Columns

Your Greater Mankato Area friends and neighbors are sharing their expertise in these columns on MankatoLIFE!

Soup and bread

The Local Stir – Soups Warm the Soul

Natasha Frost relates one of her family's holiday traditions centered on soup in this week's Local Stir.
Photo by Gary Pettis - Dakota 38+2 Memorial riders arrive in Mankato on December 26th, 2017

The Local Stir – Supporting Indigenous Efforts

In this week's installment of The Local Stir, Natasha Frost talks about understanding the difficult local history of the interaction between settlers and Indigenous People as well as our responsibility to do what we can to bring about healing.
Mac and Cheese

The Local Stir – What Makes a Good Partnership?

Natasha Frost reflects on her experience with partnerships and what makes a good one in the latest installment of The Local Stir.
Backyard Chickens - Mankato, MN

The Local Stir – Living with Backyard Chickens

I'm not sure I could have ever foreseen that one day I would own and raise chickens but here I am. What started out as helping a neighbor prepare for their chickens turned into me getting my own flock the following year.
Vacation

The Local Stir – Are Vacations More Work Than They’re Worth?

In the latest installment of the Local Stir, Brigette Rasmussen weighs the costs and benefits of taking a vacation.
Farmers Market Produce

The Local Stir – Making Our Farmers’ Market a Priority

In this week's Local Stir, Natasha Frost helps us understand the importance of purchasing local and more specifically supporting our local farmers market.
Thanksgiving Grace

The Local Stir – Cherishing Holiday Memories

The leaves are changing, the air is getting colder. All signs point to winter. And with that comes, among other things besides snow, holidays.
Photo by Don Lipps - Snowmakers at Mount Kato stand ready to be put into service once the weather is right.

Snow Job – The Second Question

In this week's Snow Job, John Sandberg reveals the deeply held secrets of all ski resorts about when they can start making snow.
Roasted Chicken

The Local Stir – The Great Chicken Crusade

That Friday started like any other day. We had no idea that 108 cases translated into 6000 pounds of raw, full birds!
Unknown Caller

Snow Job – An Evening’s Entertainment

My totally unscientific, non-verified research tells me most people tend to not answer the phone when the caller is not known to the called. I'm the opposite. Unknown caller? Of course, I am answering! Private number? Yes, please.