I know wolves make some people in Wisconsin uneasy — uneasy enough that they’d prefer a landscape without them. I don’t dismiss that feeling. But after years of paying close attention to how our forests, prairies, wetlands, and pollinators are changing, I’ve come to see wolves as part of aContinue Reading
The Art of the Wild: From Grandparents’ Mantels to National Policy Long before I stood before a classroom at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse teaching Environmental Policy, my art education began on my grandparents’ mantel. It was there, in the 1970s, that a hand-carved set of trout lived. Admiring thoseContinue Reading
Moving to Onalaska in 1996, I was part of that “Yuppie” culture of the time: following my husband’s career, trying to remake my own, and raising a young family without close relatives nearby. My original “why?” drew me to volunteering. I decided to apply my career knowledge to the publicContinue Reading
Welcome Chris Hardie, and please introduce yourself as a representative of 7 Rivers Alliance and give a quick review of the geography and goals of 7RA. I am the chief executive officer of the 7 Rivers Alliance, a 501 (c ) 6 nonprofit economic development organization founded in the earlyContinue Reading
The New Town Square: How Pickleball Is Rewiring Community Recreation On any given morning across the Midwest — in repurposed schoolyards, park pavilions, church parking lots, and newly striped tennis courts — a familiar rhythm now echoes: the sharp pop of paddle against ball, punctuated by laughter, quick introductions, andContinue Reading
The Ecosystem of Small Farms– too important to fail Small farmers are vital to our food system, yet they face numerous challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the stability of food production. The “ecosystem” of farming is complex–and the loss of markets, increasing consolidation, and climate change create a complexContinue Reading
Small or large acreage, here is the list of the 10 Things you can do to increase soil and water quality on the land (or lot) that you own: 1. Implement Cover Cropping – Reduces erosion, increases organic matter, improves water infiltration, and suppresses weeds (e.g., clover, rye, legumes). 2.Continue Reading
Welcome to a Sustainable Driftless! What we cover? Our own health and that of our built, wild, and cultivated communities! What’s new? I invite you to join us as we are embarking on a “new chapter” within Sustainable Driftless and the issues that affect us all. As we contemplated theContinue Reading
SAUK COUNTY: Baraboo Bluff Hospitality LLC has proposed an $80 million development near the north entrance of Devil’s Lake State Park, featuring an 80-room hotel and 31 vacation villas. The plan has sparked significant local opposition due to concerns over environmental impact, increased traffic, and potential strain on infrastructure. AContinue Reading
Extreme weather is nothing new in Southwest Wisconsin. However, the frequency at which communities and farmers experience this extreme weather in the form of flooding has increased. According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI), storms that drop 4 inches of rain in 24 hours or less willContinue Reading
Parts of North America are poised to become “hotspots of water scarcity” within decades, partly because pollutants will make some water sources harder to use, scientists warned, urging governments to safeguard these vital resources and sustainably tackle pollution. KEY FACTS One third of global sub-basins—smaller working units of river basins,Continue Reading
Natural resource conservationists have always cared about the land and have worked hard to preserve it but also management it for human use. These good intentions were guided by the pressures of humans on the land and the availability of knowledge about the resources that include aspects of not onlyContinue Reading
Welcome to the Wisconsin River: Your Next Adventure Awaits If you’re looking for your next great escape into the outdoors, the Wisconsin River might just be your new favorite destination. Stretching over 430 miles from the Northwoods to the mighty Mississippi, this scenic waterway offers a perfect blend of naturalContinue Reading
Julia Henley is a Wisconsin-based environmental advocate, designer, writer, and entrepreneur deeply rooted in the Driftless Region. As VP and Development Specialist for Sustainable Driftless, Inc., she promotes conservation and sustainable growth through storytelling, speaking, social media, and community engagement. Henley has been active in all areas of sustainability–including disasterContinue Reading
A Time Event Singular moments of time, life experiences, and events are usually the most cherished. Singular events like births, wedding days, and deaths are usually the most rewarding or permanent. Singular and impactful photos usually include an element of time. This photo cannot be rephotographed or duplicated. It containsContinue Reading