Water from the creek flows into the Mississippi river

Walking the Green Path: A Little Water Goes a Long Way

Living in an urban area, we may not always realize how much groundwater we lose to runoff. Since restaurants are big water users it’s important to see what we can do at Butter to help keep our water clean.

Community garden outside of Butter

Walking the Green Path: A Story Told by Plants

By reconnecting to the land and its stories we become more aware of what it provides for us and by appreciating native foods we honor those who lived here before us.

Daniel at Butter

Walking the Green Path

As the owner of Butter Bakery Cafe, sustainability is important to Daniel and his team. It also can be a challenge. Join Daniel as he writes about what it’s like to try and operate a sustainable small business that gives…

Bee foraging for pollen

Walking the Green Path: Supporting the Butterfly and the Bee

A challenge for restaurants and cafes trying to practice sustainability is figuring out their role in making sure there is a sustainable food system and a sustainable eco system to support their work.

Fresh Raspberries

Walking the Green Path: An Abundance of Raspberries

As a café owner, most of my time is spent being concerned about scarcity; but at times I can see that what we do have to share happens by tending to the things that matter.

Dan with local business owners who are working on being locally-climate oriented

Walking the Green Path: The Microclimate of a Village

The image of village resonates with me as a way to take our large-scale urban environment down to a more natural level. In doing so, I’m learning more about my role in this unique climate that is the neighborhood around…

Geese flying in formation

Walking the Green Path: Support for the Journey

I understand that on long journeys one person cannot be expected to carry the full weight. When it is shared, the burden is lighter, the investment is deeper, and there is a benefit to having a range of experience to…

Rebirth of soil

Walking the Green Path: Growth Beneath the Surface

I’ve been aching for something that could feed my soul and give me the fuel I need to carry on in a business that at most times is all-consuming and in a world that has been particularly cruel and hate-filled.

Community garden at butter

Walking the Green Path: Being Counter Cultural

At Butter, we try to be a daily advertisement for efforts to build community and restore our earth through the connections we make with each other, our food, and the world around us. Now, more than ever, this seems like…

Lyndale Neighborhood Association Community Award

Walking the Green Path: Another Brick for the Path

As I move into year twelve with Butter Bakery Café, I’ve created a new set of supports that feel different from my first years. I think I’m learning more about myself as a businessperson and about the role of my…

Cliff Jumper Featured

Walking the Green Path: Jumping off the Cliff

For Dan, moving his cafe from accepting tips to not accepting tips can feel like jumping off a cliff.

5.01.2017.spring Trail Walk Wilderness

Walking the Green Path: Theory and Practice

When we stopped taking tips at Butter we needed to have some time to settle into this new reality and see how good our theories were about what would happen.

Elroy Sparta Bike Trail

Walking the Green Path: A Tunnel Along the Path

Running a restaurant at the forefront of a fair wage campaign can feel like traveling through a long dark tunnel.

Hiking Trail Superior National Forest

Walking on the Green Path: On Being a Trailblazer

Whether you’re lost in the woods or trying to be one of the first restaurants in Minneapolis to pay your staff a fair wage while forgoing tips there are challenges and rewards to being a trailblazer.

Sept 17 North Shore

Walking the Green Path: Greener Paths at the Crossways

Finding ingredients that have the least impact on our environment can be difficult. It takes the time, energy, and desire to find the information needed to make the right choice.