Ear to the Ground 281: Report from the Underground

A journey into southeastern Minnesota’s geological basement reveals that building soil health can help make “clear” and “clean” equal the same thing.

More Information:

LSP’s Soil Health web page
Minnesota Conservation Volunteer article: “The Farmer Who Went Underground”
In July 2022, Aaron Bishop shot this video of flooding in Niagara Cave shortly after a rainstorm.
Ear to the Ground podcast episode 231: Caves Don’t Lie

You can find LSP Ear to the Ground podcast episodes on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, and other podcast platforms.

**Cavers explore southeastern Minnesota’s karst geology.** (*Photo by Martin Larsen*)

Upcoming Events

April 2025

Wednesday April 30

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: May Day Teach-In: Minneapolis, Minn.
Wednesday April 30
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
May Day Teach-In: Minneapolis, Minn.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo, 3521 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA
Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: May Day Teach-In: Rochester, Minn.
Wednesday April 30
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
May Day Teach-In: Rochester, Minn.
2 7th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901, USA

Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

May 2025

Thursday May 1

9:00 am – 10:00 am: May Day Teach-In: Mankato, Minn.
Thursday May 1
9:00 am – 10:00 am
May Day Teach-In: Mankato, Minn.
Shared Spaces, 127 S 2nd St, Mankato, MN 56001, USA

Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

Thursday May 29

9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Thursday May 29
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Zoom Online
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing Best Practices to Get Your Farm’s Next Customer is designed to help farmers grow their customer base by sharpening their storytelling and digital marketing skills—whether they’re selling through farmers’ markets, CSAs, or direct-to-retail. This Greener Pastures and Meet the Minnesota Makers workshop will cover how websites and social media can actually convert viewers into buyers to creating content that builds community loyalty.

This workshop is also designed for ag educators, professionals, and partner organizational staff who support farmers directly and want to be well-versed on the marketing best practices to support direct-to-consumer farms.

For details and to register, click here.

June 2025

Saturday June 28

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Saturday June 28
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Dream Acres, Co Hwy 8, Spring Valley, MN 55975, USA
Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters to kick-start the Driftless summer with an evening of good food, good music, and good times. We’ll have activities for all ages that will get you out in nature, exploring the connection between our region’s farms and your community’s food, land, and water. Bring a side or dessert to share for dinner, and the Dream Acres wood-fired oven will provide locally-sourced pizzas and flat breads. Dinner will be followed by live music and contra dancing by the Crater City String Band.

To reserve a spot, click here.

Camping sites are available at nearby Masonic Park and Forestville Mystery Cave and Lake Louise State Parks. Camping at Masonic is rustic,first-come-first-serve, free, and does not require a reservation. Fillmore County, who manages the park, only asks that you call the dispatchers at507-765-3874 when you arrive with your vehicle information and phone number in case of emergency. State Park reservations cost $25 a night and can be made online.

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