Longfellow Nokomis Messenger

Trent Bowman is the president of NAREB, a coalition of Black real estate professionals. He said, “Throughout history, people of color have been left out of the homeownership game. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about building wealth in our communities. We have to understand the history of housing discrimination, so we can work in the present to leave something for our kids in the future.” (Photo courtesy of NAREB)

Reimagining dream of home ownership for all

In a recent article about the Twin Cities housing market during COVID-19, real estate professionals characterized the market as “frenzied.” A picture emerged of Minneapolis homes selling … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Minneapolis down payment assistance can help buyers enter the housing market

No spoiler alert here – the cost of even a small home in Minneapolis is sky-rocketing. While that is daunting to anyone looking to buy, it is especially intimidating for first time … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Sample photos from Julie Vanatta's bare root clinics. She photographs each plant as part of her studies, then preps them for sharing. Some plants only need a wet paper towel, others require addition of soilless potting medium to reduce stress. Botanical names: Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), and Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans).

Preventing the spread of jumping worms

Two years ago few of us had heard of jumping worms. Now they're all the rage, gardeners have a panic attack every time they find a common nightcrawler. Due to the Ice Age, no earthworms are native to … more

By Julia Vanatta | 5/26/21

Gardening is a family passion for Longfellow residents David, Beth, Elsie (age 12) and Jack (age 9) Gray. Their latest project is a high-tunnel greenhouse and roadside stand south of Moon Palace Books. (Photo submitted)

Fresh food at Minnehaha and E. Lake St.

In a place where many buildings were destroyed by fire, something new is growing.A high-tunnel greenhouse south of Moon Palace Books (3032 Minnehaha Ave.) and Arbeiter Brewing will provide fresh, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/27/21

Kyle and Leah Heino have been running #NokomisLife since 2014.

Home-based professionals find a second home within NEBA

Since the COVID-19 pandemic set in among us, many have discovered themselves unexpectedly working from home. And, for a large number of people, working from home has not seemed a good fit. It’s … more

By Bob Albrecht, www.nokomiseastba.com | 4/27/21

Volunteers assist staff at the ReStore locations. (Photo submitted)

Do-It-Yourselfers love ReStore

Local Do-It-Yourselfers head to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 2700 Minnehaha Ave. to get inspired.The outlet sells new and like-new furniture, appliances and building materials at discounted … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/27/21

Minneapolis Home Energy Disclosure program wins Innovation Award

The city of Minneapolis Home Energy Disclosure program was honored with a competitive Innovation Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) on March 23, 2021. Starting with the … more

4/27/21

Thriving places, thriving lives

How does the design of your house or apartment help you live a healthy and connected life? Kingfield resident Tasoulla Hadjiyanni has been studying this through her work as Northrop Professor of … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/25/21

Bee lawns protect pollinators and your precious time

There are better ways to spend your spring and summer than mowing the lawn. The noise, smell of exhaust fumes, heat, and humidity add up to a less than pleasant chore. How many perfect Saturday … more

By Russ Henry, Bee Safe Minneapolis, Minnehaha Landscaping | 3/24/21

Real estate broker and business owner Pat Rosaves pointed out that homes are selling rapidly, even fixer-uppers. Houses are selling within four days on the market wiith multiple offers. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Buying and selling a home in the time of COVID-19

While some people refer to the last 11 months as the Big Pause, it has been anything but that for real estate broker and business owner Mike Smith. He said, “I’ve been busy for the last … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/24/21

Removing a restrictive racial covenant from your home title

Since 2019, Minnesotans have been able to remove restrictive racial covenants that still remain on their home titles. Racial covenants are clauses that were used by real estate developers in the last … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/24/21

South Minneapolis real estate agent Jay Anderson encourages people to consider using the COVID-19 addendum for a purchase agreement.

Q & A with Jay Anderson

Most sellers become buyers and it’s a pro/con market on either side, observed Jay Anderson, who has been selling in South Minneapolis since 1993. He is a broker/realtor with Coldwell Banker … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 2/24/21

When Wendy Wolff and her family returned from a year working at the Holden retreat center, she found herself helping friends and family move. "People wanted to hear about why we left, what it was like, and how we changed," recalled Wolff. "They listened as I told them that the most significant shift we made as a result of our time at Holden was thinking more intentionally about what we brought into our home and what we let go of by donating, gifting or purging anything we did not love or need." She quit her job working for Minneapolis Public Schools as a therapist, and Blissworks was born. (Photo submitted)

Letting go to live blissfully

Helping people let go of things to focus on a new season of life is what Blissworks is all about.Wendy Wolff launched Blissworks, Beautiful Living in Simplified Spaces, in 2019. The company merges … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 11/25/20

Going solar: Southside ramping up renewal energy output

Eric Olson with with Sarah and Wren (4 yr-old) and Hazel (blonde 2-yr-old) Eric Olson is thinking long term when he looks at the financial benefits of his investment in in a solar … more

By Iric Nathanson | 10/2/20

Wise construction during COVID-19: Longfellow contractor adjusts work, looks ahead

Longfellow contractor Phillip Hide can often make a bathroom or kitchen work better by reconfiguring the space. (Photo submitted) COVID-19 has changed the remodeling business … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/2/20

ON THE JOB with Minnehaha Falls Landscaping

Groundcover spreads early in the spring, and forsythia offers an early pollen and nectar source for bees. (Photo submitted) Russ Henry started gardening with his mom when he … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/2/20

ON THE JOB with Buck Bros.

Longtime Buck Brothers employees Scott Vetsch (left) and Buzzy Napoly return to install new windows at a home where they built a garage previously. (Photo by Tesha M. … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/2/20

URBAN FORAGER

As people use public land more and family budgets get skinnier, Tim Clemens of Ironwood Foraging is helping build more resilient communities. He does that by sharing knowledge … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 10/2/20

Remember to care for the trees

Lend a hand and water boulevard trees. (Photo by Margie O'Loughlin) By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN This spring, 9,400 boulevard trees were planted in the city of Minneapolis. According to … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 7/29/20

Dig in, try something new and get inspired

The Hennepin County Master Gardener’s annual tour may be cancelled this year due to COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean these gardeners don’t still have tips and tricks to offer. Three … more

by JAN WILLMS | 5/26/20