Upcoming Events

 

Hello Gardeners!

The White Bear Lake Seed Library has received many new donated seeds of lettuce, melon, squash, and other vegetables. Check the blog site to find out what is new.

 

How to Grow Food Plants Indoors

Seed Talk, January 12, 2021 6:30 pm

The next seed talk is on ways we can grow plants to eat indoors in a Minnesota winter!

No, we can’t grow lemons or oranges very well inside during our Minnesota winters unless you have a greenhouse, but there are tasty plants that do grow well inside a regular house that has either a sunny south facing window or supplemental lights.

I’ll share my own successes as well as give you some ideas on what you need to grow tasty vegetables and herbs in your own home.

 As always, seed talks are community get-togethers! Please share you experiences and questions at the seed talk. You must register in advance for this Zoom seed talk. Also, please feel free to turn on your video as I appreciate seeing who is out there! Talking to a bunch of blank windows is kind of weird.

Jan Seed Talk

If you find the event is full please let me or the library know. The number of participants can be increased. Also, you must sign up 2 hours in advance so there is time for the facilitator to send you the email to join the meeting.

 

Do You Need Seeds?

I don’t have a specific date at this time, but if you want seeds I am willing to meet you at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot. Just send me an email and we can work out a time. Order seeds by sending me an email at wblseedlibrary@gmail.com.

Also, if you’d like to package seeds you can pick up supplies at this time, but please send me an email so I can put together the supplies before you come.

 

How to Donate Seeds to the Seed Library

The Seed Library needs seeds!!!

In general, the seed library can use seeds from open-pollinated, non-hybrid vegetables and flowers or native plants. The plants providing the seeds must not have been cross-pollinated so that means tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and native plants are the best plants to harvest seeds, though some annual flowers are also okay. If the plant is a hybrid the seeds will not come true to the original plant so the seed library cannot use them.

Make sure the seeds are dry!

Please place your seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, the date, your location, and your name.  Plastic encourages mold.  Make sure the envelope is sealed so that little seeds can’t escape. If you only use the glued area on the envelope flap, little seeds can escape on the edges where there is no glue. It is better to fold down the top of the envelope several times and fasten with a paper clip or staple shut.

1) Drop off the envelope of seeds at the curbside pickup area at the White Bear Lake library. Do not use the book return slot.

The librarians request that you refrain from arriving during the first two hours the library is open for curb-side pick up as it is very busy during this time. Please respect their wishes! So here are the hours you can come to donate seeds:

M: 12-8pm,   T, W: 3-8pm,   Th, F, S: 12-5pm

OR

2) Bring your envelope of seeds to a formal seed pickup day where I will be at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot. The next date is coming soon. There will be more seed pickups throughout the fall.

 

Upcoming Events

 Winter Farmer’s Market, Saturday Dec 12, 10 am – 1 pm

This year’s Winter Farmer’s Market will be held OUTSIDE at Tamarack Nature Center in the parking lot. You can order in advance online and pick up your order at the market or buy directly from the vendors on Saturday. The White Bear Lake Seed Library will not be at the market on Saturday. (I don’t have a good way to keep my display and seeds dry in case of rain or snow.) Check out all the vendors at Forks in the Dirt.

 

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

Dec                             no talk planned

Jan 12, 2021 Tues   How to Grow Food Plants Inside

Feb 9, 2021   Tues  Companion Planting

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Seed Pickup Dec 1st and Other Events and note for Comcast/Xfinity email users

 Note for Comcast Email Accounts: Some of you may not be getting my emails as Comcast/Xfinity has decided it is spam. These emails may be in your SPAM folder. To prevent this, go to your spam folder and select the seed library emails and mark them 'not spam'. It also helps to add the seed library's email to your contact list/address book. (My latest email was Nov 25, 2020.) Seed library's email: wblseedlibray@gmail.com

If you don't find my emails in your inbox or spam folder, Comcast may have deleted them as there is a setting somewhere that tells Comcast to delete anything it thinks is spam. I don't use Comcast for my emails so I don't know where this is, but maybe there is a help page which may 'help'. You could also call costumer service and ask them if you eventually reach a real person. Comcast recently changed its security and I think this is why my emails from Mailchimp are going to spam. 

Hello Gardeners!

I’m now resigned to the end of active gardening season. I harvested all my carrots and parsnips and the last snowfall put an end to my tenaciously blooming obedient plants. This time of year is good for reflecting on what were your garden successes and less-than-successes. If you have a garden journal, now is a great time to add an entry summing up how your gardens grew. Maybe jot down some new plants you’d like to try or what you’d like to do differently next season.

 Here is a gift idea for the gardeners or would-be gardeners on your list:

Select several packets of seeds and place them in a fancy box or tote bag. Add some basic growing information and a pair of garden gloves and you have a wonderful gift that will be appreciated now and next spring! 

 

Next Seed Pickup, Tuesday Dec 1^st,  4:30-5 pm

Order seeds by sending me an email at wblseedlibrary@gmail.com. Please request seeds by 2:30pm on Dec 1, so I have time to bag your order.

I’ll bag up your seed packets and then you meet me at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot to pick them up.

Also, if you’d like to package seeds you can pick up supplies at this time, but please send me an email so I can put together the supplies before you come.

There have been many new native plants added to the Seed Library. An updated list of native plant seeds and other seeds is posted on the blog site.

 

How to Donate Seeds to the Seed Library

The Seed Library still needs seeds!!!

In general, the seed library can use seeds from open-pollinated, non-hybrid vegetables and flowers or native plants. The plants providing the seeds must not have been cross-pollinated so that means tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and native plants are the best plants to harvest seeds, though some annual flowers are also okay. If the plant is a hybrid the seeds will not come true to the original plant so the seed library cannot use them.

Make sure the seeds are dry!

Please place your seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, the date, your location, and your name.  Plastic encourages mold.  Make sure the envelope is sealed so that little seeds can’t escape. If you only use the glued area on the envelope flap, little seeds can escape on the edges where there is no glue. It is better to fold down the top of the envelope several times and fasten with a paper clip or staple shut.

1) Drop off the envelope of seeds at the curbside pickup area at the White Bear Lake library. Do not use the book return slot.

The librarians request that you refrain from arriving during the first two hours the library is open for curb-side pick up as it is very busy during this time. Please respect their wishes! So here are the hours you can come to donate seeds:

M: 12-8pm,   T, W: 3-8pm,   Th, F, S: 12-5pm

OR

2) Bring your envelope of seeds to a formal seed pickup day where I will be at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot. The next date is coming soon. There will be more seed pickups throughout the fall.

Happy Fall!

Pam

 

Upcoming Events

Urban Roots: Growing in the City

November 30th at 1:00 PM where Urban Roots will host (https://urbanrootsmn.org) a program on youth in the garden.  Virtual, of course: https://umn.zoom.us/j/94113139665  

Do you work with youth, or are you a youth participant, in a garden or environmental program?

Join in with your experiences, to network, and create possible partnerships!

Urban Roots has been cultivating youth leadership in Saint Paul since 1996. What started as a small garden for students at Dayton's Bluff Elementary School has grown into an urban farm that produces 15,000 pounds of produce annually on one acre of land on Saint Paul's East Side! Join us to hear more about the challenges of farming in the city and how Urban Roots cultivates youth leadership through market gardening, cooking and conservation. 

Join in the conversation with Skyler Hawkins, Market Garden Program Manager, Jaclyne Jandro, Education Program Manager, Marcos Giossi, Seasonal Lead Supervisor, and Zarea Mobley, Administrative Assistant & Alum.

 

Farm at the Arb - Sustainable Horticulture Program

The Farm at the Arb - Sustainable Horticulture Program is offered each year from February to October. Applications are due in the fall. This hands-on, technical training in vegetable growing is designed for beginning growers, skilled workers and career changes. Are you looking to pursue a career in sustainable food production for sale and community health? The USDA defines a beginning farmer as someone who has ten years of experience or less - The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum helps individuals begin or continue their career as vegetable growers. The program is offered in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Sciences and Extension. Participants receive a combination of classroom, lab and field experience. This includes a 14 week paid work experience at the Arboretum and partnering farms.

For more information, see: https://arb.umn.edu/content/farm-arb

Contact Tim Wilson, Arboretum Farm Education Manager: trwilson@umn.edu

 

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

Dec                             no talk planned

Jan 12, 2021 Tues   How to Grow Food Plants Inside

Feb 9, 2021   Tues  Companion Planting

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Seed Talk Rescheduled to Tuesday Nov 17th!

Hello Gardeners!

Due to a miscommunication at the library there was no Seed Talk on Tuesday, but it has been rescheduled to next Tuesday, Nov 17^th.  See below for info.

There have been many new native plants added to the Seed Library. An updated list of native plant seeds and other seeds is posted on the blog site.

 

How to Germinate Native Plant Seeds

Seed Talk, November 17, 2020 6:30 pm

The next seed talk is on how to germinate native plant seed. Some native plants are very easy to germinate—just put them in the ground in the spring and they sprout just fine, but others need a longer period of specific temperatures and moisture to be coaxed into sprouting. These native plant seeds need to undergo stratification before they will germinate. Stratification is a cold, moist period seeds must undergo before they will germinate. In nature seeds fall to the ground in the fall and overwinter in place before they germinate in the spring. There are several methods to help this process along.  I have a presentation to show you and I will demonstrate several ways to germinate native plant seeds. As always, seed talks are community get-togethers! Please share you experiences and questions at the seed talk. You must register in advance for this Zoom seed talk. Also, please feel free to turn on your video as I appreciate seeing who is out there! Talking to a bunch of blank windows is kind of weird.

November Seed Talk

If you find the event is full please let me or the library know. The number of participants can be increased. Also, you must sign up 2 hours in advance so there is time for the facilitator to send you the email to join the meeting.

 

Next Seed Pickup, Tuesday Nov 17^th, 4:30-5 pm

Order seeds by sending me an email at wblseedlibrary@gmail.com.

I’ll bag up your seed packets and then you meet me at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot to pick them up. Note the time has again been changed as it gets dark sooner.

Also, if you’d like to package seeds you can pick up supplies at this time, but please send me an email so I can put together the supplies before you come.

 

How to Donate Seeds to the Seed Library

The Seed Library needs seeds!!!

In general, the seed library can use seeds from open-pollinated, non-hybrid vegetables and flowers or native plants. The plants providing the seeds must not have been cross-pollinated so that means tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and native plants are the best plants to harvest seeds, though some annual flowers are also okay. If the plant is a hybrid the seeds will not come true to the original plant so the seed library cannot use them.

Make sure the seeds are dry!

Please place your seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, the date, your location, and your name.  Plastic encourages mold.  Make sure the envelope is sealed so that little seeds can’t escape. If you only use the glued area on the envelope flap, little seeds can escape on the edges where there is no glue. It is better to fold down the top of the envelope several times and fasten with a paper clip or staple shut.

1) Drop off the envelope of seeds at the curbside pickup area at the White Bear Lake library. Do not use the book return slot.

The librarians request that you refrain from arriving during the first two hours the library is open for curb-side pick up as it is very busy during this time. Please respect their wishes! So here are the hours you can come to donate seeds:

M: 12-8pm,   T, W: 3-8pm,   Th, F, S: 12-5pm

OR

2) Bring your envelope of seeds to a formal seed pickup day where I will be at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot. The next date is coming soon. There will be more seed pickups throughout the fall.

 

Happy Fall!

Pam

 

Upcoming Events

 Winter Farmer’s Market, Saturday Nov 14, 10 am – 1 pm

This year’s Winter Farmer’s Market will be held OUTSIDE at Tamarack Nature Center in the parking lot. You can order in advance online and pick up your order at the market or buy directly from the vendors on Saturday. The White Bear Lake Seed Library will not be at the market on Saturday. (I don’t have a good way to keep my display and seeds dry in case of rain or snow.) Check out all the vendors at Forks in the Dirt.

 

Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair, Nov 19-22, 2020

Join us for our 15th Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair event!

Do It Green! Minnesota will be hosting our annual event virtually with some exciting, fun ways to participate from Thursday, November 19th – Sunday, November 22, 2020.

* SHOP! Online directory of local green artists and businesses offering discounts and specials.

* LEARN! Online videos and live chats to learn ways to reduce our environmental impact over the holidays and all year long.

* PARTICIPATE! Live feeds during the event.

Join us for our 15th Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair event from Nov 19-22, 2020 with an online directory, demo videos and live feeds during the event!

 

 

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

Nov 10, 2020            Tues  How to Start Native Plant Seeds

Dec                             no talk planned

Jan 12, 2021 Tues   How to Grow Food Plants Inside

Feb 9, 2021   Tues  Companion Planting

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

 

Seed Pickup Monday and other Events

Hello Gardeners!

Thanks to the seed exchange sponsored by the Big River Big Woods chapter of Wild Ones last weekend, I have several new varieties of native plant seeds and some basil seed too.

Here are the new varieties: (some are in very short supply)

Common Yarrow

Red baneberry

Nodding Onion

Big Bluestem

Spikenard

Small Yellow Wild Indigo

Flat-topped Aster

Canadian Wild Rye

Common Rush

Long Headed Coneflower

Smooth Wild petunia

Bottle Gentian

Cream Gentian

Plus I now have in stock Monarda, Smooth Beardtongue, Blue-eyed Grass and Big Leaved Aster seeds.

SEED Pickup, Monday Oct 26, 4:45-5:15 pm

The next seed pickup is Monday Oct 26^th from 4:45-5:15pm. Why the strange time? It is now getting too cold for me to sit around for an hour waiting for people to pick up seeds or packaging supplies, so I took the half hour slot between my usual time. (Yes, I could sit in my car and run the engine to keep warm, but that doesn’t seem like a good use of resources.) I have no idea if this is convenient for most people or not, so if you want to get seeds Monday, let me know what you think of the time slot. If a different time is preferred by most people I would be willing to change.

As usual, please email me your list of seeds or if you want seed packaging supllies by 2:30pm on Monday. Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Seed Collecting at 21 Roots Farm, Oct 24^th, 3-5 pm (rain date – Oct 25^th 3-5pm)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1331916957160667

Come collect seeds in the ‘wild’ at 21 Roots Farm. The seeds will be donated to various seed libraries in the Twin Cities, including our White Bear Lake Seed Library. I will be there helping people to collect native plant seeds.

Open House Style- come when you can, stay as long as you can.

No Previous Seed Saving Experience Required!

Come and help collect seeds for the pollinators and local seed libraries. 

Local Seed Savers will be on site to help guide you

(BYOP)  Bring Your Own Pruner ... and gloves, please wear long pants and sturdy boots for walking in tall prairie grasses and plants.

Due to Covid please wear a mask and follow social distancing.

Anyone 16+ is welcome to come pick seeds.

 **Please email Michelle at: michelle@forksinthedirt.com to reserve your spot!**

 

Seed Talk, November 10, 2020 6:30 pm

The next seed talk is on how to germinate native plant seed. Many native plant seeds need to undergo stratification before they will germinate. Stratification is a cold, moist period seeds must undergo before they will germinate. In nature seeds fall to the ground in the fall and overwinter in place before they germinate in the spring. There are several methods to help this process along.  I have a presentation to show you and I will demonstrate several ways to germinate native plant seeds. As always, seed talks are community get-togethers! Please share you experiences and questions at the seed talk. You must register in advance for this Zoom seed talk.

Nov Seed Talk

If you find the event is full please let me or the library know. The number of participants can be increased. Also, you must sign up 2 hours in advance so there is time for the facilitator to send you the email to join the meeting.

 

How to Donate Seeds to the Seed Library

The Seed Library needs seeds!!!

In general, the seed library can use seeds from open-pollinated, non-hybrid vegetables and flowers or native plants. The plants providing the seeds must not have been cross-pollinated so that means tomatoes, peas, beans, lettuce, and native plants are the best plants to harvest seeds, though some annual flowers are also okay. If the plant is a hybrid the seeds will not come true to the original plant so the seed library cannot use them.

Make sure the seeds are dry!

Please place your seeds in a paper envelope with the name of the plant, the date, your location, and your name.  Plastic encourages mold.  Make sure the envelope is sealed so that little seeds can’t escape. If you only use the glued area on the envelope flap, little seeds can escape on the edges where there is no glue. It is better to fold down the top of the envelope several times and fasten with a paper clip or staple shut.

1) Drop off the envelope of seeds at the curbside pickup area at the White Bear Lake library. Do not use the book return slot.

The librarians request that you refrain from arriving during the first two hours the library is open for curb-side pick up as it is very busy during this time. Please respect their wishes! So here are the hours you can come to donate seeds:

M: 12-8pm,   T, W: 3-8pm,   Th, F, S: 12-5pm

OR

2) Bring your envelope of seeds to a formal seed pickup day where I will be at the White Bear Lake library’s parking lot. The next date is coming soon. There will be more seed pickups throughout the fall.

 

Happy Fall!

Pam

 

Upcoming Events

 

Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair, Nov 19-22, 2020

Join us for our 15th Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair event!

Do It Green! Minnesota will be hosting our annual event virtually with some exciting, fun ways to participate from Thursday, November 19th – Sunday, November 22, 2020.

* SHOP! Online directory of local green artists and businesses offering discounts and specials.

* LEARN! Online videos and live chats to learn ways to reduce our environmental impact over the holidays and all year long.

* PARTICIPATE! Live feeds during the event.

Join us for our 15th Annual Virtual Green Gifts Fair event from Nov 19-22, 2020 with an online directory, demo videos and live feeds during the event!

 

Wild Ones Design With Nature Conference, Feb 2021 – Cancelled

“We are sorry to announce that the 2021 Design With Nature Conference has been cancelled due to COVID-19, but we are planning to resume again. Hope to see you all on March 5, 2022.”

 

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

Nov 10, 2020  Tues   How to Start Native Plant Seeds

Dec                             no talk planned

Jan 12, 2021             Tues

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library