Year: 2023

Drue Fergison is pictured in Parthenay, a stunning medieval walled city 30 minutes north of her new home in France. She was there in October, called "Octobre Rose" - Pink October - to participate in a walk in support of breast cancer research. On the occasion of Pink October, everyone who participated got a hot pink t-shirt. "Group walks are very popular," she says. "This one was 10 kilometers (six miles). Dogs are allowed to come on these group walks." Her dog Timmy, an Australian Shepherd, joined the walk. (Photo courtesy of Drue Fergison)

Moving to France

Observations from Drue Fergison on her move from southeast Minnesota to west-central France.

A sphinx moth dances on a bed of petunias on a warm day in October.

Seasonal Photo

Renee Bergstrom captures the fading images of Autumn.

Gardening teaches us life lessons about death and life. (All photos by Loni Kemp).

Essay | Harvest, Death and Life

The garden harvest is a metaphor for life and death

PHOTO 4 Root R. trail end west of Preston

Poetry | From Sputnik to Eden

Winona’s first poet laureate shares three poems with readers

Furniture and home décor designer TiAnna DeGarmo is remodeling an old feed mill to accommodate more seating and a new commercial kitchen at Sylvan Brewing in Lanesboro. (Photo by John Torgrimson)

In Praise of Wood

John Torgrimson profiles artist and businesswoman TiAnna DeGarmo.

Minnesota Office of Broadband Development Executive Director, Bree Maki, attends a White House celebration of funding for nationwide broadband. (Photo courtesy of Bree Maki.)

Internet for All

Julie Fryer interviews the state’s leader on broadband development in rural Minnesota.

If a picture can tell a thousand words, this is it! John Weiss captured the perfect picture to accompany his story about special needs fishing put on by the DNR. Pictured is Nancy Qual of Austin being assisted by Conservation Officer Annette Kyllo. (Photo by John Weiss)

Pitch a Story | Community Voices Make a Difference

Root River Current’s co-publishers write about the first six months of this eMagazine, its initial impact and contributors–and how YOU can help the team!

Reid Wintersteen, accompanied by his nine-month old son Clayton, helps with river cleanup on the Root River near Lanesboro. His wife Laura picks up trash nearby. (Photo by John Weiss)

Root River Cleanup Has Become an Annual Tradition

John Weiss joins river enthusiasts as they cleanup the Root River.

Water flows over the Lanesboro dam along its autumn journey to the Mississippi River.

Autumn Surprises

Renee Bergstrom’s photos introduce us to Autumn

Bulbs and rhizomes produce familiar annual blooms in southeast Minnesota gardens. Some, like these baby iris, are hardy and relatively carefree—whereas other varieties, more tender and less winter-hardy, must be dug up and properly stored until spring. (Photo by Nancy North)

Essay | Storing Tender Bulbs

Tips on when to dig and store your tender flower bulbs

Fiddlehead ferns, ramps and nettles are readily available in the Spring in Southeast Minnesota. (All photos by Loni Kemp unless noted)

Learning to Forage in Minnesota

UM Extension Educator Katie Drewitz discusses foraging workshops and information sources.

Summer, winter, spring and fall, these boathouses along Lawrence Lake, near Brownsville, are ‘home’ to dozens of river dwellers. (Photos by Nancy North unless otherwise noted).

Life Afloat on the Big Muddy

John Gaddo introduces us to the Lawrence Lake boathouse community just below the Root River’s confluence with the Mississippi River near Brownsville.

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