Hello
Gardeners
Finally, we got some rain! My trees are very happy and are looking forward to rain later this week too. Drought stress impacts your trees more than you think. They may not survive the winter or become more susceptible to insects and disease. The best thing you can do is make sure they are adequately watered until the ground freezes. Place a hose with a small trickle of water at the drip line of your tree and water about an hour. Then move in a circle around the tree to get all the roots. In general, you want at least an inch per week of water to all the roots, but the ground is still lacking moisture, so a little more would be great.
Those of you who grew beans for the Grow-a-Row project, I’m guessing your bean pods are dry or getting there soon. When the pods are dry, remove the beans and place in a paper envelope. Label the envelope Grow-A-Row and drop it in the plastic bin on the seed library table. Thank you!
Future Seed Packaging – I hope to have another seed packaging event later this month after more of the native plants have gone to seed. I’ll send out an email when it becomes scheduled.
The seed library is taking seeds from peas, beans, lettuce, tomatoes and native plants. Now is a great time to donate seeds, especially ripe native plant seeds. Most native plants germinate better ifa allowed to over winter, so donating seeds now will allow the seed library to have plenty for gardeners to sow this late fall season. Most of the native plants offered by the seed library are beneficial to pollinators!
Upcoming Events:
Winter Market – Farmer’s Saturday Nov 11, 10-1pm, Normandy Park Education Center
2482 County Road F East, White Bear Lake MN 55110
The White Bear Lake Seed Library will be at this market!
Twenty+ local food vendors will be sharing locally grown and crafted items including meats, cheese, eggs, micro greens, and maple syrup. Many locally preserved options, like jams, jellies, sauces, sauerkraut, and kombucha will be available. Great gifting options such as soaps, and specialty hand crafted goods as well.
This year they are back partially inside, as our community has requested! The majority of vendors will be inside, along with our community booths and the Senior Center Craft Corner. They’ll be offering monthly classes as well!
See Winter FM for more information.
Seed Talk – Tuesday Nov 14, 6:30 pm via Zoom
How to Easily Start Native Plant Seeds
An easy and successful way to start native plant seeds is using the winter sowing method. Many native plant seeds need a period of stratification (a cold, moist period aka 'winter') to break dormancy. You can help this process using a simple gallon jug at home. Learn how to use the winter sowing method and have an abundance of hardy seedlings come spring for your garden.
Seed Talks are discussions with community members led by Horticulturist, lifelong gardener and one of the White Bear Lake Seed Library founders: Pam Larson Frink
Registration is required and will close 3 hours prior to the event.
Pam
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
