Soil Health: The Challenge of Our Time
Soil health is defined as the ability of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem. The soil's ability to function, to cycle water and...
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Happy Dancing Blog
Jim Chamberlin
- Dec 2, 2022
- 4 min
Celebrate World Soil Day
World Soil Day is December 5th and is dedicated to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable...
Jim Chamberlin
- Oct 14, 2022
- 6 min
Food in a Changing Climate
On what appears to be the backside of the 2021 drought, it’s a good time to reflect on the impacts the drought had, and explore ways we...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 30, 2022
- 4 min
Soil Health, Part Four
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, also operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry operation near...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 16, 2022
- 5 min
Soil Health, Part Two
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, with his wife, Audra, operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 9, 2022
- 5 min
Soil Health, Part One
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, also operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry operation near...
Jenny Hill
- Sep 2, 2022
- 4 min
Intro to Seed Saving
If you’re a beginning gardener, like me, the amount to learn may seem overwhelming. I had to figure out when to plant, where to plant,...
Jenny Hill
- Aug 19, 2022
- 3 min
The Garden Files: Recipes for the Abundance of the Season
To me, this is the time of year Minnesota really shines–I call it High Produce Season. Whether you are in our Northern Lakes region (Pine...
Jenny Hill
- Jul 29, 2022
- 4 min
Plastic Free July Scorecard: Kind of Ugly
Quick! How many single-use plastic bottles are bought around the world EVERY MINUTE? One million. How has Plastic Free July been going...
Jenny Hill
- May 13, 2022
- 3 min
Exploring Farms and Co-ops for Local Foods
Spring brings the return of Farmer’s Markets and increases our urge to travel and explore. Have you ever wondered who are the “farmers”...
HDT Team
- Apr 1, 2022
- 3 min
Getting a Jump on the Growing Season
Happy Dancing Turtle’s Grower Dave starts 10,000+ seeds on campus every year. He grows plants in many ways–using hoop houses, aquaponics,...
HDT Team
- Mar 18, 2022
- 3 min
A Drop in the Bucket
World Water Day is March 22. This annual United Nations Observance celebrates water and raises awareness of the two billion people...
Jenny Hill
- Dec 17, 2021
- 3 min
Back to Basics 2022 Registration Now Open!
We are happy to announce registration for the 16th Annual Back to Basics is now open. For 2022 you can choose from virtual and in-person...
HDT Team
- Sep 24, 2021
- 3 min
Family Fall Fun
Wow, that was quick! Summer just shot by us like an acorn falling from an oak tree. We hope you got all your sunshine and swimming in...
Jim Chamberlin
- Aug 20, 2021
- 3 min
Local Support Available for Farmers During the Drought
I write this in the midst of one of the most severe droughts to hit our region in decades. Field crops without irrigation are dead or...
Jim Chamberlin
- May 21, 2021
- 5 min
Adaptive Grazing Management in the Region
Three years ago we started running cows and sheep on our large field at Island Lake Farm, using adaptive grazing management(AGM). AGM...
Colin Mclain
- May 14, 2021
- 2 min
Local Farmer's Markets Opening Up
If you're looking for farm-fresh locally-grown produce to liven up your meals, the wait is almost over. Area farmer's markets are opening...
HDT Team
- Dec 4, 2020
- 3 min
Celebrate World Soil Day with Our Favorite Documentary Recommendations
As our world continues to undergo wild climate change, there was a significant need to draw awareness of the importance of solutions that...
Colin Mclain
- Oct 15, 2020
- 4 min
Producer Spotlight - Rachel Cobb at Brambling Rows Farm
Farmers are ubiquitous to the Brainerd Lakes area and are doing great work that deserves to be recognized. It's simple, really. If we...
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