Meet the Minnesota Makers

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Meet the Minnesota Makers

*Your source for MN Makers and Growers
*Connecting MN small businesses
*Celebrating all things local!

01/29/2025

An all-new edition of our very popular Taste Makers class! Join Chef Beth Fisher and Michelle Sharp, founder and content creator for Meet the Minnesota Makers, as they introduce you to three local, innovative, small business owners.

The Makers will provide demonstrations, prepare samples and share the passions that inspire their work. Learn about gourmet mushrooms from Fiddlehead K**b solar-powered farm in LeRoy, local black angus beef from Rushford’s Hart Country Meats as well as imaginative and delicious macarons from Xiong&Xiong in Saint Paul.

In this class you will:

🍄‍🟫Learn about mushroom varieties and sustainable cultivation methods.

🍄Discover how you can grow mushrooms at home in just a few days.

🐄Discuss the importance of cattle feed in raising beef and why Hart Country Meats grows their own feed and dedicates family resources to education about their farming operation.

👩🏻‍🍳Learn savory cooking tips from Chef Beth as she shares a beef and mushroom recipe or two!

🇫🇷Explore French macarons and baking methods, while observing distinctive piping techniques.

🧆Taste locally-raised beef and mushrooms in bites prepared by Chef Beth Fisher and sample custom-made sweets from our guest Baker, Xiong Xiong.

🗓️Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Fee: $65 member/$85 non-member, includes Arboretum admission, take home recipe packet and tasting samples.

Register through the Arboretum website — https://arb.umn.edu/learn/taste-makers-mar-2025

01/27/2025

We just celebrated our SIXTH Taste Makers class at the Farm at the Arb!

Thank you to Baptism River Barbecue Co. , Eat Me Bakery , and Featherstone Fruits & Vegetables who shared their passion, helped us all learn more about local food and their passion, and fed us well.

prepared a beautiful slaw with Featherstone’s produce to pair with Baptism River’s maple-brined pork ribeyes. Kelsey of Eat Me Bakery took us behind the scenes to appreciate and gain confidence in decorating with buttercream frosting. It was a treat for all the senses.

I continue to be in awe of our Minnesota makers. It is such a treat for me to watch them in action, demonstrating their craft and sharing the passion that inspired them to lead their businesses. Every one of our Taste Makers classes has been a demonstration of that inspired creativity (and delicious too)!

Thank you also to the engaged audiences with their thoughtful questions and desire to know more about the local maker community. Thank you to for being there at all the right moments to keep the class humming along.

My thanks to who approached me with this idea in the first place. It is such a thrill to bring the Meet the Minnesota Makers’ features to life at the beautiful Farm at the Arb kitchen.

Each class is a unique learning experience and immersion into our local creatives. Haven’t been yet? Check out our March class listing at https://arb.umn.edu/learn/taste-makers-mar-2025

01/16/2025

Minnesota barbecue brings its own flavor to the pit. It doesn’t mimic any other national tradition.

North Shore barbecue innovators Kaylee and Dan Cahill Mathews define their vision of true Northwoods Barbecue through the North Shore’s own Baptism River Barbecue Company.

Baptism River Barbecue’s menu is centered on locally-produced ingredients. Their produce, meats, the maple syrup in their barbecue sauces, and locally-harvested maple wood shape their distinctive menu options. “We call it ‘true Northwoods Barbecue’ since much of its flavor is due to the products that we are able to find in this region. You truly cannot get this combination anywhere else!” shares Dan. “This is the taste of the boreal forest of Minnesota’s North Shore.”

These local partnerships are intentional. “We’re not trying to replicate barbecue from anywhere else. We celebrate Minnesota with every bite,” explains Dan. “The greatest joy in our business is feeding good food to good folks. We also love being able to build our business together as husband and wife.”

Baptism River Barbecue Co., a food truck, operates every weekend Friday-Sunday. Their usual spot is the Green Door in Beaver Bay. Check their website and social media for pop ups at events along the North Shore and occasional Twin Cities appearances.

If you’re not lucky enough to live locally, plan your next trip up north around a stop at this weekly barbecue oasis.

Your tastebuds will thank you. A network of local businesses will thank you as well.

Swiping through may make you very hungry. You’ve been warned!

Visit www.baptismriverbbq.com for current schedule, to buy unique merchandise, try their signature sauces and spice rubs, or to send a gift card for someone else to enjoy true Northwoods Barbecue! Smoked meats and sides are only available at their food truck.

Baptism River Barbecue is one of three makers you can meet at the January 18 Taste Makers Class at the MN Landscape Arboretum. They’ll celebrate Minnesota’s unique barbecue tradition while sampling smoke masters’ special meat selections.

Register at https://arb.umn.edu/learn/taste-makers-jan-2025

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/true-northwoods-barbecue-baptism-river-barbecue-serves-truly-local-mn-bbq/

01/15/2025

Do you know Featherstone Farm’s two secrets to nutritious organic vegetables for their CSA community and wholesale customers?

The diverse team of people who plan, plant, w**d, monitor, harvest, wash, and pack.

2. The rich Waukegan loam soil native to Minnesota’s Driftless region.

This dynamic combination cultivates dozens of products including fresh herbs, root vegetables, winter squash, heirloom tomatoes, summer melons, leafy greens and their signature carrots.

From the early 1990s when Featherstone began with 20 CSA subscribers until new high tunnels that extend the growing season and climate-controlled warehouses to store winter crops, Featherstone has been a joyfully hard journey for Jack Hedin, Featherstone’s founding farmer. “Farming is a hard life. I love it. I love how there is always something new. We’ve almost lost our farm a couple of time and our customers and community rallied because they were determined not to let our farm fail.” He’s optimistic about the future of Minnesota farming, “There are so many great young CSA farms and farmers out there. I have nothing but admiration for them.”

“It’s a sacred service to feed people.” The majority of the produce grown on the 140 acres of Featherstone is destined for consumers’ home use. Their produce is enjoyed by more than 1000 summer and nearly 650 winter CSA subscribers. They also stock Twin Cities, Rochester, Winona, and LaCrosse co-ops, and Whole Foods Stores throughout the Midwest.

Featherstone Farm has been growing MOSA certified organic produce since 1996. They are also Fair Food and Real Organic certified.

Both spring and summer shares are now available for sign up at www.featherstonefarm.com/sharedetails Next season winter shares are available too!

Featherstone Fruits & Vegetables is one of three makers demonstrating at the January 18 Taste Makers class at the Farm at the Arb. Learn about Minnesota’s Driftless region and why it’s so good for farming, and taste a fresh winter salad crafted by Chef Beth with organic fruits, greens and vegetables.

Register at https://arb.umn.edu/learn/taste-makers-jan-2025

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/meet-the-maker-jack-hedin-of-featherstone-farm/

01/14/2025

Kelsey Endres, owner and creative force of Eat Me Bakery in Minneapolis, encourages you to enjoy your food. “Food is special. It is fun. It doesn’t have to just be fuel,” shares Kelsey. “I like to play with flavors. I like the surprise of eating food that someone else prepared.”

Kelsey’s rich flavor palette for her custom cakes, bundts, buns, and bars ranges from basil to pistachio. Vanilla and chocolate are consistently the most popular cake and cupcake flavors. Kelsey incorporates seasonal produce from her fellow farmers market vendors to flavor her baked goods. “I’m very proud of my strawberry cake,” shares Kelsey. “I reduce and puree many pints of berries to make the flavoring. There’s no extract involved.”

Whether preparing basil bundts, pesto buns, s’mores cookies or layered cakes, Kelsey most loves the human connections shared through food. “When people wonder what’s the meaning of life? It’s connection. Nothing makes me happier than watching someone process that first bite of something,” muses Kelsey. “I’ve had so many people tell me that the cardamom buns remind me of their moms or their grandmas. It makes me happy that something I made can remind them of their family in a positive way.”

Visit eatmebakerympls.com for menu.

Find Eat Me Bakery this winter at . Look for current market favorites including the amazingly-textured carmelita bars and her new brown butter pistachio chocolate chip cookies. (Swipe through for delectable photos!)

Check the bakehouse website for a cake decorating classes with Kelsey. She teaches both her popular vintage heart cakes and a general decorating class.

Eat Me Bakery is one of three makers you’ll meet at the January 18 Taste Makers Class at the MN Landscape Arboretum. She’ll share her classic buttercream frosting and demonstrate decorating tips before cake sampling. https://arb.umn.edu/learn/taste-makers-jan-2025

Look for mini-vintage heart cakes this Valentine’s Day. “I love creating ‘spicy’ Galentine’s cakes for the Valentine’s holiday. The spicier the better. I think it’s fun,” smiles Kelsey.

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com

01/13/2025

What a thrill to be a part of the dynamic conversations at the Conference hosted and organized by at the River’s Edge Conference Center in St. Cloud!

Sarah Carroll of and I co-presented a breakout session about Digital Marketing Best Practices. We combined Greener Pasture’s rich visual storytelling expertise with my dedication to the power of the written word to create a practical session for farms selling their products direct to consumers.

I learned so much through the other panels I attended on topics ranging from beneficial birds to food as medicine. It was especially interesting to learn about Mark and Simeon’s journey at Loon Liquor Co.

I am grateful to hours of work from Minnesota Department of Agriculture team. The conference was so well organized. The event space was easy to navigate. The panelists were well prepared. Attendees came ready with questions.

Mark your calendar for January 8-9 for the 2026 conference. I can’t wait to be back!

Are you interested in learning about digital marketing best practices (both website and social media) for your small business? Sarah and I are already at work planning for more in-depth workshops this year.

Sign up for my newsletter at meettheminnesotamakers.com to receive direct notice when workshop signups are live.

12/23/2024

Thank you to the nearly 138 unique Minnesota small business owners of our “Shop Minnesota” guide.

Thank you to the thousands of people who visited the gift guide at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Thank you to the hundreds of MTMM newsletter subscribers who explored discount codes.

Thank you to Inbound Studio who brought this interactive gift guide to life.

Thank you to the Meet the Minnesota Makers team—Katie Callaghan and Leah Klatt—who worked alongside me to promote this guide and share your stories.

Thank you for sharing and shopping—from regional newsletters to neighborhood FB groups—you made a difference for Minnesota’s local business owners.

Thank you for finding the value in our local business community.

Thank you for making shopping local a priority.

Still shopping?

Many of the makers in the MTMM gift guide offer gift certificates. You can even keep your last minute shopping local.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season.

More local love to come in 2025.

12/19/2024

“There is no quick fix for skincare,” explains Tina Freiborg of Tina Rachelle Aesthetics. “We create a judgment-free, relatable space for people to get their questions answered. We embrace the skin you have. Let’s emphasize your strengths. Let’s remember that aging is a good thing. You’ve earned that.”

“We are not a black cardigan salon,” states Tina.“When we express our own individuality, we feel better about ourselves as providers. Clients notice that vibrancy and confidence. We share that same feeling with our clients to make them feel more confident.

Tina established her business in the fall of 2021in a space the size of a closet. “I had to step out so that my client could step in,” laughs Tina.

Her business is now a team of five creative problem solvers ready to welcome you to their Waite Park space near St. Cloud. “Everyone in our group has a different approach. Yet we all share the same goal of creating the best client experience possible.”

Signature treatments include facial massages to relax the skin’s facial muscles, which softens the skin’s contours naturally. “I encourage people to book a consultation first to address their goals as well as their budget. This allows us to customize a skin care routine that meets their priorities.”

Tina Rachelle Aesthetics recently added a new affordable acne-focused line of products and treatments. Tina has noticed a rise in teenagers and college-aged youth getting their skincare advice from TikTok influencers. “They’re spending money without knowing what they’re doing. I’m so excited to provide accessible options of wholesome skincare.

“I love watching this business of mine grow. There’s some fear in expanding our services, but it’s mainly a sense of awe and gratitude,” reflects Tina. “This business is my baby, my fourth kid.”

Book a consultation for someone on your list or surprise them with the gift of experience with a gift certificate.

Explore all their services and book a consultation through www.tinarachelle.com
�Follow Tina Rachelle Aesthetics for last minute openings!

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Tina Rachelle Aesthetics is a Platinum Sponsor of the MTMM “Shop Minnesota” Gift Guide.

12/18/2024

Nashke Native Games invites everyone to come and play.

The state of Minnesota is home to both the Dakota and Ojibwe nations. Playing these games is a celebration of Minnesota culture—even more than tater tot hot dish or lutefisk.

Nashke Native Games has developed reimagined traditional games and new games based on Ojibwe cultural traditions. Nashke invented Mii Gwech, a fast-paced card game that introduces players to the fur trade era. Each of the four collections of Mii Gwech feature a card game, a memory tile matching game, and puzzle.

Detailed illustrations and clear instructions make these games engaging for players of all ages. Cards are printed in both English and Ojibwe for easy vocabulary acquisition. The instructions provide table talk in both languages as well as cultural teachings about the games’ origins.

Choose from boxed sets, individual games and puzzles, and native-designed greeting cards. Shipping available across the United States.

2024 was a big year for Nashke Native Games. As a semi-finalist in the Minnesota Cup, this growing small business made new contacts for both sourcing and distributing their games. They’ve visited dozens of community organizations and schools for game nights and cultural events. In 2025 they plan to expand their games into the Dakota language.

The word Nashke was an intentional choice. “Nashke translates to behold, look, check it out,” explains Tony. “This is to say, check out what we are doing over here with games and our language and culture.”

Nashke Native Games reinvests a portion of their profits back into the community in the forms of scholarships and community grants. “The Nashke Native Games brand is deeply rooted in culture as its mission. The logo was inspired by Anishinaabe petroglyphs, our original methods of sharing knowledge, which embody the gestural nature of play,” shares Tony. “The figure is both celebratory and inviting, welcoming everyone to the table to play, practice language, and build new connections through cultural teachings.”

Purchase games and products at nashke.com.

Follow Nashke Native Games for community gameplay events.

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/nashke-native-games-ojibwe-culture-and-fun-for-everyone/

12/17/2024

Someone you know would love to receive the gift of a smoked turkey.

Maybe it’s you?

Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls offers shippable whole fresh frozen or smoked turkeys in addition to a variety of gift boxes packed with locally-processed meat, cheeses, and gourmet snacks. These selections are shippable nationwide.

For those who live within driving distance of their Cannon Valley on-farm store, a visit is a wonderland of locally-produced food from chocolate to marshmallows, soup mixes to jams, frozen strudel to, if you’re really lucky, turkey pot pies.

Sausages, snack sticks, smoked turkey legs, turkey stock and gravy are all regularly on the shelf awaiting your kitchen projects. The selection of turkey products goes well beyond what you may be familiar with at your midwestern co-op. The store carries more than 300 items from Minnesota plus a deluxe selection of cheese and meats from Iowa and Wisconsin.

The on-farm market opened in 2008, in the same building where the Petersons used to hatch the poults. Since opening their doors to the community, the Peterson Family has found great joy in the connections with their customers. “We really value the opportunity to have a direct connection to our customers. It’s sadly rare in agriculture today,” says Katie Peterson, Ferndale’s Marketing and Communications Manager.

The store itself is a journey through the local food scene. The story of Fern and Dale and the farm practices that make their turkey unique greets visitors at the entrance. The store decor include many repurposed items and historical photos from the farm, making the visitor a part of the farm’s history. “We want people to feel like they’re a part of this story. We wouldn’t be an active part of the local food scene without them,” explains Amanda Carlson, Ferndale’s Retail Manager.

Shop Ferndale Market at ferndalemarket.com Shop in store seven days a week. Make your own gift box in store or ask the Ferndale retail experts for their recommendations.

Follow Ferndale Market for announcements on new items in store and local events.

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/ferndale-market-a-minnesota-food-hub-that-you-need-to-know/

Ferndale Market is a Platinum Sponsor MTMM’s “Shop Minnesota” Guide.

12/15/2024

“My inner ten year old is alive and well,” shares Amy Miller, author and illustrator of Under the Moonlight magazine. “I love being in my imagination. Painting and writing stories is my happy place.”

Each issue of Under the Moonlight is a fantastical journey. The amazing illustrations (my 12 year old’s choice of adjective) gently guide the reader on a journey through nature. The content is a nuanced balance between scientific facts and tales of fairies and gnomes who live in Firefly Hollow.

This is the snail-friendly, fairy-finding and tree-climbing seasonal magazine you’ve been looking for.

The activities, stories, and observations embrace parallel themes of imagination and adventure.

Current issue, Winter Memories, celebrates the Northern Lights and having fun in the snow. Issues include an easy-to-follow recipe, seasonal craft, inspiration for outdoor activities, suggested reading, nature identification, and the adventures of Firefly Hollow.

From their Lake Elmo farmhouse, Amy’s family embraces the chaos of daily outdoor adventures with four kids, two cats, a dog and chickens, including the bold hen Midnight who sometimes wanders off for some alone time.

Amy writes stories and poems, creates original artwork, and crafts the magazine in her red milk house studio on their farmstead. This corner of home away from home gives her space to dream of fairies’ adventures and draw out her paintbox with a fresh sense of wonder.

Under the Moonlight is published four times a year. Each issue is approximately 40 pages printed on 100% recycled paper in Chanhassen.

Ideal audience is children between five to ten. The younger end will need some help to enjoy the longer stories and sound out some vocabulary words. Older readers will enjoy taking the lead on the recipe and finding their own twists on the scavenger hunt.

Order the magazine at www.underthemoonlightmagazine.com Limited past issues available.

Follow to see where the fairies lead Amy’s family today.

Find Under the Moonlight Magazine at the Dec 15 Linden Hills Holiday Market!

Full feature at meettheminnesotamakers.com https://meettheminnesotamakers.com/get-outside-with-under-the-moonlight-magazine/

12/13/2024

Imagine a gift that you know that your loved one will use.

A gift that will be delivered to their door by the farmer who raised the product.

A unique gift that protects local birds, supports local farms, and promotes regenerative agricultural practices, which means its good for Minnesota’s water and soil.

Do all that with a grass-fed beef box from Pettit Pastures in Milaca.

Locally-raised and processed meat is available in both premium cuts or bulk boxes. Pettit Pastures also offers raw pet food from their grass-fed cows. Perfect for all the dog children in your life!

Trust that the product is truly grass fed. “When you buy locally, you don’t have to be an expert to make sure you’re getting the product you want,” shares Jake. “We have nothing to hide. We welcome customers, school groups, and anyone who is interested to visit our farm.”

Since fall 2024 Pettit Pastures is now Audubon Certified. This recognizes their bird-friendly grazing techniques and efforts to protect Minnesota grasslands. The more farms and ranches that enroll in this program, the better conditions will be for prairie bird species.

Pettit Pastures supplies the local Princeton elementary school with ground beef and their high school with stew meat as well. As the weather turns colder, they see a shift in their customers’ ordering habits.

“It’s fun to see our customers ordering for other people this time of year,” shares Jake Pettit. “We’re seeing a lot more orders of sausages, snack sticks, jerkies, and steak packages.”

Cut off for delivery before Christmas is December 18. Reach out to Jake Pettit himself to set up a gift certificate to be used after the holidays.

Delivery is available for the Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Saint Cloud metro areas. Live near Duluth? It’s possible to set up a meeting point in Sandstone.

Learn more about Pettit Pastures at https://www.pettitpastures.com/.

View Pettit Pastures LLC gift guide listing (and 130 more) at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Photo Credits to Sarah Carroll of

12/12/2024

Need some local gift inspiration?

Meet the Silver Sponsors of the Meet the Minnesota Makers “Shop Minnesota” Gift Guide!

Try shea and cocoa butter zero-waste soap products from Blue Heron Body Home Candles and bath products galore!

Delight the whole party with made-to-order decorated cookies and cocoa bombs from Cookies and More By Lisa Don’t miss her Slovenian potica!

Indulge your favorite foodie with Hardcorepb unique peanut butter recipe. It’s superfood enriched and no chemicals or artificial ingredients.

Bring the outside in with coconut beeswax candles from Five Pines Candle Co These one-of-a-kind scents lead you to your outdoor happy place.

Celebrate classic cocktails vintage glassware with unique candles from Flicker and Fizz Each pair of glasses comes with a cocktail recipe!

Upgrade your snacking with unique flavors like chai, cocoa or orange nuts from Isadore Nut Company Gift boxes and mixed tins available.

Kacey Creations has you covered with unique stationery, greeting cards, and dazzling sun catcher stickers.

Paulie’s Studio produces uniqued fused glass creations. Don’t miss her durable magnets, delicate snowflake ornaments, and snazzy coasters.

Check out to find cottage producers near you for all your holiday treats (for people and pets!).

Explore a dozen family farms shipping locally raised and processed meat right to your door through The Meatery MN Breakfast boxes, specialty cuts, or snack sticks are options.

Elevate your baking with Vanilla Bean Project extracts and pastes. Their regenerative organic product tastes delicious and protects agricultural land around the globe.

View these eleven gift guide listings (and nearly 130 more) at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Select your favorites to have a customized list emailed to you (or send it to someone else as a hint!).

Search by business name, scroll through the listings, and use the drop down menus to search by gift category or type of business.

meettheminnesotamakers.com newsletter subscribers receive exclusive discount codes. Next newsletter is December 13. Are you on the list?

Thank you to MTMM’s star intern who prepared these slides!

12/11/2024

Meet the Gold Sponsors of our “Shop Minnesota” guide.

Anji Berry-Cypull oMN Made | 2024 Planners + Paper Goods@mod86designery created her first planner as graphic design class final project. Thanks to her classmates’ enthusiasm, Mod 86 Designery has been creating tools to keep her customers organized for more than ten years.

“My products have changed as my own family life has changed. I love sharing what I create for my own use with my customers.”

Anji’s most popular products are password books, alphabetized to keep all your passwords straight with six spots for password updates, and bill organizers. The organizer has built in pockets so you’re never searching for a key bill come tax time.

For her planners, Anji offers six unique layouts. She prints, binds, coils and laminates everything in her Lino Lakes home workshop.

Another highlight product is her meal planner. In addition to the practical grocery list space and calendar, the planners offer a bit of time capsule of when families enjoyed a special dinner or tried a new recipe.

Mitch Heil of Horn Dog Maps first learned woodworking while serving in the military. What started as rough construction skills in Afghanistan and Iraq now allow him to create intricate designs that bring Minnesota’s lakes to life.

“I love giving people a new way of knowing their lake. I get to learn their stories, their personal connection with the lakes.”

Horn Dog Maps have both a visual and a tactile element. The changes in color and the recessed design make it possible to see what the lake under the surface.

An avid fisherman, Mitch has always loved being on the lakes and reading maps. Through Horn Dog Maps, Mitch shares that passion with lake lovers throughout the upper Midwest and beyond!

View these two gift guide listings (and 130 more) at meettheminnesotamakers.com

Select your favorites to have a customized list emailed to you (or send it to someone else as a hint!).

Search by business name, scroll through the listings, and use the drop down menus to search by gift category or type of business.

meettheminnesotamakers.com newsletter subscribers receive exclusive discount codes. Next newsletter is December 13. Are you on the list?

12/10/2024

Drumroll please!

Meet the Minnesota Makers is delighted to present the Platinum Sponsors of our “Shop Minnesota” guide.

The Meet the Minnesota Makers gift guide celebrates small businesses of all shapes and sizes throughout our creative state.

These five businesses offer unique experience gifts that celebrate the best of Minnesota.

Surprise your favorite pet lover with premium grass-fed beef raw pet food from Pettit Pastures LLC . Delight the avid home cook with grass-fed ground beef or steak packages delivered to their door by the farmer who raised the cows on a regenerative agriculture farm.

Spark the imagination of kids 5-10 years old and their caretakers with the outdoor-loving magazine that is written and illustrated by creator Amy Miller.

Protect their skin from Minnesota’s dry winter air with a gift certificate or custom products from St Cloud’s Tina Rachelle Aesthetics Tina’s team offers a range of body and skin care options for both the 12 and the 80 years olds on your list (and everyone in between).

Gather the family for a game night with Nashke Native Games These games introduce players to Ojibwe language and cultural elements through play. This native-owned company sells beautiful greeting cards too! Try one of their gift boxes for the game lovers in your life.

Explore delicious gift boxes from Ferndale Market . Four different combinations of local meats, cheeses, and snacks as well as whole smoked turkeys can be shipped nationally. Stop by their Cannon Falls store to create a custom box packed with local goodies!

View the gift guide listings of these five businesses (and 130 more) at meettheminnesotamakers.com.

Select your favorites to have a customized list emailed to you (or send it to someone else as a hint!).

Search by business name, scroll through the listings (way better than doomscrolling!), and use the drop down menus to search by gift category or type of business.

meettheminnesotamakers.com newsletter subscribers have access to exclusive discount codes. Next newsletter goes out on December 13. Make sure you’re on the list!

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30 looks good on @featherstonefarmmm. It was so cool to attend founding farmer Jack’s retirement party along with this celebration of 30 years of organic farming. My whole family made the trek to Rushford to see where our food comes from. Partygoers braved rain, mud, flies, and, in some cases, a lengthy drive to celebrate this fabulous farm. After a mid-afternoon shower that forced us under the tents and into the farm’s buildings, we enjoyed a gorgeous late afternoon and evening filled with vibrant music, delicious food (thank you @latitude44mn!), and some fantastic mud stomping (the kids thought it was great). When not exploring mud puddles, kids made bug masks, slurped apple cider (thank you @hoch_orchard), and used vegetable stamps to make their masterpieces. Abby saved the first hayride from being stuck in the mud forever when we toured the central fields! Past farm crew members came back to visit and celebrate thirty years of building this community centered on feeding people organic, locally-grown produce. I loved having the chance to talk with other shareholders about what they love about Featherstone. (Turns out I’m not the only superfan out there!) Everyone had the chance to see behind-the-scenes where the farm packs boxes, stores fall crops, dries the onions, and squeezes in late season tomatoes. I learned even more about their history and vision for the future. It was really compelling to follow the self-guided tours and learn about their wins and losses over the past 30 years. I look forward to my next visit to this beautiful corner of southeastern Minnesota. It’s still possible for you to join this community for the winter season! Comment CSA and I’ll send you a link with info and a discount code. Maybe you’ll be the next Featherstone superfan… #meetthemnmakers #mnfarmer #featherstonefarmmn #csafarm #csaproduce #mn #mngrown #mnfood #mnfoodie

Your workshop questions answered! *Who should attend? Anyone who wants to create community online and engage current and future customers through newsletters, website content, and social media posts. *Why is the virtual workshop shorter? This workshop includes guided work time. To make this as effective as possible for the online version, we’ll schedule a one on one coaching meeting with Michelle after you register for the workshop instead of the group work time of the in person workshop. *Is this workshop geared towards artists? No. At our last workshop we had service providers, farm owners, food producers, as well as artists and artisans. Any small business “maker” will benefit from this workshop. *Can I still register? Yes! Registration is still open for both workshops. We will limit the size so that everyone has time to get their individual questions answered. *Will you offer these again? Yes, but first there will be more advanced classes focused on website design and social media communications. This class is designed to get you started to take advantage of these classes to come in April and May. Choose whichever class better fits your schedule this month. *What if I haven’t started a website or a social media account for my business? This workshop will give you the tools to build a strong foundation for either one. You will learn how to be your own best storyteller. *What are the dates again? Thursday, March 14 from 5-8pm at Smith + Trade Mercantile in Stillwater. Wednesday, March 20 from 6-8pm on Zoom. What other questions do you have? Register for the in person class: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19J206kCcIEaJn-QXMepUWHr0pkqcldh_TFPc5XtXJIQ/edit Register for the virtual class: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_6DLceWlfbPYbL0g84C-MbE2J1Tlo51yVPwpg5s9IS0/edit #meetthemnmakers #mnmade #mnmakers #mnsmallbusiness #mnsmallbiz #tellyourstory #mnfood #mnartist #mnartisan #mnmaker

IT’S HERE! The new Meet the Minnesota Makers website is ready! Visit www.meettheminnesotamakers to explore Local Food, Local Farms, Artists, Artisans, and Authors, and Local Change makers. Maker Features and Recipes only shared previously on social media are now published and searchable at www.meettheminnesotamakers.com. Join the website mailing list so you never miss a feature. Submit suggestions for future features or leave a comment to support your favorite maker. Discover the copywriting and coaching services that I provide for local makers to strengthen Minnesota’s small businesses. Working with the web design team of Inbound Studio has been a dream come true for my small business. They took my vision of creating an on-line magazine where visitors can learn about local makers, search for makers they’ve seen on my social media, and easily access recipes that I’ve published and made it a reality. I am so grateful for their knowledge and commitment to sorting out all the details. I am so excited to use this platform to share more maker stories! The first link in my bio takes you directly to the new website. Which section are you most excited to explore? Share in the comments. Spread the word about this new resource for discovering the best of Minnesota’s talented makers. Follow Meet the Minnesota Makers to discover the people who make Minnesota an amazing place to be! #meetthemnmakers #mnmaker #Minnesota #mnmade #exploremn #discovermn #OnlyInMN #minnesotamade #minnesotamakers

Looking for gift ideas? Have you heard of the Creativity Kits from @artstart_artscraps in Saint Paul? They have kits featuring collages, scrapbooking, drawing, painting, holiday themes, and artist-inspired. The have boxes for all ages. Crafting is not just for kids after all. Consider gifting their virtual art classes or winter art camp as well. This year’s theme is Iceland, perfect for the depths of December! I can tell you from experience that their instructors are engaging and creative in both virtual and in-person formats. Materials for virtual classes and creativity kits can be shipped anywhere in the country making these great options for friends and family outside of the Twin Cities. If you’re not sure what’s suitable for the artist in your life, give Art Start a call at 651-698-2787. I ordered several boxes this year for a giving tree project. Since I only knew the names and genders of the kids who wanted art kits, a staff member at Art Start helped me to choose boxes that should be a good fit. You can customize boxes as well. Their website, not to mention their store on St. Clair in Saint Paul, is a treasure trove of possibility. With a nominal gift card, the artist in your life could have a field day exploring the bins and shelves of Art Start. The video here is not the best as I didn’t want to take apart the kits that had been expertly put together for the kids on our list. You can see how snazzy the boxes are and how professionally they are put together. Creativity kits must be ordered in advance. Call the store or check out artstart.org to see options. Create well. Create local! #meetthemnmakers #artkits #artstart #mnmade #mnmaker #shopmn #buylocal #buymn #shoplocal #shoplocalmn #experiencegifts #mn #shopnonforprofit #supportlocal #artseducation

So many beautiful apples ready for the picking. I spent the morning at Applewood Orchard in Lakeville working on my next column. They’re open Tuesday through Sunday. Lots of great apples on the trees. Donuts available on the weekends. #honeycrisp #sweet16apples #regent #localapples #gettotheorchard #lakevillemn #applewoodorchard #eatlocal #uofmapples #familyowned #twincities #eattwincities #mnfoodie #mnfood #apples