For many people all across the Midwest the first snowfall means layering on the warm clothes, getting out the hats and mittens, waxing the skis, and braving the cold for a day or a weekend of cross-country skiing. Whether you’re a die-hard skier preparing for the 50-kilometer Dyno American Birkebeiner race held in Hayward, Wisconsin,… More The Nordic Origins of Skiing
The summer months turn people’s thoughts to vacations and outdoor recreation – especially after the long winters in Scandinavia. Icelanders, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Finns, all make the most of warmer weather with their sights set on free-time for travel or enjoyment of the outdoors. Whole industries slow or even shut down for common holidays… More Summer in Scandinavia
Nettles are disliked by gardeners and hikers, but appreciated in cuisines throughout the Northern hemisphere as a source of cheap, nutritious fare. Many people associate the green with foods eaten during famines and economic downturns, but its image is on the rise. Anne Gillespie Lewis, food writer and author of The Ingebretsen’s Saga, points out… More Nettles – A Food for Feast and Famine