Spring Teaser!

Hello Gardeners!

 

This last Sunday Mother Earth was giving us a spring tease. It was downright balmy feeling outside! (Only a Minnesotan would consider 42°F balmy!) I longed for spring yesterday even knowing it was only February and I should expect at least another 6 weeks of winter. So what should a gardener do during these days of late winter?

There are plenty of activities to help you pass the time while waiting for spring:

Prune your trees and shrubs (except spring blooming shrubs) U of M pruning

Sharpen and clean your garden tools sharpen pruners

Give your houseplants a bath washing houseplants

Design or redesign your garden

Read up on a new (to you) gardening technique such as:

                                   No-till gardening No till gardening

                                   Permaculture permaculture

                                   Hugelkultur What is Hugelkultur

You’ve heard of blueberries, strawberries, apples and pears but consider growing more edible plants such as:

                                   Honeyberries honeyberries

                                   Hazelnuts American hazelnut

                                  

And of course, I need to suggest starting seeds. But don’t start them too early or your seedlings will be leggy and weak from lack of proper light or outgrow their container before you can plant them outside.

This is the perfect time to remind you of the next Seed Talk on March 8^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. This Seed Talk will be all about starting seeds—vegetable, herb and flowers. I’ll cover when to start various types of seeds as well as how to grow them and how to safely transplant them to your garden. To register for this event go to Mar 8th Seed Talk

This seed talk is via Zoom and you need to register at least 3 hours prior to the start of the talk so the Ramsey county library can send you the link. It is open to anyone, beginners to seasoned gardeners. Seed Talks are community get-togethers where people can share their questions and experiences on gardening.

 

Update on Seeds

Almost every week I add more vegetable, herb and flower seeds.

See the links to all the available seeds on the blogsite. Look on the right hand side.

 

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have donated seeds! It’s wonderful to have such a big selection of seeds in the seed library.

 

How to Get Free Seeds

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.

 

‘Grow a Row’ Participants

As I only had one person return seeds from the ‘Grow a Row’ activity last season, I didn’t have enough seeds to do it again, so I bought more bean and pea seeds. Later this spring I’ll try again, so stay tuned.

 

Seeds Needed

The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-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.

 

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.

 

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

Mar 8, 2022               Tues   How to Start Seeds

Learn all the ins and outs of starting vegetable and flowers seeds.

 

Events and Classes

Ramsey County Master Gardner classes: calendar

Northern Gardener classes: classes

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

Pam, who would like spring to come, but is also looking forward to more snow to play in!

 

 

More Seeds added to the Seed Library

 Hello

I just added 6 new varieties of tomatoes and  3 new lettuces to the Seed Library.

Pam

How to Prevent Fertilizer Plant Fires

 Hello Gardeners!

You may have heard about the fertilizer plant that is on fire in North Carolina. Over 6,000 people have been evacuated and the danger is still present. Not only a danger of explosion, but also of toxic pollution in the air and the water. (You can find info on this tragedy by searching ‘North Carolina Fertilizer Fire’ in a web browser.) You may remember another fertilizer plant explosion in Waco, Texas which killed 15 people and leveled 150 buildings in 2013.

I’m sure in the coming weeks they will determine the cause of this fire, but I do know one way to prevent any fertilizer plant fire—don’t use chemical fertilizers!  Organic methods of growing plants are sustainable and a lot less dangerous to the gardener, workers and people living near fertilizer plants. Think about it.

 

Update on Seeds

I have added several more packets of native plant seeds of the ones that were depleted and I added a new variety as well – Late Horse Gentian aka Wild Coffee.

Here’s what has been restocked. Most of these I only had a couple packets more of seeds left, so if you are interested you should come to the seed library soon.

Aromatic Aster

Wild Quinine

New England Aster

Zig Zag Goldenrod

Big Leaved aster

Flat Topped Aster

Yellow Coneflower

Prairie Sundrops

Sky Blue Aster

Joe Pye Weed

Purple Prairie Clover

21 Roots Mixture

 

There is still time to stratify most native plant seeds. You can do that either by sowing directly outside now (snow seeding), using the winter sowing method or by sowing in pots you place outside all winter. Check out the Joe Gardner’s podcast for information on this method here.

The full list of native seeds is here.

 Almost every week I add more vegetable, herb and flower seeds.

See the links to all the available seeds on the blogsite. Look on the right hand side.

 

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have donated seeds! It’s wonderful to have such a big selection of seeds in the seed library.

 

Note: I have the flower and native plant catalog at my home as I am updating the pages. It should be back in the seed library early next week. Sorry for any inconvenience.

 

How to Get Free Seeds

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.

 

 

‘Grow a Row’ Participants

As I only had one person return seeds from the ‘Grow a Row’ activity last season, I didn’t have enough seeds to do it again, so I bought more bean and pea seeds. Later this spring I’ll try again, so stay tuned.

 

Seeds Needed

The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-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.

 

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.

 

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

Mar 8, 2022               Tues   How to Start Seeds

Learn all the ins and outs of starting vegetable and flowers seeds.

 

Events

Minnesota Arboretum - Minnesota Plants Webinar Series

(13) Sessions: Live on Tuesdays, March 1 - May 24, 2022; 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Calling all gardeners and nature enthusiasts: Join webinar host Laura and local horticultural experts for the Spring 2022 Minnesota Plants Webinar Series. Virtually explore collections, backyards and gardens as you prepare for the growing season, tackle pests and problems, and more.

Webinar Topics: Spring Series

    Birdscaping: Bird-friendly Native Plants

    Invasive Plants to Watch for in Spring

    Seed Starting Tips & Tricks

    Japanese Beetles in Minnesota

    Sustainable Gardening

    Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022

    Perennials for Year-round Delight!

    Hydrangeas for Minnesota Gardens

    Native Yellow Prairie Grass

    Easy to Grow Fruits

    Bee Lawns & White Clover

    Hickories for Minnesota Landscapes

    Vegetable Garden Watering Tips and Tricks

 

How it works Receive a weekly email with the live webinar Zoom link and instructions, plus a link to the Minnesota Plants website with the schedule, links and resources.

$30 Member of: Arboretum, MSHS, or MNLA; or MN Master Gardener/$40 non-member, includes series access to live and recorded access to 13 webinars and their accompanying digital handouts and resources.

Register here.

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

Pam

 

Upcoming Webinars of Interest

Hello Gardeners!

Just a quick note about some upcoming webinars of interest.

 

Events

Seed Rematriation Webinars from Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers Exchange is excited to announce the first seed rematriation webinar of a four-part series.  This series will highlight 2021-2022 seed rematriation work with seven partners funded through a North Central SARE Partnership grant awarded to Seed Savers Exchange.  Join us to learn how Indigenous farmers, activists, communities, and nations are welcoming seeds home to grow and share.  

Our first webinar will be held Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 1 - 2 PM Central Time (US). Find your time zone.  This webinar is open to the public. Space is limited for the live event, but the event will be recorded and shared with everyone who registers. Even if you are unable to join us live you will be able to watch it at your own convenience. 

Register Today

 

Seed rematriation addresses the desire for Indigenous communities to actively reclaim their ancestral seeds and traditions. Moderated by Shelley Buffalo, this session features panelists Dr. Rebecca Webster and Kellie Zahn sharing information on 

 

Shelley Buffalo recently served her community in coordinator roles at Red Earth Gardens and the Meskwaki Food Sovereignty Initiative. She continues to advocate for food sovereignty and local foods through her personal consultancy, networks, and partnerships. She is an advocate for land back, Indigenous food ways, food justice, and rematriation. A mother of two sons, Shelley made a living as a house painter and graphic artist before finding her passion in farming and seed saving.

 

Kellie Zahn is the agriculture agent at the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, located in Bowler, Wisconsin, where she manages four community gardens totaling over two acres of growing space. The tribe started the Agriculture Department in 2016, and Kellie has served as the agriculture agent since that time. Kellie earned a degree in agricultural business from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and is a certified crop advisor.

 

Dr. Rebecca Webster is an enrolled citizen of the Oneida Nation and an assistant professor in the Department of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her research interests focus on tribal governance and food sovereignty. Her philosophy is that every time an Indigenous person plants a seed, that is an act of resistance, an assertion of sovereignty, and a reclamation of identity. With this in mind, an Oneida faithkeeper named the Webster family’s 10-acre homestead Ukwakhwa: Tsinu Niyukwayayʌthoslu (our foods: where we plant things).

 

University of MN Webinars for Families

Join UMN Extension for a webinar series for families to learn more and take actions for global health and wellness. Learn about ways to eat healthier for the planet, including reducing food waste, composting and reducing your family's carbon footprint. Learn hands-on activities for all ages that promote wellness through being in nature.

 

The 6-webinar series kicks-off with an introduction to forest bathing on January 27! 

UMN Webinars

 

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

Mar 8, 2022               Tues   How to Start Seeds

Learn all the ins and outs of starting vegetable and flowers seeds.

 

Update on Seeds

The native plant seeds drawers are bursting. From now through January is a great time to start stratifying native plant seeds. You can do that either by sowing directly outside now, using the winter sowing method or by sowing in pots you place outside all winter. Check out the Joe Gardner’s podcast for information on this method here.

 

The full list of  native seeds is here.

Or see links to all the available seeds on the blogsite. Look on the right hand side.

 

How to Get Free Seeds

There are many more native plant, flower and tomato seeds available now.  There are over 91 varieties of native plant seeds! 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.

 

Seeds Needed

The seed library is short on tomato, bean, lettuce and pea seeds. The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-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.

 

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.

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

Pam

 

 

Get Your Plant Fix With Indoor Plants

 

Hello Gardeners!

 Welcome to year 2022!

January is the time when the seed catalogs are coming to my mail box and I’m pouring over their tempting photos and descriptions for seeds to plant for next season. I always order too much thinking I have room or energy to plant way more than I really do. I try to keep in mind the to-do list I wrote late last summer too—I may pass on peas this year as I had baby bunnies thwart my fence and gobbled up my entire crop!

Though I am somewhat content with happy memories of the warm sunshine and smell of fresh soil during the winter, I am glad I have many houseplants to keep my attention. Maybe you think you have a brown thumb when it comes to house plants, but I bet with a little bit of information and some tips you can be rewarded with something green and living during our long winters.

Tune into the Zoom webinar of the Seed Talk this coming Tuesday, January 11^th at 6:30 pm where I’ll talk about growing houseplants. I’ll cover basic requirements of houseplants as well as offer a few tips. Flowering plants as well as some edible houseplants will be covered too.

As with all Seed Talks, this is a community interactive event and your questions, advice and experiences are most welcome!

To register for the event, go to the White Bear Lake library page at: Seed Talk registration.

(Register at least 3 hours prior to the event, before the library closes registration.)

Hope to see you at the Seed Talk!

Pam

 

Update on Seeds

The native plant seeds drawers are bursting. From now through January is a great time to start stratifying native plant seeds. You can do that either by sowing directly outside now, using the winter sowing method or by sowing in pots you place outside all winter. Check out the Joe Gardner’s podcast for information on this method here.

 

The full list of  native seeds is here.

Or see links to all the available seeds on the blogsite. Look on the right hand side.

 

How to Get Free Seeds

There are many more native plant, flower and tomato seeds available now.  There are over 91 varieties of native plant seeds! 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.

 

‘Grow a Row’ Participants

I have only received  one envelope of seeds from the ‘Grow a Row’ participants. I hope more than one person had success growing their peas or beans. There still is time to get the seeds back to the seed library. 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.

 

Seeds Needed

The seed library is short on tomato, bean, lettuce and pea seeds. The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-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.

 

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.

 

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

Jan 11, 2022 Tues – How to Grow Indoor Plants

Learn how to grow indoor houseplants to brighten up your grey winter days.

 

Mar 8, 2022               Tues   How to Start Seeds

Learn all the ins and outs of starting vegetable and flowers seeds.

 

Events

White Bear Lake Winter Farmer’s Market at Tamarack Nature Center,

5287 Otter Lake Rd, White Bear Township, MN 55110

Saturday:  January 8, 10am-2pm

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.

See Forks in the Dirt for more information.

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

Pam