Summer is an amazing time for a road trip – big or small – in our region, and what better than a day of digging through antique, vintage, and rustic “junk” shops!? The Highway 52 Corridor from Decorah to Chatfield offers some amazing opportunities to check out unique shops and find some treasure – so grab your peeps and hit the road – and make sure to tell them Inspire(d) sent you!
If you enjoy finding a treasure trove of modern and vintage, Trisha and Mark at Market 52 are going to amaze you! The husband-and-wife team with a love for auctions, primitives, and unique items have created a fun on-farm stop for vintage (and vintage inspired) decor lovers of all kinds. From the latest trends in home decor to a little rust around the edges, Market 52 offers up both a finished shop space in their rustic-rural store, as well as the vintage barn for picking. Stop by every Friday (10-5), Saturday (10-4) or Sunday (11-4) to check out the seasonal decor, antiques, vintage, new home decor, furniture, and DIY projects.
Craig Newhouse has been filling up his “barn” with interesting auction and estate finds for many years – and the best part is that it’s an ever-changing scene of unique pieces and furnishings, many with a local twist. The location is rural – on gravel road “350th Street” not far from the Farmers Winn Coop “Country Express” store in North Winneshiek County.
As Highway 52 meanders north into Minnesota, you’ll find an Old Order working Amish farm on the east side of the highway that offers a fantastic array of baked goods and handmade items. Everything from baskets to woodwork to many simple, sturdy, and functional items. The bakery is like walking back in time, with wood-fired deck ovens, pies galore, and an always-rotating display of bars, cookies, and breads. As this is an actual working Amish farm, there is no phone, website, or contact details – but it is generally open most days from 10-6 excluding Sundays.
On the north side of Harmony, Minnesota, is New Generation Antiques – an always-fun and unique stop on the Inspire(d) distribution route, as you never know what you’ll find! It isn’t uncommon to find a horse (or team) hitched to the post out front, and some solid collectible items inside. Whether you’re looking for items from kitsch to collectible, the kind staff always welcome browsers, or are happy to point you in the direction of a specific booth. This summer, they’re turning up the Vintage Fun with a series of outdoor Vintage Markets! Shop vintage, antiques, and collectibles with vendors from across the region. There will even be an Amish Mini Farmers Market offering pantry items, vegetables, and baked goods. The Vintage Markets are scheduled for June 1, July 6, August 3, and September 7. Keep an eye out for fun updates and posts about recent treasures to be found at New Generations @newgenerationsofharmony
In the middle of historic downtown Chatfield is Adourn, the adorable brick-and-mortar dream shop of Melissa Klema. With a wide variety of rehabbed vintage and antique furniture and accessories, handmade items, jewelry, and gift items, this shop is a crowd pleaser every time. The shop even offers custom painting and building for clients, interior design consultation, wedding design, and workshops. The salvaged and repurposed vintage furniture finds are a constantly changing delight, with unique colors, hardware, and finishing touches. Check out the shop Thursday-Saturdays in downtown Chatfield or online @shopadourn
Whether it’s making camouflage t-shirts with walnut dye, harvesting Virginia Waterleaf to eat for lunch, singing, or starting a fire with friction, you can find Ida Rotto out in the country, teaching kids how to slow to the speed of nature and exist in relation to one another and the land.
This is Red Oak Outdoor School, where learning on the move is the norm. The location changes based on things like the weather, bird migratory patterns, and the acorn harvest, because as the seasons ebb and flow, Ida teaches us to move with them. Snowy winters, spring hail, summer heat, and autumnal chills are not barriers to learning – they are defining features of Ida’s work, where nature and the land are the principal teacher.
Photo courtesy Red Oak School “Ida is kind-hearted, silly, and able to do magic with words and turn them into songs that will never leave your heart. Her ability to drop down to see the small wonders of the land and hold the big picture of what is happening on the landscape let me know that my children would not only be safe while in her care but taught how to see the world in a new way. We will be forever grateful for what Ida has brought to our family.” -Stephanie Elliott, parent
Ida launched the outdoor school’s first program in 2019. Rooted in the natural world, the mission statement is “supporting resilience in youth through connection to self, each other and the natural world.”
“I have always, throughout my life, had a strong draw towards the natural world, and also towards personal transformation journeys. As a kid I got lots of time outside to develop those relationships,” says Ida, who grew up along Canoe Creek in rural Decorah closely connected to the world around her.
Ida’s early life was a collage of home and public schooling, apprenticeships and self-directed learning, and she says the trust and respect given by her family and community helped her find her own callings. “And in a big way, I feel like wow, I’m getting to do the things I just love and feel inspired by,” Ida says with her trademark enthusiasm. “Getting to support young people in finding their own sense of respect and trust in themselves, and trust that they belong in the natural world and within a supportive community is really powerful.”
Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School “Ida is a heartfelt guide into the majestic story of the outdoors. She embodies genuine connection with the non-human relatives with whom we share this wonderful planet. Song, wonder, and tangible knowledge are her whisper into the spectacular realm of the natural world.” – Eden Kelner, parent
Warm emails go out to parents and caregivers, encouraging adults and children alike to ask, “where does the robin sleep at night?” and “what do the oaks need to grow tall and strong?” and “what do we need to grow tall and strong?” A big part of the work is building relationships and strong connections among the kids. It is foundational to the learning itself. This sense of relationship extends beyond the humankind as well.
Mr. Whitewing is a beloved member of Red Oak Outdoor School. He is a robin that has returned each year, recognizable by a white patch on his wing that makes him stand out. He helps Ida teach kids how to shift to an owl’s vision, incorporating a more expansive view, and moving with awareness of our impact on the world around us.
A weaving project. / Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School
“When you build relationships with not only the humans around you but all of the animals and plants and other life, and really have a sense of care and intimacy and family with them, then there’s no option but to feel responsible for them,” Ida says.
Ida is a graduate of Weaving Earth Center for Relational Education and Rx Outside Nature-Led Trainings for Mentors, both of which helped shape her teaching methods. As a lifelong musician, Ida also incorporates musical elements as a central part of her approach. Music is woven into each days’ activities, from songs during circle time to creations on the fly, out in nature.
Fundamental, place-based teachings inform Red Oak’s approach as well, encouraging students to learn through observation and participation, exploring a way of life more in sync with the natural world. Ida helps introduce these concepts to kids, and by extension their families, in a way that invites more people into the conversation.
Fun times abound at Red Oak Outdoor School. / Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School
“The reality is that not only do we care for the land, the land cares for us – and you start to feel that when you spend a lot of time on the land,” Ida says. “We’re being provided for in amazing ways, and feeling that two-way relationship supports a whole reality shift that I see as being essential to moving forward as humans.”
In the age of climate anxiety and a lot of collective fear for the future of the world, Red Oak Outdoor School embodies a localized response to this global problem. Climate change is a massive, systemic issue, and reconnecting with the places we live will be a critical part of a solution.
Red Oak Outdoor School students immerse themselves in nature. / Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School
“I see this work as essential to the shift that is needed in how we relate to the land and ultimately to addressing the many environmental challenges we’re in,” Ida says. “I’m glad to be part of the patchwork of responses. Also, I think that one of the things that is so needed in this time is a human sense of belonging to one another, and this work tends to that. Each day we circle up and invite the kids to share and feel heard, and as simple as that can sometimes be, hearing each other’s stories…. I think it’s an integral part of our relationship with the land.”
Iowa is the most biologically altered landscape in America. Around 85 percent of the land used to be covered in prairie. Now, there is less than a fraction of a percent. Still, Ida reminds us that this does not and cannot stop us from putting in the work.
Exploration is key. / Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School
“It’s a really particular thing to do this work in this place,” she says. “It’s a little bit of a battleground. Iowa is where I grew up and I love this land. I really have a sense of being cared for here, and my body is at home here.
So seeing now how broken this land is… there’s some intense grief and also, a sense of responsibility to give back. The animals and plants are still here and showing up for us. Can we actually see that and remember to show up for them?”
Red Oak Outdoor School clears a path for us to treat Iowa and the region with the reverence it deserves. There is so much hope in the desire for this change, and the community impact is just as powerful. Red Oak is expanding for a reason. Ida’s work is passion-fueled and it fills a void in a way that is incredibly needed.
Spotting wildlife is a favorite part of Red Oak Outdoor School. / Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School
“What gives me hope is seeing kids care, and seeing the brightness and their ability to pick up new old ways like that,” she says, snapping her fingers. “What gives me hope is peoples’ longing, what their longings are for, and the fact that I don’t feel like a lot of those things are very far away…I think a lot of the relationships we’re longing for and needing are actually really close and still in our DNA. It doesn’t take much to light those connections back up.”
Red Oak Outdoor School offers a variety of programs year-round, so while camp registration may be full for this summer season, make sure to keep your eye out for future registration dates. There are monthly weekend programs for kids in school, and homeschool offerings during the week. The summers bring nature-based day camp opportunities centered around play, exploration, relationship-building, adventure, and creativity. Programs are divided by age group (generally ages 5-6, 7-9, and 9-12) to ensure the learning matches ability levels. Activities range from weaving willow baskets to shelter building to music-making and beyond! These are experiences all kids can find their place in to grow their confidence, willingness to try new things, and connection to the world around them.
Photo courtesy Red Oak Outdoor School “My daughter absolutely loves Ida’s camps. She explains to me that Ida’s camp not only teaches her so much about nature but most importantly helps her to truly feel a part of nature. Every time I pick her up from camp, she explains that it was the best day of her life!” – Maria D, parent
When American author, philosopher, and theologian Howard Thurman said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive,” he could have been talking about Ida Rotto. Anyone who has been so lucky to have heard her talk about her work can attest to the excitement in her eyes and the commitment with which she speaks. “It is such a gift to get to know the kids and support their unique ways of interacting with the world around them,” she says. “I love this work. And, I’m very open to the fact that I have a long life and lots of things I like to do. I’m 31. There is still a lot of time, right?”
Margaret is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and just graduated from Luther College this spring with an Environmental Studies degree. From canoeing the Upper Iowa River to biking the Trout Run Trail, this place has affirmed that wherever she ends up, the Driftless area will always be a place she calls home.
Learn More about red oak outdoor school
Ida is committed to making Red Oak Outdoor School more accessible to families across the region, and has goals to expand financial assistance options in the coming years. Currently Red Oak Outdoor School Programs (ages 5-6, 7-9, and 9-12) have a tiered tuition guide. Tier 1: Supporting others – this is for families with the resources to support others otherwise unable to join. Tier 2: Covering costs – this is the basic cost of the program. Tier 3: Supported by community – this helps people that would otherwise be unable to join.
To stay up to date on Red Oak Outdoor School offerings, sign up for Ida’s newsletter here.
Remember paper maps?!? Got some old ones laying around? Make these adorable lanterns for a fun adventure-inspired night outside. Cheers to summer!
Supplies:
• One map page from a large road atlas (this will make a square roughly 11 x 11 once we’ve done our cutting) • Scissors • Battery-operated tea light (to be on the safe side…)
Carefully rip one page out of your road atlas.
Fold one corner up so the bottom edge of the paper meets the side edge.
Use the scissors handle to make a solid crease (as that will help with the future folding).
Take the bottom left corner and fold it to the right, back up over your already-folded section.
Use the scissors handle yet again to make the crease well-defined.
Cut the excess paper off the top. This should make your paper a square (if you wanted to just start with a square piece of paper – 11×11 or 12×12 – you fold the paper as stated, but obviously skip cutting any excess off)
Align the middle point to the left, and get ready to fold the two opposite corners together.
Like so. This is kind of like the folding you do when you make a snowflake.
Use the scissors handle to make that crease defined again!
Keeping the middle point to the left, get ready to fold this in half again.
Like so!
Don’t forget to make a solid crease!
Unfold your paper to show all your creases.
Here’s where it gets a little tricky. You’re going to fold the paper one line from the center line. I marked the line on the photo above.
Fold across. There will be a corner above the paper edge.
Trim that corner off.
Open the paper back up, turn it 45 degrees, and repeat.
Fold across that line one up from the center, and trim off the excess.
Repeat four times, so you will have trimmed off all four corners.
Open the paper back up. You now have an octagon.
Turn your octagon so the bottom section is flat (not a point). From the middle, go two creases to the right and two creases to the left (see where I marked above), and fold the section below up like a flap.
Like so!
Turn your octagon 45 degrees and repeat. Finding the correct creases on each side…
…and then folding the flap up.
Repeat for all four sides. If you have a section that overlaps a bit (like it does above), trim off the overlap (it’ll make the final parts easier).
After you’ve folded up all your flaps, your paper should look like above.
Open the flaps back up, and do the folds again with the other four sides (remember, this is an octagon).
Find the middle, go two creases to the right and two creases to the left…
…and fold the flap up.
Repeat on all four sides again, trimming the bits of the flaps that overlap over each other a little.
Leaving those flaps folded in, turn the entire paper over, with a point at the top.
Take that top point, and fold it back over itself. This crease already exists, as you made it when you folded up those flaps previously.
Rotate and repeat.
Until you have all four points folded back over the project, like above.
Now, flip the whole project over again, with those folds still holding. Face a flat edge to to the bottom, and find the middle point. I’ve marked it with an orange highlighter above. This point is going to fold up and over the project (this is the actually tricky part of this project).
Note: Here’s a link to the video that taught me how to do this. I do my beginning folds a little differently than her, but the end part – this part above – is the same.
Grab the middle point and start pulling it toward you.
The creases you’ve made will allow the point to fold into itself.
Pull it up over the back. This will feel awkward and like it’s not working, but try to pull it over the edge as much as you can. Two points will form on each side of that flap you’re pulling over.
Stick your finger in the points and along the outside to better shape each star’s point.
Move over one section and repeat with the next middle point.
Folding that up and over the project…
Pulling it down…
And shaping your points.
You can even use a pen to help form the star’s eight points.
As you continue this process, the points get a littler harder to maneuver. But keep going. It will come together!
You will have to fold these flaps over four times (remember: two star points form for every flap you fold over).
Once you’re done, spend a little time forming your points to your liking.
Then gently place your hands inside the lantern, and push down on the center. it will flatten out so it will sit flat on a table.
As you can see, mine isn’t perfect, but I’m all about embracing a wabi sabi way of life!
I suggest you use battery-powered tea lights for these paper road map lanterns just to be on the safe side. The ones we have are even rechargeable!
