Wintergreen Guiding Presents

John Jungwirth is an Upper Peninsula homesteader who, for more than 40 years, has lived with his family in close connection to the land, largely without many of the conveniences of modern life. In this conversation, John shares the philosophy behind his way of living, the practical skills that have sustained his family, and the lessons he's learned through decades of self-reliance. We focused on John and his dream of becoming a canoe builder and discussed at length the intricacies of how to build a birch bark canoe. From discovering the land where he built his log cabin to finding contentment in simplicity, this episode offers a rare glimpse into a lifestyle that is becoming increasingly uncommon and the values that continue to make it meaningful today.

Jim Koski is a longtime Upper Peninsula radio personality and the program director and afternoon host at Q107-WMQT, where he has spent more than three decades behind the microphone. A Marquette native and lifelong student of local history, Jim also hosts “High School Bowl” on WNMU-TV and has spent years sharing stories of the people, places, and events that have shaped the Upper Peninsula through history tours and video series. Through his work with the Marquette Regional History Center and his deep connection to the U.P., Jim has spent years collecting and sharing stories about the region’s history, communities, and landscapes. His perspective brings together a strong appreciation for the past with a curiosity about how the Upper Peninsula continues to change.

In this conversation, Jim talks about the origins of his love of history, his collaboration with the Marquette Regional History Center, and his knowledge of Marquette's lower harbor docks.

Marquette Regional History Center: https://www.marquettehistory.org/

Superior View (Jack Deo Collection): http://www.viewsofthepast.com/topics/gallery.htm

Dr. Matt VanGrinsven is an earth systems scientist and earth science professor at Northern Michigan University. His work explores the complex connections between soils, water, ecosystems, and human activity across the Great Lakes and Colorado Plateau regions. His research spans applied agronomy, soil biogeochemistry, hydrology, wetlands, forest resources, ecosystem ecology, and data science, with a focus on using science to guide sustainable resource management, conservation, restoration, and remediation efforts. His passion lies in understanding the relationships between land, water, and living systems to help protect and better manage the landscapes we depend on. He also rips super hard on a pair of telemark skis.

Jack Deo is one of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan's foremost photographers, historians, and photographic archivists. As the founder of Superior View Studio, he has spent more than four decades preserving the region's visual history, building an archive of hundreds of thousands of historic photographs that document the people, industries, landscapes, and everyday life of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. His work has earned numerous honors, including the 2022 Upper Peninsula Folklife Award, and his collection has become an invaluable resource for museums, authors, historians, and communities across the region. Through his photography, archival work, and storytelling, Jack has helped preserve the history of the Upper Peninsula for future generations.

Superior View Photography: http://www.viewsofthepast.com/