Hello Gardeners!
September always feels like fall to me as kids are back in school, the days tend to be cooler and the sun sets much later. But perhaps why it feels so much like fall is that plants are busy making seeds! Certainly there are still many, many plants growing tasty fruits or roots and displaying glorious flowers, but if you look closely there are seed heads and pods ripening too.
This is the busy time for those who save seeds and this is the perfect time to learn how to save seeds (it’s very easy). Consider tuning into to the next Seed Talk for information on how to save seeds.
Saving
Seeds
If you picked up a packet of seeds for the Grow-a-Row project, some of your bean or pea pods may be close to harvesting. Please wait until the pods are brown and dry before picking as the seeds need to stay on the vines until they are dry to be viable.
Even if you didn’t pick up a packet of pea or bean seeds specifically for the Grow-a-Row project, you can still save seeds for yourself or the Seed Library. In fact, the Seed Library needs lots and lots of seeds this fall in order to stock the drawers for next season.
If you are new to saving seeds or want to learn more about this easy way to get free seeds, attend the next Seed Talk on September 13 at 6:30 pm.
Register for this event at: Saving Seeds Event
Other
events and resources of interest to gardeners:
The Twin Cities Metro Growers Network will meet in Minneapolis and St. Paul this month to host two water quality events with a long list of wonderful partners and speakers. Both are free to attend and will offer time to socialize and connect with fellow growers and environmental stewards! We hope you can join us. Registration is requested.
Stewards of Towerside
Park | September 13 | 3:30-5 PM
A conversation about the connections of community gardening, our wonderful public parks, and water quality. Let's explore the ways we can all learn about and get involved in taking care of the places where we live and grow food for ourselves and our neighbors!
Speakers:
- Rebecca Gross, Community Garden Coordinator from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
- Abby Moore, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
- Britt Howell, BF50 Indigenous Health, Certified Indigenous Seed Saver and a Garden Lead
- Jean Emmons, Luxton Learners, East Side Neighborhood Services
Join us after the event at The Market at Malcolm Yards to keep the conversation going.
Frogtown Farm Fall Tour |
September 28 | 3-5 PM
Frogtown Park and Farm is an urban demonstration farm - a destination for those who seek learning, innovation, reflection, celebration, and authentic community. Founded in 2013, Frogtown Farm is a community-led initiative with 13 acres of green space in the vibrant and diverse Frogtown Neighborhood situated northeast of downtown St. Paul.
Cohosted with Conservation Minnesota, the event will feature a farm tour focused on Frogtown's efforts to protect water quality in an urban agricultural setting and an opportunity to learn about the historical context for the unique collaboration that created and sustains Frogtown Farm and the land they grow on. We invite all interested in hearing about the water conservation efforts and climate challenges facing urban agriculture to gather to learn about this innovative farming model and to celebrate the end of the growing season!
Frogtown is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and there will be an opportunity during the afternoon to donate directly to support the farm.
Minnesota Arboretum Fall Classes
Classes range from Chinese Garden Design, Climate Ready Gardening, Minnesota Plants, Stone Sculptures for your Garden, and more.
Register here.
November Seed Talk
The November seed talk is on Tuesday November 15th and will be an in-person event at the White Bear Lake library in the large conference room. I’ll demonstrate how to do the winter sowing method which is an easy way to stratify native plant seeds to virtually get effortless seedlings come next spring.
More information will follow or check
the Ramsey County Library web page here.
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
Pam
