Minnesota Grown Directory seeking new members

          ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is updating its popular, statewide, Minnesota Grown Directory filled with direct to consumer farms and farmers markets. Membership and Directory listing are open to Minnesota producers who grow or raise products. The 2014 edition promoted 978 farms and farmers markets. Minnesota Grown has more than 1,200 members including fruit and vegetable farms, livestock producers, farmers markets, CSA farms, orchards, garden centers, farm wineries, Christmas tree growers and more.

170,000 copies of the Minnesota Grown Directory are released annually in April and distributed statewide in tourist centers, libraries, chambers of commerce, farms, and retailers. Farms who advertise in the printed Directory are also included in the online edition, which was redesigned and had more than 290,000 unique visitors in 2014. The new, mobile friendly, website was improved to simplify searches for Minnesota products and farms.

“The demand for local foods has increased dramatically the last few years,” said Ag Marketing Specialist with the Minnesota Grown Program, Jessica Miles. “Our Directory is the most comprehensive and commonly used guide to local foods and plants available in Minnesota. It’s also becoming an excellent resource for family activity ideas and learning opportunities.”

While memberships are accepted year-round, farms must sign up or call Jessica Miles by February 6, 2015 to be included in the 2015 printed Directory.

“For $60 farmers can get an entire year’s worth of advertising both online and in print,” said Miles. “They’ll also have access to other great Minnesota Grown member-only benefits, such as use of the trademarked logo and FREE stickers, price cards and other promotional items. Just don’t delay and call right away because the deadline to be included in the printed Directory is February 6, 2015.”

Potential new members may sign up and pay online by clicking on the “Members & Retailers” tab at www.minnesotagrown.com, then clicking on “Become a Member” or contact Jessica Miles at 651-201-6170, jessica.miles@state.mn.us to request an application by mail or with questions.

Schoolyard Garden Conference 2014 at the MN Landscape Arboretum

Chanhassen, MN (Jan. 20, 2014) – Building on the strong response to last year’s event,  the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, collaborating with the Schoolyard Garden Coalition and Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program, will present the second annual Schoolyard Gardens Conference on Friday, Feb. 28, at the Arboretum.  Themed “Cultivating the Future,” the conference will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Oswald Visitor Center.

Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius and Commissioner of Agriculture Dave Frederickson will kick off the event. Immanuel Jones, director of sustainability for Minneapolis Community and Technical College, will discuss EcoCity Minnesota, an organization changing the way youth are perceived through gardening.

John Fisher from LifeLab, a nationally recognized organization supporting school gardens around the nation, will be keynote speaker, presenting lessons learned in both practice and policy. He will describe national trends and research findings on the value of school gardens not only for the students, but for the entire school and its community.

Workshop presenters will address challenges faced by teachers, principals, superintendents, food-service professionals and parents, in creating and sustaining such gardens.

“The conference is structured to offer an ideal setting in which schoolyard garden supporters can learn to use a garden as an outdoor, living laboratory for hands-on learning across disciplines. In a schoolyard garden, kids engage all of their senses and educators bring learning concepts alive in a way not possible in other settings,” says Tim Kenny, Arboretum director of education.

Kenny adds, “A schoolyard garden appeals to numerous learning styles and it means that teachers can connect learning standards in the most effective ways. I’ve watched it happen again and again, and at this conference, participants will be able to engage with experts and others who have put these principles into action.”

In addition to a day filled with plenary and interest-track sessions designed to help school

gardeners reach the full potential of this educational asset, the conference offers an opportunity for current schoolyard garden champions to present their work in poster sessions. This year’s conference features an “Answer Room,” where experts will be on hand to answer questions and talk about plants, curriculum, garden design, training opportunities, funding and other schoolyard garden resources. The conference is geared to educators, volunteers, nutritionists, parents and all interested parties. 

Learn more and register at http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/2014SchoolyardGardens.aspx.

Or call 952-443-1422. Conference tuition is $60 Arboretum members and conference affiliates, $70 general registration – discounts available for teams of three from the same school.

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the largest public garden in the Upper Midwest and a premier northern arboretum, is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota and a community and national resource for horticultural and environmental information, research, and public education. It is located nine miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chanhassen.  —END—

NDSU Master Gardener Classes Set to Start Sept. 27

North Dakota master gardener training is more convenient and flexible than ever, according to Esther McGinnis, the North Dakota State University Extension Service master gardener coordinator.

The core master gardener course will be offered online and in a traditional classroom setting. If weekday morning classes conflict with an individual's schedule, the classes can be watched online. Also, all assignments will be online.

The traditional classroom training will be conducted at several locations in the state, including Ashley, Bismarck, Cooperstown, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Napoleon, Wahpeton, Watford City and Williston.

The online and classroom sessions will run for eight weeks beginning Sept. 27 and ending Nov. 15. The training sessions will be held every Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CDT).

"Topics will include annual and perennial flowers, selecting and planting trees and shrubs, soil health, plant diseases and pests, landscape design, vegetable and fruit production and so much more," McGinnis says.

The cost is $150 for those wishing to become a certified master gardener and $300 for those just interested in taking the class. Computer knowledge and Internet access is required. All handouts will be available online for participants to access and print.

Certified master gardeners are required to complete 48 hours of approved volunteer work through their NDSU county Extension agent. The volunteer work should be completed within 24 months following the completion of classes.

"The master gardener program goes beyond ordinary and invests in creating leaders to serve the needs of their communities," McGinnis says. "Master gardeners become ambassadors to assist the NDSU Extension Service in providing accurate and environmentally sustainable horticultural advice."

For more information, contact your local NDSU Extension Service office or McGinnis at (701) 231-7406.

To register, go to http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/mastergardener. All registration is done online and payment is by credit card or electronic check only. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 13.

MDA reminds Minnesotans to use lawn pesticides and fertilizers with care

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds homeowners to properly follow label directions when applying lawn and garden pesticides and fertilizers this spring. Whether homeowners are applying these products themselves or hiring a professional to do the job, lawn and garden products must be handled with care.

When applying pesticides and fertilizers, homeowners should first read the product labels that specify how to use the product safely, effectively, and legally. Applying pesticides, fertilizers, or weed and feed products that contain both a pesticide and a fertilizer in a manner inconsistent with label directions is a violation of the law.

When hiring a professional lawn care provider to apply lawn care products, MDA advises homeowners to make sure these professionals are licensed. State law requires commercial applicators to be licensed by MDA. To obtain a license, applicators must demonstrate the necessary qualifications, knowledge and training to apply pesticides and fertilizers safely, effectively, and according to the law.

Whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring a professional, follow these tips to help ensure lawn, garden and tree-care services are performed correctly:

Buy only what you need and store unused product safely.

Do not apply chemicals if the weather conditions are not right. For example, high wind can cause products to drift off-site and potentially harm people or plants.

Sweep up any dry product from sidewalks or other hard surfaces and reapply it to the intended site.

Ask to see the professional applicator’s license before they start working. They must carry a valid license ID card.

Be wary of people who make promises that sound too good to be true, claim their products are completely safe or pressure you to commit to or sign a service contract.

Note warning signs/flags that are posted on a lawn near the sidewalk or street and at entry points on recreational property to alert people that a treatment was made to the area.

Review written application records and/or invoices provided by applicators to document their work, including products used and sites applied.

Consumers can call the Better Business Bureau 800-646-6222 and ask for a customer satisfaction history about lawn care companies. For information about applicator licenses, call MDA at 651-201-6615. To report an unlicensed person making a pesticide or fertilizer application, please file a complaint on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us.

NDSU Offers Master Gardener Classes

The Master Gardener Program for 2012 will be kicking off on Aug. 17, according to Ron Smith, North Dakota State University Extension Service horticulturist.

The classes will originate from NDSU and be broadcast across the state to 15 sites through the Interactive Video Network (IVN) system.

The locations are Ashley, Bismarck, Bowman, Cando, Cooperstown, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, Napoleon, Wahpeton, Watford City and Williston Research Extension Center. The classes will start on Friday, Aug. 17, and finish on Friday, Oct. 5. Classes will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Central time) for eight weeks.

"Participants will be well-schooled in the basics of plant and soil science, perennial and annual flowers, plant pathology, entomology and weed control," Smith says. "Also, participants will receive information on woody and herbaceous plants, aspects of fruit and vegetable production, square foot gardening and landscape design, plus tree selection and care."

The cost is $100 for volunteers and $200 for nonvolunteers. Once the classwork is completed, the volunteers need to complete 48 hours of approved work through their county NDSU Extension Service agent. Once the requirements are fulfilled, a volunteer is eligible to become a certified master gardener.

For more information about the location of the IVN meeting place in your area or to register, contact your local NDSU Extension Service office or visit http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/mg. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Aug 1.

High Tunnel Gardener Workshop Set for March 6

The North Dakota State University Extension Service in Cass County and University of Minnesota Extension in Clay County are sponsoring a high tunnel workshop for home gardeners and commercial growers on March 6.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Clay County Family Service Center at 715 11th St. N. in Moorhead, Minn.

A high tunnel is a nonpermanent structure with no electrical service and no heating. A single layer of greenhouse plastic covers the frame and lasts two to three years. Vents are opened and the sides rolled up manually.

The plants in the tunnel are protected from frost by mulch or row covers.

High tunnels are becoming very popular because they allow home gardeners and commercial growers to produce an early crop and extend the end of the growing season. Also, fruits and vegetables grown in high tunnels often are of very high quality.

Topics to be discussed during the workshop are:

* Basics of high tunnel production

* Pushing the profit pencil with high tunnels

* Current and upcoming crops for high tunnels

* Irrigation and fertigation

* Pick you own raspberries

* Raised beds and children

* Horticulture trials in Clay County

* Climate change and regional implications

The registration fee is $20 if paid by March 1. After March 1, the fee is $25. The fee includes a box lunch.

For more information or to register, contact Todd Weinman at (701) 241-5707 or Randy Nelson at (218) 299-7338.

MN Landscape Arboretum's Spring Expo

Chanhassen, MN (Feb. 20, 2012) - Get in gear for gardening! The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's Spring Expo, planned for March 9-11, offers the latest and best gardening info from the experts. The expo is themed "Learning to Grow, Growing to Learn." Here's a glimpse at the schedule:

Friday, March 9: "Seeding the Future: Preserving Biodiversity One Garden at a Time" (1:30 p.m.) and "Seed Saving Primer" (2:30 p.m.), both led by Shannon Carmody of the Seed Savers Exchange. A maple syrup hike and "chat and chew" conversation follows from 4 to 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 10: Author talks and book-signings of new gardening editions from the acclaimed Timber Press are scheduled: 10 a.m., Jeff Gillman, Meleah Maynard ("Decoding Gardening Advice"); 11:15 a.m., David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth ("What's Wrong with My Vegetable Garden?"); 1:30 p.m. Chuck Chapman ("Irises for the Cold Climate"); 2:45 p.m. Meleah Maynard ("Annuals and Perennials for Shade").

On Sunday, March 11: The following talks are planned: 10 a.m., Lynn Steiner (native plants); 11:15 a.m., U of M horticulture professor Dr. Mary Meyer (landscaping with grasses and sedges); 1:15 p.m., Arboretum pest expert Dan Miller (preventing/ managing garden pests) and at 2:30 p.m. horticulture grad student Luke Haggerty (choosing fruit-bearing shrubs and trees).

In addition to the above speakers, local plant societies, landscapers and garden stores will have displays showcasing the newest gardening trends, methods and products.

Participants have the choice of a three-day pass ($35 members/ $45 non-members) or a one-day pass ($20 for members and $25 for non-members). For a detailed agenda and to register visit: www.arboretum.umn.edu/springexpo2012.aspx. Or call 952-443-1422.

Local Foods College Series

CROOKSTON, Minn. – If you are interested in growing more of your own food or scaling up production to market garden scale, the upcoming Local Foods College is designed for you. The series, which begins on January 24, 2012, will offer an overview of the basics, from planning to soils, fruit and vegetable production and business planning. The series, available via interactive television (ITV) at several locations across northwestern Minnesota, continues on Tuesday evenings through mid-March. Registration is $10 per session or $50 for the entire series.

Participants will learn from practitioners and educators and share personal experiences with others who are part of the growing movement to build resilient local food systems. Registration can be completed online by visiting www.rsdp.umn.edu/Northwest and payment sent to the Regional Extension Office Crookston, 2900 University Ave, Crookston, Minn., 56716.

Participants will choose the location as well as select the sessions they wish to attend and may bring a family member or partner along for no additional cost. Host sites include the University of Minnesota Crookston; Bemidji State University; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Northland Technical College in Thief River Falls; Central Lakes College in Staples; other sites are also being considered.

Session topics will include: Whole farm planning, nutrient cycles and interactions; soils and composting; vegetable production and planning a market garden; starting and managing an apple orchard; small fruit production; backyard poultry; and farm business management. For more detailed information or questions, visit www.rsdp.umn.edu/Northwest or call 888-241-0781.

The Local Foods College is sponsored by the University of Minnesota; Health Reform Minnesota, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; and North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education.

The Local Foods College is one aspect of a movement to strengthen local and regional food systems. It encompasses healthy foods for healthy people, stronger demand for healthy local foods, available accessible and affordable healthy local foods, and marketing and policy support for farmers and food producers. To learn more, visit www.localfoods.umn.edu.

The Northwest Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership serves the people in northwestern Minnesota as they experiment with innovative ideas, build and strengthen relationships and take practical steps into a hopeful future. They connect university resources and citizen leaders in support of regional aspirations for natural resources, clean energy, agriculture and food systems, and resilient communities. The Northwest region encompasses Kittson, Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk, Norman, Mahnomen, Clay and Wilkin counties.

NDSU Offers Master Gardener Classes

The Master Gardener Program for 2011 will be kicking off on Aug. 19, according to Ron Smith, North Dakota State University Extension Service horticulturist.

The classes will originate from NDSU and be broadcast across the state to 11 sites through the Interactive Video Network (IVN) system.

The locations are Bismarck, Bowman, Cavalier, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Napoleon, Wahpeton, Watford City and the Williston Research Extension Center. The classes will start on Friday, Aug. 19, and finish on Oct. 7. Classes will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Central Time) for eight weeks. The classes will be archived for any student who may not be able to attend every class.

The cost is $100 for volunteers and $200 for nonvolunteers. Once the classwork is completed, the volunteers need to complete 48 hours of approved work through their county NDSU Extension Service agent. The volunteer work should be completed within 12 months after finishing the formal classes.

For more information, contact your local NDSU Extension Service office or visit http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/mg for a registration form. The registration deadline is Monday, Aug 1.

the new Minnesota Grown Directory!

ST. PAUL, Minn. – If it says “Minnesota Grown,” it’s gotta be good. Plan now to pick up your free copy of the 2011 Minnesota Grown Directory packed with hundreds of places to find great locally grown foods. The 30th Anniversary edition makes it convenient to locate orchards, farmers’ markets, berry farms and garden centers where you can purchase products directly from the grower.

The cover of the directory features Minnesota Grown spokesperson Carrie Tollefson who grew up in rural Minnesota. Tollefson is a staunch supporter of Minnesota agriculture and eating locally.

“As an Olympic runner, I want the freshest, healthiest foods I can find,” says Tollefson. “These foods are easy to find in the Minnesota Grown Directory and buying them locally is also a great way to support Minnesota’s hardworking farmers.”

Tollefson says she’s proud to be part of the 30-year history of the Minnesota Grown Directory, a promotion that began long before buying local became the trend it is today.

More than 190,000 copies of the free guide are distributed by tourist information centers, farms, libraries, real estate agents, retailers, and other supporters of local growers. The printed directory is made possible by the participation of more than 900 listed growers, more than 20 advertising sponsors, and repeated cover sponsorship by the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU).

A complimentary copy of the Minnesota Grown Directory may be ordered by calling Explore Minnesota Tourism at 1-888-VISITMN (1-888-847-4866). The guide is also offered online as a searchable database on the Minnesota Grown website at www.minnesotagrown.com.