River of Ideas

🌊 Dive into the Heart of the Twin Cities! 🌿In our latest River of Ideas podcast, hosts Nick and Abby share their favorite places to explore and things to do along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and St. Paul. From biking scenic trails, hiking rugged paths, and kayaking peaceful waters, to immersing yourself in the rich natural beauty of the one and only Mississippi River Gorge, this episode is packed with inspiration and insider tips.Highlights:🏞️ Hidden gems like Crosby Farm Park, the Winchell Trail, and Longfellow Beach.🚴‍♂️ Biking routes with breathtaking views along West River Parkway and the Stone Arch Bridge.🛶 Paddling adventures via the easy-to-use Paddle Share program.🐶 The joy of off-leash fun at Minnehaha Dog Park.🦉 Wildlife spotting, nature immersion, and all things flora and fauna.Whether you're a local or just passing through, this episode will ignite your adventurous spirit and help you see the Mississippi River in a whole new light. Tune in for fun, laughter, and plenty of travel tips that will make your next river outing unforgettable!Links:Plant Sales, Cleanups, and Workshops (MWMO Blog) — https://www.mwmo.org/news/mwmo-annual-spring-guide/Spring Maintenance for Native Plants (MWMO Blog) — https://www.mwmo.org/news/spring-maintenance-native-plants/ Spring Ecology in the Mississippi River Gorge with Carolyn Carr — https://youtu.be/9Agrm6f6ndciNaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/Credits:Nick Busse — Host, Video ProductionAkadia Johnson — Audio ProductionAbby Moore — HostAbout River of Ideas:River of Ideas is a podcast about greener cities and cleaner water through science and urban planning. We cover topics like green infrastructure, water quality, landscape design, ecology, environmental policy, and environmental justice. River of Ideas is produced by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, a Minneapolis-based joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Learn more at mwmo.org.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:38 - Plant Sales, Spring Yard Care & No-Mow May06:53 - Biking the Twin Cities Riverfront12:44 - Hiking and Exploring the River Gorge21:10 - Finding Nature & Adventure in the City30:28 - Paddling via Mississippi River Paddle Share38:58 - Favorite Beaches and Places to Relax45:39 - Minnehaha Dog Park52:00 - Favorite Places and Final ThoughtsThanks for listening! Check us out at mwmo.org.

In this episode of River of Ideas, we sit down with Jen Ehlert, Vice President of Metro Blooms Design + Build to talk about designing sustainable urban landscapes. We discuss the history of Metro Blooms and the Blue Thumb education and outreach program and delve into some practical advice for homeowners looking to enhance their properties with native plants and raingardens. Jen also shares her personal journey into landscape architecture and her passion for integrating ecological design into everyday landscapes.Links:Lawns to Legumes Grants (Apply by May 15!) — https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/Blue Thumb (workshops, planting templates, etc.) — https://bluethumb.org/Metro Blooms — https://metroblooms.org/Credits:Nick Busse — Host, Video ProductionJennifer Ehlert — GuestAkadia Johnson — Audio ProductionMary Yang — Camera AssistantAbout River of Ideas:River of Ideas is a podcast about greener cities and cleaner water through science and urban planning. We cover topics like green infrastructure, water quality, landscape design, ecology, environmental policy, and environmental justice.River of Ideas is produced by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, a Minneapolis-based joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Learn more at mwmo.org.Thanks for listening! Check us out at mwmo.org.

For our first episode of River of Ideas, we sit down with MWMO Artist-in-Residence Sarah Nassif to talk about her upbringing, her evolution from naturalist to artist, and how her Weaving Water workshops helped foster a sense of community in a troubled time.Credits:Abby Moore — HostSarah Nassif — GuestNick Busse — Production, EditingEva Hanson — Camera AssistantAbout River of Ideas:River of Ideas is a podcast about greener cities and cleaner water through science and urban planning. We cover topics like green infrastructure, water quality, landscape design, ecology, environmental policy, and environmental justice. River of Ideas is produced by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, a Minneapolis-based joint-powers local government unit and one of approximately three dozen watershed organizations in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Learn more at mwmo.org.About Sarah Nassif:Sarah Nassif is a self-taught social-practice artist living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She received her B.S. in Botany from the University of Washington in 1997 and worked in environmental education, urban forestry, and data analysis before becoming an artist. In her community-engaged art projects, Sarah Nassif connects people, plants, and place through sensory exploration of natural and human-built environments, hands-on skills practice, and person-to-person sharing.Sarah currently serves as Artist in Residence at MWMO. Since October 2021, her workshops and art projects have drawn community back into conversations about how each of us can support clean water, care for the river, and share our knowledge in our own communities creatively.Website: sarahnassif.comThanks for listening! Check us out at mwmo.org.