Focus Summer 2012

a t w i n c i t i e s s o u t h o f t h e r i v e r l i f e s t y l e j o u r n a l

FŌcúsSummer 2012

a t w i n c i t i e s s o u t h - o f - t h e - r i v e r l i f e s t y l e j o u r n a l

FocusTwinCities com

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Golf Tips from PGA Pros

Turn Here Sweet Corn

A memoir of organic farming

Summer getaways close to home

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Contents

ECM Specialty Publications

15322 Galaxie Ave

Apple Valley, MN 55124

952-846-2040

Managing Editor

Ginny Lee

Contributing Writers

Kim Anders

Atina Diffley

Mike Lindahl

Ginny Lee

Graphic Design

Jeff Remme

Advertising Sales

Kristine Richter

Jesse Schmidt

Mary Jo Sirek

Editor’s Assistant

Lisa Miller

Focus magazine is a quarterly publication

of ECM Specialty Publications.

For more information regarding subscription

or advertising rates, contact Ginny Lee at

952-846-2040

or [email protected].

FŌcúsMagazine

Visit us at FocusTwinCities.com

GOLFUse Soft Hands to Hit it Hardby Kim Anders, Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach ResortEver wonder why a hard swing hit rarely goes very far and is usually offline, whereas your easy going “just get it out there somewhere” swing frequently hits the ball 20 yards further and right down the middle? PGA pro and director of golf at Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach Resort gives advice to golfers for hitting the ball with “soft hands”.

Avoid Paralysis by Analysisby Mike Lindahl, Lost Spur Golf CourseLocal PGA pro advises golfers not to get overwhelmed with all of the technicalities of their golf swings that often lead to poor execution. Read the pro’s simple tip for becoming a more successful and consistent golfer.

BOOKTurn Here Sweet Cornby Atina DiffleyGuest author and local resident, Atina Diffley shares her memories of getting in at the “ground level” of organic farming. As one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest, the Diffley’s Gardens of Eagan helped to usher in a new kind of green revolution, supplying their roadside stand and a growing number of local food co-ops. Her story is a master class in organic farming, a lesson in entrepreneurship, a love story, and a legal thriller.

TRAVELBoundary Waters Canoe Area, a Place to Make Memoriesby Ginny LeeMemories of a first time trip to the BWCA include paddling through pristine waters with pine and birch overhead, a mist over a mirror-still lake at daybreak, a breathtaking view of northern lights streaking across the night sky, and MOSQUITOS!

What You Need to Know Before You GoGet the basics for a trip to the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area.

Other Summer Getaways Close to HomeLooking for a different kind of get-away this summer? We’ve got unique ideas that won’t break the bank and are close to home. Check out Cascade Bay Waterpark in Eagan (practically in your backyard), Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake in Brainerd (2 hours: 50 minutes), Amana Colonies in southeast Iowa (4 hours: 30 minutes), and Madeline Island in Bayfield, Wisconsin (5 hours: 20 minutes).

Cover Photo ©2006 Greg Thompson

4 Focus Magazine

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6 Focus Magazine

Have you ever wondered why a hard swing hit rarely goes very far and is usually offline, whereas a smooth “just get it out there somewhere” swing frequently hits the ball 20 yards further and right down the middle? It’s probably because you have “soft hands” on the smooth swings which allow you to release the club properly.

A good way to get the feel of “soft hands” is to swing the club back and forth from waist high on the back swing to waist high on the follow through. Make sure the toe of the club is pointing roughly up at the sky when it reaches waist high on both back and forward swing. As you swing back and forth you want to hold on just tight enough

to avoid losing the club, being smooth with the changes of direction. If it feels loose, sloppy, and out of control, you’re probably doing it right. Notice how your hands roll over at impact. They will literally snap over just from the club accelerating under its own weight through the ball, not because you are making them turn over. This all happens automatically by relaxing the hands and arms on the downswing, rather than creating tension by trying to physically hit the ball. (I use this exercise all the time when I’m playing to remind my hands of what I want them to do.)

Now make some full swings at one-half to three-quarter speed. Make sure you still

feel the hands release through the hitting area. Once you have this down you can start hitting balls. Keep in mind no matter how good your “soft hands” are at address, when you get to the top of your backswing and start down there’s a good chance you’ll be choking the life out of the club. Try relaxing your grip pressure as you start the downswing to regain your “soft hands”. Trust the club to find its way to the ball – the worst thing you can do is try to guide the club to the ball.

Golf is about controlling the golf ball. The way you control the golf ball is by giving up control of the golf club, which is done by using soft hands. Most people try to control

golf

Use Soft Hands to Hit it HardBY KIM ANDERS


the golf club which results in losing control of the ball. You can only control one of them, and the club is not the one you want to focus on.

You spend a lot of money on your golf equipment. It is packed with technology and knows how to hit a golf ball perfectly every time. It will take wonderful care of you if you just trust it and let it do what it is built to do. Don’t mess with perfection!! You have enough to do just being smooth and maintaining your soft hands. Once you get the feel for this you’ll find both your good and bad shots will go longer and straighter.

If you have trouble getting the feel of this, your local PGA Professional will be able to soften your hands so you hit it longer and straighter than ever.

Kim Anders is Director of Golf at Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach Resort in Mazatlan, Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at [email protected] or visit www.estrelladelmar.com.

Avoid Paralysis by AnalysisGolf can be a very complex game and thanks to all of its technicalities we tend to make it more complicated than it needs to be. When this “Paralysis by Analysis” occurs it causes a player to become overwhelmed with thoughts and leads to poor execution. My advice to you is the old adage, “keep it simple, stupid.”

Before getting caught up in all of the complex swing theories it is important to have a solid starting point and it starts with fundamentals. The single most important - and frequently overlooked - full swing fundamental in golf is the setup position. Having the proper alignment, stance and posture can go a long way towards becoming a more successful golfer. Your swing evolves from your setup and if you focus on these important pre-swing fundamentals you are more likely to improve. If you “set-up” for success you are more likely to be successful!

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8 Focus Magazine

Turn Here Sweet Corn is a master class in organic farming, a

lesson in entrepreneurship, a love story and a legal thriller.

As guest editorial, local resident and author, Atina Diffley,

shares her story of working the land, coaxing good food

from the soil, and reminding us we live in relationships with

the earth, plants and animals, families and communities.



book

BY ATINA DIFFLEY

Life Is Inherently ResilientAs a child growing up in a family that grew or wild crafted many of our fruits and vegetables, I experienced nature’s inherent resiliency through the annual cycle of life and death—the recycling and renewing of nature.

Our spring ritual was following Dad, our feet bare, stepping into his big prints as he

steered the rototiller. Birds hopped around us pulling worms, fresh earth spilled the first smells of life. I thought this was how the world worked. Everyone grew food to eat. My favorite thing in the entire world was rain. When I sensed it coming I would go out and lie faceup on the open ground beside the lilacs, close my eyes, and hum. Then it was like God just reached down and touched my skin. I knew about nature and life without having to ask.

As I became an adult— I could see this basic truth in nature and in others; yet somehow I didn’t notice my own resiliency. Bad things do happen in life and I’ve always recovered, always come back even stronger. My roots are deep in fertile soil.

It took writing my memoir, Turn Here Sweet Corn, for me to see it.


10 Focus Magazine

The Gardens of EaganI started farming with my husband Martin as partners in his business, the Gardens of Eagan. The multi-generation Diffley family land still had intact eco-systems; wild hills with vegetables nestled in the fertile valleys. Much of the land was in grass, native herbaceous plants, mixed hardwood trees, and brush. Berry brambles, hawthorns, plums, flowers, and chokecherries filled any niche. Wild flowers provided pollen and nectar for beneficial insects and native pollinators. Our fertility needs were met by incorporating soil-building plants. Pests and crop disease were largely managed by rotation and the diversity of the ecosystem.

Soon we had a 5th generation, our two children, growing up in the heart of our business—working and playing in the fields, at our roadside stand. They knew what we valued and how we earned our money. The land was their school and sanctuary; it was there they experienced creation in the making. We were not only a farm family. We were a family farming.

About the bookA master class in organic farming, a lesson in entrepreneurship, a love story, and a legal thriller… In telling her story of working

the land, Atina Diffley reminds us that we live

in relationships—with the earth, plants and

animals, families and communities. A memoir of

making these essential relationships work in the

face of challenges from weather to corporate

politics, this is a firsthand history of getting in at

the “ground level” of organic farming.

When the hail starts to fall, Atina Diffley

doesn’t compare it to golf balls. She’s a farmer.

It’s “as big as a B-size potato.” As her bombarded

land turns white, she and her husband Martin

huddle under a blanket and reminisce: the one-

hundred-mile-per-hour winds; the eleven-inch

rainfall (“that broccoli turned out gorgeous”);

the hail disaster of 1977. The romance of

farming washed away a long time ago, but the

love? Never. In telling her story of working the

land, coaxing good food from the fertile soil,

Atina Diffley reminds us of an ultimate truth: we

live in relationships—with the earth, plants and

animals, families and communities.

A memoir of making these essential

relationships work in the face of challenges

as natural as weather and as unnatural as

corporate politics, her book is a firsthand

history of getting in at the “ground level” of

organic farming. One of the first certified

organic produce farms in the Midwest, the

Diffleys’ Gardens of Eagan helped to usher in

a new kind of green revolution in the heart of

America’s farmland, supplying their roadside

stand and a growing number of local food co-

ops. This is a story of a world transformed—and

reclaimed—one square acre at a time.

And yet, after surviving punishing storms and

the devastating loss of fifth-generation Diffley

family land to suburban development, the

Diffleys faced the ultimate challenge: the threat

of eminent domain for a crude oil pipeline

proposed by one of the largest privately

owned companies in the world, notorious

polluters Koch Industries. As Atina Diffley tells

her David-versus-Goliath tale, she gives readers

everything from expert instruction in organic

farming to an entrepreneur’s manual on how

to grow a business to a legal thriller about

battling corporate arrogance to a love story

about a single mother falling for a good, big-

hearted man.

i

Do Not Spray sign, in field of spring vetch at the Gardens of Eagan, spring 2006. Photograph ©2006 Greg Thompson

On a Super M, Martin Diffley chops sorghum-sudangrass, adding organic matter to the soil.

Martin and Atina Diffley in the kale field: “The kale was our ally and expert witness during the MinnCan crude oil pipeline lawsuit dubbed ‘Kale Versus Koch, Soil Versus Oil.’”Photograph ©2006 Greg Thompson.


DevelopmentThere was just one problem. The city of Eagan had not left any land zoned for agriculture and the day came when the school district asked for twenty acres. Sewer and water crossed the farm to serve the school—bringing assessments—forcing the sale of the rest of the land for housing.

All life—the trees and grass, flowers and forbs, the fruit and bushes—was torn out; then burned or buried. Even the living topsoil was scrapped into a pile and sold. The remaining subsoil was flattened and reshaped—1980s style development.

We continued to farm on adjacent land that had not yet been bulldozed, but rain could not soak in—there was no life to hold water—and it ran-off into our fields. Our crops were covered with silt and gravel. Pests and disease, previously a non-issue, became a loosing battle. There was no habitat or food for beneficial insects, for birds, frogs, and spiders—consumers of multiple pest species—our allies disappeared.

It was through this loss that I understood how utterly dependent humans are on a healthy relationship with nature. I committed to protect land and nature through my farming decisions.

New StartFortunately, we found a way to purchase our own land and begin anew, using organic practices of renewability to transition the land and prepare it for vegetable production. We’ve experienced success as organic farmers with high yields of quality produce, and stability in the market. Through it all the lesson of the bulldozers has been a constant guide in our decision-making.

It is relationships that carry us through life’s challenges, healthy relationships with the earth, plants and animals, family and community, with each other—because like nature: none of us live in a void.

Eminent Domain ThreatRelationship was the ultimate lesson in 2006 when our second farm was threatened by eminent domain for a crude oil pipeline owned by Koch Industries.

Martin and I intervened as parties to the legal proceeding and brought in expert witnesses, demonstrating that organic farming systems work by fostering healthy relationships with soil life and the species

The Diffley homestead on the northeast corner of Diffley and Dodd Roads, in Eagan, Minnesota, was settled in 1855 by Martin’s great-grandparents from Ireland. Photograph circa early 1900s.

For over three decades, this sign pulled in customers, and Martin and I used “Turn here” as an opening line for conversations about changing how our food is grown. Photograph ©1989 Helen De Michiel, from her video essay Turn Here Sweet Corn.

Martin and I watch developers’ bulldozers and encroaching suburbia alongside sweet corn growing on the Plains of Abraham. Photograph copyright 1990 T. L. Gettings for Rodale Institute.

12 Focus Magazine

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on the land. The customers we had fed for decades wrote letters to the judge—over 4,200 letters—insisting: Gardens of Eagan must be protected; we rely on this farm for our food.

And we succeeded. The pipeline was moved to the road right-a-way, and the state of Minnesota now has an Organic Mitigation Plan to protect the soil and certification of organic farms.

Relationship Each of us has a relationship with nature through the land that feeds us. I encourage you to love and protect its resiliency by supporting renewable organic systems. Grow your own, or buy direct from organic farms or grocers who purchase organic. Speak to your legislators about agricultural policy.

Support resiliency: yours and the earths. They are inseparable.

Atina Diffley, author of Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works

The corn sales table and blackboard were the social and business center of the Diffley’s Gardens of Eagan roadside stand.Photograph ©1995 by Dennis Nolan; all rights reserved.

Atina Diffley is an organic consultant, public speaker, and author of the memoir Turn Here Sweet Corn: Organic Farming Works published by the University of Minnesota Press. Until 2008, she and her husband Martin ran the Gardens of Eagan, one of the first certified organic produce farms in the Midwest. Their consulting business is named Organic Farming Works LLC.

In the early 1990s the Diffley family land was developed, and Atina and Martin started over in Eureka Township. In 2006 a crude oil pipeline owned by Koch Industries threatened. The Diffleys intervened in the route process and with the help of committed customers, a great attorney, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, succeeded in creating an Organic Mitigation Plan. Atina can be reached at www.atinadiffley.com.

“Atina Diffley’s Turn Here Sweet Corn is deeply moving not only from a personal standpoint but also from the political.” — Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat

14 Focus Magazine

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As we were packing gear the day before our scheduled departure, Mark noticed

me packing my hairdryer and pillow and gently explained that there were no electrical outlets in the Boundary Waters. OK, I could deal with that, but at least I certainly had to take my pillow, which in my mind was a certifiable medical necessity. I won that battle and stuffed my pillow into the last remaining inch of my Duluth Pack.

We had talked with friends about a route plan and which portages to take. With their help, we designed an itinerary for our 4-day excursion. We drove to Ely and found our entry point into the Boundary Waters.

As we parked and started to unload our gear, we noticed another group at the landing who were just making ready to push off shore. I joked about how funny

they looked in their mosquito netting, long pants and long sleeve shirts. As we got closer to the water, we immediately discovered why they looked as if they were going on a safari through the jungle. As the mosquitoes started buzzing our heads, we both reached for the insect repellant. That would become our lifeline to sanity during the following four days.

We later learned the Boundary Waters area near Ely had a record-hatch of mosquitoes that week and we got to meet many of the little critters up close and personal over the next few days.

As we eased out onto the water, the pesky mosquitoes seemed to drift away. We were both immediately awed by the breathtaking beauty all around us. We soon found our way to the first scheduled portage. As we

unloaded the gear, I began to question some of the choices I had made when packing clothing and other items which at the time seemed absolutely necessary.

The idea of flipping a 50-pound canoe over our heads and hauling it a mile or more on our shoulders suddenly did not seem like a fun trip. But about halfway into the portage, just when the sound of our own breath echoing inside the canoe became an annoyance, the realization of what surrounded us, began to take hold.

Despite achy shoulders from already paddling quite a distance, the pain faded as the canoe glided across the water and the call of a loon welcomed us to a new lake. We experienced the stillness of paddling the pristine waters with pine and birch trees towering above us. In the morning,

travel

Boundary Waters Canoe AreaA place to make memoriesBY GINNY LEE

In the summer of 1987, just before I married my husband, we took a trip to the Boundary

Waters, a first time experience for each of us. Although my husband had hunted,

camped, and fished in rugged areas many times, I was a rookie. But, I was young and in

love and ready for the adventure.

16 Focus Magazine

we watched the rising sun burn mist off of a mirror-still lake at daybreak. At night, we were treated to a breathtaking view of the northern lights streaking across the sky.

If you plan a trip to the BWCA this summer, mosquito repellent, bug netting, and breathable rain gear should be at the top of your list for clothing and equipment. Make a mental note to maintain a positive attitude and practice patience during your stay in the BWCA (especially with the big guy doing most of the paddling).

In my opinion, a trip to the Boundary Waters before the wedding is a much more

worthwhile training ground for couples than any pre-marriage counseling. It teaches you how to work together, problem-solve, and see something of beauty through another person’s eyes.

Our four days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area were physically challenging but the peace, solitude and beauty surrounding us for that short time allowed us to appreciate this pristine yet rugged wilderness.

And, to make sure you’re just as much in love coming out of the Boundary Waters as when you went in, make sure you’ve packed plenty of insect repellant!

What you need to know before you goThe Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is renowned as a destination for both canoeing and fishing on its many lakes and is the most visited wilderness in the United States. The good news for residents in the south-of-the river area, it’s a short 260 mile drive to access this gem vacation site.

BWCAW includes more than 1 million acres of land, 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and more than 2,000 campsites. But it is what is not included – motors, buildings and groups larger than nine people – that makes the Boundary Waters special.

The BWCAW averages about 250,000 visitors annually. Campers in the Boundary Waters are required to stay at designated sites with fire grates and open-air wilderness latrines. Permits are required and can be ordered in advance through www.recreation.gov. The permits are allocated based on the entry point into the wilderness and can also be picked up on a walk-up basis at one of the BWCAW permit issuing stations.

If you are planning well in

advance or attempting to plan a trip to an entry point in high demand, then you may want to enter the permit lottery by submitting an application between November 1 and January 15. Here are a few other nuggets of information you may need: • All watercraft need to be licensed when used

in the BWCA• Dogs are allowed in the BWCA but must be

kept on leash when portaging. • Glass bottles and cans are not allowed in the

BWCA except for non-food items such as insect repellent, medicines, and fuel.

• Fires are only allowed in the steel metal grates at designated campsites.

• Fires should be put out with water before leaving your camp or retiring for the night.

• A latrine is available for each campsite.

Logos & Brand IdentityStandard Guide

Specialiing in energy efficient Heating & Air Conditioning systems.

Replacements, New construction and In-Floor Heating.

Will design any system to meet your budget.

P: 612-817-8486 | F: 952-400-4976Al Platt

[email protected]

“We provide a fun, energetic, non-competitive atmosphere. Our students learn confidence and a healthy lifestyle through the art of dance.”

Jazz • Ballet • Tap • Lyrical Broadway • Hip Hop • Zumba

Tiny Tots • Birthday Parties

• Non-Competitive Classes Ages 2-Adult

• Classes September - June

• Summer Sessions Available

• Accept Mid-Season Registrations

Downtown Savage4801 West 124th Street

952-808-2936www.shanasdance.com

hana’sDance Studio


Eagan, Minnesota – Cascade Bay WaterparkDriving time: practically in your backyard

You don’t even have to pack your tooth brush for this trip. As temperatures rise this summer, enjoy the cool pools, lazy river and water slides at Cascade Bay Waterpark located in Eagan. This waterpark offers endless entertainment for all ages, including Shipwreck Cove and Sandpiper Beach, an interactive play area for children six years old and under. For the older and

more adventurous crowd, try the hurricane slides and roaring rapids. Land lovers can take advantage of the zero depth pool or the nine-hole mini golf course. For a refreshing and fun-filled time for the whole family, visit Cascade Bay Water Park.

Brainerd, Minnesota – Madden’s Resort on Gull LakeDriving time: 2 hours 50 minutes

Whether you’re going to Maddens to enjoy the beautiful waters of Gull Lake or to play

some of the finest golf in Minnesota, this resort offers a classic resort experience. It’s a golfer’s paradise, complete with 63 of the most finely manicured holes in Minnesota. With three stunning 18-hole courses along with a 9-hole executive course, golfers of all skill levels are sure to have an exhilarating and memorable experience. Madden’s Resort offers much more than golf, however. From waters sports of every kind to tennis, biking, trapshooting or lawn-bowling, Maddens has activities for everyone.

If you are considering a family vacation this summer, but don’t want the expense of airfare, there are

close to home getaways for every budget. Whether you’re looking for a state-of-the-art water park for

your kids or a romantic spot to do some serious star gazing, we’ve got the perfect summer break ideas.

Other summer getaways close to home

Cascade Bay Waterpark, Eagan, MN Madden’s Resort on Gull Lake, Brainerd, MN

Madeline Island, Bayfield, WI

18 Focus Magazine

Amana, Iowa – Amana ColoniesDriving time: 4 hours 30 minutes

The Amana Colonies are a major tourist attraction and have been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1965. Until the mid-1930s, the Colonies lived a communal life, maintaining an almost completely self-sufficient local economy. Today, you’ll find shops with Old-World handcrafted items, antiques, furniture, quilts, and boutiques. Eating is a culinary delight at The Ox Yoke Inn or The Ronneburg Restaurant, featuring traditional German meals as

well as American fare. With walking trails, museums, wineries, and golf to choose from, the only decision left to make will be where to stay. Choose from a bed and breakfast, RV park, hotel, or condominiums. For a unique family vacation, a trip to Iowa may be what you’re looking for.

Bayfield, Wisconsin – Madeline IslandDriving time: 5 hours 20 minutes

Though Madeline Island is small in size, its charm and abundant natural beauty make it the perfect sport for the vacationer who

wants to get away from it all. The area offers some of the best fishing and sailing to be found. To reach Madeline Island, you board one of the four steel-hulled car/passenger ferries. Not only is the ferry ride necessary to reach the island, it is a great scenic cruise on Lake Superior. The Madeline Island Museum provides a glimpse into the storied history of the island. Whether you camp under the stars, book a modern vacation home with glittering lake views, or plan a family reunion in a cozy cabin setting, Madeline Island is a tranquil and idyllic destination for a summer getaway.

Amana Colonies, Amana, IA Madeline Island, Bayfield, WI

Sensational Summer Session!3-Adult / Beg.-ProfessionalNon-competition studio / Nurturing environment /Top professional instructors

CAMPS: • Social Dance June 18-28 • Break Dance June 25-28 • Acting August 12-14

Join us this summer:•Youth dancers, actors, choir will present an “In the Park” musical theater production.

•Jr. & Sr dance, acting, choir companies prepare for our 15th Anniversary Gala and original musical theater production with renowned artists from Japan, Spain and NYC!

HEARTBEAT STUDIOS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

CLASSES:July 9 - Aug. 16•Jr. & Sr. Company Auditions•Jr. & Sr. Academy Auditions•Jazz•Modern•Hip Hop•Break Dance•Acting•Choir•Tap•Ballet / Pointe•Stretch & Flex•Leaps & Turns•Specialized class for Age 10+ with ASD

7661 West 145th Street, Apple Valley, MN 55124 | 952-432-7833 § www.heartbeat-studios.com

READERS’CHOICE

Voted Best Dance Studio

2 years in a row!

2997407R 1 5/7/12 10:24 AM

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Focus Summer 2012