Community Voices

An illustration of two large horses pulling farm equipment through a brown field with a dark gray and yellow cloudy sky behind them.

Essay | A Teacher, a Rooster and an Outhouse

An essay from the book “A Teacher, A Rooster and an Outhouse” tells the story of young boy shenanigans while entertaining their teacher.

A book cover with a closeup image of wood planks showing the grain. One end grain looks like a five-petaled flower. The words on the cover are in a grainy type of red and white and say "A Good Sauna Always Burns Down".

Poetry | Finnish-American Heritage Reflected in New Collection

From back roads and wasp nests to shamans and lutefisk, regional poet Jim Johnson shares excerpts from his latest collection.

man looking at gathered people in community setting

Root River Diary | An Extraordinary Kindness

Just how special can a delivery person be? Steve Harris and Diane Knight share observations from a community sendoff to UPS driver Josh Merchlewitz.

A dark brown snapping turtle lays on the lower bottom half of a skateboard. His tail is on the asphalt and the front end of the skateboard is pointing up.

Root River Diary | How Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

Joyce Roffler finds a unique way to help a snapping turtle across the road.

sunsetting photo

Bluffland Sunsets, Moonrise

Root River Current photographers capture twilight scenes in this series of “sunset, moonrise” photos.

puppy sitting in yard

Settling in for Another Season

Root River Current photographers capture critters welcoming another season.

A robin stands in a pile of brush on the edge of a stream.

Essay | Celebrating Blossoming Ephemerals, the Return of Birdsong and Earth Day

An excerpt on Spring from Nancy Overcott’s book ‘At Home in the Big Woods.’

photo of blooming blue flower

April Springs to Life

Root River Current photographers capture the arrival of Spring in Southeast Minnesota.

A well-stocked, vintage kitchen scene.

Essay | Frank Walsh’s Kitchen

An excerpted essay from the book “Frank Walsh’s Kitchen” of a charming story of two teen boys working at summer haying and the unique lunch that followed.

photo of lady slipper flowers

Poetry | “Love…” In Springtime

Original poems — and a doodle — by southeastern Minnesota artist and poet, Diane Knight.

A young child wearing a blue sweatshirt stand next to the trunk of a large maple tree. On the side of the tree is a silver metal bar holding a blue clear plastic bag that is half filled with clear maple sap. The sunshine peeks behind the tree and across the brown woods in early spring.

Essay | Maple Syrup–A Homesteading Tradition

An impulse-buy at a local farm store leads to a sweet new family tradition.

snowplow plowing snow from highway

Essay | Plowabunga! My Salute to Snowplow Drivers

John Gaddo salutes snowplow drivers – Plowabunga!

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