We have a long history of land preservation and environmental stewardship here in Dane County and across Wisconsin. Our protected spaces enrich our quality of life every day — and they're a big part of why so many of us love calling this area home.

Volunteering outside is a wonderful way to carry on that tradition. It's also a chance to connect with the natural world, learn something new, and meet fellow nature lovers along the way. Here are three ways to get involved.

(Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton — one of the many local spaces cared for by dedicated volunteers)

1) Become a "friend" of a city, county or Wisconsin state park 

Friends groups steward the land by participating in conservation projects, maintaining trails and

We recommend Mike Austin at Epic Electric for your electrician needs. Mike has proven to be a great communicator and an expert in his field. While diagnosing an issue, he offers clear explanations and transparent pricing.

We encourage you to reach out to Mike, whether you’re looking to take care of a small repair or have a panel replaced at mike.austin@epicelectricmadison.com or 608-445-1497.

We recently recommended K&A Greenhouse as a wonderful resource for your gardening needs. Another excellent resource is Tend Native Plants out of Blue Mounds, just a short drive from Madison. 

If you're interested in converting some of your yard to a pollinator friendly habitat, Tend Native Plants is a helpful place to start. Sarah, the owner, clearly has a passion for native plants and wildflowers. She's been a tremendous resource for my family, as we convert more and more of our yard to native wildflowers, sedges, and grasses.

Just like our family, you'll be amazed by how much you learn — and by all of the birds, bees and butterflies that flock to your yard — as your native plants take root. 

(Bee Balm is easy to grow and a favorite for bees

It's summertime in Dane County, when everything is growing quickly (including the weeds!) in our yards. If you're looking to mix things up in your yard a little bit — with some new flowers, shrubs, or even a tree — we highly recommend visiting K&A Greenhouse.

K&A has a wonderful selection of indoor and outdoor plants, and a nice selection of native wildflowers and grasses, too. Even better, the staff at K&A are knowledgeable and eager to help. They can help you select the right plants for your yard and offer tips for tending to your plant babies.

Whether you are a budding or an experienced gardener, we know you will enjoy your visit to K&A!

Dane County and Wisconsin have a long history of land preservation. Thanks to the foresight of conservation-minded citizens, our parks, trails, and protected spaces will be here for generations to come. We're lucky to have such an abundance of natural beauty to explore — and conservation work continues so it stays that way.

If you're looking to get outside and get curious about the world around you, here are three apps we love for exploring and learning more about Wisconsin's natural spaces.

(the Ice Age Trail at Prairie Moraine Park)

Three apps for enjoying beautiful Wisconsin

FarOut for the Ice Age Trail

The FarOut app helps you plan your hiking trips on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail. If you're feeling ambitious, you can track each

The Rodney Scheel House is an admirable example of community on the east side of Madison. Not just one home, Rodney Scheel House is a group of 23 apartment complexes that house low-income residents who are living with HIV/AIDS, along with their families and caregivers. This found community was created in 1995 in honor of Rodney Scheel, a prominent gay rights activist in Madison in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Rodney Scheel House has a food pantry, on-site maintenance staff, a community room, and many support services through Project Home. Their website announces that the apartment homes are celebrated as “a place where a person can be the best [they] can be and receive help to accomplish what one can’t do alone.”

We encourage you to learn more or donate at

It's springtime in Dane County, the perfect time to get out and explore the natural world and the beautiful landscapes of South Central Wisconsin. Here's our quick guide to a few of our favorite hiking spots in the Madison area. 

(Ice Age Trail, Gibralter Rock Segment)

The Ice Age Trail 

Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail traces 1,200 miles of varied terrain, winding throughout the state. Many beautiful segments are located within and around Dane County, including the Valley View, Verona, Table Bluff, and Gibralter Rock segments. If you're feeling ambitious, you can download the app and track every segment of the trail you hike. Who knows, you might even set a goal to hike the entire trail and become a thousand-miler. 

Dane County Parks 

Our friends Henry and Mary recently came to us with a problem. They had moisture stains on their bedroom ceiling, and they weren't sure what to do next. So we called one of our most trusted contractors, Cody Helmer, and arranged for a visit. 

Cody inspected the roof and the attic and determined that the roof was leaking. To make matters worse, all of the roof sheathing was severely water damaged and covered in black stain. The previous roofer didn't install the proper ventilation, which led to poor air circulation and a build-up of moisture in the attic. 

The good news? Cody was able to make room in his schedule for a quick and complete rebuild of Henry and Mary's roof, and with all of the correct ventilation in place. Henry and Mary were relieved

Spring is here, which means it's time to start planning for your home maintenance and improvement projects. Maybe you need a handyman to address the small repairs around your home. Perhaps you need someone to clean up and mulch your yard. Or maybe you're ready to build that deck you've been dreaming of. 

(deck built by Cody Helmer, photo courtesy of PG Creatives) 

We can help you make the right connections. 

When you have work to address around your home, we'll be happy to refer you to reputable, local business owners who are a good match for your individual projects. Reach out to your Mad City Dream Homes agent for your own personalized recommendations. It's always our pleasure to assist you. 

Your heart is an astounding organ. It pumps blood to nearlyevery one of the trillions and trillions of cells in your body, delivering enough new blood every single day to fill 50 average-sized rain barrels. Go ahead - take a moment to be in awe of your heart.  While we rush through our days, our heart dependably keeps us going beat by beat. And, indeed, many of us don’t pay much mind to our hearts until an emergency gives us cause to.

One of our brokerage colleagues, Holly Hassenzahl, reminded us of some sobering facts about women’s heart health during a recent meeting. Did you know that one in three women will face a life-threatening cardiac event in their life? And more sobering yet, women are less likely than men to receive CPR from a