Hello
Gardeners!
Some
information on this new program:
Lawns to Legumes
Program Now Accepting Applications
The
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting
applications for the Lawns to Legumes program, which aims to increase
residential habitat for at-risk pollinators across the state. Lawns to Legumes
offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share
funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential
lawns.
Minnesota
residents can now apply to be reimbursed for up to $350 in costs associated
with establishing pollinator habitats in their yards. Applications will be
accepted through February 28. Applicants who qualify for reimbursement are
expected to attend a workshop or webinar to better ensure project success.
Funding decisions and all notifications will be emailed in March for spring
2020 installations. For further program details, see BWSR's website.
How
to apply:
Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website
Am
I eligible?
Anyone
is welcome to use the planting guide or attend a workshop developed for this program to
help plan a pollinator habitat project.
Minnesota
residents anywhere in the state who have an area at their home that can be used
for outdoor planting can apply for a combination of technical assistance
(workshops, coaching) and cost-share funding. Proximity to areas where the
Rusty patched bumblebee is likely to be present will be one factor considered
when awarding reimbursement grants.
What
does this program do?
Lawns
to Legumes offers workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding
for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. The
program also includes a public education campaign to raise awareness for
pollinator habitat projects and will establish demonstration neighborhoods that
showcase best practices.
Why
does this matter?
Minnesota
is home to more than 450 native bee species. Pollinators also include
butterflies, moths, beetles and native flies. All play a key role in
pollinating many food crops and native plants, but populations have
significantly declined worldwide in recent years. Population decline can be
attributed to habitat loss and lack of related nutrition for pollinators, as
well as pesticide use and pathogens.
The
program aims to protect the federally endangered state bee; the Rusty patched
bumblebee, and other at-risk pollinators. Even relatively small plantings of
native flowers can help create conditions that are valuable to pollinators and
can help build important habitat corridors.
Getting
started now
You
don't have to wait to start planning a pollinator-friendly yard! Here are some
helpful guides for creating habitat:
- Planting for Pollinators: BWSR's one stop shop guide for residential pollinator habitat
- Gardens for Pollinators: Tips from the Xerces Society
- DIY Bee Lawn: Steps for creating a bee lawn from Blue Thumb
- Build a Pollinator Garden in Seven Steps: Advice from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Info on winter seed
starting and saving seeds
Richmond
Seed Library has several online courses for seed saving and seed growing.
Joe
Gardner has a podcast on the winter sowing method. https://joegardener.com/podcast/130-winter-sowing/
Upcoming Events
Dec 14, Saturday, 9
am -1 pm– Winter Farmer’s Market
Tamarack
Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear
Township, MN
The
Winter Farmer’s Market is back again this year! Many produce vendors and
educational organizations will be at the winter farmer’s market. So will the
Seed Library! Come check it out and stop by the Seed Library table to say hi. I
also have a game kids and adults can play for a treat.
Jan 14, 2020 Tuesday, 6:30- 7:30 pm – Seed Talk
History of Food Plants
Lion’s Den room in the White Bear Lake library, 2150 2nd
St, White Bear Lake, MN
Find out some tasty
facts about the plants we eat.
Were tomatoes always
big, juicy and delicious?
How many varieties of
potatoes were grown 200 years ago?
Did people first eat
the roots or leaves of carrots?
There are as many fascinating
facts about the plants we eat as there are seeds in the Seed Library! I’d love
to share what I found, but I could use some help!
I need help finding information!
If you enjoy sleuthing
on the internet or in reference books, put your skills to use finding
information on the history of plants we eat. Let me know what food plant you
want to research. Then on Jan 14th you can share what you found with
the rest of us. I’m not talking about a 3 page report! Just a few sentences of
how a particular plant was used by people for food and how it has evolved over
the years.
Send me an email of
the name of the plant you want to research and I’ll keep a list so we don’t
have duplicates. Right now we have potatoes, wheat and carrots covered. The
food plant can be a fruit or vegetable, herbaceous plant, tree or shrub.
As
always, Seed Talks are really gardener discussions about a specific topic,
though we do occasionally wander into other related topics. Please come and
share your tips and questions!
Note: We are now in
the questionable weather time of the year. If the weather looks difficult for
driving I will cancel the Seed Talk or seed packaging. I will send out an email
and contact the library so you can always call the library for any last minute
changes. White Bear Lake library: 651-724-6007
Hope
to see you at these events!
Pam
WANTED
– SEEDS!!!!
The Seed Library needs
seeds! So far in 2019, over 2,500 packets of seeds have found new homes. Every
year we increase the number of packets finding new homes, so we need lots of
seeds for the 2020 season as well as native plants seeds for this fall.
Please
save your seeds of non-hybrid, open-pollinated beans, peas, lettuce, sweet
peppers, tomatoes, annuals and native plant seeds!
We are
very short on peas and herb seeds!
If
you are unable to save seeds from your own harvest, please donate a commercial
packet of open-pollinated seeds.
Resources
I
have added a list of great resources to the Seed Library blogsite.
Blog
site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/
Contact info for the
Seed Library:
Email:
wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog
site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/
