Joe Deden, Part 1

Dedication

We share our clients' dedication to elevating the standards for renewable energy solutions.

Joe Deden and Mary Bell have revolutionized sustainable living. Their "Forever Home" in Lanesboro, Minnesota, stands as a beacon of how modern comfort can seamlessly blend with environmental stewardship. Their commitment to renewable energy sets new standards for sustainable living, utilizing only half of what they produce. To learn more about Joe and Mary’s “Forever Home” click here.

Joe's dedication to the environment was shaped by his forestry studies in Germany, where he worked alongside peers dedicated to an immersive environmental education. Recognizing similar opportunities in his home state of Minnesota, Joe founded Eagle Bluff in 1978.  From 1978 to 2018 Joe served as the Executive Director of Eagle Bluff Learning Center whose mission is to provide transformative experiences which empower people to care for the earth and each other.

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Inspiring Others

Eagle Bluff is a year-round environmental learning center, providing accredited education programs and outdoor adventures to over 16,000 children, adults and families each year.  

Joe’s belief and vision of creating a hands-on learning environment at Eagle Bluff has inspired countless individuals by:

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Core Values

Joe’s commitment to sustainability and education is integral to Eagle Bluff’s mission and operations. The center’s meals feature sustainable, organic, and locally sourced ingredients, with approximately 50% sourced from local sources. Additionally, Eagle Bluff participates in the FoodWISE (Food Waste in Schools Elimination) program, aiming to eliminate cafeteria food waste through education and sustainable ecological practices.

Each year, Eagle Bluff welcomes 12 ‘Fellows’—recent college graduates from around the globe—who seek to enhance their education and skills through an experiential outdoor training program. These Fellows lead the Naturalist Program, gaining expertise in public speaking, group management, and teaching a diverse array of students from the Midwest. They can also earn a graduate certification in Environmental Education from Hamline University and achieve Certified Interpretive Guide training through the National Association for Interpretation.

Thanks to Joe’s and Eagle Bluff’s efforts, “The Point” conservation area was added to the campus in 2017. This 151-acre treasure, known as a Black Oak Sand Barrens Prairie, has developed over thousands of years. As part of the Driftless Area that escaped the last glacial period's leveling impact, it now serves as a natural learning laboratory for studying land and water conservation, wildlife and forest management practices, prairie restoration, and the control of invasive species.

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Leading a Sustainable Future

Joe’s journey and lifelong pursuit of leading a sustainable lifestyle, has included the participation of many other projects and organizations including:

• University of MN Institute Advisory Council from College of Forestry
• MEEB/REEC - MN Environmental Education Board, Regional EE Council ‍
• MFA - Minnesota Forestry Association ‍
• CERTS - Clean Energy Resource Teams ‍
• PES - Project Earth Sense - Joint Funding Projects
• Sustainable Campus - McKinstry Study for all six centers (Learn more about this project here. )
• DERR (Deep Energy Reduction Retrofit) of EB residence

Gratitude

As someone who fondly remembers an unforgettable elementary school trip to Eagle Bluff Learning Center, I am thankful to Joe Deden for his lifelong dedication to education, environmental sustainability and conservation. At Greenway Solar, we extend our gratitude to Joe Deden and Mary Bell for sharing their inspiring journey and beautiful home, and for their ongoing commitment to a sustainable lifestyle that paves the way for a greener future.

Written by:

Nellie Moran
Assistant Project Manager at Greenway Solar Services