Natural Connections: Gardening
Join us for Natural Connections on Saturday, April 13th at the Sandpoint Library, in the Community Rooms. Learn about gardening and celebrate the grand re-opening of the Seed Library. Share your seeds or take some of ours during the all-day seed exchange event. Seeds you bring to share should be open-pollinated, non-GMO, and suitable for the local climate.
Come for the full event or just stop in for the portions that interest you.
Here is the schedule for the day:
10 AM: Understanding our climate and planning for a Successful Garden
Understand the climate and microclimates of north Idaho as they relate to gardens. Use this information to help plan for a successful garden that will thrive no matter what the weather brings. Whether you are just starting your garden or are planning to make it more productive we will have tips to help create a beautiful and bountiful garden. We will be discussing garden planning, cultivar selection, and season extension techniques, such as frost cloths, caterpillar tunnels and greenhouses.
Presenter bio:
Jennifer Jensen, University of Idaho Extension Educator:
Jennifer has been gardening in north Idaho since 2004, but started her first garden as a 4th grader. After studying horticulture at West Virginia University, Jennifer worked at several public gardens in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic areas. She completed her Master of Science degree in plant science at the University of Idaho and has worked for UI Extension since 2008.
12 PM: Seed Saving and the Library
Plan to save seeds this year for next year’s garden. Whether you want to continue growing a family favorite, adapt a variety to local growing conditions, or just want to share seeds with others, this workshop will get you headed in the right direction. Learn basic techniques and tips to save your own seeds. Then learn about the Seed Library and have the opportunity to take or give seeds. Seeds you bring to share should be open-pollinated, non-GMO, and suitable for local climate. Bring your own lunch to enjoy while talking seed saving and exchange.
Presenters & Organization bios:
Elizabeth Strube, Idaho Master Gardener Volunteer
Idaho Master Gardener-trained volunteers give time and effort to provide quality learning experiences, thereby improving the quality of life for Idaho’s citizens. Volunteers also provide the important service of problem-solving for issues related to gardening and landscaping.
Kelli Burt, Garden Coordinator & Seed Librarian for the East Bonner County Library District
Kelli moved to North Idaho in 2011 and dove into small-scale farming. She started intensively farming a 1-acre parcel and became a vendor at the Farmers’ Market at Sandpoint. After selling at the market for 4 years and learning through failures, successes and networking with other farmers, she took time off from selling vegetables to grow her family. She jumped back into the Farmers’ Market a few years later as the manager. She now has a large home garden that provides abundant produce, fruit, and flowers for her family and is still learning new techniques to maximize her harvest.
1 PM: Successfully Starting Seeds
Starting your own seeds is a fun way to start the gardening season. Learn to successfully start your own garden plants from seed. We will discuss different techniques for starting seeds including soil blocking and creating your own seed tape. This hands-on workshop will give you a chance to make seed tape, plant a seed, and transplant starts into larger containers.
Presenters & Organization bios:
Jennifer Jensen, University of Idaho Extension Educator
Jennifer has been gardening in north Idaho since 2004, but started her first garden as a 4th grader. After studying horticulture at West Virginia University, Jennifer worked at several public gardens in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic areas. She completed her Master of Science degree in plant science at the University of Idaho and has worked for UI Extension since 2008.
Elizabeth Strube, Idaho Master Gardener Volunteer
Nancy Mangham, Idaho Master Gardener Volunteer
Idaho Master Gardener-trained volunteers give time and effort to provide quality learning experiences, thereby improving the quality of life for Idaho’s citizens. Volunteers also provide the important service of problem-solving for issues related to gardening and landscaping.
3 PM: Planning to Preserve the Harvest
Do you hope to grow enough produce to preserve your harvest? This class will talk about planning the garden with harvest preservation in mind. We will talk about approximate quantities of plants and different preservation methods.
Presenters & Organization bios:
Jennifer Jensen, University of Idaho Extension Educator
Jennifer has been gardening in north Idaho since 2004, but started her first garden as a 4th grader. After studying horticulture at West Virginia University, Jennifer worked at several public gardens in the Midwest and mid-Atlantic areas. She completed her Master of Science degree in plant science at the University of Idaho and has worked for UI Extension since 2008.
Tina Imlay, University of Idaho Master Food Safety Advisor
The Master Food Safety Advisor Program teaches individuals how to safely preserve a variety of food products. Participants learn how to produce high-quality preserved foods and then provide reliable, research-based food preservation information to others in their community.
