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Ground Level Blog

The challenge of measuring local food

The local food movement is growing, both in ways you can measure and in the understanding that some ways you can’t.
by Dave Peters

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Sherburne’s place in the Patchwork Nation

Sherburne’s place in the Patchwork Nation

Information collected for the book “Our Patchwork Nation” presented on patchworknation.org provides insight into how Sherburne County compares to the rest of the state and nation.

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Four questions for tornado-torn Wadena

More than 200 Wadena residents turned out this weekend to participate with the Minnesota Design Team’s volunteer architects and planners, helping envision the town as it rebuilds after this year’s tornado.
by Nancy Lebens

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Long Prairie Packing donates to senior center

Long Prairie Packing contributes $5,500 for senior center.

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Wadena sketches a future look

Wadena sketches a future look

The Minnesota Design Team drops into tornado-hit Wadena to offer help in redesigning the west central Minnesota town.
by Nancy Lebens

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Farm-to-school food: Who’s going to chop the rutabagas?

A pilot project put $15,000 into four Minnesota schools to expand their farm-to-school food efforts. Menus were expanded, suppliers found; but obstacles remain.
by Dave Peters

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Case Study: New Prague’s golf course

It seems a financial reality is emerging: if consumers don’t have a lot of money to spend on recreation, they aren’t likely to travel for things they can experience without traveling.

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Cities can adjust to an LGA-less future, says former budget chief

Given time, Minnesota cities can adjust to a future without local government aid, says longtime public official and Humphrey Institute senior fellow Jay Kiedrowski.
by Nancy Lebens

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If collapse is nigh, get to know your neighbor

Transition Towns, a loose collection of communities focusing on building personal and community resilience in preparation for the bleak economic and energy future they predict, is growing in Minnesota.
by Dave Peters

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Gravel or pavement? Running costs to ground in exurbia

The yearly maintenance costs of gravel roads make them appear inefficient, until you consider the capital improvement costs associated with bituminous roads at the middle and end of their lives.

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