Hello Gardeners
Happy New Growing Year!
To start out the year great, I’m having a Seed Packaging Event, Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 10-12 at the White Bear Lake library. We’ll be in the Lion’s Den conference room. No experience necessary! Masks are welcome. I encourage all participants to consider the health of their neighbors as this is an indoor event. (I took this wording directly from Como Community Seed Library National Seed Swap Day event information, as it seemed appropriate. The Lion’s Den conference room holds about 9 people.)
Bring any seeds you harvested to donate to the seed library! I’d love to get some tomatoes, beans and peas—especially those you grew from open-pollinated plants!
Also, those of you who grew haricot vert beans for the Grow a Row project, please donate them now!
If you can’t come to this seed packaging event or prefer to package seeds at home, I can provide a bag with seeds and supplies for you to pick up at the White Bear Lake library seed table. Just send me an email (wblseedlibrary@gmail.com) and I’ll prepare the bag and let you know when I’ve placed it on the seed table for you to pick up. Directions are included! I probably won’t get the bags prepared until after January 20th.
Stratifying Native Plant Seeds
Just a note about native plant seeds—Most native plant seeds need a period of stratification before they will germinate. Stratification is a period of cold, moist conditions that breaks the dormancy of native plant seeds. In nature this is called ‘winter’!
Here’s a brief description:
You can help get your native seeds a head start by doing one of the following right now:
1. Direct sow the seeds outside in a prepared bed. They should germinate next spring.
2. Use the winter sowing method to create a little like greenhouse for the seeds. Basically you cut a plastic jug in half, leaving a small part uncut as a hinge. Poke holes in the top, bottom and sides. Remove the bottle cap. Add potting soil and seeds. Water. Tape the top shut and write on the outside the type of seeds. Place OUTSIDE now in a sheltered area that will get sun, snow and rain. Early next spring you should see seedlings growing that you can transplant to your garden.
3. You can stratify seeds inside your refrigerator by placing damp sand and the seeds in a plastic zip lock bag and place the bag in the refrigerator for the number of days necessary to stratify. Remove the bag after the length of time and place the sand and seeds on a tray with potting soil. Place the tray under lights and water as needed. Soon you will have seedlings you can harden off outside and plant in your garden.
The seed packets in the seed library are labelled with the number of days needed for stratification or you can find this information online as well.
Upcoming Events:
National Seed Swap Day – January 27, 1-3 pm
Historic Como Streetcar Station, 1224 Lexington Pkwy N., St. Paul MN 55117
Join The MN SEED Project, The Saint Paullinators of South Como, Como Community Seed Library, and District 10 Como Community Council for an Epic Seed Swap on Saturday January 27th 1-3 pm at the Como Streetcar Station. Bring your seeds and arrive early for some epic trading, great garden conversations, snacks and more. For more information check the event listing here!
Winter Market – Farmer’s Saturday Feb 10, 10-1pm, Normandy Park Education Center
2482 County Road F East, White Bear Lake MN 55110
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.
See Winter FM for more information.
Pam
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
No comments:
Post a Comment