For those who are longtime visitors, welcome back. You've probably noticed some changes. That's okay. Change is good.
If this is the first time you've visited our online home: Welcome! We wanted to let you know a little bit about us. Our mission drives us. We emphatically believe that through education and experiences anyone can be a steward for our planet.
In this blog post, we wanted to let you get to know more about the people behind the turtle. We asked our staff to share a little about themselves. Some questions are ice-breakers, while others are more thought-provoking.
We started off with something light:
Music.
What Are you Listening To?
HDT Program Coordinator Michelle H. replied - "Lewis Capaldi"
Marketing Coordinator Colin M. said - "Nathaniel Ratliff & The Night Sweats. I know it's hipster rock, but there's something about the sound that I just keep coming back to. I love it."
Campus Chef Chris G. replied - "Octane Radio from Sirius XM"
Manager of Administration Tammy B. said - "Classic Country Music"
Food Production Coordinator Dave W. said - "Lots of everything"
Program Specialist (Driftless Region) Nora W. said - "The Good Girl by Mary Kubica on audiobook."
Conservation Technician Jim C. - Land Stewardship Project's Podcast "Ear to the Ground".
Top Five Songs (by genre or overall)
Michelle H.
Wish you Were Here - Pink Floyd
Love, Me - Collin Raye
Paul Revere - Beastie Boys
Colin M.
Find the River - REM
All Things to All Men - Cinematic Orchestra w/ Roots Manuva
Tank! - SEATBELTS
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
Humility - Gorillaz
Tammy B.
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
If This is Goodbye - Mark Knopfler & EmmyLou Harris
Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band
Hurt - Johnny Cash
Got a Tiger by the Tail - Buck Owens
Chris G.
Apologize - Grandson
Get Rhythm - Johnny Cash
Alone in a Room - Asking Alexandria
Battleship Chains - Volbeat
Throne - Bring Me the Horizon
We put together a playlist if you want to give 'em a hear.
Food.
What Food are you enjoying?
Michelle H. - Egg Rolls
Colin M. - Lemon Pepper Chicken w/ Riced Cauliflower
Chris G. - Pickles. So Many Pickles
Tammy B. - Garden Abundance
Dave W. - Hot Dishes and Soups
Nora W. - Honeycrisp Apples from the Orchard up the Road - so good!
Jim C. - Homemade Granola and Fermented Dill Pickles
Red tomato sauce or White fettuccine sauce?
Michelle H. - Depends on the day!
Colin M. - Red Sauce. Much healthier and versatile.
Chris G. - Red. It's so bold and full of flavor...tasty!
Tammy B. - I like them both, slightly more to the red sauce.
Dave W. - Both, it depends on the meal.
Nora W. - Red
Jim C. - Either as long as they are made from naturally raised products.
Do you like your margaritas blended or on the rocks?
Michelle H. - Blended
Colin M. - Blended. It has to go through the straw.
Chris G. - On the rocks. Slushies are for children. :p
Tammy B. - Margarita on the rocks
Nora W. - On the rocks, please!
Jim C. - On the rocks, with fresh squeezed limes
Inner Thoughts.
What recharges you? Energizes you?
Michelle H. - Time away with my family, usually camping.
Colin M. - Finding a song that reaches more than beats and lyrics. If it reaches the inner thoughts/feelings, I feel heard. Feeling that connection really recharges me.
Chris G. - I like tasks, and getting them finished is what gets me ready for the next one.
Tammy B. - Getting outdoors. Fresh air.
Dave W. - Outdoor activities
Nora W. - Time outdoors, moving my body & admiring the beauty of the world.
Jim C. - Nature
What's your "Why?"
Michelle H. - My family, always.
Colin M. - That's a big question, isn't it? Why do we do anything, right? There's a track of thought that says we do anything out of either a sense of love or a sense of fear. We want to be the positive aspect in our world. That's love. Conversely, some think we act out of fear of punishment, guilt, shame, or any number of other negative consequences. I certainly hope I'm here to be that positive influence, that I'm here to make my environment a better place. That's my why, I guess.
Chris G. - I strive to improve, to be better tomorrow than I am today.
Tammy B. - I enjoy people and helping when I can on their journey through life.
Dave W. - Not to waste my life wondering, but doing.
Nora W. - To make the world a better place, one very small act at a time.
Jim C. - Understanding how we can grow food that heals our soil, water, and bodies.
How much of your average day do you feel like you spend outside your comfort zone?
Michelle H. - 5%?
Colin M. - Wow, it's changed a lot with distance working, but currently, my co-workers haven't even noticed that I sometimes wear sweatpants in our video meetings, ha! So, much less now. Perhaps 5%.
Chris G. - Not enough! Challenging yourself is the only way to grow so I try to do it a lot, but I always feel I could have done more.
Tammy B. - 10%
Nora W. - Very little, though I didn't always feel that way.
Jim C. - Depends on the day. None of the day to most of the day.
Activities
What are you reading?
Michelle H. - My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Chris G. - The Wise Man's Fears by Patrick Rothfuss. Fantasy Reads are my favorite.
Tammy B. - Canning, Preserving + Freezing + Drying + Fermenting = Saving Summer in a Jar Dave W. - The Seed Garden
Nora W. - I just finished reading Educated and loved it! I always love reading about another person's upbringing and perspective on life. I'm slowly making my way through Sigurd Olson's Listening Point, but I like to cherish each chapter.
Jim C. - On Pasture Magazine
What series did you just finish binge-watching?
Michelle H. - NCIS
Colin M. - The Umbrella Academy
Chris G. - Criminal Minds
Tammy B. - Downton Abbey
Nora W. - Nothing recently, enjoying outdoor time.
Would you rather take a walk in the daylight or in the evening/dark?
Michelle H. - In the winter, evening/dark. Rest of the year, daylight.
Colin M. - Daylight (love running the trails), but night walks are magical with the right person.
Chris G. - Daylight. So many pretty things are just out of sight in the dark, plus Zombies!
Tammy B. - Both! Because you are outside and mornings are beautiful, sunrises and birds singing and evening holds fireflies, beautiful skies and, at times, northern lights.
Dave W. - Evening
Nora W. - Tough questions! There's nothing better than an exciting night walk where you find things you don't normally see.
Jim C. - Depends on where I'm walking
What are you celebrating?
Michelle H. - Kids are back in school!
Colin M. - Baseball Playoffs are here!
Chris G. - College. My oldest child, Camron has gone to college and I couldn't be more proud.
Tammy B. - A beautiful Garden Harvest
Dave W. - Fall colors
Nora W. - The changing of the season
Jim C. - A new puppy, Shep, a tricolor Austrian Shepard and the newest member of our farm.
Misc.
Would you rather wash, dry, or put away dishes?
Michelle H. - Put away.
Colin M. - That's easy! Wash 100%! I'm a great washer. I used to work in food service during college and I could just tune out the world and get 'em done.
Chris G. - Wash, get it done and over with.
Tammy B. - Wash
Dave W. - Wash dishes
Nora W. - Wash 'em!
Jim C. - Don't care as long as I have help.
When you come to a stoplight and are seen by a neighboring car, do you stop singing or do you keep on belting it out?
Michelle H. - Keep singing!
Colin M. - Yes, I stop, lol. I'm pretty self-conscious.
Chris G. - Keep on Rocking!
Tammy B. - Keep on.
Dave W. - I don't stop singing, I just sing a little quieter
Nora W. - Oh, keep on! Maybe add some dance moves.
We would love to hear from our readers. What do you think of our music lists? How do you drink your margaritas? Have you found your purpose? Let us know by commenting below.