About Rambles
Since December 2023, the MSP LTER Community Engagement Assessment Team has hosted near-monthly gatherings, or “Rambles,” to promote connection among our personnel and community partners. These have alternated between internal events for our researchers to update each other on their work, and larger events that bring researchers, community partners, and neighbors together to share experiences and ideas. Participants engage with the work of researchers and the community host, and enjoy hands-on, site-specific activities.
Contact
Reach out to Artists-in-Residence Jessie Merriam ([email protected]) if you are interested in collaborating for a future event.
Past Rambles
Below are some collages from past Rambles:
Ramble on Salt | March 27, 2025
Ramble on Food & Medicine in Our Lawns, Gardens, and Parks | June 26, 2024
Ramble on Forests | May 30, 2024
Community Science-Art Fair | May 20, 2024
Ramble on Salt | March 27, 2025
This event was borne out of a collaboration with MSP LTER researchers investigating the long-term effects of freshwater salinization in the Twin Cities Metro Area (a year-round issue!). The event aligned with/followed MWMO's Winter Salt Week and St. Anthony Falls Laboratory's ongoing Stormwater Series (check out MSP LTER researchers Ben Janke and Jacques Finlay's February 2025 presentation on this topic). Open to the public, the Ramble boasted interactive maps and visuals, small group discussion opportunities, hands-on activities, and snacks & refreshments.
Ramble on Food & Medicine in Our Lawns, Gardens, and Parks | June 26, 2024
We hosted this Ramble at the NE Community Dye Garden, for which MSP LTER Artist-in-Residence Kim Boustead is a Minneapolis Park Steward. Attendees were able to see what's growing in the dye garden and talk with Kim about past and future dye plant projects. Urban Contaminants Team researchers presented about urban gardening and contaminants, and bee lawn pollinator research. We offered sewing on our ongoing embroidered mural of the Mississippi River (with threads dyed by Kim from dye garden plants last year), and herbalist Emily Pearson Ryan offered introductions to some of the medicinal plants growing in and around the garden. MSP LTER Artist-in-Residence Jessie Merriam led a printing activity from woodblocks of local plants.
Special thanks to MSP LTER Urban Contaminants Team Co-Lead Emilie Snell-Rood for answering questions on pollinators, lawns, and contaminants, and presenting on her research. And to herbalist Emily Pearson Ryan for sharing her expertise with attendees!
Ramble on Forests | May 30, 2024
At this Ramble, we focused on urban forests as we gathered at Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul. The event offered conversations around silviculture, tree ring printmaking, tea and snacks, and a guided walk with MSP LTER Forest Team Co-Lead Rebecca Montgomery!
Community Science-Art Fair | May 20, 2024
This public event concluded our 2024 Summer Symposium. The afternoon Community Science-Art Fair was organized by the Community Engagement Assessment Team. Open to the public, the event included booths & activities from each of our research teams. We are considering offering a similar event in late 2025 or 2026.
Special thank you to the at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) for hosting the event, MWMO Artist-in-Residence Sarah Nassif for her leadership and coordination, Amoke Kubat for leading art activities and discussion among attendees, and Keegan Xavi for her beautiful photography.
Ramble on Air & Soil | March 10, 2024
This Ramble on air and soil took place at Tamales y Bicicletas Urban Farm. It included activities showcasing community-LTER collaborative research, as well as a formal conversation and talk from Phillips Neighborhood community members. The Tamales y Bicicletas garden itself is a site where urban contaminants, pollinator/rain gardens, tree canopy distribution, and land access for urban agriculture are all of great concern.
Ramble on Water | February 24, 2024
This inaugural LTER Ramble at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) was a chance to connect LTER members with the larger Twin Cities community. We gathered around for an embroidery activity and conversation, and shared research and questions around Twin Cities ecological issues as we started a collaborative embroidered fabric mural.
