Barbara Winkler U of M Extension Think gardening season is months away? Not so fast! As. Minnesota moves into January, you can get a head start with winter sowing, a simple, budget-friendly way to grow native plants that pollinators love. All you need are recycled containers (like milk jugs), potting soil, and seeds. These mini greenhouses… Read More

Robin Trott University of Minnesota Extension It’s that time of year again, snow drifts outside, daylight is short, and gardeners across Minnesota cozy up with seed catalogs. Think of it as holiday shopping for growers: glossy pages filled with promises of juicy tomatoes, fragrant herbs, and flowers that could make your neighbors jealous. But before you… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda For some reason, my memories of my father, who was a farmer his whole life, saying “That fence is 40 rods long” popped into my consciousness lately. Other than that it was a unit of measurement, I never had a clue what he was talking about. It turns out that the rod… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I’ve seen the traffic safety information you share on your X account when it comes to dealing with winter weather and slippery roads. Can you write about winter driving safety here for all of us? I’d like for you to share some basic winter driving tips. Thank you and be safe…. Read More

Henning Library To the Editor, I’d like to share a wonderful opportunity available through the Henning Public and Community Library. The library now offers a Minnesota State Park Pass that patrons can check out free of charge, giving access to any state park without an entrance fee. This is a great chance for families and community… Read More

Alisha Asleson OTC Master Gardener Volunteer Looking for something new to enhance your containers or landscape for the upcoming season? The Proven Winners® plant brand has a new portfolio of plants that they are adding to their collection for spring 2026. Proven Winners® is most famous for the introduction of Petunia Vista® Bubblegum® and is a… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda Some time ago, at a place where I worked, everyone came back in on Monday morning, with everyone eager to share their weekend behaviors with everyone else. Just like kindergarten show and tell, kind of. Bob (not his real name, because the real names are changed here to protect word murderers, which… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: I’m pregnant and I’ve seen seat belt attachments that clip under the seat and say they make belts safer for pregnant people. Are these safe to use?   Answer: I contacted the expert who is the Community Programs and Occupant Protection Manager for the Minnesota Safety Council and here is what… Read More

By Jessica Carlson OTC Master Gardener Intern If you’ve lived in Minnesota long enough, you know that some winter storms love to throw a little extra weight on our yards in the form of heavy wet snow. It certainly is welcome after such a dry fall. However, branches bend like they’re trying to touch their toes. And… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda The English language, about which I have written intensely, never fails to enchant me, especially up here on the northern end of the great rural American prairie. That’s because, around here, you have to stay alert for Finnglish, which is a hybrid cross between English and Finnish that is heard quite… Read More