The Global Grit Experience

Emilia Skogen fell in love with birds at a young age and has been working with them ever since. In today's episode, I talk with her about why she's specifically working with three bird species in Minnesota and what conservation for them looks like through forestry management. Emilia is a Minnesota Public Lands Conservation Forester with the American Bird Conservancy.

RESOURCES

https://abcbirds.org/

https://abcbirds.org/ways-to-give/

https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/

Outdoor Heritage Fund work - Details about the three bird species Emilia works with, where the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) works, and how many acres of habitat ABC has worked with partner agencies to manage for birds so far.

https://abcbirds.org/where-we-work/north-america/great-lakes-ohf-grants/

FREE FORESTRY FOR MINNESOTA BIRDS GUIDE

https://www.birds.cornell.edu/landtrust/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ForestryForMNBirdsGuidebook.pdf

EMILIA SKOGEN CONTACT INFORMATION

Fee free to email or call Emilia if they'd like more information on any topics, or want to connect with ABC's private lands foresters on managing their land for birds and other wildlife: [email protected] / (612) 439-2011

Contact Emilia for any information about ball cactus.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WI DNR MOSS (managed old-growth silvicultural study)

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/research/moss

Audubon MN secretive marsh bird surveys

https://www.audubon.org/umr/projects/monitoring-secretive-marsh-birds-minnesota

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Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

In this episode I hit the North Country Trail with Matt Davis, the Regional Trail Coordinator for MN, ND and WI for the nonprofit, North Country Trail Association. We talk about this beautiful 5,000 mile trail, why public lands are important (in SO many ways), how they’re being taken away, sold, and at risk, and what we can do to stop this attack.

Matt also shares a few summer tips to keep us safe and comfy hiking.

Resources

North Country Trail Association: northcountrytrail.org

Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/issues/environment/public-lands

Trust for Public Land: https://www.tpl.org

League of Conservation Voters: https://www.lcv.org

5 Calls - An easy place to call your legislators to protect public lands: https://5calls.org/

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

Minnesota's AQI hit record highs recently during the wildfires making it feel apocalyptic with smoky, brown skies, evacuated homes, and air quality that made it dangerous and painful to breathe.

Erika sits down in the midst of it with guest Julia Frost Nerbonne, Executive Director of Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light to talk about what it was like experiencing climate chaos firsthand and what diverse faiths are doing together to move forward with climate solutions. This conversation is real, inspiring, and hopeful.

Resources:

www.mnipl.org

[email protected]

651.301.8195

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

Erika sits down and talks with farmer Cody Kurowski at his Sower’s Harvest Farm in Fergus Falls, MN to find out what got him into farming, why he’s going the chemical-free route, and how you farm year-round in a frigid winter state like Minnesota.

Resources:

Sower’s Harvest Farm

https://www.sowersharvestfarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sowersharvestfarm/

https://www.instagram.com/sowersharvestfarm/

Summer Veggie Recipes:

https://pinchofyum.com/summer-produce-recipes

https://www.bakedbymelissa.com/blogs/recipes/farm-stand-salad

https://www.homechef.com/meals/farmstand-salad

Follow The Global Grit Experience:

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

What's different with a food co-op and can we really trust the organic food label? Erika talks with farmer and Manna Food Co-op General Manager, Ryan Pesch. Ryan started Lida Farm near Pelican Rapids, MN in 2004 and brings unique perspectives as a farmer, business person, and healthy foods advocate that is relevant wherever you live. Ryan refers to it as the good food movement in today's episode.

Resources:

https://mannafoodcoop.com/

Follow The Global Grit Experience:

Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

Love frogs? Toads? Kelly sure does and shares with us why.

In today’s episode, Erika talks with Interpretive Park Ranger of 30 years, Kelly Blackledge to learn some fun facts about frogs, their sounds, how they survive in winter, and how they're doing out there.

Resources:

Frog & Toad Opera

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/frogs_toads/opera.html

Record your sightings on HerpMapper

https://www.herpmapper.org/

Minnesota Frog Watch

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/frogtoad_survey/index.html

FrogWatch USA

https://www.akronzoo.org/frogwatch-usa-volunteers

Malformed Frogs Found in MN

https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-043-01/

Book:

Peril in the Ponds: Deformed Frogs, Politics, and a Biologist's Quest

by Judy Helgen (Author)

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience!

It's crazy how many toxic and hazardous 'cleaning' supplies we use in our homes. There's a better way.

In today’s episode, Erika sits down with former Household Hazardous Waste Coordinator, Sandy Gunderson to talk about alternative cleaning supplies that are easy to make, better for us and the environment, and will save us lots of money. Cha-Ching!

DIY Ways-TO-Clean-Green Resources:

https://greenamerica.org/ways-to-clean-green

https://homesteadingfamily.com/homemade-cleaning-recipes/

https://dakotavalleyrecyclingmn.gov/green-cleaners

https://islandgreenliving.org/non-toxic-cleaning/

Follow The Global Grit Experience:

Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience

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Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Thanks for being a part of The Global Grit Experience!

For this episode, I’ve invited Dr. Karen Branden back on the show to talk about a topic that’s been bugging me.

Why do we as humans often not speak up and challenge things that we know, at least deep down, are wrong?

It’s frustrating as hell why so many people in power are doing this, but how can we, our little spread out, but collective selves around the planet do things differently to make a difference? A recent podcast guest calls it having micro-courage and that intrigued me.

In this episode Dr. Karen Branden talks about our human nature, societal upbringing, and experiments that shed some light on why we tend to stay silent, and most importantly, how we can break that pattern of 'group-think’ with a bit of micro-courage.

You can listen to the podcast here or wherever you like to listen to podcasts. You can also follow The Global Grit Experience on IG and FB. I’d love to hear from you! Let me know what you think and any topics you’d like to hear about on the show.

Follow The Global Grit Experience on Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience

Follow The Global Grit on Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience

Visit www.theglobalgritexperience.com

Jim Goodman, the owner of Bob’s Cabins in Two Harbors, MN has done what I think is very unusual in today’s world. He’s not bulldozing down a quaint getaway but instead restoring it AND building in energy efficiency and renewable energy to make it more affordable for guests to have extended stays.

Having worked for most of his life in the energy field, Jim says its about ethics to pursue renewable energy and energy efficiency because it makes economic sense. He calls it the sweet spot…doing good and saving money. Jim's perspective and tactics are things you can incorporate too, in your home or business.

Jim was born on the Iron Range, grew up in Two Harbors, MN, and worked at Bob’s Cabins on Lake Superior during high school. He’s a husband and dad, volunteers with the University of Minnesota Extension’s Northeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, and loves to bike, hike, and sail. For Bob's Cabins, he's all about progressing its operational smoothness through electrification and lowering its carbon footprint.

You can learn about Bob’s Cabins below:

https://www.bobscabinsonlakesuperior.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Bobscabins

linkedin.com/in/jamesrobertgoodman

I've been hearing people saying lately how much they hate bugs or are scared of certain bugs and I’m like, I gotta do an episode on bugs…because we need bugs and they’re really so intricate and amazing. And, because I think it would be fun to learn a little bit more about them.

My guest today is Jessica Wyn Miller. She’s an environmental entomologist and insect advocate. She’s the owner of Dragons Wynd that shares the wonder and fascination of the insects and the services they provide in our own yards and environments around the globe. She does a lot of talks and workshops and uses current research and interesting facts to help people laugh and inspire a respect for insect behavior, their heavy workload, and environmental needs.

Jessica shares with us some bug fun facts, their role up the food chain for birds, fish, and turtles for example that we like to see in our yards, parks, lakes and rivers and how we can protect and nurture them to thrive.

You can learn more about Dragons Wynd or reach out to Jessica below:

[email protected]

dragonswynd.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonsWyndInsects