We Need Seeds! Check out New Events

 

Hello Gardeners!

These cooler days are welcome, but there is still plenty of growing season left. Tomatoes, squash, onions and many more vegetables are still ripening. I have oodles of asters and goldenrod blooming keeping the bees happy too.

There are a couple new events coming up quick, so check them out at the end of this email.

Grow a Row Participants

If you haven’t already harvested your pea or bean seeds, now is the time. Hopefully, the pods are dry and brown. Remove the pods from the plants and remove the seeds from the pods. Place the seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, your location, date and the words “Grow A Row”. After placing the seeds in an envelope, seal it and return it to the seed library table at the White Bear Lake library. I will take all the Grow a Row seeds and mix them together, keeping the peas separate from the beans. Then next season, people can grow them again and we’ll repeat the process. Over time our pea and bean seeds will be more adapted to our region.

                                   Thank you to those who grew a row for the Seed Library!

 

Seeds Needed

The seed library is short on tomato and native plant seeds. This is a great time to start saving tomato seeds. Many native plants have seed pods or seed heads ready for harvesting too.

The seed library welcomes seed donations of hon-hybrid, non-cross-pollinated seeds. Place dry seeds in a paper envelope with the name of seed, year and location on the envelope. Drop off in the bin on the seed library table in the library during open hours.

 

Where are the seeds?

Since the end of June the seed drawers and catalogs are back at the White Bear Lake library. You can access the seed packets during regular library hours. The Seed Library table is to the right as you come through the double doors. (White Bear Lake library, 2150 2^nd St, White Bear Lake; M: 10-8, T, W: 1-8, Th, F, Sa: 10-5)

You can find the current list of available seeds on the Seed Library website at Seed Library site. Or a less than current paper list on the Seed Library table in the library.

If you can’t find the seeds you’re looking for please let me know via email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com and I’ll get you the seeds if they are available.

 

Volunteer Opportunity

Help package seeds for the seed library. If interested, send me an email and I’ll get you seeds, supplies and instructions. You package the seeds and return them to the seed library table.

 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

 

Grower Spotlight: Feed Me Farms | September 23, 4-5:30 PM | Minnetonka

 

Jake Jarecki started Feed-Me Farms and is in the second year of production. He farms former lawn at a Synagogue, Lutheran Church, and a friend's side yard. Jake’s is a great case study on how to get started without a lot of money or owning land. Growing on city lots can be a low cost, low risk way to get a start in farming, and gain valuable experience, build assets and cultivate business relationships.

We will explore what it takes to start a market farm. Lawn owners and urban and

Address: Bet Shalom Synagogue, 13613 Orchard Road Minnetonka, MN. Please pre-register for a head-count, walkups are welcome too.

 

 

Compost! | September 25, 10 AM - Noon | Minneapolis

 

This event is focused on that magical pile in our yards, gardens, and farms: compost! Urban Ventures will host the gathering at their gardens along the Greenway. We'll see their composting operations, and veteran composter Russ Henry and Chesney Engquist of Minnehaha Falls Landscaping will also facilitate our discussion on making quality compost for soil quality.

Join in and learn:

    What you need to make compost

    How to build a good compost pile

    How to manage the pile to make high quality compost

    How to use finished compost

Address: Urban Ventures Greenway Gardens, 2841 S. 5th Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55408. Please pre-register for a head-count, walkups are welcome too.

 

Future Seed Talks via Zoom, all at 6:30pm

Nov  9, 2021 Tues – How to Do Winter Sowing

Learn how to start seeds using the winter sowing method of germination.

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Pam

 

Seed Talk: How To Save Seeds

 

Hello Gardeners!

It’s hard to believe it is September already, but I am happy to finally have cooler temperatures. My gardens are still producing—I still have lots of zucchini and eggplants ripening!  Maybe more than I need. I’ll have to find some creative recipes to use the extras.

Soon it will be fall and my thoughts will be on saving seeds for next season. If you are interested in saving your own seeds, please attend the next Seed Talk.

 

Seed Talk – How to Save Seeds

Tuesday September 14th, 2021, 6:30 pm via Zoom

This Seed Talk is all about saving seeds—tomato, beans, peas, lettuce and native plant seeds. You can use the seeds you harvest in your garden next growing season or to donate to the seed library. Collecting your own seeds is a great way to grow plants that are more adapted to your growing area. Also find out the best way to store seeds over the winter.

Though saving seeds is mostly straight forward, there are some special cases, such as tomatoes. Also, ‘When is the best time to save seeds?’ is also a common question. Tune into this Seed Talk to find out all the details.

Seed Talks are community events where everyone can participate! Please feel free to share your experiences with seed saving. Questions and answers welcomed by everyone.

Seed Talk via Zoom. You must register at least 3 hours prior to the event via Seed Talk.

 

!! Time to Start Saving Seeds !!

The seed library is short on tomato and native plant seeds. This is a great time to start saving tomato seeds. Many native plants have seed pods or seed heads ready for harvesting too.

The seed library welcomes seed donations of hon-hybrid, non-cross-pollinated seeds. Place dry seeds in a paper envelope with the name of seed, year and location on the envelope. Drop off in the bin on the seed library table in the library during open hours.

The Seed Talk on September 14 is all about how to save seeds, both vegetable and native plants. If you grew a row for the seed library, let the pods dry on the vine before harvesting.

 

Where are the seeds?

Since the end of June the seed drawers and catalogs are back at the White Bear Lake library. You can access the seed packets during regular library hours. The Seed Library table is to the right as you come through the double doors. (White Bear Lake library, 2150 2^nd St, White Bear Lake; M: 10-8, T, W: 1-8, Th, F, Sa: 10-5)

You can find the current list of available seeds on the Seed Library website at Seed Library site. Or a less than current paper list on the Seed Library table in the library.

If you can’t find the seeds you’re looking for please let me know via email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com and I’ll get you the seeds if they are available.

 

Volunteer Opportunity

Help package seeds for the seed library. If interested, send me an email and I’ll get you seeds, supplies and instructions. You package the seeds and return them to the seed library table.

 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

 

Future Seed Talks via Zoom, all at 6:30pm

Nov  9, 2021 Tues – How to Do Winter Sowing

Learn how to start seeds using the winter sowing method of germination.

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Pam