Sage Against the Machine No. 25

Clutching her third iced coffee of the morning, armed with snacks, sarcasm, and a rosin pen in hand, here comes Summer Mom!

A term coined—and fully embodied—by my friend Sarah Tupper, Summer Mom is just like a regular mom, but with 40% less food on hand, 60% more laundry, and exactly zero idea what day of the week it is. Coming off the chaos of Mayvember, we’ve dove headfirst into summer with zero grace. From pool to lake to park and all the messy stops in between, my car has become a mobile home base—blankets, towels, water bottles, books, chargers, toys, and trash jammed in every crevice. It’s exhausting. It’s chaotic. And somehow, it’s where all the magic lives.

Lately, I’ve been catching early-morning Instagram Lives from Alpenglow Farm—one of my favorite spots in Southern Humboldt. One morning, as Craig gave a spectacular garden tour, he said something that stuck with me and kept playing on repeat: “The best thing you can put on your plants each morning is your shadow.”

It took me longer than I care to admit to really get what he meant.

People often ask if I grow cannabis. My answer? A firm, enthusiastic no. I can’t afford—financially, emotionally, or physically—to keep one more thing alive and healthy in my house. Between three kids, a giant dog, and running a business, I’m officially at full capacity when it comes to feeding, sheltering, and nurturing.

But I do have a small flower garden out front. And since hearing Craig’s words, I’ve made it a ritual to spend five minutes every morning pulling up the baby maple trees that keep popping up in the mulch. And what I’ve realized is that, in showing up consistently, I’m noticing more than I ever did before. The tiny shifts. The new growth. The weeds I can catch before they take over.

I might not be growing cannabis, but it's a connection to the natural world that gives me just as much in return. And a lot less pressure to produce!

These summer days are seriously long. (How many arguments do I have to break up over the last popsicle? Can we please try wearing the same shirt for more than three hours?) But spending time casting my shadow in the garden each morning has made me realize that, in these months at home with all my kids, I’m casting my shadow over THEM as they grow. These loud, sticky, sandy, sweaty moments are chances to witness all the little things shaping who they become.

Sure, the laundry piles up and the chaos never quits, but all these moments? They become the roots where my kids’ dreams and ambitions take hold—the opportunity I have to nurture and appreciate the beauty they bring—and that’s worth every sticky second.

Three Things That Bring Me Joy:

1. My first visit to CannaConnect Brainerd!

This Thursday, June 26th, I’m grabbing my high school besties and heading up north to Brainerd to check out CannaConnect. These are the exact moments that get me through the long, cold winters. I’ve been to some amazing CannaConnect events here in Minneapolis, and I have no doubt they’ll deliver a great experience up north, too.

Minnesotans love Minnesota things—and as pioneers of the hemp cannabis beverage movement, we’ve embraced cannabis in a more casual, low-pressure way than many other states. That laid-back entry point has opened space for real conversations about the benefits of cannabis—not just how it compares to alcohol.

Sure, drinking culture still reigns here, but the data is clear: alcohol consumption is declining, especially among younger generations. More and more people are choosing options that are tailored, intentional, and don’t come with a recovery day.

I’m looking forward to a beautiful dinner, a peaceful setting, and the chance to introduce my friends to the cannabis event scene. Because this is what normalization really looks like—the best people, good food, and a plant that finally gets a seat at the table.

2. Buying weed in Minnesota this summer (!!) — and the state park I’d smoke it in

The number one question I get is: “Where can I buy weed in Minnesota?” So let me put you on to a few spots where you can legally buy flower and concentrates right now.

If you’re up north, check out ANANG Native Cannabis Co. in Cloquet. Their menu is on Weedmaps, and you can walk in or order online for curbside pickup—flower, concentrates, and a few extra goodies. Then swing by Jay Cooke State Park, stroll across the swinging bridge, and toke one on the banks of the St. Louis River.

Out west? Hit up Waabigwan Mashkiki on the White Earth Reservation—or one of their two (!!) off-reservation shops, made possible through a uniquely Minnesotan process called compacting. Thanks to this tribal–state agreement, folks in Moorhead and St. Cloud can legally buy from the tribe, right in their own towns. Pick up in-store or online, then head to Itasca State Park and spark one near the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

And if you’re in the Twin Cities heading south, make a pit stop at Island Pezi in Welch. They’ve got a solid product lineup and plenty of accessories. Then cruise over to Frontenac State Park—hike the bluffs or wander the prairie trail—and wrap it all up with a snack sesh in their scenic picnic area.

3. The Ultimate Lip Look for Summer Seshes

No one wants to be that person—the one handing over a joint wet to the touch. And I definitely don’t want to be the one leaving it coated in sticky lip gloss as I pass to the left.

To avoid that faux pas, I dove deep into the TikTok rabbit hole, testing the blurred matte lip trend. Think chic Frenchwoman vibes with American-level staying power and budge-proof performance.

My new go-tos? The Haus Labs Le Monster lip crayon (liner + lipstick in one—because middle-aged lips need help) and Maybelline Teddy Tint, creamy at first and then soft, blurred powder. Both offer a huge shade range—and both deliver the perfect puff puff pass pout.

Two Great Conversations I Had:

> Our last Great Lakes Bake Club of the summer featured Karen Kekelik and IndiGrow in Muskegon, MI. I love hearing Karen’s voice in this space—she’s leading a socially conscious, vertically integrated operation that truly prioritizes quality over quantity. IndiGrow’s craft approach and dedication to growing unique landrace strains make it stand out as a model of thoughtful cultivation and community impact. From puff-and-paint nights to partnerships with local organizations, their work is helping integrate cannabis into everyday life in a way that feels natural, inclusive, and deeply human. This kind of grassroots connection is how normalization happens—one conversation, event, and shared experience at a time.

And don’t worry, your Baking Buddies will be back this fall! If you miss us in the meantime, be sure to stay current with Ashe Lounge and Bloom Magazine for all the amazing things these ladies are cooking up.

> My recent conversation with Levi Strom was everything I love about this space—smart, grounded, and full of insight. He dropped in from Chicago mid–trade show and walked us through his journey from home grower and patient advocate to CEO of Canapresso, where he’s raising the bar for vape hardware and filled products across hemp and cannabis.

We dug into what makes a vape high-quality—from materials and hardware to common failure points and how manufacturing choices impact the user experience. Levi walked us through the differences in performance, safety, and design—and the conversation opened up into a smart, honest exchange with our whole community. One of the things I appreciate most about this group is how willing people are to share what they know in a space where so much is often gatekept. I love seeing that kind of leadership!

One Piece of SAGE ADVICE: