May 1st our Common Roots Rising community led a river cleanup at Brainard's Bridge Park in Waupaca. We had a great event, picked up a lot of trash and Mark interviewed a few of the participants about their experiences and why they came out to help clean up our community.

Anna Cisar loves the outdoors. Anna decided to turn this love of the outdoors into a career as an Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator with Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council. Anna works with the community in central Wisconsin to help educate and coordinate the control of invasive species in our central Wisconsin waterways. We explore Anna's background and how she came to her role with Golden Sands. Anna enjoys being out on the water surveying our local waters, meeting people and being a working partner for the community.

Today on Common Roots Rising we are in the greenhouse with Brigid Ferkett at Gravel Road Farm in Waupaca talking farming, the origin of their farm, their new CSA and the Waupaca Farm Market.

Hannah Butkiewicz, the Executive Director with Golden Sands Resource and Development Council joins us to talk about the conservation services Golden Sands provides in Central Wisconsin. The 4 primary areas Golden Sands focuses on are sustainable agriculture, healthy forests, clean water, and abundant wildlife. Hannah elaborates on these focus areas and the work that Golden Sands offer in the region.

Today on Common Roots Rising Kelly Adlington from Rising Sand Organics joins us to talk about the curbside compost collection program that Rising Sand offers in Stevens Point.

Today is our first podcast in the field, or actually in the woods! We are at Oz Natural Area tapping maple trees with Russ Butkiewicz. Russ shares his maple sap experiences in the Oz sugar bush forest and we discuss the value of local foods (maple syrup) and urban forests that our community can enjoy. Joining us in converstion is Kari Esbensen and Savi Ma.

Common Roots Rising supports Clean Water Now here in Central Wisconsin. If you live in Portage, Wood or Marquette County you can vote for your support for clean water on April 6th. Allison Werner from River Alliance joins us to share how to support Clean Water Now.

River Alliance of Wisconsin is helping lead the way to great advocacy for our local rivers.

Trevor Roark joins us on Common Roots Rising to talk with us about his new bicycle-powered delivery service now available in Stevens Point. Trevor shares how he got started with Curbwise, how he found his delivery tricycle, what it's like riding the delivery bicycle, and why supporting low-carbon delivery service is important for our local economy and the environment. We also talk about Trevor's triple bottom line business philosophy.

Sarah River joins us on Common Roots Rising to talk about the Stevens Point Area Winter Farm Market. Sarah owns Primitive Pastures and Primitive Provider. Listen as Sarah shares the value of our local farmers market and her connections in her agrihood.

Ella and Oren from Hillcrest Farm Factory join Mark for our debut episode on the Common Roots Rising podcast. Hillcrest Farm Factory is facilitating the development of new, regenerative farms in Central Wisconsin. Listen in as Ella and Oren share their vision to help grow our local farming community.