Seed Packaging Event Coming Up!

Hello Gardeners!

I hope you are enjoying all the seed catalogs in your mail box. Looking through all the color photos of vegetables and flowers inspires me during these cold, cloudy days of winter. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the snow and activities like cross-country skiing and snow shoeing, but I do like dreaming of warm weather too.

Just a reminder that our next seed packaging event is coming up on Monday, January 29th from 4:30-8pm at the White Bear Lake library. This is an open event, so come when you can and stay as long as you like. I will be showing 3 methods to start native plant seeds as needed during the event. No experience necessary and chocolate is provided! New gardeners and those experienced in digging in the dirt are all welcomed!  Come spend some time with fellow gardeners as we package seeds and talk about our plans for the growing season.

The seed library can use donations of heirloom or open-pollinated seeds (peas, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, sweet peppers and native plants) and small coin envelopes, no bigger than 3 X 4 1/4".

I want to call your attention to the Forks in the Dirt site, run by Michelle Bruhn.  Michelle was instrumental in getting together the White Bear Lake Winter Farmer's Market last month. She has a new blog post on seed saving which talks about our White Bear Lake Seed Library. Check it out!  Forks in the Dirt

Another event which I always find wonderful is the Design With Nature Conference. The speakers are great and the conference fee includes lunch and snacks. Consider becoming a Wild Ones member and receive a discount to the conference.

Wild Ones Design With Nature
Annual Conference - February 17

Natural Landscape as the New Norm
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Anderson Student Center,
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul Campus

The conference is presented by Wild Ones, a national, environmental education and advocacy nonprofit. It offers insights into topics impacting the native plant movement, always encouraging us to embrace the connection of native plants to the ecological health of our communities.

Featuring:

• Jared Rosenbaum: 
  We Are Wildlife: Edible and Medicinal Native Plants in Restoration Practice
• Rachel Mackow:
  Native Nourishment: Breaking Bread with Wildlife
• Catherine Zimmerman:
  Stories of Bringing Nature Home: Rethinking Our Approach to Landscape

• Register for Conference

Remember, without Winter, Spring would seem less sweet!
Pam