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Serving local food: Sontes makes its mark in Rochester
Six years ago or so, when Sontes opened on Historic Third Street SW in downtown Rochester and advertised that they serve tapas, many people asked, “What’s a tapa?” and “What’s a Sontes?”
Today, not only do people know that tapas are small plates that are meant to be shared at a table, but also that Sontes is a unique dining experience; it is a restaurant where a lot is happening. They are renowned for their dedication to buying local food, resulting in an exceptionally creative menu, and recognized for their support of the arts.
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Reclaiming silverware: Family creates jewelry from cutlery
There are so many different ways to recycle and so many different products that can be recycled. We can leave our old newspapers, milk jugs or spaghetti jars out for local recycling companies, we can bring our old clothes to a number of clothing stores, we can even recycle our technology. These are some of the more typical items to reuse but what about recycling something into a piece of jewelry? What about turning an old spoon or fork into a beautiful piece of wearable art?
That is just a portion of the work done by Porkchop’s, a business owned and operated by Patty Wuttke of La Crosse, Wis., along with her husband Mike Hakala and father Tom Wuttke.
“We make spoon rings, fork rings, bracelets, animals out of forks — like elephants, octopus and fish — and some funky fork pendants that are not meant to look like anything,” says Patty.
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Don’t flush that: Do your part to keep sewer pipes flowing
It’s a casual observation, but one that David Lane can’t ignore. Every year, it seems more and more things that shouldn’t be in Rochester’s sanitary sewer system get in there, causing blockages that need to be removed.
The only things that should be going down the drains of homes and businesses are human waste and toilet paper, says Lane, the environmental coordinator for Rochester’s Public Works department.
By doing this, you are helping to reduce the chance of blockages in the sewer that, left on their own, could cause an overflow, which is a public health concern.
“And secondly,” Lane adds, “it keeps our cost of operation down so that we can spend the money on cleaning the water, not spending it on removing stuff that shouldn’t be there in the first place.”
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Tips from a pro: Farmers market vendor offers her gardening advice
Laurie Timm of Fairview Farm in Altura has tips for those of us aspiring to look down at our hands and see green thumbs. She and her husband Mark, with their son Ben and Ben’s fiancee Desaray Funke, grow approximately 24 acres of vegetables and fruit out of the 500 acres they farm.
“We grow virtually every vegetable that can be grown around here,” Laurie says.
They sell produce at the Winona, Rochester and Plainview farmers markets, plus they sell to school systems, restaurants and food co-ops. She started selling extra produce from their home garden at the Winona market in 1991.
Before planting
To prepare your garden beds for growing fruits and vegetables, you could use a tiller to cultivate the soil. Or, if your garden is on the small side, turn the soil over with a spade to bury any vegetation on top.
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Build your soil: Natural options are available to help your garden grow
The days of being cooped up indoors are coming to an end with the start of spring. The sun is sticking around longer and the calendar is creeping toward warmer days, putting a lot of people in the gardening mindset. It’s time to peak outside and assess what needs to be done.
Whether you’re planning a total yard makeover or just to tend to some plants that could use a little more nurturing, there are a variety of products to help plant growth. Two businesses in southeastern Minnesota have created their own non-chemical products for home gardeners.
Non-GMO soil amendment
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Dance calories away: Fox trot your way to fitness
Dance is an art form. It’s an expression of self through movement and music. But it is also a great way to get in better physical condition and have fun.
“Dancing is a great form of non-impact aerobic exercise,” says Fred Gommels, director of Blue Moon Ballroom in Rochester. “It’s a fun way to improve weight and burn calories.”
According to Gommels, dancing can burn approximately 200 to 380 calories per hour, depending on your dance of choice.
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Page turners: Recent farm memoirs that earn two green thumbs up
Ready for the prime growing season? Why not get your fix by flipping through a memoir about life on the farm? An abundance of books have appeared in recent years written by growers who know a thing or two about making a living from the ground up. Here, our Radish staff recommend a few favorites.
The Wisdom of the Radish: And Other Lessons Learned on a Small Farm
By Lynda Hopkins (2011, Sasquatch Books, 248 pages, $23.95 hardcover)
Lynda Hopkins wasn’t raised on a farm. Far from it. This doesn’t stop her from diving headfirst into sustainable agriculture, investing all her energy, intelligence and $1,260.52 in savings into trying to turn two borrowed acres into an environmentally-friendly farmstead.
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Southeast Minnesota’s summer farmers markets
Featured markets:
AUSTIN
Where: Corner of Oakland and 4th Street NE
When: Mondays and Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. May 9 through October
More information: Karl Milliron,
(507) 383-4808
Locally grown fruits, vegetables, eggs, chicken, honey, jams, jellies, homemade baked goods, bedding plants, ornamental plants, cut flowers and craft items.
LANESBORO
Where: Sylvan Park, three blocks north of the intersection of State Highways 16 and 250
When: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, May 4 through October. Earth Day Celebration April 27; Kid’s Day, July 27; Customer Appreciation Day, Sept. 28; Oktoberfest, October 26
More information: Jerilyn Eddy, (507) 467-2358; www.lanesborolocal.org; www.lanesboro/MN.gov
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What is organic: Know the meaning behind the label
The word organic seems to be popping up everywhere these days, but what exactly does it mean? There are a lot of questions surrounding organic products and it’s a good idea to know the answers to stay an informed consumer.
Organic is a term that has been defined in federal law since 1990. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines organic as a labeling term. In order to be labeled as USDA-certified organic, farmers must follow approved methods which “integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.”
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