The garden is buzzing

The garden is buzzing and not just with bees.  The garden did a good job taking care of itself this summer.  What may look like weeds to some people is actually intentional.  Not having bare soil, reduces watering and the variety of flowers has been amazing for the bees.  We also have a gopher enjoying the garden along with his human friends who eat lunch there.  You will notice many students in the garden this fall.   Planting, identifying, designing and measuring are being done by the plants and society class.  They are bringing positive energy to the garden and it shows.  It seems to be even more alive with all of the activity.  We harvested our first pears and they were delicious.  We have also enjoyed the chamomile, lemon balm, and chocolate mint in our weekly teas.  The apples and comfrey are being used in various projects and we have been eating beans.  We are now getting ready to plant some perennials, cover the compost, and make a better trail. 

Spring is almost here

It's time to start sending that positive energy to the garden.  We have some new and exciting things happening in the garden this season.  Deb Buria-Falkowski is going to help make our garden more bird friendly.  Watch for some feeding stations to be installed, and compare your bird sightings to the Mesabi master list provided by Deb, which is posted above. 

 Also, Mesabi is offering a new class called Plants and Society.  Expect to see students in the garden next fall.   The plantings this summer will be influenced by the curriculum of the new plant class.  

Earthfest is on April 22, and we will be participating by presenting on backyard herbs.  Environmental Science students will be starting seeds soon.  Through donations, we have some extra seeds. If anyone needs some or knows someone who can use some, please contact Kim Giermann at k.giermann@mesabirange.edu.

Garden recap

2016 Garden Reflections...
Thanks to students Baker Felix and Kiana Martinson, we were able to use our own compost in the raised beds.  Also thanks to students Jody Brooks and Ali Ogo, we planted seedlings  that we started in the spring and were able to harvest this fall with cabbage and kohlrabi being the most successful. Thanks to past student Alex Crum, community member Marlise Riffel, Jonah Giermann, Jody Brooks, student Ashley Altobelli, Tom Baldwin, Deb Falkowski, and of course Craig and Monica for planting, weeding, donating etc.  Also thanks to those who helped keep the garden going in the summer by watering and good thoughts, especially Sue Twaddle and Brenda Kochevar who attend all of our garden events, and to all of the Environmental Science students who planted, weeded, and enjoyed the garden.  It was great seeing some classes meet in the garden sitting area.  We had four pears, currants, aronia, 2 plums and elderberries, which is great since we just planted them two years ago.  We look forward to seeing our new perennials next season and enjoying the last of the kohlrabi this fall, although Jody has dibs on most of it.

Winding down

On Friday,  September 23, we will spend a few hours 10:00- 2:00 or so, tidying up the gardens and planting perennials.  Please let us know at k.giermann@mesabirange.edu if you can help out.  The more help we have the more perennials we can plant.  We also need large cardboard which can dropped off in C163.

Harvest snack

Our Northern MN growing season is winding down.  Our Mesabi garden had some great kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, peas, chamomile, and broccoli.  We did not have good tomatoes this year.  Let's celebrate the harvest by having some kale chips and kohlrabi at 10:00 on Wednesday, September 14- in the garden if it is a nice day but in the commons if not.

Walk postponed

Postponed walk by request due to weather.  New date will be posted once it is determined.  There are things ready to harvest-kale, chard, broccoli, and kohlrabi.  I think I ate all the pea pods but there will be more.  For kale and chard just take the leaves you will use, so we have some all season.  If you need to know what and how to harvest, you can contact Kim.

Take a walk on the Wild Side

Let's meet in the garden at 11:00 on July 11.  Kim will identify some plants and give some harvesting tips.  We will then walk to Olcott park where Dr. Aaron Kelson will lead tree identification.  We will have some field guides available.  You can join in for some or all of the walk.  We planned it at 11:00 so that maybe people can do it over a lunch break.  Let's hope for good weather.