Stefan's Fantastic Farm

Stefan Meyer is one guy we could all learn a lot from.  As the driving force behind Minneapolis’ most ingenious new food production business, Growing Lots Urban Farm, Stefan is demonstrating for all of us the potential power held in the ground beneath our vacant urban lots.  For the last few years, the city of Minneapolis has begun to take the importance of locally grown food seriously.  Through encouraging the growth of farmers markets, and official initiatives such as Homegrown Minneapolis, the city has sprouted seeds of change that should improve our health, habitat, and happiness as they grow.  As politicians congratulate themselves for being so wise and Earth-friendly, green thumbs around town welcome this emerging...

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The Seed Volume 40, Butterfly Gardening

Why do we love butterflies so much?    Is it the beauty and freedom that define their days?  Is it the transformative potential of the chrysalis that attracts us?  After all, butterflies are just bugs too, right?  How is it that we save so much room in our hearts for one bug and have entire industries devoted to the extermination of other bugs?   Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne Whatever butterflies are doing that strikes our imaginations and warms our hearts, they seem to be doing it better then any other insect around.  While the dragonfly can impresses us with speed,...

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The Seed Volume 39, Eat A Weed

Eeyore said it best, “A weed is a flower too, once you get to know it.”I never cease to be amazed at the fear that passes over folk’s faces when I suggest to them that dandelions or creeping charlie are valuable in the landscape.  Maybe it’s because I’m a rebel, or maybe it’s because of my respect for plants, but I’ve always loved weeds, in fact I can safely say weeds are my heroes.  Take the dandelion for instance.  How many of us are completely unaware of the power of this plant?  Dandelion is only the Diana Prince like moniker through which the super hero also known as Taraxacum hides her secret Wonder Woman identity.  Providing free nourishing food, and medicine for the masses, offering soil fertility, and perfect...

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The Seed Volume 38, Evolutionary Gardening

Evolutionary Gardening It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one footstep.  I suppose that’s true.  I also figure that if I’m gonna be traveling a thousand miles, that first footstep should be pretty well aimed. The evolution of both the garden and the gardener represent a journey that takes place not in distance, but in time, and as a garden and landscape educator I understand that I’m responsible for giving out the best information and resources to guide folks along the path toward a healthier environment.  So, if I were standing along the trail you travel and you happened to ask me which direction you should aim your energies to find a healthy thriving landscape, I’d gladly point the way. ...

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