Driftless Stories

(Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong, book cover design by Deb Paulson) “I had no idea what I was getting myself into by committing to this…

By Aryn Henning Nichols Originally published in the very first Inspire(d) Magazine, October 2007 Things are born. Life cycles. You live. You die. But somewhere…

Tim Blanski of Granary Woodshops, Spring Grove, Minnesota Story and photos by Kristine Jepsen • Originally published in the Fall 2015 Inspire(d) Historic dream home…

The Pride of Postville By Aryn Henning Nichols Kids are kids. “They’re just kids. It doesn’t matter where they come from, if they speak the…

Three Decorah residents have recently been serving on a week long Medical Mission trip in El Salvador. Dr. Pete Blodgett of West Side Dental in…

We know it doesn’t look much like spring out there today (hello, fresh snow), but it’s coming! In the meantime, dream of all the fun…

Live Generously Introduction by Aryn Henning Nichols Interviews by Aryn Henning Nichols, Kristine Jepsen, & Sara Friedl-Putnam Originally published in the Winter 2015-16 Inspire(d) It’s…

Ca-chunk. Ca-chunk. It was a familiar sound in the Decorah Flat neighborhood this fall. Jarrad Walter stapled together yard sign after yard sign (on his…

Liz Fox, Decorah High School Community Club & Silver Cord Program They have served up pancakes for Nisse Preschool, set up holiday light displays for Helping…

Carolyn Flaskerud, director of the First Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Decorah, does not mince words. “It keeps me busy – happy and healthy,” the…

Ward Budweg has helped build a library in Rwanda, install a clean-water-catching system in Panama, and paint an orphanage in Peru. But perhaps no place…

Lucas Zellmer had no idea the extent of poverty in La Crosse, Wisconsin – where more than 15 percent of the population lives below the…