Longfellow Nokomis Messenger

Linda Kjerland was a Garden for Wildlife mentee in her first year of developing a backyard habitat for wildlife. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Longfellow Garden for Wildlife Yard Tour 2021

Linda Kjerland moved to her Longfellow home 10 months ago, from a condo in St. Paul. Over the course of the winter, she started thinking about how to expand her garden and turn her lawn into … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 9/3/21

Wrapping up the growing season

Although it still feels summery outside, our first frost is right around the corner. But fear not – there’s still plenty to do in the garden! I know I will be soaking up these last weeks … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener Intern | 9/3/21

Artist Anita White (right) with art student Henry Holdsworth, in White’s garden. (Photo courtesy Hillary Oppmann)

LoLa artists weekend

The LoLa Artists Weekend this month will include Katie Cameron at Cry Baby Clay, her newly opened shop and studio on Minnehaha Avenue. “I’m super excited to have my studio up and running … more

by Sharon Parker, LoLa | 9/2/21

Can I recycle this?

It's the age-old question that never seems to have an easy answer. Fortunately, understanding how things are recycled can help point you in the right direction.The purpose of a recycling facility is … more

By JESSIE ROELOFS | 9/2/21

Get a free rain barrel

Friends of Mississippi River (FMR) is giving away free rain barrels and conversion kits this summer in partnership with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO). The barrels hold 55 … more

7/28/21

Water wisely during drought

As our unusually dry summer continues in Minnesota, this is a great time to think about smarter ways to water your yard and garden. The same source of water supplies our kitchen taps and our garden … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener Intern | 7/28/21

Miss Northland, Wabin Agiizi Goo Ikwe (Morning Spirit Woman) is Lori Martin-Kingbird: a junior at the University of Minnesota who presented at the Celebration of Language Festival held on the athletic fields at Anne Sullivan Elementary School on Saturday, June 19. Martin-Kingbird is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Northern Minnesota, and is a candidate in this year’s Miss Minnesota Competition. Her social initiative in the competition is called “Water You Doing? Advocating for our Natural Resources.” She believes that water conservation starts at the individual level: first with one person, then with one community, and finally with one nation raising awareness and then standing up for safe drinking water. She said, “If we all work together, we can build hope for our future generations to sustain cleaner, healthier water.” (Photo by Margie O'Loughlin)

'Water You Doing? Advocating for our natural resources'

6/30/21

Let's talk about Japanese beetles

It’s July, and that means it’s Japanese beetle season in Minnesota!Japanese beetles have been a pest in the United States since they were accidentally introduced in the early 1900s. Over … more

By LAUREN BETHKE, Master Gardener Intern | 6/30/21

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