Interested in using more native plants in your garden, but not sure where to start? Residents of The Crossing condominium complex in Northfield found themselves in a similar situation about ten years ago.

Across the Cannon River watershed, people and organizations are coming together to care for the land in ways that are both practical and deeply rooted in history. A recent restoration event at Sharing Our Roots Farm in Northfield showed what that can look like in practice.

Faribault historian and filmmaker Sam Temple was commissioned by Clean River Partners to create a water-themed film in a language other than English. What emerged was “Las Aguas Vivas de Faribault” (The Living Waters of Faribault), a film that shed light on a hopeful moment in time, in a place not so far away.

As communities in the watershed face extreme weather, like heavier rainfall and flooding, many are looking for ways to enhance local water quality. One effective approach is to plant native plants.

Road salt is present everywhere during the winter months. In large quantities, it poses a threat to fish, wildlife, and human health. So, what’s the solution?

Clean River Partners offers many ways to engage with the waterways that surround us. But sometimes, a person just needs to be near water. To watch it move, and to listen quietly to its voice.

Healthy watersheds do not happen by accident. They are the result of relationships. In Northfield, two institutions have long shaped the landscape through care, research, and stewardship: St. Olaf College and Carleton College.

Clean River Partners is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. That’s three and a half decades of protecting and improving soil and water quality in the Cannon River Watershed.

Fall is quickly approaching, leaves are turning the beautiful colors we love to drive around and look at, and the age-old debate arises about whether or not we should clean up the leaves in our yard. You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it — we’ve all probably participated in the conversation — so we want to dive into this conundrum to determine if or when it’s better to leave the leaves.