Upcoming Events

Hello Gardeners

The Seed Library is down to only 420 packets of seeds. So far in 2019, over 2,200 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!

If you are unable to save seeds from your own harvest, please donate a commercial packet of appropriate seeds.

Resources

I have added a list of great resources to the Seed Library blogsite.

Blog site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/

This time of year many tomato plants are showing signs of disease or insect damage. Check out the latest blog on the Seed Library blog site to find information on how to combat fungus diseases and insect problems on tomatoes and other plants.

Hope you are enjoying the ‘fruits’ of your garden labor!

Pam

Upcoming Events

Future Seed Talks and Seed Packaging

September – MONDAY, September 9^th, 6:30pm – How to Save Seeds

September – Wednesday, September 11^th, 5pm seed packaging

October – Tuesday, October 8^th, 6:30 pm – Putting Your Garden to bed

YMCA Harvest Festival, Sunday Sept 22, Noon-3pm

Thw White Bear Lake YMCA is having a festival. Food grown locally and prepared by a local chef is available starting at noon. The Seed Library will be there with free seeds and a fun game. See the following for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/527292194674913/ 

UMN Organic Open House, Thursday, Sept 19, 2019, 4-6 pm

Stop by for a chance to hear about innovative organic growing practices and talk with researchers about current organic and sustainable agriculture research. Growers, students, researchers, and community members are invited to attend. These events are FREE & open to the public. 

Note: It says it is an open house, but it really is a tour that starts at 4pm. Though you can come at any time during 4-6pm.

Concurrent with the UMN Organic Open House will be a field day on summer cover crop mixes and how they can be used to improve soil health and fertility on your farm. Come learn about a variety of flowering summer cover crop options and summer cover crop research taking place at the University of Minnesota. Field day is supported by a Minnesota Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant.

This year's events will feature:

• Summer cover cropping systems for soil health and beneficial insect support
• SWD research in raspberries
• Cover crops for soil health in high tunnels
• Increasing production of summer lettuce and cauliflower
• Planting method effects on cover crop growth and soil benefits
• Alternative crops: field peas and quinoa

Location: Cornercopia Organic Farm on the UMN St. Paul Campus, Intersection of Lindig St & Dudley Ave.

Parking is available in the Gortner Ave Ramp, 1395 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108.

More info contact:
Anne Pfeiffer
Organic Program Associate
University of MN/Grossman Lab
436 Alderman Hall, 1970 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108
apfeiffe@umn.edu

https://www.organicag.umn.edu/cornercopia/2017fieldday

New Forest Farm Tour

“New Forest Farm is a diverse Restoration Agriculture research site in the Driftless Area of Southwestern Wisconsin. Come join us for a beautiful walk at the farm. This marks the start of tree crops harvesting season where the hazelnuts, apples, pears, grapes are bountiful. We will be doing a hybrid hazelnut harvesting demo too!”

You can take the tour on Saturday August 17, 10am – 1 pm. $20.

See https://newforestfarm.us/

Note: I wasn’t able to find the address on their website, but found it by google-- 15124 Ash Ridge Drive, Viola, WI 54664

Ramsey Master Gardener Classes

See details of classes at: www.ramseymastergardeners.com

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: https://wblseedlibrary.blogspot.com/

GARDENING RESOURCES

Gardening Resources

General Plant Growing

Joe Gardner has podcasts (new one every Thursday), videos, free guides and more on a multitude of gardening topics.

https://joegardener.com/

UMN Extension’s page on yard and gardens:

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden

Prairie Moon Nursery’s website on how to grow native plants from seeds, growing a prairie, plants for pollinators, etc.

https://www.prairiemoon.com/blog/resources-and-information

Vegetable Disease and Insect Problems

Cornell University’s growing page:

https://blogs.cornell.edu/livegpath/

Jo Gardner’s podcast/info on tomato diseases:

https://joegardener.com/podcast/understanding-tomato-diseases/

University of MN site on plant problems:

https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/

Soil testing

http://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/

Raingarden Info:

To find your watershed district go to the following website and click on the map at your location:

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/twin-cities-metropolitan-area-tcma-watersheds

Watershed districts do not follow city boundaries. For example, White Bear Lake is in 4 watershed districts. Watershed districts have grants for homeowners.

A good place to start to learn about rain gardens is the Blue Thumb website:

http://www.blue-thumb.org/

Many of you are probably in the Rice Creek Watershed District:

https://www.ricecreek.org/

Almost all the watershed districts have a grant program for homeowners and organizations. The grants range from $500 and up depending on the project. You must apply for the grant before purchasing any plants or supplies. The grants usually don’t apply to labor costs. The RCWD has $10,000 worth of grants available in 2019. Go to your watersheds website and follow the directions to apply for a grant.

Minnesota Wildflower Identification

A wonderful site to identify and learn about Minnesota native plants:

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/