Vol. 2. No. 4 - July/August
THE DISCOVER ISSUE DISCOVER - VOL 2, NO. 4 - 2017 1
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We create a magazine that shares the stories of makers and innovators spanning our great northern state. As we feature bold and inspiring Minnesotans—from craftsman to beekeepers, artists to farmers, brewers to foodies—we’re here to build a timeless collection of tales from each region across the state. We aim to strengthen and promote sustainable, beautiful, altruistic, unique, and creative communities. We are so proud to share our one-of-a-kind Minnesota magazine with you.
www.makeitmn.com/subscribe 2 MAKE IT MINNESOTA
The Discover Issue Discovery sparks curiosity. It’s that simple. In every moment we spend in awe or appreciation of the world around us, we’re growing. Through active discovery, we cultivate happiness and gratitude—exploring our natural pull toward the wondrous. It’s delightful. I have discovered much about my home and myself in curating and editing the stories for this issue. I’m going to be honest—it feels good to put together a magazine like this one. It’s terribly inspiring share work that not only moves me, but resonates with so many others. Even more, as a young person, it’s an honor to learn firsthand about the power of community coupled with compassion and action. What a beautiful thing it is to act as the facilitator of stories that encapsulate so seamlessly what Minnesota is making. Here lies the promise of imagination, curiosity, and discovery. These are the stories of bold artists, ethical farmers, innovative makers, educational endeavors, and community collaborations. From twin sisters with a knack for uncovering vintage musings to a rural Minnesota sculpture park that invites community members to participate in hot iron artmaking to a knowledgeable writer and gardener who knows how to transform weeds into delectable treats—this is a solid collection of curiosities. Thank you for your support in reading Make It Minnesota— this magazine inspires me to keep my eyes and heart open. And I hope you feel that. Enjoy the Discover Issue in the sunshine, or maybe in the dark with a flashlight. Read on!
— Kara Larson DISCOVER - VOL 2, NO. 4 - 2017 1
Contributors SEAN MCSTEEN
Editor Kara Larson Production Manager
Born and raised in a St. Paul suburb, Sean grew up being exposed to and participating in the rich and diverse culture of the Twin Cities. His passions range from playing cello, filmmaking, Gonzo journalism (on the weekends), and traveling to any new place around the world, near or far.
Leah Matzke MATT FRANK
Contributors Sean McSteen Matt Frank Emily Taplin Lindsay Strong Betsy Nelson Cover Photo 2017 Discover Issue contest winner Shannon O’Malley Back Cover Photo Erica Hacker
Copyright All images contained in Make It Minnesota are subject to copyright of the artist, illustrator or photographers as named, but not limited to. Reproduction of any part of this magazine without prior permission is prohibited. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Disclaimer The views and comments expressed by the writers are not always that of Make It Minnesota. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication, Make It Minnesota accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in this publication. Make It Minnesota (ISSN 2471-6744) Volume 2, No. 4, is published by Make It MN LLC
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Originally hailing from Chicago, Matt is a St. Paul-based freelance writer focused on urban agriculture, regenerative landscape design, and food justice storytelling. His articles highlight Minnesota people, places, and producers working to create positive change in our local communities. Matt strongly believes in the power of narratives to shape minds, open eyes, and shift perspectives. EMILY TAPLIN
Born in New York, raised in Colorado and proud to have selected Minnesota as her adulthood home. She owns the “crazy dog lady” title and has fun managing Murrow’s Instagram account (@murrow_the_frenchie). She has a background in TV news and currently works at Twin Cities Public Television on the PBS Kids Show, SciGirls. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga and trying foods around the Twin Cities.
LINDSAY STRONG Lindsay is a brand new Minnesotan who has quickly adopted the North as home. She teaches yoga, photographs pretty things for fun, and hangs out with teenagers for work. She also dreams of creating a memoir worthy life filled with love, art, and friendship.
COLBY WEGTER
From growing up near a town without a stop light to working in NYC’s Chinatown to finally landing in St. Paul, Colby looks to converse, to learn and attempt to tell. He feels more at home in Minnesota than anywhere else and enjoys her beauty on the daily. He’s also the founder of A Look Into (alookinto.com), an online editorial that tells the stories of the people behind the products we love.
BETSY NELSON AKA “That Food Girl,” Betsy has been working with food for most of her life. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has degrees in Psychology and Studio Arts. She has honed her culinary appetite by working throughout the Twin Cities in restaurants and catering operations that included Café Brenda, Azur, Tour de France, Atrium Catering, D’Amico Catering, Aveda Spa and Retreat Center and the Aveda Corporate Headquarters. She has not made a natural transition to Food Styling.
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Contents Featured Communities
4 7
Franconia Sculpture Park
Local by Local: Hayley Matthews-Jones
14
Behind The Creative
10 14
Seed Sages
Jane Wunrow
18
Maker Workshop
18
WAAM Industries
Minnesota Style
24
Arlee Park
Creative Challenge
28
24
Capturing Curiosity Instagram Contest Winners
Minnesota Kitchen
30
Eat Your Weeds
30
On the Farm
34
Beatty Stone Farms
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Community Feature
Cultivating Communities
at 2700-degrees By Sean McSteen
The idea that art is all around us just waiting to be discovered often has the potential to be heard and dismissed as hyperbole. In Minnesota, though, that idea will never be an overstatement. After living in this state for most of my life, the feeling of being surrounded by art of all kinds has only increased with every new area visited—and every familiar place revisited. One element of Minnesota’s arts culture that is unique in comparison to other states and cities is the fact that the geography of this state has a minimally hindering or dividing effect on the creation, dispersion and appreciation of art. Like veins running intricately through the body, artistic inspiration and discovery feeds the soul of our state, creating bridges and bonds between people and cultures of
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perseverance and selfless work by individuals or communities who want to leave something lasting and meaningful for generations yet to come. One such place that has worked tirelessly to promote this kind of artistic freedom and inclusiveness for 21 years is the Franconia Sculpture Park. all backgrounds, keeping us connected. Although, it has not always been this way; and there will always be more to do. But, we are part of a passionate, everexpanding artistic culture that is driven to reach and inspire any and all who are willing. Creativity feeds discovery, which in turn inspires growth. And every bit of growth and expansion of artistic culture within Minnesota has come as a result of intense dedication,
Founded in 1996, Franconia Sculpture Park has grown and moved from a 16acre site to a 43-acre rural, outdoor exhibition space that is home to an ever-changing collection of sculptures in Franconia, Minnesota just west of the St. Croix River. But, the location of the park was not simply chosen for its inviting and expansive feel. The larger goal of John Hock, Tasha Hock and C. Fuller Cowles, the founders of Franconia, was
to give rural communities accessibility to see and experience first-hand an art form that may have otherwise never been present in their lives; because as John explains, “The site of Franconia Sculpture Park was selected due to the minimal resources as well as lack of access to quality educational arts opportunities available to our rural community. Rural Minnesota and rural communities in general do not have the same arts education resources and opportunities available to them as
in major metropolitan areas, and we have changed that.” And though the park’s location was chosen to provide rural communities the opportunity to explore arts education, it was also very important for the founders to be close enough to the Twin Cities to remain easily accessible to those living in Metro areas. So, those who may have never had a chance to see art of any kind in a rural setting can come to Franconia and see it woven into the natural land.
Still, like any art museum or exhibit, Franconia’s natural blank canvas of a space would be empty if it weren’t for the artists who come from all over to be part of the park’s Artist Residency Program. Living together in a large house on the property, artists of all skill levels invited to the park by the organization “immerse themselves in a supportive, creative environment that allows for learning and collaboration,” John says. “Many times I see artists working together,
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bouncing ideas off one another, teaching each other new techniques, as well as problem solving.” And as Franconia’s resident artists learn and grow from each other, they also help to create an open and welcoming environment for visitors that breaks down the invisible barrier between artist and viewer. With the sculpture park being open all 365 days out of the year, John says, “Visitors can find our artists-in-residence creating their own unique artwork in our outdoor workshop where they are encouraged to engage and learn directly from artists.” Additionally, Franconia Sculpture Park partners with many different youth outreach and education organizations across the state to work with children from neighboring rural areas, as well as at-risk youth in the Twin Cities Metro Area that might otherwise have no access or opportunity to explore their own creativity and create three-dimensional art. And with Franconia’s unique residentartist programs, the children involved in the educational partnerships get to learn from and work alongside the large group of artists in residence. In this way, John says, “By connecting community members and artists directly in a nonthreatening environment we hope to take away the stigma associated with the fine arts and provide a more meaningful experience for community members. This also gives youth interested in an artistic career the opportunity to speak directly with artists and get a glimpse into the life of a professional artist.” By providing a
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collaborative and supportive framework for children to learn and grow through a new artistic medium, Franconia is able to inspire children—and older members of community—of all backgrounds to look at life differently. We at the magazine were lucky enough to have been able to take part in one of Franconia Sculpture Park’s community events: the Community Collaboration Hot Metal Pour. When we arrived at the community pour event on a warm Saturday afternoon, it was very cool to see how diverse the crowd was and really exemplified the community outreach and inclusive nature of Franconia. Everyone from young families to leather-clad bikers were in attendance; and with winding paths giving access to the entire park and a large, sculpture playground for kids, there is enough to see and do to fill an entire day—and then some. That is, until it is time to pour 2700-degree liquid iron into molds created by non-artist attendees. Speaking to what he enjoys about the community pour events, John says, “Those who didn’t think they could ever create a metal sculpture are given that opportunity
at our community pour events; it’s a very special experience. We’ve heard from the public how fun it was to be part of the process, how ‘crazy’ it is to watch molten iron in action.” And when the day is through, each person or family that carved out a mold to be filled with iron leaves with their very own piece of decorative, poured metal art. This element of the event is such a wonderfully unique thing, as a child who may have never even understood the process of making a metal sculpture gets to leave Franconia with something he or she helped build with their own hands and have it for the rest of their lives. There are few things more powerful than providing an opportunity to potentially ignite an individual’s creative flame by giving them the tools, space and cooperative instruction to make something unique that will last forever. Sure, not every person who visits Franconia Sculpture Park will become sculptors or artists of any kind, but for some, without that door being thrown open to them by the knowledgeable and welcoming staff and volunteers at the park, they may have never known that path to be a possibility. Franconia offers that possibility and insight with absolutely zero pressure, judgment or pretension. That insight into the larger world that teaches us that there are limitless possibilities and directions we can take our lives, and we won’t know what is best for ourselves until we simply get out and experience everything this life has to offer.
LOCAL LOCAL
BY
Hayley Matthews-Jones F ounder of M i n n eapoli s C raf t M arket
Hayley Matthews-Jones is the founder of Minneapolis Craft Market, the Twin Cities’ weekly arts pop-up. The market is mobile, partnering with breweries, farmers markets, and independent businesses to bring artists and makers to neighborhoods across Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Photo Credit: St. Paul Photo Co.
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HAYLEY ’S
Tbsp. liège waffles - Rachel, the owner, is absolutely nailing the
street food concept here in the Twin Cities. She has a great product at the right price that is one of our most popular food stalls. It take two days to make the dough for liège waffles, which are fluffy inside, and contain little nuggets of sugar in the dough for a bit of crunch, with a crisp outside. They introduce new topping flavors every single week. Carrot cake, lemon ricotta shortbread, and blueberry cobbler have been a few of my recent favorites. She’s been keeping us fed at the Linden Hills Farmers Market every Sunday, and is returning for the Holiday Market again which will be held at Sunnyside Gardens on Sunday mornings in November and December.
Ginger Bean Clothing - One of the things I love most about
hosting my market is discovering new artists and designers. One that I’m particularly excited about is Ginger Bean Clothing. Maker Kristen sources surplus fabrics in the coolest prints to make resizable and reversible dresses that fit kids aged 3 months through four years. She chooses prints like comic books, pirate designs, cartoons, animal pictures, Star Trek, and other pop culture designs so they’re not the typical girly motifs, which I love. Being a professional tailor, her attention to detail and thoughtful design are impeccable. The dresses come with snaps on the shoulders and under the skirt so the length is adjustable, and drawstrings under the arms so the chest can be let out as the baby grows. And the insider scoop is that she’s working on her first collection of resizable unisex pants, too! I just purchased my first dress for my three year old from her, which will be handed down to our new baby girl arriving in October, and am excited to buy more.
Cuchara Chick - Marlee Castillo is one of my favorite new makers at
the market this year. She sources vintage silverware and hand stamps them with fun sayings and puns. She offers custom stamping while you wait, so you can get a name or your own personal message stamped on. The teaspoons make great gifts for babies and kids (especially if it’s an unusual name that you can’t usually find personalized gifts for), and the dessert forks make great wedding gifts—she’ll stamp in any combination of ‘his and hers’ that you want!
Lawless Distilling - Lawless is easily my favorite cocktail room
in the Twin Cities. It is intimate and cozy without being pretentious. When you walk in to the long, narrow, candle-lit space, someone from the bar immediately yells out a greeting, usually bar manager Jeff, who is the consummate host. It’s such a simple thing, but immediately makes you feel welcome. The ingenious bar menu—run by another local favorite of mine, Bittercube—is ever-changing, but always affordable at $7-12. Their winter hot cocktail menu last year included hot toddies warmed in test tubes on the hot dog roller, and a flaming s’mores buttered rum cocktail, so I can’t wait to see what they come up with for fall and the holiday season this year! I would also be remiss to not give honorable mention to J. Carver Distillery if you’re in the Waconia area. They have some of my favorite MN-made whiskeys, and a delightful cocktail room—well worth the drive!
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FAVORI T ES
112 Eatery - On the rare nights that my husband and I have a babysitter
and an occasion to celebrate, 112 Eatery is always top of our list for a fancy dinner without formality. Reservations at peak times can be tricky, so we usually sit at the bar and order a bunch of delicious small plates. I highly recommend the 112 burger, which comes served on an English muffin—so simple, yet I’ve never seen that done anywhere else and it’s AMAZING! As much as we love to try new places, 112 always keeps us coming back.
Minnesota Children’s Museum - As any parent
of a small child knows, the MN Children’s Museum is a lifesaver in the winter months. I’m a huge fan of any place I can let my girl run free and explore without worry, and we have been members for a few years now. They’ve done a great job on the renovation by bringing in novel play areas like The Scramble; two, fourstory climbing towers, a spiral slide and a netted catwalk suspended more than 40 feet above the ground for the little dare devils in the family. We’ve traveled a fair amount both nationally and internationally as a family, and it makes us realize we’re incredibly luckily to have a space like this in the Twin Cities. Not many places have resources like this, even in major cities. It’s a rare asset!
The Minnehaha Mile - This stretch in south Minneapolis is
an ever-growing gem of vintage shops, cafes, and independently-owned businesses. What I love about the ‘mile is that it is breathing new life into a tired corridor of the city, but in a way that is ethical, socially and environmentally conscious, and sensitive to the existing needs of the neighborhood. It’s not an overhaul by big developers or corporate entities, it’s been an incubator for small businesses that have banded together to grow the district and support each other. You’ll find quality vintage items, quirky art and oddities, and an expanding array of food options, all in a walkable stretch. My top pick for fall is the incoming All Square grilled cheese shop moving into the north side of Junket: Tossed & Found. All Square will be a nonprofit restaurant that aims to reduce recidivism by supporting, rather than excluding, individuals with an encumbered past. Their student-employee curriculum, the first of its kind in Minnesota, is centered on professional development, personal wellness, financial literacy and a paid internship in a thriving restaurant. I can’t wait for the restaurant to open and have an opportunity to support their mission.
A Little More About Hayley: Hayley’s education is in the arts, and her professional background is in event planning, so after moving to Minneapolis and missing the markets in London, she recognized the need for a regular and affordable outlet for emerging artists to sell their work, so in 2015 set about launching Minneapolis Craft Market. She now hosts close to 80 markets and events per year, is a board member of the International Live Events Association MSP Chapter, and Co-President of the Twin Cities Chapter of Women Who Whiskey. Follow the market on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @mplscraftmkt to find out where it is popping up next. Photo Credits: Lawless Distilling: Darin Kamnetz | 112 Eatery: Kevin Kan
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Seed Sages
Reclaiming our Food Heritage, One Seed at a Time By Matt Frank
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Why save seeds? This ancient approach actively preserves the diversity of our existing organic and heirloom crops. Recently, this seed preservation method has made a huge comeback and is being rediscovered by family farmers, urban agriculturists, community gardeners and homesteaders alike. As people have started to become more consciously aware of how our food is grown, who grows it, and where it comes from, we’ve begun to recognize that conventional industrial agriculture practices adversely impact not only the environment, but also our personal health and the nutritional value of the foods we consume. Within our global industrial agriculture system, a few large companies own a majority of the plant seeds available to commercial farmers. In fact, these seeds are patented and owned by multinational agrochemical and biotechnology corporations who control how they’re distributed and grown. When farmers purchase seeds from these corporations, they must sign an agreement stating that they won’t save and replant them. This results in farmers being forced to purchase more seed from the same companies year after year, locking them into unfavorable business relationships. Currently, three quarters of the global seed market is controlled by six large companies. Of that 75 percent share, three companies control more than 50 percent of the world’s seed market. The three big players include Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, and Syngenta. This lack of access to saving seeds, and oligopolistic control over them, has culminated in a loss of over 90 percent of crop diversity within the global agriculture sector over the past century. Between 1903 and 1983, the world lost 93 percent of its food seed varieties. Just a few generations ago, the world contained ten times as much edible seed diversity as it does now! In light of this staggering discovery, how can we reverse course and regain local control of nourishing food sources? By reclaiming our food heritage, one seed at a time! A local Twin Cities business named Seed Sages is doing just that by conducting seed saving research, providing consultations, and hosting educational opportunities. These services enable our gardening and farming communities to become re-skilled in the art of preserving and breeding unique seed varieties to grow healthy foods. While based in Minnesota, Seed Sages provides these services throughout the Midwest and beyond, contributing to strong food systems and a more resilient food future. Founded by Koby Jeschkeit-Hagen, Seed Sages has been operational since 2015. Koby is humble and quick to note that she is but one of many great seed savers in a long line of wonderful teachers and breeders who came before her. Seed stewardship came naturally to Koby through her passions for farming, ecological restoration, and education. Her Masters Degree from the University of New Mexico in Community and Regional Planning with an emphasis in Natural Resources and the Environment along with a permaculture design certificate from the Permaculture Drylands Institute inform her work. While in grad school, her thesis focused on regenerating local seed systems in Albuquerque, NM. Post higher-ed, Koby worked on a number of farms, including a small, family-owned CSA farm in Colorado as well as a variety
of educational, research, bio-intensive, urban youth-focused, and seed saving organizations throughout the country such as JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden, Seed Savers Exchange, Seeds of Change, and Ecological Action, among others. In addition to running Seed Sages, she currently serves as Farm Manager and Community Outreach Coordinator for permaculture-based restaurant Tiny Diner in South Minneapolis. This extensive background has shaped Seed Sages and continues to guide Koby’s work. Like many successful entrepreneurs, Seed Sages has established a number of partnerships with for-profits, non-profits, community-led organizations, and educational institutions. As a for-profit business, Seed Sages must make money to sustain itself. Yet, it acts like a non-profit in that it’s a values-based organization that is socially, ecologically, and economically conscious in every aspect of operations. In a similar vein, many of their organizational partnerships are with groups working toward a higher mission of improving the planet, our local food systems, and the communities in which we live. Locally, past Seed Sages’ collaborators have included Seed Savers Exchange, DISCOVER - VOL 2, NO. 4 - 2017 11
Birchwood Cafe, Pollinate Minnesota, Two Pony Gardens, Youth Farm, Tiny Diner, Land By Hand, and the Farm Table Foundation. Current alliances include two grant-based research projects with the University of Wisconsin’s Horticulture Department and the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources. At UW, Seed Sages is working on seed breeding research and connecting local restaurants with organic farmers. At UMN, their research is focused on breeding Tiger Eye beans to better understand how they grow within an organic system. Another major partnership exists between Seed Sages and a New Mexican organization named Cuatro Puertas (Four Doors) involving breeding research focused on growing seeds in a temperate climate that have been bred in Minnesota. This project is looking specifically at seeds’ ability to adapt to multiple climate extremes and may help inform more climate resilient breeding methods. In addition to larger research projects, Seed Sages partners with local groups to teach intro to seed saving classes and also hosts potato and tomato tastings open to the public. They’ve recently worked with a number of permaculture educators, farm-to-table restaurants, and ecological non-profits to spread the word on seed saving techniques and share a range of unique flavors. All of Seed Sages’ projects revolve around seeds that have a story to tell— whether they’re rare and unique, easy to grow in our cold climate, historically significant, or medicinally and nutritionally valuable. Throughout her work, Koby breeds seed for various beneficial traits such as size, color, taste, the ability to adapt to a changing climate, consistent yield, nutritional value, rarity, aesthetics, cold hardiness, and more. Each project calls for a different seed trait depending on its specific needs. Ultimately, Seed Sages’ efforts raise awareness of the vast array of edible plants that exist and broaden the knowledge of the people who wish to grow them. By educating others about crop diversity, resiliency, and food security, Seed Sages is regenerating an abundant future for us all. When it comes to reclaiming our food heritage, Koby advises, “Save as much seed as you can from healthy plants!” Remember, whoever controls seed controls what we feed. Seed is a powerful thing indeed. 12 MAKE IT MINNESOTA
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Photo by: IT Lydia Toll 14 MAKE MINNESOTA
Behind the Creative Jane Wunrow, St. Paul Artist By Colby Wegter
The artist is Jane Wunrow. Diving into collage and mixed media, she’s telling me about her piece titled “Don’t cut. She’s still alive.” It’s graphic, detailed, and intense—qualities that come through in every addition she’s made to it. At the time of our meeting, we sit inside of Quixotic Coffee, on a cold winter evening. There’s no wind or snow but there’s no color either. Dark and dreary. But in the comfort of indoors, Quixotic is more colorful than ever as Jane has brought a few pieces from her portfolio and we scan them together. “All my work is based on dreams,” she says, “but it’s abstracted. It’s the sense or the feeling that the dream evokes. So I’m kind of just responding to it and creating this piece that has a sense of what that is. For instance, you’ll dream about climbing a mountain but it’s not saying you should go climb a mountain. It’s saying that maybe there is something in your life holding you back. There’s more depth to a dream than what’s staring you in the face. I may feel that mountain really stirred up some fear in me so it’s responding to the fear that my work is based on. I hope it doesn’t come across as too personal because it’s my dream but my hope is always that the work stirs up those similar emotions in others.” Looking at her work, it’s as wild as a dream could invoke. The same amount of mystery found in dreams is crafted onto canvas and looking at them it’s hard not to feel something. It’s one of the most beautiful things about collage and Jane’s personal style; while a lot of chaos is seemingly taking place in each piece she produces, the closer you look, the longer you look—the more control, the more intention you see. It’s that intention that is so important to Jane.
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Sometimes it starts with a drawing. Sometimes it starts with a color she has in mind. In fact, the color is one of the most intentional parts about her work, as you will almost never see more than one or two primary colors in use alongside black and white. “I wanted to be much more intentional about the color I use. So the piece is really simple. I’m not building up a background with colors, I’m keeping it simple. It’s just yellow and black and white or red and black and white. I feel the color emotes another emotion versus competing with another color. Black and white are not super competitive visually. That’s my perception of it. I know when I start my work I have to map it out: what’s going down first, what’s coming up next and what am I going to layer on top?” There’s a clear process in place. As we get to talking about showing her work, she talks about creating her art in front of people, one of the most vulnerable things an artist can do. She finds herself saying, “Just wait until it’s finished” a lot as her specific style turns a lot of what looks like chaos throughout into a brilliant piece in the end. Yet until recently, Jane was essentially always creating her work from start to finish in front of strangers. I find this out as she’s showing me another piece and says, “I actually created this one here at Quixotic.” My naivete getting the best of me, I assumed she worked out of a studio but until March of this year Jane created a number of pieces at coffee shops. “Usually the work I make I try to get it done in one sitting. It’s very labor intensive stuff too because it’s a lot of line work.” With the hustle and bustle of most coffee shops in with Twin Cities, “It takes a lot of extreme focus for three or four hours,” she explains. Clearly there is a driving force behind producing the work to not only put her vulnerabilities out in public as she
does it, but also to see a piece through. It lends to her identity and the driving force on why she does it. “Has your identity changed throughout you career in the form of your work?” I ask. “Oh yeah!” she says without a moment’s hesitation. “Well, I say ‘Oh yeah’ because I became a mom. That hugely changed a lot. Not just because I’m a mom but it’s the reason life seems a lot different for me. It shows what’s important and what’s not important. In this whole journey of creating artwork, we’re so self-focused. You wouldn’t have to have children to have that reflective element but that was what did it for me. All the sudden I have these people that are more important to me than making my artwork but I know that if I make my artwork I’m a better mom.” To get to the root of her transformation is the fascinating side of it all. When creating her art at a younger age, she explored the exact opposite sort of work, which revolved around the body in its many forms. Whether it was a massive phallus sculpture that could occupy couch space or extreme displays of the female figure, it’s a distant shout to what she completes today. “Beyond motherhood, how does a transition like that take place?” I wonder. “It’s hard to make work on your own but it’s important to see what people have done before you. I remember a time where I was against simple, minimalist artwork. I thought it was a joke and I remember a time specifically being like, ‘This is stupid.’ Now I have such a different lense that I look through. I see something minimalist and think, ‘That’s phenomenal!’ I can’t believe I’ve changed as much as I have. We can never say never.” She calls these transitions seasons in her life. One of her first artistic seasons was elaborating on the human form, this season is minimalism and collage and as the constraints of her life are
changing, like working in a studio of her own instead of coffee shops, she’ll keep approaching new seasons that will influence her work. The pieces are so fascinating, the questions could never end so I decided to wrap up by going back to basics. What drives her? “I believe there is a lot more depth, potential, conversations and stories to be told. A lot more light. I think the art world is very dark and I’m hoping to bring light.” She adds, “I like to use my artwork to discuss difficult things in people’s lives. That’s not exactly always my intent but I love the dialogue and conversation behind it.” It’s there I realize she’s already on her way to bringing more light to the art world. The contrast of a dreary snowy day with the luminous work inside the coffee shop is too obvious to ignore. So long as Jane keeps turning her motivation into breathtaking pieces, there’s certain to be a lot more light in the future and I can’t wait see it.
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T h e D i s c o v e r I s s u e — M a k e r Wo r k s h o p S e r i e s
REIMAGINING THE CLASSICS By Kara Larson Photos by Nylonsaddle Photography
On paper, a business built on motion, evolution, and transition is perhaps a risky endeavor. But for Hanna and Andrew Vomhof, the husband-wife duo and owners of WAAM Industries, wheels serve as the ideal foundation for their vision. “We Are Always Moving—I mean, that was it,” Hanna begins. “Moving forward, transitioning spaces. It also holds true in the portability in a lot of our products. Everything is built so it doesn’t have to be stationary. It can transition with you.” And yet, ease of transport comes without sacrificing strength or quality. In every item, Hanna and Andrew thoughtfully design with real life needs in mind. Their objective is to take a familiar item that is typically disposable and reimagine it into a product with longevity, quality, and style. From grocery totes to tinder blocks to lunch bags to milk crates, Hanna and Andrew are inspired by the needs of people everywhere. To them, everything is an object—and every object deserves to be built well.
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is a conch shell with an acoustic amplifier and that’s kind of what got the ball rolling on everything. The shell phone took off online probably about a year later.”
Individually, Hanna and Andrew are very creative people. Both graduates of the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Andrew studied sculpture while Hanna studied photography. The skills and passions that drew them into these fields are the same ones that drive them to be successful in their current creative endeavor through WAAM. Though, like many ambitious, successful, and passionate makers, there was a period where they weren’t quite so creatively satisfied. After graduating from MCAD, Hanna and Andrew moved to New York where Andrew worked in art handling in the gallery world. Hanna worked in retail, explaining that she more or less fell into this work for practical, adult reasons, i.e. insurance and benefits. However, Hanna also credits this time in their lives as the impetus
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for change—and the beginnings of taking WAAM seriously. “In New York, you’re always seeking an outlet to basically get out of the daily norm, but it’s a lot harder to actually produce work there. We felt like we had a lot less time, but we were more creatively driven, I’d say.” Hanna adds, “I think it took us being in New York to actually be serious about what we’re doing because we wanted to have a break from our daily jobs.” WAAM Industries officially began 5 years ago in Andrew’s parents’ garage. Though, just six months in, they rented industrial workshop space one door down from their current location in St. Louis Park. At the start, Andrew and another co-founder were running the business, designing and making replicas. Hanna shares, “They started with a shell phone loudspeaker, which
Also about a year in, Hanna joined forces, sewing drawstring canvas bags for the shell phones. Today, Andrew and Hanna are the sole owners of WAAM and switched to fulltime two years ago and one year ago, respectively. In terms of who does what, as a machinist and sculptor, Andrew makes the wooden items, while Hanna, as the scheduler and coordinator and sewing pro, makes it happen behind-the-scenes as well as in their home sewing studio. Andrew’s background in sculpture is a big part of WAAM’s trajectory. From this origin, their work derives from the idea that everything is an object. However, they split from many perspectives in the art world, asking larger questions of the objects. “We look at it more like—how is it functional? How can it last? And what is its life? Because it’s different to create something that hangs on the wall—it’s not easy, but it’s different. We really aspire to make super functional objects that will last a long time.” And there is pushback as they sometimes get asked, “Why aren’t you making art anymore?” But Hanna knows better. Because they are. “It’s just we’re making more functional
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objects that you’re going to surround yourself with and use every day.” Their designs come from their desire to make products with longevity—things that people are going to use every day. And sometimes, ideas come directly from personal experience. “The waxed canvas grocery bag was actually my idea. When we were in New York, it was right around Thanksgiving and I was walking home with a turkey and all the groceries…” begins Hanna. As the story goes, the bottom of her flimsy paper bag fell out, followed by a cascade of what was meant to be a Thanksgiving meal. Holding everything with a good remainder of her commute still ahead, a stranger graciously offered his plastic bag—which, of course, had an enormous hole. Alas, she came home au courant with their next design idea. Beyond personal experience, they also call upon their love for travel as a source of inspiration and an opportunity for research and collaboration. “It’s been valuable just getting out into the world and finding needs and also getting inspired by places—different states have different things that they need and you find those along the way.” Hanna adds, “On our trips, we always come home with at least ten ideas. And even though we don’t always get to produce them right away, we have a few little black books full of ideas.”
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They recently took an East coast trip—North Carolina to New York to Massachusetts—and felt very inspired by what they came across, especially one shop in New York that was filled with objects that replaced stereotypically throwaway items. “It is so cool to see that people are moving forward and thinking about the Earth and creating solutions. It was encouraging to see that and think about what we do and how we can do it better. Thinking about the longterm and finding stores like that, it’s like, oh yeah, there’s even more to this. It’s always great to get out there and actually see it.” In 2016, Hanna and Andrew added another travel venture into the mix via a craft market circuit around the country, traveling as far as San Francisco, Chicago. This fall, they’re headed to Austin and possibly Seattle. Through the markets, they have made maker friends from all over; though, Hanna and Andrew consistently drive the farthest of anyone they know. Their favorite markets so far have been in San Francisco at Fort Mason, an honest 2628 hour drive. “The weather is always really nice and the people really like supporting artisans in San Francisco. They have a lot of the tech industry, so they also get really into our nerdy products and designs.”
Beyond getting to connect with people from all over America and watch them interact with their products, Hanna and Andrew also utilize their time at craft markets to open the door to meaningful collaborations. “This year we’re working on a collaborative office line with some friends who are ceramic artists we met through the markets. So that’s our goal for the end of the year,” shares Hanna. “It’s always fun because they have a different outlook on things than we do, but we’ve both gone to these markets and talked to different people and found things that we’re both missing that people want to see.” WAAM has a couple other collaborations at present—one being with Gunner & Lux, a father daughter duo who make jewelry and accessories together. Hanna and Andrew did a series of colorful snack champ bags with this small, groovy company for back to school last year. And this year, WAAM is collaborating with an illustrator and together, they will be releasing a series of pin bags. Hanna smiles, “So, get your flair for your lunch bags, which will be really fun. She does all the illustrations and makes all the enamel pins—and we’ll be doing sets with our fun-colored lunch bags.”
At the core of collaborative work is an open mind. Being able to recognize that there are gaps in your work that other makers and artists can fill with their talents and vision. This receptiveness, met with innovation, curiosity, and hard
work, is what sets WAAM apart. We Are Always Moving—a mantra, a scheme, a way of life. They’re listening to the world around them, discovering its needs, and calling upon their creativity to translate the message into solid, stylish products.
Beyond that, Hanna and Andrew are thinking about the future— transforming items that get really beat up and then have no afterlife into long-lasting, environmentallysavvy, design-smart goods as functional as they are beautiful.
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minnesota Style
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ARLEE PARK:
Identical Twins Create Shop Where Vintage Meets Modern By Emily Taplin Photos by: Ash & James Photography
When you walk into Arlee Park in South Minneapolis you’re greeted by a bright, warm space and two smiling faces. The atmosphere draws you in and hits all of your senses, leaving you excited to explore the items in every corner. Filled with a curious collection of nostalgic musings and vintage goods, Arlee Park is owned and curated by two sisters with a uniquely sophisticated style coupled with a knack for thrifting. Identical twins Jamie Hewitt Budnick and Ashley Hewitt Lemke opened the shop in April of this year and the inspiration behind the name comes from their grandmother Arlene, who used to live on Park Avenue in Minneapolis. Today, both Ashley and Jamie live on that same exact street, just eight blocks from one another. These two are close-knit and awfully similar, and in working together, they find balance. Ashley shares that Jamie is more relaxed and carefree; while Jamie says Ashley is the one who is more business-minded with numbers and the more organized of the two.
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This balance comes in handy in their creative undertakings as the sisters don’t own just one business; they’re also the faces behind the lenses of Ash & James Photography. Just like thrifting, it’s a skill they learned on their own. Jamie told me Ashley would look up all of the technical terms and do the research online. Both sisters love the challenge of capturing chemistry between a couple and the creativity it requires. For Jamie and Ashley, the dream of owning their own shop came long before they started photography. Their passion for thrifting developed in 2014 when they scoured Minnesota antique shops for brass items that would serve as decorations for Ashley’s wedding. It was about the time Jamie’s office was full of finds and Ashley’s spare bedroom was starting to get the overflow that the sisters decided to open up a store. Ashley told me they originally started selling their collection of thrift finds on Etsy during the slower months of their wedding photography jobs. Ashley explained that she used to hate thrifting because, “You go into it expecting to have all these great finds and more often than not you walk away empty handed.” This is a sentiment I can totally relate to. She told me that since then, she’s learned to go into it with zero expectations. Beyond that, she and Jamie have done a lot of research on how to search for items. For those of us, like me, who prefer not to do the extra homework, or digging, one might go to Arlee Park. A place where every item discovered by Jamie and Ashley has been carefully crafted into cozy compilations all around the store. This is the stuff new homeowners like me get excited about, allowing decorating dreams to run wild in a place where every item is a treasure meant for someone to find. Slowly but surely, my house is becoming the second home to Arlee Park goods. I asked the sisters if they had a name for the style consisting of white walls, wooden and wicker accents and dozens of woven rugs from generations past. They told me they don’t, so for now we’ll call it the Jamie and Ashley magic. Like it says on their Instagram page, they fuse nostalgic and vintage goods into modern living. The sisters have curated a certain look with the sentimental items they’ve tracked down. Among their collections are beautiful brass trinkets from the mid-century like vases, combs and mirrors and even the occasional animal; like a darling duck or shiny seal. They also have an impressive ceramics section. I promise you’ll be drooling over their empty clay bowls. And it’s not just home goods—their vintage cutoff shorts have been very popular. A few of the Levi’s have even found their way into my closet at home and turned into a staple of my summer wardrobe. I asked the Hewitt sisters how they run two successful businesses at the same time and not get overwhelmed by it all. They told me that, besides their husbands, the twins are each other’s biggest support systems. They have the same viewpoint on most things and know that support, plus a lot of hard work, is the key. They’re also taking advice from their dad who in 2008 was diagnosed with cancer and passed away two years later, at just 52-years-old. Shortly after, in their mid twenties, Jamie and Ashley decided life was too short to wait on the things they wanted and started traveling. It was through their adventures to far off lands like Sri Lanka, China and India that they discovered a passion for photography. That path of discovery hasn’t ended. Through their work as photographers they constantly reveal emotion and love. And through their thrifting adventures they discover forgotten Minnesota treasures and give them new life through a new perspective. As for the future of Arlee Park? They have an old pickup truck and hope to fix it up and make the shop mobile and, one day, hope to add an additional store. Through their photography and through their store, these sisters have many more nostalgic memories to uncover and share. 26 MAKE IT MINNESOTA
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Discover IInstagram Contest
proudly sponsored by
CAPTURING CURIOSITY # M akeI t M N _ T h e Wo rks
In collaboration with The Works Museum, our latest Instagram contest was all about capturing curiosity through imaginative photography. We encouraged Minnesota photographers to challenge their creative boundaries by sharing moments that celebrate learning, exemplify curiosity, and explore the depths of imagination. This contest echoes the mission of our partner, The Works Museum—and we’re so grateful for their generous sponsorship! Located in Bloomington, The Works Museum’s mission is to inspire the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creative problem solvers. Their programs and experiences engage kids in engineering and design and make learning memorable and fun. Engineering fuels collaboration, persistence, and problem solving—critical skills every child needs. The Works Museum welcomes you to explore engineering and stretch your imagination; learn more at theworks.org. In just 10 days, the Capturing Curiosity Instagram Contest gathered over 100 entries! To view the entire group of submissions, follow the Instagram tag #MakeItMN_TheWorks. In these photos, we enjoyed an incredible range of curiosity and imagination—a collection of entries inventive with color, technology, perspective, and beyond! Now, for the winners… The top 20 photographs are featured at makeitmn.com and the top 10 are published in the upcoming pages, as well as on digital display at The Works Museum. Be sure to stop by the museum to see them! Finally, the #1 winning photographer is featured on the cover of this Discover Issue, inviting readers to dive in! This photographer, Shannon O’Malley, will also receive a Family Membership from The Works Museum—a big congratulations to Shannon!
WINNING IMAGE:
Shannon O’Malley @shannon_kathleenphotography 28 MAKE IT MINNESOTA
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Erica Hacker @ericaellen12
Vanessa Grausam @vanessagrausam
Kelsey Moore @kelseylynnmoore
Shannon Svensrud @storiedlifepictures
Jaymes Halbritter @jamesclifton
Jennifer Lundgren @sageeimagery
Dora Marujo Dias @dora_poetisa
Randy Wendel @randywendel
Christopher Paris @christopherparisart DISCOVER - VOL 2, NO. 4 - 2017 29
Minnesota Kitchen
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Eat Your Weeds
Summer Grazing from Your Own Backyard By Betsy Nelson, AKA That Food Girl Photos by Tom Thulen You may not realize it, but pretty much everywhere you walk, you are basically walking through a salad bar. Many plants, or weeds, that we step on in sidewalk cracks and in our lawns are actually nutritious and tasty edibles, so they are well worth learning about. I am hoping that this inspires folks to embrace the weeds in their garden rather than curse them and to perhaps think of them as lovely gifts from Mother Nature. You are most likely are growing super-foods without knowing it.
Here are some to know and love: Red Clover: Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is a pasture flower, magenta to lighter purple in color, and the leaves are in groups of three oval leaves with a faint white ‘V’ pattern on them. You can find them in prairie or meadow areas, and they will often volunteer themselves in your garden or along walking paths. Red clover is high in vitamin C, calcium, chromium and magnesium and also acts as a blood purifier and a blood thinner. Purslane: A nutrient powerhouse, purslane, Portulaca oleracea, is a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), vitamins A,C and E, magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. For as fantastic a plant as it is, you will find it growing in more ‘humble’ areas....sidewalk cracks and sandy areas near walking paths. It’s leaves have a succulent quality, and the flavor is slightly tart and texture is juice and moistening. Plantain: Often called ‘broadleaf plantain’, this plant grows in lawns, along walking paths, in sidewalk cracks....well, pretty much anywhere it can! Those on a quest for a perfect lawn find it a nuisance, but that attitude may soften when a person learns about
all the benefits that Plantain, Plantago major, has to offer. It is high in vitamins A and C, beta carotene, and calcium. Totally edible, it is great in a salad, but also can be made into a paste to put on itchy mosquito bites to relieve the itch and swelling. Dandelion: No introduction needed to the beautiful dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, whose cheery yellow blossoms greet us in the spring. Dandelion leaves, roots and blossoms are all edible and are loaded with vitamins and minerals such as iron, potassium, zinc, Vitamins A, B, C and D. It acts as a diuretic and is good for liver and gall bladder health which is why dandelion leaves are a great tonic to take in the spring. Wood Sorrel: Oxalis stricta, or wood sorrel, often gets mis-identified as a clover due to it’s leaf pattern in groups of three. The difference is that the leaves of the wood sorrel have heart shaped leaves and small yellow bell-shaped flowers. You may have nibbled on their tart leaves...they have a delightfully sour taste that is refreshing and bright so it is no surprise that this plant is high in vitamin C and is sometimes used as an appetite stimulant and a mood
brightener. It will likely volunteer itself all over in your garden and is easy to find and identify. Violets: One of the first wild flowers to bloom, Viola sororia, is recognized by its heart shaped leaves and bright blue blossom. All violet species are edible, and the leaves and blossoms are delicious in salads. The leaves are loaded with vitamins A and C, and salicylic acid, which acts as an anti-inflammatory and has been shown to relieve pain in joints and headaches. They tend to grown in woodland areas, and are also likely to make an appearance in your yard and garden. Creeping Charlie: Also known as ‘ground ivy’, Creeping Charlie Glechoma hederacea, has an enthusiastic growing habit, infiltrating lawns and gardens everywhere. It is rich in iron, potassium and vitamin C, and tossing a few leaves and blossoms into a salad, soup, pasta or rice adds a lovely pungent burst of flavor. Traditionally it has been used as hops are in beer brewing as a bittering agent. Medicinally it has been found to stimulate digestions and relieve sinus congestion. When made into a tea, the flowering tops have a nice cooling effect in the heat of the summer.
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Ways to Enjoy your
Garden ‘Weeds’: Wo o d S o r r e l a n d G i n g e r R e f r e s h e r The bright, tart, lemon-y taste of Oxalis stricta, commonly known as ‘wood sorrel’ , makes a nice ‘lemonade’ without lemons. It also is high in vitamin C and has been used by herbalists as an appetite stimulant and a mood brightener. Try this infusion warm or chilled over ice or even mixed with fizzy water or as a cocktail mixer. Makes 2 servings 1 cup wood sorrel leaves, stems and flower, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root 2 Tablespoons honey 2 cups boiling water Add the wood sorrel leaves, ginger root and honey to a heat proof bowl and pour the boiling water over it and allow to steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain the infusion and sip on it warm, or chill and enjoy over ice. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Red Clo ver & Rose Petal Lemonade There is a little magic in this recipe....watch as the infusion turns from a pale lavender to bright pink when the lemon juice is added. If you can’t find dried rose petals, just add a few more red clover blossoms. Blossoms are best gathered in the morning or evening when it is cool..the color and flavor will be best. Dry the blossoms to have them on hand through the fall in winter by spreading them out to dry over paper towel or a brown paper bag. Once dried, store them in a well- sealed glass jar. Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is a rich source of isoflavones, and has been used to help relieve menopausal symptoms, skin ailments and to help lower blood pressure. It is also loaded with nutrients and is high in calcium, chromium, magnesium and vitamin C. Makes 2 servings 1 cup red clover blossoms, fresh or dried 1 tablespoon dried wild rose petals (can be found in bulk at most food cooperatives) 2 Tablespoons honey 2 cups boiling water juice of one lemon Place the clover, rose and honey together in a heat-proof bowl and pour boiling water over and allow to steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and watch the color change from lavender to bright pink. Strain the infusion and serve warm or chilled over ice. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Wo o d S o r r e l a n d B a s i l P e s t o
Pesto has long been a wonderful way to preserve garden herbs, and wood sorrel takes to this preparation nicely. You can use the entire plant of the wood sorrel, although the stems can get tough towards the roots, so use only the tender upper part of the stem and also the green seed pods. Taste each part before you add so you can learn about the flavor and texture they have to offer. Experiment with the balance of flavors and try adding a few dandelion , purslane, violet or creeping Charlie leaves to your pesto. Makes 1⁄2 cup 1⁄2 cup fresh basil leaves 1⁄2 cup wood sorrel leaves, tender stems and green seed pods, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons pine nuts 1/3 cup olive oil 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese Pinch of salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste In the bowl of a food processor blend the basil, wood sorrel, garlic and pine nuts together while drizzling in the olive oil until you reach the desired consistency. Pulse in the Parmesan cheese and add salt and pepper to taste. Keep refrigerated and enjoy within a week or store in the freezer.
Writer’s Note: Before you begin eating foraged plants, make sure you know there are no toxic chemicals sprayed on them and also do some research from at least 3 sources to confirm what you have. There are many wonderful books on wild edibles and also great online sources. Check out ‘The Forager Chef ’ at www.foragerchef.com for great recipes and resources.
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HAPPY PIGS COME FROM
minnesota By Lindsay Strong
The tree lined driveway leading up to the homestead of Beatty Stone Farms sets the scene for the loving and honest work happening just beyond the branches. The property is delightfully Minnesotan, scattered with big reaching trees, wildflowers, and brightly colored toys ensuring passersby that a young family grows there. All around the property is evidence of a life carefully cultivated, garden spaces, chickens roaming, and the bright blonde of little girls bouncing amongst the sprouting greenery. The family home has a big front porch that faces pastureland that, once used to grow only alfalfa, now contains a plethora of life, including the docile and lovely Mangalitsa pigs the Dropps family raises. The Mangalitsa is a heritage breed that arrived stateside by way of Hungary only a decade ago. According to the farm’s website, these pigs were nearly extinct in the early 1990s and because of dedicated farmers who aimed to reinvigorate the breed known for “its amazing curing qualities, creamy whippable fat, and deep red marbled meat.� Olivia and Jim Dropps wanted to join in the conservation efforts and sustainably raise animals that can provide a return to locally sourced food that so many Americans search for. Because of their build, the Mangalitsa is best suited to live and grow outside year round, making them perfect for the range of Minnesota seasons. This kind of careful growth quietly pushes against the large factory farms that rush the process in order to produce a market product that is low quality in life for the animal and for the people who consume
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them. Even just walking onto the property, it is clear that this family hopes to offer the market a different option altogether. The couples’ motivations are clear, “We want to raise happy, healthy animals because they deserve it, they make a pretty major sacrifice to provide for us. Plus, happy, healthy animals taste better.” Beatty Stone Farms aims to provide a life for their pigs that is genuinely happy, giving them the highest quality food and love possible. Many of their animals are named and clearly treated with a lot of respect. Upon entering the pen, the curious pigs sauntered up to us for back rubs and to use our legs as scratching posts. It is obvious that this beautiful little farm offers their pigs a life that probably resembles hog heaven (pardon the pun). Set up in the pasture in front of their home are large pens their pigs move through based on the growth of vegetation. Because pigs instinctually root in the ground for food, Jim and Olivia deliberately and carefully provide as much of this as possible. Teeming with leaves from various root vegetables and leafy greens, these pens provide an opportunity for these well-loved Mangalitsas to be, well, pigs. Each season, these wiry-haired and jovial pigs are moved to a new section of pen, allowing the previous digging grounds to return to nature. For Jim and Olivia, nutrition is serious business. 36 MAKE IT MINNESOTA
Aside from providing a healthy lifestyle for their pigs, which according to Jim is obvious, this way of raising their animals also impacts the meat. By giving their animals access to high quality nutrition, they keep healthy animals that will go on after a 12- to 18-month-long growing period to provide a beautiful meat and fat that is sought after by chefs, is high in essential Omega fats, and is a genuinely tasty and quality product. Clearly, Jim and Olivia spend a lot of time working toward creating a sustainable life, experimenting with growing their own vegetables and greens for their Mangalitsas and plan to continue expanding what they can to do so. The couple excitedly explained their little plots of land dedicated to growing as much produce for their pigs as they can and shared their detailed plans to do even more. The hope for Beatty Stone Farms is to create as much of a “closed loop” as they can, planning on apple orchards for the fall and utilizing the already grown maple trees to provide new and different flavors for the pigs as well as the people who will go on to consume them later. They even raise bees to encourage pollination as these projects continue to grow. Jim and Olivia are passionate about creating a system that diverges from the environmentally harmful and irresponsible conventional methods of raising animals for food. Undoubtedly, it requires a lot of hard work and dedication, but
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it is done with joy. Looking out toward her pigs and the world she and her husband are building for them, Olivia lovingly remarks, “I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.” The true heart of the operation lies in a genuine curiosity and a sense of true Minnesotan optimism. To put it simply, Jim and Olivia want to do as much as they can to promote the need for change in the agricultural system. They write, “If we had to sum up our little farm in one sentence, it would be a question. How can we produce the highest quality, best tasting meat in the most sustainable way? That has been our guiding principle and so far it has been a delicious adventure.”
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