Election time is reflection time. Time to reflect on satisfaction with our state of being. Time to reflect on how our world looks and to imagine what we would like it to look like in the future…

Just say the words smoky gold to nearly anyone who grew up with a conservation ethic in Wisconsin and they know these words were made famous by Aldo Leopold…

There’s a trail near my home that I call Autumn Trail. Every year when the intensity of fall colors peaks, I head down that trail to immerse myself in beauty unsurpassed. It is an annual ritual and something I must do alone.

Unless we seriously change our ways and place a priority on Environment in all areas of our lives, businesses, and communities—including and especially the voting booth—we will continue moving toward a world less rich, less healthy, and less able to sustain human life.

Ask anyone in my family and they remember Grandma Rau’s apple cobbler. The buttery crust steaming over hot sliced apples served with a splash of cream made for an unforgettable dessert or breakfast. I can still see Grandma’s hands working a silver paring knife around and around each apple until there were long strips of apple peel for us to snack on…

Owning land meant more than just expanding our experiences in Nature; it meant expanding our circle of friends. On this late summer day, I felt sadness sweep over me after the phone call. Knowing their depth of kinship with this land, I could imagine how deeply they grieved this loss…

We’ve all had them. Harried days when our stress level kicks up a few notches. Times when our thoughts are stuck on replay like a record player needle caught on a scratched LP.

One such day stands out for me. It had been an exceptionally difficult day at work. Like usual after getting home, I put on my walking shoes and hit the trail. Maybe I could walk my stress away? As my mind turned the day’s experiences over and over again, I was oblivious to anything else around me until some movement up ahead brought me to my senses.

The stories of people are often rooted in the stories of land—but the stories of land are often shaped by the stories of people, too. I took an afternoon road trip with an elderly friend yesterday to explore his old "stomping grounds" in a township where he had lived for decades and raised his family. Through his stories, he shared his roots and I discovered more about my own.

If we want to create a legacy, we first need to live it according to John C. Maxwell.

If you are like me and my husband, owning a home is something we take pride in, but we also know that it comes with great responsibility. Planet Earth is also our home.

Today is the day to share your joy outdoors with a child. It gives you a chance to show them how you value your connections with the natural world.