Hobby farming can be a rewarding experience the whole family can appreciate. But, don't let the moniker fool you: It's also a lot of work and can in many ways become a second job. The key to doing it right is to do your research before you get started and to plan ahead so that you can find the right balance.

• Set a Budget
  One of the first things you need to establish is your budget. How much do you want to spend, and how much will it cost to achieve your goals? In most cases, you'll want to establish steps and plan over the course of several seasons to achieve your goals. This will let you build your hobby farm gradually so that you don't have to front the cash all at once.

Chocolate is delicious. Ice cream is also delicious. What do you get when you combine the two? Well, you get chocolate ice cream, which just so happens to have its own holiday! National Chocolate Ice Cream Day is June 7th, 2022, and we highly recommend visiting one of these Twin Cities ice cream shops in celebration. Take a break from looking at Minneapolis homes for sale and St. Paul homes for sale, and treat yourself to a scoop.

• La La Homemade Ice Cream & Luncheonette: 3146 Hennepin Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55408
  La La Homemade Ice Cream makes their own ice cream in-house, using top-quality ingredients like Madagascar vanilla beans. They have a range of flavors, with about 12 to 16 being served at any one time. On National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, some of the top ones to try would be Chocolate Brownie Sundae and Cocoa Chocolate. The Non-Dairy Dark Chocolate Sorbet is an awesome choice if you can't eat dairy.

Festival season has arrived in the Twin Cities, with some great events coming up for anyone who loves art. Kick things off with the unique, experimental Northern Spark art festival near St. Paul homes for sale this June, then circle the last two days of July on your calendar for the Loring Park Art Festival around the corner from Minneapolis homes for sale. Here's a look at what to expect from two of the best upcoming art festivals in the Twin Cities.

Northern Spark – University Avenue & Downtown St. Paul – June 11, 9 PM to 5:30 AM

• An All-Night Art Festival in St. Paul
  The times that you read above are not a misprint. One of the unique things about Northern Spark is that it takes place starting around dusk and lasts straight through the wee hours of the morning. The first part of the festival takes place along University Ave. from 9 PM to 2 AM. After that, Northern Spark moves to Raspberry Island in downtown St. Paul, with a closing event that lasts from 2 AM through 5:30 AM.

Would you like to actively contribute to the environment when taking care of your lawn? You should try composting. Homeowners are recognizing how valuable compost can be on their lawn when used in top dressing. Our Edina homes for sale and Glenwood homes for sale have enough backyard space to give you enough room to make compost. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to start composting.

Why You Should Compost

 Compositing is essential because it:

• Reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions
• Helps recycle essential nutrients 
• Strengthens the soil texture and structure, promoting healthy plant growth
• Encourages a prolific soil ecosystem by attracting microorganisms and critters good for the soil
• Eliminates or reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer