Edina - May 2023

Therapy Suites

A new co-working space fills need for therapists post-pandemic

BACK PAIN

For some of our patients, the goal is playing on a winning team. But you just want your back pain to go away so you can keep your business on track. At TRIA Orthopedics, we’ll treat your back so you can be there for your team. When that happens, it feels like we all win. It’s why you’re treated and how you’re treated by TRIA.

MAY 2023

“Kids just want to go out and try something new and just have exposure to new experiences. So that’s a great thing about camping ... building a fire and just trying these new things and exploring a campground—it blows their minds.” —Joel Nordin, scoutmaster for Edina’s Troop 123

DEPARTMENTS

14 — An Investment in the Future

Through the NextGen Trees initiative, the city dedicated $100,000 to plant and maintain 1,000 new trees.

16 — The Missing Piece to Inner Peace

Local yoga and meditation instructor

Kelly Smith shares tips on how and why to start meditating.

18 — Therapy Suites

A new co-working space fills need for therapists post-pandemic.

FEATURES

20 — Discover Your Day in the Sun

A beginner’s guide to camping and hiking in and around Minnesota this summer.

26 — Now Trending

Lili Salon Spa shares what’s hot in makeup, skin care, nails and hair.

32 — The Traveler’s Trail

One extraordinary woman’s trek across the globe brings home lessons for us all.

TASTEMAKERS

44 — Nature’s Bounty Plant your spring garden with a mind toward canning, preserving and pickling. IN

6 — Editor’s Letter

9 —

Photo: Brittni Dye

FROM THE EDITOR

h, May. It’s my favorite month of the year. It’s the month of my wedding anniversary. (May 1!) But it’s also when spring fully blooms, and all the lilacs and daffodils with it. I just love going on walks in May, breathing in that fresh spring air and seeing new leaves unfurl and new flowers bloom on a daily basis. Speaking of getting outside—the theme for this month’s issue are outdoor living and beauty, fitting themes for this lovely time of year. I’m sure you’re all excited about the Edina Garden Council’s annual plant sale (page 40), but it’s also a great time to consider embarking on a hiking or camping adventure. We’ve got tips for novice outdoor enthusiasts on page 20. And if May’s natural beauty inspires you to dip your toe into some of the year’s beauty trends, we’re talking all about them with the experts at Lili Salon Spa (page 26).

May is also Mental Health Awareness month, and I’m excited to introduce you to a unique, new co-working space in Edina, just for therapists (page 18). We’re also sharing some tips on how to develop a meditation practice (page 16).

I know not everyone likes spring—it can be muddy and messy. But I hope this month you’ll spend some time outside and open your eyes to the beauty this season offers!

Photo: Chris Emeott

president Pete Burgeson

Twisted Elements elevates eco-friendly outdoor living.

Minnesotans have long appreciated outdoor living, and more homeowners are taking that concept to a new level with expertly-designed spaces and outdoor “rooms” that lend themselves to family gatherings, home entertaining and even spa-like retreats.

Since 2015, Twisted Elements has helped homeowners take their wish lists and turn them into reality with a host of features, including architectural elements, custom metal work, fire features, lighting, outdoor cabinetry, patio surfaces, planters and water features. “We are hands on with our clients and like to help them find the right product that suits them, their project and style,” says Peter McLoughlin, owner.

“Twisted Elements helped us create our dream backyard,” says Annie, customer. “They have so many quality products. We found some truly unique items, making our backyard living space a true extension of our home.”

Twisted Elements offers a broad spectrum of unique features that come by way of top-tier providers, including: Open Air Cabinets (constructed out of compressed, recycled plastic); OutDeco decorative screens (function and style made from Australian eucalyptus trees); Haddonstone (classic to modern planters and architectural pieces); Gardenstone (affordable and beautiful product line); Tournesol Siteworks (fiberglass

planters for practical ease); and Metalsmith’s Designs (custom creations, including benches, fences, fire pits, pergolas, planters, railings and more.)

“We are extremely lucky to work with all these great companies,” Peter says. “They all stand behind their products and are very easy to work with, and many of our products also come with a warranty.”

With quality products in place, one also needs to consider the local climate. “We work with a lot of great designers and builders, who transform clients’ yards into areas that can be used more than just during the summer months,” Peter says. “We understand Minnesota’s climate and offer products that withstand our varying season and weather. Staying up on eco-friendly, quality products is our specialty,” he says.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR 2023 IMAGES OF EDINA PHOTO CONTEST

THROUGHOUT ITS PAGES,

Edina Magazine showcases our community in a multitude of ways, and one of our favorite methods is through our annual Images of Edina photo contest, co-hosted by the City of Edina. Local photographers of all abilities are encouraged to capture and share fresh and artistic angles of our beloved community.

This year’s contest will be open throughout May and June, and we would love it if you’d submit your favorite photos from the past year! After the contest closes, photos are carefully reviewed and voted on a panel of judges from the City of Edina, Edina Magazine and the community. (Runners-up and honorable mentions are selected as the number and quality of photos allow.) Subject matter, photo quality and reflection of the community are all taken under review.

Winners, runners-up and honorable mentions in the following categories receive consideration for photo placement in an upcoming issue of Edina Magazine and on our website and social media pages, as well as theCity of Edina’s. —Editorial Staff

1. Activities & Events

2. Businesses

3. People

4. Places in Edina

5. Plants & Animals

Photo Contest Rules and Details

• Submissions are accepted at edinamag.com May 1–June 23.

• Entrants must live, work or attend school in Edina.

• Entrants may submit up to five photos, with no more than three in any category.

• Photos should be taken in Edina.

• Generally, photos should have been taken within a year of the submission date.

• Readers are invited to vote online for their favorite photo submissions in the Readers’ Choice category throughout July.

Great Egret Silhouette by Mark Bergeron, Honorable Mention in the 2022 Images of Edina photo contest.

It’s finally time to take the wool coats out of the front closet, move the Sorels from the mudroom and run outside to play—and in Edina, that’s easy, with plenty of activities to welcome the new season and enjoy the outdoors.

According to the Global Pickleball Network, there are now 45 pickleball courts in or near Edina, including the popular Mooty Pickleball Court in Rosland Park. Tennis courts are located throughout the city, and you might even have a chance to play if you manage to get a court between pickleballers!

Let’s Get Outside

Centennial Lakes is an excellent destination for a first date or a family affair: With miniature golf, public art, walking paths, a farmers market, the amphitheater and several restaurants with patios, there are good al fresco options for everyone.

Braemar Golf Course offers a more challenging course, along with a driving range, dining on the deck at Red River Kitchen and yoga on summer mornings.

However, the best place for a breath of fresh air might be right at home. After a trip to Arneson Acres Park for the Edina

Garden Council’s annual May plant sale (see page 40), return home to dig in the dirt, plant veggies, pot flowers or just sit outside and smell the lilacs. We survived another Minnesota winter, and we deserve every delightful moment in the spring sunshine. Check out the city’s activities directory at edinaparks.com for all the events available for kids, adults and families in our parks.

Centennial Lakes Park offers a variety of activities throughout the spring and summer.

Photos: Kat Hulbert; Jennifer Bennerotte

Contributed by Laura Westlund, a tour guide at the Weisman Art Museum and an Art Hound for Minnesota Public Radio.

READ NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC

Four years ago, I attended Library Journal’s Day of Dialog and Book Expo in New York. For me, it was like attending the Academy Awards. I heard a wonderful panel of authors, including Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Strout. One other author on the panel stood out to me: Kevin Wilson. I knew that he had written the novel The Family Fang, because I liked its cover, though I had not read it. That year, Wilson was there to promote his novel, Nothing to See Here He talked about having Tourette syndrome, his love and concern for his young sons and how this same concern weaves its way into his fiction. I liked him, and I liked his novel.

Recently, I bought Wilson’s latest book, Now Is Not the Time to Panic. Set during the summer of 1996, the novel is the story of the friendship of Frances “Frankie” Budge and Zeke Brown. They are two awkward and talented teenagers who meet at the Coalfield, Tennessee, public pool. Frankie is 16 and wants to be a writer. Zeke is from Memphis and is spending the summer with his mother at his grandmother’s house. He wants to be an artist. They make a poster. With the power of a stolen copy machine, they anonymously plaster the poster on the bulletin boards and empty walls of Coalfield. How the community interprets the poster is something that Frankie and Zeke learn that they cannot control.

What Wilson explores in this beautifully crafted story is what art is, and the responsibilities the creator has to an audience if any. It’s a thought-provoking read.

Contributed by Maureen Millea Smith, a retired librarian and a Minnesota Book Award–winning novelist. You can find her books at maureenmilleasmith.com.

Your Care. Your Choice.

We are a community of care – dedicated to you.

As the Twin Cities’ largest and most experienced cancer treatment provider, we know that treating cancer calls for more than compassion. It means giving our patients access to more than 100 cancer care experts, evidence-based treatment paths, close-to-home locations and comprehensive services to support the whole person.

Our compassionate team works tirelessly towards one common goal –fighting cancer. mnoncology.com

A Brief History of Salt

If the historical significance of a food can be measured, then the significance of salt is virtually unrivaled.

Ancient civilization evolved around salt. Long before purposely constructed roadways were built, “salt roads” formed overland routes by which salt-rich provinces supplied salt-starved ones. Salt was a means of preserving food, disinfecting wounds and keeping soldiers hydrated during battle, making it a cherished treasure to ancient societies.

Being so valuable, soldiers in the Roman army were sometimes paid with salt instead of money. When soldiers were given their monthly allowance, it was called “salarium,” which is where the English word “salary” originated. At one point in history, the demand for this white crystalline substance was so high that it was traded ounce for ounce with gold.

To put this into context, the current monetary value of salt is 8 to 80 cents per ounce, while gold sells for more than $1,850 per ounce. But is the low cost of

salt today an accurate indicator of its true value? Surely not.

Next to clean air and water, salt is one of the most invaluable substances on the planet. Many physiological mechanisms require sodium to function. It’s needed to transmit nerve impulses, contract and relax muscle fibers (including those in the heart and blood vessels) and maintain proper hydration and fluid balance.

The life-saving fluids delivered during intravenous (IV) therapy are a combination of sodium chloride (salt) and sterile water. The fluids rehydrate the body and the sodium chloride provides electrolytes.

Salt consumption remains a controversial subject in the field of nutritional sciences, but undoubtedly plays a vital role in sustaining life. Take that with a grain of salt.

Contributed by Timothy Borowski, M.S., a natural healthcare professional and the founder of Axon Movement, located at Statera Health in Edina. You can find him at @axon_movement on Instagram.

CITIZEN OF EDINA JIM BIZAL

Jim Bizal is a builder by trade, forming his own residential building company, Bizal Built Inc., 20 years ago. But what he has built in his personal time is a testament to his dedication to others.

Since 2007, Bizal has led 18 mission trips to Belize to build and maintain Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro. The relationship with Holy Cross started as a mission trip with volunteers from St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Edina. The group built classrooms at a newly founded school serving 66 kids.

The demand for space continued to grow, and Bizal returned year after year, adding classrooms and maintaining the property. The groups Bizal now leads are a blend of members from St. Stephens and Rotarians from Edina’s Morningside Rotary Club. To raise funds for improvements, Bizal helped form a nonprofit, the Holy Cross Education Foundation, and he continues to serve on its board of directors. Today, the school serves 460 students.

Closer to home, Bizal chairs a committee of volunteers from seven local Episcopal churches; together, the selfnamed “EpiscoBuilders” volunteer two weeks a year for Habitat for Humanity. He is also a leader at St. Stephens for the Teens Encounter Christ Program.

Indefatigable, Bizal also serves on the board of directors of the Voyagers Conservancy, the nonprofit partner of Minnesota’s Voyageurs National Park.

The Edina Community Foundation recognized Bizal for his work as a youth mentor with a Connecting with Kids Award in 2018.

Photo: Jim Bizal

Contributed by Tina Bohrer on behalf of the Edina Community Foundation.

An Investment in the Future Through

the NextGen Trees initiative,

By Daniel Huss

A POPULAR CHINESE PROVERB READS: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” The City of Edina is acting now.

Two years ago, Edina conducted a survey on how it should invest its share of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Planting trees was a popular response.

“I’d been advocating to do this for years,” says Luther Overholt, city forester. “Unfortunately, it had never been on the top of anyone’s list.” Until 2021, that is.

Why invest in trees? “Trees are everything,” Overholt says. “They impact air and water quality. They provide wildlife habitat, and they provide shade. That shade can lead to energy savings and help people get outside.”

The two-year plan was to commit $100,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act funds to plant 1,000 trees around the city. “Do the math, and that’s $100 per tree,” Overholt says. “That includes the cost of the tree, [the] cost to plant the tree and the cost to maintain the tree.”

The expectation was that these would be saplings—not less-expensive seedlings and not more-expensive spaded trees. The trees Edina would plant were typically 10-gallon potted trees or trees that were 1–1.5 inches in diameter or 6–8 feet tall.

Photos: City of Edina

the city dedicated $100,000 to plant and maintain 1,000 new trees.

The 2022 Arbor Day treeplanting event, pictured at left, kicked off the NextGen Trees initative.

If you’ve ever planted a tree, you know you don’t just grab a shovel and start digging. When deciding where to plant these 1,000 trees, a large consideration for Overholt was location. Locations were calculated based on tree canopies around the city.

“At 12–13 percent, the southeast quadrant of the city has some of our lowest tree-canopy numbers. The average is 30 percent,” Overholt says, noting the goal of a 40 percent average tree canopy coverage across the city by 2030 per the city’s Climate Action Plan. This tree canopy inequity led Overholt to start planting in the southeast quadrant, as well as on city-owned land.

The plan was to not plant more than 10 percent of the same genus (general type of tree) in the same area, in order to promote a diverse urban forest.

Dutch Elm disease and the Emerald ash borer—both of which often kill the trees where they’re found—are examples of why foresters strive for canopy diversity. “Instead of planting the same tree lining a boulevard, [we’re] trying to diversify as much as possible [and] trying not to plant the same trees next to each other for disease prevention in the future,” Overholt says. “Diversity is key to ensure you have a healthy, resilient urban forest.”

Earlier this year, the city received its second round of American Rescue Plan Act funding in the amount of $150,000; Overholt says this will go toward a three-year maintenance program for the new trees, as well as adding a dedicated seasonal position for watering and tree maintenance.

To date, 699 of the allocated 1,000 trees are in the ground. The first 200 were planted in a 2022 Arbor Day celebration. The most popular varieties planted include swamp oak, Kentucky coffee tree, crab apple, honey locust and serviceberry.

The remaining 301 trees will be planted throughout the 2023 planting season, which will start on April 28 at the city’s Arbor Day celebration.

To view what trees have been planted and where, check out the NextGen Trees Dashboard at edinamn.gov.

The Missing Piece to Inner Peace

Local yoga and meditation instructor Kelly Smith shares tips on how and why to start meditating.

By Malena Larsen

REDUCED STRESS LEVELS , improved sleep and sharper focus— according to Kelly Smith, founder of Yoga for You, host of the Mindful in Minutes podcast, and local yoga and meditation instructor, a meditation practice offers these benefits and beyond.

“Meditation helps promote mental health and enhance self awareness,” Smith, a Bloomington resident, says. “It trains you to be aware of what’s happening within you and around you.”

But what exactly is meditation? Smith

defines it as “single-pointed concentration.” With meditation, she says a person uses all their mental power to focus on one thing—which could be one’s breath or emotions, or listening to a meditation guide’s words.

With its abundance of benefits, everyone could gain from the practice, claims Smith, especially those who feel that meditation would be particularly challenging for them. “It’s good for everyone,” she says. “But extra bonus points for people who don’t think they could do it.”

According to Smith, people often stop themselves before they even start due to meditation misconceptions—you have to sit a certain way or practice for hours a day, for example. “You, yourself ... That’s the biggest roadblock,” Smith says.

Just in time for May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, Smith provides tips on how to start meditating (and stick with it).

Start Small

All you need is eight to 12 minutes a day

Photo: Roxy Photos

Kelly Smith

to experience the positive effects of meditation, Smith explains. “The short-term benefits can be felt right away,” she says. “You may feel calmer [and] more relaxed. The mental chatter gets quieter.”

In Smith’s experience, it takes about eight weeks of regular practice to notice the long-lasting benefits—though for some people it comes sooner. These longterm benefits may include better sleep, increased compassion, better concentration, reduced feelings of depression and anxiety and feeling less reactive.

Keep it Simple

Smith likes to think of the meditation process like a lightbulb. Your mind outside of meditation represents a lightbulb; however, when you’re meditating, you’re turning it into a laser pointer. “As long as you’re practicing single-pointed concentration, you’re meditating,” she says.

Stick to a Schedule

Try syncing your meditation schedule with your sleep. “Meditate in the first 10 minutes of your day or the last 10 minutes of your day before bed,” Smith says. “The more structured your practice is, the less likely you are to let other things get in the way.”

Get Help

Smith recommends using guided meditation because, she says, “All you have to do is hit play, and let your guide or teacher lead you.”

Find the Right Guide

Finding a teacher or style of meditation that resonates with you is crucial in sticking to the practice. Smith shares that meditation should be “beneficial and enjoyable at the same time.” If it’s not, try something new.

Smith teaches classes at Barre3 in Edina and at Blooma in Minneapolis. She also offers private classes, retreats, mentorship and more through her company, Yoga For You.

Yoga For You; yogaforyouonline.com

Yoga For You

@yogaforyouonline

Podcast: Mindful in Minutes

Bonfe can help keep your home safe and comfortable. We fix broken furnaces and boilers, busted air conditioners, fried electrical systems, clogged drains, collapsed sewers and a whole host of other home headaches.

VENTURES

Therapy Suites

By Zoe Deal

THERAPISTS in the Edina area have a new place to call home.

Over the past three years since the beginning of the pandemic, there’s been a significant change in how—and more specifically, where—therapists work with clients. The American Psychological Association reports that, in this timeframe, 58 percent of psychologists have pivoted to a hybrid model of remote and in-person care, embracing long-term telehealth for the benefits it offers some clients. This changes things for therapists who may no longer require a traditional office space lease.

Enter Therapy Suites, a co-working space for mental health professionals created by therapist and entrepreneur Christina Hansen Cohen, Psy.D., L.P. When Hansen Cohen returned to Minnesota after 15 years in Florida, the biggest struggle wasn’t in finding a home—it was securing an office space for her business, Edina Psychology. The search dragged on for weeks, then months; it wasn’t until Hansen Cohen dared to dream bigger that she found her perfect fit.

“This is a huge growth for me. [It’s] totally out of my comfort zone,” Hansen Cohen says.

Located at The E building in Edina (the former Regis Corporation building), the intention behind Therapy Suites is to help therapists lower their costs and level up their care. With space for up to 30 therapists to work, members gain access to private offices for in-person sessions and private phone booths for telehealth sessions through six different membership levels.

Other amenities include a waiting room with a receptionist; a play therapy room; psychological testing kits for diagnosing patients (which Hansen Cohen says can save clinicians a lot of money, since they don’t have to purchase full kits themselves); a 10-person meeting room; and a kitchenette and cozy common area for therapists “to just create that harmony and community and feel of ‘you belong,’” Hansen Cohen says.

For Mo Laschen, an Edina resident and licensed professional clinical counselor who recently started Springwood Therapy in Edina, hearing about Therapy Suites through the grapevine felt “serendipitous.”

A new co-working space fills need for therapists post-pandemic.

Photos: Chris Emeott

“Some of my hesitations when starting a private practice were start-up costs, finding a space that would fit my needs and leaving a corporate job to work on my own,” she says. “So when I stumbled across Therapy Suites, all those concerns were washed away a little bit in a sense that the space is beautiful, [and] it is so incredibly reasonably priced; it was jaw dropping.”

Laschen says she is also looking forward to having “the opportunity to build a community while still having the autonomy of owning my own practice and running my own schedule …”

The build-out of the space took a little over six months; Hansen Cohen brought in HGA Design and Consulting for the floor plan, and local builder Mike Johnson executed the build-out, from tear-down to final painting. Hansen Cohen herself designed the space, picking out colors and furniture, which she sourced from Rypen at the Galleria.

Now that it’s complete, she’s most excited to see therapists using the space to support their clients and help people heal. “Seeing therapists’ clients feel good in the space and therapists feeling good in this space—that excites me,” she says. “... [It] was very important to me that it was welcoming to people from all walks of life.”

Not only that, but she says, “Therapy Suites gave Edina Psychology a home, just like I would like it to give other people’s private practices a home.”

Therapy Suites, 7201 Metro Blvd. Suite 550; 952.491.6437; therapy-suites.com Therapy Suites, Inc. @therapysuitesedina

Christina Hansen Cohen

WRITTEN BY AMY OVERGAARD

discover your day in the sun

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CAMPING AND HIKING IN AND AROUND MINNESOTA THIS SUMMER.

Looking to spend more time outdoors this summer? Head to outstate Minnesota for a day hike—or levelup with a weekend of camping.

For those who aren’t experienced hikers or campers, enjoying the great outdoors in this capacity may seem intimidating. Where should you go? What gear and supplies will you need? How do you plan for bad weather and bugs?

For tips on locations, we chatted with Alyssa Hayes, the spokeswoman for Explore Minnesota. And for advice on the best gear and the practicalities involved with camping and hiking, we talked with Joel Nordin, one of the scoutmasters for Troop 123 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Edina.

Explore Your Options and Start Planning Now

If you want to give camping a try, it’s best to plan ahead. (The time to book your campsite is now!)

According to Hayes, state park camping sites fill up fast. Not seeing availability at your desired campgrounds? “Consider traveling mid-week, and be flexible with dates,” she says, or even in the “off-season” after Labor Day, when the weather is still warm but campgrounds slow down. While many people gravitate toward the North Shore for camping, she says there are just as many beautiful campgrounds in central and southern Minnesota. Reservations for Minnesota state parks can be made up to 120 days in advance.

Of course, your options go way beyond state parks. There are approximately 500 private campgrounds around the state, and Hayes says this can be a great place to start for novice campers. “Most are on a lake or river, and they offer spots for tents and RVs,” she says, noting that state and private campgrounds with robust amenities (including a bathhouse with plumbing) are a great way to get your feet wet in the world of camping.

Hayes recommends utilizing the campground directory on exploreminnesota.com to narrow your search. You can sort by region, by amenities or by availability. Need some extra support? “Visitors can always call [our] 800 line or utilize our live chat to help navigate the directory,” Hayes says. If there’s a specific region you’d like to visit—say, the Brainerd lakes area or along the river bluffs in southeast Minnesota—Hayes says you can always call local convention or visitors bureaus, and their teams can help you find local options.

It also has an online hiking directory where you can discover anything from urban trails in the Twin Cities to longer outstate hikes; and you can sort by trails that are stroller or wheelchair accessible.

For new hikers, Hayes says having an end-goal, like an awe-inspiring view, will help you stay motivated throughout your hike. “If you’re hiking to a waterfall, you’re going to stick with it, right? Because that’s a beautiful view, and it’s a really Instagrammable … moment,” she says, noting that “waterfall season” in Minnesota starts in mid-to-late April, making it a beautiful time to hike. “The snowmelt really can make the waterfalls across the state super picturesque … [and] so vibrant,” she says. Some of her favorite waterfalls can be found along the North Shore Scenic Drive

between Two Harbors and Lutsen.

This area is also a favorite of Nordin for camping. “The state parks along the North Shore are some of our [family’s] absolute favorites,” he says. “Another one that I love is Whitewater State Park, which is in [the] southeast part of the state. It’s beautiful, and it’s got tall cliffs. You drive through farmland to get there, and then all of a sudden you feel like you just kind of go into a crevice in the earth. And it’s some great hiking around there and just a wonderful place.”

Get Your Gear

Once you’ve made your plans, you’ll want to make sure you have the right gear.

A day of hiking naturally requires less gear than a weekend of camping, but that doesn’t mean you should hop in the car and hit the trails without any planning. Nordin suggests packing a backpack with the essentials—water; sunscreen; insect repellant; sunglasses; and trail snacks, like beef jerky, trail mix, granola bars and dried or fresh fruit. He also advises

local finds

Love buying local? Get some of your outdoor gear from Scout, located on Market Street in Edina.

Stanley

1.5 qt. Classic BottleBlaze Orange

You’ll love the features on this belt bag/sling pack, which is perfect for a day hike. It features a main storage compartment, a secret stash pocket, a removable drink holder and more. Scout also has an assortment of other camping-friendly bags.

A Stanley thermos is classic for a reason, from the iconic style to the rugged durability. The doublewall vacuum insulation keeps all your drinks at the ideal temperature all day long, and the twistand-pour stopper allows for a smoother pour.

Photos: Chris Emeott

Kavu WashtucnaRusset Valley

your packing list essentials

Planning a camping weekend? Here’s a starter checklist of what to pack.

Tent

Tarp for under the tent

Sleeping bag

Sleeping pad

Small pillow

Flashlight, headlamp and/or batteryoperated lantern, with extra batteries

Camp chairs

Cooler

Cooking stove and/or single burner (optional)

Pots and pans (cast irons are best)

Cutting board(s)

Knives

Mess kit (cup, plate and bowl)

Cooking and eating utensils

Food storage containers for leftovers (optional)

Percolator or French press (optional)

Extra water

Hand towel or paper towels

First aid kit

Sunscreen

Insect repellant and Permethrin (for ticks)

Biodegradable soap

Hand sanitizer

Toiletries, towel and prescription medications

Toilet paper (one or two rolls)

Swiss Army knife or multitool

Matches and/or a lighter

Firestarter or paper for tinder

packing a small first aid kit and a flashlight, map and whistle to use in case you get lost. “You can be heard from a lot further away [with a whistle] than if you’re yelling,” he says.

Good shoes are also a must. While there’s no need to invest in hiking boots as a first-time hiker, be sure to choose footwear with plenty of support and traction. For stability, Nordin says some people like using walking sticks as well. For clothing, he says, “Regardless of [whether] it’s camping or hiking, always dress in layers. You can always take off your layers.”

When it comes to camping, the packing list is a bit more extensive. You’ll need the obvious campsite essentials—a tent, sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping pad. And Nordin stresses the importance of making sure your gear works ahead of time. “You don’t want to find out your tent isn’t waterproof in the middle of a rainstorm,” he says.

For clothing, Nordin suggests sticking with the basics—socks, underwear, a hat, shorts and T-shirts, plus long pants, a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt for layers. Also? “Always, always, always pack a rain jacket. Assume you’re going to get rain at any time.” He also suggests bringing more than one pair of shoes, in case things get wet.

You’ll be cooking your own meals, and preparing those meals on-site requires some cooking tools and supplies. Pinterest and food blogs are great resources for finding camping meals and recipes—though Nordin says the dehydrated meals available at places like REI taste better than one might think. Check out the opposite page for a full checklist of camping essentials.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Ready for your camping weekend or some day hiking? Nordin encourages everyone to tell someone where you’re headed, for safety. “Make sure that people know where you are … when you’re going in [and] where you’re expecting to come out,” he says. “Obviously, an essential is going to be your phone, but your phone can die or break.”

And when embarking on your first hike, Hayes says, “Take it slow, and keep things short … You want to hit up a short trail for your first few hikes.”

When camping, set up your campsite as soon as you arrive. If any unexpected weather hits, you’ll have some shelter. Plus, unpacking helps you identify anything you forgot to pack, giving you time to pick up additional supplies. And don’t forget to buy your firewood. Nordin notes that nearly all campgrounds sell firewood on-site; by using local

firewood, you avoid transporting insects or pests.

“There’s a lot of really great resources through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources [website], too, about how to enjoy the experience, setting up camp, things to bring, how to plan your meals, things like that,” Hayes says, as well as outlining the “leave no trace” protocol.

Beyond that? Enjoy your time in the great outdoors. Expect that things won’t go perfectly or totally as expected. Roll with the punches, don’t be afraid to ask fellow campers or hikers for help or advice and contact a park ranger or campground manager if you run into any trouble. You may end up loving your outdoor adventures, or you may decide it’s not for you. The most important thing is that you tried it!

EXPLORE MINNESOTA; 1.888.VISITMN; EXPLOREMINNESOTA.COM

EXPLORE MINNESOTA TOURISM @EXPLOREMINNESOTA @EXPLOREMINN

Joel Nordin and his son, Rowan, at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, while on a two-week hiking trip in 2019 with Scouts from Troop 123 in Edina. Rowan is now a senior at Edina High School and is an Eagle Scout.

Photos: Chris Emeott; Sam VanNorman

Written by MALENA LARSEN

Photos by CHRIS EMEOTT

Lili Salon Spa shares what’s hot in makeup, skin care, nails and hair.

NOW TRENDING

The “big thing” in beauty is everchanging. So before you decide to get bangs or throw out your makeup collection and start anew, see what the experts at Lili Salon Spa in the Galleria have to say. We talked to Haley Benjamin, Cymbre Stepp and Marti Boe to see what’s popular in the world of beauty and skin care.

Au Naturel: Skin care and Makeup

Marti Boe, an Edina High School graduate, has been an esthetician for about 19 years. She is an advanced practice esthetician at Lili Salon Spa, where she created the facial protocol.

“No more contouring,” Boe says. “Contour and thick foundation is out.” Instead, she recommends Revision Intellishade, which is a

tinted sunscreen. “It blends with any skin tone,” she says. “I mean any!” Revision Intellishade has antioxidants meant to repair skin from sun damage while protecting it with zinc. Boe recommends pairing this tinted sunscreen with Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face; just mix the liquid with tinted sunscreen for both protected and glowing skin.

“Rosy cheeks that spread over the nose are in,” Boe says. “I am obsessed with this trend.” She recommends the Kevyn Aucoin Neo-Blush for anyone looking to try this look out for themselves. To add a little pop for special occasions, Boe recommends the Kevyn Aucoin Blitz Kid Eyeshadow Palette. A bright pop of lipstick is another great option for special occassions and pairs well with a natural look.

Boe says when her customers are looking for a sculpted look without contoured makeup, they’re moving toward noninvasive treatments that don’t leave skin red or irritated.

“Gua Sha [pictured above] is a great at home tool to use,” Boe says, adding that the Contour Facial at Lili Salon Spa is an excellent treatment. She says this facial is like “botox in a bottle.” The enzyme mask helps send a message to facial muscles to relax and go back to their original state. The mask includes argireline powder, which is said to hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The results from this facial are instant and last about two weeks. “The more [often] people do it, the more the muscles get trained and stay [in place] for longer,” she says.

Boe likes to combine the Contour Facial with something called “notox” treatments—which is botox without the injections. She says that notox treatments, paired with microcurrent (which sends electrical currents to the face), can lift the face and reduce wrinkles by relaxing the muscles.

Along with notox and facials, Boe says LED treatments have been a popular service at the spa, where they set LED lights over clients’ face, neck and chest areas. “Red LED [light] is great for anti-aging,” she says. “Blue LED [light] is perfect for acne clients. [It] is also great for redness and inflammation.”

According to Boe, these treatments for fine lines, wrinkles and acne are on the rise because 2023 is all about feeling confident while sporting less makeup.

Nails Reign Supreme

“Nails are the thing right now,” says Benjamin, owner of Lili Salon Spa. “We have 10 nail artists, and they are booked all of the time.”

Stepp, the nail director at Lili Salon Spa, has seen popularity in the Dazzle Dry collection, which is a fast-drying, long-lasting vegan natural nail polish line. A few sought after colors from the collection are Tiger Lily (a

fuchsia pink with sparkles), Alluring Charm (a very soft pink that’s a great neutral), Pinkies Up (a sheer pink), Starstruck (a shimmery bronze-gold that’s a beautiful earth tone) and Lotion Please (a lovely light blue, pictured to the right).

If a customer is hoping to go the gel route, a few popular colors include Cuddle Up (a soft pink) and Feel the Flutter (a deep, rich, red wine shade). Stepp says hot pink, French tips and multicolored tips become more popular as the weather gets warmer.

“Chrome powder is really popular,” Stepp says, noting that a chrome powder finish can go over gel or regular polish to give it a metallic, chrome-like sheen.

A Flair For Hair

Benjamin says the way she determines beauty trends is heavily influenced on what customers ask for. She’ll take her clients’ ideas and guide them to the right style based on their skin color, face shape and how much time they like to spend getting ready.

“Clients love to surf the internet and see what’s popular,” Benjamin says. “We’re seeing a lot of the wolf cut.” She says the wolf cut is different variations of a shaggy mullet—like Miley

Haley Benjamin, owner of Lili Salon Spa

“WE WANT [GUESTS] TO KNOW HOW TO USE THEIR PRODUCTS IN A WAY THAT WILL KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR HAIR AND HELP THEM [RE-]CREATE THE LOOK FROM HOME AS WELL.”

Cyrus’ iconic 2020s do.

As for color, foilyage is a popular trend in 2023, according to Benjamin. “It’s like balayage,” she says. “But the color is closer to the top, and it gives you bolder colors with a softer line.”

Warm tones are rising in popularity, including auburn and buttery blonde; and Benjamin says she isn’t seeing as many requests for cool hair tones.

Although these colors and cuts are trending, the biggest focus at Lili Salon Spa has been on overall hair and scalp health. According to the salon owner, choosing high-quality products that help with the integrity of hair is a must in 2023.

“Our goal at Lili [Salon Spa] is to educate our guests,” Benjamin says. “We want them to know how to use their products in a way that will keep the integrity of their hair and help them [re-]create the look from home as well.”

Lili Salon Spa, 3180 Galleria; 952.224.3300; lilisalonspa.com

Lili Salon Spa Galleria @lilisalonspagalleria

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One extraordinary woman’s trek across the globe brings home lessons for us all.

THE TRAVELER’S TRAIL

Written by Josie Smith — Photos by Gail Shore

From Timbuktu to China, Russia, Turkey and beyond, come take a peek through the lens of a traveler and the journey she’s been on.

Gail Shore has traveled all around the world. Over the last 50 years, she’s trekked across the globe to well-known and hidden places, visiting over 100 countries.

Growing up in a tight-knit, workingclass family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shore says her family never traveled by air and rarely went on road trips together. The first-born of three children, Shore has a younger brother, Bill, and a younger sister, Jean.

For 26 years, Shore called Edina home before retreating to her cabin in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, nearly seven years ago. And while she still enjoys spending time

in the Twin Cities, she says she draws strength and peace from being surrounded by nature in her own little cozy corner of the world.

“As I travel around the world, [I’ve discovered] we are more alike than we are different,” Shore says. “We all want the same things in life. We want food and shelter and family and faith and community—those basic things that everybody wants.”

In October 2022, Shore released her memoir, Opening My Cultural Lens: A Globe Trekker’s Experiences and Photographs. At the beginning of her book, Shore takes readers back to her days as a youth. She describes life during the 1950s and 1960s when there was little opportunity for girls. A high school

guidance counselor once told her that she had three options: become a teacher, a nurse or a housewife.

At the time, it was impossible for either one of them to know just how fate would change that narrative and take her far away to distant places.

“Luck plays a big, big part in what our next steps are going to be,” Shore says.

Her story along the traveler’s trail began

Left: Khongor Sand Dunes in Mongolia. Middle: Woman working in the fields in Rwanda.

Right: Sherpa in the Nepal Himalayas.

the day she took a job as a reservationist at North Central Airlines in Milwaukee.

“May 15, 1967, is the day,” Shore says. “When you think of your life, too, you think of times where you made a decision or something happened that changed your course in life, and that was it for me.”

In her earliest days, she took full advantage of the travel perks at the airline. Soon, she and friends were jetsetting to wild and wondrous places. Her first trip overseas took her to the Swiss Alps, but destiny was calling her to reach for an even higher peak—one that would involve traveling solo to places she didn’t even know existed.

“If I was with even one other person,

I would not be provided the access into so many situations that I have enjoyed. Traveling alone offers so many opportunities that you can not have with even one other person, never mind a group,” Shore says.

During her solo-style adventures, she typically spends three to four weeks out of the country. A guide always accompanies her. Whether it’s a shaman, a village chief or mayor of a small village, Shore says she’s been delighted to discover that humor is indeed a universal language.

“I am not a tourist, I’m a traveler and I’m there to work. People are assigned to me to help me accomplish what I culturally need to do,” Shore says. “But for some

Gail Shore reason, I [often] end up with these guides that have a wonderful sense of humor.”

A little comic relief is often just what she needs in order to forge through some pretty precarious situations. She recalls her time in the Amazon, which she describes as miserable and wonderful at the same time.

“I was so covered with bug bites there. I’ve never been so hot and uncomfortable in my life,” she says. “And yet it was the most amazing trip I think I’ve ever had. It was phenomenal. You’re in a rainforest, so you’re dripping wet all the time. And it’s so heavy you can hardly breathe, and you’re trying to hike through the jungle. They give you these rubber boots that come up to your knees. You’re kind of sloshing around in them, having a machete going through the jungle to carve out the path that you’re hiking. You’re scratching and itching and hot and it’s hard; it was so hard, just miserable, but you do it because you’re going to experience something out of this world.”

Though she says it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, Shore can name off a handful of places that she finds particularly fascinating, such as Bhutan, Myanmar, Namibia, North Korea and Syria (just to name a few), all of which

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Photo: Jana Noonan Photography

Top right: Gail Shore

Bottom left: Nomadic Tuareg in Timbuktu, Mali.

Bottom right: Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Esfahan, Iran.

“We are more alike than we are different ... We all want the same things in life. We want food and shelter and family and faith and community.”

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are highlighted in her memoir.

“Favorite isn’t even the right word. It sounds like, ‘Oh, I want to go on vacation there.’ Some of the most fascinating places, like North Korea—it’s a terribly oppressive government, human rights are horrible, but to be able to go there was fascinating,” Shore says.

When she comes home from her trips overseas, it’s the simple pleasures in life that she has missed the most, such as drinking a tall glass of milk, as it’s not readily available in many corners of the world.

And don’t forget the peanut butter. Shore will tell you herself that she doesn’t go anywhere without her Skippy peanut butter and her trail mix. As soon as she starts packing, she goes down the list: passport, visa, documents, Skippy peanut butter and trail mix.

“Happiness can be measured differently. And that is what I discover in so many places that I go to. They don’t need all this stuff that we think makes us happy,” Shore says.

One last takeaway as she reflects on

Top right: Ancient tetrapylon at Palmyra, Syria.

Bottom left: Shuar village leader in the Amazon.

Bottom

her time on the traveler’s trail …

“Everything in my life came from May 15, 1967. My career, my nonprofit [Cultural Jambalaya], my ability to travel, photography and all of my friends. I’m so lucky to have so many wonderful friends. In one way or another, they all go back to that nugget,” Shore says. “If I had not taken that job, I don’t know where my life would have led.”

GAILSHORE.COM

@GAILSHORE

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

right: Spinning the prayer wheel in Bhutan.

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

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LOCAL EVENTS

Sip ’N Bloom Floral Design

05/02

Create your own custom flower bouquet with Sip ’N Bloom. The team will guide you step by step as you learn professional tips and tricks. All ages. $65–$85. 6–7 p.m. Wooden Hill Brewing Company, 7421 Bush Lake Road; 952.250.5253; sip-n-bloom.com

things to see and do in and around Edina

MAY FLOWERS

New offerings available at Edina’s annual plant show.

SPRING FLOWERS ARE FINALLY BLOOMING , and the Edina Garden Council is hosting its 50th annual plant sale at Arneson Acres Park over Mother’s Day weekend on May 12 and 13.

This sale is well-loved within the community, has something for everyone and will happen rain or shine, says Maire Katyal, Edina Garden Council member and co-president of Normandale Garden Club. The two-day sale draws a variety of seasoned and novice gardeners. “It’s just neat to bring all those different types of people together,” Katyal says.

The Edina Garden Council uses the Arneson Acres greenhouse to plant and grow many classic sale offerings, Katyal says. This year, the sale also includes hard-to-find perennials, native Minnesota plants, organic veggies, heirloom tomatoes, herbs and more. Over 200 hanging baskets will be available, with warm and cool shade flowers. This year, there will also be an “ask-a-gardener” booth, where patrons can ask master gardeners questions about their plants or gardening. “We have been planting since late January to make sure that the city gets beautiful and stays beautiful all summer and into the fall every year,” she says.

As a community-based fundraiser, all money raised from the event goes toward the council’s philanthropic projects.

Interested in becoming a member of the Edina Garden Council? Talk to any of the garden council members at the sale for more information. —Nandini

Parikh

All ages. Free. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday. Arneson Acres Park, 4711 W. 70th St.; 952.826.1620; edinagardencouncil.org

Sixth Annual Kentucky Derby Twin Cities Party

05/06

Enjoy all the pomp and circumstance of the Kentucky Derby at this event hosted by First Thursday Happy Hour, featuring a best-dressed competition with prizes. Enjoy a menu showcasing mint juleps, bourbon, whiskey and more. Ages 21 and older. Prices vary. 2–8 p.m. The Westin Edina Galleria, 3201 Galleria; 952.567.5000; firstthursdaymn.com

Northern Winds Concert Band

05/14

Listen to music with your friends and

family at this special Northern Winds concert on Mother’s Day. All ages. Free. 6–7 p.m. Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S.; 952.927.8861; edinamn.gov

AAPI Month Festival

05/27

The Edina Asian American Alliance is hosting its first annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month Festival. Featuring performances and local Edina culture and community, the festival will be a joyful place to celebrate the vibrant AAPI cultures of Edina. All ages. Free. 2–5 p.m. Rosland Park, 4300 W. 66th St.; edinaasianamericanalliance.org

Compiled by Clare Greeman and Nandini Parikh

Edina Garden Council; edinagardencouncil.org Edina Garden Council @edinagardencouncil

AREA EVENTS

Kavakos, Bach and Brahms

05/11–05/12

Renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos returns to the Twin Cities, playing Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and conducting the Minnesota Orchestra though Brahms’ grand First Symphony All ages. Tickets starting at $30. Times vary. The Minnesota Orchestra, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; 612.371.5600; minnesotaorchestra.org

Women Run the Cities

05/20

Participate in an empowering 5K— then enjoy a brunch bar complete with mimosas at the finish line. All ages. Prices vary. 8:45 a.m.–noon. Minnehaha Park, 4801 S. Minnehaha Drive, Mpls.; 651.281.7700; tcmevents.org

Disney Animation: Immersive Experience

Through 06/18

Step inside the world of new and old Disney stories; sing with Elsa and go on an adventure in Zootopia inside of this immersive art exhibit. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Lighthouse Immersive, 1515 Central Ave., Mpls.; 844.307.4644.; lighthouseimmersive.com

An American Tail the Musical

Through 06/18

The heartfelt and fun musical tells the tale of Fivel Mousekewitz fleeing Russia, being separated from his family and encountering friends and foes as an immigrant to New York. All ages. Prices vary. Times vary. Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave., Mpls.; 612.874.0400; childrenstheatre.org

To have your event considered: email edinamag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication.

Due to the fluidity being experienced in the current environment, please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

Lakes Office, 3033 Excelsior Blvd. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC.

Zero Proof Collective

Helps Launch Nonalcoholic Menu at CoV Edina

On January 20, Edina Magazine sponsored an event co-hosted by CōV Edina and Zero Proof Collective (ZPC). The gathering celebrated the launch of CōV’s year-round nonalcoholic drink menu, which includes six cocktail options. It was developed in collaboration with chef Brian Sharpe and the co-founders of ZPC, Cate Faulkner and Jen Gilhoi.

To have your event considered: send date, time, location, photos, contact information and a brief description of the event to edinamag@localmedia.co.

Plant your spring garden with a mind toward canning, preserving and pickling.

Nature’s Bounty

KITTIE ANDERSON HAS BEEN CANNING AND PRESERVING fruits and vegetables from her garden— and the gardens of friends—since the late ’70s. It all started when a friend invited her to come over and pick raspberries. After filling several pails, Anderson had a bounty beyond what she and her family could eat fresh. So, she headed to the library, checked out a book on canning and made her first batch of raspberry jam.

From there, Anderson started planting her own gardens. When living in Grand Marais, Minnesota, in the early ’80s, her garden was small. When she and her husband moved to Colorado in the mid-’80s, they planned for extra garden space, and that’s when Anderson really developed her love for growing her own produce and dug deeper into canning, pickling and preserving. After returning to their native Edina five years ago, Anderson went bigger than

Written by Amy Overgaard

ever. Her current backyard garden is 1,620 square feet, filled with a multitude of fruits and vegetables every summer.

Anderson started submitting some of her canned goods to the Minnesota State Fair Creative Arts competition after returning to Minnesota. In 2022 alone, she won first place for her blueberry jam, second place for her sweet dill pickles, second place for her salsa and third place for her sweet pickle relish. Two years ago,

that sweet pickle relish was awarded Best in Show in the pickling category.

But Anderson isn’t the only Edina resident who’s received accolades from the Minnesota State Fair. In 2022, Lou Rohman won first place in the sauerkraut category, as well as best in show for the pickling category. He has spent years making sauerkraut and perfecting his recipe; he grew up with a family that had a huge garden, and he says they did a lot of canning growing up—which included making sauerkraut. Twenty-two years ago, he and his brother decided to revive the family tradition. Now, every September, 30-plus friends and family members gather to make a huge batch of sauerkraut. They start with about 50 heads of cabbage, which they secure at various local farmers markets, and end up with a yield of about 50 quart-sized jars of sauerkraut—two of which are dedicated to submitting to the state fair the following summer.

In 2022, Edina resident Jasmine Brett Stringer dropped off her first state fair submission and walked away with fourth place for her sweet pickles. But it wasn’t her first year making pickles; she’s been canning and pickling her garden bounty for the past seven years, alongside her husband, Roger. Their garden isn’t in their Edina backyard, however. It’s located in Blue Earth, Minnesota, where her husband has a corn and soybean farm. On the farmhouse property, Stringer has her own plot for vegetable gardening.

Planning Your Plot

Now, every late winter/early spring Stringer starts planning out her garden, deciding what vegetable seeds to plant. While she enjoys the fresh bounty throughout the summer, she always plans on some end-of-season canning weekends to preserve what she and her husband can’t eat fresh. Stringer says she plans each year’s veggie garden based on what she knows she likes, as well as what’s done well in previous years.

Anderson does the same. Throughout the winter, she starts planning, and in February she starts ordering seeds. A few vegetables need a head-start in their growing season, so she’ll start them indoors—usually broccoli and shishito peppers. For everything else, she waits until the last frost; when the ground thaws, she tills her garden before

Photo: Chris Emeott

LAUGH. LEARN.

planting her seeds—usually starting in the first or second week of May. For green beans, she plants in two batches, two weeks apart, so that her harvest lasts all summer between the two batches. And pumpkins she plants a bit later. Everything is typically in the ground by the first of June.

When planning their gardens, both Anderson and Stringer spend some time mapping out where, within their garden plots, each vegetable should go. Anderson recommends rotating your garden each year, as certain plants deplete the soil in the area in which they’re planted. But even with rotating, both women say they plant their vine plants—like pumpkins, squash and cucumbers—along an edge, allowing for overflow beyond the garden borders and to ensure they don’t overtake other plants. Beyond that, Anderson says planning out your plot simply involves learning which seeds can be planted close together (lettuce, beans and peppers) and which ones need a wider circumference (tomatoes and broccoli).

Though Rohman doesn’t grow all the cabbage his family uses for their annual sauerkraut weekend, he does have a small backyard garden, and he encourages gardening and preserving novices to get creative and simply give it a try. “I know in Edina you don’t always get a big space, but get creative with pots and small spaces,” Rohman says. “Beans and carrots and tomatoes don’t take that much room and that much work, and most can be canned as well.”

Stringer agrees. “You can do a lot of plants in a pot. You can do tomatoes, [and] you can do potatoes [and] onions. You just need to make sure you have a deep enough pot for them. You can do … lettuce [and] spinach.”

Harvesting and Canning

After everything is in the ground, “Then you wait,” Anderson says. “You weed, tend the soil and wait.” June is a quieter month for her garden, but especially by mid-July, she’s busy picking her vegetables every other day through September.

“It is a lot of maintenance. It is a lot of weed pulling,” Stringer says. “Thank God I do have a friend [who] loves to go and work in the garden with me and help me pull weeds and pull things.”

Despite the work, she says, “I think it’s therapeutic, in a way, getting out there, playing in the soil.”

Rather than waiting until the fall to

Top to bottom: Jasmine Brett Stringer in her garden; Kittie Anderson’s first harvest of radishes; Lou Rohman getting ready to wash cabbage before making sauerkraut.

AT-HOME EDUCATION

Want to learn more about canning, pickling and preserving your garden’s bounty? Both Stringer and Anderson recommend the Ball Book of Canning and Preserving. But you can also take classes and watch videos through the University of Minnesota Extension, which covers a variety of topics, including preparing soil, fruit and vegetable growing guides, pest control, preserving and preparing food safely.

start canning, Anderson says she starts making pickles toward the end of July, and the third week of August through September are dedicated to salsa. (She grows everything for her homemade salsa in her garden, other than onions.) She also makes jam throughout the summer, whenever she has enough bounty for a batch.

Rohman prioritizes eating his garden vegetables fresh, then cans the leftovers in the fall. “There’s been times when I eat all the tomatoes or all the carrots, but usually there’s leftover … And you can’t grow too much because you always can [it],” he says.

Stringer also tends to wait until the fall for her canning and preserving, preferring to enjoy and share her fresh vegetables as much as possible during the peak growing season. But when fall rolls in, she dedicates most of her weekends to canning and pickling—from canning or freezing asparagus, green beans, okra and mixed veggie medleys to pickling cucumbers and stewing, freezing and canning tomatoes (plus making salsa). Whatever she cans and preserves is not only used by her and her husband throughout the winter, but she also gives cans to friends as hostess gifts.

On the fence about gardening? “My advice is just try it,” Rohman says. “Get a friend or family member and plant some stuff, knowing that you’re going to can it later in the season … It’s actually a lot of fun to open that preserved can in the winter and go, ‘Wow, this is something we planted from seed, and it actually tastes really good.’ … And then have some fun and enter it in the fair. I encourage everybody to enter their stuff in the fair.”

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Photos: Jasmine Brett Stringer, Kittie Anderson, Monte Rohman

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FIRST PLACE: ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Golden Hour Goals

Edina resident captures her daughter playing soccer on a summer evening.

LEAH STEIDL is rarely seen without her camera. “I carry my camera with me to all kinds of events to capture moments that strike me. I take so many pictures,” Steidl says.

After a summer game of soccer hosted by the Edina Soccer Association, she observed her daughter Etta and Etta’s friend Eva continuing to play in the evening sun. “I turned around to see them and thought the lighting was just so perfect,” the Edina resident says.

Steidl never watched soccer until her daughter began playing, but she had her camera at nearly every game to create a photo book at the end of the season.

Photographer: Leah Steidl

Title: Soccer Sunset

Equipment: Canon R6 with a 24–70mm Canon lens

To view other Images of Edina photo contest winners or to submit a photo, visit edinamag.com.