The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda It was a quiet Saturday morning in Boatville, at Hippie Hardware on main street. I had one of The Young Girls–my daughters–with me that morning. (Yes, this Young Girl–the youngest of the three, was the one I had fired twice and hired three times, which fact most of the people in… Read More

By Jessica Carlson  Otter Tail County Master Gardener In Minnesota, the growing season often feels brief, but it does not have to limit what gardeners can achieve. By starting early and using various techniques, gardeners can create favorable conditions for their plants both in the spring and again in the fall. These methods help maximize the time… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: We are starting to see a lot more fog with spring time. Can you provide some advice for driving in those types of conditions.   Answer: This is a great topic. Here is some information from the National Weather Service for driving in fog. If you must drive in foggy conditions,… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda It was 1969, Quang Tri Combat Base, Vietnam. His last name was Antoine, and like a lot of guys back then, back there, soldiers got called some derivative of their name or place. We called him Twine. (For example: “Tex” was from Texas; “Pineapple” was from Hawaii, and so forth.) Twine… Read More

To the Editor, Retirement from a farm business may not mean moving away or giving up on mentoring the next generation, but it does entail transferring management decisions to someone else. It can be a gradual or sudden process. It may be driven by long-term goals, by sudden health issues, or events outside your family. When should… Read More

Jessica Carlson Otter Tail County Master Gardener According to the University of Minnesota Extension, the best period for most pruning is from late winter to early spring.  During this dormant time, it reduces stress, minimizes disease spread, and makes it easier to see the structure of trees and shrubs. Using the right tools makes pruning easier and… Read More

By Jessica Carlson Master Gardener Winter is a good time to think about new garden ideas. This year I am starting from scratch with the perennial gardens at my new home, so I have been spending time reading garden books and sketching ideas for future beds. I enjoy looking at photos of famous mixed borders in… Read More

The Prairie Spy Alan “Lindy” Linda With another birthday behind me, I just kind of put some of what I am and feel into these words: I am pre-cellphones. (When they put that big tower a couple miles west of me, I wrote a pretty negative column about what I thought about that thing spoiling my view. The… Read More

Ask A Trooper Sgt. Jesse Grabow Question: Even with laws I still see a lot of motorists driving distracted. Can you get a reminder out there?   Answer: Driver distraction or inattention is a leading factor in crashes in Minnesota, accounting for at least 25 percent of all crashes annually. Distracted drivers fail to recognize potential hazards on… Read More

To the Editor, Amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of Trump’s courts and congress lunging away from constitutional rule in mindless and formerly illegal directions, there remains opportunities for great leadership to slow the damage and set new courses to get back on track. The most positive indication was the remarkable display of dedication to democracy, courage… Read More