Bringing Community Together: Through Gardening!

This past summer, the Town of Presque Isle approved a new project and location for a set of community gardens. The location is perfect, right next to the library in a natural gathering spot with lots of sun, water, and parking. This spot is part of a larger community hub -- with library, fire station, walk-through flower gardens, heritage center, playground, nature trail, and baseball field (with new outdoor lights in memory of a great Presque Isle friend and community member, Gary Wallace). Lots goes on here, including youth and adult sports, club and town meetings, Mahjong, book clubs, ping pong, yoga and fitness classes, author readings, art classes and shows, and more.

There were 25 garden plots up for adoption for 2016 (all were quickly adopted). The group spearheading this has a mission to "promote healthy eating, gardening, and social connection in our community." There are individuals, couples, and families from grandparents to young children who will be manning their plots. Further yet, plans are in the works to build or develop something within the gardens that engages youth in an interactive way.

To keep up to date on this, you can find the group on Facebook. To keep up to date on all things Presque Isle, I encourage you to check out our Chamber on FB or the Web. Soon, I hope to share with you updates on another venture gaining momentum -- a paved & connected bike trail! 

Just goes to show... there's never a dull moment, even in little 'ole P.I.!

#NationalGratitudeMonth

This month is the first official National Gratitude Month, being recognized in the U.S. and Canada. Gratitude, they say, is more than being thankful. It is intentionally bringing to mind, and drawing in a sense of appreciation, for something specific. This is a good time to practice since it's one of the tougher weather months in the Northwoods... the in-between month. But it's also the month we celebrate heroes and freedom, and a little later on... food, families, tradition, and community. This is also a time of few visitors. The locals that have been so busy as hosts to a flurry of guests for the past many months, now take a breather and enjoy a little time to themselves, or maybe take the time to get out a bit more.

Presque Isle feels different at this time, perhaps more than any other throughout the year. We feel it's name "almost an island" - a little isolated yet with an open road to always meet with others. We take the time to see our neighbors and family in a different way, in a way filled with a little more appreciation for what each person brings to our caring community.

As for me, the last bit of November 2015 will be much different than past years. Bill and I have been hit with the travel bug, and are gearing up for a visit to the Amazon River & Rainforest - a place where more than one-third of all of the known species can be found, including the anaconda! My grandkids tell me the legend is there is one nearly the length of a football field... it's "true," they saw it on YouTube. And while I may not be so enlightened as to be grateful for snakes, I am grateful for innocent beliefs, travel, community, home, and family... and the even the in-between month of November. Happy #NationalGratitudeMonth!

Your Second Home As A Vacation Rental - Strong Income Potential

Many buyers today are interested in a second home. When not in use -- why not rent it out? The income can cover expenses and a number of mortgage payments. I have first-hand experience with this... Bill and I wanted to downsize from our larger lake home, and bought a smaller home still in Presque Isle. We planned to sell our lake home but weren't in a hurry initially. We decided to try it out as a vacation rental home (generally week-long stays). We did quite well, particularly in the summer and winter. As the years went on, repeat clients helped things run quite smoothly. With a bit of increased advertising, we were able to increase our fall business quite a bit -- with people visiting for colors & festivals, fishing & hunting. Thankfully, there is a vacation rental business in Presque Isle, and they managed everything from customer relations and advertising to maintenance and cleaning.

We have since sold our lake home, but we now own a set of seasonal cabins that we rent out. They are on a beautiful Canadian-style shield lake with bays and crannies to explore, loons to listen to, fish to catch, kayaks to paddle, and campfires and s'mores to get toasty with. They are busy and booked solid June/July/Agusut, and much of May, September, and October. This seasonal income covers our taxes and many of our mortgage payments throughout the year.

Not all homes can be rented out, depending on their zoning. If this 2nd income is a priority for you, look for a lake with Recreational zoning (or a home that is currently being rented and so "grandfathered" in). A few places we have listed are currently in the vacation rental business and already have a clientele established. Check out:

• Van Vliet Lake Home
• Presque Isle Lake Home

Fabulous, Mellow Fall

It was 39 degrees this morning! It's noon now and the temperature has climbed to 60 with sunshine, blue skies, and crisp, dry air. The Musky fishermen are out and about, vying for a winner's spot in the annual 2015 World Championship Musky Classic. Over 700 fishermen, women, and youth participate every year; hoping their chosen lake and lure, and their magic touch will bring in a bomber!

On my morning ride, I saw bikers, runners, walkers, and "Sunday drivers" - each taking in the beauty on his own terms. Fall is truly an amazing time. Because of the fishing, colors, and clean, fresh air. Because of the start to the Green Bay Packers ride to Super Bowl XLIX. Because of families' transitions back to school, and a nostalgic goodbye to my last "Grandma day" of the summer. Because of the delicious shift to fall foods, sweaters, and socks. Because of the cold nights and sweet opportunity to snuggle up with a book, warm drink, and cozy fire. It's all this, and so much more...

With fall, there comes a sense of calm, and with it, the chance to reconnect with friends, family, self, and community. Or as William Allingham simply said, "Autumn's the mellow time." I agree. We've all been so busy with visitors, work, and entertaining; with grasping the moments of summer, and moving from one event to another and another. Now we seem to alter our pace, to one that is not necessarily slower but to one that feels a bit less rushed, and a bit more intentional. We often make our resolutions at New Year's but why not use fall and the feelings it brings to start our resolve a bit early this year, or perhaps by harkening back to our 2015 resolutions. There's still time to take steps and to reset or start our intentions anew -- and -- what better time than fall?!

A Top 10 List: My Home/Your Home

There are almost 200 lakes and thousands of miles of public land in Presque Isle. We’re happily scrunched between Wisconsin’s Northern Highland State Forest & the Ottawa National Forest. This means plentiful and expansive opportunities to recreate! Here’s a list of my Top 10 Summer/Fall to do's, and in no particular order:

Copper Peak. Yes, you head all the way to the tippy-top!

• Follow the Presque Isle River to Lake Superior on an auto/hiking tour. You’ll find a beautiful series of waterfalls to explore. And don't miss visiting the "Big Lake" at the end of your tour.
• Take a Copper Peak Adventure Ride (chair life, elevator and stairs), to get to the top of the world’s largest ski jump. On a clear day, you can see 3 states and Canada. And, yes, I made it to the top!!
• Visit the 18,327 acre Sylvania Wilderness for a day trip or overnight. Paddle and portage; fish and swim. A truly magical place blessed with beauty and solitude. Guides Available.
• Hike the Van Vliet Hemlocks, a State Natural Area in Presque Isle. The Hemlock trees here represent a little more than one-tenth of one percent of the original forest historically found in Wisconsin.
• Sign Up for a Discovery Center program: Bird Banding, Dillinger Pontoon Cruises, Kids Nature Programs, Yoga & Wellness, Wolf Howling, and More!
• Dine at a Wisconsin Supper Club. Grab your fish fry on Friday and a beer or bloody on Sunday while watching the beloved Green Bay Packers en route to the Super Bowl!
• Fish! Whether it’s panfish, tasty Walleye, or the elusive Musky, our area is blessed with opportunities for all of them. Local guides cater to families or the more serious fisherman. 
• Paddle the State Natural Area at Rice Creek, a 2-mile stretch between two publicly accessible lakes. This little gem is rich with wild rice, rare plants, abundant bird life, and towering trees.
• “Lake It!”... whatever, however, and as often as possible. Swim or ski, view the otters and loons, boat or paddle, enjoy a sunset cruise. Each and every lake has its own character!  
• Schnitzelbank with the Johnny Wagner Band at Oktoberfest, a Presque Isle tradition for 30+ years. Hosted the first weekend in August - an awesome event that brings visitors & locals, and all generations, together! Check out the bells/Edelweiss below...

Remote Living. Working Remotely.

One of the misnomers of life in Wisconsin's Northwoods is that we are behind the times, and now so, that means digitally behind the times. While this may be true to an extent, much of it is due to user "error" and less so to the available broadband and technology. But this user is catching up... with a Facebook page, a soon-to-be-invigorated presence on Zillow, and this - my own Blog!

There was a Chevy commercial a couple years back which shows a group of friends driving around backroads, holding up their cell phones. The commercial leads the viewer to think they are looking for reception, when in fact the opposite is true -- they are trying to find a place devoid of service. I love this "Getting Away" commercial, it reminds me that people still crave the simple things in life - nature, friendship, beauty, laughter, quiet. Now-a-days, though, we can now get all of that and still be digitally connected, and that seems to be what people are looking for.

Image from the Chevy Silverado commerical.

One might think in Presque Isle, where our tagline is "Wisconsin's Last Wilderness," that we are void of reception. However, the opposite is true. Throughout our towns, and even in the rural spots, cell and WiFi are increasingly available. And, infrastructure is yet improving. A recent snippet from our Channel 12 news team said "The days of going to the Northwoods and [being] cut off from technology are over. Vilas County is keying into that," and increasing your opportunity to live and work (remotely) in the Northwoods.