Driftless Stories

Compiled by Allison Croat While we here are Inspire(d) love cooking local, visiting the Farmers Market, and, of course, eating, we’re no experts (well, except…

Ruth Hampton has been known for years around the Driftless Region as a creator of good, honest, and delicious food. From her early days in…

By Aryn Henning NicholsOriginally published in the Oct/Nov 2010 issue of Inspire(d) Magazine “How now?” probably wouldn’t be the question artist Valerie Miller asks the…

Nordic Fest is on! Lefse, lefse, lefse! (You can get Norsland Lefse, which is what they’re making here, at the Oneota Co-op this weekend). Stay tuned…

By Aryn Henning Nichols There’s an undeniable appeal to secret gardens and hidden worlds – just think about all the cool stuff we don’t know…

By Aryn Henning Nichols Decorah artist John Kjome is a patient man, that’s for sure. He thinks, plans, and meticulously strategizes his next move –…

By Sam Wiles When people commonly think “Iowa,” they think corn, farms and uninterrupted flat land. Maybe even the well-known statewide road ride, Ragbrai. But…

By Aryn Henning Nichols Halfway across the world, in a land full of colors, ancient traditions, and life oh-so-different from the Midwest – America, for…

By Sam Wiles  The Wailin’ Jennys might just have the coolest name in modern music. The obvious but clever pun on country music legend Waylon…

(What’s got 8 wheels, 25 strings, 5 heads and is 140 years old? Well, The Alaska String Band of course…) By Benji Nichols When faced…

By Becky Idstrom Pam Kester’s art studio is full of material ripe for creating. In just 10 short minutes she has already listed at least…