alike. Before jumping in the cool flowing water, you can enjoy the bike trail alongside the river that ends in quaint Welch Village, a one-stop-sign village with a smattering of local business including an ice cream parlor.

Enjoy the sublime vistas of the rolling hills of southeast Minnesota’s Driftless area while floating along the Cannon River.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Far to our north lies a bevy of clear lakes that span 100 miles along the border between northern Minnesota and Canada, and encompass over a million square acres. The journey to reach the islands is arduous––a four hour drive from the twin cities to the jumping off point in Ely––but a paradise of pristine pines and cool lakes awaits you in the national forest. Unlike lakes in the cities, these lakes remain tepid, only adding to the refreshing nature of these northern lakes. Don’t expect to partake in watersports during the duration of your trip as most lakes only allow canoes or small engine boats. Make the most of the serenity by sitting back and enjoying a weekend of refreshing water in the great north woods.

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Top 5 Minneapolis Outdoor Adventure Places The outdoors culture of Minnesota mixed with the urban and progressive ideals of Minneapolis creates an atmosphere in the Twin Cities that perfectly mixes lake activities, museums, and hiking trails. This blending of activities creates a community that helps people with different passion and interests find new activities involving the outdoors and nature.

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inding something fun to do in Minneapolis is never difficult with the abundance of lakes and numerous activities always taking place around the city. The name Minneapolis comes from the Dakota Sioux terms “mini” for water and the Greek term “polis” for city. The opportunities for fun adventures in Minneapolis revolve around Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.

One of the most popular adventure spots is Minnehaha Falls, the 53 foot waterfall next to a great hiking and picnic area. The Mississippi River is just a half mile away from the falls and is a beautiful hike for every season. “MinneHAHA falls is fun because I love to laugh…. HAHA! I highly recommend it; it’s a great place to explore and go outside your comfort zone during any season,” junior Olivia Hetletvedt said. This waterfall is flooded with people in the summer months as well as during winter. The entire waterfall freezes once the temperature is cold enough, which is definitely a sight to see.

Another top place to hang out in Minneapolis is around the chain of lakes: Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Lake Harriet. Runners, bikers, strollers, and rollerbladers flock around the paths circling the lakes––especially on beautiful summer days. Even the streets surrounding the lakes are packed with cars at every hour of the day. “Driving around the lakes in Minneapolis always helps me clear my mind,” senior Linnea Shaeffer said.

Writer: Emma Lindahl Photographer: Ashley Ortizcazarin Designer: Kate Hancuch

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One of the most forgotten lakes, but equally as fun, in Minneapolis is Lake Harriet– home to the bandshell.

After being destroyed three times in history due to fires and a wind storm, the current, and better than ever, Lake Harriet Bandshell was built in 1986 and sits right on the lake. This adventure spot, mostly popular during the summer months, is home to live music during most evenings.

In downtown Minneapolis, a former railroad bridge sits at the cross of the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls. This bridge, called the Stone Arch Bridge, is not only a perfect spot for homecoming and prom pictures, but a great adventure spot to see some historic sites and skyline scenes, including the Mill District and the West Bank. Stone Arch Bridge was built by railroad baron James J. Hill in 1883 in the hopes of increasing movement of goods and people across the Mississippi River. In a way, this is still present today. Events and people crowd the bridge at all times of the year: music festivals, weddings, segway tours, bikers, and runners.

The Sculpture Garden located next to the Walker Art Center is a site to see some enormous art pieces.

Although it is currently closed for renovation, it will reopen in June 2017 with some exciting new sculptures.

Some of these latest pieces include Katharina Fritsch’s huge blue rooster and a collage by Minnesota’s Frank Big Bear; both will be located in a new entry pavilion to the art center. This urban sculpture garden is special in the fact that it is one of the largest of its kind in the country, home to 40 permanent art installations.

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The North Shore (Lake Superior Area) Along with the massive Lake Superior, the North Shore provides many beautiful hiking trails. Sonju Trail in Two Harbors begins at the campground at Gooseberry Falls State Park, and passes through Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, Cross River in Schroeder, Harbor Walk in Grand Marais, and High Falls Trail at Grand Portage State Park. Hiking is just one of the many things the North shore has to offer; biking the Gitchi Gami paved trail, golfing, and spotting wildlife are also fun outdoors activities. Also there are many activities to do in the winter– snowshoe, fat bike, Alpine ski, Nordic ski, snowboard, snowmobile, ice fish, skate and slide.

Take Taylors Falls

A

Hike

is also close to the cities, only about an hour away, but offers a more traditional hiking experience.

Taylors Falls is located on the St. Croix River which allows for a beautiful, scenic view. You can hike either the St. Croix River Trail, or the three mile loop to Stillwater. On the St. Croix River Trail there are plenty of unique things including historic potholes, as well as many ridges looking over the river. If you are looking for a quick but still rewarding and beautiful hike the three mile loop to Stillwater is a great option. Once the hike is over, there are other outdoor activities to partake in. Canoeing, kayaking, biking and even cliff jumping are just some of the amazing options. Freshman Alice Petty has visited the falls and had an overall positive experience. “Sick cliff jumping spots plus excellent areas for climbing and a beautiful hiking trail along the St. Croix River [are available at Taylors Falls] ,” Petty said.

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The Boundary Waters

is probably the most popular place people in the Twin Cities travel to for a full outdoor experience. Some of the best trails this area provides are Angleworm Trail, Big Moose Lake Trail, and Eagle Mountain Trail.

The Boundary Waters has a lot to offer whether it be adventure or time away from the city and busy daily life. Senior Juliana Ondrey describes the Boundary Waters as a place to escape. “It’s a very calming and relaxing area, a place where you can connect with yourself. It’s nice not around the city, with internet, and a lot of other people. It’s a place that allows you to regroup,” Ondrey said.

Typically when people Typically when people think of Minnesota and activities to do, they think of boating, swimming, skating, or even canoeing, but hiking gets left off the list. Although Minnesota isn’t known for having vast mountain ranges full of places to hike and climb, Minnesota is able to make up for it with our many trails and beautiful views despite the lack of elevation.

Some of the best and most popular places are the North Shore, Taylors Falls, Minnehaha Falls, and the Boundary Waters.

Minnehaha Falls

is one of Minneapolis’s most famous attractions and is the closest place to the city where you can take advantage of a beautiful hiking experience. Located between the Mississippi River and Minnehaha Creek, Minnehaha Park offers ten miles of hiking trails along with beautiful views of the falls. The park offers many different viewing decks to look at the beautiful falls after your excursion. Most of the hiking is located around the southern end of the park, where you can also enjoy activities like canoeing, swimming, fishing, and trails for biking and cross-country skiing. Freshman Alice Petty who is an avid hiker has been to Minnehaha Falls as well as many other hiking cites in and out of Minnesota. “[Minnehaha Falls is] easily accessible by being close to the city and cool waterfall that trails out into the Mississippi River. Really great place for photography,” Petty said.

Writer: Jordan Sims Photographer: Morgan Williams Designer: Kate Hancuch

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Local State Parks I

magine walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi, hiking through the forest following the sounds of rushing waters, or looking at the breathtaking views from Split Rock Lighthouse. All of these scenes are common in Minnesota’s beautiful state parks. With over 67 parks across the state, it is nearly impossible to visit each one, so here are a few of the more popular parks.

Itasca State Park, the oldest state park in Minnesota, is famous for having the Mississippi headwaters. Though the headwaters are the main attraction, this park has camping, biking, hiking, fishing, and education about the park’s history. Itasca State Park has different activities throughout the summer; there are activities available in the winter, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. “[At Itasca] we hiked, swam, and fished with family,” freshman Otto Leider said.

The Aiton Heights Fire Tower, which looks over Itasca State Park, was used in the 50’s and 60’s to search for fires. “We hiked to the fire tower and climbed up, and at the top it overlooks the whole state park,” senior Matthew Tucker said.

The Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls that flow from the Gooseberry River down into Lake Superior at Gooseberry Falls State Park are exquisite, and the scenery around the park is just as beautiful. “There were a lot of cool rock formations on the falls, it wasn’t just flat rock,” senior Cole Carlston said. The Gitchi-Gami State Trail

Photographer: Alice Petty - Split Rock Lighthouse

starts in Gooseberry Falls and makes its way through Split Rock Lighthouse, Silver Creek, Silver Bay, Temperance River, Tofte, and Grand Marais totalling 86 miles.

The trail is used for hiking, biking, skating, and skiing. Gooseberry Falls is a geocaching checkpoint like many other state parks.

“You use the GPS unit to follow the coordinates to treasure. You find the box with little trinkets, and you put something in to take something, and if it is a card station you take a card,” sophomore Maya Argenta said.

The views from Split Rock Lighthouse of Lake Superior have captured the attention of many Minnesota residents. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park offers many amenities such as camping, picnicking, waterfalls, and especially the historic lighthouse where picturesque views of Lake Superior can be seen. “The best part was the top of the lighthouse because you could see Duluth and Lake Superior,” freshman Shannon Carney said. While the lighthouse is a major attraction there is also camping at Indian Lake and Sullivan Lake Campgrounds, fishing on Lake Superior, and picnicking along the shoreline.

Split Rock Lighthouse has been around since 1910, when the Great Lake Freighters carrying steel necessitated the building of a lighthouse. “We went in the lighthouse, threw coins on the rocks, looked through the telescope, and saw Great Lakes Freighters,” sophomore Jenna Ritten said.

To see even more of the landscape, take

a bike ride, run, or walk along the GitchiGami State Trail.

Minnesota Valley State Park, next to the Minnesota River, has hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. “Right when you go into the park there is a paved and unpaved trail. The paved trail bridge goes over the Minnesota River, with a beautiful view,” senior Andrew Torrance said. The Minnesota State Trail runs on a paved path from Shakopee to Chaska and a natural terrain trail from Chaska to Belle Plain. At the state park there are a variety of landscapes and animal communities, a perfect place to spend some time outside close to home.

While Fort Snelling State Park is primarily a historic site, it also has amazing views of the Mississippi river, hiking trails, and running paths. The site covers history from the Civil War to World War II, fur trade, slavery in Minnesota, and the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. In the winter the trails can be used for skiing and snowshoeing. “It is a nice hiking area, training for track or cross country, and a pretty view of Mississippi in the morning,” freshman Alice Petty said. Whether it is for hiking, biking, learning about Minnesota’s history or just going outside for a nice walk near the Mississippi, Fort Snelling offers everything.

Writer: Anna Latourelle Designer: Andrew Cadle

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g n i k a T m i A

Writer: Jack Feyereisn Photographer: Will Krane Designer: Jack Feld and Andrew Cadle

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Although there is controversy surrounding the sport of hunting, there are countless reasons why people enjoy the activity and participate in it. With different animals to hunt each season of the year, hunting is not only engaging year-round but can also be beneficial for the environment.

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here are many ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Some people like going on hikes while others like to park themselves in a lawn chair and observe what nature has to offer. But another way people get outside is hunting. In Minnesota, popular animals to hunt include deer, pheasants, grouse and various other small game.

Despite the controversy that surrounds it, it allows many people to experience nature in a way that they are truly passionate about.

Many people start hunting around the ages of 10 to 14 years old. Senior Tony Thies started hunting at the age of 13. Thies remembers his first deer hunting experience that was unfortunately unsuccessful. “My uncle and I sat out in the tree stand for six or seven hours and saw nothin’ but critters,” Thies said. As many hunters know,

success is not guaranteed every time, especially when it comes to deer. However, just because a hunt isn’t successful doesn’t mean it was a waste of time. “One of the great things about hunting is enjoying the outdoors and appreciating nature,” senior Gabe Trout said.

There are many reasons to go hunting.

Many hunters do it for the meat and the food that it provides, while others do it because it’s fun, but a few hunters even do it solely because they like being surrounded by nature. “For me a successful hunt is measured by the other wildlife you see and the time you get to think about things,” science teacher Mr. John Porisch said.

Another great thing about hunting is the variety. If someone isn’t a fan of doing a lot of walking, no problem. Hunting animals like deer and elk requires less effort as opposed to hunting birds which requires the hunter to walk through the fields.

In Minnesota, hunters can hunt anything from squirrels and pheasants to three hundred pound bears. So no matter one’s skill level, there are options.

Despite the surplus of options some hunters tend to hunt big game more often.

“My favorite animal to hunt is whitetail deer because I love putting in the work behind harvesting the animal,” Trout said. On the other end of the spectrum, the same is true about small game. “I prefer waterfowl

(ducks & geese). I like the whole experience, from putting on the waders and walking in the shallow wetlands to the sound of the birds flying over, to the diversity of ducks available in Minnesota and knowing the weather can turn in an instant and change your outcomes,” Porisch said.

Another thing to consider when hunting is the land. In Minnesota there is public hunting land throughout the entire state. In addition, there are thousands of privately owned properties scattered across the state.

The main difference between the two is the quality. Generally, private land tends to have more potential due to significantly less traffic. “Even with some people discouraged there are still going to be people who are going to go out and use it, so you have a piece of land that gets used a lot, so the opportunity to get a pheasant is diminished,” Porisch said.

However, public land is still important.

“Say there are people in the Sioux Falls area who want to hunt, but because there isn’t enough public land close to them, they’re discouraged to even go out and try it,” Porisch said.

Hunting is something everyone should be able to enjoy and pass on to others. “I encourage anyone who is interested, to seek out someone who could be a mentor,” Porisch said.

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down to earth

xperiencing nature does not need to be confined to extreme activities like rafting, hiking, or skiing. Being outside growing fruits, vegetables, and even flowers is another fantastic way to connect with the outdoors and aid the environment. Gardening promotes responsible consumption, patience, and intricate planning, and is a great way to get fresh air, help the earth, and have some fun.

Judy Koski, the Activities and Athletics Administrative Assistant as well as the coordinator for Transportation and Parking at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, likes to spend her free time rejuvenating the earth through her passion for gardening. Along with all her other responsibilities, Koski also works diligently on the gardens at BSM. “I do all of the pots, the daylilies by the baseball field, the area around by the library, and the area by the administrator’s offices. I did the courtyard between the Haben and the main offices, and now I am doing the old entrance to the school, out by the religion department,” Koski said.

Koski grew up on a farm and has gardened all of her life. She is not afraid of dirt, a very important trait for a gardener, as she has been raised with the feeling of silt in her fingertips. She is used to the hard work of gardening and loves the rewarding feeling afterwards. “Growing up, my sisters and I always had to garden and weed as a chore,” Koski said.

Gardening allows Koski to see daily progress from her dedication and hard work. Koski loves to create things and she feels a sense of accomplishment every time she succeeds in her gardening.“I like now, when I see what it looks like. When it all comes together it looks pretty good, especially out in August. It looks like it was supposed to do something,” Koski said.

Even when the final product is a beautiful garden full of flowers or vegetables, there is no perfect result. With gardening, there is always more work to be done and improvements to be made. “I don’t think there is a perfect outcome. I just like to see it look good, and it to be pleasing to your eye,” Koski said.

Throughout Koski’s years of experience, she has learned many tips and tricks. Being flexible is very important with gardening because nothing is guaranteed. “You really have to wing it depending on the weather,” Koski said.

Koski is not the only person passionate about gardening at BSM. Ava Gyolai, a current freshman, also enjoys the activity. Very similarly to Koski, Gyolai has been gardening since she was young. “I’ve gardened on and off for like 10 years. I started when I was very young with my mother, and now we have a garden at home with cucumbers, zucchini, jalapeños, tomatoes, onions, and lots of other vegetables and herbs,” Gyolai said.

Like Koski, Gyolai enjoys gardening as she can see her work and progress as time goes on and the plants grow. “I like seeing your work pay off and seeing something that you created. Then you know that you didn’t fail, and you see it grow from beginning to end. I like being outside and being with living things,” Gyolai said.

Gyolai can not only see her hard work and progress when gardening, but she also enjoys the tastes of the fresh food that her garden provides. “The vegetable garden in our yard is my favorite project. I like growing food that you can eat. I like growing veggies and then eating them in a salad knowing that you grew that,” Gyolai said.

Both Koski and Gyolai are very passionate about gardening. Koski likes to share her knowledge of gardening to her community through both of her jobs at BSM and Bachman’s, while Gyolai likes gardening as a fun hobby.

Nevertheless, both ladies are great examples of ways to get outside, connect with nature, and have fun.

Photographer: Virginia Lyons | Writer: Erin Long | Designer: Charlie Peavey

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Cabins are a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and see the nature around us, and have become a tradition for many Minnesotans.

Residents of the Twin Cities and surrounding area love getting away from the city life and enjoying the peace and quiet of nature for the weekend.

Cabin Fever

Designer: Skyler Burns-Goetzmann

S

Writer: Jack Hendrickson

enior Laura Deutz has enjoyed many years at her cabin on Rock Lake in Maple Lake, Minnesota. Her cabin has brought her much closer to nature and the world around her. “I just love getting away from the city life for a little while and living in the peacefulness of nature,” Deutz said.

Nature seems to be more present at cabins because the animals have larger habitats and higher chances of surviving due to less human intervention.

“We have a family of loons on our lake and a few years ago they had two babies. One night an eagle came down and swooped one of babies and then there was just one baby left. My family loves the loons and we all think they are beautiful,” Deutz said.

The fishing is great on Rock Lake with an abundance of bass and crappies. Fishing gives many people peace of mind and teaches them patience. “I love bobber fishing and I have caught quite a few bass up at the cabin,” Deutz said.

Senior John Stone has enjoyed his cabin up on the Whitefish Chain since he was born. “I really enjoy going up to my cabin because it’s a time to put all the electronics and distractions in life away and just focus

Photographer: Ginny Lyons/Jack Hendrickson

on the nature of the world around us,” Stone said.

Similar to Deutz, Stone appreciates all of the wildlife he sees at his cabin that he doesn’t have the opportunity to see at home. “I have seen eagles, hawks, loons, otters, beavers, fish, deer, and many more. My favorites are the loons, they are a very pretty and interesting type of bird,” Stone said.

Minnesota is a truly amazing state for cabins and lake houses in part because of the 10,000 lakes that make it famous. “There is just something about the lake life man. It’s awesome and a great way to get away from your everyday routine and just relax,” Stone said.

From the water sports and the night games to the fishing and hunting, there are ways for everyone to have fun at a cabin. “When I’m at my cabin I feel like I am always outside enjoying the weather and exploring,” Stone said.

The nature and wildlife here in Minnesota is never-ending and cabins are an awesome way to take advantage and see these beautiful sights. People with cabins are able to appreciate some peace and quiet and check out the beautiful nature that Minnesota has to offer.

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City Cr Creatures of the earth and sky are all invaluable pieces of the Metro Area circle of life.

From stately feathered avians to diminutive furry friends of the earth, from predator to prey to tricky scavenger, all find have their own place in the Hennepin County area.

Coyote The cousin of the Old World’s Golden Jackal, the coyote is a predatory animal abundant across all of North America and Mexico, which has also found itself a home here in the metro area. As a resident of Greenfield––a city located in the outer rim of Hennepin County senior Evan Eliason comes into contact with coyotes on the weekly.

This particular pack stalks the maize filled paddocks, preying upon wild animals and trained pets alike. “[I’ll see] the whole pack; they hang out around the treeline between two [neighboring] farms,” Eliason said.

The coyote, weighing somewhere between 15 and 46 pounds, with a maximum speed of around 45 mph, is perchance the most dangerous terra firma-bound predator in the suburban metro area. As an omnivorous scrapper, its diet is highly versatile if need be. However, ‘yotes are carnivorous by preference, preying on a comprehensive range of animals, like deer, rodents, birds, and small to medium sized pets. “They’ve been a problem recently. Two coyotes actually almost killed my cat just a few months ago,” Eliason said.

Writer: Nick Bolin Photographer: Lauren Beh Designer: William Krane

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Raccoon

The North American Raccoon––or common raccoon––is a rambunctious critter. The masked mischief-maker is an urban animal through and through, slinking through sewers and wreaking havoc upon your garbage. “[They’re] usually [out] during the dark of night,” senior Ryan Tucker said.

Yes, the common raccoon is indeed a beast of the night, using its keen vision to hunt down and feed upon things like insects, worms, fruits, nuts, birds, and other various, smaller creatures.

Although originally thought to be rather lone-ranger type creatures, the raccoon is actually quite the social butterfly. Raccoons will share a specific area to range about in, meeting together in congregate grounds, for collective feeding and resting.“[They live] in the park across the street from my house. A densely wooded area, sufficient for a large family of such varmints,” Tucker said.

The North American Raccoon is perhaps the most infamous urban and suburban pest in existence; from strategically conducting garbage blitzkriegs to using their ingenuity to reverse engineer any raccoon-proof contraptions humanity invents, the raccoon never fails to thoroughly rankle any dweller of suburbia that attempts to stop it from ransacking their garbage. “There are too many [raccoons],” Tucker said.

Eagles Suburban Bald Eagles… what more needs to be said?

The Bald Eagle is our national bird, a symbol of the American Dream––of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, a beloved and respected animal, and certainly a far rarer spectacle to gaze upon than the more common beasts of the earth (i.e. raccoon, gray squirrel). Senior Jack Beutz, a native to Edina, Minnesota, has one of these majestic avians in his own neighborhood. “[It lives] near the Minnehaha Creek in Edina. I’m not sure of the exact location; I have yet to see its nest,” Beutz said.

The only sea eagle autochthonous to North America, the Bald Eagle preys mostly on large fish, but also feasts upon waterbirds like duck and geese, and mammalian prey like rabbits and ground squirrels. Because of its diet, the eagle usually finds itself dwelling near large bodies of water. This eagle, however, took the path less traveled, instead gliding amongst the cool currents of air far above the wide boulevards and serene neighborhoods of the Minneapolis suburbs. “It came down like a phoenix, its wings regal and wide; it swooped down under the mature oaks, letting us bask in its patriotic glory. And just as soon as it appeared, it left,” Beutz said, counting himself lucky to be a witness to such a close encounter with his neighborhood Eagle.

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ritters Squirrels The classic staple of any local Twin Cities neighborhood wildlife, Sciurus carolinensis––or the Eastern gray squirrel, as it’s commonly known, roams the high foliage of the urban and suburban Metro Area, leaping from tree to tree, rather like an orangutan leaping amongst the wild verdure of Sumatra’s rainforests. “It’s a squirrel, of course [I see them often],” Sophomore Andrew Voss said, when asked if he sees squirrels frequently.

This particular squirrel species truly is commonplace in everyday life, both urban and suburban. The Eastern Gray squirrel is particularly known for being a scatter hoarder. It will scavenge about for an assortment of nuts and berries, and then stow it away in a food cache for later retrieval. In order to protect their caches of nuts, Gray Squirrels will craftily mislead other animals by using sly and illusory tactics if they feel they’re being watched. They also build secure tree dens in order to keep their treasure trove of assorted nuts and berries away from other nutand-berry fiends. “[The local squirrel dens are] high in the neighborhood trees, usually between the heights of like 10 and, oh I don’t know, like 35 feet,” Voss said.

Urban Squirrel dens are marvels of squirrel engineering. Made of sticks and lined with moss and thistledown for insulation, they are oft built on large branches or in abandoned bird nests to be out of reach of predatory animals.

Squirrel dialogue is generally varied between a chatter, a low pitched kind of noise, a mousey squeak, and other calls that sound like mehr mehr mehr, quaaa, kuk, and muk-muk. Squirrels can also talk through body movement, including, but not limited to, tail flick signals. “Sometimes you can hear [the squirrels chatter] in the morning time,” Voss said, describing squirrel communication.

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M Photographer: Morgan Williams Designer: William Krane

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Mocking fall 2016 KEQ nature issue

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abl hah riet mo

“I like to mock because it is super chill and relaxing. I like to go out near the lakes or to the park near my house. I started mocking last year when everyone was going crazy. Mocking is the best when it is slightly windy and you’re hanging out with your friends.”

-Claire Folkstead

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“My favorite part is just being able to relax. I like to mock at Minnehaha Falls, Lakes Calhoun and Harriet and right by my house. I started mocking last year.�

-Rachel Folkstead

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Happy Campers

Nick Bolin

Camp: Cathedral of the Pines Location: Near Lutsen Years Gone: Since 3rd grade Time Spent Each Summer: 3-4 weeks Best Part: It’s all great. I love just being able to escape the city and resort to nature the most.

Worst Part: Curfew. I have to be in bed at 1 but after the campers go to bed is the only time I get with just other counselors.

Memory: On the last day of camp a lot of campers will come up to me and say that I was their favorite counselor. I know they say it to many other counselors but it’s awesome to hear it.

Claudia Elsenblast

Cole Carlson

Camp: Spirit in the Pines Location: Hackensack, Minnesota Years Gone: 10 years Time Spent Each Summer: 4 weeks Best Part: The community. The atmosphere is incredible and it’s the most supportive and caring group of people.

Worst Part: Difficult Campers. Every year there are one or two campers that are very difficult to work with or just don’t follow rules. This makes my job harder but it’s all worth it.

Memory: My favorite memory is probably just coming back to camp every year and falling right back into the routine. It’s something small, but I look forward to it every year.

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Camp: Camp Ajawah Location: Wyoming, Minnesota Years Gone: 6 years Time Spent Each Summer: 2 weeks Best Part: Campers and Camp Songs Worst Part: I miss the first two weeks of summer which is hard because I also work as a lifeguard and train for nordic skiing but it’s worth it.

Memory: Once there was a really bad storm at my camp and all 120 girls had to go into this storm shelter in the basement and a lot of the campers were freaking out or scared about what would happen to their tents but then one girl starting singing a camp song and slowly everyone joined in and it was such a special moment of camaraderie and really encapsulates my camp.

Writer: Claudia Elsenbast Designer: Michael Koch Photo courtesy: Nick Bolin, Claudia Elsenbast, Cole Carlston

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The Climb F

rom Colorado to South Africa, Benilde-St. Margaret’s students have hiked all over the world.

Junior Paige Greely, a frequent Colorado visitor, went to Westcliffe, Colorado this summer with a group of friends. One of the best benefits of hiking within this state is that the trails are very convenient and easy to get to. Greely enjoys maintained trails because they make it so much easier for her friends and her to get up and go hiking. One of the most unforgettable experiences she had while hiking in Colorado was going on the sunrise hike. Taking only about two hours of her time, Greely’s least favorite part was actually waiting for the sun to rise, as the trail name implies, but she really liked the hike itself, especially on the way down since it was the easiest part. “My most memorable moment was when my friend fell down a hill into a river; it was very funny,” Greely said.

On a family and friends vacation, Senior Annika Mueller traveled to Banff National Park in Canada, where the hiking gets a little more intense. On the rail Via Ferrata on Mount Norquay, Mueller and the rest of her family were actually roped into the mountain as the hike involved scaling mountainsides and crawling over many tough, rocky parts. It brought many challenges like crossing a frighteningly wobbly bridge. “I tripped and almost fell off the mountain. My whole life flashed before my eyes, but my brother Gavin caught me and saved me,” Mueller said. Overall, Mueller said that the view at the top of the mountain made her terrifying experience

Writer: Lucy Scherer Designer: Michael Koch

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worthwhile, and when being asked if she would do it again, Mueller replied, “Hell yeah.”

Farther south of Colorado and Canada, senior Cole Solomon went on an actual expedition in New Mexico. With five of his Boy Scout troop members and two adults, Solomon hiked 50 miles on the 811-7G-2 expedition in Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico. Solomon’s group got lucky because although the forecast predicted rain, the weather turned out to be almost perfect for hiking.

The only downside was that the temperature decreased rapidly when the sun went down at night. “My most memorable moment was [when] we didn’t plan [our] route really well, so [we] had to go 26 hours without a fresh supply of water which left about three liters per person,” Solomon said. Despite water shortages for part of the trip, Cole would still do the expedition again.

Traveling even farther south, senior Evan Eliason went hiking to Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru. Eliason went on the hike with a group of students through the organization Rustic Pathways. The hike was on the historic Inca Trail and took about six days. The hike presented some challenges; Eliason and his group had to walk on “sketchy” roads that were just a few feet across. The views he encountered included a lot of intense greenery and cool rocks. “My favorite part was when we got

to Machu Picchu and I saw the ruins I had always pictured,” Eliason said.

Hopping over the Atlantic Ocean, Madison Semler was in Cape Town, South Africa on vacation with her family. Semler hiked up to Lions Head Peak. “It is directly in the city and gives a beautiful backdrop of the city of Cape T o w n and the ocean,” Semler said.

It took three hours to climb up to the peak and one hour to get down. She luckily had a nice sunny day, the best type of weather in South Africa. “My favorite part of the hike was standing at the top of the peak on a huge rock and being able to see a 360 degree view of the entire city, which was incredible. My least favorite park would be dodging between boulders on the way up. There was no specific path once you got closer to the top and had to find the best way up a set of rocks without falling,” Semler said. When asking if she would do it again Semler replied, “If you asked me during the uphill part I would say no, but if you asked me at the top I would say yes because it is so incredible, [just] strenuous to get to.”

“I tripped and almost fell off the mountain. My whole life flashed before my eyes, but my brother Gavin caught me and saved me.”

– Annika Mueller

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MusselIn T

he over 10,000 lakes that make Minnesota famous for water sports, cabin life, and recreation undoubtedly provide character and life for the state. While the lakes bring tourism, businesses, and fresh water supply, they can also cause havoc on native ecosystems. Lakes and rivers are perfect hosts for invasive species to enter, multiply dramatically, and push out native wildlife and organisms. In order to counteract these destructive species destroying Minnesota’s water, scientists, law enforcement, parks boards, and even citizens are working together to find ways to bring balance back to infected lakes and rivers.

Beginning in 2010, Lake Minnetonka has been and continues to be infiltrated by Zebra Mussels. A single Mussel can lay up to 1,000,000 eggs a season, and this fast regeneration time causes multiple environmental issues in the bodies of water they live in. “[Zebra Mussels] are difficult if not impossible to eradicate once it gets in a lake, because it is sedentary once it clings onto a rock. It stays in the lake. And it is also a filter feeder. It is taking food out of the water that would usually be reserved for native species,” Aquatic Invasive Species Project Coordinator for Minneapolis Department of Parks and Recreation Alexander Dean said.

Aquatic species like Zebra Mussels that eat plankton by filtering water do improve the overall quality of the water they infect; however, water clarity alone does not correlate with the health of the water. “Zebra Mussels in the lake improve the water clarity and make it cleaner when they take out all the plankton and al-

gae, but it’s not necessarily healthier. Taking out all of that food from the water kills other species,” Dean said.

Killing native species is not the only negative effect that Zebra Mussels create. Due to their numbers and ability to sneak into tiny areas, the Mussels also have economic effects. “Zebra Mussels are in all of the great lakes, and I know from one of the trainings that Lake Michigan spends in the billions every year managing Zebra Mussels. They like flowing water and so they will get into pipes and clog them,” Dean said.

In order to help curb the growth of the Mussel population in Lake Minnetonka there are many different studies and prevention plans in place. Along with the DNR, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has been doing research on the Zebra Mussels in the lake since 2012. “We set up the site design and the parameters to gather information from and then we send people out monthly to collect data. Usually come fall or winter, you start analyzing that data. We have been [at Lake Minnetonka] for almost five years, so now we have enough data to really get a good analysis of what is going on in the lake,” Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Eric Fieldseth said.

As the Watershed District continues to do research on the effects the Mussels have on the lake, the Minneapolis Parks Board extends preventative measures and education for the public on the danger that Mussels pose. “As of right now, the only prevention method we know to be effective is to do boat inspections and keep them from coming into our lakes.

We have one launch at [Lake Nokomis, Harriet, and Calhoun] and an inspector there from 6am to 6pm everyday for most of the sum-

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mer,” Dean said

Prevention methods such as boat inspections are great for lakes and rivers that have not been infiltrated by invasive species, but for areas like Lake Minnetonka that have already seen a large amount of Zebra Mussel growth, the effects of the invasive species are a major hindrance. “When you’re in the water you have to focus on walking the most because the last thing you want is to be heavy footed and a Zebra Mussel goes right into your foot,” senior and Lake Minnetonka resident Chaz Linder said.

As the Mussel population continues to grow, the recreational habits have begun to change for people who live on the lake. Instead of using beaches, many take a boat out to the middle of the lake to swim in order to avoid cutting their feet on the sharp Mussels. “I jumped into the lake the day before a two-week camp and I cut the bottom of my foot open an inch across. I was unable to participate in any of the water activities and had to re-bandage my foot three times a day at the camp,” Linder said.

Invasive species have become a staple of aquatic ecosystems in the lakes and rivers of Minnesota. While those species are inconvenient, Minnesota residents are lucky to have a plethora of researchers and policy makers that create preventative measures and work to understand how Zebra Mussels are shaping the environment.

Although the Mussels are currently impossible to eradicate, teams of people continue to explore new options in order to create positive results. “Everything we do is adaptive management. Your next task is dependent on the outcomes of your previous action. When dealing with invasive species you have to be adaptive,” Fieldseth said.

Writer: Grace Gyolai Photographer: Ginny Lyons Designer: Jack Feld and Andrew Cadle

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Opinion

Benefits of Hemp H

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Many people are confused when it comes to the difference between hemp and its cousin, cannabis. The largest issue that people are concerned about is the difference in cannabinoid levels, specifically that of THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes you to get high. Marijuana typically contains anywhere between 15% and 30% THC. Hemp, on the other hand, is only around 0.3% THC, about 75 times less than cannabis. Simply put, you can’t get high on hemp, and its consumption doesn’t result in any of the negative effects that marijuana can potentially produce.

To this day, the criminalization of hemp is based almost completely on its resemblance to cannabis. When the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) tries to defend its position on hemp, they argue that hemp’s subtle similarity to cannabis as well as its trace amounts of THC warrant most hemp products being illegal. Both of these arguments, however, are completely irrelevant because hemp is clearly not dangerous, and even if it did contain a significant amount of THC, most hemp products don’t involve any consumption. Hemp is not dangerous and is not a drug, so there is no legitimate reason as to why hemp deserves to be criminalized.

As time goes on, people are recognizing the many benefits hemp has to offer. Hemp’s comeback is slow but steady, with the most recent win coming in the form of the Agricultural Act of 2014. This act gave states the power to decide the hemp policy within in their state, which grew the number of hemp-producing states from nine to over 30, including Minnesota. Some people might be thinking that they can go start their own hemp garden in their backyard, but unfortunately, hemp is still ridiculously regulated by the DEA. The Department of Agriculture has all the control over finding farmers to use as “test pilots” to see how hemp can be used.

While the criminalization of hemp related plants is still rampant throughout the nation, acts like the Agriculture Act are big steps in the direction of complete legalization for this wonderful, harmless plant. Hopefully, the nation can continue to decriminalize hemp and start to embrace its array of benefits. Hemp has the power to become a major economic asset in America, and it’s only a matter of time before millions of Americans reap the benefits of this beautiful gift from God.

“These uses include, but are not limited to nutrition, fuel, textiles, building materials, and even certain medical treatments.”

emp is a little-known gem in the agricultural world, but has unfortunately it left the scene in the United States despite its diverse array of uses. These uses include, but are not limited to nutrition, fuel, textiles, building materials, and even certain medical treatments. Most people are unfamiliar with this multipurpose plant as it remains illegal to produce in most of the United States. However, more people are starting to appreciate hemp’s versatility as it slowly makes its way back onto American soil.

The nutritional value of hemp is quite remarkable.

Hemp seeds are one of Mother Earth’s best sources of protein. They can be eaten whole, ground up in a meal, made into milk or tea, and can be used in baking. Their functionality makes them an easy way to get your daily dose of protein, and hemp seeds are a non-animal-based protein source, so it’s good news for anyone on a vegetarian diet.

Hemp’s value in the textile industry created a competitive market until it was prohibited in 1937. Hemp can be woven in a similar way that flax is woven into linen and other products. The benefit of hemp is that it’s stronger than linen but just as soft and comfortable, so it’s a no-brainer for clothing manufacturers to hop on the hemp bandwagon.

In addition to textiles, but also building materials can be made from hemp. Hemp can be made into products that resemble wood, as well as plastic and even a product called hempcrete which is a mixture of hemp, limestone, and water. This is just as strong as concrete, but it weighs nine times less and acts as insulation. Just about every aspect of a house can be made from a hemp-based material, and hemp provides a cleaner, more practical alternative to many of the products we use every day.

Hemp also has the power to replace oil as our main fuel source. Through a much simpler and cleaner process than drilling for oil, hemp can be converted into ethanol and methanol. Unfortunately, oil companies see it as a threat to their existence and do whatever they can to make sure that hemp stays as criminalized as possible by lobbying congress to keep hemp out of America.

During the Hoover administration, billionaire tycoons and members of the cabinet Andrew Mellon and Henry Anslinger both saw hemp as a threat to their money-making business models, so they collaborated to create the Marihuana Tax Act. This act banned the production and sale of hemp, but was made to look like it was banning marijuana to garner more support.

Writer Andrew Torrance Designer: Skyler Burns-Goetzmann

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Writer: Olivia Rossman Photographer: Virginia Lyons Designer: Charlie Peavey

The gaming industry is riddled with violent, sex-filled fantasies.

The gaming market, as a whole, continues to relentlessly market gory alternate realities for players to destroy. However, there are some games that don’t fit these standards, and the majority of them are based in nature.

According to Statista, 75% of gamers in 2011 played violent video games more often than non-violent ones, like those related to nature.

Freshman Ian Wont believes a possible factor of why nature-based video games don’t have a large following among gamers is due to their art style. “[The games have] cartoon-y characters. People think they’re just for kids, [but] these are like real-life scenarios,” Wont said.

2009 is the first example of commercial success for nature-esque video games came with Farmville, a Facebook-hosted app that allowed players to grow crops and animals with the help of their online friends.

According to Market Watch, the game became the fastest-growing and largest game in history. While ripoffs and sequels of the game weren’t as successful as the original, the gaming market was changed significantly by the formatting and theme of the game.

After that, companies scrambled with little success to find a game that could live up to the impact that Farmville had left, but one Swedish developer had an idea that built off the market Farmville had created. Minecraft is a popular open world sandbox video game with a 1980’s feel developed by Mojang for desktop gaming in 2011. It placed players at random spots in an open-world game, and gamers had to utilise their environment to survive and thrive. Food could be combined to make meals, animals could be raised and farmed, and players could mine and fish for resources.

However, the genre of nature-based video games is not new to the 2000s; in fact, it has been around since 1996, when Marvelous Games, under the direction of Yasuhiro Wada, published Harvest Moon. This game is a farming simulator for the Super Famicom system, known in

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the US as the Super Nintendo. It gained a solid 73% rating on GameRankings, and became a small success.

Jumping off the success of Harvest Moon, Nintendo developed Animal Crossing, a game that, in essence, has no purpose.

Players could fish, plant flowers, hunt for fossils, chop down trees, and catch bugs. They could expand their homes and talk to the animals that populated their village, but, if the player wanted, they could just take a stroll on their beach all day, every day. With the biggest rewards in the game coming from long-term success, it truly is a nature-based game.

Seeing the mild mainstream success of these titles, other consoles and the PC world began to pick up titles such as Stardew Valley, Dustforce, Firewatch, and Flower. These games, despite a relative cult following, take up a tiny percentage of the market.

According to Wont, these nature games aren’t as easy as they look, and they don’t just cater to individuals who want easier games. “You can cheat [to make it easier], but they’re actually pretty hard,” he said.

While nature-based videogames will never dominate the gaming market, it is possible that one day, the more violent titles won’t be the only type to get major-media coverage, and the stigma around non-violent games will be stifled.

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UrbanRenew A

s the thirteenth best state for business, the seventh best for economic climate, and a whopping first for overall quality of life, it’s natural to assume that Minnesota is overachieving. However, this isn’t the reality for every community in the state.

Looking deeper than surface level rankings, it’s evident that the same economic growth, prosperity, and opportunity isn’t consistently available, especially in pockets of Minneapolis.

What the Forbes’ listings fail to mention is Minnesota’s lack of sustainable food resources. Not only is our agricultural curation an area for improvement, it’s a growing epidemic: as of April 2016, Minnesota is nationally ranked number seven in worst access to fresh and healthy foods, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Wilder Research. An area with such limited food options is categorized as a ‘food desert’.

For Benilde-St. Margaret’s students, the issue of food deserts hit close to home––especially with 2015 graduate Perri Warren. “Being a black woman, a lot of my close friends and peers live in urban Minneapolis. And, as someone who has developed a sense of healthy eating, I knew there weren’t a lot of options there,” Warren said.

Although the food desert in Minneapolis, specifi-

cally in Northern Minneapolis, is prevalent, the lack of sustainable nutrition heavily correlates to the community’s poverty rates; rates which have been consistently higher compared to rates in Minneapolis as a whole by a city and regional standard.

When looking more thoroughly into the financial inequities of the city, it’s impossible to gloss over its correlation to race. For example, the unemployment rates for both Hispanic and White individuals are both nearly 10-14%, while the unemployment rate for African Americans in the area is 28.9%, as of 2012.

The 2015 school year’s emphasis on ‘solving problems that matter’ resonated with students, but it didn’t necessarily inspire all to act. Then-senior Perri Warren was an exception, taking her advocacy work to the next level in founding BusyBee Foods. The student-led initiative is a food delivery service for low income families and individuals in North Minneapolis.

As a food delivery service, BusyBee partners with local Minnesota farmers to bring the rural curation of agriculture into the city. “We curate these boxes [of food] on organic, seasonal ability. We want to give produce that’s culturally accurate. We partner with Prodeo academy in North Minneapolis, and they help us cater to culturally specific needs,” Warren said.

Though BusyBee has come a long way in its first years of operation, Warren has higher aspirations than one delivery location. “BusyBee might go national, but for now, we’re focused on having zero food deserts in North Minneapolis,” Warren said. In fact, Warren has moved back home from Occidental College in California to work on BusyBee and study at the University of Minnesota.

Within our own community, the initiative to end food deserts is crucial and inspiring: the impact that families see with the introduction of fresh fruits and vegetables can completely change the nutritional dynamic and perspective of the family. Hopefully, due to the dedication of people like Warren, Minnesota will bring an amazing quality of life to all residents.

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ewal

Renewed attention to health food and stores like Whole Foods is not being extended to all citizens living in urban areas. Many people living in impoverished areas of Minneapolis do not have the access to fresh food that they need, but one BSM alum is working to fix the lack of healthy food choices.

Writer: Elizabeth Kupchella Photographer: Amira Carter Designer: William Krane

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A

hub for trade and community, farmers markets have become staples for the exchange of locally grown and crafted goods in many neighborhoods.

In recent years, popularity for these markets has skyrocketed due to a bigger focus on organic food and reliable food sources.

In local cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, demand for organic produce and goods has led to a growing interest in farmers markets. Fall weather demands that one braves the outdoors, so why not go to a market where you can enjoy fresh produce, handmade goods, and sometimes live music? “Farmers markets are family friendly gathering places that enhance the livability of the neighborhood and fosters sustainability in the community,” Sarah Knoss, manager for the Northeast Farmers Market, said.

The Northeast Farmers Market provides communities in the Twin Cities with fresh produce, fresh cut flowers, prepared foods, jams, honey, baked goods, salsas, kimchi, homemade soap, art, coffee, juices, and more. Vendors that supply these goods are within 80 miles of the market. This means that everything is fresh, which is a big selling point for vendors. “Shopping at farmers markets allows customers to get fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. It also keeps money local and gives the shopper a chance to meet the person who grows their food,” Knoss said.

In our modern age, the process of attaining food has become something completely different from what it once was. Supermarkets and grocery stores have given us the ability to expedite our shopping experience. This quest for efficiency pops up time and time again in our world. We are always hunting for the easiest way to complete a task, and while efficiency is helpful and important to the progression of our society, it can also be detrimental.

Constantly rushing through even something as small as grocery shopping can result in a loss of real human communication.

Farmers markets are able to reestablish contact, providing shoppers with the ability to meet their supplier and put a face to their food. Not only are consumers meeting the person who grows their food, they’re meeting the person their money will support as well. Farmers markets aid local small farms, which may otherwise have not been able to compete with the giant farming corporations that monopolize supermarkets and grocery stores.

In addition to supporting local farmers, farmers markets are good for the environment in more ways than one. Big businesses transport food an average of 1,500 miles to get it to a grocery story. The result of this is a large expenditure of fossil fuels, which end up in our atmosphere. Food at farmers markets travels much smaller distances, making it much more eco-friendly.

Likewise, small farms practice and promote the humane treatment of animals. Products sold at local farmers markets come from animals that have been raised without the antibiotics or hormones that are used by big corporations. These animals are allowed to graze freely and eat natural diets, something that can be rare in today’s agriculture.

From fresh foods to handmade goods, farmers markets can provide consumers with an alternative method for their shopping.

Not only do farmers markets provide fresh and organic foods, but they promote healthy living as well. With all of this in mind, it’s not hard to see why so many people visit local farmers markets each year.

Writer: Vivian Shinall Photographer: Amira Carter Designer: Kate Hancuch

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Farmers Markets “

Farmers markets are family friendly gathering places that enhance the livability of the neighborhood and fosters sustainability in the community.

- Sarah Knoss

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GOING GREEN Since the initiation of the Environmental Club, BSM students and faculty have made many efforts to broaden environmental awareness, and decrease the school’s carbon footprint. BSM’s upcoming environmentally friendly projects will help students recognize the impact that their choices have on the planet while analyzing solutions for the future.

Along with the Environmental Club, started by junior high science teacher Jeff Lederman in the 1990’s, BSM built a relationship with Partnership Resources, an organization that helps developmentally challenged people find fulfilling jobs, in 2005. Ever since, workers from Partnership Resources have been helping BSM sort paper, plastic bottles and caps.

After the recycling project was a huge success, the Environmental Club initiated

a new project––composting. Following discussion, planning, and grant writing, the sorting tables that are in the commons were purchased, tcommunity members could make an effect on the school environmental policies. “The BSM Environmental Club was solving problems that matter long before it was a slogan,” then club adviser Mr. Lex said.

Faculty members, including Dean Laird and Steve Pohlen, have recently been considering replacing classroom and hallway lights with LED lights. LED lights are energy efficient because 95% of the energy in LEDs is converted into light and only 5% is wasted as heat, compared to typical fluorescent lights which convert 95% of energy to heat and only 5% into light. “The Haben Center and Great Hall have already been replaced with LED

Writer: Emma Lindahl Designer: Michael Koch Photographer: Morgan Williams lights, and save five percent of the annual electricity bill,” Laird said.

Another energy efficient action being taken is the upcoming addition of solar panels. Installing the panels will not only reduce carbon emissions, but electricity uses as well. The panels will likely be placed on the Haben Center and west hallway roof, and should be installed by summer 2017. When it comes to classroom benefits, these solar panels offer a fantastic learning opportunity for experimenting and research. For example, science classes might study data from the solar panels to determine the difference between how much energy is received on sunny days versus cloudy days and the difference between summer and winter months. These solar panels will benefit BSM’s curriculum, students, and the environment.

An additional aspect that will make BSM more green is a permaculture food forest garden. This out-of-the-ordinary garden can be constructive to every class period––including lunch. Produce grown in this garden will be incorporated into school lunches, religion classes can talk about social justice problems correlated to food and water, and students can find inspiration with nature during their art class.

The garden, which will be located behind the north building parking lot, next to the baseball fields will have perennial wildflowers, berry bushes, and food crops that will work together for the greatest efficiency. “This approach has recently gained importance as the world attempts to feed a growing population and simultaneously create an environmentally sustainable future,” Pohlen said, who has been working on this project with junior high teacher Josh Belanger.

BSM’s eco-friendly efforts have influenced students’ perspectives on the environment, and will continue to do so with these upcoming projects. “Students will recognize their role in creating solutions for the future sustainability of the planet,” Pohlen said.

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“Students will recognize their role in creating solutions for the future sustainability of the planet�

-Steve Polen

fall 2016 KEQ nature issue

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