CategorySGM Archive

Thank you for visiting the Squeaky Green Machine Archive

Squeaky Green Machine: The Ramblings of a Self-Proclaimed Tree Hugger was born in 2013 as a way for me to capture my non-adventures in everyday life. That first post led to hundreds until my pen unexpectedly took me on a new writing journey. While my notebooks are still filled with ramblings from a self-proclaimed tree hugger, their content has gone in a very different direction. I hope you enjoy the archive of original SGM content as well as fresh scribblings directly from me in the future.

The Alaskan Adventure Beings

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And just like that – we opened our eyes and were in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Well, not exactly… it actually took nearly 11 hours of traveling and included two flights through four time zones. But this morning after a great night’s sleep, that is a distant memory. We have woken up in the northernmost city in North America and are ready to start our adventure.

The Best Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

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I’ve never actually eaten a “real” Sloppy Joe. In the years before I stopped eating meat, they were never on our dinner table. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything because, honestly, their name and appearance kind of turned me off. But when a friend tells me that I absolutely have to try a recipe, I listen. And now I’m telling you, they may not look pretty but...

Eloise Butler: Botonist, Preservationist, Teacher

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“For a full quarter of a century, her useful life has been spent in a labor of love…” Theodore Wirth, Former Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park System My visit to the Eloise Butler Wildflower and Bird Sanctuary had me wondering, who was Eloise Butler? It turned out that she was originally from rural Maine. Born in 1851 near Appleton, it’s theorized that her interest in...

The Woman Behind Henry Schoolcraft

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Hidden in Minnesota’s north woods is a quiet, little state park named for Henry Rowe Schoolcraft. While Schoolcraft wasn’t a Minnesota resident, he gained fame in the state for being the first white explorer to officially locate the source of the Mississippi River after the Ojibwa showed him its origins. Based on his journals, it is believed that Schoolcraft camped in this area near...

Balsam Gin Cocktail

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Even though Christmas was the inspiration for this festive cocktail, I think it’s equally suited for summer weather. Made by infusing simple syrup with fir needles, keep your eye out for Balsam Firs the next time you’re on a hike and you’ll be sipping this tasty treat in no time!

Heidi Van Heel

Heidi Van Heel

Writer, freelancer, and believer in magic living in Minneapolis. In my free time, I love reading, exploring the great outdoors, and experimenting in the kitchen.

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