Our Neck of the Woods: Exploring Minnesota's Wild Places

by Daniel J. Philippon

What are the odds of finding Minnesota's tiniest orchid? Why take a Breathalyzer test to study frogs? How does ice fishing warm the heart? Who would live in such a cold, lean region? Our Neck of the Woods takes on these and other urgent (and sometimes quirky) questions, showcasing writers' own experiences in the best-loved places in Minnesota, including the North Shore, Lake Bemidji, the western prairies and grasslands, the Boundary Waters, and the Mesabi Iron Range.

The outdoor experiences described here range from sweeping natural history observations to adventurous tales of coming-of-age camping and hunting trips. We follow notable writers and conservationists Sigurd F. Olson, Paul Gruchow, Bill Holm, Jan Zita Grover, Greg Breining, Laurie Allmann, and many others as they descend a frozen river toward Lake Superior, explore a crystalline palace at minus 20 degrees, and trace a family's history along the Mississippi River. Writing on such themes as embracing winter, making camp, and finding wildness even amid development, these authors tell of hunting, fishing, birding, canoeing, and other great outdoor activities that help define what it means to be Minnesotan.

Drawn from the pages of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine-published by the Department of Natural Resources since 1940-these writings evoke a strong sense of place and suggest that the outdoor experiences we share with others come to mean the most to us. With rich observations and spirited tales, Our Neck of the Woods beckons Minnesotans to work, play, and explore in the natural places close to their homes and hearts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of essays about Minnesota's wild places. There was a nice variety of themes, from fishing to kayaking to collecting maple syrup and more. It was a light, easy read and I had fun reading a little bit each night before bed. It's not the kind of book that you stay up late to finish, but it is interesting and helped me get to know a little bit more about my state.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably better for either a slow casual reading or for someone who has a better attention for short stories than I. Some of the stories were well enough written but very few of them actually compelled me in any way; I considered to just stop reading through the entire thing.

[Martin Mcgoey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well-rounded collection. Probably the most authors I've ever seen in an anthology. Each essay was 4-6 pages long, which made it very accessible. That said, I do feel like the essays by professional writers were considerably stronger than those by naturalists, DNR workers, and ecologists. Their stories were still interesting, but left something to be desired in terms of prose. Great book for a Minnesota native though.

[John Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of writings taken from the little “Minnesota Conservation Magazine” and, as is typical of just about any collection of writings like this, there are some pretty good ones and a lot of everything else. Still, it’s an ok read for someone who enjoys short essays about the outdoors and related and I imagine that different essays will resonate better for certain readers depending on their own history and experiences in outdoor Minnesota.