Το Ημερολόγιο του MNSEED Native Plant Community Science Project

Μάρτιος 13, 2024

Native Seed Garden Education Events Continue

Our last MN SEED Project collaborative event with the Como Park Community Council and the St Paullinators was a great success! 40 neighbors spent a few hours on Sunday March 3rd picking out seeds and learning about winter sowing, a method of seed starting that uses recycled containers and mother nature’s cues to grow sturdy seedlings ready for the garden with no special equipment. In all there were 60 plus containers of prairie plant seeds readied for the coming season. Photos of all the fun can be view here:https://photos.app.goo.gl/aJgyRerCk3xrtPCQ7

The last in the series of these collaborations will take place on Saturday April 6th at the St. Paul Tool Library.
Join us for "A Spring Seed Bee" on Saturday, April 6th, from 10 am to 12:30 pm at the Saint Paul Tool Library, 1010 Dale St. N., St. Paul, MN 55103.

  • 10 to 10:30 am, sign in and register for door prizes followed by a warm welcome, a tour and introduction to the Tool Library .
  • 10:30 to 11:15 am. Dive into Courtney Tchida's workshop on Grow your Veggies and Pollinator Habitat too. Small urban garden spaces can be tricky to get everything in. Come learn about garden planning to incorporate vegetables and native plants together. We'll talk about companion planting, maximizing yields and incorporating plants for pollinator habitat. Courtney will share her favorite native species that can be multi-functional in your garden in the Large Conference Room.
  • 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, explore make and take stations featuring activities like Soil Blocking, Seed Bomb Making, and using alternative seed starting containers. Don't miss the Seed Checkout with MN SEED Project Seeds and engaging tables like D10 with the Saint Paullinators L2L beyond the first round + Garden Buddies Signup, The Pollinator Conservation Table, and a Garden Resources Table.
  • 12:15 to 12:30 pm, the event concludes with a door prize drawing, and valuable takeaways. See you there!
    This is the 3rd in the Lawns to Legumes Garden Education Series for the Spring of 2024 generously funded by Como Park District 10 Community Council plus the Saint Paullinators of South Como in collaboration with the MN SEED Project, CRWD, and hosted by the Saint Paul Tool Library.
    To volunteer and share your garden enthusiasm sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwI3tw6Gm6knmgMundlaTENaS16TtSQBYY1xIo5VQNQCB73A/viewform

Posted on Μάρτιος 13, 2024 1121 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Φεβρουάριος 15, 2024

National Seed Swap Day '24 : Seeds From Near and Far to Share

National Seed Swap Day 2024
On January 27th, 2024, new gardeners and experienced cultivators gathered for the 2024 National Seed Swap Day event.
Rich conversations filled the Historic Como Streetcar Station as over 60 attendees shared their seed stories and swapped seeds of all types: native plants, herbs, vegetables, annual flowers, perennials, and more. The National Seed Swap Day was a vibrant display of the optimism, resilience, and joy gardening brings.
The 2024 National Seed Swap Day event was made possible through a collaboration of the District 10 Como Community Council and the Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood Grant Educational Fund for the Saint Paullinators of South Como, The MN SEED Project, and Capitol Region Watershed District.
Special thanks to the neighborhood cottage baker Delanie of Foxberry Bakehouse and the Co-op Partners Warehouse whose food donations filled the snack table with delicious cookies, salsa verde, pico de gallo, guacamole, peppers, cider, and oranges. And thank you to Neighbor Julia Brokaw who brought her air filter so that we could increase the air circulation in the space.
Countless volunteers brought their knowledge and enthusiasm to the National Seed Swap Day event, including… The MN SEED Project Team (Courtney Tchida ED, Dawn Lamm, and Stephanie CK Hankerson)Anna McLafferty from Hot House Horticulture, MN SEED volunteer Abby Fenton, Shari Cueto from Urban Farm and Garden Alliance, Michelle Bruhn author and Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteer, Suzanne Rhees who volunteered at the District 10 Como Community Council and the Saint Pollinator L2L project table , and community-engaged learning volunteers from the University of Minnesota.
Community members left the event with carefully labeled seed packets, educational materials from the garden resources table, and knowledge about upcoming opportunities to learn about winter sowing, pollinators, and seed saving.
The National Seed Swap Day event promises a bright year ahead for the MN SEED Project Community because as the seeds swapped on January 27th find their way into the soils around St.Paul and her surrounding communities, so too will the webs of reciprocity find their ways to connect plants, place, and people.
For those interested in learning practical seed-saving skills such as seed cleaning, seed storage, and seed starting, we invite you to the Native Seed Cleaning & Packing on President's Day. The event will be happening next week Monday, February 19th from 4-6pm at the Hancock Recreation Center. Join MN SEED to help clean and package seed heads of 130 native pollinator plant species that will be made available to the community throughout 2024.
To see photos from the event follow this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GzYKqLV86otWcjPS7

Posted on Φεβρουάριος 15, 2024 1132 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Φεβρουάριος 07, 2024

Native Seed Cleaning & Packing on President's Day 2024

Native Seed Cleaning & Packing on President's Day 2024
Come learn how to clean and process saved Native Seeds!

Join a network of area native pollinator plant enthusiasts and to assist with seed cleaning at the Hancock Recreation Center (indoors). Seed heads of 130 species native pollinator plants were collected during fall community seed collecting events. Join MN SEED to help clean and package this community seed stock. Participants will gain practical seed saving skills such as seed cleaning, seed storage, and seed starting. The resulting processed native pollinator plant seeds will be used in upcoming MN SEED and Bee Line activities and will be made available at community events throughout 2024!

This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the tools and training required. Pre-registration is required. If your plans change, please cancel your registration to allow for those on the waitlist to join. If you are on the waitlist, you will be notified if a spot opens.

register here: https://mnseedproject.org/events/native-seed-cleaning-packing-on-president-s-day-2024

Posted on Φεβρουάριος 07, 2024 0638 ΜΜ by sckh sckh | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Ιανουάριος 14, 2024

2024 National Seed Swap Day - Sat. January 27th

https://mnseedproject.org/events/2024-national-seed-swap-day

It’s time for the National Seed Swap Day Seed Swap 2024!

Saturday 1/27/24
1-3 pm

Historic Como Streetcar Station
1224 Lexington Pkwy N.
St. Paul MN 55117

Join us for an epic seed trading session with your neighbors! Everyone is welcome from the newest gardeners to veteran cultivators! All seed types are welcome too like native plants, herbs, veggies, annual flowers, perennials, and more. *

Here are a few guidelines to get you started:
~For ease of trading we recommend having seeds packaged ready to trade with the suggested following information available for each seed type:
*Common Name
*Scientific Name(if known)
*Date Collected (grown)
*Location
*Grower/ Collector
*Commercial or Locally Grown Seed
*Any other pertinent information/ seed story
*Picture of the plant/flower/fruit the seeds are from if you have one.

*Please no patented seed. Here is information on why: https://seedalliance.org/publications/a-guide-to-seed-intellectual-property-rights/

Not sure about packaging? We will have envelopes and other packaging resources available to help you with your seed sharing or check out this link to a creative zero waste option: https://www.gardensillustrated.com/garden-advice/how-to/make-your-own-seed-packet

Free limited parking is available in the parking lot and on-street but the streetcar station is easily accessible via the metro transit bus line. This is a free drop in event. No registration is necessary but we encourage you to arrive early for the best seed trade selections! Masks are welcome. We encourage all participants to consider the health of their neighbors as this is an indoor event.

This wonderfully seedy venture is a collaboration of the District 10 Como Community Council and the Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood Grant Educational Fund for the Saint Paullinators of South Como, The MN SEED Project, and Capitol Region Watershed District!

Posted on Ιανουάριος 14, 2024 0435 ΜΜ by sckh sckh | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Οκτώβριος 20, 2023

MN SEED Project Collecting and Cleaning Seed in Community.

As we reach mid autumn here in Minnesota our seed collecting activity is slowing down somewhat and our cleaning and preparing seed for storage and sharing takes center stage. This season we’ve added 300 new members and are on track to harvest more species than last year despite the continuing summer drought trend. This week wrapped up our public seed collecting events with a final visit to Monarch City Thursday Morning where we gathered for late season harvesting of corepsis, milkweed, rosinweed and other species that are slow to ripen this year. Meanwhile here is a photo album and a few videos of all the SEED centered fun we’ve had over the past summer into fall: https://photos.app.goo.gl/doUz95hDaqhW97XJ8 stay tuned for other seedy opportunities we’ll announce!

Posted on Οκτώβριος 20, 2023 0356 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Αύγουστος 17, 2023

Newness at the MN SEED Project and a Few More Details!

To continue from the previous Journal Post...
The MN SEED Project has grown this season like all seeded adventures!
At the end of July the MN SEED Project(www.mnseedproject.org) launched a new website where you can find the latest events and registration, news, and more going forward. The MN SEED project community also has a new email (mnseedproject@gmail.com), Facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095107837370) and Instagram account(https://www.instagram.com/mn_seed_project/). We hope you’ll like, follow and give a shoutout about our growth across social media!
This Saturday you’ll find the MN SEED Project at the Frogtown Green Climate Carnival(https://www.frogtowngreen.com/) where you can explore seeds and choose a pollinator tattoo to rep your native garden and climate forward actions.
And when you’re at the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday 8/27 9-11am, stop by the UFGA (https://urbanfarmandgardenalliance.org)common table to check out the MN SEED Project with a focus on the backbone of the prairie, native grasses!
We’ve also got an exciting series of seed collection and processing events in beautiful, local native gardens and prairies throughout the fall. You’ll learn how to identify, responsibly harvest and process native plants and seeds plus leave with seed to increase your own pocket prairie or pollinator way station. Last year participants helped harvest over 130 species native to Minnesota! You can register either through our facebook events, on the website, or on Eventbrite!

Our deepest gratitude to Capitol Region Watershed District(https://www.capitolregionwd.org) for continuing to fund this vital seed to seed neighbor empowered community initiative. If you’re a resident of the Capitol Region Watershed District reach out to the MN SEED Project for a registration discount code.

Here’s to a season of seeds and lush native gardens in years to come! See you soon!
The MN SEED Team.

Posted on Αύγουστος 17, 2023 0512 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Αύγουστος 15, 2023

What’s happening with the MN SEED Project?

2023 brings some transitions for MN SEED! The MN SEED Project started with Courtney, Dawn and Stephanie and our desire to teach our community how to save seeds. At the end of April Courtney left the Minnesota State Horticultural Society for other new adventures, amicably the Hort Society has allowed us to continue this work independently. We’re working on setting up a new website soon to be found at www.mnseedproject.org and we’re exploring how we can continue doing this work that we love. We also have our own Facebook page you can follow here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095107837370 and Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mn_seed_project/ .

Posted on Αύγουστος 15, 2023 0118 ΜΜ by sckh sckh | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Ιούνιος 09, 2023

Time to Save the Dates for Upcoming MN SEED Gatherings for Seed Collecting and Seed Processing.

Yes we’ve been busy planning a growing season full of opportunities to collect and process seeds. On Saturday June 17th, 2023 9am-4pm join MN SEED at the Donate Good Stuff Eco Fair at the Como Park Picnic Pavilions 1199 Midway Parkway. Saint Paul MN. We’ll have seeds to share and explore as well as a few other fun activities. Check out the latest on the Eco Fair at https://www.donategoodstuff.org/eco-fair---powered-by-donate-good-stuff.html. Download our flyer for seed collection events here:https://tinyurl.com/3f2d445m and our flyer for seed processing here:https://tinyurl.com/3a3shkcf. Looking forward to reconnecting soon at these upcoming events!
For more information and updates email MNSEEDProject@gmail.com

Posted on Ιούνιος 09, 2023 0304 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Seed Collecting for 2023 is Already Underway….

Greetings MN SEED Project Community! It’s really great to see all your iNaturalist documentation of native plants and the animals they support as we transition from Spring to Summer. As early as it may be many of our early blooming native plants are currently setting seed. Are you collecting anything in particular? One of the plants that is currently setting seed with a very interesting dispersal mechanism is wild geranium. This plant like jewel weed or wild petunia has a spring type action that as the seed head dries it dehisces sending the seeds far afield to spread. A great way to capture these seeds is to enclose the seed head in an organza bag commonly used as a gift bag.
Another action to take now is to identify and tag plants that you would like to collect seed from in coming months. Along with making an observation in iNaturalist to mark its location you can also note what species it is while there is live plant material to observe. Later in the season when the plant material and seed head have dried down it can be difficult to differentiate between certain species like purple coneflower and pale purple coneflower or foxglove beardtongue and other native beardtongues. Tagging them while they’re in bloom ensures that you will have the correct identification for your plant. If you have any tips or methods for tracking and recording your plantings we’d love to hear from you. Just email MNSEEDProject@gmail.com with your information.

Posted on Ιούνιος 09, 2023 0259 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο

Απρίλιος 20, 2023

Spring Ephemera Walk Set for Wednesday 4/26, 5:30-6:30 pm at the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom for the MNSEED Community

 Britt Marie Forsberg, master naturalist and UMN educator and Elizabeth will act as guides to the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom and all the early Spring plants emerging before the tree canopy leafs out. Come practice your plant identification skills and see which species take advantage of this very  early brief period of time to bloom. We’ll meet at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Fireplace at 5:30 and explore from there. Please email MNSEED@Northerngardener.org to save a spot. This event is free and open to our growing community but we do need to hear if you are coming. Tour capacity is 25 participants.
The Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom is a series of trails with 8 Minnesota biomes represented. For more information about CWOC and its resources you can visit their website at http://www.comowoodlandoutdoorclassroom.org/natural-resource-tour.html. Join our MNSEED iNaturalist Community at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/mnseed-native-plant-community-science-project

Check out the Facebook event here: https://fb.me/e/3u3SBmSyP?mibextid=RQdjqZ

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Posted on Απρίλιος 20, 2023 0355 ΜΜ by dmlamm dmlamm | 0σχόλια | Αφήστε ένα σχόλιο